Targeted delivery through a cationic amino acid transporter

Abstract

The invention relates to the targeted delivery of substances to cells. The invention provides a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle provided with a ligand capable of binding to a human amino acid transporter. Provided are, for example, ligands that can bind to the human transporter of cationic L-amino acids (hCAT1). Such hCAT1 binding molecules find applications in the design of vector systems for entry into human or primate cells. Preferred are retroviral envelope molecules, which—when incorporated in a virus particle—can infect hCAT1 positive cells at high frequencies. Also disclosed are methods for the design of such hCAT1 binding molecules.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The invention relates to the targeted delivery of substances to cells.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Delivery of substances to cells allows specific treatment of the cells with compounds that act in the targeted cell. For example, tumor cells, when targeted with toxic components, selectively die when the toxin is delivered to the cell. Yet other cells, when provided with a gene lacking in the cell, can be restored in their function, which is so-called “gene therapy”.

[0004] Delivery of a compound to a cell preferably occurs with a vehicle or particle that effectively brings the compound to the desired cell or cells and then delivers the compound into that cell (in vivo or in vitro) where it can exert its action. For this purpose, particles such as virus-like particles are suited. These particles, often derived from known viruses, such as retrovirus or adenovirus, are small enough to penetrate in-between tissues and cells and arrive at a cell of choice where it can, for example, fuse with the cell and deliver its compound. The virus-like particles may or may not be infectious in themselves; their main concern is the targeted delivery of the compound of interest, such as a gene, a toxin or immuno-stimulating components such as antigens.

[0005] Yet other examples are gene-delivery vehicles, specifically designed to transfer a gene to a cell of interest. Virus-like particles capable of delivering a gene are examples of gene-delivery vehicles; however, other examples of such vehicles, of non-viral origin, exist, such as liposomes or microbodies, or even latex particles. Vehicles such as liposomes or microbodies can, of course, also carry compounds other than a gene; in particular, toxic or immuno-stimulating components such as antigens can be included in such a vehicle.

[0006] These vehicles or particles all have in common that they are provided with a molecule or fragment thereof (ligand) capable of binding with the targeted cell, allowing targeting of the particle or vehicles to cells. A need exists for specific or broadly applicable ligands that react with cell-surface receptors on cells. In particular, a need exists for ligands that react with cell-surface receptors after which efficient transfer of the compound to the cell, such as a gene, is possible. Especially in human medicine, such a ligand would enable better application of gene-transfer therapy than is possible now.

[0007] It has been a long-standing objective to exploit retrovirus technology in human gene therapy applications. However, the infection spectrum of retroviruses limits the applications of these viruses in such applications. All known env variants have a rather broad infection spectrum in common. Herein lies one of the major shortcomings of current recombinant retrovirus technology. For the purpose of gene therapy, retroviruses are very useful vehicles for the transfer of therapeutic sequences if proper ligand-receptor targets are available.

[0008] In conclusion, the concept of the use of retroviruses in human gene therapy is well documented (Gordon and Anderson, 1994; Havenga et al., 1997; Vile et al., 1996). However, it would be clearly advantageous and desirable to devise a strategy for targeted delivery of retroviruses, and modification of the infection spectrum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention relates to the targeted delivery of substances to cells. Specifically, the invention includes a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle provided with a ligand capable of binding to a human amino acid transporter. Included are, for example, ligands that can bind to the human transporter of cationic L-amino acids (“hCAT1”). Such hCAT1 binding molecules find applications in the design of vector systems for entry into, for example, human or primate cells. Preferred are retroviral envelope molecules, which—when incorporated in a virus particle—can infect hCAT1 positive cells at high frequencies. The invention also includes methods for the design of such hCAT1 binding molecules.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 graphically depicts the organization of ecotropic Moloney murine leukemia retrovirus.

[0011] FIG. 2 graphically depicts the theoretical topology of CAT-1 receptors in plasma membrane (extracellular).

[0012] FIG. 3 a graphically depicts the sequencing of hCAT1 cDNA isolated from human CD34+ hematopoietic cells.

[0013] FIG. 3 b depicts the sequencing of third extracellular domain hCAT1 cDNA isolated from human CD34+ hematopoietic cells (SEQ ID NO: 73 and 74).

[0014] FIG. 4 depicts synthetic sequence hCAT1 and mCAT1 peptides (SEQ ID NO:

[0015] FIG. 5 depicts a Northern blot analysis of cell lines with an hCAT1 probe.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a bar graph depicting the results of an ELISA with 12-mer peptide phages as described herein.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a bar graph depicting the binding of cloned 12 mer peptide displayed phages to hCAT1 peptide as measured by ELISA.

[0018] FIG. 8 is a bar graph depicting the binding of a particular peptide (SEQ ID NO: 1) displaying phage measured by flow cytometry.

[0019] FIG. 9 is a bar graph depicting the results of ELISA with pools of human Fab phages.

[0020] FIG. 10 is a bar graph depicting the binding of human FAb displaying phage pools measured by flow cytometry.

[0021] FIG. 11 is a bar graph depicting the binding of cloned human FAb displaying phages to hCAT1 peptide as measured by ELISA.

[0022] FIG. 12 is a bar graph depicting the binding of cloned human FAb displaying phages to hCAT1 expressing cells determined by flow cytometry.

[0023] FIG. 13 depicts two bar graphs depicting the performance of example FAb phage clone #25 binding to hCAT1 peptide and hCAT1 expressing unfixed cells as described herein.

[0024] FIG. 14 depicts the binding of FAb phage clone #25 to hCAT1 overexpressing cells.

[0025] FIG. 15 graphically depicts vector pCES1 used for construction of a human FAb display library.

[0026] FIG. 16 depicts the sequence of clone 25 (SEQ ID NO: 77, 78 and 79).

[0027] FIG. 17 is a bar graph depicting the binding of soluble FAb fragments to hCAT1 expressing cells.

[0028] FIG. 18 depicts construct pBr/Ad.Bam-rITR as described herein.

[0029] FIG. 19 graphically relates to the performance of a PCR with oligonucleotides “NY-up” (SEQ ID NO: 71) and “NY-down” (SEQ ID NO: 72) as described herein.

[0030] FIG. 20 depicts construct pBr/Ad.BamR.ΔFIB.pac.

[0031] FIG. 21 graphically depicts FIBER Ad5 as described herein.

[0032] FIG. 22 schematically depicts the method and fragments used to generate the chimeric viruses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The invention provides a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle provided with a ligand capable of binding to a human amino acid transporter. The invention provides the particle or vehicles wherein the ligand includes peptide molecules or fragments thereof binding the transporter, for example, to hCAT1. The peptides or fragments thereof can bind to, for example, the third extracellular domain of the cationic amino acid transporter hCAT1 or to cells expressing this domain of hCAT1 protein on their extracellular cell surface. These hCAT1 binding molecules can be peptides or antibody fragments displayed on a filamentous phage or as free molecules. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle for delivery of genes to human cells; however, it is also possible to provide the particles or vehicles with other compounds, such as toxins for selective killing or antigens for immunization.

[0034] In a particular embodiment of the invention, a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle is provided including at least one viral protein provided with the ligand. Included in the present invention is the use of hCAT1 binding ligands to provide a particle or vehicle that employs hCAT1 to enter a hemopoictic stem cell or any other cell expressing hCAT1. hCAT1 ligands can be incorporated in the envelope of a retrovirus or the capsid of any other viral or non-viral gene transfer vehicle such as an adenoviral vector. Incorporation of these hCAT1 binding sequences can be done using techniques known in the art.

[0035] The invention provides a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle wherein the viral protein includes an envelope protein. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a mutant retroviral envelope that is derived from a wild-type ecotropic envelope and which employs hCAT1 to enter the human or primate cell by binding to hCAT1. Such a new retroviral envelope molecule, when incorporated in a retroviral virion, will be able to infect hCAT1 positive cells such as human PHSCs at high efficiencies. The mutant retroviral envelopes can be used to pseudotype recombinant type C retrovirus including, but not limited to murine leukemia retroviral vectors. In a further embodiment of the present invention, these hCAT1 binding envelopes can also be used to pseudotype lentiviral vectors including equine or HIV derived lantiviral vectors (Kim et al., 1998; Rizvi and Panganiban, 1992),(Kafri et al., 1997; Poeschla et al., 1996),(Miyoshi et al., 1997; Naldini et al., 1996b). Any hCAT1 ligands or binding envelope molecules or parts thereof made according to the methods described herein or other methods can be ligated into full length mammalian retroviral envelope expression constructs and introduced in cell lines expressing and containing all the sequences necessary for the generation of infectious and functional retroviral particles; in a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle derived from a retrovirus.

[0036] In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle wherein the viral protein includes a capsid protein. hCAT1 binding sequences or ligands can also be incorporated in the capsid proteins of an adenovirus including, but not limited to, the H1 loop of the knob domain of an adenovirus (Krasnykh et al., 1998), preferably an adenovirus which does not bind to the adenoviral receptor CAR1 or MHC1. This results in an adenovirus that enters cells through hCAT1. Deduced from mCAT1 absent expression in mouse liver (Closs et al., 1993), an hCAT1 binding adenovirus does not exhibit liver transduction when administered in vivo. By combining an hCAT1 targeted knob with a ligand for another in vivo target hCAT1, targeting of an adenovirus can remove an important limitation of in vivo use of adenoviral vectors for gene therapy (Sullivan et al., 1997). In another embodiment an hCAT1 targeted adenovirus will more efficiently transduce cells that are difficult to transduce, such as endothelial cells or smooth muscle cells, as compared to a wild-type adenoviral vector including, but not limited, to an adenoviral vector derived from the adenoviral serotype 5. The invention also provides a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle derived from an adenovirus.

[0037] An hCAT1 targeted adenovirus is useful for local applications of adenoviral vector such as in patients with restenosis following balloon angioplasty where smooth muscle cells need to be transduced with, for example, an adenoviral vector carrying the ceNOS cDNA. More efficient transduction of these tissues results in lower multiplicities of infections (MOIs) that can be used and therefore, less vector associated toxicity to the tissues surrounding the target cells (PCT International Patent Application, PCT/EP98/00723).

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle according to the invention wherein the amino acid transporter is a cationic amino acid transporter, preferably a human cationic amino acid transporter-1 (hCAT1). In a preferred example of the invention, the invention provides a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle wherein the ligand includes an amino acid sequence selected from Table 2, preferably from the last four different sequences of Table 2 or a sequence functionally related thereto. Various examples of a ligand having hCAT1 binding activity are provided; a particularly strong example is a ligand including at least a part of, including minimally 5, more preferably minimally 7 amino acids of the amino acid sequence SVSVGMKPSPRP (SEQ ID NO: 1).

[0039] In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle according to the invention wherein the ligand includes a fragment derived from a phage displaying at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with the amino acid transporter. In particular, a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle is provided wherein the antibody fragment includes an amino acid sequence as shown in FIG. 16 or an amino acid sequence functionally equivalent thereto or obtainable by a method as described herein.

