5型腺病毒E1A基因通过调控GP73的表达抑制肝癌细胞增殖的初步研究

目的:研究5型腺病毒(Ad5)E1A基因通过调控高尔基蛋白73(GP73)的表达水平,抑制肝癌细胞Hep G2的增殖。方法:以腺病毒为模板、pc DNA-flag-Vector为载体,构建真核表达载体pc DNA3-Flag-Ad5E1A;免疫印迹实验鉴定重组蛋白Ad5E1A的表达;免疫印迹实验验证Ad5E1A对GP73表达水平的影响;将Ad5E1A基因转染Hep G2细胞,用CCK-8试剂盒检测Hep G2细胞的增殖情况。结果:免疫印迹实验结果证实,真核表达载体pc DNA3-FlagAd5E1A在HEK293细胞中得到表达;Ad5E1A可明显抑制GP73的表达。酶标仪检测发现,与转染Flag-GP73组相比,Ad5E1A组的抑制率为17.5%,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);而与转染Flag-GP73组比,共转Ad5E1A和GP73组的抑制率为37.8%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:Ad5E1A基因通过调控GP73的表达抑制了肝癌细胞Hep G2的增殖。为研究肝癌发生机制,开发新型治疗方案提供了实验基础。     

一种新的重组腺病毒的构建及其对人肿瘤细胞的影响

腺病毒E1A基因诱导细胞凋亡,E1B19K基因及E1B55K基因抑制细胞凋亡,前者被克隆到腺病毒转移载体pCA13的HCMV IE启动子下游,构建成转移载体pCAE1A.采用lipofectin法将pCAE1A和含腺病毒基因组(E1区、E3区缺失)的质粒pBHG11共转染293细胞,7～10 d后得到重组病毒v5Ad4.用v5Ad4感染人肺腺癌细胞系A549,结果表明v5Ad4有明显杀伤和裂解肿瘤细胞功能.在人胚肺正常二倍体细胞中,v5Ad4没有表现出可见的细胞毒效应.     

一种新的重组腺病毒的构建及其对人肿瘤细胞的影响

腺病毒E1A基因诱导细胞凋亡．E1B19K基因及E1B55K基因抑制细胞凋亡,前者被克隆到腺病毒转移载体pCA13的HCMVIE启动子下游．构建成转移载体pCAE1A。采用lipofectin法将PCAE1A和含腺病毒基因组（E1、E3区缺失）的质粒pBHG11共转染293细胞,7～10d后得到重组病毒v5Ad4。用v5Ad4感染人肺腺癌细胞系A549,结果表明v5Ad4有明显杀伤和裂解肿瘤细胞功能。在人胚肺正常二倍体细胞中,v5Ad4没有表现出可见的细胞毒效应。     

原核表达人41型腺病毒(Ad41) 蛋白 V及其抗血清的制备

摘要：目的 人肠腺病毒Ad41被称为难养腺病毒,其难以培养的特性可能与次要核心蛋白V（Ad41 protein V,pV）表达不充分有关。本研究拟表达纯化Ad41 pV抗原,免疫动物制备抗血清,为研究Ad41难养性机理打下基础。方法 以野生型Ad41基因组DNA为模板,PCR扩增pV,克隆到原核表达载体pET30a(+),测序后,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)菌株,异丙基-β-D-硫代半乳糖苷（IPTG）诱导目的蛋白表达,固化金属亲和层析(IMAC)方法纯化,免疫BALB/c小鼠制备抗血清,将获得的抗血清用于Western blot检测Ad41感染各细胞系后pV的表达。结果 克隆得到包括完全编码区的pV基因,表达质粒转化BL21(DE3)菌株,使用1 m mol/L IPTG 37℃诱导4 h,pV以包涵体形式表达,或使用0.5 m mol/L IPTG 25℃诱导8 h获得可溶性表达。利用皮下多点注射包涵体的方法免疫小鼠,得到抗pV抗血清;使用纯化的可溶性pV作为抗原对抗血清进行了鉴定,表明该抗血清可用于Western blot检测。等量野生型Ad41感染293或293E12细胞（一株稳定表达Ad41 E1B55K基因的293细胞）后,pV在293E12细胞的表达明显高于293细胞。结论 成功克隆了Ad41 pV基因,表达纯化了重组蛋白,获得了可用于Western blot检测的抗血清,为进一步研究Ad41难养性机理打下了基础。     

共表达人p53、GM-CSF和B7-1基因的重组腺病毒的构建

 为开展肿瘤的复合基因治疗 ,构建以串联方式携带人野生型p53、GM CSF和B7 1基因的重组腺病毒穿梭质粒pBB 1 0 2 .将pBB 1 0 2与腺病毒包装质粒GT40 50共转染 2 93细胞 ,通过细胞内同源重组获得重组腺病毒BB 1 0 2 .在 2 93细胞中扩增病毒 ,并通过氯化铯密度梯度超速离心纯化病毒 ,获得高滴度和高纯度的病毒 .分别经免疫组织化学分析、ELISA和流式细胞分析 ,检测BB 1 0 2介导的人野生型p53、GM CSF和B7 1基因在喉癌细胞Hep 2中的表达 .结果表明 ,BB 1 0 2能够有效地将其所携带的目的基因导入Hep 2细胞并使其在细胞中高效表达 ,表达高峰期为转染后 2～ 4d ,此后随时间递减 ,可持续 1 0d以上 .     

人CUIAA重组腺病毒载体的构建及其在PC-12细胞中的表达特点

目的构建并鉴定带有绿色荧光蛋白（green fluorescence protein,GFP）报告基因的人源CUL4A（hCUIAA）基因腺病毒表达载体Ad—hCUIAA—GFP,探求bCUIAA在PC-12细胞中的表达特点。方法扩增hCUIAA基因,并通过In—FusionPCR克隆技术构建穿梭质粒pDC315-EGFP—hCUIAA,利用AdMaxTM腺病毒包装系统将该穿梭质粒与腺病毒表达载体骨架质粒pBHGloxAEl,E3Cre共转染HEK293细胞,经GFP荧光检测和Western印迹检测确认hCUIAA的表达后,进一步通过病毒扩增及纯化得到hCUL4A重组腺病毒载体Ad—hCUIAA—GFP。将该载体转染Pc—12细胞,观察hCUIAA—GFP融合蛋白在Pc-12细胞中的表达情况。结果成功获得了较高滴度的腺病毒载体Ad—hCUIAA—GFP（1．6×10^12pfu／m1）。荧光检测表明,Ad—hCUIAA—GFP转染Pc-12细胞后72h内,病毒转染率随着时间和病毒转染滴度的增加而增加。DAPI细胞核荧光染色结果表明,hCUIAA—GFP的表达主要集中在细胞质部分。GFP荧光检测及Western印迹检测结果显示,hCUIAA—GFP在Pc-12细胞中的表达量随时间和病毒转染滴度的增加而增加。结论带GFP的hCUIAA重组腺病毒载体Ad—hCUIAA—GFP构建成功,掌握了其转染Pc-12细胞的最佳滴度及其在Pc-12细胞中的时空表达特点,为今后对hCUIAA在PC-12细胞中的功能性研究奠定了基础。     

7型腺病毒E1A基因克隆及真核表达

为了研究7型腺病毒(Ad7)E1A在感染中的致病机制,分离了Ad7d2病毒株,构建了Ad7 E1A基因的真核表达体系.用A549细胞分离培养痰液标本中的腺病毒,应用重叠延伸PCR扩增Ad7 E1A基因外显子,产物克隆至真核表达载体pIRES-Neo,构建重组子pIRES-Neo-Ad7E1A并转染A549细胞,利用Western印迹对其表达产物进行鉴定.克隆测序显示扩增的Ad7 E1A基因外显子包含了完整的编码区基因,pIRES-Neo-Ad7E1A转染A549细胞的表达产物经Western印迹鉴定与设计相符.成功建立了Ad7 E1A 基因的真核表达体系.     

