| abstract |
Recombinant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) having the position of genes shifted within the genome or antigenome of the recombinant virus are constructed by insertion, deletion or rearrangement of genes or genome segments within the recombinant genome or antigenome and are useful for eliciting an anti-RSV immune response. Shifting the position of genes in this manner provides for a selected increase or decrease in expression of the gene. In one embodiment, expression of RSV glycoproteins is upregulated by shifting one or more glycoprotein-encoding genes to a more promoter-proximal position. Genes of interest for manipulation to create gene position-shifted RSV include any of the NS1, NS2, N, P, M, SH, M2(ORF1), M2(ORF2), L, F or G genes or a genome segment that may be part of a gene or extragenic. Additional mutations and nucleotide modifications are provided within gene position-shifted RSV to yield desired phenotypic and structural effects. |