Varicella zoster virus vaccine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vaccine composition for prevention or treatment of chicken pox or herpes zoster, the vaccine composition comprising a surface protein (gE) of Varicella Zoster Virus and especially an aluminum salt as an adjuvant. The vaccine composition according to the present invention employs a protein antigen, thus showing greater outstanding stability than a live vaccine and has an optimized mixture ratio of adjuvants to elicit effective antibody induction, thereby being useful as a vaccine for preventing or treating Varicella Zoster Virus-caused chicken pox or herpes zoster.

1 . A vaccine composition for preventing or treating varicella or herpes zoster comprising a surface protein (gE) of Varicella zoster virus having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 and an immune enhancer (adjuvant). 
     
     
         2 . The vaccine composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the immune enhancer (adjuvant) comprises an aluminum salt. 
     
     
         3 . The vaccine composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the aluminum salt is aluminum hydroxide or aluminum phosphate. 
     
     
         4 . The vaccine composition according to  claim 2 , further comprising at least one immune enhancer (adjuvant) selected from the group consisting of calcium phosphate hydroxide, an mineral oil, squalene, an agonist of a toll-like receptor (TLR), a surfactant (detergent), liposome, saponin and cytokine. 
     
     
         5 . The vaccine composition according to  claim 3 , wherein a content of aluminum in the composition is 0.2 to 5 mg. 
     
     
         6 . The vaccine composition according to  claim 1 , wherein a content of the surface protein (gE) in the composition is 5 to 25 μg. 
     
     
         7 . A method for preventing or treating varicella or herpes zoster comprising administering the vaccine composition according to  claim 1  to a subject. 
     
     
         8 . A vaccine composition for preventing or treating varicella or herpes zoster comprising a surface protein (gE) of Varicella zoster virus and an aluminum salt as active ingredients,
 wherein a content ratio of the surface protein (gE) to an aluminum cation (Al 3+ ) in the composition is 9:1000 to 22:1000 (weight ratio).   
     
     
         9 . The vaccine composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the aluminum salt is aluminum hydroxide or aluminum phosphate. 
     
     
         10 . The vaccine composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the surface protein (gE) of Varicella zoster virus has an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         11 . The vaccine composition according to  claim 8 , wherein a content of the surface protein (gE) in the composition is 5 to 25 μg. 
     
     
         12 . A method for preventing or treating varicella or herpes zoster comprising administering the vaccine composition according to  claim 8  to a subject.