Outer membrane vesicles
AssigneeGlaxosmithkline Biologicals SA
InventorsIsabel Delany, Giulia Giordano, Rosanna Leuzzi, Immaculada Margarit Y Ros
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the field of neisserial vaccine compositions (particularly gonococcal vaccine compositions) and the use of such compositions in medicine. More particularly, the present invention relates to genetically modified gonococci of strain FA1090 and outer membrane vesicles obtained therefrom. The invention also provides a process for preparing the genetically modified gonococci of the invention as well as immunogenic compositions and vaccines comprising the outer membrane vesicles of the invention.
Claims21
A genetically modified gonococcal bacterium of strain FA1090 suitable for liquid culture, comprising genetic modification(s) that:
- a. decreases or abolishes expression and/or function of the lipid A biosynthesis lauroyl acyltransferase (lpxl1) gene, mRNA, and/or polypeptide;
- and
- b. decreases or abolishes expression and/or function of the reduction modifiable protein (rmp) gene, mRNA, and/or polypeptide.
An outer membrane vesicle obtained or obtainable from an FA1090 strain gonococcus, wherein said outer membrane vesicle comprises either reduced levels or no detectable level of both Lpxl1 and Rmp polypeptides, optionally wherein said reduced levels or no detectable level of both Lpxl1 and Rmp polypeptides is measured in comparison to an outer membrane vesicle obtained from a wild-type FA1090 bacterium.
An outer membrane vesicle (OMV) from a genetically modified FA1090 strain gonococcus, said genetically modified FA1090 strain gonococcus comprising genetic modification(s) that:
- a) decreases or abolishes expression and/or function of the lpxl1 gene, lpxl1 mRNA, and/or Lpxl1 polypeptide;
- and b) decreases or abolishes expression and/or function of the rmp gene, rmp mRNA, and/or Rmp polypeptide, said OMV comprising:
- I. reduced levels of Rmp polypeptide compared to the levels of Rmp polypeptide in a comparator OMV from a N. gonorrhoeae strain FA1090 that lacks said genetic modifications;
- and
- II. reduced levels of hexa-acylated lipid A compared to the levels of hexa-acylated lipid A from the comparator OMV.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.