Immortalized avian cell lines

Abstract

The invention features non-transformant immortal avian cells, in particular derived from avian tissues, i.e., other than blood or hematopoietic cells, particularly fibroblasts and epithelial cells, for instance of embryos. The avian cells are immortalized by the SV40 T+t gene in the dependence of the MTI promoter. In particular they integrate the pDAMT vector.

1 - 9 . (canceled)  
     
     
         10 . A method for producing viruses, said method comprising: 
 (a) infecting an avian cell line with a virus, the avian cell line comprising immortalized, but untransformed avian cells or their progeny and comprising, in their genome, the SV40 T+t gene, wherein the cells are derived from avian tissue,    (b) propagating the virus, and    (c) harvesting the virus.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the virus is an avian virus or wherein the virus is a duck virus or wherein the virus is chosen from the group consisting of duck adenovirus, duck parvovirus, and duck reovirus or wherein the SV40 T+t gene is under the control of the MTI promoter or wherein the cells comprise in their genome the SV40 promoter which is functionally linked to the gene for resistance to neomycin or wherein the cells comprise in their genome at least one LTR sequence or wherein the cells are avian embryonic epithelial cells.  
     
     
         12 . Immortal, but untransformed, avian cells and their progeny, wherein these cells comprise in their genome, the SV 40 T+t gene and wherein the cells are derived from avian tissue.  
     
     
         13 . Cells according to  claim 12 , wherein they contain in the cell's genome, the SV40 T+t gene under the control of the MTI promoter or wherein they also comprise in the cell's genome the SV40 promoter, which is functionally linked to the gene for resistance to neomycin or wherein they also comprise in the cell's genome at least one LTR sequence.  
     
     
         14 . Cells according to  claim 12 , wherein they contain and express at least one nucleotide sequence.  
     
     
         15 . Cells according to  claim 14 , wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes a viral peptide, protein or glycoprotein.  
     
     
         16 . Cells according to  claim 12 , wherein they are infected with a virus which multiplies in these cells or wherein they comprise a vector which overexpresses a gene of the cells, which gene is involved in the control of the cell cycle or wherein they comprise an oncogene or wherein the cells are avian embryonic epithelial cells.  
     
     
         17 . Method for producing a molecule, or a viral peptide, protein or glycoprotein, or a virus, comprising taking a cell according to  claim 12 , inserting a nucleotide sequence into said cell, culturing said cell and expressing said nucleotide sequence so as to produce a molecule, or a viral peptide, protein or glycoprotein, or a virus.  
     
     
         18 . Immortal, but untransformed, avian cells and their progeny, wherein the cells comprise in their genome a vector consisting essentially of an immortalization gene, a promoter of this gene and LTR sequences and wherein the cells are derived from avian tissue.  
     
     
         19 . Cells according to  claim 18 , wherein the immortalization gene is SV40 T+t or wherein the promoter is the MTI promoter or wherein the cells are avian embryonic epithelial cells.