ANTIBODIES TO CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXINS
The present invention provides an antibody composition comprising ovine antibodies, for use in the prevention or treatment of C. difficile infection wherein the antibodies bind to a C. difficile toxin.
1 . An antibody composition for prevention or treatment of Clostridium difficile infection, comprising ovine antibodies, wherein the antibodies bind to a C. difficile toxin.
2 . The antibody composition according to claim 1 , wherein the antibodies are polyclonal antibodies.
3 . The antibody composition according to claim 1 , wherein the antibodies bind to at least one C. difficile toxin selected from the group consisting of: C. difficile Toxin A, C. difficile Toxin B, and C. difficile Binary Toxin.
4 . The antibody composition according to claim 3 , wherein the antibodies bind to C. difficile Toxin A and to C. difficile Toxin B.
5 . The antibody composition according to claim 3 , wherein the antibodies bind to C. difficile Toxin A and to C. difficile Binary Toxin.
6 . The antibody composition according to claim 3 , wherein the antibodies bind to C. difficile Toxin B and to C. difficile Binary Toxin.
7 . The antibody composition according to claim 1 , wherein the C. difficile toxin is a Toxin A selected from the group consisting of: Toxinotype 0, Toxinotype III and Toxinotype V.
8 . The antibody composition according to claim 1 , wherein the C. difficile toxin is a Toxin B selected from the group consisting of: Toxinotype 0, Toxinotype III and Toxinotype V.
9 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody composition according to claim 1 , and at least one component selected from the group consisting of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, and salt for parenteral administration.
10 - 11 . (canceled)
12 . A method of producing ovine antibodies comprising
(i) administering an immunogen comprising a Clostridium difficile toxin or a fragment thereof to a sheep,
(ii) allowing sufficient time for the generation of antibodies in the sheep, and
(iii) obtaining the antibodies from the sheep.
13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the immunogen comprises a C. difficile toxoid.
14 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9 , wherein the antibodies are polyclonal antibodies.
15 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9 , wherein the antibodies bind to at least one C. difficile toxin selected from the group consisting of: C. difficile Toxin A, C. difficile Toxin B, and C. difficile Binary Toxin.
16 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9 , wherein the antibodies bind to C. difficile Toxin A and to C. difficile Toxin B.
17 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9 , wherein the antibodies bind to C. difficile Toxin A and to C. difficile Binary Toxin.
18 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9 , wherein the antibodies bind to C. difficile Toxin B and to C. difficile Binary Toxin.
19 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9 , wherein the C. difficile Toxin A is selected from the group consisting of: Toxinotype 0, Toxinotype III and Toxinotype V.
20 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9 , wherein the C. difficile Toxin B is selected from the group consisting of: Toxinotype 0, Toxinotype III and Toxinotype V.
21 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising:
ovine antibodies that bind to Clostridium difficile Toxin A,
ovine antibodies that bind to C. difficile Toxin B, and
at least one component selected from the group consisting of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, and salt for parental administration.
22 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 21 , further comprising ovine antibodies that bind to C. difficile Binary Toxin.