Rhinovirus vaccines

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to peptide vaccines. More specifically, the present invention relates to vaccines against rhinoviruses and other related and non-related pathogenic animal viruses. In addition, the present invention relates generally to methods of designing and producing vaccines against viruses and, in certain embodiments, against rhinoviruses and other pathogenic viruses.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A method of producing a vaccine against a picornavirus, which comprises:
 (a) identifying transiently exposed regions of capsid proteins within at least a majority of serotypes comprising a target picornavirus;   (b) obtaining amino acid sequence information for at least a majority of said transiently exposed regions of capsid proteins;   (c) identifying amino acid sequences within said transiently exposed regions exhibiting a preferred level of sequence conservation; and   (d) producing a peptide vaccine that is functionally equivalent to at least a majority of the amino acid sequences within said transiently exposed regions exhibiting a preferred level of sequence conservation.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , which further comprises immunizing at least one host animal with the peptide vaccine and collecting antisera from said host animal. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , which further comprises testing said antisera for pan-serotypic activity. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said testing is carried out using a viral neutralization assay. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the transiently exposed regions of capsid proteins are identified across at least 70% of the serotypes that comprise the target picornavirus. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the transiently exposed regions of capsid proteins are identified across at least 90% of the serotypes that comprise the target picornavirus. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the peptide vaccine is conjugated to or associated with a carrier molecule. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the peptide vaccine is added to an adjuvant. 
     
     
         51 . A method of producing a vaccine against rhinoviruses, which comprises:
 (a) identifying transiently exposed regions of VP4 capsid proteins within at least a majority of rhinovirus serotypes;   (b) obtaining amino acid sequence information for at least a majority of said transiently exposed regions of VP4 capsid proteins;   (c) identifying amino acid sequences within said transiently exposed regions exhibiting a preferred level of sequence conservation; and   (d) producing one or more peptide vaccines, wherein the one or more peptide vaccines are collectively functionally equivalent to at least a majority of the amino acid sequences within said transiently exposed regions exhibiting a preferred level of sequence conservation.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , which further comprises immunizing at least one host animal with one or more peptide vaccines and collecting antisera from such host animal. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , which further comprises testing said antisera for rhinovirus pan-serotypic activity. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said testing is carried out using a viral neutralization assay. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the transiently exposed regions of VP4 capsid proteins are identified across at least 70% of rhinovirus serotypes. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the transiently exposed regions of VP4 capsid proteins are identified across at least 90% of rhinovirus serotypes. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more peptide vaccines are conjugated to, or associated with, a carrier molecule. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more peptide vaccines are added to an adjuvant. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the transiently exposed regions of VP4 capsid proteins are located near the N-termini thereof. 
     
     
         60 . A method for immunizing a mammal against rhinovirus infection, which comprises providing to a mammal an effective amount of one or more peptide vaccines, wherein the one or more peptide vaccines are functionally equivalent to transiently exposed regions of rhinovirus VP4 capsid proteins. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the transiently exposed regions of rhinovirus VP4 capsid proteins are located near the N-termini thereof.