DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0101] 1. Definitions

[0102] Alphavirus: As used herein, the term “alphavirus” refers to any of the RNA viruses included within the genus Alphavirus. Descriptions of the members of this genus are contained in Strauss and Strauss, Microbiol. Rev., 58:491-562 (1994). Examples of alphaviruses include Aura virus, Bebaru virus, Cabassou virus, Chikungunya virus, Easter equine encephalomyelitis virus, Fort morgan virus, Getah virus, Kyzylagach virus, Mayoaro virus, Middleburg virus, Mucambo virus, Ndumu virus, Pixuna virus, Tonate virus, Triniti virus, Una virus, Western equine encephalomyelitis virus, Whataroa virus, Sindbis virus (SIN), Semliki forest virus (SFV), Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus (VEE), and Ross River virus.

[0103] Antigen: As used herein, the term “antigen” is a molecule capable of being bound by an antibody. An antigen is additionally capable of inducing a humoral immune response and/or cellular immune response leading to the production of B- and/or T-lymphocytes. An antigen may have one or more epitopes (B- and T-epitopes). The specific reaction referred to above is meant to indicate that the antigen will react, in a highly selective manner, with its corresponding antibody and not with the multitude of other antibodies which may be evoked by other antigens.

[0104] Antigenic determinant: As used herein, the term“antigenic determinant” is meant to refer to that portion of an antigen that is specifically recognized by either B- or T-lymphocytes. B-lymphocytes respond to foreign antigenic determinants via antibody production, whereas T-lymphocytes are the mediator of cellular immunity. Thus, antigenic determinants or epitopes are those parts of an antigen that are recognized by antibodies, or in the context of an MHC, by T-cell receptors.

[0105] Association: As used herein, the term “association” as it applies to the first and second attachment sites, refers to at least one non-peptide bond. The nature of the association may be covalent, ionic, hydrophobic, polar or any combination thereof.

[0106] Attachment Site, First: As used herein, the phrase “first attachment site” refers to an element of the “organizer”, itself bound to the core particle in a non-random fashion, to which the second attachment site located on the antigen or antigenic determinant may associate. The first attachment site may be a protein, a polypeptide, an amino acid, a peptide, a sugar, a polynucleotide, a natural or synthetic polymer, a secondary metabolite or compound (biotin, fluorescein, retinol, digoxigenin, metal ions, phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride), or a combination thereof, or a chemically reactive group thereof. Multiple first attachment sites are present on the surface of the non-natural molecular scaffold in a repetitive configuration.

[0107] Attachment Site, Second: As used herein, the phrase “second attachment site” refers to an element associated with the antigen or antigenic determinant to which the first attachment site of the “organizer” located on the surface of the non-natural molecular scaffold may associate. The second attachment site of the antigen or antigenic determinant may be a protein, a polypeptide, a peptide, a sugar, a polynucleotide, a natural or synthetic polymer, a secondary metabolite or compound (biotin, fluorescein, retinol, digoxigenin, metal ions, phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride), or a combination thereof, or a chemically reactive group thereof. At least one second attachment site is present on the antigen or antigenic determinant. The term “antigen or antigenic determinant with at least one second attachment site” refers, therefore, to an antigen or antigenic construct comprising at least the antigen or antigenic determinant and the second attachment site. However, in particular for a second attachment site, which is not naturally occurring within the antigen or antigenic determinant, these antigen or antigenic constructs comprise an “amino acid linker”. Such an amino acid linker, or also just termed “linker” within this specification, either associates the antigen or antigenic determinant with the second attachment site, or more preferably, already comprises or contains the second attachment site, typically—but not necessarily—as one amino acid residue, preferably as a cysteine residue. The term “amino acid linker” as used herein, however, does not intend to imply that such an amino acid linker consists exclusively of amino acid residues, even if an amino acid linker consisting of amino acid residues is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The amino acid residues of the amino acid linker is, preferably, composed of naturally occuring amino acids or unnatural amino acids known in the art, all-L or all-D or mixtures thereof. However, an amino acid linker comprising a molecule with a sulfhydryl group or cysteine residue is also encompassed within the invention. Such a molecule comprise preferably a C1-C6 alkyl-, cycloalkyl (C5,C6), aryl or heteroaryl moiety. Association between the antigen or antigenic determinant or optionally the second attachment site and the amino acid linker is preferably by way of at least one covalent bond, more preferably by way of at least one peptide bond.

[0108] Bound: As used herein, the term “bound” refers to binding or attachment that may be covalent, e.g., by chemically coupling, or non-covalent, e.g., ionic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonds, etc. Covalent bonds can be, for example, ester, ether, phosphoester, amide, peptide, imide, carbon-sulfur bonds, carbon-phosphorus bonds, and the like. The term “bound” is broader than and includes terms such as “coupled,” “fused” and “attached”.

[0109] Core particle: As used herein, the term “core particle” refers to a rigid structure with an inherent repetitive organization that provides a foundation for attachment of an “organizer”. A core particle as used herein may be the product of a synthetic process or the product of a biological process.

[0110] Coat protein(s): As used herein, the term “coat protein(s)” refers to the protein(s) of a bacteriophage or a RNA-phage capable of being incorporated within the capsid assembly of the bacteriophage or the RNA-phage. However, when referring to the specific gene product of the coat protein gene of RNA-phages the term “CP” is used. For example, the specific gene product of the coat protein gene of RNA-phage Qβ is referred to as “Qβ CP”, whereas the “coat proteins” of bacteriophage Qb comprise the “Qβ CP” as well as the A1 protein.

[0111] C is-acting: As used herein, the phrase “cis-acting” sequence refers to nucleic acid sequences to which a replicase binds to catalyze the RNA-dependent replication of RNA molecules. These replication events result in the replication of the full-length and partial RNA molecules and, thus, the alpahvirus subgenomic promoter is also a “cis-acting” sequence. C is-acting sequences may be located at or near the 5′ end, 3′ end, or both ends of a nucleic acid molecule, as well as internally.

[0112] Fusion: As used herein, the term “fusion” refers to the combination of amino acid sequences of different origin in one polypeptide chain by in-frame combination of their coding nucleotide sequences. The term “fusion” explicitly encompasses internal fusions, i.e., insertion of sequences of different origin within a polypeptide chain, in addition to fusion to one of its termini.

[0113] Heterologous sequence: As used herein, the term “heterologous sequence” refers to a second nucleotide sequence present in a vector of the invention. The term “heterologous sequence” also refers to any amino acid or RNA sequence encoded by a heterologous DNA sequence contained in a vector of the invention. Heterologous nucleotide sequences can encode proteins or RNA molecules normally expressed in the cell type in which they are present or molecules not normally expressed therein (e.g., Sindbis structural proteins).

[0114] Isolated: As used herein, when the term “isolated” is used in reference to a molecule, the term means that the molecule has been removed from its native environment. For example, a polynucleotide or a polypeptide naturally present in a living animal is not “isolated,” but the same polynucleotide or polypeptide separated from the coexisting materials of its natural state is “isolated.” Further, recombinant DNA molecules contained in a vector are considered isolated for the purposes of the present invention. Isolated RNA molecules include in vivo or in vitro RNA replication products of DNA and RNA molecules. Isolated nucleic acid molecules further include synthetically produced molecules. Additionally, vector molecules contained in recombinant host cells are also isolated. Thus, not all “isolated” molecules need be “purified.”

[0115] Immunotherapeutic: As used herein, the term “immunotherapeutic” is a composition for the treatment of diseases or disorders. More specifically, the term is used to refer to a method of treatment for allergies or a method of treatment for cancer.

[0116] Individual: As used herein, the term “individual” refers to multicellular organisms and includes both plants and animals. Preferred multicellular organisms are animals, more preferred are vertebrates, even more preferred are mammals, and most preferred are humans.

[0117] Low or undetectable: As used herein, the phrase “low or undetectable,” when used in reference to gene expression level, refers to a level of expression which is either significantly lower than that seen when the gene is maximally induced (e.g., at least five fold lower) or is not readily detectable by the methods used in the following examples section.

[0118] Lectin: As used herein, proteins obtained particularly from the seeds of leguminous plants, but also from many other plant and animal sources, that have binding sites for specific mono- or oligosaccharides. Examples include concanavalin A and wheat-germ agglutinin, which are widely used as analytical and preparative agents in the study of glycoprotein.

[0119] Mimotope: As used herein, the term“mimotope” refers to a substance which induces an immune response to an antigen or antigenic determinant. Generally, the term mimotope will be used with reference to a particular antigen. For example, a peptide which elicits the production of antibodies to a phospholipase A ₂ (PLA ₂ ) is a mimotope of the antigenic determinant to which the antibodies bind. A mimotope may or may not have substantial structural similarity to or share structural properties with an antigen or antigenic determinant to which it induces an immune response. Methods for generating and identifying mimotopes which induce immune responses to particular antigens or antigenic determinants are known in the art and are described elsewhere herein.

[0120] Natural origin: As used herein, the term “natural origin” means that the whole or parts thereof are not synthetic and exist or are produced in nature.

[0121] Non-natural: As used herein, the term generally means not from nature, more specifically, the term means from the hand of man.

[0122] Non-natural origin: As used herein, the term “non-natural origin” generally means synthetic or not from nature; more specifically, the term means from the hand of man.

[0123] Non-natural molecular scaffold: As used herein, the phrase “non-natural molecular scaffold” refers to any product made by the hand of man that may serve to provide a rigid and repetitive array of first attachment sites. Ideally but not necessarily, these first attachment sites are in a geometric order. The non-natural molecular scaffold may be organic or non-organic and may be synthesized chemically or through a biological process, in part or in whole. The non-natural molecular scaffold is comprised of: (a) a core particle, either of natural or non-natural origin; and (b) an organizer, which itself comprises at least one first attachment site and is connected to a core particle by at least one covalent bond. In a particular embodiment, the non-natural molecular scaffold may be a virus, virus-like particle, a bacterial pilus, a virus capsid particle, a phage, a recombinant form thereof, or synthetic particle.

[0124] Ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant array: As used herein, the term “ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant array” generally refers to a repeating pattern of antigen or antigenic determinant, characterized by a uniform spacial arrangement of the antigens or antigenic determinants with respect to the non-natural molecular scaffold. In one embodiment of the invention, the repeating pattern may be a geometric pattern. Examples of suitable ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant arrays are those which possess strictly repetitive paracrystalline orders of antigens or antigenic determinants with spacings of 5 to 15 nanometers.

[0125] Organizer: As used herein, the term “organizer” is used to refer to an element bound to a core particle in a non-random fashion that provides a nucleation site for creating an ordered and repetitive antigen array. An organizer is any element comprising at least one first attachment site that is bound to a core particle by at least one covalent bond. An organizer may be a protein, a polypeptide, a peptide, an amino acid (i.e., a residue of a protein, a polypeptide or peptide), a sugar, a polynucleotide, a natural or synthetic polymer, a secondary metabolite or compound (biotin, fluorescein, retinol, digoxigenin, metal ions, phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride), or a combination thereof, or a chemically reactive group thereof. Therefore, the organizer further ensures formation of an ordered and repetitive antigen array in accordance with the present invention. In typical embodiments of the invention, the core particle is modified, e.g. by way of genetic engineering or chemical reaction, so as to generate a non-natural molecular scaffold comprising the core particle and the organizer, the latter being connected to the core particle by at least one covalent bond. In certain embodiments of the invention, however, the organizer is selected as being part of the core particle. Therefore, for those embodiments modification of the core particle is not necessarily needed to generate a non-natural molecular scaffold comprising the core particle and the organizer and to ensure the formation of an ordered and repetitive antigen array.

[0126] Permissive temperature: As used herein, the phrase “permissive temperature” refers to temperatures at which an enzyme has relatively high levels of catalytic activity.

[0127] Pili: As used herein, the term “pili” (singular being “pilus”) refers to extracellular structures of bacterial cells composed of protein monomers (e.g., pilin monomers) which are organized into ordered and repetitive patterns. Further, pili are structures which are involved in processes such as the attachment of bacterial cells to host cell surface receptors, inter-cellular genetic exchanges, and cell-cell recognition. Examples of pili include Type-1 pili, P-pili, F1C pili, S-pili, and 987P-pili. Additional examples of pili are set out below.

[0128] Pilus-like structure: As used herein, the phrase “pilus-like structure” refers to structures having characteristics similar to that of pili and composed of protein monomers. One example of a “pilus-like structure” is a structure formed by a bacterial cell which expresses modified pilin proteins that do not form ordered and repetitive arrays that are essentially identical to those of natural pili.

[0129] Polypeptide: As used herein the term “polypeptide” refers to a polymer composed of amino acid residues, generally natural amino acid residues, linked together through peptide bonds. Although a polypeptide may not necessarily be limited in size, the term polypeptide is often used in conjunction with peptide of a size of about ten to about 50 amino acids.

[0130] Protein: As used herein, the term protein refers to a polypeptide generally of a size of above 20, more particularly of above 50 amino acid residues. Proteins generally have a defined three dimensional structure although they do not necessarily need to, and are often referred to as folded, in opposition to peptides and polypeptides which often do not possess a defined three-dimensional structure, but rather can adopt a large number of different conformations, and are referred to as unfolded. The defined three-dimensional structures of proteins is especially important for the association between the core particle and the antigen, mediated by the second attachment site, and in particular by way of chemical cross-linking between the first and second attachment site using a chemical cross-linker. The amino acid linker is also intimately related to the structural properties of proteins in some aspects of the invention.

[0131] Purified: As used herein, when the term “purified” is used in reference to a molecule, it means that the concentration of the molecule being purified has been increased relative to molecules associated with it in its natural environment. Naturally associated molecules include proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and sugars but generally do not include water, buffers, and reagents added to maintain the integrity or facilitate the purification of the molecule being purified. For example, even if mRNA is diluted with an aqueous solvent during oligo dT column chromatography, mRNA molecules are purified by this chromatography if naturally associated nucleic acids and other biological molecules do not bind to the column and are separated from the subject mRNA molecules.

[0132] Receptor: As used herein, the term “receptor” refers to proteins or glycoproteins or fragments thereof capable of interacting with another molecule, called the ligand. The ligand may belong to any class of biochemical or chemical compounds. The receptor need not necessarily be a membrane-bound protein. Soluble protein, like e.g., maltose binding protein or retinol binding protein are receptors as well.

[0133] Residue: As used herein, the term “residue” is meant to mean a specific amino acid in a polypeptide backbone or side chain.

[0134] Recombinant host cell: As used herein, the term “recombinant host cell” refers to a host cell into which one ore more nucleic acid molecules of the invention have been introduced.

[0135] Recombinant virus: As used herein, the phrase “recombinant virus” refers to a virus that is genetically modified by the hand of man. The phrase covers any virus known in the art. More specifically, the phrase refers to a an alphavirus genetically modified by the hand of man, and most specifically, the phrase refers to a Sinbis virus genetically modified by the hand of man.

[0136] Restrictive temperature: As used herein, the phrase “restrictive temperature” refers to temperatures at which an enzyme has low or undetectable levels of catalytic activity. Both “hot” and “cold” sensitive mutants are known and, thus, a restrictive temperature may be higher or lower than a permissive temperature.

[0137] RNA-dependent RNA replication event: As used herein, the phrase “RNA-dependent RNA replication event” refers to processes which result in the formation of an RNA molecule using an RNA molecule as a template.

[0138] RNA-Dependent RNA polymerase: As used herein, the phrase “RNA-Dependent RNA polymerase” refers to a polymerase which catalyzes the production of an RNA molecule from another RNA molecule. This term is used herein synonymously with the term “replicase.”

[0139] RNA-phage: As used herein, the term “RNA-phage” refers to RNA viruses infecting bacteria, preferably to single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses infecting bacteria.

[0140] Self antigen: As used herein, the tem “self antigen” refers to proteins encoded by the host's DNA and products generated by proteins or RNA encoded by the host's DNA are defined as self. In addition, proteins that result from a combination of two or several self-molecules or that represent a fraction of a self-molecule and proteins that have a high homology two self-molecules as defined above (>95%) may also be considered self.

[0141] Temperature-sensitive: As used herein, the phrase “temperature-sensitive” refers to an enzyme which readily catalyzes a reaction at one temperature but catalyzes the same reaction slowly or not at all at another temperature. An example of a temperature-sensitive enzyme is the replicase protein encoded by the pCYTts vector, which has readily detectable replicase activity at temperatures below 34° C. and has low or undetectable activity at 37′C.

[0142] Transcription: As used herein, the term “transcription” refers to the production of RNA molecules from DNA templates catalyzed by RNA polymerase.

[0143] Untranslated RNA: As used herein, the phrase “untranslated RNA” refers to an RNA sequence or molecule which does not encode an open reading frame or encodes an open reading frame, or portion thereof, but in a format in which an amino acid sequence will not be produced (e.g., no initiation codon is present). Examples of such molecules are tRNA molecules, rRNA molecules, and ribozymes.

[0144] Vector: As used herein, the term “vector” refers to an agent (e.g., a plasmid or virus) used to transmit genetic material to a host cell. A vector may be composed of either DNA or RNA.

[0145] Virus-like particle: As used herein, the term “virus-like particle” refers to a structure resembling a virus particle. Moreover, a virus-like particle in accordance with the invention is non replicative and noninfectious since it lacks all or part of the viral genome, in particular the replicative and infectious components of the viral genome. A virus-like particle in accordance with the invention may contain nucleic acid distinct from their genome.

[0146] Virus-like particle of a bacteriophage: As used herein, the term “virus-like particle of a bacteriophage” refers to a virus-like particle resembling the structure of a bacteriophage, being non replicative and noninfectious, and lacking at least the gene or genes encoding for the replication machinery of the bacteriophage, and typically also lacking the gene or genes encoding the protein or proteins responsible for viral attachment to or entry into the host. This definition should, however, also encompass virus-like particles of bacteriophages, in which the aforementioned gene or genes are still present but inactive, and, therefore, also leading to non-replicative and noninfectious virus-like particles of a bacteriophage.

[0147] Virus particle: The term “virus particle” as used herein refers to the morphological form of a virus. In some virus types it comprises a genome surrounded by a protein capsid; others have additional structures (e.g., envelopes, tails, etc.).

[0148] one, a, or an: When the terms “one,” “a,” or “an” are used in this disclosure, they mean “at least one” or “one or more,” unless otherwise indicated.

[0149] 2. Compositions of Ordered and Repetitive Antigen or Antigenic Determinant Arrays and Methods to Make the Same

[0150] The disclosed invention provides compositions comprising an ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant array. Furthermore, the invention conveniently enables the practitioner to construct ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant arrays for various treatment purposes, which includes the prevention of infectious diseases, the treatment of allergies and the treatment of cancers.

[0151] Compositions of the invention essentially comprise, or alternatively consist of, two elements: (1) a non-natural molecular scaffold; and (2) an antigen or antigenic determinant with at least one second attachment site capable of association through at least one non-peptide bond to said first attachment site.

[0152] Compositions of the invention also comprise, or alternatively consist of, bacterial pilus proteins to which antigens or antigenic determinants are directly linked.

[0153] The non-natural molecular scaffold comprises, or alternatively consists of: (a) a core particle selected from the group consisting of (1) a core particle of non-natural origin and (2) a core particle of natural origin; and (b) an organizer comprising at least one first attachment site, wherein said organizer is connected to said core particle by at least one covalent bond.

[0154] Compositions of the invention also comprise, or alternatively consist of, core particles to which antigens or antigenic determinants are directly linked.

[0155] The antigen or antigenic determinant has at least one second attachment site which is selected from the group consisting of (a) an attachment site not naturally occurring with said antigen or antigenic determinant; and (b) an attachment site naturally occurring with said antigen or antigenic determinant.

[0156] The invention provides for an ordered and repetitive antigen array through an association of the second attachment site to the first attachment site by way of at least one non-peptide bond. Thus, the antigen or antigenic determinant and the non-natural molecular scaffold are brought together through this association of the first and the second attachment site to form an ordered and repetitive antigen array.

[0157] The practioner may specifically design the antigen or antigenic determinant and the second attachment site such that the arrangement of all the antigens or antigenic determinants bound to the non-natural molecular scaffold or, in certain embodiments, the core particle will be uniform. For example, one may place a single second attachment site on the antigen or antigenic determinant at the carboxyl or amino terminus, thereby ensuring through design that all antigen or antigenic determinant molecules that are attached to the non-natural molecular scaffold are positioned in a uniform way. Thus, the invention provides a convenient means of placing any antigen or antigenic determinant onto a non-natural molecular scaffold in a defined order and in a manner which forms a repetitive pattern.

[0158] As will be clear to those skilled in the art, certain embodiments of the invention involve the use of recombinant nucleic acid technologies such as cloning, polymerase chain reaction, the purification of DNA and RNA, the expression of recombinant proteins in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, etc. Such methodologies are well known to those skilled in the art and may be conveniently found in published laboratory methods manuals (e.g., Sambrook, J. et al., eds., MOLECULAR CLONING, A LABORATORY MANUAL, 2nd. edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989); Ausubel, F. et al., eds., CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, John H. Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1997)). Fundamental laboratory techniques for working with tissue culture cell lines (Celis, J., ed., CELL BIOLOGY, Academic Press, 2 ^nd edition, (1998)) and antibody-based technologies (Harlow, E. and Lane, D., “Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual,” Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1988); Deutscher, M. P., “Guide to Protein Purification,” Meth. Enzymol. 128, Academic Press San Diego (1990); Scopes, R. K., “Protein Purification Principles and Practice,” 3 ^rd ed., Springer-Verlag, New York (1994)) are also adequately described in the literature, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0159] A. Core Particles and Non-Natural Molecular Scaffolds

[0160] One element in certain compositions of the invention is a non-natural molecular scaffold comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a core particle and an organizer. As used herein, the phrase “non-natural molecular scaffold” refers to any product made by the hand of man that may serve to provide a rigid and repetitive array of first attachment sites. More specifically, the non-natural molecular scaffold comprises, or alternatively consists of, (a) a core particle selected from the group consisting of (1) a core particle of non-natural origin and (2) a core particle of natural origin; and (b) an organizer comprising at least one first attachment site, wherein said organizer is connected to said core particle by at least one covalent bond.

[0161] As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the core particle of the non-natural molecular scaffold of the invention is not limited to any specific form. The core particle may be organic or non-organic and may be synthesized chemically or through a biological process.

[0162] In one embodiment, a non-natural core particle may be a synthetic polymer, a lipid micelle or a metal. Such core particles are known in the art, providing a basis from which to build the novel non-natural molecular scaffold of the invention. By way of example, synthetic polymer or metal core particles are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,380, which discloses the use of a calixarene organic scaffold to which is attached a plurality of peptide loops in the creation of an ‘antibody mimic’, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,394 describes nanocrystalline particles used as a viral decoy that are composed of a wide variety of inorganic materials, including metals or ceramics. Suitable metals include chromium, rubidium, iron, zinc, selenium, nickel, gold, silver, platinum. Suitable ceramic materials in this embodiment include silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, ruthenium oxide and tin oxide. The core particles of this embodiment may be made from organic materials including carbon (diamond). Suitable polymers include polystyrene, nylon and nitrocellulose. For this type of nanocrystalline particle, particles made from tin oxide, titanium dioxide or carbon (diamond) are may also be used. A lipid micelle may be prepared by any means known in the art. For example micelles may be prepared according to the procedure of Baiselle and Millar ( Biophys. Chem. 4:355-361 (1975)) or Corti et al. ( Chem. Phys. Lipids 38:197-214 (1981)) or Lopez et al. ( FEBS Lett. 426:314-318 (1998)) or Topchieva and Karezin ( J. Colloid Interface Sci. 213:29-35 (1999)) or Morein et al., ( Nature 308:457-460 (1984)), which are all incorporated herein by reference.

[0163] The core particle may also be produced through a biological process, which may be natural or non-natural. By way of example, this type of embodiment may includes a core particle comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a virus, virus-like particle, a bacterial pilus, a phage, a viral capsid particle or a recombinant form thereof. In a more specific embodiment, the core particle may comprise, or alternatively consist of, recombinant proteins of Rotavirus, recombinant proteins of Norwalk virus, recombinant proteins of Alphavirus, recombinant proteins which form bacterial pili or pilus-like structures, recombinant proteins of Foot and Mouth Disease virus, recombinant proteins of Retrovirus, recombinant proteins of Hepatitis B virus (e.g., a HBcAg), recombinant proteins of Tobacco mosaic virus, recombinant proteins of Flock House Virus, and recombinant proteins of human Papillomavirus. The core particle may further comprise, or alternatively consist of, one or more fragments of such proteins, as well as variants of such proteins which retain the ability to associate with each other to form ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant arrays.

[0164] As explained in more below, variants of proteins which retain the ability to associate with each other to form ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant arrays may share, for example, at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, or 99% identity at the amino acid level with their wild-type counterparts. Using the HBcAg having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:89 for illustration, the invention includes vaccine compositions comprising HBcAg polypeptides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, amino acid sequences which are at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, or 99% identical to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:89, and forms of this protein which have been processed, where appropriate, to remove N-terminal leader sequence. These variants will generally be capable of associating to form dimeric or multimeric structures. Methods which can be used to determine whether proteins form such structures comprise gel filtration, agarose gel electrophoresis, sucrose gradient centrifugation and electron microscopy (e.g., Koschel, M. et al., J. Virol 73: 2153-2160 (1999)).

[0165] Fragments of proteins which retain the ability to associate with each other to form ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant arrays may comprise, or alternatively consist of, polypeptides which are 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, or 200 amino acids in length. Examples of such protein fragments include fragments of proteins discussed herein which are suitable for the preparation of core particles and/or non-natural molecular scaffolds.

[0166] Whether natural or non-natural, the core particle of the invention will generally have an organizer that is attached to the natural or non-natural core particle by at least one covalent bond. The organizer is an element bound to a core particle in a non-random fashion that provides a nucleation site for creating an ordered and repetitive antigen array. Ideally, but not necessarily, the organizer is associated with the core particle in a geometric order. Minimally, the organizer comprises a first attachment site.

[0167] In some embodiments of the invention, the ordered and repetitive array is formed by association between (1) either core particles or non-natural molecular scaffolds and (2) either (a) an antigen or antigenic determinant or (b) one or more antigens or antigenic determinants. For example, bacterial pili or pilus-like structures are formed from proteins which are organized into ordered and repetitive structures. Thus, in many instances, it will be possible to form ordered arrays of antigens or antigenic determinants by linking these constituents to bacterial pili or pilus-like structures either directly or through an organizer.

[0168] As previously stated, the organizer may be any element comprising at least one first attachment site that is bound to a core particle by at least one covalent bond. An organizer may be a protein, a polypeptide, a peptide, an amino acid (i.e., a residue of a protein, a polypeptide or peptide), a sugar, a polynucleotide, a natural or synthetic polymer, a secondary metabolite or compound (biotin, fluorescein, retinol, digoxigenin, metal ions, phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride), or a combination thereof, or a chemically reactive group thereof. In a more specific embodiment, the organizer may comprise a first attachment site comprising an antigen, an antibody or antibody fragment, biotin, avidin, strepavidin, a receptor, a receptor ligand, a ligand, a ligand-binding protein, an interacting leucine zipper polypeptide, an amino group, a chemical group reactive to an amino group; a carboxyl group, chemical group reactive to a carboxyl group, a sulfhydryl group, a chemical group reactive to a sulfhydryl group, or a combination thereof.

[0169] In one embodiment, the core particle of the non-natural molecular scaffold comprises a virus, a bacterial pilus, a structure formed from bacterial pilin, a bacteriophage, a virus-like particle, a viral capsid particle or a recombinant form thereof. Any virus known in the art having an ordered and repetitive coat and/or core protein structure may be selected as a non-natural molecular scaffold of the invention; examples of suitable viruses include sindbis and other alphaviruses, rhabdoviruses (e.g. vesicular stomatitis virus), picomaviruses (e.g., human rhino virus, Aichi virus), togaviruses (e.g., rubella virus), orthomyxoviruses (e.g., Thogoto virus, Batken virus, fowl plague virus), polyomaviruses (e.g., polyomavirus BK, polyomavirus JC, avian polyomavirus BFDV), parvoviruses, rotaviruses, bacteriophage Qβ, bacteriophage R17, bacteriophage M11, bacteriophage MX1, bacteriophage NL95, bacteriophage fr, bacteriophage GA, bacteriophage SP, bacteriophage MS2, bacteriophage f2, bacteriophage PP7, Norwalk virus, foot and mouth disease virus, a retrovirus, Hepatitis B virus, Tobacco mosaic virus, Flock House Virus, and human Papilomavirus (for example, see Table 1 in Bachman, M. F. and Zinkernagel, R. M., Immunol. Today 17:553-558 (1996)).

[0170] In one embodiment, the invention utilizes genetic engineering of a virus to create a fusion between an ordered and repetitive viral envelope protein and an organizer comprising a heterologous protein, peptide, antigenic determinant or a reactive amino acid residue of choice. Other genetic manipulations known to those in the art may be included in the construction of the non-natural molecular scaffold; for example, it may be desirable to restrict the replication ability of the recombinant virus through genetic mutation. The viral protein selected for fusion to the organizer (i.e., first attachment site) protein should have an organized and repetitive structure. Such an organized and repetitive structure include paracrystalline organizations with a spacing of 5-15 nm on the surface of the virus. The creation of this type of fusion protein will result in multiple, ordered and repetitive organizers on the surface of the virus. Thus, the ordered and repetitive organization of the first attachment sites resulting therefrom will reflect the normal organization of the native viral protein.

[0171] As will be discussed in more detail herein, in another embodiment of the invention, the non-natural molecular scaffold is a recombinant alphavirus, and more specifically, a recombinant Sinbis virus. Alphaviruses are positive stranded RNA viruses that replicate their genomic RNA entirely in the cytoplasm of the infected cell and without a DNA intermediate (Strauss, J. and Strauss, E., Microbiol. Rev. 58:491-562 (1994)). Several members of the alphavirus family, Sindbis (Xiong, C. et al., Science 243:1188-1191 (1989); Schlesinger, S., Trends Biotechnol. 11:18-22 (1993)), Semliki Forest Virus (SFV) (Liljeström, P. & Garoff, H., Bio/Technology 9:1356-1361 (1991)) and others (Davis, N. L. et al., Virology 171:189-204 (1989)), have received considerable attention for use as virus-based expression vectors for a variety of different proteins (Lundstrom, K., Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 8:578-582 (1997); Liljeström, P., Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 5:495-500 (1994)) and as candidates for vaccine development. Recently, a number of patents have issued directed to the use of alphaviruses for the expression of heterologous proteins and the development of vaccines (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,766,602; 5,792,462; 5,739,026; 5,789,245 and 5,814,482). The construction of the alphaviral scaffold of the invention may be done by means generally known in the art of recombinant DNA technology, as described by the aforementioned articles, which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0172] A variety of different recombinant host cells can be utilized to produce a viral-based core particle for antigen or antigenic determinant attachment. For example, Alphaviruses are known to have a wide host range; Sindbis virus infects cultured mammalian, reptilian, and amphibian cells, as well as some insect cells (Clark, H., J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 51:645 (1973); Leake, C., J. Gen. Virol. 35:335 (1977); Stollar, V. in THE TOGAVIRUSES, R. W. Schlesinger, Ed., Academic Press, (1980), pp.583-621). Thus, numerous recombinant host cells can be used in the practice of the invention. BHK, COS, Vero, HeLa and CHO cells are particularly suitable for the production of heterologous proteins because they have the potential to glycosylate heterologous proteins in a manner similar to human cells (Watson, E. et al., Glycobiology 4:227, (1994)) and can be selected (Zang, M. et al., Bio/Technology 13:389 (1995)) or genetically engineered (Renner W. et al., Biotech. Bioeng. 4:476 (1995); Lee K. et al. Biotech. Bioeng. 50:336 (1996)) to grow in serum-free medium, as well as in suspension.

[0173] Introduction of the polynucleotide vectors into host cells can be effected by methods described in standard laboratory manuals (see, e.g., Sambrook, J. et al., eds., MOLECULAR CLONING, A LABORATORY MANUAL, 2nd. edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989), Chapter 9; Ausubel, F. et al., eds., CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, John H. Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1997), Chapter 16), including methods such as electroporation, DEAE-dextran mediated transfection, transfection, microinjection, cationic lipid-mediated transfection, transduction, scrape loading, ballistic introduction, and infection. Methods for the introduction of exogenous DNA sequences into host cells are discussed in Felgner, P. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,859.

[0174] Packaged RNA sequences can also be used to infect host cells. These packaged RNA sequences can be introduced to host cells by adding them to the culture medium. For example, the preparation of non-infective alpahviral particles is described in a number of sources, including “Sindbis Expression System”, Version C (Invitrogen Catalog No. K750-1).

[0175] When mammalian cells are used as recombinant host cells for the production of viral-based core particles, these cells will generally be grown in tissue culture. Methods for growing cells in culture are well known in the art (see, e.g., Celis, J., ed., CELL BIOLOGY, Academic Press, 2 ^nd edition, (1998); Sambrook, J. et al., eds., MOLECULAR CLONING, A LABORATORY MANUAL, 2nd. edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989); Ausubel, F. et al., eds., CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, John H. Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1997); Freshney, R., CULTURE OF ANIMAL CELLS, Alan R. Liss, Inc. (1983)).

[0176] As will be understood by those in the art, the first attachment site may be or be a part of any suitable protein, polypeptide, sugar, polynucleotide, peptide (amino acid), natural or synthetic polymer, a secondary metabolite or combination thereof that may serve to specifically attach the antigen or antigenic determinant of choice to the non-natural molecular scaffold. In one embodiment, the attachment site is a protein or peptide that may be selected from those known in the art. For example, the first attachment site may selected from the following group: a ligand, a receptor, a lectin, avidin, streptavidin, biotin, an epitope such as an HA or T7 tag, Myc, Max, immunoglobulin domains and any other amino acid sequence known in the art that would be useful as a first attachment site.

[0177] It should be further understood by those in the art that with another embodiment of the invention, the first attachment site may be created secondarily to the organizer (i.e., protein or polypeptide) utilized in constructing the in-frame fusion to the capsid protein. For example, a protein may be utilized for fusion to the envelope protein with an amino acid sequence known to be glycosylated in a specific fashion, and the sugar moiety added as a result may then serve at the first attachment site of the viral scaffold by way of binding to a lectin serving as the secondary attachment site of an antigen. Alternatively, the organizer sequence may be biotinylated in vivo and the biotin moiety may serve as the first attachment site of the invention, or the organizer sequence may be subjected to chemical modification of distinct amino acid residues in vitro, the modification serving as the first attachment site.

[0178] In another embodiment of the invention, the first attachment site is selected to be the JUN-FOS leucine zipper protein domain that is fused in frame to the Hepatitis B capsid (core) protein (HBcAg). However, it will be clear to all individuals in the art that other viral capsid proteins may be utilized in the fusion protein construct for locating the first attachment site in the non-natural molecular scaffold of the invention.

[0179] In another embodiment of the invention, the first attachment site is selected to be a lysine or cysteine residue that is fused in frame to the HBcAg. However, it will be clear to all individuals in the art that other viral capsid or virus-like particles may be utilized in the fusion protein construct for locating the first attachment in the non-natural molecular scaffold of the invention.

[0180] The JUN amino acid sequence utilized for the first attachment site is the following:

[0181] CGGRIARLEEKVKTLKAQNSELASTANMLREQVAQLKQKVMNHVGC (SEQ ID NO:59)

[0182] In this instance, the anticipated second attachment site on the antigen would be the FOS leucine zipper protein domain and the amino acid sequence would be the following:

[0183] CGGLTDTLQAETDQVEDEKSALQTEIANLLKEKEKLEFILAAHGGC (SEQ ID NO:60)

[0184] These sequences are derived from the transcription factors JUN and FOS, each flanked with a short sequence containing a cysteine residue on both sides. These sequences are known to interact with each other. The original hypothetical structure proposed for the JUN-FOS dimer assumed that the hydrophobic side chains of one monomer interdigitate with the respective side chains of the other monomer in a zipper-like manner (Landschulz et al., Science 240:1759-1764 (1988)). However, this hypothesis proved to be wrong, and these proteins are known to form an α-helical coiled coil (O'Shea et al., Science 243:538-542 (1989); O'Shea et al., Cell 68:699-708 (1992); Cohen & Parry, Trends Biochem. Sci. 11:245-248 (1986)). Thus, the term “leucine zipper” is frequently used to refer to these protein domains for more historical than structural reasons. Throughout this patent, the term “leucine zipper” is used to refer to the sequences depicted above or sequences essentially similar to the ones depicted above. The terms JUN and FOS are used for the respective leucine zipper domains rather than the entire JUN and FOS proteins.

[0185] As previously stated, the invention includes viral-based core particles which comprise, or alternatively consist of, a virus, virus-like particle, a phage, a viral capsid particle or a recombinant form thereof. Skilled artisans have the knowledge to produce such core particles and attach organizers thereto. The production of Hepatitis B virus-like particles and measles viral capsid particles as core particles is disclosed in Examples 17 to 22 of WO 00/32227, which is explicitly incorporated by reference. In such embodiments, the JUN leucine zipper protein domain or FOS leucine zipper protein domain may be used as an organizer, and hence as a first attachment site, for the non-natural molecular scaffold of the invention.

[0186] Examples 23-29 provide details of the production of Hepatitis B core particles carrying an in-frame fused peptide with a reactive lysine residue and antigens carrying a genetically fused cysteine residue, as first and second attachment site, respectively.

[0187] 1 In other embodiments, the core particles used in compositions of the invention are composed of a Hepatitis B capsid (core) protein (HBcAg), a fragment of a HBcAg, or other protein or peptide which can form ordered arrays, which have been modified to either eliminate or reduce the number of free cysteine residues. Zhou et al. ( J. Virol. 66:5393-5398 (1992)) demonstrated that HBcAgs which have been modified to remove the naturally resident cysteine residues retain the ability to associate and form multimeric structures. Thus, core particles suitable for use in compositions of the invention include those comprising modified HBcAgs, or fragments thereof, in which one or more of the naturally resident cysteine residues have been either deleted or substituted with another amino acid residue (e.g., a serine residue).

