Vaccine on the basis of virus-neutralising antibodies

摘要

Immunogenic construct (A) comprising amino acid (aa) sequences of two retroviral transmembrane envelope proteins (EP) is new. Immunogenic construct (A) comprising amino acid (aa) sequences of two retroviral transmembrane envelope proteins (EP) is new. It comprises an EP (or fragment), of a first retrovirus, that includes, in a region between the fusion domain (FD) and the N-terminal helical region (NHR), a first aa sequence (1), and in a region between the membrane passage (MP) and the C-terminal helical region (CHR) a second aa sequence (2). (2) is from an EP of a second retrovirus and replaces a sequence, of homologous secondary and/or tertiary structure, of the EP of the first retrovirus. Sequences (1) and (2) are aligned antiparallel to each other. Alternatively, or additionally, (A) includes the DNAs that encode (1) and (2). Independent claims are included for the following: (1) neutralizing antibodies (Ab) prepared by immunization with (A); (2) immunological method for detecting antibodies specific for particular retroviruses that uses (A); (3) immunological method for detecting retroviral antigens that uses Ab; (4) method for inducing an antibody response by administration of (A); and (5) method for passive immunization comprising administration of Ab. ACTIVITY : Anti-HIV; Virucide. No details of tests for these activities are given. MECHANISM OF ACTION : Vaccine; passive immunization.