[0040] The invention also provides use of a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle according to the invention in gene-transfer therapy. In numerous gene therapy applications, targeted delivery of genes into defined cells is provided by the invention, most notably in the case of in vitro gene transfer into cell types present with low abundance in cell mixtures and in approaches for in vivo gene transfer into cells in a living animal body. In a particular embodiment, the particles or vehicles provided by the invention are used for gene therapy using hCAT1 mediated gene transfer including but not limited to mammalian smooth muscle cells or hemopoietic stem cells such as CD34+CD38- or CD34+(CD33CD38CD71)-cells, including but not limited to adenoviral or retroviral gene transfer vehicles.

[0041] The invention also provides a method for selecting a filamentous phage expressing a protein capable of binding to a ligand including constructing a phage library, enriching the library for phages having desired binding characteristics by at least one round of selection of phages for their capacity to bind to a synthetic peptide derived from the ligand, and further including enriching the library for phages having desired binding characteristics by at least one round of selection of phages for their capacity to bind to a cell expressing the ligand.

[0042] The invention, for example, provides a peptide phage display to select hCAT1 binding peptides for incorporation in a ligand. To isolate peptides that bind to the third extracellular domain, we employed peptide phage display. A 12 mer peptide phage display library was purchased from New England Biolabs. This library is constructed in the filamentous E. coli phage m13 and the peptide sequences are displayed as N-terminal fusion proteins with the minor coat protein pIII. The unamplified library had a complexity of 1.9×109 different sequences as determined by the suppliers. We amplified the library once before using it to select hCAT1 binding peptide phages. Two targets were used to select for peptide displaying phages which bind to the third extracellular domain of hCAT1. First, the predicted third extracellular domain of hCAT1 was synthesized as a synthetic peptide by Neosystem, Strasbourg, France. The N-terminus of this peptide was biotinylated and followed by three amino acid linker residues KRR, followed by the predicted sequence of the third extracellular domain. Second, we generated cell lines derived from the human 911 cell line that over-express hCAT1 as judged by steady-state mRNA expression levels. The hCAT1 expression construct hATRCC1 which, is a pcDNA3 based expression construct of the hCAT1 cDNA, was employed to transfect 911 cell lines followed by selection for neomycin resistance. A cloned cell line designated k08 was isolated which expresses high levels of hATRCC1 derived hCAT1 mRNA.

[0043] Retroviruses are RNA viruses which efficiently integrate their genetic information into the genomic DNA of infected cells via a reverse-transcribed DNA intermediate. This property of their life-cycle and the fact that parts of their genetic material can be replaced by foreign DNA sequences make retroviruses one of the most promising vectors for the delivery of genes in human gene therapy procedures, most notably for gene therapies which rely on gene transfer into dividing tissues. Most retroviral vector systems are based on mouse retroviruses and consist of two components, i.e.,(i) the recombinant retroviral vector carrying the foreign sequences of interest, and (ii) so-called packaging cells expressing the structural viral proteins of which the encoding sequences are lacking in the retroviral vector. Expression of (i) in (ii) results in the production of recombinant retroviral particles capable of transducing susceptible target cells.

[0044] The infectivity and host cell range of the retrovirus particle is conferred by an envelope glycoprotein which specifically binds to a receptor molecule on the target cell membrane. The envelope glycoprotein of all known retroviruses consists of two associated peptides, which are derived by proteolytic cleavage from the same precursor protein encoded by the retroviral envelope (env) gene (Gunzburg and Salmons, 1996; Weiss, 1996). The amino terminal domain encompasses specific binding site(s) for its receptor on the target cell membrane determining the virus host range. Within this domain of about 200 amino acids, highly conserved sequences are present that are interrupted by two segments designated VRA and VRB which vary in sequence and length among various mammalian type C retroviruses (Battini et al., 1992). The carboxy terminal peptide, which contains trans-membrane anchor sequences, is assumed to account for the selective uptake of the envelope glycoprotein in the virus particle and to mediate fusion between the virus membrane and—depending on the type of virus—the plasma membrane or intracellular vesicle membrane of the target cell (Januszeski et al., 1997; Thomas et al., 1997). In FIG. 1 a schematic representation of the structure of MuLV env protein is given. Several envelope glycoprotein variants with different infection spectra for mammalian cells have been identified (Battini et al., 1992).

[0045] There are examples of recombinant viruses carrying an amphotropic or GaLV envelope. Recombinant viruses carrying an amphotropic or GaLV envelope are capable of infecting human and murine cells and are commonly used in gene transfer trials including human gene therapy involving the pluripotent hemopoietic stem cell (PHSC) (Havenga et al., 1997). Gene transfer frequencies into PHSCs of human patients and non-human primate animal models have been shown to be extremely low and limit therapeutic stem cell gene therapy (Havenga et al., 1997; Hoogerbrugge et al., 1996; Van Beusechem et al., 1993; van Beusechem et al., 1992).

[0046] One important limiting factor has been shown to be low expression levels of retroviral receptors such as the one mediating entry of amphotropic MuLV retrovirus (GLVR2) (Orlic et al., 1996; van Es et al., 1996). The quiescent state of PHSCs when isolated for ex vivo gene transfer procedures poses another blockade (Knaan-Shanzer et al., 1996). Murine stem cell gene therapy experiments have traditionally been performed with ecotropic MuLV vectors (Havenga et al., 1997). Recombinant viruses carrying an ecotropic envelope are only capable of infecting murine cells. Transfer of genes into murine PHSCs using ecotropic retroviral vectors has been shown to result in high transduction efficiencies in circulating PHSC derived peripheral blood cells (PBL). The transduction efficiencies are high enough to be therapeutic if achieved in human PHSCs reaching levels of PHSC gene transfer varying between 30-80%.

[0047] A small number of studies have been performed in which the transduction efficiency into murine PHSCs of ecotropic and amphotropic retroviruses were actually compared directly (Havenga et al., 1997). One of these studies indicated that infection with amphotropic retrovirus resulted in expression, and thus transgene presence for less than 8 weeks, whereas infection with ecotropic virus resulted in expression for more than 44 weeks after transplantation (Demarquoy, 1993). In a similar study, ecotropic virus was shown to be approximately 50 fold more efficient in transducing murine PHSCs as compared to amphotropic retrovirus (Orlic et al., 1996).

[0048] Ecotropic and amphotropic retrovirus differ in the receptor that is employed for virus entry (Albritton et al., 1989; van Zeijl et al., 1994). Ecotropic virus binds target cells via the ecotropic receptor mCAT1 which is a transporter of cationic L-amino acids (Kim et al., 1991) and amphotropic retrovirus binds target cells via the amphotropic receptor GLVR2, a sodium dependent phosphate transporter GLVR2 (Kavanaugh et al., 1994; Miller and Miller, 1994; van Zeijl et al., 1994).

[0049] A comparative study measuring mRNA levels of both the ecotropic and amphotropic receptors in mouse PHSCs (lin− c-kitbright) revealed an important difference. This study demonstrated that ecotropic receptor (mCAT1) mRNA levels in these cells are high, whereas amphotropic receptor (GLVR2) mRNA levels were undetectable by RT-PCR (Orlic et al., 1996). GLVR2 expression studies on CD34+(CD38,CD33,CD71)−(CD34+lin− cells) isolated from human bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and immobilized peripheral blood supports these data (van Es et al., 1996).

[0050] Another important factor which plays a role in determining successful retroviral entry and integration is the post-binding route of entry of a retrovirus particle. The post-binding entry route for ecotropic virus is different from that of amphotropic retrovirus. Ecotropic retrovirus transductions are sensitive to lysosomotropic agents such as chloroquine and NH4Cl. This suggests that upon binding of the ecotropic retrovirus, the retrovirus is internalized by receptor mediated endocytosis (McClure et al., 1990). In contrast, upon binding of the envelope of amphotropic retrovirus, the viral envelope directly fuses with the plasma membrane. This is a process that is not disrupted by lysosomotropic agents, suggesting that the post-binding steps of amphotropic MuLV virus are essentially different from those of ecotropic MuLV retrovirus (McClure et al., 1990).

[0051] The human homologue of the murine ecotropic virus receptor mCAT1 is hCAT1. Like mCAT1 mRNA expression in mouse PHSCs, hCAT1 mRNA is expressed at high levels in human PHSCs (Orlic et al., 1996). For both mCAT1 and hCAT1, the normal function is the import of cationic amino acids such as lysine and arginine (Albritton et al., 1993; Malhotra et al., 1996). The third predicted extracellular domain of mCAT1 includes a sequence YGE. The residues are crucial for receptor function. In the nonfunctional hCAT1, the sequence of the third extracellular domain is PGV. Mutation of the human sequence into one or two of the residues of mCAT1 results in an hCAT1 protein with ecotropic receptor function (Albritton et al., 1993; Yoshimoto et al., 1993). See, also, FIG. 2.

[0052] A number of mutant ecotropic envelope molecules have been described in the literature. MacKrell et al. have mutated amino acids within the receptor-binding domain VRA of ecotropic MuLV envelope in order to identify residues involved in receptor binding. Virions incorporating mutant envelopes carrying mutations at amino acid residue D84 have lost their binding capabilities to the ecotropic receptor mCAT1 (MacKrell et al., 1996). Virions carrying D84 mutated envelope protein were tested on human cells to search for a possible change in receptor recognition specificity but were found not to infect human cells (Mike Januszeski, personal communication).

[0053] Skov and Andersen have studied ecotropic Moloney envelope interactions with mCAT1 by generation of mutant envelope molecules with mutated arginine and lysine residues in gp70 including VRA followed by introduction in a replication competent retroviral backbone (Skov and Andersen, 1993). Mutations R135G, K137Q, R157G and R159A (R102G,K104Q,R124G and R126A without signal peptide respectively) resulted in virions that were not able to replicate.

[0054] Kingsman et al. have described in PCT International Patent application WO96/31602 an insertion site in the VRA domain of ecotropic envelope which allows modification of the tropism. An integrin binding sequence was inserted resulting in infection of human cells expressing the respective integrin.

[0055] PVC-211 murine leukemia virus (MuLV) is a neuropathogenic variant of ecotropic Friend MuLV (F-MuLV) that causes a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease in susceptible rodents. PVC-211 MuLV, but not the parental F-MuLV, can infect rat brain capillary endothelial cells (BCEC) efficiently, and the major determinant for BCEC tropism of PVC-211 MuLV is localized within the env gene. More specific analysis indicated that E 116G and E129K substitutions in the background of the F-MuLV envelope protein were sufficient for conferring BCEC tropism on the virus (Masuda et al., 1996a). Host range changes of these mutations were found to include CHO cells normally not infectable with ecotropic F-MuLV or M-MuLV. The latter suggests that these mutations overcome a negative effect of CAT1 CHO cell receptor glycosylation in the region of virus binding in the third extracellular domain of mCAT1 (Masuda et al., 1996b).

[0056] By employing particular natural env variants, the transduction spectrum can be limited to some extent, but true specificity for human target cells of interest cannot be obtained following this strategy (Masuda et al., 1996a; von Kalle et al., 1994; Wilson et al., 1994).

