Association of non-viral proteins with recombinant vaccinia virus virions.

Evidence is presented which suggests that recombinant vaccinia virus particles (VV:CAT), containing the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl transferase gene, are capable of encapsidating both the foreign protein which they encode (CAT) as well as cellular enzymes such as thymidine kinase. These results are discussed with respect to using VV to passively introduce biologically-active proteins into cells or organisms.