Dimeric proteins for immunization
A dimeric protein comprising a first fusion protein and a second fusion protein, wherein the first fusion protein comprises a targeting domain, a leucine zipper domain, and an antigen; and wherein the second fusion protein comprises a targeting domain, a leucine zipper domain, and optionally an antigen. Nucleic acid vectors encoding proteins of the invention are provided, particularly for use in nucleic acid vaccination.
1. A dimeric protein comprising a first fusion protein and a second fusion protein,
wherein the first fusion protein comprises
(i) a targeting domain that comprises CTLA-4 or a fragment thereof,
(ii) a leucine zipper domain, and
(iii) an antigen;
and wherein the second fusion protein comprises:
(i) a targeting domain that comprises CTLA-4 or a fragment thereof,
(ii) a leucine zipper domain, and
(iii) optionally an antigen.
2. A dimeric protein according to claim 1 which is targeted to antigen presenting cells via the targeting domains.
3. A dimeric protein according to claim 1 or claim 2 where the targeting domains in the first and the second fusion proteins are the same.
4. A dimeric protein according to claim 1 or claim 2 where the targeting domains in the first and the second fusion proteins are different.
5. A dimeric protein according to claim 1 wherein the leucine zipper domains in the first fusion protein and the second fusion protein are the same.
6. A dimeric protein according to claim 1 wherein the leucine zipper domains in the first fusion protein and the second fusion protein are different.
7. A dimeric protein according to claim 5 wherein both leucine zipper domains are derived from the transcription factor GCN4.
8. A dimeric protein according to claim 6 wherein one leucine zipper domain is derived from the transcription factor fos and the other is derived from the transcription factor jun.
9. A dimeric protein according to claim 1 wherein the antigen in the first fusion protein and the antigen in the second fusion protein are the same.
10. A dimeric protein according to claim 1 wherein the antigen in the first fusion protein and the antigen in the second fusion protein are different.
11. A dimeric protein according to claim 1 wherein the second fusion protein does not comprise an antigen.
12. A fusion protein comprising:
(i) a targeting domain that comprises CTLA-4 or a fragment thereof
(ii) a leucine zipper domain and
(iii) an antigen.
13. A dimeric protein according to claim 1 , wherein the first fusion protein or the second fusion protein comprises a GCN4 leucine zipper domain.
14. A dimeric protein according to claim 1 , wherein the first fusion protein or the second fusion protein comprises a viral antigen.
15. A dimeric protein according to claim 1 , wherein the fragment comprises the CTLA-4 V-like domain.
16. A fusion protein according to claim 12 , wherein the fusion protein comprises a GCN4 leucine zipper domain.
17. A fusion protein according to claim 12 , wherein the fusion protein comprises a viral antigen.
18. A fusion protein according to claim 12 , wherein the fragment comprises the CTLA-4 V-like domain.