Sequence of a fusogenic herpes simplex virus, RH2, for oncolytic virotherapy

RH2 is a novel oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) produced by simultaneous infection with neurovirulent γ134.5 gene-deficient HSV-1 R849 derived from strain F and the spontaneously occurring, fusogenic HSV-1 HF in cell culture. The genome of RH2 was studied using Genome Sequencer FLX. RH2 comprised 149 64 bp and it was shown that the lacZ gene was inserted into the γ134.5 gene of R849. Comparison of ORFs revealed that RH2 had 100 % identity with strain F in 21/58 unique long (UL) genes (36.2%) and 1/13 unique short (US) genes (7.7%). RH2 had 100% amino acid identity with HF10 in 24/58 UL genes (41.4%) and 9/13 US genes (69.2%). Twelve genes, including UL27 (gB), US4 (gG) and UL6 (gD), had amino acid changes unique to RH2. Amino acid changes in gB occurred at positions 459 (T→A) and 817 (L→P). Other unique features were the amino acids missing in UL36 (VP1/2) and UL46 (VP11/12). Thus, RH2 is an HF10-based vector preserving the fusogenic amino acid changes of gB but lacking the γ134.5 gene. RH2 is expected to be a version of HF10 useful for the treatment of brain tumours as well as oral squamous cell carcinoma. Spontaneously occurring HSV-1 mutants may also be useful clinically, as their genome sequences can easily be determined by this genome sequencing system.