Abstract: The present invention provides multiply replication deficient adenoviral vectors having a spacer in at least one replication deficient adenoviral region, as well as complementing cell lines therefor. Also provided are means of constructing the multiply replication deficient adenoviral vectors and methods of use thereof, e.g., in gene therapy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chimeric adenovirus fiber protein, which differs from the wild-type coat protein by the introduction of a nonnative amino acid sequence in a conformationally-restrained manner. Such a chimeric adenovirus fiber protein according to the invention is able to direct entry into cells of a vector comprising the chimeric fiber protein that is more efficient than entry into cells of a vector that is identical except for comprising a wild-type adenovirus fiber protein rather than the chimeric adenovirus fiber protein. The nonnative amino acid sequences encodes a peptide motif that comprises an epitope for an antibody, or a ligand for a cell surface receptor, that can be employed in cell targeting. The present invention also pertains to vectors comprising such a chimeric adenovirus fiber protein, and to methods of using such vectors.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for site-specific recombination in a cell, as well as vectors which can be employed in such methods. The methods and vectors of the present invention can be used to obtain persistent gene expression in a cell and to modulate gene expression.One preferred method according to the invention comprises contacting a cell with a vector comprising an origin of replication functional in mammalian cells located between first and second recombining sites located in parallel. Another preferred method comprises, in part, contacting a cell with a vector comprising first and second recombining sites in antiparallel orientations such that the vector is internalized by the cell. In both methods, the cell is further provided with a site-specific recombinase that effects recombination between the first and second recombining sites of the vector.

Abstract: A recombinant adenovirus comprising a chimeric fiber protein and a therapeutic gene, a method of gene therapy involving the use of such an adenovirus, and an adenoviral transfer vector for the generation of such a recombinant adenovirus are provided.

Abstract: A recombinant adenovirus comprising a chimeric penton base protein, which includes a nonpenton base sequence, and a therapeutic gene, a method of gene therapy involving the use of such adenovirus, and adenoviral transfer vectors for the generation of such recombinant adenovirus are provided.

Abstract: A method of introducing an adenovirus into a cell that comprises a particular cell surface binding site, as well as a chimeric adenovirus penton base protein and recombinant adenoviral vector comprising the chimeric adenovirus penton base protein for use in the method, are provided.

Abstract: A recombinant adenovirus comprising a chimeric penton base protein, which includes a nonpenton base sequence, and a therapeutic gene, a method of gene therapy involving the use of such adenovirus, and adenoviral transfer vectors for the generation of such recombinant adenovirus are provided.