Classifications

• • 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
  • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
  • A61K38/16—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
  • A61K38/162—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from virus
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
  • A61K38/16—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
  • A61K38/17—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
  • A61K38/1703—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates
  • A61K38/1709—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals
  • A61K38/1716—Amyloid plaque core protein
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/0012—Galenical forms characterised by the site of application
  • A61K9/0019—Injectable compositions; Intramuscular, intravenous, arterial, subcutaneous administration; Compositions to be administered through the skin in an invasive manner
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P21/00—Drugs for disorders of the muscular or neuromuscular system
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
  • A61P25/14—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system for treating abnormal movements, e.g. chorea, dyskinesia
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
  • A61P25/14—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system for treating abnormal movements, e.g. chorea, dyskinesia
  • A61P25/16—Anti-Parkinson drugs
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
  • A61P25/28—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
• • 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
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
  • C07K2319/01—Fusion polypeptide containing a localisation/targetting motif
  • C07K2319/02—Fusion polypeptide containing a localisation/targetting motif containing a signal sequence
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
  • C07K2319/30—Non-immunoglobulin-derived peptide or protein having an immunoglobulin constant or Fc region, or a fragment thereof, attached thereto
• • 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
  • C12N2795/00—Bacteriophages
  • C12N2795/00011—Details
  • C12N2795/14011—Details ssDNA Bacteriophages
  • C12N2795/14022—New viral proteins or individual genes, new structural or functional aspects of known viral proteins or genes

Definitions

• the invention relates to polypeptides that comprise a portion of filamentous bacteriophage gene 3 protein (g3p) sufficient to bind to and/or disaggregate amyloid, i.e., the N1-N2 portion of g3p and mutants and fragments thereof, wherein that g3p amino acid sequence has been modified through amino acid deletion, insertion or substitution to remove a putative glycosylation signal.
• the invention further relates to such polypeptides that are also modified through additional amino acid substitution to be substantially less immunogenic than the corresponding wild-type g3p amino acid sequence when used in vivo.
• the polypeptides of the invention retain their ability to bind and/or disaggregate amyloid.
• the invention further relates to the use of these g3p-modified polypeptides in the treatment and/or prevention of diseases associated with misfolding or aggregation of amyloid.
• Filamentous bacteriophage g3p protein and in particular the polypeptide portion thereof comprising the N1-N2 region of g3p, has been demonstrated to bind to and disaggregate various amyloids, such as ß-amyloid, tau protein, and prion proteins.
• various amyloids such as ß-amyloid, tau protein, and prion proteins.
• T-cell epitopes within the protein, i.e., amino acid sequences that can stimulate the activity of T-cells via presentation on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules.
• MHC major histocompatibility complex
• T-cell epitopes are commonly defined as any amino acid sequences with the ability to bind to MHC class II molecules.
• T-cell epitopes When bound to MHC molecules, T-cell epitopes can be recognized by a T-cell receptor (TCR), and can cause the activation of T-cells by engaging a T-cell receptor to promote a T-cell response. It is, however, generally understood that certain T-cell epitopes which bind to MHC class II molecules do not stimulate T-cell response, because these peptides are recognized as“self” within the organism to which the protein is administered. [0005] Some T-cell epitopes may be released as peptides during the degradation of the therapeutic protein or polypeptide within cells and then presented by molecules of the MHC to trigger the activation of T-cells. For peptides presented by MHC class II molecules, such activation of T-cells can then give rise, for example, to an antibody response by direct stimulation of B-cells to produce such antibodies.
• TCR T-cell receptor
• MHC class II molecules are a group of highly polymorphic proteins which play a central role in helper T-cell selection and activation.
• the human leukocyte antigen group DR (HLA-DR) are the predominant isotype of this group of proteins.
• isotypes HLA-DQ and HLA-DP perform similar functions.
• In humans approximately 70 different allotypes of the DR isotype are known, for DQ there are 30 different allotypes and for DP 47 different allotypes are known. Each individual bears two to four DR alleles, two DQ and two DP alleles.
• T- cell epitope recognition which is a function of the peptide binding specificity of that individual's HLA- DR allotype.
• T-cell epitope recognition In order to identify T-cell epitopes within a protein or polypeptide in the context of a global population, it is desirable to consider the binding properties of as diverse a set of HLA-DR allotypes as possible, thus covering as high a percentage of the world population as possible.
• T-cell epitope identification is the first step to epitope elimination.
• Methods enabling the detection of T-cell epitopes are known in the art and are disclosed in WO 98/52976, WO 00/34317, US2007/0269435; US 7,208,147, Kern et al., Nature Medicine 4:975-978 (1998); and Kwok et al., Trends in Immunology 22:583-588 (2001).
• predicted or identified T-cell epitopes are removed by the use of judicious amino acid substitutions within the primary sequence of the therapeutic protein or polypeptide.
• the present invention meets this need, by identifying the putative glycosylation signal in the N1-N2 portion of g3p and providing modifications thereof that prevent glycosylation while preserving activity of g3p polypeptides. as described in PCT/US13/62862 (WO 2014/055515) or of g3p polypeptides that have been modified to reduce or eliminate immunogenicity as described in PCT/US2014/039760, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
• certain g3p polypeptides of the invention are not only modified to prevent glycosylation, bu o acids substitutions within these potential T-cell epitopes to produce a will reduce or eliminate the immunogenicity of that T-cell epitope without destroying the ability of the variant N1-N2 to bind to amyloid, prevent amyloid aggregation, and/or effect disaggregation of amyloid plaques.
• the polypeptides comprise g3p or an amyloid binding fragment thereof that has been modified to remove a glycosylation signal.
• the invention also provides polypeptides comprising a variant of an N1-N2 amino acid sequence, or a mutant or fragment thereof, having reduced immunogenicity due to one or more amino acid substitutions within one or more of the identified T-cell epitopes and lacking a glycosylation signal.
• the invention provides fusion proteins comprising the variant N1-N2 sequence fused to a human immunoglobulin Fc region.
• the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the polypeptides of the invention and methods of treating or preventing diseases associated with misfolded and/or aggregated amyloid proteins by administering such pharmaceutical compositions to a subject suffering from or susceptible to such disease.
• the invention provides nucleic acid molecules which code for the polypeptides of the invention, as well as vectors comprising those nucleic acid molecules and cells harboring such vectors.
• the invention provides methods for producing the polypeptides of the invention.
• such methods employ the nucleic acid molecules and/or cells harboring a vector that comprises such nucleic acid molecules.
• FIG.1 presents the amino acid sequence of an N1-N2-hIgG1-Fc fusion protein (SEQ ID NO:1) with five T-cell epitopes identified by bold and underline and the putative glycosylation signal italicized, bolded and underlined.
• Amino acids 1-217 constitute the N1-N2 portion of the wild-type g3p sequence.
• Amino acids 218-256 represent a linker region consisting of the wild-type g3p glycine-rich N2-C-terminal linker present in M13 bacteriophage. This region is identified by shading.
• Amino acids 257-261 represent amino acids encoded by the multiple cloning site used to construct a nucleic acid molecule encoding the fusion protein.
• the IgG-Fc portion of the protein begins at amino acid 262.
• FIG.2 presents the amino acid sequence of another g3p-hIgG1-Fc fusion protein (SEQ ID NO:2) with three T-cell epitopes identified by bold and underline and the putative glycosylation signal italicized, bolded and underlined.
• the fourth T-cell epitope has been eliminated by substitution of V215A and G220E as compared to SEQ ID NO:1 and the fifth T-cell epitope has been eliminated by deletion of amino acids corresponding to amino acids 258 and 259 of SEQ ID NO:1.
• FIG.3 presents a DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO:3) encoding the g3p-hIgG1-Fc fusion protein of SEQ ID NO:1 with a N-terminal mammalian signal sequence.
• FIG.4 presents a DNA sequ g the g3p-hIgG1-Fc fusion protein of SEQ ID NO:2 with a N-terminal mam
• FIG.5 provides a comparison of the frequency of donor allotypes expressed in the study described in Example 1.
• FIG.6 presents the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:5) of a polypeptide of the invention that is a g3p-hIgG1-Fc fusion protein with amino acid changes in the putative glycosylation signal (T41G), epitope 1 (T56H), and epitope 3 (K174R), as compared to SEQ ID NO:2.
• the substituted amino acids are bolded, italicized, underlined and by gray highlighting.
• FIG.7 presents a DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO:6) of a plasmid encoding Polypeptide 86 with a N-terminal mammalian signal sequence.
• the coding sequence, including the signal sequence is indicated by bolding.
• the codon changes as compared to the DNA encoding SEQ ID NO:1 are indicated by underlining.
• FIG.8 presents a DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO:7) of a plasmid encoding Polypeptide 86 T41G with a N-terminal mammalian signal sequence.
• the coding sequence, including the signal sequence is indicated by bolding.
• the codon changes as compared to the DNA encoding SEQ ID NO:1 are indicated by underlining.
• FIG.9 depicts a SDS-PAGE analysis comparing the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1 with Polypeptide 86 and Polypeptide 86 T41G.
• FIG.10 depicts the results a filter retardation assay comparing the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1 with Polypeptide 86 and Polypeptide 86 T41G.
• FIG.11 depicts comparative binding of a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1 with Polypeptide 86 T41G for three different types of fibers as measured by ELISA. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• the term“variant” (and its cognates) with respect to a reference (unmodified) amino acid or nucleic acid sequence refers to a sequence that contains one or more amino acids substitutions, deletions or insertions, or corresponding substitution, deletion or insertion of codons.
• the reference sequence is also referred to as a“starting amino acid sequence” or“starting sequence.”
• a variant does not necessarily require physical manipulation of the reference sequence. As long as a sequence contains a different amino acid as compared to a reference sequence it will be considered a“variant” regardless of how it was synthesized.
• mutant refers to a starting sequence that has been modified as compared to a specific sequence set forth in the application (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, etc).
• the term“modified” refers to change in a reference amino acid sequence or nucleic acid sequence. When a starting sequence is modified the resulting sequence is a variant. A modification includes one or more amino acids substitutions, deletions or insertions, or corresponding substitution, deletion o [0028]
• the term“corresponding substitution” as used herein means a substitution in a mutant or fragment of amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:1 that corresponds to the equivalent amino acid substitution in Table 1, Table 2, Table 6 or Table 7 when such mutant or fragment is aligned with amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:1.
• An example of a fragment of amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:1 that binds to and/or disaggregates amyloid includes, but is not limited to, any fragment that comprises amino acids 1-67 of SEQ ID NO:1.
• Example of mutants of amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:1 that bind to and/or disaggregate amyloid include, but are not limited to: (1) amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:2; (2) amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:1, amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:2, or amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:5 bearing substitution of VVV at amino acids 43-45 with AAA; (3) amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:1, amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:2, or amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:5 having the substitution C53W; (4) amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:1, amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:2, or amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:5 having a deletion of
• the N1-N2 portion of filamentous bacteriophage g3p protein has previously been shown to possess amyloid binding and disaggregation properties (see PCT/US2012/066793).
• the N1-N2 portion of native M13 phage is represented by amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:1.
• the same N1-N2 amino acid sequence is also present in fd and f1 filamentous bacteriophage.
• amino acids 218-256 of SEQ ID NO:1 are also part of the native g3p sequence and are typically referred to as the glycine-rich linker connecting the N2 region of g3p to the C-terminal domain of g3p (CT), also known as the N3 domain.
• Amino acids 257-261 of SEQ ID NO:1 represent amino acids encoded by the multiple cloning site used to construct a nucleic acid molecule encoding the fusion protein of SEQ ID NO:1.
• the invention provides a polypeptide comprising a variant of a starting amino acid sequence, wherein the starting amino acid sequence is selected from: amino acids 1- 217 of SEQ ID NO:1 or amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:2 and mutants of any of the foregoing having one or more of the following modific at amino acids 43-45 with AAA; substitution C53W; deletion of amino acids 96-103; substitution of QPP at amino acids 212-214 with AGA; substitutions W181A, F190A and F194A; deletion of amino acid 1; deletion of amino acids 1 and 2; and addition of a N-terminal methionine residue, wherein:
• polypeptide binds to and/or disaggregates amyloid.
• the starting amino acid sequence is selected from: amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:1, and amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:2.
• Elimination of the putative glycosylation signal is achieved by amino acid substitution of one or more of N39, A40 and/or T41; deletion of one or more of N39, A40 and/or T41; insertion of one or more amino acids between N39 and A40; and insertion of one or more amino acids between A40 and T41 insofar as such substitution, deletion or insertion does not regenerate a glycosylation signal.
• the putative glycosylation sequence is Asn-X-Thr/Ser, wherein X is any amino acid other than Pro or Cys. Thus, only certain substitutions for A40 will eliminate the glycosylation sequence.
• elimination of the putative glycosylation signal is achieved by amino acid substitution of one or more of N39, A40 and/or T41. In a more specific aspect of these embodiments elimination of the putative glycosylation signal is achieved by amino acid substitution of T41. In an even more specific aspect of these embodiments elimination of the putative glycosylation signal is achieved by any of the following substitutions: T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, or T41A. In the most specific aspect of these embodiments, elimination of the putative glycosylation signal is achieved by a T41G substitution.
• polypeptide that has been modified to remove the putative glycosylation signal at amino acids 39-41 additionally has reduced immunogenicity as compared to a corresponding polypeptide comprising the starting amino acid sequence; and the variant has from 1 to 9 amino acid substitutions (in addition to any substitutions that have eliminated the glycosylation signal) as compared to the starting amino acid sequence, wherein each amino acid substitution is selected from the group of amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 1 and Table 2.
• the term“corresponding polypeptide comprising the starting amino acid sequence” as used herein means a
• polypeptide which, except for the modification of the glycosylation signal and the additional substitution(s), has the same amino acid sequence as the polypeptide comprising the starting amino acid sequence.
• the amino acid substitutions set forth in Tables 1 and 2 were derived by identifying the T-cell epitopes present completely within the N1-N2 amino acid sequence. This was done by incubating different overlapping peptide portions of the N1-N2 sequence against the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from a cohort of community blood donors best representing the world population of HLA-DR allotypes to identify the potential T-cell epitopes. This information was then subjected to software analysis against a database of known T-cell epitopes to identify optimal amino acid substitutions within those potential epitopes. These procedures are described in detail in the Examples.
• PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cells
• the 1-9 additional amino acid substitutions are selected from those set forth in Table 1.
• the polypeptide comprises a variant of amino acids 1-217 SEQ ID NO:1 or a variant of amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:2 having only a specific single amino acid substitution, wherein the substitution is selected from one of the substitutions set forth in Table 3:
• the specific single amino acid substitution is not in epitope 2 (amino acids 135-143 of SEQ ID NO:1).
• the polypeptide comprises a variant of amino acids 1-217 SEQ ID NO:1 or a variant of amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:2 having 2-9 amino acid substitutions (in addition to any substitutions that have eliminated the glycosylation signal), wherein the substitutions are in at least two of epitopes 1, 2 and 3, and wherein the substitutions are selected from those set forth in Tables 1 and 2.
• at least two substitutions in the variant of amino acids 1-217 SEQ ID NO:1 or the variant of amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:2 are selected from those set forth in Table 1.
• polypeptide comprises a variant of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 that has only two amino acid substitutions, wherein the substitutions are selected from any of the specific two amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 4:
• neither of the two amino acid substitutions are in epitope 2 (amino acids 135-143 of SEQ ID NO:1).
• the two amino acid substitutions are T56H and K174R.
• the polypeptide comprises a variant of amino acids 1-217 SEQ ID NO:1 or a variant of amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:2, having 3-9 amino acid substitutions (in addition to any substitutions that have eliminated the glycosylation signal), wherein at least one amino acid substitution is in each of epitopes 1, 2 and 3, and wherein the substitutions are selected from substitutions set forth in Table 1 and Table 2.
• at least three amino acids substitution in the variant of amino acids 1-217 SEQ ID NO:1 or the variant of amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:2 are selected from substitutions set forth in Table 2.
• the variant of amino acids 1-217 SEQ ID NO:1 or the variant of amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:2 are selected from substitutions set forth in Table 2.
• the substitutions are selected from substitutions set forth in Table 2.
• polypeptide comprising the variant of amino acids 1-217 SEQ ID NO:1 or the variant of amino acids 1- 217 of SEQ ID NO:2 has only three amino acid substitutions, wherein the substitutions are selected from any of the specific three amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 5.
• the invention provides a polypeptide comprising a g3p variant wherein one of the 1 to 9 substitution is a substitution in epitope 4 selected from V215A, V215S, V215G or V215T, V215C, V215D, V215E, V215F, V215H, V215K, V215N, V215P, V215Q, or V215R.
• the invention provides a polypeptide comprising a variant of amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein one of the 1 to 9 substitutions is a substitution in epitope 4 selected from V215A, V215S, V215G, V215T, V215C, V215D, V215E, V215F, V215H, V215K, V215N, V215P, V215Q, or V215R.
• V215 in SEQ ID NO:1 is part of a potential T-cell epitope (epitope 4 in FIG.1) spanning amino acids 215-223 of SEQ ID (the end of N2 through a portion of the glycine-rich linker).
• epitope 4 has a V215A and G220E substitution (as in SEQ ID NO:2) .
• a single V215G substitution in epitope 4 as compared to SEQ ID NO:1 did not affect the ability of the polypeptide to bind to or disaggregate amyloid.
• the polypeptide comprising a variant of amino acids 1-217 SEQ ID NO:1 has a modification that removes the putative glycosylation site at amino acids 39-41; any one of the V215 substitutions set forth above; as well as 1-8 of the amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 1 or Table 2.
• the 1-8 amino acid substitutions are selected from those set forth in Table 1.
• the polypeptide has a T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A; a V215 substitution selected from V215A, V215S, V215G or V215T, V215C, V215D, V215E, V215F, V215H, V215K, V215N, V215P, V215Q, and V215R; and one additional single amino acid substitution selected from those set forth in Table 3, wherein the single amino acid substitution is not in epitope 2.
• T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A
• the polypeptide comprising a variant of amino acids 1-217 SEQ ID NO:1 has a modification that removes the putative glycosylation site at amino acids 39-41; any one of the V215 substitutions set forth above; and 2-8 additional amino acid substitutions, wherein the additional substitutions are in at least two of epitopes 1, 2 and 3, and wherein the substitutions are selected from those set forth in Table 1 or Table 2.
• the at least one substitution in at least two of epitopes 1, 2 and 3, is selected from the substitutions set forth in Table 1.
• the polypeptide has a T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A; a V215 substitution selected from V215A, V215S, V215G or V215T, V215C, V215D, V215E, V215F, V215H, V215K, V215N, V215P, V215Q, and V215R; and one of the specific two amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 4, wherein the neither of the amino acid substitutions are in epitope 2.
• T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A
• the polypeptide comprising a variant of amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:1 has a modification that removes the putative glycosylation site at amino acids 39-41; any one the V215 substitutions set forth above; and 3-8 additional amino acid substitutions selected from those set forth in Table 1 or Table 2, wherein each of epitopes 1, 2 and 3, comprise one of the additional substitutions.
• the substitution in each of epitopes 1, 2 and 3, is selected from those set forth in Table 1.
• the polypeptide has a T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A; a V215 substitution selected from V215A, V215S, V215G or V215T, V215C, V215D, V215E, V215F, V215H, V215K, V215N, V215P, V215Q, and V215R; an optional G220E substitution; and one of the specific three amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 5.
• T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A
• a V215 substitution selected from V2
• the polypeptide comprises a variant of amino acids 1-217 of SEQ ID NO:2 having a T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A; and a pair of substitutions selected from those set forth in Table 4, wherein one of the substitutions is in epitope 1 and the other is in epitope 3.
• the pair of substitutions ons is in epitope 1 and the other is in epitope 3 is T56H and K174R.
• the polypeptide comprises amino acids 1-215 of SEQ ID NO:5.
• the polypeptide of the invention is a fusion protein consisting essentially of a human or humanized immunoglobulin Fc polypeptide sequence fused via a peptide linker or directly to the C-terminus of the variant g3p amino acid sequence.
• the term“peptide linker” as used herein refers to a series of consecutive amino acids that will not interfere with the function of the polypeptide.
• amino acids 218-256 represent the glycine-rich linker that is normally present in the M13 g3p protein.
• the Fc polypeptide sequence may be linked directly to the last amino acid encoding N2 (e.g., amino acid 217 of SEQ ID NOs 1and 3).
• the choice of linker sequence and/or its absence may be made by those of skill in the art taking into account vectors available for the recombinant expression of the polypeptide of the invention, and any secondary or tertiary structure such a linker may impart to the polypeptide.
• the Fc polypeptide is the Fc portion of a human IgG.
• polypeptide is a variant of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3 having a modification that removes the putative glycosylation site at amino acids 39-41.
• polypeptide is a variant of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 having a modification that removes the putative glycosylation site at amino acids 39-41; and 1 to 9 additional amino acid residue substitutions therein selected from the group of amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 6, or Table 7, below:
• the polypeptide is a variant of SEQ ID NO:1 having a modification that removes the putative glycosylation site at amino acids 39-41; and 2-9 additional amino acid substitutions, wherein one of the additional substitutions is a substitution set forth in Table 6 and Table 7; and at least one other of the substitutions is a substitution set forth in Table 1 and Table 2.
• one of the additional substitutions is a substitution set forth in Table 6; and at least one other of the substitutions is a substitution set forth in Table 1.
• the polypeptide does not have a substitution in epitope 2.
• the polypeptide has a T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A.
• the polypeptide has a T41G substitution.
• the polypeptide is a variant of SEQ ID NO:1 having a modification that removes the putative glycosylation site at amino acids 39-41; and has 3-9 additional amino acid substitutions, wherein at least one of the additional substitutions is selected from substitutions set forth in Table 6 and Table 7, and wherein at least two of epitopes 1, 2, and 3 contain at least one substitution selected from the substitutions set forth in Table 1 and Table 2.
• the polypeptide has at least one of the substitutions set forth in Table 6 and at least one substitution in at least two of epitopes 1, 2 and 3 selected from the substitutions set forth in Table 1.
• the polypeptide does not have a substitution in epitope 2.
• the polypeptide has a T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A.
• the polypeptide has a T41G substitution.
• the polypeptide has only two additional substitutions, wherein on is in epitope 1 and the other is in epitope 3.
• the polypeptide has only two additional substitutions, wherein one is T56H and the other is K174R.
• the polypeptide is a variant of SEQ ID NO:1 having a modification that removes the putative glycosylation site at amino acids 39-41; and has 4-9 amino acid substitutions; at least one of substitutions set forth in ast one substitution in each of epitopes 1, 2 and 3 selected from the substitutions set forth in Table 1 and Table 2.
• the polypeptide has at least one of the substitutions set forth in Table 6 and at least one substitution in each of epitopes 1, 2 and 3 selected from those set forth in Table 1.
• the polypeptide has at least one of substitutions set forth in Table 6; and at least one of the specific substitutions one, two or three amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 3, Table 4 or Table 5, respectively.
• the polypeptide is a variant of SEQ ID NO:1 and has only one of the amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 6 and only one, two or three additional amino acid substitutions selected from one of the specific one, two or three amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 3, Table 4 or Table 5, respectively.
• the polypeptide has a T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A.
• the polypeptide has a T41G substitution.
• the polypeptide is a variant of SEQ ID NO:2 having a modification that removes the putative glycosylation site at amino acids 39-41; and 1 to 9 additional amino acid residue substitutions selected from the group of amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 1, and Table 2.
• at least one additional substitution is set forth in Table 1.
• the polypeptide does not have a substitution in epitope 2.
• the polypeptide has a T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A.
• the polypeptide has a T41G substitution.
• the polypeptide is a variant of SEQ ID NO:2 having a modification that removes the putative glycosylation site at amino acids 39-41; and 2-9 additional amino acid substitutions and at least one substitution in at least two of epitopes 1, 2 and 3 selected from any of the substitutions set forth in Table 1 and 2.
• at least one substitution in at least two of epitopes 1, 2 and 3 is selected from those set forth in Table 1.
• the polypeptide does not have a substitution in epitope 2.
• the polypeptide has a T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A.
• the polypeptide has a T41G substitution.
• the polypeptide comprises at least one amino acid substitution in epitope 1 and at least one amino acid substitution in epitope 3.
• the polypeptide comprises a T56H and a K174R substitution.
• the polypeptide is a variant of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:5 and has 3-9 amino acid substitutions, wherein at least one substitution is in each of epitopes 1, 2 and 3 and is selected from any of the substitutions set forth in Table 1 and 2.
• the at least one substitution in each of epito m those set forth in Table 1.
• the Q ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:5 and has only one, two or three amino acid substitutions selected from one of the specific one, two or three amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 3, Table 4 or Table 5, respectively.
• the polypeptide has a T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A.
• the polypeptide has a T41G substitution.
• the polypeptide of the invention is a variant of SEQ ID NO:2 having a T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A; and only 2 additional amino acid substitutions selected from any of the specific two amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 4.
• the polypeptide has a T41G substitution.
• the polypeptide has a T41G substitution.
• one additional amino acid substitution is in epitope 1 and the other additional amino acid substitution is in epitope 3.
• one additional amino acid substitution is T56H and the other additional amino acid substitution is K174R.
• the polypeptide has the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5
• the polypeptide of the invention is a variant of SEQ ID NO:2 having a T41 substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A; and only 3 additional amino acid substitutions selected from any of the specific three amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 5.
• the polypeptide has a T41G substitution.
• the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule that comprises a nucleic acid sequence coding for any of the polypeptides or fusion proteins comprising a g3p variant described above.
• the isolated nucleic acid molecule comprises a variant of nucleotides 64-714 of SEQ ID NO:3 or nucleotides 64-708 of SEQ ID NO:5, that is modified by a codon substitution, an in-frame codon insertion or an in-frame codon deletion that destroys the putative glycosylation site encoded by nucleotides 181-189 of SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4 (corresponding to the amino acids NAT at amino acids 39-41 of SEQ ID NOS:1 or 3).
• the variant of nucleotides 64-714 of SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4 is modified by a codon substitution that destroys the putative glycosylation site encoded by nucleotides 181-189 of SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4.
• the variant of nucleotides 64-714 of SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4 is modified by a codon substitution at nucleotides 187-189 (which encodes T41 of SEQ ID NOS:1 and 2) that encodes an amino acid substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A.
• the substituted codon substitution is selected from gga, tgg, cat, gtt, att, ctt, agg, aaa, tat, ttc, gac, gag, more specific aspect of these embodiments, the variant of nucleotides 64-714 of SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4 is modified by a codon substitution at nucleotides 187-189 that encodes the amino acid substitution T41G. In an even more specific aspect of these embodiments, the substituted codon substitution is gga.
• the variant of nucleotides 64-714 of SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4 further consists of 1-9 codon substitutions, wherein each codon substitution corresponds to an amino acid substitution selected from the substitutions set forth in Table 1, and Table 2, and any one of the following V215 amino acid substitutions: V215A, V215S, V215G or V215T, V215C, V215D, V215E, V215F, V215H, V215K, V215N, V215P, V215Q, and V215R.
• the variant nucleic acid sequence is modified by one codon substitution selected to code for any one of the V215 amino acid substitutions set forth above; and from 1-8 additional codon substitutions, wherein each of the additional codon substitutions is selected to code for an amino acid substitution set forth in Table 1.
• the variant nucleic acid sequence is modified by one codon substitution selected to code for any one of the V215 amino acid substitutions set forth above; and from 2-8 additional codon substitutions, wherein each additional codon substitutions encodes an amino acid substitution set forth in Table 1, and a codon substitution is present in each of at least two of epitopes 1, 2 and 3.
• the variant nucleic acid sequence is modified by one codon substitution selected to code for any one of the V215 amino acid substitutions set forth above; and from 3-8 additional codon substitutions, wherein each additional codon substitution encodes an amino acid substitution set forth in Table 1, and a codon substitution is present in each of epitopes 1, 2 and 3.
• the variant nucleic acid sequence is modified by one codon substitution selected to code for a V215A amino acid substitution; and one additional codon substitution selected to code for one of the single amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 3.
• the one additional codon substitution selected to code for one of the single amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 3 does not code for an amino acid substitution in epitope 2.
• the variant nucleic acid sequence is modified by one codon substitution selected to code for a V215A amino acid substitution set forth above; and two additional codon substitutions selected to code for one of the specific two amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 4.
• the two additional codon substitutiosn selected to code for one of the specific two amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 4 does not code for an amino acid substitution in epitope 2.
• the variant nucleic acid sequence is modified by one codon substitution selected to code for a V215 amino acid substitution set forth above; and three additional codon substitutions selected to code for one of the specific three amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 5.
• the isolated nucleic acid molecule comprises a variant of nucleotides 64-1530 of SEQ ID NO:3 or nucleoti , wherein the sequence is modified by a codon substitution, an in-frame c codon deletion that destroys the putative glycosylation site encoded by nucleotides 181-189 of SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4 (corresponding to the amino acids NAT at amino acids 39-41 of SEQ ID NOS:1 or 3).
• the variant of nucleotides 64-1530 of SEQ ID NO:3 or nucleotides 64-1524 of SEQ ID NO:4 is modified by a codon substitution that destroys the putative glycosylation site encoded by nucleotides 181-189 of SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4.
• the variant of nucleotides 64-1530 of SEQ ID NO:3 or nucleotides 64-1524 of SEQ ID NO:4 is modified by a codon substitution at nucleotides 187-189 (aca, which encodes T41 of SEQ ID NOS:1 and 2) that encodes an amino acid substitution selected from T41G, T41W, T41H, T41V, T41I, T41L, T41R, T41K, T41Y, T41F, T41D, T41E, T41Q, T41N, and T41A.
• the substituted codon substitution is selected from gga, tgg, cat, gtt, att, ctt, agg, aaa, tat, ttc, gac, gag, cag, aat, and gct.
• the variant of nucleotides 64-714 of SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4 is modified by a codon substitution at nucleotides 187-189 that encodes the amino acid substitution T41G.
• the substituted codon substitution is gga
• the variant of nucleotides 64-1530 of SEQ ID NO:3 or nucleotides 64-1524 of SEQ ID NO:4 further consists of 1-9 codon substitutions, wherein each codon substitution corresponds to an amino acid substitution selected from the substitutions set forth in Table 1, Table 2, and any one of the following V215 amino acid substitutions: V215S, V215G or V215T, V215C, V215D, V215E, V215F, V215H, V215K, V215N, V215P, V215Q, and V215R.
• each codon substitution corresponds to an amino acid substitution selected from the substitutions set forth in Table 1, and any one of the V215 substitutions set forth above.
• the variant nucleic acid sequence is modified by one codon substitution selected to code for any one of the V215 amino acid substitutions set forth above and from 1-8 additional codon substitutions, wherein each of the additional codon substitutions corresponds to an amino acid substitution selected from the substitutions set forth in Table 1.
• the variant has one additional codon substitution corresponding to one of the specific one amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 3.
• the one additional codon substitution selected to code for one of the single amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 3 does not code for an amino acid substitution in epitope 2.
• the variant of nucleotides 64-1530 of SEQ ID NO:3, or nucleotides 64-1524 of SEQ ID NO:6 has a modification that consists of one codon substitution selected to code for any one of the V215 amino acid substitution set forth above; and from 2-8 additional codon substitutions, wherein each additional codon substitution corresponds to an amino acid substitution set forth in Table 1, esent in each of at least two of epitopes 1, 2 and 3. In a more specif additional codon substitutions corresponding to one of the specific two amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 4.
• the two additional codon substitutions selected to code for one of the specific two amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 4 does not code for an amino acid substitution in epitope 2.
• the specific two amino acid substitutions from Table 4 is T56H and K174R.
• the variant nucleotide sequence is SEQ ID NO:8.
• the variant of any one of nucleotides 64- 1530 of SEQ ID NO:3, or nucleotides 64-1524 of SEQ ID NO:6 has a modification that consists of one codon substitution selected to code for any one of the V215 amino acid substitution set forth above; and from 3-8 additional codon substitutions, wherein each additional codon substitution corresponds to an amino acid substitution set forth in Table 1, and a codon substitution is present in each of epitopes 1, 2 and 3.
• the variant has three additional codon substitutions corresponding to one of the specific three amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 5.
• the nucleic acid molecule further comprises nucleic acid sequences encoding a signal sequence fused in phase and directly to the 5’ end of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the variant g3p.
• the nucleic acid sequence encoding the signal sequence is nucleotides 1-63 of SEQ ID NO:3.
• nucleic acid molecules of the invention encompass nucleic acid sequences that are degenerative to, but encode the same amino acid sequence as encoded by any of the nucleic acid nucleic acid molecules described above.
• any of the nucleic acid molecules of the invention may be inserted into an appropriate expression vector which contains the necessary elements for the transcription and translation of the inserted coding sequence, or in the case of an RNA viral vector, the necessary elements for replication and translation.
• the encoding nucleic acid is inserted into the vector in proper reading frame.
• the invention provides vectors comprising nucleic acid molecule and sequences of the invention. Such vectors include, but are not limited to, DNA vectors, phage vectors, viral vectors, retroviral vectors, etc.
• nucleic acid molecules and sequences of the invention may be made by those of skill in the art using well-known knowledge of the compatibility of the vector with the chosen host cell in which to carry out expression. This may be done in any of mammalian cells, plant cells, insect cells, bacterial cells, yeast cells, etc. Appropriate vectors for each of these cell types are well-known in the art and are generally commercially available.
• the invention provides a host cell harboring the vector containing a nucleic acid molecule or nucleic acid
• Methods of transfecting or transforming or otherwise getting a v ost cell are known in the art.
• a cell harboring the vector when cultured under appropriate conditions, will produce the polypeptides of the invention.
• Specific examples of vectors and cells used for the recombinant production of the polypeptides of the invention are set forth in the example section below.
• the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising any polypeptide or fusion protein comprising a variant g3p, optionally together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.
• a pharmaceutical composition refers to a therapeutically effective amount of a composition as described herein with a physiologically suitable carrier and/or excipient.
• a pharmaceutical composition does not cause significant irritation to an organism.
• physiologically suitable carrier and “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” which may be used interchangeably refer to a carrier or a diluent that does not cause significant irritation to an organism and does not abrogate the biological activity and properties of the administered composition.
• excipient refers to an inert substance added to a pharmaceutical composition to further facilitate administration of an active ingredient.
• examples include, for example, saline, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, various sugars and types of starch, cellulose derivatives, gelatin, vegetable oils, polyethylene glycols, and surfactants, including, for example, polysorbate 20.
• compositions for use in accordance with the present invention may be formulated in a conventional manner using one or more physiologically acceptable carriers comprising excipients and auxiliaries, which facilitate processing of the active ingredients into compositions which can be used pharmaceutically. Proper formulation is dependent upon the route of administration chosen and upon the nature of the composition delivered (e.g., size and solubility of the polypeptide).
• the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for injection or infusion into the bloodstream of a patient.
• the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for direct administration to the brain or central nervous system of the patient, for example, by direct intramedullary, intrathecal, or intraventricular injection.
• compositions described herein may be formulated for parenteral administration, e.g., by bolus injection or continuous infusion.
• Pharmaceutical compositions for parenteral administration include aqueous solutions of the composition in water-soluble form.
• suspensions of the active ingredients may be prepared as oily or water based injection suspensions.
• Suitable lipophilic solvents or vehicles include fatty oils such as sesame oil, or synthetic fatty acids esters such as ethyl oleate, triglycerides or liposomes.
• Aqueous injection suspensions may contain substances, which increase the viscosity of the suspension, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sorbitol or dextran.
• the suspension may also contain suitable stabilizers or agents (e.g., surfactants such as polysorbate (Tween 20)) which increase the solubility of the active ingredients to allow for the preparation of highly concentrated solutions.
• suitable stabilizers or agents e.g., surfactants such as polysorbate (Tween 20)
• a protein based agent such as, for example, albumin may be used to prevent adsorption of polypeptide of the invention to the delivery surface (i.e., IV bag, catheter, needle, etc.).
• compositions can be formulated readily by combining the active compounds with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers well known in the art.
• Formulations may be presented in unit dosage form, e.g., in vials, ampoules or in multidose containers with optionally, an added preservative.
• the compositions may be suspensions, solutions or emulsions in oily or aqueous vehicles, and may contain formulatory agents such as suspending, stabilizing and/or dispersing agents.
• Single dosage forms may be in a liquid or a solid form. Single dosage forms may be administered directly to a patient without modification or may be diluted or reconstituted prior to administration.
• a single dosage form may be administered in bolus form, e.g., single injection, single oral dose, including an oral dose that comprises multiple tablets, capsule, pills, etc.
• a single dosage form may be administered over a period of time, such as by infusion, or via an implanted pump, such as an ICV pump.
• the single dosage form may be an infusion bag or pump reservoir pre- filled with the appropriate amount of a polypeptide or fusion protein comprising a variant g3p.
• the infusion bag or pump reservoir may be prepared just prior to administration to a patient by mixing an appropriate dose of the variant g3p with the infusion bag or pump reservoir solution.
• Another aspect of the invention includes methods for preparing a pharmaceutical composition of the invention.
• Techniques for formulation of drugs may be found, for example, in "Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences,” Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., latest edition, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• compositions suitable for use in the context of the present invention include compositions wherein the active ingredients are contained in an amount effective to achieve the intended purpose.
• Dosage amount and interval may be adjusted individually to provide brain levels of the phage display vehicle which are sufficient to treat or diagnose a particular brain disease, disorder, or condition (minimal effective concentration, MEC).
• MEC minimum effective concentration
• the MEC will vary for each preparation, but can be estimated from in vitro data. Dosages necessary to achieve the MEC will depend on individual characteristics.
• Dosage intervals can also be determined using the MEC value. Preparations should be administered using a regimen, which maintains brain levels above the MEC for 10-90% of the time, preferable between 30-90% and most preferably 50-90%.
• dosing can be of a single or a plurality of administration sting from several days to several weeks or until cure is effected or dim achieved.
• the amount of a composition to be administered will, of course, be dependent on the subject being treated or diagnosed, the severity of the affliction, the judgment of the prescribing physician, etc.
• the amount of polypeptide to be administered is selected from 0.1-100 mg/kg subject body weight; 0.5-50 mg/kg; 1-30 mg/kg; 1-10 mg/kg; 3-30 mg/kg; 1-3 mkg/kg; 3-10 mg/kg; and 10-30 mg/kg.
• the peptide is administered to the subject once a week, once every two weeks, once every three weeks, once every four weeks, or once a month.
• compositions of the present invention may, if desired, be presented in a pack or dispenser device, such as an FDA approved kit, which may contain one or more unit dosage forms containing the active ingredient.
• the pack may, for example, comprise metal or plastic foil, such as a blister pack.
• the pack or dispenser device may be accompanied by instructions for administration.
• the pack or dispenser may also be accommodated by a notice associated with the container in a form prescribed by a governmental agency regulating the manufacture, use or sale of pharmaceuticals, which notice is reflective of approval by the agency of the form of the compositions or human or veterinary administration. Such notice, for example, may be of labeling approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for prescription drugs or of an approved product insert.
• Compositions comprising a preparation of the invention formulated in a compatible pharmaceutical carrier may also be prepared, placed in an appropriate container, and labeled for treatment of an indicated condition, as if further detailed above.
• Another aspect of the invention relates to the use of any of the polypeptides, nucleic acid molecules, or compositions of the invention, in the treatment of protein misfolding diseases, including, but not limited to, those diseases involving any of: f$E42, fDsyn or ftau.
• a patient is a human who is positive for a biomarker associated with a protein misfolding disease.
• the patient exhibits ß-amyloid ⁇ deposits as detected by PET imaging with florbetapir.
• the term“treating” and its cognates are intended to mean reducing, slowing, or reversing the progression of a disease in a patient exhibiting one or more clinical symptoms of a disease.“Treating” is also intended to mean reducing, slowing, or reversing the symptoms of a disease in a patient exhibiting one more clinical symptoms of a disease.
• the patient exhibits ß-amyloid deposits as detected by PET imaging with florbetapir and the number of ß-amyloid deposits is reduced by the treatment.
• the patient exhibits ß-amyloid deposits as detected by the polypeptide or polypeptide compositions of the present invention and the number of ß-amyloid deposits are reduced or maintained by the trea nt, the patient exhibits any type of amyloid deposits as detected by PET imaging and the cognitive function of the patient is improved by the treatment. Improvement in cognitive function may be assayed by the methods and tests of McKhann et al., Alzheimer’s & Dementia 7(3):263-9(2011).
• Prophylaxis is distinct from treating and refers to administration of a composition to an individual before the onset of any clinical symptoms. Prophylaxis using any of the polypeptides or compositions thereof of the present invention is encompassed. Prophylaxis may be implicated in individuals who are known to be at increased risk for a disease, or whom are certain to develop a disease, solely on the basis of one or more genetic markers. Many genetic markers have been identified for the various protein misfolding diseases. For examples, individuals with one or more of the Swedish mutation, the Indiana mutation, or the London mutation in human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) are at increased risk for developing early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease and so are candidates for prophylaxis. Likewise, individuals with the trinucleotide CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene, particularly those with 36 or more repeats, will eventually develop Huntington’s Disease and so are candidates for prophylaxis.
• hAPP human amyloid precursor protein
• protein misfolding refers to diseases characterized by formation of amyloid protein by an aggregating protein (amyloid forming peptide), such as, but not limited to, ß-amyloid, serum amyloid A, cystatin C, IgG kappa light chain, or a prion protein.
• an aggregating protein amyloid forming peptide
• Alzheimer’s disease which includes early onset Alzheimer's disease, late onset Alzheimer's disease, and presymptomatic Alzheimer's disease
• Parkinson’s disease SAA amyloidosis
• cystatin C hereditary Icelandic syndrome
• senility multiple myeloma
• prion diseases including but not limited to kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD),
• GSS Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease
• FCI fatal familial insomnia
• BSE bovine spongiform encephalitis
• ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• SCA1 spinocerebellar ataxia
• SCA3 spinocerebellar ataxia
• SCA6 spinocerebellar ataxia
• SCA7 Huntington disease
• entatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy
• hereditary cerebral amyloid angiopathy familial amyloidosis
• frontotemporal lobe dementia British/Danish dementia
• PPP Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
• familial encephalopathy The polypeptides and compositions of the invention may be used to treat“protein misfolding” diseases.
• CNS central nervous system
• diseases occurring in the CNS are Parkinson’s Disease; Alzheimer’s Disease; frontotemporal dementia (FTD) including those patients having the following clinical syndromes: behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD), progressive non-fluent aphasia (PNFA) and semantic dementia (SD); frontotemporal lobar degenerations (FTLDs); and Huntington’s Disease.
• the polypeptides and compositions of the invention may be used to treat diseases characterized by misfolded and/or aggregated amyloid protein that occur in the central nervous system (CNS).
• AA Amyloidosis A
• SAA serum acute phase apolipoprotein
• multiple myeloma precursor proteins immunoglobulin wo widely known protein misfolding and/or aggregated protein diseases th her examples include disease involving amyloid formed by ⁇ 2-microglobulin, transthyretin (Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy [FAP], Familial Amyloidotic Cardiomyopathy [FAC], and Senile Systemic Amyloidosis [SSA]), (apo)serum AA, apolipoproteins AI, AII, and AIV, gelsolin (Finnish form of Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy), lysozyme, fibrinogen, cystatin C (Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, Hereditary Cerebral Hemorrhage with Amyloidosis, Icelandic Type), (pro)calcit
• Neurodegenerative diseases may also involve tau lesions. Reviewed in Lee et al., Annu. Rev. Neurosci.24:1121-159 (2001).
• Tau proteins are microtubule-associated proteins expressed in axons of both central and peripheral nervous system neurons.
• Neurodegenerative tauopathies (sometimes referred to as tauopathies) are encompassed. Examples of tauopathies include Alzheimer’s Disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex, Argyrophilic grain dementia,
• Corticobasal degeneration Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Dementia pugilistica, diffuse neurofibrillary tangles with calcification, Down’s syndrome
• Frontotemporal dementias including frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17, Gerstmann-St Hurssler-Scheinker disease, Hallervorden-Spatz disease, Myotonic dystrophy, Niemann-Pick disease type C, Non-Guamanian motor neuron disease with neurofibrillary tangles, Pick’s disease, Postencephalitic parkinsonism, Prion protein cerebral amyloid angiopathy, Progressive subcortical gliosis, Progressive supranuclear palsy, Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, and Tangle only dementia.
• Some of these diseases may also include deposits of fibrillar amyloid E peptides.
• Alzheimer’s disease exhibits both amyloid E deposits and tau lesions.
• prion-mediated diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, prion protein cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and Gerstmann-St Hurssler-Scheinker syndrome may have also have tau lesions.
• a disease is a“tauopathy” should not be interpreted as excluding the disease from other neurodegenerative disease classifications or groupings, which are provided merely as a convenience.
• the polypeptides and compositions of the invention may be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases as well as diseases involving tau lesions.
• a pharmaceutical composition or formulation is for use in a method of reducing amyloid in a patient exhibiting symptoms related to the presence of amyloid or that is positive for a biomarker associated with a protein misfolding disease, such as florbetapir (AV-45, Eli Lilly), comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition or formulation as described herein.
• the route of administration is selected from intrathecal injection or infusion, direct intraventricular injection or infusion, intraparenchymal injection or infusion, or intravenous injection or infusion.
• a pharm ulation is for use in a method of maintaining the level of amyloid in a related to the presence of amyloid or that is positive for a biomarker associated with a protein misfolding disease, such as florbetapir (AV-45, Eli Lilly), comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition or formulation as described herein.
• the route of administration is selected from intrathecal injection or infusion, direct intraventricular injection or infusion, intraparenchymal injection or infusion, or intravenous injection or infusion.
• a pharmaceutical composition or formulation is for use in a method of disaggregating amyloid in a patient comprising administering to a patient having amyloid an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition or formulation as described herein.
• the route of administration is selected from intrathecal injection or infusion, direct intraventricular injection or infusion, intraparenchymal injection or infusion, or intravenous injection or infusion.
• a pharmaceutical composition or formulation of the invention is for use in a method of causing the disaggregation of ß-amyloid deposits in the brain, comprising injecting directly into the brain of a patient in need thereof an effective amount of pharmaceutical composition as described herein, thereby causing a reduction in ⁇ ß-amyloid deposits in the brain.
• a pharmaceutical composition or formulation of the invention is for use in a method of causing the disaggregation of ß-amyloid deposits in the brain, comprising injecting intravenous delivery into a patient in need thereof an effective amount of pharmaceutical composition as described herein, thereby causing a reduction in ⁇ ß-amyloid deposits in the brain.
• a pharmaceutical composition or formulation is for use in a method of reducing amyloid formation in the brain. Reducing amyloid formation in the brain may prevent, treat or reduce the symptoms or severity of a protein-misfolding or neurodegenerative disease.
• the route of administration is selected from intrathecal injection or infusion, direct intraventricular injection or infusion, intraparenchymal injection or infusion, or intravenous injection or infusion.
• a pharmaceutical composition or formulation of the invention is for use in a method for promoting amyloid clearance in the brain. Promoting amyloid clearance may prevent, treat or reduce the symptoms or severity of a protein-misfolding or neurodegenerative disease.
• the route of administration is selected from intrathecal injection or infusion, direct intraventricular injection or infusion, intraparenchymal injection or infusion, or intravenous injection or infusion.
• a pharmaceutical composition or formulation of the invention is for use in a method for inhibiting amyloid aggregation in the brain. Inhibiting amyloid aggregation in the brain may prevent, treat or reduce the symptoms or severity of a protein-misfolding or neurodegenerative disease.
• the route of administration is selected from intrathecal injection or infusion, direct intraventricular injection or infusion, intraparenchymal injection or infusion, or intravenous injection or infusion.
• a pharmaceutical composition or formulation of the invention is for use in a method for clearing toxic amyloid oligomers in the brain.
• Clearing toxic amyloid oligomers in the brain may prevent, treat or reduce the symptoms or severity of a protein-misfolding or neurodegenerative disease.
• the route of administration is selected from intrathecal injection or infusion, direct intraventricular injection or infusion, intraparenchymal injection or infusion, or intravenous injection or infusion.
• a pharmaceutical composition or formulation of the invention is for use in a method for preventing the formation of toxic amyloid oligomers in the brain. Preventing the formation of toxic oligomers in the brain may prevent, treat or reduce the symptoms or severity of a protein- misfolding or neurodegenerative disease.
• the route of administration is selected from intrathecal injection or infusion, direct intraventricular injection or infusion, intraparenchymal injection or infusion, or intravenous injection or infusion.
• a pharmaceutical composition or formulation of the invention is for use in a method for protecting neurons from amyloid damage.
• Protecting neurons from amyloid damage may prevent, treat or reduce the symptoms or severity of a protein-misfolding or neurodegenerative disease.
• the route of administration is selected from intrathecal injection or infusion, direct intraventricular injection or infusion, intraparenchymal injection or infusion, or intravenous injection or infusion.
• a pharmaceutical composition or formulation of the invention for use in protecting neurons from amyloid damage is given prophylactically.
• the patient is positive for a biomarker associated with a protein misfolding and/or aggregation disease.
• the biomarker is florbetapir (AV45, Eli Lilly).
• the patient is exhibiting symptoms of a neurodegenerative disease that is associated with the presence of amyloid.
• the amyloid is any of fAE42, fDsyn or ftau.
• the neurodegenerative disease is Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, or Huntington’s disease. In one embodiment, the neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer’s disease. In one embodiment, the neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer’s disease and the patient exhibits ß-amyloid as detected by the imaging agent florbetapir (AV-45, Eli Lilly).
• the patient is exhibiting symptoms of a prion-mediated disease.
• the prion-mediated disease is chosen from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, kuru, fatal familial insomnia, or Gerstmann-St Hurssler-Scheinker syndrome.
• the patient is exhibiting symptoms of a neurodegenerative tauopathy other than Alzheimer’s disease.
• the disease to be treated is selected from Argyrophilic grain dementia, Corticobasal degeneration, Dementia pugilistica, diffuse neurofibrillary tangles with calcification, Down’s sy entias including frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to en-Spatz disease, Myotonic dystrophy, Niemann-Pick disease type C, Non-Guamanian motor neuron disease with neurofibrillary tangles, Pick’s disease, Postencephalitic parkinsonism, Progressive subcortical gliosis, Progressive supranuclear palsy, Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, and Tangle only dementia.
• any of the disease conditions described above may be treated by administration of a nucleic acid molecule of the invention (i.e., one that encodes a variant g3p that exhibits reduced immunogenicity and possessing the ability to bind to amyloid, disaggregate amyloid plaques, and/or prevent aggregation of amyloid) alone or associated with a suitable carrier, such as, e.g., a lipid nanoparticle. a polymeric carrier, or a vector, such as a viral vector directly to a patient by any suitable route, such as, e.g., inhalation and intravenous infusion.
• the nucleic acid molecule encoding the variant g3p of the invention suitable for this treatment may be DNA or RNA.
• the polypeptides and compositions described herein are used in diagnostic applications associated with the various diseases described herein.
• binding of a composition of the invention when used as an imaging agent either in vivo or in vitro may be part of a diagnosis of one of the protein misfolding diseases described.
• the polypeptides of the invention may further comprise a detectable label, or may be otherwise detected in vivo.
• Various labels can be attached to the amyloid binding component of the diagnostic composition using standard techniques for labeling proteins. Examples of labels include fluorescent labels and radiolabels.
• radiolabels there are a wide variety of radiolabels that can be used, but in general the label is often selected from radiolabels including, but not limited to, 18 F, 11 C, and 123 I. These and other radioisotopes can be attached to the protein using well known chemistry. In one embodiment, the label is detected using positron emission tomography (PET). However, any other suitable technique for detection of radioisotopes may also be used to detect the radiotracer.
• PET positron emission tomography
• the polypeptides and compositions of the invention may be used as diagnostic imaging agents in combination with an imaging agent that is specific for ß-amyloid such as, for example, F18-AV-45, Eli Lilly. Since there are currently no known imaging agents for non-ß-amyloid aggregates, the use of a diagnostic composition of the invention together with a ß-amyloid-specific imaging agent will result in the detection of non-ß-amyloid aggregates based on differential detection. Thus, in one embodiment, a diagnostic composition of the invention is used as an imaging agent in combination with a ß-amyloid imaging agent to detect non-ß-amyloid aggregates.
• an imaging agent that is specific for ß-amyloid such as, for example, F18-AV-45, Eli Lilly. Since there are currently no known imaging agents for non-ß-amyloid aggregates, the use of a diagnostic composition of the invention together with a ß-amyloid-specific imaging agent will result in the detection of non-ß-amyloid aggregates based on differential detection
• polypeptides or compositions of the invention is used as a diagnostic imaging agent to detect ß-amyloid in the CNS, including the brain.
• Diagnostic compositions of the invention may be administered using the same routes described for therapeutic compositions.
• the route of administration is selected from intrathecal injection or infusion, direct intraventricular injection or infusion, intraparenchymal injection or infusion, or intravenous injection or infusion Examples
• Example 1 Mapping of CD4+ T Cell Epitopes in g3p
• 87 overlapping peptides spanning the sequence of amino acids 1-240 of SEQ ID NO:1 (15 amino acids long with 12 amino acid overlaps) were synthesized and tested in a T cell epitope mapping assay for responses from human CD4+ T cells. Individual peptides were tested in sextuplicate PBMC cultures and T cell responses were assessed in order to identify the location of epitopes as well as their relative potency.
• PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cells
• CD8 + T cells were depleted using CD8 + RosetteSepTM (StemCell Technologies Inc, London, UK). Donors were characterized by identifying HLA-DR haplotypes using an HLA SSP- PCR based tissue-typing kit (Biotest, Solihull, UK). T cell responses to a control neoantigen protein (KLH protein (Pierce (Perbio), Cramlington, UK) and peptides derived from IFV and EBV) were also determined. PBMC were then frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen until required.
• KLH protein Pieris-shield, Dundee, UK
• a cohort of 55 donors was selected for the assay to best represent the number and frequency of HLA-DR allotypes expressed in the world population. Analysis of the allotypes expressed in the cohort against those expressed in the world population revealed that coverage of >80% was achieved and that all major HLA-DR alleles (individual allotypes with a frequency >5% expressed in the world population) were well represented. Details of individual donor haplotypes and a comparison of the frequency of MHC class II haplotypes expressed in the world population and the sample population are shown in Table 8 and FIG.3, respectively.
• PBMC from each donor were thawed, counted and viability was assessed.
• Cells were revived in room temperature AIM-V® culture medium (Invitrogen, Paisley, UK) before adjusting the cell density to 2-3x10 6 PBMC/ml (proliferation cell stock).
• the 15 amino acid long peptides were synthesized on a 1-3 mg scale with free N-terminal amine and C-terminal carboxylic acid.
• Peptides were dissolved in DMSO to a concentration of 10 mM and peptide culture stocks prepared by diluting into AIM-V® culture medium to a final concentration of 5 ⁇ M in the well.
• sextuplicate cultures were esta well plate.
• SI stimulation index
• T cell epitopes were identified by calculating the average frequency of positive responses (defined above) to all peptides in the study plus SD to give a background response rate. Any peptide that induced proliferative responses above the background response rate in both the adjusted and non- adjusted data was considered to contain a T cell epitope. When two overlapping peptides induced a proliferative response rate the T-cell epitope was considered to be in the overlap region. Based upon this the following T-cell epitopes were identified in the tested polypeptide:
• Epitope 1 C T G D E T Q C Y G T W (amino acids 46-57 of SEQ ID NO:1)
• Epitope 2 T F M F Q N N R F R N R (amino acids 133-144 of SEQ ID NO:1)
• Epitope 3 S S K A M Y D A Y W N G (amino acids of 172-183 of SEQ ID NO:1)
• Epitope 4 P V N A G G G S G G G S (amino acids 214-225 of SEQ ID NO:1)
• Epitope 5 S G S G A M V R S D K T H T C (amino acids 253-267 of SEQ ID NO:1)
• Epitope 5 spans the C-terminus of the native N2-CT Gly-rich linker, the amino acids coded for by the multiple cloning site (“MCS”) of the pFUSE vector used to produce the N1-N2-human Ig Fc fusion protein of SEQ ID NO:1, and the N-terminus of the human Ig Fc region.
• MCS multiple cloning site
• M258 and V259 of SEQ ID NO:1 as the P1 anchors responsible T-cell activity. Based on their location outside of the N1-N2 coding region, removal of these two amino acids was not expected to cause a loss of function. These two amino acids were encoded by the MCS.
• a double- stranded DNA molecule that modified the MCS and eliminated the nucleotides encoding M258 and V259 of SEQ ID NO:1 was produced by site-directed mutagenesis using appropriate oligonucleotide primers. This was followed by recloning the resulting mutagenized DNA sequence back into the pFUSE vector using the using EcoRI and BglII restriction sites in the MCS. The resulting mature (lacking the signal sequence) fusion protein omitted M258 and V259. That fusion protein retained the same ability to bind Abeta in the assay described below as the SEQ ID NO:1 fusion protein.
• Epitope 4 overlaps the N2 domain and the native Gly-rich linker. Crystal structure of the g3p protein (not shown) suggested that Epitope 4 is located away from amyloid binding region and therefore would be tolerant to amino acid substitutions without affecting activity.
• V215 (SEQ ID NO:1), which was identified as a P1 anchor, is surface exposed with slight orientation of side chain towards the protein core. From structural analysis, any of the substitutions for V215 set forth in Tables 6 and 7 should remove the epitope. In addition any of the substitutions of other amino acids within this epitope as set forth in Tables 6 and 7 should also be accommodated.
• a nucleic acid sequence encoding an N1- N2-Ig Fc comprising a V215A substitution (SEQ ID NO:4) and omitting M258 and V259 was derived from the above-described nucleotide sequence by site-directed mutagenesis using appropriate oligonucleotide primers.
• the resulting mature fusion protein (SEQ ID NO:2) demonstrated increased binding to Abeta in the binding assay as compared to a fusion protein having the amino acid sequence of either SEQ ID NO:1 or the mature fusion protein lacking M258 and V239, described above.
• the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 was used as the parent sequence to create genes incorporating all modifications in epitopes 1, 2 and 3.
• Epitope 1 lies just C-terminal to a putative Abeta binding portion of N1-N2.
• amino acids 48-56 of SEQ ID NO:1 as an area for amino acid substitution and removal of the T-cell epitope.
• Amino acids within this 9-mer were targeted for substitution based upon the nature of the existing amino acid, surface exposure, and interaction with the amyloid binding region of g3p, as interpreted from the X-ray crystal structure of g3p
• G48, T51, Y54 and T56 were targeted for substitution with the changes indicated in Table 1.
• Other potential amino acid substitutions in this region are set forth in Table 2.
• iTope TM analysis of Epitope 2 pointed to amino acids 135-143 of SEQ ID NO:1 as a target for reducing or eliminating that epitope. Based on the X-ray crystal structure, amino acids 136-139 of SEQ ID NO:1 form a loop region that forms bonds with the hinge region of N1-N2 and thus may be important for amyloid binding activity. Changes to these amino acids are less preferred and are only presented in Table 2. The more preferred changes are to M135, R140, F141 and N143 and are set forth in Table 1. Other potential changes to this nine amino acid region are set forth in Table 2.
• Amino acids 173-182 of SEQ ID NO:1 were identified within Epitope 3 as targets for substitution by in silico analysis.
• Epitope 3 is located in an alpha helical portion of the N2 domain, thus the strategy was to avoid introduction of hydrophobic residues and small polar uncharged residues.
• S173, D174, M176, D178 and W182 for substitution with the changes indicated in Table 1.
• Other potential amino acid substitutions in this region are set forth in Table 2.
• Plasmid DNA and polyethyleneimine (PEI) were diluted separately in Optimem (Invitrogen, Catalogue # 31985) and incubated for 5 minutes following which the PEI was added slowly to the DNA, and the DNA/PEI mixtures were incubated for 5 minutes at room temperature. After incubation, the DNA/PEI mixtures were added dropwise to the 293-F cells whilst swirling the flask. Transfected cultures were incubated at 37°C, 8% CO 2 on an orbital shaker platform rotating at 135 rpm for 6–7 days, following which they were harvested.
• ABeta (Aß) Fiber Preparation A ⁇ 42 (1mg, rPeptide A-1002-2) was dissolved in hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP, 1mL), vortexed thoroughly and incubated at room temperature for 2-18 hours until a clear solution appears. Aliquots (100 ⁇ l, 100 ⁇ g) were placed in 1.5mL Eppendorf tubes and dry under vacuum (speed Vac, Eppendorf, Concentrator 5301) for 2-3hr. The resulting monomers were resuspended in 20 ⁇ L DMSO, pipetted and vortexed thoroughly until completely dissolved.
• HFIP hexafluoroisopropanol
• the solution was diluted with 260 ⁇ L of 10mM HCl solution (final A ⁇ 42 concentration is 80 ⁇ M) and vortexed for 20 seconds.
• the clear solution is incubated (without shaking) for 3 days at 37°C to allow for aggregation.
• B. ELISA Plate Preparation To each well of a 96-well plate (F96 MAXISORP NUNC- IMMUNO PLATE; Catalog number: 442404, Lot 125436 and 128158; Denmark) was added 200 ⁇ L of a 1% BSA solution. The plates were sealed and incubated at 7°C for 3 hr. Plates were then washed with PBS (250 ⁇ L/well) x3. We added 50 ⁇ L of the diluted A ⁇ 42 fiber solution (1.6 ⁇ M) to each well and incubated uncovered at 37°C overnight to complete dryness. PBS (50 ⁇ l/well) is added to control wells (without A ⁇ 42 fibers). Plates were then washed 2X with water and 1X with PBS (250 ⁇ L/well for each washing).
• C ELISA Assay. Varying concentrations of each polypeptide (as well as the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2) in 50 ⁇ L were added to each well, as well as to non-A ⁇ 42 fiber coated wells and incubated for 1h at 37qC. Plates were then washed 3X with PBS-T (0.05% Tween 20 in PBS) and 3X with PBS (250 ⁇ L/well for each washing).
• PBMCs were isolated from 20 healthy human donor buffy coats prepared as in Example 1. PBMCs were revived from frozen in AIM- V® culture medium and CD14 + cells were isolated using Miltenyi CD14 Microbeads and LS columns (Miltenyi Biotech, Oxford, UK). Monocytes were resuspended in AIM-V® supplemented with
• DC culture medium 1000U/ml IL-4 and 1000U/ml GM-CSF (“DC culture medium”) to 4-6x10 6 PBMC/ml and then distributed in 24 well plates (2ml final culture volume).
• Cells were fed on day 2 by replacement of a half volume DC culture medium.
• monocytes had differentiated to semi-mature dendritic cells (DC) which were pre-incubated with antigens comprising either 40ug/ml of test polypeptide or 40ug/ml of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1 and 100 ⁇ g/ml KLH or medium only.
• Semi-mature DC were incubated with antigen for 24 hours after which excess antigen was removed by washing the cells twice and resuspending in DC culture medium supplemented wi ch, London, UK).
• DC were fed on
• PBMCs were revived in AIM-V® culture medium and CD4 + cells isolated using Miltenyi CD4 Microbeads and LS columns (Miltenyi Biotech, Oxford, UK) and resuspended in AIM-V® medium at 2x10 6 cells/ml.
• T cell proliferation assays were established whereby 1x10 5 autologous CD4 + T cells were added to 1x10 4 antigen-loaded DC (ratio of 10:1) in 96 well U-bottomed plates, with AIM-V® medium added to a final volume 200ul/well.
• assay plates were pulsed with 1uCi [ 3 H] (Perkin Elmer, Beaconsfield, UK) per well in 25ul AIM-V® for 6 hours before harvesting onto filter mats (Perkin Elmer) using a TomTec Mach III (Hamden CT, USA) cell harvester. All polypeptides were tested in sextuplet cultures.
• Counts per minute (cpm) for each well were determined by MeltilexTM (Perkin Elmer) scintillation counting on a 1450 Microbeta Wallac Trilux Liquid Scintillation Counter (Perkin Elmer) in paralux, low background counting. Counts per minute for each antigen were normalised to the AIM-V® medium only control.
• ELISpot assays ELISpot plates (Millipore, Watford, UK) were coated with 100ul/well IL-2 capture antibody (R&D Systems, Abingdon, UK) in PBS. Plates were then washed twice in PBS, incubated overnight in block buffer (1% BSA (Sigma) in PBS) and washed in AIM-V® medium. On day 8, 1x10 5 autologous CD4 + T cells were added to 1x10 4 antigen loaded DC (ratio of 10:1) in 96 well ELISpot plates. All polypeptide preparations were tested in sextuplet cultures. For each donor PBMC, a negative control (AIM-V® medium alone), no cells control and a PHA (10ug/ml) positive control were also included.
• ELISpot plates were developed by three sequential washes in dH 2 O and PBS prior to the addition of 100ul filtered biotinylated detection antibody (R&D Systems, Abingdon, UK) in PBS/1% BSA. Following incubation at 37qC for 1.5 hour, plates were further washed three times in PBS and 100ul filtered streptavidin-AP (R&D Systems) in PBS/1% BSA was added for 1 hour (incubation at room temperature). Streptavidin-AP was discarded and plates were washed four times in PBS. BCIP/NBT (R&D Systems) was added to each well and incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature.
• results were expressed as a Stimulation Index (SI) defined as the ratio of cpm (proliferation assay) or spots (ELISpot assay) for the test polypeptide against a medium-only control using a threshold of SI equal to or greater than 2 (SI ⁇ 2.0) for positive T cell responses.
• SI Stimulation Index
• Example 7 Design of Double and Triple Substitutions in Two or More of T Cell Epitopes 1, 2 and 3.
• DNA encoding N1-N2-Human IG Fc fusion proteins having two of the amino acid substitutions set forth in Table 10, each in a different epitope were prepared by using site-directed mutagenesis of the appropriate starting DNA (typically the DNA encoding for one of the two substitutions prepared as set forth in Example 3. The resulting DNA encoding these fusion proteins were used to transform cells and were expressed and purified as set forth in Example 4, and tested for binding as set forth in Example 5. Polypeptides having one substitution in each of epitopes 1, 2 and 3 were then designed based on the results of the binding assay on the two amino acid substituted polypeptides.
• Polypeptides having one substitution in each of epitopes 1, 2 and 3 are assayed for both ABeta binding, as well as T-cell response as set forth in Example 6.
• the following double and triple epitope variants were made by substituting certain amino acids in SEQ ID NO:2 as indicated in Table 11, below.
• Example 8 Cellulose acetate filter retardation assay.
• This assay was used to monitor the destabilization (disaggregation) or remodeling of amyloid fibers into non-amyloidogenic or soluble aggregates.
• the assay was primarily adapted from Chang, E. and Kuret, J., Anal Biochem 373, 330-6, (2008) and Wanker, E. E. et al.,
• the variant polypeptides of the invention all exhibited binding to Aß as determined by the ELISA assay. Most of the variant polypeptides tested also exhibited disaggregation of Aß, as determined by the dot blot assay.
• the purified vector was then used to transform Expi293 cells using the commercially available Expi293 TM Expression System (Life Tehcnologies).
• Expi293 cells were seeded at a density of 2 x 10 6 viable cells/ml.
• 500 ⁇ g of the filter-sterilized plasmid was diluted into Opti-MEM I to a total volume of 25 ml.
• 1.333 ml ExpiFectamine TM 293 Reagent was diluted in 25 ml Opti-MEM I and mixed by inverting.
• ExpiFectamineTM 293Reagent After five minutes incubation at room temperature the diluted DNA was added to the diluted ExpiFectamine TM 293Reagent and incubated for an additional 20-30 minutes. The DNA-ExpiFectamine TM 293Reagent complex was slowly added to 500 ml cells ( >3 x 10 6 cells/ml) while gently swirling the flask. ExpiFectamineTM 293 Transfection Enhancers I and II, 2.5ml and 25ml respectively, were added to the transfected cells after approximately 18 hours and cells are incubated for another 5 days at 37 o C, 8% CO 2 , 135 rpm on an orbital shaker.
• the expressed fusion protein (termed“Polypeptide 86-T41G”)-containing media was harvested by ⁇ centrifugation at 10,000 rpm at 4 o C for 20 minutes.
• the supernatant was purified on a 5ml HiTrap rProtein A FF column (GE Healthcare), with all steps being performed at 4 o C.
• the column was regenerated with 5 volumes of elution buffer (0.1M glycine, pH 3), and washed in 5-10 volumes 20 mM sodium phosphate buffer before applying the cell media using a flow rate of 5ml/min.
• the column was washed with 5-10 volumes 20 mM sodium phosphate buffer before eluting off bound Polypeptide 86-T41G with 0.1M glycine pH 3.
• Purified Polypeptide 86-T41G was also analyzed by size exclusion chromatography on a Superdex200 increase 10/300 column. The column was washed and equilibrated with 100 ml of phosphate buffered saline (“PBS”). One hundred micrograms (100 ⁇ g) of Polypeptide 86-T41G was diluted in PBS to a final volume of 200 ⁇ L and loaded onto the column. The column was then eluted with 1.5 column volumes of PBS at a rate of 0.75 mL/minute. Protein in fractions was monitored by spectrophotometrically at 214 nm and 280 nm and demonstrated a sharp peak indicating homogeneity (data not shown).
• PBS phosphate buffered saline
• polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1 (no amino acid changes in either the putative glycosylation site at amino acids 39-41 or any putative T-cell epitopes) elicited proliferative responses (“SI”) >2 times background for 12% of the donors (6/50).
• Polypeptide 86 and Polypeptide 86 T41G elicited proliferative responses from significantly fewer donor PBMCs (4%; 2/50) with responders having proliferative response also slightly higher than 2 times background. This indicates lower projected immunogenicity of Polypeptide 86 T41G for human subjects.
• the IL-2 assay confirms the T-cell response assay results.
• Polypeptide 86 T41G was also compared to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1 for binding to Abeta42 fibers, NAC fibers and tau-mtbr fibers.
• a ⁇ 42 peptide (rPeptide A-1002-2) was dissolved in hexafluoroisopropanol by vortexing and incubation at room temperature for 18 hours. Aliquots were dried under vacuum and stored at -20°C.100 ug of A ⁇ 42 monomers were dissolved in 20 ⁇ l DMSO, dissolved by vortex and diluted to 80 ⁇ M in 10 mM HCl solution. The A ⁇ 42 peptide solution was incubated for 3 days at 37°C and fiber formation verified with ThT fluorescence assay.
• NAC non-amyloid beta component
• senile plaque is an aggregated fragment of alpha-synuclein, the aggregate that is the hallmark of Parkinson’s disease.
• NAC peptide ((Bachem H2598) was dissolved in 20mM NaHCO 3 at 600uM and centrifuged for 1 hour, 100,000xg at 4°C. Supernatant was neutralized with 2N HCl and mixed 1:1 with 10mM HCl. The peptide was incubated for 4 days at 37°C and fiber formation confirmed by ThT fluorescence assay.
• Fibers comprising the microtubule binding portion of Tau were made according to Frost et al. J Biol Chem.2009 May 8;284(19):12845-52. Briefly, 40uM of tau-mtbr protein was incubated with 40uM low-molecular weight heparin (Fisher Scientific, BP2524) and 2mM DTT for 3 days at 37°C. Fibril formation was confirmed by ThT fluorescence assay.
• Fibers were diluted to 1 ⁇ M in PBSA-0.02% and dry-coated on Maxisorp Nunc
• Immunoplate ELISA plates (ThermoFisher Cat no.442404) by incubation over night at 37°C. Wells were blocked, 200 ⁇ l/well, in Superblock (ThermoFisher Cat no.37515) for 1 hour at room temperature and washed in PBST-0.05%.
• Binding Assay and Results The polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1 and Polypeptide 86 T41G were separately added to the fiber ELISA at 50 and 200nM and incubated for 1 hour at 37 o C. Wells were washed in PBST-0.05% 6x200 ⁇ l before incubation with goat anti-human IgG Fc fragment specific-HRP (Jackson labs Cat no.109-035-008), 1:2500 in TBST-0.05%; 1% milk block (LabScientific Cat no.732-291-1940), for 45 minutes in room temperature. Plates were washed in 4x200 ul TBST-0.05%, 2x200 ul PBS before adding 50 ul TMB solution (Sigma T0440) per well. The reaction was left to develop for 8 minutes and stopped by adding 50 ⁇ l 2N HCl per well. The absorbance at 450 nm was recorded in a Tecan plate reader (Infinite
• Polypeptide 86 T41G bind Aß42m NAC and tau-mtbr fibers with the same or higher affinity compared to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1.
• Example 10 Pharmacokinetic (PK) Studies of Polypeptide 217 and SEQ ID NO:1.
• a sandwich ELISA assay was used to measure polypeptide levels in plasma. MaxiSorp TM plates were coated with rabbit anti-M13 (Abcam: ab6188) at 1:1,000 dilution from stock (3.7 ⁇ g/mL, 0.37 ⁇ g/well) overnight in carbonate buffer (pH 9.6) at 4 °C. Plates were washed three times with PBS containing 0.1% Tween-20 (“PBST”) and blocked with 1% milk in PBS for 2h at 37 °C followed by 1h at RT. Plates were again washed three times with PBST and then samples or standards were added to wells and incubated for 1h at 37 °C.
• PBST 0.1% Tween-20
• Brain ELISA Analysis Brain tissue (left frontal cortex) was homogenized in cold PBS using trip Pure M-Bio Grade beaded tubes and a Precellys024 Lysis Homogenizer (5,000 RPM twice for 20 sec, with a 5 sec interval between homogenization cycles). Homogenate was centrifuged at 14,000 rpm for 5 min at 4 °C. Supernatant was removed to a new tube and used for all subsequent analyses. Protein content of brain lysate was determined using a Pierce BCA protein assay kit. Lysate was used at a 1:2 dilution.
• a sandwich ELISA assay was used to measure polypeptide levels in brain. MaxiSorp TM plates were coated with rabbit anti-M13 (Abcam: ab6188) at 1:1,000 (3.7 ⁇ g/mL, 0.37 ⁇ g/well) overnight in carbonate buffer at 4 °C. Plates were washed 3x with PBST and blocked with 1% milk in PBS for 2h at 37 °C, followed by 1h at RT. Plates were then washed 3x with PBST, and samples or standards were added to wells and incubated for 1h at 37 °C.

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