Compositions and methods for vaccinating against HSV-2
View Patent ↗This invention relates to a method for systemic immune activation which is effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in a mammal. The method is particularly effective for protecting a mammal from herpes simplex virus. Also disclosed are therapeutic compositions useful in such a method.
1. An isolated polynucleotide consisting of SEQ ID NO: 12, wherein the polynucleotide encodes amino acids of a herpes simplex virus polypeptide.
2. The polynucleotide of claim 1 , further comprising a heterologous nucleic acid.
3. The polynucleotide of claim 2 , wherein said heterologous nucleic acid encodes a heterologous polypeptide fused to said amino acids of said herpes simplex virus polypeptide.
4. The polynucleotide of claim 2 , wherein said heterologous nucleic acid encodes at least 20 contiguous amino acids of a heterologous herpes simplex polypeptide.
5. The polynucleotide of claim 3 , wherein said heterologous polypeptide comprises a small self assembly polypeptide, and wherein said heterologous polypeptide self assembles into multimers.
6. The polynucleotide of claim 3 , wherein said heterologous polypeptide is a secretory signal peptide.
7. The polynucleotide of claim 1 , which is DNA, and wherein said polynucleotide is operably associated with a promoter and contains a stop sequence.
8. The polynucleotide of claim 1 , which is messenger RNA (mRNA).
9. The polynucleotide of claim 1 , further comprising an adjuvant wherein said adjuvant comprises GAP-DMORIE and (DPyPE).
10. A method for raising a detectable immune response to a herpes simplex polypeptide, comprising administering to a vertebrate a polynucleotide of claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide is administered in an amount sufficient to elicit a detectable immune response to the encoded polypeptide.
11. A method to treat herpes simplex infection in a vertebrate comprising: administering to the vertebrate in need thereof the polynucleotide of claim 1 , and pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.