Chemically programmable immunity

• US 8,591,910 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Altermune Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Altermune Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Mullis, Kary B.
• Primary Examiner(s): CANELLA, KAREN A
• Application Number:
  US13/543,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20120276136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 424/193.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2039/6025 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/385 Haptens or antigens, bound to carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/04 Immunostimulants
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/30 Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Abstract

The present invention is related to methods and compositions that are capable of immediately immunizing a human or animal against any molecule or compound. The present invention comprises an immunity linker molecule with at least two sites; (1) a first binding site that binds to an immune system molecule in a human or animal that has been preimmunized against the first binding site, and (2) one or more second binding sites that bind specifically to a desired compound or molecule. The first binding site and the second binding site(s) are linked by a linker portion of the molecule.

Claims

1. An immune-diverting composition comprising an immunity linker molecule comprising

a first binding site that when administered to an individual is capable of binding to an antibody produced from a pre-existing immunity within the individual specific for a first compound or molecule, and

a second binding site comprising a nucleic acid aptamer or a modified nucleic acid aptamer that is capable of binding to a target, wherein the first compound or molecule and the target are not the same.

2. The immune-diverting composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises an amount of the immunity linker molecule effective to provide substantially immediate immunity to the target.

3. The immune-diverting composition of claim 1, wherein the pre-existing immunity is induced by an immunizing molecule and optionally an adjuvant or a booster.

4. The immune-diverting composition of claim 1, wherein the immunity linker molecule comprises more than one second binding site.

5. The immune-diverting composition of claim 4, wherein the binding sites differ in specificity for targets.

6. The immune-diverting composition of claim 1, wherein the aptamer comprises a modified nucleic acid aptamer, and wherein the modified nucleic acid comprises 2′

-fluoro or 2′

-amino-2′

deoxypyrimidine.

7. The immune-diverting composition of claim 1 further comprising a linking portion linking the first and second binding sites.

8. The immune-diverting composition of claim 7, wherein the linking portion comprises a rigid or flexible spacer.

9. The immune-diverting composition of claim 8, wherein the spacer is double stranded nucleic acid.

10. The immune-diverting composition of claim 1, wherein the immunity linker further comprises a protein, a peptide, a nucleic acid, or a combination thereof.

11. The immune-diverting composition of claim 1, wherein the target comprises a microorganism, a pathogen, a toxic substance, or a drug.

12. The immune-diverting composition of claim 11, wherein the microorganism is a bacterium, a virus, or a fungus.

13. The immune-diverting composition of claim 1, wherein the target comprises anthrax or a dengue virus.

14. The immune-diverting composition of claim 1, wherein the individual is unable to mount an effective immune response to the target compound or molecule prior to administration of the composition.

15. The immune-diverting composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in a form suitable for at least one administration mode selected from the group consisting of intravenous administration, intramuscular administration, subcutaneous administration, oral administration, and mucosal administration.

16. A method of establishing substantially immediate immunity to a target in an individual comprising, wherein the method comprises administering to the individual an effective amount of the immune-diverting composition of claim 1.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the individual is unable to mount an effective immune response to the target prior to the administering step.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the immunity to the target is a cellular or humoral immunity.