Recombinant alphavirus-based vectors

Patent Granted Recombinant alphavirus-based vectors have also been used to improve DNA vaccination efficiency.[2] The gene encoding the antigen of interest is inserted into the alphavirus replicon, replacing structural genes but leaving non-structural replicase genes intact. The Sindbis virus and Semliki Forest virus have been used to build recombinant alphavirus replicons. Unlike conventional DNA vaccinations, however, alphavirus vectors kill transfected cells, and are only transiently expressed.