POLYOMA VIRUS JC PEPTIDES AND PROTEINS IN VACCINATION AND DIAGNOSTIC APPLICATIONS

摘要

The present invention relates to the field of vaccination or immunization, in particular therapeutic vaccination, and diagnosis. Pharmaceutical compositions and kits capable of eliciting a protective immune response against polyoma virus JC (JCV) are disclosed, which may be used e.g., for therapy or for prevention of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and/or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy-immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (PML-IRIS). Individuals in danger of such PML or PML-IRIS may, e.g., be immunocompromised or immunosuppressed patients or patients having an autoimmune disease eligible for immunosuppressive treatment. The invention also relates to compositions comprising at least one CD4+ epitope of a JCV protein and to diagnostic uses thereof.