Novel type 1 diabetes vaccines, and methods of use

Abstract

The subject invention provides compositions for alleviating type 1 diabetes (T1D). In preferred embodiments, the compositions comprise an effective amount of one or more antigen presenting cells (APCs) that have been pulsed with one or more bacterial isolates and/or compounds from the isolates. The bacteria used to pulse the APCs are, preferably, those that confer upon the APCs the ability to inhibit the generation of diabetes-promoting T cells. In specific embodiments, these bacteria may be, for example, Eubacteria or Clostridia. In a preferred embodiment, the APCs are dendritic cells (DCs).

We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition for treating or preventing type 1 Diabetes (T1D), the composition comprising an antigen presenting cell (APC) pulsed with a bacterium or a component of the bacterium, wherein the bacterium or the component of the bacterium confers upon the APC the ability to inhibit the generation of diabetes promoting T cells. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the APC is a dendritic cell. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the bacterium is selected from the genera  Eubacterium, Clostridium,  and  Lactobacillus.    
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the bacterium is  Lactobacillus johnsonii  or  Lactobacillus johnsonii  N6.2. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the component of the bacterium is a membrane component. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the bacterium is nonviable. 
     
     
         7 . A method of treating or preventing T1D, the method comprising administering to a subject having T1D or having an increased risk of developing T1D, a composition comprising an effective amount of an APC pulsed with a bacterium or a component of the bacterium, wherein the bacterium or the component of the bacterium confers upon the APC the ability to inhibit the generation of diabetes promoting T cells in the subject. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the APC is DC. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the bacterium is selected from the genera  Eubacterium, Clostridium,  and  Lactobacillus.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the bacterium is  Lactobacillus johnsonii  or  Lactobacillus johnsonii  N6.2. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the component of the bacterium is a membrane component. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the bacterium is nonviable. 
     
     
         13 . A method of preparing a vaccine to treat or prevent T1D, the method comprising pulsing an APC with a bacterium or a component of the bacterium, wherein the bacterium or the component of the bacterium confers upon the APC the ability to inhibit the generation of diabetes promoting T cells. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the APC is a DC. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the bacterium is selected from the genera  Eubacterium, Clostridium,  and  Lactobacillus.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the bacterium is  Lactobacillus johnsonii  or  Lactobacillus johnsonii  N6.2. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the component of the bacterium is a membrane component. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the bacterium is nonviable.