Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics, LLC

Clara Jebet Sei

Gerald Walter Fischer

Luke T Daum

Richard F Schuman

Jeffrey D Fischer

The invention relates to composite antigens comprising an antigen obtained or derived from an antigenic epitope of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal, an antigen obtained or derived from bacterial cell wall material that induces an immune response in a mammal such as LTA, PNG or LPS, and a T cell stimulating antigen such as CRM. Preferably the composite antigen comprises an immunogenic composition or a vaccine that is effective against the pathogen or can generate antibodies that can be collected that are protective against infection by the pathogen. In addition, the invention relates to vaccines comprising composite antigens and to method for treating and preventing an infection.

Immunogenic antigens

The invention relates to composite antigens comprising a peptide with contiguous amino acid sequence derived from a plurality of antigenic epitopes of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal that is protective against infection by the one or more pathogens. In addition. The invention also relates to antibodies to composite antigens of the invention and to methods of administering vaccines comprising antigens or vaccines of antibodies for treating and/or preventing an infection.

Immunogenic compositions to treat and prevent microbial infections

The invention is directed to compositions and methods for stimulating, enhancing or modulating the immune system of a patient before or after infection by a pathogen, and in particular multidrug resistant (MDR) MTB and extremely drug resistant (XDR) MTB. Compositions of the invention contain non-naturally occurring antigens that generate an effective cellular and/or humoral immune response to MTB and/or antibodies that are specifically reactive to MTB antigens. The greater activity of the immune system generated by a vaccine of the invention increases generation of memory T cells that provide for a greater and/or extended response to an MTB infection. Responses involve an increased generation of antibodies that enhance immunity against MTB infection and promote an enhanced phagocytic response. Monoclonal antibodies produced by the non-naturally occurring antigens enhance phagocytosis and killing of mycobacteria by phagocytic cells, enhance clearance of MTB from the blood and modulate immunity and cytokine responses.

Antibodies that modulate immunity to drug resistant and latent MTB infections

The invention is directed to compositions and methods for stimulating, enhancing or modulating the immune system of a patient before or after infection by a pathogen, and in particular MTB. Compositions of the invention contain non-naturally occurring antigens that generate an effective cellular and/or humoral immune response to MTB and/or antibodies that are specifically reactive to MTB antigens. The greater activity of the immune system generated by a vaccine of the invention increases generation of memory T cells that provide for a greater and/or extended response to an MTB infection. Responses involve an increased generation of antibodies that enhance immunity against MTB infection and promote an enhanced phagocytic response. Monoclonal antibodies produced by the non-naturally occurring antigens enhance phagocytosis and killing of mycobacteria by phagocytic cells, enhance clearance of MTB from the blood and modulate immunity and cytokine responses.

Monoclonal antibodies that modulate immunity to MTB and enhance immune clearance

The invention is directed to compositions and methods for generating or enhancing the immune system of a patient against infection by a pathogen, and in particular MTB. Compositions of the invention contain one or more non-naturally occurring antigens that generate an effective cellular or humoral immune response to MTB and/or antibodies that are specifically reactive to mycolic acid or to the surface of MTB. The greater activity of the immune system generated by a vaccine of the invention involve an conjugation of peptides to increase in the generation of memory T cells that provide for a greater and/or longer lived or extended response to an MTB infection. Preferably a response involves an increased generation of antibodies that enhance immunity against MTB infection and promote an enhanced phagocytic response.

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Germantown, MD, United States of America

Clara Jebet Sei