SYSTEM FOR THE IN VIVO DELIVERY AND EXPRESSION OF HETEROLOGOUS GENES IN THE BONE MARROW

摘要

The present invention provides a method of delivering immunogenic or therapeutic proteins to bone marrow cells using alphavirus vectors. The alphavirus vectors disclosed herein target specifically to bone marrow tissue, and viral genomes persist in bone marrow for at least three months post-infection. No or very low levels of virus were detected in quadricep, brain, and sera of treated animals. The sequence of a consensus Sindbis cDNA clone, pTR339, and infectious RNA transcripts, infectious virus particles, and pharmaceutical formulations derived therefrom are also disclosed. The sequence of the genomic RNA of the Girdwood S.A. virus, and cDNA clones, infectious RNA transcripts, infectious virus particles, and pharmaceutical formulations derived therefrom are also disclosed.