abstract |
This invention relates to "targeted" viral or non-viral vector particles, including retroviral vector particles, adenoviral vector particles, adeno-associated virus vector particles, Herpes Virus vector particles, and pseudotyped viruses, and to non-viral vectors that contain a viral protein as part of a virosome or other proteoliposomal gene transfer vector. More particularly, this invention relates to viral and non-viral vector particles, including retroviral vector particles, adenoviral vector particles, adeno-associated virus vector particles, Herpes Virus vector particles, pseudotyped viruses, and non-viral vectors having a modified, or chimeric viral surface protein, such as, for example, a chimeric viral envelope polypeptide, wherein such modified viral surface protein, such as a modified viral envelope polypeptide, includes a peptide which is a tumor vasculature targeting motif or TVTM. The TVTM peptide may be placed between two consecutive amino acid residues of the viral surface protein, or may replace amino acid residues which have been removed from the viral surface protein. The term "polypeptide" as used herein means a polymer of amino acids and does not refer to any particular length of polymer. Such term also includes post-translationally modified polypeptides or proteins (e.g., glycosylated, acetylated, phosphorylated, etc.). |