分泌睫状神经营养因子腺病毒载体的构建及小量复制病毒增强其分泌表达的研究

目的：探讨复制型腺病毒能否增强增殖缺陷型腺病毒Ad5-hCNTF所携带外源基因的表达分泌。方法：亚克隆获得分泌型睫状神经营养因子的基因（ciliary neurotrophic factor）,然后将此基因插入到穿梭质粒pshuttle。pshuttle-hCNTF经pme1酶切后,CIAP去磷酸化,利用Ad-EASY腺病毒制备系统,将其与腺病毒骨架质粒pAdEasy-1共同转化大肠杆菌BJ5183,通过同源重组,筛选出含目的基因的重组型腺病毒质粒的菌株,获得大量该质粒后转染病毒包装细胞AD-293,成功包装出一种血清5型增殖缺陷型腺病毒Ad5-hCNTF。结果：经PCR鉴定该病毒含有该基因片断,Western blotting证实该病毒感染细胞后能表达CNTF蛋白。采用ELISA法检测培养液证实感染细胞能高水平地分泌CNTF。结论：体外实验表明在不同滴度的复制型腺病毒Ad5-E1＋E3＋的带动下,该病毒感染细胞后分泌表达目的蛋白的水平显著提高,为今后应用Ad作为基因治疗的载体提供实验证据。     

分泌睫状神经营养因子腺病毒载体的构建及小量复制病毒增强其分泌表 达的研究

目的:探讨复制型腺病毒能否增强增殖缺陷型腺病毒Ad5-hCNTF所携带外源基因的表达分泌。方法:亚克隆获得分泌型睫状神经营养因子的基因(ciliary neurotrophic factor),然后将此基因插入到穿梭质粒pshuttle。pshuttle-hCNTF经pme1酶切后,CIAP去磷酸化,利用Ad-EASY腺病毒制备系统,将其与腺病毒骨架质粒pAdEasy-1共同转化大肠杆菌BJ5183,通过同源重组,筛选出含目的基因的重组型腺病毒质粒的菌株,获得大量该质粒后转染病毒包装细胞AD-293,成功包装出一种血清5型增殖缺陷型腺病毒Ad5-hCNTF。结果:经PCR鉴定该病毒含有该基因片断,Western blotting证实该病毒感染细胞后能表达CNTF蛋白。采用ELISA法检测培养液证实感染细胞能高水平地分泌CNTF。结论:体外实验表明在不同滴度的复制型腺病毒Ad5-E1+E3+的带动下,该病毒感染细胞后分泌表达目的蛋白的水平显著提高,为今后应用Ad作为基因治疗的载体提供实验证据。     

CD/TK单、双自杀基因重组腺病毒的制备及初步应用

为制备表达大肠杆菌胞嘧啶脱氨酶 (cytosinedeaminase ,CD)和单纯疱疹病毒 1 胸苷激酶(herpessimplexvirustype 1thymidinekinase ,TK)双自杀基因的重组腺病毒载体 ,为再狭窄基因治疗的应用奠定基础 ,首先构建了含单、双自杀基因的腺病毒穿梭载体 ,细菌内同源重组法获得重组腺病毒质粒 .脂质体介导下转染 2 93细胞进行包装并大量扩增得到Ad TK、Ad CD、Ad TK CD、Ad LacZ 4种重组腺病毒 .氯化铯 (CsCl)梯度离心法纯化后利用报告基因绿色荧光蛋白 (GFP)测定病毒滴度 ,可达 10 9pfu ml .PCR和Western印迹法对外源基因进行鉴定 ,证明单、双自杀基因均已整合入腺病毒基因组并表达 .重组腺病毒感染血管平滑肌细胞后 ,用MTT法比较了单、双自杀基因的杀伤作用 ,发现在感染复数≤ 2 0时 ,双自杀基因对细胞的抑制作用明显高于单基因 .成功地构建腺病毒双自杀基因共表达载体 ,为进一步的体内外实验奠定了基础 .     

A block in release of progeny virus and a high particle-to-infectious unit ratio contribute to poor growth of enteric adenovirus types 40 and 41 in cell culture.

