University of California

Fenyong Liu

Sangwei Lu

Yong Bai

Hao Gong

Jun Wang

Walter Dunn

Cassie Chou

Hong Jiang

The present invention provides vectors, including a novel attenuated strain of, for efficient gene transfer into an animal, e.g. a mammalian host.

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the Present Invention Provides Vectors, Including a Novel Attenuated Strain of, for Efficient Gene Transfer into an Animal, e.g. a Mammalian Host.

A global functional analysis of HCMV genes is performed by constructing virus gene-deletion mutants and examining their growth phenotypes in different natural HCMV host cells. This systematic analysis of the HCMV genome identified 45 viral ORFs essential for viral replication and characterizes of 115 growth-dispensable viral genes. Of particular interest is the finding that HCMV encodes genes (temperance factors) that repress its own replication on a cell type-specific basis. In addition to HCMV, pathogen temperance may be a strategy employed by other infectious agents to enhance their long-term survivability within their respective host population.

Cytomegalovirus gene function and methods for developing antivirals, anti-CMV vaccines, and CMV-based vectors

Infectious human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) were isolated in vitro from a pool of randomized sequences after sixteen or 21 cycles of selection and amplification. The ligands characterized exhibited high HCMV-binding affinity in vitro and effectively inhibited viral infection in tissue culture. Several ligands blocked viral entry. Their antiviral activity was also specific as the ligands only reacted with strains of HCMV, but not with the related herpes simplex virus 1 and human cells. Moreover, the ligands recognize several different epitopes. Thus, RNA ligands can function to bind to a human virus and block viral infection. The screening method may utilize the novel features of binding to intact infectious virus, partitioning the bound polynucleotides from unbound by passing through a porous filter, and enhancing the release of bound polynucleotides by treatment with protease.

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Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Fenyong Liu