Vectors and methods for gene transfer to cells

A chimeric adenovirus fiber protein comprising a nonnative amino acid sequence, wherein said chimeric adenovirus fiber protein directs entry into cells of a vector comprising said chimeric adenovirus fiber protein that is more efficient than entry into cells of a vector that is identical except for comprising a wild-type adenovirus fiber protein rather than said chimeric adenovirus fiber protein, and wherein said fiber protein comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:5, and wherein the length of the polylysine string can vary from about 3 to about 30 residues.

An isolated and purified nucleic acid comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:7, and SEQ ID NO:8, and conservatively modified variants thereof.

The adenoviral vector GV10 UTV.

A vector that comprises or encodes a chimeric adenovirus coat protein comprising a nonnative amino acid sequence, wherein said chimeric adenovirus coat protein binds a novel endogenous binding site present on a cell surface and directs entry into cells of a nucleic acid attached to said chimeric adenovirus coat protein by a protein/DNA interaction more efficiently than a corresponding wild-type adenovirus coat protein.

A transfer vector selected from the group consisting of pAd NS 83-100 UTV and pAd BS 59-100 UTV.

An adenoviral vector that comprises or encodes a chimeric adenovirus fiber protein comprising a nonnative amino acid sequence, wherein said chimeric adenovirus fiber protein directs entry into cells of a vector comprising said chimeric adenovirus fiber protein that is more efficient than entry into cells of a vector that is identical except for comprising a wild-type adenovirus fiber protein rather than said chimeric adenovirus fiber protein, and wherein said fiber protein comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:5, and wherein the length of the polylysine string can vary from about 3 to about 30 residues.

A method of making an adenoviral vector that comprises or encodes a chimeric adenovirus fiber protein comprising a nonnative amino acid sequence, wherein said chimeric adenovirus fiber protein directs entry into cells of a vector comprising said chimeric adenovirus fiber protein that is more efficient than entry into cells of a vector that is identical except for comprising a wild-type adenovirus fiber protein rather than said chimeric adenovirus fiber protein,

• wherein said method comprises providing to a cell that does not comprise any E4 complementing sequences:
• (a) a linear vector comprising the chimeric fiber and a wild-type E4 gene, and (b) a linear vector that is E4.sup.-.