Virus-like particles for the induction of autoantibodies
AssigneesThe Government of the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the, Department of Health
InventorsJohn T. Schiller, Bryce Chackerian, Douglas R. Lowy
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Abstract
The invention described herein relates to compositions and methods for stimulating immune responses in vivo against a tolerogen. Novel biotechnological tools, pharmaceuticals, therapeutics and prophylactics, which concern chimeric or conjugated virus-like particles, and methods of use of the foregoing are provided for the study of B cell tolerance and the treatment or prevention of human diseases, which involve the onset of B cell tolerance, such as chronic viral infection, chronic inflammatory disease, and neoplasia.
Claims20
A method of generating antibodies to a tolerogen comprising;
- identifying a subject in need of antibodies to a tolerogen;
- and
- providing to the subject a sufficient amount of the composition to generate antibodies to the tolerogen, wherein the composition comprises a support having an ordered assembly of subunits;
- and at least one B cell epitope of a tolerogen joined to the support so as to form a tolerogen-presenting immunogen, wherein the tolerogen-presenting immunogen displays the tolerogen in a regular, repetitive array.
A method of generating monoclonal antibodies to a tolerogen comprising:
- providing a composition to a subject, wherein the composition comprises a support having an ordered assembly of subunits;
- and at least one B cell epitope of a tolerogen joined to the support so as to form a tolerogen-presenting immunogen, wherein the tolerogen-presenting immunogen displays the tolerogen in a regular, repetitive array;
- and
- making a hybridoma with a B cell from the subject.
A method of enhancing the production of antibodies to a normally immunogenic compound comprising:
- selecting an antigen that generates a low titer antibody response in a subject;
- joining this antigen to a modified virus-like particle so as to form a conjugated virus-like particle, wherein the conjugated virus-like particle displays the antigen in a regular repetitive array;
- and
- providing the conjugated virus-like particle to a subject and thereby generating high titer antibodies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.