Recombinant composition containing feline herpes virus type 1, particularly for treating feline infectious peritonitis

Abstract

The recombinant live vaccine comprises, as vector, a feline herpesvirus comprising and expressing at least one nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide, this sequence being inserted into the ORF5 and/or ORF2 sites. Polyvalent vaccine formula and feline herpesvirus DNA fragments.

Description

The present invention relates to vaccines, preferably for cats, produced from recombinant feline herpesviruses, and to the methods for obtaining and preparing these recombinant viruses. In particular, the present invention relates more particularly to the feline herpesvirus recombinants comprising an expression cassette for one or more foreign genes.

Feline infectious rhinotracheitis is caused by feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1). Feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) is classified in the Alphaherpesviridae family. Feline infectious rhinotracheitis is a disease which is very widespread in cats and, in practice, all medicated cats are vaccinated against this viral condition. There are currently several vaccines for preventing infectious rhinotracheitis. These vaccines are either of the attenuated live type, or of the inactivated type (whole virus or purified subunits). The attenuation of the live vaccines currently used has been obtained by repeated passages on cells, and the cause of their attenuation is not known. Furthermore, these vaccines exhibit, in general, a residual virulence and are for this reason administered via the parenteral (subcutaneous or intramuscular) route rather than via the intranasal route (which would nevertheless be the preferred route given the local replication of this virus). Inactivated vaccines exhibit good safety, but their weak immunogenicity requires multiple injections in order to induce a satisfactory protection.

Moreover, domestic cats are exposed to numerous other diseases, and the development of a vaccinal vector which can express various antigens of feline pathogenic agents would make it possible to simplify and improve the efficacy of vaccination programmes.

Finally, among the diseases affecting domestic cats, some are still resistant to conventional vaccinal approaches. The most well known case is that of feline infectious peritonitis caused by a coronavirus (feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) virus or FIPV).

An FHV-1 vector, whose attenuation would be such that it can be administered via the oronasal route in cats without causing local and/or general pathology, and which would allow the induction of a protective immune response both against feline infectious rhinotracheitis and against other feline pathogenic agents would constitute a significant advance in the field of vaccination of domestic feline populations.

A number of FHV genes have already been proposed as insertion sites:

Patent Application EP-A-0,447,303 proposed insertion into the RR2 site of alphaherpesviruses, including FHV. The application gives the means for carrying out the insertion into the RR2 site of the turkey herpesvirus (HVT virus). Patent Application WO-A-90 01547 proposes FHV TK-vectors for the expression of heterologous genes. Likewise, Patent Application WO-A-93 09238 proposes a vaccine against feline leukaemia formed of an FHV vector in which an FeLV gene has been inserted into the TK gene of the FHV virus. See also along the same lines the articles by R. C. Wardley et al. in J. Gen. Virol. 1992. 73. 1811-1818 and by G. E. Cole et al. in J. Virol. 1990. 64. 4930-4938. Patent Application WO-A-94 03621 proposes insertion into the gI, gE, US9, US10 and US11 genes. Patent Application WO-A-95 00172 proposes inserting a DNA serving as marker into the region of the genome comprising the gI and gE genes. Patent Application EP-A-0,576,092 proposes the open reading frame (ORF) situated between the gC gene and the homologous gene of the HSV-1 UL46 gene as preferential site for insertion into the FHV genome. See also M. J. Willemse et al. in J. Gen. Virol. 1994. 75. 3107-3116.

Various promoters, including those generally commercially available, have been used in the various constructs described in the prior art, among which are the HCMV IE (human CMV immediate early) promoter, the promoter sequence of the LTR region of the RSV virus (Rous Sarcoma Virus), and the SV40 virus early promoter.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a live FHV vaccine, which is attenuated but which has conserved a good capacity for replication in vivo, for immunizing cats against infectious rhinotracheitis.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a recombinant live vaccine based on FHV which is effective against other feline pathogenic agents. In particular, because of the numerous failures observed in vaccination against feline infectious peritonitis with inactivated or attenuated live vaccines, mainly because of the phenomenon of "facilitation" (exacerbation of the disease), the need still exists for a vaccine which is really effective against FIP. Such a vaccine based on a recombinant FHV-1 vector which would be really effective against feline infectious peritonitis, a disease for which no one has yet marketed a satisfactory vaccine, could, in addition, pave the way for highly effective vaccines against other cat diseases such as, for example, and inter alia, feline leukaemia, feline immunodeficiency syndrome due to FIV, or feline panleukopenia.

Yet another aim of the invention is to allow an effective vaccination of cats using the oronasal route.

The applicant has characterized a new part of the FHV genome, in which it has characterized new regions of the FHV virus genome, regions called hereinafter (see Example 3) FHV ORF2 and FHV ORF5, which have proved utilizable for the insertion of foreign genes under conditions which make it possible to meet the objectives set out above.

The subject of the present invention is therefore a recombinant live vaccine using, as vector, a feline herpesvirus comprising, and expressing, at least one nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide, this sequence being inserted into the ORF5 site and/or ORF2 site.

Preferably, the inserted sequence encodes an antigenic polypeptide and, preferentially, an antigenic polypeptide of a feline pathogenic agent. Sequences encoding immunomodulatory proteins such as cytokines may also be inserted. According to an advantageous feature, it is possible to combine a sequence encoding a cytokine, and the like, with a sequence encoding an antigen. If necessary, several cytokine sequences may be combined with each other, optionally in combination with one or more sequences encoding antigens.

Insertion into the two sites newly characterized is carried out by simple insertion (without deletion) or after partial or total deletion of the ORFs used as insertion sites.

According to a particularly preferred feature of the invention, insertions and/or deletions are carried out in the two sites described. This feature is particularly adapted to the use of virulent wild-type strains of the FHV-1 virus for obtaining recombinants. It is therefore possible to insert at least one nucleotide sequence into each of the sites, or alternatively to insert into only one site, preferably ORF5, and to delete all or part of the other site.

According to another feature, which applies more to the attenuated vaccinal strains, without being limited thereof, the insertion is carried out in only one of the two sites, preferably the ORF5 site.

The feline herpesviruses according to the invention are preferably FHV viruses type 1.

It is possible to use, in particular, the FHV-1 CO strain in with the sequence of the genomic region (ORF1 to ORF8) is indicated in the sequence listing under the reference SEQ ID No. 1 (see also Table 1 Example 3). The ORF2 site is situated between nucleotides 1655 and 2596. The ORF5 site is situated between nucleotides 5869 and 7113.

For the expression of the foreign genes inserted into the FHV-1 genome according to the present invention, a strong eukaryotic promoter such as, preferentially, a CMV immediate early (IE) promoter will be preferably used. A CMV IE promoter is understood to mean especially a fragment as given in the examples as well as its subunits which conserve the same promoter activity. The CMV IE promoter may be the human promoter (HCMV IE) or the murine promoter (MCMV IE), or alternatively a CMV IE promoter of another origin, for example from rats, guinea pigs or pigs.

It will be possible to insert at least two nucleotide sequences into one of the ORF2 or ORF5 sites under the control of different promoters. These may be especially CMV IE promoters of different origins.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, another promoter is combined with the CMV IE promoter according to a tandem arrangement, such as the 5' ends of both promoters are adjacent therebetween and the transcriptions from these promoters go in opposite directions, which makes it possible to insert, into the region of insertion, two nucleotide sequences, one under the control of the CMV IE promoter, the other under that of the associated promoter. This construct is remarkable in that the presence of the CMV IE promoter, and especially of its enhancer part, may enhance the transcription induced by the associated promoter. As associated promoter, there may be mentioned, for example, a CMV promoter from a species different from the first promoter. It is also possible to envisage other promoters such as the RNA1.8 promoter from the Marek's disease virus (MDV) (G. Bradley et al. J. Virol. 1989. 63. 2534-2542).

The nucleotide sequence inserted into the FHV vector so as to be expressed may be any sequence encoding an antigenic polypeptide of a feline pathogenic agent capable, once expressed under the favourable conditions offered by the invention, of providing immunization leading to an effective protection of the vaccinated animal against the pathogenic agent. It is therefore possible to insert, under the conditions described by the present invention, the nucleotide sequences encoding the antigens of interest for a given disease.

The typical case of the invention is the insertion of at least one nucleotide sequence suitably encoding a polypeptide of the feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIP or FIPV) and, preferably, the FIPV M polypeptide or the modified FIPV S polypeptide. A recombinant live vaccine is thus obtained which provides, in addition to protection against feline infectious rhinotracheitis, protection against feline infectious peritonitis. If desired, a sequence encoding another antigen of the FIP virus, such as the N protein, the 7b protein and/or the polypeptides encoded by the polymerase (polB) gene of the FIP virus can also be inserted in addition or instead.

Other preferred cases of the invention are the insertion of nucleotide sequences encoding antigens or fragments of antigens of the feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), in particular env, gag and pol genes (Osterhaus A. et al. J. Immunol., 1985. 135. 591-596; Lutz H. Vet. Microbiol. 1990. 23. 131-146; Clark N. et al. JAVMA, 1991. 199. 1433-1443; Thomsen D. et al. J. Gen. Virol., 1992. 73. 1819-1824), of the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) (Jarrett O. et al. AIDS, 1990, 4 (supply. 1); S163-S165; Miyazawa T. et al. Arch. Virol; 1994, 134, 221-234; de Rhonde A. et al. Virology, 1994. 198. 257-264), in particular env, gag and pol genes, of the feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) (Carlson J. et al. J. Virol. 1985. 55. 574-582; Martyn J. et al. J. Gen. Virol. 1990. 71, 2747-2753), in particular the VP2 capsid gene, of the feline calicivirus (FCV) (Neill J. et al. J. Virol. 1991. 65. 5440-5447; Carter M. et al. Virology. 1992. 190 443-448), in particular the capsid gene.

A typical case of the invention is a vaccine comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an antigen of the FIP virus under the control of CMV IE and a nucleotide sequence encoding an antigen of another feline viral disease, especially those mentioned above, under the control of another promoter.

The subject of the present invention is also a polyvalent vaccine formula comprising, in the form of a mixture or to be mixed, at least two recombinant live vaccines as defined above, these vaccines comprising different inserted sequences, especially from different pathogens.

The subject of the present invention is also the FHV viruses modified in one or both ORF2 and ORF5 sites as indicated above.

Its subject is also a method of vaccination, in particular of cats, in which an effective quantity of a vaccine as defined above is administered by any parenteral or local route, but preferably by the oronasal route. The vaccinal dose will be between 10.sup.2 CCID.sub.50 and 10.sup.7 CCID.sub.50. As defined, the vaccine is effective in general after only one administration by the oronasal route. However, repeated administrations may be necessary.

The subject of the present invention is also the DNA fragments comprising all or part of the sequence defined by positions 1 to 8193 on SEQ ID No. 1, especially all or part of the ORF2 and ORF5 sites defined and/or of the flanking sequences located upstream and downstream of these sites, which fragments will be useful as flanking arms for the techniques of homologous recombination with the genome of the parenteral FHV virus. Of course, the invention also relates to the variants of these fragments which correspond to the equivalent sequences of the other FHV strains. The specialist is quite free to choose the regions serving as flanking arms in conjunction with the type of insertion (with or without deletion) or deletion (partial or total) chosen. In general, the flanking arms can thus have from 100 to 800 base pairs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail with the aid of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, taken with reference to the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1: sequence of the FHV-1 region (10803 base pairs) and translation of the different open reading frames (ORF) present in this sequence (ORF1 to ORF8).

FIG. 2: Construction of the plasmid pPB107 (donor plasmid for the insertion of expression cassettes into the FHV-1 ORF2 site).

FIG. 3: Construction of the plasmid pPB110 (donor plasmid for the insertion of expression cassettes in the FHV-1 ORF5 site).

FIG. 4: Construction of the expression cassette for the FIPV M gene (plasmid pPB105).

FIG. 5: Construction of the expression cassette for the FIPV S gene (plasmid pPB055).

FIG. 6: Mutagenesis of the A1 site of the FIPV S gene (plasmid pJCA084).

FIG. 7: Mutagenesis of the A2 site of the FIPV S gene (plasmid pJCA085).

FIG. 8: Mutagenesis of the A1+A2 sites of the FIPV S gene (=FIPV S*) (plasmid pJCA087).

FIG. 9: Construction of the expression cassette for the modified FIPV S* gene (mutations in the A1 and A2 sites) (plasmid pPB056).

FIG. 10: Construction of the expression cassette for the FIPV N gene (plasmid pJCA091).

FIG. 11: Construction of the donor plasmid for the insertion of the FIPV M gene expression cassette into the FHV-1 ORF2 site (pPB111).

FIG. 12: Construction of the donor plasmid for the insertion of the FIPV S* gene expression cassette into the FHV-1 ORF2 site (pPB112).

FIG. 13: Construction of the donor plasmid for the insertion of the FIPV N gene expression cassette into the FHV-1 ORF2 site (pPB113).

FIG. 14: Construction of the donor plasmid for the insertion of the FIPV M gene expression cassette into the FHV-1 ORF5 site (pPB114).

