Patent ID: 8809047

Claim:
A replication-defective, dominant-negative Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) recombinant virus, comprising within its genome: a) a first sequence encoding a first HSV-2 glycoprotein D (gD2) wherein said sequence is operably linked to a first promoter and said first promoter is operably linked to a first tetracycline operator (tet-O) sequence, wherein said first sequence encoding gD2 is inserted into a first ICP0 protein open reading frame; b) a second sequence encoding a second HSV-2 gD2 wherein said second sequence is operably linked to a second promoter and said second promoter is operably linked to a second tet-O sequence, wherein said second sequence encoding gD2 is inserted into a second ICP0 protein open reading frame; c) a third sequence encoding a first dominant negative mutant form of HSV-1 UL9 protein, wherein said third sequence is operably linked to a third promoter and said third promoter is operably linked to a third tetracycline operator (tet-O) sequence; and d) a fourth sequence encoding a second dominant negative mutant form of HSV-1 UL9 protein, wherein said fourth sequence is operably linked to a fourth promoter and said fourth promoter is operably linked to a fourth tetracycline operator (tet-O) sequence, wherein: i) said first and said second promoters are HSV-1 or HSV-2 immediate early promoters; ii) said third and said fourth promoters are induced in response to VP16; and iii) said recombinant virus does not comprise a sequence encoding a functional ICP0 protein.