| 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 array, wherein the antigen is an IL-1 protein, an IL-1 mutein or an IL-1 fragment. More specifically, the invention provides a composition comprising a virus-like particle, and at least one IL-1 protein, IL-1 mutein or at least one IL-1 fragment linked thereto. The invention also provides a process for producing the composition. The compositions of the invention are useful in the production of vaccines for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, and chronic autoimmune diseases, genetic diseases and cardiovascular diseases. The composition of the invention efficiently induces 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. |