FIG. 15: Construction of the donor plasmid for the insertion of the FIPV S* gene expression cassette into the FHV-1 ORF5 site (pPB115).

FIG. 16: Construction of the donor plasmid for the insertion of the FIPV N gene expression cassette into the FHV-1 ORF5 site (pPB116).

THE SEQUENCE LISTING SEQ ID FOR THE CONSTRUCTS IN THE ORF2 AND ORF5 SITES

SEQ ID No. 1 Complete sequence of the FHV-1 ORF1.fwdarw.ORF8 region represented in FIG. 1 SEQ ID No. 2 Partial amino acid sequence ORF FHV-1 ORF1 of FIG. 1 SEQ ID No. 3 Amino acid sequence ORF FHV-1 ORF2 of FIG. 1 SEQ ID No. 4 Amino acid sequence ORF FHV-1 ORF3 of FIG. 1 SEQ ID No. 5 Amino acid sequence ORF FHV-1 ORF4 of FIG. 1 SEQ ID No. 6 Amino acid sequence ORF FHV-1 ORF5 of FIG. 1 SEQ ID No. 7 Amino acid sequence ORF FHV-1 ORF6 of FIG. 1 SEQ ID No. 8 Amino acid sequence ORF FHV-1 ORF7 of FIG. 1 SEQ ID No. 9 Partial amino acid sequence ORF FHV-1 ORF8 of FIG. 1 SEQ ID No. 10 Oligonucleotide JCA054 SEQ ID No. 11 Oligonucleotide JCA055 SEQ ID No. 12 Oligonucleotide PB080 SEQ ID No. 13 Oligonucleotide PB081 SEQ ID No. 14 Oligonucleotide PB082 SEQ ID No. 15 Oligonucleotide PB083 SEQ ID No. 16 Oligonucleotide PB084 SEQ ID No. 17 Oligonucleotide PB085 SEQ ID No. 18 Oligonucleotide JCA056 SEQ ID No. 19 Oligonucleotide JCA057 SEQ ID No. 20 Oligonucleotide PB088 SEQ ID No. 21 Oligonucleotide PB089 SEQ ID No. 22 Oligonucleotide JCA058 SEQ ID No. 23 Oligonucleotide JCA059 SEQ ID No. 24 Oligonucleotide JCA060 SEQ ID No. 25 Oligonucleotide JCA061 SEQ ID No. 26 Oligonucleotide JCA062 SEQ ID No. 27 Oligonucleotide JCA063 SEQ ID No. 28 Oligonucleotide JCA064 SEQ ID No. 29 Oligonucleotide JCA065 SEQ ID No. 30 Oligonucleotide JCA066 SEQ ID No. 31 Oligonucleotide JCA067 SEQ ID No. 32 Oligonucleotide JCA068 SEQ ID No. 33 Oligonucleotide JCA069

EXAMPLES

All the constructions of plasmids were carried out using the standard molecular biology techniques described by Sambrook J. et al. (Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual. 2nd Edition. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Cold Harbor. New York. 1989). All the restriction fragments used for the present invention were isolated using the "Geneclean" kit (BIO101 Inc. La Jolla, Calif.).

The virus used as parental virus is the CO strain of the feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1). This virus was isolated from renal cells from a newborn kitten whose mother had infectious rhinotracheitis (C. Benoit Jeannin, Doctorat de 3eme cycle thesis, University of Lyon, 1983). The conditions for culturing this virus have already been described (Fargeaud D. et al. Arch. Virol. 1984. 80. 69-82). Briefly, CRFK cells (Crandell Rees Feline Kidney cells) cultured in Eagle's minimum essential minimum (MEM medium) are inoculated with the FHV-1 CO strain using a multiplicity of infection of 1. The infected cells are then incubated at 37.degree. C. for about 36 hours, until a complete cytopathic effect appears.

Example 1

Extraction of the DNA from the Feline Herpes-Virus Type 1

After culturing, the supernatant and the lysed cells are harvested and the whole viral suspension is centrifuged at 1000 g for 10 minutes at +4.degree. C. in order to remove the cellular debris. The viral particles are then harvested by ultracentrifugation at 400,000 g for 1 hour at +4.degree. C. The pellet is taken up in a minimum volume of buffer (10 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA). This concentrated viral suspension is treated with proteinase K (100 .mu.g/ml final) in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) (0.5% final) for 2 hours at 37.degree. C. The viral DNA is then extracted with a phenol/chloroform mixture and then precipitated with 2 volumes of absolute ethanol. After leaving overnight at -20.degree. C., the DNA is centrifuged at 10,000 g for 15 minutes at +4.degree. C. The DNA pellet is dried and then taken up in a minimum volume of sterile ultrapure water.

Example 2

Isolation of the Genomic RNA from the FIPV 79-1146 Strain and Cloning of the Complementary DNA

The FIPV 79-1146 strain was cultured on CRFK cells in DMEM medium (Gibco). The genomic viral RNA was isolated using the guanibium thiocyanate/phenol/chloroform extraction technique (Chomczynski P. and Sacchi N., Anal. Biochem. 1987. 162. 156-159). Specific oligonucleotides (comprising, at their 5' ends, restriction sites to facilitate the cloning of the amplified fragments) were synthesized such that they completely cover the coding regions of the genes which should be amplified (M, S and N respectively). The reverse transcription (RT) reaction and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were carried out according to standard techniques (Sambrook J. et al. 1989). Each RT-PCR reaction was performed with a pair of specific amplimers and by taking, as template, the viral genomic RNA extracted. The amplified complementary DNA was extracted with phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol (25:24:1) before being digested with the restriction enzymes.

Example 3

Cloning and Characterization of the FHV-1 ORF1-ORF7 region (EcoRI D and EcoRI F fragments)

The genomic DNA purified from the CO strain of the FHV-1 virus was digested with EcoRI and the D (about 9200 bp) and F (7600 bp) fragments were cloned into the vector pBlueScript SKII+ in order to give the plasmids pFHVEcoRID and pFHVEcoRIF respectively. The plasmid pFHVEcoRID was digested with EcoRI and PstI and the EcoRI-PstI fragment of 979 bp was isolated and ligated with the vector pBS-SKII+, previously digested with EcoRI and PstI to give the plasmid pPB050. The plasmid pFHVEcoRID was digested with PstI and the 2388 bp PstI-PstI fragment was isolated and ligated with the vector pBS-SKII+, previously digested with PstI to give the plasmid pPB051. The inserts contained in the plasmids pFHVEcoRIF, pPB050 and pPB051 were completely sequenced on both strands to give the sequence of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID No. 1).

Several open reading frames of more than 65 amino acids in size were identified on this sequence (FIG. 1).

The first reading frame (ORF1) (positions 1-1587) is incomplete and encodes a truncated protein of 529 amino acids (SEQ ID No. 2).

The second reading frame (ORF2) (positions 1655-2596) encodes a polypeptide of 314 amino acids (SEQ ID No. 3).

The third reading frame (ORF3) (positions 2733-4094) is situated on the complementary strand and encodes a polypeptide of 454 amino acids (SEQ ID No. 4).

The fourth reading frame (ORF4) (positions 4476-5660) encodes a polypeptide of 395 amino acids (SEQ ID No. 5).

The fifth reading frame (ORF5) (positions 5869-7113) encodes a polypeptide of 415 amino acids (SEQ ID No. 6).

The sixth reading frame (ORF6) (positions 7449-8900) encodes a polypeptide of 484 amino acids (SEQ ID No. 7).

The seventh reading frame identified on the sequence of FIG. 1 (ORF1) (positions 9153-9731) encodes a protein of 193 amino acids (SEQ ID No. 8).

The eighth and last reading frame identified on the sequence of FIG. 1 (ORF8) (positions 9908-10803) is incomplete. It is situated on the complementary strand and encodes a truncated protein of 298 amino acids (SEQ ID No. 9).

The different open reading frames are assembled in the table below: (Table 1)

______________________________________Open reading Beginning-End Size in aminoframe (positions in FIG. 1) acids______________________________________ORF 1 1-1587 529 aaORF 2 1655-2596 314 aaORF 3 4094-2733 454 aaORF 4 4476-5600 395 aaORF 5 5869-7113 415 aaORF 6 7449-8900 484 aaORF 7 9153-9731 193 aaORF 8 10803-9908 298 aa______________________________________ It is thought that the open reading frame FHV ORF2 newly characterized is homologous to the HSV-1 UL40 (RR2) gene.

Example 4

Construction of the Donor Plasmid for the FHV-1 ORF2 (pPB107) (FIG. 2)

The plasmid pFHVEcoRID was digested with EcoRI and SacII in order to isolate the EcoRI-SacII fragment of 1509 bp. A KpnI-EcoRI adaptor containing the PmeI site was obtained by hybridization of the following 2 synthetic oligonucleotides:

JCA054 (24 mer) (SEQ ID No. 10): 5' CTTGCCGGGGTTTAAACCGGTTCG 3' and JCA055 (32 mer) (SEQ ID No. 11): 5' AATTCGAACCGGTTTAAACCCCGGCAAGGTAC 3'

The EcoRI-SacII fragment and the double-stranded oligonucleotide were ligated into the vector pBS-SKII+, previously digested with KpnI and SacII, to give the plasmid pPB106 (4407 bp). A double-stranded synthetic oligonucleotide comprising the cloning sites HindIII, ClaI and ApaI was obtained by hybridization of the following 2 oligonucleotides:

PB080 (32 mer) (SEQ ID No. 12): 5' TGCAAAGCTTATCGATCCCGGGGCCCGGTGCA 3' and PB081 (32 mer) (SEQ ID No. 13): 5'CCGGGCCCCGGGATCGATAAGCTTTGCATGCA 3'

The oligonucleotide thus obtained was ligated with the plasmid pPB106, previously digested with PstI (unique site on pPB106) and treated with alkaline phosphatase, to give the plasmid pPB107 (4439 bp) (FIG. 2). This plasmid contains the 5' (SacII-PstI 530 bp) and 3' (PstI-EcoRI 979 bp) flanking arms of the FHV-1 ORF2 site as well as a multiple cloning site allowing the insertion of an expression cassette.

Example 5

Construction of the Donor Plasmid for the FHV-1 ORF5 Site (pPB110) (FIG. 3)

The plasmid pFHVEcoRIF (see Example 3) was digested with SacI and SmaI in order to isolate the SacI-SmaI fragment of 1367 bp. A SalI-KpnI adaptor containing the PmeI site was obtained by hybridization of the following 2 oligonucleotides:

PB082 (21 mer) (SEQ ID No. 14): 5' GGGGGCCGTTTAAACCGGTAC 3' PB083 (17 mer) (SEQ ID No. 15): 5' CGGTTTAAACGGCCCCC 3'

The double-stranded oligonucleotide thus obtained and the 1367 bp SacI-SmaI fragment were ligated with the plasmid pBS-SKII+, previously digested with KpnI and SacI, to give the plasmid pPB109 (4247 bp). A multiple cloning site was obtained by hybridization of the following 2 synthetic oligonucleotides:

PB084 (28 mer) (SEQ ID No. 16): 5' TCGAGAAAGCTTATCGATCCCGGGCCCG 3' PB085 (28 mer) (SEQ ID No. 17): 5' TCGACGGGCCCGGGATCGATAAGCTTTC 3'

The double-stranded oligonucleotide thus obtained was ligated with the plasmid pPB109, previously digested with SalI and treated with alkaline phosphatase, to give the plasmid pPB110 (4275 bp) (FIG. 3).

This plasmid contains the 5' (SacI-SalI 699 bp) and 3' (SalI-SmaI 668 bp) flanking arms of the FHV-1 ORF5 site as well as a multiple cloning site allowing the insertion of an expression cassette.

Example 6

Construction of the Expression Cassette for the FIPV M gene (FIG. 4)

An RT-PCR reaction was carried out with the genomic RNA from the FIPV 79-1146 strain and with the following oligonucleotides:

JCA056 (40 mer) (SEQ ID No. 18) 5' TTTGAGCTCGCGGCCGCATGAAGTAATTTTGCTAATACTC 3' JC057 (27 mer) (SEQ ID No. 19) 5' TTTGGTACCGTTTAGTTACACCATATG 3' in order to isolate precisely the gene encoding the membrane glycoprotein (FIPV M) in the form of a SacI-KpnI cassette. After purification the RT-PCR product of 823 bp was digested with KpnI and SacI in order to isolate a KpnI-SacI fragment of 813 bp. This fragment was ligated with the vector pBS-SKII+, previously digested with KpnI and SacI, to give the vector pJCA080 (3668 bp). The sequence of the M gene was checked by sequencing and was found to be identical to that previously published (Vennema H. et al. Virology. 1991. 181. 327-335), which sequence is incorporated into the present application by reference.

The plasmid pCMV.beta. (CLONTECH) was digested with EcoRI and NotI in order to isolate the EcoRI-NotI fragment of 819 bp containing the promoter region of the human cytomegalovirus immediate early gene (fragment A). The plasmid pJCA080 was digested with KpnI and NotI in order to isolate the NotI-KpnI fragment (FIPV M gene) of 804 bp (fragment B). The A and B fragments were then ligated with the vector pGEM-7Zf+ (Promega), previously digested with EcoRI and KpnI, to give the plasmid pPB104 (4614 bp).

