WO2022169984A1 - Protein m analogs and fusion proteins and their use for inhibiting antibody function - Google Patents

Protein m analogs and fusion proteins and their use for inhibiting antibody function Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022169984A1
WO2022169984A1 PCT/US2022/015127 US2022015127W WO2022169984A1 WO 2022169984 A1 WO2022169984 A1 WO 2022169984A1 US 2022015127 W US2022015127 W US 2022015127W WO 2022169984 A1 WO2022169984 A1 WO 2022169984A1
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protein
functional fragment
mycoplasma
subject
aav
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French (fr)
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Charles Askew
Chengwen Li
Brian Kuhlman
David Forrest THIEKER
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Priority to KR1020237028988A priority Critical patent/KR20230152008A/ko
Priority to US18/264,136 priority patent/US20240309055A1/en
Priority to AU2022216272A priority patent/AU2022216272A1/en
Priority to CN202280026401.7A priority patent/CN117203226A/zh
Priority to EP22750394.3A priority patent/EP4288445A1/en
Priority to JP2023546323A priority patent/JP2024505948A/ja
Publication of WO2022169984A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022169984A1/en
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    • 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
    • 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
    • A61K48/005—Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy characterised by an aspect of the 'active' part of the composition delivered, i.e. the nucleic acid delivered
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/195—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from bacteria
    • C07K14/30—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from bacteria from Mycoplasmatales, e.g. Pleuropneumonia-like organisms [PPLO]
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/63—Introduction of foreign genetic material using vectors; Vectors; Use of hosts therefor; Regulation of expression
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/63—Introduction of foreign genetic material using vectors; Vectors; Use of hosts therefor; Regulation of expression
    • C12N15/79—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts
    • C12N15/85—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts for animal cells
    • C12N15/86—Viral vectors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
    • 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
    • C12N2750/00—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA ssDNA viruses
    • C12N2750/00011—Details
    • C12N2750/14011—Parvoviridae
    • C12N2750/14111—Dependovirus, e.g. adenoassociated viruses
    • C12N2750/14141—Use of virus, viral particle or viral elements as a vector
    • C12N2750/14143—Use of virus, viral particle or viral elements as a vector viral genome or elements thereof as genetic vector
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
    • G01N33/68—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving proteins, peptides or amino acids
    • G01N33/6854—Immunoglobulins

Definitions

  • This invention relates to methods and compositions for binding antibodies.
  • the methods may be used to isolate antibodies, treat disorders related to excess antibodies, acutely block antibodies to stop an autoimmune or inflammatory response, and inhibit neutralizing antibodies.
  • the invention relates to methods of inhibiting neutralizing antibodies against a heterologous agent when the heterologous agent is administered to a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, thereby inhibiting neutralization of the heterologous agent.
  • the invention further relates to modified mycoplasma protein M or functional fragments thereof having increased thermostability relative to wild-type protein M and their use in the methods of the invention.
  • NAbs neutralizing antibodies
  • Plasmapheresis is inefficient, requiring multiple rounds that remove 2-3 fold of the remaining NAbs each session and is only capable of addressing low titer of NAbs. Plasmapheresis is also time consuming and puts patients at risk for communication of nosocomial infections through simultaneous depletion of antibodies and repeated intravenous needle exposure. Steroids or pharmacological immune suppression to kill B-cells carries significant health risks and requires prolonged regimens to reduce NAbs by even 10-fold.
  • AAV capsid engineering is an innovative method but ultimately inadequate against polyclonal anti- AAV sera, where a modest 10-fold increase in antibody escape is observed in vivo. Additionally, modification of the capsid structure to alter NAb recognition epitopes typically results in less potent vectors and defective vector production because those altered surface regions are multifunctional. None of the current approaches successfully overcome pre- existing anti-AAV NAbs above the typical thresholds set for clinical trial exclusion, or allow repeat administration of the same AAV vectors. [0005] Mycoplasma protein M has been identified as capable of non-specifically binding antibodies and blocking their ability to bind antigen (US Patent No.9,593,150; US Publication No, 2017/0320921).
  • the present invention overcomes shortcomings in the art by providing a vector independent protein based method to universally block Nabs and other methods and compositions based on antibody binding.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is based, in part, on the development of a vector independent protein based method to universally block NAbs and demonstration that this method is effective against a broad range of pre-existing NAb concentrations.
  • the invention pioneers the use of a unique mycoplasma-derived protein and its analogues, termed protein M, to enable successful gene delivery by preventing neutralization of heterologous agents (e.g., AAV vectors) by NAbs upon administration of the heterologous agent to a subject.
  • heterologous agents e.g., AAV vectors
  • Protein M was shown to block mammalian IgG, IgM, and IgA antibody classes in a species and antigen independent manner by universally binding to conserved regions on the antibody light and heavy chains, causing structural interference with the antigen recognizing CDR regions. Protein M binds to antibodies with nanomolar affinity, and prevents antigen-antibody union for a variety of different tested immunoglobulin/antigen pairs. The inventors discovered that protein M blocks antibody recognition of AAV and prevents antibody-mediated neutralization of AAV. It has been demonstrated that the level of AAV vector escape from NAbs is proportional to the NAb titer and volume, amount of protein M, and amount of AAV.
  • Protein M mediated NAb escape has been validated in vitro and in vivo using human serum (IVIG) and serum from AAV immunized mice. It was demonstrated that protein M can be administered alone prior to AAV administration, or formulated with AAV for NAb evasion. The effectiveness of this approach depends on the interaction of protein M with immunoglobulin before AAV is neutralized. This approach can be used to overcome NAbs to multiple heterologous agents (e.g., AAV vector serotypes) while maintaining the unique or beneficial properties of each agent for specific gene therapy applications.
  • IVIG human serum
  • AAV AAV vector serotypes
  • the invention further relates to the use of protein M in other methods in which binding of antibodies is beneficial, including treatment of autoimmune disorders, treatment of disorders associated with excess antibodies, methods of isolating antibodies, and methods of performing immunoassays.
  • the invention further relates to modified protein M proteins having increased thermostability and/or other advantageous characteristics (e.g., increased or maintained pH stability relative to wild-type mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof) for carrying out the methods of the invention in vivo or at elevated temperatures.
  • one aspect of the invention relates to a modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof, having one or more amino acid mutations that increase or maintain thermostability and/or pH stability of the mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof relative to wild-type mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof.
  • the thermostability is maintained up to 75 °C, 70 °C, 65 °C, 60 °C, 55 °C, 50 °C, 45 °C, 40 °C, or 38 °C and/or the pH stability is maintained from a pH of 2 to 8, from a pH of 2.5 to 7.5, or from a pH of 4.5 to 7.5.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a fusion protein comprising a modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof, a linker, and a peptide.
  • An additional aspect of the invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof of the invention and a vector or transformed cell comprising the same.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of inhibiting neutralization of a heterologous agent by neutralizing antibodies upon administration of the heterologous agent to a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, thereby inhibiting neutralization of the heterologous agent.
  • a further aspect of the invention relates to a method of expressing a polypeptide or functional nucleic acid in a subject, comprising administering to the subject (a) a nucleic acid delivery vector encoding the polypeptide or functional nucleic acid, and (b) an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, thereby expressing the polypeptide or functional nucleic acid in the subject.
  • An additional aspect of the invention relates to a method of treating a disorder in a subject in need thereof, wherein the disorder is treatable by expressing a polypeptide or functional nucleic acid in the subject, comprising administering to the subject (a) a therapeutically effective amount of a nucleic acid delivery vector encoding the polypeptide or functional nucleic acid, and (b) an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, thereby treating the disorder in the subject.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of editing a gene in a subject, comprising administering to the subject (a) a gene editing complex, and (b) an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, thereby expressing the polypeptide or functional nucleic acid in the subject.
  • An additional aspect of the invention relates to a method of treating an autoimmune disease in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, thereby treating the autoimmune disease.
  • a further aspect of the invention relates to a method of treating a disorder associated with excess antibodies in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, thereby treating the disorder associated with excess antibodies.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of treating and/or preventing acute transplant rejection of solid organs associated with recognition of the transplant by recipient antibodies in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject prior to and/or after a transplant, a therapeutically effective amount of the mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of isolating a compound comprising an antibody light chain variable region and/or heavy chain variable region from a sample, the method comprising contacting the compound with the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof of the invention attached to a solid support, then eluting the compound from the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof.
  • An additional aspect of the invention relates to a method of performing an immunoassay, the method comprising using the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof of the invention to bind a compound comprising an antibody light chain variable region and/or heavy chain variable region.
  • a further aspect of the invention relates to a kit comprising the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof of the invention.
  • Figure 1 shows human IVIG contains AAV neutralizing antibodies that dose- dependently inhibit AAV transduction.
  • a 2-fold dilution series of human IVIG was used to generate an AAV2 neutralization plot. Beginning with 50 ⁇ g, IVIG was diluted stepwise to less than 1 ⁇ g, and each dilution was incubated for 1 h at 4 °C with 2x10 8 viral genomes of AAV2-Luciferase before seeding the wells.
  • the luminescent reporter signal generated by the AAV2 transgene expression is a functional read-out of AAV transduction and is proportional to the amount of AAV that was available to transduce cultured HEK-293 cells.
  • Measurement of luciferase activity was performed at 48 h post-transduction on a plate reader after cell lysis and addition of luciferin.
  • HEK-293 cells (1x10 5 ) were then added to the wells and incubated for 48 h before measuring the luciferase reporter signal.
  • Wells that contained IVIG but no protein M demonstrated a ⁇ 68% (+/- 3.3%) reduction in AAV signal as compared to no-IVIG control wells containing phosphate buffered saline (PBS).
  • PBS phosphate buffered saline
  • protein M dose dependently blocked neutralization of AAV at molar ratios greater than 2:1, which completely prevented neutralization (108%-193% of no-IVIG control) while ratios of 1:1 or 0.5:1 only partially blocked neutralization (52% and 40% of no-IVIG control respectively).
  • FIG. 4 shows protein M enhancement of AAV transduction is dose dependent.
  • a 2-fold dilution series of protein M beginning with 33 ⁇ g, demonstrates that incubation of AAV2-Luciferase with protein M results in an increase in luciferase signal relative to the PBS+AAV control. Enhancement of the luciferase signal is abolished at concentrations of protein M below 2 ⁇ g for 2x10 8 viral genomes, or a molar ratio of 40,000 protein M molecules to 1 genome containing AAV2-Luciferase particle.
  • AAV2-Luceiferase protein M pre-incubation with AAV for 1 h prior to transduction (-1 h), addition of protein M to AAV at the peri-transduction time point (0 h), or addition of protein M to the wells 18 h post-transduction by AAV (18 h).
  • Two negative control conditions without protein M were used: AAV was incubated alone for 1 h at 4 °C in cell culture media prior to cell seeding and transduction (representative of conditions in the pre-incubation and peri- transduction groups), or AAV was diluted in PBS and added to cell culture at the time of cell seeding and transduction (representative of the conditions in the post-transduction group).
  • AAV2-Luciferase was first incubated with different dilutions of IVIG at 4 °C for 1 h, then protein M was added and incubated for an additional 1 h at 4 °C.
  • a double negative control group received AAV only, while a positive control received 33 ⁇ g of protein M incubated with AAV for 1 h at 4 °C before transduction.
  • Three different dilutions of IVIG were used that contained either 200 ⁇ g, 50 ⁇ g, or 12.5 ⁇ g.
  • the quantity of protein M was kept the same (8.25 ⁇ g) while various amounts of IVIG were used to achieve different molar ratios (from 50 ⁇ g to 3.12 ⁇ g IVIG).
  • Protein M was first incubated with AAV2-Luciferase for 1 h at 4 °C, followed by addition of IVIG for 1 h at 4 °C before transducing the cell cultures.
  • Positive control groups contained AAV plus either 33 ⁇ g, 8.25 ⁇ g, or 1 ⁇ g protein M, while the negative control group contained only AAV incubated with PBS. Protein M mediated enhancement of the non-neutralized fraction of AAV by 2-3 fold could be observed.
  • FIG. 8 shows pre-incubating protein M with AAV protects the vector from neutralization by IVIG in an excess of background serum immunoglobulins. For this experiment 25 ⁇ g of IVIG was used, which was previously shown to neutralize ⁇ 95% of AAV2-Luciferase at a dose of 2x10 8 viral genomes.
  • the 25 ⁇ g of Human IVIG was added to cell culture wells containing 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), with an estimated Bovine IgG concentration of 350 ⁇ g as determined by ELISA performed by the manufacturer.
  • FBS Fetal Bovine Serum
  • Another set of cell culture wells containing the same quantity of 10% FBS served as a no-IVIG control.
  • Protein M at molar ratios of 4:1, 2:1, and 1:1 was incubated with AAV for 1 h at 4 °C before being added the no-IVIG control wells or 25 ⁇ g IVIG containing wells each with 10% FBS.
  • AAV was incubated with PBS instead of protein M in the negative control group, and added to wells containing either 10% FBS or 10% FBS with 25 ⁇ g of IVIG.
  • mice were given various volumes of polyclonal AAV8 serum (titer 1:2,564 from the previous figure) through passive transfer via IV injection, followed within 15-20 minutes by IV administration of 2x10 10 viral genomes of AAV8-Luciferase.
  • Figure 12 shows the protein M/antibody complex is stable after formation in vitro.
  • 1 ⁇ l of polyclonal serum (titer 1:2,564) containing an estimated 10 ⁇ g of immunoglobulin was used to incubate with protein M (2:1 molar ratio, 6.6 ⁇ g) for various durations before addition of AAV8-Luciferase.
  • the negative control group contained neutralizing serum plus media, while the positive control groups contained either media plus PBS or protein M plus media.
  • Incubation intervals of 72 h, 48 h, 24 h, 16 h, 4 h, 2 h, and 1 h were applied to all groups.
  • FIGS.10 and 11 show the potency of neutralizing antibody escape by protein M in vivo is unstable. The same experiment from FIGS.10 and 11 was performed but this time AAV8 was added at either 5 minutes post protein M administration, or 3 h post protein M administration in order to test the durability of NAb escape.
  • AAV8-Luciferase signal was about 1/3 of the no-serum control group after waiting 3 h to administer AAV8 while the luciferase signal was roughly equivalent to the no-serum control group when waiting only 5 minutes to administer AAV8 after protein M.
  • Figure 14 shows truncated protein M from M. genitalium (MG WT) is unstable at body temperature. Melting temperature (Tm) was determined with nano differential scanning fluoroscopy (NanoDSF).
  • Inflection points of the first derivative indicate Tm. Proteins were recombinantly expressed in E. coli and purified with nickel column chromatography before measurement. A circular dichroism assay demonstrated that MG WT is stable for at least 2 h at 20°C, along with no visible precipitate forming. However, at 37°C MG WT began to unfold after 15 minutes, along with production of visible precipitate. This indicates the protein is unstable near standard human body temperature. A temperature ramp from 0-100°C demonstrated instantaneous unfolding of MG WT and a melting temperature (Tm) of about 41.2°C. Unfolding was accompanied by aggregation of a visible precipitate. [0037] Figures 15A-15B show melting temperatures of truncated protein M from M.
  • MG WT genitalium
  • MP WT M. pneumoniae
  • Melting temperatures were determined by differential scanning fluoroscopy (NanoDSF) for WT and mutant protein analogs generated by small scale protein production from E.coli. The number of mutations and their corresponding amino-acid substitutions are listed to the right. The analogs demonstrate a range of thermostability, with multiple mutations resulting in an additive effect to increase melting temperature.
  • Figure 16 shows example data using differential scanning fluoroscopy (DSF) to measure the melting temperature of MG WT and MG 29.
  • FIGS. 18A-18C show different protein M analogs block pooled human Intravenous Immunoglobulin Gamma (IVIG) to prevent AAV2-Luciferase vector neutralization during an in vitro neutralization assay: comparison of 4 oC vs. 37 oC thermal challenge for 1 h (A and B) or 24 h (C) incubation.
  • IVIG Intravenous Immunoglobulin Gamma
  • Ratio of 4:1 protein M to IVIG Relative light units generated by luciferase activity were measured from cell cultures 24 h after transduction by an AAV2-Luciferase reporter vector (2E8 vg) performed in triplicate in a 96- well plate format. Results were normalized to wells containing only AAV2 and phosphate buffered saline (PBS), white bar.
  • AAV2 incubated with IVIG (12 ⁇ g) for 1 h demonstrated near complete neutralization of the AAV.
  • Protein M analogs (16 ⁇ g) incubated at 4 oC prevented neutralization of AAV by IVIG when incubated together for 1 h prior to AAV.
  • Wild-type C57BL6 female mice were immunized via intraperitoneal administration of AAV8-GFP (1E9 vg), and serum was collected one month later to assess AAV neutralizing antibody titer in vitro.
  • Mice were then administered AAV8-Luciferase reporter vectors intramuscularly (1E9 vg per leg), where AAV was formulated as a simple admixture with MG WT (33 ⁇ g per leg) to the mouse’s right leg, or AAV was formulated with phosphate buffered saline as a vehicle control to the mouse’s left leg.
  • Luminescent imaging of the leg muscles was performed 2 weeks after AAV8-Luciferase administration.
  • FIG. 20 shows MG 29 blocks NAbs for AAV re-dosing 1-month after primary AAV administration.
  • Wild-type C57BL6 female mice were immunized via intraperitoneal administration of AAV8-GFP (5E8 vg), and serum was collected one month later to assess AAV neutralizing antibody titer in vitro.
  • Mice were then administered AAV8-Luciferase reporter vectors intramuscularly (2E9 vg per leg), where AAV was formulated as a simple admixture with the engineered analog MG 29 (500 ⁇ g per leg) to the mouse’s right leg, or AAV was formulated with phosphate buffered saline as a vehicle control to the mouse’s left leg.
  • Luminescent imaging of the leg muscles was performed 2 weeks after AAV8-Luciferase administration.
  • mice each with an AAV neutralizing antibody titer less than 1:100 demonstrated neutralization of the AAV luciferase reporter vector in the saline formulated leg, while the AAV luciferase reporter vector was protected from neutralizing antibodies in the MG 29 formulated leg of the same mouse.
  • Neutralization of AAV in the saline leg produced an average luciferase signal at least 98% less than that of the MG WT formulated leg.
