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Lentiviral vectors for delivery of genes into neonatal and adult ventricular cardiac myocytes in vitro and in vivo.

Vectors based on lentiviruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type-1 have many advantages for gene therapy, including the ability to infect non-dividing cells, long-term transgene expression and the absence of induction of an inflammatory/immune response. This study was initiated to determine whether lentiviruses would efficiently transfer genes to both neonatal and adult cardiac cells in culture and, by direct injection, to the heart in vivo. A three-plasmid expression system, including a packaging defective helper construct, a plasmid coding for a heterologous (VSV-G) envelope protein and a vector construct harboring reporter genes - E-GFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) and puro (puromycin-resistance protein) was used to generate pseudotyped HIV-1 particles by transient transfection of human embryonic kidney 293T cells. We demonstrated efficient gene transfer into neonatal and adult cardiac myocytes in vitro and identified conditions in which virtually 100 % of cultured neonatal and 70 % of adult cardiac myocytes express the reporter gene. Transduction of adult cardiac myocytes with high titre lentiviral vectors did not affect the cell number, morphology or viability compared to untransduced cells. We delivered HIV-1-based vectors to the intact heart by direct injection. Hearts transduced with pseudotyped HIV-1 vectors showed levels of transgene expression comparable to that achieved by adenovirus vectors. This study demonstrates for the first time that lentivirus-based vectors can successfully transduce adult cardiomyocytes both in vitro and in vivo, and opens up the prospect of lentivirus-based vectors becoming an important gene delivery system in the cardiovascular field.

Adult↗

Genetic stability of gene-targeted immunoglobulin loci. II. Influence of the cell line and the vector linearization site.

The site-specific integration of exogenous gene fragments by homologous recombination provides a convenient method for altering the immunoglobulin loci of B cells and specifically designing antibody molecules. To introduce a human isotype into the heavy chain locus of mouse hybridoma cells we compared the recombination frequencies of vectors that could be linearized either as integration or as replacement constructs in different cell lines. Integration as well as replacement recombination was observed, irrespective of the location of the site at which the vector was cleaved. Integration events involving the human IgG1 vectors were lost at high frequency due to secondary vector excision, so that all stable recombinations were found to be replacement events. Replacement recombination of an integration vector involves an illegitimate crossover at least at the 3' side and sometimes gives rise to deletion of the CH1 domain. However, a homologous event at the 3' side is more efficient than an illegitimate one, so that a homology that is distributed on both sides of the heterologous region promotes targeting at higher frequency than a contiguous sequence of the same total length. The position of the linearization site in the vector markedly influenced the targeting efficiency, but surprisingly, whether a double-strand break in the homology or in the heterology region more efficiently promoted integration was dependent on the cell line. In all cells, however, cleavage of the vector outside the homology region favoured stable replacements with a bias against CH1-truncated clones. We further show that the frequency of replacements induced by integration vectors is not correlated to the homology length and cannot be increased by irradiation of the cells. Our findings indicate that for targeting the IgH locus other mechanisms might be involved than at other loci.

Animals↗

Comparison between recombinant baculo- and adenoviral-vectors as transfer system in cardiovascular cells.

The development of effective gene-therapeutic applications for cardiovascular disorders is in part limited by the lack of appropriate delivery systems. In an attempt to overcome this deficiency, we investigated the ability of baculoviral vectors to transduce human cardiovascular cells, for which data are missing in literature. Additionally, baculovirus ability to transduce target cells was compared to that of an adenoviral vector, a well characterized and widely used viral vector. Transduction experiments, performed using baculo/adenoviral vectors expressing the enhanced green fluorescence protein, revealed that, under the experimental condition considered, baculoviruses but not adenoviruses efficiently transduce human coronary smooth muscle cells (hCSMC); an opposite behavior was noticed for human coronary endothelial cells (hCEC). Thus, baculoviral vectors are potentially indicated as transfer system in the treatment of coronary restenosis, where growth inhibitory genes should reach hCSMC but not hCEC. When used to transduce human cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts, both vectors behaved similarly. Finally, studies on cellular DNA replication revealed a more prolonged and pronounced negative effect on cells transduced by adenoviral compared to baculoviral vectors. Our data indicate that baculoviruses represent an attractive alternative to adenoviruses as transfer vectors in cardiovascular cells and that baculovirus have the potential to be used as gene transfer system in cardiovascular diseases such as restenosis.

Adenoviridae↗

Improved gene expression by a U3-based retroviral vector.

