STABILIZED HBc CHIMER PARTICLES HAVING MENINGOCCOCAL IMMUNOGENS

摘要

A chimeric, carboxy-terminal truncated hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid protein (HBc) is disclosed that contains an immunogen for inducing the production of antibodies to Meningococcal proteins. An immunogenic Meningococcal epitope is expressed between residues 76 and 85 of the HBc immunogenic loop sequence. The chimer preferably contains a Meningococcal-specific T cell epitope and includes a C-terminal cysteine residue for enhanced stability of self-assembled chimeric particles. Methods of making and using the chimers are also disclosed.