The invention concerns an Avipoxvirus comprising in the viral genome a Vaccinia virus host range gene or a homologue of said host range gene. The invention further relates to cells, preferably avian cells, comprising a Vaccinia virus host range gene or a homologue of said host range gene. Moreover the invention concerns the use of a Vaccinia virus host range gene or an homologue thereof to increase the titer of avipoxviruses produced from cells after infection of said cells with the avipoxvirus, wherein the host range gene is expressed in said cells.

Description of the Invention

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. national phase of PCT application PCT/EP2003/008359 filed 29 Jul. 2003 with a claim to the priority of PCT patent application PA200201189 itself filed 7 Aug. 2002.

The invention concerns an Avipoxvirus comprising in the viral genome a Vaccinia virus host range gene or a homologue of said host range gene. The invention further relates to cells, preferably avian cells, comprising a Vaccinia virus host range gene or a homologue of said host range gene. Moreover the invention concerns the use of a Vaccinia virus host range gene or an homologue thereof to increase the titer of avipoxviruses produced from cells after infection of said cells with the avipoxvirus, wherein the host range gene is expressed in said cells.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The poxviridae comprise a large family of complex DNA viruses that replicate in the cytoplasm of vertebrate and invertebrate cells. The family of poxviridae can be divided into the subfamily chordopoxvirinae (vertebrate poxviruses) and entomopoxvirinae (insect poxviruses).

The chordopoxvirinae comprise several poxvirus species that can be used as vectors to express exogenous DNA segments encoding antigens against which an immune response is to be induced. Examples for poxviruses that can be used as live vaccines are Vaccinia virus and avipoxviruses, such as the canarypoxvirus and the fowlpoxvirus.

The use of Vaccinia viruses to engineer viral vectors for recombinant gene expression and for the potential use as recombinant live vaccines has been disclosed in numerous publications (see e.g. Mackett, M., Smith, G. L. and Moss, B. [1982] P.N.A.S. USA 79, 7415-7419; Smith, G. L., Mackett, M. and Moss, B. [1984] Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews 2, 383-407). To construct recombinant Vaccinia viruses, DNA sequences (genes), which code for foreign antigens are introduced into the genome of the Vaccinia virus under the regulation of suitable poxvirus promoters. If the gene is integrated at a site in the viral DNA, which is non-essential for the life cycle of the virus, the recombinant Vaccinia virus remains infectious. After infection the recombinant virus expresses the integrated DNA sequence (EP 83286 and EP 110385). The recombinant Vaccinia viruses prepared in this way can be used, on the one hand, as live vaccines for the prophylaxis of infectious diseases, and on the other hand, for the preparation of heterologous proteins in eukaryotic cells.

The use of Vaccinia virus as vector for the development of recombinant live vaccines has been affected by safety concerns and regulations. Most of the recombinant Vaccinia viruses described in the literature are based on the Western Reserve strain of Vaccinia virus. It is known that this strain has a high neurovirulence and is thus poorly suited for use in humans and animals (Morita et al., Vaccine 5, 65-70 [1987]). On the other hand the Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) is known to be exceptionally safe. MVA has been generated by long-term serial passages of the Ankara strain of Vaccinia virus (CVA) on chicken embryo fibroblasts (for review see Mayr, A., Hochstein-Mintzel, V. and Stickl, H. [1975] Infection 3, 6-14; Swiss Patent No. 568392). MVA is distinguished by its great attenuation that is to say by diminished virulence or infectiosity while maintaining good immunogenicity. Recombinant MVA useful as vaccines have already been constructed and used in clinical trials. WO 98/13500 discloses a recombinant MVA containing and capable of expressing one or more DNA sequences encoding dengue virus antigens. The foreign DNA sequences were recombined into the viral DNA at the site of a naturally occurring deletion in the MVA genome.

Another approach towards the generation of safe and effective poxvirus vaccines utilizes avipoxviruses, e.g. canarypoxvirus and fowlpoxvirus, to express antigens to induce an immune response (U.S. Pat. No. 6,340,462). Avipoxviruses are naturally host-restricted and productively replicate only in avian species and cells (Taylor et al., Vaccine 1995, 13: 539-549). If human cells are infected with an avipoxvirus, heterologous genes are expressed from the viral genome. However, the avipoxvirus does not replicate in the human cells and there is, thus, no risk that the human being is harmed by productive virus replication. Various recombinant avipoxviruses have been constructed that express e.g. lentiviral gene products (U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,598), cytokines and/or tumor-associated antigens (U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,975) or rabies G glycoprotein (Taylor et al., Vaccine 1995, 13: 539-549). A recombinant canarypox virus expressing the four HIV genes gag, pol, env and nef has already been used in clinical trials (Peters, B. S., Vaccine 2002, 20: 688-705).

