Malaria vaccines based on pre-erythrocytic antigens from P. falciparum
Inventors
Pfeil, Johannes • Heiss, Kirsten • Müller, Ann-Kristin
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10548960-B2
Publication Date
2020-02-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to polypeptides or fragments thereof for use as malaria vaccines. It also relates to nucleic acid molecules coding for the polypeptides of the invention. It further relates to compositions comprising such polypeptides or fragments thereof or the nucleic acid molecules, in particular combinations of such polypeptides or fragments thereof, and the use of such compositions as malaria vaccines.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to immunogenic multicomponent compositions for malaria, including at least two polypeptides and an adjuvant. Each polypeptide has a length in the range of 5 to 50 amino acids, and at least one polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence SLICGLYLL (SEQ ID NO: 26) and at least one polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence LLFINEINKL (SEQ ID NO: 33). The compositions are intended to function as vaccine components.
The disclosed multicomponent compositions further include additional short polypeptides with defined amino acid sequences provided as SEQ ID NOs within the same general length range. The compositions also encompass variants in which at least two polypeptides each have a length in the narrower range of 8 to 25 amino acids, together with further characterization of polypeptide sequence sets beyond SLICGLYLL and LLFINEINKL.
The document further discloses nucleic acid molecules encoding the described polypeptides and peptide fragments or epitopes intended for subunit or multicomponent vaccines that emulate live attenuated organisms. The immunological rationale includes validation of antigen-related expression and detection of antigen-specific CD8+ T cell IFN-gamma responses using cultured ELISpot in malaria-exposed human cohorts.
Claims Coverage
The document provides coverage centered on an immunogenic multicomponent composition in an independent claim, supported by multiple dependent claims that refine the polypeptide sequence content, polypeptide length constraints, and the adjuvant’s immunological effect. The independent claim includes a core requirement for at least two short polypeptides (5 to 50 amino acids) containing specific peptide sequences and the presence of an adjuvant.
Immunogenic multicomponent composition with short polypeptides and adjuvant
A multicomponent composition that is immunogenic, comprising at least two polypeptides and an adjuvant, wherein each polypeptide has a length in the range of 5 to 50 amino acids, and at least one of the polypeptides comprises the amino acid sequence SLICGLYLL (SEQ ID NO: 26) and at least one of the polypeptides comprises the amino acid sequence LLFINEINKL (SEQ ID NO: 33).
Multicomponent composition with additional defined short polypeptides
The multicomponent composition includes a mixture of polypeptides with amino acid sequences selected from SEQ ID NOs: 27, 28, 31, and 32, wherein each polypeptide has a length in the range of 5 to 50 amino acids.
Multicomponent composition with selected alternative epitope polypeptides
A multicomponent composition further includes a polypeptide whose amino-acid sequence is selected from SEQ ID NOs: 29, 30, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40, where the polypeptide length is in the range of 5 to 50 amino acids.
Multicomponent composition with narrowed polypeptide length window
The multicomponent composition is defined such that at least two polypeptides each have a length of 8 to 25 amino acids.
Adjuvant triggering a CD8 T cell response
An adjuvant triggers a CD8 T cell response.
Method for activating an immune response by administering the composition
A method for activating an immune response by administering a multicomponent composition, as defined in claim 1, to a subject needing immune activation.
Overall, claim coverage focuses on immunogenic multicomponent compositions containing at least two short polypeptides of defined sequence content, including SLICGLYLL and LLFINEINKL, together with an adjuvant, with dependent claim refinements specifying additional short polypeptide sequence sets, a narrower 8 to 25 amino acid length window for at least two polypeptides, and functional immunological characterization of the adjuvant as triggering a CD8 T cell response. The document also includes a method of activating an immune response via administration of the composition.
Stated Advantages
Immunogenic multicomponent composition.
Adjuvant triggers a CD8 T cell response.
Documented Applications
The composition is administered to a subject needing immune activation to activate an immune response.
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