Proteins producing an altered immunogenic response and methods of making and using the same

Estell, David A. ;   et al.

Patent Application Summary

U.S. patent application number 11/020628 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-28 for proteins producing an altered immunogenic response and methods of making and using the same. Invention is credited to Estell, David A., Harding, Fiona A..

Application Number20050164257 11/020628
Document ID /
Family ID34595738
Filed Date2005-07-28

United States Patent Application 20050164257
Kind Code A1
Estell, David A. ;   et al. July 28, 2005

Proteins producing an altered immunogenic response and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel methods and compositions for producing hyper and hypo allergenic compositions. Specifically, the present invention comprises neutralizing or reducing the ability of T-cells to recognize epitopes and thus prevent sensitization of an individual to the protein. Alternatively, T-cell epitopes are mutated to produce increased immunogenic reactions. Moreover, naturally occurring proteins are provided.


Inventors: Estell, David A.; (San Mateo, CA) ; Harding, Fiona A.; (Santa Clara, CA)
Correspondence Address:
    GENENCOR INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    925 PAGE MILL ROAD
    PALO ALTO
    CA
    94304-1013
    US
Family ID: 34595738
Appl. No.: 11/020628
Filed: December 22, 2004

Related U.S. Patent Documents

Application Number Filing Date Patent Number
11020628 Dec 22, 2004
09677822 Oct 2, 2000
09677822 Oct 2, 2000
09500135 Feb 8, 2000
6838269
09500135 Feb 8, 2000
09060872 Apr 15, 1998
6835550

Current U.S. Class: 435/6.16 ; 435/320.1; 435/372; 435/69.1; 530/350; 536/23.5
Current CPC Class: G01N 33/6854 20130101; C12N 9/54 20130101; C12Y 302/01004 20130101; A61K 38/00 20130101; G01N 33/505 20130101; C12N 9/6424 20130101; C12N 9/20 20130101; C12N 9/2437 20130101
Class at Publication: 435/006 ; 435/069.1; 435/320.1; 435/372; 530/350; 536/023.5
International Class: C12Q 001/68; C07H 021/04; C07K 014/74; C12N 005/08

Foreign Application Data

Date Code Application Number
Apr 14, 1999 WO PCT/US99/08253

Claims



1. A variant of a polypeptide of interest comprising a T-cell epitope, wherein said variant differs from said polypeptide of interest by having an altered T-cell epitope such that said variant produces an immunogenic response in an individual which is greater than the immunogenic response produced by said polypeptide of interest, wherein said T-cell epitope of said polypeptide of interest is altered to produce said variant, and wherein said polypeptide of interest is an enzyme selected from the group consisting of lipase, cellulase, endo-glucosidase H, protease, carbohydrases, reductase, oxidase, isomerase, transferase, kinase and phosphatase.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. The variant of claim 1 wherein said polypeptide of interest is not recognized by said individual as endogenous to said individual.

6. (canceled)

7. The variant of claim 1 wherein said T-cell epitope is altered with amino acid substitutions.

8-28. (canceled)

29. A variant of a polypeptide of interest comprising at least one T-cell epitope, wherein said variant differs from said polypeptide of interest by having at least one altered T-cell epitope, such that said variant produces an immunogenic response in an individual which is greater than the immunogenic response produced by said polypeptide of interest, wherein said at least one T-cell epitope of said polypeptide of interest is altered to produce said variant , and wherein said polypeptide of interest is an enzyme selected from the group consisting of lipase, cellulase, endo-glucosidase H, protease, carbohydrases, reductase, oxidase, isomerase, transferase, kinase and phosphatase.

30. The variant of claim 29, wherein said polypeptide of interest is not recognized by said individual as endogenous to said individual.

31. The variant of claim 29, wherein said T-cell epitope is altered with amino acid substitutions.
Description



CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation in part of USSN 09/500,135, filed Apr. 2, 2000 which is a continuation in part of USSN 09/060,872, filed on Apr. 15, 1998, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Proteins used in industrial, pharmaceutical and commercial applications are of increasing prevalence. As a result, the increased exposure due to this prevalence has been responsible for some safety hazards caused by the sensitization of certain persons to those peptides, whereupon subsequent exposure causes extreme allergic reactions which can be injurious and even fatal. For example, proteases are known to cause dangerous hypersensitivity in some individuals. As a result, despite the usefulness of proteases in industry, e.g., in laundry detergents, cosmetics, textile treatment etc., and the extensive research performed in the field to provide improved proteases which have, for example, more effective stain removal under detergency conditions; the use of proteases in industry has been problematic due to their ability to produce a hypersensitive allergenic response in some humans.

[0003] Much work has been done to alleviate these problems. Among the strategies explored to reduce immunogenic potential of protease use have been improved production processes which reduce potential contact by controlling and minimizing workplace concentrations of dust particles or aerosol carrying airborne protease, improved granulation processes which reduce the amount of dust or aerosol actually produced from the protease product, and improved recovery processes to reduce the level of potentially allergenic contaminants in the final product. However, efforts to reduce the allergenicity of protease, per se, have been relatively unsuccessful. Alternatively, efforts have been made to mask epitopes in protease which are recognized by immunoglobulin E (IgE) in hypersensitive individuals (PCT Publication No. WO 92/10755) or to enlarge or change the nature of the antigenic determinants by attaching polymers or peptides/proteins to the problematic protease.

[0004] When an adaptive immune response occurs in an exaggerated or inappropriate form, the individual experiencing the reaction is said to be hypersensitive. Hypersensitivity reactions are the result of normally beneficial immune responses acting inappropriately and sometimes cause inflammatory reactions and tissue damage. They can be provoked by many antigens; and the cause of a hypersensitivity reaction will vary from one individual to the next. Hypersensitivity does not normally manifest itself upon first contact with the antigen, but usually appears upon subsequent contact. One form of hypersensitivity occurs when an IgE response is directed against innocuous environmental antigens, such as pollen, dust-mites or animal dander. The resulting release of pharmacological mediators by IgE-sensitized mast cells produces an acute inflammatory reaction with symptoms such as asthma or rhinitis.

[0005] Nonetheless, a strategy comprising modifying the IgE sites will not generally be successful in preventing the cause of the initial sensitization reaction. Accordingly, such strategies, while perhaps neutralizing or reducing the severity of the subsequent hypersensitivity reaction, will not reduce the number or persons actually sensitized. For example, when a person is known to be hypersensitive to a certain antigen, the general, and only safe, manner of dealing with such a situation is to isolate the hypersensitive person from the antigen as completely as possible. Indeed, any other course of action would be dangerous to the health of the hypersensitive individual. Thus, while reducing the danger of a specific protein for a hypersensitive individual is important, for industrial purposes it would be far more valuable to render a protein incapable of initiating the hypersensitivity reaction in the first place.

[0006] T-lymphocytes (T-cells) are key players in the induction and regulation of immune responses and in the execution of immunological effector functions. Specific immunity against infectious agents and tumors is known to be dependent on these cells and they are believed to contribute to the healing of injuries. On the other hand, failure to control these responses can lead to auto aggression. In general, antigen is presented to T-cells in the form of antigen presenting cells which, through a variety of cell surface mechanisms, capture and display antigen or partial antigen in a manner suitable for antigen recognition by the T-cell. Upon recognition of a specific epitope by the receptors on the surface of the T-cells (T-cell receptors), the T-cells begin a series of complex interactions, including proliferation, which result in the production of antibody by B-cells. While T-cells and B-cells are both activated by antigenic epitopes which exist on a given protein or peptide, the actual epitopes recognized by these mononuclear cells are generally not identical. In fact, the epitope which activates a T-cell to initiate the creation of immunologic diversity is quite often not the same epitope which is later recognized by B-cells in the course of the immunologic response. Thus, with respect to hypersensitivity, while the specific antigenic interaction between the T-cell and the antigen is a critical element in the initiation of the immune response to antigenic exposure, the specifics of that interaction, i.e., the epitope recognized, is often not relevant to subsequent development of a full blown allergic reaction.

[0007] PCT Publication No. WO 96/40791 discloses a process for producing polyalkylene oxide-polypeptide conjugates with reduced allergenicity using polyalkylene oxide as a starting material.

[0008] PCT Publication No. WO 97/30148 discloses a polypeptide conjugate with reduced allergenicity which comprises one polymeric carrier molecule having two or more polypeptide molecules coupled covalently thereto.

[0009] PCT Publication No. WO 96/17929 discloses a process for producing polypeptides with reduced allergenicity comprising the step of conjugating from 1 to 30 polymolecules to a parent polypeptide.

[0010] PCT Publication No. WO 92/10755 discloses a method of producing protein variants evoking a reduced immunogenic response in animals. In this application, the proteins of interest, a series of proteases and variants thereof, were used to immunize rats. The sera from the rats was then used to measure the reactivity of the polyclonal antibodies already produced and present in the immunized sera to the protein of interest and variants thereof. From these results, it was possible to determine whether the antibodies in the preparation were comparatively more or less reactive with the protein and its variants, thus permitting an analysis of which changes in the protein are likely to neutralize or reduce the ability of the Ig to bind. From these tests on rats, the conclusion was arrived at that changing any of subtilisin 309 residues corresponding to 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 151, 136, 151, 152, 153, 154, 161, 162, 163, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 186, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 247, 251, 261 will result in a change in the immunological potential.

[0011] PCT Publication No. WO 94/10191 discloses low allergenic proteins comprising oligomeric forms of the parent monomeric protein, wherein the oligomer has substantially retained its activity.

[0012] While some studies have provided methods of reducing the allergenicity of certain proteins and identification of epitopes which cause allergic reactions in some individuals, the assays used to identify these epitopes generally involve measurement of IgE and IgG antibody in blood sera previously exposed to the antigen. However, once an Ig reaction has been initiated, sensitization has already occurred. Accordingly, there is a need for a method of determining epitopes which cause sensitization in the first place, as neutralization of these epitopes will result in significantly less possibility for sensitization to occur, thus reducing the possibility of initial sensitization. There is also a need to produce proteins which produce an enhanced immunogenic response, and a need to identify naturally occurring proteins which produce a low immunogenic response. This invention meets these and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention provides proteins which produce immunogenic responses as desired, methods of identifying and making such proteins, and methods of using such proteins. For example, as will be become apparent from the detailed description below, the methods and compositions provided herein are useful in forming hyper-and hypo-allergenic compositions. As used herein, hyper and hypo means the composition produces a greater or lesser immunogenic response, respectively, than the same composition without the proteins of the present invention. Such compositions may include cleaning compositions, textile treatments, contact lens cleaning solutions or products, peptide hydrolysis products, waste treatment products, cosmetic formulations including for skin, hair and oral care, pharmaceuticals such as blood clot removal products, research products such as enzymes and therapeutics including vaccines.

[0014] In one aspect of the invention, a polypeptide of interest is selected and provided herein. The polypeptide of interest is preferably one having a T-cell epitope and is then varied as described below. However, polypeptides of interest may also be selected based on naturally occuring properties and not altered. Moreover, polypeptides of interest may be selected which do not have a T-cell epitope, and altered so as to have a T-cell epitope.

[0015] In one aspect of the invention provided herein is a variant of a polypeptide of interest comprising a T-cell epitope. The variant differs from the polypeptide of interest by having an altered T-cell epitope such that said variant and said polypeptide produce different immunogenic responses in an individual. The variant can be prepared and selected to produce either a greater or lesser immunogenic response than said polypeptide of interest.

[0016] The polypeptide of interest can be any polypeptide of interest. In one aspect, the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of enzymes, hormones, factors, vaccines and cytokines. In one embodiment, the polypeptide of interest is not recognized by said individual as endogenous to said individual, or not recognized as "self". As indicated herein, the polypeptide of interest may be an enzyme. In one embodiment, the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of lipase, cellulase, endo-glucosidase H, protease, carbohydrase, reductase, oxidase, isomerase, transferase, kinase and phosphatase. In preferred embodiments, the polypeptide of interest and the variant of said polypeptide of interest each comprise at least some of the same activity. For example, if a variant of a protease is provided, said variant will produce an altered immunogenic response, but will retain detectable, and preferably comparable, protease activity.

[0017] Wherein a variant of a polypeptide of interest is provided, the T-cell epitope may be altered in a number of ways including by amino acid substitutions, deletions, additions and combinations thereof. Preferably, the T-cell epitope is altered by having amino acid substitutions. In one embodiment herein, the amino acid substitutions are made to corresponding amino acids of a homolog of the polypeptide of interest, wherein the homolog does not comprise the same T-cell epitope in the corresponding position as the polypeptide of interest. In one aspect, the terminal portion of the polypeptide of interest comprising at least one T-cell epitope is replaced with a corresponding terminal portion of the homolog of the polypeptide of interest, wherein the replacement produces said different immunogenic response.

[0018] In another embodiment provided herein, the nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides producing the desired immunogenic response are provided herein. Moreover, the invention includes expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acids provided herein. Moreover, once the polypeptides and variants thereof of the present invention are identified, substantially homologous sequences of or those sequences which hybridize to the polypeptides and variants can be identified and are provided herein. Homologous is further defined below, and can refer to similarity or identity, with identity being preferred. Preferably, the homologous sequences are amino acid sequences or nucleic acids encoding peptides having the activity of the polypeptides and variants provided herein.

[0019] In yet another aspect of the invention is a method for determining the immunogenic response produced by a protein. In one embodiment, the method comprises (a) obtaining from a single blood source a solution of dendritic cells and a solution of nave CD4+ and/or CD8+ T-cells; (b) promoting differentiation in said solution of dendritic cells; (c) combining said solution of differentiated dendritic cells and said nave CD4+and/or CD8+ T-cells with said protein; and (d) measuring the proliferation of T-cells in said step (c).

[0020] The methods of determining immunogenic responses produced by proteins can also be used to identify comparative immunogenic responses of proteins. Therefore, in one aspect, the method of determining immunogenic responses of proteins further comprises comparing immunogenic responses of one or more proteins. The proteins can be homologs of each other, variants of the same protein, different types of the same protein, for example, different proteases, or different peptides of the same protein.

[0021] The invention further provides a method of altering the immunogenicity of a polypeptide of interest comprising determining the immunogenicity of said polypeptide; identifying a T-cell epitope in a said polypeptide; and altering said T-cell epitope so as to alter the immunogencity of said polypeptide. As described herein, said altering can be done by altering a single amino acid or switching a portion of the polypeptide of interest with a corresponding portion of a homolog, wherein the switch produces an altered immunogenic response.

[0022] Other aspects of the invention will be understood by the skilled artisan by the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIGS. 1 A, B1, B2 and B3 illustrate the DNA (SEQ ID:NO 1) and amino acid (SEQ ID: NO 2) sequence for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin (BPN') and a partial restriction map of this gene.

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates the conserved amino acid residues among subtilisins from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (SEQ ID:NO 3) and Bacillus lentus (wild-type) (SEQ ID:NO 4).

[0025] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an amino acid sequence alignment of subtilisin type proteases from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BPN'), Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis (SEQ ID:NO 5) and Bacillus lentus. The symbol * denotes the absence of specific amino acid residues as compared to subtilisin BPN'.

[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates the additive T-cell response of 16 peripheral mononuclear blood samples to peptides corresponding to the Bacillus lentus protease (GG36). Peptide E05 includes the region comprising residues corresponding to 170-173 in protease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates the additive T-cell response of 10 peripheral mononuclear blood samples to peptides corresponding to the human subtilisin molecule. Peptides F10, F9, F8, and F7 all contain the amino acid sequence DQMD corresponding to the region comprising residues corresponding to 170-173 in protease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in the sequence alignment of FIG. 3.

[0028] FIG. 6A and 6B/6C illustrate amino acid strings corresponding to peptides derived from the sequence of Bacillus lentus protease and a human subtilisin, respectively.

[0029] FIG. 7 illustrates the amino acid sequence of human subtilisin (SEQ ID:NO 6).

[0030] FIG. 8 illustrates an amino acid sequence alignment of BPN' (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) protease, SAVINASE (Bacillus lentus) protease and human subtilisin (S2HSBT).

[0031] FIG. 9 illustrates the T-cell response to peptides derived from Bacillus lentus protease in a sample taken from an individual known to be hypersensitive to Bacillus lentus protease. Peptide E05 represents the region corresponding to 170-173 in protease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

[0032] FIG. 10 illustrates the T-cell response to various alanine substitutions in the E05 Bacillus lentus protease peptide set in a sample taken from an individual known to be hypersensitive to Bacillus lentus protease.

[0033] FIG. 11 illustrates the T-cell response to various alanine substitutions in the E05 protease peptide (an embodiment of the T-cell epitope designated unmodified sequence) set in a sample taken from an individual known to be hypersensitive to the protease; the sequences for each peptide are also shown.

[0034] FIG. 12 illustrates the percent responders to the human subtilisin molecule.

