Classifications

• • 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
  • A61K39/12—Viral antigens
  • A61K39/275—Poxviridae, e.g. avipoxvirus
• • 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
  • C12N7/00—Viruses; Bacteriophages; Compositions thereof; Preparation or purification thereof
  • C12N7/04—Inactivation or attenuation; Producing viral sub-units
• • 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
  • A61K39/12—Viral antigens
• • 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
  • A61K39/12—Viral antigens
  • A61K39/275—Poxviridae, e.g. avipoxvirus
  • A61K39/285—Vaccinia virus or variola virus
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
  • A61P31/04—Antibacterial agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
  • A61P31/12—Antivirals
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
  • A61P31/12—Antivirals
  • A61P31/14—Antivirals for RNA viruses
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
  • A61P31/12—Antivirals
  • A61P31/14—Antivirals for RNA viruses
  • A61P31/16—Antivirals for RNA viruses for influenza or rhinoviruses
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
  • A61P31/12—Antivirals
  • A61P31/14—Antivirals for RNA viruses
  • A61P31/18—Antivirals for RNA viruses for HIV
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
  • A61P31/12—Antivirals
  • A61P31/20—Antivirals for DNA viruses
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P33/00—Antiparasitic agents
  • A61P33/02—Antiprotozoals, e.g. for leishmaniasis, trichomoniasis, toxoplasmosis
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
  • A61P37/02—Immunomodulators
  • A61P37/04—Immunostimulants
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P43/00—Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• • 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
• • 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
  • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
  • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
  • C12N15/63—Introduction of foreign genetic material using vectors; Vectors; Use of hosts therefor; Regulation of expression
  • C12N15/79—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts
  • C12N15/85—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts for animal cells
  • C12N15/86—Viral vectors
• • 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
  • C12N7/00—Viruses; Bacteriophages; Compositions thereof; Preparation or purification thereof
• • 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
  • A61K2039/51—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies comprising whole cells, viruses or DNA/RNA
  • A61K2039/525—Virus
  • A61K2039/5254—Virus avirulent or attenuated
• • 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
  • A61K2039/51—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies comprising whole cells, viruses or DNA/RNA
  • A61K2039/525—Virus
  • A61K2039/5256—Virus expressing foreign proteins
• • 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
  • A61K2039/51—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies comprising whole cells, viruses or DNA/RNA
  • A61K2039/53—DNA (RNA) vaccination
• • 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
  • A61K2039/545—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by the dose, timing or administration schedule
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K48/00—Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy
• • 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
  • C12N2710/00—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA dsDNA viruses
  • C12N2710/00011—Details
  • C12N2710/24011—Poxviridae
  • C12N2710/24111—Orthopoxvirus, e.g. vaccinia virus, variola
  • C12N2710/24121—Viruses as such, e.g. new isolates, mutants or their genomic sequences
• • 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
  • C12N2710/00—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA dsDNA viruses
  • C12N2710/00011—Details
  • C12N2710/24011—Poxviridae
  • C12N2710/24111—Orthopoxvirus, e.g. vaccinia virus, variola
  • C12N2710/24141—Use of virus, viral particle or viral elements as a vector
  • C12N2710/24143—Use of virus, viral particle or viral elements as a vector viral genome or elements thereof as genetic vector
• • 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 provides an attenuated virus, which is derived from Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus and which is characterized by the loss of its capability to reproductively replicate in human cell lines. It further describes recombinant viruses derived from this virus and the use of the virus or its recombinants as medicament or vaccine. Additionally, a method is provided for inducing an immune response even in immuno-compromised patients, patients with pre-existing immunity to the vaccine virus or patients undergoing antiviral therapy.
• Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus is related to Vaccinia virus, a member of the genera Orthopoxvirus in the family of Poxviridae.
• MVA has been generated by 516 serial passages on chicken embryo fibroblasts of the A nkara strain of vaccinia v irus (CVA) (for review see Mayr, A ., et al. Infection 3, 6- 14 [1975]).
• CVA vaccinia v irus
• the resulting MVA virus deleted about 31 kilobases of its genomic sequence and , therefore, was described as highly host cell restricted to avian cells (Meyer, H. et al., J. Gen. V irol. 72, 1031-1038 [1991]).
• MVA has been engineered to use it as viral vector for recombinant gene expression or as recombinant vaccine (Sutter, G. et al. [1994], Vaccine 12: 1032-40).
• new vaccinia viruses are provided, which are capable of reproductive replication in non-human cells and cell lines, especially in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) and in the Baby hamster kidney cell line BHK (ECACC 8501 1433), but not capable of reproductive replication in human cell lines.
• the known vaccinia strains reproductively replicate in at least some human cell lines, in particular in the the human keratinocyte cell line HaCat_(Boukamp et al. 1988, J Cell Biol 106(3): 761-71).
• the replication in . the cell line HaCat is predictive for replication in vivo, in particular for in vivo replication in humans.
• the invention preferably relates to vaccinia viruses that do not reproductively replicate in the human cell line HaCat.
• the invention concerns vaccinia virus strains that are not capable of reproductive replication in any of the following human cell lines: the human cervix adenocarcinoma cell line HeLa (ATCC No. CCL-2), the human embryo kidney cell line 293 (ECACC No. 85120602), the human bone osteosarcoma cell line 143B (ECACC No. 91112502) and the cell line HaCat.
• the growth behavior or amplification/replication of a virus is normally expressed by the ratio of virus produced from an infected cell (Output) to the amount originally used to infect the cells in the first place (Input) ("amplification ratio").
• Output the ratio of virus produced from an infected cell
• Input the amount originally used to infect the cells in the first place
• Output and Input defines an amplification status wherein the amount of virus produced from the infected cells is the same as the amount initially used to infect the cells. This status hints to the fact, that the infected cells are permissive for virus infection and virus reproduction.
• An amplification ratio of less than 1 i.e. a decrease of the amplification below input level is an indicator for a lack of reproductive replication and, thus, an indicator for attenuation of the virus. Therefore, it- was of particular interest for the inventors to identify and finally to isolate a strain, which shows an amplification ratio of less than 1 in several human cell lines, in particular in all of the human cell lines 143B, HeLa, 293 and HaCat.
• the term "not capable of reproductive replication” means that the virus according to the invention shows an amplification ratio of less than 1 in human cell lines, such as the cell lines 293 (ECACC No. 85120602), 143B (ECACC No. 91112502), HeLa (ATCC No. CCL- 2) and HaCat (Boukamp et al. 1988, J Cell Biol 106(3): 761-71), under the conditions as outlined in example 1 of the present specification for some specific MVA strains.
• the amplification rate of the virus according to the invention is 0.8 or less in each of the above human cell lines HeLa, HaCat and 143B.
• Example 1 It is shown in detail in Example 1 and in table 1 that the viruses according to the present invention do not reproductively replicate in anyone of the cell lines 143B, HeLa and HaCat.
• the particular strain according to the present invention that has been used in the examples has been deposited at the European Collection of Cell Cultures under number V00083008. This strain is referred to as "MVA-BN" throughout the specification.
• the known MVA strains show residual replication in at least one of the human cell lines tested (figure 1 , example 1). All known Vaccinia strains show at least some replication in the cell line HaCat, whereas the MVA strains according to the present invention, in particular MVA-BN, do not productively replicate in HaCat cells. I n more detai l
• MVA-BN shows an amplification ratio of 0.05 to 0.2 in the Human embryo kidney cell line 293 (ECACC No. 85120602). In the Human bone osteosarcoma cell line 143B (ECACC No. 91 1 12502) the ratio is in the range of 0.0 to 0.6.
• HeLa Human cervix adeocarcinoma cell line
• human keratinocyte cell line For the Human cervix adeocarcinoma cell line HeLa (ATCC No. CCL-2) and the human keratinocyte cell line
• MVA-BN has an amplification ratio of 0.01 to 0.06 in African green monkey kidney cells (CV1 : ATCC No. CCL-70).
• CV1 African green monkey kidney cells
• the amplification ratio of MVA-BN is clearly above 1 in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF: primary cultures) or the baby hamster kidney cell l ine BHK (ATCC No. CRL- 1632).
• CEF primary cultures
• BHK baby hamster kidney cell l ine BHK
• a ratio of more than " 1 " indicates reproductive replication, since the amount of virus produced from the infected cells is increased compared to the amount of virus, which was used to infect the cells. Therefore, the virus can be easily propagated and amplified in CEF primary cultures with a ratio of above 500 or in BHK cells with a ratio of above 50.
• the invention concerns derivatives of the virus as deposited under ECACC V0083008.
• “Derivatives" of the viruses as deposited under ECACC V00083008 refer to viruses showing essentially the same replication characteristics as the deposited strain but showing differences in one or more parts of its genome. Viruses having the same "replication characteristics" than the deposited virus are viruses that replicate with similar amplification ratios than the deposited strain in CEF cells and the cell lines BHK, HeLa, HaCat and 143B and that show a similar replication in vivo as determined in the AGR129 transgenic mouse model (see below).
• the vaccinia virus strains according to the present invention are characterized by a failure to replicate in vivo.
• failure to replicate in vivo refers to viruses that do not replicate in humans and in the mice model explained below.
• “failure to replicate in vivo” can preferably determined in mice that are incapable of producing mature B and T cells.
• An example for such mice is the transgenic mouse model AGR 129 (obtained from Mark
• mice This mouse strain has gene targeted disruptions in the IFN receptor type 1 (I FN- / ⁇ ) and type I I (I FN- ⁇ ) genes and in RAG. Due to these disruptions the mice have no IFN system and are incapable of producing mature B and T cells and as such are severely immune compromised and highly susceptable to a replicating virus. I nstead of the AGR129 mice any other mouse strain can be used that is incapable of producing mature B and T cells and as such is severely immune compromised and highly susceptable to a replicating virus. I n particular the viruses according to the present invention do not kill
• AGR129 mice within a time period of at least 45 days, more preferably within at least 60 days, most preferably within 90 days after the infection of the mice with 10 7 pfu virus administered intra peritonealy.
• the viruses that show "failure to replicate in vivo" are further charactericed in that no virus can be recoverd from organs or tissues of the AGR129 mice 45 days, preferably 60 days and most preferably 90 days after the infection of the mice with 10 7 pfu virus administered intra peritonealy.
• Detailed information regarding the infection assays with AGR129 mice and the assays that are used to determine whether virus can be recovered from organs and tissues of infected mice can be found in the example section.
• the vaccinia virus strains according to the present invention in particular MVA-BN and its derivatives, is characterized by a higher immunogenicity compared to the known strain MVA 575 as determined in a lethal chal lenge mouse model .
• the details of this experiment are outlined in example 2, shown below. Briefly, in such a model unvaccinated mice die after the infection with replication competent vaccinia strains such as the Western Reserve strain L929 TK+ or I HD-J. The infection with replication competent vaccinia viruses is referred to as "challenge" in the context of description of the lethal challenge model.
• the viral titer in the ovaries is determined by standard plaque assays using VERO cells (for more details see example section).
• the viral titer is determined for unvaccinated mice and for mice vaccinated with vaccina viruses according to the present invention. More specifically the viruses according to the present invention are characterized in that in this test after the vaccination with 10 2 TCIDso/ml virus according to the present invention the ovary virus titers are reduced by at least 70% , preferably by at least 80%, more preferably by at least 90% compared to unvaccinated mice.
• the vaccinia viruses according to the present invention are useful for immunization with prime/boost administration of the vaccine.
• prime/boost regimes using MVA as a delivery vector induce poor immune responses and are inferior to DNA-prime MVA-boost regimes (Schneider et al., 1998, Nat. Med. 4; 397-402).
• MVA strains have been used that are different from the vaccinia viruses according to the present invention.
• DNA-prime/MVA-boost regimes are reported to be superior at generating high avidity responses, because this regime combines the ability of DNA to effectively prime the immune response with the properties of MVA to boost this response in the absence of a pre-existing immunity to MVA.
• the use of MVA as a vaccine or therapeutic would have limited efficacy, particularly in the individuals that have been vaccinated against smallpox.
• the vaccinia virus according the present invention in particular MVA-BN and its derivatives as well as corresponding recombinant viruses harbouring heterologous sequences, can be used to efficiently first prime and then boost immune responses in native animals as well as in animals with a pre-existing immunity to poxviruses.
• the vaccinia virus according to the present invention induces at least substantially the same level of immunity in vaccinia virus prime/ vaccinia virus boost regimes compared to DNA-prime/ vaccinia virus boost regimes.
• a vaccinia virus is regarded as inducing at least substantially the same level of immunity in vaccinia virus prime/ vaccinia virus boost regimes when compared to DNA-prime/ vaccinia virus boost regimes if the CTL response as measured in one of the following two assays horrassay 1 " and mecanicassay 2"), preferably in both assays, is at least substantially the same in vaccinia virus prime/ vaccinia virus boost regimes when compared to DNA-prime/ vaccinia virus boost regimes. More preferably the CTL response after vaccinia virus prime/vaccinia virus boost administration is higher in at least one of the assays, when compared to DNA-prime/vaccinia virus boost regimes. Most preferably the CTL response is higher in both of the following assays.
• Assay 1 For vaccinia virus prime/vaccinia virus boost administrations 6-8 week old BALB/c (H-2d) mice are prime- immunized by intravenous administration with 10 7 TCID50 vaccinia virus according to the present invention expessing the murine polytope as described in Thomson et al., 1988, J. Immunol. 160,
• the DNA plasmid expressing the polytope is also described in the above referenced publication by Thomson et al. In both regimes the development of a CTL response against the epitopes SYI PSAEKI, RPQASGVYM and/or YPHFMPTNL is determined two weeks after the boost administration. The determination of the CTL response is preferably done by using the ELISPOT analysis as described by Schneider et al., 1998, Nat. Med. 4, 397-402 and as outlined in the examples section below for one specific virus according to the present invention.
• the virus according to the present invention is characterized in this experiment in that the CTL immune response against the epitopes mentioned above which is induced by the vaccinia virus prime/vaccinia virus boost administration is substantially the same, preferably at least the same as induced by DNA prime/vaccinia virus boost administration as assessed by the number of IFN- ⁇ producing cells/10 6 spleen cells (see also experimental section).
• Assay 2 This assay basically corresponds to assay 1. However, instead of using 10 7 TCID50 vaccinia virus administered i.v. as in assay 1, in this assay 10 8 TCID50 vaccinia virus according to the present invention are administered subcutaneously for prime immunization and for boost immunization.
• the virus according to the present invention is characterized in this experiment in that the CTL immune response against the epitopes mentioned above which is induced by the vaccinia virus prime/vaccinia virus boost administration is substantially the same, preferably at least the same as induced by DNA prime/vaccinia virus boost administration as assessed by the number of I FN- ⁇ producing cells/10 6 spleen cells (see also experimental section).
• the strenght of a CTL response as measured in one of the assays shown above corresponds to the level of protection.
• the viruses according to the present invention are particularly suitable for vaccination purposes.
• the vaccinia virus according to the present invention has at least two of the above properties, more preferably at least three of the above properties. Most preferred are vaccinia viruses having all of the above properties.
• the invention concerns a kit for vaccination comprising a virus according to the present invention for the first vaccination constantlypriming" in a first vial/container and for a second vaccination employboosting" in a second vial/container.
• the virus may be a non-recombinant vaccinia virus, i.e. a vaccinia virus that does not contain heterologous nucleotide sequences.
• a vaccinia virus is MVA-BN and its derivatives.
• the virus may be a recombinant vaccinia virus that contains additional nucleotide sequences which are heterologous to the vaccinia virus.
• heterologous sequences may code for epitopes that induce a response by the immune system.
• the recombinant vaccinia virus may be used to vaccinate against the proteins or agents comprising said epitope.
• the viruses may be formulated as shown below in more detail. The amount of virus that may be used for each vaccination has been defined above.
• Vaccinia viruses having at least one the following properties:
• a process to obtain such a virus may comprise the following steps:
• the invention further relates to the viruses obtained by this method according to the present invention. Methods how the desired biological properties can be determined are explained in other parts of this description.
• the inventors identified and isolated in several rounds of clone purification a strain according to the present invention starting from the MVA isolate passage 575 (MVA 575).
• This new strain corresponds to the strain with the accession number ECACC V0083008, mentioned above.
• the growth behavior of the vaccinia viruses according to the present invention indicates that the strains according to the present invention are far superior to any other so far characterized MVA isolate regarding attenuation in human cell lines and failure of in vivo replication.
• the strains according to the present invention are therefore ideal candidates for the development of safer products such as vaccines or pharmaceuticals as will be described below.
• the virus according to the present invention in particular MVA-BN and its derivatives, is used as a vaccine against human pox virus diseases such as smallpox.
• the virus according to the present invention may be recombinant, i.e. may express heterologous genes as, e.g., antigens or epitopes heterologous to the virus and may thus be useful as a vaccine to induce an immune response against heterologous antigens or epitopes.
• immune response means the reaction of the immune system, when a foreign substance or micro-organism enters the organism .
• the immune response is divided into a specific and an unspecific reaction although both are closely cross linked.
• the unspecific immune response is the immediate defence against a wide variety of foreign substances and infectious agents.
• the specific immune response is the defence raised after a lag phase, when the organism is challenged with a substance for the first time.
• the specific immune response is highly efficient and is responsible for the fact that an individual who recovers from a specific infection is protected against this specific infection.
• a second infection with the same or a very similar infectious agent causes much milder symptoms or no symptoms at all, since there is already a "preexisting immunity" to this agent.
• Such immunity and the immunological memory persists for a long time, in some cases even lifelong. Accordingly, the induction of an immunological memory can be used for vaccination.
• the "immune system” means a complex organ i nvolved in the defence of the organism against foreign substances and microorganisms.
• the immune system comprises a cellular part comprising several cell types, such as, e.g., lymphocytes and other cells derived from white blood cells, and a humoral part comprising small peptides and complement factors.
• Vaccination means that an organism is chal lenged with an infectious agent, e.g., in an attenuated or inactivated form of said infectious agent, to induce a specific immunity.
• the term vaccination also covers the challenge of an organism with recombiant vaccinia viruses according to the present invention, in particular recombinant MVA-BN and its derivatives, expressing antigens or epitopes that are heterologous to the virus. Examples for such epitopes are given in other parts of the description and cover, e.g., epitopes from proteins derived from other viruses such as the Dengue virus, Hepatitis C virus, HIV, or epitopes derived from proteins that are assoziated with the development of tumours and cancer.
• the epitopes are expressed and are presented to the immune system and a specific immune response against these epitope may be induced.
• the organism thus, is immunized against the agent/protein containing the epitope that is encoded by the recombinant vaccinia virus.
• Immunity means partial or complete protection of an organism against diseases caused by an infectious agent due to a successful elimination of a preceding infection with said infectious agent or a characteristic part thereof. Immunity is based on the existence, induction and activation of specialised cells of the immune system.
• the recombinant viruses according to the present invention contain at least one heterologous nucleic acid sequence.
• heterologous is used hereinafter for any combination of nucleic acid sequences that is not normally found intimately associated with the virus in nature, such virus is also called “recombinant virus” .
• the heterologous sequences are preferably antigenic epitopes, which are selected from any non-vaccinia source.
• said recombinant virus expresses one or more antigenic epitopes from Plasmodium falciparum, Mycobacteria, Influenza virus, from viruses selected of the family of Flaviviruses, Paramyxoviruses, Hepatitis viruses, Human immunodeficiency viruses or from viruses causing hemorrhagic fever such as Hantaviruses or Filoviruses, i.e., Ebola or
• the heterologous sequences can be selected from another poxviral or a vaccinia source. These viral sequences can be used to modify the host spectrum or the immunogenicity of the virus.
• the virus according to the present invention may code for a heterologous gene/nucleic acid expressing a therapeutic compound.
• a "therapeutic compound" encoded by the heterologous nucleic acid in the virus can be, e.g., a therapeutic nucleic acid such as an antisense nucleic acid or a peptide or protein with desired biological activity.
• heterologous nucleic acid sequence is preferably, but not exclusively, under the transcriptional control of a poxvirus promoter, more preferably of a vaccinia virus promoter.
• insertion of heterologous nucleic acid sequence is preferably into a non-essential region of the virus genome.
• the heterologous nucleic acid sequence is inserted at a naturally occurring deletion site of the MVA genome (disclosed in
• the invention includes also the genome of the vi rus, its recombinants or functional parts thereof.
• viral sequences can be used to identify or isolate the virus or its recombinants, e.g., by using PCR, hybridization technologies or by establishing ELISA assays.
• viral sequences can be expressed from an expression vector to produce the encoded protein or peptide which then may supplement deletion mutants of a virus that lacks the viral sequence contained in the expression vector.
• “Functional part” of the viral genome means a part of the complete genomic sequence, which encodes a physical entity, such as a protein, protein domain, epitope of a protein. Functional part of the viral genome also describes parts of the complete genomic sequence, which code for regulatory elements or parts of such elements with ind ividualizable activity, such as promoter, enhancer, cis- or trans- acting elements.
• the recombinant virus according to the present invention may be used for the introduction of the heterologous nucleic acid sequence into a target cell, said sequence being either homologous or heterologous to the target cell.
• the introduction of a heterologous nucleic acid sequence into a target cell may be used to produce in vitro heterologous peptides or polypeptides and/or complete viruses encoded by said sequence.
• This method comprises the infection of a host cell with the recombinant MVA, cultivation of the infected host cell under suitable conditions, and isolation and/or enrichment of the peptide, protein and/or virus produced by said host cell .
• the method for introduction of a homologous or of a heterologous sequence to cells may be applied for in vitro and preferably in vivo therapy.
• isolated cells that have been previously (ex vivo) infected with the virus are administered to the l iving animal body for inducing an immune response.
• the virus or its recombinants are directly administered to the living animal body for inducing an immune response.
• the cells surrounding the site of inoculation are directly infected in vivo by the virus or its recombinants according to the invention.
• the present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition and a vaccine , e.g., for inducing an immune response in a living animal body, including a human.
• the virus of the invention is further safe in any other gene therapy protocols.
• the pharmaceutical composition may generally include one or more pharmaceutical acceptable and/or approved carriers, additives, antibiotics, preservatives, adjuvants, diluents and/or stabilizers.
• auxiliary substances can be water, saline, glycerol, ethanol, wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering substances, or the like.
• Suitable carriers are typically large, slowly metabolized molecules such as proteins, polysaccharides, polylactic acids, polyglycollic acids, polymeric amino acids, amino acid copolymers, lipid aggregates, or the like.
• the virus or its recombinants according to the invention is converted into a physiologically acceptable form. This can be done based on the experience in the preparation of poxvirus vaccines used for vaccination against smallpox (as described by Stickl, H. et al. [1974] Dtsch. med. Wschr. 99, 2386-2392).
• the purified virus is stored at -80°C with a titre of 5xl0 8 TCIDso/ml formulated in about lOmM Tris, 140 mM o
• the vaccine shots can be produced by stepwise freeze-dryi ng of the virus in a formulation.
• This formulation can contain additional additives such as mannitol, dextran, sugar, glycine, lactose or polyvinylpyrrol idone or other additives such as antioxidants or inert gas, stabilizers or recombinant proteins (e.g. human serum albumin) suitable for in vivo administration.
• the glass ampoule is then sealed and can be stored between 4°C and room temperature for several months. However, as long as no need exists the ampoule is stored preferably at temperatures below -20°C.
• the lyophilisate can be dissolved in 0.1 to 0.5 ml of an aqueous solution, preferably physiological saline or
• Tris buffer and administered either systemically or locally, i.e. by parenterally, intramuscularly or any other path of administration know to the skilled practitioner.
• the mode of administration, the dose and the number of administrations can be optimized by those skilled in the art in a known manner.
• the virus according the present invention is particularly useful to induce immune responses in immuno-compromised animals, e.g., monkeys (CD4 ⁇ 400/ ⁇ l of blood) infected with SIV, or in immuno-compromised humans.
• immuno-compromised describes the status of the immune system of an individual, which shows only incomplete immune responses or has a reduced efficiency in the defence against infectious agents.
• the virus according the present invention can boost immune responses in immuno-compromised animals or humans, even in the presence of a pre-existing immunity to poxvirus in these animals or humans.
• Antiviral therapy includes therapeutic concepts in order to eliminate or suppress viral infection including , e.g., (i) the appl ication of nucleotide analogs, (ii) the application of inhibitors for viral enzymatic activity or viral assembling, or (iii) application of cytokins to influence immune responses of the host.
• the vaccine is especially, but not exclusively, applicable in the veterinary field, e.g. , for the immunization against animal pox infection.
• the inoculation for immunization is preferably performed parenterally or nasaly, whereas in larger animals or humans a subcutaneous, intramuscular or oral inoculation is preferred.
• the virus according to the invention stimulates even with a very low effective dose of only 10 2 TCID50 a potent and protecting immune response in a mouse/vaccinia challenge model.
• the virus according to the present invention thus shows an unexpected and even increased immunogenicity compared to other so far characterized MVA strains. This high immunogenicity makes the virus according to the present invention and any vaccine derived thereof especially useful for application in immuno-compromised animals or humans.
• the virus is used as an adjuvant.
• An “adjuvant” in the context of the present desciption refers to an enhancer of the specific immune response in vaccines.
• "Using the virus as adjuvant” means including the virus in a pre-existing vaccine to additionally stimulate the immune system of the patient who receives the vaccine. The immunizing effect of an antigenic epitope in most vaccines is often enhanced by the addition of a so-called adjuvant.
• An adjuvant co-stimulates the immune system by causing a stronger specific immune reaction against an antigenic epitope of a vaccine. This stimulation can be regulated by factors of the unspecific immune system, such as interferon and interleukin.
• the virus is used in mammals including humans to activate, support or suppress the immune system, and preferably to activate the immune response against any antigenic determinant.
• the virus may also be used to support the immune system in a situation of increased susceptibility against infections such as in the case of stress.
• the virus used as an adjuvant may be a non-recombinant virus, i.e. a virus that does not contain heterologous DNA in its genome.
• a virus that does not contain heterologous DNA in its genome An example for this type of virus is MVA-BN.
• the virus that is used as an adjuvant is a recombinant virus containing in its genome heterologous DNA sequences that are not naturally present in the viral genome.
• the recombinant viral DNA of the virus preferably contains and expresses genes that code for immune stimulatory peptides or proteins such as interleukines.
• the virus is inactivated, when used as an adjuvant or added to another vaccine.
• the inactivation of the virus may be performed, e.g., by heat or chemicals, as known in the art.
• the virus is inactivated by ⁇ -propriolacton.
• the inactivated virus may be added to vaccines against numerous infectious or proliferative diseases to increase the immune response of the patient to this disease. Summary of the Invention
• the invention inter alia comprises the following, alone or in combination:
• Vaccinia virus having at least one of the following properties:
• the virus as above being deposited at the European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC), Salisbury (UK) under number V00083008 and derivatives thereof.
• the virus as above comprising at least one heterologous nucleic acid sequence.
• heterologous nucleic acid sequence being selected from a sequence coding for at least one antigen, antigenic epitope, and/or a therapeutic compound.
• composition comprising the virus as above and/or the genome and/or functional part thereof as defined above and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent and/or additive.
• Vaccine comprising the virus as above and/or the genome and/or functional part thereof as defined above.
• virus as above, and/or the genome as defined above, for the preparation of a medicament or a vaccine.
• Method for introducing homologous and/or heterologous nucleic acid sequences into target cells comprising the infection of the target cells with the virus comprising heterologous sequences as defined above or the transfection of the target cell with the genome as defined above.
• Method for affecting, preferably inducing an immunological response in a living animal body including a human comprising administering the virus as above, the genome and/or functional part thereof as defined above, the composition as defined above or the vaccine as defined above to the animal or human to be treated.
• the method as above comprising the administration of at least 10 2 TCI D50 (tissue culture infectious dose) of the virus.
• TCI D50 tissue culture infectious dose
• the method wherein the animal is undergoing an antiviral therapy characterized in that the antiviral therapy is an antiretroviral therapy
• virus as above, the genome and/or functional part thereof as defined above as adjuvant.
• a method for enhancing a specific immune response against an antigen and/or an antigenic epitope included in a vaccine comprising administration of the virus as above or the genome as defined above, as an adjuvant to a living animal body including a human to be treated with the vaccine.
• a cell preferably a human cell, containing the virus as above or the genome or functional part thereof as defined above.
• vaccinia virus strain preferably MVA 575 into non human cells in which the virus is able to reproductively replicate, wherein the non-human cells are preferably selected from CEF cells and the cell line BHK,
• Kit for prime/boost immunization comprising a virus as above, a vaccine as above or the virus as drug as defined above for a first inoculation ("priming inoculation”) in a first vial/container and for a second inoculation ("boosting inoculation”) in a second vial/container.
• the virus as above, the composition as defined above and/or of the vaccine as defined above for the preparation of a vaccine wherein the virus, the composition or the vaccine is administered in a prime inoculation and wherein the same virus or vaccine is administered in a boost inoculation.
• Figure 1 Growth kinetics of different strains of MVA in different cell lines.
• the results are grouped according to the MVA strains tested whereas in part B) the results are grouped according to the cell lines tested.
• Figure 2 Protection provided against a lethal challenge of vaccinia following vaccinations with either MVA-BN or MVA 575.
• the protection is measured by the reduction in ovary titres determined 4 days post challenge by standard plaque assay.
• Figure 3 Induction of CTL and protection provided against an influenza challenge using different prime-boost regimes.
• 3A I nduction of CTL responses to 4 different H-2 d restricted epitopes following vaccinations with different combinantions of DNA or MVA- BN vaccines encoding a murine polytope.
• BALB/c mice (5 per group) were vaccinated with either DNA (intramuscularly) or MVA-BN (subcutaneously) and received booster immunisations three weeks later.
• CTL responses to 4 different epitopes encoded by the vaccines (TYQRTRALV, infuenza; SYI PSAEKI , P. Berghei; YPHFMPTNL, Cytomegalovirus; RPQASGVYM, LCV) were determined using an ELISPOT assay 2 weeks post the booster immunisations.
• 3B I nduction of CTL responses to 4 different H-2 d restricted epitopes following vaccinations with different combinantions of DNA or MVA- BN vaccines encoding a murine polytope.
• BALB/c mice 5 per group) were
• 3C Frequency of peptide and MVA specific T cells following homologous prime boost using an optimal dose (1 x 10 8 TCID50) of recombinant MVA-BN, given subcutaneously. Groups of 8 mice were vaccinated with two shots of the combinations as indicated in the figure. Two weeks post the final vaccination the number of peptide specific splenocytes were measured using an IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay. The bars represent the mean number of specific spots plus/minus the standard deviation from the mean.
• Figure 4 SIV load of monkeys vaccinated with MVA-BN nef or MVA- BN.
• Figure 5 Survival of vaccinated monkeys following infection with SIV.
• Figure 6 Monkey serum antibody titres to MVA-BN. The antibody titres for each animal are shown as different shapes, while the mean titre is illustrated as a solid rectangle.
• Figure 7 Levels of SIV in immuno-compromised monkeys (CD4 ⁇ 400 ml blood) following vaccinations with MVA-BN encoding tat. Monkeys had previously received three vaccinations with either MVA-BN or MVA-BN nef (week 0, 8, 16) and had been infected with a pathogenic isolate of SIV (week 22). At week 100, 102 and 106 (indicated by arrows) the monkeys were vaccinated with MVA-BN tat.
• FIG 9 Humoral response generated to SIV following infection and vaccinations with recombinant MVA.
• Antibodies to SIV were determined using infected T cell lysates as antigen in a standard ELISA.
• Figure 10 Humoral response generated to MVA in SIV infected monkeys undergoing anti-retroviral therapy.
• Antibodies to MVA were determined using a standard capture ELISA for MVA.
• Figure 11 Induction of antibodies to MVA following vaccination of mice with different smallpox vaccines. The levels of antibodies generated to MVA following vaccinations with MVA-BN (week 0 and
• MVA-BN and MVA 572 given as a pre-Elstree vaccine.
• MVA 572 has ' been deposited at the European Collection of Animal Cell Cultures as
• the titres were determined using a capture
• MVA-BN MVA-BN is significantly (p > 0.05) different to M VA 572 : MVA 572.
• Example 1 Growth kinetics of a new strain of MVA in selected cell lines and replication in vivo
• MVA-BN To characterize a newly isolated strain according to the present invention (further referred to as MVA-BN) the growth kinetics of this new strain were compared to those of other MVA strains, which have already been characterized.
• the experiment was done by comparing the growth kinetics of the following viruses in the subsequently listed primary cells and cell lines:
• MVA-BN Virus stock #23, 18. 02. 99 crude, titrated at 2,0 x lO ⁇ TCIDso/ml;
• MVA as characterized by Altenburger (US patent 5, 185, 146) and further referred to as MVA-HLR;
• MVA (passage 575) as characterized by Anton Mayr (Mayr, A . , et al. [1975] Infection 3; 6- 14) and further referred to as M VA - 575 (ECACC V00120707); and MVA-Vero as characterized in the International Patent
• the used primary cells and cell lines were:
• the different cells were seeded into 6-well-plates at a concentration of 5 x 10 5 cells/well and incubated over night at 37°C, 5% C0 2 in DMEM (Gibco, Cat. No. 61965-026) plus 2% FCS. Cell culture medium was removed and cells were infected at approximately moi 0.05 for one hour at 37°C, 5% CO2 (for infection it is assumed that cell numbers doubled over night).
• the amount of virus used for each infection of the different cell types was 5 X 10 4 TCID50 and this will be referred to as Input.
• the viruses were used to infect duplicate sets of on the one hand CEF and BHK, which were expected to be permissive for MVA, and on the other hand CV- 1 , Vero, Hela, 143B and HaCat which were expected to be non-permissive for MVA, at a low multiplicity of infection, i.e., 0.05 infectious units per cell (5 x 10 4 TCID50). After this, the virus inoculum was removed and the cells washed three time to remove any remaining unabsorbed viruses. Infections were left for a total of 4 days where viral extracts were prepared and then titred on CEF cells. Table 1 and Figure 1 show the results of the titration assays where the values are given as total amount of virus produced after 4 days infection.
• MVA-BN is highly attenuated in this cell line. It showed a 200 fold decrease below Input. Also MVA-575 did not amplify above the Input level also showed a slightly negative amplification, namely 16 fold decrease below Input. MVA-HLR amplified the best with 30 fold increase above Input, followed by MVA-Vero with 5 fold increase above Input.
• MVA- Vero was the only one to show amplification above I nput (3 fold increase). All other viruses did not amplify above I nput but there was a big difference between the MVA-HLR and both MVA-BN and MVA- 575.
• MVA-HLR was "borderline” (1 fold decrease below I nput), were as MVA-BN shows the greatest attenuation (300 fold decrease below I nput) followed by MVA-575 (59 fold decrease below Input). To summarize MVA-BN is superior regarding attenuation in human 143B cells.
• MVA-BN is the most attenuated virus strain in this group of virus: MVA-BN demonstrates to be extremely attenuated in human cell lines by showing an amplification ratio of 0.05 to 0.2 in Human embryo kidney cells (293: ECACC No. 85120602)(data not incorporated in Table 1), it shows further an amplification ratio of about 0.0 in 143B cells; an amplification ratio of about 0.04 in HeLa cells; an amplification ratio of about 0.22 in HaCat cells. Additionally, MVA-BN is showing an amplification ratio of about 0.0 in CV1 cells.
• MVA-BN is the only known MVA strain showing an amplification ratio of less than 1 in all of the human cell lines 143B, Hela, HaCat and 293.
• MVA-575 shows a similar profile as MVA-BN but is not as attenuated as MVA-BN .
• MVA-HLR amplified wel l in all cell lines tested (except for 143B cells), it thus can be regarded as replication competent in al l cell lines tested with exception in 143B cells. In one case it even amplified better in a human cell line (HeLa) than in a permissive cell line (BHK).
• HeLa human cell line
• BHK permissive cell line
• MVA-Vero does show amplification in all cell lines but to a lesser extent than demonstrated by MVA-HLR (ignoring the 143B result). Nevertheless it cannot be considered as being in the same "class", with regards to attenuation, as MVA-BN or MVA-575.
• mice I FN- ⁇ genes and in RAG. Due to these disruptions the mice have no I FN system and are incapable of producing mature B and T cells and as such are severely immune compromised and highly susceptable to a replicating virus.
• Groups of six mice were immunised (i .p) with 10 7 pfu of either MVA-BN, MVA-HLR or MVA 572 (used in 120,000 people in Germany) and monitored daily for clinical signs. All mice vaccinated with MVA HLR or MVA 572 died within 28 and 60 days, respectively. At necropsy there were genera! signs of a severe viral infection in the majority of organs and by a standard plaque assay MVA (10 8 pfu) was recovered from the ovaries. In contrast, mice vaccinated with the same dose of MVA-BN (corresponding to the deposited strain ECACC V00083008) survived for more than 90 days and no MVA could be recovered from organs or tissues.
• mice Lethal Chal lenge Model Specific pathogen-free 6-8-week-old female BALB/c (H-2 d ) mice
• mice were immunized (i.p.) with different doses (10 2 , 10 4 or 10 6 TCIDso/ml) of either MVA BN or MVA 575.
• MVA-BN and MVA- 575 had been propagated on CEF cells, and had been sucrose purified and formulated in Tris pH 7.4.
• a lethal challenge i.p.
• rVV replication competent vaccinia virus
• Control mice received a placebo vaccine. The protection was measured by the reduction in ovary titres determ i ned
• mice 4 days post challenge by standard plaque assay. For this the mice were sacrificed on day 4 post the challenge and the ovaries were removed, homogenized in PBS (1ml) and viral titres determined by standard plaque assay using VERO cells (Thomson et a., 1998, J. Immunol. 160: 1717)..
• mice vaccinated with two immunizations of either 10 4 or 10 6 TCID ⁇ o/ml of MVA-BN or MVA-575 were completely protected as judged by a 100% reduction in ovary rVV titres 4 days post challenge (Fig. 2). The challenge virus was cleared. However, differences in the levels of protection afforded by MVA-BN or MVA -
• mice vaccinated with the same dose of MVA-BN induced a significant reduction (96%) in ovary rVV titres (mean 0.21 xl O 7 pfu +/-0.287 xl O 7 ).
• the control mice that received a placebo vaccine had a mean viral titre of 5.1 1 xl O 7 pfu (+/- 3.59 xlO 7 ) (Fig. 2).
• MVA-BN is more potent than its parent strain MVA-575 at inducing a protective immune response against a lethal rVV challenge, which may be related to the increased attenuation of MVA-BN compared to MVA-575.
• MVA-BN Induction of antibodies to MVA following vaccination of mice with different smallpox vaccines
• the efficacy of MVA-BN was compared to other MVA and vaccinia strains previously used in the eradication of smallpox. These included single immunisations using the Elstree and Wyeth vaccinia strains produced in CEF cells and given via tail scarification and immunisations using MVA 572 that was previously used in the smallpox eradication program in Germany.
• both MVA-BN and MVA 572 were compared as a pre-vaccine followed by Elstree via scarification.
• mice For each group eight BALB/c mice were used and all MVA vaccinations (1 xlO 7 TCID50) were given subcutaneously at week 0 and week 3. Two weeks following the boost immunisation the mice were challenged with vaccinia (IHD-J) and the titres in the ovaries was determined 4 days post challenge. All vaccines and regimes induced 100% protection.
• the immune responses induced using these different vaccines or regimes were measured in animals prior to challenge. Assays to measure levels of neutralisating antibodies, T cell proliferation, cytokine production (I FN- ⁇ vs I L-4) and I FN- ⁇ production by T cells were used.
• the level of the T cell responses induced by MVA-BN, as measured by ELIspot, was generally equivalent to other MVA and vaccinia viruses demonstrating bio-equivalence.
• a weekly analysis of the antibody titres to MVA following the different vaccination regimes revealed that - vaccinations with MVA-BN significantly enhanced the speed and_ magnitude of the antibody response compared to the other vaccination regimes (Fig. 11).
• MVA-prime and boost regimes generate the same level of protection as DNA-prime MVA-boost regimes in a influenza challenge model.
• the DNA plasmid encoding the murine polytope (10 CTL epitopes including influenza, ovalbumin) was described previously (Thomson et al., 1998, J. Immunol. 160: 1717). This murine polytope was inserted into deletion site II of MVA-BN, propagated on CEF cells, sucrose purified and formulated in Tris pH 7.4.
• mice BALB/c (H-2d) mice were used. Groups of 5 mice were used for ELISPOT analysis while 6 mice per group were used for the influenza challenge experiments. Mice were vaccinated with different pri me- boost regimes using MVA or DNA encoding the murine polytope as detai led in the results. For immunizations with DNA, mice were anesthetized and then given a single injection of 50 ⁇ g of endotoxin- free plasmid DNA (in 50 ⁇ l of PBS) in the quadriceps muscle under anaesthesia.
• mice were anesthetized and infected i.n. with a sub-lethal dose of the submittedant influenza virus, Mem71
• MVA-BN can be used to safely boost immune responses in immuno- compromised monkeys with a pre-existing immunity to MVA.
• Vaccination protocols
• IXC
• BN nef vaccine appeared to delay the progression of the disease, compared to the control group and even at week 46-post infection 5 out of the 6 MVA-BN nef animals survived (Fig. 5). However, by week 59-post infection two further animals in the nef vaccinated group were euthanised leaving five surviving animals (three from the MVA-BN nef group and two vaccinated with MVA-BN). An examination of the antibody titres generated to MVA-BN in these 12 monkeys clearly demonstrated that MVA-BN could boost the immune response even in the presence of a pre-existing immunity to MVA (Fig. 6).
• the five surviving monkeys were SIV infected and immuno- compromised with CD4 counts lower than 400/ ⁇ l blood.
• the five animals were vaccination three times with MVA-BN tat at week 100, 102 and 106 post the initial vaccination.
• the first immunization with MVA-BN tat significantly boosted the antibody response to MVA in these immuno-compromised monkeys that was further boosted with the third immunization six weeks later (Fig. 6).
• MVA-BN immunizations are safe and do not affect the levels of viremia in SIV infected animals.
• a t week 10 animals were vaccinated with recombinant MVA-BN (i.m.), or saline and received identical vaccinations 6 weeks later.
• Group 1 received a mixture of MVA gag-pol and MVA-env
• group 2 received MVA-tat, MVA-rev and MVA-nef
• group 3 received saline.
• the clinical status of the animals was frequently monitored and regular blood samples were taken for the measurement of viremia, immune parameters, and a full range of hematology and blood clinical chemistry parameters.
• the anti-SIV antibody titres in group 1 increased following the vaccinations with MVA gag-pol and M VA-e nv at week 10, indicating that recombinant MVA-BN can boost the immune response to SIV in (SIV) infected animals undergoing anti- retroviral therapy.
• the anti-SIV antibody titres were boosted following the secondary immunization at week 16 again demonstrating that MVA can boost immune responses in immuno- compromised animals, even in the presence of a pre-existing immunity to MVA (Fig. 8).
• the anti-MVA antibody titres in group 1 also reflected this pattern with the generation of a antibody response following the primary immunization and this was significantly boosted following the secondary vaccination (Fig. 10).
• Amplification ratio output TCID50 ⁇ input TCID50. Values are in TCID50.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Virology (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
• Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
• Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Microbiology (AREA)
• Immunology (AREA)
• Biotechnology (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• Oncology (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Communicable Diseases (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Mycology (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Plant Pathology (AREA)
• Gastroenterology & Hepatology (AREA)
• Proteomics, Peptides & Aminoacids (AREA)
• Tropical Medicine & Parasitology (AREA)
• AIDS & HIV (AREA)
• Pulmonology (AREA)
• Micro-Organisms Or Cultivation Processes Thereof (AREA)
• Medicines Containing Antibodies Or Antigens For Use As Internal Diagnostic Agents (AREA)

Priority Applications (51)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Related Child Applications (4)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=8159864

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (29)

Cited By (104)

Families Citing this family (63)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (70)

• 2001
  • 2001-11-22 UA UA2003054618A patent/UA76731C2/uk unknown
  • 2001-11-22 NZ NZ524661A patent/NZ524661A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-11-22 SI SI200130512T patent/SI1335987T2/sl unknown
  • 2001-11-22 PT PT01991753T patent/PT1335987E/pt unknown
  • 2001-11-22 WO PCT/EP2001/013628 patent/WO2002042480A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2001-11-22 EP EP10158053A patent/EP2204452A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-11-22 AU AU2002231639A patent/AU2002231639B2/en not_active Expired
  • 2001-11-22 KR KR1020087007423A patent/KR100910297B1/ko not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-22 MX MXPA03002513A patent/MXPA03002513A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-11-22 EP EP05017694A patent/EP1598425A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-11-22 EP EP10158051A patent/EP2202315A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-11-22 AU AU3163902A patent/AU3163902A/xx active Pending
  • 2001-11-22 CN CN200910151102A patent/CN101676389A/zh active Pending
  • 2001-11-22 DE DE20122302U patent/DE20122302U1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-22 KR KR1020097010451A patent/KR20090057335A/ko not_active Ceased
  • 2001-11-22 AT AT01991753T patent/ATE314483T2/de active
  • 2001-11-22 KR KR1020037006970A patent/KR100830295B1/ko not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-22 CZ CZ20031366A patent/CZ295808B6/cs not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-11-22 PL PL361459A patent/PL212047B1/pl unknown
  • 2001-11-22 CN CNB018194109A patent/CN100537773C/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-22 DK DK01991753.3T patent/DK1335987T4/en active
  • 2001-11-22 DE DE60116371.0T patent/DE60116371T3/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-22 EE EEP200300173A patent/EE05680B1/xx unknown
  • 2001-11-22 RU RU2003118436/13A patent/RU2290438C2/ru active
  • 2001-11-22 CA CA2421151A patent/CA2421151C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-22 EP EP01991753.3A patent/EP1335987B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-22 IL IL15471201A patent/IL154712A0/xx unknown
  • 2001-11-22 HU HU0400685A patent/HU230198B1/hu active Protection Beyond IP Right Term
  • 2001-11-22 ES ES01991753.3T patent/ES2256323T5/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-22 JP JP2002545184A patent/JP4421188B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-22 BR BRPI0115533A patent/BRPI0115533B8/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2003
  • 2003-03-03 IL IL154712A patent/IL154712A/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2003-05-16 US US10/440,073 patent/US7189536B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-05-16 US US10/439,953 patent/US6761893B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-05-16 US US10/439,439 patent/US6913752B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-05-21 NO NO20032309A patent/NO337867B1/no not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2005
  • 2005-08-05 US US11/198,557 patent/US7384644B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2006
  • 2006-03-27 CY CY20061100421T patent/CY1105594T1/el unknown
  • 2006-08-23 US US11/508,797 patent/US7335364B2/en active Active
• 2007
  • 2007-10-26 US US11/977,808 patent/US7923017B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-12-04 US US11/999,127 patent/US7459270B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2009
  • 2009-05-22 US US12/471,144 patent/US7939086B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2011
  • 2011-03-22 US US13/053,450 patent/US8268329B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2011-03-22 US US13/053,361 patent/US8268325B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2012
  • 2012-08-17 US US13/588,217 patent/US20120328650A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2013
  • 2013-11-20 LU LU92311C patent/LU92311I2/fr unknown
  • 2013-11-21 BE BE2013C065C patent/BE2013C065I2/fr unknown
  • 2013-12-13 FR FR13C0070C patent/FR13C0070I2/fr active Active
  • 2013-12-23 CY CY2013048C patent/CY2013048I1/el unknown
• 2016
  • 2016-02-29 HU HUS1600010C patent/HUS1600010I1/hu unknown

Patent Citations (1)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As