Method for Eliciting an Immune Response to Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase

Abstract

The invention provides compositions and methods related to human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT), the catalytic protein subunit of human telomerase. The polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of human diseases, for changing the proliferative capacity of cells and organisms, and for identification and screening of compounds and treatments useful for treatment of diseases such as cancers.

1 . An isolated polypeptide comprising 10 or more consecutive amino acids of SEQ. ID NO:2, which can elicit an adaptive immune response against human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT; SEQ. ID NO:2). 
     
     
         2 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 , comprising 20 or more consecutive amino acids of SEQ. ID NO:2. 
     
     
         3 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 , comprising 50 or more consecutive amino acids of SEQ. ID NO:2. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 , comprising 100 or more consecutive amino acids of SEQ. ID NO:2. 
     
     
         5 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , containing an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ. ID NO: 112, SEQ. ID NO: 113, SEQ. ID NO: 114, SEQ. ID NO:115, SEQ. ID NO: 116, and SEQ. ID NO: 117. 
     
     
         6 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , which is at least 98% identical to full-length hTRT (SEQ. ID NO:2). 
     
     
         7 . The polypeptide of  claim 6 , which does not retain the telomerase catalytic activity of native human telomerase reverse transcriptase. 
     
     
         8 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide of  claim 1  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         9 . An immunogenic composition that elicits an adaptive immune response against hTRT (SEQ. ID NO:2), comprising a peptide and an adjuvant, wherein the peptide comprises 10 or more consecutive amino acids of SEQ. ID NO:2. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , comprising 50 or more consecutive amino acids of SEQ. ID NO:2. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the adjuvant is selected from Freund's adjuvant, a mineral gel, aluminum hydroxide, lysolecithin, pluronic polyol, a polyanlon, a peptide, an oil emulsion, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), dinitrophenol (DNP),  Bacillus  Calmette-Guerin, and  Corynebacterium parvum.    
     
     
         12 . A method for eliciting an immune response to telomerase reverse transcriptase protein in a subject, comprising administering to the subject the composition of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising assessing whether a telomerase-specific immune response is elicited as a result of the administration. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A chimeric molecule comprising a polypeptide that consists of 10 or more consecutive amino acids of SEQ. ID NO:2, and a second amino acid sequence, wherein the polypeptide fused to the second amino acid sequence forms a chimeric molecule that elicits an adaptive immune response. 
     
     
         17 . The chimeric protein of  claim 16 , wherein the second protein is keyhole limpet hemocyanin. 
     
     
         18 . An immunogenic composition comprising the chimeric protein of  claim 16 , and an adjuvant. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . An immunogenic composition comprising the chimeric protein of  claim 18 , and an adjuvant.