Polyionic papilloma virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines
The present invention relates to the field of vaccines. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods relating to virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines. In one embodiment, a chimeric papillomavirus virus-like particle (VLP) comprises the L1 protein, wherein the HI loop of the L1 protein comprises negatively charged amino acids. In a more specific embodiment, a chimeric bovine papillomavirus VLP comprises the L1 protein, wherein the amino acid sequence EEEEEEEEC is inserted into the HI loop of the L1 protein.
1. A vaccine comprising: (a) a chimeric papillomavirus virus-like particle (VLP) comprising a L1 protein, wherein an amino acid sequence EEEEEEEEC (SEQ ID NO: 11) is inserted into the HI loop of the L1 protein; and (b) a target antigen other than the L1 protein, wherein the target antigen comprises a region of positively charged amino acids, and wherein the amino acid sequence EEEEEEEEC (SEQ ID NO: 11) of the HI loop of the L1 protein is covalently bound to the positively charged region of the target antigen.
2. The VLP of claim 1 , wherein the papillomavirus is human, bovine, equine, ovine, porcine, deer, canine, feline, or rabbit.
3. The VLP of claim 1 , wherein the papillomavirus is bovine.
4. The VLP of claim 3 , wherein the EEEEEEEEC (SEQ ID NO:11) amino acid sequence replaces amino acids 347-355 of the HI loop of the L1 protein (SEQ ID NO:5), wherein the bovine papillomavirus is type 1 bovine papillomavirus.
5. The VLP of claim 3 , wherein the EEEEEEEEC (SEQ ID NO:11) amino acid sequence replaces amino acids 349-353 of the HI loop of the L1 protein (SEQ ID NO:5), wherein the bovine papillomavirus is type 1 bovine papillomavirus.
6. The VLP of claim 1 , wherein the papillomavirus is human.
7. The vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the positively charged amino acids are arginine, histidine, lysine, or a combination thereof.
8. The vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the positively charged amino acids are arginine.
9. The vaccine claim 1 , wherein the region of positively charged amino acids is in consecutive order.
10. The vaccine of claim 9 , wherein one or more cysteines are adjacent to the region of positively charged amino acids.
11. The vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the target antigen is a peptide or a polypeptide.
12. The vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the target antigen is a peptide.
13. The vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the target antigen is selected from the group consisting of a tumor antigen, viral antigen, bacterial antigen, fungal antigen, parasitic antigen, and a pathogenic self protein.
14. The vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the target antigen is fusion protein.
15. The vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the target antigen is MUC1 peptide.
16. The vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the target antigen is human papillomavirus 16 E7 CTL epitope amino acids 49-57.
17. The vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the target antigen is P. falciparum circumsporozoite NANP repeat protein B cell epitope.
18. The vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the target antigen is P. yoellii circumsporozoite protein CD8 T-cell epitope.
19. The vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the target antigen is Dengue virus CD8 epitope.
20. The vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the target antigen is Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus CD8 epitope.
21. A method of inducing an immune response comprising administering a vaccine of claim 1 .