Vector
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Overview
In epidemiology, a vector is an organism that does not cause disease itself but which transmits infection by conveying pathogens from one host to another.
A classic example is the anopheles mosquito which acts as a vector for the disease malaria by transmitting the malarial parasite plasmodium to humans. In this case plasmodium is harmless to the mosquito (its intermediate host) but causes the disease malaria in humans (its definitive host).
In molecular biology and genetic engineering a vector is a vehicle for transferring genetic material into a cell.
A viral vector is a virus which has been modified to transduct specific genetic material into a cell, e.g. for gene therapy.
A plasmid vector is made by splicing a DNA construct into a plasmid. Various techniques are then used to transfect the plasmid into the cell.
Epidemiology
Epidemiology
There are two types of vector that convey infectious organisms to a host: mechanical and biological. Microbes do not multiply within mechanical vectors – mechanical vectors only physically transport microbes from host to host. In contrast, microbes must propagate within a biological vector before the biological vector can transmit the microbes.
Molecular biology
Molecular biology
Cell transformation and gene therapy
- adenovirus
- adeno-associated virus
- tobacco mosaic virus (plants)
- cytomegalovirus
- bacteriophage (bacteria)
- viral vector
DNA
References
References
- “Vector Control”. World Health Organization, Global Malaria Programme. Retrieved 2007-05-30.
- “Malaria Glossary”. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2007-05-30.
Looking for the patient version?
© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH