Composition and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a particle comprising a fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises at least one NANP repeat (SEQ ID NO: 7), some or all of the C-terminus of the CS protein from Plasmodium falciparum and a hepatitis B surface antigen, and wherein the particle comprises no, or substantially no, free hepatitis B surface antigen protein, and uses thereof.

1 . A method of immunizing a subject against malaria/ Plasmodium falciparum  infection comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition or vaccine composition, the composition comprising (i) a fusion protein comprising at least one NANP repeat (SEQ ID NO: 7), some or all of the C-terminus of the CS protein from  Plasmodium falciparum  and a hepatitis B surface antigen; and optionally (ii) a recombinant or non-recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA); and (iii) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fusion protein and the MVA are administered separately, simultaneously, or sequentially. 
     
     
         3 . A composition comprising (i) a fusion protein comprising at least one NANP repeat (SEQ ID NO: 7), the C-terminus of the CS protein from  Plasmodium falciparum  comprising the sequence: NKNNQGNGQGHNMPNDPNRNVDENANANSAVKNNNNEEPSDKIEKEYLNKIQNSLS TEWSPCSVTCGNGIQVRIKPGSANKPKDELDYANDIEKKICKMEKCSSVFN VVNSSIGI (SEQ ID NO: 6); or the sequence NKNNQGNGQGHNMPNDPNRNVDENANANSAVKNNNNEEPSDKHIKEYLNKIQ NSLSTEWSPCSVTCGNGIQVRIKPGSANKPKDELDYANDIEKKICKMEKCSSV (SEQ ID NO: 4), or a sequence with 90% or more sequence identity therewith, and a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg); and optionally (ii) a recombinant or non-recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA). 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the fusion protein is provided as a virus-like particle, the virus-like particle comprising no free HBsAg. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the fusion protein is RTS. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , further comprising free HBsAg. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the composition is provided as a pharmaceutical composition, or a vaccine composition, for use in the prevention of malaria, the composition further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , further comprising an adjuvant. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 7 , further comprising one or more further antigens. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the composition is capable of producing a protective immune response to  Plasmodium falciparum.    
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 7 , further comprising one or more viral vectors. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the sequence with 90% or more sequence identity therewith comprises only conservative substitutions or substitutions introduced to match the sequence of a strain of  Plasmodium falciparum  other than strain 3D7.