Chimeric contraceptive vaccines

Abstract

The invention is directed to contraceptive vaccines comprising a carrier protein or fragment thereof in peptide linkage with a reproduction related polypeptide, protein or fragment thereof, and to DNAs encoding the chimeric proteins. The invention also includes the use of the chimeric proteins in immunocontraceptive methods.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A chimeric protein comprising a carrier protein or fragment thereof and one or more reproduction related polypeptide or fragment or fragments thereof.  
     
     
         2 . The chimeric protein of  claim 1  wherein the carrier protein is ovalbumin or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The chimeric protein of  claim 1  wherein the reproduction related polypeptide is luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The chimeric protein of  claim 2  wherein the reproduction related polypeptide is LHRH or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The chimeric protein of  claim 1  or  2  wherein the reproduction related polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of follicle-stimulating hormnone (PSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and fragments thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The chimeric protein of  claim 3  wherein the carrier protein is ovalbumin or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The chimeric protein according to claims  1 ,  3 ,  4  or  6  wherein the chimeric protein comprises two or more UIRH polypeptides or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         8 . A DNA encoding a chimeric protein wherein said chimeric protein comprises a carrier protein or a fragment thereof and a reproduction related polypeptide or protein or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The DNA according to  claim 8  wherein said carrier protein is ovalbumin.  
     
     
         10 . The DNA according to  claim 8  wherein said reproduction related polypeptide is luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The DNA according to  claim 9  wherein said reproduction related polypeptide is LHRH or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The DNA according to  claim 8  or  9  wherein the reproduction related polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and fragment thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The DNA according to  claim 8  wherein the carrier protein is ovalbumin or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The DNA according to claims  8 ,  10 ,  11  or  13  wherein the chimeric protein comprises two or more LHRH polypeptides or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         15 . A method inducing infertility in a mammal, the method comprising administering to the mammal a contraceptively effective dose of a chimeric protein in a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, adjuvant or carrier, said chimeric protein comprising a carrier protein and one or more reproduction related polypeptide or fragment or fragments thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the carrier protein is ovalbumin or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the reproduction related polypeptide is luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the reproduction related polypeptide is LHRH or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  or  16  wherein the reproduction related polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and fragments thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the carrier protein is ovalbumin or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to claims  15 ,  17  or  18  wherein the chimeric protein comprises two or more LHRH polypeptides or fragment or fragments thereof.