Potent Report

This section provides information on worldwide patents relevant to vaccine design and production. The Patent Report gives the following information: title of patent, patentee, patent number, publication date and summary of the patent. A number of patents in this report are reproduced from 'Biotechnology Abstracts' with permission of Derwent Publications Ltd. Rochdale House, 128 Theobalds Road, London WC1X 8RP, Telephone 071 242 5823; Fax 071 405 3630.

Human respiratory-syncytial virus recombinant vaccine production; F, G 22K, 9.5K or major capsid protein-N gene cloning and expression in bacterium, yeast or eukaryote cell culture using a vector, e.g. Autographa californica nuclear-polyhedrosis virus Univ. N. Carolina USA 5149 650; 22 September 1992
A new recombinant DNA molecule encodes a human respiratorysyncytial virus (HRSV) structural protein, selected from F protein, G protein, 22K protein, 9.5K protein, major capsid protein-N or an immunogenic fragment. A recombinant expression vector, functional in a bacterium, yeast or other eukaryote host, and the recombinant host itself, are also new. DNA and protein sequences for the HRSV proteins are given in the specification. The expression vector is preferably a recombinant baculovirus, especially an Autographa californica nuclear-polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) vector. The genes and recombinant proteins are useful in production of recombinant vaccines against HRSV, for use in conferring immunity against respiratory tract infections on human subjects. In an example, plasmid pAc373, containing an AcNPV polyhedrin promoter, was ligated with BamHI-digested plasmid pGPFS, containing the gpF gone, and the insert was recombined with native AcNPV DNA by co-transfection of a Spodopterafrugiperda cell culture. Infection of S. frugiperda with the recombinant virus resulted in expression of HRSV protein, which was purified. 027-93

New attenuated precocious strain of Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria brunetti, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria metis, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria praecox and Eimeria tenella; for use as fowl vaccine against coccidiosis Brit. Technol Eur 506 211; 30 September 1992
An attenuated Eimeria strain and precocious attenuated immunogenic mutants and variants is claimed, and is selected from: (a) Eimeria acervulina ECACC 86072203; (b) Eimeria brunetti ECACC 86072204, ECACC 86112013; (c) Eimeria maxima ECACC 86112011, ECACC 86112012; (d) Eimeria mitis EACC 86072206; (e) Eimeria necatrix EACC 86072202; (f) Eimeria praecox ECACC 86072205; and (g) Eimeria tenella EACC 86072201. The strains were obtained from the virulent parent strains by serial passage in fowl with collection of oocysts from either the excrement or homogenized caecal tissue. The new strains can be used in vaccines for protecting domestic fowl against coccidiosis without producing any pathogenic effects. In an example, groups of specific pathogen-free fowl were inoculated orally serially with working seed of each Eimeria line. Oocyst counts of each bulk oocyst suspension were made and calculated volumes of each suspension were made and calculated volumes of each suspension were mixed with xanthan gum to give a multicomponent vaccine with oocysts of each specie.s present in desired proportions. 025-93

Solomon Island variants of human T-lymphotropic virus; prepared by human T-lymphocyte cell culture, and useful as vaccine against and for diagnosis of HTLV-I virus infection and related disease U.S. Dept. Commerce World 9215 325; 17 September 1992
A eukaryote cell line (human T-lymphocyte) comprising a variant HTLV-I virus isolated from the Solomon Islands HTLV-I-SI variant virus (VV), is claimed. Also claimed are: ( 1) a purified antibody specific for HTLV-I-SI VV; (2) a vaccine for humans against HTLV-I and related viruses comprising a non-infectious antigenic portion of the virus produced by the cell line; (3) a bioassay for diagnosing HTLV-I-SI VV infection; (4) a bioassay for detecting HTLV-I-SI VV nucleic acid in a biological sample; (5) HTLV-I VV infected cell line SI-5 (ATCC CRL 10683); (6) a diagnostic kit comprising the cell line, the virus of (5) (or a peptide of at least six amino acids), or oligonucleotide primers of at least 20 bases from the virus of (5); and (7) a composition comprising a non-infectious antigenic virus portion produced by the cell line for use in a vaccine preparation. The cell lines grow more rapidly and produce more virus than PNG-1 (T-lymphocyte cell line infected with HTLV-I VV). They greatly facilitate vaccine production, which may be used to protect against adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma and tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I associated myopathy. 028-93

Equine herpes virus vector for foreign DNA; horse herpes virus shuttle vector for recombinant vaccine construction Bayer Eur 507 179; 7 October 1992
A new horse herpes virus (HHV), preferably non-virulent or attenuated HHV, contains, in addition to sequences for replication, one or more foreign sequences, which may inactivate HHV genes or may label infected cells. The HHV may be isolated from a gene bank in a new shuttle vector. The vector is produced by insertion of a DNA fragment into a suitable site of the HHV genome, possibly after deletion of some DNA. The vector is useful in recombinant vaccine production, and antigens, immunogens, translation units and epitopes may be used in production of immune sera. Use of an HHV vector for cloning foreign DNA, and HHV isolation from a gone bank, are also new. The new vaccines overcome previous problems of poor humoral immune reaction from HHV vaccines, and are particularly useful in the prevention of equine encephalitis. In an example, a gone bank was constructed from 10 #g HHV-2 Thein 400/3 (CNCM 1-981) DNA, using plasmid pACYC184 as vector in Escherichia coli C600. A 3 kb HHV fragment was subcloned in plasmid pAT153 to form a new shuttle vector (plasmid pX2-EH2-C1). 026-93
0264~410X/93/04/0487-02 ~(" 1993 Butterworth-HeinemannLtd

Attenuated, genetically engineered pseudorabies virus; having a deletion in the gpX and gI coding regions, used as vaccine Syntro World 9215 328; 17 September 1992
An attenuated, genetically engineered pseudorabies virus (PRV), designated S-PRV-155, is claimed. S-PRV-155 is a PRV which has a deletion in the thymidine-kinase (EC 2.7.1.21) gone in the

Vaccine, Vol. 11, Issue 4, 1993

487