U.S. patent application number 11/831860 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-07 for recombinant modified bacillus anthracis protective antigen for use in vaccines.
This patent application is currently assigned to Health and Human Services. The applicant listed for this patent is S. Dana Hsu, Stephen H. Leppla, Delia M. Ramirez, John B. Robbins, Mary Jo Rosovitz, Rachel Schneerson, Joseph Shiloach. Invention is credited to S. Dana Hsu, Stephen H. Leppla, Delia M. Ramirez, John B. Robbins, Mary Jo Rosovitz, Rachel Schneerson, Joseph Shiloach.
Application Number | 20130058967 11/831860 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32911975 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130058967 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leppla; Stephen H. ; et
al. |
March 7, 2013 |
RECOMBINANT MODIFIED BACILLUS ANTHRACIS PROTECTIVE ANTIGEN FOR USE
IN VACCINES
Abstract
The invention relates to improved methods of producing and
recovering sporulation-deficient B. anthracis mutant stains, and
for producing and recovering recombinant B. anthracis protective
antigen (PA), especially modified PA which is protease resistant,
and to methods of using of these PAs or nucleic acids encoding
these PAs for eliciting an immunogenic response in humans,
including responses which provide protection against, or reduce the
severity of, B. anthracis bacterial infections and which are useful
to prevent and/or treat illnesses caused by B. anthracis, such as
inhalation anthrax, cutaneous anthrax and gastrointestinal
anthrax.
Inventors: |
Leppla; Stephen H.;
(Bethesda, MD) ; Rosovitz; Mary Jo; (Germantown,
MD) ; Robbins; John B.; (New York, NY) ;
Schneerson; Rachel; (Bethesda, MD) ; Hsu; S.
Dana; (Bethesda, MD) ; Shiloach; Joseph;
(Rockville, MD) ; Ramirez; Delia M.; (Bethesda,
MD) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Leppla; Stephen H.
Rosovitz; Mary Jo
Robbins; John B.
Schneerson; Rachel
Hsu; S. Dana
Shiloach; Joseph
Ramirez; Delia M. |
Bethesda
Germantown
New York
Bethesda
Bethesda
Rockville
Bethesda |
MD
MD
NY
MD
MD
MD
MD |
US
US
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Health and Human Services
The Government of the United States of America as represented by
the Secretary of the Department of
|
Family ID: |
32911975 |
Appl. No.: |
11/831860 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10638006 |
Aug 8, 2003 |
7261900 |
|
|
11831860 |
|
|
|
|
60402285 |
Aug 9, 2002 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
424/190.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61P 37/04 20180101;
A61P 31/04 20180101; A61K 39/00 20130101; C07K 14/32 20130101; A61K
2039/505 20130101; A61K 2039/53 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/190.1 |
International
Class: |
A61K 39/07 20060101
A61K039/07; A61P 31/04 20060101 A61P031/04; A61P 37/04 20060101
A61P037/04 |
Claims
1.-19. (canceled)
20. A method for inducing serum antibodies that have neutralizing
activity for Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) toxin comprising
administering to a mammal a pharmaceutical composition comprising
an amount of a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID
NO: 4 sufficient to elicit production of said antibodies.
21.-29. (canceled)
30. The method of claim 20 wherein the mammal is a human.
31.-67. (canceled)
68. The method of claim 20, wherein the protein comprising the
amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 is produced by culturing a cell
or microorganism comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the
protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 in a
manner to cause expression of SEQ ID NO: 4, wherein the culture
medium is maintained at about pH 7 to about pH 8 substantially
throughout the fermentation process.
69. The method of claim 68, further comprising recovering the amino
acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.
70. The method of claim 69, wherein said recovering step further
comprises using hydrophobic interaction chromatography, ion
exchange chromatography and gel filtration.
71. The method of claim 68, wherein the microorganism is a
Bacillus.
72. The method of claim 68, wherein the cell or microorganism is a
protease-deficient nonsporogenic avirulent strain of B.
anthracis.
73. The method of claim 69, wherein EDTA is added to the culture
medium prior to the recovery step.
74. The method of claim 20, wherein the pharmaceutical composition
further comprises an adjuvant.
75. The method of claim 74, wherein the adjuvant comprises aluminum
hydroxide.
76. The method of claim 20, wherein the pharmaceutical composition
further comprises formalin.
77. The method of claim 72, wherein the protease-deficient
nonsporogenic avirulent strain of B. anthracis is BH445 pXO1-,
pXO2-.
78. The method of claim 68, wherein the pH is maintained with HCl
and NH.sub.4OH.
79. The method of claim 68, wherein the pH is maintained at about
pH 7.5 throughout the fermentation.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/638,006
filed Aug. 8, 2003, which claims the benefit under 35 USC
.sctn.119(e) to Provisional Application No. 60/402,285 filed Aug.
9, 2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to improved methods for preparing
Bacillus anthracis mutants and for producing recombinant Bacillus
anthracis protective antigen (PA) for use in vaccines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Anthrax, a potentially fatal disease, is caused by Bacillus
anthracis. The virulence of this pathogen is mediated by a capsule
of a poly-D-.gamma.-glutamic acid and an exotoxin composed of three
proteins (14, 16, 17). The three protein components are the
protective antigen (PA, 82 KDa), lethal factor (LF, 90.2 KDa) and
edema factor (EF, 88.8 KDa). These proteins, non-toxic by
themselves, form lethal toxins when combined with an activated PA
(16). The genes coding for these three protein components and the
capsule are found in the endogenous plasmids pXO1 and pXO2,
respectively (29).
[0004] The capsule of Bacillus anthracis, composed of
poly-D-glutamic acid, serves as one of the principal virulence
factors during anthrax infection. By virtue of its negative charge,
the capsule is purported to inhibit host defence through inhibition
of phagocytosis of the vegetative cells by macrophages. In
conjunction with lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF), whose
target cells include macrophages and neutrophils, respectively, the
capsule allows virulent anthrax bacilli to grow virtually unimpeded
in the infected host. Spores germinating in the presence of serum
and elevated CO.sub.2 release capsule through openings on the spore
surface in the form of blebs which may coalesce before sloughing of
the exosporium and outgrowth of the fully encapsulated vegetative
cell. It has not been established that spore encapsulation plays a
role in the early events of anthrax infection. The capsule appears
exterior to the S-layer of the vegetative cell and does not require
the S-layer for its attachment to the cell surface.
[0005] There is only indirect evidence, albeit extensive,
identifying the components of vaccin-induced immunity to anthrax
and there is evidence that anti-PA neutralizing antibody titers can
be a reliable surrogate marker for protective immunity (23). The
protective antigen (PA), seems to be an essential component of all
vaccines for anthrax (7, 18, 30): both mono and polyclonal
antibodies to PA neutralize the anthrax toxin and confer immunity
to B. anthracis in animal models. The US licensed vaccine for
anthrax "Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed" (AVA) is produced from the
formalin-treated culture supernatant of B. anthracis Sterne strain,
V770-NP1-R (pXO1+, pXO2-), adsorbed onto aluminum hydroxide (22).
Although AVA has been shown to be effective against cutaneous
infection in animals and humans and against inhalation anthrax by
rhesus monkeys (12), it has several limitations: 1) AVA elicits
relatively high degree of local and systemic adverse reactions
probably mediated by variable amounts of undefined bacterial
products, making standardization difficult; 2) the immunization
schedule requires administration of six doses within an
eighteen-month period, followed by annual boosters for those at
risk; and 3) there is no defined vaccine-induced protective level
of serum PA to evaluate new lots of vaccines.
[0006] Development of a well-characterized, standardized, effective
and safe vaccine that would require fewer doses to confer immunity
to both inhalational and cutaneous anthrax is needed (9, 30). It
has been suggested that a vaccine composed of modified purified
recombinant PA would be effective, safer, allow precise
standardization, and probably would require fewer injections (27).
Such a PA can be designed to be biologically inactive, more stable,
and still maintained high immunogenicity.
[0007] In the examples herein, we describe the development of a
production and purification process for recombinant PA from the
non-sporogenic avirulent B. anthracis BH445 (pXO1-, pXO2-) strain.
Following an 18-hour fermentation and three purification steps,
large quantities of protective antigen suitable for vaccine
production were obtained. The purified PA was tested in mice and
was able to elicit neutralizing antibodies (for related disclosure,
see U.S. Provisional Application 60/344,505, filed Nov. 9, 2001,
incorporated herein by reference).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] This invention relates to improved methods of preparing
Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (PA).
[0009] The invention also relates to PA and/or compositions
thereof, which are useful for inducing or eliciting an immunogenic
response in mammals, including responses that provide protection
against, or reduce the severity of, infections caused by B.
anthracis. In particular, the invention relates to methods of using
PA, and/or compositions thereof, to induce or elicit serum
antibodies which have neutralizing activity against B. anthracis
toxin. PA and/or compositions thereof are useful as vaccines to
induce serum antibodies which are useful to prevent, treat or
reduce the severity of infections caused by B. anthracis, such as
inhalation anthrax, cutaneous anthrax and/or gastrointestinal
anthrax.
[0010] The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding PA of
B. anthracis, and compositions thereof, which produce PA in
sufficient amounts to be useful as pharmaceutical compositions or
vaccines to induce serum antibodies for preventing and/or treating
illnesses caused by B. anthracis. The invention also relates to
suitable expression systems, viral particles, vectors, vector
systems, and transformed host cells containing those nucleic
acids.
[0011] The invention also relates to antibodies which immunoreact
with the PA of B. anthracis, and/or compositions thereof. Such
antibodies may be isolated, or may be provided in the form of serum
containing these antibodies.
[0012] The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions
and/or vaccines comprising at least one of the PAs, nucleic acids,
viral particles, vectors, vector systems, transformed host cells or
antibodies of the invention.
[0013] The invention also relates to methods for the prevention or
treatment of B. anthracis infection n a mammal, by administration
of pharmaceutical or vaccine compositions of the invention.
[0014] The invention also provides kits comprising one or more of
the agents of the invention which are useful for vaccinating
mammals for the treatment or prevention of B. anthracis
infection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1. Production and proteolytic activity of
PA-SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D (SEQ ID NO: 4) and PA-N657A (SEQ ID NO: 5).
(a) PA production (mg/g cells) .lamda.SNKE, .box-solid. N657A;
proteolytic activity .mu.SNKE, .quadrature. N657A; (b) SDS-PAGE
analysis of partially purified PA-N657A (SEQ ID NO: 5) and
PA-SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D (SEQ ID NO: 4).
[0016] FIG. 2. Effect of EDTA and PMSF on proteolytic activity.
Supernatants from two different cultures taken after 24 hours of
growth were analyzed without inhibitors (control), with 1
.mu.g/.mu.L PMSF, and with 15 mM EDTA. Fluorescence is proportional
to proteolytic activity.
[0017] FIG. 3. Fermentation process for the production of
PA-SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D (SEQ ID NO: 4) from B. anthracis BH445.
Acid and base values are cumulative.
[0018] FIG. 4. SDS-PAGE analysis of culture supernatants obtained
throughout the fermentation. Samples were taken at 13, 14, 16, 18,
22, and 34 hours of growth. Arrow indicates the location of PA(83
KDa) in the gel.
[0019] FIG. 5. PA production and proteolytic activity of B.
anthracis BH445 [pSY5:SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D; SEQ ID NO: 4] in
fed-batch cultures supplied with tryptone/yeast extract or glucose.
.lamda. Specific PA production in tryptone/yeast extract (mg/g
cells); .nu. Volumetric PA production in tryptone/yeast extract
(mg/liter); .sigma. Proteolytic activity in tryptone/yeast extract;
.mu. Specific PA production in glucose (mg/g cells); .quadrature.
Volumetric PA production in glucose (mg/liter); .DELTA. Proteolytic
activity in glucose.
[0020] FIG. 6. SDS-PAGE analysis of purified PA fractions. (a) PA
purified by packed bed chromatography; (b) PA after hydrophobic
interaction chromatography and gel filtration; (c) PA fraction
shown in Lane (b) after 3 months; (d) PA after expanded bed
hydrophobic interaction chromatography, anion exchange, and gel
filtration. MW indicates molecular weight markers. Arrows indicate
the location of PA(83 KDa) in the gel.
[0021] FIG. 7. Exemplary amino acid sequence of a double mutant rPA
(SEQ ID NO: 1). The double mutant modification was accomplished by:
(a) deletion of residues 162 through 167 and the substitution of
Ile for Ser at residue 168; (b) the deletion of residues 304-317
and the substitution of Gly for Ser at residue 319 (see FIGS. 7 and
8). The changes made in (a) remove the furin-cleavage loop, while
the changes in (b) substitute two Gly residues for the entire
chymotrypsin-cleavage loop.
