Composition comprising the polyprotein NS3/NS4 and the polypeptide NS5B of HCV, expression vectors including the corresponding nucleic sequences and their therapeutic use

Abstract

The invention relates to a peptidic compound containing a polyprotein NS3/NS4 of a hepatitis C virus and a polypeptide NS5 b of hepatitis C virus. Said invention also relates to expression vectors such as adenovirus and poxyvirus in which nucleic sequences coding for the polyprotein NS3/NS4 and the polypeptide NS5 b . The inventive compound can be used for a therapeutic application.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . Peptide composition characterized in that it comprises a polyprotein NS3/NS4 of the hepatitis C virus, as well as a polypeptide NS5b of the hepatitis C virus.  
     
     
         19 . Peptide composition according to  claim 18 , characterized in that NS3 and/or NS4 and/or NS5b originate from viruses of different genotypes.  
     
     
         20 . Peptide composition according to  claim 18 , characterized in that NS3, NS4 and NS5b originate from a virus of the same genotype, preferably genotype 1b.  
     
     
         21 . Expression vector characterized in that it comprises a nucleotide sequence coding for the polyprotein NS3/NS4 and a nucleotide sequence coding for the polypeptide NS5b, as well as the means necessary to their expression.  
     
     
         22 . Expression vector according to  claim 21 , characterized in that the nucleotide sequences code for a polyprotein and a polypeptide originating from viruses of different genotypes.  
     
     
         23 . Expression vector according to  claim 21 , characterized in that the nucleotide sequences code for a polyprotein and a polypeptide originating from a virus of the same genotype, preferably the genotype 1b.  
     
     
         24 . Expression vector according to  claim 21 , characterized in that this vector is an adenovirus.  
     
     
         25 . Expression vector according to  claim 24 , characterized in that the genome of the adenovirus is modified so as to replace the EI region by the expression cassette CMV-NS3-NS4 and to replace the E3 region by the expression cassette SV40-NS5b.  
     
     
         26 . Expression vector according to  claim 21 , characterized in that this vector is a poxvirus.  
     
     
         27 . Expression vector according to  claim 26 , characterized in that the genome of the poxvirus is modified so as to insert the expression cassette ph5r-NS3-NS4 and to insert the expression cassette p7.5-NS5b.  
     
     
         28 . Microorganism or host cell transformed by an expression vector as defined in  claim 21 .  
     
     
         29 . A method for the inhibition, prevention or control of an infection caused by the hepatitis C virus in an animal, preferably human, comprising the use of a peptide composition that comprises a polyprotein NS3/NS4 of the hepatitis C virus, as well as a polypeptide NS5b of the hepatitis C virus, or of an expression vector as defined in  claim 21 , or of an expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the polyprotein NS3/NS4 with an expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the polypeptide NS5b, or nucleotide sequences coding for said polyprotein NS3/NS4 and said polypeptide NS5b, said nucleotide sequences corresponding to the sequences contained in the expression vectors as defined in  claim 21 , placed under the control of elements necessary to an expression constitutive of and/or inducible from said peptides.  
     
     
         30 . Pharmaceutical composition, in particular vaccine, comprising as active ingredient the peptide composition that comprises a polyprotein NS3/NS4 of the hepatitis C virus, as well as a polypeptide NS5b of the hepatitis C virus, or an expression vector as defined in  claim 21 , or an expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the polyprotein NS3/NS4 with an expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the polypeptide.  
     
     
         31 . Pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 30 , characterized in that it also comprises a pharmaceutically appropriate vehicle.  
     
     
         32 . Pharmaceutical kit, in particular vaccinal, characterized in that it comprises at least one expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the polyprotein NS3/NS4 and at least one expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the Polypeptide NS5b.  
     
     
         33 . Pharmaceutical kit, in particular vaccinal, characterized in that it comprises: 
 at least one expression vector characterized in that it comprises a nucleotide sequence coding for the polyprotein NS3/NS4 and a nucleotide sequence coding for the polypeptide NS5b, as well as the means necessary to their expression, wherein said vector is an adenovirus; and    at least one expression vector characterized in that it comprises a nucleotide sequence coding for the polyprotein NS3/NS4 and a nucleotide sequence coding for the polypeptide NS5b, as well as the means necessary to their expression, wherein said vector is a poxvirus.    
     
     
         34 . Pharmaceutical kit, in particular vaccinal, comprising at least one expression vector as defined in  claim 21 , or at least one expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the polyprotein NS3/NS4 with an expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the Polypeptide NS5b, and 
 (i) at least one peptide composition that comprises a polyprotein NS3/NS4 of the hepatitis C virus, as well as a polypeptide NS5b of the hepatitis C virus or    (ii) at least one nucleotide sequence coding for the polyprotein NS3/NS4 and for the polypeptide NS5b.