# Patent

## Title
Immunogenic compositions and related methods

## Abstract

This disclosure relates to adjuvants for use in immunogenic compositions comprising at least one antigen and an aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups that has been treated with phosphate, carboxylate, carbonate, sulfate diphosphonate or a mixture of two or more of these compounds and methods of using these compositions for preventing and treating diseases are also provided.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present applications is a 35 U.S.C. §371 national stage application of International Application No. PCT/CA10/01975, filed Dec. 20, 2010, and claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 61/289,077 filed Dec. 22, 2009; 61/289,236 filed Dec. 22, 2009; and 61/325,615 filed Apr. 19, 2010, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.


FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of immunology and, in particular, to adjuvants and their use in immunization.
BACKGROUND
Adjuvants are agents incorporated into vaccine formulations to enhance the immunogenicity of vaccine antigens. Aluminum salts (such as aluminum phosphate and aluminum hydroxide) are the most commonly used adjuvants used in human and veterinary vaccines today. While a number of aluminum containing adjuvants are available, for any one specific vaccine formulation, adjuvant/antigen effects provided by one may not be optimal.
Two methods have commonly been used to prepare vaccines and toxoids with aluminum compounds—in situ precipitation of aluminum compounds in the presence of antigen and adsorption of antigen onto preformed aluminum gel. Adsorption of antigens on aluminum, adjuvants, either during in situ precipitation of aluminum adjuvants or onto preformed aluminum gels, is dependant on the physical and chemical characteristics of the antigen, the type of aluminum adjuvant used and the conditions of adsorption. Factors which may affect an antigen's adsorption onto an aluminum adjuvant include electrostatic forces, hydrophobic interactions, Van der Waals forces, hydrogen binding, pH, temperature, size of gel particles, and the ionic strength of reaction mixture. In general, antigens are adsorbed to aluminum adjuvants through electrostatic attraction (i.e., adjuvant and antigen have opposite charges) and/or ligand exchange (e.g., phosphate group on antigen displaces a hydroxyl group on the adjuvant surface) (Seeber S J, et al Vaccine 1991; 9:201-3; Iyer S. et al, Vaccine 2004; 29:1475-9).
Aluminum hydroxide in its dehydrogenated, crystalline form is chemically aluminum oxyhydroxide [AlO(OH)] and in its aqueous phase, it becomes aluminum trihydroxide [Al(OH)3] by acquiring an additional water molecule (Hem S. L. et al 2007 Vaccine 25:4985-4986). Aluminum oxyhydroxide has a point of zero charge (PZC) of 11 and as such, is positively charged at pH 7.4. This positive charge makes aluminum oxyhydroxide a good adsorbent for negatively charged antigens (e.g. acidic proteins).
In one study, pretreatment of aluminum hydroxide adjuvant with phosphate anion was found to alter the surface charge characteristics of the adjuvant so that a basic protein (lysozyme, i.e. p.+11.1) could be adsorbed. The phosphate anion was found to reduce the adjuvant's positive zeta (ζ) potential (mV) and this alteration of the surface charge of the adjuvant changed the electrostatic forces between the adjuvant and lysozyme from repulsive to attractive such that the protein was adsorbed by the adjuvant (Rinella Jr. J. V., et al., Vaccine 1996; 14(no.4):298-300).
The maximum amount of antigen that can be adsorbed as a monolayer to the adjuvant is referred to as the “adsorptive capacity” and the strength of the adsorption force is called the “adsorptive coefficient” (Jendrick et al, Vaccine 2003; 21:3011-8). Studies of the effect of adsorptive capacity on vaccine immunogenicity suggest that the percentage of the antigen dose adsorbed is unrelated to a formulation's immunogenicity (Chang M-F. et al., Vaccine 2001;19:2884-9; Romero Mendez I Z et al Vaccine 2007; 25(5):825-33). In contrast, one study has shown a correlation between the adsorptive coefficient of an antigen to an aluminum containing adjuvant and the immune response elicited by the formulation (Hansen et al., Vaccine 2007; 25:6618-6624).
Adsorption may affect a protein's structure and stability. Results from studies on the effect of adsorption to aluminum containing adjuvants are not entirely consistent: in one, three proteins (bovine serum albumin (BSA), lysozyme and ovalbumin) were destabilized following adsorption onto Alhydrogel® or Adju-Phos®; in another study, the structure of BSA and Î2-lactoglobuline (BLG) was stabilized by adsorption onto aluminum hydroxide (Jones L. S. et al., J. Biol Chem 2005; 280(14):13406-13414; Zheng Y. et al., Spectroscopy 2007;21(5-6):257-268). Methods for stabilizing for storage liquid formulations of vaccine compositions with aluminum salt adjuvants include lypohilization, freezing and freeze-drying, but often result in adjuvant agglomeration, decreased immunogen concentration and loss of immunogenicity (e.g., Maa et al, (2003) J. Pharm. Sci. 92:319-332; Diminsky et al. (1999) Vaccine 18:3-17; Alving et al (1993) Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 690:265-275; and Warren et al (1986) Ann Rev Immunol. 4:369-388, all of which are incorporated by reference). Even for those formulations maintained under refrigerated conditions (e.g. 2° C. to 8° C.) adsorbed antigens may be chemically unstable and as such, over time may under go hydrolysis and fragmentation. Therefore, a process for the production of a vaccine composition comprising an aluminum salt adjuvant that addresses these issues (e.g., chemical instability, decrease in antigen concentration) is needed.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention is directed to methods of preparing immunogenic compositions comprising at least one antigen and an aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups with increased antigen stability. The methods comprise: (a) treating the aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups with a compound selected from the group comprising: (i) phosphate, (ii) carboxylate, (iii) carbonate, (iv) sulfate, (v) diphosphonate and (vi) a mixture of two or more of (i) to (v); and (b) mixing the preparation in step (a) with at least one antigen. The aluminum compound may alternatively be treated with fluoride. The mixing of the antigen with the treated aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups increases the stability of the antigen relative to a composition where the antigen is mixed with an untreated aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups.
Immunogenic compositions comprising at least one antigen and an aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups that has been treated with phosphate, carboxylate, carbonate, sulfate diphosphonate, fluoride or a mixture of two or more of these compounds and methods of using these compositions for preventing and treating diseases are also provided.
In one example, a composition comprising the S. pneumonaie protein PcpA and an aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups that has been treated with one of the selected compounds (e.g., phosphate) is prepared in accordance to the disclosed methods. The composition may also include a S. pneumoniae protein from the polyhistidine triad family (PhtX:PhtA, PhtB, PhtD, PhtE) and/or detoxified pneumolysin.
The invention provides several advantages. For example, the compositions of the invention are immunogenic and have improved stability. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following Detailed Description, the Drawings, and the Claims.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
The present invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the drawings.
FIGS. 1a to f. The stability of PcpA and PhtD in multi-valent formulations (formulated with AlO(OH) or phosphate treated AlO(OH) (PTH), formulations were prepared using AlO(OH) or PTH with a final concentration of 2mM phosphate and then incubated for 30 weeks at various temperatures (i.e., 5° C., 25° C., 37° C. or 45° C.). Intact antigen concentration was then assessed by RP-HPLC.
FIG. 2. Stability of PhtD and PcpA under stress conditions as evaluated by ELISA. Bivalent formulations at 100 μg/mL were incubated at 37° C. for 12 weeks and the antigenicity was evaluated by ELISA.
FIG. 3. Is a diagrammatic representation of a formulation process overview for antigens (Prt1, Prt2 and Prt3) and an aluminum compound of the present invention.
FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c. Balb/c mice were used to assess the immune response elicited by a bivalent vaccine composition formulated with one of several different adjuvants (Example 4). Formulations were prepared (as described in Example 1) using purified recombinant PhtD and PcpA proteins. Total antigen-specific IgG titres were measured by endpoint dilution ELISA (FIG. 4a) and geometric mean titres (+/−SD) for each group were calculated. Antigen-specific IgG1 (FIG. 4b) and IgG2 titers (FIG. 4c) were calculated to assess IgG1/2a sub-classing. A summary of the results are depicted in this Figure.
FIG. 5. Depicts the total antigen-specific IgG titres measured by endpoint dilution ELISA and geometric mean titres (+/−SD) for each group. In this study (Example 6), Balb/c mice were used to assess the immune response elicited by freshly prepared and aged adjuvanted bivalent formulations. Recombinant PhtD and PcpA were formulated with AlOOH, or AlOOH-containing PO4 (2 mM). The aged formulations used in the study had been stored for approximately 6 months (about 2° C. to 8° C.) prior to the first immunization. The freshly prepared formulations used in the study were prepared within one week of the first immunization. Groups of mice were immunized intramuscularly (IM) three times at 3 week intervals with the applicable formulation.
FIG. 6 Depicts the survival percentage for each group of mice immunized (Example 6). In this study, a bivalent formulation of recombinant PhtD and PcpA was evaluated using an intranasal challenge model. Immunized animals were challenged with a lethal dose of an S. pneumoniae strain (MD, 14453 or 941192).
FIG. 7. Depicts the total antigen-specific IgG titres measured by quantitative ELISA and geometric mean titres (+/−SD) for each group. In this study (Example 6), Balb/c mice were used to assess the immune response elicited by freshly prepared and aged adjuvanted bivalent formulations. To prepare the bivalent formulations, recombinant PhtD and PcpA were formulated with AlOOH treated with PO4 (2 mM). Aged formulations had been stored at 2 to 8° C. or 37° C. for approximately 6 to 7 months prior to the start of the study. The freshly prepared formulations used in the study were prepared within one week of the first immunization. Groups of mice were immunized intramuscularly (IM) three times at 3 week intervals with the applicable formulation.
FIG. 8. Depicts the total antigen-specific IgG titres measured by quantitative ELISA and geometric mean titres (+/−SD) for each group. In this study (Example 8), Balb/c mice were used to assess the immune response elicited by multivalent formulations with phosphate pretreated AlO(OH) and varying concentrations of elemental aluminum.
FIG. 9. X-ray diffraction patterns of different lots of AlOOH (A), PTH (B) and AlPO4 (C).
FIG. 10. TEM analysis of AlOOH (Alhydrogel® (A)), AlPO4 (Adjuphos® (B)), and PTH (C and D).
FIG. 11. Effect of pH on the physical stability of adjuvanted proteins. PcpA (A), PhtD (B) and PlyD1 (C) were adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide or aluminum phosphate at different pH values and the Tm values were obtained by derivative analysis of the fluorescence traces.
FIG. 12A Studies of excipient effects on the stability of PcpA (stored at 50° C. for three days) in the presence of 10% sorbitol (▪), 10% trehalose (●), 10% sucrose (Δ), TBS pH 9.0 (♦), and TBS pH 7.4 (◯) by RP-HPLC.
FIG. 12B Studies of excipient effects on the antigenicity of PcpA (stored at 50° C. for three days) in the presence of 10% sorbitol, 10% trehalose, 10% sucrose, TBS pH 9.0, and TBS pH 7.4 by quantitative ELISA sandwich. Formulations were stored at 50° C. for three days. Antigenicity was evaluated for each formulation at time zero (white bars) and following three day storage (black bars).



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
The present invention is directed to methods of preparing a stable formulation of an immunogenic composition comprising an antigen and an aluminum compound comprising hydroxide groups. The methods comprise adding to the aluminum compound ions, such as for example, those of phosphate, carbonate, carboxylate, sulfate, diphosphonate, or fluoride, or a mixture of these ions in amounts sufficient to stabilize the antigen. Immunogenic compositions comprising an antigen and an aluminum compound comprising hydroxide groups and methods of using these compositions for preventing and treating particular diseases are also provided.
The term “antigen” as used herein refers to a substance that is capable of initiating and mediating the formation of a corresponding immune body (antibody) when introduced into a mammal. An antigen may possess multiple antigenic determinants such that the exposure of the mammal to an antigen may produce a plurality of corresponding antibodies with differing specificities.
Antigens may include, but are not limited to proteins, peptides, polypeptides, nucleic acids, and fragments, variants and combinations thereof. Antigens may also include larger components, such as all or parts of cells, bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms and part or combinations of these. Bacteria and viruses, particularly those responsible for diseases in mammals are sources of antigens useful in the present invention. Bacterial antigens include proteins or polysaccharides derived from the outer surfaces of the cell, from the cell interior, or from the flagella. Other antigens may be those secreted by an infected cell or released upon cell death or disruption. Examples of such antigens include diphtheria, tetanus, and botulism toxins. Particular examples of antigens which may be incorporated into the practice of the present invention include but are not limited to diphtheria antigens, tetanus antigens, human papilloma virus antigens, anthrax antigens, E. coli antigens, rabies antigens and influenza antigens, Streptococcus pneumoniae antigens, type C meningococcal antigens, type A meningococcal antigens, HIV antigens, malaria antigens, herpes simplex virus antigens, measles antigens, measles-mumps-rubella antigens, yellow fever antigens, vericella antigens, Japanese Encephalitis virus antigens, Dengue antigens, rotavirus antigens, C. difficile antigens, P. gingivalis antigens, and Chlamydial antigens (e.g., C. trachomatis, C. pneumoniae).
The antigens employed in the present invention may be the naturally occurring form of the antigen as derived from its natural source. Due to toxicity, the antigen may be converted to a less toxic form or fragment which retains the ability to elicit an immune response against the native antigen. Diptheria toxoid and tetanus toxoid are examples of detoxified forms of the native antigen generally produced by chemical treatment (e.g., formaldehyde). Other means for eliminiating toxicity of antigens are well known in the art and include for example, enzymatic digestion/fragmentation of protein antigens, denaturation (commonly through heat or chemical treatment), conjugation, chemical modification and genetic detoxification. Detoxified pneumolysin proteins of S. pneumoniae suitable for use in the present invention include those described in WO2010/071986. A preferred detoxified pneumolysin protein for use in the present invention is PlyD1 (SEQ ID NO:9).
Antigens employed in the present invention may also be in the form of a fusion protein. As used herein, a fusion polypeptide is one that contains a polypeptide or a polypeptide derivative of the invention fused at the N- or C-terminal end to any other polypeptide (hereinafter referred to as a peptide tail). A simple way to obtain such a fusion polypeptide is by translation of an in-frame fusion of the polynucleotide sequences, i.e., a hybrid gene. The hybrid gene encoding the fusion polypeptide is inserted into an expression vector which is used to transform or transfect a host cell. Alternatively, the polynucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide or polypeptide derivative is inserted into an expression vector in which the polynucleotide encoding the peptide tail is already present. Such vectors and instructions for their use are commercially available, e.g. the pMal-c2 or pMal-p2 system from New England Biolabs, in which the peptide tail is a maltose binding protein, the glutathione-S-transferase system of Pharmacia, or the His-Tag system available from Novagen. These and other expression systems provide convenient means for further purification of polypeptides and derivatives of the invention.
An advantageous example of a fusion polypeptide is one where the polypeptide or homolog or fragment of the invention is fused to a polypeptide having adjuvant activity, such as subunit B of either cholera toxin or E. coli heat-labile toxin. Another advantageous fusion is one where the polypeptide, homolog or fragment is fused to a strong T-cell epitope or B-cell epitope. Such an epitope may be one known in the art, or one which has been identified in another polypeptide of the invention based on computer-assisted analysis of probable T- or B-cell epitopes. Consistent with this aspect of the invention is a fusion polypeptide comprising T- or B-cell epitopes from SEQ ID Nos: 1,2,5,7,9, or 10 or its homolog or fragment, wherein the epitopes are derived from multiple variants of said polypeptide or homolog or fragment, each variant differing from another in the location and sequence of its epitope within the polypeptide. To effect fusion, the polypeptide of the invention is fused to the N-, or preferably, to the C-terminal end of the polypeptide having at least one T- or B-cell epitope. The T- or B-cell epitope may also be inserted internally within the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide of the invention.
Antigens of the present invention can be carrier proteins conjugated to an antigen such as bacterial polysaccharides. The conjugation of these polysaccharides can be performed by any of the known methods that exist in the art, for example WO2008/143709.
As mentioned above, the term “antigen” may include, but is not limited to proteins, peptides, polypeptides, nucleic acids and fragments, variants and combinations thereof. The terms “polypeptides”, “peptide” and “protein” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a polymer of amino acid residues.
Antigens for use in the present invention can be produced using a variety of methods known to those of skill in the art. For example, antigens can be isolated directly for native sources, using standard purification techniques. Alternatively, antigens can be produced recombinantly using known techniques. Recombinantly produced antigens and variants or fragments of an antigen of interest, may be used in the present invention.
Antigens for use herein may also be synthesized via chemical polymer synthesis such as solid phase peptide synthesis. Such methods are known to those of skill in the art.
Variants and fragments of antigens comprising polypeptides are also encompassed by the present invention. “Variants” refer to substantially similar sequences. A variant of an amino acid or nucleotide sequence of the invention will typically have at least about 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity with the reference sequence. In particular embodiments, a variant of an antigenic polypeptide of the invention will retain the biologically activity of the full-length polypeptide and hence be immunogenic. Methods for generating variant sequences are well known in the art are as methods for determining percent identity of polypeptide or polynucleotide sequences.
The term “fragment” refers to a portion of a polypeptide or polynucleotide comprising a specified number of contiguous amino acid or nucleotide residues. In particular embodiments a fragment of an immunogenic polypeptide of the invention may retain the biological activity of the full length polypeptide and hence be immunogenic. Fragments of a polynucleotide may encode protein fragments that retain the biological activity of the protein and hence be immunogenic. Fragments of the polypeptides and polynucleotides of the invention can be of any length provided they have the desired attributes (e.g. immunogenicity). Methods for generating fragments of a polypeptide or a polynucleotide are known in the art.
Antigens of the present invention from Streptococcus pneumoniae can be selected from the group consisting of (but not limited to) the Polyhistidine Triad family (PhtX: PhtA,B,D,E), Choline Binding Protein family (CbpX), LytX family, pneumolysin (Ply), PspA, PsaA, and PcpA.
PcpA polypeptides comprise the full-length PcpA amino acid sequence (in the presence or absence of the signal sequence), fragments thereof, and variants thereof. PcpA polypeptides suitable for use in the compositions described herein include, for example, those of GenBank Accession No. CAB04758 from S. pneumoniae strain B6, GenBank Accession No. NP_from S. pneumoniae strain TIGR4 and GenBank Accession No. NP_359536 from S. pneumoniae strain R6, and those from S. pneumoniae strain 14453. The amino acid sequence of full length PcpA in the S. pneumoniae 14453 genome is SEQ ID NO. 2. A preferred PcpA polypeptide is SEQ ID NO:7.
PhtX polypeptides suitable for the compositions of the invention comprise the full-length PhtA, PhtB, PhtD or PhtE amino acid sequence (in the presence or absence of the signal sequence), immunogenic fragments thereof, variants thereof and fusion proteins thereof. PhtD polypeptides suitable for use in the compositions described herein include, for example, those of GenBank Accession Nos. AAK06760, YP816370 and NP35851, among others. The amino acid sequence of full length PhtD in the S. pneumoniae 14453 genome is SEQ ID NO:1. A preferred polypeptide of PhtD (derived from the S. pneumonaie 14453 genome) is SEQ ID NO:5.
Pneumolysin (Ply) is a cytolytic-activating toxin implicated in multiple steps of pneumococcal pathogenesis, including the inhibition of ciliary beating and the disruption of tight junctions between epithelial cells (Hirst et al. Clinical and Experimental Immunology (2004)). Several pneumolysins are known and (following detoxification) would be suitable for use in the compositions described herein including, for example GenBank Accession Nos. Q04IN8, P0C2J9, Q7ZAK5, and ABO21381, among others. In one embodiment, Ply has the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO.10.
The pneumolysin polypeptides of the present invention are preferably detoxified; that is, they lack or have reduced toxicity as compared to the mature wild-type pneumolysin protein produced and released by S. pneumoniae. The pneumolysin polypeptides of the present invention may be detoxified for example, chemically (e.g., using formaldehyde treatment) or genetically (e.g., recombinantly produced in a mutated form). Preferred examples of the detoxified pneumolysin for use in the present invention are disclosed in PCT Publication No. WO 2010/071986. As disclosed in that application, the detoxified pneumolysin may be a mutant pneumolysin protein comprising amino acid substitutions at positions 65, 293 and 428 of the wild type sequence. In a preferred detoxified pneumolysin protein, the three amino acid substitutions comprise T65→C, G293→C, and C428→A. A preferred immunogenic and detoxified pneumolysin polypeptide is SEQ ID NO:9.
As used herein, “immunogenicity” refers to the ability of a substance to induce an immune response when administered to a subject (e.g., a cellular immunogen-specific immune response and/or a humoral antibody response). As used herein and defined in the art, “antigenicity” is the ability of an antibody to recognize and bind to a protein (e.g., an antigen).
The term “adjuvant” as used herein refers to agents which are administered to a subject in conjunction with an antigen to enhance the immunogenicity of the antigen.
Aluminum salt adjuvants (or compounds) are among the adjuvants of use in the practice of the invention. In particular, aluminum hydroxide (e.g., crystalline aluminum oxyhydroxide AlO(OH), and aluminum hydroxide Al(OH)3) is of use. Aluminum hydroxide is an aluminum compound comprising Al3+ ions and hydroxyl groups (—OH). Mixtures of aluminum hydroxide with other aluminum compounds (e.g., hydroxyphosphate or hydroxysulfate) may also be of use where the resulting mixture is an aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups. It is well known in the art that compositions with aluminum salt adjuvants should not be exposed to extreme temperatures, i.e. below freezing (0° C.) or extreme heat (e.g., ≧70 ° C.) as such exposure may adversely affect the stability and the immunogenicity of both the adsorbed antigen and adjuvant.
In particular embodiments, the aluminum adjuvant is aluminum oxyhydroxide (e.g., Alhydrogel®).
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups (e.g., aluminum hydroxide adjuvant) is treated with phosphate, carbonate, sulfate, carboxylate, diphosphonate, or fluoride or a mixture of two or more of these compounds. By treating the aluminum compound in this way a number of the hydroxyl groups (—OH) in the aluminum compound are replaced with the corresponding ion with which it is being treated (e.g., phosphate (PO4)). This replacement lowers the PZC of the aluminum compound and the pH of the compound's microenvironment. The phosphate, carbonate, sulfate, carboxylate, diphosphonate or fluoride ions are added in an amount sufficient to lower the pH of the microenvironment to a level at which the antigen is stabilized (i.e., the rate of antigen hydrolysis is decreased). The amount necessary will depend on a number of factors such as, for example, the antigen involved, the antigen's isoelectric point, the antigen's concentration, the interaction forces between antigen and adjuvant, the adjuvanting method utilized, and the amount and nature of any additional antigens present in the formulation. Those skilled in the art in the field of vaccines are capable of assessing the relevant factors and determining the concentration of phosphate, carbonate, sulfate, carboxylate, diphosphonate, fluoride to add to the aluminum compound to increase the stability of the antigen (and therefore, can prepare the corresponding formulation and composition). For example, titration studies (i.e., adding increasing concentrations of phosphate, etc., to aluminum compound) may be performed.
Phosphate compounds suitable for use include any of the chemical compounds related to phosphoric acid (such as for example, inorganic salts and organic esters of phosphoric acid). Phosphate salts are inorganic compounds containing the phosphate ion (PO43−), the hydrogen phosphate ion (HPO42−) or the dihydrogen phosphate ion (H2PO4−) along with any cation. Phosphate esters are organic compounds in which the hydrogens of phosphoric acid are replaced by organic groups. Examples of compounds that may be used in place of phosphate salts include anionic amino acids (e.g., glutamate, aspartate) and phospholipids.
Carboxylate compounds suitable for use include any of the organic esters, salts and anions of carboxylic acids (e.g., malic acid, lactic acid, fumaric acid, glutaric acid, EDTA, and EGTA). Sulfur anions suitable for use include any compound containing the sulfate (SO4 radical) such as salts or esters of sulfuric acid (e.g., sodium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, sulfite, metabisulfite, thiosulfate). Examples of disphosphonate compounds suitable for use include clodronate, pamidronate, tiludronate, and alendronate.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, phosphate is added to aluminum hydroxide adjuvant in the form of a salt. Preferably, the phosphate ions are provided by a buffer solution comprising disodium monosodium phosphate.
In the preferred practice of the present invention, as exemplified herein, the aluminum compound (e.g., aluminum oxyhydroxide) is treated with phosphate (for example, by a process as described in the examples). In this process, an aqueous suspension of aluminum oxyhydroxide (approximately 20 mg/mL) is mixed with a phosphate buffer solution (e.g., approximately 400 mmol/L). The preferable final phosphate concentration is from about 2 mM to 20 mM. The mixture is then diluted with a buffer (e.g., Tris-HCl, Tris-HCl with saline, HEPES) to prepare a suspension of aluminum oxyhydroxide and phosphate (PO4). Preferably the buffer is 10 mM Tris-HCl and 150 mM NaCl at a pH of about 7.4. The suspension is then mixed for approximately 24 hr at room temperature. Preferably the concentration of elemental aluminum in the final suspension is within a range from about 0.28 mg/mL to 1.68 mg/mL. More preferably, the concentration of elemental aluminum is about 0.56 mg/mL.
Antigens (individually or in combination) may then be adsorbed to the treated aluminum hydroxide. Preferably, approximately 0.2-0.4 mg/mL of antigen is mixed with the suspension of treated aluminum oxyhydroxide (e.g., at room temperature or at 2-8° C., in an orbital mixer, for approximately 30 min, or approximately 12-15 hours, or approximately 24 hours).
In one example, immunogenic polypeptides of PcpA, PhtX (e.g., PhtD) and a detoxified mutant of Pneumolysin (individually or in combination) may then be adsorbed to the treated aluminum hydroxide. Preferably, approximately 0.2-0.4 mg/mL of each antigen is mixed with the suspension of treated aluminum hydroxide adjuvant (e.g., at room temperature or at 2-8° C., in an orbital mixer, for approximately 30 min or approximately 12-15 hours, or approximately 24 hours).
The percentage of antigen adsorption may be assessed using standard methods known in the art. For example, an aliquot of the antigen/adjuvant preparation may be removed and centrifuged (e.g., at 10,000 rpm) to separate the unadsorbed protein (pellet) from the adjuvant suspension (supernatant). The concentration of protein in the supernatant may be determined using the bicinchoninic acid protein assay (BCA) or reverse phase- high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The percentage of adsorption is calculated as follows: %A=100−([PrSN]×100/[PrCtr]) where, [PrSN] is the concentration of protein in supernatant and [PfCtr] is the concentration in the corresponding unadjuvanted control. In preferred embodiments, the % adsorption ranges from about 70% to about 100%. In more preferred embodiments the % adsorption is at least about 70%.
The disclosed formulations are stable when stored for prolonged time periods at conventional refrigeration temperatures, e.g., about 2 ° C. to about 8° C. The formulations exhibit little or no particle agglomeration, no significant decrease in antigen concentration or a reduced rate of antigen degradation and retain a significant level of immunogenicity and/or antigenicity for at least 6 months or 12 months and preferably for 18 months. The phrase “no significant decrease in antigen concentration” is intended to mean that the composition retains at least 50%, 60%, or 70% of the original antigen concentration, more preferably at least about 80%, 85%, or 90% of the original antigen concentration, more preferably at least about 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more of the antigen concentration present when first formulated. Antigen concentration may be measured, for example, by an RP-HPLC, SDS-PAGE or ELISA-based method.
A stable formulation or an immunogenic composition comprising a stable formulation maintains a substantial degree of structural integrity (e.g., maintains a substantial amount of the original antigen concentration, etc.).
Stability may be assessed by measuring for example, the concentration of antigen present (e.g, by RP-HPLC) or by assessing antigen degradation for example by SDS-PAGE analysis. The antigen concentration in the formulation may be compared with that of the formulation as prepared with the same aluminum compound albeit untreated (e.g., not treated with phosphate or carbonate ions). Stability prediction and/or comparison tools include for example, Stability SystemTM (by ScienTek Software, Inc.), which use Arrhenius Treatment to predict rate constant at storage temperature (2° C.-8° C.). Standard assays for measuring the antigen concentration, and immunogenicity are known in the art and are described in the Examples. Protective efficacy may be assessed by for example evaluating the survival rates of immunized and non-immunized subjects following challenge with a disease causing pathogen or toxin corresponding to the particular antigen present in the formulation.
The stability of, for example, S. pneumoniae proteins such as PcpA, PhtX (e.g., PhtD) and pneumolysin (e.g., detoxified pneumolysin, PlyD1) may be improved by adjuvanting these polypeptides (individually or in combination) with a treated aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups as opposed to adjuvanting with a corresponding untreated aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups. The degradation rate of these polypeptides when adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant (AlO(OH)) is high (as discussed in the Examples below). The inventors have found that adjuvanting these polypeptides (e.g., PcpA, PhtD) with an aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups (e.g., aluminum hydroxide) that has been pretreated with phosphate (or e.g., carbonate, sulfate, carboxylate, diphosphonate or a mixture of two or more of these compounds) increases the stability of these polypeptides (e.g., by decreasing antigen degradation) relative to adjuvanting them with a corresponding untreated aluminum compound. Thus, provided herein are formulations of compositions comprising an immunogenic PcpA polypeptide and/or an immunogenic PhtX polypeptide (e.g., PhtD) and/or pneumolysin (e.g., detoxified pneumolysin; PlyD1 (SEQ ID NO:9)) and an aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups that has been treated with phosphate, carbonate, sulfate, carboxylate, diphosphonate or a mixture of two or more of these compounds, where the treatment increases the stability of the immunogenic polypeptide relative to a composition where the polypeptide is adsorbed to an untreated aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups. In preferred embodiments the aluminum compound is treated with phosphate. Multivalent compositions adjuvanted with such a treated aluminum compound and comprising the immunogenic polypeptides of PcpA and PhtX (e.g., PhtD) or comprising pneumolysin (e.g., detoxified pneumolysin; PlyD1) and PcpA and PhtX (e.g., PhtD) polypeptides are also provided.
The immunogenic composition is preferably in liquid form, but it may be lyophilized (as per standard methods) or foam dried (as described in WO2009012601, Antigen-Adjuvant Compositions and Methods). A composition according to one embodiment of the invention is in a liquid form. An immunization dose may be formulated in a volume of between 0.5 and 1.0 ml. Liquid formulations may be in any form suitable for administration including for example, a solution, or suspension. Thus, the composition can include a liquid medium (e.g., saline or water) which may be buffered.
The pH of the formulation (and composition) is preferably between about 6.4 and about 8.4. More preferably, the pH is about 7.4. An exemplary pH range of the formulation is 5-10, (e.g., 5-9, 5-8, 5.5-9, 6-7.5, or 6.5-7). The pH may be maintained by the use of a buffer.
The pharmaceutical formulations of the immunogenic compositions of the present invention may also optionally include one or more excipients (e.g., diluents, thickeners, buffers, preservatives, surface active agents, adjuvants, detergents and/or immunostimulants) which are well known in the art. Suitable excipients will be compatible with the antigen and with the aluminum adjuvant as is known in the art. Examples of diluents include binder, disintegrants, or dispersants such as starch, cellulose derivatives, phenol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol or glycerin. Pharmaceutical formulations may also include one or more active ingredients such as antimicrobial agents, antiinflammatory agents and anesthetics. Examples of detergents include a Tween (polysorbate) such as Tween 80. Preferably, the antigen(s) adsorbed to the treated aluminum compound are purified before being combined with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.
A composition according to one embodiment of the invention may be prepared by (i) treating an aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups with phosphate, carbonate, sulfate, carboxylate, diphosphonate, or a mixture of two or more of these compounds, and (ii) mixing the treated aluminum compound with at least one antigen. In preferred embodiments (as described in the Examples), the antigens include (but are not limited to), PcpA, PhtX (e.g., PhtD) and detoxified pneumolysin (such as e.g., PlyD1, SEQ ID NO:9), individually or in combination.
Also provided are formulations including PcpA, PhtX (e.g., PhtD) and/or detoxified pneumolysin (individually or in combination) adjuvanted with an aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups (e.g. aluminum hydroxide) that has been treated in accordance to the present invention (e.g, with phosphate) and including one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients that provide beneficial properties to the compositions (e.g., increase the stability of one or more of the proteins of the compositions). In one example, the formulations include a phosphate treated aluminum hydroxide (PTH). The compounds or excipients that can be included in the compositions of the invention include for example, buffers (e.g., glycine, histidine); tonicity agents (e.g, mannitol); carbohydrates, such as sugars or sugar alcohols (e.g., sorbitol, trehalose, or sucrose; 1-30%) or carbohydrate polymers (e.g., dextran); amino acids, oligopeptides or polyamino acids (up to 100 mM); polyhydric alcohols (e.g., glycerol, and concentrations of up to 20%); detergents, lipids, or surfactants (e.g., Tween 20, Tween 80, or pluronics, with concentrations of up to 0.5%); antioxidants; salts (e.g., sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, or magnesium acetate, up to 150 mM); or combinations thereof.
Examples of excipients that can be used include those that are listed in Table 13, and the examples below. In various examples, the excipients may be those that result in increased thermal stability (e.g., of at least 0.5, e.g., 0.5-5, 1-4, or 2-3) as measured by, e.g., the assays described below (e.g., extrinsic fluorescence of SYPRO Orange).
Exemplary excipients and buffers include sorbitol (e.g., 4-20%, 5-10%), (see Table 13). These excipients can be used in the concentrations listed in Table 13. Alternatively, the amounts can be varied by, e.g., 0.1-10 fold, as is understood in the art. Other carbohydrates, sugar alcohols, surfactants and amino acids that are known in the art can also be included.
The excipients and buffers can be used individually or in combination. The pH of such a composition can be, e.g., 5.5-8.0 or 6.5-7.5, and the composition can be stored at, e.g., 2-8° C., in liquid or lyophilized form. In variations of the composition, the sorbitol can be replaced with sucrose (e.g., 4-20%, or 5-10%), or trehalose (e.g., 4-20%, or 5-10%). Other variations of the compositions are also possible and involve use of other components listed herein. Based on the above, an exemplary formulation of PcpA, PhtD and detoxified pneumolysin (individually or in combination) includes 10% sorbitol, pH 7.4.
In one embodiment, a monovalent PlyD1 (SEQ ID NO:9) composition may include per dose, in the range of 5 to 50 μg of antigen, PTH adjuvant (with about 0.56 mg/mL elemental Aluminum containing 2 mM sodium phosphate buffer at about pH 7.5), in about: 10 mM Tris HCl, and about 150 mM NaCl, at about pH 7.4. In preferred examples, PlyD1 is in the range of 25 to 50 μg/dose.
In another embodiment, a monovalent PhtD composition may include per dose, in the range of 5 to50 μg of antigen, PTH adjuvant (with about 0.56 mg/mL elemental Aluminum containing 2 mM sodium phosphate buffer at about pH 7.5), in about: 10 mM Tris HCl, and about 150 mM NaCl, at about pH 7.4. In preferred examples, PhtD is in the range of 25 to 50 μg/dose.
In a further embodiment, a monovalent PcpA composition may include per dose, in the range of 5 to 50 μg of antigen, PTH adjuvant (with about 0.56 mg/mL elemental Aluminum containing 2 mM sodium phosphate buffer at about pH 7.5), in about: 10 mM Tris HCl, and about 150 mM NaCl, at about pH 7.4. In preferred examples, PcpA is in the range of 25 to 50 μg/dose.
In another embodiment, a bivalent formulation composition may include per dose, two proteins (selected from the following: PhtD, PlyD1 or PcpA), each in the range of 5 to 50 μg/dose, PTH adjuvant (with about 0.56 mg/mL elemental Aluminum containing 2 mM sodium phosphate buffer at about pH 7.5), in about: 10 mM Tris HCl, and about 150 mM NaCl, at about pH 7.4. In certain examples, the two antigens are present in a 1:1 antigen/dose ratio. In yet a further embodiment, a trivalent formulation composition can include per dose, three proteins (PhtD, PlyD1, PcpA), each in the range of 5 to 50 μg/dose, PTH adjuvant (with about 0.56 mg/mL elemental Aluminum containing 2 mM sodium phosphate buffer at about pH 7.5), in about: 10 mM Tris HCl, and about 150 mM NaCl, at about pH 7.4. In certain examples, the amount (antigen/dose) of each of the three antigens is in a ratio of about 1:1:1.
In another example, the compositions include sorbitol, or sucrose, which have been shown to provide benefits with respect to stability (see below). The amounts of these components can be, for example, 5-15%, 8-12% or 10% sorbitol or sucrose. A specific example in which these components are present at 10% is described below. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions include 10% sorbitol or 10% sucrose.
The immunogenic compositions of the invention find use in methods of preventing or treating a disease, disorder condition or symptoms associated with a particular antigen. The terms disease disorder and condition will be used interchangeably herein. Specifically the prophylactic and therapeutic methods comprise administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition to a subject. In particular embodiments, methods for preventing or treating S. pneumoniae are provided.
As used herein, preventing a disease or disorder is intended to mean administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition of the invention to a subject in order to protect the subject from the development of the particular disease or disorder associated with the antigen.
By treating a disease or disorder is intended administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition of the invention to a subject that is afflicted with the disease or that has been exposed to a pathogen that causes the disease where the purpose is to cure, heal, alleviate, relieve, alter, remedy, ameliorate, improve, or affect the condition or the symptoms of the disease.
A therapeutically effective amount refers to an amount that provides a therapeutic effect for a given condition and administration regimen. A therapeutically effective amount can be determined by the ordinary skilled medical worker based on patient characteristics (age, weight, gender, condition, complications, other diseases, etc.). The therapeutically effective amount will be further influenced by the route of administration of the composition.
The compositions of the invention can be administered to a subject by a variety of methods known in the art. Any method for administering a composition to a subject may be used in the practice of the invention.
Definitions