A PCR reaction was carried out with the following oligonucleotides:

PB088 (30 mer) (SEQ ID No. 20) 5' TTGGGTACCGCCTCGACTCTAGGCGGCCGC 3' PB089 (32 mer) (SEQ ID No. 21) 5' TTGGGTACCGGATCCGAAAAAACCTCCCACAC 3' and the template pCMV.beta. in order to produce a 252 bp fragment containing the polyadenylation signal of the SV40 virus early gene. This fragment was digested with KpnI in order to isolate the KpnI-KpnI fragment of 233 bp (fragment B). This fragment was then ligated with the plasmid pPB104, previously digested with KpnI and treated with alkaline phosphatase, to give the plasmid pPB105 (4847 bp) (FIG. 4). This plasmid contains an expression cassette HCMV-IE promoter--FIPV M gene--SV40 polyA which can be mobilized by ApaI-ClaI or ApaI-HindIII digestion.

Example 7

Construction of the Expression Cassette for the FIPV S Gene (FIG. 5)

An RT-PCR reaction was carried out with the genomic RNA from the FIPV 79-1146 strain and with the following oligonucleotides:

JCA058 (39 mer) (SEQ ID No. 22) 5' TTTGAGCTCGCGGCCGCATGATTGTGCTCGTAACTTGCC 3' JCA059 (38 mer) (SEQ ID No. 23) 5' TTTGGTACCGTTTAGTGGACATGCACTTTTTCAATTGG 3' in order to isolate precisely the gene encoding the spike glycoprotein or also called hereinafter "S" (FIPV S). After purification, the RT-PCR product of 4387 bp was digested wit KpnI and SacI in order to isolate a KpnI-SacI fragment of 4375 bp. This fragment was ligated with the vector pBS-SKII+, previously digested with KpnI and SacI, to give the vector JCA081 (7234 bp). The sequence of the S gene was checked by sequencing and was found to be identical to that previously published (de Groot R. et al. J. Gen. Virol. 1987. 68. 2639-2646), which sequence is incorporated into the present application by reference.

The plasmid pCMV.beta. was digested with EcoRI and NotI in order to isolate the EcoRI-NotI fragment of 819 bp containing the promoter region of the human cytomegalovirus immediate early gene (fragment A). The plasmid JCA081 was digested with KpnI and NotI in order to isolate the NotI-KpnI fragment (FIPV S gene) of 4372 bp (fragment B). The A and B fragments were then ligated with the vector pGEM-7Zf+, previously digested with EcoRI and KpnI, to give the plasmid pJCA082 (8180 bp).

A PCR reaction was carried out with the following oligonucleotides:

PB088 (SEQ ID No. 20) and PB089 (SEQ ID No. 21) (see Example 6) and the template pCMV.beta. in order to produce a 252 bp fragment containing the polyadenylation signal of the SV40 virus early gene. This fragment was digested with KpnI in order to isolate the KpnI-KpnI fragment of 233 bp (fragment B).

This fragment was ligated with the plasmid pJCA082, previously digested with KpnI and treated with alkaline phosphatase, to give the plasmid pPB055 (8413 bp) (FIG. 5). This plasmid contains an expression cassette HCMV-IE promoter--FIPV S gene--SV40 polyA which can be mobilized by ApaI-ClaI digestion.

Example 8

Construction of the Modified Spike Gene (FIPV S*)

The sequence of the FIPV S gene was subjected to mutagenesis so as to modify the regions responsible for the induction of facilitating antibodies, without changing the functions of the S glycoprotein. This modification has already been described in Patent Application FR-94 10379 (publication No. 2,724,385, incorporated herein by reference) and was carried out in the following manner:

8.1.: Mutagenesis of the A1 site (FIG. 6)

the HindIII-HindIII FIPV S gene central fragment of 1723 bp (nucleotides 1696 to 3418) was cloned into the vector pBS-SKII+, previously digested with HindIII and treated with alkaline phosphatase, to give the plasmid pJCA083 (4678 bp). The A1 site is situated on the HindIII-SspI subfragment (positions 1696 to 1845) of this fragment.

The A1 site was subjected to mutagenesis by PCR using the following strategy:

The following nucleotides were synthesized:

JCA060 (95 mer) (SEQ ID No. 24) 5' ATGAAGCTTAGTGGTTATGGTCAACCCATAGCCTCGACACTAAGTAACAT CACACTACCAATGCAGGATAACAATACTGTTGTGTACTGTATTCG 3' JCA061 (88 mer) (SEQ ID No. 25) 5' AAAAATATTGTACCATAAAGAACTTTTGCAAGTGGAATGAACATAAACTG AGAATTGGTTAGAACGAATACAGTACACAACAGTATTG 3' JCA062 (20 mer) (SEQ ID No. 26) 5' ATGAAGCTTAGTGGTTATGG 3' JCA063 (20 mer) (SEQ ID No. 27) 5'AAAAATATTGTACCATAAAG 3'

The oligonucleotides JCA060 and JCA061 were hybridized with each other by means of their common complementary sequence of 23 base pairs. The hybrid thus obtained was used, after extension of its 3' ends, as template for a PCR reaction using the oligonucleotides JCA062 and JCA063. This PCR amplification reaction made it possible to obtain a 159 bp fragment. This fragment was digested with HindIII and SspI in order to produce a HindIII-SspI fragment of 149 bp (fragment A). This fragment contains the A1 site modified at two positions (Val instead of Asp at position 568 and Tyr instead of Asp at position 591). The plasmid pJCA083 was digested with HindIII and partially digested with SspI in order to isolate the SspI-HindIII fragment of 1569 bp (fragment B) by Geneclean (BIO101 Inc., La Jolla. Calif.).

The vector pBS-SKII+ was digested with HindIII and treated with alkaline phosphatase in order to produce the C fragment (2960 bp).

The A, B and C fragments were then ligated together in order to produce the plasmid pJCA084 (4678 bp) (FIG. 6). This plasmid contains the HindIII-HindIII fragment of the FIPV S gene modified for two amino acids of the A1 site. The FIPV S gene can then be reconstituted by replacing the natural HindIII-HindIII fragment (positions 1696 to 3418) with the HindIII-HindIII fragment contained in the plasmid pJCA084. The complete FIPV S gene modified at the A1 site can then be used for constructions of expression plasmids or of recombinant viruses.

8.2.: Mutagenesis of the A2 site (FIG. 7)

The following oligonucleotides were synthesized:

JCA064 (20 mer) (SEQ ID No. 28) 5 GGACAATATTTTTAATCAAG 3' JCA065 (36 mer) (SEQ ID No. 29) 5' TTTAACAACCTGCTCATTGGTTCCTGTACGTGCAGC 3' JCA066 (36 mer) (SEQ ID No. 30) 5' AAGTTTTATGTTGCTGCACGTACAGGAACCAATGAG 3' JCA067 (20 mer) (SEQ ID No. 31) 5' ATCACTAACATTTTTAAAGC 3'

A PCR reaction (PRC A) was carried out with the oligonucleotides JCA064 and JCA065 and with the plasmid pJCA083 as template in order to synthesize a PCR fragment of 199 bp (Fragment A).

A PCR reaction (PCR B) was carried out with the oligonucleotides JCA066 and JCA067 and with the plasmid pJCA083 as template in order to give a PCR fragment of 273 bp (fragment B).

The PCR A and B fragments were hybridized with each other by means of their complementary region of 46 bp and the product of this hybridization, after extension of the 3' ends, was amplified by a PCR reaction (PCR C) with the oligonucleotides JCA064 and JCA067 in order to give a PCR fragment of 424 bp. This PCR fragment was digested with SspI and DraI in order to give the SspI-DraI restriction fragment of 402 bp (fragment C).

The plasmid pJCA083 was digested with HindIII and SspI in order to isolate the HindIII-SspI fragment of 149 bp (fragment D).

The plasmid pJCA083 was digested with HindIII and DraI in order to isolate the DraI-HindIII restriction fragment of 1170 bp (fragment E).

The vector pBS-SKII+ was digested with HindIII and treated with alkaline phosphatase to give the fragment F (2960 bp).

The C, D, E and F fragments were then ligated together in order to give the plasmid pJCA085 (4678 bp) (FIG. 7). The HindIII-HindIII central fragment of 1723 bp of the FIPV S gene contained in pJCA085 has an A2 site modified at the level of 3 amino acids (Tyr instead of Asp at position 643, Gly instead of Arg at position 649, and Lys instead of Arg at position 656).

The FIPV S gene may then be reconstituted by replacing the natural HindIII--HindIII fragment (positions 1696 to 3418) with the HindIII--HindIII fragment contained in the plasmid pJCA085. The complete FIPV S gene modified at the A2 site may then be used for constructions of expression plasmids or of recombinant viruses.

8.3.: Mutagenesis of the A1 and A2 sites (FIG. 8)

Fragments A (Example 8.1), C and E (Example 8.2) were ligated with the vector pBS-SKII+, previously digested with HindIII and treated with alkaline phosphatase, to give the plasmid pJCA085. The HindIII--HindIII central fragment of 1723 bp of the FIPV S gene contained in pJCA085 exhibits 2 amino acid changes at the level of the A1 site (see Example 8.1) and 3 amino acid changes at the level of the A2 site (see Example 8.2).

The plasmid pJCA081 (Example 7) was digested with HindIII in order to isolate the HindIII--HindIII fragment of 5511 bp (fragment A). The plasmid pJCA085 was digested with HindIII in order to isolate the HindIII--HindIII fragment of 1723 bp (exhibiting 5 amino acid changes relative to the sequence of the strain FIPV 79-1146) (fragment B). The A and B fragments were ligated together in order to give the plasmid pJCA087 (7234 bp) (FIG. 8). This plasmid contains the FIPV S gene modified at the level of the A1 and A2 sites (=FIPV S* gene).

8.4.: Construction of the Expression Cassette for the FIPV S* Gene (FIG. 9)

The plasmid pCMV.beta. was digested with EcoRI and NotI in order to isolate the EcoRI-NotI fragment of 819 bp containing the promoter region of the human cytomegalovirus immediate early gene (fragment A). The plasmid pJCA087 (Example 8.3) was digested with KpnI and NotI in order to isolate the NotI-KpnI fragment (FIPV S gene) of 4372 bp (fragment B). The A and B fragments were then ligated with the vector pGEM-7Zf+, previously digested with EcoRI and KpnI, to give the plasmid pJCA088 (8180 bp).

A PCR reaction was carried out with the following oligonucleotides: PB088 (SEQ ID No. 20) and PB089 (SEQ ID No. 21) (see Example 6) and the template pCMV.beta. in order to produce a 252 bp fragment containing the polyadenylation signal of the SV40 virus early gene. This fragment was digested with KpnI in order to isolate the KpnI--KpnI fragment of 233 bp (fragment B).

This fragment was ligated with the plasmid pJCA088, previously digested with KpnI and treated with alkaline phosphatase, to give the plasmid pPB056 (8413 bp) (FIG. 9). This plasmid contains an expression cassette HCMV-IE promoter--FIPV S* gene--SV40 polyA which can be mobilized by ApaI-ClaI digestion.

EXAMPLE 9

Construction of the Expression Cassette for the FIPV N Gene (FIG. 10)

An RT-PCR reaction was carried out with the genomic RNA from the strain FIPV 79-1146 and with the following oligonucleotides:

JCA068 (37 mer) (SEQ ID No. 32) 5' TTTGAGCTCGCGGCCGCATGGCCACACAGGGACAACG 3' JCA069 (33 mer) (SEQ ID No. 33) 5' TTTGGTACCGTTTAGTTCGTAACCTCATCAATC 3' in order to isolate precisely the gene encoding the nucleocapsid protein "N" (FIPV N). After purification, the RT-PCR product of 1161 bp was digested with KpnI and SacI in order to isolate a SacI-KpnI fragment of 1148 bp. This fragment was ligated with the vector pBS-SKII+, previously digested with KpnI and SacI, in order to give the vector pJCA089 (4007 bp). The sequence of the N gene was checked by sequencing and was found to be identical to that previously published (Vennema H. et al. Virology 1991. 181. 327-335), which sequence is incorporated into the present application by reference.

The plasmid pCMV.beta. (CLONTECH) was digested with EcoRI and NotI in order to isolate the EcoRI-NotI fragment of 891 bp containing the promoter region of the human cytomegalovirus immediate early gene (fragment A). The plasmid pJCA089 was digested with KpnI and NotI in order to isolate the NotI-KpnI fragment (FIPV N gene) of 1137 bp (fragment B). The A and B fragments were ligated with the vector pGEM-7Zf+, previously digested with EcoRI and KpnI, to give the plasmid pJCA090 (4953 bp).

A PCR reaction was carried out with the following oligonucleotides: PB088 (SEQ ID No. 20) and PB089 (SEQ ID No. 21) (Example 6) and the template pCMV.beta. in order to produce a 252 bp fragment containing the polyadenylation signal of the SV40 virus early gene. This fragment was digested with KpnI in order to isolate the KpnI--KpnI fragment of 233 bp (fragment B). This fragment was then ligated with the plasmid pJCA090, previously digested with KpnI and treated with alkaline phosphatase, to give the plasmid pJCA091 (5186 bp) (FIG. 10). This plasmid contains an expression cassette HCMV-IE promoter--FIPV N gene--SV40 polyA which can be mobilized by ApaI-ClaI or ApaI-HindIII digestion.

