Leland Stanford Junior University

American Cyanamid Company

Bruce A Stocker

William R Majarian

Salete M Newton

The present invention is directed to recombinant genes and their encoded proteins which are recombinant flagellin fusion proteins. Such fusion proteins comprise amino acid sequences specifying an epitope encoded by a flagellin structural gene and an epitope of a heterologous organism which is immunogenic upon introduction of the fusion protein into a vertebrate host. The recombinant genes and proteins of the present invention can be used in vaccine formulations, to provide protection against infection by the heterologous organism, or to provide protection against conditions or disorders caused by an antigen of the organism. In a specific embodiment, attenuated invasive bacteria expressing the recombinant flagellin genes of the invention can be used in live vaccine formulations. The invention is illustrated by way of examples in which epitopes of malaria circumsporozoite antigens, the B subunit of Cholera toxin, surface and presurface antigens of Hepatitis B. VP7 polypeptide of rotavirus, envelope glycoprotein of HIV, and M protein of Streptococcus, are expressed in recombinant flagellin fusion proteins which assemble into functional flagella, and which provoke an immune response directed against the heterologous epitope, in a vertebrate host.

Recombinant flagellin vaccines

Live vaccines are provided and methods for preparing the live vaccines for protection of a host from a pathogenic microorganism. The vaccines are prepared by introducing at least one modification in a gene involved in at least one, normally at least two, biosynthetic pathways involving the production of products which are unlikely to be found in the disease susceptible host. The modification results in a gene change which cannot be repaired by a single step, e.g. polynucleotide deletions and inversions. Where the aro gene suffers such a change, the resultant auxotrophic mutants require aromatic amino acids, p-aminobenzoic acid and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid or a highly concentrated source of absorbable iron. The auxotrophic mutations have substantially reduced or nonexistent virulence while retaining the desired immunogenicity to initiate the immunogenic response. Various techniques can be employed for providing the desired change.

Non-reverting live bacterial vaccines

Live vaccines are provided and methods for preparing the live vaccines for protection of a host from a pathogenic microorganism. The vaccines are prepared by introducing at least one modification in a gene involved in at least one, normally at least two, biosynthetic pathways involving the production of products which are unlikely to be found in the disease susceptible host. The modification results in a gene change which cannot be repaired by a single step, e.g. polynucleotide deletions and inversions. Where the aro gene suffers such a change, the resultant auxotrophic mutants require aromatic amino acids, p-aminobenzoic acid and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid or a highly concentrated source of absorabable iron. The auxotrophic mutations have substantially reduced or nonexistent virulence while retaining the desired immunogenicity to initiate the immunogenic response. Various techniques can be employed for providing the desired change.

Non-reventing live vaccines

Novel non-reverting shigella live vaccines

Live vaccines are provided and methods for preparing the live vaccines for protection of a host from a pathogenic microorganism. The vaccines are prepared by introducing at least one modification in a gene involved in at least one, normally at least two, biosynthetic pathways, involving the production of products which are unlikely to be found in the disease susceptible host. The modification results in a gene change which cannot be repaired by a single step e.g. polynucleotide deletions and inversions. Where the aro gene suffers such a change, the resultant auxotrophic mutants require aromatic amino acids, p-aminobenzoic acid and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid or a highly concentrated source of absorbable iron. The auxotrophic mutations have substantially reduced or nonexistent virulence, while retaining the desired immunogenicity to initiate the immunogenic response. Various techniques can be employed for providing the desired change. Salmonella typhimurium strain SL1479 was deposited at the ATCC on Sept. 7, 1982 and given ATCC Accession No. 39183; Salmonella dublin strain SL1438 was deposited on Sept. 7, 1982 at the ATCC and given ATCC Accession No. 39184. Salmonella typhi strain 531Ty was deposited at the ASTCC on Nov. 21, 1984, and granted ATCC Accession No. 39926.

Live vaccines comprising two mutations and foreign antigen

Live vaccines are provided and methods for preparing the live vaccines for protection of a host from a pathogenic microorganism. The vaccines are prepared by introducing at least one modification in a gene involved in at least one, normally at least two, biosynthetic pathways, involving the production of products which are unlikely to be found in the disease susceptible host. The modification results in a gene change which cannot be repaired by a single step e.g. polynucleotide deletions and inversions. Where the aro gene suffers such a change, the resultant auxotrophic mutants require aromatic amino acids, p-aminobenzoic acid and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid or a highly concentrated source of absorbable iron. The auxotrophic mutations have substantially reduced or nonexistent virulence, while retaining the desired immunogenicity to initiate the immunogenic response. Various techniques can be employed for providing the desired change. Salmonella typhimurium strain SL1479 was deposited at the ATCC on Sept. 7, 1982 and given ATCC Accession No. 39183; Salmonella dublin strain SL1438 was deposited on Sept. 7, 1982 at the ATCC and given ATCC Accession No. 39184. Salmonella typhi strain 531Ty was deposited at the ATCC on Nov. 21, 1984, and granted ATCC Accession No. 39926.

Novel non-reverting salmonella live vaccines

Salmonella typhimurium strain SL1479, ATCC No. 39183 and Salmonella dublin strain SL1438, ATCC No. 39184 are provided which are useful as live vaccines. The vaccines are prepared by introducing at least one modification in a gene involved in at least one, normally at least two, biosynthetic pathways, involving the production of products which are unlikely to be found in the disease susceptible host. The modification results in a gene change which cannot be repaired by a single step e.g. polynucleotide deletions and inversions. Where the aro gene suffers such a change, the resultant auxotrophic mutants required aromatic amino acids, p-aminobenzoic acid and enterochelin or a highly concentrated source of absorbable iron. The auxotrophic mutations have substantially reduced or nonexistent virulence, while retaining the desired immunogenicity to initiate the immunogenic response.

Growing community of inventors

Portola Valley, CA, United States of America

Bruce A Stocker