Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Animal cell – per se ; composition thereof; process of...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-29
2002-03-19
Schwartzman, Robert A. (Department: 1632)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Animal cell, per se ; composition thereof; process of...
C435S320100, C536S023100, C536S023700, C424S093210, C514S04400A
Reexamination Certificate
active
06358734
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to the detection, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. In particular, the invention is related to compounds comprising immunogenic epitopes isolated from
Mycobacterium vaccae
, and the use of such compounds in vaccination or immunotherapy against infectious disease, including mycobacterial infections such as infection with
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
or
Mycobacterium avium
, and in certain treatments for immune disorders and cancer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, and to the treatment of certain immune disorders and cancers. In particular, the invention is related to compounds and methods for the treatment and prevention of mycobacterial infections including infection with
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
or
Mycobacterium avium.
Tuberculosis is a chronic, infectious disease that is caused by infection with
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(
M. tuberculosis
). It is a major disease in developing countries, as well as an increasing problem in developed areas of the world, with about 8 million new cases and 3 million deaths each year. Although the infection may be asymptomatic for a considerable period of time, the disease is most commonly manifested as a chronic inflammation of the lungs, resulting in fever and respiratory symptoms. If left untreated, significant morbidity and death may result.
Although tuberculosis can generally be controlled using extended antibiotic therapy, such treatment is not sufficient to prevent the spread of the disease. Infected individuals may be asymptomatic, but contagious, for some time. In addition, although compliance with the treatment regimen is critical, patient behaviour is difficult to monitor. Some patients do not complete the course of treatment, which can lead to ineffective treatment and the development of drug resistant mycobacteria.
Inhibiting the spread of tuberculosis requires effective vaccination and accurate, early diagnosis of the disease. Currently, vaccination with live bacteria is the most efficient method for inducing protective immunity. The most common mycobacterium employed for this purpose is Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), an avirulent strain of
Mycobacterium bovis
. However, the safety and efficacy of BCG is a source of controversy and some countries, such as the United States of America, do not vaccinate the general public. Diagnosis of
M. tuberculosis
infection is commonly achieved using a skin test, which involves intradermal exposure to tuberculin PPD (protein-purified derivative). Antigen-specific T cell responses result in measurable induration at the injection site by 48-72 hours after injection, thereby indicating exposure to mycobacterial antigens. Sensitivity and specificity have, however, been a problem with this test, and individuals vaccinated with BCG cannot be distinguished from infected individuals.
A less well-known mycobacterium that has been used for immunotherapy for tuberculosis, and also leprosy, is
Mycobacterium vaccae
, which is non-pathogenic in humans. However, there is less information on the efficacy of
M. vaccae
compared with BCG, and it has not been used widely to vaccinate the general public.
M. bovis
BCG and
M. vaccae
are believed to contain antigenic compounds that are recognised by the immune system of individuals exposed to infection with
M. tuberculosis.
Several patents and other publications disclose treatment of various conditions by administering mycobacteria, including
M. vaccae
, or certain mycobacterial fractions. International Patent Publication WO 91/02542 discloses treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders in which a patient demonstrates an abnormally high release of IL-6 and/or TNF or in which the patient's IgG shows an abnormally high proportion of agalactosyl IgG. Among the disorders mentioned in this publication are psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, mycobacterial disease, Crohn's disease, primary biliary cirrhosis, sarcoidosis, ulcerative colitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, primary diabetes mellitus, and some aspects of graft rejection. The therapeutic agent preferably comprises autoclaved
M. vaccae
administered by injection in a single dose.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,038 discloses diagnosis of, vaccination against and treatment of autoimmune diseases of various types, including arthritic diseases, by administering mycobacteria, including
M. vaccae
. U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,144 discloses an immunotherapeutic agent comprising antigenic material derived from
M. vaccae
for treatment of mycobacterial diseases, especially tuberculosis and leprosy, and as an adjuvant to chemotherapy. International Patent Publication WO 91/01751 discloses the use of antigenic and/or immunoregulatory material from
M. vaccae
as an immunoprophylactic to delay and/or prevent the onset of AIDS. International Patent Publication WO 94/06466 discloses the use of antigenic and/or immunoregulatory material derived from
M. vaccae
for therapy of HIV infection, with or without AIDS and with or without associated tuberculosis.
Traditional vaccines contain the disease-causing organism (or a component thereof) in either attenuated or killed form. As an alternative approach to traditional vaccines, DNA vaccines have been developed for diseases as diverse as AIDS, influenza, cancer and malaria. Clinical trials of DNA vaccines are in progress for a number of these diseases. A typical DNA vaccine consists of DNA encoding an antigen cloned in a non-active plasmid carrier. Expression of the antigen encoded by the vaccine DNA is usually under control of a strong promoter, such as human &bgr;-actin, Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) or CMV promoter (Ramsay AJ, et al.
Immunology and Cell Biology
75:360-363, 1997). The first experimental evidence that DNA vaccines were able to induce the desired immune response was produced by Tang et al. (Tang D-C, et al.
Nature
356:152-154, 1992). In these experiments, mice inoculated with plasmids containing the gene encoding for human growth hormone developed specific primary antibody responses.,
Immune responses to two DNA vaccines containing genes from
M. tuberculosis
have been evaluated in animal models. The first vaccine contained the gene coding for the GroEL stress protein (65 kDa protein; Tascon RE, et al.
Nature Med
. 2:888-892, 1996). Mice injected with this DNA vaccine were protected at a level equivalent to mice receiving the traditional BCG vaccine. The second DNA vaccine against
M. tuberculosis
contained DNA encoding an antigen from the antigen 85 complex and similar results to the study by Tang et al. were obtained (Huygen K, et al.
Nature Med
. 2:893-898, 1996). U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,524 discloses vaccination of domestic mammals or livestock against infection by
M. tuberculosis
or
M. bovis
by administering a polynucleotide tuberculosis vaccine comprising the
M. tuberculosis
antigen 85 gene operably linked to transcription regulatory elements.
The first human DNA vaccine trial was reported recently (Wang R, et al.
Science
282:476-80, 1998). In this trial, an antigen from
Plasmodium falciparum
, the causative agent of malaria, was injected into healthy volunteers. The desired immune response was elicited, as demonstrated by the presence of cytotoxic T (CD8
+
) lymphocytes (CTL), suggesting that the immune system would be able to clear parasites from infected patients. Safety and immunogenicity of a human DNA vaccine against HIV-1 infection was determined in a trial performed by McGregor et al. (
J. Infect. Dis
. 178:92-100, 1998). Experimental data from other DNA vaccine experiments has also suggested that antibodies, MHC class 1-restricted CD8
+
CTL and class II-restricted CD4
+
helper T cells are produced following injection with DNA vaccines (Ramsay, AJ et al.
Immunology and Cell Biology
75:360-363, 1997).
DNA vaccines have distinct advantages over more traditional vaccines containing killed or attenuated organisms.
Genesis Research & Development Corp. Ltd.
Li Q. Janice
Schwartzman Robert A.
Sleath Janet
Speckman Ann W.
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