PLASMID INSERTION VECTORS THAT FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION OF HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS GENE DELIVERY VECTORS

Plasmid insertion vectors were designed for the expression of foreign genes in recombinant herpes simplex virus (HSV) vectors. One vector, p Gal9, was designed for the insertion of foreign genes with their own p romoter; a second vector, pGa110, was designed for the insertion of co ding sequences downstream from the HSV immediate-early 110K promoter. The 110K promoter directed efficient expression of foreign genes, part icularly in replication-incompetent virus recombinants, as shown by th e expression of the lacZ and IFN alpha genes. These vectors should be useful for the characterization of various promoters for gene delivery , and for the efficient expression of foreign genes in a variety of ce ll types.