Retroviral delivery system

Abstract

A retroviral delivery system capable of transducing a target site is described. The retroviral delivery system comprises a first nucleotide sequence coding for at least a part of an envelope protein; and one or more other nucleotide sequences derivable from a retrovirus that ensure transduction of the target site by the retroviral delivery system; wherein the first nucleotide sequence is heterologous with respect to at least one of the other nucleotide sequences; and wherein the first nucleotide sequence codes for at least a part of a rabies G protein or a mutant, variant, derivative or fragment thereof that is capable or recognising the target site.

1 . A retroviral delivery system capable of transducing a target site, wherein the retroviral delivery system comprises a first nucleotide sequence coding for at least a part of an envelope protein; and one or more other nucleotide sequences derivable from a retrovirus that ensure transduction of the target site by the retroviral delivery system; wherein the first nucleotide sequence is heterologous with respect to at least one of the other nucleotide sequences; and wherein the first nucleotide sequence codes for at least a part of a rabies G protein or a mutant, variant, derivative or fragment thereof that is capable of recognising the target site.  
     
     
         2 . The retroviral delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first nucleotide sequence codes for all of a rabies G protein or a mutant, variant, derivative or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The retroviral delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the other nucleotide sequences is derivable from a lentivirus or an oncoretrovirus.  
     
     
         4 . The retroviral delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the other nucleotide sequences are derivable from a lentivirus or an oncoretrovirus.  
     
     
         5 . The retroviral delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the other nucleotide sequences are derivable from MLV, HIV or EIAV.  
     
     
         6 . The retroviral delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the retroviral delivery system comprises at least one NOI.  
     
     
         7 . The retroviral delivery system according to  claim 6 , wherein the NOI has a therapeutic effect or codes for a protein that has a therapeutic effect.  
     
     
         8 . The retroviral delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the target site is a cell.  
     
     
         9 . A viral particle obtained from the retroviral delivery system according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . A retroviral vector which is the retroviral delivery system according to  claim 1 , or is obtained therefrom.  
     
     
         11 . A cell transduced with the retroviral delivery system according  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A method for delivering an NOI to a target cell comprising contacting the target cell with the retroviral delivery system according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . A method for transducing a cell comprising contacting the cell with the retroviral delivery system according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . A vector for preparing a retroviral delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the vector comprises a nucleotide sequence coding for at least a part of the rabies G protein or a mutant, variant, derivative or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         16 . A plasmid for preparing a retroviral delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the plasmid comprises a nucleotide sequence coding for at least a part of the rabies G protein or a mutant, variant, derivative or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         17 . A plurality of plasmids, wherein at least one plasmid is a plasmid according to  claim 16  and wherein at least one other plasmid comprises one or more nucleotide sequences derivable from a retrovirus.  
     
     
         18 . A method of modifying the infectious profile of a retrovirus, retroviral vector or retroviral particle comprising pseudotyping the retrovirus, retroviral vector or retroviral particle with a rabies G protein.  
     
     
         19 . A method of modifying host range or cell tropism of a retrovirus, retroviral vector or retroviral particle comprising pseudotyping the retrovirus, retroviral vector or retroviral particle with a rabies G protein.  
     
     
         20 . A retrovirus or a retroviral vector or a retroviral particle pseudotyped with a rabies G protein.  
     
     
         21 . A retroviral delivery system comprising a heterologous env region, wherein the heterologous env region comprises at least a part of a nucleotide sequence coding for a rabies G protein.  
     
     
         22 . The retroviral delivery system according  claim 21 , wherein the heterologous env region comprises a nucleotide sequence coding for a rabies G protein.  
     
     
         23 . (canceled)  
     
     
         24 . A cell transduced with the viral particle according to  claim 9 .  
     
     
         23 . A cell transduced with the retroviral vector according to  claim 10.