Since avipoxviruses productively replicate only in avian cells, these cells have to be used for the amplification of the virus and for the generation of recombinant viruses. Unfortunately, the titers of avipoxviruses obtained with avian cells are relatively low when compared to other poxviruses and it is, thus, more difficult to produce larger amounts of (recombinant) avipoxviruses in an industrial scale.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide means allowing the production of avipoxviruses, in particular recombinant avipoxviruses, at higher titers allowing the production of larger amounts of virus, in particular in an industrial scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention vaccinia virus host range genes are expressed in cells productively infected with an avipoxvirus. The expression of these vaccinia virus genes leads to an increase of the avipoxvirus titer produced from the infected cells. As it will be shown in more detail in the example section for a specific embodiment of the invention recombinant avipoxviruses, in particular a canarypoxvirus, expressing a Vaccinia virus host range gene, in particular the Vaccinia virus gene C7L, show a 10 fold increase of the viral titer on avian cells, in particular on Chicken Embryo Fibroblasts (CEF-cells) compared to the Avipoxvirus lacking the Vaccinia virus host range gene. Although the host range gene is expressed from the recombinant avipoxvirus, the growth on human cell lines is not affected, i.e. the Avipoxvirus expressing the Vaccinia virus host range gene is as attenuated as the Avipoxvirus not expressing the host range gene.

According to a preferred embodiment the invention concerns avipoxviruses comprising in the viral genome a Vaccinia virus host range gene or a homologue of said host range gene.

The term "avipoxvirus" refers to any avipoxvirus, such as Fowlpoxvirus, Canarypoxvirus, Uncopoxvirus, Mynahpoxvirus, Pigeonpoxvirus, Psittacinepoxvirus, Quailpoxvirus, Peacockpoxvirus, Penguinpoxvirus, Sparrowpoxvirus, Starlingpoxvirus and Turkeypoxvirus. Preferred avipoxviruses are Canarypoxvirus and Fowlpoxvirus.

An example for a canarypox virus is strain Rentschler. A plaque purified Canarypox strain termed ALVAC (U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,598) was deposited under the terms of the Budapest treaty with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), accession number VR-2547. Another Canarypox strain is the commercial canarypox vaccine strain designated LF2 CEP 524 24 10 75, available from Institute Merieux, Inc.

Examples of a Fowlpox virus are strains FP-1, FP-5 and TROVAC (U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,598). FP-1 is a Duvette strain modified to be used as a vaccine in one-day old chickens. The strain is a commercial fowlpox virus vaccine strain designated O DCEP 25/CEP67/2309 October 1980 and is available from Institute Merieux, Inc. FP-5 is a commercial fowlpox virus vaccine strain of chicken embryo origin available from American Scientific Laboratories (Division of Schering Corp.) Madison, Wis., United States Veterinary License No. 165, serial No. 30321.

The Vaccinia virus host range gene comprised in the viral genome of the avipoxvirus can be any host range gene. The term "Vaccinia virus host range gene" refers to a gene encoding a gene product, which is necessary that a Vaccinia virus is able to replicate on cells of species on which the virus does not replicate in the absence of the functional host range gene. If the respective host range gene is deleted the viral replication may be restricted to cells from only one animal species. By way of example reference is made to the Vaccinia virus genes K1L, C7L and E3L. It has been shown that the expression of either K1L or C7L allows vaccinia virus replication in human MRC-5 cells; the E3L gene was shown to be required for Vaccinia virus replication in monkey Vero and human HeLa cells (Wyatt et al., Virology 1998, 251: 334-342).

The term "Vaccinia virus host range gene for human cells" refers to genes that are required for the replication of the Vaccinia virus in human cells.

