Large Scale Biology Corporation

Biosource Technologies, Inc.

Biolex Therapeutics, Inc.

Stephen J Reinl

Thomas H Turpen

Laurence K Grill

John A Lindbo

Gregory P Pogue

Alison A McCormick

Daniel Tusé

The invention described herein provides a C-terminally truncated interferon having a deletion of 7, 8, or 9 amino acids and having enhanced biological activity, and the polynucleotides encoding such an interferon. Also provided are methods for producing and using such truncated interferon. In some embodiments, the truncated interferon is produced in a plant.

C-terminally truncated interferon

Disclosed are methods and compositions for creating a DNA, RNA or protein molecule with two or more nucleic acid or polypeptide domains, respectively, joined by a linker region. These methods are used to generate random linker libraries of nucleic acids that encode dual-domain or multi-domain polypeptides. The linker regions are characterized by both length and sequence variability.

Creation of variable length and sequence linker regions for dual-domain or multi-domain molecules

A polypeptide self-antigen useful in a tumor-specific vaccine mimics one or more epitopes of an antigen uniquely expressed by cells of the tumor. The polypeptide is preferably produced in a plant that has been transformed or transfected with nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide and is obtainable from the plant in correctly folded, preferably soluble form without a need for denaturation and renaturation. This plant-produced polypeptide is immunogenic without a need for exogenous adjuvants or other immunostimulatory materials. The polypeptide is preferably an scFv molecule that bears the idiotype of the surface immunoglobulin of a non-Hodgkin's (or B cell) lymphoma. Upon administration to a subject with lymphoma, the plant-produced, tumor-unique scFv polypeptide induces an idiotype-specific antibody or cell-mediated immune response against the lymphoma.

Self antigen vaccines for treating B cell lymphomas and other cancers

The present invention relates to foreign peptide sequences fused to recombinant plant viral structural proteins and a method of their production. Fusion proteins are economically synthesized in plants at high levels by biologically contained tobamoviruses. The fusion proteins of the invention have many uses. Such uses include use as antigens for inducing the production of antibodies having desired binding properties, e.g., protective antibodies, or for use as vaccine antigens for the induction of protective immunity, including immunity against parasitic infections.

Growing community of inventors

Sacramento, CA, United States of America

Stephen J Reinl