VERO CELL LINES STABLY EXPRESSING HSV ICPO PROTEIN

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/515,260 filed June 5, 2017, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

SEQUENCE LISTING

[0002] The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted electronically in ASCII format and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on April 19, 2018, is named 043214-086910-WOPT_SL.txt and is 30,637 bytes in size.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Embodiments of the invention are directed to Vero cell lines that stably express Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) ICPO protein and to the generation of these cell lines. These cells have the same morphology of Vero cells, exhibit stable expression of HSV ICPO protein, and also efficiently complement replication of HSV ICPO deficient virus for greater than 20, 30, or even 40 cell passages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] HSV ICPO is a multi-functional protein that is required for efficient viral replication at a low multiplicity of infection of HSV in cell cultures (Stow and Stow, J Gen Virol 67:2571-2585, 1986; Sacks and Schaffer, J Virol 61 : 829-839, 1987; Yao and Schaffer, J Virol 69:6249-6258, 1995). It is a potent activator capable of enhancing gene expression in a promoter independent manner (Hagglund and Roizman, J Virol. 78:2169-2178, 2004). ICPO interacts with a variety of cellular proteins and can target multiple cellular factors for proteasome-mediated degradation (Hagglund and Roizman J Virol 78:2169- 2178, 2004; Liang et al, PNAS 102:5838-5843, 2005; Boutell et al., J Virol 79: 12342-12354, 2005; Lilley et al., EMBO J29:943-955, 2010; Perusina Lanfranca et al., Cell 3:438-454, 2014; Conwell et al., J Virol 89:220-229, 2015). In vivo, deletion of ICPO significantly reduces the virus ability to establish latent infection as well as the reactivation of virus from latent infection (David A. Leib et al., J Virol 63: 759-768, 1989, Cai et al., J Virol 67:7501-7512, 1993; Halford and Schaffer, J Virol 75:3240-3249, 2001; Augustinova H et al., J Virol 78:5756-5765, 2004). ICPO plays a fundamental role in

counteracting host innate antiviral response to HSV infection. It prevents an IFN-induced nuclear block to viral transcription, down regulates TLR2/TLR9-induced inflammatory cytokine response to viral infection, suppresses TNF-a mediated activation of NF-κΒ signaling pathway, and interferes with DNA damage response to viral infection (reviewed in Perusina Lanfranca et al., Cell 3:438-454, 2014).

Moreover, ICPO is required for efficient translation of vial mRNA in quiescent cells (Walsh and Mohr, Genes & Dev 18:660-672, 2004).

[0005] Using the T-RExTM gene switch technology (Invitrogen Inc., CA) (Yao et al., Hum Gene Ther 9: 1939-1950) and the dominant-negative mutant polypeptide UL9-C535C of HSV-1 origin of viral replication binding protein UL9, we constructed a novel class of replication-defective HSV- 1 recombinants capable of blocking wild-type HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections (dominant-negative) (Y ao and Eriksson Hum Gene Ther 10: 1811-1818, 1999; Antiviral Res 53: 127-133, 2002; Lu et al. J Invest Dermatol 129: 1174-1184, 2009). These non-replicating and dominant-negative HSV-1 recombinant viruses encode 2 copies of UL9-C535C under control of the tetO-bearing HCMV major immediate-early promoter in the HSV- 1 ICPO locus and are replication-competent only in tetracycline repressor- expressing human osteosarcoma cell line U2CEP4R-11, a stable cell line derived from human osteosarcoma U20S cells. U20S is a cell line that specifies an activity that can functionally substitute for ICPO (Y ao and Schaffer, 1995, supra) via an unknown mechanism, but in any case such cells are not preferred to manufacture materials for pharmaceutical purposes.

[0006] CJ2-gD2 is an HSV-2 ICPO deletion mutant based non-replicating dominant-negative HSV-2 recombinant virus that we recently constructed, which encodes 2 copies of the gD2 gene at the HSV-2 ICPO locus driven by the tetO-bearing HSV-1 major immediate-early ICP4 promoter, while gene encoding UL9-C535C is under the control of the tetO-containing hCMV major immediate-early promoter in an opposite orientation of the inserted gD2 gene. While CJ2-gD2 expresses little gD2 in tetR- expressing cells, it expresses gD2 as efficiently as wild-type HSV-2 infection in non tetR-expressing cells. CJ2-gD2 is avirulent and incapable of establishing detectable latent infection following

immunization. We have demonstrated that CJ2-gD2 can function as an effective vaccine in protecting mice and guinea pigs against wild-type HSV-2 genital infection and disease (Akhrameyeva et al. J Virol 85:5036-5047, 2011; Zhang et al, PLoS ONE 9: el01373; US patent 8,809,047).

[0007] Due to the lack of ICPO and high-level expression of UL9-C535C, CJ2-gD2 is replication- defective in Vero cells (Akhrameyeva et al. J Virol 85:5036-5047, 2011). Vero cell lines that can complement ICPO deficient HSV have been generated, however the cell lines have exhibited non-parental cell morphology, slow growth, and loss of complementation efficiency with as little as 15 passages, properties that are not amenable to large scale rigorously regulated clinical production. Sacks and Schaffer describe a Vero cell line that stably expresses HSV-1 ICPO with an HSV-1 DNA fragment encoding ICPO gene under its own promoter (Sacks and Schaffer, J Virol 61 :, 1987). These cells, named 0-28, efficiently complement the growth of HSV-1 ICPO deletion mutants (Sacks and Schaffer, J Virol 61 :829-839, 1987; Cai and Schaffer, J Virol 65:4078-4090, 1991; Yao and Schaffer, J Virol 69:6249- 6258, 1995). However, the morphology of 0-28 cells was quite different from the parental Vero cells and the growth of 0-28 cells was significantly slower than the parental Vero cells (Y ao and Schaffer, unpublished observation), indicating that expression of ICPO could be toxic to the cells. Indeed, several studies have indicated cytotoxic effect of ICPO and its inhibitory effect on cell cycle progression and cell proliferation (Samaniego et al., J Virol 71 :4614-4625, 1997; Everett et al., EMBO J 18: 1526-1538, 1999; Hobbs et al. J Virol 73:8245-8255, 1999; Lomonte and Everett, J Virol 73:9456-9467, 1999; Guchet D et al., ^' Gen Med 7: 1187-1199, 2005). Samaniego et al. established two ICPO-expressing Vero cell lines, named F06 and L7, using an ICPO-expressing plasmid similar to that used for 0-28 cells, where ICPO is expressed using its own ICPO promoter. F06 quickly lost its complement efficiency by passage 15. The stability of L7 in complementing growth was not tested and the limiting quantity of ICPO provided by L7 cells is purported to explain why there is low levels of tk mRNA upon infection with virus (Samaniego et al., J Virol, 1997). Similarly, with ICPO-expressing plasmid, pSH that encodes ICPO under the ICPO promoter (Cai and Schaffer, 1989, Yao and Schaffer, 1995), we failed to generate a stable ICP0- expressing Vero cell line that can complement HSV-1 ICPO deletion mutant efficiently.

[0008] Vero cells are known to be good substrate for the production of viruses for pharmaceutical purposes, thus it would be advantageous to have a Vero cell line expressing ICPO that stably expresses the ICPO protein for multiple passages and that is capable of complementing ICPO deficient HSV. Such cells would be suitable for large scale clinical manufacturing of HSV virus vaccines. It is also desirable to have a highly stable Vero cell line that can both efficiently complement ICPO deficient HSV virus, and inhibit expression of mutant forms of HSV genes that are capable of blocking HSV replication, e.g. dominant negative UL9, and immediate-early expressing of HSV late gene products, e.g. gD.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] We have now identified a means to generate Vero cell lines that stably express HSV ICPO protein and that are efficient at complementing ICPO deficient HSV viruses over multiple cell passages. These cells lack toxic effects of ICPO as observed in other methods for generation of such cells. We have also established a Vero cell-derived cell line, named VOR-124, that is highly stable at expressing both tetracycline Repressor (tetR) and ICPO protein. This cell line is capable of maintaining complementation efficiency of ICPO deficient HSV after extensive cell passage. We were able to generate VOR-124, as well as other Vero cell lines, by the establishment of a promoter -ICPO expression system in Vero cells that allows for just enough expression of ICPO to efficiently complement replication of ICPO deficient HSV, but not for so much expression that it has detrimental effect on cells, e.g. slow cell growth, morphology changes, cell death, and eventual loss of expression due to ICPO toxic effects. With use of the minimal promoter we were able to generate a parental Vero cell line (e.g. VO-584) that stably expresses ICPO and that maintains its' ICPO complementation efficiency for greater than 20 cell passages (even for over 40 cell passages). Because of the cells stability, we were then further able to modify this cell line to generate a cell line that expresses both ICPO and tetR (e.g VOR-124). We further demonstrate that CJ2-gD2 as well as its derivative replicate efficiently in VOR-124 cells, maintaining its

complementation efficiency for greater than 50 cell passages Thus, VOR-124 cells, and other Vero cell lines made using our promoter system for expression of ICPO in Vero cells, are useful for pharmacologic large scale production of ICPO deficient HSV, e.g. CJ2-gD2, or its derivatives.

[0010] Accordingly, aspects and embodiments of the invention are based upon the establishment of a promoter system for HSV ICPO expression in Vero cells which allows for successful generation of Vero cell lines that stably express ICPO at levels just enough to efficiently complement replication of ICPO deficient HSV virus, however not so much that there is a detrimental loss of expression or cell death due to the toxic effects of ICPO. Embodiments of the invention are also based on the successful generation of Vero cells expressing ICPO that further comprises a Tet repressor (tetR) gene. These cells are highly efficient at replicating HSV ICPO deletion virus which also encodes a mutant form of HSV protein that blocks HSV DNA replication e.g. dominant negative HSV UL9. Each of these cells unexpectedly stably express ICPO even over 20, over 30, and even over 40 cell passages and also efficiently complement HSV ICPO deficient virus over extensive cell passaging. Such cells are amenable for use in clinical production of vaccines, e.g. HSV vaccines or HSV ICPO deletion mutant-based oncolytic viruses for tumor therapy

[0011] In one aspect of the invention, a Vero cell line is provided that comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) ICPO protein which is operably linked to the HCMV minimal promoter, where the minimal promoter comprises SEQ ID NO: 1. In one embodiment, the promoter further comprises VP16 responsive elements at the 5' end of the minimal promoter, e.g. SEQ ID NO: 2. In one embodiment, the promoter consists essentially of SEQ ID NO: 2.

