Patent ID: 6465634
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: A61K,C07K,C12N

Abstract:
A eukaryotic layered vector initiation system, comprising:(a) a 5â€² promoter which directs synthesis of alphavirus RNA in vivo from cDNA; (b) a 5â€² sequence which directs transcription of alphavirus RNA; (c) a nucleic acid sequence which operably encodes all four alphaviral nonstructural proteins; (d) an alphavirus RNA polymerase recognition sequence; and (e) a 3â€²polyadenylate tract; wherein said nucleic acid sequence which operably encodes all four alphaviral nonstructural proteins further comprises an altered nucleic acid sequence encoding for nonstructural protein 2 (nsP2) such that when said altered nucleic acid sequence is operably incorporated into an RNA vector replicon, the time required to reach 50% inhibition of host-cell directed macromolecular synthesis following expression in mammalian cells is increased, as compared to an RNA vector replicon having a wild-type alphavirus nsP2.