Vaccine

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of immunising a subject comprising the step of administering a composition comprising an antigen and a carbohydrate polymer comprising mannose to a mucosal site of the subject, methods of use of the composition for vaccination and sterilization and use of the composition in manufacturing a medicament.

1 . A method of immunising a subject, comprising the step of administering a composition comprising: 
 an antigen and    a carbohydrate polymer comprising mannose to a mucosal site thereby to stimulate an immune response comprising a secretory immune response,    wherein the polymer    a) comprises monomers comprising aldehyde groups, and    b) is covalently bonded to the antigen.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a humoral immune response results.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the immune response is an IgA response.  
     
     
         4 . The method of any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the mucosal site is selected from the group consisting of mucosal tissues lining the oral cavity, gingivae, buccal tissues, oro-pharangeal cavaties, throat, tonsils, respiratory tract, nasal tissues, trachea, bronchi, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large intestine, colon, rectum, male and female reproductive tracts, penis, vulva, vagina, bladder, ureter, urethra and associated tissues, cervico-vaginal tissues, fallopian tubes and uterus.  
     
     
         5 . A method of modulating an immune response comprising a secretory immune response at a mucosal site in a subject comprising the step of administering a composition comprising an antigen and a carbohydrate polymer comprising mannose to a mucosal site wherein the polymer 
 a) comprises monomers comprising aldehyde groups, and    b) is covalently bonded to the antigen.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the immune response comprises stimulation of mediators of cellular immunity such as Th1 and/or Th2.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein a mucosal or secretory immune response is stronger than a systemic immune response.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  or  claim 5  wherein the antigen is selected from the group consisting of the following or immunogenic portions thereof pollens, allergens, bacteria, viruses, yeast, fungi, protozoa or other microorganisms including pathogens of humans, animals and plants.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the antigen is selected from the group consisting of influenza virus, haemagglutinin of influenza, Porphyromona gingivalis, proteinase and adhesin epitopes of Porphyromona gingivalis, Helicobacter pylori, urease of Helicobacter pylori, rotavirus, recombinant VP5 protein of rotavirus, HIV, gp120 of HIV, RSV, surface proteins of RSV and ovalbumin peptides and  Listeria monocytogenes, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium,  BCG, influenza nucleoprotein, Respiratory Syncyticial virus (RSV) F or G proteins, HIV,  Candida albicans  and  Chlamydia trachomatis  or outer membrane proteins thereof,  Neisseria meningitidis  class 1 outer protein, Herpes simplex virus type I glycoprotein G or gp D or CP27, Human Papilloma Virus, Murray valley encephalitis virus E glycoprotein, antigenic portions thereof and derivatives thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the antigen is selected from the group consisting of HIV antigens, malaria antigens, antigens from microorganisms which cause venereal disease, common cold or influenza and antigens which induce asthma.  
     
     
         11 . The method of any one of  claims 1  to  10  wherein the antigen is conjugated to oxidised mannan.  
     
     
         12 . A composition adapted to be administered at a mucosal site of a subject thereby to generate an immune response comprising a secretory immune response, the composition comprising an antigen and a carbohydrate polymer comprising mannose, wherein the polymer 
 a) comprises monomers comprising aldehyde groups, and    b) is covalently bonded to the antigen.    
     
     
         13 . Use of a composition comprising an antigen and a carbohydrate polymer comprising mannose for the manufacture of a medicament for the modulation of an immune response comprising a secretory immune response in a subject wherein the polymer 
 a) comprises monomers comprising aldehyde groups, and    b) is covalently bonded to the antigen.    
     
     
         14 . Use of a composition comprising an antigen and a carbohydrate polymer comprising mannose for the manufacture of a vaccine suitable for administration to a mucosal site thereby to generate an immune response comprising a secretory immune response wherein the polymer 
 a) comprises monomers comprising aldehyde groups, and    b) is covalently bonded to the antigen.    
     
     
         15 . A method of vaccinating a subject against a disease comprising the step of administering at a mucosal site of the subject a composition comprising an antigen and a carbohydrate polymer comprising mannose thereby to generate an immune response comprising a secretory immune response wherein the polymer 
 a) comprises monomers comprising aldehyde groups, and    b) is covalently bonded to the antigen.    
     
     
         16 . A method of sterilising a non-human subject comprising the step of administering to a mucosal site a composition comprising an antigen and a carbohydrate polymer comprising mannose.