Patent ID: 6043081
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: A61K,A61P,C07K,C12N

Abstract:
An expression vector comprising:(a) nucleic acid segment encoding a recombinant protein for interfering with incorporation of native Vpr and/or native Vpx into HIV-1 or HIV-2 virion, wherein said recombinant protein comprises a Vpr/Vpx virion incorporation domain which includes the predicted N-terminal alpha helix of a viral protein sequence selected from the group consisting of HIV-1 Vpr, HIV-2 Vpr, HIV-2 Vpx, SIV Vpr and SIV Vpx, or the P6 domain of a Pr55.sup.gag -precursor protein of said HIV-1 or HIV-2 virion and wherein said nucleic acid segment comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, and SEQ ID NO:5, whereby said recombinant protein when expressed in trans with respect to the HIV-1 or HIV-2 genome, interacts with at least one of a native viral protein selected from the group consisting of a p6 domain of a Pr55.sup.gag -precursor protein, a Vpr protein, and a Vpx protein, thereby enabling the production of viral particles with a reduced amount of said native Vpr or Vpx protein, while allowing normal cell growth of a cell expressing said recombinant protein; and(b) a promoter operably linked to said nucleic acid segment.