Retroviral vectors

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.

1 - 29 . (canceled)  
     
     
         30 . A non-primate lentivirus-based retroviral vector production system comprising nucleic acid sequence(s) encoding a non-primate lentivirus genome, gag, pol, and an envelope protein, wherein nucleic acid sequence(s) encoding functional Tat are absent from the system, wherein the lentivirus genome includes a packaging sequence, and wherein said production system produces an infection and transduction competent, non-primate lentivirus-based retroviral vector particle.  
     
     
         31 . The retroviral vector production system according to  claim 30 , wherein the non-primate lentivirus is equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV).  
     
     
         32 . A non-primate lentivirus-based retroviral particle produced by the retroviral vector production system of  claim 30 , wherein the retroviral particle comprises a non-primate lentivirus genome, gag, pol, and an envelope protein, and wherein the retroviral particle lacks functional Tat.  
     
     
         33 . A cell transfected or transduced with the retroviral particle of  claim 32 .  
     
     
         34 . A cell transfected or transduced with the retroviral vector production system according to  claim 30 .  
     
     
         35 . A method for delivery of a nucleotide sequence of interest (NOI) to a target cell comprising introducing into the target cell the retroviral vector particle obtained from the retroviral vector production system according to  claim 30 , wherein the retroviral vector particle comprises an NOI; and whereby the NOI is expressed in the target cell.  
     
     
         36 . A method of transfecting or transducing a cell, comprising contacting said cell with the retroviral vector production system according to  claim 30 , whereby said cell is transfected or transduced.  
     
     
         37 . A delivery system comprising the retroviral vector particle obtained from the retroviral production system according  claim 30 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         38 . The retroviral production system according to  claim 30 , wherein the envelope protein is VSV-G.  
     
     
         39 . The retroviral particle according to  claim 32 , wherein the envelope protein is VSV-G.  
     
     
         40 . The retroviral particle according to  claim 32 , further comprising an NOI.