BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The presence of humoral immunity (circulating antibodies) to adenovirus capsid proteins is a barrier to the use of adenovirus vectors for gene therapy. The prototype adenovirus vectors that have been developed for gene therapy are based on subgroup C adenoviruses such as that of serotype 5. The prevalence of neutralizing antibodies against subgroup C adenoviruses is generally high in human populations as a result of frequent exposure to these pathogens. This fact is likely to greatly limit the effectiveness of gene therapy vectors based on serotypes such as Ad5.

Analysis of the nature of the protective antibodies against adenoviruses has indicated that the most important target is the major capsid protein, hexon [Wolfhart (1988) J. Virol 62, 2321; Gall et al. (1996) J. Virol. 70, 2116]. Several efforts have been made to engineer the hexon so as to evade the anti-hexon antibodies by making chimeric adenoviruses harboring hexons from other serotypes [Roy et al. (1998) J. Virol. 72, 6875; U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,315; Gall et al. (1998) J. Virol. 72, 10260; Youil et al. (2002) Hum. Gene Ther. 13, 311; Wu et al. (2002) J. Virol. 76, 12775]. However, this has been largely unsuccessful when exchanges among distant serotypes are attempted.

Alternatively, investigators have proposed using adenovirus vectors that rarely cause human infections or using adenoviruses from non-human sources. However, the lack of a practical manner in which to produce large numbers of such vectors has proved to be a hindrance to developing such vectors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method of modifying adenoviruses having capsids, and particularly, including hexons, from serotypes which are not well adapted for growth in cells useful for adenoviral virion production. The method is useful for production of scalable amounts of adenoviruses. The modified, or chimeric, adenoviruses are useful for a variety of purposes which are described herein.

The invention further provides novel, isolated, adenovirus SA18 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences, vectors containing same, cell lines containing such SA18 sequences and/or vectors, and uses thereof.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides chimeric adenoviruses composed of the left terminal end and right terminal end of an adenovirus which can be cultured in the selected host cell, and the internal regions encoding, at a minimum, the capsid proteins of another adenovirus serotype. This invention is particularly advantageous for generating adenoviruses having serotypes which are difficult to culture in a desired cell type. The invention thus permits generation of chimeric adenoviruses of varying serotypes.

In the embodiments illustrated herein, chimeric adenoviruses have been constructed where most structural proteins, and not merely the hexon or fiber, are derived from an adenovirus of an unrelated serotype, thereby preserving the majority of the protein-protein interactions that are involved in capsid assembly. Most of the early genes such as those encoded by the adenovirus E1 and E4 regions that are responsible for transcription regulation and regulation of the host cell cycle, are retained from a different serotype that is known to result in high titer virus generation in the commonly used cell types, such as HEK 293 which supplies the Ad5 E1 proteins in trans.

In another embodiment, the invention provides novel nucleic acid and amino acid sequences from Ad SA18, which was originally isolated from vervet monkey [ATCC VR-943]. The present invention further provides novel adenovirus vectors and packaging cell lines to produce those vectors for use in the in vitro production of recombinant proteins or fragments or other reagents. The invention further provides compositions for use in delivering a heterologous molecule for therapeutic or vaccine purposes. Such therapeutic or vaccine compositions contain the adenoviral vectors carrying an inserted heterologous molecule. In addition, novel sequences of the invention are useful in providing the essential helper functions required for production of recombinant adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors. Thus, the invention provides helper constructs, methods and cell lines which use these sequences in such production methods.

The term â€œsubstantial homologyâ€ or â€œsubstantial similarity,â€ when referring to a nucleic acid or fragment thereof, indicates that, when optimally aligned with appropriate nucleotide insertions or deletions with another nucleic acid (or its complementary strand), there is nucleotide sequence identity in at least about 95 to 99% of the aligned sequences.

The term â€œsubstantial homologyâ€ or â€œsubstantial similarity,â€ when referring to amino acids or fragments thereof, indicates that, when optimally aligned with appropriate amino acid insertions or deletions with another amino acid (or its complementary strand), there is amino acid sequence identity in at least about 95 to 99% of the aligned sequences. Preferably, the homology is over full-length sequence, or a protein thereof, or a fragment thereof which is at least 8 amino acids, or more desirably, at least 15 amino acids in length. Examples of suitable fragments are described herein.

The term â€œpercent sequence identityâ€ or â€œidenticalâ€ in the context of nucleic acid sequences refers to the residues in the two sequences that are the same when aligned for maximum correspondence. The length of sequence identity comparison may be over the full-length of the genome (e.g., about 36 kbp), the full-length of an open reading frame of a gene, protein, subunit, or enzyme [see, e.g., the tables providing the adenoviral coding regions], or a fragment of at least about 500 to 5000 nucleotides, is desired. However, identity among smaller fragments, e.g., of at least about nine nucleotides, usually at least about 20 to 24 nucleotides, at least about 28 to 32 nucleotides, at least about 36 or more nucleotides, may also be desired. Similarly, â€œpercent sequence identityâ€ may be readily determined for amino acid sequences, over the full-length of a protein, or a fragment thereof. Suitably, a fragment is at least about 8 amino acids in length, and may be up to about 700 amino acids. Examples of suitable fragments are described herein.

Identity is readily determined using such algorithms and computer programs as are defined herein at default settings. Preferably, such identity is over the full length of the protein, enzyme, subunit, or over a fragment of at least about 8 amino acids in length. However, identity may be based upon shorter regions, where suited to the use to which the identical gene product is being put.

As described herein, alignments are performed using any of a variety of publicly or commercially available Multiple Sequence Alignment Programs, such as â€œClustal Wâ€ , accessible through Web Servers on the internet. Alternatively, Vector NTI utilities are also used. There are also a number of algorithms known in the art that can be used to measure nucleotide sequence identity, including those contained in the programs described above. As another example, polynucleotide sequences can be compared using Fasta, a program in GCG Version 6.1. Fasta provides alignments and percent sequence identity of the regions of the best overlap between the query and search sequences. For instance, percent sequence identity between nucleic acid sequences can be determined using Fasta with its default parameters (a word size of 6 and the NOPAM factor for the scoring matrix) as provided in GCG Version 6.1, herein incorporated by reference. Similarly programs are available for performing amino acid alignments. Generally, these programs are used at default settings, although one of skill in the art can alter these settings as needed. Alternatively, one of skill in the art can utilize another algorithm or computer program that provides at least the level of identity or alignment as that provided by the referenced algorithms and programs.

As used throughout this specification and the claims, the term â€œcompriseâ€ and its variants including, â€œcomprisesâ€ , â€œcomprisingâ€ , among other variants, is inclusive of other components, elements, integers, steps and the like. The term â€œconsists ofâ€ or â€œconsisting ofâ€ are exclusive of other components, elements, integers, steps and the like.

Except where otherwise specified, the term â€œvectorâ€ includes any genetic element known in the art which will deliver a target molecule to a cell, including, naked DNA, a plasmid, phage, transposon, cosmids, episomes, viruses, etc.

By â€œminigeneâ€ is meant the combination of a selected heterologous gene and the other regulatory elements necessary to drive translation, transcription and/or expression of the gene product in a host cell.

As used herein, the term â€œtranscomplementâ€ refers to when a gene (gene product) of one adenovirus serotype supplies an adenovirus serotype lacking this gene (gene product) from another serotype with the missing function. For example, human adenovirus serotype 5 E1a and E1b functions are known to transcomplement E1-deleted chimpanzee adenovirus Pan 9. Similarly, the inventors have found that human Ad5 E1 transcomplements E1-deleted chimpanzee adenovirus serotypes Pan5, Pan6, Pan7, and simian adenovirus serotypes SV1, SV25 and SV39. Other examples of transcomplementing serotypes include human Ad5 and human Ad2, Ad3, Ad4, Ad5, Ad7, and Adl2.

The term â€œfunctionally deletedâ€ or â€œfunctional deletionâ€ means that a sufficient amount of the gene region is removed or otherwise damaged, e.g., by mutation or modification, so that the gene region is no longer capable of producing functional products of gene expression. If desired, the entire gene region may be removed. Other suitable sites for gene disruption or deletion are discussed elsewhere in the application.

The term â€œfunctionalâ€ refers to a product (e.g., a protein or peptide) which performs its native function, although not necessarily at the same level as the native product. The term â€œfunctionalâ€ may also refer to a gene which encodes and from which a desired product can be expressed.

I. Chimeric Adenoviral Vectors

The compositions of this invention include chimeric adenoviral vectors that deliver a heterologous molecule to cells. For delivery of such a heterologous molecule, the vector can be a plasmid or, preferably, a chimeric adenovirus. The chimeric adenoviruses of the invention include adenovirus DNA from at least two source serotypes, a â€œdonating serotypeâ€ and a â€œparental adenovirusâ€ as described in more detail herein, and a minigene.

Because the adenoviral genome contains open reading frames on both strands, in many instances reference is made herein to 5â€² and 3â€² ends of the various regions to avoid confusion between specific open reading frames and gene regions. Thus, when reference is made herein to the â€œleftâ€ and â€œrightâ€ end of the adenoviral genome, this reference is to the ends of the approximately 36 kb adenoviral genome when depicted in schematic form as is conventional in the art [see, e.g., Horwitz, â€œAdenoviridae and Their Replicationâ€ , in VIROLOGY, 2d ed., pp. 1679-1721 (1990)]. Thus, as used herein, the â€œleft terminal endâ€ of the adenoviral genome refers to portion of the adenoviral genome which, when the genome is depicted schematically in linear form, is located at the extreme left end of the schematic. Typically, the left end refers to be portion of the genome beginning at map unit 0 and extending to the right to include at least the 5â€² inverted terminal repeats (ITRs), and excludes the internal regions of the genome encoding the structural genes. As used herein, the â€œright terminal endâ€ of the adenoviral genome refers to portion of the adenoviral genome which, when the genome is depicted schematically in linear form, is located at the extreme right end of the schematic. Typically, the right end of the adenoviral genome refers to be portion of the genome ending at map unit 36 and extending to the left to include at least the 3â€² ITRs, and excludes the internal regions of the genome encoding the structural genes.

A. Adenovirus Regulatory Sequences

- 1. Serotype

The selection of the adenovirus serotype donating its left terminal end and right terminal end can be readily made by one of skill in the art from among serotypes which can readily be cultured in the desired cell line. Among other factors which may be considered in selecting the serotype of the donating serotype is compatibility with the adenovirus serotype which will be supplying the internal regions at the location at which their sequences are hybridized.

Suitable adenoviruses for donating their left and right termini are available from the American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va., US (ATCC), a variety of academic and commercial sources, or the desired regions of the donating adenoviruses may be synthesized using known techniques with reference to sequences published in the literature or available from databases (e.g., GenBank, etc.). Examples of suitable donating adenoviruses include, without limitation, human adenovirus serotypes 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 12, and further including any of the presently identified human types [see, e.g., Horwitz, â€œAdenoviridae and Their Replicationâ€ , in VIROLOGY, 2d ed., pp. 1679-1721 (1990)] which can be cultured in the desired cell. Similarly adenoviruses known to infect non-human primates (e.g., chimpanzees, rhesus, macaque, and other simian species) or other non-human mammals and which grow in the desired cell can be employed in the vector constructs of this invention. Such serotypes include, without limitation, chimpanzee adenoviruses Pan 5 [VR-591], Pan6 [VR-592], Pan7 [VR-593], and C68 (Pan9), described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,716; and simian adenoviruses including, without limitation SV1 [VR-195]; SV25 [SV-201]; SV35; SV15; SV-34; SV-36; SV-37, and baboon adenovirus [VR-275], among others. In the following examples, the human 293 cells and adenovirus type 5 (Ad5), Pan9, and Ad40 are used for convenience. However, one of skill in the art will understand that other cell lines and/or comparable regions derived from other adenoviral strains may be readily selected and used in the present invention in the place of (or in combination with) these serotypes.

- 2. Sequences

The minimum sequences which must be supplied by the adenovirus donating its left terminal end and its right terminal end include the 5â€² cis-elements and the 3â€² cis-elements necessary for replication and packaging. Typically, the 5â€² cis-elements necessary for packaging and replication include the 5â€² inverted terminal repeat (ITR) sequences (which functions as origins of replication) and the native 5â€² packaging enhancer domains (that contain sequences necessary for packaging linear Ad genomes and enhancer elements for the E1 promoter). The right end of the adenoviral genome includes the 3â€² cis-elements (including the ITRs) necessary for packaging and encapsidation. Desirably, the adenovirus serotype donating its left and right termini and/or an adenovirus serotype which transcomplements the serotype of the donating adenovirus, further provides the functions of the necessary adenovirus early genes, including E1 (E1a and E1b), E2 (E2a and E2b), and E4 (including at least the ORF6 region). E3 is not essential and may be deleted as desired, e.g., for insertion of a transgene in this region or to provide space for a transgene inserted in another region (typically for packaging it is desirable for the total adenoviral genome to be under 36 kb).

In certain embodiments, the necessary adenovirus early genes are contained in the chimeric construct of the invention. In other embodiment, one or more of the necessary adenovirus early genes can be provided by the packaging host cell or in trans.