    The term “comprising” encompasses “including” as well as “consisting” (e.g., a composition “comprising” X may consist exclusively of X or may include something additional, e.g., X+Y).
    The term “substantially” does not exclude “completely” (e.g., a composition which is “substantially free” from Y may be completely free from Y.
    The term “about” in relation to a numerical value x means, for example x±10%.
    The term “immunogen” is a substance that is able to induce an adaptive immune response.
    The term “subject” encompasses species such as for example, mammals (e.g., a human or an animal (e.g., mouse, dog, cat, horse, sheep, pig, etc.); birds.
    Unless specifically stated, a process comprising a step of mixing two or more components does not require any specific order of mixing. Thus components can be mixed in any order. Where there are three components then two components can be combined with each other, and then the combination may be combined with the third component, etc.
    It will be appreciated that ionisable groups may exist in the neutral form as shown herein, or may exist in charged form e.g. depending on pH.


All references cited within this disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
EXAMPLES
The above disclosure generally describes the present invention. A more complete understanding can be obtained by reference to the following specific Examples. These Examples are described solely for purposes of illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Changes in form and substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient. Although specific terms have been employed herein, such terms are intended in a descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitations.
Methods of molecular genetics, protein biochemistry, immunology and fermentation technology used, but not explicitly described in this disclosure and these Examples, are amply reported in the scientific literatures and are well within the ability of those skilled in the art.
Example 1
This Example describes the preparation of a surface modified adjuvant and formulations with this adjvuant. A surface modified adjuvant was prepared by treating aluminum hydroxide adjuvant (AlhydrogelTM, Brenntag) with phosphate. The aluminum hydroxide adjuvant used was a wet gel suspension which according to the manufacturer tolerates re-autoclavation but is destroyed if frozen. According to the manufacturer, when the pH is maintained at 5-7, the adjuvant has a positive charge and can adsorb negatively charged antigens (e.g., proteins with acidic isoelectric points when kept at neutral pH).

    a) Phosphate treatment of AlO(OH)—An aqueous suspension of AlO(OH) (approximately 20 mg/mL) was mixed with a stock solution of phosphate buffer (approximately 400 mmol/L) and diluted with 10 mM Tris-HCL buffer (Sigma Aldrich) at about pH 7.4 to prepare a phosphate-treated AlO(OH) suspension (herein referred to as “PTH”) having approximately 13 mg/mL AlOOH/200 mM PO4. This suspension was then mixed for approximately 30 minutes to 24 hr at room temperature.
    b) Preparation of the PcpA protein and PhtD protein recombinantly—In brief, two recombinantly-derived protein antigens from Streptococcus pneumoniae (serotype 6 strain 14453, deposited on Jun. 27, 1997 as ATCC 55987), PhtD (WO2009/012588) and PcpA (WO 2008/022302) were recombinantly expressed in E. coli, isolated and purified by serial column chromatography following conventional purification protocols.


More specifically, the phtD gene (but excluding its native signal peptide) was PCR amplified from the S. pneumoniae 14453 genome (serotype 6 strain, deposited on Jun. 27, 1997 as ATCC 55987), a mouse-virulent capsule serotype 6B strain, using the AccuPrime High Fidelity polymerase (Invitrogen) and primers Spn0211 and Spn0213. Spn0211 and Spn0213 introduced Noel and XhoI restriction sites into the 5′ and 3′ ends, respectively (see Table 1). The PCR product was purified using a QIAquick PCR purification kit (Qiagen) and run on an agarose gene to confirm the size. The PCT product and the pET28a(+) vector (Novagen) were both digested with NcoI and XhoI and subsequently purified from an agarose gel using the QIAEX gel extraction kit (Qiagen). The digested vector and gene were ligated together using T4 DNA ligase (Invitrogen). The ligation mixture was transformed into chemically competent E. coli DH5α and positive clones were selected by plating on Luria agar containing 50 μg/ml kanamycin. DNA from plasmid clone pBAC27 was isolated and was confirmed by sequencing to be correct.
The plasmid (pBAC27) was then introduced E. coli BL21 (DE3) cells by electroporation. Transformed strains were grown at approximately 37° C. and protein expression was induced by the addition of 1 mM IPTG. Expression of gene product was verified by the presence of an induced protein band of the correct size (i.e, approximately 91.9 kDa) by SDS-PAGE analysis.








TABLE 1





Primer Name/



Number
Sequence 5′ 3′







Spn0211
CTAGCCATGGGATCCTATGAACTTGGTCGTCACCAAG



(SEQ ID NO.: 11)


 


Spn0213
AGTCCTCGAGCTACTGTATAGGAGCCGGTTG



(SEQ ID NO.: 12)









The predicted amino acid sequence of the polypeptide of pBAC27 is as follows:







(SEQ ID NO.: 5)


MGSYELGRHQAGQVKKESNRVSYIDGDQAGQKAENLTPDEVSKREGINA


 


EQIVIKITDQGYVTSHGDHYHYYNGKVPYDAIISEELLMKDPNYQLKDS


 


DIVNEIKGGYVIKVDGKYYVYLKDAAHADNIRTKEEIKRQKQEHSHNHN


 


SRADNAVAAARAQGRYTTDDGYIFNASDIIEDTGDAYIVPHGDHYHYIP


 


KNELSASELAAAEAYWNGKQGSRPSSSSSYNANPVQPRLSENHNLTVTP


 


TYHQNQGENISSLLRELYAKPLSERHVESDGLIFDPAQITSRTARGVAV


 


PHGNHYHFIPYEQMSELEKRIARIIPLRYRSNHWVPDSRPEQPSPQSTP


 


EPSPSLQPAPNPQPAPSNPIDEKLVKEAVRKVGDGYVFEENGVSRYIPA


 


KDLSAETAAGIDSKLAKQESLSHKLGAKKTDLPSSDREFYNKAYDLLAR


 


IHQDLLDNKGRQVDFEVLDNLLERLKDVSSDKVKLVDDILAFLAPIRHP


 


ERLGKPNAQITYTDDEIQVAKLAGKYTTEDGYIFDPRDITSDEGDAYVT


 


PHMTHSHWIKKDSLSEAERAAAQAYAKEKGLTPPSTDHQDSGNTEAKGA


 


EAIYNRVKAAKKVPLDRMPYNLQYTVEVKNGSLIIPHYDHYHNIKFEWF


 


DEGLYEAPKGYSLEDLLATVKYYVEHPNERPHSDNGFGNASDHVRKNKA


 


DQDSKPDEDKEHDEVSEPTHPESDEKENHAGLNPSADNLYKPSTDTEET


 


EEEAEDTTDEAEIPQVENSVINAKIADAEALLEKVTDPSIRQNAMETLT


 


GLKSSLLLGTKDNNTISAEVDSLLALLKESQPAPIQ






The pcpA gene (but excluding the signal sequence and the choline-binding domains) was PCR amplified from the S. pneumoniae 14453 genome using Accuprime Taq DNA polymerase (Invitrogen) and PCR primers (see Table 2) that incorporated restriction endonuclease sites designed for simplified cloning. Plasmid DNA of pET-30a(+) (Novagen) was purified as a low-copy plasmid and prepared for use as the cloning vector by digesting with NdeI and XhoI, followed by gel purification. The resulting 1335 base pair fragment was pcpA (without signal sequence and choline-binding domains) flanked by XhoI (3′-end) and NdeI (5′end) restriction sites. The amplified fragment was cleaned, digested with NdeI and XhoI and then gel purified and ligated into the pET-30a(+) vector. The insert was verified by sequencing and the new plasmid was designated pJMS87.







