Inventors:
Peter Speck - Chicago IL, US
International Classification:
C12N015/869
C12N007/01
A61K048/00
A01N063/00
A61K039/12
A61K039/245
A61K039/255
A61K039/265
A61K039/27
C12N007/00
C12N007/04
C12N015/86
US Classification:
435/236000, 435/235100, 435/456000, 424/199100, 424/205100, 424/229100, 424/231100, 424/093200
Abstract:
A mutant herpesvirus that can be used as a recombinant virus vector comprises (a) a mutation such that the mutant virus has a reduced ability in comparison with a parent type to cause lysis of an infected cell, and (b) an inactivating mutation in a gene essential for the production of infectious virus. An example is a HSV1 mutant lacking the essential glycoprotein gH gene and having a mutation impairing the function of gene product VP16. A heterologous gene can be carried at the site of the inactivated essential gene, e.g. a gene suitable for administering gene therapy. The vector has an increased margin of safety over known herpesvirus vectors in respect of incidence of cytopathic effects and/or risk of reversion.