Targeted immune conjugates

Abstract

Disclosed herein are materials and methods related to vaccines. Materials and methods for delivery of immunogens to the reticuloendothelial system via non-circulating lymphoid cells are provided.

1 . An immune conjugate comprising:
 (a) a ligand that binds specifically to a cell surface molecule on a circulating non-lymphoid cell of a mammal, wherein said molecule is selected from the group consisting of glycophorin A, band 3, Ter-119, blood group antigen H, blood group antigen A, blood group antigen B, CD41a, CD14, CD56, CD66d, CD83, CMKLR1, and BDCA-4; and   (b) an immunogen coupled to said ligand, wherein said immune conjugate, when administered to an individual, induces or enhances an immune response against said immunogen   
     
     
         2 . The immune conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the ligand is an antibody. 
     
     
         3 . The immune conjugate of  claim 2 , wherein the antibody is an anti-TER-119 antibody, an anti-glycophorin A antibody, an anti-band 3 antibody, an anti-blood group antigen A antibody, an anti-blood group antigen B antibody, an anti-blood group antigen H antibody, an anti-CD41a antibody, an anti-CD14 antibody, an anti-CD56 antibody, an anti-CD66d antibody, an anti-CD83 antibody, an anti-CMKLR1 antibody, or an anti-BDCA-4 antibody. 
     
     
         4 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The immune conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the ligand is biotinylated, glycosylated, acetylated, alkylated, isoprenylated, lipoylated, or phosphorylated. 
     
     
         7 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The immune conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the cell-surface molecule is glycophorin A (CD235A), band 3 (CD233), TER-119, blood group antigen A, blood group antigen B, or blood group antigen H. 
     
     
         10 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The immune conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the circulating non-lymphoid cell is a red blood cell. 
     
     
         19 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The immune conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogen is a molecule expressed or released by an infectious agent. 
     
     
         22 . The immune conjugate of  claim 21 , wherein the infectious agent comprises a virus, viroid, bacterium, fungus, prion or parasite. 
     
     
         23 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The immune conjugate of claim  29 , wherein the immunogen is influenza A M2 protein or a fragment of influenza A M2 protein. 
     
     
         31 . The immune conjugate of  claim 30 , wherein the fragment of influenza A M2 comprises the ectodomain peptide M2e. 
     
     
         32 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The immune conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogen is biotinylated, glycosylated, acetylated, alkylated, isoprenylated, lipoylated, or phosphorylated. 
     
     
         36 . The immune conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogen is coupled to the ligand via a covalent bond. 
     
     
         37 . The immune conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogen and the ligand comprise a fusion protein. 
     
     
         38 . A nucleic acid sequence encoding the fusion protein of  claim 37 . 
     
     
         39 . An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence of  claim 38 . 
     
     
         40 . A host-cell comprising the expression vector of  claim 39 . 
     
     
         41 . The immune conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogen is coupled to the ligand via a non-covalent bond. 
     
     
         42 . The immune conjugate of  claim 41 , wherein the non-covalent bond is a biotin-avidin linkage. 
     
     
         43 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The immune conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the ligand is an anti-TER-119 antibody and the immunogen is the ectodomain peptide of M2e. 
     
     
         48 . A composition comprising the immune conjugate of  claim 1  and an adjuvant. 
     
     
         49 . A method of inducing or enhancing an immune response against an immunogen in a mammalian subject, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the immune conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein an immune response to the immunogen is induced in the mammalian subject. 
     
     
         50 - 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . An article of manufacture comprising a measured amount of one or more immune conjugates and one or more items selected from the group consisting of packaging material, a package insert comprising instructions for use, a sterile fluid, and a sterile container.