In general, the chimeric adenovirus of the invention contains regulatory sequences from the donating adenovirus serotype, or a transcomplementing serotype, to provide the chimeric adenovirus with compatible regulatory proteins. Optionally, one or more of the necessary adenoviral structural genes is provided by the adenovirus donating its left terminal and its right terminal end.

In certain embodiments, the chimeric adenovirus further contains one or more functional adenovirus genes, including, the Endoprotease open reading frame, DNA binding protein, 100 kDa scaffolding protein, 33 KDa protein, protein VIII, pTP, 52/55 kDa protein, protein VII, Mu and/or protein VI from the adenovirus serotype donating its left and right termini. Where all of these genes are derived from the adenovirus serotype donating the 5â€² and 3â€² ITRs, a â€œpseudotypedâ€ chimeric is formed. Optionally, one or more of the genes can be hybrids formed from the fusion of the donating adenovirus serotype and the parental adenovirus serotype providing the capsid proteins (e.g., without limitation, polymerase, terminal protein, IIIa protein). Suitably, these genes express functional proteins which permit packaging of the adenovirus genes into the capsid. Alternatively, one or more of these proteins (whether hybrid or non-hybrid) can be functionally deleted in the chimeric adenovirus. Where desired, any necessary proteins functionally deleted in the chimeric adenovirus can be expressed in trans in the packaging cell.

B. Parental Adenovirus Structural Proteins

- 1. Serotypes

This invention is particularly well adapted for use in generating chimeric adenoviruses in which the capsid proteins are from a parental adenovirus which does not efficiently grow in a desirable host cell. The selection of the parental adenovirus serotype providing the internal regions can be readily made by one of skill in the art based on the information provided herein.

A variety of suitable adenoviruses can serve as a parental adenovirus supplying the regions encoding the structural (i.e., capsid proteins). Many of such adenoviruses can be obtained from the same sources as described above for the donating adenovirus serotypes. Examples of suitable parental adenovirus serotypes includes, without limitation, human adenovirus serotype 40, among others [see, e.g., Horwitz, â€œAdenoviridae and Their Replicationâ€ , in VIROLOGY, 2d ed., pp. 1679-1721 (1990)], and adenoviruses known to infect non-human primates (e.g., chimpanzees, rhesus, macaque, and other simian species) or other non-human mammals, including, without limitation, chimpanzee adenovirus C1, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,716; simian adenoviruses, and baboon adenoviruses, among others. In addition, the parental adenovirus supplying the internal regions may be from a non-naturally occurring adenovirus serotype, such as may be generated using a variety of techniques known to those of skill in the art.

In one embodiment illustrated herein, a chimeric virus that was constructed was that between the chimpanzee adenoviruses Pan-5 and C1 exhibited a higher titer in human 293 cells than the wild-type parental virus. However, the invention is not limited to the use of these chimpanzee adenoviruses, or to the combination of simian-simian, human-human, or simian-human chimeric adenoviruses. For example, it may be desirable to utilize bovine or canine adenoviruses, or other non-human mammalian adenoviruses which do not naturally infect and/or replicate in human cells.

In the following examples, the human adenovirus type 40 (Ad40) and the chimpanzee adenovirus C1, simian Pan 5 and Ad40, and Pan 5 and simian adenovirus SA18, are used. However, one of skill in the art will understand that other adenoviral serotypes may be readily selected and used in the present invention in the place of (or in combination with) these serotypes.

- 2. Sequences

The parental adenovirus provides to the chimeric construct of the invention its internal regions which includes structural proteins necessary for generating a capsid having the desired characteristics of the parental adenovirus. These desired characteristics include, but are not limited to, the ability to infect target cells and delivery a heterologous transgene, the ability to elude neutralizing antibodies directed to another adenovirus serotype (i.e., avoiding clearance due to cross-reactivity), and/or the ability to infect cells in the absence of an immune response to the chimeric adenovirus. The advantages of such characteristics may be most readily apparent in a regimen which involves repeat delivery of adenoviral vectors. The left and right termini of the parent adenovirus, including at least the 5â€² ITRs, the E1 region, the E4 region and the 3â€² ITRs are non-functional and, preferably, completely absent. Optionally, all adenovirus regulatory proteins from this parental adenovirus are non-functional and only the structural proteins (or selected structural proteins) are retained.

At a minimum, the parental adenovirus provides the adenoviral late region encoding the hexon protein. Suitably, the parental adenovirus further provides the late regions encoding the penton and the fiber. In certain embodiments, all of the functional adenoviral late regions, including L1 (encoding 52/55 Da, IIIa proteins), L2 (encoding penton, VII, V, Mu proteins), L3 (encoding VI, hexon, Endoprotease), L4 (encoding 100 kD, 33 kD, VIII proteins) and L5 (encoding fiber protein) are supplied by the parental adenovirus. Optionally, one or more of these late gene functions, with the exception of those encoding the hexon, penton and fiber proteins, can be functionally deleted. Any necessary structural proteins may be supplied in trans.

Thus, in certain embodiments, the chimeric adenovirus further contains one or more functional adenovirus genes, including, the Endoprotease open reading frame, DNA binding protein, 100 kDa scaffolding protein, 33 kDa protein, protein VIII, pTP, 52/55 kDa protein, protein VII, Mu and/or protein VI from the parental adenovirus donating its internal regions. Optionally, one or more of the genes can be hybrids formed from the fusion of the donating adenovirus serotype and the parental adenovirus serotype providing the capsid proteins, as described above.

C. The â€œMinigeneâ€

Typically, an adenoviral vector of the invention is designed to contain a minigene which may be inserted into the site of a partially deleted, fully deleted (absent), or disrupted adenoviral gene. For example, the minigene may be located in the site of such a functional E1 deletion or functional E3 deletion, or another suitable site.

The methods employed for the selection of the transgene, the cloning and construction of the â€œminigeneâ€ and its insertion into the viral vector are within the skill in the art given the teachings provided herein.

- 1. The transgene

The transgene is a nucleic acid sequence, heterologous to the vector sequences flanking the transgene, which encodes a polypeptide, protein, or other product, of interest. The nucleic acid coding sequence is operatively linked to regulatory components in a manner which permits transgene transcription, translation, and/or expression in a host cell.

The composition of the transgene sequence will depend upon the use to which the adenoviral vector will be put. For example, the adenoviral vector may be used as a helper virus in production of recombinant adeno-associated viruses or in production of recombinant adenoviruses deleted of essential adenoviral gene functions which are supplied by the adenoviral vector, or for a variety of production uses. Alternatively, the adenoviral vector may be used for diagnostic purposes.

One type of transgene sequence includes a reporter sequence, which upon expression produces a detectable signal. Such reporter sequences include, without limitation, DNA sequences encoding Î²-lactamase, Î²-galactosidase (LacZ), alkaline phosphatase, thymidine kinase, green fluorescent protein (GFP), chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), luciferase, membrane bound proteins including, for example, CD2, CD4, CD8, the influenza hemagglutinin protein, and others well known in the art, to which high affinity antibodies directed thereto exist or can be produced by conventional means, and fusion proteins comprising a membrane bound protein appropriately fused to an antigen tag domain from, among others, hemagglutinin or Myc. These coding sequences, when associated with regulatory elements which drive their expression, provide signals detectable by conventional means, including enzymatic, radiographic, colorimetric, fluorescence or other spectrographic assays, fluorescent activating cell sorting assays and immunological assays, including enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunohistochemistry. For example, where the marker sequence is the LacZ gene, the presence of the vector carrying the signal is detected by assays for beta-galactosidase activity. Where the transgene is GFP or luciferase, the vector carrying the signal may be measured visually by color or light production in a luminometer.

However, desirably, the transgene is a non-marker sequence encoding a product which is useful in biology and medicine, such as proteins, peptides, RNA, enzymes, or catalytic RNAs. Desirable RNA molecules include tRNA, dsRNA, ribosomal RNA, si RNAs, small hairpin RNAs, trans-splicing RNAs, catalytic RNAs, and antisense RNAs. One example of a useful RNA sequence is a sequence which extinguishes expression of a targeted nucleic acid sequence in the treated animal.

The transgene may be used for treatment, e.g., of genetic deficiencies, as a cancer therapeutic or vaccine, for induction of an immune response, and/or for prophylactic vaccine purposes. As used herein, induction of an immune response refers to the ability of a molecule (e.g., a gene product) to induce a T cell and/or a humoral immune response to the molecule. The invention further includes using multiple transgenes, e.g., to correct or ameliorate a condition caused by a multi-subunit protein. In certain situations, a different transgene may be used to encode each subunit of a protein, or to encode different peptides or proteins. This is desirable when the size of the DNA encoding the protein subunit is large, e.g., for an immunoglobulin, the platelet-derived growth factor, or a dystrophin protein. In order for the cell to produce the multi-subunit protein, a cell is infected with the recombinant virus containing each of the different subunits. Alternatively, different subunits of a protein may be encoded by the same transgene. In this case, a single transgene includes the DNA encoding each of the subunits, with the DNA for each subunit separated by an internal ribozyme entry site (IRES). This is desirable when the size of the DNA encoding each of the subunits is small, e.g., the total size of the DNA encoding the subunits and the IRES is less than five kilobases. As an alternative to an IRES, the DNA may be separated by sequences encoding a 2A peptide, which self-cleaves in a post-translational event. See, e.g., M.L. Donnelly, et al, J. Gen. Virol., 78(Pt 1):13-21 (January 1997); Furler, S., etal, Gene Ther., 8(11):864-873 (June 2001); Klump H., etal., Gene Ther., 8(10):81 1-817 (May 2001). This 2A peptide is significantly smaller than an IRES, making it well suited for use when space is a limiting factor. However, the selected transgene may encode any biologically active product or other product, e.g., a product desirable for study.

Suitable transgenes may be readily selected by one of skill in the art. The selection of the transgene is not considered to be a limitation of this invention.

- 2. Vector and Transgene Regulatory Elements

In addition to the major elements identified above for the minigene, the adenoviral vector also includes conventional control elements which are operably linked to the transgene in a manner that permits its transcription, translation and/or expression in a cell transfected with the plasmid vector or infected with the virus produced by the invention. As used herein, â€œoperably linkedâ€ sequences include both expression control sequences that are contiguous with the gene of interest and expression control sequences that act in trans or at a distance to control the gene of interest.

Expression control sequences include appropriate transcription initiation, termination, promoter and enhancer sequences; efficient RNA processing signals such as splicing and polyadenylation (polyA) signals; sequences that stabilize cytoplasmic mRNA; sequences that enhance translation efficiency (i.e., Kozak consensus sequence); sequences that enhance protein stability; and when desired, sequences that enhance secretion of the encoded product. A great number of expression control sequences, including promoters which are native, constitutive, inducible and/or tissue-specific, are known in the art and may be utilized.

Examples of constitutive promoters include, without limitation, the retroviral Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) LTR promoter (optionally with the RSV enhancer), the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter (optionally with the CMV enhancer) [see, e.g., Boshart et al, Cell, 41:521-530 (1985)], the SV40 promoter, the dihydrofolate reductase promoter, the Î²-actin promoter, the phosphoglycerol kinase (PGK) promoter, and the EF1a promoter [Invitrogen].

Inducible promoters allow regulation of gene expression and can be regulated by exogenously supplied compounds, environmental factors such as temperature, or the presence of a specific physiological state, e.g., acute phase, a particular differentiation state of the cell, or in replicating cells only. Inducible promoters and inducible systems are available from a variety of commercial sources, including, without limitation, Invitrogen, Clontech and Ariad. Many other systems have been described and can be readily selected by one of skill in the art. For example, inducible promoters include the zinc-inducible sheep metallothionine (MT) promoter and the dexamethasone (Dex)-inducible mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) promoter. Other inducible systems include the T7 polymerase promoter system [WO 98/10088]; the ecdysone insect promoter [No et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93:3346-3351 (1996)], the tetracycline-repressible system [Gossen et al, Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA, 89:5547-5551 (1992)], the tetracycline-inducible system [Gossen et al, Science, 268:1766-1769 (1995), see also Harvey et al, Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol., 2:512-518 (1998)]. Other systems include the FK506 dimer, VP16 or p65 using castradiol, diphenol murislerone, the RU486-inducible system [Wang et al, Nat. Biotech., 15:239-243 (1997) and Wang et al, Gene Ther., 4:432-441 (1997)] and the rapamycin-inducible system [Magari et al, J. Clin. Invest., 100:2865-2872 (1997)]. The effectiveness of some inducible promoters increases over time. In such cases one can enhance the effectiveness of such systems by inserting multiple repressors in tandem, e.g., TetR linked to a TetR by an IRES. Alternatively, one can wait at least 3 days before screening for the desired function. One can enhance expression of desired proteins by known means to enhance the effectiveness of this system. For example, using the Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus Posttranscriptional Regulatory Element (WPRE).

In another embodiment, the native promoter for the transgene will be used. The native promoter may be preferred when it is desired that expression of the transgene should mimic the native expression. The native promoter may be used when expression of the transgene must be regulated temporally or developmentally, or in a tissue-specific manner, or in response to specific transcriptional stimuli. In a further embodiment, other native expression control elements, such as enhancer elements, polyadenylation sites or Kozak consensus sequences may also be used to mimic the native expression.