[0057] In the present invention we describe the expansion of the host range of an ecotropic retrovirus or other gene transfer vehicle such as an adenoviral vector resulting in increased transduction of hemopoietic stem cells. In this invention, targeted delivery is accomplished by directing the retrovirus particle to cell membrane molecules differing from the natural receptor. This could then lead to increased specificity of transduction.

[0058] The present invention discloses examples of molecules that bind to hCAT1 and that can be used to develop gene transfer vehicles such as retroviral and adenoviral vectors. In particular, the invention relates to proteins and derivatives thereof expressed in the lipid bilayer of enveloped virus particles such as retroviruses. Methods, materials, procedures and pharmaceutical formulations for the design and preparation of the above molecules and virus particles are also part of the invention. These molecules and virus particles have applications in the field of virology, gene therapy, biochemistry and molecular biology.

[0059] The present invention relates to peptide molecules binding to hCAT1. These molecules are characterized by their ability to bind the third extracellular domain of the cationic amino acid transporter hCAT1 to either a synthetic peptide encompassing this third extracellular domain or by binding to cells expressing this domain of hCAT1 protein on their extracellular cell surface. These hCAT1 binding molecules can be peptides or antibody fragments displayed on a filamentous phage or as free molecules.

[0060] Included in the present invention are filamentous phages displaying hCAT1 binding molecules and that can be used to transfer genes into cells by modification of the phage genome using techniques known in the art.

[0061] Included in the present invention is the use of hCAT1 binding molecules to design vectors that employ hCAT1 to enter an HSC or any other cell expressing hCAT1. hCAT1 binding molecules can be incorporated in the envelope of a retrovirus or the capsid of any other viral or non-viral gene transfer vehicle such as an adenoviral vector. Incorporation of these hCAT1 binding sequences can be done using techniques known in the art.

[0062] Preferred are mutant retroviral envelopes that are derived from wild-type ecotropic envelope and which employ hCAT1 to enter the human or primate cell by binding to hCAT1. These new retroviral envelope molecules, when incorporated in a retroviral virion, will be able to infect hCAT1 positive cells such as human PHSCs at high efficiencies. The mutant retroviral envelopes can be used to pseudotype recombinant type C retrovirus including but not limited to murine leukemia retroviral vectors. In a further embodiment of the present invention, these hCAT1 binding envelopes can also be used to pseudotype lentiviral vectors including equine or HIV derived lentiviral vectors (Kim et al., 1998; Rizvi and Panganiban, 1992),(Kafri et al., 1997; Poeschla et al., 1996),(Miyoshi et al., 1997; Naldini et al., 1996b).

[0063] Any hCAT1 binding envelope molecules or parts thereof made according to the methods described herein or other methods can be ligated into full length mammalian retroviral envelope expression constructs and introduced in cell lines expressing and containing all the sequences necessary for the generation of infectious and functional retroviral particles including but not limited to cell lines preferably derived from the adenoviral E1 transformed, human cell line PER.C6 (PCT International Patent Publication WO97/00326) and that express murine leukemia gag-pol constructs and a retroviral vector containing long terminal repeats (LTRs), and retroviral RNA packaging signals such as those vectors described in PCT International Patent Publication WO96/35798. The hCAT1 binding envelopes made according to the subject material of this invention can also be used to pseudotype vectors other than murine leukemia retroviral vectors including but not limited to lentiviral vectors (Naldini et al., 1996a; Naldini et al., 1996b).

[0064] In a further embodiment of the invention, hCAT1 binding sequences can also be incorporated in the capsid proteins of adenovirus including, but not limited to, the H1 loop of the knob domain of an adenovirus (Krasnykh et al., 1998); preferably an adenovirus which does not bind to the adenoviral receptor CAR1 or MHC1. This results in an adenovirus that enters cells through hCAT1. Deduced from mCAT1 absent expression in mouse liver (Closs et al., 1993), an hCAT1 binding adenovirus does not exhibit liver transduction when administered in vivo. By combining an hCAT1 targeted knob with a ligand for another in vivo target hCAT1 targeting of an adenovirus can remove an important limitation of in vivo use of adenoviral vectors for gene therapy (Sullivan et al., 1997). In another embodiment, an hCAT1 targeted adenovirus will more efficiently transduce cells that are difficult to transduce such as endothelial cells or smooth muscle cells as compared to a wild-type adenoviral vector including but not limited to an adenoviral vector derived from the adenoviral serotype 5.

[0065] An hCAT1 targeted adenovirus is useful for local applications of adenoviral vector such as in patients with restenosis following balloon angioplasty where smooth muscle cells need to be transduced with, for example, an adenoviral vector carrying the ceNOS cDNA. More efficient transduction of these tissues results in lower multiplicities of infections (MOIs) that can be used and therefore less vector associated toxicity to the tissues surrounding the target cells (PCT Internat'l Patent Appl'n PCT/EP98/00723).

[0066] In another aspect of the present invention, the hCAT1 binding human FAbs that are part of the subject matter of this invention can be used to measure expression of hCAT1 molecules on cells that are targets for gene therapy using hCAT1 mediated gene transfer including but not limited to mammalian hemopoietic stem cells such as CD34+CD38− or CD34+(CD33CD38CD71)− cells. This could be part of a procedure aimed at determining when or whether a patients cells are most susceptible to gene transfer through hCAT1 including but not limited to adenoviral or retroviral gene transfer vehicles.

[0067] The skilled artisan will be able to apply the teaching of the present invention to other virus capsid or envelope or non-viral gene transfer molecules or vehicles than those exemplified herein without departing from the present invention and therefore the examples presented are illustrations and not limitations. It is intended that all such other examples be included within the scope of the appended claims.

EXAMPLES

Example I

Sequences of hCAT1 cDNAs Amplified from Human CD34+ Cells

[0068] For the purpose of developing gene transfer tools that enter PHSCs through hCAT1, specifically through binding to the third extracellular domain, we isolated total RNA from a number of different human CD34+ samples and determined the cDNA sequence of hCAT1 (see, FIG. 2). Total RNA was isolated according to the protocol described by Chomczynski et al. (Chomczynski and Sacchi, 1987). RT-PCR was performed by using the SuperScript Preamplification System for First Strand cDNA Synthesis (Life Technologies). For first strand synthesis random hexamers were used. The hCAT1 cDNA was amplified with two sets of primers, each resulting in a product of approximately 1 kb encompassing the open reading frame of the hCAT1 mRNA (Yoshimoto et al., 1991). DNA sequencing was performed by BaseClear, Leiden, The Netherlands, using automated sequence analysis. In FIGS. 3a and 3b, the results of sequence analysis of hCAT1 cDNA isolated from CD34+ cells from mobilized peripheral blood or umbilical cord blood are compiled. Clearly from these nucleotide sequence analyses (FIG. 3b) it can be deduced that indeed in the CD34+ samples tested, hCAT1 is expressed and includes the third extracellular domain with predicted sequence KNWQLTEEDFGNTSGRLCLNNDTKEGKPGVGGF (SEQ ID NO: 2) which includes the sequence PGV determining function as receptor (see, above). Therefore, targeting through this domain or part of this domain of hCAT1 in hemopoietic CD34+ cells including but not limited to hemopoietic stem cells such as defined by lineage negative phenotypes, e.g., CD34+CD38−, is possible.

Example II

Peptide Phage Display to Select hCAT1 Binding Peptides

[0069] To isolate peptides that bind to the third extracellular domain of hCAT1 (Albritton et al., 1993)(FIG. 2) we employed peptide phage display. A 12 mer peptide phage display library was purchased from New England Biolabs. This library is constructed in the filamentous E. coli phage m13 and the peptide sequences are displayed as N-terminal fusion proteins with the minor coat protein pIII. The unamplified library had a complexity of 1.9×109 different sequences as determined by the suppliers. We amplified the library once before using it to select hCAT1 binding peptide phages. Two targets were used to select for peptide displaying phages which bind to the third extracellular domain of hCAT1. First, the predicted third extracellular domain of hCAT1 was synthesized as a synthetic peptide by Neosystem, Strasbourg, France. The N-terminus of this peptide was biotinylated and followed by three amino acid linker residues KRR, followed by the predicted sequence of the third extracellular domain (FIG. 4). Second, we generated cell lines derived from the human 911 cell line that overexpress hCAT1 as judged by steady-state mRNA expression levels. The hCAT1 expression construct hATRCC1, which is a pcDNA3 based expression construct of the hCAT1 cDNA (Malhotra et al., 1996), was employed to transfect 911 cell lines followed by selection for neomycine resistance in 1 mg/ml of G418 (Genetecin, Life Technologies, Inc). A cloned cell line designated k08 was isolated which expresses high levels of hATRCC1 derived hCAT1 mRNA (FIG. 5).

[0070] To select for peptide displaying phages that bind to the putative third extracellular domain of hCAT1 as expressed on human cells, the following selection procedure was employed. Six rounds of selection on biotinylated hCAT1 peptide (FIG. 4) followed by three rounds of selection on hCAT1 overexpressing cells k08. Initially, two separate selections were carried out differing in the stringency of washing. Low stringency washing consisted of 3 washes with 2% (w/v) milk powder in PBS with 0.05% (v/v) TWEEN 20 and 3 washes with PBS. High stringency washing consisted of 5 washes with 2% (w/v) milk powder, PBS with 0.05% TWEEN 20, 5 washes with PBS, 0.05% TWEEN 20 and 5 washes with PBS. After 1 round of selection on 911-hCAT1-k08 cells, eluted phages from both washing procedures were pooled and used for a second and third round of selection on 911-hCAT1-k08 cells. The results of these experiments are depicted in Table 1. Clearly the ratio of input over output increases upon selection on hCAT1 peptide indicative of selection for binding phages. When selection on hCAT1 positive cells was started, the ratio drops and slightly increases in the last round on hCAT1 expressing human cells.

