Patent Report This section provides information on worldwide patents relevant to vaccine design and production. The Patent Report gives the following information: title of patent, patentee, patent number, publication date and summary of the patent. A number of patents in this report are reproduced from 'Biotechnology Abstracts" with permission of Derwent Publications Ltd, Rochdale House, 128 Theobalds Road, London WCIX 8RD, UK.

New isolates J! and J7 of the hepatitis C virus; DNA sequence and protein sequence; DNA probe used in diagnosis; recombinant protein antigen production in Escherichia coil; recombinant vaccine 03'5 A," Chiton Eur. 419 182; 27 March 1991

The following are claimed: i. a specified DNA sequence land protein sequencel comprising at least 15 bp from a hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolate homologous to new HCV isolates J1 and J7, where the nucleotide sequence is distinct from that of isolate HCV-1; it. a purified polypeptide encoded by the amino acid sequence of (i); iii. a composition comprising anti-HCV polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies that bind an HCV epitope: and iv. transformed Escherichia colt deposited as ATCC BP-2593, ATCC BP-2594, ATCC BP-2595, ATCC BP-2637, ATCC BP-2638, ATCC BP-3081, ATCC 68392, ATCC 68393, ATCC 68394, ATCC 68395 and ATCC 40884. The DNA sequences derived from Jl and J7 are useful as DNA probes to diagnose the presence of virus in samples. They permit the production of polypeptides useful as standards or reagents in diagnostic tests and/or components of vaccines.

078 91

Epitope from HIV virus, SIV virus, HTLV-I virus or HTLV-I! virus; potential application as recombinant vaccine; protein sequence Inst. Pasteur, Uni. Pierre+ Marie-Curie World 9102 544; 7 March 1991

New compositions comprise (a) at least one immunogenic peptide containing a B epitope derived from the env glycoprotein of a pathogenic retrovirus, and (b) at least one T epitope derived from a different protein of the same retrovirus, or from a corresponding protein of a different retrovirus, where (a) and (b) are preferably linked in the form of at least one hybrid molecule e.g. a fusion protein. The retrovirus is an immunodeficiency virus, especially HIV virus, SIV virus, HTLV-I virus or HTLV-II virus. Also claimed are recombinant nucleic acid (NA) sequences encoding the hybrid molecules, host cells transformed with the NA sequences, and DNA or RNA sequences coding for (a) and (b). Component (a) comprises at least one (preferably all) of the 21 known peptides corresponding to the HIV virus Putney epitope. Component (b) comprises an HIV virus nef or gag protein (e.g. P18 or P25 gag proteins or P27 nef protein) or a fragment of such a protein. The compositions are useful as vaccines against retrovirus infections (especially AIDS). The NA sequences are useful as hybridization probes for diagnosis of retrovirus infections.

079 91

Therapy, diagnosis and vaccine for Japanese-encephalitis virus; comprising recombinant Japanese-encephalitis virus envelope protein expressed in insect cell culture; recombinant .vaccine Micro,qenesvs World 9102 819; 7 March 1991

Recombinant DNA encoding full- or partial-length Japanese- encephalitis virus (JEV) envelope protein is claimed. Recombi-

0264-410X/91/100772-02 © 1991 Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd

772 Vaccine, Vol. 9, October 1991

nant DNA bacutovirus vectors, preferably MGS3+ 1, P u c I g . MGSI2, MGS3 and MGS3+2 containing the JEV protein gene, are claimed (8302, 8437, 8501, 8929, 8469, 8468, 8650. 8590, 87161. The following are also claimed: (1) insect cell cultures transformed with the vector: (2) compositions of the recombinant JEV protein: (3) a method for JEV diagnosis in humans, by administering the recombinant protein and detecting antigen-antibody complexes formed; (4) a method for JEV therapy using the JEV recombinant protein compositions: and (5) a method and recombinant vaccine for prevention of JEV disease in humans. The recombinant vaccines tire safe, effective and relatively inexpensive. JEV can be detected in human serum, spinal fluid, etc., by using the recombinant JEV proteins, which may be labelled with e.g. 32P, 35S, dyes or photochemical agents. In an example, Spodoptera Ji'uHiperda cells were transfected with Aulottrapha cal(lornica nuclear- polyhedrosis virus containing the JEV Nakayama strain E gene.

080 91

Recombinant adenovirus nucleotide sequence; vector with SV40 virus DNA cassette for e.g. rabies virus recombinant vaccine construction OV World 9102 804:7 March 1991

A new recombinant adenovirus vector contains an inserted sequence encoding a lyssavirus antigen. The following are also new: a recombinant vaccine containing an effective amount of the antigen and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; a method of immunizing a mammal against a lyssavirus disease, by administering the virus or vaccine; a method for preparing the antigen; and a method of preparing the vaccine. The DNA is preferably derived from human adenovirus-5. Expression of the insert sequence is controlled by an adenovirus E3 promoter or human adenovirus major late promoter. The insert replaces an adenovirus gene, e.g. a portion of the E3 gene, and is contained within a DNA cassette from another virus, especially SV40 virus. The sequence is introduced between the promoter and poly-A addition site of the SV40 virus early region. The virus or vaccine may be administered orally or nasally. Using this method, recombinant adenovirus vectors encoding rabies virus glycoprotein may be produced, for induction of a protective immune response in a number of species against a lethal rabies challenge. 081 91

New recombinant antigen from Babesia for use in protective vaccine; and derived monocional antibody, anti-idiotype antibody, DNA sequence and DNA probe; potential application as recombinant vaccine and immunodiagnostic CSIRO Eur. 417 524; 20 March 1991

A method for the preparation of an antigen lAg), which when used in a vaccine is protective against babesiosis, comprises: purifying an antigenic fraction of Babesia; N-terminal sequencing; preparing at least one synthetic oligonucleotide probe based on the sequence; preparing a cDNA gene bank from Babesia mRNA; screening the gene bank with the probe; subcloning cDNA from positive clones into an expression vector; and expressing the clone(s) in the vector to give the Ag. Also claimed are: (a) various Ags; (b) monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) reactive with the Ags, specifically MAb derived from hybridoma MAbA 12D3 ECACC 89072701 : (c) DNA sequences encoding the Ags; (d) a probe for use in Ag preparation