WO2022149295A1 - Peptide dérivé d'une protéine du ｓａｒｓ－ｃｏｖ－２, et vaccin contenant celui-ci - Google Patents

Peptide dérivé d'une protéine du ｓａｒｓ－ｃｏｖ－２, et vaccin contenant celui-ci Download PDF

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WO2022149295A1
WO2022149295A1 PCT/JP2021/017162 JP2021017162W WO2022149295A1 WO 2022149295 A1 WO2022149295 A1 WO 2022149295A1 JP 2021017162 W JP2021017162 W JP 2021017162W WO 2022149295 A1 WO2022149295 A1 WO 2022149295A1
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peptide
amino acid
hla
seq
peptides
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PCT/JP2021/017162
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Japanese (ja)
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一馬 清谷
祐輔 中村
哲郎 引地
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オンコセラピー・サイエンス株式会社
株式会社 Cancer Precision Medicine
一馬 清谷
祐輔 中村
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Priority to AU2021418202A priority Critical patent/AU2021418202A1/en
Priority to MX2023008049A priority patent/MX2023008049A/es
Priority to US18/270,590 priority patent/US20240067679A1/en
Priority to PCT/JP2021/048846 priority patent/WO2022149549A1/fr
Priority to JP2022574041A priority patent/JPWO2022149549A1/ja
Publication of WO2022149295A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022149295A1/fr

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
    • C07K16/08—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from viruses
    • C07K16/10—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from viruses from RNA viruses
    • C07K16/1002—Coronaviridae
    • C07K16/1003—Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS‐CoV‐2 or Covid-19]
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K35/00—Medicinal preparations containing materials or reaction products thereof with undetermined constitution
    • A61K35/12—Materials from mammals; Compositions comprising non-specified tissues or cells; Compositions comprising non-embryonic stem cells; Genetically modified cells
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K35/00—Medicinal preparations containing materials or reaction products thereof with undetermined constitution
    • A61K35/12—Materials from mammals; Compositions comprising non-specified tissues or cells; Compositions comprising non-embryonic stem cells; Genetically modified cells
    • A61K35/14—Blood; Artificial blood
    • A61K35/15—Cells of the myeloid line, e.g. granulocytes, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, leucocytes, monocytes, macrophages or mast cells; Myeloid precursor cells; Antigen-presenting cells, e.g. dendritic cells
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K35/00—Medicinal preparations containing materials or reaction products thereof with undetermined constitution
    • A61K35/12—Materials from mammals; Compositions comprising non-specified tissues or cells; Compositions comprising non-embryonic stem cells; Genetically modified cells
    • A61K35/14—Blood; Artificial blood
    • A61K35/17—Lymphocytes; B-cells; T-cells; Natural killer cells; Interferon-activated or cytokine-activated lymphocytes
    • 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
    • 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
    • A61K39/215—Coronaviridae, e.g. avian infectious bronchitis virus
    • 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
    • A61K39/39—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by the immunostimulating additives, e.g. chemical adjuvants
    • 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
    • A61K39/46—Cellular immunotherapy
    • A61K39/461—Cellular immunotherapy characterised by the cell type used
    • A61K39/4611—T-cells, e.g. tumor infiltrating lymphocytes [TIL], lymphokine-activated killer cells [LAK] or regulatory T cells [Treg]
    • 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
    • A61K39/46—Cellular immunotherapy
    • A61K39/464—Cellular immunotherapy characterised by the antigen targeted or presented
    • A61K39/464838—Viral antigens
    • 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
    • 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
    • A61K9/10—Dispersions; Emulsions
    • A61K9/107—Emulsions ; Emulsion preconcentrates; Micelles
    • 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
    • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
    • A61P37/02—Immunomodulators
    • A61P37/04—Immunostimulants
    • 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
    • C07K14/08—RNA viruses
    • C07K14/165—Coronaviridae, e.g. avian infectious bronchitis virus
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
    • C07K16/08—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from viruses
    • C07K16/10—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from viruses from RNA viruses
    • C07K16/1002—Coronaviridae
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K7/00—Peptides having 5 to 20 amino acids in a fully defined sequence; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K7/04—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links
    • C07K7/06—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links having 5 to 11 amino acids
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K7/00—Peptides having 5 to 20 amino acids in a fully defined sequence; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K7/04—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links
    • C07K7/08—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links having 12 to 20 amino acids
    • 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
    • C12N5/00—Undifferentiated human, animal or plant cells, e.g. cell lines; Tissues; Cultivation or maintenance thereof; Culture media therefor
    • C12N5/06—Animal cells or tissues; Human cells or tissues
    • 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
    • C12N5/00—Undifferentiated human, animal or plant cells, e.g. cell lines; Tissues; Cultivation or maintenance thereof; Culture media therefor
    • C12N5/10—Cells modified by introduction of foreign genetic material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12Q—MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
    • C12Q1/00—Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms; Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions
    • C12Q1/02—Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms; Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions involving viable microorganisms

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of biological science, more specifically to the field of viral infection prevention.
  • the present invention relates to novel peptides effective as infection-preventing vaccines, methods for the prevention and / or treatment of infectious diseases using the peptides, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the peptides.
  • Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by infection with the new coronavirus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2: SARS-CoV-2), was first reported in Wuhan, China. Since then, it has expanded all over the world. As of December 2020, the number of infected people has exceeded 70 million and the number of deaths has reached 1.59 million, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, as of April 2021, the number of infected people exceeded 120 million and the number of deaths reached 2.8 million. Inoculation of preventive vaccines can be mentioned as an effective means for suppressing the spread of infection, but vaccines against COVID-19 are also being put into practical use.
  • WHO World Health Organization
  • Non-Patent Document 1 Giamarellos-Bourboulis EJ et al., Cell 2020, 183 (2): 315-323.e9.
  • Non-Patent Document 2 Toyoshima Y et al., J Hum Genet 2020, 65 (Non-Patent Document 2: Toyoshima Y et al., J Hum Genet 2020, 65). 12): 1075-1082;
  • Non-Patent Document 3 Berg MK et al., Science Advances 2020, 6 (32): eabc1463).
  • the natural immune response centered on immune cells (macrophages, NK cells, neutrophils, etc.) first works, and then acquired immunity centered on B cells and T cells (humoral immunity).
  • Non-Patent Document 4 Netea MG et al., Cell 2020, 181 (5). ): 969-977).
  • Non-Patent Document 5 Hoffmann M et al., Cell 2020, 181 (2): 271-280.
  • Many of the vaccines against COVID-19 which are still under research and development, including the mRNA vaccine "BNT162b2" approved in the United Kingdom and the United States, induce neutralizing antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 (humoral).
  • the main purpose is (induction of immunity) (Non-Patent Document 6: Jeyanathan M et al., Nat Rev Immunol 2020, 20 (10): 615-632).
  • mutations in the viral genome can occur as SARS-CoV-2 proliferates repeatedly.
  • Non-Patent Document 7 Ibarrondo FJ et al., N Engl). J Med 2020, 383 (11): 1085-1087; Non-Patent Document 8: Long QX et al., Nat Med 2020, 26 (8): 1200-1204). Therefore, there remains a problem in the development of vaccines aimed at inducing humoral immunity with neutralizing antibodies.
  • Cytotoxic T lymphocytes are CD8-positive T cells that are induced by the presentation of viral antigens (epithopeptides derived from viral proteins) by dendritic cells (DCs). It then recognizes the epitope peptide presented on the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecule expressed on the surface of virus-infected cells and kills the virus-infected cells. This action destroys infected cells, which are the replication sites of virus particles, and as a result, suppresses the growth of the virus.
  • CTLs Cytotoxic T lymphocytes
  • HLA human leukocyte antigen
  • CTLs which target the virus particle replication process itself, is more direct in preventing virus growth, whereas neutralizing antibodies primarily inhibit the infection of new cells of the virus particles after replication. It can be said that it fulfills a positive effect. Therefore, CTL is considered to play a role in eliminating the virus from the living body and suppressing the aggravation of infectious diseases.
  • the report that CD8-positive T cells are significantly reduced in the peripheral blood of severely ill COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects is an important factor for CTL to suppress the aggravation of COVID-19. It is suggested that there is (Non-Patent Document 9: Zheng M et al., Cell Mol Immunol 2020, 17 (5): 533-535).
  • Non-Patent Document 10 Le Bert N et al., Nature 2020,584 (7821): 457-462).
  • -CTLs against CoV-2 may also remain in the body for extended periods of time after being induced. Therefore, a vaccine aimed at inducing cell-mediated immunity can be an effective preventive measure against COVID-19.
  • COVID is that CTL induced by a vaccine consisting of an epitope peptide derived from SARS-CoV-2 protein stays in the body as memory T cells and rapidly exhibits damaging activity against virus-infected cells after SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is thought that it will lead to the suppression of the aggravation of -19. Therefore, it is desired to identify an epitope peptide derived from the SARS-CoV-2 protein that can induce CTL in the human body.
  • Non-Patent Document 11 Grifoni A et al., Cell Host Microbe 2020, 27 (4): 671-680
  • Non-Patent Document 12 Crooke SN et al., Sci Rep 2020, 10 (1): 14179).
  • the present invention was selected from peptides derived from 4 structural proteins and 6 non-structural proteins possessed by SARS-CoV-2 (reference sequence: GenBank accession number MN908947 (SEQ ID NO: 16)), HLA-A *.
  • SARS-CoV-2 reference sequence: GenBank accession number MN908947 (SEQ ID NO: 16)
  • HLA-A * To provide an epitope peptide that binds to 02:01 and exhibits CTL-inducing ability. It also provides an epitope peptide that binds to both HLA-A * 02: 01 and HLA-A * 02: 06 and exhibits CTL-inducing ability. Furthermore, it provides an epitope peptide that binds to both HLA-A * 02: 01 and HLA-A * 24: 02 and exhibits CTL-inducing ability.
  • the four structural proteins specifically refer to the following proteins: Spike protein (reference sequence: GenBank accession number QHD43416 (SEQ ID NO: 17)); Envelope protein (reference sequence: GenBank accession number QHD43418 (SEQ ID NO: 18)); Matrix protein (reference sequence: GenBank accession number QHD43419 (SEQ ID NO: 19)); and nucleoprotein (reference sequence: GenBank accession number QHD43423 (SEQ ID NO: 20))
  • the six non-structural proteins specifically refer to the following proteins: ORF1ab (Reference sequence: GenBank accession number QHD43415 (SEQ ID NO: 21)); ORF3a (Reference sequence: GenBank accession number QHD43417 (SEQ ID NO: 22)); ORF1ab (Reference sequence: GenBank accession number QHD43415 (SEQ ID NO: 21)); ORF3a (Reference sequence: GenBank accession number QHD43417 (SEQ ID NO: 22)); OR
  • COVID- for positive subjects (Cao K et al., Hum Immunol 2001, 62 (9): 1009-1030; Gonzalez-Galarza FF et al., Nucleic Acids Res 2020, 48 (D1): D783-D788) It is demonstrated that it can induce a specific and strong immune response to 19. Some of the epitope peptides of the present invention induce a specific and strong immune response to COVID-19 even in HLA-A * 24: 02 positive individuals, which have a large population in Japan and other Asian countries. Demonstrated to get.
  • the amino acid sequence of the epitope peptide provided in the present invention has a low similarity to the amino acid sequence derived from a human protein, it can be expected to create a highly safe vaccine that is unlikely to cause an unexpected side reaction.
  • it since it is an amino acid sequence commonly found in SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV that were popular in the past, it may be found in new coronavirus proteins that will appear in the future as well. Therefore, the vaccine consisting of the epitope peptide can be effective not only for the current SARS-CoV-2 but also for the coronavirus infection that will be prevalent in the future.
  • the invention also presents one or more peptides of the invention, one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more peptides of the invention, APCs of the invention, peptides of the invention.
  • a composition comprising an exosome and / or a CTL of the present invention is provided.
  • the composition of the present invention is preferably a pharmaceutical composition.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be used for the treatment and / or prevention of coronavirus infections, as well as for the suppression of aggravation. It can also be used to induce an immune response against coronavirus infection.
  • the peptides of the invention are presented on the surface of APC, thereby inducing a CTL that targets the peptide.
  • compositions for inducing CTL, one or more peptides of the present invention, one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more peptides of the present invention, APC of the present invention, And / or providing a composition comprising an exosome presenting a peptide of the invention is a further object of the invention.
  • a method for inducing an APC capable of inducing CTL in which the step of contacting the APC with one or more peptides of the present invention, or the polynucleotide encoding any one of the peptides of the present invention is introduced into the APC. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method comprising the steps of
  • the present invention also presents CD8-positive T cells with an APC that presents a complex of the HLA antigen and the peptide of the invention on its surface, CD8-positive T cells with the HLA antigen and the peptide of the invention.
  • CD8-positive T cells with the HLA antigen and the peptide of the invention.
  • TCR T cell receptor
  • a method for inducing a CTL which comprises the step of introducing a vector containing a polypeptide encoding each subunit into CD8-positive T cells.
  • the invention further provides isolated CTLs targeting the peptides of the invention. These APCs and CTLs can be used for immunotherapy against coronavirus infections.
  • a method of inducing an immune response to a coronavirus infection in a subject, the peptide of the invention, the polypeptide encoding the peptide, the APC of the invention, the exosome presenting the peptide of the invention, and / or the CTL of the invention is another object of the present invention to provide a method comprising the step of administering to the subject. Furthermore, the peptide of the present invention, the polypeptide encoding the peptide, the APC of the present invention, and the peptide of the present invention, which are methods for treating and / or preventing coronavirus infection and suppressing the aggravation of the coronavirus infection in a subject, are presented. It is another object of the invention to provide a method comprising administering to the subject an exosome and / or a CTL of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 consists of images showing the results of an IFN- ⁇ enzyme-bound immune spot (ELISPOT) assay performed using cells derived from a peptide derived from the SARS-CoV-2 protein.
  • ELISPOT enzyme-bound immune spot
  • Peptide 1 SEQ ID NO: 1
  • Peptide 2 SEQ ID NO: 2
  • Peptide 3 SEQ ID NO: 3
  • Peptide 4 SEQ ID NO: 4
  • Peptide 5 SEQ ID NO: 5
  • Peptide 7 SEQ ID NO: 5)
  • Peptide 9 SEQ ID NO: 9
  • Peptide 10 SEQ ID NO: 10
  • Peptide 11 SEQ ID NO: 11
  • Peptide 12 SEQ ID NO: 12
  • Peptide 13 SEQ ID NO: 13
  • Peptide It can be seen from the comparison with the negative control that peptide-specific IFN- ⁇ production was observed in 14 (SEQ ID NO: 14) and peptide 15 (SEQ ID NO: 15) (Fig. 1a).
  • peptide 8 SEQ ID NO: 8 is shown as an example of typical negative data in which peptide-specific IFN- ⁇ production was not observed (FIG. 1b).
  • FIG. 2 shows peptide 2 (SEQ ID NO: 2), peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3), peptide 4 (SEQ ID NO: 4), peptide 7 (SEQ ID NO: 7), peptide 10 (SEQ ID NO: 10), peptide.
  • IFN- ⁇ produced from cells stimulated with 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11), peptide 12 (SEQ ID NO: 12) or peptide 15 (SEQ ID NO: 15) was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). It consists of a fold line graph showing the results.
  • (+) indicates IFN- ⁇ production of the CTL line for HLA-A * 02: 01 expression target cells (T2 cells) pulsed with the target peptide
  • “(-)” indicates any peptide. It shows IFN- ⁇ production of the CTL line for unpulsed T2 cells.
  • the R / S ratio represents the ratio of the number of cells in the CTL line, which is the responder cells, to the number of target cells (Stimulator cells) that stimulate it.
  • FIG. 3 consists of images showing the results of an IFN- ⁇ enzyme-bound immune spot (ELISPOT) assay performed using cells derived from a peptide derived from the SARS-CoV-2 protein.
  • ELISPOT enzyme-bound immune spot
  • FIG. 3b consists of images showing the results of an IFN- ⁇ enzyme-bound immune spot (ELISPOT) assay performed using cells derived from a peptide derived from the SARS-CoV-2 protein.
  • ELISPOT enzyme-bound immune spot
  • FIG. 4 is a line showing the results of measuring IFN- ⁇ produced from cells stimulated with peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3) or peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). It consists of a graph. These results indicate that after induction with the peptide, an HLA-A * 24: 02-restricted CTL line that produces IFN- ⁇ in a peptide-specific manner was established. In the figure, “(+)” indicates IFN- ⁇ production of CTL line against HLA-A * 24: 02 expression target cells (TISI cells) pulsed with the target peptide, and "(-)” indicates any peptide.
  • ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
  • the R / S ratio represents the ratio of the number of cells in the CTL line, which is the responder cells, to the number of target cells (Stimulator cells) that stimulate it.
  • FIG. 5 consists of images showing the results of an IFN- ⁇ enzyme-bound immune spot (ELISPOT) assay performed using cells derived from a peptide derived from the SARS-CoV-2 protein.
  • ELISPOT enzyme-bound immune spot
  • Peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3), Peptide 4 (SEQ ID NO: 4), Peptide 7 (SEQ ID NO: 7), Peptide 10 (SEQ ID NO: 10), Peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11), Peptide 12 (SEQ ID NO: 11) It can be seen from the comparison with the negative control that peptide-specific IFN- ⁇ production was observed in: 12) and peptide 15 (SEQ ID NO: 15) (Fig. 5a). On the other hand, peptide 2 (SEQ ID NO: 2) is shown as an example of typical negative data in which peptide-specific IFN- ⁇ production was not observed (FIG. 5b).
  • FIG. 6 shows peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3), peptide 4 (SEQ ID NO: 4), peptide 7 (SEQ ID NO: 7), peptide 10 (SEQ ID NO: 10), peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11), peptide.
  • ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
  • (+) indicates IFN- ⁇ production of the CTL line against HLA-A * 02: 06 expression target cells (HEV0011 cells) pulsed with the target peptide
  • “(-)” indicates any peptide. It shows IFN- ⁇ production of the CTL line for unpulsed HEV0011 cells.
  • the R / S ratio represents the ratio of the number of cells in the CTL line, which is the responder cells, to the number of target cells (Stimulator cells) that stimulate it.
  • any method and material similar to or equivalent to the methods and materials described herein can be used, but preferred methods, devices, and materials are described herein. ..
  • preferred methods, devices, and materials are described herein. ..
  • the particular sizes, shapes, dimensions, materials, methodologies, protocols, etc. described herein may be modified according to conventional experimental methods and optimizations. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto.
  • the terminology used herein is for purposes of describing only a particular type or embodiment and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is limited solely by the appended claims. It should also be understood.
  • an isolated or purified peptide refers to a peptide that is substantially free of other cellular materials from the cell or tissue source from which the peptide is derived, such as sugars, lipids and other contaminating proteins.
  • the isolated or purified peptide refers to a peptide that is substantially free of precursors or other chemicals.
  • substantially free of cellular material includes preparations of the peptide from which the peptide has been isolated from the cellular components of the cell in which it was isolated or recombinantly produced.
  • peptides that are substantially free of cellular material contain other cellular material, less than about 30%, 20%, 10%, or 5%, 3%, 2% or 1% (dry weight basis). Includes peptide preparations.
  • the isolated or purified peptide also contains substantially no culture medium, and the peptide which contains substantially no culture medium contains about 20% of the volume of the peptide preparation in the culture medium. Includes peptide preparations containing less than 10%, or 5%, 3%, 2% or 1% (dry weight basis).
  • an isolated or purified peptide is substantially free of precursors and other chemicals, and a peptide that is substantially free of precursors and other chemicals is a precursor.
  • a particular peptide preparation is an isolated or purified peptide is due, for example, by the appearance of a single band after sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) -polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining of the gel. You can check.
  • SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate
  • the peptides and polynucleotides of the invention are isolated or purified.
  • polypeptide polypeptide
  • peptide protein (protein)
  • protein protein
  • protein protein
  • amino acid refers to natural amino acids, as well as amino acid analogs and amino acid mimetics that function similarly to natural amino acids.
  • Natural amino acids are amino acids encoded by the genetic code and intracellularly modified after translation (eg, hydroxyproline, ⁇ -carboxyglutamic acid, and O-phosphoserine).
  • amino acid analog has the same basic chemical structure as a natural amino acid (hydrogen, carboxy group, amino group, and ⁇ -carbon attached to an R group), but with a modified R group or a modified skeleton. Refers to compounds such as homoserine, norleucine, methionine sulfoxide, and methionine methyl sulfonium.
  • amino acid mimetic refers to a compound that has a structure different from that of common amino acids but has a similar function.
  • the amino acid may be either L-amino acid or D-amino acid, but the peptide of the present invention is preferably a polymer of L-amino acid.
  • polynucleotide oligonucleotide
  • nucleic acid a polymer of nucleotides
  • composition is intended to include products containing a particular amount of a particular ingredient, and any product that results directly or indirectly from a combination of a particular amount of a particular ingredient.
  • composition is derived from a product containing an active ingredient and an inert ingredient, as well as a combination of any two or more ingredients, complex formation, or aggregation. It is intended to include any product that results directly or indirectly from the dissociation of one or more components, or from other types of reactions or interactions of one or more components.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention include any composition made by mixing the compounds or cells of the invention with a pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable carrier.
  • pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or “physiologically acceptable carrier” includes liquid or solid bulking agents, diluents, excipients, solvents and encapsulating materials. Means a pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable material, composition, substance, or vehicle without these limitations.
  • coronavirus infection refers to coronavirus infection
  • examples of coronavirus include, but are not limited to, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV.
  • coronavirus infection is a SARS-CoV-2 infection in an HLA-A24 or HLA-A02 positive subject.
  • cytotoxic T lymphocytes cytotoxic T cells
  • CTL non-autologous cells
  • HLA-A24 refers to HLA-A * 24:01, HLA-A * 24:02, HLA-A * 24:03, HLA-A * 24:04, HLA-A * 24 .
  • HLA-A24 type which includes subtypes such as: 07, HLA-A * 24:08, HLA-A * 24:20, HLA-A * 24:25, HLA-A * 24:88, etc.
  • HLA-A02 refers to HLA-A * 02:01, HLA-A * 02:02, A * 02:03, A * 02:04, A * 02 . : 05, A * 02:06, A * 02:07, A * 02:10, A * 02:11, A * 02:13, A * 02:16, A * 02:18, A * 02:19
  • HLA-A02 type which includes subtypes such as, A * 02:28, and A * 02:50.
  • coronavirus protein refers to a protein consisting of the full-length amino acid sequence of each protein encoded by the genomic sequence of coronavirus.
  • Preferred examples include structural and non-structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2.
  • Examples of coronaviruses include, but are not limited to, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV.
  • genomic nucleotide sequence (reference sequence) of each of these coronaviruses and the amino acid sequence of each coronavirus protein encoded by it can be obtained, for example, by the following Genbank accession number: SARS-CoV-2: MN908947 MERS-CoV: JX869059 SARS-CoV: Tor2: AY274119, BJ01: AY278488 or GZ02: AY390556
  • SARS-CoV-2 protein refers to a protein consisting of the full-length amino acid sequence of each protein encoded by the SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequence, and has the four structures of SARS-CoV-2. Contains protein and 6 non-structural proteins. Table 1 summarizes the four structural sequences and six non-structural proteins. In the table, for orf1ab, which is a non-structural protein, two ORFs 266..13468 and 13468..21555 in the reference sequence are connected to form one ORF by ribosomal frameshift.
  • coronavirus-infected cell refers to cells infected with coronavirus, unless otherwise specified. ..
  • examples of coronaviruses include, but are not limited to, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV.
  • the term "infection” includes viral invasion and / or viral proliferation in cells or body tissues, and pathological conditions resulting from viral invasion and viral proliferation.
  • the invasion by the virus life cycle and the proliferation stage of the virus life cycle are not limited to these, but the virus particles bind to the cell, introduce the genetic information of the virus into the cell, express the virus protein, and express the new virus particle. Includes producing and releasing virus particles from cells.
  • the phrase "the subject's (or patient's) HLA antigen is HLA-A24 or HLA-A02" as used herein is that the subject or patient is an MHC (major tissue compatible complex).
  • Body Holds the HLA-A24 or HLA-A02 antigen gene as a class I molecule in a homozygous or heterozygous manner, and the HLA-A24 or HLA-A02 antigen is expressed as an HLA antigen in the cells of the subject or patient. Point to that.
  • treatment may provide clinical benefits, such as alleviation of clinical symptoms of coronavirus infections in a subject, suppression of aggravation, etc. If so, the treatment is considered “effective".
  • the main symptoms of coronavirus infection are generally known to be fever, cough, chills, stiffness, myalgia and the like. Symptoms of many infected patients are mild and are said to recover in about 1-2 weeks. However, some patients have symptoms of respiratory distress and may be associated with marked dyspnea, hypoxia, and even acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
  • ARDS acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • prevention is used herein to reduce the burden of disease mortality or morbidity.
  • Prevention can be done at "primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention".
  • Primary prophylaxis avoids the development of the disease, whereas secondary and tertiary levels of prophylaxis prevent the progression of the disease and the appearance of symptoms, as well as restore function and are disease-related.
  • Includes work aimed at reducing the adverse effects of existing diseases by reducing the complications of.
  • prevention may include extensive prophylactic treatment aimed at alleviating the severity of a particular disorder, eg, reducing clinical symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, cough, upper respiratory tract infections.
  • treatment and / or prevention of coronavirus infection and / or suppression of aggravation includes delaying or ameliorating the onset of at least one symptom of coronavirus infection. It also includes inhibition of virus growth in coronavirus-infected cells. Effective treatment and / or prevention of coronavirus infection reduces mortality, improves the prognosis of individuals with coronavirus infection, and alleviates the symptoms associated with coronavirus infection. For example, symptom relief or amelioration constitutes effective treatment and / or prevention, including 10%, 20%, 30%, or more relief or symptom-stable conditions.
  • inhibition of virus growth includes inhibition of the viral replication process in infected cells.
  • the CTL induced by the peptide of the present invention when each protein of the virus expressed in the virus replication process is presented as an antigen in the virus-infected cell, the cell function (gene replication and protein translation) of the infected cell is caused by the cytotoxic activity. ) To hurt.
  • the CTL destroys the infected cell itself.
  • the replication process of virus particles which depends on the cell function of infected cells, is inhibited, and the growth of the virus is inhibited.
  • suppression of aggravation means suppression of any exacerbation or progression of any symptom associated with coronavirus infection.
  • the progression of tight respiratory symptoms requiring interventional treatment such as oxygen inhalation or wearing an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) is a typical example of aggravation in coronavirus infection. Is. Therefore, prevention, prevention, or alleviation of the progression (exacerbation) of these symptoms is included in the suppression of aggravation in the present invention.
  • interventional treatment such as oxygen inhalation or wearing an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO)
  • ECMO extracorporeal membrane oxygenator
  • antibody refers to an immunoglobulin and a fragment thereof that specifically react with a designated protein or peptide thereof.
  • Antibodies can include human antibodies, primated antibodies, chimeric antibodies, bispecific antibodies, humanized antibodies, antibodies fused to other proteins or radiolabels, and antibody fragments.
  • antibody is used in a broad sense, specifically, a multispecific antibody formed from an intact monoclonal antibody, a polyclonal antibody, and two or more intact antibodies (for example, a bispecific antibody). And also include antibody fragments as long as they exhibit the desired biological activity.
  • the “antibody” may be an antibody of any class (eg, IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM).
  • the peptide HLA-A24 is a common allele in Asians and HLA-A02 is a common allele in Caucasians (Sette A, Sidney J., Immunogenetics 1999, 50: 201-12; Cao K et. al., Hum Immunol 2001, 62 (9): 1009-1030; Gonzalez-Galarza FF et al., Nucleic Acids Res 2020, 48 (D1): D783-D788). Therefore, by providing a CTL-inducible peptide derived from the SARS-CoV-2 protein bound by HLA-A24 or HLA-A02, many Asians or Caucasians are provided with an effective therapeutic method for coronavirus infection. can do. Accordingly, the present invention provides peptides derived from the SARS-CoV-2 protein capable of inducing CTLs in an HLA-A24 or HLA-A02 binding manner.
  • the peptide of the present invention is a peptide derived from SARS-CoV-2 protein that can induce CTL in an HLA-A24 or HLA-A02 binding manner.
  • HLA-A02 Peptides that can induce CTLs in a constraining manner are selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Examples thereof include peptides having an amino acid sequence.
  • Peptides that can induce CTLs in an HLA-A24 binding manner include peptides having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11.
  • coronavirus antigen emetic peptide derived from coronavirus protein
  • HLA human leukocyte antigen
  • the peptide of the present invention can be suitably used for immunotherapy of coronavirus infection.
  • Preferred peptides are nona peptides (peptides consisting of 9 amino acid residues) or decapeptides (peptides consisting of 10 amino acid residues), SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, Peptides consisting of amino acid sequences selected from 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are more preferred.
  • a peptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 can be used in coronavirus-infected cells carrying HLA-A02.
  • it is suitable for inducing CTL showing specific cytotoxic activity, and can be suitably used for immunotherapy of coronavirus infection in HLA-A02 positive patients.
  • the peptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 or 11 is suitable for inducing CTL showing specific cytotoxic activity against coronavirus-infected cells having HLA-A24. It can be suitably used for immunotherapy of coronavirus infection in A24 positive patients.
  • the peptides of the invention are for HLA-A02 positive patients with SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. It is a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from among them, and for HLA-A24 positive patients, it is a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11.
  • the peptide of the present invention can have an additional amino acid residue adjacent to the amino acid sequence of the peptide of the present invention as long as the resulting peptide retains the CTL-inducing ability of the original peptide. Additional amino acid residues can be composed of any type of amino acid as long as they do not impair the CTL inducibility of the original peptide.
  • the peptides of the invention have the ability to induce CTLs, including amino acid sequences selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Includes peptides having. Such peptides are, for example, less than about 40 amino acids, often less than about 20 amino acids, and usually less than about 15 amino acids.
  • the peptide of the present invention includes a peptide having a length of 10 amino acids, or 11 to 40 amino acids, which is produced by adjoining an additional amino acid to the peptide. If the original peptide is a decapeptide, it includes a peptide having a length of 11 to 40 amino acids.
  • Such peptides can be, for example, 11-20 amino acid long peptides and 11-15 amino acid long peptides.
  • a preferred example of the additional amino acid residue is flanking the amino acid sequence of the peptide of the invention in the full-length amino acid sequence of each protein encoded by the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 (eg, SEQ ID NOs: 17-26).
  • the peptides of the invention contain SARS-CoV comprising an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. -2 Peptide fragments of proteins, including peptides capable of inducing CTL.
  • modifications of one, two, or more amino acids in a peptide do not affect the function of the peptide, and in some cases even enhance the desired function of the original peptide.
  • the modified peptide ie, one, two, or several amino acid residues modified (ie, substituted, deleted, inserted and / or added) compared to the original reference sequence.
  • Peptides composed of amino acid sequences are known to retain the biological activity of the original peptide (Mark et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1984, 81: 5662-6; Zoller and Smith, Nucleic Acids).
  • the peptide of the invention relates to an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. It can be a peptide containing an amino acid sequence in which one, two, or several amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and / or added, and which has the ability to induce CTL.
  • N, C, E, Q, G, H, K, S, T as well as side chains that share the following functional groups or characteristics: aliphatic side chains (G, A, V, L, I, P); hydroxyl group-containing side chains (S, T, Y); sulfur amino acid-containing side chains (C, M); carboxylic acid and amide-containing side chains (D, N, E, Q); base-containing side chains (R, K, H); and aromatic-containing side chains (H, F, Y, W).
  • each of the following eight groups contains amino acids recognized in the art as mutually conservative substitutions: 1) Alanine (A), Glycine (G); 2) Aspartic acid (D), glutamic acid (E); 3) Asparagine (N), glutamine (Q); 4) Arginine (R), Lysine (K); 5) Isoleucine (I), leucine (L), methionine (M), valine (V); 6) Phenylalanine (F), tyrosine (Y), tryptophan (W); 7) Serine (S), threonine (T); and 8) Cysteine (C), methionine (M) (see, for example, Creighton, Proteins 1984).
  • modified peptides are also included in the peptides of the present invention.
  • the peptides of the invention are not limited to these and may include non-conservative modifications as long as the modified peptide retains the CTL-inducing ability of the original peptide.
  • modified peptides do not rule out polymorphic variants of the SARS-CoV-2 protein, interspecific homologues, and CTL-inducible peptides from alleles.
  • Modify ie, substitute, delete, insert and / or add
  • a small number eg, one, two, or several
  • a small percentage of amino acids as long as they retain the CTL-inducing ability of the original peptide. can do.
  • severe means 5 or less amino acids, such as 4 or 3 or less.
  • the proportion of amino acids to be modified is preferably 20% or less, more preferably 15% or less, even more preferably 10% or less, or 1-5%.
  • the peptides of the invention When used in the context of immunotherapy, the peptides of the invention should be presented on the surface of cells or exosomes, preferably as a complex with HLA antigens. Therefore, the peptides of the invention preferably have a high binding affinity for HLA antigens. Therefore, the peptide may be modified by substitution, deletion, insertion and / or addition of amino acid residues to obtain a modified peptide having improved binding affinity.
  • peptides with HLA Class I binding the N-terminal to second amino acid and the C-terminal amino acid are often anchor residues involved in HLA Class I binding (Rammensee HG, et). al., Immunogenetics. 1995; 41 (4): 178-228.).
  • peptides with high HLA-A02 binding affinity tend to have a leucine or methionine-substituted N-terminal second amino acid and / or a valine or leucine-substituted C-terminal amino acid.
  • the N-terminal second amino acid may be replaced with leucine or methionine and / or the C-terminal amino acid with valine or leucine in order to enhance the HLA-A02 binding affinity.
  • the second amino acid from the N-terminus is replaced with leucine or methionine, and / or the C-terminus is substituted with valine or leucine, SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 , 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are included in the present invention.
