Protein kinase deficient, immunologically active CMVpp65 mutants
AssigneeCity of Hope
InventorsJohn A. Zaia, Ghislaine Hawkins
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Abstract
This invention relates to mutated CMVpp65, a viral structural protein which activates cell mediated immunity in humans infected with CMV. The mutations remove undesirable protein kinase activity naturally present in the protein and make it suitable for the production of both DNA and protein vaccines. Therefore, the invention provides proteins and DNAs, as well as vaccines comprising the proteins and DNAs, including cellular vaccines and vectors. Other embodiments of the invention relate to methods of enhancing immune response and vaccinating against CMV, including gene therapy methods and vectors.
Claims19
A composition which comprises DNA that encodes a mutant cytomegalovirus pp65 protein that lacks protein kinase activity, wherein said cytomegalovirus pp65 protein elicits a CTL immune response against cells infected with cytomegalovirus.
A vaccine composition which comprises a mutant cytomegalovirus pp65 protein that lacks protein kinase activity, wherein said cytomegalovirus pp65 protein elicits a CTL immune response against cells infected with cytomegalovirus.
A cellular vaccine composition which comprises an antigen presenting cell that has been treated in vitro so as to present epitopes of a mutant cytomegalovirus pp65 protein which lacks protein kinase activity, wherein said cytomegalovirus pp65 protein elicits a CTL immune response against cells infected with cytomegalovirus, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
A cytomegalovirus diagnostic reagent which comprises pp65mII-transfected antigen presenting cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.