Glaxosmithkline Biologicals Sa

Isabel Delany

Mariagrazia Pizza

Davide Serruto

Beatrice Ricchetti

Serafina Guadagnuolo

The present invention relates to the field of native outer membrane vesicles (nOMVs), particularly nOMVs having increased levels of lipoproteins on their surface and use of same in immunogenic compositions.

Immunogenic compositions

A first aspect of the invention provides meningococcal outer membrane vesicles in which NHBA is over-expressed. A second aspect of the invention provides meningococcal outer membrane vesicles in which NadA is over-expressed. A third aspect of the invention provides a panel of bacterial strains, each member of which is isogenic except for a single gene which in each strain encodes a different variant antigen of interest.

Developments in meningococcal outer membrane vesicles

New promoters are described to drive transcription in meningococcus e.g. for over-expression of protein antigens for retention in membrane vesicles. Modified porA promoters lack the wild-type poly-G sequence which can cause phase variation. Meningococcal rRNA-coding genes (e.g. for 16S rRNA) can be used to drive transcription of a protein-coding gene. These approaches can be used in combination.

Promoters for increased protein expression in meningococcus

A first aspect of the invention provides meningococcal outer membrane vesicles in which NHBA is over-expressed. A second aspect of the invention provides meningococcal outer membrane vesicles in which NadA is over-expressed. A third aspect of the invention provides a panel of bacterial strains, each member of which is isogenic except for a single gene which in each strain encodes a different variant of an antigen of interest.

Growing community of inventors

Siena, Italy

Isabel Delany