A method of immunizing against HTLV-1 is disclosed. The method may include preparing a DNA sequence corresponding to a chimeric peptide which may have immunogenic epitopes of HTLV-1. These epitopes can include a Tax epitope, a gp21 epitope, a gp46 epitope, and/or a gag epitope. The method also includes production of the chimeric peptide using the DNA sequence and purifying the produced chimeric peptide. The purified chimeric peptide can be employed for immunization against HTLV-1.

The invention relates to recombinant bovine leukemia viruses that have an attenuated phenotype and comprise a combination of at least two specific mutations. The invention also provides recombinant nucleic acids encoding such viruses, vectors comprising such nucleic acids, and host cells comprising such nucleic acids or vectors. The recombinant attenuated BLV viruses, recombinant nucleic acids, vectors and host cells allow for the preparation of improved vaccines, in particular vaccines suitable for the prophylactic treatment of BLV-associated diseases in subjects. The invention further provides methods for treating BLV-associated diseases in subjects and pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use in these methods.

The present invention relates to compositions, methods, and uses employing lentiviral vector particles for induction of an immune response by administration to a human, wherein the lentiviral vector particles comprise a lentiviral vector, wherein the DNA of the lentiviral vector comprises a promoter directing expression of a HTLV-1 p12p30-Tax-HBZ fusion protein. The invention encompasses these vectors, methods of making the vectors, and methods of using them, including medicinal uses.

A method of immunizing against HTLV-1 is disclosed. The method may include preparing a DNA sequence corresponding to a chimeric peptide which may have immunogenic epitopes of HTLV-1. These epitopes can include a Tax epitope, a gp21 epitope, a gp46 epitope, and/or a gag epitope. The method also includes production of the chimeric peptide using the DNA sequence and purifying the produced chimeric peptide. The purified chimeric peptide can be employed for immunization against HTLV-1.