Examples for Vaccinia virus host range genes are the genes C18L, C17L, C7L, K1L, E3L, B4R, B23R and B24R according to the nomenclature as used in Johnson et al., Virology 1993, 196: 381-401 and genes (CHO)hr and SPI-1 as specified in Wyatt et al., Virology 1998, 251: 334-342. Preferred host range genes are the host range genes for human cells, e.g. E3L, K1L and C7L. Most preferred is C7L. The nucleotide sequence of the C7L gene of MVA with regulatory sequences is shown in FIG. 4 (see Original Patent) and as SEQ ID: No 1. The corresponding amino acid sequence is shown as SEQ ID: No 2.

The term "homologue of a host range gene" refers to a gene having a homology of at least 50%, preferably at least 70%, more preferably of at least 80%, most preferably of at least 90% in the coding part of the nucleotide sequence, wherein the "homologue of the host range gene" has the biological function of a host range gene. The biological function and definition of a host range gene is defined above. Specific tests how to determine whether a gene has the biological function of a host range gene are known to the person skilled in the art. In particular reference is made to Wyatt et al., Virology 1998, 251: 334-342, Perkus et al., Virology 1990, 179: 276-286 and Gillard et al., J. Virol. 1985, 53: 316-318.

According to the present invention the Vaccinia virus host range gene comprised in the viral genome of the Avipoxvirus is a functional gene. The term "functional gene" as used in the present application is to be interpreted in that the host range gene comprises regulatory elements that are functional in cells productively infected with an Avipoxvirus and that allow the generation of the functional gene product of the host range gene in said Avipoxvirus infected cells. Thus, the Vaccinia virus host range gene is expressed in the cells.

The term "cells, productively infected with an Avipoxvirus" refers to cells that allow the propagation of the Avipoxvirus and/or the generation of recombinant Avipoxviruses. The cells are preferably avian cells, most preferably CEF cells. Other preferred cells are the quail fibroblast cell line QT-35 (Cowen, B. S. and Braune, M. O., Avian Dis. 1988; 32: 282-297; Schnitzlein, W. M. et al., Virus Res. 1988; 10: 65-76) or canary embryo cells (Wurtz, S., Bonnet-Piro, E. and Barban, V., Poster P45 and Wurtz, S. and Barban, V., Poster P93, XIIIth International Poxvirus and Iridovirus Symposium, Montpellier, France, Sep. 2-6, 2000). Further, it is obvious for a person skilled in the art to try whether other, commercially available avian cell lines are suitable for the propagation of Avipoxviruses. Examples for such cell lines obtainable at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) are the quail fibroblast cell lines QT6 (ATCC CRL-1708), QM7 (ATCC CRL-1962), QNR/D (ATCC CRL-2532), the quail cell line QNR/K2 (ATCC CRL-2533), the duck fibroblast cell line Duck embryo (ATCC CCL-141), the turkey lymphoblast cell line MDTC-PR19 (ATCC CRL-8135), the chicken fibroblast cell lines SL-29 (ATCC CRL-1590) and UMNSAH/DF-1 (ATCC CRL-12203) and the chicken lymphoblast cell lines DT40 (ATCC CRL-2111) and DT95 (ATCC CRL-2112).

The regulatory elements comprise inter alia suitable promoter/enhancer and termination signals that are known to the person skilled in the art as being active in avipoxvirus infected avian cells. Examples for such promoter/enhancer elements are the Vaccinia virus promoters P.sub.7.5, P.sub.H5, P.sub.11, a synthetic strong promoter P.sub.syn (see Genetically engineered viruses, edited by Ring, C. J. A. and Blair, E. D., Bios Scientific Publishers Ldt., 2001, Oxford, UK, ISBN 1 85996 103 7, chapter Vaccinia virus promoters, starting on page 110; Amano, H. et al., Virology 1999, 256: 280-290) as well as the autologous promoters of the Vaccinia virus host range genes.