[0022] FIGS. 8A and 8B. Amino acid sequence alignment of wild-type
PA protein (upper sequence; SEQ ID NO: 2) and the exemplary double
mutant PA protein shown in FIG. 7 (lower sequence; SEQ ID NO:
1).
[0023] FIGS. 9A and 9B. Nucleotide sequence of an exemplary
polynucleotide (SEQ ID NO: 3) encoding the double mutant rPA shown
in FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B.
SEQUENCE LISTING
[0024] SEQ ID NO: 1 is a protein sequence showing an exemplary
double mutant PA.
[0025] SEQ ID NO: 2 is a protein sequence showing a wild-type PA
protein.
[0026] SEQ ID NO: 3 is a nucleic acid coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:
1.
[0027] SEQ ID NO: 4 is a protein sequence showing the
PA-SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D mutant.
[0028] SEQ ID NO: 5 is a protein sequence showing the PA-N657A
mutant.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0029] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention, as
claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of
the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0030] The invention relates to methods of producing and recovering
PA from a cell or organism, particularly a recombinant cell or
microorganism. Exemplified herein is the production and
purification of modified PA from a non-sporgenic strain of Bacillus
anthracis. As discussed further herein, greater quantities of PA
are obtainable from these cells or microorganisms than were
obtainable by previously described methods.
[0031] The invention also relates to PA, and/or compositions
thereof, which are useful for eliciting an immunogenic response in
mammals, in particular humans, including responses which provide
protection against, or reduce the severity of, infections caused by
B. anthracis. The invention also relates to methods of using such
PA, and/or compositions thereof, to induce serum antibodies against
PA. PA, and/or compositions thereof, are useful as vaccines to
induce serum antibodies that are useful to prevent, treat or reduce
the severity of infections caused by B. anthracis, such as
inhalation anthrax and/or cutaneous anthrax. The PAs of this
invention are expected to induce a strong protective IgG antibody
response in mammals, including humans.
[0032] The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding PA and
mutant forms of PA of this invention. Nucleic acids encoding PA,
and compositions thereof, are also useful as pharmaceutical
compositions or vaccines to induce serum antibodies that are useful
to prevent and/or treat illnesses caused by B. anthracis.
[0033] The invention also relates to antibodies which immunoreact
with the PA of B. anthracis that are induced by PAs of the
invention, and/or compositions thereof. Such antibodies may be
isolated, or may be provided in the form of serum containing these
antibodies.
[0034] The invention also relates to a method for the prevention or
treatment of B. anthracis infection in a mammal, by administration
of compositions containing one or more of a PA of the invention,
nucleic acids encoding a PA if the invention, antibodies and/or
serum containing antibodies of the invention.
[0035] The invention also provides kits for vaccinating mammals for
the treatment or prevention of B. anthracis infection in a mammal
comprising one or more of the agents of the invention.
[0036] The present invention also encompasses methods of using
mixtures of one or more of the PA, nucleic acids, and/or antibodies
of the invention, either in a single composition or in multiple
compositions containing other immunogens, to form a multivalent
vaccine for broad coverage against either B. anthracis itself or a
combination of B. anthracis and one or more other pathogens, which
may also be administered concurrently with other vaccines, such as
the DTP vaccine.
[0037] Pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are capable,
upon injection into a human, of inducing serum antibodies against
B. anthracis. The induced anti-PA antibodies have anthrax toxin
neutralizing activity which are preferably at least comparable to
those induced by the currently licensed anthrax vaccine.
[0038] The vaccines of this invention are intended for active
immunization for prevention of B. anthracis infection, and for
preparation of immune antibodies. The vaccines of this invention
are designed to confer specific immunity against infection with B.
anthracis, and to induce antibodies specific to B. anthracis PA.
The B. anthracis vaccine is composed of non-toxic bacterial
components, suitable for infants, children of all ages, and
adults.
[0039] The methods of using the agents of this invention, and/or
compositions thereof will be useful in increasing resistance to,
preventing, ameliorating, and/or treating B. anthracis infection in
humans.
[0040] This invention also provides compositions, including but not
limited to, mammalian serum, plasma, and immunoglobulin fractions,
which contain antibodies which are immunoreactive with B. anthracis
PA. These antibodies and antibody compositions may be useful to
prevent, treat, and/or ameliorate infection and disease caused by
the microorganism. The invention also provides such antibodies in
isolated form.
[0041] High titer anti-PA sera, or antibodies isolated therefrom,
may be used for therapeutic treatment for patients with B.
anthracis infection. Antibodies elicited by the agents of this
invention may be used for the treatment of established B. anthracis
infections, and may also be useful in providing passive protection
to an individual exposed to B. anthracis.
[0042] The present invention also provides kits comprising vaccines
for the prevention and/or treatment of B. anthracis, containing the
one or more of the PAs, nucleic acids, viral particles, vectors,
vector systems, or transformed host cells or antibodies of the
invention and/or compositions thereof. The PAs, nucleic acids viral
particles vectors, host cells and/or antibodies of the present
invention may be isolated and purified by methods known in the art.
Preferably, the PA of the invention is purified by one of the
methods exemplified herein.
[0043] The vaccines of the invention are intended to be included in
the immunization schedule of individuals at risk for B. anthracis
infection. They are also planned to be used for intervention in the
event of the use of B. anthracis in bioterrorism or biowarfare. For
example, it is anticipated that the vaccines of the invention may
be provided to the entire U.S. population. Additionally, they may
be used as component(s) of a multivalent vaccine for B. anthracis
and/or other pathogens.
DEFINITIONS
[0044] As used herein, unless otherwise specifically noted, "PA"
refers to all forms of PA which are useful in the compositions
and/or methods of the invention, including unmodified native or
recombinant B. anthracis protective antigen (PA), or a modified
form (variant) or fragment thereof, for use in vaccines. Variants
and fragments of PA must be able to produce an immune response in a
mammal to whom they are administered. The immune response is
suitably protective against infection by Bacillus anthracis
although the protective effect may be seen only after repeated
applications, as would be determinable by methods known in the art.
Modified PA variants comprise peptides and proteins which resemble
PA in their ability to induce or elicit antibodies which bind to
native PA, but have different amino acid sequence. For example,
variants may be 60% homologous to PA protein, suitably 80%
homologous and more particularly at least 90% homologous. Fragments
are suitably peptides that contain at least one antigenic
determinant of PA.
[0045] A modified (variant) PA of the invention includes any
substituted analog or chemical derivative of PA, so long as the
modified (variant) PA is capable of inducing or eliciting the
production of antibodies capable of binding native (or
naturally-occurring) PA. Preferably, the antibodies are
neutralizing antibodies. PA can be subject to various changes that
provide for certain advantages in its use. For example, PA with
changes which increase in vitro and/or in vivo stability of PA,
while still retaining the desired immunogenic activity, are
preferred. In the modified PA used in the examples herein (SEQ ID
NO: 4), two regions were altered, i.e., the furin cleavage site
region (RKKR.sup.167 to SNKE.sup.167), and the chymotrypsin and
thermolysin cleavage site region (two Phe at positions 313-314 were
deleted and Glu acid at position 308 was substituted with Asp),
resulting in a more stable PA. As used herein, the terms
"immunoreact" and "immunoreactivity" refer to specific binding
between an antigen or antigenic determinant-containing molecule and
a molecule having an antibody combining site, such as a whole
antibody molecule or a portion thereof.
[0046] As used herein, the term "antibody" refers to immunoglobulin
molecules and immunologically active portions of immunoglobulin
molecules. Exemplary antibody molecules are intact immunoglobulin
molecules, substantially intact immunoglobulin molecules and
portions of an immunoglobulin molecule, including those portions
known in the art as Fab, Fab', F(ab').sub.2 and F(v), as well as
chimeric antibody molecules.
[0047] As used herein, the term "transduction" generally refers to
the transfer of genetic material into the host via infection, e.g.,
in this case by the lentiviral vector. The term "transfection"
generally refers to the transfer of isolated genetic material into
cells via the use of specific transfection agents (e.g., calcium
phosphate, DEAE Dextran, lipid formulations, gold particles, and
other microparticles) that cross the cytoplasmic membrane and
deliver some of the genetic material into the cell nucleus.
Monomers, Polymers and Polymeric Carriers
[0048] The present invention encompasses monomers of PA, as well as
homogeneous or heterogeneous polymers of PA (e.g., concatenated,
cross-linked and/or fused identical polypeptide units or
concatenated, cross-linked and/or fused diverse peptide units), and
mixtures of the polypeptides, polymers, and/or conjugates thereof.
The present invention also encompasses PA bound to a non-toxic,
preferably non-host, protein carrier to form a conjugate.
[0049] Linkers useful in the invention may, for example, be simply
peptide bonds, or may comprise amino acids, including amino acids
capable of forming disulfide bonds, but may also comprise other
molecules such as, for example, polysaccharides or fragments
thereof.
[0050] The linkers for use with this invention may be chosen so as
to contribute their own immunogenic effect which may be either the
same, or different, than that elicited by the consensus sequences
of the invention. For example, such linkers may be bacterial
antigens which also elicit the production of antibodies to
infectious bacteria. In such instances, for example, the linker may
be a protein or protein fragment of an infectious bacteria.
[0051] Carriers are chosen to increase the immunogenicity of the PA
and/or to raise antibodies against the carrier which are medically
beneficial. Carriers that fulfill these criteria are well known in
the art. A polymeric carrier can be a natural or a synthetic
material containing one or more functional groups, for example
primary and/or secondary amino groups, azido groups, or carboxyl
groups. Carriers can be water soluble or insoluble.
Methods for Attaching PA to a Protein Carrier
[0052] PA of the invention may be covalently attached to other
proteins, with or without a linker, by methods known in the art,
such as via their side chains or via peptide bonds in the primary
chain. Cysteine molecules may provide a convenient attachment point
through which to chemically conjugate other proteins or non-protein
moieties to PA.
Dosage for Vaccination
[0053] The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention contain a
pharmaceutically and/or therapeutically effective amount of at
least one PA, nucleic acid, vector, viral particle, host cell
immunogen or antibody of the invention. The effective amount of
immunogen per unit dose is an amount sufficient to induce an immune
response which is sufficient to prevent, treat or protect against
the adverse effects of infection with B. anthracis. The effective
amount of immunogen per unit dose depends, among other things, on
the species of mammal inoculated, the body weight of the mammal and
the chosen inoculation regimen, as is well known in the art.
[0054] In such circumstances, inocula for a human or similarly
sized mammal typically contain PA concentrations of 0.5 .mu.g to 1
mg per mammal per inoculation dose. Initial tests of the PA vaccine
in humans will use approximately 10 .mu.g or 20 .mu.g per dose.
Preferably, the route of inoculation of the peptide will be
subcutaneous or intramuscular. The dose is administered at least
once.
[0055] To monitor the antibody response of individuals administered
the compositions of the invention, antibody levels may be
determined. In most instances it will be sufficient to assess the
antibody titer in serum or plasma obtained from such an individual.
Decisions as to whether to administer booster inoculations or to
change the amount of the composition administered to the individual
may be at least partially based on the level.
[0056] The level may be based on either an immunobinding assay
which measures the concentration of antibodies in the serum which
bind to a specific antigen, i.e. PA. The ability to neutralize in
vitro and in vivo biological effects of the B. anthracis toxins may
also be assessed to determine the effectiveness of the
treatment.
[0057] The term "unit dose" as it pertains to the inocula refers to
physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages for mammals,
each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active material
calculated to produce the desired immunogenic effect in association
with the required diluent.
[0058] Inocula are typically prepared in physiologically and/or
pharmaceutically tolerable (acceptable) carrier, and are preferably
prepared as solutions in physiologically and/or pharmaceutically
acceptable diluents such as water, saline, phosphate-buffered
saline, or the like, to form an aqueous pharmaceutical composition.
Adjuvants, such as aluminum hydroxide, may also be included in the
compositions.
[0059] Depending on the intended mode of administration, the
compounds of the present invention can be in various pharmaceutical
compositions. The compositions will include, as noted above, an
effective amount of the selected immunogen and/or antibody of the
invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier
and, in addition, may include other medicinal agents,
pharmaceutical agents, carriers, adjuvants, diluents, etc. By
"pharmaceutically acceptable" is meant a material that is not
biologically or otherwise undesirable, i.e., the material may be
administered to an individual along with the immunogen and/or
antibody or other composition without causing any undesirable
biological effects or interacting in a deleterious manner with any
of the other components of the pharmaceutical composition in which
it is contained.
[0060] The route of inoculation may be intramuscular, subcutaneous
or the like, which results in eliciting antibodies protective
against B. anthracis. In order to increase the antibody level, a
second or booster dose may be administered approximately 4 to 6
weeks after the initial injection. Subsequent doses may be
administered as indicated herein, or as desired by the
practitioner.