[0188] 2 The HBcAg is a protein generated by the processing of a Hepatitis B core antigen precursor protein. A number of isotypes of the HBcAg have been identified. For example, the HBcAg protein having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:132 is 183 amino acids in length and is generated by the processing of a 212 amino acid Hepatitis B core antigen precursor protein. This processing results in the removal of 29 amino acids from the N-terminus of the Hepatitis B core antigen precursor protein. Similarly, the HBcAg protein having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:134 is 185 amino acids in length and is generated by the processing of a 214 amino acid Hepatitis B core antigen precursor protein. The amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:134, as compared to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:132, contains a two amino acid insert at positions 152 and 153 in SEQ ID NO:134.

[0189] In most instances, vaccine compositions of the invention will be prepared using the processed form of a HBcAg (i.e., a HBcAg from which the N-terminal leader sequence (e.g., the first 29 amino acid residues shown in SEQ ID NO:134) of the Hepatitis B core antigen precursor protein have been removed).

[0190] Further, when HBcAgs are produced under conditions where processing will not occur, the HBcAgs will generally be expressed in “processed” form. For example, bacterial systems, such as E. coli , generally do not remove the leader sequences, also referred to as “signal peptides,” of proteins which are normally expressed in eukaryotic cells. Thus, when an E. coli expression system is used to produce HBcAgs of the invention, these proteins will generally be expressed such that the N-terminal leader sequence of the Hepatitis B core antigen precursor protein is not present.

[0191] In one embodiment of the invention, a modified HBcAg comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:134, or subportion thereof, is used to prepare non-natural molecular scaffolds. In particular, modified HBcAgs suitable for use in the practice of the invention include proteins in which one or more of the cysteine residues at positions corresponding to positions 48, 61, 107 and 185 of a protein having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:134 have been either deleted or substituted with other amino acid residues (e.g., a serine residue). As one skilled in the art would recognize, cysteine residues at similar locations in HBcAg variants having amino acids sequences which differ from that shown in SEQ ID NO:134 could also be deleted or substituted with other amino acid residues. The modified HBcAg variants can then be used to prepare vaccine compositions of the invention.

[0192] The present invention also includes HBcAg variants which have been modified to delete or substitute one or more additional cysteine residues which are not found in polypeptides having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:134. Examples of such HBcAg variants have the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs:90 and 132. These variant contain cysteines residues at a position corresponding to amino acid residue 147 in SEQ ID NO:134. Thus, the vaccine compositions of the invention include compositions comprising HBcAgs in which cysteine residues not present in the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:134 have been deleted.

[0193] Under certain circumstances (e.g., when a heterobifunctional cross-linking reagent is used to attach antigens or antigenic determinants to the non-natural molecular scaffold), the presence of free cysteine residues in the HBcAg is believed to lead to covalent coupling of toxic components to core particles, as well as the cross-linking of monomers to form undefined species.

[0194] Further, in many instances, these toxic components may not be detectable with assays performed on compositions of the invention. This is so because covalent coupling of toxic components to the non-natural molecular scaffold would result in the formation of a population of diverse species in which toxic components are linked to different cysteine residues, or in some cases no cysteine residues, of the HBcAgs. In other words, each free cysteine residue of each HBcAg will not be covalently linked to toxic components. Further, in many instances, none of the cysteine residues of particular HBcAgs will be linked to toxic components. Thus, the presence of these toxic components may be difficult to detect because they would be present in a mixed population of molecules. The administration to an individual of HBcAg species containing toxic components, however, could lead to a potentially serious adverse reaction.

[0195] It is well known in the art that free cysteine residues can be involved in a number of chemical side reactions. These side reactions include disulfide exchanges, reaction with chemical substances or metabolites that are, for example, injected or formed in a combination therapy with other substances, or direct oxidation and reaction with nucleotides upon exposure to UV light. Toxic adducts could thus be generated, especially considering the fact that HBcAgs have a strong tendency to bind nucleic acids. Detection of such toxic products in antigen-capsid conjugates would be difficult using capsids prepared using HBcAgs containing free cysteines and heterobifunctional cross-linkers, since a distribution of products with a broad range of molecular weight would be generated. The toxic adducts would thus be distributed between a multiplicity of species, which individually may each be present at low concentration, but reach toxic levels when together.

[0196] In view of the above, one advantage to the use of HBcAgs in vaccine compositions which have been modified to remove naturally resident cysteine residues is that sites to which toxic species can bind when antigens or antigenic determinants are attached to the non-natural molecular scaffold would be reduced in number or eliminated altogether. Further, a high concentration of cross-linker can be used to produce highly decorated particles without the drawback of generating a plurality of undefined cross-linked species of HBcAg monomers (i.e., a diverse mixture of cross-linked monomeric HbcAgs).

[0197] A number of naturally occurring HBcAg variants suitable for use in the practice of the present invention have been identified. Yuan et al., ( J. Virol. 73:10122-10128 (1999)), for example, describe variants in which the isoleucine residue at position corresponding to position 97 in SEQ ID NO:134 is replaced with either a leucine residue or a phenylalanine residue. The amino acid sequences of a number of HBcAg variants, as well as several Hepatitis B core antigen precursor variants, are disclosed in GenBank reports AAF121240 (SEQ ID NO:89), AF121239 (SEQ ID NO:90), X85297 (SEQ ID NO:91), X02496 (SEQ ID NO:92), X85305 (SEQ ID NO:93), X85303 (SEQ ID NO:94), AF151735 (SEQ ID NO:95), X85259 (SEQ ID NO:96), X85286 (SEQ ID NO:97), X85260 (SEQ ID NO:98), X85317 (SEQ ID NO:99), X85298 (SEQ ID NO:100), AF043593 (SEQ ID NO:101), M20706 (SEQ ID NO:102), X85295 (SEQ ID NO:103), X80925 (SEQ ID NO:104), X85284 (SEQ ID NO:105), X85275 (SEQ ID NO:106), X72702 (SEQ ID NO:107), X85291 (SEQ ID NO:108), X65258 (SEQ ID NO:109), X85302 (SEQ ID NO:110), M32138 (SEQ ID NO:111), X85293 (SEQ ID NO:112), X85315 (SEQ ID NO:113), U95551 (SEQ ID NO:114), X85256 (SEQ ID NO:115), X85316 (SEQ ID NO:116), X85296 (SEQ ID NO:117), AB033559 (SEQ ID NO:118), X59795 (SEQ ID NO:119), X85299 (SEQ ID NO:120), X85307 (SEQ ID NO:121), X65257 (SEQ ID NO:122), X85311 (SEQ ID NO:123), X85301 (SEQ ID NO:124), X85314 (SEQ ID NO:125), X85287 (SEQ ID NO:126), X85272 (SEQ ID NO:127), X85319 (SEQ ID NO:128), AB010289 (SEQ ID NO:129), X85285 (SEQ ID NO:130), AB010289 (SEQ ID NO:131), AF121242 (SEQ ID NO:132), M90520 (SEQ ID NO:135), PO ₃₁₅₃ (SEQ ID NO:136), AF110999 (SEQ ID NO:137), and M95589 (SEQ ID NO:138), the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. These HBcAg variants differ in amino acid sequence at a number of positions, including amino acid residues which corresponds to the amino acid residues located at positions 12, 13, 21, 22, 24, 29, 32, 33, 35, 38, 40, 42, 44, 45, 49, 51, 57, 58, 59, 64, 66, 67, 69, 74, 77, 80, 81, 87, 92, 93, 97, 98, 100, 103, 105, 106, 109, 113, 116, 121, 126, 130, 133, 135, 141, 147, 149, 157, 176, 178, 182 and 183 in SEQ ID NO:134.

[0198] HBcAgs suitable for use in the present invention may be derived from any organism so long as they are able to associate to form an ordered and repetitive antigen array.

[0199] As noted above, generally processed HBcAgs (i.e., those which lack leader sequences) will be used in the vaccine compositions of the invention. Thus, when HBcAgs having amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NOs:136, 137, or 138 are used to prepare vaccine compositions of the invention, generally 30, 35-43, or 35-43 amino acid residues at the N-terminus, respectively, of each of these proteins will be omitted.

[0200] The present invention includes vaccine compositions, as well as methods for using these compositions, which employ the above described variant HBcAgs for the preparation of non-natural molecular scaffolds.

[0201] Further included withing the scope of the invention are additional HBcAg variants which are capable of associating to form dimeric or multimeric structures. Thus, the invention further includes vaccine compositions comprising HBcAg polypeptides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, amino acid sequences which are at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, or 99% identical to any of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs:89-132 and 134-138, and forms of these proteins which have been processed, where appropriate, to remove the N-terminal leader sequence.

[0202] Whether the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide has an amino acid sequence that is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, or 99% identical to one of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs:89-132 and 134-138, or a subportion thereof, can be determined conventionally using known computer programs such the Bestfit program. When using Bestfit or any other sequence alignment program to determine whether a particular sequence is, for instance, 95% identical to a reference amino acid sequence according to the present invention, the parameters are set such that the percentage of identity is calculated over the full length of the reference amino acid sequence and that gaps in homology of up to 5% of the total number of amino acid residues in the reference sequence are allowed.

[0203] The HBcAg variants and precursors having the amino acid sequences set out in SEQ ID NOs:89-132 and 134-136 are relatively similar to each other. Thus, reference to an amino acid residue of a HBcAg variant located at a position which corresponds to a particular position in SEQ ID NO:134, refers to the amino acid residue which is present at that position in the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:134. The homology between these HBcAg variants is for the most part high enough among Hepatitis B viruses that infect mammals so that one skilled in the art would have little difficulty reviewing both the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:134 and that of a particular HBcAg variant and identifying “corresponding” amino acid residues. For example, the HBcAg amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:135, which shows the amino acid sequence of a HBcAg derived from a virus which infect woodchucks, has enough homology to the HBcAg having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:134 that it is readily apparent that a three amino acid residue insert is present in SEQ ID NO:135 between amino acid residues 155 and 156 of SEQ ID NO:134.

[0204] The HBcAgs of Hepatitis B viruses which infect snow geese and ducks differ enough from the amino acid sequences of HBcAgs of Hepatitis B viruses which infect mammals that alignment of these forms of this protein with the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:134 is difficult. However, the invention includes vaccine compositions which comprise HBcAg variants of Hepatitis B viruses which infect birds, as wells as vaccine compositions which comprise fragments of these HBcAg variants. HBcAg fragments suitable for use in preparing vaccine compositions of the invention include compositions which contain polypeptide fragments comprising, or alternatively consisting of, amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of 36-240, 36-269, 44-240, 44-269, 36-305, and 44-305 of SEQ ID NO:137 or 36-240, 36-269, 44-240, 44-269, 36-305, and 44-305 of SEQ ID NO:138. As one skilled in the art would recognize, one, two, three or more of the cysteine residues naturally present in these polypeptides (e.g., the cysteine residues at position 153 is SEQ ID NO:137 or positions 34, 43, and 196 in SEQ ID NO:138) could be either substituted with another amino acid residue or deleted prior to their inclusion in vaccine compositions of the invention.

[0205] In one embodiment, the cysteine residues at positions 48 and 107 of a protein having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:134 are deleted or substituted with another amino acid residue but the cysteine at position 61 is left in place. Further, the modified polypeptide is then used to prepare vaccine compositions of the invention.

[0206] As set out below in Example 31, the cysteine residues at positions 48 and 107, which are accessible to solvent, may be removed, for example, by site-directed mutagenesis. Further, the inventors have found that the Cys-48-Ser, Cys-107-Ser HBcAg double mutant constructed as described in Example 31 can be expressed in E. coli.

[0207] As discussed above, the elimination of free cysteine residues reduces the number of sites where toxic components can bind to the HBcAg, and also eliminates sites where cross-linking of lysine and cysteine residues of the same or of neighboring HBcAg molecules can occur. The cysteine at position 61, which is involved in dimer formation and forms a disulfide bridge with the cysteine at position 61 of another HBcAg, will normally be left intact for stabilization of HBcAg dimers and multimers of the invention.

[0208] As shown in Example 32, cross-linking experiments performed with (1) HBcAgs containing free cysteine residues and (2) HBcAgs whose free cysteine residues have been made unreactive with iodacetamide, indicate that free cysteine residues of the HBcAg are responsible for cross-linking between HBcAgs through reactions between heterobifunctional cross-linker derivatized lysine side chains, and free cysteine residues. Example 32 also indicates that cross-linking of HBcAg subunits leads to the formation of high molecular weight species of undefined size which cannot be resolved by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

[0209] When an antigen or antigenic determinant is linked to the non-natural molecular scaffold through a lysine residue, it may be advantageous to either substitute or delete one or both of the naturally resident lysine residues located at positions corresponding to positions 7 and 96 in SEQ ID NO:134, as well as other lysine residues present in HBcAg variants. The elimination of these lysine residues results in the removal of binding sites for antigens or antigenic determinants which could disrupt the ordered array and should improve the quality and uniformity of the final vaccine composition.

[0210] In many instances, when both of the naturally resident lysine residues at positions corresponding to positions 7 and 96 in SEQ ID NO:134 are eliminated, another lysine will be introduced into the HBcAg as an attachment site for an antigen or antigenic determinant. Methods for inserting such a lysine residue are set out, for example, in Example 23 below. It will often be advantageous to introduce a lysine residue into the HBcAg when, for example, both of the naturally resident lysine residues at positions corresponding to positions 7 and 96 in SEQ ID NO:134 are altered and one seeks to attach the antigen or antigenic determinant to the non-natural molecular scaffold using a heterobifunctional cross-linking agent.

[0211] The C-terminus of the HBcAg has been shown to direct nuclear localization of this protein. (Eckhardt et al., J. Virol. 65:575-582 (1991).) Further, this region of the protein is also believed to confer upon the HBcAg the ability to bind nucleic acids.

[0212] In some embodiments, vaccine compositions of the invention will contain HBcAgs which have nucleic acid binding activity (e.g., which contain a naturally resident HBcAg nucleic acid binding domain). HBcAgs containing one or more nucleic acid binding domains are useful for preparing vaccine compositions which exhibit enhanced T-cell stimulatory activity. Thus, the vaccine compositions of the invention include compositions which contain HBcAgs having nucleic acid binding activity. Further included are vaccine compositions, as well as the use of such compositions in vaccination protocols, where HBcAgs are bound to nucleic acids. These HBcAgs may bind to the nucleic acids prior to administration to an individual or may bind the nucleic acids after administration.

[0213] In other embodiments, vaccine compositions of the invention will contain HBcAgs from which the C-terminal region (e.g., amino acid residues 145-185 or 150-185 of SEQ ID NO:134) has been removed and do not bind nucleic acids. Thus, additional modified HBcAgs suitable for use in the practice of the present invention include C-terminal truncation mutants. Suitable truncation mutants include HBcAgs where 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 40, 41, 42 or 48 amino acids have been removed from the C-terminus.

[0214] HBcAgs suitable for use in the practice of the present invention also include N-terminal truncation mutants. Suitable truncation mutants include modified HBcAgs where 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, or 17 amino acids have been removed from the N-terminus.

[0215] Further HBcAgs suitable for use in the practice of the present invention include N- and C-terminal truncation mutants. Suitable truncation mutants include HBcAgs where 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, and 17 amino acids have been removed from the N-terminus and 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 40, 41, 42 or 48 amino acids have been removed from the C-terminus.

[0216] The invention further includes vaccine compositions comprising HBcAg polypeptides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, amino acid sequences which are at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, or 99% identical to the above described truncation mutants.

[0217] As discussed above, in certain embodiments of the invention, a lysine residue is introduced as a first attachment site into a polypeptide which forms the non-natural molecular scaffold. In preferred embodiments, vaccine compositions of the invention are prepared using a HBcAg comprising, or alternatively consisting of, amino acids 1-144 or amino acids 1-149 of SEQ ID NO:134 which is modified so that the amino acids corresponding to positions 79 and 80 are replaced with a peptide having the amino acid sequence of Gly-Gly-Lys-Gly-Gly (SEQ ID NO:158) and the cysteine residues at positions 48 and 107 are either deleted or substituted with another amino acid residue, while the cysteine at position 61 is left in place. The invention further includes vaccine compositions comprising corresponding fragments of polypeptides having amino acid sequences shown in any of SEQ ID NOs:89-132 and 135-136 which also have the above noted amino acid alterations.

[0218] The invention further includes vaccine compositions comprising fragments of a HBcAg comprising, or alternatively consisting of, an amino acid sequence other than that shown in SEQ ID NO:134 from which a cysteine residue not present at corresponding location in SEQ ID NO:134 has been deleted. One example of such a fragment would be a polypeptide comprising, or alternatively consisting of, amino acids amino acids 1-149 of SEQ ID NO:132 where the cysteine residue at position 147 has been either substituted with another amino acid residue or deleted.

[0219] The invention further includes vaccine compositions comprising HBcAg polypeptides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, amino acid sequences which are at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, or 99% identical to amino acids 1-144 or 1-149 of SEQ ID NO:134 and corresponding subportions of a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence shown in any of SEQ ID NOs:89-132 or 134-136, as well as to amino acids 1-147 or 1-152 of SEQ ID NO:158.

[0220] The invention also includes vaccine compositions comprising HBcAg polypeptides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, amino acid sequences which are at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, or 99% identical to amino acids 36-240, 36-269, 44-240, 44-269, 36-305, and 44-305 of SEQ ID NO:137 or 36-240, 36-269,44-240,44-269, 36-305, and 44-305 of SEQ ID NO:138.

[0221] Vaccine compositions of the invention may comprise mixtures of different HBcAgs. Thus, these vaccine compositions may be composed of HBcAgs which differ in amino acid sequence. For example, vaccine compositions could be prepared comprising a “wild-type” HBcAg and a modified HBcAg in which one or more amino acid residues have been altered (e.g., deleted, inserted or substituted). In most applications, however, only one type of a HBcAg, or at least HBcAgs having essentially equivalent first attachment sites, will be used because vaccines prepared using such HBcAgs will present highly ordered and repetitive arrays of antigens or antigenic determinants. Further, preferred vaccine compositions of the invention are those which present highly ordered and repetitive antigen array

[0222] The invention further includes vaccine compositions where the non-natural molecular scaffold is prepared using a HBcAg fused to another protein. As discussed above, one example of such a fusion protein is a HBcAg/FOS fusion. Other examples of HBcAg fusion proteins suitable for use in vaccine compositions of the invention include fusion proteins where an amino acid sequence has been added which aids in the formation and/or stabilization of HBcAg dimers and multimers. This additional amino acid sequence may be fused to either the N- or C-terminus of the HBcAg. One example, of such a fusion protein is a fusion of a HBcAg with the GCN4 helix region of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (GenBank Accession No. PO ₃₀₆₉ (SEQ ID NO:154)).

[0223] The helix domain of the GCN4 protein forms homodimers via non-covalent interactions which can be used to prepare and stabilize HBcAg dimers and multimers.

[0224] In one embodiment, the invention provides vaccine compositions prepared using HBcAg fusions proteins comprising a HBcAg, or fragment thereof, with a GCN4 polypeptide having the sequence of amino acid residues 227 to 276 in SEQ ID NO:154 fused to the C-terminus. This GCN4 polypeptide may also be fused to the N-terminus of the HbcAg.

[0225] HBcAg/src homology 3 (SH3) domain fusion proteins could also be used to prepare vaccine compositions of the invention. SH3 domains are relatively small domains found in a number of proteins which confer the ability to interact with specific proline-rich sequences in protein binding partners (see McPherson, Cell Signal 11:229-238 (1999). HBcAg/SH3 fusion proteins could be used in several ways. First, the SH3 domain could form a first attachment site which interacts with a second attachment site of the antigen or antigenic determinant. Similarly, a proline rich amino acid sequence could be added to the HBcAg and used as a first attachment site for an SH3 domain second attachment site of an antigen or antigenic determinant. Second, the SH3 domain could associate with proline rich regions introduced into HBcAgs. Thus, SH3 domains and proline rich SH3 interaction sites could be inserted into either the same or different HBcAgs and used to form and stabilized dimers and multimers of the invention.

[0226] In other embodiments, a bacterial pilin, a subportion of a bacterial pilin, or a fusion protein which contains either a bacterial pilin or subportion thereof is used to prepare vaccine compositions of the invention. Examples of pilin proteins include pilins produced by Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Caulobacter crescentus, Pseudomonas stutzeri , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The amino acid sequences of pilin proteins suitable for use with the present invention include those set out in GenBank reports AJ000636 (SEQ ID NO:139), AJ132364 (SEQ ID NO:140), AF229646 (SEQ ID NO:141), AF051814 (SEQ ID NO:142), AF051815 (SEQ ID NO:143), and X00981 (SEQ ID NO:155), the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0227] Bacterial pilin proteins are generally processed to remove N-terminal leader sequences prior to export of the proteins into the bacterial periplasm. Further, as one skilled in the art would recognize, bacterial pilin proteins used to prepare vaccine compositions of the invention will generally not have the naturally present leader sequence.

[0228] One specific example of a pilin protein suitable for use in the present invention is the P-pilin of E. coli (GenBank report AF237482 (SEQ ID NO:144)). An example of a Type-1 E. coli pilin suitable for use with the invention is a pilin having the amino acid sequence set out in GenBank report PO ₄₁₂₈ (SEQ ID NO:146), which is encoded by nucleic acid having the nucleotide sequence set out in GenBank report M27603 (SEQ ID NO:145). The entire disclosures of these GenBank reports are incorporated herein by reference. Again, the mature form of the above referenced protein would generally be used to prepare vaccine compositions of the invention.

[0229] Bacterial pilins or pilin subportions suitable for use in the practice of the present invention will generally be able to associate to form non-natural molecular scaffolds.

[0230] Methods for preparing pili and pilus-like structures in vitro are known in the art. Bullitt et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:12890-12895 (1996), for example, describe the in vitro reconstitution of E. coli P-pili subunits. Further, Eshdat et al., J. Bacteriol. 148:308-314 (1981) describe methods suitable for dissociating Type-1 pili of E. coli and the reconstitution of pili. In brief, these methods are as follows: pili are dissociated by incubation at 37° C. in saturated guanidine hydrochloride. Pilin proteins are then purified by chromatography, after which pilin dimers are formed by dialysis against 5 MM tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane hydrochloride (pH 8.0). Eshdat et al. also found that pilin dimers reassemble to form pili upon dialysis against the 5 mM tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (pH 8.0) containing 5 mM MgCl ₂ .

[0231] Further, using, for example, conventional genetic engineering and protein modification methods, pilin proteins may be modified to contain a first attachment site to which an antigen or antigenic determinant is linked through a second attachment site. Alternatively, antigens or antigenic determinants can be directly linked through a second attachment site to amino acid residues which are naturally resident in these proteins. These modified pilin proteins may then be used in vaccine compositions of the invention.

[0232] Bacterial pilin proteins used to prepare vaccine compositions of the invention may be modified in a manner similar to that described herein for HBcAg. For example, cysteine and lysine residues may be either deleted or substituted with other amino acid residues and first attachment sites may be added to these proteins. Further, pilin proteins may either be expressed in modified form or may be chemically modified after expression. Similarly, intact pili may be harvested from bacteria and then modified chemically.

[0233] In another embodiment, pili or pilus-like structures are harvested from bacteria (e.g., E. coli ) and used to form vaccine compositions of the invention. One example of pili suitable for preparing vaccine compositions is the Type-1 pilus of E. coli , which is formed from pilin monomers having the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:146.

[0234] A number of methods for harvesting bacterial pili are known in the art. Bullitt and Makowski ( Biophys. J. 74:623-632 (1998)), for example, describe a pilus purification method for harvesting P-pili from E. coli . According to this method, pili are sheared from hyperpiliated E. coli containing a P-pilus plasmid and purified by cycles of solubilization and MgCl ₂ (1.0 M) precipitation. A similar purification method is set out below in Example 33.

[0235] Once harvested, pili or pilus-like structures may be modified in a variety of ways. For example, a first attachment site can be added to the pili to which antigens or antigen determinants may be attached through a second attachment site. In other words, bacterial pili or pilus-like structures can be harvested and modified to form non-natural molecular scaffolds.

[0236] Pili or pilus-like structures may also be modified by the attachment of antigens or antigenic determinants in the absence of a non-natural organizer. For example, antigens or antigenic determinants could be linked to naturally occurring cysteine resides or lysine residues. In such instances, the high order and repetitiveness of a naturally occurring amino acid residue would guide the coupling of the antigens or antigenic determinants to the pili or pilus-like structures. For example, the pili or pilus-like structures could be linked to the second attachment sites of the antigens or antigenic determinants using a heterobifunctional cross-linking agent.

[0237] When structures which are naturally synthesized by organisms (e.g., pili) are used to prepare vaccine compositions of the invention, it will often be advantageous to genetically engineer these organisms so that they produce structures having desirable characteristics. For example, when Type-1 pili of E. coli are used, the E. coli from which these pili are harvested may be modified so as to produce structures with specific characteristics. Examples of possible modifications of pilin proteins include the insertion of one or more lysine residues, the deletion or substitution of one or more of the naturally resident lysine residues, and the deletion or substitution of one or more naturally resident cysteine residues (e.g., the cysteine residues at positions 44 and 84 in SEQ ID NO:146).

[0238] Further, additional modifications can be made to pilin genes which result in the expression products containing a first attachment site other than a lysine residue (e.g., a FOS or JUN domain). Of course, suitable first attachment sites will generally be limited to those which do not prevent pilin proteins from forming pili or pilus-like structures suitable for use in vaccine compositions of the invention.

[0239] Pilin genes which naturally reside in bacterial cells can be modified in vivo (e.g., by homologous recombination) or pilin genes with particular characteristics can be inserted into these cells. For examples, pilin genes could be introduced into bacterial cells as a component of either a replicable cloning vector or a vector which inserts into the bacterial chromosome. The inserted pilin genes may also be linked to expression regulatory control sequences (e.g., a lac operator).

[0240] In most instances, the pili or pilus-like structures used in vaccine compositions of the invention will be composed of single type of a pilin subunit. Pili or pilus-like structures composed of identical subunits will generally be used because they are expected to form structures which present highly ordered and repetitive antigen arrays.

[0241] However, the compositions of the invention also include vaccines comprising pili or pilus-like structures formed from heterogenous pilin subunits. The pilin subunits which form these pili or pilus-like structures can be expressed from genes naturally resident in the bacterial cell or may be introduced into the cells. When a naturally resident pilin gene and an introduced gene are both expressed in a cell which forms pili or pilus-like structures, the result will generally be structures formed from a mixture of these pilin proteins. Further, when two or more pilin genes are expressed in a bacterial cell, the relative expression of each pilin gene will typically be the factor which determines the ratio of the different pilin subunits in the pili or pilus-like structures.

[0242] When pili or pilus-like structures having a particular composition of mixed pilin subunits is desired, the expression of at least one of the pilin genes can be regulated by a heterologous, inducible promoter. Such promoters, as well as other genetic elements, can be used to regulate the relative amounts of different pilin subunits produced in the bacterial cell and, hence, the composition of the pili or pilus-like structures.

[0243] In additional, while in most instances the antigen or antigenic determinant will be linked to bacterial pili or pilus-like structures by a bond which is not a peptide bond, bacterial cells which produce pili or pilus-like structures used in the compositions of the invention can be genetically engineered to generate pilin proteins which are fused to an antigen or antigenic determinant. Such fusion proteins which form pili or pilus-like structures are suitable for use in vaccine compositions of the invention.

[0244] As already discussed, viral capsids may be used for (1) the presentation or antigen or antigenic determinants and (2) the preparation of vaccine compositions of the invention. Particularly, useful in the practice of the invention are viral capsid proteins, also referred to herein as “coat proteins,” which upon expression form capsids or capsid-like structures. Thus, these capsid proteins can form core particles and non-natural molecular scaffolds. Generally, these capsids or capsid-like structures form ordered and repetitive arrays which can be used for the presentation of antigens or antigenic determinants and the preparation of vaccine compositions of the invention.

[0245] One or more (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, etc.) antigens or antigenic determinants may be attached by any number of means to one or more (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, etc.) proteins which form viral capsids or capsid-like structures (e.g., bacteriophage coat proteins), as well as other proteins. For example, antigens or antigenic determinants may be attached to core particles using first and second attachment sites. Further, one or more (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, etc.) heterobifunctional crosslinkers can be used to attach antigens or antigenic determinants to one or more proteins which form viral capsids or capsid-like structures.

[0246] Viral capsid proteins, or fragments thereof may be used, for example, to prepare core particles and vaccine compositions of the invention. Bacteriophage Qβ coat proteins, for example, can be expressed recombinantly in E. coli . Further, upon such expression these proteins spontaneously form capsids. Additionally, these capsids form ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant arrays which can be used for antigen presentation and the preparation of vaccine compositions. As described below in Example 38, bacteriophage Qβ coat proteins can be used to prepare vaccine compositions which elicit immunological responses to antigenic determinants.

[0247] Specific examples of bacteriophage coat proteins which can be used to prepare compositions of the invention include the coat proteins of RNA bacteriophages such as bacteriophage Qβ (SEQ ID NO:159; PIR Database, Accession No. VCBPQβ referring to Qβ CP and SEQ ID NO: 217; Accession No. AAA16663 referring to Qβ A1 protein), bacteriophage R17 (SEQ ID NO:160; PIR Accession No. VCBPR7), bacteriophage fr (SEQ ID NO:161; PIR Accession No. VCBPFR), bacteriophage GA (SEQ ID NO:162; GenBank Accession No. NP-040754), bacteriophage SP (SEQ ID NO:163; GenBank Accession No. CAA30374 referring to SP CP and SEQ ID NO: 254; Accession No. referring to SP Al protein), bacteriophage MS2 (SEQ ID NO:164; PIR Accession No. VCBPM2), bacteriophage M11 (SEQ ID NO:165; GenBank Accession No. AAC06250), bacteriophage MX1 (SEQ ID NO:166; GenBank Accession No. AAC14699), bacteriophage NL95 (SEQ ID NO:167; GenBank Accession No. AAC14704), bacteriophage f2 (SEQ ID NO: 215; GenBank Accession No. PO ₃₆₁₁ ), bacteriophage PP7 (SEQ ID NO: 253), As one skilled in the art would recognize, any protein which forms capsids or capsid-like structures can be used for the preparation of vaccine compositions of the invention. Furthermore, the A1 protein of bacteriophage Qβ or C-terminal truncated forms missing as much as 100, 150 or 180 amino acids from its C-terminus may be incorporated in a capsid assembly of Qβ coat proteins. The Al protein may also be fused to an organizer and hence a first attachment site, for attachment of Antigens containing a second attachment site. Generally, the percentage of A1 protein relative to Qβ CP in the capsid assembly will be limited, in order to insure capsid formation. A1 protein accession No. AAA16663 (SEQ ID NO: 217).

[0248] Qβ coat protein has also been found to self-assemble into capsids when expressed in E. coli (Kozlovska T M. et al., GENE 137: 133-137 (1993)). The obtained capsids or virus-like particles showed an icosahedral phage-like capsid structure with a diameter of 25 nm and T=3 quasi symmetry. Further, the crystal structure of phage Qβ has been solved. The capsid contains 180 copies of the coat protein, which are linked in covalent pentamers and hexamers by disulfide bridges (Golmohammadi, R. et al., Structure 4: 543-5554 (1996)). Other RNA phage coat proteins have also been shown to self-assemble upon expression in a bacterial host (Kastelein, R A. et al., Gene 23: 245-254 (1983), Kozlovskaya, T M. et al., Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 287: 452-455 (1986), Adhin, M R. et al., Virology 170: 238-242 (1989), Ni, C Z., et al., Protein Sci. 5: 2485-2493 (1996), Priano, C. et al., J. Mol. Biol. 249: 283-297 (1995)). The Qβ phage capsid contains, in addition to the coat protein, the so called read-through protein A1 and the maturation protein A2. A1 is generated by suppression at the UGA stop codon and has a length of 329 aa. The capsid of phage Qβ recombinant coat protein used in the invention is devoid of the A2 lysis protein, and contains RNA from the host. The coat protein of RNA phages is an RNA binding protein, and interacts with the stem loop of the ribosomal binding site of the replicase gene acting as a translational repressor during the life cycle of the virus. The sequence and structural elements of the interaction are known (Witherell, G W. & Uhlenbeck, O C. Biochemistry 28: 71-76 (1989); Lim F. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271: 31839-31845 (1996)). The stem loop and RNA in general are known to be involved in the virus assembly (Golmohammadi, R. et al., Structure 4: 543-5554 (1996))

[0249] Proteins or protein domains may affect the structure and assembly of the particle even more then a short peptide. As an example, proper folding of antigens comprising disulfide bridges will generally not be possible in the cytoplasm of E. coli , where the Qβ particles are expressed. Likewise, glycosylation is generally not possible in prokaryotic expression systems. It is therefore an advantage of the contemplated invention described here to attach the antigen to the particle by starting with the already assembled particle and the isolated antigen. This allows expression of both the particle and the antigen in an expression host guaranteeing proper folding of the antigen, and proper folding and assembly of the particle.

[0250] It is a finding of this invention, that one or several several antigen molecules may be attached to one subunit of the capsid of RNA phages coat proteins. A specific feature of the capsid of the coat protein of RNA phages and in particular of Qβ capsid is thus the possibility to couple several antigens per subunit. This allows for the generation of a dense antigen array. Other viral capsids used for covalent attachment of antigens by way of chemical cross-linking, such for example a HBcAg modified with a lysine residue in its major immunodominant region (MIR; WO 00/32227), show coupling density of maximally 0.5 antigens per subunit. The distance between the spikes (corresponding to the MIR) of HBcAg is 50 A (Wynne, S A. et al., Mol. Cell 3: 771-780 (1999)), and therefore an antigen array with distances shorter than 50 A cannot be generated

[0251] Capsids of Qβ coat protein display a defined number of lysine residues on their surface, with a defined topology with three lysine residues pointing towards the interior of the capsid and interacting with the RNA, and four other lysine residues exposed to the exterior of the capsid. These defined properties favor the attachment of antigens to the exterior of the particle, and not to the interior where the lysine residues interact with RNA. Capsids of other RNA phage coat proteins also have a defined number of lysine residues on their surface and a defined topology of these lysine residues. Another advantage of the capsids derived from RNA phages is their high expression yield in bacteria, that allows to produce large quantities of material at affordable cost.

[0252] Another feature of the capsid of Qβ coat protein is its stability. Qβ subunits are bound via disulfide bridges to each other, covalently linking the subunits. Qβ capsid protein also shows unusual resistance to organic solvents and denaturing agents. Surprisingly, we have observed that DMSO and acetonitrile concentrations as high as 30%, and Guanidinium concentrations as high as 1 M could be used without affecting the stability or the ability to form antigen arrays of the capsid. Thus, theses organic solvents may be used to couple hydrophobic peptides. The high stability of the capsid of Qβ coat protein is an important feature pertaining to its use for immunization and vaccination of mammals and humans in particular. The resistance of the capsid to organic solvent allows the coupling of antigens not soluble in aqueous buffers.

[0253] Insertion of a cysteine residue into the N-terminal β-hairpin of the coat protein of the RNA phage MS-2 has been described in the patent application U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,424. We note however, that the presence of an exposed free cysteine residue in the capsid may lead to oligomerization of capsids by way of disulfide bridge formation. Other attachments contemplated in patent application U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,424 involve the formation of disulfide bridges between the antigen and the Qβ particle. Such attachments are labile to sulfhydryl-moiety containing molecules.

[0254] The reaction between an initial disulfide bridge formed with a cys-residue on Qβ, and the antigen containing a free sulfhydryl residue releases sulfhydryl containing species other than the antigen. These newly formes sulfhydryl containing species can react again with other disulfide bridges present on the particle, thus establishing an equilibrium. Upon reaction with the disulfide bridge formed on the particle, the antigen may either form a disulfide bridge with the cys-residue from the particle, or with the cys-residue of the leaving group molecule which was forming the initial disulfide bridge on the particle. Moreover, the other method of attachment described, using a hetero-bifunctional cross-linker reacting with a cysteine on the Qβ particle on one side, and with a lysine residue on the antigen on the other side, leads to a random orientation of the antigens on the particle.

[0255] We further note that, in contrast to the capsid of the Qβ and Fr coat proteins, recombinant MS-2 described in patent application U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,424 is essentially free of nucleic acids, while RNA is packaged inside the two capsids mentioned above.

[0256] We describe new and inventive compositions allowing the formation of robust antigen arrays with variable antigen density. We show that much higher epitope density can be achieved than usually obtained with other VLPs. We also disclose compositions with simultaneous display of several antigens with appropriate spacing, and compositions wherein the addition of accessory molecules, enhancing solubility or modifiying the capsid in a suitable and desired way.

[0257] The preparation of compositions of capsids of RNA phage coat proteins with a high epitope density is disclosed in this application. As a skilled artisan in the Art would know, the conditions for the assembly of the ordered and repetitive antigen array depend for a good part on the antigen and on the selection of a second attachment site on the antigen. In the case of the absence of a useful second attachment site, such a second attachment has to be engineered to the antigen.