Another embodiment of the transgene includes a transgene operably linked to a tissue-specific promoter. For instance, if expression in skeletal muscle is desired, a promoter active in muscle should be used. These include the promoters from genes encoding skeletal Î²-actin, myosin light chain 2A, dystrophin, muscle creatine kinase, as well as synthetic muscle promoters with activities higher than naturally occurring promoters (see Li et al., Nat. Biotech., 17:241-245 (1999)). Examples of promoters that are tissue-specific are known for liver (albumin, Miyatake et al., J. Virol., 71:5124-32 (1997); hepatitis B virus core promoter, Sandig et al., Gene Ther., 3:1002-9 (1996); alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Arbuthnot et al., Hum. Gene Ther., 7:1503-14 (1996)), bone osteocalcin (Stein et al., Mol. Biol. Rep., 24:185-96 (1997)); bone sialoprotein (Chen et al., J. Bone Miner. Res., 11:654-64 (1996)), lymphocytes (CD2, Hansal et al., J. Immunol., 161:1063-8 (1998); immunoglobulin heavy chain; T cell receptor chain), neuronal such as neuron-specific enolase (NSE) promoter (Andersen et al., Cell. Mol. Neurobiol., 13:503-15 (1993)), neurofilament light-chain gene (Piccioli et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:5611-5 (1991)), and the neuron-specific vgf gene (Piccioli et al., Neuron, 15:373-84 (1995)), among others.

Optionally, vectors carrying transgenes encoding therapeutically useful or immunogenic products may also include selectable markers or reporter genes may include sequences encoding geneticin, hygromicin or purimycin resistance, among others. Such selectable reporters or marker genes (preferably located outside the viral genome to be packaged into a viral particle) can be used to signal the presence of the plasmids in bacterial cells, such as ampicillin resistance. Other components of the vector may include an origin of replication. Selection of these and other promoters and vector elements are conventional and many such sequences are available [see, e.g., Sambrook et al, and references cited therein].

These vectors are generated using the techniques and sequences provided herein, in conjunction with techniques known to those of skill in the art. Such techniques include conventional cloning techniques of cDNA such as those described in texts [Sambrook et al, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.], use of overlapping oligonucleotide sequences of the adenovirus genomes, polymerase chain reaction, and any suitable method which provides the desired nucleotide sequence.

II. Production of the Recombinant Viral Particle

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of generating recombinant chimeric adenoviral particles in which the capsid of the chimeric adenovirus is of a serotype incapable of efficient growth in the selected host cell. A vector suitable for production of recombinant chimeric adenoviral particles can be generated homologous recombination between a first vector containing the left end of the chimeric adenoviral genome and a second vector containing the right end of the chimeric adenoviral genome. However, any suitable methodology known to those of skill in the art can be readily utilized to generate a vector suitable to generate a production vector, preferably which contains the entire chimeric adenoviral genome, including a minigene. This production vector is then introduced into a host cell in which the adenoviral capsid protein is assembled and the chimeric adenoviral particle assembled as described.

The chimeric adenoviruses of the invention include those in which one or more adenoviral genes are absent, or otherwise rendered non-functional. If any of the missing gene functions are essential to the replication and infectivity of the adenoviral particle, these functions are supplied by a complementation (or transcomplementing) cell line or a helper vector expressing these functions during production of the chimeric adenoviral particle.

Examples of chimeric adenoviruses containing such missing adenoviral gene functions include those which are partially or completely deleted in the E1a and/or E1b gene. In such a case, the E1 gene functions can be supplied by the packaging host cell, permitting the chimeric construct to be deleted of E1 gene functions and, if desired, for a transgene to be inserted in this region. Optionally, the E1 gene can be of a serotype which transcomplements the serotype providing the other adenovirus sequences in order to further reduce the possibility of recombination and improve safety. In other embodiments, it is desirable to retain an intact E1a and/or E1b region in the recombinant adenoviruses. Such an intact E1 region may be located in its native location in the adenoviral genome or placed in the site of a deletion in the native adenoviral genome (e.g., in the E3 region).

In another example, all or a portion of the adenovirus delayed early gene E3 may be eliminated from the chimeric adenovirus. The function of adenovirus E3 is believed to be irrelevant to the function and production of the recombinant virus particle. Chimeric adenovirus vectors may also be constructed having a deletion of at least the ORF6 region of the E4 gene, and more desirably because of the redundancy in the function of this region, the entire E4 region. Still another vector of this invention contains a deletion in the delayed early gene E2a. Similarly, deletions in the intermediate genes IX and IVa₂may be useful for some purposes. Optionally, deletions may also be made in selected portions of the late genes L1 through L5, as described above.

Other deletions may be made in the other structural or non-structural adenovirus genes. The above-discussed deletions may be used individually, i.e., an adenovirus sequence for use in the present invention may contain deletions in only a single region. Alternatively, deletions of entire genes or portions thereof effective to destroy their biological activity may be used in any combination. For example, in one exemplary vector, the adenovirus sequence may have deletions of the E1 genes and the E4 gene, or of the E1, E2a and E3 genes, or of the E1 and E3 genes, or of E1, E2a and E4 genes, with or without deletion of E3, and so on. As discussed above, such deletions may be used in combination with other mutations, such as temperature-sensitive mutations, to achieve a desired result.

Examples of suitable transcomplementing serotypes are provided above. The use of transcomplementing serotypes can be particularly advantageous where there is diversity between the Ad sequences in the vector of the invention and the human AdE1 sequences found in currently available packaging cells. In such cases, the use of the current human E1-containing cells prevents the generation of replication-competent adenoviruses during the replication and production process. However, in certain circumstances, it will be desirable to utilize a cell line which expresses the E1 gene products can be utilized for production of an E1-deleted simian adenovirus. Such cell lines have been described. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,716.

A. Packaging Host Cells

Suitably, the packaging host cell is selected from among cells in which the adenovirus serotype donating the left and right terminal ends of the chimeric genome are capable of efficient growth. The host cells are preferably of mammalian origin, and most preferably are of non-human primate or human origin.

Particularly desirable host cells are selected from among any mammalian species, including, without limitation, cells such as A549 [ATCC Accession No. CCL 185], 911 cells, WEHI, 3T3, 10T1/2, HEK 293 cells or PERC6 (both of which express functional adenoviral E1) [Fallaux, F J et al, (1998), Hum Gene Ther, 9:1909-1917], Saos, C2C12, L cells, HT1080, HepG2, HeLa [ATCC Accession No. CCL 2], KB [CCL 17], Detroit [e.g., Detroit 510, CCL 72] and WI-38 [CCL 75] cells, and primary fibroblast, hepatocyte and myoblast cells derived from mammals including human, monkey, mouse, rat, rabbit, and hamster. These cell lines are all available from the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. Other suitable cell lines may be obtained from other sources. The selection of the mammalian species providing the cells is not a limitation of this invention; nor is the type of mammalian cell, i.e., fibroblast, hepatocyte, tumor cell, etc.

As described above, a chimeric adenovirus of the invention can lack one or more functional adenoviral regulatory and/or structural genes which are supplied either by the host cell or in trans to effect packaging of the chimeric adenovirus into the viral capsid to generate the viral particle. Thus, the ability of a selected host cell to supply transcomplementing adenoviral sequences may be taken into consideration in selecting a desired host cell.

In one example, the cells are from a stable cell line which expresses adenovirus E1a and E1b functions from a cell line which transcomplements the adenovirus serotype which donates the left and right termini to the chimera of the invention, permitting the chimera to be E1-deleted. Alternatively, where the cell line does not transcomplement the adenovirus donating the termini, E1 functions may be provided by the chimera, or in trans.

If desired, one may utilize the sequences provided herein to generate a packaging cell or cell line that expresses, at a minimum, the adenovirus E1 gene from the adenovirus serotype donating the 5â€² ITR under the transcriptional control of a promoter for expression, or a transcomplementing serotype, in a selected parent cell line. Inducible or constitutive promoters may be employed for this purpose. Examples of such promoters are described in detail elsewhere in this specification. A parent cell is selected for the generation of a novel cell line expressing any desired adenovirus or adenovirus gene, including, e.g., a human Ad5, AdPan5, Pan6, Pan7, SV1, SV25 or SV39 gene. Without limitation, such a parent cell line may be HeLa [ATCC Accession No. CCL 2], A549 [ATCC Accession No. CCL 185], HEK 293, KB [CCL 17], Detroit [e.g., Detroit 510, CCL 72] and WI-38 [CCL 75] cells, among others. Many of these cell lines are all available from the ATCC. Other suitable parent cell lines may be obtained from other sources.

Such E1-expressing cell lines are useful in the generation of chimeric adenovirus E1 deleted vectors. Additionally, or alternatively, the invention provides cell lines that express one or more simian adenoviral gene products, e.g., E1a, E1b, E2a, and/or E4 ORF6, can be constructed using essentially the same procedures for use in the generation of chimeric viral vectors. Such cell lines can be utilized to transcomplement adenovirus vectors deleted in the essential genes that encode those products, or to provide helper functions necessary for packaging of a helper-dependent virus (e.g., adeno-associated virus). The preparation of a host cell according to this invention involves techniques such as assembly of selected DNA sequences. This assembly may be accomplished utilizing conventional techniques. Such techniques include cDNA and genomic cloning, which are well known and are described in Sambrook et al., cited above, use of overlapping oligonucleotide sequences of the adenovirus genomes, combined with polymerase chain reaction, synthetic methods, and any other suitable methods which provide the desired nucleotide sequence.

In still another alternative, the essential adenoviral gene products are provided in trans by the adenoviral vector and/or helper virus. In such an instance, a suitable host cell can be selected from any biological organism, including prokaryotic (e.g., bacterial) cells, and eukaryotic cells, including, insect cells, yeast cells and mammalian cells. Particularly desirable host cells are selected from among any mammalian species, including, without limitation, cells such as A549, WEHI, 3T3, 10T1/2, HEK 293 cells or PERC6 (both of which express functional adenoviral E1) [Fallaux, F J et al, (1998), Hum Gene Ther, 9:1909-1917], Saos, C2C12, L cells, HT1080, HepG2 and primary fibroblast, hepatocyte and myoblast cells derived from mammals including human, monkey, mouse, rat, rabbit, and hamster. The selection of the mammalian species providing the cells is not a limitation of this invention; nor is the type of mammalian cell, i.e., fibroblast, hepatocyte, tumor cell, etc.

B. Helper Vectors

Thus, depending upon the adenovirus gene content of the adenoviral vectors and any adenoviral gene functions expressed from the host cell, a helper vector may be necessary to provide sufficient adenovirus gene sequences necessary to produce an infective recombinant viral particle containing the minigene. See, for example, the techniques described for preparation of a â€œminimalâ€ human Ad vector in International Patent Application WO96/13597, published May 9, 1996, and incorporated herein by reference. Suitably, these helper vectors may be non-replicating genetic elements, a plasmid, or a virus.

Useful helper vectors contain selected adenovirus gene sequences not present in the adenovirus vector construct and/or not expressed by the packaging cell line in which the vector is transfected. In one embodiment, the helper virus is replication-defective and contains a variety of adenovirus genes in addition to the sequences described above. Such a helper vector is desirably used in combination with an E1-expressing cell line.

Helper vectors may be formed into poly-cation conjugates as described in Wu et al, J. Biol. Chem., 264:16985-16987 (1989); K. J. Fisher and J. M. Wilson, Biochem. J., 299:49 (Apr. 1, 1994). A helper vector may optionally contain a second reporter minigene. A number of such reporter genes are known to the art. The presence of a reporter gene on the helper virus which is different from the transgene on the adenovirus vector allows both the Ad vector and the helper vector to be independently monitored. This second reporter is used to enable separation between the resulting recombinant virus and the helper virus upon purification.

C. Assembly of Viral Particle and Transfection of a Cell Line

Generally, when delivering the vector comprising the minigene by transfection, the vector is delivered in an amount from about 5 Î¼g to about 100 Î¼g DNA, and preferably about 10 to about 50 Î¼g DNA to about 1Ã—10⁴cells to about 1Ã—10³cells, and preferably about 10⁵cells. However, the relative amounts of vector DNA to host cells may be adjusted, taking into consideration such factors as the selected vector, the delivery method and the host cells selected.

Introduction into the host cell of the vector may be achieved by any means known in the art or as disclosed above, including transfection, and infection. One or more of the adenoviral genes may be stably integrated into the genome of the host cell, stably expressed as episomes, or expressed transiently. The gene products may all be expressed transiently, on an episome or stably integrated, or some of the gene products may be expressed stably while others are expressed transiently.

Furthermore, the promoters for each of the adenoviral genes may be selected independently from a constitutive promoter, an inducible promoter or a native adenoviral promoter. The promoters may be regulated by a specific physiological state of the organism or cell (i.e., by the differentiation state or in replicating or quiescent cells) or by exogenously added factors, for example.

Introduction of the molecules (as plasmids or viruses) into the host cell may also be accomplished using techniques known to the skilled artisan and as discussed throughout the specification. In preferred embodiment, standard transfection techniques are used, e.g., CaPO₄transfection or electroporation.

Assembly of the selected DNA sequences of the adenovirus (as well as the transgene and other vector elements) into various intermediate plasmids, and the use of the plasmids and vectors to produce a recombinant viral particle are all achieved using conventional techniques. Such techniques include conventional cloning techniques of CDNA such as those described in texts [Sambrook et al, cited above], use of overlapping oligonucleotide sequences of the adenovirus genomes, polymerase chain reaction, and any suitable method which provides the desired nucleotide sequence. Standard transfection and co-transfection techniques are employed, e.g., CaPO₄precipitation techniques. Other conventional methods employed include homologous recombination of the viral genomes, plaquing of viruses in agar overlay, methods of measuring signal generation, and the like.

For example, following the construction and assembly of the desired minigene-containing viral vector, the vector is transfected in vitro in the presence of an optional helper vector into the packaging cell line. The functions expressed from the plasmid, packaging cell line and helper virus, if any, permits the adenovirus-transgene sequences in the vector to be replicated and packaged into virion capsids, resulting in the chimeric viral particles. The current method for producing such virus particles is transfection-based. However, the invention is not limited to such methods. The resulting chimeric adenoviruses are useful in transferring a selected transgene to a selected cell.

III. Use of the Chimeric Adenovirus Vectors

The chimeric adenovirus vectors of the invention are useful for gene transfer to a human or veterinary subject (including, non-human primates, non-simian primates, and other mammals) in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo.

The recombinant adenovirus vectors described herein can be used as expression vectors for the production of the products encoded by the heterologous genes in vitro. For example, the recombinant adenoviruses containing a gene inserted into the location of an E1 deletion may be transfected into an E1-expressing cell line as described above. Alternatively, replication-competent adenoviruses may be used in another selected cell line. The transfected cells are then cultured in the conventional manner, allowing the recombinant adenovirus to express the gene product from the promoter. The gene product may then be recovered from the culture medium by known conventional methods of protein isolation and recovery from culture.

A chimeric adenoviral vector of the invention provides an efficient gene transfer vehicle that can deliver a selected transgene to a selected host cell in vivo or ex vivo even where the organism has neutralizing antibodies to one or more AAV serotypes. In one embodiment, the rAAV and the cells are mixed ex vivo; the infected cells are cultured using conventional methodologies; and the transduced cells are re-infused into the patient. These compositions are particularly well suited to gene delivery for therapeutic purposes and for immunization, including inducing protective immunity.

More commonly, the chimeric adenoviral vectors of the invention will be utilized for delivery of therapeutic or immunogenic molecules, as described below. It will be readily understood for both applications that the recombinant adenoviral vectors of the invention are particularly well suited for use in regimens involving repeat delivery of recombinant adenoviral vectors. Such regimens typically involve delivery of a series of viral vectors in which the viral capsids are alternated. The viral capsids may be changed for each subsequent administration, or after a pre-selected number of administrations of a particular serotype capsid (e.g., one, two, three, four or more). Thus, a regimen may involve delivery of a rAd with a first capsid, delivery with a rAd with a second capsid, and delivery with a third capsid. A variety of other regimens which use the Ad capsids of the invention alone, in combination with one another, or in combination with other Ad serotypes will be apparent to those of skill in the art. Optionally, such a regimen may involve administration of rAd with capsids of non-human primate adenoviruses, human adenoviruses, or artificial (e.g., chimeric) serotypes such as are described herein. Each phase of the regimen may involve administration of a series of injections (or other delivery routes) with a single Ad serotype capsid followed by a series with another Ad serotype capsid. Alternatively, the recombinant Ad vectors of the invention may be utilized in regimens involving other non-adenoviral-mediated delivery systems, including other viral systems, non-viral delivery systems, protein, peptides, and other biologically active molecules.

The following sections will focus on exemplary molecules which may be delivered via the adenoviral vectors of the invention.

A. Ad-Mediated Delivery of Therapeutic Molecules

In one embodiment, the Ad vectors described herein are administered to humans according to published methods for gene therapy. A viral vector of the invention bearing the selected transgene may be administered to a patient, preferably suspended in a biologically compatible solution or pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle. A suitable vehicle includes sterile saline. Other aqueous and non-aqueous isotonic sterile injection solutions and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions known to be pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and well known to those of skill in the art may be employed for this purpose.

The adenoviral vectors are administered in sufficient amounts to transduce the target cells and to provide sufficient levels of gene transfer and expression to provide a therapeutic benefit without undue adverse or with medically acceptable physiological effects, which can be determined by those skilled in the medical arts. Conventional and pharmaceutically acceptable routes of administration include, but are not limited to, direct delivery to the retina and other intraocular delivery methods, direct delivery to the liver, inhalation, intranasal, intravenous, intramuscular, intratracheal, subcutaneous, intradermal, rectal, oral and other parenteral routes of administration. Routes of administration may be combined, if desired, or adjusted depending upon the transgene or the condition. The route of administration primarily will depend on the nature of the condition being treated.

Dosages of the viral vector will depend primarily on factors such as the condition being treated, the age, weight and health of the patient, and may thus vary among patients. For example, a therapeutically effective adult human or veterinary dosage of the viral vector is generally in the range of from about 100 Î¼L to about 100 mL of a carrier containing concentrations of from about 1Ã—10⁶to about 1Ã—10¹⁵particles, about 1Ã—10¹¹to 1Ã—10¹³particles, or about 1Ã—10⁹to 1Ã—10¹²particles virus. Dosages will range depending upon the size of the animal and the route of administration. For example, a suitable human or veterinary dosage (for about an 80 kg animal) for intramuscular injection is in the range of about 1Ã—10⁹to about 5Ã—10¹²particles per mL, for a single site. Optionally, multiple sites of administration may be delivered. In another example, a suitable human or veterinary dosage may be in the range of about 1Ã—10¹¹to about 1Ã—10¹⁵particles for an oral formulation. One of skill in the art may adjust these doses, depending the route of administration, and the therapeutic or vaccinal application for which the recombinant vector is employed. The levels of expression of the transgene, or for an immunogen, the level of circulating antibody, can be monitored to determine the frequency of dosage administration. Yet other methods for determining the timing of frequency of administration will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art.

An optional method step involves the co-administration to the patient, either concurrently with, or before or after administration of the viral vector, of a suitable amount of a short acting immune modulator. The selected immune modulator is defined herein as an agent capable of inhibiting the formation of neutralizing antibodies directed against the recombinant vector of this invention or capable of inhibiting cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) elimination of the vector. The immune modulator may interfere with the interactions between the T helper subsets (T_H1or T_H2) and B cells to inhibit neutralizing antibody formation. Alternatively, the immune modulator may inhibit the interaction between T_H1cells and CTLs to reduce the occurrence of CTL elimination of the vector. A variety of useful immune modulators and dosages for use of same are disclosed, for example, in Yang el al., J. Virol., 70(9) (September 1996); International Patent Application No. WO96/12406, published May 2, 1996; and International Patent Application No. PCT/US96/03035, all incorporated herein by reference. Typically, such immune modulators would be selected when the transgene is a therapeutic which requires repeat delivery.

- 1. Therapeutic Transgenes

Useful therapeutic products encoded by the transgene include hormones and growth and differentiation factors including, without limitation, insulin, glucagon, growth hormone (GH), parathyroid hormone (PTH), growth hormone releasing factor (GRF), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietins, angiostatin, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), erythropoietin (EPO), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor Î±(TGF Î±), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin growth factors I and II (IGF-I and IGF-II), any one of the transforming growth factor superfamily, including TGF, activins, inhibins, or any of the bone morphogenic proteins (BMP) BMPs 1-15, any one of the heregluin/neuregulin/ARIA/neu differentiation factor (NDF) family of growth factors, nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophins NT-3 and NT-4/5, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), neurturin, agrin, any one of the family of semaphorins/collapsins, netrin-1 and netrin-2, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), ephrins, noggin, sonic hedgehog and tyrosine hydroxylase.

Other useful transgene products include proteins that regulate the immune system including, without limitation, cytokines and lymphokines such as thrombopoietin (TPO), interleukins (IL) IL-1 through IL-25 (including, e.g., IL-2, IL-4, IL -12 and IL-18), monocyte chemoattractant protein, leukemia inhibitory factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, Fas ligand, tumor necrosis factors and, interferons, and, stem cell factor, flk-2/flt3 ligand. Gene products produced by the immune system are also useful in the invention. These include, without limitation, immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD and IgE, chimeric immunoglobulins, humanized antibodies, single chain antibodies, T cell receptors, chimeric T cell receptors, single chain T cell receptors, class I and class II MHC molecules, as well as engineered immunoglobulins and MHC molecules. Useful gene products also include complement regulatory proteins such as complement regulatory proteins, membrane cofactor protein (MCP), decay accelerating factor (DAF), CRI, CF2 and CD59.

Still other useful gene products include any one of the receptors for the hormones, growth factors, cytokines, lymphokines, regulatory proteins and immune system proteins. The invention encompasses receptors for cholesterol regulation, including the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, high density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor, the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor, proteins useful in the regulation of lipids, including, e.g., apolipoprotein (apo) A and its isoforms (e.g., ApoAI), apoE and its isoforms including E2, E3 and E4), SRB1, ABC1, and the scavenger receptor. The invention also encompasses gene products such as members of the steroid hormone receptor superfamily including glucocorticoid receptors and estrogen receptors, Vitamin D receptors and other nuclear receptors. In addition, useful gene products include transcription factors such as jun, fos, max, mad, serum response factor (SRF), AP-1, AP2, myb, MyoD and myogenin, ETS-box containing proteins, TFE3, E2F, ATF1, ATF2, ATF3, ATF4, ZF5, NFAT, CREB, HNF-4, C/EBP, SP1, CCAAT-box binding proteins, interferon regulation factor (IRF-1), Wilms tumor protein, ETS-binding protein, STAT, GATA-box binding proteins, e.g., GATA-3, and the forkhead family of winged helix proteins.

Other useful gene products include, carbamoyl synthetase I, ornithine transcarbamylase, arginosuccinate synthetase, arginosuccinate lyase, arginase, fumarylacetacetate hydrolase, phenylalanine hydroxylase, alpha-1 antitrypsin, glucose-6-phosphatase, porphobilinogen deaminase, cystathione beta-synthase, branched chain ketoacid decarboxylase, albumin, isovaleryl-coA dehydrogenase, propionyl CoA carboxylase, methyl malonyl CoA mutase, glutaryl CoA dehydrogenase, insulin, beta-glucosidase, pyruvate carboxylate, hepatic phosphorylase, phosphorylase kinase, glycine decarboxylase, H-protein, T-protein, a cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) sequence, and a dystrophin CDNA sequence. Other useful gene products include those useful for treatment of hemophilia A (e.g., Factor VIII and its variants, including the light chain and heavy chain of the heterodimer, optionally operably linked by ajunction), and the B-domain deleted Factor VIII, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,200,560 and 6,221,349], and useful for treatment of hemophilia B (e.g, Factor IX).

Still other useful gene products include non-naturally occurring polypeptides, such as chimeric or hybrid polypeptides having a non-naturally occurring amino acid sequence containing insertions, deletions or amino acid substitutions. For example, single-chain engineered immunoglobulins could be useful in certain immunocompromised patients. Other types of non-naturally occurring gene sequences include antisense molecules and catalytic nucleic acids, such as ribozymes, which could be used to reduce overexpression of a target.

Reduction and/or modulation of expression of a gene are particularly desirable for treatment of hyperproliferative conditions characterized by hyperproliferating cells, as are cancers and psoriasis. Target polypeptides include those polypeptides which are produced exclusively or at higher levels in hyperproliferative cells as compared to normal cells. Target antigens include polypeptides encoded by oncogenes such as myb, myc, fyn, and the translocation gene bcr/abl, ras, src, P53, neu, trk and EGRF. In addition to oncogene products as target antigens, target polypeptides for anti-cancer treatments and protective regimens include variable regions of antibodies made by B cell lymphomas and variable regions of T cell receptors of T cell lymphomas which, in some embodiments, are also used as target antigens for autoimmune disease. Other tumor-associated polypeptides can be used as target polypeptides such as polypeptides which are found at higher levels in tumor cells including the polypeptide recognized by monoclonal antibody 17-1A and folate binding polypeptides.

Other suitable therapeutic polypeptides and proteins include those which may be useful for treating individuals suffering from autoimmune diseases and disorders by conferring a broad based protective immune response against targets that are associated with autoimmunity including cell receptors and cells which produce self-directed antibodies. T-cell mediated autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), Sjogren's syndrome, sarcoidosis, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), autoimmune thyroiditis, reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, psoriasis, vasculitis, Wegener's granulomatosis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Each of these diseases is characterized by T cell receptors (TCRs) that bind to endogenous antigens and initiate the inflammatory cascade associated with autoimmune diseases.

