US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Michael D Parker

Jonathan F Smith

Peter M Pushko

Robert E Johnston

Nancy L Davis

George Ludwig

John S Lee

Susan L Welkos

Bruce J Crise

Leonard A Smith

Mark T Dertzbaugh

Shannon M Schmura

Peter L Platteborze

Mark Steven Oberste

Live attenuated Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) vaccines that outperform the PE-6 vaccine in mice aerosol challenged with &#x3e;1,000&#xd7;LD50. Candidates include four furin-cleavage deletion mutants and one E3 deletion mutant. Each vaccine provided protection in birds against antigenically distinct North and South American strains of EEE. The PE-6 vaccine does not provide protection against South American EEEs. Animals inoculated with each of the vaccines of the invention developed neutralizing antibodies to EEE.

Live attenuated viral vaccines for Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus

Using the nontoxic PA protein from, a method and composition for use in inducing an immune response which is protective against anthrax in subjects is described.

Anthrax vaccine

The present invention provides a helper cell for expressing an infectious, replication defective, alphavirus particle in an alphavirus-permissive cell. The helper cell includes (a) a first helper RNA encoding (i) at least one alphavirus structural protein, and (ii) not encoding at least one alphavirus structural protein; and (b) a second helper RNA separate from the first helper RNA, the second helper RNA (i) not encoding the alphavirus structural protein encoded by the first helper RNA, and (ii) encoding the at least alphavirus one structural protein not encoded by the first helper RNA, such that all of the alphavirus structural proteins assemble together into alphavirus particles in the cell. Preferably, the helper cell also includes a replicon RNA encoding an alphavirus packaging sequence and an inserted heterogeneous RNA.

Alphavirus RNA replicon systems

Using the nontoxic PA protein from , a method and composition for use in inducing an immune response which is protective against anthrax in subjects is described.

The present invention provides a helper cell for expressing an infectious, replication defective, alphavirus particle in an alphavirus-permissive cell. The helper cell includes (a) a first helper RNA encoding (i) at least one alphavirus structural protein, and (ii) not encoding at least one alphavirus structural protein; and (b) a second helper RNA separate from the first helper RNA, the second helper RNA (i) not encoding the alphavirus structural protein encoded by the first helper RNA, and (ii) encoding the at least one alphavirus structural protein not encoded by the first helper RNA. Preferably, the helper cell is co-transfected with a replicon RNA encoding an alphavirus packaging segment and an inserted heterogeneous RNA, such that all of the alphavirus structural proteins assemble together into alphavirus particles in the cell, with said replicon RNA packaged therein.

Using the nontoxic heavy chain fragment from botulinum neurotoxins A-G, compositions and methods of use in inducing an immune response which is protective against intoxication with botulinum in subjects is described.

Botulinum neurotoxin vaccine

A live attenuated Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) is described which comprises a viral gene rearrangement. This rearranged attenuated virus is useful as vaccine for protection against infection with VEE. Methods of preparing the virus and methods of using the virus are described.

Live attenuated Venezuelan Equire encephalitis vaccine

cDNAs coding for an infectious Western Equine Encephalitis virus (WEE) and infectious Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus variant IE (VEE IE) are disclosed in addition to cDNA coding for the structural proteins of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus variant IIIA (VEE IIIA). Novel attenuating mutations of WEE and VEE IE and their uses are described. Also disclosed are attenuated chimearic alphaviruses and their uses.

Live attenuated virus vaccines for western equine encephalitis virus, eastern equine encephalitis virus, and venezuelan equine encephalitis virus IE and IIIA variants

Growing community of inventors

Frederick, MD, United States of America

Michael D Parker