[0258] A prerequisite in designing a second attachment site, is the choice of the position at which it should be fused, inserted or generally engineered. A skilled artisan would know how to find guidance in selecting the position of the second attachment site. A crystal structure of the antigen may provide information on the availability of the C- or N-termini of the molecule (determined for example from their accessibility to solvent), or on the exposure to solvent of residues suitable for use as second attachment sites, such as cysteine residues. Exposed disulfide bridges, as is the case for Fab fragments, may also be a source of a second attachment site, since they can be generally converted to single cysteine residues through mild reduction. In general, in the case where immunization with a self-antigen is aiming at inhibiting the interaction of this self-antigen with its natural ligands, the second attachment site will be added such that it allows generation of antibodies against the site of interaction with the natural ligands. Thus, the location of the second attachment site will selected such, that steric hindrance from the second attachment site or any amino acid linker containing it, is avoided. In further embodiments, an antibody response directed at a site distinct from the interaction site of the self-antigen with its natural ligand is desired. In such embodiments, the second attachment site may be selected such that it prevents generation of antibodies against the interaction site of the self-antigen with its natural ligands.

[0259] Other criteria in selecting the position of the second attachment site include the oligomerization state of the antigen, the site of oligomerization, the presence of a cofactor, and the availability of experimental evidence disclosing sites in the antigen structure and sequence where modification of the antigen is compatible with the function of the self-antigen, or with the generation of antibodies recognizing the self-antigen.

[0260] In some embodiments, engineering of a second attachment site onto the antigen requires the fusion of an amino acid linker containing an amino acid suitable as second attachment site according to the disclosures of this invention. In a preferred embodiment, the amino acid is cysteine. The selection of the amino acidd linker will be dependent on the nature of the self-antigen, on its biochemical properties, such as pI, charge distribution, glycosylation. In general, flexible amino acid linkers are favored. Examples of amino acid linkers are the hinge region of Immunoglobulins, glycine serine linkers (GGGGS) _n , and glycine linkers (G) _n all further containing a cysteine residue as second attachment site and optionally further glycine residues. (In the following are examples of said amino acid linkers:

[0261] N-terminal gamma1: CGDKTHTSPP

[0262] C-terminal gamma 1: DKTHTSPPCG

[0263] N-terminal gamma 3: CGGPKPSTPPGSSGGAP

[0264] C-terminal gamma 3: PKPSTPPGSSGGAPGGCG

[0265] N-terminal glycine linker: GCGGGG

[0266] C-terminal glycine linker: GGGGCG)

[0267] For peptides, GGCG linkers at the C-terminus of the peptide, or CGG at its N-terminus have shown to be useful. In general, glycine residues will be inserted between bulky amino acids and the cysteine to be used as second attachment site.

[0268] A particularly favored method of attachment of antigens to VLPs, and in particular to capsids of RNA phage coat proteins is the linking of a lysine residue on the surface of the capsid of RNA phage coat proteins with a cysteine residue on the antigen. To be effective as second attachment site, a sulfhydryl group must be available for coupling. Thus, a cysteine residue has to be in its reduced state, that is a free cysteine or a cysteine residue with a free sulfhydryl group has to be available. In the instant where the cysteine residue to function as second attachment site is in an oxidized form, for example if it is forming a disulfide bridge, reduction of this disulfide bridge with e.g. DTT, TCEP or β-mercaptoethanol is required.

[0269] It is a finding of this application that epitope density on the capsid of RNA phage coat proteins can be modulated by the choice of cross-linker and other reaction conditions. For example, the cross-linkers Sulfo-GMBS and SMPH allow reaching higher epitope density than the cross-linker Sulfo-MBS under the same reaction conditions. Derivatization is positively influenced by high concentration of reactands, and manipulation of the reaction conditions can be used to control the number of antigens coupled to RNA phages capsid proteins, and in particular to Qβ capsid protein.

[0270] From theoretical calculation, the maximally achievable number of globular protein antigens of a size of 17 kDa does not exceed 0.5. Thus, several of the lysine residues of the capsid of Qβ coat protein will be derivatized with a cross-linker molecule, yet be devoid of antigen. This leads to the disappearance of a positive charge, which may be detrimental to the solubility and stability of the conjugate. By replacing some of the lysine residues with arginines, such is the case in the disclosed Qβ coat protein mutant, we prevent the excessive disappearance of positive charges since the arginine residues do not react with the cross-linker.

[0271] In further embodiments, we disclose a Qβ mutant coat protein with additional lysine residues, suitable for obtaining high density arrays of antigens.

[0272] The crystal structure of several RNA bacteriophages has been determined (Golmohammadi, R. et al., Structure 4:543-554 (1996)). Using such information, one skilled in the art could readily identify surface exposed residues and modify bacteriophage coat proteins such that one or more reactive amino acid residues can be inserted. Thus, one skilled in the art could readily generate and identify modified forms of bacteriophage coat proteins which can be used in the practice of the invention. Thus, variants of proteins which form capsids or capsid-like structures (e.g., coat proteins of bacteriophage Qβ, bacteriophage R17, bacteriophage fr, bacteriophage GA, bacteriophage SP, and bacteriophage MS2) can also be used to prepare vaccine compositions of the invention.

[0273] Although the sequence of the variants proteins discussed above will differ from their wild-type counterparts, these variant proteins will generally retain the ability to form capsids or capsid-like structures. Thus, the invention further includes vaccine compositions which contain variants of proteins which form capsids or capsid-like structures, as well as methods for preparing such vaccine compositions, individual protein subunits used to prepare such vaccine compositions, and nucleic acid molecules which encode these protein subunits. Thus, included within the scope of the invention are variant forms of wild-type proteins which form ordered and repetitive antigen arrays (e.g., variants of proteins which form capsids or capsid-like structures) and retain the ability to associate and form capsids or capsid-like structures.

[0274] As a result, the invention further includes vaccine compositions comprising proteins comprising, or alternatively consisting of, amino acid sequences which are at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, or 99% identical to wild-type proteins which form ordered arrays. In many instances, these proteins will be processed to remove signal peptides (e.g., heterologous signal peptides).

[0275] Further included within the scope of the invention are nucleic acid molecules which encode proteins used to prepare vaccine compositions of the invention.

[0276] In particular embodiments, the invention further includes vaccine compositions comprising proteins comprising, or alternatively consisting of, amino acid sequences which are at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, or 99% identical to any of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs:159-167, and forms of these proteins which have been processed, where appropriate, to remove the N-terminal leader sequence.

[0277] Proteins suitable for use in the practice of the present invention also include C-terminal truncation mutants of proteins which form capsids or capsid-like structures, as well as other ordered arrays. Specific examples of such truncation mutants include proteins having an amino acid sequence shown in any of SEQ ID NOs:159-167 where 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, or 17 amino acids have been removed from the C-terminus. Normally, C-terminal truncation mutants used in the practice of the invention will retain the ability to form capsids or capsid-like structures.

[0278] Further proteins suitable for use in the practice of the present invention also include N-terminal truncation mutants of proteins which form capsids or capsid-like structures. Specific examples of such truncation mutants include proteins having an amino acid sequence shown in any of SEQ ID NOs:159-167 where 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, or 17 amino acids have been removed from the N-terminus. Normally, N-terminal truncation mutants used in the practice of the invention will retain the ability to form capsids or capsid-like structures.

[0279] Additional proteins suitable for use in the practice of the present invention include—and C-terminal truncation mutants which form capsids or capsid-like structures. Suitable truncation mutants include proteins having an amino acid sequence shown in any of SEQ ID NOs:159-167 where 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, or 17 amino acids have been removed from the N-terminus and 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, or 17 amino acids have been removed from the C-terminus. Normally, N-terminal and C-terminal truncation mutants used in the practice of the invention will retain the ability to form capsids or capsid-like structures.

[0280] The invention further includes vaccine compositions comprising proteins comprising, or alternatively consisting of, amino acid sequences which are at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, or 99% identical to the above described truncation mutants.

[0281] The invention thus includes vaccine compositions prepared from proteins which form ordered arrays, methods for preparing vaccine compositions from individual protein subunits, methods for preparing these individual protein subunits, nucleic acid molecules which encode these subunits, and methods for vaccinating and/or eliciting immunological responses in individuals using vaccine compositions of the invention.

[0282] B. Construction of an Antigen or Antigenic Determinant with a Second Attachment Site

[0283] The second element in the compositions of the invention is an antigen or antigenic determinant possessing at least one second attachment site capable of association through at least one non-peptide bond to the first attachment site of the non-natural molecular scaffold. The invention provides for compositions that vary according to the antigen or antigenic determinant selected in consideration of the desired therapeutic effect. Other compositions are provided by varying the molecule selected for the second attachment site.

[0284] However, when bacterial pili, or pilus-like structures, pilin proteins are used to prepare vaccine compositions of the invention, antigens or antigenic determinants may be attached to pilin proteins by the expression of pilin/antigen fusion proteins. Similarly, when proteins other than pilin proteins (e.g., viral capsid proteins) are used to prepare vaccine compositions of the invention, antigens or antigenic determinants may be attached to these non-pilin proteins by the expression of non-pilin protein/antigen fusion proteins. Antigens or antigenic determinants may also be attached to bacterial pili, pilus-like structures, pilin proteins, and other proteins which form ordered arrays through non-peptide bonds.

[0285] Antigens of the invention may be selected from the group consisting of the following: (a) proteins suited to induce an immune response against cancer cells; (b) proteins suited to induce an immune response against infectious diseases; (c) proteins suited to induce an immune response against allergens,(d) proteins suited to induce an immune response in farm animals, and (e) fragments (e.g., a domain) of any of the proteins set out in (a)-(d).

[0286] In one specific embodiment of the invention, the antigen or antigenic determinant is one that is useful for the prevention of infectious disease. Such treatment will be useful to treat a wide variety of infectious diseases affecting a wide range of hosts, eg., human, cow, sheep, pig, dog, cat, other mammalian species and non-mammalian species as well. Treatable infectious diseases are well known to those skilled in the art, examples include infections of viral etiology such as HIV, influenza, Herpes, viral hepatitis, Epstein Bar, polio, viral encephalitis, measles, chicken pox, etc.; or infections of bacterial etiology such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, syphilis, etc.; or infections of parasitic etiology such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, trichomoniasis, amoebiasis, etc. Thus, antigens or antigenic determinants selected for the compositions of the invention will be well known to those in the medical art; examples of antigens or antigenic determinants include the following: the HIV antigens gp140 and gp160; the influenaza antigens hemagglutinin, M2 protein and neuramimidase, Hepatitis B surface antigen, circumsporozoite protein of malaria.

[0287] In specific embodiments, the invention provides vaccine compositions suitable for use in methods for preventing and/or attenuating diseases or conditions which are caused or exacerbated by “self” gene products (e.g., tumor necrosis factors). Thus, vaccine compositions of the invention include compositions which lead to the production of antibodies that prevent and/or attenuate diseases or conditions caused or exacerbated by “self” gene products. Examples of such diseases or conditions include graft versus host disease, IgE-mediated allergic reactions, anaphylaxis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, Crohn's disease, allergic asthma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), Graves' disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), inflammatory autoimmune diseases, myasthenia gravis, immunoproliferative disease lymphadenopathy (IPL), angioimmunoproliferative lymphadenopathy (AIL), immunoblastive lymphadenopathy (IBL), rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer disease and osteoporosis.

[0288] In related specific embodiments, compositions of the invention are an immunotherapeutic that may be used for the treatment of allergies or cancer.

[0289] The selection of antigens or antigenic determinants for the preparation of compositions and for use in methods of treatment for allergies would be known to those skilled in the medical arts treating such disorders. Representative examples of such antigens or antigenic determinants include the following: bee venom phospholipase A ₂ , Bet v I (birch pollen allergen), 5 Dol m V (white-faced hornet venom allergen), Mellitin and Der p I (House dust mite allergen), as well as fragments of each which can be used to elicit immunological responses.

[0290] As indicated, a preferred antigen or antigenic determinant is Der p I. Der p I is a 25 kD protease found in house dust mite faecal particles. Der p I represents the major allergic molecule of house dust mite. Accordingly, 80% of mite allergic patients have anti-Der p I IgE antibodies. In particular, the peptides p52-72 and pl 17-133, among others, are known to comprise epitopes, which are recognized by antibodies specific for the native Der p I. IgE antibodies raised in a polyclonal response to the whole antigen bind with high affinity to the peptide region 59-94 (L. Pierson-Mullany et al. (2000) Molecular Immunology). Other regions also bind IgE with high affinity. The peptide p117-133 contains a free cysteine at its N-terminus, preferably representing the second attachment site in accordance with the invention. 3D model assigns peptides p52-72 and p117-133 to the surface of the whole protein. However, other fragments of the Der p I protein may comprise B cell epitopes being preferably suitable for the present invention.

[0291] The selection of antigens or antigenic determinants for compositions and methods of treatment for cancer would be known to those skilled in the medical arts treating such disorders. Representative examples of such types of antigens or antigenic determinants include the following: Her2 (breast cancer), GD2 (neuroblastoma), EGF-R (malignant glioblastoma), CEA (medullary thyroid cancer), and CD52 (leukemia), human melanoma protein gp100, human melanoma protein melan-A/MART-1, tyrosinase, NA17-A nt protein, MAGE-3 protein, p53 protein, HPV16 E7 protein, as well as fragments of each which can be used to elicit immunological responses. Further preferred antigenic determinants useful for compositions and methods of treatment for cancer are molecules and antigenic determinants involved in angiogenesis. Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, plays an essential role in physiological and pathophysiological processes such as wound healing and solid tumor growth, respectively (Folkman, J. (1995) Nat. medicine 1, 27-31; Folkman, J., and Klagsbrun, M. (1987) Science 235, 442-446; Martiny-Baron, G., and Marmé, D. (1995) Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 6, 675-680; Risau, W. (1997) Nature 386, 671-674). Rapidly growing tumors initiate and depend on the formation of blood vessels to provide the required blood supply. Thus, antiangiogenic agents might be effective as an anticancer therapy.

[0292] Among several putative angiogenic factors that have been identified so far vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent endothelial cell specific mitogen and a primary stimulant of the vascularization of many solid tumors. Although recent findings implicate that a set of angiogenic factors must be perfectly orchestrated to form functional vessels, it seems that the blockade of even a single growth factor might limit disease-induced vascular growth. Thus, blockade of VEGF may be a premium target for intervention in tumor induced angiogenesis. To target the endothelium rather than the tumor itself has recently emerged as a novel strategy to fight tumors (Millauer, B., Shawver, L. K., Plate, K. H., Risau, W., and Ullrich, A. (1994) Nature 367, 576-579; Kim, J., Li, B., Winer, J., Armanini, M., Gillett, N., Phillip, H. S., Ferrara, N. (1993) Nature 362, 841-844). In contrast to tumors, which easily mutate target structures recognized by the immune system, endothelial cells do not usually escape the immune system or other therapeutic regimens.

[0293] An anti-VEGFR-II antibody (IMC-1C11) and an anti-VEGF antibody have been disclosed (Lu, D., Kussie, P., Pytowski, B., Persaud, K., Bohlen, P., Witte, L., Zhu, Z. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 14321-14330; Presta, L. G, Chen, H., O'Connor, S J., Chisholm, V., Meng, Y G., Krummen, L., Winkler, M., Ferrara N. (1997) Cancer Res. 47, 4593-4599). The former neutralizing monoclonal anti-VEGFR-2 antibody recognizes an epitope that has been identified as putative VEGF/VEGFR-II binding site (Piossek, C., Schneider-Mergener, J., Schimer, M., Vakalopoulou, E., Germeroth, L., Thierauch, K. H. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 5612-5619).

[0294] Thus, in another preferred embodiment of the invention, the antigen or antigenic determinant is a peptide derived from the VEGFR-II contact site. This provides a composition and a vaccine composition in accordance with the invention, which may have antiangiogenic properties useful for the treatment of cancer. Inhibition of tumor growth in mice using sera specific for VEGFR-2 has been demonstrated (Wei, Y Q., Wang, Q R., Zhao, X., Yang, L., Tian, L., Lu, Y., Kang, B., Lu, C J., Huang, M J., Lou, Y Y., xiao, F., He, Q M., Shu, J M., Xie, X J., Mao, Y Q., Lei, S., Luo, F., Zhou, L Q., Liu, C E., Zhou, H., Jiang, Y., Peng, F., Yuan, L P., Li, Q., Wu, Y., Liu, J Y. (2000) Nature Medicine 6, 1160-1165). Therefore, further preferred antigenic determinants suitable for inventive compositions and antiangiogenic vaccine compositions in accordance with the invention comprise either the human VEGFR-II derived peptide with the sequence CTARTELNVGIDFNWEYPSSKHQHKK, and/or the murine VEGFR-II derived peptide having the sequence CTARTELNVGLDFTWHSPPSKSHHKK, and/or the relevant extracellular globular domains 1-3 of the VEGFR-II.

[0295] Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vaccine composition comprises a core particle selected from a virus-like particle or a bacterial pilus and a VEGFR-II derived peptide or a fragment thereof as an antigen or antigenic determinant in accordance with the present invention.

[0296] The selection of antigens or antigenic determinants for compositions and methods of treatment for other diseases or conditions associated with self antigens would be also known to those skilled in the medical arts treating such disorders. Representative examples of such antigens or antigenic determinants are, for example, lymphotoxins (e.g. Lymphotoxin α (LT α), Lymphotoxin β (LT β)), and lymphotoxin receptors, Receptor activator of nuclear factor kB ligand (RANKL), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF-R), Interleukin-5, Interleukin-17, Interleukin-13, CCL21, CXCL12, SDF-1, MCP-1, Endoglin, Resistin, GHRH, LHRH, TRH, MIF, Eotaxin, Bradykinin, BLC, Tumor Necrosis Factor α and amyloid beta peptide (Aβ _1-42 ) (SEQ ID NO: 220), as well as fragments of each which can be used to elicit immunological responses. In a preferred embodiment, the antigen is the amyloid beta peptide (Aβ _1-42 ) (DAEFRHDSGYEVHHQKL VFFAEDVGSNKGAIIGLMVGGVVIA (SEQ ID NO: 220), or a fragment thereof. The amyloid beta protein is SEQ ID NO: 218. The amyloid beta precursor protein is SEQ ID NO: 219.

[0297] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the antigen or antigenic determinant is an angiotensin peptide or a fragment thereof. The term “angiotensin peptide” as used herein, shall encompass any peptide comprising the sequence, or fragments thereof, of angiotensinogen, angiotensin I or angiotensin II. The sequences are as follows: Angiotensinogen: DRVYIHPFHLVIHN; Angiotensin I: DRVYIHPFHL; Angiotensin II: DRVYIHPF. Typically, one or more additional amino acids are added either at the C- or at the N-terminus of the angiotensin peptide sequences. The sequence of the angiotensin peptides corresponds to the human sequence, which is identical to the murine sequence. Therefore, immunization of a human or a mouse with vaccines or compositions, respectively, comprising such angiotensin peptides as antigenic determinant in accordance with the invention, is a vaccination against a self-antigen. Those additional amino acids are, in particular, valuable for an oriented and ordered association to the core particle.

[0298] Preferably, the angiotensin peptide has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a) the amino acid sequence of CGGDRVYIHPF; b) the amino acid sequence of CGGDRVYIHPFHL; c) the amino acid sequence of DRVYIHPFHLGGC; and d) the amino acid sequence of CDRVYIHPFH. Angiotensin I is cleaved from angiotensinogen (14aa) by the kidney-derived enzyme Renin. Angiotensin I is a biologically inactive peptide of 10 aa. It is further cleaved at the N-terminus by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) into the biologically active 8aa angiotensin II. This peptide binds to the antgiotensin receptors AT1I and AT2 which leads to vasoconstriction and aldosterone release.

[0299] A vaccine in accordance with the present invention comprising at least one angiotensin peptide may be used for the treatment of hypertension.

[0300] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the antigen or antigenic determinant is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a recombinant protein of HIV, (b) a recombinant protein of Influenza virus (e.g., an Influenza virus M2 protein or a fragment thereof), (c) a recombinant protein of Hepatitis C virus, (d) a recombinant protein of Toxoplasma, (e) a recombinant protein of Plasmodium falciparum , (f) a recombinant protein of Plasmodium vivax , (g) a recombinant protein of Plasmodium ovale , (h) a recombinant protein of Plasmodium malariae , (i) a recombinant protein of breast cancer cells, (j) a recombinant protein of kidney cancer cells, (k) a recombinant protein of prostate cancer cells, (l) a recombinant protein of skin cancer cells, (m) a recombinant protein of brain cancer cells, (n) a recombinant protein of leukemia cells, (o) a recombinant profiling, (p) a recombinant protein of bee sting allergy, (q) a recombinant proteins of nut allergy, (r) a recombinant proteins of food allergies, (s) recombinant proteins of asthma, (t) a recombinant protein of Chlamydia, and (u) a fragment of any of the proteins set out in (a)-(t).

[0301] Once the antigen or antigenic determinant of the composition is chosen, at least one second attachment site may be added to the molecule in preparing to construct the organized and repetitive array associated with the non-natural molecular scaffold of the invention. Knowledge of what will constitute an appropriate second attachment site will be known to those skilled in the art. Representative examples of second attachment sites include, but are not limited to, the following: an antigen, an antibody or antibody fragment, biotin, avidin, strepavidin, a receptor, a receptor ligand, a ligand, a ligand-binding protein, an interacting leucine zipper polypeptide, an amino group, a chemical group reactive to an amino group; a carboxyl group, chemical group reactive to a carboxyl group, a sulfhydryl group, a chemical group reactive to a sulfhydryl group, or a combination thereof.

[0302] The association between the first and second attachment sites will be determined by the characteristics of the respective molecules selected but will comprise at least one non-peptide bond. Depending upon the combination of first and second attachment sites, the nature of the association may be covalent, ionic, hydrophobic, polar, or a combination thereof.

[0303] In one embodiment of the invention, the second attachment site may be the FOS leucine zipper protein domain or the JUN leucine zipper protein domain.

[0304] In a more specific embodiment of the invention, the second attachment site selected is the FOS leucine zipper protein domain, which associates specifically with the JUN leucine zipper protein domain of the non-natural molecular scaffold of the invention. The association of the JUN and FOS leucine zipper protein domains provides a basis for the formation of an organized and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant array on the surface of the scaffold. The FOS leucine zipper protein domain may be fused in frame to the antigen or antigenic determinant of choice at either the amino terminus, carboxyl terminus or internally located in the protein if desired.

[0305] Several FOS fusion constructs are provided for exemplary purposes. Human growth hormone (Example 4), bee venom phospholipase A ₂ (PLA ₂ ) (Example 9), ovalbumin (Example 10) and HIV gp140 (Example 12).

[0306] In order to simplify the generation of FOS fusion constructs, several vectors are disclosed that provide options for antigen or antigenic determinant design and construction (see Example 6). The vectors pAV1-4 were designed for the expression of FOS fusion in E. coli ; the vectors pAV5 and pAV6 were designed for the expression of FOS fusion proteins in eukaryotic cells. Properties of these vectors are briefly described:

[0307] 1. pAV1: This vector was designed for the secretion of fusion proteins with FOS at the C-terminus into the E. coli periplasmic space. The gene of interest (g.o.i.) may be ligated into the StuI/NotI sites of the vector.

[0308] 2. pAV2: This vector was designed for the secretion of fusion proteins with FOS at the N-terminus into the E. coli periplasmic space. The gene of interest (g.o.i.) ligated into the NotI/EcoRV (or NotI/HindIII) sites of the vector.

[0309] 3. pAV3: This vector was designed for the cytoplasmic production of fusion proteins with FOS at the C-terminus in E. coli . The gene of interest (g.o.i.) may be ligated into the EcoRV/NotI sites of the vector.

[0310] 4. pAV4: This vector is designed for the cytoplasmic production of fusion proteins with FOS at the N-terminus in E. coli . The gene of interest (g.o.i.) may be ligated into the NotI/EcoRV (or NotI/HindIII) sites of the vector. The N-terminal methionine residue is proteolytically removed upon protein synthesis (Hirel et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:8247-8251 (1989)).

[0311] 5. pAV5: This vector was designed for the eukaryotic production of fusion proteins with FOS at the C-terminus. The gene of interest (g.o.i.) may be inserted between the sequences coding for the hGH signal sequence and the FOS domain by ligation into the Eco47III/NotI sites of the vector. Alternatively, a gene containing its own signal sequence may be fused to the FOS coding region by ligation into the StuI/NotI sites.

[0312] 6. pAV6: This vector was designed for the eukaryotic production of fusion proteins with FOS at the N-terminus. The gene of interest (g.o.i.) may be ligated into the NotI/StuI (or NotI/HindIII) sites of the vector.

[0313] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the construction of a FOS-antigen or -antigenic determinant fusion protein may include the addition of certain genetic elements to facilitate production of the recombinant protein. Example 4 provides guidance for the addition of certain E. coli regulatory elements for translation, and Example 7 provides guidance for the addition of a eukaryotic signal sequence. Other genetic elements may be selected, depending on the specific needs of the practioner.

[0314] The invention is also seen to include the production of the FOS-antigen or FOS-antigenic determinant fusion protein either in bacterial (Example 5) or eukaryotic cells (Example 8). The choice of which cell type in which to express the fusion protein is within the knowledge of the skilled artisan, depending on factors such as whether post-translational modifications are an important consideration in the design of the composition.

[0315] As noted previously, the invention discloses various methods for the construction of a FOS-antigen or FOS-antigenic determinant fusion protein through the use of the pAV vectors. In addition to enabling prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression, these vectors allow the practitioner to choose between N- and C-terminal addition to the antigen of the FOS leucine zipper protein domain. Specific examples are provided wherein N- and C-terminal FOS fusions are made to PLA ₂ (Example 9) and ovalbumin (Example 10). Example 11 demonstrates the purification of the PLA ₂ and ovalbumin FOS fusion proteins.

[0316] In a more specific embodiment, the invention is drawn to an antigen or antigenic determinant encoded by the HIV genome. More specifically, the HIV antigen or antigenic determinant is gp140. As provided for in Examples 11-15, HIV gp140 may be created with a FOS leucine zipper protein domain and the fusion protein synthesized and purified for attachment to the non-natural molecular scaffold of the invention. As one skilled in the art would know, other HIV antigens or antigenic determinants may be used in the creation of a composition of the invention.

[0317] In another more specific embodiment, the invention is drawn to vaccine compositions comprising at least one antigen or antigenic determinant encoded by an Influenza viral nucleic acid, and the use of such vaccine compositions to elicit immune responses. In an even more specific embodiment, the Influenza antigen or antigenic determinant may be an M2 protein (e.g., an M2 protein having the amino acids shown in SEQ ID NO:213, GenBank Accession No. PO ₆₈₂₁ , or in SEQ ID NO: 212, PIR Accession No. MFIV62, or fragment thereof (e.g., amino acids from about 2 to about 24 in SEQ ID NO:213, the amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO:212). Further, influenza antigens or antigenic determinants may be coupled to non-natural molecular scaffolds or core particles through either peptide or non-peptide bonds. When Influenza antigens or antigenic determinants are coupled to non-natural molecular scaffolds or core particles through peptide bonds, the molecules which form order and repetitive arrays will generally be prepared as fusion protein expression products. The more preferred embodiment is however a composition, wherein the M2 peptide is coupled by chemical cross-linking, to Qβ capsid protein HBcAg capsid protein or Pili according to the disclosures of the invention.

[0318] Portions of an M2 protein (e.g., an M2 protein having the amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO:213), as well as other proteins against which an immunological response is sought, suitable for use with the invention may comprise, or alternatively consist of, peptides of any number of amino acids in length but will generally be at least 6 amino acids in length (e.g., peptides 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 97 amino acids in length).

[0319] In another specific embodiment of the invention, the second attachment site selected is a cysteine residue, which associates specifically with a lysine residue of the non-natural molecular scaffold or core particle of the invention, or the second attachment site selected is a lysine residue, which associates specifically with a cysteine residue of the non-natural molecular scaffold or core particle of the invention. The chemical linkage of the lysine residue (Lys) and cysteine residue (Cys) provides a basis for the formation of an organized and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant array on the surface of the scaffold or core particle. The cysteine or lysine residue may be engineered in frame to the antigen or antigenic determinant of choice at either the amino terminus, carboxyl terminus or internally located in the protein if desired. By way of example, PLA ₂ and HIV gp14O are provided with a cysteine residue for linkage to a lysine residue first attachment site. In additional specific embodiments, the invention provides vaccine compositions suitable for use in methods for preventing and/or attenuating allergic reactions, such as allergic reactions which lead to anaphylaxis. Thus, vaccine compositions of the invention include compositions which lead to the production of antibodies that prevent and/or attenuate allergic reactions. Thus, in certain embodiments, vaccine compositions of the invention include compositions which elicit an immunological response against an allergen. Examples of such allergens include phospholipases such as the phospholipase A ₂ (PLA ₂ ) proteins of Apis mellifera (SEQ ID NO:168, GenBank Accession No. 443189; SEQ ID NO:169, GenBank Accession No. 229378), Apis dorsata (SEQ ID NO:170, GenBank Accession No. B59055), Apis cerana (SEQ ID NO:171, GenBank Accession No. A59055), Bombus pennsylvanicus (SEQ ID NO:172 GenBank Accession No. B56338), and Heloderna suspectum (SEQ ID NO:173, GenBank Accession No. P80003; SEQ ID NO:174, GenBank Accession No. S14764; SEQ ID NO:175, GenBank Accession No. 226711).

[0320] Using the amino acid sequence of a PLA ₂ protein of Apis mellifera (SEQ ID NO:168) for illustration, peptides of at least about 60 amino acids in length, which represent any portion of the whole PLA ₂ sequence, may also be used in compositions for preventing and/or attenuating allergic reactions. Examples of such peptides include peptides which comprise amino acids 1-60 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 1-70 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 10-70 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 20-80 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 30-90 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 40-100 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 47-99 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 50-110 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 60-120 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 70-130 in SEQ ID NO:168, or amino acids 90-134 in SEQ ID NO:168, as well corresponding portions of other PLA ₂ proteins (e.g., PLA ₂ proteins described above). Further examples of such peptides include peptides which comprise amino acids 1-10 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 5-15 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 10-20 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 20-30 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 30-40 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 40-50 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 50-60 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 60-70 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 70-80 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 80-90 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 90-100 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 100-110 in SEQ ID NO:168, amino acids 110-120 in SEQ ID NO:168, or amino acids 120-130 in SEQ ID NO:168, as well corresponding portions of other PLA ₂ proteins (e.g., PLA ₂ proteins described above).

[0321] Portions of PLA ₂ , as well as portions of other proteins against which an immunological response is sought, suitable for use with the invention may comprise, or alternatively consist of, peptides which are generally at least 6 amino acids in length (e.g., peptides 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 75, 80, 85, 90,95, or 100 amino acids in length).

[0322] PLA ₂ peptides (e.g., the full length PLA ₂ proteins discussed above, as well as subportions of each) may also be coupled to any substance (e.g., a Qβ capsid protein or fragment thereof) which allows for the formation of ordered and repetitive antigen arrays.

[0323] In another aspect of the present invention, the invention provides compositions being particularly suitable for treating and/or preventing conditions caused or exacerbated by “self” gene products.

[0324] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the antigenic determinant is RANKL (Receptor activator of NFkB Ligand). RANKL is also known as TRANCE (TNF-related activation induced cytokine), ODF (Osteoclast differentiation factor) or OPGL (Osteoprotegerin ligand). The amino acid sequence of the extracellular part of human RANKL is shown in SEQ ID No: 221 (RANKL_human: TrEMBL:014788), while the amino acid sequence of a human isoform is shown in SEQ ID No: 222. Sequences for the extracellular part of murine RANKL and an isoform are shown in SEQ ID No.223 (RANKL_mouse: TrEMBL:035235), and in SEQ ID No.224 (RANKL_mouse splice forms: TrEMBL:Q9JJK8 and TrEMBL:Q9JJK9), respectively.

[0325] It has been shown that RANKL is an essential factor in osteoclastogenesis. Inhibition of the interaction of RANKL with its receptor RANK can lead to a suppression of osteoclastogenesis and thus provide a means to stop excessive bone resorption as seen in osteoporosis and other conditions. The RANKL/RANK interaction was inhibited either by a RANK-Fc fusion protein or the soluble decoy receptor of RANKL, termed osteoprotegerin OPG.

[0326] In the immune system RANKL is expressed on T cells while RANK is found on antigen-presenting cells. The RANKL-RANK interaction was shown to be critical for CD40L-independent T-helper cell activation (Bachmann et al., J. Exp. Med. 7: 1025 (1999)) and enhance the longevity and adjuvant properties of dendritic cells (Josien et al., J Exp Med. 191: 495 (2000)).

[0327] In bone RANKL is expressed on stromal cells or osteoblasts, while RANK is expressed on the osteoclast precursor. The interaction of RANK and RANKL is crucial for the development of osteoclast precursors to mature osteoclasts. The interaction can be blocked by osteoprotegerin.

[0328] OPG-deficient mice develop osteoporosis that can be rescued by injection of recombinant OPG. This means that OPG is able to reverse osteoporosis. Thus, inhibition of the RANK-RANKL interaction by way of injecting this specific embodiment of the invention may reverse osteoporosis.

[0329] In addition, arterial calcification was observed in OPG k.o. mice which could be reversed by injection of OPG (Min et al., J. Exp. Med. 4: 463 (2000)). In an adjuvant-induced arthritis model OPG injection was able to prevent bone loss and cartilage destruction, but not inflammation (paw swelling). It is assumed that activated T cells lead to a RANKL-mediated increase of osteoclastogenesis and bone loss. OPG inhibits prostate cancer-induced osteoclastogenesis and prevents prostate tumor growth in the bone of mice. OPG diminishes advanced bone cancer pain in mice.

[0330] RANKL is a transmembrane protein of 245 aa belonging to the TNF-superfamily. Part of the extracellular region (178 aa) can be shed by a TACE-like protease (Lum et al., J. Biol. Chem. 274:13613 (1999)). In addition splice variants lacking the transmembrane domain have been described (Ikeda et al., Endocrinology 142: 1419 (2001)). The shed part contains the domain highly homologous to soluble TNF-α. This extracellular domain of RANKL forms homotrimers as seen for TNF-α. The C-terminus seems to be involved in the trimer contact site. One cysteine is present in this region of the sequence.

[0331] We have built a model for the 3-dimensional structure of the corresponding region of RANKL and found that the naturally present cysteine may not be accessible in the folded structure for interaction with a first attachment site on the carrier in accordance with the present invention. The N-terminus is preferred for attaching a second attachment site comprising an amino acid linker with an additional cysteine residue. A human-RANKL construct with an N terminal amino acid linker containing a cysteine residue fused to the extracellular part of RANKL is a very preferred embodiment of the invention. However, an amino-acid linker containing a cysteine residue as second attachment site and being fused at the C-terminus of the RANKL sequence or the extracellular part of RANKL leads to further preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0332] Human-RANKL constructs, such as the one identified in SEQ ID NO:320, are generated according to the teachings disclosed in EXAMPLE 6, and the man skilled in the art are able to compare murine and human RANKL sequences in a protein sequence alignment to identify the part of the sequence of human-RANKL to be cloned in the vectors described in EXAMPLE 6. Fragments containing amino acids 138-317 and corresponding to the C-terminal region of the extracellular domain of human RANKL, are particularly favored embodiments of the invention, and can be modified for coupling to VLPs and Pili as required according to the teaching of the present invention. However, other suitable vectors may also be used for expression in the suitable host described below. Further human-RANKL constructs, and in particular, the ones comprising the part of the extracellular region (178 aa), —or fragments thereof—that can be shed by a TACE-like protease (Lum et al., J Biol. Chem. 274:13613 (1999)), or comprising the sequence corresponding to the alternative splice variants lacking the transmembrane domain, as well as conservative fragments thereof, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present invention. Human C-terminal fragments comprising amino acids 165-317 are also embodiments of the invention. Alternatively, fragments which encompass the entire extracellular region (amino acids 71-317) and can be modified for coupling to VLPs and Pili as required according to the teaching of the present invention, are also within the scope of the invention.

[0333] RANKL has been expressed in different systems ( E.coli , insect cells, mammalian cells) and shown to be active, and therefore several expression systems can be used for production of the antigen of the composition. In the case where expression of the protein is directed to the periplasm of E. coli , the signal peptide of RANKL, or of RANKL constructs consisting of the extracellular part of the protein, and both possibly modified to comprise a second attachment site in accordance with the invention, is replaced with a bacterial signal peptide. For expression of the protein in the cytoplasm of E. coli , RANKL constructs are devoid of signal peptide.

[0334] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the antigenic determinant is MIF or a fragment thereof. MIF is a cytokine that has been first described in 1966 by its function as an inhibitor of macrophage migration. It is also known as delayed early response protein 6 (DER6), glycosylation inhibiting factor or phenylpyruvate tautomerase. The latter name originates from enzymatic activity of MIF, however the endogenous substrate has not been identified.

[0335] MIF has been shown to be implicated in a wide range of conditions. MIF (mRNA and protein) is upregulated in delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction induced by tuberculin, and anti-MIF antibody inhibits this DTH reaction. MIF is also upregulated in renal allograft rejection. In a model for ocular autoimmune disease, experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU), anti-MIF treatment caused delay of EAU development. In patients, there is an increase in serum of MIF, which is also the case in Behcet's disease patients and patients suffering from iridocyclitis. Immunization against MIF may provide a way of treatment against rheumatoid arthritis.

[0336] High serum MIF concentration has been found in atopic dermatitis patients. In skin lesions, MIF is diffusely expressed instead of being found in the basal cell layer in controls. MIF concentration is decreasing after steroid treatment, consistent with a role of MIF in inflammation. MIF has also been found to contribute to the establishment of glomerulonephritis. Animals treated with anti-MIF Antibody show significantly reduced glomerulonephritis. MIF is pituitary derived, secreted e.g. upon LPS stimulation, and potentiates endotoxemia. Accordingly, anti-MIF mAb inhibits endotoxemia and septic shock, while recombinant MIF markedly increases lethality of peritonitis. MIF is also a glucocorticoid-induced modulator of cytokine production, and promotes inflammation.

[0337] MIF is produced by T-cells (Th2), supports proliferation of T-cells, and anti-MIF-treatment reduces T-cell proliferation and IgG levels. There is an increased MIF concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis and neuro-Behcet's disease patients. High MIF levels were also found in sera of patients with extended psoriasis. High MIF levels are found in sera of ulcerative colitis patients but not Crohn's disease patients.

