The Kitasato Institute

National Institute of Health

The Kitasata Institute

Chikara Aizawa

Tetsuo Nakayama

Katsuhiro Komase

Noriko Suzuki

Takeshi Kurata

Shinichi Tamura

Takashi Nagamine

It was found that a mutation of an amino acid at a specific position in the P protein of a morbillivirus gives a temperature-sensitivity character to a virus. By introducing this mutation, a virus to which a temperature-sensitivity character has been introduced can be produced. According to this invention, attenuated viruses useful in the preparation of vaccines can be easily produced.

Method for producing temperature-sensitive morbillivirus

It was found that a mutation of an amino acid at a specific position in the F protein of ainduces a reduction in the cell-fusion ability. By introducing this mutation, a virus having a reduced cell-fusion ability can be produced. Thus, attenuated viruses useful in the preparation of vaccines can be easily produced.

Method for producing cell-fushion type morbillivirus mutants

A vaccine preparation comprising in combination a vaccine and a toxin or subunit thereof as an effective component. The toxin is preferably a bacterial toxin, e.g. cholera toxin, staphylococcal .alpha.-hemolysin, staphylococcal .delta.-hemolysin, vibrio thermostable direct hemolysin, pertussis toxin or E. coli heat-labile toxin. The toxin can be a B subunit or a part of a B subunit of a toxin. The vaccine can be influenza vaccine, pertussis vaccine, Japanese encephalitis vaccine, mixed vaccine of pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus toxoid, hepatitis B vaccine, rota vaccine, measles vaccine, rubella vaccine, mumps vaccine, combined vaccine of measles, rubella and mumps, or mycoplasma vaccine. The ratio of vaccine to toxin or subunit thereof is 1:0.0001-1:10,000 (w/v). The vaccine can be intranasal vaccine, or can be in injectable form, spray form or oral administration form.

Vaccine preparation comprising a bacterial toxin adjuvant

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Saitama, Japan

Chikara Aizawa