  • the present invention is substituted with one, two or several amino acids at SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.
  • the peptides of the invention are the second amino acid from the N-terminus in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.
  • peptides with high binding affinity for HLA-A * 02: 06 are the second amino acid from the N-terminus and / / replaced with valine or glutamine. Or they tend to have C-terminal amino acids substituted with valine or leucine. Therefore, it is desirable to replace the N-terminal amino acid with valine or glutamine and / or the C-terminal amino acid with valine or leucine in order to enhance the HLA-A * 02: 06 binding affinity. there is a possibility.
  • the second amino acid from the N-terminus is replaced with valine or glutamine, and / or the C-terminus is substituted with valine or leucine, SEQ ID NO: 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, and.
  • Peptides having an amino acid sequence selected from 15 are included in the present invention (WO2010 / 047310 Table 1).
  • the invention is substituted, deleted, inserted and / or added with one, two or several amino acids at SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, and 15.
  • the peptides of the invention are substituted with valine or glutamine, the second amino acid from the N-terminal, and the C-terminal amino acid in the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, and 15. Includes an amino acid sequence comprising either or both of the substitutions with valine and leucine.
  • peptides with high HLA-A24 binding affinity tend to have the second amino acid from the N-terminus substituted with phenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine, or tryptophan.
  • peptides in which the C-terminal amino acid is replaced with phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan, or methionine also tend to have high HLA-A24 binding affinity.
  • the N-terminal amino acid should be replaced with phenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine, or tryptophan, and / or the C-terminal amino acid should be replaced with phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, etc. It may be desirable to replace with tryptophan, or methionine.
  • the second amino acid from the N-terminal is substituted with phenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine or tryptophan, and / or the C-terminal is substituted with phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan or methionine, SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11.
  • Peptides having an amino acid sequence selected from the above are included in the present invention.
  • the invention is a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence in which one, two or several amino acids have been substituted, deleted, inserted and / or added in SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11 (a).
  • the peptides of the invention are substituted with the N-terminal second amino acid phenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine, or tryptophan in the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11, and the C-terminal amino acids phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine. , Includes an amino acid sequence comprising either or both substitutions with tryptophan or methionine.
  • Substitutions can be introduced not only at the terminal amino acids, but also at potential T cell receptor (TCR) recognition sites of the peptide.
  • TCR T cell receptor
  • Some studies have shown that peptides with amino acid substitutions, such as CAP1, p53 (264-272) , Her-2 / neu (369-377) , or gp100 (209-217) , have comparable activity to the original peptide. It has been demonstrated that it may or may have better activity (Zaremba et al. Cancer Res. 57, 4570-4577, 1997, T. K. Hoffmann et al. J Immunol. (2002) Feb 1; 168 (3). ): 1338-47, S. O. Dionne et al. Cancer Immunol immunother. (2003) 52: 199-206, and S. O. Dionne et al. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy (2004) 53, 307-14).
  • the invention also consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the peptides of the invention (eg, SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15). It is intended that one, two, or several amino acids can be added to the N-terminus and / or C-terminus of the peptide). Such modified peptides that retain the ability to induce CTLs are also included in the invention. For example, one at the N-terminus and / or C-terminus of the peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15.
  • a peptide with two or several amino acids added When a peptide with two or several amino acids added is contacted with APC, it is taken up into APC and processed, and SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, It is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence described in 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15. Then, CTL can be induced by being presented on the cell surface of APC via an antigen presentation pathway.
  • the amino acid sequence of the peptide is identical to part of the amino acid sequence of an endogenous or extrinsic protein with different functions, side effects such as autoimmune disorders and / or allergic symptoms to certain substances can be induced. There is sex. Therefore, in order to avoid the situation where the amino acid sequence of the peptide matches the amino acid sequence of other proteins, it is preferable to perform a homology search using an available database. If a homology search reveals that even peptides that differ in one or two amino acids compared to the peptide of interest do not exist, then with the HLA antigen without the risk of such side effects.
  • the peptide of interest can be modified to increase its binding affinity and / or its ability to induce CTLs.
  • peptide having the ability to induce CTL refers to a peptide in which CTL is induced by APC stimulated by the peptide.
  • “Induction of CTL” includes induction of differentiation into CTL, induction of CTL activation, induction of CTL proliferation, induction of cytotoxic activity of CTL, induction of lysis of target cells by CTL, and increase of IFN- ⁇ production of CTL. Induction is included.
  • Confirmation of CTL-inducible ability is to induce HLA antigen-carrying APCs (eg, B lymphocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells), stimulate with peptides, mix with CD8-positive T cells, and then target cells.
  • APC can preferably use dendritic cells derived from human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes.
  • a transgenic animal prepared to express the HLA antigen can also be used.
  • the cytotoxic activity of the peptide-induced CTL can be calculated from the radioactivity released from the target cell by radiolabeling the target cell with 51 Cr or the like.
  • CTL-inducing ability can be enhanced by measuring IFN- ⁇ produced and released by CTL in the presence of peptide-stimulated APC and visualizing the inhibition zone on the medium with an anti-IFN- ⁇ monoclonal antibody. Can be evaluated.
  • the peptide of the invention can be linked to other peptides as long as the resulting linked peptide retains its CTL-inducing ability.
  • suitable peptides to be linked to the peptides of the invention include CTL-inducible peptides derived from other coronavirus proteins.
  • the peptides of the present invention can be linked to each other. Suitable linkers that can be used for ligation between peptides are known in the art, such as AAY (P. M. Daftarian et al., J Trans Med 2007, 5:26), AAA, NKRK (SEQ ID NO: 27). (R.P.M.Sutmuller et al., J Immunol.
  • Peptides can be linked in various configurations (eg, chained, duplicated, etc.) and can also be linked to 3 or more peptides.
  • the peptide of the present invention can also be linked to other substances as long as the resulting linked peptide retains its ability to induce CTL.
  • suitable substances to be linked to the peptides of the invention include peptides, lipids, sugars or sugar chains, acetyl groups, and natural or synthetic polymers.
  • the peptide of the present invention can also undergo modifications such as glycosylation, side chain oxidation, or phosphorylation as long as the ability to induce CTL is not impaired. These types of modifications can be made to confer additional functions (eg, targeting and delivery functions) or to stabilize the peptide.
  • Peptide stability can be assayed in several ways. Stability can be tested using, for example, peptidases, as well as various biological media such as human plasma and serum (see, eg, Verhoef et al., Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokin 1986, 11: 291-302). I want to be).
  • the invention also provides a method of screening or selecting a modified peptide having the same or higher activity as compared to the original.
  • the present invention provides a method for screening a peptide capable of inducing CTL, which comprises the following steps: (A) SEQ ID NO: 1 for the original amino acid sequence consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.
  • D The step of contacting the APC of (c) with CD8-positive T cells; and (e) the step of selecting a peptide having a CTL-inducing ability equal to or higher than that of the peptide consisting of the original amino acid sequence.
  • the APC for contact with the peptide is an APC positive for either or both of HLA-A02 and HLA-A24.
  • the peptide of the present invention is also described as "SARS-CoV-2 peptide” or "SARS-CoV-2 polypeptide”.
  • the peptides of the invention can be prepared using well-known techniques. For example, recombinant DNA techniques or chemical synthesis can be used to prepare the peptides of the invention.
  • the peptides of the invention can be synthesized individually or as longer polypeptides containing two or more peptides.
  • the peptide of the present invention can be isolated from the host cell or synthetic reaction product. That is, the peptides of the invention can be purified or isolated so that they are substantially free of other host cell proteins and fragments thereof, or any other chemical.
  • the peptide of the present invention may include modifications such as glycosylation, side chain oxidation, or phosphorylation as long as the modification does not impair the biological activity of the original peptide.
  • modifications include uptake of D-amino acids or other amino acid mimetics that can be used, for example, to prolong the serum half-life of the peptide.
  • the peptide of the present invention can be obtained by chemical synthesis based on the selected amino acid sequence.
  • Examples of conventional peptide synthesis methods that can be adapted to the synthesis include the methods described in the literature such as: (I) Peptide Synthesis, Interscience, New York, 1966; (Ii) The Proteins, Vol. 2, Academic Press, New York, 1976; (Iii) "Peptide Synthesis” (Japanese), Maruzen, 1975; (Iv) "Basics and Experiments of Peptide Synthesis” (Japanese), Maruzen, 1985; (V) “Development of Pharmaceuticals” (Japanese), Vol.
  • any known genetic engineering method for producing the peptide can be adapted to obtain the peptide of the invention (eg, Morrison J, J Bacteriology 1977, 132: 349-51; Clark-Curtiss & Curtiss, Methods in Enzymology (Wu et al.) 1983, 101: 347-62).
  • a suitable vector containing a polynucleotide encoding a peptide of the invention in an expressible form eg, downstream of a regulatory sequence corresponding to a promoter sequence
  • the host cell is then cultured to produce the peptide of the invention.
  • the peptide of the present invention can be prepared in vitro using an in vitro translation system.
  • polynucleotides encoding any of the peptides of the invention. These include polynucleotides from the native SARS-CoV-2 gene (eg, GenBank Accession No. MN908947 (SEQ ID NO: 16)) and polynucleotides having conservatively modified nucleotide sequences thereof.
  • the phrase "conservatively modified nucleotide sequence” refers to a sequence that encodes the same or essentially the same amino acid sequence. Due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, many functionally identical nucleic acids encode any particular protein.
  • the codons GCA, GCC, GCG, and GCU all encode the amino acid alanine.
  • the codon can be changed to any of the corresponding codons described above without altering the encoded polypeptide.
  • Such nucleic acid mutations are "silent mutations" and are a type of conservatively modified mutation.
  • Any nucleic acid sequence herein that encodes a peptide also represents any possible silent mutation in that nucleic acid. Those skilled in the art can modify each codon in a nucleic acid (except AUG, which is usually the only codon for methionine, and TGG, which is usually the only codon for tryptophan) to obtain the functionally identical molecule. Will recognize. Therefore, each silent mutation in the nucleic acid encoding the peptide is implicitly described in each disclosed sequence.
  • the polynucleotide of the present invention may be composed of DNA, RNA, and derivatives thereof.
  • DNA is properly composed of bases such as A, T, C, and G, where T is replaced by U in RNA.
  • the polynucleotides of the invention can encode multiple peptides of the invention with or without an intervening amino acid sequence.
  • the intervening amino acid sequence may provide a cleavage site for a polynucleotide or translated peptide (eg, an enzyme recognition sequence).
  • the polynucleotide may comprise any additional sequence to the coding sequence encoding the peptide of the invention.
  • the polynucleotide may be a recombinant polynucleotide containing a regulatory sequence required for expression of a peptide, or may be an expression vector (eg, a plasmid) having a marker gene or the like.
  • such recombinant polynucleotides can be prepared by manipulating the polynucleotides, for example by conventional recombinant techniques using polymerases and endonucleases.
  • the polynucleotide of the present invention can be produced by using either a recombination technique or a chemical synthesis technique.
  • a polynucleotide can be made by insertion into a suitable vector, which can be expressed when transfected into competent cells.
  • the polynucleotide can be amplified using PCR techniques or expression in a suitable host (see, eg, Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1989). I want to be).
  • the polynucleotide can be synthesized using the solid phase technique described in Beaucage SL & Iyer RP, Tetrahedron 1992, 48: 2223-311; Matthes et al., EMBO J 1984, 3: 801-5. can.
  • Exosomes The present invention further provides intracellular vesicles, called exosomes, that present on their surface the complex formed between the peptides of the invention and the HLA antigen. Exosomes can be prepared, for example, using the methods detailed in Table 11-510507 and WO99 / 03499, and prepared using APCs obtained from patients targeted for treatment and / or prophylaxis. can do.
  • the exosomes of the invention can be inoculated as a vaccine in a manner similar to the peptides of the invention.
  • HLA-A24 for example, HLA-A * 24: 02
  • HLA-A02 for example, HLA-A * 02:01 or HLA-A * 02:06
  • these HLA antigen types appear to be suitable for the treatment of Asian or white patients.
  • the antigen has a high level of binding affinity for a particular HLA antigen, or is mediated by a particular HLA antigen. Appropriate selection of peptides with CTL-inducing ability by presentation is possible.
  • the exosome of the present invention presents a complex of the peptide of the present invention with HLA-A24 or HLA-A02 on its surface.
  • the peptide of the present invention has SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, Peptides having an amino acid sequence selected from 14 and 15 or modified peptides thereof are preferable, and SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 And a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from 15 or a modified peptide thereof is more preferable.
  • the peptide of the present invention may be a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11 or a modified peptide thereof.
  • it is a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11, or a modified peptide thereof.
  • the invention also provides an APC that presents on its surface the complex formed between the HLA antigen and the peptide of the invention.
  • the invention provides an APC having a complex formed between the HLA antigen and the peptide of the invention on its cell surface.
  • the APC of the present invention can be an isolated APC.
  • isolated refers to the cells being isolated from other types of cells.
  • the APCs of the invention may be derived from APCs derived from patients targeted for treatment and / or prophylaxis, and alone or other drugs comprising the peptides, exosomes, or CTLs of the invention. Can be administered as a vaccine in combination with.
  • the APCs of the invention are not limited to specific types of cells and are known to present proteinaceous antigens on their cell surface as recognized by lymphocytes, such as dendritic cells. : DC), Langerhans cells, macrophages, B cells, and activated T cells. Since DC is a representative APC having the strongest CTL-inducing action among APCs, DC can be preferably used as the APC of the present invention.
  • the APCs of the invention can be obtained, for example, by deriving DCs from peripheral blood monocytes and then stimulating them in vitro, exvivo, or in vivo with the peptides of the invention.
  • the APC presenting the peptide of the present invention is induced in the subject's body. Therefore, the APC of the present invention can be obtained by administering the peptide of the present invention to a subject and then recovering the APC from the subject.
  • the APC of the present invention can also be obtained by contacting the APC recovered from the subject with the peptide of the present invention.
  • the APCs of the invention may be administered to the subject alone or in combination with other agents containing the peptides, exosomes, or CTLs of the invention to induce an immune response against coronavirus-infected cells.
  • Exvivo administration may include the following steps: (A) The stage of collecting APC from the first target, (B) The step of contacting the APC of step (a) with the peptide, and the step of (c) administering the APC of step (b) to the second subject.
  • the first object and the second object may be the same individual or different individuals.
  • the HLA of the first target and the second target are of the same type.
  • the APC obtained in step (b) above can be a vaccine for treating and / or preventing coronavirus infections.
  • the APC of the present invention obtained by the above method has a CTL inducing ability.
  • CTL-inducing ability used with respect to APC refers to the ability of APC to induce CTL when contacted with CD8-positive T cells.
  • the APC-induced CTL of the present invention is a SARS-CoV-2 protein-specific CTL and exhibits specific cytotoxic activity against SARS-CoV-2 infected cells.
  • the APC of the present invention can also be prepared by introducing a polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the present invention into the APC in vitro.
  • the polynucleotide to be introduced may be in the form of DNA or RNA.
  • methods of introduction include, without limitation, various methods conventionally practiced in the art, such as lipofection, electroporation, and calcium phosphate methods. More specifically, it is described in Cancer Res 1996, 56: 5672-7; J Immunol 1998, 161: 5607-13; J Exp Med 1996, 184: 465-72; Published Patent Publication No. 2000-509281. Such a method can be used.
  • the polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the present invention undergoes transcription, translation, etc. in the cell, and then the resulting peptide is processed by MHC class I and passed through the presentation pathway.
  • the peptide of the invention is presented on the cell surface of the APC.
  • the APCs of the invention themselves form a complex formed between HLA-A02 (more preferably HLA-A * 02: 01 or HLA-A * 02: 06) and the peptides of the invention.
  • the HLA forming a complex with the peptide of the present invention is HLA-A02
  • the peptide of the present invention has SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, Peptides having an amino acid sequence selected from 14 and 15 or modified peptides thereof are preferable, and SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 And 15 is more preferably a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from.
  • the APCs of the invention present on their cell surface the complex formed between HLA-A24 (more preferably HLA-A * 24: 02) and the peptides of the invention. It is an APC that is doing.
  • the peptide of the present invention may be a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11 or a modified peptide thereof. Preferably, it is a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11.
  • the APC of the invention is preferably an APC induced by a method comprising the steps described in (a) or (b) below: (A) APC expressing HLA-A02 (more preferably HLA-A * 02: 01 or HLA-A * 02: 06) or HLA-A24 (more preferably HLA-A * 24: 02). Steps of contact with the peptide of the invention; (B) To APCs expressing HLA-A02 (more preferably HLA-A * 02: 01 or HLA-A * 02: 06) or HLA-A24 (more preferably HLA-A * 24: 02), The step of introducing a polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the present invention.
  • the peptide of the invention to be contacted with APC expressing HLA-A02 is selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. It is preferably a peptide having the amino acid sequence to be used or a modified peptide thereof, and is selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. It is more preferable that the peptide consists of an amino acid sequence.
  • the peptide of the present invention to be contacted with APC expressing HLA-A24 is preferably a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11 or a modified peptide thereof, preferably SEQ ID NOs: 3 and More preferably, it is a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from 11.
