Abstract: The invention describes a vector including a nucleotide sequence encoding an HIV Gag polypeptide for use in the production of HIV-1 Gag virus-like particles. The vector may be a plant vector, for example, a tobacco mosaic virus vector such as the pBSG1057 vector or a tobacco etch virus vector. The vector may also be an Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing a T-derived plasmid construct. Alternatively, the vector may be an insect vector such as a baculovirus vector. HIV-1 Gag virus-like particles are also described, as is the use of the virus-like particles in a vaccine for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of HIV infection in a mammal, the vaccine including virus-like particles of proteins or polypeptides substantially as described above.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for producing a chimaeric human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 polypeptide containing a heterologous peptide, and in particular, a HPV L2 peptide. The method comprises the steps of introducing a DNA sequence coding for the heterologous peptide into a DNA sequence coding for the L1 polypeptide; introducing the DNA sequence including the sequences for the L1 polypeptide and heterologous peptide into a host cell in which the DNA sequence can be expressed; causing expression of the DNA sequence; and recovering the resulting chimaeric L1 polypeptide which includes the heterologous peptide. Typically, the nucleotides encoding the heterologous peptide replace the nucleotides of the L1 polypeptide at the point of insertion. The invention also describes a vector for use in the method, a host cell containing the vector, and a vaccine including the chimaeric HPV L1 polypeptide produced according to the method.

Abstract: This invention provides isolated nucleotide sequences disclosed in the specification, amino acid sequences deduced from the nucleotide sequences, constructs and/or vectors comprising and or expressing the nucleotide sequences, and there use in transforming plant cells to produce proteins or fragments of proteins. These proteins or fragments can be used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical components that can be used in a prophylactic treatment against causative agents of lesions and carcinomas, in particular cervical lesions and carcinomas.