Title:  Human monoclonal antibodies specific for hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 antigen

United States Patent:  6,747,136

Issued:  June 8, 2004

Inventors:  Persson; Mats Axel Atterdag (Stockholm, SE); Allander; Tobias Erik (Stockholm, SE)

Assignee:  Karolinska Innovations AB (Stockholm, SE)

Appl. No.:  844215

Filed:  April 17, 1997

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions derived from immunoglobulin molecules specific for the hepatitis C virus (HCV). More particularly, the invention is related to molecules which are capable of specifically binding with HCV E2 antigen. The molecules are useful in specific binding assays, affinity purification schemes and pharmaceutical compositions for the prevention and treatment of HCV infection in mammalian subjects. The invention thus relates to novel human monoclonal antibodies specific for HCV E2 antigen, fragments of such monoclonal antibodies, polypeptides having structure and function substantially homologous to antigen-binding sites obtained from such monoclonal antibodies, nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides, and expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the discovery of human monoclonal antibody molecules which exhibit immunological binding affinity for HCV E2 polypeptide antigen, and which are cross-reactive against different HCV strains. The monoclonal antibody molecules were obtained from a combinatorial library that was constructed from a nonimmunized HCV-infected source. The present molecules generally comprise a human antibody Fab molecule that exhibits immunological binding affinity for HCV E2 antigen.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the invention is directed to a recombinant human monoclonal antibody that exhibits immunological binding affinity for HCV E2 antigen, wherein the monoclonal antibody includes amino acid sequences that are homologous to the binding portion of a human antibody Fab molecule obtained from a combinatorial antibody library. The recombinant monoclonal antibody molecule can be in the form of a substantially whole immunoglobulin molecule, or can be in the form of a soluble Fab molecule, an Fv fragment, or an sFv molecule, wherein each molecule at least contains amino acid sequences that are homologous to the binding portion of a human antibody Fab molecule.

In another embodiment, the invention is directed to an isolated nucleic acid molecule which contains a polynucleotide coding sequence for a polypeptide that is homologous to the binding portion of a heavy or light chain variable region (V_H or V_L) of a human Fab molecule which exhibits immunological binding affinity for HCV E2 antigen. In a related embodiment, the invention is directed to an isolated nucleic acid molecule which contains polynucleotide coding sequences for a first polypeptide and polynucleotide coding sequences for a second polypeptide, wherein the first polypeptide is homologous to the binding portion of a heavy chain variable region (V_H) of a human Fab molecule which exhibits immunological binding affinity for HCV E2 antigen, and the second polypeptide is homologous to the binding portion of a light chain variable region (V_L) of a human Fab molecule which exhibits immunological binding affinity for the HCV E2 antigen.

In other embodiments, the invention pertains to expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules above operably linked to control sequences that direct the transcription of the polynucleotide coding sequences when the vector is present in a host cell or under suitable conditions for the transcription and translation of the polynucleotide coding sequences. Yet further embodiments of the invention pertain to host cells transformed with the vectors of the invention, and methods for producing recombinant polypeptides using the transformed host cells.

In another embodiment, the invention is directed to vaccine compositions comprising the recombinant monoclonal antibody molecules of the invention. Still further embodiments relate to methods of using the vaccine compositions, wherein the vaccines are used to provide an antibody titer to HCV in a mammalian subject, and/or used to provide passive immunity against HCV infection in a vaccinated subject. In related embodiments, the vaccine compositions are used in combination with known anti-HCV therapeutics.

In still further embodiments, the recombinant monoclonal antibody molecules of the invention are used to provide binding complexes which are labeled with a detectable moiety. The labeled binding complexes are used in related embodiments of the invention, such as in specific binding assay methods, for detecting the presence of HCV particles in samples suspected of containing HCV and in specific binding assays for monitoring the progress of anti-HCV treatment of HCV-infected subjects.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The practice of the present invention will employ, unless otherwise indicated, conventional methods of virology, microbiology, molecular biology and recombinant DNA techniques within the skill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature. See, e.g., Sambrook, et al. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2nd Edition, 1989); DNA Cloning: A Practical Approach, vol. I & II (D. Glover, ed.); Oligonucleotide Synthesis (N. Gait, ed., 1984); Nucleic Acid Hybridization (B. Hames & S. Higgins, eds., 1985); Transcription and Translation (B. Hames & S. Higgins, eds., 1984); Animal Cell Culture (R. Freshney, ed., 1986); Perbal, A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning (1984); Fundamental Virology, 2nd Edition, vol. I & II (B. N. Fields and D. M. Knipe, eds.)

All publications, patents and patent applications cited herein, whether supra or infra, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include plural references unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

General Methods

The present invention is based on the generation of novel cross-genotype reactive human monoclonal antibody molecules specific to the HCV E2 envelope glycoprotein. The monoclonal antibodies are obtained using a combinatorial antibody library constructed from a nonimmunized source, and are useful in the prevention, therapy and diagnosis of HCV infection in mammalian subjects. More particularly, the monoclonal antibodies are obtained from combinatorial libraries expressing Fab molecules on the surface of filamentous DNA bacteriophage using antigen selection techniques.

Preparation of Combinatorial Libraries

Combinatorial libraries for the purposes of the present invention can be constructed using known techniques, such as those described by Chanock et al. (1993) Infect Agents Dis 2:118-131 and Barbas, III et al. (1995) Methods: Comp. Meth Enzymol 8:94-103. Antibody-producing cells can be obtained from an unimmunized, HCV-infected donor from, e.g., plasma, serum, spinal fluid, lymph fluid, the external sections of the respiratory, intestinal and genitourinary tracts, tears, saliva, milk, white blood cells and myelomas. Preferably, the antibody-producing cell source is lymphocytes that have been obtained from a bone marrow or peripheral blood sample of an unimmunized subject.

Lymphocytes can be obtained from the sample and total RNA isolated and extracted using known methods. See, e.g., Chomczynski et al. (1987) Anal Biochem 162:156-159. The RNA can be reverse-transcribed into first strand cDNA using oligo-dT priming. The DNA encoding immunoglobulin heavy (Fd) and light chain fragments can be amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to provide all of the genetic material necessary to produce Fab antigen-binding molecules. Saiki, et al. (1986) Nature 324:163, Scharf et al. (1986) Science 233:1076-1078 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195 and 4,683,202. In conducting the PCR amplification, a number of known primers can preferably be used to select for .gamma.1 heavy chain and .kappa. light chain sequences. Persson et al. (1991) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88:2432-2436, Kang et al. (1991) Methods: Comp. Meth Enzymol 2:111-118. The PCR products are pooled separately into heavy and light chain DNA preparations, and then purified, for example, using gel electrophoresis. The purified heavy and light chain DNA molecules are then digested with suitable restriction enzymes, and the digested products purified and ligated into a suitable phagemid vector system. Yang et al. (1995) J Mol Biol 254:392-403, Barbas, III et al. (1995) Methods: Comp. Meth Enzymol 8:94-103, Barbas, III et al. (1991) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88:7978-7982. A number of suitable phagemid vector systems are known in the art; however, a particularly preferred vector for use herein is the pComb3H vector which has been previously described. Barbas, III et al. (1995), supra. When the Pcomb3h phagemid vector is used, heavy chain DNA is cloned into the subject phagemid adjacent to, and upstream of, the sequence for the C-terminal anchorage domain of the phagemid coat protein III (cpIII). The cpiii protein is an integral membrane protein, and thus serves as a membrane anchor for the Fab assembly.

The vectors generally include selectable markers known in the art. For example, the Pcomb3h phagemid vector contains the bacterial ampicillin resistance gene (B-lactamase). The vector will also include appropriate first and second leader sequences, respectively arranged upstream of the insertion sites for the heavy and light chain coding sequences, whereby expression products from the heavy and light chain coding regions are targeted to the periplasm when produced in a suitable host cell. In Pcomb3h, these leader sequences are pelB sequences, omp A sequences or combinations thereof.

