Title of Invention

AN ADENOVIRAL VECTOR COMPRISING A NUCLEOTIDE CONSTRUCT

Abstract The present invention relates to a vaccine comprising a nucleic acid construct such as a DNA construct especially a nucleic acid construct comprising sequences encoding invariant chain operatively linked to antigenic protein or peptide encoding sequences. The vaccine stimulates an immune response, especially an immune response in an MHC-I dependent, but CD4<sup>+</sup> T-cell independent manner.
Full Text All patent and non-patent references cited in the application, or in the present
application, are also hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a technology and method whereby a faster, broader
and stronger immune response Is obtained when using viral and DNA-based
vaccines.
Background of the invention
Despite current knowledge in the field of immunology especially regarding vaccine
technologies no suitable vaccines are available against numerous pathogens.
Widespread pandemics of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), HTLV (Human T-
cell Lymphotropic Virus), tuberculosis and HCV (Hepatitis C virus) remain out of
reach of effective vaccination, while bird flu and other emerging pathogens threaten
to overwhelm our healthcare systems. Similarly, the burst in world wide terrorism
has expanded the potential epidemics to include exotic and lethal pathogens such
as Ebola, Lassa and Marburg.
Vaccines can be prophylactic: they are given before the actual infection occurs, or
therapeutic: where they elicit or accelerate an immune response to a pathogen
already in the body. Both methods of vaccination require the establishment of a solid
immune response. The immune response that is activated by infection or
vaccination depends on the interaction of several cell types, such as T-, B- and
antigen presenting cells as well as several different molecules, primarily antigens,
MHC molecules, T- and B-cells receptors and many more.
Antigens are peptide fragments presented on the surface of antigen presenting cells
by MHC molecules. Antigens can be of foreign, i.e. pathogenic origin, or stem from
the organism itself, so called self or auto antigens. The MHC molecules are
representatives of a polymorphous gene family encoded by a specific chromosomal
region known as the "major histocompatibility complex", hence MHC. Two classes of
MHC molecules exist, MHC class I (MHC-I) and MHC class II (MHC-II).
T-helper cells are stimulated by antigens presented by MHC class II (MHC-II)
molecules residing on the surface of antigen presenting cells. The MHC-II molecules
are synthesized in the endoplasmatic reticulum. During synthesis, they combine with
invariant chain (li) in a manner preventing the MHC-II molecules from being loaded
with self- or auto-antigens. The MHC-II molecule is by signal sequences in the
invariant chain transported to the cell surface in a specific cellular compartment. As
the compartment matures by the processing of its contents it progresses from being
a lysosome, to a late endosome (after fusion with endocytotic vesicles) to an MHC
class II compartment (MHC). The.endocytotic vesicle contains foreign antigen i.e.
proteolytically cleaved bacterial peptide fragments. These fragments are by their
degradation prepared to be loaded onto the MHC-II molecule. The MHC-tl molecule
is released by the invariant chain in a two part process when the invariant chain first
is degraded proteolytically leaving only a peptide termed CLIP in the MHC-lf binding
domain, secondly by the removal of CLIP by an HLA-DM molecule. The MHC-II
molecule is then free to bind the foreign antigens and present these on the cell
surface after fusion of the MIIC vesicle to the plasma membrane. This initiates the
humoral immune response as the presented antigen stimulates activation of a T-
helper cell which in turn by several means activates a B cell, which ultimately
differentiates into an antibody secreting cell.
The cellular immune response is initiated when the T-cell receptor of T-cytotoxic
cells recognizes antigen bound to the MHC class I molecule on an antigen
presenting cell. MHC-I molecules are not associated with a moiecuie of a
functionality like the invariant chain that associates with MHC-II. The processing of
MHC-I into an antigen presenting molecule furthermore differs from that of MHC-II
molecules in that the MHC-1 molecule is loaded with antigen already In the
endoplasmatic reticulum. The antigens presented by the MHC-I molecule are
typically peptide fragments cleaved by the proteasome of proteins that have been
synthesized by the antigen presenting cell itself. These proteins may be abnormal
proteins encoded in the cells own DNA or proteins derived from viruses or other
pathogens that have infected the cell and parasitize its protein synthesis machinery.
The MHC class 1-related proteolytic system is present in virtually all cells.
The functions of the two types of T cells are significantly different, as implied by their
names. Cytotoxic T cells eradicate intracellular pathogens and tumors by direct lysis
of celts and by secreting cytokines such as y-interferon. The predominant cytotoxic T
cell is the CD8+ T cell, which also is antigen specific. Helper T cells also can lyse
cells, but their primary function is to secrete cytokines that promote the activities of
B cells (antibody-producing cells) and other T cells and thus they broadly enhance
the immune response to foreign antigens, including antibody-mediated and cytotoxic
T cell-mediated response mechanisms. CD4+ T cells are the major helper T cell
phenotype in the immune response.
Traditional vaccines rely on whole organisms, either pathogenic strains that have
been killed or strains with attenuated pathogenicity. On the one hand, these
vaccines run the risk of introducing the disease they are designed to prevent if the
attenuation is insufficient or if enough organisms survive the killing step during
vaccine preparation. On the other hand, such vaccines have reduced infectivity and
are often insufficiently immunogenic, resulting in inadequate protection from the
vaccination.
Recently, molecular biological techniques have been used in an attempt to develop
new vaccines based on individual antigenic proteins from the pathogenic organisms.
Conceptually, use of antigenic peptides rather than whole organisms would avoid
pathogenicity while providing a vaccine containing the most immunogenic antigens.
However, it has proven difficult to select the optimal antigen of a given protein or
polypeptide and furthermore it has been found that pure peptides or carbohydrates
tend to be weak immunogens.
Genetic (DNA) vaccines are new and promising candidates for the development of
both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. The strength of the ensuing immune
response is determined through a combination of the potency of the vector (i.e.
naked DNA, viral vectors, live attenuated viruses etc.), the expression level of the
antigen, and the recombinant antigen it self (i.e. high or low affinity MHC binders,
structural determinants selecting for more or less limited T-or B-cell repertoire etc.).
It is generally held to be true, that efficient induction of immunological memory
requires or benefits from the interactions of CD4+ (helper cell) T-cells with CD8+
(cytotoxic) T-cells and B-cells that mediate many of the effects of immune memory.
However, one potential disadvantage of conventional DNA vaccines is their low
immunogenicity in humans. One likely cause of this low immunogenicity is the
restricted access of antigens formed within cells to the MHC II pathway for antigen
processing and presentation to T helper cells.
Summary of Invention
Thus, the present invention has solved the problem of stimulating the immune
response in a manner that increases the kinetics of the response, simultaneously
with both broadening and improving the response, while avoiding, among other
things, the above mentioned disadvantages of the vaccination methods described in
the state of the art. In particular, a novel system for a directed, specific and fast
stimulation of the immune system is hereby made available in order to improve the
vaccination of all animals.
This problem is solved by the embodiments of the present invention characterized in
the claims. By the present invention it was found that fusion of an antigen to the
invariant chain dramatically enhanced the ensuing antiviral CD4+ and CD8* T-cell
responses. Additionally, and surprisingly, it was found that this effect is obtained
through a CD4+ T-cell independent mechanism. It was further found that the
protection is both accelerated and enhanced in an acute localized and lethal
infection, and enhanced in a high-dose systemic infection.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a nucleic acid construct
comprising sequences encoding at least one invariant chain operatively linked to at
least one antigenic protein or peptide or an antigenic fragment of said protein or
peptide.
It is likewise an aspect of the present invention to provide an adenoviral vector
comprising a nucleotide construct encoding at least one antigen and at least one
protein or peptide or fragment of a protein or peptide which stimulates an immune
response.
Thus it is an aspect of the present invention to provide means of stimulating an
MHC-l mediated immune response by an adenoviral vector comprising a nucleotide
construct encoding at least one antigen and at least one protein or peptide or
fragment of a protein or peptide.
Another aspect includes stimulating an MHC-I I response by an adenoviral vector
comprising a nucleotide construct encoding at least one antigen and at least one
protein or peptide or fragment of a protein or peptide.
A further aspect provides means of stimulating intercellular spreading of the nucleic
acid construct, the adenoviral vector, the proteins encoded within any of these or
any parts of any of these.
It is further an Object of the present invention to provide a delivery vehicle
comprising the nucleic acid construct as detailed herein, especially a delivery
vehicle such as a replication deficient adenoviral vector is relevant to the present
invention.
It is yet an object and an aspect of the present invention to provide a cell comprising
the nucleic acid construct or the adenoviral vector according to the present
invention.
It is yet an object of the present invention to provide a chimeric protein as encoded
by the nucleic acid construct described herein or encoded by the adenoviral vector
described herein.
It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide an antibody that recognizes
the chimeric protein encoded by either the nucleic acid construct or the adenoviral
vector described herein.
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a vaccine comprising the nucleic
acid construct or the adenoviral vector as detailed herein. Especially relevant to the
present invention is a vaccine, where at least one invariant chain is operatively
linked to at least one protein or peptide or fragment of a protein or peptide which
stimulates an MHC-I response. This may be done by operatively linking at least one
invariant chain with at least one at least one antigenic protein or peptide or an
antigenic fragment of said protein or peptide.
It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide a vaccine comprising the
chimeric protein encoded within the nucleic acid construct or the adenoviral vector
as detailed herein.
It is yet an aspect of the present invention to provide a kit in parts, said kit
comprising either a vaccine composition comprising an adenoviral vector or a
nucleic acid construct as described herein together with a medical instrument or
other means of administering said vaccine and furthermore instructions on how to
use the kit in parts.
It follows that the present invention provides means for inducing an immune
response in an animal, by administering to the animal a vaccine comprising the
nucleic acid construct or the adenoviral vector as detailed herein below.
Description of Drawings
Figure 1: Schematic drawing of inserts in the adenovirus vector.
Figure 2: CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses to adenovirus encoded epitopes.
Figure 3: CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses to adenovirus encoded epitopes in Fi
hybrid mice.
Figure 4: Ad-liGP exerts CD8+ T-cell stimulatory effects that are independent of
CD4+ T-cells
Figure 5: Ad-liGP confers rapid and superior protection against lethal LCMV
infection.
Figure 6: Ad-liGP efficiently protects against high-dose, intravenous LCMV
infection.
Figure 7: Ad-liGP confers superior protection to lethal LCMV variants with
mutations in immunodominant epitopes.
Figure 8: Frequencies of CD8+ or CD4+ T cells reacting to specific LCMV
epitopes after Ad-liGP vaccination and challenge with LCMV variants
with mutations in immunodominant epitopes.
Figure 9: CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses to vaccination with naked DNA-liGP
and DNA-GP
Figure 10: Prophylactic vaccination with Ad-li-GP increases tumor rejection
Figure 11: Therapeutic vaccination with Ad-li-GP increases average life span in
tumor carrying mice.
Figure 12: Survival rate following vaccination with either Ad-Ii-VSVGP or Ad-
VSVGP.
Figure 13: CD8+ and CD4* T-cell responses to more adenovirus encoded
epitopes
Figure 14: Efficiency of Ad-li-GP constructs compared to Ad-GP-Lamp-1
constructs measured by CD8+ T-cell responses to adenovirus encoded
epitopes.
Figure 15: Vector based on in-frame polylinkers.
Figure 16: Vectors with 1RES2 sites
Detailed description of the invention
Definitions:
Adenovirus: A group of double-stranded DNA containing viruses. Adenoviruses
can be genetically modified making them replication incompetent or conditionally
replication incompetent. In this form, as adenoviral constructs or adenovectors, they
can be used as gene delivery vehicles for vaccination or gene therapy.
Adjuvant: Any substance whose admixture with an administered immunogenic
determinant / antigen / nucleic acid construct increases or otherwise modifies the
immune response to said determinant.
Amino acid: Any synthetic or naturally occurring amino carboxylic acid, including
any amino acid occurring in peptides and polypeptides including proteins and
enzymes synthesized in vivo thus including modifications of the amino acids. The
term amino acid is herein used synonymously with the term "amino acid residue"
which is meant to encompass amino acids as stated which have been reacted with
at least one other species, such as 2, for example 3, such as more than 3 other
species. The generic term amino acid comprises both natural and non-natural amino
acids any of which may be in the "D" or "L" isomeric form.
Antibody: Immunoglobulin molecules and active portions of immunoglobulin
molecules. Antibodies are for example intact immunoglobulin molecules or
fragments thereof retaining the immunologic activity.
Antigen: Any substance that can bind to a clonally distributed immune receptor (T-
cell or B-cell receptor). Usually a peptide, polypeptide or a multimeric polypeptide.
Antigens are preferably capable of eiiciting an immune response.
Boost: To boost by a booster shot or dose is to give an additional dose of an
immunizing agent, such as a vaccine, given at a time after the initial dose to sustain
the immune response elicited by the previous dose of the same agent
Carrier: Entity or compound to which antigens are coupled to aid in the induction of
an immune response.
Chimeric protein: A genetically engineered protein that is encoded by a nucleotide
sequence made by a splicing together of two or more complete or partial genes or a
series of (non)random nucleic acids.
Complement: A complex series of blood proteins whose action "complements" the
work of antibodies. Complement destroys bacteria, produces inflammation, and
regulates immune reactions.
Cytokine: Growth or differentiation modulator, used non-determinative herein, and
should not limit the interpretation of the present invention and claims. In addition to
the cytokines, adhesion or accessory molecules, or any combination thereof, may
be employed alone or in combination with the cytokines.
CTL: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes. A sub group of T-cells expressing CD8 along with
the T-cell receptor and therefore able to respond to antigens presented by class I
molecules.
Delivery vehicle: An entity whereby a nucleotide sequence or polypeptide or both
can be transported from at least one media to another.
Fragment: is used to indicate a non-full length part of a nucleic acid or polypeptide.
Thus, a fragment is itself also a nucleic acid or polypeptide, respectively.
Individual: Any species or subspecies of bird, mammal, fish, amphibian, or reptile.
Invariant chain: an integral membrane protein glycoprotein that associates with and
stabilizes MHC II molecules in the endoplasmatic reticulum and subsequent cellular
compartments. Here the term invariant chain covers all naturally occurring or
artificially generated full length or fragmented homologous genes and proteins of a
certain similarity to human invariant chain. Invariant chain is herein abbreviated li.
Isolated: used in connection with nucleic acids, polypeptides, and antibodies
disclosed herein 'isolated' refers to these having been identified and separated
and/or recovered from a component of their natural, typically cellular, environment.
Nucleic acids, polypeptides, and antibodies of the invention are preferably isolated,
and vaccines and other compositions of the invention preferably comprise isolated
nucleic acids, polypeptides or isolated antibodies.
MHC: Major histocompatibility complex, two main subclasses of MHC, Class I and
Class II exist.
Nucleic acid: A chain or sequence of nucleotides that convey genetic information.
In regards to the present invention the nucleic acid is a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
Nucleic acid construct: A genetically engineered nucleic acid. Typically comprising
several elements such as genes or fragments of same, promoters, enhancers,
terminators, polyA tails, linkers, polylinkers, operative linkers, multiple cloning sites
(MCS), markers, STOP codons, other regulatory elements, internal ribosomal entry
sites (IRES) or others.
Operative linker; A sequence of nucleotides or amino acid residues that bind
together two parts of a nucleic acid construct or (chimeric) polypeptide in a manner
securing the biological processing of the nucleic acid or polypeptide.
Pathogen: a specific causative agent of disease, especially a biological agent such
as a virus, bacteria, prion or parasite that can cause disease to its host, also
referred to as an infective agent.
Peptide: Plurality of covalently linked amino acid residues defining a sequence and
linked by amide bonds. The term is used analogously with oligopeptide and poly-
peptide. The natural and/or non-natural amino acids may be linked by peptide bonds
or by non-peptide bonds. The term peptide also embraces post-translational
modifications introduced by chemical or enzyme-catalyzed reactions, as are known
in the art. The term can refer to a variant or fragment of a polypeptide.
Pharmaceutical carriers: also termed excipients, or stabilizers are non-toxic to the
cell or individual being exposed thereto at the dosages and concentrations
employed. Often the physiologically acceptable carrier is an aqueous pH buffered
solution. Examples of physiologically acceptable carriers include buffers such as
phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids; antioxidants including ascorbic acid; low
molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptide; proteins, such as serum
albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as
polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, arginine
or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates including
glucose, mannose, ordextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols such
as mannitol or sorbitol; salt-forming counterions such as sodium; and/or nonionic
surfactants such as TWEEN.TM., polyethylene glycol (PEG), and PLURONICS.TM.
Plurality: At least two.
Promoter: A binding site in a DNA chain at which RNA polymerase binds to initiate
transcription of messenger RNA by one or more nearby structural genes.
Signal peptide: A short sequence of amino acids that determine the eventual
location of a protein in the cell, also referred to as sorting peptide.
siRNA: Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which target (in a sequence-specific
manner) endogenous RNAs for degradation, thereby reducing the amount of a gene
product.
Surfactant: A surface active agent capable of reducing the surface tension of a
liquid in which it is dissolved. A surfactant is a compound containing a polar group
which is hydrophilic and a non polar group which is hydrophobic and often
composed of a fatty chain.
Vaccine: A substance or composition capable of inducing an immune response in
an animal. Also referred to as an immunogenic composition in the present text. An
immune response being an immune response (humoral/antibody and/or celiular)
inducing memory in an organism, resulting in the infectious agent, being met by a .
secondary rather than a primary response, thus reducing its impact on the host
organism. A vaccine of the present invention may be given as or prophylactic and/or
therapeutic medicament. The composition may comprise one or more of the
following: antigen(s), nucleic acid constructs comprising one or more antigens
operatively linked to li, carriers,.adjuvants and pharmaceutical carriers..
Variant: a 'variant' of a given reference nucleic acid or polypeptide refers to a
nucleic acid or polypeptide that displays a certain degree of sequence
homology/identity to said reference nucleic acid or polypeptide but is not identical to
said reference nucleic acid or polypeptide.
The present invention relates to a vaccine comprising a nucleic acid construct such
as a DNA construct especially a nucleic acid construct comprising sequences
encoding invariant chain operatively linked to antigenic protein or peptide encoding
sequences. The vaccine stimulates an immune response, especially an immune
response in an MHC-I dependent, but CD4+ T-cell independent manner.
Nucleic acid construct
An aspect of the present invention relates to nucleic acid constructs comprising
sequences encoding at least one invariant chain operatively linked to at least one
antigenic protein or peptide or an antigenic fragment of said protein or peptide, in
short an antigen.
By nucleic acid construct is understood a genetically engineered nucleic acid. The
nucleic acid construct may be a non-replicating and linear nucleic acid, a circular
expression vector, an autonomously replicating piasmid or viral expression vector. A
nucleic acid construct may comprise several elements such as, but not limited to
genes or fragments of same, promoters, enhancers, terminators, poly-A tails,
linkers, polylinkers, operative linkers, multiple cloning sites (MCS), markers, STOP
codons, internal ribosomal entry sites (IRES) and host homologous sequences for
integration or other defined elements. Methods for engineering nucleic acid
constructs are well known in the art (see, e.g., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory
Manual, Sambrook et al., eds., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 2nd Edition, Cold
Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989).
Examples of parts of nucleic acid constructs are given in figures 1,15 and 16, as
well as in the sequences identified as SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The partial
vector sequences of SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 have been generated by
subcloning various elements as described in the above and as illustrated in figures
1,15 and 16. These partial sequences are all inserted into the pAC-CMVpLpARS(+)
vector (Becker et al., 1994, Methods Cell Biol. 43 Pt A:161-189), see GenBank
accession number AY590429.1.
Invariant chain
The invariant chain (li) or CD74, is a non-polymorphic type I! integral membrane
protein, see SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 4 for the amino acid sequences of human and
mouse li, respectively, and likewise SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 3 for the nucleic acid
sequences of human and mouse li, respectively. Invariant chain has multiple
functions in lymphocyte maturation and in adaptive immune responses, in particular
targeting to lysosomal compartments were the li CLIP sequence can occupy MHC
class II molecules until these are fused with endosomal compartments (Pieters J.
1997, Curr. Opin. Immunol., 9:8996). Additionally li has been shown to function as
an MHC class I chaperone (Morris et al, 2004, Immunol. Res. 30:171-179) and by tts
endosomal targeting sequence, to facilitate stimulation of CD4+, but not CD8+ T-cells
directed against covalently linked antigen (Diebold et al., 2001, Gene Ther. 8:487-
493).
The invariant chain protein comprises several domains: a cytosolic domain which
includes a signal or sorting peptide (also known as the lysosomal targeting
sequence), a transmembrane domain, and a luminal domain which in itself
comprises a CLIP region, KEY region, core domain and trimerization domain. Both
of these domains are flanked by highly flexible regions (Strumptner-Cuvelette &
Benaroch, 2002, Biochem. Biophys. Acta., 1542:1-13). Invariant chain has been
characterized in several organisms, including vertebrates (e.g. chicken), mammals
(e.g. cow, dog, mouse and rat) and human.
The present invention relates to nucleic acid constructs comprising sequences
wherein at least one invariant chain is organism specific or can be related to a
specific organism. Preferably, at least one invariant chain is of vertebrate origin,
more preferably of mammalian origin and most preferably of human origin. In
relation hereto the sequence defined by SEQ ID NO: 1 is the nucleic acid sequence
of the invariant chain from human. The employed invariant chain is preferably the
invariant chain of the organism that is to receive the vaccination. It is an object of the
present invention that the invariant chain and the host organisms or receivers of the
treatment are of the same species.
The present invention also relates to a nucleic acid construct wherein the encoded
at least one invariant chain is a fragment of the sequence identified in SEQ ID NO: 2
of at least 40 amino acids and of at least 85% identity to the same fragment of SEQ
ID NO: 2.
The fragment is a fragment of at least 40 amino acids from any part of the invariant
chain as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. This includes a fragment including residues 1 to
40,10 to 50, 20 to 60, 25 to 65, 30 to 70, 35 to 75, 40 to 80, 45 to 85, 50 to 90, 55 to
95, 60 to 100, 65 to 105, 70 to 110, 75 to 115, 80 to 120, 85 to 125, 90 to 130, 95 to
135, 100to140, 105to145, 110to150, 115to155, 120to160, 125 to 165, 130to
170, 135 to 175, 140 to 180, 145 to 185, 150 to 190, 155 to 195, 160 to 200,165 to
205, 170 to 210 and 175 to 216. It also includes fragments as any of the above
listed expanding up to 5 residues to either side hereof. It further includes fragment of
at least 50 residues, of at least 60 residues, of at least 70 residues, of at least 80
residues, of at least 90 residues, of at least 100 residues, of at least 110 residues, of
at least 120 residues, of at least 130 residues, of at least 140 residues, of at least
150 residues, of at least 160 residues, of at least 170 residues, of at least 180
residues of at least 190 residues, of at least 200 residues and of at least 210
residues.
Any of the above described fragments of at least 85 % sequence identity, for
example at least 90 % sequence identity, for example at least 91% sequence
identity, such as at least 92 % sequence identity, for example at least 93 %
sequence identity, such as at least 94 % sequence identity, for example at least 95
% sequence Identity, such as at least 96 % sequence identity, for example at least
97% sequence identity, such as at least 98 % sequence identity, for example 99%
sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2 are included within the scope of the present
invention.
The identity/homology between amino acid sequences may be calculated using well
known scoring matrices such as any one of BLOSUM 30, BLOSUM 40, BLOSUM
45, BLOSUM 50, BLOSUM 55, BLOSUM 60, BLOSUM 62, BLOSUM 65, BLOSUM
70, BLOSUM 75, BLOSUM 80, BLOSUM 85, and BLOSUM 90.
Preferably, the present invention is a nucleic acid construct wherein the encoded at
least one invariant chain is a fragment of the SEQ ID NO: 2 of at least 186 amino
acids. This includes any of the fragments as defined above, and which thus share
identity with the sequence of the invariant chain of SEQ ID NO: 2.
The present invention furthermore relates to a nucleic acid construct wherein the
encoded at least one invariant chain is at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.
This encompasses that any sequence derived from the invariant chain as put
forward in SEQ ID NO: 2 of at least 85 % sequence identity, for example at least 90
% sequence identity, for example at least 91% sequence identity, such as at feast
92 % sequence identity, for example at least 93 % sequence identity, such as at
least 94 % sequence identity, for example at least 95 % sequence identity, such as
at least 96 % sequence identity, for example at least 97% sequence identity, such
as at least 98 % sequence identity, for example 99% sequence homology with SEQ
ID NO: 2 are included within the scope of the present invention. This includes
sequences that are either longer or shorter than the sequence described in SEQ ID
NO: 2.
Most preferably, the present invention relates to a nucleic acid construct wherein the
encoded at least one invariant chain is identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.
Any of the above described sequences regardless of origin, sequence identity or
length are from hereon termed variants of invariant chain.
It follows, that it is within the scope of the present invention that a variant of invariant
chain from any organism may be a variant according to the above, i.e. that the
variant may be a fragment of the invariant chain of an organism and/or be at least
85% identical to said invariant chain either over ail the sequence of the invariant
chain or within the fragment of same. The invariant chain may also be from a related
species of organism or be from a distantly related species.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to the addition, removal or
substitution of regions, peptides or domains of the at least one invariant chain as
encoded by the nucleic acid construct. The removal of one or more of these regions,
peptides or domains will truncate the resulting invariant chain. The addition or
replacement of a region, peptide or domain includes the options of choosing these
sequences from known sources such as naturally occurring proteins or polypeptides
or from artificially synthesized polypeptides or nucleic adds encoding the same. The
addition of regions, domains or peptides includes the option of adding one, two or
more of each type or of different types of regions, domains, peptides and one, two,
three or more of the nucleic acids encoding these regions, domains and peptides.
These may be identical or differ from one another based on the sequence. The
regions, peptides and domains need not arise from the same organism as the
scaffold invariant chain, ft is well Icnown in the art to perform additions, deletions and
substitutions of individual as well as stretches of nucleotides which will encode the
resulting polypeptide.
Aligning nucleic acid and especially protein sequences of homologous genes or
proteins from different organisms can be of great assistance when determining
which substitutions, deletions, rearrangements or other alterations it would be
beneficial to construct. Aligning human and murine invariant chain sequences as
illustrated below, gives an indication of which amino acid residues may be of
importance for the structure and function of the invariant chain in these organisms -
these are the residues which are conserved between the two sequences. Likewise,
the presumably less important residues are the ones in which the sequences differ.
It is. of interest in regard to the present invention to perform substitutions and/or
deletions of the variant residues / regions. When attempting to mutate or delete or
otherwise alter the sequence of e.g. the human invariant chain in order to improve
its immune response stimulating capacity, it may also be relevant to examine the
conserved residues and make e.g. homologous substitutions (i.e. substitutions
where the amino acids are considered to be of e.g. same structural quality, polarity,
hydrophobicity or other).

A preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to the at least one invariant
chain wherein the signal peptide is removed, replaced or added onto the sequence
encoding the invariant chain. A signal peptide is a short sequence of amino acids
that determine the eventual location of a protein in the cell, also referred to as a
sorting peptide. Signal peptides that determine the location of proteins to subcellular
compartments such as the endoplasmatic reticulum, golgi apparatus and the various
compartments comprising the golgi apparatus, the nucleus, the plasma membrane,
mitochondria and the various spaces and membranes herein, peroxisomes,
lysosomes, endosomes and secretory vesicles among others are all included within
the scope of the present invention. A preferred embodiment comprises alone the
lysosomal targeting sequence of invariant chain. Another preferred embodiment
comprises alone the KEY region of invariant chain.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to the removal,
addition, or replacement of the CLIP region of the at least one invariant chain. As
described above, the addition or replacement of the CLIP region includes the
options of adding or replacing the existing CLIP region in the variant of the invariant
chain or chains chosen, with CLIP regions from invariant chains of the same or other
organisms or of variants of CLIP regions form the same or other organisms. The
variant CLIP regions may, as follows from the above, be specifically generated
mutant versions of the CLIP region, generated by single or multiple nucleic acid
substitutions, deletions or additions. A preferred embodiment comprises the CLIP
region alone, or the CLIP region together with the N-terminally adjacent sequence or
the C-terminally adjacent sequence without any other regions or domains of
invariant chain. Other preferred embodiments comprise alone the N-terminally or C-
terminally adjacent sequences to the CLIP region but without the CLIP region itself.
By adjacent is meant any amino acids within 10 residues of the CLIP region, within
20 residues, within 30 residues, within 40 residues, within 50 residues, within 75
residues or within 100 residues of the CLIP region.
An embodiment of the present invention relates to fragments of invariant chain as
described above without the CLIP region. These fragments may be at least 5 amino
acid residues long, at least 10 residues, at least 15 residues, at least 20 residues, at
least 25 residues, at least 30 residues or at least 35 residues in length. Another
embodiment relates to fragments of invariant chain wherein the signal peptide is
removed and the invariant chain fragment is at least 10 amino acid residues long, at
least 15 residues, at least 20 residues, at least 25 residues, at least 30 residues, at
least 35 residues, at least 50 residues at least 60 residues, at least 70 residues at
least 80 residues, at least 90 residues, at least 100 residues, at least 110 residues
at feast 120 residues at least 130 residues, at least 140 residues, at least 150
residues, at least 160 residues, at least 170 residues, or at least 180 residues in
length.
