Modified vaccinia ankara virus variant

Abstract

The present invention provides an attenuated virus, which is derived from Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus, wherein the MVA-BN virus, or a derivative thereof, induces at least substantially the same level of immunity in vaccinia virus prime/vaccina virus boost regimes when compared to DNA prime/vaccinia virus boost regimes. It further describes recombinant viruses derived from this virus and the use of the virus, or its recombinants, as a medicament or vaccine. A method is provided for inducing an immune response in individuals who may be immune-compromised, receiving antiviral therapy, or have a pre-existing immunity to the vaccine virus.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method for generating a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus comprising:
 a) culturing an MVA virus;   b) isolating an MVA virus that reproductively replicates in chicken embryo fibroblast cells; and   c) selecting for an MVA virus that is unable to reproductively replicate in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT, in the human bone osteosarcoma cell line 143B, in the human cervix adenocarcinoma cell line HeLa, and in the human embryo kidney cell line 293.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the selected MVA virus is capable of a replication amplification ratio of greater than 500 in chicken embryo fibroblast cells. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the MVA virus cultured in step a) is MVA 572. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the MVA virus cultured in step a) is MVA 575. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising converting the selected MVA virus to a physiologically acceptable form. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising converting the selected MVA virus to a physiologically acceptable form. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising converting the selected MVA virus to a physiologically acceptable form. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising converting the selected MVA virus to a physiologically acceptable form. 
     
     
         34 . A modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus prepared by:
 a) culturing an MVA virus;   b) isolating an MVA virus that reproductively replicates in chicken embryo fibroblast cells; and   c) selecting for an MVA virus that is unable to reproductively replicate in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT, in the human bone osteosarcoma cell line 143B, in the human cervix adenocarcinoma cell line HeLa, and in the human embryo kidney cell line 293.   
     
     
         35 . The MVA virus of  claim 34 , wherein the selected MVA virus is capable of a replication amplification ratio of greater than 500 in chicken embryo fibroblast cells. 
     
     
         36 . The MVA virus of  claim 34 , wherein the MVA virus cultured in step a) is MVA 572. 
     
     
         37 . The MVA virus of  claim 34 , wherein the MVA virus cultured in step a) is MVA 575. 
     
     
         38 . The MVA virus of  claim 34 , in a physiologically acceptable form. 
     
     
         39 . The MVA virus of  claim 35 , in a physiologically acceptable form. 
     
     
         40 . The MVA virus of  claim 36 , in a physiologically acceptable form. 
     
     
         41 . The MVA virus of  claim 37 , in a physiologically acceptable form.