[0012] In certain embodiments, the HSV ICPO is selected from HSV-1 ICPO, or variant thereof, and HSV-2 ICPO, or variant thereof. In one embodiment the nucleotide sequence encodes HSV-1 ICPO that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5. In one embodiment, the nucleotide sequence encodes HSV-2 ICPO that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.

[0013] In certain embodiments, the Vero cell line comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) ICPO (e.g. a HSV-1 ICPO protein or a HSV-2 ICPO protein) operably linked to a promoter, e.g. a promoter comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, exhibits the same Vero cell morphology as the cell line from which it was derived (i.e. the parental Vero Cell line morphology). In certain embodiments, the cell line is capable of maintaining ICPO complementation efficiency, e.g. complementation efficiency is substantially the same whether or not the cell line has been passaged 20, 30, 40, or 50 times within 1 or within 2 standard deviations as measured by a viral replication assay, e.g. plaque forming efficiency assay, an ELISA, or another assay known in the art, for greater than 20 cell passages, or for greater than 30 cell passages, or for even for greater than 40 cell passages.

[0014] In another aspect of the invention, a Vero cell line is provided that comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) ICPO protein, wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises SEQ ID NO: 4. In one embodiment, the Vero cell line exhibits the same Vero cell morphology as the cell line from which it was derived (the parental Vero Cell line morphology). In certain embodiments, the Vero cell line is capable of maintaining ICPO complementation efficiency, e.g. within 1 or within 2 standard deviations as measured by a viral replication assay, e.g. a plaque forming efficiency assay, ELISA, or other assay, for greater than 20 cell passages, or for greater than 30 cell passages, or even for greater than 40 cell passages.

[0015] In another aspect of the invention, a Vero cell line is provided that comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes for a Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) ICPO protein, wherein the nucleotide sequence consists essentially of SEQ ID NO: 4. In one embodiment, the cell line exhibits the same cell morphology as the cell line from which it was derived, i.e. Vero cell morphology. In certain embodiments, the cell line is capable of maintaining ICPO complementation efficiency, e.g. within 1 or within 2 standard deviations as measured by a viral replication assay, e.g. a plaque forming efficiency assay, an ELISA, or another assay known in the art, for greater than 20 cell passages, or for greater than 30 cell passages, or even for greater than 40 cell passages.

[0016] In certain embodiments of each of these aspects of the invention, the Vero cell line further comprises an additional nucleic acid that encodes a tetracycline repressor protein (tetR) operably linked to a promoter. In one embodiment, the promoter comprises SEQ ID NO: 9. In certain embodiments, the nucleic acid that encodes a tetracycline repressor protein encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11, or variant thereof. In certain embodiments, the nucleic acid that encodes a tetracycline repressor protein (tetR) which is operably linked to a promoter comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7. This sequence includes a beta-globin intron inserted between the promoter and the tetR nucleotide sequence that encodes the tetR protein. In certain embodiments, the nucleic acid that encodes a tetracycline repressor protein (tetR) operably linked to a promoter consists essentially of SEQ ID NO: 7.

[0017] In one aspect, the Vero cell line named VO-584 is provided. VO-584, deposited with the American Type Culture Collection on April 20, 2017 on behalf of The Brigham and Woman's Hospital, Inc. of 75 Francis Street Boston, MA and was assigned ATCC accession no. PTA-124106. We note that reference to this deposit should not create any presumption that such material is necessary to satisfy 35 U.S.C. 112 or that deposit in accordance with these regulations is, or was, required.

[0018] In one aspect, the Vero cell line named VOR-124 is provided. VOR-124, deposited with the American Type Culture Collection on April 20, 2017 on behalf of The Brigham and Woman's Hospital, Inc. and was assigned ATCC accession no. PTA-124105. Reference to this deposit should not create any presumption that such material is necessary to satisfy 35 U.S.C. 112 or that deposit in accordance with these regulations is, or was, required.

[0019] In certain embodiments of each of these aspects, the Vero cell line further comprises a gene encoding antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistant genes are well known to those of skill in the art, including e.g. neomycin and the like.

[0020] In certain embodiments of each of these aspects, the Vero cell line further comprises an ICP0 deficient virus, e.g. is infected with an ICP0 deficient virus, or comprises components of an ICPO deficient virus.

[0021] In certain embodiments of each of these aspects, the Vero cell line further comprises a nucleic acid encoding a recombinant protein of interest that is operably linked to a promoter.

[0022] In another aspect of the invention, a method of using these Vero cell lines to produce a recombinant protein of interest that is operably linked to a promoter is provided. The recombinant protein may be a therapeutic protein, or a protein for use in a vaccine.

[0023] In another aspect of the invention, a method of using these Vero cell lines to produce a virus is provided, e.g. an adenovirus or a Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). In certain embodiments, the virus is a viral vaccine. In some embodiments, the viral vaccine or viral construct is an ICPO deficient HSV virus. [0024] In another aspect of the invention, a method of using these Vero cell lines to produce recombinant ICPO deficient Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is provided. The method comprises propagating an ICPO deficient HSV virus in a Vero cell line of any of each of these aspects of the invention. In one embodiment, the method comprises i) infecting the Vero cell line with an ICPO deficient HSV virus, ii) incubating the cell line in a tissue culture medium; and iii) collecting the ICPO deficient virus produced by the cell line.

[0025] In another aspect of the invention, methods for generating a Vero cell line that stably expresses HSV ICPO protein and that efficiently complements ICPO deficient HSV virus for greater than 20 passages (or even greater than, 30 or 40 passages) is provided. The method comprises contacting Vero cells with a nucleic acid that encodes HSV ICPO (e.g. HSV1 or HSV2 ICPO) operably linked to a promoter, e.g. wherein the promoter comprises SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, and screening for complementation of HSV ICPO deficient virus. In one embodiment, the promoter consists essentially of SEQ ID NO: 2. In one embodiment, the method comprises contacting Vero cells with a nucleic acid that comprises SEQ ID NO: 4. In one embodiment, the HSV ICPO is HSV-1 ICPO, e.g. SEQ ID NO 5, or variant thereof. In one embodiment, the HSV ICPO is HSV -2 ICPO, e.g. SEQ ID NO 6, or variant thereof. In one embodiment, the method comprises contacting Vero cells with a nucleic acid that consists essentially of SEQ ID NO: 4 and screening for complementation (replication efficiency) of HSV ICPO deficient virus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0026] Figure 1 is a graph that shows plaque -forming efficiency of N2-lacZ, an HSV-2 ICPO null mutant, in Vero cells, VO-584 cells and U20S cells. Vero cells and VO-584 cells were seeded at 6 x 10e5 cells per 60 mm dish and U20S cells were seeded at 1.25 x 10 ⁶ cells per 60 mm dish. At 46-48 h post- seeding, triplicate dishes of U20S cells, VO-584 cells, and Vero cells were infected with N2-lacZ at various PFU/dish. After 1.5 h incubation at 37°C in an inoculation volume of 0.5 ml/dish, methylcellulose was added. Plaques were stained with neutral-red at 72 h post-infection and counted a day later. The number of input PFU was based on the titer on U20S cell monolayers.

[0027] Figure 2 is a graph that shows the plaque-forming efficiency of CJ2-gD2 in VO-584 cells, VOR- 124 cells and U2CEP4R-11 cells. VO-584 cells and VOR-124 were seeded at 6 x 10 ⁵ cells per 60 mm dish and U2CEP4R-11 cells were seeded at 1.25 x 10 ⁶ cells per 60 mm dish. At 46-48 h post-seeding, triplicate dishes of U2CEP4R-11 cells, VO-584 cells and VOR-124 cells were infected with CJ2-gD2 at various PFU/dish. After 1.5 h incubation at 37 C in an inoculation volume of 0.5 ml/dish, methylcellulose was added. Plaques were stained with neutral-red at 72 h post-infection and counted a day later. The number of input PFU was based on the titer on U2CEP4R-11 cell monolayers.

[0028] Figure 3 is a light microscope photograph panel that indicates VOR-124 cells are morphologically similar to Vero cells. Vero cells and VOR-124 cells were seeded at 6 x 10 ⁵ cells per 60 mm dish. Cells were photographed under the light microscope at 48 h post-seeding. [0029] Figure 4 is a graph of plaque -forming efficiency of CJ2-gD2 in VOR-124 cells in either the absence or presence of tetracycline. VOR-124 were seeded at 6 x 10 ⁵ cells per 60 mm dish. At 45 h post- seeding, triplicate dishes of VOR-124 cells were infected with CJ2-gD2 at 150 PFU/dish for plaque assay in the absence of doxycycline and at 1.5 x 10 ⁴ PFU/dish for plaque-assay in the presence of doxycycline. Plaques were stained with neutral-red at 72 h post-infection and counted a day later. The number of input PFU was based on the titer on VOR-124 cell monolayers.

[0030] Figure 5 is a fluorescent microscope photo panel that indicate regulation of eGFP expression from the tetO-containing HCMV major immediate-early promoter in VOR-124 cells in the absence or the presence of doxycycline. VOR-124 cells and Vero cells were seeded at 5 x 10 ⁵ cells per 60 mm dish. At 21 h post-seeding, duplicate dishes of VOR-124 cells and Vero cells were transfected with 0.1 ug/dish of pCDNA4TO-eGFP and 1.5 ug/dish of pCDNA3 by Lipofectinamine 2000. Transfection medium was removed at 4 h post-transfection followed by addition of growth medium with or without doxycycline. Expression of EGFP was photographed under the fluorescence microscopy at 24 h and 48 h post- transfection.

DESCRIPTION

[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all terms of art, notations and other scientific terms or terminology used herein are intended to have the meanings commonly understood by those of skill in the art to which this invention pertains. In some cases, terms with commonly understood meanings are defined herein for clarity and/or for ready reference, and the inclusion of such definitions herein should not necessarily be construed to represent a substantial difference over what is generally understood in the art.