Antigen
Any of the above variants of invariant chain are encompassed in the present
invention in the form wherein at least one of said variants is operatively linked to at
least one antigen such as an antigenic protein or peptide or an antigenic fragment of
said protein or peptide.
It is an object of the present invention to include but not limit the antigenic proteins
or peptides or fragments of said proteins or peptides to stem from pathogenic
organisms, cancer-specific polypeptides and antigens, and proteins or peptides
associated with an abnormal physiological response.
More preferably it is an object of the present invention to include an antigen
originating from any of the following types of pathogens: virus, micro organisms and
parasites. This includes pathogens of any animal known. It is preferable to have an
antigen from a mammalian pathogen i.e. a pathogen that specifically targets
mammalian animals. It is more preferred to have an antigen from a human
pathogen. In general, any antigen that is found to be associated with a human
pathogen may be used.
In a preferred embodiment at least one antigen may originate from, but is not limited
to any of the following families of virus: Adenovirus, arenaviridae, astroviridae,
bunyaviridae, caliciviridae, coronaviridae, flaviviridae, herpesviridae,
orthomyxoviridae, paramyxoviridae, picornaviridae, poxviridae, reoviridae,
retroviridae, rhabdoviridae and togaviridae.
More specifically at least one antigen or antigenic sequence may be derived from
any of the following virus: Influenza A such as H1N1, H1N2, H3N2 and H5N1 (bird
flu), Influenza B, Influenza C virus, Hepatitis A virus, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C
virus, Hepatitis D virus, Hepatitis E virus, Rotavirus, any virus of the Norwalk virus
group, enteric adenoviruses, parvovirus, Dengue fever virus, Monkey pox,
Mononegavirales, Lyssavirus such as rabies virus, Lagos bat virus, Mokola virus,
Duvenhage virus, European bat virus 1 & 2 and Australian bat virus, Ephemerovirus,
Vesiculovirus, Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), Herpesviruses such as Herpes
simplex virus types 1 and 2, varicella zoster, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Bar virus
(EBV), human herpesvirusses (HHV), human herpesvirus type 6 and 8, Human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), papilloma virus, murine gammaherpesvirus,
Arenaviruses such as Argentine hemorrhagic fever virus, Bolivian hemorrhagic fever
virus, Sabia-associated hemorrhagic fever virus, Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever
virus, Lassa fever virus, Machupo virus, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV),
Bunyaviridlae such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Hantavirus,
hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome causing virus, Rift Valley fever virus,
Filoviridae (filovirus) including Ebola hemorrhagic fever and Marburg hemorrhagic
fever, Flaviviridae including Kaysanur Forest disease virus, Omsk hemorrhagic fever
virus, Tick-borne encephalitis causing virus and Paramyxoviridae such as Hendra
virus and Nipah virus, variola major and variola minor (smallpox), alphaviruses such
as Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, eastern equine encephalitis virus, western
equine encephalitis virus, SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), West Nile
virus, any encephaliltis causing virus.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the at least one antigenic protein or
peptide is from a virus selected from the group of: HIV, Hepatitis C virus, influenza
virus, herpes virus, Lassa, Ebola, smallpox, Bird flu, filovirus, Marburg, and
papilloma virus.
In a more preferred embodiment of the invention the at least one antigenic protein or
peptide is selected from the group of and/or may be at least one antigenic fragment
of any of the following: vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-GP), Influenza A
NS-1 (non-structural protein 1), Influenza A M1 (matrix protein 1), Influenza A NP
(nucleoprotein), LCMV NP, LCMV GP, Ebola GP, Ebola NP, murine
gammaherpesvirus M2, M3 and ORF73 (such as MHV-68 M2, M3 and ORF73),
chicken Ovalbumin (OVA), or a helper T-cell epitope. It is within the scope of the
invention to combine two or more of any of the herein mentioned antigens.
An embodiment of the present invention includes at least one antigenic protein or
peptide or fragment of an antigenic protein or peptide from a micro organism. More
specifically at least one antigen may be derived from the one of the following from a
non-exhaustive list: Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis), Mycobacterium tuberculosis,
Salmonella (Salmonella gallinarum, S. pullorum, S. typhi, S. enteridtidis, S.
paratyphi, S. dublin, S. typhimurium), Clostridium botuiinum, Clostridium
perfringens, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Bordetella pertussis, Campylobacter
such as Campylobacter jejuni, Crytococcus neoformans, Yersinia pestis, Yersinia
enterocolitica, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Listeria monocytogenes, Leptospira
species, Legionella pneumophila, Borrelia burgdorferi, Streptococcus species such
as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitides, Haemophilus influenzae,
Vibrio species such as Vibrio cholerae 01, V. cholerae non-01, V.
parahaemolyticus, V. parahaemolyticus, V. alginolyticus, V. furnissii, V. carchariae,
V. hollisae, V. cincinnatiensis, V. metschnikovii, V. damsela, V. mimicus, V. fluviaiis,
V. vulnificus, Bacillus cereus, Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas caviae,
Aeromonas sobria & Aeromonas veronii, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Shigella species
such as Shigella sonnei, S. boydii, S. flexneri, and S. dysenteriae, Enterovirulent
Escherichia coli EEC (Escherichia coli - enterotoxigenic (ETEC), Escherichia coli -
enteropathogenic (EPEC), Escherichia coli 0157:H7 enterohemorrhagic (EHEC),
Escherichia coli - enteroinvasive (EIEC)), Staphylococcus species, such as S.
aureus and especially the vancomycin intermediate/resistant species (VISAA/RSA)
or the multidrug resistant species (MRSA), Shigella species, such as S. flexneri, S.
sonnei, S. dysenteriae, Cryptosporidium parvum, Brucella species such as B.
abortus, B. melitensis, B.ovis, B. suis, and B. canis, Burkholderia mallei and
Burkholderia pseudomallei, Chlamydia psrttaci, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella
tularensis, Rickettsia prowazekii, Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the at least one antigenic protein or
peptide is from a micro-organism selected from the group of: Mycobacterium
tuberculosis, Bacillus anthracis, Staphylococcus species, and Vibrio species.
An embodiment of the invention relates to a nucleic acid construct, wherein the at
least one antigenic protein or peptide encoded is from a parasite.
Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a nucleic acid construct
comprising combinations of at least two antigenic proteins or peptides from any of
the abovementioned pathogens.
Preferably the antigen is derived from, but not limited to, a parasite selected from
the group of: Plasmodium species such as Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium
ovale, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Endolimax nana, Giardia lamblia,
Entamoeba histolytica, Cryptosporidum parvum, Blastocystis hominis, Trichomonas
vaginalis, Toxoplasma gondii, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Cryptosporidium muris,
Pneumocystis carinii, Leishmania donovani, Leishmania tropica, Leishmania
braziliensis, Leishmania mexicana, Acanthamoeba species such as Acanthamoeba
castellanii, and A. culbertsoni, Naegleria fowleri, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma
brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, Isospora belli, Balantidium
coli, Roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), Hookworm (Necator Americanus,
Ancylostoma duodenal), Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis), Roundworm (Toxocara
cam's, Toxocara cati), Heart worm (Dirofilaria immitis), Strongyloides (Stronglyoides
stercoralis), Trichinella (Trichinella spiralis), Filaria (Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia
malayi, Onchocerca volvulus, Loa loa, Mansonella streptocerca, Mansonella
perstans, Mansonella ozzardi), and Anisakine larvae (Anisakis simplex (herring
worm), Pseudoterranova (Phocanema, Terranova) decipiens (cod or seal worm),
Contracaecum species, and Hysterothylacium (Thynnascaris species) Trichuris
trichiura, Beef tapeworm (Taenia saginata), Pork tapeworm (Taenia solium), Fish
tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium latum), and Dog tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum),
Intestinal fluke (Fasciolopsis buski), Blood fluke (Schistosoma japonicum,
Schistosoma mansoni) Schistosoma haematobium), Liver fluke (Clonorchis
sinensis), Oriental lung fluke (Paragonimus westermani), and Sheep liver fluke
(Fasciofa hepatica), Nanophyetus salmincola and N. schikhobalowi.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the at least one antigenic protein or
peptide is from a parasite selected from the group of: Plasmodium species,
Leishmania species, and Trypanosoma species.
An aspect of the present invention relates antigens and/or antigenic sequences
derived from diseases or agents that infect domestic animals, especially
commercially relevant animals such as pigs, cows, horses, sheep, goats, llamas,
rabbits, mink, mice, rats, dogs, cats, poultry such as chicken, turkeys, pheasants
and others, fish such as trout, salmon and other farmed species. Examples of
diseases or agents here of from which at least one antigen or antigenic sequence
may be derived include, but are not limited to: Multiple species diseases such as:
Anthrax, Aujeszk/s disease, Bluetongue, Brucellosis such as: Brucella abortus,
Brucella melitensis or Brucella suis; Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever,
Echinococcosis/hydatidosis, virus of the family Picornaviridae, genus Aphthovirus
causing Foot and Mouth disease especially any of the seven immunologically
distinct serotypes: A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, Asial, or Headwater, Japanese
encephalitis, Leptospirosis, New world screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax), Old
world screwworm (Chrysomya bezziana), Paratuberculosis, Q fever, Rabies, Rift
Valley fever, Rinderpest, Trichinellosis, Tularemia, Vesicular stomatitis or West Nile
fever; Cattle diseases such as: Bovine anaplasmosis, Bovine babesiosis, Bovine
genital campylobacteriosis, Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Bovine
tuberculosis, Bovine viral diarrhoea, Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, Enzootic
bovine leukosis, Haemorrhagic septicaemia, Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis /
infectious pustular vulvovaginitis, Lumpky skin disease, Malignant catarrhal fever,
Theileriosis, Trichomonosis or Trypanosomosis (tsetse-transmitted); Sheep and
goat diseases such as: Caprine arthritis / encephalitis, Contagious agalactia,
Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, Enzootic abortion of ewes (ovine
chlamydiosis), Maedi-visna, Nairobi sheep disease, Ovine epididymitis (Brucella
ovis), Peste des petits ruminants, Salmonellosis (S. abortusovis), Scrapie, Sheep
pox and goat pox; Equine diseases such as: African horse sickness, Contagious
equine metritis, Dourine, Equine encephalomyelitis (Eastern), Equine
encephalomyelitis (Western), Equine infectious anaemia, Equine influenza, Equine
piroplasmosis, Equine rhinopneumonitis, Equine viral arteritis, Glanders, Surra
(Trypanosoma evansi) or Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis; Swine diseases
such as: African swine fever, Classical swine fever, Nipah virus encephalitis,
Porcine cysticercosis, Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, Swine
vesicular disease or Transmissible gastroenteritis; Avian diseases such as: Avian
chlamydiosis, Avian infectious bronchitis, Avian infectious laryngotracheitis, Avian
mycoplasmosis (M. gallisepticum), Avian mycoplasmosis (M. synoviae), Duck virus
hepatitis, Fowl cholera, Fowl typhoid, Highly pathogenic avian influenza this being
any Influenzavirus A or B arid especially H5N1, Infectious bursal disease (Gumboro
disease), Marek's disease, Newcastle disease, Pullorum disease or Turkey
rhinotracheitis; Lagomorph and rodent diseases such as: Virus enteritis,
Myxomatosis or Rabbit haemorrhagic disease; Fish diseases such as: Epizootic
haematopoietic necrosis, Infectious haematopoietic necrosis, Spring viraemia of
carp, Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia, Infectious pancreatic necrosis, Infectious
salmon anaemia, Epizootic ulcerative syndrome, Bacterial kidney disease
(Renibacterium salmoninarum), Gyrodactylosis (Gyrodactylus salaris), Red sea
bream iridoviral disease; or other diseases such as Camelpox or Leishmaniosis.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the at least one antigenic protein or
peptide is from Aujeszky's disease, Foot and mouth disease, Vesicular stomatitis
virus, Avian influenza or Newcastle disease.
Yet a preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to the at least one
antigenic protein or peptide or fragment of said antigenic protein or peptide being an
antigenic peptide or protein with at least 85% identity to any of the above described
antigens. The homology or identity between amino acids may be calculated by any
of the previously mentioned BLOSUM scoring matrices.
An embodiment of the invention relates to a nucleic acid construct, wherein the at
least one antigenic protein or peptide or fragment of an antigenic protein or peptide
is from a cancer-specific polypeptide or cancer antigen.
Many protein/glycoproteins have been identified and linked to certain types of
cancer; these are referred to as cancer specific polypeptides, tumor-associated
antigens or cancer antigens. In general, any antigen that Is found to be associated
with cancer tumors may be used. One way in which cancer specific antigens may be
found is by subtraction analyses such as various micro array analyses, such as DNA
microarray analysis. Herein the gene expression pattern (as seen in the level of
RNA or protein encoded by said genes) between healthy and cancerous patients,
between groups of cancerous patients or between healthy and cancerous tissue in
the same patient is compared. The genes that have approximately equal expression
levels are "subtracted" from each other leaving the genes / gene products that differ
between the healthy and cancerous tissue. This approach is known in the art and
may be used as a method of identifying novel cancer antigens or to create a gene
expression profile specific for a given patient or group of patients. Antigens this
identified, both single antigen and the combinations in which they may have been
found fall within the scope of the present invention.
Preferably the at least one antigen of the present invention is derived from, but not
limited to, a cancer specific polypeptide selected from the group of: MAGE-3,
MAGE-1, gp100, gp75, TRP-2, tyrosinase, MART-1, CEA, Ras, p53, B-Catenin,
gp43, GAGE-1, BAGE-1, PSA, MUC-.1, 2, 3, and HSP-70, TRP-1, gp100/pmel17,
.beta.-HCG, Ras mutants, p53 mutants, HMW melanoma antigen, MUC-18, HOJ-1,
cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4), Caspase 8, HER-2/neu, Human papilloma virus
HPVtype 6,11, 16,18, 31 and 33, Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase, carcinoembryonic
antigen (CEA), telomerase, and SV40 Large T.
A preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one antigenic protein or
peptide or fragment of an antigenic protein or peptide is from a cancer-specific
polypeptide selected from the group of: p53, HER-2/neu, telomerase, and
melanoma antigen.
An embodiment of the invention relates to a nucleic acid construct, wherein the at
least one antigenic protein or peptide or fragment of an antigenic protein or peptide
is from a polypeptide associated with an abnormal physiological response. Such an
abnormal physiological response Includes, but is not limited to autoimmune
diseases, allergic reactions, cancers and congenital diseases. A non-exhaustive list
of examples of hereof includes diseases such rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus
erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and Crohn's disease.
