Constructing recombinant herpesvirus BAC vectors with mating-assisted genetically integrated clone method

The large capacity of pseudorabies virus (PRV) for foreign DNA and broad host range make it a prospective tool for the preparation of vaccines and agents of gene and tumour therapy. Here we introduced a cloning strategy that facilitates construction of recombinant PRV-BAC vectors based on mating-assisted genetically integrated clone (MAGIC). The target gene was cloned into a small conditionally replicating donor plasmid, followed by shuffling to a recipient PRV-BAC plasmid in vivo of Escherichia coli through MAGIC. The average efficiency of successful clones was 89%. Moreover, permanent integration of unwanted sequences was avoided.