Subunit vaccine delivery platform for robust humoral and cellular immune responses

Abstract

The present invention relates to a probiotic cell transformed with a construct suitable to overexpress and display on the surface of the probiotic cell a fusion protein comprising at least a portion of a transport protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic proteins or peptides. Probiotic-derived vesicles displaying this fusion protein as well as methods of inducing an immune response using the probiotic cells or vesicles are also disclosed.

1 . A probiotic cell transformed with a construct suitable to overexpress and display on the surface of the probiotic cell a fusion protein comprising at least a portion of a transport protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic proteins or peptides. 
     
     
         2 . The probiotic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the probiotic cell is mutated to hyperexpress vesicles containing the fusion protein. 
     
     
         3 . The probiotic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the transport protein is an adhesin, immunomodulatory compound, protease, or toxin. 
     
     
         4 . The probiotic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the transport protein is ClyA. 
     
     
         5 . The probiotic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the antigenic protein or peptide is derived from pathogenic bacterial, fungal or viral organisms,  Streptococcus  species,  Candida  species,  Brucella  species,  Salmonella  species,  Shigella  species,  Pseudomonas  species,  Bordetella  species,  Clostridium  species, Norwalk virus,  Bacillus anthracis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis , human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),  Chlamydia  species, Human Papillomaviruses, Influenza virus, Paramyxovirus species, Herpes virus, Cytomegalovirus, Varicella-Zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, Hepatitis viruses,  Plasmodium  species,  Trichomonas  species, sexually transmitted disease agents, viral encephalitis agents, protozoan disease agents, fungal disease agents, bacterial disease agents, cancer cells, or combinations. 
     
     
         6 . The probiotic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the probiotic cell is selected from the group consisting of  Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactococcus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus diacetylactis, Lactococcus cremoris, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Escherichia coli , and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The probiotic cell of  claim 7 , wherein the fusion protein comprises at least a portion of a ClyA protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic proteins or peptides. 
     
     
         9 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A probiotic-derived vesicle displaying a fusion protein, wherein said fusion protein comprises at least a portion of a transport protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic proteins or peptides. 
     
     
         17 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 16 , wherein the transport protein is an adhesin, immunomodulatory compound, protease, or toxin. 
     
     
         18 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 17 , wherein the transport protein is ClyA. 
     
     
         19 . The probiotic-derived vesicle cell of  claim 16 , wherein the antigenic protein or peptide is derived from pathogenic bacterial, fungal or viral organisms,  Streptococcus  species,  Candida  species,  Brucella  species,  Salmonella  species,  Shigella  species,  Pseudomonas  species,  Bordetella  species,  Clostridium  species, Norwalk virus,  Bacillus anthracis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis , human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),  Chlamydia  species, Human Papillomaviruses, Influenza virus, Paramyxovirus species, Herpes virus, Cytomegalovirus, Varicella-Zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, Hepatitis viruses,  Plasmodium  species,  Trichomonas  species, sexually transmitted disease agents, viral encephalitis agents, protozoan disease agents, fungal disease agents, bacterial disease agents, cancer cells, or combinations. 
     
     
         20 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 16 , wherein the probiotic-derived vesicle is from a cell selected from the group consisting of  Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactococcus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus diacetylactis, Lactococcus cremoris, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Escherichia coli , and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 20 , wherein the vesicle displays a fusion protein comprising at least a portion of a ClyA protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic proteins or peptides. 
     
     
         23 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A probiotic cell transformed with a construct suitable to overexpress and display on the surface of the probiotic cell a fusion protein comprising at least a portion of a transport protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic food allergy proteins or peptides. 
     
     
         30 . The probiotic cell of  claim 29 , wherein the probiotic cell is mutated to hyperexpress vesicles containing the fusion protein. 
     
     
         31 . The probiotic cell of  claim 29 , wherein the transport protein is an adhesin, immunomodulatory compound, protease, or toxin. 
     
     
         32 . The probiotic cell of  claim 29 , wherein the transport protein is ClyA. 
     
     
         33 . The probiotic cell of  claim 29 , wherein the antigenic food allergy proteins or peptides are derived from milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, coconut, and soybeans. 
     
     
         34 . The probiotic cell of  claim 33 , wherein the food allergy is against peanuts and the antigenic protein or peptide is Arah2. 
     
     
         35 . The probiotic cell of  claim 29 , wherein the probiotic cell is selected from the group consisting of  Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactococcus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus diacetylactis, Lactococcus cremoris, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Escherichia coli , and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A probiotic-derived vesicle displaying a fusion protein, wherein said fusion protein comprises at least a portion of a transport protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic food allergy proteins or peptides. 
     
     
         38 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 37 , wherein the transport protein is an adhesin, immunomodulatory compound, protease, or toxin. 
     
     
         39 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 37 , wherein the transport protein is ClyA. 
     
     
         40 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 37 , wherein the antigenic food allergy proteins or peptides are derived from milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, coconut, and soybeans. 
     
     
         41 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 40 , wherein the food allergy is against peanuts and the antigenic food allergy protein or peptide is Arha2. 
     
     
         42 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 37 , wherein the probiotic-derived vesicle is from a cell selected from the group consisting of  Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactococcus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus diacetylactis, Lactococcus cremoris, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Escherichia coli , and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         43 - 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . The probiotic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the antigenic viral protein or peptide is from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), influenza A virus, influenza B virus, influenza C virus, rabies virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, respiratory syncytial virus, measles virus, parainfluenza virus, mumps virus, yellow fever virus, west nile virus, dengue virus, rubella virus, sindbis virus, semliki forest virus, ross river virus, rotavirus, parvovirus, JC polyoma virus, BK polyoma virus, Human papillomavirus (HPV), adenovirus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, Human herpesvirus, vaccinia virus, monkeypox virus, cowpox virus, human T-cell leukemia virus, coxsackie virus, polio virus, rhinovirus, enterovirus, echovirus, ebola virus, coronavirus, variola virus, hantaan virus, adeno-associated virus, astrovirus, hendra virus, lassa virus, nipah virus, Marburg virus, or Norwalk virus. 
     
     
         55 . The probiotic cell of  claim 54 , wherein the virus is influenza or coronavirus. 
     
     
         56 . The probiotic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the probiotic cell is selected from the group consisting of  Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactococcus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus diacetylactis, Lactococcus cremoris, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Escherichia coli , and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         57 . The probiotic cell of  claim 56 , wherein the probiotic cell is  Escherichia coli  Nissle. 
     
     
         58 - 70 . (canceled) 
     
     
         71 . A probiotic cell transformed with a construct suitable to overexpress and display on the surface of the probiotic cell a fusion protein comprising at least a portion of a transport protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic intracellular bacterial proteins or peptides. 
     
     
         72 . The probiotic cell of  claim 71 , wherein the probiotic cell is mutated to hyperexpress vesicles containing the fusion protein. 
     
     
         73 . The probiotic cell of  claim 71 , wherein the transport protein is an adhesin, immunomodulatory compound, protease, or toxin. 
     
     
         74 . The probiotic cell of  claim 71 , wherein the transport protein is ClyA. 
     
     
         75 . The probiotic cell of  claim 71 , wherein the antigenic intracellular bacterial protein or peptide is from  Chlamydophila, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Mycobacterium, Brucella, Francisella, Legionella , or  Listeria.    
     
     
         76 . The probiotic cell of  claim 75 , wherein the bacteria is from  Mycobacterium  paratuberculosis and the antigenic intracellular bacterial protein or peptide is 74F protein. 
     
     
         77 . The probiotic cell of  claim 71 , wherein the probiotic cell is selected from the group consisting of  Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactococcus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus diacetylactis, Lactococcus cremoris, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Escherichia coli , and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         78 . (canceled) 
     
     
         79 . A probiotic-derived vesicle displaying a fusion protein, wherein said fusion protein comprises at least a portion of a transport protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic intracellular bacterial proteins or peptides. 
     
     
         80 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 79 , wherein the transport protein is an adhesin, immunomodulatory compound, protease, or toxin. 
     
     
         81 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 79 , wherein the transport protein is ClyA. 
     
     
         82 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 79 , wherein the antigenic intracellular bacterial protein or peptide is from  Chlamydophila, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Mycobacterium, Brucella, Francisella, Legionella , or  Listeria.    
     
     
         83 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 82 , wherein the bacteria is from  Mycobacterium  paratuberculosis and the antigenic intracellular bacterial protein is 74F protein. 
     
     
         84 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 79 , wherein the probiotic-derived vesicle is from a cell selected from the group consisting of  Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactococcus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus diacetylactis, Lactococcus cremoris, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Escherichia coli , and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         85 . The probiotic-derived vesicle of  claim 84 , wherein the probiotic-derived vesicle is from  Escherichia coli  Nissle. 
     
     
         86 . A method of immunizing an animal against an intracellular bacterial infection, said method comprising:
 selecting an animal at risk of developing an intracellular bacterial infection;   providing the probiotic cell of  claim 71 ; and   administering the probiotic cell to the selected animal under conditions effective to immunize the animal against the intracellular bacterial infection.   
     
     
         87 - 93 . (canceled)