Abstract: A vector capable of transducing non-dividing and/or slowly dividing cells is provided, wherein the vector is a lentiviral LTR-deleted vector. Also provided is a method for producing a protein of interest in a non-dividing or slowly dividing cell by transducing the cell with a lentiviral LTR-deleted vector and expressing the protein of interest in the cell. In addition, target cells containing the lentiviral LTR-deleted vector are provided.

Abstract: A vector comprising a nucleotide sequence of interest (“NOI”) encoding a product of interest (“POI”) is described. The NOI and/or the POI is capable of recognizing a tumor, such that in use of the vector is capable of delivering the NOI and/or the POI to the tumor.

Abstract: A vector comprising a nucleotide sequence of interest (“NOI”) encoding a product of interest (“POI”) is described. The NOI and/or the POI is capable of recognizing a tumor, such that in use the vector is capable of delivering the NOI and/or the POI to the tumor.

Abstract: The present invention provides 5T4 tumour-associated antigen (TAA) for use in a method of immunotherapy of tumours. The invention also relates to a recombinant poxvirus vector from which at least one immune evasion gene has been deleted, which comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a 5T4 TAA and the use thereof in vaccinating against and in treating tumours.

Abstract: A retroviral delivery system capable of transducing a target site is described. The retroviral delivery system comprises a first nucleotide sequence coding for at least a part of an envelope protein; and one or more other nucleotide sequences derivable from a retrovirus that ensure transduction of the target site by the retroviral delivery system; wherein the first nucleotide sequence is heterologous with respect to at least one of the other nucleotide sequences; and wherein the first nucleotide sequence codes for at least a part of a rabies G protein or a mutant, variant, derivative or fragment thereof that is capable or recognising the target site.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are methods for treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases, conditions or maladies or symptoms or physiology associated therewith, such as treating or preventing Parkinson's disease or symptoms or physiology associated therewith such as motor deficits or nigrostriatal degeneration; or, for inducing nigrostriatal regeneration. Advantageously, the methods involve administering a lentiviral vector that expresses GDNF, such as human GDNF, or a variant, homolog, analog or derivative thereof.

Abstract: A viral vector production system is provided which system comprises: (i) a viral genome comprising at least one first nucleotide sequence encoding a gene product capable of binding to and effecting the cleavage, directly or indirectly, of a second nucleotide sequence, or transcription product thereof, encoding a viral polypeptide required for the assembly of viral particles, (ii) a third nucleotide sequence encoding said viral polypeptide required for the assembly of the viral genome into viral particles, which third nucleotide sequence has a different nucleotide sequence to the second nucleotide sequence such that said third nucleotide sequence, or transcription product thereof, is resistant to cleavage directed by said gene product; wherein at least one of the gene products is an external guide sequence capable of binding to and effecting the cleavage by RNase P of the second nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: A method of producing a transgenic cell comprising introducing into a cell a non-primate lentiviral expression vector comprising a nucleotide of interest (NOI). Also described is a method of producing a transgenic cell comprising introducing into a cell a lentiviral expression vector comprising a NOI capable of generating an antisense oligonucleotide, a ribozyme, an siRNA, a short hairpin RNA, a micro-RNA or a group 1 intron. Also described is a viral vector comprising a first nucleotide sequence, wherein said first nucleotide sequence comprises: (a) a second nucleotide sequence comprising an aptazyme; and (b) a third nucleotide sequence capable of generating a polynucleotide; wherein (a) and (b) are operably linked and wherein the aptazyme is activatable to cleave a transcript of the first nucleotide sequence such that said polynucleotide is generated.

Abstract: Retroviral vector production systems for producing lentivirus-based vector particles which are capable of infecting and transducing non-dividing target cells, wherein one or more of the auxiliary genes such as vpr, vif, tat, and nef in the case of HIV-1 are absent from the system. The systems and resulting retrovirus vector particles have improved safety over existing systems and vectors.