[0032] The practice of embodiments of the present invention will employ, unless otherwise indicated, conventional techniques of molecular biology (including recombinant techniques), microbiology, cell biology, biochemistry, nucleic acid chemistry, and immunology, which are within the skill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature, such as, Current Protocols in Immunology (J. E. Coligan et al., eds., 1999, including supplements through 2016); Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (F. M. Ausubel et al., eds., 1987, including supplements through 2016); Short Protocols in Molecular Biology, F. M. Ausubel et al., eds., fifth edition 2002, including supplements through 2016; Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, third edition (Sambrook and Russel, 2001); PCR: The Polymerase Chain Reaction, (Mullis et al., eds., 1994); The Immunoassay Handbook (D. Wild, ed., Stockton Press NY, 1994); Bioconjugate Techniques (Greg T. Hermanson, ed., Academic Press, 1996); Methods of Immunological Analysis (R. Masseyeff, W. H. Albert, and N. A. Staines, eds., Weinheim: VCH Verlags gesellschaft mbH, 1993), Harlow and Lane Using Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1999; and Beaucage et al. eds., Current Protocols in Nucleic Acid Chemistry John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 2000, including supplements through 2016).

[0033] As used herein, the term "cell line" refers to a tissue cultured cell that has been cloned and can be represented by a single cell or a cell population propagated from the single cell clone. [0034] As used herein the term "Vero cell line" refers to a cell line derived from the kidney of a normal adult African green monkey. For example, on March 27, 1962, a cell line derived from the kidney of a normal adult African green monkey named CCL-81 was isolated by Y. Yasumura and Y. Kawakita at the Chiba University in Chiba, Japan; ATCC ^® CCL-81™ (Manassas, VA 20110 USA). An optional growth medium for a Vero cell line is Sigma's Delbecco's modified Eagle's Medium (Sigma, ST.LOUIS, MO, 63103, USA), Catalog No. D5796. Complete growth medium, is made by adding the following components to the base medium: fetal bovine serum to a final concentration of 10%. Cells are passaged normally, which is by cell dilution at a time when there is about 100% confluence in a tissue culture dish.

[0035] As used herein "Vero cell line morphology" refers to the phenotypic shape and membrane structure of a Vero cell which can be determined by microscope (see for example Figure 3, that shows the morphology of Vero Cells by light microscope).

[0036] As used herein the term "herpes simplex virus" (HSV) refers to both HSV type 1 and HSV type 2. See e.g. Fatahzadeh Ml, Schwartz RA. Human herpes simplex virus infections: epidemiology, pathogenesis, symptomatology, diagnosis, and management, J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007 Nov; 57(5):737- 63, ATCC holdings (Manassas, VA 20110 USA) include a number of HSV-1 and HSV-2 strains, including for example: HSV-1 HF; HSV-1 Maclntyre; HSV-1 KOS; HSV-1 GHSV-UL46; HSV-1 ATCC-2011-9; HSV-2 MS; HSV-2 G; HSV-2 ATCC-2011-2.

[0037] As used herein, the term "ICPO protein" refers to the HSV protein that is an immediate-early protein which possesses E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. ICPO activates HSV-1 gene expression, disrupts nuclear domain (ND) 10 structures, mediates the degradation of cellular proteins, and enables evasion of the host's antiviral defenses. As used herein the term "ICPO deficient HSV" refers to a recombinant HSV vector whose genome does not encode active ICPO or fully functional ICPO, i.e. ICPO with normal wild type function. Activity of ICPO can be monitored using any of the means known to those in the art, See e.g. Miles C Smith et al, HSV-1 ICPO: paving the way for viral replication Future Virol. 2011 Apr; 6(4): 421-429; Mirna P Lanfranca et al., HSV-1 ICPO: An E3 Ubiquitin Ligase that counteracts host intrinsic and immunity, Cells 2014 3:438-454.

[0038] There are many variants of HSV ICPO protein, e.g. some of HSV-1 ICPO, strain KOS variants are: Genebank Accession: P08393.1 GI: 124134; Accession: AFI23590.1 GI: 384597746; Accession: AFI23649.1 GI: 384597805; Accession: AFE62827.1 GI: 380776964; Accession: AFE62886.1 GI: 380777023; Accession: ADM22381.1 GI: 304318198; Accession: AL018731.1 GI: 952947655 ; Accession: ALO 18672.1 GI: 952947596 ; Accession: ALO 18655.1 GI: 952947578 ; Accession: AL018596.1 GI: 952947519 ; Accession: AKH80472.1 GI: 822581062; Accession: AKH80399.1 GI: 822580988; Accession: AKG61929.1 GI: 820021112 ; Accession: AKG61857.1 GI: 820021035; etc. and the like. Each strain of HSV1 or of HSV2 have multiple variants, all with functional ICPO. These variants are well known in the art and can be found in protein databases. Such variants may be used in methods of the invention. Examples of HSV-2 ICPO variants, include but are not limited to: Accession: YP_009137210: YP_009137210.1 GL820945210; Accession: YP_009137151.1 GI: 820945151; Accession: AEV91397.2 GI: 556197555; Accession: AEV91338.2 GI: 556197550; ; Accession: ADG01890.1 GI: 295322885; Accession: ADG01889.1 GI: 295322883; Accession: ADG01888.1 GI: 295322881 ; Accession: ADG01887.1 GI: 295322879; Accession: ADG01885.1 GI: 295322875; Accession: ADG01886.1 GI: 295322877; etc, and the like.

[0039] As used herein, the term "variant" or in the context of polypeptides or proteins refers to a polypeptide or protein that comprises an amino acid sequence which has been altered by the introduction of amino acid residue substitutions, deletions and/or additions. Typically substitutions are conservative amino acid substitutions, however non-conservative substitutions can be made that do not destroy the functionality of the protein, e.g. HSV ICPO. "Conservative amino acid substitutions" refers to replacing one amino acid with another having similar structural and/or chemical properties, e.g. such as the replacement of a leucine with an isoleucine or valine, an aspartate with a glutamate, or a threonine with a serine, or glycine with another small amino acid residue. Conservative substitution tables providing functionally similar amino acids are well known in the art. As used herein, the term "non-conservative" refers to substituting an amino acid residue for a different amino acid residue that has different chemical properties. The non-conservative substitutions include, but are not limited to aspartic acid (D) being replaced with glycine (G); asparagine (N) being replaced with lysine (K); or alanine (A) being replaced with arginine (R). For purposes of embodiments of the invention non-conservative substitutions may reduce but does not destroy the proteins normal function.

[0040] As used herein the term "comprising" or "comprises" is used in reference to compositions, methods, and respective component(s) thereof, that are essential to the invention, yet open to the inclusion of unspecified elements, whether essential or not.

[0041] As used herein the terms, "consisting essentially of," or variations such as "consists essentially of, or "consist essentially of refer to the inclusion of any recited elements, or group of elements, and the optional inclusion of other elements, of similar or different nature than the recited elements, that do not materially change the basic properties of the claimed elements. For example, a nucleotide sequence that consists essentially of a recited sequence may also include additional one or more nucleic acid additions, deletions, or substitutions that do not materially change by a statistically significant amount the expression level of ICPO and the ability of the ICPO protein to complement HSV replication at high efficiency. For example, substitutions may correlate to the degenerative amino acid code.

[0042] The term "consisting of refers to compositions, methods, and respective components thereof as described herein, which are exclusive of any element not recited in that description of the embodiment. For example, the nucleotide sequence has no additions, deletions or substitutions.

[0043] As used herein, the terms "protein" are used interchangeably and refer to a polymer or oligomer of consecutive amino acid residues.

[0044] As used herein, the terms "nucleotide sequence" refers to DNA molecule sequences (e.g., cDNA or genomic DNA. [0045] As used herein, the term "promoter" refers to regulatory control nucleic acid sequences involved in transcription of nucleotide coding sequences, which may or may not include enhancer elements. Such a promoter may be inducible or constitutive. The term "operably linked" refers to a juxtaposition wherein the components described are in a relationship permitting them to function in their intended manner. A promoter "operably linked" to a coding sequence is ligated in such a way that expression of the coding sequence is achieved.

[0046] Other than in the operating examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients or reaction conditions used herein should be understood as modified in all instances by the term "about." The term "about" when used in connection with percentages may mean ±10%, or even e.g. ±20%, preferably ±10%, more preferably ±5%, still more preferably ±1%. In addition, the singular terms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word "or" is intended to include "and" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is further to be understood that all base sizes or amino acid sizes, and all molecular weight or molecular mass values, given for nucleic acids or polypeptides are approximate, and are provided for description. The abbreviation, "e.g." is derived from the Latin exempli gratia, and is used herein to indicate a non-limiting example. Thus, the abbreviation "e.g." is synonymous with the term "for example."

[0047] The term "statistically significant" or "significantly" refers to statistical significance and generally means a two standard deviation (2SD) above or below a normal or reference level. The term refers to statistical evidence that there is a difference. The decision is often made using the p-value. If within two standard deviations than there is not a statistically significant difference.

[0048] Embodiments of the invention are based, in part, upon the surprising successful generation of a Vero cell line that encodes ICPO protein at levels able to complement ICPO deficient HSV replication at high efficiency, yet at levels that the ICPO protein remains stably expressed for greater than 20, greater than 30, and even greater than 40 passages. The stability and low toxicity of expression of the ICPO protein while still being able to complement ICPO deficient HSV replication at high efficiency (e.g. as evidenced by plaque formation assay) is quite surprising. In particular, we have identified a promoter system that enables the optimal balance of ICPO expression in Vero cells. The promoter system uses a promoter that comprises SEQ ID NO: 1.

[0049] In certain embodiments, the promoter comprises the addition of VP16 responsive elements, e.g. one, two or three VP16 responsive elements, e.g. see SEQ ID NO: 2.

[0050] In particular, cell lines can now be produced that complement replication of ICPO deficient HSV at high efficiency for greater than 20, greater than 30 and even greater than 40 passages.

