Antigens and methods therefor

US6103519A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• SmithKline Biologicals S.A. · BE

Inventors

• Martin Comberbach · Genval, BE
• Nigel Harford · Overijse, BE
• Teresa Elisa Virginia Silva CABEZON · Sint-Genesius-Rode, BE
• Apolonia Rutgers · Brussels, BE
• Pierre Voet · Izel, BE
• Eric Jacobs · Dorlisheim, FR
• Cornelis P. Hollenberg · Düsseldorf, DE
• Zbigniew A. Janowicz · Erkrath, DE
• Armin J. Merckelbach · Düsseldorf, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 17, 1995
• Grant date: Aug 15, 2000
• Expiry date: May 17, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N2730/10122
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A composite particle comprising at least two polypeptides corresponding to all or part of a protein having the biological activity of one of the hepatitis B surface antigens, wherein the particle presents at least two antigenic determinants provided by the S-protein, preS2-protein or preS1-protein, said particle optionally further comprising host specific lipids. The invention also provides a modified hepatitis B surface antigen L protein which may be used alone or incorporated into such composite particles. A particular embodiment of the modified L protein (L*) comprises residues 12-52 followed by residues 133-145 followed by residues 175-400 of the L protein and a particular embodiment of a composite particle has the form (L*, S) where S is the S-protein of HBsAg. Improved hepatitis B vaccines may be prepared following expression of the above immunogens, especially in yeasts such as S. cerevisiae and Hansenula polymorpha.