Negative strand RNA viral vector having autonomous replication capability

A kit for producing a dissemination deficient yet replication and infection competent viral Sendai virus particle, the genome of which comprises a foreign gene, comprising the following components,

• (a) a complex devoid of infectious helper virus, wherein said complex is produced by introducing into a packaging cell:
• a Sendai virus RNA molecule comprising a foreign gene;
• wherein said RNA molecule is selected from a group consisting of an RNA molecule and a cRNA of said RNA molecule;
• wherein said RNA molecule has at least one gene associated with the disseminative capacity of Sendai virus deleted or inactivated such that the RNA molecule is rendered non-disseminative and wherein said at least one gene is selected from the list of M, F and HN;
• and
• Wherein said cell expresses viral structural components comprising Sendai viral proteins essential for autonomous replication of Sendai virus, wherein said Sendai viral proteins provide the protein encoded by said at least one gene deleted or inactivated in the RNA molecule so as to provide the complex with cell infectivity and autonomous replicating capabilities but without the ability to disseminate, and
• (b) a packaging cell to which the complex of (a) can disseminate, wherein said packaging cell is a mammalian or avian cell, wherein said packaging cell comprises one or more genes associated with the disseminative capacity of the Sendai virus deleted or inactivated in said Sendai virus RNA molecule, wherein said packaging cell produces a dissemination deficient yet replication and infection competent Sendai virus particle comprising the foreign gene when said complex is introduced into said packaging cell.