The phagemid vector system containing the human immunoglobulin DNA is then introduced into a suitable bacterial host cell (for example using electrophoresis), wherein the phagemid expresses a heavy chain-cpiii fusion polypeptide and a light chain polypeptide, each of which are targeted to the periplasm of the host cell by their associated leader sequences. The transfected bacterial host cell containing the phagemid vector is selected by growth in a suitable medium containing a selective agent corresponding to the selectable marker of the phagemid vector (e.g., ampicillin).

Rescue of the phagemid DNA is conducted using known techniques. In particular, the transfected host cell is infected with a helper phage which encodes a number of expression products necessary in trans for packaging the phagemid DNA into recombinant virus particles. Single-stranded copies of the phagemid DNA are thus packaged into viral particles which, upon leaving the host cell, incorporate phage cpVIII molecules and are capped by a limited number of phage cpiii molecules--some of which cpviii and cpiii molecules are linked to Fab molecules. Recombinant phage particles displaying Fab molecules (termed "phage-Fabs") contain the corresponding heavy and light chain genes within the packaged genome.

When the above technique is practiced using an initial library of phagemids, the rescue process generates a library of recombinant phage which display Fab molecules (a phage display library). The rescue process further results in amplification of the initial library, such that multiple copies of each recombinant phage clone (along with each set of immunoglobulin heavy and light chain binding portions) are generated. The phage display library is then "panned" against HCV E2 antigen to select for Fab molecules which are capable of selectively binding to that antigen. More particularly, the panning procedure can be conducted by applying a suspension containing the phage display library onto HCV E2 antigen that has been immobilized to a plastic reaction vessel according to known methods. Burton et al. (1991) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88:10134-10137. After incubation under suitable binding conditions, non-specifically bound phage particles are removed by repeated washings. The resulting HCV E2-antigen specific phage-Fabs are then eluted from the insoluble antigen using low Ph, or in the presence of excess soluble E2 antigen. The panning procedure is repeated several times, wherein bacterial host cells are infected by the eluted phage after each round of panning to propagate phage-Fab clones for each subsequent round of panning. Samuelsson et al. (1995) Virology 207:495-502.

In the present invention, the panning procedure was specifically developed to select for highly potent, cross-genotype reactive Fab molecules specific for HCV E2 antigen. In particular, the genotype of serum HCV of the unimmunized, HCV-infected human subject from which the antibody-producing cells were obtained was determined using known methods. Widell et al. (1994) J Med Virol 44:272-279. Selection for strain cross-reactivity was provided by experimental design, wherein the panning procedure was conducted using HCV E2 antigen derived from a different HCV genotype than that of the HCV from the infected human donor. Furthermore, the E2 antigen used in the panning procedures was selected so as to provide HCV E2 antigen in substantially the same conformation as expected for that antigen in vivo.

Two different recombinant HCV envelope protein preparations were used to provide the selecting antigen in the above-described panning procedure, a "conformational" CHO E2 molecule, and a CHO E1/E2 complex. The conformational E2 molecule was constructed, expressed and secreted from recombinant CHO cells as previously described in Spaete et al. (1992) Virology 188:819-830, then purified using known methods (Rosa et al. (1996) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93:1759-1763). A recombinant complexed E1/E2 preparation was constructed and expressed from recombinant CHO cells as described in Spaete et al. (1992) supra, then purified using known methods (Choo et al. (1994) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 91:1294-1298). Once purified, the selecting antigens were immobilized to a plastic reaction vessel as described above.

Individual clones exhibiting superior binding affinity for the selecting antigen were selected, and expressed by growing infected host cells in the selective medium until a suitable volume of cells was reached. The bacterial host cells were pelleted and then resuspended in medium. After suitable incubation, the cells were spun down, and the periplasmic content released by freeze-thawing techniques. After the bacterial debris was removed by centrifugation, the Fab-containing supernatant was transferred to suitable containers, and stored for future use.

Once the selected Fabs are expressed, binding characteristics of the selected Fab molecules can be determined. In particular, the affinity of the Fab molecules for HCV E2 antigen was determined herein using an inhibition ELISA technique. See, e.g., Persson et al. (1991) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88:2432-2436, Rath et al. (1988) J Immun Methods 106:245-249. Clones that expressed Fab molecules of high potency (e.g., an affinity of at least about 1x10⁷ M^-1, and preferably at least about 1.7x10⁷ M^-1 as determined by inhibition ELISA) were identified for sequencing.

Phage (plasmid) DNA from clones which exhibited high potency binding in the panning selection process was isolated, and single stranded DNA was obtained by PCR using primers (one of which, e.g., is biotinylated at the 5' end) that hybridize upstream and downstream of the immunoglobulin cloning regions. After PCR, single stranded DNA was obtained by denaturing the DNA under alkaline conditions, and absorbing biotinylated DNA strands onto a solid support. Dideoxy sequencing reactions were performed according to known methods (Sanger et al. (1977) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 74:5463-5467) using labeled primers hybridizing 3' of the junction between the variable and constant regions. Kabat et al., in Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 4th ed., (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1987). The reaction products were run on an automated sequencer (for example, A.L.F. available from Pharmacia Biotech). The nucleic acid sequence information thus obtained was analyzed to provide coding sequences for the heavy chain and light chain portions of the selected monoclonal Fab molecules. Multiple copies of the same clones were identified by comparisons of sequence data. Further, the deduced amino acid sequences were obtained using known methods.

Using the above nucleic acid sequence information, coding sequences for the Fab molecules can also be produced synthetically using known methods. Nucleotide sequences can be designed with the appropriate codons for the particular amino acid sequence desired. In general, one will select preferred codons for the intended host in which the sequences will be expressed. The complete sequences are generally assembled from overlapping oligonucleotides prepared by standard methods and assembled into complete coding sequences. See, e.g., Edge (1981) Nature 292:756; Nambair et al. (1984) Science 223:1299; Jay et al. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259:6311.

Expression Systems

Once the coding sequences for the heavy and light chain portions of the Fab molecules are isolated or synthesized, they can be cloned into any suitable vector or replicon for expression, for example, bacterial, mammalian, yeast and viral expression systems can be used. Numerous cloning vectors are known to those of skill in the art and are described below. The selection of an appropriate cloning vector is a matter of choice.

i. Expression in Bacterial Cells

Bacterial expression systems can be used to produce the Fab molecules. Control elements for use in bacterial systems include promoters, optionally containing operator sequences, and ribosome binding sites. Useful promoters include sequences derived from sugar metabolizing enzymes, such as galactose, lactose (lac) and maltose. Additional examples include promoter sequences derived from biosynthetic enzymes such as tryptophan (trp), the .beta.-lactamase (bla) promoter system, bacteriophage .lambda.PL, and T7. In addition, synthetic promoters can be used, such as the tac promoter. The .beta.-lactamase and lactose promoter systems are described in Chang et al., Nature (1978) 275:615, and Goeddel et al., Nature (1979) 281: 544; the alkaline phosphatase, tryptophan (trp) promoter system are described in Goeddel et al., Nucleic Acids Res. (1980) 8:4057 and EP 36,776 and hybrid promoters such as the tac promoter is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,433 and deBoer et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1983) 80:21-25. However, other known bacterial promoters useful for expression of eukaryotic proteins are also suitable. A person skilled in the art would be able to operably ligate such promoters to the Fab molecules for example, as described in Siebenlist et al., Cell (1980) 20:269, using linkers or adapters to supply any required restriction sites. Promoters for use in bacterial systems also generally contain a Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence operably linked to the DNA encoding the Fab molecule. For prokaryotic host cells that do not recognize and process the native polypeptide signal sequence, the signal sequence can be substituted by a prokaryotic signal sequence selected, for example, from the group of the alkaline phosphatase, penicillinase, Ipp, or heat stable enterotoxin II leaders. The origin of replication from the plasmid pBR322 is suitable for most Gram-negative bacteria.

The foregoing systems are particularly compatible with Escherichia coli. However, numerous other systems for use in bacterial hosts including Gram-negative or Gram-positive organisms such as Bacillus spp., Streptococcus spp., Streptomyces spp., Pseudomonas species such as P. aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, or Serratia marcescans, among others. Methods for introducing exogenous DNA into these hosts typically include the use of CaCl₂ or other agents, such as divalent cations and DMSO. DNA can also be introduced into bacterial cells by electroporation, nuclear injection, or protoplast fusion as described generally in Sambrook et al. (1989), cited above. These examples are illustrative rather than limiting. Preferably, the host cell should secrete minimal amounts of proteolytic enzymes. Alternatively, in vitro methods of cloning, e.g., PCR or other nucleic acid polymerase reactions, are suitable.

Prokaryotic cells used to produce the Fab molecules of this invention are cultured in suitable media, as described generally in Sambrook et al., cited above.

ii. Expression in Yeast Cells

Yeast expression systems can also be used to produce the subject Fab molecules. Expression and transformation vectors, either extrachromosomal replicons or integrating vectors, have been developed for transformation into many yeasts. For example, expression vectors have been developed for, among others, the following yeasts: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as described in Hinnen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1978) 75:1929; Ito et al., J. Bacteriol. (1983) 153:163; Candida albicans as described in Kurtz et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. (1986) 6:142; Candida maltosa, as described in Kunze et al., J. Basic Microbiol. (1985) 25:141; Hansenula polymorpha, as described in Gleeson et al., J. Gen. Microbiol. (1986) 132:3459 and Roggenkamp et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. (1986) 202:302; Kluyveromyces fragilis, as described in Das et al., J. Bacteriol. (1984) 158:1165; Kluyveromyces lactis, as described in De Louvencourt et al., J. Bacteriol. (1983) 154:737 and Van den Berg et al., Bio/Technology (1990) 8:135; Pichia guillerimondii, as described in Kunze et al., J. Basic Microbiol. (1985) 25:141; Pichia pastoris, as described in Cregg et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. (1985) 5:3376 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,837,148 and 4,929,555; Schizosaccharomyces pombe, as described in Beach and Nurse, Nature (1981) 300:706; and Yarrowia lipolytica, as described in Davidow et al., Curr. Genet. (1985) 10:380 and Gaillardin et al., Curr. Genet. (1985) 10:49, Aspergillus hosts such as A. nidulans, as described in Ballance et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (1983) 112:284-289; Tilburn et al., Gene (1983) 26:205-221 and Yelton et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1984) 81:1470-1474, and A. niger, as described in Kelly and Hynes, EMBO J. (1985) 4:475479; Trichoderma reesia, as described in EP 244,234, and filamentous fungi such as, e.g, Neurospora, Penicillium, Tolypocladium, as described in WO 91/00357.

Control sequences for yeast vectors are known and include promoter regions from genes such as alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), as described in EP 284,044, enolase, glucokinase, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase (GAP or GAPDH), hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, 3-phosphoglycerate mutase, and pyruvate kinase (PyK), as described in EP 329,203. The yeast PHO5 gene, encoding acid phosphatase, also provides useful promoter sequences, as described in Myanohara et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1983) 80:1. Other suitable promoter sequences for use with yeast hosts include the promoters for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, as described in Hitzeman et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1980) 255:2073, or other glycolytic enzymes, such as pyruvate decarboxylase, triosephosphate isomerase, and phosphoglucose isomerase, as described in Hess et al., J. Adv. Enzyme Reg. (1968) 7:149 and Holland et al., Biochemistry (1978) 17:4900. Inducible yeast promoters having the additional advantage of transcription controlled by growth conditions, include from the list above and others the promoter regions for alcohol dehydrogenase 2, isocytochrome C, acid phosphatase, degradative enzymes associated with nitrogen metabolism, metallothionein, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and enzymes responsible for maltose and galactose utilization. Suitable vectors and promoters for use in yeast expression are further described in Hitzeman, EP 073,657. Yeast enhancers also are advantageously used with yeast promoters. In addition, synthetic promoters which do not occur in nature also function as yeast promoters. For example, upstream activating sequences (UAS) of one yeast promoter may be joined with the transcription activation region of another yeast promoter, creating a synthetic hybrid promoter. Examples of such hybrid promoters include the ADH regulatory sequence linked to the GAP transcription activation region, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,876,197 and 4,880,734. Other examples of hybrid promoters include promoters which consist of the regulatory sequences of either the ADH2, GAL4, GAL10, or PHO5 genes, combined with the transcriptional activation region of a glycolytic enzyme gene such as GAP or PyK, as described in EP 164,556. Furthermore, a yeast promoter can include naturally occurring promoters of non-yeast origin that have the ability to bind yeast RNA polymerase and initiate transcription.

Other control elements which may be included in the yeast expression vectors are terminators, for example, from GAPDH and from the enolase gene, as described in Holland et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1981) 256:1385, and leader sequences which encode signal sequences for secretion. DNA encoding suitable signal sequences can be derived from genes for secreted yeast proteins, such as the yeast invertase gene as described in EP 012,873 and JP 62,096,086 and the .alpha.-factor gene, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,588,684, 4,546,083 and 4,870,008; EP 324,274; and WO 89/02463. Alternatively, leaders of non-yeast origin, such as an interferon leader, also provide for secretion in yeast, as described in EP 060,057.

Methods of introducing exogenous DNA into yeast hosts are well known in the art, and typically include either the transformation of spheroplasts or of intact yeast cells treated with alkali cations. Transformations into yeast can be carried out according to the method described in Van Solingen et al., J. Bact. (1977) 130:946 and Hsiao et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1979) 76:3829. However, other methods for introducing DNA into cells such as by nuclear injection, electroporation, or protoplast fusion may also be used as described generally in Sambrook et al., cited above.

For yeast secretion the native polypeptide signal sequence may be substituted by the yeast invertase, .alpha.-factor, or acid phosphatase leaders. The origin of replication from the 2.mu. plasmid origin is suitable for yeast. A suitable selection gene for use in yeast is the trp1 gene present in the yeast plasmid described in Kingsman et al., Gene (1979) 7:141 or Tschemper et al., Gene (1980) 10:157. The trp1 gene provides a selection marker for a mutant strain of yeast lacking the ability to grow in tryptophan. Similarly, Leu2-deficient yeast strains (ATCC 20,622 or 38,626) are complemented by known plasmids bearing the Leu2 Gene.

For intracellular production of the present polypeptides in yeast, a sequence encoding a yeast protein can be linked to a coding sequence for the Fab molecule to produce a fusion protein that can be cleaved intracellularly by the yeast cells upon expression. An example, of such a yeast leader sequence is the yeast ubiquitin gene.

iii. Expression in Insect Cells

The Fab molecules can also be produced in insect expression systems. For example, baculovirus expression vectors (BEVs) are recombinant insect viruses in which the coding sequence for a foreign gene to be expressed is inserted behind a baculovirus promoter in place of a viral gene, e.g., polyhedrin, as described in Smith and Summers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,051.

An expression construct herein includes a DNA vector useful as an intermediate for the infection or transformation of an insect cell system, the vector generally containing DNA coding for a baculovirus transcriptional promoter, optionally but preferably, followed downstream by an insect signal DNA sequence capable of directing secretion of a desired protein, and a site for insertion of the foreign gene encoding the foreign protein, the signal DNA sequence and the foreign gene being placed under the transcriptional control of a baculovirus promoter, the foreign gene herein being the coding sequence of the Fab molecule.

The promoter for use herein can be a baculovirus transcriptional promoter region derived from any of the over 500 baculoviruses generally infecting insects, such as, for example, the Orders Lepidoptera, Diptera, Orthoptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera including, for example, but not limited to the viral DNAs of Autographo californica MNPV, Bombyx mori NPV, rrichoplusia ni MNPV, Rachlplusia ou MNPV or Galleria mellonella MNPV, Aedes aegypti, Drosophila melanogaster, Spodoptera frugiperda, and Trichoplusia ni. Thus, the baculovirus transcriptional promoter can be, for example, a baculovirus immediate-early gene IEI or IEN promoter; an immediate-early gene in combination with a baculovirus delayed-early gene promoter region selected from the group consisting of a 39K and a HindIII fragment containing a delayed-early gene; or a baculovirus late gene promoter. The immediate-early or delayed-early promoters can be enhanced with transcriptional enhancer elements.

Particularly suitable for use herein is the strong polyhedrin promoter of the baculovirus, which directs a high level of expression of a DNA insert, as described in Friesen et al. (1986) "The Regulation of Baculovirus Gene Expression" in: THE MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF BACULOVIRUSES (W. Doerfler, ed.); EP 127,839 and EP 155,476; and the promoter from the gene encoding the p10 protein, as described in Vlak et al., J. Gen. Virol. (1988) 69:765-776.

The plasmid for use herein usually also contains the polyhedrin polyadenylation signal, as described in Miller et al., Ann. Rev. Microbiol. (1988) 42:177 and a procaryotic ampicillin-resistance (amp) gene and an origin of replication for selection and propagation in E. coli. DNA encoding suitable signal sequences can also be included and is generally derived from genes for secreted insect or baculovirus proteins, such as the baculovirus polyhedrin gene, as described in Carbonell et al., Gene (1988) 73:409, as well as mammalian signal sequences such as those derived from genes encoding human .alpha.-interferon as described in Maeda et al., Nature (1985) 315:592-594; human gastrin-releasing peptide, as described in Lebacq-Verheyden et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. (1988) 8:3129; human IL-2, as described in Smith et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1985) 82:8404; mouse IL-3, as described in Miyajima et al., Gene (1987) 58:273; and human glucocerebrosidase, as described in Martin et al., DNA (1988) 7:99.

Numerous baculoviral strains and variants and corresponding permissive insect host cells from hosts such as Spodoptera frugiperda (caterpillar), Aedes aegypti (mosquito), Aedes albopictus (mosquito), Drosophila melanogaster (fruitfly), and Bombyx mori host cells have been identified and can be used herein. See, for example, the description in Luckow et al., Bio/Technology (1988) 6:47-55, Miller et al., in GENETIC ENGINEERING (Setlow, J. K. et al. eds.), Vol. 8 (Plenum Publishing, 1986), pp. 277-279, and Maeda et al., Nature (1985) 315:592-594. A variety of such viral strains are publicly available, e.g., the L-1 variant of Autographa californica NPV and the Bm-5 strain of Bombyx mori NPV. Such viruses may be used as the virus for transfection of host cells such as Spodoptera frugiperda cells.

Other baculovirus genes in addition to the polyhedrin promoter may be employed in a baculovirus expression system. These include immediate-early (alpha), delayed-early (beta), late (gamma), or very late (delta), according to the phase of the viral infection during which they are expressed. The expression of these genes occurs sequentially, probably as the result of a "cascade" mechanism of transcriptional regulation. Thus, the immediate-early genes are expressed immediately after infection, in the absence of other viral functions, and one or more of the resulting gene products induces transcription of the delayed-early genes. Some delayed-early gene products, in turn, induce transcription of late genes, and finally, the very late genes are expressed under the control of previously expressed gene products from one or more of the earlier classes. One relatively well defined component of this regulatory cascade is IEI, a preferred immediate-early gene of Autographo californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV). IEI is pressed in the absence of other viral functions and encodes a product that stimulates the transcription of several genes of the delayed-early class, including the preferred 39K gene, as described in Guarino and Summers, J. Virol. (1986) 57:563-571 and J. Virol. (1987) 61:2091-2099 as well as late genes, as described in Guanno and Summers, Virol. (1988) 162:444-451.

Immediate-early genes as described above can be used in combination with a baculovirus gene promoter region of the delayed-early category. Unlike the immediate-early genes, such delayed-early genes require the presence of other viral genes or gene products such as those of the immediate-early genes. The combination of immediate-early genes can be made with any of several delayed-early gene promoter regions such as 39K or one of the delayed-early gene promoters found on the HindIII fragment of the baculovirus genome. In the present instance, the 39 K promoter region can be linked to the foreign gene to be expressed such that expression can be further controlled by the presence of IEI, as described in L. A. Guarino and Summers (1986a), cited above; Guarino & Summers (1986b) J. Virol. (1986) 60:215-223, and Guarino et al. (1986c) J. Virol. (1986) 60:224-229.

Additionally, when a combination of immediate-early genes with a delayed-early gene promoter region is used, enhancement of the expression of heterologous genes can be realized by the presence of an enhancer sequence in direct cis linkage with the delayed-early gene promoter region. Such enhancer sequences are characterized by their enhancement of delayed-early gene expression in situations where the immediate-early gene or its product is limited. For example, the hr5 enhancer sequence can be linked directly, in cis, to the delayed-early gene promoter region, 39K, thereby enhancing the expression of the cloned heterologous DNA as described in Guarino and Summers (1986a), (1986b), and Guarino et al. (1986).

The polyhedrin gene is classified as a very late gene. Therefore, transcription from the polyhedrin promoter requires the previous expression of an unknown, but probably large number of other viral and cellular gene products. Because of this delayed expression of the polyhedrin promoter, state-of-the-art BEVs, such as the exemplary BEV system described by Smith and Summers in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,051 will express foreign genes only as a result of gene expression from the rest of the viral genome, and only after the viral infection is well underway. This represents a limitation to the use of existing BEVs. The ability of the host cell to process newly synthesized proteins decreases as the baculovirus infection progresses. Thus, gene expression from the polyhedrin promoter occurs at a time when the host cell's ability to process newly synthesized proteins is potentially diminished for certain proteins such as human tissue plasminogen activator. As a consequence, the expression of secretory glycoproteins in BEV systems is complicated due to incomplete secretion of the cloned gene product, thereby trapping the cloned gene product within the cell in an incompletely processed form.

While it has been recognized that an insect signal sequence can be used to express a foreign protein that can be cleaved to produce a mature protein, the present invention can also be practiced with a mammalian signal sequence.

An exemplary insect signal sequence suitable herein is the sequence encoding for a Lepidopteran adipokinetic hormone (AKH) peptide. The AKH family consists of short blocked neuropeptides that regulate energy substrate mobilization and metabolism in insects. In a preferred embodiment, a DNA sequence coding for a Lepidopteran Manduca sexta AKH signal peptide can be used. Other insect AKH signal peptides, such as those from the Orthoptera Schistocerca gregaria locus can also be employed to advantage. Another exemplary insect signal sequence is the sequence coding for Drosophila cuticle proteins such as CP1, CP2, CP3 or CP4.

Currently, the most commonly used transfer vector that can be used herein for introducing foreign genes into AcNPV is pAc373. Many other vectors, known to those of skill in the art, can also be used herein. Materials and methods for baculovirus/insect cell expression systems are commercially available in a kit form from companies such as Invitrogen (San Diego Calif.) ("MaxBac" kit). The techniques utilized herein are generally known to those skilled in the art and are fully described in Summers and Smith, A MANUAL OF METHODS FOR BACULOVIRUS VECTORS AND INSECT CELL CULTURE PROCEDURES, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin No. 1555, Texas A&M University (1987); Smith et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. (1983), and Luckow and Summers (1989). These include, for example, the use of pVL985 which alters the polyhedrin start codon from ATG to ATT, and which introduces a BamHI cloning site 32 basepairs downstream from the ATT, as described in Luckow and Summers, Virology (1989) 17:31.

