Patent ID: 6132721
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: A61K,C07K,C12N,Y10S

Abstract:
An isolated modified protein comprising a derivative of a native HIV-1, HIV-2, HTLV-1 or HTLV-2 viral regulatory protein, which derivative comprises all or a fragment of the native regulatory protein having modifications comprising deletions, substitutions or additions of the amino acid residues thereof, and/or having chemical functionalization of the amino acid residues thereof by acylation or treatment with an aldehyde or with a coupling agent, said modifications and/or functionalizations causing said modified protein to lose at least 50% of the toxic biological properties of the corresponding said native viral regulatory protein and yet to retain the capability of generating polyclonal antibodies cross-reactive with the corresponding said native viral regulatory protein, wherein less than 30% of the amino acids have been modified, with the proviso that the functionalization does not cause conjugation to a carrier protein.