Abstract: Methods and compositions for transducing tumor cells using adenoviral vectors which comprise: a chimeric or modified adenovirus fiber protein and the coding sequence for a therapeutic agent, are provided. The chimeric or modified adenovirus fiber protein has at least a portion of an adenovirus fiber shaft of a first serotype and at least a portion of an adenovirus fiber head of a second serotype wherein the adenovirus comprising such a chimeric or modified adenovirus fiber protein exhibits enhanced transduction of tumor cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel viral vectors and methods useful for the minimization of leaky gene expression, and, in particular, of nonspecific transcriptional read-through of genes. Such constructs may be obtained by the insertion of an insulating sequence into a vector construct, such as for example a termination signal sequence upstream of the transcription initiation site of the respective transcription unit.

Abstract: A method of transferring at least one DNA sequence into cells by transducing the cells, in vivo or ex vivo, with a modified adenovirus. The adenovirus, prior to modification, is of a first serotype. In the modified adenovirus, at least a portion of the fiber, and in particular the head portion, is removed from the adenovirus of the first serotype and replaced with a portion, in particular the head portion, of the fiber of an adenovirus of a second serotype. Such method is useful in transducing cells which may be refractory to the adenovirus of the first serotype, yet include a receptor which binds to the head portion of the fiber of the adenovirus of the second serotype.

Abstract: The present invention relates to oncolytic adenoviral vectors and their use in methods of gene therapy. Provided is a recombinant viral vector comprising an adenoviral nucleic acid backbone, wherein said nucleic acid backbone comprises in sequential order: A left ITR, a termination signal sequence, an E2F responsive promoter which is operably linked to a gene essential for replication of the recombinant viral vector, an adenoviral packaging signal, and a right ITR.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel viral vectors and methods useful for the minimization of leaky gene expression, and, in particular, of nonspecific transcriptional read-through of genes. Such constructs may be obtained by the insertion of an insulating sequence into a vector construct, such as for example a termination signal sequence upstream of the transcription initiation site of the respective transcription unit.

Abstract: A method of transferring at least one DNA sequence into cells by transducing the cells, in vivo or ex vivo, with a modified adenovirus. The adenovirus, prior to modification, is of a first serotype. In the modified adenovirus, at least a portion of the fiber, and in particular the head portion, is removed from the adenovirus of the first serotype and replaced with a portion, in particular the head portion, of the fiber of an adenovirus of a second serotype. Such method is useful in transducing cells which may be refractory to the adenovirus of the first serotype, yet include a receptor which binds to the head portion of the fiber of the adenovirus of the second serotype.

Abstract: A method of transferring at least one DNA sequence into cells by transducing the cells, in vivo or ex vivo, with a modified adenovirus. The adenovirus, prior to modification, is of a first serotype. In the modified adenovirus, at least a portion of the fiber, and in particular the head portion, is removed from the adenovirus of the first serotype and replaced with a portion, in particular the head portion, of the fiber of an adenovirus of a second serotype. Such method is useful in transducing cells which may be refractory to the adenovirus of the first serotype, yet include a receptor which binds to the head portion of the fiber of the adenovirus of the second serotype.

Abstract: A new method for producing live, attenuated rotavirus strains suitable for preparing a vaccine is described. It is demonstrated that a naturally attenuated rotavirus recovered from newborns or other individuals whos have undergone asymptomatic infection can be used for immunization or that a virulent rotavirus can be converted into an attenuated strain by substituting the conserved fourth rotavirus gene segments of a naturally attenuated rotavirus in the genome of the virulent rotavirus.