UFULDSTAENDIGE HEPADNAVIRA OG CELLELINIE, DER PRODUCERER VACCINER, SAMT BEHANDLING AF LEVERSYGDOMME OG -FORSTYRRELSER

摘要

The present invention relates to replication-defective hepadnaviruses. In particular, the invention relates to two types of defective hepadnavirus genomes, and the nucleic acid sequences thereof. The first type (termed herein ''particle-defective''genomes) are incapable of supplying all hepadnaviral functions required for replication, but are able to produce a pregenomic RNA with the appropriate cis-acting signals necessary for inclusion of the RNA in virions (packaging) and for reverse transcription into DNA. The second type of defective hepadnavirus genomes of the invention, termed herein ''packaging genomes'', produced pregenomic RNA which cannot be packaged and/or reverse-transcribed into a double-stranded genomic DNA, and produce messenger RNAs capable of supplying functions required in trans for packaging. The present invention also relates to therapeutic uses of both hepadnavirus packaging genome products and virion particles consisting of packaged particle-defective genomes such as the prevention of hepadnavirus infection or its sequelae and for purposes of gene therapy.