Abstract: Attenuated recombinant viruses containing DNA coding for a cytokine and/or a tumor associated antigen, as well as methods and compositions employing the viruses, are disclosed and claimed. The recombinant viruses can be NYVAC or ALVAC recombinant viruses. The DNA can code for at least on of: human tumor necrosis factor; nuclear phosphoprotein p53, wildtype or mutant; human melanoma-associated antigen; IL-2; IFN&ggr;; IL-4; GNCSF; IL-12; B7; erb-B-2 and carcinoembryonic antigen. The recombinant viruses and gene products therefrom are useful for cancer therapy.

Abstract: What is described is a recombinant poxvirus, such as vaccinia virus, fowlpox virus and canarypox virus, containing foreign DNA from herpesvirus. In one embodiment, the foreign DNA is expressed in a host by the production of a herpesvirus glycoprotein. In another embodiment, the foreign DNA is expressed in a host by the production of at least two, particularly two or three, herpesvirus glycoproteins. What is also described is a vaccine containing the recombinant poxvirus for inducing an immunological response in a host animal inoculated with the vaccine. By the present invention, the barrier of maternal immunity in a newborn offspring can be overcome or avoided.

Abstract: What is described is a recombinant poxvirus, such as vaccinia virus, containing foreign DNA from Plasmodium Merozoite Surface Antigen 1. What is also described is a vaccine containing the recombinant poxvirus for inducing an immunological response in a host animal inoculated with the vaccine.

Abstract: What is described is a recombinant poxvirus, such as vaccinia virus, fowlpox virus and canarypox virus, containing foreign DNA from herpesvirus. In one embodiment, the foreign DNA is expressed in a host by the production of a herpesvirus glycoprotein. In another embodiment, the foreign DNA is expressed in a host by the production of at least two, particularly two or three, herpesvirus glycoproteins. What is also described is a vaccine containing the recombinant poxvirus for inducing an immunological response in a host animal inoculated with the vaccine. By the present invention, the barrier of maternal immunity in a newborn offspring can be overcome or avoided.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are vectors having enhanced expression and methods for making and using them. Enhancement of expression is from substantially co-temporal expression of at least one first nucleic acid molecule and at least one second nucleic acid molecule. The second nucleic acid molecule encodes a transcription factor or a translation factor or a transcription factor and a translation factor. The contemporaneous expression can be from operably linking the first and second nucleic molecules to a single promoter, or from operably linking the first nucleic acid molecule to a first promoter and the second nucleic molecule to a second promoter wherein the first and second promoters function substantially contemporaneously. Thus, the first and second nucleic acid molecules can be at the same locus in the vector, or at different loci.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are nucleotides for genes encoding the canine herpesvirus (CHV) gB, gC and gD homologues. These genes encode polypeptides of 879, 459 and 345 amino acids, respectively, which are also disclosed and claimed. The genes are useful as DNA probes or, for preparing PCR primers. The polypeptides are useful in antigenic, immunological or vaccine compositions. The nucleotides can be expressed in any suitable vector system, allowing for production of the polypeptides. Additionally, the vector system containing any or any combination of the nucleotides can be employed in an antigenic, immunological or vaccine composition, such as a poxvirus vector system, e.g., a CHV-vaccinia or avipox virus recombinant, as can the products from expression, i.e., the gB, gC and gD glycoproteins. Antibodies elicited by the glycoproteins or from expression of the vector containing the nucleotide(s) are also useful. Methods for making and using the composition are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are vectors having enhanced expression and methods for making and using them. Enhancement of expression is from substantially co-temporal expression of at least one first nucleic acid molecule and at least one second nucleic acid molecule. The second nucleic acid molecule encodes a translation factor. The contemporaneous expression can be from operably linking the first and second nucleic molecules to a single promoter, or from operably linking the first nucleic acid molecule to a first promoter and the second nucleic molecule to a second promoter wherein the first and second promoters function substantially contemporaneously. Thus, the first and second nucleic acid molecules can be at the same locus in the vector or at different loci. The second nucleic acid molecule can encode encode one translation factor or more than one translation factor.

