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 comprising amino acids 377-588 of the MERS-Co-V S protein with a T579N mutation (SEQ ID NO: 25); and an immunopotentiator.
2. The protein of claim 1 , wherein the immunopotentiator sequence is an Fc fragment of human IgG (Fc), a C3d protein, an Onchocerca volvulus ASP-1, a cholera toxin, a muramyl peptide, or a cytokine.
3. The protein of claim 1 , wherein the immunopotentiator is Fc.
4. 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.
5. The protein of claim 4 , wherein the stabilization sequence is a foldon (Fd) or GCN4.
6. 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 (GGGGS) n (SEQ ID NO:24), wherein n is an integer between 0 and 8.
7. The protein according to claim 6 , wherein n is 1.
8. The protein of claim 1 , wherein the protein comprises the sequence of S377-588-Fc T579N (SEQ ID NO:26).
9. An immunogenic composition comprising a protein, the protein comprising:
an MERS-CoV S protein sequence comprising amino acids 377-588 of the MERS-Co-V S protein with a T579N mutation (SEQ ID NO: 25); and
an immunopotentiator.
10. The immunogenic composition of claim 9 , wherein the immunopotentiator sequence is an Fc fragment of human IgG (Fc), a C3d, an Onchocerca volvulus ASP-1, a cholera toxin, a muramyl peptide, or a cytokine.
11. The immunogenic composition of claim 9 , wherein the immunopotentiator is Fc.
12. The immunogenic composition of claim 9 , wherein the protein further comprises a stabilization sequence disposed between the MERS-CoV S protein sequence and the immunopotentiator sequence.
13. The immunogenic composition of claim 12 , wherein the stabilization sequence is a foldon (Fd) or GCN4.
14. The immunogenic composition of claim 9 , wherein the protein further comprises a linker sequence disposed between the MERS-CoV S protein sequence and the immunopotentiator sequence, and the linker is (GGGGS) n (SEQ ID NO:24), wherein n is an integer between 0 and 8.
15. The immunogenic composition of claim 9 , wherein the protein comprises the sequence of S377-588-Fc T579N (SEQ ID NO:26).
16. A method of inhibiting MERS-CoV comprising:
administering the immunogenic composition of claim 9 or the protein of claim 1 to a subject in need thereof;
wherein the immunogenic composition induces an immune response that inhibits MERS-CoV infection in the subject.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the immunogenic composition further comprises an adjuvant.
18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the administering step comprises a prime immunization and at least one boost immunization.
19. The method according to claim 18 , comprising more than one boost immunization, wherein the boost immunizations are administered weekly, every other week, monthly, or every other month.
20. The method according to claim 18 , comprising more than one boost immunization, 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.