Patent ID: 8597657

Claim:
An isolated mutated ENV protein resulting from mutation of a transmembrane subunit of a wild type viral ENV protein, the transmembrane subunit of said wild type viral ENV protein comprising an immunosuppressive domain comprising the following amino acid sequence: (SEQ ID NO: 156) NY 1 Y 2 Y 3 LY 4 Y 5 LY 6 Y 7 Y 8 X 1 Y 9 Y 10 Y 11 CY 12 X 2 wherein, Y 1 is C or R, Y 2 is R, M, L or Q, Y 3 is C, G or A, Y 4 is D, Y 5 is L, M, Y or I, Y 6 is F, T, L or M, Y 7 is W, L or A, Y 8 is E, K, Q, A or S, Y 9 is G or E, Y 10 is G, Y 11 is L, I or V, Y 12 is K, A, V, L, G, M or I, X 1 is E, K or Q, and X 2 is A, V, L, I, K or M, or an isolated fragment of said mutated ENV protein, provided that said fragment comprises SEQ ID NO: 156, wherein, in the mutated ENV protein or fragment thereof, amino acid X 1 is substituted by R or H, there is no substitution other than that of amino acid X 1 , and optionally also X 2 , and said mutated ENV protein or fragment thereof has decreased immunosuppressive activity with respect to the wild type viral ENV protein.