Increased Protein Expression Vector for Vaccine Applications
Description of Invention:
An expression vector with a unique promoter that results in higher level of protein expression than vectors currently in use is available for licensing from the NIH. The elevated levels of expression are achieved through use of a specific promoter, known as CMV/R, in which the Human T-Lymphotrophic Virus (HTLV-1) Long Terminal Repeat (LTR) R-U5 region is substituted for a portion of the intron downstream of the CMV immediate early region 1 enhancer (Barouch et al., 2005). Sequences of 95% or better homology to CMV/R can be used as well. CMV/R vectors are currently being used in a number of clinical trials, including vaccines against West Nile Virus, Ebola virus, and HIV and achieving promising results. The related HIV vaccine technology is available for licensing, as is the Ebola DNA vaccine technology (non-exclusive licensing only). The CMV/R vector can be used for any DNA vaccine or for the production of recombinant proteins in high yields.
Applications:
Vector for DNA vaccines
High yield expression of recombinant proteins
Inventors:
Gary Nabel and Zhi-yong Yang (VRC/NIAID)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-241-2001/1 --
U.S. Patent No. 7,094,598 issued 22 Aug 2006 (CMV/R), applications pending in EP, JP, CA, and AU
DHHS Reference No. E-241-2001/0 --
U.S. Patent Application No. 10/491,121 filed 23 Aug 2004 (Ebola DNA vaccine), applications pending in EP, JP, CA, and AU
DHHS Reference No. E-267-2004/1 --
U.S. Patent Application No. 11/632,522 filed 16 Jan 2007 (HIV DNA vaccine)
Licensing Status: Available for non-exclusive licensing.
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
