Abstract: The construction of recombinant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) strains deleted of the region of G protein most likely to induce unwanted type 2 T cell responses in susceptible recipients is disclosed. Using reverse genetics, recombinant RSV strains were engineered with deletions of amino acids 151-221 and 178-219. Both RSV strains replicated in the respiratory tract of BALB/c mice and elicited serum neutralization and anti-F protein IgG titers that were equivalent to cp-RSV and contributed to a 3.9 log10 reduction in RSV A2 four days after challenge. Importantly, pulmonary eosinophilia was significantly diminished in BALB/c mice primed with native G protein and challenged with either recombinant RSV strain. These findings are important for the development of immunogenic compositions against RSV.

Abstract: A mutant cholera holotoxin featuring a point mutation at amino acid 29 of the A subunit, wherein the glutamic acid residue is replaced by an amino acid other than aspartic acid, is useful as an adjuvant in an antigenic composition to enhance the immune response in a vertebrate host to a selected antigen from a pathogenic bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite. In a particular embodiment, the amino acid 29 is histidine. The mutant cholera holotoxin may contain at least one additional mutation in the A subunit at a position other than amino acid 29. The antigenic composition may include a second adjuvant in addition to the mutant cholera holotoxin.

Abstract: Adjuvant compositions comprising an effective amount IL-12 and QS-21 are disclosed. Immunogenic, vaccine and pharmaceutical compositions comprising a mixture of antigen and an adjuvant composition comprising an effective amount of IL-12 and QS-21 are also disclosed. These compositions elicit functional cell-mediated and humoral immune responses against at least one antigen. Methods of using the disclosed compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Adjuvant compositions comprising an effective amount IL-12 and QS-21 are disclosed. Immunogenic, vaccine and pharmaceutical compositions comprising a mixture of antigen and an adjuvant composition comprising an effective amount of IL-12 and QS-21 are also disclosed. These compositions elicit functional cell-mediated and humoral immune responses against at least one antigen. Methods of using the disclosed compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: An altered G protein or portion thereof of RSV which retains immunogenicity and which, when incorporated into an immunogenic composition or vaccine and administered to a vertebrate, does not induce enhanced disease (e.g., atypical pulmonary inflammation such as pulmonary eosinophilia) upon subsequent infection with RSV, is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the altered G protein comprises an alteration in one or more regions selected from the group consisting of the region from amino acid 159 to amino acid 198, the region from amino acid 159 to amino acid 174, the region from amino acid 171 to amino acid 187, the region from amino acid 176 to amino acid 190, and the region from amino acid 184 to amino acid 198 of the RSV G protein. Immunogenic compositions and vaccines comprising the altered RSV G protein, and optionally comprising RSV F protein, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An altered G protein or portion thereof of RSV which retains immunogenicity and which, when incorporated into an immunogenic composition or vaccine and administered to a vertebrate, does not induce enhanced disease (e.g., atypical pulmonary inflammation such as pulmonary eosinophilia) upon subsequent infection with RSV, is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the altered G protein comprises an alteration in one or more regions selected from the group consisting of the region from amino acid 159 to amino acid 198, the region from amino acid 159 to amino acid 174, the region from amino acid 171 to amino acid 187, the region from amino acid 176 to amino acid 190, and the region from amino acid 184 to amino acid 198 of the RSV G protein. Immunogenic compositions and vaccines comprising the altered RSV G protein, and optionally comprising RSV F protein, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Vaccine formulations and therapeutic methods therefor containing respiratory syncytial viral proteins or immunological fragment and an adjuvant selected from the group consisting of QS-21 3-deacylated monophosphoryl lipid A, monopohosphoryl lipid A and combination are described herein. Presence of the adjuvant(s) significantly increases the humoral and cell-mediated immunogenicity of the RSV proteins.