Latency active herpes virus promoters and their use to treat neurological lesions

摘要

The application discloses the structure of a herpes virus promoter that by means of which one can obtain the transcription of a non-herpes gene in a cell latently infected with a herpes virus. An HSV-1 vector comprising a LAP2 promoter encoded by SEQ ID NO:1, or fragments of SEQ ID NO:1 which have LAP 2 promoter activity regulating the expression of a heterologous gene is particularly disclosed. The herpes virus is preferably used to obtain such expression in the neurons of the peripheral nerves, and the ganglion cells of the cranial nerves. The invention teaches that specific diseases and pathological conditions and the corresponding non-herpes genes wherein such expression has practical value.