| abstract |
The invention relates to inhibitory nucleotide signal sequences or "INS" sequences in the genomes of lentiviruses. In particular the invention relate s to the AGG motif present in all viral genomes. The AGG motif may have an i nhibitory effect on a virus, for example by reducing the levels of, or maint aining low steady-state levels of, viral RNAs in host cells, and inducing an d/or maintaining in viral latency. In one aspect, the invention provides vac cines that contain, or are produced from, viral nucleic acids in which the A GG sequences have been mutated. In another aspect, the invention provides me thods and compositions for affecting the function of the AGG motif, and meth ods for identifying other INS sequences in viral genomes. |