Abstract: An alpha-lentivirus vector comprising at least one alphaviral component and at least one lentiviral component, wherein the lentiviral component is capable of being packaged into a lentiviral particle after introduction of said vector into a human cell.

Abstract: A method of producing a transgenic cell comprising introducing into a cell a non-primate lentiviral expression vector comprising a nucleotide of interest (NOI).

Abstract: A method for producing viral vectors is described using packaging and producer cell lines is described. The producer cell comprises: (i) a first nucleotide sequence (NS) encoding a toxic viral envelope protein operably linked to a promoter; wherein the promoter is operably linked to at least one copy of a TRE; (ii) a second NS wherein the second NS comprises a sequence encoding a tetracycline modulator; (iii) a third NS encoding a retrovirus nucleocapsid protein; and (iv) a fourth NS comprising a retroviral sequence capable of being encapsidated in the nucleocapsid protein such that the retroviral vector particle titre obtainable from the producer cell is regulatable by tetracycline and an initial stimulus with sodium butyrate or functional analogues thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to the imaging, preferably of hypoxic or ischaemic sites using mononuclear phagocytes. Specifically, the migratory behavior of the mononuclear phagocytes is exploited with a view to targeting imaging agents to sites that mononuclear phagocytes penetrate.

Abstract: A retroviral vector derived from a non-primate lentivirus genome comprising a deleted gag gene wherein the deletion in gag removes one or more nucleotides downstream of nucleotide 350 of the gag coding sequence.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel peptides and proteins and nucleic acids encoding them, which are useful against HIV infection. The peptides comprise an amino acid sequence of a part of the HIV-1 p17 protein or of the HIV-2 p16 protein, from amino acid residues 31 to 45 or from amino acid residues 41 to 55. The proteins are recombinant p16 and p17 proteins having an alteration in helix A which is defined by amino acid residues 31 to 46, or the A-B loop which is defined by amino acid residues 47 to 52.

Abstract: Nucleic acid constructs comprising hypoxia response elements in operable linkage with a coding sequence of a gene of interest, and methods for expressing a nucleic acid sequence using the constructs, are disclosed. In particular, such nucleic acid constructs comprise genes encoding prodrug activation systems or cytokines.

Abstract: The invention relates to the imaging, preferably of hypoxic or ischaemic sites using mononuclear phagocytes. Specifically, the migratory behavior of the mononuclear phagocytes is exploited with a view to targeting imaging agents to sites that mononuclear phagocytes penetrate.

Abstract: Retroviral vector particles capable of infecting and transducing non-dividing mammalian target cells, which vector particles may be based on letiviruses such as HIV and which have an RNA genome constructed so as to provide in the DNA provirus a non-lentiviral expression control element in the 5′LTR of the provirus.

Abstract: A method of making retrovirus vectors having selected characteristics, in particular an increased ability to infect a particular target cell, comprises subjecting a starting retrovirus or retroviral vector to a selection process in vitro which involves a plurality of rounds of infection of a host cell during which the retrovirus or retroviral vector evolves to attain the selected characteristics. Components of the evolved retrovirus or retroviral vector can be used in retroviral vector production systems for producing retroviral vectors having the selected characteristics. The invention is particularly useful for preparing retroviral vectors suitable for gene therapy.

Abstract: A proteinaceous particle comprises a capsid enveloped by ecotropic Murine Leukemia virus envelope proteins characterized in that a heterologous peptide which binds to a non-murine cell is inserted in, entirely replaces, or replaces a portion of the native Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Ser-Pro-Gly of the VRA region of said envelope proteins. A method for preparing a plurality of such proteinaceous particles comprises expressing within a host cell (i) self-assembling capsid proteins, (ii) Murine Leukemia virus envelope proteins, said ENV proteins modified as defined, and optionally, (iii) packageable RNA, and then culturing the host cells and harvesting the resultant budded particles.