Polynucleotides encoding an intracellular segment of CD40 and a constant region of an immunoglobulin heavy chain

US9139639B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• BioNTech AG · DE
• Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz · DE

Inventors

• Ugur Sahin · Mainz, DE
• Ozlem Tureci · Homburg, DE
• Torsten Seppmann · Mainz, DE
• Holger Hoff · Mainz, DE
• Jens Schumacher · Heidelberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 16, 2014
• Grant date: Sep 22, 2015
• Expiry date: Dec 16, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07K2319/30
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention provides recombinant proteins comprising the amino acid sequence of an intracellular segment of CD40 and an amino acid sequence mediating the association of the recombinant protein with the constant region of an immunoglobulin heavy chain. The recombinant proteins according to the present invention are—useful for inducing clonal expansion of a B cell having a predetermined antigen-specificity without the need for T cell or CD40L mediated co-stimulation. Thus, the present invention provides tools for clonal expansion of B cells specific for an antigen of interest and the production of B cells secreting antibodies specific for an antigen of interest. The recombinant proteins of the present invention may also be used for generating fully human monoclonal antibodies with a predetermined antigen-specificity from the B cell repertoire of a human subject.