[0051] In embodiments of the invention efficiency of complementation can be determined using any HSV viral replication assay known to those of skill in the art. One such assay is a plaque forming assay also referred to as a plaque forming efficiency assay. HSV plaque assays determine the number of plaque forming units (pfu) in a virus sample, which is one measure of virus quantity and replication, e.g. if measuring the amount of virus produced by a particular Vero cell line. For example, a confluent monolayer of host cells can be infected with HSV ICPO deficient virus, e.g. produced from a Vero Cell line described herein, at varying dilutions and covered with a semi-solid medium, such as methylcellulose or agar, to prevent the virus infection from spreading indiscriminately. A viral plaque is formed when a virus infects a cell within the fixed cell monolayer. The virus infected cell will lyse and spread the infection to adjacent cells where the infection-to-lysis cycle is repeated. The infected cell area will create a plaque (an area of infection surrounded by uninfected cells) which can be seen by neutral- red staining or with an optical microscope. Plaque formation can take 3 - 5 days, depending on the virus being analyzed. Plaques are generally counted manually and the results, in combination with the dilution factor used to prepare the plate, are used to calculate the number of plaque forming units per sample unit volume (pfu/mL). The pfu/mL result represents the number of infective particles within the sample and is based on the assumption that each plaque formed is representative of one infective virus particle. Other assays to monitor replication efficiency include but are not limited to, e.g. a focus forming assay (FFA), protein assays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and flow cytometry, such assays are well known in the art (e.g. Kaufmann, S.H.; Kabelitz, D. (2002) . Methods in Microbiology Vol.32: Immunology of Infection; Martin, S.J. (1978). The Biochemistry of Viruses. Cambridge University Press; Flint, S.J.; Enquist, W.; Racaniello, V.R.; Skalka, A.M. (2009). Virological Methods. Principles of Virology. ASM Press). The HSV replication assay (e.g. an assay to determine how much virus is produced by the Vero cell) that is used to determine ICPO complementation efficiency of an ICPO expressing Vero cell line described herein, can include a control reference for High efficiency of ICPO complementation, such as a control cell line, e.g. U20S or U2CEP4R-11 cells are known to produce infectious virus at concentration (titer) of 7-8 logio PFU/ml. For comparison the control U20S cell line value should be seeded to normalize cell number taking inconsideration the growth rates of the cells as to represent the same number of cells producing virus as the tested Vero cell line. As used herein, "high efficiency" refers to having a plaque-forming efficiency for ICPO null mutants that is equal to, or less than, that observed with U20S cells, but no more than 10 fold less than that observed with U20S cells. In one embodiment, the plaque forming efficiency for ICPO null mutants in the Vero cell line is no more than 5 fold less, or 4 fold less, or 2 fold less, than what is observed with U20S cells. U20S cells are available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC); (U-2 OS ATCC® HTB96™).

[0052] In certain embodiments, the Vero cell line that stably expresses ICPO has a parental Vero cell morphology. Cell lines may be visualized by light microscopy to assess morphology, see for example Figure 3. Cell growth kinetics can also be monitored. In one embodiment, the cell growth kinetics of the Vero cell line expressing ICPO has the same or close to growth kinetics as the parental Vero cells.

[0053] In certain embodiments, the HSV ICPO is selected from HSV-1 ICPO, or variant thereof, and HSV-2 ICPO, or variant thereof. In one embodiment, the nucleotide sequence encodes HSV- 1 ICPO, or variant thereof. In one embodiment the nucleotide sequence encodes HSV-1 ICPO that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5. In one embodiment, the nucleotide sequence encodes HSV-2 ICPO that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.

[0054] In one aspect, a Vero cell line is provided that comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) ICPO protein, wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises SEQ ID NO: 4. In one embodiment, the Vero cell line exhibits the same Vero cell morphology as the cell line from which it was derived (the parental Vero Cell line morphology). In certain embodiments, the Vero cell line is capable of maintaining ICPO complementation efficiency, e.g. within 1 or within 2 standard deviations as measured by plaque forming efficiency assay, for greater than 20 cell passages, or for greater than 30 cell passages, or for even for greater than 40 cell passages.

[0055] In one aspect, a Vero cell line is provided that comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes for a Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) ICPO protein e.g. a HSV-1 ICPO protein or a HSV-2 ICPO protein, operably linked to a promoter wherein the promoter comprises SEQ ID NO: 2.

[0056] In one aspect, a Vero cell line is provided that comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes for a Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) ICPO protein e.g. a HSV-1 ICPO protein or a HSV-2 ICPO protein, operably linked to a promoter wherein the promoter consists essentially of SEQ ID NO: 2.

[0057] In one aspect, a Vero cell line is provided that comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, which is a sequence that encodes for a HSV-1 ICPO protein operably linked to the promoter of SEQ ID NO: 2.

[0058] In certain embodiments of each of these aspects, the Vero cell line further comprises an additional nucleic acid that encodes a tetracycline repressor protein (tetR) operably linked to a promoter.

[0059] As used herein, a tetracycline repressor protein (tetR) refers to a transcriptional repressor protein that regulates transcription (See e.g Ramos, Juan L et al. (2005-06-01). "The TetR Family of Transcriptional Repressors". Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews 69 (2): 326-356, 2005). Many tetR proteins are known in the art and are suitable for use in embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid that encodes a tetracycline repressor protein that encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11, or variant thereof.

[0060] Any promoter known to those of skill in the art may be operably linked to the TetR nucleic acid in embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment, the promoter operably linked to the nucleic acid encoding tetR, comprises SEQ ID NO: 9. In certain embodiments, a beta-globin intron is inserted between the promoter and the tetR nucleotide sequence that encodes the tetR protein (of SEQ ID NO: 7).

[0061] In another aspect of the invention, a method of using these Vero cell lines to produce recombinant ICPO deficient Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is provided. The method comprises propagating an ICPO deficient HSV virus in a Vero cell line of any of each of these aspects of the invention. In one embodiment, the method comprises i) infecting the Vero cell line with an ICPO deficient HSV virus, ii) incubating the cell line in a tissue culture medium; and iii) collecting the ICPO deficient virus produced by the cell line. Methods for producing and isolation HSV virus are well known to those of skill in the art, See e.g. Goins WF1, et al. Construction and production of recombinant herpes simplex virus vectors, Methods Mol Biol. 2008;433:97-113; and Herpes Simplex Virus: Propagation, Quantification, and Storage, Current protocols in microbiology by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Chapter 14, 14. E.1-14E.23, contributed by John A. Blaho, Elise R. Morton, and Jamie C. Yedowitz, October 2005). The Vero cell lines described herein use the same medium as suggested for Vero cells.

[0062] Methods for generating Vero cell lines that stably expresses HSV ICPO protein and that efficiently complements ICPO deficient HSV are also provided. The methods comprise contacting Vero cells with a nucleic acid that encodes HSV ICPO (e.g. HSV1 or HSV2 ICPO) operably linked to a promoter, e.g. wherein the promoter comprises SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, and screening for complementation of HSV ICPO deficient virus. Standard transfection protocols known in the art can be used for contacting the Vero cells with the nucleic acids described herein. See e.g. Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (F. M. Ausubel et al., eds., 1987, including supplements through 2016). Complementation efficiently can be monitored using any HSV replication efficiency assay known to those in the art, e.g. a plaque forming assay or ELISA assay.

[0063] In one embodiment, the method comprises contacting Vero cells with a nucleotide sequence that encodes for a Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) ICPO protein operably linked to a promoter, wherein the promoter comprises SEQ ID NO: l . In one embodiment, the method comprises contacting Vero cells with a nucleotide sequence that encodes for a Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) ICPO protein operably linked to a promoter, wherein the promoter comprises SEQ ID NO:2. In one embodiment, the method comprises contacting Vero cells with a nucleotide sequence that encodes for a Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) ICPO protein that is operably linked to a promoter, wherein the promoter consists essentially of SEQ ID NO: 2. In one embodiment, the HSV ICPO is HSV-1 ICPO, e.g. SEQ ID NO 5, or variant thereof. In one embodiment, the HSV ICPO is HSV-2 ICPO, e.g. SEQ ID NO 6, or variant thereof.

[0064] It should be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, protocols, and reagents, etc., described herein and as such may vary. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is defined solely by the claims.

[0065] Embodiments of the invention are further described in the following numbered paragraphs.

1. A Vero cell line comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes for a Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) ICPO protein operably linked to a promoter, wherein the promoter comprises SEQ ID NO: l .

2. The Vero cell line of paragraph 1, wherein the promoter comprises SEQ ID NO: 2.

3. The Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 1-2, wherein the nucleotide sequence

encodes for HSV-1 ICPO that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.

4. The Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 1-3, wherein, the cell line exhibits Vero cell morphology. The Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 1-4, wherein the cell line is capable of maintaining ICPO complementation efficiency within 2 standard deviations as measured by a viral replication assay for greater than 20 cell passages.

The Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 1-5, wherein the cell line is capable of maintaining ICPO complementation efficiency within 2 standard deviations as measured by a viral replication assay for greater than 30 cell passages.

The Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 1-6, wherein the cell line is capable of maintaining ICPO complementation efficiency within 2 standard deviations as measured by a viral replication assay for greater than 40 cell passages.

The Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 1-7, wherein the nucleotide sequence that encodes for a Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) ICPO protein operably linked to a promoter comprises SEQ ID NO: 4.

The Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 1-7, wherein the nucleotide sequence that encodes for a Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) ICPO protein operably linked to a promoter consists essentially of SEQ ID NO: 4.

The Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 1-9, wherein the cell line further comprises an additional nucleic acid that encodes a tetracycline repressor protein (tetR) operably linked to a promoter.

The Vero cell line of paragraph 10, wherein the promoter operably linked to the tetracycline repressor protein comprises SEQ ID NO: 9.

The Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 10-11, wherein the nucleic acid that encodes a tetracycline repressor protein encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11. The Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 10-12, wherein the nucleic acid that encodes tetracycline repressor protein (tetR) operably linked to a promoter comprises SEQ ID NO: 7.

The Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 10-12, wherein the nucleic acid that encodes a tetracycline repressor protein (tetR) operably linked to a promoter consists essentially of SEQ ID NO: 7.

The Vero cell line of paragraph 9, which is VO-584.

The Vero cell line of paragraph 14, which is VOR-124.

The Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 1-16, further comprising a gene encoding antibiotic resistance.

The Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 1-17, further comprising an ICPO deficient HSV virus.

The Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 1-17, further comprising a nucleic acid encoding a recombinant protein of interest that is operably linked to a promoter.

