Osaka University

Teijin Limited

National Institute of Health

The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka

The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases

Iwao Yoshida

Akihisa Takamizawa

Chisato Mori

Keisuke Takaku

Isao Fuke

Juichiro Osame

Takeo Konobe

Sadao Manabe

Hiroto Okayama

Konosuke Fukai

Hiroyuki Fujita

Masashi Chazono

Mitsuo Takagi

Atsushi Imaizumi

Yuji Sato

Hideo Goda

Toshiyuki Akiyama

Masahiko Kato

Toyokazu Ishikawa

Hiroko Sato

Disclosed is an isolated non-A, non-B hepatitis virus genomic CDNA covering the entire region of the virus gene nucleotide sequence from the 1st to 9416th nucleotides shown in FIG.,(,) through FIG.,(,) hereof, wherein the coding region is from the 333rd to 9362nd nucleotides, and the 5&prime;- and 3&prime;-noncoding sequences contain 332 nucleotides and 54 nucleotides, respectively. Part of the cDNA and an antigen polypeptide as an expression product thereof are useful as a diagnostic reagent for non-A, non-B hepatitis. The antigen polypeptide is also useful as an active ingredient for a non-A, non-B hepatitis virus vaccine.

Non-A, non-B hepatitis virus genomic cDNA and antigen polypeptide

Disclosed is an isolated non-A, non-B hepatitis virus genomic cDNA covering the entire region of the virus gene nucleotide sequence from the 1st to 9416th nucleotides shown in FIG. 2(1) through FIG. 2(16) hereof, wherein the coding region is from the 333rd to 9362nd nucleotides, and the 5'- and 3'- noncoding sequences contain 332 nucleotides and 54 nucleotides, respectively. Part of the cDNA and an antigen polypeptide as an expression product thereof are useful as a diagnostic reagent for non-A, non-B hepatitis. The antigen polypeptide is also useful as an active ingredient for a non-A, non-B hepatitis virus vaccine.

Disclosed is an isolated non-A, non-B hepatitis virus genomic cDNA covering the entire region of the virus gene nucleotide sequence from the 1st to 9416th nucleotides shown in FIG. 2(1) through FIG. 2(16) hereof, wherein the coding region is from the 333rd to 9362nd nucleotides, and the 5'- and 3'-noncoding sequences contain 332 nucleotides and 54 nucleotides, respectively. Part of the cDNA and an antigen polypeptide as an expression product thereof are useful as a diagnostic reagent for non-A, non-B hepatitis. The antigen polypeptide is also useful as an active ingredient for a non-A, non-B hepatitis virus vaccine.

Non-A, non-B hepatitis virus genomic CDNA and antigen polypeptide

There is disclosed an antigen comprising an amino acid sequence of the suce antigen of a hepatitis B virus. The present antigen can be produced easily and safely at low cost by means of recombinant DNA technique. The present antigen can be used as an effective vaccine and diagnostic for hepatitis B.

Process for expressing the hepatitis B virus antigen using a

There is provided a recombinant Marek's disease virus comprising the genomic DNA of an attenuated Marek's disease virus and a foreign gene from another source. The present recombinant virus can advantageously be used as an active ingredient for a multifunctional live vaccine, exhibiting not only the antigenicity and immunogenicity of the Marek's disease virus but also the properties ascribed to the foreign gene. Since the suitable host cell for the recombinant virus of the present invention is an avian cell which is available in a large quantity and not expensive, the recombinant virus of the present invention can be produced efficiently at low cost on a commercial scale.

Recombinant Marek's disease virus and vaccine

There is disclosed a DNA which codes for an antigen comprising at least part of an amino acid sequence of the antigen of a flavivirus, which part contains at least one epitope of the flavivirus antigen. The present DNA can be used for producing the antigen easily and safely at low cost by means of recombinant DNA technique. The antigen produced using the present DNA can be used as an effective vaccine and diagnostic for Japanese encephalitis.

A DNA coding for a Flavivirus antigen

A Bordetella pertussis variant which produces a pertussis toxin mutant protein partially devoid of subunits. When the variants of the present invention are cultured, a pertussis toxin mutant protein partially devoid of subunits, particularly at least subunit S1, can be harvested from the culture. The thus-obtained pertussis toxin mutant protein partially devoid of subunits can be applied to the preparation of a pertussis vaccine by a conventional method.

Bordetella pertussis variants

There is disclosed a method for culturing Bordetella pertussis in the presence of a cellulose and/or cellulose derivatives. The present method is useful for obtaining a mixed antigen comprising pertussis toxin and filamentous hemagglutinin in a large amount at low cost. From the antigen, there can be obtained a stable and effective pertussis toxoid to be used for a pertussis vaccine. There is also disclosed a vaccine comprising the pertussis toxoid as an active ingredient and a gelatin and/or gelatin derivatives as a stabilizing agent. The present vaccine is extremely stable and can be stored for a prolonged period of time.

Method for culturing Bordetella pertussis, a pertussis toxoid and a

There is disclosed a method for purifying a gene-expression product produced by recombinant DNA technique which comprises a specific sequence of steps including adsorption treatment with silica gel, adsorption treatment with activated carbon, at least twice density gradient centrifugation and at least twice equilibrium density gradient centrifugation. The method of the present invention is very effective to remove allergen from gene-expression products contaminated therewith, enabling highly purified gene-expression products to be produced on a large scale.

Method for purifying a gene-expression product produced by recombinant

There is disclosed a method for culturing Bordetella pertussis in the prece of a cellulose and/or cellulose derivatives. The present method is useful for obtaining a mixed antigen comprising pertussis toxin and filamentous hemagglutinin in a large amount at low cost. From the antigen, there can be obtained a stable and effective pertussis toxoid to be used for a pertussis vaccine. There is also disclosed a vaccine comprising the pertussis toxoid as an active ingredient and a gelatin and/or gelatin derivatives as a stabilizing agent. The present vaccine is extremely stable and can be stored for a prolonged period of time.

Method for culturing bordetella pertussis, a pertussis toxoid and a

There is disclosed an antigen comprising at least part of an amino acid sence of the antigen of a flavivirus, which part contains at least one of epitopes of the flavivirus antigen. The present antigen can be produced easily and safely at low cost by means of recombinant DNA technique. The present antigen can be used as an effective vaccine and diagnostic for Japanese encephalitis.

Growing community of inventors

Kanonji, Japan

Iwao Yoshida