DNA vaccine against feline immunodeficiency virus

Abstract

The present invention is directed to vaccine compositions that can be used to protect cats against feline immunodeficiency virus. More particularly, the present invention relates to polynucleotide molecules that can be used as vaccine components against feline immunodeficiency virus.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vaccine composition against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), comprising an immunologically effective amount of one or more of a GAG protein, POL protein, ENV protein or regulatory protein from an FIV strain.  
     
     
         2 . The vaccine composition of  claim 1 , comprising a combination of FIV proteins.  
     
     
         3 . The vaccine composition of  claim 2 , wherein the proteins comprise at least two different FIV proteins selected from among the FIV structural and FIV non-structural proteins.  
     
     
         4 . The vaccine composition of  claim 2 , wherein the proteins comprise at least two different GAG proteins from FIV.  
     
     
         5 . The vaccine composition of  claim 2 , wherein the proteins comprise at least one FIV structural protein and at least one FIV non-structural protein.  
     
     
         6 . The vaccine composition of  claim 2 , wherein the proteins comprise at least three different FIV proteins selected from among the FIV structural and FIV non-structural proteins.  
     
     
         7 . The vaccine composition of  claim 2 , wherein the proteins comprise at least four different FIV proteins selected from among the FIV structural and FIV non-structural proteins.  
     
     
         8 . The vaccine composition of  claim 2 , wherein the proteins comprise at least five different FIV proteins selected from among the FIV structural and FIV non-structural proteins.  
     
     
         9 . The vaccine composition of  claim 2 , wherein the proteins comprise at least six different FIV proteins selected from among the FIV structural and FIV non-structural proteins.  
     
     
         10 . The vaccine composition of  claim 2 , wherein the proteins comprise at least seven different FIV proteins selected from among the FIV structural and FIV non-structural proteins.  
     
     
         11 . The vaccine composition of  claim 2 , wherein the combination of FIV proteins is selected from the group consisting of GAG/MA/CA/NC; GAG/ENV; GAG/MA/CA/NC/ENV/SU/TM; MA/CA/NC; GAG/MA/NC/DU/PR; and MA/CA/NC/SU/TM.  
     
     
         12 . The vaccine composition of  claim 2 , further comprising an immunomodulatory component selected from the group consisting of an adjuvant, a cytokine, and a polynucleotide molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a cytokine.  
     
     
         13 . A method of preparing a vaccine composition against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), comprising combining an immunologically effective amount of a combination of FIV polypeptides, which combination is selected from the group consisting of GAG/MA/CA/NC, GAG/ENV, GAG/MA/CA/NC/ENV/SU/TM, MA/CA/NC, GAG/MA/NC/DU/PR, and MA/CA/NC/SU/TM; with a veterinarily acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         14 . A method of vaccinating a cat against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), comprising administering to the cat the vaccine composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . An oligonucleotide molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 49, or the complements of said sequences.