To improve the expression of the genes transduced by retroviral vectors, we have constructed a U3-based retroviral vector and evaluated its effect on the expression of an insert from the internal promoter. The unique feature of the vector is that the transduced gene is inserted at the U3 region of the 3' long terminal repeats (LTR). Consequently, in the infected cells the gene is duplicated and transferred to the 5'-LTR. When compared with the conventional retroviral vectors which insert the gene within the retroviral transcriptional unit, the U3-based vectors greatly enhanced the expression of the transduced gene under all three promoters tested, viz. the cytomegalovirus immediately early gene promoter (CMV), the SV40 early gene promoter (SV), and the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene promoter (TK). The SV and TK promoters which were previously shown suppressed by the retroviral promoter in the conventional construction restored their potencies in the U3-based vectors. Our results therefore suggested that the U3-based vectors are more advantageous than the conventional vectors for gene expression.

Animals↗

Approaches to vector control: new and trusted. 2. Molecular targets in the insect midgut.

The midgut of blood-feeding insects is an important site for the activity of antibodies and drugs ingested with the blood meal. These agents can be directed at molecular targets in the midgut, and may affect the insect directly by reducing its fitness, or indirectly by blocking transmission of a disease organism to the vector. Both of these result in eventual disease control. Immunization with crude vector or parasite preparations can result in isolation of vaccine candidates which are very effective but often of unknown function. Conversely, by examining carefully the vector's biology and its interactions with the parasite, it is possible to identify various physiological or cellular systems and vector-parasite interactions that can be interfered with. Examples of both approaches are presented in this paper. Anti-vector vaccines offer tremendous potential for disease control, as they can affect the parasite reproductive rate in a number of ways--reducing vector longevity, fecundity or competence. This is most striking if life expectancy of the vector is reduced to a period less than the extrinsic life cycle of the parasite. The rationale often presented for examining molecular systems in vectors is their control potential; it is clearly appropriate to re-examine many of these systems and realistically assess their applicability.

Animals↗

Studies on direct and indirect effects of DNA damage on mutagenesis in monkey cells using an SV40-based shuttle vector.

We are using an SV40-based shuttle vector, pZ189, to study mechanisms of mutagenesis in mammalian cells. The vector can be treated with mutagens in vitro and replicated in animal cells; resulting mutants can be selected and amplified in bacteria for DNA sequencing. This versatile vector system has allowed us to explore several different questions relating to the mutagenic process. We have studied the direct effects of template damage caused by UV or benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide by treating vector DNA with these agents and then replicating the damaged DNA in monkey cells. Mutational mechanisms were deduced from the spectrum of mutations induced in the supF target gene of the vector DNA. To study the role of indirect effects of DNA damage on mutagenesis in mammalian cells, we have treated the cells and the vector DNA separately with DNA-damaging agents. We find that pretreatment of cells with DNA-damaging agents, or with conditioned medium from damaged cells, causes an enhancement of mutagenesis of a UV-damaged vector. Thus, DNA damage can act indirectly to enhance the mutagenic process. We also have preliminary evidence that pZ189 can be used in an in vitro DNA replication system to study the process of mutation fixation on the biochemical level. We believe that the pZ189 vector will prove to be as useful for in vitro studies of mutational mechanisms as it has been for in vivo studies.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

Amplification of Epstein-Barr virus-based shuttle vectors by ultraviolet light in human cells.

In order to approach the mechanism of gene amplification, we have developed a model system in human cells based on the use of episomally-replicating shuttle vectors. Shuttle vectors carrying the replication origin of the Epstein-Barr virus can be stably maintained in human cells. These vectors replicate as an episome with a low copy number. We also constructed hybrid plasmids containing both the EBV and the SV40 replication origins. These molecules are able to replicate episomally either like an EBV vector or like SV40 if the SV40 large T antigen is provided at the same time. UV irradiation of both human adenovirus transformed 293 or SV40-transformed MRC5 host cells leads to vector amplification whatever the type of replication origin used for the episomal maintenance. Our result clearly shows that the EBV latent replication origin (OriP), in the presence of the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) and the SV40 large T antigen, is sensitive to over-replication in UV-irradiated human cells. Since the UV doses were small enough to induce very little damage, if any, on the plasmid sequences, this amplification should be mediated through a cellular factor acting in trans. The interest in using shuttle vectors for this kind of study lays in the easy analysis of the amplified vectors in rescued bacterial colonies. The accuracy of the amplification process can be monitored by studying restriction maps of individual plasmid molecules or more precisely the integrity of a target gene, such as the lacZ' sequence, carried by our vectors.

Cells, Cultured↗

High-level transient expression of influenza virus proteins from a series of SV40 late and early replacement vectors.

