Herpes Simplex Virus-Expressing Host Costimulation Molecules

Title:

Virus-expressing host costimulation molecules

Category:

Therapeutic

NCS:

Inventors: Lynda A. Morrison, Lydia G. Thebeau, Jane E. Schrimpf

Summary:

An antiviral vaccine that encodes costimulation molecules for increasing immune response
to the particular virus at issue is provided herein. In an illustrative embodiment, in mice
lacking both B7-1 and B7-2 (B7KO), the increased severity of HSV infection has confirmed the
importance of these molecules in generation of HSV-specific immunity. To test the concept that
B7-1 or B7-2 expression by replication-defective HSV could augment its immunogenicity and
protective capacity, the present inventors constructed replication-defective HSV-2 encoding
B7-1 or B7-2. Both viruses partially reconstituted immune responses to HSV compared with
replication-defective virus alone when used to immunize B7KO mice, indicating that the
increased responsiveness to virus could be attributed to virus-encoded B7 molecules.

Patent:

U.S. 8,257,712

Manager:

Stephanie Kimzey, MBA

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