IMMUNOGENIC COMPOSITIONS OF
STAPHYLOCOCCUS A UREUS ANTIGENS
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/219,134, filed June 22, 2009, the entirety of which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions, comprising
polypeptides and capsular polysaccharides isolated from Staphylococcus aureus.
In addition, the invention relates to methods of inducing an immune response in
subjects against Staphylococcus aureus using immunogenic compositions of the
Staphylococcus aureus polypeptides, and capsular polysaccharides. The resulting
antibodies can also be used to treat or prevent Staphylococcus aureus infection via
passive immunotherapy.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Humans are the natural reservoirs for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).
Healthy individuals can be colonized by S. aureus on the skin, in the nares and the
throat either persistently (10-35%), intermittently (20-75%) or be in a non-carriage
state (5-70%) with no associated disease. See Vandenbergh et al., J. Clin. Micro.
37:3133-3140 (1999). Disease subsequently occurs when individuals become
immunocompromised due to breaches in immune barriers, such as during surgery.
- 2 -
placement of indwelling catheters or other devices, trauma, or wounds. The
resulting S. aureus infection can cause a wide range of different diseases that range
from mild skin infections to endocarditis, osteomyelitis, bacteremia, sepsis, and
other forms of disease with accompanying high mortality rates. The large human
reservoir enhances opportunity for evolution and spread of adapted pathogenic
clonal types.
[0004] Invasive staphylococcal infections from the Gram positive cocci S. aureus
and S. epidermidis are of particular concern because they are an increasing public
health problem worldwide. Specifically, S. aureus is responsible for the majority
of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections and its prevalence in communityonset
infections is increasing. For example, the incidence of invasive methicillinresistant
S. aureus (MRSA) was estimated at 31.8 per 100,000 persons, including
18,650 deaths in the United States in 2005. See Klevens R.M. et al., JAMA,
298:1763-71 (2007).
[0005] Staphylococcal diseases have seen a dramatic increase in the last 20
years, this increase parallels the use of intravascular devices and invasive
procedures. This rise in disease incidence is made more troubling because of the
parallel rise of antibiotic resistance, therefore, there is an urgent need for
immunogenic compositions for use in vaccines or to elicit polyclonal or
monoclonal antibodies to confer passive immunity as a means to prevent or treat
staphylococcal infection and associated diseases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is directed towards a multi-antigen or
multicomponent immunogenic composition comprising at least three antigens
isolated from a staphylococcal bacterium. The antigens, which are polypeptides
and polysaccharides, may be obtained, inter alia, directly from the bacterium using
isolation procedures known to those skilled in the art, or they may be produced
using synthetic protocols, or they may be recombinantly produced using genetic
engineering procedures also known to those skilled in the art, or through a
combination of any of the foregoing. In certain embodiments, an immunogenic
composition of the invention comprises three or more antigens selected from an
isolated S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus
- 3 -
clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus capsular
polysaccharide type 5 (CP5) conjugated to a carrier protein, an isolated S. aureus
capsular polysaccharide type 8 (CP8) conjugated to a carrier protein and an
isolated S. aureus MntC protein. In addition, the present invention provides
methods for inducing an immune response against a staphylococcal bacterium,
methods for preventing, reducing the severity, or delaying onset of a disease
caused by a staphylococcal bacterium, and methods for preventing, reducing the
severity, or delaying onset of at least one symptom of a disease caused by infection
with a staphylococcal bacterium.
[0007] Accordingly, in one embodiment, the invention provides an immunogenic
composition comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA)
polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5 (CP5) conjugated
to a carrier protein, and an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8 (CP8)
conjugated to a carrier protein.
[0008] In one embodiment, the invention provides an immunogenic composition
comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an
isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB), an isolated S. aureus capsular
polysaccharide type 5 (CP5) conjugated to a carrier protein, and an isolated
S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8 (CP8) conjugated to a carrier protein.
[0009] In one embodiment, the invention provides an immunogenic composition
comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an
isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus
MntC protein, an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5 (CP5)
conjugated to a carrier protein, and an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide
type 8 (CP8) conjugated to a carrier protein.
[0010] In one embodiment, the invention provides an immunogenic composition
comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an
isolated S. aureus MntC protein, an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type
5 (CP5) conjugated to a carrier protein, and an isolated S. aureus capsular
polysaccharide type 8 (CP8) conjugated to a carrier protein.
[0011] In one embodiment, the invention provides an immunogenic composition
comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, an
- 4 -
isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5 (CP5) conjugated to a carrier
protein, and an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8 (CP8) conjugated
to a carrier protein.
[0012] In one embodiment, the invention provides an immunogenic composition
comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, an
isolated S. aureus MntC protein, an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type
5 (CP5) conjugated to a carrier protein, and an isolated S. aureus capsular
polysaccharide type 8 (CP8) conjugated to a carrier protein.
[0013] In one embodiment, the invention provides an immunogenic composition
comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an
isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, and an isolated S. aureus
MntC protein.
[0014] In one embodiment, the invention provides an immunogenic composition
comprising: an isolated S. aureus MntC protein, an isolated S. aureus capsular
polysaccharide type 5 (CP5) conjugated to a carrier protein, and an isolated
S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8 (CP8) conjugated to a carrier protein.
[0015] In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises an isolated
ClfA polypeptide fragment, wherein the ClfA polypeptide fragment comprises the
fibrinogen binding domain of ClfA. In one embodiment, the ClfA polypeptide
fragment comprises a fibrinogen binding domain comprising the Nl, N2 and N3
domains of ClfA. In one embodiment, the ClfA polypeptide fragment comprises a
fibrinogen binding domain comprising the N2 and N3 domains of ClfA. In one
embodiment, the compositions containing the ClfA fibrinogen binding domain
display reduced binding to fibrinogen. In one embodiment, the fibrinogen binding
domain of ClfA binds to fibrinogen at a reduced level compared to the binding
observed to fibrinogen with the native fibrinogen binding domain of ClfA. In one
embodiment, the compositions containing the ClfA fibrinogen binding domain
display reduced binding to fibrinogen and have an amino acid substitution at one or
more of Tyr 338, Tyr 256, Pro 336, Lys 389, Ala 254 and He 387 of the full length
protein containing the signal sequence. In one embodiment, the compositions
containing the ClfA fibrinogen binding domain display an amino acid substitution
at one or more of Tyr 338, Tyr 256, Pro 336, Lys 389, Ala 254 and He 387,
- 5 -
wherein the amino acid at any one or more of these positions is changed to an Ala
or Ser. In one embodiment, the composition comprises a ClfA fibrinogen binding
domain wherein the Tyr at position 338 is changed to an Ala.
[0016] In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises an isolated
ClfB polypeptide fragment, wherein the ClfB polypeptide fragment comprises the
fibrinogen binding domain of ClfB. In one embodiment, the ClfB polypeptide
fragment comprises a fibrinogen binding domain comprising the Nl, N2 and N3
domains of ClfB. In one embodiment, the ClfB polypeptide fragment comprises a
fibrinogen binding domain comprising the N2 and N3 domains of ClfB. In one
embodiment, the compositions containing the ClfB fibrinogen binding domain
display reduced binding to fibrinogen. In one embodiment, the fibrinogen binding
domain of ClfB binds to fibrinogen at a reduced level compared to the binding
observed to fibrinogen with the native fibrinogen binding domain of ClfB.
[0017] In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises S. aureus
capsular polysaccharide type 5 (CP5) which is a high molecular weight
polysaccharide of between 20 and 1000 kDa. In one embodiment, the type 5 high
molecular weight polysaccharide has a molecular weight of between 50 and 300
kDa. In one embodiment, the type 5 high molecular weight polysaccharide has a
molecular weight of between 70 and 150 kDa.
[0018] In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises an
S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5, which is between 10% and 100%
0-acetyIated. In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises an
S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5, which is between 50% and 100%
O-acetylated. In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises an
S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5, which is between 75% and 100%
O-acetylated.
[0019] In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises S. aureus
capsular polysaccharide type 8 which is a high molecular weight polysaccharide of
between 20 and 1000 kDa. In one embodiment, the type 8 high molecular weight
polysaccharide has a molecular weight of between 50 and 300 kDa. In one
embodiment, the type 8 high molecular weight polysaccharide has a molecular
weight of between 70 and 150 kDa.
- 6 -
[0020] In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises an
S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8, which is between 10% and 100%
0-acetylated. In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises an
S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8, which is between 50% and 100%
0-acetylated. In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises an
S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8, which is between 75% and 100%
0-acetylated.
[0021] In one embodiment, the capsular polysaccharide 5 and/or 8 present in an
immunogenic composition is conjugated to a carrier protein. In one embodiment,
the carrier protein is the Corynebacterium diphtheriae (C. diphtheriae) toxoid
CRM197.
[0022] In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises the
S. aureus MntC, which is a lipidated protein. In one embodiment, the
immunogenic composition comprises the S. aureus MntC, which is not a lipidated
protein.
[0023] In one embodiment, the invention provides an immunogenic composition
as described herein, further comprising at least one protein from the serineaspartate
repeat (Sdr) protein family selected from the group consisting of SdrC,
SdrD and SdrE.
[0024] In one embodiment, the invention provides an immunogenic composition
as described herein, further comprising the iron surface determinant B (IsdB)
protein.
[0025] In each of the embodiments described herein in which an immunogenic
composition comprises three or more recited antigens, that composition may
further comprise other immunogenic and/or non-immunogenic substances. In
certain embodiments, each immunogenic composition may, alternatively, "consist
essentially of or "consist of the three or more recited antigens and further
comprise one or more non-immunogenic substances, as described in more detail
herein.
[0026] In one embodiment, the invention provides an immunogenic composition
as described herein, further comprising any one of the following antigens: Opp3a,
DUD, HtsA, LtaS, IsdA, IsdC, SdrF, SdrG, SdrH, SrtA, SpA, Sbi FmtB, alpha-
7 -
hemolysin (hia), beta-hemolysin, fibronectin-binding protein A (fnbA),
fibronectin-binding protein B (fnbB), coagulase. Fig, map, Panton-Valentine
leukocidin (pvl), alpha-toxin and its variants, gamma-toxin (hlg) and variants, ica,
immunodominant ABC transporter, Mg2+ transporter, Ni ABC transporter, RAP,
autolysin, laminin receptors, IsaA/PisA, IsaB/PisB , SPOIIIE, SsaA, EbpS, Sas A,
SasF, SasH, EFB (FIB), SBI, Npase, EBP, bone sialo binding protein II, aureolysin
precursor (AUR)/Seppl, Cna, and fragments thereof such as M55, TSST-1, mecA,
poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG/dPNAG) exopolysaccharide, GehD, EbhA,
EbhB, SSP-1, SSP-2, HBP, vitronectin binding protein, HarA, EsxA, EsxB,
Enterotoxin A, Enterotoxin B, Enterotoxin CI, and novel autolysin. In certain
embodiments of the invention, when the immunogenic composition comprises
certain forms of CP5 and/or CP8, it may not further comprise PNAG.
[0027] In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition further comprises an
adjuvant. In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition further comprises a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
[0028] In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition is used to formulate a
vaccine. In one embodiment, the vaccine is used to induce an immune response in
a subject against S. aureus. In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition is
used to generate an antibody formulation to confer passive immunity on a subject.
[0029] In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of inducing an
immune response against S. aureus comprising administering to a subject an
immunogenic amount of any of the immunogenic compositions described herein
and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
[0030] In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of preventing or
reducing infection with S. aureus, or a method of preventing or reducing the
severity of at least one symptom associated with an infection caused by S. aureus,
the methods comprising administering to a subject an immunogenic amount of any
of the immunogenic compositions described herein and a pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier.
[0031] In one embodiment, the methods for inducing an immune response
against S. aureus comprise delivery of the immunogenic compositions with an
adjuvant. In one embodiment, the methods for inducing an immune response
- 8 -
against 5'. aureus provide for delivery of the immunogenic compositions with a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
[0032] In one embodiment, the immune response induced by the immunogenic
compositions described herein, prevents or reduces a disease or condition
associated with a staphylococcal organism in a subject, or prevents or reduces one
or more symptoms associated with a staphylococcal organism in a subject. In one
embodiment, the disease is selected from the group consisting of invasive
S. aureus disease, sepsis and carriage.
[0033] In one embodiment, the immune response induced comprises the
generation of antibodies having opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) against
S. aureus. In one embodiment, the immune response induced comprises the
generation of higher titers of opsonophagocytic antibodies specific for S. aureus
compared to that observed in non-immunized subjects. In one embodiment, the
opsonophagocytic titer is at least 1:20.
[0034] In one embodiment, the S. aureus against which the immune response is
induced is MRSA. In one embodiment, the S. aureus against which the immune
response is induced is MSSA. In one embodiment, the S. aureus against which the
immune response is induced is VRSA. In one embodiment, the S. aureus against
which the immune response is induced is VISA.
[0035] In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of preventing a
staphylococcal infection in a subject undergoing a surgical procedure, the method
comprising administering an immunologically effective amount of any of the
immunogenic compositions as described herein to the subject prior to the surgical
procedure. The surgical procedure can be an elective surgical procedure or a nonelective
surgical procedure. In one embodiment, the surgical procedure is a cardiothoracic
surgical procedure. In one embodiment, the subject is a human, veterinary
animal, or a livestock animal.
[0036] In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of conferring
passive immunity to a subject comprising the steps of (1) generating an antibody
preparation using an immunogenic compositions of the invention; and (2)
administering the antibody preparation to the subject to confer passive immunity.
- 9 -
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] Figure 1 depicts the various forms of recombinant ClfA and discloses
SEQ ID NOs: 125 and 127-129, respectively, in order of appearance.
[0038] Figure 2 depicts the cloning steps used for construction of pLPl 179 for
expressing ClfA.
[0039] Figure 3 depicts the T7ClfA(Ni23)Y338A expression Vector, pLPl 179.
[0040] Figure 4 depicts the repeating structure of the CP5 and CP8
polysaccharides.
[0041] Figures 5A and 5B depict molecular weight profiles of CP5 (A) and CP8
(B) produced at different broth pHs.
[0042] Figures 6A and 6B depict molecular weight profiles of CP5 (A) and CP8
(B) produced at different temperatures.
[0043] Figure 7 demonstrates the correlation of the molecular weight of purified
CP5 and CP8 with the treatment time for mild acid hydrolysis.
[0044] Figure 8A-8E depict the alignment of ClfA between various strains of
S. aureus (SEQ ID NOs: 62, 64, 68, 84, 70, 104, 66, 78, 86, 88, 90, 72, 74, 76, 80,
94, 82, 92, 96, 98, 100, 102, 106, and 108, respectively, in order of appearance).
[0045] Figure 9 depicts the ClfA phylogenetic tree.
[0046] Figure lOA-lOE depict the alignment of ClfB between various strains of
S. aureus (SEQ ID NOs: 26, 28, 32, 18, 54, 34, 36, 30, 16, 20, 22, 24, 38, 40, 42,
44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 56, 58, and 60, respectively, in order of appearance).
[0047] Figure 11 depicts the ClfB phylogenetic tree.
[0048] Figure 12 depicts the alignment of MntC between various strains of
5". aureus (SEQ ID NOs: 2, 8, 10, 4, 6, 14 and 12, respectively, in order of
appearance).
[0049] Figure 13 demonstrates that polyclonal rabbit anti-ClfA antibodies
reduce S. aureus 659-018 colony counts in a murine sepsis model.
[0050] Figure 14 demonstrates that active immunization with ClfA reduces
colonization of the heart by S. aureus PFESA0003 in the rabbit infective
endocarditis model.
-10-
[0051] Figures 15A and 15B demonstrate that immunization with MntC reduces
S. aureus in the blood. A: S. aureus PFESA0237 strain; B: 5'. aureus PFESA0266
strain.
[0052] Figure 16 demonstrates that S. aureus CP5- CRM197 conjugate
immunogenic formulation consistently exhibits protection in a murine
pyelonephritis model.
[0053] Figure 17 demonstrates that vaccination with CP8- CRM197 conjugate
immunogenic formulation reduces death in a sepsis model.
[0054] Figure 18 shows colony forming units (CPU) recovered in kidneys after
challenge with S. aureus PFESA0266 in mice vaccinated with high molecular
weight (HMW) CP5-CRM, low molecular weight (LMW) CP5-CRM or PP5-CRM
control.
[0055] Figure 19 shows a comparison of OPA titers (geomean) from serum
obtained from mice vaccinated with different formulations of polysaccharide
conjugate (high molecular weight (HMW) CP5-CRM, low molecular weight
(LMW) CP5-CRM). Groups consisted of 5 to 9 mice.
[0056] Figure 20 demonstrates OPA titer for non-human primate serum before
(wkO, open symbols) and 2 weeks after (wk2, closed symbols) vaccination with
different combinations of 5. aureus antigens. The 3-antigen (3Ag) vaccine was
composed of three antigens and the 4-antigent (4Ag) vaccine was composed of
four antigens. Each formulation has two CP conjugates and either 1 or 2 peptides.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0057] Before the present methods and treatment methodology are described, it is
to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular methods, and
experimental conditions described, as such methods and conditions may vary. It is
also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purposes of describing
particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.
[0058] Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those
described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the
preferred methods and materials are now described. All publications mentioned
herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
-11 -
[0059] The terms used herein have the meanings recognized and known to those
of skill in the art, however, for convenience and completeness, particular terms and
their meanings are set forth below.
[0060] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms
"a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise. Thus, for example, references to "the method" includes one or more
methods, and/or steps of the type described herein and/or which will become
apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and so
forth.
[0061] The term "about" or "approximately" means within a statistically
meaningful range of a value. Such a range can be within an order of magnitude,
typically within 20%, more typically still within 10%, and even more typically
within 5% of a given value or range. The allowable variation encompassed by the
term "about" or "approximately" depends on the particular system under study, and
can be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Whenever a range is
recited within this application, every whole number integer within the range is also
contemplated as an embodiment of the invention.
[0062] An "antibody" is an immunoglobulin molecule capable of specific
binding to a target, such as a carbohydrate, polynucleotide, lipid, polypeptide, etc.,
through at least one antigen recognition site, located in the variable region of the
immunoglobulin molecule. As used herein, unless otherwise indicated by context,
the term is intended to encompass not only intact polyclonal or monoclonal
antibodies, but also engineered antibodies (e.g., chimeric, humanized and/or
derivatized to alter effector functions, stability and other biological activities) and
fragments thereof (such as Fab, Fab', F(ab')2, Fv), single chain (ScFv) and domain
antibodies, including shark and camelid antibodies), and fusion proteins
comprising an antibody portion, multivalent antibodies, multispecific antibodies
(e.g., bispecific antibodies so long as they exhibit the desired biological activity)
and antibody fragments as described herein, and any other modified configuration
of the immunoglobulin molecule that comprises an antigen recognition site. An
antibody includes an antibody of any class, such as IgG, IgA, or IgM (or sub-class
thereof), and the antibody need not be of any particular class. Depending on the
-12-
antibody amino acid sequence of the constant domain of its heavy chains,
immunoglobulins can be assigned to different classes. There are five major classes
of immunoglobulins: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM, and several of these may be
further divided into subclasses (isotypes), e.g., IgGl, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgAl and
IgA2 in humans. The heavy-chain constant domains that correspond to the
different classes of immunoglobulins are called alpha, delta, epsilon, gamma, and
mu, respectively. The subunit structures and three-dimensional configurations of
different classes of immunoglobulins are well known.
[0063] "Antibody fragments" comprise only a portion of an intact antibody,
wherein the portion preferably retains at least one, preferably most or all, of the
functions normally associated with that portion when present in an intact antibody.
[0064] The term "antigen" generally refers to a biological molecule, usually a
protein, peptide, polysaccharide, lipid or conjugate which contains at least one
epitope to which a cognate antibody can selectively bind; or in some instances to
an immunogenic substance that can stimulate the production of antibodies or T-cell
responses, or both, in an animal, including compositions that are injected or
absorbed into an animal. The immune response may be generated to the whole
molecule, or to one or more various portions of the molecule (e.g., an epitope or
hapten). The term may be used to refer to an individual molecule or to a
homogeneous or heterogeneous population of antigenic molecules. An antigen is
recognized by antibodies, T-cell receptors or other elements of specific humoral
and/or cellular immunity. The term "antigen" includes all related antigenic
epitopes. Epitopes of a given antigen can be identified using any number of
epitope mapping techniques, well known in the art. See, e.g.. Epitope Mapping
Protocols in Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 66 (Glenn E. Morris, Ed., 1996)
Humana Press, Totowa, N. J. For example, linear epitopes may be determined by
e.g., concurrently synthesizing large numbers of peptides on solid supports, the
peptides corresponding to portions of the protein molecule, and reacting the
peptides with antibodies while the peptides are still attached to the supports. Such
techniques are known in the art and described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,871;
Geysen et al. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:3998-4002; Geysen et al.
(1986) Molec. Immunol. 23:709-715, all incorporated herein by reference in their
-13-
entireties. Similarly, conformational epitopes may be identified by determining
spatial conformation of amino acids such as by, e.g., x-ray crystallography and 2-
dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance. See, e.g.. Epitope Mapping Protocols,
supra. Furthermore, for purposes of the present invention, an "antigen" may also
be used to refer to a protein that includes modifications, such as deletions,
additions and substitutions (generally conservative in nature, but they may be nonconservative),
to the native sequence, so long as the protein maintains the ability to
elicit an immunological response. These modifications may be deliberate, as
through site-directed mutagenesis, or through particular synthetic procedures, or
through a genetic engineering approach, or may be accidental, such as through
mutations of hosts, which produce the antigens. Furthermore, the antigen can be
derived, obtained, or isolated from a microbe, e.g. a bacterium, or can be a whole
organism. Similarly, an oligonucleotide or polynucleotide, which expresses an
antigen, such as in nucleic acid immunization applications, is also included in the
definition. Synthetic antigens are also included, for example, polyepitopes,
flanking epitopes, and other recombinant or synthetically derived antigens
(Bergmann et al. (1993) Eur. J. Immunol. 23:2777 2781; Bergmann et al. (1996) J.
Immunol. 157:3242 3249; Suhrbier, A. (1997) Immunol, and Cell Biol. 75:402 408;
Gardner et al. (1998) 12th World AIDS Conference, Geneva, Switzerland, Jun. 28
-Jul. 3, 1998).
[0065] The term "adjuvant" refers to a compound or mixture that enhances the
immune response to an antigen as further described and exemplified herein.
[0066] "Bacteremia" is a transient presence of bacteria in the blood. A
bacteremia can progress to septicemia, or sepsis, which would be considered an
infection and is the persistent presence of bacteria in the blood with associated
clinical signs/symptoms. Not all bacteria are capable of surviving in the blood.
Those that do have special genetic traits that provide for that ability. Also, the host
factors play an important role as well.
[0067] "Capsular polysaccharide" or "capsule polysaccharide" refers to the
polysaccharide capsule that is external to the cell wall of most isolates of
Staphylococci. For example, S. aureus includes a cell wall component composed
of a peptidoglycan complex, which enables the organism to survive under
- 14-
unfavorable osmotic conditions and also includes a unique teichoic acid linked to
the peptidoglycan. External to the cell wall a thin polysaccharide capsule coats
most isolates of 5. aureus. This serologically distinct capsule can be used to
serotype various isolates of 5. aureus. Many of the clinically significant isolates
have been shown to include two capsular types: serotype 5 (CP5) and serotype 8
(CP8). The structures of CP5 and CP8 are shown schematically in Figure 4.
[0068] As used herein, "conjugates" comprise a capsule polysaccharide usually
of a desired range of molecular weight and a carrier protein, wherein the capsule
polysaccharide is conjugated to the carrier protein. Conjugates may or may not
contain some amount of free capsule polysaccharide. As used herein, "free capsule
polysaccharide" refers to capsule polysaccharide that is non-covalently associated
with (i.e., non-covalently bound to, adsorbed to or entrapped in or with) the
conjugated capsular polysaccharide-carrier protein. The terms "free capsule
polysaccharide," "free polysaccharide" and "free saccharide" may be used
interchangeably and are intended to convey the same meaning. Regardless of the
nature of the carrier molecule, it can be conjugated to the capsular polysaccharide
either directly or through a linker. As used herein, "to conjugate", "conjugated"
and "conjugating" refers to a process whereby a bacterial capsular polysaccharide
is covalently attached to the carrier molecule. Conjugation enhances the
immunogenicity of the bacterial capsular polysaccharide. The conjugation can be
performed according to the methods described below or by processes known in the
art.
[0069] As described above, the present invention relates to conjugates
comprising S. aureus serotype 5 capsular polysaccharides (CP5) conjugated to
carrier proteins and conjugates comprising S. aureus serotype 8 capsular
polysaccharides (CP8) conjugated to carrier proteins. One embodiment of the
invention provides conjugates comprising a S. aureus serotype 5 capsular
polysaccharide conjugated to a carrier protein and a S. aureus serotype 8 capsular
polysaccharide conjugated to a carrier protein wherein: the type 5 capsular
polysaccharide has a molecular weight of between 50 kDa and 800 kDa; the type 8
capsular polysaccharide has a molecular weight of between 50 and 700 kDa; the
immunogenic conjugates have molecular weights of between about 1000 kDa and
-15-
about 5000 kDa; and the conjugates comprise less than about 30% free
polysaccharide relative to total polysaccharide. In one embodiment, the conjugates
comprise less than about 25%, about 20%, about 15%, about 10%, or about 5%
free polysaccharide relative to total polysaccharide. In one embodiment, the
type 5 or 8 polysaccharide has a molecular weight between 20 icDa and 1000 kDa.
[0070] In one embodiment, the conjugate has a molecular weight of between
about 50 kDa and about 5000 kDa. In one embodiment, the conjugate has a
molecular weight of between about 200 kDa and about 5000 kDa. In one
embodiment, the immunogenic conjugate has a molecular weight of between about
400 kDa and about 2500 kDa. In one embodiment, the immunogenic conjugate
has a molecular weight of between about 500 kDa and about 2500 kDa. In one
embodiment, the immunogenic conjugate has a molecular weight of between about
600 kDa and about 2800 kDa. In one embodiment, the immunogenic conjugate
has a molecular weight of between about 700 kDa and about 2700 kDa. In one
embodiment, the immunogenic conjugate has a molecular weight of between about
1000 kDa and about 2000 kDa; between about 1800 kDa and about 2500 kDa;
between about 1100 kDa and about 2200 kDa; between about 1900 kDa and about
2700 kDa; between about 1200 kDa and about 2400 kDa; between about 1700 kDa
and about 2600 kDa; between about 1300 kDa and about 2600 kDa; between about
1600 kDa and about 3000 kDa.
[0071] Accordingly, in one embodiment, the carrier protein within the
immunogenic conjugate of the invention is CRM197, and the CRM197 is covalently
linked to the capsular polysaccharide via a carbamate linkage, an amide linkage, or
both. The number of lysine residues in the carrier protein that become conjugated
to a capsular polysaccharide can be characterized as a range of conjugated lysines.
For example, in a given immunogenic composition, the CRM197 may comprise 5 to
15 lysines out of 39 covalently linked to the capsular polysaccharide. Another way
to express this parameter is that 12% to 40% of CRM197 lysines are covalently
linked to the capsular polysaccharide. In some embodiments, the CRM197 portion
of the polysaccharide covalently bound to the CRM197 comprises 5 to 22 lysines
covalently linked to the polysaccharide. In some embodiments, the CRM197
portion of the polysaccharide covalently bound to the CRM197 comprises 5 to 23
-16-
lysines covalently linked to the polysaccharide. In some embodiments, the
CRM197 portion of the polysaccharide covalently bound to carrier protein of
comprises 8 to 15 lysines covalently linked to the polysaccharide. In some
embodiments, the CRM197 portion of the polysaccharide covalently bound to
carrier protein of comprises 8 to 12 lysines covalently linked to the polysaccharide.
For example, in a given immunogenic composition, the CRM197 may comprise 18
to 22 lysines out of 39 covalently linked to the capsular polysaccharide. Another
way to express this parameter is that 40% to 60% of CRM197 lysines are covalently
linked to the capsular polysaccharide. In some embodiments, the CRM197
comprises 5 to 15 lysines out of 39 covalently linked to CP8. Another way to
express this parameter is that 12% to 40% of CRM197 lysines are covalently linked
to CP8. In some embodiments, the CRM197 comprises 18 to 22 lysines out of 39
covalently linked to CP5. Another way to express this parameter is that 40% to
60% of CRM197 lysines are covalently linked to CP5.
[0072] As discussed above, the number of lysine residues in the carrier protein
conjugated to the capsular polysaccharide can be characterized as a range of
conjugated lysines, which may be expressed as a molar ratio. For example, the
molar ratio of conjugated lysines to CRM197 in the CP8 immunogenic conjugate
can be between about 18:1 to about 22:1. In one embodiment, the range of molar
ratio of conjugated lysines to CRM197 in the CP8 immunogenic conjugate can be
between about 15:1 to about 25:1. In some embodiments, the range of molar ratio
of conjugated lysines to CRM197 in the CP8 immunogenic conjugate can be
between about 14:1 to about 20:1; about 12:1 to about 18:1; about 10:1 to about
16:1; about 8:1 to about 14:1; about 6:1 to about 12:1; about 4:1 to about 10:1;
about 20:1 to about 26:1; about 22:1 to about 28:1; about 24:1 to about 30:1; about
26:1 to about 32:1; about 28:1 to about 34:1; about 30:1 to about 36:1; about 5:1 to
about 10:1; about 5:1 to about 20:1; about 10:1 to about 20:1; or about 10:1 to
about 30:1. Also, the molar ratio of conjugated lysines to CRM197 in the CP5
immunogenic conjugate can be between about 3:1 and 25:1. In one embodiment,
the range of molar ratio of conjugated lysines to CRM197 in the CP5 immunogenic
conjugate can be between about 5:1 to about 20:1. In one embodiment, the range
of molar ratio of conjugated lysines to CRM197 in the CP5 immunogenic
-17-
conjugate can be between about 4:1 to about 20:1; about 6:1 to about 20:1; about
7:1 to about 20:1; about 8:1 to about 20:1; about 10:1 to about 20:1; about 11:1 to
about 20:1; about 12:1 to about 20:1; about 13:1 to about 20:1; about 14:1 to about
20:1; about 15:1 to about 20:1; about 16:1 to about 20:1; about 17:1 to about 20:1;
about 18:1 to about 20:1; about 5:1 to about 18:1; about 7:1 to about 16:1; or about
9:1 to about 14:1.
[0073] Another way to express the number of lysine residues in the carrier
protein conjugated to the capsular polysaccharide can be as a range of conjugated
lysines. For example, in a given CP8 immunogenic conjugate, the CRM197 may
comprise 5 to 15 lysines out of 39 covalently linked to the capsular polysaccharide.
Alternatively, this parameter can be expressed as a percentage. For example, in a
given CP8 immunogenic conjugate, the percentage of conjugated lysines can be
between 10% to 50%. In some embodiments, 20% to 50% of lysines can be
covalently linked to CP8. Alternatively still, 30% to 50% of CRM197 lysines can
be covalently linked to the CP8; 10% to 40% of CRM,97 lysines; 10% to 30% of
CRM197 lysines; 20% to 40% of CRM197 lysines; 25% to 40% of CRM197 lysines;
30% to 40% of CRM197 lysines; 10% to 30% of CRM197 lysines; 15% to 30% of
CRM197 lysines; 20% to 30% of CRM197 lysines; 25% to 30% of CRM197 lysines;
10% to 15% of CRM197 lysines; or 10% to 12% of CRM197 lysines are covalently
linked to CP8. Also, in a given CP5 immunogenic conjugate, the CRM197 may
comprise 18 to 22 lysines out of 39 covalently linked to the capsular
polysaccharide. Alternatively, this parameter can be expressed as a percentage.
For example, in a given CP5 immunogenic conjugate, the percentage of conjugated
lysines can be between 40% to 60%. In some embodiments, 40% to 60% of
lysines can be covalently linked to CP5. Alternatively still, 30% to 50% of
CRM197 lysines can be covalently linked to CP5; 20% to 40% of CRM197 lysines;
10% to 30% of CRM197 lysines; 50% to 70% of CRM197 lysines; 35% to 65% of
CRM197 lysines; 30% to 60% of CRM197 lysines; 25% to 55% of CRM197 lysines;
20% to 50% of CRM197 lysines; 15% to 45% of CRM197 lysines; 10% to 40% of
CRM197 lysines; 40% to 70% of CRM197 lysines; or 45% to 75% of CRM197 lysines
are covalently linked to CP5.
-18-
[0074] The frequency of attachment of the capsular polysaccharide chain to a
lysine on the carrier molecule is another parameter for characterizing conjugates of
capsule polysaccharides. For example, in one embodiment, at least one covalent
linkage between CRM197 and polysaccharide occurs for at least every 5 to 10
saccharide repeat units of the capsular polysaccharide. In another embodiment,
there is at least one covalent linkage between CRM197 and capsular polysaccharide
for every 5 to 10 saccharide repeat units; every 2 to 7 saccharide repeat units, every
3 to 8 saccharide repeat units; every 4 to 9 saccharide repeat units; every 6 to 11
saccharide repeat units; every 7 to 12 saccharide repeat units; every 8 to 13
saccharide repeat units; every 9 to 14 saccharide repeat units; every 10 to 15
saccharide repeat units; every 2 to 6 saccharide repeat units, every 3 to 7
saccharide repeat units; every 4 to 8 saccharide repeat units; every 6 to 10
saccharide repeat units; every 7 to 11 saccharide repeat units; every 8 to 12
saccharide repeat units; every 9 to 13 saccharide repeat units; every 10 to 14
saccharide repeat units; every 10 to 20 saccharide repeat units; every 5 to 10
saccharide repeat units of the capsular polysaccharide. In another embodiment, at
least one linkage between CRM197 and capsular polysaccharide occurs for every 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 saccharide repeat
units of the capsular polysaccharide.
[0075] The chemical activation of the polysaccharides and subsequent
conjugation to the carrier protein may be achieved by conventional means. See,
for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,673,574 and 4,902,506. Other activation and
conjugation methods may alternatively be used.
[0076] "Carrier protein" or "protein carrier" as used herein, refers to any protein
molecule that may be conjugated to an antigen (such as the capsular
polysaccharides) against which an immune response is desired. Conjugation of an
antigen such as a polysaccharide to a carrier protein can render the antigen
immunogenic. Carrier proteins are preferably proteins that are non-toxic and nonreactogenic
and obtainable in sufficient amount and purity. Examples of carrier
proteins are toxins, toxoids or any mutant cross-reactive material (CRM197) of the
toxin from tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, Pseudomonas species, E. coli.
Staphylococcus species, and Streptococcus species. Carrier proteins should be
- 19-
amenable to standard conjugation procedures. In a particular embodiment of the
present invention, CRM197 is used as the carrier protein.
[0077] CRM197 (Wyeth/Pfizer, Sanford, NC) is a non-toxic variant (i.e., toxoid)
of diphtheria toxin isolated from cultures of Corynebacterium diphtheria strain C7
(P197) grown in casamino acids and yeast extract-based medium. CRM197 is
purified through ultra-filtration, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and ion-exchange
chromatography. A culture of Corynebacterium diphtheriae strain C7 (197), which
produces CRM197 protein, has been deposited with the American Type Culture
Collection, Rockville, Maryland and has been assigned accession number ATCC
53281. Other diphtheria toxoids are also suitable for use as carrier proteins.
[0078] Other suitable carrier proteins include inactivated bacterial toxins such as
tetanus toxoid, pertussis toxoid, cholera toxoid (e.g., as described in International
Patent Application WO2004/083251), E. coli LT, E. coli ST, and exotoxin A from
Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bacterial outer membrane proteins such as outer
membrane protein complex c (OMPC), porins, transferrin binding proteins,
pneumolysin, pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), pneumococcal adhesin
protein (PsaA), C. difficile enterotoxin (toxin A) and cytotoxin (toxin B) or
Haemophilus influenzae protein D, can also be used. Other proteins, such as
ovalbumin, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), bovine serum albumin (BSA) or
purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) can also be used as carrier proteins.
[0079] After conjugation of the capsular polysaccharide to the carrier protein, the
polysaccharide-protein conjugates are purified (enriched with respect to the
amount of polysaccharide-protein conjugate) by a variety of techniques. These
techniques include, e.g., concentration/diafiltration operations,
precipitation/elution, column chromatography, and depth filtration. See examples
below.
[0080] After the individual conjugates are purified, they may be combined to
formulate an immunogenic composition of the present invention, which may be
used, for example, in a vaccine. Formulation of the immunogenic composition of
the present invention can be accomplished using art-recognized methods.
[0081] It is noted that in this disclosure, terms such as "comprises", "comprised",
"comprising", "contains", "containing" and the like can have the meaning
-20-
attributed to them in U.S. patent law; e.g., they can mean "includes", "included",
"including" and the like. Such terms refer to the inclusion of a particular
ingredients or set of ingredients without excluding any other ingredients. Terms
such as "consisting essentially of and "consists essentially of have the meaning
attributed to them in U.S. patent law, e.g., they allow for the inclusion of additional
ingredients or steps that do not detract from the novel or basic characteristics of the
invention, i.e., they exclude additional unrecited ingredients or steps that detract
from novel or basic characteristics of the invention, and they exclude ingredients or
steps of the prior art, such as documents in the art that are cited herein or are
incorporated by reference herein, especially as it is a goal of this document to
define embodiments that are patentable, e.g., novel, non-obvious, inventive, over
the prior art, e.g., over documents cited herein or incorporated by reference herein.
And, the terms "consists of and "consisting of have the meaning ascribed to them
in U.S. patent law; namely, that these terms are close-ended. Accordingly, these
terms refer to the inclusion of a particular ingredient or set of ingredients and the
exclusion of all other ingredients.
[0082] A "conservative amino acid substitution" refers to the substitution of one
or more of the amino acid residues of a protein with other amino acid residues
having similar physical and/or chemical properties. Substitutes for an amino acid
within the sequence may be selected from other members of the class to which the
amino acid belongs. For example, the nonpolar (hydrophobic) amino acids include
alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, phenylalanine, tryptophan and
methionine. Amino acids containing aromatic ring structures are phenylalanine,
tryptophan, and tyrosine. The polar neutral amino acids include glycine, serine,
threonine, cysteine, tyrosine, asparagine, and glutamine. The positively charged
(basic) amino acids include arginine, lysine and histidine. The negatively charged
(acidic) amino acids include aspartic acid and glutamic acid. Such alterations will
not be expected to affect apparent molecular weight as determined by
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or isoelectric point. Particularly preferred
substitutions are: Lys for Arg and vice versa such that a positive charge may be
maintained; Glu for Asp and vice versa such that a negative charge may be
-21 -
maintained; Ser for Thr such that a free —OH can be maintained; and Gin for Asn
such that a free NH2 can be maintained.
[0083] "Fragment" refers to proteins where only specific domains of a larger
protein are included. For example, ClfA and ClfB proteins contain as many as 8
domains each if the signal sequences are included. A polypeptide corresponding to
the N1N2N3, N2N3, N1N2, Nl, N2, or N3 domains are each considered to be
fragments of ClfA or ClfB. "Fragment" also refers to either a protein or
polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of at least 4 amino acid residues
(preferably, at least 10 amino acid residues, at least 15 amino acid residues, at least
20 amino acid residues, at least 25 amino acid residues, at least 40 amino acid
residues, at least 50 amino acid residues, at least 60 amino residues, at least 70
amino acid residues, at least 80 amino acid residues, at least 90 amino acid
residues, at least 100 amino acid residues, at least 125 amino acid residues, or at
least 150 amino acid residues) of the amino acid sequence of a parent protein or
polypeptide or a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence of at least 10 base
pairs (preferably at least 20 base pairs, at least 30 base pairs, at least 40 base pairs,
at least 50 base pairs, at least 50 base pairs, at least 100 base pairs, at least 200 base
pairs) of the nucleotide sequence of the parent nucleic acid.
[0084] "Functional activity" of an antibody or "functional antibody" as used
herein refers to an antibody that, at a minimum, can bind specifically to an antigen.
Additional functions are known in the art and may include additional components
of the immune system that effect clearance or killing of the pathogen such as
through opsonization, ADCC or complement-mediated cytotoxicity. After antigen
binding, any subsequent antibody functions can be mediated through the Fc region
of the antibody. The antibody opsonophagocytic assay (OPA) is an in vitro assay
designed to measure in vitro Ig complement-assisted killing of bacteria with
effector cells (white blood cells), thus mimicking a biological process. Antibody
binding may also directly inhibit the biological function of the antigen it binds,
e.g., antibodies that bind ClfA can neutralize its enzymatic function. In some
embodiments, a "functional antibody" refers to an antibody that is functional as
measured by the killing of bacteria in an animal efficacy model or an
-22-
opsonophagocytic killing assay that demonstrates that the antibodies kill the
bacteria.
[0085] The molecular weight of the S. aureus capsule polysaccharides is a
consideration for use in immunogenic compositions. For example, high molecular
weight capsule polysaccharides may be able to induce certain antibody immune
responses due to a higher valency of the epitopes present on the antigenic surface.
The isolation of "high molecular weight capsular polysaccharides" is contemplated
for use in the compositions and methods of the present invention. For example, in
one embodiment of the invention, the isolation of type 5 high molecular weight
polysaccharides ranging in size from about 50 to about 800 kDa in molecular
weight is contemplated. In one embodiment of the invention, the isolation of type
5 high molecular weight polysaccharides ranging in size from about 20 to about
1000 kDa in molecular weight is contemplated. In one embodiment of the
invention, the isolation and purification of type 5 high molecular weight capsular
polysaccharides ranging in size from about 50 to about 300 kDa in molecular
weight is contemplated. In one embodiment, the isolation and purification of type
5 high molecular weight capsular polysaccharide ranging from 70 kDa to 300 kDa
in molecular weight is contemplated. In one embodiment, the isolation and
purification of type 5 high molecular weight capsular polysaccharide ranging from
90 kDa to 250 kDa in molecular weight is contemplated. In one embodiment, the
isolation and purification of type 5 high molecular weight capsular polysaccharide
ranging from 90 kDa to 150 kDa in molecular weight is contemplated. In one
embodiment, the isolation and purification of type 5 high molecular weight
capsular polysaccharide ranging from 90 kDa to 140 kDa in molecular weight is
contemplated. In one embodiment, the isolation and purification of type 5 high
molecular weight capsular polysaccharide ranging from 80 kDa to 120 kDa in
molecular weight is contemplated. Other ranges of high molecular weight serotype
5 capsular polysaccharide that can be isolated and purified by the methods of this
invention include size ranges of about 70 kDa to about 100 kDa in molecular
weight; 70 kDa to 110 kDa in molecular weight; 70 kDa to 120 kDa in molecular
weight; 70 kDa to 130 kDa in molecular weight; 70 kDa to 140 kDa in molecular
weight; 70 kDa to 150 kDa in molecular weight; 70 kDa to 160 kDa in molecular
- 2 3 -
weight; 80 kDa to 110 kDa in molecular weight; 80 kDa to 120 kDa in molecular
weight; 80 kDa to 130 kDa in molecular weight; 80 kDa to 140 kDa in molecular
weight; 80 kDa to 150 kDa in molecular weight; 80 kDa to 160 kDa in molecular
weight; 90 kDa to 110 kDa in molecular weight; 90 kDa to 120 kDa in molecular
weight; 90 kDa to 130 kDa in molecular weight; 90 kDa to 140 kDa in molecular
weight; 90 kDa to 150 kDa in molecular weight; 90 kDa to 160 kDa in molecular
weight; 100 kDa to 120 kDa in molecular weight; 100 kDa to 130 kDa in
molecular weight; 100 kDa to 140 kDa in molecular weight; 100 kDa to 150 kDa
in molecular weight; 100 kDa to 160 kDa in molecular weight; and similar desired
molecular weight ranges.
[0086] As discussed above, the molecular weight of the S. aureus capsule
polysaccharides is a consideration for use in immunogenic compositions. For
example, high molecular weight capsule polysaccharides may be able to induce
certain antibody immune responses due to a higher valency of the epitopes present
on the antigenic surface. In one embodiment of the invention, the isolation and
purification of type 8 high molecular weight capsular polysaccharides ranging
from about 20 kDa to about 1000 kDa in molecular weight is contemplated. In one
embodiment of the invention, the isolation and purification of type 8 high
molecular weight capsular polysaccharides ranging from about 50 kDa to about
700 kDa in molecular weight is contemplated. In one embodiment of the
invention, the isolation and purification of type 8 high molecular weight capsular
polysaccharides ranging from 50 kDa to 300 kDa in molecular weight is
contemplated. In one embodiment, the isolation and purification of type 8 high
molecular weight capsular polysaccharide ranging from 70 kDa to 300 kDa in
molecular weight is contemplated. In one embodiment, the isolation and
purification of type 8 high molecular weight capsular polysaccharides ranging
from 90 kDa to 250 kDa in molecular weight is contemplated. In one embodiment,
the isolation and purification of type 8 high molecular weight capsular
polysaccharides ranging from 90 kDa to 150 kDa in molecular weight is
contemplated. In one embodiment, the isolation and purification of type 8 high
molecular weight capsular polysaccharides ranging from 90 kDa to 120 kDa in
molecular weight is contemplated. In one embodiment, the isolation and
- 2 4 -
purification of type 8 high molecular weight capsular polysaccharides ranging
from 80 kDa to 120 kDa in molecular weight is contemplated. Other ranges of
high molecular weight serotype 8 capsular polysaccharides that can be isolated and
purified by the methods of this invention include size ranges of about 70 kDa to
about 100 kDa in molecular weight; 70 kDa to 110 kDa in molecular weight;
70 kDa to 120 kDa in molecular weight; 70 kDa to 130 kDa in molecular weight;
70 kDa to 140 kDa in molecular weight; 70 kDa to 150 kDa in molecular weight;
70 kDa to 160 kDa in molecular weight; 80 kDa to 110 kDa in molecular weight;
80 kDa to 120 kDa in molecular weight; 80 kDa to 130 kDa in molecular weight;
80 kDa to 140 kDa in molecular weight; 80 kDa to 150 kDa in molecular weight;
80 kDa to 160 kDa in molecular weight; 90 kDa to 110 kDa in molecular weight;
90 kDa to 120 kDa in molecular weight; 90 kDa to 130 kDa in molecular weight;
90 kDa to 140 kDa in molecular weight; 90 kDa to 150 kDa in molecular weight;
90 kDa to 160 kDa in molecular weight; 100 kDa to 120 kDa in molecular weight;
100 kDa to 130 kDa in molecular weight; 100 kDa to 140 kDa in molecular
weight; 100 kDa to 150 kDa in molecular weight; 100 kDa to 160 kDa in
molecular weight; and similar desired molecular weight ranges.
[0087] An "immune response" to an immunogenic composition is the
development in a subject of a humoral and/or a cell-mediated immune response to
molecules present in the composition of interest (for example, an antigen, such as a
protein or polysaccharide). For purposes of the present invention, a "humoral
immune response" is an antibody-mediated immune response and involves the
generation of antibodies with affinity for the antigens present in the immunogenic
compositions of the invention, while a "cell-mediated immune response" is one
mediated by T-lymphocytes and/or other white blood cells. A "cell-mediated
immune response" is elicited by the presentation of antigenic epitopes in
association with Class I or Class II molecules of the major histocompatibility
complex (MHC). This activates antigen-specific CD4+ T helper cells or CD8+
cytotoxic T lymphocyte cells ("CTLs"). CTLs have specificity for peptide or lipid
antigens that are presented in association with proteins encoded by the major
histocompatibility complex (MHC) or CDl and expressed on the surfaces of cells.
CTLs help induce and promote the intracellular destruction of intracellular
- 2 5 -
microbes, or the lysis of cells infected with such microbes. Another aspect of
cellular immunity involves an antigen-specific response by helper T-cells. Helper
T-cells act to help stimulate the function, and focus the activity of, nonspecific
effector cells against cells displaying peptide antigens in association with classical
or nonclassical MHC molecules on their surface. A "cell-mediated immune
response" also refers to the production of cytokines, chemokines and other such
molecules produced by activated T-cells and/or other white blood cells, including
those derived from CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. The ability of a particular antigen or
composition to stimulate a cell-mediated immunological response may be
determined by a number of assays, such as by lymphoproliferation (lymphocyte
activation) assays, CTL cytotoxic cell assays, by assaying for T-lymphocytes
specific for the antigen in a sensitized subject, or by measurement of cytokine
production by T cells in response to restimulation with antigen. Such assays are
well known in the art. See, e.g., Erickson et al., J. Immunol. (1993) 151:4189-
4199; Doe et al., Eur. J. Immunol. (1994) 24:2369-2376.
[0088] The term "immunogenic" refers to the ability of an antigen or a vaccine to
elicit an immune response, either humoral or cell-mediated, or both.
[0089] An "immunogenic amount", or an "immunologically effective amount" or
"dose", each of which is used interchangeably herein, generally refers to the
amount of antigen or immunogenic composition sufficient to elicit an immune
response, either a cellular (T cell) or humoral (B cell or antibody) response, or
both, as measured by standard assays known to one skilled in the art.
[0090] The amount of a particular conjugate in a composition is generally
calculated based on total polysaccharide, conjugated and non-conjugated for that
conjugate. For example, a CP5 conjugate with 20% free polysaccharide will have
about 80 meg of conjugated CP5 polysaccharide and about 20 meg of nonconjugated
CP5 polysaccharide in a 100 meg CP5 polysaccharide dose. The
protein contribution to the conjugate is usually not considered when calculating the
dose of a conjugate. The amount of conjugate can vary depending upon the
staphylococcal serotype. Generally, each dose will comprise 0.01 to 100 meg of
polysaccharide, particularly 0.1 to 10 meg, and more particularly 1 to 10 meg. The
"immunogenic amount" of the different polysaccharide components in the
-26-
immunogenic composition, may diverge and each may comprise 0.01 meg,
0.1 meg, 0.25 meg, 0.5 meg, 1 meg, 2 meg, 3 meg, 4 meg, 5 meg, 6 meg, 7 meg, 8
meg, 9 meg, 10 meg, 15 meg, 20 meg, 30 meg, 40 meg,50 meg, 60 meg, 70 meg,
80 meg, 90 meg, or about 100 meg of any particular polysaccharide antigen.
[0091] In another embodiment, the "immunogenic amount" of the protein
components in the immunogenic composition, may range from about 10 meg to
about 300 meg of each protein antigen. In a particular embodiment, the
"immunogenic amount" of the protein components in the immunogenic
composition, may range from about 20 meg to about 200 meg of each protein
antigen. The "immunogenic amount" of the different protein components in the
immunogenic composition may diverge, and each comprise 10 meg, 20 meg, 30
meg, 40 meg, 50 meg, 60 meg, 70 meg, 80 meg, 90 meg, 100 meg, 125 meg,
150 meg, 175 meg or about 200 meg of any particular protein antigen.
[0092] The effectiveness of an antigen as an immunogen can be measured by
measuring the levels of B cell activity by measuring the levels of circulating
antibodies specific for the antigen in serum using immunoassays,
immunoprecipitation assays, functional antibody assays, such as in vitro opsonic
assay and many other assays known in the art. Another measure of effectiveness
of an antigen as an T-cell immunogen can be measured by either by proliferation
assays, by cytolytic assays, such as chromium release assays to measure the ability
of a T cell to lyse its specific target cell. Furthermore, in the present invention, an
"immunogenic amount" may also be defined by measuring the serum levels of
antigen specific antibody induced following administration of the antigen, or, by
measuring the ability of the antibodies so induced to enhance the
opsonophagoeytic ability of particular white blood cells, as described herein. The
level of protection of the immune response may be measured by challenging the
immunized host with the antigen that has been injected. For example, if the
antigen to which an immune response is desired is a bacterium, the level of
protection induced by the "immunogenic amount" of the antigen can be measured
by detecting the percent survival or the percent mortality after challenge of the
animals with the bacterial cells. In one embodiment, the amount of protection may
be measured by measuring at least one symptom associated with the bacterial
-27-
infection, for example, a fever associated with the infection. The amount of each
of the antigens in the multi-antigen or multi-component vaccine or immunogenic
compositions will vary with respect to each of the other components and can be
determined by methods known to the skilled artisan. Such methods would include,
for example, procedures for measuring immunogenicity and/or in vivo efficacy.
[0093] The term "immunogenic composition" relates to any pharmaceutical
composition containing an antigen, e.g. a microorganism, or a component thereof,
which composition can be used to elicit an immune response in a subject. The
immunogenic compositions of the present invention can be used to treat a human
susceptible to S. aureus infection, by means of administering the immunogenic
compositions via a systemic transdermal or mucosal route. These administrations
can include injection via the intramuscular (i.m.), intraperitoneal (i.p.), intradermal
(i.d.) or subcutaneous routes; application by a patch or other transdermal delivery
device; or via mucosal administration to the oral/alimentary, respiratory or
genitourinary tracts. In one embodiment, intranasal administration is used for the
treatment or prevention of nasopharyngeal carriage of 5. aureus, thus attenuating
infection at its earliest stage. In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition
may be used in the manufacture of a vaccine or in the elicitation of a polyclonal or
monoclonal antibodies that could be used to passively protect or treat an animal.
[0094] Optimal amounts of components for a particular immunogenic
composition can be ascertained by standard studies involving observation of
appropriate immune responses in subjects. Following an initial vaccination,
subjects can receive one or several booster immunizations adequately spaced.
[0095] In one embodiment of the present invention, the S. aureus immunogenic
composition comprises a recombinant S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA)
fragment (N1N2N3, or combinations thereof), an isolated capsular polysaccharides
type 5 conjugated to CRM197 and an isolated capsular polysaccharides type 8
conjugated to CRMig?- In another embodiment, the S. aureus immunogenic
composition is a sterile formulation (liquid, lyophilized, DNA vaccine, intradermal
preparation) of recombinant S. aureus clumping factor (ClfA) fragment (N1N2N3,
or combinations thereof), recombinant S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB)
fragment (N1N2N3, or combinations thereof), an isolated capsular polysaccharides
-28-
type 5 conjugated to CRM197 and an isolated capsular polysaccharides type 8
conjugated to CRMigy- In one embodiment of the present invention, the 5'. aureus
immunogenic composition comprises a recombinant S. aureus clumping factor A
(ClfA) fragment (N1N2N3, or combinations thereof), S. aureus iron binding
protein MntC, an isolated capsular polysaccharides type 5 conjugated to CRM197
and an isolated capsular polysaccharides type 8 conjugated to CRM197. In one
embodiment, the S. aureus immunogenic composition is a sterile formulation
(liquid, lyophilized, DNA vaccine, intradermal preparation) of recombinant
S. aureus clumping factor (ClfA) fragment (N1N2N3, or combinations thereof),
recombinant S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) fragment (N1N2N3, or
combinations thereof), S. aureus iron binding protein MntC, an isolated capsular
polysaccharides type 5 conjugated to CRM197 and an isolated capsular
polysaccharides type 8 conjugated to CRM197. In one embodiment of the present
invention, the S. aureus immunogenic composition comprises a recombinant
S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) fragment (N1N2N3, or combinations thereof),
an isolated capsular polysaccharides type 5 conjugated to CRM197 and an isolated
capsular polysaccharides type 8 conjugated to CRM197. In one embodiment of the
present invention, the S. aureus immunogenic composition comprises a
recombinant S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) fragment (N1N2N3, or
combinations thereof), S. aureus iron binding protein MntC, an isolated capsular
polysaccharides type 5 conjugated to CRM197 and an isolated capsular
polysaccharides type 8 conjugated to CRM197. In one embodiment of the present
invention, the S. aureus immunogenic composition comprises a S. aureus iron
binding protein MntC, an isolated capsular polysaccharides type 5 conjugated to
CRM197 and an isolated capsular polysaccharides type 8 conjugated to CRM197.
[0096] The immunogenic compositions of the present invention can further
comprise one or more additional "immunomodulators", which are agents that
perturb or alter the immune system, such that either up-regulation or downregulation
of humoral and/or cell-mediated immunity is observed. In one particular
embodiment, up-regulation of the humoral and/or cell-mediated arms of the
immune system is preferred. Examples of certain immunomodulators include, for
example, an adjuvant or cytokine, or ISCOMATRIX (CSL Limited, Parkville,
-29-
Australia), described in U.S. Patent No. 5,254,339 among others. Non-limiting
examples of adjuvants that can be used in the vaccine of the present invention
include the RIBI adjuvant system (Ribi Inc., Hamilton, Mont.), alum, mineral gels
such as aluminum hydroxide gel, oil-in-water emulsions, water-in-oil emulsions
such as, e.g., Freund's complete and incomplete adjuvants. Block copolymer
(CytRx, Atlanta Ga.), QS-21 (Cambridge Biotech Inc., Cambridge Mass.), SAF-M
(Chiron, Emeryville Calif.), AMPHIGEN® adjuvant, saponin. Qui! A or other
saponin fraction, monophosphoryl lipid A, and Avridine lipid-amine adjuvant.
Non-limiting examples of oil-in-water emulsions useful in the vaccine of the
invention include modified SEAM62 and SEAM 1/2 formulations. Modified
SEAM62 is an oil-in-water emulsion containing 5% (v/v) squalene (Sigma), 1%
(v/v) SPAN® 85 detergent (ICI Surfactants), 0.7% (v/v) polysorbate ® 80
detergent (ICI Surfactants), 2.5% (v/v) ethanol, 200 ^g/ml Quil A, 100 ^g/ml
cholesterol, and 0.5% (v/v) lecithin. Modified SEAM 1/2 is an oil-in-water
emulsion comprising 5% (v/v) squalene, 1% (v/v) SPAN® 85 detergent, 0.7%
(v/v) polysorbate 80 detergent, 2.5% (v/v) ethanol, 100 jig/ml Quil A, and 50
|j,g/ml cholesterol. Other "immunomodulators" that can be included in the vaccine
include, e.g., one or more interleukins, interferons, or other known cytokines or
chemokines. In one embodiment, the adjuvant may be a cyclodextrin derivative or
a polyanionic polymer, such as those described in U.S. patent numbers 6,165,995
and 6,610,310, respectively. It is to be understood that the immunomodulator
and/or adjuvant to be used will depend on the subject to which the vaccine or
immunogenic composition will be administered, the route of injection and the
number of injections to be given.
[0097] S. aureus "invasive disease" is the isolation of bacteria from a normally
sterile site, where there is associated clinical signs/symptoms of disease. Normally
sterile body sites include blood, CSF, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal
fluid, joint/synovial fluid, bone, internal body site (lymph node, brain, heart, liver,
spleen, vitreous fluid, kidney, pancreas, ovary), or other normally sterile sites.
Clinical conditions characterizing invasive diseases include bacteremia,
pneumonia, cellulitis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, septic shock and more.
-30-
[0098] The term "isolated" means that the material is removed from its original
environment {e.g., the natural environment if it is naturally occurring or from it's
host organism if it is a recombinant entity, or taken from one environment to a
different environment). For example, an "isolated" capsule polysaccharide, protein
or peptide is substantially free of cellular material or other contaminating proteins
from the cell or tissue source from which the protein is derived, or substantially
free of chemical precursors or other chemicals when chemically synthesized, or
otherwise present in a mixture as part of a chemical reaction. In the present
invention, the proteins or polysaccharides may be isolated from the bacterial cell or
from cellular debris, so that they are provided in a form useful in the manufacture
of an immunogenic composition. The term "isolated" or "isolating" may include
purifying, or purification, including for example, the methods of purification of the
proteins or capsular polysaccharides, as described herein. The language
"substantially free of cellular material" includes preparations of a
polypeptide/protein in which the polypeptide/protein is separated from cellular
components of the cells from which it is isolated or recombinantly produced. Thus,
a capsule polysaccharide, protein or peptide that is substantially free of cellular
material includes preparations of the capsule polysaccharide, protein or peptide
having less than about 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 2.5%, or 1%, (by dry weight) of
contaminating protein or polysaccharide or other cellular material. When the
polypeptide/protein is recombinantly produced, it is also preferably substantially
free of culture medium, i.e., culture medium represents less than about 20%, 10%,
or 5% of the volume of the protein preparation. When polypeptide/protein or
polysaccharide is produced by chemical synthesis, it is preferably substantially free
of chemical precursors or other chemicals, i.e., it is separated from chemical
precursors or other chemicals which are involved in the synthesis of the protein or
polysaccharide. Accordingly, such preparations of the polypeptide/protein or
polysaccharide have less than about 30%, 20%, 10%, 5% (by dry weight) of
chemical precursors or compounds other than polypeptide/protein or
polysaccharide fragment of interest.
[0099] A "non-conservative amino acid substitution" refers to the substitution of
one or more of the amino acid residues of a protein with other amino acid residues
-31 -
having dissimilar physical and/or chemical properties, using the characteristics
defined above.
[0100] The term "pharmaceutically acceptable carrier" means a carrier approved
by a regulatory agency of a Federal, a state government, or other regulatory
agency, or listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia or other generally recognized
pharmacopeia for use in animals, including humans as well as non-human
mammals. The term "carrier" refers to a diluent, adjuvant, excipient, or vehicle
with which the pharmaceutical composition is administered. Such pharmaceutical
carriers can be sterile liquids, such as water and oils, including those of petroleum,
animal, vegetable or synthetic origin. Water, saline solutions and aqueous dextrose
and glycerol solutions can be employed as liquid carriers, particularly for
injectable solutions. Suitable pharmaceutical excipients include starch, glucose,
lactose, sucrose, gelatin, malt, rice, flour, chalk, silica gel, sodium stearate,
glycerol monostearate, talc, sodium chloride, dried skim milk, glycerol, propylene,
glycol, water, ethanol and the like. The composition, if desired, can also contain
minor amounts of wetting, bulking, emulsifying agents, or pH buffering agents.
These compositions can take the form of solutions, suspensions, emulsion,
sustained release formulations and the like. Examples of suitable pharmaceutical
carriers are described in "Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences" by E. W. Martin.
The formulation should suit the mode of administration.
[0101] The terms "protein", "polypeptide" and "peptide" refer to a polymer of
amino acid residues and are not limited to a minimum length of the product. Thus,
peptides, oligopeptides, dimers, multimers, and the like, are included within the
definition. Both full-length proteins and fragments thereof are encompassed by the
definition. The terms also include modifications, such as deletions, additions and
substitutions (generally conservative in nature, but which may be nonconservative),
to a native sequence, preferably such that the protein maintains the
ability to elicit an immunological response within an animal to which the protein is
administered. Also included are post-expression modifications, e.g. glycosylation,
acetylation, lipidation, phosphorylation and the like.