Fang, Z.-Y. et al., (Virology 2001, 291: 272-284) discloses a recombinant canarypoxvirus that comprises in the viral genome three expression cassettes for HIV gag-pro, gp120/TM and a Nef/Pol poly-epitope string and an expression cassette of the E3L gene. The viral genome of said recombinant further comprises the Vaccinia Virus K3L gene. Due to the presence of the vaccinia virus E3L and K3L genes the apoptosis in infected HeLa cells was significantly reduced and the antigen production in the infected cells was enhanced. Fang et al., does not disclose that the Vaccinia virus host range gene is implicated in any increase of the titer of the recombinant avipoxvirus. Thus, the avipoxvirus according to the present invention is an avipoxvirus comprising in the viral genome a Vaccinia virus host range gene or a homologue of said host range gene, with the proviso that the host range gene is not the E3L gene if the avipoxvirus is a recombinant canarypoxvirus comprising in the viral genome expression cassettes for (I) HIV gag-pro, (II) gp120/TM and a (III) Nef/Pol poly-epitope string as well as for (IV) the Vaccinia virus K3L gene. According to a further alternative embodiment the invention concerns an avipoxvirus comprising in the viral genome a Vaccinia virus host range gene or a homologue of said host range gene, with the proviso that the host range gene is not the E3L gene if the avipoxvirus is a recombinant canarypoxvirus comprising in the viral genome the Vaccinia virus K3L gene.

The Vaccinia virus host range gene is preferably inserted into a non-essential region of the viral genome, into an intergenic region of the viral genome or into a deletion site of the viral genome. "Non essential regions" are regions that are not required for the replication of the viral genome in avian cells and not needed for the production of infectious viruses. Non-essential regions are known to the person skilled in the art and are disclosed i.a. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,598. The insertion of heterologous genes into the Canarypox virus thymidine kinase gene has been disclosed by Amano, H. et al. (Virology 1999, 256: 280-290).

"Intergenic regions" in the viral regions are regions that do not contain coding sequences and preferably no regulatory elements. The location of intergenic regions is known to the person skilled in the art (see e.g. Alfonso C. L. et al., J. Virol 2000, 74: 3815-3831). An example for an insertion into an intergenic region is shown in FIG. 3 (see Original Patent) and in the examples section. Thus, it is a preferred embodiment, in particular for a Canarypoxvirus, to insert the host range gene into the intergenic region between the Tk gene and the adjacent X gene.

A deletion site is the part of the genome of a modified avipoxvirus that is deleted with respect to the parent avipoxvirus. Deletion sites may be generated by using methods known by a person skilled in the art, starting from a wild type avipoxvirus genome.

The Avipoxvirus comprising a Vaccinia virus host range gene may be a wild-type virus comprising as only heterologous gene the Vaccinia virus host range gene, an attenuated virus comprising as only heterologous gene the Vaccinia virus host range gene or a recombinant Avipoxvirus, i.e. a wild-type or attenuated virus comprising further heterologous genes in addition to the Vaccinia virus host range gene.

An "attenuated virus" is a virus originating from a pathogenic virus but that upon infection of the host organism leads to a lower mortality and/or morbidity compared to the non-attenuated parent virus. Examples of attenuated poxviruses are known to the person skilled in the art. Examples for attenuated Avipoxvirus strains are i.a. FP-1, ALVAC or TROVAC.

The term "recombinant virus" refers to any virus that comprises in addition to the vaccinia virus host range gene an additional heterologous nucleic acid that is not naturally part of the viral genome. A heterologous gene can be, e.g. a therapeutic gene, a gene coding for a peptide comprising at least one epitope to induce an immune response, an antisense expression cassette or a ribozyme gene.

Thus, according to a preferred embodiment the invention concerns Avipoxviruses comprising in the viral genome at least one heterologous nucleic acid sequence in addition to the sequence encoding the Vaccinia virus host range gene, wherein the additional heterologous nucleic acid sequence is preferably selected from a sequence coding for at least one antigen, antigenic epitope, and/or a therapeutic compound.

In a preferred embodiment the present invention concerns the avipoxviruses according to the present invention as a vaccine. A "vaccine" is a compound, i.e. a vector or a virus that induces a specific immune response.

The heterologous nucleic acids are preferably inserted into the preferred insertion sites of the viral genome as explained above for the Vaccinia virus host range genes. Thus, preferred insertion sites for heterologous nucleic acids are i.a. intergenic regions of the viral genome, deletion sites and non-essential regions.

If the Avipoxvirus is a non-recombinant virus, i.e. an avipoxvirus that does not contain in the viral genome heterologous genes other than the Vaccinia virus host range gene, the Avipoxvirus can be used to vaccinate against avian poxvirus infections. This is of significant importance in the veterinary field, e.g. for the vaccination of poultry. In this case it is preferred to use an attenuated Avipoxvirus. If the Avipoxvirus is a recombinant virus, i.e. an avipoxvirus that contains in the viral genome heterologous genes other than the Vaccinia virus host range gene, the Avipoxvirus can be used to vaccinate against avian poxvirus infections and/or to induce an immune response against the peptide/protein that is encoded by the additional heterologous nucleic acid. This embodiment is of particular importance if a recombinant Avipoxvirus is used for the vaccination of mammals, in particular humans. In this case the additional heterologous sequence may express antigens against which it is intended to induce an immune response. Examples for such antigens are i.a. tumour antigens, antigens derived from infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, synthetic polyepitope strings and so on.

The vaccination is made by administering an Avipoxvirus according to the present invention to an animal, including an human. The mode of administration, the dose and the number of administrations can be optimized by those skilled in the art in a known manner. Most preferred for poxvirus vectors is subcutaneous or intramuscular administration.

For the preparation of a vaccine, the virus according to the invention is converted into a physiologically acceptable form. This can be done based on the experience in the preparation of poxvirus vaccines used for vaccination against smallpox (as described by Stickl, H. et al. [1974] Dtsch. med. Wschr. 99, 2386-2392). For example, the purified virus is stored at -80.degree. C. with a titer of 5.times.10.sup.8 TCID.sub.50/ml formulated in about 10 mM Tris, 140 mM NaCl pH 7.4. For the preparation of vaccine shots, e.g., 10.sup.2-10.sup.8 particles of the virus are lyophilized in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) in the presence of 2% peptone and 1% human albumin in an ampoule, preferably a glass ampoule. Alternatively, the vaccine shots can be produced by stepwise freeze-drying of the virus in a formulation. This formulation can contain additional additives such as mannitol, dextran, sugar, glycine, lactose or polyvinylpyrrolidone or other additives such as antioxidants or inert gas, stabilizers or recombinant proteins (e.g. human serum albumin) suitable for in vivo administration. The glass ampoule is then sealed and can be stored between 4.degree. C. and room temperature for several months. However, as long as no need exists the ampoule is stored preferably at temperatures below -20.degree. C. For vaccination the lyophilisate can be dissolved in 0.1 to 0.5 ml of an aqueous solution, preferably physiological saline or Tris buffer, and is administered either systemically or locally, i.e. by parenterally, intramuscularly or any other path of administration know to the skilled practitioner.

According to a related embodiment the invention concerns a method for affecting, preferably inducing an immunological response in a living animal body, including a human, comprising administering the avipoxvirus according to the present invention, the pharmaceutical composition and/or or the vaccine according to the present invention to the animal or human to be treated. According to a preferred embodiment the animal may be immuno-compromised. In immuno-compromised animals it is preferred to use severely attenuated virus strains in order to assure that the animal is not overwhelmed by productive virus replication. This may be of particular relevance if the animal is a natural host for the virus, which is the case in poultry. Since Avipoxviruses do not replicate in humans the Avipoxviruses according to the present invention are particularly safe in human beings even if the used virus strain is not an attenuated strain with respect to the natural host.

According to a further embodiment the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the avipox virus according to the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent and/or additive. The pharmaceutical composition is in fact a vaccine if the composition comprises an Avipoxvirus containing in the viral genome a heterologous nucleic acid encoding an antigen against which an immune response is to be induced. However, the heterologous nucleic acid is not restricted to this type of sequences. Instead, the heterologous sequence may also be a suicide gene, such as the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene, a therapeutic gene, such as an antisense RNA gene or ribozyme gene or any other gene having an therapeutic benefit. According to the latter alternatives the avipovirus according to the present invention may be part of a pharmaceutical composition aiming at treating disease and not primarily intending to vaccinate against a disease. If the heterologous gene is a suicide gene the pharmaceutical composition may be administered locally to a tumour, leading to the infection of the tumour cells with the recombinant avipoxvirus. The suicide gene is then expressed in the tumour cells and by administration of the prodrug that corresponds to the respective gene product of the suicide gene (e.g. gancyclovir in the case of the Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene) a selective killing of tumour cells becomes possible.

