Using nucleic acids encoding mutant SEA and SEB exotoxins from Staphylococcus aureus, compositions and methods for use in inducing an immune response which is protective against staphylococcal aureus intoxication in subjects is described.

Description of the Invention

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies the need discussed above. The present invention relates to a method and composition for use in inducing an immune response which is protective against intoxication with Staphylococcus aureus.

In this application is described a vaccine strategy where a gene coding for a protein of interest is cloned in a VEE virus vector in place of the VEE virus structural genes; the result is a self-replicating RNA molecule, a replicon, that encodes its own replicase and transcriptase functions, and in addition makes abundant quantities of mRNA encoding the foreign protein. When replicon RNA is transfected into eukaryotic cells along with two helper RNAs that express the VEE structural proteins (glycoproteins and nucleocapsid), the replicon RNA is packaged into VEE virus-like particles by the VEE virus structural proteins, which are provided in trans. Since the helper RNAs lack packaging signals neccessary for further propagation, the resulting VEE replicon particles (VRPs) which are produced are infectious for one cycle but are defective thereafter. Upon infection of an individual cell with a VRP, an abortive infection occurs in which the infected cell produces the protein of interest in abundance, is ultimately killed by the infection, but does not produce any viral progeny (Pushko et al., 1997, Virology 239, 389-401).

Genes encoding a mutant SEA (mSEA) exotoxin and a mutant SEB (mSEB) exotoxin were each inserted into the VEE replicon vaccine vector (FIG. 1 (see Original Patent)). The mutant gene product is unable to bind to the MHC on T-cells (Bavari, et al., 1996, Vaccines 96, 135-141). Evaluation of the mSEA-replicon and mSEB-replicon in vitro have shown high level expression of both bacterial proteins. Balb/c mice immunized with the mSEB-replicon produced high specific antibody titers and were protected when challenged intraperitoneally with wild type SEB.

Therefore, it is one object of the present invention to provide a VEE virus replicon vector comprising a VEE virus replicon and a DNA fragment encoding a mutant SEA exotoxin or a mutant SEB exotoxin.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a self replicating RNA comprising the VEE virus replicon and any of the SEA or SEB fragments described above.

It is another object of the present invention to provide infectious VEE virus replicon particles produced from the VEE virus replicon RNA described above.

It is further an object of the invention to provide an immunological composition for the protection of mammals against Staphylococcus aureus intoxication comprising VEE virus replicon particles containing any of the Staphylococcus aureus fragments described above or a combination of different VEE virus replicons each having a different Staphylococcus aureus fragment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the description that follows, a number of terms used in recombinant DNA, virology and immunology are extensively utilized. In order to provide a clearer and consistent understanding of the specification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms, the following definitions are provided.

Replicon. A replicon is equivalent to a full length virus from which all of the viral structural proteins have been deleted. A multiple cloning site can be cloned into the site previously occupied by the structural protein genes. Virtually any heterologous gene may be cloned into this cloning site. Transcription of the RNA from the replicon yields an RNA capable of initiating infection of the cell identically to that seen with the full-length infectious virus clone. However, in lieu of the viral structural proteins, the heterologous antigen is expressed. This system does not yield any progeny virus particles because there are no viral structural proteins available to package the RNA into particles.

Particles which appear structurally identical to virus particles can be produced by supplying structural proteins for packaging of the replicon RNA in trans. This is typically done with two helpers also called defective helper RNAs. One helper consists of a full length infectious clone from which the nonstructural protein genes and the glycoprotein genes are deleted. The helper retains only the terminal nucleotide sequences, the promoter for subgenomic mRNA transcription and the sequences for the viral nucleocapsid protein. The second helper is identical to the first except that the nucleocapsid gene is deleted and only the glycoprotein genes are retained. The helper RNA's are transcribed in vitro and co-transfected with replicon RNA. Because the replicon RNA retains the sequences for packaging by the nucleocapsid protein, and because the helpers lack these sequences, only the replicon RNA is packaged by the viral structural proteins and released from the cell. The particles can then be inoculated into animals similar to parent virus. The replicon particles will initiate only a single round of replication because the helpers are absent, they produce no progeny virus particles, and express only the viral nonstructural proteins and the product of the heterologous gene cloned in place to the structural proteins.

The VEE virus replicon is a genetically reorganized version of the VEE virus genome in which the structural proteins genes are replaced with a gene from an immunogen of interest, in this invention, the staphylococcal proteins. The result is a self replicating RNA (replicon) that can be packaged into infectious particles using defective helper RNAs that encode the glycoprotein and capsid proteins of the VEE virus.

Subject. Includes both human, animal, e.g., horse, cattle, donkey, monkey, pig, dog, guinea pig, mouse, hamster, avian e.g., chicken, pheasant or turkey, fish and other marine animals, and insects such as mosquito.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a recombinant DNA molecule that includes a VEE replicon and a DNA sequence encoding mutant Staphylococcus aureus A and B exotoxins. The sequence mSEA and mSEB has been determined and is presented in SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2, respectively. In addition, isolated nucleic acid molecules of the invention include DNA molecules which comprise a sequence substantially different from those described above but which, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, still encode the Staphylococcus aureus proteins described. Of course, the genetic code and species-specific codon preferences are well known in the art. Thus, it would be routine for one skilled in the art to generate the degenerate variants described above, for instance, to optimize codon expression for a particular host (e.g., change codons in the human mRNA to those preferred by a bacterial host such as E. coli).

Nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be in the form of RNA, or in the form of DNA, including, for instance, cDNA and genomic DNA obtained by cloning or produced synthetically. The DNA may be double-stranded or single-stranded. Single-stranded DNA or RNA may be the coding strand, also known as the sense strand, or it may be the non-coding strand, also referred to as the antisense strand.

By "isolated" nucleic acid molecule(s) is intended a nucleic acid molecule, DNA or RNA, which has been removed from its native environment. For example, recombinant DNA molecules contained in a vector are considered isolated for the purposes of the present invention. Further examples of isolated DNA molecules include recombinant DNA molecules maintained in heterologous host cells or purified (partially or substantially) DNA molecules in solution. Isolated RNA molecules include in vivo or in vitro RNA transcripts of the DNA molecules of the present invention. Isolated nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention further include such molecules produced synthetically.

The present invention is further directed to nucleic acid molecules comprising portions or fragments of the nucleotide sequences described herein. Fragments include portions of the nucleotide sequences of at least 10 contiguous nucleotides in length selected from any two integers, one of which representing a 5' nucleotide position and a second of which representing a 3' nucleotide position, where the first nucleotide for each nucleotide sequence is position 1. That is, every combination of a 5' and 3' nucleotide position that a fragment at least 10 contiguous nucleotide bases in length or any integer between 10 and the length of an entire nucleotide sequence minus 1.

The present invention further relates to variants of the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention, which encode portions, analogs or derivatives of the Staphylococcus aureus polypeptides described above. Variants may occur naturally, such as a natural allelic variant. By an "allelic variant" is intended one of several alternate forms of a gene occupying a given locus of a chromosome of an organism. Non-naturally occuring variants may be produced by known mutagenesis techniques. Such variants include those produced by nucleotide substitution, deletion, or addition of one or more nucleotides in the coding or noncoding regions or both. Alterations in the coding regions may produce conservative or nonconservative amino acid substitutions, deletions, or additions. Especially preferred among these are silent substitutions, additions, and deletions which do not alter the properties and activities of the Staphylococcus aureus polypeptides disclosed herein or portions thereof. Also preferred in this regard are conservative substitutions.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a recombinant DNA molecule that includes a vector and a DNA sequence as described above. The vector can take the form of a plasmid, phage, cosmid, YAC, eukaryotic expression vector such as a DNA vector, Pichia pastoris, or a virus vector such as for example, baculovirus vectors, retroviral vectors or adenoviral vectors, and others known in the art. The cloned gene may optionally be placed under the control of (i.e., operably linked to) certain control sequences such as promoter sequences, or sequences which may be inducible and/or cell type-specific. Suitable promoters will be known to a person with ordinary skill in the art. The expression construct will further contain sites for transcription initiation, termination and, in the transcribed region, a ribosome binding site for translation. When the DNA sequences described above are in a replicon expression system, such as the VEE replicon described above, the proteins can be expressed in vivo. The DNA sequence for any of the Staphylococcus aureus proteins described above can be cloned into the multiple cloning site of a replicon such that transcription of the RNA from the replicon yields an infectious RNA containing the Staphylococcus aureus protein or proteins of interest. Use of helper RNA containing sequences necessary for encapsulation of the viral transcript will result in the production of viral particles containing replicon RNA which are able to infect a host and initiate a single round of replication resulting in the expression of the Staphylococcus aureus proteins. Such replicon constructs include those specified in Table 1 (see Original Patent).

These three plasmids were deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, located at 10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, USA, on Feb. 1, 2002, under the conditions of the Budapest Treaty. Plasmid p3014-56SEA was assigned the deposit designation PTA-4033; plasmid p3014-55SEB was assigned the deposit designation PTA-4032; and plasmid p3014-57SEB was assigned the deposit designation PTA-4034.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to RNA molecules resulting from the transcription of the constructs described above. The RNA molecules can be prepared by in vitro transcription using methods known in the art and described in the Examples below. Alternatively, the RNA molecules can be produced by transcription of the constructs in vivo, and isolating the RNA. These and other methods for obtaining RNA transcripts of the constructs are known in the art. Please see Current Protocols in Molecular Biology. Frederick M. Ausubel et al. (eds.), John Wiley and Sons, Inc. The RNA molecules can be used, for example, as a nucleic acid vaccine, or to transfect cells along with RNA from helper plasmids, one of which expresses VEE glycoproteins and the other VEE capsid proteins, as described above, in order to obtain replicon particles.

Introduction of the construct into the host cell can be effected by calcium phosphate transfection, electroporation, infection, and other methods known in the art and described in standard laboratory manuals such as Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ausubel, F. M. et al. (Eds), Wiley & Sons, Inc. All documents cited herein supra and infra are hereby incorporated in their entirety by referece thereto.

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to host cells stably transformed or transfected with the above-described recombinant DNA constructs. The host cell can be prokaryotic (for example, bacterial), lower eukaryotic (for example, yeast or insect) or higher eukaryotic (for example, all mammals, including but not limited to rat and human). Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic host cells may be used for expression of desired coding sequences when appropriate control sequences which are compatible with the designated host are used. Among prokaryotic hosts, E. coli is most frequently used. Expression control sequences for prokaryotes include promoters, optionally containing operator portions, and ribosome binding sites. Transfer vectors compatible with prokaryotic hosts are commonly derived from, for example, pBR322, a plasmid containing operons conferring ampicillin and tetracycline resistance, and the various pUC vectors, which also contain sequences conferring antibiotic resistance markers. These markers may be used to obtain successful transformants by selection. Please see e.g., Maniatis, Fitsch and Sambrook, Molecular Cloning; A Laboratory Manual (1982) or DNA Cloning, Volumes I and II (D. N. Glover ed. 1985) for general cloning methods. The DNA sequence can be present in the vector operably linked to a sequence encoding an IgG molecule, an adjuvant, a carrier, or an agent for aid in purification of protein of the invention, such as glutathione S-transferase. The recombinant molecule can be suitable for transfecting eukaryotic cells, for example, mammalian cells and yeast cells in culture systems. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, and Pichia pastoris are the most commonly used yeast hosts, and are convenient fungal hosts. Control sequences for yeast vectors are known in the art. Mammalian cell lines available as hosts for expression are known in the art and include many immortalized cell lines available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)., such as baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, MRC-5 cells, and vero cells, to name a few. Suitable promoters are also known in the art and include viral promoters such as that from SV40, Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), adenovirus (ADV), bovine papilloma virus (BPV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Mammalian cells may also require terminator sequences and poly A addition sequences; enhancer sequences which increase expression may also be included, and sequences which cause amplification of the gene may also be desirable. These sequences are known in the art. The transformed or transfected host cells can be used as a source of DNA sequences described above. When the recombinant molecule takes the form of an expression system, the transformed or transfected cells can be used as a source of the protein described below.

A polypeptide or amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequences mentioned above, refers to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence identical to that of a polypeptide encoded in the sequence, or a portion thereof wherein the portion consists of at least 2-5 amino acids, and more preferably at least 8-10 amino acids, and even more preferably at least 11-15 amino acids, or which is immunologically identifiable with a polypeptide encoded in the sequence.

A recombinant or derived polypeptide is not necessarily translated from a designated nucleic acid sequence; it may be generated in any manner, including for example, chemical synthesis, or expression of a recombinant expression system. In addition the polypeptide can be fused to other proteins or polypeptides which increase its antigenicity, such as adjuvants for example.

