COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR INDUCING AN IMMUNE RESPONSE AGAINST EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS

1 - 47 . (canceled)

48 . A fusion protein comprising (i) an Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) envelope protein or a fragment thereof with an amino acid sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-15, 21-22, 39, and 44 and (ii) ferritin or a fragment thereof with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 16-20 and 25-38.

49 . The fusion protein of claim 48 , wherein the ferritin protein or fragment thereof includes an N-terminus comprising a peptide having an amino acid sequence of any one of ESQVRQNF (SEQ ID NO: 40), ESQVRQQF (SEQ ID NO: 41), SGESQVRQQF (SEQ ID NO: 42), and SGESQVRQNF (SEQ ID NO: 43).

50 . The fusion protein of claim 48 , wherein the EBV envelope protein or fragment thereof is gp350 or a fragment thereof with an amino acid sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-8, 21-22, 39, and 44.

51 . The fusion protein of claim 48 , wherein the EBV envelope protein or fragment thereof comprises one, two, three, or four mutations selected from any one of W162N, N164T, D208N, and E210T, wherein the amino acids of the EBV envelope protein or fragment thereof are numbered according to SEQ ID NO: 1.

52 . The fusion protein of claim 48 , wherein the EBV envelope protein or fragment thereof comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

53 . The fusion protein of a claim 48 , wherein:

(i) the EBV envelope protein or fragment thereof comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 2; and

(ii) the ferritin protein or fragment thereof comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 38.

54 . The fusion protein of claim 48 , wherein:

(i) the EBV envelope protein or fragment thereof comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 39; and

(ii) the ferritin protein or fragment thereof comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 38.

55 . The fusion protein of claim 48 , wherein:

(i) the EBV envelope protein or fragment thereof comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 44; and

(ii) the ferritin protein or fragment thereof comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 38.

56 . The fusion protein of claim 48 , wherein:

(i) the EBV envelope protein or fragment thereof comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1; and

(ii) the ferritin protein or fragment thereof comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 38.

57 . The fusion protein of claim 48 , comprising a signal peptide which is a bovine prolactin signal peptide or a human CD5 signal peptide.

58 . A nanoparticle comprising a fusion protein of claim 48 , comprising an EBV envelope protein or fragment thereof and a non-ionic detergent.

59 . The nanoparticle of claim 58 , wherein the non-ionic detergent is polysorbate-20 (PS20), polysorbate-40 (PS40), polysorbate-60 (PS60), polysorbate-65 (PS65), or polysorbate-80 (PS80).

60 . The nanoparticle of claim 58 , wherein the transmembrane domain has an amino acid sequence that is at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23.

61 . The nanoparticle of 58 , wherein the EBV envelope protein or fragment thereof comprises any amino acid sequence that is at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identical to any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 44.

62 . An immunogenic composition comprising a fusion protein of claim 48 and a pharmaceutically acceptable buffer.

63 . An immunogenic composition comprising the nanoparticle of claim 58 and a pharmaceutically acceptable buffer.

64 . The immunogenic composition of claim 62 , further comprising an adjuvant with at least two iscom particles, wherein:

the first iscom particle comprises fraction A of Quillaja Saponaria Molina and not fraction C of Quillaja Saponaria Molina; and

the second iscom particle comprises fraction C of Quillaja Saponaria Molina and not fraction A of Quillaja Saponaria Molina.

65 . The immunogenic composition of claim 64 , comprising from about 30 μg to about 60 μg adjuvant.

66 . A method of stimulating an immune response against Epstein-Barr virus in a subject comprising administering the immunogenic composition of claim 48 .

67 . A pre-filled syringe comprising an immunogenic composition of claim 48 .