EP0767678A1 - Kompositionen zur transaktivierung von proteinen als humanen immunschwächevirus - Google Patents

Kompositionen zur transaktivierung von proteinen als humanen immunschwächevirus

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Publication number
EP0767678A1
EP0767678A1 EP95921262A EP95921262A EP0767678A1 EP 0767678 A1 EP0767678 A1 EP 0767678A1 EP 95921262 A EP95921262 A EP 95921262A EP 95921262 A EP95921262 A EP 95921262A EP 0767678 A1 EP0767678 A1 EP 0767678A1
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European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
seq
immunogen
tat
protein
arg
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English (en)
French (fr)
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Gideon Goldstein
Michael D. Culler
Ponniah Shenbagamurthi
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/005—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from viruses
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2740/00—Reverse transcribing RNA viruses
    • C12N2740/00011—Details
    • C12N2740/10011—Retroviridae
    • C12N2740/16011—Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV
    • C12N2740/16311—Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV concerning HIV regulatory proteins
    • C12N2740/16322—New viral proteins or individual genes, new structural or functional aspects of known viral proteins or genes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to methods for immunizing humans or other mammals against infection by viruses that produce proteins that are released extracellularly and are taken up by other noninfected cells, preparing them for infection by the virus.
  • HIV human immunodeficiency virus
  • HTLV human T cell lymphocytotropic virus
  • SIV simian immunodeficiency virus
  • FV feline immunodeficiency virus
  • the TAT protein also activates other host cellular genes which contribute to cellular activation and sustenance of the virus. For example, there is evidence that the TAT protein activates host cell genes, such as bcl-2, c-myc, IL-6, TGF- ⁇ , and TNF [G. Zauli et al, Cancer Res. , 51:4481-4485 (1993); J. Laurence et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.. USA. 88:7635-7639 (1991); G. Scala et al, J. EXP. Med.. 179:961-971 (1994); G. Zauli et al, Blood. 0:3036-3043 (1992); and L.
  • host cell genes such as bcl-2, c-myc, IL-6, TGF- ⁇ , and TNF
  • TAT of HIV is also released extracellularly by infected cells and taken up by other non-infected cells [see, e.g., A. D. Frankel et al, Cell. 55: 1189-1193 (1988); G. Barillari et al, J. Immunol.. 149:3727-3734 (1992); B. Ensoli et al, Nature, 345:84-86 (1990)].
  • TAT protein has been shown to selectively depress antigen induced T cell proliferation in vitro [R. P. Viscidi et al. Science. 246:1606-1608 (1989)]. This latter immunological abnormality has been demonstrated in T cells from asymptomatic HIV infected subjects early in the disease.
  • Uptake of TAT by cells is very strong, and appears to be mediated by a short basic sequence of the protein.
  • U. S. Patent No. 5,158,877 discloses synthetic DNA coding for the TAT protein of HIV-1, and provides its cDNA sequence.
  • U. S. Patent No. 5,238,882 refers to a transformed yeast cell capable of expressing TAT for use in screening for agents which inhibit the function of the protein.
  • U. S. Patent No. 5,110,802 refers to an antiviral agent capable of attacking the first splice acceptor site of tat gene.
  • International Patent Application No. WO92/07871, published May 14, 1992 refers to oligopeptide inhibitors of HIV replication, which operate by direct competition to prevent activation by the TAT protein, while International Patent Application No.
  • O91/10453, published July 25, 1991 refers to inhibition of TAT function by DNA sequences. See, also International Patent Application No. O91/09958, published July 11, 1991. International Patent Application No. WO87/02989, published May 21, 1987, provides an E. coli expression vector for producing TAT protein. International Patent Application No. 092/14755, published September 3, 1992, refers to in vitro blocking of TAT uptake by a selected integrin cell surface receptor by fragments of TAT, fragments of integrin or antibodies to integrin. Also described in this publication is the immunization of rabbits with a TAT peptide and Complete Freund's adjuvant to generate antibodies to TAT for experimental work.
  • the invention provides an immunogen capable of eliciting a humoral and/or antibody response in a mammal to which the immunogen is administered, the immune response directed against a native extracellular transactivating protein from a selected chronic virus, such as HIV.
  • the immunogen comprises an HIV TAT protein sequence or peptide fragment thereof including the sequence involved in cellular uptake of the TAT.
