Baculovirus vectors for gene therapy

Objective

Baculovirus (BV) Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus is a promising new vector for gene therapy: it is inherently safe and can deliver large pieces of DNA to mammalian cells; its own genes are not transcripted in mammalian cells, and it is not known to be associated with any human disease. BV technology has been used for years for producing recombinant proteins, and thus large scale production technology is readily adaptable for the exploitation of gene therapy approaches. Also BV vectors can be used efficiently for producing other gene therapy vectors such as adeno-associated vectors. BV genome is well-known and we have developed several selective targeting approaches engineered into the virus envelope and capsid.
The BACULOGENES project aims to develop clinically suitable methods for the development, production, testing and validation of 2nd generation stabilised and selective BV vectors for the use in direct gene therapy applica! tions. Target diseases for direct in vivo gene delivery with selectively targeted BV will include muscle disorders, age-related macular degeneration and prostate cancer.
The BACULOGENES consortium consists of 8 partners from 6 countries, including pioneers in the use of BVs for mammalian gene transfer applications and 2 major established gene therapy vector producing companies in EU.
The consortium will devote its efforts not only to BV gene therapy applications, but also to the development of large scale production, downstream processing, purification, analysis methods. The quality control and validation assays, and all issues related to regulatory aspects required for the clinical exploitation of BV technology will be covered. The BACULOGENES project will strengthen the European leadership, knowledge and competitiveness in BV technology through the delivery of novel and validated efficient vectors and platform technology for the exploitation of potential clinical applications of gene therapy.

Field of science

• /natural sciences/biological sciences/microbiology/virology
• /medical and health sciences/clinical medicine/ophthalmology
• /medical and health sciences/clinical medicine/cancer/prostate cancer
• /medical and health sciences/medical biotechnology/genetic engineering/gene therapy

Programme(s)

• FP6-LIFESCIHEALTH - Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health: Thematic Priority 1 under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006.

Topic(s)

• LSH-2005-1.2.4-6 - Use of baculovirus as a vector in gene therapy (especially orientated towards small and medium sized companies)

Call for proposal

FP6-2005-LIFESCIHEALTH-6
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project

Coordinator

ARK THERAPEUTICS LIMITED

Address

79 New Cavendish Street
London
United Kingdom

Participants (8)

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY

Netherlands

Address

Costerweg 50
9101 Wageningen

UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN FINLAND

Finland

Address

Yliopistonranta 1
1627 Kuopio

GENETHON

France

Address

1 Bis Rue De L'internationale
BP60 Evry

ALTONABIOTEC AG

Germany

Address

Lornsenstrasse 6
Hamburg

UNIVERSITY OF YORK

United Kingdom

Address

Heslington
York

ACIES SAS

France

Address

69 Rue De La République
Lyon

PROJETS ET RESEAUX DE RECHERCHE SAS

France

Address

69 Rue De La République
Lyon

INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA EXPERIMENTAL E TECNOLÓGICA

Portugal

Address

Ean - Av. República Qta Do Marquês
Oeiras