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 . An isolated DNA consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the isolated DNA is active as a modified vaccinia virus Ankara promoter or active as a promoter in vaccinia virus infected cells. 
     
     
         24 . An isolated DNA consisting of a derivative of SEQ ID NO:2;
 wherein no more than 10 nucleotides are substituted in the derivative relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; and   wherein the isolated DNA is active as a modified vaccinia virus Ankara promoter or active as a promoter in vaccinia virus infected cells.   
     
     
         25 . The isolated DNA of  claim 24 , wherein no more than 5 nucleotides are substituted in the derivative relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         26 . An expression cassette comprising:
 a promoter comprising SEQ ID NO:2; and   a coding sequence operably linked to the promoter;   wherein the expression of the coding sequence is controlled by the promoter; and   wherein the expression cassette is not an expression cassette that naturally occurs in the genome of a vaccinia virus.   
     
     
         27 . An expression cassette comprising:
 a promoter comprising a derivative of SEQ ID NO:2,   wherein no more than 10 nucleotides are substituted in the derivative relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, and   a coding sequence operably linked to the promoter,   wherein the expression of the coding sequence is controlled by the promoter, and   wherein the expression cassette is not an expression cassette that naturally occurs in the genome of a vaccinia virus.   
     
     
         28 . The expression cassette of  claim 27 , wherein no more than 5 nucleotides are substituted in the derivative relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         29 . The expression cassette of  claim 26 , wherein the coding sequence codes for therapeutic proteins or peptides, antigens, antigenic epitopes, antisense RNA, or ribozymes. 
     
     
         30 . A vector comprising the expression cassette of  claim 26 . 
     
     
         31 . The vector of  claim 30 , wherein the vector is a plasmid vector or a viral vector. 
     
     
         32 . The vector of  claim 31 , wherein the vector is a vaccinia virus. 
     
     
         33 . The vector of  claim 32 , wherein the vaccinia virus is Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA). 
     
     
         34 . The vector of  claim 33 , wherein the vaccinia virus is strain MVA-BN deposited at the European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC) under number V00083008, strain MVA 572 deposited at ECACC under number V94012707, or strain MVA 575 deposited under number V00120707 at ECACC. 
     
     
         35 . A host cell comprising the vector of  claim 30 . 
     
     
         36 . A composition for inducing an immunological response in a living animal body comprising the viral vector of  claim 31 . 
     
     
         37 . A method for introducing a coding sequence into a target cell comprising introducing the vector of  claim 30  into the target cell. 
     
     
         38 . A method for producing a peptide, protein, or virus comprising infection of a host cell with the viral vector of  claim 31  and cultivating the infected host cell under suitable conditions. 
     
     
         39 . The vector of  claim 33 , wherein the expression cassette is inserted into a naturally occurring deletion site of the MVA genome. 
     
     
         40 . The vector of  claim 33 , wherein the expression cassette is inserted into an intergenic region of the MVA genome. 
     
     
         41 . A composition comprising the vector of  claim 30  with an adjuvant. 
     
     
         42 . The expression cassette of  claim 27 , wherein the coding sequence codes for therapeutic proteins or peptides, antigens, antigenic epitopes, antisense RNA, or ribozymes. 
     
     
         43 . A vector comprising the expression cassette of  claim 27 . 
     
     
         44 . The vector of  claim 43 , wherein the vector is a plasmid vector or a viral vector. 
     
     
         45 . The vector of  claim 44 , wherein the vector is a vaccinia virus. 
     
     
         46 . The vector of  claim 45 , wherein the vaccinia virus is Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA). 
     
     
         47 . The vector of  claim 46 , wherein the vaccinia virus is strain MVA-BN deposited at the European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC) under number V00083008, strain MVA 572 deposited at ECACC under number V94012707, or strain MVA 575 deposited under number V00120707 at ECACC. 
     
     
         48 . A host cell comprising the vector of  claim 43 . 
     
     
         49 . A composition for inducing an immunological response in a living animal body comprising the viral vector of  claim 44 . 
     
     
         50 . A method for introducing a coding sequence into a target cell comprising introducing the vector of  claim 43  into the target cell. 
     
     
         51 . A method for producing a peptide, protein, or virus comprising infection of a host cell with the viral vector of  claim 44  and cultivating the infected host cell under suitable conditions. 
     
     
         52 . The vector of  claim 46 , wherein the expression cassette is inserted into a naturally occurring deletion site of the MVA genome. 
     
     
         53 . The vector of  claim 46 , wherein the expression cassette is inserted into an intergenic region of the MVA genome. 
     
     
         54 . A composition comprising the vector of  claim 43  with an adjuvant. 
     
     
         55 . The expression cassette of  claim 28 , wherein the coding sequence codes for therapeutic proteins or peptides, antigens, antigenic epitopes, antisense RNA, or ribozymes. 
     
     
         56 . A vector comprising the expression cassette of  claim 28 . 
     
     
         57 . The vector of  claim 56 , wherein the vector is a plasmid vector or a viral vector. 
     
     
         58 . The vector of  claim 57 , wherein the vector is a vaccinia virus. 
     
     
         59 . The vector of  claim 58 , wherein the vaccinia virus is Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA). 
     
     
         60 . The vector of  claim 59 , wherein the vaccinia virus is strain MVA-BN deposited at the European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC) under number V00083008, strain MVA 572 deposited at ECACC under number V94012707, or strain MVA 575 deposited under number V00120707 at ECACC. 
     
     
         61 . A host cell comprising the vector of  claim 56 . 
     
     
         62 . A composition for inducing an immunological response in a living animal body comprising the viral vector of  claim 57 . 
     
     
         63 . A method for introducing a coding sequence into a target cell comprising introducing the vector of  claim 56  into the target cell. 
     
     
         64 . A method for producing a peptide, protein, or virus comprising infection of a host cell with the viral vector of  claim 57  and cultivating the infected host cell under suitable conditions. 
     
     
         65 . The vector of  claim 59 , wherein the expression cassette is inserted into a naturally occurring deletion site of the MVA genome. 
     
     
         66 . The vector of  claim 59 , wherein the expression cassette is inserted into an intergenic region of the MVA genome. 
     
     
         67 . A composition comprising the vector of  claim 56  with an adjuvant.