Abstract: Recombinant papillomavirus capsid proteins that are capable of self assembly into capsomer structures and viral capsids that comprise conformational antigenic epitopes are provided. The capsomer structures and viral capsids, consisting of the capsid proteins that are expression products of a bovine, monkey or human papillomavirus L1 conformational coding sequence proteins, can be prepared as vaccines to induce a high titer neutralizing antibody response in vertebrate animals. The self assembling capsid proteins can also be used as elements of diagnostic immunoassay procedures for papillomavirus infection.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 9, 2006
Date of Patent:
April 22, 2008
Assignees:
The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, The German Cancer Research Center
Inventors:
Douglas R. Lowy, John T. Schiller, Reinhard Kirnbauer