METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR PROTECTIVE AND THERAPEUTIC GENETIC IMMUNIZATION

摘要

Disclosed and claimed are methods and compositions for raising protective and therapeutic immunity in humans and animals by genetic immunization. The subject invention combines both safety and efficacy in the treatment of viral infections and diseases caused thereby. The methods of the subject invention comprise transduction of cells with a construct that directs the expression of an attenuated virus not capable of causing disease, for example, replication-incompetent. The enhanced efficiency of the subject invention in generating an antiviral immune response is due in part to a unique method for vehiculating attenuated viral particles within the host human or animal. Specifically, the attenuated non-pathogenic viral particles of the subject invention which produce the therapeutic or preventative immune response are generated by cells in the lymphoid organs such that the release of the viral particles occurs in the location within the human or animal body where antiviral responses are generated by cells of the immune system. The release of the virus particles in the lymphoid organs is achieved by transducing host cells of the lymphoid organs (or cells which migrate preferentially to the lymphoid organs) with a genetic construct which results in expression of the attenuated virus. As described more fully herein, transduction of dendritic cells is particularly preferred.