Gene delivery and gene expression in vertebrate using baculovirus <i>Bombyx mori</i> nucleopolyhedrovirus vector

Abstract

The baculovirus <i>Autographa californica</i> multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (<i>Ac</i>MNPV) has been investigated as a possible tool for gene therapy, but its inhibition by complement proteins in human serum limits its applicability. Here, we used the baculovirus <i>Bombyx mori</i> nucleopolyhedrovirus (<i>Bm</i>NPV) to construct a gene delivery vector in which a reporter gene is driven by a cytomegalovirus IE promoter. Enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and luciferase reporter genes were used to test the efficiency of gene delivery. <i>In vitro</i> complement inactivation data showed that the recombinant <i>Bm</i>NPV vector was more stable in human serum than the recombinant <i>Ac</i>MNPV vector. The recombinant <i>Bm</i>NPV vector successfully delivered the reporter genes into different tissues and organs in mice and chicks. These results demonstrate that the <i>Bm</i>NPV vector is more stability against complement inactivation in human serum than the <i>Ac</i>MNPV vector, and indicate that it may be useful as an effective gene delivery vector for gene therapy in vertebrates.