EXAMPLE 10

Construction of the Donor Plasmid pPB111 and Isolation of vFHV01 (FIG. 11)

The plasmid pPB105 (Example 6, FIG. 4) was digested with ApaI and HindIII in order to isolate the ApaI-HindIII fragment of 1925 bp (fragment A). The pPB107 plasmid (Example 4, FIG. 2) was digested with ApaI and HindIII in order to isolate the ApaI-HindIII fragment of 4419 bp (fragment B). The A and B fragments were ligated together in order to give the plasmid pPB111 (6332 bp) (FIG. 11). This plasmid contains the expression cassette HCMV-IE/FIPV M gene/SV40 polyA in the FHV ORF2 site.

The plasmid pPB111 was linearized by digestion with PmeI, extracted with a phenol-chloroform mixture, precipitated with absolute ethanol and then taken up in sterile water.

CRFK cells, forming a well-established cellular lawn in a Petri dish (Corning 4.5 cm in diameter), were then transfected with the following mixture: 1 .mu.g of linearized plasmid pPB111+5 .mu.g of viral DNA from FHV-1 in 300 .mu.l of MEM medium and 100 .mu.g of LipofectAMINE (Gibco-BRL Cat #18324-012) diluted in 300 .mu.l of medium (final volume of the mixture=600 .mu.l). These 600 .mu.l were then diluted in 3 ml (final volume) of MEM medium and plated on 3.times.10.sup.6 CRFK cells. The mixture was left in contact with the cells for 5 hours and then removed and replaced with 5 ml of culture medium. The cells were then left in culture for 24 hours at +37.degree. C. After 24 hours to 48 hours of culture, 1 ml of culture supernatant was harvested and several dilutions of this supernatant were used to infect new CRFK cells (cultured in a Corning Petri dish 4.5 cm in diameter) so as to obtain isolated plaques, each dish being infected with 1 ml of a dilution of the initial supernatant. After a contact of 1 hour at 37.degree. C., the infected medium was removed and replaced with 5 ml of MEM medium containing 1% agarose, maintained superfused at 42.degree. C. When the agarose had solidified, the dishes were incubated for 48 hours at 37.degree. C. in a CO.sub.2 oven until plaques appeared. The agarose layer was then removed and the viral plaques were transferred onto a sterile nitrocellulose membrane of the same diameter as the Petri dish which served for the culture. This membrane was itself transferred onto another nitrocellulose membrane so as to obtain a reverse "copy" of the first transfer. The plaques transferred onto the latter copy were then hybridized, according to the customary techniques known to a person skilled in the art, with a fragment of the FIPV M gene labelled with digoxigenin (DNA Labelling Kit, Boehringer Mannheim, CAT #1175033). After hybridization, washes and bringing into contact with the revealing substrate, the nitrocellulose membrane was brought into contact with tan autoradiographic film. The positive hybridization images on this membrane indicated which plaques contained recombinant FHV viruses which had inserted the FIPV M cassette. The plaques corresponding to these positive plaques were sterilely cut out from the first nitrocellulose membrane, placed in an Eppendorf tube containing 0.5 ml of MEM medium and sonicated in order to release the virions from the membrane. The medium contained in the Eppendorf tube was then diluted in MEM medium and the dilutions thus obtained served to infect new cultures of CRFK cells. A recombinant virus, containing the cassette HCMV-IE/FIPV M/polyA inserted into the ORF2 site, 100% pure, was thus isolated after 3 purification cycles and was called vFHV01. The homology of the recombination was checked by PCR using oligonucleotides situation on either side of the site of insertion. The absence of rearrangement on the genome of the recombinant virus vFHV01, elsewhere apart from the recombination region, was checked by the Southern blot technique.

EXAMPLE 11

Construction of the Donor Plasmid pPB112 and Isolation of vFHV02 (FIG. 12)

The plasmid pPB056 (Example 8.4, FIG. 9) was digest with ApaI and ClaI in order to isolate the ApaI-ClaI fragment of 5466 bp (fragment A). The plasmid pPB107 (Example 4, FIG. 2) was digest with ApaI and ClaI in order to isolate the ApaI-ClaI fragment of 4426 bp (fragment B). The A and B fragments were ligated together in order to give the plasmid pPB112 (9898 bp) (FIG. 12). This plasmid contains the expression cassette (HCMV-IE/FIPV S* gene/SV40 polyA) in the FHV-1 ORF2 site.

CRFK cells were transfected with a mixture of plasmid pPB112 (linearized with PmeI) and of viral DNA from FHV-1 as described in Example 10. A positive viral plaque for the cassette HCMV-IE/FIPV S* gene was purified as described in Example 10, but using a homologous probe FIPV S*, and amplified in order to give the recombinant virus vFHV02.

EXAMPLE 12

Construction of the Donor Plasmid pPB113 and Isolation of vFHV03 (FIG. 13)

The plasmid pJCA091 (Example 9, FIG. 10) was digested with ApaI and HindIII in order to isolate the ApaI-HindIII fragment of 2244 bp (fragment A). The plasmid pPB107 (Example 4, FIG. 2) was digested with ApaI and HindIII in order to isolate the ApaI-HindIII fragment of 4419 bp (fragment B). The A and B fragments were ligated together in order to give the plasmid pPB113 (6671 bp) (FIG. 13). This plasmid contains the expression cassette (HCMV-IE/FIPV N gene/SV40 polyA) in the FHV-1 ORF2 site.

CRFK cells were transfected with a mixture of plasmid pPB113 (linearized with PmeI) and of viral DNA from FHV-1 as described in Example 10. A positive viral plaque for the cassette HCMV-IE/FIPV N gene was purified as described in Example 10, but using a homologous probe FIPV N, and amplified in order to give the recombinant virus vFHV03.

EXAMPLE 13

Construction of the Donor Plasmid pPB114 and Isolation of vFHV04 (FIG. 14)

The plasmid pPB105 (Example 6, FIG. 4) was digested with ApaI and HindIII in order to isolate the ApaI-HindIII fragment of 1925 bp (fragment A). The plasmid pPB110 (Example 5, FIG. 3) was digested with ApaI and HindIII in order to isolate the ApaI-HindIII fragment of 4256 bp (fragment B). The A and B fragments were ligated together in order to give the plasmid pPB114 (6169 bp) (FIG. 14). This plasmid contains the expression cassette (HCMV-IE/FIPV M gene/SV40 polyA) in the FHV-1 ORF5 site.

CRFK cells were transfected with a mixture of plasmid pPB114 (linearized with PmeI) and of viral DNA from FHV-1 as described in Example 10. A positive viral plaque for the cassette HCMV-IE/FIPV M gene was purified as described in Example 10 and amplified in order to give the recombinant virus vFHV04.

EXAMPLE 14

Construction of the Donor Plasmid pPB115 and Isolation of vFHV05 (FIG. 15)

The plasmid pPB056 (Example 8.4, FIG. 9) was digested with ApaI and ClaI in order to isolate the ApaI-ClaI fragment of 5466 bp (fragment A). The plasmid pPB110 (Example 5, FIG. 3) was digested with ApaI and ClaI in order to isolate the ApaI-ClaI fragment of 4263 bp (fragment B). the A and B fragments were ligated together in order to give the plasmid pPB115 (9735 bp) (FIG. 5). This plasmid contains the expression cassette (HCMV-IE/FIPV S* gene/SV40 polyA) in the FHV-1 ORF5 site.

CRFK cells were transfected with a mixture of plasmid pPB115 (linearized with PmeI) and of viral DNA from FHV-1 as described in Example 10. A positive viral plaque for the cassette HCMV-IE/FIPV S* gene was purified as described in Example 10, but using a homologous probe FIPV S*, and amplified in order to give the recombinant virus vFHV05.

EXAMPLE 15

Construction of the Donor Plasmid pPB116 and Isolation of vFHV06 (FIG. 16)

The plasmid pJCA091 (Example 9, FIG. 10) was digested with ApaI and HindIII in order to isolate the ApaI-HindIII fragment of 2244 bp (fragment A). the plasmid pPB110 (Example 5, FIG. 3) was digested with ApaI and HindIII in order to isolate the ApaI-HindIII fragment of 4256 bp (fragment B). The A and B fragments were ligated together in order to give the plasmid pPB116 (6508 bp). This plasmid contains the expression cassette (HCMV-IE/FIPV N gene/SV40 polyA) in the FHV-1 ORF5 site.

CRFK cells were transfected with a mixture of plasmid pPB116 (linearized with PmeI) and of viral DNA from FHV-1 as described in Example 10. A positive viral plaque for the cassette HCMV-IE/FIPV N gene was purified as described in Example 10, but using a homologous probe FIPV N, and amplified in order to give the recombinant virus vFHV06.

EXAMPLE 16

Construction of Donor Plasmids for the Insertion of Expression Cassettes into the ORF2 Site of FHV-1

According to the same strategy as that described above for the insertion of expression cassettes (genes placed under the control of the HCMV-IE or MCMV-IE promoters or double promoter MCMV-IE/RNA 1.8 kbp) into the ORF2 site, it is possible to construct recombinant feline herpesviruses expressing at a high level immunogens of the feline calicivirus (FCV), of the feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), of the feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), of the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), or of other feline pathogens, or alternatively of feline cytokines.

EXAMPLE 17

Construction of Donor Plasmids for the Insertion of Expression Cassettes into the ORF5 Site of FHV-1

According to the same strategy as that described above for the insertion of expression cassettes (genes placed under the control of HCMV-IE or MCMV-IE promoters or double promoter MCMV-IE/RNA 1.8 kbp) into the ORF5 site, it is possible to construct recombinant feline herpesviruses expressing at a high level immunogens of the FCV, FPV, FeLV or FIV viruses or of other feline pathogens, or alternatively of feline cytokines.

EXAMPLE 18

Production of Vaccines

To produce a vaccine, the recombinant viruses obtained according to the invention are cultured on CRFK cells. The recombinant virus is harvested when the cytopathic effect is complete. The lysed cells and the culture supernatant are harvested. After clarification of a cellular lysate in order to removed the cellular debris, the viral solution is titrated. The viral solution is then diluted in a stabilizing solution for freeze-drying, distributed at the rate of one vaccinal dose (10.sup.2 CCID.sub.50 to 10.sup.7 CCID.sub.50) per vial, and finally freeze-dried.

