Efficient Transduction of Mammalian Cells by a Recombinant Baculovirus Having the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus G Glycoprotein

Baculovirus vectors recently have been shown to be capable of efficient transduction of human hepatoma cells and primary hepatocytes in culture. This paper describes the generation of a novel recombinant baculovirus (VGZ3) in which the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein G (VSV G) is present in the viral envelope. The gene encoding VSV G was inserted into the baculovirus genome under the control of the polyhedrin promoter such that it was expressed at very high levels in infected insect cells but not in mammalian cells. Expression of the lacZ reporter gene was driven by a promoter that is functional in mammalian cells (the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat). We show by Western analysis that VSV G protein was present in purified baculovirus preparations. A VSV G monoclonal antibody blocked transduction of mammalian cells by VGZ3. This virus was morphologically distinct from baculovirus lacking VSV G, with virions adopting an oval rather than rod-shaped morphology. VGZ3 transduced human hepatoma cells in vitro at an efficiency roughly 10-fold greater than baculovirus lacking VSV G (the virus Z4). VGZ3 was also capable of transducing cell lines that could not be transduced efficiently by Z4. We provide evidence that VSV G protein may enhance transduction by increasing the efficiency of escape of baculovirus from intracellular vesicles rather than by increasing cell binding or uptake of the virus. The possible use of this and related baculoviruses in gene therapy is discussed.

Overview summary

Viral vectors often are used for gene transfer into mammalian cells in vitro and in both ex vivo and in vivo human gene therapy clinical trials. Viruses having a natural tropism for mammals are useful due to their high transduction efficiencies. However, these viruses may display toxicity in mammals and could be the target of a cellular immune response directed against viral proteins expressed in the infected cells. Vectors based on insect baculoviruses have the potential advantages of better safety and persistence in mammals due to a lack of replication, toxicity, or expression of viral proteins. We have developed a new recombinant baculovirus in which the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein G is present as a new coat protein. This virus has a significantly higher transduction efficiency in hepatoma cells and can transduce a wider range of cells than baculovirus lacking this glycoprotein. We believe that this virus could be useful in gene therapy.