Vaccine composition comprising 5′-cap modified RNA

1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising (i) one or more pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvants, diluents, carriers and/or excipients and (ii) an RNA modified with a 5′-cap structure according to formula (I):

wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl,

R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, halo, OH, and optionally substituted alkoxy, or R 2 and R 3 together form O—X—O, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH(CH 3 ), and C(CH 3 ) 2 , or R 2 is combined with the valence produced by removal of the hydrogen atom at position 4′ of the ring to which R 2 is attached, wherein the bridging linkage from R 2 to the 4′ position is defined as an —O—CH 2 — group or —CH 2 —O— group,

R 5 is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and BH 3 ,

R 4 and R 6 are independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, Se, and BH 3 ,

n is 1, 2, or 3,

wherein the stereochemical configuration at the P atom comprising the substituent R 5 corresponds to that at the P β atom of the D1 diastereomer of beta-S-ARCA:

2. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted C 1 -C 4 alkyl, optionally substituted C 2 -C 4 alkenyl, and optionally substituted aryl.

3. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, OH, methoxy, ethoxy, and propoxy.

4. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , wherein the RNA 5′-cap is the diastereomer D1 of beta-S-ARCA:

5. A method for eliciting an immune response in an individual in need thereof comprising the step of administering to said individual the pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 .

6. An isolated immature antigen presenting cell comprising an RNA encoding an antigen, a protein or peptide comprising said antigen, or an antigen peptide capable of eliciting an immune response against said antigen, which RNA is modified with a 5′-cap structure according to formula (I):

wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl,

R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, halo, OH, and optionally substituted alkoxy, or R 2 and R 3 together form O—X—O, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH(CH 3 ), and C(CH 3 ) 2 , or R 2 is combined with the valence produced by removal of the hydrogen atom at position 4′ of the ring to which R 2 is attached, wherein the bridging linkage from R 2 to the 4′ position is defined as an —O—CH 2 — group or —CH 2 —O— group,

R 5 is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and BH 3 ,

R 4 and R 6 are independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, Se, and BH 3 ,

n is 1, 2, or 3,

wherein the stereochemical configuration at the P atom comprising the substituent R 5 corresponds to that at the P β atom of the D1 diastereomer of beta-S-ARCA:

7. A method for eliciting an immune response in an individual in need thereof comprising the step of administering to said individual the pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 or the isolated immature antigen presenting cell of claim 6 .

8. The method of eliciting the immune response in the individual of claim 7 , further comprising increasing the stability of the RNA, increasing translation efficiency of the RNA, prolonging translation of the RNA, increasing total protein expression of the RNA, or increasing the immune response against an antigen or antigen peptide encoded by said RNA facilitated by the 5′-cap structure upon transfer of said RNA into the immature antigen presenting cell when compared to the same RNA without the 5′-cap structure according to formula (I).

9. A method for increasing the stability of an RNA in an immature antigen presenting cell in need thereof or for increasing the expression of an RNA in an immature antigen presenting cell in need thereof, said method comprising:

providing said RNA with a 5′-cap structure according to formula (I):

wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl,

R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, halo, OH, and optionally substituted alkoxy, or R 2 and R 3 together form O—X—O, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH(CH 3 ), and C(CH 3 ) 2 , or R 2 is combined with the valence produced by removal of the hydrogen atom at position 4′ of the ring to which R 2 is attached, wherein the bridging linkage from R 2 to the 4′ position is defined as an —O—CH 2 — group or —CH 2 —O— group,

R 5 is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and BH 3 ,

R 4 and R 6 are independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, Se, and BH 3 ,

n is 1, 2, or 3,

wherein the stereochemical configuration at the P atom comprising the substituent R 5 corresponds to that at the P β atom of the D1 diastereomer of beta-S-ARCA:

and

transferring said RNA into the immature antigen presenting cell.

10. A method for increasing the portion of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules which present an antigen of interest on the surface of an antigen presenting cell in need thereof, said method comprising:

providing an RNA comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a peptide or protein comprising said antigen of interest or an antigen peptide thereof, said RNA being modified with a 5′-cap structure according to formula (I):

wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl,

R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, halo, OH, and optionally substituted alkoxy, or R 2 and R 3 together form O—X—O, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH(CH 3 ), and C(CH 3 ) 2 , or R 2 is combined with the valence produced by removal of the hydrogen atom at position 4′ of the ring to which R 2 is attached, wherein the bridging linkage from R 2 to the 4′ position is defined as an —O—CH 2 — group or —CH 2 —O— group,

R 5 is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and BH 3 ,

R 4 and R 6 are independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, Se, and BH 3 ,

n is 1, 2, or 3,

wherein the stereochemical configuration at the P atom comprising the substituent R 5 corresponds to that at the P β atom of the D1 diastereomer of beta-S-ARCA:

and

transferring said RNA into an immature antigen presenting cell.

11. A method for stimulating and/or activating immune effector cell in need thereof, said method comprising:

providing an RNA comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a peptide or protein comprising an antigen of interest or an antigen peptide thereof, said RNA being modified with a 5′-cap structure according to formula (I):

wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl,

R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, halo, OH, and optionally substituted alkoxy, or R 2 and R 3 together form O—X—O, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH(CH 3 ), and C(CH 3 ) 2 , or R 2 is combined with the valence produced by removal of the hydrogen atom at position 4′ of the ring to which R 2 is attached, wherein the bridging linkage from R 2 to the 4′ position is defined as an —O—CH 2 — group or —CH 2 —O— group,

R 5 is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and BH 3 ,

R 4 and R 6 are independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, Se, and BH 3 ,

n is 1, 2, or 3,

wherein the stereochemical configuration at the P atom comprising the substituent R 5 corresponds to that at the P β atom of the D1 diastereomer of beta-S-ARCA:

transferring said RNA into an immature antigen presenting cell, and

administration of the antigen presenting cell to a host comprising an immune effector cell.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein administration of the antigen presenting cell to the host comprising the immune effector cell is accomplished in vitro.

13. A method for inducing an immune response in an individual in need thereof, said method comprising: providing an RNA comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a peptide or protein comprising an antigen of interest or an antigen peptide thereof, said RNA being modified with a 5′-cap structure according to formula (I):

wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl,

R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, halo, OH, and optionally substituted alkoxy, or R 2 and R 3 together form O—X—O, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH(CH 3 ), and C(CH 3 ) 2 , or R 2 is combined with the valence produced by removal of the hydrogen atom at position 4′ of the ring to which R 2 is attached, wherein the bridging linkage from R 2 to the 4′ position is defined as an —O—CH 2 — group or —CH 2 —O— group,

R 5 is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and BH 3 ,

R 4 and R 6 are independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, Se, and BH 3 ,

n is 1, 2, or 3,

wherein the stereochemical configuration at the P atom comprising the substituent R 5 corresponds to that at the P β atom of the D1 diastereomer of beta-S-ARCA:

and

administering said RNA to said individual.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the RNA is administered by intranodal injection.

15. A method for inducing an immune response in an individual in need thereof, said method comprising:

providing an RNA comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a peptide or protein comprising an antigen of interest or an antigen peptide thereof, said RNA being modified with a 5′-cap structure according to formula (I):

wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl,

R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, halo, OH, and optionally substituted alkoxy, or R 2 and R 3 together form O—X—O, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CH(CH 3 ), and C(CH 3 ) 2 , or R 2 is combined with the valence produced by removal of the hydrogen atom at position 4′ of the ring to which R 2 is attached, wherein the bridging linkage from R 2 to the 4′ position is defined as an —O—CH 2 — group or —CH 2 —O— group,

R 5 is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and BH 3 ,

R 4 and R 6 are independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, Se, and BH 3 ,

n is 1, 2, or 3,

wherein the stereochemical configuration at the P atom comprising the substituent R 5 corresponds to that at the P β atom of the D1 diastereomer of beta-S-ARCA:

transferring said RNA into an immature antigen presenting cell, and

administering the antigen presenting cell to said individual.

16. A method for eliciting an immune response in an individual in need thereof comprising the step of administering to said individual the isolated immature antigen presenting cell of claim 7 .