__________________________________________________________________________# SEQUENCE LISTING- <160> NUMBER OF SEQ ID NOS: 33- <210> SEQ ID NO 1<211> LENGTH: 10803<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 1- ctgcagaatt tcaacaaaaa actgtctaag gaatgtacaa agggtgtgct tc - #cccttttg 60- aagctactcg atcccatgac aatagccatc aacagcgaca cagaccgtcc ca - #ctggtgta 120- tgtatatacg tagaaccctg gcatgccgat atcagatcga tattaaatat gc - #ggggaatg 180- ctcgcatcgg atgaaaactc cagatgtgat aatatattta gctgtttatg ga - #ccccggac 240- ctattcttcg ataggtatca acggcaccta ggcggagagg taaatgtcat tt - #ggactcta 300- tttgatgatg ccgcatccca tctttcgaag ctttatggaa aggaatttaa tg - #aggaatat 360- gaacgtctgg aggcggctgg tatgggtgtt gacagcctgc ctattcaaga ga - #tggcctat 420- cttattgtga gaagtgcaat aatgaccggg agtcccttct taatgttcaa gg - #acgcgtgt 480- aacgtgcact atcacttcga tacacgtggg gatgcgctca caacatcaaa cc - #tatgtact 540- gaaatcattc agaaggctac agacactaaa catggcgttt gtaacttgat aa - #gtataaat 600- ctaccgcaat gtttacgcgc atcggctcat gatcagagct tgtatttcag ta - #tcccatta 660- ctcattcgcg cagcatatac cgctacgata tttgtcaacg caatgatgcg tg - #ctggaaat 720- ttccccacag aagcggccat gcggggtgta gaagaaaatc gctctcttgg at - #tgggtata 780- caggggctcc ataccacgtt tttggcccta gagatggata tggtttctta tg - #aagcccgt 840- cgcttaaacc gccaaatttt agagagtctg ctcctgggag caatccacgc ta - #gcacatcc 900- ctatgcaagc ttggtatgac accatttaaa aacttcagag agagtatcta tg - #gacgtggt 960- ttattaccct ttgatgcata cccaaacacc ccccttatac attttaaaaa at - #ggcagcaa1020- ttgagagtag ttatgatgaa atacggactt tacaattctc aatttgtagc at - #taatgcca1080- acggtgtcct cgtcccaggt cactgagagt agcgaggggt tctctccaat tt - #ttactaat1140- ctgtttagta aagtcactag taccggggag atcttacgac caaacttaca gt - #tgatgcgg1200- acgatacgac gcctatttcc cagggaatgc gcgcgtctct ctgttatatc aa - #ccctggaa1260- gctgcccaat ggtccatacg tggtgcattc ggggatctcg gggattatca cc - #ccctagca1320- aaattcaaaa ccgcattcga atatgatcaa cgacagttga tagatatgtg tg - #cggacagg1380- gccccctttg tagatcaaag ccagtccatg tctctgttta tctctgaacc gg - #ctgatggc1440- aaattacccg cctctaggat tatgaacctc cttgtacatg catataaatg tg - #gactgaag1500- accggtatgt attattgtaa gctcaaaaag gctaccaaca gtggtgtctt ct - #ccggaggc1560- gaactcattt gtactagttg ccacctttaa acgattgtat atcatgtctg ct - #aacggatc1620- tacccccaat accggtctcc actccaatac caaaatgccg gtatccatag ac - #tctgattg1680- tagcgcctcg cgatactttt acaccctgga atgtccagat ataaacatgt tg - #cggtctct1740- cagtatcgcg aataggtggt tagaaaccga tttgccaatc ggtgatgata ta - #aaggacat1800- tactacacta tccgaatcgg agttggactt ttatcgtttt ctatttacat tt - #ctatctgc1860- cgcggacgat ctggttaacc tgaatctcgg caatctatct gagctcttca cc - #caaaaaga1920- tattttacat tattacattg aacaggaatg tatagaggtc gtccattcgc gt - #gaatatag1980- cgcaatacaa ctcctccttt ttaaatgtga tgcggaggcg cgtacggcct at - #gtggattc2040- tatgattaca aagccggagc ttgcgaggaa ggttgaatgc gtccgcacgc ga - #attggtga2100- atgtgaatcc atagccgaga aggatattct catgatctta atagaaggta tc - #ttttttgt2160- tgcatccttc gctgctatag cttatctgag aacccacaac atattcatcg ta - #acttgtca2220- aaccaacgat cttatcagcc gcgatgaggc catacataca aacgcatcct gc - #tgtatcta2280- caacaactac ctcccggctc aaattaaacc atccacggag aggattcact cg - #ttatttcg2340- agaggctgtg gaacttgagt gtgagtttat ctcaacatgc gctccgcgct gc - #agtaatct2400- actcaacgtg gcggatattt gtaattatgt tcggtatagt gcggaccggt tg - #ctcggtat2460- tatcaaagtg gctcctattt tcaacgtccc gcctcctcat cccgattttc cc - #ttagcctt2520- tatggtaatt gaaaaacata ccaatttttt cgagagacat agcactacat ac - #agtggcac2580- tgttatcaat gatctataaa caatgtctta ataataaatt taatttaagc ta - #acgtgtat2640- ctggattcgt cccttttttt caaaaataac tacacatgag tcattagtag cg - #ttcaaccg2700- gtctgtttcc cgatacatcc actggttctt tagttataac gccgtcgcga at - #cacaatca2760- tcccaatagg taaccagaac aacataatag tcgggcgggg ttgagatatg ct - #tccagaat2820- aagttagtta tatgtttggc attggcggca tcccctataa aatgttttag tg - #tttcgaac2880- accaggttaa aattagcctt ctcttggagg atgggaacgc gctttaatat tg - #ataagcga2940- ccccttgtct ccggggtcat tctagcgata aggtgtttga taaatttccg ct - #cgaggacc3000- atcatgtttt gtctgtggcg ggggtaaaaa tgagagagtc tgtgacgcgg tt - #tcattatc3060- ggtgggtatc gagatgtgta ttttagagtc agactctgct cttctatcat gg - #tcagctgt3120- ttagacgatc cacgaatttg agatgggctg atcctatatg tgtctgtgga ca - #tacattca3180- atatcccgtt cttctgacga tgaagcatca ctgctggtat cccggcatat ac - #tagtagag3240- gattttagat taattacctt ttcttttacc ttagttttgc tctgatgtcg tt - #gattagat3300- cgtagatttt gtacggattt taatataggt gtctggtgta gatctgtatg ac - #agcgaaca3360- aatcgcgcca cgaattccga gtatgtcaga ttaagcgacg caaggacgtc cc - #tacatcgt3420- attgttggtg ggaaaagtgg aattatatct aatataatat cacaccccat ta - #atataaga3480- tcggtatcgg ttgtatagat ctgcgcgacc gtatttgtat gatatagatt ag - #cacataca3540- tcatcagcct ccatatcact gacatttaca tatgggtacc ctagatagcg ga - #tgaggttt3600- acacataatc tataacataa acgtggggta taagctaatg aactccatct cg - #ctgatata3660- cgttcttgga tatctacttt gcaatctttc gggtttccac catctggttc cg - #aagtatct3720- tcacacggcc ctccatgtgg aatggaaaat tcccccaagc gtccagatcc ac - #cctgtaaa3780- cacatcgtct gtgtcactat agccttggct ccatatttta cctgtccatc ac - #catagata3840- cctctatccg aaacgaagat cggaaagtat gatcgcttct gtaacagttt aa - #gaagcgaa3900- aagaaacact cggcagtcac cgttgcatta tcacttgtat atctttctct gg - #aaagaatt3960- tctcccataa gtgtgtacat aacattccat aaatctatag cgatgggtgt at - #aaatacca4020- ggtggtgtag tgatggcatc atgttttacc aaacggttgc agtaggcgta tt - #ttaacatc4080- ccaaataagc ccattctgac actattgatt atatctcgtt tcctagagca ga - #gtcgtatt4140- aattggcgag gtaaacaatc gctccggtga aggcagttcc ccaactagat ta - #acccctag4200- ttgattatgg acattataat gcgctgggtg gcggaatcat cgccgcaccc aa - #ctcaaagc4260- acgaccaaat atgagcgggt ctgtggaacc tcaaaatcct attggtgatc at - #gaacaata4320- aaaatgaaac caaaatacat ggtagataat taatcctctc ccccactctg gc - #gtcatagc4380- gcggcggtga agcctataaa gaatacaggt gcgaggaaat tgtcttactt tt - #ccctttgt4440- gagttttaat ttgtgtgtaa aactagctct ctacgatggc atttccaccg tc - #gagattag4500- aggttggaat aaataaagct attaaccatc cggcacaagt tgtccacgcg gg - #acctcttc4560- ccggtggtgt cgaatctaac actatcttcg gaaacgctgt cctcgaagaa ga - #caagctac4620- gcgaggtaat gaccatattg acaccgatat cgaccagtct taaaaactca tt - #tttggttt4680- ttagtgccga tgggatgttg attcatacga gtgtatgtca cgaacagata ta - #tataccaa4740- tatcaaagaa tcagttttca tcatatagat ggacatatgg acagcctgcg gt - #atttttag4800- cgaatatgca cggacgtcgt agcttgttgg acgtatttaa aactactggg ag - #aaaaagtg4860- caaccaagaa ggtaattttc gagataacta atgttcatcc gggtagaatg tt - #aaaccaag4920- tagtttttaa cttagacctc gatggtggac tatcttcttc acaacttata aa - #atcagaat4980- ttaataatta ttgtgttatg ttacccacga gagtacccga tttgacgctt ga - #gttttcaa5040- aacctcaact aaacaaaata ttggaccttg gaaaacgcat aaaatctaca ct - #agtgtttg5100- aatctacggt gagagaaacc atcaatatta tatccgacgt cgggagagta ac - #atttacca5160- cgactcatga atcggctgat ggaaatcaag atagccgctg tattttacgc ag - #tctcccaa5220- ggtcccacat acttggtaat gtatcatcaa ccgttaattt ctctggggtt tt - #gaaaccct5280- tccgcctagc tttggaatcc cccgtaaact tttttcaact tcttcgtaaa tt - #gaaactta5340- cacataccga cgtcagcctc aatttcttct tcactccaag tactacaccc at - #gttaagtc5400- tgactaccag aaaacccgtt ggtgtaatga tgtttttctt ctgtaccacg ga - #atgtctag5460- gatcatccga gtcaattaaa accggggata tggatgatcc ctcgacaacc ga - #ggaggaaa5520- gtatccccag gttaaagcgg cgagtgttag aagagttccg tgattctgaa gg - #acccagta5580- aaaaactttg tacttttgtt tactcatctc cactatgcaa cccgaatcct gg - #tacacggg5640- gagaaaaccc atctgatatt tagatgtaaa tagccaatac cacagatcgt tc - #gcctgtat5700- acttgatccc catttatgtt aaaataaagt atttttaatg taatatatgt gt - #agtttcgt5760- ttattcataa acgctagtta gatatctcca cccacatttt tctggtattt gt - #aataaaaa5820- ttgagccagg cgaaagaaag tcagtaagtc gccagccaga cttcgggtat gg - #ccaccgat5880- gactgtacgt ctccaactaa tgcagctggg agctcaacaa ccaacaataa cg - #gtctcgct5940- ccagaaggga tatcggatat aacactaccc tcatttactg tgaggaactg ct - #cgggatcg6000- aggactggat gtatcgcatg tgtgtacacg gcaactaaag cgttatgtta ta - #taggggtc6060- caatctggaa ttttaacagc atcgatcgct ctcatttggc tcctaacacg ta - #caacaaca6120- tatgcagccg gaatccttat atttataagt ctaatatcca caatgaggct ct - #ctatggta6180- aaaactgaac gtatcacaac tatatgccgc tttactcaga ccctctgtgt gg - #ccatagcg6240- gcagttggat gggcgtgtga tgatttgtta caaccagttg gatttacccc tc - #ttctactc6300- ctatgtctag caggaatcgc tgtatgtgct gcgatcatac atgtgtttta ct - #tcatctgc6360- acagccaatg gatcgggaac acattttcgt atggccatcg ttaccatgac cc - #tcggtgcg6420- ctgttgggag tatcgagtat cgccgtgact gtgaaatctg aaattctcat cg - #gcctcggt6480- attgcatgct cgattattgt ctcccagcga gactttggaa tgatacttag ag - #acacatgt6540- cattacagat taggtcgtta ttcgttaatg cgcactttta cggatttggg gc - #gtggtgct6600- aaccataatc cagtcgactt tatcgtaccc aacatcgagg atgtctacga gg - #acaagatt6660- agcagcgtta aaatttttcg agaacacccc actttgatta tggccccgtt ga - #tagggcta6720- accctcaccc ctccgatatg gggttattgt cacatcacta aatatggcca tg - #attttcag6780- acgcccttaa cagttgtgat ttgtgttatc gttggacatt gtttggcatt tt - #gcctggaa6840- cctttgatgg tctaccgaag aatgtatata cctgaggtcc tcgtgagttt cc - #atggcatg6900- gctgaaataa ccgggatagt cttggcactg cttggtgtaa attttggcac gc - #cgctggtt6960- ttgactctgg ctatatctga gactctaact tgcctactcc atctacgaaa aa - #tcatcctc7020- ggcgcgaaac gcctggctgc tacctaccta tgcaggggtc tacacacggg ca - #tgtatgtt7080- actgctggaa tgtgttattt gtacagtcat atgtaatgta ccactcaaca cg - #atatattt7140- atatcgcggt tgtgtctaat aactgttttt aaataaagag ataagtcgaa at - #cacaggca7200- gtgaaatgcc ttaaaaatgg gtctcctgtc tatgttagga atctcttatt tt - #aagtagtc7260- ccgcgagacg atttacatcc cgggatcacc aacaatctgc gatgagacga ta - #taggatgg7320- gacgcggaat ctaccttctc tatatctgtc tgttatatac atatctccag tt - #tggtactt7380- cgtcgacaac cgcggtcagt attgaaaata gtgataatag tactgcggag at - #gttatcat7440- ctaccagcat gtccgctacc accccgatat cccagccaac atctccattc ac - #tactccaa7500- ctagaagatc tacaaatata gctacaagtt cgagtaccac ccaggcatcc ca - #gccaacat7560- ctacattaac tactctaact agaagctcga caactatagc tacaagtccg ag - #taccaccc7620- aggcagccac attcatagga tcatctaccg attccaatac cactttactc aa - #aacaacaa7680- aaaaaccaaa gcgtaaaaag aataagaata acggggccag atttaaatta ga - #ttgtggat7740- ataagggggt tatctacaga ccgtatttta gccctcttca gctaaactgt ac - #tctaccca7800- cagaacctca tattaccaac cctattgact tcgagatctg gtttaaacca cg - #caccagat7860- ttggggattt tcttggggat aaagaagact tcgtagggaa tcatacccgc ac - #cagcatat7920- tactatttag cagccgtaat gggagtgtta attccatgga tcttggggac gc - #gacactcg7980- ggatcctaca atctaggata ccagattaca cattatataa tattcccata ca - #acataccg8040- aagcgatgtc attgggaatc aaatctgtgg aatctgccac gtccggtgtt ta - #tacatggc8100- gggtctatgg tggagatgga ctaaataaaa cagtgctagg acaggtaaat gt - #atctgtag8160- tggcatatca ccccccgagc gtaaatctta caccacgcgc cagtctattt aa - #taagacct8220- ttgaggcggt atgtgcagtg gcgaattact tcccgcgatc cacgaaacta ac - #atggtatc8280- ttgacgggaa gccaatagaa aggcaataca tttcagatac ggcaagtgta tg - #gatagatg8340- gactcatcac cagaagttct gtgttggcta ttccgacaac tgaaacagat tc - #cgagaaac8400- cagatatacg atgtgatttg gaatggcatg aaagtcctgt gtcctataag