Drug delivery to human tissues by single chain variable region antibody fragments cloned by phage display
The present invention relates to the use of non-pathogenic antibodies to deliver biologically-active proteins to specific cellular and sub-cellular sites. The invention also relates to the use of non-pathogenic antibodies to deliver biologically-active, non-protein molecules to specific cellular and sub-cellular sites.
1. A composition comprising an antibody-protein fusion molecule, wherein said antibody is non-pathogenic to its target tissue and binds to a target molecule, wherein said target molecule is BP180, and said protein is a therapeutic protein.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said antibody binds to a target molecule located in the epidermis.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said antibody binds to a target molecule located in the basement membrane.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is an scFv.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is obtained by cloning a nucleic acid isolated from a mammal having an autoimmune disease.
6. The composition of claim 5 , wherein said autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceus, and bullous pemphigoid.
7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is obtained by cloning a nucleic acid isolated from a mammal that is not afflicted with an autoimmune disease.
8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic protein is an enzyme.
9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic protein is a pro-apoptoic protein.
10. A composition comprising an antibody-protein fusion molecule, wherein said antibody is non-pathogenic to its target tissue and binds to a target molecule selected from the group consisting of desmoglein 1 (Dsg1), Dsg3, and any combination thereof, and said protein is a therapeutic protein.
11. The composition of claim 10 , wherein said antibody binds to a target molecule located in the epidermis.
12. The composition of claim 10 , wherein said antibody binds to a target molecule located in the basement membrane.
13. The composition of claim 10 , wherein said antibody is an seFv.
14. The composition of claim 10 , wherein said antibody is obtained by cloning a nucleic acid isolated from a mammal having an autoimmune disease.
15. The composition of claim 14 , wherein said autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of pemphigus vulgaris, and pemphigus foliaceus.
16. The composition of claim 10 , wherein said antibody is obtained by cloning a nucleic acid isolated from a mammal that is not afflicted with an autoimmune disease.
17. The composition of claim 10 , wherein said therapeutic protein is an enzyme.
18. The composition of claim 10 , wherein said therapeutic protein is a pro-apoptoic protein.