A SEMLIKI FOREST VIRUS REPLICATION COMPETENT VECTOR WITH ENHANCED BIOSAFETY

摘要

The invention provides an RNA vector cassette comprising a subgenomic promoter and multiple cloning site (MCS) at the 5' end of the open reading frame of a gene encoding a SFV structural protein. The invention also provides for a replicating viral vector capable of expressing a cloned exogenous gene, wherein the vector demonstrates reduced virulence due to at least one mutation in the coding sequence of a structural protein of a virus. The mutation may be a deletion in the gene.