A plasmid is a small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecule that is distinct from a cell's chromosomal DNA. Plasmids naturally exist in bacterial cells, and they also occur in some eukaryotes.

In the early 1990s, researchers set out to harness viruses for gene therapy applications ... The ‘transfer plasmid’ or lentiviral vector contains the transgene of interest, while the ...

With numerous gene therapy products entering clinical trials, new and innovative strategies are needed to produce pure plasmid DNA. Compaction agents appear to offer the prospect of lower cost ...

In the microscopic world of bacteria, gene transfer is a powerful mechanism that can alter cellular function, drive antibiotic resistance and even shape entire ecosystems.