[0338] High MIF levels have been found in sera of patients with bronchic asthma. MIF is also upregulated in synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Anti-MIF treatment was effectivly decreasing rheumatoid arthritis in mouse and rat models (Mikulowska et al., J. Immunol. 158:5514-7(1997); Leech et al., Arthritis Rheum. 41:910-7 (1998), Leech et al. Arthritis Rheum. 43:827-33 (2000), Santos et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol. 123:309-14 (2001)). Thus, treatment directed at inhibiting MIF activity using a composition comprising MIF as an antigenic determinant may be beneficial for the conditions mentioned above.

[0339] MIF from mouse, rat and human consists of 114 amino acid and contains three conserved cysteines, as shown in SEQ ID No 225 (MIF_rat: SwissProt), in SEQ ID No 226 (MIF_mouse: SwissProt) and in SEQ ID No 227 (MIF_human: SwissProt). Three subunits form a homotrimer that is not stabilized by disulfide bonds. The X-ray structure has been solved and shows three free cysteines (Sun et al., PNAS 93: 5191-96 (1996)), while some literature data claim the presence of a disulfide bond. Nonetheless, none of the cysteines are exposed enough for optimal interaction with a possible first attachment site present on the carrier. Thus, as the C-terminus of the protein is exposed in the trimer structure, an amino acid linker containing a free cysteine residue is, preferably, added at the C-terminus of the protein, for generation of the second attachment site in this preferred embodiment of the invention, as exemplarily described in EXAMPLE 4 for rat-MIF.

[0340] There is only one amino acid change between mouse- and rat-MIF, and similarly a very high sequence homology (about 90% sequence identity) between human- and rat-MIF or human- and mouse-MIF. Human- and mouse-MIF constructs according to the invention are described and can be generated as disclosed in EXAMPLE 4. In order to demonstrate the high potency to induce a self-specific immune response of MIF protein, or fragments thereof, associated to a core particle in accordance with the present invention, rat-MIF constructs coupled to Qβ capsid protein were injected in mice. The high antibody titers obtained by immunizing mice with rat-MIF show that tolerance towards immunization with self-antigens was overcome by immunizing with MIF constructs coupled to virus-like particles, and in particular to Qβ capsid protein (EXAMPLE 4). Therefore, compositions in accordance with the present invention comprising human-MIF protein associated to a core particle, preferably to pili or a virus-like particle, and more preferably to a virus-like particle of a RNA-phage, and even more preferably to RNA-phage Qβ or fr, represent very preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0341] However, an amino acid linker containing a free cysteine that is added at the N-terminus of the sequence of MIF leads to further preferred embodiments of the present invention. MIF has been expressed in E.coli , purified and shown to be fully functional (Bernhagen et al., Biochemistry 33: 14144-155 (1994). Thus, MIF may be, preferably, expressed in E. coli for generating the preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0342] Tautomerase activity of MIF is inhibited, if the start methionine is not cleaved from the construct. MIF constructs expressed in E.coli and described in EXAMPLE 4 show tautomerase activity. Mutants of MIF where the start methionine is cleaved and where the proline residue right after the start methionine in the sequence is mutated to alanine also do not show tautomerase activity represent further embodiments of the invention and are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention. In some specific embodiments, immunization with MIF mutants devoid of tautomerase activity is envisaged.

[0343] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the antigenic determinant is Interleukin-17 (IL-17). Human IL-17 is a 32-kDa, disulfide-linked, homodimeric protein with variable glycosylation (Yao, Z. et al., J. Immunol. 155: 5483-5486 (1995); Fossiez, F. et al., J. Exp. Med. 183: 2593-2603 (1996)). The protein comprises 155 amino acids and includes an N-terminal secretion signal sequence of 19-23 residues. The amino acid sequence of IL-17 is similar only to a Herpesvirus protein (HSV13) and is not similar to other cytokines or known proteins. The amino acid sequence of human IL-17 is shown in SEQ ID No: 228 (ACCESSION #: AAC50341), The mouse protein sequence is shown in SEQ ID No: 229 (ACCESSION #: AAA37490). Of the large number of tissues and cell lines evaluated, the mRNA transcript encoding IL-17 has been detected only in activated T cells and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/ionomycin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (Yao, Z. et al:, J. Immunol. 155: 5483-5486 (1995); Fossiez, F. et al., J. Exp. Med. 183: 2593-2603 (1996)). Both human and mouse sequences contain 6 cysteine residues.

[0344] The receptor for IL-17 is widely expressed in many tissues and cell types (Yao, Z. et al., Cytokine 9: 794-800 (1997)). Although the amino acid sequence of the human IL-17 receptor (866 aa) predicts a protein with a single trans-membrane domain and a long, 525 aa intracellular domain, the receptor sequence is unique and is not similar to that of any of the receptors from the cytokine/growth factor receptor family. This coupled with the lack of similarity of IL-17 itself to other known proteins indicates that IL-17 and its receptor may be part of a novel family of signalling protein and receptors. Clinical studies indicate IL-17 may be involved in many inflammatory diseases. IL-17 is secreted by synovial T cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients and stimulates the production of inflammatory mediators (Chabaud, M. et al., J. Immunol. 161: 409-414 (1998); Chabaud, M. et al., Arthritis Rheum. 42: 963-970 (1999)). High levels of IL-17 have been reported in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (Ziolkowska M. et al., J. Immunol. 164:2832-8 (2000)).

[0345] Interleukin 17 has been shown to have an effect on proteoglycan degradation in murine knee joints (Dudler J. et al., Ann Rheum Dis. 59: 529-32 (2000)) and contribute to destruction of the synovium matrix (Chabaud M. et al., Cytokine. 12:1092-9 (2000)). There are relevant arthritis models in animals for testing the effect of an immunization against MIF (Chabaud M. et al., Cytokine. 12:1092-9 (2000)). Elevated levels of IL-17 mRNA have been found in mononuclear cells from patients with multiple sclerosis (Matusevicius, D. et al., Mult. Scler. 5: 101-104 (1999)). Elevated serum levels of IL-17 are observed in patients suffering Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Wong C. K. et al., Lupus 9: 589-93 (2000)). In addition, IL-17 mRNA levels are increased in T cells isolated from lesional psoriatic skin (Teunissen, M. B. et al., J. Invest. Dermatol. 111: 645-649 (1998)).

[0346] The involvement of IL-17 in rejection of kidney graft has also been demonstrated (Fossiez F. et al., Int. Rev. Immunol. 16:541-51 (1998)). Evidence for a role of IL-17 in organ allograft rejection has also been presented by Antonysamy et al. ( J. Immunol. 162:577-84 (1999)) who showed IL-17 promotes the functional differentiation of dendritic cell progenitors. Their findings suggest a role for IL-17 in allogeneic T cell proliferation that may be mediated in part via a maturation-inducing effect on DCs. Furthermore the same group reports (Tang J. L. et al., Transplantation 72:348-50 (2001)) a role for IL-17 in the immunopathogenesis of acute vascular rejection where Interleukin-17 antagonism inhibits acute but not chronic vascular rejection. IL-17 appears to have potential as a novel target for therapeutic intervention in allograft rejection.

[0347] The above findings suggest IL-17 may play a pivotal role in the initiation or maintenance of an inflammatory response (Jovanovic, D. V. et al., J. Immunol. 160: 3513-3521 (1998)).

[0348] The anti-IL-17 monoclonal antibody mAb5 (Schering-Plough Research Institute) was able to completely inhibit the production of IL-6 from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium supernatants following induction by 50 ng/ml of IL-17. An irrelevant mAb MX1 had no effect in this assay. mAb5 is a mouse IgG1 obtained after immunization with human rIL-17 (r=recombinant). A concentration of 1 μg/ml of mAb5 was able to completely inhibit the IL-6 production in the assay system (Chabaud, M. et al., J. Immunol. 161: 409-414 (1998)). Thus, immunization against IL-17 provides a way of treatment for the various conditions described above.

[0349] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, thus, the composition comprises a linker containing a second attachment site and being fused to the C-terminus of recombinant IL-17. In further preferred embodiments of the invention, however, an amino acid linker containing a free cysteine is fused to the N-terminus of the sequence corresponding to the sequence of the processed protein, or inserted at the N-terminus of the sequence of the mature form of the protein, C-terminally of the signal peptide. For eukaryotic expression systems, the signal peptide of the IL-17 gene, as it is the case for the other self-antigens indicated herein, may be replaced by another signal peptide if required. For expression in bacteria, the signal peptide is either replaced by a bacterial signal peptide for soluble expression in the periplasm, or deleted for expression in the cytoplasm. Constructs of human IL-17 devoid of signal peptide will preferably comprise residues 24-155, 22-155, 21-155 or 20-155. Constructs of mouse IL-17 devoid of signal peptide will preferably comprise residues 26-158, 25-158, 24-158 or 27-155. Human IL-17 may be expressed in CV1/EBNA cells; recombinant hIL-17 has been shown to be secreted in both glycosylated and nonglycosylated forms (Yao, Z. et al., J. Immunol. 155: 5483-5486 (1995)). 1L-17 can also be expressed as hIL-17/Fc fusion protein, with subsequent cleavage of the IL-17 protein from the fusion protein. IL-17 may also be expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris (Murphy K. P. et. al., Protein Expr Purif. 12: 208-14 (1998)). Human IL-17 may also be expressed in E. coli . When expression of IL-17 in E. coli is directed to the periplasm, the signal peptide of IL-17 is replaced by a bacterial signal peptide. For expression of the protein in the cytoplasm of E. coli , IL-17 constructs are devoid of signal peptide.

[0350] In another preferred embodiment of the invention the antigenic determinant is Interleukin-13 (IL-13). IL-13 is a cytokine that is secreted by activated T lymphocytes and primarily impacts monocytes, macrophages, and B cells. The amino acid sequence of precursor human IL-13 is shown in SEQ ID No: 230 and the amino acid sequence of processed human IL-13 is shown in SEQ ID No: 231. The first 20 amino acids of the precursor protein correspond to the signal peptide, and are absent of the processed protein. The mouse sequence has also been described, and the processed amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID No: 232 (Brown K. D. et al., J. Immunol. 142:679-687 (1989)). Depending on the expression host, the IL-13 construct will comprise the sequence of the precursor protein, e.g. for expression and secretion in eukaryotic hosts, or consist of the mature protein, e.g. for cytoplasmic expression in E.coli . For expression in the periplasm of E. coli , the signal peptide of IL-13 is replaced by a bacterial signal peptide.

[0351] IL-13 is a T helper 2-derived cytokine (like IL-4, IL-5) that has recently been implicated in allergic airway responses (asthma). Upregulation of IL-13 and IL-13 receptor has been found in many tumour types (e.g. Hodgkin lymphoma). Interleukin 13 is secreted by and stimulates the growth of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells (Kapp U et al., J Exp Med. 189:1939-46 (1999)). Thus, immunization against IL-13 provides a way of treating among others the conditions described above, such as Asthma or Hodgkins Lymphoma.

[0352] Preferably, the composition comprises an amino acid linker containing a free cysteine residue and being fused to the N or C-terminus of the sequence of mature IL-13 to introduce a second attachment site within the protein. In further preferred embodiments, an amino acid linker containing a free cysteine is added to the N-terminus of the mature form of IL-13, since it is freely accessible according to the NMR structure of IL-13 (Eisenmesser, E. Z. et al., J. Mol. Biol. 310: 231 (2001)). In again further preferred embodiments, the amino acid linker containing a free cysteine is fused to the N-terminus of the sequence corresponding to the sequence of the processed protein, or inserted at the N-terminus of the sequence of the mature form of the protein, C-terminally of the signal peptide. In still further preferred embodiments, an amino acid linker containing a free cysteine residue is added to the C-terminus of the protein.

[0353] IL-13 may be expressed in E.coli (Eisenmesser E. Z. et al., Protein Expr. Purif. 20:186-95 (2000)), or in NS-0 cells (eukaryotic cell line) (Cannon-Carlson S. et al., Protein Expr. Purif. 12:239-48 (1998)). EXAMPLE 9 describes constructs and expression of constructs of murine IL-13, fused to an amino acid linker containing a cysteine residue, in bacterial and eukaryotic hosts. Human IL-13 constructs can be generated according to the teachings of EXAMPLE 9 and yielding the proteins human C-IL-13-F (SEQ ID NO:330) and human C-IL-13-S (SEQ ID NO:331) after expression of the fusion proteins and cleavage with Factor Xa, and enterokinase respectively. The so generated proteins can be coupled to VLPs and Pili, leading to preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0354] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the antigenic determinant is Interleukin-5 (IL-5). IL-5 is a lineage-specific cytokine for eosinophilopoiesis and plays an important part in diseases associated with increased number of eosinophils, such as asthma. The sequence of precursor and processed human IL-5 is provided in SEQ ID No: 233 and in SEQ ID No: 234, respectively, and the processed mouse amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID No: 235.

[0355] The biological function of IL-5 has been shown in several studies (Coffman R. L. et al., Science 245: 308-10 (1989); Kopf et al., Immunity 4:15-24 (1996)), which point to a beneficial effect of inhibiting IL-5 function in diseases mediated through eosinophils. Inhibition of the action of IL-S provides thus a way of treatment against asthma and other diseases associated with eosinophils.

[0356] IL-5 forms a dimer, covalently linked by a disulfide bridge. A single chain (sc) construct has been reported wherein two monomers of IL-5 are linked by a peptide linker.

[0357] In preferred embodiments of the invention, a peptide linker containing a free cysteine is added at the N-terminus of the sequence of the processed form of IL-5. Addition of a linker containing a free cysteine is also, preferably, envisaged at the N-terminus of the sequence of the processed form of a scIL-5. In further preferred embodiments, the amino acid linker containing a free cysteine is fused to the N-terminus of the sequence corresponding to the sequence of the processed protein, or inserted at the N-terminus of the sequence of the mature form of the protein, C-terminally of the signal peptide.

[0358] In again further preferred embodiments, a linker containing a free cysteine is fused to the C-terminus of the sequence of IL-5, or to the C-terminus of a scIL-5 sequence.

[0359] A number of expression systems have been described for IL-5 and can be used in preparing the compositions of the invention. A bacterial expression system using E.coli has been described by Proudfoot et al., ( Biochem J. 270:357-61 (1990)). In the case where IL-5 is expressed in the cytoplasm of E. coli , the IL-5 construct is devoid of a signal peptide. Insect cells may also be used for producing IL-5 constructs for making the compositions of the invention (Pierrot C. et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 253:756-60 (1998)). Likewise, Baculovirus expression systems (sf9 cells; Ingley E. et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 196:623-9 (1991) and Brown P. M. et al., Protein Expr. Purif. 6: 63-71 (1995)) can also be used. Finally, mammalian expression systems have also been reported (CHO cells) and can be used in preparing these compositions of the invention (Kodama S et al., J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 110:693-701 (1991)).

[0360] Baculovirus expression systems (Mitchell et al., Biochem. Soc. Trans. 21:332S (1993); Kunimoto D Y et al., Cytokine 3:224-30 (1991)) and a mammalian cell expression system using CHO cells (Kodama S et al., Glycobiology 2:419-27 (1992)) have also been described for mouse IL-5. EXAMPLE 10 describes the expression of murine IL-5 constructs wherein the IL-5 sequence is fused at its N-terminus to amino acid linkers containing a cysteine residue for coupling to VLPs and Pili. Human constructs can be generated according to the teaching of EXAMPLE 10 and yield the proteins human C-IL-5-E (SEQ ID NO:335), human C-IL-5-F (SEQ ID NO:336) and human C-IL-5-S: (SEQ ID NO:337) suitable for coupling to VLPs and Pili and leading to preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0361] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the antigenic determinant is CCL-21. CCL-21 is a chemokine of the CC subfamily that is also known as small inducable cytokine A21, as exodus-2, as SLD (secondary lymphocyte cytokine), as TCA4 (thymus-derived chemotactic agent 4) or 6Ckine.

[0362] CCL21 inhibitis hemopoiesis and stimulates chemotaxis for thymocytes, activated T-cells and dendritic cells, but not for B cells, macrophages or neutrophiles. It shows preferential activity towards naive T cells. It is also a potent mesangial cell chemoattractant. CCL21 binds to chemokine receptors CCR7 and to CXCR3 (dependent on species). It can trigger rapid integrin-dependent arrest of lymphocytes rolling under physiological shear and is highly expressed by high endothelial venules.

[0363] Murine CCL21 inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis in a human lung cancer SCID mouse model (Arenberg et al., Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 49: 587-92 (2001)) and a colon carcinoma tumor model in mice (Vicari et al., J. Immunol. 165: 1992-2000 (2001)). The angiostatic activity of murine CCL21 was also detected in a rat corneal micropocket assay (Soto et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95: 8205-10(1998).

[0364] It has been shown that chemokine receptors CCR7 and CXCR4 are upregulated in breast cancer cells and that CCL21 and CXCL12, the respective ligands, are highly expressed in organs representing the first destinations of breast cancer metastasis Müller et al. ( Nature 410: 50-6 (2001)). In vitro CCL21-mediated chemotaxis could be blocked by neutralizing anti-CCL21 antibodies as was CXCR4-mediated chemotaxis by the respective antibodies. Thus, immunization against CCL21 provides a way of treatment against metastatis spread in cancers, more specifically in breast cancer.

[0365] Secreted CCL21 consist of 110 or 111 aa in mice and humans, respectively. The respective sequences are shown in SEQ ID No: 236 (Swissprot: SY21_human) and in SEQ ID No: 237 (Swissprot: SY21_mouse). In contrast to other CC cytokines does CCL21 contain two more cysteines within an extended region at the C-terminus. It is assumed that all cysteines are engaged in disulfide bonds.

[0366] In the following, constructs and expression systems are described for making compositions of the invention comprising the CCL21 antigenic determinant. In the NMR structure of the homologous protein eotaxin, both N- and C-terminus are exposed to the solvent. In some specific embodiments, an amino acid linker containing a free cysteine residue as a second attachment site is added at the C-terminus of the protein. A fusion protein with alkaline phosphatase (at the C-terminus of CCL21) has been expressed and was shown to be functional, showing that fusions at the C-terminus of CCL21 are compatible with receptor binding. In other specific embodiments, the amino acid linker containing a free cysteine is fused to the N-terminus of the sequence corresponding to the sequence of the processed protein, or inserted at the N-terminus of the sequence of the mature form of the protein, C-terminally of the signal peptide.

[0367] Several expression systems have been described for production of CCL21 (e.g. Hedrick et al., J. Immunol. 159: 1589-93 (1997)). For example, it may expressed in a baculovirus system (Nagira et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272: 19518-24 (1997)).

[0368] In a related preferred embodiment, the antigenic determinant is Stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1), now termed CXCL12. CXCL12 is a chemokine produced by bone marrow stromal cells and was originally identified as a stimulatory factor for pre-B cells.

[0369] As already stated above, it has been shown that chemokine receptors CCR7 and CXCR4 are upregulated in breast cancer cells and that CCL21 and SDF-1, the respective ligands, are highly expressed in organs representing the first destinations of breast cancer metastasis Müller et al. ( Nature 410: 50-6 (2001)). In vitro SDF-1/CXCR4-mediated chemotaxis could be inhibitied by neutralizing anti-SDF-1 and anti-CXCR4 antibodies.

[0370] In a breast cancer metastasis model in SCID mice using the human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line, a significant decrease in lung metastasis was observed when mice were treated with anti-CXCR4 antibodies. In the draining lymph nodes a reduction of metastasis to the inguinal and axillary lymph nodes (38% instead of 100% metastasis in controls) was observed. Thus, immunization against CXCL12 provides a way of treatment against metastatis of cancers, more specifically of breast cancers.

[0371] The SDF-1/CXCR4 chemokine-receptor pair has been shown to increase the efficacy of homing of more primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells to be bone marrow. In addition, CXCR4 and SDF-1 are supposed to influence the distribution of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. These cells invariably infiltrate the bone marrow of patients and it was shown that their migration in the bone marrow was CXCR4 dependent. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells undergo apoptosis unless they are cocultured with stromal cells. SDF-1 blocking antibodies could inhibit this protective effect of stromal cells (Burger et al., Blood 96: 2655-63 (2000)). Immunizing against CXCL12 thus provides a way of treatment against chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

[0372] CXCR4 has been shown to be a coreceptor for entry of HIV into T-cells. SDF-1 inhibits infection of CD4+ cells by X4 (CXCR4-dependent) MV strains (Oberlin et al., Nature 382:833-5 (1996); Bleul et al., Nature 382:829-33 (1996), Rusconi et al., Antivir. Ther. 5:199-204 (2000)). Synthetic peptide analogs of SDF-1 have been shown to effectively inhibit HIV-1 entry and infection via the CXCR4 receptor (WO059928A1). Thus, immunization against CXCL12 provides a way to block HIV entry in T-cells, and therefore a way of treating AIDS.

[0373] SDF-1-CXCR4 interactions were also reported to play a central role in CD4+ T cell accumulation in rheumatoid arthritis synovium (Nanki et al., 2000). Immunization against SDF-1 thus provides a way of treatment against rheumatoid arthritis.

[0374] Human and murine SDF-1 are known to arise in two forms, SDF-1α and SDF-1β, by differential splicing from a single gene. They differ in four C-terminal amino acids that are present in SDF-1β (74 aa) and absent in SDF-1α (70 aa). The sequence of human is shown in SEQ ID No: 238 (Swissprot: SDF1_human) and the sequence mouse SDF-1 is shown in SEQ ID No: 239 (Swissprot: SDF1_mouse). SDF-1 contains four conserved cysteines that form two intra-molecular disulfide bonds. The crystal structure of SDF shows a non covalently-linked dimer (Dealwis et al., PNAS 95: 6941-46 (1998)). The SDF-1 structure also shows a long N-terminal extension.

[0375] Alanine-scanning mutagenesis was used to identify (part of) the receptor-binding site on SDF-1 (Ohnishi et al., J. Interferon Cytokine Res. 20: 691-700 (2000)) and Elisseeva et al. ( J. Biol. Chem. 275:26799-805 (2000)) and Heveker et al. ( Curr. Biol. 8:369-76 (1998)) described SDF-1 derived peptides inhibiting receptor binding (and HIV entry).

[0376] In the following, constructs and expression systems suitable in the generation of the compositions of the invention related to SDF-1 are described. The N- and C-terminus of SDF-1 are exposed to the solvent. In specific embodiments, an amino acid linker containing a cysteine as second attachment site is thus fused to the C-terminus of the protein sequence, while in other specific embodiments an amino acid linker containing a cysteine as second attachment site is fused to the N-terminus of the protein sequence. The amino acid linker containing a free cysteine is fused to the N-terminus of the sequence corresponding to the sequence of the processed protein, or inserted at the N-terminus of the sequence of the mature form of the protein, C-terminally of the signal peptide. The genes coding for these specific constructs may be cloned in a suitable expression vector.

[0377] Expression of SDF-1 in a sendai virus system in chicken embryonic fibroblasts (Moriya et al., FEBS Lett. 425:105-11 (1998)) has been described as well as expression in E.coli (Holmes et al., Prot. Expr. Purif 21: 367-77 (2001)) and chemical synthesis of SDF-1 (Dealwis et al., PNAS 95: 6941-46 (2001)).

[0378] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the antigenic determinant is BLC. B-lymphocyte chemoattractant (BLC, CXCL13) is expressed in the spleen, Peyer's patches and lymph nodes (Gunn et al., 1998). Its expression is strongest in the germinal centres, where B cells undergo somatic mutation and affinity maturation. It belongs to the CXC chemokine family, and its closest homolog is GROα_(Gunn et al., Nature 391:799-803 (1998)). Human BLC is 64% homologous to murine BLC. Its receptor is CXCR5. BLC also shares homology with IL-8. BLC recruits B-cells to follicles in secondary lymphoid organs such as the spleen and peyer's patches. BLC is also required for recruitment of B-cells to compartment of the lymph nodes rich in follicular Dendritic Cells (FDCs) (Ansel et al., Nature 406:309-314 (2000)). BLC also induces increased expression of Lymphotoxinα1β2 (LT?α1β2) on the recruited B-cells. This provides a positive feed-back loop, since LT?α1β2 promotes BLC expression (Ansel et al., Nature 406:309-314 (2000)). BLC has also been shown to be able to induce lymphoid neogenesis (Luther et al., Immunity 12:471-481(2000)). It appears that FDCs also express BLC. Thus immunization against BLC may provide a way of treatment against autoimmune diseases where lymphoid neogenesis is involved, such as Rheumatoid synovitis and Rheumatoid arthritis or Type I diabetes. A construct of BLC bearing a C-terminal his-tag has been described, and is functional (Ansel, K. M. et al., J. Exp. Med. 190: 1123-1134 (1999)).

[0379] Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the composition comprises a linker containing a cysteine residue as second attachment site and being fused at the C-terminus of the BLC sequence.

[0380] In IL-8, which is homologous to BLC, both N- and C-termini are free. In a further preferred embodiment, addition of an amino acid linker containing a cysteine residue as second attachment site is, therefore, done to the N-terminus of BLC for generation of this specific composition of the invention.

[0381] In further preferred embodiments of the present invention, the composition comprises an amino acid linker containing a free cysteine and being fused to the N-terminus of the sequence corresponding to the sequence of the processed protein, or inserted at the N-terminus of the sequence of the mature form of the protein, C-terminally of the signal peptide. The genes coding for these specific constructs may be cloned in a suitable expression vector and expressed accordingly. The sequence of human BLC is shown in SEQ ID No: 240 (Accession: NP _— 006410). Amino acids 1-22 of the sequence are the signal peptide. The mouse sequence is shown in SEQ ID No: 241 (Accession NP _— 061354). Amino acids 1-21 are the signal peptide. Compositions of the invention with BLC as the antigenic determinant, preferably, use the mature form of the protein for generating the compositions of the invention.

[0382] In another specific embodiment, the antigenic determinant is Eotaxin. Eotaxin is a chemokine specific for Chemokine receptor 3, present on eosinophils, basophils and Th2 cells. Eotaxin seems however to be highly specific for Eosinophils (Zimmerman et al., J. Immunol. 165: 5839-46 (2000)). Eosinophil migration is reduced by 70% in the eotaxin-1 knock-out mouse, which however can still develop eosinophilia (Rothenberg et al., J. Exp. Med. 185: 785-90 (1997)). IL-5 seems to be responsible for the migration of eosinophils from bone-marrow to blood, and eotaxin for the local migration in the tissue (Humbles et al., J. Exp. Med. 186: 601-12 (1997)).

[0383] The human genome contains 3 eotaxin genes, eotaxin1-3. They share 30% homology to each other. Two genes are known so far in the mouse: eotaxin 1 and eotaxin 2 (Zimmerman et al., J. Immunol. 165: 5839-46 (2000)). They share 38% homology. Murine eotaxin-2 shares 59% homology with human eotaxin-2. In the mouse, eotaxin-1 seems to be ubiquitously expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, while eotaxin-2 seems to be predominantly expressed in the jejunum (Zimmerman et al., J. Immunol. 165: 5839-46 (2000)). Eotaxin-1 is present in broncho-alveolar fluid (Teixeira et al., J. Clin. Invest. 100: 1657-66 (1997)). The sequence of human eotaxin-1 is shown in SEQ ID No. 242 (aa 1-23 corresponds to the signal peptide), the sequence of human eotaxin-2 is shown in SEQ ID No. 243 (aa 1-26 corresponds to the signal peptide), the sequence of human eotaxin-3 is shown in SEQ ID No. 244 (aa 1-23 corresponds to the signal peptide), the sequence of mouse eotaxin-1 is shown in SEQ ID No. 245 (aa 1-23 corresponds to the signal peptide), and the sequence of mouse eotaxin-2 is shown in SEQ ID No. 246 (aa 1-23 corresponds to the signal peptide).

[0384] Eotaxin has a MW of 8.3 kDa. It is in equilibrium between monomers and dimers over a wide range of conditions, with an estimated Kd of 1.3 mM at 37° C. (Crump et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273: 22471-9 (1998)). The monomer form is however predominant. The structure of Eotaxin has been elucidated by NMR spectroscopy. Binding site to its receptor CCR3 is at the N-terminus, and the region preceding the first cysteine is crucial (Crump et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273: 22471-9 (1998)). Peptides of chemokine receptors bound to Eotaxin confirmed this finding. Eotaxin has four cysteines forming two disulfide bridges. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the inventive composition comprises an amino-acid linker containing a cysteine residue as second attachment site and being, preferably, fused to the C-terminus of the Eotaxin sequence. In other preferred embodiments, an amino acid linker containing a free cysteine is fused to the N-terminus of the sequence corresponding to the sequence of the processed protein, or inserted at the N-terminus of the sequence of the mature form of the protein, C-terminally of the signal peptide. The genes coding for these specific constructs are cloned in a suitable expression vector.

[0385] Eotaxin can be chemically synthesized (Clark-Lewis et al., Biochemistry 30:3128-3135 (1991)). Expression in E. coli has also been described for Eotaxin-1, in the cytoplasm (Crump et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273: 22471-9 (1998)). Expression in E. coli as inclusion bodies with subsequent refolding (Mayer et al., Biochemistry 39: 8382-95 (2000)), and Insect cell expression (Forssmann et al., J. Exp. Med. 185: 2171-6 (1997)) have been described for Eotaxin-2, and may, moreover, be used to arrive at the specific embodiments of the invention.

[0386] In yet another specific embodiment of the invention, the antigenic determinant is Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF or CSF-1). M-CSF or CSF-1 is a regulator of proliferation, differentiation and survival of macrophages and their bone-marrow progenitors. The receptor for M-CSF is a cell surface tyrosine kinase receptor, encoded by the protooncogene cfms. An elevated expression of M-CSF and its receptor has been associated with poor prognosis in several epithelial cancers such as breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. Tumor progression has been studied in a mouse strain resulting from the crossing of a transgenic mouse susceptible to mammary cancer (PyMT) with a mouse containing a recessive null mutation in csf-1 gene. These mice show attenuated late stage invasive carcinoma and pulmonary metastasis compared to the PyMT mouse (Lin et al., J. Exp. Med. 193:727-739 (2001)). The cause seems to be the absence of macrophage recruitment to neoplastic tissues. Subcutaneous growth of Lewis lung cancer is also impaired in csf.1 null mice. It is postulated that the mecanism of macrophage enhancement of tumor growth would be through angiogenic factors, growth factors and proteases produced by the macrophages.

[0387] Structural data on the soluble form of M-CSF are available (crystal structure: Pandit et al., Science 258:1358-62 (1992)), and show that both the N- and C-termini of the protein are accessible. However, the N-terminus is close to the site of interaction with the receptor. In addition, M-CSF is present both in a soluble and cell surface form, where the transmembrane region is at its C-terminus. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inventive composition comprises an amino acid linker containing a cysteine and being, preferably, added at the C-terminus of M-CSF or fragments thereof, or preferably at the C-terminus of the soluble form of M-CSF. In further preferred embodiments, the amino acid linker containing a free cysteine is fused to the N-terminus of the sequence corresponding to the sequence of the processed protein or of the soluble form of the protein, or inserted at the N-terminus of the sequence of the mature form of the protein or of the soluble form of the protein, C-terminally of the signal peptide. M-CSF is a dimer, where the two monomers are linked via an interchain disulfide bridge.

[0388] An expression system in E. coli has been described for an N-terminal 149 amino acid fragment (functional) of M-CSF (Koths et al., Mol. Reprod. Dev. 46:31-37 (1997)). This fragment of M-CSF, preferably modified as outlined above, represents a preferred antigenic determinant in accordance with the invention.

[0389] The human sequence is shown in SEQ ID No: 247 (Accession: NP _— 000748). Further preferred antigenic determinants of the present invention comprise the N-terminal fragment consisting of residue 33-181 or 33-185 of SEQ ID No: 247, corresponding to the soluble form of the receptor.

[0390] The mouse sequence (Accession. NP _— 031804) is shown in sequence ID No: 248. The mature sequence starts at amino acid 33. Thus, a preferred antigenic determinant in accordance with the present invention comprises amino-acid 33-181 or 33-185.

[0391] In another specific embodiment, the antigenic determinant is Resistin (Res). Passive immunization studies were performed with a rabbit polyclonal antibodies generated against a fusion protein of mouse Resistin (mRes) fused to GST, expressed in bacteria. This passive immunization lead to improved glucose uptake in an animal obesity/Type II diabetes model (Steppan et al., Nature 409: 307-12 (2001)).

[0392] Resistin (Res) is a 114 aa peptide hormone of approximately 12 KD. It contains 11 cysteine of which the most N-terminal one was shown to be responsible for the dimerisation of the protein and the other 10 are believed to be involved in intramolecular disulfide bonds (Banerjee and Lazar, J. Biol. Chem. 276: 25970-3 (2001)). Mutation of the first cysteine to alanine abolishes the dimerisation of mRes.

[0393] It was shown, that mRes with a FLAG tag at its C-terminus still remains active in an animal model (Steppan et al., Nature 409: 307-12 (2001)), similarly a C-terminally HA taged (Haemagglutinin tag) version of resistin was shown to be active in a tissue culture assay (Kim et al., J. Biol. Chem. 276: 11252-6 (2001)), suggesting that the C-terminus is not very sensitive to introduced modifications. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the inventive composition comprises an amino-acid linker containing a cysteine residue as second attachment site and being fused at the C-terminus of the resistin sequence. In further preferred embodiments, the amino acid linker containing a free cysteine is fused to the N-terminus of the sequence corresponding to the sequence of the processed protein, or inserted at the N-terminus of the sequence of the mature form of the protein, C-terminally of the signal peptide.

[0394] For a preferred embodiment of the present invention, MRes or huRes may also be expressed as Fc fusion molecules with a protease cleavage site inserted between Resistin and the Fc part of the construct, preferably C-terminally of one or more cysteine residues of the hinge region of the Fc part of the fusion protein in a eukaryotic expression system, or more preferably according to the descriptions and disclosures of EXAMPLE 2. Cleavage of the fusion protein releases Resistin additionally comprising either an aminoacid linker containing a cysteine residue as described in EXAMPLE 2, or part or all of the hinge region of the Fc part of the fusion protein which comprises a cysteine residue at its C-terminus, which is suitable for coupling to VLPs or Pili. The human Resistin sequence is shown in SEQ ID No: 249 (Accession AF323081). The mouse sequence is shown in SEQ ID No: 250 (Accession AF323080). A favored embodiment of the invention is human resistin protein fused at its C-terminus to an amino acid linker containing a cysteine residue. Human resistin construct can be generated according to the teachings disclosed in EXAMPLE 2, and by comparing murine and human Resistin sequences in a protein sequence alignment to identify the part of the sequence of human Resistin to be cloned in the vectors described in EXAMPLE 1 and EXAMPLE 2 according to the teachings of EXAMPLE 2, or in other suitable expression vectors. Example of human resistin constructs suitable for generating compositions of the inventions are human resistin-C-Xa: (SEQ ID NO:325), human resistin-C-EK: (SEQ ID NO:326) and human resistin-C: (SEQ ID NO:327).

[0395] Human Resistin constructs so generated are a preferred embodiment of the invention. Vaccination against Resistin using the aforementioned compositions of the invention may thus provide a way of treating Type II Diabetes and obesity.

[0396] In another embodiment the antigenic determinant is Lymphotoxin-β. Immunization against lymphotoxin-β may be useful in treating Prion mediated disease. Scrapie (a prion-mediated disease) agent replication is believed to take mainly place in lymphoid tissues and was shown to depend on prion-protein expressing follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) (Brown et al., Nature Med. 11: 1308-1312 (1999)). It was subsequently shown that mice lacking functional follicular dendrite cells show an impaired prion replication in spleens and a (small) retardation of neuroinvasion (Montrasio et al., Science 288: 1257-1259 (2000)). This was achieved by injecting the mice with a soluble lymphotoxin-β receptor-Fc-fusion protein (LTβR-Fc). This soluble receptor construct inhibits the development of FDCs by interfering with the crucial interaction of lymphotoxin-β on T, B or NK cells with the lymphotoxin-β receptor on the FDC precursor cells. Thus, vaccination against lymphotoxin-β (also called TNFγ) may provide a vaccine for treatment or prevention of Creutzfeld-Jakob (variant form) or other prion-mediated diseases and thus prevent prion replication and neuroinvasion.

[0397] Immunization against Lymphotoxin-β may also provide a way of treating diabetes. Transgene expression of soluble LTβR-Fc fusion protein in nonobese diabetic NOD mice blocked diabetes development but not insulitis (Ettinger et al., J. Exp. Med. 193: 1333-40 K (2001)). Wu et al. ( J. Exp. Med. 193: 1327-32 (2001)) also used NOD mice to study the involvement of lymphotoxin-β, but instead of transgenic animals they did inject the LTβR-Fc fusion protein. They saw a strong inhibition of diabetes development and inhibition of insulitis. Most interestingly, they could even reverse preexisting insulitis by the fusion protein treatment. In the pancreas the formation of lymphoid follicular structures could thus be reversed. Vaccination against lymphotoxin-β may thus provide a way of treatment against type-I diabetes.

[0398] The sequence of the extracellular domain of human lymphotoxin-β is shown in SEQ ID No: 250 (TNFC_human) and the sequence of the extracellular domain of murine lymphotoxin-β is shown in SEQ ID No: 251 (TNFC_mouse).

