Compositions and methods for preventing and treating rhinovirus infections

US10363299B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• University of Virginia Patent Foundation · US
• BENAROYA RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT VIRGINIA MASON

Inventors

• Judith Ann Woodfolk · Keswick, US
• Lyndsey M. Muehling · Charlottesville, US
• William W. Kwok · Thornhill, CA
• Duy Tran Mai · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 19, 2016
• Grant date: Jul 30, 2019
• Expiry date: Feb 19, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N2770/32734
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An analysis of human CD4+ T-cell epitopes of RV capsid proteins with cross-reactive potential was performed, peptide epitopes of RV-A16 capsid proteins VP1 and VP2 were identified, RV-specific CD4+ T cells were phenotyped for surface markers and cytokine profiles using flow cytometry, and it was found that, among non-infected subjects, circulating RV-A16-specific CD4+ T cells detected at the highest frequencies targeted 10 unique epitopes with diverse HLA-DR binding capacity. T-cell epitopes localized to conserved regions of significance to the virus and were enriched for HLA class I and II binding motifs and were activated in vivo after experimental infection with RV-A16. RV-A16 epitopes constituted species-specific and pan-species varieties, together providing ˜90% coverage of the US population. Cross-reactivity was evidenced for RV-A16 and RV-A39. High-frequency circulating RV-specific memory Th1 cells in healthy individuals preferentially target a limited set of conserved epitopes and these epitopes, separately or combined, can serve as vaccines.