Protective antigen complexes with increased stability and uses thereof

Abstract

Immunogenic compositions against Bacillus anthracis comprising a stabilized protective antigen complex are disclosed. The stabilized complex comprises protective antigen protein and capillary morphogenesis protein-2, with the capillary morphogenesis protein-2 being bound to the protective antigen protein along a binding interface. The stabilized protective antigen complex has increased thermal and structural stability, along with resistance to premature proteolytic degradation. Methods of using the same to induce an immunogenic response in a subject against B. anthracis infection are also disclosed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An immunogenic composition against  Bacillus anthracis  comprising a stabilized protective antigen complex, said complex comprising protective antigen protein and capillary morphogenesis protein-2. 
     
     
         2 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said capillary morphogenesis protein-2 is bound to said protective antigen protein along a binding interface. 
     
     
         3 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 2 , wherein said binding interface comprises direct interaction of capillary morphogenesis protein-2 with His616 in domain 4 of the protective antigen protein. 
     
     
         4 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said protective antigen protein consists of four domains, wherein said protective antigen protein in said complex has decreased flexibility in an interface between domain 2 and domain 4 as compared to said protective antigen protein before complexation with said capillary morphogenesis protein-2. 
     
     
         5 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said protective antigen protein is a polypeptide that has at least 80% sequence identity to GenBank AF306778 (SEQ ID NO. 1). 
     
     
         6 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said protective antigen protein comprises a modified histidine residue with a fluorine at the 2-position so that the pKa of said modified histidine residue is less than about 3. 
     
     
         7 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 6 , wherein at least 50% of the histidine residues are modified to have a pKa of less than about 3. 
     
     
         8 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 1 , wherein the protective antigen protein comprises at least PA 20  of a wild type protective antigen protein. 
     
     
         9 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 8 , wherein residue His86 of said PA 20  has an altered pKa. 
     
     
         10 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said capillary morphogenesis protein-2 is purified. 
     
     
         11 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said capillary morphogenesis protein-2 comprises at least the von Willebrand factor A domain A of capillary morphogenesis protein-2. 
     
     
         12 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said capillary morphogenesis protein-2 is synthetic capillary morphogenesis protein-2. 
     
     
         13 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said capillary morphogenesis protein-2 has been synthesized in vitro. 
     
     
         14 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said protective antigen protein has a thermal stability that is about 20° C. higher than the thermal stability of uncomplexed protective antigen protein. 
     
     
         15 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 1 , said composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of said stabilized protective antigen complex dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         16 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 15 , said composition further comprising secondary active agents, adjuvants, diluents, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 15 , said composition further comprising an antibody against lethal factor and/or an antibody against edema factor of  B. anthracis  dispersed in said carrier. 
     
     
         18 . A method for inducing an immunogenic response in a subject against  B. anthracis , said method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically-effective amount of an immunogenic composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said subject is suffering from  B. anthracis  infection before said administering. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said subject is free of observable symptoms of  B. anthracis  infection before said administering. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said subject is at risk of developing  B. anthracis  infection before said administering. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said administering is selected from the group consisting of intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intradermally, intravenously, intranasally, and orally. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising co-administering one or more of antibodies against lethal factor, antibodies against edema factor, antibodies against a second protective antigen, amoxicillin, penicillin G procaine, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, tetracycline, rifampin, and/or vancomycin. 
     
     
         24 . A kit for vaccinating a subject against  B. anthracis  infection, said kit comprising:
 a unit dosage form of an immunogenic composition according to  claim 1 ; and   instructions for administering said unit dosage form to said subject.   
     
     
         25 . A method of stabilizing protective antigen for a vaccine or antitoxin against  B. anthracis , said method comprising:
 providing an immunogenic composition against  B. anthracis  infection, said composition comprising protective antigen; and   adding purified capillary morphogenesis protein-2 to said composition.