CD8 T cell epitopes in HPV 16 E6 and E7 proteins and uses thereof
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to the examination of the pattern of immunodominant CD8 T cell epitopes in the E6 and E7 protein of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and its further characterization in terms of its amino acid sequence and HLA restriction. These epitopes are identified based on their ability to induce strong CD8 T cell response and therefore, are important as sources of antigens for dendritic cell immunotherapy to treat cervical cancer. The present invention contemplates identifying a number of similar epitopes restricted by a wide variety of HLA types so that they can be used in concert to develop a preventative vaccine, which can be used for general population.
1. A set of isolated peptides derived from E6 and E7 proteins of HPV type 16 comprising overlapping E6 peptides consisting of the sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 45 (E6 16-30), SEQ ID NO: 46 (E6 21-35), SEQ ID NO: 48 (E6 26-34), SEQ ID NO: 47 (E6 26-40), SEQ ID NO: 49 (E6 27-35), SEQ ID NO: 50 (E6 28-36), SEQ ID NO: 15 (E6 29-37), SEQ ID NO: 1 (E6 29-38), SEQ ID NO: (E6 29-61), SEQ ID NO: 51 (E6 30-38), SEQ ID NO: 17 (E6 31-38), SEQ ID NO: 52 (E6 31-39), SEQ ID NO: 53 (E6 32-40), SEQ ID NO: 104 (E6 51-61), SEQ ID NO: 90 (E6 51-65), SEQ ID NO: 98 (E6 53-61), SEQ ID NO: 105 (E6 53-62), and SEQ ID NO: 107 (E6 54-61) and overlapping E7 peptides consisting of the sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 18 (E7 7-15), SEQ ID NO: 21 (E7 7-20), SEQ ID NO: 57 (E7 11-19), SEQ ID NO: 3 (E7 11-20), SEQ ID NO: 58 (E7 12-20), SEQ ID NO: 83 (E7 76-84), SEQ ID NO: 84 (E7 77-85), SEQ ID NO: 85 (E7 78-86), SEQ ID NO: 80 (E7 76-90), SEQ ID NO: 19 (E7 79-87), SEQ ID NO: 86 (E7 80-88), SEQ ID NO: 87 (E7 81-89), SEQ ID NO: 5 (E7 82-90), and SEQ ID NO: 6 (E7 86-93).
2. An isolated peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 20 (E6 29-61), SEQ ID NO: 17 (E6 31-38), and SEQ ID NO: 21 (E7 7-20).
3. An immunogenic composition comprising a peptide identified in claim 2 and an adjuvant.
4. The composition of claim 3 , wherein said peptide is expressed from a recombinant viral vector or a plasmid.