Patent ID: 8647818

Claim:
An immunogenic composition comprising a chimeric polypeptide, wherein said chimeric polypeptide comprises: a) an amino acid sequence encoding an HIV-2 envelope polypeptide, a functional variant of the HIV-2 envelope polypeptide, a Simian Immunodeficiency virus (SIV) envelope polypeptide, or a functional variant of the SIV envelope polypeptide; and b) a heterologous epitope selected from the group consisting of: i) a heterologous epitope comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:38, or a functional variant thereof, wherein the amino acid sequence of said functional variant differs from SEQ ID NO:38 by up to three amino acids; ii) a heterologous epitope comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:15, or an immunologically equivalent epitope thereof, wherein the amino acid sequence of said immunologically equivalent epitope differs from SEQ ID NO:15 by one amino acid; and iii) a heterologous epitope comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:16, or an immunologically equivalent epitope thereof, wherein the amino acid sequence of said immunologically equivalent epitope differs from SEQ ID NO:16 by up to two amino acids; wherein said heterologous epitope is recognized by an HIV-1 neutralizing antibody, and wherein said heterologous epitope is located at a position within said amino acid sequence of a).