Viral vectors for prophylaxis and therapy of hemoglobinopathies

1. A self-inactivating lentiviral vector for inducing expression of human beta-globin in erythrocytes and/or erythrocyte progenitor cells for use in prophylaxis and/or therapy of a hemoglobinopathy in an individual, the lentiviral vector comprising:

i) a 5′ long terminal repeat (LTR) and a self-inactivating 3′ LTR;

ii) a first polyadenylation signal;

iii) at least one promoter;

iv) a globin gene locus control region (LCR);

v) an ankyrin insulator element (Ank);

vi) a Woodchuck Post-Regulatory Element (WPRE);

vii) a second polyadenylation signal; and

viii) a sequence that is the reverse complement of a sequence encoding modified adult human beta-globin comprising a βT87Q mutation (B-globinM), wherein the sequence encoding the B-globinM comprises a first intron (intron 1) between exon 1 and exon 2, and a second intron (intron 2) between exon 2 and exon 3 of said B-globinM sequence, wherein intron 2 comprises the full-length of the adult human B-globinM intron 2 sequence;

wherein the lentiviral vector comprises in the 5′ to 3′ direction: said 5′ long terminal repeat (LTR), said sequence that is the reverse complement of a sequence encoding modified adult human beta-globin comprising a βT87Q mutation (B-globinM) under the control of said promoter and linked to said first polyadenylation signal, said globin gene locus control region (LCR), said self-inactivating 3′ LTR comprising said ankyrin insulator element (Ank), said Woodchuck Post-Regulatory Element (WPRE), and said second polyadenylation signal.

2. The lentiviral vector of claim 1 , wherein the lentiviral vector further comprises a sequence encoding a fusion of LIM domain-binding protein 1 (Ldb1) transcription factor and a zinc finger (ZF) domain.

3. The lentiviral vector of claim 1 , wherein the lentiviral vector further comprises a sequence encoding a transferrin receptor 1 microRNA or a shRNA sequence which is capable of decreasing transferrin receptor 1 mRNA in a RNAi-mediated process.

4. The lentiviral vector claim 1 , wherein the lentiviral vector is present in CD34+ cells, wherein the CD34+ cells have been separated from an individual who has a hemoglobinopathy.

5. The lentiviral vector of claim 1 , wherein the lentiviral vector is present in a virion.

6. The lentiviral vector of claim 1 , wherein said second polyadenylation signal is a bovine growth hormone polyadenylation signal.

7. A method of making a viral particle preparation for use in prophylaxis and/or therapy for one or more hemoglobinopathies comprising introducing a plasmid encoding a lentiviral vector of claim 1 into packaging cells which comprise a DNA packaging plasmid which encodes at least one virion protein, and a DNA envelope plasmid which encodes an envelope protein, and allowing expression of the virion protein and the envelope protein such that viral particles form, and separating the viral particles from the packaging cells.

8. A lentiviral vector for inducing expression of human beta-globin in erythrocytes and/or erythrocyte progenitor cells for use in prophylaxis and/or therapy of a hemoglobinopathy in an individual, wherein the lentiviral vector comprises SEQ ID NO: 3.

9. The lentiviral vector of claim 8 , wherein the lentiviral vector further comprises a sequence encoding a fusion of LIM domain-binding protein 1 (Ldb1) transcription factor and a zinc finger (ZF) domain.

10. The lentiviral vector of claim 8 , wherein the lentiviral vector further comprises a sequence encoding a transferrin receptor 1 microRNA or a shRNA sequence which is capable of decreasing transferrin receptor 1 mRNA in a RNAi-mediated process.

11. The lentiviral vector of claim 8 , wherein the lentiviral vector is present in CD34+ cells, wherein the CD34+ cells have been separated from an individual who has a hemoglobinopathy.

12. The lentiviral vector of claim 8 , wherein the lentiviral vector is present in a virion.

13. A method for inducing expression of human beta-globin in erythrocytes and/or erythrocyte progenitor cells comprising introducing into erythrocytes and/or erythrocyte progenitor cells the lentiviral vector of claim 8 .

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the erythrocyte progenitor cells comprise CD34+ cells.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the CD34+ cells are from an individual who has a hemoglobinopathy.

16. A method of making a viral particle preparation for use in prophylaxis and/or therapy for one or more hemoglobinopathies comprising introducing a plasmid encoding a lentiviral vector of claim 8 into packaging cells which comprise a DNA packaging plasmid which encodes at least one virion protein, and a DNA envelope plasmid which encodes an envelope protein, and allowing expression of the virion protein and the envelope protein such that viral particles form, and separating the viral particles from the packaging cells.

17. An ex vivo method for inducing expression of human beta-globin in erythrocytes and/or erythrocyte progenitor cells comprising introducing into erythrocytes and/or erythrocyte progenitor cells the lentiviral vector of claim 1 .

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the erythrocyte progenitor cells comprise CD34+ cells.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the CD34+ cells are from an individual who has a hemoglobinopathy.