Recombinant Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara (MVA) Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine

Abstract

Provided herein are recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) strains as improved vaccines against infection with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV virus) and to related products, methods and uses. Specifically, provided herein are genetically engineered recombinant MVA vectors comprising at least one nucleotide sequence encoding an antigenic determinant of an RSV membrane glycoprotein and at least one nucleotide sequence encoding an antigenic determinant of an RSV nucleocapsid protein. Also provided herein are products, methods and uses thereof, e.g., suitable to affect an immune response in a subject, or suitable to diagnose an RSV infection, as well as to determine whether a subject is at risk of recurrent RSV infection

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of decreasing RSV load in the lungs of a subject comprising administering to the subject a recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding at least one antigenic determinant of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) membrane glycoprotein to the subject, wherein when the subject is exposed to RSV, the load of RSV in the lungs is decreased. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) comprises
 (a) at least one nucleotide sequence encoding an antigenic determinant of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) membrane glycoprotein, wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes an RSV F antigenic determinant;   (b) at least one nucleotide sequence comprising an open reading frame that encodes an RSV nucleocapsid antigenic determinant that is an RSV N nucleocapsid protein and an RSV nucleocapsid antigenic determinant that is an RSV M2 matrix protein; and further comprising:   (c) at least one nucleotide sequence encoding an antigenic determinant of an RSV G membrane glycoprotein.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence in (a) encodes a full-length RSV F membrane glycoprotein. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide in (a) is from RSV strain A. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence in (a) comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 or comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence in (b) encodes a full-length RSV N nucleocapsid protein and a full-length RSV M2 matrix protein. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence in (b) is from strain A2. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence in (b) comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 35; or comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 34. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence in (b) comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10; or comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence in (b) comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 33; or comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence in (b) comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14; or comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence in (b) further encodes a self-cleaving protease domain between the antigenic determinants of the RSV N nucleocapsid and the RSV M2 matrix proteins. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the nucleotide sequence in (c) encodes a full-length RSV G membrane glycoprotein. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the nucleotide sequence in (c) is from RSV strain A2. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the nucleotide sequence in (c) comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the MVA used for generating the recombinant MVA is MVA-BN deposited at the European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC) under number V00083008. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the self-cleaving protease domain has the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:12.