Rsv f protein compositions and methods for making same

Abstract

The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions comprising RSV F protein, methods for preparing compositions that contain RSV F protein ecto-domain polypeptides, and to certain engineered RSV F proteins and nucleic acids that encode the engineered RSV F proteins. Compositions prepared using the methods can contain RSV F protein ecto-domain polypeptides in a predominant or single desired form and conformation. The invention also relates to methods for inducing an immune response to RSV F.

1 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-F protein comprising:
 a first polypeptide comprising a F1 fragment; and   a second polypeptide comprising a F2 fragment,   wherein the F2 fragment lacks a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic tail, and wherein the F2 fragment comprises a trimerizing sequence from bacteriophage T4 fibritin comprising amino acid residues 3-29 of SEQ ID NO: 19.   
     
     
         8 . The RSV-F protein of  claim 7 , wherein the RSV-F protein does not comprise a p27 region. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The RSV-F protein of  claim 7 , wherein the RSV-F protein is of a RSV A subgroup. 
     
     
         12 . The RSV-F protein of  claim 7 , wherein the RSV-F protein is of a RSV B subgroup. 
     
     
         13 . A nucleic acid encoding the RSV-F protein of  claim 7 . 
     
     
         14 . A vector comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         15 . A host cell comprising the vector of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         16 . A method of making a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-F protein comprising: a first polypeptide comprising a F1 fragment; and a second polypeptide comprising a F2 fragment, wherein the F2 fragment lacks a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic tail, and wherein the F2 fragment comprises a trimerizing sequence from bacteriophage T4 fibritin comprising amino acid residues 3-29 of SEQ ID NO: 19, the method comprising culturing the host cell of  claim 15  and recovering the RSV-F protein from a culture media. 
     
     
         17 . An immunogenic composition comprising the RSV-F protein of  claim 7 . 
     
     
         18 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 17 , further comprising an adjuvant. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled)