Promoters for expression in modified vaccinia virus ankara

Abstract

The invention concerns promoters, in particular for the expression of genes and/or coding sequences in vaccinia viruses such as Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA). The invention further concerns expression cassettes comprising said promoter, vectors comprising said expression cassettes as well as pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for determining whether a derivative of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, or SEQ ID NO:12 is active as a vaccinia virus promoter comprising:
 (a) cloning a derivative of one of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, or SEQ ID NO:12 upstream of a reporter gene in a plasmid construct;   (b) introducing the expression cassette into a target cell; and   (c) detecting expression of the reporter gene in the target cell.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the derivative has one or more nucleotide substitutions. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the derivative has one or more nucleotide insertions 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the derivative has one or more nucleotide deletions. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the derivative is a derivative of SEQ ID NO:2 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the derivative is a derivative of SEQ ID NO:3. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the derivative is a derivative of SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the derivative is a derivative of SEQ ID NO:6. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the derivative is a derivative of SEQ ID NO:8. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the derivative is a derivative of SEQ ID NO:9. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the derivative is a derivative of SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the derivative is a derivative of SEQ ID NO:11. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the derivative is a derivative of SEQ ID NO:12. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the reporter gene is a β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the cell is a baby hamster kidney cell. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the cell is a chicken embryo fibroblast cell. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the cell is incubated with AraC. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the cell is incubated without AraC. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the cell is infected with MVA.