Adenoviral vectors of canine origin

Abstract

The present invention resides in use of a recombinant adenovirus of animal origin containing a heterologous DNA sequence for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition intended for the therapeutic and/or surgical treatment of the human body.

Claims

1. A recombinant canine CAV-2 adenovirus, comprising at least one inserted human gene and sequences permitting expression of the inserted gene in a human cell in which the recombinant adenovirus is infectious.

2. The adenovirus according to claim 1, wherein the gene encodes a protein selected from the group consisting of an enzyme, a hormone, a lymphokine, a growth factor, a trophic factor, an apolipoprotein, a dystrophin, a minidystrophin, a tumour-suppressor, and a coagulation factor.

3. The adenovirus according to claim 1, further comprising sequences encoding a signal sequence enabling secretion of an encoded protein of the inserted human gene.

4. The adenovirus according to claim 1, wherein the product of the inserted gene is an antisense sequence.

5. The adenovirus according to claim 1, wherein its genome lacks the E1 region.

6. The adenovirus according to claim 5, comprising a region of another animal or human adenovirus genome.