We have constructed a collection of simian virus 40 (SV40) plasmid vectors useful for transient or constitutive expression of cDNA or genomic DNA in animal cells. Most vectors contain several unique restriction sites downstream from the SV40 late or early promoter, and are available with or without the virus-specific splicing signals. The use of these vectors for transient expression in monkey cells of X47 (H3N2) influenza hemagglutinin (HA) and matrix protein (M1) was demonstrated. Membrane-bound (HAm) as well as secreted forms of the HA glycoprotein lacking the sequence of the C-terminal anchor (HA-) have been obtained. Depending on the insert, the type of vector and the amount of transfected DNA, HA levels in COS cells [Gething and Sambrook, Nature 293 (1981) 620-625] transfected with late replacement SV40 vectors vary from 10(9) (HAm) to 10(8) (HA-) molecules per transfected cell. The maximum expression levels with early replacement vectors in COS cells are at least 50 times lower. In addition to the optimalization and the characterization of the expression of each vector-coded influenza protein, cotransfections, including vectors expressing HAm, neuraminidase (NA) and M1, were undertaken. The latter experiments did not result in a measureable amount of HAm or NA in the cell culture medium, suggesting that expression of these three structural viral proteins does not result in budding of (empty) influenza particles from the cell surface.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Entrapment of recombinant plasmids in SeaPlaque agarose plugs and their rapid purification from recircularised vectors.

A simple method is described which permits both the separation and concentration of circular recombinant plasmids from smaller plasmid vectors that are an undesirable by-product of a ligation reaction. SeaPlaque agarose plugs are used to entrap open-circular forms of recombinant plasmids during electrophoresis. In the example described over 98% of supercoiled, open-circular and linear forms of the 2.9-kb Bluescript plasmid vector, as well as the equivalent dimer forms, pass through the 1.4% SeaPlaque plug. Circular recombinant plasmids greater in length than the vector dimer are entrapped within the plug. By increasing the concentration of SeaPlaque, recombinants smaller than the vector dimer are retained in the trap, but with a concomitant increase in contamination by open-circular vector dimers. For most library constructions the high ratio of insert to vector used during the ligation reaction reduces the formation of vector dimers and makes this level of contamination inconsequential. The recombinant plasmids can be extracted readily from the SeaPlaque plug by excising it, melting the agarose and extracting with phenol. Alternatively, the excised plug can be melted and the recombinant plasmids used to transform bacteria, or mammalian cells, directly in the agarose. The procedure should be valuable for cloning large inserts for 'jumping' and 'linking' libraries, for large inserts in general where recircularisation is a low-frequency event, e.g., minichromosomes, for pulsed-field gel electrophoresis applications, and for hosts and vectors where genetic selection of the recombinant is not possible.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Plasmid cloning vectors that integrate site-specifically in Streptomyces spp.

Cloning vectors based on the Streptomyces ambofaciens plasmid pSAM2 and the streptomycete phage phi C31 were developed for use in Streptomyces spp. These vectors replicate in Escherichia coli but integrate by site-specific recombination in Streptomyces spp. Both pSAM2-based and phi C31-based vectors transformed a number of different Streptomyces spp; however, the phi C31-based vectors consistently transformed at higher frequencies than pSAM2-based vectors. Southern analysis indicated that the phi C31-based vectors integrated at a unique site in the S. ambofaciens chromosome, while the pSAM2-based vectors gave complex patterns which could indicate structural instability or use of multiple loci. Both types of vectors utilize the apramycin (Am)-resistance gene which can be selected in E. coli and Streptomyces spp. with either Am or the commercially available antibiotic Geneticin (G418).

Blotting, Southern↗

Characterization and properties of a novel plasmid vector for Bacillus thuringiensis displaying compatibility with host plasmids.

A novel plasmid vector, composed of a 1.7-kb Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) replicon, a multiple cloning site, and an erythromycin-resistance marker gene from Bacillus subtilis, was constructed for use in B.t. Unlike other vectors which have been reported to be acceptable for B.t., this new B.t. vector was stably maintained in the absence of Er and did not displace host plasmids, some of which carry crystal protein-encoding genes (cry genes). The compatibility of this B.t. vector with native plasmids is highly desirable when introducing new cry genes into a wild-type B.t. strain. When a cryIIIA gene of B.t. tenebrionis was cloned in this vector and introduced into B.t. kurstaki (kur) HD119, cryIIIA was highly expressed without affecting the level of expression of native cry genes. The stability of this vector and its compatibility with native B.t. plasmids were achieved by subcloning only nucleotide sequences required for the vector to replicate in B.t. The origin of replication was first cloned on a 9.6-kb Bg/II fragment from a 75-kb plasmid of B.t. kur HD73 and then localized to a 2.4-kb region within the 9.6-kb fragment. Sequencing of the 2.4-kb region revealed the presence of an open reading frame (ORF), encoding a putative 312-amino acid (aa) protein. The deduced aa sequence of the ORF showed no homology to any published aa sequences. Deletion analysis indicated that the B.t. vector required at least the ORF and up to 300 bp surrounding the ORF, in order to replicate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Novel lacZ-based recombination vectors for mammalian cells.

