Recombinant virus replicon systems and uses thereof

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to viral-based expression systems suitable for the production of molecules of interest. The disclosure relates to nucleic acid constructs, such as expression vectors, containing a modified replicon RNA which includes a modified 5′-unstranslated region (5′-UTR) and, optionally, at least some of its original viral sequence encoding structural proteins having been deleted. Also disclosed are methods for producing polypeptides of interest.

1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for producing a polypeptide of interest, comprising culturing a host cell comprising a nucleic acid molecule which comprises a modified replicon RNA, wherein the modified replicon RNA comprises a modified 5-'UTR and is devoid of at least a portion of a nucleic acid sequence encoding viral structural proteins. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the modified replicon RNA comprises a modified genome or replicon RNA of a virus belonging to the  Alphavirus  genus of the Togaviridae family. 
     
     
         15 . A method for producing a polypeptide of interest in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a nucleic acid molecule comprising a modified replicon, RNA wherein the modified replicon RNA comprises a modified 5-'UTR and is devoid of at least a portion of a nucleic acid sequence encoding viral structural proteins. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the subject is a human, horse, pig, primate, mouse, cattle, swine, sheep, rabbit, cat, dog, bird, fish, goat, donkey, hamster, or buffalo. 
     
     
         17 . A recombinant polypeptide produced by the method of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         18 . A composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of  claim 17 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)