| abstract |
The present invention is related to the fields of molecular biology, virology, immunology and medicine. The invention provides a composition comprising an ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant array, and in particular a ghrelin or ghrelin-derived peptide-array. More specifically, the invention provides a composition comprising a virus-like particle and at least one ghrelin or a ghrelin-derived peptide bound thereto. The invention also provides a process for producing the conjugates and the ordered and repetitive arrays, respectively. The compositions of the invention are useful in the production of vaccines for the treatment of obesity and other disease associated with increased food-uptake or increased body weight and to efficiently induce immune responses, in particular antibody responses. Furthermore, the compositions of the invention are particularly useful to efficiently induce self-specific immune responses within the indicated context. |