Bovine lactation associated immunotropic protein (CD14), encoding gene and application in B cell activation

Abstract

A novel protein purified from bovine colostral whey and isolated nucleotide sequences encoding the protein is identified. The isolated bovine protein is termed Bovine Lactation Associated Immunotropic (Bo-LAIT) protein. The human homologue of Bo-LAIT protein, Hu-LAIT protein, is also described. A method of activating B cells, and particularly of activating B cells in a mammal, such as a human, in need of such activation by administering LAIT protein is described. LAIT protein can be incorporated into infant formula. LAIT protein can be administered to an infant, as by feeding to the infant such formula. LAIT protein can be incorporated as part of a vaccination. LAIT protein can be administered to a patient having a T cell immune deficiency, for example, a particular T cell dysfunction in which gp39 (CD40L) is under expressed on or totally absent from the cell surface of patient T cells. Preparation of medicaments including LAIT protein for activating B cells in a mammal in need of such activation is described. Natural or recombinant LAIT protein can be used.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a vaccine containing an antigen other than CD14 which comprises incorporating into the vaccine said antigen and a polypeptide capable of activating mammalian B cells, the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, or SEQ ID NO:6, a conservatively substituted variant thereof which activate B cells, a fragment of a said sequence which activates mammalian B cells, or a conservatively substituted variant of a said fragment which activates mammalian B cells.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of conjugating said antigen and said polypeptide.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of mixing the antigen and said polypeptide into the vaccine.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, or SEQ ID NO:6, or a conservatively substituted variant thereof which activate B cells.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:5, or a conservatively substituted variant thereof which activate B cells.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:5.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:6.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide is recombinant.  
     
     
         10 . A kit for the preparation of a vaccination comprising a predetermined amount of an antigen and a predetermined amount of a polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . A kit for the preparation of a vaccination comprising a predetermined amount of an antigen and a predetermined amount of a polypeptide of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         12 . A kit for the preparation of a vaccination comprising a predetermined amount of an antigen and a predetermined amount of a polypeptide of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         13 . A kit for the preparation of a vaccination comprising a predetermined amount of an antigen and a predetermined amount of a polypeptide of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         14 . A kit for the preparation of a vaccination comprising a predetermined amount of an antigen and a predetermined amount of a polypeptide of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         15 . A kit for the preparation of a vaccination comprising a predetermined amount of an antigen and a predetermined amount of a polypeptide of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         16 . A method of vaccinating a patient comprising administering an antigen other than CD14 and a polypeptide of  claim 1  to the patient.  
     
     
         17 . A method of vaccinating a patient comprising administering an antigen other than CD14 and a polypeptide of  claim 2  to the patient.  
     
     
         18 . A method of vaccinating a patient comprising administering an antigen other than CD14 and a polypeptide of  claim 3  to the patient.  
     
     
         19 . A method of vaccinating a patient comprising administering an antigen other than CD14 and a polypeptide of  claim 4  to the patient.  
     
     
         20 . A method of vaccinating a patient comprising administering an antigen other than CD14 and a polypeptide of  claim 5  to the patient.  
     
     
         21 . A method of vaccinating a patient comprising administering an antigen other than CD14 and a polypeptide of  claim 6  to the patient.  
     
     
         22 . A method of vaccinating a patient comprising administering an antigen other than CD14 and a polypeptide of  claim 7  to the patient.  
     
     
         23 . A method of vaccinating a patient comprising administering an antigen other than CD14 and a polypeptide of  claim 9  to the patient.  
     
     
         24 . A vaccine manufactured according to the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         25 . A vaccine manufactured according to the method of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         26 . A vaccine manufactured according to the method of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         27 . A vaccine manufactured according to the method of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         28 . A vaccine manufactured according to the method of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         29 . A vaccine manufactured according to the method of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         30 . A vaccine manufactured according to the method of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         31 . A vaccine manufactured according to the method of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         32 . A vaccine manufactured according to the method of  claim 9.