US 6,514,498 B1 · Modified/chimeric superantigens and their use

Abstract

A conjugate between a target-seeking moiety and a modified superantigen, characterized in that the superantigen is a wild-type superantigen (SA I) in which an amino acid residue in a superantigen region (region I) determining binding to TCR, referably TCRVβ, and T cell activation has been replaced by another amino acid residue while retaining the ability to activate a subset of T cells. In a preferred embodiment the modified superantigen is a chimer between at least two wild-type superantigens (SA I, SA II etc) characterized in that one or more amino acid residues in a region determining binding to TCR and T cell activation have been interchanged between various wild-type superantigens. A therapeutic method making use of modified/chimeric superantigens as defined in the preceding paragraphs. An antibody preparation in which the cysteine residues that provide for interchain disulfide bonds have been mutated so as to forbid interchain disulfide bridges, preferably to serine residues, for use as a pharmaceutical.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of activation of the immune system of a mammal, which method comprises:

administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a superantigen-antibody moiety, wherein,
said superantigen is SEE, SEQ.ID.No.8, wherein region A, amino acid residues 20-27 of SEQ ID NO:8, is modified in that at least the following amino acid residue substitutions have been made:
R20G, N21T, S24G, and R27K, and
wherein said antibody moiety is selected from the group consisting of an antibody, a single-chain antibody, Fab, F(ab)2, and Fv.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Modified/chimeric superantigens and their use

Life of this patent

Modified/chimeric superantigens and their use

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12