Vaccine comprising amb a 1 peptides for use in the treatment of ragweed allergy

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions for preventing or treating allergy to ragweed by tolerisation. The compositions are based on combinations of peptide fragments derived from the major allergen in ragweed pollen, Amb a 1. The invention also relates to products, vectors and formulations which may be used to provide polypeptides of the invention in combination. The invention further relates to in vitro methods for determining whether T cells recognize a polypeptide of the invention, and for determining whether an individual has or is at risk of a condition characterized by allergic symptoms in response to a ragweed allergen.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A composition suitable for use in preventing or treating allergy to ragweed comprising at least three polypeptides, wherein the polypeptides are independently selected from the group consisting of polypeptides of any of SEQ ID NO's. 1 to 31 and variants thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A composition according to  claim 16 , comprising at least one polypeptide selected from the group consisting of GMIKSNDGPPI (SEQ ID NO: 1), GLIKSHDGPPV (SEQ ID NO: 2), GLIKSNDGPAA (SEQ ID NO: 3) and variants thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A composition according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one polypeptide is the polypeptide GMIKSNDGPPI (SEQ ID NO: 1), or a variant thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A composition according to  claim 17 , comprising at least one polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide of RDLLENGAIFLPSG (SEQ ID NO: 9), DVFENGAIFVPSG (SEQ ID NO: 8), KDLLENGAIFVTSG (SEQ ID NO: 7) and variants thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A composition according to  claim 19  wherein the at least one polypeptide is the polypeptide RDLLENGAIFLPSG (SEQ ID NO:9), or a variant thereof 
     
     
         21 . A composition according to  claim 17  comprising at least one polypeptide selected from selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide of KAGMIPAEPGEA (SEQ ID NO: 10), SAGMIPAEPGEA (SEQ ID NO: 11), and variants thereof. 
     
     
         22 . A composition according to  claim 17 , comprising at least one polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide of GSSQIWIDHSSLSKS (SEQ ID NO: 4), ETRRSLKTSGAYN (SEQ ID NO: 26), VVNSDKTIDGRGVKVE (SEQ ID NO: 14), AINNDKTIDGRGAKVE (SEQ ID NO: 15), FGFFQVVNNNYD (SEQ ID NO: 27), HGFFQVVNNNYD (SEQ ID NO: 28), KEGTLRFAAAQNRP (SEQ ID NO: 12), KEGTLRFGAAQNRP (SEQ ID NO: 13), and variants thereof. 
     
     
         23 . A composition according to  claim 17 , comprising at least one polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide of GEAAIKLTSSAGVLS (SEQ ID NO: 16), KGEAAIKLTSSAGVLSK (SEQ ID NO: 19), KGEAAIKLTSSAGVLSKK (SEQ ID NO: 20) and variants thereof. 
     
     
         24 . A composition according to  claim 23 , wherein the at least one polypeptide is the polypeptide of KGEAAIKLTSSAGVLSKK (SEQ ID NO: 20) or a variant thereof. 
     
     
         25 . A composition according to  claim 19  comprising at least one polypeptide selected from selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide of KAGMIPAEPGEA (SEQ ID NO: 10), SAGMIPAEPGEA (SEQ ID NO: 11), and variants thereof. 
     
     
         26 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The composition according to  claim 16 , wherein one or more of the polypeptides have one or more modifications selected from the following:
 (i) N terminal acetylation;   (ii) C terminal amidation;   (iii) one or more hydrogen on the side chain amines of Arginine and/or Lysine replaced with a methylene group;   (iv) glycosylation; and   (v) phosphorylation.   
     
     
         30 . The composition according to  claim 16 , which is a solution in which each polypeptide has a concentration in the range of 0.03 to 200 nmol/ml. 
     
     
         31 . The composition according to  claim 16 , which is a solution in which each polypeptide has a concentration in the range of 0.3 to 200 nmol/ml. 
     
     
         32 . The composition according to  claim 16 , which is a solution in which each polypeptide has a concentration in the range of 30 to 200 nmol/ml. 
     
     
         33 . The composition according to  claim 16 , which is a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. 
     
     
         34 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to  claim 33 , formulated for oral administration, nasal administration, epicutaneous administration, subcutaneous administration, sublingual administration, intradermal administration, buccal administration or for administration by inhalation or by injection. 
     
     
         35 . A method of preventing or treating allergy to ragweed, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising at least three polypeptides, wherein the polypeptides are independently selected from the group consisting of polypeptides of any of SEQ ID NO's. 1 to 31 and variants thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said subject is a human. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said subject is ragweed allergic. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said subject:
 is sensitised to Amb a 1;   has a family history of allergy to ragweed; or   displays symptoms of allergy when exposed to ragweed.