title: Replication of hepatitis B virus which carries foreign DNA in vitro.
abstract: Targeting a specific DNA sequence to the desired tissues is an important step in gene therapy. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the only DNA virus that has hepatocyte specificity. We attempted to construct an HBV-based vector for targeting the liver. We observed the replication and secretion of virus particles in an HBV construct that lacks X gene and carries an extra 63 bp DNA fragment in vitro. Replication was observed in the cell line HuH-7 but not HepG2. From this construct, we designed an HBV-based vector that could carry foreign DNA. HBV based vectors provide for the possibilities of generating therapeutic agents for individual patients. Our host vector system may be used to clear out the HBV from the HBV carrier or chronic hepatitis B patients by introducing a genetically engineered HBV into these patients.
authors.affiliation: Isotope Center, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hanafusa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yumoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinji
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koide
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuji
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004261:DNA Replication; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018390:Gene Targeting; D005814:Genes, Viral; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D010957:Plasmids; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins