Antibodies and their uses for diagnosis and treatment of cytomegalovirus infection and associated diseases

Abstract

Anti CMV antibodies are provided. Thus an antibody of the present invention comprises an antigen recognition domain capable of binding an MHC molecule being complexed with a cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65 or pp64 peptide, wherein the antibody does not bind said MHC molecule in an absence of said complexed peptide, and wherein the antibody does not bind said peptide in an absence of said MHC molecule. Also provided are methods of using the antibodies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An antibody comprising an antigen recognition domain capable of binding an MHC molecule being complexed with a cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65 or pp64 peptide as set forth by SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the antibody does not bind said MHC molecule in an absence of said complexed peptide, and wherein the antibody does not bind said peptide in an absence of said MHC molecule. 
     
     
         2 . The antibody of  claim 1 , being conjugated to a therapeutic moiety. 
     
     
         3 . The antibody of  claim 1 , attached to a detectable moiety. 
     
     
         4 . The antibody of  claim 1 , being an antibody fragment. 
     
     
         5 . An antibody comprising a multivalent form of the antibody of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . The antibody of  claim 5 , wherein said multivalent form is an IgG antibody. 
     
     
         7 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient the antibody of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . A method of detecting a cell expressing a cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen, comprising contacting the cell with the antibody of  claim 1  under conditions which allow immunocomplex formation, wherein a presence or a level above a predetermined threshold of said immunocomplex is indicative of CMV expression in the cell. 
     
     
         9 . A method of diagnosing a cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in a subject in need thereof, comprising contacting a cell of the subject with the antibody of  claim 1  under conditions which allow immunocomplex formation, wherein a presence or a level above a pre-determined threshold of said immunocomplex in the cell is indicative of the CMV infection in the subject. 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating a disease associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody of  claim 1 , thereby treating the disease associated with CMV infection. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said subject has a suppressed or a compromised immune system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said CMV infection is associated with a disease selected from the group consisting of mononucleosis, retinitis, pneumonia, gastrointestinal disorders, and encephalitis. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said cell is a retina cell, lung epithelial cell, a gastrointestinal epithelial cell or a brain cell. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said subject is an immuno-compromised organ transplant recipient. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said subject is infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).