We have constructed two sets of Escherichia coli lacZ-based vectors for use in studies of general mitotic recombination, both in somatic mammalian cells grown in culture and in transgenic animals. The vectors use two mutant copies of the E. coli lacZ gene as their recombination substrates and contain a neo gene for selection of stable transformants. In one vector, pLrec, an SV40 promoter drives lacZ, while the other vector, pArec, utilizes a human non-muscle beta-actin promoter for lacZ expression. Gene conversions, unequal sister chromatid exchanges and reciprocal exchanges between the two lacZ genes result in expression of beta-galactosidase, which can be detected in situ by histochemical staining. These vectors yield rates and frequencies of mitotic intrachromosomal recombination in human and rodent cell lines which are similar to rates reported using conventional recombination vectors. Molecular analysis of recombinational events involving the lacZ-based vectors can be carried out on genomic DNA isolated from clonally expanded populations and individual LacZ+ cells and cell clusters can be analyzed using PCR amplification. These reporter gene-based vectors may facilitate the study of recombination in cells with limited proliferative capacities, allow for analysis of both products of an unequal sister chromatid exchange, and permit in situ detection of recombination in the tissues of transgenic animals.

Animals↗

High- and low-copy-number Lactococcus shuttle cloning vectors with features for clone screening.

High- and low-copy-number shuttle cloning vectors were constructed by incorporating the Escherichia coli P15A plasmid origin of replication into the pAM beta 1-derived vectors, pIL252 and pIL253. The resulting vectors were structurally stable in Lactococcus, which is a common feature of theta-replicating plasmids, and also displayed good structural stability in E. coli, possibly due to lack of a resolvase-encoding gene. All the vectors expressed erythromycin resistance (ErR) in both; brain heart infusion medium allowed clear selection of ErR in E. coli. Some of the vectors provided insertional inactivation of a cat (pTRKH1; pTRKL1) or tet (pTRKH1; pTRKH3; pTRKH5) gene to facilitate screening for clones. Multiple cloning sites in a lacZ gene, which expresses beta-galactosidase in lacZ alpha-complementing E. coli strains, were included in some vectors (pTRKH2/H5 and pTRKL2) to enable blue/white screening of clones on XGal plates. The 'H' and 'L' prefixes signify if the vector exists at high (H) or low (L) copy number in Lactococcus. Successful introduction of these vectors into Lactococcus, Enterococcus, Streptococcus and Lactobacillus highlights their utility for expanding the possibilities for genetic manipulation of these industrially significant bacteria.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Versatile suicide vectors which allow direct selection for gene replacement in gram-negative bacteria.

A set of vector plasmids which greatly facilitate gene replacement and reverse genetics in many Gram-negative bacteria was constructed. These vectors are based on the P15A origin of replication (ori) and incorporate sacB from Bacillus subtilis, which is inducible by sucrose and is lethal when expressed in Gram-negative bacteria. The vectors also have a convenient antibiotic-resistance marker (gentamicin resistance) and the lacZ alpha system which allows blue/white selection of cloned fragments. Three different multiple cloning sites, allowing several distinct cloning and gene replacement strategies, are available in the 5' end of lacZ on different vectors. One of these cloning sites, which we synthesised, contains only a NotI-SmaI-NotI sequence; this allows access to most of the restriction sites within the cloned fragment for the purpose of insertion of various cassettes and interposons. The vectors carry the mob region from the broad-host-range plasmid RP4 and are thus mobilizable by conjugation into a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria; since they will not replicate in bacteria other than enterobacteria, they function as 'suicide' vectors. Variants of the vectors carrying the phage lambda cos site were also constructed. We have used these vectors to carry out gene replacement experiments in the fixN region of Rhizobium leguminosarum and have demonstrated that they are extremely useful in eliminating long and tedious screening procedures.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

New vectors for manipulation and selection of functional yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) containing human DNA inserts.