  • the use of the peptide of the present invention for producing a pharmaceutical composition for inducing APC having a CTL-inducing ability is provided.
  • the present invention provides methods or steps for producing pharmaceutical compositions that induce APCs capable of inducing CTLs.
  • the invention also provides peptides of the invention for inducing APCs capable of inducing CTLs.
  • the CTL induced by the peptide of the present invention can be used as a vaccine in the same manner as the peptide of the present invention because it enhances the immune response targeting coronavirus-infected cells in vivo. Accordingly, the present invention provides CTLs induced or activated by the peptides of the invention.
  • the CTL of the present invention is a CTL that targets the peptide of the present invention, and is a CTL that can bind to a complex of the peptide of the present invention and an HLA antigen. Binding of CTLs to the complex is mediated by the T cell receptor (TCR) present on the cell surface of CTLs.
  • TCR T cell receptor
  • the CTL of the present invention can be an isolated CTL.
  • the CTL of the present invention can be obtained by (1) administering the peptide of the present invention to a subject, or (2) subject-derived APC and CD8-positive T cells, or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Stimulation with the peptides of the invention in vitro, or (3) contacting CD8-positive T cells or PBMCs in vitro with APCs or exosomes that present a complex of HLA antigens with the peptides of the invention on their surface. Or (4) a vector containing a polynucleotide encoding each subunit of the T cell receptor (TCR) that can bind to the peptide of the invention presented by the HLA antigen on the cell surface is introduced into CD8 positive T cells. Can be obtained by doing.
  • TCR T cell receptor
  • exosomes and APCs used in method (2) or (3) above can be prepared by the methods described in the chapters “V. Exosomes” and “VI. Antigen Presenting Cells (APC)", respectively, as described above. Details of the method (4) are described in the chapter “VIII. T cell receptor (TCR)”.
  • the CTLs of the invention can be administered alone or in combination with other drugs containing the peptides of the invention, APCs or exosomes for the purpose of regulating efficacy in patients targeted for treatment and / or prophylaxis. Can be administered.
  • the CTL of the present invention may be a CTL derived from CD8-positive T cells derived from a patient to which the CTL is administered.
  • the CTL of the present invention acts specifically on a target cell presenting the peptide of the present invention, for example, the same peptide used for inducing the CTL of the present invention.
  • the target cell may be a cell that endogenously expresses the SARS-CoV-2 protein, such as a coronavirus-infected cell, or a cell that has been transfected with the SARS-CoV-2 gene.
  • Cells that present the peptide on the cell surface upon stimulation with the peptide of the invention can also be targeted by the CTLs of the invention.
  • the target cells of the CTL of the present invention are preferably HLA-A02 (more preferably HLA-A * 02:01 or HLA-A * 02:06) or HLA-A24 (more preferably HLA-A * 24). : 02) Positive cells.
  • the CTLs of the invention are with HLA-A02 (more preferably HLA-A * 02: 01 or HLA-A * 02: 06) or HLA-A24 (more preferably HLA-A * 24: 02). It specifically targets cells expressing both the SARS-CoV-2 protein.
  • CTL targets a cell means that the CTL recognizes a cell presenting a complex of HLA and the peptide of the present invention on the cell surface and causes cytotoxicity to the cell. It means to show activity. Further, “specifically targeting” means that CTL shows cytotoxic activity against the cell, but does not show cytotoxic activity against other cells.
  • the term "recognizing a cell” binds to the complex of HLA presented on the cell surface and the peptide of the present invention via its TCR and is specific to the cell. Refers to exhibiting cytotoxic activity. Therefore, the CTLs of the present invention are preferably HLA-A02 (more preferably HLA-A * 02: 01 or HLA-A * 02: 06) or HLA-A24 (more preferably HLA) presented on the cell surface. -A * 24: 02) is a CTL that can bind to the complex formed between the peptide of the present invention via TCR.
  • the CTL of the present invention is preferably a CTL derived by a method including the steps described in (a) or (b) below: (A) CD8-positive T cells with HLA-A02 (more preferably HLA-A * 02: 01 or HLA-A * 02: 06) or HLA-A24 (more preferably HLA-A * 24: 02).
  • HLA-A02 (more preferably HLA-A * 02:01 or HLA-A * 02:06) or HLA-A24 (more preferably HLA-A * 24: 06) on the cell surface:
  • HLA-A02 (more preferably HLA-A * 02:01 or HLA-A * 02:06) or HLA-A24 (more preferably HLA-A * 24: 06) on the cell surface:
  • T cell receptor The present invention also provides a composition comprising a polynucleotide encoding each subunit of the TCR that can bind to the peptide of the invention presented by the HLA antigen on the cell surface, and methods using the same.
  • the polynucleotide imparts specificity for coronavirus-infected cells to CD8-positive T cells by expressing a TCR capable of binding to the peptide of the invention presented on the cell surface by the HLA antigen.
  • polynucleotides encoding the ⁇ and ⁇ chains as TCR subunits of the peptides of the invention can be identified (WO2007 / 032255, and Morgan).
  • PCR primers for analysis include, for example, the 5'-R primer (5'-gtctaccaggcattcgcttcat-3') as the 5'side primer (SEQ ID NO: 28) and the TCR ⁇ chain C region as the 3'side primer.
  • 3-TRa-C primer (5'-tcagctggaccacagccgcagcgt-3') (SEQ ID NO: 29), 3-TRb-C1 primer specific for TCR ⁇ chain C1 region (5'-tcagaaatcctttctctttgac-3') (sequence) Number: 30), or 3-TR ⁇ -C2 primer specific for the TCR ⁇ chain C2 region (5'-ctagcctctggaatcctttctctctttttt-3') (SEQ ID NO: 31), but not limited to these.
  • the TCR formed by introducing the identified polynucleotide into a CD8-positive T cell is capable of binding with high binding force to the target cell presenting the peptide of the present invention and presents the peptide of the present invention. Mediates efficient killing of target cells in vivo and in vitro.
  • the polynucleotide encoding each subunit of TCR can be incorporated into an appropriate vector, such as a retroviral vector. These vectors are well known in the art.
  • the polynucleotide or a vector containing them in an expressible form can be introduced into CD8-positive T cells, such as patient-derived CD8-positive T cells.
  • the present invention allows rapid and easy production of modified T cells with excellent coronavirus-infected cell killing properties by rapid modification of the patient's own T cells (or T cells from another subject). A ready-made composition is provided.
  • a specific TCR specifically refers to a complex of the peptide of the invention presented on the surface of a target cell and an HLA antigen when the TCR is present on the surface of a CD8-positive T cell. It is a TCR that can be recognized and impart specific cytotoxic activity to target cells. Specific recognition of the complex can be confirmed by any known method, preferred examples of which include HLA multimeric staining analysis using HLA molecules and peptides of the invention, as well as ELISPOT assay. By performing the ELISPOT assay, it can be confirmed that the T cell into which the above-mentioned polynucleotide has been introduced specifically recognizes the target cell by TCR and that the signal is transmitted intracellularly.
  • TCR can confer target cell-specific cytotoxic activity on CD8-positive T cells when the TCR is present on the surface of CD8-positive T cells.
  • Preferred methods include measuring cytotoxic activity against target cells, for example by a chromium release assay.
  • the invention also has an amino acid sequence selected from, for example, SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 in the context of HLA-A02.
  • a CTL prepared by transfecting a CD8-positive T cell with a polynucleotide encoding each subunit of the TCR that binds to the peptide.
  • a polynucleotide encoding each subunit of the TCR that binds to a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11 is prepared by transfecting CD8 positive T cells. Provides the CTL that is to be done.
  • Transduced CTLs can be homing in vivo and propagated by well-known in vitro culture methods (eg Kawakami et al., J Immunol., 142, 3452-61 (1989)).
  • the CTLs of the invention can be used to form immunogenic compositions useful in the treatment or prevention of disease in patients in need of treatment or prevention (the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference). See WO 2006/031221).
  • compositions The present invention also provides a composition or pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one active ingredient selected from the following: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APC of the present invention; (D) The exosome of the present invention; (E) The CTL of the present invention.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may contain carriers, excipients and the like usually used in pharmaceutical products, if necessary, without particular limitation.
  • carriers that can be used in the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention include sterile water, physiological saline, phosphate buffer, culture solution and the like.
  • the invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one active ingredient selected from the following (a)-(e) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APC of the present invention; (D) The exosome of the present invention; (E) The CTL of the present invention.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may contain a stabilizer, a suspension, a preservative, a surfactant, a solubilizing agent, a pH adjuster, an aggregation inhibitor and the like, if necessary.
  • Expression of SARS-CoV-2 protein is significantly increased in coronavirus-infected cells as compared to coronavirus-infected cells.
  • the peptides of the invention or polynucleotides encoding the peptides can be used for any or combination purposes selected from the treatment, prevention, and suppression of aggravation of coronavirus infections.
  • the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition for one or more purposes selected from the treatment, prevention, and suppression of aggravation of coronavirus infections, one of the peptides or polynucleotides of the invention.
  • a composition comprising a kind or a plurality of kinds as an active ingredient is provided.
  • the peptides of the invention can be presented on the surface of exosomes or APCs for use as pharmaceutical compositions.
  • CTLs of the invention targeting any one of the peptides of the invention can also be used as active ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may contain a therapeutically effective amount or a pharmaceutically effective amount of the above active ingredient.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can also be used as a vaccine.
  • the phrase "vaccine” also referred to as “immunogenic composition” induces an immune response that provides an anti-infective effect against coronavirus when inoculated into an animal.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be used to induce an immune response that provides an anti-infective effect against coronavirus.
  • the immune response induced by the peptides, polynucleotides, APCs, CTLs and pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is an immune response that provides an anti-infective effect against coronavirus, but exemplary examples thereof include.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be used in any or a combination of human subjects or patients selected from the treatment, prevention, and suppression of aggravation of coronavirus infections.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be preferably used for HLA-A02 or HLA-A24 positive subjects.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is preferably used for treating and / or preventing coronavirus infection in a subject having HLA-A02 or HLA-A24, and / or for suppressing aggravation. can.
  • the invention also provides the use of an active ingredient selected from the following in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment and / or prevention of coronavirus infections: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; (D) Exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (e) CTLs of the invention.
  • the invention further provides an active ingredient selected from the following for use in the treatment and / or prevention of coronavirus infections: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; (D) Exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (e) CTLs of the invention.
  • the present invention is further a method or step for producing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and / or prevention of coronavirus infection, at least one selected from the following: Provided are methods or steps comprising the step of formulating one active ingredient with a pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable carrier: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; (D) Exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (e) CTLs of the invention.
  • the invention is also a method or step for producing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and / or prevention of a coronavirus infection, which is selected from the following: Provided are methods or steps comprising mixing the active ingredient with a pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable carrier: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; (D) Exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (e) CTLs of the invention.
  • the invention is also a method for the treatment and / or prevention of coronavirus infections, wherein the subject is administered at least one active ingredient selected from the following: Providing a method that includes steps: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; (D) Exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (e) CTLs of the invention.
  • peptides having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are potent and specific. It was found as an HLA-A02 binding epitope peptide capable of inducing an immune response. Accordingly, the present invention comprises at least one peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.
  • the pharmaceutical composition is particularly suitable for administration to a subject having HLA-A02 (eg, HLA-A * 02: 01) as an HLA antigen.
  • compositions containing a targeted CTL ie, the CTL of the invention. That is, a pharmaceutical containing an active ingredient related to a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.
  • the composition is suitable for administration to a subject having HLA-A02 (ie, a subject positive for HLA-A02).
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a peptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 12 or 15.
  • a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, and 15 can induce a strong and specific immune response, HLA-A02. It was found as a binding epitope peptide.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention comprising at least one peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, and 15 is HLA-as an HLA antigen. It is particularly suitable for administration to subjects with A02 (eg, HLA-A * 02: 06).
  • compositions containing a targeted CTL ie, the CTL of the invention. That is, a pharmaceutical composition comprising an active ingredient associated with a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, and 15 is a subject having HLA-A02 (ie). That is, it is suitable for administration to HLA-A02 positive subjects).
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a peptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 12 or 15.
  • a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11 was found as an HLA-A24 binding epitope peptide capable of inducing a strong and specific immune response.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention comprising at least one peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11 will use HLA-A24 (eg, HLA-A * 24: 02) as the HLA antigen. It is particularly suitable for administration to subjects who have it.
  • compositions containing a targeted CTL ie, the CTL of the invention. That is, a pharmaceutical composition containing an active ingredient related to a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11 is administered to a subject having HLA-A24 (that is, a subject positive for HLA-A24). Suitable for.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a peptide having the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11.
  • the viral infection treated and / or prevented by the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a coronavirus infection, and the coronavirus includes SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and the like. include.
  • compositions of the present invention may contain other peptides capable of inducing CTLs against coronavirus-infected cells (eg, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV).
  • CTL-inducible peptides derived from viral structural proteins or non-structural proteins
  • polypeptides encoding the other peptides e.g., IL-4, LEF-CoV and SARS-CoV.
  • other cells presenting the other peptides eg., etc.
  • other peptides capable of inducing CTLs against coronavirus-infected cells eg, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV.
  • Other CTL-inducible peptides derived from viral structural proteins or non-structural proteins e.g., other polypeptides encoding the other peptides, other cells presenting the other peptides, etc.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may optionally contain other therapeutic substances as the active ingredient as long as the anti-infective effect of the above active ingredient such as the peptide of the present invention against coronavirus is not inhibited.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may optionally include an anti-inflammatory composition, an analgesic, a chemotherapeutic agent, and the like.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may be administered continuously or simultaneously with one or more other pharmaceutical compositions. can.
  • the dosage of the pharmaceutical compositions and other pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention will depend, for example, on the type of pharmaceutical composition used, the disease to be treated, and the schedule and route of administration.
  • compositions of the present invention may also include other ingredients customary in the art, taking into account the type of formulation. Should be.
  • the present invention also provides a product or kit comprising the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention.
  • the product or kit of the present invention may include a container containing the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention.
  • suitable containers include, but are not limited to, bottles, vials, and test tubes.
  • the container can be made of various materials such as glass or plastic.
  • the container may be affixed with a label, which may indicate the disease or condition of the disease for which the pharmaceutical composition of the invention should be used.
  • the label may also indicate instructions regarding administration and the like.
  • the product or kit of the present invention may further comprise, in addition to the container containing the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention, a second container containing a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent.
  • the products or kits of the present invention further include other materials desirable from a commercial and user standpoint, such as other buffers, diluents, filters, needles, syringes, and package inserts with instructions. Can include.
  • compositions of the invention can be provided in packs or dispenser devices that may contain one or more unit dosage forms containing the active ingredient.
  • the pack may include metal foil or plastic foil, for example like a blister pack. Instructions for administration may be attached to the pack or dispenser device.
  • composition containing a peptide as an active ingredient can be formulated by a conventional formulation method, if necessary.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may contain carriers, excipients and the like usually used in pharmaceutical products, if necessary, without particular limitation.
  • carriers that can be used in the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention include sterile water (eg, water for injection), saline, phosphate buffer, phosphate buffered saline, Tris buffered saline, 0.3%. Examples include glycine and culture solution.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may contain a stabilizer, a suspension, a preservative, a surfactant, a solubilizing agent, a pH adjuster, an aggregation inhibitor and the like, if necessary. Since the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can induce specific immunity against coronavirus-infected cells, it can be used for the purpose of treating or preventing coronavirus infection.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable such as sterile water (eg, water for injection), physiological saline, phosphate buffer, phosphate buffered saline, Tris buffered saline and the like.
  • sterile water eg, water for injection
  • physiological saline e.g., water for injection
  • phosphate buffer e.g., phosphate buffered saline
  • Tris buffered saline Tris buffered saline and the like.
  • the peptide solution is added after dissolving in the water-soluble carrier to be added, adding stabilizers, suspensions, preservatives, surfactants, lysis aids, pH adjusters, aggregation inhibitors and the like, if necessary. It can be prepared by sterilization.
  • the method for sterilizing the peptide solution is not particularly limited, but it is preferably performed by filtration sterilization.
  • Filtration sterilization can be performed using, for example, a filtration sterilization filter having a pore size of 0.22 ⁇ m or less.
  • the peptide solution after filtration sterilization can be administered to the subject as, for example, an injection.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may be prepared as a lyophilized preparation by lyophilizing the peptide solution.
  • the peptide solution prepared as described above is filled in an appropriate container such as an ampoule, vial, or plastic container, then freeze-dried, and the container is sealed with a rubber stopper or the like that has been sterilized and washed after repressurization.
  • the lyophilized preparation is pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable prior to administration, such as sterile water (eg, water for injection), saline, phosphate buffer, phosphate buffered saline, Tris buffered saline, etc. After redissolving in a water-soluble carrier, it can be administered to the subject.
  • Preferred examples of the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention include an injection of such a filter-sterilized peptide solution and a lyophilized preparation obtained by lyophilizing the peptide solution.
  • a kit containing such a lyophilized preparation and a redissolved solution is also included in the present invention.
