Virus-like particles comprising chimeric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) envelopes

US8795682B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• EMORY UNIVERSITY · US
• THE UAB RESEARCH FOUNDATION · US
• Novavax, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Richard W. Compans · Atlanta, US
• Baozhong Wang · Duluth, US
• Beatrice H. Hahn · Birmingham, US
• Weimin Liu · Sandy Hook, US
• Gale Smith · Germantown, US
• Peter Pushko · Frederick, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 2, 2008
• Grant date: Aug 5, 2014
• Expiry date: Sep 2, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N2760/16122
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure encompasses virus-like particles, methods of making virus-like particles, including expression vectors, wherein the virus-like particles may comprise enhanced levels of capsid-bound a chimeric HN-Env polypeptide compared to VLPs derived from unmodified HIV-env polypeptides. Embodiments of the virus-like particle may have Env-specific epitopes exposed on the outer surface thereof. In one embodiment, the Env-specific epitopes exposed on the outer surface of the virus-like particle may specifically bind with an anti-HIV-Env specific antibody. Embodiments of the disclosure further includes methods of generating an antibody specific to an epitope of an HIV-Env polypeptide, comprising delivering to an animal or a human an effective amount of a suspension of virus-like particles comprising a chimeric HIV-Eny polypeptide, thereby inducing the formation of an antibody specific to an epitope of an HIV-1 eny polypeptide.