The fastidious enteric adenovirus (FEAd) types 40 (Ad40) and 41 (Ad41) are found in stool specimens of infants and young children in association with gastroenteritis. Although they can be isolated routinely from clinical specimens by using 293 cells, they are propagated with variable success in cell lines which support the replication of other adenovirus serotypes. HeLa cells are generally considered to be nonpermissive for the replication of FEAds, but in this study, Ad40 and Ad41 grew to comparable titers in individual 293 and HeLa cells. However, virus was not efficiently released from infected HeLa cells and thus did not undergo multiple cycles of infection in HeLa cell cultures. The block in virus release was not overcome in KB18 cells which, like 293 cells, constitutively express proteins encoded by the E1B region of a subgroup C adenovirus (in this case Ad2). Moreover, it was apparent from these studies that Ad40 and Ad41 have particle-to-infectious unit ratios several orders of magnitude greater than that for Ad5, even in 293 cells which express the E1A and E1B proteins of Ad5 and are considered to be permissive for replication of the FEAds. Neither the block in release of progeny virus nor the high particle-to-infectious unit ratio is explained solely by the defect in expression of the E1B 55K protein identified by Mautner et al. (V. Mautner, N. MacKay, and V. Steinthorsdottir, Virology 171:619-622, 1989; V. Mautner, N. MacKay, and K. Morris, Virology 179:129-138, 1990).     

Adenovirus E1B55K region is required to enhance cyclin E expression for efficient viral DNA replication

Adenoviruses (Ads) with E1B55K mutations can selectively replicate in and destroy cancer cells. However, the mechanism of Ad-selective replication in tumor cells is not well characterized. We have shown previously that expression of several cell cycle-regulating genes is markedly affected by the Ad E1b gene in WI-38 human lung fibroblast cells (X. Rao, et al., Virology 350:418-428, 2006). In the current study, we show that the Ad E1B55K region is required to enhance cyclin E expression and that the failure to induce cyclin E overexpression due to E1B55K mutations prevents viral DNA from undergoing efficient replication in WI-38 cells, especially when the cells are arrested in the G(0) phase of the cell cycle by serum starvation. In contrast, cyclin E induction is less dependent on the function encoded in the E1B55K region in A549 and other cancer cells that are permissive for replication of E1B55K-mutated viruses, whether the cells are in the S phase or G(0) phase. The small interfering RNA that specifically inhibits cyclin E expression partially decreased viral replication. Our study provides evidence suggesting that E1B55K may be involved in cell cycle regulation that is important for efficient viral DNA replication and that cyclin E overexpression in cancer cells may be associated with the oncolytic replication of E1B55K-mutated viruses.     

Targeting malignant gliomas with a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-selective oncolytic adenovirus

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament protein abundantly expressed in malignant gliomas. We have constructed a novel oncolytic adenovirus, Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1, for treatment of these tumors. In this construct, the E1 region is under control of the tissue-specific GFAP promoter (gfa2) with three additional copies of the glial specific 'B' enhancer. Infection of a GFAP-positive cell line with Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1 resulted in E1A and E1B expression at 75% and 30% of the levels obtained after wtAd5 infection. Q-PCR showed that Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1 replicated 4.5 times more efficiently in the GFAP-positive than in the GFAP-negative cell lines. Cell viability assays showed efficient elimination of GFAP-positive cells by Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1, in some cell lines as efficiently as wtAd5, while the elimination was attenuated in GFAP-negative cell lines. When tested in human tumor xenografts in nude mice, Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1 effectively suppressed the growth of GFAP-positive SNB-19 glial tumors but not of GFAP-negative A549 lung tumors. In Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1, the E3 region was deleted to create space for future insertion of heterologous therapeutic genes. Experiments with dl7001, an E3-deleted variant of wtAd5, confirmed that the specificity of Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1 replication was based on the promoter driving E1 and not on the E3 deletion. Strategies to further improve the efficacy of Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1 for the treatment of malignant gliomas include the insertion of therapeutic genes in E3 or retargeting to receptors that are more abundantly expressed on primary glioma cells than CAR.     

Replication-deficient human adenovirus type 35 vectors for gene transfer and vaccination: efficient human cell infection and bypass of preexisting adenovirus immunity

Replication-deficient human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) can be produced to high titers in complementing cell lines, such as PER.C6, and is widely used as a vaccine and gene therapy vector. However, preexisting immunity against Ad5 hampers consistency of gene transfer, immunological responses, and vector-mediated toxicities. We report the identification of human Ad35 as a virus with low global prevalence and the generation of an Ad35 vector plasmid system for easy insertion of heterologous genes. In addition, we have identified the minimal sequence of the Ad35-E1B region (molecular weight, 55,000 [55K]), pivotal for complementation of fully E1-lacking Ad35 vector on PER.C6 cells. After stable insertion of the 55K sequence into PER.C6 cells a cell line was obtained (PER.C6/55K) that efficiently transcomplements both Ad5 and Ad35 vectors. We further demonstrate that transduction with Ad35 is not hampered by preexisting Ad5 immunity and that Ad35 efficiently infects dendritic cells, smooth muscle cells, and synoviocytes, in contrast to Ad5.     

