E9-21482. Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

AGENCY:

National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for companies and may also be available for licensing.

ADDRESSES:

Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent applications listed below may be obtained by writing to the indicated licensing contact at the Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, Maryland 20852-3804; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]. A signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive copies of the patent applications.

Antigenic Chimeric Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus/Dengue Virus Type 4 Recombinant Viruses

Description of Technology: The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) complex is a group of viruses that can cause severe neutrotropic disease and up to thirty percent (30%) mortality. While these viruses can be found in many parts of the world, the largest impact of the disease occurs in Europe and Russia, where approximately fourteen thousand (14,000) hospitalized TBEV cases occur annually. TBEV is in the family Flaviviridae, genus flavivirus and is composed of a positive-sense single stranded RNA genome that contains 5′ and 3′ non-coding regions and a single open reading frame encoding ten (10) proteins. At present, a vaccine or FDA approved antiviral therapy is not available.

The inventors have previously developed a WNV/Dengue4Delta30 antigenic chimeric virus as a live attenuated virus vaccine candidate that contains the WNV premembrane and envelope (prM and E) proteins on a dengue virus type 4 (DEN4) genetic background with a thirty nucleotide deletion (Delta30) in the DEN4 3′-UTR. Using a similar strategy, the inventors have generated an antigenic chimeric virus, TBEV/DEN4Delta30. This chimeric virus also contains attenuating mutations within the E and nonstructural NS5 proteins. Preclinical testing results with the derived virus indicate that chimerization of TBEV with DEN4Delta30 and introduction of the attenuating mutations decreased neuroinvasiveness and neurovirulence in mice. The TBEV/DEN4delta30 vaccine candidate was safe, immunogenic, and provided protection in monkeys against challenge with TBE viruses.

This application claims live attenuated chimeric TBEV/DEN4Delta30 vaccine compositions. Also claimed are methods of treating or preventing TBEV infection in a mammalian host, methods of producing a subunit vaccine composition, isolated polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a TBEV immunogen, methods for detecting TBEV infection in a biological sample and infectious chimeric TBEV.

Applications: Development of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

Advantages: Live attenuated chimeric vaccine, known regulatory pathway, potential for lasting immunity with fewer doses.

Development Status: Vaccine candidates have been synthesized and preclinical studies have been performed.

Inventors: Alexander G. Pletnev, Amber R. Engel, Brian R. Murphy (NIAID).

Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/181,982 filed 28 May 2009 (HHS Reference No. E-078-2009/0-US-01).

Licensing Status: Available for licensing.

Licensing Contact: Peter A. Soukas, J.D.; 301-435-4646; [e-mail].

Collaborative Research Opportunity: The NIAID is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research in preclinical study of the long-term immunity induced by the TBEV/DEN4 vaccine candidate against highly virulent TBE viruses and in the clinical trials of this vaccine in humans. Please contact Michael Piziali, NIAID Office of Technology Development, at 301-496-2644 for more information.

Monoclonal Antibodies That React With the Capsule of Bacillus anthracis

Description of Technology: Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax and is surrounded by a polypeptide capsule of poly-γ-D-glutamic acid (γDPGA). γDPGA is poorly immunogenic and has antiphagocytic properties. The bacterial capsule is essential for virulence. Antibodies to the capsule have been shown to enhance phagocytosis and killing of encapsulated bacilli. These antibodies in combination with antibodies that neutralize the toxins of B. anthracis could provide enhanced protection by their dual antibacterial and antitoxic activities. Such antibodies would be especially useful for antibiotic-resistant strains.

In order to obtain therapeutically useful anti-γ DPGA monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), the inventors immunized chimpanzees with conjugates of 15-mer glutamic acid polymers to immunogenic protein carriers (recombinant protective antigen (PA) of B. anthracis). After several immunizations, chimpanzees developed strong immune responses to γDPGA. A combinatorial Fab library of mRNA derived from the chimpanzee's bone marrow was prepared and eight (8) distinct Fabs reactive with native γDPGA were recovered. Two (2) of the Fabs were converted into full-length IgG with human γ1 heavy chain constant regions. These two (2) MAbs showed strong opsonophagocytic killing of bacilli in an in vitro assay. These two (2) MAbs were also tested for protection of mice challenged with virulent anthrax spores and results showed that both MAbs provided full or nearly full protection at a dose of 0.3 mg, the lowest dose tested, which is much more potent than previously reported murine anti-PGA MAbs. Since chimpanzee immunoglobulins are virtually identical to human immunoglobulins, these chimpanzee anticapsule MAbs may have clinically useful applications.

This application claims the antibody compositions described above. Also claimed are methods of treating or preventing B. anthracis infection in a mammalian host and isolated polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the antibodies of the technology.

Applications: Development of anthrax vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

Advantages: Strongly neutralizing antibodies, known regulatory pathway, potential for use as both a prophylaxis and therapy.

Development Status: Preclinical studies have been performed utilizing the monoclonal antibodies of this technology.

Inventors: Zhaochun Chen (NIAID), Robert H. Purcell (NIAID), Joanna Kubler-Kielb (NICHD), Lily Zhongdong Dai (NICHD), Rachel Schneerson (NICHD).

Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/116,222 filed 19 Nov 2008 (HHS Reference No. E-125-2008/0-US-01).

Licensing Status: Available for licensing.

Licensing Contact: Peter A. Soukas, J.D.; 301-435-4646; [e-mail].

Collaborative Research Opportunity: The NIAID is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize MAbs neutralizing anthrax toxins and capsule for comprehensive protection against anthrax. Please contact Bill Ronnenberg, NIAID Office of Technology Development, at 301-451-3522 for more information.

Dated: August 28, 2009.

Richard U. Rodriguez,

Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.