ag - #attcacga8460- aaagtgtagc cccggacgtc tattacccac ctactgtgtc tgttaccttc gc - #tgatacac8520- gggctatatg tgatgttaaa tgtgtaccac gggacgggat atccttgatg tg - #gaaaattg8580- gtaactacca tctaccaaaa gcaatgagtg ctgatatact gatcacaggt cc - #gtgtatag8640- aacgtccagg tttggtcaac attcagagta tgtgtgatat atcagaaacg ga - #tggacccg8700- tgagttatac ctgtcagacc atcggatacc caccaattct accgggattt ta - #cgacacac8760- aagtctacga cgcgtcccct gaaatcgtca gtgaatcaat gttggttagt gt - #cgttgctg8820- taatactagg agctgttctc atcacagtct ttatctttat tacggcatta tg - #tttatatt8880- attctcatcc ccggcgatta taactcttat agttcgtata aattacttat ca - #taaccgtg8940- tttcagcggt tatattttta taacagttaa ttgtttacta atagtttaca aa - #gtccatcg9000- tttataaaaa acaagcccag tggtattata atcattcgta tggatataaa cc - #gactccaa9060- tccgtgatct ttggtaaccc gcgacgtaat tactctcaca cattttaact ag - #tctacgat9120- cacccagata taataaaaag attcgcgtgg acatgcaagg tatgaggtct ac - #gtcacagc9180- cgttggtcga gataccactg gtagatatgg aaccacagcc atctatacac tc - #caacgagc9240- ctaacccacc gaataaaatg ttgacgacag ctatttcatc gcgtaggagt gg - #aatttttt9300- tattttctct gggtatgttt tttttcggag ttatcctaac agctactatt at - #agtatgta9360- cattcatatt tacaatacca gtggatatgc tccagatgcc acgctgccct ga - #ggaaacgg9420- tgggtatcaa aaactgttgt atccgaccga ttagacgcca tgttaaatca ca - #ccaagatc9480- tagttgccac atgtgccgaa tacatggaac aacccgccac cgcatctgct gt - #tggagcgc9540- ttataccatt attggacatc ttcaatggag atgggatatc tacaaacgac tc - #tctttacg9600- attgtattct ctctgatgaa aaaaaatcgt gtaatacatc aatggccgta tg - #tcaatcaa9660- catatcttcc aaatccccta agtgacttta ttatgcgcgt taggcagata tt - #ttctggaa9720- tcctaaatca ttaatccatt tactaaataa ataaacaata ccgtttaggt aa - #ttaaacat9780- gattctagtg tttattgtcg tatgtacggg cgatgggtgg ataacaactc ga - #caatgatc9840- aattatattg attaaccttg taataaattc gtcggattat tggatatatc ga - #gatgatat9900- cacattattt tctaatagcg tgtgtttgaa agtccaccct actagtgcca tg - #tgcgcgtt9960- tgatcgaaga ggcatttaat gttgccagag tttcaattcc gtatgtatcg tc - #gagtaatc10020- tagaccgtgg gcgaaatctt tctactactt cttcaatccc aggcgaggat ga - #tcgtctgc10080- gtgggaggtt tttctttaca tcaccacatt cgttatataa ttcgggataa tc - #acctttag10140- gtcccccggg cttggaacat tgacactttt tatgacaaat cggtgtctgg ta - #atgctccg10200- tatattggag ctgtgaggta gttccagacg cggacgatcc tctggactgc gc - #ggtatctt10260- caggggaaat acaacgaggg tgttggtaat gagtctggta tgcatctcga gg - #ttcatctc10320- cattactgag attcgaggaa ttaaaagttt cagtgagacc gtaggacgga tt - #attaatat10380- gatcttccga ctcttcgggt cggatgtcat ctaaactggt atagggtgtt cc - #gtcacagt10440- ccgaggaatc aaaacgatca tcgagttgtt ttgtgcgcgc atccgatctc aa - #gggcgttc10500- tatggaagca cccctctacc ccgtctgggg tattagaagg gtggtctcca ag - #acctgggg10560- aggatatatc ccgaggggtt agtggggagg ctaagagtga tgccataccc at - #atatgggt10620- ttgggggggt gatgacagct ggtgggtagg taacatcatg atgagcgtgt gg - #agtgggtg10680- gggatggtag tgggaggctc tgccgatcta tgtgtgtcat catctgtgat ac - #acaccgcc10740- tctcagtttt cgccctctcc cgggtggatc tccgtcttcc acgttctatc ga - #accaagaa10800# 10803- <210> SEQ ID NO 2<211> LENGTH: 529<212> TYPE: PRT<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 2- Leu Gln Asn Phe Asn Lys Lys Leu Ser Lys Gl - #u Cys Thr Lys Gly Val# 15- Leu Pro Leu Leu Lys Leu Leu Asp Pro Met Th - #r Ile Ala Ile Asn Ser# 30- Asp Thr Asp Arg Pro Thr Gly Val Cys Ile Ty - #r Val Glu Pro Trp His# 45- Ala Asp Ile Arg Ser Ile Leu Asn Met Arg Gl - #y Met Leu Ala Ser Asp# 60- Glu Asn Ser Arg Cys Asp Asn Ile Phe Ser Cy - #s Leu Trp Thr Pro Asp# 80- Leu Phe Phe Asp Arg Tyr Gln Arg His Leu Gl - #y Gly Glu Val Asn Val# 95- Ile Trp Thr Leu Phe Asp Asp Ala Ala Ser Hi - #s Leu Ser Lys Leu Tyr# 110- Gly Lys Glu Phe Asn Glu Glu Tyr Glu Arg Le - #u Glu Ala Ala Gly Met# 125- Gly Val Asp Ser Leu Pro Ile Gln Glu Met Al - #a Tyr Leu Ile Val Arg# 140- Ser Ala Ile Met Thr Gly Ser Pro Phe Leu Me - #t Phe Lys Asp Ala Cys145 1 - #50 1 - #55 1 -#60- Asn Val His Tyr His Phe Asp Thr Arg Gly As - #p Ala Leu Thr Thr Ser# 175- Asn Leu Cys Thr Glu Ile Ile Gln Lys Ala Th - #r Asp Thr Lys His Gly# 190- Val Cys Asn Leu Ile Ser Ile Asn Leu Pro Gl - #n Cys Leu Arg Ala Ser# 205- Ala His Asp Gln Ser Leu Tyr Phe Ser Ile Pr - #o Leu Leu Ile Arg Ala# 220- Ala Tyr Thr Ala Thr Ile Phe Val Asn Ala Me - #t Met Arg Ala Gly Asn225 2 - #30 2 - #35 2 -#40- Phe Pro Thr Glu Ala Ala Met Arg Gly Val Gl - #u Glu Asn Arg Ser Leu# 255- Gly Leu Gly Ile Gln Gly Leu His Thr Thr Ph - #e Leu Ala Leu Glu Met# 270- Asp Met Val Ser Tyr Glu Ala Arg Arg Leu As - #n Arg Gln Ile Leu Glu# 285- Ser Leu Leu Leu Gly Ala Ile His Ala Ser Th - #r Ser Leu Cys Lys Leu# 300- Gly Met Thr Pro Phe Lys Asn Phe Arg Glu Se - #r Ile Tyr Gly Arg Gly305 3 - #10 3 - #15 3 -#20- Leu Leu Pro Phe Asp Ala Tyr Pro Asn Thr Pr - #o Leu Ile His Phe Lys# 335- Lys Trp Gln Gln Leu Arg Val Val Met Met Ly - #s Tyr Gly Leu Tyr Asn# 350- Ser Gln Phe Val Ala Leu Met Pro Thr Val Se - #r Ser Ser Gln Val Thr# 365- Glu Ser Ser Glu Gly Phe Ser Pro Ile Phe Th - #r Asn Leu Phe Ser Lys# 380- Val Thr Ser Thr Gly Glu Ile Leu Arg Pro As - #n Leu Gln Leu Met Arg385 3 - #90 3 - #95 4 -#00- Thr Ile Arg Arg Leu Phe Pro Arg Glu Cys Al - #a Arg Leu Ser Val Ile# 415- Ser Thr Leu Glu Ala Ala Gln Trp Ser Ile Ar - #g Gly Ala Phe Gly Asp# 430- Leu Gly Asp Tyr His Pro Leu Ala Lys Phe Ly - #s Thr Ala Phe Glu Tyr# 445- Asp Gln Arg Gln Leu Ile Asp Met Cys Ala As - #p Arg Ala Pro Phe Val# 460- Asp Gln Ser Gln Ser Met Ser Leu Phe Ile Se - #r Glu Pro Ala Asp Gly465 4 - #70 4 - #75 4 -#80- Lys Leu Pro Ala Ser Arg Ile Met Asn Leu Le - #u Val His Ala Tyr Lys# 495- Cys Gly Leu Lys Thr Gly Met Tyr Tyr Cys Ly - #s Leu Lys Lys Ala Thr# 510- Asn Ser Gly Val Phe Ser Gly Gly Glu Leu Il - #e Cys Thr Ser Cys His# 525- Leu- <210> SEQ ID NO 3<211> LENGTH: 314<212> TYPE: PRT<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 3- Met Pro Val Ser Ile Asp Ser Asp Cys Ser Al - #a Ser Arg Tyr Phe Tyr# 15- Thr Leu Glu Cys Pro Asp Ile Asn Met Leu Ar - #g Ser Leu Ser Ile Ala# 30- Asn Arg Trp Leu Glu Thr Asp Leu Pro Ile Gl - #y Asp Asp Ile Lys Asp# 45- Ile Thr Thr Leu Ser Glu Ser Glu Leu Asp Ph - #e Tyr Arg Phe Leu Phe# 60- Thr Phe Leu Ser Ala Ala Asp Asp Leu Val As - #n Leu Asn Leu Gly Asn# 80- Leu Ser Glu Leu Phe Thr Gln Lys Asp Ile Le - #u His Tyr Tyr Ile Glu# 95- Gln Glu Cys Ile Glu Val Val His Ser Arg Gl - #u Tyr Ser Ala Ile Gln# 110- Leu Leu Leu Phe Lys Cys Asp Ala Glu Ala Ar - #g Thr Ala Tyr Val Asp# 125- Ser Met Ile Thr Lys Pro Glu Leu Ala Arg Ly - #s Val Glu Cys Val Arg# 140- Thr Arg Ile Gly Glu Cys Glu Ser Ile Ala Gl - #u Lys Asp Ile Leu Met145 1 - #50 1 - #55 1 -#60- Ile Leu Ile Glu Gly Ile Phe Phe Val Ala Se - #r Phe Ala Ala Ile Ala# 175- Tyr Leu Arg Thr His Asn Ile Phe Ile Val Th - #r Cys Gln Thr Asn Asp# 190- Leu Ile Ser Arg Asp Glu Ala Ile His Thr As - #n Ala Ser Cys Cys Ile# 205- Tyr Asn Asn Tyr Leu Pro Ala Gln Ile Lys Pr - #o Ser Thr Glu Arg Ile# 220- His Ser Leu Phe Arg Glu Ala Val Glu Leu Gl - #u Cys Glu Phe Ile Ser225 2 - #30 2 - #35 2 -#40- Thr Cys Ala Pro Arg Cys Ser Asn Leu Leu As - #n Val Ala Asp Ile Cys# 255- Asn Tyr Val Arg Tyr Ser Ala Asp Arg Leu Le - #u Gly Ile Ile Lys Val# 270- Ala Pro Ile Phe Asn Val Pro Pro Pro His Pr - #o Asp Phe Pro Leu Ala# 285- Phe Met Val Ile Glu Lys His Thr Asn Phe Ph - #e Glu Arg His Ser Thr# 300- Thr Tyr Ser Gly Thr Val Ile Asn Asp Leu305 3 - #10- <210> SEQ ID NO 4<211> LENGTH: 454<212> TYPE: PRT<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 4- Met Gly Leu Phe Gly Met Leu Lys Tyr Ala Ty - #r Cys Asn Arg Leu Val# 15- Lys His Asp Ala Ile Thr Thr Pro Pro Gly Il - #e Tyr Thr Pro Ile Ala# 30- Ile Asp Leu Trp Asn Val Met Tyr Thr Leu Me - #t Gly Glu Ile Leu Ser# 45- Arg Glu Arg Tyr Thr Ser Asp Asn Ala Thr Va - #l Thr Ala Glu Cys Phe# 60- Phe Ser Leu Leu Lys Leu Leu Gln Lys Arg Se - #r Tyr Phe Pro Ile Phe# 80- Val Ser Asp Arg Gly Ile Tyr Gly Asp Gly Gl - #n Val Lys Tyr Gly Ala# 95- Lys Ala Ile Val Thr Gln Thr Met Cys Leu Gl - #n Gly Gly Ser Gly Arg# 110- Leu Gly Glu Phe Ser Ile Pro His Gly Gly Pr - #o Cys Glu Asp Thr Ser# 125- Glu Pro Asp Gly Gly Asn Pro Lys Asp Cys Ly - #s Val Asp Ile Gln Glu# 140- Arg Ile Ser Ala Arg Trp Ser Ser Leu Ala Ty - #r Thr Pro Arg Leu Cys145 1 - #50 1 - #55 1 -#60- Tyr Arg Leu Cys Val Asn Leu Ile Arg Tyr Le - #u Gly Tyr Pro Tyr Val# 175- Asn Val Ser Asp Met Glu Ala Asp Asp Val Cy - #s Ala Asn Leu Tyr His# 190- Thr Asn Thr Val Ala Gln Ile Tyr Thr Thr As - #p Thr Asp Leu Ile Leu# 205- Met Gly Cys Asp Ile Ile Leu Asp Ile Ile Pr - #o Leu Phe Pro Pro Thr# 220- Ile Arg Cys Arg Asp Val Leu Ala Ser Leu As - #n Leu Thr Tyr Ser Glu225 2 - #30 2 - #35 2 -#40- Phe Val Ala Arg Phe Val Arg Cys His Thr As - #p Leu His Gln Thr Pro# 255- Ile Leu Lys Ser Val Gln Asn Leu Arg Ser As - #n Gln Arg His Gln Ser# 270- Lys Thr Lys Val Lys Glu Lys Val Ile Asn Le - #u Lys Ser Ser Thr Ser# 285- Ile Cys Arg Asp Thr Ser Ser Asp Ala Ser Se - #r Ser Glu Glu Arg Asp# 300- Ile Glu Cys Met Ser Thr Asp Thr Tyr Arg Il - #e Ser Pro Ser Gln Ile305 3 - #10 3 - #15 3 -#20- Arg Gly Ser Ser Lys Gln Leu Thr Met Ile Gl - #u Glu Gln Ser Leu Thr# 335- Leu Lys Tyr Thr Ser Arg Tyr Pro Pro Ile Me - #t Lys Pro Arg His Arg# 350- Leu Ser His Phe Tyr Pro Arg His Arg Gln As - #n Met Met Val Leu Glu# 365- Arg Lys Phe Ile Lys His Leu Ile Ala Arg Me - #t Thr Pro Glu Thr Arg# 380- Gly Arg Leu Ser Ile Leu Lys Arg Val Pro Il - #e Leu Gln Glu Lys Ala385 3 - #90 3 - #95 4 -#00- Asn Phe Asn Leu Val Phe Glu Thr Leu Lys Hi - #s Phe Ile Gly Asp Ala# 415- Ala Asn Ala Lys His Ile Thr Asn Leu Phe Tr - #p Lys His Ile Ser Thr# 430- Pro Pro Asp Tyr Tyr Val Val Leu Val Thr Ty - #r Trp Asp Asp Cys Asp# 445- Ser Arg Arg Arg Tyr Asn 450- <210> SEQ ID NO 5<211> LENGTH: 395<212> TYPE: PRT<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 5- Met Ala Phe Pro Pro Ser Arg Leu Glu Val Gl - #y Ile Asn Lys Ala Ile# 15- Asn His Pro Ala Gln Val Val His Ala Gly Pr - #o Leu Pro Gly Gly Val# 30- Glu Ser Asn Thr Ile Phe Gly Asn Ala Val Le - #u Glu Glu Asp Lys Leu# 45- Arg Glu Val Met Thr Ile Leu Thr Pro Ile Se - #r Thr Ser Leu Lys Asn# 60- Ser Phe Leu Val Phe Ser Ala Asp Gly Met Le - #u Ile His Thr Ser Val# 80- Cys His Glu Gln Ile Tyr Ile Pro Ile Ser Ly - #s Asn Gln Phe Ser Ser# 95- Tyr Arg Trp Thr Tyr Gly Gln Pro Ala Val Ph - #e Leu Ala Asn Met His# 110- Gly Arg Arg Ser Leu Leu Asp Val Phe Lys Th - #r Thr Gly Arg Lys Ser# 125- Ala Thr Lys Lys Val Ile Phe Glu Ile Thr As - #n Val His Pro Gly Arg# 140- Met Leu Asn Gln Val Val Phe Asn Leu Asp Le - #u Asp Gly Gly Leu Ser145 1 - #50 1 - #55 1 -#60- Ser Ser Gln Leu Ile Lys Ser Glu Phe Asn As - #n Tyr Cys Val Met Leu# 175- Pro Thr Arg Val Pro Asp Leu Thr Leu Glu Ph - #e Ser Lys Pro Gln Leu# 190- Asn Lys Ile Leu Asp Leu Gly Lys Arg Ile Ly - #s Ser Thr Leu Val Phe# 205- Glu Ser Thr Val Arg Glu Thr Ile Asn Ile Il - #e Ser Asp Val Gly Arg# 220- Val Thr Phe Thr Thr Thr His Glu Ser Ala As - #p Gly Asn Gln Asp Ser225 2 - #30 2 - #35 2 -#40- Arg Cys