| abstract |
A chimeric protein comprising a leukotoxin polypeptide fused to selected GnRH multimers can be used as an immunological carrier system. Specifically, the protein may be used in a vaccine composition for the prophylaxis of mammary tumors in mammals. The GnRH multimers have the formula, [GnRH-X-GnRH]n wherein X is a peptide linkage, an amino acid spacer group or a leukotoxin polypeptide; and n is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The C-terminus of a first GnRH multimer is fused to the N-terminus of the leukotoxin polypeptide and the N-terminus of a second GnRH multimer is fused to the C-terminus of the leukotoxin polypeptide. The GnRH sequences may be the same, or may correspond to different derivatives, analogues, variants or epitopes of GnRH. The leukotoxin functions to increase the immunogenicity of the GnRH multimers. |