Prevention and treatment of amyloidogenic disease

Abstract

The invention provides compositions and methods for treatment of amyloidogenic diseases. Such methods entail administering an agent that induces a beneficial immune response against an amyloid deposit in the patient. The methods are particularly useful for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In such methods, a suitable agent is Aβ peptide or an antibody thereto.

1 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising Aβ or an immunogenic fragment thereof presented by a virus or bacteria as part of an immunogenic composition effective to induce an immunogenic response comprising antibodies against Aβ in a patient.  
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein Aβ is Aβ43, Aβ42, Aβ41, Aβ40, or Aβ39.  
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogenic Aβ fragment is Aβ1-5.  
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogenic Aβ fragment is Aβ1-6.  
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is presented by a virus.  
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 5 , wherein the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is expressed as a fusion protein with an outer surface protein of the virus so that the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is displayed.  
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 5 , wherein the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is chemically cross-linked with an outer surface protein of the virus so that the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is displayed.  
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is presented by a bacteria.  
     
     
         9 . A method of treating a disease characterized by an amyloid deposit of Aβ in a patient, comprising administering to a patient having the disease an effective dosage of Aβ or an immunogenic fragment thereof presented by a virus or bacteria, wherein the Aβ or the immunogenic fragment thereof induces an immune response comprising antibodies against Aβ and thereby treating the disease.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the disease is Alzheimer's disease.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising administering an adjuvant, wherein the adjuvant enhances the immune response to Aβ.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein Aβ is Aβ43, Aβ42, Aβ41, Aβ40, or Aβ39.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the immunogenic Aβ fragment is Aβ1-5.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the immunogenic Aβ fragment is Aβ1-6.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is presented by a virus.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is expressed as a fusion protein with an outer surface protein of the virus so that the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is displayed.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is chemically cross-linked with an outer surface protein of the virus so that the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is displayed.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is presented by a bacteria.  
     
     
         19 . A method of prophylaxis of a disease characterized by an amyloid deposit of Aβ in a patient, comprising administering to a patient susceptible to the disease an effective dosage of Aβ or an immunogenic fragment thereof presented by a virus or bacteria, wherein the Aβ or the immunogenic fragment thereof induces an immune response comprising antibodies against Aβ and thereby effecting prophylaxis of the disease.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the disease is Alzheimer's disease.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising administering an adjuvant, wherein the adjuvant enhances the immune response to Aβ.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein Aβ is Aβ43, Aβ42, Aβ41, Aβ40, or Aβ39.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the immunogenic Aβ fragment is Aβ1-5.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the immunogenic Aβ fragment is Aβ1-6.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is presented by a virus.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is expressed as a fusion protein with an outer surface protein of the virus so that the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is displayed.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is chemically cross-linked with an outer surface protein of the virus so that the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is displayed.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the Aβ or immunogenic fragment thereof is presented by a bacteria.