[0071] After the last round of selection with the hCAT1 peptide and after each round of cell selection, the pools of peptide displaying phages were tested for binding to immobilized hCAT1 peptide using an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (“ELISA” or “EIA”). 96-well plates were coated with 2 mg/ml biotinylated BSA in PBS and incubated for 1 hour 37° C. after which the wells were rinsed 3× for 5 minutes with PBS/0.05% TWEEN 20. Then the wells were saturated with streptavidin (10 mg/ml in PBS/0.5% gelatin) for 1 hour at room temperature (RT) and washed 3 times with PBS/0.05% TWEEN 20. Then the wells were incubated overnight at 4° C. with biotinylated hCAT1 peptide (FIG. 4) at a concentration of 10 mg/ml in PBS. The next day the wells were rinsed two times with PBS/0.1% TWEEN 20 and 2×with PBS. Then the wells were blocked with 2% non-fat milkpowder in PBS for at least 30 minutes at RT followed by three rinses with PBS/0.1% TWEEN and three with PBS. Subsequently, an equal volume of 4% non-fat milkpowder in PBS was added to all wells and culture supernatant or purified phage (PEG precipitated) and incubated for 1.5 hours at RT. After this incubation, the wells were washed three times with PBS/0.1% TWEEN 20 and three times with PBS followed by incubation with an anti-m13 antibody solution (Pharmacia, 1:5000 in 2% non-fat milkpowder in PBS) for 1 hour at RT. Again the wells were washed three times with PBS/0.1% TWEEN and three times with PBS followed by the addition of a rabbit-anti goat HRP conjugate solution (BioRad, 1:2000 in 2% non-fat milkpowder in PBS) for 1 hour at RT. After this incubation, the wells were washed again three times with PBS/0.1% TWEEN and three times with PBS. Detection of phage binding was then visualized using TMB colour solution (0.1 mg/ml TMB, 1% DMSO, 1× TMB buffer, 0.001% 30% H2O2 in H2O) 20-30 min in the dark at RT and stopped with 2 N H2SO4 and read at 450 nm in a microplate reader. Using this hCAT1-specific ELISA, an enrichment of phages binding to hCAT1 peptide is achieved (FIG. 6). Importantly, after binding of the peptide selected pools to hCAT1 overexpressing cells, eluted phages still bind to hCAT1 peptide. Clones isolated from round 3 on hCAT1 overexpressing cells were isolated and tested on hCAT1 peptide ELISA (FIG. 7). Except 1, all tested clones bound to hCAT1 peptide and thus to the third extracellular domain displayed on human cells.

[0072] To confirm enrichment for specific sequences and to determine the amino acid sequence of the 12 mer peptides displayed, we isolated single stranded m13 phage DNA for automated sequence analysis (Baseclear, Leiden, The Netherlands). The oligonucleotide used for sequencing was 5′-CCCTCATAGTTAGCGTAACG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 3). We sequenced clones isolated from the pools of various peptide and cell selections. For this purpose we pooled the eluates of the two different washing conditions. In addition to the amplified 12 mer peptide library, we only selected clones from peptide rounds 3, 5 and 6 and cell rounds 1, 2 and 3. In Table 2, the sequences determined for the various clones are given. Clearly, a very strong selection occurred because all cell selected phage clones displayed one sequence namely: SVSVGMKPSPRP (SEQ ID NO: 1). This sequence is also displayed by phages in hCAT1 peptide selected pool 6 in a mixture with 3 other sequences. These other phages are lost once the phage pools selected on hCAT1 peptide are selected for binding to hCAT1 overexpressing cells.

[0073] The cloned SVSVGMKPSPRP (SEQ ID NO: 1) displaying m13 phage was used in experiments to measure binding of the displayed sequence to cells that express hCAT1. First, we did an experiment using the flow cytometer and the 2 cell lines 911-pcDNA3 and 911-hCAT1(k08). Cells were incubated with 1011 phage in 100 ml PBS/0.1% BSA for 1 hour at room temperature. Subsequently, the cells were washed twice with PBS/0.1% BSA followed by incubation of the cells with anti-m13 antibody (Pharmacia, 1:500 in PBS/0.1% BSA) for 30 min at room temperature and washed twice with PBS/0.1% BSA. Then the cells were incubated with rabbit-anti goat FITC (DAKO, 1:50 in PBS/0.1% BSA) for 30 min at RT and washed twice with PBS/0.1% BSA. Binding of phage was then measured in the FL1 channel of a Becton and Dickinson flow cytometer. As a control, we used an identical amount of phage from the amplified 12 mer library. In FIG. 8, the results of this experiment are depicted. Clone #26 phage binds to 911 cells and in particular to 911 cells that over-express hCAT1.

[0074] We also measured cell binding of phage incubating hCAT1 expressing cells with phage followed by titering total cell bound phage, eluted phage and cell associated phage fractions on E. coli using a standard m13 plating assay on a lawn of E. coli cells. For this purpose, E. coli strain ER2537 is grown overnight in LB medium. This overnight culture is then used to inoculate 20 ml of fresh LB medium at an OD600nm of 0.05. Once at an OD600nm of 0.5, 500 ml of the ER2537 E. coli bacteria were mixed with 500 ml dilutions of phage samples and incubated at RT for 10 min. Plating on a standard LB-agar plate was performed by mixing 3 ml top agar with 200 ml of each sample. Once the top agar was solidified, the plates were transferred upside down to a 37° C. incubator for 12-14 hours. Plaques were counted and used to determine the number of phage particles binding to hCAT1 expressing cells. In Table 3 cell binding is depicted.

[0075] Clearly, from these results we can conclude that the 12 mer peptide displaying phage with sequence SVSVGMKPSPRP(SEQ ID NO: 1) indeed binds to hCAT1 expressing cells. hCAT1 expressing cells were also incubated at 37° C., followed by elution of bound phages plus cell associated phages were liberated. Both were used in phage titering on E. coli and clearly a cell associated fraction is detected. This suggests that the phage displaying sequence SVSVGMKPSPRP (SEQ ID NO: 1) and which bind to hCAT1 also enter a human hCAT1 expressing cell. This feature of sequence SVSVGMKPSPRP(SEQ ID NO: 1) could be used for the development of gene transfer products useful in gene therapy.

Example III

Human FAb Phage Display to Select hCAT1 Binding Human Antibody Molecules

[0076] To isolate antibodies that bind to the third extracellular domain of hCAT1 (Albritton et al., 1993) (FIGS. 2 & 4), we employed phages displaying human FAb fragments encompassing the light and heavy variable and constant regions. A human FAb phage display library was constructed in phage display vector pCES1, a vector derived from pCANTAB6 (McGuiness et al., 1996). The library was constructed in the filamentous E. coli phage m13 and the FAb sequences are displayed partly as N-terminal fusion proteins with the minor coat protein pIII. The unamplified library had a complexity of approximately 3.3×1010 different sequences. Two targets were used to select for peptide displaying phages which bind to the third extracellular domain of hCAT1. First, the predicted third extracellular domain of hCAT1 was synthesized as a synthetic peptide by Neosystem, Strasbourg, France. The N-terminus of this peptide was biotinylated and followed by three amino acid linker residues KRR, followed by the predicted sequence of the third extracellular domain (FIGS. 2 & 4). Second, we generated cell lines derived from the human 911 cell line that over-express hCAT1 as judged by steady-state mRNA expression levels. The hCAT1 expression construct hATRCC1, which is a pcDNA3 based expression construct of the hCAT1 cDNA, was employed to transfect 911 cell lines followed by selection for neomycin resistance in 1 mg/ml of G418 (Geneticin, Life Technologies, Inc). A cloned cell line designated k08 was isolated which expresses high levels of hATRCC1 derived hCAT1 mRNA (FIG. 5).

[0077] To select for FAb displaying phages that bind to the putative third extracellular domain of hCAT1 as expressed on human cells, the following selection procedure was employed: four rounds of selection on biotinylated hCAT1 peptide (FIG. 4) followed by three rounds of selection on hCAT1 overexpressing cells k08. For selection on biotinylated hCAT1 peptide, 250 ml of FAb library (or eluted phage from the previous round) was mixed with 250 ml 4% Marvel in PBS and equilibrated while rotating at RT for 1 hour. Subsequently, biotinylated hCAT1 peptide (20-500 nM in H2O) was added. This mix was incubated on the rotator at RT for 1 hour before 250 ml equilibrated streptavidin-dynabeads in 2% Marvel in PBS was added. After incubation on a rotator at RT for 15 min, the beads with the bound phage were washed 5 times with PBS/2% Marvel/0.1% TWEEN, 5 times with PBS/0.1% TWEEN and 5 times with PBS. Then the phage were eluted by incubation with 0.1M Tri-ethyl-amine on a rotator at RT for 10 min and neutralized in 1 M Tris-HCl pH 7.4. The eluted phage were titered and amplified in TG1 before the next selection. For selection on 911-hCAT1 cells, the cells were harvested at a confluency of about 80% and suspended in PBS/10% FBS/2% Marvel to a final concentration of at least 3×106 cells/ml. This cell suspension was incubated for 30 min on a rowing boat mixer (or rotator), while at the same time, phage were also pre-incubated in PBS/10% FBS/2% Marvel. Then the cells were centrifuged, resuspended in the pre-incubated phage solution and incubated on a rowing boat mixer (or rotator) for 1 hour. Afterwards, the cells were washed 10 times with PBS/10% FBS/2% Marvel and twice with PBS. The cells were centrifuged and resuspended in 0.6 ml water. Subsequently, 0.6 ml 200 mM triethylamine was added (drop-wise while vortexing). After 5 minutes, the suspension was neutralized by adding 0.6 ml of 1 M Tris-HCl pH 7.4 (drop-wise while vortexing). After centrifugation (5 min, 14000 rpm), the supernatant was transferred to a new tube and titered and amplified in TG1 before the next selection. The results of these experiments are depicted in Table 4. Clearly, the ratio of input over output increases upon selection on hCAT1 peptide indicative of selection for hCAT1 peptide binding phages. When selection on hCAT1 positive cells was started, the ratio dropped and slightly increased in the last round on hCAT1 expressing cells.

[0078] The pools of the last 3 rounds were tested for binding to the biotinylated hCAT1 peptide in an hCAT1-specific ELISA and also for cell binding by flow cytometric analysis (both protocols are described in Example 2). After the last round of selection on cells, the pool of FAb phages still binds to the biotinylated hCAT1 peptide (FIG. 9). Flow cytometric analysis showed that this pool also binds to hCAT1 overexpressing cells (FIG. 10). From this pool, 43 clones were analyzed by fingerprint analysis and divided into 14 different groups. From each group, 1 phage clone was tested for binding to the biotinylated hCAT1 peptide in an hCAT1-specific ELISA and also for cell binding by FACS analysis. Three clones appeared to be streptavidin binders, whereas the other II clones showed binding to the biotinylated hCAT1 peptide (FIG. 11). Flow cytometric analysis revealed that only 1 of the 14 clones showed strong binding to hCAT1 overexpressing cells (FIG. 12). This clone was analyzed in more detail (FIGS. 13 & 14). Clearly, clone #25 binds strongly to the synthetic hCAT1 peptide used and to hCAT1 overexpressing 911 k08 cells. Moreover, average fold increased binding of this phage to 911-hCAT1-k08 overexpressing cells over 911-pcDNA3 cells was found to be 1.6±1.2 fold (FIG. 14). Double strand phagemid DNA was prepared and used to determine the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence of the displayed variable heavy and light chains. For a schematic picture of the vector pCES1 in which the library of variable chains was cloned see FIG. 15. The hCAT1 binding domains are, as expected, homologous to human immunoglobulin sequences. The complementarity determining regions (CDRs) are indicated in FIG. 16.

[0079] The sequences of this immunoglobulin can be incorporated in viral or non-viral proteins that mediate binding and entry to cells and thus create gene transfer vehicles that enter cells through hCAT1. The hCAT1 binding human FAbs can also be used to measure expression of hCAT1 on cells that are targets for gene therapy using hCAT1 mediated gene transfer.

