Vectors and methods for gene transfer to cells

摘要

The present invention provides a chimeric adenovirus coat protein, which differs from the wild-type coat protein by the introduction of a nonnative amino acid sequence. Such a chimeric adenovirus coat protein according to the invention is able to direct entry into cells of a vector comprising the coat protein that is more efficient than entry into cells of a vector that is identical except for comprising a wild-type adenovirus coat protein rather than the chimeric adenovirus coat protein. The chimeric coat protein preferably is a fiber, hexon, or penton protein. The present invention also provides an adenoviral vector that comprises the chimeric adenovirus coat protein, as well as methods of constructing and using such a vector.