[0102] A "protective" immune response refers to the ability of an immunogenic
composition to elicit an immune response, either humoral or cell mediated, which
-32-
serves to protect the subject from an infection. The protection provided need not
be absolute, i.e., the infection need not be totally prevented or eradicated, if there is
a statistically significant improvement compared with a control population of
subjects, e.g. infected animals not administered the vaccine or immunogenic
composition. Protection may be limited to mitigating the severity or rapidity of
onset of symptoms of the infection. In general, a "protective immune response"
would include the induction of an increase in antibody levels specific for a
particular antigen in at least 50% of subjects, including some level of measurable
functional antibody responses to each antigen. In particular situations, a
"protective immune response" could include the induction of a two fold increase in
antibody levels or a four fold increase in antibody levels specific for a particular
antigen in at least 50% of subjects, including some level of measurable functional
antibody responses to each antigen. In certain embodiments, opsonising antibodies
correlate with a protective immune response. Thus, protective immune response
may be assayed by measuring the percent decrease in the bacterial count in an
opsonophagocytosis assay, for instance those described below. Preferably, there is
a decrease in bacterial count of at least 10%, 25%, 50%, 65%, 75%, 80%, 85%,
90%, 95% or more.
[0103] The term "recombinant" as used herein simply refers to any protein,
polypeptide, or cell expressing a gene of interest that is produced by genetic
engineering methods. The term "recombinant" as used with respect to a protein or
polypeptide, means a polypeptide produced by expression of a recombinant
polynucleotide. The proteins used in the immunogenic compositions of the
invention may be isolated from a natural source or produced by genetic
engineering methods, such as, for example recombinant ClfA, recombinant ClfB or
recombinant MntC. "Recombinant," as used herein, further describes a nucleic
acid molecule, which, by virtue of its origin or manipulation, is not associated with
all or a portion of the polynucleotide with which it is associated in nature. The
term "recombinant" as used with respect to a host cell means a host cell into which
a recombinant polynucleotide has been introduced.
[0104] Recombinant ClfA (rClfA) and recombinant ClfB (rClfB) as used herein
refers to forms of ClfA or ClfB for use in the immunogenic compositions of the
- 3 3 -
invention. In one embodiment, rClfA is a fragment of ClfA comprising one or
more of the N domains, for example, N1N2N3, N2N3, N2 or N3 and is referred to
herein as "recombinant ClfA" or "rClfA". In one embodiment, rClfB is a fragment
of ClfB comprising one or more of the N domains of ClfB, for example, N1N2N3,
N2N3, N2 or N3 and is referred to herein as "recombinant ClfB" or "rClfB".
[0105] The term "subject" refers to a mammal, bird, fish, reptile, or any other
animal. The term "subject" also includes humans. The term "subject" also
includes household pets. Non-limiting examples of household pets include: dogs,
cats, pigs, rabbits, rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets, birds, snakes,
lizards, fish, turtles, and frogs. The term "subject" also includes livestock animals.
Non-limiting examples of livestock animals include: alpaca, bison, camel, cattle,
deer, pigs, horses, llamas, mules, donkeys, sheep, goats, rabbits, reindeer, yak,
chickens, geese, and turkeys.
[0106] As used herein, "treatment" (including variations thereof, for example,
"treat" or "treated") refers to any one or more of the following: (i) the prevention of
infection or reinfection, as in a traditional vaccine, (ii) the reduction in the severity
of, or, in the elimination of symptoms, and (iii) the substantial or complete
elimination of the pathogen or disorder in question. Hence, treatment may be
effected prophylactically (prior to infection) or therapeutically (following
infection). In the present invention, prophylactic or therapeutic treatments can be
used. According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, compositions
and methods are provided which treat, including prophylactically and/or
therapeutically immunize, a host animal against a microbial infection (e.g. a
bacterium such as Staphylococcus species). The methods of the present invention
are useful for conferring prophylactic and/or therapeutic immunity to a subject.
The methods of the present invention can also be practiced on subjects for
biomedical research applications.
[0107] The terms "vaccine" or "vaccine composition", which are used
interchangeably, refer to pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one
immunogenic composition that induces an immune response in an animal.
-34-
General Description
[0108] The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions comprising at
least three antigens from a staphylococcal organism, for example S. aureus. The
antigens may be isolated from the organism using biochemical isolation
procedures, or they may be produced synthetically or by recombinant means. The
antigens may be polypeptides, or polysaccharides, or a combination thereof These
immunogenic compositions may be used in the manufacture of a vaccine to
immunize subjects against infections caused by a staphylococcal organism. The
components suitable for use in these compositions are described in greater detail
below.
Staphylococcal Immunogenic Compositions
[0109] S. aureus is the causative agent of a wide variety of human diseases
ranging from superficial skin infections to life threatening conditions such as
pneumonia, sepsis and endocarditis. See Lowy N. Eng. J. Med. 339:580-
532(1998). In cases of invasive disease, S. aureus can be isolated from normally
sterile body sites including blood, cerebral spinal fluid CSF, pleural fluid,
pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, joint/synovial fluid, bone, internal body site
(lymph node, brain, heart, liver, spleen, vitreous fluid, kidney, pancreas, ovary), or
other normally sterile sites. This can lead to life threatening clinical conditions
such as bacteremia, pneumonia, cellulitis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, and septic
shock. Adults, elderly and pediatric patients are most at risk for S. aureus
infections.
[0110] Embodiments of the present invention describe selected antigens in
immunogenic compositions including an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A
(ClfA) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5
conjugated to a carrier protein, an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8
conjugated to a carrier protein, an isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB), and
recombinant S. aureus MntC protein. Next, the antigens were characterized in
immunogenic compositions as a series of combinations, to demonstrate that
specific combinations provide immune responses that may be superior to that
produced using individual components for immunogenic compositions.
-35-
Accordingly, one combination provides an immunogenic composition comprising:
an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus
capsular polysaccharide type 5 conjugated to a carrier protein, and an isolated
S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8 conjugated to a carrier protein. A second
combination provides an immunogenic composition comprising: an isolated
S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus clumping
factor B (ClfB), isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5 conjugated to a
carrier protein, and an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8 conjugated
to a carrier protein. A third combination provides an immunogenic composition
comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an
isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus
MntC protein, an isolated 5". aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5 conjugated to a
carrier protein, and an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8 conjugated
to a carrier protein. A fourth combination provides an immunogenic composition
comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an
isolated S. aureus MntC protein, an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type
5 conjugated to a carrier protein, and an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide
type 8 conjugated to a carrier protein. A fifth combination provides an
immunogenic composition comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor B
(ClfB) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5
conjugated to a carrier protein, and an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide
type 8 conjugated to a carrier protein. A sixth combination provides an
immunogenic composition comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor B
(ClfB) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus MntC protein, an isolated 5*. aureus
capsular polysaccharide type 5 conjugated to a carrier protein, and an isolated
S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8 conjugated to a carrier protein. A seventh
combination provides an immunogenic composition comprising: an isolated
S. aureus MntC protein, an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5
conjugated to a carrier protein, and an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide
type 8 conjugated to a carrier protein. An eighth combination provides an
immunogenic composition comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A
(ClfA) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide,
-36-
and an isolated S. aureus MntC protein. In some embodiments, the above
combinations furtlier comprise at least one of the following antigens: EkeS, DsqA,
KesK, KrkN, KrkN2, RkaS, RrkN, KnkA, SdrC, SdrD, SdrE, Opp3a, DltD, HtsA,
LtaS, IsdA, IsdB, IsdC, SdrF, SdrG, SdrH, SrtA, SpA, Sbi alpha-hemolysin (hla),
beta-hemolysin, fibronectin-binding protein A (fnbA), fibronectin-binding protein
B (fnbB), coagulase, Fig, map, Panton-Valentine leukocidin (pvl), alpha-toxin and
its variants, gamma-toxin (hlg) and variants, ica, immunodominant ABC
transporter, Mg2+ transporter, Ni ABC transporter, RAP, autolysin, laminin
receptors, IsaA/PisA, IsaB/PisB , SPOIIIE, SsaA, EbpS, Sas A, SasF, SasH, EFB
(FIB), SBI, Npase, EBP, bone sialo binding protein II, aureolysin precursor
(AUR)/Seppl, Cna, and fragments thereof such as M55, TSST-1, mecA, poly-Nacetylglucosamine
(PNAG/dPNAG) exopolysaccharide, GehD, EbhA, EbhB, SSP-
1, SSP-2, HBP, vitronectin binding protein, HarA, EsxA, EsxB, Enterotoxin A,
Enterotoxin B, Enterotoxin CI, and novel autolysin.
[0111] Epidemiological studies of 5'. aureus outbreaks indicate that evolution of
S. aureus is clonal in nature, where a single clone that acquired a successful
genotype has spread rapidly and caused many of the infections. Therefore,
evolution is considered to be clonal. The bacterial genome is comprised of a larger
more stable species core genome and a more diversified set of accessory genes.
See Fell et al.. Nature Reviews: Microbiology 2:483-495 (2004). The core genes
are ubiquitously present in all clones of the species, and the accessory genes are
not necessarily present in any given clone. Considering S. aureus, one study using
a DNA microarray representing more than 90% of the S. aureus genome found that
78% of the genes in the genome was common to all S. aureus thus representing the
"species core", and the remaining 22% are the "accessory genes". The accessory
genes comprise dispensable genetic material much of which codes for virulence
factors, proteins mediating antibiotic resistance and genes coding for proteins
specific for interacting with a particular host environment. See Fitzgerald et al.,
PNAS 98:8821-8826 (2001); Fell et al.. Nature Reviews: Microbiology 2:483-495
(2004). In general, the core genes are more slowly evolving and the accessory
genes are polymorphic. See Kuhn et al., J. Bact. 188:169-178 (2006). Therefore,
-37-
appropriately selected core genes provide better target antigens for use in
immunogenic compositions to prevent infection.
[0112] Surface expressed antigens from disease-causing isolates or clonal types
of 5. aureus offer a source for antigens able to induce immunity and functional
antibodies. At the macromolecular level (either amino acid or polysaccharide
sequence), conserved forms of the antigen expressed by the different disease
isolates may be chosen to permit broad cross reactivity of antibodies to those
strains that may possess antigenic variations of the vaccine target.
[0113] One important consideration for including an antigen in the multi-antigen
immunogenic compositions described herein is whether the antigen has
demonstrated efficacy when administered as an immunogenic composition by
providing protection in one or more animal models of bacterial infection. There
are numerous animal models for various S. aureus diseases. Each of these models
has strengths and weaknesses.
[0114] Human clearance of bacterial infections can proceed via opsonic killing
that is mediated after phagocyte uptake. There are many convincing examples for
this from studies using Gram-positive polysaccharide antigens, such as
Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide and S. aureus capsular
polysaccharide. See Lee et al., Crit. Rev. Micro. 29:333-349 (2003). There is less
evidence for opsonic activity induced by Gram-positive protein antigens. Uptake
by phagocytes has been observed, but direct killing has been harder to
demonstrate. Monoclonal antibodies to proteins have been shown to confer
protection against S. aureus challenge in animal models of infection; and
mechanisms other than opsonophagocytic killing may account for the protection
observed.
[0115] The induction of antibodies having a measurable functional activity, such
as opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) is one indicator of whether a particular
antigen is useful for inclusion in the immunogenic compositions of the present
invention. Other indicators include but are not limited to antigen expression on the
cell surface during in vivo expression as measured using antigen specific
antibodies or the ability of antibodies to inhibit/neutralize antigen function.
-38-
Species/ strains
[0116] The type of any particular hospital or disease strain is useful for
determining the origin, clonal relatedness and monitoring the epidemiology of
outbreaks. Numerous methods are available for typing 5". aureus strains. The
classical practical definition for a bacterial species is a group of strains that are
characterized by over 70% genomic hybridization (DNA-DNA genomic
hybridization of DDH) and over 97% of 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence
identity. See Vandamme et al., Microbiol. Rev. 60:407-438 (1996).
Bacteriophage typing (BT) is a method of typing S. aureus strains based on their
susceptibility to lysis by certain phage types. See Blair et al., Bull. W.H.O.
24:771-784 (1961). This older method suffers from a lack of reproducibility
between laboratories and a failure to type 15-20% of isolates.
Single-Antigen vs Multi-Antigen Immunogenic Compositions
[0117] The question arises as to whether the optimal immunogenic composition
to protect against infection of the predominant S. aureus strains should be
comprised of a single component or multiple components. Numerous studies have
shown that immunogenic compositions based on a single protein or carbohydrate
component can offer some protection from challenge with a strain of 5. aureus
expressing that component in certain animal models. Importantly, it has also been
demonstrated that protection from a single antigen can be dependent on the strain
selected.
[0118] Surface proteins such as adhesins have been investigated as single
component vaccines. For example, mice immunized with S. aureus ClfA
developed less severe arthritis than did mice with a control protein. See Josefsson
et al., J. Infect. Dis. 184:1572-1580 (2001). Fragments of the collagen binding
adhesin {cna) offered protection in a mouse sepsis model. See Nilsson, et al., J.
Clin. Invest., 101:2640-2649 (1998). Immunization of mice with the A domain of
ClfB could reduce nasal colonization in a mouse model. See Schaffer et al.. Infect.
Immun. 74:2145-2153 (2006).
[0119] One of the fourteen S. aureus iron sequestering proteins known as IsdB is
being investigated in a monovalent immunogenic formulation for protection from
-39-
S. aureus infection. This protein has shown a good protective effect in mice and
good immunogenicity in non-human primates. See Kuiclin et ai., Infect. Immun.
74:2215-2223(2006).
[0120] Due to the vast potential ofS. aureus to evolve or substitute different
proteins to perform the same or similar functions, the optimal immunogenic
formulation for protecting the most people from the most S. aureus diseases is a
multi-antigen formulation comprising 2 or more (e.g., 3, 4, 5, etc.) antigens
properly selected and presented in an immunogenic formulation. In certain
embodiments, an immunogenic composition of the invention comprises three or
more antigens selected from an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA)
polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, an
isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5 (CP5) conjugated to a carrier
protein, an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8 (CP8) conjugated to a
carrier protein and an isolated S. aureus MntC protein. In certain embodiments,
an immunogenic composition of the invention comprises four or more antigens
selected from an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an
isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus
capsular polysaccharide type 5 (CP5) conjugated to a carrier protein, an isolated
S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8 (CP8) conjugated to a carrier protein and
an isolated S. aureus MntC protein. In certain embodiments, an immunogenic
composition of the invention comprises an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A
(ClfA) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, an
isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5 (CP5) conjugated to a carrier
protein, an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8 (CP8) conjugated to a
carrier protein and an isolated S. aureus MntC protein as antigens.
Adjuvants
[0121] Immunogenic compositions as described herein also comprise, in certain
embodiments, one or more adjuvants. An adjuvant is a substance that enhances the
immune response when administered together with an immunogen or antigen. A
number of cytokines or lymphokines have been shown to have immune modulating
activity, and thus are useful as adjuvants, including, but not limited to, the
interleukins 1-a, 1-p, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,723,127),
-40-
13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 (and its mutant forms); the interferons-a, P and y;
granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (see, e.g., U.S.
Patent No. 5,078,996 and ATCC Accession Number 39900); macrophage colony
stimulating factor (M-CSF); granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF); and
the tumor necrosis factors a and p. Still other adjuvants that are useful with the
immunogenic compositions described herein include chemokines, including
without limitation, MCP-1, MlP-la, MlP-ip, and RANTES; adhesion molecules,
such as a selectin, e.g., L-selectin, P-selectin and E-selectin; mucin-like molecules,
e.g., CD34, GlyCAM-1 and MadCAM-1; a member of the integrin family such as
LFA-1, VLA-1, Mac-1 and pl50.95; a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily
such as PECAM, ICAMs, e.g, ICAM-1, ICAM-2 and ICAM-3, CD2 and LFA-3;
co-stimulatory molecules such as B 7-1, B7-2,CD40 and CD40L; growth factors
including vascular growth factor, nerve growth factor, fibroblast growth factor,
epidermal growth factor, PDGF, BL-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor;
receptor molecules including Fas, TNF receptor. Fit, Apo-1, p55, WSL-1, DR3,
TRAMP, Apo-3, AIR, LARD, NGRF, DR4, DR5, KILLER, TRAIL-R2, TRICK2,
and DR6; and Caspase (ICE).
[0122] Suitable adjuvants used to enhance an immune response further include,
without limitation, MPL^M (3-0-deacylated monophosphoryl lipid A, Corixa,
Hamilton, MT), which is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,912,094. Also suitable for
use as adjuvants are synthetic lipid A analogs or aminoalkyl glucosamine
phosphate compounds (AGP), or derivatives or analogs thereof, which are
available from Corixa (Hamilton, MT), and which are described in United States
Patent No. 6,113,918. One such AGP is 2-[(R)-3-Tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoylamino]
ethyl 2-Deoxy-4-0-phosphono-3-0-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyoxytetradecanoyl]-
2-[(R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl-amino]-b-D-glucopyranoside, which is
also known as 529 (formerly known as RC529). This 529 adjuvant is formulated
as an aqueous form (AF) or as a stable emulsion (SE).
[0123] Still other adjuvants include muramyl peptides, such as N-acetylmuramyl-
L-threonyl-D-isoglutamine(thr-MDP), N-acetyl-normuramyl-L-alanine-
2-( 1 '-2' dipalmitoyl-5'«-glycero-3-hydroxyphosphoryloxy)-ethylamine (MTP-PE);
oil-in-water. emulsions, such as MF59 (U.S. Patent No. 6,299,884) (containing 5%
-41 -
Squalene, 0.5% polysorbate 80, and 0.5% Span 85 (optionally containing various
amounts of MTP-PE) formulated into submicron particles using a microfluidizer
such as Model 1 lOY microfluidizer (Microfluidics, Newton, MA)), and SAP
(containing 10% Squalene, 0.4% polysorbate 80, 5% pluronic-blocked polymer
L121, and thr-MDP, either microfluidized into a submicron emulsion or vortexed
to generate a larger particle size emulsion); incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA);
aluminum salts (alum), such as aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate,
aluminum sulfate; Amphigen; Avridine; L121/squalene; D-lactidepolylactide/
glycoside; pluronic polyols; killed Bordetella; saponins, such as
Stimulon''"'^ QS-21 (Antigenics, Framingham, MA.), described in U.S. Patent No.
5,057,540, ISCOMATRIX (CSL Limited, Parkville, Australia), described in U.S.
Patent No. 5,254,339, and immunostimulating complexes (ISCOMATRIX);
Mycobacterium tuberculosis; bacterial lipopolysaccharides; synthetic
polynucleotides such as oligonucleotides containing a CpG motif (e.g., U.S. Patent
No. 6,207,646); IC-31 (Intercell AG, Vienna, Austria), described in European
Patent Nos. 1,296,713 and 1,326,634; a pertussis toxin (PT) or mutant thereof, a
cholera toxin or mutant thereof (e.g., U.S. Patent Nos. 7,285,281, 7,332,174,
7,361,355 and 7,384,640); or an E. coli heat-labile toxin (LT) or mutant thereof,
particularly LT-K63, LT-R72 {e.g., U.S. Patent Nos. 6,149,919, 7,115,730 and
7,291,588).
Candidate Antigens:
ClfA: Domain organization
[0124] Clumping factor A (ClfA) is a S. aureus surface protein associated with
binding to host matrix proteins via a fibrinogen binding site. ClfA is a member of
a family of proteins containing the carboxyl terminal LPXTG (SEQ ID NO: 125)
motif that enables the protein to become covalently linked to the cell surface. ClfA
also belongs to another family of proteins (Microbial Surface Components
Recognizing Adhesive Matrix Molecule, or MSCRAMMs) that are associated with
binding host proteins such as fibrinogen (bound by ClfA), the fibronectin binding
proteins (FnbA and FnbB), the collagen binding protein (Cna) and others. These
proteins all share the amino terminal signal sequence that mediates transport to the
-42-
cell surface. The MSCRAMMs also include an A-domain that is the functional
region containing the active site for ligand binding (e.g., fibrinogen, fibronectin,
elastin, keratin). The A-domain is followed by a region composed of serine
aspartate repeats (SD repeat), which is thought to span the peptidoglycan layer.
The SD repeat is followed by a membrane-spanning region that includes the
LPXTG (SEQ ID NO: 125) motif for covalent linkage of the protein to
peptidoglycan. ClfA is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,008,341.
[0125] The ligand binding region of ClfA comprising N1N2N3 of the A domain
(Figure 1) spans amino acids 40-559. The N domains of ClfA have been assigned
as follows: Nl encompasses residues 45-220; N2 encompasses residues 229-369;
and N3 encompasses residues 370-559. See Deivanayagam et al. EMBO J.
21:6660-6672 (2002). For ease of reference the N1N2N3 domains may be referred
to as N123, likewise N2N3 may be referred to as N23. In preparations of
recombinant N1N2N3, the Nl domain has been found to be protease sensitive and
is easily cleaved or hydrolyzed to leave the N2N3 as a stable ligand binding
recombinant fragment. See Deivanayagam et al. EMBO J. 21:6660-6672 (2002).
The crystal structure of the fibrinogen binding N2N3 fragment of ClfA A domain,
revealed that both N2 and N3 are dominated by anti-parallel beta strands. In
addition to the anti-parallel beta strands, the N2 domain contains a single turn
alpha helix and two 3io helices and the N3 domain contains three 3io helices. See
Deivanayagam et al. EMBO J. 21:6660-6672 (2002). Sequence alignment of N2
and N3 reveals only 13% sequence identity and 36% sequence similarity over their
lengths. SeeDeivanayagametal. EMBO J. 21:6660-6672(2002). The topology
of the N2 and N3 domains are similar to the classic IgG fold and have been
proposed to be novel variants of the IgG fold. See Deivanayagam et al. EMBO J.
21:6660-6672(2002).
ClfA Sequence
[0126] The gene for clumping factor protein A, designated ClfA, has been
cloned, sequenced and analyzed in detail at the molecular level (McDevitt et al.,
Mol. Microbiol. 11: 237-248 (1994); McDevitt et al., Mol. Microbiol. 16:895-907
(1995)). The sequence identifiers for the amino acid sequences of ClfA from 111
S. aureus disease-causing isolates are shown in Table 10. The amino acid
- 4 3 -
sequence of the full length (including the signal sequence) wild type ClfA from
S. aureus strain PFESA0237, is shown in SEQ ID NO: 130. This sequence shows
a tyrosine at position 338, which is changed to an alanine in the mutated form of
ClfA. The full length gene encoding the wild type ClfA from S. aureus strain
PFESA0237, comprising the N123 region, the repeat region and the anchor region
is shown in SEQ ID NO: 131. The amino acid sequence of the Y338A mutated
forms of ClfA is shown in SEQ ID NO: 123. However, it should be noted that the
change from a tyrosine to an alanine, which occurs in the wild type ClfA at
position 338 of SEQ ID NO: 130, and which is designated as Y338A, is shown in
the mutated form of ClfA, in SEQ ID NO: 123 at position 310. Furthermore, the
mutated form of ClfA shown in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 123 is the
mature form of ClfA without the signal sequence, thus accounting for the
difference in position of this mutation between SEQ ID NO: 130 and SEQ ID NO:
123.
ClfB: Domain Organization
[0127] ClfB is a S. aureus protein having fibrinogen binding activity and triggers
S. aureus to form clumps in the presence of plasma. ClfB is an MSCRAMM
protein and displays the characteristic MSCRAMM domain organization including
an A-domain that is the functional region containing the active site for ligand
binding (e.g., fibrinogen, fibronectin, elastin, keratin). The A-domain is followed
by a region composed of serine aspartate repeats (SD repeat), which is thought to
span the peptidoglycan layer. The SD repeat is followed by a membrane-spanning
region that includes the LPXTG (SEQ ID NO: 125) motif for covalent linkage of
the protein to peptidoglycan. ClfB is described in WO 99/27109 and in US patent
6,680,195.
[0128] The internal organization of ClfB N-terminal A domain is very similar
organization as found in ClfA. The A domain is composed of three subdomains
Nl, N2, and N3. The ligand binding region of ClfB comprising N1N2N3 of the A
domain (Figure 1) spans amino acids 44-585. For ease of reference the N1N2N3
domains may be referred to as NI23, likewise N2N3 may be referred to as N23.
The N domains of ClfB have been assigned as follows: NI encompasses residues
44-19?; N2 encompasses residues 198-375; and N3 encompasses residues 375-585.
-44-
In ClfA, the crystal structure of the A domain was found to have a unique version
of the immunoglobulin fold and by analogy the same may be speculated to be the
case for ClfB. See Deivanayagam et al., EMBO J. 21:6660-6672 (2002). Even
though organization of the A domains of ClfB and ClfA are similar, sequence
identity is only 26%. See Ni Eidhin et al., Mol. Microbiol. 30:245-257 (2002).
ClfB Sequence
[0129] The gene encoding ClfB is classified as a core adhesion gene. ClfB
sequences from 92 strains ofS. aureus associated with multiple disease states are
summarized in Table 11. Additional sequences were obtained from GenBank.
4
Other MSCRAMMS
[0130] Other MSCRAMMS may be considered for use in an immunogenic
composition of the present invention. For example, the serine-aspartate repeat
(Sdr) proteins, SdrC, SdrD, and SdrE are related in primary sequence and structural
organization to the ClfA and ClfB proteins and are localized on the cell surface.
The SdrC, SdrD and SdrE proteins are cell wall-associated proteins, having a
signal sequence at the N-terminus and an LPXTG (SEQ ID NO: 125) motif,
hydrophobic domain and positively charged residues at the C-terminus. Each also
has an SD repeat containing region R of sufficient length to allow, along with the
B motifs, efficient expression of the ligand binding domain region A on the cell
surface. With the A region of the SdrC, SdrD and SdrE proteins located on the cell
surface, the proteins can interact with proteins in plasma, the extracellular matrix
or with molecules on the surface of host cells. The Sdr proteins share some limited
amino acid sequence similarity with ClfA and ClfB. Like ClfA and ClfB, SdrC,
SdrD and SdrE also exhibit cation-dependent ligand binding of extracellular matrix
proteins.
[0131] The sdr genes are closely linked and tandemly arrayed. The Sdr proteins
(of SdrC, SdrD, SdrE, ClfA, and ClfB) characteristically comprise an A region
where there is highly conserved amino acid sequence that can be used to derive a
consensus TYTFTDYVD (SEQ ID NO: 126) motif The motif exhibits slight
variation between the different proteins. This variation, along with the consensus
sequence of the motif is described in US patent number 6,680,195. In the Clf-Sdr
-45-
proteins, this motif is highly conserved. The motif can be used in immunogenic
compositions to impart broad spectrum immunity to bacterial infections, and also
can be used as an antigen in the production of monoclonal or polyclonal
antibodies. Such an antibody can be used to impart broad spectrum passive
immunity.
[0132] The Sdr proteins differ from ClfA and ClfB by having two to five
additional 110-113 residue repeated sequences (B-motifs) located between region
A and the R-region. Each B-motif contains a consensus Ca^^ -binding EF-hand
loop normally found in eukaryotic proteins. The structural integrity of a
recombinant protein comprising the five B-repeats of SdrD was shown by bisANS
fluorescence analysis to be Ca^* -dependent, suggesting that the EF-hands are
functional. When Ca^^ was removed the structure collapsed to an unfolded
conformation. The original structure was restored by addition of Ca^^. The
C-terminal R-domains of the Sdr proteins contain 132-170 SD residues. These are
followed by conserved wall-anchoring regions characteristic of many surface
proteins of Gram positive bacteria.
[0133] In the Sdr and Clf proteins this B motif is highly conserved while a
degenerate version occurs in fibronectin binding MSCRAMMS, as well as the
collagen binding protein Cna. The B motifs, in conjunction with the R regions, are
necessary for displaying the ligand-binding domain at some distance from the cell
surface. The repeated B motifs are one common denominator of the sub-group of
SD repeat proteins described herein. These motifs are found in different numbers
in the three Sdr proteins from strain PFESA0237. There are clear distinctions
between the individual B motifs. The most conserved units are those located
adjacent to the R regions (SdrC B2, SdrD B5 and SdrE B3). They differ from the
rest at several sites, especially in the C-terminal half A noteworthy structural
detail is that adjacent B repeats are always separated by a proline residue present in
the C-terminal region, but a proline never occurs between the last B repeats and the
R region. Instead this linker is characterized by a short acidic stretch. These
differences are evidence that the end units have a different structural or functional
role compared to the other B motifs. The N-terminal B motifs of SdrD and SdrE
have drifted apart from the others, and there are numerous amino acid alterations.
-46-
including small insertions and deletions whereas the remaining internal B motifs
are more highly conserved. Note that each of the three Sdr proteins has at least one
B motif of each kind.
[0134] The C-terminal R-domains of the Sdr proteins contain 132-170 SD
residues. These are followed by conserved wall-anchoring regions characteristic of
many surface proteins of Gram positive bacteria.
[0135] Other candidate SdrD molecules may be derived from various species of
organisms for use in an immunogenic composition of the invention, some of which
include the following SdrD from S. aureus: strain USA300 FPR3757 (protein
accession number SAUSA300 0547); strain NCTC8325 (protein accession number
SAOUHSC 00545); strain MW2 (protein accession number MW0517); strain
MSSA476 (protein accession number SAS0520; and strain Mu50 (protein
accession number SAV0562).
[0136] Further MSCRAMMS which may be considered for use in an
immunogenic composition of the present invention include EkeS, DsqA, KesK,
KrkN, KrkN2, RkaS, RrkN, and KnkA. These MSCRAMMS are described in
WO 02/102829, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Additional
MSCRAMMS, identified by GenBank Accession No., include NP_3 73261.1,
NP_373371.1, NP_374246.1, NP_374248.1, NP_374841.1, NP_374866.1,
NP_375140.1, NP_375614.1, NP_375615.1, NP_375707.1, NP_375765.1, and
NP_375773.1.
Capsule Polysaccharides Type 5 and Tvpe 8
[0137] Staphylococcal microorganisms capable of causing invasive disease
generally also are capable of producing a capsule polysaccharide (CP) that
encapsulates the bacterium and enhances its resistance to clearance by host innate
immune system. The CP serves to cloak the bacterial cell in a protective capsule
that renders the bacteria resistant to phagocytosis and intracellular killing. Bacteria
lacking a capsule are more susceptible to phagocytosis. Capsular polysaccharides
are frequently an important virulence factor for many bacterial pathogens,
including Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Group B
streptococci.
-47-
[0138] The capsule polysaccharide can be used to serotype a particular species of
bacteria. Typing is usually accomplished by reaction with a specific antiserum or
monoclonal antibody generated to a specific structure or unique epitope
characteristic of the capsule polysaccharide. Encapsulated bacteria tend to grow in
smooth colonies whereas colonies of bacteria that have lost their capsules appear
rough. Colonies producing a mucoid appearance are known as Heavily
Encapsulated. Types 1 and 2 of 5. aureus are heavily encapsulated and are rarely
associated with disease.
[0139] Most clinical isolates of 5. aureus are encapsulated with either serotypes
5 or 8. The type 5 (CP5) and type 8 (CP8) capsular polysaccharides have similar
trisaccharide repeating units comprised of N-acetyl mannosaminuronic acid, Nacetyl
L-fucosamine, and N-acetyl D-fucosamine. See Foumier, J.M. et al., Infect.
Immun. 45:97-93 (1984) and Moreau, M., et al., Carbohydrate Res. 201:285-297
(1990). The two CPs, which have the same sugars, but differ in the sugar linkages
and in sites of O acetylation to produce serologically distinct patterns of
immunoreactivity.
[0140] In some embodiments, the serotype 5 and/or 8 capsular polysaccharides
of the invention are O-acetylated. In some embodiments, the degree of
O-acetylation of type 5 capsular polysaccharide or oligosaccharide is 10-100%,
20-100%, 30-100%, 40-100%, 50-100%. 60-100%, 70-100%, 80-100%, 90-100%,
50- 90%, 60-90%, 70-90% or 80-90%. In some embodiments, the degree of
O-acetylation of type 8 capsular polysaccharide or oligosaccharide is 10-100%,
20-100%, 30-100%, 40-100%, 50-100%. 60-100%, 70-100%, 80-100%, 90-100%,
50-90%, 60-90%, 70-90% or 80-90%. In some embodiments, the degree of
O-acetylation of type 5 and type 8 capsular polysaccharides or oligosaccharides is
10-100%, 20-100%, 30-100%, 40-100%, 50-100%. 60-100%, 70-100%, 80-100%,
90-100%, 50-90%, 60-90%, 70-90% or 80-90%.
[0141] The degree of O-acetylation of the polysaccharide or oligosaccharide can
be determined by any method known in the art, for example, by proton NMR
(Lemercinier and Jones 1996, Carbohydrate Research 296; 83-96, Jones and
Lemercinier 2002, J Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis 30; 1233-1247, WO
-48-
05/033148 or WO 00/56357). Another commonly used method is described by
Hestrin (1949) J. Biol. Chem. 180; 249-261.
[0142] In some embodiments, the serotype 5 and/or 8 capsular polysaccharides of
the invention are used to generate antibodies that are functional as measured by the
killing of bacteria in an animal efficacy model or an opsonophagocytic killing
assay that demonstrates that the antibodies kill the bacteria. Such functionality
may not be observed using an assay that monitors the generation of antibodies
alone, which is not indicative of the importance of O-acetylation in efficacy.
Capsule Epidemiology
[0143] The association of particular capsule serotypes with disease is possible
through monitoring of clinical isolates. Of the eight different serotypes of
S. aureus identified (Karakawa and Vann (1982) only serotypes 1 and 2 are heavily
encapsulated, and these are rarely isolated. See Capsular Polysaccharides of
Staphylococcus aureus, p. 285-293, In J.B. Robbins, J.C. Hill and J.C. Sadoff (ed.).
Seminars in infectious disease, vol. 4, Bacterial Vaccines. Thieme Stratton, Inc.
New York). Surveys have shown that approximately 85-90% oiS. aureus clinical
isolates express CP5 or CP8 (Arbeit RD, et al., Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis.
(1984) Apr;2(2):85-91; Karakawa WW, et al., J. Clin. Microbiol. (1985)
Sep;22(3):445-7; Essawi T, et al., Trop. Med. Int. Health. (1998) Jul;3(7):576-83;
Na'was T, et al., J. Clin. Microbiol. (1998) 36(2):414-20. Most of CP5 and CP8
non-typeable strains are genetically type 5 or type 8 containing mutations in cap5/8
locus (Cocchiaro, Gomez et al., (2006), Mol. Microbiol. Feb. 59(3):948-960).
Capsulation for some strains is lost rapidly within few passages in vitro which is
due to a repressive effect of high phosphate concentration in media used in clinical
diagnosis on capsule production. It was also reported that non-capsulated isolates
recover capsule expression after passing through cows. See Opdebeck, J.P. et al.,
J. Med. Microbiol. 19:275-278 (1985). Some non-typeable strains become capsule
positive under appropriate growth conditions.
CP5 and CP8 Structure
[0144] The repeat unit of both CP5 and CP8 is comprised of 2-acetamido-2-
deoxy-D-mannuronic acid, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-L-fucose and 2-acetamido-2-
-49-
deoxy-D-fucose. See C. Jones et al., Carbohydr. Res. 340:1097-1106 (2005).
Although CP5 and CP8 have the same sugar composition, they have been
demonstrated to be immunologically distinct. They differ in glycosidic linkages
and site of 0-acetylation of uronic acid. Strain dependent incomplete Nacetylation
of one of the FucNAc residues was observed. See Tzianabos et al.,
PNASV98: 9365(2001).
S. aureus Capsule Polysaccharide in an Immunogenic Composition
[0145] The molecular weight of the S. aureus capsule polysaccharides is an
important consideration for use in immunogenic compositions. High molecular
weight capsule polysaccharides are able to induce certain antibody immune
responses due to a higher valency of the epitopes present on the antigenic surface.
The methods described herein provide for isolation and purification of much higher
molecular weight capsule polysaccharide type 5 and type 8 than was previously
available.
MntC/SitC /Saliva Binding Protein
[0146] MntC/SitC /Saliva Binding Protein is an ABC transporter protein and has
homologues in S. epidermidis and S. aureus. It is referred to in the present
invention as MntC. This protein is a 32 kDa lipoprotein and is located in the
bacterial cell wall. See Sellman et al., and Cockayne et al.. Infect. Immun. 66:
3767(1998). In S. epidermidis, it is a component of an iron-regulated operon. It
shows considerable homology to both adhesins including FimA of 5. parasanguis,
and with lipoproteins of a family of ABC transporters with proven or putative
metal iron transport functions. (See Table 12 for strains of 5. aureus and
sequences.)
S. aureus MntC protein
[0147] The S. aureus homologue of MntC is known as saliva binding protein and
was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,234 and can be included in an immunogenic
composition of the invention. The protein sequence for the S. aureus homologue of
MntC/SitC/Saliva Binding Protein is found in GenBank accession number
NP_371155 for strain Mu50. (Also known as SAV0631.) The sequence identifier
-50-
is SEQ ID NO: 119. The accession number for the nucleotide sequence for the
complete genome of strain Mu50 is NC_002758.2 (coordinates 704988-705917).
S. epidermidis SitCprotein
[0148] The 5'. epidermidis homologue of MntC/SitC/Saliva Binding Protein is
known as SitC and was disclosed in Sellman et al., (Sellman et al., Infect. Immun.
2005 October; 73(10): 6591-6600). The protein sequence for the S. epidermidis
homologue of MntC/SitC/Saliva Binding Protein is found in GenBank accession
number Y P l 87886.1. (Also known as SERP0290.). The sequence identifier is
SEQ ID NO: 121.
[0149] The accession number for the nucleotide sequence for the complete
genome of strain RP62A, is NC_002976 (coordinates 293030-293959). Other
candidate SitC molecules may be derived from various species of organisms for
use in an immunogenic composition of the invention, some of which are listed in
Table 1 below.
Table 1
Protein Species Example strain Protein Accession
SitC S. haemolyticus JCSC1435 BAE03450.1
SitC S. epidermidis ATCC 12228 AAO04002.1
SitC S. saprophyticus ATCC 15305 BAE19233.1
SitC S. xylosus DSM20267 ABR57162.1
SitC |s. camosus | TM300 | CAL27186.1
S. aureus Iron Binding Proteins
[0150] Another potential candidate antigen to be considered for use in the
immunogenic compositions of the invention include the S. aureus surface protein
iron surface determinant B (IsdB). This MSCRAMM was described by Mazmanian
et al. (Mazmanian, SK et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 99:2293-2298 (2002))
and it has subsequently been tested and shown to be effective as a vaccine
candidate in a murine model of infection and a rhesus macaque immunogenicity
study by Kuklin, et al. (Kuklin, NA, et al. Infection and Immunity, Vol. 74, No. 4,
2215-2223, (2006)). This IsdB molecule is present in various strains ofS. aureus,
including strain MRSA252 (protein accession number CAG40104.1); strain
-51 -
Newman (protein accession number BAF67312.1); strain MSSA476 (protein
accession number CAG42837.1); strain Mu3 (protein accession number
BAF78003.1); strain RF122 (protein accession number CAI80681.1).
Candidate Antigens:
[0151] The immunogenic compositions of the present invention may also include
one or more of the following antigens: Opp3a, DltD, HtsA, LtaS, IsdA, IsdC, SdrF,
SdrG, SdrH, SrtA, SpA, Sbi alpha-hemolysin (hla), beta-hemolysin, fibronectinbinding
protein A (fnbA), fibronectin-binding protein B (fnbB), coagulase, Fig,
map, Panton-Valentine leukocidin (pvl), alpha-toxin and its variants, gamma-toxin
(hlg) and variants, ica, immunodominant ABC transporter, Mg2+ transporter, Ni
ABC transporter, RAP, autolysin, laminin receptors, IsaA/PisA, IsaB/PisB ,
SPOIIIE, SsaA, EbpS, Sas A, SasF, SasH, EFB (FIB), SBI, Npase, EBP, bone sialo
binding protein II, aureolysin precursor (AUR)/Seppl, Cna, and fragments thereof
such as M55, TSST-1, mecA, poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG/dPNAG)
exopolysaccharide, GehD, EbhA, EbhB, SSP-1, SSP-2, HBP, vitronectin binding
protein, HarA, EsxA, EsxB, Enterotoxin A, Enterotoxin B, Enterotoxin CI, and
novel autolysin. In certain embodiments of the invention, when the immunogenic
composition comprises certain forms of CP5 and/or CP8, it may not further
comprise PNAG.
Immunogenic Composition Formulations
[0152] In one embodiment, the immunogenic compositions of the invention
further comprise at least one of an adjuvant, a buffer, a cryoprotectant, a salt, a
divalent cation, a non-ionic detergent, an inhibitor of free radical oxidation, a
diluent or a carrier.
[0044] The immunogenic compositions of the invention may further comprise
one or more preservatives in addition to a plurality of staphylococcal protein
antigens and capsular polysaccharide-protein conjugates. The FDA requires that
biological products in multiple-dose (multi-dose) vials contain a preservative, with
only a few exceptions. Vaccine products containing preservatives include vaccines
containing benzethonium chloride (anthrax), 2-phenoxyethanol (DTaP, HepA,
Lyme, Polio (parenteral)), phenol (Pneumo, Typhoid (parenteral). Vaccinia) and
-52-
thimerosal (DTaP, DT, Td, HepB, Hib, Influenza, JE, Mening, Pneumo, Rabies).
Preservatives approved for use in injectable drugs include, e.g., chlorobutanol,
m-cresol, methylparaben, propylparaben, 2-phenoxyethanol, benzethonium
chloride, benzalkonium chloride, benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, phenol, thimerosal
and phenylmercuric nitrate.
[0153] Formulations of the invention may further comprise one or more of a
buffer, a salt, a divalent cation, a non-ionic detergent, a cryoprotectant such as a
sugar, and an anti-oxidant such as a free radical scavenger or chelating agent, or
any multiple combination thereof The choice of any one component, e.g., a
chelator, may determine whether or not another component (e.g., a scavenger) is
desirable. The final composition formulated for administration should be sterile
and/or pyrogen free. The skilled artisan may empirically determine which
combinations of these and other components will be optimal for inclusion in the
preservative containing immunogenic compositions of the invention depending on
a variety of factors such as the particular storage and administration conditions
required.
[0154] In certain embodiments, a formulation of the invention which is
compatible with parenteral administration comprises one or more physiologically
acceptable buffers selected from, but not limited to, Tris (trimethamine),
phosphate, acetate, borate, citrate, glycine, histidine and succinate. In certain
embodiments, the formulation is buffered to within a pH range of about 6.0 to
about 9.0, preferably from about 6.4 to about 7.4.
[0155] In certain embodiments, it may be desirable to adjust the pH of the
immunogenic composition or formulation of the invention. The pH of a
formulation of the invention may be adjusted using standard techniques in the art.
The pH of the formulation may be adjusted to be between 3.0 and 8.0. In certain
embodiments, the pH of the formulation may be, or may adjusted to be, between
3.0 and 6.0, 4.0 and 6.0, or 5.0 and 8.0. In other embodiments, the pH of the
formulation may be, or may adjusted to be, about 3.0, about 3.5, about 4.0, about
4.5, about 5.0, about 5.5, about 5.8, about 6.0, about 6.5, about 7.0, about 7.5, or
about 8.0. In certain embodiments, the pH may be, or may adjusted to be, in a
range from 4.5 to 7.5, or from 4.5 to 6.5, from 5.0 to 5.4, from 5.4 to 5.5, from 5.5
-53-
to 5.6, from 5.6 to 5.7, from 5.7 to 5.8, from 5.8 to 5.9, from 5.9 to 6.0, from 6.0 to
6.1, from 6.1 to 6.2, from 6.2 to 6.3, from 6.3 to 6.5, from 6.5 to 7.0, from 7.0 to
7.5 or from 7.5 to 8.0. In a specific embodiment, the pH of the formulation is
about 5.8.
[0156] In certain embodiments, a formulation of the invention which is
compatible with parenteral administration comprises one or more divalent cations,
including but not limited to MgCb, CaCb and MnCb, at a concentration ranging
from about 0.1 mM to about 10 mM, with up to about 5 mM being preferred.
[0157] In certain embodiments, a formulation of the invention which is
compatible with parenteral administration comprises one or more salts, including
but not limited to sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium sulfate, and
potassium sulfate, present at an ionic strength which is physiologically acceptable
to the subject upon parenteral administration and included at a final concentration
to produce a selected ionic strength or osmolarity in the final formulation. The
final ionic strength or osmolality of the formulation will be determined by multiple
components (e.g., ions from buffering compound(s) and other non-buffering salts.
A preferred salt, NaCl, is present from a range of up to about 250 mM, with salt
concentrations being selected to complement other components (e.g., sugars) so
that the final total osmolarity of the formulation is compatible with parenteral
administration (e.g., intramuscular or subcutaneous injection) and will promote
long term stability of the immunogenic components of the immunogenic
composition formulation over various temperature ranges. Salt-free formulations
will tolerate increased ranges of the one or more selected cryoprotectants to
maintain desired final osmolarity levels.
[0158] In certain embodiments, a formulation of the invention which is
compatible with parenteral administration comprises one or more cryoprotectants
selected from but not limited to disaccharides (e.g., lactose, maltose, sucrose or
trehalose) and polyhydroxy hydrocarbons (e.g., dulcitol, glycerol, mannitol and
sorbitol).
[0159] In certain embodiments, the osmolarity of the formulation is in a range of
from about 200 mOs/L to about 800 mOs/L, with a preferred range of from about
250 mOs/L to about 500 mOs/L, or about 300 mOs/L - about 400 mOs/L. A
-54-
salt-free formulation may contain, for example, from about 5% to about 25%
sucrose, and preferably from about 7% to about 15%, or about 10% to about 12%
sucrose. Alternatively, a salt-free formulation may contain, for example, from
about 3% to about 12% sorbitol, and preferably from about 4% to 7%, or about 5%
to about 6% sorbitol. If salt such as sodium chloride is added, then the effective
range of sucrose or sorbitol is relatively decreased. These and other such
osmolality and osmolarity considerations are well within the skill of the art.
[0160] In certain embodiments, a formulation of the invention which is
compatible with parenteral administration comprises one or more free radical
oxidation inhibitors and/or chelating agents. A variety of free radical scavengers
and chelators are known in the art and apply to the formulations and methods of
use described herein. Examples include but are not limited to ethanol, EDTA, a
EDTA/ethanol combination, triethanolamine, mannitol, histidine, glycerol, sodium
citrate, inositol hexaphosphate, tripolyphosphate, ascorbic acid/ascorbate, succinic
acid/succinate, malic acid/maleate, desferal, EDDHA and DTP A, and various
combinations of two or more of the above. In certain embodiments, at least one
non-reducing free radical scavenger may be added at a concentration that
effectively enhances long term stability of the formulation. One or more free
radical oxidation inhibitors/chelators may also be added in various combinations,
such as a scavenger and a divalent cation. The choice of chelator will determine
whether or not the addition of a scavenger is needed.
[0161] In certain embodiments, a formulation of the invention which is
compatible with parenteral administration comprises one or more non-ionic
surfactants, including but not limited to polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters,
Polysorbate-80 (Tween 80), Polysorbate-60 (Tween 60), Polysorbate-40 (Tween
40) and Polysorbate-20 (Tween 20), polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, including but
not limited to Brij 58, Brij 35, as well as others such as Triton X-100;
Triton X-114, NP40, Span 85 and the Pluronic series of non-ionic surfactants (e.g.,
Pluronic 121), with preferred components Polysorbate-80 at a concentration from
about 0.001% to about 2% (with up to about 0.25% being preferred) or
Polysorbate-40 at a concentration from about 0.001% to 1% (with up to about
0.5% being preferred).
- 5 5 -
[0162] In certain embodiments, a formulation of the invention comprises one or
more additional stabilizing agents suitable for parenteral administration, e.g., a
reducing agent comprising at least one thiol (-SH) group (e.g., cysteine, N-acetyl
cysteine, reduced glutathione, sodium thioglycolate, thiosulfate, monothioglycerol,
or mixtures thereof). Alternatively or optionally, preservative-containing
immunogenic composition formulations of the invention may be further stabilized
by removing oxygen from storage containers, protecting the formulation from light
(e.g., by using amber glass containers).
[0163] Preservative-containing immunogenic composition formulations of the
invention may comprise one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or
excipients, which includes any excipient that does not itself induce an immune
response. Suitable excipients include but are not limited to macromolecules such
as proteins, saccharides, polylactic acids, polyglycolic acids, polymeric amino
acids, amino acid copolymers, sucrose (Paoletti et al, 2001, Vaccine, 19:2118),
trehalose, lactose and lipid aggregates (such as oil droplets or liposomes). Such
carriers are well known to the skilled artisan. Pharmaceutically acceptable
excipients are discussed, e.g., in Gennaro, 2000, Remington: The Science and
Practice of Pharmacy, 20'" edition, ISBN:0683306472.
[0164] Compositions of the invention may be lyophilized or in aqueous form, i.e.
solutions or suspensions. Liquid formulations may advantageously be
administered directly from their packaged form and are thus ideal for injection
without the need for reconstitution in aqueous medium as otherwise required for
lyophilized compositions of the invention.
[0165] Direct delivery of immunogenic compositions of the present invention to
a subject may be accomplished by parenteral administration (intramuscularly,
intraperitoneally, intradermally, subcutaneously, intravenously, or to the interstitial
space of a tissue); or by rectal, oral, vaginal, topical, transdermal, intranasal,
ocular, aural, pulmonary or other mucosal administration. In a preferred
embodiment, parenteral administration is by intramuscular injection, e.g., to the
thigh or upper arm of the subject. Injection may be via a needle (e.g., a
hypodermic needle), but needle free injection may alternatively be used. A typical
intramuscular dose is 0.5mL. Compositions of the invention may be prepared in
-56-
various forms, e.g., for injection either as liquid soliUions or suspensions. In
certain embodiments, the composition may be prepared as a powder or spray for
pulmonary administration, e.g., in an inhaler. In other embodiments, the
composition may be prepared as a suppository or pessary, or for nasal, aural or
ocular administration, e.g., as a spray, drops, gel or powder.
[0166] Optimal amounts of components for a particular immunogenic
composition may be ascertained by standard studies involving observation of
appropriate immune responses in subjects. Following an initial vaccination,
subjects can receive one or several booster immunizations adequately spaced.
Packaging and Dosage Forms
[0167] Immunogenic compositions of the invention may be packaged in unit
dose or multi-dose form (e.g. 2 doses, 4 doses, or more). For multi-dose forms,
vials are typically but not necessarily preferred over pre-fiUed syringes. Suitable
multi-dose formats include but are not limited to: 2 to 10 doses per container at 0.1
to 2 mL per dose. In certain embodiments, the dose is a 0.5 mL dose. See, e.g..
International Patent Application WO2007/127668, which is incorporated by
reference herein.
Compositions may be presented in vials or other suitable storage containers, or
may be presented in pre-filled delivery devices, e.g., single or multiple component
syringes, which may be supplied with or without needles. A syringe typically but
need not necessarily contains a single dose of the preservative-containing
immunogenic composition of the invention, although multi-dose, pre-filled
syringes are also envisioned. Likewise, a vial may include a single dose but may
alternatively include multiple doses.
[0168] Effective dosage volumes can be routinely established, but a typical dose
of the composition for injection has a volume of 0.5 mL. In certain embodiments,
the dose is formulated for administration to a human subject. In certain
embodiments, the dose is formulated for administration to an adult, teen,
adolescent, toddler or infant (i.e., no more than one year old) human subject and
may in preferred embodiments be administered by injection.
[0169] Liquid immunogenic compositions of the invention are also suitable for
reconstituting other immunogenic compositions which are presented in lyophilized
-57-
form. Where an immunogenic composition is to be used for such extemporaneous
reconstitution, the invention provides a icit with two or more vials, two or more
ready-filled syringes, or one or more of each, with the contents of the syringe being
used to reconstitute the contents of the vial prior to injection, or vice versa.
[0170] Alternatively, immunogenic compositions of the present invention may be
lyophilized and reconstituted, e.g., using one of a multitude of methods for freeze
drying well known in the art to form dry, regular shaped (e.g., spherical) particles,
such as micropellets or microspheres, having particle characteristics such as mean
diameter sizes that may be selected and controlled by varying the exact methods
used to prepare them. The immunogenic compositions may further comprise an
adjuvant which may optionally be prepared with or contained in separate dry,
regular shaped (e.g., spherical) particles such as micropellets or microspheres. In
such embodiments, the present invention further provides an immunogenic
composition kit comprising a first component that includes a stabilized, dry
immunogenic composition, optionally further comprising one or more
preservatives of the invention, and a second component comprising a sterile,
aqueous solution for reconstitution of the first component. In certain
embodiments, the aqueous solution comprises one or more preservatives, and may
optionally comprise at least one adjuvant (see, e.g., WO2009/109550 (incorporated
herein by reference).
[0171] In yet another embodiment, a container of the multi-dose format is
selected from one or more of the group consisting of, but not limited to, general
laboratory glassware, flasks, beakers, graduated cylinders, fermentors, bioreactors,
tubings, pipes, bags, jars, vials, vial closures (e.g., a rubber stopper, a screw on
cap), ampoules, syringes, dual or multi-chamber syringes, syringe stoppers, syringe
plungers, rubber closures, plastic closures, glass closures, cartridges and disposable
pens and the like. The container of the present invention is not limited by material
of manufacture, and includes materials such as glass, metals (e.g., steel, stainless
steel, aluminum, etc.) and polymers (e.g., thermoplastics, elastomers,
thermoplastic-elastomers). In a particular embodiment, the container of the format
is a 5 mL Schott Type 1 glass vial with a butyl stopper. The skilled artisan will
appreciate that the format set forth above is by no means an exhaustive list, but
-58-
merely serve as guidance to the artisan with respect to the variety of formats
available for the present invention. Additional formats contemplated for use in the
present invention may be found in published catalogues from laboratory equipment
vendors and manufacturers such as United States Plastic Corp. (Lima, OH), VWR.
Evaluation of Immunogenic Compositions
[0172] In one embodiment, the present invention provides immunogenic
compositions comprising at least three antigens from a S. aureus organism.
[0173] Various in vitro tests are used to assess the immunogenicity of the
immunogenic compositions of the invention. For example, an in vitro opsonic
assay is conducted by incubating together a mixture of staphylococcal cells, heat
inactivated serum containing specific antibodies to the antigens in question, and an
exogenous complement source. Opsonophagocytosis proceeds during incubation
of freshly isolated polymorphonuclear cells (PMN's) or differentiated effector cells
such as HL60s and the antibody/complement/staphylococcal cell mixture.
Bacterial cells that are coated with antibody and complement are killed upon
opsonophagocytosis. Colony forming units (cfu) of surviving bacteria that are
recovered from opsonophagocytosis are determined by plating the assay mixture.
Titers are reported as the reciprocal of the highest dilution that gives 50% bacterial
killing, as determined by comparison to assay controls.
[0174] A whole cell ELISA assay is also used to assess in vitro immunogenicity
and surface exposure of the antigen, wherein the bacterial strain of interest
{S. aureus) is coated onto a plate, such as a 96 well plate, and test sera from an
immunized animal is reacted with the bacterial cells. If any antibody, specific for
the test antigen, is reactive with a surface exposed epitope of the antigen, it can be
detected by standard methods known to one skilled in the art.
[0175] Any antigen demonstrating the desired in vitro activity is then tested in an
in vivo animal challenge model. In certain embodiments, immunogenic
compositions are used in the immunization of an animal (e.g., a mouse) by
methods and routes of immunization known to those of skill in the art (e.g.,
intranasal, parenteral, oral, rectal, vaginal, transdermal, intraperitoneal,
intravenous, subcutaneous, etc.). Following immunization of the animal with a
particular Staphylococcus sp. immunogenic composition, the animal is challenged
-59-
with a Staphylococcus sp. and assayed for resistance to the staphylococcal
infection.
[0176] In one embodiment, pathogen-free mice are immunized and challenged
with S. aureus. For example, mice are immunized with one or more doses of the
desired antigen in an immunogenic composition. Subsequently, the mice are
challenged with S. aureus and survival is monitored over time post challenge.
Methods of Immunizing
[0177] Provided also are methods for immunizing a host to prevent
staphylococcal infection. In a preferred embodiment, the host is human. Thus, a
host or subject is administered an immunogenic amount of an immunogenic
composition as described herein. An immunogenic amount of an immunogenic
composition can be determined by doing a dose response study in which subjects
are immunized with gradually increasing amounts of the immunogenic
composition and the immune response analyzed to determine the optimal dosage.
Starting points for the study can be inferred from immunization data in animal
models. The dosage amount can vary depending upon specific conditions of the
individual. The amount can be determined in routine trials by means known to
those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the method of immunizing a host to
prevent staphylococcal infection, disease or condition comprises human,
veterinary, animal, or agricultural treatment. Another embodiment provides a
method of immunizing a host to prevent staphylococcal infection, disease or
condition associated with a Staphylococcus sp. in a subject, the method comprising
generating a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody preparation from the immunogenic
composition described herein, and using said antibody preparation to confer
passive immunity to the subject.
[0178] An immunologically effective amount of the immunogenic composition
in an appropriate number of doses is administered to the subject to elicit an
immune response. The treated individual should not exhibit the more serious
clinical manifestations of the staphylococcal infection. The dosage amount can
vary depending upon specific conditions of the individual, such as age and weight.
This amount can be determined in routine trials by means known to those skilled in
the art.
-60-
[0179] In one embodiment, patients being administered immunogenic
compositions of the invention show a reduction in S. aureus carriage rates. Such
reduction in carriage or a prolonged interval of time spent as a non-carrier
following administration of an immunogenic composition is significant from a
medical need perspective. For example, reduction in overall S. aureus carriage in
carriers may be assessed following one dose of 5. aureus muhi-antigen vaccine.
For example, 1 day prior to administration of an immunogenic composition, a
group of adults aged 18-50 years may be screened for carriage by nasal and throat
swabs followed by cultivation to determine their carriage state. Next, the group
can be administered an immunogenic composition of the invention with a group
receiving a control. Nasal and throat swabs performed weekly over a 12 week
period, and monthly up to 6 months post administration of the immunogenic
composition are performed and compared to placebo. One primary endpoint is to
compare carriage rates in patients after administration of an immunogenic
composition versus placebo at 3 month intervals post immunization.
Animal Models of Staphylococcal Infection
[0180] Several animal models are described below for use in assessing the
efficacy of any one of the immunogenic compositions described herein.
Murine Sepsis Model (Passive or Active)
Passive Immunization Model
[0181] Mice are passively immunized intraperitoneally (i.p.) with immune IgG or
monoclonal antibody. The mice are subsequently challenged 24 hours later with a
lethal dose ofS. aureus. The bacterial challenge is administered
intravenously (i.v.) or i.p. ensuring that any survival could be attributed to the
specific in vivo interaction of the antibody with the bacteria. The bacterial
challenge dose is determined to be the dose required to achieve lethal sepsis of
approximately 20% of the unimmunized control mice. Statistical evaluation of
survival studies can be carried out by Kaplan-Meier analysis.
-61 -
Active Immunization Model
[0182] In this model, mice (e.g. Swiss Webster mice) are actively immunized
intraperitoneally (i.p.) or subcutaneously (s.c.) with a target antigen at 0, 3 and 6
weeks (or other similar appropriately spaced vaccination schedule) and
subsequently challenged with S. aureus at week 8 by the intravenous route. The
bacterial challenge dose is calibrated to achieve approximately 20% survival in the
control group over a 10-14 day period. Statistical evaluation of survival studies
can be carried out by Kaplan-Meier analysis.
Infectious Endocarditis Model (Passive or Active)
[0183] A passive immunization model for infectious endocarditis (IE) caused by
S. aureus has previously been used to show that ClfA can induce protective
immunity. See Vemachio et al., Antmicro. Agents & Chemo. 50:511-518 (2006).
In this model of IE, rabbits or rats are used to simulate clinical infections that
include a central venous catheter, bacteremia, and hematogenous seeding to distal
organs. Catheterized rabbits or rats with sterile aortic valve vegetations are
administered a single or multiple intravenous injection of a monoclonal or
polyclonal antibody specific for the target antigen. Subsequently, the animals are
challenged i.v. with a S. aureus or S. epidermidis strain. Then after challenge,
heart, cardiac vegetations, and additional tissues, including kidneys, and blood are
harvested and cultured. The frequency of staphylococcal infection in cardiac
tissue, kidneys, and blood is then measured. In one study, when animals were
challenged with either MRSE ATCC 35984 or MRSA 67-0, significant reductions
in infection rate were shown using either the polyclonal antibody preparation or the
monoclonal antibody to ClfA. See Vemachio et al., Antmicro. Agents & Chemo.
50:511-518(2006).
[0184] The infectious endocarditis model has also been adapted for active
immunization studies in both rabbits and rats. Rabbits or rats are immunized
intramuscularly or subcutaneously with target antigen and challenged with
S. aureus two weeks later via the intravenous route.
-62-
Pyelonephritis Model
[0185] In the pyelonephritis model, mice are immunized on wks 0, 3 and 6 (or
other appropriately spaced immunization schedule) with the target antigens.
Subsequently, the animals are challenged i.p. or i.v. with S. aureus PFESA0266.
After 48 hrs, the kidneys are harvested and bacterial CFU are enumerated.
Antibodies and Antibody Compositions
[0186] The invention further provides antibodies and antibody compositions
which bind specifically and selectively to one or more antigens of an immunogenic
composition of the present invention. In some embodiments, antibodies are
generated upon administration to a subject of an immunogenic composition of the
present invention. In some embodiments, the invention provides purified or
isolated antibodies directed against one or more of the antigens of an immunogenic
composition of the present invention. In some embodiments, the antibodies of the
present invention are functional as measured by killing bacteria in either an animal
efficacy model or via an opsonophagocytic killing assay. In some embodiments,
the antibodies of the invention confer passive immunity to a subject. The present
invention further provides polynucleotide molecules encoding an antibody or
antibody fragment of the invention, and a cell or cell line (such as hybridoma cells
or other engineered cell lines for recombinant production of antibodies) and a
transgenic animal that produces an antibody or antibody composition of the
invention, using techniques well-known to those of skill in the art.
[0187] Antibodies or antibody compositions of the invention may be used in a
method of treating or preventing a Staphylococcal infection, disease or condition
associated with a Staphylococcus sp. in a subject, the method comprising
generating a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody preparation, and using said
antibody or antibody composition to confer passive immunity to the subject.
Antibodies of the invention may also be useful for diagnostic methods, e.g.,
detecting the presence of or quantifying the levels of one or more antigens of the
immunogenic compositions of the present invention.
-63-
EXAMPLES
[0188] The following examples demonstrate some embodiments of the present
invention. However, it is to be understood that these examples are for illustration
only and do not purport to be wholly definitive as to conditions and scope of this
invention. It should be appreciated that when typical reaction conditions (e.g.,
temperature, reaction times, etc.) have been given, the conditions both above and
below the specified ranges can also be used, though generally less conveniently.
All parts and percents referred to herein are on a weight basis and all temperatures
are expressed in degrees centigrade unless otherwise specified.
[0189] Furthermore, the following examples were carried out using standard
techniques, which are well known and routine to those of skill in the art, except
where otherwise described in detail. As noted above, the following examples are
presented for illustrative purpose, and should not be construed in any way limiting
the scope of this invention.
Example 1: Production of Antigens ClfA and CifB
[0190] Clumping factor A (ClfA) and B (ClfB) are S. aureus surface proteins
responsible for binding to host proteins including fibrinogen (ClfA, ClfB) and
cytokeratin 10 (ClfB). ClfA and ClfB are members of a family of proteins
containing the carboxyl terminal LPXTG (SEQ ID NO: 125) motif that enables the
protein to become covalently linked to the cell surface. Both ClfA and ClfB
belong to family of proteins (Microbial Surface Components Recognizing
Adhesive Matrix Molecule, or MSCRAMMs) that recognize and bind host
extracellular matrix proteins such as fibrinogen (ClfA and ClfB), fibronectin
(FnbA and FnbB), collagen (Cna), and others. These proteins all share the amino
terminal signal sequence that mediates transport to the cell surface. The
MSCRAMMs also include an A-domain that is the functional region containing
ligand-binding site for fibrinogen, fibronectin, elastin, and keratin. The A-domain
can be followed by a region composed of serine-aspartate repeats (SD repeat),
which is thought to span the peptidoglycan layer. The SD repeat is followed by a
membrane-spanning region that includes the LPXTG (SEQ ID NO: 125) motif for
covalent linkage of the protein to peptidoglycan.
-64-
[0191] The ligand binding regions of ClfA and Clffl comprising N1N2N3 of the
A domain spans amino acids 40-559. The N domains of ClfA / ClfB have been
assigned as follows: Nl encompasses residues 45-220; N2 encompasses residues
229-369; and N3 encompasses residues 370-559. See Deivanayagam et al. EMBO
J. 21:6660-6672 (2002). In preparations of recombinant ClfA N1N2N3, the Nl
domain has been found to be protease sensitive and is easily cleaved or hydrolyzed
to leave the N23 as a stable ligand binding recombinant fragment. See
Deivanayagam et al. EMBO J. 21:6660-6672 (2002). Similarly, it was
demonstrated that Nl domain of ClfB is also protease-sensitive and could be easily
cleaved by S. aureus metalloprotease (McAleese, F. M. et al. J. Biol. Chem. 2001,
276, pp. 29969-29978). The crystal structure of the fibrinogen binding N23
fragment of ClfA A domain, revealed that both N2 and N3 are dominated by antiparallel
beta strands. In addition to the anti-parallel beta strands, the N2 domain
contains a single turn alpha helix and two 3io helices and the N3 domain contains
three 3io helices. See Deivanayagam et al. EMBO J. 21:6660-6672 (2002).
[0192] Sequence alignment of N2 and N3 reveals only 13% sequence identity
and 36% sequence similarity over their lengths. See Deivanayagam et al. EMBO
J. 21:6660-6672 (2002). The topology of the N2 and N3 domains are similar to the
classic IgG fold and have been proposed to be novel variants of the IgG fold. See
Deivanayagam et al. EMBO J. 21:6660-6672 (2002).
Recombinant forms of ClfA used in the immunogenic compositions described
herein are fragments of ClfA comprising one or more of the N domains, for
example, N1N2N3, N2N3 and are referred to herein as "recombinant ClfA" or
"rClfA". In addition, any rClfA should be one that maintains the native structure
of the individual N domains and critical epitopes but does not interfere with normal
processes of the immunized individual after administration (i.e., does not bind
fibrinogen). Mutational studies have shown that mutating Y338A (N2) completely
eliminated binding of the N23 fragment to fibrinogen. (This Y338A position refers
to a change from a tyrosine to an alanine at position 338 in the immature form of
the polypeptide sequence with the leader sequence still attached. This change can
be seen at position 310 in the mature form of the mutated ClfA polypeptide of SEQ
ID NO: 123 that demonstrates a lack of binding to fibrinogen). See Deivanayagam
-65-
et al. EMBO J. 21:6660-6672 (2002). Therefore, the Y338A mutation has been
adopted for all fragments of ClfA in the following studies.
[0193] Similarly, recombinant forms of ClfB used in the immunogenic
compositions described herein are fragments of ClfB comprising one or more of
the N domains, for example, N1N2N3, N2N3 and are referred to herein as
"recombinant ClfB" or "rClffl". In addition, any rClfB should be one that
maintains the native structure of the individual N domains and critical epitopes but
does not interfere with normal processes of the immunized individual after
administration (i.e., does not bind fibrinogen). (See, for example, Walsh, E.J. et al.
Microbiology (2008), 154, 550-558).
ClfA and ClfB: Overview of Cloning Strategy
[0194] The different forms of rClfA protein used to generate preclinical efficacy
data include HisClfA(Ni23); T7ClfA(Ni23); T7ClfA(Ni23); Y338A; ClfA(N23) and
ClfA{N23)Y338A. See Figure 1. The ClfA gene contains the A region coding
sequence fi"om S. aureus PFESA0237 corresponding to residues 40-559. The
reading frame cloned from 5". aureus was fused to the N-terminal HisTag and
linker sequences of the vector (MRGSHHHHHHGS SEQ ID NO: 127) along with
three additional coding sequences (KLN) introduced at the C-terminus. (See
below for detailed procedure.) Protein expressed from this vector was used for all
experiments where it is referred to as HisClfA(Ni23).
[0195] The different forms of rClfA were derived from the A region (residues
40-559 of ClfA expressed by 5'. aureus PFESA0237 (top row). The HisClfA(Ni23)
is expressed using the T5 promoter contained in pQE30 and all other forms are
expressed using the T7 based pET expression system.
[0196] Two forms of ClfB (T7ClfB N1N2N3 and ClfB N23) were utilized for
preclinical animal studies.
ClfA Cloning Procedure
[0197] The ClfA coding sequence corresponding to amino acid residues 40-559
from S. aureus strain PFESA0237 was cloned and the mutation, Y338A, was
introduced to eliminate fibrinogen binding. The mutated ClfA gene was introduced
into a T7 RNA polymerase expression vector, pET9a (Novagen) to provide
-66-
plasmid, pLPl 179. The DNA sequence of the region comprising the T7 promoter
and coding region in pLPl 179 is SEQ ID: 124. The expression vector was
transformed into E. coli BLR(DE3) (Novagen) for production of recombinant
ClfA.
[0198] The construction of T7ClfA(Ni23)Y338A involved several steps. A
summary of the cloning steps used to construct the final expression plasmid,
pLPl 179 is shown in Figure 2.
[0199] The clfA DNA sequence present in pQEClf40 correspond to amino acid
residues 40-559 of ClfA that was originally cloned into the BamHI/Hindlll cloning
site of pQEBG. This creates a HisTag fusion at the N-terminal end of ClfA and the
addition of three residues at the C-terminus. The ClfA coding region present in
(AmpR) pQEClf40 was sub-cloned into the KanR pET 27b vector (Novagen) to
create pLPl 137. In addition the clfA DNA sequence corresponding to amino acid
residues 221-559 was cloned into the Ndel-Hindlll cloning site of pET27b to
create pLPl 134. The N-terminal HisTag of ClfA was replaced with the N-terminal
T7 by subcloning the BamHI-BlpI DNA fragment from pQEClf40 into pET9a
(Novagen) to create pLPl 153. The coding sequence of T7ClfA(Ni23) present in
pLPl 153 contains 11 N-terminal amino acid residues from the T7 tag of pET9a
followed by three amino acid residues from linker sequences plus the three Cterminal
linker derived residues originally present in pQE30Clf40. The Y338A
mutation was first introduced into the ClfA(N23) coding sequence of pLPl 134 to
create pLPl 168. Later a Pstl-SnaBI DNA fi-agment containing the Y338A
mutation from ClfA(N23) of pLPl 168 was replaced into Pstl-SnaBI of T7ClfA(Ni23)
coding sequence of pLPl 153 to create pLPl 171. An internal ribosome binding site
present in the coding sequence of T7ClfA(Ni23)Y338A of pLPl 171 was altered by
silent mutations at DNA positions 339 and 342 of the T7 rClfA Y338A ORF,
changing from G to T and G to A, respectively. The resulting plasmid, pLPl 176,
was then used to remove the three extraneous residues, originally derived fi-om
pQE30Clf40, between the T7 tag and the start of the ClfA coding region. The
three linker derived C-terminal residues were also removed at this time.
[0200] The rClfA expressed by the resulting plasmid, pLPl 179 (Figures 2 and 3),
contains only the 11 N-terminal amino acids fused to residue 40-559 of
-67-
ClfA(Ni23)Y338A. The DNA sequence of the region comprising the T7 promoter
and the coding sequence of T7 rClfA(Ni23)Y338A of pLPl 179 is SEQ ID NO 124.
Bacterial Strains and Plasmids
[0201] The plasmid backbone pET9a (obtained from Novagen) was used for
construction of pLPl 179, which expresses T7ClfA(Ni23)Y338A from a T7
promoter. The plasmid contains the kanamycin resistance gene (KanR) for
positive selection. The BL21(DE3) E. coli host strain [F- ompThsdSB (rB"mB') gal
dcm (DE3)] (Novagen) was originally used to obtain expression of
T7ClfA(Ni23)Y338A. The DE3 designation denotes the lambda lysogen containing
the T7 RNA polymerase gene under control of the lacUVS (IPTG inducible)
promoter that is used for induced expression of T7 RNA polymerase and
subsequent transcription from the T7 promoter proximal to the ClfA(Ni23)Y338A
coding sequence present in pLPl 179. Upon receiving information that the
BL21(DE3) lysogenic host strain is capable of inducing lytic phage upon large
scale fermentations, the host strain was changed to the recA BLR(DE3) host strain
[F- ompThsdSB (rBme) gal dcm A(5n-rec^)306::Tn70(Tc/?) (DE3)] (Novagen).
Production and Purification of ClfA
[0202] For the production of ClfA, E. coli BLR(DE3)/pLPl 179 was grown in
defined medium in glucose fed-batch mode in bioreactors. When the culture
reached an optical density (ODeoo) between 30-50, the expression of ClfA was
induced by the addition of IPTG. The culture was harvested between 3-16 hours
post induction.
[0203] The cells were disrupted and the clarified soluble fraction was collected.
After the addition of ammonium sulfate, the material was applied to a column
containing Phenyl-Sepharose resin and eluted. Fractions containing ClfA were
identified, dialyzed and loaded onto an anion exchange column (Q-Sepharose).
After elution with a salt gradient, fractions containing ClfA were identified,
concentrated by ultrafiltration and loaded on to a size-exclusion column
(Superdex-75). Fractions containing ClfA were identified and pooled. The purity
of the ClfA at this point was about 98% as measured by SDS-PAGE.
-68-
Cloning and Purification of Clffl N1N2N3
[0204] The ClfB coding sequence corresponding to amino acid residues 44-542
was cloned into a T7 RNA polymerase expression vector, pET28a (Novagen) to
provide plasmid pPXl 189. The expression vector was transformed into E. coli
BLR(DE3) (Novagen) for the production of recombinant ClfB. (See Walsh, et al.,
Microbiology 154: 550-558 (2008).)
[0205] For the production of ClfB, E. coli BLR(DE3)/pLPl 179 was grown in
defined medium in glucose fed-batch mode in bioreactors. When the culture
reached an optical density (ODeoo) between 30-50, the expression of ClfB was
induced by the addition of IPTG. The cuhure was harvested between 3-16 hours
post induction.
[0206] The cells were disrupted and the clarified soluble fraction was collected.
The pH of the soluble fraction was adjusted to about pH 3.2 and the precipitated
impurities were removed. The pH of the soluble fraction containing ClfB was
readjusted to about pH 8.0 and dialyzed to remove salts. After the addition of
ammonium sulfate, the material was applied to a column containing Phenyl-
Sepharose resin and eluted. Fractions containing ClfB were identified, dialyzed
and loaded onto an anion exchange column (Q-Sepharose). After elution with a salt
gradient, fractions containing ClfB were identified, concentrated by ultrafiltration
and loaded on to a size-exclusion column (Superdex-75). Fractions containing
ClfB were identified and pooled. The purity of the ClfB at this point was about
94% as measured by SDS-PAGE.
Example 2: Productions of Antigens: Staph Aureus MntC
Cloning S. aureus Lipidated MntC
[0207] Recombinant MntC was originally cloned from S. aureus strain Mu50.
The rMntC coding sequence was amplified by PCR from S. aureus Mu50 genomic
DNA. Two pairs of nested primers were used for the amplification (Table 2). The
first pair of primers, 5'SA926-MntC ups and 3'SA926-MntC down, align to the
sequence upstream and downstream of the open reading frame of rMntC. The
second set of primers align to the coding sequence of rMntC allowing to amplify
the sequence corresponding to amino acid residues 19-309. Restriction enzymes
-69-
sites were incorporated at the 5' ends of these primers to facilitate directional
cloning. PCR was carried out in a Peltier Thermal Cycler (MJ Research Inc,
Walthan, MA) with TaKaRa PrimeSTAR HS DNA Polymerase Premix (Takara
Bio USA, Madison, WI). PCR product was purified by QIAEX II (Qiagen,
Valencia, CA), cleaved with the appropriate restriction endonucleases (New
England BioLabs, Ipswich, MA) and sub-cloned into the araBAD promoter-driven
expression vector pBADlSCm. This vector also contains the signal peptide of the
lipoprotein P4 from H. influenza. The MntC PCR product was sub-cloned in frame
downstream from the P4 signal peptide to create pLPl 194. The DNA sequence of
the MntC coding region of pLPl 194 is shown in SEQ ID NO: 120. The MntC
expressed from pLPl 194 is a lipoprotein. The recombinant plasmid DNA was
sequenced by ABI PRISM BigDye^*^ Terminator V.3.1 (Applied Biosystems,
Foster City, CA) and the recombinant protein was expressed in E. coli BLR
(NOVAGEN) for the production of lipidated rMntC.
Production and Purification of Lipidated MntC
[0208] For the production of lipidated MntC, E. coli BLR/pLP 1194 was grown in
defined medium in glucose fed-batch mode in bioreactors. When the culture
reached an optical density (ODeoo) of about 60, the expression of rMntC was
induced by switching the feed to a mixture of glucose and arabinose. The culture
was harvested about 24 hours post induction.
[0209] The cells were disrupted and the insoluble fraction was collected.
Lipidated MntC was found associated with the cell membranes due to the lipid
modification. MntC was extracted from the membrane fraction with a detergent
(Zwittergent ZW-312). After removal of the insoluble debris, the lipidated MntC
was found in the soluble fraction. The soluble fraction was applied to a column
containing a mixed-mode resin and eluted with a linear salt and pH gradient.
Fractions containing MntC were identified and pooled. Ammonium sulfate was
added to the pool and the material was applied to a column containing Butyl-
Sepharose and eluted. Fractions containing MntC were identified, desalted and
loaded onto a cation exchange column (SP-Sepharose). After elution with a salt
gradient, fractions containing rMntC were identified and pooled.
-70-
Cloning S. aureus Non-Lipidated MntC
[0210] The DNA sequence employed to express non-lipidated rMntC was
isolated by PCR amplification from plasmid pLPl 194. The resulting sequence
corresponds to amino acid residues 19-309 and does not contain the signal
sequence that directs secretion and lipidation. The DNA sequence of the rMntC
coding region of pLP1215 is found in DNA SEQ ID NO: 120.
[0211] To create pLPl215, MntC was amplified by PCR from pLPl 194. The
MntC DNA sequence present in pLP1215 corresponds to amino acid residues 19-
309 and the first codon for this construct was introduced in the forward primer
used in the amplification of the gene. The primers used for PCR also contain
restriction enzymes sites at the 5' ends to facilitate directional cloning (Table 2).
PCR and purification of the amplified gene was carried out as described above.
Purified PCR product was cleaved with the appropriate restriction endonucleases
(New England BioLabs, Ipswich, MA) and sub-cloned into the T7 promoter-driven
expression vector pET28a (Novagen, Madison, WI). The recombinant plasmid
DNA pLP1215 was sequenced by ABI PRISM BigDye™ Terminator V.3.1
(Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) and the recombinant protein was expressed
in E. coli BLR(DE3). Plasmid DNA for pLP1215 was purified and used to
transform E. coli HMS174(DE3) to evaluate protein expression.
Table 2: MntC primers.
Expression constructs Primer name Sequence (5'-3')
Lipidated MntC 5'SA926-MntCups CAC AAA ATT TAC GAA TAG
(pLP 1194) AAA GAA ACG AG (SEQ ID NO:
109)
3'SA926-MntCdown AAA ATA TTG GAG ATA CCA
ATA TTT TAG GTT G (SEQ ID
NO: 110)
5'BamHISA926_MntC TTT CTT GGA TCC GGT ACT
GGT GGT AAA CAA AGC AGT G
(SEQ ID NO: 111)
3'SphISA926_MntC TTT CTT GCA TGC TTA TTT CAT
GCT TCC GTG TAC AGT TTC
(SEQ ID NO: 112)
- 7 1 -
Expression constructs Primer name Sequence (5'-3')
Non lipidated MntC 5'NcoIMntC TTT CTT CCA TGG GTA CTG
(pLP1215) GTG GTA AAC AAA GCA G (SEQ
ID NO: 113)
3'BlpIMntC TTT CTT GCT CAG CAT TAT TTC
ATG CTT CCG TGT ACA G (SEQ
ID NO: 114)
[0212] Synthetic oligonucleotides used to generate rMntC constructs. Restriction
endonuclease sites are underlined. The nucleotides in boldface indicate the first
codon for the nonlipidated rMntC construct.
Production and Purification of Non-Lipidated rMntC
[0213] For the production of non-lipidated rMntC, E. coli
HMS174(DE3)/pLP1215 was grown in defined medium in glucose fed-batch mode
in bioreactors. When the culture reached an optical density (OD600) of about 60 to
80, the expression of rMntC was induced by addition of IPTG. The culture was
harvested about 24 hours post induction. The cells were disrupted and the clarified
soluble fraction was collected. The lysate was applied to a column containing a
cation exchange resin (SP-Sepharose) and eluted with a linear salt gradient.
Fractions containing MntC were identified. After the addition of ammonium
sulfate, the material was applied to a column containing Phenyl-Sepharose resin
and eluted. After elution, fractions containing rMntC were identified, pooled, and
desalted. The purity of the rMntC at this point was >95% as measured by SDSPAGE.
Example 3: Production of Capsule Polysaccharides CP5 and CP8
[0214] In this example, production of various sizes of 5. aureus capsule
polysaccharides type 5 and 8 is described. The structures of the CP5 and CP8
polysaccharides are shown in Figure 4. The methods described herein are effective
in producing CP5 and CP8 with molecular weights ranging from about 50 kDa to
800 kDa. Based on growth characteristics and the quantity of capsule produced,
strain PFESA0266 was chosen for CP5 production while strains PFESA0005 or
PFESA0286 were used for the production of CP8. The capsules isolated from
strains PFESA0005 and PFESA0286 were shown to be identical.
-72-
[0215] For production of capsular polysaccharides, the strains were grown in a
complex medium consisting primarily of a carbon source (either lactose or
sucrose), hydrolyzed soyflour as the nitrogen source, and trace metals. The strains
were grown in bioreactors for 2 to 5 days.
[0216] Purification of CP5 and CP8 used for the preparation of conjugates was
performed by two different methods that rely on elevated temperature and low pH
to effect the release of capsule from the cell and reduce the molecular weight of the
polysaccharide. The resulting molecular weight is dependent on the time,
temperature and pH of the hydrolysis step.
[0217] Characterization of CP5 and CP8 was performed using the techniques
specified in Table 3. Capsule polysaccharides produced by this procedure result in
pure polysaccharides with low levels of protein, NA, peptidoglycan and TA
contaminants. See Tables 4 and 5.
Table 3: Characterization Assays for Purified S. aureus CP5 and CP8
Specificity Assay
Residual Protein Lowry colorimetric assay
Residual Nucleic acids 260nm scan
Residual Teichoic Acid Phosphate colorimetric assay
Residual Peptidoglycan HPAEC-PAD
Size SEC-MALLS
Composition HPAEC-PAD
Identity IH-NMR or reaction with specific mAb
0-acetyIation IH-NMR
Concentration MALLS-RI or HPAEC-PAD
[0218] In the first method, following release of the capsule from the cell and
reduction of molecular weight, the capsule preparation is treated with a cocktail of
enzymes (ribonuclease, deoxyribonuclease, lysozyme, and protease) to digest
impurities. After incubation, residual impurities are precipitated by the addition of
ethanol (final concentration about 25%). After removal of the residual ethanol,
solution containing capsule was loaded onto an anion exchange column (QSepharose)
and eluted with a linear salt gradient. Fractions containing capsule
- 7 3 -
were pooled and treated with sodium meta-periodate. This treatment resulted in
the oxidative hydrolysis of residual teichoic acid contaminant, but did not affect
the CP5 or CP8. The reaction was quenched by the addition of ethylene glycol.
The material was concentrated and diafiltered against dH20 to remove any residual
reagents and by-products.
[0219] The second method was used to produce capsules did not involve the use
of enzymes to digest the various cell-derived impurities. In this method, following
release of the capsule from the cell and reduction of molecular weight the
hydrolyzed fermentation broth was clarified by microfiltration followed by
ultrafiltration and diafiltration. The solution was treated with activated carbon to
remove impurities. After carbon treatment, the material was treated with sodium
meta-periodate to oxidize residual teichoic acid followed by quenching with
propylene glycol. The material was concentrated and diafiltered against dH20 to
remove any residual reagents and by-products.
[0220] Capsules produced using either method resuh in pure polysaccharides
with low levels of protein, nucleic acid and teichoic acid contaminants. The
methods described can be used to produce specific ranges of the desired high
molecular weight polysaccharides simply by varying the conditions of hydrolysis.
A particularly advantageous range of high molecular weight polysaccharides,
ranging from 70 to 150 kDa, is useful in making immunogenic compositions by
conjugating polysaccharide to a carrier protein.
[0221] Examples of High Molecular Weight Capsule Polysaccharide obtainable
by the methods described herein are shown in Table 4 below. Batches of purified
higher MW CP5 also had high purity as indicated by no TA, peptidoglycan and
low residual protein. See Table 4. The range of molecular weights in these
examples spanned 132.7 kDa to 800 kDa and the purified polysaccharides were
highly O-acetylated, ranging from 90-100%, and 100% for N-Acetylation. See
Table 4.
[0222] Examples of lower Molecular Weight Capsule Polysaccharide obtainable
by the methods described herein are shown in Table 5 below. Batches of purified
lower MW CP8 had high purity as indicated by no teichoic acid (TA),
peptidoglycan and low residual protein. See Table 5. The range of lower
- 7 4 -
molecular weights spanned 20.4 kDa to 65.1 kDa and the purified polysaccharides
were highly 0-acetylated, ranging from 75-96%. The levels of nucleic acid
contamination was low, ranging from 0.5-%-2.45%. See Table 5.
Table 4: Characterization of CP5 Preparations
SACP-5 1 MW I CP I Q-acetvl I Identity I N-acetvl
(kDa) (mg/mi) (%) NMR (%)
NMR NMR
1 800.1 3.164 100 Pass 100
2 132.7 1.172 90 Pass 100
3 335.4 0.975 90 Pass 100
4 I 366.8 I 0.865 | 90 | Pass | ND ~
Table 5: Characterization of CP8 Preparations
SACP-8 I Total CP I MW \ Protein \ NA I 0-Acetvl
Purified mg (kDa) (Lowry) (260nm scan) NMR
(g/mol) % (w/w) % (w/w) %
5 310 27^0 \2 0,94 100
6 438 29,0 2,4 2 100
7 179 20,4 037 0J2 108
8 101 46.9 Below 0.5 94
Detection
9 91 65T 1.15 2.45 96
10 I 578 I 35.5 I 2.47 | 0.65 | 75
Molecular Weight Selection of Capsular Polysaccharides
[0223] This kinetic analysis demonstrates that a broad range of molecular
weights of capsule polysaccharides can be generated by the methods described
herein. Initially, larger polysaccharides were produced by the bacterial cells, and
subsequently, a desired molecular weight range may be selected and then purified
by manipulation of the pH and heat conditions of the heat and hydrolysis steps.
[0224] Heat treatment of 5. aureus fermentation broth was a process step
between fermentation and CP recovery. This process step uses heat to treat pHadjusted
broth for a specified period. The goals of the heat treatment at low pH
were to kill cells, inactivate enterotoxins, release cell bound polysaccharide, and
reduce molecular weight to the desired size. Among these goals, the reduction of
molecular weight was the slowest in terms of processing time required in this step.
Therefore, the other goals were inevitably achieved within the treatment time
considered.
- 7 5 -
Heat Treatment
[0225] Temperature and pH conditions for selecting various molecular weight
ranges of capsule polysaccharides were determined. The broth pH was adjusted
with concentrated sulfuric acid. Then, the broth temperature was raised to the set
value. The heat treatment time started as soon as the temperature reached the set
point. When the desired treatment time was reached, the broth was cooled to room
temperature. In-process samples were taken to determine polysaccharide
concentration and molecular weight by HPLC and SEC-MALLS systems,
respectively. The MW data was used in the kinetic analysis. The MW profiles
were determined over time of CP5 at pH 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 and CP8 at pH 3.5, 4.0,
and 5.0. See Figures 5A and 5B.
[0226] The kinetics of mild acid hydrolysis of polysaccharides was conducted
using purified CP-5 and CP-8 obtained from the process. The purified
polysaccharide solution was adjusted to the desired pH for the experiment with
sulfuric acid. The samples were placed in an oil bath equipped with a precision
temperature control system. Each sample was taken out at a predetermined time
interval and was quenched in an ice bucket. At the end of the experiment, an
aliquot of IM Tris buffer (pH 7.5) was added to the sample to adjust the pH back
to about 7. The samples were analyzed by a SEC-MALLS system. The MW data
was used in the kinetic analysis. The effect of temperature on MW profiles of CP5
at pH 4.5 and CP8 at pH 3.5 was determined over time. See Figures 6A and 6B.
This acid hydrolysis procedure may be implemented using the fermenter culture or
at an intermediate stage of purification or, as shown here, using the purified
polysaccharide. Other molecular weight reduction steps, such as sonication or
sheer, may be similarly be implemented.
Results
[0227] The effect of pH on the reduction of MW in heat treatment is shown in
Figures 5A and 5B for CP-5 and CP-8, respectively. It can be seen that a lower
pH was more effective in reducing the size of polysaccharide. The data also
suggest that CP-5 was more difficult to hydrolyze than CP-8 at the same pH.
Considering the CP8 profiles, ranges of molecular weights between 300 kDa and
-76-
600 kDa can be generated using a pH of 5 at 95 °C for between 15 minutes and
120 minutes. Likewise, choosing a pH of 4 at 95 °C for between 15 minutes and
120 minutes can yield CP8 polysaccharide molecular weight ranges between 250
kDa and 450 kDa. In addition, choosing a pH of 3.5 at 95 °C for between 15
minutes and 120 minutes can yield CP8 polysaccharide molecular weight ranges
between 120 kDa and 450 kDa.
[0228] The effect of temperature on MW reduction was conducted using the
purified polysaccharides recovered from the recovery process. The results are
shown in Figures 6A and 6B. As shown, the higher the temperature, the faster the
rate of hydrolysis and broader the range of the molecular weights of
polysaccharide produced with time. Use of a lower temperature, 55°C versus 95°C
at the same pH, produces a narrower range of polysaccharide molecular weights.
[0229] Furthermore, Figure 7 demonstrates the correlation between the molecular
weight of purified CP5 and CP8 with the treatment time for mild acid hydrolysis.
The purified polysaccharide is the final product obtained from the recovery process
detailed previously. As shown in Figure 7, the increase in time of heat treatment of
the S. aureus PFESA0266 strain at pH 4.5 results in the generation of smaller
molecular weight CP5 polysaccharides, whereas shorter heat treatment times at pH
4.5 result in the generation of higher molecular weight CP5 polysaccharides. The
size of the CP5 polysaccharides ranged from about 90 kDa to about 220 kDa
depending on the length of time of heat treatment at low pH (4.5). Likewise, the
increase in time of heat treatment of the S. aureus PFESA0005 strain at pH 3.5
results in the generation of smaller molecular weight CP8 polysaccharides,
whereas shorter heat treatment times at pH 3.5 result in the generation of higher
molecular weight CP8 polysaccharides. The size of the CP8 polysaccharides
ranged from about 80 kDa to about 220 kDa depending on the length of time of
heat treatment at low pH (3.5). The correlation between the time of heat treatment
at low pH and the size of the purified CP5 and CP8 polysaccharides, as shown in
this study, allows for an estimation of the treatment time required to produce
purified polysaccharide with a specified range of molecular weight.
[0230] It is important to note that as demonstrated above the full range of
molecular weights of capsule polysaccharides for both CP5 and CP8 from 20 kDa
-77-
to more than 800 kDa can be produced, released and purified. The methods
described may be used to produce specific ranges of desired high molecular weight
capsule polysaccharides. A particularly advantageous range of high molecular
weight capsule polysaccharide type 5 and type 8 can be generated from these
methods having molecular weights ranging from 70 to 150 kDa. See Table 6. This
range of molecular weights of capsule polysaccharide is useful in making
immunogenic compositions by conjugating the polysaccharide to a carrier protein.
Alternatively, this advantageous range of high molecular weight capsule
polysaccharide ranges from 80 to 140 kDa of CP5 and CP8. See Table 6. Another
advantageous range of high molecular weight capsule polysaccharide CP5 and CP8
is from 90 to 130 kDa, or from 90 to 120 kDa of CP5 and CP8. See Table 6. The
conditions used to generate the CP5 capsule polysaccharide having a molecular
weight range of from about 100 to 140 kDa are as follows: 95°C, pH 4.5 for 135
minutes. The conditions used to generate the CP8 capsule polysaccharide having a
molecular weight range of from about 80 to 120 kDa are as follows: 95°C, pH 3.5
for 300 minutes.
Table 6: Production of Specific Range of High Molecular Weight CP5 and CP8
Run I CP8MW(kDa) | CP5MW(kDa) ~
1 98 142
2 89 108
3 108 142
4 108 108
5 89 ND
6 100 ND
7 99 63
8 n3 72
9 105 74
10 100 63
11 I 87 I ND ~
ND= not done
Example 4: Conjugation of Capsule Polysaccharides CP5 and CP8 to
CRMi97
[0231] This example describes processes and characterization assays used in the
production of 5*. aureus CP5- CRM197 and CP8- CRM197 conjugates. Several
conjugation chemistries were evaluated for conjugating S. aureus capsule
-78-
polysaccharides CP5 and CP8 to a carrier protein. Conjugation using PDPH
(3-2-pyridyldithio)-propionyl hydrazide) results in covalent thioether bond and
CDI/CDT (l,l-carboyldiimidazole/l,l-carboyl-di-l,2,4-triazole) results in a onecarbon
or zero-carbon linker between CP and carrier protein.
Conjugation of CP to CRMig? by PDPH Conjugation Chemistry
[0232] The PDPH conjugation chemistry is a multi-step process that involves
activation of the polysaccharide, removal of the thiol protecting group, purification
of the activated polysaccharide intermediate, activation and purification of the
CRM197 protein, and conjugation of the activated components followed by
purification. After introduction of a thiol group containing linker to the
polysaccharide and a haloacetyl group to the CRM197 protein carrier, S. aureus
CP5 and CP8 polysaccharides were linked to the protein carrier through a thioether
bond. Bromoacetyl groups were introduced into the CRM197 protein by reaction of
amine groups with the N-hydroxysuccimide ester of bromoacetic acid. To
generate thiolated CP, the carbodiimide activated carboxylate groups of Nacetylmannosaminouronic
acid in CP were coupled to the hydrazide group of the
sulfhydryl-reactive hydrazide heterobifunctional linker 3-(2-pyridyldithio)-
propionyl hydrazide (PDPH). Thiols of PDPH-thiolated CP, generated by
reduction with DTT and purified by SEC on a Sephadex G25 column, reacted with
bromoacetyl groups of activated protein resulting in covalent thioether linkage
formed by bromine displacement between CP and the protein. Non-reacted
bromoacetyl groups were "capped" with cysteamine hydrochloride (2-
aminoethanethiol hydrochloride). The reaction mixture was then concentrated and
diafiltered. The remaining unconjugated bromoacetyl groups were capped with
cysteamine hydrochloride to ensure no reactive bromoacetyl groups were left after
conjugation. This formed a covalent bond between the thiol end of cysteamine and
the acetyl group on the lysine residue after displacement of bromine.
Thiolation ofS. aureus Capsular Polysaccharide with PDPH
[0233] The polysaccharide was first activated by thiolation with PDPH. The
polysaccharide was mixed with a freshly prepared PDPH stock solution (250
mg/mL in DMSO), an EDAC stock solution (90 mg/mL in diH20), and MES
-79-
buffer stock solution (0.5M, pH 4.85) to make the final solution 0.1 M MES, and 2
and 4 mg CP/mL while maintaining a CP:PDPH:EDAC ratio by weight of 1:5:3
for CP 5 and 1:0.6:1.25 for CP 8. This mixture was incubated for 1 hour at room
temperature and then dialyzed against a lOOOX volume of distilled H2O four times
using a 3500 MWCO dialysis device at between 4° and 8°C to remove unreacted
PDPH. The PDPH-linked polysaccharide was made 0.2 M DTT and incubated at
room temperature for 3 hours or overnight at between 4 and 8°C. Excess DTT as
well as the by-products of the reaction were separated from the activated
saccharide by SEC using Sephadex G25 resin and distilled water as the mobile
phase. Fractions were assayed by the DTDP assay for thiol groups and thiolpositive
fractions that eluted near the void volume of the column were pooled. The
pool of fractions was assayed by the PAHBAH and the 0-acetyl assays to
determine the degree of activation which is expressed as a molar percent of the
repeat units containing a thiol group (molar concentration of thiols/molar
concentration of repeat units). The activated polysaccharide was lyophilized and
stored at -25°C until needed for conjugation.
Carrier protein activation
[0234] Separately, the carrier protein was activated by bromoacetylation.
CRM197 was diluted to 5 mg/mL with 10 mM phosphate buffered 0.9% NaCl pH 7
(PBS) and then made 0.1 M NaHCOs pH 7.0 using 1 M stock solution. The Nhydroxysuccinimide
ester of bromoacetic acid (BAANS) was added at a CRM197
:BAANS ratio 1:0.25 (w:w) using a BAANS stock solution of 20 mg/mL DMSO.
This reaction mixture was incubated at between 4 and 8°C for 1 hour then purified
using SEC on Sephadex G-25. The purified activated CRM197 was assayed by the
Lowry assay to determine the protein concentration and then diluted with PBS to 5
mg/mL. Sucrose was added to 5% wt/vol as a cryoprotectant and the activated
protein was frozen and stored at -25°C until needed for conjugation.
Coupling Reaction
[0235] Once the activated capsule polysaccharide and activated carrier protein
were prepared, the two were combined in a conjugation reaction. The lyophilized
and thiolated polysaccharide was dissolved in 0.16 M borate pH 8.95, mixed with
-80-
thawed bromoacetylated CRM197 and distilled water to make the final solution
0.1 M borate, 1:1 wt/wt ratio of CRMi97:CP, and 1 mg/mL polysaccharide for CP8
and 2 mg/mL polysaccharide for CP5. This mixture was incubated at room
temperature for between 16 and 24 hours. Unreacted bromoacetyl groups on the
protein were capped by adding cysteamine hydrochloride at a ratio of
CRMi97:cysteamine of 1:2 (wt/wt) using a 135 mg/mL stock solution of
cysteamine dissolved in 0.1 M borate pH 8.95 and incubated for 4 hours at room
temperature. The capsule polysaccharide-CRMi97 conjugate (conjugate) was
purified by diafiltering 50-fold against 0.9% NaCl using a lOOK polyethersulfone
ultrafilter.
[0236] The results from the reproducibility of CP5 and CP8 thiolation studies
with PDPH demonstrated that the degree of activation of CP5 was in the range 11
to 19 % which corresponds to approximately one linker molecule attached per ten
CP repeat units to one linker molecule per five repeat units. The CP8 activation
was in the range of 12 to 16%, which was very similar to activation of CP5.
[0237] Bromoacetylation of lysine residues of CRM197 was very consistent,
resulting in the activation of 19 to 25 lysines from 39 lysines available. The
reaction produced high yields of activated protein.
Conjugation of CP to CRM197 bv CDI/CDT Coniugation Chemistry
[0238] CDI and CDT afford a one-step conjugation process where the
polysaccharide is activated in an anhydrous environment (DMSO) to form
imidazole or triazole carbamate moieties with available hydroxyls and
acylimidazole or acyltriazole moieties with carboxylic acids. Addition of a protein
carrier (in DMSO) leads to the nucleophilic displacement of the imidazole or
triazole by lysine and formation of a carbamate linkage (for activated hydroxyls)
and the amide linkage (for activated carboxylic acids). The reaction solution is
diluted 10-foId into an aqueous solution to remove unreacted activation groups and
then purified by diafiltration.
[0239] Both conjugation chemistries produced CP covalently linked to the carrier
protein, which was indicated by the presence of the saccharide and protein in the
fractions from size exclusion chromatography, and by amino acid analysis of
glycolaldehyde capped or cysteamine hydrochloride capped conjugate.
- 8 1 -
[0240] Summary of the results from the preparation of several lots of conjugates
prepared by both PDPH and CDI/CDT chemistries for both capsular serotypes with
polysaccharide size in the range of 20 to 40 kDa are shown in Table 7 below.
There were no significant differences in the free capsule polysaccharide, ratio of
CPrProtein and yields of conjugates generated by these two conjugation methods.
The antigenicity of conjugated CP was not altered by conjugation as portrayed by
identity precipitin line between conjugates and native CP.
Table 7: Characterization of SA CP5-CRMIQ7 and CPS-CRMio? Prepared by Two
Conjugation Chemistries
Size
CP Protein ^^ ^ ^ Free Free Lysines (Mw or Kd
Conjugate Chemistry Yield Yield „ ° saccharide Protein Modified (% less
(%) (%) '^^"^ (%) (%) than 0.3),
sacc/prot))
^^^P' CDT 19-27 35 0.5-0.8 10-40 <1 18-22 ^^.^,1!°
CRMi97 76/74
PDPH 26-52 40-99 0.4-1.0 23-50 ND ND ^2^.3^ Xi'' ?10J °
lC^RwM^i^97" GDI 46-62 54-55 0.8-0.9 22-25 <1 7-8 ^6f0n/,5!7^ °
I PDPH 134-701 61-83 10.6-0.91 15-41 | ND | 11-16 | 74-92%
[0241] As shown above, the methods described herein may be used to produce
specific ranges of desired high molecular weight capsule polysaccharides. The aim
of this study was to prepare conjugates from a pre-selected range of high molecular
weights that could be filtered and purified CP for use in immunogenic
compositions. In this example, eight batches where the CP5 capsule
polysaccharide ranged in molecular weight from about 90 kDa to about 120 kDa
were selected and conjugation was performed using activation with triazole (CDT).
See Table 8. The molecular weights of the resulting conjugates ranged from
1533 kDa to 2656 kDa. The number of conjugated lysines per CRM197 ranged
from a high of 22 to a low of 15. The free capsule polysaccharide ranged from a
high of 18% to a low of 11 %. See Table 8.
-82-
Table 8 Conjugates With Preselected MW Range of CP5
Run Poly MW Sacc Yield Free MW by Lysines
(kDa) (%) saccharide SEC- Modified
(%) MALLS
(kPa)
1 \2\ 63 n 2130 19
2 92 72 16 1533 22
3 1_19 74 14 2656 15
4 I 115 I 63 I 18 I 1911 I 15
[0242] Table 9 summarizes the analysis of CP8 conjugates where the CP8
capsule polysaccharide ranged in molecular weight from about 87 kDa to 113 kDa
and the imidazole conjugation chemistry was utilized. The molecular weights of
the resulting conjugates ranged from 595 kDa to 943 kDa. The number of
conjugated lysines per CRM197 ranged from a high of 9 to a low of 3. The free
capsule polysaccharide ranged from a high of 6% to a low of 2%. See Table 9.
Table 9 Conjugates With Preselected MW Range of CP8
Run I PolyMW I Sacc \ Free I MW by SEC- I Lysines
(kDa) Yield saccharide MALLS Modified
(%) (%) (kPa)
1 99 88 6 943 4
2 1_13 73 5 841 3
3 105 79 3 719 7
4 100 86 2 630 9
5 I 87 I 90 I 3 I 595 | 6
[0243] Both conjugation chemistries produce CP covalently linked to carrier
protein. There were no significant differences in free capsule polysaccharide, ratio
of CP:Protein and yields of conjugates generated by these two methods.
Example 5: Sequence Diversity of Polypeptide Fragments Nl, N2 and N3 of
ClfA
[0244] In this example the protein sequence heterogeneity of ClfA polypeptide
fragments Nl, N2 and N3 from disease causing isolates obtained from various
sources was evaluated. ClfA genes were sequenced from strains of 5. aureus
associated with multiple disease states. Sequence information from additional
strains was obtained from GenBank to generate sequences from relevant strains.
Table 10 lists different ClfA sequences.
- 8 3 -
[0245] The sequence alignment of ClfA proteins from different disease-causing
strains of 5. aureus is shown in Figure 8A-8E. The protein sequences were aligned
using MUSCLE. See Edgar, R.C. Nucleic Acids Research 32 (5): 1792-1797
(2004). The alignments were displayed using SHOWALIGN. See Rice, P. et al.,
"EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite" Trends in
Genetics, 16 (6): 276-277 (2000). Many of the sequences recurred multiple times
without variation. For clarity each unique sequence was placed in the alignment
only once. See Figure 8A-8E. Only unique sequences were included in the
sequence listing. For example, the protein sequence of ClfAOOl was obtained
from multiple different strains without any variation. See Figure 8A-8E. The
sequence listing number for any sequence can also be obtained from Table 10:
ClfA strains and Sequence Listings. Table 10 lists one example strain that
contained this same ClfAOOl protein sequence. This sequence is shown in the
first row of the alignment in Figure 8A-8E. This alignment of unique sequences of
the ClfA antigen indicates that polymorphisms were distributed throughout the
entire A region (N1-N2-N3) of ClfA. In some cases, for any given unique protein
sequence of ClfA, more than one nucleotide sequence, encoding the same protein,
was discovered. Only the most frequently occurring DNA sequence was included
in the sequence listing and in Table 10. For ClfA, the following sequences are
disclosed herein and are not found in GenBank: ClfA_003, ClfA_005, ClfA_008,
ClfA_009, ClfA_013, ClfA_014, ClfA_015, ClfA_016, ClfA_017, ClfA_018,
ClfA_019, ClfA_020, ClfA_021, ClfA_022, ClfA_023, and ClfA_024.
Table 10: ClfA strains and Sequence Listings
Example I I NT SEQ I I AA SEQ I % Identity
Strain DNA-ClfA ID NO: Protein-ClfA ID NO: to Antigen
PFESA0131 clfA_001-l 61 clfAOOl 62 99
PFESA0074 clfA_002-l 63 clfA_002 64 92
PFESA0072 clfA_003-l 65 clfA_003 66 99
PFESA0159 clfA_004-l 67 clfA 004 68 94
PFESA0154 clfA_005-l 69 clfA_005 70 91
PFESA0096 clfA_006-l 71 clfA_006 72 91
PFESA0269 clfA_007-l 73 clfA 007 74 91
PFESA0081 clfA_008-l 75 clfA_008 76 97
PFESA0005 clfA_009-l 77 clfA_009 78 95
PFESA0139 I clfAloiO-1 | 79 | clfA_010 | 80 | 99
-84-
Example I I NT SEQ I I AA SEQ I % Identity
Strain DNA-ClfA ID NO: Protein-ClfA ID NO: to Antigen
PFESA0237 clfA_011-I 81 clfA_011 82 100
PFESA0157 clfA_012-l 83 clfA_012 84 96
PFESA0069 clfA_013-I 85 clfA_013 86 92
PFESA0002 clfA_014-l 87 clfA_014 88 98
PFESA0147 clfA_015-l 89 clfA_015 90 91
PFESA0094 clfA_016-l 91 clfA_016 92 98
PFESA0143 clfA_017-I 93 clfA_017 94 97
PFESA0129 cIfA_018-l 95 clfA_018 96 99
PFESA0128 cIfA_019-I 97 clfA_019 98 92
PFESA0148 clfA_020-l 99 clfA_020 100 91
PFESA0140 clfA_021-l 101 clfA_021 102 98
PFESA0152 clfA_022-l 103 clfA_022 104 91
PFESA0141 clfA_023-l 105 clfA_023 106 96
PFESA0160 I clfAl024-l | 107 | clfA_024 | 108 | 94
[0246] The phylogeny of the ClfA protein sequences was examined and a
phylogenetic tree was constructed. Sequences were aligned using ClustalW. See
Chenna R, Sugawara H, Koike T, et al. Nucleic Acids Research. 31(13):3497-3500
(2003). Neighbor-joining trees were bootstrapped 1000 times and were displayed
with MEGA 4.0. See Tamura K, et al., Molecular Biology & Evolution.
24(8): 1596-1599 (2007). Bootstrap values, indicated on the branches, are the
number of times that branch was reproduced in 1,000 trials. Values less than 500
(50% reproducibility) are considered to be poorly supported.
[0247] The ClfA sequences form a tree with 2 major branches. See Figure 9.
The separation of these two groups is very well supported in the phylogeny. One
branch (top) includes 9 sequences that are fairly closely related to one another (96-
99% identity) but more distantly related to the candidate sequence clfAOI 1, to
which they are 91-92% identical. The second group, which includes clfAOl 1, is
more diverse and the phylogeny in this group is not as well supported. These
protein sequences range from 93-99% identical to one another.
Example 6: Sequence Diversity of Polypeptide Fragments Nl, N2 and N3 of
Clffl
[0248] In this example, the protein sequence heterogeneity of ClfB N1, N2 and
N3 polypeptide fragments from 92 disease-causing isolates obtained from various
sources was evaluated. ClfB genes were sequenced from strains ofS. aureus
-85-
associated with multiple disease states. See Table 11. Information from additional
strains was obtained from GenBank to generate additional sequences.
[0249] The sequence alignment of ClfB proteins from different disease-causing
strains of 5. aureus is shown in Figure lOA-lOE. The protein sequences were
aligned using MUSCLE. See Edgar, R.C. Nucleic Acids Research 32 (5): 1792-
1797 (2004). The alignments were displayed using SHOWALIGN. See Rice, P.
et al., "EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite" Trends
in Genetics, 16 (6): 276-277 (2000). See Figure lOA-lOE ClfB align. As with
ClfA, many of the sequences recurred multiple times without variation. For
clarity, each unique sequence was placed in the alignment only once. See Figure
lOA-lOE. Only unique ClfB sequences were included in the sequence listing. For
example, the sequence of ClfB_006 was obtained from multiple different strains
without any variation. This sequence is shown in the first row of the alignment in
Figure lOA-lOE. The sequence listing number for any sequence can also be
obtained from Table 11. This alignment of representative unique sequences of the
ClfB antigen indicates that polymorphisms were distributed throughout the entire
A region (N1-N2-N3) of ClfB. Similar to ClfA, for any given unique protein
sequence of ClfB, more than one nucleotide sequence encoding the same protein
was discovered. Only the most frequently occurring DNA sequence was included
in the sequence listing and in Table 11. For ClfB, the following sequences are
disclosed herein and are not found in GenBank: ClfBOOl, ClfB_004, ClfBOOS,
ClfB_010, ClfB_011, ClfB_013, ClfB_014, ClfB_015, ClfB_016, ClfB_017,
ClfB_018, ClfB_019, ClfB_020, ClfB_021, ClfB_022, ClfB_023, and ClfB_024.
The phylogenetic tree is shown in Figure 11.
Table 11: ClfB Strains and Sequence Listings
Example \ I SEQID I Protein- I SEQ ID I % Identity to
Strain DNA-ClfB NO: ClfB NO: Antigen
PFESA0286 clfB_00I-l 15 clfB 001 16 95
PFESA0159 clfB_002-l 17 clfB_002 18 95
RF122 clfB_003-l 19 clfB 003 20 94
PFESA0271 clfB_004-l 21 clfB_004 22 95
PFESA0081 clfB_005-l 23 clfB 005 24 95
PFESA0080 clfB 006-1 25 clfB_006 26 100
PFESA0270 I ClfB 007-1 | 27 | clfB~007 | 28 | 99
-86-
Example I I SEQ ID I Protein- I SEQ ID I % Identity to
Strain DNA-ClfB NO: Clffi NO: Antigen
PFESA0269 clfB_008-l 29 clfBOOS 30 95
PFESA0145 clfB_009-l 31 clfB_009 32 94
PFESA0069 clfB_010-l 33 clfB_010 34 95
PFESA0002 clfB_011-l 35 clfB_011 36 96
PFESA0128 cifB_013-l 37 clfB_013 38 96
PFESA0129 clffl_014-l 39 clfB_014 40 95
PFESA0136 clfB_015-l 41 clfB_015 42 99
PFESA0139 clfB 016-1 43 clfB 016 44 99
PFESA0140 clfB_017-l 45 clfB 017 46 96
PFESA0141 clfB_018-l 47 clfB 018 48 94
PFESA0144 clfB_019-I 49 clfB 019 50 97
PFESA0150 clfB_020-l 51 clfB 020 52 96
PFESA0152 clfB 021-1 53 clfB_021 54 96
PFESA0156 clfB_022-l 55 clfB 022 56 96
PFESA0163 clfB_023-l 57 clfB_023 58 94
PFESA0211 I clfB_024-l | 59 | clfB_024 | 60 | 99
Example 7: Sequence Diversity Of MntC In Disease-Causing Clones of
S. aureus
[0250] In this example, the protein sequence heterogeneity of MntC genes from
104 disease-causing isolates obtained from various sources was evaluated. MntC
genes were sequenced from strains ofS. aureus associated with multiple disease
states. See Table 12. Information from additional strains was obtained from
GenBank to generate strain sequences.
[0251] The sequence alignment of MntC proteins from different disease-causing
strains of 5. aureus is shown in Figure 12A-12B. The protein sequences were
aligned using MUSCLE. See Edgar, R.C. Nucleic Acids Research 32 (5): 1792-
1797(2004). The alignments were displayed using SHOWALIGN. See Rice, P.
et al., "EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite" Trends
in Genetics, 16 (6): 276-277 (2000). See Figure 12. As with ClfA, many of the
sequences recurred multiple times without variation. For clarity, each unique
sequence was placed in the alignment only once. See Figure 12. Only unique
MntC sequences were included in the sequence listing. For example, the sequence
of MntCOOl was obtained from different strains without any variation. See
Figure 12. This sequence is shown in the first row of the alignment in Figure 12.
The sequence listing number for any sequence can also be obtained from Table 12.
-87-
Only the most frequent corresponding DNA sequence was included in the
sequence listing. For MntC, the following sequences are disclosed herein and are
not found in GenBank: MntC_002, MntC_006, MntC_007, MntC_008, and
MntC_009.
Table 12: MntC strains and Sequence Listings
Strain i DNA-MntC I SEQ ID I Protein- I SEQ ID I % Identity to
NO MntC NO^ Antigen
PFESA0129 MntC 001-1 1 MntC 001 2 99
PFESA0142 MntC 002-1 3 MntC 002 4 99
PFESA0I39 MntC 003-1 5 MntC 003 6 99
PFESA0286 MntC 006-1 7 MntC 006 8 99
PFESA0136 MntC 007-1 9 MntC 007 10 99
PFESA0150 MntC 008-1 11 MntC 008 12 99
PFESA0153 I MntC 009-1 | 13 | MntC 009 | 14 | 99
Example 8: Surface Expression of ClfA, CP5, CP8 And MntC In vivo
During Infection
[0252] S. aureus is responsible for causing a diverse array of human infections.
Consequently the bacteria must adapt to different environmental niches by
differential expression of virulence factors required for infection. The expression
of target antigens was studied in three in vivo rodent assays to assess their
expression during infection: a wound model to measure expression of the antigen
at the primary site of infection, a bacteremia model that monitors antigen
expression in the blood, and an indwelling chamber model that monitors antigen
expression during nutrient/oxygen limited conditions. For all these models the
rodents were challenged with bacteria at the site of study. Following infection,
bacteria were harvested at various time-points and antigen expression (ClfA, CP5,
CP8, MntC) was assessed using immunofluorescent microscopy (wound and
bacteremia) or flow cytometry (chamber).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Expression in the Wound Model
[0253] Wound infection experiments consist of 5 animals/group and up to 5
groups for a maximum of 25 animals/experiment. Six to eight week (wk) old
C57BL/6 male mice underwent surgery to embed a loop of suture into a thigh
-88-
muscle incision. This provides a foreign-body substrate for bacterial attachment
and significantly reduces the minimum infectious dose needed to produce a
staphylococcal wound infection. Five |j,L of either 5'. aureus or sterile saline were
introduced into the incision under the deep tissue suture of 4-0 silk. The skin was
closed with 4-0 Prolene sutures or surgical adhesive {e.g., cyanoacrylate). The
animals were euthanized at time points between 30 min and 10 days following
infection and the thigh muscle excised, homogenized and the bacteria enumerated.
Bacteria at the sight of infection were analyzed for antigen expression by
immunofluorescent (IF) confocal microscopy.
Expression in the Bacteremia Model
[0254] Groups of 10 four-wk old CD-I or Balb/C mice were immunized with
1 \ig of protein or CP conjugate by subcutaneous injection on wks 0, 3 and 6. The
animals were bled on wks 0 and 8 followed by an intraperitoneal challenge with
S. aureus grown to late log phase in TSB. Three hours following challenge the
animals were euthanized and blood collected for IF confocal microscopy.
Expression in the Indwelling Dialysis Tubing Model
[0255] S. aureus isolates were grown overnight on TSA plates at 37°C. Bacteria
were scraped from the plates and resuspended in sterile PBS and the ODgoo
adjusted to 1, approximately 10^ colony forming units (cfu) /mL. Bacteria were
diluted to a concentration of 10^ cfu/mL and inoculated into dialysis tubing. An
aliquot of the suspension was plated to determine the actual number of cfu.
Dialysis tubing with 3.5 kDa MWCO was prepared for implant by sterilizing in
70% ethanol for 30 minutes followed by extensive rinsing in sterile water and then
sterile saline. A 2 mL aliquot of the bacterial suspension was transferred to the
dialysis tubing, the bag closed with a knot, and then rinsed extensively with sterile
saline. Male Sprague Dawley rats (6 weeks old) were anaesthetized and a 2-3 cm
incision made along the dorsal midline. Pockets were created at the site of incision
by gently separating the skin from the underlying tissue. Tubing was implanted in
the pockets and skin was closed using surgical staples. After 24 h, rats were
euthanized, the tubing removed, and the bacteria recovered for flow cytometric
analysis.
-89-
Immunofluorescent Microscopy (IF)
[0256] The blood from 5 mice was pooled into ice-cold sodium citrate, pH 7.0
(final concentration, 0.4%). The eukaryotic cells were lysed with 1% NP-40
(Pierce Biotechnology). The bacteria were washed with PBS and incubated
overnight at 4°C with rabbit immune or preimmune serum (1:100) and detected
with ALEXA488 conjugated goat-a-rabbit antibody (1:250, Invitrogen). The
labeled bacteria were dried on a microscope slide and a coverslip was mounted
with Vectashield HardSet medium (Vector Laboratories, Inc.). Images were
obtained with a Leica TCS SL spectral confocal microscope (Leica Microsystems).
Flow Cytometric Analysis
[0257] S. aureus isolates were grown as described in the rat dialysis tubing
model procedure. Approximately lO' bacterial cells were blocked in staining
buffer (Hank's balanced salt solution with 10% goat sera) for 1 hour on ice.
Bacterial cells were centrifuged for 5 minutes at 10,000 rpm, supernatant removed,
and cells incubated with mouse antibody or isotype control antibody for 30
minutes on ice. Cells were then washed and stained with FITC conjugated goat
anti-mouse IgG (Jackson ImmunoResearch) on ice for 30 minutes. Bacteria were
washed with staining buffer, fixed with 2% paraformaldehyde and data acquired
and analyzed using FACS Caliber flow cytometer and Cell quest software (Becton,
Dickinson and Co.). A total of 30,000 events were collected for each sample.
Table 13a: Antigen Expression Profiles in S. aureus CP Type 5 Isolates.
Antigen I CP I ClfA I MntC
Time [h] To I 1 I 4 I 6 I 24 I 72 To I 1 I 4 I 6 I 24 I 72 To I 1 I 4 I 6 I 24 I 72
Ibacteremia + ~ ± + / ~ ~ '. ± + / T NT NT NT NT NT KT
PFESA0266
wound + - - - ± + + - ± + + + - ± ± ± ± ±
bacteremia + + + + / / + - + + / / . . . . / /
PFESA0272
wound + - - - + ! + - ± ± ± ! . . - ± ! !
bacteremia + - ± + / / + - ± ! / / - - - - / /
PFESA0094
wound + - - + + + + - - + + + - - - ± ± ±
bacteremia + - ± + / / + - ± + ~ T~ NTNT KT NT NT^NT"
PFESA0093
wound + - - ± + + + - - - ± ± - - - ± ± ±
-90-
IbacteremiJ + | - | - | + | / | / | + | - | ± | ± | ' ' I ^ | " | " | ' ' = | = ' = | ' ' | ' '
PFESA0028
wound + + - - ± ± ± - - - ± ± -
bacteremia - - ± + I I + - - + I I - - - + I I
PFESA0029
wound . - - - ± ± + - - - - ± - - - ± ± -
/= bacteremia experiments were conducted for 6 hours != animal died during
experiment NT= not tested
Table 13b: Antigen Expression Profiles in S. aureus CP Type 8 Isolates.
Antigen I . . 9^ . , I . . ^'f'^ , . I . . '^V*^
Time(h) TOl 1 I 4 I 6 I 24 1 ^ TOl 1 I 4 I 6 I 24 I 72' TO I 1 I 4 I 6 I 24 I 72
PFESAO iBacteremia + ± + + / / + - ± + / / NT NT NT NT NT NT
003 Wound + - ± + + + + - ± + + ! NT NT NT NT NT NT
PFESAO Bacteremia ~ '- '- + / T ~+ '- '- + 1 T NT NT NT NT NT NT
286 Wound + - - + ! ! + - + + ! ! NT NT NT NT NT NT
PFESAO Bacteremia ~ '• ± ± / T ~ ~ + + / T NT NT NT NT NT NT
005 Wound NT NT ! ! NT NT NT NT NT NT NT NT NT NT NT NT
PFESAO Bacteremia ~ ^ - - I I + ± - - I I - ± ± + / /
002 Wound + . - + + ! + . . . ± N T - - ± ± ± +
PFESAO Bacteremia ^^ '- '- '- 1 T~ '- '- '- 1 / '- '- ± ± 1 T~
269 Wound + - - ± + + + - - ± ± N T - - - - ± ±
PFESAO Bacteremia ~ + + + 1 T ~ ~ '- '- 1 1 '- ± '- + 1 T~
268 Wound + . - - + + + - - - ± N T - - - ± ±
PFESAO Bacteremia ~ ^ '- '- 1 T ~ ~ ^""1 / " 1 ^ NT NT NT NT IsfT
025 Wound + - - . + ± + . . . - N T - - - - ± +
PFESAO Bacteremia ~ ^ ^ ^ ~ r ~ r ~ ~ ~ ^ ~ r ~ l ± ± ± ± 1 T~
283 Wound + - - + ! ! + - - + ! N T - - - ± ± ±
PFESAO Bacteremia ~ '- '- ± / T ~+ '- T ^ / T IvPT NT NT NT NT NT
027 Wound + - ± ± + + + - - ± + N T - - - - ± +
PFESAO Bacteremia ~ '- '- '- 1 T~~- '- '- 1 T'm' NT NT NT NT NT
001 Wound + - - ± ± + + - - - ± N T ±
PFESAO Bacteremia ~+ '- '- ± 1 T ^f ~- ~- + 1 " I n ^ NT NT NT NT NT
095 + - - . + + + . . . ± NT - - - - ±
PFESAO Bacteremia ~ '- '- '- / T ~ ~ '- '- / T NT NT NT NT NT NT
271 Wound + . . . + + + - - + + N T - - ± ± ± +
PFESAO Bacteremia ~+ '- ± + 1 T^ ~ ^ ± T~r NT NT NT NT NT NT
271 Wound + . . . + + + - . . + N T - - - - ± ±
/= bacteremia experiments were conducted for 6 hours. != anima died during
experiment NT= not tested
-91 -
Table 13c. Expression ofS. aureus antigens in the Indwelling Dialysis Tubing.
Frequency of positive cells (% of total)
I Time (hrs) I 0 I 3 I 6.0 I 9.0 I 13.0 I 18.0 I 30F
S. aureus PFESA0266 CifA 69.8 13.7 8.5 8.0 12.5 8.8 16.4
CP5 28.0 1.9 1.8 6.1 7.1 5.2 9.6
MntC 91.4 4.3 5.6 2.9 20.8 37.0 33.2
S. aureus PFESA0005 Time (hrs) 0 3 6.0 9.0 13^ 18.0 l^O"
ClfA 98.6 63.9 69.7 24.3 36.1 98.6 99.0
CP8 77.3 43.0 18.0 7.5 11.8 96.4 94.0
I MntC I 5.9 I 7.7 | 12.5 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 9.3 | " 9^
Results
[0258] A combination of nineteen 5'. aureus isolates were tested for expression of
ClfA, CP5, CP8, or MntC on the S. aureus cell surface during infection (Table 13a,
13b, and 13c). These isolates included recent clinically releyant strains and were
diverse as monitored by MLST. Antigen expression was dependent on the strain,
time point, and the infection model. The variation in antigen expression between
isolates in different in vivo environments (bloodstream vs. wound) supports the use
of a multi-antigen immunogenic composition to induce broad coverage of
staphylococcal isolates in a variety of different infections. The antigens were
surface expressed within the first 24 hours of infection and are thus valid
components for an anti-staphylococcal immunogenic composition. Protein
antigens CifA and MntC were accessible to staining in the presence of capsule
expression indicating that the presence of capsule does not mask the proteins from
antibodies directed against them.
[0259] Most of the tested type 8 isolates did not express CP in the blood until
later time points post-challenge (> 4 hour) (See Table 13a-c). These results
demonstrate that in S. aureus CP is differentially regulated depending on the in
vivo microenvironment, i.e., site of infection. These results may explain the
inconsistent efficacy results reported for CP8 conjugates in animal models.
[0260] In vivo expression results suggest that no single antigen immunogenic
formulation will provide broad coverage against the majority of 5". aureus
infections. There is too much diversity of expression phenotypes by individual
strains within in vivo microenvironments. Therefore, an immunogenic
-92-
composition consisting of more than one antigen is required to prevent S. aureus
disease.
Example 9: Immunogenicity of Multi-Antigen Formulations Containing
ClfA, CP5- and CP8-CRM197 Conjugates
[0261] In this example, we evaluated the immunogenicity of combinations of
ClfA, CP5-CRMi97 and CP8-CRM197.
A. Bi-antigen (CPS-CRMJQT/CPS-CRMJQ?) immunogenic composition
formulation - dose effect on the anti-capsular antibody responses in rabbit
[0262] In this example, the dose effect on the immunogenicity of the combined
CP5-CRMi97 and CP8-CRM197 immunogenic formulation in rabbits was evaluated.
Rabbits were immunized on week 0, 3 and 6 with bivalent conjugate plus 125 ^g
AIPO4 administered by subcutaneous injection. The doses evaluated in this study
were 0.1 ^g, 1 ^g, or 10 |J.g each of CP5-CRM197 and CP8-CRM197 (final combined
CP- CRM197 doses of 0.2 (j,g, 2 ^g, and 20 |ig). The dose of the conjugate reflects
the total polysaccharide component of the protein polysaccharide conjugate.
Rabbits were bled on week 0, 3, 6 and 8. ELISA was performed on pooled and
individual sera. Endpoint antibody titers were determined as the reciprocal
dilution at 0.1 OD405. Statistical analysis was performed on individual week 8
titers. The results demonstrated that the highest CP5 and CP8 specific antibody
titers of 5 X 10^ for CP5 and 1X10^ for CP8 were induced by vaccination of
rabbits with bivalent immunogenic formulation at 1 \ig CP dose of each component
(Data not shown.).
B. Tri-antigen formulation fCP5-CRMiQ7 + CP8-CRM197 + rClfA) -
rClfA dose range study with fixed dose (1 |j,g) of each conjugate in rabbits
[0263] The effect of a combination of rClfA and CP5 and CP8 conjugates on
immune response to each component was tested. Three groups were immunized
with bivalent S. aureus CP5-CRM|97 + CP8-CRM197 (l|ig dose of each conjugate)
combined with T7-ClfA (N1N2N3) at three different doses 1, 10 and 100 ^g. The
control group was immunized with unconjugated CP5 and CP8 (50 |Lig each)
combined with 100 ^ig of T7-ClfA (N1N2N3). Each immunogenic composition
was formulated with 500 ^g of adjuvant AIPO4. Immunogenic compositions were
-93-
administered by subcutaneous injection in the neck. Rabbits were bled on week 0,
6 and 8. ELISA was performed on pooled and individual sera and endpoint
antibody titers were determined as the reciprocal dilution at 0.1 OD405.
[0264] Results showed that increased amount of rClfA when combined with
bivalent conjugate did not affect capsular antibody responses. The antibody levels
to both capsular serotypes were in the same range as in rabbits immunized with
bivalent conjugate only (Data not shown). The antibody levels to CP5 and CP8
were 2.5 fold lower at 10 (103 K) and 100 ^g (106 K) dose compared to 1 jig dose
of rClfA (273 K). There was a booster effect after the second and third injection.
Unconjugated bivalent polysaccharide immunogenic formulation (CP5 + CP8,
50 \ig each) combined with 100 \ig of rClfA did not induce CP specific antibodies.
The rClfA specific antibody response was also not greatly affected by the dose,
where titers were between 1X10^ and 1X10^ after three doses for 1, 10 and
100 |xg doses (Data not shown.). Also the levels of anti-ClfA response achieved
when administered with conjugated or unconjugated CP5 and CP8 polysaccharides
were similar.
Example 10: Tri-Antigen Formulation - Immunogenicity In Rabbits With
High Pre-Immunization CP5, CP8 and ClfA Ab Titers.
[0265] The staphylococcal immunogenic composition is targeted for adult
populations that have pre-existing antibodies to S. aureus surface components. To
study the effect of pre-existing antibodies to immunogenic formulation
components on the response to the immunogenic formulation, we selected rabbits
with high titers of naturally acquired anti-CP5, anti-CP8, and anti-ClfA antibody
titers. Two groups of rabbits (n=6/7) were immunized on week 0, 3 and 6 with triantigen
immunogenic formulation (CP5-CRM197 (1 ^g) and CP8-CRM197 (1 ^g)
and T7-ClfA (N1N2N3)Y338A (lO^g)). One group was immunized with the
immunogenic composition formulated with 500 ^g AIPO4 as adjuvant and the
second group was immunized with immunogenic composition formulation
containing no adjuvant. Immunogenic compositions were administered by
subcutaneous injection. Rabbits were bled on wk. 0, 3, 6 and 8. Antibody titers to
CP5, CP8 and rClfA were determined by ELISA as endpoint antibody titers on
pooled and individual sera (determined as the reciprocal dilution at 0.1 OD405).
-94-
[0266] Results showed that rabbits with pre-existing antibody titers induced by
natural infection responded to trivalent immunogenic formulation with an increase
in levels of antibodies to all immunogenic formulation components CP5, CP8 and
rClfA. An increase of Ab levels to each antigen of between 5 fold to 10 fold was
shown even in animals with antibody titers of 1x10^. Presence of the adjuvant in
the immunogenic formulation resulted in higher antibody titers compared to the
group immunized without adjuvant (Data not shown).
Example 11: Effect Of The Adjuvant On Responses To Capsule
Polysaccharide Components
A. Effect of Two Different Doses of AIPO4 on Response to Bivalent
CPS-CRM^gy/CPS-CRM^Q? Conjugate Immunogenic Composition in
Rabbits
[0267] The dose effect of the adjuvant AIPO4 on the anti CP5 and CP8 responses
in rabbits was studied. Rabbits were immunized on week 0, 3 and 6 with bivalent
S. aureus CP5-CRM197 + CP8-CRM197 (1 |4,g dose of each conjugate). One group
(n=5/group) was immunized with immunogenic composition formulated with
125 |xg and a 2nd group with 500 ng of AIPO4 as adjuvant. Immunogenic
compositions were administered by subcutaneous injection in neck. Rabbits were
bled on week 0, 6 and 8 and anti-capsular antibodies were determined by ELISA as
endpoint antibody titers determined as the reciprocal dilution at 0.1 OD405. Results
indicated that there was no difference in CP8 specific antibody responses in rabbits
immunized with either 125 ^g or 500 ^g of AIPO4. The formulation with 125 ^g
of adjuvant gave higher CP5 antibody responses. Also, all rabbits in the 125 ^g
group responded with higher CP5 antibody responses, while in the 500 ^g adjuvant
group, there were two rabbits with low response to the formulation.
B. Effect of AIPO4 on The Immunogenicitv of Tri-Antigen
Formulation
[0268] Rabbits (NZW, n=6/7 rabbits per group) were immunized on week 0, 3
and 6 with Tri-antigen formulation comprised of CP5-CRM197 (1 ^g) and CP8-
CRMi97(l^g)and T7-ClfA(NlN2N3)Y338A(10 ^g). One group of rabbits was
immunized with immunogenic formulation with 500 ng AIPO4, a second group
was formulated with no adjuvant, the third group was immunized at week 0 with
-95-
immunogenic formulation with 500 ^g AIPO4 and weeks 3 and 6 with
immunogenic formulation with no adjuvant. Immunogenic formulations were
administered by subcutaneous injection, rabbits were bled on week 0, 3, 6 and 8
and sera evaluated by antigen specific ELISA. Results showed that the presence of
adjuvant in the immunogenic formulation did not have an effect on anti-CP5 or
anti-CP8 responses in rabbits (Data not shown.). The GMT titers of Abs to both
capsules were comparable. However, there was an adjuvant effect on ClfA specific
antibody response shown in groups immunized with adjuvant present in all three
vaccinations. The second and third boost with immunogenic formulation not
containing AIPO4 in the rabbits primed with the immunogenic formulation
containing adjuvant gave higher ClfA responses compared to group with no
adjuvant.
Examples 12-29: Preclinical Evaluation ofS. Aureus ClfA, MntC,
CP5-CRMi97 and CP8-CRM197:
[0269] Described below in Examples 12 through 29 are the results of the
preclinical evaluation of the CP5 and CP8 conjugates, ClfA and MntC. The
examples demonstrate the efficacy of these antigens in preclinical animal models.
The examples also demonstrate that antibodies generated by the CP conjugates,
ClfA and MntC have functional activity in in vitro assays.
[0270] Two different chemistries were used to conjugate CP to CRM197, but no
difference was observed in efficacy for the conjugates prepared by the different
methods. 0-acetylation of the capsular polysaccharides was shown to impact
eliciting functional antibodies. Evaluation of a combined immunogenic
composition comprising CP5-CRM197, CP8-CRM197 and ClfA showed no
interference on specific antibody (Ab) levels to each immunogenic formulation
component.
Materials and Methods
ELISA
[0271] Maxisorp microtiter ELISA plates (Nalge Nunc International, Rochester,
NY) were coated 18 hours at 4°C or for 90 min at 37°C with 1 ^ig/mL of ClfA
antigen in PBS pH 7.5. The plates were washed five times in PBST (IX PBS,
-96-
0.1% polysorbate 20) and blocked with 1% (w/v) non-fat milk in PBS, with
0.05% polysorbate 20 for 1 h at room temperature. Plates were washed with
PBST, and serially diluted (3-fold) and individual week 0, 3, 6 and 8 rabbit antisera
were added to the plates and incubated either overnight at 4°C or 2 h at 37°C.
The plates were washed, and bound primary antibodies were detected with
horseradish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG (1:1000 dilution) in PBST.
The plates were incubated for 1 h at 37°C then washed and developed with ABTSperoxidase
substrate solution, (KPL, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD), at room temperature
for approximately 20 minutes. The reaction was stopped by the addition of a 1%
(v/v) SDS solution. Absorbance was measured at 405 nm in an automated plate
reader (Molecular Devices Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA). Antibody titers were
expressed as the reciprocal of the highest serum dilution with an absorbance value
of 0.1. Student's t-test using JMP Software (SAS Institute, Gary, NC) was used to
determine differences in antibody titers between the different groups. A
probability of less than 0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant
difference.
Murine Sepsis Models
[0272] The murine sepsis model mimics blood borne disease. For passive
immunization, groups of 15 Swiss-Webster mice were treated intraperitoneally
(i.p.) with IgG. Twenty four hours later mice were challenged with S. aureus 659-
018 via by a single intravenous (i.v.) injection (0.1 ml) via the tail vein. All
animals were followed for 14 to 15 days, at which point all remaining mice were
sacrificed.
[0273] For active immunization, mice were immunized with antigen at 0, 2 and 4
weeks and challenged at week 6 by the intravenous route with S. aureus.
Active Immunization Rabbit Endocarditis model
[0274] Adult New Zealand White rabbits were immunized intramuscularly
4 times with 25 jig antigen. One day post-surgery, animals are challenged i.v. with
a bolus of 5". aureus and the number of colony forming units (cfu) in the heart
tissue are determined 24 hours post-challenge.
-97-
Murine bacteremia
[0275] A 3 hr bacteremia model was used to determine the effect of vaccination
on bacterial numbers early during an infection. Mice were immunized at weeks 0,
3, and 6 with antigen followed by i.p. challenge with S. aureus on week 8.
Animals were exsanguinated 3 hours later and serial dilutions of blood plated to
enumerate the bacteria.
Murine pyelonephritis model
[0276] The murine pyelonephritis model mimics the dissemination of 5'. aureus
from bacteremia. Groups of 10 four week-old female CD-I mice were immunized
at 0, 3 and 6 weeks with antigen. The mice were challenged by i.p.. injection of
S. aureus. Forty-eight hours following challenge the mice were sacrificed and the
bacteria were enumerated in the kidney and blood.
Rat endocarditis model
[0277] The rat endocarditis model mimics human endocarditis in which
colonization occurs after a blood borne infection leads to colonization of damaged
heart tissue. Five 5 week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (Charles River, Kingston,
NY) were immunized on wks 0, 2 and 4 with 1 ng of CP5- CRM197 conjugate
formulated with 100 \ig of AIPO4. The animals were bled prior to vaccination on
wk 0 and at the end of wk 5. Seventy-two hours later, a catheter (PE-10 tubing)
was surgically placed through the carotid artery into the left ventricle of the heart.
Placement of the catheter results in the formation of a sterile vegetation to which
the staphylococci can attach upon infection. To prevent infection resulting from
the surgical procedure, the animals were treated with the antibiotic Baytril
(5mg/kg) at the time of surgery and 8 hr following surgery. Forty-eight hours after
surgery, the rats were challenged with PFESA0266 (approximately 4x10* cfu) or
SA315 (approximately 1x10^ cfu) by intraperitoneal injection. Forty-eight hours
following challenge the rats were euthanized and the hearts and kidneys removed
and placed into 3mL of phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The organs were then
homogenized with a tissue homogenizer (Kinematica AG, Luzemerstrasse,
-98-
Germany) and brought to lOmL with PBS. The homogenates were then serially
diluted and plated for bacterial enumeration.
Monitoring functional antibodies using opsonophagocytic killing assays
[0278] Differentiated effector cells from a cell line (e.g. HL60s) or
polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) isolated from donor human blood using
LYMPHOLYTE®-poly solution (Cedarlane laboratories limited, Ontario, Canada)
as per manufacturer's protocol can be used for this assay. Effector cells were
resuspended in assay buffer (Modified Eagle's media containing 1% bovine serum
albumin) at approximately 2X10^ cells/ml concentration and placed in 37° C
incubator until ready to use. S. aureus strain PFESA0266 was grown overnight on
tryptic soy agar plates. Bacterial cells were scraped, washed twice and
resuspended in assay buffer containing 5% glycerol to an ODeoo = 1, vvhich equals
to approximately 5X10* cfu/ml concentration. One ml aliquots of the bacterial
suspension were frozen and stored at -40°C until ready to use. Frozen bacterial
suspension were thawed and adjusted to a concentration of 10^ cfu/ml in assay
buffer and placed on ice. The assay was performed using a sterile 96 deep well 1
ml polypropylene plates. Two fold serial dilutions of antibody samples (50 |xl)
were prepared and followed by addition of 300 ^l of assay buffer to the antibody
mix. Bacteria were added (50 jil) to the plates and placed on a rotary shaker at 4
°C for 30 minutes. The opsonization step was followed by addition of 50 |A1 of
human complement (1% final concentration). Finally, 50 \il of effector cells
(10^ cells/ml concentration) were added to the plate and the suspension mixed well
by repeated pipetting. A 50p,l aliquot of the suspension was 10 fold serially diluted
in sterile 1% saponin solution, vortexed to minimize bacterial clumping and plated
on tryptic soy agar in duplicate. The assay plate was incubated at 37°C for 1 hour
with continuous mixing using rotisserie style shaker. At the end of the incubation
a 50nl aliquot of suspension was 10 fold serially diluted in sterile 1% saponin
solution, mixed by vortexing to minimize bacterial clumping and plated on tryptic
soy agar in duplicate. The percentage killing was calculated by determining the
ratio of the number of cfli surviving at 60 minutes in wells with bacteria,
antibodies, complement and effector cells to the number of cfu surviving in tubes
-99-
lacking antibodies but containing bacteria, complement and effector cells.
Controls containing bacteria, complement, and sera were included to adjust for any
reduction in cfu due to clumping.
Complement adsorption
[0279] Serum from human donors adsorbed against S. aureus strains
PFESA0266, PFESA0286 and PFESA0270 can be used as a source of complement
in the assay. S. aureus strains were grown overnight on TSA plates at 37°C. Cells
were scraped from the plate and resuspended in sterile PBS. Bacterial cells were
centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 10 minutes at 4°C and cell pellet was resuspended in
human serum for adsorption. Serum was incubated with bacteria on a nutator at
4°C for 30 minutes. Cells were centrifuged, serum transferred to another tube
containing bacteria and the adsorption step repeated again for 30 minutes. Finally,
the cells were centrifuged and the serum passed through a 0.2 micron filter before
0.5 ml aliquots were frozen down in liquid nitrogen.
Method II - OPA using HL-60 cells
[0280] HL-60 cells were differentiated according to S. Romero-Steiner, et al.,
Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 4 (4) (1997), pp. 415^22. Harvested HL-60 cells were
resuspended in assay buffer (Modified Eagle's media containing 1% bovine serum
albumin) at approximately 10* cells/ml and placed in 37 °C incubator until ready to
use. S. aureus was grown overnight on tryptic soy agar plates. Bacterial cells
were scraped, washed twice and resuspended in assay buffer containing 5%
glycerol to an ODeoo = 1, which equals to approximately 5 X 10*cfu/ml. One ml
aliquots of the bacterial suspension were frozen and stored at -40°C until ready to
use. Frozen bacterial suspension were thawed and adjusted to a concentration of
lO^cfu/ml in assay buffer and placed on ice. The assay was performed using a
sterile 96 deep well 1 ml polypropylene plates. Two fold serial dilutions of
monoclonal antibody samples (25nl) were prepared and followed by addition of
150 |il of assay buffer to the antibody suspension. Bacteria were added (25|j,l) to
the plates and placed on a rotary shaker at 4 °C for 30 minutes followed by
addition of 25 \)\ of human complement (1% final concentration). Finally, 25^1 of
-100-
HL-60 cells (10^ cells/ml) were added to the plate and the suspension mixed well
by repeated pipetting. A 25^,1 aliquot of the suspension was 10 fold serially diluted
in sterile 1% saponin solution, mixed by vortexing to minimize bacterial clumping
and plated on tryptic soy agar in duplicates. The assay plate was incubated at 37°C
for 1 hour with continuous mixing using rotisserie style shaker. At the end of
incubation a 25|i,l aliquot of suspension was 10 fold serially diluted in sterile 1%
saponin solution, mixed by vortexing to and plated on tryptic soy agar in duplicate.
The percentage killing was calculated by determining the ratio of the number of
cfu surviving at 60 minutes in wells with bacteria, antibodies, complement and
HL-60 cells to the number of cfu surviving in tubes lacking antibodies but
containing bacteria, complement and HL-60 cells. Controls containing bacteria,
complement and mAb was included to adjust for any reduction in cfu due to
clumping.
Example 12: Demonstration of a Protective Effect by ClfA in In Vivo Animal
Models
[0281] To evaluate whether polyclonal rabbit antibodies elicited against ClfA
were capable of reducing S. aureus colony counts in a murine sepsis model,
purified rabbit polyclonal anti-ClfA IgG was used at two dosages (0.8 mg and
1.6 mg) in a passive immunization study (Figure 13). The S. aureus challenge
strain was a recent clinical isolate, 659-018. Both antibody dosages resulted in a
significant reduction of bacterial colony counts in the murine sepsis model
(p=0.0134 for 1.8 mg dose and p=0.0013 for 0.8 mg dose). This experiment has
been repeated with additional S. aureus isolates with similar results (data not
shown).
Example 13: Active Immunization With ClfA Reduced Colonization of the
Heart by S. Aureus
[0282] Active immunization of rabbits with ClfA resulted in protection in the
rabbit endocarditis model. We found a 3-4 log reduction in S. aureus cfu
recovered from cardiac vegetations for animals immunized with ClfA compared to
negative control (PBS or AIPO4) immunized animals (Figure 14).
-101 -
Example 14: Protective Effect of MntC in In Vivo Animal Models
[0283] Active immunization with MntC has shown consistent protection of mice
from at early time points following S. aureus challenge. Bacterial counts in the
blood of mice receiving i.p. S. aureus challenge were significantly reduced as
compared to controls immunized with PBS (Figures 15A and 15B). Four out of six
individual studies showed a significant reduction in cfu/ml blood in immunized
animals. Protection mediated by MntC immunization was demonstrated using 2
different S. aureus challenge strains, PFESA0237 (Figure 15A) and
PFESA0266 (Figure 15B).
Example 15: CP5 Conjugates Protect in Murine Pyelonephritis Model
[0284] CP5 conjugates were evaluated for their ability to protect mice in an
active immunization pyelonephritis model. Figure 16 shows the results from
several studies. Bacterial counts in the blood of mice receiving i.p. S. aureus
challenge were significantly reduced as compared to controls immunized with pbs
(Figure 16). Six out of six individual studies showed a significant reduction in
cfu/ml kidneys in immunized animals. The data showed consistent reduction of
kidney colonization after active immunization with CP5 conjugate.
Example 16: CP5 Conjugates Prepared by Different Conjugation
Chemistries Protect Mice Against Experimental Infections
[0285] Active immunization studies in the murine pyelonephritis model were
conducted using CP5 conjugate prepared either by PDPH or CDT chemistry. The
methods for conjugating CP5 or CP8 to CRM197 were described above. Results
showed that both conjugates significantly reduce colonization in mice compared to
the sham immunized animals (Table 14).
Table 14: Effect of PDPH vs. CDT Conjugation in Pyelonephritis Model
Study # Antigens Strain/Dose logCFU/Kidney Significance
Study 1 Saline+AlP04 PFESA0266 5.53 ±1.90
1 ^tg CP5- CRM197 (PDPH) +AIPO4 2 X 10" 3.01 ±1.83 p < 0.001
1 ^g CP5- CRM197 (CDT) +AIPO4 1.67 ±0.23 p< 0.0001
Study 2 Saline+AlP04 PFESA0266 6.17 ±1.76
1 ^g CP5- CRM197 (PDPH) +AIPO4 2.7 X 10" 3.06 ±1.69 p < 0.0001
I 1 ^igCP5-CRM197 (CDT)+AIPO4I I 1.87±0.69 |p<0.0001
- 102-
Example 17: CP5 Conjugate Protects in a Rat Endocarditis Model
[0286] Four studies were conducted with CP5-CRMi97 PDPH conjugate and an
unrelated conjugate (PP5-CRM197) at 1 ^g dose. The CP5 conjugates significantly
reduced colonization in both the heart and kidneys in 2 of 3 experiments in which
the challenge Type 5 challenge strain was PFESA0266 (Table 15). In the third
study, the Geometric Mean Titer (GMT) anti-CP5 titer was the lowest of the three
experiments, but it was only slightly lower than the titer in the previous experiment
(51,000 vs. 67,000).
Table 15: CPS-CRMIQ? Immunization Reduces cfii in Rat Endocarditis Model
logCFU Significance GMT
Recovered
Immunogenic Cliallenge „ , ..., ,. , ^.. CP
/-. -^- ox • rwx Heart Kidney Heart Kidney Composition Stram/Dose •' ™Ti.t. er
luf^^^' PFESA0266 ^JJ* 3.92±1.73 103,000
CKJV1|97 l./o
lUgPPS- .-, ,„8 X- 7.94± 6.77± ^„^„, ^.-,
CRM,.7 ^-^^ ^ 'Q ^^ 0.78 0.79 P^^-^"' P^"'"^
IjigCPS- DrcQAHOAA 4.43± 3.109± ^, „„„
CRM„, PFESA0266 ^JQ 2.33 ^''^^^
CI- /:c ,rt7 f 5.63± 4.19± -, -,,
Saline 6.5x10 cfu _ .„ -nc No No
l^gCPS- prpcAm/;/; 4.01± 3.90± ,_...
CRM„7 PFESA0266 2.49 1.92 67,000
Saline 4.0x10* cfu J"^^ ^'j^"^ p<0.0002 p<0.0002
;.fJ^P^- SA315 '-ll^ f^2i 186,000
CRM197 1.02 1.20
Saline IxlO'cfu I'H^ ^'If" No No
Example 18: CP5-CRM197 Conjugates in a Pyelonephritis Model
[0287] Initial studies investigating efficacy of conjugates were p)erformed with
25 kDa MW CP5. Improvements in fermentation process resulted in production of
the high MW polysaccharide, which was conjugated to protein carrier and tested
side by side with 25 kDa CP5 conjugate. Conjugates comprising CP with MW of
25 kDa (Low MW) and 300 kDa (High MW) were prepared using CDT
- 103-
conjugation chemistry and evaluated in the murine pyelonephritis model. Three
doses (0.01, 0.1 and 1 ^g) of the HMW conjugates were tested and compared to the
control LMW CP5-CRM197 and an unrelated conjugate (PP5-CRM197) at 1 ^.g
dose. The results showed a significant reduction in CFU ofS. aureus PFESA0266
recovered from the kidneys at a 1 ng dose. There was no statistical difference
between protection from conjugates prepared with different size CP5 at the 1 ^g
dose (Table 16). The lower doses (0.01 ng and 0.1 ng) of the conjugate failed to
elicit an immune response sufficient to significantly reduce the infection. The
experiment was repeated using an identical immunization and challenge procedure.
In the repeated experiment, only the 1 ^g dose of LMW CP5-CRM197 resulted in a
significant reduction in colonization (p=0.01). The 1 jig dose of HMW
CP5-CRMi97 lowered cfli in kidneys, however the reduction was not statistically
significant (p=0.056).
Table 16. CP5 Conjugates Protect in a Mouse Pyelonephritis Model.
Study Antigen Strain/Dose logCFU/Kidney ^ . ,
1 ug PP5-CRMi97
5.34 0.0048
lug25kDa CPS-CRM^
, 1 ug 300kDa CP5-CRM,97 PFESA0266
' _ 2 1.7x10* 2.74 0.0056
0.1 ug 300kDa CP5-CRM197
5.59
0.01 ug 300kDaCP5-CRMi97
470
1 ^g PP5-CRMi97 5.35
lHg25kDaCP5-CRM,97 325 0^01
2 1 ^g 300kDa CP5-CRM197 PFESA0266 3J8 o!06
1.7x10*
0.1 ug 300kDa CP5-CRM,97 4.45
Tonig300kDaCP5^CRMi^ 6!08
Example 19: Polysaccharide O-Acetylation is Important for Induction of
Protective Antibody Response to CP5 Conjugate Immunogenic
Formulation
[0288] To evaluate the importance of O-Acetylation of CP5, the native CP5 was
de-0-acetylated (dOAc) and conjugated to CRM197 (d0Ac-CRMi97) using PDPH
- 104-
conjugation chemistry. The efficacy of dOAcCP-CRMig? conjugate was compared
side by side with CP5-CRM197 in a murine pyelonephritis model. The results
showed that conjugate lacking 0-acetyl groups (dOAc CP5- CRM197) is not
efficacious in this model as demonstrated by no significant change in the bacterial
colonization in kidneys. These data (Table 17) indicate that O- acetylation was
important for elicitation of functional antibodies against CP5.
Table 17: Immunization With de-O-acetylated CP5- CRM^o? Does Not Protect
Mice From Kidney Colonization
Study # Antigens Strain/Dose logCFU/Kidney Significance
Study 1 1 ng PP5- CRM,97 PFESA0266 3.89 ± 2.24
1 ng dOAc CP5- CRM,97 7x10^ 4.20 ± 1.75
1 ^g CP5- CRM197 1.75 ±0.39 p-value < 0.008
Study 2 Saline PFESA0266 5.08 ± 1.96
1 ng dOAc CP5- CRM,97 2.4 x 10* 5.89 ± 1.29
1 ng CP5- CRM197 2.93 ±2.11 p-value < 0.02
Example 20: Immunization with CP8-Conjugate Reduces Death in a Sepsis
Model
[0289] The efficacy of CP8-CRM197 conjugate was evaluated in the murine
sepsis model after challenge with S. aureus PFESA0268 (Type 8). Swiss Webster
mice (n=30) were actively immunized by subcutaneous injection with l^g CP8-
CRM197 and saline both formulated with 100 jig AIPO4. The study showed a
significant reduction of sepsis (p=0.0308) as compared to mice immunized with
AIPO4 alone. See Figure 17.
Example 21: Evaluation of the Conjugated Native and Base Treated CP8 in
the Murine Bacteremia Model
[0290] The importance of O-Acetyl groups present on native CP8 before
conjugation for induction of functional antibody responses was evaluated for CP8
conjugate. CP8 polysaccharide was de-0-Acetylated under mild basic conditions
and both NMR and Ion Chromatography (IC) confirmed absence of O-Acetylation
in CP8 de-O-Ac - CRMi97.
[0291] The murine bacteremia model was used to evaluate efficacy of the native
versus base treated CP8 conjugated to CRM197. Groups of female BALB/c mice
-105-
(15/group) were immunized at weeks 0, 3 and 6, with 1 ng CP8 de-O-Ac - CRM197
or 1 ng CP8 O-Ac - CRJVIi97. Immunogenic formulations were formulated with 22
Jig AIPO4. Animals were challenged with S. aureus PFESA0003. Three hours
post challenge the mice were sacrificed and the bacteria were enumerated in blood.
The data showed that there was a statistically significant (p=0.0362) reduction in
bacterial cfu recovered from the blood of animals immunized with untreated native
CP8 conjugate as determined by the student t test (Table 18). In animals that were
immunized with base treated CP8 conjugate the bacterial cfu recovered from blood
were similar to the saline control group.
Table 18: CP8-CRM1Q7 Conjugate Reduces Bacteremia S. aureus PFESA0003 in
Mice.
Antigen Strain/Dose logCFU/Blood Significance
^ (p value)
CP8de-0-Ac-CRM,97 ^ ^ 4 ^ ^ ^ 4.45 ~
CP8 O-AC-CRM197 I '•^^'^'" I 3.93 I 0.03
Example 22: Confirmation of the Importance of O-Acetylation as Functional
Epitope of CP5 by OPA Using MAbs With Known Specificities
[0292] CP5 monoclonal antibodies with specificities to CP5 OAc+ (CP5-7-1),
CP5 OAc+/- (CP5-5-1) and CP5 OAc- (CP5-6-1) were evaluated for OP killing
activity against type 5 strain PFESA0266 (Table 19). MAb CP8-3-1 specific to
CP8 OAc+ was used as negative control. Results showed that CP5-7-1 mAb (CP5
OAc+ specific) mediates killing of both type 5 strains tested. Also mAb CP5-5-1
recognizing epitopes shared by both CP5 OAc+ and CP5 OAc- mediated killing of
PFESA0266 strain. The MAb specific for epitopes present on CP5 OAcpolysaccharide
did not mediate killing of PFESA0266 strain. These results
indicate that 0-Acetyl epitopes on CP5 are involved in functional activity of CP5
specific antibodies.
- 106-
Table 19 mAbs Specific to O-Acetvlated (+) CP5 and O- and de-0-Acetvlated (+/-
) CP5 are Opsonic against S. aureus PFESA0266 (Type 5).
I CP5-5-1 (O-Ac +/-) I CP5-6-1 (O-Ac -) I CP5-7-1 (O-Ac +) | CP8-3-1 (neg. control)
(Hg) (f»g) (Jig) (J«g)
"jig 20 10 5 2.5 20 10 5 2.5 "20" 10 5 2.5 20 10 5 2.5
%kill I 28 33 30 21 [ -12 -5 -12 -5 | 31 46 49 55 | -18 -3 -13 -5
Data reported as percent killing and was calculated by determining the ratio of the number of cfu
surviving at 60 minutes in wells with bacteria, antibodies, complement and HL-60 cells to the
number of cfu surviving in wells lacking antibodies but containing bacteria, complement and HL-60
cells.
Example 23: Opsonic Activity of Mouse Antibodies Induced to High and Low
MW CP5 Conjugates
[0293] Sera from mice (n=5) with high CP5 ELISA titers from 1 ^g high
molecular weight and low molecular weight groups from Example 18 were
compared for opsonic activity using 5'. aureus PFESA0266. OPA results showed
that both conjugates elicited opsonic antibodies in mice (Table 20). There was a
trend observed for high MW conjugates to elicit higher titer opsonic antibodies.
Data shown as a mean % killing ±SEM for 5 individual mouse sera. Antibodies
need to be functional as measured by killing of bacteria in either an animal efficacy
model or via an opsonophagocytic killing assay that demonstrates the antibodies
kill the bacteria. Functional killing may not be demonstrated using an assay that
just monitors the generation of antibodies alone, which is not indicative of the
importance of high molecular weight conjugates in efficacy.
Table 20: Both LMW and HMW CP5 conjugates elicit opsonic antibodies
Antigen: lug CP5- CRM197 (25 kPa) I Antigen: 1 \ig CP5- CRM197 (300 kPa)
OPA titer wkO OPA titer wk8 OPA titer wkO OPA titer wk8
<100 400 <100 6400
<100 <100 <100 800
<100 400 <100 3200
<100 3200 <100 3200
<100 I <100 I <100 I 3200
Example 24: Opsonic Activity of Sera From Mice Immunized With Native
and Chemically Modified CP8 Conjugates
[0294] Select mouse sera (n=5) with high CP8 titers from the study in Example
21 were compared for opsonic activity using PFESA0005 strain. The OPA results
-107-
(Table 21) show that only conjugates prepared by the conjugation of native CP8
elicited opsonic antibodies in mice. It is noteworthy that the de-OAc CP8
conjugate was immunogenic in mice but the antibodies elicited were not opsonic in
this assay. OPA titers are reported as reciprocal of dilution at which 40% killing
was observed. Antibodies need to be functional as measured by killing of
bacteria in either an animal efficacy model or via opsonophagocytic killing assay
that demonstrates the antibodies kill the bacteria. Functional killing may not be
demonstrated using an assay that just monitors the generation of antibodies alone,
which is not indicative of the importance of O-acetylation in efficacy.
Table 21. Opsonic Activity of Native CP8 vs. de-Q-Ac CP8- CRMIQ?
De-O-Ac CP8- CRM197 I CP8- CRM197
OP titer WkO sera I OP titer WkS sera OP titer WkO sera I OP titer WkS sera
<50 <50 50 150
<50 <50 <50 1350
<50 <50 <50 450
<50 <50 <50 1350
<50 I <50 I <50 I 4050
Example 25: Killing of Type 8 Strains by CP8 Conjugate Non-Human
Primate Antisera is Inhibited by Addition of Native CP8
[0295] To confirm the specificity of the killing activity in the sera of non-human
primates immunized with CP8-conjugate, an assay was performed in the presence
of native CP8. The OP method II was used with the following modifications. Two
fold serial dilutions of antibody samples (25 |xl) were prepared and followed by
addition of either 150 \il (Pnl4 competitor) or 125 |J,1 (CP8 competitor) of assay
buffer to the antibody suspension. The competitor was purified CP8
polysaccharide (CP8 poly) and unrelated pneumococcal polysaccharide (Pn 14
poly) was used as a control. The polysaccharides were added (50 |ig) to the
antibody suspension and the plate incubated at 4°C for 30 minutes with end over
end mixing. Following incubation with polysaccharides, bacteria were added (25
(il) to the plates and placed on a rotary shaker at 4 °C for 30 minutes followed by
addition of 25 ^1 of human complement (1% final concentration). The results
(Table 22) showed that the presence of native CP8 in reaction mixture inhibited
-108-
opsonophagocytic killing of 5'. aureus Type 8 These results confirm that
opsonophagocytic killing by immune sera was mediated by capsule specific Abs.
Table 22. Addition of CP 8 Polysaccharide Inhibits Opsonophagocytic Killing Of
S. aureus by Immune Sera.
Monkey Sera Sample OPA titer
WkO <50
Wk8 4050
02D133 WkO + 20 ^g CP8 poly <50
Wk8 + 20 ng CP8 poly <50
WkO + 20ngPnl4poly <50
Wk 8 + 20 ng Pn 14 poly 4050
WkO <50
Wk8 4050
A4N122 WkO + 20 \ig CP8 poly <50
WkS + 20 ng CP8 poly <50
Wk0 + 20ngPnl4poly <50
I Wk8 + 20 \ig Pn 14 poly | 1350
Example 26: Naturally Acquired Antibodies to ClfA Mediate
Opsonophagocytic Killing of 5. Aureus
[0296] Humans in the population are naturally exposed to S. aureus and thus
have preexisting antibodies to that bacterium in their circulation. We affinity
purified anti-ClfA antibodies from human serum and evaluated whether the
antibodies could mediate opsonic killing. It has been shown that antibodies to ClfA
are opsonic for S. aureus capsular polysaccharide (data not shown). Strain
PFESA0266 was grown overnight in Columbia broth with 2% NaCl. Bacteria
were opsonized with ClfA affinity purified human IgG or irrelevant antigen
affinity purified human IgG (negative control, streptococcal SCP protein) and the
opsonic activity tested. Differentiated HL-60 cells were used in the
opsonophagocytic assay at an effector/target ratio of 100:1. As an additional
control, a CP5 mAb was included in the experiment to demonstrate the presence of
CP5 on the surface. The results are average of two independent experiments.
ClfA and CP5 specific antibodies did mediate opsonic killing and SCP specific
(negative control) antibodies had no activity in this assay.
-109-
Example 27: CP5-CRM197 Conjugate Elicits Opsonic Antibodies in
Non-Human Primates (NHP)
[0297] To compare the functionality of high vs. low molecular weight
CP5-CRMi97 conjugates in NHP, groups of five monkeys were immunized with 2
and 20 \ig doses of the conjugates with or without AIPO4 adjuvant. The monkeys
received the first and second vaccination on day 0 and 28, respectively. Bleeds
from day 0, 14, 28 and 42 were tested for OP activity. Results are summarized in
Table 23. The 20 \ig HMW conjugate had the highest OP titers compared to other
groups. Also, the frequency of OP positive monkeys was higher at both doses of
the high MW groups than for the corresponding low MW groups. These results
demonstrate that there is a trend for HMW CP5-CRM197 conjugate to elicit better
OP responses than LMW CP5 conjugate in NHP.
Table 23. OPA of NHP serum following immunization with CP5 conjugates.
I OPA Titer (40% Kill)
"Group I Monkey ID I Day 0 Day 14 I Day 28 I Day 42
A2N053 450 1350 4050 4050
(HMW) A4L069 <100 450 150 <100
AlPn A1N097 <100 4050 1350 1350
" A4L014 <100 <100 <100 <100
02D125 <100 150 150 <100
(HMWrn ^'*^^^' ^'°^ '^^ ^^° '^°
r l y ' A2N055 150 450 150 150
AIPO A4N084 <100 <100 <100 <100
" A1N085 <100 150 450 4050
A4L084 150 150 <100 <100
2ngCP5 97N004 150 450 450 450
(HMW) A4L055 <100 <100 <100 <100
noAlP04 97N123 <100 <100 150 150
225N <100 <100 <100 <100
02D017 <100 <100 <100 <100
riMw\^+ A4N100 <100 150 150 4050
(LMW)) 257N <100 <100 <100 <100
AIPO A4L046 <100 <100 <100 <100
" A1N098 <100 150 <100 <100
96N022 150 150 450 150
nMW^^+ 02D005 <100 1350 450 1350
(LMW)) 02D113 <100 150 150 <100
U.Smg/mL A2N040 150 150 <100 <100
" I A4L056 I 150 I 15oJ <100 | <100
- n o -
Example 28: Capsule Polysaccharide Conjugates Comprising High
Molecular Weight Polysaccharides Show Enhanced
Immunogenicity Compared To Conjugates Comprising Low
Molecular Weight Polysaccharides.
[0298] Non human primate (NHP) studies were conducted to evaluate the
immunogenicity of different capsule conjugate formulations. Two formulations
were tested at two different dosage levels (2 and 20 \ig). The first formulation was
composed of a high molecular weight (HMW) polysaccharide (approximately
130 kDa) conjugated to CRM197. The second formulation contained a low
molecular weight (LMW) polysaccharide (approximately 25 kDa) conjugated to
CRM197. Groups of five primates were vaccinated with a single dose of either
vaccine and immune titers were monitored prior to vaccination and two weeks post
vaccination. OPA titers were defined as the dilution of serum required to kill 40%
of 5. aureus Strain PFESA0266 in an OPA assay. Antibody titers were also
monitored by ELISA. Enhanced activity was seen for the HMW vaccine compared
to the LMW formulation (Table 24), evidenced by a ten fold rise in antibody titers
for the HMW vaccine compared to the LMW vaccine. The OPA responder rate for
the NHPs that received the HMW vaccine were also higher (80% compared to
40%).
Table 24. Enhanced Immunogenicity is observed for HMW polysaccharide
conjugate vaccines compared to LMW polysaccharide conjugate vaccine.
I CP5-CRM197 dose I Geometric Mean I OPA Responder Rate
level (meg) per ofPDl* (%)±
animal
HMW(125kDa) 20 ~ 32 80
2 21 80
LMW (25 kDa) 20 3 40
I 2 I 8 I 40
* Fold rise calculated fi"om CP5 ELISA titer 2 weeks post vaccination compared to pre
vaccine titers. ± Responder rate calculated from monkeys generating a rise in OPA titer
following a single dose of vaccine 2 weeks post vaccination. Each group contained 5
Rhesus maccaques and vaccines were formulated with AIPO4 (250 megadose)
- I l l -
Example 29: Bi-Antigen (CP5-CRM197 and ClfA) Formulation-Antibody
Responses in Non-Human Primates
[0299] To evaluate the immune response to a single dose of two antigen
immunogenic compositions (CP5-CRM197 and ClfA) in NHP, groups of five
monkeys were immunized with different doses of the two antigens without the
addition of AIPO4. Bleeds from day 0, 14, and 28 were tested for opsnophagocytic
(OP) activity and ELISA titers and the results are summarized in Table 24. Results
showed that OP activity was consistently observed with CP5 immunized animals
as compared to a CP5 sham group. Overall, the 100 fig group had the highest
ELISA and OP titers compared to other groups. There was no OP killing activity
observed with sera from the ClfA alone group. No interference was observed in
the groups given ascending doses of ClfA or CP5. See Table 25.
Table 25: OPA Results From Bi-Valent Immunization Study In NHP
I OPA Titer (40% Killing)
Group # I ID Number Week: 0 I Week; 2 I Week; 'T
A4R054 <100 150 <100
180 ng ClfA + A4R056 <100 150 150_
20 ^ig 130 kDa A4N087 <100 450 450_
CP5 97N152 <100 45^J 1350
A4R027 <100 1350 1350
A4R062 <100 150 <100
180 ^ig ClfA + 97N149 <100 150 <100
2 ^g 130 kDa A4RI31 <100 450 150^
CP5 97N025 <100 450 450^
A4N064 <100 450 450
A4L005 <100 <100 <100
60 fig ClfA + A4R029 <100 HSO 1350
20 ^g 130 kDa A3N015 <100 <100 <100
CP5 98N021 150 4050 4050
A4R137 <100 <100 <100
A1N040 <100 150 150_
60 ^g ClfA + A2N104 <100 1350 <100
2 fig 130 kDa A4L033 <100 150 <100
CP5 96N048 <100 <100 <100
A4R032 <100 <100 <100
A4R135 <100 450 150_
2ng A1N118 <100 150 150_
130 kDa A4R061 <100 <100 1350
CP5 A4R101 <100 4050 1350
I 97N137 I <100 I 1350 | 1350"
-112-
I OPA Titer (40% Killing)
Group # ID Number Week: 0 Week: 2 Week: 4
A4R135 <100 <100 <100
20 ^g A4N115 <100 150 150_
130 kDa 95N038 <100 <100 <100
CP5 A4N120 <100 450 450_
96N004 <100 1^0 1^
A4N116 <100 450 450_
100 ^ig A3N097 <100 450 450_
130 kDa A4N108 <100 1350 1350
CP5 98N034 <100 450 150_
99N034 <100 1350 4050
97N057 <100 <100 <100
A4R112 150 <100 150_
eO^gClfA A4L022 <100 <100 <100
97N100 <100 <100 <100
I 99N041 I 150 I 150 I 150
Animal Models Demonstrate Potential ofS. aureus CP5 and CP8 Capsule
Polysaccharide Antigens
[0300] Both CP5-CRMi97 and CP8-CRM197 conjugates induced capsular
serotype specific antibody responses in mice, rats, rabbits and non-human primates
(NHP). Conjugate induced antibodies were functional in the in vitro functional
opsonophagocytosis killing assay. Data were generated to demonstrate that
0-Acetylation is important for elicitation of protective antibodies for both CP5 and
CP8, and that O-acetyl groups are part of an epitope recognized by OPA^ mAbs
against CP5. MAbs that recognize native CP5 which is 0-acetylated are functional
in OPA and mediate killing of the bacteria. CP8 conjugate induced functional
antibodies in both mice and rabbits that mediated killing of Type 8 strain in OPA.
The specificity of killing by polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies was confirmed
by abolition of the killing after addition of the homologous native polysaccharide
to the assay. The various active immunization models were used to show
preclinical efficacy of both CP5- and CP8-CRM197 conjugates. The CP5 conjugate
showed consistent efficacy in the murine pyelonephritis model and the rat
endocarditis model. The importance of O-acetylation of CP5 was confirmed in the
murine pyelonephritis model, where de-O-acetylated CP5 conjugated to CRM197
failed to protect animals against experimental infection.
-113-
[0301] The combination of the conjugates in a bi-antigen formulation induced
antibodies to both capsules CP5 and CP8 and there was no interference to the
specific antibody levels induced compared to single antigen immunizations. The
combination of conjugates and ClfA in a tri-antigen formulation induced high CP5,
CP8 and ClfA levels, and there was no interference to the antibody responses
induced against any antigen present in the combination. The tri-antigen
immunogenic compositions induced antibody (Ab) responses capable of being
boosted to all three components in rabbits with high pre-immune titers.
[0302] These results suggest that CP5 and CP8 conjugated to CRJVI197 should be
included as immunogenic formulation components of a protective 5*. aureus
immunogenic composition.
Example 30: Requirement of Different Antigens to Protect from Multiple
Possible S. aureus Diseases
[0303] S. aureus cause a wide array of infections ranging from relatively mild
skin infections to more serious and invasive infections such as endocarditis,
necrotizing fasciitis, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis and pneumonia. Each of these
in vivo sites is unique and the bacteria likely respond to the differences in
environmental stimuli by altering their antigen expression profiles to ones most
suitable for the individual strain to colonize, grow and ultimately cause disease.
As exemplified in Example 12, S. aureus strains show diversity of antigen
expression in vivo. A multi-component immunogenic composition composed of
different antigens is more likely to protect against the diverse disease manifestation
caused by S. aureus.
[0304] ClfA was shown to protect in rodent endocarditis and sepsis models.
ClfB has been reported to be important in nasal colonization of 5". aureus. MntC
protected mice in a murine bacteremia model. The CP5 conjugate protected in
pyelonephritis and endocarditis, and the CP8 conjugate protected in rodent
pyelonephritis and sepsis models. These results demonstrate that a multicomponent
vaccine containing these antigens will protect against multiple types of
S. aureus disease.
[0305] In vivo animal models approximate the course of an actual infection and
help to elucidate which antigens may be useful in protecting from a particular
-114-
disease. Table 26 summarizes results from numerous experiments performed in
various in vivo models. The results are reported in each block as four numbers
separated by a slash, for example ClfA in a sepsis model has the numbers
27/1/3/31. The first number represents the number of experiments where ClfA
immunization produced a statistically significant positive result of protection. The
second number represents the number of experiments where ClfA immunization
produced a positive result of protection that trended toward significance but was
not statistically significant. The third number represents the number of
experiments where ClfA immunization produced a negative result, but was not
statistically significant. The fourth number is the total number of experiments
performed. The first three numbers should add up to equal the fourth number.
Table 26. Summarv Of Protection In Animal Models For S. aureus Antigens
I ClfA I CP5 I CP8 I MntC^"
Bacteremia
1/4/0/5 3/0/3/6 1/1/1/3 6/2/5/13
Sepsis
27/1/3/31 1/0/0/1 NT NT
Pyelonephritis
0/4/2/6 13/1/0/14 NT 1/0/4/5^^
Endocarditis
I 3/6/1/10 I 3/2/2/7 I NT I NT
NT: Not Tested
Example 31: Testing of Various Multi-antigen Immunogenic Compositions
in vitro and in vivo
[0306] Various multi-antigen staphylococcal immunogenic formulations
containing either three, four or five antigens selected from the following
polypeptides and/or polysaccharides are tested for immunogenicity and efficacy in
various in vivo models: ClfA, ClfB, MntC, CP5- and CP8. The immunogenic
compositions are as follows:
[0307] (1) an immunogenic composition comprising: an isolated S. aureus
clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus capsular
polysaccharide type 5 conjugated to CRM197, and an isolated S. aureus capsular
polysaccharide type 8 conjugated to CRM197;
- 115-
[0308] (2) A second combination provides clumping factor A (ClfA), clumping
factor B (ClfB), an isolated MntC, isolated staphylococcal capsular polysaccharide
CP5 conjugated to CRM197, and isolated staphylococcal capsular polysaccharide
CP8 conjugated to CRM197;
[0309] (3) A third combination provides an immunogenic composition
comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an
isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, or an isolated S. aureus
MntC protein, an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5 conjugated to
CRM197, and an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8 conjugated to
CRM197; isolated
[0310] (4) A fourth combination provides an immunogenic composition
comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, an
isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5 conjugated to CRM197, and an
isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8 conjugated to CRM197;
[0311] (5) A fifth combination provides an immunogenic composition
comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, an
isolated S. aureus MntC protein, an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide type
5 conjugated to CRM197, and an isolated 5'. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 8
conjugated to CRM197; and
[0312] (6) A sixth combination provides an immunogenic composition
comprising: an isolated S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an
isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, and an isolated S. aureus
MntC protein.
[0313] rClfA and rClfB are prepared and purified as described in Example 1.
MntC is prepared and purified as described in Example 2. Isolated CP5 and CP8
are prepared and purified as described in Example 3 and are conjugated to CRM197
as described in Example 4.
[0314] More particularly, the procedures described in the previous Examples
above are used to measure immunogenicity and efficacy. Studies are done to
determine whether each of the three, four or five components, when delivered
alone, or together, induce an immune response. These same studies are used to
determine whether or not the presence of any one of the four or five components
-116-
interferes with the ability of any of the other three or four components to induce an
immune response. Moreover, studies are done to determine whether the four or
five components when tested alone, or when tested together, will confer protection
in any one or more of the animal models described above. The four or five
components are administered as a single dose or as multiple doses to an animal,
e.g. mice, rats, rabbits or non-human primates, as noted in the previous examples
above. The animals are bled and the serum collected and tested for the presence of
antibodies to each of the four or five components. The presence of antigen specific
antibodies is measured by any immunoassay known to those skilled in the art, for
example, an ELISA (See Examples 11-29) or a Western blot (See Example 1) is
used to assess the presence or absence of antigen-specific antibodies. In addition,
an opsonophagocytic assay is used to determine whether the antigen specific
antibodies are effective at mediating killing of the staphylococcal organisms by
phagocytic cells (See Examples 11-29).
[0315] In vivo efficacy is also assessed using any one or more of the animal
studies described above, such as, but not limited to, the in-dwelling tubing model;
the murine bacteremia model; the wound infection model; the murine
pyelonephritis model; the rat endocarditis model and the murine sepsis model (See
Examples 11-30).
Example 32: Combinations ofS. Aureus Antigens Generate Antibodies in
Non-Human Primates That Enhance Killing of 5. Aureus Strain
Pfe5-1.
[0316] Enhanced efficacy, as measured using the OPA assay, was observed using
combinations of antigens. A non-human primate study was conducted where
groups of 3-10 monkeys were immunized with muhi-component vaccines.
Animals received a single dose of vaccine and OPA titers were monitored at day 0
and two weeks post vaccination. OPA titers were defined as the dilution of serum
required to kill 50% of 5. aureus Strain Pfe5-1 in an OPA assay. Enhanced
activity was seen for a combination of 4 antigens compared to a 3-antigen vaccine
formulation (p=0.0272; Figure 18).

What is Claimed is:
1. An immunogenic composition comprising at least three
components selected from the group consisting of: an isolated S. aureus clumping
factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an isolated 5*. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB)
polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus MntC protein, an isolated S. aureus capsular
polysaccharide type 5 conjugated to a carrier protein, and an isolated 5'. aureus
capsular polysaccharide type 8 conjugated to a carrier protein.
2. An immunogenic composition comprising: an isolated
5. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus capsular
polysaccharide type 5 conjugated to a carrier protein, and an isolated S. aureus
capsular polysaccharide type 8 conjugated to a carrier protein.
3. The immunogenic composition of claim 2, further
comprising an isolated S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide.
4. The immunogenic composition of claim 2 or claim 3, further
comprising an isolated S. aureus MntC protein.
5. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-4,
wherein the ClfA or the ClfB polypeptide is a polypeptide fragment comprising the
fibrinogen binding domain of ClfA or ClfB.
6. The immunogenic composition of claim 5, wherein the ClfA
or ClfB polypeptide fragment is a fibrinogen binding domain comprising the Nl,
N2 and N3 domains of ClfA or ClfB.
7. The immunogenic composition of claim 5, wherein the ClfA
or ClfB polypeptide fragment is a fibrinogen binding domain comprising the N2
and N3 domains of ClfA or ClfB.
8. The immunogenic composition according to any of claims 5
6, or 7, wherein the fibrinogen binding domain of ClfA binds to fibrinogen at a
reduced level compared to the binding observed to fibrinogen with the native
fibrinogen binding domain of ClfA.
-118-
9. The immunogenic composition of claim 8, wherein the
fibrinogen binding domain of ClfA binds to fibrinogen at a reduced level compared
to the binding observed to fibrinogen with the native fibrinogen binding domain of
ClfA through having an amino acid substitution at one or more of Tyr 338, Tyr
256, Pro 336, Lys 389, Ala 254 and He 387.
10. The immunogenic composition of claim 9, wherein the
amino acid substitution at one or more of Tyr 338, Tyr 256, Pro 336, Lys 389, Ala
254 and He 387 is to Ala or Ser.
11. The immunogenic composition of claim 10, wherein the Tyr
338 is substituted to Ala.
12. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-11,
wherein the ClfA, the ClfB, or MntC is produced recombinantly.
13. The immunogenic composition of any one of claims 1-12,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 5 is a high molecular weight capsular
polysaccharide of between 20 and 1000 kDa.
14. The immunogenic composition of claim 13, wherein the
high molecular weight capsular polysaccharide type 5 has a molecular weight of
between 70 and 300 kDa.
15. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-14
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 5 is between 10% and 100%
0-acetylated.
16. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-14,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 5 is between 50 and 100% O-acetylated.
17. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-14,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 5 is between 75% and 100%
O-acetylated.
-119-
18. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-17,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 8 is a high molecular weight capsular
polysaccharide of between 20 and 1000 kDa.
19. The immunogenic composition of claim 18, wherein the
high molecular weight capsular polysaccharide type 8 has a molecular weight of
between 70 and 300 kDa.
20. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-19
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 8 is between 10% and 100%
O-acetylated.
21. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-19,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 8 is between 50 and 100% O-acetylated.
22. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-19,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 8 is between 75% and 100%
O-acetylated.
23. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-22,
wherein the carrier protein is the C. diphtheriae toxoid CRM197.
24. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1 or 4-23,
wherein the S. aureus MntC protein is a lipidated protein.
25. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1 or 4-23,
wherein the S. aureus MntC protein is not a lipidated protein.
26. An immunogenic composition comprising: an isolated
S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus capsular
polysaccharide type 5 conjugated to a carrier protein, and an isolated S. aureus
capsular polysaccharide type 8 conjugated to a carrier protein.
27. The immunogenic composition of claim 23, further
comprising an isolated S. aureus MntC protein.
- 120-
28. The immunogenic composition of either of claims 26 or 27,
wherein the ClfB polypeptide is a polypeptide fragment comprising the fibrinogen
binding domain of ClfB.
29. The immunogenic composition of claim 28, wherein the
ClfB polypeptide fragment is a fibrinogen binding domain comprising the Nl, N2
and N3 domains of ClfB.
30. The immunogenic composition of claim 28, wherein the
ClfB polypeptide fragment is a fibrinogen binding domain comprising the N2 and
N3 domains of ClfB.
31. The immunogenic composition according to any of claims
28, 29 and 30, wherein the fibrinogen binding domain of ClfB binds to fibrinogen
at a reduced level compared to the binding observed to fibrinogen with the native
fibrinogen binding domain of ClfB.
32. The composition of any of claims 26-31, wherein the ClfB
or the MntC protein is produced recombinantly.
33. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 26-32,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 5 is a high molecular weight capsular
polysaccharide of between 20 and 1000 kDa.
34. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 26-32,
wherein the high molecular weight capsular polysaccharide type 5 has a molecular
weight of between 70 and 300 kDa.
35. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 26-34
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 5 is between 10% and 100%
0-acetylated.
36. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 26-34,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 5 is between 50 and 100% O-acetylated.
- 121 -
37. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 26-34,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 5 is between 75% and 100%
0-acetylated.
38. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 26-37,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 8 has a molecular weight of between 20
and 1000 kDa.
39. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 26-37,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 8 has a molecular weight of between 70
and 300 kDa.
40. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 26-39
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 8 is between 10% and 100%
0-acetylated.
41. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 26-39,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 8 is between 50 and 100% O-acetylated
42. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 26-39,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 8 is between 75% and 100% Oacetylated.
43. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 27-42,
wherein the S. aureus MntC is a lipidated protein.
44. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 27-42,
wherein the S. aureus MntC is not a lipidated protein.
45. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 26-44,
wherein the carrier protein is the C. diphtheriae toxoid CRM197.
46. An immunogenic composition comprising: an isolated
S. aureus clumping factor A (ClfA) polypeptide, an isolated S. aureus clumping
factor B (ClfB) polypeptide, and an isolated S. aureus MntC protein.
-122-
47. The immunogenic composition of claim 46, wherein the
ClfA polypeptide is a polypeptide fragment comprising the fibrinogen binding
domain of ClfA.
48. The immunogenic composition of claim 47, wherein the
ClfA polypeptide fragment is a fibrinogen binding domain comprising the Nl, N2
and N3 domains of ClfA.
49. The immunogenic composition of claim 47, wherein the
ClfA polypeptide fragment is a fibrinogen binding domain comprising the N2 and
N3 domains of ClfA.
50. The immunogenic composition according to any of claims
47, 48 and 49, wherein the fibrinogen binding domain of ClfA binds to fibrinogen
at a reduced level compared to the binding observed to fibrinogen with the native
fibrinogen binding domain of ClfA.
51. The immunogenic composition of claim 50, wherein the
fibrinogen binding domain displays reduced binding to fibrinogen through having
an amino acid substitution at one or more of Tyr 338, Tyr 256, Pro 336, Lys 389,
Ala 254 and He 387.
52. The immunogenic composition of claim 51, wherein the
amino acid substitution at one or more of Tyr 338, Tyr 256, Pro 336, Lys 389, Ala
254 and He 387 is to Ala or Ser.
53. The immunogenic composition of claim 52, wherein the Tyr
338 is substituted to Ala.
54. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 46-53,
wherein the S. aureus ClfB polypeptide is a polypeptide fragment comprising the
fibrinogen binding domain of ClfB.
-123-
55. The immunogenic composition of claim 54, wherein the
5'. aureus ClfB polypeptide fragment is a fibrinogen binding domain comprising
the Nl, N2 and N3 domains of ClfB.
56. The immunogenic composition of claim 54, wherein the
S. aureus ClfB polypeptide fragment is a fibrinogen binding domain comprising
the N2 and N3 domains of ClfB.
57. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 46-56,
wherein the S. aureus MntC is a lipidated protein.
58. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 46-56,
wherein the S. aureus MntC is not a lipidated protein.
59. An immunogenic composition comprising: an isolated
S. aureus MntC protein, an isolated 5'. aureus capsular polysaccharide type 5
conjugated to a carrier protein, and an isolated S. aureus capsular polysaccharide
type 8 conjugated to a carrier protein.
60. The composition of claim 59, wherein the MntC protein is
produced recombinantly.
61. The immunogenic composition of claims 59 or 60, wherein
the capsular polysaccharide type 5 is a high molecular weight capsular
polysaccharide of between 20 and 1000 kDa.
62. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 59-61,
wherein the high molecular weight capsular polysaccharide type 5 has a molecular
weight of between 70 and 300 kDa.
63. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 59-62
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 5 is between 10% and 100%
0-acetylated.
64. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 59-62,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 5 is between 50 and 100% O-acetylated
-124-
65. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 59-62,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 5 is between 75% and 100% Oacetylated.
66. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 59-65,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 8 has a molecular weight of between 20
and 1000 kDa.
67. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 59-65,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 8 has a molecular weight of between 70
and 300 kDa.
68. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 59-67
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 8 is between 10% and 100%
0-acetylated.
69. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 59-67,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 8 is between 50% and 100% Oacetylated.
70. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 59-67,
wherein the capsular polysaccharide type 8 is between 75% and 100% Oacetylated.
71. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-70,
further comprising at least one protein from the serine-aspartate repeat (Sdr)
protein family selected from the group consisting of SdrC, SdrD and SdrE.
72. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-71,
further comprising the iron surface determinant B (IsdB) protein.
73. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1- 72,
further comprising an adjuvant.
74. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-73,
further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
-125-
75. The immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-74,
further comprising any one of the following antigens: Opp3a, DltD, HtsA, LtaS,
IsdA, IsdC, SdrF, SdrG, SdrH, SrtA, SpA, Sbi FmtB, alpha-hemolysin (hla), betahemolysin,
fibronectin-binding protein A (fnbA), fibronectin-binding protein B
(fnbB), coagulase, Fig, map, Panton-Valentine leukocidin (pvl), alpha-toxin and its
variants, gamma-toxin (hlg) and variants, ica, immunodominant ABC transporter,
Mg2+ transporter, Ni ABC transporter, RAP, autolysin, laminin receptors,
IsaA/PisA, IsaB/PisB , SPOIIIE, SsaA, EbpS, Sas A, SasF, SasH, EFB (FIB), SBI,
Npase, EBP, bone sialo binding protein II, aureolysin precursor (AUR)/Seppl,
Cna, and fragments thereof such as M55, TSST-1, mecA, poly-Nacetylglucosamine
(PNAG/dPNAG) exopolysaccharide, GehD, EbhA, EbhB, SSP-
1, SSP-2, HBP, vitronectin binding protein, HarA, EsxA, EsxB, Enterotoxin A,
Enterotoxin B, Enterotoxin CI, and novel autolysin.
76. A method of inducing an immune response against
Staphylococcus aureus comprising administering to a subject an immunologically
effective amount of an immunogenic composition of any of claims 1-75.
77. The method of claim 76, wherein the immune response
prevents or reduces a disease or condition associated with a staphylococcal
organism in a subject, or prevents or reduces one or more symptoms associated
with a staphylococcal organism in a subject.
78. The method of claim 77, wherein the disease is selected
from the group consisting of invasive S. aureus disease, sepsis and carriage.
79. The method of claim 76, wherein the subject is undergoing a
surgical procedure.
80. The method of claim 79, wherein the surgical procedure is
an elective surgical procedure or a non-elective surgical procedure.
81. The method of claim 79, wherein the surgical procedure is a
cardio-thoracic surgical procedure.
-126-
82. The method of claim 76, wherein the immune response
induced comprises the generation of antibodies having opsonophagocytic activity
(OPA) against S. aureus.
83. The method of claim 76, wherein the immune response
induced comprises the generation of significantly higher titers of opsonophagocytic
antibodies specific for S. aureus compared to that observed in non-immunized
subjects.
84. The method of claim 83, wherein the opsonophagocytic titer
is at least 1:20.
85. The method of any of claims 76-84, wherein the S. aureus is
MSSA.
86. The method of any of claims 76-84, wherein the S. aureus is
VRSA.
87. The method of any of claims 76-84, wherein the S. aureus is
VISA.
88. The method of any of claims 76-84, wherein the S. aureus is
MRSA.
89. The method of any one of claims 76-88, wherein the subject
is a human, a household pet, or a livestock animal.
90. A method of conferring passive immunity to a subject
comprising the steps of (1) generating an antibody preparation using an
immunogenic compositions of any one of claims 1-75; and (2) administering the
antibody preparation to the subject to confer passive immunity.