Attenuated dengue virus comprising mutations in the NS3 gene

Abstract

A menu of mutations was developed that is useful in fine-tuning the attenuation and growth characteristics of dengue virus vaccines.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An attenuated dengue virus comprising
 a mutation at nucleotide position 4995 of the NS3 gene; 
 wherein said numbering is based upon a prototypical DEN4 isolate strain 814669 (Dominica 1981); 
 wherein said mutation results in a nucleotide substitution from T to C; and 
 wherein said attenuated dengue virus is attenuated as compared to a wildtype dengue virus. 
 
     
     
       2. The attenuated dengue virus of  claim 1 , further comprising a Δ30 mutation. 
     
     
       3. The attenuated dengue virus of  claim 1 , wherein the attenuated dengue virus is a dengue virus type 1. 
     
     
       4. The attenuated dengue virus of  claim 1 , wherein the attenuated dengue virus is a dengue virus type 2. 
     
     
       5. The attenuated dengue virus of  claim 1 , wherein the attenuated dengue virus is a dengue virus type 3. 
     
     
       6. The attenuated dengue virus of  claim 1 , wherein the attenuated dengue virus is a dengue virus type 4. 
     
     
       7. The attenuated dengue virus of  claim 1 , wherein the attenuated dengue virus is a chimeric virus. 
     
     
       8. The chimeric virus of  claim 7  having a dengue 1 backbone. 
     
     
       9. The chimeric virus of  claim 7  having a dengue 2 backbone. 
     
     
       10. The chimeric virus of  claim 7  having a dengue 3 backbone. 
     
     
       11. The chimeric virus of  claim 7  having a dengue 4 backbone. 
     
     
       12. The attenuated dengue virus of  claim 1 , wherein the mutation at nucleotide position 4995 results in a viral polypeptide having a substitution of a proline for a serine at position 1632 of the polypeptide. 
     
     
       13. The attenuated dengue virus of  claim 1 , wherein the mutation at nucleotide position 4995 results in a viral polypeptide having a substitution of a proline for an asparagine at position 1632 of the polypeptide. 
     
     
       14. An attenuated dengue virus comprising
 a mutation wherein the mutation results in the expression of an NS3 protein having an amino acid substitution from serine or asparagine to proline at amino acid position 1632; 
 wherein said numbering is based upon a viral polypeptide encoded by a prototypical DEN4 isolate strain 814669 (Dominica 1981); 
 wherein said attenuated dengue virus is attenuated as compared to a wildtype dengue virus. 
 
     
     
       15. The attenuated dengue virus of  claim 14 , wherein said attenuated dengue virus is temperature sensitive. 
     
     
       16. The attenuated dengue virus of  claim 12 , wherein said attenuated dengue virus comprises a deletion of nucleotides 10,478-10,507 in the 3′ untranslated region.