Split-core-particles for the presentation of foreign molecules, especially for vaccine applications, and method for their production
AssigneeUniversitatsklinikum Freiburg
InventorsMichael Nassal, Claudia Skamel, Andreas Walker
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Abstract
Disclosed are split-core carrier substance which, as separate polypeptide, have the core N domain and the core C domain of the core protein of a hepatitis B virus and at least one foreign molecule against which an immune response is to be induced. According to the invention, the foreign molecule, especially the heterologous foreign amino acid sequence, is fused to the C terminus or the core N domain or to the N terminus of the core C domain and the core protein can form capsid-like particles. The invention also relates to the associated production method.
Claims22
A split-core carrier system comprising the core protein of an hepatitis B virus (HBV), said HBV core protein having a three-dimensional structure characterized by two alpha-helices connected by loop region that comprises a c/e1 epitope, wherein said HBV core protein is cleaved at the loop region into two separate polypeptides:
- a core N domain polypeptide and a core C domain polypeptide, wherein at least one foreign molecule to which an immune response is to be elicited is fused to either the C-terminus of the core N domain polypeptide or to the N-terminus of the core C domain polypeptide, wherein the separate core polypeptides coordinate to form capsid-like particles like those formed by the uncleaved HBV core protein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.