Abstract: The present invention provides an attenuated virus, which is derived from Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus and characterized by the loss of its capability to reproductively replicate in human cell lines. It further describes recombinant viruses derived from this virus and the use of the virus, or its recombinants, as a medicament or vaccine. A method is provided for inducing an immune response in individuals who may be immune-compromised. In addition, a method is provided for the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the virus, or its recombinants, in a vaccinia virus prime/vaccinia virus boost inoculation regimen.

Abstract: The sent invention relates to a recombinant poxvirus vector capable of expressing two or more homologous, foreign sequences, which derive from different variants of a microorganism, and which have a homology of 50% or above. The invention further relates to a method for preparing such recombinant poxvirus and the use of such recombinant poxvirus as medicament or vaccine. Additionally, a method for affecting preferably inducing, an immune response in a living animal, including a human, is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an attenuated virus, which is derived from Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus and characterized by the loss of its capability to reproductively replicate in human cell lines. It further describes recombinant viruses derived from this virus and the use of the virus, or its recombinants, as a medicament or vaccine. A method is provided for inducing an immune response in individuals who may be immune-compromised. In addition, a method is provided for the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the virus, or its recombinants, in a vaccinia virus prime/vaccinia virus boost inoculation regimen.

Abstract: Recombinant poxvirus are disclosed comprising in the viral genome at least two expression cassettes, each comprising a cowpox ATI promoter according to SEQ ID NO:1, a polynucleotide sequence in which not more than 6 nucleotides are substituted, deleted, and/or inserted into SEQ ID NO:1 and still active as an ATI promoter, or a polynucleotide comprising at least 10 nucleotides including nucleotides 22 to 29 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and still active as an ATI promoter and a coding sequence, wherein the expression of the coding sequence is regulated by said promoter or said polynucleotides. The recombinant poxviruses are useful as pharmaceutically active ingredients in the preparation of vaccines.

Abstract: A genetic vaccine construct comprising a poxvirus vector which incorporates and, on administration to a subject, expresses in a cell of said subject a sequence of nucleotides encoding a prostate-specific polypeptide, wherein said poxvirus vector does not productively infect said subject. The genetic vaccine construct is for treatment of prostate cancer. The prostate specific polypeptide is preferably rat prostatic acid phosphatase, and is preferably xenogenic to the subject. The poxvirus vector is an avipox virus vector, preferably a fowl poxvirus vector. The genetic vaccine construct may also encode for one or more cytokines.

Abstract: The present invention provides an attenuated virus, which is derived from Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus and characterized by the loss of its capability to reproductively replicate in human cell lines. It further describes recombinant viruses derived from this virus and the use of the virus, or its recombinants, as a medicament or vaccine. A method is provided for inducing an immune response in individuals who may be immune-compromised, receiving antiviral therapy, or have a pre-existing immunity to the vaccine virus. In addition, a method is provided for the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the virus, or its recombinants, in a vaccinia virus prime/vaccinia virus boost innoculation regimen.

Abstract: The present invention provides an attenuated virus, which is derived from Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus and characterized by the loss of its capability to reproductively replicate in human cell lines. It further describes recombinant viruses derived from this virus and the use of the virus, or its recombinants, as a medicament or vaccine. A method is provided for inducing an immune response in individuals who may be immune-compromised. In addition, a method is provided for the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the virus, or its recombinants, in a vaccinia virus prime/vaccinia virus boost inoculation regimen.

Abstract: Nucleic acids are disclosed encoding fusion proteins comprising the amino acid sequence of at least four non-attenuated HIV proteins selected from the group consisting of Vif, Vpr, Vpu, Vpx, Rev, Tat, and Nef, wherein the fusion protein does not contain a specific cleavage sequence for a cellular protease. Also disclosed are vectors comprising the nucleic acids and methods of preparing the fusion protein by transfecting a host cell with the nucleic acids or with the vectors containing the nucleic acids, expressing the fusion proteins, and recovering the fusion proteins.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel insertion sites useful for the integration of HIV DNA sequences into the MVA genome, and to the resulting recombinant MVA derivatives.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a formulation, in particular an aqueous formulation comprising (i) a poxvirus of one of the genera orthopoxvirus, avipoxvirus, parapoxvirus, capripoxvirus and suipoxvirus, (ii) a disaccharide, (iii) a pharmaceutically acceptable polymer and optionally (iv) a buffer. The aqueous formulation is particularly suitable for freeze drying processes resulting in a stable, freeze-dried, poxvirus containing composition. The invention further concerns a method for preparing a freeze-dried, poxvirus containing composition and the thus obtained product.

