Papillomavirus vaccines

Abstract

A recombinantly produced L1 major capsid protein which mimics conformational neutralizing epitopes on human and animal papilloma virions is provided. The recombinant proteins are useful as vaccines protective against papillomavirus infection. Antibodies to the recombinant protein are also provided. Such antibodies are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of viral infection.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A recombinantly produced L1 major capsid protein, or antigenic fragment thereof, wherein said protein is capable of reproducing the antigenicity of intact papillomavirus virions.  
     
     
         2 . The protein of  claim 1 , wherein said protein is produced in a baculovirus expression system.  
     
     
         3 . The protein of  claim 1 , wherein said protein is produced in cos cells.  
     
     
         4 . A vector comprising the protein of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         5 . The vector of  claim 4 , wherein said vector is pSVL.  
     
     
         6 . The vector of  claim 4 , wherein said vector is a baculovirus vector.  
     
     
         7 . A host comprising the vector of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         8 . A host comprising the vector of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         9 . A host comprising the vector of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         10 . The protein of  claim 1 , wherein said protein is L1 protein of a human papillomavirus selected from the group consisting of HPV 1, 2, 3a, 4, 5, 6b, 7, 8, 9, 10 , 11a, 12, 13, 16, and 18.  
     
     
         11 . The protein of  claim 10 , wherein said HPV is 16 or 18.  
     
     
         12 . A vaccine for the prevention of papillomavirus infection, said vaccine comprising at least one PV type of recombinantly produced L1 protein, or antigenic fragment thereof, which is capable of reproducing the antigenicity of intact papillomavirus virions.  
     
     
         13 . The vaccine of  claim 12 , further comprising an immunogenic carrier.  
     
     
         14 . The vaccine of  claim 13 , wherein said carrier is bovine serum albumin or keyhole limpet hemocyanin.  
     
     
         15 . The vaccine of  claim 12 , wherein said vaccine comprises L1 protein of HPV 16.  
     
     
         16 . The vaccine of  claim 12 , wherein said vaccine comprises L1 protein of HPV 18.  
     
     
         17 . The vaccine of  claim 12 , wherein said vaccine comprises L1 protein of HPV 16 and HPV 18.  
     
     
         18 . The vaccine of  claim 12 , wherein said PV is selected from HPV 1, 2, 3a, 4, 5, 6b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11a, 12, 13, 16 and 18.  
     
     
         19 . A method for protecting an animal against a papillomavirus infection, said method comprising 
 administering a therapeutically effective amount of a vaccine, wherein said vaccine comprises at least one PV type of recombinantly produced L1 protein, or antigenic fragments thereof, which is capable of reproducing the antigenicity of intact papillomavirus virions.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said animal is a human.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said PV is selected from HPV 1, 2, 3a, 4, 5, 6b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11a, 12, 13, 16 and 18.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said HPV is at least one of HPV 16 and 18.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said HPV is at least one of HPV 3a and 10.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said HPV is at least one of HPVs 3a, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 12.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said HPV is at least one of 1, 2, 4 and 7.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said HPV is at least one of 6b, 11a, 13 and 16.  
     
     
         27 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating papillomavirus infection said composition comprising 
 a therapeutic amount of an antibody raised against a recombinantly produced L1 protein, or antigenic fragments thereof, capable of reproducing the antigenicity of intact papillomavirus virions, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein said antibody is linked to a drug therapy.    
     
     
         28 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 27 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         29 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 28 , wherein said monoclonal antibody is linked to an antiviral agent.  
     
     
         30 . A method for treating a papillomavirus infection in an animal, said method comprising 
 administering a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 27 .    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said animal is a human.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said PV is selected from HPV 1, 2, 3a, 4, 5, 6b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11a, 12, 13, 16 and 18.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said HPV is at least one of HPV 16 and 18.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said HPV is at least one of HPV 3a and 10.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said HPV is at least one of HPVs 3a, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 12.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said HPV is at least one of 1, 2, 4 and 7.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said HPV is at least one of 6b, 11a, 13 and 16.  
     
     
         38 . An antibody capable of protecting against or treating a papillomavirus infection wherein said antibody is raised against a recombinantly produced L1 protein, or antigenic fragments thereof, capable of reproducing the antigenicity of intact papillomavirus virions.  
     
     
         39 . The antibody of  claim 38 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         40 . The antibody of  claim 39 , wherein said antibody is linked to an antiviral agent.