The chimeric adenoviral vectors of the invention are particularly well suited for therapeutic regimens in which multiple adenoviral-mediated deliveries of transgenes is desired, e.g., in regimens involving redelivery of the same transgene or in combination regimens involving delivery of other transgenes. Such regimens may involve administration of a chimeric adenoviral vector, followed by re-administration with a vector from the same serotype adenovirus. Particularly desirable regimens involve administration of a chimeric adenoviral vector of the invention, in which the serotype of the viral vector delivered in the first administration differs from the serotype of the viral vector utilized in one or more of the subsequent administrations. For example, a therapeutic regimen involves administration of a chimeric vector and repeat administration with one or more adenoviral vectors of the same or different serotypes. In another example, a therapeutic regimen involves administration of an adenoviral vector followed by repeat administration with a chimeric vector of the invention which differs from the serotype of the first delivered adenoviral vector, and optionally further administration with another vector which is the same or, preferably, differs from the serotype of the vector in the prior administration steps. These regimens are not limited to delivery of adenoviral vectors constructed using the chimeric serotypes of the invention. Rather, these regimens can readily utilize chimeric or non-chimeric vectors of other adenoviral serotypes, which may be of artificial, human or non-human primate, or other mammalian sources, in combination with one or more of the chimeric vectors of the invention. Examples of such serotypes are discussed elsewhere in this document. Further, these therapeutic regimens may involve either simultaneous or sequential delivery of chimeric adenoviral vectors of the invention in combination with non-adenoviral vectors, non-viral vectors, and/or a variety of other therapeutically useful compounds or molecules. The present invention is not limited to these therapeutic regimens, a variety of which will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art.

B. Ad-Mediated Delivery of Immunogenic Transgenes

The adenoviruses of the invention may also be employed as immunogenic compositions. As used herein, an immunogenic composition is a composition to which a humoral (e.g., antibody) or cellular (e.g., a cytotoxic T cell) response is mounted to a transgene product delivered by the immunogenic composition following delivery to a mammal, and preferably a primate. The present invention provides an Ad that can contain in any of its adenovirus sequence deletions a gene encoding a desired immunogen. Chimeric adenoviruses based on simian or other non-human mammalian primate serotypes are likely to be better suited for use as a live recombinant virus vaccine in different animal species compared to an adenovirus of human origin, but is not limited to such a use. The recombinant adenoviruses can be used as prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines against any pathogen for which the antigen(s) crucial for induction of an immune response and able to limit the spread of the pathogen has been identified and for which the CDNA is available.

Such vaccinal (or other immunogenic) compositions are formulated in a suitable delivery vehicle, as described above. Generally, doses for the immunogenic compositions are in the range defined above for therapeutic compositions. The levels of immunity of the selected gene can be monitored to determine the need, if any, for boosters. Following an assessment of antibody titers in the serum, optional booster immunizations may be desired.

Optionally, a vaccinal composition of the invention may be formulated to contain other components, including, e.g. adjuvants, stabilizers, pH adjusters, preservatives and the like. Such components are well known to those of skill in the vaccine art. Examples of suitable adjuvants include, without limitation, liposomes, alum, monophosphoryl lipid A, and any biologically active factor, such as cytokine, an interleukin, a chemokine, a ligands, and optimally combinations thereof. Certain of these biologically active factors can be expressed in vivo, e.g., via a plasmid or viral vector. For example, such an adjuvant can be administered with a priming DNA vaccine encoding an antigen to enhance the antigen-specific immune response compared with the immune response generated upon priming with a DNA vaccine encoding the antigen only.

The adenoviruses are administered in â€œan immunogenic amountâ€ , that is, an amount of adenovirus that is effective in a route of administration to transfect the desired cells and provide sufficient levels of expression of the selected gene to induce an immune response. Where protective immunity is provided, the recombinant adenoviruses are considered to be vaccine compositions useful in preventing infection and/or recurrent disease.

Alternatively, or in addition, the vectors of the invention may contain a transgene encoding a peptide, polypeptide or protein which induces an immune response to a selected immunogen. The recombinant adenoviruses of this invention are expected to be highly efficacious at inducing cytolytic T cells and antibodies to the inserted heterologous antigenic protein expressed by the vector.

For example, immunogens may be selected from a variety of viral families. Example of desirable viral families against which an immune response would be desirable include, the picornavirus family, which includes the genera rhinoviruses, which are responsible for about 50% of cases of the common cold; the genera enteroviruses, which include polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and human enteroviruses such as hepatitis A virus; and the genera apthoviruses, which are responsible for foot and mouth diseases, primarily in non-human animals. Within the picornavirus family of viruses, target antigens include the VP1, VP2, VP3, VP4, and VPG. Another viral family includes the calcivirus family, which encompasses the Norwalk group of viruses, which are an important causative agent of epidemic gastroenteritis. Still another viral family desirable for use in targeting antigens for inducing immune responses in humans and non-human animals is the togavirus family, which includes the genera alphavirus, which include Sindbis viruses, RossRiver virus, and Venezuelan, Eastern & Western Equine encephalitis, and rubivirus, including Rubella virus. The flaviviridae family includes dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis and tick borne encephalitis viruses. Other target antigens may be generated from the Hepatitis C or the coronavirus family, which includes a number of non-human viruses such as infectious bronchitis virus (poultry), porcine transmissible gastroenteric virus (pig), porcine hemagglutinatin encephalomyelitis virus (pig), feline infectious peritonitis virus (cats), feline enteric coronavirus (cat), canine coronavirus (dog), and human respiratory coronaviruses, which may cause the common cold and/or non-A, B or C hepatitis. In addition, the human coronaviruses include the putative causative agent of sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Within the coronavirus family, target antigens include the E1 (also called M or matrix protein), E2 (also called S or Spike protein), E3 (also called HE or hemagglutin-elterose) glycoprotein (not present in all coronaviruses), or N (nucleocapsid). Still other antigens may be targeted against the rhabdovirus family, which includes the genera vesiculovirus (e.g., Vesicular Stomatitis Virus), and the general lyssavirus (e.g., rabies). Within the rhabdovirus family, suitable antigens may be derived from the G protein or the N protein. The family filoviridae, which includes hemorrhagic fever viruses such as Marburg and Ebola virus, may be a suitable source of antigens. The paramyxovirus family includes parainfluenza Virus Type 1, parainfluenza Virus Type 3, bovine parainfluenza Virus Type 3, rubulavirus (mumps virus), parainfluenza Virus Type 2, parainfluenza virus Type 4, Newcastle disease virus (chickens), rinderpest, morbillivirus, which includes measles and canine distemper, and pneumovirus, which includes respiratory syncytial virus. The influenza virus is classified within the family orthomyxovirus and is a suitable source of antigen (e.g., the HA protein, the N1 protein). The bunyavirus family includes the genera bunyavirus (California encephalitis, La Crosse), phlebovirus (Rift Valley Fever), hantavirus (puremala is a hemahagin fever virus), nairovirus (Nairobi sheep disease) and various unassigned bungaviruses. The arenavirus family provides a source of antigens against LCM and Lassa fever virus. The reovirus family includes the genera reovirus, rotavirus (which causes acute gastroenteritis in children), orbiviruses, and cultivirus (Colorado Tick fever), Lebombo (humans), equine encephalosis, blue tongue.

The retrovirus family includes the sub-family oncorivirinal which encompasses such human and veterinary diseases as feline leukemia virus, HTLVI and HTLVII, lentivirinal (which includes human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), equine infectious anemia virus, and spumavirinal). Among the lentiviruses, many suitable antigens have been described and can readily be selected. Examples of suitable HIV and SIV antigens include, without limitation the gag, pol, Vif, Vpx, VPR, Env, Tat, Nef, and Rev proteins, as well as various fragments thereof. For example, suitable fragments of the Env protein may include any of its subunits such as the gpl120, gp160, gp41, or smaller fragments thereof, e.g., of at least about 8 amino acids in length. Similarly, fragments of the tat protein may be selected. [See, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,891,994 and 6,193,981.] See, also, the HIV and SIV proteins described in D. H. Barouch et al, J. Virol., 75(5):2462-2467 (March 2001), and R. R. Amara, et al, Science, 292:69-74 (6 April 2001). In another example, the HIV and/or SIV immunogenic proteins or peptides may be used to form fusion proteins or other immunogenic molecules. See, e.g., the HIV-1 Tat and/or Nef fusion proteins and immunization regimens described in WO 01/54719, published Aug. 2, 2001, and WO 99/16884, published Apr. 8, 1999. The invention is not limited to the HIV and/or SIV immunogenic proteins or peptides described herein. In addition, a variety of modifications to these proteins have been described or could readily be made by one of skill in the art. See, e.g., the modified gag protein that is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,596. Further, any desired HIV and/or SIV immunogens may be delivered alone or in combination. Such combinations may include expression from a single vector or from multiple vectors. Optionally, another combination may involve delivery of one or more expressed immunogens with delivery of one or more of the immunogens in protein form. Such combinations are discussed in more detail below.

The papovavirus family includes the sub-family polyomaviruses (BKU and JCU viruses) and the sub-family papillomavirus (associated with cancers or malignant progression of papilloma). The adenovirus family includes viruses (EX, AD7, ARD, O.B.) which cause respiratory disease and/or enteritis. The parvovirus includes family feline parvovirus (feline enteritis), feline panteucopeniavirus, canine parvovirus, and porcine parvovirus. The herpesvirus family includes the sub-family alphaherpesvirinae, which encompasses the genera simplexvirus (HSVI, HSVII), varicellovirus (pseudorabies, varicella zoster) and the sub-family betaherpesvirinae, which includes the genera cytomegalovirus (HCMV, muromegalovirus) and the sub-family gammaherpesvirinae, which includes the genera lymphocryptovirus, EBV (Burkitts lymphoma), infectious rhinotracheitis, Marek's disease virus, and rhadinovirus. The poxvirus family includes the sub-family chordopoxvirinae, which encompasses the genera orthopoxvirus (Variola (Smallpox) and Vaccinia (Cowpox)), parapoxvirus, avipoxvirus, capripoxvirus, leporipoxvirus, suipoxvirus, and the sub-family entomopoxvirinae. The hepadnavirus family includes the Hepatitis B virus. One unclassified virus which may be suitable source of antigens is the Hepatitis delta virus. Still other viral sources may include avian infectious bursal disease virus and porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus. The alphavirus family includes equine arteritis virus and various Encephalitis viruses.

The viruses of the present invention may also carry immunogens which are useful to immunize a human or non-human animal against other pathogens including bacteria, fungi, parasitic microorganisms or multicellular parasites which infect human and non-human vertebrates, or from a cancer cell or tumor cell. Examples of bacterial pathogens include pathogenic gram-positive cocci include pneumococci; staphylococci; and streptococci. Pathogenic gram-negative cocci include meningococcus; gonococcus. Pathogenic enteric gram-negative bacilli include enterobacteriaceae; pseudomonas, acinetobacteria and eikenella; melioidosis; salmonella; shigella; haemophilus; moraxella; H. ducreyi (which causes chancroid); brucel la; Franisella tularensis (which causes tularemia); yersinia (pasteurel la); streptobacillus moniliformis and spirillum; Gram-positive bacilli include listeria monocytogenes; erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae; Corynebacterium diphtheria (diphtheria); cholera; B. anthracis (anthrax); donovanosis (granuloma inguinale); and bartonellosis. Diseases caused by pathogenic anaerobic bacteria include tetanus; botulism; other clostridia; tuberculosis; leprosy; and other mycobacteria. Pathogenic spirochetal diseases include syphilis; treponematoses: yaws, pinta and endemic syphilis; and leptospirosis. Other infections caused by higher pathogen bacteria and pathogenic fungi include actinomycosis; nocardiosis; cryptococcosis, blastomycosis, histoplasmosis and coccidioidomycosis; candidiasis, aspergillosis, and mucormycosis; sporotrichosis; paracoccidiodomycosis, petriellidiosis, torulopsosis, mycetoma and chromomycosis; and dermatophytosis. Rickettsial infections include Typhus fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever, and Rickettsialpox. Examples of mycoplasma and chlamydial infections include: mycoplasma pneumoniae; lymphogranuloma venereum; psittacosis; and perinatal chlamydial infections. Pathogenic eukaryotes encompass pathogenic protozoans and helminths and infections produced thereby include: amebiasis; malaria; leishmaniasis; trypanosomiasis; toxoplasmosis; Pneumocystis carinii; Trichans; Toxoplasma gondii; babesiosis; giardiasis; trichinosis; filariasis; schistosomiasis; nematodes; trematodes or flukes; and cestode (tapeworm) infections.

Many of these organisms and/or toxins produced thereby have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control [(CDC), Department of Heath and Human Services, USA], as agents which have potential for use in biological attacks. For example, some of these biological agents, include, Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), Clostridium botulinum and its toxin (botulism), Yersinia pestis (plague), variola major (smallpox), Francisella tularensis (tularemia), and viral hemorrhagic fevers [filoviruses (e.g., Ebola, Marburg], and arenaviruses [e.g., Lassa, Machupo]), all of which are currently classified as Category A agents; Coxiella burnetti (Q fever); BrucelIa species (brucellosis), Burkholderia mallei (glanders), Burkholderia pseudomallei (meloidosis), Ricinus communis and its toxin (ricin toxin), Clostridium perfringens and its toxin (epsilon toxin), Staphylococcus species and their toxins (enterotoxin B), Chlamydia psittaci (psittacosis), water safety threats (e.g., Vibrio cholerae, Crytosporidium parvum), Typhus fever (Richettsia powazekii), and viral encephalitis (alphaviruses, e.g., Venezuelan equine encephalitis; eastern equine encephalitis; western equine encephalitis); all of which are currently classified as Category B agents; and Nipan virus and hantaviruses, which are currently classified as Category C agents. In addition, other organisms, which are so classified or differently classified, may be identified and/or used for such a purpose in the future. It will be readily understood that the viral vectors and other constructs described herein are useful to deliver antigens from these organisms, viruses, their toxins or other by-products, which will prevent and/or treat infection or other adverse reactions with these biological agents.

