EIAV P26 DELETION VACCINE AND DIAGNOSTIC

摘要

Disclosed herein is a vaccine which provides immunity to mammals from infection and/or disease caused by a lentivirus, such as equine infectious anemia virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) said composition comprising a deletion in a gene that blocks replication of the virus in vivo. Said composition allows differentiation between vaccinated and non-vaccinated, but exposed, mammals and provides safety and immunity when administered as a vaccine to mammals. Preferably said composition encompasses at least one deletion in a lentivirus which allows mammals to be safely vaccinated and provides protection from exposure to wild-type lentiviruses. It also encompasses a marker vaccine in which a foreign gene is inserted into the gene-deleted region, said inserted gene providing a diagnostic tool for use in vaccinated mammals and, potentially, protection from infection from a foreign disease. The scope of the invention encompasses an EIAV vaccine that allows equines to be safely vaccinated and protected from disease with converting to a seropositive status on the Coggin's Test or any other test which measures p26, said p26 antigen being expressed in disease-producing wild-type EIAVs. Additionally, said EIA vaccine virus cannot cause clinical disease in mammals or spread or shed to other mammals including equines. Finally, this invention encompasses a marker vaccine in which vaccinated equines can be distinguished from non-vaccinated equines by detection of a foreign gene in the vaccinated animals. A diagnostic test to detect this foreign gene or gene product is also described.