Vaccines against West Nile Virus

Abstract

Described are vaccines containing (whole-inactivated) West Nile Viruses and/or West Nile viral proteins derived therefrom, produced on human cells, wherein the human cells comprise a sequence encoding at least one early region-1 (E1) gene product of an adenovirus. The cells are preferably cultured in suspension to very high densities and under serum-free conditions. Herein, it is disclosed that use of such cells results in high titers of West Nile Virus produced.

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An inactivated West Nile Virus, said inactivated West Nile Virus produced by the process of:
 providing a cell with a nucleic acid encoding West Nile Virus, wherein the cell expresses at least one adenoviral E1A peptide;   culturing the cell in a suitable medium under conditions that cause expression of said nucleic acid thus producing the West Nile Virus; and   inactivating the West Nile Virus thus produced.   
     
     
         23 . The inactivated West Nile Virus of  claim 22 , wherein said process further comprises:
 purifying one or more antigenic components from said inactivated West Nile Virus.   
     
     
         24 . A vaccine comprising the inactivated West Nile Virus of  claim 22 , a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and an adjuvant. 
     
     
         25 . The inactivated West Nile Virus of  claim 22 , wherein said inactivated West Nile Virus is free of non-human mammalian protein. 
     
     
         26 . The inactivated West Nile Virus of  claim 23 , wherein said inactivated West Nile Virus is free of non-human mammalian protein. 
     
     
         27 . A vaccine comprising the one or more antigenic components of  claim 23 , a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and an adjuvant. 
     
     
         28 . The vaccine of  claim 24 , wherein said vaccine comprises a lineage II West Nile Virus. 
     
     
         29 . An isolated human cell, said isolated human cell comprising:
 a nucleic acid sequence encoding an adenoviral E1A gene product; and   a nucleic acid sequence encoding West Nile Virus.   
     
     
         30 . The isolated human cell of  claim 29 , wherein said isolated human cell is a PER.C6® cell. 
     
     
         31 . A method of protecting a subject from a West Nile Virus infection, said method comprising:
 vaccinating the subject with the vaccine of  claim 24 .   
     
     
         32 . A method of protecting a subject against a West Nile Virus infection, said method comprising:
 vaccinating the subject with the vaccine of  claim 27 .   
     
     
         33 . An inactivated purified West Nile Virus free of non-human mammalian protein. 
     
     
         34 . A vaccine comprising the inactivated purified West Nile Virus of  claim 33 , a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and an adjuvant.