The pharmaceutical composition and/or the vaccine may generally include one or more pharmaceutical acceptable and/or approved carriers, additives, antibiotics, preservatives, adjuvants, diluents and/or stabilizers. Such auxiliary substances can be water, saline, glycerol, ethanol, wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering substances, or the like. Suitable carriers are typically large, slowly metabolized molecules such as proteins, polysaccharides, polylactic acids, polyglycollic acids, polymeric amino acids, amino acid copolymers, lipid aggregates, or the like.

According to a preferred embodiment the invention concerns a method for introducing a homologous and/or a heterologous nucleic acid sequence into target cells comprising the infection of the target cells with the avipoxvirus according to the present invention. In the context of this embodiment the terms "heterologous" and "homologous" nucleic acid refer to nucleic acids which are heterologous and homologous, respectively, with respect to the cellular genome. Thus, according to this embodiment a "homologous nucleic acid" is a sequence which is homolog to the cellular genome, such as a cellular gene or a derivative thereof, having a nucleotide sequence homology in the coding region of at least 50%, preferably of at least 70%, more preferably of at least 80%, most preferably of at least 90%. According to this embodiment the term "heterologous nucleic acid" refers to nucleic acids having no homologue in the cellular genome. Examples for such heterologous nucleic acids are viral, bacterial and fungal genes. The target cell may be any cell that can be infected with the virus according to the present invention.

Thus, the target cell may be an avian cell, such as CEF cells, or mammalian cells, including human cells. The cell may be a primary cell or a cell line. The target cell can be a cell that is cultivated in vitro (i.e. a cell that is cultivated in culture flasks) or a cell that is part of a living organism. Methods how to infect cells are known to the person skilled in the art.

The invention further concerns a method for producing a peptide and/or protein comprising the infection of a host cell with the avipoxvirus according to the present invention, cultivation of the infected host cell under suitable conditions, and isolation and/or enrichment of the peptide and/or protein expressed from the viral genome. The peptide/protein may be a Avipoxvirus protein/peptide. If the Avipoxvirus expresses a nucleic acid which is heterologous to the viral genome, the peptide/protein may also be the peptide/protein that is expressed from the heterologous nucleic acid. The host cell type is not critical as long as the cell can be infected with the virus and as long as the protein/peptide to be isolated is produced in said cell from the viral vector. The cell may be a cell in which the virus replicates productively or a cell that does not promote productive replication such as human cells.

The invention further concerns a method for producing, in particular amplification of the Avipoxvirus according to the present invention comprising the infection of a host cell with the Avipoxvirus according to the present invention, cultivation of the infected host cell under suitable conditions, and isolation and/or enrichment of the virus produced by said host cell. For amplification of the Avipoxvirus it is necessary to infect cells that allow a reproductive replication of the virus. Such cells are known to the person skilled in the art and include avian cells, i.a. CEF cells. Other suitable cells and cell lines have been disclosed above.

The invention further concerns cells infected with the Avipoxvirus according to the present invention. The cells may be cells allowing a productive replication of the Avipoxvirus, such as avian cells, in particular CEF cells or cells that can be infected by the Avipoxvirus but do not promote viral replication, such as primary human cells or human cell lines.

Methods for obtaining the Avipoxvirus according to the present invention are known to the person skilled in the art (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,598; U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,975; U.S. Pat. No. 6,340,462). According to a preferred embodiment such a method may comprise the following steps: In a first step an avipox virus genome and a DNA comprising a host range gene as defined above are introduced into cells in which the virus is able to reproductively replicate. The avipoxvirus genome may already contain heterologous nucleic acids as defined above. The avipoxvirus genome is conveniently introduced into the cell by infection of the cell with the corresponding avipoxvirus. The DNA is preferably introduced in the cell by transfection techniques known to the person skilled in the art. Such techniques include lipofection or Calcium phosphate precipitation. The DNA that is introduced into the cells is preferably capable to specifically recombine with the genomic DNA of the avipoxvirus. To this end the nucleic acid to be inserted into the viral genome is flanked by viral sequences, which direct a specific recombination of the nucleic acid into the viral genome. Depending on the type of the flanking viral sequences it is possible to insert the nucleic acid into any part of the viral genome. Preferably the insertion is done into non-essential regions of the viral genome, into intergenic-regions or into a deletion site.