Abstract: The sent invention relates to a recombinant poxvirus vector capable of expressing two or more homologous, foreign sequences, which derive from different variants of a microorganism, and which have a homology of 50% or above. The invention further relates to a method for preparing such recombinant poxvirus and the use of such recombinant poxvirus as medicament or vaccine. Additionally, a method for affecting preferably inducing, an immune response in a living animal, including a human, is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to NS1 proteins or parts thereof of Flaviviruses, in particular of Dengue viruses useful for vaccination against said Flavivirus and against one or more other Flaviviruses. The invention further concerns the NS1 protein or parts thereof of one Dengue virus serotype, in particular serotype 2, useful for vaccination against Dengue viruses from all serotypes. The invention further concerns DNA comprising an expression cassette coding for a Flavivirus NS1 or parts thereof, vectors comprising said DNA and vaccines containing or expressing a Flavivirus NS1.

Abstract: The invention concerns recombinant poxviruses comprising in the viral genome at least two expression cassettes, each comprising the cowpox ATI promoter or a derivative thereof and a coding sequence, wherein the expression of the coding sequence is regulated by said promoter. The virus may be useful as a vaccine or as part of a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: The invention concerns an Avipoxvirus comprising in the viral genome a Vaccinia virus host range gene or a homologue of said host range gene. The invention futher relates to cells, preferably avian cells, comprising a Vaccinia virus host range gene or a homologue of said host range gene. Moreover the invention concerns the use of a Vaccinia virus host range gene or an homologue thereof to increase the titer of avipoxviruses produced from cells after infection of said cells with the avipoxvirus, wherein the host range gene is expressed in said cells.

Abstract: The invention concerns recombinant Modified vaccinia virus Ankara comprising in the viral genome an expression cassette comprising the cowpox ATI promoter or a derivative thereof and a coding sequence, wherein the expression of the coding sequence is regulated by said promoter. The virus may be useful as a vaccine or as part of a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides an attenuated virus, which is derived from Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus and characterized by induction of protective immunity against a lethal vaccinia virus infection in a mouse, whereby the effective amount of the MVA-BN virus, or a derivative thereof, required to confer said immunity is less than the effective amount of MVA-575 required to render said mouse immune to a lethal vaccinia virus infection, and/or the MVA-BN virus, or a derivative thereof, induces at least substantially the same level of immunity in vaccinia virus prime/vaccina virus boost regimes when compared to DNA prime/vaccinia virus boost regimes. It further describes recombinant viruses derived from this virus and the use of the virus, or its recombinants, as a medicament or vaccine. A method is provided for inducing an immune response in individuals who may be immune-compromised, receiving antiviral therapy, or have a pre-existing immunity to the vaccine virus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel insertion sites useful for the integration of exogenous sequences into the Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus genome. The present invention further provides plasmid vectors to insert exogenous DNA into the genome of MVA. Furthermore, the present invention provides recombinant MVA comprising an exogenous DNA sequence inserted into said new insertion site as medicine or vaccine.

Abstract: The invention relates to fusion proteins comprising the amino acid sequence of at least four HIV proteins selected from Vif, Vpr, Vpu, Rev, Tat and Nef or derivatives of the amino acid sequence of one or more of said proteins, wherein the fusion protein is not processed to individual HIV proteins having the natural N and C termini. The invention further concerns nucleic acids encoding said proteins, vectors comprising said nucleic acids, and methods for producing said proteins. The fusion protein, nucleic acids and vectors are usable as vaccines for the at least partial prophylaxis against HIV infections.

Abstract: The present invention provides an attenuated virus, which is derived from Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus and characterized by the loss of its capability to reproductively replicate in human cell lines. It further describes recombinant viruses derived from this virus and the use of the virus, or its recombinants, as a medicament or vaccine. A method is provided for inducing an immune response in individuals who may be immune-compromised, receiving antiviral therapy, or have a pre-existing immunity to the vaccine virus. In addition, a method is provided for the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the virus, or its recombinants, in a vaccinia virus prime/vaccinia virus boost innoculation regimen. The present invention relates to a method of virus amplification in primary cells which are cultivated in a serum free medium. Viruses produced by this method are advantageously free of any infectious agents comprised in animal sera.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing poxvirus, in particular Chordopoxvirus, wherein the poxvirus is cultivated at a temperature below 37° C. The process leads to increased virus propagation at the decreased temperature.