Compositions Comprising Liposomes, An Antigen, A Polynucleotide and A Carrier Comprising a Continuous Phase of a Hydrophobic Substance

Abstract

The invention provides a composition comprising: an antigen; liposomes; a polyI:C polynucleotide; and a carrier comprising a continuous phase of a hydrophobic substance. Methods for making and using the compositions are also provided.

1 . A composition comprising:
 (a) an antigen;   (b) liposomes;   (c) a polyI:C polynucleotide; and   (d) a carrier comprising a continuous phase of a hydrophobic substance.   
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the polyI:C polynucleotide comprises RNA or DNA. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the polyI:C polynucleotide comprises RNA and DNA. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the polyI:C polynucleotide is a homopolymer or a heteropolymer. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the polyI:C polynucleotide comprises a homopolymeric polyI:C polynucleotide and a heteropolymeric polyI:C polynucleotide. 
     
     
         6 . A method for making a composition, said method comprising combining, in any order:
 a) an antigen;   (b) liposomes;   (c) a polyI:C polynucleotide; and   (d) a carrier comprising a continuous phase of a hydrophobic substance.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said antigen is encapsulated in said liposomes. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said polyI:C polynucleotide is encapsulated in said liposomes. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said polyI:C polynucleotide is added outside said liposomes. 
     
     
         10 . A composition prepared according to the method of  claim 6 . 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising administering the composition according to  claim 1  to a subject in need thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , which is a method for inducing an antibody response and/or cell-mediated immune response to said antigen in said subject. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , which is a method for the treatment and/or prevention of a disease caused by a bacteria, a virus, a fungus, a parasite, an allergen or a tumor cell that expresses the antigen. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the treatment and/or prevention comprises inducing an antibody and/or a cell mediated immune response to the antigen in the subject, wherein the subject has or is at risk of developing a viral infection. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the viral infection is an influenza virus infection. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the treatment and/or prevention comprises inducing an antibody and/or a cell mediated immune response to the antigen in the subject, wherein the subject has or is at risk of developing cancer. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , which is a method for the treatment and/or prevention of a neurodegenerative disease, wherein the neurodegenerative disease is associated with expression of the antigen. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the composition induces an immune response in the subject that is at least 1.5× higher relative to a response induced by a control composition. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the composition induces an immune response in the subject that is at least 5× higher relative to a response induced by a control composition. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the composition is administered via a route that is nasal, oropharyngeal, ocular, oral, rectal, sublingual, genitourinary mucosa, intranasal, oropharyngeal, intratracheal, intrapulmonary, transdermal, transpulmonary, intraarterial, intradermal, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous or submucosal.