Administration of the vectors of the invention to deliver immunogens against the variable region of the T cells elicit an immune response including CTLs to eliminate those T cells. In RA, several specific variable regions of TCRs which are involved in the disease have been characterized. These TCRs include V-3, V-14, V-17 and VÎ±-17. Thus, delivery of a nucleic acid sequence that encodes at least one of these polypeptides will elicit an immune response that will target T cells involved in RA. In MS, several specific variable regions of TCRs which are involved in the disease have been characterized. These TCRs include V-7 and VÎ±-10. Thus, delivery of a nucleic acid sequence that encodes at least one of these polypeptides will elicit an immune response that will target T cells involved in MS. In scleroderma, several specific variable regions of TCRs which are involved in the disease have been characterized. These TCRs include V-6, V-8, V-14 and VÎ±-16, VÎ±-3C, VÎ±-7, VÎ±-14, VÎ±-15, VÎ±-16, VÎ±-28 and VÎ±-12. Thus, delivery ofa chimeric adenovirus that encodes at least one of these polypeptides will elicit an immune response that will target T cells involved in scleroderma.

C. Ad-Mediated Delivery Methods

The therapeutic levels, or levels of immunity, of the selected gene can be monitored to determine the need, if any, for boosters. Following an assessment of CD8+ T cell response, or optionally, antibody titers, in the serum, optional booster immunizations may be desired. Optionally, the adenoviral vectors of the invention may be delivered in a single administration or in various combination regimens, e.g., in combination with a regimen or course of treatment involving other active ingredients or in a prime-boost regimen. A variety of such regimens have been described in the art and may be readily selected.

For example, prime-boost regimens may involve the administration of a DNA (e.g., plasmid) based vector to prime the immune system to a second or further, booster, administration with a traditional antigen, such as a protein or a recombinant virus carrying the sequences encoding such an antigen. See, e.g., WO 00/11140, published Mar. 2, 2000, incorporated by reference. Alternatively, an immunization regimen may involve the administration of a chimeric adenoviral vector of the invention to boost the immune response to a vector (either viral or DNA-based) carrying an antigen, or a protein. In still another alternative, an immunization regimen involves administration of a protein followed by booster with a vector encoding the antigen.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of priming and boosting an immune response to a selected antigen by delivering a plasmid DNA vector carrying said antigen, followed by boosting with an adenoviral vector of the invention. In one embodiment, the prime-boost regimen involves the expression of multiproteins from the prime and/or the boost vehicle. See, e.g., R. R. Amara, Science, 292:69-74 (6 April 2001) which describes a multiprotein regimen for expression of protein subunits useful for generating an immune response against HIV and SIV. For example, a DNA prime may deliver the Gag, Pol, Vif, VPX and Vpr and Env, Tat, and Rev from a single transcript. Alternatively, the SIV Gag, Pol and HIV-1 Env is delivered in a recombinant adenovirus construct of the invention. Still other regimens are described in WO 99/16884 and WO 01/54719.

However, the prime-boost regimens are not limited to immunization for HIV or to delivery of these antigens. For example, priming may involve delivering with a first vector of the invention followed by boosting with a second vector, or with a composition containing the antigen itself in protein form. In one example, the prime-boost regimen can provide a protective immune response to the virus, bacteria or other organism from which the antigen is derived. In another desired embodiment, the prime-boost regimen provides a therapeutic effect that can be measured using convention assays for detection of the presence of the condition for which therapy is being administered.

The priming composition may be administered at various sites in the body in a dose dependent manner, which depends on the antigen to which the desired immune response is being targeted. The invention is not limited to the amount or situs of injection(s) or to the pharmaceutical carrier. Rather, the regimen may involve a priming and/or boosting step, each of which may include a single dose or dosage that is administered hourly, daily, weekly or monthly, or yearly. As an example, the mammals may receive one or two doses containing between about 10 Î¼g to about 50 Î¼g of plasmid in carrier. A desirable amount of a DNA composition ranges between about 1 Î¼g to about 10,000 Î¼g of the DNA vector. Dosages may vary from about 1 Î¼g to 1000 Î¼g DNA per kg of subject body weight. The amount or site of delivery is desirably selected based upon the identity and condition of the mammal.

The dosage unit of the vector suitable for delivery of the antigen to the mammal is described herein. The vector is prepared for administration by being suspended or dissolved in a pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable carrier such as isotonic saline; isotonic salts solution or other formulations that will be apparent to those skilled in such administration. The appropriate carrier will be evident to those skilled in the art and will depend in large part upon the route of administration. The compositions of the invention may be administered to a mammal according to the routes described above, in a sustained release formulation using a biodegradable biocompatible polymer, or by on-site delivery using micelles, gels and liposomes. Optionally, the priming step of this invention also includes administering with the priming composition, a suitable amount of an adjuvant, such as are defined herein.

Preferably, a boosting composition is administered about 2 to about 27 weeks after administering the priming composition to the mammalian subject. The administration of the boosting composition is accomplished using an effective amount of a boosting composition containing or capable of delivering the same antigen as administered by the priming DNA vaccine. The boosting composition may be composed of a recombinant viral vector derived from the same viral source (e.g., adenoviral sequences of the invention) or from another source. Alternatively, the â€œboosting compositionâ€ can be a composition containing the same antigen as encoded in the priming DNA vaccine, but in the form of a protein or peptide, which composition induces an immune response in the host. In another embodiment, the boosting composition contains a DNA sequence encoding the antigen under the control of a regulatory sequence directing its expression in a mammalian cell, e.g., vectors such as well-known bacterial or viral vectors. The primary requirements of the boosting composition are that the antigen of the composition is the same antigen, or a cross-reactive antigen, as that encoded by the priming composition.

In another embodiment, the adenoviral vectors of the invention are also well suited for use in a variety of other immunization and therapeutic regimens. Such regimens may involve delivery of adenoviral vectors of the invention simultaneously or sequentially with Ad vectors of different serotype capsids, regimens in which adenoviral vectors of the invention are delivered simultaneously or sequentially with non-Ad vectors, regimens in which the adenoviral vectors of the invention are delivered simultaneously or sequentially with proteins, peptides, and/or other biologically useful therapeutic or immunogenic compounds. Such uses will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art.

IV. Simian Adenovirus 18 Sequences

The invention provides nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences of Ad SA1 8, which are isolated from the other viral material with which they are associated in nature. These sequences are useful in preparing heterologous molecules containing the nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences, and regions or fragments thereof as are described herein, viral vectors which are useful for a variety of purposes, including the constructs and compositions, and such methods as are described herein for the chimeric adenoviruses, including, e.g., in host cells for production of viruses requiring adenoviral helper functions, as delivery vehicles for heterologous molecules such as those described herein. These sequences are also useful in generating the chimeric adenoviruses of the invention.

A. Nucleic Acid Sequences

The SA18 nucleic acid sequences of the invention include nucleotides SEQ ID NO: 12, nt 1 to 31967. See, Sequence Listing, which is incorporated by reference herein. The nucleic acid sequences of the invention further encompass the strand which is complementary to the sequences of SEQ ID NO: 12, as well as the RNA and cDNA sequences corresponding to the sequences of these sequences figures and their complementary strands. Further included in this invention are nucleic acid sequences which are greater than 95 to 98%, and more preferably about 99 to 99.9% homologous or identical to the Sequence Listing. Also included in the nucleic acid sequences of the invention are natural variants and engineered modifications of the sequences provided in SEQ ID NO: 12 and their complementary strands. Such modifications include, for example, labels that are known in the art, methylation, and substitution of one or more of the naturally occurring nucleotides with a degenerate nucleotide.

The invention further encompasses fragments of the sequences of SA 18, their complementary strand, cDNA and RNA complementary thereto. Suitable fragments are at least 15 nucleotides in length, and encompass functional fragments, i.e., fragments which are of biological interest. For example, a functional fragment can express a desired adenoviral product or may be useful in production of recombinant viral vectors. Such fragments include the gene sequences and fragments listed in the tables below.

The following tables provide the transcript regions and open reading frames in the simian adenovirus sequences of the invention. For certain genes, the transcripts and open reading frames (ORFs) are located on the strand complementary to that presented in SEQ ID NO: 12. See, e.g., E2b, E4 and E2a. The calculated molecular weights of the encoded proteins are also shown.

AdenovirusAd SA18,GeneSEQ ID NO: 12RegionProteinstartEndM.W.ITR1180E1a13S91617652726412S916176524081E1bSmall T1874238019423LargeT2179360952741IX3678407913701E2bIVa25478412651295Polymerase137455229128392PTP13745859775358Agnoprotein8007870523610L152/55 kD107881194543416IIIa119661369963999L2Penton137961532257166VII153281587320352V159201705042020L3VI173481815429222Hexon1825721010102912Endoprotease210292164023015

AdenovirusAd SA18,Gene RegionProteinSEQ ID NO: 122aDBP231472171153626L4100 kD23175255418753822 kD252042579722206homolog33 kD252042602524263homologVIII261072681725490E3Orf #1268172712511814L5Fiber271922901565455E4Orf 6/7301692906713768Orf 6301692930333832Orf 4304643009914154Orf 3308163046613493Orf 2312053081314698Orf 1316083123114054ITR3178831967

The SA18 adenoviral nucleic acid sequences are useful as therapeutic and immunogenic agents and in construction of a variety of vector systems and host cells. Such vectors are useful for any of the purposes described above for the chimeric adenovirus. Additionally, these SA18 sequences and products may be used alone or in combination with other adenoviral sequences or fragments, or in combination with elements from other adenoviral or non-adenoviral sequences. The adenoviral sequences of the invention are also useful as antisense delivery vectors, gene therapy vectors, or vaccine vectors, and in methods of using same. Thus, the invention further provides nucleic acid molecules, gene delivery vectors, and host cells which contain the Ad sequences of the invention.

For example, the invention encompasses a nucleic acid molecule containing simian Ad ITR sequences of the invention. In another example, the invention provides a nucleic acid molecule containing simian Ad sequences of the invention encoding a desired Ad gene product. Still other nucleic acid molecule constructed using the sequences of the invention will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art, in view of the information provided herein.

In one embodiment, the simian Ad gene regions identified herein may be used in a variety of vectors for delivery of a heterologous molecule to a cell. Examples of such molecules and methods of delivery are provided in Section III herein. For example, vectors are generated for expression of an adenoviral capsid protein (or fragment thereof) for purposes of generating a viral vector in a packaging host cell. Such vectors may be designed for expression in trans. Alternatively, such vectors are designed to provide cells which stably contain sequences which express desired adenoviral functions, e.g., one or more of E1a, E1b, the terminal repeat sequences, E2a, E2b, E4, E40RF6 region.

In addition, the adenoviral gene sequences and fragments thereof are useful for providing the helper functions necessary for production of helper-dependent viruses (e.g., adenoviral vectors deleted of essential functions or adeno-associated viruses (AAV)). For such production methods, the simian adenoviral sequences of the invention are utilized in such a method in a manner similar to those described for the human Ad. However, due to the differences in sequences between the simian adenoviral sequences of the invention and those of human Ad, the use of the sequences of the invention essentially eliminate the possibility of homologous recombination with helper functions in a host cell carrying human Ad E1 functions, e.g., 293 cells, which may produce infectious adenoviral contaminants during rAAV production.

Methods of producing rAAV using adenoviral helper functions have been described at length in the literature with human adenoviral serotypes. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,595 and the references cited therein. See, also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,982; WO 99/14354; WO 99/15685; WO 99/47691. These methods may also be used in production of non-human serotype AAV, including non-human primate AAV serotypes. The simian adenoviral gene sequences of the invention which provide the necessary helper functions (e.g., E1a, E1b, E2a and/or E4 ORF6) can be particularly useful in providing the necessary adenoviral function while minimizing or eliminating the possibility of recombination with any other adenoviruses present in the rAAV-packaging cell which are typically of human origin. Thus, selected genes or open reading frames of the adenoviral sequences of the invention may be utilized in these rAAV production methods.

Alternatively, recombinant adenoviral simian vectors of the invention may be utilized in these methods. Such recombinant adenoviral simian vectors may include, e.g., a hybrid simian Ad/AAV in which simian Ad sequences flank a rAAV expression cassette composed of, e.g., AAV 3â€² and/or 5â€² ITRs and a transgene under the control of regulatory sequences which control its expression. One of skill in the art will recognize that still other simian adenoviral vectors and/or gene sequences of the invention will be useful for production of rAAV and other viruses dependent upon adenoviral helper.

In still another embodiment, nucleic acid molecules are designed for delivery and expression of selected adenoviral gene products in a host cell to achieve a desired physiologic effect. For example, a nucleic acid molecule containing sequences encoding an adenovirus E1a protein of the invention may be delivered to a subject for use as a cancer therapeutic. Optionally, such a molecule is formulated in a lipid-based carrier and preferentially targets cancer cells. Such a formulation may be combined with other cancer therapeutics (e.g., cisplatin, taxol, or the like). Still other uses for the adenoviral sequences provided herein will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art.

