[Analysis of reporter gene expression at different segments of the vaccinia virus genome]

Two reporter genes: the firefly Photinus pyralis luciferase gene and the Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase gene were used for construction and characterization of the five unique recombinant vaccinia strain LIVP viruses expressing these genes in three nonessential regions of the virus genome. We give comparative characteristics of beta-galactosidase and luciferase activities in experiments of transient expression and expression dynamics of reporter genes by different stable recombinant viruses. Both genes are expressed with high efficiency independent on the sites of virus genome localization. It is shown that the TK-, HA- and N-regions of vaccinia virus DNA may be used for inserting foreign genes.