  • this latter sequence will be referred to as the "cellular uptake region" [in HIV TAT, this region spans about AA46 to about AA63 of SEQ ID NO: 2] as defined by S. Fawell et al, cited above.
  • the immunogen itself will be referred to as the TAT immunogen.
  • the immunogen comprises analogous sequences of similar extracellular proteins for other viruses, e.g., SIV, HTLV, and the like.
  • this immunogenic protein or peptide sequence has the characteristic of inactivated biological function vis-a- vis the intact TAT protein.
  • the invention provides a DNA sequence encoding the TAT immunogen described above for use as a 'naked DNA* composition capable of eliciting an immune response in an animal, preferably a mammal, to which it is administered.
  • the invention provides a DNA molecule containing regulatory sequences which control the replication and expression of the inserted DNA sequence encoding the HIV TAT immunogen.
  • regulatory sequences may direct the expression of the TAT immunogen in cell cultures for recombinant production and manipulation of the DNA.
  • a vector may also be administered as an immunogenic composition, such as a vaccine, for expression of the TAT immunogen in vivo in a host mammal and the elicitation of an immune response thereto.
  • the invention provides immunogenic compositions, such as vaccine compositions, useful for producing an immune response to, and for immunizing a patient against infection with, a virus characterized by a transactivating protein or analogous extracellular protein.
  • immunogenic compositions such as vaccine compositions, useful for producing an immune response to, and for immunizing a patient against infection with, a virus characterized by a transactivating protein or analogous extracellular protein.
  • One embodiment of such an immunogenic composition comprises the protein or peptide immunogen described herein in a suitable pharmaceutical carrier.
  • Another embodiment of the immunogenic composition comprises a DNA sequence capable of expressing the immunogen in vivo upon direct administration of the DNA into a host animal.
  • the DNA sequence encoding the immunogen is present in a vector with associated regulatory sequences.
  • Still a further aspect of this invention is a method for producing an immune response, such as a protective immune response, in a patient against infection with a virus characterized by a transactivating or analogous extracellular protein.
  • the method comprises administering to said patient an HIV TAT immunogen or tat nucleic acid sequence as described above in an amount sufficient to evoke production of high titer antibodies capable of specifically binding the native HIV TAT protein secreted by said virus.
  • the antibodies would bind to the cellular uptake region of the TAT protein.
  • the invention contemplates the production of analogous methods and compositions designed similarly for other proteins which function in a manner similar to that of the TAT protein of HIV, including proteins of other viruses.
  • this method and compositions are anticipated to be useful in the prophylaxis of various chronic viruses including, HIV-1, HTLV-I, HTLV-II, HIV-2, SIV, and FIV.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates the cDNA sequence [SEQ ID NO: 1] and amino acid sequence [SEQ ID NO: 2] of the HIV-1 TAT protein.
  • Fig. 2 is a graph illustrating the purification of the I 125 labelled SIV-Tyr 0 TAT ⁇ sequence using reverse phase HPLC. The purified label will be used to detect the presence of antibodies to TAT following immunization. See, Example 2 below.
  • the present invention provides novel immunogens, immunogenic compositions, vaccine compositions, and methods of eliciting an immune response in mammals, particularly humans, against viruses that produce proteins that are released extracellularly, which proteins are in turn taken up by other uninfected, or latently infected, cells, thereby rendering the uninfected cells susceptible to viral infection.
  • One such viral protein capable of facilitating infectivity from one cell to another uninfected cell is the transactivating TAT protein of HIV (and in the monkey virus, SIV) ; other such proteins exist in other viruses.
  • TAT protein of HIV and in the monkey virus, SIV
  • the following description relates to the TAT proteins of HIV and SIV as specific examples of extracellular proteins which perform the above-described role of perpetuating viral infection.
  • analogous extracellular proteins necessary for the development and spread of the viral infection in HIV, SIV, and other viruses may be manipulated similarly to provide other immunogenic compositions and methods encompassed by this invention.
  • the inventors have determined that the novel method of this invention and the related compositions herein described permit the elicitation of an immune response in a mammal directed against these extracellular or transactivating proteins. Because infection is perpetuated either by activation of latently infected cells or by activation of host genes of uninfected cells which render the cells susceptible to viral infection, the mechanism underlying this invention is significant.
  • An important feature of the invention and an advantage over other therapeutic or vaccinal compositions useful for the treatment of viral infections, such as HIV, is that this invention elicits and directs an immunized host's immune response against the extracellular TAT protein.
  • Active immunization against a selected virus, e.g., HIV-1 may be accomplished by eliciting high titer antibodies that will complex with the native secreted TAT protein produced by the virus and prevent its uptake by cells.
  • the immune response produced by the methods and compositions of this invention interdicts the TAT protein extracellularly before it can be taken up by another cell.
  • This immunization has a particularly desirable advantage in contrast to other treatments and prophylactic methods employed against such viruses. Because the immunization is not directed against the virus itself, interdiction of the TAT protein extracellularly does not create a selective pressure on the parent virus itself, which would encourage the development of mutant virus variants producing a TAT protein that is not recognized by the induced antibodies.
  • any viral strain which is not producing the same TAT protein, or an immunologically cross-reactive protein will be unaffected by the use of the immunogenic compositions of this invention.
  • treatment with another immunogenic composition reactive with that TAT protein and prepared according to this invention is contemplated.
  • blocking the incorporation of TAT protein by the patient's cells may also reduce the level of viremia.
  • A. Protein/Peptide Immunogens of the Invention involves the development of a selected TAT immunogen.
  • immunogen is meant any molecule which elicits an immune response, either cellular or humoral, in an animal exposed to that molecule in vivo .
  • An immunogen of this invention is desirably an HIV TAT protein or peptide fragment thereof, which comprises cellular uptake region of the TAT protein or fragments thereof. The cellular uptake region is that region which mediates the binding of TAT protein to the cell to be infected.
  • An immunogen of this invention is desirably an HIV TAT protein or peptide fragment thereof, which comprises cellular uptake region of the TAT protein or fragments thereof.
  • the cellular uptake region is that region which mediates the binding of TAT protein to the cell to be infected.
  • the cellular uptake region is identified as spanning amino acids 46 to 63 of that sequence SYGRKKRRZRRRAPZGSQ of SEQ ID NO: 2.
  • the cellular uptake region includes a smaller fragment, such as amino acids 46 through 59 thereof.
  • the cellular uptake region as defined herein can include all or a portion of the sequence identified above, as well as variants thereof.
  • the TAT protein or peptide fragment useful as the immunogen is biologically inactive; i.e., it does not share the biological function of the intact TAT protein.
  • the immunogen may be made inactive by deletion of amino acids at the amino terminus or carboxy terminus, or the deletion or replacement of native Cysteine residues to interfere with naturally-occurring disulfide bonds in the protein.
  • One embodiment of a TAT immunogen may consist of a TAT protein characterized by deletion of at least 3 or more amino acids at the amino terminus.
  • TAT protein immunogen examples include a peptide fragment from a selected region of TAT protein, which peptide fragment alone is biologically inactive, and may be optionally coupled to a carrier.
  • a desired size for such an immunogenic peptide may be between about 12 to about 22 amino acids. However, other sizes may be desired, depending on the peptide construct, i.e., for a multiple antigenic peptide (also referred to as an octameric lysine core peptide) as described in detail below, the peptide may desirably be about 20 amino acids in length.
  • a selected region of the TAT immunogen of this invention may be a conserved region or an immunogenic region of TAT protein.
  • this peptide sequence includes the cellular uptake region.
  • the selected TAT immunogen may include, among other sequences, the following peptide sequences and variants:
  • SYGRKKRRQRRRPP [SEQ ID NO 11] SYGRKKRRQRRRAH.
  • SEQ ID NO 12 Larger peptides incorporating the above-identified sequences of amino acids of TAT protein of HIV or smaller fragments and fragments thereof may also be employed to form the TAT immunogen of this invention.
  • smaller fragments of the cellular uptake region such as QRRRAP [SEQ ID NO: 16] and its variants or GRKKRRQ [SEQ ID NO: 17] and its variants may also be " employed alone or repeated in one peptide in multiple antigenic peptides.
  • the virus is other than HIV-1, e.g., a non-human virus, such as SIV
  • a non-human virus such as SIV
  • the selected TAT protein region may include, among other sequences, the cellular uptake region occurring at about amino acids 79 through about amino acids 100 of the SIV TAT protein, as well as the following peptide sequences and variants: RRRTPKKTKANTSSASY [SEQ ID NO:13] which spans the SIV TAT sequence from amino acids 80 through 95; and
  • YEQQRRRTPKKTKANTSSAS [SEQ ID NO:14], which spans SIV TAT 76 _ 95 .
  • Other variants in size and amino acid composition may also be employed in this invention, such as the peptide motifs PKKTK [SEQ ID NO: 18], PKKAK [SEQ ID NO: 19] and QRRRTP [SEQ ID NO: 20] alone or repeated in a single peptide, desirably in multiple antigenic peptides as disclosed below.
  • the immunogen of the invention is in the form of a multiple antigenic peptide construct comprising a plurality of peptides from a TAT protein.
  • a construct may be designed employing the multiple antigenic peptide system described by Tarn, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 85:5409-5413 (1988). This system makes use of a core matrix of lysine residues onto which multiple copies of an immunogenic peptide are synthesized [D. Posnett et al, J. Biol. Chem. , 263 . (4) : 1719-1725 (1988); J. Tarn, "Chemically DefinedSynthetic Immunogens and Vaccines by the Multiple Antigen Peptide Approach", Vaccine Research and
  • the invention also encompasses immunogens prepared from other amino acid sequences of viral transactivating or analogous extracellular proteins.
  • selected TAT peptides may be developed from allelic or engineered variations of viral genes or gene fragments encoding the particular TAT protein.
  • the immunogens employed in this invention may also have amino acid sequences which are analogs or derivatives of TAT or related extracellular protein sequences of a selected virus.
  • the immunogens of this invention may also be prepared to reflect variations in the native DNA and amino acid sequences of selected TAT proteins.
  • immunogens may typically include TAT protein analogs, and the DNA encoding them, that differ by only 1 to about 4 codon changes.
  • analogs include polypeptides with minor amino acid variations from the natural amino acid sequence of TAT proteins, in particular, conservative amino acid replacements.
  • the TAT protein/peptide immunogens of this invention are prepared by chemical synthesis techniques, such as described by Merrifield, J. Amer. Che . Soc.. .85:2149-2154 (1963), and including the multiple antigenic techniques described above.
  • TAT protein fragments can be prepared synthetically or can be derived from viral RNA by known techniques, or from available cDNA-containing plasmids.
  • TAT immunogen in various microorganisms and cells, including, for example, E ⁇ . coli. Bacillus. Streptomyces. Saccharo yces. mammalian, yeast and insect cells, and suitable vectors therefor are known and available from private and public laboratories and depositories and from commercial vendors.
  • the most preferred host is a mammalian cell such as Chinese Hamster ovary cells (CHO) or COS-1 cells. These hosts may be used in connection with poxvirus vectors, such as vaccinia or swinepox.
  • poxvirus vectors such as vaccinia or swinepox.
  • the selection of other suitable host cells and methods for transformation, culture, amplification, screening and product production and purification can be performed by one of skill in the art by reference to known techniques. See, e.g., Gething and Sambrook, Nature, 293:620-625 (1981) .
  • Another preferred system includes the baculovirus expression system and vectors. Bacterial expression may also be desired.
  • the TAT immunogens When produced by conventional recombinant means, the TAT immunogens may be isolated either from the cellular contents by conventional lysis techniques or from cell medium by conventional methods, such as chromatography. See, e.g., Sambrook et al, Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual. , 2d Edit. , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York (1989) .
  • the resulting TAT protein or peptide immunogens, or multiple antigenic peptides may be screened for efficacy as a immunogen by in vivo assays, employing immunization of an animal, e.g., a simian, with the TAT protein or fragment, and evaluation of titers of antibody to the native TAT protein of the selected virus.
  • immunization of an animal e.g., a simian
  • Examples 3 and 4 disclose suitable assay systems for such evaluation.
  • Still another aspect of this invention involves nucleic acid sequences which encodes the TAT protein immunogens described above.
  • the nucleic acid sequences such as that described as SEQ ID NO: 1 or allelic variants thereof, or DNA sequences containing certain preference codons for the species of the indicated patient preferably in the form of DNA, may be used as so- called 'naked DNA' to express the protein/peptide immunogen in vivo in a patient. See, e.g., J. Cohen, Science. 259:1691-1692 (March 19, 1993); E. Fynan et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.. USA. £0:11478-11482 (Dec. 1993) ;and J. A.
  • the DNA sequences encoding the selected TAT immunogen of this invention may also be employed in a plasmid for either direct injection into a host animal or in a vector under suitable regulatory sequences for expression of the protein in vitro .
  • the latter form of expression is conventional (see, Sambrook et al, cited above and the references above to production of the protein) .
  • the former type of plasmid for in vivo expression of the immunogen may be designed as described in the references above or, e.g., as described in International Patent Application PCT WO94/01139, published January 20, 1994.
  • the DNA encoding the TAT protein or desired fragment thereof is inserted into a nucleic acid cassette.
  • This cassette is engineered to contain, in addition to the tat sequence to be expressed, other optional flanking sequences which enable its insertion into a vector.
  • This cassette is then inserted into an appropriate DNA vector downstream of a promoter, an mRNA leader sequence, an initiation site and other regulatory sequences capable of directing the replication and expression of that sequence in vivo .
  • This vector permits infection of patient's cells and expression of the TAT immunogen in vivo.
  • the present invention provides immunogenic compositions containing a TAT protein or peptide immunogen of the invention or the 'naked DNA' of the invention. These immunogenic compositions are capable of eliciting in an immunized host mammal, e.g., a human, an immune response capable of interdicting extracellular TAT protein.
  • such immunogenic compositions contain at least one such protein/peptide immunogen directed to a selected native TAT protein according to the invention or a fragment thereof, together with a carrier suitable for administration as a composition for prophylactic treatment of virus infections.
  • the compositions may contain more than one immunogen, the amino acid sequences of the immunogens differing to encompass allelic variants of the TAT protein.
  • a multiple antigenic peptide of the invention may contain repeats of the same peptide, e.g., for HIV, RRRAP [SEQ ID NO: 21].
  • the composition may preferably contain a number of MAPs, each bearing copies of different TAT peptides as described herein.
  • novel TAT immunogens may be designed by resort to this disclosure.
  • the HIV strain of a patient not responsive to a composition of this invention may be isolated and the TAT protein sequence determined by conventional methods, e.g., polymerase chain reaction. If the sequence is indeed different from that sequence which was employed in the first composition, another TAT immunogen may be obtained and administered with the first immunogen in a single immunogenic composition.
  • an immunogenic or vaccine composition of this invention may contain several different TAT immunogens of this invention, each directed to a different TAT protein produced as described herein.
  • the TAT immunogen(s) of the invention or fragments thereof can be employed in a vaccine composition containing a carrier, such as saline, and a selected adjuvant, such as aqueous suspensions of aluminum and magnesium hydroxides, liposomes and others.
  • a carrier such as saline
  • a selected adjuvant such as aqueous suspensions of aluminum and magnesium hydroxides, liposomes and others.
  • Such compositions may optimally contain other conventionalvaccine components.
  • suitable carriers and adjuvants are known to the art and the selection thereof is expected to be routine.
  • the preparation of a pharmaceutically acceptable vaccine composition, having appropriate pH isotonicity, stability and other conventional characteristics is within the skill of the art.
  • These immunogenic or vaccine compositions according to the present invention can be administered by an appropriate route, e.g., by the oral, intranasal, subcutaneous, intravenous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular routes. The presently preferred route of administration is intramuscular.
  • each vaccine dose is selected with regard to consideration of the patient's age, weight, sex, general physical condition and the like.
  • the amount required to induce an immune response, preferably a protective response, in the patient without significant adverse side effects may vary depending upon the immunogen employed and the optional presence of an adjuvant.
  • each dose will comprise between about 50 ⁇ g to about 1 mg of TAT protein/peptide immunogen per L of a sterile solution.
  • a more preferred dosage may be about 200 ⁇ g of TAT immunogen of this invention.
  • Other dosage ranges may also be contemplated by one of skill in the art.
  • Initial doses may be optionally followed by repeated boosts, where desirable.
  • immunogenic compositions of this invention may be designed for direct administration of •naked DNA' encoding one or more TAT immunogens of this invention.
  • nucleic acid sequences encoding one or more desired TAT immunogens of this invention may be directly delivered into the patient, alone or as part of a plasmid.
  • Suitable vehicles for direct DNA administration include, without limitation, saline, or sucrose, prota ine, polybrene, polylysine, polycations, proteins, CaP0 4 or spermidine. See e.g, PCT application WO94/01139 and the references cited above.
  • the amounts of components in the 'naked DNA 1 composition and the mode of administration e.g., injection or intranasal, may be selected and adjusted by one of skill in the art.
  • the immunogenic compositions of this invention are designed to prevent infection by the selected virus of an uninfected mammal, e.g. , human. Such immunogenic compositions thus have utility as vaccines.
  • compositions of this invention may also be employed therapeutically to treat already infected patients.
  • the mechanism of the present invention as described above may be useful in impeding the course of viral infection and producing desirable clinical results. More specifically, the compositions of this invention are capable of reducing viremia in patients already infected with the virus by blocking further uptake of the TAT protein by uninfected cells.
  • the compositions of the present invention are anticipated to assist in the reduction of viremia and prevention of clinical deterioration.
  • the formulations and modes of administration are substantially identical to those described specifically above and may be administered concurrently or simultaneously with other conventional therapeutics for the specific viral infection. For therapeutic use, repeated dosages may be desirable.
  • the TAT immunogens of this invention may have a number of other utilities.
  • the TAT peptide or protein immunogens of this invention may be employed in conventional assays, e.g.. Western blots, ELISA, and other protein binding assays, for use in identifying antibodies which are capable of detecting HIV strains with different extracellular TAT proteins.
  • the DNA sequences encoding the TAT immunogens or complementary strands thereto may be used in nucleic acid assays, such as Northern and Southern blots, and other nucleic acid hybridization assays for the same purpose.
  • the nucleic acid sequences encoding the TAT immunogens of the invention may be employed as polymerase chain reaction sequences to identify HIV strains on the basis of the sequence of the tat gene.
  • proteins are in the development of antibodies which are directed to the cellular uptake regions.
  • Polyclonal antibodies may be produced by conventional methods, i.e., by injecting a laboratory animals with sufficient quantities of the TAT protein or fragments thereof and collecting the antibodies from the animal's tissue.
  • a “monoclonal antibody” refers to homogenous populations of immunoglobulins which are capable of specifically binding to the TAT protein of this invention. It is understood that the TAT protein may have one or more antigenic determinants. The antibodies of the invention may be directed against one or more of these determinants.
  • Hybridomas capable of secreting these monoclonal antibodies are produced by conventional techniques by employing as antigen, the TAT protein described herein.
  • the hybridoma process involves generating a B- lymphocyte which produces a desired polyclonal antibody.
  • Techniques for obtaining the appropriate lymphocytes from mammals injected with the target antigen are well known.
  • the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) are used if cells of human origin are desired. If non-human sources are desired, spleen cells or lymph nodes from other mammalian sources are used.
  • a host animal e.g. a rabbit, is injected with repeated doses of the purified antigen, and the mammal is permitted to generate the desired polyclonal antibody producing cells.
  • Immortalizing cell lines are usually transformed mammalian cells, particularly cells of rodent, bovine and human origin. Most frequently, rat or mouse myeloma cells are employed. Techniques for fusion are also well known in the art and generally involve mixing the cells with a fusing agents, e.g. polyethylene glycol.
  • Immortalized hybridoma cell lines are selected by standard procedures, such as HAT selection. From among these hybridomas, those secreting the desired monoclonal antibody are selected by assaying the culture medium by standard immunoassays, such as Western blotting, ELISA, or RIA. Antibodies are recovered from the medium using standard purification techniques. See, generally, Kohler et al. Nature, 256:495 (1975) for antibody production techniques. Alternatively, non-fusion techniques for generating an immortal antibody-producing hybridoma cell line is possible, e.g. virally induced transformation.
  • Recombinant techniques such as described by Huse et al. Science, 246:1275-1281 (1988), or any other modifications thereof known to the art may also be employed to produce recombinant antibodies and chimeric antibodies, where desired.
  • These antibodies are likewise useful in diagnostic methods for detecting and identifying different HIV strains based on the differences in their extracellular tat genes. These antibodies may perform such detection in conventional assays known to one of skill in the art.
  • TAT protein and peptide immungens are conventional and may include use of the TAT protein and peptide immatoriums as molecular weight markers.
  • Side chain protecting groups were as follows: benzyl ether (Bzl) for the hydroxy1 group of threonine and serine; benzyl ester for the carboxyl group of aspartic and glutamic acids; tosyl (Tos) for the guanidine of arginine; benzyloxymethyl (Bom) for the imidazole of histidine; 2- chlorobenzyloxycarbonyl (Cl-Z) for the e-amine of lysine; 2-bromobenzyloxycarbonyl (Br-Z) for the phenolic hydroxy1 of tyrosine. Asparagine, glutamine, and arginine were coupled as their 1-hydroxybenzotriazole esters.
  • the peptide was cleaved from the resin support (1.48 g) by stirring in liquid HF (50 L) , p-cresol (1.2 mL) , p-thiocresol (1.2 L) , and dimethyl sulfide (1.2 mL) for 1 hour at 0°C. After the removal of excess HF under reduced pressure, the resin-peptide mixture was extracted with anhydrous diethyl ether (3 x 200 mL) . The ether extracts were discarded. The cleaved peptide was then extracted with 30% aqueous acetic acid (3 X 70 mL) . After removal of solvents under reduced pressure, the residue obtained was dissolved in water and freeze-dried.
  • liquid HF 50 L
  • p-cresol 1.2 mL
  • p-thiocresol 1.2 L
  • dimethyl sulfide 1.2 mL
  • the crude peptide was dissolved in 30% acetic acid and passed through an Amberlite IRA-68 (acetate form) ion exchange column (60 g, 1.6 meq/mL, 2.73 cm i.d. X 18 cm length) in 30% aqueous HOAc at a flow rate of 60 mL/h.
  • the appropriate fractions from two such experiments were combined and freeze-dried (1.59 g) .
  • the crude peptide was dissolved in 0.1% TFA/H 2 0 and purified by preparative RP-HPLC using a Vydac 218TP1022 column (22 X 250 mm) .
  • the mobile phases employed were as shown below:
  • Amino acid analysis (AAA) : Ala 2.16 (2), Arg 3.23 (3), Asx 1.23 (1),
  • This peptide was synthesized as described above, using the appropriate protected amino acid derivatives.
  • the characteristics of the peptide are as follows.
  • the protected peptide-resin was treated with liquid hydrogen fluoride, in the presence of p-cresol, p- thiocresol and dimethylsulfide as scavengers, at 0°C for 1 hour with constant stirring. Excess HF was removed by vacuum and the residue treated with ether to remove scavenger products. The peptide was extracted with 50% acetic acid (3 X 50 mL) , the solvents evaporated in vacuo, and the product freeze-dried.
  • the crude peptide was initially purified on an Amberlite IRA-68 ion-exchange column; further purification was accomplished by RP-HPLC on a preparative C 18 column.
  • the solvents used were: water containing 0.1% TFA (Buffer A) and CH 3 CN - H 2 0 (4:1) containing 0.1% TFA (Buffer B) .
  • a linear gradient of 0-20% B over 100 minutes was used.
  • the appropriate fractions containing the peptide were pooled, the solvents evaporated in vacuo , and the product freeze-dried (644 mg) .
  • the purified peptide gave satisfactory amino acid analysis.
  • AAA Ala 18.42 (16) , Arg 23.74 (24), ASX 10.41 (8) , Gly 1.47 (1), Lys 25.91 (31) , Pro 8.14 (8), Ser 23.68 (24), Thr 23.99 (24) .
  • This peptide was synthesized as described above, using the appropriate protected amino acid derivatives. The purified peptide gave satisfactory amino acid analysis.
  • the following multiple antigenic peptides can be produced using the techniques described above.
  • the following MAPs can be produced using methods analogous to those described above.
  • the animals are fed a commercial primate diet, optionally supplemented with fresh fruit. Water is provided ad libitum. Animals are randomized into two treatment groups (peptide or placebo) .
  • the animals Prior to challenge infection with SIV, the animals are immunized intramuscularly (by thigh injection) on day 0, day 10 and monthly as necessary with either 200 micrograms of test peptide mixed with alum as an adjuvant or a saline-adjuvant placebo, until suitable antibody titers are attained.
  • Serum for antibody testing is collected prior to initial immunization, on day 7 and on day 17 post immunization and then 7 days after each monthly injection until suitable antibody titers are attained.
  • SIV antibody in serum is determined by both radioimmunoassay and ELISA and is confirmed by Western Blot analysis.
  • the B670 SIV strain is a well-characterized viral isolate originally isolated at Tulane Regional Primate Research Center (TRPRC) .
  • the clinical, immunological and virological status of the animals are evaluated. For example, a lymph node biopsy is performed at 2 and 4 weeks after challenge, and a sample of blood is collected for the determination of antibody titers at week 4 after challenge and then monthly until death or completion of study. For all measurements of antibody. the mean titer level, expressed on a log 10 scale is computed at each time point.
  • Results of this protocol are anticipated to reveal significant protection of the animals by use of the peptide immunogens of this invention.
  • EXAMPLE 4 EVALUATION OF ANTIBODY TITERS OF IMMUNIZED MONKEYS WITH TAT IMMUNOGEN FOR SIV
  • Serum from monkeys immunized with the SIV TAT i0.95 multiple antigenic peptide are tested for the presence of anti-SIV TAT binding activity. This activity is assessed by two independent methods.
  • the antibodies present in the samples are precipitated, along with any bound [ 15 I-TYRo]-SIV TAT i( . 95 , by subsequent incubation with goat anti-monkey serum followed by centrifugation. The supernatant is removed and the remaining pellet is counted in a gamma counter to determine the amount of [ 125 I-TYRo]-SIV TAT ia . 95 bound by the monkey serum dilutions.
  • titer is defined as the dilution of monkey serum required to bind 50% of the added [ 125 I-TYRo]-SIV TAT iM5 tracer.
  • the monkey serum is titrated by enzyme- linked immunoassay (ELISA) on polystyrene microtiter plates that have previously been coated with both the SIV TAT i0 _ 95 multiple antigenic peptide to determine the total binding activity, and with ovalbumin to determine amount of the binding that is not specific for SIV TAT i0 .
  • ELISA enzyme- linked immunoassay
  • the monkey serum is serially diluted using 0.01M phosphate buffered saline containing 0.01% Tween 20 and 0.5% BSA (PBS/Tween 20) .
  • AGT CAG ACT CAT CAA GTT TCT CTA TCA 210 Arg Pro Pro Gin Gly Ser Gin Thr His Gin Val Ser Leu Ser 60 65 70
EP95921262A 1994-05-23 1995-05-16 Kompositionen zur transaktivierung von proteinen als humanen immunschwächevirus Withdrawn EP0767678A1 (de)

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PCT/US1995/006077 WO1995031999A1 (en) 1994-05-23 1995-05-16 Compositions of transactivating proteins of human immunodeficiency virus

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US5877282A (en) * 1996-09-20 1999-03-02 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Peptide inhibitors of nuclear protein translocation having nuclear localization sequences and methods of use thereof
US5891994A (en) * 1997-07-11 1999-04-06 Thymon L.L.C. Methods and compositions for impairing multiplication of HIV-1
IT1297090B1 (it) * 1997-12-01 1999-08-03 Barbara Ensoli Tat di hiv-1 o suoi derivati, da soli od in combinazione, a scopo vaccinale, profilattico e terapeutico, contro l'aids i tumori e le
FR2773156B1 (fr) 1997-12-26 2000-03-31 Biovacs Inc Nouveaux immunogenes anti-retroviraux (toxoides), nouveaux procedes de preparation et application a la prevention et au traitement du sida
FR2781158B1 (fr) 1998-07-15 2002-12-13 Vacs Internat Nouvelles proteines modifiees immunogenes non immunosuppressives, leur procede de preparation et leurs applications
US8323928B2 (en) 1999-08-12 2012-12-04 Pin Pharma, Inc. Vaccines and immunotherapeutics derived from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transactivator of transcription protein for the treatment and prevention of HIV disease
US6399067B1 (en) 2000-04-28 2002-06-04 Thymon L.L.C. Methods and compositions for impairing multiplication of HIV-1
US7927580B2 (en) 2004-03-16 2011-04-19 Nanirx, Inc. Tat-based immunomodulatory compositions and methods of their discovery and use
US7563437B2 (en) 2005-02-15 2009-07-21 Thymon, Llc Methods and compositions for impairing multiplication of HIV-1
CN102405057B (zh) 2009-03-23 2016-05-25 那尼尔科斯治疗公司 用免疫刺激性Hiv Tat衍生物多肽治疗癌症
WO2015051245A1 (en) 2013-10-04 2015-04-09 Pin Pharma, Inc. Immunostimulatory hiv tat derivative polypeptides for use in cancer treatment

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