Immunogens for Vaccines Against Antigenically Variable Pathogens and Diseases
AssigneePrimex Clinical Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsKaren Manucharyan, Gohar Gevorgyan
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Abstract
The present invention provides compositions and methods for the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of pathogen infections and/or disease states. The compositions may comprise variable epitope libraries (VELs), containing antigenic epitopes with one or more amino acid substitutions in the native epitope sequence. In preferred embodiments, the substituted amino acid may be replaced with each of the 19 other naturally occurring amino acids. In more preferred embodiments, multiple amino acid residues may be substituted. Such compositions and methods may be of use for production of vaccines against pathogens or diseases that show a high degree of genetic variability.
Claims27
A composition comprising a mixture of synthetic peptides, the peptides comprising at least one epitope of a pathogen-specific polypeptide, wherein at least one amino acid residue of the peptides is substituted with each of the other nineteen common amino acid residues in individual peptides of the mixture.
The composition of claim 24, wherein the epitope of a disease-specific polypeptide is one or more epitopes of a tumor specific or a tumor associated antigen (TAA).
A method comprising:
- a) preparing a variable epitope library (VEL);
- b) injecting the library into a subject;
- and
- c) inducing an immune response in the subject against the VEL.
A composition comprising a mixture of synthetic peptides, the peptides comprising at least one epitope of an human immune deficiency virus (HIV)-specific polypeptide, wherein at least one amino acid residue of the peptides is substituted with each of the other nineteen common amino acid residues in individual peptides of the mixture.
A method comprising:
- a) preparing a VEL comprising HIV gag- and env-derived CTL epitopes;
- b) injecting the HIV library into a subject;
- and
- c) inducing an immune response in the subject against the HIV VEL.
A composition comprising a mixture of synthetic peptides, the peptides comprising at least one epitope of a pathogen-specific polypeptide, wherein at least one amino acid residue of the peptides is substituted with each of the other nineteen common amino acid residues in individual peptides of the mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.