Description of Invention:
This invention concerns novel peptides that selectively react with sera from people
who are HIV infected. The peptides were selected by screening random peptide libraries displayed phages with sera from long-term non-progressor (LTNP) subjects followed by counterscreening with non-infected sera. The peptides are potentially useful as vaccines against HIV, and to raise antisera for passive immunization against HIV. In fact, the peptides behaved as antigenic mimics of
linear or conformational HIV-1 epitopes generated in vivo in subjects infected with different HIV-1 strains and quasispecies. Moreover, the selected epitopes fulfilled the requirements for an effective immunogen; in fact, the inventors have shown that antisera from immunized mice decrease HIV replication in an in vitro assay.
Claimed are the methodology, which allows the identification of pools of HIV-specific peptides by taking advantage of the HIV-specific antibody repertoire induced by the natural infection; peptides, alone or as part of larger vaccine
constructs; and antibodies raised against the peptides.
Inventors:
Giuseppe Scala et al. (NIAID)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-070-1999/2 --
U.S. Patent 6,911,527 issued 28 Jun 2005
For Additional Information Please Contact: Susan Ano Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5515
Email: anos@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