Example IV

Incorporation of hCAT1 Binding Peptides in Ecotropic Retroviral Envelope

[0080] To include hCAT1 binding peptides (see, Example 2) in the context of an ecotropic murine leukemia viral envelope, we used functional display of ecotropic envelope by filamentous phages. We used the construct gpIII/env2 which encodes a fusion protein consisting of a prokaryotic signal peptide and all of the gp70 protein including the variable regions A and B and the polyproline hinge (amino acid residues 34-308) fused to the capsid protein encoded by gene III of m13. Numbering of amino acid sequences was done according to the unprocessed envelope sequence as deposited in the Swiss prot database with accession number P03385 and starting from the viral signal peptide. In Table 5, all the oligonucleotides are depicted that are used for insertion of the peptide sequences in the retroviral envelope.

[0081] Three sites and ways of peptide insertion have been chosen: (1) Insertion at the BstEII site of the ecotropic envelope; (2) Replacement of sequence PFSS (residues 96-99) by each of the 4 peptides (see, Table 5); and (3) Replacement of sequence LTSLTP (residues 122-127) by each of the 4 peptide sequences (see, Table 5). The sequences PFSS and LTSLTP are predicted to be displayed on the outside of the envelope protein as deduced from the structure of crystallized Friend ecotropic envelope (Fass et al., 1997). For the BstEII insertion constructs, the two single stranded complementary oligonucleotides were synthesized. At the amino acid sequence level, linker amino acids were included at the amino and carboxy terminus of the inserted peptide sequence. These single stranded oligonucleotides were then mixed in equimolar fashion, heated to 95° C. and slowly cooled to room temperature to allow hybridization of the complementary molecules to double stranded DNA. Annealing was followed by BstEII digestion and separation on a 2% agarose gel run in TAE-buffer. DNA was then excised from the gel and purified using Qiaquick gel extraction kit (Qiagen, Germany). At the same time, double stranded phagemid DNA of construct gpIII/env2 was digested and thus linearized with BstEII. Linearized gpIII/env2 DNA was subjected to an incubation with the thermosensitive alkaline phosphatase TSAP (Life technologies), then mixed in various molar ratios with double stranded BstEII digested oligonucleotides encoding any of the 4 hCAT1 binding peptides (see, Table 5b). Then 1 unit of T4 ligase and T4 ligase buffer supplemented with 1 mM ATP was added. The ligation mixture was incubated for 1 hour at +20° C. The ligation mixtures were then transformed into Max DH5a competent bacteria (Life Technologies). Ampicillin resistant colonies were picked and subjected to a PCR with one of the 4 primers in Table 5c and primer Ecoenv12 (see, Table 5). This PCR allows one to determine the nature of the inserted sequence and its orientation. Plasmid DNA of colonies with correct orientation of insert DNA was then isolated using Qiagen columns and sequenced (Baseclear, Leiden) to confirm the complete sequence of the inserts and boundaries plus their orientation.

[0082] For the insertion/deletion of hCAT1 binding peptide sequences into gpIII/env2 at the LTSLTP and PFSS positions, two fragments were amplified (primary PCR) using Elongase polymerase and the following two pairs of primers: Fragment 1: Ecoenv17 (sense primer, Table 5c) plus one of the even numbered oligonucleotides in Table 5a. Fragment 2: Ecoenv12 or ecoenv05 (antisense, Table 5c) plus an odd numbered primer in Table 5a. Fragment 1 harbors at the DNA level the 3′ end, whereas fragment 2 harbors the peptide insertion at the 5′ end. Because both fragments have identical 3′ (fragment 1) and 5′ ends (fragment 2), they can be used to assemble a full double stranded DNA fragment encompassing the ecotropic envelope sequence between and including part of the ecoenv17 and ecoenv12 oligonucleotide sequences. This is done by first purifying the two fragments from the primary PCR using Qiaquick PCR purification columns to remove all remaining primers followed by doing a PCR using the two overlapping fragments, and primers ecoenv17 and ecoenv12, and all the components necessary for DNA amplification using Elongase. This step results in the assembly of a fragment harboring the 12 mer hCAT1 binding peptide insertions and results in the deletion of the LTSLTP (SEQ ID NO: 40) or PFSS (SEQ ID NO: 39) sequence. These fragments are purified and digested with NotI and PinA1, resulting in a DNA fragment of approximately 519 base pairs which was isolated from an agarose gel using Qiagen DNA isolation kit. The 519 base pair fragments were then ligated into a NotI and PinA1 digested gpIII/env2 Surfscript fragment of approximately 4000 base pairs using T4 ligase as described above in Example 3. E. coli bacteria are then transformed with the ligation mixture, ampicillin colonies picked, and plasmid DNA were isolated and analyzed for the presence of 519 base pair inserts using NotI and PinA1 restriction enzymes and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. Plasmids with appropriate inserts were then further verified by automated DNA sequencing of the inserts (Baseclear, Leiden, NL).

[0083] Phages displaying envelope with the various peptide inserts can then be produced and tested for their binding to and entry of hCAT1 expressing cells and compared to phages displaying the gpIII/env2 construct. The hCAT1 binding envelopes can then be used to develop retroviral vectors produced by mammalian cell lines.

Example V

Soluble FAb Generation and Binding to Human Cells

[0084] To prepare soluble FAb fragments of the hCAT1 binding FAb phage clone, periplasmic fractions were made from HB2151 bacteria infected with clone #25 phage. Infected bacteria were grown in LB medium with 2% glucose and 100 mg/ml ampicillin (LBGA) overnight while shaking at 30° C. The next day the infected cells were diluted 1:100 in 50 ml fresh LBGA and grown at 37° C. until the OD600 was 0.8. Bacteria were then pelleted, followed by resuspension in 25 ml LB, 100 mg/ml ampicillin and 1 mM IPTG and incubation for 3 hours at 30° C. while shaking vigorously. Then the bacteria were pelleted and resuspended in 1 ml ice-cold PBS followed by a 14-16 hour incubation at 4° C. while rotating. The next day the periplasmic fraction was cleared from bacterial residues by centrifugation: once for 10 minutes at 8000 rpm C (Eppendorf centrifuge #5402) at 4° C. followed by a spin of 10 minutes at 14000 rpm, 4° C. Then the FAb periplasmic fractions were aliquoted and stored at −20° C. The presence and expression of FAb fragments was confirmed by doing a dot blot and probing for human kappa light chains with anti-human kappa polyclonal rabbit antibodies (Dako A0191, 1:1000 dilution, 60 minutes) and anti rabbit IgG (H+L) antibodies conjugated with horse radish peroxidase (Biorad, 170-6515, 1:20.000, 60 minutes). Each step was followed by washing 6 times with PBS, 0.05% TWEEN 20 (v/v). Final detection of human FAbs was done using ECL staining (Amersham). This revealed the presence of high concentrations of soluble FAb fragment of hCAT1 binding clone #25. Dilutions of antibodies were made in PBS, 0.5% BSA (w/v), 0.05% TWEEN 20 (v/v).

[0085] The FAb fractions made as described above were then used to perform flow cytometric analyses in 911-hCAT1-kO8 cells expressing hCAT1 and compared to phages displaying clone 25 (see, Example 3) (FIG. 17). For this purpose, cells were incubated with 100 ml periplasmic fraction of clone 25 or control clone for 1 hour at room temperature followed by washing twice with PBS, 0.1% BSA and incubation with 500 times diluted anti-human kappa light chain antibodies (see, above) for 30 minutes at room temperature. This was followed by washing twice with PBS/0.1% BSA and a 30 minute room temperature incubation with goat-anti-rabbit immunoglobulin antibodies conjugated with phycoerythrin (diluted in 1:20 in PBS/0.1% BSA, Sigma P9795) and measurement in a flow cytometer. Detection of phage binding was done as described under Example 2.

[0086] Clearly, FAb preparations of clone 25 bind to hCAT1 expressing cells, whereas FAb fragments of an irrelevant CHO cell binding clone did not. The results are very similar to the results observed with phages displaying FAb clone 25 (FIG. 17). Compared to phages displaying hCAT1 binding FAb 25, FAb fragments of clone 25 facilitate the measurement of hCAT1 in a multiparameter setting such as CD34+ or CD34+lin− cells.

Example VI

Generation of Adenoviral Vectors Displaying hCAT1 Binding Peptide Sequences in Their Fiber Sequences

[0087] Adenoviral vectors displaying hCAT1 binding sequences such as those described in Examples 2 and 3 are useful in stem cell gene therapy but also for other applications where a broad tropism is desired such as other gene therapy applications where local administration of the vector is used but where the primary tissue or cells are difficult to transduce with an adenoviral vector. Also these vectors can be used in functional genomics applications where gene or nucleic acid libraries are built in an adenoviral vector system and where transduction of as many cell types as possible is desired. For these purposes we included the peptide sequences describe in examples 2 and 3 in the H-I loop of adenovirus with serotype 5 (Xia et al., Structure, Dec. 15, 1994; 2(12):1259-70).

[0088] Generation of Adenovirus Template Clones Lacking DNA Sequences Encoding for Adenoviral Fiber

[0089] The fiber coding sequence of adenovirus serotype 5 (“Ad5”) is located between nucleotides 31042 and 32787. To remove the Ad5 DNA encoding fiber, we started with construct pBr/Ad.Bam-rITR (FIG. 18; ECACC deposit P97082122). From this construct, the first step was the removal of an NdeI site. pBr322 plasmid DNA was digested with NdeI, after which protruding ends were filled using Klenow enzyme. This pBr322 plasmid was then re-ligated, digested with NdeI and transformed into E. coli DH5a. The obtained pBr/ΔNdeI plasmid was digested with ScaI and SalI and the resulting 3198 bp vector fragment was ligated to the 15349 bp ScaI-SalI fragment derived from pBr/Ad.Bam-rITR, resulting in plasmid pBr/Ad.Bam-rITRΔNdeI which hence contained a unique NdeI site. Next a PCR was performed with oligonucleotides “NY-up” and “NY-down” (FIG. 19). During amplification, both an NdeI and an NsiI restriction site were introduced to facilitate cloning of the amplified fiber DNAs. Amplification consisted of 25 cycles of each 45 sec. at 94° C., 1 min. at 60° C., and 45 sec. at 72° C. The PCR reaction contained 25 pmol of oligonucleotides NY-up and NY-down, 2 mM dNTP, PCR buffer with 1.5 mM MgCl2, and 1 unit of Elongase heat stable polymerase (Life Technologies, Breda, NL). One-tenth of the PCR product was run on an agarose gel which demonstrated that the expected DNA fragment of about 2200 bp was amplified. This PCR fragment was subsequently purified using the Geneclean kit system for DNA purification (Bio101 Inc.) Then, both the construct pBr/Ad.Bam-rITRΔNdeI as well as the PCR product were digested with restriction enzymes NdeI and SbfI. The PCR fragment was subsequently cloned using T4 ligase enzyme into the NdeI and SbfI sites, thus generating pBr/Ad.BamRΔFib. This plasmid allows insertion of any PCR amplified fiber sequence through the unique NdeI and NsiI sites that are inserted in place of the removed fiber sequence. Viruses can be generated by a double homologous recombination in packaging cells described infra using an adapter plasmid, contrast pWe/Ad.AflII-EcoRI (described below) digested with PacI and EcoRI and a pBr/Ad.BamRΔFib construct in which heterologous fiber sequences have been inserted. To increase efficiency of virus generation, the construct pBr/Ad.BamRΔFib was modified to generate a PacI site flanking the right ITR. Hereto, pBr/Ad.BamRΔFib was digested with AvrII and the 5 kb adenoviral fragment was isolated and introduced into the vector pBr/Ad.Bam-rITR.pac#8 (ECACC deposit P97082121)_replacing the corresponding AvrII fragment. The resulting construct was named “pBr/Ad.BamR.ΔFIB.pac” (FIG. 20).

[0090] Once a heterologous fiber sequence is introduced in pBr/Ad.BamRΔFib.pac, the fiber modified right hand adenovirus clone may be introduced into a large cosmid clone. Such a large cosmid clone allows generation of adenovirus by only one homologous recombination, thus making the process extremely efficient.

[0091] Generation of Chimeric Adenoviral DNA Constructs

[0092] For the insertion of hCAT1 binding peptide sequences in the H1 loop of Ad5 two fragments were amplified (primary PCR) using Elongase polymerase and the following two pairs of primers: Fragment 1: NdeIad5-1 (sense primer, Table 6) plus one of the AS (odd numbered) primers in Table 6. Fragment 2: NsiIAd5-1 (antisense primer, Table 6) plus one of the sense (even numbered) primers in Table 6.

[0093] Amplification for all PCRs consisted of a single hot start of 4 min at 94° C. followed by 30 cycles of each 30 sec. at 94° C., 30 sec. at 49° C., and 2 min. at 68° ending with a 7 minute period at 68°. The PCR reaction contained 25 pmol of oligonucleotides NY-up and NY-down, 2mM dNTP, PCR buffer with 1.5 mM MgCl2, and 1 unit of Elongase heat stable polymerase (Life Technologies, Breda, NL).

[0094] Fragment 1 harbors at the DNA level the 3′ end the hCAT1 binding sequences, whereas fragment 2 harbors the peptide insertions at the 5′ end. Since both fragments have now overlapping 3′ (fragment 1) and 5′ ends (fragment 2), they can be used to assemble a full double stranded DNA fragment encompassing one of the insertions (designated in hCAD1, hCAD2, hCAD3 or hCAD4 for hCAT1 binding and Adenovirus). FIG. 21 schematically depicts the method and primers used to generate the primary PCR products and assembly PCR. This is done by first running the crude PCR products on a 1% agarose gel (TAE) isolating the two fragments from the primary PCR out of a gel-slice using a Qiagen DNA isolation kit to remove all remaining primers and original template. This procedure was followed by a second “assembly” PCR using the two overlapping fragments, and two outer primers NdeIad5-1 (5′) and NsiIAd5-1 (3′), and all the components necessary for DNA amplification using Elongase. This step results in the assembly of a fragment harboring the 12 mer hCAT1 binding peptide insertions and linker.

[0095] Oligonucleotide Ad5-1rev1 was designed for an alternative assembly PCR strategy. The primary PCR of fragment 2 results in a PCR product of 633 bp harboring the 12 mer hCAT1 binding peptide insertions. Assembly PCR using this fragment and the 5′ fragments generated as described above (“fragment 1”) results in an assembled fragment of 2271 bp which is easier to distinguish from the 5′ primary fragment 1. The secondary assembly fragments were purified and digested with NdeI and NsiI resulting in a DNA fragment of 1736 base pairs. This fragment was isolated from a 1% agarose gel (TAE) using a Qiagen DNA isolation kit. The 1736 base pair fragments were then ligated into an NdeI and NsiI digested fragment of approximately 16853 base pairs derived from pBr/Ad.BamRΔFib.pac using T4 ligase. Electrocompetent E. coli bacteria (XL1 blue, Stratagene, >1010/microgram plasmid DNA) were then electroporated with the ligation mixture, ampicillin resistant colonies picked, and plasmid DNA were isolated and analyzed for the presence of 1736 base pair inserts using NdeI and NsiI restriction enzymes and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. Plasmids with appropriate inserts were then further verified by automated DNA sequencing of the inserts.

[0096] Generation of Recombinant Adenovirus Chimeric for Fiber Protein

[0097] To enable efficient generation of chimeric viruses, transfection using pClipsal/lacZ, pWE/Ad.AflII-Eco and pBr/Ad.Bam-rITR.PacI-hCAD1, 2, 3 or 4 fib5 was performed. pBr/Ad.Bam-rITR.PacI-hCAD1, 2, 3 or 4 fib5 all have a PacI site near the right ITR that enables the ITR to be separated from the vector sequences and allows efficient initiation of adenoviral replication after the complete vector molecule has been generated after double homologous recombination. The plasmid pClipsal/lacZ was generated as follows.

[0098] Generation of pAd5/ClipsalLacZ

[0099] First, a PCR fragment was generated from pZipΔDMo+PyF101(N−) template DNA (described in PCT/NL96/00195) with the following primers: LTR-1: 5′-CTG TAC GTA CCA GTG CAC TGG CCT AGG CAT GGA AAA ATA CAT AAC TG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 4) and LTR-2: 5′-GCG GAT CCT TCG AAC CAT GGT AAG CTT GGT ACC GCT AGC GTT AAC CGG GCG ACT CAG TCA ATC G-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 5). Pwo DNA polymerase (Boehringer Mannheim) was used according to manufacturer's protocol with the following temperature cycles: once 5′ at 95° C.; 3′ at 55° C.; and 1′ at 72° C., and 30 cycles of 1′ at 95° C., 1′ at 60° C., 1′ at 72° C., followed by once 10′ at 72° C. The PCR product was then digested with BamHI and ligated into pMLP10 (Levrero et al., 1991) vector digested with PvuII and BamHI, thereby generating vector pLTR10. This vector contains adenoviral sequences from bp 1 up to bp 454 followed by a promoter consisting of a part of the Mo-MuLV LTR having its wild-type enhancer sequences replaced by the enhancer from a mutant polyoma virus (PyF101). The promoter fragment was designated L420. Next, the coding region of the murine HSA gene was inserted. pLTR10 was digested with BstBI followed by Klenow treatment and digestion with NcoI. The HSA gene was obtained by PCR amplification on pUC18-HSA (Kay et al., 1990) using the following primers: HSA1, 5′-GCG CCA CCA TGG GCA GAG CGA TGG TGG C-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 6) and HSA2, 5′-GTT AGA TCT AAG CTT GTC GAC ATC GAT CTA CTA ACA GTA GAG ATG TAG AA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 7). The 269 bp amplified fragment was sub-cloned in a shuttle vector using the NcoI and BglII sites. Sequencing confirmed incorporation of the correct coding sequence of the HSA gene, but with an extra TAG insertion directly following the TAG stop codon. The coding region of the HSA gene, including the TAG duplication was then excised as an NcoI(sticky)-SalI(blunt) fragment and cloned into the 3.5 kb NcoI(sticky)/BstBI(blunt) fragment from pLTR10, resulting in pLTR-HSA10.

[0100] Finally, pLTR-HSA10 was digested with EcoRI and BamHI, after which the fragment containing the left ITR, packaging signal, L420 promoter and HSA gene was inserted into vector pMLPI.TK (described in PCT Internat'l Patent Appl'n WO 97/00326) digested with the same enzymes and thereby replacing the promoter and gene sequences. This resulted in the new adapter plasmid pAd/L420-HSA that contains convenient recognition sites for various restriction enzymes around the promoter and gene sequences. SnaBI and AvrII can be combined with HpaI, NheI, KpnI, HindIII to exchange promoter sequences, while the latter sites can be combined with the ClaI or BamHI sites 3′ from HSA coding region to replace genes in this construct.

[0101] Another adapter plasmid that was designed to allow easy exchange of nucleic acid molecules was made by replacing the promoter, gene and poly A sequences in pAd/L420-HSA with the CMV promoter, a multiple cloning site, an intron and a poly-A signal. For this purpose, pAd/L420-HSA was digested with AvrII and BglII, followed by treatment with Klenow to obtain blunt ends. The 5.1 kb fragment with pBr322 vector and adenoviral sequences was isolated and ligated to a blunt 1570 bp fragment from pcDNA1/amp (Invitrogen) obtained by digestion with HhaI and AvrII and followed by treatment with T4 DNA polymerase. This adapter plasmid was named pCLIP.

[0102] To enable removal of vector sequences from the left ITR in pAd5/Clip (described in Example 2B), this plasmid was partially digested with EcoRI and the linear fragment was isolated. An oligo of the sequence 5′ TTAAGTCGAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 10) was annealed to itself, resulting in a linker with an SalI site and EcoRI overhang. The linker was ligated to the partially digested pAd5/Clip vector and clones were selected that had the linker inserted in the EcoRI site, 23 bp upstream of the left adenovirus ITR in pAd5/Clip, resulting in pAd5/Clipsal.

[0103] The adapter plasmid pAd5/Clipsal.LacZ was generated as follows: The E. coli LacZ gene was amplified from the plasmid pMLP.nlsLacZ (EP 95-202 213) by PCR with the primers 5′GGGGTGGCCAGGGTACCTCTAGGCTTTTGCAA (SEQ ID NO: 9) and 5′GGGGGGATCCATAAACAAGTTCAGAATCC (SEQ ID NO: 10). The PCR reaction was performed Ex Taq (Takara) according to the supplier's protocol at the following amplification program: 5 minutes 94° C., 1 cycle; 45 seconds 94° C. and 30 seconds 60° C. and 2 minutes 72° C., 5 cycles; 45 seconds 94° C. and 30 seconds 65° C. and 2 minutes 72° C., 25 cycles; 10 minutes 72; 45 seconds 94° C. and 30 seconds 60° C. and 2 minutes 72° C., 5 cycles, 1 cycle. The PCR product was subsequently digested with KpnI and BamHI and the digested DNA fragment was ligated into KpnI/BamHI digested pcDNA3 (Invitrogen), giving rise to pcDNA3.nlsLacZ. Next, the plasmid pAd5/Clipsal was digested with SpeI. The large fragment containing part of the 5′ part CMV promoter and the adenoviral sequences was isolated. The plasmid pcDNA3.nlsLacZ was digested with SpeI and the fragment containing the 3′part of the CMV promoter and the lacZ gene was isolated. Subsequently, the fragments were ligated, giving rise to pAd/Clipsal.LacZ.

[0104] pWE/Ad.AflII-EcoRI was generated as follows. Cosmid vector pWE15 (Clontech) was used to clone larger Ad5 inserts. First, a linker containing a unique PacI site was inserted in the EcoRI sites of pWE15 creating pWE.pac. pWE.pac was digested with ClaI and 5′ protruding ends were filled using Klenow enzyme. The DNA was then digested with PacI and isolated from agarose gel. pWE/Ad.AflII-rITR (ECACC deposit P97082116) was digested with EcoRI after treatment with Klenow enzyme digested with PacI. The large 24 kb fragment containing the adenoviral sequences was isolated from agarose gel and ligated to the ClaI-digested and blunted pWE.pac vector using the Ligation Express™ kit from Clontech. After transformation of Ultracompetent XL10-Gold cells from Stratagene, clones were identified that contained the expected insert. pWE/AflII-EcoRI contains Ad5 sequences from bp 3534-27336.

