M Abdullah Jehad

@article{Jehad2025b,

title = {Beyond reverse transcription: molecular mechanisms and emerging paradigms in retroviral replication},

author = {Mohammad Abdullah Jehad and Lizna M Ali and Vineeta N Pillai and Suresha G Prabhu and Farah Mustafa and Tahir A Rizvi},

editor = {Christian Münz},

doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuaf066},

issn = {1574-6976},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-01-10},

urldate = {2026-01-10},

journal = {FEMS Microbiology Reviews},

volume = {50},

publisher = {Oxford University Press (OUP)},

abstract = {Retroviruses are exclusive group of positive-sense RNA viruses defined by their ability to reverse transcribe their RNA genome and integrate it into the host’s chromosomal DNA. This distinctive replication strategy enables persistent infection and has profoundly shaped our understanding of molecular biology, gene regulation, and evolution. Retroviruses have contributed to landmark discoveries, including the identification of oncogenes, mechanisms of transcriptional control, and the development of gene therapy vectors. This review provides an updated overview of retroviral molecular biology, emphasizing the coordinated steps of the viral life cycle and emerging insights that are reshaping classical models. It explores virion structure, genome organization, and the interplay of cis-acting sequences and trans-acting factors that govern replication. Special focus is given to recent advances in understanding nuclear trafficking of capsids, spatial dynamics of reverse transcription and integration leading to provirus formation, RNA nuclear export, and selective genome packaging. The structural and functional roles of viral proteins, particularly Gag, are discussed in the context of assembly and maturation. By integrating foundational concepts with new discoveries, this review highlights the molecular sophistication of retroviral replication and identifies outstanding questions that guide future research, with implications extending to antiviral strategies, gene therapy, cancer biology, and evolution.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Jaballah2025,

title = {Retroviral Vector Technology for Gene Therapy: History, Current Landscape, and Future Prospects},

author = {Soumeya Ali Jaballah and Lizna M Ali and Mohammad Abdullah Jehad and Shaima Akhlaq and Tahir A. Rizvi and Farah Mustafa},

doi = {10.1016/j.jmb.2025.169473},

issn = {0022-2836},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-12-00},

urldate = {2025-12-00},

journal = {Journal of Molecular Biology},

volume = {437},

number = {24},

publisher = {Elsevier BV},

abstract = {The concept of gene therapy and its practice has been prevalent for over five decades. The first successful retroviral vector-based gene therapy trial took place ∼35 years ago, followed by several setbacks. However, recent years have seen a surge in successes, offering new hope to patients with genetic and other disorders once deemed untreatable. Over the past decade, rapid advancements in molecular biology have led to the development of safer and more effective gene therapy strategies with various gene delivery systems now in use. Among these, viral vectors such as retroviruses, adenoviruses, and adeno-associated viruses are the most widely employed in both research and clinical settings. This is due to their natural efficiency in delivering genetic material into target cells. Among these viral vectors, retroviruses stand out for their unique ability to reverse-transcribe and integrate their genetic material into the host genome, ensuring stable and long-term gene expression. This review highlights advances in retroviral vector development, examining both their therapeutic potential and associated challenges. It also explores strategies for vector production, including transient and stable systems tailored to meet clinical and regulatory demands. Significant progress is discussed in mitigating insertional mutagenesis and vector silencing. As a result, next-generation retroviral vectors with improved safety and efficacy have made it past regulatory approval and are commercially available. Current innovations include replication-competent, non-integrating, integration-retargeted, and hybrid CRISPR/Cas-expressing retroviral vectors undergoing pre-clinical and clinical investigations. This reflects a new era in gene therapy, with retroviral vectors reimagined for greater precision, control, and therapeutic impact.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}