Compositions and methods comprising West Nile virus polypeptides
OwnerErol Fikrig, Raymond A. Koski +1inventors
InventorsErol Fikrig, Raymond A. Koski, Tian Wang
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Abstract
This application is directed to compositions and methods comprising isolated and purified West Nile virus polypeptides and immunogenic fragments thereof, nucleic acid molecules encoding them and antibodies specific for such polypeptides or fragments. Such polypeptides and fragments, fusion proteins comprising them and antibodies are useful as vaccines to treat, inhibit or prevent West Nile virus infection or disease, to detect West Nile virus infection and to monitor the course of disease or immunization.
Claims55
A composition for treating, inhibiting or preventing West Nile (WN) virus infection or disease, comprising one or more isolated and substantially purified WN virus polypeptides or an immunogenic fragment thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
A composition comprising an antibody that specifically binds a WN virus polypeptide or an immunogenic fragment thereof, wherein said antibody inhibits or lessens the severity of WN virus infection or disease.
An antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof that specifically binds a WN virus E protein or an immunogenic fragment thereof.
An antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof produced by immunizing a non-human mammal with a polypeptide according to any one of claims 43-49.
A diagnostic kit comprising at least one polypeptide according to any one of claims 43-49.
A nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a fusion protein, said fusion protein comprising a WN virus E protein or an immunogenic fragment thereof.
An isolated and purified polypeptide comprising a WN virus envelope (E) protein or an immunogenic fragment thereof.
An isolated polypeptide, consisting essentially of a WN virus envelope (E) protein or an immunogenic fragment thereof.
An isolated polypeptide, consisting of a WN virus envelope (E) protein or an immunogenic fragment thereof.
A method for identifying a protective WN virus polypeptide comprising the steps of:
- a) immunizing a C3H mouse with an WN virus polypeptide or fragment thereof;
- b) challenging the immunized mouse produced in step a) with WN virus;
- and
- c) identifying a WN virus polypeptide that confers protection against WN virus infection or disease.
A method for identifying an protective antibody that specifically binds a WN virus polypeptide, comprising the steps of:
- a) passively immunizing a C3H mouse with an antibody that specifically binds a WN virus polypeptide;
- b) challenging the immunized mouse produced in step a) with WN virus;
- and
- c) identifying an antibody that confers protection against WN virus infection or disease.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.