# US 2006/0088909 A1 · Virus-like particles, methods of preparation, and immunogenic compositions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2006/0088909 A1 - Document ID: US20060088909A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 10/514,462 - Filed: 2003-05-19 - Published: 2006-04-27 - Earliest claimed: 2002-05-17 - Inventors: Richard Compans; Chinglai Yang; Qizhi Yao; Sang-Moo Kang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060088909A1 ## CPC - C07K 14/005: from viruses - C12N 7/00: Viruses; Bacteriophages; Compositions thereof; Preparation or purification thereof (preparing medicinal viral antigen or antibody compositions, e.g. virus vaccines, A61K39/00) - A61K 2039/5258: {Virus-like particles} - A61K 2039/55516: {Proteins; Peptides} - C12N 2710/14143: viral genome or elements thereof as genetic vector - C12N 2740/13023: Virus like particles [VLP] - C12N 2740/15022: New viral proteins or individual genes, new structural or functional aspects of known viral proteins or genes - C12N 2740/15023: Virus like particles [VLP] - C12N 2740/16023: Virus like particles [VLP] - C12N 2740/16122: New viral proteins or individual genes, new structural or functional aspects of known viral proteins or genes - C12N 2760/12222: New viral proteins or individual genes, new structural or functional aspects of known viral proteins or genes - C12N 2760/12223: Virus like particles [VLP] - C12N 2760/14122: New viral proteins or individual genes, new structural or functional aspects of known viral proteins or genes - C12N 2760/14123: Virus like particles [VLP] - C12N 2760/20223: Virus like particles [VLP] - C12N 2770/20022: New viral proteins or individual genes, new structural or functional aspects of known viral proteins or genes - C12N 2770/20023: Virus like particles [VLP] - C12N 2810/60: from viruses - C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00) - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) ## Abstract Briefly described, virus-like particles, methods of preparing virus-like particles, immunogenic compositions that include virus-like particles, and methods of liciting an immune response using immunogenic compositions that include virus-like particles are described herein. A virus-like particle (VLP) can include a viral core protein that can self assemble into the VLP core and at least one viral surface envelope glycoprotein expressed on the surface of the VLP. The viral protein and the viral surface envelope glycoprotein are from different viruses. Another VLP can include a viral core protein that can self assemble into a VLP core; at least one viral surface envelope glycoprotein expressed on the surface of the VLP; and at least one adjuvant molecule expressed on the surface of the VLP. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A virus-like particle (VLP), comprising: a viral core protein that can self assemble into the VLP core; and at least one viral surface envelope glycoprotein expressed on the surface of the VLP, wherein the viral protein and the viral surface envelope glycoprotein are from different viruses. ### Claim 2 (depends on 2) The VLP of claim 2, wherein the viral core protein is selected from a viral Gag viral core protein, an HIV Gag protein, an SIV Gag protein, an MuLV Gag viral core protein, a VSV M viral core protein, an Ebola VP40 viral core protein, corona virus M and E proteins, a Bunyavirus N Protein viral core protein, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The VLP of claim 2, wherein the viral surface envelope surface glycoprotein is selected from a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), a feline leukemia virus, a bovine immunodeficiency virus, a bovine leukemia virus, a equine infectious anemia virus, a human T-cell leukemia virus, a Bunyavirus glycoprotein, a Lassa fever virus glycoprotein, an Ebola virus glycoprotein, a corona virus glycoprotein, an arenavirus glycoprotein, a Filovirus glycoprotein, an influenza virus glycoprotein, a paramyxovirus glycoprotein, a rhabdovirus glycoprotein, an alphavirus glycoprotein, a flavivirus glycoprotein, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 A virus-like particle (VLP), comprising: a viral core protein that can self assemble into a VLP core; at least one viral surface envelope glycoprotein expressed on the surface of the VLP; and at least one adjuvant molecule expressed on the surface of the VLP. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The VLP of claim 4, wherein the viral core protein and the viral surface envelope glycoprotein are from different viruses. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The VLP of claim 4, wherein the viral core protein and the viral surface envelope glycoprotein are from the same virus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The VLP of claim 4, wherein the viral core protein is selected from an HIV Gag viral core protein, an SIV Gag viral core protein, an MuLV Gag viral core protein, a VSV M viral core protein, an Ebola VP40 viral core protein, a corona virus M protein, a corona virus E protein, a Bunya Virus N Protein viral core protein, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The VLP of claim 4, wherein the viral surface envelope surface glycoprotein is selected from a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV), a feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), a feline leukemia virus, a bovine immunodeficiency virus, a bovine leukemia virus, a equine infectious anemia virus, a human T-cell leukemia virus, a Bunya Virus glycoprotein, a Lassa fever virus glycoprotein, an Ebola virus glycoprotein, corona virus glycoprotein, an Arena virus glycoprotein, a Filo viruse glycoprotein, an influenza virus glycoprotein, a paramyxovirus glycoprotein, a rhabdo virus glycoprotein, an alphavirus glycoprotein, a flavi virus glycoprotein, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The VLP of claim 4, wherein the at least one adjuvant molecule is selected from an influenza HA adjuvant molecule, a parainfluenza HN adjuvant molecule, a Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) adjuvant molecule, a F1t3 adjuvant molecule, a C3d adjuvant molecule, a mannose receptor adjuvant molecule, a CD40 adjuvant molecule, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An immunogenic composition, comprising the VLP of claim 1 and a pharmacologically acceptable carrier. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) An immunogenic composition, comprising the VLP of claim 4 and a pharmacologically acceptable carrier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A method of generating an immunological response in a host, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of the immunogenic composition of claim 10 to the host. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A method of generating an immunological response in a host, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of the immunogenic composition of claim 11 to the host. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A method of treating a condition, comprising administering to a host in need of treatment an effective amount of the immunogenic composition of claim 10. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A method of treating a condition, comprising administering to a host in need of treatment an effective amount of the immunogenic composition of claim 11. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1, 4) A method of determining exposure of a host to a virus, said method comprising the steps of: contacting a biological fluid of the host with a virus-like particle (VLP) selected from the VLP of claim 1, the VLP of claim 4, and combinations thereof, wherein the VLP is of the same virus type to which exposure is being determined, under conditions which are permissive for binding of antibodies in the biological fluid with the VLP; and detecting binding of antibodies within the biological fluid with the VLP, whereby exposure of the host to the virus is determined by the detection of antibodies bound to the VLP. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein detecting includes the use of a labeled second antibody which is specific to antibodies in the biological fluid being tested. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) A method for targeting antigen presenting cells in a host, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of the immunogenic composition of claim 11 to the host, wherein the at least one adjuvant molecule is selected from a Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) adjuvant molecule, a F1t3 adjuvant molecule, a C3d adjuvant molecule, a mannose receptor adjuvant molecule, a CD40 adjuvant molecule, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method for targeting antigen presenting cells in a host of claim 18, wherein the antigen presenting cell is a dendritic cell and the at least one adjuvant molecule is selected from a Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) adjuvant molecule, a F1t3 adjuvant molecule, a mannose receptor adjuvant molecule, a CD40 adjuvant molecule, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method for targeting antigen presenting cells in a host of claim 14, wherein the antigen presenting cell is a follicular dendritic cell and the at least one adjuvant molecule is a C3d adjuvant molecule. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) A method for targeting mucosal surfaces in a host, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of the immunogenic composition of claim 11 to the host, wherein the at least one adjuvant molecule is selected from an influenza HA adjuvant molecule, a parainfluenza HN adjuvant molecule, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 22 (depends on 11) A method for producing humoral and cellular immune responses in mucosal and systemic compartments, comprising administering an effective amount of the immunogenic composition of claim 11 to the host, wherein the at least one viral surface envelope surface glycoprotein is selected from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and wherein the at least one adjuvant molecule is selected from an influenza HA adjuvant molecule, a parainfluenza HN adjuvant molecule, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 23 A method of making a virus-like particle (VLP), comprising the steps of: providing a viral core protein expression vector; providing a viral surface envelope surface glycoprotein expression vector; providing a adjuvant molecule expression vector; and introducing into a cell the viral core protein expression vector, the viral surface envelope surface glycoprotein expression vector, and the adjuvant molecule expression vector and allowing for expression of the viral surface envelope surface glycoprotein and the adjuvant molecule, whereby the VLP is formed by the cells. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the VLP is selected from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) VLP, a simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) VLP, a feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) VLP, a feline leukemia virus VLP, a bovine immunodeficiency virus VLP, a bovine leukemia virus VLP, a equine infectious anemia virus VLP, a human T-cell leukemia virus VLP, a Bunya Virus VLP, Lassa fever virus VLP, Ebola virus VLP, corona virus VLP, Arena virus VLP, Filovirus VLP, influenza virus VLP, paramyxovirus VLP, rhabdo virus VLP, alphavirus VLP, and flavi virus VLP. ### Claim 25 A method of making a virus-like particle (VLP), comprising the steps of: operably linking a coding sequence for a viral core protein of a virus to a promoter, and inserting it into a viral core protein expression vector; operably linking a coding sequence for a viral surface envelope glycoprotein of a virus to a promoter, and inserting it into a viral surface envelope surface glycoprotein expression vector; operably linking a coding sequence for an adjuvant molecule to a promoter, and inserting it into a adjuvant molecule expression vector; simultaneously introducing into a cell the viral core protein expression vector, the viral surface envelope surface glycoprotein expression vector, and the adjuvant molecule expression vector and allowing for expression of the viral surface envelope surface glycoprotein and the adjuvant molecule, whereby the VLP is formed by the cells. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the promoter is selected from a baculovirus promoter and a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) promoter, a CMV promoter, EF promoter, adenovirus promoter, recombinant VSV, recombinant adenovirus, recombinant alphavirus, and recombinant DNA expression vectors. ### Claim 27 (depends on 10) A method of boosting the immunization of a host having been previously treated with a vaccine, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of the immunogenic composition of claim 10 to the host. ### Claim 28 (depends on 11) A method of boosting the immunization of a host having been previously treated with a vaccine, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of the immunogenic composition of claim 11 to the host.