[0105] Before transfection, the three necessary DNA constructs were treated as follows: pClipsal/lacZ was linearized by digestion with SalI; pWE/Ad.AflII-Eco was digested with PacI and EcoRI; and the four different pBr/Ad.Bam-rITR.PacI-hCAD1, 2, 3 or 4 fib5 constructs were digested with BamHI and PacI. These three digested DNA preparations were transfected into PER.C6 to generate recombinant adenovirus. FIG. 22 schematically depicts the method and fragments used to generate the chimeric viruses. Alternatively, other adapter fragments containing a different marker gene or stronger promoter could be used.

[0106] For transfection, 2 μg of pCLIPsal/lacZ and 4 μg total of pWE/Ad.AflII-Eco and 2 μg of one of the four different pBr/Ad.Bam-rITR.PacI-hCAD1, 2, 3 or 4 fib5 constructs were diluted in serum free DMEM to 100 μl total volume. To this DNA suspension 100 μl 2.5 times diluted lipofectamine (Life Technologies) in serum-free DMEM medium was added. After 30 minutes at room temperature, the DNA-lipofectamine complex solution was added to 2.3 ml of serum-free DMEM. This mixture was then added to a culture flask with a surface area of 25 cm2 (T25). This T25 flask was seeded with PER.C6 cells 24-hours prior to transfection at a density of 3.5×106 cells/flask. Two hours later, the DNA-lipofectamine complex containing medium was diluted by the addition of 2.5 ml DMEM supplemented with 10% foetal bovine serum. Again, 24 hours later, the medium was replaced by fresh DMEM supplemented with 10% foetal bovine serum. On day 2 after transfection, the cells were passed to a tissue culture flask (T80) with a surface area of 80 cm2. Cells were subsequently cultured for 4-14 days. During this period the medium was replaced with fresh medium upon medium depletion and/or reaching confluency. At full CPE the virus was harvested by one freeze/thaw cycle. Part of the supernatant was used to reinfect a T80 flask with PER.C6 cells. This propagation resulted in viruses displaying hCAT1 binding sequences carrying a lacZ as a marker gene. These virus-preparations were then used to transduce hCAT1 expressing cells including human and non-human primate hemopoietic stem cells, such as human smooth muscle cells, human chorion villi cells, human primary tumor cells, human and mouse fibroblasts, human synoviocytes and compared to the transduction efficiency of adenovirus 5 vector without the hCAT1 binding peptide insertions but with the introduced NdeI and NsiI sites.

[0107] For those skilled in the art, modifications and variations of the methods and materials described herein will be obvious. As an example, but by no means intended as a limitation, other desired therapeutic transgenes can be incorporated in adenoviral vectors displaying the hCAT1 binding peptide sequences described herein such as the cDNA for endothelial nitric oxide synthase or libraries of nucleic sequences either as pools or as collections of individual clones made either manually or using automated procedures.

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	TABLE 1
	Stringent selection	Non-stringent selection
Selection	Input phages	Output phages	Output input	Input phages	Output phages	Output input
500 nanoM	1.4 × 1010	0.6 × 105	4.3 × 10−6	1.4 × 1010	1.5 × 105	1.1 × 10−5
peptide
500 nanoM	3.8 × 109	1.1 × 105	2.9 × 10−4	3.8 × 108	9.8 × 105	2.6 × 10−3
peptide
500 nanoM	7.6 × 107	3 × 104	3.9 × 10−4	3.8 × 107	9.0 × 103	2.4 × 10−1
peptide
500 nanoM	2.1 × 108	6 × 105	2.9 × 10−3	1.1 × 108	6.8 × 105	6.2 × 10−3
peptide
100 nanoM	5.3 × 1010	2.4 × 109	4.5 × 10−2	6.7 × 1010	1.5 × 109	2.2 × 10−2
peptide
100 nanoM	1.2 × 1011	1.8 × 1010	1.5 × 10−1	1.0 × 1011	5.0 × 1010	5.0 × 10−1
peptide
HCAT1 cells	9.8 × 1011	1.1 × 106	1.1 × 10−6	1.1 × 1012	7.2 × 106	6.5 × 10−1
(k08)
HCAT1 cells	ND	2 × 104
(k08)
HCAT1 cells	2.6 × 1010	2.1 × 105	8.1 × 10−6
(k08)

[0152]

TABLE 2
Round	Target	Insert Sequence	No. of identical clones
Amplified library	None	EQSRPSWQLTPT (SEQ ID NO: 11)	1
		QTHQLLRKPPSF (SEQ ID NO: 12)	1
		YMHEPITPNPVT (SEQ ID NO: 13)	1
		WHHIPNSAKISL (SEQ ID NO: 14)	1
		SENLTLMTVLQM (SEQ ID NO: 15)	1
		NLMPPPVPRLPL (SEQ ID NO: 16)	1
		TPQGVHYHPNMR (SEQ ID NO: 17)	1
1	hCAT1 peptide	ND
2	hCAT1 peptide	ND
3	hCAT1 peptide	TLNNHTTPPAWN (SEQ ID NO: 18)	1
		QVVHSPFPTSRP (SEQ ID NO: 19)	1
4	hCAT1 peptide	ND
5	hCAT1 peptide	FEQHNWWDSHPQ (SEQ ID NO: 20)	1
		NTFDLWLQSVPQ (SEQ ID NO: 21)	7
6	hCAT1 peptide	FEGCHPQSGLSC (SEQ ID NO: 22)	1
		FEQHNWWDSHPQ (SEQ ID NO: 20)	1
		NTFDLWLQSVPQ (SEQ ID NO: 21)	5
		SVSVGMKPSPRP (SEQ ID NO: 1)	4
1	hCAT1 cells	SVSVGMKPSPRP (SEQ ID NO: 1)	4
2	hCAT1 cells	SVSVGMKPSPRP (SEQ ID NO: 1)	4
3	hCAT1 cells	SVSVGMKPSPRP (SEQ ID NO: 1)	23

[0153]

TABLE 3
Binding and internalization of phages
displaying peptide SVSVGMKPSPRP (SEQ ID NO: 1)
	#pfu × 1000:
			clone	12-mer
Cell-line:	Temp:	Phage rescue:	#26	library
911-hCAT1	37 C.	Elution	120	4.32
		Lysis	72	18.72
911-hCAT1	37 C.	Whole sample lysis	205.2	88.2
911-pcDNA3	37 C.	Elution	55.68	3.84
		Lysis	47.52	8.64
911-pcDNA3	37 C.	Whole sample lysis	216	0

[0154]

TABLE 4
Selection	Input phages	Output phages	Output / input ratio
500 nanoM peptide	2.7 × 1012	9.0 × 105	3.6 × 10−7
500 nanoM peptide	5.7 × 1012	2.0 × 106	3.3 × 10−7
100 nanoM peptide	9.5 × 1012	1.5 × 1010	1.6 × 10−3
20 nanoM peptide	7.0 × 1012	3.7 × 1010	5.2 × 10−3
hCAT1 cells (k08)	7.0 × 1012	3.0 × 105	4.4 × 10−7
hCAT1 cells (k08)	5.4 × 1012	1.7 × 107	3.1 × 10−6
hCAT1 cells (k08)	5.4 × 1012	1.5 × 107	2.8 × 10−6

[0155]

TABLE 5a
Insertion of hCAT1 binding peptides in LTSLTP or PFSS site of ecotropic murine leukemia envelope.
Sequence (5′- . . . -3′)	Description	Name 2
tttgagcagcataattggtgggattcgcatcctcagcccccggggcccccttgt	FEQHNWWDSHPO at PFSS	Pepenv01 Sense
(SEQ ID NO: 23)	(SEQ ID NO: 20)
ctgaggatgcgaatcccaccaattatgctgctcaaaggattgatattctagccc	FEQHNWWDSHPQ at PFSS	Pepenv02 Anti
(SEQ ID NO: 24)	(SEQ ID NO: 20)
tttgagcagcataattggtgggattcgcatcctcagcggtgcaacactgcctgg	FEQHNWWDSHPQ at	Pepenv03 Sense
(SEQ ID NO: 25)	LTSLTP (SEQ ID NO: 20)
ctgaggatgcgaatcccaccaattatgctgctcaaaaggttcttcgcagtctct (SEQ	FEQHNWWDSHPQ at	Pepenv04 Anti
ID NO: 26)	LTSLTP (SEQ ID NO: 20)
aatacttttgatctttggctgcagtctgttcctcagcccccggggcccccttgt (SEQ	NTFDLWLQSVPQ at PFSS	Pepenv05 Sense
ID NO: 27)	(SEQ ID NO: 21)
ctgaggaacagactgcagccaaagatcaaaagtattggattgatattctagccc	NTFDLWLQSVPQ at PFSS	Pepenv06 Anti
(SEQ ID NO: 28)	(SEQ ID NO: 21)
aatacttttgatctttggctgcagtctgttcctcagcggtgcaacactgcctgg	NTFDLWLQSPQ at LTSLTP	Pepenv07 Sense
(SEQ ID NO: 29)	(SEQ ID NO: 21)
ctgaggaacagactgcagccaaagatcaaaagtattaggttcttcgcagtctct	NTFDLWLQSVPQ at LTSLTP	Pepenv08 Anti
(SEQ ID NO: 30)	(SEQ ID NO: 21)
tctgtttctgtgggtatgaagccgagtcctaggcctcccccggggcccccttgt	SVSVGMKPSPRP at PFSS	Pepenv09 Sense
(SEQ ID NO: 31)	(SEQ ID NO: 1)
aggcctaggactcggcttcatacccacagaaacagaggattgatattctagccc	SVSVGMKPSPRP at PFSS	Pepenv10 Anti
(SEQ ID NO: 32)	(SEQ ID NO: 1)
tctgtttctgtgggtatgaagccgagtcctaggcctcggtgcaacactgcctgg	SVSVGMKPSPRP at LTSLTP	Pepenv11 Sense
(SEQ ID NO: 33)	(SEQ ID NO: 1)
aggcctaggactcggcttcatacccacagaaacagaaggttcttcgcagtctct	SVSVGMKPSPRP at LTSLTP	Pepenv12 Anti
(SEQ ID NO: 34)	(SEQ ID NO: 1)
tttgaggggtgtcatcctcagtcggggctgtcttgtcccccggggcccccttgt	FEGCHPQSGLSC at PFSS	Pepenv13 Sense
(SEQ ID NO: 35)	(SEQ ID NO: 22)
acaagacagccccgactgaggatgacacccctcaaaggattgatattctagccc	FEGCHPQSGLSC at PFSS	Pepenv14 Anti
(SEQ ID NO: 36)	(SEQ ID NO: 22)
tttgaggggtgtcatcctcagtcggggctgtcttgtcggtgcaacactgcctgg	FEGCHPQSGLSC at LTSLTP	Pepenv15 Sense
(SEQ ID NO: 37)	(SEQ ID NO: 22)
acaagacagccccgactgaggatgacacccctcaaaaggttcttcgcagtctct	FEGCHPQSGLSC at LTSLTP	Pepenv16 Anti
(SEQ ID NO: 38)	(SEQ ID NO: 22)