[0399] In a further preferred embodiment, the inventive composition comprises an amino acid linker containing a free cysteine and being added to the N-terminus of the sequence corresponding to the processed form of lymphotoxin-β, or inserted between the N-terminus of the sequence corresponding to the mature form of the protein, and the signal peptide, C-terminally to the signal peptide. In further preferred embodiments of the invention, the extracellular part of lymphotoxin-β is expressed as a fusion protein either with Glutathion-S-transferase, fused N-terminally to lymphotoxin-β, or with a 6 histidine-tag followed by a myc-tag, fused again N-terminally to the extracellular part of lymphotoxin-β. An amino acid spacer containing a protease cleavage site as well as a linker sequence containing a free cysteine as attachment site, C-terminally to the protease cleavage site, are fused to the N-terminus of the sequence of the extracellular part of lymphotoxin-β. Preferably, the extracellular part of lymphotoxin-β consists of fragments corresponding to amino acids 49-306 or 126-306 of lymphotoxin-β. These specific compositions of the invention may be cloned and expressed in the pCEP-Pu eukaryotic vector. In further preferred embodiments, the inventive compositions comprise an aminoacid linker containing a free cysteine residue suitable as second attachment site, and being fused to the C-terminus of lymphotoxin-β or lymphotoxin-β fragments. In a particularly favored embodiment, the amino acid sequence LACGG, comprising the amino acid linker ACGG which itself contains a cysteine residue for coupling to VLPS and Pili is fused to the N-terminus of the extracellular part of lymphotoxin-β: or of a fragment of the extracellular part of lymphotoxin-β, yielding the proteins human C-LT• _49-306 (SEQ ID NO:346) and human C-LT• _126-306 (SEQ ID NO:347) after cleavage with enterokinase of the corresponding fusion proteins expressed either in vector pCEP-SP-GST-EK or vector pCP-SP-his-myc-EK as described in EXAMPLE 3.

[0400] In a preferred embodiment, the antigen or antigenic determinant is the prion protein, fragments thereof and in particular peptides of the prion protein. In one embodiment the prion protein is the human prion protein. Guidance on how to modify human prion protein for association with the cpre particle is given throughout the application and in particular in EXAMPLE 7. Mouse prion protein constructs are disclosed, and human prion protein constructs can also be generated and have, for example, the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 348. Further constructs comprise the whole human prion protein sequence, and other fragments of the human prion protein, which are further composition of the invention. Immunization against prion protein may provide a way of treatment or prevention of Creutzfeld-Jakob (variant form) or other prion-mediated diseases. Immunization using the compositions of the invention comprising the prion protein may provide a way of treatment against prion mediated diseases in other animals, and the corresponding sequences of bovine and sheep prion protein constructs are given in SEQ ID NO:349 and SEQ ID NO:350, respectively. The peptides of the human prion protein corresponding to the murine peptides described in EXAMPLE 8, and of amino acid sequence CSAMSRPIIHFGSDYEDRYYRENMHR (“human cprplong”) and CGSDYEDRYYRENMHR (“human cprpshort”) lead to preferred embodiments of the invention. These peptides comprise an N-terminal cysteine residue added for coupling to VLPs and Pili. Corresponding bovine and sheep peptides are CSAMSRPLIHFGNDYEDRYYRENMHR (“bovine cprplong”) and CGNDYEDRYYRENMHR (“bovine cprpshort”) CSAMSRPLIHFGNDYEDRYYRENMYR (“sheep cprplong”) and CGNDYEDRYYRENMYR (“sheep cprpshort”), all leading to embodiments of the invention.

[0401] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the antigenic determinant is tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), fragments thereof or peptides of TNF-α. In particular, peptides or fragments of TNF-α can be used to induce a self-specific immune response directed towards the whole protein by immunizing a human or an animal with vaccines and compositions, respectively, comprising such peptides or fragments in accordance with the invention. Preferably, VLPs, bacteriophages or bacterial pili are used as core particle, to which TNF-α, peptides or fragments thereof are attached according to the invention.

[0402] The following murine peptides are the murine homologs to human peptides that have been shown to be bound by antibodies neutralizing the activity of TNF-α_(Yone et al. J. Biol. Chem. 270: 19509-19515) and were, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, modified with cysteine residues for coupling to VLPs, bacteriophages or bacterial pili.

[0403] MuTNFa peptide: the sequence CGG was added at the N-terminus of the epitope consisting of amino acid residues 22-32 of mature murine TNF-α: CGGVEEQLEWLSQR.

[0404] 3′TNF II peptide: the sequence GGC was fused at the C-terminus of the epitope consisting of amino acid residues 4-22 of mature murine TNF-α and glutamine 21 was mutated to glycine. The sequence of the resulting peptide is: SSQNSSDKPVAHVVANHGVGGC.

[0405] 5′TNF II peptide: a cysteine residue was fused to the N-terminus of the epitope consisting of amino acid residues 4-22 of mature murine TNF-α and glutamine 21 was mutated to glycine. The sequence of the resulting peptide is: CSSQNSSDKPVAHVVANHGV.

[0406] The corresponding human sequence of the 4-22 epitope is SSRTPSDKPVAHVVANPQAEGQ. Like for the murine sequence a cysteine is, preferably, fused at the N-terminus of the epitope, or the sequence GGC is fused at the C-terminus of the epitope for covalent coupling to VLPs, bacteriophages or bacterial pili according to the invention. It is, however, within the scope of the present invention that other cysteine containing sequences are fused at the N- or C-termini of the epitopes. In general, one or two glycine residues are preferably inserted between the added cysteine residue and the sequence of the epitope. Other amino acids may, however, also be inserted instead of glycine residues, and these amino acid residues will preferably be small amino acids such as serine.

[0407] The human sequence corresponding to amino acid residues 22-32 is QLQWLNRRANA. Preferably, the sequence CGG is fused at the N-terminus of the epitope for covalent coupling to VLPs or bacterial pili according to the invention. Other TNF-α_epitopes suitable for using in the present invention have been described and are disclosed for example by Yone et al. ( J. Biol. Chem. 270: 19509-19515).

[0408] The invention further includes compositions which contain mimotopes of the antigens or antigenic determinants described herein.

[0409] The specific composition of the invention comprises an antibody or preferably an antibody fragment presented on a virus-like particle or pilus for induction of an immune response against said antibody. Antibodies or antibody fragments which are produced by lymphoma cells, may be selected for attachment to the virus-like particle and immunization, in order to induce a protective immune response against the lymphoma.

[0410] In other further embodiments, an antibody or antibody fragment mimicking an antigen is attached to the particle. The mimicking antibody or antibody fragment may be generated by immunization and subsequent isolation of the mimicking antibody or antibody fragment by any known method known to the art such as e.g. hybridoma technology (Gherardi, E. et al., J. Immunol. Methods 126: 61-68 (1990)), phage display (Harrison et al., Methods Enzymol. 267: 83-109 (1996)), ribosome display (Hanes, J. et al., Nat. Biotechnol. 18: 1287-1292 (2000), yeast two-hybrid (Visintin, M. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96: 11723-11728 (1999)), yeast surface display (Boder, E T. & Wittrup, K D. Methods. Enzym. 328: 430-444 (2000)), bacterial surface display (Daugherty, P S. et al., Protein Eng. 12: 613-621 (1999)). The mimicking antibody may also be isolated from an antibody library or a naive antibody library using methods known to the art such as the methods mentioned above, for example.

[0411] In a further embodiment, an antibody recognizing the combining site of another antibody, i.e. an anti-idiotypic antibody, further called the immunizing antibody, may be used. The antibody recognized by the anti-idiotypic antibody will be further referred to as the neutralizing antibody. Thus, by immunizing against the anti-idiotypic antibody, molecules with the specificity of the neutralizing antibody are generated in situ; we will further refer to these generated antibodies as the induced antibodies. In another preferred embodiment, the immunizing antibody is selected to interact with a ligand molecule of the target molecule against which immunization is seeked. The ligand molecule may be any molecule interacting with the target molecule, but will preferentially interact with the site of the target molecule against which antibodies should be generated for inhibition of its function. The ligand molecule may be a natural ligand of the target molecule, or may be any engineered, designed or isolated ligand having suitable binding properties.

[0412] The immunizing antibodies may be of human origin, such as isolated from a naive or immune human antibody library, or may have been isolated from a library generated from another animal source, for example of murine origin.

[0413] Coupling of the antibody or antibody fragment to the VLP or pilus is achieved either by limited reduction of exposed disulfide bridges (for example of the interchain disulfide bridge between CH1 and Cκ or Cλ in a Fab fragment) or by fusion of a linker containing a free cysteine residue at the C-terminus of the antibody or antibody fragment. In a further embodiment, a linker containing a free cysteine residue is fused to the N-terminus of the antibody or antibody fragment for attachment to a VLP or pilus protein.

[0414] A number of vaccine compositions which employ mimotopes are known in the art, as are methods for generating and identifying mimotopes of particular epitopes. For example, Arnon et al., Immunology 101:555-562 (2000), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describe mimotope peptide-based vaccines against Schistosoma mansoni . The mimotopes uses in these vaccines were obtained by screening a solid-phase 8mer random peptide library to identify mimotopes of an epitope recognized by a protective monoclonal antibody against Schistosoma mansoni . Similarly, Olszewska et al., Virology 272:98-105 (2000), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describe the identification of synthetic peptides which mimic an epitope of the measles virus fusion protein and the use of these peptides for the immunization of mice. In addition, Zuercher et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 30:128-135 (2000), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describe compositions and methods for oral anti-IgE immunization using epitope-displaying phage. In particular, epitope-displaying M13 bacteriophages are employed as carriers for an oral anti-IgE vaccine. The vaccine compositions tested contain mimotopes and epitopes of the monoclonal anti-IgE antibody BSW17.

[0415] The invention thus includes vaccine compositions which contain mimotopes that elicit immunological responses against particular antigens, as well as individual mimotope/core particle conjugates and individual mimotope/non-naturally occurring molecular scaffold conjugates which make up these vaccine compositions, and the use of these vaccine compositions to elicit immunological responses against specific antigens or antigenic determinants. Mimotopes may also be polypeptides, such as anti-idiotypic antibodies. Therefore, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the antigen or antigenic determinant is an anti-idiotypic antibody or anti-idiotypic antibody fragment.

[0416] The invention further includes compositions which contain mimotopes of the antigens or antigenic determinants described herein.

[0417] Mimotopes of particular antigens may be generated and identified by any number of means including the screening of random peptide phage display libraries (see, e.g., PCT Publication No. WO 97/31948, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference). Screening of such libraries will often be performed to identify peptides which bind to one or more antibodies having specificity for a particular antigen.

[0418] Mimotopes suitable for use in vaccine compositions of the invention may be linear or circular peptides. Mimotopes which are linear or circular peptides may be linked to non-natural molecular scaffolds or core particles by a bond which is not a peptide bond.

[0419] As suggested above, a number of human IgE mimotopes and epitopes have been identified which elicit immunological responses against human IgE molecules. (See, e.g., PCT Publication No. WO 97/31948.) Thus, in certain embodiments, vaccine compositions of the invention include compositions which elicit an immunological response against immunoglobin molecules (e.g., IgE molecules).

[0420] Peptides which can be used to elicit such immunological responses include proteins, protein subunits, domains of IgE molecules, and mimotopes which are capable of eliciting production of antibodies having specificity for IgE molecules. Generally, portions of IgE molecules used to prepare vaccine compositions will be derived from IgE molecules of the species from which the composition is to be administered. For example, a vaccine composition intended for administration to humans will often contain one or more portions of the human IgE molecule, and/or one or more mimotopes which are capable of eliciting immunological responses against human IgE molecules.

[0421] In specific embodiments, vaccine compositions of the invention intended for administration to humans will contain at least one portion of the constant region of the IgE heavy chain set out in SEQ ID NO:176; Accession No. AAB59424 (SEQ ID NO: 176). In more specific embodiments, IgE peptides used to prepare vaccine compositions of the invention comprise, or alternatively consist of, peptides having the following amino acid sequences: CGG VNLTWSRASG (SEQ ID NO:178).

[0422] In additional specific embodiments, vaccine compositions of the invention will contain at least one mimotope which is capable of eliciting an immune response that results in the production of antibodies having specificity for a particular antigen.

[0423] Examples of mimotopes of IgE suitable for use in the preparation of vaccine compositions of the invention include peptides having the following amino acid sequences: 1

[0424] C. Preparation of the AlphaVaccine Particles

[0425] The invention provides novel compositions and methods for the construction of ordered and repetitive antigen arrays. As one of skill in the art would know, the conditions for the assembly of the ordered and repetitive antigen array depend to a large extent on the specific choice of the first attachment site of the non-natural molecular scaffold and the specific choice of the second attachment site of the antigen or antigenic determinant. Thus, practitioner choice in the design of the composition (i.e., selection of the first and second attachment sites, antigen and non-natural molecular scaffold) will determine the specific conditions for the assembly of the AlphaVaccine particle (the ordered and repetitive antigen array and non-natural molecular scaffold combined). Information relating to assembly of the AlphaVaccine particle is well within the working knowledge of the practitioner, and numerous references exist to aid the practitioner (e.g., Sambrook, J. et al., eds., MOLECULAR CLONING, A LABORATORY MANUAL, 2nd. edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989); Ausubel, F. et al., eds., CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, John H. Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1997); Celis, J., ed., CELL BIOLGY, Academic Press, 2 ^nd edition, (1998); Harlow, E. and Lane, D., “Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual,” Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1988), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0426] In a specific embodiment of the invention, the JUN and FOS leucine zipper protein domains are utilized for the first and second attachment sites of the invention, respectively. In the preparation of AlphaVaccine particles, antigen must be produced and purified under conditions to promote assembly of the ordered and repetitive antigen array onto the non-natural molecular scaffold. In the particular JUN/FOS leucine zipper protein domain embodiment, the FOS-antigen or FOS-antigenic determinant should be treated with a reducing agent (e.g., Dithiothreitol (DTT)) to reduce or eliminate the incidence of disulfide bond formation (Example 15).

[0427] For the preparation of the non-natural molecular scaffold (i.e., recombinant Sinbis virus) of the JUN/FOS leucine zipper protein domain embodiment, recombinant E2-JUN viral particles should be concentrated, neutralized and treated with reducing agent (see Example 16).

[0428] Assembly of the ordered and repetitive antigen array in the JUN/FOS embodiment is done in the presence of a redox shuffle. E2-JUN viral particles are combined with a 240 fold molar excess of FOS-antigen or FOS-antigenic determinant for 10 hours at 4 ^α C. Subsequently, the AlphaVaccine particle is concentrated and purified by chromatography (Example 16).

[0429] 1 In another embodiment of the invention, the coupling of the non-natural molecular scaffold to the antigen or antigenic determinant may be accomplished by chemical cross-linking. In a specific embodiment, the chemical agent is a heterobifunctional cross-linking agent such as ∈-maleimidocaproic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (Tanimori et al., J. Pharm. Dyn. 4:812 (1981); Fujiwara et al., J. Immunol. Meth. 45:195 (1981)), which contains (1) a succinimide group reactive with amino groups and (2) a maleimide group reactive with SH groups. A heterologous protein or polypeptide of the first attachment site may be engineered to contain one or more lysine residues that will serve as a reactive moiety for the succinimide portion of the heterobifunctional cross-linking agent. Once chemically coupled to the lysine residues of the heterologous protein, the maleimide group of the heterobifunctional cross-linking agent will be available to react with the SH group of a cysteine residue on the antigen or antigenic determinant. Antigen or antigenic determinant preparation in this instance may require the engineering of a cysteine residue into the protein or polypeptide chosen as the second attachment site so that it may be reacted to the free maleimide function on the cross-linking agent bound to the non-natural molecular scaffold first attachment sites. Thus, in such an instance, the heterobifunctional cross-linking agent binds to a first attachment site of the non-natural molecular scaffold and connects the scaffold to a second binding site of the antigen or antigenic determinant.

[0430] 3. Compositions, Vaccines, and the Administration Thereof, and Methods of Treatment

[0431] The invention provides vaccine compositions which may be used for preventing and/or attenuating diseases or conditions. The invention further provides vaccination methods for preventing and/or attenuating diseases or conditions in individuals.

[0432] In one embodiment, the invention provides vaccines for the prevention of infectious diseases in a wide range of species, particularly mammalian species such as human, monkey, cow, dog, cat, horse, pig, etc. Vaccines may be designed to treat infections of viral etiology such as HIV, influenza, Herpes, viral hepatitis, Epstein Bar, polio, viral encephalitis, measles, chicken pox, etc.; or infections of bacterial etiology such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, syphilis, etc.; or infections of parasitic etiology such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, trichomoniasis, amoebiasis, etc.

[0433] In another embodiment, the invention provides vaccines for the prevention of cancer in a wide range of species, particularly mammalian species such as human, monkey, cow, dog, cat, horse, pig, etc. Vaccines may be designed to treat all types of cancer: lymphomas, carcinomas, sarcomas, melanomas, etc.

[0434] In another embodiment of the invention, compositions of the invention may be used in the design of vaccines for the treatment of allergies. Antibodies of the IgE isotype are important components in allergic reactions. Mast cells bind IgE antibodies on their surface and release histamines and other mediators of allergic response upon binding of specific antigen to the IgE molecules bound on the mast cell surface. Inhibiting production of IgE antibodies, therefore, is a promising target to protect against allergies. This should be possible by attaining a desired T helper cell response. T helper cell responses can be divided into type 1 (T _H 1) and type 2 (T _H 2) T helper cell responses (Romagnani, Immunol. Today 18:263-266 (1997)). T _H 1 cells secrete interferon-gamma and other cytokines which trigger B cells to produce IgG1-3 antibodies. In contrast, a critical cytokine produced by T _H 2 cells is IL-4, which drived B cells to produce IgG4 and IgE. In many experimental systems, the development of T _H 1 and T _H 2 responses is mutually exclusive sinceT _H 1 cells suppress the induction of T _H 2 cells and vice versa. Thus, antigens that trigger a strong T _H 1 response simultaneously suppress the development of T _H 2 responses and hence the production of IgE antibodies. Interestingly, virtually all viruses induce a T _H 1 response in the host and fail to trigger the production of IgE antibodies (Coutelier et al., J. Exp. Med. 165:64-69 (1987)). This isotype pattern is not restricted to live viruses but has also been observed for inactivated or recombinant viral particles (Lo-Man et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 28:1401-1407 (1998)). Thus, by using the processes of the invention (e.g., AlphaVaccine Technology), viral particles can be decorated with various allergens and used for immunization. Due to the resulting “viral structure” of the allergen, a T _H 1 response will be elicited, “protective” IgG1-3 antibodies will be produced, and the production of IgE antibodies which cause allergic reactions will be prevented. Since the allergen is presented by viral particles which are recognized by a different set of helper T cells than the allergen itself, it is likely that the allergen-specific IgG1-3 antibodies will be induced even in allergic individuals harboring pre-existing T _H 2 cells specific for the allergen. The presence of high concentrations of IgG antibodies may prevent binding of allergens to mast cell bound IgE, thereby inhibiting the release of histamine. Thus, presence of IgG antibodies may protect from IgE mediated allergic reactions. Typical substances causing allergies include: grass, ragweed, birch or mountain cedar pollens, house dust, mites, animal danders, mold, insect venom or drugs (e.g., penicillin). Thus, immunization of individuals with allergen-decorated viral particles should be beneficial not only before but also after the onset of allergies.

[0435] In specific embodiments, the invention provides methods for preventing and/or attenuating diseases or conditions which are caused or exacerbated by “self” gene products (e.g., tumor necrosis factors), i.e. “self antigens” as used herein. In related embodiments, the invention provides methods for inducing immunological responses in individuals which lead to the production of antibodies that prevent and/or attenuate diseases or conditions are caused or exacerbated by “self” gene products. Examples of such diseases or conditions include graft versus host disease, IgE-mediated allergic reactions, anaphylaxis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, Crohn's disease, allergic asthma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), Graves' disease, inflammatory autoimmune diseases, myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), immunoproliferative disease lymphadenopathy (IPL), angioimmunoproliferative lymphadenopathy (AIL), immunoblastive lymphadenopathy (IBL), rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease.

[0436] As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, when compositions of the invention are administered to an individual, they may be in a composition which contains salts, buffers, adjuvants, or other substances which are desirable for improving the efficacy of the composition. Examples of materials suitable for use in preparing pharmaceutical compositions are provided in numerous sources including REMINGTON'S PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES (Osol, A, ed., Mack Publishing Co., (1990)).

[0437] Compositions of the invention are said to be “pharmacologically acceptable” if their administration can be tolerated by a recipient individual. Further, the compositions of the invention will be administered in a “therapeutically effective amount” (i.e., an amount that produces a desired physiological effect).

[0438] The compositions of the present invention may be administered by various methods known in the art, but will normally be administered by injection, infusion, inhalation, oral administration, or other suitable physical methods. The compositions may alternatively be administered intramuscularly, intravenously, or subcutaneously. Components of compositions for administration include sterile aqueous (e.g., physiological saline) or non-aqueous solutions and suspensions. Examples of non-aqueous solvents are propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils such as olive oil, and injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate. Carriers or occlusive dressings can be used to increase skin permeability and enhance antigen absorption.

[0439] Prion-mediated diseases are an increasing threat for society. Specifically, prion-induced BSE in cattle represents a disease that has long been neglected and may affect a great number of animals throughout Europe. Moreover, a variant form of CJD is attributed to infection of humans after consumption of meat of prion-infected cattle. Although the number of infected people has been relatively low so far, it seems possible that the disease may become epidemic. However, long-term prognosis for the development of vCJD may be particular difficult, since incubation times between infection and overt disease are very long (an estimated 10 years).

[0440] Prions are cellular proteins existing in most mammalian species. Prion proteins exist in two forms, a normally folded form that is usually present in healthy individuals (PrP ^c ) and a misfolded form that causes disease (Prp ^Sc ). The current prion hypotheses postulates that the misfolded prion form Prp ^Sc can catalyse the refolding of healthy prion PrP ^c into disease causing Prp ^Sc (A. Aguzzi, Haematologica 85, 3-10 (2000)). In some rare instances, this transition may also occur spontaneously, causing classical CJD in humans. Some mutations in PrP ^c are associated with an increase in this spontaneous transition, causing the various forms of familial CJD. However, Prp ^Sc may also be infectious and may be transmitted by blood transfusion or via the food chain. The latter form of prion mediated disease is known as Kuru Kuru and used to occur in human cannibals. However, since species that are feeding on their own individuals are not abundant, this form of orally transmitted disease was too rare to be documented for other species.

[0441] The massive feeding of cows with beef-products throughout Europe now

[0442] changed the situation and numbers of cows infected with a transmissible form of BSE-causing Prp ^Sc , dramatically increased in recent years, afflicting hundreds of thousands of cows. This sudden appearance of massive numbers of BSE-diseased cows caused great fear in the human population that a similar disease may be induced in humans. Indeed, in 1996, the first case of a variant form of CJD was reported that could be attributed to the consumption of Prp ^Sc infected beef. Until now, this fear has further increased, since the number of infected humans has constantly increased during the following years and no cure is in sight. Moreover, since sheep succumb to a prion-mediated disease called scrapie and since other mammalian species can be infected with Prp ^Sc

[0443] Experimentally, it is possible that BSE-like diseases may occur also in other species. The mechanism of prion transmission has been studied in great detail. It is now clear that prions first replicate in the lymphoid organs of infected mice and are subsequently transported to the central nervous system. Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), a rare cell population in lymphoid organs, seems to be essential for both replication of prion proteins in the lymphoid organs and transport into the central nervous system (S. Brandner, M. A. Klein, A. Aguzzi, Transfus Clin Biol 6, 17-23 (1999); F. Montrasio, et al., Science 288, 1257-9 (2000)). FDCs are a poorly studied cell type but it is now clear that they depend upon the production of lymphotoxin and/or TNF by B cells for their development (F. Mackay, J. L. Browning, Nature 395, 26-27 (1998)). Indeed, mice deficient for lymphotoxin do not exhibit FDCs (M. S. Matsumoto, et al., Science 264, 703-707 (1996)). Moreover, they fail to be productively infected with prions and do not succumb to disease. In addition to FDCs, antibodies may also play a role in disease progression (S. Brandner, M. A. Klein, A. Aguzzi, Transfus Clin Biol 6, 17-23 (1999)).

[0444] Recently, it was shown that blocking the LTb pathway using a Ltb receptor Fc fusion molecule not only eliminates FDCs in mice but also blocks infection with PrP ^Sc (F. Montrasio, et al., Science 288, 1257-9 (2000). Thus, a vaccine that induces antibodies specific for LTb or its receptor may be able to block transmission of PrP ^Sc from one individual to another or from the periphery to the central nervous system.

[0445] However, it is usually difficult if not impossible to induce antibody responses to self-molecules by conventional vaccination. One way to improve the efficiency of vaccination is to increase the degree of repetitiveness of the antigen applied: Unlike isolated proteins, viruses induce prompt and efficient immune responses in the absence of any adjuvants both with and without T-cell help (Bachmann & Zinkemagel, Ann. Rev. Immunol: 15:235-270 (1991)). Although viruses often consist of few proteins, they are able to trigger much stronger immune responses than their isolated components. For B-cell responses, it is known that one crucial factor for the immunogenicity of viruses is the repetitiveness and order of surface epitopes. Many viruses exhibit a quasi-crystalline surface that displays a regular array of epitopes which efficiently crosslinks epitope-specific immunoglobulins on B cells (Bachmann & Zinkernagel, Immunol. Today 17:553-558 (1996)). This crosslinking of surface immunoglobulins on B cells is a strong activation signal that directly induces cell-cycle progression and the production of IgM antibodies. Further, such triggered B cells are able to activate T helper cells, which in turn induce a switch from IgM to IgG antibody production in B cells and the generation of long-lived B cell memory—the goal of any vaccination (Bachmann & Zinkernagel, Ann. Rev. Immunol. 15:235-270 (1997)). Viral structure is even linked to the generation of anti-antibodies in autoimmune disease and as a part of the natural response to pathogens (see Fehr, T., et al., J. Exp. Med. 185:1785-1792 (1997)). Thus, antibodies presented by a highly organized viral surface are able to induce strong anti-antibody responses.

[0446] The immune system usually fails to produce antibodies against self-derived structures. For soluble antigens present at low concentrations, this is due to tolerance at the Th cell level. Under these conditions, coupling the self-antigen to a carrier that can deliver T help may break tolerance. For soluble proteins present at high concentrations or membrane proteins at low concentration, B and Th cells may be tolerant. However, B cell tolerance may be reversible (anergy) and can be broken by administration of the antigen in a highly organized fashion coupled to a foreign carrier (Bachmann & Zinkernagel, Ann. Rev. Immunol. 15:235-270 (1997). Thus, LTb, LTa or LTb receptor as highly organized as a virus, a virus like particle or a bacterial pilus may be able to break B cell tolerance and to induce antibodies specific for these molecules.

[0447] The present invention is related to the fields of molecular biology, virology, immunology and medicine. The invention provides a method that facilitates induction of antibodies specific for endogenous lymphotoxin (LT)b, LTa or LTb receptor. The invention also provides a process for producing an antigen or antigenic determinant that is able to elicit antibodies specific for LTb, LTa or LTb receptor which is useful for the prevention and therapy of prion-mediated diseases such as variant Creutzfeld-Jacob disease (vCJD) or bovine spongioform encephalopathy (BSE) and elimination of lymphoid organ like structures in autoimmune diseased tissues.

[0448] The object of the invention is to provide a vaccine that is able to induce antibodies specific for LTb, LTa or LTb receptor thereby eliminating FDCs from lymphoid organs. This treatment may allow preventing infection with PrP ^Sc or spread of PrP ^Sc from the periphery to the central nervous system. In addition, this treatment blocks generation of lymphoid organ like structures in organs targeted by autoimmune disease and may even dissolve such existing structures, ameliorating disease symptoms.

[0449] LTb, LTa or LTb receptor or fragments thereof are coupled to a protein carrier that is foreign to the host. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, LTb, LTa or LTb receptor or fragments thereof will be coupled to a highly organized structure in order to render these molecules highly repetitive and organized. The highly organized structure may be a bacterial pilus, a virus like particle (VLP) generated by recombinant proteins of the bacteriophage Qβ, recombinant proteins of Rotavirus, recombinant proteins of Norwalkvirus, recombinant proteins of Alphavirus, recombinant proteins of Foot and Mouth Disease virus, recombinant proteins of Retrovirus, recombinant proteins of Hepatitis B virus, recombinant proteins of Tobacco mosaic virus, recombinant proteins of Flock House Virus, and recombinant proteins of human Papillomavirus. In order to optimize the three-dimensional arrangement of LTb, LTa or LTb receptor or fragments thereof on the highly organized structure, an attachment site, such as a chemically reactive amino-acid, is introduced into the highly organized structure (unless it is naturally there) and a binding site, such as a chemically reactive amino acid, will be introduced on the LTb, LTa or LTb receptor or fragments (unless it is naturally there). The presence of an attachment site on the highly organized structure and a binding site on the LTb, LTa or LTb receptor or fragments thereof will allow to couple these molecules to the repetitive structure in an oriented and ordered fashion which is essential for the induction of efficient B cell responses.

[0450] In an equally preferred embodiment, the attachment site introduced in the repetitive structure is biotin that specifically binds streptavidin. Biotin may be introduced by chemical modification. LTb, LTa or LTb receptor or fragments thereof may be fused or linked to streptavidin and bound to the biotinylated repetitive structure.

[0451] Other embodiments of the invention include processes for the production of the compositions of the invention and methods of medical treatment using said compositions. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

[0452] In addition to vaccine technologies, other embodiments of the invention are drawn to methods of medical treatment for cancer and allergies.

[0453] All patents and publications referred to herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

EXAMPLES

[0454] Enzymes and reagents used in the experiments that follow included: T4 DNA ligase obtained from New England Biolabs; Taq DNA Polymerase, QIAprep Spin Plasmid Kit, QIAGEN Plasmid Midi Kit, QiaExII Gel Extraction Kit, QIAquick PCR Purification Kit obtained from QIAGEN; QuickPrep Micro mRNA Purification Kit obtained from Pharmacia; SuperScript One-step RT PCR Kit, fetal calf serum (FCS), bacto-tryptone and yeast extract obtained from Gibco BRL; Oligonucleotides obtained from Microsynth (Switzerland); restriction endonucleases obtained from Boehringer Mannheim, New England Biolabs or MBI Fermentas; Pwo polymerase and dNTPs obtained from Boehringer Mannheim. HP-1 medium was obtained from Cell culture technologies (Glattbrugg, Switzerland). All standard chemicals were obtained from Fluka-Sigma-Aldrich, and all cell culture materials were obtained from TPP.

[0455] DNA manipulations were carried out using standard techniques. DNA was prepared according to manufacturer instruction either from a 2 ml bacterial culture using the QIAprep Spin Plasmid Kit or from a 50 ml culture using the QIAGEN Plasmid Midi Kit. For restriction enzyme digestion, DNA was incubated at least 2 hours with the appropriate restriction enzyme at a concentration of 5-10 units (U) enzyme per mg DNA under manufacturer recommended conditions (buffer and temperature). Digests with more than one enzyme were performed simultaneously if reaction conditions were appropriate for all enzymes, otherwise consecutively. DNA fragments isolated for further manipulations were separated by electrophoresis in a 0.7 to 1.5% agarose gel, excised from the gel and purified with the QiaExII Gel Extraction Kit according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. For ligation of DNA fragments, 100 to 200 pg of purified vector DNA were incubated overnight with a threefold molar excess of the insert fragment at 16° C. in the presence of 1 U T4 DNA ligase in the buffer provided by the manufacturer (total volume: 10-20 μl). An aliquot (0.1 to 0.5 μl) of the ligation reaction was used for transformation of E. coli XL1-Blue (Stratagene). Transformation was done by electroporation using a Gene Pulser (BioRAD) and 0.1 cm Gene Pulser Cuvettes (BioRAD) at 200 Ohm, 25 μF, 1.7 kV. After electroporation, the cells were incubated with shaking for 1 h in 1 ml S.O.B. medium (Miller, 1972) before plating on selective S.O.B. agar.

Example 1

Modular Eukaryotic Expression System for Coupling of Antigens to VLPs

[0456] This system was generated in order to add various amino acid linker sequences containing a cysteine residue to antigens for chemical coupling to VLPs.

[0457] A. Construction of an EBNA Derived Expression System Encoding a Cysteine-Containing Amino Acid Linker and Cleavable Fc-Tag:

[0458] pCep-Pu (Wuttke et al. J. Biol. Chem. 276: 36839-48 (2001)) was digested with Kpn I and Bam HI and a new multiple cloning site was introduced with the annealed oligonucleotides PH37 (SEQ ID NO:270) and PH38 (SEQ ID NO:271) leading to pCep-MCS.

[0459] A modular system containing a free cysteine flanked by several glycines, a protease cleavage site and the constant region of the human IgG1 was generated as follows. pSec2/Hygro B (Invitrogen Cat. No. V910-20) was digested with Bsp120I and Hind III and ligated with the annealed oligonucleotides SU7 (SEQ ID NO:278) and SU8 (SEQ ID NO:279) leading to construct pSec-B-MCS. pSec-B-MCS was then digested with Nhe I and Hind III and ligated with the annealed oligonucleotides PH29 (SEQ ID NO:264) and PH30 (SEQ ID NO:265) leading to construct pSec 29/30. The construct pSec-FL-EK-Fc* was generated by a three fragment ligation of the following fragments; first pSec 29/30 digested with Eco RI and Hind III, the annealed oligonucleotides PH31 (SEQ ID NO:266) and PH32 (SEQ ID NO. 267) and the Bgl I/EcoRI fragment of a plasmid (pSP-Fc*-Cl) containing a modified version of the human IgG1 constant region (for details of the hu IgG1 sequence see the sequence of the final construct pCep-Xa-Fc* see FIGS. 1 A- 1 C). The complete sequence of pCep-Xa-Fc* is given in SEQ ID NO:283. The resulting construct was named pSec-FL-EK-Fc*. From this plasmid the linker region and the human IgG1 Fc part was excised by Nhe I, Pme I digestion and cloned into pCep-MCS digested with Nhe I and Pme I leading to construct pCep-FL-EK-Fc*. Thus a modular vector, was created where the linker sequence and the protease cleavage site, which are located between the Nhe I and Hind III sites, can easily be exchanged with annealed oligonucleotides. For the generation of cleavable fusion protein vectors pCep-FL-EK-Fc* was digested with Nhe I and Hind III and the Factor Xa cleavage site N-terminally flanked with amino acids GGGGCG was introduced with the annealed oligonuclotides PH35 (SEQ ID NO:268) and PH36 (SEQ ID NO:269) and the enterokinase site flanked n-terminally with GGGGCG was introduced with the annealed oligonucleotides PH39 (SEQ ID NO:272) and PH40 (SEQ ID NO:273) leading to the constructs pCep-Xa-Fc* (see FIG. 1A ) and pCep-EK-Fc* (see FIG. 1B ) respectively. The construct pCep-SP-EK-Fc* (see FIG. 1C ) which in addition contains a eukaryotic signal peptide was generated by a three fragment ligation of pCep-EK-Fc* digested Kpn I/Bam HI, the annealed oligos PH41 (SEQ ID NO:274) and PH42 (SEQ ID NO:275) and the annealed oligos PH43 (SEQ ID NO:276) and PH44 (SEQ ID NO:277).

[0460] B. Large Scale Production of Fusion Proteins:

[0461] For the large scale production of the different fusion proteins 293-EBNA cells (Invitrogen) were transfected with the different pCep expression plasmids with Lipofectamine 2000 reagent (life technologies) according to the manufacturer's recommendation. 24-36 h post transfection the cells were split at a 1 to 3 ratio under puromycin selection (1 μg/ml) in DMEM supplemented with 10% FCS. The resistant cells were then expanded in selective medium. For the harvesting of the fusion proteins the resistant cell population were passed onto poly-L-lysine coated dishes. Once the cells had reached confluence, they were washed 2 times with PBS and serum free medium (DMEM) was added to the plates. The tissue culture supernatant were harvested every 2 to 4 days and replaced with fresh DMEM medium during a period of up to one month. The harvested supernatants were kept at 4° C.

[0462] C. Purification of the Fusion Proteins:

[0463] The recombinant Fc-fusion proteins were purified by affinity chromatography using protein A sepharose CL-4B (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech AG). Briefly chromatography columns were packed with 1-3 ml protein A resin and the tissue culture supernatants containing the recombinant proteins were applied to the column with a peristaltic pump at a flow rate of 0.5-1.5 ml/min. The column was then washed with 20-50 ml PBS. Depending on the fusion protein the protease cleavage was performed on the column or the protein was eluted as described below. Recombinant fusion proteins were eluted with a citrate/phosphate buffer (pH 3.8) supplemented with 150 mM NaCl and the fractions containing the protein were pooled and concentrated with ultrafree centrifugal filters (Millipore).

[0464] D. Protease Cleavage of Recombinant Fusion Proteins (Factor Xa, Enterokinase):

[0465] Eluted recombinant fusion proteins containing the enterokinase (EK) cleavage site were cleaved using the EKmax system (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's recommendation. The cleaved Fc part of the fusion protein was removed by incubation with protein A. The enterokinase was then removed with the EK-Away system (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturers recommendation. Similarly fusion proteins containing the factor Xa (Xa) cleavage site were cleaved using the restriction protease factor Xa cleavage and removal kit (Roche) according to the manufacturer's recommendation. The cleaved Fc part was removed by incubation with protein A and the protease was removed with the streptavidin resin provided with the kit.

[0466] The different fusion proteins were concentrated with ultrafree centrifugal filters (Millipore), quantitated by UV spectrophotometrie and used for subsequent coupling reactions.

[0467] FIGS. 1 A- 1 C shows partial sequences of the different eukaryotic expression vectors used. Only the modified sequences are shown.

[0468] FIG. 1 A: pCep-Xa-Fc*: the sequence is shown from the Bam HI site onwards and different features are shown above the translated sequence. The arrow indicates the cleavage site of the factor Xa protease.

[0469] FIG. 1 B: pCep-EK-Fc*: the sequence is shown from the Bam HI site onwards and different features are shown above the translated sequence. The arrow indicates the cleavage site of the enterokinase. The sequence downstream of the Hind III site is identical to the one shown in FIG. 1A .

