US 7,510,718 B2
Expression vectors and uses thereof
Kai Krohn, Salmentaka (Finland); Vesna Blazevic, Tampere (Finland); Marja Tahtinen, Tampere (Finland); Mart Ustav, Tartu (Estonia); Urve Toots, Tartu (Estonia); Andres Mannik, Tartu (Estonia); Annamari Ranki, Helsinki (Finland); and Ene Ustav, Tartu (Estonia)
Assigned to Fit Biotech Oyj PLC, Tampere (Finland)
Appl. No. 10/476,615
PCT Filed May 03, 2002, PCT No. PCT/FI02/00379
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Nov. 03, 2003,
PCT Pub. No. WO02/090558, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 14, 2002.
Claims priority of application No. 20010922 (FI), filed on May 03, 2001.
Prior Publication US 2005/0026137 A1, Feb. 03, 2005
Int. Cl. A61K 39/00 (2006.01); A61K 39/40 (2006.01); A61K 39/42 (2006.01); A61K 39/295 (2006.01); A61K 39/385 (2006.01); A61K 49/00 (2006.01); C12Q 1/70 (2006.01); C12N 15/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 424—204.1  [424/9.2; 424/159.1; 424/164.1; 424/192.1; 424/193.1; 435/5; 435/320.1] 26 Claims
 
1. A vaccine comprising an expression vector and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein said expression vector comprises:
(a) a heterologous promoter operatively linked to a DNA sequence encoding a nuclear-anchoring protein, wherein said nuclear-anchoring protein comprises:
(i) a DNA binding domain which binds to a specific DNA binding sequence, and
(ii) a functional domain of the Bovine Papilloma Virus (BPV) type 1 E2 protein, wherein said functional domain binds to a nuclear component;
(b) a multimerized DNA sequence that forms a binding site for said nuclear anchoring protein; and
(c) at least one expression cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a protein or peptide that stimulates an immune response specific to the protein or peptide;
wherein said expression vector lacks an origin of replication functional in mammalian cells.