Immunogen platform

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to chimeric polypeptides including HCV NS3/4A sequences and T-cell epitopes. Embodiments include nucleic acids encoding the chimeric NS3/4A polypeptides, the encoded polypeptides, compositions containing said nucleic acids, compositions containing said chimeric polypeptides, as well as methods of making and using the aforementioned compositions including, but not limited to medicaments and vaccines.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An immunogenic composition comprising:
 an isolated nucleic acid encoding a peptide immunogen that comprises a heterologous hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protease cleavage site joined to an antigenic peptide at a position that is not naturally occurring.