Patent ID: 6524588
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: A61K,C12N

Abstract:
An influenza virus comprising at least one segment comprising a vRNA nucleotide sequence comprising a 3â€² terminal nucleotide sequence and a 5â€² terminal nucleotide sequence in association therewith, wherein said 3â€² terminal nucleotide sequence consists of 15 nucleotides corresponding to a wild-type influenza virus vRNA 3â€² terminal nucleotide sequence modified by replacement of the three nucleotides naturally occurring in the wild-type 3â€² terminal nucleotide sequence at positions {overscore (3)}, {overscore (5)} and {overscore (8)} by other nucleotides, and wherein said influenza virus exhibits as a result of said replacements a rate of transcription, replication or expression that is higher than that of a wild-type influenza virus of the same species as measured in a cell infected with said virus through transcription of vRNA by cellular RNA polymerase I and secondary transcription of said vRNA as a template into viral mRNA by viral polymerase.