A set of fragmentation vectors is described which produce a deletion series of smaller yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) from a larger parent YAC with the insertion of a eukaryotic selectable marker. In addition, new vectors were designed to permit integration of the genes encoding neomycin (neo) or hygromycin B (hyg) resistance into YACs containing inserts of human DNA. All these vectors are compatible with the yeast host strain AB1380, in which most human genomic YAC libraries are maintained. Linearized vector DNA is used to transform yeast cells in which homologous recombination between human DNA in the YAC and the Alu sequence in the fragmentation or integrating vector produces terminal deletions from the acentromeric (URA3) end of the YAC or insertion of the vector into the YAC, respectively. A set of directional deletions of a YAC is useful for genomic mapping, restriction analysis and functional measurements of large chromosomal regions. The neo and hyg eukaryotic markers permit the study of gene function after introduction of deleted YACs into mammalian cells. Transformation of YACs with the fragmentation vectors resulted in fragmentation in 21-46% of the clones examined; transformation with the integrating vector resulted in integration in 46% of the clones examined.

Base Sequence↗

Construction of adenoviral and retroviral vectors coexpressing the genes encoding the hepatitis B surface antigen and B7-1 protein.

Recombinant retroviral (re-Rv) and adenoviral (re-Ad) vectors for delivery of two foreign genes were constructed, using the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) which mediates initiation of cap-independent translation. The first gene encoded the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the second encoded human or murine B7-1 molecule, a cell surface protein which is a costimulator for T cell activation. The EMCV IRES sequence was placed between the first and second coding sequences to form a dicistronic DNA fragment. In Rv vectors, the dicistronic fragment was inserted between the 5' long terminal repeat (LTR) and an internal promoter for the neomycin (neo) gene, so that the transcription initiated from the 5' LTR would generate a dicistronic mRNA for the HBsAg and B7-1 molecules. For Ad vectors, the dicistronic fragment was inserted between a cytomegalovirus promoter and a polyA signal to form a transcription cassette. This transcription cassette was inserted into the early region 1 of Ad5 genome to form a replication-defective re-Ad vector, or into early region 3 to form replication-competent vectors. Human cell line A549 infected with the re-Rv vectors or with the re-Ad vectors synthesized and secreted HBsAg at comparable levels, while the B7-1 molecules were detected at the surface of the infected cells, indicating both foreign genes carried by the Rv and Ad vectors were expressed efficiently.

Adenoviridae↗

Novel series of plasmid vectors for gene inactivation and expression analysis in group A streptococci (GAS).

Ten novel streptococcal shuttle vectors for genomic integration and allelic replacements have been constructed based on plasmid pSF152. These vectors can replicate in E. coli, but not in streptococci because of the absence of a streptococcal origin of replication. The basic vector pFW5 (2.8 kb, aad9 spectinomycin-resistance marker) carries two multiple cloning sites MCS-I and MCS-II (10 and 15 restrictions sites, respectively) to either side of the aad9 resistance gene. Each MCS is flanked by transcription termination sites for stabilization of recombinant plasmids. In vector pFW6 the transcription terminator between aad9 and MCS-II was deleted. Plasmids pFW7 through pFW10 carry resistance genes for kanamycin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and tetracyclin instead of aad9. Vectors pFW11 and pFW12 are pFW5/6 derivatives harboring an improved synthetic aad9 promoter. In pFW-phoA and pFW-gfp, promoterless alkaline phosphatase and green fluorescent protein boxes were integrated into MCS-I. If streptococcal DNA fragments are cloned into MCS-I and MSC-II, these vectors can be used for specific allelic replacements in streptococci via double-crossover recombinations. Depending on the vector used, this event will not lead to polar effects, facilitating mutagenesis within operons. The vectors containing reporter boxes allow in vivo studies of gene expression and promoter activity in pathogenic streptococci and potentially, also in other Gram-positive bacteria.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Positional effects of the central DNA flap in HIV-1-derived lentiviral vectors.

During reverse transcription of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), a 90- or 99-nucleotide long DNA flap is formed at the centre of the viral cDNA. The presence of a central DNA flap in lentiviral vectors improves transduction efficiency significantly. We analysed the stimulation of lentiviral vector transduction by a DNA flap present at ectopic positions in the viral cDNA. A HIV-1 vector containing the cPPT/CTS fragment immediately downstream of the 5'-LTR performed as well as the wild-type cPPT-vector. Cloning of the cPPT/CTS fragment in front of the 3'-LTR resulted as well in a vector with higher transduction efficiency than a vector without central flap. These results demonstrate that the position of the DNA flap is not essential for its function in the context of HIV-1-derived lentiviral vectors. This may have consequences for vector design and our understanding of the functioning of the HIV-1 DNA flap.

Cell Line↗