Pre-fusion rsv f antigens

Abstract

The invention relates to pre-fusion RSV F protein and polypeptides that contain one or more amino acid mutations that stabilize the pre-fusion conformation or destabilize the post-fusion conformation. The invention also relates to methods for inducing an immune response to pre-fusion RSV F.

1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-F protein comprising a first substitution of an amino acid residue corresponding to one of amino acid residues 145 to 157 of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 for a first cysteine residue and a second substitution of an amino acid residue corresponding to one of amino acid residues 400 to 460 of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 for a second cysteine residue, wherein the RSV-F protein does not comprise a cytoplasmic tail. 
     
     
         14 . The RSV-F protein of  claim 13 , wherein the first substitution of the amino acid residue corresponds to position 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, or 157 of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2. 
     
     
         15 . The RSV-F protein of  claim 14 , wherein the first substitution of the amino acid residue corresponds to position 149 of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2. 
     
     
         16 . The RSV-F protein of  claim 13 , wherein the second substitution of the amino acid residue corresponds to position 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 448, 449, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, or 460 of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2. 
     
     
         17 . The RSV-F protein of  claim 16 , wherein the second substitution of the amino acid residue corresponds to position 458 of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2. 
     
     
         18 . The RSV-F protein of  claim 13 , further comprising a disulfide bond between the first cysteine residue and the second cysteine residue. 
     
     
         19 . The RSV-F protein of  claim 13 , wherein the RSV-F protein does not comprise a p27 region. 
     
     
         20 . The RSV-F protein of  claim 13 , wherein the RSV-F protein comprises a partially deleted fusion peptide. 
     
     
         21 . A nucleic acid encoding the pre-fusion RSV-F protein of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         22 . A vector comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 21 . 
     
     
         23 . A composition comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 21 .