Immunogenic composition for MERS coronavirus infection
Described herein are immunogenic compositions for preventing infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) wherein the immunogenic compositions comprise at least a portion of the MERS-CoV S protein and an immunopotentiator.
1. A protein comprising:
a Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) spike (S) protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1), or fragment thereof wherein said fragment comprises amino acids 350-588 of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:4), amino acids 358-588 of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:5), amino acids 367-588 of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:6), amino acids 377-588 of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:3), or amino acids 367-606 of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:7); and
an immunopotentiator protein sequence, wherein the immunopotentiator sequence comprises an amino acid sequence of an Fc fragment of human IgG (Fc), a C3d protein, an Onchocerca volvulus ASP-1, a cholera toxin, a muramyl peptide, or a cytokine.
2. The protein of claim 1 , wherein said fragment of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence comprises an MERS-CoV S1 protein sequence, a receptor-binding domain (RBD) sequence of an MERS-CoV S protein, a fusion peptide sequence of an MERS-CoV S protein, a heptad repeat sequence of an MERS-CoV S protein, or a transmembrane domain sequence of an MERS-CoV S protein.
3. The protein of claim 2 , the MERS-CoV S1 protein sequence, the RBD sequence of the MERS-CoV S protein, the fusion peptide sequence of the MERS-CoV S protein, the heptad repeat sequence of the MERS-CoV S protein, or the transmembrane domain sequence of the MERS-CoV S protein.
4. The protein of claim 2 , the MERS-CoV S1 protein sequence, the RBD sequence of the MERS-CoV S protein, the fusion peptide sequence of the MERS-CoV S protein, the heptad repeat sequence of the MERS-CoV S protein, or the transmembrane domain sequence of the MERS-CoV S protein.
5. The protein of claim 2 , wherein the MERS-CoV S1 protein sequence, the RBD sequence of the MERS-CoV S protein, the fusion peptide sequence of the MERS-CoV S protein, the heptad repeat sequence of the MERS-CoV S protein, or the transmembrane domain sequence of the MERS-CoV S protein.
6. The protein of claim 1 , wherein the MERS-CoV S protein sequence comprises amino acids 377-588 of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:3).
7. The protein of claim 1 , wherein the immunopotentiator sequence is a human Fc sequence.
8. The protein of claim 1 , wherein the protein further comprises a stabilization sequence disposed between the MERS-CoV S protein sequence and the immunopotentiator sequence.
9. The protein of claim 8 , wherein the stabilization sequence is a foldon (Fd) or GCN4.
10. The protein of claim 1 , wherein the protein further comprises a linker sequence disposed between the MERS-CoV S protein sequence and the immunopotentiator sequence, and the linker is 1 to 8 tandem copies of (GGGGS) n (SEQ ID NO:24).
11. The protein according to claim 10 , wherein n is 1.
12. The protein of claim 1 , wherein the protein comprises the sequence of S377-588-Fc (SEQ ID NO:12).
13. An immunogenic composition comprising a protein according to claim 1 .
14. A method of inducing a protective immune response against MERS-CoV comprising:
administering the immunogenic composition of claim 13 to a subject in need thereof;
wherein the immunogenic composition induces a protective immune response against challenge with MERS-CoV in the host.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the immunogenic composition further comprises an adjuvant.
16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the administering step comprises a prime immunization and at least one boost immunization.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the boost immunizations are administered at least twice.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the boost immunizations are administered weekly, every other week, monthly, or every other month.
19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the boost immunizations are administered weekly, every 2 weeks, every 3 weeks, every 4 weeks, every 5 weeks, every 6 weeks, every 7 weeks, every 8 weeks, every 9 weeks, every 10 weeks, every 11 weeks, or every 12 weeks.
20. The protein of claim 1 , wherein said fragment of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence comprises amino acids 350-588 of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:4).
21. The protein of claim 1 , wherein said fragment of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence comprises amino acids 358-588 of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:5).
22. The protein of claim 1 , wherein said fragment of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence comprises amino acids 367-588 of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:6).
23. The protein of claim 1 , wherein said fragment of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence comprises amino acids 367-606 of the MERS-CoV S protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:7).