Operative linker
An aspect of the present invention relates to the nucleic acid construct wherein the
operative link between the invariant chain and the antigenic protein or peptide or
fragment of antigenic protein or peptide either is a direct link or a link mediated by a
spacer region. By the term operative linker is understood a sequence of nucleotides
or amino acid residues that bind together two parts of a nucleic acid construct or
chimeric polypeptide in a manner securing the biological processing of the nucleic
acid or polypeptide. If the operative linker is a direct link, the two nucleic acids each
encoding either an open reading frame or a fragment of an open reading frame are
placed immediately adjacent to each other and thereby also in frame. If the
operative linker is mediated by a spacer region, a series of nucleotides are inserted
between the nucleotides encoding the at least one invariant chain and the at least
one antigenic peptide, respectively. It is within the scope of the present invention
having a spacer region wherein the spacer region merely is a series of nucleotides
linking the at least two elements of the present invention in a manner retaining the
open reading frames, or the spacer region may encode one or more signals or
separate elements as defined herein below.
In a preferred embodiment the invention comprises an operative linker, wherein the
operative linker is a spacer region.
In a more preferred embodiment the invention comprises a spacer region encoding
at least one helper epitope for class. II MHC molecules. An example of a helper
epitope is an immunogenic determinant such as Diphtheria toxin. Especially
Diphtheria toxin B fragment COOH-terminal region has been shown to be
immunogenic in mice. Furthermore, HSP70, in part or in whole, as well as other
immunogenic peptides, such as influenza viral or immunogenic sequences or
peptides with an anchoring motif to HLA class I and class II molecules, also may be
encoded in the spacer region of the nucleic acid construct.
In another preferred embodiment the spacer region of the nucleic acid construct
encodes at least one protease cleavage site. Cleavage sites of lysosomal proteases
such as cathepsins, aspartate proteases and zinc proteases as well as other
intracellular proteases fall within the scope of the present invention.
In yet a preferred embodiment the operative linker of the nucleic acid construct may
comprise at least one siRNA or miRNA encoding sequence. siRNAs (small
interfering RNAs) and miRNAs (microRNAs) target endogenous RNAs, in a
sequence-specific manner, for degradation. An siRNA or mIRNA encoded within the
nucleic acid construct of the present invention may thus be chosen to target an
undesirable gene product.
In a more preferred embodiment the operative linker comprises at least one
polylinker or multiple cloning site (MCS). Polylinkers and MCS's are series of
nucleotides comprising restriction enzyme recognition sequences, i.e. sites where a
restriction enzyme cut the DNA in blunt or staggered manner facilitating the
subcloning of other fragments / sequences of DNA into the nucleic acid construct.
The recognition sequences of the polylinkers / MCS's are typically unique meaning
that they are not found elsewhere on the nucleic acid construct. The operative linker
may furthermore comprise one or more stop or termination codons that signal the
release of the nascent polypeptide from the ribosome. The operative linker may also
comprise at least one IRES (Internal Ribosomal Entry Site) and / or at least one
promoter. An IRES is a nucleotide sequence that allows for translation initiation in
the middle of a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence as part of the greater process of
protein synthesis. A promoter is a DNA sequence that enables a gene to be
transcribed. The promoter is recognized by RNA polymerase, which then initiates
transcription, see in the below. The promoter may be single or bidirectional.
In a very preferred embodiment the operative linker spanning the region between
the invariant chain and the at least one antigen is an operative linker comprising at
least one poiylinker, and at least one promoter, and optionally also at least one
IRES. These elements may be placed in any order. In a further preferred
embodiment, the STOP codon of the invariant chain has been deleted, and the
poiylinker has been cloned into the vector in a manner conserving the open reading
frame allowing for in frame reading of the at least one antigen that is inserted into
the poiylinker. This has the advantage of facilitating subcloning of multiple antigens
into the same construct in one step or in multiple cloning steps and allowing for the
simultaneous expression of multiple antigens in the same frame as the invariant
chain. A STOP codon may be inserted after the poiylinker for translation termination.
This embodiemtn may be combined with any of the above helper epitopes,
mi/siRNAs or any of the other elements herein described.
An embodiment of the present invention relates to the placement of the operative
linker in relations to the at least one invariant chain and the at least one antigenic
protein or peptide or fragment of said protein or peptide, wherein the at antigenic
peptide encoding sequences are placed: within the invariant chain sequence, at the
front end of the invariant chain sequence, at the terminal part of the invariant chain
sequence. This is done in a manner ensuring the readability of the open reading
frame of the construct, so that the antigenic peptide is: preceded, surrounded or
rounded off by, at least one operative linker.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention further relates to the placement of
the operative linker in relations to the at least one invariant chain and the at least
one antigenic protein or peptide or fragment of said protein or peptide, wherein the
at least one antigenic peptide encoding sequence preferably is placed at the
terminal part of the invariant chain and an operative linker is inserted herein
between. The terminal part being the first or last residue of the invariant chain or
fragment hereof.
Combinations
It is within.the scope of the present invention that the nucleic acid construct encodes
a plurality of elements. The elements being the at least one invariant chain and the
at least one antigenic protein or peptide or fragment of said protein or peptide. It
therefore falls within the scope of the present invention to have a plurality of
Invariant chains each of these being operatively linked to each other and to a
plurality of antigenic proteins or peptides or fragments of antigenic proteins or
peptides, wherein these also are operatively linked. The elements of the nucleic acid
construct must thus be operatively linked to each other. Several series of invariant
chains each operatively linked to one antigenic protein or peptide or fragment of said
protein or peptide, each of these series being operatively linked to each other are
encompassed within the present invention.
Advantages and very important aspects of the present invention relate to the fact
that any type of immune response e.g. T cell mediated and antibody mediated
responses, can be initiated, both with epitopes known to be weak antigens, with
polypeptides of unknown antigenic properties, and with multiple epitopes/antigens
simultaneously.
It is therefore also within the scope of the present invention that a preferred
embodiment is a nucleic acid construct encoding at least one invariant chain
operatively linked to a plurality of antigenic proteins or peptides or fragment of
proteins or peptides, such as two, three, four, five, six, eight, ten, twelve or more
antigenic proteins or peptides or fragment of proteins or peptides.
The nucleic acid construct may comprise additional elements. These include but are
not limited to: internal ribosomal entry sites (IRES), genes encoding proteins related
to antigen presentation such as LAMP, calreticulin and Hsp70, genes encoding
proteins that are related to intracellular spreading such as VP22, HIV Tat, Cx43 or
other connexins and intercellular gap-junction constituents, genes encoding natural
killer cell (NK-cell) activation molecules such as H60 and cytokines, chicken
ovalbumin, or any T-helper cell epitope.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the nucleic acid construct
comprises at least one gene encoding a protein related to antigen presentation such
as LAMP, LIMP, calreticulin or Hsp70.
In yet a preferred embodiment of the present invention the nucleic acid construct
comprises at least one gene encoding a protein related to intracellular spreading
such as VP22, Cx43, HIV Tat, other connexins or intercellular gap-junction
constituents.
Promoter
The term promoter will be used here to refer to a group of transcriptional control
modules that are clustered around the initiation site for RNA polymerase li. Much of
the thinking about how promoters are organized derives from analyses of several
viral promoters, including those for the HSV thymidine kinase (tk) and SV40 early
transcription units. These studies, augmented by more recent work, have shown that
promoters are composed of discrete functional modules, each consisting of
approximately 7-20 bp of DNA, and containing one or more recognition sites for
transcriptional activator proteins. At least one module in each promoter functions to
position the start site for RNA synthesis. The best known example of this is the
TATA box, but in some promoters lacking a TATA box, such as the promoter for the
mammalian terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase gene and the promoter for the SV
40 late genes, a discrete element overlying the start site itself helps to fix the place
of initiation.
Additional promoter elements regulate the frequency of transcriptional initiation.
Typically, these are located in the region 30-110 bp upstream of the start site,
although a number of promoters have recently been shown to contain functional
elements downstream of the start site as well. The spacing between elements is
flexible, so that promoter function is preserved when elements are inverted or
moved relative to one another. In the tk promoter, the spacing between elements
can be increased to 50 bp apart before activity begins to decline. Depending on the
promoter, it appears that individual elements can function either cooperatively or
independently to activate transcription. Any promoter that can direct transcription
initiation of the sequences encoded by the nucleic acid construct may be used in the
invention.An aspect of the present invention comprises the nucleic acid construct wherein the
at least one operatively linked invariant chain and antigenic protein or peptide
encoding sequence is preceded by a promoter enabling expression of the construct
It is a further aspect that the promoter is selected from the group of constitutive
promoters, inducible promoters, organism specific promoters, tissue specific
promoters and cell type specific promoters.
Examples of promoters include, but are not limited to: constitutive promoters such
as: simian virus 40 (SV40) early promoter, a mouse mammary tumor virus promoter,
a human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat promoter, a Moloney virus
promoter, an avian leukaemia virus promoter, an Epstein-Barr virus immediate early
promoter, a Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) promoter, a human actin promoter, a human
myosin promoter, a human haemoglobin promoter, cytomegalovirus (CMV)
promoter and a human muscle creatine promoter, inducible promoters such as: a
metallothionine promoter, a glucocorticoid promoter, a progesterone promoter, and
a tetracycline promoter (tet-on or tet-off), tissue specific promoters such as: HER-2
promoter and PSA associated promoter and bidirectional promoters, that are
capable of initiating transcription in either direction from the promoter.
Advantages of using an inducible promoter includes the option of providing a
"dormant" vaccine that can be activated at will. This may be of use if the vaccination
preferably only is induced locally vs. systemically within a body (e.g. in cases
involving-cancer), or the vaccine is detrimental to the health of the recipient at the
time of vaccination.
In a preferred embodiment the nucleic acid construct comprises a promoter selected
from the group of: CMV promoter, SV40 promoter and RSV promoter.
Delivery vehicle
An aspect of the present invention comprises the nucleic acid construct as
described in any of the above, comprised within a delivery vehicle. A delivery vehicle
is an entity whereby a nucleotide sequence or polypeptide or both can be
transported from at least one media to another. Delivery vehicles are generally used
for expression of the sequences encoded within the nucleic acid construct and/or for
he intracellular delivery of the construct or the polypeptide encoded therein. It is
within the scope of the present invention that the delivery vehicle is a vehicle
selected from the group of: RNA based vehicles, DNA based vehicles/ vectors, lipid
based vehicles, virally based vehicles and cell based vehicles. Examples of such
delivery vehicles include, but are not limited to: biodegradable polymer
microspheres, lipid based formulations such as liposome carriers, coating the
construct onto colloidal gold particles, lipopolysaccharides, polypeptides,
polysaccharides, and pegylation of viral vehicles.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention regards delivery of the nucleic acid
construct as naked DNA by mechanical or electrical techniques. Especially the
coating of the nucleic acid construct upon gold particles is a favoured embodiment.
The delivery of the nucleic acid construct upon gold particles is done by ballistic
transfer using particle bombardment equipment such as a gene gun.
A more preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a virus as a
delivery vehicle, where the virus is selected from the non-exhaustive group of:
adenoviruses, retroviruses, lentiviruses, adeno-associated viruses, herpesviruses,
vaccinia viruses, foamy viruses, cytomegaloviruses, Semliki forest virus, poxviruses,
RNA virus vector and DNA virus vector. Such viral vectors are well known in the art.
Viral vectors are often made up of two components, a modified viral genome and a
coat structure surrounding it, although sometimes viral vectors are introduced in
naked form or coated with proteins other than viral proteins. Most current vectors
have coat structures similar to a wild-type virus. This structure packages and
protects the viral nucleic acid and provides the means to bind and enter target cells.
Preferably, viral vectors are modified from wild-type viral genomes to disable the
growth of the virus in a target cell while enabling the virus to grow in a host cell (e.g.
such as a packaging or helper cell) used to prepare infectious particles. Vector
nucleic acids generally essential cis-acting viral sequences for replication and
packaging in a helper line and expression control sequences for regulating the
expression of a polynucleotide being delivered to a target cell. Other viral functions
are expressed in trans in specific packaging or helper cell lines as known in the art.
Adenovirus
In a more preferred embodiment the vehicle comprising the nucleic acid construct as
described herein is an adenovirus. The adenoviral genome consists of a linear
double-stranded DNA molecule of approximately 36 kb carrying more than about
thirty genes necessary to complete the viral replication cycle. The early genes are
divided into 4 regions (E1 to E4) that are essential for viral replication with the
exception of the E3 region, which is believed to modulate the anti-viral host immune
response. The E1 region (EIA and EIB) encodes proteins responsible for the
regulation of transcription of the viral genome. Expression of the E2 region genes
(E2A and E2B) leads to the synthesis of the polypeptides needed for viral
replication. The proteins encoded by the E3 region prevent cytolysis by cytotoxic T
cells and tumor necrosis factor. The proteins encoded by the E4 region are involved
in DNA replication, late gene expression and splicing and host cell shut off. The late
genes generally encode structural proteins contributing to the viral capsid. In
addition, the adenoviral genome carries at cis-acting 5' and 3' iTRs (Inverted
Terminal Repeat) and packaging sequences essential for DNA replication. The ITRs
harbor origins of DNA replication while the encapsidation region is required for the
packaging of adenoviral DNA into infectious particles (see for example US
2004/0157307).
In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention the vehicle comprising
the nucleic acid construct as described herein is a replication defective adenovirus
or a conditionally replication deficient adenovirus. Adenoviral vectors can be
engineered to be conditionally replicative (CRAd vectors) in order to replicate
selectively in specific cells (e.g., such as proliferative cells). In another aspect, an
adenoviral vector is replication-defective for the E1 function (e.g., by total or partial
deletion or mutagenesis of E1). The adenoviral backbone of the vector may
comprise additional modifications (deletions, insertions or mutations in one or more
viral genes). An example of an E2 modification is illustrated by the thermosensitive
mutation localized on the DBP (DNA Binding Protein) encoding gene. The
adenoviral sequence may also be deleted of all or part of the E4 region. Additional
deletions within the non-essential E3 region may allow the size of the polynucleotide
being delivered to be increased. However, it may be advantageous to retain all or
part of the E3 sequences coding for polypeptides (e.g., such as gp19k) allowing the
virus to escape the immune system or inflammatory reactions. Second generation

vectors retaining the ITRs and packaging sequences and comprising substantial
genetic modifications to abolish the residual synthesis of the viral antigens also may
be used in order to improve long-term expression of the expressed gene in the
transduced cells. The nucleic acid construct being introduced into the cell may be
inserted in any location of the viral genome, with the exception of the cis-acting
sequences (see for example US 2004/0157307).
Adenoviruses can be derived from any human or animal source, in particular canine,
avian, bovine, murine, ovine, feline, porcine or simian sources or alternatively, may
be a hybrid virus. Any serotype can be employed. However, the human
adenoviruses are preferred and such viruses are available, for example, from the
ATCC (American Type Culture Collection).
A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an adenovirus such as:
Ovine adenovirus, Canine adenovirus type II, Modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) or
MVA-BN.
Adenoviral particles or empty adenoviral capsids also can be used to transfer
nudeic acid constructs or nucleic acid based delivery vectors by a virus-mediated
co-internalization process. This process can be accomplished in the presence of
cationic agent(s) such as polycarbenes or lipid vesicles comprising one or more lipid
layers.
Adenoviral particles may be prepared and propagated according to any conventional
technique in the field of the art using a complementation cell line or a helper virus,
which supplies in trans the missing viral genes necessary for viral replication. The
adenoviral particles can be recovered from the culture supernatant but also from the
cells after lysis and optionally further purified according to standard techniques (e.g.
chromatography and ultracentrifugation).
Cell-type specific targeting may be achieved with vectors derived from adenoviruses
having a broad host range by the modification of viral surface proteins. For example,
the specificity of infection of adenoviruses is determined by the attachment to
cellular receptors present at the surface of permissive cells. In this regard, the fiber
and penton present at the surface of the adenoviral capsid play a critical role in
cellular attachment. Thus, cell targeting of adenoviruses can be carried out by
genetic modification of the viral gene encoding fiber and/or penton, to generate
modified fiber and/or penton capable of specific interaction with unique cell surface
receptors.
An aspect of the present invention relates to an adenoviral vector comprising a
nucleotide construct encoding at least one antigen and at least one protein or
peptide or fragment of a protein or peptide which stimulates an MHC-I response.
A further aspect of the present invention relates to an adenoviral vector, wherein the
nucleotide construct encodes at least one protein or peptide or fragment of a protein
or peptide which stimulates an MHC-I I response.
Preferably, the adenoviral vector comprises sequences, wherein the at least one
antigen is operatively linked to the at least one IVfHC response stimulating protein or
peptide or fragment of an MHC response stimulating protein or peptide. The MHC
stimulating protein or peptide or fragment of protein or peptide is preferably an MHC
associated protein or peptide. Such an MHC associated peptide can be but is not
limited being selected from the group of: ER localizing peptide, Golgi localizing
peptide, endosomal peptide loading compartment localizing peptide, lysosomal,
MIIC, CIIV, melanosomes, secretory granules, Birbeck granules.
More preferably the adenoviral vector comprises an endosomal peptide loading
compartment localizing peptide. Such an endosomal peptide loading compartment
localizing peptide can be, but is not limited to being, selected from the group of:
sorting signal peptides, LAMP, LIMP and invariant chain.
Most preferably the adenoviral vector comprises at least one MHC response
stimulating protein or peptide or fragment of protein or peptide and said MHC
response stimulating protein or peptide or fragment of protein or peptide is invariant
chain.
The adenoviral vector may furthermore comprise proteins that assist in the
spreading of the virus or the construct comprised therein. Such proteins include
connexins, gap-junction related proteins and pore-forming proteins. A preferred
embodiment of the present invention comprises an adenoviral vector encoding or
otherwise comprising any one or more of the following proteins related to
intercellular spreading: VP22, Cx43 and HIV Tat.
Recombinant cell
An aspect of the present invention relates to a cell comprising the nucleic acid
construct as defined in any of the above. Such a recombinant cell can be used a tool
for in vitro research, as a delivery vehicle for the nucleic acid construct or as part of
a gene therapy regime. The nucleic acid construct and nucleic acid based vectors
according to the invention can be introduced into cells by techniques well known in
the art and which include microinjection of DNA into the nucleus of a cell,
transfection, electroporation, lipofection/liposome fusion and particle bombardment.
Suitable cells include autologous and non-autologous cells, and may include
xenogenic cells.
In a preferred embodiment the nucleic acid construct of the present invention is
comprised within an antigen presenting cell (APC). Any cell that presents antigens
on its surface in association with an MHC molecule is considered an antigen
presenting cell. Such cells include but are not limited to macrophages, dendritic
cells, B cells, hybrid APCs, and foster APCs. Methods of making hybrid APCs are
well known in the art.
In a more preferred embodiment the APC is a professional antigen presenting cell
and most preferably the APC is an MHC-I and/or MHC-II expressing cell.
The APC according to any of the above may be a stem cell obtained from a patient.
After introducing the nucleic acid construct of the invention, the stem cell may be
reintroduced into the patient in an attempt to treat the patient of a medical condition.
Preferably, the cell isolated from the patient is a stem cell capable of differentiating
into an antigen presenting cell.
It is furthermore included within the scope of the present invention to that the
antigen presenting cell comprising the nucleic acid construct of the present invention
does not express any co-stimulatory signals and the antigenic protein or peptide or
antigenic fragment of said protein or peptide is an auto-antigen.
Chimeric proteins and antibodies
An object of the present Invention is the chimeric protein encoded by the nucleic
acid constructs as described herein above, comprising at least one operatively
linked invariant chain and at least one antigenic protein or peptide or fragment of
said antigenic protein or peptide. By chimeric protein is understood a genetically
engineered protein that is encoded by a nucleotide sequence made by a splicing
together of two or more complete or partial genes or a series of (non)random nucleic
acids.
An aspect of the present invention relates to an antibody that can recognize the
chimeric protein as defined herein above. By the term antibody is understood
immunoglobulin molecules and active portions of immunoglobulin molecules.
Antibodies are for example intact immunoglobulin molecules or fragments thereof
retaining the immunologic activity. Such antibodies can be used for the passive
immunization of an animal, or for use in an assay for detecting proteins to which the
antibody binds.
Vaccine compositions
An aspect of the present invention relates to a vaccine comprising a nucleic acid
sequence encoding at least one invariant chain operatively linked to at least one
antigenic protein or peptide or fragment of said antigenic protein or peptide. The
vaccine may thus comprise a nucleic acid construct as defined in any of the above.
The vaccine may furthermore be used as a medicament.
The vaccine composition according to the invention can be formulated according to
known methods such as by the admixture of one or more pharmaceutically
acceptable carriers, also known as excipients or stabilizers with the active agent.
These excipients may be acceptable for administration to any individual / animal,
preferably to vertebrates and more preferably to humans as they are non-toxic to the
cell or individual being exposed thereto at the dosages and concentrations
employed. Often the physiologically acceptable carrier is an aqueous pH buffered
solution. Examples of such excipients, carriers and methods of formulation may be
found e.g. in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (Maack Publishing Co, Easton,
PA). Examples of physiologically acceptable carriers include but are not limited to:
buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids; antioxidants including
ascorbic acid; low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptide;
proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers
such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine,
arginine or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates
including glucose, mannose, or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugar
alcohols such as mannitol or sorbitol; salt-forming counterions such as sodium;
and/or nonionic surfactants such as TWEEN.TM., polyethylene glycol (PEG), and
PLURONICS.TM.
To formulate a pharmaceutical^ acceptable composition suitable for effective
administration, such compositions will according to the invention contain an effective
amount of the nucleic acid construct, the nucleic acid construct comprised within a
delivery vehicle or the chimeric protein encoded within the nucleic acid construct as
described herein. Often, if vaccinating with protein or polypeptides as encoded by
the nucleic acid construct of the present invention, a carrier will be used as a
scaffold by coupling the proteins or peptides hereto and thus aiding in the induction
of an immune response. The carrier protein may be any conventional carrier
including any protein suitable for presenting immunogenic determinants. Suitable
carriers are typically large, slowly metabolized macromolecules such as proteins,
polysaccharides, polylactic acids, polyglycolic acids, polymeric amino acids, amino
acid copolymers, lipid aggregates (such as oil droplets or liposomes), and inactive
virus particles. Such carriers are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Additionally, these carriers may function as immunostimulating agents ("adjuvants").
Immunisation of the animal may be carried out with adjuvants and/or pharmaceutical
carriers. Conventional carrier proteins include, but are not limited to, keyhole limpet
hemocyanin, serum proteins such as transferrin, bovine serum albumin, or human
serum albumin, an ovalbumin, immunoglobulins, or hormones, such as insulin. The
carrier may be present together with an adjuvant or independently here from.
In the following vaccine compositions are meant to encompass compositions useful
for prophylactic and therapeutic use, including stimulating an immune response in a
patient. It is further contemplated that the vaccine composition of the invention does
not induce any systemic or local toxicity reactions or any other side effects.
In a preferred embodiment the nucleic acid construct of the vaccine is packaged.
Packaging means for the nucleic acid construct include means selected from, but
not limited to the group of: RNA based or DNA based vectors, lipid based carriers,
viral expression vectors, viral delivery vectors, cell based vehicles, coating of
colloidal gold particles, biodegradable polymer microspheres. Any of the previously
mentioned delivery means may thus be used for packing purposes for use in a
vaccine composition.
In a more preferred embodiment the packaging means of the nucleic acid construct
for the vaccine is a viral expression vector selected from, but not limited to the group
of: adenovirus, retrovirus, lentivirus, adeno-associated virus, herpes virus, vaccinia
virus and DNA virus vector.
In an even more preferred embodiment the nucleic acid construct of the vaccine is
packaged into an adenoviral vector. In the most preferred embodiment the nudeiq.
acids construct as described in any of the herein above of the vaccine is packaged
in a replication deficient or conditionally replication deficient adenoviral vector.
Adenoviral vectors are described in detail in the above.
An aspect of the invention relates to a vaccine comprising at least two vectors. This
encompasses that any one or two different nucleic acid constructs as described may
be packed into at least two vectors, these vectors being of a type as described in
any of the above. The invention furthermore relates to a vaccine comprising three,
four, five or six vectors. Again, these vectors may differ from one another or not, and
may carry identical or different nucleic acid constructs as described herein above.
A further aspect of the present invention relates to a vaccine comprising at least one
chimeric protein as encoded by any of the nucleic acid constructs described herein.
When a chimeric protein or polypeptide is to be used as an immunogen, it may be
produced by expression of any one or more of the DNA constructs described above
in a recombinant cell or it may be prepared by chemical synthesis by methods
known in the art. As described in the above, such chimeric proteins and / or peptides
may be coupled to carriers to increase the immunologic response to the proteins /
peptides and may be administered with or without an adjuvant and/or excipient.
Adjuvant
Adjuvants may be included in the vaccine composition to enhance the specific
immune response. Thus, it is particular important to identify an adjuvant that when
combined with the antigen(s) / nucleic acid constructs and / or delivery vehicles such
as adenoviral vehicles (any of which may also be referred to as immunogenic
determinant), results in a vaccine composition capable of inducing a strong specific
immunological response. The immunogenic determinant may also be mixed with two
or more different adjuvants prior to immunisation. Vaccine compositions are also
referred to as immunogenic compositions in the present text.
A large number of adjuvants have been described and used for the generation of
antibodies in laboratory animals, such as mouse, rats and rabbits. In such setting
the tolerance of side effect is rather high as the main aim is to obtain a strong
antibody response. For use and for approval for use in pharmaceuticals, and
especially for use in humans it is required that the components of the vaccine
composition, including the adjuvant, are well characterized. It is further required that
the composition has minimal risk of any adverse reaction, such as granuloma,
abscesses or fever.
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a vaccine comprising an
adjuvant. In a preferred embodiment the vaccine composition is suitable for
administration to a mammal, and most preferably to a human subject. Therefore the
preferred adjuvant is suitable for administration to a mammal and most preferably is
suitable for administration to a human subject.
The choice of adjuvant may further be selected by its ability to stimulate the type of
immune response desired, B-cell or/and T-cell activation and the vaccine
composition may be formulated to optimize distribution and presentation to the
relevant lymphatic tissues.
Adjuvants pertaining to the present invention may be grouped according to their
origin, be it mineral, bacterial, plant, synthetic, or host product. The first group under
this classification is the mineral adjuvants, such as aluminum compounds. Antigens
precipitated with aluminum salts or antigens mixed with or adsorbed to performed
aluminum compounds have been used extensively to augment immune responses
in animals and humans. Aluminium particles have been demonstrated in regional
lymph nodes of rabbits seven days following immunization, and it may be that
another significant function is to direct antigen to T cell containing areas in the
nodes themselves. Adjuvant potency has been shown to correlate with intimation of
the draining lymph nodes. While many studies have confirmed that antigens
administered with aluminium salts lead to increased humoral immunity, ceil
mediated immunity appears to be only slightly increased, as measured by delayed-
type hypersensitivity. Aluminium hydroxide has also been described as activating
the complement pathway. This mechanism may play a role in the local inflammatory
response as well as immunoglobulin production and B cell memory. Furthermore,
aluminum hydroxide can protect the antigen from rapid catabolism. Primarily
because of their excellent record of safety, aluminum compounds are presently the
only adjuvants used in humans.
Another large group of adjuvants is those of bacterial origin. Adjuvants with bacterial
origins can be purified and synthesized (e.g. muramyl dipeptides, lipid A) and host
mediators have been cloned (Interleukin 1 and 2). The last decade has brought
significant progress in the chemical purification of several adjuvants of active
components of bacterial origin: Bordetella pertussis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis,
lipopoly-saccharide, Freund's Complete Adjuvant (FCA) and Freund's Incomplete
Adjuvant (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.) and Merck Adjuvant 65 (Merck and
Company, Inc., Rahway, N.J.). Additionally suitable adjuvants in accordance with
the present invention are e.g. Titermax Classical adjuvant (SIGMA-ALDRICH),
ISCOMS, Quil A, ALUN, see US 58767 and 5,554,372, Lipid A derivatives,
choleratoxin derivatives, HSP derivatives, LPS derivatives, synthetic peptide
matrixes, GMDP, and other as well as combined with immunostimulants (US
5,876,735). B. pertussis is of interest as an adjuvant in the context of the present
invention due to its ability to modulate cell-mediated immunity through action on T-
lymphocyte populations. For lipopolysaccharide and Freund's Complete Adjuvant,
adjuvant active moieties have been identified and synthesized which permit study of
structure-function relationships. These are also considered for inclusion in
immunogenic compositions according to the present invention.
Lipopolysaccharide and its various derivatives, including lipid A, have been found to
be powerful adjuvants in combination with liposomes or other lipid emulsions. It is
not yet certain whether derivatives with sufficiently low toxicity for general use in
humans can be produced. Freund's Complete Adjuvant is the standard in most
experimental studies.
Mineral oil may be added to the immunogenic composition in order to protect the
antigen from rapid catabolism.
Many other types of materials can be used as adjuvants in immunogenic
compositions according to the present invention. They include plant products such
as saponin, animal products such as chitin and numerous synthetic chemicals.
Adjuvants according to the present invention can also been categorized by their
proposed mechanisms of action. This type of classification is necessarily somewhat
arbitrary because most adjuvants appear to function by more than one mechanism.
Adjuvants may act through antigen localization and delivery, or by direct effects on
cells making up the immune system, such as macrophages and lymphocytes.
Another mechanism by which adjuvants according to the invention enhance the
immune response is by creation of an antigen depot. This appears to contribute to
the adjuvant activity of aluminum compounds, oil emulsions, liposomes, and
synthetic polymers. The adjuvant activity of lipopolysaccharides and muramyl
dipeptides appears to be mainly mediated through activation of the macrophage,
whereas B. pertussis affects both macrophages and lymphocytes. Further examples
of adjuvants that may be useful when incorporated into immunogenic compositions
according to the present invention are described in US 5,554,372.
Adjuvants useful in both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines according to the
present invention may thus be mineral salts, such as aluminium hydroxide and
aluminium or calcium phosphates gels, oil emulsions and surfactant based
formulations such as MF59 (microfluidized detergent stabilized oil in water
emulsion), QS21 (purified saponin), AS02 (SBAS2, oil-in-water emulsion +
monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) + QS21), Montanide ISA 51 and ISA-720 (stabilized
water in oil emulsion), Adjuvant 65 (containing peanut oil, mannide monooleate and
aluminum monostearate), RIBI ImmunoChem Research Inc., Hamilton, Utah),
particulate adjuvants, such as virosomes (unilamellar liposomal cehicles
incorporating influenza haemagglutinin), AS04 (Al salt with MPL), ISCOMS
(structured complex of saponins and lipids (such as cholesterol), polyactide co-
glycolide (PLG), microbial derivatives (natural and synthetic) such as
monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), Detox (MPL + M. Phlei cell wall skeleton), AGP (RC-
529 (synthetic acylated monosaccharide)), DC_chol (lipoidal immunostimulators
able to self organise into liposomes), OM-174 (lipid A derivative), CpG motifs
(synthetic oligonucleotides containing immunostimulatory CpG motifs), modified
bacterial toxins, LT and CT, with non-toxic adjuvant effects, Endogenous human
immunomodulators, e.g., hGM-CSF or hlL-12 or Immudaptin (C3d tandem array),
inert vehicles such as gold particles.
Additional examples of adjuvants comprise: Immunostimulatory oil emulsions (for
example, water-in-oil, oil-in-water, water-in-oil-in-water such as e.g. Freund's
incomplete adjuvant such as Montainde®, Specol, mineral salts such e.g. as
AI(OH)3, AIPO4, microbial products, Saponins such as Qual A, synthetic products, as
well as adjuvant formulations, and immune stimulatory complexes (ISCOMs) and
cytokines, heat-inactivated bacteria/components, nanobeads, LPS, LTA. A list of
other commonly used adjuvants is disclosed on pages 6-8 in WO 03089471, the list
being hereby incorporated by reference.
Immunogenic compositions according to the invention may also contain diluents
such as buffers, antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, low molecular weight (less than
about 10 residues) polypeptides, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates including
glucose, sucrose or dextrins, chelating agents such as EDTA, glutathione and other
stabilizers and excipients. Neutral buffered saline or saline mixed with non-specific
serum albumin are exemplary appropriate diluents.
Adjuvants are generally included in the immunogenic compositions in an amount
according to the instructions of the manufacturer.
Administration
Vaccine compositions according to the invention may be administered to an
individual in therapeutically effective amounts. The effective amount may vary
according to a variety of factors such as the individual's condition, weight, sex and
age. Other factors include the mode of administration.
The pharmaceutical or veterinary compositions may be provided to the individual by
a variety of routes such as subcutaneous, topical, oral and intramuscular.
Administration of pharmaceutical compositions is accomplished orally or
parenterally. Methods of parenteral delivery include topical, intra-arterial (directly to
the tissue), intramuscular, subcutaneous, intramedullary, intrathecal, intraventricular,
intravenous, intraperitoneal, or intranasal administration. The present invention also
has the objective of providing suitable topical, oral, systemic and parenteral
pharmaceutical formulations for use in the methods of prophylaxis and treatment
with the vaccine composition.
For example, the vaccine compositions can be administered in such oral dosage
forms as tablets, capsules (each including timed release and sustained release
formulations), pills, powders, granules, elixirs, tinctures, solutions, suspensions,
syrups and emulsions, or by injection. Likewise, they may also be administered in
intravenous (both bolus and infusion), intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, topical with or
without occlusion, or intramuscular form, all using forms well known to those of
ordinary skill in the pharmaceutical arts. An effective but non-toxic amount of the
vaccine, comprising any of the herein described compounds can be employed as a
prophylactic or therapeutic agent. Also any and all conventional dosage forms that
are known in the art to be appropriate for formulating injectable immunogenic
peptide composition are encompassed, such as lyophilized forms and solutions,
suspensions or emulsion forms containing, if required, conventional
pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, preservatives, adjuvants, buffer
components, etc.
Preferred modes of administration of the vaccine composition according to the
invention include, but are not limited to systemic administration, such as intravenous
or subcutaneous administration, intradermal administration, intramuscular
administration, intranasal administration, oral administration, rectal administration,
vaginal administration, pulmonary administration and generally any form of mucosal
administration. Furthermore, it is within the scope of the present invention that the
means for any of the administration forms mentioned in the herein are included in
the present invention.
A vaccine according to the present invention can be administered once, or any
number of times such as two, three, four or five times. Administering the vaccine
more than once has the effect of boosting the resulting immune response. The
vaccine can further be boosted by administering the vaccine in a form or body part
different from the previous administration. The booster shot is either a homologous
or a heterologous booster shot. A homologous booster shot is a where the first and
subsequent vaccinations comprise the same constructs and more specifically the
same delivery vehicle especially the same viral vector. A heterologous booster shot
is where identical constructs are comprised within different viral vectors. This is
especially of interest when employing adenoviral delivery as the human body raises
an immune response against a given adenovirus if it has previously been exposed
thereto. A preferred embodiment of the present invention therefore relates to the
pegylation of the adenoviral vector providing the option of boosting with the same
(homologous) adenoviral vector. An alternative and preferred embodiment relates to
the sequential boosting of a vaccine with different adenoviral vectors comprising the
same constructs.
A preferred administration form of the vaccine according to the present invention is
administering the vaccine to the body area, inside or out, most likely to be the
receptacle of a given infection. The receptacle of infection is the body area that the
infection is received by, e.g. regarding influenza, the receptacle of infection is the
lungs.
The vaccine of the present invention can be administered to any organism to which
it may be beneficial, especially any animal such as a vertebrate animal. It falls within
the scope of the present invention that the means and modes of administration of
the vaccine are adapted to the recipient. A preferred recipient of the vaccine is a
mammal and the mammal is in a more preferred embodiment of the present
invention selected from the group of: cows, pigs, horses, sheep, goats, llamas, mice,
rats, monkeys, dogs, cats and humans. In the most preferred embodiment the
mammal is a human.
An embodiment of the present invention includes a vaccine composition further
comprising a second active ingredient. The second active ingredient is selected
from, but not limited the group of antibiotics, chemotherapeutics, anti-allergenics,
cytokines, complement factors and co-stimulatory molecules of the immurie system.
Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a kit of parts, wherein the
kit includes at least one vaccine composition according to any of the above, a
means for administering said vaccine and the instruction on how to do so. It is within
the scope of the present invention to include multiple dosages of the same vaccine
or several different vaccines. In a preferred embodiment the kit of parts further
comprises a second active ingredient.
The present invention further comprises a method for inducing an immune response
in an animal, comprising administering to the animal a vaccine according to any of
the above. The immune response is, but is not limited to any of the following types
of responses: an MHC-I dependent response, an MHC-I and/ or MHC-II dependent
response, a T-cell dependent response, a CD4 T-cell dependent response, a CD4+
T cell independent response, a CD8+ T-cell dependent response and a B cell
dependent immune response. Another method falling within the scope of the present
invention is the method of providing at least one vaccine according to any of the
above and administering said at least one vaccine to a subject at least once for
treatment or prophylaxis of an animal. The invention also encompasses the nucleic
acid construct according the herein described for the preparation of a composition
for the production of a vaccine. Said vaccine can be but is not limited being used for
genetic immunization of an animal, or to treat a clinical condition in an individual in
need thereof.
Detailed description of the drawings
Figure 1: Schematic drawing of inserts in the adenovirus vector. A) Schematic
drawing of Ad-GP expression cassette, B) Schematic drawing of Ad-liGP expression
cassette. Shown is also the situation of various LCMV GP epitopes. Ad-GP:
adenoviral-glycoprotein, CMV: Cytomegalovirus promoter, li: Invariant chain, LCMV
GP 1-498 : Glycoprotein from lymfocytic choriomeningitis virus, STOP : Stop codon,
PolyA : SV40 polyadenylation signal
Figure 2: CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses to adenovirus encoded epitopes.
C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated with 2x107 infectious unit (IFU) of Ad-GP or Ad-liGP
in the right hind footpad. On the indicated days post vaccination the number of
epitope specific CD8+ or CD4+ T cells were determined by intracellular staining for
peptide-induced IFN-y of spleen cells. Bars represent Average (Avg) ± standard
deviation (SD) of 3-5 animals.
Figure 3: CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses to adenovirus encoded epitopes in F,
hybrid mice. C57BL/6 x BALB/c (H-2bxd) F1 mice were vaccinated with 2x107 IFU of
Ad-GP or Ad-liGP in the right hind footpad. On day 21 post vaccination the number
of epitope specific CD8+ or CD4+ T cells were determined by intracellular staining for
peptide-induced IFN-y of spleen cells. Bars represent Avg ± SD of 4-5 animals
Figure 4: Ad-liGP exerts CD8+ T-cell stimulatory effects that are independent of
CD4+ T-cells. MHC-II-/- or C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated with 2x107 IFU of Ad-GP
or Ad-liGP in the right hind footpad. On day 21 or 90 post vaccination the number of
epitope specific CD8+ or CD4+ T cells were determined by intracellular staining for
peptide-induced IFN-y of spleen cells. Bars represent Avg ± SD of 4 animals.
Figure 5: Ad-liGP confers rapid and superior protection against lethal LCMV
infection. C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated with 2x107 IFU of Ad-GP or Ad-liGP in the
right hind footpad. On the indicated days post vaccination animals were challenged
with 20 pfu (plaque forming units) LCMV Arm 53b i.e. (intra cerebral). Mortality was
recorded for 14 days. Each group consisted of 5 to 18 animals. ND means no data.
Figure 6: Ad-liGP efficiently protects against high-dose, intravenous LCMV
infection. C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated with 2x107 IFU of Ad-GP or Ad-liGP in the
right hind footpad. On day 21 post vaccination animals were challenged with 1x106
pfu (plaque forming units) LCMV Arm clone13 i.v. (intra venous). 8 days after virus
challenge organ virus titer was determined. Points represent individual animals.
Dashed line represent detection limit of the assay.
Figure 7: Ad-liGP confers superior protection to lethal LCMV variants with mutations
in immunodominant epitopes. C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated with 2x107 IFU of Ad-
GP, Ad-liGP or sham infected in the right hind footpad. On day 90 post vaccination
animals were challenged with 20 pfu LCMV Arm 53b i.e. carrying mutations in gp33,
gp276 or both epitopes. Mortality was recorded for 14 days. For gp33 nil and gp276
nil, each group consisted of 5 animals, with gp33/gp276 double nil, the groups were
10 animals.
Figure 8: Frequencies of CD8+ or CD4+T cells reacting to specific LCMV epitopes
after Ad-liGP vaccination and challenge with LCMV variants with mutations in
immunodominant epitopes. Surviving animals from the experiment depicted in figure
7 were analysed for epitope specific CD8+ or CD4+T cells by intracellular staining for
peptide-induced IFN-y of spleen cells. Bars represent Avg ± SD of 3-5 animals.
Figure 9: CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses to vaccination with naked DNA-liGP and
DNA-GP. C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated with DNA coated onto 1.6-nm gold
particles in a concentration of 2 ug DNA/mg gold, and the DNA-gold complex was
coated onto plastic tubes such that 0.5 mg gold was delivered to the mouse per shot
(1 ug DNA per shot). Mice were immunized at the abdominal skin using a hand-held
gene gun device employing compressed helium (400 psi) as the particle motive
force. Mice were inoculated four times with an interval of 1 week and then allowed to
rest for 1 week before investigation. The number of epitope specific CD8+ or CD4+ T
cells was determined by intracellular staining for peptide-induced IFN-y of spleen
cells. Bars represent Avg ± SD of 4-5 animals.
Figure 10: Prophylactic vaccination with Ad-li-GP increases tumor rejection.
C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated in the right hind foot-pad with 2 x 107 IFU of
adenovirus encoding either full-length glycoprotein of LCMV (Ad-GP) or glycoprotein
linked to invariant chain (Ad-li-GP). Controls were infected with either adenovirus
encoding full-length p-galactosidase or live LCMV (103 PFU of LCMV Armstrong
53b). About 3 months later all mice were challenged by subcutaneous injection of
108 B16.F10 melanoma cells expressing the LCMV derived GP33 epitope. Initially a
tumor was formed in all animals, but the majority of Ad-li-GP and LCMV primed
mice eventually rejected the tumor. Each group consisted of 7-10 animals.
Figure 11: Therapeutic vaccination with Ad-li-GP increases average life span in
tumor carrying mice. C57BL/6 mice were challenged subcutaneously by injection of
106 B16.F10 melanoma cells expressing the LCMV derived GP33 epitope. When
tumors were palpable In all mice (day 5 after tumor injection), the animals were
vaccinated in.the right hind foot-pad using 2 x 107 IFU of adenovirus encoding either
full-length glycoprotein of LCMV (Ad-GP) or full-length glycoprotein of LCMV linked
to invariant chain (Ad-li-GP); controls were vaccinated with either adenovirus
encoding full-length 0-galactosidase or live LCMV (103 PFU of LCMV Armstrong
53b). Mice were sacrificed when the tumor exceeded 12 mm in length or ulceration
was observed. The numbers in bold in the center of the figure represents the mean
day of death following the tumor challenge. Each group consisted of 7-10 animals.
Figure 12: Survival rate following vaccination with either Ad-li-VSVGP or Ad-
VSVGP. C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated in the right hind foot-pad with 2 x 107 IFU of
adenovirus encoding either full-length glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (Ad-
VSVGP) or full-length glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus linked to invariant
chain (Ad-li-VSVGP). (A) On the indicated days serum samples were collected and
in vitro neutralizing antibody titers were determined in a plaque-reduction assay,
dots represent individual animals. (B) On the indicated days vaccinated mice were
challenged with 105 PFU of VSV intranasally, and mortality was registered over the
next 14 days. Survival of control (unvaccinated) mice has been included for
comparison. Each group consisted of 5-10 animals
Figure 13: CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses to more adenovirus encoded epitopes.
C57BL/6 mice (Influenza and OVA) or B6D2 Fi mice (MHV-68 M2 and M3) were
vaccinated with 2x107 IFU of the indicated construct in the right hind footpad. On the
indicated days the number of epitope specific CD8+ or CD4+ T cells was
determined by intracellular staining for peptide-induced IFN-y of spleen cells. Iso is
the isotype control which determined the background. Bars represent Avg ± SD of 4-
5 animals.
Figure 14: Efficiency of Ad-li-GP constructs compared to Ad-GP-Lamp-1 constructs
measured by CD8+ T-cell responses to adenovirus encoded epitopes. C57BL/6 mice
were vaccinated with 2x107 IFU of the indicated construct in the right hind footpad.
On day 21 the number of epitope specific CD8+ cells was determined by
intracellular staining for peptide-induced IFN-y of spleen cells. Bars represent Avg ±
SD of 3 animals.
Figure 15: Vectors based on in-frame polylinkers. li without stop-codon was
amplified by PCR with the sequence for the AsiSI, Swal, AscI, Pmel, Fsel and a
stop site included in the 3' primer and cloned into the pacCMV vector. The resulting
vector was numbered 770 (see partial sequence hereof in SEQ ID NO: 7). A
corresponding vector termed 768 (see partial sequence hereof in SEQ ID NO: 8)
without the li sequence incorporated was also constructed.
Figure 16: Vectors with IRES2 sites. The vector termed "pacCMV li MCS IRES2"
(and numbered 1163, see partial sequence hereof in SEQ ID NO: 9) was
constructed by cloning the IRES2 from pLP-IRES2-EGFP into the 770 vector by
PCR and restriction enzyme digestion. The sequences for l-scel and Srfl were
included in the 3' primer. The first ATG site after the IRES sequence initiates
expression of a second protein. A corresponding vector termed "pacCMV MCS
IRES2" and numbered 1165 (see partial sequence hereof in SEQ ID NO: 10) without
the li sequence incorporated was also constructed
Examples
The invention will now be further illustrated with reference to the following examples.
It will be appreciated that what follows is by way of example only and that
modifications in detail may be made while still falling within the scope of the
invention.

Example 1:
CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses to adenovirus encoded epitopes.
Mice: C57BL/6 (H-2b), C57BL/6 x BALB/c (H-2bxd) F1 hybrids and MHC ll-/- mice
(B6.129-H2-Ab1tm1GlmN12 (H-2b)) were obtained from Taconic M&B (Ry, Denmark).
All mice used were between 7-10 weeks old and housed in a specific germ free
facility. All experimental procedures were performed according to local experimental
guidelines.
Adenovirus vectors: For construction of E1 and E3 deleted adenovirus-expressing,
LCMV derived antigen fused to invariant chain we performed 2-step PCR. First we
obtained overlapping PCR products containing the full-length mouse invariant chain
and full-length LCMV glycoprotein and these were joined by secondary PCR with
invariant chain 5' and glycoprotein 3' primers. Adenovirus expressing full-length GP
was amplified in single step PCR. The obtained fragments were cloned into the
pacCMV shuttle vector. The obtained plasmid was co-transfected with pJM17
plasmid into HEK293 cells and viral lysates were obtained. These were cloned by
plaque purification before sequencing, large-scale production and purification by
CsCI gradient centrifugation as described (Becker et al., 1994, Methods Cell Biol. 43
R A:161-189). Infectivity of adenovirus stocks was determined with the Adeno-X
Rapid Titer Kit (Clontech). All unmodified virus stocks had particle/IFU ratios
between 46 and 201.
Vaccinations: in all studies, mice to be vaccinated were anaesthetized and injected
with 2x107 infectious units in the right hind footpad in a volume of 0.03 mi.
Virus infection: Mice were infected i.e. with 20 pfu of LCMV Armstrong clone 53b in
a volume of 0.03 ml or i.v. with 108 pfu of LCMV clone 13 in 0.3 ml. I.e. infection
induces a fatal CD8+ T cell-mediated meningitis from which immunocompetent mice
succumb on days 7 to 10 p.i. (post infection) (Christensen et al., Scandinavian
Journal of Immunology 40:373-382).
Survival study: Mortality was used to evaluate the clinical severity of acute LCMV-
induced meningitis. Mice were checked twice daily for a minimum of 2 weeks after
i.e. inoculation; deaths occurring less than 3 days after infection were excluded from
analysis.
Organ virus titers: To determine virus titers in organs, these were first homogenized
in PBS to yield 10% (v/w) organ suspensions, and serial 10-fold dilutions were
prepared. Each dilution was then plated in duplicates on MC57G cells. Forty-eight
hours after infection, infected cell clusters were detected using monoclonal rat anti-
LCMV (VL-4) antibody, peroxidase-labeled goat anti-rat antibody and o-
phenylendiamin (substrate) (Battegay et al., 1991, Journal of Virological Methods
33:191-198). The numbers of pfu were counted, and results expressed as pfu/g
tissue.
Cell preparations: Single cell suspensions of spleen cells were obtained by pressing
the organs through a fine steel mesh.
Abs for flow cytometric: The following monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were
purchased from BD PharMingen (San Diego, CA) as rat anti-mouse antibody: Cy-
chrome-conjugated anti-CD8, FITC-conjugated anti-CD44, phycoerythrin (PE)-
corijugated anti-IFN-v and PE-conjugated lgd isotype standard.
Flow cytometri analysis: Staining of cells for flow cytometry was performed
according to standard laboratory procedure (Andersson et al., 1994, Journal of
Immunology 152:1237-1245; Andreasen et al., 1999, International Immunology
11:1463-1473). For enumeration of LCMV-SRecific CD8+ T cells, splenocytes were
incubated in vitro for 5 h at 37 °C In 5% C02 with relevant peptide (0.1 µg/ml) in the
presence of monensin (3 µM, Sigma Chemicals co., St. Louis, MO) and murine
recombinant IL-2 (10 units/well, R&D Systems Europe Ltd, Abingdon, UK). After
incubation cells were surface stained, washed, fixed and permeabilized using 0.5%
saponin. Cells were then stained with anti-IFN-yor IgG1 isotype control for20 min at
4 °C. Samples were analyzed using a Becton Dickinson FACSCalibur, and at least
104 mononuclear cells were gated using a combination of low angle and side scatter
to exclude dead cells and debris. Data analysis was conducted using Cell Quest Pro
(B&D Biosciences).
Replication deficient adenovirus vectors expressing lymphocytic choriomeningitis
virus full-length glycoprotein (Ad-GP), or lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus full-
length glycoprotein N-terminally linked to murine invariant chain ((Ad-liGP) for
schematic representation of the expression cassette see figure 1), were generated
through standard methods (Becker et al., Methods Cell Biol. 43 Pt A:161-189).
C57BL/6 mice were then vaccinated in the right hind paw with 2x107 infectious units
of Ad-GP or Ad-liGP and mice were sacrificed 5, 7,11,14, 21, 28, 90,180 or 360
days later. The generation of LCMV glycoprotein specific T-cells were then analysed
on splenic cells. Evidently (see figure 2), at all time points tested, Ad-liGP induced
numerically superior T-cell responses compared to Ad-GP, and these were
accelerated and included both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses. Thus peak
numbers of T-cells generated after Ad-liGP vaccination were obtained at 7-14 days
after vaccination depending on the epitope, with responses after Ad-GP peaking at
day 21 after vaccination.
Example 2:
CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses to adenovirus encoded epitopes in F1 hybrid mice:
As C57BL/6 mice are homozygous with regard to both MHC class I and MHC class
II molecules on all loci, we tested whether Ad-GP and Ad-liGP could also induce an
immune response in C57BL/6 x BALB/c F1 mice that express both the H-2b and H2d
haplotypes. These mice resemble an out bred population, but with defined
haplotypes. The experiments were performed as above, but testing was limited to
day 21 after vaccination. As can be seen from figure 3, Ad-liGP efficiently induces
CD8+ T-ceil responses towards a multitude of epitopes while Ad-GP seemed to
perform worse than in homozygous C57BL/6 mice.
Example 3:
Ad-liGP exerts CD8+ T-cell stimulatory effects that are independent of CD4+ T-cells:
As a potential mechanism of li function in the enhanced stimulation of CD8+ T-cells
is the ability to traffic to endosomal and lysosomal compartments and stimulate
CD4+ T-cells (Diebold et al., 2001, Gene Ther. 8:487-493) through MHC class II, we
performed vaccination of MHC class II deficient mice. To this effect MHC-II-/-or
C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated with 2x107 IFU of Ad-GP or Ad-liGP in the right hind
footpad. On day 21 or 90 post vaccination the number of epitope specific CD8+ or
CD4+ T cells were determined by intracellular staining for peptide-induced IFN-v of
spleen cells. As can be seen from figure 4, Ad-liGP efficiently induces CD8+ T-cell
responses directed against several epitopes; in the absence of CD4+ T cell help
however, some responses were lower than what is seen in wild type mice.
Example 4:
Ad-liGP confers rapid, superior and sustained protection against lethal LCMV
infection: As we observed an accelerated response to Ad-liGP compared to Ad-GP
we investigated the ability of vaccination to confer protection both at 21 days post
vaccination (peak of Ad-GP) and at 3, 5, 7, 14, 60, 90, 180 and 360 days post
vaccination (Figure 5). Remarkably, we found that Ad-liGP vaccinated animals
vaccinated as little as 3 days previously were protected against intracerebral LCMV
infection. Protection conferred by Ad-GP was only partial at 14 and 21 days post
infection and no protection were seen at day 60 or later. Furthermore, the Ad-liGP
conferred protection was sustained for 360 days, at which point Ad-GP no longer
protected against intracerebral LCMV infection.
Example 5:
Ad-liGP efficiently protects against high-dose, intravenous LCMV infection: Since we
found that Ad-liGP protected mice against an acute localised infection, we wanted to
investigate whether the same held true for a high-dose systemic infection.
Accordingly, mice were vaccinated with Ad-GP, Ad-liGP or sham (PBS), and
challenged 21 days later by intravenous injection of 106 plaque-forming units of the
fast replicating LCMV clone 13 strain. 5 days later animals were sacrificed and
infectious titers in the lungs were determined. Although Ad-GP conferred significant
protection upon vaccinated animals, Ad-liGP was superior and reduced titers to a
level at or below the detection limit of the assay (Figure 6).
Example 6:
Comparative analyses of novel constructs with respect to kinetics, magnitude of
response, long-term immunity and virus dose needed for immunity.
All constructs described below are comparatively analysed among each other and to
Ad-GP and Ad-liGP with respect to the kinetics and magnitude of immune response
e.g. as described in Examples 1, 2 and 3, long-term immunity e.g. as described in
Examples 1,4 and 5, and virus dose needed for immunity.
Novel constructs based upon alterations to the li fusions. In each construct
adenovirus-encoded GP is fused N-terminally to:
1. the lysosomal targeting sequence of li
2. the CLIP sequence of li
3. the KEY sequence of li
4. the CLIP sequence and the sequence N-terminally adjacent to the CLIP
sequence
5. the CLIP sequence and the sequence C-terminally adjacent to the CLIP
sequence
6. the sequence N-terminally adjacent to the CLIP sequence
7. the sequence C-terminally adjacent to the CLIP sequence
Alterations of antigen presentation context. In each construct adenovirus-encoded
GP is fused:
1. C-terminally to LAMP
2. N-terminally to the N-domain of calreticulin
3. C-terminally to the N-domain of calreticulin
4. C-terminally to Hsp70.
5. N-terminally to li and C-terminally to the N-domain of calreticulin (AdliGPCrt)
6. N-terminally to li and C-terminally to Hsp70 (AdliGPHsp70)
All of these constructs are furthermore used as the starting point for a series of
constructs in which the GP-fusions are followed by an internal ribosomal entry site
(IRES) and a gene encoding VP22, HIV tat or Cx43.
Alterations with regard to intercellular spreading. In each construct adenovirus-
encoded GP is fused:
1. N-terminally to herpes simplex virus encoded VP22
2. N-terminally to HIV encoded tat
3. N-terminally to connexin 43 (Cx43)
4. N-terminally to other connexins and intercellular gap-junctions constituents.
Furthermore constructs are prepared where adenovirus-encoded GP is followed by
an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) and a gene encoding VP22, HIV tat or Cx43
or other connexins and intercellular gap-junctions constituents.
All of the above constructs are furthermore altered in any of the following ways:
1. All of the above constructs followed by an IRES site and a gene encoding an
NK-cell (natural killer cell) activation molecule, for example H60. This

alteration gives enhanced delivery of co-stimulatory signals and cytokine
help.
2. All of the above constructs involving IRES sites, where the downstream gene
is placed under control of a separate promoter.
3. All of the above constructs involving IRES sites, where the downstream gene
is instead encoded on a separate vector.
4. All of the above constructs placed under inducible promoter systems.
5. All of the above constructs placed under cell type specific and/or inducible
promoter systems.
6. All of the above constructs where the GP antigenic sequence is replaced
with a sequence encoding any of the following antigens, several of which
comprise multiple antigens, see examples of specific antigens in figures 12
and 13: VSV-GP, Influenza A NS-1, Influenza A M1, Influenza A NP, LCMV
NP, LCMV GP, Ebola GP Ebola NP, murine gammaherpesvirus (MHV-68)
M2, M3 (this corresponds to the human EBV and HHV8 viruses) and ORF73,
chicken Ovalbumin (OVA), or a helper T-cell epitope. These antigenic
sequences will furthermore be combined so at least 2 or more are encoded
in the same vector.
See figure 14 for an example of a comparison of the efficiency of Ad-li-GP pg33 and
gp276 constructs compared to Ad-GP-Lamp-1 pg33 and gp276 constructs as
measured by CD8+ T-cell responses. As can be seen, the Ad-li-GP constructs are
superior to the Ad-GP-Lamp-1 constructs in their capability of evoking a CD8+ T-cell
response.
Example 7:
Comparative analyses of novel constructs and alternative administration methods
with respect to kinetics, magnitude of response, long-term immunity and virus dose
needed for immunity.
All constructs described in Example 6 are comparatively analysed among each
other and to Ad-GP and Ad-liGP following alternative administration methods. The
comparisons are done with respect to the kinetics and magnitude of immune
response e.g. as described in Examples 1, 2 and 3, long-term immunity e.g. as
described in Examples 1, 4 and 5, and virus dose needed for immunity.
Alternative administration methods include:
1. Alterations with regard to enhanced delivery of co-stimulatory signals and
cytokine help in which all of the in Example 6 described constructs are co-
injected with adenovirus encoded type 1 interferon, for example tetracycline
inducible IFN-ß. Furthermore, all the in Example 6 described constructs are
co-injected with adenovirus encoded cytokine, for example IL-15.
2. Administration of Ad-liGP simultaneously with Ad-Tet-onGP at separate sites
of the body (Ad-Tet-onGP encodes GP under control of a tetracycline
inducible promoter).
3. Adenovirally delivery of any one of the in Example 6 described
inserts/constructs followed by homologous viral vector boosting with the
same insert/construct or followed by heterologous viral vector boosting with
lentivirus encoded or other adenovirus-encoded delivery of the same
insert/construct.
Example 8:
Ad-liGP confers rapid and superior protection against lethal LCMV infection in
absence of major epitopes. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus full-length
glycoprotein (GP) comprises four CD8+ specific epitopes of varying antigenicity,
measured by the percentile of CD8+ cells with specificity for the individual epitope
against all the CD8+ cells raised in response to GP vaccination. The predominant
population of CD8+ cells raised against GP is specific for the gp33 epitope, a
somewhat smaller population is specific for gp276, and minor populations are
specific for gp118 and for gp92. As gp33 and gp276 are the major / immuno-
dominant epitopes, we investigated how nil mutations of either epitope
independently or both simultaneously would effect the efficiency of the protection
offered by the Ad-liGP fusion construct.
C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated with 2x107 IFU Ad-GP and Ad-liGP or sham infected
in the right hind footpad. Each group consisted of 5 animals. On day 90 post
vaccination, the animals were challenged with 20 pfu LCMV Arm 53b i.e. (intra
cerebral) constructs carrying gp33 nil mutations, gp276 nil mutations or gp33/gp276
double nil mutations. Mortality was recorded for 14 days. As can be seen from figure
7, Ad-liGP conferred superior protection against lethal LCMV infection despite the
gp33 or gp276 nil mutations. The double nil mutation of gp33/gp276 lead to the
survival of 70% of the animals compared to no surviving animals in the Ad-GP and
Sham vaccinated groups.
Surviving animals from the experiment above were analyzed for epitope specific
CD8+ or CD4+T cells by intracellular staining for peptide-induced IFN-y of spleen
cells. Expectedly, as can be seen from figure 8, in the absence of either gp33 or
gp276, the major epitope specificity of the CD8+ or CD4+T cells is gp276 or gp33,
respectively. In the absence of both gp33/gp276, the major epitope specificity of the
CD8+ or CD4+T cells is gp92.
Example 9:
CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses to vaccination with naked DNA-liGP and DNA-GP.
To investigate an alternative platform for invariant chain fusion vaccines other than
adenoviral delivery, we tested the ability of liGP and GP as naked DNA to raise GP-
epitope specific CD8* and CD4+ T cells. The naked DNA comprised the GP and li-
GP fragments from the Adenoviral vectors illustrated in figure 1.
C57BU6 mice were vaccinated with DNA coated onto 1.6-nm gold particles in a
concentration of 2 µg DNA/mg gold, and the DNA-gold complex was coated onto
plastic tubes such that 0.5 mg gold (1 ug DNA per shot) was delivered to the mouse
per shot. Mice were immunized at the abdominal skin using a hand-held gene gun
device employing compressed helium (400 psi) as the particle motive force. Mice
were inoculated four times with an interval of 1 week and then allowed to rest for 1
week before investigation. The number of epitope specific CD8+ or CD4+ T cells
were determined by intracellular staining for peptide-induced IFN-y of spleen cells.
As can be seen from figure 9, DNA-liGP efficiently induces CD8+ T-cell responses
directed against several epitopes.
Example 10:
Ad-liGP confers superior protection against challenge with tumor cells expressing
the gp33 epitope from LCMV. Under normal circumstances, tumor cells express
several different antigens recognized by T cells. To determine the efficiency of this
response, B16.F10 melanoma cells expressing gp33 from LCMV were used to
challenge vaccinated animals with.
C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated with 2x107 IFU Ad-GP or Ad-liGP in the right hind
footpad. As a control some animals were vaccinated with Ad-ß-galactosidase
(negative control) or infected with LCMV (positive control). On day 90 after
vaccination/infection animals were challenged with 106 tumor cells subcutaneously
and the tumor growth was followed by measuring the size of the tumor. Initially a
tumor will form in all animals, but eventually the immune response directed towards
gp33 will eliminate the tumor cells. Each group consisted of 7-10 animals.
Prophylactic vaccination with Ad-li-GP resulted in tumor free mice in 70% of the
cases compared to only 10% in Ad-GP vaccinated animals, as can be seen from
figure 10.
In many cases the tumor has already formed when a physician sees the patient. To
mimic this situation, C57BL/6 mice were injected with 106 B16.F10 tumor cells
subcutaneously. After 5 days the tumors were palpably recognizable and could be
measured. At this time point animals were vaccinated with 2x107 IFU Ad-GP or Ad-
liGP in the right hind footpad. As a control some animals were vaccinated with Ad-£$-
galactosidase (negative control) or infected with LCMV (positive control). Tumor
growth was followed by measuring the size of the tumor, and once the size was
greater that 12 mm in any dimension the animals were sacrificed. As can be seen
from figure 11, in mice given the therapeutic Ad-iiGP vaccine, the speed of tumor
development was approximately half of that seen in mice given Ad-GP as
therapeutic vaccine, as measured by number of days passing prior to reaching a 12
mm tumor size and animal sacrifice.
Example 11:
To demonstrate that the vaccine construct also can induce protecting antibody
response the VSV infection was used.
Virus and virus quantitation: Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) of the Indiana serotype
was used throughout this study. Stocks of virus were propagated in L929 cells
(ATCC CCL 1) and stored at -70 °C until use. Virus quantitation was performed by
plaque assay on monolayers of L929 cells. In brief, serial 10-fold dilutions of virus
were prepared in Eagle's minimal essential medium (F11) containing 1% L-
glutamine, 1% penicillin/streptomycin, 5% NaHC03 and 10% fetal calf serum. One
ml of each dilution was added in duplicate to monolayers of L929 cells in petri
dishes plated 48 hours earlier. After incubation for 90 min at 37°C in 5% C02,
medium containing the virus dilutions was aspirated, and the monolayers were
overlaid with a mixture of 2.5 ml 1% agarose and 2.5 ml 2 x F11. Monolayers were
then incubated for 24 hours at 37°C in 5% CQ2 before staining with a mixture of 1 ml
of 1% agarose and 1 ml of 2 x F11 containing 1% neutralred. After further 24 hours
of incubation, the numbers of PFU were counted.
Survival study. Mortality was used as parameter for the severity of VSV infection,
based on previous findings that virus titer in CNS correlate strongly with clinical
symptoms (Thomsen et al. 1997, Int. Immunol. 9:1757-1766.). Mice were inspected
daily for signs of VSV-induced paralysis, and sacrificed when severe paralysis was
noted and the animals expected to succumb within the next 24 hours.
Serum neutralizations test: Serial two-fold dilutions of serum in F11 were mixed with
equal volumes of virus diluted to contain approximately 100 PFU/ml. After 1 h of
incubation at room temperature, 1 ml of each serum-virus mixture was added in
duplicate to monolayers of L929 cells in petri dishes and assayed for the presence
of residual virus by plaque assay (see virus and virus quantitation). The highest
serum dilution that reduced the number of plaques by at least 50% was taken as the
neutralizing titer.
C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated in the right hind foot-pad with 2 x 107 IFU of
adenovirus encoding either full-length glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (Ad-
VSVGP) or glycoprotein linked to invariant chain (Ad-li-VSVGP). On day 7, 14, 21
and 110 after vaccination serum samples were collected and in vitro neutralizing
antibody titers were determined in a plaque-reduction assay, figure 12a. On day 3,
7, 14, 21 and 110 after vaccination, animals were challenged with 105 PFU of VSV
intranasaily, and mortality was registered over the next 14 days, figure 12b. As seen
in figure 12 almost identical responses are seen in the two groups, suggesting that,
although not an advantage, the invariant chain allows for antibody production and
does not have a detrimental effect on the production.
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cell cycle progression of primed CD8+ T cells but do not induce cell differentiation.
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We Claim:
1. An adenoviral vector comprising a nucleotide construct encoding:
a) at least one antigen and
b) at least one protein or peptide or fragment of a protein or peptide
which stimulates an MHC-I response and/or an MHC-II response
and/or intercellular spreading.

2. The adenoviral vector according to claim 1, wherein the nucleotide construct
encodes at least one protein or peptide or fragment of a protein or peptide
which stimulates an MHC-I response and preferably wherein the MHC
stimulating protein or peptide or fragment of protein or peptide is an MHC
associated protein or peptide, wherein the MHC associated peptide is
selected from the group of: ER localizing peptide, Golgi localizing peptide,
Endosomal peptide loading compartment localizing peptide, lysosomal, MIIC,
CIIV, melanosomes, secretory granules, Birbeck granules, wherein the MHC
associated protein or peptide or fragment of a protein or peptide is selected
from the group of sorting signal peptides, LAMP, LIMP, Hsp70, calreticulin and
invariant chain, wherein said adenoviral vector comprising proteins or peptides
related to intercellular spreading such as VP22, Cx43, HIV Tat, other
connexins or gap-junction constituents.
3. The adenoviral vector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at
least one MHC response stimulating protein or peptide or fragment of protein
or peptide is invariant chain, the invariant chain preferably being organism
specific and/or having 85% identity to SEQ ID NO: 2.
4. The adenoviral vector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at
least one signal peptide is added to, removed from or replaces the signal
peptide of the at least one invariant chain.
5. The adenoviral vector according any of the preceding claims, wherein at least
one antigenic protein or peptide or an antigenic fragment of said protein or
peptide is selected from the group of: pathogenic organisms, cancer-specific
polypeptides, and proteins or peptides associated with an abnormal
physiological response or is an antigenic protein or peptide or an antigenic
fragment of said protein or peptide at least 85% identical to an antigen from
the above group.
6. The adenoviral vector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at
least one antigenic protein or peptide or an antigenic fragment of said protein
or peptide from a pathogenic organism is selected from the group of
pathogens comprising: virus, micro organisms and parasites and preferably is
a virus selected from the group of: HIV, Hepatitis C virus, influenza virus,
herpes virus, Lassa, Ebola, smallpox, Bird flu, filovirus, Marburg,
papillomavirus or wherein at least one antigenic protein or peptide or an
antigenic fragment of said protein or peptide is from a micro organism selected
from the group of: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bacillus anthracis,
Staphylococcus species, and Vibrio species or wherein at least one antigenic
protein or peptide or an antigenic fragment of said protein or peptide is from a
parasite selected from the group of: Plasmodium species, Leishmania
species, and Trypanosoma species.
7. The adenoviral vector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at
least one antigenic protein or peptide or an antigenic fragment of said protein
or peptide is from a cancer-specific polypeptide.
8. The adenoviral vector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at
least one antigenic protein or peptide or an antigenic fragment of said protein
or peptide is from a polypeptide associated with an abnormal physiological
response, wherein the abnormal physiological response is an autoimmune
disease, an allergic reaction, cancer or a congenital disease.
9. The adenoviral vector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the
operative link between the invariant chain and the antigenic protein or peptide
or an antigenic fragment of said protein or peptide is selected from the group
of: a direct link or a link mediated by a spacer region.
10. The adenoviral vector according to claim 9, wherein the operative linker is a
spacer region, wherein the spacer region encodes at least one helper epitope
for class II MHC molecules or wherein the spacer region encodes at least one
protease cleavage site.
11. The adenoviral vector according to claim any of the preceding claims, wherein
at least one invariant chain is operatively linked to at least two, antigenic
proteins or peptides or an antigenic fragment of said protein or peptide.
12. The adenoviral vector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the
vector is a replication defective adenovirus or a conditionally replication
deficient adenovirus.
13. A vaccine composition comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding:

a) at least one at least one operatively linked protein or peptide or
fragment of a protein or peptide which stimulates an MHC-I response
operatively linked to
b) at least one antigenic protein or peptide or an antigenic fragment of
said protein or peptide.
for use as a medicament.
14. The vaccine according to claim 13, comprising an adenoviral vector as defined
in any of claims 1 to 12.
15. The vaccine according to any of claims 13 to 14, wherein the adenoviral vector
is packaged by a packaging means selected from the group of: liposomes,
coated onto colloidal gold particle, viral expression vector, viral delivery vector
or a viral expression vector selected from the group of: adenovirus, retrovirus,
lentivirus, adeno-associated virus, herpes virus, vaccinia virus, foamy virus,
cytomegalovirus, Semliki forest virus, poxvirus, RNA and/or DNA virus vectors.
16. The vaccine according to any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the vaccine
comprises means for intramuscular, intravenous or subcutaneous
administration.
17. The vaccine composition according to any of claims 13 to 16, comprising a
second active ingredient wherein the second active ingredient is selected from
the group of: antibiotics, chemotherapeutics, anti-allergenics, cytokines and
co-stimulatory molecules of the immune system.
18. A kit of parts comprising:
- a vaccine composition comprising an adenoviral vector according to
any of the claims 13 to 17,
- a medical instrument or other means of administering said vaccine,
- instructions on how to use the kit in parts.
19. A method comprising administering to the animal a vaccine according to any of
claims 13 to 17 for inducing an immune response in an animal, wherein the
immune response is MHC-I dependent or MHC-I and/ or MHC-II dependent or
T-cell dependent or CD4+ T-cell dependent, CD4+ T-cell independent or CD8+
T-cell dependent or B cell dependent, the method preferably comprising the
steps of:
- providing at least one vaccine according to any of claims 13 to 17
- administering said at least one vaccine to a subject at least once
for treatment or prophylaxis of an animal.
20. Use of the adenoviral vector according to any of claims 1 to 12, for the
production of a vaccine.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=70/y2DMdVDPY6tWrO+/Uew==&loc=+mN2fYxnTC4l0fUd8W4CAA==


Patent Number 269655
Indian Patent Application Number 4965/DELNP/2008
PG Journal Number 45/2015
Publication Date 06-Nov-2015
Grant Date 30-Oct-2015
Date of Filing 09-Jun-2008
Name of Patentee COPENHAGEN UNIVERSITY
Applicant Address NØERREGADE 10, POSTBOKS 2177, DK-1017 COPENHAGEN K (DK)
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 HOLST, PETER JOHANNES HUSTOFTEVEJ 12, DK-2700 BRØNSHØEJ (DK)
2 THOMSEN, ALLAN RANDRUP LIVJAEGERGADE 14, 2.TH.,DK-2100 COPENHAGEN Ø (DK)
3 CHRISTENSEN, JAN PRAVSGAARD NAESBORGVEJ 30, 1.TH.,DK-2650 HVIDOVRE (DK)
PCT International Classification Number C07K 14/705
PCT International Application Number PCT/DK2006/000675
PCT International Filing date 2006-11-30
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 PA 2005 01697 2005-11-30 Denmark