Filovirus vectors and noninfectious filovirus-based particles

A composition comprising a plurality of filovirus vectors, comprising:

• a) a vector comprising a promoter operably linked to a filovirus genomic cDNA or a portion thereof linked to a transcription termination sequence, wherein the portion of the cDNA, when transcribed, yields a RNA which is capable of being packaged into filovirus virions or which is capable of being replicated in the presence of filovirus proteins;
• and
• b) a vector comprising a promoter operably linked to a DNA segment encoding a filovirus RNA transcriptase-polymerase, a vector comprising a promoter operably linked to a DNA segment encoding filovirus NP, a vector comprising a promoter operably linked to a DNA segment encoding filovirus VP30, and a vector comprising a promoter operably linked to a DNA segment encoding filovirus VP35.

A vector encoding a mutant filovirus matrix protein having one or more amino acid deletions, insertions or substitutions relative to wild-type filovirus matrix protein, which mutant binds to lipid.