Thus, for example, for insect cell expression of the present polypeptides, the desired DNA sequence can be inserted into the transfer vector, using known techniques. An insect cell host can be cotransformed with the transfer vector containing the inserted desired DNA together with the genomic DNA of wild type baculovirus, usually by cotransfection. The vector and viral genome are allowed to recombine resulting in a recombinant virus that can be easily identified and purified. The packaged recombinant virus can be used to infect insect host cells to express a Fab molecule.

Other methods that are applicable herein are the standard methods of insect cell culture, cotransfection and preparation of plasmids are set forth in Summers and Smith (1987), cited above. This reference also pertains to the standard methods of cloning genes into AcMNPV transfer vectors, plasmid DNA isolation, transferring genes into the AcmMNPV genome, viral DNA purification, radiolabeling recombinant proteins and preparation of insect cell culture media. The procedure for the cultivation of viruses and cells are described in Volkman and Summers, J. Virol. (1975) 19:820-832 and Volkman et al., J. Virol. (1976) 19:820-832.

iv. Expression in Mammalian Cells

Mammalian expression systems can also be used to produce the Fab molecules. Typical promoters for mammalian cell expression include the SV40 early promoter, the CMV promoter, the mouse mammary tumor virus LTR promoter, the adenovirus major late promoter (Ad MLP), and the herpes simplex virus promoter, among others. Other non-viral promoters, such as a promoter derived from the murine metallothionein gene, will also find use in mammalian constructs. Mammalian expression may be either constitutive or regulated (inducible), depending on the promoter. Typically, transcription termination and polyadenylation sequences will also be present, located 3' to the translation stop codon. Preferably, a sequence for optimization of initiation of translation, located 5' to the Fab coding sequence, is also present. Examples of transcription terminator/polyadenylation signals include those derived from SV40, as described in Sambrook et al. (1989) MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL, 2d edition, (Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.). Introns, containing splice donor and acceptor sites, may also be designed into the constructs of the present invention.

Enhancer elements can also be used herein to increase expression levels of the mammalian constructs. Examples include the SV40 early gene enhancer, as described in Dijkema et al., EMBO J. (1985) 4: 761 and the enhancer/promoter derived from the long terminal repeat (LTR) of the Rous Sarcoma Virus, as described in Gorman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1982b) 79:6777 and human cytomegalovirus, as described in Boshart et al., Cell (1985) 41:521. A leader sequence can also be present which includes a sequence encoding a signal peptide, to provide for the secretion of the foreign protein in mammalian cells. Preferably, there are processing sites encoded between the leader fragment and the gene of interest such that the leader sequence can be cleaved either in vivo or in vitro. The adenovirus tripartite leader is an example of a leader sequence that provides for secretion of a foreign protein in mammalian cells.

There exist expression vectors that provide for the transient expression in mammalian cells of DNA encoding the Fab molecules. In general, transient expression involves the use of an expression vector that is able to replicate efficiently in a host cell, such that the host cell accumulates many copies of the expression vector and, in turn, synthesizes high levels of a desired polypeptide encoded by the expression vector. Transient expression systems, comprising a suitable expression vector and a host cell, allow for the convenient positive identification of polypeptides encoded by cloned DNAs, as well as for the rapid screening of such polypeptides for desired biological or physiological properties. Once complete, the mammalian expression vectors can be used to transform any of several mammalian cells. Methods for introduction of heterologous polynucleotides into mammalian cells are known in the art and include dextran-mediated transfection, calcium phosphate precipitation, polybrene mediated transfection, protoplast fusion, electroporation, encapsulation of the polynucleotide(s) in liposomes, and direct microinjection of the DNA into nuclei. General aspects of mammalian cell host system transformations have been described by Axel in U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,216. A synthetic lipid particularly useful for polynucleotide transfection is N-[1-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride, which is commercially available under the name Lipofectin.RTM. (available from BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.), and is described by Felgner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1987) 84:7413.

Mammalian cell lines available as hosts for expression are also known and include many immortalized cell lines available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), including but not limited to, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, HeLa cells, baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, monkey kidney cells (COS), human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (e.g., Hep G2), human embryonic kidney cells, baby hamster kidney cells, mouse sertoli cells, canine kidney cells, buffalo rat liver cells, human lung cells, human liver cells, mouse mammary tumor cells, as well as others. The mammalian host cells used to produce the Fab molecules of this invention may be cultured in a variety of media. Commercially available media such as Ham's F10 (Sigma), Minimal Essential Medium ([MEM], Sigma), RPMI-1640 (Sigma), and Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium ([DMEMl, Sigma) are suitable for culturing the host cells. In addition, any of the media described in Ham and Wallace, Meth. Enz. (1979) 58:44, Barnes and Sato, Anal. Biochem. (1980) 102:255, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,767,704, 4,657,866, 4,927,762, or 4,560,655, WO 90/103430, WO 87/00195, and U.S. Pat. No. RE 30,985, may be used as culture media for the host cells. Any of these media may be supplemented as necessary with hormones and/or other growth factors such as insulin, transferrin, or epidermal growth factor, salts (such as sodium chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate), buffers (such as HEPES), nucleosides (such as adenosine and thymidine), antibiotics (such as Gentamycin(tm) M drug), trace elements (defined as inorganic compounds usually present at final concentrations in the micromolar range), and glucose or an equivalent energy source. Any other necessary supplements may also be included at appropriate concentrations that would be known to those skilled in the art. The culture conditions, such as temperature, Ph, and the like, are those previously used with the host cell selected for expression, and will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan.

Preparing Specific Binding Molecules

Using the above techniques, a number of specific binding molecules that exhibit immunological binding affinity for HCV E2 antigen can be provided. In particular, depending on the expression system and host selected, soluble Fab specific binding molecules can be readily produced by growing host cells transformed by an expression vector described above under conditions whereby the heavy and light chain portions are expressed. Heterodimers comprising noncovalently associated heavy and light chains can be isolated from the host cells and purified. Since the present invention also provides for the optional secretion of the heavy and light chain polypeptides, the Fab heterodimers can be purified directly from the media. The selection of the appropriate growth conditions and recovery methods are within the skill of the art.

In addition, the Fab molecules of the present invention can be produced using conventional methods of protein synthesis, based on the ascertained amino acid sequences. In general, these methods employ the sequential addition of one or more amino acids to a growing peptide chain. Normally, either the amino or carboxyl group of the first amino acid is protected by a suitable protecting group. The protected or derivatized amino acid can then be either attached to an inert solid support or utilized in solution by adding the next amino acid in the sequence having the complementary (amino or carboxyl) group suitably protected, under conditions that allow for the formation of an amide linkage. The protecting group is then removed from the newly added amino acid residue and the next amino acid (suitably protected) is then added, and so forth. After the desired amino acids have been linked in the proper sequence, any remaining protecting groups (and any solid support, if solid phase synthesis techniques are used) are removed sequentially or concurrently, to render the final polypeptide. By simple modification of this general procedure, it is possible to add more than one amino acid at a time to a growing chain, for example, by coupling (under conditions which do not racemize chiral centers) a protected tripeptide with a properly protected dipeptide to form, after deprotection, a pentapeptide. See, e.g., J. M. Stewart and J. D. Young, Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, 2nd Ed., Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, Ill. (1984) and G. Barany and R. B. Merrifield, The Peptides: Analysis, Synthesis, Biology, editors E. Gross and J. Meienhofer, Vol. 2, Academic Press, New York, (1980), pp. 3-254, for solid phase peptide synthesis techniques; and M. Bodansky, Principles of Peptide Synthesis, Springer-Verlag, Berlin (1984) and E. Gross and J. Meienhofer, Eds., The Peptides: Analysis, Synthesis, Biology, supra, Vol. 1, for classical solution synthesis.