TABLE 2







(Primers)








Primer Name
Sequence 5′ 3′





UAB 3
TAGCCTCGAGTTAACCTTTGTCTTTAACCCAA



CCAACTACTCCCTGATTAG 



(SEQ ID NO.: 11)


 


UAB-tagless 5
CTAATGAACCACATATGGCAGATACTCCTAGT



TCGGAAGTAATC



(SEQ ID NO.: 12)









The predicted amino acid sequence of the polypeptide of pJMS87 is as follows:








(SEQ ID NO.: 7)


MADTPSSEVIKETKVGSIIQQNNIKYKVLTVEGNIGTVQVGNGVTPVEF


 


EAGQDGKPFTIPTKITVGDKVFTVTEVASQAFSYYPDETGRIVYYPSSI


 


TIPSSIKKIQKKGFHGSKAKTIIFDKGSQLEKIEDRAFDFSELEEIELP


 


ASLEYIGTSAFSFSQKLKKLTFSSSSKLELISHEAFANLSNLEKLTLPK


 


SVKTLGSNLFRLTTSLKHVDVEEGNESFASVDGVLFSKDKTQLIYYPSQ


 


KNDESYKTPKETKELASYSFNKNSYLKKLELNEGLEKIGTFAFADAIKL


 


EEISLPNSLETIERLAFYGNLELKELILPDNVKNFGKHVMNGLPKLKSL


 


TIGNNINSLPSFFLSGVLDSLKEIHIKNKSTEFSVKKDTFAIPETVKFY


 


VTSEHIKDVLKSNLSTSNDIIVEKVDNIKQETDVAKPKKNSNQGVVGWV


 


KDKG






Chemically competent E. coli BL21 (DE3) cells were transformed with plasmid pJMS87 DNA. Expression of gene product was verified by the presence of an induced protein band of the correct size (i.e, approximately 49.4 kDa) by SDS-PAGE analysis.
As the cloned PcpA polypeptide lacks the signal sequence and choline-binding domains, its amino acid sequence correlates with amino acids 27 to 470 of the full length PcpA protein. This region is extremely conserved among all surveyed strains with only 8 variable positions. The most diverged pair of sequences shares 98.7% identity.
The predicted isoelectric points by Vector NTi for the recombinant PcpA protein and the recombinant PhtD protein were 7.19 and 5.16, respectively.

    c) Antigen adsorption—The two recombinantly-derived protein antigens from Streptococcus pneumoniae (serotype 6 strain 14453, deposited on Jun. 27, 1997 as ATCC 55987), PhtD (WO2009/012588) and PcpA (WO2008/022302) were individually adsorbed to the phosphate-treated AlO(OH).


A mixture was prepared containing about 0.2 -0.4 mg/mL of purified antigen (i.e., rPcpA or rPhtD) and 0.56 mg elemental aluminum/ml/PO4 mM of the PTH suspension. Alternatively, mixtures were prepared containing purified antigen with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant (as Alhydrogel® 85 2%) or AlPO4 in Tris buffered saline (pH 7.4) using standard methods. The mixtures were mixed in an orbital mixer for about 30 minutes to 24 hours at room temperature to facilitate the association of antigen and adjuvant. Similar adsorptions were prepared a number of times and the typical pre-adsorbed composition was: protein (PhtD or PcpA): 0.2-0.4 mg/ml, phosphate: 2 to 80 mM (preferably, 2 to 20 mM) and AlO(OH): 1.25 mg/ml (0.56 mg of elemental Al/mi). Prepared antigen adsorbed samples were stored at about 2° C.-8° C. until used. Alternatively, antigens were adjuvanted together (to prepare bivalent formulations) by using a stock solution of phosphate treated aluminum hydroxide adjuvant.

    d) Preparation of a bivalent formulation—The intermediate bulk lots (monovalent formulations) of PhtD adsorbed to PTH and PcpA adsorbed to PTH were blended and mixed together for about 30 minutes at room temperature in an orbital mixer to prepare a bivalent formulation. The typical pre-adsorbed formulation composition was: 0.05 mg/ml of each protein (rPhtD, rPcpA); phosphate: 2 to 80 mM (preferably 2 to 20 mM, more preferably 2 mM) and 1.25 mg/mL AlO(OH) (0.56 mg of elemental Al/ml).


Example 2
This example describes the evaluation of the stability of an adjuvanted vaccine formulation under various conditions. A number of PTH adsorbed vaccine formulations were incubated for 5 days at 5° C., 25° C., 37° C. (i.e., under thermal accelerated conditions).
To evaluate the stability of 4 different vaccine formulations of PcpA (formulated in AlO(OH) or PTH), the formulations were each incubated for 6 weeks at 37° C. and then assessed by RP-HPLC. The stability results obtained are summarized in Table 3. The recovery from untreated AlO(OH) decreased by almost 50% following the incubation period (at 37° C.) whereas little to no degradation was observed in the PTH containing formulations.







TABLE 3







% Recovery (RP-HPLC) of PcpA after 6 weeks incubation at 37° C.










% Recovery
% Adsorption













T = 42

T = 42


Formulation
T = 0
days
T = 0
days














1) 50 μg/mL PcpA in 10 mM 
98
53
100
100


Tris-HCL, pH 7.4/150 mM 






NaCl/1.3 mg/mL AlO(OH)






2) 50 μg/mL PcpA in 10 mM 
103
95
100
100


Tris-HCl, pH 7.4/150 mM






NaCl/1.3 mg/mL AlO(OH)/2 mM 






Phosphate buffer pH 7.4






3) 50 μg/mL PcpA in 10 mM 
103
98
100
100


Tris-HCl, pH 7.4/150 mM 






NaCl/1.3 mg/mL AlO(OH)/20 mM






Phosphate buffer pH 7.4






4) 50 μg/mL PcpA in 10 mM 
100
100
96
73


Tris-HCl, pH 7.4/150 mM 






NaCl/1.3 mg/mL AlO(OH)/80 mM






Phosphate buffer pH 7.4













To evaluate the stability of PcpA and PhtD in monovalent and bivalent formulations (formulated with AlO(OH) or PTH), formulations were prepared as described in Example 1 using AlO(OH) or phosphate-treated AlO(OH) with 2 mM phosphate and samples were then incubated for about 16 weeks at various temperatures (i.e., 5° C., 25° C., 37° C. or 45° C.). Antigen concentration was then assessed by RP-HPLC. The stability results obtained are set out in FIGS. 1a to f. As shown the figures, in comparison to the formulations adjuvanted with untreated AlO(OH), the degradation rate of PcpA and PhtD, particularly under accelerated (stress) conditions (e.g., 25, 37, 45° C.) was significantly decreased in formulations adjuvanted with phosphate treated AlO(OH).
To evaluate the stability of the antigenicity of PcpA and PhtD in multi-valent formulations (formulated with AlO(OH) or PTH), bivalent formulations (at 100 μg/mL) were prepared as described in Example 1 and samples incubated at about 37° C. for approximately 12 weeks. Antigenicity of each formulation was evaluated by a quantitative ELISA sandwich assay at time zero and following the 12 week incubation period. Results are set out in FIG. 2. The antigenicity of both PcpA and PhtD following the 12 week incubation period at 37° C. was significantly higher when formulated with PTH in comparison to formulations with AlO(OH).
Example 3
This Example describes the analysis of the stability of multivalent formulations prepared with a pretreated aluminum adjuvant.
To prepare 10× Phosphate treated Aluminum hydroxide (PTH) (with a ratio of phosphate (P): Aluminum (Al)=0.1), a stock suspension of AlO(OH) adjuvant (Al=10.9 mg/ml, Alhydrogel “85” 2%, Brenntag) was blended with a stock solution of 500 mM phosphate buffer pH 7.4 (anhydrous Na2HPO4, JT Baker and NaH2PO4, EM science) and diluted to a final concentration of 5.6 mg Al/ml with TBS buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl(Trisma base, JT Baker) pH 7.4/150 mM NaCl (EMD Chemicals)). This preparation was mixed in an orbital mixer for approximately 17 hours at room temperature. The phosphorous:aluminum molar ratio was 0.1. PTH stock solutions with P:Al molar ratios of 0.5 and 1.0 were similarly prepared.
Three recombinantly-derived protein antigens from S. pneumoniae (serotype 6 strain 14453, deposited on Jun. 27, 1997 as ATCC 55987), PhtD (WO2009/012588). PcpA (WO 2008/022302) and a genetically modified, enzymatically inactive, pneumolysin mutant (PCT/CA2009/001843) were recombinantly expressed in E. coli and purified by serial column chromatography following conventional purification protocols. The three protein antigens were individually adsorbed at about 300 μg/mL (3× intermediate bulk) by mixing protein stock solutions with the PTH suspension (or, for the control formulations, untreated AlO(OH) (Alhydrogel “85” 2%, Brenntag) and the appropriate amount of TBS buffer for about 30 min at room temperature in an orbital mixer. Final trivalent formulations were prepared by blending equal volumes of 3× intermediate bulks (see FIG. 3 which provides a simplified depiction of the manufacturing process for lab scale lots).
Stability
Stability was evaluated under normal and stress conditions. Formulations were incubated at 5, 25, 37 and 45° C. and chemical integrity was evaluated by RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE. A summary of the stability data obtained for the trivalent formulations in AlO(OH) or PTH (P:Al=0.1) as evaluated by concentration of intact protein by RP-HPLC (in % of T=0) after 8-week incubation at 5° C. and 25° C. is set out in Table 4. The three proteins were each unstable when adjuvanted with untreated AlO(OH) as shown by the significant decrease in protein concentration following incubation at both 5° C. and 25° C. In contrast, proteins adjuvanted with PTH (P:Al=0.1) experienced minimal degradation during the incubation period (when stored at 5° C.) and significantly less degradation when stored at 25° C. in comparison to the formulations adjuvanted with untreated AlO(OH).







