This technology describes retrovirus-like particles and their production from retroviral constructs in which the gene encoding all but seven amino acids of the nucleocapsid (NC) protein was deleted.

This technology describes retrovirus-like particles and their production from retroviral constructs in which the gene encoding all but seven amino acids of the nucleocapsid (NC) protein was deleted. NC is critical for both genomic RNA packaging into the virion and viral integration into the host cell. Therefore, this deletion functionally eliminates two essential steps in retrovirus replication, thereby resulting in non-infectious retrovirus-like particles that maintain their full complement of antigenic proteins. Furthermore, efficient formation of these particles requires inhibition of the protease enzymatic activity, either by mutation to the protease gene in the construct or by protease inhibitor thereby ensuring the production of non-infectious retrovirus-like particles by altering two independent targets. These particles can be used in vaccines or immunogenic compositions. Specific examples using HIV-1 constructs are given. Applications: Retroviral vaccine; Immunogenic compositions Development Status: In vitro data available. Publications: 1. DE Ott et al. Elimination of protease activity restores efficient virion production to a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nucleocapsid deletion mutant. J Virol. 2003 May;77(10):5547- 5556. 2. DE Ott et al. Redundant roles for nucleocapsid and matrix RNA- binding sequences in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 assembly. J Virol. 2005 Nov;79(22), 13839-13847.

Early Stage

U.S. Patent Application No. 11/413,614 filed 27 Apr 2006 (HHS Reference No. E-236-2003/0-US-02) Inventor: David E. Ott (NCI)

Licensees sought: Available for non-exclusive or exclusive licensing. Collaborative Research Opportunity: The NCI, CCR, AIDS Vaccine Program is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize whole retrovirus-like particle vaccines. Please contact Betty Tong, Ph.D. at 301-594-4263 or tongb@mail.nih.gov for more information.