Anti-IGE Vaccines

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions and methods for the use of antigenic peptides derived from the Fc portion of the epsilon heavy chain of an IgE molecule as vaccines for the treatment and prevention of IgE-mediated allergic disorders. In particular, the invention provides compositions, methods for the treatment and prevention of IgE-mediated allergic disorders comprising an immunogenic amount of one or more antigenic peptides derived from the CH3 domain or junction of Ch-3/CH4 domain of an IgE molecule and methods for the evaluation of IgE mediated allergies in dogs.

1 . An immunogenic composition that induces an anti-IgE immune response that does not cause anaphylaxis when administered to an animal, wherein the composition comprises one or more antigenic peptides of a CH3 domain of an IgE molecule, the one or more antigenic peptides being selected from: a peptide comprising amino acids Pro15 to Thr30 of SEQ ID NO: 1; a peptide comprising amino acids Leu14 to Lys31 of SEQ ID NO: 2; a peptide comprising amino acids Leu14 to Tyr28 of SEQ ID NO: 3; or a peptide comprising amino acids Arg2 to Pro25 of SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjuvant. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-IgE immune response is the production of anti-IgE antibodies which bind to soluble IgE in serum and other bodily fluids, prevent IgE from binding to its high affinity receptors on mast cells and basophils, and do not cross-link receptor-bound IgE. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  comprising a mixture of said antigenic peptides. 
     
     
         5 . An immunogenic composition that induces an anti-IgE immune response that does not cause anaphylaxis when administered to an animal, wherein the composition comprises: (a) one or more antigenic peptides of a CH3 domain of an IgE molecule, the one or more antigenic peptides comprising: amino acids Pro15 to Thr30 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids Leu14 to Lys31 of SEQ ID NO: 2, amino acids Leu14 to Tyr28 of SEQ ID NO: 3; or amino acids Arg2 to Pro25 of SEQ ID NO: 4; and (b) a heterologous carrier protein coupled to one or more of said antigenic peptides. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the heterologous carrier protein is selected from the group consisting of KLh, PhoE, rmLT, TraT, and gD from BhV-1 virus. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 5 , further comprising an adjuvant. 
     
     
         8 . An immunogenic composition that induces an anti-IgE immune response that does not cause anaphylaxis when administered to an animal wherein the composition comprises one or more antigenic peptides of a CH3 domain of an IgE molecule, the one or more antigemic peptides being encoded by; nucleotides 37 to 84 of SEQ ID NO: 15; nucleotides 40 to 93 of SEQ ID NO: 16: nucleotides 43 to 87 of SEQ ID NO: 17; or nucleotides 4 to 75 of SEQ ID NO: 18. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , further comprising an adjuvant. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 8  comprising a mixture of said antigenic peptides. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 8  further comprising a heterologous carrier protein coupled to one or more of said antigenic peptides. 
     
     
         12 . An isolated antigenic peptide of a CH3 domain of an IgE molecule, wherein the antigenic peptide is selected from: a peptide comprising amino acids Pro15 to Thr30 of SEQ ID NO: 1; a peptide comprising amino acids Leu14 to Lys31 of SEQ ID NO: 2; a peptide comprising amino acids Leu14 to Tyr28 of SEQ ID NO: 3; a peptide comprising amino acids Arg2 to Pro25 of SEQ ID NO: 4; and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . An isolated antigenic peptide of a CH3 domain of an IgE molecule, wherein the antigenic peptide is encoded by: nucleotides 37 to 84 of SEQ ID NO: 15; nucleotides 40 to 93 of SEQ ID NO: 16; nucleotides 43 to 87 of SEQ ID NO: 17; or nucleotides 4 to 75 of SEQ ID NO: 18. 
     
     
         14 . A kit comprising the immunogenic composition of  claim 1 ; and directions for its use. 
     
     
         15 . A kit comprising the immunogenic composition of  claim 5 ; and directions for its use. 
     
     
         16 . A kit comprising the immunogenic composition of  claim 8 ; and directions for its use. 
     
     
         17 . A kit comprising the immunogenic composition of  claim 11 ; and directions for its use. 
     
     
         18 . A method of treating or preventing an IgE-mediated allergic disorder, the method comprising administering the immunogenic composition of  claim 1  to an animal. 
     
     
         19 . A method of treating or preventing an IgE-mediated allergic disorder, the method comprising administering the immunogenic composition of  claim 5  to an animal. 
     
     
         20 . A method of treating or preventing an IgE-mediated allergic disorder, the method comprising administering the immunogenic composition of  claim 8  to an animal. 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating or preventing an IgE-mediated allergic disorder, the method comprising administering the immunogenic composition of  claim 11  to an animal.