Merck + Co., Inc.

Merck Sharp + Dohme Corp.

Other

N.v. Innogenetics S.a.

Donna Lorraine Montgomery

Kathrin Ute Jansen

Margaret A Liu

Ronald W Ellis

Tessie Brown McNeely

Jean Content

Jeffrey Ulmer

Kris Huygen

Annaliesa Sybil Anderson

Peter J Kniskern

Loren D Schultz

Arpi Hagopian

Henry Z Markus

John J Donnelly

William L McClements

Rosemarie Kelly

James C Cook, Iii

Leslie Cope

Amita Joshi

Hongxia Fan

Robert B Freedman

Michael F Tuite

Douglas Martinez

Gregory P Pancari

William L Mcclements

The present invention relates to methods of inducing an immune response tocomprising administering a composition comprising an SA2451-related polypeptide fromas well as derivatives or fragments thereof. The present invention also encompasses methods of treating and/or reducing the likelihood of ainfection by administering a composition comprising an SA2451-related polypeptide or an antibody that specifically binds to an SA2451 polypeptide, derivative or fragments thereof. Compositions administered in the methods of the invention can include one or more additional antigens. Compositions used to practice the methods of the invention are also encompassed.

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The present invention features polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence structurally related to SEQ ID NO: 1 and uses of such polypeptides. SEQ ID NO: 1 is a truncated derivative of a full-lengthpolypeptide. The full-length naturally occurring polypeptide is referred to herein as full-length ORF1319e. A His-tagged derivative of SEQ ID NO: 1 was found to produce a protective immune response against

Genes encoding ( ) proteins were cloned into eukaryotic expression vectors to express the encoded proteins in mammalian muscle cells in vivo. Animals were immunized by injection of these DNA constructs, termed polynucleotide vaccines or PNV, into their muscles. Immune antisera was produced against antigens. Specific T-cell responses were detected in spleen cells of vaccinated mice and the profile of cytokine secretion in response to antigen 85 was indicative of a T 1 type of helper T-cell response (i.e., high IL-2 and IFN-&ggr;). Protective efficacy of an DNA vaccine was demonstrated in mice after challenge with BCG, as measured by a reduction in mycobacterial multiplication in the spleens and lungs of DNA-vaccinated mice compared to control DNA-vaccinated mice or primary infection in naive mice.

Polynucleotide tuberculosis vaccine

Disclosed is a process for increasing the yield of disulfide bonded recombinant proteins produced by yeast, especially recombinant secreted proteins The enzyme protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) catalyzes the formation of disulfide bonds in secretory and cell-surface proteins. We disclose the construction of recombinant strains of the yeast,which overproduce either human PDI or yeast PDI in a regulated fashion. These strains show greatly increased secretion of disulfide bonded proteins of potential therapeutic significance. These strains have the potential to increase the production of various disulfide bonded proteins.

Method of increasing production of disulfide bonded recombinant proteins by saccharomyces cerevisiae

Polynucleotide vaccine for papillomavirus

Genes encoding Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) proteins were cloned into eukaryotic expression vectors to express the encoded proteins in mammalian muscle cells in vivo. Animals were immunized by injection of these DNA constructs, termed polynucleotide vaccines or PNV, into their muscles. Immune antisera was produced against M.tb antigens. Specific T-cell responses were detected in spleen cells of vaccinated mice and the profile of cytokine secretion in response to antigen 85 was indicative of a T.sub.h 1 type of helper T-cell response (i.e., high IL-2 and IFN-.gamma.). Protective efficacy of an M.tb DNA vaccine was demonstrated in mice after challenge with M. bovis BCG, as measured by a reduction in mycobacterial multiplication in the spleens and lungs of M.tb DNA-vaccinated mice compared to control DNA-vaccinated mice or primary infection in naive mice.

The hepatitis B virus preS2 antigen gene linked in one contiguous reading frame to the hepatitis B virus surface antigen gene has been expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae utilizing an optimized plasmid construction. The expressed protein aggregates into a particulate form which displays the major antigenic sites encoded by both domains, thereby highlighting the utility of yeast as a host for the high level expression of the preS2 as well as the S domain. This protein is useful in in vitro diagnostic systems and as a vaccine for the treatment and prevention of hepatitis B virus-induced diseases and/or infections.

Method for producing hepatitis B virus proteins in yeast

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Chalfont, PA, United States of America

Donna Lorraine Montgomery