[0470] FIG. 1 C: pCep-SP-EK-Fc*: the sequence is shown from the beginning of the signal peptide on and different features are shown above the translated sequence. The signal peptide sequence which is cleaved of by the signal peptidase is shown in bold The arrow indicates the cleavage site of the enterokinase. The sequence downstream of the Hind III site is identical to the one shown in FIG. 1A .

Example 2

Eukaryotic Expression and Coupling of Mouse Resistin to VLPs and Pili

[0471] A. Cloning of Mouse Resistin:

[0472] Total RNA was isolated from 60 mg mouse adipose tissue using a Qiagen RNeasy kit according to the manufacturer's recommendation. The RNA was eluted in 40 μl H ₂ O. This total RNA was than used for the reverse transcription with an oligo dT primer using the ThermoScript™ RT-PCR System (Life Technologies) according to the manufacturer's recommendation. The sample was incubated at 50° C. for 1 h, heated to 85° C. for 5 minutes and treated for 20 minutes at 37° C. with RNAseH.

[0473] 2 μl of the RT reaction were used for the PCR amplification of mouse resistin. The PCR was performed using Platinium TAQ (Life Technologies) according to the manufacturer's recommendation using primers PH19 (SEQ ID NO:260) and PH ₂ O (SEQ ID NO:261). Primer PH19 (SEQ ID NO:260) corresponds to positions 58-77 and primer PH ₂ O (SEQ ID NO:261) to positions 454-435 of the mouse Resistin sequence. The PCR mix was first denatured at 94° C. for 2 minutes and than 35 cycles were performed as follows: 30 seconds 94° C., 30 seconds 56° C. and 1 minute 72° C., at the end the samples were left for 10 minutes at 72° C. The PCR fragment was purified and subcloned by TA cloning into the pGEMTeasy vector (Invitrogen) leading to pGEMT-mRes. In order to add appropriate restriction sites a second PCR was performed on pGEMT-mRes with the primers PH21 (SEQ ID NO:262) and PH22 (SEQ ID NO. 263) primers using the same cycling program as described above. The forward primer (PH21 (SEQ ID NO:262)) contains a Bam HI site and nucleotides 81-102 of the mouse Resistin sequence. The reverse primer (PH22 (SEQ ID NO:263)) contains an Xba I site and nucleotides 426-406 of the mouse Resistin sequence. The indicated positions refer to the mouse resistin sequence Gene Accession No. AF323080. The PCR product was purified and digested with Bam HI and Xba I and subcloned into pcmv-Fc*-C1 digested with Bam HI and Xba I leading to the construct pcmv-mRes-Fc*.

[0474] The Resistin open reading frame was excised from pcmv-Res-Fc* by Bam HI/Xba I digestion and cloned into pCep-Xa-Fc* and pCep-EK-Fc* (see EXAMPLE 1, section B) digested with Bam HI and Nhe I leading to the constructs pCep-mRes-Xa-Fc* and pCep-mRes-EK-Fc* respectively.

[0475] B. Production, Purification and Cleavage of Resistin

[0476] pCep-mRes-Xa-Fc* and pCep-mRes-EK-Fc* constructs were then used to transfect 293-EBNA cells for the production of recombinant proteins as described in EXAMPLE 1, section B. The tissue culture supernatants were purified as described in EXAMPLE 1, section C. The purified proteins were then cleaved as described in EXAMPLE 1, section D. The resulting recombinant proteins were termed “resistin-C-Xa” or “Res-C-Xa” and “resistin-C-EK” or “Res-C-EK” according to the vector used (see FIG. 2 A and FIG. 2B ).

[0477] FIG. 2 A and FIG. 2B show sequence of recombinant mouse Resistin proteins used for expression and further coupling. Res-C-Xa ( FIG. 2A ) and Res-C-EK ( FIG. 2B ) are shown as a translated DNA sequences. The resistin signal sequence which is cleaved upon protein secretion by the signal peptidase is shown in italic. The amino acid sequences which result form signal peptidase and specific protease (factor Xa or enterokinase) cleavage are shown bold. The bold sequences correspond to the actual protein sequence which was used for coupling, i.e. SEQ ID NO:280, SEQ ID NO:281. SEQ ID NO:282 corresponds to an alternative resistin protein construct, which can also be used for coupling to virus-like particles and pili in accordance with the invention.

[0478] C. Coupling of Resistin-C-Xa and Resistin-C-EK to Qβ Capsid Protein

[0479] A solution of 0.2 ml of 2 mg/ml Qβ capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.4 was reacted for 30 minutes with 5.6 μl of a solution of 100 mM SMPH (Pierce) in DMSO at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution was subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 at 4° C. 8 μl of the dialyzed Qβ reaction mixture was then reacted with 32 μL of resistin-C-Xa solution (resulting in a final concentration of resistin of 0.39 mg/ml) and 13 μl of the Qβ reaction mixture was reacted with 27 μl resistin-C-EK solution (resulting in a final concentration of resistin of 0.67 mg/ml) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products were analysed by SDS-PAGE (see FIG. 2C ). An additional band of 24 kDa is present in the coupling reaction, but not in derivatized Qβ and resistin, respectively. The size of 24 kDa corresponds to the expected size of 24 kDa for the coupled product (14 kDa for Qβ plus 10 kDa for resistin-C-Xa and resistin-C-EK, respectively).

[0480] FIG. 2C shows coupling results of resistin-C-Xa and resistin-C-EK to Qβ. Coupling products were analysed on 16% SDS-PAGE gels under reducing conditions. Lane 1: Molecular weight marker. Lane 2: resistin-C-EK before coupling. Lane 3: resistin-C-EK- Qβ after coupling. Lane 4: Qβ derivatized. Lane 5: resistin-C-Xa before coupling. Lane 6: resistin-C-Xa- Qβ after coupling. Molecular weights of marker proteins are given on the left margin. Coupled band is indicated by the arrow.

[0481] D. Coupling of Resistin-C-Xa and Resistin-C-EK to fr Capsid Protein

[0482] A solution of 0.2 ml of 2 mg/ml fr capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.4 is reacted for 30 minutes with 5.6 μl of a solution of 100 mM SMPH (Pierce) in DMSO at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 at 4° C. 8 μl of the dialyzed fr capsid protein reaction mixture is then reacted with 32 μl of resistin-C-Xa solution (resulting in a final concentration of resistin of 0.39 mg/ml) and 13 μl of the fr capsid protein reaction mixture is reacted with 27 μl resistin-C-EK solution (resulting in a final concentration of resistin of 0.67 mg/mil) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions.

[0483] E. Coupling of Resistin-C-Xa and Resistin-C-EK to HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut

[0484] A solution of 0.2 ml of 2 mg/ml HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with 5.6 μl of a solution of 100 nM SMPH (Pierce) in DMSO at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. 8 μl of the dialyzed HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut reaction mixture is then reacted with 32 μl of resistin-C-Xa solution and 13 μl of the HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut reaction mixture is reacted with 27 μl resistin-C-EK solution for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0485] F. Coupling of Resistin-C-Xa and Resistin-C-EK to Pili

[0486] A solution of 400 μl of 2.5 mg/ml Type-1 pili of E.coli in 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4, is reacted for 60 minutes with a 50-fold molar excess of cross-linker SMPH diluted from a stock solution in DMSO (Pierce) at RT on a rocking shaker. The reaction mixture is desalted on a PD-10 column (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech). The protein-containing fractions eluating from the column are pooled, and 8 μl of the desalted derivatized pili protein is reacted with 32 μl of resistin-C-Xa solution and 13 μg of the desalted derivatized pili protein is reacted with 27 μl resistin-C-EK solution for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

Example 3

A. Introduction of Cys-Containing Linkers, Expression and Purification of Mouse Lymphotoxin-β

[0487] The extracellular part of mouse lymphotoxin-• (LT-•) was recombinantly expressed with a CGG amino acid linker at its N-terminus. The linker contained one cysteine for coupling to VLP. A long (aa 49-306) and a short version (aa 126-306) of the protein were fused at their N-terminus to either glutathione S-transferase (GST) or a histidin-myc tag for purification. An enterokinase (EK) cleavage-site was inserted for cleavage of the tag.

[0488] Construction of C-LT• 49-306 and C-LT• 126-306.

[0489] Mouse LT• 49-306 was amplified by PCR with oligos 5′LT• and 3′LT• from a mouse spleen cDNA library inserted into pFB-LIB. For the PCR reaction, 0.5 μg of each primer and 200 ng of the template DNA was used in the 50•1 reaction mixture (1 unit of PFX Platinum polymerase, 0.3 mM dNTPs and 2 mM MgSO ₄ ). The temperature cycles were as follows: 94° C. for 2 minutes, followed by 25 cycles of 94° C. (15 seconds), 68° C. (30 seconds), 68° C. (1 minute) and followed by 68° C. for 10 minutes. The PCR product was phosphorylated with T4 Kinase and ligated into pEntry1A (Life technologies) which has been cut with EcoRV and has been dephosphorylated. The resulting plasmid was named pEntry1A-LT• 49-306.

[0490] A second PCR reaction was performed with oligos 5′LT• long-NheI and 3′LT• stop-NotI resp. 5′LT• short-NheI and 3′LT• stop-NotI using pEntry1A-LT• 49-306 as a template. Oligos 5′LT• long-NheI and 5′LT• short-NheI had an internal NheI site and contained codons for a Cys-Gly-Gly linker and 3′LT• stop-NotI had an internal NotI site and contained a stop codon. For the second PCR reaction, 0.5 μg of each primer and 150 ng of the template DNA was used in the 50•1 reaction mixture (1 unit of PFX Platinum polymerase, 0.3 mM dNTPs and 2 mM MgSO ₄ ). The temperature cycles were as follows: 94° C. for 2 minutes, followed by 5 cycles of 94° C. (15 seconds), 50° C. (30 seconds), 68° C. (1 minute), followed by 20 cylces of 94° C. (15 seconds), 64° C. (30 seconds), 68° C. (1 minute) and followed by 68° C. for 10 minutes.

[0491] The PCR products were digested with NheI and NotI and inserted into either pCEP-SP-GST-EK or pCEP-SP-his-myc-EK (Wuttke et al. J. Biol. Chem. 276: 36839-48 (2001)). Resulting plasmids were named pCEP-SP-GST-EK-C-LT• 49-306, pCEP-SP-GST-EK-C-LT• 126-306, pCEP-SP-his-myc-EK-C-LT• 49-306, pCEP-SP-his-myc-EK-C-LT• 126-306, respectively. GST stands for glutathione-S-transferase, EK for enterokinase, his for a hexahistidine tag and myc for anti c-myc epitope. The C indicates the CGG linker containing the additional cysteine.

[0492] All other steps were performed by standard molecular biology protocols.

[0493] Sequence of the oligonucleotides:

[0494] 5′LT•:

[0495] 5′-CTT GGT GCC GCA GGA TCA G-3′ (SEQ ID NO:284)

[0496] 3′LT•:

[0497] 5′-CAG ATG GCT GTC ACC CCA C-3′ (SEQ ID NO:285)

[0498] 5′LT• long-NheI:

[0499] 5′-GCC CGC TAG CCT GCG GTG GTC AGG ATC AGG GAC GTC G-3′ (SEQ ID NO:286)

[0500] 5′LT• short-NheI:

[0501] 5′-GCC CGC TAG CCT GCG GTG GTT CTC CAG CTG CGG ATT C-3′ (SEQ ID NO:287)

[0502] 3′LT• stop-NotI

[0503] 5′-CAA TGA CTG CGG CCG CTT ACC CCA CCA TCA CCG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:288)

Expression and Production of GST-EK-C-LT• _49-306 , GST-EK-C-LT• _126-306 , his-myc-EK-C-LT• _49-306 and his-myc-EK-C-LT• _126-306

[0504] The plasmids pCEP-SP-GST-EK-C-LT• 49-306, pCEP-SP-GST-EK-C-LT• 126-306, pCEP-SP-his-myc-EK-C-LT• 49-306 and pCEP-SP-his-myc-EK-C-LT• 126-306 were transfected into 293-EBNA cells (Invitrogen) for protein production as described in EXAMPLE 1. The resulting proteins were named GST-EK-C-LT• _49-306 , GST-EK-C-LT• _126-306 , his-myc-EK-C-LT• _49-306 and his-myc-EK-C-LT• _126-306 .

[0505] The protein sequences of the LT• fusion proteins were translated from the cDNA sequences:

[0506] GST-EK-C-LT• _49-306 : SEQ ID NO:289

[0507] GST-EK-C-LT• _126-306 : SEQ ID NO:290

[0508] his-myc-EK-C-LT• _49-306 : SEQ ID NO:291

[0509] his-myc-EK-C-LT• _126-306 : SEQ ID NO:292

[0510] The fusion proteins were analysed on 12% SDS-PAGE gels under reducing conditions. Gels were blotted onto nitrocellulose membranes. Membranes were blocked, incubated with a monoclonal mouse anti-myc antibody or with an anti-GST antibody. Blots were subsequently incubated with horse radish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG or horse radish peroxidase-conjugated rabbit anti-goat IgG. The results are shown in FIG. 3 . GST-EK-C-LT• _49-306 and GST-EK-C-LT• _126-306 could be detected with the anti-GST antibody at a molecular weight of 62 kDa and 48 kDa, respectively. his-myc-EK-C-LT• _49-306 and his-myc-EK-C-LT• _126-306 could be detected with the anti-myc antibody at 40-56 kDa and 33-39 kDa, respectively.

[0511] FIG. 3 A and FIG. 3B show the result of the expression of LT• fusion proteins. LT• fusion proteins were analysed on 12% SDS-PAGE gels under reducing conditions. Gels were blotted onto nitrocellulose membranes. Membranes were blocked, incubated either with a monoclonal mouse anti-myc antibody (dilution 1:2000) ( FIG. 3A ) or with an anti-GST antibody (dilution 1:2000) ( FIG. 3B ). Blots were subsequently incubated with horse radish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG (dilutions 1:4000) ( FIG. 3A ) or horse radish peroxidase-conjugated rabbit anti-goat IgG (dilutions 1:4000) ( FIG. 3B ). A: Lane 1 and 2: his-myc-EK-C-LT• _126-306 . Lane 3 and 4: his-myc-EK-C-LT• _49-306 . B: Lane 1 and 2: GST-EK-C-LT• _126-306 . Lane 3 and 4: GST-EK-C-LT• _49-306 . Molecular weights of marker proteins are given on the left margin.

[0512] B. Purification of GST-EK-C-LT• _49-306 , GST-EK-C-LT• _126-306 , his-myc-EK-C-LT• _49-306 and his-myc-EK-C-LT• _126-306

[0513] GST-EK-C-LT• _49-306 and GST-EK-C-LT• _126-306 are purified on glutathione-sepharose column and his-myc-EK-C-LT• _49-306 and his-myc-EK-C-LT• _126-306 are purified on Ni-NTA sepharose column using standard purification protocols. The purified proteins are cleaved with enterokinase and analysed on a 16% SDS-PAGE gel under reducing conditions

[0514] C Coupling of C-LT• _49-306 and C-LT• _126-306 to Qβ Capsid Protein

[0515] A solution of 120 μM Qβ capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed Qβ reaction mixture is then reacted with the C-LT• _49-306 and C-LT• _126-306 solution (end concentrations: 60 μM Qβ, 60 μM C-LT• _49-306 and C-LT• _126-306 ) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0516] D. Coupling of C-LT• _49-306 and C-LT• _126-306 to fr Capsid Protein

[0517] A solution of 120 μM fr capsid in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed fr capsid protein reaction mixture is then reacted with the C-LT• _49-306 and C-LT• _126-306 solution (end concentrations: 60 μM fr, 60 μM C-LT• _49-306 and C-LT• _126-306 ) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions.

[0518] E. Coupling of C-LT• _49-306 and C-LT• _126-306 to HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut

[0519] A solution of 120 μM HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut capsid in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut reaction mixture is then reacted with the C-LT• _49-306 and C-LT• _126-306 solution (end concentrations: 60 μM HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut, 60 μM C-LT• _49-306 and C-LT• _126-306 ) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0520] F. Coupling of C-LT• _49-306 and C-LT• _126-306 to Pili

[0521] A solution of 125 μM Type-I pili of E.coli in 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4, is reacted for 60 minutes with a 50-fold molar excess of cross-linker SMPH, diluted from a stock solution in DMSO (Pierce), at RT on a rocking shaker. The reaction mixture is desalted on a PD-10 column (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech). The protein-containing fractions eluating from the column are pooled, and the desalted derivatized pili protein is reacted with the C-LT• _49-306 and C-LT• _126-306 solution (end concentrations: 60 μM pili, 60 μM C-LT• _49-306 and C-LT• _126-306 ) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions.

Example 4

A. Introduction of Cys-Containing Linkers, Expression, Purification and Coupling of Rat Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor MIF to Qβ

[0522] Rat macrophage migration inhibitory factor (rMIF) was recombinantly expressed with three different amino acid linkers C1, C2 and C3 fused at its C-terminus. Each of the linker contained one cysteine for coupling to VLP.

[0523] Construction of rMIF-C1, rMIF-C2, and rMIF-C3.

[0524] The MCS of pET22b(+) (Novagen, Inc.) was changed to GTTTAACTTT AAGAAGGAGATATACATATGGATCCGGCTAGCGCTCGAGGGTTTAAACGG CGGCCGCATGCACC by replacing the original sequence from the NdeI site to XhoI site with annealed oligos primerMCS-1F and primerMCS-1R (annealing in 15 mM Tris HCl pH 8 buffer). The resulting plasmid was termed pMod00, which had NdeI, BamHI, NheI, XhoI, PmeI and NotI restriction sites in its MCS. The annealed pair of oligos Bamhis6-EK-Nhe-F and Bamhis6-EKNhe-R and the annealed pair of oligoIF-C-glycine-linker and oligolR-C-glycine-linker were together ligated into BamHI-NotI digested pMod00 plasmid to get pModEC1, which had an N terminal hexahistidine tag, an enterokinase cleavage site and a C-terminal amino acid glycine linker containing one cysteine residue. The annealed pair of oligos Bamhis6-EK-Nhe-F and Bamhi6-EKNhe R together with the annealed pair of oligo1F-C-gamma1-linker and oligo1R-C-gamma1-linker were ligated into BamHI-NotI digested pMod00 plasmid to get pModEC2, which had an N terminal hexahistidine tag, an enterokinase cleavage site and a C-terminal•1 linker, derived from the hinge region of human immunoglobulin γ1, containing one cysteine residue. The annealed pair of oligos Bamhis6-EK-Nhe-F and Bamhis6-EK-Nhe-R, the annealed pair of oligolFA-C-gamma3-linker and oligo1RA-C-gamma3-linker, and the annealed pair of oligo1FB-C-gamma3-linker and oligo1RB-C-gamma3-linker were together ligated into BamHI-NotI digested pMod00 to get pModEC3, which had an N terminal hexahistidine tag, an enterokinase cleavage site and a C terminal•3 linker, containing one cysteine residue, derived from the hinge region of mouse immunoglobulin•3.

[0525] pBS-rMIF, which contains the rat MIF cDNA, was amplified by PCR with oligos rMIF-F and rMIF-Xho-R. rMIF-F had an internal NdeI site and rMIF-Xho-R had an internal XhoI site. The PCR product was digested with NdeI and XhoI and ligated into pModEC1, pModEC2 and pModEC3 digested with the same enzymes. Resulting plasmids were named pMod-rMIF-C1, pMod-rMIF-C2 and pMod-rMIF-C3, respectively.

[0526] For the PCR reaction, 15 pmol of each oligo and 1 ng of the template DNA was used in the 50•I reaction mixture (2 units of PFX polymerase, 0.3 mM dNTPs and 2 mM MgSO ₄ ). The temperature cycles were as follows: 94° C. for 2 minutes, followed by 30 cycles of 94° C. (30 seconds), 60° C. (30 seconds), 68° C. (30 seconds) and followed by 68° C. for 2 minutes.

[0527] All other steps were performed by standard molecular biology protocols.

[0528] Sequence of the oligonucleotides: 2

Expression and Purification of rMIF-Cs

[0529] Competent E. coli BL21 (DE3) cells were transformed with plasmids pMod-rMIF-C1, pMod-rMIF-C2 and pMod-rMIF-C3. Single colonies from ampicillin (Amp)-containing agar plates were expanded in liquid culture (SB with 150 mM MOPS, pH 7.0, 200 ug/ml Amp, 0.5% glucose) and incubated at 30° C. with 220 rpm shaking overnight. 1 l of SB (150 mM MOPS, pH 7.0, 200 ug/ml Amp) was then inoculated 1:50 v/v with the overnight culture and grown to OD600=2.5 at 30° C. Expression was induced with 2 mM IPTG. Cells were harvested after overnight culture and centrifuged at 6000 rpm. Cell pellet was suspended in lysis buffer (10 mM Na ₂ HPO ₄ , 30 mM NaCl, 10 mM EDTA and 0.25% Tween-20) with 0.8 mg/ml lysozyme, sonicated and treated with benzonase. 2 ml of the lysate was then run through a 20 ml Q XL- and a 20 ml SP XL-column. The proteins rMIF-C1, rMIF-C2 and rMIF-C3 were in the flow through.

[0530] The protein sequences of the rMIF-Cs were translated from the cDNA sequences.

[0531] rMIF-C1: SEQ ID NO:307

[0532] rMIF-C2: SEQ ID NO:308

[0533] rMIF-C3: SEQ ID NO:309

Coupling of rMIF-C1 to Q• Capsid Protein

[0534] A solution of 1.48 ml of 6 mg/ml Q• capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 was reacted for 30 minutes with 14.8 μl of a SMPH (Pierce) (from a 100 mM stock solution dissolved in DMSO) at 25° C. The reaction solution was subsequently dialyzed twice for 3 hours against 2 l of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.0 at 4° C. A solution of 1.3 ml of 3.6 mg/ml rMIF-C1 protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 was reacted for 1 hour with 9.6 μl of a TCEP (Pierce) (from a 36 mM stock solution dissolved in H ₂ O) at 25° C. 130 μl of the derivatized and dialyzed Q• was then reacted with 129 μl of reduced rMIF-C1 in 241 μl of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.0 over night at 25° C.

Coupling of rMIF-C2 to Q• Capsid Protein

[0535] A solution of 0.9 ml of 5.5 mg/ml Q• capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 was reacted for 30 minutes with 9 μl of a SMPH (Pierce) (from a 100 mM stock solution dissolved in DMSO) at 25° C. The reaction solution was subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 2 l of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. A solution of 850 μl of 5.80 mg/ml rMIF-C2 protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 was reacted for 1 hour with 8.5 μl of a TCEP (Pierce) (from a 36 mM stock solution dissolved in H ₂ O) at RT. 80 μl of the derivatized and dialyzed Q• was then reacted with 85 μl of reduced rMIF-C2 in 335 μl of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 over night at 25° C.

Coupling of rMIF-C3 to Q• Capsid Protein

[0536] A solution of 1.48 ml of 6 mg/ml Q• capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 was reacted for 30 minutes with 14.8 μl of a SMPH (Pierce) (from a 100 mM stock solution dissolved in DMSO) at 25° C. The reaction solution was subsequently dialyzed twice for 3 hours against 2 l of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.0 at 4° C. A solution of 720 μl of 5.98 mg/ml rMIF-C3 protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 was reacted for 1 hour with 9.5 μl of a TCEP (Pierce) (from a 36 mM stock solution dissolved in H ₂ O) at 25° C. 130 μl of the derivatized and dialyzed Q• was then reacted with 80 μl of reduced rMIF-C3 in 290 μl of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.0 over night at 25° C.

[0537] All three coupled products were analysed on 16% SDS-PAGE gels under reducing conditions. Gels were either stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue or blotted onto nitrocellulose membranes. Membranes were blocked, incubated with a polyclonal rabbit anti-Qb antiserum (dilution 1:2000) or a purified rabbit anti-MIF antibody (Torrey Pines Biolabs, Inc.) (dilution 1:2000). Blots were subsequently incubated with horse radish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG (dilutions 1:2000). The results are shown in FIG. 4 A and FIG. 4B . Coupled products could be detected in the Coomassie-stained gels ( FIG. 4A ) and by both•anti-Qβ• antiserum and the anti-MIF antibody ( FIG. 4B ) clearly demonstrated the covalent coupling of all three rMIF variants to Qβ• capsid protein.

[0538] FIG. 4A shows the coupling of the MIF constructs to Qβ. Coupling products were analysed on 16% SDS-PAGE gels under reducing conditions. The gel was stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. Molecular weights of marker proteins are given on the left margin.

[0539] FIG. 4B shows the coupling of MIF-C1 to Qβ. Coupling products were analysed on 16% SDS-PAGE gels under reducing conditions. Lane 1: MIF-C1 before coupling Lane 2: derivatized Qβ before coupling. Lane 3-5: Qβ-MIF-C1 Lanes 1-3 were stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. Lanes 4 and 5 represent western blots of the coupling reaction developped with an anti-MIF antiserum and an anti-Qβ antiserum, respectively. Molecular weights of marker proteins are given on the left margin.

[0540] B. Immunization of Mice with MIF-C1 Coupled to Qβ Capsid Protein

[0541] Female Balb/c mice were vaccinated with MIF-C1 coupled to Qβ capsid protein without the addition of adjuvants. 25 μg of total protein of each sample was diluted in PBS to 200 ul and injected subcutaneously (100 ml on two ventral sides) on day 0 and day 14. Mice were bled retroorbitally on day 31 and their serum was analyzed using a MIF-specific ELISA.

[0542] C. ELISA

[0543] ELISA plates were coated with MIF-C1 at a concentration of 5 μg/ml. The plates were blocked and then incubated with serially diluted mouse sera. Bound antibodies were detected with enzymatically labeled anti-mouse IgG antibody. As a control, preimmune serum of the same mice was also tested. The results are shown in FIG. 4C . There was a clear reactivity of the mouse sera raised against MIF-C1 coupled to Qβ capsid protein, while the pre-immune sera did not react with MIF ( FIG. 4 C and data not shown). From the dilution series with the antisera against MIF-C1 coupled to Qβ capsid protein, a half-maximal titer was reached at 1:84000.

[0544] Shown on FIG. 4C are the ELISA signals obtained with the sera of the mice vaccinated with MIF-C1 coupled to Qβ capsid protein. Female Balb/c mice were vaccinated subcutaneously with 25 μg of vaccine in PBS on day 0 and day 14. Serum IgG against MIF-C1 were measured on day 31. As a control, pre-immune sera from one of the mice were analyzed. Results for indicated serum dilutions are shown as optical density at 450 nm. All vaccinated mice made high IgG antibody titers. No MIF-specific antibodies were detected in control (pre-immune mouse).

Example 5

Coupling of rMIF-C1 to fr Capsid Protein and HBcAg-lys-2cys-Mut Capsid Protein

[0545] Coupling of rMIF-C1 to fr Capsid Protein

[0546] A solution of 100 μl of 3.1 mg/ml fr capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 was reacted for 30 minutes with 3 μl of a 100 mM stock solution of SMPH (Pierce) dissolved in DMSO at 25° C. In a parallel reaction, fr capsid protein was first alkylated using iodoacetamid and then reacted with SMPH using the same reaction conditions described above. The reaction solutions were subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 2 l of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. A solution of 80 μl of 5.7 mg/ml rMIF-C1 protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2, was reacted for 1 hour with 1 μl of a 36 mM TCEP (Pierce) stock solution dissolved in H ₂ O, at 25° C. 50 μl of the derivatized and dialyzed fr capsid protein and 50 μl of the derivatized, alkylated and dialyzed fr capsid protein were then reacted each with 17 μl of reduced rMIF-C1 for two hours at 25° C.

[0547] Coupling products were analysed on 16% SDS-PAGE gels ( FIG. 5 ). An additional band of the expected size of 27 kDa (rMIF-C1: apparent MW 13 kDa, fr capsid protein apparent MW 14 kDa) and 29 kDa (rMIF-C1: apparent MW 13 kDa, HBcAg-lys-2cys-Mut: apparent MW 15 kDa) can be detected in the coupling reaction but not in the fr capsid protein and rMIF-C1 solutions, clearly demonstrating coupling.

[0548] Coupling of rMIF-C1 to Hepatitis HBcAg-lys-2cys-Mut Capsid Protein:

[0549] A solution of 100 μl of 1.2 mg/ml HBcAg-lys-2cys-Mut capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 was reacted for 30 minutes with 1.4 μl of a SMPH (Pierce) (from a 100 mM stock solution dissolved in DMSO) at 25° C. The reaction solution was subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 2 l of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. A solution of 80 μl of 5.7 mg/ml rMIF-C1 protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 was reacted for 1 hour with 1 μl of a TCEP (Pierce) (from a 36 mM stock solution dissolved in H ₂ O) at 25° C. 60 μl of the derivatized and dialyzed HBcAg-lys-2cys-Mut capsid protein was then reacted with 20 μl of reduced rMIF-Cl for two hours at 25° C.

[0550] Coupling products were analysed on 16% SDS-PAGE gels ( FIG. 5 ) under reducing conditions. An additional band of the expected size of about 28 kDa (rMIF-C1: apparent MW 13 kDa, HBcAg-lys-2cys-Mut: apparent MW 15 kDa) can be detected in the coupling reaction but not in derivatized HBcAg-lys-2cys-Mut or rMIF-C1, clearly demonstrating coupling.

[0551] The samples loaded on the gel of FIG. 5 were the following: Lane 1: Molecular weight marker. Lane 2: rMIF-C1 before coupling. Lane 3: rMIF-C1-fr capsid protein after coupling. Lane 4: derivatized fr capsid protein. Lane 5: rMIF-C1-fr after coupling to alkylated fr capsid protein. Lane 6: alkylated and derivatized fr capsid protein. Lane7: rMIF-HBcAg-lys-2cys-Mut after coupling. Lane 8 and 9: derivatized HBcAg-lys-2cys-Mut. The gel was stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. Molecular weights of marker proteins are given on the left margin.

Example 6

A. Introduction of Amino Acid Linkers Containing a Cysteine Residue, Expression and Purification of Mouse RANKL

[0552] A fragment of the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa b ligand (RANKL), which has also been termed osteoclast differentiation factor, osteoprotegerin ligand and tumor necrosis factor-related activation-induced cytokine was recombinantly expressed with an N-terminal linker containing one cysteine for coupling to VLP.

[0553] Construction of Expression Plasmid

[0554] The C-terminal coding region of the RANKL gene was amplified by PCR with oligos RANKL-UP and RANKL-DOWN. RANKL-UP had an internal ApaI site and RANKL-DOWN had an internal XhoI site. The PCR product was digested with ApaI and XhoI and ligated into pGEX-6p1 (Amersham Pharmacia). The resulting plasmid was named pGEX-RANKL. All steps were performed by standard molecular biology protocols and the sequence was verified. The plasmid pGEX-RANKL codes for a fusion protein of a glutathione S-transferase-Prescission cleavage site-cysteine-containing amino acid linker-RANKL (GST-PS-C-RANKL). The cysteine-containing amino acid linker had the sequence GCGGG. The construct also contains a hexa-histidine tag between the cysteine containing amino acid linker and the RANKL sequence. 3

[0555] Protein of GST-PS-C-RANKL (SEQ ID NO:318) and cDNA Sequence of GST-PS-C-RANKL (SEQ ID NO:319) 4

Expression and Purification of C-RANKL

[0556] Competent E. coli BL21 (DE3) Gold pLys cells were transformed with the plasmid pGEX-RANKL. Single colonies from kanamycin and chloramphenicol-containing agar plates were expanded in liquid culture (LB medium, 30 μg/ml kanamycin, 50 μg/ml chloramphenicol) and incubated at 30° C. with 220 rpm shaking overnight. 1 l of LB (with 30 ug/ml kanamycin) was then inoculated 1:100 v/v with the overnight culture and grown to OD600=1 at 24° C. Expression was induced with 0.4 mM IPTG. Cells were harvested after 16 h and centrifuged at 5000 rpm. Cell pellet was suspended in lysis buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH=8; 25% sucrose; 1 mM EDTA, 1% NaN ₃ ; 10 mM DTT; 5 mM MgCl ₂ ; 1 mg/ml Lysozyme; 0.4 u/ml DNAse) for 30 min. Then 2.5 volumes of buffer A (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH=8.0; 1% Triton X100; 100 mM NaCl; 0,1% NaN ₃ ; 10 mM DTT;1 mM PMSF) were added and incubated at 37° C. for 15 min. The cells were sonicated and pelleted at 9000 rpm for 15 min. The supernatant was immediately used for GST-affinity chromatography.

[0557] A column GST-Trap FF of 5 ml (Amersham Pharmacia) was equilibrated in PBS, pH 7.3 (140 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 10 mM Na ₂ HPO ₄ , 1.8 mM KH ₂ PO ₄ ). The supernatant was loaded on the 5 ml GST-Trap FF column and subsequently the column was rinsed with 5 column volumes of PBS. The protein GST-PS-C-RANKL was eluted with 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH=8.0 containing GSH 10 mM.

[0558] The purified GST-PS-C-RANKL protein was digested using the protease PreScission (Amersham Pharmacia). The digestion was performed at 37° C. for 1 hour using a molar ratio of 500/1 of GST-PS-C-RANKL to PreScission.

[0559] Furthermore, the reaction of protease digestion was buffer exchanged using a HiPrep 26/10 desalting column (Amersham Pharmacia), the fractions containing the proteins were pooled and immediately used for another step of GST affinity chromatography using the same conditions reported before. Purification of C-RANKL was analysed on a SDS-PAGE gel under reducing conditions, shown in FIG. 6 . Molecular weights of marker proteins are given on the left margin of the gel in the figure. The gel was stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. The cleaved C-RANKL is present in the flow-through (unbound fraction) while the uncleaved GST-PS-C-RANKL, the cleaved GST-PS and the PreScission remain bound to the column. C-RANKL protein of the expected size of 22 kDa was obtained in high purity.

[0560] The samples loaded on the gel of FIG. 6 were the following:

[0561] Lane 1: Low molecular weight marker. Lanes 2 and 3: the supernatant of the cell lysates of the BL21/DE3 cells transformed with the empty vector pGEX6p1 and pGEX-RANKL respectively, after sixteen hours of induction with IPTG 0.4 mM. Lane 4: the purified GST-PS-C-RANKL protein after GST-Trap FF column. Lane 5: the GST-Trap FF column unbound fraction. Lane 6: the purified GST-PS-C-RANKL protein after the cleavage with the PreScission protease. Lane 7: the unbound fraction of the GST-Trap FF column loaded with the GST-RANKL digestion, which contains the purified C-RANKL. Lane 8: the bound fraction of the GST-Trap FF column loaded with the GST-PS-C-RANKL digestion and eluted with GSH.

[0562] B. Coupling of C-RANKL to Qβ Capsid Protein

[0563] A solution of 120 μM Qβ capsid in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed Qβ reaction mixture is then reacted with the C-RANKL solution (end concentrations: 60 μM Qβ, 60 μM C-RANKL) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0564] C. Coupling of C-RANKL to fr Capsid Protein

[0565] A solution of 120 μM fr capsid in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed fr capsid protein reaction mixture is then reacted with the C-RANKL solution (end concentrations: 60 μM fr capsid protein, 60 μM C-RANKL) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0566] D. Coupling of C-RANKL to HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut

[0567] A solution of 120 μM HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut capsid in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut reaction mixture is then reacted with the C-RANKL solution (end concentrations: 60 μM HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut, 60 μM C-RANKL) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0568] E. Coupling of C-RANKL to Pili

[0569] A solution of 125 μM Type-1 pili of E.coli in 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4, is reacted for 60 minutes with a 50-fold molar excess of cross-linker SMPH, diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at RT on a rocking shaker. The reaction mixture is desalted on a PD-10 column (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech). The protein-containing fractions eluating from the column are pooled, and the desalted derivatized pili protein is reacted with the C-RANKL solution (end concentrations: 60 μM pili, 60 μM C-RANKL) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

Example 7

A. Introduction of Amino Acid Linker Containing a Cysteine Residue, Expression and Purification of a Truncated Form of the Mouse Prion Protein

[0570] A truncated form (aa 121-230) of the mouse prion protein (termed mPrP _t ) was recombinantly expressed with a GGGGCG amino acid linker fused at its C-terminus for coupling to VLPs and Pili. The protein was fused to the N-terminus of a human Fc-fragment for purification. An enterokinase (EK) cleavage-site was introduced behind the EK cleavage site to cleave the Fc-part of the fusion protein after purification.

[0571] Construction of mPrP _t -EK-Fc*.

[0572] Mouse PrP _t was amplified by PCR with the primer 5′PrP-BamHI and 3′PrP-NheI using the plasmid pBP ^CMV PrP-Fc as a template. pBP ^CMV PrP-Fc contained the wild-type sequence of the mouse prion protein. 5′PrP-BamHI had an internal BamHI site and contained an ATG and 3′PrP-NheI had an internal NheI site.

[0573] For the PCR reaction, 0.5 μg of each primer and 200 ng of the template DNA was used in the 50•1 reaction mixture (1 unit of PFX Platinum polymerase, 0.3 mM dNTPs and 2 mM MgSO ₄ ). The temperature cycles were as follows: 94° C. for 2 minutes, followed by 5 cycles of 94° C. (15 seconds), 50° C. (30 seconds), 68° C. (45 seconds), followed by 20 cycles of 94° C. (15 seconds), 64° C. (30 seconds), 68° C. (45 seconds) and followed by 68° C. for 10 minutes.

[0574] The PCR product was digested with BamHI and NheI and inserted into pCEP-SP-EK-Fc* containing the GGGGCG linker sequence at the 5′end of the EK cleavage sequence. The resulting plasmid was named pCEP-SP-mPrPt-EK-Fc*.

