Patent ID: 6923970
Filing Date: 2005-08-02
Classification: A61K,A61P,C07K,C12N

Abstract:
1. A non-infectious, immunogenic, non-replicating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-like particle containing a plurality of mutations in the viral genome resulting in a virus-like particle, comprising the following: (1) a modified Gag protein, wherein said protein contains a modification in the first Cys-His box only, wherein at least one amino acid residue has been replaced in said first Cys-His box, said replacement resulting in a reduction of gag-dependent genomic viral RNA packaging in the virus-like particle while retaining the immunogenicity of said virus-like particle; (2) a deficient reverse transcriptase, wherein said deficiency results from a deletion of that portion of the pol gene responsible for reverse transcriptase activity, said deletion substantially eliminating reverse transcriptase activity in the virus-like particle; (3) a deficient integrase, wherein said deficiency results from a deletion of that portion of the pol gene responsible for integrase activity, said deletion substantially eliminating integrase activity in the virus-like particle; and (4) a deficient RNase H, wherein the deficiency results from a deletion of that portion of the pol gene responsible for RNase H activity, said deletion substantially eliminating RNase H activity in the virus-like particle; wherein said particle is encoded by a modified HIV genome devoid of long terminal repeats (LTRs) and containing the gag, pol and env genes in their natural genomic arrangement.