  • Figure 21 shows engineered protein M analogs demonstrate different affinities for IgG.
  • FIG. 22 shows an example of BLI affinity data generated by kinetic analysis. The curve is used to predict the kinetic KD value. The curve fit is overlaid on collected data.
  • Figure 23 shows mutant stabilization success rate. The frequency that mutations predicted by Rosetta for MG WT increased (Tm +1 °C), decreased (Tm -1 °C), or had no effect on stability are shown.
  • FIG. 24 shows MP WT sequence conservation.
  • the homology model of MP WT is depicted in two orientations, colored by conservation to the MG WT sequence according to the BLOSUM62 matrix. Residues are colored according to degree of conservation, ranging from white (identical) to black (significantly different).
  • the homology model was built with PDB ID: 4NZR as a template.
  • Figure 25 shows codon optimization of protein M DNA sequences enhances manufacturing yield.
  • DNA plasmids encoding for MG WT protein were generated using either bacterial codons native to MG281 (Original PM), or codons optimized to both bacteria and human codon usage (Optimized PM). Three pooled bacterial colonies transformed by equivalent concentrations of either the Original PM plasmid or Optimized PM plasmid were cultured and propagated in equivalent growth media volumes (10 mL) for an equivalent overnight time period. Bacteria were pelleted and crude lysates were generated by freeze thaw and lysis in equivalent volumes of lysis buffer. Crude lysate was centrifuged and the supernatant collected for protein separation on an SDS-PAGE gel.
  • Tm The melting temperature (Tm) was determined with NanoDSF at varying pH conditions.
  • the protein was purified in PBS via SEC and buffer-exchanged into glycine (pH 2.5 & 3.5), acetate (pH 4.5 & 5.5), and phosphate (pH 6.5 and 7.5) buffers.
  • Figures 27A-27D show a sequence alignment of wild-type M.
  • genitalium protein M amino acids 74-479 SEQ ID NO:3 and modified protein M MG1 (SEQ ID NO:4), MG8 (SEQ ID NO:5), MG13 (SEQ ID NO:6), MG15 (SEQ ID NO:7), MG21 (SEQ ID NO:8), MG22 (SEQ ID NO:9), MG23 (SEQ ID NO:10), MG24 (SEQ ID NO:11), MG27 (SEQ ID NO:12), MG28 (SEQ ID NO:13), MG29 (SEQ ID NO:14), MG31 (SEQ ID NO:15), MG33 (SEQ ID NO:16), MG38 (SEQ ID NO:17), MG40 (SEQ ID NO:18), MG43 (SEQ ID NO:19), MG44 (SEQ ID NO:20), MG45 (SEQ ID NO:21), and MG46 (SEQ ID NO:22).
  • Figure 28 shows a sequence alignment of wild-type M. genitalium protein M amino acids 74-479 (SEQ ID NO:3) and the equivalent fragment of M. pneumoniae protein M (SEQ ID NO:23).
  • Figure 29 is a bar graph of luminescence after administration.
  • Figure 29 shows in vivo antibody neutralization 7 days after administration. Serum was collected and pooled from mice serially immunized with AAV8. In vitro neutralization assay determined that the anti- AAV8 neutralizing titer of the pooled serum to be roughly 1:10,000.
  • mice Different quantities of the anti-AAV8 serum (determined by serum volume) were administered via IV injection to groups of AAV naive mice in a passive transfer experiment, followed 20-25 minutes later by IV injection of 2e10 viral genomes (vg) of AAV8-Luciferase reporter vector. Some groups of mice were given protein M via IV injection 5 minutes before the AAV administration. Non-invasive in vivo imaging of luciferase activity was performed 7 days later to quantify luminescence as a proxy of gene expression from the AAV8 vector, and any decrease in luminescence signal is indicative of AAV8-Luciferase neutralization by the serum.
  • FIG. 30 shows an in vitro neutralization assay where high titer anti-AAV8 serum from mice was titrated in 2-fold dilutions, and added to the well as indicated on the X- axis.
  • Nucleotides and amino acids are represented herein in the manner recommended by the IUPAC-IUB Biochemical Nomenclature Commission, or (for amino acids) by either the one-letter code, or the three letter code, both in accordance with 37 C.F.R. ⁇ 1.822 and established usage. [0057] Except as otherwise indicated, standard methods known to those skilled in the art may be used for production of recombinant and synthetic polypeptides, antibodies or antigen- binding fragments thereof, manipulation of nucleic acid sequences, production of transformed cells, the construction of rAAV constructs, modified capsid proteins, packaging vectors expressing the AAV rep and/or cap sequences, and transiently and stably transfected packaging cells. Such techniques are known to those skilled in the art.
  • the transitional phrase “consisting essentially of” is to be interpreted as encompassing the recited materials or steps and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Thus, the term “consisting essentially of” as used herein should not be interpreted as equivalent to “comprising.” [0064]
  • the total of ten or less additional nucleotides or amino acids includes the total number of additional nucleotides or amino acids added together.
  • parvovirus encompasses the family Parvoviridae, including autonomously-replicating parvoviruses and dependoviruses.
  • the autonomous parvoviruses include members of the genera Parvovirus, Erythrovirus, Densovirus, Iteravirus, and Contravirus.
  • Exemplary autonomous parvoviruses include, but are not limited to, minute virus of mouse, bovine parvovirus, canine parvovirus, chicken parvovirus, feline panleukopenia virus, feline parvovirus, goose parvovirus, H1 parvovirus, muscovy duck parvovirus, snake parvovirus, and B19 virus.
  • Other autonomous parvoviruses are known to those skilled in the art.
  • the genus Dependovirus contains the adeno-associated viruses (AAV), including but not limited to, AAV type 1, AAV type 2, AAV type 3 (including types 3A and 3B), AAV type 4, AAV type 5, AAV type 6, AAV type 7, AAV type 8, AAV type 9, AAV type 10, AAV type 11, AAV type 12, AAV type 13, avian AAV, bovine AAV, canine AAV, goat AAV, snake AAV, equine AAV, and ovine AAV.
  • AAV adeno-associated viruses
  • AAV adeno-associated virus
  • AAV type 1 AAV type 2
  • AAV type 3 including types 3A and 3B
  • AAV type 4 AAV type 5
  • AAV type 6 AAV type 7
  • AAV type 8 AAV type 9
  • AAV type 10 AAV type 11, avian AAV, bovine AAV, canine AAV, equine AAV, and ovine AAV and any other AAV now known or later discovered. See, e.g., BERNARD N.
  • the parvovirus particles and genomes of the present invention can be from, but are not limited to, AAV.
  • the genomic sequences of various serotypes of AAV and the autonomous parvoviruses, as well as the sequences of the native ITRs, Rep proteins, and capsid subunits are known in the art.
  • a “chimeric” AAV nucleic acid capsid coding sequence or AAV capsid protein is one that combines portions of two or more capsid sequences.
  • a “chimeric” AAV virion or particle comprises a chimeric AAV capsid protein.
  • tropism refers to preferential but not necessarily exclusive entry of the vector (e.g., virus vector) into certain cell or tissue type(s) and/or preferential but not necessarily exclusive interaction with the cell surface that facilitates entry into certain cell or tissue types, optionally and preferably followed by expression (e.g., transcription and, optionally, translation) of sequences carried by the vector contents (e.g., viral genome) in the cell, e.g., for a recombinant virus, expression of the heterologous nucleotide sequence(s).
  • the vector e.g., virus vector
  • expression e.g., transcription and, optionally, translation
  • heterologous nucleic acid sequence from the viral genome may not be initiated in the absence of trans-acting factors, e.g., for an inducible promoter or otherwise regulated nucleic acid sequence.
  • gene expression from the viral genome may be from a stably integrated provirus and/or from a non-integrated episome, as well as any other form which the virus nucleic acid may take within the cell.
  • the term “tropism profile” refers to the pattern of transduction of one or more target cells, tissues and/or organs.
  • chimeric AAV capsids have a tropism profile characterized by efficient transduction of cells of the central nervous system (CNS) with only low transduction of peripheral organs (see e.g. US Patent No.9,636,370 McCown et al., and US patent publication 2017/0360960 Gray et al.).
  • Vectors e.g., virus vectors, e.g., AAV capsids
  • expressing specific tropism profiles may be referred to as “tropic” for their tropism profile, e.g., neuro-tropic, liver-tropic, etc.
  • transduction of a cell by a virus vector means entry of the vector into the cell and transfer of genetic material into the cell by the incorporation of nucleic acid into the virus vector and subsequent transfer into the cell via the virus vector.
  • efficient transduction or “efficient tropism,” or similar terms, can be determined by reference to a suitable positive or negative control (e.g., at least about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or more of the transduction or tropism, respectively, of a positive control or at least about 110%, 120%, 150%, 200%, 300%, 500%, 1000% or more of the transduction or tropism, respectively, of a negative control).
  • a virus “does not efficiently transduce” or “does not have efficient tropism” for a target tissue, or similar terms by reference to a suitable control.
  • the virus vector does not efficiently transduce (i.e., does not have efficient tropism for) tissues outside the CNS, e.g., liver, kidney, gonads and/or germ cells.
  • undesirable transduction of tissue(s) e.g., liver
  • tissue(s) is 20% or less, 10% or less, 5% or less, 1% or less, 0.1% or less of the level of transduction of the desired target tissue(s) (e.g., CNS cells).
  • tissue(s) e.g., liver
  • undesirable transduction of tissue(s) is 20% or less, 10% or less, 5% or less, 1% or less, 0.1% or less of the level of transduction of the desired target tissue(s) (e.g., CNS cells).
  • the terms “5’ portion” and “3’ portion” are relative terms to define a spatial relationship between two or more elements.
  • a “3’ portion” of a polynucleotide indicates a segment of the polynucleotide that is downstream of another segment.
  • the term “3’ portion” is not intended to indicate that the segment is necessarily at the 3’ end of the polynucleotide, or even that it is necessarily in the 3’ half of the polynucleotide, although it may be.
  • a “5’ portion” of a polynucleotide indicates a segment of the polynucleotide that is upstream of another segment.
  • polypeptide encompasses both peptides and proteins, unless indicated otherwise.
  • a “polynucleotide,” “nucleic acid,” or “nucleotide sequence” may be of RNA, DNA or DNA-RNA hybrid sequences (including both naturally occurring and non-naturally occurring nucleotides), but is preferably either a single or double stranded DNA sequence.
  • regulatory element refers to a genetic element which controls some aspect of the expression of nucleic acid sequences.
  • a promoter is a regulatory element which facilitates the initiation of transcription of an operably linked coding region.
  • Other regulatory elements are splicing signals, polyadenylation signals, termination signals, etc.
  • fragment as applied to a polypeptide, will be understood to mean an amino acid sequence of reduced length relative to a reference polypeptide or amino acid sequence and comprising, consisting essentially of, and/or consisting of an amino acid sequence of contiguous amino acids identical to the reference polypeptide or amino acid sequence.
  • such fragments can comprise, consist essentially of, and/or consist of peptides having a length of at least about 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, or more consecutive amino acids of a polypeptide or amino acid sequence according to the invention. In some embodiments, such fragments can comprise, consist essentially of, and/or consist of peptides having a length of less than about 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, or 500 consecutive amino acids of a polypeptide or amino acid sequence according to the invention.
  • a “functional fragment” is one that substantially retains at least one biological activity normally associated with that polypeptide (e.g., antibody binding). In “functional fragment” substantially retains all of the activities possessed by the unmodified polypeptide. By “substantially retains” biological activity, it is meant that the polypeptide retains at least about 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 75%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or more, of the biological activity of the native polypeptide (and can even have a higher level of activity than the native polypeptide).
  • a “non-functional” polypeptide is one that exhibits little or essentially no detectable biological activity normally associated with the polypeptide (e.g., at most, only an insignificant amount, e.g., less than about 10% or even 5%). Biological activities such as antibody binding can be measured using assays that are well known in the art and as described herein.
  • the term “operably linked” refers to a functional linkage between two or more nucleic acids.
  • a promoter sequence may be described as being “operably linked” to a heterologous nucleic acid sequence because the promoter sequences initiates and/or mediates transcription of the heterologous nucleic acid sequence.
  • the operably linked nucleic acid sequences are contiguous and/or are in the same reading frame.
  • ORF open reading frame
  • coding region refers to the portion of a polynucleotide (e.g., a gene) that encodes a polypeptide, and is inclusive of the initiation start site (i.e., Kozak sequence) that initiates transcription of the polypeptide.
  • initiation start site i.e., Kozak sequence
  • coding region may be used interchangeably with open reading frame.
  • codon-optimized refers to a gene coding sequence that has been optimized to increase expression by substituting one or more codons normally present in a coding sequence (for example, in a wildtype sequence, including, e.g., a coding sequence for protein M) with a codon for the same (synonymous) amino acid.
  • a coding sequence for example, in a wildtype sequence, including, e.g., a coding sequence for protein M
  • codon for the same (synonymous) amino acid in this manner, the protein encoded by the gene is identical, but the underlying nucleobase sequence of the gene or corresponding mRNA is different.
  • the optimization substitutes one or more rare codons (that is, codons for tRNA that occur relatively infrequently in cells from a particular species) with synonymous codons that occur more frequently to improve the efficiency of translation.
  • Codon optimization can also increase gene expression through other mechanisms that can improve efficiency of transcription and/or translation.
  • Strategies include, without limitation, increasing total GC content (that is, the percent of guanines and cytosines in the entire coding sequence), decreasing CpG content (that is, the number of CG or GC dinucleotides in the coding sequence), removing cryptic splice donor or acceptor sites, and/or adding or removing ribosomal entry and/or initiation sites, such as Kozak sequences.
  • a codon-optimized gene exhibits improved protein expression, for example, the protein encoded thereby is expressed at a detectably greater level in a cell compared with the level of expression of the protein provided by the wildtype gene in an otherwise similar cell. Codon- optimization also provides the ability to distinguish a codon-optimized gene and/or corresponding mRNA from an endogenous gene and/or corresponding mRNA in vitro or in vivo.
  • sequence identity has the standard meaning in the art. As is known in the art, a number of different programs can be used to identify whether a polynucleotide or polypeptide has sequence identity or similarity to a known sequence.
  • Sequence identity or similarity may be determined using standard techniques known in the art, including, but not limited to, the local sequence identity algorithm of Smith & Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482 (1981), by the sequence identity alignment algorithm of Needleman & Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol.48:443 (1970), by the search for similarity method of Pearson & Lipman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444 (1988), by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Drive, Madison, WI), the Best Fit sequence program described by Devereux et al., Nucl. Acid Res.
  • PILEUP creates a multiple sequence alignment from a group of related sequences using progressive, pairwise alignments. It can also plot a tree showing the clustering relationships used to create the alignment. PILEUP uses a simplification of the progressive alignment method of Feng & Doolittle, J. Mol. Evol.35:351 (1987); the method is similar to that described by Higgins & Sharp, CABIOS 5:151 (1989).
  • Another example of a useful algorithm is the BLAST algorithm, described in Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol.
  • WU-BLAST-2 uses several search parameters, which are preferably set to the default values. The parameters are dynamic values and are established by the program itself depending upon the composition of the particular sequence and composition of the particular database against which the sequence of interest is being searched; however, the values may be adjusted to increase sensitivity.
  • the alignment may include the introduction of gaps in the sequences to be aligned.
  • the percentage of sequence identity will be determined based on the number of identical nucleotides in relation to the total number of nucleotides.
  • sequence identity of sequences shorter than a sequence specifically disclosed herein will be determined using the number of nucleotides in the shorter sequence, in one embodiment.
  • percent identity calculations relative weight is not assigned to various manifestations of sequence variation, such as insertions, deletions, substitutions, etc.
  • identities are scored positively (+1) and all forms of sequence variation including gaps are assigned a value of “0,” which obviates the need for a weighted scale or parameters as described below for sequence similarity calculations.
  • Percent sequence identity can be calculated, for example, by dividing the number of matching identical residues by the total number of residues of the “shorter” sequence in the aligned region and multiplying by 100. The “longer” sequence is the one having the most actual residues in the aligned region.
  • an “isolated” nucleic acid or nucleotide sequence e.g., an “isolated DNA” or an “isolated RNA” means a nucleic acid or nucleotide sequence separated or substantially free from at least some of the other components of the naturally occurring organism or virus, for example, the cell or viral structural components or other polypeptides or nucleic acids commonly found associated with the nucleic acid or nucleotide sequence.
  • an “isolated” polypeptide means a polypeptide that is separated or substantially free from at least some of the other components of the naturally occurring organism or virus, for example, the cell or viral structural components or other polypeptides or nucleic acids commonly found associated with the polypeptide.
  • the term “modified,” as applied to a polynucleotide or polypeptide sequence, refers to a sequence that differs from a wild-type sequence due to one or more deletions, additions, substitutions, or any combination thereof.
  • isolated or grammatical equivalents a virus vector, it is meant that the virus vector is at least partially separated from at least some of the other components in the starting material.
  • treat By the term “treat,” “treating,” or “treatment of” (or grammatically equivalent terms) is meant to reduce or to at least partially improve or ameliorate the severity of the subject’s condition and/or to alleviate, mitigate or decrease in at least one clinical symptom and/or to delay the progression of the condition.
  • prevention means to delay or inhibit the onset of a disease. The terms are not meant to require complete abolition of disease, and encompass any type of prophylactic treatment to reduce the incidence of the condition or delays the onset of the condition.
  • a “treatment effective” amount as used herein is an amount that is sufficient to provide some improvement or benefit to the subject.
  • a “treatment effective” amount is an amount that will provide some alleviation, mitigation, decrease or stabilization in at least one clinical symptom in the subject.
  • therapeutic effects need not be complete or curative, as long as some benefit is provided to the subject.
  • a “prevention effective” amount as used herein is an amount that is sufficient to prevent and/or delay the onset of a disease, disorder and/or clinical symptoms in a subject and/or to reduce and/or delay the severity of the onset of a disease, disorder and/or clinical symptoms in a subject relative to what would occur in the absence of the methods of the invention.
  • a “heterologous nucleotide sequence” or “heterologous nucleic acid,” with respect to a virus, is a sequence or nucleic acid, respectively, that is not naturally occurring in the virus. Generally, the heterologous nucleic acid or nucleotide sequence comprises an open reading frame that encodes a polypeptide and/or a nontranslated RNA.
