| abstract |
The invention relates to a dendrimeric peptide construct of formula (I) wherein: T is a T epitope of the non-structural protein 3D of the FMDV, bound to the lysine core by its N-terminal end, and wherein T comprises the amino acid sequence: IFSKH-AA1-G-AA2-AA3-KM-AA4-AA5-AA6-D (SEQ ID NO: 1) wherein AA1 is an amino acid selected from R and K, AA2 is amino acid selected from D and N, AA3 is an amino acid selected from T and A, AA4 is an amino acid selected from S and T, AA5 is an amino acid selected from A, E, P and K, and AA6 is an amino acid selected from E and A; B is a B epitope of the protein VP1 of the FMDV; W is a linker group selected from the group consisting of: -(CH2)n-CO-; and -CO-(CH2)n-S-(CH2)m-CO-; wherein n and m are independently selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6; and X is an acyl group when B is bound to the α-amino group of the Cys by its C-terminal end, or is either -OH or is a NH2 group when B is bound to the α-carboxylic group of the Cys by its N-terminal end. The invention also refers to the use of said constructs as an immunogen for the prevention of foot-and-mouth disease in an animal. |