Flavivirus ns1 subunit vaccine

Abstract

The present invention relates to NS1 proteins or parts thereof of Flaviviruses, in particular of Dengue viruses useful for vaccination against said Flavivirus and against one or more other Flaviviruses. The invention further concerns the NS1 protein or parts thereof of one Dengue virus serotype, in particular serotype 2, useful for vaccination against Dengue viruses from all serotypes. The invention further concerns DNA comprising an expression cassette coding for a Flavivirus NS1 or parts thereof, vectors comprising said DNA and vaccines containing or expressing a Flavivirus NS1.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An MVA virus vector that expresses an entire Flavivirus NS1 protein of a Dengue virus or a part thereof;
 wherein the MVA is an MVA capable of reproductive replication in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) and the Baby Hamster kidney cell line BHK, but is not capable of reproductive replication in vitro in the human cell line HaCaT, and is unable to replicate in vivo in a mouse model incapable of producing mature B and T cells; and   wherein the MVA virus vector induces an immune response against the NS1 proteins of at least two Dengue virus serotypes, when the MVA virus vector is administered to an animal.   
     
     
         24 . The MVA virus vector of  claim 23 , wherein the MVA virus vector induces an immune response against the NS1 proteins of at least three Dengue virus serotypes, when the MVA virus vector is administered to an animal. 
     
     
         25 . The MVA virus vector of  claim 23 , wherein the MVA virus vector induces an immune response against the NS1 proteins of Dengue virus serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, when the MVA virus vector is administered to an animal. 
     
     
         26 . The MVA virus vector of  claim 23 , wherein the MVA virus vector induces an immune response against at least one NS1 protein selected from the NS1 protein of Japanese encephalitis virus and the NS1 protein of West nile virus, when the MVA virus vector is administered to an animal. 
     
     
         27 . The MVA virus vector of  claim 23 , comprising a sequence encoding an entire NS1 protein, or a part thereof, of Dengue Virus Serotype 2. 
     
     
         28 . The MVA virus vector of  claim 23 , wherein the animal is a human. 
     
     
         29 . The MVA virus vector of  claim 23 , comprising a sequence encoding an entire NS1 protein, or a part thereof, of Dengue Virus Serotype 1. 
     
     
         30 . The MVA virus vector of  claim 23 , comprising a sequence encoding an entire NS1 protein, or a part thereof, of Dengue Virus Serotype 3. 
     
     
         31 . The MVA virus vector of  claim 23 , comprising a sequence encoding an entire NS1 protein, or a part thereof, of Dengue Virus Serotype 4. 
     
     
         32 . An immunogenic composition comprising the MVA virus vector of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         33 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 32 , wherein the MVA virus vector is freeze-dried. 
     
     
         34 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 33 , wherein the MVA virus vector is in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent, or additive. 
     
     
         35 . A kit for prime-boost immunization comprising the MVA virus vector of  claim 23  for a first inoculation (“priming inoculation”) in a first container and for a second inoculation (“boosting inoculation”) in a second container. 
     
     
         36 . The kit of  claim 35 , wherein the MVA virus vector is freeze-dried. 
     
     
         37 . An isolated or cultured host cell comprising the MVA virus vector of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         38 . A method for inducing an immune response in a human comprising administering the MVA virus vector of  claim 23  to a human. 
     
     
         39 . A method for inducing an immune response in a human comprising administering the MVA virus vector of  claim 27  to a human. 
     
     
         40 . A method for inducing an immune response in a human comprising administering the MVA virus vector of  claim 29  to a human. 
     
     
         41 . A method for inducing an immune response in a human comprising administering the MVA virus vector of  claim 30  to a human. 
     
     
         42 . A method for inducing an immune response in a human comprising administering the MVA virus vector of  claim 31  to a human.