TABLE 4







Stability summary of trivalent formulation as evaluated by RP_HPLC after 8 weeks 


incubation at 5° C. and 25° C.











Relative conc. 
Relative PcpA
Relative PhtD



of Ply mutant
concentration
concentration



% T = 0
% T = 0
% T = 0













Formulation
5° C.
25° C.
5° C.
25° C.
5° C.
25° C.
















Formulation in
75.4
18.8
81.8
60.9
82.3
50.5


AlO(OH)








PTH formulation
99.1
87.6
99.3
97.3
98.8
65.8


(P:Al = 0.1)









Adsorption

To assess the percentage of each antigen adsorbed to the adjuvant, formulation samples (with each protein at 100 μg/ml and adjuvated with PTH with varying P:Al molar ratios) were centrifuged for about 5 minutes at 4.000×g and each protein's concentration in the supernatant was determined. Isoelectric points for each antigen were predicted by Vector NTi (as described in Example 1). Table 5 sets out a summary of the % adsorption of each antigen in various formulations tested. The results indicate that adsorption of acidic antigens (isoelectric point <7.0) is decreased as the P:Al is increased. In regards to PcpA (a neutral antigen), there was no change in % adsorption at P:Al of 0.5 and decreased by only 1% at a P:Al of 1.0. At the concentration of Al used in this example (0.56 mg/mL) optimal adsorption for all three antigens (>90%) was obtained when the P:Al molar ratio was 0.1. The adsorption of acidic antigens to PTH at higher P:Al ratios may be improved by increasing the concentration of adjuvant in the formulation (e.g., up to the maximum concentration of Al permitted by regulatory bodies (e.g., 0.85 mg aluminum/vaccine dose (FDA)).







TABLE 5







Percentage of adsorption (% A) of protein antigens to PTH prepared at different P:Al


ratios. PTH concentration was 0.56 mg Al/ml; concentration of each antigen was 100 μg/ml.












Isoelectric






point
P:Al 0.1
P:Al 0.5
P:Al 1.0














Ply mutant
5.13
98%
42%
24%


PhtD
5.16
100% 
91%
82%


PcpA
7.19
97%
97%
96%









Example 4
Effects of Phosphate Treatment on Immunogenicity of Vaccine Formulation
This Example describes the analysis of the immunogenicity of a multi-component vaccine in an animal model. Balb/c female mice were immunized to assess the immune response elicited by a bivalent vaccine composition formulated with one of several different adjuvants. Formulations were prepared (as described in Example 1) using purified recombinant PhtD and PcpA proteins. The formulations were mixed on a Nutator for approximately 30 minutes and dispensed into glass vials. Groups of mice were immunized intramuscularly (IM) three times at 3 week intervals with the applicable formulation. Specific formulations used were as follows:

    
    
        A. 100μg/mL of each of PhtD and PcpA in TBS pH=7.4, unadjuvanted
        B. 100μg/mL of each of PhtD and PcpA+1.3 mg/mL AlOOH (Alhydrogel “85” 2%, 25.08 mg/ml) in Tris Saline pH=7.4
        C. 100 μg/mL of each 2 proteins in TBS pH 7.4+1.3 mg/mL AlOOH pretreated with 2 mM Phosphate, pH 7.4.
    
    


Sera were collected prior to each immunization and three weeks following the final immunization. Total antigen-specific IgG titres were measured by endpoint dilution ELISA and geometric mean titres (+/−SD) for each group were calculated. A summary of the total IgG titers obtained are set out in the Table 6 below.







TABLE 6







Combined anti-PcpA and anti-PhtD Total IgG Titers Geomean











Immunizing agent
Anti-PcpA IgG
Bleed III SD
Anti-PhtD IgG
Bleed III SD














2-valent in TBS
19986.15506
27007.46336
46680.19141
48923.68401


2-valent in AlO(OH)
178288.7554
116860.8322
224629.7558
72062.11078


2-valent in PTH
186720.7657
73604.63754
162549.8677
54046.58308









Antigen-specific IgG1 and IgG2a titers were also calculated to assess IgG1/2a sub-classing. A summary of the results are depicted in FIGS. 4a, 4b, and 4c. 
The adjuvanted bivalent compositions formulated with either AlO(OH) or phosphate treated AlO(OH) elicited IgG antibody titers (IgG1, IgG2a and total IgG) that were comparable (i.e., not significantly different) and significantly higher than the unadjuvanted formulation. Based on IgG 1/2a sub-classing, the composition formulated with AlO(OH) and the composition formulated with phosphate treated AlO(OH) each elicited a Th2 type of immune response (i.e., IgG1 was the predominant IgG subtype in mice sera).
Example 5
Effects of Phosphate Treatment on Immunogenicity of Vaccine Formulation
This Example describes the analysis of the immunogenicity of a multi-component composition formulated with different aluminum-based adjuvants.
Balb/c female mice were used to assess the immune response elicited by a bivalent vaccine composition formulated with one of several different adjuvants. In this study, recombinant PhtD and PcpA (prepared and purified as described in Example 1) were formulated with AlO(OH), or AlO(OH)-treated with PO4 at different phosphate molarities (2 mM, 10 mM and 20 mM) or AlPO4 (AdjuphosTM purchased from Brenntag). Formulations were prepared as described in Example 1. Two batches of each AlO(OH) formulation were used in this study: one batch was prepared and then aged (i.e., incubated at about 2-8° C. for approximately 6 months) and a second batch was prepared within one week of the first immunization (i.e., freshly prepared formulation).
Groups of 5 (or 4) female Balb/c mice (Charles River), 6-8 weeks of age upon arrival, were immunized intramuscularly (IM) three times at 3 week intervals with the applicable formulation. The specific formulations administered to each group is set out in Table 7.
The PhtD and PcpA-specific antibody ELISA titers following the final bleed are summarized in Table 7. Mice immunized with PcpA and/or PhtD proteins generated antigen-specific antibody responses after immunization. No significant differences in anti-PhtD and anti-PcpA titres were seen in animals immunized with either fresh or aged AlO(OH)-containing bivalent formulations or formulations containing AlO(OH) pre-treated with phosphate (at any of the three concentrations used). Immunization with the bivalent composition formulated with AlPO4 (which is less immunogenic than AlO(OH)) gave rise to significantly lower anti-PhtD IgG titres when compared to formulations containing AlO(OH) or PO4-containing AlO(OH) adjuvants.







TABLE 7







PcpA and PhtD-specific ELISA Titers for Groups of Mice Immunized with Placebo or Bivalent


Vaccine Formulation











ELISA Titers










Group
Bleed*
PcpA
PhtD













5 μg PcpA + PhtD + AlOOH
Pre-immunization
<100
<100



Final bleed
152166
88266


5 μg PcpA + PhtD + AlOOH with 2 mM PO4
Pre-immunization
<100
<100



Final bleed
204800
88266


5 μg PcpA + PhtD + AlOOH with 10 mM PO4
Pre-immunization
<100
<100



Final bleed
204800
64508


5 μg PcpA + PhtD + AlOOH with 20 mM PO4
Pre-immunization
<100
<100



Final bleed
176532
68910


10 μg PcpA + PhtD + fresh AlOOH
Pre-immunization
<100
<100



Final bleed
176532
97454


10 μg PcpA + PhtD + aged AlOOH
Pre-immunization
<100
<100



Final bleed
168005
88266


5 μg PcpA + PhtD + AlPO4
Pre-immunization
<100
<100



Final bleed
124827
36204





*Final bleed anti-PcpA and anti-PhtD titers were determined from individual mice and are represented as the


geometrical mean.






Example 6
Effects of Phosphate Treatment on Immunogenicity and Stability of Vaccine Formulation
This Example describes the analysis of the immunogenicity of a multi-component composition formulated with different aluminum-based adjuvants.
Balb/c female mice were used to assess the immune response elicited by fresh and aged adjuvanted bivalent formulations. To prepare the bivalent formulations, recombinant PhtD and PcpA were formulated with AlO(OH), or AlO(OH)-containing PO4 (2 mM) as described in Example 1. The aged formulations used in the study had been stored for approximately 6 months at about 2° C.-8° C. prior to the first immunization. The freshly prepared formulations used in the study were prepared within one week of the first immunization. Groups of mice were immunized intramuscularly (IM) three times at 3 week intervals with the applicable formulation.
Sera were collected prior to each immunization and three weeks following the final immunization. Total antigen-specific IgG titres were measured by endpoint dilution ELISA and geometric mean titres (+/−SD) for each group were calculated. A summary of the total IgG titers obtained are set out in FIG. 5.
There was no statistical difference in the α-PhtD and α-PcpA titers elicited by the both the AlO(OH) and phosphate treated AlO(OH) formulations (which is akin to the results obtained in the study set out in Example 5). However, the aged formulations adjuvanted with either AlO(OH) or PTH elicited higher antigen specific IgG titers than their freshly prepared counterparts, which is in contrast to the Example 5 study where no statistical difference in anti-PhtD and anti-PcpA titers elicited with either fresh or aged bivalent formulations with AlO(OH). In this study, the difference noted between aged and freshly prepared formulations in elicited titres was mostly likely due to the fact that the aged and the freshly prepared formulations were prepared with different lots of AlO(OH) (AlhydrogelTM).
A subsequent study was performed using freshly prepared and aged bivalent formulations adjuvanted with AlO(OH) (Alhydrogel, Brenntag) treated with 2 mM of phosphate. The freshly prepared and aged formulations were each prepared using the same lot of Alhydrogel. Samples of prepared formulations were stored at 2 to 8° C. or 37° C. for approximately 6 to 7 months prior to the start of the study. Total antigen-specific IgG titers were measured by quantitative ELISA and a summary of the total IgG titers obtained are set out in FIG. 8. There were no statistical differences in the α-PcpA and α-PhtD ELISA titres between the freshly prepared bivalent adjuvanted formulations and the bivalent adjuvanted formulations that had been aged 6 months at 2-8° C. The storage conditions under which the phosphate pretreated AlO(OH) formulations were subjected did not adversely affect immunogenicity and therefore, the formulations adjuvanted with phosphate pretreated AlO(OH) were stable under the conditions tested.
Example 7
Effects of Phosphate Treatment on Immunogenicity and Protection of Vaccine Formulation
This Example describes the protective ability of a multi-component vaccine against fatal pneumococcal challenge in the mouse intranasal challenge model (which is an active immunization model based on one described earlier, Zhang, Y. A, et. al. Infect. Immun. 69:3827-3836 (2001).
Bivalent compositions of rPhtD and rPcpA were prepared containing a 5 μg/dose of each of purified recombinant PhtD and PcpA proteins, formulated in TBS with adjuvant (AlOOH treated with 2 mM PO4 (65 μg/dose)) as described in Examples 1A and 1B. In this study, groups of female CBA/j mice (N=15 per group) were immunized intramuscularly (IM) three times at 3 week intervals with the applicable formulation. The injection volume was 50 μL per dose. As a negative control, a PBS placebo-containing aluminum adjuvant was injected.
At about 9 weeks, animals were administered a lethal dose (approximately 106 CFU) intranasally of a S. pneumoniae strain MD, strain 14453 or 941192 in PBS suspension (40 μL challenge volume per mouse). Sample bleeds were taken from all animals 4 days prior to the first injection (pre-immunization at 0 weeks) and 4 days prior to the challenge. Sera were analyzed for total PhtD and PcpA-specific IgG response by means of an antibody ELISA assay.
Following the challenge, mice were monitored daily for mortality. All surviving mice were euthanized 11 days post-challenge. Protection was determined using Fisher's one-sided Exact test by comparing survival in the immunized group(s) to the placebo control (p values <0.05 were considered significant). The results of the study (noted in % survival) are set out in FIG. 7 and Table 8 below.







