Fusion proteins for use as immunogenic enhancers for inducing antigen-specific T cell responses

摘要

A fusion protein for use as an immunogen enhancer for enhancing antigen-specific T cell responses is disclosed. The fusion protein comprises: (a) an antigen-presenting cell (APC)-binding domain or a CD91 receptor-binding domain; (b) a protein transduction domain; and (c) an antigen of a pathogen, wherein the APC-binding domain or the CD91 receptor-binding domain is located at the N-terminus of the fusion protein, and the antigen of the pathogen is located at the C-terminus of the protein transduction domain. The protein transduction domain is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a fusion polypeptide, comprising a T cell sensitizing signal-transducing peptide, a linker, and a translocation peptide; (ii) a T cell-sensitizing signal-transducing peptide; and (iii) a translocation peptide of 34-112 amino acid residues in length.

主权项

1. A fusion protein comprising:
(a) an antigen-presenting cell (APC)-binding domain or a CD91 receptor-binding domain, located at the N-terminus of the fusion protein; (b) a protein transduction domain, located at the C-terminus of the APC-binding domain or the CD91 receptor-binding domain, wherein the protein transduction domain is a fusion polypeptide consisting of:
(1) a T cell sensitizing signal-transducing peptide consisting of 28-53 amino acid residues in length, comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31, in which Xaa8 is I; Xaa10 is V, F or A, Xaa11 is M or L, Xaa17 is L or I, being located at the N-terminus of the fusion polypeptide;(2) a translocation peptide consisting of 34-112 amino acid residues in length, comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 3, 20 or 4; and(3) a linker, comprising SEQ ID NO: 15 linking the T cell sensitizing signal-transducing peptide and the translocation peptide; and (c) an antigen of a pathogen, located at the C-terminus of the protein transduction domain.