# US 4,861,720 A · Oncornavirus vaccines and feline alpha-type interferon

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 4,861,720 A
- Document ID: US4861720A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/882,088
- Filed: 1986-07-03
- Granted: 1989-08-29
- Earliest claimed: 1986-07-03
- Assignees: The Regents of the University of California
- Inventors: Neils C. Pedersen; Janet Yamamoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4861720A

## CPC

- C07K 14/005: from viruses
- C07K 14/56: IFN-alpha
- 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 38/00: Medicinal preparations containing peptides (peptides containing beta-lactam rings A61K31/00; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, A61K31/00; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type A61K31/48; containing macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units A61K31/74; medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies A61K39/00; medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients, e.g. peptides as drug carriers, A61K47/00)
- C12N 2740/13022: New viral proteins or individual genes, new structural or functional aspects of known viral proteins or genes
- C12N 2740/13064: by serial passage
- 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

Retroviral vaccines are provided comprising incompetent retroviruses containing defective RNA produced by growing viral transformed cells in the presence of interferon. The resulting defective viruses by themselves or in combination with interferon can be used as vaccines for immunizing viral sensitive hosts against infection. A novel feline interferon is produced in culture with cells infected with the defective non-infectious retroviruses.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for producing a retroviral vaccine form a B-type or C-type retrovirus, said method comprising: growing mammalian host cells infected with said retrovirus in the presence of interferon for a sufficient time for incompetent retrovirus particles to bud from said cells; and
harvesting said retrovirus particles for use as a vaccine.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein said interferon is present in at least 100U/ml and is alpha-interferon.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A method according to claim 2, wherein said alpha-interferon is acid labile alpha-interferon.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein said interferon is constitutively produced alpha-type interferon and said host cells are T-cells.

### Claim 5

A method for producing a retroviral vaccine from a C-type retrovirus, said method comprising:
growing mammalian host lymphocyte cells infected with said retrovirus in the presence of at least 100U/ml alpha-interferon for a sufficient time for incompetant retrovirus particles to bud from said cells; and
harvesting said retrovirus particles for use as a vaccine.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A method according to claim 5, wherein said retrovirus is feline leukemia virus.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A method according to claim 6, wherein said host cells are feline T-cells.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

A method according to claim 5, wherein said alpha-interferon is alpha-type acid labile interferon constitutively produced by said host lymphocyte cells.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

A method according to claim 5, wherein said alpha-interferon is added to said cells.