Virus-like particles for the induction of autoantibodies
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
InventorsJohn T. Schiller, Bryce Chackerian, Douglas R. Lowy
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Abstract
The invention described herein relates to compositions and methods for stimulating immune responses in vivo against a tolerogen. Novel biotechnological tools, pharmaceuticals, therapeutics and prophylactics, which concern chimeric or conjugated virus-like particles, and methods of use of the foregoing are provided for the study of B cell tolerance and the treatment or prevention of human diseases, which involve the onset of B cell tolerance, such as chronic viral infection, chronic inflammatory disease, and neoplasia.
Claims15
A composition comprising:
- a virus-like particle having a symmetrical assembly of capsid proteins;
- and
- at least one B cell epitope of a tolerogen joined to the virus-like particle so as to form a tolerogen presenting virus-like particle (VLP), wherein the tolerogen presenting VLP displays the tolerogen on the surface thereof in an ordered, repetitive array having a spacing of about 10-500 angstroms.
A composition comprising:
- a virus-like particle having a symmetrical assembly of capsid proteins;
- and
- at least one B cell epitope of a tolerogen joined to the virus-like particle so as to form a tolerogen presenting virus-like particle (VLP), wherein the tolerogen presenting VLP displays the tolerogen on the surface thereof in an ordered, repetitive array having a spacing of about 100 angstroms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.