Mutations in the gene encoding the adenovirus early region 1B 19,000-molecular-weight tumor antigen cause the degradation of chromosomal DNA

The adenovirus mutant Ad2ts111 has been previously shown to contain a mutation in the early region 2A gene encoding the single-stranded-DNA-binding protein that results in thermolabile replication of virus DNA and a mutation in early region 1 that causes degradation of intracellular DNA. A recombinant virus, Ad2cyt106, has been constructed which contains the Ad2ts111 early region 1 mutation and the wild-type early region 2A gene from adenovirus 5. This virus, like its parent Ad2ts111, has two temperature-independent phenotypes; first, it has the ability to cause an enhanced and unusual cytopathic effect on the host cell (cytocidal [cyt] phenotype) and second, it induces degradation of cell DNA (DNA degradation [deg] phenotype). The mutation responsible for these phenotypes is a single point mutation in the gene encoding the adenovirus early region 1B (E1B) 19,000-molecular-weight (19K) tumor antigen. This mutation causes a change from a serine to an asparagine in the 20th amino acid from the amino terminus of the protein. Three other mutants that affect the E1B 19K protein function have been examined. The mutants Ad2lp5 and Ad5dl337 have both the cytocidal and DNA degradation phenotypes (cyt deg), whereas Ad2lp3 has only the cytocidal phenotype and does not induce degradation of cell DNA (cyt deg+). Thus, the DNA degradation is not caused by the altered cell morphology. Furthermore, the mutant Ad5dl337 does not make any detectable E1B 19K protein product, suggesting that the absence of E1B 19K protein function is responsible for the mutant phenotypes. A fully functional E1B 19K protein is not absolutely required for lytic growth of adenovirus 2 in HeLa cells, and its involvement in transformation of nonpermissive cells to morphological variants is discussed.     

Conditional replication of a recombinant adenovirus studied using neomycin as a selective marker

An E1B-defective adenovirus, named r2/Ad carrying the neo expression cassette, was constructed by homologous recombination. The construction, selection (using neomycin as a selective marker), and propagation of the recombinant virus was performed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK 293). An in vitro study demonstrated that this recombinant virus has the ability to replicate in and lyse some p53-deficient human tumor cells such as human glioma tumor cells (U251) and human bladder cells (EJ), but not in some cells with functional p53, such as human adenocarcinoma cells (A549) and human fibroblast cells (MRC-5). Also, based on the cytopathic effect (CPE), it was demonstrated, under identical conditions, that the U251 cells were more sensitive to r2/Ad replication than the EJ cells. In this paper, we report that r2/Ad could be very useful in studying the in vitro selective replication of E1B-defective adenovirus and has great potential in cancer gene therapy.     

Serotype-specific inactivation of the cellular DNA damage response during adenovirus infection

Adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) inactivates the host cell DNA damage response by facilitating the degradation of Mre11, DNA ligase IV, and p53. In the case of p53, this is achieved through polyubiquitylation by Ad5E1B55K and Ad5E4orf6, which recruit a Cul5-based E3 ubiquitin ligase. Recent evidence indicates that this paradigm does not apply to other adenovirus serotypes, since Ad12, but not Ad5, causes the degradation of TOPBP1 through the action of E4orf6 alone and a Cul2-based E3 ubiquitin ligase. We now have extended these studies to adenovirus groups A to E. While infection by Ad4, Ad5, and Ad12 (groups E, C, and A, respectively) cause the degradation of Mre11, DNA ligase IV, and p53, infection with Ad3, Ad7, Ad9, and Ad11 (groups B1, B1, D, and B2, respectively) only affects DNA ligase IV levels. Indeed, Ad3, Ad7, and Ad11 cause the marked accumulation of p53. Despite this, MDM2 levels were very low following infection with all of the viruses examined here, regardless of whether they increase p53 expression. In addition, we found that only Ad12 causes the degradation of TOPBP1, and, like Ad5, Ad4 recruits a Cul5-based E3 ubiquitin ligase to degrade p53. Surprisingly, Mre11 and DNA ligase IV degradation do not appear to be significantly affected in Ad4-, Ad5-, or Ad12-infected cells depleted of Cul2 or Cul5, indicating that E1B55K and E4orf6 recruit multiple ubiquitin ligases to target cellular proteins. Finally, although Mre11 is not degraded by Ad3, Ad7, Ad9, and Ad11, no viral DNA concatemers could be detected. We suggest that group B and D adenoviruses have evolved mechanisms based on the loss of DNA ligase IV and perhaps other unknown molecules to disable the host cell DNA damage response to promote viral replication.     

