Epstein-Barr virus vaccines

US10744199B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The USA, as represented by the Secretary, Dept. of Health and Human Services · US

Inventors

• Masaru Kanekiyo · Bethesda, US
• Gary J. Nabel · Cambridge, US
• Jeffrey I. Cohen · Watertown, US
• Wei Bu · Potomac, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 10, 2014
• Grant date: Aug 18, 2020
• Expiry date: Apr 11, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N2710/16271
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Vaccines are provided that elicit neutralizing antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Some vaccines comprise nanoparticles that display envelope proteins from EBV on their surface. The nanoparticles comprise fusion proteins comprising a monomeric subunit of a self-assembly protein, such as ferritin, joined to at least a portion of an EBV envelope protein. The fusion proteins self-assemble to form the envelope protein-displaying nanoparticles. Such vaccines can be used to vaccinate an individual against infection by different types of Epstein-Barr viruses as well as Epstein-Barr viruses that are antigenically divergent from the virus from which the EBV envelope protein was obtained. Also provided are fusion proteins and nucleic acid molecules encoding such proteins.