[0061] Parenteral administration, if used, is generally
characterized by injection. Injectables can be prepared in
conventional forms, either as liquid solutions or suspensions,
solid forms suitable for solution or suspension in liquid prior to
injection, or as emulsions. A more recently revised approach for
parenteral administration involves use of a slow release or
sustained release system, such that a constant level of dosage is
maintained. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,795, which is
incorporated by reference herein.
Antibodies
[0062] An antibody of the present invention in one embodiment is
characterized as comprising antibody molecules that immunoreact
with B. anthracis PA.
[0063] An antibody of the present invention is typically produced
by immunizing a mammal with an immunogen or vaccine containing an
B. anthracis PA to induce, in the mammal, antibody molecules having
immunospecificity for the immunizing PA. Antibody molecules having
immunospecificity for the protein carrier will also be produced.
The antibody molecules may be collected from the mammal and,
optionally, isolated and purified by methods known in the art.
[0064] Human or humanized monoclonal antibodies are preferred,
including those made by phage display technology, by hybridomas, or
by mice with human immune systems. The antibody molecules of the
present invention may be polyclonal or monoclonal. Monoclonal
antibodies may be produced by methods known in the art. Portions of
immunoglobulin molecules, such as Fabs, may also be produced by
methods known in the art.
[0065] The antibody of the present invention may be contained in
blood plasma, serum, hybridoma supernatants and the like.
Alternatively, the antibodies of the present invention are isolated
to the extent desired by well-known techniques such as, for
example, ion exchange chromatography, sizing chromatography, or
affinity chromatography. The antibodies may be purified so as to
obtain specific classes or subclasses of antibody such as IgM, IgG,
IgA, IgG.sub.1, IgG.sub.2, IgG.sub.3, IgG.sub.4 and the like.
Antibodies of the IgG class are preferred for purposes of passive
protection. The antibodies of the present invention have a number
of diagnostic and therapeutic uses. The antibodies can be used as
an in vitro diagnostic agent to test for the presence of B.
anthracis in biological samples or in meat and meat products, in
standard immunoassay protocols. Such assays include, but are not
limited to, agglutination assays, radioimmunoassays, enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assays, fluorescence assays, Western blots and the
like. In one such assay, for example, the biological sample is
contacted first with antibodies of the present invention which bind
to B. anthracis PA, and then with a labeled second antibody to
detect the presence of B. anthracis to which the first antibodies
have bound.
[0066] Such assays may be, for example, of direct format (where the
labeled first antibody is reactive with the antigen), an indirect
format (where a labeled second antibody is reactive with the first
antibody), a competitive format (such as the addition of a labeled
antigen), or a sandwich format (where both labeled and unlabelled
antibody are utilized), as well as other formats described in the
art.
[0067] The antibodies of the present invention are also useful in
prevention and treatment of infections and diseases caused by B.
anthracis.
[0068] In providing the antibodies of the present invention to a
recipient mammal, preferably a human, the dosage of administered
antibodies will vary depending upon such factors as the mammal's
age, weight, height, sex, general medical condition, previous
medical history and the like.
[0069] In general, it is desirable to provide the recipient with a
dosage of antibodies that is in the range of from about 1 mg/kg to
about 10 mg/kg body weight of the mammal, although a lower or
higher dose may be administered. The antibodies of the present
invention are intended to be provided to the recipient subject in
an amount sufficient to prevent, or lessen or attenuate the
severity, extent or duration of the infection by B. anthracis. When
proteins of other organisms are used as carriers, antibodies which
immunoreact with those proteins are intended to be provided to the
recipient subject in an amount sufficient to prevent, lessen or
attenuate the severity, extent or duration of an infection by the
organisms producing those proteins.
[0070] The administration of the agents of the invention may be for
either "prophylactic" or "therapeutic" purpose. When provided
prophylactically, the agents are provided in advance of any
symptom. The prophylactic administration of the agent serves to
prevent or ameliorate any subsequent infection. When provided
therapeutically, the agent is provided at (or shortly after) the
onset of a symptom of infection. The agent of the present invention
may, thus, be provided prior to the anticipated exposure to B.
anthracis, so as to attenuate the anticipated severity, duration or
extent of an infection and disease symptoms, after exposure or
suspected exposure to these bacteria, or after the actual
initiation of an infection.
[0071] For all therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic uses, one
or more of the PAs or other agents of this invention, as well as
antibodies and other necessary reagents and appropriate devices and
accessories, may be provided in kit form so as to be readily
available and easily used.
Nucleic Acids, Vectors and Hosts
[0072] Nucleic acids encoding the PAs of the invention can be
introduced into a vector such as a plasmid, cosmid, phage, virus,
viral particle or mini-chromosome and inserted into a host cell or
organism by methods well known in the art. The vectors which can be
utilized to clone and/or express these nucleic acids are the
vectors which are capable of replicating and/or expressing the
nucleic acids in the host cell in which the nucleic acids are
desired to be replicated and/or expressed. See, e.g., F. Ausubel et
al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing
Associates and Wiley-Interscience (1992) and Sambrook et al. (1989)
for examples of appropriate vectors for various types of host
cells. Vectors and compositions for enabling production of the
peptides in vivo, i.e., in the individual to be treated or
immunized, are also within the scope of this invention. Strong
promoters compatible with the host into which the gene is inserted
may be used. These promoters may be inducible. The host cells
containing these nucleic acids can be used to express large amounts
of the protein useful in pharmaceuticals, diagnostic reagents,
vaccines and therapeutics. Vectors include retroviral vectors and
also include direct injection of DNA into muscle cells or other
receptive cells, resulting in the efficient expression of the
peptide, using the technology described, for example, in Wolff et
al., Science 247:1465-1468 (1990), Wolff et al., Human Molecular
Genetics 1(6):363-369 (1992) and Ulmer et al., Science
259:1745-1749 (1993). See also, for example, WO 96/36366 and WO
98/34640.
[0073] In general, vectors containing nucleic acids encoding PA can
be utilized in any cell, either eukaryotic or prokaryotic,
including mammalian cells (e.g., human (e.g., HeLa), monkey (e.g.,
COS), rabbit (e.g., rabbit reticulocytes), rat, hamster (e.g., CHO
and baby hamster kidney cells) or mouse cells (e.g., L cells),
plant cells, yeast cells, insect cells or bacterial cells (e.g., E.
coli)). However, bacterial vectors and host cells are preferred in
the present invention.
[0074] There are numerous E. coli expression vectors known to one
of ordinary skill in the art useful for the expression of PA. Other
microbial hosts suitable for use include bacilli, such as B.
subtilus, and other enterobacteriaceae, such as Salmonella,
Serratia, and various Pseudomonas species. In these prokaryotic
hosts one can also make expression vectors, which will typically
contain expression control sequences compatible with the host cell
(e.g., an origin of replication). In addition, any number of a
variety of well-known promoters will be present, such as the
lactose promoter system, a tryptophan (Trp) promoter system, a
beta-lactamase promoter system, or a promoter system from phage
lambda. The promoters will typically control expression, optionally
with an operator sequence, and have ribosome binding site sequences
for example, for initiating and completing transcription and
translation. If necessary an amino terminal methionine can be
provided by insertion of a Met codon 5' and in-frame with the
antigen. Also, if desired, the carboxy-terminal or other region of
the antigen can be removed using standard oligonucleotide
mutagenesis procedures.
[0075] The nucleotide (DNA) sequences can be expressed in hosts
after the sequences have been operably linked to, i.e., positioned
to ensure the functioning of, an expression control sequence. These
expression vectors are typically replicable in the host organisms
either as episomes or as an integral part of the host chromosomal
DNA. Commonly, expression vectors can contain selection markers,
e.g., tetracycline resistance or hygromycin resistance, to permit
detection and/or selection of those cells transformed with the
desired DNA sequences (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,362).
[0076] Host bacterial cells may be chosen that are mutated to be
reduced in or free of proteases, so that the proteins produced are
not degraded. For bacillus expression systems in which the proteins
are secreted into the culture medium, strains are available that
are deficient in secreted proteases.
[0077] Polynucleotides encoding a variant polypeptide may include
sequences that facilitate transcription (expression sequences) and
translation of the coding sequences such that the encoded
polypeptide product is produced. Construction of such
polynucleotides is well known in the art. For example, such
polynucleotides can include a promoter, a transcription termination
site (polyadenylation site in eukaryotic expression hosts), a
ribosome binding site, and, optionally, an enhancer for use in
eukaryotic expression hosts, and, optionally, sequences necessary
for replication of a vector.
Fermentation and Purification Procedures
[0078] This invention relates to improved methods of preparing B.
anthracis PA for use in vaccines. Procedures are exemplified herein
for purifying modified PA from a protease-deficient nonsporogenic
avirulent strain of B. anthracis. However, it is expected that
these procedures will be useful for growing and purifying PA,
including natural or recombinant PA, as well as various modified or
truncated forms of PA, from other microorganisms, particularly
other Bacillus species and strains. Bacillus strains and/or
expression systems which are expected to be suitable include, for
example, the B. anthracis strain described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,840,312 (Nov. 24, 1998) and the B. subtilis strain and PA
expression system described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,966 (Jul. 31,
2001).
[0079] In one aspect of the invention, the culture is preferably
maintained at about pH 7 to about pH 8, most preferably about pH
7.5, substantially throughout the fermentation process. It has also
been found to be advantageous to add EDTA before separating the
culture supernatant from the cells, preferably at or near the end
of fermentation, since if it is added during the fermentation
stage, it may interfere somewhat with the growth of the cells.
[0080] The purification procedure of the invention is preferably
essentially a three-step procedure, including (1) hydrophobic
interaction chromatography, (2) ion exchange chromatography and (3)
gel filtration. While ion exchange chromatography may precede
hydrophobic interaction chromatography in the purification process,
and still permit obtaining a good yield of PA, it is a less
efficient process. Therefore, in view of this, it is preferred that
hydrophobic interaction chromatography precede ion exchange
chromatography in the purification process. Alternatively, this
three-step procedure need not be used and an alternative
purification scheme may be used.
[0081] In addition, the resins used in the exemplified purification
procedure can be substituted. For example, in the hydrophobic
interaction chromatography step, phenyl sepharose (Pharmacia) is
used as the resin in the example, but any other hydrophobic resin
can be used. Likewise, in the ion exchange chromatography step, Q
sepharose (Pharmacia) is used as the resin in the example, but any
other anion exchanger can be used. Likewise, for the gel filtration
step, Superdex (Pharmacia) is the residue used in the example, but
it can be replaced by other gel filtration resins. Furthermore,
with respect to the fermentation conditions, similar compounds can
replace the tryptone and the yeast extract that are obtained from
Difco.
[0082] In other detailed aspects of the invention, novel methods
and materials are provided for producing and selecting genetically
defined, non-reverting sporulation-deficient mutants of a
sporulating bacterium. Exemplary bacteria for which these methods
are well suited include Bacillus anthracis, B. thuringiensis, and
B. cereus. The sporulation deficient mutants obtained according to
the methods of the invention are useful, for example, as hosts for
expressing recombinant proteins, including recombinant PA, lethal
factor, edema factor, and mutant versions of these proteins,
contemplated as components of improved anthrax vaccines.
[0083] Bacillus anthracis efficiently secretes anthrax toxin
proteins, and this feature has been employed herein to develop
systems for expressing large amounts of recombinant anthrax toxin
proteins, for example up to 100 mg per liter of culture. One
disadvantage of B. anthracis strains, even those which are
avirulent due to removal of the two large virulence plasmids, pXO1
and pXO2, is the formation of very stable spores. This presents
certain challenges to the use of these strains for commercial
vaccine production.
[0084] Development of the BH445 sporulation-deficient strain, as
described above, ameliorates this problem. However, there remains a
need for yet additional modified strains to further enhance
stability of by minimizing the potential for reversion to a
sporulation-competent parental phenotype. This may occur, for
example, if the selective antibiotic chloramphenicol is not present
at effective concentrations.
[0085] As used herein, "sporulation-deficient" refers to a mutant
bacterial strain that exhibits a significant reduction in
sporulation potential as compared to the fully sporulation
competent, wild type (wt) counterpart strain. The term
sporulation-deficient thus refers to sporulation-incompetent
mutants, as well as substantially sporulation-impaired mutants.
[0086] The current invention provides for the generation and
selection of sporulation-deficient mutants of sporulating bacterial
based on growth behavior and morphological appearance. In exemplary
embodiments, B. anthracis is plated on a suitable, solid growth
medium, for example LB agar in plates. Following plating the
bacteria are allowed to grow for a suitable period to yield
moderate to thick growth on the solid medium. Typically, the growth
period is between about 24 hours and 72 hours, more typically
between about 36 hours and 48 hours.
[0087] In areas of thick growth, parental bacteria are induced by
nutrient deprivation to initiate sporulation and cease normal
growth. This is because moderate to heavy growth is attended by
progressive nutrient depletion in the culture. Nutrient deprivation
stress in turn stimulates sporulation in the culture by
sporulation-competent bacteria, which cease normal growth.
[0088] Within the methods of the invention, sporulation-deficient
mutants are isolated within such nutrient-stressed cultures. Within
areas of thick growth, rare, spontaneous sporulation-deficient
mutants emerge. These are selected based on one or more selection
criteria. In particular, the mutants may be isolated by picking
from a central area of the culture colonies where nutrient
deprivation is increased. Alternatively, the mutants can be
selected by picking so-called "cancerous tumors" within in the
colonies identified as nodules of protruding bacterial growth on a
relatively smooth growth background. In addition, or alternatively,
sporulation-incompetent and sporulation-impaired mutants can be
selected based on other morphological characteristics exhibited by
the mutants under nutrient-stress conditions, for example color and
"wetness." Sporulation-deficient mutants of B. anthracis are
generally whiter in appearance and less "wet" (i.e., glossy or
reflective) in comparison to wt.
[0089] To further enrich for sporulation mutants according to the
foregoing method, bacteria selected as above (e.g., picked from
central areas of thick growth) can be grown up in an optional,
liquid culture step and re-plated for single colonies. As noted in
the examples below, this enrichment yields a large number of
candidate mutants. In more detailed embodiments, the methods of the
invention can produce plates on which between from 1-10%, 10-25%,
30-50% or more of the colonies exhibit distinct morphology from
that of the parental strain.
[0090] Unlike previous reports, the current mutant selection
procedure does not require the incorporation of dyes (e.g., Congo
Red, Aram Cresol Green, and Evans Blue) in the solid culture medium
to identify sporulation-deficient variants. Although these dyes may
facilitate selection in certain embodiments, the methods of the
invention can be practice using a dye-free culture medium. As used
herein, "dye free" means that the culture medium is substantially
free of any added indicator dyes such that differential staining of
mutant and wild type colonies by the indicator dye cannot be
visually detected.
[0091] The methods of the invention yield sporulation-deficient
variants of B. anthracis and other sporulating species and strains
of bacteria, which are often sporulation-incompetent. Typically,
the subject mutants are highly stable by virtue of having deletions
in genes required for the production of spores. Strains in which
these genes have partial or complete deletions will not revert to
sporulation-competence forms at a detectable frequency, and are
therefore highly desired for use in vaccine production.
[0092] Within exemplary embodiments of the foregoing methods,
sporulation-deficient mutants were obtained from three different
parental strains of B. anthracis: Ames plasmid-free, UM44-1C9, and
BH441. These sporulation-deficient strains are useful for the
expression of proteins, including recombinant PA, lethal factor,
edema factor, and mutant versions of these proteins, contemplated
as components of improved anthrax vaccines within the methods and
compositions of the invention. Useful candidate strains mutated in
particular genes required for sporulation will support higher
levels of protein expression, for example from the pYS5-type
plasmids typically used for expression.
[0093] Within additional aspects of the invention, the expression
and stability of two recombinant PA variants,
PA-SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D (SEQ ID NO: 4) and PA-N657A (SEQ ID NO: 5),
were studied. Related methods are provided for producing and
recovering native PA; PA wherein the receptor-binding domain has
been altered; PA which cannot be cleaved at the chymotrypsin
cleavage site; PA which cannot be cleaved at the furin cleavage
site; other PA which cannot be cleaved at either the chymotrypsin
or the furin cleavage site in addition to the one exemplified
herein (see, e.g., those described in (22)); PA fragments (e.g., a
PA fragment having aa 175-764 (36)); PA mutants having a strong
dominant-negative effect (e.g., PA double mutants K397D and D425K)
(37), and PA mutants with substitutions in domain 2 (37)).
[0094] Considering the nature of the current anthrax (AVA) vaccine
and the adverse events that have been associated with its
administration, there is an urgent need for new, recombinant PA
(rPA) molecules for use in second generation vaccine development.
PA is an essential component of an effective anthrax vaccine. One
problem with producing a rPA for vaccine use is that PA is
sensitive to proteolytic cleavage at two locations. One target
location for cleavage is the furin-cleavage loop, which contains
the sequence ArgLysLysArg (residues 164-167 of the mature protein).
Cleavage at this site activates PA, exposing the surface at which
the two other toxin components bind. Removal of the furin loop will
prevent intoxication mediated by the other toxin components. The
second cleavage loop (residues 304-319) contains the sequence
PhePheAsp (residues 313-315), making PA sensitive to cleavage by
chymotrypsin and thermolysin.
[0095] One strategy for removing this cleavage site involves
deleting Phe313 and Phe314. While deletion of these two Phe
residues prevents cleavage by chymotrypsin and thermolysin,
preparations of this form of rPA still exhibit degradation products
indicative of cleavage in the loop, presumably by a different
protease.
[0096] In related aspects of the invention, one or more contiguous
amino acid residues are deleted or substituted in a "flexible",
exposed, or loop segment of a recombinant PA protein. Flexible,
exposed, and loop segments of PA are identified by X-ray
crystallography and other structural analytic methods known in the
art. In this context, target segments of PA for mutagenesis include
residues not seen in the crystal structure of PA, including
cleavage loop segments identified as residues 162-174, residues
304-319, and other exposed or flexible segments including residues
1-13, 99-102, and 512-515 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). All of these
segments are useful targets for mutation within the invention to
yield a rPA having improved characteristics for vaccine
development, including enhanced resistance to protolytic
degradation.
[0097] Within the foregoing targeted segments of PA, one or more
amino acids will be deleted or modified (e.g., by chemical
modification or substitution with another amino acid), and
typically the deletion or modification will reduce succeptibility
of the rPA to proteolytic degradation (e.g., by removing a cleavage
target site or altering an amino acid side chain to interfere with
a cleavage interaction that would target the native PA protein).
Typically, 1-15 amino acids will be deleted, often in combination
with substitution of one or more amino acid(s) within the targeted
PA segment. In other embodiments, the number of contiguous amino
acids deleted from the target segment encompasses 3-12, 4-10, 5-8,
or 6-7 residues.
[0098] In one exemplary embodiment, the invention provides a
stable, recombinant PA molecule having a deletion of exemplary
segments from both the chymotrypsin-sensitive loop and the
furin-cleavage loop. This novel rPA double deletion mutant
described here has both cleavage-sensitive loops removed to create
a more stable, inactive, PA mutant protein suitable for vaccine
production. This double mutant modification was accomplished by:
(a) deletion of residues 162 through 167 and the substitution of
Ile for Ser at residue 168; (b) the deletion of residues 304-317
and the substitution of Gly for Set at residue 319 (see FIGS. 7 and
8). The changes made in (a) remove the furin-cleavage loop, while
the changes in (b) substitute two Gly residues for the entire
chymotrypsin-cleavage loop (FIG. 8). This and other mutant rPAs
produced according to the invention exhibit significantly increased
stability compared to wt PA. In particular, the stability of
selected mutant rPAs according to the invention to proteolytic
degradation will be increased by at least 15%, often 20-30%, 50%,
75%, up to 100%, 200% or more compared to stability of wt PA under
comparable conditions.
[0099] In a related aspect of the invention, polynucleotides and
expression vectors encoding a double deletion mutant form of rPA
are provided. One such exemplary polynucleotide is shown in FIGS.
9A and 9B. Also provided are host cells incorporating an expression
vector operable to direct expression of a mutant rPA of the
invention within the host cell.
[0100] In additional aspects of the invention, the methods herein
are useful for producing and recovering PA in which the
chymotrypsin site, FF, is replaced by a furin site. This may be a
suicide protein, getting easily cleaved by furin after binding to
receptor. Cleavage at that site inactivates PA.
[0101] The methods of the invention are also useful for producing
and recovering PA with a protease cleavage site (thrombin, Factor
IV, etc.) at approximately residue 605. PA made in large amounts in
the expression system could be cleaved to produce a soluble domain
4, which would compete with PA for receptor, and could be a
therapeutic agent.
[0102] The methods of the invention are also useful for producing
and recovering PA with matrix metalloprotease or plasminogen
activator sites replacing the furin site (38, 39).
[0103] The methods of the invention are also useful for producing
and recovering other proteins, such as LF. See, e.g., (21), wherein
expression system is the same, except the structural gene for PA is
replaced by the LF gene. This can be generalized to include LF
mutants altered in the catalytic site residues: HEFGH, 686-690. The
system may also have utility with EF.
[0104] The following examples are provided by way of illustration,
not limitation.
Example 1
[0105] In this example, the expression and the stability of two
recombinant PA variants, PA-SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D (SEQ ID NO: 4) and
PA-N657A (SEQ ID NO: 5), were studied. These proteins were
expressed in the non-sporogenic avirulent strain BH445. Initial
results indicated that PA-SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D (SEQ ID NO: 4),
which lacks two proteolysis-sensitive sites, is more stable than
PA-N657A (SEQ ID NO: 5). Process development was conducted to
establish an efficient production and purification process for
PA-SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D (SEQ ID NO: 4). Various parameters such as
pH, media composition, growth strategy, and protease inhibitors
composition were analyzed. The production process chosen was based
on batch growth of B. anthracis using tryptone and yeast extract as
the only sources of carbon, pH control at 7.5, and antifoam 289.
Optimal harvest time was found to be 14-18 hours after inoculation,
and EDTA (5 mM) was added upon harvesting for proteolysis control.
In one of the processes described herein, recovery of the PA was
performed by expanded bed adsorption (EBA) on a hydrophobic
interaction resin, eliminating the need for centrifugation,
microfiltration, and diafiltration. The EBA step was followed by
ion exchange and gel filtration. PA yields before and after
purification were 130 mg/L and 90 mg/L, respectively.
Materials and Methods
Strains and Plasmids
[0106] The non-sporogenic, protease deficient, avirulent strain B.
anthracis BH445 (pXO1.sup.-, pXO2.sup.-, cm.sup.r) was used (17).
The Bacillus-E. coli shuttle vector pYS5 (amp.sup.r, kan.sup.r)
(26) was used to clone two recombinant forms of the protective
antigen: N657A and SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D (SEQ ID NO: 4) (28). In the
N657A mutant (SEQ ID NO: 5), the receptor-binding domain of PA was
altered by substitution of Asn with Ala at position 657 (domain 4).
In the SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D (SEQ ID NO: 4) mutant two regions were
altered, the furin site (RKKR.sup.167 to SNKE.sup.167) and the
chymotrypsin site (two Phe at positions 313-314 were deleted and
Glu acid at position 308 was substituted with Asp). Both PA
constructs contain the DNA sequence encoding the signal peptide of
PA.
Culture and Expression Conditions
[0107] Modified FA medium (21) containing (per liter) 35 g tryptone
(Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.), 5 g yeast extract (Difco
Laboratories), and 100 mL of 10.times. salts was used in all
experiments. The 10.times. salt solution (per liter) consisted of
60 g Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4.7H.sub.2O, 10 g KH.sub.2PO.sub.4, 55 g NaCl,
0.4 g L-tryptophan, 0.4 g L-methionine, 0.05 g thiamine, and 0.25 g
uracil. It was filter-sterilized and added to the fermentor after
cooling. The pH of the medium was adjusted to 7.5; 100 .mu.g/mL
kanamycin and 20 .mu.g/mL chloramphenicol were added. Fermentation
experiments were performed by inoculating a 12-14 hour-old starter
culture grown from a frozen stock. The medium in the fermentor was
supplemented with 0.2 mL/L of antifoam 289 (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.).
Three- to ten-liter fermentations were done using B. Braun Biostat
MD DCU (Melsungen, Germany), controlling dissolved oxygen (DO) at
30% saturation, temperature at 37.degree. C., and pH at 7.5 with
HCl and NH.sub.4OH. At harvest time, 5 mM EDTA and 10 .mu.g/mL PMSF
(phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride) (in one of the experiments
described herein) were added to the culture. Shake flask
experiments (100 mL) utilizing modified FA medium were supplemented
with glucose, lactose, glycerol, and casitone at a concentration of
10 g/L.
Analytical Methods
[0108] Optical density (OD) was measured at 600 nm. Protease
analysis was done on supernatant samples collected during growth
and stored frozen at -20.degree. C. EDTA was added to supernatant
samples used for SDS-PAGE and radial immunodiffusion to a final
concentration of 10 mM.
[0109] Extracellular protease activity was detected using the
EnzChek green fluorescence assay kit (Molecular Probes, Eugene,
Oreg.). Fluorescence was measured with a LS50B luminescence
spectrophotometer (Perkin-Elmer, Boston, Mass.). This assay was
conducted at pH of 7.5 or 6.0 depending on the experiment.
Proteolytic activity is reported as fluorescence change per unit
sample.
[0110] Protein was determined using BCA assay (Pierce, Rockford,
Ill.). PA expression was quantified by SDS-PAGE (Invitrogen/Novex,
Carlsbad, Calif.) gel analysis and by the Mancini immunodiffusion
assay (19) using agarose plates containing polyclonal PA antibody.
Pure PA was used as the standard, both polycolonal PA antibodies
and pure PA were supplied by Dr. Stephen Leppla.
Purification
[0111] a. Packed Bed Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography
[0112] The cell suspension containing 5 mM EDTA was centrifuged and
the supernatant passed through a 0.2 .mu.m hollow fiber filter
(AGT, Needham, Mass.). The filtered broth was then concentrated
20.times. using a 10K membrane in a Pellicon-2 (Millipore, Bedford,
Mass.). 200 g (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4 per liter (1.5 M) were added
to the concentrated supernatant. The small amount of precipitate
produced after addition of (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4 was eliminated
with centrifugation and filtration. Phenyl Sepharose Fast Flow
(Amersham Pharmacia Biotech) was equilibrated with buffer
containing 1.5 M (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4/10 mM HEPES/5 mM EDTA
pH=7.0 (equilibration buffer) at a flow rate of 15 cm/h. After
sample loading, the column was washed with 10 column volumes (CV)
of equilibration buffer and PA was eluted with a 30 CV linear
gradient from 1.5 M to 0 M (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4 in 10 mM
HEPES/5 mM EDTA; pH=7.0. Fractions were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and
the PA-containing samples were pooled for further purification.
[0113] b. Expanded Bed Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography
[0114] The cell suspension containing 5 mM EDTA was diluted 1:1
with buffer containing 3.0 M (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4/20 mM HEPES/5
mM EDTA and 0.005% Pluronic F-68 (Life Technologies, Inc.
Gaithersburg, Md.). STREAMLINE.TM. Phenyl adsorbent, (Amersham
Pharmacia Biotech) was expanded in a streamline column in
equilibration buffer. The diluted cell suspension was loaded upward
at 300 cm/h. The column was washed in expanded mode (2) with 10 CV
of equilibration buffer containing 0.005% pluronic F-68. Elution
was performed in packed bed mode with 8 CV of elution buffer at 100
cm/h. The eluent was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and radial
immunodifussion.
[0115] c. Anion Exchange Chromatography
[0116] Fractions from HIC were dialyzed against 20 mM Tris pH=8.9
and loaded on a Q Sepharose Fast Flow (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech)
column equilibrated with 20 mM Tris pH=8.9 at 15 cm/h. The protein
was eluted using a 20 CV linear gradient from 0 to 0.5 M NaCl in
the same buffer. PA containing fractions were concentrated and
dialyzed against PBS.
[0117] d. Gel Filtration
[0118] The pooled PA was further purified using a Superdex 75
column (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech) in PBS/5 mM EDTA pH=7.4 at 12
cm/h.
Results and Discussion
[0119] a. Expression of Two Recombinant PAs:
[0120] PA-N657A and PA-SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D
[0121] The expression of two recombinant versions of PA and the
extracellular proteolytic activity of the culture were analyzed
(FIG. 1). Production of PA-SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D (SEQ ID NO: 4), the
protein lacking the furin and chymotrypsin cleavage sites, was
nearly 60% higher than that of PA-N657A (SEQ ID NO: 5), the protein
containing a mutation in the receptor-binding domain (FIG. 1a). The
extracellular proteolytic activity (fluorescence/OD) of both
cultures was similar. SDS-PAGE analysis of partially purified PA
recovered from these cultures shows higher concentration of smaller
fragments in the sample from PA-N657A (SEQ ID NO: 5) compared to
the sample from PA-SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D (FIG. 1b; SEQ ID NO: 4).
Western blot analysis with polyclonal PA antibody confirmed that
the smaller fragments were reactive against PA (data not shown). As
indicated in FIG. 1a, the proteolytic activity was similar in both
strains. Therefore, it was apparent that PA-SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D
(SEQ ID NO: 4) is a better candidate, due to its stability, and it
was selected for further studies.
[0122] b. pH Effect
[0123] Based on previous information (5, 21), initial production
studies with PA-SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D (SEQ ID NO: 4) were done by
controlling pH with NH.sub.4OH only, which resulted in pH 8.7 at
the end of the fermentation. When pH was controlled at 7.4 during
the entire fermentation, the PA production was 30 mg per g cell and
the proteolytic activity per OD unit was 8, compared to values of
20 mg PA per g cells and proteolytic activity per OD of 30 when the
pH control was done only by NH.sub.4OH. When the process was
performed at a lower pH, both PA production and protease activity
were lower. At pH 6.1 production declined nearly six times and
protease activity two times compared to what was found at pH 7.4.
Possibly, intracellular expression is lower or secretion is
inhibited at low pH. From the above information it is obvious that
pH significantly affects the proteolytic activity and the PA
expression. Controlling pH throughout the fermentation process
resulted in a 30% increase in PA yield, compared to previously
reported strategies.
[0124] c. Effect of Various Carbon Sources and Protease
Inhibitors
[0125] Attempts to increase PA expression by supplementing the
basic growth medium with different carbon sources is summarized in
Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Effect of various carbon sources on PA
production. PA production Medium mg PA/g cell mg PA/L culture Basic
medium 31.3 129.5 Glycerol + basic medium 23.7 117.3 Glucose +
basic medium 25.3 113.3 Lactose + basic medium 33.9 116.0 Casitone
+ basic medium 28.3 135.1
[0126] Neither the volumetric production nor the production per
gram cells could be enhanced with the addition of various carbon
sources. The effect of PMSF and EDTA on extracellular proteolysis
was also examined. As shown in FIG. 2, addition of EDTA (15 mM)
significantly reduced proteolytic activity whereas the proteolytic
activity of the PMSF-containing fraction (1 g/mL) was similar to
that of the control. Based on this information, EDTA was added at
the end of the fermentation, before the protein was processed.
[0127] d. Growth and Production Conditions
[0128] Based on the parameters determined previously, a production
process for the recombinant PA-SNKE-.DELTA.FF-E308D (SEQ ID NO: 4)
from B. anthracis BH445 was established. The process is based on
growth in a batch fermentation controlled at pH 7.5 with
NH.sub.4OH/HCl and at 30% dissolved oxygen saturation for a period
of 18 hours. A typical fermentation is seen in FIG. 3.
[0129] In general, the final OD.sub.600 values fluctuated between
16 to 20. During the first five hours, growth was exponential and
the pH was controlled by base addition. Later in the fermentation
the pH was controlled by acid addition. Accumulation of PA occurred
mostly during the stationary phase and reached a final
concentration of 160 mg per liter. The results shown in FIG. 4
indicate that PA degraded if the fermentation was extended for more
than 18 hours, therefore, a harvest time between 14 and 18 hours
was selected.
[0130] Attempts to increase the PA production by implementing a
fed-batch growth strategy were conducted. The addition of 10.times.
tryptone/yeast extract/salts or 50% glucose/10.times. salts
resulted in a 50% increase in cell density but not an increase in
protein production (FIG. 5). The observations that PA production
was not improved by the implementation of a fed batch growth
strategy or by the addition of various carbon sources such as
casein, glucose, glycerol or lactose is an indication that perhaps
a specific nutritional factor is missing. It is also important to
mention that the specific proteolytic activity was almost five
times lower when glucose was added to the tryptone/yeast extract
media (FIG. 6). This was expected since glucose is known to be a
repressor of proteases in Bacillus (10, 25).
[0131] e. Purification
[0132] The purification protocol developed for PA (Materials and
Methods) consisted of hydrophobic interaction chromatography
(Phenyl Sepharose) followed by anion exchange (Q Sepharose) and gel
filtration (Superdex 75).
[0133] Replacing the initial capturing step with expanded bed
chromatography (2) can simplify and shorten the recovery process
since it eliminates the clarification steps. Therefore, the use of
expanded bed adsorption (EBA) was investigated by substituting the
traditional packed-bed resin (Phenyl Sepharose) with the expanded
bed hydrophobic resin STREAMLINE.TM. Phenyl adsorbent. The static
binding capacity for STREAMLINE.TM. Phenyl adsorbent was
approximately 15 mg protein/mL of resin, which is comparable to the
capacity of Phenyl Sepharose. Optimal binding of PA to
STREAMLINE.TM. Phenyl adsorbent occurred at 1.5 M
(NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4.
[0134] Preliminary experiments performed with cell-containing broth
in expanded mode resulted in the formation of aggregates and
eventual collapse of the bed. It was possible to stabilize the
expanded column only after the addition of a detergent which
probably altered some of the hydrophobic interactions but did not
prevent PA from binding. Pluronic F-68 was chosen due its
non-toxicity in humans. The static binding capacities of STREAMLINE
Phenyl adsorbent were 15, 11, and 5 mg protein/mL resin with 0%,
0.005%, and 0.01% pluronic F-68, respectively. Successful operation
of the HIC EBA column occurred when using a load concentration of
15 g wet cells/L, 0.8 mL resin/g wet cells, and 0.005% pluronic
F-68 in the load as well as the wash buffer. Under these conditions
some signs of aggregation appeared at the end of the loading phase
but cell debris was eliminated in the washing phase. A 70% recovery
was obtained.
[0135] PA purity after hydrophobic interaction chromatography was
higher than 80%. Further purification was achieved by adding gel
filtration step (FIG. 6, Lane b). However, this material was not
stable when stored at 4.degree. C. for three months (FIG. 6, Lane
c). In contrast, pure and stable PA was obtained after hydrophobic
interaction chromatography on expanded bed, followed by anion
exchange and gel filtration (FIG. 6, Lane d). Similar results to
the expanded bed process were obtained when packed bed hydrophobic
interaction chromatography was followed by ion exchange and gel
filtration (FIG. 6, Lane a).
[0136] Replacing the packed-bed capturing step with expanded bed
adsorption proved to be more efficient since it eliminated the
centrifugation and filtration steps, however, twenty times more
(NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4 and three times more resin were required
to process the same amount of culture (Table 2).
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Comparison of packed bed and expanded bed
absorption as capturing processes for PA Packed Bed Expanded Bed
Adsorption 1. Total processing time 15.5 h 1. Total processing
time: 8 h a) downstream processing: 6 h a) downstream processing: 1
h (4 unit operations) (1 unit operation) b) loading: 2 h b)
loading: 4 h c) column wash: 3.5 h c) column wash: 1.5 h d)
elution: 4 h d) elution: 1.5 h 2. 400 g (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4
needed 2. 8000 g (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4 needed 3. 100 mL resin
needed 3. 300 mL resin needed 4. Load/wash steps require little
attention 4. Load/wash steps cannot be left unattended 5. 82%
recovery 5. 70% recovery
[0137] Initial work with hydrophobic interaction chromatography
using expanded bed ad sorption to capture PA resulted in bed
collapse. This was avoided after the addition of a surfactant
(pluronic F-68). These results suggest that the characteristics of
the cell membrane were most likely the cause of cell aggregation.
Since no polyglutamic acid capsule is present in the recombinant
strain, the two hydrophobic membrane proteins forming the S-layer
(4, 6) may be responsible for associating with neighboring cell
membranes and the resin. After evaluating the possible interactions
affecting the system, it was found that successful operation of the
expanded bed was possible by carefully adjusting the cell
concentration of the load, increasing the adsorbent-to-cell ratio,
and choosing the appropriate detergent type and concentration. The
expanded bed approach was more efficient in spite of the slightly
lower yield (70% vs. 82%) and the higher amount of
(NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4 and resin needed since it eliminated the
need for centrifugation and filtration. To obtain stable and highly
purified protein, anion exchange and gel filtration steps were
added.
CONCLUSIONS
[0138] Once the gene encoding PA (pagA) was cloned (31) and
sequenced (32), several researchers have reported on the expression
of PA in hosts like B. subtilis (1, 13, 20, 26), E. coli (8, 24,
31), Salmonella typhimurium (3), viruses (11), and avirulant B.
anthracis (5, 15). From these reports, the highest PA yield
achieved has been in the order of 50 mg/L in B. anthracis (15). In
this work, a scalable fermentation and purification process
suitable for vaccine development which produced almost three times
more product than what has been reported earlier, is presented.
This was accomplished by using a biologically inactive
protease-resistant PA variant in a protease-deficient nonsporogenic
avirulent strain of B. anthracis.
Example 2
Composition of the Vaccines
[0139] Four combinations of the recombinant (modified) protective
antigen ("rPA") were made: (1) rPA in PBS ("phosphate buffered
saline"), (2) rPA in formalin, (3) rPA in aluminum hydroxide and
(4) rPA in formalin and aluminum hydroxide. Another formulation of
succinylated rPA was prepared and tested (data not shown).
Example 3
Immunogenicity in Mice
[0140] The four formulations described above were immunogenic in
mice, and induced antibody levels comparable to those induced by
the currently licensed anthrax vaccine. The induced antibodies had
anthrax toxin neutralizing activity. It is planned to evaluate
these formulations in humans, and to choose the best one for use as
a vaccine.
[0141] The data from the mice experiments are set forth in the
tables 3 to 5 below:
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Number of Mice and Immunogen Group Number
Number of Mice Immunogen 1056 11 PA (2.5 .mu.g)-Untreated 1057 11
PA (12.5 .mu.g)-Untreated 1058 11 PA (2.5 .mu.g) + Alum 1059 10
PA.sub.SUCC 10:1.25 (2.5 .mu.g) 1060 10 PA.sub.SUCC 10:1.25 (12.5
.mu.g) 1061 10 PA.sub.SUCC 10:3 (2.5 .mu.g) 1062 10 PA.sub.SUCC
10:3 (12.5 .mu.g) 1063 10 PA-Formalin 0.3 (2.5 .mu.g) 1064 10
PA-Formalin 0.3 (12.5 .mu.g) 1065 10 PA-Formalin 3.0 (2.5 .mu.g)
1066 10 PA-Formalin 3.0 (12.5 .mu.g) 1067 10 PA-Formalin 7.12 (2.5
.mu.g) 1068 10 PA-Formalin 7.12 (12.5 .mu.g) 1069 11 Anthrax
Vaccine 0.1 ml 1070 10 Control
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Antibody Levels and Neutralization Titers
Mice .mu.g/ml Neutral, Titer 1056A 130.64 4000 1056B 11.24 200
1056K 21.3 1000 1057A 146.65 3000 1057I 490.14 7000 1058A 725.31
8000 E 710.46 7000 J 513.46 4000 1059A 53.89 1500 1060A 125.92 850
1061A 97.1 1500 C 21.2 200 E 54.22 700 1062A 24.9 1500 J 14.35 2000
1063A 68.31 1500 C 179.16 2000 H 564.94 2000 1064A 581.34 10,000
1064D 204.56 8000 E 742.21 11,000 F 418.95 7000 G 814.91 10,000
1065A 77.73 1250 E 214.37 5000 1066C 65.47 4000 D 513.32 10,000 E
248.91 4000 F 260.36 8000 J 1041.65 10,000 1067A 261.54 3000 G 415
5000 1068A 512.99 10,000 I 414.82 5000 1069A 339.18 3000 1069J
879.65 3000 1070E <.05 20 5-6 weeks old female general purpose
mice were injected subcutaneously with 0.1 mL of the immunogens
depicted in Table 3, 2 or 3 times 2 weeks apart. The mice were
exsanguinated one week after the last injection and their sera
assayed for IgG anti PA and anthrax toxin neutralization.
Antibodies measured by Elisa were related to a standard containing
1.8 mg/ml of anti-PA monoclonal activity.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 IgG anti PA levels induced in mice by
various rPA formulations dose .times. number PA lot formulation of
injections .mu.g/ml 0 PA 2.5.mu. .times. 2 1.3 0 PA 2.5.mu. .times.
3 109.1 2 PA 2.5.mu. .times. 3 24.9 2 PA 12.5.mu. .times. 3 226 0
PA/Al (OH).sub.3 2.5.mu. .times. 2 86.1 0 PA/Al (OH).sub.3 2.5.mu.
.times. 3 312. 2 PA/Al (OH).sub.3 2.5.mu. .times. 3 435. 2 PA
formalin 0.3 2.5.mu. .times. 3 182 2 PA formalin 0.3 12.5.mu.
.times. 3 350. 0 PA formalin 3.0 2.5.mu. .times. 2 2.79 0 PA
formalin 3.0 2.5.mu. .times. 3 136.4 0 PA formalin 3.0 5.0.mu.
.times. 2 1.98 2 PA formalin 3.0 2.5.mu. .times. 3 220 2 PA
formalin 3.0 12.5.mu. .times. 3 270 0 PA formalin 7.12 2.5.mu.
.times. 3 266 0 PA formalin 7.12 12.5.mu. .times. 3 229 Anthrax
Vaccine 1/10 human dose .times. 2 43.15 1/10 human dose .times. 3
297 PBS control .times.2 <.05 .times.3 <.05 5-6 weeks old
female mice, 10 per group, were injected subcutaneously with the
listed formulations, 2 or 3 times, two weeks apart and
exsanguinated one week after the last injection. Antibodies were
measured by Elisa, calculated relative to a standard containing 1.8
mg/ml of anti-PA monoclonal antibody, and expressed as geometric
means of the groups.
Example 4
[0142] The present example describes novel methods and materials
for production of genetically defined, non-reverting
sporulation-deficient mutants of Bacillus anthracis for use as a
host for expression of recombinant proteins. Through analysis of
the growth behavior and morphological appearance of B. anthracis
growing on certain solid media (e.g., LB agar plates), it was
discovered that in areas of thick growth, parental bacteria are
induced by nutrient deprivation to initiate sporulation and cease
normal growth.
[0143] Briefly, inocula of B. anthracis were plated on LB agar
plates and cultured for approximately 36-48 hrs to yield moderate
to heavy growth. In areas of thick growth rare, spontaneous
sporulation-deficient mutants emerged that were then identified and
isolated. The sporulation-deficient mutants were successfully
isolated by picking from central portions of the culture colonies
where nutrient deprivation is presumptively increased. Additional
mutant isolates were obtained by picking cancerous tumors that
appeared as nodules of protruding bacterial growth on a relatively
smooth growth background. Mutant selection was also achieved by
observation of alternative morphological characteristics exhibited
by sporulation-incompetent and sporulation-impaired mutants,
including increased whiteness of color and decreased wetness
compared to wt.
[0144] To further enrich for sporulation mutants, bacteria selected
as above were grown up in liquid culture and re-plated for single
colonies. This enrichment routinely produced plates on which 1-50%
of the colonies exhibit distinct morphology from that of the
parental strain. The morphological variants, when purified and
tested, were almost always found to be unable to produce spores.
Analysis of many such mutants by PCR demonstrates that the subject
mutants have deletions in genes known to be required for the
production of spores. Strains in which these genes have deletions
will not revert to sporulation-competence forms at a detectable
frequency, and are therefore highly desired for use in vaccine
production.
[0145] To illustrate the broad applicability of the foregoing
mutant selection protocols, sporulation-deficient mutants were
obtained from three different parental strains: Ames plasmid-free,
UM44-1C9, and BH441. Accordingly, a large collection of mutant
strains can be generated and selected following the disclosure
herein.
Example 5
[0146] The present example describes the creation of a novel,
stable, recombinant PA molecule by deletion of exemplary segments
of both the chymotrypsin-sensitive loop and the furin-cleavage
loop. Considering the nature of the current anthrax (AVA) vaccine
and the adverse events that have been associated with its
administration, second generation vaccines there is an urgent need
for new, recombinant PA (rPA) molecules for use in vaccine
development. PA is an essential component of an effective anthrax
vaccine. One problem with producing a rPA for vaccine use is that
PA is sensitive to proteolytic cleavage at two locations. One
target location for cleavage is the furin-cleavage loop, which
contains the sequence ArgLysLysArg (residues 164-167 of the mature
protein). Cleavage at this site activates PA, exposing the surface
at which the two other toxin components bind. Removal of the furin
loop will prevent intoxication mediated by the other toxin
components. The second cleavage loop (residues 304-319) contains
the sequence PhePheAsp (residues 313-315), making PA sensitive to
cleavage by chymotrypsin and thermolysin. As described above, one
strategy for removing this cleavage site involves deleting Phe313
and Phe314. While deletion of these two Phe residues prevents
cleavage by chymotrypsin and thermolysin, preparations of this form
of rPA still exhibit degradation products indicative of cleavage in
the loop, presumably by a different protease.
[0147] The novel rPA described in the present example has both
cleavage-sensitive loops removed to create a more stable, inactive,
PA mutant protein suitable for vaccine production. This double
mutant modification was accomplished by: (a) deletion of residues
162 through 167 and the substitution of Ile for Ser at residue 168;
(b) the deletion of residues 304-317 and the substitution of Gly
for Ser at residue 319 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). The changes made in (a)
remove the furin-cleavage loop, while the changes in (b) substitute
two Gly residues for the entire chymotrypsin-cleavage loop (FIG.
8). An exemplary polynucleotide encoding this rPA is shown in FIGS.
9A and 9B.
[0148] Expression of the double mutant and comparative expression
of wt PA was achieved using a sporulation-incompetent (spo-)
anthrax strain as previously described. Supernatant protein samples
from the resulting cultures were analyzed on non-reducing
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (non-reducing PAGE). The bands
corresponding to the rPA and wt PA were compared to estimate
degradation in the compared samples. In this context, expression
levels and secretion efficiency are expected to be similar for the
rPA and wt PA samples. The results of this study showed that the
double mutant rPA was significantly more stable to enzymatic
degradation than the wild-type (wt) PA.
[0149] In further detailed studies, both avirulent BH441 and
UM44-1C9 parents were plated at high cell density and putative
sporulation-deficient mutants selected based on growth retardation
and colony morphology as above. A panel of sub-clones from each
parent tested was cultured as described above in the absence of
selection and using the 48 hr passage interval, designed to enrich
for spores. Following heat treatment and plating on agar in the
absence of selection, all sub-clones were completely asporogenic
with no germination detected. The newly identified BH441 and
UM44-1C9 sub-clones are stable in the absence of selection and show
no signs of reversion to the wild-type phenotype under growth
limiting conditions designed to enrich for revertants. No
antibiotic is required to maintain this phenotype.
[0150] Although the foregoing invention has been described in
detail by way of example for purposes of clarity of understanding,
it will be apparent to the artisan that certain changes and
modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended
claims which are presented by way of illustration not limitation.