The Vero cell line of paragraph 19, wherein the recombinant protein of interest is a therapeutic protein. 21. The Vero cell line of paragraph 20, wherein the therapeutic protein is a vaccine protein.

22. A method of producing a viral vaccine of interest comprising propagating a virus to be used for vaccination in a Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 1-21.

23. The method of paragraph 22, wherein the virus to be used for vaccination is an ICPO deficient HSV virus.

24. The method of paragraph 22, wherein the virus is an adenovirus.

25. A method of producing a recombinant protein of interest comprising propagating the Vero cell line of any one of paragraphs 19-21, for sufficient time to allow for expression of the protein.

26. A method of producing ICPO deficient HSV virus comprising propagating an HSV ICPO deficient HSV virus in a Vero cell line of paragraph 1.

27. A method of producing ICPO deficient HSV virus comprising i) infecting a Vero cell line of any of paragraph 1, with an ICPO deficient HSV virus, ii) incubating the cell line in a tissue culture medium; and iii) collecting the ICPO deficient virus produced by the cell line.

[0066] All references, publications and patents described herein, in the Examples and throughout the Specification, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. These publications are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing in this regard should be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention or for any other reason. All statements as to the date or representation as to the contents of these documents is based on the information available to the applicants and does not constitute any admission as to the correctness of the dates or contents of these documents.

[0067] EXAMPLES

[0068] Materials and Methods

[0069] Cells: African Green Monkey Kidney CCL-81 (Vero) cells (ATCC) and the human osteosarcoma line U20S cells were grown and maintained in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM; Sigma Aldrich) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) in the presence of 100 U/ml penicillin G and 100 ng/ml streptomycin sulfate (GIBCO, Carlsbad, CA) (Yao, et al. . Virol. 69:6249-58 (1995)). U20S cells are able to complement functionally for the HSV-1 ICPO deletion (Y ao, et al, J. Virol. (59:6249-58 (1995)). U2CEP4R11 cells are tetR-expressing U20S cells that were maintained in DMEM plus 10% FBS and hygromycin B at 50 ng/ml (Yao, et al, Hum. Gene Ther. P: 1939-50 (1998)).

[0070] Plasmids: pMF3-ICP0 is an HSV-1 ICPO-expressing plasmid that contain no HSV-1 sequence flanking the HSV-1 ICPO ORF (SEQ ID NO: 3). pMF3-ICP3 encodes ICPO ORF under the control of modified HCMV minimal promoter consisting of 3 VP 16 responsive elements plus 2 x CAAAT/SP1 elements 5' to the HCMV TATA element (SEQ ID NO: 4). pcDNA3 and pCDNA4/TO were obtained from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA). pcDNA3 encodes neomycin-resistant gene under the control of SV40 promoter. pCDNA4/TO encodes Zeocin-resistant gene. pCDNA4TO-eGFP is an eGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein)-expressing plasmid.

[0071] Plasmid pMF-tetR contains a synthesized DNA fragment consisting of an optimized tetR transcription unit that includes: 1) a modified HCMV major immediate-early promoter that is lack of HCMV promoter sequence from -174 to -370 bp and contains two HSV-1 VP16 responsive elements with the first VP 16 responsive element at 149 bp upstream of the HCMV TATA element and the second VP 16 responsive element at 274 bp upstream of the HCMV TATA element, 2) beta-globin intron, and 3) a codon optimized tetR coding sequence followed by SV40 poly A signal sequence (SEQ ID NO: 7).

[0072] Viruses: N2-lacZ is an HSV-2 ICPO null mutant, in which the Xho I-ICP0 coding sequence in both copies of the ICPO gene in the HSV-2 genome are replaced by the Lac Z gene. CJ2-gD2 is an HSV- 2 ICPO-deletion mutant-based non-replicating dominant-negative HSV-2 recombinant virus in which both copies of the lacZ gene in N2-lacZ are replaced by DNA sequences encoding the gD2 gene driven by the tetO-bearing HSV-1 major immediate-early ICP4 promoter, while the gene encoding UL9-C535C is under the control of the tetO-containing hCMV major immediate-early promoter in an opposite orientation of the inserted gD2 gene (Akhrameyeva, J. Virol. 55:5036-47 (2011)). N2-lacZ was propagated in U20S cells, while CJ2-gD2 was propagated and plaque assayed in U2CEP4R11 cells.

[0073] Example 1 : Establishment of an HSV-1 ICPO expressing stable cell line that can complement the plaque forming efficiency of HSV-2 ICPO null mutant comparable to that of a human osteosacarma cell line, U20S cells.

[0074] We were able to successfully minimize the cytotoxic effect of ICPO by using a minimal promoter pMF-3 (SEQ ID NO: 01). To establish the ICPO-expressing stable cell lines, we constructed an ICP0- expressing plasmid, pMF3-ICP0. Linearized pMF3-ICP0 plasmid was then transfected into CCL-81 Vero cells along with linearized pcDNA3 by Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen Inc.). At 30 hours post- transfection, cells were seeded into 100 mm dishes at various cell density and were grown in DMEM growth medium containing G418 at 400 ug/ml. G418 resistant colony cells were assayed by its ability to complement the growth of HSV-2 ICPO null mutant, N2-lacZ, benchmarked against U20S cells. Among more than 1000 G418-resistant colonies we selected, VO-584 cells represent the only G418 -resistant and ICPO-expressing stable cell line that can complement the plaque -formation of N2-lacZ at level comparable to U20S cells. The results in Fig. 1 show that the plaque -forming efficacy of N2-lacZ in passage 7 VO-584 cells is ~ 2-fold lower than that of U20S cells and ~ 120-fold higher than that of normal CCL-81 cells. The complementing efficiency of VO-584 cells for N2-lacZ remains 2-3 fold lower than that of U20S cells at passage 33.

[0075] Example 2: Establishment of a tetR- and ICPO-expressing Vero cells that can complement the plaque forming efficiency of CJ2-gD2 efficiently.

[0076] We have synthesized a DNA sequence at GeneArt (Invitrogen Inc.), which contains an optimized tetR transcription unit that includes: 1) a modified HCMV major immediate-early promoter, which contain the first VP 16 responsive element at position 149 bp and the second VP 16 responsive element at position 274 bp upstream of the HCMV TATA element, respectively (SEQ ID NO: 9), 2) beta-globin intron (SEQ ID NO: 10), and 3) a codon optimized tetR coding sequence (SEQ ID NO: 8) followed by SV40 poly A signal sequence. The plasmid that contains above mentioned DNA sequence was named pMF-tetR.

[0077] To establish tetR- and ICPO-expressing stable CCL-81 Vero cells, VO-584 cells were transfected with linearized pMF-tetR along with linearized pCDNA4/TO (Invitrogen) by Lipofectamine 2000. Transfected cells were then seeded into 100 mm dishes at various cell density and were grown in DMEM growth medium containing G418 at 400 ug/ml and Zeocin at 200 ug/ml. G418- and Zeocin-resistant colony cells were assayed by its ability to complement the growth of CJ2-gD2, benchmarked against U2CEP4R-11 cells. VOR-124 cells represent a G418/Zeocin-resistant stable cell line that can complement the plaque-formation of CJ2-gD2 efficiently even at passage 41. The results in Fig. 2 show that the plaque-forming efficacy of CJ2-gD2 in VOR-124 cells is ~ 4.5 -fold lower than that of U2CEP4R- 11 cells and is 3,378-fold higher than that of VO-584 cells. The plaque-forming efficiency of N2-lacZ on VOR-124 cells is similar to that of VO-584 cells (data not shown). Notably, VOR-124 cells are morphologically similar to CCL-81 cells and exhibit similar growth kinetics as CCL-81 cells (Fig. 3).

[0078] Figure 4 represents the plaque -forming efficiency of CJ2-gD2 in VOR-124 cells in either the absence or presence of doxycycline. The result shows that the plaque-forming efficiency of CJ2-gD2 in VOR-124 cells in the presence of tetracycline is 2,418-fold lower than in the absence of tetracycline, demonstrating further that like in tetR-expressing Vero cell line, VCEP4R-28 cells (Akhrameyeva, J. Virol. 55:5036-47 (2011)), tetR expressed in VOR-124 cells can effectively suppresses the expression of UL9-C535C in CJ2-gD2-infected VOR-124 cells in the absence of doxycycline.

[0079] Example 3: Regulation of gene expression from the tetO-containing HCMV major immediate- early promoter in VOR-124 cells.

[0080] To further examine the effectiveness of tetR expressed in VOR-124 cells in regulating gene expression from the tetO-containing promoters, VOR-124 cells were seeded into 60 mm dishes at 6 x 10 ⁵ cells/dish. At 21 h post-seeding, cells were transfected with pCDNA4TO-eGFP with Lipofectamine 2000. Transfection medium was removed at 4 h post-transfection followed by addition of normal growth medium with no tetracycline or with doxycycline at a concentration of 0.2 ug/ml. Expression of EGFP was visualized directly under the fluorescence microscopy at 24 h and 48 h post-transfection. As shown in Fig. 5 while a significant number of green cells were seen in VOR-124 cells grown in the presence of doxycycline, a few faint green cells were detected under un-induced conditions, showing that gene expression of the tetO-containing promoter can be tightly regulated by doxycycline in VOR-124 cells.

[0081] Moreover, given the intensity of eGFP detected in transfected Vero cells and VOR-124 cells in the presence of tetracycline, the results suggest further that expression of ICP0 in VOR-124 cells can effectively elevate gene expression following transient transfection, consistent with the previously demonstrated potent fra«s-activating function of ICPO on gene expression.

SEQUENCE LISTING

SEQ ID NO: 1 Minimal Promoter Sequence in pMF3-ICP0

CCATTGACGCAAATGGGCGGTAGGCGTGTACGGTGGGAGGTCTATATAAG (SEQ ID NO: 1)

SEQ ID NO: 2 Promoter sequence in pMF3-ICP0 (with 3 x VP16 responsive elements(underlined and highlight) plus 2 x CAAATGGGCGG cis-acting elements (SEQ ID NO: 12)) used for the expression of HSV-1 ICPO coding sequence.

