Provided herein is a baculovirus expression vector system for the production of a desired protein. In one aspect, the desired protein is a closed-ended DNA (ceDNA) molecule comprising wild-type and/or truncated inverted terminal repeats derived from a genome of a member of the viral family Parvoviridae.

The present invention relates to an optimized baculovirus construct useful for the production of virus(-like) particles or viral vectors, in particular viral vectors for gene therapy.

The present invention relates to a viral vector for expression of the cell death-inducing PUMA protein, for use in gene therapy, for example for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. This vector consists in particular of a recombinant adenovirus expressing the gene encoding the PUMA protein and of a recombinant baculovirus containing a coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR).