RSV F protein compositions and methods for making same
The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions comprising RSV F protein, methods for preparing compositions that contain RSV F protein ecto-domain polypeptides, and to certain engineered RSV F proteins and nucleic acids that encode the engineered RSV F proteins. Compositions prepared using the methods can contain RSV F protein ecto-domain polypeptides in a predominant or single desired form and conformation. The invention also relates to methods for inducing an immune response to RSV F.
1. A polypeptide comprising a first domain and a second domain, wherein
(i) the first domain comprises a respiratory syncytial virus F (RSV F) protein ectodomain, and
(ii) the second domain comprises a trimerizing sequence from bacteriophage T4 fibritin.
2. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the trimerizing sequence comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19.
3. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the trimerizing sequence comprises amino acid residues 3-29 of SEQ ID NO: 19.
4. A nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of claim 1 .
5. A vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 4 .
6. A host cell comprising the vector of claim 5 .
7. A method of making a polypeptide comprising a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain comprises a respiratory syncytial virus F (RSV F) protein ectodomain, and the second domain comprises a trimerizing sequence from bacteriophage T4 fibritin, the method comprising: culturing the host cell of claim 6 and recovering the polypeptide from a culture media.