ATGCTAATGATATACATGCCACGTACTTATGGTGTCTATGCTAATGATATTCGCAAA TGGGC GGTAGACCGGTGAATTCATGCTAATGATATTCTTTGGTACCATTGACGCAAATGGGCGGT AG GCGTGTACGGTGGGAGGTCTATATAAG (SEQ ID NO: 2)

SEQ ID NO: 3 HSV-1 ICPO coding sequence followed by SV40 poly A signal sequence in plasmids pMF3-ICP0.

ATGGAGCCCCGCCCCGGAGCGAGTACCCGCCGGCCTGAGGGCCGCCCCCAGCGCGAGGTG A

GGGGCCGGGCGCCATGTCTGGGGCGCCATATTGGGGGGCGCCATATTGGGGGGCGCC ATGT

TGGGGGACCCCCGACCCTTACACTGGAACCGGCCGCCATGTTGGGGGACCCCCACTC ATAC

ACGGGAGCCGGGCGCCATGTTGGGGCGCCATGTTAGGGGGCGTGGAACCCCGTGACA CTAT

ATATACAGGGACCGGGGGCGCCATGTTAGGGGGTGCGGAACCCCCTGACCCTATATA TACA

GGGACCGGGGTCGCCCTGTTGGGGGTCGCCATGTGACCCCCTGACTTTATATATACA GACCC

CCAACACATACACATGGCCCCTTTGACTCAGACGCAGGGCCCGGGGTCGCCGTGGGA CCCC

CTGACTCATACACAGAGACACGCCCCCACAACAAACACACAAGGACCGGGGTCGCCG TGTT

GGGGGCGTGGTCCCCACTGACTCATACGCAGGCCCCCCTTACTCACACGCATCTAGG GGGGT

GGGGAGGAGCCGCCCGCCATATTTGGGGGACGCCGTGGGACCCCCGACTCCGGTGCG TCTG

GAGGGCGGGAGAAGAGGGAAGAAGAGGGGTCGGGATCCAAAGGACGGACCCAGACCA CCT

TTGGTTGCAGACCCCTTTCTCCCCCCTCTTCCGAGGCCAGCAGGGGGGCAGGACTTT GTGAG

GCGGGGGGGGGAGAGGGGGAACTCGTGGGTGCTGATTGACGCGGGAAATCCCCCCCC ATTC

GACCTGCCGGACAGCAGCGACTCTGAGGCGGAGACCGAAGTGGGGGGGCGGGGGGAC GCC

GACCACCATGACGACGACTCCGCCTCCGAGGCGGACAGCACGGACACGGAACTGTTC GAGA

CGGGGCTGCTGGGGCCGCAGGGCGTGGATGGGGGGGCGGTCTCGGGGGGGAGCCCCC CCC

GCGAGGAAGACCCCGGCAGTTGCGGGGGCGCCCCCCCTCGAGAGGACGGGGGGAGCG ACG

AGGGCGACGTGTGCGCCGTGTGCACGGATGAGATCGCGCCCCACCTGCGCTGCGACA CCTT

CCCGTGCATGCACCGCTTCTGCATCCCGTGCATGAAAACCTGGATGCAATTGCGCAA CACCT

GCCCGCTGTGCAACGCCAAGCTGGTGTACCTGATAGTGGGCGTGACGCCCAGCGGGT CGTT

CAGCACCATCCCGATCGTGAACGACCCCCAGACCCGCATGGAGGCCGAGGAGGCCGT CAGG

GCGGGCACGGCCGTGGACTTTATCTGGACGGGCAATCAGCGGTTCGCCCCGCGGTAC CTGA

CCCTGGGGGGGCACACGGTGAGGGCCCTGTCGCCCACCCACCCGGAGCCCACCACGG ACGA

GGATGACGACGACCTGGACGACGGTGAGGCGGGGGGCGGCAAGGACCCTGGGGGAGG AGG

AGGAGGAGGGGGGGGGAGGGAGGAATAGGCGGGCGGGCGAGGAAAGGGCGGGCCGGG GA

GGGGGCGTAACCTGATCGCGCCCCCCGTTGTCTCTTGCAGCAGACTACGTACCGCCC GCCCC

CCGCCGGACGCCCCGCGCCCCCCCACGCAGAGGCGCCGCCGCGCCCCCCGTGACGGG CGGG

GCGTCTCACGCAGCCCCCCAGCCGGCCGCGGCTCGGACAGCGCCCCCCTCGGCGCCC ATCG

GGCCACACGGCAGCAGTAACACCAACACCACCACCAACAGCAGCGGCGGCGGCGGCT CCC

GCCAGTCGCGAGCCGCGGCGCCGCGGGGGGCGTCTGGCCCCTCCGGGGGGGTTGGGG TTGG

GGTTGGGGTTGTTGAAGCGGAGGCGGGGCGGCCGAGGGGCCGGACGGGCCCCCTTGT CAAC AGACCCGCCCCCCTTGCAAACAACAGAGACCCCATAGTGATCAGCGACTCCCCCCCGGCC T

CTCCCCACAGGCCCCCCGCGGCGCCCATGCCAGGCTCCGCCCCCCGCCCCGGGCCCC CCGCG

TCCGCGGCCGCGTCGGGACCCGCGCGCCCCCGCGCGGCCGTGGCCCCGTGCGTGCGA GCGC

CGCCTCCGGGGCCCGGCCCCCGCGCCCCGGCCCCCGGGGCGGAGCCGGCCGCCCGCC CCGC

GGACGCGCGCCGTGTGCCCCAGTCGCACTCGTCCCTGGCTCAGGCCGCGAACCAAGA ACAG

AGTCTGTGCCGGGCGCGTGCGACGGTGGCGCGCGGCTCGGGGGGGCCGGGCGTGGAG GGTG

GGCACGGGCCCTCCCGCGGCGCCGCCCCCTCCGGCGCCGCCCCGCTCCCCTCCGCCG CCTCT

GTCGAGCAGGAGGCGGCGGTGCGTCCGAGGAAGAGGCGCGGGTCGGGCCAGGAAAAC CCC

TCCCCCCAGTCCACGCGTCCCCCCCTCGCGCCGGCAGGGGCCAAGAGGGCGGCGACG CACC

CCCCCTCCGACTCAGGGCCGGGGGGGCGCGGCCAGGGTGGGCCCGGGACCCCCCTGA CGTC

CTCGGCGGCCTCCGCCTCTTCCTCCTCTGCCTCTTCCTCCTCGGCCCCGACCCCCGC GGGGGC

CGCCTCTTCCGCCGCCGGGGCCGCGTCCTCCTCCGCTTCCGCCTCCTCGGGCGGGGC CGTCG

GTGCCCTGGGAGGGAGACAAGAGGAAACCTCCCTCGGCCCCCGCGCTGCTTCTGGGC CGCG

GGGGCCGAGGAAGTGTGCCCGGAAGACGCGCCACGCGGAGACTTCCGGGGCCGTCCC CGC

GGGCGGCCTCACGCGCTACCTGCCCATCTCGGGGGTCTCTAGCGTGGTCGCCCTGTC GCCTT

ACGTGAACAAGACTATCACGGGGGACTGCCTGCCCATCCTGGACATGGAGACGGGGA ACAT

CGGGGCGTACGTGGTCCTGGTGGACCAGACGGGAAACATGGCGACCCGGCTGCGGGC CGCG

GTCCCCGGCTGGAGCCGCCGCACCCTGCTCCCCGAGACCGCGGGTAACCACGTGATG CCCC

CCGAGTACCCGACGGCCCCCGCGTCGGAGTGGAACAGCCTCTGGATGACCCCCGTGG GGAA

CATGCTGTTCGACCAGGGCACCCTAGTGGGCGCCCTGGACTTCCGCAGCCTGCGGTC TCGGC

ACCCGTGGTCCGGGGAGCAGGGGGCGTCGACCCGGGACGAGGGAAAACAATAACAGA ACT

TGTTTATTGCAGCTTATAATGGTTACAAATAAAGCAATAGCATCACAAATTTCACAA ATAAA

GAAGCTTGGC (SEQ ID NO: 3)

SEQ ID NO: 4 2 Promoter sequence in pMF3-ICP0 (with 3 x VP16 responsive elements

(underlined) plus 2 x CAAATGGGCGG cis-acting elements (SEQ ID NO: 12)) used for the expression of HSV-1 ICPO coding sequence plus the HSV-1 ICPO coding sequence.

ATGCTAATGATATACATGCCACGTACTTATGGTGTCTATGCTAATGATATTCGCAAA TGGGC

GGTAGACCGGTGAATTCATGCTAATGATATTCTTTGGTACCATTGACGCAAATGGGC GGTAG

GCGTGTACGGTGGGAGGTCTATATAAGCAGAGCTCGTTTAGTGAACCGTCAGATCGC CTGG

AGACGCCATCCACGCTGTTTTGACCTCCATAGAAGACACCGGGACCGATCCAGCCTC CGCG

GCCGGGAACGGTGCATTGGAACGGACTCTAGAGGATCCATGGAGCCCCGCCCCGGAG CGAG

TACCCGCCGGCCTGAGGGCCGCCCCCAGCGCGAGGTGAGGGGCCGGGCGCCATGTCT GGGG

CGCCATATTGGGGGGCGCCATATTGGGGGGCGCCATGTTGGGGGACCCCCGACCCTT ACAC

TGGAACCGGCCGCCATGTTGGGGGACCCCCACTCATACACGGGAGCCGGGCGCCATG TTGG

GGCGCCATGTTAGGGGGCGTGGAACCCCGTGACACTATATATACAGGGACCGGGGGC GCCA

TGTTAGGGGGTGCGGAACCCCCTGACCCTATATATACAGGGACCGGGGTCGCCCTGT TGGG

GGTCGCCATGTGACCCCCTGACTTTATATATACAGACCCCCAACACATACACATGGC CCCTT

TGACTCAGACGCAGGGCCCGGGGTCGCCGTGGGACCCCCTGACTCATACACAGAGAC ACGC

CCCCACAACAAACACACAAGGACCGGGGTCGCCGTGTTGGGGGCGTGGTCCCCACTG ACTC

ATACGCAGGCCCCCCTTACTCACACGCATCTAGGGGGGTGGGGAGGAGCCGCCCGCC ATAT

TTGGGGGACGCCGTGGGACCCCCGACTCCGGTGCGTCTGGAGGGCGGGAGAAGAGGG AAG

AAGAGGGGTCGGGATCCAAAGGACGGACCCAGACCACCTTTGGTTGCAGACCCCTTT CTCC

CCCCTCTTCCGAGGCCAGCAGGGGGGCAGGACTTTGTGAGGCGGGGGGGGGAGAGGG GGA

CTTAGCCCGCCCCGGATGTCTGGGTGTTTCCCTGCGACCGAGACCTGCCGGACAGCA GCGAC

TCTGAGGCGGAGACCGAAGTGGGGGGGCGGGGGGACGCCGACCACCATGACGACGAC TCC

GCCTCCGAGGCGGACAGCACGGACACGGAACTGTTCGAGACGGGGCTGCTGGGGCCG CAG

GGCGTGGATGGGGGGGCGGTCTCGGGGGGGAGCCCCCCCCGCGAGGAAGACCCCGGC AGT

TGCGGGGGCGCCCCCCCTCGAGAGGACGGGGGGAGCGACGAGGGCGACGTGTGCGCC GTG

TGCACGGATGAGATCGCGCCCCACCTGCGCTGCGACACCTTCCCGTGCATGCACCGC TTCTG

CATCCCGTGCATGAAAACCTGGATGCAATTGCGCAACACCTGCCCGCTGTGCAACGC CAAG CTGGTGTACCTGATAGTGGGCGTGACGCCCAGCGGGTCGTTCAGCACCATCCCGATCGTG AA

