Methods to produce bunyavirus replicon particles
The invention relates to methods of producing infectious bunyavirus replicon particles. These bunyavirus replicon particles are safe and can be used outside a biosafety containment. The invention further relates to recombinant bunyavirus replicon particles and uses of these recombinant bunyavirus replicon particles.
1. A non-spreading recombinant bunyavirus replicon particle, comprising:
a bunyavirus L genome segment
a bunyavirus S genome segment or part of a bunyavirus S genome segment comprising at least the N gene and the 3′ and 5′ UTRs; and, optionally, when a bunyavirus M genome segment is to be present,
a bunyavirus M genome segment from which the GnGc coding region has been functionally inactivated, resulting in a non-spreading bunyavirus replicon particle.
2. The recombinant bunyavirus replicon particle according to claim 1 , comprising a M genome segment from which the GnGc coding region has been deleted.
3. The recombinant bunyavirus replicon particle according to claim 1 , in which a M genome segment is absent.
4. The recombinant bunyavirus replicon particle according to claim 1 , wherein the bunyavirus L genome segment and/or the S genome segment and/or, when present, the M genome segment, comprises a foreign gene.
5. The recombinant bunyavirus replicon particle according to claim 1 , comprising a M, L, or S minigenome.
6. The recombinant bunyavirus replicon particle according to claim 5 , wherein a foreign gene is present on said M, L or S-minigenome.
7. The recombinant bunyavirus replicon particle according to claim 1 , wherein the bunyavirus is Rift Valley fever virus.
8. An isolated eukaryotic cell comprising the recombinant bunyavirus replicon particle according to claim 1 .
9. A medicament comprising the recombinant bunyavirus replicon particle according to claim 1 .
10. A vaccine comprising the recombinant bunyavirus replicon particle according to claim 1 .