Immunogenic composition and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising an antigen and a dendritic cell targeting component. A charged group is covalently attached to a dendritic cell ligand and is electrostatically associated with the dendritic cell targeting component.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An immunogenic composition comprising an antigen and a dendritic cell targeting component, wherein the antigen comprises a negatively charged region and wherein the dendritic cell targeting component comprises a positively charged group covalently attached to a dendritic cell ligand and wherein the negatively charged region of antigen is electrostatically associated with the dendritic cell targeting component. 
     
     
         2 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the antigen has an overall negative charge. 
     
     
         3 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the positively charged group comprises at least one positively charged amino acid. 
     
     
         4 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the positively charged group is a branched or linear peptide. 
     
     
         5 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the peptide comprises at least one arginine or lysine residue. 
     
     
         6 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the peptide comprises at least four arginine residues and/or at least four lysine residues. 
     
     
         7 . An immunogenic composition comprising an antigen and a dendritic cell targeting component, wherein the antigen comprises a positively charged region and wherein the dendritic cell targeting component comprises a negatively charged group covalently attached to a dendritic cell ligand and wherein the positively charged region of antigen is electrostatically associated with the dendritic cell targeting component. 
     
     
         8 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the antigen has an overall positive charge. 
     
     
         9 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the negatively charged group comprises at least one negatively charged amino acid. 
     
     
         10 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the negatively charged group is a branched or linear peptide. 
     
     
         11 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the peptide comprises at least one aspartic acid or glutamic acid residue. 
     
     
         12 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the peptide comprises at least four aspartic acid residues and/or at least four glutamic acid residues. 
     
     
         13 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the antigen is not a nucleic acid. 
     
     
         14 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the antigen is associated with the dendritic cell targeting component by electrostatic interaction only. 
     
     
         15 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the dendritic cell ligand is a TLR ligand. 
     
     
         16 . The immunogenic composition according  claim 15 , wherein the TLR ligand comprises a lipid or a peptidoglycan or a lipoprotein or a lipopolysaccharide. 
     
     
         17 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the TLR ligand comprises palmitoyl, myristoyl, stearoyl, lauroyl, octanoyl, or decanoyl. 
     
     
         18 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the TLR ligand is selected from the group consisting of: Pam 2 Cys, Pam 3 Cys, Ste 2 Cys, Lau 2 Cys, and Oct 2 Cys. 
     
     
         19 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the TLR ligand binds either TLR-1, TLR-2 or TLR-6. 
     
     
         20 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the TLR ligand binds to TLR-2. 
     
     
         21 . A method of raising an immune response in a subject, the method comprising administering to a subject an immunogenic composition according to  claim 1 .