Compositions and methods for inducing immune responses against class i fusion protein viruses

Abstract

Provided are modified bacteria and derivatives thereof that express nucleotide sequence encoding an antigen of a viral family selected from the group comprising Retroviridae (e.g., HIV, including a HIV Fusion Peptide antigen), Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Arenaviridae, 5 Filoviridae, and/or Coronaviridae (e.g., an SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 Fusion Peptide, and/or PEDV). In some embodiments, the bacterium has a reduced genome and induces an enhanced immune response against the viral antigen of interest when administered to a subject. In some embodiments, the viral (e.g., SARS-CoV, 10 SARS-CoV-2, PEDV, and/or HIV) antigen is expressed on a surface of a bacterium. Also provided are method for producing antibodies against viral antigens, vaccine compositions, methods for vaccinating subjects, methods for treating viral infections in subjects, and expression vectors for expressing viral antigens including but not limited to coronavirus (e.g., SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and/or PEDV) antigens and/or HIV antigens on the surface of reduced 15 genome bacteria.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.