CGACCCCCAGACCCGCATGGAGGCCGAGGAGGCCGTCAGGGCGGGCACGGCCGTGGA CTTT

ATCTGGACGGGCAATCAGCGGTTCGCCCCGCGGTACCTGACCCTGGGGGGGCACACG GTGA

GGGCCCTGTCGCCCACCCACCCGGAGCCCACCACGGACGAGGATGACGACGACCTGG ACGA

CGGTGAGGCGGGGGGCGGCAAGGACCCTGGGGGAGGAGGAGGAGGAGGGGGGGGGAG GG

AGGAATAGGCGGGCGGGCGAGGAAAGGGCGGGCCGGGGAGGGGGCGTAACCTGATCG CGC

CCCCCGTTGTCTCTTGCAGCAGACTACGTACCGCCCGCCCCCCGCCGGACGCCCCGC GCCCC

CCCACGCAGAGGCGCCGCCGCGCCCCCCGTGACGGGCGGGGCGTCTCACGCAGCCCC CCAG

CCGGCCGCGGCTCGGACAGCGCCCCCCTCGGCGCCCATCGGGCCACACGGCAGCAGT AACA

CCAACACCACCACCAACAGCAGCGGCGGCGGCGGCTCCCGCCAGTCGCGAGCCGCGG CGCC

GCGGGGGGCGTCTGGCCCCTCCGGGGGGGTTGGGGTTGGGGTTGGGGTTGTTGAAGC GGAG

GCGGGGCGGCCGAGGGGCCGGACGGGCCCCCTTGTCAACAGACCCGCCCCCCTTGCA AACA

ACAGAGACCCCATAGTGATCAGCGACTCCCCCCCGGCCTCTCCCCACAGGCCCCCCG CGGC

GCCCATGCCAGGCTCCGCCCCCCGCCCCGGGCCCCCCGCGTCCGCGGCCGCGTCGGG ACCC

GCGCGCCCCCGCGCGGCCGTGGCCCCGTGCGTGCGAGCGCCGCCTCCGGGGCCCGGC CCCC

GCGCCCCGGCCCCCGGGGCGGAGCCGGCCGCCCGCCCCGCGGACGCGCGCCGTGTGC CCCA

GTCGCACTCGTCCCTGGCTCAGGCCGCGAACCAAGAACAGAGTCTGTGCCGGGCGCG TGCG

ACGGTGGCGCGCGGCTCGGGGGGGCCGGGCGTGGAGGGTGGGCACGGGCCCTCCCGC GGC

GCCGCCCCCTCCGGCGCCGCCCCGCTCCCCTCCGCCGCCTCTGTCGAGCAGGAGGCG GCGGT

GCGTCCGAGGAAGAGGCGCGGGTCGGGCCAGGAAAACCCCTCCCCCCAGTCCACGCG TCCC

CCCCTCGCGCCGGCAGGGGCCAAGAGGGCGGCGACGCACCCCCCCTCCGACTCAGGG CCGG

GGGGGCGCGGCCAGGGTGGGCCCGGGACCCCCCTGACGTCCTCGGCGGCCTCCGCCT CTTC

CTCCTCTGCCTCTTCCTCCTCGGCCCCGACCCCCGCGGGGGCCGCCTCTTCCGCCGC CGGGG

CCGCGTCCTCCTCCGCTTCCGCCTCCTCGGGCGGGGCCGTCGGTGCCCTGGGAGGGA GACAA

GAGGAAACCTCCCTCGGCCCCCGCGCTGCTTCTGGGCCGCGGGGGCCGAGGAAGTGT GCCC

GGAAGACGCGCCACGCGGAGACTTCCGGGGCCGTCCCCGCGGGCGGCCTCACGCGCT ACCT

GCCCATCTCGGGGGTCTCTAGCGTGGTCGCCCTGTCGCCTTACGTGAACAAGACTAT CACGG

GGGACTGCCTGCCCATCCTGGACATGGAGACGGGGAACATCGGGGCGTACGTGGTCC TGGT

GGACCAGACGGGAAACATGGCGACCCGGCTGCGGGCCGCGGTCCCCGGCTGGAGCCG CCG

CACCCTGCTCCCCGAGACCGCGGGTAACCACGTGATGCCCCCCGAGTACCCGACGGC CCCC

GCGTCGGAGTGGAACAGCCTCTGGATGACCCCCGTGGGGAACATGCTGTTCGACCAG GGCA

CCCTAGTGGGCGCCCTGGACTTCCGCAGCCTGCGGTCTCGGCACCCGTGGTCCGGGG AGCA

GGGGGCGTCGACCCGGGACGAGGGAAAACAATAA_(SEQ ID NO: 4)

SEQ ID NO: 5 HSV-1 ICPO amino acid sequence

Amino Acid Sequence for HSV-1 ICPO - strain KOS [for e.g. variants, See e.g. also: Accession: P08393.1 GI: 124134; Accession: AFI23590.1 GI: 384597746; Accession: AFI23649.1 GI: 384597805; Accession: AFE62827.1 GI: 380776964; Accession: AFE62886.1 GI: 380777023; Accession:

ADM22381.1 GI: 304318198; Accession: AL018731.1 GI: 952947655 ; Accession: AL018672.1 GI: 952947596 ; Accession: AL018655.1 GI: 952947578 ; Accession: AL018596.1 GI: 952947519 ;

Accession: AKH80472.1 GI: 822581062; Accession: AKH80399.1 GI: 822580988; Accession:

AKG61929.1 GI: 820021112 ; Accession: AKG61857.1 GI: 820021035; etc. and the like.]

MEPRPGASTRRPEGRPQREPAPDVWVFPCDRDLPDSSDSEAETE

VGGRGDADHHDDDSASEADSTDTELFETGLLGPQGVDGGAVSGGSPPREEDPGSCGG A

PPREDGGSDEGDVCAVCTDEIAPHLRCDTFPCMHRFCIPCMKTWMQLRNTCPLCNAK L

VYLIVGVTPSGSFSTIPIVNDPQTRMEAEEAVRAGTAVDFIWTGNQRFAPRYLTLGG H

TVRALSPTHPEPTTDEDDDDLDDADYVPPAPRRTPRAPPRRGAAAPPVTGGASHAAP Q

PAAARTAPPSAPIGPHGSSNTNTTTNSSGGGGSRQSRAAVPRGASGPSGGVGVVEAE A

GRPRGRTGPLVNRPAPLANNRDPIVISDSPPASPHRPPAAPMPGSAPRPGPPASAAA S

GPARPRAAVAPCVRAPPPGPGPRAPAPGAEPAARPADARRVPQSHSSLAQAANQEQS L

CRARATVARGSGGPGVEGGHGPSRGAAPSGAAPSGAPPLPSAASVEQEAAVRPRKRR G

SGQENPSPQSTRPPLAPAGAKRAATHPPSDSGPGGRGQGGPGTPLTSSAASASSSSA S SS SAPTPAGATS SATGAAS SS ASAS SGGAVGALGGRQEETSLGPRAASGPRGPRKCAR

KTRHAETSGAVPAGGLTRYLPISGVSSVVALSPYVNKTITGDCLPILDMETGNIGAY V VLVDQTGNMATRLRAAVPGWSRRTLLPETAGNHVTPPEYPTAPASEWNSLWMTPVGNM LFDQGTLVGALDFRSLRSRHPWSGEQGASTRDEGKQ (SEQ ID NO: 5)

SEQ ID NO: 6 HSV-2 ICPO amino acid sequence ACCESSION YP 009137210

VERSION YP_009137210.1 GI:820945210 [note: for e.g. Variants, see also e.g. Accession:

YP 009137151.1 GI: 820945151; Accession: AEV91397.2 GI: 556197555; Accession: AEV91338.2 GI:

556197550; ; Accession: ADG01890.1 GI: 295322885; ; Accession: ADG01889.1 GI: 295322883;

Accession: ADG01888.1 GI: 295322881 ; Accession: ADG01887.1 GI: 295322879; Accession:

ADG01885.1 GI: 295322875; Accession: ADG01886.1 GI: 295322877; etc, and the like.]]

