Methods of generating chimeric adenoviruses and uses for such chimeric adenoviruses

A chimeric adenovirus comprising a hexon protein of an adenovirus serotype which is incapable of efficient growth in a selected host cell selected from the group consisting of C1, Pan6, and Ad40, said chimeric adenovirus comprising:

• (a) adenovirus sequences of the left terminal end of the genome of a first adenovirus which grows in a selected host cell type, said left end region comprising the E1a, E1b and 5′ inverted terminal repeat (ITRs);
• (b) adenovirus sequences of the internal region of the genome of the selected adenovirus serotype which is incapable of efficient growth in the selected host cell, said internal region comprising the genes encoding the penton, hexon and fiber of the selected adenovirus;
• (c) adenovirus sequences of the right terminal end of the genome of the first adenovirus, said right end region comprising the necessary E4 gene functions and the 3′ inverted terminal repeats (ITRs),
• wherein the resulting chimeric adenovirus comprises adenoviral structural and regulatory proteins necessary for infection and replication.