The present invention provides herpesviruses, such as EBV, which lack at least one viral miRNA. Such herpesviruses lacking at least one viral miRNA are advantageously not capable of packaging their genome into the capsid, thereby producing HVLPs, which are substantially free of their herpesvirus genome or the nucleic acid molecule encoding the proteinaceous part of the HVLP and viral miRNA. Such HVLPs may be used as vaccine.

The invention described herein provides a recombinant replication-defective vims derived from Herpesvirales order, wherein the virus is characterized by a complete deletion of a gene encoding ICP27, or a functional equivalent gene thereof. The invention also provides production cell lines for such recombinant replication-defective vims, wherein the cell lines have a coding sequence for ICP27 or a functional equivalent thereof, and wherein the coding sequence has no or minimal sequence overlap with the virus characterized by the complete deletion of the gene encoding ICP27. Method of using such recombinant replication-defective vims and production cell lines are also provided.

Provided are an oncolytic virus, a preparation method therefor, the use thereof and a medicine thereof, wherein the genome of the oncolytic virus includes the following exogenous elements: (1) a first expression cassette containing a first promoter and a first interfering RNA expression sequence; (2) a target sequence; and (3) a second expression cassette. The replication of the oncolytic virus is regulated and controlled by exogenous elements inserted into the genome sequence thereof; by means of the regulation and control by the exogenous elements, the oncolytic virus can be selectively replicated in different types of cells, and thus, second cells, that is, target cells (such as tumor cells), can be selectively killed, and first cells, that is, non-target cells (such as normal cells), are not damaged.

The present invention refers to a vector system, usable as a platform vector and suitable for the production of transgenic viruses of the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae. Such transgenic viruses can be used as vaccine or as oncolytic virus or in gene therapy. The platform vector of the present invention is a vector system allowing a simplified search for and generation and production of viruses with a modified and increased functionality. The present invention refers also to the use of the platform vector as a vector system for the generation and the production of transgenic viruses, methods for the production of a transgenic virus, using the vector system of the present invention and viruses obtained by such methods.

The present invention provides herpesviruses, such as EBV, which lack at least one viral miRNA. Such herpesviruses lacking at least one viral miRNA are advantageously not capable of packaging their genome into the capsid, thereby producing HVLPs, which are substantially free of their herpesvirus genome or the nucleic acid molecule encoding the proteinaceous part of the HVLP and viral miRNA. Such HVLPs may be used as vaccine.

Disclosed is a method for administering a transgene into a fibroblast in a subject comprising: a) providing a herpes simplex virus (HSV) comprising a recombinant herpes simplex virus genome, wherein said recombinant herpes simplex virus genome comprises one or more transgenes encoding a polypeptide to be expressed in said fibroblast; and b) providing a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; wherein said HSV has reduced cytotoxicity as compared to a wild-type herpes simplex virus.

Methods and compositions for increasing the production of recombinant proteins by introducing ICP0 to cells capable of producing a recombinant protein are encompassed. In one method, the recombinant protein is a protein that is required for the replication of a replication defective virus, wherein the recombinant protein is provided to the replication defective virus in trans.

Methods and compositions for increasing the production of recombinant proteins by introducing ICP0 to cells capable of producing a recombinant protein are encompassed. In one method, the recombinant protein is a protein that is required for the replication of a replication defective virus, wherein the recombinant protein is provided to the replication defective virus in trans.

A genetically modified mammalian cell and genetically modified mammalian cell line comprise a recombination sequence inserted in a target locus on a chromosome of the mammalian cell genome, wherein the recombination sequence comprises Bxb1attB sequence from Mycobacterium smegmatis. A transgenic mammalian cell and transgenic mammalian cell line comprise a heterologous nucleic acid stably integrated in a target locus on a chromosome of the mammalian genome, wherein the heterologous nucleic comprises a heterologous gene configured for expression by the transgenic mammalian cell.

The present invention provides herpesviruses, such as EBV, which lack at least one viral miRNA. Such herpesviruses lacking at least one viral miRNA are advantageously not capable of packaging their genome into the capsid, thereby producing HVLPs, which are substantially free of their herpesvirus genome or the nucleic acid molecule encoding the proteinaceous part of the HVLP and viral miRNA. Such HVLPs may be used as vaccine.