  • a kit comprising a container containing the lyophilized preparation, which is the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention, and a container containing the redissolved solution thereof.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may also contain a combination of two or more types of peptides of the present invention.
  • the peptide combination may be in the form of a cocktail in which the peptides are mixed, or the peptides may be attached to each other using standard techniques.
  • the peptides may be chemically linked or expressed as a single fusion polypeptide sequence.
  • the APC eg, DC
  • the APC is removed from the subject and then stimulated with the peptide of the invention to obtain an APC that presents any of the peptides of the invention on its own cell surface.
  • APCs can be re-administered to a subject to induce CTLs in the subject and, as a result, increase aggression against coronavirus-infected cells.
  • Neutralizing antibodies may lose their infection control function due to mutations in their target epitopes (virus immune escape; immune escape).
  • the effect of antigen variation is particularly large for monoclonal antibodies that depend on a single epitope for antigen binding specificity.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may also include an adjuvant known to efficiently establish cell-mediated immunity.
  • An adjuvant refers to a compound that, when administered with (or continuously) with an immunologically active antigen, enhances the immune response to that antigen.
  • a known adjuvant described in the literature such as Clin Microbiol Rev 1994, 7: 277-89 can be used.
  • suitable adjuvants are aluminum salts (aluminum phosphate, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum oxyhydroxide, etc.), myoban, cholera toxin, salmonella toxin, incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA), complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), ISCOMatrix.
  • GM-CSF and other immunostimulatory cytokines oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG7909, etc.), oil-in-water emulsions, saponin or its derivatives (QS21, etc.), lipid A or its derivatives, and other lipopolysaccharides (MPL, RC529) , GLA, E6020, etc.), lipopeptide, lactoferrin, flagellin, double-stranded RNA or its derivative (poly IC, etc.), bacterial DNA, imidazoquinolin (Imiquimod, R848, etc.), C-type lectin ligand (trehalose dibehen, etc.) Acids (trehalose-6,6'-dibehenate: TDB, etc.), CD1d ligands ( ⁇ -galactosylceramide, etc.), squalene emulsions (MF59, AS03, AF03, etc.
  • the adjuvant may be contained in a kit containing the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention in a container separate from the pharmaceutical composition containing the peptide of the present invention.
  • the adjuvant and the pharmaceutical composition may be continuously administered to the subject or may be mixed immediately before administration to the subject.
  • Kits comprising such pharmaceutical compositions containing the peptides of the invention and adjuvants are also provided by the invention.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is a lyophilized preparation, the kit can further contain a redissolve.
  • the present invention also provides a kit comprising a container containing the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention and a container containing an adjuvant.
  • the kit may further include a container containing the redissolve, if desired.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may be prepared as an emulsion.
  • the emulsion can be prepared, for example, by mixing and stirring the peptide solution prepared as described above and an oil-based adjuvant.
  • the peptide solution may be redissolved after freeze-drying.
  • the emulsion may be either a W / O type emulsion or an O / W type emulsion, but is preferably a W / O type emulsion in order to obtain a high immune response enhancing effect.
  • IFA can be preferably used as the oil-based adjuvant, but is not limited thereto.
  • Emulsion preparation may be performed immediately prior to administration to the subject, in which case the pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be provided as a kit comprising the peptide solution of the invention and an oil-based adjuvant.
  • the kit can further contain a redissolve.
  • the adjuvant to be combined with the peptide to be administered is usually formulated in an amount sufficient for immunological stimulation.
  • the peptide can be administered with an adjuvant sufficient for immunological stimulation.
  • the peptide can be formulated with an adjuvant in an amount effective to enhance the immune response to the peptide in the subject, or can be administered to the subject together with the peptide.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is a liposome preparation in which the peptide of the present invention is encapsulated, a granule preparation in which a peptide is bound to beads having a diameter of several micrometers, or a preparation in which a lipid is bound to the peptide. May be good.
  • the peptides of the invention may also be administered in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable salts.
  • salts are those with alkali metals (lithium, potassium, sodium, etc.), salts with alkaline earth metals (calcium, magnesium, etc.), and other metals (copper, iron, zinc, manganese, etc.).
  • compositions comprising pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the peptides of the invention are also included in the invention.
  • the "peptide of the present invention” includes not only a free peptide but also a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention may further comprise a component that stimulates CTL.
  • Lipids have been identified as substances that can stimulate CTLs in vivo against viral antigens.
  • palmitic acid residues can be attached to the ⁇ -amino and ⁇ -amino groups of the lysine residue and then linked to the peptides of the invention.
  • the lipid-added peptide can then be administered directly in the form of micelles or particles, incorporated into liposomes for administration, or emulsified in an adjuvant for administration.
  • Another example of lipid stimulation of the CTL response is E.
  • coli lipoproteins such as trypalmitoyle-S-glyceryl cystenyl-serine-serine (P3CSS) when covalently attached to the appropriate peptide. It can be used to stimulate CTLs (see, for example, Deres et al., Nature 1989, 342: 561-4).
  • Examples of methods of administration of the peptides or pharmaceutical compositions of the invention include oral, intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraosseous, peritoneal and intravenous injections, and systemic or topical near target sites. Included, but not limited to. Preferred administration methods include subcutaneous injection into the vicinity of lymph nodes such as the axilla or inguinal neck. Administration can be single dose or boosted by multiple doses.
  • the peptides of the invention are therapeutically or pharmaceutically effective amounts for treating coronavirus infections or therapeutically or pharmaceutically effective amounts for inducing immunity (more specifically, CTL) to coronavirus-infected cells. , Can be administered to the subject.
  • the dose of the peptide of the present invention can be appropriately adjusted according to the disease to be treated, the age, body weight, administration method, etc. of the patient, which is usually 0.001 mg to 1000 mg, for example 0.01 mg, for each peptide of the present invention. It can be up to 100 mg, such as 0.1 mg to 30 mg, such as 0.1 mg to 10 mg, and can be, for example, 0.5 mg to 5 mg. In addition, the administration interval can be once every few days to several months, for example, once a week. One of ordinary skill in the art can appropriately select an appropriate dose.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention comprises a therapeutically effective amount of the peptide of the invention and a pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable carrier.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention comprises a therapeutically effective amount of the peptide of the invention, a pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable carrier, and an adjuvant.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention comprises the peptide of the present invention in an amount of 0.001 mg to 1000 mg, preferably 0.01 mg to 100 mg, more preferably 0.1 mg to 30 mg, still more preferably 0.1 mg to 10 mg, for example 0.5 mg to 5 mg. Can be done.
  • the peptide of the present invention is 0.001 mg / ml to 1000 mg / ml, preferably 0.01 mg / ml to 100 mg / ml, more preferably 0.1 mg / ml. It can be contained in a concentration of ml to 30 mg / ml, more preferably 0.1 mg / ml to 10 mg / ml, for example, 0.5 mg / ml to 5 mg / ml. In this case, for example, 0.1 to 5 ml, preferably 0.5 ml to 2 ml of the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be administered to the subject by injection.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention comprises an adjuvant
  • the adjuvant can be formulated in an amount effective for enhancing the subject's immune response to the peptide.
  • the invention is selected from the treatment, prevention and suppression of aggravation of coronavirus infections, which comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the peptide of the invention or the pharmaceutical composition of the invention.
  • the peptide of the present invention is usually 0.001 mg to 1000 mg, for example 0.01 mg to 100 mg, for example 0.1 mg to 30 mg, for example 0.1 mg to 10 mg, and for example, 0.5 mg to 5 mg is administered to a subject in a single dose. can do.
  • the peptides of the invention are administered to the subject with an adjuvant.
  • the dosing interval can be once every few days to several months, preferably once every few days to one month, for example, once a week or once every two weeks. be able to.
  • the adjuvant when the adjuvant is administered together with the peptide, the adjuvant can be administered in an amount effective for enhancing the immune response of the subject to the peptide.
  • composition containing a polynucleotide as an active ingredient may also contain a polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the present invention in an expressible form.
  • the phrase "in an expressible form” means that the peptide of the invention is expressed when the polynucleotide is introduced into a cell.
  • the sequences of the polynucleotides of the invention contain regulatory elements required for expression of the peptides of the invention.
  • the polynucleotides of the invention can be equipped with the sequences necessary to achieve stable insertion of the target cell into the genome (see, eg, Thomas KR & Capecchi MR, for a description of the homologous recombination cassette vector). See Cell 1987, 51: 503-12). See, for example, Wolff et al., Science 1990, 247: 1465-8; US Pat. Nos. 5,580,859; 5,589,466; 5,804,566; 5,739,118; 5,736,524; 5,679,647; and WO98 / 04720. I want to be.
  • DNA-based delivery techniques are "naked DNA”, facilitated (bupivakine, polymer, peptide-mediated) delivery, cationic lipid complexes, and particle-mediated (“gene gun”) or pressure-mediated. Service is included (see, eg, US Pat. No. 5,922,687).
  • the peptide of the present invention can also be expressed by a viral vector or a bacterial vector.
  • expression vectors include attenuated viral hosts such as vaccinia virus or fowlpox virus.
  • a vaccinia virus can be used as a vector for expressing the peptide of the present invention.
  • the recombinant vaccinia virus Upon introduction into the host, the recombinant vaccinia virus expresses an immunogenic peptide, thereby eliciting an immune response.
  • Vaccinia vectors and methods useful for immunization protocols are described, for example, in US Pat. No. 4,722,848.
  • Another vector is BCG (Calmet Guerlain bacillus).
  • the BCG vector is described in Stover et al., Nature 1991, 351: 456-60.
  • vectors useful for therapeutic administration or immunization such as adenoviral and adeno-associated virus vectors, retroviral vectors, Salmonella typhi vectors, detoxified charcoal toxin vectors, etc. are apparent. .. See, for example, Shata et al., Mol Med Today 2000, 6: 66-71; Shedlock et al., J Leukoc Biol 2000, 68: 793-806; Hipp et al., In Vivo 2000, 14: 571-85. I want to be.
  • Delivery of the polynucleotide of the invention into the patient may be direct, in which case the patient can be directly exposed to the vector carrying the polynucleotide of the invention.
  • it may be indirect, in which case the cells are first transformed in vitro with a vector carrying the polynucleotide of the invention and then transplanted into the patient.
  • the administration method may be oral, intradermal, subcutaneous, intravenous injection or the like, and systemic administration or local administration in the vicinity of the target site is used. Administration can be single dose or boosted by multiple doses.
  • the polynucleotides of the invention are therapeutically or pharmaceutically effective amounts for treating coronavirus infections or therapeutically or pharmaceutically effective amounts for inducing immunity (more specifically, CTL) to coronavirus-infected cells.
  • the dose of the polynucleotide in the appropriate carrier, or the dose of the polynucleotide in the cells transformed with the polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention depends on the disease to be treated, the age, weight, administration method, etc. of the patient. It can be adjusted as appropriate, usually 0.001 mg to 1000 mg, for example 0.01 mg to 100 mg, for example 0.1 mg to 30 mg, for example 0.1 mg to 10 mg, for example 0.5 mg to 5 mg.
  • the dosing interval can be once every few days to once every few months, for example once a week.
  • One of ordinary skill in the art can appropriately select an appropriate dose.
  • peptides and polynucleotides of the invention can be used to induce APCs and CTLs.
  • CTLs can also be induced using the exosomes and APCs of the present invention.
  • the peptides, polynucleotides, exosomes, and APCs of the invention can be used in combination with any other compound as long as their CTL-inducing ability is not inhibited. Therefore, a pharmaceutical composition comprising any of the peptides, polynucleotides, APCs and exosomes of the invention can be used to induce the CTLs of the invention.
  • the APC of the present invention can be induced by using a pharmaceutical composition containing the peptide or polynucleotide of the present invention.
  • the present invention provides a method for inducing APC having a CTL-inducing ability using the peptide or polynucleotide of the present invention.
  • the method of the invention comprises contacting the APC with the peptide of the invention in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo.
  • the method of contacting APC with the peptide in Exvivo may include the following steps: (A) The step of recovering the APC from the subject; and (b) the step of contacting the APC of the step (a) with the peptide of the present invention.
  • the APC is not limited to a particular type of cell and is known to present a proteinaceous antigen on its cell surface as recognized by lymphocytes, such as DC, Langerhans cells, macrophages, B. Cells and activated T cells can be used. Since DC has the strongest CTL-inducing ability among APCs, DC can be preferably used.
  • Any peptide of the invention can be used alone or in combination with other peptides of the invention.
  • the peptides of the invention and other CTL-inducible peptides eg SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV and It can also be used in combination with SARS-CoV viral structural proteins or other CTL-inducible peptides derived from non-structural proteins.
  • the method of the invention may include administering the peptide of the invention to a subject.
  • the polynucleotide of the invention when administered to a subject in an expressible form, the peptide of the invention is expressed in vivo, which contacts the APC in vivo, resulting in an APC with high CTL inducibility. It is induced in the subject's body.
  • the invention may also include the step of administering the polynucleotide of the invention to a subject.
  • the invention may also include the step of introducing the polynucleotide of the invention into the APC in order to induce an APC capable of inducing CTL.
  • the method may include the following steps: (A) The step of recovering APC from the subject; and (b) the step of introducing the polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention into step (a) APC. Step (b) can be performed as described above in the chapter "VI. Antigen Presenting Cells (APC)".
  • the invention provides a method of inducing an APC capable of inducing CTLs, comprising the following steps (a) or (b): (A) Steps of contacting APC with the peptides of the invention; (B) The step of introducing the polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the present invention into APC.
  • the present invention also provides a method for preparing an APC capable of inducing CTL, which comprises the following steps (a) or (b): (A) Steps of contacting APC with the peptides of the invention; (B) The step of introducing the polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the present invention into APC.
  • the above method can be performed in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo, but is preferably performed in vitro or ex vivo.
  • the APC used in the above method may be derived from a subject scheduled to receive the induced APC, but may be derived from a different subject.
  • the HLA type of the recipient and the donor must be the same.
  • the HLA type of the subject and the donor are both HLA-A02 (more preferably HLA-A * 02: 01 or HLA-A * 02: 06).
  • the APC used in the above method is preferably an APC expressing HLA-A02 (more preferably HLA-A * 02: 01 or HLA-A * 02: 06).
  • the HLA type of the recipient and the donor are both HLA-A24 (more preferably). HLA-A * 24: 02) is preferable.
  • the APC used in the above method is preferably an APC expressing HLA-A24 (more preferably HLA-A * 24: 02).
  • APC can be prepared by separating PBMC from blood collected from a donor by a specific gravity centrifugation method or the like, and then using a known method from the PBMC.
  • the invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition for inducing APC capable of inducing CTL, comprising the peptide of the invention or the polynucleotide encoding the peptide.
  • the invention further provides the use of the peptides of the invention or polynucleotides encoding the peptides in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions for inducing APCs capable of inducing CTLs.
  • the present invention further provides the peptide of the present invention or a polynucleotide encoding the peptide for use in inducing APC capable of inducing CTL.
  • the invention is further a method or step for producing a pharmaceutical composition for inducing APC, pharmaceutically or physiologically with the peptide of the invention or the polynucleotide encoding the peptide.
  • a pharmaceutical composition for inducing APC pharmaceutically or physiologically with the peptide of the invention or the polynucleotide encoding the peptide.
  • the invention is also a method or step for producing a pharmaceutical composition for inducing APC capable of inducing CTLs, the peptide of the invention or the polynucleotide encoding the peptide.
  • a pharmaceutical composition for inducing APC capable of inducing CTLs, the peptide of the invention or the polynucleotide encoding the peptide.
  • methods or steps comprising mixing with a pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable carrier.
  • APCs induced by the methods of the invention can induce CTLs specific for coronavirus proteins (ie, CTLs of the invention).
  • the present invention also provides a method for inducing CTL using the peptide, polynucleotide, exosome, or APC of the present invention.
  • the methods of the invention may comprise administering to the subject the peptides, polynucleotides, APCs, or exosomes of the invention.
  • CTLs can be induced by using them in vitro or in Exvivo.
  • the method of the invention may include the following steps: (A) The stage of collecting APC from the target, (B) The step (a) of contacting the APC with the peptide of the present invention, and (c) the step of co-culturing the APC of step (b) with CD8-positive T cells.
  • the induced CTL may then be returned to the subject.
  • APC co-cultured with CD8-positive T cells in step (c) above introduces the polypeptide encoding the peptide of the invention into the APC, as described above in the chapter "VI. Antigen Presenting Cells (APC)". It can also be prepared by.
  • APC Antigen Presenting Cells
  • the APC used in the method of the present invention is not limited to this, and any APC that presents a complex of the HLA antigen and the peptide of the present invention on its own surface can be used.
  • an exosome that presents a complex of the HLA antigen and the peptide of the present invention on its own surface can also be used. That is, the method of the invention may include co-culturing an exosome that presents a complex of the HLA antigen and the peptide of the invention on its surface.
  • exosomes can be prepared by the methods described above in the chapter "V. Exosomes”.
  • CTLs can be induced by introducing into CD8 positive T cells a vector containing a polynucleotide encoding each subunit of the TCR that can bind to the peptide of the invention presented by the HLA antigen on the cell surface. can.
