Maxygen, Inc.

Other

Institut National De La Sante Et De La Recherche Medicale

Institut Pasteur

Altravax, Inc.

Université D'ottawa

Robert Gerald Whalen

Willem P C Stemmer

Steven Henry Bass

Juha Punnonen

Russell J Howard

Heather Lynn Davis

Marie-Louise Michel

Erik E Karrer

Li Xu

Philip A Patten

Clayton W Beard

Hakima Sbai

This document provides methods and materials for producing immune responses against hepatitis B viruses. For example, polypeptides, nucleic acid molecules encoding such polypeptides, virus-like particles containing such polypeptides, vaccine preparations containing one or more polypeptides provided herein, vaccine preparations containing one or more nucleic acid molecules provided herein, vaccine preparations containing one or more virus-like particles provided herein, and methods for inducing immune responses against hepatitis B viruses within mammals (e.g., humans) are provided.

Hepatitis B virus vaccines

Methods for improving antibodies by a variety of DNA diversification and selection procedures are provided. Improvements include increases in affinity, alterations in specificity and effector function, as well as reduced antigenicity, e.g. humanization. Libraries of recombinant antibody sequences are provided, as are cells expressing members of such libraries. Novel phage display vectors are provided. Methods for the coevolution of an antibody and its cognate antigen are provided. Coevolution is used to evolve HIV envelope proteins with increased antigenicity and broadly neutralizing antibodies that interact therewith. Methods of improving antibodies for use in the detection of biological warfare agents are provided.

Antibody diversity generation

Nucleotide vector comprising at least one gene or one complementary DNA coding for at least a portion of a virus, and a promoter providing for the expression of such gene in muscle cells. The gene may be the S gene of the hepatitis B virus. A vaccine preparation containing said bare DNA is injected into the host previously treated with a substance capable of inducing a coagulating necrosis of the muscle fibres.

Nucleotide vector vaccine for immunization against hepatitis

This invention provides methods for obtaining molecules that can modulate an immune response, and immunomodulatory molecules obtained using the methods. The molecules find use, for example, in the tailoring of an immune response induced by a genetic vaccine for a desired purpose.

Optimization of immunomodulatory properties of genetic vaccines

The invention relates to methods of inducing an immunogenic response in a subject that include administering a nucleotide plasmid vector that includes a gene coding for a surface antigen protein derived from hepatitis B virus and a promoter for the expression of the gene. The invention also relates to vaccine compositions for protecting against hepatitis B virus.

Nucleotide vector composition containing such vector and vaccine for immunization against hepatitis

This invention is directed to antigen library immunization, which provides methods for obtaining antigens having improved properties for therapeutic and other uses. The methods are useful for obtaining improved antigens that can induce an immune response against pathogens, cancer, and other conditions, as well as antigens that are effective in modulating allergy, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Polynucleotides encoding flavivirus and alphavirus multivalent antigenic polypeptides

Flavivirus and alphavirus recombinant antigen libraries

Antigen library immunization

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Foster City, CA, United States of America

Robert Gerald Whalen