Recombinant human monoclonal antibody specific binding molecules can be prepared from the Fab molecules using known techniques. Bender et al. (1992) Hum Antibod Hybridomas 4:74. In particular, the coding sequence for the heavy chain portion of a selected Fab clone can be inserted into an expression vector along with the coding sequence for the constant domains of a human Ig heavy chain, using the various recombinant techniques described above. For example, the mammalian expression vector pSG5 (Green et al. (1988) Nucleic Acids Res 16:369) can be used for this purpose.

Cloning involves overlap PCR to remove the bacterial leader sequence (from the phagemid vector) and to modify the N-terminus of the heavy chain coding sequence to a human consensus sequence. The coding sequence for the light chain portion of the selected Fab clone can likewise be N-terminal modified to include a human consensus sequence, and cloned into an expression vector such as PSG5. The PSG5 vectors contain an SV40 origin of replication such that, on cotransfection of the heavy and light chain vectors into mammalian cells, such as COS-7 cells, functional antibody molecule production can be confirmed. Burton et al. (1994) Science 266:1024-1027.

The heavy and light chains can subsequently be cloned into separate cloning vectors, and either the heavy or the light chain coding sequence subcloned into the other vector to provide a combinatorial plasmid. For example, the heavy and light chain coding sequences can be respectively inserted into pEE6 and pEE12 vectors (Bebbington et al. (1992) Bio/Technology 10:169) which include a human cytomegalovirus promoter and the glutamine synthetase selectable marker. The heavy chain, along with control elements from the PEE6 vector can then be subcloned into the PEE12 vector to provide a combinatorial plasmid. The combinatorial plasmid can be expressed in a CHO cell expression system. Those clones from the CHO expression system which provide sufficient levels of recombinant antibody production can be selected for scale-up. The recombinant antibodies expressed in the CHO-system can be purified using known techniques (e.g., affinity chromatography using protein A), and the binding affinity of the recombinant specific binding molecules assessed using an ELISA inhibition assay as described above.

Alternatively, the coding sequences for the Fab clones can be transferred into the vectors pcLCHC and pcIgG1, respectively, and then expressed as whole IgG in CHO cells as previously described. Samuelsson et al. (1996) Eur. J. Immunol. 26:3029.

Recombinant F(ab')₂ and recombinant Fv specific binding molecules can also be prepared from the phage-derived Fab clones using known techniques. Fv molecules generally comprise a non-covalently bound heavy chain:light chain heterodimer which includes the antigen-binding portion of the Fab molecule and retains much of the antigen recognition and binding capabilities of native antibody molecules. Inbar et al. (1972) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 69:2659-2662; Hochman et al. (1976) Biochem 15:2706-2710; and Ehrlich et al. (1980) Biochem 19:4091-4096. Typically, the above-noted recombinant techniques used to construct the recombinant monoclonal antibodies can be modified to provide the truncated specific binding molecules. These molecules can also be cloned into CHO expression systems, purified and characterized as above.

The phage-derived Fab clones can further be used to provide single chain Fv (Sfv) molecules using known techniques. These Sfv molecules comprise a covalently linked heavy chain:light chain heterodimer which is expressed from a gene fusion including the heavy and light chain coding sequences obtained from the phage-derived Fab molecule, wherein the chains are linked by a peptide-encoding linker. Huston et al. (1988) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 85(16):5879-5883. A number of methods have been described to discern chemical structures for converting the naturally aggregated--but chemically separated--heavy and light chains into an Sfv molecule which will fold into a three dimensional structure substantially similar to the structure of an antigen-binding site. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,091,513 and 5,132,405, to Huston et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778, to Ladner et al.

In the practice of the invention, recombinant DNA design methods are used to develop appropriate chemical structures for linking the heavy and light chains into the Sfv binding molecule. Design criteria include determination of the appropriate length to span the distance between the C-terminus of one chain and the N-terminus of the other, wherein the linker is generally formed from small hydrophilic amino acid residues that do not tend to coil or form secondary structures. Such methods have been described in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,091,513 and 5,132,405 to Huston et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778 to Ladner et al.

The first general step of linker design involves identification of plausible sites to be linked. Appropriate linkage sites on each of the immunoglobulin chains include those which will result in the minimum loss of residues from the heavy and light chains, and which will necessitate a linker having a minimum number of residues consistent with the need for molecule stability. A pair of sites defines a "gap" to be linked. Linkers connecting the C-terminus of one chain to the N-terminus of the next generally include hydrophilic amino acids which assume an unstructured configuration in physiological solutions and preferably are free of residues having large side groups which might interfere with proper folding of the heavy and light chains. Thus, suitable linkers would include polypeptide chains of alternating sets of glycine and serine residues, and may include glutamic acid and lysine residues inserted to enhance solubility. One particular linker used in the practice of the invention has the amino acid sequence [(Gly)₄ Ser]₃. Another particularly preferred linker has the amino acid sequence comprising 2 or 3 repeats of [(Ser)₄ Gly], such as [(Ser)₄ Gly]₃. Nucleotide sequences encoding such linker moieties can be readily provided using various oligonucleotide synthesis techniques known in the art. See, e.g., Sambrook, and Maniatis, supra.

Once the appropriate linker sequence has been ascertained, nucleotide sequences encoding the Sfv molecules can be joined using an overlap PCR approach. See, e.g., Horton et al. (1990) BioTechniques 8:528-535. The ends of the light and heavy chains that are to be joined through the selected linker sequence are first extended by PCR amplification of each chain, using primers that contain the terminal sequence of the chain region followed by all or most of the desired linker sequence. After this extension step, the light and heavy chains contain overlapping extensions which jointly contain the entire linker sequence, and which can be annealed at the overlap and extended by PCR to obtain the complete Sfv sequence using methods known in the art. Genes present in expression cassettes comprising the sFv sequence can then be expressed in a suitable expression system, and the sFv molecules produced therefrom can be purified and characterized as described above.

Vaccine Compositions

Therapeutic and prophylactic vaccine compositions are provided herein, which generally comprise mixtures of one or more of the above-described anti-HCV monoclonal antibodies, including Fab molecules, Fv fragments, sFv molecules and combinations thereof. The prophylactic vaccines can be used to prevent HCV infection, and the therapeutic vaccines used to treat individuals following HCV infection. Prophylactic uses include the provision of increased antibody titer to HCV in a vaccinated subject. In this manner, subjects at high risk of contracting HCV infection (e.g., immunocompromised individuals, organ transplant patients, individuals obtaining blood or blood product transfusions, and individuals in close personal contact with HCV-infected individuals) can be provided with passive immunity to the HCV agent. Furthermore, due to the cross-reactivity of the monoclonal antibodies, Fab molecules and sFv molecules produced herein, a level of protection is afforded against a number of heterologous HCV isolates. Other prophylactic uses for the present anti-HCV vaccines includes prevention of HCV disease in an individual after exposure to the infectious agent. Therapeutic uses of the present vaccines involve both reduction and/or elimination of the infectious agent from infected individuals, as well as the reduction and/or elimination of circulating HCV and the possible spread of the disease.

