Complementing cell lines

A process for producing a packaging cell line capable of complementing recombinant subgroup B adenovirus comprising:

• transforming a cell with at least one nucleic acid molecule comprising at least a part of an E1 sequence;
• expressing in said transformed cell E1A sequence or a fragment thereof having E1A complementing activity;
• and
• expressing in said transformed cell at least a part of a serotype-specific E1B sequence derived from a different serotype than said E1A sequence or fragment thereof to produce a cell line capable of complementing recombinant adenovirus.

A process of producing a packaging cell line comprising:

• transforming primary, diploid human cells with an E1A sequence or a fragment thereof having E1A complementing activity and at least apart of a serotype-specific E1B sequence derived from a different serotype than said E1A sequence or fragment thereof having E1B complementing activity;
• enabling transcription of said E1A sequence or fragment thereof and said at least a part of a serotype-specific E1B;
• and
• enabling translation of the E1A transcription product or fragment thereof and said at least a part of a serotype-specific E1B transcription product of the previous step thus, producing a packaging cell line.

A process of producing a recombinant adenovirus of a subgroup other than subgroup C, said process comprising:

• expressing in a cell an E1 sequence of a serotype different from said recombinant adenovirus;
• introducing a genome sequence of said recombinant adenovirus into said cell, wherein said genome sequence lacks a functional E1 sequence;
• allowing replication of said genome sequence;
• allowing expression of proteins encoded by said genome sequence;
• and
• allowing packaging of the replicated genome sequences thus, producing a recombinant adenovirus.