Composition for the preservation of viruses

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition for the preservation of a virus, the composition including a virus, a lipid and a cryoprotectant.

1 . A composition for the preservation of a virus and/or a component of a virus, the composition including a virus and/or a component thereof, a lipid and a cryoprotectant.  
   
   
       2 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the lipid is a cationic or an anionic lipid.  
   
   
       3 . A composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the cationic lipid has a hydrophilic moiety including one or more amino residues derived from an amino acid.  
   
   
       4 . A composition according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more amino acids is lysine, arginine or histidine.  
   
   
       5 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the lipid has a hydrophobic moiety including one or more acyl groups with a carbon chain length of 3 to 24 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       6 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the lipid is a tris-conjugated cationic lipid.  
   
   
       7 . A composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the tris-conjugated cationic lipid has the following chemical formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     or a salt thereof, wherein: 
 X is a positively charged hydrophilic moiety;  
 Y is spacer having a chain length equivalent to 1 to 30 carbon-carbon single covalent bonds or is absent; and  
 R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  are the same or different and are acyl groups derived from a fatty acid.  
 
   
   
       8 . A composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the tris-conjugated lipid has the following chemical formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
   
   
       9 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the lipid is an ethanolamine derived lipid with the following chemical formula:  
       X—T—NH—CH 2 —CH 2 O—R 4    or a salt thereof; wherein X is a hydrophilic moiety, Y is a spacer group or is absent, and R 4  is a hydrophobic moiety.    
   
   
       10 . A composition according to  claim 9 , wherein the lipid is an anionic lipid.  
   
   
       11 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the cryoprotectant is a sugar selected from one or more of sucrose, trehalose, dextrose, lactose, maltose, and glucose.  
   
   
       12 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further includes a surfactant.  
   
   
       13 . A composition according to  claim 12 , wherein the surfactant is a non-ionic surfactant.  
   
   
       14 . A composition according to  claim 13 , wherein the non-ionic surfactant is polysorbate 80 or polyethylene glycol 400, or a combination of these surfactants.  
   
   
       15 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the virus or the component of the virus is selected from the group consisting of a Paramyxovirinae virus, including Measles virus; a Pneumovirinae virus family, including human respiratory syncytial virus; a Togaviridae virus, including Rubella virus; a Herpesviridiae virus, including Human herpesvirus, Herpes simplex 1 or 2; Varicella-zoster virus, Cytomegalovirus, Roseolovirus; Epstein-Barr virus; a Hepadnaviridae virus, including Hepatitis B virus; a Picornaviridae virus, including Poliovirus, Rhinovirus, Hepatitis A virus; an Orthomyxoviridae virus, including Influenzavirus A, Influenzavirus B, Influenzavirus C; a Flaviviridae virus, Yellow fever virus, West Nile virus, Dengue Fever, Hepatitis C virus; a natural or recombinant derivative of any of these viruses, or a component of these viruses.  
   
   
       16 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the virus and/or the component of the virus is storage stable.  
   
   
       17 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is suitable for use in a vaccine.  
   
   
       18 . A vaccine including the composition according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       19 . A method of producing a composition for the preservation of a virus and/or a component of a virus, the method including the step of preparing a liquid composition including a virus and/or a component thereof, a lipid and a cryoprotectant.