Immunotherapy and diagnosis of mucormycosis using coth

Abstract

The invention provided Mucorales CotH antibodies, polypeptides, encoding nucleic acid molecules, and uses thereof. The Mucorales CotH antibodies, polypeptides and encoding nucleic acids disclosed herein can be advantageously used to diagnose, treat or prevent fungal conditions, in particular mucormycosis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An isolated anti-Mucorales CotH antibody, or binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds to a polypeptide expressed on the cell surface of a fungus of the order Mucorales, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 65% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 39 or SEQ ID NO: 40. 
     
     
         2 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence has a least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 39 or SEQ ID NO: 40. 
     
     
         3 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence consists of SEQ ID NO: 39. 
     
     
         4 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence consists of SEQ ID NO: 40. 
     
     
         5 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody specifically binds to SEQ ID NO: 39. 
     
     
         6 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody specifically binds to SEQ ID NO: 40. 
     
     
         7 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein the fungus is a pathogenic fungus that can cause mucormycosis in a human. 
     
     
         8 . The antibody of  claim 7 , wherein the pathogenic fungus belongs to a genus selected from the group consisting of  Rhizopus, Rhizomucor, Lichtheimia, Mucor, Apophysomyces  and  Cunninghamella.    
     
     
         9 . The antibody of  claim 8 , wherein the pathogenic fungus belongs to the genus  Rhizopus.    
     
     
         10 . The antibody of  claim 8 , wherein the pathogenic fungus belongs to the genus  Lichtheimia  or  Mucor.    
     
     
         11 . The antibody of  claim 8 , wherein the pathogenic fungus belongs to a species selected from  Lechtheimia corymbifera, Cunninghamella bertholletia, Rhizopus microspores, Mucor racemosus, Mucor circinelloides, Rhizomucor variabilis, Apophysomyces elegans , and  Apophysomyces trapeziformis.    
     
     
         12 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a polyclonal antibody. 
     
     
         13 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         14 . The antibody of  claim 13 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a humanized antibody. 
     
     
         15 . The antibody of  claim 13 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a chimeric antibody 
     
     
         16 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein the binding fragment is a single chain antibody. 
     
     
         17 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody comprises a detectable marker. 
     
     
         18 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody abrogates endocytosis of the fungus by a mammalian endothelial cell. 
     
     
         19 . An isolated anti-Mucorales CotH antibody, or binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds to a polypeptide expressed on the cell surface of a fungus of the genus  Rhizopus , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 85% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 39 or SEQ ID NO: 40, and wherein the antibody abrogates endocytosis of the fungus by a mammalian endothelial cell.