MUTANT FRAGMENTS OF OspA AND METHODS AND USES RELATING THERETO
The present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising a mutant fragment of an outer surface protein A (OspA), a nucleic acid coding the same, a pharmaceutical composition (particularly for use as a medicament of in a method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection) comprising the polypeptide and/or the nucleic acid, a method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection and a method of immunizing a subject.
1 .- 19 . (canceled)
20 . A polypeptide comprising a mutant OspA fragment heterodimer selected from the group consisting of Lip-S5D1-S6D1 (SEQ ID NO: 190), Lip-S6D1-S5D1 (SEQ ID NO: 196), S5D1-S6D4 (SEQ ID NO: 202) and S6D4-S5D1 (SEQ ID NO: 207).
21 . A polypeptide consisting of a mutant OspA fragment heterodimer selected from the group consisting of Lip-S5D1-S6D1 (SEQ ID NO: 190), Lip-S6D1-S5D1 (SEQ ID NO:
196), S5D1-S6D4 (SEQ ID NO: 202) and S6D4-S5D1 (SEQ ID NO: 207).
22 . A nucleic acid coding for the polypeptide according to claim 20 .
23 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one of the polypeptides according to claim 20 and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
24 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the nucleic acid according to claim 22 and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
25 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising Lip-S5D1-S6D1 (SEQ ID NO: 190), optionally, one or more additional mutant OspA fragment heterodimers, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
26 . The polypeptide according to claim 20 for use in a method for treating or protecting against a Borrelia infection, wherein the Borrelia infection is a B. burgdorferi s.s. or B. afzelii infection.
27 . The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 23 for use in a method for treating or protecting against a Borrelia infection, wherein the Borrelia infection is a B. burgdorferi s.s. or B. afzelii infection.
28 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide according to claim 21 , and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
29 . The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 23 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a vaccine.
30 . The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 24 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a vaccine.
31 . The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 28 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a vaccine.
32 . The polypeptide according to claim 21 for use in a method of treating or protecting against a Borrelia infection, wherein the Borrelia infection is a B. burgdorferi s.s. or B. afzelii infection.
33 . The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 25 for use in a method of treating or protecting against a Borrelia infection, wherein the Borrelia infection is a B. burgdorferi s.s. or B. afzelii infection.
34 . The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 28 for use in a method of treating or protecting against a Borrelia infection, wherein the Borrelia infection is a B. burgdorferi s.s. or B. afzelii infection.
35 . A method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection in a subject in need thereof comprising the step of administering to the subject a therapeutically-effective amount of a polypeptide according to claim 20 .
36 . A method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection in a subject in need thereof comprising the step of administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 23 .
37 . A method for producing a polypeptide according to claim 20 , characterized by the following steps:
a) introducing a vector encoding the polypeptide into a host cell,
b) growing the host cell under conditions allowing for expression of said polypeptide,
c) homogenizing said host cell, and
d) subjecting the host cell homogenate to purification steps.