[0575] All other steps were performed by standard molecular biology protocols.

[0576] Oligos:

[0577] Primer 5′PrP-BamHI

[0578] 5′-CGG GAT CCC ACC ATG GTG GGG GGC CTT GG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:321)

[0579] Primer 3′PrP-NheI

[0580] 5′-CTA GCT AGC CTG GAT CTT CTC CCG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:322)

Expression and Purification of mPrP _t -EK-Fc*

[0581] Plasmid pCEP-SP-mPrP _t -EK-Fc* was transfected into 293-EBNA cells (Invitrogen) and purified on a Protein A-sepharose column as described in EXAMPLE 1.

[0582] The protein sequence of the mPrP _t -EK-Fc* is identified in SEQ ID NO:323.

[0583] mPrP _t after cleavage has the sequence as identified in SEQ ID NO:324 with the GGGGCG linker at its C-terminus.

[0584] The purified fusion protein mPrP _t -EK-Fc* was cleaved with enterokinase and analysed on a 16% SDS-PAGE gel under reducing conditions before and after enterokinase cleavage. The gel was stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. The result is shown in FIG. 7 . Molecular weights of marker proteins are given on the left margin of the gel in the figure. The mPrP _t -EK-Fc* fusion protein could be detected as a 50 kDa band. The cleaved mPrP _t protein containing the GGGGCG amino acid linker fused to its C-terminus could be detected as a broad band between 18 and 25 kDa. The identity of mPrP _t was confirmed by western blotting (data not shown). Thus, mPrPt with a C-terminal amino acid linker containing a cysteine residue, could be expressed and purified to be used for coupling to VLPs and Pili.

[0585] The samples loaded on the gel of FIG. 7 were the following.

[0586] Lane 1: Molecular weight marker. Lane 2: mPrP _t -EK-Fc* before cleavage. Lane 3: mPrP _t after cleavage.

[0587] B. Coupling of mPrP _t to Qβ Capsid

[0588] A solution of 120 μM Qβ capsid in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed Qβ reaction mixture is then reacted with the mPrP _t solution (end concentrations: 60 μM Qβ, 60 μM mPrP _t ) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0589] C. Coupling of mPrP _t to fr Capsid Protein

[0590] A solution of 120 μM fr capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 MM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed fr reaction mixture is then reacted with the mPrP _t solution (end concentrations: 60 μM fr, 60 μM mPrP _t ) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0591] D. Coupling of mPrP _t to HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut

[0592] A solution of 120 μM HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut capsid in 20 MM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut reaction mixture is then reacted with the mPrP _t solution (end concentrations: 60 μM HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut, 60 μM mPrP _t ) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0593] E. Coupling of mPrP _t to Pili

[0594] A solution of 125 μM Type-1 pili of Ecoli in 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4, is reacted for 60 minutes with a 50-fold molar excess of cross-linker SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at RT on a rocking shaker. The reaction mixture is desalted on a PD-10 column (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech). The protein-containing fractions eluating from the column are pooled, and the desalted derivatized pili protein is reacted with the mPrP _t solution (end concentrations: 60 μM pili, 60 μM mPrP _t ) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

Example 8

A. Coupling of Prion Peptides to Qβ Capsid Protein: Prion Peptide Vaccines

[0595] The following prion peptides were chemically synthesized: CSAMSRPMIHFGNDWEDRYYRENMYR (“cprplong”) and CGNDWEDRYYRENMYR (“cprpshort”), which comprise an added N-terminal cysteine residue for coupling to VLPs and Pili, and used for chemical coupling to Qβ as described in the following.

[0596] A solution of 5 ml of 140 μM Qβ capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes. 150 mM NaCl pH 7.4 was reacted for 30 minutes with 108 μl of a 65 mM solution of SMPH (Pierce) in H ₂ O at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution was subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 5 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 at 4° C. 100 μl of the dialyzed reaction mixture was then reacted either with 1.35 μl of a 2 mM stock solution (in DMSO) of the peptide cprpshort (1:2 peptide/Q• capsid protein ratio) or with 2.7 μl of the same stock solution (1:1 peptide/Q• ratio). 1 μl of a 10 mM stock solution (in DMSO) of the peptide cprplong was reacted with 100 μl of the dialyzed reaction mixture. The coupling reactions were performed over night at 15° C. in a water bath. The reaction mixtures were subsequently dialyzed 24 h against 2×5 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 at 4° C.

[0597] The coupled products were centrifuged and supernatants and pellets were analysed on 16% SDS-PAGE gels under reducing conditions. Gels were stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. The results are shown in FIG. 16 . Molecular weights of marker proteins are given on the left margin of the gel in the figure. The bands at a molecular weight between 16.5 and 25 kDa clearly demonstrated the covalent coupling of the peptides cprpshort and cprplong to Q• capsid protein.

[0598] The samples loaded on the gel of FIG. 16A were the following:

[0599] Lane 1: purified Q• capsid protein. Lane 2: derivatized Qβ capsid protein before coupling. Lanes 3-6: Qβ capsid protein-cprpshort couplings with a 1:2 peptide/Q• ratio (lanes 3 and 4) and 1:1 peptide/Q• ratio (lanes 5 and 6). Soluble fractions (lanes 3 and 5) and insoluble fractions (lanes 4 and 6) are shown.

[0600] The samples loaded on the gel of FIG. 16B were the following:

[0601] Lane 1; Molecular weight marker. Lane 2: derivatized Qβ capsid protein before coupling. Lane 3 and 4: Qβ capsid protein-cprplong coupling reactions. Soluble fraction (lane 3) and insoluble fraction (lane 4) are shown.

[0602] B. Coupling of Prion Peptides to fr Capsid Protein

[0603] A solution of 120 μM fr capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 10 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce)), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed fr reaction mixture is then reacted with equimolar concentration of peptide cprpshort or a ration of 1:2 cprplong/fr over night at 16° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0604] C. Coupling of Prion Peptides to HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut

[0605] A solution of 120 μM HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 10 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce)), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut reaction mixture is then reacted with equimolar concentration of peptide cprpshort or a ration of 1:2 cprplong/HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut over night at 16° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0606] D. Coupling of Prion Peptides to Pili

[0607] A solution of 125 μM Type-1 pili of E.coli in 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4, is reacted for 60 minutes with a 50-fold molar excess of cross-linker SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at RT on a rocking shaker. The reaction mixture is desalted on a PD-10 column (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech). The protein-containing fractions eluating from the column are pooled, and the desalted derivatized pili protein is reacted with the prion peptides in equimolar or in a ratio of 1:2 peptide pili over night at 16° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

Example 9

Cloning, Expression and Purification of IL-13 to VLPs and Pili

[0608] A. Cloning and Expression of Interleukin 13 (IL-13) with an N-Terminal Amino Acid Linker Containing a Cysteine Residue for Coupling to VLPs and Pili

[0609] a) Cloning of Mouse IL-13 (HEK-293T) for Expression in Mammalian Cells as Fc Fusion Protein

[0610] The DNA for the cloning of IL-13 was isolated by RT-PCR from in vitro activated splenocytes, wich were obtained as following: CD4+ T cells were isolated from mouse spleen cells and incubated 3 days in IMDM (+5% FCS+10 ng/ml IL4) in 6 well plates which have been previously coated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies. The RNA from these cells was used to amplify IL13 by one-step RT-PCR (Qiagen one-step PCR kit). Primer XhoIL13-R was used for the reverse transccription of the RNA and the primers NheIL13-F (SEQ ID NO:338) and XhoIL13-R (SEQ ID NO:339) were used for the PCR amplification of the IL13 cDNA. Amplified IL13 cDNA was ligated in a pMOD vector using the NheI/XhoI restriction sites (giving the vector pMODB1-IL13). pMODB1-I113 was digested BamHI/XhoI and the fragment containing IL13 was ligated in the pCEP-SP-XA-Fc*(Δxho) vector, an analogue of pCEP-SP-XA-Fc* where a XhoI site at the end of the Fc sequence has been removed, which had been previously digested with BamHI/XhoI. The plasmid resulting from this ligation (pCEP-SP-IL13-Fc) was sequenced and used to transfect HEK-293T cells. The resulting IL 13 construct encoded by this plasmid had the amino acid sequence ADPGCGGGGGLA fused at the N-terminus of the IL-13 mature sequence. This sequence comprises the amino acid linker sequence GCGGGGG flanked by additional amino acids introduced during the cloning procedure. IL13-Fc could be purified with Protein-A resin from the supernatant of the cells transfected with pCEP-SP-IL13-Fc. The result of the expression is shown on FIG. 17B (see EXAMPLE 10 for description of the samples). Mature IL-13 fused at its N-terminus with the aforementioned amino acid sequence is released upon cleavage of the fusion protein with Factor-Xa, leading to a protein called hereinafter “mouse C-IL-13-F” and having a sequence of SEQ ID NO:328. The result of FIG. 17B clearly demonstrates expression of the IL-13 construct.

[0611] b) Cloning of Mouse IL-13 (HEK-293T) for Expression in Mammalian Cells with GST (Glutathion-S-transferase) Fused at its N-terminus

[0612] The cDNA used for cloning IL-13 with an N-terminal GST originated from the cDNA of TH2 actiated T-cells as described above (a.). IL-13 was amplified from this cDNA using the primers Nhelink1IL13-F and IL13StopXhoNot-R. The PCR product was digested with NheI and XhoI and ligated in the pCEP-SP-GST-EK vector previously digested with NheI/XhoI. The plasmid which could be isolated from the ligation (pCEP-SP-GST-IL13) was used to transfect HEK-293T cells. The resulting IL 13 construct encoded by this plasmid had the amino acid sequence LACGGGGG fused at the N-terminus of the IL-13 mature sequence. This sequence comprises the amino acid linker sequence ACGGGGG flanked by an additional amino acid introduced during the cloning procedure. The culture supernatant of the cells transfected with pCEP-SP-GST-IL13 contained the fusion protein GST-IL13 which could be purified by Glutathione affinity chromatography according to standard protocols. Mature IL-13 fused at its N-terminus with aforementioned amino acid sequence is released upon cleavage of the fusion protein with enterokinase, leading to a protein called hereinafter “mouse C-IL-13-S” and having a sequence of SEQ ID NO:329.

[0613] B. Coupling of Mouse C-IL-13-F, Mouse C-IL-13-S to Qβ Capsid Protein

[0614] A solution of 120 μM Qβ capsid in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed Qβ reaction mixture is then reacted with the mouse C-IL-13-F or mouse C-IL-13-S solution (end concentrations: 60 μM Qβ capsid protein, 60 μM mouse C-IL-13-F or mouse C-IL-13-S) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0615] C. Coupling of Mouse C-IL-13-F, Mouse C-IL-13-S to fr Capsid Protein

[0616] A solution of 120 μM fr capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed fr reaction mixture is then reacted with the the mouse C-IL-13-F or mouse C-IL-13-S solution (end concentrations: 60 μM fr capsid protein, 60 μM mouse C-IL-13-F or mouse C-IL-13-S) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0617] D. Coupling of Mouse C-IL-13-F or Mouse C-IL-13-S solution to HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut

[0618] A solution of 120 μM HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut capsid in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut reaction mixture is then reacted with the mouse C-IL-13-F or mouse C-IL-13-S solution (end concentrations: 60 μM HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut, 60 μM mouse C-IL-13-F or mouse C-IL-13-S) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0619] E. Coupling of Mouse C-IL-13-F or Mouse C-IL-13-S Solution to Pili

[0620] A solution of 125 μM Type-1 pili of E.coli in 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4, is reacted for 60 minutes with a 50-fold molar excess of cross-linker SMPH, diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at RT on a rocking shaker. The reaction mixture is desalted on a PD-10 column (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech). The protein-containing fractions eluating from the column are pooled, and the desalted derivatized pili protein is reacted with the mouse C-IL-13-F or mouse C-IL-13-S solution (end concentrations: 60 μM pili, 60 μM mouse C-IL-13-F or mouse C-IL-13-S) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

Example 10

Cloning and Expression of Interleukin 5 (IL-5) with an N-Terminal Amino Acid Linker Containing a Cysteine Residue for Coupling to VLPs and Pili

[0621] A. Cloning of IL-5 for Expression as Inclusion Bodies in E. coli

[0622] IL-5 was amplified from an ATCC clone (pmIL5-4G; ATCC number: 37562) by PCR using the following two primers: Spelinker3-F1 (SEQ ID NO:340) and I15StopXho-R (SEQ ID NO:342). The product of this PCR was used as template for a second PCR with the primers SpeNlinker3-F2 (SEQ ID NO:341) and I15StopXho-R. The insert was digested with SpeI and NotI. This insert was ligated into a pET vector derivative (pMODEC3-8 vector), previously digested with NheI and NotI (not dephosphorylated), and transformed into E.coli TG1 cells. The IL5 construct generated by cloning into pMODEC3-8 vector contains at its N-terminus a hexa-histidine tag, followed by an enterokinase site, an N-terminal gamma 3 amino acid linker containing a cysteine residue, flanked C-terminally by the sequence AS and N-terminally by the sequence ALV, and the mature form of the IL 5 gene. The protein released by cleavage with enterokinase is called “mouse C-IL-5-E” (SEQ ID NO:332). Plasmid DNA of resulting clone pMODC6-IL5.2 (also called pMODC6-IL5), whose sequence had been confirmed by DNA sequencing, was transformed into E.coli strain BL21.

[0623] Clone pMODC6-IL5/BL21 was grown over night in 5 ml LB containing 1 mg/L Ampicillin. 2 ml of this culture were diluted in 100 ml terrific broth (TB) containing 1 mg/L Ampicillin. The culture was induced by adding 0.1 ml of a 1M solution of Ispropyl β-D-Thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) when the culture reached an optical density OD600=0.7. 10 ml samples were taken every 2 h. The samples were centrifugated 10 min at 4000×g. The pellet was resuspended in 0.5 ml Lysis buffer containing 50 mM Tris-HCl, 2 mM EDTA, 0.1% triton X-100 (pH 8). After having added 20 ul of Lysozyme (40 mg/ml) and having incubated the tube 30 min at 4° C., the cells were sonicated for 2 min. 100 μl of a 50 mM MgCl ₂ solution and 1 ml of benzonase were added. The cells were then incubated 30 min at room temperature and centrifugated 15 min at 13000×g.

[0624] The supernatant was discarded and the pellet was boiled 5 min at 98° C. in 100 μl of SDS loading buffer. 10 μl of the samples in loading buffer were analyzed by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions ( FIG. 17A ). The gel of FIG. 17A clearly demonstrates expression of the IL-5 construct. The samples loaded on the gel of FIG. 17A were the following:

[0625] Lane M: Marker (NEB, Broad range prestained marker). Lane 1: cell exctract of 1 ml culture before induction. Lane 2: cell extract of 1 ml culture 4 h after induction.

[0626] B. Cloning of IL-5 for Expression in Mammalian Cells (HEK-293T)

[0627] a) IL-5 Fused at its N-Terminus to an Amino Acid Linker Containing a Cysteine Residue and Fused at its C-Terminus to the Fc Fragment

[0628] The template described under (A) (ATCC clone 37562) was used for the cloning of the following construct. The plasmid pMODB1-IL5 (a pET derivative) was digested with BamHI/XhoI to yield a small fragement encoding IL5 fused to an N terminal amino acid linker containing a cysteine. This fragment was ligated in the vector pCEP-SP-XA-Fc*(AXho) which had previously been digested with BamHI and XhoI. The ligation was electroporated into E.coli strain TG1 and plasmid DNA of resulting clone pCEP-SP-IL5-Fc.2, whose sequence had been confirmed by DNA sequencing, was used to transfect HEK-293T cells. The resulting IL-5 construct encoded by this plasmid had the amino acid sequence ADPGCGGGGGLA fused at the N-terminus of the IL-5 mature sequence. This sequence comprises the amino acid linker sequence GCGGGGG containing a cysteine and flanked by additional amino acids introduced during the cloning procedure. The IL-5 protein released by cleavage of the fusion protein with Factor-Xa is named hereinafter “mouse C-IL-5-F” (SEQ ID NO:333).

[0629] After transfection and selection on Puromycin the culture supernatant was analyzed by Western-Blot ( FIG. 17B ) using an anti-His (mouse) and an anti-mouse IgG antibody conjugated to Horse raddish peroxidase. The anti-mouse IgG antibody conjugated to Horse raddish peroxidase also detects Fc-fusion proteins. Purification of the protein was performed by affinity chromatography on Protein-A resin. The result of FIG. 17B clearly demonstrates expression of the IL-5 construct.

[0630] The samples loaded on the Western-Blot of FIG. 17B were the following:

[0631] Lane 1: supernatant of HEK culture expressing IL5-Fc (20%1). SDS-PAGE was performed under reducing conditions. Lane 2: supernatant of HEK culture expressing IL13-Fc (20 μl). SDS-PAGE was performed under non reducing conditions. Lane 3: supernatant of HEK culture expressing IL5-Fc (20 μl). SDS-PAGE was performed under non reducing conditions.

[0632] b) IL-5 Cloned with GST (Glutathion-S-Transferase) and an Amino Acid Linker Containing a Cysteine Residue Fused at its N-Terminus

[0633] IL-5 (ATCC 37562) was amplified with the primers Nhe-link1-IL13-F and IL5StopXho-R. After digestion with NheI and XhoI the insert was ligated into pCEP-SP-GST-EK which had been previously digested with NheI and XhoI. The resulting plasmid pCEP-SP-GST-IL5 was sequenced and used for transfection of HEK-293T cells. The resulting IL-5 construct encoded by this plasmid had the amino acid sequence LACGGGGG fused at the N-terminus of the IL-5 mature sequence. This sequence comprises the amino acid linker sequence ACGGGGG containing a cysteine residue and flanked by additional amino acids introduced during the cloning procedure. The protein released by cleavage with enterokinase was named hereinafter “mouse C-IL-5-S” (SEQ ID NO:334). The purification of the resulting protein was performed by affinity chromatography on Glutathione affinity resin.

[0634] C. Coupling of Mouse C-IL-5-F or Mouse C-IL-5-S to Qβ Capsid Protein

[0635] A solution of 120 μM Qβ capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed Qβ reaction mixture is then reacted with the mouse C-IL-5-F or mouse C-IL-5-S solution (end concentrations: 60 μM Qβ capsid protein, 60 μM mouse C-IL-5-F or mouse C-IL-5-S) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0636] D. Coupling of Mouse Mouse C-IL-5-F or Mouse C-IL-5-S to fr Capsid Protein

[0637] A solution of 120 μM fr capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed fr reaction mixture is then reacted with the the mouse C-IL-5-F or mouse C-IL-5-S solution (end concentrations: 60 μM fr capsid protein, 60 μM mouse C-IL-5-F or mouse C-IL-5-S) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0638] E. Coupling of Mouse C-IL-5-F or Mouse C-IL-5-S Solution to HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut

[0639] A solution of 120 μM HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut capsid in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 is reacted for 30 minutes with a 25 fold molar excess of SMPH (Pierce), diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution is subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C. The dialyzed HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut reaction mixture is then reacted with the mouse mouse C-1L-5-F or mouse C-IL-5-S solution (end concentrations: 60 μM HBcAg-Lys-2cys-Mut, 60 μM mouse C-IL-5-F or mouse C-IL-5-S) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

[0640] F. Coupling of Mouse C-IL-5-F or Mouse C-IL-5-S Solution to Pili

[0641] A solution of 125 μM Type-1 pili of E.coli in 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4, is reacted for 60 minutes with a 50-fold molar excess of cross-linker SMPH, diluted from a stock solution in DMSO, at RT on a rocking shaker. The reaction mixture is desalted on a PD-10 column (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech). The protein-containing fractions eluating from the column are pooled, and the desalted derivatized pili protein is reacted with the mouse mouse C-IL-5-F or mouse C-IL-5-S solution (end concentrations: 60 μM pili, 60 μM mouse C-IL-5-F or mouse C-IL-5-S) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. Coupling products are analysed by SDS-PAGE.

Example 11

Introduction of an Amino Acid Linker Containing a Cysteine Residue, Expression, Purification and Coupling of a Murine Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-2 (mVEGFR-2, FLK1) Fragment

[0642] A construct of the murine vascular endothelial growth factor-2 (mVEGFR-2, FLK-1) comprising its second and third extracellular domains was recombinantly expressed as a Fc-fusion protein with an amino acid linker containing a cysteine residue at its C-terminus for coupling to VLPs and Pili. The protein sequences of the mVEGFR-2(2-3) was translated from the cDNA sequences of mouse FLK-1 ((Matthews et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 9026-9030 (1991)): Accession no.: X59397; Ig-like C2-type domain 2: amino acid 143-209; Ig-like C2-type domain 3: amino acid 241-306). The mVEGFR-2 (2-3) construct comprises the sequence of mVEGFR-2 from amino acid proline126 to lysine329 (in the numbering of the precursor protein). The construct also comprises, in addition to the immunoglobulin-like C2-type domains 2 and 3, flanking regions preceding domain 2 and following domain 3 in the sequence of mVEGFR-2, to add amino acid spacer moieties. An amino acid linker containing a cysteine residue was fused to the C-terminus of the mVEGFR-2 sequence through cloning into pCEP-SP-EK-Fc* vector (EXAMPLE 1). The fragment of mVEGFR-2 cloned into pCEP-SP-EK-Fc* vector encoded the following amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:345):

[0643] PFIAS VSDQHGIVYI TENKNKTVVI PCRGSISNLN VSLCARYPEK RFVPDGNRIS WDSEIGFTLP SYMISYAGMV FCEAKINDET YQSIMYIVVV VGYRIYDVIL SPPHEIELSA GEKLVLNCTA RTELNVGLDF TWHSPPSKSH HKKIVNRDVK PFPGTVAKMF LSTLTIESVT KSDQGEYTCV ASSGRMIKRN RTFVRVHTKP

Expression of Recombinant mVEGFR-2(2-3) in Eukaryotic Cells

[0644] Recombinant mVEGFR-2(2-3) was expressed in EBNA 293 cells using the pCEP-SP-EK-Fc* vector. The pCEP-SP-EK-Fc* vector has a BamHI and an NheI sites, encodes an amino acid linker containing one cysteine residue, an enterokinase cleavage site, and C-terminally a human Fc region. The mVEGFR-2(2-3) was amplified by PCR with the primer pair BamHI-FLK1-F and NheI-FLK1-B from a mouse 7-day embryo cDNA (Marathon-Ready cDNA, Clontech). For the PCR reaction, 10 pmol of each oligo and 0.5 ng of the cDNA (mouse 7-day embryo cDNA Marathon-Ready cDNA, Clontech) was used in the 50•1 reaction mixture (1•1 of Advantage 2 polymerase mix (50×), 0.2 mM dNTPs and 5•10× cDNA PCR reaction buffer). The temperature cycles were as follows: 5 cycles a 94• C for 1 minute, 94• C for 30 seconds, 54• C for 30 seconds, 72° C. for 1 minute followed by cycles of 94• C (30 seconds), 54• C (30 seconds), 70• C (1 minute) and followed by 30 cycles 94• C (20 seconds), 54• C (30 seconds) and 68• C (1 minute). The PCR product was digested with BamHI and NheI and inserted into the pCEP-SP-EK-Fc* vector digested with the same enzymes. Resulting plasmid was named mVEGFR-2(2-3)-pCep-EK-Fc. All other steps were performed by standard molecular biology protocols. 5

[0645] Transfection and expression of recombinant mVEGFR-2(2-3)

[0646] EBNA 293 cells were transfected with the mVEGFR-2(2-3)-pCep-Ek-Fc construct described above and serum free supernatant of cells was harvested for purification as described in EXAMPLE 1.

Purification of Recombinant mVEGFR-2(2-3)

[0647] Protein A purification of the expressed Fc-EK-mVEGFR-2(2-3) proteins was performed as described in EXAMPLE 1. Subsequently, after binding of the fusion protein to Protein A, mVEGFR-2(2-3) was cleaved from the Fc portion bound to protein A using enterokinase (EnterokinaseMax, Invitrogen). Digestion was conducted over night at 37• C (2,5 units enterokinase/100 μl Protein A beads with bound fusion protein). The released VEGFR-2(2-3) was separated from the Fc-portion still bound to protein A beads by short centrifugation in chromatography columns (Micro Bio Spin, Biorad). In order to remove the enterokinase the flow through was treated with enterokinase away (Invitrogen) according to the instructions of the manufacturer.

Example 12

Coupling of Murine VEGFR-2 Peptide to Qβ Capsid Protein, HbcAg-lys-2cys-Mut and Pili and Immunization of Mice with VLP-Peptide and Pili-Peptide Vaccines

[0648] A. Coupling of Murine VEGFR-2 Peptides to VLPs and Pili

[0649] The following peptides was chemically synthesized (by Eurogentec, Belgium): murine VEGFR-2 peptide CTARTELNVGLDFTWHSPPSKSHHKK and used for chemical coupling to Pili as described below.

[0650] Coupling of murine VEGFR-2 peptides to pili: A solution of 1400 μl of 1 mg/ml pili protein in 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4, was reacted for 60 minutes with 85 μl of a 100 mM Sulfo-MBS (Pierce) solution in (H ₂ O) at RT on a rocking shaker. The reaction mixture was desalted on a PD-10 column (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech), The protein-containing fractions eluting from the column were pooled (containing approximately 1,4 mg protein) and reacted with a 2.5-fold molar excess (final volume) of murine VEGFR-2 peptide respectively. For example, to 200 μl eluate containing approximately 0,2 mg derivatized pili, 2.4 μl of a 10 mM peptide solution (in DMSO) were added. The mixture was incubated for four hours at 25 ^>> C on a rocking shaker and subsequently dialyzed against 2 liters of 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.2 overnight at 4 ^>> C Coupling results were analyzed by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions and are shown in FIG. 18A . Supernatant (S) and pellet (P) of each sample were loaded on the gel, as well pili and pili derivatized with Sulfo-MBS cross-linker (Pierce). The samples loaded on the gel of FIG. 18A were the following:

[0651] Lane 1: Marker proteins; lane 2-5: coupled samples (Pili murine: Pili coupled to murine peptide; Pili human: Pili coupled to human peptide); lane 6: pili derivatized with Sulfo-MBS cross-linker; lane 7-9: three fractions of the eluate of the PD-10 column. Fraction 2 is the peak fraction, fraction 1 and 3 are fractions taken at the border of the peak. Coupling bands were clearly visible on the gel, demonstrating the successful coupling of murine VEGFR-2 to pili.

[0652] Coupling of murine VEGFR-2 peptide to Qβ capsid protein: A solution of 1 ml of 1 mg/ml Qβ capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.4 was reacted for 45 minutes with 20 μl of 100 mM Sulfo-MBS (Pierce) solution in (H ₂ O) at RT on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution was subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 2 L of 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4 at 4 ^>> C. 1000 μl of the dialyzed reaction mixture was then reacted with 12 μl of a 10 mM peptide solution (in DMSO) for four hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction mixture was subsequently dialyzed 2×2 hours against 2 liters of 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4 at 4 ^>> C. Coupling results were analyzed by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions and are shown in FIG. 18B . Supernatant (S) of each sample was loaded on the gel, as well as Qβ capsid protein and Qβ capsid protein derivatized with Sulfo-MBS cross-linker. Coupling was done in duplicate. The following samples were loaded on the gel:

[0653] Lane 1: Marker proteins; lane 2, 5: Qβ capsid protein; lane 3, 6 Qβ capsid protein derivatized with Sulfo-MBS; lane 4, 7: Qβ capsid protein coupled to murine VEGFR-2 peptide. Coupling bands were clearly visible on the gel, demonstrating the successful coupling of murine VEGFR-2 to Qβ capsid protein.

[0654] Coupling of murine VEGFR-2 peptide to HbcAg-lys-2cys-Mut: A solution of 3 ml of 0.9 mg/ml cys-free HbcAg capsid protein (EXAMPLE 31) in PBS, pH 7.4 was reacted for 45 minutes with 37,5 μl of a 100 mM Sulfo-MBS (Pierce) solution in (H ₂ O) at RT on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution was subsequently dialyzed overnight against 2 L of 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4. After buffer exchange the reaction solution was dialyzed for another 2 hours against the same buffer. The dialyzed reaction mixture was then reacted with 3 μl of a 10 mM peptide solution (in DMSO) for 4 hours at 25 ^>> C on a rocking shaker. The reaction mixture was subsequently dialyzed against 2 liters of 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4 overnight at 4 ^>> C followed by buffer exchange and another 2 hours of dialysis against the same buffer. Coupling results were analyzed by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions and are shown in FIG. 18C . The supernatant (S) of each sample was loaded on the gel, as well as HbcAg-lys-2cys-Mut protein and HbcAg-lys-2cys-Mut protein derivatized with Sulfo-MBS cross-linker. Coupling was done in duplicate. Coupling reactions were conducted in a 2.5 fold and 10 fold molar excess of peptide. The following samples were loaded on the gel:

[0655] Lane 1: Marker proteins; lane 2, 4, 6, 8: Supernatant (S) and pellet (P) of coupling reactions performed with 10 fold molar excess of peptide; lane 3, 5, 7, 9: Supernatant (S) and pellet (P) of coupling reactions performed with 2.5 fold molar excess of peptide; lane 10: HbcAg-lys-2cys-Mut derivatized with Sulfo-MBS; lane 11: HbcAg-lys-2cys-Mut.

[0656] Coupling bands were clearly visible on the gel, demonstrating the successful coupling of murine VEGFR-2 to HbcAg-lys-2cys-Mut protein.

[0657] B. Immunization of Mice:

[0658] Pili-Peptide Vaccine:

[0659] Female C3H-HeJ (Toll-like receptor 4 deficient) and C3H-HeN (wild-type) mice were vaccinated with the murine VEGFR-2 peptide coupled to pili protein without the addition of adjuvants. Approximately 100 μg of total protein of each sample was diluted in PBS to 200 μl and injected subcutaneously on day 0, day 14 and day 28. Mice were bled retroorbitally on day 14, 28 and day 42 and serum of day 42 was analyzed using a human VEGFR-2 specific ELISA.

[0660] Qβ Capsid Protein-Peptide Vaccine:

[0661] Female Black 6 mice were vaccinated with the murine VEGFR-2 peptide coupled to QB capsid protein with and without the addition of adjuvant (Aluminiumhydroxid). Approximately 100 μg of total protein of each sample was diluted in PBS to 200 μl and injected subcutaneously on day 0, day 14 and day 28. Mice were bled retroorbitally on day 14, 28 and day 42 and serum of day 42 was analyzed using a human VEGFR-2 specific ELISA.

[0662] HbcAg-lys-2cys-Mut Vaccines:

[0663] Female Black 6 mice were vaccinated with the murine VEGFR-2 peptide coupled to HbcAg-lys-2cys-Mut protein with and without the addition of adjuvant (Aluminiumhydroxid). Approximately 100 μg of total protein of each sample was diluted in PBS to 200 μl and injected subcutaneously on day 0, day 14 and day 28. Mice were bled retroorbitally on day 14, 28 and day 42 and serum of day 42 was analyzed using a human VEGFR-2 specific ELISA.

[0664] C. ELISA

[0665] Sera of immunized mice were tested in ELISA with immobilized murine VEGFR-2 peptide. Murine VEGFR-2 peptide was coupled to bovine RNAse A using the chemical cross-linker Sulfo-SPDP. ELISA plates were coated with coupled RNAse A at a concentration of 10 μg/ml. The plates were blocked and then incubated with serially diluted mouse sera. Bound antibodies were detected with enzymatically labeled anti-mouse IgG antibody. As a control, preimmune sera of the same mice were also tested. Control ELISA experiments using sera from mice immunized with uncoupled carrier showed that the antibodies detected were specific for the respective peptide. The results are shown in FIGS. 4 - 6 .

[0666] Pili-Peptide Vaccine:

[0667] The result of the ELISA is shown in FIG. 18D . Results for indicated serum dilutions are shown as optical density at 450 nm. The average of three mice each (including standard deviations) are shown. All vaccinated mice made IgG antibody titers against the murine VEGFR-2 peptide. No difference was noted between mice deficient for the Toll-like receptor 4 and wild-type mice, demonstrating the immunogenicity of the self-antigen murine VEGFR-2 peptide, when coupled to pili, in mice. The vaccines injected in the mice are designating the corresponding analyzed sera.

[0668] Qβ Capsid Protein-Peptide Vaccine:

[0669] Results for indicated serum dilutions are shown in FIG. 18E as optical density at 450 nm. The average of two mice each (including standard deviations) are shown. All vaccinated mice made IgG antibody titers against the murine VEGFR-2 peptide, demonstrating the immunogenicity of the self-antigen murine VEGFR-2 peptide, when coupled to Qβ capsid protein, in mice. The vaccines injected in the mice are designating the corresponding analyzed sera.

[0670] HbcAg-lys-2cys-Mut Vaccine:

[0671] Results for indicated serum dilutions are shown in FIG. 18F as optical density at 450 nm. The average of three mice each (including standard deviations) are shown. All vaccinated mice made IgG antibody titers against the murine VEGFR-2 peptide, demonstrating the immunogenicity of the self-antigen murine VEGFR-2 peptide, when coupled to Qβ capsid protein, in mice. The vaccines injected in the mice are designating the corresponding analyzed sera.

Example 13

Coupling of Aβ 1-15 Peptides to HBc-Ag-lys-2cys-Mut and fr Capsid Protein

[0672] The following Aβ peptide was chemically synthesized (DAEFRHDSGYEVHHQGGC), a peptide which comprises the amino acid sequence from residue 1-15 of human Aβ, fused at its C-terminus to the sequence GGC for coupling to VLPs and Pili.

[0673] A. a.) Coupling of Aβ 1-15 Peptide to HBc-Ag-lys-2cys-Mut Using the Cross-Linker SMPH.

[0674] A solution of 833.3 μl of 1.2 mg/ml HBc-Ag-lys-2cys-Mut protein in 20 mM Hepes 150 mM NaCl pH 7.4 was reacted for 30 minutes with 17 μl of a solution of 65 mM SMPH (Pierce) in H ₂ O, at 25 ^>> C on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution was subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 at 4° C. in a dialysis tubing with Molecular Weight cutoff 10000 Da. 833.3 μl of the dialyzed reaction mixture was then reacted with 7.1 μl of a 50 mM peptide stock solution (peptide stock solution in DMSO) for two hours at 15° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction mixture was subsequently dialyzed overnight against 1 liters of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 at 4 ^>> C. The sample was then frozen in aliquots in liquid Nitrogen and stored at −80° C. until immunization of the mice.

[0675] b) Coupling of Aβ 1-15 Peptide to fr Capsid Protein Using the Cross-Linker SMPH.

[0676] A solution of 500 μl of 2 mg/ml fr capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes 150 mM NaCl pH 7.4 was reacted for 30 minutes with 23 μl of a solution of 65 mM SMPH (Pierce) in H ₂ O, at 25 ^>> C on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution was subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 1 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 at 4 ^>> C in a dialysis tubing with Molecular Weight cutoff 10000 Da. 500 μl of the dialyzed reaction mixture was then reacted with 5.7 μl of a 50 mM peptide stock solution (peptide stock solution in DMSO) for two hours at 15° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction mixture was subsequently dialyzed overnight against 1 liter of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 at 4 ^>> C The sample was then frozen in aliquots in liquid Nitrogen and stored at −80° C. until immunization of the mice. Samples of the coupling reaction were analyzed by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions.

[0677] The results of the coupling experiments were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and are shown in FIG. 19A . Clear coupling bands corresponding to the coupling of Aβ 1-15 either to fr capsid protein or to HBc-Ag-lys-2cys-Mut were visible on the gel, and are indicated by arrows in the figure, demonstrating successful coupling of Aβ 1-15 to fr capsid protein and to HBc-Ag-lys-2cys-Mut capsid protein. Multimple coupling bands were visible for the coupling to fr capsid protein, while mainly one coupling band was visible for HBc-Ag-lys-2cys-Mut.

[0678] The following samples were loaded on the gel of FIG. 19A .

[0679] 1: Protein Marker (kDa Marker 7708S BioLabs. Molecular weight marker bands from the top of the gel: 175, 83, 62, 47.5, 32.5, 25, 16.5, 6.5 kDa). 2: derivatized HBc-Ag-lys-2cys-Mut. 3: HBc-Ag-lys-2cys-Mut coupled with Aβ1-15, supernatant of the sample taken at the end of the coupling reaction, and centrifuged. 4: HBc-Ag-lys-2cys-Mut coupled with Aβ1-15, pellet of the sample taken at the end of the coupling reaction, and centrifuged. 5: derivatized fr capsid protein. 6: fr capsid protein coupled with Aβ1-15, supernatant of the sample taken at the end of the coupling reaction, and centrifuged. 4: fr capsid protein coupled with Aβ1-15, pellet of the sample taken at the end of the coupling reaction, and centrifuged.

[0680] B. Immunization of Balb/c Mice

[0681] Female Balb/c mice were vaccinated twice on day 0 and day 14 subcutaneously with either 10 μg of fr capsid protein coupled to Aβ1-15 (Fr-Aβ 1-15) or 10 μg of HBc-Ag-lys-2cys-Mut coupled to to Aβ 1-15 (HBc-Aβ1-15) diluted in sterile PBS. Mice were bled retroorbitally on day 22 and sera were analysed in an Aβ-1-15-specific ELISA.

[0682] C. ELISA

[0683] The Aβ 1-15 peptide was coupled to bovine RNAse A using the chemical cross-linker sulfo-SPDP. ELISA plates were coated with Aβ 1-15-RNAse conjugate at a concentration of 10 μg/ml. The plates were blocked and then incubated with serially diluted serum samples. Bound antibodies were detected with enzymatically labeled anti-mouse IgG. As a control, serum from a naive mouse was also tested.

