Influenza Peptides and Compositions

Abstract

The present specification discloses recombinant nucleic acid constructs encoding an immunogenic multiepitope polypeptide comprising two or more polypeptides, recombinant nucleic acid constructs encoding at least two epitopes from two or more internal proteins of influenza virus, compositions comprising such recombinant nucleic acid constructs and methods of eliciting a T cell immune response against an influenza virus in a vertebrate using such recombinant nucleic acid constructs and compositions.

1 . A polypeptide construct comprising a polypeptide attached to a carrier by a covalent linkage, wherein the polypeptide is a nucleoprotein containing SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         2 . The polypeptide construct of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is covalently linked to the amino terminal end of the polypeptide. 
     
     
         3 . The polypeptide construct of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is covalently linked to the carboxy terminal end of the polypeptide. 
     
     
         4 . The polypeptide construct of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a protein. 
     
     
         5 . The polypeptide construct of  claim 4 , wherein the carrier is an excipient and/or an adjuvant. 
     
     
         6 . The polypeptide construct of  claim 5 , wherein the protein is an excipient. 
     
     
         7 . The polypeptide construct of  claim 5 , wherein the protein is an adjuvant. 
     
     
         8 . The polypeptide construct of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is a sequence having 85% or more identify to SEQ ID NO: 9. 
     
     
         9 . The polypeptide construct of  claim 8 , wherein the polypeptide is a sequence having 90% or more identify to SEQ ID NO: 9. 
     
     
         10 . The polypeptide construct of  claim 9 , wherein the polypeptide is a sequence having 95% or more identify to SEQ ID NO: 9. 
     
     
         11 . The polypeptide construct of  claim 10 , wherein the polypeptide is SEQ ID NO: 9. 
     
     
         12 . A fusion protein comprising a polypeptide covalent linked to a carrier protein, wherein the polypeptide is a nucleoprotein containing SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         13 . The fusion protein of  claim 12 , wherein the carrier protein is covalently linked to the amino terminal end of the polypeptide. 
     
     
         14 . The fusion protein of  claim 12 , wherein the carrier protein is covalently linked to the carboxy terminal end of the polypeptide. 
     
     
         15 . The fusion protein of  claim 12 , wherein the carrier protein is an excipient or an adjuvant. 
     
     
         16 . The fusion protein of  claim 12 , wherein the polypeptide is a sequence having 85% or more identify to SEQ ID NO: 9. 
     
     
         17 . The fusion protein of  claim 16 , wherein the polypeptide is a sequence having 90% or more identify to SEQ ID NO: 9. 
     
     
         18 . The fusion protein of  claim 17 , wherein the polypeptide is a sequence having 95% or more identify to SEQ ID NO: 9. 
     
     
         19 . The fusion protein of  claim 18 , wherein the polypeptide is SEQ ID NO: 9. 
     
     
         20 . A recombinant nucleic acid construct encoding an polypeptide construct comprising a nucleoprotein attached to a carrier protein, wherein the nucleoprotein contains SEQ ID NO: 3.