We created ad'DTm, an adenovirus containing a cytomegalovirus early promoter driven message in which

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We created ad.DTm, an adenovirus containing a
cytomegalovirus early promoter driven message in
which the dopamine receptor (D2R) reporter gene
is placed proximal to an encephalomyocarditis
virus internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) and a
modified HSV1-tk reporter gene is placed distal
to the IRES. Following intravenous ad.DTm
injection into mice, correlated hepatic D2R and
HSV1-sr39tk PET reporter gene expression could be
demonstrated. Repeated microPET scanning
quantitated both D2R-dependent sequestration of a
positron-emitting ligand and HSV1-TK dependent
sequestration of a positron-emitting product. It
is possible to non-invasively, quantitatively and
repeatedly measure, in living mice, correlated
expression of two coding regions (e.g., a
reporter gene and a therapeutic gene)from a
bicistronic transcription unit over a three month
period following adenovirus delivery.
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REPEATED MEASUREMENT OF HSV1-sr39tk/FHBG AND
D2R/FESP GENE EXPRESSION IN A SINGLE MOUSE,
FOLLOWING INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OF Ad.DTm
BICISTRONIC VIRUS