The compositions can be administered in conjunction with ancillary immunoregulatory agents, for example, cytokines, lymphokines, and chemokines, including but not limited to IL-2, modified IL-2 (cys125.fwdarw.ser125), GM-CSF, IL-12, .gamma.-interferon, IP-10, MIP1.beta. and RANTES. When the vaccine compositions are used as therapeutic vaccines, the compositions can be administered in conjunction with known anti-HCV therapeutics, such as .alpha.-interferon (.alpha.-IFN) therapy which generally entails administration of 3 million units of .alpha.-IFN three times a week subcutaneously (Causse et al. (1991) Gastroenterology 101:497-502, Davis et al. (1989) N Engl J Med 321:1501-1506, Marcellin et al. (1991) Hepatology 13:393-397), interferon .beta. (.beta.-IFN) therapy (Omata et al. (1991) Lancet 338:914-915), ribivirin therapy (Di Bisceglie et al. (1992) Hepatology 16:649-654, Reichard et al. (1991) Lancet 337:1058-1061) and antisense therapy (Wakita et al. (1994) J Biol Chem 269:14205-14210). Therapeutic vaccine compositions comprising the present monoclonal antibodies can also be used in conjunction with known anti-HCV combination therapies, for example, the combination of .alpha.-IFN and ursodiol (Bottelli et al. (1993) (Abstr.) Gastroenterology 104:879, O'Brien et al. (1993) (Abstr.) Gastroenterology 104:966) and the combination of .beta.-IFN and ribivirin (Kakumu et al. (1993) Gastroenterology 105:507-512).

The preparation of vaccine compositions containing one or more antibodies, antibody fragments, sFv molecules or combinations thereof, as the active ingredient is generally known to those of skill in the art. Typically, such vaccines are prepared as injectables (e.g., either as liquid solutions or suspensions or as solid forms suitable for solution or suspension in liquids prior to injection). The compositions will generally also include one or more "pharmaceutically acceptable excipients or vehicles" such as water, saline, dextrose, glycerol, ethanol, or the like and combinations thereof. Additionally, minor amounts of auxiliary substances, such as wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering substances, and the like, may be present in such vehicles. The vaccine compositions may be emulsified or the active ingredient (monoclonal antibodies) may be encapsulated in liposomes.

Once formulated, the vaccine compositions are conventionally administered parenterally, e.g., by injection (either subcutaneously or intramuscularly). Additional formulations suitable for other modes of administration include oral and pulmonary formulations, suppositories, and transdermal applications. For suppositories, traditional binders and carriers may include, for example, polyalkylene glycols or triglycerides. Such suppository formulations may be provided from mixtures containing the active ingredient(s) in the range of 0.5% to 10%, preferably 1%-2%. Oral formulations include such normally employed excipients as, for example, pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharine, cellulose, magnesium carbonate, and the like.

The vaccine compositions are administered to the subject to be treated in a manner compatible with the dosage formulation, and in an amount that will be prophylactically and/or therapeutically effective. The amount of the composition to be delivered, generally in the range of from 1 to 500 micrograms of active agent per dose, depends on the subject to be treated, the capacity of the subject's immune system to mount its own immune-responses, and the degree of protection desired. The exact amount necessary will vary depending on the age and general condition of the individual to be treated, the severity of the condition being treated and the particular anti-HCV agent selected and its mode of administration, among other factors. An appropriate effective amount can be readily determined by one of skill in the art. Thus, a "therapeutically effective amount" of the composition will be sufficient to bring about treatment or prevention of HCV disease symptoms, and will fall in a relatively broad range that can be determined through routine trials.

In addition, the vaccine compositions can be given in a single dose schedule, or preferably in a multiple dose schedule. A multiple dose schedule is one in which a primary course of vaccination may be with 1-10 separate doses, followed by other doses given at subsequent time intervals needed to maintain or reinforce the action of the compositions. Thus, the dosage regimen will also, at least in part, be determined based on the particular needs of the subject to be treated and will be dependent upon the judgement of the reasonably skilled practitioner.

Gene Therapy

The recombinant monoclonal antibodies can also be used for gene therapy. In this regard, genes encoding the recombinant antibodies can be introduced into a suitable mammalian host cell for expression or coexpression using a number of viral based systems which have been developed for gene transfer into mammalian cells. For example, retroviruses provide a convenient platform for gene delivery systems. A selected nucleotide sequence encoding a V_H and/or a V_L domain polypeptide can be inserted into a vector and packaged in retroviral particles using techniques known in the art. The recombinant virus can then be isolated and delivered to a subject. A number of suitable retroviral systems have been described (U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,740; Miller and Rosman (1989) BioTechniques 7:980-990; Miller, A. D. (1990) Human Gene Therapy 1:5-14; Scarpa et al. (1991) Virology 180:849-852; Burns et al. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:8033-8037; and Boris-Lawrie and Temin (1993) Cur. Opin. Genet. Develop. 3:102-109. Particularly preferred methods for producing and using retroviral vectors for gene therapy herein are described, for example, in International Publication No. WO 91/02805, published Mar. 7, 1991, and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/404,796, filed Mar. 15, 1995 for "Eukarotic Layered Vector Initiation Systems;" Ser. No. 08/405,627, filed Mar. 15, 1995 for "Recombinant .alpha.-Viral Vectors;" and Ser. No. 08/156,789, filed Nov. 23, 1993 for "Packaging Cells."

A number of suitable adenovirus vectors have also been described. Unlike retroviruses which integrate into the host genome, adenoviruses persist extrachromosomally thus minimizing the risks associated with insertional mutagenesis (Haj-Ahmad and Graham (1986) J. Virol. 57:267-274; Bett et al. (1993) J. Virol. 67:5911-5921; Mittereder et al. (1994) Human Gene Therapy 5:717-729; Seth et al. (1994) J. Virol. 68:933-940; Barr et al. (1994) Gene Therapy 1:51-58; Berkner, K. L. (1988) BioTechniques 6:616-629; and Rich et al. (1993) Human Gene Therapy 4:461-476).

Various adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector systems have been developed recently for gene delivery. Such systems can include control sequences, such as promoter and polyadenylation sites, as well as selectable markers or reporter genes, enhancer sequences, and other control elements which allow for the induction of transcription. AAV vectors can be readily constructed using techniques well known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,173,414 and 5,139,941; International Publication Nos. WO 92/01070 (published Jan. 23, 1992) and WO 93/03769 (published Mar. 4, 1993); Lebkowski et al. (1988) Molec. Cell. Biol. 8:3988-3996; Vincent et al. (1990) Vaccines 90 (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press); Carter, B. J. (1992) Current Opinion in Biotechnology 3:533-539; Muzyczka, N. (1992) Current Topics in Microbiol. and Immunol. 158:97-129; Kotin, R. M. (1994) Human Gene Therapy 5:793-801; Shelling and Smith (1994) Gene Therapy 1:165-169; and Zhou et al. (1994) J. Exp. Med. 179:1867-1875.

Additional viral vectors which will find use for delivering the present nucleic acid molecules encoding the Fab molecules include those derived from the pox family of viruses, including vaccinia virus and avian poxvirus. By way of example, vaccinia virus recombinants expressing the genes can be constructed as follows. The DNA encoding the particular Fab molecule is first inserted into an appropriate vector so that it is adjacent to a vaccinia promoter and flanking vaccinia DNA sequences, such as the sequence encoding thymidine kinase (TK). This vector is then used to transfect cells which are simultaneously infected with vaccinia. Homologous recombination serves to insert the vaccinia promoter plus the gene encoding the Fab molecule into the viral genome. The resulting TK^- recombinant can be selected by culturing the cells in the presence of 5-bromodeoxyuridine and picking viral plaques resistant thereto.

A vaccinia based infection/transfection system can be conveniently used to provide for inducible, transient expression of the Fab molecules in a host cell. In this system, cells are first infected in vitro with a vaccinia virus recombinant that encodes the bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase. This polymerase displays exquisite specificity in that it only transcribes templates bearing T7 promoters. Following infection, cells are transfected with the polynucleotide of interest, driven by a T7 promoter. The polymerase expressed in the cytoplasm from the vaccinia virus recombinant transcribes the transfected DNA into RNA which is then translated into protein by the host translational machinery. The method provides for high level, transient, cytoplasmic production of large quantities of RNA and its translation products. See, e.g., Elroy-Stein and Moss, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1990) 87:6743-6747; Fuerst et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1986) 83:8122-8126.