Ile Leu Arg Ser Leu Pro Arg Ser Hi - #s Ile Leu Gly Asn Val# 255- Ser Ser Thr Val Asn Phe Ser Gly Val Leu Ly - #s Pro Phe Arg Leu Ala# 270- Leu Glu Ser Pro Val Asn Phe Phe Gln Leu Le - #u Arg Lys Leu Lys Leu# 285- Thr His Thr Asp Val Ser Leu Asn Phe Phe Ph - #e Thr Pro Ser Thr Thr# 300- Pro Met Leu Ser Leu Thr Thr Arg Lys Pro Va - #l Gly Val Met Met Phe305 3 - #10 3 - #15 3 -#20- Phe Phe Cys Thr Thr Glu Cys Leu Gly Ser Se - #r Glu Ser Ile Lys Thr# 335- Gly Asp Met Asp Asp Pro Ser Thr Thr Glu Gl - #u Glu Ser Ile Pro Arg# 350- Leu Lys Arg Arg Val Leu Glu Glu Phe Arg As - #p Ser Glu Gly Pro Ser# 365- Lys Lys Leu Cys Thr Phe Val Tyr Ser Ser Pr - #o Leu Cys Asn Pro Asn# 380- Pro Gly Thr Arg Gly Glu Asn Pro Ser Asp Il - #e385 3 - #90 3 - #95- <210> SEQ ID NO 6<211> LENGTH: 415<212> TYPE: PRT<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 6- Met Ala Thr Asp Asp Cys Thr Ser Pro Thr As - #n Ala Ala Gly Ser Ser# 15- Thr Thr Asn Asn Asn Gly Leu Ala Pro Glu Gl - #y Ile Ser Asp Ile Thr# 30- Leu Pro Ser Phe Thr Val Arg Asn Cys Ser Gl - #y Ser Arg Thr Gly Cys# 45- Ile Ala Cys Val Tyr Thr Ala Thr Lys Ala Le - #u Cys Tyr Ile Gly Val# 60- Gln Ser Gly Ile Leu Thr Ala Ser Ile Ala Le - #u Ile Trp Leu Leu Thr# 80- Arg Thr Thr Thr Tyr Ala Ala Gly Ile Leu Il - #e Phe Ile Ser Leu Ile# 95- Ser Thr Met Arg Leu Ser Met Val Lys Thr Gl - #u Arg Ile Thr Thr Ile# 110- Cys Arg Phe Thr Gln Thr Leu Cys Val Ala Il - #e Ala Ala Val Gly Trp# 125- Ala Cys Asp Asp Leu Leu Gln Pro Val Gly Ph - #e Thr Pro Leu Leu Leu# 140- Leu Cys Leu Ala Gly Ile Ala Val Cys Ala Al - #a Ile Ile His Val Phe145 1 - #50 1 - #55 1 -#60- Tyr Phe Ile Cys Thr Ala Asn Gly Ser Gly Th - #r His Phe Arg Met Ala# 175- Ile Val Thr Met Thr Leu Gly Ala Leu Leu Gl - #y Val Ser Ser Ile Ala# 190- Val Thr Val Lys Ser Glu Ile Leu Ile Gly Le - #u Gly Ile Ala Cys Ser# 205- Ile Ile Val Ser Gln Arg Asp Phe Gly Met Il - #e Leu Arg Asp Thr Cys# 220- His Tyr Arg Leu Gly Arg Tyr Ser Leu Met Ar - #g Thr Phe Thr Asp Leu225 2 - #30 2 - #35 2 -#40- Gly Arg Gly Ala Asn His Asn Pro Val Asp Ph - #e Ile Val Pro Asn Ile# 255- Glu Asp Val Tyr Glu Asp Lys Ile Ser Ser Va - #l Lys Ile Phe Arg Glu# 270- His Pro Thr Leu Ile Met Ala Pro Leu Ile Gl - #y Leu Thr Leu Thr Pro# 285- Pro Ile Trp Gly Tyr Cys His Ile Thr Lys Ty - #r Gly His Asp Phe Gln# 300- Thr Pro Leu Thr Val Val Ile Cys Val Ile Va - #l Gly His Cys Leu Ala305 3 - #10 3 - #15 3 -#20- Phe Cys Leu Glu Pro Leu Met Val Tyr Arg Ar - #g Met Tyr Ile Pro Glu# 335- Val Leu Val Ser Phe His Gly Met Ala Glu Il - #e Thr Gly Ile Val Leu# 350- Ala Leu Leu Gly Val Asn Phe Gly Thr Pro Le - #u Val Leu Thr Leu Ala# 365- Ile Ser Glu Thr Leu Thr Cys Leu Leu His Le - #u Arg Lys Ile Ile Leu# 380- Gly Ala Lys Arg Leu Ala Ala Thr Tyr Leu Cy - #s Arg Gly Leu His Thr385 3 - #90 3 - #95 4 -#00- Gly Met Tyr Val Thr Ala Gly Met Cys Tyr Le - #u Tyr Ser His Met# 415- <210> SEQ ID NO 7<211> LENGTH: 484<212> TYPE: PRT<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 7- Met Ser Ala Thr Thr Pro Ile Ser Gln Pro Th - #r Ser Pro Phe Thr Thr# 15- Pro Thr Arg Arg Ser Thr Asn Ile Ala Thr Se - #r Ser Ser Thr Thr Gln# 30- Ala Ser Gln Pro Thr Ser Thr Leu Thr Thr Le - #u Thr Arg Ser Ser Thr# 45- Thr Ile Ala Thr Ser Pro Ser Thr Thr Gln Al - #a Ala Thr Phe Ile Gly# 60- Ser Ser Thr Asp Ser Asn Thr Thr Leu Leu Ly - #s Thr Thr Lys Lys Pro# 80- Lys Arg Lys Lys Asn Lys Asn Asn Gly Ala Ar - #g Phe Lys Leu Asp Cys# 95- Gly Tyr Lys Gly Val Ile Tyr Arg Pro Tyr Ph - #e Ser Pro Leu Gln Leu# 110- Asn Cys Thr Leu Pro Thr Glu Pro His Ile Th - #r Asn Pro Ile Asp Phe# 125- Glu Ile Trp Phe Lys Pro Arg Thr Arg Phe Gl - #y Asp Phe Leu Gly Asp# 140- Lys Glu Asp Phe Val Gly Asn His Thr Arg Th - #r Ser Ile Leu Leu Phe145 1 - #50 1 - #55 1 -#60- Ser Ser Arg Asn Gly Ser Val Asn Ser Met As - #p Leu Gly Asp Ala Thr# 175- Leu Gly Ile Leu Gln Ser Arg Ile Pro Asp Ty - #r Thr Leu Tyr Asn Ile# 190- Pro Ile Gln His Thr Glu Ala Met Ser Leu Gl - #y Ile Lys Ser Val Glu# 205- Ser Ala Thr Ser Gly Val Tyr Thr Trp Arg Va - #l Tyr Gly Gly Asp Gly# 220- Leu Asn Lys Thr Val Leu Gly Gln Val Asn Va - #l Ser Val Val Ala Tyr225 2 - #30 2 - #35 2 -#40- His Pro Pro Ser Val Asn Leu Thr Pro Arg Al - #a Ser Leu Phe Asn Lys# 255- Thr Phe Glu Ala Val Cys Ala Val Ala Asn Ty - #r Phe Pro Arg Ser Thr# 270- Lys Leu Thr Trp Tyr Leu Asp Gly Lys Pro Il - #e Glu Arg Gln Tyr Ile# 285- Ser Asp Thr Ala Ser Val Trp Ile Asp Gly Le - #u Ile Thr Arg Ser Ser# 300- Val Leu Ala Ile Pro Thr Thr Glu Thr Asp Se - #r Glu Lys Pro Asp Ile305 3 - #10 3 - #15 3 -#20- Arg Cys Asp Leu Glu Trp His Glu Ser Pro Va - #l Ser Tyr Lys Arg Phe# 335- Thr Lys Ser Val Ala Pro Asp Val Tyr Tyr Pr - #o Pro Thr Val Ser Val# 350- Thr Phe Ala Asp Thr Arg Ala Ile Cys Asp Va - #l Lys Cys Val Pro Arg# 365- Asp Gly Ile Ser Leu Met Trp Lys Ile Gly As - #n Tyr His Leu Pro Lys# 380- Ala Met Ser Ala Asp Ile Leu Ile Thr Gly Pr - #o Cys Ile Glu Arg Pro385 3 - #90 3 - #95 4 -#00- Gly Leu Val Asn Ile Gln Ser Met Cys Asp Il - #e Ser Glu Thr Asp Gly# 415- Pro Val Ser Tyr Thr Cys Gln Thr Ile Gly Ty - #r Pro Pro Ile Leu Pro# 430- Gly Phe Tyr Asp Thr Gln Val Tyr Asp Ala Se - #r Pro Glu Ile Val Ser# 445- Glu Ser Met Leu Val Ser Val Val Ala Val Il - #e Leu Gly Ala Val Leu# 460- Ile Thr Val Phe Ile Phe Ile Thr Ala Leu Cy - #s Leu Tyr Tyr Ser His465 4 - #70 4 - #75 4 -#80- Pro Arg Arg Leu- <210> SEQ ID NO 8<211> LENGTH: 193<212> TYPE: PRT<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 8- Met Gln Gly Met Arg Ser Thr Ser Gln Pro Le - #u Val Glu Ile Pro Leu# 15- Val Asp Met Glu Pro Gln Pro Ser Ile His Se - #r Asn Glu Pro Asn Pro# 30- Pro Asn Lys Met Leu Thr Thr Ala Ile Ser Se - #r Arg Arg Ser Gly Ile# 45- Phe Leu Phe Ser Leu Gly Met Phe Phe Phe Gl - #y Val Ile Leu Thr Ala# 60- Thr Ile Ile Val Cys Thr Phe Ile Phe Thr Il - #e Pro Val Asp Met Leu# 80- Gln Met Pro Arg Cys Pro Glu Glu Thr Val Gl - #y Ile Lys Asn Cys Cys# 95- Ile Arg Pro Ile Arg Arg His Val Lys Ser Hi - #s Gln Asp Leu Val Ala# 110- Thr Cys Ala Glu Tyr Met Glu Gln Pro Ala Th - #r Ala Ser Ala Val Gly# 125- Ala Leu Ile Pro Leu Leu Asp Ile Phe Asn Gl - #y Asp Gly Ile Ser Thr# 140- Asn Asp Ser Leu Tyr Asp Cys Ile Leu Ser As - #p Glu Lys Lys Ser Cys145 1 - #50 1 - #55 1 -#60- Asn Thr Ser Met Ala Val Cys Gln Ser Thr Ty - #r Leu Pro Asn Pro Leu# 175- Ser Asp Phe Ile Met Arg Val Arg Gln Ile Ph - #e Ser Gly Ile Leu Asn# 190- His- <210> SEQ ID NO 9<211> LENGTH: 298<212> TYPE: PRT<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 9- Ile Leu Gly Ser Ile Glu Arg Gly Arg Arg Ar - #g Ser Thr Arg Glu Arg# 15- Ala Lys Thr Glu Arg Arg Cys Val Ser Gln Me - #t Met Thr His Ile Asp# 30- Arg Gln Ser Leu Pro Leu Pro Ser Pro Pro Th - #r Pro His Ala His His# 45- Asp Val Thr Tyr Pro Pro Ala Val Ile Thr Pr - #o Pro Asn Pro Tyr Met# 60- Gly Met Ala Ser Leu Leu Ala Ser Pro Leu Th - #r Pro Arg Asp Ile Ser# 80- Ser Pro Gly Leu Gly Asp His Pro Ser Asn Th - #r Pro Asp Gly Val Glu# 95- Gly Cys Phe His Arg Thr Pro Leu Arg Ser As - #p Ala Arg Thr Lys Gln# 110- Leu Asp Asp Arg Phe Asp Ser Ser Asp Cys As - #p Gly Thr Pro Tyr Thr# 125- Ser Leu Asp Asp Ile Arg Pro Glu Glu Ser Gl - #u Asp His Ile Asn Asn# 140- Pro Ser Tyr Gly Leu Thr Glu Thr Phe Asn Se - #r Ser Asn Leu Ser Asn145 1 - #50 1 - #55 1 -#60- Gly Asp Glu Pro Arg Asp Ala Tyr Gln Thr Hi - #s Tyr Gln His Pro Arg# 175- Cys Ile Ser Pro Glu Asp Thr Ala Gln Ser Ar - #g Gly Ser Ser Ala Ser# 190- Gly Thr Thr Ser Gln Leu Gln Tyr Thr Glu Hi - #s Tyr Gln Thr Pro Ile# 205- Cys His Lys Lys Cys Gln Cys Ser Lys Pro Gl - #y Gly Pro Lys Gly Asp# 220- Tyr Pro Glu Leu Tyr Asn Glu Cys Gly Asp Va - #l Lys Lys Asn Leu Pro225 2 - #30 2 - #35 2 -#40- Arg Arg Arg Ser Ser Ser Pro Gly Ile Glu Gl - #u Val Val Glu Arg Phe# 255- Arg Pro Arg Ser Arg Leu Leu Asp Asp Thr Ty - #r Gly Ile Glu Thr Leu# 270- Ala Thr Leu Asn Ala Ser Ser Ile Lys Arg Al - #a His Gly Thr Ser Arg# 285- Val Asp Phe Gln Thr His Ala Ile Arg Lys# 295- <210> SEQ ID NO 10<211> LENGTH: 24<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 10# 24ccgg ttcg- <210> SEQ ID NO 11<211> LENGTH: 32<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 11# 32 aacc ccggcaaggt ac- <210> SEQ ID NO 12<211> LENGTH: 32<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 12# 32 cccg gggcccggtg ca- <210> SEQ ID NO 13<211> LENGTH: 32<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 13# 32 ataa gctttgcatg ca- <210> SEQ ID NO 14<211> LENGTH: 21<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 14#21 ggta c- <210> SEQ ID NO 15<211> LENGTH: 17<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 15# 17 c- <210> SEQ ID NO 16<211> LENGTH: 28<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 16# 28 atcc cgggcccg- <210> SEQ ID NO 17<211> LENGTH: 28<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 17# 28 cgat aagctttc- <210> SEQ ID NO 18<211> LENGTH: 40<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 18# 40 catg aagtaatttt gctaatactc- <210> SEQ ID NO 19<211> LENGTH: 27<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 19# 27 taca ccatatg- <210> SEQ ID NO 20<211> LENGTH: 30<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 20# 30 ctct aggcggccgc- <210> SEQ ID NO 21<211> LENGTH: 32<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 21# 32 aaaa aacctcccac ac- <210> SEQ ID NO 22<211> LENGTH: 39<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 22# 39 catg attgtgctcg taacttgcc- <210> SEQ ID NO 23<211> LENGTH: 38<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 23# 38 ggac atgcactttt tcaattgg- <210> SEQ ID NO 24<211> LENGTH: 95<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 24- atgaagctta gtggttatgg tcaacccata gcctcgacac taagtaacat ca - #cactacca 60# 95 ctgt tgtgtactgt attcg- <210> SEQ ID NO 25<211> LENGTH: 88<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 25- aaaaatattg taccataaag aacttttgca agtggaatga acataaactg ag - #aattggtt 60# 88 acaa cagtattg- <210> SEQ ID NO 26<211> LENGTH: 20<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 26# 20 atgg- <210> SEQ ID NO 27<211> LENGTH: 20<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 27# 20 aaag- <210> SEQ ID NO 28<211> LENGTH: 20<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 28# 20 caag- <210> SEQ ID NO 29<211> LENGTH: 36<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 29# 36 ttgg ttcctgtacg tgcagc- <210> SEQ ID NO 30<211> LENGTH: 36<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 30# 36 cacg tacaggaacc aatgag- <210> SEQ ID NO 31<211> LENGTH: 20<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 31# 20 aagc- <210> SEQ ID NO 32<211> LENGTH: 37<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 32# 37 catg gccacacagg gacaacg- <210> SEQ ID NO 33<211> LENGTH: 33<212> TYPE: DNA<213> ORGANISM: Feline herpesvirus 1- <400> SEQUENCE: 33# 33 tcgt aacctcatca atc__________________________________________________________________________

