Ferritin fusion proteins for use in vaccines and other applications

A ferritin fusion protein comprising a fusion protein selected from the group consisting of an L-chain ferritin protein fused at the C terminus with a protein or peptide capable of being fused to ferritin without interfering with the polymeric assembly of the resulting fusion protein and an L-chain ferritin protein fused at the N terminus with a protein or peptide capable of being fused to ferritin without interfering with the polymeric assembly of the resulting fusion protein,

• wherein the protein fused to ferritin is selected from the group consisting of hemoglobin, silver condensing peptide, the HIV Tat protein, the small HIV Tat peptide, HIV-1 P24 protein, and viral proteins from the SARS or MDS viruses.

A ferritin fusion protein comprising a fusion protein selected from the group consisting of an L-chain ferritin protein fused at the C terminus with a protein or peptide capable of being fused to ferritin without interfering with the polymeric assembly of the resulting fusion protein and an L-chain ferritin protein fused at the N terminus with a protein or peptide capable of being fused to ferritin without interfering with the polymeric assembly of the resulting fusion protein,

• wherein the protein fused to ferritin is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:
• 7.

A method of eliciting an immunogenic reaction in a human or animal comprising administering to said human or animal an immunologically effective amount of an isolated ferritin fusion protein, said ferritin fusion protein comprising a fusion protein selected from the group consisting of an L-chain ferritin protein fused at the C terminus with a protein or peptide capable of being fused to ferritin without interfering with the polymeric assembly of the resulting fusion protein and an L-chain ferritin protein fused at the N terminus with a protein or peptide capable of being fused to ferritin without interfering with the polymeric assembly of the resulting fusion protein.

A method of metal scavenging comprising:

• introducing a fusion protein having a metal scavenging peptide fused to ferritin into a fluid containing the metals to be scavenged for a time sufficient to allow the metal to bond with the metal scavenging peptide of the fusion protein, and then recovering the fusion protein having the metal bound thereto,
• wherein the fusion protein is selected from the group consisting of an L-chain ferritin protein fused at the C terminus with a protein or peptide capable of being fused to ferritin without interfering with the polymeric assembly of the resulting fusion protein and an L-chain ferritin protein fused at the N terminus with a protein or peptide capable of being fused to ferritin without interfering with the polymeric assembly of the resulting fusion protein.