Recombinant virus-like particles encoded by multi-gene vector

Abstract

The invention describes novel virus-like particles for use as vaccines, diagnostic tools and R&D tools based on recombinant DNA and cell cultivation techniques for production. The recombinant virus-like particles of the invention are assembled by polypeptide chains that incorporate several, in particular two or more, different epitopes which are selected either (a) from different viral strains of the same virus and/or (b) from different serotypes of the same virus and/or (c) from different viral strains specific for different hosts. These epitopes are then displayed on the particle surface.

1 . A recombinant virus-like particle comprising two or more different epitopes or different proteins comprising epitopes which are selected either (a) from different viral strains of the same virus and/or (b) from different serotypes of the same virus and/or (c) from different viral strains specific for different hosts. 
     
     
         2 . The recombinant virus-like particle according to  claim 1  comprising three or more different epitopes or different proteins comprising epitopes. 
     
     
         3 . The recombinant virus-like particle according to  claim 1  comprising four or more different epitopes or different proteins comprising epitopes. 
     
     
         4 . The recombinant virus-like particle according to  claim 1  comprising six, nine or twelve epitopes or different proteins comprising epitopes. 
     
     
         5 . The recombinant virus-like particle according to  claim 1  wherein the epitopes are from three or more different virus strains or serotypes. 
     
     
         6 . The recombinant virus-like particle according to  claim 1  further comprising B- and/or T-cell epitopes. 
     
     
         7 . The recombinant virus-like particle according to  claim 1  further comprising proteins forming a complete virus-like surface and optionally capsid and/or nucleopore proteins. 
     
     
         8 . The recombinant virus-like particle according to  claim 1  further comprising fluorescent proteins, proteins useful for purification purposes of the particles or for attaching a label, and/or proteinaceous structures required for transport processes. 
     
     
         9 . The recombinant virus-like particle according to  claim 1  wherein the virus is influenza virus. 
     
     
         10 . The recombinant virus-like particle according to  claim 1  wherein the virus is human papilloma virus. 
     
     
         11 . A vector comprising two or more polynucleotides coding for different epitopes or for different proteins comprising epitopes which are selected either (a) from different viral strains of the same virus and/or (b) from different serotypes of the same virus and/or (c) from different viral strains specific for different hosts. 
     
     
         12 . The vector according to  claim 11  encoding a recombinant virus-like particle comprising two or more different epitopes or different proteins comprising epitopes which are selected either (a) from different viral strains of the same virus and/or (b) from different serotypes of the same virus and/or (c) from different viral strains specific for different hosts. 
     
     
         13 . The vector according to  claim 11  which is a baculoviral vector. 
     
     
         14 . The vector according to  claim 11  comprising a polynucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 to 5. 
     
     
         15 . A host cell comprising a vector according to  claim 11 . 
     
     
         16 . A vaccine comprising a recombinant virus-like particle according  claim 1 .