  • a “vector” refers to a compound used as a vehicle to carry foreign genetic material into another cell, where it can be replicated and/or expressed.
  • a cloning vector containing foreign nucleic acid is termed a recombinant vector.
  • nucleic acid vectors are plasmids, viral vectors, cosmids, expression cassettes, and artificial chromosomes.
  • Recombinant vectors typically contain an origin of replication, a multicloning site, and a selectable marker.
  • the nucleic acid sequence typically consists of an insert (recombinant nucleic acid or transgene) and a larger sequence that serves as the “backbone” of the vector.
  • the purpose of a vector which transfers genetic information to another cell is typically to isolate, multiply, or express the insert in the target cell.
  • Expression vectors are for the expression of the exogenous gene in the target cell, and generally have a promoter sequence that drives expression of the exogenous gene/ORF. Insertion of a vector into the target cell is referred to transformation or transfection for bacterial and eukaryotic cells, although insertion of a viral vector is often called transduction.
  • the term “vector” may also be used in general to describe items to that serve to carry foreign genetic material into another cell, such as, but not limited to, a transformed cell or a nanoparticle.
  • vector in a specific embodiment generally refers to a virus particle that functions as a nucleic acid delivery vehicle, and which comprises the viral nucleic acid (i.e., the vector genome) packaged within the virion.
  • Virus vectors according to the present invention comprise a chimeric AAV capsid according to the invention and can package an AAV or rAAV genome or any other nucleic acid including viral nucleic acids.
  • the term “vector,” “virus vector,” “delivery vector” may be used to refer to the vector genome (e.g., vDNA) in the absence of the virion and/or to a viral capsid that acts as a transporter to deliver molecules tethered to the capsid or packaged within the capsid.
  • the virus vectors of the invention can further be duplexed parvovirus particles as described in international patent publication WO 01/92551 (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).
  • double stranded (duplex) genomes can be packaged.
  • a “recombinant AAV vector genome” or “rAAV genome” is an AAV genome (i.e., vDNA) that comprises at least one inverted terminal repeat (e.g., one, two or three inverted terminal repeats) and one or more heterologous nucleotide sequences.
  • rAAV vectors generally retain the 145 base terminal repeat(s) (TR(s)) in cis to generate virus; however, modified AAV TRs and non-AAV TRs including partially or completely synthetic sequences can also serve this purpose. All other viral sequences are dispensable and may be supplied in trans (Muzyczka, (1992) Curr. Topics Microbiol. Immunol. 158:97).
  • the rAAV vector optionally comprises two TRs (e.g., AAV TRs), which generally will be at the 5’ and 3’ ends of the heterologous nucleotide sequence(s), but need not be contiguous thereto.
  • the TRs can be the same or different from each other.
  • the vector genome can also contain a single ITR at its 3’ or 5’ end.
  • terminal repeat or “TR” includes any viral terminal repeat or synthetic sequence that forms a hairpin structure and functions as an inverted terminal repeat (ITR) (i.e., mediates the desired functions such as replication, virus packaging, integration and/or provirus rescue, and the like).
  • the TR can be an AAV ITR or a non-AAV TR.
  • a non-AAV TR sequence such as those of other parvoviruses (e.g., canine parvovirus (CPV), mouse parvovirus (MVM), human parvovirus B-19) or the SV40 hairpin that serves as the origin of SV40 replication can be used as a TR, which can further be modified by truncation, substitution, deletion, insertion and/or addition.
  • the TR can be partially or completely synthetic, such as the “double-D sequence” as described in United States Patent No.5,478,745 to Samulski et al. [0106] Parvovirus genomes have palindromic sequences at both their 5’ and 3’ ends.
  • AAV inverted terminal repeat or “AAV ITR” may be from any AAV, including but not limited to serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 or any other AAV now known or later discovered (see, e.g., Table 1).
  • An AAV ITR need not have the native ITR sequence (e.g., a native AAV ITR sequence may be altered by insertion, deletion, truncation and/or missense mutations), as long as the ITR mediates the desired functions, e.g., replication, virus packaging, integration, and/or provirus rescue, and the like.
  • the terms “rAAV particle” and “rAAV virion” are used interchangeably here.
  • a “rAAV particle” or “rAAV virion” comprises a rAAV vector genome packaged within an AAV capsid.
  • the virus vectors of the invention can further be “targeted” virus vectors (e.g., having a directed tropism) and/or a “hybrid” parvovirus (i.e., in which the viral ITRs and viral capsid are from different parvoviruses) as described in international patent publication WO 00/28004 and Chao et al., (2000) Mol. Therapy 2:619.
  • a “hybrid” parvovirus i.e., in which the viral ITRs and viral capsid are from different parvoviruses
  • the viral capsid or genomic elements can contain other modifications, including insertions, deletions and/or substitutions.
  • amino acid encompasses any naturally occurring amino acids, modified forms thereof, and synthetic amino acids, including non-naturally occurring amino acids.
  • L- amino acids Naturally occurring, levorotatory (L-) amino acids are shown in Table 2.
  • Table 2 [0113]
  • the amino acid can be a modified amino acid residue (nonlimiting examples are shown in Table 3) or can be an amino acid that is modified by post-translation modification (e.g., acetylation, amidation, formylation, hydroxylation, methylation, phosphorylation or sulfatation).
  • Table 3 Amino Acid Residue Derivatives
  • the non-naturally occurring amino acid can be an “unnatural” amino acid as described by Wang et al., (2006) Annu. Rev. Biophys. Biomol. Struct. 35:225-49.
  • a conservative amino acid substitution includes substitutions within one or more of the following groups: glycine, alanine; valine, isoleucine, leucine; aspartic acid, glutamic acid; asparagine, glutamine; serine, threonine; lysine, arginine; and/or phenylalanine, tyrosine.
  • template or “substrate” is used herein to refer to a polynucleotide sequence that may be replicated to produce the parvovirus viral DNA.
  • the template will typically be embedded within a larger nucleotide sequence or construct, including but not limited to a plasmid, naked DNA vector, bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC), yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) or a viral vector (e.g., adenovirus, herpesvirus, Epstein-Barr Virus, AAV, baculoviral, retroviral vectors, and the like).
  • BAC bacterial artificial chromosome
  • YAC yeast artificial chromosome
  • viral vector e.g., adenovirus, herpesvirus, Epstein-Barr Virus, AAV, baculoviral, retroviral vectors, and the like.
  • the template may be stably incorporated into the chromosome of a packaging cell.
  • parvovirus or AAV “Rep coding sequences” indicate the nucleic acid sequences that encode the parvoviral or AAV non-structural proteins that mediate viral replication and the production of new virus particles.
  • the parvovirus and AAV replication genes and proteins have been described in, e.g., FIELDS et al., VIROLOGY, volume 2, chapters 69 & 70 (4th ed., Lippincott-Raven Publishers).
  • the “Rep coding sequences” need not encode all of the parvoviral or AAV Rep proteins.
  • the Rep coding sequences do not need to encode all four AAV Rep proteins (Rep78, Rep 68, Rep52 and Rep40), in fact, it is believed that AAV5 only expresses the spliced Rep68 and Rep40 proteins.
  • the Rep coding sequences encode at least those replication proteins that are necessary for viral genome replication and packaging into new virions.
  • the Rep coding sequences will generally encode at least one large Rep protein (i.e., Rep78/68) and one small Rep protein (i.e., Rep52/40).
  • the Rep coding sequences encode the AAV Rep78 protein and the AAV Rep52 and/or Rep40 proteins.
  • the Rep coding sequences encode the Rep68 and the Rep52 and/or Rep40 proteins. In a still further embodiment, the Rep coding sequences encode the Rep68 and Rep52 proteins, Rep68 and Rep40 proteins, Rep78 and Rep52 proteins, or Rep78 and Rep40 proteins.
  • the term “large Rep protein” refers to Rep68 and/or Rep78. Large Rep proteins of the claimed invention may be either wildtype or synthetic. A wildtype large Rep protein may be from any parvovirus or AAV, including but not limited to serotypes 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 13, or any other AAV now known or later discovered (see, e.g., Table 1).
  • a synthetic large Rep protein may be altered by insertion, deletion, truncation and/or missense mutations.
  • the replication proteins be encoded by the same polynucleotide.
  • the NS-1 and NS-2 proteins (which are splice variants) may be expressed independently of one another.
  • the p19 promoter may be inactivated and the large Rep protein(s) expressed from one polynucleotide and the small Rep protein(s) expressed from a different polynucleotide.
  • the viral promoters may not be recognized by the cell, and it is therefore necessary to express the large and small Rep proteins from separate expression cassettes.
  • the parvovirus or AAV “cap coding sequences” encode the structural proteins that form a functional parvovirus or AAV capsid (i.e., can package DNA and infect target cells). Typically, the cap coding sequences will encode all of the parvovirus or AAV capsid subunits, but less than all of the capsid subunits may be encoded as long as a functional capsid is produced. Typically, but not necessarily, the cap coding sequences will be present on a single nucleic acid molecule. [0122] The capsid structure of autonomous parvoviruses and AAV are described in more detail in BERNARD N.
  • substantially retain a property, it is meant that at least about 75%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% of the property (e.g., activity or other measurable characteristic) is retained.
  • One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of inhibiting neutralization of a heterologous agent by neutralizing antibodies upon administration of the heterologous agent to a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, thereby inhibiting neutralization of the heterologous agent.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of expressing a polypeptide or functional nucleic acid in a subject, comprising administering to the subject (a) a nucleic acid delivery vector encoding the polypeptide or functional nucleic acid, and (b) an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, thereby expressing the polypeptide or functional nucleic acid in the subject.
  • a further aspect of the invention relates to a method of editing a gene in a subject, comprising administering to the subject (a) a gene editing complex, and (b) an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, thereby expressing the polypeptide or functional nucleic acid in the subject.
  • a gene editing complex comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, thereby expressing the polypeptide or functional nucleic acid in the subject.
  • heterologous agent refers to an agent that is not naturally found in the subject to which the agent is to be administered. The term also includes recombinant or synthetic versions of agents that are naturally found in the subject.
  • the heterologous agent may be one for which neutralizing antibodies are present in the subject prior to administration of the heterologous agent or one that is likely to raise neutralizing antibodies upon administration to the subject.
  • the heterologous agent may be one that has never been administered to the subject.
  • the heterologous agent may be one that has previously been administered to the subject.
  • neutralizing antibodies refers to antibodies that specifically bind to a heterologous agent and inhibit one or more biological activities of the heterologous agent after it has been administered to a subject.
  • the heterologous agent may be a nucleic acid delivery vector, e.g., a viral vector or a non-viral vector.
  • the viral vector is an oncolytic vector.
  • the viral vector is an adeno-associated virus, retrovirus, lentivirus, poxvirus, alphavirus, baculovirus, vaccinia virus, herpes virus, Epstein-Barr virus, polio virus, or adenovirus vector.
  • the non-viral vector is a plasmid, liposome, electrically charged lipid, nucleic acid-protein complex, or biopolymer.
  • the heterologous agent is a gene editing complex, e.g., a CRISPR complex.
  • the heterologous agent is a protein or nucleic acid.
  • the protein is an enzyme, a regulatory protein, or a structural protein, e.g., one that can substitute for a missing or defective protein in a subject.
  • the nucleic acid is a functional nucleic acid, e.g., an antisense nucleic acid or an inhibitory RNA.
  • the effective amount of protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is an amount that at least partially blocks the inhibition of the heterologous agent by neutralizing antibodies and/or outcompetes self-neutralizing antibodies ability to bind to the heterologous agent.
  • the effective amount of protein M is an amount sufficient to inhibit neutralization by at least about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98, 99%, 99.5%, or 99.9%.
  • the effective amount of protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is an amount sufficient to produce a ratio of protein M to total immunoglobulin in the subject of about 0.5:1 to about 8:1 on a molar basis or any range therein, e.g., about 0.5:1, 1:1, 1.5:1, 2:1, 2.5:1, 3:1, 3.5:1, 4:1, 4.5:1, 5.5:1, 6:1, 6.5:1, 7:1, 7.5:1, or 8:1 or any range therein.
  • the ratio is from about 8:1 to about 50:1.
  • the ratio is about 0.5:1 to about 6:1, about 0.5:1 to about 4:1, about 0.5:1 to about 2.5:1, about 0.5:1 to about 2:1, about 1:1 to about 8:1, about 1.5:1 to about 8:1, or about 2:1 to about 8:1. In one embodiment, the ratio is about 1:1 to about 3:1, e.g., about 2:1.
  • the administration comprises from about 1e9 vg/kg to about 1e14 vg/kg, from about 1e10 vg/kg to about 1e13 vg/kg, or from about 1e11 vg/kg to about 1e12 vg/kg of AAV, from about 1 ⁇ l to about 6 L of serum, and from about 1 mg/kg to about 1000 mg/kg, from about 10 mg/kg to about 900 mg/kg, from about 25 mg/kg to about 800 mg/kg, from about 50 mg/kg to about 600 mg/kg, from about 100 mg/kg to about 500 mg/kg, or from about 200 mg/kg to about 400 mg/kg of Protein M.
  • Total immunoglobulin may be total serum immunoglobulin (e.g., for systemic administration of protein M).
  • Total immunoglobulin may be the total level in a localized fluid or tissue (e.g., for specific delivery to the eye, ear, lung, brain, muscle, joint, etc.).
  • Total immunoglobulin may be measured by any technique known in the art, such as by performing an ELISA on serum using either an antibody that binds the Fc region of immunoglobulins or by using Protein A or G to bind immunoglobulins.
  • mice it is known that their serum contains between 5 mg/ml to 10 mg/ml immunoglobulin. The normal range for serum immunoglobulin in humans is 8-10 mg/ml.
  • the high end of 10 mg/ml can be used to calculate the ratio.
  • Local immunoglobulin content can be estimated based on tissue weight (40 mL of serum per 1 kg weight), or concentration of Ig in specific body fluids and the body fluid volume in that organ if it is less than blood serum (e.g., eye, cerebrospinal fluid).
  • the protein M may be administered to the subject by any schedule found to be effective to block inhibition of the heterologous agent by neutralizing antibodies.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is administered to the subject prior to administration of the heterologous agent, e.g., at least about 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, or 50 minutes or at least about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 18, 24. 48, or 72 hours prior to administration of the heterologous agent.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is administered to the subject concurrently with administration of the heterologous agent.
  • the term “concurrently” means sufficiently close in time to produce a combined effect (that is, concurrently can be simultaneously, or it can be two or more events occurring within a short time period before or after each other).
  • the heterologous agent is combined with the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof prior to administration to the subject, e.g., the two components are mixed together prior to administration in a single composition.
  • the heterologous agent may be combined with the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof at least about 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, or 50 minutes or at least about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 18, or 24 hours prior to administration to the subject.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof and the heterologous agent are administered in separate compositions.
  • the heterologous agent and/or the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof may be necessary to administer the heterologous agent and/or the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof to the subject more than once to provide a therapeutic or otherwise beneficial effect.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof may be administered, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4 or more times.
  • the administrations may be days, weeks, months, or years apart (e.g., from about two days to about 10 years or more).
  • the administration decreases the amount of antibody cycling and the onset of the decrease is from about 1 hour to about 3 hours. In some embodiments, the administration decreases the amount of antibody cycling and the onset of the decrease is from about 5 minutes to about 8 weeks, from about 5 minutes to about 1 hour, from about 1 hour to about 2 days, or from about 2 days to about 8 weeks.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is administered to the subject each time the heterologous agent is administered to the subject, e.g., in the same manner as described above, e.g., before or currently with the heterologous agent.
  • protein M with each administration of the heterologous agent may inhabit the effect of NAb against the heterologous agent which is often an issue upon readministration.
  • the same protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is administered each time.
  • a different protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is administered each time, e.g., a different modified protein M as describe further below.
  • administering may limit the effect of inhibitory antibodies against protein M that may occur with readministration of the same protein. It is also thought that administration of saturating doses of protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof will outcompete any inhibitory antibodies to protein M and prevent antigen recognition. In some embodiments, administrations outcompete self-neutralizing antibodies.
  • An additional aspect of the invention relates to a method of treating an autoimmune disease in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, thereby treating the autoimmune disease.
  • autoimmune disease refers to any disorder associated with an autoimmune reaction. Examples include, without limitation, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, uveitis, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, hemolytic anemias (e.g., warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia), rheumatic fever, Goodpasture's syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome, psoriasis, thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, myasthenia gravis, glomerulonephritis, autoimmune hepatitis, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, antibody-mediated rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, hyper-viscosity syndrome, recurrent focal segmental glomer
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of treating a disorder associated with excess antibodies in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, thereby treating the disorder associated with excess antibodies.
  • disorder associated with excess antibodies refers to any disorder wherein the cause or at least one symptom of the disorder is due to greater than average levels of antibodies in the blood or elsewhere in the body.
  • Examples include, without limitation, multiple myeloma, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, cytokine release syndrome, or acute autoimmune attacks such as severe autoimmune vasculitis with sudden onset.
  • the method may also be useful for an acute blockade of all antibodies to rapidly stop an autoimmune event such as cytokine release syndrome or acute autoimmune attacks such as severe autoimmune vasculitis with sudden onset, or preventing damage to transplant tissue and/or transplant organ caused by antibody mediated immune complex formation.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof may be administered to the subject by any route of administration found to be effective (e.g., local or systemic).
  • any route of administration found to be effective (e.g., local or systemic).
  • the most suitable route will depend on the subject being treated and the disorder or condition being treated.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is administered to the subject by a route selected from oral, rectal, transmucosal, intranasal, inhalation (e.g., via an aerosol), buccal (e.g., sublingual), vaginal, intrathecal, intraocular, intravitreal, intracochlear, transdermal, intraendothelial, in utero (or in ovo), parenteral (e.g., intravenous, subcutaneous, intradermal, intracranial, intramuscular [including administration to skeletal, diaphragm and/or cardiac muscle], intrapleural, intracerebral, and intraarticular), topical (e.g., to both skin and mucosal surfaces, including airway surfaces, and transdermal administration), intralymphatic, and the like, as well as direct tissue or organ injection (e.g., to liver,
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof may be delivered or targeted to any tissue or organ in the subject.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is administered to, e.g., a skeletal muscle, a smooth muscle, the heart, the diaphragm, the airway epithelium, the liver, the kidney, the spleen, the pancreas, the skin, the lung, the ear, and the eye.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is administered to a diseased tissue or organ, e.g., a tumor.