[0035] FIG. 13A illustrates the T-cell response of peptides derived from Humicola insolens endogluconase (Accession number A23635). Peptides A02 and F06 represent the region corresponding to residues 70-84 and 37-51, respectively, embodiments of the T-cell epitope, of Humicola insolens endogluconase, wherein the full length sequence is shown in FIG. 13B and A02 and F06 are shown underlined and in bold.

[0036] FIG. 14A illustrates the T-cell response to peptides derived from Thermomyces lanuginosa lipase (Accession number AAC08588 and PID number g2997733). Peptides B02 and C06 represent the regions corresponding to residues 83-100 and 108-121, respectively, embodiments of the T-cell epitope, of Thermomyces lanuginosa lipase, wherein the full length sequence is shown in FIG. 14B and B02 and C06 are shown underlined and in bold.

[0037] FIG. 15A illustrates the T-cell response to peptides derived from Streptomyces plicatus endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase. (Accession number P04067). Peptide C06 represents the region corresponding to residues 126-140, an embodiment of the T-cell epitope, of Streptomyces plicatus endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, wherein the full length sequence is shown in FIG. 15B and C06 is shown underlined and in bold.

[0038] FIG. 16 illustrates the T-cell response to peptides derived from BPN' compiled for 22 individuals, wherein the sequences of preferred T-cell epitopes are indicated.

[0039] FIG. 17 illustrates the T-cell response to peptides derived from GG36 compiled for 22 individuals, wherein the sequences of embodiments of T-cell epitopes are indicated, GSISYPARYANAMAVGA and GAGLDIVAPGVNVQS being preferred.

[0040] FIG. 18 is an embodiment of a hybrid protein provided herein, where the N-terminus comprises N-terminal GG36 sequence and the C-terminus comprises C-terminal BPN' sequence, and wherein a comparison of the sequences with those shown in FIG. 8 indicates that the hybrid formed omits preferred T-cell epitopes of each protein.

[0041] FIG. 19 is a comparison of ELISA titers for B. amyloliquefaciens subtilisin and the same subtilisin but engineered to contain a T-cell epitope from B. lentis subtilisin. FIG. 19a represents the titer at 4 weeks; FIG. 19b at 6 weeks, FIG. 19c at 8 weeks and FIG. 19d at 10 weeks.

[0042] FIG. 20 is a time course study of ELISA titers for B. amyloliquefaciens subtilisin and the same subtilisin but engineered to contain a T-cell epitope from B. lentis subtilisin. FIG. 20a represents the titer for a 1 .mu.g dose of enzyme, FIG. 20b a 5 .mu.g dose and FIG. 20c a 20 .mu.g dose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] According to the present invention, a method for identifying T-cell epitopes is provided. Moreover, proteins including naturally occurring proteins which have relatively impotent or potent T-cell epitopes or no T-cell epitopes may be identified in accordance with the methods of the present invention. Thus, the present invention allows the identification and production of proteins which produce immunogenic responses as desired, including naturally occurring proteins as well as proteins which have been mutated to produce the appropriate response. It is understood that the terms protein, polypeptide and peptide are sometimes used herein interchangeably. Wherein a peptide is a portion of protein, the skilled artisan can understand this by the context in which the term is used.

[0044] In one embodiment, the present invention provides an assay which identifies epitopes and non-epitopes as follows: differentiated dendritic cells are combined with nave human CD4+ and/or CD8+ T-cells and with a peptide of interest. More specifically, a method is provided wherein a T-cell epitope is recognized comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining from a single blood source a solution of dendritic cells and a solution of nave CD4+ and/or CD8+ T-cells; (b) promoting differentiation in said solution of dendritic cells; (c) combining said solution of differentiated dendritic cells and said nave CD4+ and/or CD8+ T-cells with a peptide of interest; (d) measuring the proliferation of T-cells in said step (c).

[0045] In one embodiment, the peptide of interest to be analyzed is derived from a polypeptide of interest. In the practice of the invention, it is possible to identify with precision the location of an epitope which can cause sensitization in an individual or sampling of individuals. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a series of peptide oligomers which correspond to all or part of the polypeptide of interest are prepared. For example, a peptide library is produced covering the relevant portion or all of the protein. In one embodiment, the manner of producing the peptides is to introduce overlap into the peptide library, for example, producing a first peptide corresponds to amino acid sequence 1-10 of the subject protein, a second peptide corresponds to amino acid sequence 4-14 of the subject protein, a third peptide corresponds to amino acid sequence 7-17 of the subject protein, a fourth peptide corresponds to amino acid sequence 10-20 of the subject protein etc. until representative peptides corresponding to the entire molecule are created. By analyzing each of the peptides individually in the assay provided herein, it is possible to precisely identify the location of epitopes recognized by T-cells. In the example above, the greater reaction of one specific peptide than its neighbors' will facilitate identification of the epitope anchor region to within three amino acids. After determining the location of these epitopes, it is possible to alter the amino acids within each epitope until the peptide produces a different T-cell response from that of the original protein. Alternatively, the epitope may be used in its original form to stimulate an immune response against a target, e.g. infectious agent or tumor cell. Moreover, proteins may be identified herein which have desired high or low T-cell epitope potency which may be used in their naturally occurring forms.

[0046] "Antigen presenting cell" as used herein means a cell of the immune system which present antigen on their surface which is recognizable by receptors on the surface of T-cells. Examples of antigen presenting cells are dendritic cells, interdigitating cells, activated B-cells and macrophages.

[0047] "T-cell proliferation" as used herein means the number of T-cells produced during the incubation of T-cells with the antigen presenting cells, with or without antigen.

[0048] "Baseline T-cell proliferation" as used herein means T-cell proliferation which is normally seen in an individual in response to exposure to antigen presenting cells in the absence of peptide or protein antigen. For the purposes herein, the baseline T-cell proliferation level was determined on a per sample basis for each individual as the proliferation of T-cells in response to antigen presenting cells in the absence of antigen.

[0049] "T-cell epitope" means a feature of a peptide or protein which is recognized by a T-cell receptor in the initiation of an immunologic response to the peptide comprising that antigen. Recognition of a T-cell epitope by a T-cell is generally believed to be via a mechanism wherein T-cells recognize peptide fragments of antigens which are bound to class I or class II major histocompatability (MHC) molecules expressed on antigen-presenting cells (see e.g., Moeller, G. ed., "Antigenic Requirements for Activation of MHC-Restricted Responses," Immunological Review, Vol. 98, p. 187 (Copenhagen; Munksgaard) (1987).

[0050] "Sample" as used herein comprises mononuclear cells which are nave, i.e., not sensitized, to the antigen in question.

[0051] "Homolog" as used herein means a protein or enzyme which has similar catalytic action, structure and/or use as the protein of interest. For purposes of this invention, a homolog and a protein of interest are not necessarily related evolutionarily, e.g., same functional protein from different species. It is desirable to find a homolog that has a tertiary and/or primary structure similar to the protein of interest as replacement of the epitope in the protein of interest with an analogous segment from the homolog will reduce the disruptiveness of the change. Thus, closely homologous enzymes will provide the most desirable source of epitope substitutions. Alternatively, if possible, it is advantageous to look to human analogs for a given protein. For example, substituting a specific epitope in a bacterial subtilisin with a sequence from a human analog to subtilisin (i.e., human subtilisin) should result in less allergenicity in the bacterial protein.

[0052] An "analogous" sequence may be determined by ensuring that the replacement amino acids show a similar function, the tertiary structure and/or conserved residues to the amino acids in the protein of interest at or near the epitope. Thus, where the epitope region contains, for example, an alpha-helix or a beta-sheet structure, the replacement amino acids should maintain that specific structure.

[0053] The epitopes determined according to the assay provided herein are then modified to reduce or augment the immunologic potential of the protein of interest. In a preferred embodiment, the epitope to be modified produces a level of T-cell proliferation of greater than three times the baseline T-cell proliferation in a sample. When modified, the epitope produces less than three times the baseline proliferation, preferably less than two times the baseline proliferation and most preferably less than or substantially equal to the baseline proliferation in a sample.

[0054] Preferably, the epitope is modified in one of the following ways: (a) the amino acid sequence of the epitope is substituted with an analogous sequence from a human homolog to the protein of interest; (b) the amino acid sequence of the epitope is substituted with an analogous sequence from a non-human homolog to the protein of interest, which analogous sequence produces a lesser immunogenic, e.g., allergenic, response due to T-cell epitope recognition than that of the protein of interest; (c) the amino acid sequence of the epitope is substituted with a sequence which substantially mimics the major tertiary structure attributes of the epitope, but which produces a lesser immunogenic, e.g., allergenic, response due to T-cell epitope recognition than that of the protein of interest; or (d) with any sequence which produces lesser immunogenic, e.g., allergenic, response due to T-cell epitope recognition than that of the protein of interest.

[0055] However, one of skill will readily recognize that epitopes can be modified in other ways depending on the desired outcome. For example, if a T-cell vaccine is desired, it is contemplated the amino acid sequence of an epitope will be substituted with amino acids which increase the immulogic response to the peptide via enhanced MHC binding and/or T-cell recognition. In another example, if altering an autoimmune response against self-antigens is desired, it is contemplated the amino acid sequence of an epitope will be substituted with amino acids that decrease or cause a shift in an inflammatory or other immune response.

[0056] The present invention extends to all proteins against which it is desired to modulate the immunogenic response, for example, peptides to be used as T-cell vaccines, or peptides or proteins to be used as therapeutic agents against, e.g., cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases. One of skill in the art will readily recognize the proteins and peptides of this invention are not necessarily native proteins and peptides. Indeed, in one embodiment of this invention, the assay described herein is used to determine the immunologic response of proteins from shuffled genes. For descriptions of gene shuffling and expression of such genes see, Stemmer, Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 91:10747 (1994); Patten, et al., Current Opinion in Biotechnol. 8:724 (1997); Kuchner & Arnold, Trends Biotechnol. 15:523 (1997); Moore, et al., J. Mol, Biol. 272:336 (1997); Zhao, et al., Nature Biotechnol. 16:258 (1998); Giver, et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 95:12809 (1998); Harayama, Trends Biotechnol. 16:76 (1998); Lin, et al., Biotechnol., Prog. 15:467 (1999); and Sun, J. Comput. Biol. 6:77 (1999). The assay is used to predict the immunologic response of proteins encoded by shuffled genes. Once determined, the protein can be altered to modulate the immunolgic response to that protein.

[0057] In addition to the above proteins and peptides, the present invention can be used to reduce the allergenicity of proteins. These proteins include, but are not limited to, glucanases, lipases, cellulases, endo-glucosidase Hs (endo-H), proteases, carbohydrases, reductases, oxidases, isomerases, transferases, kinases, phosphatases, amylases, etc. In addition to reducing the allergenicity to an animal, such as a human, of naturally occurring amino acid sequences, this invention encompasses reducing the allergenicity of a mutated human protein, e.g., a protein that has been altered to change the functional activity of the protein. In many instances, the mutation of human proteins to e.g., increase activity, results in the incorporation of new T-cell epitope in the mutated protein. The assay of this invention can be used to determine the presence of the new T-cell epitope and determine substitute amino acids that will reduce the allergenicity of the mutated protein. Although this invention encompasses the above proteins and many others, for the sake of simplicity, the following will describe a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the modification of protease. Proteases are carbonyl hydrolases which generally act to cleave peptide bonds of proteins or peptides. As used herein, "protease" means a naturally-occurring protease or a recombinant protease. Naturally-occurring proteases include a-aminoacylpeptide hydrolase, peptidylamino acid hydrolase, acylamino hydrolase, serine carboxypeptidase, metallocarboxypeptidase, thiol proteinase, carboxylproteinase and metalloproteinase. Serine, metallo, thiol and acid proteases are included, as well as endo and exo-proteases.

[0058] In one embodiment herein, hybrid polypeptides are provided. "Hybrid polypeptides" are proteins engineered from at least two different proteins, which are preferably homologs of one another. For example, a preferred hybrid polypeptide might have the N-terminus of a protein and the C-terminus of a homolog of the protein. In a preferred embodiment, the two terminal ends can be combined to correspond to the full-length active protein. In a preferred embodiment, the homologs share substantial similarity but do not have identical T-cell epitopes. Therefore, in one embodiment, for example, a polypeptide of interest having one or more T-cell epitopes in the C-terminus may have the C-terminus replaced with the C-terminus of a homolog having a less potent T-cell epitope in the C-terminus, less T-cell epitopes, or no T-cell epitope in the C-terminus. Thus, the skilled artisan understands that by being able to identify T-cell epitopes among homologs, a variety of variants producing different immunogenic responses can be formed. Moreover, it is understood that internal portions, and more than one homolog can be used to produce the variants of the present invention.

[0059] More generally, the variants provided herein can be derived from the precursor amino acid sequence by the substitution, deletion, insertion, or combination thereof of one or more amino acids of the precursor amino acid sequence. Such modification is preferably of the "precursor DNA sequence" which encodes the amino acid sequence of the precursor enzyme, but can be by the manipulation of the precursor protein. Suitable methods for such manipulation of the precursor DNA sequence include methods disclosed herein, as well as methods known to those skilled in the art (see, for example, EP 0 328299, WO89/06279 and the US patents and applications already referenced herein).

[0060] Subtilisins are bacterial or fungal proteases which generally act to cleave peptide bonds of proteins or peptides. As used herein, "subtilisin" means a naturally-occurring subtilisin or a recombinant subtilisin. A series of naturally-occurring subtilisins is known to be produced and often secreted by various microbial species. Amino acid sequences of the members of this series are not entirely homologous. However, the subtilisins in this series exhibit the same or similar type of proteolytic activity. This class of serine proteases shares a common amino acid sequence defining a catalytic triad which distinguishes them from the chymotrypsin related class of serine proteases. The subtilisins and chymotrypsin related serine proteases both have a catalytic triad comprising aspartate, histidine and serine. In the subtilisin related proteases the relative order of these amino acids, reading from the amino to carboxy terminus, is aspartate-histidine-serine. In the chymotrypsin related proteases, the relative order, however, is histidine-aspartate-serine. Thus, subtilisin herein refers to a serine protease having the catalytic triad of subtilisin related proteases. Examples include but are not limited to the subtilisins identified in FIG. 3 herein. Generally and for purposes of the present invention, numbering of the amino acids in proteases corresponds to the numbers assigned to the mature Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin sequence presented in FIG. 1.

[0061] "Recombinant", "recombinant subtilisin" or "recombinant protease" refer to a subtilisin or protease in which the DNA sequence encoding the subtilisin or protease is modified to produce a variant (or mutant) DNA sequence which encodes the substitution, deletion or insertion of one or more amino acids in the naturally-occurring amino acid sequence. Suitable methods to produce such modification, and which may be combined with those disclosed herein, include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,025 (RE 34,606), U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,015 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,258.

[0062] "Non-human subtilisins" and the DNA encoding them may be obtained from many procaryotic and eucaryotic organisms. Suitable examples of procaryotic organisms include gram negative organisms such as E. coli or Pseudomonas and gram positive bacteria such as Micrococcus or Bacillus. Examples of eucaryotic organisms from which subtilisin and their genes may be obtained include yeast such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, fungi such as Aspergillus sp.

[0063] "Human subtilisin" means proteins of human origin which have subtilisin type catalytic activity, e.g., the kexin family of human derived proteases. An example of such a protein is represented by the sequence in FIG. 7. Additionally, derivatives or homologs of proteins provided herein, including those from non-human sources such as mouse or rabbit, which retain the essential activity of the peptide, such as the ability to hydrolyze peptide bonds, etc., have at least 50%, preferably at least 65% and most preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, and sometimes as much as 95 or 98% homology to the polypeptide of interest. In one embodiment, the polypeptide of interest is shown in the Figures.

[0064] The amino acid position numbers used herein refer to those assigned to the mature Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin sequence presented in FIG. 1. The invention, however, is not limited to the mutation of this particular subtilisin but extends to precursor proteases containing amino acid residues at positions which are "equivalent" to the particular identified residues in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the precursor protease is Bacillus lentus subtilisin and the substitutions, deletions or insertions are made at the equivalent amino acid residue in B. lentus corresponding to those listed above.

[0065] A residue (amino acid) of a precursor protease is equivalent to a residue of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin if it is either homologous (i.e., corresponding in position in either primary or tertiary structure) or analogous to a specific residue or portion of that residue in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin (i.e., having the same or similar functional capacity to combine, react, or interact chemically). "Corresponding" as used herein generally refers to an analogous position along the peptide.

[0066] In order to establish homology to primary structure, the amino acid sequence of a precursor protease is directly compared to the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin primary sequence and particularly to a set of residues known to be invariant in subtilisins for which the sequence is known. For example, FIG. 2 herein shows the conserved residues as between B. amyloliquefaciens subtilisin and B. lentus subtilisin. After aligning the conserved residues, allowing for necessary insertions and deletions in order to maintain alignment (i.e., avoiding the elimination of conserved residues through arbitrary deletion and insertion), the residues equivalent to particular amino acids in the primary sequence of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin are defined. Alignment of conserved residues preferably should conserve 100% of such residues. However, alignment of greater than 75% or as little as 50% of conserved residues is also adequate to define equivalent residues. Conservation of the catalytic triad, Asp32/His64/Ser221 should be maintained.

[0067] For example, the amino acid sequence of subtilisin from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis (carlsbergensis) and Bacillus lentus can be aligned to provide the maximum amount of homology between amino acid sequences. A comparison of these sequences shows that there are a number of conserved residues contained in each sequence. The conserved residues as between BPN' and B. lentus are identified in FIG. 2.

[0068] These conserved residues, thus, may be used to define the corresponding equivalent amino acid residues of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin in other subtilisins such as subtilisin from Bacillus lentus (PCT Publication No. W089/06279 published Jul. 13, 1989), the preferred protease precursor enzyme herein, or the subtilisin referred to as PB92 (EP 0 328 299), which is highly homologous to the preferred Bacillus lentus subtilisin. The amino acid sequences of certain of these subtilisins are aligned in FIGS. 3A and 3B with the sequence of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin to produce the maximum homology of conserved residues. As can be seen, there are a number of deletions in the sequence of Bacillus lentus as compared to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin. Thus, for example, the equivalent amino acid for Val165 in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin in the other subtilisins is isoleucine for B. lentus and B. licheniformis.

[0069] Thus, for example, the amino acid at position +170 is lysine (K) in both B. amyloliquefaciens and B. licheniformis subtilisins and arginine (R) in Savinase. In one embodiment of the protease variants of the invention, however, the amino acid equivalent to +170 in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin is substituted with aspartic acid (D). The abbreviations and one letter codes for all amino acids in the present invention conform to the Patentin User Manual (GenBank, Mountain View, Calif.) 1990, p.101.

[0070] Homologous sequences can also be determined by using a "sequence comparison algorithm." Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, e.g., by the local homology algorithm of Smith & Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482 (1981), by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman & Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48:443 (1970), by the search for similarity method of Pearson & Lipman, Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444 (1988), by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), or by visual inspection.

[0071] An example of an algorithm that is suitable for determining sequence similarity is the BLAST algorithm, which is described in Altschul, et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990). Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (http://www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/). This algorithm involves first identifying high scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short words of length W in the query sequence that either match or satisfy some positive-valued threshold score T when aligned with a word ofthe same length in a database sequence. These initial neighborhood word hits act as starting points to find longer HSPs containing them. The word hits are expanded in both directions along each of the two sequences being compared for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Extension of the word hits is stopped when: the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from a maximum achieved value; the cumulative score goes to zero or below; or the end of either sequence is reached. The BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment. The BLAST program uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 11, the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (see Henikoff & Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915 (1989)) alignments (B) of 50, expectation (E) of 10, M'5, N'-4, and a comparison of both strands.

[0072] The BLAST algorithm then performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences (see, e.g., Karlin & Altschul, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873-5787 (1993)). One measure of similarity provided by the BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability by which a match between two nucleotide or amino acid sequences would occur by chance. For example, an amino acid sequence is considered similar to a protein such as a protease if the smallest sum probability in a comparison of the test amino acid sequence to a protein such as a protease amino acid sequence is less than about 0.1, more preferably less than about 0.01, and most preferably less than about 0.001.

[0073] "Equivalent residues" may also be defined by determining homology at the level of tertiary structure for a precursor protein whose tertiary structure has been determined by x-ray crystallography. Equivalent residues are defined as those for which the atomic coordinates of two or more of the main chain atoms of a particular amino acid residue of the precursor protein such as the protease and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin (N on N, CA on CA, C on C and O on O) are within 0.13 nm and preferably 0.1 nm after alignment. Alignment is achieved after the best model has been oriented and positioned to give the maximum overlap of atomic coordinates of non-hydrogen protein atoms of the protein such as the protease in question to the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin. The best model is the crystallographic model giving the lowest R factor for experimental diffraction data at the highest resolution available.

[0074] Equivalent residues which are functionally analogous to a specific residue of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin are defined as those amino acids of the precursor protein such as a protease which may adopt a conformation such that they either alter, modify or contribute to protein structure, substrate binding or catalysis in a manner defined and attributed to a specific residue of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin. Further, they are those residues of the precursor protein, for example, protease (for which a tertiary structure has been obtained by x-ray crystallography) which occupy an analogous position to the extent that, although the main chain atoms of the given residue may not satisfy the criteria of equivalence on the basis of occupying a homologous position, the atomic coordinates of at least two of the side chain atoms of the residue lie with 0.13 nm of the corresponding side chain atoms of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin. The coordinates of the three dimensional structure of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin are set forth in EPO Publication No. 0 251 446 (equivalent to U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,204, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference) and can be used as outlined above to determine equivalent residues on the level of tertiary structure.

[0075] Some of the residues identified for substitution, insertion or deletion are conserved residues whereas others are not. In the case of residues which are not conserved, the replacement of one or more amino acids is limited to substitutions which produce a variant which has an amino acid sequence that does not correspond to one found in nature. In the case of conserved residues, such replacements should not result in a naturally-occurring sequence. The variants of the present invention include the mature forms of protein variants, as well as the pro-and prepro-forms of such protein variants. The prepro-forms are the preferred construction since this facilitates the expression, secretion and maturation of the protein variants.

[0076] "Prosequence" refers to a sequence of amino acids bound to the N-terminal portion of the mature form of a protein which when removed results in the appearance of the "mature" form of the protein. Many proteolytic enzymes are found in nature as translational proenzyme products and, in the absence of post-translational processing, are expressed in this fashion. A preferred prosequence for producing protein variants such as protease variants is the putative prosequence of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin, although other prosequences may be used.

[0077] A "signal sequence" or "presequence" refers to any sequence of amino acids bound to the N-terminal portion of a protein or to the N-terminal portion of a proprotein which may participate in the secretion of the mature or pro forms of the protein. This definition of signal sequence is a functional one, meant to include all those amino acid sequences encoded by the N-terminal portion of the protein gene which participate in the effectuation of the secretion of protein under native conditions. The present invention utilizes such sequences to effect the secretion of the protein variants as defined herein. One possible signal sequence comprises the first seven amino acid residues of the signal sequence from Bacillus subtilis subtilisin fused to the remainder of the signal sequence of the subtilisin from Bacillus lentus (ATCC 21536).

[0078] A "prepro" form of a protein variant consists of the mature form of the protein having a prosequence operably linked to the amino terminus of the protein and a "pre" or "signal" sequence operably linked to the amino terminus of the prosequence.

[0079] "Expression vector" refers to a DNA construct containing a DNA sequence which is operably linked to a suitable control sequence capable of effecting the expression of said DNA in a suitable host. Such control sequences include a promoter to effect transcription, an optional operator sequence to control such transcription, a sequence encoding suitable mRNA ribosome binding sites and sequences which control termination of transcription and translation. The vector may be a plasmid, a phage particle, or simply a potential genomic insert. Once transformed into a suitable host, the vector may replicate and function independently of the host genome, or may, in some instances, integrate into the genome itself. In the present specification, "plasmid" and "vector" are sometimes used interchangeably as the plasmid is the most commonly used form of vector at present. However, the invention is intended to include such other forms of expression vectors which serve equivalent functions and which are, or become, known in the art.

[0080] The "host cells" used in the present invention generally are procaryotic or eucaryotic hosts which preferably have been manipulated by the methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,025 (RE 34,606) to render them incapable of secreting enzymatically active endoprotease. A preferred host cell for expressing protein is the Bacillus strain BG2036 which is deficient in enzymatically active neutral protein and alkaline protease (subtilisin). The construction of strain BG2036 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,366. Other host cells for expressing protein include Bacillus subtilis I 168 (also described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,025 (RE 34,606) and U.S. Pat. 5,264,366, the disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference), as well as any suitable Bacillus strain such as B. licheniformis, B. lentus, etc.

[0081] Host cells are transformed or transfected with vectors constructed using recombinant DNA techniques. These techniques can be found in any molecular biology practice guide, for example, Sambrook et al. Molecular Cloning--A Laboratory Manual (2nd ed.) Vol. 1-3, Cold Springs Harbor Publishing (1989) ("Sambrook"); and Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ausubel et al.(eds.), Current Protocols, a joint venture between Greene Publishing Associates, Inc. and John Wiley & Sons, Inc., (1997 Supplement) ("Ausubel"). Such transformed host cells are capable of either replicating vectors encoding the protein variants or expressing the desired protein variant. In the case of vectors which encode the pre-or prepro-form of the protein variant, such variants, when expressed, are typically secreted from the host cell into the host cell medium.

[0082] "Operably linked" when describing the relationship between two DNA regions, simply means that they are functionally related to each other. For example, a presequence is operably linked to a peptide if it functions as a signal sequence, participating in the secretion of the mature form of the protein most probably involving cleavage of the signal sequence. A promoter is operably linked to a coding sequence if it controls the transcription of the sequence; a ribosome binding site is operably linked to a coding sequence if it is positioned so as to permit translation.

[0083] The genes encoding the naturally-occurring precursor protein may be obtained in accord with the general methods known to those skilled in the art. The methods generally comprise synthesizing labeled probes having putative sequences encoding regions of the protein of interest, preparing genomic libraries from organisms expressing the protein, and screening the libraries for the gene of interest by hybridization to the probes. Positively hybridizing clones are then mapped and sequenced.

[0084] "Hybridization" is used to analyze whether a given DNA fragment or gene corresponds to a DNA sequence described herein and thus falls within the scope of the present invention. Samples to be hybridized are electrophoresed through an agarose gel (for example, 0.8% agarose) so that separation of DNA fragments can be visualized by size. DNA fragments are typically visualized by ethidium bromide staining. The gel may be briefly rinsed in distilled H2O and subsequently depurinated in an appropriate solution (such as, for example, 0.25M HCl) with gentle shaking followed by denaturation for 30 minutes (in, for example, 0.4 M NaOH) with gentle shaking. A renaturation step may be included, in which the gel is placed in 1.5 M NaCl, 1MTris, pH 7.0 with gentle shaking for 30 minutes.

[0085] The DNA should then be transferred onto an appropriate positively charged membrane, for example, Maximum Strength Nytran Plus membrane (Schleicher & Schuell, Keene, N.H.), using a transfer solution (such as, for example, 6XSSC (900 mM NaCl, 90 mM trisodium citrate). Once the transfer is complete, generally after about 2 hours, the membrane is rinsed in e.g., 2X SSC (2X SSC =300 mM NaCl, 30 mM trisodium citrate) and air dried at room temperature. The membrane should then be prehybridized (for approximately 2 hours or more) in a suitable prehybridization solution (such as, for example, an aqueous solution containing per 100 mL: 20-50 mL formamide, 25 mL of 20X SSPE (1X SSPE =0.18 M NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 10 mM NaH2PO4, pH 7.7), 2.5 mL of 20% SDS, and 1 mL of 10 mg/mL sheared herring or salmon sperm DNA). As would be known to one of skill in the art, the amount of formamide in the prehybridization solution may be varied depending on the nature of the reaction obtained according to routine methods. Thus, a lower amount of formamide may result in more complete hybridization in terms of identifying hybridizing molecules than the same procedure using a larger amount of formamide. On the other hand, a strong hybridization band may be more easily visually identified by using more formamide.

[0086] A DNA probe that is complementary or is nearly complementary to the DNA sequence of interest and is generally between 100 and 1000 bases in length is labeled (using, for example, the Megaprime labeling system according to the instructions of the manufacturer) to incorporate 32P in the DNA. The labeled probe is denatured by heating to 95.degree. C. for 5 minutes and immediately added to the membrane and prehybridization solution. The hybridization reaction should proceed for an appropriate time and under appropriate conditions, for example, for 18 hours at 37.degree. C. with gentle shaking or rotating. The membrane is rinsed (for example, in 2X SSC/0.3% SDS) and then washed in an appropriate wash solution with gentle agitation. The stringency desired will be a reflection of the conditions under which the membrane (filter) is washed.

[0087] Specifically, the stringency of a given reaction (i.e., the degree of homology necessary for successful hybridization) will depend on the washing conditions to which the filter is subjected after hybridization. "Low-stringency" conditions as defined herein will comprise washing a filter with a solution of 0.2X SSC/0.1% SDS at 20.degree. C. for 15 minutes. "High-stringency" conditions comprise a further washing step comprising washing the filter a second time with a solution of 0.2X SSC/0.1% SDS at 37.degree. C. for 30 minutes.

[0088] After washing, the membrane is dried and the bound probe detected. If 32P or another radioisotope is used as the labeling agent, the bound probe can be detected by autoradiography. Other techniques for the visualization of other probes are well-known to those of skill. The detection of a bound probe indicates a nucleic acid sequence has the desired homology and is encompassed within this invention.

[0089] The cloned protein is then used to transform a host cell in order to express the protein. The protein gene is then ligated into a high copy number plasmid. This plasmid replicates in hosts in the sense that it contains the well-known elements necessary for plasmid replication: a promoter operably linked to the gene in question (which may be supplied as the gene's own homologous promoter if it is recognized, i.e., transcribed, by the host), a transcription termination and polyadenylation region (necessary for stability of the mRNA transcribed by the host from the protein gene in certain eucaryotic host cells) which is exogenous or is supplied by the endogenous terminator region of the protein gene and, desirably, a selection gene such as an antibiotic resistance gene that enables continuous cultural maintenance of plasmid-infected host cells by growth in antibiotic-containing media. High copy number plasmids also contain an origin of replication for the host, thereby enabling large numbers of plasmids to be generated in the cytoplasm without chromosomal limitations. However, it is within the scope herein to integrate multiple copies of the protein gene into host genome. This is facilitated by procaryotic and eucaryotic organisms which are particularly susceptible to homologous recombination.

[0090] In one embodiment, the gene can be a natural gene such as that from B. lentus or B. amyloliquefaciens. Alternatively, a synthetic gene encoding a naturally-occurring or mutant precursor protein may be produced. In such an approach, the DNA and/or amino acid sequence of the precursor protein is determined. Multiple, overlapping synthetic single-stranded DNA fragments are thereafter synthesized, which upon hybridization and ligation produce a synthetic DNA encoding the precursor protein. An example of synthetic gene construction is set forth in Example 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0091] Once the naturally-occurring or synthetic precursor protein gene has been cloned, a number of modifications are undertaken to enhance the use of the gene beyond synthesis of the naturally-occurring precursor protein. Such modifications include the production of recombinant proteins as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,025 (RE 34,606) and EPO Publication No. 0 251 446 and the production of protein variants described herein.

[0092] The following cassette mutagenesis method may be used to facilitate the construction of the protein variants of the present invention, although other methods may be used. First, the naturally-occurring gene encoding the protein is obtained and sequenced in whole or in part. Then the sequence is scanned for a point at which it is desired to make a mutation (deletion, insertion or substitution) of one or more amino acids in the encoded enzyme. The sequences flanking this point are evaluated for the presence of restriction sites for replacing a short segment of the gene with an oligonucleotide pool which when expressed will encode various mutants. Such restriction sites are preferably unique sites within the protein gene so as to facilitate the replacement of the gene segment. However, any convenient restriction site which is not overly redundant in the protein gene may be used, provided the gene fragments generated by restriction digestion can be reassembled in proper sequence. If restriction sites are not present at locations within a convenient distance from the selected point (from 10 to 15 nucleotides), such sites are generated by substituting nucleotides in the gene in such a fashion that neither the reading frame nor the amino acids encoded are changed in the final construction. Mutation of the gene in order to change its sequence to conform to the desired sequence is accomplished by M13 primer extension in accord with generally known methods. The task of locating suitable flanking regions and evaluating the needed changes to arrive at two convenient restriction site sequences is made routine by the redundancy of the genetic code, a restriction enzyme map of the gene and the large number of different restriction enzymes. Note that if a convenient flanking restriction site is available, the above method need be used only in connection with the flanking region which does not contain a site.

[0093] Once the naturally-occurring DNA or synthetic DNA is cloned, the restriction sites flanking the positions to be mutated are digested with the cognate restriction enzymes and a plurality of end termini-complementary oligonucleotide cassettes are ligated into the gene. The mutagenesis is simplified by this method because all of the oligonucleotides can be synthesized so as to have the same restriction sites, and no synthetic linkers are necessary to create the restriction sites.

[0094] In one aspect of the invention, the objective is to secure a variant protein having altered allergenic potential as compared to the precursor protein, since decreasing such potential enables safer use of the enzyme. While the instant invention is useful to lower allergenic potential, the mutations specified herein may be utilized in combination with mutations known in the art to result altered thermal stability and/or altered substrate specificity, modified activity or altered alkaline stability as compared to the precursor.

