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AssigneeThe U.S.A., as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
InventorsBarney S. GRAHAM, Masaru KANEKIYO, Hadi M. YASSINE
Estimating the term…
Novel, nanoparticle-based vaccines are provided that elicit an immune response to a broad range of infectious agents, such as influenza viruses. The nanoparticles comprise a heterogeneous population of fusion proteins, each comprising a monomeric subunit of a self-assembly protein, such as ferritin, joined to one or more immunogenic portions of a protein from an infectious agent, such as influenza virus. The fusion proteins self-assemble to form nanoparticles that display a heterogeneous population of immunogenic portions on their surface. When administered to an individual, such nanoparticles elicit an immune response to different strains, types, subtypes and species with in the same taxonomic family. Thus, such nanoparticles can be used to vaccinate an individual against infection by different Types, subtypes and/or strains of infectious agents. Also provided are specific fusion proteins, nucleic acid molecules encoding such fusion proteins and methods of using nanoparticles of the invention to vaccinate individuals.
1-13. (canceled)
A nanoparticle comprising a heterogeneous population of self-assembling fusion proteins, wherein the nanoparticle displays, on its surface, immunogenic portions of corresponding proteins from at least two different infectious agents, and wherein the at least two different infectious agents are from different genera, types, subtypes or species, within the same taxonomic order.
A method of eliciting in an individual, a broadly neutralizing immune response against an infectious agent, comprising administering to the individual the nanoparticle of claim 1.
A method of vaccinating an individual against an infectious agent, comprising administering to the individual the nanoparticle of claim 1.
A method of producing a nanoparticle comprising a heterogeneous population of self-assembling fusion proteins, wherein the nanoparticle displays, on its surface, immunogenic portions of corresponding proteins from at least two different infectious agents, and wherein the at least two different infectious agents are from different genera, types, subtypes or species, within the same taxonomic order, the method comprising culturing a cell comprising at least two nucleic acid molecules, each nucleic acid molecule encoding a unique species of fusion protein, under conditions suitable for expressing the encoded proteins and forming nanoparticles,
A fusion protein comprising an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:97, SEQ ID NO:100, SEQ ID NO:103, SEQ ID NO:106, SEQ ID NO:109, SEQ ID NO:112, SEQ ID NO:115, SEQ ID NO:118, SEQ ID NO:121, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:133, SEQ ID NO:136, SEQ ID NO:139, SEQ ID NO:142, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:148, SEQ ID NO:151, SEQ ID NO:154, SEQ ID NO:157, SEQ ID NO:160, SEQ ID NO:163, SEQ ID NO:166, SEQ ID NO:169, SEQ ID NO:172, SEQ ID NO:175, SEQ ID NO:178, SEQ ID NO:181, SEQ ID NO:184, SEQ ID NO:187 and SEQ ID NO:190.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.