After the introduction of the viral genome and the DNA comprising a host range gene into cells, virus particles comprising the host range gene in the viral genome are isolated/enriched from these cells in a second step. Methods for the isolation/enrichement of viral particles are known to the person skilled in the art. These techniques include e.g. the use of marker genes in the nucleic acid sequence that is introduced into the viral genome. If the marker gene is a selection marker (e.g. a resistance gene) only those recombinant viruses that contain the marker will replicate in infected cells under selective pressure (e.g. if an antibiotic is present). Alternatively or additionally color markers (e.g. the green fluorescent protein) could be used. If no selection marker is to be used it is possible to isolate and purify recombinant viruses by limited dilution and/or plaque purification followed by screening of the isolated viruses for the presence of heterologous nucleic acids. Of course these methods may also be combined.

Methods for obtaining an avipoxvirus comprising a Vaccinia virus host range gene and at least one additional heterologous nucleic acid are known to the person skilled in the art and correspond basically to the method for obtaining the Avipoxvirus according to the present invention as described above. Basically there are three preferred alternatives: According to a first alternative a DNA comprising the at least one additional heterologous sequence and an avipoxvirus genome already comprising an vaccinia virus host range gene in the viral genome are introduced into cells in which the virus is able to reproductively replicate. As pointed out above the DNA is preferably a DNA that is capable to specifically recombine with the genomic DNA of the avipoxvirus. Then viral particles are isolated/enriched that comprise the at least one additional heterologous sequence in the viral genome from these cells. According to a second alternative a DNA comprising a host range gene as defined above and an avipoxvirus genome already harboring the at least one additional heterologous nucleotide sequence are introduced into cells in which the virus is able to reproductively replicate, wherein the DNA is capable to specifically recombine with the genomic DNA of the avipoxvirus. This is again followed by isolating/enriching virus particles comprising the host range gene in the viral genome from these cells. According to the third alternative an avipoxvirus genome and DNA comprising the vaccinia virus host range gene and the additional heterologous nucleic acid sequence are introduced in the cells. The vaccinia virus host range gene and the additional heterologous nucleic acid sequence may be included in one DNA molecule or the host range gene and the heterologous nucleic acid molecule may be included in different DNA molecules. The further steps in the generation of recombinant viruses are as described above.

As pointed out above the inventors have shown that the expression of vaccinia virus host range genes in cells productively infected with an avipoxvirus leads to an increase of the avipoxvirus titer produced from the infected cells. According to the above embodiments the expression of the vaccinia virus host range genes was achieved by including functional vaccinia virus host range genes into the viral genome of the avipoxvirus, wherein the host range gene is under the regulation of the natural promoter sequence, any other suitable Vaccinia virus promoter, or any other promoter functional in avipoxvirus infected cells.

However, the same results can also be achieved if the functional host range gene is provided by the cell that allows productive replication of the Avipoxvirus. The Vaccinia virus host range gene may be any host range gene as defined above. Preferred host range genes are the Vaccinia virus host range genes for human cells, including the vaccinia virus genes C7L, K1L and E3L. Most preferred is C7L. If not stated otherwise all definitions given above, including the definitions of the viruses, promoters, genes, terms also apply for the following embodiments. Also the order of preferred to most preferred embodiments applies to the following section if not indicated otherwise.

Thus, according to a first alternative of this embodiment the invention concerns a cell comprising a Vaccinia virus host range gene or a homologue of said host range gene, wherein the host range gene is not part of a Vaccinia virus genome. The invention further concerns these cells infected with an Avipoxvirus, i.e. the invention further concerns cells comprising an Avipoxvirus genome. The Avipoxvirus that is to be used for the infection of the cells or the genome of the Avipoxvirus that is comprised in the cell may or may not comprise a Vaccinia virus host range gene or a homologue thereof in the viral genome. Preferably the cell comprising the Avipoxvirus genome comprises a Vaccinia virus host range gene or homologue thereof, wherein the host range gene or homologue thereof is neither part of a Vaccinia virus genome nor part of the Avipoxvirus genome.

The host range gene is preferably a host range gene or a homologue thereof as defined above, i.e. preferably a host range gene for human cells more preferably a host range gene selected from E3L, C7L and K1L.

The host range gene may be integrated in the cellular genome. Methods to generate cell lines containing a foreign gene in the cellular genome are known to the person skilled in the art. According to this embodiment the most preferred cell lines in which the vaccinia virus host range gene is to be stably integrated are avian cell lines (see above), in particular QT35 cells. According to the present invention the Vaccinia virus host range gene comprised in the cellular genome is a functional gene as defined above.

