Recently developed helper virus-free methods of herpes simplex virus (HSV)
amplicon vector packaging provide stocks that are virtually devoid of the c
ytotoxic component normally associated with traditional helper virus-based
packaging methods. These approaches involve cotransfection of amplicon plas
mid DNA with either a five-cosmid set or a bacterial artificial chromosome
(BAC) that contains the HSV genome without its cognate pac signals. Helper
virus-free amplicon packaging produces low-titer stocks (<10(5) expressing
particles/ml) that exhibit a high frequency of pseudotransduction. In an ef
fort to enhance amplicon titers, we introduced in trans a genomic copy of t
he virion host shutoff (vhs) protein-encoding gene UL41 into both cosmid- a
nd BAG-based packaging strategies. Cotransfection of this plasmid with the
amplicon and packaging reagents results in a 10-fold higher amplicon titer,
and stocks that do not exhibit the pseudotransduction phenomenon. To furth
er enhance packaging efficiency, the HSV transcriptional activator VP16 was
introduced into packaging cells 1 day before the packaging components. Pre
-loading of packaging cells with VP16 led to an additional enhancement of a
mplicon titers, an effect that did not occur in the absence of vhs. Increas
ed helper virus-free amplicon titers resulting from these modifications wil
l make in vivo transduction experiments more feasible.