American Home Products Corporation

Terri Wasmoen

Hsien-Jue Chu

Lloyd G Chavez

Chengjin Huang

The present invention pertains to the prevention or lessening of disease in cats caused by Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Prevention or lessening of disease is understood to mean the amelioration of any symptoms, including immune system disruptions, that result from FIV infection. The invention provides for a plasmid which encodes the FIV genome where said genome has had a portion of the gag gene, specifically the p10 (nucleocapsid) coding region, or a portion thereof, deleted. This deletion prevents the production of functional or whole p10 protein, which in turn, prevents the packaging of RNA into virions produced from transfection of this plasmid into an appropriate host cell, resulting in virions which do not contain RNA. Such virions will be described as &ldquo;empty&rdquo; virions. The invention also encompasses host cells transformed with the plasmid which produce the empty virions, and the empty virions themselves. In another embodiment, the invention encompasses vaccines that comprise one or more empty virions described above, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant. In yet another aspect, the invention provides methods for preventing or lessening disease caused by FIV, which is carried out by administering to a feline in need of such treatment the vaccines described above.

Plasmids comprising a genetically altered feline immunodeficiency virus genome

The present invention provides recombinant raccoon poxviruses (RRPVs) useful in vaccines for the prophylaxis of disease caused by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). RRPVs according to the invention have at least one internal gene comprising a DNA sequence that encodes FIV gag protein (gag), FIV envelope protein (env), a polypeptide consisting of amino acids 1-735 of FIV env, or immunogenic fragments of any of the foregoing. The vaccines that comprise one or more of the FIV-expressing recombinant raccoon poxviruses described above may also comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant. The invention also provides methods for preventing or lessening disease caused by FIV, which is carried out by administering to a feline in need of such treatment the vaccines described above.

Recombinant raccoon pox viruses and their use as an effective vaccine

The present invention pertains to the prevention or lessening of disease in cats caused by Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Prevention or lessening of disease is understood to mean the amelioration of any symptoms, including immune system disruptions, that result from FIV infection. The invention provides recombinant proteins produced in a baculovirus expression system having at least one internal gene comprising a DNA sequence that encodes either the entire FIV env region (ENV-ABC), or a DNA sequence consisting of viral nucleotides 6252-8469 of FIV env (ENV-AB), a DNA sequence consisting of viral nucleotides 6252-6722 and 8264-9140 of FIV env (ENV-AC), or immunogenic fragments of any of the foregoing either singly or in combination. By immunogenic fragment is meant any portion of the coding sequence of FIV env polypeptides that induces a beneficial immune response in cats. In another embodiment, the invention encompasses vaccines that comprise one or more of the baculovirus-expressed recombinant FIV proteins described above, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant. In yet another aspect, the invention provides methods for preventing or lessening disease caused by FIV, which is carried out by administering to a feline in need of such treatment the vaccines described above.

Recombinant feline Immunodeficiency virus subunit vaccines employing

This invention provides a recombinant raccoon poxvirus that express the envelope protein of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. The recombinant viruses are useful as vaccines, either alone or in combination with carries and adjuvants.

This invention provides a recombinant raccoon poxvirus that expresses the nucleocapsid and transmembrane proteins of Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus. The recombinant viruses are useful as vaccines, either alone or in combination with carriers and adjuvants.

This invention provides a recombinant raccoon poxvirus that expresses the nucleocapsid and transmembrane proteins of Feline Infectious Peritionitis Virus. The recombinant viruses are useful as vaccines, either alone or in combination with carriers and adjuvants.

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Fort Dodge, IA, United States of America

Terri Wasmoen