Alternatively, the host range gene may be part of a non-integrated DNA. The non-integrated DNA may be a plasmid DNA that has been introduced into the cell by conventional techniques, before or after the cell is infected with the Avipoxvirus. Moreover, the non-integrated DNA may be any DNA that persits in the cell without integrating into the cellular genome. Examples for such a persisting, non-integrating DNA are recombinant viral genomes, such as Herpesviral genomes and vectors derived from Herpesviral genomes. According to this embodiment the cell may be any cell allowing the productive replication of Avipoxviruses, including primary cells such as CEF cells.

The Avipoxvirus may be any Avipoxvirus as defined above, including recombinant Avipoxviruses.

In a second alternative of this embodiment the invention concerns a cell comprising a Vaccinia virus host range gene or a homologue of said host range gene and an Avipoxvirus genome, wherein the host range gene or the homologue of said host range gene may or may not be part of the Avipoxvirus genome. If not indicated otherwise the definitions, the preferred embodiments as well as the order of preferred to most preferred embodiments corresponds to that of the first alternative of this embodiment as shown above. In particular the host range gene may be inserted into the cellular genome or may be part of a non-integrated DNA. However, in addition to the first alternative of this embodiment the second alternative also includes the possibility that the vaccinia virus host range gene or homologue thereof is part of a vaccinia virus genome. Thus, the invention also relates to cells that comprise an Avipoxvirus genome and a Vaccinia virus genome, wherein the Vaccinia virus genome comprises at least one Vaccinia virus host range gene, in particular at least one of the preferred host range genes as defined above. The Vaccinia virus host range genes are expressed and exert a positive effect on the replication of the Avipoxvirus, resulting in an increased amount of Aviopoxvirus produced from said cells compared to cells not comprising a Vaccinia virus genome.

Cells comprising a Vaccinia virus genome as well as an Avipoxvirus genome can be easily obtained by infecting a suitable cell with both, a Vaccinia virus and an Avipoxvirus. If the infected cell allows a productive replication of both, Vaccinia virus and Avipoxvirus, the result of the coinfection is a mixture of both viruses. For most applications it is desirable to obtain an Avipoxvirus preparation without Vaccinia virus contamination. To arrive in such a Vaccinia virus free preparation it is possible either to use specific Vaccinia virus strains that infect the cells but that do not productively replicate in said cells or to use specific cells or cell lines that allow the reproductive replication of the avipoxvirus but not of the Vaccinia virus.

The above defined cells according to both alternatives of the present invention can be used in a method for amplifying an avipoxvirus characterized in that the cells comprising a Vaccinia virus host range gene or a homologue of said host range gene are infected with the avipoxvirus. The cells are cultivated and the viral particles produced by said cells are isolated/enriched. Alternatively it is possible either to introduce the Avipoxvirus in the cell before introducing the Vaccinia virus host range gene or to introduce the Avipoxvirus and the Vaccinia virus host range gene at the same time. The avipoxvirus may be any poxvirus as defined above, more particularly a wild-type Avipoxvirus, an attenuated Avipoxvirus or a recombinant Avipoxvirus lacking a Vaccinia virus host range gene in the viral genome or a wild-type Avipoxvirus, an attenuated Avipoxvirus or a recombinant Avipoxvirus having a Vaccinia virus host range gene in the viral genome

Moreover the invention concerns the use of a Vaccinia virus host range gene or an homologue thereof to increase the titer of avipoxviruses produced from avian cells after infection of said cells with said avipoxvirus, wherein the host range gene is expressed in said cells.

Furthermore the invention relates to a method for increasing the titer of avipoxviruses produced from avian cells by infecting cells comprising a Vaccinia virus host range gene or a homologue of said host range gene with said avipoxvirus.

Claim 1 of 14 Claims

1. An isolated avian cell, comprising an isolated Vaccinia virus host range gene selected from the group consisting of C18L, C17L, C7L, K1L, B4R, B23R, and B24R or a homologue with at least 90% homology in the coding part of the nucleotide sequence of said host range gene, wherein the host range gene or the homologue of said host range gene is not contained within a poxvirus genome.
 

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