In this context, various publications and other references have
been cited within the foregoing disclosure for economy of
description. Each of these references is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Sequence CWU 1
1
51715PRTArtificial SequenceMature double mutant protective antigen
1Glu Val Lys Gln Glu Asn Arg Leu Leu Asn Glu Ser Glu Ser Ser Ser1 5
10 15Gln Gly Leu Leu Gly Tyr Tyr Phe Ser Asp Leu Asn Phe Gln Ala
Pro 20 25 30Met Val Val Thr Ser Ser Thr Thr Gly Asp Leu Ser Ile Pro
Ser Ser 35 40 45Glu Leu Glu Asn Ile Pro Ser Glu Asn Gln Tyr Phe Gln
Ser Ala Ile 50 55 60Trp Ser Gly Phe Ile Lys Val Lys Lys Ser Asp Glu
Tyr Thr Phe Ala65 70 75 80Thr Ser Ala Asp Asn His Val Thr Met Trp
Val Asp Asp Gln Glu Val 85 90 95Ile Asn Lys Ala Ser Asn Ser Asn Lys
Ile Arg Leu Glu Lys Gly Arg 100 105 110Leu Tyr Gln Ile Lys Ile Gln
Tyr Gln Arg Glu Asn Pro Thr Glu Lys 115 120 125Gly Leu Asp Phe Lys
Leu Tyr Trp Thr Asp Ser Gln Asn Lys Lys Glu 130 135 140Val Ile Ser
Ser Asp Asn Leu Gln Leu Pro Glu Leu Lys Gln Lys Ser145 150 155
160Ser Ile Thr Ser Ala Gly Pro Thr Val Pro Asp Arg Asp Asn Asp Gly
165 170 175Ile Pro Asp Ser Leu Glu Val Glu Gly Tyr Thr Val Asp Val
Lys Asn 180 185 190Lys Arg Thr Phe Leu Ser Pro Trp Ile Ser Asn Ile
His Glu Lys Lys 195 200 205Gly Leu Thr Lys Tyr Lys Ser Ser Pro Glu
Lys Trp Ser Thr Ala Ser 210 215 220Asp Pro Tyr Ser Asp Phe Glu Lys
Val Thr Gly Arg Ile Asp Lys Asn225 230 235 240Val Ser Pro Glu Ala
Arg His Pro Leu Val Ala Ala Tyr Pro Ile Val 245 250 255His Val Asp
Met Glu Asn Ile Ile Leu Ser Lys Asn Glu Asp Gln Ser 260 265 270Thr
Gln Asn Thr Asp Ser Gln Thr Arg Thr Ile Ser Lys Asn Thr Ser 275 280
285Thr Ser Arg Thr His Thr Ser Glu Val Gly Gly Val Ser Ala Gly Phe
290 295 300Ser Asn Ser Asn Ser Ser Thr Val Ala Ile Asp His Ser Leu
Ser Leu305 310 315 320Ala Gly Glu Arg Thr Trp Ala Glu Thr Met Gly
Leu Asn Thr Ala Asp 325 330 335Thr Ala Arg Leu Asn Ala Asn Ile Arg
Tyr Val Asn Thr Gly Thr Ala 340 345 350Pro Ile Tyr Asn Val Leu Pro
Thr Thr Ser Leu Val Leu Gly Lys Asn 355 360 365Gln Thr Leu Ala Thr
Ile Lys Ala Lys Glu Asn Gln Leu Ser Gln Ile 370 375 380Leu Ala Pro
Asn Asn Tyr Tyr Pro Ser Lys Asn Leu Ala Pro Ile Ala385 390 395
400Leu Asn Ala Gln Asp Asp Phe Ser Ser Thr Pro Ile Thr Met Asn Tyr
405 410 415Asn Gln Phe Leu Glu Leu Glu Lys Thr Lys Gln Leu Arg Leu
Asp Thr 420 425 430Asp Gln Val Tyr Gly Asn Ile Ala Thr Tyr Asn Phe
Glu Asn Gly Arg 435 440 445Val Arg Val Asp Thr Gly Ser Asn Trp Ser
Glu Val Leu Pro Gln Ile 450 455 460Gln Glu Thr Thr Ala Arg Ile Ile
Phe Asn Gly Lys Asp Leu Asn Leu465 470 475 480Val Glu Arg Arg Ile
Ala Ala Val Asn Pro Ser Asp Pro Leu Glu Thr 485 490 495Thr Lys Pro
Asp Met Thr Leu Lys Glu Ala Leu Lys Ile Ala Phe Gly 500 505 510Phe
Asn Glu Pro Asn Gly Asn Leu Gln Tyr Gln Gly Lys Asp Ile Thr 515 520
525Glu Phe Asp Phe Asn Phe Asp Gln Gln Thr Ser Gln Asn Ile Lys Asn
530 535 540Gln Leu Ala Glu Leu Asn Ala Thr Asn Ile Tyr Thr Val Leu
Asp Lys545 550 555 560Ile Lys Leu Asn Ala Lys Met Asn Ile Leu Ile
Arg Asp Lys Arg Phe 565 570 575His Tyr Asp Arg Asn Asn Ile Ala Val
Gly Ala Asp Glu Ser Val Val 580 585 590Lys Glu Ala His Arg Glu Val
Ile Asn Ser Ser Thr Glu Gly Leu Leu 595 600 605Leu Asn Ile Asp Lys
Asp Ile Arg Lys Ile Leu Ser Gly Tyr Ile Val 610 615 620Glu Ile Glu
Asp Thr Glu Gly Leu Lys Glu Val Ile Asn Asp Arg Tyr625 630 635
640Asp Met Leu Asn Ile Ser Ser Leu Arg Gln Asp Gly Lys Thr Phe Ile
645 650 655Asp Phe Lys Lys Tyr Asn Asp Lys Leu Pro Leu Tyr Ile Ser
Asn Pro 660 665 670Asn Tyr Lys Val Asn Val Tyr Ala Val Thr Lys Glu
Asn Thr Ile Ile 675 680 685Asn Pro Ser Glu Asn Gly Asp Thr Ser Thr
Asn Gly Ile Lys Lys Ile 690 695 700Leu Ile Phe Ser Lys Lys Gly Tyr
Glu Ile Gly705 710 7152735PRTBacillus anthracis 2Glu Val Lys Gln
Glu Asn Arg Leu Leu Asn Glu Ser Glu Ser Ser Ser1 5 10 15Gln Gly Leu
Leu Gly Tyr Tyr Phe Ser Asp Leu Asn Phe Gln Ala Pro 20 25 30Met Val
Val Thr Ser Ser Thr Thr Gly Asp Leu Ser Ile Pro Ser Ser 35 40 45Glu
Leu Glu Asn Ile Pro Ser Glu Asn Gln Tyr Phe Gln Ser Ala Ile 50 55
60Trp Ser Gly Phe Ile Lys Val Lys Lys Ser Asp Glu Tyr Thr Phe Ala65
70 75 80Thr Ser Ala Asp Asn His Val Thr Met Trp Val Asp Asp Gln Glu
Val 85 90 95Ile Asn Lys Ala Ser Asn Ser Asn Lys Ile Arg Leu Glu Lys
Gly Arg 100 105 110Leu Tyr Gln Ile Lys Ile Gln Tyr Gln Arg Glu Asn
Pro Thr Glu Lys 115 120 125Gly Leu Asp Phe Lys Leu Tyr Trp Thr Asp
Ser Gln Asn Lys Lys Glu 130 135 140Val Ile Ser Ser Asp Asn Leu Gln
Leu Pro Glu Leu Lys Gln Lys Ser145 150 155 160Ser Asn Ser Arg Lys
Lys Arg Ser Thr Ser Ala Gly Pro Thr Val Pro 165 170 175Asp Arg Asp
Asn Asp Gly Ile Pro Asp Ser Leu Glu Val Glu Gly Tyr 180 185 190Thr
Val Asp Val Lys Asn Lys Arg Thr Phe Leu Ser Pro Trp Ile Ser 195 200
205Asn Ile His Glu Lys Lys Gly Leu Thr Lys Tyr Lys Ser Ser Pro Glu
210 215 220Lys Trp Ser Thr Ala Ser Asp Pro Tyr Ser Asp Phe Glu Lys
Val Thr225 230 235 240Gly Arg Ile Asp Lys Asn Val Ser Pro Glu Ala
Arg His Pro Leu Val 245 250 255Ala Ala Tyr Pro Ile Val His Val Asp
Met Glu Asn Ile Ile Leu Ser 260 265 270Lys Asn Glu Asp Gln Ser Thr
Gln Asn Thr Asp Ser Gln Thr Arg Thr 275 280 285Ile Ser Lys Asn Thr
Ser Thr Ser Arg Thr His Thr Ser Glu Val His 290 295 300Gly Asn Ala
Glu Val His Ala Ser Phe Phe Asp Ile Gly Gly Ser Val305 310 315
320Ser Ala Gly Phe Ser Asn Ser Asn Ser Ser Thr Val Ala Ile Asp His
325 330 335Ser Leu Ser Leu Ala Gly Glu Arg Thr Trp Ala Glu Thr Met
Gly Leu 340 345 350Asn Thr Ala Asp Thr Ala Arg Leu Asn Ala Asn Ile
Arg Tyr Val Asn 355 360 365Thr Gly Thr Ala Pro Ile Tyr Asn Val Leu
Pro Thr Thr Ser Leu Val 370 375 380Leu Gly Lys Asn Gln Thr Leu Ala
Thr Ile Lys Ala Lys Glu Asn Gln385 390 395 400Leu Ser Gln Ile Leu
Ala Pro Asn Asn Tyr Tyr Pro Ser Lys Asn Leu 405 410 415Ala Pro Ile
Ala Leu Asn Ala Gln Asp Asp Phe Ser Ser Thr Pro Ile 420 425 430Thr
Met Asn Tyr Asn Gln Phe Leu Glu Leu Glu Lys Thr Lys Gln Leu 435 440
445Arg Leu Asp Thr Asp Gln Val Tyr Gly Asn Ile Ala Thr Tyr Asn Phe
450 455 460Glu Asn Gly Arg Val Arg Val Asp Thr Gly Ser Asn Trp Ser
Glu Val465 470 475 480Leu Pro Gln Ile Gln Glu Thr Thr Ala Arg Ile
Ile Phe Asn Gly Lys 485 490 495Asp Leu Asn Leu Val Glu Arg Arg Ile
Ala Ala Val Asn Pro Ser Asp 500 505 510Pro Leu Glu Thr Thr Lys Pro
Asp Met Thr Leu Lys Glu Ala Leu Lys 515 520 525Ile Ala Phe Gly Phe
Asn Glu Pro Asn Gly Asn Leu Gln Tyr Gln Gly 530 535 540Lys Asp Ile
Thr Glu Phe Asp Phe Asn Phe Asp Gln Gln Thr Ser Gln545 550 555
560Asn Ile Lys Asn Gln Leu Ala Glu Leu Asn Ala Thr Asn Ile Tyr Thr
565 570 575Val Leu Asp Lys Ile Lys Leu Asn Ala Lys Met Asn Ile Leu
Ile Arg 580 585 590Asp Lys Arg Phe His Tyr Asp Arg Asn Asn Ile Ala
Val Gly Ala Asp 595 600 605Glu Ser Val Val Lys Glu Ala His Arg Glu
Val Ile Asn Ser Ser Thr 610 615 620Glu Gly Leu Leu Leu Asn Ile Asp
Lys Asp Ile Arg Lys Ile Leu Ser625 630 635 640Gly Tyr Ile Val Glu
Ile Glu Asp Thr Glu Gly Leu Lys Glu Val Ile 645 650 655Asn Asp Arg
Tyr Asp Met Leu Asn Ile Ser Ser Leu Arg Gln Asp Gly 660 665 670Lys
Thr Phe Ile Asp Phe Lys Lys Tyr Asn Asp Lys Leu Pro Leu Tyr 675 680
685Ile Ser Asn Pro Asn Tyr Lys Val Asn Val Tyr Ala Val Thr Lys Glu
690 695 700Asn Thr Ile Ile Asn Pro Ser Glu Asn Gly Asp Thr Ser Thr
Asn Gly705 710 715 720Ile Lys Lys Ile Leu Ile Phe Ser Lys Lys Gly
Tyr Glu Ile Gly 725 730 73532235DNAArtificial SequenceMature double
mutant protective antigen 3atgaaaaaac gaaaagtgtt aataccatta
atggcattgt ctacgatatt agtttcaagc 60acaggtaatt tagaggtgat tcaggcagaa
gttaaacagg agaaccggtt attaaatgaa 120tcagaatcaa gttcccaggg
gttactagga tactatttta gtgatttgaa ttttcaagca 180cccatggtgg
ttacctcttc tactacaggg gatttatcta ttcctagttc tgagttagaa
240aatattccat cggaaaacca atattttcaa tctgctattt ggtcaggatt
tatcaaagtt 300aagaagagtg atgaatatac atttgctact tccgctgata
atcatgtaac aatgtgggta 360gatgaccaag aagtgattaa taaagcttct
aattctaaca aaatcagatt agaaaaagga 420agattatatc aaataaaaat
tcaatatcaa cgagaaaatc ctactgaaaa aggattggat 480ttcaagttgt
actggaccga ttctcaaaat aaaaaagaag tgatttctag tgataactta
540caattgccag aattaaaaca aaaatcttcg attacaagtg caggacctac
ggttccagac 600cgtgacaatg atggaatccc tgattcatta gaggtagaag
gatatacggt tgatgtcaaa 660aataaaagaa cttttctttc accatggatt
tctaatattc atgaaaagaa aggattaacc 720aaatataaat catctcctga
aaaatggagc acggcttctg atccgtacag tgatttcgaa 780aaggttacag
gacggattga taagaatgta tcaccagagg caagacaccc ccttgtggca
840gcttatccga ttgtacatgt agatatggag aatattattc tctcaaaaaa
tgaggatcaa 900tccacacaga atactgatag tcaaacgaga acaataagta
aaaatacttc tacaagtagg 960acacatacta gtgaagtagg aggagtatct
gcaggattta gtaattcgaa ttcaagtacg 1020gtcgcaattg atcattcact