Adenovirus E1A oncogene expression in tumor cells enhances killing by TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)

Expression of the adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) E1A oncogene sensitizes cells to apoptosis by TNF-alpha and Fas-ligand. Because TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) kills cells in a similar manner as TNF-alpha and Fas ligand, we asked whether E1A expression might sensitize cells to lysis by TRAIL. To test this hypothesis, we examined TRAIL-induced killing of human melanoma (A2058) or fibrosarcoma (H4) cells that expressed E1A following either infection with Ad5 or stable transfection with Ad5-E1A. E1A-transfected A2058 (A2058-E1A) or H4 (H4-E1A) cells were highly sensitive to TRAIL-induced killing, but Ad5-infected cells expressing equally high levels of E1A protein remained resistant to TRAIL. Infection of A2058-E1A cells with Ad5 reduced their sensitivity to TRAIL-dependent killing. Therefore, viral gene products expressed following infection with Ad5 inhibited the sensitivity to TRAIL-induced killing conferred by transfection with E1A. E1B and E3 gene products have been shown to inhibit TNF-alpha- and Fas-dependent killing. The effect of these gene products on TRAIL-dependent killing was examined by using Ad5-mutants that did not express either the E3 (H5dl327) or E1B-19K (H5dl250) coding regions. A2058 cells infected with H5dl327 were susceptible to TRAIL-dependent killing. Furthermore, TRAIL-dependent killing of A2058-E1A cells was not inhibited by infection with H5dl327. Infection with H5dl250 sensitized A2058 cells to TRAIL-induced killing, but considerably less than H5dl327-infection. In summary, expression of Ad5-E1A gene products sensitizes cells to TRAIL-dependent killing, whereas E3 gene products, and to a lesser extent E1B-19K, inhibit this effect.     

Common structure of rare replication-deficient E1-positive particles in adenoviral vector batches

The use of the PER.C6 adenovirus packaging cell line in combination with a designated vector plasmid system, whereby the cell line and vector with E1 deleted have no sequence overlap, eliminates the generation of replication-competent adenovirus during vector production. However, we have found cytopathic effect (CPE)-inducing particles in 2 out of more than 40 large-scale manufacturing lots produced in PER.C6 cells. The CPE inducer was detected at a frequency of 1 event in 7.5 x 10(12) vector particles. Despite amplification, it was not readily purified, indicating that the agent itself is replication deficient and requires the parental recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (rAd5) vector for replication and packaging. Therefore, we designated the agent as a helper-dependent E1-positive region containing viral particle (HDEP). Here, we report the molecular structure of the HDEP genome, revealing an Ad comprised of E1 sequences derived from PER.C6 cells flanked by inverted terminal repeat, packaging signal, and transgene sequences. These sequences form a palindromic structure devoid of E2, E3, E4, and late genes. Since only 5 bp were shared between E1 sequences in the PER.C6 genome and viral vector sequences, the data strongly suggested that insertion of genomic DNA into an adenoviral genome had occurred essentially via nonhomologous recombination. HDEPs have been found in unrelated virus batches and appear to share a common structure that may explain their mechanism of generation. This finding allowed development of an HDEP assay to screen batches of rAd5 produced on the PER.C6 cell line and resulted in detection of seven HDEP agents from four different transgene-virus vector constructs in separate batches of Ad.