Figure 3.
Release of cargo intracellularly by delivery vehicles. (A) Bacteria can deliver genetic cargoes in two distinct fashion after endocytosis and endosomal release. First, short oligonucleotides and DNA plasmids can be released directly into the host cells through the lysis of the bacteria. Alternatively, intracellular bacteria can produce and excrete therapeutic RNAs and proteins. (B–D) Bacteriophage, VLPs and both types of liposomes are capable of delivering mRNAs, short oligonucleotides and DNA plasmids. (E) Viral vectors are typically only capable of delivering DNA or RNA vectors that ultimately end up in the nucleus as DNA templates for transcription of mRNAs. shRNA, short hairpin RNA; VLP, virus-like particle.