Patent ID: 7049134

Claim:
A rolling circle DNA replicon capable of rolling circle replication in a host eukaryotic cell, comprising the following elements, present on the same DNA molecule: a) a Rep gene open reading frame from a virus belonging to viral taxonomic families Geminiviridae, Circoviridae or genus Nanovirus, wherein said Rep gene open reading frame is placed under transcriptional control of a promoter, and wherein said promoter is placed 5′ of the gene; b) sequences that are required to be present in cis on the rolling circle DNA replicon in order that a Rep protein might promote replication of the rolling circle DNA replicon; c) an expression cassette for expression of an ancillary protein that is capable of creating a cellular environment allowing for replication of the rolling circle DNA replicon in the host eukaryotic cell wherein said ancillary protein is a viral protein; and d) at least one expression cassette comprising an RNA polymerase II promoter, a multiple cloning site, and transcription termination and polyadenylation signals suitable for transcription of RNA molecules not normally intrinsic to a Geminiviral, Circoviral or Nanoviral genome.