Polyvalent vaccine

Abstract

The present invention relates, in general, to an immunogenic composition (e.g., a vaccine) and, in particular, to a polyvalent immunogenic composition, such as a polyvalent HIV vaccine, and to methods of using same. The invention further relates to methods that use a genetic algorithm to create sets of polyvalent antigens suitable for use, for example, in vaccination strategies.

1 . A polypeptide or protein comprising at least one sequence of amino acids set forth in  FIG. 9  or  FIG. 10 . 
     
     
         2 . The polypeptide or protein according to  claim 1  wherein said polypeptide or protein comprises at least one sequence of amino acids set forth in  FIG. 9 . 
     
     
         3 . The polypeptide or protein according to  claim 1  wherein said polypeptide or protein comprises at least one sequence of amino acids set forth in  FIG. 10 . 
     
     
         4 . A nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes the polypeptide or protein according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . The nucleic acid according to  claim 4  wherein said nucleic acid encodes at least one sequence of amino acids set forth in  FIG. 9 . 
     
     
         6 . The nucleic acid according to  claim 4  wherein said nucleic acid encodes at least one sequence of amino acids set forth in  FIG. 10 . 
     
     
         7 . A vector comprising the nucleic acid according to  claim 4 . 
     
     
         8 . The vector according to  claim 7  wherein said vector is a viral vector. 
     
     
         9 . A composition comprising at least one polypeptide or protein according to  claim 1  and a carrier. 
     
     
         10 . A composition comprising at least one nucleic acid according to  claim 4  and a carrier. 
     
     
         11 . A method of inducing an immune response in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal an amount of at least one polypeptide or protein according to  claim 1  sufficient to effect said induction. 
     
     
         12 . A method of inducing an immune response in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal an amount of at least one nucleic acid according to  claim 4  sufficient to effect said induction. 
     
     
         13 . A polyvalent vaccine comprising a multiplicity of HIV-1 polypeptides, each of said polypeptides comprising a computationally-designed homologous recombinant mosaic blend of epitopes of natural HIV Gag, Nef, Env or Pol protein sequences,
 wherein the length of each of said epitopes is about 9 amino acids,   wherein the length of each of said polypeptides is within the range of natural HIV protein lengths,   wherein the epitopes are linked within each polypeptide via homologous crossover so the unnatural combinations of amino acids are not present,   wherein said epitopes are natural, commonly occurring T-cell epitopes, and   wherein about 3 to about 6 different types of polypeptides are present in said vaccine.