Connaught Laboratories Limited

Sanofi Pasteur Inc.

Aventis Pasteur Limited

Other

Sanifo Pasteur Limited

Pasteur Merieux Connaught Canada

Mary E Ewasyshyn

Michel Henri Klein

Run-Pan Du

Xiaomao Li

Suryaprakash Sambhara

Sonia E Sanhueza

Barry Ian Caplan

Anne-Marie Bonneau

George A Cates

James Tartaglia

Raafat Emil Fahim

Gail E Jackson

Alison L Symington

Multimeric hybrid genes encoding the corresponding chimeric protein comprise a gene sequence coding for an antigenic region of a protein from a first pathogen linked to a gene sequence coding for an antigenic region of a protein from a second pathogen. The pathogens particularly are parainfluenza virus (PIV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A single recombinant immunogen is capable of protecting infants and similar susceptible individuals against diseases caused by both PIV and RSV.

Chimeric immunogens

An immunogenic composition capable of producing a respiratory syncytial (RS) virus specific immune response in a host immunized therewith comprises purified, inactivated RS virus which is substantially free from cellular and serum components and which is non-infectious, non-immunopotentiating, immunogenic and protective. The virus is grown on a vaccine quality cell line and harvested virus is purified under non-denaturing conditions to be substantially free from cellular and serum components. The purified RS virus is inactivated using &#x3b2;-propiolactone, a non-ionic detergent, particularly n-octyl-&#x3b1;-D-glucopyranoside and n-octyl-&#x3b2;-D-glucopyranoside, or ascorbic acid. The immunogenic composition may be formulated as a vaccine for in vivo administration to a human host. The immunogenic composition also may be used in diagnostic applications.

Inactivated respiratory syncytial viral vaccines

Vectors containing a nucleotide sequence coding for an F protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and a promoter for such sequence, preferably a cytomegalovirus promoter, are described. Such vectors also may contain a further nucleotide sequence located adjacent to the RSV F protein encoding sequence to enhance the immunoprotective ability of the RSV F protein when expressed in vivo. Such vectors may be used to immunize a host, including a human host, by administration thereto. Such vectors also may be used to produce antibodies for detection of RSV infection in a sample.

Nucleic acid respiratory syncytial virus vaccines

Non-replicating vectors containing a nucleotide sequence coding for an F protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and a promoter for such sequence, preferably a cytomegalovirus promoter, are described for in vivo immunization. The nucleotide sequence encloding the RSV F protein may lack a sequence encoding the homologous signal peptide but possessing a heterologous signal peptide enhancing RSV F protein expression. Such non-replicating vectors, including plasmids, also may contain a further nucleotide sequence located adjacent to the RSV F protein encoding sequence to enhance the immunoprotective ability of the RSV F protein when expressed in vivo. Such non-replicating vectors may be used to immunize a host against disease caused by infection with RSV, including a human host, by administration thereto, and may be formulated as immunogenic compositions with pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers for such purpose. Such vectors also may be used to produce antibodies for detection of RSV infection in a sample.

Immunogenic envelope glycoproteins are produced from enveloped virus, such as of the paramyxoviridae family, particularly PIV-3 and RSV, by culturing the virus in the substantial absence of exogenous serum proteins, isolating the virus from the tissue culture, solubilizing the envelope glycoproteins and isolating the solubilized envelope glycoproteins by chromatography.

Production of virus and purfication of viral envelope proteins for vaccine use

An immunogenic composition capable of producing a respiratory syncytial (RS) virus specific immune response in a host immunized therewith comprises purified, inactivated RS virus which is substantially free from cellular and serum components and which is non-infectious, non-immunopotentiating, immunogenic and protective. The virus is grown on a vaccine quality cell line and harvested virus is purified under non-denaturing conditions to be substantially free from cellular and serum components. The purified RS virus is inactivated using &bgr;-propiolactone, a non-ionic detergent, particularly n-octyl-&agr;-D-glucopyranoside and n-octyl-&bgr;D-glucopyranoside, or ascorbic acid. The immunogenic composition may be formulated as a vaccine for in vivo administration to a human host. The immunogenic composition also may be used in diagnostic applications.

Production of virus and purification of viral envelope proteins for vaccine use

Multimeric hybrid gene encoding a chimeric protein which confers protection against parainfluenza virus and respiratory synctial virus

Growing community of inventors

Willowdale, Canada

Mary E Ewasyshyn