atctctagca ggggaaagaa cttgggctga aacaatgggt 1080ttaaataccg
ctgatacagc aagattaaat gccaatatta gatatgtaaa tactgggacg
1140gctccaatct acaacgtgtt accaacgact tcgttagtgt taggaaaaaa
tcaaacactc 1200gcgacaatta aagctaagga aaaccaatta agtcaaatac
ttgcacctaa taattattat 1260ccttctaaaa acttggcgcc aatcgcatta
aatgcacaag acgatttcag ttctactcca 1320attacaatga attacaatca
atttcttgag ttagaaaaaa cgaaacaatt aagattagat 1380acggatcaag
tatatgggaa tatagcaaca tacaattttg aaaatggaag agtgagggtg
1440gatacaggct cgaactggag tgaagtgtta ccgcaaattc aagaaacaac
tgcacgtatc 1500atttttaatg gaaaagattt aaatctggta gaaaggcgga
tagcggcggt taatcctagt 1560gatccattag aaacgactaa accggatatg
acattaaaag aagcccttaa aatagcattt 1620ggatttaacg aaccgaatgg
aaacttacaa tatcaaggga aagacataac cgaatttgat 1680tttaatttcg
atcaacaaac atctcaaaat atcaagaatc agttagcgga attaaacgca
1740actaacatat atactgtatt agataaaatc aaattaaatg caaaaatgaa
tattttaata 1800agagataaac gttttcatta tgatagaaat aacatagcag
ttggggcgga tgagtcagta 1860gttaaggagg ctcatagaga agtaattaat
tcgtcaacag agggattatt gttaaatatt 1920gataaggata taagaaaaat
attatcaggt tatattgtag aaattgaaga tactgaaggg 1980cttaaagaag
ttataaatga cagatatgat atgttgaata tttctagttt acggcaagat
2040ggaaaaacat ttatagattt taaaaaatat aatgataaat taccgttata
tataagtaat 2100cccaattata aggtaaatgt atatgctgtt actaaagaaa
acactattat taatcctagt 2160gagaatgggg atactagtac caacgggatc
aagaaaattt taatcttttc taaaaaaggc 2220tatgagatag gataa
22354733PRTArtificialVariant PA-SNKE-deltaFF-E308D protein 4Glu Val
Lys Gln Glu Asn Arg Leu Leu Asn Glu Ser Glu Ser Ser Ser1 5 10 15Gln
Gly Leu Leu Gly Tyr Tyr Phe Ser Asp Leu Asn Phe Gln Ala Pro 20 25
30Met Val Val Thr Ser Ser Thr Thr Gly Asp Leu Ser Ile Pro Ser Ser
35 40 45Glu Leu Glu Asn Ile Pro Ser Glu Asn Gln Tyr Phe Gln Ser Ala
Ile 50 55 60Trp Ser Gly Phe Ile Lys Val Lys Lys Ser Asp Glu Tyr Thr
Phe Ala65 70 75 80Thr Ser Ala Asp Asn His Val Thr Met Trp Val Asp
Asp Gln Glu Val 85 90 95Ile Asn Lys Ala Ser Asn Ser Asn Lys Ile Arg
Leu Glu Lys Gly Arg 100 105 110Leu Tyr Gln Ile Lys Ile Gln Tyr Gln
Arg Glu Asn Pro Thr Glu Lys 115 120 125Gly Leu Asp Phe Lys Leu Tyr
Trp Thr Asp Ser Gln Asn Lys Lys Glu 130 135 140Val Ile Ser Ser Asp
Asn Leu Gln Leu Pro Glu Leu Lys Gln Lys Ser145 150 155 160Ser Asn
Ser Ser Asn Lys Glu Ser Thr Ser Ala Gly Pro Thr Val Pro 165 170
175Asp Arg Asp Asn Asp Gly Ile Pro Asp Ser Leu Glu Val Glu Gly Tyr
180 185 190Thr Val Asp Val Lys Asn Lys Arg Thr Phe Leu Ser Pro Trp
Ile Ser 195 200 205Asn Ile His Glu Lys Lys Gly Leu Thr Lys Tyr Lys
Ser Ser Pro Glu 210 215 220Lys Trp Ser Thr Ala Ser Asp Pro Tyr Ser
Asp Phe Glu Lys Val Thr225 230 235 240Gly Arg Ile Asp Lys Asn Val
Ser Pro Glu Ala Arg His Pro Leu Val 245 250 255Ala Ala Tyr Pro Ile
Val His Val Asp Met Glu Asn Ile Ile Leu Ser 260 265 270Lys Asn Glu
Asp Gln Ser Thr Gln Asn Thr Asp Ser Gln Thr Arg Thr 275 280 285Ile
Ser Lys Asn Thr Ser Thr Ser Arg Thr His Thr Ser Glu Val His 290 295
300Gly Asn Ala Asp Val His Ala Ser Asp Ile Gly Gly Ser Val Ser
Ala305 310 315 320Gly Phe Ser Asn Ser Asn Ser Ser Thr Val Ala Ile
Asp His Ser Leu 325 330 335Ser Leu Ala Gly Glu Arg Thr Trp Ala Glu
Thr Met Gly Leu Asn Thr 340 345 350Ala Asp Thr Ala Arg Leu Asn Ala
Asn Ile Arg Tyr Val Asn Thr Gly 355 360 365Thr Ala Pro Ile Tyr Asn
Val Leu Pro Thr Thr Ser Leu Val Leu Gly 370 375 380Lys Asn Gln Thr
Leu Ala Thr Ile Lys Ala Lys Glu Asn Gln Leu Ser385 390 395 400Gln
Ile Leu Ala Pro Asn Asn Tyr Tyr Pro Ser Lys Asn Leu Ala Pro 405 410
415Ile Ala Leu Asn Ala Gln Asp Asp Phe Ser Ser Thr Pro Ile Thr Met
420 425 430Asn Tyr Asn Gln Phe Leu Glu Leu Glu Lys Thr Lys Gln Leu
Arg Leu 435 440 445Asp Thr Asp Gln Val Tyr Gly Asn Ile Ala Thr Tyr
Asn Phe Glu Asn 450 455 460Gly Arg Val Arg Val Asp Thr Gly Ser Asn
Trp Ser Glu Val Leu Pro465 470 475 480Gln Ile Gln Glu Thr Thr Ala
Arg Ile Ile Phe Asn Gly Lys Asp Leu 485 490 495Asn Leu Val Glu Arg
Arg Ile Ala Ala Val Asn Pro Ser Asp Pro Leu 500 505 510Glu Thr Thr
Lys Pro Asp Met Thr Leu Lys Glu Ala Leu Lys Ile Ala 515 520 525Phe
Gly Phe Asn Glu Pro Asn Gly Asn Leu Gln Tyr Gln Gly Lys Asp 530 535
540Ile Thr Glu Phe Asp Phe Asn Phe Asp Gln Gln Thr Ser Gln Asn
Ile545 550 555 560Lys Asn Gln Leu Ala Glu Leu Asn Ala Thr Asn Ile
Tyr Thr Val Leu 565 570 575Asp Lys Ile Lys Leu Asn Ala Lys Met Asn
Ile Leu Ile Arg Asp Lys 580 585 590Arg Phe His Tyr Asp Arg Asn Asn
Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Asp Glu Ser 595 600 605Val Val Lys Glu Ala His
Arg Glu Val Ile Asn Ser Ser Thr Glu Gly 610
615 620Leu Leu Leu Asn Ile Asp Lys Asp Ile Arg Lys Ile Leu Ser Gly
Tyr625 630 635 640Ile Val Glu Ile Glu Asp Thr Glu Gly Leu Lys Glu
Val Ile Asn Asp 645 650 655Arg Tyr Asp Met Leu Asn Ile Ser Ser Leu
Arg Gln Asp Gly Lys Thr 660 665 670Phe Ile Asp Phe Lys Lys Tyr Asn
Asp Lys Leu Pro Leu Tyr Ile Ser 675 680 685Asn Pro Asn Tyr Lys Val
Asn Val Tyr Ala Val Thr Lys Glu Asn Thr 690 695 700Ile Ile Asn Pro
Ser Glu Asn Gly Asp Thr Ser Thr Asn Gly Ile Lys705 710 715 720Lys
Ile Leu Ile Phe Ser Lys Lys Gly Tyr Glu Ile Gly 725
7305735PRTArtificialVariant PA-N657A protein 5Glu Val Lys Gln Glu
Asn Arg Leu Leu Asn Glu Ser Glu Ser Ser Ser1 5 10 15Gln Gly Leu Leu
Gly Tyr Tyr Phe Ser Asp Leu Asn Phe Gln Ala Pro 20 25 30Met Val Val
Thr Ser Ser Thr Thr Gly Asp Leu Ser Ile Pro Ser Ser 35 40 45Glu Leu
Glu Asn Ile Pro Ser Glu Asn Gln Tyr Phe Gln Ser Ala Ile 50 55 60Trp
Ser Gly Phe Ile Lys Val Lys Lys Ser Asp Glu Tyr Thr Phe Ala65 70 75
80Thr Ser Ala Asp Asn His Val Thr Met Trp Val Asp Asp Gln Glu Val
85 90 95Ile Asn Lys Ala Ser Asn Ser Asn Lys Ile Arg Leu Glu Lys Gly
Arg 100 105 110Leu Tyr Gln Ile Lys Ile Gln Tyr Gln Arg Glu Asn Pro
Thr Glu Lys 115 120 125Gly Leu Asp Phe Lys Leu Tyr Trp Thr Asp Ser
Gln Asn Lys Lys Glu 130 135 140Val Ile Ser Ser Asp Asn Leu Gln Leu
Pro Glu Leu Lys Gln Lys Ser145 150 155 160Ser Asn Ser Arg Lys Lys
Arg Ser Thr Ser Ala Gly Pro Thr Val Pro 165 170 175Asp Arg Asp Asn
Asp Gly Ile Pro Asp Ser Leu Glu Val Glu Gly Tyr 180 185 190Thr Val
Asp Val Lys Asn Lys Arg Thr Phe Leu Ser Pro Trp Ile Ser 195 200
205Asn Ile His Glu Lys Lys Gly Leu Thr Lys Tyr Lys Ser Ser Pro Glu
210 215 220Lys Trp Ser Thr Ala Ser Asp Pro Tyr Ser Asp Phe Glu Lys
Val Thr225 230 235 240Gly Arg Ile Asp Lys Asn Val Ser Pro Glu Ala
Arg His Pro Leu Val 245 250 255Ala Ala Tyr Pro Ile Val His Val Asp
Met Glu Asn Ile Ile Leu Ser 260 265 270Lys Asn Glu Asp Gln Ser Thr
Gln Asn Thr Asp Ser Gln Thr Arg Thr 275 280 285Ile Ser Lys Asn Thr
Ser Thr Ser Arg Thr His Thr Ser Glu Val His 290 295 300Gly Asn Ala
Glu Val His Ala Ser Phe Phe Asp Ile Gly Gly Ser Val305 310 315
320Ser Ala Gly Phe Ser Asn Ser Asn Ser Ser Thr Val Ala Ile Asp His
325 330 335Ser Leu Ser Leu Ala Gly Glu Arg Thr Trp Ala Glu Thr Met
Gly Leu 340 345 350Asn Thr Ala Asp Thr Ala Arg Leu Asn Ala Asn Ile
Arg Tyr Val Asn 355 360 365Thr Gly Thr Ala Pro Ile Tyr Asn Val Leu
Pro Thr Thr Ser Leu Val 370 375 380Leu Gly Lys Asn Gln Thr Leu Ala
Thr Ile Lys Ala Lys Glu Asn Gln385 390 395 400Leu Ser Gln Ile Leu
Ala Pro Asn Asn Tyr Tyr Pro Ser Lys Asn Leu 405 410 415Ala Pro Ile
Ala Leu Asn Ala Gln Asp Asp Phe Ser Ser Thr Pro Ile 420 425 430Thr
Met Asn Tyr Asn Gln Phe Leu Glu Leu Glu Lys Thr Lys Gln Leu 435 440
445Arg Leu Asp Thr Asp Gln Val Tyr Gly Asn Ile Ala Thr Tyr Asn Phe
450 455 460Glu Asn Gly Arg Val Arg Val Asp Thr Gly Ser Asn Trp Ser
Glu Val465 470 475 480Leu Pro Gln Ile Gln Glu Thr Thr Ala Arg Ile
Ile Phe Asn Gly Lys 485 490 495Asp Leu Asn Leu Val Glu Arg Arg Ile
Ala Ala Val Asn Pro Ser Asp 500 505 510Pro Leu Glu Thr Thr Lys Pro
Asp Met Thr Leu Lys Glu Ala Leu Lys 515 520 525Ile Ala Phe Gly Phe
Asn Glu Pro Asn Gly Asn Leu Gln Tyr Gln Gly 530 535 540Lys Asp Ile
Thr Glu Phe Asp Phe Asn Phe Asp Gln Gln Thr Ser Gln545 550 555
560Asn Ile Lys Asn Gln Leu Ala Glu Leu Asn Ala Thr Asn Ile Tyr Thr
565 570 575Val Leu Asp Lys Ile Lys Leu Asn Ala Lys Met Asn Ile Leu
Ile Arg 580 585 590Asp Lys Arg Phe His Tyr Asp Arg Asn Asn Ile Ala
Val Gly Ala Asp 595 600 605Glu Ser Val Val Lys Glu Ala His Arg Glu
Val Ile Asn Ser Ser Thr 610 615 620Glu Gly Leu Leu Leu Asn Ile Asp
Lys Asp Ile Arg Lys Ile Leu Ser625 630 635 640Gly Tyr Ile Val Glu
Ile Glu Asp Thr Glu Gly Leu Lys Glu Val Ile 645 650 655Ala Asp Arg
Tyr Asp Met Leu Asn Ile Ser Ser Leu Arg Gln Asp Gly 660 665 670Lys
Thr Phe Ile Asp Phe Lys Lys Tyr Asn Asp Lys Leu Pro Leu Tyr 675 680
685Ile Ser Asn Pro Asn Tyr Lys Val Asn Val Tyr Ala Val Thr Lys Glu
690 695 700Asn Thr Ile Ile Asn Pro Ser Glu Asn Gly Asp Thr Ser Thr
Asn Gly705 710 715 720Ile Lys Lys Ile Leu Ile Phe Ser Lys Lys Gly
Tyr Glu Ile Gly 725 730 735
* * * * *