Vical Incorporated

University of Texas System

Other

Pasteur Merieux Serums Et Vaccins

Catherine J Luke

Andrew John Geall

Adrian Vilalta

Mary Kopke Wloch

Thomas G Evans

Gretchen S Jimenez

Alan G Barbour

Xiaowu Liang

Robert C Huebner

Kristin R Carner

Jon A Norman

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for enhancing the immune response of a human in need of protection against influenza virus (IV) infection by administering in vivo, into a tissue of the human, at least one polynucleotide comprising one or more regions of nucleic acid encoding an IV protein or a fragment, a variant, or a derivative thereof, or a protein encoded thereby. The polynucleotide is incorporated into the cells of the human in vivo, and an immunologically effective amount of an immunogenic epitope of an IV, or a fragment, variant, or derivative thereof is produced in vivo. The IV protein (in purified form or in the form of an inactivated IV vaccine) is also administered in an immunologically effective amount.

Influenza virus vaccine composition and methods of use

The present invention is directed to enhancing the immune response of a human in need of protection against IV infection by administering in vivo, into a tissue of the human, at least one polynucleotide comprising one or more regions of nucleic acid encoding an IV protein or a fragment, a variant, or a derivative thereof. The present invention is further directed to enhancing the immune response of a human in need of protection against IV infection by administering, in vivo, into a tissue of the human, at least one IV protein or a fragment, a variant, or derivative thereof. The IV protein can be, for example, in purified form or can be an inactivated IV, such as those present in inactivated IV vaccines. The polynucleotide is incorporated into the cells of the human in vivo, and an immunologically effective amount of an immunogenic epitope of an IV, or a fragment, variant, or derivative thereof is produced in vivo. The IV protein (in purified form or in the form of an inactivated IV vaccine) is also administered in an immunologically effective amount.

Mucosal administration of OspA and compositions therefor are disclosed and claimed. More particularly, oral administration of OspA and compositions therefor for eliciting an immunological response against, such as a protective response preventive of Lyme disease are disclosed and claimed. Thus, oral Lyme disease vaccines or immunological compositions and methods of use are disclosed and claimed.

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Disclosed is a vaccine against Lyme Disease or its causative agent (sensu stricto or sensu lato) containing a plasmid a DNA encoding a promoter for driving expression in a mammalian cell, DNA encoding a leader peptide for facilitating secretion/release of a prokaryotic protein sequence from a mammalian cell, a DNA encoding Borrelia OspA or OspB, and a DNA encoding a terminator. Disclosed too is an immunogenic composition against Lyme Disease or its causative agent (sensu stricto or sensu lato) containing a plasmid comprising a DNA encoding a promoter for driving expression in a mammalian cell, DNA encoding a leader peptide for facilitating secretion/release of a prokaryotic protein sequence from a mammalian cell, a DNA encoding a Borrelia OspC, and a DNA encoding a terminator. And, methods for making and using such vaccines and the immunogenic composition are also disclosed.

Compositions and methods for administering Borrelia DNA

Plasmid DNA encoding at least one Borrelia genospecies antigen and methods for making and using such a plasmid are disclosed and claimed. The genospecies can be burgdorferi, garinii and/or afzelli. The antigen can be OspA and/or OspB and/or OspC. Compositions containing the plasmid DNA are useful for administration to a host susceptible to Lyme Disease for an in vivo response, such as a protective response, or for generating useful antibodies. The inventive plasmid can also be transfected into cells for generating antigens in vitro. And, the inventive plasmid can be prepared by isolating DNA (such as DNA coding for: promoter, leader sequence, antigen, and terminator) and performing a ligation or ligations, such as a three-way ligation. More particularly, administration of DNA encoding Borrelia genospecies antigen, e.g., OspA and/or OspB and/or OspC and compositions therefor for eliciting an immunological response against Borrelia, such as a protective response preventive of Lyme Disease, are disclosed and claimed. Thus, Lyme Disease vaccines or immunological compositions, and methods of making and using them, are disclosed and claimed.

Growing community of inventors

Frederick, MD, United States of America

Catherine J Luke