The recombinant or fusion protein can be used as a vaccine for immunity against staphycococcal intoxication or as a diagnostic tool for detection of staphylococcus exotoxin. The transformed host cells can be used to analyze the effectiveness of drugs and agents which inhibit Staphylococcus aureus exotoxins or release of the exotoxins, such as host proteins or chemically derived agents or other proteins which may interact with Staphylococcus aureus proteins of the present invention to inhibit its function. A method for testing the effectiveness of an anti-staphylococcus drug or agent can be, for example, mixing the antisera, drug, or agent with the enterotoxins and then injecting the mixture into a naive mouse. If the mouse survives, then the drug or agent is effective at preventing intoxication. In other words, passive transfer of sera/antibodies is used to evaluate whether or not an agent can be neutralized by antibodies only (a humoral immune response), or if a cytotoxic T cell respone is necessary (a cellular immune response).

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a vaccine against staphylococcal intoxication comprising one or more replicon particles derived from one or more replicons encoding one or more Staphylococcus aureus proteins or polypeptides as described above. The present invention relates to a method for providing immunity against staphylococcal intoxication said method comprising administering one or more replicon particles containing any combination of the Staphylococcus aureus proteins to a subject such that a protective immune reaction is generated. In addition, the replicon can optionally contain a second or more antigens for which protection is desired since the replicon vector can accomodate up to 5 kb of foreign sequence. The additional antigens can induce additional and different desired immunity, or can be used for increasing the immunogenicity of the first antigen. Other uses and other antigens will be evident to a person with ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present application. Serological cross-protection has been found between A and E, and B and C exotoxins (Spero and Metzger, 1981, Methods in Enzymology 78, 331-336). It is therefore possible that immunization with one serotype will provide protection from intoxication with another serotype.

Vaccine formulations of the present invention comprise an immunogenic amount of a replicon particle, resulting from one of the replicon constructs described above, or a combination of replicon particles as a multivalent vaccine, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. An "immunogenic amount" is an amount of the replicon particles sufficient to evoke an immune response in the subject to which the vaccine is administered. An amount of from about 10.sup.2 to 10.sup.7 per dose is suitable, more or less can be used depending upon the age and species of the subject being treated. Exemplary pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to, sterile pyrogen-free water and sterile pyrogen-free physiological saline solution.

Administration of the replicon particles disclosed herein may be carried out by any suitable means, including both parenteral injection (such as intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, or intramuscular injection), by in ovo injection in birds, orally and by topical application of the virus (typically carried in the pharmaceutical formulation) to an airway surface. Topical application of the virus to an airway surface can be carried out by intranasal administration (e.g. by use of dropper, swab, or inhaler which deposits a pharmaceutical formulation intranasally). Topical application of the virus to an airway surface can also be carried out by inhalation administration, such as by creating respirable particles of a pharmaceutical formulation (including both solid particles and liquid particles) containing the replicon as an aerosol suspension, and then causing the subject to inhale the respirable particles. Methods and apparatus for administering respirable particles of pharmaceutical formulations are well known, and any conventional technique can be employed. An "immunogenic amount" is an amount of the replicon particles sufficient to evoke an immune response in the subject to which the vaccine is administered.

When the replicon RNA or DNA is used as a vaccine, the replicon RNA or DNA can be administered directly using techniques such as delivery on gold beads (gene gun), delivery by liposomes, or direct injection, among other methods known to people in the art. Any one or more constructs or replicating RNA described above can be use in any combination effective to elicit an immunogenic response in a subject. Generally, the nucleic acid vaccine administered may be in an amount of about 1-5 ug of nucleic acid per dose and will depend on the subject to be treated, capacity of the subject's immune system to develop the desired immune response, and the degree of protection desired. Precise amounts of the vaccine to be administered may depend on the judgement of the practitioner and may be peculiar to each subject and antigen.

The vaccine may be given in a single dose schedule, or preferably a multiple dose schedule in which a primary course of vaccination may be with 1-10 separate doses, followed by other doses given at subsequent time intervals required to maintain and or reinforce the immune response, for example, at 1-4 months for a second dose, and if needed, a subsequent dose(s) after several months. Examples of suitable immunization schedules include: (i) 0, 1 months and 6 months, (ii) 0, 7 days and 1 month, (iii) 0 and 1 month, (iv) 0 and 6 months, or other schedules sufficient to elicit the desired immune responses expected to confer protective immunity, or reduce disease symptoms, or reduce severity of disease.
 

Claim 1 of 6 Claims

1. A vaccine against staphylococcal intoxication comprising viral particles containing replicon RNA encoding Staphylococcus aureus protein mutagenized Staphylococcal enterotoxin B, which protein does not bind to MHC on T-cells.
 

____________________________________________
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.