[0095] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to altering the capability of the T-cell epitope which includes residue positions 170-173 in Bacillus lentus to induce T-cell proliferation. One particularly preferred embodiment of the invention comprises making modification to either one or all of R170D, Y171Q and/or N173D. Similarly, as discussed in detail above, it is believed that the modification of the corresponding residues in any protein will result in a the neutralization of a key T-cell epitope in that protein. Thus, in combination with the presently disclosed mutations in the region corresponding to amino acid residues 170-173, substitutions at positions corresponding to N76D/S103A/V104I/G159D optionally in combination with one or more substitutions selected from the group consisting of positions corresponding to V68A, T213R, A232V, Q236H, Q245R, and T260A of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin may be used, in addition to decreasing the allergenic potential of the variant protein of the invention, to modulate overall stability and/or proteolytic activity of the enzyme. Similarly, the substitutions provided herein may be combined with mutation at the Asparagine (N) in Bacillus lentus subtilisin at equivalent position +76 to Aspartate (D) in combination with the mutations S103A/V104I/G159D and optionally in combination with one or more substitutions selected from the group consisting of positions corresponding to V68A, T213R, A232V, Q236H, Q245R, and T260A of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin, to produce enhanced stability and/or enhanced activity of the resulting mutant enzyme.

[0096] The most preferred embodiments of the invention include the following specific combinations of substituted residues corresponding to positions: N76D/S103A/V104I/G159D/K170D/Y171Q/S173D; V68A/N76D/S103A/V104I/G159D/K170D/Y171Q/S173D/Q236H; V68A/N76D/S103A/V104I/G159D/K170D/Y171Q/S173D/Q236H/Q245R; V68A/N76D/S103A/V104I/G159D/K170D/Y171Q/S173D/A232V/Q236H/Q245R; and V68A/N76D//S103A/V104I/G159D/K170D/Y171Q/S173D/T213R/A232V/Q236H/Q245R/T2- 60A of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin. These substitutions are preferably made in Bacillus lentus (recombinant or native-type) subtilisin, although the substitutions may be made in any Bacillus protein.

[0097] Based on the screening results obtained with the variant proteins, the noted mutations noted above in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin are important to the proteolytic activity, performance and/or stability of these enzymes and the cleaning or wash performance of such variant enzymes.

[0098] Many of the protein variants of the invention are useful in formulating various detergent compositions. A number of known compounds are suitable surfactants useful in compositions comprising the protein mutants of the invention. These include nonionic, anionic, cationic, anionic or zwitterionic detergents, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,128 to Barry J. Anderson and U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,868 to Jiri Flora, et al. A suitable detergent formulation is that described in Example 7 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,015 (previously incorporated by reference). The art is familiar with the different formulations which can be used as cleaning compositions. In addition to typical cleaning compositions, it is readily understood that the protein variants of the present invention may be used for any purpose that native or wild-type proteins are used. Thus, these variants can be used, for example, in bar or liquid soap applications, dishcare formulations, contact lens cleaning solutions or products, peptide hydrolysis, waste treatment, textile applications, as fusion-cleavage enzymes in protein production, etc. The variants of the present invention may comprise, in addition to decreased allergenicity, enhanced performance in a detergent composition (as compared to the precursor). As used herein, enhanced performance in a detergent is defined as increasing cleaning of certain enzyme sensitive stains such as grass or blood, as determined by usual evaluation after a standard wash cycle.

[0099] Proteins, particularly proteases of the invention can be formulated into known powdered and liquid detergents having pH between 6.5 and 12.0 at levels of about 0.01 to about 5% (preferably 0.1% to 0.5%) by weight. These detergent cleaning compositions can also include other enzymes such as known proteases, amylases, cellulases, lipases or endoglycosidases, as well as builders and stabilizers.

[0100] The addition of proteins, particularly proteases of the invention to conventional cleaning compositions does not create any special use limitation. In other words, any temperature and pH suitable for the detergent is also suitable for the present compositions as long as the pH is within the above range, and the temperature is below the described protein's denaturing temperature. In addition, proteins of the invention can be used in a cleaning composition without detergents, again either alone or in combination with builders and stabilizers.

[0101] The variant proteins of the present invention can be included in animal feed such as part of animal feed additives as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,055; U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,692; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,642.

[0102] One aspect of the invention is a composition for the treatment of a textile that includes variant proteins of the present invention. The composition can be used to treat for example silk or wool as described in publications such as RD 216,034; EP 134,267; U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,359; and EP 344,259.

[0103] The variants can be screened for proteolytic activity according to methods well known in the art. Preferred protease variants include multiple substitutions at positions corresponding to: N76D/S103A/V104I/G159D/K170D/Y171Q/S173D; V68A/N76D/S103A/V104I/G159D/K17- 0D/Y171Q/S173D/Q236H; V68A/N76D/S103A/V104I/G159D/K170D/Y171Q/S173D/Q236H/- Q245R; V68A/N76D/S103A/V104I/G159D/K170D/Y171Q/S173D/A232V/Q236H/Q245R; and V68A/N76D/S103A/V104I/G159D/K170D/Y171Q/S173D/T213R/A232V/Q236H/Q245R- /T260A of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin.

[0104] The proteins of this invention exhibit modified immunogenicity when compared to their precursor proteins. In preferred embodiments, the proteins exhibit reduced allergenicity. In other embodiments, the proteins exhibit increased immunogenicity. The increase in immunogenicity is manifested by an increase in B-cell or humoral immunological response, by an increase in T-cell or cellular immunological response, or by an increase in both B and T cell immunological responses. One of skill will readily recognize that the uses of the proteins of this invention will be determined, in large part, on the immunological properties of the proteins. For example, enzymes that exhibit reduced allergenicity can be used in cleaning compositions. "Cleaning compositions" are compositions that can be used to remove undesired compounds from substrates, such as fabric, dishes, contact lenses, other solid substrates, hair (shampoos), skin (soaps and creams), etc. Proteins, in particular, cellulases, proteases, and amylases, with reduced allergenicity can also be used in the treatment of textiles. "Textile treatment" comprises a process wherein textiles, individual yarns or fibers that can be woven, felted or knitted into textiles or garments are treated to effect a desired characteristic. Examples of such desired characteristics are "stone-washing" depilling, dehairing, desizing, softening, and other textile treatments well known to those of skill in the art.

[0105] Therapeutic proteins against which individuals mount an immune response are also included in the invention. In particular, individuals who lack endogenous production of the protein are susceptible to forming neutralizing antibodies and become refractile to treatment. Likewise, modifications of a protein may introduce new epitopes that are potentially immunogeneic. Methods of the invention can be used to identify and modify epitopes in, e.g., human Factor VIII, to prevent neutralizing responses.

[0106] The pharmaceutical compositions can be prepared in various forms, such as granules, tablets, pills, suppositories, capsules, suspensions, salves, lotions and the like. Pharmaceutical grade organic or inorganic carriers and/or diluents suitable for oral and topical use can be used to make up compositions containing the therapeutically_active compounds. Diluents known to the art include aqueous media, vegetable and animal oils and fats. Stabilizing agents, wetting and emulsifying agents, salts for varying the osmotic pressure or buffers for securing an adequate pH value, and skin penetration enhancers can be used as auxiliary agents. The pharmaceutical compositions may also include one or more of the following: carrier proteins such as serum albumin; buffers; fillers such as microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, corn and other starches; binding agents; sweeteners and other flavoring agents; coloring agents; and polyethylene glycol. Additives are well known in the art, and are used in a variety of formulations.

[0107] All publications and patents referenced herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The following is presented by way of example and is not to be construed as a limitation to the scope of the claims.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Assay for the Identification of Peptide T-Cell Epitopes Using Nave Human T-Cells

[0108] Fresh human peripheral blood cells were collected from "nave" humans, i.e., persons not known to be exposed to or sensitized to Bacillus lentus protease, for determination of antigenic epitopes in protease from Bacillus lentus and human subtilisin. Nave humans is intended to mean that the individual is not known to have been exposed to or developed a reaction to protease in the past. Peripheral mononuclear blood cells (stored at room temperature, no older than 24 hours) were prepared for use as follows: Approximately 30 mis of a solution of buffy coat preparation from one unit of whole blood was brought to 50 ml with Dulbecco's phosphate buffered solution (DPBS) and split into two tubes. The samples were underlaid with 12.5 ml of room temperature lymphoprep density separation media (Nycomed density 1.077 g/ml). The tubes were centrifuged for thirty minutes at 600 G. The interface of the two phases was collected, pooled and washed in DPBS. The cell density of the resultant solution was measured by hemocytometer. Viability was measured by trypan blue exclusion.

[0109] From the resulting solution, a differentiated dendritic cell culture was prepared from the peripheral blood mononuclear cell sample having a density of 108 cells per 75 ml culture flask in a solution as follows:

[0110] (1) 50 ml of serum free AIM V media (Gibco) was supplemented with a 1:100 dilution beta-mercaptoethanol (Gibco). The flasks were laid flat for two hours at 37.degree. C. in 5% CO2 to allow adherence of monocytes to the flask wall.

[0111] (2) Differentiation of the monocyte cells to dendritic cells was as follows: nonadherent cells were removed and the resultant adherent cells (monocytes) combined with 30 ml of AIM V, 800 units/ml of GM-CSF (Endogen) and 500 units/ml of IL-4 (Endogen); the resulting mixture was cultured for 5 days under conditions at 37.degree. C. in 5% CO2. After five days, the cytokine TNFa (Endogen) was added to 0.2 units/ml, and the cytokine IL-1a (Endogen) was added to a final concentration of 50 units/ml and the mixture incubated at 37.degree. C. in 5% CO2 for two more days.

[0112] (3) On the seventh day, Mitomycin C was added to a concentration of 50 microgram/ml was added to stop growth of the now differentiated dendritic cell culture. The solution was incubated for 60 minutes at 37.degree. C. in 5% CO2. Dendritic cells were collected by gently scraping the adherent cells off the bottom of the flask with a cell scraper. Adherent and non-adherent cells were then centrifuged at 600 G for 5 minutes, washed in DPBS and counted.

[0113] (4) The prepared dendritic cells were placed into a 96 well round bottom array at 2.times.104/well in 100 microliter total volume of AIM V media.

[0114] CD4+ T cells were prepared from frozen aliquots of the peripheral blood cell samples used to prepare the dendritic cells using the human CD4+ Cellect Kit (Biotex) as per the manufacturers instructions with the following modifications: the aliquots were thawed and washed such that approximately 108 cells will be applied per Cellect column; the cells were resuspended in 4 ml DPBS and 1 ml of the Cell reagent from the Cellect Kit, the solution maintained at room temperature for 20 minutes. The resultant solution was centrifuged for five minutes at 600 G at room temperature and the pellet resuspended in 2 ml of DPBS and applied to the Cellect columns. The effluent from the columns was collected in 2% human serum in DPBS. The resultant CD4+ cell solution was centrifuged, resuspended in AIMV media and the density counted.

[0115] The CD4+ T-cell suspension was resuspended to a count of 2.times.106/ml in AIM V media to facilitate efficient manipulation of the 96 well plate.

[0116] Peptide antigen is prepared from a 1M stock solution in DMSO by dilution in AIM V media at a 1:10 ratio. 10 microliters of the stock solution is placed in each well of the 96 well plate containing the differentiated dendritic cells. 100 microliter of the diluted CD4+ T-cell solution as prepared above is further added to each well. Useful controls include diluted DMSO blanks, and tetanus toxoid positive controls.

[0117] The final concentrations in each well, at 210 microliter total volume are as follows:

[0118] 2.times.104 CD4+

[0119] 2.times.105 dendtritic cells (R:S of 10:1)

[0120] 5 mM peptide

Example 2

Identification of T-Cell Epitopes in Protease from Bacillus lentus and Human subtilisin

[0121] Peptides for use in the assay described in Example 1 were prepared based on the Bacillus lentus and human subtilisin amino acid sequence. Peptide antigens were designed as follows. From the full length amino acid sequence of either human subtilisin or Bacillus lentus protease provided in FIG. 1, 15mers were synthetically prepared, each 15mer overlapping with the previous and the subsequent 15mer except for three residues.

[0122] Peptides used correspond to amino acid residue strings in Bacillus lentus as provided in FIG. 8, and peptides correspond to amino acid residues in human subtilisin as provided in FIG. 7. The peptides used corresponding to the proteases is provided in FIG. 6. All tests were performed at least in duplicate. All tests reported displayed robust positive control responses to the antigen tetanus toxoid. Responses were averaged within each experiment, then normalized to the baseline response. A positive event was recorded if the response was at least 3 times the baseline response.

[0123] The immunogenic response (i.e., T-cell proliferation) to the prepared peptides from human subtilisin and Bacillus lentus was tallied and is provided in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively. T-cell proliferation was measured by the incorporated tritium method. The results shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 as a comparison of the immunogenic additive response in 10 individuals (FIG. 4) and 16 individuals (FIG. 5) to the various peptides. Response is indicated as the added response wherein 1.0 equals a baseline response for each sample. Thus, in FIG. 4, a reading of 10.0 or less is the baseline response and in FIG. 5 a reading of 16.0 or less the baseline response. The greater the response, the more potent the T-cell epitope is considered.

[0124] As indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the immunogenic response of the nave blood samples from unsensitized individuals showed a marked allergenic response at the peptide fragment from Bacillus lentus corresponding to residues 170-173 of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens protease. As expected, the corresponding fragment in human subtilisin evokes merely baseline response.

[0125] FIG. 9 shows the T-cell response to peptides derived from Bacillus lentus protease in a sample taken from an individual known to be hypersensitive to Bacillus lentus protease. Peptide E05 represents the region corresponding to 170-173 in protease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. As shown in FIG. 9, the hypersensitive individual was highly responsive to the T-cell epitope represented by the peptide E05. This result confirms that, by practicing the assay according to the invention, it is possible to predict the major epitopes identified by the T-cells of a hypersensitive individual.

[0126] FIG. 10 shows the T-cell response to various alanine substitutions in the E05 peptide derived from Bacillus lentus protease in a sample taken from an individual known to be hypersensitive to Bacillus lentus protease. Alanine substitutions were used as substitutions for the purpose of determining the role of any specific residue within the epitope. The legend of FIG. 10 refers to the position of the peptide in which an alanine was substituted, i.e., in peptide E06 (sequence GSISYPARYANAMAV), G to A =2, S to A =3, I to A =4, S to A =5, Y to A =6, P to A =7, R to A =8, Y to A =9, N to A =10, M to A =11 and V to A =12. As indicated in FIG. 10, substitution of either of the residues R170A, Y171A and/or N173A in protease from Bacillus lentus results in dramatically reduced response in the hypersensitive individual's blood sample.

[0127] From these results, it is apparent that the residues 170, 171 and 173 are largely responsible for the initiation of allergic reaction within the protease from Bacillus lentus.

Example 3

Identification of T-Cell Epitopes in Cellulase from Humicola insolens (Carezvme.RTM.)

[0128] The procedure described above was performed on peptides derived from a cellulase from Humicola insolens (Carezyme .RTM. from Novo Nordisk). As can be seen from FIG. 13, 2 T-cell epitopes were discovered, A01 and F06.

Example 4

Identification of T-Cell Epitopes in Lioase from Thermomyces Lanuginosa (Lipolase.RTM.)

[0129] The procedure described in Example 2 was performed on peptides derived from a lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosa (Lipolase .RTM. from Novo Nordisk). As can be seen from FIG. 14, two T-cell epitopes were discovered, A12 and C06. Peptide E03 effected slightly increased T-cell proliferation in the nave donors, however, this peptide is consecutive to A12 and they represent one epitope. In this regard, the skilled artisan understands that the length of the epitopes can be varied, and the precise potency of the epitope, naturally occuring or mutated can be determined by the methods herein.

Example 5

Identification of T-Cell Epitopes in Endoglucanase H from Streptomyces plicatus

[0130] The procedure described in Example 2 was performed on peptides derived from endoglucanase H from Streptomyces plicatus. As can be seen from FIG. 15, a single T-cell epitope was discovered, C06.

Example 6

Identification of T-Cell Epitopes in a Protease Hybrid (GG36-BPN')

[0131] After determining the location of a T-cell epitope, a protease hybrid was constructed using established protein engineering techniques. The hybrid was constructed so that a highly allergenic amino acid sequence of the protein was replaced with a corresponding sequence from a less allergenic homolog. In this instance, the first 122 amino acids of the protease were derived from GG36, and the remaining amino acid sequence was derived from BPN'.

[0132] The hybrid was first tested from a 100 ppm sample in North American condition in 24 well assay at 0.5 ppm, superfixed swatches, liquid (Tide KT) at 0.5 in 24 well assay with 3K swatches, and in the N'N'-dimethyl Casein Assay, 5 g/l DMC in NA detergent, TNBS dectection method.

[0133] The results are shown in FIGS. 16, 17 and 18.

Example 7

Identification of a Naturally Occuring Low Immunogenic Protein

[0134] Using the methods herein, proteinase K was identified as producing a lower immunogenic response than other commercially available proteases. Proteinase K as identified herein is from Tritirachium Album limber. For a general description of proteases and methodologies, see, Mathew, C.G.P. Isolation of high molecular weight eukaryotic DNA, in Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 2: Nucleic Acids (Walker, J. M.,ed.), Humana, Clifton, N.J., (1984) pp. 31-34.

Example 8:

T-cell Epitope Introduced into a Non-allergenic Protein

[0135] It has been found that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin is comparatively non-immunogenic when tested in Hartley strain guinea pigs. A related protein from Bacillus lentis is highly immunogenic. We had previously defined functional T cell epitopes in the B. lentis molecule which were not found in the B. amyloliquefaciens molecule, even though the sequences of interest were highly homologous. In order to test the principle that the presence of a functional T cell epitope can control the relative levels of antibody production, we created a B. lentis-like T cell epitope in the B. amyloliquefaciens molecule. This change was accomplished by the substitution of a single amino acid in the B. amyloliquefaciens sequence. B. amyloliquefaciens subtilisin and the T cell epitope modified variant of B. amyloliquefaciens subtilisin were tested in a guinea pig model of immungenicity.

[0136] B. lentis and B. amyloliquefaciens subtilisin T cell epitope mapping: Guinea pigs were immunized with 20 .mu.g/immunization of subtilisin from either B. lentis or B. amyloliquefaciens. Animals were immunized subcutaneously in adjuvant every two weeks for 10 to 12 weeks. A single cell suspension of guinea pig splenocytes was created from each animal's spleen. Cells were plated at 5.times.10.sup.5 splenocytes per well in round bottom 96 well plates. 15-mer peptides off-set by 3 amino acids were synthesized by Mimotopes. Peptides were resuspended to 1 mM in DMSO. Peptides were added to the cells at a final concentration of 5 .mu.M. Cultures were incubated for 5 days at 37 .degree., 5% CO.sub.2. Wells were pulsed with 0.5 .mu.Ci tritiated thymidine, and allowed to incubate for an additional 18 hours. Wells were harvested, and thymidine incorporation assessed.

[0137] Two T cell epitopes were found in B. lentis subtilisin, and none were found in B. amyloliquefaciens subtilisin (>10 animals tested for these epitopes). The B. lentis T cell epitopes were found to comprise the following sequences: IAALNNSIGVLGVAP (SEQ ID NO:237) and LEWAGNNGMHVANLSLGS (SEQ ID NO:238)

[0138] For SEQ ID NO:237, the similar sequence in B. amyloliquefaciens subtilisin is VAALNNSIGVLGVAP (SEQ ID NO:239). The similar region in B. amyloliquefaciens subtilisin for SEQ ID NO:238 was the much less homologous: IEWAIANNMDVINMSLG (SEQ ID NO:240).

[0139] SEQ ID NO:237 and the homologous region in the B. amyloliquefaciens subtilisin molecule (SEQ ID NO: 239) differ by one amino acid: In B. lentis subtilisin the first amino acid is an I, while it is a V in B. amyloliquefaciens. Therefore, we reasoned that if we changed the V in the B. amyloliquefaciens sequence to an I, we would create the B. lentis T cell epitope in the B. amyloliquefaciens backbone.

[0140] This molecule was created by standard molecular biological techniques, and was called B. amyloliquefaciens V72I. It was also known as GP002.

[0141] Guinea Pig immunizations: Adult female Hartley guinea pigs were immunized with various doses of B. amyloliquefaciens subtilisin and GP002. The doses were 1, 5, 10, and 20 .mu.g/dose. There were four animals for each dose. Animals were immunized subcutaneously with enzyme in Complete Freund's Adjuvant for the first immunization. All subsequent immunizations were performed in Incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Animals were immunized, and a serum sample taken, every two weeks.

[0142] ELISA: A direct ELISA was performed. Costart EIA plates were coated with 10 .mu.g/ml of the immunizing enzyme in PBS overnight at 4.degree. C. Plates were washed and blocked with 1% BSA in PBS. Serum samples were diluted in 1% BSA/PBS, and incubated on the enzymes coated plates for 1 hour. Serum samples were washed out, and biotinylated anti-guinea pig IgG was added at a 1:10,000 dilution in 1% BSA/PBS. The secondary reagent was incubated for 1 hour. The wells were washed, and avidin conjugated horse radish peroxidase was added to the wells at a 1:1000 dilution in 1% BSA/PBS. After 30 minutes, the substrate (ABTS) was added and the OD.sub.405 was read after 30 minutes.

[0143] Calculation of titers: Background was subtracted from the OD readings, and the results plotted for each individual guinea pig. A linear regression analysis was performed on the linear portion of the curve. The titer value was calculated from the linear regression equation for an OD =0.5. These individual titers were then averaged.

[0144] Two guinea pigs in the 10 .mu.g dose of GP001 died at 2 weeks into the study. The data for the 10 .mu.g dose was therefore thrown out.

[0145] Two results are immediately apparent: first, the GP002 variant increased the titers of antigen-specific antibody over the entire time course for the lower doses of enzymes; and the GP002 variant increased titers of antigen-specific antibody for all doses of enzymes in the earliest time points.

[0146] At the extended time points and for the higher doses, the difference between B. amyloliquefaciens subtilisin and its variant were no longer apparent. See FIGS. 19 and 20.

[0147] From the Figures it is apparent that a single change in the amino acid sequence of B. amyloliquefaciens subtilisin significantly altered its immunogenicity.

Sequence CWU 1

1

240 1 1495 DNA Bacillus amyloliquefaciens mat_peptide (417)..(1495) CDS (96)..(1244) misc_feature (582)..(584) The nnn at positions 582 through 584 which in a preferred embodiment (aat) is to code for asparagine, but which may also code for proline. 1 ggtctactaa aatattattc catactatac aattaataca cagaataatc tgtctattgg 60 ttattctgca aatgaaaaaa aggagaggat aaaga atg aga ggc aaa aaa gta 113 Met Arg Gly Lys Lys Val -105 tgg atc agt ttg ctg ttt gct tta gcg tta atc ttt acg atg gcg ttc 161 Trp Ile Ser Leu Leu Phe Ala Leu Ala Leu Ile Phe Thr Met Ala Phe -100 -95 -90 ggc agc aca tcc tct gcc cag gcg gca ggg aaa tca aac ggg gaa aag 209 Gly Ser Thr Ser Ser Ala Gln Ala Ala Gly Lys Ser Asn Gly Glu Lys -85 -80 -75 -70 aaa tat att gtc ggg ttt aaa cag aca atg agc acg atg agc gcc gct 257 Lys Tyr Ile Val Gly Phe Lys Gln Thr Met Ser Thr Met Ser Ala Ala -65 -60 -55 aag aag aaa gat gtc att tct gaa aaa ggc ggg aaa gtg caa aag caa 305 Lys Lys Lys Asp Val Ile Ser Glu Lys Gly Gly Lys Val Gln Lys Gln -50 -45 -40 ttc aaa tat gta gac gca gct tca gct aca tta aac gaa aaa gct gta 353 Phe Lys Tyr Val Asp Ala Ala Ser Ala Thr Leu Asn Glu Lys Ala Val -35 -30 -25 aaa gaa ttg aaa aaa gac ccg agc gtc gct tac gtt gaa gaa gat cac 401 Lys Glu Leu Lys Lys Asp Pro Ser Val Ala Tyr Val Glu Glu Asp His -20 -15 -10 gta gca cat gcg tac gcg cag tcc gtg cct tac ggc gta tca caa att 449 Val Ala His Ala Tyr Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Tyr Gly Val Ser Gln Ile -5 -1 1 5 10 aaa gcc cct gct ctg cac tct caa ggc tac act gga tca aat gtt aaa 497 Lys Ala Pro Ala Leu His Ser Gln Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ser Asn Val Lys 15 20 25 gta gcg gtt atc gac agc ggt atc gat tct tct cat cct gat tta aag 545 Val Ala Val Ile Asp Ser Gly Ile Asp Ser Ser His Pro Asp Leu Lys 30 35 40 gta gca ggc gga gcc agc atg gtt cct tct gaa aca nnn nnn ttc caa 593 Val Ala Gly Gly Ala Ser Met Val Pro Ser Glu Thr Xaa Xaa Phe Gln 45 50 55 gac nnn aac tct cac gga act cac gtt gcc ggc aca gtt gcg gct ctt 641 Asp Xaa Asn Ser His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val Ala Ala Leu 60 65 70 75 aat aac tca atc ggt gta tta ggc gtt gcg cca agc nnn nnn ctt tac 689 Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Xaa Xaa Leu Tyr 80 85 90 gct gta aaa gtt ctc ggt nnn nnn ggt tcc ggc caa tac agc tgg atc 737 Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Xaa Xaa Gly Ser Gly Gln Tyr Ser Trp Ile 95 100 105 att aac gga atc gag tgg gcg atc gca aac aat atg gac gtt att aac 785 Ile Asn Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Ile Ala Asn Asn Met Asp Val Ile Asn 110 115 120 atg agc ctc ggc gga cct tct ggt tct gct gct tta aaa gcg gca gtt 833 Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Pro Ser Gly Ser Ala Ala Leu Lys Ala Ala Val 125 130 135 gat aaa gcc gtt gca tcc ggc gtc gta gtc gtt gcg gca gcc ggt aac 881 Asp Lys Ala Val Ala Ser Gly Val Val Val Val Ala Ala Ala Gly Asn 140 145 150 155 gaa ggc nnn nnn ggc agc tca agc aca gtg ggc tac cct ggt aaa tac 929 Glu Gly Xaa Xaa Gly Ser Ser Ser Thr Val Gly Tyr Pro Gly Lys Tyr 160 165 170 cct tct gtc att gca gta ggc gct gtt gac agc agc aac caa aga gca 977 Pro Ser Val Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Val Asp Ser Ser Asn Gln Arg Ala 175 180 185 tct ttc tca agc gta gga cct gag ctt gat gtc atg gca cct ggc gta 1025 Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Pro Glu Leu Asp Val Met Ala Pro Gly Val 190 195 200 tct atc caa agc acg ctt cct gga aac aaa tac ggg gcg tac aac ggt 1073 Ser Ile Gln Ser Thr Leu Pro Gly Asn Lys Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asn Gly 205 210 215 acg tca atg gca tct ccg cac gtt gcc gga gcg gct gct ttg att ctt 1121 Thr Ser Met Ala Ser Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu 220 225 230 235 tct aag cac ccg aac tgg aca aac act caa gtc cgc agc agt tta nnn 1169 Ser Lys His Pro Asn Trp Thr Asn Thr Gln Val Arg Ser Ser Leu Xaa 240 245 250 aac acc act aca aaa ctt ggt gat tct ttc tac tat gga aaa ggg ctg 1217 Asn Thr Thr Thr Lys Leu Gly Asp Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly Leu 255 260 265 atc aac gta cag gcg gca gct cag taa aacataaaaa accggccttg 1264 Ile Asn Val Gln Ala Ala Ala Gln 270 275 gccccgccgg tttttttatt tttcttcctc cgcatgttca atccgctcca taatcgacgg 1324 atggctccct ctgaaaattt taacgagaaa cggcgggttg acccggctca gtcccgtaac 1384 ggccaagtcc tgaaacgtct caatcgccgc ttcccggttt ccggtcagct caatgccgta 1444 acggtcggcg gcgttttcct gataccggga gacggcattc gtaatcggat c 1495 2 382 PRT Bacillus amyloliquefaciens VARIANT (163)...(163) Xaa = Asn or Pro 2 Met Arg Gly Lys Lys Val Trp Ile Ser Leu Leu Phe Ala Leu Ala Leu 1 5 10 15 Ile Phe Thr Met Ala Phe Gly Ser Thr Ser Ser Ala Gln Ala Ala Gly 20 25 30 Lys Ser Asn Gly Glu Lys Lys Tyr Ile Val Gly Phe Lys Gln Thr Met 35 40 45 Ser Thr Met Ser Ala Ala Lys Lys Lys Asp Val Ile Ser Glu Lys Gly 50 55 60 Gly Lys Val Gln Lys Gln Phe Lys Tyr Val Asp Ala Ala Ser Ala Thr 65 70 75 80 Leu Asn Glu Lys Ala Val Lys Glu Leu Lys Lys Asp Pro Ser Val Ala 85 90 95 Tyr Val Glu Glu Asp His Val Ala His Ala Tyr Ala Gln Ser Val Pro 100 105 110 Tyr Gly Val Ser Gln Ile Lys Ala Pro Ala Leu His Ser Gln Gly Tyr 115 120 125 Thr Gly Ser Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Ile Asp Ser Gly Ile Asp Ser 130 135 140 Ser His Pro Asp Leu Lys Val Ala Gly Gly Ala Ser Met Val Pro Ser 145 150 155 160 Glu Thr Xaa Xaa Phe Gln Asp Xaa Asn Ser His Gly Thr His Val Ala 165 170 175 Gly Thr Val Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala 180 185 190 Pro Ser Xaa Xaa Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Xaa Xaa Gly Ser 195 200 205 Gly Gln Tyr Ser Trp Ile Ile Asn Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Ile Ala Asn 210 215 220 Asn Met Asp Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Pro Ser Gly Ser Ala 225 230 235 240 Ala Leu Lys Ala Ala Val Asp Lys Ala Val Ala Ser Gly Val Val Val 245 250 255 Val Ala Ala Ala Gly Asn Glu Gly Xaa Xaa Gly Ser Ser Ser Thr Val 260 265 270 Gly Tyr Pro Gly Lys Tyr Pro Ser Val Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Val Asp 275 280 285 Ser Ser Asn Gln Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Pro Glu Leu Asp 290 295 300 Val Met Ala Pro Gly Val Ser Ile Gln Ser Thr Leu Pro Gly Asn Lys 305 310 315 320 Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser Pro His Val Ala Gly 325 330 335 Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn Trp Thr Asn Thr Gln 340 345 350 Val Arg Ser Ser Leu Xaa Asn Thr Thr Thr Lys Leu Gly Asp Ser Phe 355 360 365 Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Gln Ala Ala Ala Gln 370 375 380 3 275 PRT Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 3 Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Tyr Gly Val Ser Gln Ile Lys Ala Pro Ala Leu 1 5 10 15 His Ser Gln Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ser Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Ile Asp 20 25 30 Ser Gly Ile Asp Ser Ser His Pro Asp Leu Lys Val Ala Gly Gly Ala 35 40 45 Ser Met Val Pro Ser Glu Thr Asn Pro Phe Gln Asp Asn Asn Ser His 50 55 60 Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly 65 70 75 80 Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu 85 90 95 Gly Ala Asp Gly Ser Gly Gln Tyr Ser Trp Ile Ile Asn Gly Ile Glu 100 105 110 Trp Ala Ile Ala Asn Asn Met Asp Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly 115 120 125 Pro Ser Gly Ser Ala Ala Leu Lys Ala Ala Val Asp Lys Ala Val Ala 130 135 140 Ser Gly Val Val Val Val Ala Ala Ala Gly Asn Glu Gly Thr Ser Gly 145 150 155 160 Ser Ser Ser Thr Val Gly Tyr Pro Gly Lys Tyr Pro Ser Val Ile Ala 165 170 175 Val Gly Ala Val Asp Ser Ser Asn Gln Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val 180 185 190 Gly Pro Glu Leu Asp Val Met Ala Pro Gly Val Ser Ile Gln Ser Thr 195 200 205 Leu Pro Gly Asn Lys Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser 210 215 220 Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn 225 230 235 240 Trp Thr Asn Thr Gln Val Arg Ser Ser Leu Glu Asn Thr Thr Thr Lys 245 250 255 Leu Gly Asp Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Gln Ala 260 265 270 Ala Ala Gln 275 4 275 PRT Bacillus subtilis 4 Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Tyr Gly Ile Ser Gln Ile Lys Ala Pro Ala Leu 1 5 10 15 His Ser Gln Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ser Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Ile Asp 20 25 30 Ser Gly Ile Asp Ser Ser His Pro Asp Leu Asn Val Arg Gly Gly Ala 35 40 45 Ser Phe Val Pro Ser Glu Thr Asn Pro Tyr Gln Asp Gly Ser Ser His 50 55 60 Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly 65 70 75 80 Val Leu Gly Val Ser Pro Ser Ala Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu 85 90 95 Asp Ser Thr Gly Ser Gly Gln Tyr Ser Trp Ile Ile Asn Gly Ile Glu 100 105 110 Trp Ala Ile Ser Asn Asn Met Asp Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly 115 120 125 Pro Thr Gly Ser Thr Ala Leu Lys Thr Val Val Asp Lys Ala Val Ser 130 135 140 Ser Gly Ile Val Val Ala Ala Ala Ala Gly Asn Glu Gly Ser Ser Gly 145 150 155 160 Ser Thr Ser Thr Val Gly Tyr Pro Ala Lys Tyr Pro Ser Thr Ile Ala 165 170 175 Val Gly Ala Val Asn Ser Ser Asn Gln Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Ala 180 185 190 Gly Ser Glu Leu Asp Val Met Ala Pro Gly Val Ser Ile Gln Ser Thr 195 200 205 Leu Pro Gly Gly Thr Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr 210 215 220 Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Thr 225 230 235 240 Trp Thr Asn Ala Gln Val Arg Asp Arg Leu Glu Ser Thr Ala Thr Tyr 245 250 255 Leu Gly Asn Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Gln Ala 260 265 270 Ala Ala Gln 275 5 274 PRT Bacillus licheniformis 5 Ala Gln Thr Val Pro Tyr Gly Ile Pro Leu Ile Lys Ala Asp Lys Val 1 5 10 15 Gln Ala Gln Gly Phe Lys Gly Ala Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp 20 25 30 Thr Gly Ile Gln Ala Ser His Pro Asp Leu Asn Val Val Gly Gly Ala 35 40 45 Ser Phe Val Ala Gly Glu Ala Tyr Asn Thr Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly 50 55 60 Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val Ala Ala Leu Asp Asn Thr Thr Gly Val 65 70 75 80 Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Val Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Asn 85 90 95 Ser Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Tyr Ser Gly Ile Val Ser Gly Ile Glu Trp 100 105 110 Ala Thr Thr Asn Gly Met Asp Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Ala 115 120 125 Ser Gly Ser Thr Ala Met Lys Gln Ala Val Asp Asn Ala Tyr Ala Arg 130 135 140 Gly Val Val Val Val Ala Ala Ala Gly Asn Ser Gly Asn Ser Gly Ser 145 150 155 160 Thr Asn Thr Ile Gly Tyr Pro Ala Lys Tyr Asp Ser Val Ile Ala Val 165 170 175 Gly Ala Val Asp Ser Asn Ser Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly 180 185 190 Ala Glu Leu Glu Val Met Ala Pro Gly Ala Gly Val Tyr Ser Thr Tyr 195 200 205 Pro Thr Asn Thr Tyr Ala Thr Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser Pro 210 215 220 His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn Leu 225 230 235 240 Ser Ala Ser Gln Val Arg Asn Arg Leu Ser Ser Thr Ala Thr Tyr Leu 245 250 255 Gly Ser Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Glu Ala Ala 260 265 270 Ala Gln 6 269 PRT Bacillus lentus 6 Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Trp Gly Ile Ser Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 His Asn Arg Gly Leu Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp 20 25 30 Thr Gly Ile Ser Thr His Pro Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser 35 40 45 Phe Val Pro Gly Glu Pro Ser Thr Gln Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr 50 55 60 His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu 65 70 75 80 Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala 85 90 95 Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Val Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp Ala 100 105 110 Gly Asn Asn Gly Met His Val Ala Asn Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser 115 120 125 Pro Ser Ala Thr Leu Glu Gln Ala Val Asn Ser Ala Thr Ser Arg Gly 130 135 140 Val Leu Val Val Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn Ser Gly Ala Gly Ser Ile Ser 145 150 155 160 Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Gln 165 170 175 Asn Asn Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Gln Tyr Gly Ala Gly Leu Asp Ile 180 185 190 Val Ala Pro Gly Val Asn Val Gln Ser Thr Tyr Pro Gly Ser Thr Tyr 195 200 205 Ala Ser Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala 210 215 220 Ala Ala Leu Val Lys Gln Lys Asn Pro Ser Trp Ser Asn Val Gln Ile 225 230 235 240 Arg Asn His Leu Lys Asn Thr Ala Thr Ser Leu Gly Ser Thr Asn Leu 245 250 255 Tyr Gly Ser Gly Leu Val Asn Ala Glu Ala Ala Thr Arg 260 265 7 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 7 Ile Lys Asp Phe His Val Tyr Phe Arg Glu Ser Arg Asp Ala Gly 1 5 10 15 8 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 8 Leu Glu Gln Ala Val Asn Ser Ala Thr Ser Arg Gly Val Leu Val 1 5 10 15 9 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 9 Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Trp Gly Ile Ser Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Ala 1 5 10 15 10 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 10 Val Pro Trp Gly Ile Ser Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Ala Ala His Asn 1 5 10 15 11 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 11 Gly Ile Ser Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Ala Ala His Asn Arg Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 12 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 12 Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Ala Ala His Asn Arg Gly Leu Thr Gly Ser 1 5 10 15 13 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 13 Ala Pro Ala Ala His Asn Arg Gly Leu Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Lys 1 5 10 15 14 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 14 Ala His Asn Arg Gly Leu Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val 1 5 10 15 15 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence

Synthetic 15 Arg Gly Leu Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr 1 5 10 15 16 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 16 Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gly Ile Ser 1 5 10 15 17 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 17 Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gly Ile Ser Thr His Pro 1 5 10 15 18 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 18 Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gly Ile Ser Thr His Pro Asp Leu Asn 1 5 10 15 19 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 19 Leu Asp Thr Gly Ile Ser Thr His Pro Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly 1 5 10 15 20 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 20 Gly Ile Ser Thr His Pro Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser 1 5 10 15 21 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 21 Thr His Pro Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser Phe Val Pro 1 5 10 15 22 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 22 Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser Phe Val Pro Gly Glu Pro 1 5 10 15 23 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 23 Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser Phe Val Pro Gly Glu Pro Ser Thr Gln 1 5 10 15 24 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 24 Gly Ala Ser Phe Val Pro Gly Glu Pro Ser Thr Gln Asp Gly Asn 1 5 10 15 25 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 25 Phe Val Pro Gly Glu Pro Ser Thr Gln Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly 1 5 10 15 26 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 26 Gly Glu Pro Ser Thr Gln Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr His Val 1 5 10 15 27 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 27 Ser Thr Gln Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr 1 5 10 15 28 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 28 Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 29 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 29 Gly His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn 1 5 10 15 30 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 30 Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly 1 5 10 15 31 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 31 Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly 1 5 10 15 32 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 32 Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro 1 5 10 15 33 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 33 Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Glu 1 5 10 15 34 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 34 Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala 1 5 10 15 35 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 35 Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val 1 5 10 15 36 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 36 Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala 1 5 10 15 37 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 37 Ser Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Ser 1 5 10 15 38 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 38 Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Val 1 5 10 15 39 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 39 Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Val Ser Ser Ile 1 5 10 15 40 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 40 Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Val Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly 1 5 10 15 41 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 41 Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Val Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp 1 5 10 15 42 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 42 Gly Ser Val Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp Ala Gly Asn 1 5 10 15 43 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 43 Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp Ala Gly Asn Asn Gly Met 1 5 10 15 44 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 44 Ala Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp Ala Gly Asn Asn Gly Met His Val Ala 1 5 10 15 45 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 45 Leu Glu Trp Ala Gly Asn Asn Gly Met His Val Ala Asn Leu Ser 1 5 10 15 46 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 46 Ala Gly Asn Asn Gly Met His Val Ala Asn Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser 1 5 10 15 47 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 47 Asn Gly Met His Val Ala Asn Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser Pro 1 5 10 15 48 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 48 His Val Ala Asn Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser Pro Ser Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 49 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 49 Asn Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser Pro Ser Ala Thr Leu Glu Gln 1 5 10 15 50 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 50 Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser Pro Ser Ala Thr Leu Glu Gln Ala Val Asn 1 5 10 15 51 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 51 Pro Ser Pro Ser Ala Thr Leu Glu Gln Ala Val Asn Ser Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 52 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 52 Ser Ala Thr Leu Glu Gln Ala Val Asn Ser Ala Thr Ser Arg Gly 1 5 10 15 53 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 53 Leu Glu Gln Ala Val Asn Ser Ala Thr Ser Arg Gly Val Leu Val 1 5 10 15 54 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 54 Ala Val Asn Ser Ala Thr Ser Arg Gly Val Leu Val Val Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 55 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 55 Ser Ala Thr Ser Arg Gly Val Leu Val Val Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn 1 5 10 15 56 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 56 Ser Arg Gly Val Leu Val Val Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn Ser Gly Ala 1 5 10 15 57 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 57 Val Leu Val Val Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn Ser Gly Ala Gly Ser Ile 1 5 10 15 58 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 58 Val Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn Ser Gly Ala Gly Ser Ile Ser Tyr Pro 1 5 10 15 59 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 59 Ser Gly Asn Ser Gly Ala Gly Ser Ile Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr 1 5 10 15 60 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 60 Ser Gly Ala Gly Ser Ile Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala 1 5 10 15 61 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 61 Gly Ser Ile Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val 1 5 10 15 62 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 62 Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val Gly Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 63 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 63 Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Gln Asn 1 5 10 15 64 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 64 Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Gln Asn Asn Asn Arg 1 5 10 15 65 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 65 Met Ala Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Gln Asn Asn Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe 1 5 10 15 66 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 66 Gly Ala Thr Asp Gln Asn Asn Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Gln Tyr 1 5 10 15 67 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 67 Asp Gln Asn Asn Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Gln Tyr Gly Ala Gly 1 5 10 15 68 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 68 Asn Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Gln Tyr Gly Ala Gly Leu Asp Ile 1 5 10 15 69 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 69 Ala Ser Phe Ser Gln Tyr Gly Ala Gly Leu Asp Ile Val Ala Pro 1 5 10 15 70 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 70 Ser Gln Tyr Gly Ala Gly Leu Asp Ile Val Ala Pro Gly Val Asn 1 5 10 15 71 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 71 Gly Ala Gly Leu Asp Ile Val Ala Pro Gly Val Asn Val Gln Ser 1 5 10 15 72 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 72 Leu Asp Ile Val Ala Pro Gly Val Asn Val Gln Ser Thr Tyr Pro 1 5 10 15 73 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 73 Val Ala Pro Gly Val Asn Val Gln Ser Thr Tyr Pro Gly Ser Thr 1 5 10 15 74 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 74 Gly Val Asn Val Gln Ser Thr Tyr Pro Gly Ser Thr Tyr Ala Ser 1 5 10 15 75 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 75 Val Gln Ser Thr Tyr Pro Gly Ser Thr Tyr Ala Ser Leu Asn Gly 1 5 10 15 76 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 76 Thr Tyr Pro Gly Ser Thr Tyr Ala Ser Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met 1 5 10 15 77 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 77 Gly Ser Thr Tyr Ala Ser Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr Pro 1 5 10 15 78 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 78 Tyr Ala Ser Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr Pro His Val Ala 1 5 10 15 79 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 79 Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 80 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 80 Thr Ser Met Ala Thr Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Val 1 5 10 15 81 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 81 Ala Thr Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Val Lys Gln Lys 1 5 10 15 82 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 82 Gly Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Val Lys Gln Lys Asn Pro Ser 1 5 10 15 83 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 83 Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Val Lys Gln Lys Asn Pro Ser Trp Ser Asn 1 5 10 15 84 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 84 Ala Leu Val Lys Gln Lys Asn Pro Ser Trp Ser Asn Val Gln Ile 1 5 10 15 85 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 85 Lys Gln Lys Asn Pro Ser Trp Ser Val Asn Gln Ile Arg Asn His 1 5 10 15 86 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 86 Asn Pro Ser Trp Ser Asn Val Gln Ile Arg Asn His Leu Lys Asn 1 5 10 15 87 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 87 Trp Ser Asn Val Gln Ile Arg Asn His Leu Lys Asn Thr Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 88 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 88 Val Gln Ile Arg Asn His Leu Lys Asn Thr Ala Thr Ser Leu Gly 1 5 10 15 89 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 89 Arg Asn His Leu Lys Asn Thr Ala Thr Ser Leu Gly Ser Thr Asn 1 5 10 15 90 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 90 Leu Lys Asn Thr Ala Thr Ser Leu Gly Ser Thr Asn Leu Tyr Gly 1 5 10 15 91 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 91 Thr Ala Thr Ser Leu Gly Ser Thr Asn Leu Tyr Gly Ser Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 92 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 92 Ser Leu Gly Ser Thr Asn Leu Tyr Gly Ser Gly Leu Val Asn Ala 1 5 10 15 93 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 93 Ser Thr Asn Leu Tyr Gly Ser Gly Leu Val Asn Ala Glu Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 94 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 94 Asn Leu Tyr Gly Ser Gly Leu Val Asn Ala Glu Ala Ala Thr Arg 1 5 10 15 95 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 95 Asp Ala Glu Leu His Ile Phe Arg Val Phe Thr Asn Asn Gln Val 1 5 10 15 96 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 96 Pro Leu Arg Arg Ala Ser Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Gly Phe Trp His 1 5 10 15 97 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 97 Arg Ala Ser Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Gly Phe Trp His Ala Thr Gly 1 5 10 15 98 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 98 Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Gly Phe Trp His Ala Thr Gly Arg His Ser 1 5 10 15 99 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 99 Gly Ser Gly Phe Trp His Ala Thr Gly Arg His Ser Ser Arg Arg 1 5 10 15 100 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 100 Phe Trp His Ala Thr Gly Arg His Ser Ser Arg Arg Leu Leu Arg 1 5 10 15 101 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 101 Ala Thr Gly Arg His Ser Ser Arg Arg Leu Leu Arg Ala Ile Pro 1 5 10 15 102 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 102 Arg His Ser Ser Arg Arg Leu Leu Arg Ala Ile Pro Arg Gln Val 1 5 10 15 103 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 103 Ser Arg Arg Leu Leu Arg Ala Ile Pro Arg Gln Val Ala Gln Thr 1 5 10 15 104 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 104 Leu Leu Arg Ala Ile Pro Arg Gln Val Ala Gln Thr Leu Gln Ala 1 5 10 15 105 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 105 Ala Ile Pro Arg Gln Val Ala Gln Thr Leu Gln Ala Asp Val Leu 1 5 10 15 106 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 106 Arg Gln Val

Ala Gln Thr Leu Gln Ala Asp Val Leu Trp Gln Met 1 5 10 15 107 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 107 Ala Gln Thr Leu Gln Ala Asp Val Leu Trp Gln Met Gly Tyr Thr 1 5 10 15 108 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 108 Leu Gln Ala Asp Val Leu Trp Gln Met Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ala Asn 1 5 10 15 109 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 109 Asp Val Leu Trp Gln Met Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ala Asn Val Arg Val 1 5 10 15 110 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 110 Trp Gln Met Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ala Asn Val Arg Val Ala Val Phe 1 5 10 15 111 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 111 Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ala Asn Val Arg Val Ala Val Phe Asp Thr Gly 1 5 10 15 112 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 112 Gly Ala Asn Val Arg Val Ala Val Phe Asp Thr Gly Leu Ser Glu 1 5 10 15 113 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 113 Val Arg Val Ala Val Phe Asp Thr Gly Leu Ser Glu Lys His Pro 1 5 10 15 114 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 114 Ala Val Phe Asp Thr Gly Leu Ser Glu Lys His Pro His Phe Lys 1 5 10 15 115 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 115 Asp Thr Gly Leu Ser Glu Lys His Pro His Phe Lys Asn Val Lys 1 5 10 15 116 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 116 Leu Ser Glu Lys His Pro His Phe Lys Asn Val Lys Glu Arg Thr 1 5 10 15 117 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 117 Lys His Pro His Phe Lys Asn Val Lys Glu Arg Thr Asn Trp Thr 1 5 10 15 118 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 118 His Phe Lys Asn Val Lys Glu Arg Thr Asn Trp Thr Asn Glu Arg 1 5 10 15 119 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 119 Asn Val Lys Glu Arg Thr Asn Trp Thr Asn Glu Arg Thr Leu Asp 1 5 10 15 120 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 120 Glu Arg Thr Asn Trp Thr Asn Glu Arg Thr Leu Asp Asp Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 121 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 121 Asn Trp Thr Asn Glu Arg Thr Leu Asp Asp Gly Leu Gly His Gly 1 5 10 15 122 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 122 Asn Glu Arg Thr Leu Asp Asp Gly Leu Gly His Gly Thr Phe Val 1 5 10 15 123 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 123 Thr Leu Asp Asp Gly Leu Gly His Gly Thr Phe Val Ala Gly Val 1 5 10 15 124 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 124 Asp Gly Leu Gly His Gly Thr Phe Val Ala Gly Val Ile Ala Ser 1 5 10 15 125 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 125 Gly His Gly Thr Phe Val Ala Gly Val Ile Ala Ser Met Arg Glu 1 5 10 15 126 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 126 Thr Phe Val Ala Gly Val Ile Ala Ser Met Arg Glu Cys Gln Gly 1 5 10 15 127 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 127 Ala Gly Val Ile Ala Ser Met Arg Glu Cys Gln Gly Phe Ala Pro 1 5 10 15 128 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 128 Ile Ala Ser Met Arg Glu Cys Gln Gly Phe Ala Pro Asp Ala Glu 1 5 10 15 129 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 129 Met Arg Glu Cys Gln Gly Phe Ala Pro Asp Ala Glu Leu His Ile 1 5 10 15 130 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 130 Cys Gln Gly Phe Ala Pro Asp Ala Glu Leu His Ile Phe Arg Val 1 5 10 15 131 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 131 Phe Ala Pro Asp Ala Glu Leu His Ile Phe Arg Val Phe Thr Asn 1 5 10 15 132 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 132 Asp Ala Glu Leu His Ile Phe Arg Val Phe Thr Asn Asn Gln Val 1 5 10 15 133 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 133 Leu His Ile Phe Arg Val Phe Thr Asn Asn Gln Val Ser Tyr Thr 1 5 10 15 134 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 134 Phe Arg Val Phe Thr Asn Asn Gln Val Ser Tyr Thr Ser Trp Phe 1 5 10 15 135 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 135 Phe Thr Asn Asn Gln Val Ser Tyr Thr Ser Trp Phe Leu Asp Ala 1 5 10 15 136 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 136 Asn Gln Val Ser Tyr Thr Ser Trp Phe Leu Asp Ala Phe Asn Tyr 1 5 10 15 137 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 137 Ser Tyr Thr Ser Trp Phe Leu Asp Ala Phe Asn Tyr Ala Ile Leu 1 5 10 15 138 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 138 Ser Trp Phe Leu Asp Ala Phe Asn Tyr Ala Ile Leu Lys Lys Ile 1 5 10 15 139 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 139 Leu Asp Ala Phe Asn Tyr Ala Ile Leu Lys Lys Ile Asp Val Leu 1 5 10 15 140 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 140 Phe Asn Tyr Ala Ile Leu Lys Lys Ile Asp Val Leu Asn Leu Ser 1 5 10 15 141 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 141 Ala Ile Leu Lys Lys Ile Asp Val Leu Asn Leu Ser Ile Gly Gly 1 5 10 15 142 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 142 Lys Lys Ile Asp Val Leu Asn Leu Ser Ile Gly Gly Pro Asp Phe 1 5 10 15 143 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 143 Asp Val Leu Asn Leu Ser Ile Gly Gly Pro Asp Phe Met Asp His 1 5 10 15 144 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 144 Asn Leu Ser Ile Gly Gly Pro Asp Phe Met Asp His Pro Phe Val 1 5 10 15 145 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 145 Ile Gly Gly Pro Asp Phe Met Asp His Pro Phe Val Asp Lys Val 1 5 10 15 146 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 146 Pro Asp Phe Met Asp His Pro Phe Val Asp Lys Val Trp Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 147 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 147 Met Asp His Pro Phe Val Asp Lys Val Trp Glu Leu Thr Ala Asn 1 5 10 15 148 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 148 Pro Phe Val Asp Lys Val Trp Glu Leu Thr Ala Asn Asn Val Ile 1 5 10 15 149 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 149 Asp Lys Val Trp Glu Leu Thr Ala Asn Asn Val Ile Met Val Ser 1 5 10 15 150 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 150 Trp Glu Leu Thr Ala Asn Asn Val Ile Met Val Ser Ala Ile Gly 1 5 10 15 151 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 151 Thr Ala Asn Asn Val Ile Met Val Ser Ala Ile Gly Asn Asp Gly 1 5 10 15 152 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 152 Asn Val Ile Met Val Ser Ala Ile Gly Asn Asp Gly Pro Leu Tyr 1 5 10 15 153 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 153 Met Val Ser Ala Ile Gly Asn Asp Gly Pro Leu Tyr Gly Thr Ile 1 5 10 15 154 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 154 Ala Ile Gly Asn Asp Gly Pro Leu Tyr Gly Thr Leu Asn Asn Pro 1 5 10 15 155 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 155 Asn Asp Gly Pro Leu Tyr Gly Thr Leu Asn Asn Pro Ala Asp Gln 1 5 10 15 156 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 156 Pro Leu Tyr Gly Thr Leu Asn Asn Pro Ala Asp Gln Met Asp Val 1 5 10 15 157 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 157 Gly Thr Leu Asn Asn Pro Ala Asp Gln Met Asp Val Ile Gly Val 1 5 10 15 158 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 158 Asn Asn Pro Ala Asp Gln Met Asp Val Ile Gly Val Gly Gly Ile 1 5 10 15 159 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 159 Ala Asp Gln Met Asp Val Ile Gly Val Gly Gly Ile Asp Phe Glu 1 5 10 15 160 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 160 Met Asp Val Ile Gly Val Gly Gly Ile Asp Phe Glu Asp Asn Ile 1 5 10 15 161 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 161 Ile Gly Val Gly Gly Ile Asp Phe Glu Asp Asn Ile Ala Arg Phe 1 5 10 15 162 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 162 Gly Gly Ile Asp Phe Glu Asp Asn Ile Ala Arg Phe Ser Ser Arg 1 5 10 15 163 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 163 Asp Phe Glu Asp Asn Ile Ala Arg Phe Ser Ser Arg Gly Met Thr 1 5 10 15 164 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 164 Asp Asn Ile Ala Arg Phe Ser Ser Arg Gly Met Thr Thr Trp Glu 1 5 10 15 165 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 165 Ala Arg Phe Ser Ser Arg Gly Met Thr Thr Trp Glu Leu Pro Gly 1 5 10 15 166 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 166 Ser Ser Arg Gly Met Thr Thr Trp Glu Leu Pro Gly Gly Tyr Gly 1 5 10 15 167 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 167 Gly Met Thr Thr Trp Glu Leu Pro Gly Gly Tyr Gly Arg Met Lys 1 5 10 15 168 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 168 Thr Trp Glu Leu Pro Gly Gly Tyr Gly Arg Met Lys Pro Asp Ile 1 5 10 15 169 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 169 Leu Pro Gly Gly Tyr Gly Arg Met Lys Pro Asp Ile Val Thr Tyr 1 5 10 15 170 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 170 Gly Tyr Gly Arg Met Lys Pro Asp Ile Val Thr Tyr Gly Ala Gly 1 5 10 15 171 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 171 Arg Met Lys Pro Asp Ile Val Thr Tyr Gly Ala Gly Val Arg Gly 1 5 10 15 172 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 172 Pro Asp Ile Val Thr Tyr Gly Ala Gly Val Arg Gly Ser Gly Val 1 5 10 15 173 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 173 Val Thr Tyr Gly Ala Gly Val Arg Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Gly Gly 1 5 10 15 174 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 174 Gly Ala Gly Val Arg Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Gly Gly Cys Arg Ala 1 5 10 15 175 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 175 Val Arg Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Gly Gly Cys Arg Ala Leu Ser Gly 1 5 10 15 176 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 176 Ser Gly Val Lys Gly Gly Cys Arg Ala Leu Ser Gly Thr Ser Val 1 5 10 15 177 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 177 Lys Gly Gly Cys Arg Ala Leu Ser Gly Thr Ser Val Ala Ser Pro 1 5 10 15 178 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 178 Cys Arg Ala Leu Ser Gly Thr Ser Val Ala Ser Pro Val Val Ala 1 5 10 15 179 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 179 Leu Ser Gly Thr Ser Val Ala Ser Pro Val Val Ala Gly Ala Val 1 5 10 15 180 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 180 Thr Ser Val Ala Ser Pro Val Val Ala Gly Ala Val Thr Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 181 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 181 Ala Ser Pro Val Val Ala Gly Ala Val Thr Leu Leu Val Ser Thr 1 5 10 15 182 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 182 Val Val Ala Gly Ala Val Thr Leu Leu Val Ser Thr Val Gln Lys 1 5 10 15 183 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 183 Gly Ala Val Thr Leu Leu Val Ser Thr Val Gln Lys Arg Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 184 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 184 Thr Leu Leu Val Ser Thr Val Gln Lys Arg Glu Leu Val Asn Pro 1 5 10 15 185 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 185 Val Ser Thr Val Gln Lys Arg Glu Leu Val Asn Pro Ala Ser Met 1 5 10 15 186 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 186 Val Gln Lys Arg Glu Leu Val Asn Pro Ala Ser Met Lys Gln Ala 1 5 10 15 187 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 187 Arg Glu Leu Val Asn Pro Ala Ser Met Lys Gln Ala Leu Ile Ala 1 5 10 15 188 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 188 Val Asn Pro Ala Ser Met Lys Gln Ala Leu Ile Ala Ser Ala Arg 1 5 10 15 189 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 189 Ala Ser Met Lys Gln Ala Leu Ile Ala Ser Ala Arg Arg Leu Pro 1 5 10 15 190 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 190 Lys Gln Ala Leu Ile Ala Ser Ala Arg Arg Leu Pro Gly Val Asn 1 5 10 15 191 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 191 Leu Ile Ala Ser Ala Arg Arg Leu Pro Gly Val Asn Met Phe Glu 1 5 10 15 192 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 192 Ser Ala Arg Arg Leu Pro Gly Val Asn Met Phe Glu Gln Gly His 1 5 10 15 193 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 193 Arg Leu Pro Gly Val Asn Met Phe Glu Gln Gly His Gly Lys Leu 1 5 10 15 194 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 194 Gly Val Asn Met Phe Glu Gln Gly His Gly Lys Leu Asp Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 195 15

PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 195 Met Phe Glu Gln Gly His Gly Lys Leu Asp Leu Leu Arg Ala Tyr 1 5 10 15 196 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 196 Gln Gly His Gly Lys Leu Asp Leu Leu Arg Ala Tyr Gln Ile Leu 1 5 10 15 197 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 197 Gly Lys Leu Asp Leu Leu Arg Ala Tyr Gln Ile Leu Asn Ser Tyr 1 5 10 15 198 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 198 Asp Leu Leu Arg Ala Tyr Gln Ile Leu Asn Ser Tyr Lys Pro Gln 1 5 10 15 199 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 199 Arg Ala Tyr Gln Ile Leu Asn Ser Tyr Lys Pro Gln Ala Ser Leu 1 5 10 15 200 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 200 Gln Ile Leu Asn Ser Tyr Lys Pro Gln Ala Ser Leu Ser Pro Ser 1 5 10 15 201 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 201 Asn Ser Tyr Lys Pro Gln Ala Ser Leu Ser Pro Ser Tyr Ile Asp 1 5 10 15 202 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 202 Lys Pro Gln Ala Ser Leu Ser Pro Ser Tyr Ile Asp Leu Thr Glu 1 5 10 15 203 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 203 Ala Ser Leu Ser Pro Ser Tyr Ile Asp Leu Thr Glu Cys Pro Tyr 1 5 10 15 204 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 204 Ser Pro Ser Tyr Ile Asp Leu Thr Glu Cys Pro Tyr Met Trp Pro 1 5 10 15 205 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 205 Tyr Ile Asp Leu Thr Glu Cys Pro Tyr Met Trp Pro Tyr Cys Ser 1 5 10 15 206 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 206 Leu Thr Glu Cys Pro Tyr Met Trp Pro Tyr Cys Ser Gln Pro Ile 1 5 10 15 207 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 207 Cys Pro Tyr Met Trp Pro Tyr Cys Ser Gln Pro Ile Tyr Tyr Gly 1 5 10 15 208 1052 PRT Homo sapiens 208 Met Lys Leu Val Asn Ile Trp Leu Leu Leu Leu Val Val Leu Leu Cys 1 5 10 15 Gly Lys Lys His Leu Gly Asp Arg Leu Glu Lys Lys Ser Phe Glu Lys 20 25 30 Ala Pro Cys Pro Gly Cys Ser His Leu Thr Leu Lys Val Glu Phe Ser 35 40 45 Ser Thr Val Val Glu Tyr Glu Tyr Ile Val Ala Phe Asn Gly Tyr Phe 50 55 60 Thr Ala Lys Ala Arg Asn Ser Phe Ile Ser Ser Ala Leu Lys Ser Ser 65 70 75 80 Glu Val Asp Asn Trp Arg Ile Ile Pro Arg Asn Asn Pro Ser Ser Asp 85 90 95 Tyr Pro Ser Asp Phe Glu Val Ile Gln Ile Lys Glu Lys Gln Lys Ala 100 105 110 Gly Leu Leu Thr Leu Glu Asp His Pro Asn Ile Lys Arg Val Thr Pro 115 120 125 Gln Arg Lys Val Phe Arg Ser Leu Lys Tyr Ala Glu Ser Asp Pro Thr 130 135 140 Val Pro Cys Asn Glu Thr Arg Trp Ser Gln Lys Trp Gln Ser Ser Arg 145 150 155 160 Pro Leu Arg Arg Ala Ser Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Gly Phe Trp His Ala 165 170 175 Thr Gly Arg His Ser Ser Arg Arg Leu Leu Arg Ala Ile Pro Arg Gln 180 185 190 Val Ala Gln Thr Leu Gln Ala Asp Val Leu Trp Gln Met Gly Tyr Thr 195 200 205 Gly Ala Asn Val Arg Val Ala Val Phe Asp Thr Gly Leu Ser Glu Lys 210 215 220 His Pro His Phe Lys Asn Val Lys Glu Arg Thr Asn Trp Thr Asn Glu 225 230 235 240 Arg Thr Leu Asp Asp Gly Leu Gly His Gly Thr Phe Val Ala Gly Val 245 250 255 Ile Ala Ser Met Arg Glu Cys Gln Gly Phe Ala Pro Asp Ala Glu Leu 260 265 270 His Ile Phe Arg Val Phe Thr Asn Asn Gln Val Ser Tyr Thr Ser Trp 275 280 285 Phe Leu Asp Ala Phe Asn Tyr Ala Ile Leu Lys Lys Ile Asp Val Leu 290 295 300 Asn Leu Ser Ile Gly Gly Pro Asp Phe Met Asp His Pro Phe Val Asp 305 310 315 320 Lys Val Trp Glu Leu Thr Ala Asn Asn Val Ile Met Val Ser Ala Ile 325 330 335 Gly Asn Asp Gly Pro Leu Tyr Gly Thr Leu Asn Asn Pro Ala Asp Gln 340 345 350 Met Asp Val Ile Gly Val Gly Gly Ile Asp Phe Glu Asp Asn Ile Ala 355 360 365 Arg Phe Ser Ser Arg Gly Met Thr Thr Trp Glu Leu Pro Gly Gly Tyr 370 375 380 Gly Arg Met Lys Pro Asp Ile Val Thr Tyr Gly Ala Gly Val Arg Gly 385 390 395 400 Ser Gly Val Lys Gly Gly Cys Arg Ala Leu Ser Gly Thr Ser Val Ala 405 410 415 Ser Pro Val Val Ala Gly Ala Val Thr Leu Leu Val Ser Thr Val Gln 420 425 430 Lys Arg Glu Leu Val Asn Pro Ala Ser Met Lys Gln Ala Leu Ile Ala 435 440 445 Ser Ala Arg Arg Leu Pro Gly Val Asn Met Phe Glu Gln Gly His Gly 450 455 460 Lys Leu Asp Leu Leu Arg Ala Tyr Gln Ile Leu Asn Ser Tyr Lys Pro 465 470 475 480 Gln Ala Ser Leu Ser Pro Ser Tyr Ile Asp Leu Thr Glu Cys Pro Tyr 485 490 495 Met Trp Pro Tyr Cys Ser Gln Pro Ile Tyr Tyr Gly Gly Met Pro Thr 500 505 510 Val Val Asn Val Thr Ile Leu Asn Gly Met Gly Val Thr Gly Arg Ile 515 520 525 Val Asp Lys Pro Asp Trp Gln Pro Tyr Leu Pro Gln Asn Gly Asp Asn 530 535 540 Ile Glu Val Ala Phe Ser Tyr Ser Ser Val Leu Trp Pro Trp Ser Gly 545 550 555 560 Tyr Leu Ala Ile Ser Ile Ser Val Thr Lys Lys Ala Ala Ser Trp Glu 565 570 575 Gly Ile Ala Gln Gly His Val Met Ile Thr Val Ala Ser Pro Ala Glu 580 585 590 Thr Glu Ser Lys Asn Gly Ala Glu Gln Thr Ser Thr Val Lys Leu Pro 595 600 605 Ile Lys Val Lys Ile Ile Pro Thr Pro Pro Arg Ser Lys Arg Val Leu 610 615 620 Trp Asp Gln Tyr His Asn Leu Arg Tyr Pro Pro Gly Tyr Phe Pro Arg 625 630 635 640 Asp Asn Leu Arg Met Lys Asn Asp Pro Leu Asp Trp Asn Gly Asp His 645 650 655 Ile His Thr Asn Phe Arg Asp Met Tyr Gln His Leu Arg Ser Met Gly 660 665 670 Tyr Phe Val Glu Val Leu Gly Ala Pro Phe Thr Cys Phe Asp Ala Ser 675 680 685 Gln Tyr Gly Thr Leu Leu Met Val Asp Ser Glu Glu Glu Tyr Phe Pro 690 695 700 Glu Glu Ile Ala Lys Leu Arg Arg Asp Val Asp Asn Gly Leu Ser Leu 705 710 715 720 Val Ile Phe Ser Asp Trp Tyr Asn Thr Ser Val Met Arg Lys Val Lys 725 730 735 Phe Tyr Asp Glu Asn Thr Arg Gln Trp Trp Met Pro Asp Thr Gly Gly 740 745 750 Ala Asn Ile Pro Ala Leu Asn Glu Leu Leu Ser Val Trp Asn Met Gly 755 760 765 Phe Ser Asp Gly Leu Tyr Glu Gly Glu Phe Thr Leu Ala Asn His Asp 770 775 780 Met Tyr Tyr Ala Ser Gly Cys Ser Ile Ala Lys Phe Pro Glu Asp Gly 785 790 795 800 Val Val Ile Thr Gln Thr Phe Lys Asp Gln Gly Leu Glu Val Leu Lys 805 810 815 Gln Glu Thr Ala Val Val Glu Asn Val Pro Ile Leu Gly Leu Tyr Gln 820 825 830 Ile Pro Ala Glu Gly Gly Gly Arg Ile Val Leu Tyr Gly Asp Ser Asn 835 840 845 Cys Leu Asp Asp Ser His Arg Gln Lys Asp Cys Phe Trp Leu Leu Asp 850 855 860 Ala Leu Leu Gln Tyr Thr Ser Tyr Gly Val Thr Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser 865 870 875 880 His Ser Gly Asn Arg Gln Arg Pro Pro Ser Gly Ala Gly Ser Val Thr 885 890 895 Pro Glu Arg Met Glu Gly Asn His Leu His Arg Tyr Ser Lys Val Leu 900 905 910 Glu Ala His Leu Gly Asp Pro Lys Pro Arg Pro Leu Pro Ala Cys Pro 915 920 925 Arg Leu Ser Trp Ala Lys Pro Gln Pro Leu Asn Glu Thr Ala Pro Ser 930 935 940 Asn Leu Trp Lys His Gln Lys Leu Leu Ser Ile Asp Leu Asp Lys Val 945 950 955 960 Val Leu Pro Asn Phe Arg Ser Asn Arg Pro Gln Val Arg Pro Leu Ser 965 970 975 Pro Gly Glu Ser Gly Ala Trp Asp Ile Pro Gly Gly Ile Met Pro Gly 980 985 990 Arg Tyr Asn Gln Glu Val Gly Gln Thr Ile Pro Val Phe Ala Phe Leu 995 1000 1005 Gly Ala Met Val Val Leu Ala Phe Phe Val Val Gln Ile Asn Lys Ala 1010 1015 1020 Lys Ser Arg Pro Lys Arg Arg Lys Pro Arg Val Lys Arg Pro Gln Leu 1025 1030 1035 1040 Met Gln Gln Val His Pro Pro Lys Thr Pro Ser Val 1045 1050 209 280 PRT Homo sapiens 209 Arg Ala Ile Pro Arg Gln Val Ala Gln Thr Leu Gln Ala Asp Val Leu 1 5 10 15 Trp Gln Met Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ala Asn Val Arg Val Ala Val Phe Asp 20 25 30 Thr Gly Leu Ser Glu Lys His Pro His Phe Lys Asn Val Lys Glu Arg 35 40 45 Thr Asn Trp Thr Asn Glu Arg Thr Leu Asp Asp Gly Leu Gly His Gly 50 55 60 Thr Phe Val Ala Gly Val Ile Ala Ser Met Arg Glu Cys Gln Gly Phe 65 70 75 80 Ala Pro Asp Ala Glu Leu His Ile Phe Arg Val Phe Thr Asn Asn Gln 85 90 95 Val Ser Tyr Thr Ser Trp Phe Leu Asp Ala Phe Asn Tyr Ala Ile Leu 100 105 110 Lys Lys Ile Asp Val Leu Asn Leu Ser Ile Gly Gly Pro Asp Phe Met 115 120 125 Asp His Pro Phe Val Asp Lys Val Trp Glu Leu Thr Ala Asn Asn Val 130 135 140 Ile Met Val Ser Ala Ile Gly Asn Asp Gly Pro Leu Tyr Gly Thr Leu 145 150 155 160 Asn Asn Pro Ala Asp Gln Met Asp Val Ile Gly Val Gly Gly Ile Asp 165 170 175 Phe Glu Asp Asn Ile Ala Arg Phe Ser Ser Arg Gly Met Thr Thr Trp 180 185 190 Glu Leu Pro Gly Gly Tyr Gly Arg Met Lys Pro Asp Ile Val Thr Tyr 195 200 205 Gly Ala Gly Val Arg Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Gly Gly Cys Arg Ala Leu 210 215 220 Ser Gly Thr Ser Val Ala Ser Pro Val Val Ala Gly Ala Val Thr Leu 225 230 235 240 Leu Val Ser Thr Val Gln Lys Arg Glu Leu Val Asn Pro Ala Ser Met 245 250 255 Lys Gln Ala Leu Ile Ala Ser Ala Arg Arg Leu Pro Gly Val Asn Met 260 265 270 Phe Glu Gln Gly His Gly Lys Leu 275 280 210 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 210 Gly Ser Ile Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val 1 5 10 15 211 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 211 Ala Ser Ile Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val 1 5 10 15 212 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 212 Gly Ala Ile Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val 1 5 10 15 213 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 213 Gly Ser Ala Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val 1 5 10 15 214 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 214 Gly Ser Ile Ala Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val 1 5 10 15 215 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 215 Gly Ser Ile Ser Ala Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val 1 5 10 15 216 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 216 Gly Ser Ile Ser Tyr Ala Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val 1 5 10 15 217 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 217 Gly Ser Ile Ser Tyr Pro Ala Ala Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val 1 5 10 15 218 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 218 Gly Ser Ile Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Ala Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val 1 5 10 15 219 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 219 Gly Ser Ile Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Ala Ala Met Ala Val 1 5 10 15 220 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 220 Gly Ser Ile Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Ala Ala Val 1 5 10 15 221 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 221 Gly Ser Ile Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 222 15 PRT Humicola insolens 222 Pro Gly Gly Val Ala Tyr Ser Cys Ala Asp Gln Thr Pro Trp Ala 1 5 10 15 223 15 PRT Humicola insolens 223 Cys Gly Trp Ala Lys Lys Ala Pro Val Asn Gln Pro Val Phe Ser 1 5 10 15 224 276 PRT Humicola insolens 224 Met Arg Ser Ser Pro Leu Leu Pro Ser Ala Val Val Ala Ala Leu Pro 1 5 10 15 Val Leu Ala Leu Ala Ala Asp Gly Arg Ser Thr Arg Tyr Trp Asp Cys 20 25 30 Cys Lys Pro Ser Cys Gly Trp Ala Lys Lys Ala Pro Val Asn Gln Pro 35 40 45 Val Phe Ser Cys Asn Ala Asn Phe Gln Arg Ile Thr Asp Phe Asp Ala 50 55 60 Lys Ser Gly Cys Glu Pro Gly Gly Val Ala Tyr Ser Cys Ala Asp Gln 65 70 75 80 Thr Pro Trp Ala Val Asn Asp Asp Phe Ala Leu Gly Phe Ala Ala Thr 85 90 95 Ser Ile Ala Gly Ser Asn Glu Ala Gly Trp Cys Cys Ala Cys Tyr Glu 100 105 110 Leu Thr Phe Thr Ser Gly Pro Val Ala Gly Lys Lys Met Val Val Gln 115 120 125 Ser Thr Ser Thr Gly Gly Asp Leu Gly Ser Asn His Phe Asp Leu Asn 130 135 140 Ile Pro Gly Gly Gly Val Gly Ile Phe Asp Gly Cys Thr Pro Gln Phe 145 150 155 160 Gly Gly Leu Pro Gly Gln Arg Tyr Gly Gly Ile Ser Ser Arg Asn Glu 165 170 175 Cys Asp Arg Phe Pro Asp Ala Leu Lys Pro Gly Cys Tyr Trp Arg Phe 180 185 190 Asp Trp Phe Lys Asn Ala Asp Asn Pro Ser Phe Ser Phe Arg Gln Val 195 200 205 Gln Cys Pro Ala Glu Leu Val Ala Arg Thr Gly Cys Arg Arg Asn Asp 210 215 220 Asp Gly Asn Phe Pro Ala Val Gln Ile Pro Ser Ser Ser Thr Ser Ser 225 230 235 240 Pro Val Asn Gln Pro Thr Ser Thr Ser Thr Thr Ser Thr Ser Thr Thr 245 250 255 Ser Ser Pro Pro Val Gln Pro Thr Thr Pro Ser Gly Cys Thr Ala Glu 260 265 270 Arg Trp Ala Gln 275 225 18 PRT Thermomyces lanuginosus 225 Gly Asp Val Thr Gly Phe Leu Ala Leu Asp Asn Thr Asn Lys Leu Ile 1 5 10 15 Val Leu 226 15 PRT Thermomyces lanuginosus 226 Ser Ile Glu Asn Trp Ile Gly Asn Leu Asn Phe Asp Leu Lys Glu 1 5 10 15 227 291 PRT Thermomyces lanuginosus 227 Met Arg Ser Ser Leu Val Leu Phe Phe Val Ser Ala Trp Thr Ala Leu 1 5 10 15 Ala Ser Pro Ile Arg Arg Glu Val Ser Gln Asp Leu Phe Asn Gln Phe 20 25 30 Asn Leu Phe Ala Gln Tyr Ser Ala Ala Ala Tyr Cys Gly Lys Asn Asn 35 40 45

Asp Ala Pro Ala Gly Thr Asn Ile Thr Cys Thr Gly Asn Ala Cys Pro 50 55 60 Glu Val Glu Lys Ala Asp Ala Thr Phe Leu Tyr Ser Phe Glu Asp Ser 65 70 75 80 Gly Val Gly Asp Val Thr Gly Phe Leu Ala Leu Asp Asn Thr Asn Lys 85 90 95 Leu Ile Val Leu Ser Phe Arg Gly Ser Arg Ser Ile Glu Asn Trp Ile 100 105 110 Gly Asn Leu Asn Phe Asp Leu Lys Glu Ile Asn Asp Ile Cys Ser Gly 115 120 125 Cys Arg Gly His Asp Gly Phe Thr Ser Ser Trp Arg Ser Val Ala Asp 130 135 140 Thr Leu Arg Gln Lys Val Glu Asp Ala Val Arg Glu His Pro Asp Tyr 145 150 155 160 Arg Val Val Phe Thr Gly His Ser Leu Gly Gly Ala Leu Ala Thr Val 165 170 175 Ala Gly Ala Asp Leu Arg Gly Asn Gly Tyr Asp Ile Asp Val Phe Ser 180 185 190 Tyr Gly Ala Pro Arg Val Gly Asn Arg Ala Phe Ala Glu Phe Leu Thr 195 200 205 Val Gln Thr Gly Gly Thr Leu Tyr Arg Ile Thr His Thr Asn Asp Ile 210 215 220 Val Pro Arg Leu Pro Pro Arg Glu Phe Gly Tyr Ser His Ser Ser Pro 225 230 235 240 Glu Tyr Trp Ile Lys Ser Gly Thr Leu Val Pro Val Thr Arg Asn Asp 245 250 255 Ile Val Lys Ile Glu Gly Ile Asp Ala Thr Gly Gly Asn Asn Gln Pro 260 265 270 Asn Ile Pro Asp Ile Pro Ala His Leu Trp Tyr Phe Gly Leu Ile Gly 275 280 285 Thr Cys Leu 290 228 15 PRT Streptomyces plicatus 228 Ile Lys Val Leu Leu Ser Val Leu Gly Asn His Gln Gly Ala Gly 1 5 10 15 229 313 PRT Streptomyces plicatus 229 Met Phe Thr Pro Val Arg Arg Arg Val Arg Thr Ala Ala Leu Ala Leu 1 5 10 15 Ser Ala Ala Ala Ala Leu Val Leu Gly Ser Thr Ala Ala Ser Gly Ala 20 25 30 Ser Ala Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro Val Lys 35 40 45 Gln Gly Pro Thr Ser Val Ala Tyr Val Glu Val Asn Asn Asn Ser Met 50 55 60 Leu Asn Val Gly Lys Tyr Thr Leu Ala Asp Gly Gly Gly Asn Ala Phe 65 70 75 80 Asp Val Ala Val Ile Phe Ala Ala Asn Ile Asn Tyr Asp Thr Gly Thr 85 90 95 Lys Thr Ala Tyr Leu His Phe Asn Glu Asn Val Gln Arg Val Leu Asp 100 105 110 Asn Ala Val Thr Gln Ile Arg Pro Leu Gln Gln Gln Gly Ile Lys Val 115 120 125 Leu Leu Ser Val Leu Gly Asn His Gln Gly Ala Gly Phe Ala Asn Phe 130 135 140 Pro Ser Gln Gln Ala Ala Ser Ala Phe Ala Lys Gln Leu Ser Asp Ala 145 150 155 160 Val Ala Lys Tyr Gly Leu Asp Gly Val Asp Phe Asp Asp Glu Tyr Ala 165 170 175 Glu Tyr Gly Asn Asn Gly Thr Ala Gln Pro Asn Asp Ser Ser Phe Val 180 185 190 His Leu Val Thr Ala Leu Arg Ala Asn Met Pro Asp Lys Ile Ile Ser 195 200 205 Leu Tyr Asn Ile Gly Pro Ala Ala Ser Arg Leu Ser Tyr Gly Gly Val 210 215 220 Asp Val Ser Asp Lys Phe Asp Tyr Ala Trp Asn Pro Tyr Tyr Gly Thr 225 230 235 240 Trp Gln Val Pro Gly Ile Ala Leu Pro Lys Ala Gln Leu Ser Pro Ala 245 250 255 Ala Val Glu Ile Gly Arg Thr Ser Arg Ser Thr Val Ala Asp Leu Ala 260 265 270 Arg Arg Thr Val Asp Glu Gly Tyr Gly Val Tyr Leu Thr Tyr Asn Leu 275 280 285 Asp Gly Gly Asp Arg Thr Ala Asp Val Ser Ala Phe Thr Arg Glu Leu 290 295 300 Tyr Gly Ser Glu Ala Val Arg Thr Pro 305 310 230 15 PRT Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 230 Gly Thr Val Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly Val 1 5 10 15 231 15 PRT Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 231 Asn Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Ile Ala Asn Asn Met Asp Val Ile Asn 1 5 10 15 232 15 PRT Bacillus lentus 232 Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gly Ile Ser 1 5 10 15 233 15 PRT Bacillus lentus 233 Ser Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Ser 1 5 10 15 234 17 PRT Bacillus lentus 234 Gly Ser Ile Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val Gly 1 5 10 15 Ala 235 15 PRT Bacillus lentus 235 Gly Ala Gly Leu Asp Ile Val Ala Pro Gly Val Asn Val Gln Ser 1 5 10 15 236 272 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Hybrid of Bacillus lentus and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 236 Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Trp Gly Ile Ser Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 His Asn Arg Gly Leu Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp 20 25 30 Thr Gly Ile Ser Thr His Pro Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser 35 40 45 Phe Val Pro Gly Glu Pro Ser Thr Gln Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr 50 55 60 His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu 65 70 75 80 Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala 85 90 95 Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Val Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp Ala 100 105 110 Gly Asn Asn Gly Met His Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Ser Gly 115 120 125 Ser Ala Ala Leu Lys Ala Ala Val Asp Lys Ala Val Ala Ser Gly Val 130 135 140 Val Val Val Ala Ala Ala Gly Asn Glu Gly Thr Ser Gly Ser Ser Ser 145 150 155 160 Thr Val Gly Tyr Pro Gly Lys Tyr Pro Ser Val Ile Ala Val Gly Ala 165 170 175 Val Asp Ser Ser Asn Gln Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Pro Glu 180 185 190 Leu Asp Val Met Ala Pro Gly Val Ser Ile Gln Ser Thr Leu Pro Gly 195 200 205 Asn Lys Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser Pro His Val 210 215 220 Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn Trp Thr Asn 225 230 235 240 Thr Gln Val Arg Ser Ser Leu Glu Asn Thr Thr Thr Lys Leu Gly Asp 245 250 255 Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Gln Ala Ala Ala Gln 260 265 270 237 15 PRT Bacillus lentis subtilisin 237 Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro 1 5 10 15 238 18 PRT Bacillus lentis subtilisin 238 Leu Glu Trp Ala Gly Asn Asn Gly Met His Val Ala Asn Leu Ser Leu 1 5 10 15 Gly Ser 239 15 PRT Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin 239 Val Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro 1 5 10 15 240 17 PRT Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin 240 Ile Glu Trp Ala Ile Ala Asn Asn Met Asp Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu 1 5 10 15 Gly

* * * * *

References


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