Compositions, methods and uses for eliciting an immune response

Inventors

JEN, FREDA E.-C. • SEIB, KATE • SEMCHENKO, EVGENY • Jennings, Michael

Assignees

Griffith University

Abstract

This invention relates generally to polynucleotides, polypeptides, compositions, methods and uses for eliciting an immune response to Neisseria, methods for immunizing a subject against a Neisseria infection, and methods for preventing and/or treating a Neisseria infection in a subject. More particularly, the invention relates to antigenic Neisseria polypeptides and encoding polynucleotides, and related uses and methods, including use for preparing compositions and medicaments for eliciting an immune response to Neisseria, for immunizing a subject against a Neisseria infection, and for preventing and/or treating a Neisseria infection in a subject. The invention also relates to methods for producing therapeutic anti-Neisseria antigen-binding molecules, and therapeutic uses of those antigen-binding molecules.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to methods for eliciting an immune response to Neisseria gonorrhoeae and/or Neisseria meningitidis in a subject. The methods administer a composition that comprises a recombinant or synthetic methionine sulfoxide reductase A/B (MsrA/B) polypeptide, or a recombinant or synthetic polynucleotide encoding the MsrA/B polypeptide, together with an adjuvant, or administer a viral vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding the MsrA/B polypeptide.

The MsrA/B polypeptide is defined by sequence constraints and immunogenic fragment design. The polypeptide lacks 1 to 16 amino acids from the N-terminus of a full-length MsrA/B polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1, or is an antigenic fragment of such a polypeptide that is at least 30 amino acids long.

The invention further encompasses methods for inhibiting development or progression of infection and methods for treating infection. In these applications, a composition comprising the defined MsrA/B polypeptide or polynucleotide encoding it and an adjuvant is administered, or a viral vector expressing the MsrA/B polypeptide is administered.

Claims Coverage

The document provides three independent claims covering immune-response elicitation, inhibition of infection development or progression, and treatment of infection. Across these claims, the inventive elements center on administering a defined recombinant or synthetic MsrA/B polypeptide or its encoding polynucleotide in combination with an adjuvant or via a viral vector, with MsrA/B defined by N-terminal truncation and/or antigenic fragments of a specified length and identity constraints to SEQ ID NO:1.

Across the independent claims, the central claim coverage is directed to using a defined methionine sulfoxide reductase A/B (MsrA/B) immunogen in an adjuvanted composition or as expressed from a viral vector to elicit an immune response, inhibit development or progression of infection, and treat infection caused by N. gonorrhoeae and/or N. meningitidis.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications