Adjuvant composition containing at least one influenza virus neutralizing and binding molecule and vaccine composition containing same

Abstract

This invention relates to an adjuvant composition containing at least one binding molecule for neutralizing influenza virus and a vaccine composition containing the same. The composition containing at least one binding molecule for neutralizing influenza virus is capable of increasing the effects of a vaccine, and can thus be used as an adjuvant, which increases an immune response upon vaccine administration, and is very useful in the prevention of diseases caused by viruses.

1 . An adjuvant composition, comprising at least one binding molecule for neutralizing an influenza virus. 
     
     
         2 . The adjuvant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the binding molecule binds to an epitope in a stem region of a hemagglutinin (HA) protein of an influenza A virus. 
     
     
         3 . The adjuvant composition of  claim 1 , wherein an epitope of the binding molecule is at least one selected from the group consisting of i) an epitope comprising any one amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of amino acids at positions 18, 25, 27, 32, 33, 38, 40, 54, 55, 278, 291, 292, 310, 311, 312 and 318 of an HA1 polypeptide; and ii) an epitope comprising any one amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of amino acids at positions 18, 19, 20, 21, 38, 39, 41, 42, 45, 46, 48, 49, 52, 53, 56, 57, 58, 60 and 99 of an HA2 polypeptide. 
     
     
         4 . The adjuvant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one binding molecule is at least one selected from the group consisting of i) a binding molecule, comprising a light-chain variable domain including a CDR1 region of SEQ ID NO:1, a CDR2 region of SEQ ID NO:2 and a CDR3 region of SEQ ID NO:3, and a heavy-chain variable domain including a CDR1 region of SEQ ID NO:4, a CDR2 region of SEQ ID NO:5 and a CDR3 region of SEQ ID NO:6, as determined according to the Kabat method; and ii) a binding molecule, comprising a light-chain variable domain including a CDR1 region of SEQ ID NO:7, a CDR2 region of SEQ ID NO:8 and a CDR3 region of SEQ ID NO:9, and a heavy-chain variable domain including a CDR1 region of SEQ ID NO:10, a CDR2 region of SEQ ID NO:11 and a CDR3 region of SEQ ID NO:12, as determined according to the Kabat method. 
     
     
         5 . The adjuvant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one binding molecule is at least one selected from the group consisting of i) a binding molecule including a light chain having a polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 and a heavy chain having a polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:14; and ii) a binding molecule including a light chain having a polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 and a heavy chain having a polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:16. 
     
     
         6 . A vaccine composition, comprising the adjuvant composition of  claim 1  and a target antigen. 
     
     
         7 . The vaccine composition of  claim 6 , wherein the target antigen is an influenza virus antigen. 
     
     
         8 . The vaccine composition of  claim 6 , wherein a weight ratio of the antigen and the adjuvant composition ranges from 1:0.02 to 1:200. 
     
     
         9 . A method of preparing a vaccine composition comprising the adjuvant composition of  claim 1  and a target antigen. 
     
     
         10 . A method of enhancing an immune response to a target antigen, administering the vaccine composition of  claim 6  to a host. 
     
     
         11 . A method of preparing an immunological product, comprising:
 a) immunizing a host by administering the vaccine composition of  claim 6  to the host; and   b) obtaining an immunological product from the immunized host, wherein the immunological product is a T cell, a B cell or an antibody against a target antigen comprised in the vaccine composition.