  • TCR T Cell Receptor
  • the invention provides a method of inducing a CTL comprising a step selected from the following: (A) The stage of co-culturing CD8-positive T cells with APC that presents a complex of HLA antigen and the peptide of the present invention on its surface; (B) The step of co-culturing CD8-positive T cells with an exosome that presents a complex of the HLA antigen and the peptide of the invention on its surface; and (c) the book presented by the HLA antigen on the cell surface.
  • the above method can be performed in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo, but is preferably performed in vitro or ex vivo.
  • the APC or exosomes and CD8-positive T cells used in the above method may be derived from a subject scheduled to receive the induced CTL, but may be derived from a different subject. good.
  • the HLA types of the recipient and the donor must be the same.
  • the HLA type of the subject and the donor are both HLA-A02 (more preferably HLA-A * 02: 01 or HLA-A * 02: 06).
  • the APC or exosome used in the above method may be HLA-A02 (more preferably HLA-A * 02: 01 or HLA-A * 02: 06) and the peptide of the invention (SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3). , 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 peptides having an amino acid sequence or a modified peptide thereof) presenting a complex with an APC or It is preferably an exosome.
  • the induced CTL has specific cytotoxic activity against cells presenting the complex of HLA-A02 with the peptides of the invention (eg, HLA-A02 positive cells infected with coronavirus). show.
  • the HLA type of the administration subject and the donor are both HLA-A24 (more preferably HLA).
  • -A * 24:02) is preferable.
  • the APC or exosome used in the above method has an amino acid sequence selected from HLA-A24 (more preferably HLA-A * 24: 02) and the peptide of the invention (SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11). It is preferably an APC or exosome that presents a complex with a peptide or a modified peptide thereof) on its surface.
  • the induced CTL has specific cytotoxic activity against cells presenting the complex of HLA-A24 with the peptides of the invention (eg, HLA-A24 positive cells infected with coronavirus). show.
  • the invention also provides a composition or pharmaceutical composition for inducing CTLs comprising at least one active ingredient selected from the following: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (d) exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface.
  • the invention also provides the use of an active ingredient selected from the following in the manufacture of a composition or pharmaceutical composition for inducing CTL: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (d) exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface.
  • the invention further provides an active ingredient selected from the following for use in the induction of CTLs: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (d) exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface.
  • the present invention is further a method or step for producing a composition or a pharmaceutical composition for inducing CTL, which is pharmaceutically or physiologically with an active ingredient selected from the following.
  • the invention is also a method or step for producing a composition or pharmaceutical composition for inducing CTLs, wherein the active ingredient selected from the following is pharmaceutically or physiological.
  • a method or step comprising mixing with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (d) exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface.
  • the present invention provides a method of inducing an immune response against a coronavirus infection.
  • the coronavirus includes, but is not limited to, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV.
  • coronavirus-infected cells preferably express HLA-A24 or HLA-A02.
  • the present invention also provides a method of inducing an immune response against coronavirus-infected cells.
  • the peptide of the present invention is derived from the structural protein or non-structural protein of SARS-CoV-2, and is also an amino acid sequence commonly found in SARS-CoV protein and MERS-CoV protein. Therefore, when an immune response against coronavirus-infected cells is induced, as a result, virus growth in coronavirus-infected cells is inhibited. Therefore, the present invention also provides a method of inhibiting the growth of virus in coronavirus-infected cells.
  • the method of the present invention is particularly suitable for inhibiting the growth of coronavirus in coronavirus-infected cells expressing HLA-A24 or HLA-A02.
  • the method of the invention may comprise administering a composition comprising any of the peptides of the invention or a polynucleotide encoding them.
  • the methods of the invention also contemplate administration of exosomes or APCs that present any of the peptides of the invention.
  • exosomes and APCs that can be used in the methods of the invention to induce an immune response include the aforementioned "V. exosomes", “VI. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs)", and "X. Peptides”. It is described in detail in the sections (1) and (2) of "Methods using exosomes, APCs, and CTLs".
  • the invention is also a pharmaceutical composition or vaccine for inducing an immune response against a coronavirus infection, comprising an active ingredient selected from the following: offer: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; (D) Exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (e) CTLs of the invention.
  • an active ingredient selected from the following: offer: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; (D) Exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (e) CTLs of the invention.
  • the invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition or vaccine for inducing an immune response against coronavirus-infected cells, comprising an active ingredient selected from the following: : (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; (D) Exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (e) CTLs of the invention.
  • an active ingredient selected from the following: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; (D) Exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (e) CTLs of the invention.
  • the present invention further comprises a pharmaceutical composition or vaccine for inhibiting the growth of coronavirus in coronavirus-infected cells, comprising an active ingredient selected from the following.
  • a pharmaceutical composition or vaccine for inhibiting the growth of coronavirus in coronavirus-infected cells comprising an active ingredient selected from the following.
  • the invention also provides the use of an active ingredient selected from the following in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition or vaccine for inducing an immune response against a coronavirus infection: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; (D) Exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (e) CTLs of the invention.
  • the invention further provides the use of an active ingredient selected from the following in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions or vaccines for inducing an immune response against coronavirus-infected cells: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; (D) Exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (e) CTLs of the invention.
  • an active ingredient selected from the following in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions or vaccines for inducing an immune response against coronavirus-infected cells: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; (D) Exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (e) CTL
  • the present invention further provides the use of an active ingredient selected from the following in the production of a pharmaceutical composition or vaccine for inhibiting the growth of coronavirus in coronavirus-infected cells: (A) Peptide of the present invention; (B) A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of the invention in an expressible form; (C) APCs that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; (D) Exosomes that present the peptides of the invention on their surface; and (e) CTLs of the invention.
  • the invention is also a method or step for producing a pharmaceutical composition that induces an immune response against coronavirus infection, the step of mixing or formulating the peptides of the invention with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Provide possible methods.
  • the invention comprises a step of administering to a subject a vaccine or pharmaceutical composition comprising an active ingredient selected from the following, a method for inhibiting the growth of coronavirus in coronavirus-infected cells, or corona.
  • a vaccine or pharmaceutical composition comprising an active ingredient selected from the following, a method for inhibiting the growth of coronavirus in coronavirus-infected cells, or corona.
  • coronavirus infections can be treated by administering the peptides, polynucleotides, APCs, exosomes and / or CTLs of the present invention.
  • administration of the peptides, polynucleotides, APCs, exosomes and / or CTLs of the invention can induce an immune response against coronavirus infection.
  • examples of such coronaviruses include, but are not limited to, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV.
  • administration of the peptides, polynucleotides, APCs, exosomes and / or CTLs of the present invention can induce an immune response against coronavirus-infected cells. Therefore, it is preferable to confirm whether the subject to be treated is infected with the coronavirus before administering the vaccine or the pharmaceutical composition containing the above active ingredient.
  • the invention provides a method of treating a coronavirus infection in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising: i) The step of measuring the expression level of the SARS-CoV-2 gene or the protein encoded by it in a biological sample collected from a subject infected with coronavirus; ii) The step of identifying a subject infected with coronavirus based on the SARS-CoV-2 gene measured in i) or the protein expression level encoded by it; and iii) (a)-(e) above. ) At least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of coronavirus-infected subjects.
  • the present invention also provides a vaccine or pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of (a) to (e) above for administration to a subject infected with coronavirus. do.
  • the present invention further provides a method of identifying or selecting a subject to be treated with at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of (a) to (e) above, such a method comprising the following steps: : i) The step of measuring the expression level of the SARS-CoV-2 gene or the protein encoded by it in a biological sample collected from a subject infected with coronavirus; ii) Coronavirus-infected cells expressing the SARS-CoV-2 gene, or the protein encoded by it, based on the expression level of the SARS-CoV-2 gene or the protein encoded by it as measured in i).
  • the stage of identifying an object with; and iii) The step of identifying or selecting the subject identified in ii) as a subject that can be treated with at least one active ingredient
  • the biological sample collected from the subject for measuring the expression level of the SARS-CoV-2 gene or the protein encoded by the SARS-CoV-2 gene in the above method is not particularly limited, but for example, a coronavirus collected by biopsy or the like.
  • a tissue sample containing infected cells can be preferably used.
  • detection of coronavirus RNA in pharyngeal swabs and saliva is commonly performed in the identification of coronavirus-infected individuals. Therefore, in the present invention, the coronavirus gene includes the genomic RNA of coronavirus or the mRNA to which it is transcribed.
  • the expression level of the SARS-CoV-2 gene or the protein encoded by it in a biological sample can be measured by a known method, for example, the transcript of the SARS-CoV-2 gene can be detected by a probe or PCR method.
  • a probe or PCR method for example, cDNA microarray method, Northern blot method, RT-PCR method, etc.
  • Method for detecting the translation product of SARS-CoV-2 gene by antibody, etc. (For example, Western blot method, immunostaining method, immunochromatography method) Etc.) etc.
  • the biological sample may be a blood sample. In this case, the blood level of the antibody against SARS-CoV-2 protein is measured, and the expression level of SARS-CoV-2 protein is measured based on the blood level.
  • the blood level of the antibody against the SARS-CoV-2 protein can be measured by a known method, for example, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA) using the SARS-CoV-2 protein or the peptide of the present invention as an antigen. ), Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the like can be used.
  • EIA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
  • ELISA Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
  • RIA Radioimmunoassay
  • the expression level of SARS-CoV-2 protein in a subject may be evaluated by detecting a CTL specific to the peptide of the present invention.
  • Measurement of CTL levels specific to the peptide of the present invention can be performed, for example, by separating PBMC from blood collected from a subject and measuring the cytotoxic activity against target cells pulsed with the peptide of the present invention. can.
  • the cell damage activity can be measured, for example, by the amount of interferon gamma released.
  • the complex of the peptide of the present invention described below and HLA can also be used for measuring the CTL level.
  • Whether or not the coronavirus-infected cells of the subject express SARS-CoV-2 protein is determined by comparison with the measurement results of the same biological material collected from the subject not infected with coronavirus. You may go.
  • the level in the biological sample collected from the coronavirus-infected subject is higher than the level of the measurement object (normal control level) in the same kind of biological material collected from the subject not infected with the coronavirus. If it is elevated, it can be determined that the target cells infected with coronavirus express SARS-CoV-2 protein.
  • at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of the above (a) to (e). for example, as a target for administration of an active ingredient related to a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.
  • HLA-A24-positive subject as the administration target of the active ingredient related to the peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 11.
  • the present invention also provides a complex of the peptide of the present invention with HLA.
  • the complex of the present invention may be a monomer or a multimer.
  • the number of polymerizations is not particularly limited, and it can be a multimer of any number of polymerizations. Examples include, but are not limited to, tetramers, pentamers, hexamers, and the like. Dextramers (WO2002 / 072631) and streptamers (Knabel M et al., Nat Med. 2002 Jun; 8 (6): 631-7.) are also included in the multimers of the present invention.
  • Complexes of the peptides of the invention with HLA can be prepared according to known methods (eg, Altman JD et al., Science. 1996,274 (5284): 94-6, WO2002 / 072631, WO2009 / 003492. , Knabel M et al., Nat Med. 2002 Jun; 8 (6): 631-7. Etc.).
  • the complex of the present invention can be used, for example, for quantification of CTL specific to the peptide of the present invention.
  • a blood sample was taken from a subject to which the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention was administered, PBMC was separated, and then CD4 negative cells were prepared, and the complex of the present invention to which a fluorescent dye was bound and the CD4 negative cells were obtained.
  • the proportion of CTL specific to the peptide of the present invention can be measured.
  • the immune response-inducing effect of the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be obtained. Can be monitored.
  • Antibodies The present invention further provides antibodies that bind to the peptides of the invention.
  • Preferred antibodies specifically bind to peptides of the invention and do not (or weakly) bind to non-peptides of the invention.
  • the binding specificity of the antibody can be confirmed by an inhibition test. That is, the binding between the antibody to be analyzed and the polypeptide (SEQ ID NO: 17-26) consisting of the amino acid sequence of each protein encoded by the full-length SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequence is in the presence of the peptide of the present invention. When inhibited in, it is shown that this antibody specifically binds to the peptides of the invention.
  • Antibodies to the peptides of the invention can be used in disease diagnostic and prognostic assays, as well as in subject selection of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention and monitoring of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention.
  • the present invention also provides various immunological assays for detecting and / or quantifying the peptides of the invention or fragments thereof.
  • immunological assays include, but are not limited to, radioimmunoassays, immunochromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELIFA), and the like. It is performed within the range of various immunological assay formats well known in the field.
  • the antibodies of the invention can be used in immunological imaging methods capable of detecting coronavirus-infected cells, examples of which include radioactive scintigraphy imaging methods using labeled antibodies of the invention. Not limited to this.
  • immunological imaging methods capable of detecting coronavirus-infected cells, examples of which include radioactive scintigraphy imaging methods using labeled antibodies of the invention. Not limited to this.
  • Such assay methods are clinically used in the detection, monitoring, and prognosis of coronavirus-infected cells, and examples of coronaviruses with such coronavirus infections include SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV. , SARS-CoV, etc., but not limited to these.
  • Antibodies of the invention can be used in any form, such as monoclonal antibodies or polyclonal antibodies, such as antisera obtained by immunizing animals such as rabbits with the peptides of the invention, polyclonal antibodies of all classes and monoclonals. Further may include antibodies, human antibodies, as well as chimeric and humanized antibodies made by recombinant.
  • the peptide of the present invention or a fragment thereof used as an antigen for obtaining an antibody can be obtained by chemical synthesis or by a genetic engineering method based on the amino acid sequence disclosed herein.
  • the peptide used as an immune antigen may be the peptide of the present invention or a fragment of the peptide of the present invention.
  • the peptide may be bound or linked to a carrier in order to enhance immunogenicity.
  • Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) is well known as a carrier. Methods of binding KLH to peptides are also well known in the art.
  • Any mammal can be immunized with the antigen, but when producing a monoclonal antibody, it is preferable to take into consideration compatibility with the parent cell used for cell fusion.
  • rodentia, lagomorpha, or primate animals can be used.
  • Rodents include, for example, mice, rats, and hamsters.
  • Animals of the order Lagomorpha include, for example, rabbits.
  • Primate animals include catarrhini (old world monkeys) monkeys such as cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), cynomolgus monkeys, mantohihi, and chimpanzees.
  • the antigen Intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injection of the antigen is the standard method for immunizing mammals. More specifically, the antigen is diluted with an appropriate amount of phosphate buffered saline (PBS), physiological saline, or the like and suspended. If desired, the antigen suspension can be mixed with an appropriate amount of a standard adjuvant, such as Freund's complete adjuvant, emulsified and then administered to the mammal. Then, the antigen mixed with an appropriate amount of Freund's incomplete adjuvant is preferably administered several times every 4 to 21 days. Appropriate carriers may be used for immunization. After immunization as described above, serum can be examined by standard methods for increasing the amount of desired antibody.
  • PBS phosphate buffered saline
  • physiological saline or the like
  • the antigen suspension can be mixed with an appropriate amount of a standard adjuvant, such as Freund's complete adjuvant, emulsified and then administered to the mammal. Then, the
  • Polyclonal antibodies against the peptides of the invention can be prepared by collecting blood from mammals that have been confirmed to have elevated serum desired antibody levels after immunization and separating the serum from the blood by any conventional method.
  • the polyclonal antibody may be a serum containing a polyclonal antibody, or a fraction containing the polyclonal antibody may be isolated from the serum.
  • an affinity column to which the peptide of the present invention is bound is used, and then this fraction is further added using a protein A or protein G column. It can be purified and prepared.
  • immune cells are collected from the mammal and subjected to cell fusion.
  • Immune cells used for cell fusion can preferably be obtained from the spleen.
  • the other parent cell to be fused with the above-mentioned immune cells for example, mammalian myeloma cells, and more preferably myeloma cells that have acquired the characteristics for selection of fused cells by a drug can be used.
  • the above immune cells and myeloma cells can be fused according to a known method, for example, Milstein et al. (Galfre and Milstein, Methods Enzymol 73: 3-46 (1981)).
  • Hybridomas obtained by cell fusion can be selected by culturing them in a standard selective medium such as a HAT medium (a medium containing hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine). Cell culture typically continues in the HAT medium for a period sufficient to kill all other cells (non-fused cells) except the desired hybridoma (eg, days to weeks). A standard limiting dilution can then be performed to screen and clone hybridoma cells that produce the desired antibody.
  • a standard selective medium such as a HAT medium (a medium containing hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine).
  • HAT medium a medium containing hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine
  • Cell culture typically continues in the HAT medium for a period sufficient to kill all other cells (non-fused cells) except the desired hybridoma (eg, days to weeks).
  • a standard limiting dilution can then be performed to screen and clo
  • human lymphocytes such as lymphocytes infected with the EB virus
  • peptides, peptide-expressing cells, or lysates thereof can also be immunized in vitro.
  • the post-immune lymphocytes can then be fused with infinitely divisible human-derived myeloma cells such as U266 to obtain hybridomas that produce the desired human antibody capable of binding to the peptide. 63-17688).