  • the heterologous agent and the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof are administered by the same route.
  • the heterologous agent and the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof are administered by different routes, e.g., the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is administered intravenously and the heterologous agent is administered locally to a target tissue or organ (e.g., diseased tissue or organ).
  • a target tissue or organ e.g., diseased tissue or organ
  • the additional treatment may be any method known in the art and incudes, without limitation, plasmapheresis, administration of an antibody digesting enzyme such as IdeS or IdeZ, administration of an antibody that binds the FcRn receptor, administration of an Fc fragment that binds the FcRn receptor, administration of an immunosuppressant drug (e.g., corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone, budesonide, prednisolone), Janus kinase inhibitors (e.g., tofacitinib), calcineurin inhibitors (e.g., cyclosporine, tacrolimus), mTOR inhibitors (e.g., sirolimus, everolimus), IMDH inhibitors (e.g., azathioprine, leflunomide, mycophenolate), or biologics (e.g., abatacept, adalimumab, anakinra, certolizumab, eta
  • the additional treatment may be administered before, during, and/or after administration of the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof.
  • the ability of protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof to non-specifically bind antibodies advantageously may be used in purification methods. While purification of antibodies often relies on agents that bind to the Fc region of the antibody (such as protein A and protein G), protein M non-specifically binds to the variable region of the antibody.
  • protein M can be used to isolate antibody fragments and antibody derivatives that do not contain an Fc region (such as single chain variable fragments) and other molecules that incorporate an antibody variable region.
  • one aspect of the invention relates to a method of isolating a compound comprising an antibody light chain variable region and/or heavy chain variable region from a sample, the method comprising contacting the compound with the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof of the invention attached to a solid support, then eluting the compound from the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof.
  • the compound comprising an antibody light chain variable region and/or heavy chain variable region is an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the compound comprising an antibody light chain variable region and/or heavy chain variable region is an antibody derivative, an immunoglobulin scaffold, or the like.
  • the modified protein M or a functional fragment thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof of the invention is advantageous over wild-type protein M due to increased thermostability. This allows the protein M to be reusable for multiple purifications and permits the use of elution conditions that would destabilize wild-type protein M. [0149] The method may be carried using techniques well known in the art of affinity purification.
  • the solid support may be any material that is suitable for affinity chromatography or batch purification. Suitable materials include, without limitation, agarose, polyacrylamide, dextran, cellulose, polysaccharide, nitrocellulose, silica, alumina, aluminum oxide, titania, titanium oxide, zirconia, styrene, polyvinyldifluoride nylon, copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene, polymethacrylate ester, derivatized azlactone polymer or copolymer, glass, or cellulose.
  • the solid support is a resin. In some embodiments, the solid support is a bead or particle.
  • the solid support is a surface, e.g., of a plate, vial, or column.
  • the contacting step may be carried out by any suitable method, e.g., by passing a sample comprising the compound over the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof in a column or incubating the composition comprising the compound with the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof in a vessel or the well of a plate.
  • the contacting step may be carried out for a sufficient amount of time to allow the compound to bind to the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof.
  • the compound is eluted from the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof.
  • the elution may be carried out by any method known in the art, e.g., a change in ion concentration, temperature, etc. In one embodiment, the elution is carried out by a change in pH.
  • the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof of the present invention advantageously is stable over a wider range of pH than wild-type protein M. This allows the modified protein M to remain stable at lower pHs that permit elution of the compound.
  • the contacting step is carried out in a binding buffer (e.g., at neutral pH) and the elution is carried out with a low pH buffer (e.g., 0.1 M glycine pH 2-3.5 or 0.1 M acetate pH 3.5-4.5) into a neutralization buffer (e.g., a high-ionic strength alkaline buffer such as 1 M phosphate or 1 M Tris at pH 8-9).
  • a binding buffer e.g., at neutral pH
  • a neutralization buffer e.g., a high-ionic strength alkaline buffer such as 1 M phosphate or 1 M Tris at pH 8-9.
  • a further aspect of the invention relates to the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof attached to a solid support as described above.
  • the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof may be attached to the solid support by any means known in the art, e.g., covalently linked, e.g., using a linker molecule.
  • the ability of protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof to non-specifically bind antibodies advantageously may be used in any immunoassay that involves a step of binding an antibody or fragment or derivative thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof.
  • one aspect of the invention relates to a method of performing an immunoassay, the method comprising using the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof of the invention to bind a compound comprising an antibody light chain variable region and/or heavy chain variable region.
  • the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof can substitute for any generic or specific antibody binding molecule, e.g., protein A, protein G, or a secondary antibody.
  • the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof or a fusion protein comprising an effective amount of mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof may be labeled as is well known in the art, e.g., for radioactive, chemiluminescent, or enzymatic detection.
  • immunoassays include, without limitation, radio-immunoassays (RIA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) assays, enzyme immunoassays (EIA), sandwich assays, gel diffusion precipitation reactions, immunodiffusion assays, agglutination assays, immunofluorescence assays, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) assays, immunohistochemical assays, protein A immunoassays, protein G immunoassays, protein L immunoassays, biotin/avidin assays, biotin/streptavidin assays, immunoelectrophoresis assays, precipitation/flocculation reactions, immunoblots (Western blot; dot/slot blot); immunodiffusion assays; liposome immunoassay, chemiluminescence assays, library screens, expression arrays, immunoprecipitation, competitive binding assays, and immunohistochemical
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof used in the methods of the invention may be from any mycobacterial species that produces a protein M that binds to antibodies.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is from Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, or Mycoplasma penetrans.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof may be any of the protein M sequences described in PCT Publication No. WO 2014/014897 and US Publication No. 2017/0320921, incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is a M.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is a M. pneumoniae protein M (MPN400, SEQ ID NO:23) or a functional fragment or derivative thereof (e.g., the fragment shown in SEQ ID NO:24 or a derivative thereof).
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is a Mycoplasma penetrans protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is a protein M fragment or a derivative of the fragment, e.g., a fragment that does not contain the transmembrane domain and/or does not contain the C-terminus, e.g., a functional fragment comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of about amino acid residues 17-537, 37-556, 37-482, 37-468, 37-442, 74-468, 74-479, 74-482, 74-468, 74-442, or 74-556 of M.
  • genitalium protein M SEQ ID NO:1 or the equivalent residues from another protein M.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, which is a soluble form of protein M (amino acid residues 37-556 of SEQ ID NO:1) with an N-terminal 6-His tag followed by a thrombin cleavage site.
  • the term “derivative” is used to refer to a polypeptide which differs from a naturally occurring Protein M or Protein M functional fragment by minor modifications to the naturally occurring polypeptide, but which significantly retains a biological activity of Protein M.
  • Minor modifications include, without limitation, changes in one or a few amino acid side chains, changes to one or a few amino acids (including deletions, insertions, and/or substitutions), changes in stereochemistry of one or a few atoms (e.g., D-amino acids), and minor derivatizations, including, without limitation, methylation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, acetylation, myristoylation, prenylation, palmitation, amidation, and addition of glycosylphosphatidyl inositol.
  • substantially retains refers to a fragment, derivative, or other variant of a polypeptide that retains at least about 20% of the activity of the naturally occurring polypeptide (e.g., antibody binding), e.g., about 30%, 40%, 50% or more.
  • the derivative of Protein M or Protein M functional fragment contains mutations (deletions, insertions, and/or substitutions in any combination) of 20 or fewer amino acid residues, e.g., 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2 or fewer mutations.
  • the protein M derivative comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, or 99.9% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, or SEQ ID NO:3 of M. pneumoniae protein M or the wild-type sequence of another mycoplasma Protein M or a functional fragment thereof.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof can be modified for in vivo use by the addition, at the amino- and/or carboxyl-terminal ends, of a blocking agent to facilitate survival of the relevant polypeptide in vivo.
  • blocking agents can include, without limitation, additional related or unrelated peptide sequences that can be attached to the amino and/or carboxyl terminal residues of the protein to be administered. This can be done either chemically during the synthesis of the protein or by recombinant DNA technology by methods familiar to artisans of average skill. Alternatively, blocking agents such as pyroglutamic acid or other molecules known in the art can be attached to the amino and/or carboxyl terminal residues, or the amino group at the amino terminus or carboxyl group at the carboxyl terminus can be replaced with a different moiety.
  • the proteins can be covalently or noncovalently coupled to pharmaceutically acceptable “carrier” proteins prior to administration.
  • the protein M derivative is a modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof comprising mutations that increase or at least maintain the thermostability of protein M. These modified protein M derivatives have increased suitability for use in in vivo methods and other methods that require elevated temperatures (e.g., about 37 °C) where wild-type protein M may denature.
  • the protein M derivative is a modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof, having one or more amino acid mutations that increase or maintain thermostability of the mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof relative to wild-type mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof.
  • the modified protein M or a functional fragment thereof has an increased melting temperature (Tm) that is at least 0.5 °C than the Tm of wild-type protein M or a functional fragment thereof, e.g., 0.5 °C, 1.0 °C, 1.5 °C, 2.0 °C, 2.5 °C, 3.0 °C, 3.5 °C, 4.0 °C, 4.5 °C, 5.0 °C, 5.5 °C, 6.0 °C, 6.5 °C, 7.0 °C, 7.5 °C, 8.0 °C, 8.5 °C, 9.0 °C, 9.5 °C, 10.0 °C, 11.0 °C, 12.0 °C, 13.0 °C, 14.0 °C, 15.0 °C, 16.0 °C, 17.0 °C, 18.0 °C, 19.0 °C, 20.0 °C, 25.0 °C, 30.0 °C or more higher.
  • Tm melting temperature
  • the modified protein M or a functional fragment thereof has a Tm that is maintained (i.e., is within 0.5 °C) relative to the Tm of wild-type protein M or a functional fragment thereof.
  • the Tm may be measured by differential scanning fluoroscopy or any other suitable technique.
  • the Tm of wild type Mycoplasma genitalium protein M is about 41.9 °C and the Tm of wild type Mycoplasma pneumoniae protein M is about 44.1 °C.
  • the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof may have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 or more mutations.
  • the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof may have 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or fewer mutations. [0164] In some embodiments, the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof is derived from protein M of Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, or Mycoplasma penetrans.
  • the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof is a fragment from about residue 74 (e.g., residue 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79) to about residue 479 (e.g., residue 474, 475, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 484) of M. genitalium protein M (SEQ ID NO:3) or the equivalent residues of M. pneumoniae protein M (SEQ ID NO:24).
  • the one or more mutations are located in portions of protein M that are known to effect thermostability.
  • the one or more mutations are not located in proteins of protein M that are known to have other roles in the biological activity of protein M. In one embodiment, the one or more mutations are not at a residue within 5 ⁇ of the antibody-binding site of protein M (i.e., residues 95, 99, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 114, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 158, 160, 161, 162, 163, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 186, 187, 188, 191, 321, 338, 340, 341, 345, 381, 384, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 426, 427, 429, 436, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 444, 445, 446, 447, 448, 449, 452, 453, 455, 456, 457, 462,
  • the one or more mutations are not at a residue within 5 ⁇ of the antibody-binding site of protein M (i.e., residues 100, 104, 107, 108, 110, 111, 112, 114, 115, 119, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 149, 163, 165, 166, 167, 168, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 192, 193, 196, 337, 338, 354, 356, 357, 399, 402, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 442, 443, 445, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 468, 469, 472, 473, 478) of M.
  • the one or more mutations is not at any of residues 469-479 of M. genitalium protein M (SEQ ID NO:1) or the equivalent residues of M. pneumoniae protein M (SEQ ID NO:23).
  • the present inventors have used computational analysis to identify residues in protein M that are predicted to increase or maintain the Tm of the protein when mutated.
  • the one or mutations are at residue 78, 81, 83, 84, 85, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 96, 97, 100, 101, 108, 111, 112, 113, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127, 128, 130, 131, 133, 134, 136, 137, 139, 141, 142, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 153, 154, 155, 156, 164, 167, 170, 175, 176, 184, 185, 189, 192, 193, 196, 198, 201, 202, 204, 205, 206, 207, 209, 211, 215, 218, 220, 224, 225, 226, 227, 231, 232, 234, 235, 236, 237, 239, 241, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 252, 253, 254,
  • the one or mutations is a mutation listed in Table 4 or any combination thereof.
  • the one or mutations are at residue 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 109, 113, 116, 117, 118, 120, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 164, 169, 170
  • one or mutations are at residue 83, 90, 92, 94, 137, 142, 147, 150, 156, 184, 196, 198, 205, 211, 215, 225, 231, 232, 234, 235, 236, 237, 239, 243, 245, 250, 255, 256, 259, 264, 272, 274, 275, 276, 279, 282, 297, 300, 302, 310, 320, 326, 331, 332, 335, 342, 343, 347, 348, 355, 357, 361, 371, 374, 378, 385, 401, 402, 409, 413, 424, 460, 463, 464, 468, or any combination thereof of M.
  • the one or mutations is a mutation listed in Table 5 or any combination thereof.
  • the present inventors have prepared and tested numerous mutations from the predicted residue lists alone or in combination with a high success rate of increased thermostability (stabilizing mutations) or at least maintained thermostability (neutral mutations). See FIG.23, which shows that 79% of point mutations tested were stabilizing or neutral. The data further show that combining point mutations that increase Tm tends to produce modified protein M having even higher Tms (see FIG.15A).
  • the one or more mutations are at a residue that has been demonstrated to increase Tm either alone or in combination with other mutations, e.g., wherein the one or mutations are at residue 150, 196, 198, 201, 205, 224, 232, 237, 274, 282, 342, 355, 373, 400, 402, 407, 409, 413, 135, or any combination thereof of M. genitalium protein M (SEQ ID NO:1) or the equivalent residues of M. pneumoniae protein M (SEQ ID NO:23).
  • the one or more mutations are at residues selected from the following residues or combinations of residues: a) 237 (MG1); b) 232 (MG8); c) 282 (MG13); d) 150, 196, 198, 400, 402, 407, 409 (MG15); e) 413, 435 (MG21); f) 373, 400 (MG22); g) 402, 407, 409, 413 (MG23); h) 342 (MG24); i) 150, 196, 198, 232, 237, 282, 342, 373, 400, 402, 407, 409, 413, 435 (MG27); j) 274 (MG28); k) 150, 196, 198, 232, 237, 342, 400, 402, 407, 409 (MG29); l) 373, 413, 435 (MG31) m) 205 (MG33); n) 355 (MG38, MG40); o)
  • the one or mutations are selected from: a) F237T (MG1); b) S232Q (MG8); c) Q282D (MG13); d) S150E, S196R, S198P, V400I, N402I, K407P, S409V (MG15); e) L413I, T435I (MG21); f) V373I, V400I (MG22); g) N402L, K407P, S409V, L413I (MG23); h) A342V (MG24); i) S150E, S196R, S198P, S232Q, F237T, Q282D, A342V, V373I, V400I, N402I, K407P, S409V, L413I, T435I
  • the one or more mutations are at a residue that has been demonstrated to maintain Tm either alone or in combination with other mutations, e.g., wherein the one or mutations are at residue 147, 150, 156, 225, 232, 245, 272, 276, 277, 279, 300, 310, 355, 378, 468, or any combination thereof of M. genitalium protein M (SEQ ID NO:1) or the equivalent residues of M. pneumoniae protein M (SEQ ID NO:23).
  • the one or more mutations are at residues selected from the following residues or combinations of residues: a) 468 (MG2); b) 150 (MG4); c) 147 (MG5); d) 272 (MG10); e) 355 (MG12); f) 276,277,279 (MG17); g) 300 (MG18); h) 378 (MG20); i) 156 (MG32); j) 232 (MG34); k) 245 (MG35); l) 276 (MG36) m) 225 (MG41); or n) 310 (MG42) of M. genitalium protein M (SEQ ID NO:1) or the equivalent residues of M.
  • the one or mutations are selected from: a) R468Q (MG2); b) S150E (MG4); c) H147F (MG5); d) S272G (MG10); e) T355G (MG12); f) S276E,Q277L,N279R (MG17); g) N300Q (MG18); h) N378Y (MG20); i) S156K (MG32); j) S232L (MG34); k) A245Q (MG35); l) S276D (MG36) m) K225P (MG41); or n) V310E (MG42) of M.
  • the one or mutations are selected from: a) A77E; b) K125R; c) V165Q; d) H170T; or e) A280V of M. pneumoniae protein M (SEQ ID NO:23).
  • the one or mutations are selected from: a) 159; b) 182; c) 102; d) 161; e) 86; f) 101; g) 147; h) 236; i) 348; j) 424; k) 147; l) 321; m) 389; n) 442; o) 119; p) 179; q) 186; or r) 103 of M. genitalium protein M (SEQ ID NO:1) or the equivalent residues of M. pneumoniae protein M (SEQ ID NO:23) or any combination thereof.
  • the one or mutations are selected from: a) Q159C and A182C; b) A102C and T161C; or c) I86C and F101C of M. genitalium protein M (SEQ ID NO:1) or the equivalent residues of M. pneumoniae protein M (SEQ ID NO:23) or any combination thereof, wherein the modified residues in a), b), or c) are capable of forming a di-sulfide bond between the modified residues.
  • the one or mutations are selected from: a) H147Y; b) H236Y; c) H348Y; d) H424Y; or e) H147Q of M.
  • the one or mutations are selected from: a) N321H; b) Y389H; c) N442H; d) P119H; e) T179H; f) G186H; or g) N103H of M. genitalium protein M (SEQ ID NO:1) or the equivalent residues of M.
  • the one or mutations are at residues 155, 203, 243, 248, and 358 of M. pneumoniae protein M (SEQ ID NO:23).
  • the one or mutations are A155E, K203R, H243T, V248Q, and A358V of M. pneumoniae protein M (SEQ ID NO:23).
  • the mutation is at residue 338 of M. genitalium protein M (SEQ ID NO:1) (e.g., Y388N).
  • the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof may contain additional modifications beyond mutations in the amino acid sequence.
  • one or more glycosylation sites in the protein M sequence are removed, e.g., 1, 2, or 3 glycosylation sites.
  • Three N-glycosylation sites are predicted in M. genitalium protein M based on both sequence and structural analysis with the NGlycPred server. These include N177, N213, and N274.
  • Two O-glycosylation sites are predicted in M. genitalium protein M based on structural analysis with the NetOGlyc 4.0 server. These include T110 and T206.
  • Suitable mutations include, without limitation, N177D, T215Y, N274D, S112I, and T206Y in any combination.
  • one or more glycosylation sites are added to the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof. Changes in glycosylation patterns may add to the thermostability of the protein and/or alter the immunogenicity of the protein by blocking antibody recognition.
  • the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment may comprise a secretion peptide, e.g., at the N-terminus, so that the expressed protein may be secreted from the cell in which it is expressed and collected from the culture medium.
  • Suitable secretion peptides include, without limitation, those from human serum albumin, interleukin-2, CD5, immunoglobulin Kappa light chain, trypsinogen, or prolactin for mammalian cells and Sec or Tat for bacterial cells.
  • the secretion peptide may or may not be removed from the protein M before it is used in the methods of the invention.
  • the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment may comprise one or more additional mutations that alter one or more biological functions or physical characteristics of the protein.
  • the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment may comprise one or more additional mutations that alter the affinity of the protein for antibodies.
  • the present inventors have used computational analysis to identify residues in protein M that are predicted to increase the affinity of the protein for antibodies when mutated.
  • the one or mutations are at residue 95, 102, 103, 106, 107, 114, 116, 160, 161, 162, 163, 181, 186, 321, 381, 384, 389, 390, 391, 396, 397, 426, 429, 436, 438, 439, 441, 442, 447, 448, 449, 452, 453, 455, 456, 462, or 466, or any combination thereof of M. genitalium protein M (SEQ ID NO:1) or the equivalent residues of M. pneumoniae protein M (SEQ ID NO:23).
  • the one or mutations is a mutation listed in Table 6 or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the one or mutations are at residue 100, 104, 107, 108, 110, 111, 112, 114, 115, 119, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 149, 163, 165, 166, 167, 168, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 192, 193, 196, 337, 338, 354, 356, 357, 399, 402, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 442, 443, 445, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 468, 469, 472, 473, 478, or any combination thereof of M.
  • the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment may comprise one or more additional mutations that alter the affinity of the protein for antibodies by modifying the pH sensitivity of the protein.
  • the present inventors have used computational analysis to identify residues in protein M that are predicted to increase the affinity for antibodies by modifying pH sensitivity when mutated. These mutants may be particularly useful for antibody isolation due to the ability to use change in pH for elution.
  • the one or mutations are at residue 95, 103, 116, 186, 321, 389, 429, 442, or 466, or any combination thereof of M. genitalium protein M (SEQ ID NO:1) or the equivalent residues of M.
  • the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment may comprise one or more additional mutations that reduce or eliminate affinity for antibodies. Examples include, without limitation, mutations at residues 390 and 444, e.g., 390E and Y444K of M. genitalium protein M (SEQ ID NO:1) or the equivalent residues of M. pneumoniae protein M (SEQ ID NO:23). [0189] In some embodiments, the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment may comprise a deletion from about residue 185 to about residue 342 of M.
  • a fusion protein comprises a modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof, a linker, and a peptide.
  • the fusion protein has a modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof with one or more mutations that enhance the affinity or avidity of the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof to antibodies.
  • the peptide is a dimerizing peptide (e.g., IL-GCN4, C-IL-GCN4).
  • the peptide is a Fab binding polypeptide or an Fc binding polypeptide.
  • the Fab binding polypeptide is Protein L, protein A, or protein G.
  • the Fab binding polypeptide binds to the Fc portion of immunoglobulins and/or decreases Fc receptor recycling of the immunoglobulins and/or increases binding of the fusion protein to immunoglobulins.
  • the peptide comprises a dimerizing peptide and Protein L.
  • the fusion protein starting from the N-terminus, comprises in order a dimerizing peptide, a first linker, Protein L, a second linker, and a modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof.
  • the peptide is a Fc binding polypeptide, which can be a Fc receptor polypeptide.
  • the peptide comprises a Fc binding polypeptide and Protein L.
  • the fusion protein, starting from the N-terminus comprises in order a Fc binding polypeptide, a first linker, Protein L, a second linker, and the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof.
  • the peptide is a Fc domain, which may include complement binding residues for binding to a Fc receptor polypeptide and/or one or more mutations of complement binding residues for binding to a Fc receptor polypeptide.
  • the peptide is a Fc receptor protein and the fusion protein decreases the cellular uptake of antibodies, decreases antibody recycling and causes immunoglobulin depletion by decreasing antibody recycling, and/or increases affinity of the fusion protein for immunoglobulins.
  • the fusion protein comprises two or more modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof.
  • the fusion protein comprises half-life extension moieties, such as human albumin or addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG), protein modifications such as acylation, methylation, phosphorylation, sulfation, farnesylation, ubiquitination, site-selective conjugation, glycosylation, introduction of PTMs, PEGylation, ligation, polymerization of protein-based initiators, or any modifications that may alter binding, affinity, binding targets, or any combination thereof.
  • PEG polyethylene glycol
  • protein modifications such as acylation, methylation, phosphorylation, sulfation, farnesylation, ubiquitination, site-selective conjugation, glycosylation, introduction of PTMs, PEGylation, ligation, polymerization of protein-based initiators, or any modifications that may alter binding, affinity, binding targets, or any combination thereof.
  • the protein M proteins according to the invention are produced and characterized by methods well known in the art and as described herein, such as recomb
  • An additional aspect of the invention provides an isolated polynucleotide encoding the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof of this invention and an expression cassette for producing the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof.
  • the polynucleotide may be operably linked to regulatory elements to aid in expression of the protein.
  • the polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter.
  • the promoter may be a bacterial promoter (e.g., operable in E. coli) or a mammalian promoter (e.g., a human promoter).
  • the polynucleotide may be codon optimized to enhance expression of the protein in a host cell.
  • the polynucleotide is codon optimized for expression in bacteria, such as E. coli.
  • the polynucleotide is codon optimized for expression in a mammalian cell, such as a human cell.
  • a mammalian cell such as a human cell.
  • One example is the sequence of SEQ ID NO:26, which is a codon optimized for expression in human cells, or a sequence at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 99.5% identical thereto.
  • the polynucleotide is codon optimized for expression in both bacteria, such as E. coli, and a mammalian cell, such as a human cell.
  • Another aspect of the invention is a vector, e.g., an expression vector, comprising the polynucleotide of the invention.
  • the vector may be any type of vector known in the art, including, without limitation, plasmid vectors and viral vectors.
  • the vector may be, for example, a bacterial vector (e.g., an E. coli vector) or a mammalian cell vector (e.g., a human cell vector).
  • a further aspect of the invention relates to a cell comprising the polynucleotide and/or vector of the invention (e.g., an isolated cell, a transformed cell, a recombinant cell, etc.).
  • a cell comprising the polynucleotide and/or vector of the invention (e.g., an isolated cell, a transformed cell, a recombinant cell, etc.).
  • various embodiments of the invention are directed to recombinant host cells containing the vector (e.g., expression cassette).
  • a cell can be an isolated cell.
  • the polynucleotide is stably incorporated into the genome of the cell.
  • the cell may be a bacterial cell, such as E. coli, or a mammalian cell, such as a human cell.
  • a further aspect of the invention relates to a kit comprising the modified mycoplasma protein M or a functional fragment thereof, polynucleotide, vector, and/or transformed cell of the invention.
  • the kit may include additional reagents for carrying out one of the methods described herein.
  • the reagents may be included in suitable packages or containers. Additional reagents include, without limitation, buffers, labels, enzymes, detection reagents, etc.
  • kits may also be supplied with instructional materials.
  • the heterologous agent may be one for which neutralizing antibodies are present in the subject prior to administration of the heterologous agent or one that is likely to raise neutralizing antibodies upon administration to the subject.
  • the heterologous agent may be a nucleic acid delivery vector (e.g., a viral vector or a non-viral vector), a gene editing complex (e.g., a CRISPR complex), a protein, or a nucleic acid.
  • a nucleic acid delivery vector e.g., a viral vector or a non-viral vector
  • a gene editing complex e.g., a CRISPR complex
  • Nucleic acids of interest include nucleic acids encoding polypeptides, including therapeutic (e.g., for medical or veterinary uses), immunogenic (e.g., for vaccines), or diagnostic polypeptides.
  • Therapeutic polypeptides include, but are not limited to, cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator protein (CFTR), dystrophin (including mini- and micro-dystrophins (see, e.g., Vincent et al., (1993) Nature Genetics 5:130; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/017131; International publication WO/2008/088895, Wang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
  • CTR cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator protein
  • dystrophin including mini- and micro-dystrophins
  • myostatin propeptide myostatin propeptide
  • follistatin activin type II soluble receptor
  • IGF-1 anti-inflammatory polypeptides
  • anti-inflammatory polypeptides such as the Ikappa B dominant mutant, sarcospan, utrophin (Tinsley et al., (1996) Nature 384:349), mini-utrophin, clotting factors (e.g., Factor VIII, Factor IX, Factor X, etc.), erythropoietin, angiostatin, endostatin, catalase, tyrosine hydroxylase, superoxide dismutase, leptin, the LDL receptor, lipoprotein lipase, ornithine transcarbamylase, ⁇ -globin, ⁇ -globin, spectrin, ⁇ 1 -antitrypsin, adenosine deaminase,
  • heterologous nucleic acid sequences encode suicide gene products (e.g., thymidine kinase, cytosine deaminase, diphtheria toxin, and tumor necrosis factor), proteins conferring resistance to a drug used in cancer therapy, tumor suppressor gene products (e.g., p53, Rb, Wt-1), TRAIL, FAS-ligand, and any other polypeptide that has a therapeutic effect in a subject in need thereof.
  • suicide gene products e.g., thymidine kinase, cytosine deaminase, diphtheria toxin, and tumor necrosis factor
  • proteins conferring resistance to a drug used in cancer therapy e.g., tumor suppressor gene products (e.g., p53, Rb, Wt-1), TRAIL, FAS-ligand, and any other polypeptide that has a therapeutic effect in a subject in need thereof.
  • tumor suppressor gene products e.g.,
  • Parvovirus vectors can also be used to deliver monoclonal antibodies and antibody fragments, for example, an antibody or antibody fragment directed against myostatin (see, e.g., Fang et al., Nature Biotechnol.23:584-590 (2005)).
  • Nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides include those encoding reporter polypeptides (e.g., an enzyme). Reporter polypeptides are known in the art and include, but are not limited to, Green Fluorescent Protein, ⁇ -galactosidase, alkaline phosphatase, luciferase, and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene.
  • the nucleic acid may encode a functional nucleic acid, i.e., nucleic acid that functions without getting translated into a protein, e.g., an antisense nucleic acid, a ribozyme (e.g., as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,877,022), RNAs that effect spliceosome-mediated trans-splicing (see, Puttaraju et al., (1999) Nature Biotech. 17:246; U.S. Patent No. 6,013,487; U.S. Patent No.
  • a functional nucleic acid i.e., nucleic acid that functions without getting translated into a protein
  • an antisense nucleic acid e.g., a ribozyme (e.g., as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,877,022)
  • RNAs that effect spliceosome-mediated trans-splicing see, Puttaraju et al., (1999) Nature Biotech. 17
  • RNAi interfering RNAs
  • siRNA siRNA
  • shRNA or miRNA that mediate gene silencing
  • other non-translated RNAs such as “guide” RNAs (Gorman et al., (1998) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 95:4929; U.S. Patent No. 5,869,248 to Yuan et al.), and the like.
  • RNAi against a multiple drug resistance (MDR) gene product e.g., to treat and/or prevent tumors and/or for administration to the heart to prevent damage by chemotherapy
  • MDR multiple drug resistance
  • myostatin e.g., for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
  • VEGF e.g., to treat and/or prevent tumors
  • RNAi against phospholamban e.g., to treat cardiovascular disease, see, e.g., Andino et al., J. Gene Med. 10:132-142 (2008) and Li et al., Acta Pharmacol Sin.
  • phospholamban inhibitory or dominant-negative molecules such as phospholamban S16E (e.g., to treat cardiovascular disease, see, e.g., Hoshijima et al. Nat. Med. 8:864-871 (2002)), RNAi to adenosine kinase (e.g., for epilepsy), RNAi to a sarcoglycan [e.g., ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ ], RNAi against myostatin, myostatin propeptide, follistatin, or activin type II soluble receptor, RNAi against anti-inflammatory polypeptides such as the Ikappa B dominant mutant, and RNAi directed against pathogenic organisms and viruses (e.g., hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus, CMV, herpes simplex virus, human papilloma virus, etc.).
  • pathogenic organisms and viruses e.g., hepatitis B virus, human immunodefic
  • the nucleic acid may encode protein phosphatase inhibitor I (I-1), serca2a, zinc finger proteins that regulate the phospholamban gene, Barkct, ⁇ 2-adrenergic receptor, ⁇ 2-adrenergic receptor kinase (BARK), phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3 kinase), a molecule that effects G-protein coupled receptor kinase type 2 knockdown such as a truncated constitutively active bARKct; calsarcin, RNAi against phospholamban; phospholamban inhibitory or dominant-negative molecules such as phospholamban S16E, enos, inos, or bone morphogenic proteins (including BNP 2, 7, etc., RANKL and/or VEGF).
  • I-1 protein phosphatase inhibitor I
  • serca2a zinc finger proteins that regulate the phospholamban gene
  • Barkct ⁇ 2-adrenergic receptor
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors may also comprise a nucleic acid that shares homology with and recombines with a locus on a host chromosome. This approach can be utilized, for example, to correct a genetic defect in the host cell.
  • the present invention also provides nucleic acid delivery vectors that express an immunogenic polypeptide, e.g., for vaccination.
  • the nucleic acid may encode any immunogen of interest known in the art including, but not limited to, immunogens from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), influenza virus, HIV or SIV gag proteins, tumor antigens, cancer antigens, bacterial antigens, viral antigens, and the like.
  • parvoviruses as vaccine vectors is known in the art (see, e.g., Miyamura et al., (1994) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci USA 91:8507; U.S. Patent No. 5,916,563 to Young et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,905,040 to Mazzara et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,882,652, U.S. Patent No. 5,863,541 to Samulski et al.).
  • the antigen may be presented in the parvovirus capsid. Alternatively, the antigen may be expressed from a nucleic acid introduced into a recombinant vector genome.
  • An immunogenic polypeptide can be any polypeptide suitable for eliciting an immune response and/or protecting the subject against an infection and/or disease, including, but not limited to, microbial, bacterial, protozoal, parasitic, fungal and/or viral infections and diseases.
  • the immunogenic polypeptide can be an orthomyxovirus immunogen (e.g., an influenza virus immunogen, such as the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) surface protein or the influenza virus nucleoprotein, or an equine influenza virus immunogen) or a lentivirus immunogen (e.g., an equine infectious anemia virus immunogen, a Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) immunogen, or a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) immunogen, such as the HIV or SIV envelope GP160 protein, the HIV or SIV matrix/capsid proteins, and the HIV or SIV gag, pol and env genes products).
  • an influenza virus immunogen such as the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) surface protein or the influenza virus nucleoprotein, or an equine influenza virus immunogen
  • a lentivirus immunogen e.g., an equine infectious anemia virus immunogen, a Simian Immunodefic
  • the immunogenic polypeptide can also be an arenavirus immunogen (e.g., Lassa fever virus immunogen, such as the Lassa fever virus nucleocapsid protein and the Lassa fever envelope glycoprotein), a poxvirus immunogen (e.g., a vaccinia virus immunogen, such as the vaccinia L1 or L8 gene products), a flavivirus immunogen (e.g., a yellow fever virus immunogen or a Japanese encephalitis virus immunogen), a filovirus immunogen (e.g., an Ebola virus immunogen, or a Marburg virus immunogen, such as NP and GP gene products), a bunyavirus immunogen (e.g., RVFV, CCHF, and/or SFS virus immunogens), or a coronavirus immunogen (e.g., an infectious human coronavirus immunogen, such as the human coronavirus envelope glycoprotein, or a porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus immunogen, or an avian
  • the immunogenic polypeptide can further be a polio immunogen, a herpes immunogen (e.g., CMV, EBV, HSV immunogens) a mumps immunogen, a measles immunogen, a rubella immunogen, a diphtheria toxin or other diphtheria immunogen, a pertussis antigen, a hepatitis (e.g., hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, etc.) immunogen, and/or any other vaccine immunogen now known in the art or later identified as an immunogen.
  • the immunogenic polypeptide can be any tumor or cancer cell antigen.
  • the tumor or cancer antigen is expressed on the surface of the cancer cell.
  • Exemplary cancer and tumor cell antigens are described in S.A. Rosenberg (Immunity 10:281 (1991)).
  • Other illustrative cancer and tumor antigens include, but are not limited to: BRCA1 gene product, BRCA2 gene product, gp100, tyrosinase, GAGE-1/2, BAGE, RAGE, LAGE, NY-ESO-1, CDK-4, ⁇ -catenin, MUM-1, Caspase-8, KIAA0205, HPVE, SART-1, PRAME, p15, melanoma tumor antigens (Kawakami et al., (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
  • telomerases telomerases
  • nuclear matrix proteins prostatic acid phosphatase
  • papilloma virus antigens and/or antigens now known or later discovered to be associated with the following cancers: melanoma, adenocarcinoma, thymoma, lymphoma (e.g., non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma), sarcoma, lung cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, leukemia, uterine cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, brain cancer and any other cancer or malignant condition now known or later identified (see, e.g., Rosenberg, (1996) Ann.
  • Rosenberg Rosenberg
  • the nucleic acid(s) of interest can be operably associated with appropriate control sequences.
  • the heterologous nucleic acid can be operably associated with expression control elements, such as transcription/translation control signals, origins of replication, polyadenylation signals, internal ribosome entry sites (IRES), promoters, and/or enhancers, and the like.
  • expression control elements such as transcription/translation control signals, origins of replication, polyadenylation signals, internal ribosome entry sites (IRES), promoters, and/or enhancers, and the like.
  • the promoter/enhancer can be native or foreign and can be a natural or a synthetic sequence. By foreign, it is intended that the transcriptional initiation region is not found in the wild-type host into which the transcriptional initiation region is introduced.
  • the promoter/enhancer elements can be native to the target cell or subject to be treated.
  • the promoters/enhancer element can be native to the nucleic acid sequence.
  • the promoter/enhancer element is generally chosen so that it functions in the target cell(s) of interest. Further, in particular embodiments the promoter/enhancer element is a mammalian promoter/enhancer element.
  • the promoter/enhancer element may be constitutive or inducible.
  • Inducible expression control elements are typically advantageous in those applications in which it is desirable to provide regulation over expression of the nucleic acid sequence(s).
  • Inducible promoters/enhancer elements for gene delivery can be tissue-specific or –preferred promoter/enhancer elements, and include muscle specific or preferred (including cardiac, skeletal and/or smooth muscle specific or preferred), neural tissue specific or preferred (including brain-specific or preferred), eye specific or preferred (including retina-specific and cornea-specific), liver specific or preferred, bone marrow specific or preferred, pancreatic specific or preferred, spleen specific or preferred, and lung specific or preferred promoter/enhancer elements.
  • Other inducible promoter/enhancer elements include hormone- inducible and metal-inducible elements.
  • Exemplary inducible promoters/enhancer elements include, but are not limited to, a Tet on/off element, a RU486-inducible promoter, an ecdysone- inducible promoter, a rapamycin-inducible promoter, and a metallothionein promoter.
  • specific initiation signals are generally included for efficient translation of inserted protein coding sequences.
  • exogenous translational control sequences which may include the ATG initiation codon and adjacent sequences, can be of a variety of origins, both natural and synthetic.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors provide a means for delivering nucleic acids into a broad range of cells, including dividing and non-dividing cells.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors can be employed to deliver a nucleic acid of interest to a cell in vitro, e.g., for ex vivo gene therapy.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors are additionally useful in a method of delivering a nucleic acid to a subject in need thereof, e.g., to express an immunogenic or therapeutic polypeptide or a functional RNA. In this manner, the polypeptide or functional RNA can be produced in vivo in the subject.
  • the subject can be in need of the polypeptide because the subject has a deficiency of the polypeptide.
  • the method can be practiced because the production of the polypeptide or functional RNA in the subject may impart some beneficial effect.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors can also be used to produce a polypeptide of interest or functional RNA in a subject (e.g., using the subject as a bioreactor to produce the polypeptide or to observe the effects of the functional nucleic acid on the subject, for example, in connection with screening methods).
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors of the present invention can be employed to deliver a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide or functional nucleic acid to treat and/or prevent any disease state for which it is beneficial to deliver a therapeutic polypeptide or functional nucleic acid.
  • Illustrative disease states include, but are not limited to: cystic fibrosis (cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator protein) and other diseases of the lung, hemophilia A (Factor VIII), hemophilia B (Factor IX), thalassemia (ß-globin), anemia (erythropoietin) and other blood disorders, Alzheimer’s disease (GDF; neprilysin), multiple sclerosis (ß-interferon), Parkinson’s disease (glial-cell line derived neurotrophic factor [GDNF]), Huntington’s disease (RNAi to remove repeats), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, epilepsy (galanin, neurotrophic factors), and other neurological disorders, cancer (endostatin, angiostatin, TRAIL, FAS-ligand, cytokines including interferons; RNAi including RNAi against VEGF or the multiple drug resistance gene product), diabetes mellitus (insulin), muscular dystrophies including Duchenne (
  • the invention can further be used prior to and/or following organ transplantation to increase the success of the transplant and/or to reduce the negative side effects of organ transplantation or adjunct therapies (e.g., by administering immunosuppressant agents or inhibitory nucleic acids to block cytokine production).
  • organ transplantation or adjunct therapies e.g., by administering immunosuppressant agents or inhibitory nucleic acids to block cytokine production.
  • bone morphogenic proteins including BNP 2, 7, etc., RANKL and/or VEGF
  • Gene transfer has substantial potential use for understanding and providing therapy for disease states. There are a number of inherited diseases in which defective genes are known and have been cloned.
  • deficiency states usually of enzymes, which are generally inherited in a recessive manner
  • unbalanced states which may involve regulatory or structural proteins, and which are typically inherited in a dominant manner.
  • gene transfer can be used to bring a normal gene into affected tissues for replacement therapy, as well as to create animal models for the disease using antisense mutations.
  • gene transfer can be used to create a disease state in a model system, which can then be used in efforts to counteract the disease state.
  • nucleic acid delivery vectors permit the treatment and/or prevention of genetic diseases.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors may also be employed to provide a functional nucleic acid to a cell in vitro or in vivo. Expression of the functional nucleic acid in the cell, for example, can diminish expression of a particular target protein by the cell. Accordingly, functional nucleic acid can be administered to decrease expression of a particular protein in a subject in need thereof.
  • Nucleic acid delivery vectors find use in diagnostic and screening methods, whereby a nucleic acid of interest is transiently or stably expressed in a transgenic animal model.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors can also be used for various non-therapeutic purposes, including but not limited to use in protocols to assess gene targeting, clearance, transcription, translation, etc., as would be apparent to one skilled in the art.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors can also be used for the purpose of evaluating safety (spread, toxicity, immunogenicity, etc.). Such data, for example, are considered by the United States Food and Drug Administration as part of the regulatory approval process prior to evaluation of clinical efficacy.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors of the present invention may be used to produce an immune response in a subject.
  • a nucleic acid delivery vectors comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an immunogenic polypeptide can be administered to a subject, and an active immune response is mounted by the subject against the immunogenic polypeptide. Immunogenic polypeptides are as described hereinabove. In some embodiments, a protective immune response is elicited.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors may be administered to a cell ex vivo and the altered cell is administered to the subject. The nucleic acid delivery vectors comprising the nucleic acid is introduced into the cell, and the cell is administered to the subject, where the nucleic acid encoding the immunogen can be expressed and induce an immune response in the subject against the immunogen.
  • the cell is an antigen-presenting cell (e.g., a dendritic cell).
  • an “active immune response” or “active immunity” is characterized by “participation of host tissues and cells after an encounter with the immunogen. It involves differentiation and proliferation of immunocompetent cells in lymphoreticular tissues, which lead to synthesis of antibody or the development of cell-mediated reactivity, or both.” Herbert B. Herscowitz, Immunophysiology: Cell Function and Cellular Interactions in Antibody Formation, in IMMUNOLOGY: BASIC PROCESSES 117 (Joseph A. Bellanti ed., 1985). Alternatively stated, an active immune response is mounted by the host after exposure to an immunogen by infection or by vaccination.
  • a “protective” immune response or “protective” immunity as used herein indicates that the immune response confers some benefit to the subject in that it prevents or reduces the incidence of disease.
  • a protective immune response or protective immunity may be useful in the treatment and/or prevention of disease, in particular cancer or tumors (e.g., by preventing cancer or tumor formation, by causing regression of a cancer or tumor and/or by preventing metastasis and/or by preventing growth of metastatic nodules).
  • the nucleic acid delivery vector or cell comprising the nucleic acid can be administered in an immunogenically effective amount, as described below.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors can also be administered for cancer immunotherapy by administration of a nucleic acid delivery vector expressing one or more cancer cell antigens (or an immunologically similar molecule) or any other immunogen that produces an immune response against a cancer cell.
  • an immune response can be produced against a cancer cell antigen in a subject by administering a nucleic acid delivery vectors comprising a nucleic acid encoding the cancer cell antigen, for example to treat a patient with cancer and/or to prevent cancer from developing in the subject.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors may be administered to a subject in vivo or by using ex vivo methods, as described herein.
  • the cancer antigen can be expressed as part of the nucleic acid delivery vectors.
  • any other therapeutic nucleic acid e.g., RNAi
  • polypeptide e.g., cytokine
  • cancer encompasses tumor-forming cancers.
  • cancer cell antigen encompasses tumor antigens.
  • cancer has its understood meaning in the art, for example, an uncontrolled growth of tissue that has the potential to spread to distant sites of the body (i.e., metastasize).
  • Exemplary cancers include, but are not limited to melanoma, adenocarcinoma, thymoma, lymphoma (e.g., non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma), sarcoma, lung cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, leukemia, uterine cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, brain cancer and any other cancer or malignant condition now known or later identified.
  • the invention provides a method of treating and/or preventing tumor-forming cancers.
  • tumor is also understood in the art, for example, as an abnormal mass of undifferentiated cells within a multicellular organism. Tumors can be malignant or benign. In representative embodiments, the methods disclosed herein are used to prevent and treat malignant tumors. [0233] By the terms “treating cancer,” “treatment of cancer” and equivalent terms it is intended that the severity of the cancer is reduced or at least partially eliminated and/or the progression of the disease is slowed and/or controlled and/or the disease is stabilized. In particular embodiments, these terms indicate that metastasis of the cancer is prevented or reduced or at least partially eliminated and/or that growth of metastatic nodules is prevented or reduced or at least partially eliminated.
  • the methods at least partially eliminate or reduce and/or delay the incidence and/or severity of the onset of cancer.
  • the onset of cancer in the subject may be reduced in likelihood or probability and/or delayed.
  • cells may be removed from a subject with cancer and contacted with a nucleic acid delivery vectors. The modified cell is then administered to the subject, whereby an immune response against the cancer cell antigen is elicited.
  • This method can be advantageously employed with immunocompromised subjects that cannot mount a sufficient immune response in vivo (i.e., cannot produce enhancing antibodies in sufficient quantities).
  • immunomodulatory cytokines e.g., ⁇ -interferon, ⁇ -interferon, ⁇ -interferon, ⁇ -interferon, ⁇ -interferon, ⁇ - interferon, interleukin-1 ⁇ , interleukin-1 ⁇ , interleukin-2, interleukin-3, interleukin-4, interleukin 5, interleukin-6, interleukin-7, interleukin-8, interleukin-9, interleukin-10, interleukin-11, interleukin 12, interleukin-13, interleukin-14, interleukin-18, B cell Growth factor, CD40 Ligand, tumor necrosis factor- ⁇ , tumor necrosis factor- ⁇ , monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, and lymphotoxin).
  • cytokines e.g., ⁇ -interferon, ⁇ -interferon, ⁇ -interferon, ⁇ -interferon, ⁇ - inter
  • immunomodulatory cytokines may be administered to a subject in conjunction with the virus vector.
  • Cytokines may be administered by any method known in the art. Exogenous cytokines may be administered to the subject, or alternatively, a nucleic acid encoding a cytokine may be delivered to the subject using a suitable vector, and the cytokine produced in vivo.
  • Subjects, Pharmaceutical Formulations, and Modes of Administration [0238] The methods of the present invention find use in both veterinary and medical applications. Suitable subjects include avians, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and mammals.
  • mammal as used herein includes, but is not limited to, humans, primates, non-human primates (e.g., monkeys and baboons), cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, cats, dogs, rabbits, rodents (e.g., rats, mice, hamsters, and the like), etc.
  • Human subjects include neonates, infants, juveniles, and adults.
  • the subject is “in need of” the methods of the present invention, e.g., because the subject has or is believed at risk for a disorder including those described herein or that would benefit from the delivery of a polynucleotide including those described herein.
  • the subject can be a laboratory animal and/or an animal model of disease.
  • the subject is a human.
  • the heterologous agent and protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof is administered to a subject in need thereof as early as possible in the life of the subject, e.g., as soon as the subject is diagnosed with a disease or disorder.
  • the method are carried out on a newborn subject, e.g., after newborn screening has identified a disease or disorder.
  • methods are carried out on a subject prior to the age of 10 years, e.g., prior to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 years of age.
  • the methods are carried out on juvenile or adult subjects after the age of 10 years.
  • the methods are carried out on a fetus in utero, e.g., after prenatal screening has identified a disease or disorder. In some embodiments, the methods are carried out on a subject as soon as the subject develops symptoms associated with a disease or disorder. In some embodiments, the methods are carried out on a subject before the subject develops symptoms associated with a disease or disorder, e.g., a subject that is suspected or diagnosed as having a disease or disorder but has not started to exhibit symptoms.
  • the present invention provides one or more pharmaceutical compositions comprising protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof, alone or together with a heterologous agent, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and, optionally, other medicinal agents, pharmaceutical agents, stabilizing agents, buffers, carriers, adjuvants, diluents, etc.
  • a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for injection, the carrier will typically be a liquid.
  • the carrier may be either solid or liquid.
  • the carrier will be respirable, and optionally can be in solid or liquid particulate form.
  • pharmaceutically acceptable it is meant a material that is not toxic or otherwise undesirable, i.e., the material may be administered to a subject without causing any undesirable biological effects.
  • One aspect of the present invention is a method of transferring a nucleic acid to a cell in vitro, e.g., as part of an ex vivo method.
  • the heterologous agent e.g., nucleic acid delivery vector, e.g., viral vector
  • the heterologous agent may be introduced into the cells at the appropriate amount, e.g., multiplicity of infection according to standard transduction methods suitable for the particular target cells.
  • Titers of virus vector to administer can vary, depending upon the target cell type and number, and the particular virus vector, and can be determined by those of skill in the art without undue experimentation. In representative embodiments, at least about 10 3 infectious units, more preferably at least about 10 5 infectious units are introduced to the cell.
  • the cell(s) into which the nucleic acid delivery vector is introduced can be of any type, including but not limited to neural cells (including cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems, in particular, brain cells such as neurons and oligodendrocytes), lung cells, cells of the eye (including retinal cells, retinal pigment epithelium, and corneal cells), blood vessel cells (e.g., endothelial cells, intimal cells), epithelial cells (e.g., gut and respiratory epithelial cells), muscle cells (e.g., skeletal muscle cells, cardiac muscle cells, smooth muscle cells and/or diaphragm muscle cells), dendritic cells, pancreatic cells (including islet cells), hepatic cells, kidney cells, myocardial cells, bone cells (e.g., bone marrow stem cells), hematopoietic stem cells, spleen cells, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, prostate cells, germ cells, and the like.
  • neural cells including cells of
  • the cell can be any progenitor cell.
  • the cell can be a stem cell (e.g., neural stem cell, liver stem cell).
  • the cell can be a cancer or tumor cell.
  • the cell can be from any species of origin, as indicated above.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors can be introduced into cells in vitro for the purpose of administering the modified cell to a subject.
  • the cells have been removed from a subject, the nucleic acid delivery vector is introduced therein, and the cells are then administered back into the subject. Methods of removing cells from subject for manipulation ex vivo, followed by introduction back into the subject are known in the art (see, e.g., U.S.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors can be introduced into cells from a donor subject, into cultured cells, or into cells from any other suitable source, and the cells are administered to a subject in need thereof (i.e., a “recipient” subject).
  • a subject in need thereof (i.e., a “recipient” subject).
  • Suitable cells for ex vivo gene delivery are as described above. Dosages of the cells to administer to a subject will vary upon the age, condition and species of the subject, the type of cell, the nucleic acid being expressed by the cell, the mode of administration, and the like. Typically, at least about 10 2 to about 10 8 cells or at least about 10 3 to about 10 6 cells will be administered per dose in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • the cells transduced with the nucleic acid delivery vector are administered to the subject in a treatment effective or prevention effective amount in combination with a pharmaceutical carrier.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vector is introduced into a cell and the cell can be administered to a subject to elicit an immunogenic response against the delivered polypeptide (e.g., expressed as a transgene or in the capsid).
  • an immunogenic response against the delivered polypeptide e.g., expressed as a transgene or in the capsid.
  • a quantity of cells expressing an immunogenically effective amount of the polypeptide in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is administered.
  • An “immunogenically effective amount” is an amount of the expressed polypeptide that is sufficient to evoke an active immune response against the polypeptide in the subject to which the pharmaceutical formulation is administered.
  • a further aspect of the invention is a method of administering the heterologous agent (e.g., nucleic acid delivery vector) to subjects.
  • Administration of the nucleic acid delivery vectors to a human subject or an animal in need thereof can be by any means known in the art.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vector is delivered in a treatment effective or prevention effective dose in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • the nucleic acid delivery vectors can further be administered to elicit an immunogenic response (e.g., as a vaccine).
  • immunogenic compositions of the present invention comprise an immunogenically effective amount of nucleic acid delivery vector in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • the dosage is sufficient to produce a protective immune response (as defined above).
  • the degree of protection conferred need not be complete or permanent, as long as the benefits of administering the immunogenic polypeptide outweigh any disadvantages thereof.
  • Subjects and immunogens are as described above.
  • Dosages of the nucleic acid delivery vector (e.g., viral vector) to be administered to a subject depend upon the mode of administration, the disease or condition to be treated and/or prevented, the individual subject’s condition, the particular nucleic acid delivery vector, and the nucleic acid to be delivered, and the like, and can be determined in a routine manner.
  • Exemplary doses for achieving therapeutic effects are titers of at least about 10 5 , 10 6 , 10 7 , 10 8 , 10 9 , 10 10 , 10 11 , 10 12 , 10 13 , 10 14 , 10 15 transducing units, optionally about 10 8 – 10 13 transducing units.
  • more than one administration e.g., two, three, four or more administrations may be employed to achieve the desired level of gene expression over a period of various intervals, e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, etc.
  • Exemplary modes of administration include oral, rectal, transmucosal, intranasal, inhalation (e.g., via an aerosol), buccal (e.g., sublingual), vaginal, intrathecal, intraocular, transdermal, intraendothelial, in utero (or in ovo), parenteral (e.g., intravenous, subcutaneous, intradermal, intracranial, intramuscular [including administration to skeletal, diaphragm and/or cardiac muscle], intrapleural, intracerebral, and intraarticular), topical (e.g., to both skin and mucosal surfaces, including airway surfaces, and transdermal administration), intralymphatic, and the like, as well as direct tissue or organ injection (e.g., to liver, eye, skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, diaphragm muscle or brain).
  • buccal e.g., sublingual
  • vaginal intrathecal
  • intraocular transdermal
  • intraendothelial in
  • Administration can be to any site in a subject, including, without limitation, a site selected from the group consisting of the brain, a skeletal muscle, a smooth muscle, the heart, the diaphragm, the airway epithelium, the liver, the kidney, the spleen, the pancreas, the skin, and the eye.
  • Administration can also be to a tumor (e.g., in or near a tumor or a lymph node). The most suitable route in any given case will depend on the nature and severity of the condition being treated and/or prevented and on the nature of the particular vector that is being used.
  • Administration to skeletal muscle according to the present invention includes but is not limited to administration to skeletal muscle in the limbs (e.g., upper arm, lower arm, upper leg, and/or lower leg), back, neck, head (e.g., tongue), thorax, abdomen, pelvis/perineum, and/or digits.
  • limbs e.g., upper arm, lower arm, upper leg, and/or lower leg
  • head e.g., tongue
  • thorax e.g., abdomen, pelvis/perineum, and/or digits.
  • Suitable skeletal muscles include but are not limited to abductor digiti minimi (in the hand), abductor digiti minimi (in the foot), abductor hallucis, abductor ossis metatarsi quinti, abductor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis longus, adductor brevis, adductor hallucis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, adductor pollicis, anconeus, anterior scalene, articularis genus, biceps brachii, biceps femoris, brachialis, brachioradialis, buccinator, coracobrachialis, corrugator supercilii, deltoid, depressor anguli oris, depressor labii inferioris, digastric, dorsal interossei (in the hand), dorsal interossei (in the foot), extensor carpi radialis brevis, exten
  • the heterologous agent can be delivered to skeletal muscle by intravenous administration, intra-arterial administration, intraperitoneal administration, limb perfusion, (optionally, isolated limb perfusion of a leg and/or arm; see, e.g. Arruda et al., (2005) Blood 105: 3458-3464), and/or direct intramuscular injection.
  • the heterologous agent is administered to a limb (arm and/or leg) of a subject (e.g., a subject with muscular dystrophy such as DMD) by limb perfusion, optionally isolated limb perfusion (e.g., by intravenous or intra-articular administration.
  • the heterologous agent can advantageously be administered without employing “hydrodynamic” techniques.
  • Tissue delivery (e.g., to muscle) of prior art vectors is often enhanced by hydrodynamic techniques (e.g., intravenous/intravenous administration in a large volume), which increase pressure in the vasculature and facilitate the ability of the agent to cross the endothelial cell barrier.
  • the heterologous agent can be administered in the absence of hydrodynamic techniques such as high volume infusions and/or elevated intravascular pressure (e.g., greater than normal systolic pressure, for example, less than or equal to a 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% increase in intravascular pressure over normal systolic pressure).
  • Administration to cardiac muscle includes administration to the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, right ventricle and/or septum.
  • the heterologous agent can be delivered to cardiac muscle by intravenous administration, intra-arterial administration such as intra- aortic administration, direct cardiac injection (e.g., into left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, right ventricle), and/or coronary artery perfusion.
  • Administration to diaphragm muscle can be by any suitable method including intravenous administration, intra-arterial administration, and/or intra-peritoneal administration.
  • Administration to smooth muscle can be by any suitable method including intravenous administration, intra-arterial administration, and/or intra-peritoneal administration. In one embodiment, administration can be to endothelial cells present in, near, and/or on smooth muscle. [0259] Delivery to a target tissue can also be achieved by delivering a depot comprising the heterologous agent. In representative embodiments, a depot comprising the heterologous agent is implanted into skeletal, smooth, cardiac and/or diaphragm muscle tissue or the tissue can be contacted with a film or other matrix comprising the heterologous agent. Such implantable matrices or substrates are described in U.S. Patent No.7,201,898.
  • a heterologous agent is administered to skeletal muscle, diaphragm muscle and/or cardiac muscle (e.g., to treat and/or prevent muscular dystrophy or heart disease [for example, PAD or congestive heart failure]).
  • the invention is used to treat and/or prevent disorders of skeletal, cardiac and/or diaphragm muscle.
  • the invention provides a method of treating and/or preventing muscular dystrophy in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising: administering a treatment or prevention effective amount of a heterologous agent to a mammalian subject, wherein the heterologous agent comprises a nucleic acid encoding dystrophin, a mini-dystrophin, a micro-dystrophin, myostatin propeptide, follistatin, activin type II soluble receptor, IGF-1, anti-inflammatory polypeptides such as the Ikappa B dominant mutant, sarcospan, utrophin, a micro-dystrophin, laminin- ⁇ 2, ⁇ -sarcoglycan, ⁇ -sarcoglycan, ⁇ - sarcoglycan, ⁇ -sarcoglycan, IGF-1, an antibody or antibody fragment against myostatin or myostatin propeptide, and/or RNAi against myostatin.
  • the heterologous agent comprises a
  • the heterologous agent can be administered to skeletal, diaphragm and/or cardiac muscle as described elsewhere herein.
  • the invention can be practiced to deliver a nucleic acid to skeletal, cardiac or diaphragm muscle, which is used as a platform for production of a polypeptide (e.g., an enzyme) or functional nuclei acid (e.g., functional RNA, e.g., RNAi, microRNA, antisense RNA) that normally circulates in the blood or for systemic delivery to other tissues to treat and/or prevent a disorder (e.g., a metabolic disorder, such as diabetes (e.g., insulin), hemophilia (e.g., Factor IX or Factor VIII), a mucopolysaccharide disorder (e.g., Sly syndrome, Hurler Syndrome, Scheie Syndrome, Hurler-Scheie Syndrome, Hunter’s Syndrome, Sanfilippo Syndrome A, B, C, D, Morquio Syndrome, Maroteaux-Lamy
  • a polypeptide e
  • the invention further encompasses a method of treating and/or preventing a metabolic disorder in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising: administering a treatment or prevention effective amount of a heterologous agent to a subject (e.g., to skeletal muscle of a subject), wherein the heterologous agent comprises a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide, wherein the metabolic disorder is a result of a deficiency and/or defect in the polypeptide.
  • polypeptide is secreted (e.g., a polypeptide that is a secreted polypeptide in its native state or that has been engineered to be secreted, for example, by operable association with a secretory signal sequence as is known in the art).
  • secreted e.g., a polypeptide that is a secreted polypeptide in its native state or that has been engineered to be secreted, for example, by operable association with a secretory signal sequence as is known in the art.
  • administration to the skeletal muscle can result in secretion of the polypeptide into the systemic circulation and delivery to target tissue(s). Methods of delivering heterologous agent to skeletal muscle are described in more detail herein.
  • the invention can also be practiced to produce antisense RNA, RNAi or other functional RNA (e.g., a ribozyme) for systemic delivery.
  • the invention also provides a method of treating and/or preventing congenital heart failure or PAD in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering a treatment or prevention effective amount of a heterologous agent of the invention to a mammalian subject, wherein the heterologous agent comprises a nucleic acid encoding, for example, a sarcoplasmic endoreticulum Ca 2+ -ATPase (SERCA2a), an angiogenic factor, phosphatase inhibitor I (I-1), RNAi against phospholamban; a phospholamban inhibitory or dominant- negative molecule such as phospholamban S16E, a zinc finger protein that regulates the phospholamban gene, ⁇ 2-adrenergic receptor, ⁇ 2-adrenergic receptor kinase
  • Injectables can be prepared in conventional forms, either as liquid solutions or suspensions, solid forms suitable for solution or suspension in liquid prior to injection, or as emulsions.
  • the heterologous agent can be delivered adhered to a surgically implantable matrix (e.g., as described in U.S. Patent Publication No.2004-0013645).
  • the heterologous agent disclosed herein can be administered to the lungs of a subject by any suitable means, optionally by administering an aerosol suspension of respirable particles comprised of the heterologous agent, which the subject inhales.
  • the respirable particles can be liquid or solid.
  • Aerosols of liquid particles comprising the heterologous agent may be produced by any suitable means, such as with a pressure-driven aerosol nebulizer or an ultrasonic nebulizer, as is known to those of skill in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Patent No.4,501,729. Aerosols of solid particles comprising the heterologous agent may likewise be produced with any solid particulate medicament aerosol generator, by techniques known in the pharmaceutical art.
  • the heterologous agent can be administered to tissues of the CNS (e.g., brain, eye) and may advantageously result in broader distribution of the heterologous agent than would be observed in the absence of the present invention.
  • the heterologous agent may be administered to treat diseases of the CNS, including genetic disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, psychiatric disorders and tumors.
  • diseases of the CNS include, but are not limited to Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Canavan disease, Leigh’s disease, Refsum disease, Tourette syndrome, primary lateral sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy, Pick’s disease, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Binswanger’s disease, trauma due to spinal cord or head injury, Tay Sachs disease, Lesch-Nyan disease, epilepsy, cerebral infarcts, psychiatric disorders including mood disorders (e.g., depression, bipolar affective disorder, persistent affective disorder, secondary mood disorder), schizophrenia, drug dependency (e.g., alcoholism and other substance dependencies), neuroses (e.g., anxiety, obsessional disorder, somatoform disorder,
  • mood disorders e.g.,
  • disorders of the CNS include ophthalmic disorders involving the retina, posterior tract, and optic nerve (e.g., retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy and other retinal degenerative diseases, uveitis, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma).
  • optic nerve e.g., retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy and other retinal degenerative diseases, uveitis, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma.
  • Most, if not all, ophthalmic diseases and disorders are associated with one or more of three types of indications: (1) angiogenesis, (2) inflammation, and (3) degeneration.
  • the heterologous agent of the present invention can be employed to deliver anti-angiogenic factors; anti-inflammatory factors; factors that retard cell degeneration, promote cell sparing, or promote cell growth and combinations of the foregoing.
  • Diabetic retinopathy for example, is characterized by angiogenesis. Diabetic retinopathy can be treated by delivering one or more anti-angiogenic factors either intraocularly (e.g., in the vitreous) or periocularly( e.g., in the sub-Tenon’s region). One or more neurotrophic factors may also be co-delivered, either intraocularly (e.g., intravitreally) or periocularly.
  • Uveitis involves inflammation.
  • One or more anti-inflammatory factors can be administered by intraocular (e.g., vitreous or anterior chamber) administration of a delivery vector of the invention.
  • Retinitis pigmentosa is characterized by retinal degeneration.
  • retinitis pigmentosa can be treated by intraocular (e.g., vitreal administration) of a heterologous agent encoding one or more neurotrophic factors.
  • Age-related macular degeneration involves both angiogenesis and retinal degeneration. This disorder can be treated by administering a heterologous agent encoding one or more neurotrophic factors intraocularly (e.g., vitreous) and/or one or more anti-angiogenic factors intraocularly or periocularly (e.g., in the sub-Tenon’s region).
  • Glaucoma is characterized by increased ocular pressure and loss of retinal ganglion cells.
  • Treatments for glaucoma include administration of one or more neuroprotective agents that protect cells from excitotoxic damage using the heterologous agent.
  • Such agents include N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists, cytokines, and neurotrophic factors, delivered intraocularly, optionally intravitreally.
  • NMDA N-methyl-D-aspartate
  • the present invention may be used to treat seizures, e.g., to reduce the onset, incidence or severity of seizures.
  • the efficacy of a therapeutic treatment for seizures can be assessed by behavioral (e.g., shaking, ticks of the eye or mouth) and/or electrographic means (most seizures have signature electrographic abnormalities).
  • the invention can also be used to treat epilepsy, which is marked by multiple seizures over time.
  • somatostatin or an active fragment thereof
  • the heterologous agent encoding somatostatin (or an active fragment thereof) is administered by microinfusion into the pituitary.
  • such treatment can be used to treat acromegaly (abnormal growth hormone secretion from the pituitary).
  • the nucleic acid e.g., GenBank Accession No. J00306
  • amino acid e.g., GenBank Accession No.
  • the heterologous agent can comprise a secretory signal as described in U.S. Patent No.7,071,172.
  • the heterologous agent is administered to the CNS (e.g., to the brain or to the eye).
  • the heterologous agent may be introduced into the spinal cord, brainstem (medulla oblongata, pons), midbrain (hypothalamus, thalamus, epithalamus, pituitary gland, substantia nigra, pineal gland), cerebellum, telencephalon (corpus striatum, cerebrum including the occipital, temporal, parietal and frontal lobes. cortex, basal ganglia, hippocampus and portaamygdala), limbic system, neocortex, corpus striatum, cerebrum, and inferior colliculus.
  • the heterologous agent may also be administered to different regions of the eye such as the retina, cornea and/or optic nerve.
  • the heterologous agent may be delivered into the cerebrospinal fluid (e.g., by lumbar puncture) for more disperse administration of the heterologous agent.
  • the heterologous agent may further be administered intravascularly to the CNS in situations in which the blood- brain barrier has been perturbed (e.g., brain tumor or cerebral infarct).
  • the heterologous agent can be administered to the desired region(s) of the CNS by any route known in the art, including but not limited to, intrathecal, intra-ocular, intracerebral, intraventricular, intravenous (e.g., in the presence of a sugar such as mannitol), intranasal, intra- aural, intra-ocular (e.g., intra-vitreous, sub-retinal, anterior chamber) and peri-ocular (e.g., sub- Tenon’s region) delivery as well as intramuscular delivery with retrograde delivery to motor neurons.
  • intrathecal intra-ocular, intracerebral, intraventricular, intravenous (e.g., in the presence of a sugar such as mannitol), intranasal, intra- aural, intra-ocular (e.g., intra-vitreous, sub-retinal, anterior chamber) and peri-ocular (e.g., sub- Tenon’s region) delivery as well as intramus
  • the heterologous agent is administered in a liquid formulation by direct injection (e.g., stereotactic injection) to the desired region or compartment in the CNS.
  • the heterologous agent may be provided by topical application to the desired region or by intra-nasal administration of an aerosol formulation. Administration to the eye, may be by topical application of liquid droplets.
  • the heterologous agent may be administered as a solid, slow-release formulation (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No.7,201,898).
  • the heterologous agent can be used for retrograde transport to treat and/or prevent diseases and disorders involving motor neurons (e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), etc.).
  • the heterologous agent can be delivered to muscle tissue from which it can migrate into neurons.
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof may be administered by any of the routes or schedules described above for the heterologous agent
  • the protein M or a functional fragment or derivative thereof may be administered by a different route or schedule than the heterologous agent.
  • AAV virus production AAV vectors were produced using a standard approach with three-plasmid transfection in HEK293 cells. Briefly, the AAV transgene plasmid pTR- CBA-Luc was co-transfected with an AAV Rep/Cap helper plasmid (pXR2 or pXR8) and adenovirus helper plasmid pXX6-80. 72 hours later, cell cultures were harvested and lysed by freeze thaw and ultra sonication.
  • Clarified cell lysate was DNAse treated and ultra-centrifuged in a 15%/25%/40%/60% iodixanol step gradient and purified by anion exchange Q-column. Purified AAV vector was tittered by qPCR with primers directed to amplify a segment of the packaged AAV transgene.
  • Protein Production The plasmid pET-28b(+) which encodes the protein M, a truncated M. genitalium Protein MG281 lacking the transmembrane domain (amino acids 74 to 479) and carries a N-terminal His-Tag and a thrombin cleavage site, was generously provided by Rajesh.
  • Plasmids were propagated in electro-competent DH10B cells and purified using a PureLink Maxi-Prep kit from Invitrogen.
  • the pET-28b(+) plasmid was transiently transfected into BL21/DE3 cells using an overnight starter culture.
  • Auto-induction media Magnetic media from Invitrogen
  • the culture was then pelleted by centrifugation and frozen down at -80 °C.
  • Protein Purification The frozen bacterial cell culture pellet was thawed, lysed by sonication, DNAse treated, and clarified by centrifugation.
  • Clarified bacterial lysate was dialyzed into nickel-binding buffer (20 mM imidazole, 50 mM sodium phosphate pH 7.4, 500 mM NaCl, 0.02% sodium azide) and passed through a nickel His-trap FF column using FPLC. Protein M bound by the nickel column was then eluted by the same buffer base but containing 500 mM imidazole. Protein M was then run through an S-100 size exclusion column, dialyzed into phosphate buffered saline with 2% glycerol, and quantified using spectrophotometry.
  • Protein M identity was confirmed using SDS-PAGE protein gel electrophoresis for protein separation followed by a Coomassie blue protein stain to correctly identify the 48 kDa Protein M band.
  • Western Blot After protein separation on an 8% SDS-PAGE gel, the proteins were transferred onto a PVDF membrane. Immunoblotting was performed in 5% non-fat milk using anti-His primary antibody 1:1000 dilution (10 ⁇ g/ml). The secondary goat anti-human IgG antibody was conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (1:10,000 dilution).
  • Cell Culture HEK-293 cells and Huh7 cells were used for all in vitro AAV neutralization experiments and for enhancement of transduction, respectively.
  • Human IVIG and immunized mouse serum 10% Human IVIG (Gamunex) was purchased from Grifols Therapeutics Inc. (Research Triangle Park, NC, USA). Serum was collected and pooled from 12 different mice (50% male, 50% female) after IP administration of 3x10 10 viral genomes of AAV8-FVIII followed by a boost administration of the same vector 2 weeks later, and a second boost 6 weeks after the first administration. Human IVIG and mouse serum were aliquoted and stored at ⁇ 80 °C for future use.
  • AAV Neutralization Assay In vitro AAV Neutralization Assay: NAb analyses were performed as described previously with slight modification. Cells were pelleted by centrifugation and resuspended in serum free X-Vivo 10 medium, then plated in either a 48-well or 96-well plate format. Human IVIG or serum was serially diluted either two-fold or ten-fold. AAV-Luc was incubated with either human IVIG or mouse serum for 1 h at 4 °C before adding AAV and incubating an additional 1 h at 4 °C. AAV+serum incubations were then mixed with cells suspended in serum free media at the time of plating.
  • NAb titers were defined as the highest dilution for which luciferase activity was 50% lower than serum-free controls.
  • protein M (either 6.3 mg for 2:1 ratio, 3.15 mg for 1:1 ratio, or 1.58 mg for 0.5:1 ratio) was delivered by retro-orbital vein 5-15 minutes after serum injection. AAV was administered 5 minutes later by systemic injection of 2 ⁇ 10 12 particles per kg of AAV-Luc vector. Imaging was performed 1 day after AAV administration, as well as at 1 week and 9 day time points post-injection.
  • Example 2 Protein M ablates the inhibition activity of IVIG on AAV transduction [0296] In order to study the antibody blocking function of protein M, in vitro neutralization assays of AAV by human intravenous immunoglobulin gamma (IVIG) were set up.