TABLE 8







Survival Results of Mice Immunized with Bivalent Vaccine or Placebo










Bivalent Survival in %
Placebo Survival in %











Day
Strain 14453
Strain MD
Strain 14453
Strain MD














0
100
100
100
100


1
100
100
100
100


2
100
93.3
73.3
20


3
100
93.3
40
6.7


4
86.7
93.3
40
6.7


5
86.7
93.3
40
6.7


6
86.7
93.3
40
6.7


7
86.7
93.3
40
6.7


8
86.7
93.3
40
6.7


9
86.7
93.3
40
6.7


10
86.7
93.3
40
6.7


11
86.7
93.3
40
6.7


p-value*
0.01
0.000







*p-value calculated using the Fisher exact test versus placebo group; difference from placebo group 11 days


post-challenge






Immunization with combined recombinant PhtD and PcpA proteins generated protection against fatal IN challenge with three different strains of S. pneumoniae in the IN challenge model. The protection noted in groups that had been challenged with either the 14453 strain or the MD strain was statistically significant. The group challenged with the 941192 strain also had a high % survival, but the protection was not considered statistically significant in light of the percentage of survival noted in the negative control group (immunized with adjuvant alone).
Example 8
Effects of Aluminum Concentration on Immunogenicity of Vaccine Formulation
This Example describes the analysis of the immunogenicity of a multi-component composition formulated with phosphate pretreated AlO(OH) and varying concentrations of elemental aluminum.
Female Balb/c mice were used to assess the immune response elicited by adjuvanted trivalent formulations. To prepare the trivalent formulations, recombinant PhtD, PcpA and an enzymatically inactive pneumolysin mutant (each derived from S. pneumoniae) were formulated with AlO(OH)-containing PO4 (2 mM) as described in Example 1. Samples of prepared formulations were stored at 2 to 8° C. prior to the start of the study. Groups of Balb/c mice were immunized intramuscularly (IM) three times at 3 week intervals with the applicable formulation:
A. Unadjuvanted (Trivalent 50 μg/mL of PcpA and PhtD and 100 μg/mL of Ply mutant in TBS pH=7.4)
B. Trivalent 50 μg/mL of PcpA and PhtD and 100 μg/mL of Ply mutant +0.56 mg Al/mL PTH, P:Al molar ratio=0.1 (0.56 mg Al/mL AlO(OH) treated with 2 mM PO4) in Tris Saline pH=7.4.
C. Trivalent 50 μg/mL of PcpA and PhtD and 100 μg/mL of Ply mutant+0.28 mg Al/mL PTH, P:Al molar ratio=0.1 (0.28 mg Al/mL AlO (OH) treated with 1 mM PO4) in Tris Saline pH=7.4.
D. Trivalent 50 μg/mL of PcpA and PhtD and 100 μg/mL of Ply mutant+1.12 mg Al/mL PTH, P:Al molar ratio=0.1 (1.12 mg Al/mL AlO(OH) treated with 4 mM PO4) in Tris Saline pH=7.4.
E. Trivalent 50 μg/mL of PcpA and PhtD and 100 μg/mL of Ply mutant+1.68 mg Al/mL PTH, P:Al molar ratio=0.1 (1.68 mg Al/mL AlO (OH) treated with 6 mM PO4) in Tris Saline pH=7.4.
Sera were collected following the 1st, second and third immunization. Total antigen-specific IgG titres were measured by quantitative ELISA and geometric mean titres (+/−SD) for each group were calculated. A summary of the total IgG titers obtained are set out in FIG. 8.
All adjuvanted groups (B, C, D and E) produced significantly higher titres against all three antigens than the unadjuvanted group (A) (p<0.001). With respect to each antigen, titre levels peaked when adjuvanted with PTH with 0.56 mg elemental aluminum/nth (and, in the case of PhtD, the difference between titres elicited with aluminum 0.56 mg /mL and the two higher concentrations was statistically significant). Similarly, with respect to each antigen, titre levels were lower when adjuvanted with PTH with 0.28 mg elemental aluminum/mL (and, in the case of PcpA, the difference was statistically significant). These findings were surprising. Antibody (IgG) titers were expected to increase proportional to the concentration of aluminum (as reported in Little S. F. et. al., Vaccine, 25:2771-2777 (2007)). Surprisingly, even though the concentration of each of the antigens was kept constant, the titres decreased, rather than plateau, with increasing aluminum concentration (and with PhtD this was statistically significant).
Example 9
Adjuvant Physiochemical Characterization
This Example describes the physiochemical characterization of a number of different adjuvant samples. Characterization tests were performed using samples from a number of different 10× PTH stock solutions (each of which had been prepared as described in Examples 1 and 3). A number of bulk samples of aluminum hydroxide adjuvant (Alhydrogel, Brenntag) and one bulk sample of AlPO4 (Adjuphos, Brenntag) were also used in the characterization tests.
The different PTH stock solutions (batches) were manufactured on different days by different operators. The content of Al and P in each batch was measured to evaluate consistency. The measured Al:P molar ratios are set out in Table 9.







TABLE 9







Al:P molar ratios in different lots of PTH















P:Al 


PTH Lot #
Lot Type
P (mmol/L)
Al (mg/mL)
molar ratio














A
Lab Scale
20.1
5.1
0.11


B
Scale up Demo
22.3
5.3
0.11


C
Consistency
19.6
4.9
0.11


D
Consistency
20.1
5.6
0.10


E
GMP demo lot
20.1
5.6
0.10




Average: 20.4
Average: 5.3
Average: 0.11




RSD: 5.2%
RSD: 5.7%
RSD: 7.6%









Point of Zero Charge (PZC)

The PZC of five different samples of 10× PTH, two bulk samples of aluminum hydroxide adjuvant (Alhydrogel, Brenntag) and one bulk sample of AlPO4 (Adjuphos, Brenntag) was measured using the Zetasizer Nano-ZS, Nano series (Malvern Instruments). Samples were prepared by hand or by an automatic titrator (Multi Purpose Titrator, Malvern Instruments) linked to the Zetasizer. In the range of the PZC (+/−2 units of pH), the relation between Zeta potential and pH is linear and as such, the PZC may be determined by reading the pH for which the linear regression intercepts the x-axis. A summary of the results obtained are set out in Table 6.

PZC can be defined as the pH value at which the net surface charge of the aluminum adjuvant is zero. The surfaces of aluminum hydroxide adjuvant are charged by either amphoteric dissociation of surface hydroxyl groups or by the adsorption of H+ or HO− from the aqueous environment and the presence of ions such as phosphate, sulfate and carbonate may influence PZC. As set out in Table 6, the PZC of AlOOH was significantly reduced as a result of the pretreatment with phosphate. Little variability on PZC was observed for all six lots of PTH under analysis (RSD 2.9%) suggesting consistency and comparability among the PTH batches analyzed in this study.
Two different AlOOH lots were tested and the PZC of both were about 1.3 units lower than the value reported in the literature for commercial AlOOH ( ̃11). The point of zero charge of Adjuphos was within the accepted values for Aluminum Phosphate adjuvant reported in the literature (Gupta R. Aluminum compound as vaccine adjuvants. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 1998 Jul 6;32(3):155-172.)
Particle Size
Particle size was measured by laser diffraction granulometry using a Mastersizer 2000 linked to a Hydro 2000S sample dispersion unit (Malvern Instruments). The results were processed by volume and that data typically utilized for characterization was d(0.5)(i.e., the diameter below which 50% of the particles are distributed by volume (d(0.1) and d(0.9) are the same respectfully for 10% and 90%). A summary of the results obtained are set out in Table 10.







TABLE 10







PZC and particle size results obtained for PTH, 


AlOOH and AlPO4 batches













Particle 





Size


Lot
Lot Type
PZC
D0.5 (μm)













A
Lab Scale
6.4
4.4


B
Scale-up Demo
6.1
3.7


C 
Consistency
6.5
5.0


D
Consistency
6.5
5.4


E
GMP demo lot
6.2
4.9




Average: 6.3
Average: 4.7




RSD: 2.9%
RSD: 14%


85381
AlOOH (Alhydrogel, Brenntag)
9.7
5.4


85350
AlOOH (Alhydrogel, Brenntag)
*
8.7


85335
AlOOH (Alhydrogel, Brenntag) 
* 
7.0


85378
AlOOH (Alhydrogel, Brenntag)
9.7
6.8




Average: 9.7
Average: 7.0




RSD: 0%
RSD: 19.4%


 9093
AlPO4 (Adjuphos, Brenntag)
5.1
2.7





*Testing not performed






Particle size is an important parameter for the mechanism of action of aluminum adjuvants as aluminum adjuvants are capable of converting soluble protein antigens into particulates that are more readily phagocytized by dendritic cells. For optimal adjuvanticity, it is generally recommended that the particle size of an aluminum adjuvant is less than 10 μm (Vaccine, 2005 Feb 18;23(13):1588-95). Particle size measurements may also be used to monitor consistency in lot manufacturing.
The particle sizes obtained for all six lots of PTH were smaller than the upper limit value of 10 μm. On average the particle size of PTH was 4.4 μm with an RSD of 14%. The particle sizes of the Alhydrogel batches tested and the tested Adjuphos batch were also below 10 μm. The Alhydrogel batches however showed larger particle sizes and greater variability than the PTH batches tested (Table 7).
Protein Adsorption Capacity (rHSA)
Adsorption isotherms were conducted by titration of the adjuvant sample with increasing concentrations of a model protein, rHSA (Recombumin®, Novozymes) at concentrations ranging from 0 to 2500 μg/ml. The isoelectric point of rHSA is approximately 5 and it binds to aluminum hydroxide adjuvant primarily by electrostatic interactions. The tubes were mixed in a Nutator mixer for 2 h at room temperature and then incubated at 2-8 degrees overnight. The samples were then centrifuged 5 min at 4000×g. the supernatants were collected and protein was quantitated by Micro BCA assay kit. Adsorptive capacity was calculated using the linearized Langmuir equation: CE/MA=(CE/Ac)+(1/CE K), where: CE: Conc. in equilibrium (supernatant concentration); MA: Mass of protein Adsorbed per mass of adsorbent; K: adsorptive coefficient; Ac: Adsorptive capacity. A summary of the calculated adsorption isotherms obtained for AlOOH, PTH and AlPO4 is set out in Table 11.







