Patent ID: 6884612

Claim:
A recombinant lambdoid bacteriophage vector comprising a nucleotide sequence that (i) defines the lambdoid elements for replication and packaging of the vector into an assembled bacteriophage, and (ii) encodes a conditionally suppressible cistron for expression of a lambdoid bacteriophage head protein and a fusion protein that comprises: a) a promoter for transcribing the cistron, b) a first upstream translatable sequence that encodes a p D lambdoid bacteriophage head protein, c) a first ribosome binding site to initiate translation of said upstream translatable sequence, d) a second translatable sequence operatively linked downstream to said first translatable sequence that (i) encodes a linker polypeptide in frame with said head protein and (ii) includes a sequence adapted for ligation of an insert polynucleotide that defines a third translatable sequence downstream from said second translatable sequence that encodes a preselected polypeptide, and e) a suppressor termination codon within said second translatable sequence that upon suppression results in read-through to form a fusion polypeptide consisting of said p D lambdoid bacteriophage head protein, linker polypeptide and preselected polypeptide.