Modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus recombinants comprising heterologous coding sequences inserted into the intergenic regions between essential genes

1. A recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus comprising a heterologous DNA sequence inserted into an intergenic region (IGR) of the MVA genome, wherein the IGR is located between or is flanked by two adjacent open reading frames (ORFs) of the MVA genome, and wherein the ORFs correspond to genes that are essential for replication of vaccinia virus.

2. The MVA according to claim 1 , wherein the two adjacent ORFs are selected from the group consisting of F17R-E1L, I8R-G1L, G2R-G4L, G6R-G7L, J6R-H1L, D1R-D2L, A5R-A6L, A8R-A9L and A18R-A19L, according to GenBank accession number AY603355.

3. The MVA according to claim 2 , wherein the two adjacent ORFs are I8R-G1L according to GenBank accession number AY603355.

4. The MVA according to claim 1 , wherein the heterologous DNA sequence comprises at least one coding sequence, under the transcriptional control of a poxviral transcription control element.

5. The MVA according to claim 1 , wherein the heterologous DNA sequence encodes one or more proteins, polypeptides, or peptides.

6. The MVA according to claim 1 , wherein the heterologous DNA sequence is derived from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

7. The MVA according to claim 6 , wherein the heterologous DNA sequence derived from human immunodeficiency virus codes for HIV Env.

8. The MVA according to claim 1 , wherein the MVA genome is that of the MVA deposited at ATCC under accession number PTA-5095.

9. The MVA according to claim 1 , wherein the MVA genome is that having the sequence of Genbank accession number AY603355.

10. The MVA according to claim 1 , wherein the MVA genome is that having the sequence of Genbank accession number U94848.

11. A vaccine or immunogenic composition comprising the MVA according to claim 1 .

12. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the MVA according claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, additive, adjuvant, diluent or stabilizer.

13. A method for inducing an immune response in an animal comprising:

a) obtaining the recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus of claim 1 ; and

b) administering the recombinant MVA to an animal.

14. A method for producing a protein, polypeptide, or peptide comprising:

a) infecting a host cell with the recombinant MVA according to claim 1 , wherein the exogenous DNA sequence encodes an exogenous protein, peptide or polypeptide;

b) cultivating the infected host cell under conditions suitable to produce the protein, polypeptide, or peptide; and

isolating the exogenous polypeptide, protein, or peptide produced by said host cell.

15. The recombinant MVA of claim 1 , wherein said recombinant MVA is MVA/UGD4d.

16. A recombinant vaccinia virus comprising a heterologous DNA sequence inserted into an intergenic region (IGR) of the vaccinia virus genome, wherein the IGR is located between complete or partial sequences of two adjacent open reading frames (ORFs) of the vaccinia virus genome, and wherein the ORFs_correspond to genes that are essential for replication of vaccinia virus.

17. The recombinant MVA of claim 1 , wherein the two adjacent ORFs are selected from the group consisting of: F12L-F13L, F17R-E1L, E1L-E2L, E9L-E10R, I1L-I2L, I2L-I3L, I6L-I7L, I7L-I8R, I8R-G1L, G1L-G3L, G3L-G2R, G2R-G4L, G4L-G5R, G5R-G5.5R, G5.5R-G6R, G6R-G7L, G9R-L1R, L4R-L5R, L5R-J1R, J3R-J4R, J6R-H1L, H1L-H2R, H3L-H4L, H5R-H6R, D1R-D2L, D2L-D3R, D3R-D4R, D5R-D6R, D9R-D10R, A1L-A2L, A2L-A2.5L, A5R-A6L, A8R-A9L, A9L-A10L, A10L-A11R, A14L-A14.5L, A14.5L-A15L, A15L-A16L, A16L-A17L, A17L-A18R, A18R-A19L, A19L-A21L, A21L-A20R, A20R-A22R, A28L-A29L, and A29L-A30L according to GenBank accession number AY603355.

18. The recombinant vaccinia virus of claim 16 , wherein the two adjacent ORFs are selected from the group consisting of: F12L-F13L, F17R-E1L, E1L-E2L, E9L-E10R, I1L-I2L, I2L-I3L, I6L-I7L, I7L-I8R, I8R-G1L, G1L-G3L, G3L-G2R, G2R-G4L, G4L-G5R, G5R-G5.5R, G5.5R-G6R, G6R-G7L, G9R-L1R, L4R-L5R, L5R-J1R, J3R-J4R, J6R-H1L, H1L-H2R, H3L-H4L, H5R-H6R, D1R-D2L, D2L-D3R, D3R-D4R, D5R-D6R, D9R-D10R, A1L-A2L, A2L-A2.5L, A5R-A6L, A8R-A9L, A9L-A10L, A10L-A11R, A14L-A14.5L, A14.5L-A15L, A15L-A16L, A16L-A17L, A17L-A18R, A18R-A19L, A19L-A21L, A21L-A20R, A20R-A22R, A28L-A29L, and A29L-A30L according to GenBank accession number AY603355.

19. The recombinant MVA virus of claim 16 , wherein the inserted heterologous DNA sequence is modified using a method comprising:

a) identifying consecutive identical nucleotide residues in said insert; and

b) making a silent mutation in said consecutive identical nucleotide residues by substitution so that the number of consecutive identical nucleotide residues is reduced.

20. The recombinant MVA virus of claim 19 , wherein the identified consecutive identical nucleotide residues comprise four guanine (G) or cytosine (C) residues.

21. The recombinant MVA virus of claim 1 , wherein the inserted heterologous DNA sequence is modified using a method comprising:

a) identifying consecutive identical nucleotide residues in said insert; and

b) making a silent mutation in said consecutive identical nucleotide residues by substitution so that the number of consecutive identical nucleotide residues is reduced.

22. The recombinant MVA virus of claim 21 , wherein the identified consecutive identical nucleotide residues comprise four guanine (G) or cytosine (C) residues.

23. The MVA according to claim 1 , wherein the two adjacent ORFs are selected from the group consisting of F12L-F13L, F17R-E1L, I1L-I2L, I2L-I3L, G3L-G2R, G2R-G4L, D2L-D3R, A14L-A14.5L and A14.5L-A15L, according to GenBank accession number AY603355.