[0156]

TABLE 5b
Insertion of hCAT1 binding peptides in BstEII site of ecotropic murine leukemia envelope. Underlined
sequences of peptide inserts indicate linker amino acid residues.
Sequence (5′- . . . -3′)	Peptide insert	Name 2
atcacctgggaggtaaccggccatatgtttgagcagcataattggtgggattcg	GHM FEQHNWWDSHPQGASLVT	Pepenv17 Sense
catcctcagggtgctagcttggtaaccaatggagatcg (SEQ ID NO: 41)	(SEQ ID NO: 49)
cgatctccattggttaccaagctagcaccctgaggatgcgaatcccaccaatta	GHM FEQHNWWDSHPQGASLVT	Pepenv18 Anti
tgctgctcaaacatatggccggttacctcccaggtgat (SEQ ID NO: 42)	(SEQ ID NO: 49)
atcacctgggaggtaaccggccatatgaatacttttgatctttggctgcagtct	GHM NTFDLWLQSVPQGASLVT	Pepenv19 Sense
gttcctcagggtgctagcttggtaaccaatggagatcg (SEQ ID NO: 43)	(SEQ ID NO: 50)
cgatctccattggttaccaagctagcaccctgaggaacagactgcagccaaaga	GHM NTFDLWLQSVPQGASLVT	Pepenv20 Anti
tcaaaagtattcatatggccggttacctcccaggtgat (SEQ ID NO: 44)	(SEQ ID NO: 50)
atcacctgggaggtaaccggccatatgtctgtttctgtgggtatgaagccgagt	GHM SVSVGMKPSPRPGASLVT	Pepenv21 Sense
cctaggcctggtgctagcttggtaaccaatggagatcg (SEQ ID NO: 45)	(SEQ ID NO: 51)
cgatctccattggttaccaagctagcaccaggcctaggactcggcttcataccc	GHM SVSVGMKPSPRPGASLVT	Pepenv22 Anti
acagaaacagacatatggccggttacctcccaggtgat (SEQ ID NO: 46)	(SEQ ID NO:51)
atcacctgggaggtaaccggccatatgtttgaggggtgtcatcctcagtcgggg	GHM FEGCHPQSGLSCGASLVT	Pepenv23 Sense
ctgtcttgtggtgctagcttggtaaccaatggagatcg (SEQ ID NO: 47)	(SEQ ID NO: 52)
cgatctccattggttaccaagctagcaccacaagacagccccgactgaggatga	GHM FEGCHPQSGLSCGASLVT	Pepenv24 Anti
cacccctcaaacatatggccggttacctcccaggtgat (SEQ ID NO: 48)	(SEQ ID NO: 62)

[0157]

TABLE 5c
Primers for construction of gpIII/env2 with peptide insertions and to determine insert and orientation
of hCAT1 peptide insertions BstEII site of ecotropic murine leukemia envelope.
Peptide insertion	Name	Strand	Sequence (5′- . . . -3′)
FEQHNWWDSHPQ (SEQ ID NO: 20)	Pepenv25	Sense	tgagcagcataattggtggg (SEQ ID NO: 53)
NTFDLWLQSVPQ (SEQ ID NO: 21)	Pepenv26	Sense	ttgatctttggctgcagtct (SEQ ID NO: 54)
SVSVGMKPSPRP (SEQ ID NO: 1)	Pepenv27	Sense	tctgtgggtatgaagccgag (SEQ ID NO: 55)
FEGCHPQSGLSC (SEQ ID NO: 22)	Pepenv28	Sense	tttgaggggtgtcatcctca (SEQ ID NO: 56)
Priming site	Name	Strand	Sequence
3′ of PinA1 site in ecotropic envelope	Ecoenv05	Antisense gtcctagattttggtatctg (SEQ ID NO: 57)
Fusion envelope and pelB leader	Ecoenv17	Sense	ctcgctcgcccatatgcggccgcaggtctcctcctcttagcagcacaacc
sequence protein m13, NotI site			agcaatggccgcttcgcccggctcc (SEQ ID NO: 58)
Fusion envelope and gIII protein m13,	Ecoenv12	Antisense	agcatcactagtcgccggtggaagttg (SEQ ID NO: 59)
SpeI and SgrA1 site

[0158]

TABLE 6
Synthetic single stranded oligonucleotides used for PCR.Insertions of hCAT1 binding
peptides in HI loop of Adenovirus serotype 5 are indicated by bold lowercase letters.
		Name and orientation
Sequence (5′-....-3′)	Peptide Insert	primers
ctgaggatgcgaatcccaccaattatgctgctcaaa AGTTGTGTCTCCTGTTTC	FEQHNWWDSHPQ	hCAD1AS-1
(SEQ ID NO: 60)	(SEQ ID NO: 20)
tttgagcagcataattggtgggattcgcatcctcag CCAAGTGCATACTCTATG	FEQHNWWDSHPQ	hCAD1S-2
(SEQ ID NO: 61)	(SEQ ID NO: 20)
ctgaggaacagactgcagccaaagatcaaaagtatt AGTTGTGTCTCCTGTTTC	NTFDLWLQSVPQ	hCAD2AS-3
(SEQ ID NO: 62)	(SEQ ID NO: 21)
aatacttttgatctttggctgcagtctgttcctcag CCAAGTGCATACTCTATG	NTFDLWLQSVPQ	hCAD2S-4
(SEQ ID NO: 63)	(SEQ ID NO: 21)
aggcctaggactcggcttcatacccacagaaacaga AGTTGTGTCTCCTGTTTC	SVSVGMKPSPRP	hCAD3AS-5
(SEQ ID NO: 64)	(SEQ ID NO: 1)
tctgtttctgtgggtatgaagccgagtcctaggcct CCAAGTGCATACTCTATG	SVSVGMKPSPRP	hCAD3S-6
(SEQ ID NO: 65)	(SEQ ID NO: 1)
acaagacagccccgactgaggatgacacccctcaaa AGTTGTGTCTCCTGTTTC	FEGCHPQSGLSC	hCAD4AS-7
(SEQ ID NO: 66)	(SEQ ID NO: 22)
tttgaggggtgtcatcctcagtcggggctgtcttgt CCAAGTGCATACTCTATG	FEGCHPQSGLSC	hCAD4S-8
(SEQ ID NO: 67)	(SEQ ID NO: 22)
GCCGATGCATTTATTCTTGGGCAATGTATG	Right AS	NsiIAd5-1
(SEQ ID NO: 68)
CCCGTGTATCCATATGACACGGAAACCGGT	Left S	NdeIAd5-1
(SEQ ID NO: 69)
GGATACAGCGCCTTGCACTGTGG	Right AS	Ad5-1rev1
(SEQ ID NO: 70)
CGACATATGTAGATGCATTAGTTTGTGTTATGTTTCAACGTG	NA	NY-up
(SEQ ID NO: 71)
GGAGACCACTGCCATGTTG	NA	NY-down
	Primary PCR	Secondary PCR
	NdeIAd5-1/hCAD1AS-1	NdeIAd5-1/NsiIAd5-1
	NsiIAd5-1/hCAD1S-2	NdeIAd5-1/NsiIAd5-1
	NdeIAd5-1/hCAD2AS-3	NdeIAd5-1/NsiIAd5-1
	NsiIAd5-1/hCAD2S-4	NdeIAd5-1/NsiIAd5-1
	NdeIAd5-1/hCAD3AS-5	NdeIAd5-1/NsiIAd5-1
	NsiIAd5-1/hCAD3S-6	NdeIAd5-1/NsiIAd5-1
	NdeIAd5-1/hCAD4AS-7	NdeIAd5-1/NsiIAd5-1
	NsiIAd5-1/hCAD4S-8	NdeIAd5-1/NsiIAd5-1

[0159]

Claims

1. A virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle provided with an amino acid ligand capable of binding to a human amino acid transporter.

2. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 1 wherein the amino acid ligand is provided with at least one viral protein.

3. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 2 wherein said at least one viral protein comprises an envelope protein.

4. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 2 wherein said at least one viral protein is of retroviral origin.

5. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 2 wherein said at least one viral protein comprises a capsid protein.

6. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 5, wherein said capsid protein is of adenoviral origin.

7. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 1 wherein said human amino acid transporter is a cationic amino acid transporter.

8. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 2 wherein said human amino acid transporter is a cationic amino acid transporter.

9. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 3 wherein said human amino acid transporter is a cationic amino acid transporter.

10. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 4 wherein said human amino acid transporter is a cationic amino acid transporter.

11. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 5 wherein said human amino acid transporter is a cationic amino acid transporter.

12. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 6 wherein said human amino acid transporter is a cationic amino acid transporter.

13. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 7 wherein said human amino acid transporter is human cationic amino acid transporter-1.

14. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 8 wherein said human amino acid transporter is human cationic amino acid transporter-1.

15. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 9 wherein said human amino acid transporter is human cationic amino acid transporter-1.

16. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 10 wherein said human amino acid transporter is human cationic amino acid transporter-1.

17. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 11 wherein said human amino acid transporter is human cationic amino acid transporter-1.

18. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 12 wherein said human amino acid transporter is human cationic amino acid transporter-1.

19. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 1 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

20. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 2 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

21. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 3 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

22. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 4 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

23. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 5 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

24. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 6 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

25. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 7 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

26. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 8 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

27. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 9 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

28. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 10 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

29. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 11 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

30. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 12 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

31. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 13 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

32. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 14 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

33. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 15 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

34. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 16 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

35. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 17 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

36. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 18 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

37. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 19 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

38. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 20 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

39. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 21 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

40. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 22 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

41. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 23 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

42. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 24 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

43. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 25 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

44. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 26 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

45. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 27 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

46. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 28 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

47. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 29 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

48. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 30 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

49. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 31 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

50. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 32 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

51. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 33 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

52. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 34 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

53. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 35 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

54. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 36 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises at least a part of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

55. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 19 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

56. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 20 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

57. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 56 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

58. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 21 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

59. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 58 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

60. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 22 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

61. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 60 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

62. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 23 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

63. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 62 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

64. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 24 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

65. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 64 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

66. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 25 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

67. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 66 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

68. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 26 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

69. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 68 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

70. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 27 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

71. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 70 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

72. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 28 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

73. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 72 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

74. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 29 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

75. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 74 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

76. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 30 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

77. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 76 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

78. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 31 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

79. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 78 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

80. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 32 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

81. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 80 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

82. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 33 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

83. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 82 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

84. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 34 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

85. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 84 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

86. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 35 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

87. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 86 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.

88. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 36 wherein said amino acid ligand comprises a fragment of phage origin, wherein said phage displays at least one antibody fragment selected for its capacity to bind with said amino acid transporter.

89. The virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle of claim 88 wherein said at least one antibody fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 77 and 79.