Recombinant gene, in particular a recombinant retrovirus defective and activatable by a transactivating, cells containing them, their process of manufacture and their applications, in particular for the in vitro detection of a retroviral infection or of the study of the in vitro inhibition of the infection of the active substances of medicinal products

摘要

The invention concerns means (products and processes) applicable to the in vitro detection of the presence of an infectious retrovirus in a biological specimen, in particular of an AIDS virus (HIV). These means consist, in particular, of cells which are susceptible to infection by HIV and which include a recombinant gene containing a DNA corresponding essentially to the totality of the genome of a rotrovirus having a gene which can be activated by a retroviral transactivator controlled by a promoter. Said DNA, however, does not contain the coding sequence for the retroviral transactivator but does contain a heterologous marker controlled by a promoter, in this case LTR5, which is normally associated with the coding sequences for the gag, pol and env proteins. The activation of the marker indicates the presence of infectious retrovirus in the specimen.