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 .- 6 . (canceled)
7 . A respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-F protein comprising:
a first polypeptide comprising a F1 fragment; and
a second polypeptide comprising a F2 fragment,
wherein the F2 fragment lacks a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic tail, and wherein the F2 fragment comprises a trimerizing sequence from bacteriophage T4 fibritin comprising amino acid residues 3-29 of SEQ ID NO: 19.
8 . The RSV-F protein of claim 7 , wherein the RSV-F protein does not comprise a p27 region.
9 . (canceled)
10 . (canceled)
11 . The RSV-F protein of claim 7 , wherein the RSV-F protein is of a RSV A subgroup.
12 . The RSV-F protein of claim 7 , wherein the RSV-F protein is of a RSV B subgroup.
13 . A nucleic acid encoding the RSV-F protein of claim 7 .
14 . A vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 13 .
15 . A host cell comprising the vector of claim 14 .
16 . A method of making a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-F protein comprising: a first polypeptide comprising a F1 fragment; and a second polypeptide comprising a F2 fragment, wherein the F2 fragment lacks a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic tail, and wherein the F2 fragment comprises a trimerizing sequence from bacteriophage T4 fibritin comprising amino acid residues 3-29 of SEQ ID NO: 19, the method comprising culturing the host cell of claim 15 and recovering the RSV-F protein from a culture media.
17 . An immunogenic composition comprising the RSV-F protein of claim 7 .
18 . The immunogenic composition of claim 17 , further comprising an adjuvant.
19 . (canceled)