Merck + Co., Inc.

Merck Sharp + Dohme Corp.

William L McClements

Kathrin Ute Jansen

Xin-Min Wang

Michael P Neeper

Steven W Ludmerer

Loren D Schultz

Ling Chen

James C Cook, Iii

Jessica C Ling

Annaliesa Sybil Anderson

Joseph G Joyce

Tessie Brown McNeely

Janine Bryan

Michelle K Brownlow

Margaret A Liu

Robert S Lowe

Danilo R Casimiro

Donna Lorraine Montgomery

Marcy E Armstrong

John A Lewis

Brian K Meyer

Binghua Hu

Robert D Keys

Jessica Ching-Yee Ling

Li Shi

The present invention features polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence structurally related to SEQ ID NO: 1 and uses of such polypeptides. SEQ ID NO: 1 is a truncated derivative of a full-lengthpolypeptide. The full-length naturally occurring polypeptide is referred to herein as full-length ORF1319e. A His-tagged derivative of SEQ ID NO: 1 was found to produce a protective immune response against

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The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising virus-like particles (VLPs) of HPV, said VLPs adsorbed to an aluminum adjuvant, and an ISCOM-type adjuvant comprising a saponin, cholesterol, and a phospholipid. In preferred embodiments, the aluminum adjuvant comprises amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate. Another aspect of the invention provides multi-dose HPV vaccine formulations comprising HPV VLPs and an antimicrobial preservative selected from the group consisting of: m-cresol, phenol and benzyl alcohol. Also provided are methods of using the disclosed pharmaceutical compositions and formulations to induce an immune response against HPV in a human patient and to prevent HPV infection.

Papillomavirus vaccine compositions

Synthetic DNA molecules encoding papillomavirus proteins are provided. The codons of the synthetic molecules are codons preferred by the projected host cell. The synthetic molecules may be used as a polynucleotide vaccine which provides effective immunoprophylaxis against papillomavirus infection through stimulation of neutralizing antibody and cell-mediated immunity.

Synthetic human papilloma virus genes

Genes encoding herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) proteins were cloned into eukaryotic expression vectors to express the encoded proteins in mammalian muscle cells in vivo. Animals were immunized by injection of these DNA constructs, termed polynucleotide vaccines or PNV, into their muscles. In a DNA titration, it was found that a single immunization of &#x2267;0.5 &#x3bc;g of (one) PNV, gave &#x3e;90% seroconversion by ten weeks post immunization. Immune antisera neutralized both HSV-2 and HSV-1 in cell culture. When animals were challenged with HSV-2, significant (p&#x3c;0.001) protection from lethal infection was achieved following PNV vaccination. DNA constructs may be full-length, truncated and/or mutated forms and may be delivered along or in combination in order to optimize immunization and protection from HSV infection.

Polynucleotide herpes virus vaccine

The invention is a series of synthetic virus-like particles comprising a heterologous conformational epitope useful in the characterization of human papillomavirus infection, and useful to vaccinate individual for protection against HPV 6 and HPV 11 infections, and assays employing the synthetic virus-like particles.

Synthetic virus-like particles with heterologous epitopes

Synthetic human papillomavirus genes

Human Papillomavirus virus like particles (VLPs) have been constructed so that they contain a modified L2 protein. The L2 protein has been minimized and is fused to a second protein or peptide. The fused protein is incorporated into the VLP and the VLP can deliver the protein to a cell. The modified VLPs can be used to increase the breadth of immune response in vaccine preparations or to deliver other proteins of interest.

Protein delivery system using human papillomavirus virus-like particles

Synthetic virus like particles with heterologous epitopes

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Doylestown, PA, United States of America

William L McClements