Signal for packaging of influenza virus vectors

An influenza viral vector, comprising influenza virus incorporation sequences, which vector comprises:

• sequences corresponding to the 3′ noncoding region of influenza virus NA vRNA and NA coding sequences which include 3′ NA incorporation sequences, a nucleic acid segment for a heterologous open reading frame which encodes a gene product, and NA coding sequences which include 5′ NA incorporation sequences and the 5′ noncoding region of NA vRNA, wherein the 3′ NA incorporation sequences include at least 150 nucleotides of NA coding sequences, wherein the incorporation sequences are from a type B influenza virus.

A recombinant influenza virus comprising a vRNA corresponding to influenza viral vector sequences comprising:

• sequences corresponding to the 3′ noncoding region of influenza virus NA vRNA and NA coding sequences which include 3′ NA incorporation sequences, a nucleic acid segment for a heterologous open reading frame which encodes a gene product, and NA coding sequences which include 5′ NA incorporation sequences and the 5′ noncoding region of NA vRNA, wherein the 3′ NA incorporation sequences include at least 150 nucleotides of NA coding sequences, wherein the open reading frame encodes an influenza virus HA protein.

A recombinant influenza virus comprising a vRNA corresponding to influenza vital vector sequences comprising:

• sequences corresponding to the 3′ noncoding region of influenza virus NA vRNA and NA coding sequences which include 3′ NA incorporation sequences, a nucleic acid segment for a heterologous open reading frame which encodes a gene product and NA coding sequences which include 5′ NA incorporation sequences and the 5′ noncoding region of NA vRNA, wherein the 3′ NA incorporation sequences include at least 150 nucleotides of NA coding sequences, wherein the heterologous nucleic acid segment comprises sequences corresponding to an open reading frame for a transmembrane protein.

A recombinant influenza virus comprising a vRNA corresponding to influenza viral vector sequences comprising:

• sequences corresponding to the 3′ noncoding region of influenza virus NA vRNA and NA coding sequences which include 3′ NA incorporation sequences, a nucleic acid segment for a heterologous open reading frame which encodes a gene product, and NA coding sequences which include 5′ NA incorporation sequences and the 5′ noncoding region of NA vRNA, wherein the 3′ NA incorporation sequences include at least 150 nucleotides of NA coding sequences, wherein the heterologous nucleic acid segment comprises sequences corresponding to an open reading frame for a protein with membrane fusing activity.

A recombinant influenza virus comprising a vRNA corresponding to influenza vial vector sequences comprising:

• sequences corresponding to the 3′ noncoding region of influenza virus NA vRNA and NA coding sequences which include 3′ NA incorporation sequences, a nucleic acid segment for a heterologous open reading frame which encodes a gene product, and NA coding sequences which include 5′ NA incorporation sequences and the 5′ noncoding region of NA vRNA, wherein the 3′ NA incorporation sequences include at least 150 nucleotides of NA coding sequences, wherein the heterologous nucleic acid segment comprises sequences corresponding to an open reading frame for a viral capsid protein.

A recombinant influenza virus comprising a vRNA corresponding to influenza viral vector sequences comprising:

• sequences corresponding to the 3′ noncoding region of influenza virus NA vRNA and NA coding sequences which include 3′ NA incorporation sequences, a nucleic acid segment for a heterologous open reading frame which encodes a gene product, and NA coding sequences which include 5′ NA incorporation sequences and the 5′ noncoding region of NA vRNA, wherein the 3′ NA incorporation sequences include at least 150 nucleotides of NA coding sequences, wherein the heterologous nucleic acid segment comprises sequences corresponding to an open reading frame for vesicular stomatitis virus G protein.

A recombinant influenza virus comprising a vRNA corresponding to influenza viral vector sequences comprising:, sequences corresponding to the 3′ noncoding region of influenza virus NA vRNA and NA coding sequences which include 3′ NA incorporation sequences, a nucleic acid segment for a heterologous open reading frame which encodes a gene product, and NA, coding sequences which include 5′ NA incorporation sequences and the 5′ noncoding region of NA vRNA, wherein the 3′ NA incorporation sequences include at least 150 nucleotides of NA coding sequences, wherein the heterologous nucleic acid segment comprises sequences corresponding to an 'open reading frame for a therapeutic protein.

The recombinant virus of 11 wherein the influenza virus HA protein is a type B HA protein.

A vector comprising sequences corresponding to the 3′ noncoding region of influenza virus NA vRNA and NA coding sequences which include 3′ NA incorporation sequences, a nucleic acid segment for a heterologous open reading frame which encodes a gene product, and NA coding sequences which include 5′ NA incorporation sequences and the 5′ noncoding region of NA vRNA, wherein the NA coding sequences which include 3′ NA incorporation sequences include at least 90 nucleotides of 5′ NA coding sequence and the NA coding sequences which include 5′ NA incorporation sequences have no more than 157 nucleotides of 3′ NA coding sequences.

A vector comprising sequences corresponding to the 3′ noncoding region of influenza virus NA vRNA and NA coding sequences which include 3′ NA-incorporation sequences, a nucleic acid segment for a heterologous open reading frame which encodes a gene product, and NA coding sequences which include 5′ NA incorporation sequences and the 5′ noncoding region of NA vRNA, wherein the NA coding sequences which include the 3′ NA incorporation sequences have no more than 183 nucleotides of 5′ NA coding sequence and the NA coding sequences which include the 5′ NA incorporation sequences have at least 39 nucleotides of 3′ NA coding sequence, wherein the vector does not encode a functional NA.

An influenza viral vector, comprising influenza virus incorporation sequences, which vector comprises:

• sequences corresponding to the 3′ noncoding region of influenza virus NA vRNA and NA coding sequences which include 3′ NA incorporation sequences, a nucleic acid segment for a heterologous open reading frame which encodes a gene product, and NA coding sequences which include 5′ NA incorporation sequences and the 5′ noncoding region of NA vRNA, wherein the NA coding sequences which include the 3′ NA incorporation sequences have no more than 183 nucleotides of 5′ NA coding sequence and the NA coding sequences which include the 5′ NA incorporation sequences have at least 39 nucleotides of 3′ NA coding sequence, wherein the vector does not encode a functional NA.