The invention further provides molecules useful for production of the simian and simian-derived proteins of the invention. Such molecules which carry polynucleotides including the simian Ad DNA sequences of the invention can be in the form of a vector.

B. Simian Adenoviral Proteins of the Invention

The invention further provides gene products of the above adenoviruses, such as proteins, enzymes, and fragments thereof, which are encoded by the adenoviral nucleic acids of the invention. The invention further encompasses SA18 proteins, enzymes, and fragments thereof, having the amino acid sequences encoded by these nucleic acid sequences which are generated by other methods. Such proteins include those encoded by the open reading frames identified in the tables above, and fragments thereof.

Thus, in one aspect, the invention provides unique simian adenoviral proteins which are substantially pure, i.e., are free of other viral and proteinaceous proteins. Preferably, these proteins are at least 10% homogeneous, more preferably 60% homogeneous, and most preferably 95% homogeneous.

In one embodiment, the invention provides unique simian-derived capsid proteins. As used herein, a simian-derived capsid protein includes any adenoviral capsid protein that contains a SA18 capsid protein or a fragment thereof, as defined above, including, without limitation, chimeric capsid proteins, fusion proteins, artificial capsid proteins, synthetic capsid proteins, and recombinantly capsid proteins, without limitation to means of generating these proteins.

Suitably, these simian-derived capsid proteins contain one or more SA18 regions or fragments thereof (e.g., a hexon, penton, fiber or fragment thereof) in combination with capsid regions or fragments thereof of different adenoviral serotypes, or modified simian capsid proteins or fragments, as described herein. A â€œmodification of a capsid protein associated with altered tropismâ€ as used herein includes an altered capsid protein, i.e, a penton, hexon or fiber protein region, or fragment thereof, such as the knob domain of the fiber region, or a polynucleotide encoding same, such that specificity is altered. The simian-derived capsid may be constructed with one or more of the simian Ad of the invention or another Ad serotypes which may be of human or non-human origin. Such Ad may be obtained from a variety of sources including the ATCC, commercial and academic sources, or the sequences of the Ad may be obtained from GenBank or other suitable sources.

The amino acid sequences of the simian adenoviruses penton proteins of the invention are provided herein. The AdSA18 penton protein is provided in SEQ ID NO: 13. Suitably, any of these penton proteins, or unique fragments thereof, may be utilized for a variety of purposes. Examples of suitable fragments include the penton having N-terminal and/or C-terminal truncations of about 50, 100, 150, or 200 amino acids, based upon the amino acid numbering provided above. Other suitable fragments include shorter internal, C-terminal, or N-terminal fragments. Further, the penton protein may be modified for a variety of purposes known to those of skill in the art.

The invention further provides the amino acid sequences of the hexon protein of SA18, SEQ ID NO:14. Suitably, this hexon protein, or unique fragments thereof, may be utilized for a variety of purposes. Examples of suitable fragments include the hexon having N-terminal and/or C-terminal truncations of about 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, or 500 amino acids, based upon the amino acid numbering provided above and in SEQ ID NO: 14. Other suitable fragments include shorter internal, C-terminal, or N-terminal fragments. For example, one suitable fragment the loop region (domain) of the hexon protein, designated DE1 and FG1, or a hypervariable region thereof. Such fragments include the regions spanning amino acid residues about 125 to 443; about 138 to 441, or smaller fragments, such as those spanning about residue 138 to residue 163; about 170 to about 176; about 195 to about 203; about 233 to about 246; about 253 to about 264; about 287 to about 297; about 404 to about 430, about 430 to 550, about 545 to 650; of the simian hexon proteins, with reference to SEQ ID NO: 14. Other suitable fragments may be readily identified by one of skill in the art. Further, the hexon protein may be modified for a variety of purposes known to those of skill in the art. Because the hexon protein is the determinant for serotype of an adenovirus, such artificial hexon proteins would result in adenoviruses having artificial serotypes. Other artificial capsid proteins can also be constructed using the chimp Ad penton sequences and/or fiber sequences of the invention and/or fragments thereof.

In one example, it may be desirable to generate an adenovirus having an altered hexon protein utilizing the sequences of a hexon protein of the invention. One suitable method for altering hexon proteins is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,315, which is incorporated by reference. In this method, at least one loop region of the adenovirus hexon is changed with at least one loop region of another adenovirus serotype. Thus, at least one loop region of such an altered adenovirus hexon protein is a simian Ad hexon loop region of the invention. In one embodiment, a loop region of the SA18 hexon protein is replaced by a loop region from another adenovirus serotype. In another embodiment, the loop region of the SA18 hexon is used to replace a loop region from another adenovirus serotype. Suitable adenovirus serotypes may be readily selected from among human and non-human serotypes, as described herein. SA18 is selected for purposes of illustration only; the other simian Ad hexon proteins of the invention may be similarly altered, or used to alter another Ad hexon. The selection of a suitable serotype is not a limitation of the present invention. Still other uses for the hexon protein sequences of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.

The invention further encompasses the fiber proteins of the simian adenoviruses of the invention. The fiber protein of AdSA18 has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15. Suitably, this fiber protein, or unique fragments thereof, may be utilized for a variety of purposes. One suitable fragment is the fiber knob, which spans about amino acids 247 to 425 of SEQ ID NO: 15. Examples of other suitable fragments include the fiber having N-terminal and/or C-terminal truncations of about 50, 100, 150, or 200 amino acids, based upon the amino acid numbering provided above and in SEQ ID NO: 15. Still other suitable fragments include internal fragments. Further, the fiber protein may be modified using a variety of techniques known to those of skill in the art.

The invention further encompasses unique fragments of the proteins of the invention which are at least 8 amino acids in length. However, fragments of other desired lengths can be readily utilized. In addition, the invention encompasses such modifications as may be introduced to enhance yield and/or expression of an SA18 gene product, e.g., construction of a fusion molecule in which all or a fragment of the SA18 gene product is fused (either directly or via a linker) with a fusion partner to enhance. Other suitable modifications include, without limitation, truncation of a coding region (e.g., a protein or enzyme) to eliminate a pre- or pro-protein ordinarily cleaved and to provide the mature protein or enzyme and/or mutation of a coding region to provide a secretable gene product. Still other modifications will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art. The invention further encompasses proteins having at least about 95% to 99% identity to the SA 18 proteins provided herein.

As described herein, vectors of the invention containing the adenoviral capsid proteins of the invention are particularly well suited for use in applications in which the neutralizing antibodies diminish the effectiveness of other Ad serotype based vectors, as well as other viral vectors. The rAd vectors of the invention are particularly advantageous in readministration for repeat gene therapy or for boosting immune response (vaccine titers). Examples of such regimens are provided herein.

Under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to use one or more of the SA18 gene products (e.g., a capsid protein or a fragment thereof) to generate an antibody. The term â€œan antibody,â€ as used herein, refers to an immunoglobulin molecule which is able to specifically bind to an epitope. Thus, the antibodies of the invention bind, preferably specifically and without cross-reactivity, to a SA18 epitope. The antibodies in the present invention exist in a variety of forms including, for example, high affinity polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, synthetic antibodies, chimeric antibodies, recombinant antibodies and humanized antibodies. Such antibodies originate from immunoglobulin classes IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD and IgE.

Such antibodies may be generated using any of a number of methods know in the art. Suitable antibodies may be generated by well-known conventional techniques, e.g. Kohler and Milstein and the many known modifications thereof. Similarly desirable high titer antibodies are generated by applying known recombinant techniques to the monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies developed to these antigens [see, e.g., PCT Patent Application No. PCT/GB85/00392; British Patent Application Publication No. GB2188638A; Amit et al., 1986 Science, 233:747-753; Queen et al., 1989 Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:10029-10033; PCT Patent Application No. PCT/WO9007861; and Riechmann et al., Nature, 332:323-327 (1988); Huse et al, 1988a Science, 246:1275-1281]. Alternatively, antibodies can be produced by manipulating the complementarity determining regions of animal or human antibodies to the antigen of this invention. See, e.g., E. Mark and Padlin, â€œHumanization of Monoclonal Antibodiesâ€ , Chapter 4, The Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, Vol. 113, The Pharmacology of Monoclonal Antibodies, Springer-Verlag (June, 1994); Harlow et al., 1999, Using Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, N.Y.; Harlow et al., 1989, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; Houston et al., 1988, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883; and Bird et al., 1988, Science 242:423-426. Further provided by the present invention are anti-idiotype antibodies (Ab2) and anti-anti-idiotype antibodies (Ab3). See, e.g., M. Wettendorff et al., â€œModulation of anti-tumor immunity by anti-idiotypic antibodies.â€ In Idiotypic Network and Diseases, ed. by J. Cerny and J. Hiernaux, 1990 J. Am. Soc. Microbiol., Washington D.C.: pp. 203-229]. These anti-idiotype and anti-anti-idiotype antibodies are produced using techniques well known to those of skill in the art. These antibodies may be used for a variety of purposes, including diagnostic and clinical methods and kits.

Under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to introduce a detectable label or a tag onto a SA18 gene product, antibody or other construct of the invention. As used herein, a detectable label is a molecule which is capable, alone or upon interaction with another molecule, of providing a detectable signal. Most desirably, the label is detectable visually, e.g. by fluorescence, for ready use in immunohistochemical analyses or immunofluorescent microscopy. For example, suitable labels include fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), phycoerythrin (PE), allophycocyanin (APC), coriphosphine-O (CPO) or tandem dyes, PE-cyanin-5 (PC5), and PE-Texas Red (ECD). All of these fluorescent dyes are commercially available, and their uses known to the art. Other useful labels include a colloidal gold label. Still other useful labels include radioactive compounds or elements. Additionally, labels include a variety of enzyme systems that operate to reveal a calorimetric signal in an assay, e.g., glucose oxidase (which uses glucose as a substrate) releases peroxide as a product which in the presence of peroxidase and a hydrogen donor such as tetramethyl benzidine (TMB) produces an oxidized TMB that is seen as a blue color. Other examples include horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or alkaline phosphatase (AP), and hexokinase in conjunction with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase which reacts with ATP, glucose, and NAD+ to yield, among other products, NADH that is detected as increased absorbance at 340 nm wavelength.

Other label systems that are utilized in the methods of this invention are detectable by other means, e.g., colored latex microparticles [Bangs Laboratories, Indiana] in which a dye is embedded are used in place of enzymes to form conjugates with the target sequences provide a visual signal indicative of the presence of the resulting complex in applicable assays.

Methods for coupling or associating the label with a desired molecule are similarly conventional and known to those of skill in the art. Known methods of label attachment are described [see, for example, Handbook of Fluorescent probes and Research Chemicals, 6th Ed., R. P. M. Haugland, Molecular Probes, Inc., Eugene, Oreg., 1996; Pierce Catalog and Handbook, Life Science and Analytical Research Products, Pierce Chemical Company, Rockford, Ill., 1994/1995]. Thus, selection of the label and coupling methods do not limit this invention.

The sequences, proteins, and fragments of the invention may be produced by any suitable means, including recombinant production, chemical synthesis, or other synthetic means. Suitable production techniques are well known to those of skill in the art. See, e.g., Sambrook et al, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.). Alternatively, peptides can also be synthesized by the well known solid phase peptide synthesis methods (Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 85:2149 (1962); Stewart and Young, Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (Freeman, San Francisco, 1969) pp. 27-62). These and other suitable production methods are within the knowledge of those of skill in the art and are not a limitation of the present invention.

In addition, one of skill in the art will readily understand that the Ad sequences of the invention can be readily adapted for use for a variety of viral and non-viral vector systems for in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo delivery of therapeutic and immunogenic molecules. For example, in one embodiment, the simian Ad capsid proteins and other simian adenovirus proteins described herein are used for non-viral, protein-based delivery of genes, proteins, and other desirable diagnostic, therapeutic and immunogenic molecules. In one such embodiment, a protein of the invention is linked, directly or indirectly, to a molecule for targeting to cells with a receptor for adenoviruses. Preferably, a capsid protein such as a hexon, penton, fiber or a fragment thereof having a ligand for a cell surface receptor is selected for such targeting. Suitable molecules for delivery are selected from among the therapeutic molecules described herein and their gene products. A variety of linkers including, lipids, polyLys, and the like may be utilized as linkers. For example, the simian penton protein may be readily utilized for such a purpose by production of a fusion protein using the simian penton sequences in a manner analogous to that described in Medina-Kauwe L K, et al, Gene Ther. 2001 May; 8(10):795-803 and Medina-Kauwe L K, et al, Gene Ther. 2001 Dec; 8(23): 1753-1761. Alternatively, the amino acid sequences of simian Ad protein IX may be utilized for targeting vectors to a cell surface receptor, as described in US Patent Appln 20010047081. Suitable ligands include a CD40 antigen, an RGD-containing or polylysine-containing sequence, and the like. Still other simian Ad proteins, including, e.g., the hexon protein and/or the fiber protein, may be used for used for these and similar purposes.

Still other adenoviral proteins of the invention may be used as alone, or in combination with other adenoviral protein, for a variety of purposes which will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art. In addition, still other uses for the adenoviral proteins of the invention will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art.