Claims

1. A immunological composition comprising a recombinant feline herpesvirus (FHV) comprising and expressing at least one nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide, wherein the ate least one nucleic acid molecule is inserted into the ORF5 and/or ORF2 sites of FHV, which, in the FHV-1 CO strain, have the nucleotide sequences 5859-7113 and 1665-2596, of SEQ ID NO:1, respectively.

2. The immunological composition according to claim 1 wherein the at least one nucleic acid molecule is inserted into the ORF5 and/or ORF2 sites by simple insertion, or after total or partial deletion of these sites.

3. The immunological composition according to claim 1, wherein the ate least one nucleic acid molecule is inserted into one of the ORF5 or ORF2 sites, and a deletion is carried out in the other site.

4. The immunological composition according to claim 1, wherein the recombinant FHV includes a strong eukaryotic promoter for expression of the at least one nucleic molecule.

5. The immunological composition according to claim 4, wherein the string promoter is a CMV immediate-early promoter.

6. The immunological composition of claim 5 wherein promoter is the murine CMV immediate-early promoter.

7. The immunological composition of claim 5 wherein the promoter is the human CMV immediate-early promoter.

8. The immunological composition according to claim 1, wherein the recombinant FHV comprises at least two nucleic acid molecules inserted into the ORF5 or ORF2 site under the control of different eukaryotic promoters.

9. The immunological composition according to claim 8, wherein the eukaryotic promoters are CMV immediate-early promoters of different animal origins.

10. The immunological composition according to claim 8, wherein the recombinant FHV comprises: a first nucleic acid molecule operably linked to a first promoter wherein the first promoter is the CMV immediate-early promoter; and a second nucleic acid molecule operably linked to a second promoter, and, the 5' end of the promoters are adjacent.

11. The immunological composition according to claim 1, wherein the recombinant FHV comprises a nucleic acid molecule encoding an antigenic polypeptide.

12. The immunological composition according to claim 11, wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes an antigenic polypeptide of a feline pathogenic agent.

13. The immunological composition according to claim 12, wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes an antigen selected from the group consisting of: the antigens of the feline infectious peritonitis virus, the antigens of feline leukemia virus, the antigens of feline immunodeficiency virus, the antigens of feline infectious panleukopenia virus and the antigens of feline calicivirus.

14. The immunological composition according to claim 12, wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes a polypeptide from feline infectious peritonitis virus selected from the group consisting of M, modified S and N.

15. The immunological composition according to claim 12, wherein the at least one nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleic acid molecule encoding an antigen selected from the group consisting of the env antigen of feline leukemia virus, the gag antigen of feline leukemia virus, the pol antigen of the feline leukemia virus, the env antigen of feline immunodeficiency virus, the gag antigen of feline immunodeficiency virus, the pol antigen of the feline immunodeficiency virus, the VP2 capsid antigen of feline infectious panleukopenia virus, the capsid antigen of feline calcivirus, the M antigen of feline infectious peritonitis virus, the modified S antigen of feline infectious peritonitis virus, the N antigen of feline infectious peritonitis virus, the 7b antigen of feline infectious peritonitis virus, and the polymerase antigen of the feline infectious peritonitis virus.

16. The immunological composition according to claim 8 wherein the recombinant FHV comprises: a first nucleic acid molecule under the control of a first promoter comprising the CMV immediate-early promoter, and said first nucleic acid molecule encodes the M, N or modified S polypeptide from feline infectious peritonitis virus; and a second nucleic acid molecule under the control of a promoter and the second nucleic acid molecule encodes an antigen for another feline disease.

17. The immunological composition according to claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes an immunomodulatory polypeptide.

18. The immunological composition according to claim 17, wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes a cytokine.

19. An immunological composition comprising at least a first recombinant feline herpesvirus (FHV) comprising and expressing at least one first nucleic acid molecule encoding a first polypeptide wherein the at least one first nucleic acid molecule is inserted into the ORF5 and/or ORF2 sites of the first FHV, which, in the FHV-1 CO strain, have the nucleotide sequences 5859-7113 and 1665-2596, of SEQ ID NO:1, respectively; and at least a second recombinant feline herpesvirus (FHV) comprising and expressing at least one second nucleic acid molecule encoding a second polypeptide wherein the at least one second nucleic acid molecule is inserted in to the ORF5 and/or ORF2 sites of the second FHV, which, in the FHV-1 CO strain, have the nucleotide sequences 5859-7113 and 1665-2596, of SEQ ID NO:1, respectively.

20. An isolated DNA molecule comprising one hundred contiguous nucleotides in nucleotides 1 to 8193 of SEQ ID No. 1.

21. The isolated DNA molecule of claim 20 comprising nucleotides 1 to 8193 of SEQ ID No. 1.

22. The isolated DNA molecule of claim 21 which is nucleotides 1 to 8193 of SEQ ID No. 1.

23. A method of inducing an immunological response in a cat comprising administering to the cat an effective quantity of the immunological composition according to claim 1.

24. The method according to claim 13, comprising oronasally administering the immunological composition.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the administering is of a dose of between 10.sup.2 and 10.sup.7 DICC50.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the administering is performed once.

27. The method of claim 23 comprising parenterally administering the immunological composition.

28. The method of claim 23 comprising locally administering the immunological composition.