Immunogenic protein constructs

Abstract

Bacterial immunity proteins are utilized to increase immune response to an antigen of interest.

1 . A method for immunization, the method comprising:
 administering to a mammalian host an antigenic formulation comprising an antigen of interest and a bacterial immunity protein or fragment thereof of at least 45 amino acids thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacterial immunity protein is not more than 100 amino acids in length. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the bacterial immunity protein has at least 95% sequence identity with a polypeptide set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO:1-15. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antigen of interest is a polypeptide. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said antigen of interest is covalently bonded to the bacterial immunity protein. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said bacterial immunity protein is internally fused to said antigen of interest. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said bacterial immunity protein is terminally fused to said antigen of interest. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen is an influenza protein. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the influenza protein is an influenza A HA protein. 
     
     
         10 . An antigenic formulation comprising an antigen of interest and a bacterial immunity protein or fragment thereof of at least 45 amino acids thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The antigenic formulation of  claim 10 , further comprising a colony stimulating factor. 
     
     
         12 . The antigenic formulation of  claim 11 , wherein the colony stimulating factor is GM-CSF. 
     
     
         13 . The antigenic formulation of  claim 12 , wherein the GM-CSF is human or mouse GM-CSF. 
     
     
         14 . A method of increasing the immunogenicity of an antigen, the method comprising:
 formulating said antigen for administration to a mammalian host with a bacterial immunity protein or fragment thereof of at least 45 amino acids thereof.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the bacterial immunity protein is not more than 100 amino acids in length. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the bacterial immunity protein has at least 95% sequence identity with a polypeptide set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO:1-15. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said antigen of interest is a polypeptide. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said antigen of interest is covalently bonded to the bacterial immunity protein. 
     
     
         19 . A pharmaceutical formulation comprising an, antigenic formulation comprising an antigen of interest and a bacterial immunity protein or fragment thereof of at least 45 amino acids thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         20 . A method of immunizing a warm-blooded animal, the method comprising:
 administering a pharmaceutical formulation according to  claim 19  to said animal.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said animal is an avian animal. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said animal is a mammal.