Epitopes from allergen proteins and methods and uses for immune response modulation

Abstract

The invention relates to common allergen proteins and peptides, subsequences, portions, homologues, variants and derivatives thereof, and methods and uses of common allergen proteins and peptides. Methods include, for example, modulating an immune response; protecting a subject against or treating a subject for an allergic response, allergic disorder or allergic disease; and inducing immunological tolerance to the allergen in a subject.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth in Table 5 (SEQ ID NOs: 1-1,411, respectively, in order of appearance), Table 7 (SEQ ID NOs: 1,412-1,906, respectively, in order of appearance) or Table 8 (SEQ ID NOs: 1,907-2,008, respectively, in order of appearance), or a variant or derivative thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The protein or peptide of  claim 2 , wherein the variant is:
 a. a peptide of up to 30 amino acids in length and which comprises said amino acid sequence set forth in Table 7 (SEQ ID NOs:1,412-1,906, respectively, in order of appearance); or   b. a peptide from 7 to 30 amino acids in length, wherein at least 7 contiguous amino acids have at least 75% identity to at least 7 contiguous amino acids of said amino acid sequence set forth in Table 7 (SEQ ID NOs:1,412-1,906, respectively, in order of appearance).   
     
     
         4 . The protein or peptide of  claim 2 , wherein the protein or peptide does not consist of the sequence of Alt a 6 (SEQ ID NO:1455, Asp f l(SEQ ID NO:1466), Fel d 1 1 (SEQ ID NOs:1531, 1532, 1533, 1534, 1535 1536, 1537, 1538), Fel d 1 2 (SEQ ID NOs:1539, 1540, 1541, 1542, 1543, 1544, 1545, 1546, 1547, 1548, 1549, 1550, 1551), Can f 3 (SEQ ID NOs:1557), Der f 1 (SEQ ID NOs: 1562, 1563, 1564, 1565), Der f 2 (SEQ ID NO:1587), Der p1 (SEQ ID NOs: 1591, 1593, 1594, 1595, 1596, 1597, 1598, 1599, 1600. 1601, 1602, 1603), Der p 2 (SEQ ID NO: 1608), Aln g 1 (SEQ ID NOs:1653, 1654, 1655), Bet v 1 (SEQ ID NOs: 1656, 1657, 1658, 1659, 1660, 1661, 1662, 1663, 1664), Bet v 2 (SEQ ID NO: 1665), Cha o 1 (SEQ ID NOs: 1678, 1679, 1680, 1681, 1682, 1683, 1684), Cup a 1 (SEQ ID NOs: 1689, 1691, 1692), Cup s 1 (SEQ ID NOs: 1700, 1701), Jun o 4 (SEQ ID NO: 1710), Ant o 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1743), Lol p 1 (SEQ ID NOs: 1765, 1766, 1767, 1768), Lol p 11 (SEQ ID NO: 1770), Lol p 5 1 (SEQ ID NOs: 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1811, 1812), Lol p 5 2 (SEQ ID NOs: 1815, 1816, 1817, 1818, 1819), Pha a 1 (SEQ ID NO:1824), Pha a 5 (SEQ ID NOs:1831, 1833, 1836), Poa 1 (SEQ ID NOs: 1842, 1844), Poa p 5 (SEQ ID NOs: 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870) or Amb 1 5 (SEQ ID NO: 1881) as set forth in Table 7. 
     
     
         5 . The protein or peptide of  claim 2 , wherein the protein or peptide is derived from a house dust mite allergen. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The protein or peptide of  claim 2 , wherein the amino acid sequence, variant or derivative thereof
 i) elicits, stimulates, induces, promotes, increases or enhances an anti-allergen immune responses; decreases, inhibits, suppresses or reduces an anti-allergen immune response;   ii) decreases, inhibits, suppresses or reduces an anti-allergen immune response;   iii) elicits, stimulates, induces, promotes, increases or enhances a T cell response to production of Ige Antibody;   iv) decreases, inhibits, suppresses or reduces a T cell response or production of IgE Antibody;   v) modulates a Th2 immune response;   vi) modulates production of a lymphokine or cytokine by a cell;   vii) desensitizes, or improves, increases, or induces immunological tolerance of a subject to the allergen; or   viii) modulates production of IL-5 (interleukin-5), IL-4 (interleukin-4), IL-10 (interleukin-10), m IL-13 (interleukin 13), IL-17 (interleukin-17, or IFN (interferon-gamma).   
     
     
         8 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The protein or peptide of  claim 2 , wherein the amino acid sequence, variant or derivative thereof is derived from an allergen or antigen produced by Alder,  Alternaria  rot fungus, American cockroach, Dust mite, Ash,  Aspergillus fumigatus , Bermuda grass, Birch, Black Walnut, Canary grass, Cat,  Cladosporium herbarum , Common cypress, Cypress, Palm, Dog, English plantain, Giant ragweed, Japanese cypress, Kentucky blue grass,  Lolium perenne , Mugwort weed, Orchard grass,  Penicillium chrysogenum , Prickly juniper, Russian thistle, Rye grass, Sweet vernal grass, Western Ragweed or White oak. 
     
     
         20 . The protein or peptide of  claim 2 , wherein the amino acid sequence has a length in a range of about 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-35, 35-40, 45-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 90-100, 100-125, 125-150, 150-175, 175-200, 200-250, 250-300, or more amino acid residues. 
     
     
         21 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The protein or peptide of  claim 2 , wherein the amino acid sequence, variant or derivative thereof is immobilized on a substrate. 
     
     
         24 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A composition comprising the protein or peptide of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the composition is a vaccine composition. 
     
     
         31 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method of modulating immune activity of a cell against an allergen, the method comprising contacting the cell with an amount of the protein or peptide of  claim 2 , sufficient to modulate the immune activity of the cell against the allergen. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the method comprises contacting the cell with the protein or peptide multiple times. 
     
     
         39 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A method of desensitizing or inducing, eliciting, increasing or improving immunological tolerance of a subject to a protein or peptide allergen comprising administering to the subject an amount of the protein or peptide of  claim 2  sufficient to desensitize or induce, elicit, increase or improve tolerance of the protein or peptide allergen by the subject. 
     
     
         48 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the method comprises administering the protein of peptide to the subject multiple times. 
     
     
         52 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . A method of detecting an immune response in a subject, the method comprising:
 i. contacting a cell from the subject with a protein or peptide of  claim 2 ; and   ii. determining if the protein or peptide modulates an immune response or activity from the contacted cell;   wherein determination that the protein or peptide modulates an immune response or activity from the contacted cell detects an allergic response or indicates that the subject has an allergic response or an allergy.   
     
     
         69 - 76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . A kit, comprising a compartment and instructions,
 a) wherein the compartment comprises:
 i) one or more amino acid sequences set forth in Table 5 (SEQ ID NOs: 1-1, 411, respectively, in order of appearance), Table (SEQ ID NOs: 1,412-1,906, respectively, in order of appearance) or Table 8 (SEQ ID NOs: 1,907-2,008, respectively, in order of appearance), or a variant or derivative thereof, or 
 ii) one or more proteins or peptides of  claim 2 ; and 
   b) wherein the instructions are for use in any of:
 iii) modulating an immune response or activity of a cell against an allergen; 
 iv) modulating an immune response against an allergen in a subject; 
 v) desensitizing, or inducing, eliciting, increasing or improving immunological tolerance to a protein or peptide allergen; 
 vi) reducing risk or providing a subject protection against an allergic reaction, allergic response, allergic disorder or allergic disease; 
 vii) treating an allergic reaction, allergic response, allergic disorder or allergic disease; or 
 viii) detecting an allergic response or diagnosing an allergy in a subject. 
   
     
     
         78 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the protein or peptide is isolated or purified. 
     
     
         79 . The composition of  claim 27 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient and/or adjuvant, optionally sterile. 
     
     
         80 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the composition is a powder, for example in freeze-dried form, optionally sterile.