Alternatively, avipoxviruses, such as the fowlpox and canarypox viruses, can also be used to deliver the Fab-encoding nucleotide sequences. The use of an avipox vector is particularly desirable in human and other mammalian species since members of the avipox genus can only productively replicate in susceptible avian species and therefore are not infective in mammalian cells. Methods for producing recombinant avipoxviruses are known in the art and employ genetic recombination, as described above with respect to the production of vaccinia viruses. See, e.g., the International Publications WO 91/12882; WO 89/03429, published Apr. 20, 1989; and WO 92/03545, published Mar. 5, 1992.

Molecular conjugate vectors, such as the adenovirus chimeric vectors described in Michael et al. J. Biol. Chem. (1993) 268:6866-6869 and Wagner et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1992) 89:6099-6103, can also be used for gene delivery under the invention.

Assay Reagents and Diagnostic Kits

The above-described anti-HCV binding molecules (the recombinant monoclonal antibodies, including Fab molecules, Fv fragments and sFv molecules) which are capable of reacting immunologically with samples containing HCV particles are also used herein to detect the presence of HCV viral particles and/or viral antigens in specific binding assays of biological samples. In particular, the novel specific binding molecules of the present invention can be used in highly sensitive methods for screening and identifying individuals carrying and/or infected with HCV, as well as for screening for HCV-contaminated blood or blood products. The present binding molecules can also be used in assays for monitoring the progress of anti-HCV therapies in treated individuals, and for monitoring the growth rate of HCV cultures used in research and investigation of the HCV agent.

The format of specific binding assays will be subject to a great deal of variation in accordance with procedures that are well known in the art. For example, specific binding assays can be formatted to utilize one, or a mixture of several, of the recombinant human monoclonal antibodies, (including Fab molecules, Fv fragments as well as sFv molecules) that have been prepared according to the present invention. The assay format can be generally based, for example, upon competition, direct binding reaction or sandwich-type assay techniques. Furthermore, the present assays can be conducted using immunoprecipitation or other techniques to separate assay reagents during, or after commencement of, the assay. Other assays can be conducted using specific binding molecules that have been insolubilized prior to commencement of the assay. In this regard, a number of insolubilization techniques are well known in the art, including, without limitation, insolubilization by adsorption to an immunoadsorbant or the like, absorption by contact with the wall of a reaction vessel, covalent crosslinking to insoluble matrices or "solid phase" substrates, noncovalent attachment to solid phase substrates using ionic or hydrophobic interactions, or by aggregation using precipitants such as polyethylene glycol or cross-linking agents such as glutaraldehyde.

There are a large number of solid phase substrates which can be selected for use in the present assays by those skilled in the art. For example, latex particles, microparticles, magnetic-, para-magnetic- or nonmagnetic-beads, membranes, plastic tubes, walls of microtitre wells, glass or silicon particles and sheep red blood cells all are suitable for use herein.

In general, most of the present assays involve the use of a labeled binding complex formed from the combination of a specific binding molecule (recombinant monoclonal antibodies, Fab fragments, Fv fragments and sFv molecules) with a detectable label moiety. A number of such labels are known in the art and can be readily attached (either using covalent or non-covalent association techniques) to the binding molecules of the present invention to provide a binding complex for use in the above-noted assay formats. Suitable detectable moieties include, but are not limited to, radioactive isotopes, fluorescers, luminescent compounds (e.g., fluorescein and rhodamine), chemiluminescers (e.g., acridinium, phenanthridinium and dioxetane compounds), enzymes (e.g., alkaline phosphatase, horseradish peroxidase and beta-galactosidase), enzyme substrates, enzyme cofactors, enzyme inhibitors, dyes, and metal ions. These labels can be associated with the binding molecules using attachment techniques that are known in the art.

Exemplary assay methods generally involve the steps of: (1) preparing the detectably labeled binding complexes as above; (2) obtaining a sample suspected of containing HCV particles and/or HCV antigen; (3) incubating the sample with the labeled complexes under conditions which allow for the formation of a specific binding molecule-antigen complex (e.g., an antibody-antigen complex); and (4) detecting the presence or absence of labeled binding molecule-antigen complexes. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art upon the reading of this specification, such assays can be used to screen for the presence of HCV infection in human donor blood and serum products, for monitoring the growth rate of HCV cultures in diagnostic and/or research settings, for detecting HCV infection in an individual, or for monitoring the therapeutic effect of an anti-HCV treatment protocol in an infected subject. When the assays are used in the clinical setting, e.g., for detecting HCV infection or monitoring anti-HCV therapies, samples can be obtained from human and animal body fluids, such as whole blood, serum, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, urine and the like. Furthermore, the assays can be readily used to provide quantitative information using reference to standards or calibrants as known in the art.

In one particular assay method of the invention, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) can be used to quantify an HCV antigen concentration in a sample. In the method, the specific binding molecules of the present invention are conjugated to an enzyme to provide a labeled binding complex, wherein the assay uses the bound enzyme as a quantitative label. In order to measure antigen, a binding molecule capable of specifically binding the selected HCV antigen (e.g., an antibody molecule) is immobilized to a solid phase substrate (e.g., a microtitre plate or plastic cup), incubated with test sample dilutions, washed and incubated with the binding molecule-enzyme complexes of the invention, and then washed again. In this regard, suitable enzyme labels are generally known, including, for example, horseradish peroxidase. Enzyme activity bound to the solid phase is measured by adding the specific enzyme substrate, and determining product formation or substrate utilization colorimetrically. The enzyme activity bound to the solid phase substrate is a direct function of the amount of antigen present in the sample.

In another particular assay method of the invention, the presence of HCV in a biological sample (e.g., as an indicator of HCV infection) can be detected using strip immunoblot assay (SIA) techniques, such as those known in the art which combine traditional Western and dot blotting techniques, e.g., the RIBA.RTM. (Chiron Corp., Emeryville, Calif.) test. In these assays, one or more of the specific binding molecules (the recombinant monoclonal antibodies, including Fab molecules) are immobilized as individual, discrete bands on a membranous support test strip. Visualization of reactivity with HCV particles present in the biological sample is accomplished using sandwich binding techniques with labeled antibody-conjugates in conjunction with a colorimetric enzyme substrate. Internal controls can also be present on the strip. The assay can be performed manually or used in an automated format.

Furthermore, the recombinant human monoclonal antibodies, (including Fab molecules, Fv fragments as well as sFv molecules) that have been prepared according to the present invention can be used in affinity chromatography techniques in order to detect the presence of HCV in a biological sample. Such methods are well known in the art.

Kits suitable for use in conducting any of the above-described assays and affinity chromatography techniques, and containing appropriate labeled binding molecule complex reagents can also be provided in accordance with the practice of the invention. Assay kits are assembled by packaging the appropriate materials, including all reagents and materials necessary for conducting the assay in a suitable container, along with an appropriate set of assay instructions.

Claim 1 of 76 Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a human Fab molecule, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises:

a first nucleotide sequence encoding a first polypeptide that is a binding portion of a .gamma.1 heavy chain variable region (V_H) of said human Fab molecule where said heavy chain region exhibits immunological binding affinity for a hepatitis C Virus (HCV) E2 antigen; and wherein the first polypeptide comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:7; and

a second nucleotide sequence encoding a second polypeptide that is a binding portion of a .kappa. light chain variable region (V_K) of said human Fab molecule where said light chain variable region exhibits immunological binding affinity for a hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 antigen, and wherein the second polypeptide comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13 and SEQ ID NO:14, and wherein said Fab molecules have binding affinity greater than 1x10⁷ M^-1 for HCV E2.

____________________________________________
If you want to learn more about this patent, please go directly to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Web site to access the full patent.