37 results about "Naked DNA" patented technology

Improved molecular vaccines comprise nucleic acid vectors that encode a fusion polypeptide that includes polypeptide or peptide physically linked to an antigen. The linked polypeptide is one that (a) promotes processing of the expressed fusion polypeptide via the MHC class I pathway and / or (b) promotes development or activity of antigen presenting cells, primarily dendritic cells. These vaccines employ one of several types of nucleic acid vectors, each with its own relative advantages: naked DNA plasmids, self-replicating RNA replicons and suicidal DNA-based on viral RNA replicons. Administration of such a vaccine results in enhance immune responses, primarily those mediated by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, directed against the immunizing antigen part of the fusion polypeptide. Such vaccines are useful against tumor antigens, viral antigens and antigens of other pathogenic microorganisms and can be used in the prevention or treatment of diseases that include cancer and infections.

In vivo methods are provided for using an electric field to delivery therapeutic or immunizing treatment to a subject by applying non-invasive, user-friendly electrodes to the surface of the skin. Thus, therapeutic or immunizing agents can be delivered into cells of skin for local and systemic treatments or for immunization with optimal gene expression and minimal tissue damage. In particular, therapeutic agents include naked or formulated nucleic acid, polypeptides and chemotherapeutic agents.

Genetically engineered, CE7-specific redirected immune cells expressing a cell surface protein having an extracellular domain comprising a receptor which is specific for CE7, an intracellular signaling domain, and a transmembrane domain, and methods of use for such cells for cellular immunotherapy of CE7+ neuroblastoma are disclosed. In one embodiment, the immune cell is a T cell and the cell surface protein is a single chain FvFc:ζ receptor where Fv designates the VH and VL chains of a single chain monoclonal antibody to CE7 linked by peptide, Fc represents a hinge-CH2—CH3 region of a human IgG1, and ζ represents the intracellular signaling domain of the zeta chain of human CD3. DNA constructs encoding a chimeric T-cell receptor and a method of making a redirected T cell expressing a chimeric T cell receptor by electroporation using naked DNA encoding the receptor are also disclosed.

Described herein are vaccines and the use of naked DNA and / or RNA encoding hemagglutinin (HA) from pandemic influenza, e.g., the 1918 H1N1 and / or the 1957 H2N2 and / or the 1968 H3N2 influenza A virus, as a vaccine component against present day and coming H1, H2, H3, H5, N1, N2 containing influenza A infections in humans and swine optionally with the naked DNA and / or RNA encoding Neuraminidase (NA) and / or matrix protein (M) and / or the nucleoprotein (NP) from pandemic influenza virus included. If the vaccine components are used as DNA or RNA vaccines with or without the corresponding protein, the codons can optionally be “humanized” using preferred codons from highly expressed mammalian genes and the administration of this DNA vaccine can be by saline or buffered saline injection of naked DNA or RNA, or injection of DNA plasmid or linear gene expressing DNA fragments coupled to particles. Addition of the matrix protein (M) and / or the nucleoprotein (NP) from the 1918 influenza strain is also disclosed.

This invention provides compositions and methods for inducing and enhancing immune responses, such as antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses, using chimeric molecules comprising endoplasmic reticulum chaperone polypeptides and antigenic peptides. In particular, the invention provides compositions and methods for enhancing immune responses induced by polypeptides made in vivo by administered nucleic acid, such as naked DNA or expression vectors, encoding the chimeric molecules. The invention provides a method of inhibiting the growth of a tumor in an individual. The invention also provides novel self-replicating RNA virus constructs for enhancing immune responses induced by chimeric polypeptides made in vivo.

Methods of expressing LIM mineralization protein in mammalian cells are described. Methods of expressing LIM mineralization protein and assessing glycosylation of the LIM mineralization protein in prokaryotic and non-mammalian eukaryotic cells are also described. The methods involve transfecting the cells with an isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a LIM mineralization protein. Transfection may be accomplished in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo by direct injection of virus or naked DNA, or by a nonviral vector such as a plasmid.

The present invention is related with the isolation and cloning of a new gene, the production of the protein encoded by this gene by using recombinant systems, and the use of this antigen in a vaccine formulation as a purified protein and / or naked DNA, to induce an immune response in aquatic organisms against different ectoparasite species, including the known as sea lice, and pathogens associated with these infestations. The vaccine preparations, administered by oral route, immersion bath or injection, demonstrated its efficacy by producing IgM humoral immune response and reducing the number of parasites per fish in the vaccinated fishes.

Methods of inducing the expression of a proteoglycan such as aggrecan in a cell are described. A method is described which includes transfecting a cell with an isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a LIM mineralization protein operably linked to a promoter. The LIM mineralization protein can be rLMP, hLMP-1, hLMP-1s, or hLMP-3. Transfection maybe accomplished ex vivo or in vivo by direct injection of virus or naked DNA, or by a nonviral vector such as a plasmid. The method can be used to induce proteoglycan synthesis in osseous cells or to stimulate proteoglycan and / or collagen production in cells capable of producing proteoglycan and / or collagen (e.g., intervertebral disc cells including cells of the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus).

The present invention provides a novel lyophilized pharmaceutical composition that maintains the stability of a DNA plasmid while forming a uniform and elegant cake during lyophilization. The novel lyophilization formulation further allows uniform reconstitution of the DNA plasmid in a pharmaceutically acceptable solution, enabling complete recover of the active ingredients, minimizing partial loss of potency and allowing administration of the active ingredients in an accurate and consistent manner. Additionally provided herein include methods of making the lyophilized pharmaceutical composition and methods of administering the composition for treatment of various diseases.

Nucleotide composition containing a vector and vaccine for immunization against hepatitis. Nucleotide vector comprising at least one gene or one complementary DNA coding for at least a portion of a virus, and a promoter providing for the expression of the gene in muscle cells. The gene may be the S gene of the hepatitis B virus. A nucleotide vector composition when administered to even chronic HBV carriers is capable of breaking T cell tolerance to the surface antigens of hepatitis B virus. A vaccine preparation containing bare DNA is injected into the host previously treated with a substance capable of inducing a coagulating necrosis of the muscle fibers.

Superior molecular vaccines comprise nucleic acids, including naked DNA and replicon RNA, that encode a fusion polypeptide that includes an antigenic peptide or polypeptide against which an immune response is desired. Fused to the antigenic peptide is an intercellular spreading protein, in particular a herpes virus protein VP22 or a homologue or functional derivative thereof. Preferred spreading proteins are VP22 from HSV-1 and Marek's disease virus. The nucleic acid can encode any antigenic epitope of interest, preferably an epitope that is processed and presented by MHC class I proteins. Antigens of pathogenic organisms and cells such as tumor cells are preferred. Vaccines comprising HPV-16 E7 oncoprotein are exemplified. Also disclosed are methods of using the vaccines to induce heightened T cell mediated immunity, in particular by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, leading to protection from or treatment of a tumor.

Vaccination with the DNA encoding T-cell epitopes to the house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssimus (Der p) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f were effective in the inhibition of the allergen induced IgE synthesis. Gene therapy using T-cell epitope encoding DNA is useful in combating allergic disease.