  • the obtained hybridoma is transplanted into the abdominal cavity of the mouse, and ascites is extracted.
  • the obtained monoclonal antibody can be purified, for example, by ammonium sulfate precipitation, protein A or protein G column, DEAE ion exchange chromatography, or an affinity column to which the peptide of the present invention is bound.
  • immune cells that produce antibodies can be immortalized by oncogenes and used to prepare monoclonal antibodies.
  • Monoclonal antibodies thus obtained can also be recombinantly prepared using genetic engineering techniques (see, eg, Borrebaeck and Larrick, Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies, published in the United Kingdom by MacMillan Publishers LTD (1990). sea bream).
  • DNA encoding an antibody is cloned from an immune cell such as an antibody-producing hybridoma or immunized lymphocyte, inserted into an appropriate vector, and then introduced into a host cell to prepare a recombinant antibody. Can be done.
  • the present invention also provides recombinant antibodies prepared as described above.
  • the antibody of the present invention may be a fragment of the antibody or a modified antibody as long as it binds to the peptide of the present invention.
  • the antibody fragment may be a Fab, F (ab') 2 , Fv, or a single chain Fv (scFv) in which Fv fragments from the H and L chains are linked by a suitable linker (Huston et. al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85: 5879-83 (1988)). More specifically, antibody fragments can be made by treating the antibody with an enzyme such as papain or pepsin.
  • a gene encoding an antibody fragment can be constructed, inserted into an expression vector and expressed in a suitable host cell (eg, Co et al., J Immunol 152: 2968-76 (1994); Better and Horwitz, Methods Enzymol 178: 476-96 (1989); Pluckthun and Skerra, Methods Enzymol 178: 497-515 (1989); Lamoyi, Methods Enzymol 121: 652-63 (1986); Rousseaux et al., Methods Enzymol 121: 663-9 (1986); see Bird and Walker, Trends Biotechnol 9: 132-7 (1991)).
  • Antibodies can be modified by binding to various molecules such as polyethylene glycol (PEG).
  • PEG polyethylene glycol
  • the present invention provides such modified antibodies.
  • Modified antibodies can be obtained by chemically modifying the antibody. These modifications are customary in the art.
  • the antibody of the invention can be a chimeric antibody between a variable region derived from a non-human antibody and a constant region derived from a human antibody, or a complementarity determination region (CDR) derived from a non-human antibody and a human antibody. It can also be obtained as a humanized antibody containing a framework region (FR) and a constant region derived from.
  • CDR complementarity determination region
  • Such antibodies can be prepared according to known techniques. Humanization can be performed by substituting the corresponding sequence of the human antibody with the CDR sequence of the non-human antibody (see, eg, Verhoeyen et al., Science 239: 1534-6 (1988)).
  • humanized antibodies are chimeric antibodies in which the less than substantially complete human variable domain has been replaced by a corresponding sequence from a non-human species.
  • human antibody that includes the human variable region in addition to the human framework region and constant region.
  • Such antibodies can be made using various techniques known in the art. For example, in vitro methods include the use of recombinant libraries of human antibody fragments presented on bacteriophage (eg, Hoogenboom & Winter, J. Mol. Biol. 227: 381 (1991)).
  • human antibodies can be made by introducing the human immunoglobulin locus into a transgenic animal, eg, a mouse, in which the endogenous immunoglobulin gene is partially or completely inactivated. This approach is described, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 6,150,584, 5,545,807; 5,545,806; 5,569,825; 5,625,126; 5,633,425; 5,661,016.
  • the antibody obtained as described above may be purified until it becomes uniform.
  • antibodies can be separated and purified according to the separation and purification methods used for common proteins.
  • column chromatography such as, but not limited to, affinity chromatography, filters, ultrafiltration, salting out, dialysis, SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and isoelectric focusing are appropriately selected and combined. This allows the antibody to be isolated and isolated (Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual. Ed Harlow and David Lane, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1988)).
  • a protein A column and a protein G column can be used as affinity columns.
  • Exemplary protein A columns to be used include, for example, HyperD, POROS, and Sepharose F.F. (Pharmacia).
  • exemplary chromatography includes, for example, ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, gel filtration, reverse phase chromatography, adsorption chromatography and the like (Strategies for Protein Purification and characterization: A). Laboratory Course Manual. Ed Daniel R. Marshak et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1996)). Chromatography procedures can be performed by liquid phase chromatography such as HPLC and FPLC.
  • ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
  • EIA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
  • RIA radioimmunoassay
  • IF immunofluorescence
  • the antibody of the invention is immobilized on a plate, the peptide of the invention is added to the plate, and then a sample containing the desired antibody, such as a culture supernatant of antibody-producing cells or a purified antibody, is added. The primary antibody is then recognized, the secondary antibody labeled with an enzyme such as alkaline phosphatase is added, and the plate is incubated.
  • an enzyme such as alkaline phosphatase
  • an enzyme substrate such as p-nitrophenyl phosphate is added to the plate, and the absorbance is measured to evaluate the antigen-binding activity of the sample.
  • Peptide fragments such as C-terminal or N-terminal fragments, may be used as antigens to assess antibody binding activity.
  • BIAcore Pharmacia
  • the present invention is carried out by the method as described above.
  • the peptide can be detected or measured.
  • the antibody of the present invention can also be used to detect a peptide of the present invention present in a blood sample of interest (eg, a serum sample).
  • the antibody of the present invention present in the target blood sample for example, serum sample
  • the results of measuring the peptide of the present invention or the antibody of the present invention in the blood sample of the subject may be useful for selecting the administration target of the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention or monitoring the effect of the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. can.
  • the invention also provides a vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding a peptide of the invention and a host cell into which the vector has been introduced.
  • the vectors of the invention can be used to retain the polynucleotides of the invention in host cells, to express the peptides of the invention in host cells, or to administer the polynucleotides of the invention for gene therapy. ..
  • E. coli When E. coli is the host cell and the vector is amplified in E. coli (eg, JM109, DH5 ⁇ , HB101, or XL1-Blue) to produce large quantities, the vector is referred to as the "replication origin" for amplification in E. coli.
  • the vector must have a marker gene for selecting transformed E. coli (eg, a drug resistance gene selected by a drug such as ampicillin, tetracycline, canamycin, chloramphenicol).
  • a marker gene for selecting transformed E. coli eg, a drug resistance gene selected by a drug such as ampicillin, tetracycline, canamycin, chloramphenicol.
  • M13-based vector, pUC-based vector, pBR322, pBluescript, pCR-Script and the like can be used.
  • an expression vector can be used.
  • an expression vector expressed in E. coli needs to have the above characteristics in order to be amplified in E. coli.
  • E. coli such as JM109, DH5 ⁇ , HB101, or XL1-Blue
  • the vector can be a promoter capable of efficiently expressing the desired gene in E. coli, such as the lacZ promoter (Ward et al., Nature 341).
  • the vector may contain a signal sequence for peptide secretion.
  • An exemplary signal sequence that causes the peptide to be secreted into the periplasm of E. coli is the pelB signal sequence (Lei et al., J Bacteriol 169: 4379 (1987)).
  • Means for introducing the vector into the target host cell include, for example, the calcium chloride method and the electroporation method.
  • E. coli for example, expression vectors derived from mammals (eg, pcDNA3 (Invitrogen), and pEGF-BOS (Nucleic Acids Res 18 (17): 5322 (1990)), pEF, pCDM8), expression derived from insect cells.
  • mammals eg, pcDNA3 (Invitrogen), and pEGF-BOS (Nucleic Acids Res 18 (17): 5322 (1990)
  • pEF pCDM8
  • Vectors eg, "Bac-to-BAC baculovirus expression system” (GIBCOBRL), pBacPAK8), plant-derived expression vectors (eg, pMH1, pMH2), animal virus-derived expression vectors (eg, pHSV, pMV, pAdexLcw) ), Retrovirus-derived expression vectors (eg, pZIpneo), yeast-derived expression vectors (eg, "Pichia Expression Kit” (Invitrogen), pNV11, SP-Q01), and Bacillus subtilis.
  • Expression vectors eg, pPL608, pKTH50
  • pPL608, pKTH50 can be used in the production of the polypeptides of the invention.
  • the vector is a promoter required for expression in such cells, eg, the SV40 promoter (Mulligan et al., Nature 277: 108 (1979). )), MMLV-LTR promoter, EF1 ⁇ promoter (Mizushima et al., Nucleic Acids Res 18: 5322 (1990)), CMV promoter, etc., and preferably marker genes for selecting transformants (eg, drugs (eg, drugs)). , Neomycin, G418) need to have a drug resistance gene) selected by. Examples of known vectors with these characteristics include, for example, pMAM, pDR2, pBK-RSV, pBK-CMV, pOPRSV, and pOP13.
  • Peptides with less than 15 amino acids capable of inducing cytotoxic T cells including amino acid sequences selected from the following groups: (A) Amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15; and (b) SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 , 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are replaced with one, two, or several amino acids in the amino acid sequence selected from the group. Amino acid sequences that have been lost, inserted and / or added.
  • the second amino acid from the N-terminus is replaced with an amino acid selected from the group consisting of valine and glutamine; and (b) The amino acid at the C-terminal is replaced with an amino acid selected from the group consisting of valine and leucine.
  • the peptide according to [1] which has one or both of the following characteristics with respect to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 3 and 11.
  • A) The N-terminal amino acid is replaced with an amino acid selected from the group consisting of phenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine and tryptophan; and (b) the C-terminal amino acid is phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan.
  • a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of the following (a) to (e): (A) One or more peptides according to any one of [1] to [5]; (B) One or more polynucleotides encoding the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] in an expressible form; (C) An antigen-presenting cell (APC) that presents a complex of the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] and an HLA antigen on its own cell surface; (D) An exosome that presents a complex of the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] and an HLA antigen on its own cell surface; and any of (e) [1] to [5].
  • APC antigen-presenting cell
  • APCs Antigen-presenting cells
  • composition according to [7] which is a pharmaceutical composition.
  • Pharmaceuticals for one or more uses selected from the group consisting of (i) treatment of coronavirus infections, (ii) prevention of coronavirus infections, and (iii) suppression of aggravation of coronavirus infections.
  • the composition according to [9] for inducing an immune response against coronavirus infection.
  • the composition according to [10] or [11], wherein the coronavirus for coronavirus infection is selected from the group consisting of SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV.
  • Methods for inducing APCs capable of inducing CTLs including steps selected from the group consisting of (a) and (b) below: (A) The step of contacting the APC with the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo, and (b) any one of [1] to [5]. The stage of introducing a polynucleotide encoding a peptide of APC into APC.
  • Methods for inducing CTLs including steps selected from the group consisting of (a)-(c) below:
  • (A) The step of co-culturing CD8-positive T cells with APC that presents a complex of the HLA antigen and the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] on its surface.
  • (B) The step of co-culturing CD8-positive T cells with an exosome that presents a complex of the HLA antigen and the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] on its surface, and (c).
  • CD8-positive T cells are a polynucleotide encoding each subunit of the T cell receptor (TCR) capable of binding to the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] presented by the HLA antigen on the cell surface.
  • TCR T cell receptor
  • An APC that presents a complex of an HLA antigen with the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] on its surface.
  • the APC according to [16] which is induced by the method according to [14].
  • a CTL that targets the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5].
  • the CTL described in [18] which is induced by the method described in [15].
  • a method of inducing an immune response against a coronavirus infection comprising administering to a subject a composition comprising at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of (a)-(e) below: (A) One or more peptides according to any one of [1] to [5]; (B) One or more polynucleotides encoding the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] in an expressible form; (C) An antigen-presenting cell (APC) that presents a complex of the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] and an HLA antigen on its own cell surface; (D) An exosome that presents a complex of the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] and an HLA antigen on its own cell surface; and any of (e) [1] to [5].
  • APC antigen-presenting cell
  • D An exosome that presents a complex of the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] and an H
  • a CTL that targets the peptide described in item 1. Selected from the treatment, prevention and suppression of aggravation of coronavirus infection, including the step of administering to the subject at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of the following (a) to (e).
  • One or more methods for multiple purposes (A) One or more peptides according to any one of [1] to [5]; (B) One or more polynucleotides encoding the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] in an expressible form; (C) An antigen-presenting cell (APC) that presents a complex of the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] and an HLA antigen on its own cell surface; (D) An exosome that presents a complex of the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] and an HLA antigen on its own cell surface; and any of (e) [1] to [5].
  • a CTL that targets the peptide described in item 1.
  • a method for screening a peptide capable of inducing CTL which comprises the following steps: (A) SEQ ID NO: 1 for the original amino acid sequence consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.
  • D The step of contacting the APC of (c) with CD8-positive T cells; and (e) the step of selecting a peptide having a CTL-inducing ability equal to or higher than that of the peptide consisting of the original amino acid sequence.
  • [24] Use of at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of the following (a)-(e) in the manufacture of a composition for inducing an immune response against a coronavirus infection: (A) One or more peptides according to any one of [1] to [5]; (B) One or more polynucleotides encoding the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] in an expressible form; (C) An antigen-presenting cell (APC) that presents a complex of the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] and an HLA antigen on its own cell surface; (D) An exosome that presents a complex of the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] and an HLA antigen on its own cell surface; and any of (e) [1] to [5].
  • APC antigen-presenting cell
  • D An exosome that presents a complex of the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] and an HLA anti
  • APC antigen-presenting cell
  • APC antigen-presenting cell
  • D An exosome that presents a complex of the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] and an HLA antigen on
  • APC antigen-presenting cell
  • D An exosome that presents a complex of the peptide according
  • a method for inducing cytotoxic activity against coronavirus-infected cells which comprises the step of administering to a subject at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of the following (a) to (e): (A) One or more peptides according to any one of [1] to [5]; (B) One or more polynucleotides encoding the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] in an expressible form; (C) An antigen-presenting cell (APC) that presents a complex of the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] and an HLA antigen on its own cell surface; (D) An exosome that presents a complex of the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5] and an HLA antigen on its own cell surface; and any of (e) [1] to [5].
  • APC antigen-presenting cell
  • D An exosome that presents a complex of the peptid
  • kits comprising a container containing the pharmaceutical composition according to any one of [9] to [13] and a container containing an adjuvant.
  • a container containing the pharmaceutical composition according to any one of [9] to [13] and a container containing an adjuvant consists of a container containing a lyophilized preparation containing the peptide according to any one of [1] to [5], a container containing an adjuvant, and a redissolving solution for the lyophilized preparation. Kit containing the container that has been.
  • Cell line T2 cells HLA-A * 02: 01 /-
  • a human lymphoblastic cell line were purchased from ATCC.
  • TISI cells HLA-A * 24: 02 /-
  • a human lymphoblastoid cell line were purchased from the International Histocompatibility Working Group.
  • SARS-CoV Tor2 GenBank accession number AY274119
  • SARS-CoV BJ01 GenBank accession number AY278488
  • SARS-CoV GZ02 GenBank accession number AY390556
  • MERS-CoV GenBank accession number JX869059
  • the peptide to be used was selected as an epitope candidate (Kiyotani K et al., J Hum Genet 2020, 65 (7): 569-575).
  • DCs Monocyte-derived dendritic cells
  • CTLs cytotoxic T cells
  • HLA human leukocyte antigen
  • PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cells
  • the cells were cultured for 7 days in the presence of 1000 IU / ml granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulator (R & D System) and 1000 IU / ml interleukin (IL) -4 (R & D System).
  • AIM-V medium Invitrogen
  • AB type serum MP Biomedicals
  • Autologous CD8-positive T cells obtained using the CD8 Positive Isolation Kit (Invitrogen) and DCs induced to differentiate from monocytes by cytokines in a 48-well plate (Corning) in a ratio of 1:20 (1.5 x 10 4 cells).
  • DC and 3 x 10 5 CD8-positive T cells were mixed. Further, a peptide was added (final peptide concentration: 20 ⁇ g / ml). The amount of 2% ABS / AIM-V medium per well was 0.5 ml, and IL-7 (R & D System) and IL-21 (Cell Genix) were added (final concentration: IL-7 10 ng / ml, IL-21). 30ng / ml). Three days after the start of culture, DC and peptide were added again (final peptide concentration: 20 ⁇ g / ml). DC was prepared at the time of use by the same method as described above.
  • IL-2 Novartis
  • IL-7 Novoprotein
  • IL-15 Novoprotein
  • CTL Proliferation Procedure Reported by Riddell et al. (Walter EA et al., N Engl J Med 1995, 333 (16): 1038-1044; Riddell SR et al., Nat Med 1996, 2 (2): 216-223) CTLs were grown using a method similar to that used.
  • CTL with two human B lymphoblastoid cell lines (5 x 10 6 each) and anti-CD3 antibody (BD biosciences, final concentration: 40 ng / ml) treated with mitomycin C in a tissue culture flask (FALCON). was cultured in 5% ABS / AIM-V medium (culture solution volume: 25 ml / flask).
  • IL-2 was added to the culture (IL-2 final concentration: 120 IU / ml).
  • medium exchange was performed with 5% ABS / AIM-V medium containing 60 IU / ml IL-2 (IL-2 final concentration: 30 IU / ml) (Yoshimura S et al., PLoS One 2014, 9 (1): e85267).
