Recombinant virus expressing foreign dna encoding feline cd80, feline cd86, feline cd28, or feline ctla-4 and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention involves a recombinant virus which comprises at least one foreign nucleic acid inserted within a non-essential region of the viral genome of a virus, wherein each such foreign nucleic acid encodes a protein. The protein which is encoded is selected from the groups consisting of a feline CD28 protein or an immunogenic portion thereof, a feline cD80 protein or an immunogenic portion thereof, a feline CD86 protein or an immunogenic portion thereof, or a feline CTLA-4 protein or an immunogenic portion thereof. The protein is capable of being expressed when the recombinant virus is introduced into an appropriate host. The present invention also involves a recombinant virus further comprising a foreign nucleic acid encoding an immunogen derived from a pathogen. The present invention also comprises recombinant viruses which are capable of enhancing an immune response in a feline. The present invention also comprises recombinant viruses which are capable of suppressing an immune response in a feline.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A recombinant virus which comprises at least one foreign nucleic acid inserted within a non-essential region of the viral genome of a virus, wherein each such foreign nucleic acid (a) encodes a feline CTLA-4 protein or an immunogenic portion thereof and (b) is capable of being expressed when the recombinant virus is introduced into an appropriate host. 
     
     
         39 . The recombinant virus of  claim 38  which comprises at least two foreign nucleic acids, each inserted within a non-essential region of the viral genome. 
     
     
         40 . The recombinant virus of  claim 39  which comprises at least three foreign nucleic acids, each inserted within a non-essential region of the viral genome. 
     
     
         41 . The recombinant virus of  claim 40  which comprises four foreign nucleic acids, each inserted within a non-essential region of the viral genome. 
     
     
         42 . The recombinant virus of  claim 38 , wherein the virus is raccoonpox virus, a swinepox virus, or a feline herpesvirus. 
     
     
         43 . The recombinant virus of  claim 38 , comprising more than one foreign nucleic acid, wherein each foreign nucleic acid is inserted into the same nonessential region. 
     
     
         44 . The recombinant virus of  claim 38 , comprising more than one foreign nucleic acid wherein all such foreign nucleic acids are not inserted into the same nonessential region. 
     
     
         45 . The recombinant virus of  claim 38 , further comprising a foreign nucleic acid encoding an immunogen derived from a pathogen. 
     
     
         46 . The recombinant virus of  claim 38 , wherein at least one foreign nucleic acid comprises a promoter for expressing the foreign nucleic acid. 
     
     
         47 . The recombinant virus of  claim 38 , wherein the expression of a least one foreign nucleic acids is under the control of a promoter endogenous to the virus. 
     
     
         48 . The recombinant virus of  claim 38 , further comprising a foreign nucleic acid encoding a detectable marker. 
     
     
         49 . The recombinant virus of  claim 48 , wherein the detectable marker is  E. coli  beta galactosidase. 
     
     
         50 . The recombinant virus of  claim 38 , wherein the virus is a feline herpesvirus and the a nonessential region is the glycoprotein E gene of feline herpes virus. 
     
     
         51 . The recombinant virus of  claim 38 , wherein the virus is swinepox virus and the nonessential region is the larger Hind III to Bgl II subfragment of the Hind III M fragment of swinepox virus. 
     
     
         52 . The recombinant virus of  claim 38 , further comprising a nucleic acid encoding feline immunodeficiency virus genome or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         53 . The recombinant virus of  claim 38 , further comprising a nucleic acid encoding feline leukemia virus genome or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         54 . The recombinant virus of  claim 52  or  claim 53 , further comprising a nucleic acid encoding feline IL12 p35 or IL 12 p40. 
     
     
         55 . The recombinant virus of  claim 39 , wherein the foreign nucleic acid encodes a portion of the CD28, CD80, or CD86 protein, which is the soluble portion of the protein. 
     
     
         56 . A vaccine comprising an effective immunizing amount of the recombinant virus of  claim 38  and a suitable carrier. 
     
     
         57 . The vaccine of  claim 56 , wherein the effective immunizing amount of the recombinant virus is an amount between about 1×10 5  pfu/ml and about 1×10 8  pfu/ml. 
     
     
         58 . The vaccine of  claim 56  which further comprises an admixture with the recombinant virus and an effective immunizing amount of a second immunogen. 
     
     
         59 . A vaccine which comprises an effective immunizing amount of the recombinant virus of  claim 52  or  53 , and a suitable carrier. 
     
     
         60 . A vaccine which comprises an effective immunizing amount of the recombinant virus of  claim 54 , and a suitable carrier. 
     
     
         61 . An isolated feline CTLA-4 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10. 
     
     
         62 . The polypeptide of  claim 61 , wherein the feline CTLA-4 polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9. 
     
     
         63 . A method for suppressing an immune response in a feline which comprises administering to the feline any effective suppressing amount of the recombinant virus of claim  1  or  55 . 
     
     
         64 . A method for suppressing an immune response in a feline which comprises administering to the feline any effective suppressing amount of the polypeptide of  claim 61  or  62 . 
     
     
         65 . The method of  63 , wherein the administering comprises intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, transmuscular, topical, oral, or intraperitoneal administration. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  64 , wherein the administering comprises intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, transmuscular, topical, oral, or intraperitoneal administration. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the feline is the recipient of a transplanted organ or tissue or is suffering from an immune response. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the feline is the recipient of a transplanted organ or tissue or is suffering from an immune response. 
     
     
         69 . A vector comprising an isolated nucleic acid encoding a feline CTLA-4 receptor, wherein the nucleic acid encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10. 
     
     
         70 . The vector of  claim 69 , wherein the nucleic acid has a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 9. 
     
     
         71 . A host cell which comprises a vector of claim  1  or  69 . 
     
     
         72 . The host cell of  claim 71 , wherein the host cell is a eukaryotic or a prokaryotic cell. 
     
     
         73 . The host cell of  claim 72 , wherein the host cell is selected from the group consisting of  E. coli , yeast, COS cells, PC12 cells, CHO cells, and GH4C1 cells.