Abstract:
It is intended to provide a promoter for inducing expression selectively and strongly in an immunocompetent cell and/or a blood cell such as a lymphocyte. In the invention, the object was achieved by finding that HHV6 MIE promoter, HHV7 MIE promoter and HHV7 U95 promoter unexpectedly induce a specific expression in an immunocompetent cell and/or a blood cell such as a T lymphocyte. By utilizing the promoters, a selective delivery of a DNA vaccine or the like can be realized.
Abstract:
A nucleic acid molecule containing nucleotide sequences that encode the capsid protein, pre-membrane protein and non-structural protein of Japanese encephalitis virus, and a nucleotide sequence that encodes the envelop protein of a second flavivirus, wherein the nucleotide sequence(s) that encode(s) the pre-membrane protein and/or non-structural protein of Japanese encephalitis virus contain(s) nucleotide mutations that produce one or more amino acid mutations that attenuate the virus.
Abstract:
It is intended to provide a recombinant herpesvirus; a process for producing the same; and a pharmacological composition comprising a recombinant herpes virus. Further, it is intended to provide a vector comprising a herpesvirus genome gene and a BAC vector sequence; a cell comprising such a vector; a fragment capable of homologous recombination with herpesvirus genome; and a nucleic acid cassette comprising a BAC vector sequence. The objects have been attained by the development of a process for producing a recombinant herpesvirus in which use is made of a BAC vector sequence.
Abstract:
A novel and dependable method for identifying an attenuated chickenpox virus Oka strain or a strain originating therein and acceptable as an attenuated chickenpox vaccine virus which comprises distinguishing the above-mentioned Oka strain from a specimen by examining whether the chickenpox virus genomic DNA of the Oka strain agrees with that of the specimen in all of the eight requirements as will be defined hereinbelow or disagrees therewith in at least one of these eight requirements so as to identify the Oka strain: the size of the restriction enzyme Hpa I fragment K; the size of the restriction enzyme Eco RI fragment P; the size determination of the Gene 14 R2-487 region; the PCR-SSCP determination of this region; the size of the restriction enzyme AccIII fragment in the R2-1764 region: the occurrence of the restriction enzyme Pst I site in this region; the homology of the amino acid sequence encoded by the R2-487 region; and the homology of the amino acid sequence encoded by the entire ORF of VZV Gene 14. Also provided are a virus strain substantially identical to the attenuated chickenpox virus Oka strain or a strain originating therein and acceptable as an attenuated chickenpox vaccine virus which has been identified by the above-mentioned method; an attenuated chickenpox vaccine with the use of the virus strain as the active ingredient; and a gp V antigen encoded by Gene 14 which is useful as a diagnostic agent.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a method for producing a rotavirus antigen of which the mass culture is difficult, comprising cloning a cell highly permitting the proliferation of rotavirus from a cell culture; preparing a cloned cell adapted-rotavirus strain by passaging a rotavirus in the resulting cloned cell strain and adapting the rotavirus to the cloned cell strain; culturing as a seed virus the adapted rotavirus strain or a reassortant prepared by using the adapted rotavirus strain as a parent strain; and isolating and purifying the rotavirus antigen from the culture medium of the seed virus; and additionally provides an rotavirus antigen, a vaccine against rotavirus infections, and a diagnostic agent of the diseases, as produced by using the antigen. These antigen, vaccine and diagnostic agent can make great contributions to individual fields of the fundamental research works and clinical application, relating to rotavirus infections.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a method for exact identification of the attenuated varicella virus Oka strain or a strain derived therefrom capable of functioning as an attenuated varicella live vaccine virus, which comprises analyzing the difference in the genomic DNA and fragments thereof between the Oka strain and a sample varicella strain, and determining whether or not a sample strain satisfies all of the following eight characteristics: the sizes of the Hpa I-K fragment and the Eco RI-P fragment; the size of R2-487 region of Gene14 and the analysis by PCR-SSCP; the sizes of the restriction fragments obtained by digesting the R2-1764 fragment with Acc III; the absence or presence of a Pst I cleavage site; the homology of the amino acid sequences coded by R2-487 coding region; and the homology of the amino acid sequences coded by the coding region of VZV Gene14 . Also disclosed are an isolated virus strain which is substantially the same virus strain as identified by the above method; an attenuated varicella virus live vaccine comprising the same virus strain as identified by the above method; and an attenuated varicella virus Oka strain antigen.
Abstract:
There is provided a recombinant Marek's disease virus comprising the genomic DNA of an attenuated Marek's disease virus and a foreign gene from another source. The present recombinant virus can advantageously be used as an active ingredient for a multifunctional live vaccine, exhibiting not only the antigenicity and immunogenicity of the Marek's disease virus but also the properties ascribed to the foreign gene. Since the suitable host cell for the recombinant virus of the present invention is an avian cell which is available in a large quantity and not expensive, the recombinant virus of the present invention can be produced efficiently at low cost on a commercial scale.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a stabilized live vaccine containing a varicella virus and a stabilizer, wherein the vaccine is substantially free of Ca²⁺ ions and Mg²⁺ ions. This stabilized live vaccine is extremely excellent in storage stability and heat resistance. Also disclosed is an improved stabilizer for a live varicella vaccine, comprising at least one member selected from gelatin and hydrolyzed gelatin, each being substantially free of Ca²⁺ ions and Mg²⁺ ions. The stabilizer can advantageously be used to stabilize a live vaccine containing a varicella virus. The substantial freedom of Ca²⁺ ions and Mg²⁺ ions can be attained by masking Ca²⁺ ions and Mg²⁺ ions present in a live vaccine containing a varicella virus and a stabilizer, with a chelating reagent, or by using as a stabilizer gelatin and/or a gelatin derivative after being purified to remove Ca²⁺ ions and/or Mg²⁺ ions contained therein.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a substantially pure HIV antigen comprising a Gag-Env fusion protein consisting of a Gag peptide fused at its C-terminus to an Env peptide, wherein the Gag peptide comprises a contiguous sequence of at least ten amino acids of the amino acid sequence represented by Gag (308-437) and the Env peptide comprises a contiguous sequence of at least a part of the amino acid sequence represented by Env (512-699), the part containing at least one epitope which is reactive to an HIV antibody. The gag - env fusion DNA corresponding to the HIV antigen of the present invention allows the production of the desired high antigenicity HIV antigen in high yield. Therefore, the HIV antigen of the present invention can be advantageously used as an active component for a diagnostic reagent, a vaccine, an antibody preparation and a therapeutic reagent for AIDS. Also disclosed is a substantially pure HIV antigen comprising a Gag protein coded for by the entire gag gene.