Abstract: What is described is a recombinant poxvirus, such as vaccinia virus, having enhanced sensitivity to interferon. In one embodiment, the recombinant poxvirus has an open reading frame conferring resistance to interferon deleted therefrom. In another embodiment, the recombinant poxvirus is modified to disrupt K3L gene expression. What is also described is a vaccine containing the recombinant poxvirus having enhanced sensitivity to interferon so that the vaccine has an increased level of safety compared to known recombinant poxvirus vaccines.

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: 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 modified recombinant virus for expressing a gene product in a host. The modified recombinant virus has host range genes deleted therefrom so that the virus has restricted replication in the host. The modified recombinant virus also contains DNA which codes for and expresses the gene product in the host even with restricted replication of the virus in the host. The modified recombinant virus is used in a method for expressing a gene product in a host or in a cell cultured in vitro, and in a vaccine for inducing an immunological response in a host inoculated with the vaccine. What is also described is a selection system for the cloning and expression of open reading frames in poxviruses, particularly vaccinia virus. The selection system is based on a conThis invention was made with Government support under contract DAMD17-85-C-5232 awarded by the Department of the Army. The Government has certain rights in this invention.

Abstract: What is described is a modified recombinant poxvirus, such as vaccinia virus, fowlpox virus and canarypox virus, having an internal core containing DNA from a non-pox source in a nonessential region of the poxvirus genome. The recombinant poxvirus is modified by disassociating the internal core from outer membranes of the poxvirus. The DNA codes for and expresses a gene product in a cell cultured in vitro and in a host in vivo without productive replication of the virus in the cell or in the host. What is also described is a vaccine containing the modified recombinant poxvirus for inducing an immunological response in a host inoculated with the vaccine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inducing an immunological response in a vertebrate to a pathogen by inoculating the vertebrate with a synthetic recombinant avipox virus modified by the presence, in a non-essential region of the avipox genome, of DNA from any source which codes for and expresses an antigen of the pathogen. The present invention further provides a synthetic recombinant avipox virus modified by the insertion therein of DNA from any source, and particularly from a non-avipox source, into a non-essential region of the avipox genome.

Abstract: What is described is a selection system for the cloning and expression of open reading frames in poxviruses, particularly vaccinia virus. The selection system is based on a conditional lethal mutant (host range) of poxviruses. A deletion/recombinant mutant of the vaccinia virus was generated which is capable of plaquing on primary chick embryo fibroblasts and two monkey cell lines (BSC-40 or VERO) but is defective in replication in the human cell line MRC-5. Insertion of the host range gene into the deletion/recombinant restores the ability for growth on MCR-5 cells. A series of plasmids were constructed which allow for the rapid single-step cloning and expression of any open reading frame when recombined with the deletion/recombinant and scored for growth on MCR-5 cells.

Abstract: Vaccines containing vaccinia virus synthetically modified to contain DNA sequences not naturally occurring in vaccinia virus and provoking an immunological response thereto in host animals inoculated with said vaccines.

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: 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: 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.