  • IVIG human intravenous immunoglobulin gamma
  • a dose dilution series was conducted of protein M (SEQ ID NO:2) which was collected by removing His-tag by thrombin cleavage and it’s ability to block 12.5 ⁇ g of IVIG (FIG. 2), where protein M was incubated with IVIG for 1 h followed by AAV2 for 1 h at 4 °C before cell culture transduction. It was found that a molar ratio of 2 protein M molecules to 1 IgG molecule was sufficient to prevent neutralization to an equivalent level as the no IVIG control. Furthermore, it was found that higher molar ratios of protein M to IVIG enhanced the luciferase signal to levels greater than the no IVIG control (FIG.2).
  • Example 3 Interaction of protein M with AAV vector virions enhances AAV transduction
  • Previous studies from the inventors have demonstrated that interaction of serum proteins with AAV virions is able to enhance AAV transduction.
  • a dose-response assay was performed without IVIG where protein M at serial 2-fold dilution was incubated with AAV for 1 h prior to cell culture transduction.
  • FIG. 4 it was found that the 8:1 ratio (33 ⁇ g protein M) of protein M from the previous experiments was able to dose dependently enhance AAV transduction in the absence of IVIG, and that enhancement was lost at dilutions below 2 ⁇ g of protein M for 2x10 8 viral particles.
  • Example 4 Pre-incubation of protein M with AAV vector virions protects AAV neutralization of IVIG [0298] It was next decided to investigate the effect of pre-incubating protein M first with AAV and then IVIG instead of allowing protein M to first interact with IVIG. The ability of protein M to block neutralization was examined when protein M was incubated with AAV2 for 1 h followed by addition of IVIG and incubation for an additional 1 h at 4 °C before cell transduction.
  • Example 5 Efficient blocking function of protein M on neutralizing activity of murine serum to AAV in vitro [0299] To translate the finding from IVIG to a real situation, in vitro neutralization experiments were first performed with AAV8-Luciferase vectors using serum from mice that were immunized with an AAV8 capsid vector.
  • FIG. 10 shows that protein M, at an estimated molar ratio of 2:1 (6.3 mg) to total immunoglobulin in the mouse, is able to prevent neutralization of AAV8 by 1 ⁇ l of AAV8- NAb serum (titer 1:2,564). This is compared to an in vivo neutralization assay of serially diluted anti-AAV8 serum where greater than 50% of AAV8-Luc is neutralized at serum volumes between 1 ⁇ l to 0.001 ⁇ l, representing AAV NAb escape over a 1,000-fold difference in concentration (FIG.11).
  • Example 7 The stability of protein M/immunoglobulin complex [0301] To study how stable the complex of protein M with immunoglobulins is, the assay was first carried out in vitro. Protein M was pre-incubated with mouse sera at molecular ratio of 2:1 at 37 °C for different duration from 1 h to 72 h, and then AAV8 vectors added for one more hour at 4 °C for neutralizing analysis. As shown in FIG. 12, the pre-formed complex between anti-AAV8 immunoglobulins in mouse serum and protein M was stable for greater than 72 h when incubated at 37 °C before being added to cell culture, as compared to controls containing neutralizing serum without protein M, or containing only PBS or media.
  • AAV NAbs To overcome AAV NAbs, a number of strategies have been exploited in the laboratory. One approach is to mask the AAV surface for blocking Nab recognition using a polymer or exosome for coating. While promising, this approach may change the AAV transduction profile. A second approach is to use error-prone PCR or DNA shuffling to generate a library of AAV capsid variants and select NAb escape mutants in the presence of NAbs in vitro and in vivo.
  • a third approach has been to use alternative serotypes of AAV that show low or absent NAb cross-reactivity. While this popular strategy is logical and successful in animal models, concerns remain about the existence of cross-reactivity in most humans that may not be predicted in the animals.
  • a final laboratory approach is to rationally engineer the NAb binding domains on the AAV capsid surface to eliminate the NAb binding sites.
  • This strategy requires information about monoclonal antibody epitopes and the structure of AAV virion, and is inherently limited due to the fact that the NAbs from human sera are polyclonal and it is impossible to obtain mAbs from humans that represent all generated NAbs.
  • Several clinical related approaches have also been studied: one example is to perform plasmapheresis prior to vector delivery. However, due to the relative inefficiency of each round of apheresis and the fact that even low titers of NAbs ( ⁇ 1:5) can abrogate AAV transduction, this strategy is only suitable for patients with lower starting titers of AAV NAbs and requires multiple sessions of apheresis.
  • anti-CD20 antibody Rituximab
  • a final clinical approach is to use excessive empty AAV capsids as decoys for NAbs.
  • the concern remains that the addition of empty particles increases the AAV capsid load which potentially increases capsid specific cytotoxic immune response mediated the elimination of AAV transduced cells and perhaps competes with full AAV particles for effective transduction. Additionally, empty capsids may induce a greater liver inflammation than full AAV vectors.
  • Protein M functions as a universal antibody binding protein which blocks mammalian IgG, IgM, and IgA antibody classes by universally binding to conserved regions on the antibody light and heavy chains, causing structural interference with the antigen recognizing or CDR regions. Protein M binds antibodies and prevents antigen-antibody union but does not disrupt previously formed antigen-antibody complexes.
  • protein M has been validated by western blot, ELISA, x-ray crystallography, electron microscopy, and biolayer interferometry. Since protein M can be used independently of the vector, it could be incorporated into a treatment regimen that includes previously FDA approved gene therapies. This is an advantage over capsid based immune evasion, since each individual capsid must go through its own clinical trial for each disease target. Based on the properties of protein M, this protein can be not only applied for any viral vector mediated gene delivery, but also for transient protein therapy such as CRISPR/cas9 in case to avoid humoral immune response mediated clearance. Also, protein M has potential to treat autoimmune disorders resulted from autoantibodies.
  • Protein M executes its protection function by binding all immunoglobulins and the amount of specific Ig to protein M only accounts for a very small portion of all Igs, therefore, when a high dose of protein M is used for the purpose of blocking AAV NAbs, the amount of protein M specific Igs should only neutralize a very small amount of protein M and then could not influence the function of administered protein M to protect AAV from AAV NAbs. Protein M could bind to B cell surface and has the potential to stimulate B cell proliferation. Previous studies have demonstrated that intact protein M is able to induce B cell proliferation, however, truncated protein M loses this function. Long-term follow up should be performed in vivo after protein M administration.
  • the present results demonstrate that protein M prevents immunoglobulins from neutralizing AAV when protein M is present at a molecular ratio equal to or greater than 2 molecules to 1 IgG molecule. Protection of the AAV vector is dependent on protein M interacting with immunoglobulin prior to immunoglobulin neutralization of AAV. Protein M can protect AAV from neutralization spanning a 1,000-fold range of NAb titer in vivo. This study has provided the important insight to use protein M for protection of AAV vector virions from NAbs activity in future AAV clinical trials in patients with NAbs or for re-administration.
  • Example 8 Engineered protein M Variants with Enhanced Properties
  • mycoplasma protein M as an antibody blocking protein in order to escape neutralizing antibodies against gene therapy vectors. While naturally occurring protein M homologs from different mycoplasma species bind most mammalian antibody classes with nanomolar affinity (Grover et al., Science 343:656 (2014)) many features of the naturally occurring protein are unsuitable for use as a therapeutic.
  • Native protein M is not soluble, but is membrane bound by an N-terminal transmembrane domain that anchors it in the bacterial plasma membrane. Additionally, the native protein has a disordered C-terminus that may behave unpredictably as a drug-like molecule.
  • mutants were then tested by Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI) to determine affinity of the mutant protein to mouse IgG, and demonstrate the ability of mutants to alter affinity of the mutants for immunoglobulin substrates (FIGS. 21, 22). Mutants also showed increased stability as evidenced by stability over a broader pH range than wild-type protein M (FIG.26).
  • MG 29 one of the lead analogs with increased stability at 37°C and maintenance of nano-molar affinity for IgG, was used to test blockade of AAV neutralizing antibodies in vivo after direct immunization of the mouse against the AAV capsid.
  • a second round of rational engineering strategies using Rosetta software included alteration of mutant protein affinity using an averaged model of many human immunoglobulin structures to predict modifications of the binding site of mutant protein M analogs to enhance or diminish affinity and binding.
  • a third round of rational design strategies incorporated using both Rosetta modeling and the diversity of naturally occurring protein M sequences from different mycoplasma species to create antigenically distinct analogs that do not exist in nature.
  • analogs can be chimeric, mosaic, or de-novo rationally altered amino acid mutants of the whole protein or individual epitopes.
  • the same or different analogs can then be used in conjunction with AAV for multiple rounds of redosing, even in the presence of inhibitory antibodies generated against protein M analogs. This is because protein M analogs directly compete for antibody binding and blocking of antigen recognition, even recognition of itself by inhibitory antibodies. Saturating doses of protein M analogs will be in excess of the small portion of immunoglobulins raised against protein M analogs after initial immune exposure. Additionally, generation of protein M analogs with increased epitope diversity can provide an additional layer of immune evasion from protein M inhibitory antibodies.
  • AAV virus production AAV vectors were produced using a standard approach with three-plasmid transfection in HEK293 cells.
  • the AAV transgene plasmid pTR- CBA-Luc was co-transfected with an AAV Rep/Cap helper plasmid (pXR2 or pXR8) and adenovirus helper plasmid pXX6-80.
  • AAV Rep/Cap helper plasmid pXR2 or pXR8
  • adenovirus helper plasmid pXX6-80 72 h later, cell cultures were harvested and lysed by freeze thaw and ultra sonication. Clarified cell lysate was DNAse treated and ultra-centrifuged in a 15%/25%/40%/60% iodixanol step gradient and purified by anion exchange Q-column. Purified AAV vector was titered by qPCR with primers directed to amplify a segment of the packaged AAV transgene.
  • Protein M was then run through an S-100 size exclusion column, dialyzed into phosphate buffered saline with 2% glycerol, and quantified using spectrophotometry. Protein M identity was confirmed using SDS-PAGE protein gel electrophoresis for protein separation followed by a coomassie blue protein stain to correctly identify the 45kDa - 48kDa protein M band. [0318] For some protein production, either of two strategies were implemented to purify the protein M variants. The first protocol (Ni-Purity) was for small-scale production for NanoDSF.
  • Lysis was performed by mixing cell pellets with a buffer consisting of 2.5 mg/mL Lysozyme, 25% B-PER, 75% Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) pH 7.4, and protease inhibitors (PMSF, Bestatin, and Pepstatin). After 30 min of mixing at room temperature, the crude lysates were centrifuged at 15,000 rcf for 20 min and the supernatant was incubated with Ni resin for 1 h at 4°C. The resin was then washed (PBS + 20 mM imidazole) and the protein was eluted with (PBS + 500 mM imidazole).
  • PBS Phosphate Buffered Saline
  • the eluted protein was exchanged into PBS pH 7.4 with Zeba desalting columns before conducting the stability assay.
  • the second protocol (SEC- Purity) was for large-scale production and removed additional contaminants/aggregates from the protein samples.
  • the cells were lysed via sonication, purified with nickel resin (same buffers as the first protocol), and finished with size-exclusion chromatography into PBS + 2% glycerol before freezing the samples.
  • Western Blot After protein separation on an 8% SDS-PAGE gel, the proteins were transferred onto a PVDF membrane. Immunoblotting was performed in 5% non-fat milk using anti-His primary antibody 1:1000 dilution (10 ⁇ g/ml).
  • Precipitated protein was pelleted by centrifuging the samples at 15,000 x G for 10 minutes before loading a gel for SDS-PAGE. Proteins were purified according to protocol 2 (SEC- Purity). [0322] Affinity Assessment by Bio-Layer Interferometry: Bio-Layer Interferometry was performed at 37°C to assess the affinity of the Protein M constructs. Proteins were purified according to protocol 2 (SEC-Purity). A two-fold dilution series of each M construct ranging from 1000 nM to 15.6 nM was performed with ForteBio Kinetics buffer (PBS + detergent). Binding was assessed to Anti-Mouse IgG Fc Capture biosensors.
  • the Rosetta software package was employed to identify mutations that stabilize the PM peptide.
  • the first protocol performed site saturation mutagenesis in silico, allowing the amino acid neighbors to repack around the mutated residue.
  • a second protocol generated combinatorial mutations in regions that are under-packed within the crystal structure. The mutants were ranked according to the difference in score between the wild type amino acid and the substitutions. Additional visual inspection was performed to identify preferred mutants.
  • the mutations were cloned into the pET-28b+ vector by Twist Biosciences and synthesized. Additional design strategies for alteration of binding site affinity and generation of PM analogs with distinct antigenicity were employed. [0324]
  • a homology model of MP WT was constructed with the Swiss-Model webserver (FIG. 24).
  • In vitro neutralization assay determined that the anti-AAV8 neutralizing titer of the pooled serum to be roughly 1:10,000.
  • Different quantities of the anti-AAV8 serum (determined by serum volume) were administered via IV injection to groups of AAV naive mice in a passive transfer experiment, followed 20-25 minutes later by IV injection of 2e10 viral genomes (vg) of AAV8- Luciferase reporter vector.
  • Some groups of mice were given protein M via IV injection 5 minutes before the AAV administration.
  • Non-invasive in vivo imaging of luciferase activity was performed 7 days later to quantify luminescence as a proxy of gene expression from the AAV8 vector, and any decrease in luminescence signal is indicative of AAV8-Luciferase neutralization by the serum.
  • mice given 0.0003ul of serum failed to neutralize the AAV8 and resulted in nearly 100% luminescence signal as compared to naive mice without serum injected with 2e10 vg AAV8-Luciferase alone.
  • Groups of mice given increasing quantities of neutralizing serum neutralized progressively more and more AAV8- Luciferase, where 0.001ul to 0.003ul serum neutralized approximately half of the AAV and 0.3ul serum or greater neutralized over 99% of the AAV.
  • mice administered 3ul of serum followed by MG88 or MG118 and then 2e10 vg AAV8-Luciferase, resulted in gene expression indicative of escape from neutralization due to suppression of neutralizing antibodies by the protein M fusion proteins.
  • the specific doses of MG88, MG29, MG29*, and MGWT* were 6.3 mg and the dose of MG118 was 9 mg per mouse, with an average mouse weight of 21 grams.
  • Example 11 Thermostability of disulfide mutations of Protein M [0332] Mutations were added to a stabilized version of protein M (Start) that included the following mutations: S150E, S196R, S198P, F237T, S232Q, A342V, N274D, A205P, and T355P (Table 10). Melting temperatures (Tm) were determined with NanoDSF. Two capillaries were run on the same sample (Tm1 & Tm2). ⁇ Tm represents the difference between the average of Tm1 & Tm2 compared to the Start construct. Table 10
  • Example 12 In vitro Antibody Neutralization [0333] Fig.
  • FIG. 30 shows an in vitro neutralization assay where high titer anti-AAV8 serum from mice was titrated in 2-fold dilutions, and added to the well as indicated on the X-axis. Then the different Protein M analogs (MG29, MG66, MG71, and MG64) were added to the well in the molecular ratio indicated in the figure legend and incubated for 1 hour. Saline was added to the serum only well (black circles). Then AAV8-Luciferase (2x10 10 viral genomes) was added to each well and incubated 1 hr, before adding 5x10 4 Huh7 cells in serum free media.
  • MG29, MG66, MG71, and MG64 Protein M analogs
  • Table 4 885 point mutations predicted to improve stability of MG WT.
  • Delta Score refers to the score of the mutant – score of the WT residue. This list considered residues 78-468 EXCEPT for residues within 5 A of the antibody interface within PDB ID: 4NZR.
  • Table 5 165 point mutations predicted to improve stability of MG WT. Delta Score refers to the score of the mutant – score of the WT residue. This list considered residues 78-468 EXCEPT for residues within 5 A of the antibody interface within PDB ID: 4NZR.
  • Table 6 128 point mutations that are predicted to improve affinity of MG WT to antibodies.
  • a Delta Score refers to the score of the mutant – score of the WT residue. This list considered 70 residues that were within 5 ⁇ of the antibody interface within PDB ID: 4NZR.
  • Table 7 17 point mutations that are predicted to improve affinity of MG WT to antibodies.
  • a delta score refers to the score of the mutant – score of the wt residue. This list considered 70 residues that were within 5 ⁇ of the antibody interface within PDB ID: 4NZR.
  • SEQ ID NO:2 Soluble form of M. genitalium protein M (amino acid residues 37-556 of SEQ ID NO:1) with an N-terminal 6-His tag followed by a thrombin cleavage site
  • SEQ ID NO:3 Wild-type M. genitalium protein M fragment 74-479 SEQ ID NO:4: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG1 SEQ ID NO:5: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG8 SEQ ID NO:6: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG13 SEQ ID NO:7: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG15 SEQ ID NO:8: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG21 SEQ ID NO:9: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG22 SEQ ID NO:10: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG23 SEQ ID NO:11: Modified M.
  • genitalium protein M MG24 SEQ ID NO:12 Modified M. genitalium protein M MG27 SEQ ID NO:13: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG28 SEQ ID NO:14: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG29 SEQ ID NO:15: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG31 SEQ ID NO:16: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG33 SEQ ID NO:17: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG38 SEQ ID NO:18: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG40 SEQ ID NO:19: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG43 SEQ ID NO:20: Modified M.
  • genitalium protein M MG48 SEQ ID NO:29 Modified M. genitalium protein M MG49 SEQ ID NO:30: Modified M. pneumoniae protein M MP29 SEQ ID NO:31: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG64 (Secretion Peptide + Fc from IgG1 + 15xGS Linker + MG29dGly1): Q Q SEQ ID NO:32: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG88 (Secretion Peptide + Fc from IgG2 + 15xGS Linker + MG29dGly1): SEQ ID NO:33: Modified M.
  • genitalium protein M MG118 Protein A (Z-domain) + 10x GS Linker + MG29: SEQ ID NO:34: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG66 (having the following mutations: S150E, S196R, S198P, F237T, S232Q, A342V, N274D, A205P, and T355P): SEQ ID NO:35: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG71 (Protein L B1 Domain + 5xGS Linker + MG29 with an N-terminal deletion of SLSLND): SEQ ID NO:36: Modified M. genitalium protein M MG86 (a dimer containing GCN4 helix + 15x GS + MG66)

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CN111163811A (zh) * 2017-08-25 2020-05-15 奥维德医疗公司 重组腺相关载体
CN112877297A (zh) * 2021-03-27 2021-06-01 哈尔滨元亨生物药业有限公司 一种利用生物反应器制备猫瘟热病毒单克隆抗体的方法
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