  • IFN- ⁇ ELISPOT assay and IFN- ⁇ ELISA were performed to confirm peptide-specific IFN- ⁇ production of CTLs induced using peptides.
  • T2 cells or TISI cells pulsed with the peptide were prepared as target cells.
  • the IFN- ⁇ ELISPOT assay and IFN- ⁇ ELISA were performed according to the procedures recommended by the assay kit manufacturer.
  • Table 2 is derived from SARS-CoV-2 protein whose binding to HLA-A * 02:01 was predicted by "NetMHC 4.0" .
  • 9mer and 10mer peptides are shown in descending order of binding affinity.
  • a total of 15 peptides were selected as epitope peptide candidates that may have the ability to bind to HLA-A * 02: 01.
  • the number at the position indicates the position of the first amino acid of the peptide, counting from the N-terminus of the protein.
  • the binding affinity (nM) was calculated using "NetMHC 4.0".
  • SARS-CoV-2 Protein-Derived Peptide-Specific CTL is "Material and Method". The induction was performed according to the protocol described in the above. The ELISPOT assay confirmed peptide-specific IFN- ⁇ production in cells (Fig. 1).
  • Peptide 1 SEQ ID NO: 1
  • Peptide 2 SEQ ID NO: 2
  • Peptide 3 SEQ ID NO: 3
  • Peptide 4 SEQ ID NO: 4
  • Peptide 5 SEQ ID NO: 5
  • Peptide 7 SEQ ID NO: 5)
  • Peptide 9 SEQ ID NO: 9
  • Peptide 10 SEQ ID NO: 10
  • Peptide 11 SEQ ID NO: 11
  • Peptide 12 SEQ ID NO: 12
  • Peptide 13 SEQ ID NO: 13
  • Peptide Peptide-specific IFN- ⁇ production was observed in 14 (SEQ ID NO: 14) and peptide 15 (SEQ ID NO: 15) (Fig. 1a).
  • SARS-CoV-2 protein-derived peptide-specific HLA-A * 02:01 Establishment of binding CTL line HLA-A * 02:01 Peptide 2 (SEQ ID NO: 2), peptide in binding IFN- ⁇ ELISPOT assay 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3), Peptide 4 (SEQ ID NO: 4), Peptide 7 (SEQ ID NO: 7), Peptide 10 (SEQ ID NO: 10), Peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11), Peptide 12 (SEQ ID NO: 10) 12) or cells showing specific IFN- ⁇ production for peptide 15 (SEQ ID NO: 15) were grown to establish the HLA-A * 02: 01 binding CTL line.
  • Peptide 2 SEQ ID NO: 2
  • peptide in binding IFN- ⁇ ELISPOT assay 3 SEQ ID NO: 3
  • Peptide 4 SEQ ID NO: 4
  • Peptide 7 SEQ ID NO: 7
  • Peptide 10 SEQ ID NO: 10
  • Peptide 11 S
  • Peptide 2 (SEQ ID NO: 2), Peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3), Peptide 4 (SEQ ID NO: 4), Peptide 7 (SEQ ID NO: 7), Peptide 10 (SEQ ID NO: 7) : 10), Peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11), Peptide 12 (SEQ ID NO: 12) or Peptide 15 (SEQ ID NO: 15) pulsed HLA-A * 02:01 Expression Target cell (T2 cell) CTL line IFN- ⁇ production was observed (Fig. 2).
  • Peptide 2 (SEQ ID NO: 2), Peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3), Peptide 4 (SEQ ID NO: 4), Peptide 7 (SEQ ID NO: 7), Peptide 10 (SEQ ID NO: 10), Peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11), Peptide 12 (SEQ ID NO: 12) and Peptide 15 (SEQ ID NO: 15) bound to HLA-A * 02: 01, clearly demonstrating their ability to induce CTL.
  • HLA-A * 24 02 binding CTL by SARS-CoV-2 protein-derived peptide HLA-A * 02:01
  • Peptide 1 SEQ ID NO: 1
  • Peptide 2 SEQ ID NO: 2
  • Peptide 3 SEQ ID NO: 3
  • Peptide 4 SEQ ID NO: 3
  • Peptide 5 SEQ ID NO: 5
  • Peptide 7 SEQ ID NO: 7
  • Peptide 9 SEQ ID NO: 9
  • Peptide 10 SEQ ID NO: 10
  • Peptide 11 SEQ ID NO: 11
  • Peptide 12 SEQ ID NO: 12
  • Peptide 13 SEQ ID NO: 13
  • Peptide 14 SEQ ID NO: 14
  • Peptide 15 SEQ ID NO: 15
  • HLA-A * 24: 02-positive PBMCs were used to induce HLA-A * 24: 02 constrained CTLs according to the protocol described in "Materials and Methods.”
  • the ELISPOT assay confirmed peptide-specific IFN- ⁇ production in cells (Fig. 3). Peptide-specific IFN- ⁇ production was observed in peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3) and peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11) (Fig. 3a).
  • Peptide 1 SEQ ID NO: 1
  • Peptide 2 SEQ ID NO: 2
  • Peptide 4 SEQ ID NO: 4
  • Peptide 5 SEQ ID NO: 5
  • Peptide 7 SEQ ID NO: 7
  • Peptide 9 SEQ ID NO: 9
  • Peptide 10 SEQ ID NO: 10
  • Peptide 12 SEQ ID NO: 12
  • Peptide 13 SEQ ID NO: 13
  • Peptide 14 SEQ ID NO: 14
  • Peptide 15 SEQ ID NO: 15
  • HLA-A * 02 01 peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3) and peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11) having a binding CTL-inducing ability also bound to HLA-A * 24: 02.
  • HLA-A * 24: 02 It was revealed that it has a binding CTL inducing ability.
  • IFN- ⁇ measurement by ELISA IFN- ⁇ of the CTL line for HLA-A * 24: 02 expression target cells (TISI cells) pulsed with peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3) or peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11) Production was observed (Fig. 4).
  • HLA-A * 02 01 Peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3) and Peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11) having a binding CTL-inducing ability also bound to HLA-A * 24: 02 and HLA.
  • -A * 24: 02 Clearly demonstrated to have binding CTL inducibility.
  • Peptide homology analysis Peptide 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), Peptide 2 (SEQ ID NO: 2), Peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3), Peptide 4 (SEQ ID NO: 4), Peptide 5 (SEQ ID NO: 5), Peptide 7 (SEQ ID NO: 7), Peptide 9 (SEQ ID NO: 9), Peptide 10 (SEQ ID NO: 10), Peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11), Peptide 12 (SEQ ID NO: 12), Peptide 13 (SEQ ID NO: 12) : 13), Peptide 14 (SEQ ID NO: 14) and Peptide 15 (SEQ ID NO: 15) were confirmed to be able to induce CTLs showing peptide-specific IFN- ⁇ production.
  • Peptide 1 SEQ ID NO: 1
  • Peptide 2 SEQ ID NO: 2
  • Peptide 3 SEQ ID NO: 3
  • Peptide 4 SEQ ID NO: 4
  • Peptide 5 SEQ ID NO: 5
  • Peptide 7 SEQ ID NO: 7
  • Peptide 9 SEQ ID NO: 9
  • Peptide 10 SEQ ID NO: 10
  • Peptide 11 SEQ ID NO: 11
  • Peptide 12 SEQ ID NO: 12
  • Peptide 13 SEQ ID NO: 13
  • BLAST algorithm http://blast.ncbi
  • Peptide 1 SEQ ID NO: 1
  • Peptide 2 SEQ ID NO: 2
  • Peptide 3 SEQ ID NO: 3
  • Peptide 4 SEQ ID NO: 4
  • Peptide 5 SEQ ID NO: 5
  • Peptide 7 SEQ ID NO: 7
  • Peptide 9 SEQ ID NO: 9
  • Peptide 10 SEQ ID NO: 10
  • Peptide 11 SEQ ID NO: 11
  • Peptide 12 SEQ ID NO: 12
  • Peptide 13 SEQ ID NO: 13
  • Peptide 14 SEQ ID NO: 14
  • peptide 15 SEQ ID NO: 15 amino acid sequences were not found in human proteins.
  • these peptides are derived from SARS-CoV-2 or SARS-CoV, and it is considered that there is almost no possibility of causing an unintended immune response against normal human tissues.
  • HLA-A * 02 01 binding epitope peptide derived from the SARS-CoV-2 protein was identified. Some of them have also been identified as HLA-A * 24: 02 binding epitope peptides. It has been shown that these peptides can be applied to peptide vaccines against COVID-19.
  • Cell line EB virus transformed B cell line HEV0011 cells (HLA-A * 02: 06 /-) were purchased from RIKEN BioResource Research Center.
  • SARS-CoV Tor2 GenBank accession number AY274119
  • SARS-CoV BJ01 GenBank accession number AY278488
  • SARS-CoV GZ02 GenBank accession number AY390556
  • DCs Monocyte-derived dendritic cells
  • CTLs cytotoxic T cells
  • HLA human leukocyte antigen
  • Monocytes were cultured for 7 days in the presence of 1000 IU / ml granulocyte macrophage colony stimulator (R & D System) and 1000 IU / ml interleukin (IL) -4 (R & D System).
  • AIM-V medium Invitrogen
  • AB type serum MP Biomedicals
  • Autologous CD8-positive T cells obtained using the CD8 Positive Isolation Kit (Invitrogen) and DCs induced to differentiate from monocytes by cytokines in a 48-well plate (Corning) in a ratio of 1:20 (1.5 x 10 4 cells).
  • DC and 3 x 10 5 CD8-positive T cells were mixed. Further, a peptide was added (final peptide concentration: 20 ⁇ g / ml). The amount of 2% ABS / AIM-V medium per well was 0.5 ml, and IL-7 (R & D System) and IL-21 (Cell Genix) were added (final concentration: IL-7 10 ng / ml, IL-21). 30ng / ml). Three days after the start of culture, DC and peptide were added again (final peptide concentration: 20 ⁇ g / ml). DC was prepared at the time of use by the same method as described above.
  • IL-2 Novartis
  • IL-7 Novoprotein
  • IL-15 Novoprotein
  • CTL Proliferation Procedure Reported by Riddell et al. (Walter EA et al., N Engl J Med 1995, 333 (16): 1038-1044; Riddell SR et al., Nat Med 1996, 2 (2): 216-223) CTLs were grown using a method similar to that used.
  • CTL with two human B lymphoblastoid cell lines (5 x 10 6 each) and anti-CD3 antibody (BD biosciences, final concentration: 40 ng / ml) treated with mitomycin C in a tissue culture flask (FALCON). was cultured in 5% ABS / AIM-V medium (culture solution volume: 25 ml / flask).
  • IL-2 was added to the culture (IL-2 final concentration: 120 IU / ml).
  • medium exchange was performed with 5% ABS / AIM-V medium containing 60 IU / ml IL-2 (IL-2 final concentration: 30 IU / ml) (Yoshimura S et al., PLoS One 2014, 9 (1): e85267).
  • IFN- ⁇ ELISPOT assay and IFN- ⁇ ELISA were performed to confirm peptide-specific IFN- ⁇ production of CTLs induced using peptides.
  • HEV0011 cells pulsed with peptides were prepared as target cells.
  • the IFN- ⁇ ELISPOT assay and IFN- ⁇ ELISA were performed according to the procedures recommended by the assay kit manufacturer.
  • HLA-A * 02: 06- binding peptides derived from SARS-CoV-2 protein Table 3 shows the SARS-CoV-2 protein-derived binding predicted by "NetMHC 4.0" to HLA-A * 02: 06. Shows the 10mer peptide of. A total of 8 peptides were selected as epitope peptide candidates that may have the ability to bind to HLA-A * 02: 06.
  • the number at the position indicates the position of the first amino acid of the peptide, counting from the N-terminus of the protein.
  • the binding affinity (nM) was calculated using "NetMHC 4.0".
  • SARS-CoV-2 Protein-Derived Peptide-Specific CTL is "Material and Method". The induction was performed according to the protocol described in the above. The ELISPOT assay confirmed peptide-specific IFN- ⁇ production in cells (Fig. 5).
  • SARS-CoV-2 protein-derived peptide-specific HLA-A * 02:06 Establishment of binding CTL line HLA-A * 02:06 Peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3), peptide in binding IFN- ⁇ ELISPOT assay 4 (SEQ ID NO: 4), Peptide 7 (SEQ ID NO: 7), Peptide 10 (SEQ ID NO: 10), Peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11), Peptide 12 (SEQ ID NO: 12) or Peptide 15 (SEQ ID NO: 10). Cells showing specific IFN- ⁇ production for 15) were proliferated to establish the HLA-A * 02: 06 binding CTL line.
  • peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3), peptide 4 (SEQ ID NO: 4), peptide 7 (SEQ ID NO: 7), peptide 10 (SEQ ID NO: 10), peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11), peptide 12 (SEQ ID NO: 12) and peptide 15 (SEQ ID NO: 15) bound to HLA-A * 02: 06, clearly demonstrating their ability to induce CTL.
  • Peptide homology analysis Peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3), Peptide 4 (SEQ ID NO: 4), Peptide 7 (SEQ ID NO: 7), Peptide 10 (SEQ ID NO: 10), Peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11), It was confirmed that Peptide 12 (SEQ ID NO: 12) and Peptide 15 (SEQ ID NO: 15) can induce CTLs showing peptide-specific IFN- ⁇ production.
  • peptide 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3), peptide 4 (SEQ ID NO: 4), peptide 7 (SEQ ID NO: 7), peptide 10 (SEQ ID NO: 10), peptide 11 (SEQ ID NO: 11), peptide 12
  • the BLAST algorithm http://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih
  • Homogeneity analysis was performed using .gov / Blast.cgi).
  • the present invention is a novel HLA-A24 or HLA- derived from the SARS-CoV-2 protein that induces a strong and specific immune response against coronavirus infection and thus may have applicability for a wide range of coronavirus infection types.
  • A02 Restrictive epitope peptide is provided.
  • the peptides, compositions, APCs, and CTLs of the invention can be used as peptide vaccines against coronavirus infections such as SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, or SARS-CoV infections.

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Abstract

L'invention fournit un peptide d'épitope dérivé d'une protéine du ＳＡＲＳ－ＣｏＶ－２ présentant une inductibilité de cellule T cytotoxique. L'invention fournit également un polynucléotide codant ledit peptide, une cellule T cytotoxique ciblant ledit peptide et une cellule présentatrice d'antigène présentant ledit peptide, et un procédé d'induction de ladite cellule présentatrice d'antigène ou de ladite cellule T cytotoxique. En outre, l'invention fournit une composition pharmaceutique et une composition contenant ces composants en tant que principes actifs. L'invention fournit aussi un procédé de traitement et/ou de prévention, et/ou d'inhibition d'aggravation de la maladie infectieuse du coronavirus qui met en œuvre le peptide, le polynucléotide, la cellule présentatrice d'antigène, la cellule T cytotoxique ou la composition pharmaceutique de l'invention. Enfin, l'invention fournit un procédé d'induction de réponse immunitaire à une infection au coronavirus.
PCT/JP2021/017162 2021-01-05 2021-04-30 Peptide dérivé d'une protéine du ｓａｒｓ－ｃｏｖ－２, et vaccin contenant celui-ci WO2022149295A1 (fr)

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MX2023008049A MX2023008049A (es) 2021-01-05 2021-04-30 Peptido derivado de proteina de sars-cov-2 y vacuna que lo contiene.
US18/270,590 US20240067679A1 (en) 2021-01-05 2021-12-28 Sars-cov-2 protein-derived peptide and vaccine containing same
PCT/JP2021/048846 WO2022149549A1 (fr) 2021-01-05 2021-12-28 Peptide dérivé d'une protéine du ｓａｒｓ－ｃｏｖ－２, et vaccin contenant celui-ci
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CN112034174A (zh) * 2020-03-20 2020-12-04 中国人民解放军军事科学院军事医学研究院 一种多肽芯片及其在病毒检测上的应用

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112034174A (zh) * 2020-03-20 2020-12-04 中国人民解放军军事科学院军事医学研究院 一种多肽芯片及其在病毒检测上的应用

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BUSSMANN, B. M. ET AL.: "Antigenic and cellular localisation analysis of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus nucleocapsid protein using monoclonal antibodies", VIRUS RES., vol. 122, no. 1-2, 2006, pages 119 - 126, XP024957192, DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres. 2006.07.00 5 *
QAMAR, M. T. U. ET AL.: "Designing of a next generation multiepitope based vaccine (MEV) against SARS-COV-2: immunoinformatics and in silico approaches", BIORXIV, 22 March 2020 (2020-03-22), pages 1 - 36, XP055890937, DOI: 10.1101/ 2020.02.28.970343 *
STEPHEN N. CROOKE, OVSYANNIKOVA INNA G., KENNEDY RICHARD B., POLAND GREGORY A.: "Immunoinformatic identification of B cell and T cell epitopes in the SARS-CoV-2 proteome", SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, vol. 10, no. 1, 1 December 2020 (2020-12-01), XP055770118, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70864-8 *
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