1 meprpgtssr adpgperppr qtpgtpaaph awgmlndmqw lassdseeet evgisdddlh

61 rdstseagst dtemfeaglm daatpparpp aerqgsptpa daqgscgggp vgeeeaeagg

121 ggdvcavctd eiapplrcqs fpclhpfcip cmktwiplrn tcplcntpva ylivgvtasg

181 sfstipivnd prtrveaeaa vragtavdfi wtgnqrtapr slslgghtvr alsptppwpg

241 tddedddlad vdyvppaprr aprrggggag atrgtsqpaa trpappgapr ssssggaplr

301 agvgsgsggg pavaavvprv aslppaaggg raqarrvged aaaaegrtpp agqpraaqep

361 pivisdsppp sprrpagpgp lsffssssaq vssgpggggl pqssgraarp raavaprvrs

421 ppraaaapvv sasadaagpa ppavpvdahr aprsrmtqaq tdtqaqslgr agatdargsg

481 gpgaeggpgv prgtntpgaa phaaegaaar prkrrgsdsg paasssasss aaprsplapq

541 gvgakraapr rapdsdsgdr ghgplapasa gaappsasps sqaavaaaas ssssaassss

601 saasssssaa sssssaasss saasssssss sasssaggag gsvasasgag erretslgpr

661 aaaprgprkc arktrhaegg pepgardpap gltrylpiag vssvvalapy vnktvtgdcl

721 pvldmetghi gayvvlvdqt gnvadllraa apawsrrtll peharncvrp pdyptppase

781 wnslwmtpvg nmlfdqgtlv galdfhglrs rhpwsreqga papagdapag hge

SEQ ID NO: 7 Optimized tetR transcription unit: modified HCMV major immediate-early promoter with VP16 responsive elements, beta-globin Intron, codon optimized tetR coding sequence, and SV40 poly A signal sequence.

5 ' -

GAATTCACGCGTCCGTGCATGCTAATGATATTCCGCCCAACGACCCCCGCCCATTGA CGTCA

ATAATGACGTATGTTCCCATAGTAACGCCAATAGGGACTTTCCATTGACGTCAATGG GTGGA

CTATTTACGGTAAACTGCATGCTAATGATATTCTTTGACTCACGGGGATTTCCAAGT CTCCAC

CCCATTGACGTCAATGGGAGTTTGTTTTGGCACCAAAATCAACGGGACTTTCCAAAA TGTCG

TAACAACTCCGCCCCATTGACGCAAATGGGCGGTAGGCGTGTACGGTGGGAGGTCTA TATA

AGCAGAGCTCGTTTAGTGAACCGTCAGATCGCCTGGAGACGCCATCCACGCTGTTTT GACCT

CCATAGAAGACACCGGGACCGATCCAGCCTCCGTCGCGAGGTGAGTTTGGGGACCCT TGAT

AAGTACTTTCTCTAATCACTTTTTTTTCAAGGCAATCAGGGTATATTATATTGTACTTCA GCA CAGTTTTAGAGAACAATTGTTATAATTAAATGATAAGGTAGAATATTTCTGCATATAAAT TC TGGCTGGCGTGGAAATATTCTTATTGGTAGAAACAACTACATCCTGGTCATCATCCTGCC TT TCTCTTTATGGTTACAATGATATACACTGTTTGAGATGAGGATAAAATACTCTGAGTCCA AA

AACCACGGTCACGCTTCGGTGGCCACCATGAGCAGACTGGACAAGAGCAAGGTGATC AACA

GCGCCCTGGAGCTGCTGAACGAGGTGGGCATCGAGGGCCTGACCACCAGAAAGCTGG CCCA

GAAGCTGGGCGTGGAGCAGCCCACCCTGTACTGGCACGTGAAGAACAAGAGAGCCCT GCTG

GACGCCCTGGCCATCGAGATGCTGGACAGACACCACACCCACTTCTGCCCCCTGGAG GGCG

AGAGCTGGCAGGACTTCCTGAGAAACAACGCCAAGAGCTTCAGATGCGCCCTGCTGA GCCA

CAGAGACGGCGCCAAGGTGCACCTGGGCACCAGACCCACCGAGAAGCAGTACGAGAC CCT

GGAGAACCAGCTGGCCTTCCTGTGCCAGCAGGGCTTCAGCCTGGAGAACGCCCTGTA CGCC CTGAGCGCCGTGGGCCACTTCACCCTGGGCTGCGTGCTGGAGGACCAGGAGCACCAGGTG G

CCAAGGAGGAGAGAGAGACCCCCACCACCGACAGCATGCCCCCCCTGCTGAGACAGG CCAT

CGAGCTGTTCGACCACCAGGGCGCCGAGCCCGCCTTCCTGTTCGGCCTGGAGCTGAT CATCT

GCGGCCTGGAGAAGCAGCTGAAGTGCGAGAGCGGCAGCTAAATAGGTAGGTAGTCGA CCC

GGGACGAGGGAAAACAATAACAGAACTTGTTTATTGCAGCTTATAATGGTTACAAAT AAAG

CAATAGCATCACAAATTTCACAAATAAAGCATTTTTTTCACTGCATTCTAGTTGTGG TTTGTC

CAAACTCATCAATGTATCTTATCATGTCTGAAGCTTCTGCAG- 3' (SEQ ID NO: 7)

SEQ ID NO: 8 Codon optimized tetR DNA coding sequence plus Kozak consensus sequence

GCCACCATGAGCAGACTGGACAAGAGCAAGGTGATCAACAGCGCCCTGGAGCTGCTG AACG

AGGTGGGCATCGAGGGCCTGACCACCAGAAAGCTGGCCCAGAAGCTGGGCGTGGAGC AGC

CCACCCTGTACTGGCACGTGAAGAACAAGAGAGCCCTGCTGGACGCCCTGGCCATCG AGAT

GCTGGACAGACACCACACCCACTTCTGCCCCCTGGAGGGCGAGAGCTGGCAGGACTT CCTG

AGAAACAACGCCAAGAGCTTCAGATGCGCCCTGCTGAGCCACAGAGACGGCGCCAAG GTGC

ACCTGGGCACCAGACCCACCGAGAAGCAGTACGAGACCCTGGAGAACCAGCTGGCCT TCCT

GTGCCAGCAGGGCTTCAGCCTGGAGAACGCCCTGTACGCCCTGAGCGCCGTGGGCCA CTTC

ACCCTGGGCTGCGTGCTGGAGGACCAGGAGCACCAGGTGGCCAAGGAGGAGAGAGAG ACC

CCCACCACCGACAGCATGCCCCCCCTGCTGAGACAGGCCATCGAGCTGTTCGACCAC CAGG

GCGCCGAGCCCGCCTTCCTGTTCGGCCTGGAGCTGATCATCTGCGGCCTGGAGAAGC AGCTG

AAGTGCGAGAGCGGCAGC TAA (SEQ ID NO: 8)

SEQ ID NO: 9 Modified HCMV major immediate-early promoter, which has HCMV promoter sequence from -174 to -370 bp deleted and contains two HSV-1 VP16 responsive elements the first VP16 responsive element at position 149 bp and the second VP16 element at position 274 bp upstream of the HCMV TATA element:

5'

ATGCTAATGATATTCCGCCCAACGACCCCCGCCCATTGACGTCAATAATGACGTATGTTC CC

ATAGTAACGCCAATAGGGACTTTCCATTGACGTCAATGGGTGGACTATTTACGGTAA ACTGC

ATGCTAATGATATTCTTTGACTCACGGGGATTTCCAAGTCTCCACCCCATTGACGTC AATGG

GAGTTTGTTTTGGCACCAAAATCAACGGGACTTTCCAAAATGTCGTAACAACTCCGC CCCAT

TGACGCAAATGGGCGGTAGGCGTGTACGGTGGGAGGTCTATATAAGCAGAGCTCGTT TAGT

GAACCGTCAGATCGCCTGGAGACGCCATCCACGCTGTT TTGACCTCCA TAGAAGACAC

CGGGACCGAT CCAGCCTCCG (SEQ ID NO: 9)

Underlined-_VP16 responsive

SEQ ID NO: 10 Beta-globin intron

5' -

AGGTGAGTTTGGGGACCCTTGATTGTTCTTTC GAGGGGGCAAAGTTTTCAGGGTGTTGTTTAGAATGGGAAGATGTCCCTTGTATCACCATG GA CCCTCATGATAATTTTGTTTCTTTCACTTTCTACTCTGTTGACAACCATTGTCTCCTCTT ATTT

CACTTTTGTTTATTTGTCAGATTGTAAGTACTTTCTCTAA GGTATATTATATTGTACTTCAGCACAGTTTTAGAGAACAATTGTTATAATTAAATGATAA GG TAGAATATTTCTGCATATAAATTCTGGCTGGCGTGGAAATATTCTTATTGGTAGAAACAA CT ACATCCTGGTCATCATCCTGCCTTTCTCTTTATGGTTACAATGATATACACTGTTTGAGA TGA GGATAAAATACTCTGAGTCCAAACCGGGCCCCTCTGCTAACCATGTTCATGCCTTCTTCT TTT TCCTACAGCT- 3' (SEQ ID NO: 10) SEQ ID NO: 11 Codon optimized tetR DNA coding sequence plus Kozak consensus sequence and 28 bp of ICP27 5' UTR (underlined)

GTGTTCCA ACCACGGTCA CGCTTCGGTG GCCACC

ATGAGCAGACTGGACAAGAGCAAGGTGATCAACAGCGCCCTGGAGCTGCTGAACGAG GTG

GGCATCGAGGGCCTGACCACCAGAAAGCTGGCCCAGAAGCTGGGCGTGGAGCAGCCC ACC

CTGTACTGGCACGTGAAGAACAAGAGAGCCCTGCTGGACGCCCTGGCCATCGAGATG CTGG

ACAGACACCACACCCACTTCTGCCCCCTGGAGGGCGAGAGCTGGCAGGACTTCCTGA GAAA

CAACGCCAAGAGCTTCAGATGCGCCCTGCTGAGCCACAGAGACGGCGCCAAGGTGCA CCTG

GGCACCAGACCCACCGAGAAGCAGTACGAGACCCTGGAGAACCAGCTGGCCTTCCTG TGCC

AGCAGGGCTTCAGCCTGGAGAACGCCCTGTACGCCCTGAGCGCCGTGGGCCACTTCA CCCT

GGGCTGCGTGCTGGAGGACCAGGAGCACCAGGTGGCCAAGGAGGAGAGAGAGACCCC CAC

CACCGACAGCATGCCCCCCCTGCTGAGACAGGCCATCGAGCTGTTCGACCACCAGGG CGCC

GAGCCCGCCTTCCTGTTCGGCCTGGAGCTGATCATCTGCGGCCTGGAGAAGCAGCTG AAGTG

CGAGAGCGGCAGC TAA ATAGGTAGGTA (SEQ ID NO: 11)