[0684] Shown on FIG. 19B are the ELISA signals obtained on day 22 with the sera of the mice immunized with vaccines Fr-Aβ 3 1-15, and HBc-Aβ1-15 respectively. A control serum from a naive mouse (preimmune serum) was also included. Results from different serum dilutions are shown as optical density at 450 nm. Average results from three vaccinated mice each are shown. All vaccinated mice had Aβ 1-15-specific IgG antibodies in their serum.

Example 14

Coupling of Aβ 1-15, Aβ 1-27 and Aβ 33-42 Peptides to Type I Pili

[0685] Coupling of Aβ 1-15, Aβ 1-27 and Aβ 33-42 peptides to Pili using the cross-linker SMPH.

[0686] The following Aβ peptides were chemically synthesized: DAEFRHDSGYEVHHQGGC (“Aβ 1-15”), a peptide which comprises the amino acid sequence from residue 1-15 of human Aβ, fused at its C-terminus to the sequence GGC for coupling to Pili and VLPs, DAEFRHDSGYEVHHQKLVFFAEDVGSNGGC (“Aβ 1-27”) a peptide which comprises the amino acid sequence from residue 1-27 of human Aβ, fused at its C-terminus to the sequence GGC for coupling to Pili and VLPs, and CGHGNKSGLMVGGVVIA (“Aβ 33-42”) a peptide which comprises the amino acid sequence from residue 33-42 of Aβ, fused at its N-terminus to the sequence CGHGNKS for coupling to Pili and VLPs. All three peptides were used for chemical coupling to Pili as described in the following.

[0687] A solution of 2 ml of 2 mg/ml Pili in 20 mM Hepes 150 mM NaCl pH 7.4 was reacted for 45 minutes with 468 μl of a solution of 33.3 mM SMPH (Pierce) in H ₂ O, at 25 ^>> C on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution was loaded on a PD10 column (Pharmacia) and eluted with 6×500 μl of 20 mM Hepes 150 mM NaCl pH 7.4. Fractions were analyzed by dotting on a Nitrocellulose (Schleicher & Schuell) and stained with Amidoblack. Fractions 3-6 were pooled. The samples were then frozen in aliquots in liquid Nitrogen and stored at −80° C. until coupling.

[0688] 200 μl of the thawed desalted reaction mixture was then mixed with 200 μl DMSO and 2.5 μl of each of the corresponding 50 mM peptide stock solutions in DMSO, for 3.5 hours at RT on a rocking shaker. 400 μl of the reaction mixture was subsequently dialyzed three times for one hour against 1 liter of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 at 4 ^>> C in a dialysis tubing with Molecular Weight cutoff 10000 Da. The samples were then frozen in aliquots in liquid Nitrogen and stored at −80° C.

[0689] Sample preparation for SDS-Page was performed as follows: 100 μl of the dialyzed coupling reaction was incubated for 10 minutes in 10% TCA on ice and subsequently centrifuged. The pellet was resuspended in 50 μl 8.5 M Guanidine-HCl solution and incubated for 15 minutes at 70° C. The samples were then precipitated with ethanol, and after a second centrifugation step, the pellet was resuspended in sample buffer.

[0690] The results of the coupling experiments were analyzed by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. Clear coupling bands were visible for all three peptides, demonstrating coupling of Aβ peptides to Pili.

Example 15

Vaccination of APP23 Mice with Aβ Peptides Coupled to Qβ Capsid Protein

[0691] A. Immunization of APP23 Mice

[0692] Three different Aβ peptides (Aβ 1-27-Gly-Gly-Cys-NH2; H-Cys-Gly-His-Gly-Asn-Lys-Ser-Aβ 33-42; Aβ 1-15-Gly-Gly-Cys-NH2) were coupled to Qβ capsid protein. The resulting vaccines were termed “Qb-Ab 1-15”, “Qb-Ab 1-27” and “Qb-Ab 33-42”. 8 months old female APP23 mice which carry a human APP transgene (Sturchler-Pierrat et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94: 13287-13292 (1997)) were used for vaccination. The mice were injected subcutaneously with 25 μg vaccine diluted in sterile PBS and 14 days later boosted with the same amount of vaccine. Mice were bled from the tail vein before the start of immunization and 7 days after the booster injection. The sera were analyzed by ELISA.

[0693] B. ELISA

[0694] Aβ 1-40 and Aβ 1-42 peptide stocks were made in DMSO and diluted in coating buffer before use. ELISA plates were coated with 0.1 μg/well Aβ 1-40 or Aβ 1-42 peptide. The plates were blocked and then incubated with serially diluted mouse serum. Bound antibodies were detected with enzymatically labeled anti-mouse IgG antibody. As a control, sera obtained before vaccination were also included. The serum dilution showing a mean three standard deviations above baseline was calculated and defined as “ELISA titer”. All three vaccines tested were immunogenic in APP23 mice and induced high antibody titers against the Aβ peptides 1-40 and/or Aβ 1-42. The results are shown in FIG. 20 . No specific antibodies were detected in preimmune sera of the same mice (not shown).

[0695] Shown on FIG. 20 are the ELISA signals obtained on day 22 with the sera of the mice immunized with vaccines Fr-Aβ 1-15, and HBc-Aβ1-15 respectively. A control serum from a naïve mouse (preimmune serum) was also included. Results from different serum dilutions are shown as optical density at 450 nm. Average results from three vaccinated mice each are shown.

[0696] Mice A21-A30 received the vaccine Qb-Ab 1-15, mice A31-A40 received Qb-Ab 1-27 and mice A41-49 received Qb-Ab 33-42. For each mouse, Aβ 1-40 and Aβ 1-42 peptide-specific serum antibody titers were determined on day 21 by ELISA. The ELSIA titers defined as the serum dilution showing a mean three standard deviations above baseline are shown for individual mice. Mice vaccinated with Qb-Ab 1-15 or Qb-Ab 1-27 made high antibody titers against both Aβ 1-40 and Aβ 1-42 whereas mice vaccinated with Qb-Ab 33-42 had only high antibody titers against the Aβ 1-42 peptide.

Example 16

Coupling of Fab Antibody Fragments to Qβ Capsid Protein

[0697] A solution of 4.0 mg/ml Qβ capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 was reacted for 30 minutes with a 2.8 mM SMPH (Pierce) (from a stock solution dissolved in DMSO) at 25° C. on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution was subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 2 l of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4° C.

[0698] The Fab fragment of human IgG, produced by papain digestion of human IgG, was purchased from Jackson Immunolab. This solution (11.1 mg/ml) was diluted to a concentration of 2.5 mg/ml in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 and allowed to react with different concentrations (0-1000 μM) of either dithiothreitol (DTT) or tricarboxyethylphosphine (TCEP) for 30 minutes at 25° C.

[0699] Coupling was induced by mixing the derivatized and dialysed Qβ capsid protein solution with non-reduced or reduced Fab solution (final concentrations: 1.14 mg/ml Qβ and 1.78 mg/ml Fab) and proceeded overnight at 25° C. on a rocking shaker.

[0700] The reaction products were analysed on 16% SDS-PAGE gels under reducing conditions. Gels were stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. The results are shown in FIG. 21 .

[0701] A coupling product of about 40 kDa could be detected in samples in which the Fab had been reduced before coupling by 25-1000 μM TCEP and 25-100 μM DTT ( FIG. 21 , arrow), but not at 10 μM TCEP, 10 μM DTT or 1000 μM DTT. The coupled band also reacted with an anti-Qβ antiserum (data not shown) clearly demonstrating the covalent coupling of the Fab fragment to Qβ capsid protein.

[0702] The samples loaded on the gel of FIG. 21 were the following:.

[0703] Lane 1: Molecular weight marker. Lane 2 and 3: derivatized Qβ capsid protein before coupling. Lane 4-13: Qβ-Fab coupling reactions after reduction of Fab with 4: Qβ-Fab coupling reactions after reduction of Fab with 10 μM TCEP. 5: Qβ-Fab coupling reactions after reduction of Fab with 25 μM TCEP. 6: Qβ-Fab coupling reactions after reduction of Fab with 50 μM TCEP, 7: Qβ-Fab coupling reactions after reduction of Fab with 100 μM TCEP. 8: Qβ-Fab coupling reactions after reduction of Fab with 1000 μM TCEP. 9: Qβ-Fab coupling reactions after reduction of Fab with 10 μM DTT. 10: Qβ-Fab coupling reactions after reduction of Fab with 25 μM DTT. 11: Qβ-Fab coupling reactions after reduction of Fab with 50 μM DTT. 12: Qβ-Fab coupling reactions after reduction of Fab with 100 μM DTT. 13: Qβ-Fab coupling reactions after reduction of Fab with 1000 μM DTT. Lane 14: Fab before coupling. The gel was stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. Molecular weights of marker proteins are given on the left margin. The arrow indicates the coupled band.

Example 17

Vaccination of APP23 Mice with Aβ Peptides Coupled to Qβ Capsid Protein

[0704] A. Immunization of APP23 Mice

[0705] Three different Aβ peptides (Aβ 1-27-Gly-Gly-Cys-NH2; H-Cys-Gly-His-Gly-Asn-Lys-Ser-Aβ 33-42; Aβ 1-15-Gly-Gly-Cys-NH2) were coupled to Qβ capsid protein. The resulting vaccines were termed “Qb-Ab 1-15”, “Qb-Ab 1-27” and “Qb-Ab 33-42”. 8 months old female APP23 mice which carry a human APP transgene (Sturchler-Pierrat et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94: 13287-13292 (1997)) were used for vaccination. The mice were injected subcutaneously with 25 μg vaccine diluted in sterile PBS and 14 days later boosted with the same amount of vaccine. Mice were bled from the tail vein before the start of immunization and 7 days after the booster injection. The sera were analyzed by ELISA.

[0706] B. ELISA

[0707] Aβ 1-40 and Aβ 1-42 peptide stocks were made in DMSO and diluted in coating buffer before use. ELISA plates were coated with 0.1 μg/well Aβ 1-40 or Aβ 1-42 peptide. The plates were blocked and then incubated with serially diluted mouse serum. Bound antibodies were detected with enzymatically labeled anti-mouse IgG antibody. As a control, sera obtained before vaccination were also included. The serum dilution showing a mean three standard deviations above baseline was calculated and defined as “ELISA titer”. All three vaccines tested were immunogenic in APP23 mice and induced high antibody titers against the Aβ peptides 1-40 and/or Aβ 1-42. The results are shown in FIG. 20 . No specific antibodies were detected in preimmune sera of the same mice (not shown).

[0708] Shown on FIG. 20 are the ELISA signals obtained on day 22 with the sera of the mice immunized with vaccines Qb-Ab 1-15, Qb-Ab 1-27 and Qb-Ab 33-42, respectively. Mice A21-A30 received the vaccine Qb-Ab 1-15, mice A31-A40 received Qb-Ab 1-27 and mice A41-49 received Qb-Ab 33-42. For each mouse, Aβ 1-40 and Aβ 1-42 peptide-specific serum antibody titers were determined on day 21 by ELISA. The ELSIA titers defined as the serum dilution showing a mean three standard deviations above baseline are shown for individual mice. Mice vaccinated with Qb-Ab 1-15 or Qb-Ab 1-27 made high antibody titers against both Aβ 1-40 and Aβ 1-42 whereas mice vaccinated with Qb-Ab 33-42 had only high antibody titers against the Aβ 1-42 peptide. The very strong immune responses obtained with the human Aβ peptides in the transgenic mice expressing human Aβ transgene, demonstrate that by coupling Aβ peptides to Qβ capsid protein, tolerance towards the self-antigen can be overcome.

Example 18

Construction, Expression and Purification of Mutant Qβ Coat Proteins Construction of pQβ-240

[0709] The plasmid pQβ10 (Kozlovska, T M, et al., Gene 137:133-137) was used as an initial plasmid for the construction of pQβ-240. The mutation Lys13→Arg was created by inverse PCR. The inverse primers were designed in inverted tail-to-tail directions: 6

[0710] The products of the first PCR were used as templates for the second PCR reaction, in which an upstream primer

[0711] 5′-AGCTCGCCCGGGGATCCTCTAG-3′ and a downstream primer

[0712] 5′-CGATGCATTTCATCCTTAGTTATCAATACGCTGGGTTCAG-3′were used. The product of the second PCR was digested with XbaI and Mph1103I and cloned into the pQβ10 expression vector, which was cleaved by the same restriction enzymes. The PCR reactions were performed with PCR kit reagents and according to producer protocol (MBI Fermentas, Vilnius, Lithuania).

[0713] Sequencing using the direct label incorporation method verified the desired mutations. E.coli cells harbouring pQβ-240 supported efficient synthesis of 14-kD protein co migrating upon PAGE with control Qβ coat protein isolated from Qβ phage particles.

[0714] Resulting amino acid sequence: (SEQ ID NO: 255) 7

[0715] The plasmid pQβ10 was used as an initial plasmid for the construction of pQβ-243. The mutation Asn10→Lys was created by inverse PCR. The inverse primers were designed in inverted tail-to-tail directions: 8

[0716] The products of the first PCR were used as templates for the second PCR reaction, in which an upstream primer

[0717] 5′-AGCTCGCCCGGGGATCCTCTAG-3′ and a downstream primer

[0718] 5′-CGATGCATTTCATCCTTAGTTATCAATACGCTGGGTTCAG-3′ were used. The product of the second PCR was digested with XbaI and Mph1103I and cloned into the pQβ10 expression vector, which was cleaved by the same restriction enzymes. The PCR reactions were performed with PCR kit reagents and according to producer protocol (MBI Fermentas, Vilnius, Lithuania).

[0719] Sequencing using the direct label incorporation method verified the desired mutations. E.coli cells harbouring pQβ-243 supported efficient synthesis of 14-kD protein co migrating upon PAGE with control Qβ coat protein isolated from Qβ phage particles.

[0720] Resulting amino acid sequence: (SEQ ID NO: 256) 9

[0721] The plasmid pQβ-240 was used as an initial plasmid for the construction of pQβ-250. The mutation Lys2→Arg was created by site-directed mutagenesis. An upstream primer

[0722] 5′-GGCCATGGCACGACTCGAGACTGTTACTTTAGG-3′ and a downstream primer 5′-GATTTAGGTGACACTATAG-3′ were used for the synthesis of the mutant PCR-fragment, which was introduced into the pQβ-185 expression vector at the unique restriction sites NcoI and HindIII. The PCR reactions were performed with PCR kit reagents and according to producer protocol (MBI Fermentas, Vilnius, Lithuania).

[0723] Sequencing using the direct label incorporation method verified the desired mutations. E.coli cells harbouring pQβ-250 supported efficient synthesis of 14-kD protein co migrating upon PAGE with control Qβ coat protein isolated from Qβ phage particles.

[0724] Resulting amino acid sequence: (SEQ ID NO: 257) 10

[0725] The plasmid pQβ10 was used as an initial plasmid for the construction of pQβ-251. The mutation Lys16→Arg was created by inverse PCR. The inverse primers were designed in inverted tail-to-tail directions:

[0726] 5′-GATGGACGTCAAACTCTGGTCCTCAATCCGCGTGGGG-3′ and

[0727] 5′-CCCCACGCGGATTGAGGACCAGAGTTTGACGTCCATC-3′.

[0728] The products of the first PCR were used as templates for the second PCR reaction, in which an upstream primer

[0729] 5′-AGCTCGCCCGGGGATCCTCTAG-3′ and a downstream primer

[0730] 5′-CGATGCATTTCATCCTTAGTTATCAATACGCTGGGTTCAG-3′ were used. The product of the second PCR was digested with XbaI and Mph1103I and cloned into the pQβ10 expression vector, which was cleaved by the same restriction enzymes. The PCR reactions were performed with PCR kit reagents and according to producer protocol (MBI Fermentas, Vilnius, Lithuania).

[0731] Sequencing using the direct label incorporation method verified the desired mutations. E.coli cells harbouring pQβ-251 supported efficient synthesis of 14-kD protein co migrating upon PAGE with control Qβ coat protein isolated from Qβ phage particles. The resulting amino acid sequence encoded by this construct is shown in SEQ. ID NO: 259.

[0732] Construction of pQβ-259

[0733] The plasmid pQβ-251 was used as an initial plasmid for the construction of pQβ-259. The mutation Lys2→Arg was created by site-directed mutagenesis. An upstream primer

[0734] 5′-GGCCATGGCACGACTCGAGACTGTTACTTTAGG-3′ and a downstream primer 5′-GATTTAGGTGACACTATAG-3′ were used for the synthesis of the mutant PCR-fragment, which was introduced into the pQβ-185 expression vector at the unique restriction sites NcoI and HindIII. The PCR reactions were performed with PCR kit reagents and according to producer protocol (MBI Fermentas, Vilnius, Lithuania).

[0735] Sequencing using the direct label incorporation method verified the desired mutations. E.coli cells harbouring pQβ-259 supported efficient synthesis of 14-k1 protein co migrating upon PAGE with control Qβ coat protein isolated from Qβ phage particles.

[0736] Resulting amino acid sequence: (SEQ ID NO: 258) 11

General Procedures for Expression and Purification of Qβ and Qβ Mutants

Expression

[0737] Transform E.coli JM109 with Q-beta expression plasmids. Inoculate 5 ml of LB liquid medium with 20•g/ml ampicillin with clones transformed with Q-beta expression plasmids. Incubate at 37° C. for 16-24 h without shaking.

[0738] Inoculate 100-300 ml of LB medium, containing 20•g/ml, 1:100 with the prepared inoculum. Incubate at 37° C. overnight without shaking. Inoculate M9+1% Casamino acids +0.2% glucose medium in flasks with the prepared inoculum 1:50, incubate at 37° C. overnight under shaking.

Purification

[0739] Solutions and Buffers for the Purification Procedure:

[0740] 1. Lysis Buffer LB

[0741] 50 mM Tris-HCl pH 8,0 with 5 mM EDTA, 0,1% tritonX100 and fresh! prepared PMSF till 5 micrograms per ml. Without lysozyme and DNAse.

[0742] 2. SAS

[0743] Saturated ammonium sulphate in water

[0744] 3. Buffer NET.

[0745] 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.8 with 5 mM EDTA and 150 mM NaCl.

[0746] 4. PEG

[0747] 40% (w/v) polyethylenglycol 6000 in NET

[0748] Disruption and Lyses

[0749] Frozen cells were resuspended in LB at 2 ml/g cells. The mixture was sonicated with 22 kH five times for15 seconds, with intervals of 1 min to cool the solution on ice. The lysate was then centrifuged at 14 000 rpm, for 1 h using a Janecki K 60 rotor. The centrifugation steps described below were all performed using the same rotor, except otherwise stated. The supernatant was stored at 4° C., while cell debris were washed twice with LB. After centrifugation, the supernatants of the lysate and wash fractions were pooled.

[0750] Fractionation

[0751] A saturated ammonium sulphate solution was added dropwise under stirring to the above pooled lysate. The volume of the SAS was adjusted to be be one fifth of total volume, to obtain 20% of saturation. The solution was left standing overnight, and was centrifuged the next day at 14 000 rpm, for 20 min. The pellet was washed with a small amount of 20% ammonium sulphate, and centrifuged again. The obtained supernatants were pooled, and SAS was added dropwise to obtain 40% of saturation. The solution was left standing overnight, and was centrifuged the next day at 14 000 rpm, for 20 min. The obtained pellet was solubilised in NET buffer.

[0752] Chromatography

[0753] The capsid protein resolubilized in NET buffer was loaded on a Sepharose CL-4B column. Three peaks eluted during chromatography. The first one mainly contained membranes and membrane fragments, and was not collected. Capsids were contained in the second peak, while the third one contained other E.coli proteins.

[0754] The peak fractions were pooled, and the NaCl concentration was adjusted to a final concentration of 0.65 M. A volume of PEG solution corresponding to one half of the pooled peak fraction was added dropwise under stirring. The solution was left to stand overnight without stirring. The capsid protein was sedimented by centrifugation at 14 000 rpm for 20 min. It was then solubilized in a minimal volume of NET and loaded again on the Sepharose CL-4B column. The peak fractions were pooled, and precipitated with ammonium sulphate at 60% of saturation (w/v). After centrifugation and resolubilization in NET buffer, capsid protein was loaded on a Sepharose CL-6B column for rechromatography.

[0755] Dialysis and Drying

[0756] The peak fractions obtained above were pooled and extensively dialysed against sterile water, and lyophilized for storage.

[0757] Expression and Purification Qβ-240

[0758] Cells ( E. coli JM 109, transformed with the plasmid pQβ-240) were resuspended in LB, sonicated five times for 15 seconds (water ice jacket) and centrifuged at 13000 rpm for one hour. The supernatant was stored at 4° C. until further processing, while the debris were washed 2 times with 9 ml of LB, and finally with 9 ml of 0,7 M urea in LB. All supernatants were pooled, and loaded on the Sepharose CL-4B column. The pooled peak fractions were precipitated with ammonium sulphate and centrifuged. The resolubilized protein was then purified further on a Sepharose 2B column and finally on a Sepharose 6B column. The capsid peak was finally extensively dialyzed against water and lyophilized as described above. The assembly of the coat protein into a capsid was confirmed by electron microscopy.

[0759] Expression and Purification Qβ-243

[0760] Cells ( E. coli RR1) were resuspended in LB and processed as described in the general procedure. The protein was purified by two successive gel filtration steps on the sepharose CL-4B column and finally on a sepharose CL-2B column. Peak fractions were pooled and lyophilized as described above. The assembly of the coat protein into a capsid was confirmed by electron microscopy.

[0761] Expression and Purification of Qβ-250

[0762] Cells ( E. coli JM 109, transformed with pQβ-250) were resuspended in LB and processed as described above. The protein was purified by gel filtration on a Sepharose CL-4B and finally on a Sepharose CL-2B column, and lyophilized as described above. The assembly of the coat protein into a capsid was confirmed by electron microscopy.

[0763] Expression and Purification of Qβ-259

[0764] Cells ( E. coli JM 109, transformed with pQβ-259) were resuspended in LB and sonicated. The debris were washed once with 10 ml of LB and a second time with 10 ml of 0,7 M urea in LB. The protein was purified by two gel-filtration chromatogaphy steps, on a Sepharose CL-4 B column. The protein was dialyzed and lyophilized, as described above. The assembly of the coat protein into a capsid was confirmed by electron microscopy.

Example 19

Desensitization of Allergic Mice with PLA2 Coupled to Qβ Capsid Protein

[0765] C. Desensitization of Allergic Mice by Vaccination

[0766] Female CBA/J mice (8 weeks old) were sensitized with PLA2: Per mouse, 0.1 ug PLA2 from Latoxan (France) was adsorbed to 1 mg Alum (Imject, Pierce) in a total volume of 66 ul by vortexing for 30 min and then injected subcutaneously. This procedure was repeated every 14 days for a total of four times. This treatment led to the development of PLA2-specific serum IgE but no IgG2a antibodies. 1 month after the last sensitization, mice were injected subcutaneously with 10 ug vaccine consisting of recombinant PLA2 coupled to Qβ capsid protein. One and 2 weeks later they were again treated with the same amount of vaccine. One week after the last treatment, mice were bled and then challenged intraperitoneally with 25 μg PLA2 (Latoxan) and rectal temperature was measured for 60 min using a calibrated digital thermometer. As a control sensitized mice which had not been treated with Qβ capsid protein-PLA2 were used. Whereas all control mice experienced an anaphylactic response reflected in a dramatic drop in rectal temperature after PLA2 challenge, vaccinated mice were fully or at least partially protected. Results are shown in FIG. 25 A .

[0767] B. ELISA

[0768] ELISA plates (Maxisorp, Nunc) were coated with PLA2 (Latoxan) at 5 μg/ml. The plates were blocked and then incubated with serially diluted serum. For the detection of IgE antibodies, serum was pretreated with protein G beads (Pharmacia) for 60 min on a shaker at room temperature. The beads were removed by centrifugation and the supernatant was used for ELISA. Antibodies bound to PLA2 were detected with enzymatically labeled anti-mouse IgG2a or IgE antibodies. ELISA titers were determined at half maximal optical density (OD50%) and expressed as −log5 of 100-fold prediltued sera for IgG2a and as −log5 of 10-fold prediluted sera for IgE. For all mice, PLA2-specific IgG2a and IgE in serum were determined before and at the end of the vaccine treatment. Vaccination led to a dramatic increase of PLA2-specific IgG2a whereas no consistent changes in IgE titers were noted. These results indicate that the vaccination led to an induction of a Th1-like immune response (reflected by the production of IgG2a). Results are shown in FIG. 25B .

[0769] The Anaphylactic response in vaccinated and non-vaccinated mice is shown in FIG. 25A .

[0770] Mice were sensitized to PLA2 and then treated 3×subcutaneously with 10 ug vaccine consisting of PLA2 coupled to Qβ capsid protein. Control mice were sensitized but not vaccinated. One week after the last vaccination all mice were challenged intraperitoneally with 25 μg PLA2 and the anaphylactic response was monitored by measuring the rectal temperature for 60 min. Whereas all control mice showed a dramatic drop in body temperature, vaccinated mice were fully or at least partially protected from an anaphylactic reaction.

[0771] The induction of PLA2-specific IgG2a by vaccination is shown in FIG. 25B .

[0772] Mice were sensitized to PLA2 and then treated 3×with 10 ug vaccine consisting of PLA2 coupled to Qβ capsid protein. Control mice were sensitized but not vaccinated. Serum was taken from sensitized mice before the start of the treatment and after completion of treatment, before challenge. In vaccinated mice (left hand of panel) a dramatic increase of PLA2-specific IgG2a was observed.

Example 20

Expression, Refolding, Purification and Coupling of Pla ₂ -Cys (Also Called PLA ₂ Fusion Protein)

[0773] Expression and Preparation of Inclusion Bodies

[0774] The pET11a Plasmid containing the PLA ₂ -Cys gene Of example xxx was transformed into E. coli BL21DE3Rill (Stratagene). An overnight culture was grown in dYT medium containing 100 μg/ml Ampicillin and 15 μg/ml Chloramphenicol. The culture was diluted in fresh dYT medium containing Ampicillin and Chloramphenicol, and grown at 37° C. until OD _{600 nm} =1 was reached. The culture was induced with 1 mM IPTG, and grown for another 4 hours. Cells were collected by centrifugation, and resuspended in PBS buffer containing 0.5 mg/ml Lysozyme. After incubation on ice, cells were sonicated on ice, and MgCl ₂ added to a concentration of 10 mM. 6 μl of Benzonase (Merck) were added to the cell lys ate, and the lysate was incubated 30 minutes at RT. Triton was added to a final concentration of 1%, and the lysate was further incubated for 30 minutes on ice. The inclusion body (IB) pellet was collected by centrifugation for 10 minutes at 13000 g. The inclusion body pellet was washed in wash buffer containing 20 mM Tris, 23% sucrose, 1 mM EDTA, pH 8.0. The IBs were solubilized in 6 M Guanidinium-HCl, 20 mM Tris, pH 8.0, containing 200 mM DTT. The solubilized IBs were centrifuged at 50000 g and the supernatant dialyzed against 6 M Guanidinium-HCl, 20 mM Tris, pH 8.0 and subsequently against the same buffer containing 0.1 mM DTT. Oxidized glutathion was added to a final concentration of 50 mM, and the solubilized IBs were incubated for 1 h. at RT. The solubilized IBs were dialyzed against 6 M Guanidinium-HCL, 20 mM Tris, pH 8.0. The concentration of the IB solution was estimated by Bradford analysis and SDS-PAGE.

[0775] B. Refolding and Purification

[0776] The IB solution was added slowly in three portions, every 24 h., to a final concentration of 3 μM, to the refolding buffer containing 2 mM EDTA, 0.2 mM Benzamidin, 0.2 mM 6 aminocapronic acid,

[0777] 0.2 mM Guanidinium-HCl, 0.4 M L-Arginin, pH 6.8, to which 5 mM reduced Glutathion and 0.5 mM oxidized Glutathion were added prior to initiation of refolding at 4° C. The refolding solution was concentrated to one half of its volume by Ultrafiltration using a YM10 membrane (Millipore) and dialyzed against PBS, pH 7.2, containing 0.1 mM DTT. The protein was further concentrated by ultrafiltration and loaded onto a Superdex G-75 column (Pharmacia) equilibrated in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, 0.1 mM DTT, 4° C. for purification. The pH of the equilibration buffer was adjusted to 7.2 at RT. The monomeric fractions were pooled.

[0778] C. Coupling

[0779] A solution of 1.5 mg Qβ in 0.75 mL 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 was reacted with 0.06 mL Sulfo-SMPB (Pierce; 31 mM Stock in H2O) for 45 min. at RT. The reaction mixture was dialyzed overnight against 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 and 0.75 mL of this solution were mixed with 1.5 mL of a PLA ₂ -Cys solution in 0.1 mM DTT (62 μM) and 0.43 mL of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, 137 μM DTT, pH 7.4 adjusted at RT. The coupling reaction was left to proceed for 4 h. at RT, and the reaction mixture was dialyzed overnight against 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4 using Spectra Por dialysis tubing, MW cutoff 300 000 Da (Spectrum). The coupling reaction was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and coomassie staining, and Western blotting, using either a rabbit anti-bee venom antiserum (diluted 1:10000), developed with a goat anti-rabbit alkaline phosphatase conjugate (diluted 1:10000), or a rabbit anti-Qβ antiserum (1:5000), developed with a goat anti-rabbit alkaline phosphatase conjugate (diluted 1:10000). Samples were run in both cases under reducing conditions.

[0780] The result of the coupling reaction is shown in FIG. 26 . Bands corresponding to the coupling product of Qβ capsid protein to PLA ₂ -Cys are clearly visible in the coomassie stained SDS-PAGE (left panel), the anti-Qβ Western Blot (center panel) and the anti-PLA2 Western blot (right panel) of the coupling reactions between Qβ capsid protein and PLA ₂ -Cys, and are indicated by an arrow in the figure. 15 μl of the coupling reactions and 50 μl of the dialyzed coupling reactions were loaded on the gel.

[0781] Lane 1: Protein marker. 2: Dialyzed coupling reaction 1. 3: Coupling reaction 1. 4: Coupling reaction 2. 5: coupling reaction 2. 6: Coupling reaction 1. 7: Dialyzed coupling reaction 1. 8: Protein Marker. 9: Coupling reaction 2. 10: Coupling reaction 1. 11: Dialyed coupling reaction 1. 12: Protein Marker.

Example 21

Coupling of Anti-Idiotypic IgE Mimobody VAE051 to Qβ, Immunization of Mice and Testing of Antisera

[0782] A solution of 4.0 mg/ml Qβ capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl pH 7.2 was reacted for 30 minutes with 10 fold molar excess SMPH (Pierce) (from a 100 mM stock solution dissolved in DMSO) at 25 ^>> C on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution was subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 2 l of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4 ^>> C. The VAE051 solution (2.4 mg/ml) was reducted with an equimolar concentration of TCEP for 60 min at 25 ^>> C.

[0783] 46 μl of the dialyzed Qβ reaction mixture was then reacted with 340 μl of the TCEP-treated VAE051 solution (2.4 mg/ml) in a total volume of 680 μl of 50 mM sodium acetate buffer at

[0784] 16° C. for 2 h on a rocking shaker.

[0785] The reaction products were analysed on 16% SDS-PAGE gels under reducing conditions. Gels were either stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. The two additional band in the coupling reactions (which are absent in VAE or Qβ solutions) represent the heavy chain and the light chain of the VAE051 coupled to Qβ ( FIG. 28 A ). Identity of the bands were confirmed by Western blotting with antibodies specific for heavy and light chains, respectively.

[0786] Immunization of Mice

[0787] The Qβ-VAE051 coupling solution was dialysed against 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 using a membrane with a cut-off of 300000 Da. 50 μg of the Qβ-VAE051 were injected intraperitoneal in two female Balb/c mice at day 0 and day 14. Mice were bled retroorbitally on day 28 and their serum was analyzed using IgE- and VAE051-specific ELISAs.

[0788] ELISA

[0789] ELISA plates were coated with human IgE at a concentration of 0.8 μg/ml or with 10 μg/ml VAE051. The plates were blocked and then incubated with serially diluted mouse sera. Bound antibodies were detected with enzymatically labeled anti-mouse IgG antibody ( FIG. 28B ).

[0790] Both mice showed high reactivity to VAE051 as well as the human IgE. Preimmune sera of the same mice did not show any reactivity against VAE051 and IgE ( FIG. 28B ). This demonstrates that antibodies against the anti-idiotypic IgE mimobody VAE051 have been produced which also recognize the “parent” molecule IgE.

Example 22

High Occupancy Coupling of DerpI Peptide to wt Qβ Capsid Protein Using the Cross-Linker SMPH

[0791] The Derp 1,2 peptide, to which a cysteine was added N-terminally for coupling, was chemically synthesized and had the following sequence: H2N-CQIYPPNANKIREALAQTHSA-COOH. This peptide was used for chemical coupling to wt Qβ capsid protein and as described in the following.

[0792] D. Coupling of Flag Peptide to Qβ Capsid Protein

[0793] Qβ capsid protein in 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2, at a concentration of 2 mg/ml, was reacted with a 5- or 20-fold excess of the cross-linker SMPH (Pierce) for 30 min. at 25 ^>> C on a rocking shaker. The reaction solution was subsequently dialyzed twice for 2 hours against 2 L of 20 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 at 4 ^>> C. The dialyzed reaction mixture was then reacted with a 5-fold excess of Derp 1,2 peptide for two hours at 25° C. on a rocking shaker.

[0794] The result of the coupling reaction can be seen on FIG. 24 . Coupling bands corresponding to 1, 2 and 3 peptides per subunit, respectively, are clearly visible on the gel, and are indicated by arrows. An average of two peptides per subunit were displayed on the capsid.

[0795] The samples loaded on the gel of FIG. 24 were the following:

[0796] Lane 1: Protein Marker. 2: Qβ capsid protein derivatized with a 5-fold excess of SMPH. 3: Qβ capsid protein derivatized with a 20-fold excess of SMPH. 4: Coupling reaction of 5-fold derivatized Qβ capsid protein. 5: Coupling reaction of 20-fold derivatized Qβ capsid protein.

Example 23

Insertion of a Peptide Containing a Lysine Residue Into the c/e1 Epitope of HBcAg(1-149)

[0797] The c/e1 epitope (residues 72 to 88) of HBcAg is located in the tip region on the surface of the Hepatitis B virus capsid (HBcAg). A part of this region (Proline 79 and Alanine 80) was genetically replaced by the peptide Gly-Gly-Lys-Gly-Gly (HBcAg-Lys construct). The introduced Lysine residue contains a reactive amino group in its side chain that can be used for intermolecular chemical crosslinking of HBcAg particles with any antigen containing a free cysteine group.

[0798] HBcAg-Lys DNA, having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:158, was generated by PCRs: The two fragments encoding HBcAg fragments (amino acid residues 1 to 78 and 81 to 149) were amplified separately by PCR. The primers used for these PCRs also introduced a DNA sequence encoding the Gly-Gly-Lys-Gly-Gly peptide. The HBcAg (1 to 78) fragment was amplified from pEco63 using primers EcoRIHBcAg(s) and Lys-HBcAg(as). The HBcAg (81 to 149) fragment was amplified from pEco63 using primers Lys-HBcAg(s) and HBcAg(1-149)Hind(as). Primers Lys-HBcAg(as) and Lys-HBcAg(s) introduced complementary DNA sequences at the ends of the two PCR products allowing fusion of the two PCR products in a subsequent assembly PCR. The assembled fragments were amplified by PCR using primers EcoRIHBcAg(s) and HbcAg(1-149)Hind(as).

[0799] For the PCRs, 100 pmol of each oligo and 50 ng of the template DNAs were used in the 50 ml reaction mixtures with 2 units of Pwo polymerase, 0.1 mM dNTPs and 2 mM MgSO4. For both reactions, temperature cycling was carried out as follows: 94° C. for 2 minutes; 30 cycles of 94° C. (1 minute), 50° C. (1 minute), 72° C. (2 minutes). 12

[0800] For fusion of the two PCR fragments by PCR 100 pmol of primers EcoRIHBcAg(s) and HBcAg(1-149)Hind(as) were used with 100 ng of the two purified PCR fragments in a 50 ml reaction mixture containing 2 units of Pwo polymerase, 0.1 mM dNTPs and 2 mM MgSO ₄ . PCR cycling conditions were: 94° C. for 2 minutes; 30 cycles of 94° C. (1 minute), 50° C. (1 minute), 72° C. (2 minutes). The assembled PCR product was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis, purified and digested for 19 hours in an appropriate buffer with EcoRI and HindIII restriction enzymes. The digested DNA fragment was ligated into EcoRI/HindIII-digested pKK vector to generate pKK-HBcAg-Lys expression vector. Insertion of the PCR product into the vector was analyzed by EcoRI/HindIII restriction analysis and DNA sequencing of the insert.

Example 24

Expression and Partial Purification of HBcAg-Lys

[0801] E. coli strain XL-1 blue was transformed with pKK-HBcAg-Lys. 1 ml of an overnight culture of bacteria was used to innoculate 100 ml of LB medium containing 100 μg/ml ampicillin. This culture was grown for 4 hours at 37° C. until an OD at 600 nm of approximately 0.8 was reached. Induction of the synthesis of HBcAg-Lys was performed by addition of IPTG to a final concentration of 1 mM. After induction, bacteria were further shaken at 37° C. for 16 hours. Bacteria were harvested by centrifugation at 5000×g for 15 minutes. The pellet was frozen at −20° C. The pellet was thawed and resuspended in bacteria lysis buffer (10 mM Na ₂ HPO ₄ , pH 7.0, 30 mM NaCl, 0.25% Tween-20, 10 mM EDTA, 10 mM DTT) supplemented with 200 μg/ml lysozyme and 10 μl of Benzonase (Merck). Cells were incubate