Abstract: Attenuated recombinant viruses containing DNA encoding an HCMV antigen, as well as methods and compositions employing the viruses, expression products therefrom, and antibodies generated from the viruses or expression products, are disclosed and claimed. The recombinant viruses can be NYVAC or ALVAC recombinant viruses. The recombinant viruses and gene products therefrom and antibodies generated by the viruses and gene products have several preventive, therapeutic and diagnostic uses. The DNA of the recombinant viruses can be used as probes or for generating PCR primers.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are vectors having enhanced expression and methods for making and using them. Enhancement of expression is from substantially co-temporal expression of at least one first nucleic acid molecule and at least one second nucleic acid molecule. The second nucleic acid molecule encodes a transcription factor or a translation factor or a transcription factor and a translation factor. The contemporaneous expression can be from operably linking the first and second nucleic molecules to a single promoter, or from operably linking the first nucleic acid molecule to a first promoter and the second nucleic molecule to a second promoter wherein the first and second promoters function substantially contemporaneously. Thus, the first and second nucleic acid molecules can be at the same locus in the vector, or at different loci.

Abstract: Attenuated recombinant viruses containing DNA encoding a calicivirus antigen such as a RHDV antigen, e.g., a capsid gene, as well as methods and compositions employing the viruses, expression products therefrom, and antibodies generated from the viruses or expression products, are disclosed and claimed. The recombinant viruses can be NYVAC or ALVAC recombinant viruses. The recombinant viruses and gene products therefrom and antibodies generated by the viruses and gene products have several preventive, therapeutic and diagnostic uses. The DNA from the viruses can be used for probes or for primers.

Abstract: What are disclosed are methods for modifying the genome of vaccinia virus to produce vaccinia mutants, particularly by the introduction into the vaccinia genome of exogenous DNA; modified vaccinia prepared by such methods; certain DNA sequences and unmodified and genetically modified microorganisms involved as intermediates in such methods; and methods for infecting cells and host animals with such vaccinia mutants to provoke the amplification of exogenous DNA and proteins encoded by the exogenous DNA, including antigenic proteins, by said cells and host animals.

Abstract: Attenuated recombinant viruses containing DNA coding for a cytokine and/or a tumor associated antigen, as well as methods and compositions employing the viruses, are disclosed and claimed. The recombinant viruses can be NYVAC or ALVAC recombinant viruses. The DNA can code for at least one of: human tumor necrosis factor; nuclear phosphoprotein p53, wildtype or mutant; human melanoma-associated antigen; IL-2; IFN.gamma.; IL-4; GMCSF; IL-12; B7; erb-B-2 and carcinoembryonic antigen. The recombinant viruses and gene products therefrom are useful for cancer therapy.

Abstract: What is described is a recombinant poxvirus, such as fowlpox virus, containing foreign DNA from infectious bursal disease virus. What is also described is a vaccine containing the recombinant poxvirus for inducing an immunological response in a host animal inoculated with the vaccine.

Abstract: Attenuated recombinant viruses containing DNA encoding an immunodeficiency virus and/or CTL antigen, as well as methods and compositions employing the viruses, expression products therefrom, and antibodies generated from the viruses or expression products, are disclosed and claimed. The recombinant viruses can be NYVAC or ALVAC recombinant viruses. The DNA can code for at least one of: HIV1gag(+pro)(IIIB), gp120(MN)(+transmembrane), nef(BRU)CTL, pol(IIIB)CTL, ELDKWA or LDKW epitopes, preferably HIV1gag(+pro)(IIIB), gp120(MN) (+transmembrane), two (2) nef(BRU)CTL and three (3) pol(IIIB)CTL epitopes; or two ELDKWA in gp120 V3 or another region or in gp160. The two (2) nef(BRU)CTL and three (3) pol(IIIB)CTL epitopes are preferably CTL1, CTL2, pol1, pol2 and pol3. The recombinant viruses and gene products therefrom and antibodies generated by the viruses and gene products have several preventive, therapeutic and diagnostic uses.

Abstract: Attenuated recombinant viruses containing DNA encoding FIPV antigen(s) compositions thereof, as well as methods for making and using the compositions, expression products therefrom, and antibodies generated, are disclosed and claimed. The recombinant viruses can be NYVAC or ALVAC recombinant viruses. The compositions and products therefrom and antibodies generated have several preventive, therapeutic and diagnostic uses.

Abstract: Attenuated recombinant viruses containing DNA encoding a rabies virus antigen in a "cocktail" or combination or multivalent compositions well as methods for making and using the compositions, expression products therefrom, and antibodies generated, are disclosed and claimed. The recombinant viruses can be NYVAC or ALVAC recombinant viruses. The compositions and products therefrom and antibodies generated have several preventive, therapeutic and diagnostic uses.

Abstract: Attenuated vaccinia or canarypox recombinant viruses containing DNA coding for a cytokine and/or a tumor associated antigen, as well as methods and compositions employing the viruses, are disclosed and claimed. The recombinant viruses can be NYVAC or ALVAC recombinant viruses. The DNA can code for at least one of: human tumor necrosis factor; nuclear phosphoprotein p53, wildtype or mutant; human melanoma-associated antigen; IL-2; IFN.gamma.; IL-4; GMCSF; IL-12; B7; erb-B-2 and carcinoembryonic antigen. The recombinant viruses and gene products therefrom are useful for cancer therapy.

Abstract: What is described is a recombinant poxvirus, such as vaccinia or canarypox virus, containing foreign DNA from Plasmodium such as coding for at least one of CSP, PfSSP2, LSA-1, LSA-1-repeatless, MSA-1, SERA, AMA-1, Pfs25, MSA-1 N-terminal p83 and MSA-1 C-terminal gp42. What is also described is a vaccine containing the recombinant poxvirus for inducing an immunological response in a host animal inoculated with the vaccine. Preferred recombinants have attenuated virulence. In certain embodiments the vaccinia has deleted or disrupted the thymidine kinase gene, the hemorrhagic region, the A type inclusion body region, the host range gene region and, the large subunit, ribonucleotide reductase; and, contains coding sequences for CSP, PfSSP2, LSA-1-repeatless, MSA-1, SERA, AMA-1 and Pfs25. That embodiment is termed NYVAC-Pf7 and is a multicomponent, multistage vaccine since it codes for and expresses sporozoite proteins, liver stage proteins, blood stage proteins and, sexual stage proteins.

Abstract: What is described is a modified vector, such as a recombinant poxvirus, particularly recombinant vaccinia virus, having enhanced safety. The modified recombinant virus has nonessential virus-encoded genetic functions inactivated therein so that virus has attenuated virulence. In one embodiment, the genetic functions are inactivated by deleting an open reading frame encoding a virulence factor. In another embodiment, the genetic functions are inactivated by insertional inactivation of an open reading frame encoding a virulence factor. What is also described is a vaccine containing the modified recombinant virus having nonessential virus-encoded genetic functions inactivated therein so that the vaccine has an increased level of safety compared to known recombinant virus vaccines.

Abstract: This invention is directed toward recombinant attenuated canarypox virus expression vectors containing exogenous DNA segments encoding lentiviral gene products. A parental canarypox virus (Rentschler strain) was obtained and attenuated through more than 200 serial passages on chick embryo fibroblasts. A master viral seed was subjected to four successive plaque purifications under agar and one plaque clone was amplified through five additional passages after which the stock virus was used as the parental virus in in vitro recombination studies. This attenuated plaque purified canarypox isolate was designated ALVAC. A series of ALVAC recombinants were generated that are capable of expressing different HIV and SIV gene products including Gag, Pol, Env, and Nef. These recombinants provide useful reagents for the generation of viral-specific immune responses.