Methods and compositions for inducing an immune response

Abstract

This application relates generally to enhancing immune responses. Such immune responses may be elicited by vaccine administration. Compositions and methods for inducing or enhancing an immune response to an antigen are provided. The compositions and methods are useful for vaccine formulations for therapeutic and prophylactic use (immunization) and for production of antibodies.

1 . A method for eliciting an immune response to an antigen in a subject comprising: 
 administering at least one polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-6 and 13 or fragment thereof; and    at least one antigen.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the immune response is an antibody-mediated immune response.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the administering increases the titer of antigen-specific antibodies in the subject by at least two-fold.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the immune response is a cell-mediated immune response.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide attracts a dendritic cell.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the polypeptide attracts an immature dendritic cell.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide and antigen are co-administered.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide and antigen are administered separately.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising administering at least two of the polypeptides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-6 and 13.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has at least 85% sequence identity to a peptide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-6 and 13.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has at least 90% sequence identity to a peptide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-6 and 13.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has at least 95% sequence identity to a peptide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-6 and 13.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has at least 99% sequence identity to a peptide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-6 and 13.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises a peptide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-6 and 13.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is formulated in a sustained release pharmaceutical composition.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen is a polypeptide from a pathogen.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the pathogen is Hepatitis or Influenza.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen is a tumor antigen.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering further comprises administering an adjuvant.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of alum, incomplete Freund's adjuvant, a bacterial capsular polysaccharide, dextran, IL-12, GM-CSF, CD40 ligand, IFN-γ, IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, IL-18 and a cytokine, or fragments thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering further comprises administering a multivalent carrier.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the multivalent carrier is linked to the polypeptide, the antigen or an adjuvant.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the multivalent carrier is selected from the group consisting of a bacterial capsular polysaccharide, a dextran and a polynucleotide vector.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the bacterial capsular polysaccharide is a Pneumococci, Streptococci or Meningococci polysaccharide.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering further comprises administering a pharmaceutical carrier.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering further comprises administering into a solid tumor.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering further comprises administering into tissue surrounding a solid tumor.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering is injecting, inhaling, or oral.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering is administering at least two administrations.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the administrations are at the same site.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering is at a site removed from a target site of the polypeptide delivery.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the administering further comprises administering a liposome comprising the polypeptide.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering the polypeptide comprises administering a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering the antigen comprises administering a polynucleotide encoding the antigen.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is human.  
     
     
         38 . A composition comprising 
 at least one polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-6 and 13, or fragment thereof; and    at least one antigen.    
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the polypeptide is purified.  
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 38 , comprising at least two polypeptides having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-6 and 13, or fragments thereof.  
     
     
         41 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the polypeptide is in a sustained release formulation.  
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 38 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 42 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is an adjuvant.  
     
     
         44 . The composition of  claim 42 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is selected from the group consisting of water, oil, saline, aqueous dextrose and glycerol.  
     
     
         45 . A composition comprising a cell exogenously expressing at least one sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:7-12 and 14, or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         46 . The composition of  claim 45 , wherein the cell is allogeneic.  
     
     
         47 . The composition of  claim 45 , wherein the cell is autologous.  
     
     
         48 . The composition of  claim 45 , further comprising a tumor-associated antigen.  
     
     
         49 . The composition of  claim 45 , wherein the cell is a cancer cell.  
     
     
         50 . The composition of  claim 49 , wherein the cancer cell is from a cancer cell line.  
     
     
         51 . The composition of  claim 50 , wherein the cancer cell line is a human ovarian cancer cell line or a human brain cancer cell line.  
     
     
         52 . The composition of  claim 50 , further comprising a tumor-associated antigen.  
     
     
         53 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 52 , wherein the tumor-associated antigen is obtained from an autologous cell.  
     
     
         54 . A composition, comprising: 
 at least one tumor cell; and    at least one cell exogenously expressing at least one sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:7-12 and 14, or fragment thereof.    
     
     
         55 . The composition of  claim 54 , wherein the tumor cell is a primary tumor cell.  
     
     
         56 . The composition of  claim 54 , wherein the tumor cell is autologous.  
     
     
         57 . The composition of  claim 54 , wherein the tumor cell is a glioma, glioblastoma, gliosarcoma, astrocytoma, melanoma, breast cancer cell or an ovarian cancer cell.  
     
     
         58 . The composition of  claim 54 , wherein the tumor cell is a cancer cell.  
     
     
         59 . The composition of  claim 54 , wherein the cell exogenously expressing a SHAAGtide is an allogenic cell.  
     
     
         60 . The composition of  claim 54 , wherein the cell exogenously expressing the polynucleotide is quiescent.  
     
     
         61 . A kit comprising: 
 a pharmaceutical composition comprising at lease one polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1-6 and 13, or a fragment thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and    a syringe.    
     
     
         62 . A kit comprising: 
 a pharmaceutical composition comprising at lease one polynucleotide having at least 80% sequence identity to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:7-12 and 14, or a fragment thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and    a syringe.    
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen is an allergen.