Perception of risk, sexual behaviour and STD/HIV prevalence in western Kenya.

Objective: To determine the feasibility and acceptability of collecting data on sexual practices, knowledge, attitudes and perception of risk with regard to HIV and STD infection in two clinic populations.

Design: A cross sectional survey carried out between June and July 1992.

Setting: An urban and a rural health centre in western Kenya.

Parvovirus-based vectors for human gene therapy.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the parvovirus-based vectors may prove to be a useful alternative to the more commonly used retroviral vectors in human gene therapy. Specifically, the adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV), a human parvovirus, has gained particular attention in view of its nonpathogenic nature as well as its remarkable site-specificity of integration into the human chromosome. Using the recombinant AAV vector system, it is feasible to obtain high-efficiency transduction of slow- or non-cycling primary hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, without the need for prestimulation with cytokines, which could potentially lead to differentiation of these cells before transplantation.