Anthrax compositions and methods of use and production

Abstract

Compositions and methods effective for eliciting an immune response for preventing or reducing infection or improving clinical outcomes caused by Bacillus anthracis are provided. The compositions include a naturally occurring or synthetic protein, peptide, or protein fragment containing all or an active portion of an antigenic epitope associated with anthrax toxin proteins optionally combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The preferred antigenic epitopes correspond to immunogenic regions of protective antigen, lethal factor or edema factor, either individually or in combination. In addition, methods and compositions containing antibodies for reducing the effects of anthrax toxins are described. The methods involve administering to a human or animal the compositions described herein in a dosage sufficient to elicit an immune response or treat the anthrax infection.

1 . A composition comprising an immunogenic peptide of an anthrax protein, wherein the peptide has a molecular weight less than 20 kDa and induces an immune response to anthrax when administered to an animal. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the anthrax protein is a protective antigen, lethal factor or edema factor protein. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide has less than 40 amino acids. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is coupled to a carrier. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the carrier is a protective antigen protein. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising two or more of the immunogenic peptides. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogenic peptide is a fusion protein of two or more immunogenic peptides of an anthrax protein, wherein each peptide has a molecular weight less than 20 kDa and induces an immune response when administered to an animal. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of anthrax protective antigen amino acid sequences set forth in Table 4 (SEQ ID NOS: 152-174) and Table 6 (SEQ ID NOS: 185-193). 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of anthrax lethal factor protein amino acid sequences set forth in Tables 1-3 (SEQ ID NOS: 92-116) and 5 (SEQ ID NOS: 175-184). 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of anthrax edema factor protein amino acid sequences set forth in Table 7 (SEQ ID NOS: 194-206). 
     
     
         11 . A method of inducing an immune response to anthrax comprising administering to an animal an effective amount of a composition comprising an immunogenic peptide of an anthrax protein, wherein the peptide has a molecular weight less than 20 kDa. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the animal is infected with anthrax and the induced immune response is effective for treating the anthrax infection in the animal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the induced immune response is effective for protecting against anthrax infection in the animal. 
     
     
         14 . A composition comprising an antibody immunoreactive with a peptide of an anthrax protein, wherein the peptide has a molecular weight less than 20 kDa and induces an immune response to anthrax when administered to an animal. 25 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein the antibody is a humanized antibody. 
     
     
         16 . A method of treating an animal infected with anthrax comprising administering to an animal an effective amount of a composition comprising an antibody immunoreactive with a peptide of an anthrax protein, wherein the peptide has a molecular weight less than 20 kDa. 
     
     
         17 . A method of producing an antibody to anthrax comprising administering to an animal an effective amount of a composition comprising an immunogenic peptide of an anthrax protein, wherein the peptide has a molecular weight less than 20 kDa. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal or polyclonal antibody. 
     
     
         19 . A method for detecting anthrax infection in an animal comprising
 combining a sample from the animal with an antibody immunoreactive with a peptide of an anthrax protein, wherein the peptide has a molecular weight less than 20 kDa and induces an immune response to anthrax when administered to an animal, and   detecting a complex formed between the antibody and an anthrax protein in the sample,   wherein detection of a complex indicates anthrax infection in the animal.   
     
     
         20 . A method for detecting anthrax infection in an animal comprising
 combining a sample from the animal with an immunoreactive peptide of an anthrax protein, wherein the peptide has a molecular weight less than 20 lcDa and induces an immune response to anthrax when administered to an animal, and   detecting a complex formed between an antibody in the sample and the immunoreactive peptide,   wherein detection of a complex indicates anthrax infection in the animal.   
     
     
         21 . A method for detecting specific protective immunity to anthrax infection in an animal comprising
 combining a sample from the animal with an immunoreactive peptide of an anthrax protein, wherein the peptide has a molecular weight less than 20 kDa and induces an immune response to anthrax when administered to an animal, and   detecting a complex formed between an antibody in the sample and the immunoreactive peptide,   wherein detection of a predetermined amount of complex indicates specific protective immunity to anthrax infection in the animal.