The compositions of this invention include vectors that deliver a heterologous molecule to cells, either for therapeutic or vaccine purposes. Such vectors, containing simian adenovirus DNA of SA18 and a minigene, can be constructed using techniques such as those described herein for the chimeric adenoviruses and such techniques as are known in the art. Alternatively, SA19 may be a source for sequences of the chimeric adenoviruses are described herein.

The following examples are illustrative, and are not intended to limit the invention to those illustrated embodiments.

EXAMPLE 1 Construction of Pan5/C1 Chimeric Simian Viruses

Five different adenoviruses initially isolated from the chimpanzee, AdC68 [U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,716], AdPan5, AdPan7, AdPan6 and AdC1 [U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,716] have been sequenced. See, International Application No. PCT/US02/33645, filed November 2002 for the sequences of Pan5 [SEQ ID NO:1], Pan7 [SEQ ID NO:3], and Pan6 [SEQ ID NO:2]. This application also provides sequences for SV1, SV25 and SV39 [SEQ ID No. 4, 5, 6, respectively]. Sequence comparison of the capsid protein sequences predicted that AdC1 clearly belonged to a different serological subgroup than the other four chimpanzee derived adenoviruses.

However, attempts to cultivate AdC1 in HEK293 cells revealed it to be fastidious in its growth characteristics (data not shown) and therefore possibly unsuitable for use as a vector using the currently available E1 complementing cell lines. However, because of the obvious sequence dissimilarity of AdC1 capsid protein sequence from the other chimpanzee derived adenoviruses (as well as the huAd5), chimeric adenovirus vectors were generated with the capsid characteristics of AdC1. In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks associated with only making hexon changes, more extensive replacements were made in the chimera described herein, i.e., construction of chimeras where the replacement went beyond just the hexon, to achieve two goals. The first was to determine whether making extended replacements would allow for the rescue of viruses containing hexons of unrelated serotypes that may not otherwise be amenable to rescue. The second goal was to test whether the growth characteristics of adenovirus vectors such as AdPan5, that have been found in our laboratory to be able to be grown to high titer for the purpose of manufacture, would also be present in the chimeric virus, particularly when the hexon (and other capsid proteins) are derived from a virus such as AdCI that are difficult to grow to a high yield in cell lines such as HEK293. An added bonus of extending the replacement to include the fiber protein would be to further increase the antigenic dissimilarity to beyond that afforded by a hexon change alone.

A. Construction of Two Pan5/C1 Chimeric Plasmids

The overall approach towards constructing chimeric viruses was to first assemble the complete E1 deleted virus DNA into a single plasmid flanked by recognition sites for the restriction enzyme SwaI, digest the plasmid DNA with SwaI to release the virus DNA ends, and transfect the DNA into HEK293 cells to determine whether viable chimeric adenovirus could be rescued. Two chimeric virus plasmids were constructed, p5C1short and p5C1long.

The plasmid p5C1short harbors an E1 deleted Pan5 virus where an internal 15226 bp segment (18332-33557) has been replaced by a functionally analogous 14127 bp (18531-32657) from AdC1. This results in the replacement of the Pan5 proteins hexon, endoprotease, DNA binding protein, 100 kD scaffolding protein, 33 kD protein, protein VIII, and fiber, as well as the entire E3 region, with the homologous segment from AdC1. The C1aI site at the left end of the AdC1 fragment is at the beginning of the hexon gene and the resulting protein is identical to the C1 hexon. The EcoRI site which constitutes the right end of the AdC1 fragment is within the E4 orf 7 part of the AdC1. The right end was ligated to a PCR generated right end fragment from AdPan5 such that the regenerated orf 7-translation product is chimeric between AdPan5 and AdC1.

The plasmid p5C1long harbors an E1 deleted Pan5 virus where an internal 25603 bp segment (7955-33557) has been replaced by a functionally analogous 24712 bp (7946-32657) from AdC1. This results in the replacement of the AdPan5 pre-terminal protein, 52/55 kD protein, penton base protein, protein VII, Mu, and protein VI with those from AdC1 in addition to those replaced in p5C1short. The AscI site at the left end of the AdC1 fragment is at the beginning of the DNA polymerase gene and results in a chimeric protein where the first 165 amino acids of the AdPan5 DNA polymerase has been replaced by a 167 amino acid segment from AdC1 DNA polymerase. In this N-terminal region, the homology between the AdPan5 and AdC1 DNA polymerase proteins is 81% (72% identity).

The plasmid pDVP5Mlu which contains the left end of AdPan5 was used as the starting plasmid for the chimeric vector construction.

The plasmid pDVP5Mlu was made as follows. A synthetic DNA fragment harboring recognition sites for the restriction enzymes SmaI, MluI, EcoRI and EcoRV respectively was ligated into pBR322 digested with EcoRI and NdeI so as to retain the origin of replication and the beta-lactamase gene. The left end of Pan5 extending to the MluI site (15135 bp) was cloned into this plasmid between the SmaI and Mlul sites. The E1 gene was functionally deleted and replaced by a DNA fragment harboring recognition sites for the extremely rare cutter restriction enzyme sites I-Ceul and PI-Scel). The 2904 base pairs of the right end of Pan-5 was PCR amplified using the primers P5L [GCG CAC GCG TCT CTA TCG ATG AAT TCC ATT GGT GAT GGA CAT GC, SEQ ID NO:7] and P51TR [GCG CAT TTA AAT CAT CAT CAA TAA TAT ACC TCA AAC, SEQ ID NO:8] using Tgo polymerase (Roche). The PCR product was cut with MluI and SwaI, and cloned between MluI and EcoRV of pDVP5Mlu to yield pPan5Mlu+RE. A 3193 bp fragment extending from the MluI site (15135) to the ClaI (18328) site of Pan5 was then inserted between the same sites of pPan5Mlu+RE to yield pPan5Cla+RE. The 3671 bp ClaI (18531) to EcoRI (22202) fragment of the adenovirus C1 was cloned into pPan5Cla+RE between ClaI (16111) and EcoRI (16116) to yield pPan5C1delRI. The 10452 bp internal EcoRI fragment of the adenovirus C1 (22202-32653) was cloned into the EcoRI site of pPan5C1delRI to yield p5C1short. To construct p5C1long, the AdC1 replacement was further extended by replacing the AscI-ClaI 10379 bp fragment of AdPan5 in p5C1short with the AdC1 AscI-ClaI 10591 bp fragment. Finally a green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression cassette was inserted into both p5C1short and p5C1long between the I-CeuI and PI-SceI sites to yield p5C1shortGFP and p5C1longGFP respectively.

B. Rescue of Chimeric Pan5/C] Recombinant Vector Adenoviruses

The plasmids p5C1shortGFP and p5C1longGFP were digested with the restriction enzyme SwaI and transfected into HEK 293 cells. A typical adenovirus induced cytopathic effect was observed. The rescue of recombinant chimeric adenovirus from the p5C1longGFP transfection was confirmed by collecting the supernatant from the transfection and re-infecting fresh cells which were found to be transduced as determined by GFP expression. Viral DNA prepared from the chimeric recombinant virus was digested with several restriction enzymes and found to have the expected pattern on electrophoresis (data not shown).

The chimeric adenoviral construct with the shorter replacement p5C1short encodes the C1 proteins hexon and fiber as well as the intervening open reading frames for endoprotease, DNA binding protein, 100 kDa scaffolding protein, 33 kDa protein, and protein VIII. (The E3 region is also included within this region but is unlikely to impact on the viability of the chimeric virus). When the replacement was extended to include the additional AdC1 proteins pTP (pre-terminal protein), 52/55 kDa protein, penton base, protein VII, Mu, and protein VI, there was no difficulty in rescuing viable chimeric virus. In this experiment, the chimeric adenovirus construction strategy utilized the presence of AscI and ClaI restriction enzyme sites present on the genes for DNA polymerase and hexon respectively on both AdPan5 and AdC1.

The reasons for the relatively higher yield of the chimeric virus compared to the wild-type AdC1 virus are not clear. In the growth of the 5C1 chimeric virus in 293 cells, the adenoviral early region gene products of E1 and E4 are derived from Ad5 and AdPan5 respectively. The E1 and E4 gene products bind, regulate and de-repress several cellular transcription complexes and coordinate their activity towards viral multiplication. Thus it is possible that the E1 gene products supplied in trans from the 293 cells and the E4 gene products from AdPan5 are more optimal in the human 293 cell background than are the equivalent AdC1 gene products. This may also apply to the activity of the major late promoter whose activity is responsible for the transcription of the capsid protein genes. In the chimeric virus, the major late promoter, and the protein IVa2 which transactivates it, are derived from AdPan5. However the E2 gene products required for adenoviral DNA replication pTP and single-stranded DNAâ€”binding protein are derived from AdC1. The adenoviral DNA polymerase, which complexes with pTP, is chimeric in Ad5C1 but mostly AdPan5 derived.

EXAMPLE 2 Generation of Simian Pan5/Human Ad40 Chimeric Adenovirus and Chimpanzee Pan5/Simian SA18 Chimeric Adenovirus

The construction of plasmids designed to rescue chimeric adenoviruses where the outside flanking regions are derived from the chimpanzee adenovirus AdPan5, and the internal region (containing the structural capsid protein genes) are derived from the human adenovirus Ad40 and the simian adenovirus SA18, are described below.

As described for the Pan5-C1 chimeric adenovirus, the overall approach towards constructing chimeric viruses was to first assemble the complete E1 deleted virus DNA into a single plasmid flanked by recognition sites for the restriction enzyme Swal, digest the plasmid DNA with SwaI to release the virus DNA ends, and transfect the DNA into HEK293 cells to determine whether viable chimeric adenovirus could be rescued. Two chimeric virus plasmids were constructed, pPan5-40 and pPan5-SA18 corresponding to the two two chimeric adenoviruses referred to above. The plasmid pPan5-40 harbors an E1 deleted Pan5 virus where an internal 22975 bp segment (10400-33374) has been replaced by a functionally analogous 21603 bp (10043-21603) from Ad40. This results in the replacement of the AdPan5 52/55 kD protein, penton base protein, protein VII, Mu, protein VI, hexon, endoprotease, DNA binding protein, 100 KD scaffolding protein, 33 kD protein, protein VIII, and fiber, as well as the entire E3 region, with the homologous segment from Ad40. Similarly, the plasmid pPan5-SA18 harbors an E1 deleted Pan5 virus where an internal 22975 bp segment (10400-33374) has been replaced by a functionally analogous 19015 bp (10573-29587) from SA18. This results in the replacement of the AdPan5 52/55 kD protein, penton base protein, protein VII, Mu, protein VI, hexon, endoprotease, DNA binding protein, 100 kD scaffolding protein, 33 kD protein, protein VIII, and fiber, as well as the entire E3 region, with the homologous segment from SA18.

A. Silent Mutagenesis of XbaI Site:

The plasmid pDVP5Mlu which contains the left end of AdPan5 was used as the starting plasmid for the chimeric vector construction. As a first step the XbaI site (3820) was mutagenized to destroy the recognition site without changing the coding sequence for polymerase. This was done by first sub-cloning the NdeI (812) to HindIII (4931) fragment into the plasmid pNEB 193 (New England Biolabs) using the same restriction sites in pNEB 193, to yield pNEBp5. A PCR reaction was performed on pNEBp5 using the primers P5XTOP (GATACCTAGGAACGAGGAGGATTTGATATTG, SEQ ID NO:9) and P5XBOT (ATGTACGCCTCCGCGCTCAC, SEQ ID NO:10) to yield a 591 bp product. The PCR product was cleaved with AvrII and BbvCI and ligated into pNEBp5 cut with XbaI and BbvCI to yield the desired mutation in the plasmid pNEBp5mut. The mutated NdeI-HindIII fragment from pNEBp5mut was ligated back into pDVP5Mlu to yield the desired mutated plasmid pDVP5Mlumut.

B. Insertion of the Pan5 Right End Comprising the Right ITR and the Complete E4 Region:

The right end of Pan-5 was PCR amplified (P5RE2PCR) using the primers P5E4 [GATCGAATTCCCACTCTGTACCCCATCTCTG, SEQ ID NO:11] and P5ITR [GCG CAT TTA AAT CAT CAT CAA TAA TAT ACC TCA AAC, SEQ ID NO:8] using Tgo polymerase, cut with EcoRI and Swal, and cloned between EcoRI and EcoRV of pDVP5Mlumut to yield pPan5Mlumut+RE.

C. Insertion of Ad40 or SA18 Structural Protein Sequences:

In order to construct p5-40, the Ad40 segment from XbaI (10038) to EcoRI (31642) was ligated into pDVP5Mlumut+RE2 between XbaI (8178) and EcoRI (12924) in two steps: first, the XbaI (30494) to EcoRI (31642) fragment was inserted, followed by the XbaI (10038)-XbaI (30494) fragment. To construct pPan5-SA18 the XbaI (10568) to EcoRI (29584) fragment from the simian adenovirus SA18 was inserted into pDVP5Mlumut+RE2 between XbaI (8178) and EcoRI (12924).

The minigene encoding for green fluorescent protein was inserted in place of the E1 deletion between the I-CeuI and PI-SceI sites in pPan5-40 and pPan5-SA18 respectively. This plasmids were purified, digested with SwaI and transfected into 293 cells.

All publications cited in this specification are incorporated herein by reference. While the invention has been described with reference to a particularly preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.