TABLE 11







Adsorptive Capacity obtained for different lots of 10X PTH and AlOOH











Adsorptive Capacity


Lot #
Lot Type
(mg HSA/mg Al)












A
Lab Scale
1.85


B
Scale up Demo
2.08


C
Consistency
2.00


D
Consistency
1.47


E
GMP demo lot
1.43




Average = 1.77 (RSD = 15.2%)


85381
AlOOH (Alhydrogel, Brenntag)
2.50


85350
AlOOH (Alhydrogel, Brenntag)
2.63


85335
AlOOH (Alhydrogel, Brenntag)
2.70


85378
AlOOH (Alhydrogel, Brenntag)
2.44




Average = 2.57 (RSD = 4.0%)


 9093
AlPO4 (Adjuphos, Brenntag)
(not calculable)









As expected, the PTH lots had reduced adsorption isotherms in comparison to the AlOOH lots. With respect to the AlPO4 lot tested, very little adsorption of rHSA was observed and as a result, adsorption capacity could not be calculated.
Crystallinity
The crystallinity of the different adjuvant samples was evaluated by X-ray diffraction. An X-ray diffractogram of each adjuvant was performed in a Thermo ARL X′TRA X-ray diffractometer. As the presence of salt from TBS interferes with the diffractogram of Aluminum adjuvants, samples were washed five times by centrifugation and resuspension in MilliQ water. Samples were air dried at room temperature and examined from 5 to 70° at a scan rate of 1 °/min (Siemens, Madison, Wis.) as previously reported (Gupta R. Aluminum compound as vaccine adjuvants. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 1998 Jul 6;32(3):155-172.).
Commercial sources of AlOOH display varying degrees of crystallinity when analyzed by XRD. Typically AlOOH shows broad reflections at 12.6, 27.5, 38.2,48.4 and 64.4° 2θ which correspond to d-spacing of 6.46, 3.18, 2.35, 1.86, 1.44 and 1.31 Å (FIG. 5). Those are fingerprint bands that identify the mineral bohemite, a crystalline phase of AlOOH. In this context, XRD can be used as identity test for AlOOH. On the other hand, AlPO4 is amorphous to X-Rays and therefore cannot be identified by XRD. A single broad peak is typically observed in the diffractogram of AlPO4 (see FIG. 10)
All six PTH lots analyzed displayed diffractograms undistinguishable from those of AlOOH showing the aforementioned fingerprint reflections bands of bohemite. These results indicate that the addition of phosphate to produce PTH did not alter the crystalline structure of AlOOH.
XRD can be also used to determine the degree of crystallinity of a given adjuvant sample. The degree of crystallinity is typically monitored by the diffraction band at half height (WHH) and has been reported to be directly related to the protein adsorption capacity of the adjuvant (Seeber S J; White J L; Hem S L. Predicting the adsorption of proteins by aluminium-containing adjuvants. Vaccine. 1991(3):201-3.). The WWH of the reflection band at 12.6° 2θ for all lots under analysis is set out in Table 12. Little variation was observed among the PTH lots suggesting similar degree of crystallinity. Additionally, PTH batches displayed lower degree of crystallinity compared to the AlOOH (see Table 12).







TABLE 12







Degree of Crystallinity of different lots of PTH as evaluated


by the WHH of the 12.6 ° 2θ reflection band.









Lot #
Lot Type
WWH (° 2θ)












A
Lab Scale
4.57


B
Scale up Demo
4.50


C
Consistency
4.61


D
Consistency
4.21


E
GMP demo lot
4.81




Average: 4.56, RSD 4.39%


85381
AlOOH (Alhydrogel, Brenntag)
4.54


85350
AlOOH (Alhydrogel, Brenntag)
3.71


85335
AlOOH (Alhydrogel, Brenntag)
3.47


85378
AlOOH (Alhydrogel, Brenntag)
4.49




Average: 4.05, RSD 13.4%









Morphology

Microscopic examination of adjuvants was conducted. A drop of sample (5 μl) was placed directly onto a glow discharged carbon coated 400 mesh copper grid. After two minutes the grid was blotted dry with filter paper. Samples were examined in a Hitachi H7000 transmission electron microscope at 75 Kv and captured in an AMT 60XR CCD camera.
Aluminum hydroxide adjuvant and aluminum phosphate adjuvant are composed of small primary particles that form aggregates of various sizes. The primary particles of aluminum hydroxide adjuvant appear as fibers of about 10 nm that form aggregates ranging from 1 to 20 μm in diameter. The aluminum phosphate primary particles, on the other hand, are plate-like structures of about 50 nm that form aggregates of similar size to those of aluminum hydroxide adjuvant (see FIG. 10).
Although PTH results from the treatment of AlOOH with phosphate ions, PTH displays microscopic characteristics indistinguishable from AlOOH suggesting that the addition of phosphate did not alter the structure of AlOOH (see FIG. 12). All PTH lots showed similar morphology suggesting consistency and comparability among the batches analyzed.
Example 10
Effects of pH
The effect of pH on the physical stability of three different antigens formulated with or without an aluminum adjuvant was performed. An assay was used to evaluate the effect of pH on the thermal stability of each protein under evaluation (i.e., PcpA, PhtD and a detoxified pneumolysin mutant (PlyD1, as described in PCT/CA2009/001843:Modified PLY Nucleic Acids and Polypeptides, as SEQ ID NO:44 and noted in the Sequence Listing herein as SEQ ID NO:9).
Each of the protein antigens were recombinantly expressed in E. coli and purified by serial column chromatography following conventional purification protocols substantially as described in Example 1, for PhtD and PcpA and as described in PCT/CA2009/001843 for PlyD1. Protein purity for all three antigens was typically higher than 90% as evaluated by RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE. Proteins bulks were supplied at approximately 1 mg/mL in 10 mM Tris, pH 7.4 containing 150 mM sodium chloride. Each protein was diluted to the desired concentration (100 μg/mL PcpA; 100 μg/mL PhtD; 200 μg/mL PlyD1) with the appropriate buffer solution (i.e., 10 mM Tris buffer (pH 7.5-9.0), 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.0-7.0) and 10 mM acetate buffer (pH 5.0-5.5)) and an aluminum adjuvant (i.e., aluminum hydroxide (Alhydrogel, Brenntag Biosector, Denmark), or aluminum phosphate (Adju-Phos, Brenntag Biosector. Denmark) or PTH) was added to the protein solutions to achieve a final concentration of 0.6 mg of elemental Al/mL. Control samples (lacking the applicable adjuvant) were also assayed. SYPRO® Orange, 5000× (Invitrogen, Inc., Carlsbad, Calif.), was diluted to 500× with DMSO (Sigma) and then added to the adjuvanted protein solutions. In all cases optimal dilution of SYPRO-Orange was 10× from a commercial stock solution of 5000×.
Assays were performed in a 96 well polypropylene plate (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) instrument (Mx3005p QPCR Systems, Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.). A sample volume of approximately 100 μL was added to each well and the plate was then capped with optical cap strips (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) to prevent sample evaporation. Plates were centrifuged at 200 g for 1 min at room temperature in a Contifuge Stratos centrifuge (Heraeus Instruments, England) equipped with a 96 well plate rotor. The plates were then heated at 1° C. per min from 25° C. to 96 ° C. Fluorescence excitation and emission filters were set at 492 nm and 610 nm, respectively. Fluorescence readings (emission at 610 nm, excitation at 492 nm) were taken for each sample at 25° C. and then with each increase in 1° C.
Thermal transitions (melting temperatures, Tm) were obtained using the corresponding temperature of the first derivative of the minimum of fluorescence. The minimum of the negative first derivative trace from the melting curve (or dissociation curve) was calculated using MxPro software provided with RT-PCR system. Tm is defined as a midpoint in a thermal melt and represents a temperature at which the free energy of the native and non-native forms of a protein are equivalent. A summary of the results obtained are noted in FIG. 11. The sensitivity of the assay was +/−0.5° C.
For most proteins, solution pH determines the type and total charge on the protein, and thus, may affect electrostatic interactions and overall stability. For adjuvanted proteins the solution pH and buffer species have a strong effect on microenvironment pH at the surface of the aluminum adjuvants which could ultimately influence the degradation rate of proteins adsorbed to aluminum adjuvants.
All three proteins were 90 to 100% adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide in the range of pH under study. In aluminum phosphate, the adsorption of PcpA was higher than 80% while PhtD and PlyD1 (each an acidic protein) were negligibly adsorbed to the adjuvant above pH 5 (data not shown).
FIG. 11 shows the effect of pH on each of the 3 antigens when formulated with adjuvant and in unadjuvanted controls. The unadjuvanted antigens displayed their distinctive pH stability profile. PcpA showed steady Tm values on a broad pH range from 6.0 to 9.0 with decreasing Tm values as the pH was dropped from 6.0 to 5.0. On the other hand, the thermal stability of unadjuvanted PhtD and PlyD 1 appeared maximized under acidic pHs (see FIG. 11). The thermal stability profiles of the unadjuvanted proteins were significantly modified as a result of the addition of an aluminum adjuvant. As compared to the unadjuvanted control, aluminum hydroxide, appeared to decrease the stability of all three proteins at relatively high and low pH values showing a bell-shaped curve as the pH was increased from 5 to 9 with a maximum stability at near neutral pH. These data show that the pretreatment of AlOOH with 2 mM phosphate significantly improved the stability of all three antigens at high and low pH as compared to untreated AlOOH (FIG. 11A-C). No significant differences were observed in the pH range of 6.0-7.5
Compared to unadjuvanted control, no major changes were observed on the Tm vs pH profile of PcpA and PlyDI when aluminum phosphate was used as the adjuvant (FIG. 11A and 11C). In the case of PhtD adjuvanted with AP, as compared to the unadjvanted control, a significant decrease in the Tm was observed at pH lower than 6 (FIG. 11B).
Example 11
The Effect of Various Excipients on the Stability of a Number of Formulations
A screening of 18 GRAS (generally regarded as safe) compounds at various concentrations was performed. An assay was used to screen for compounds that increase the thermal stability of each protein under evaluation (i.e., PcpA, PhtD and a detoxified pneumolysin mutant (PlyD1, as described in PCT/CA/2009/001843: Modified PLY Nucleic Acids and Polypeptides, as SEQ ID NO:44)).
Each of the protein antigens were recombinantly expressed in E. coli and purified by serial column chromatography following conventional purification protocols substantially as described in Example 1, for PhtD and PcpA and as described in PCT/CA/2009/001843 (as SEQ ID NO:44) for PlyD 1 (the sequence for which is noted herein as SEQ ID NO:9). Protein purity for all three antigens was typically higher than 90% as evaluated by RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE. Proteins bulks were supplied at approximately 1 mg/mL in 10 mM Tris, pH 7.4 containing 150 mM sodium chloride. Each protein was diluted to the desired concentration (100 μg/mL PcpA; 100 μg/mL PhtD; 200 μg/mL PlyD1) with the appropriate excipient solution (in the concentration noted in Table 11) in 10 mM tris buffer saline, pH 7.5 (TBS), and PTH was added to the protein solutions to achieve a final concentration of 0.6 mg of elemental Al/mL. Control samples (lacking the applicable excipient) were also assayed. SYPRO® Orange, 5000× (Invitrogen, Inc., Carlsbad, Calif.), was diluted to 560× with DMSO (Sigma) and then added to the adjuvanted protein solutions. In all cases optimal dilution of SYPRO-Orange was 10× from a commercial stock solution of 5000×.
Assays were performed in a 96 well polypropylene plate (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA) using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) instrument (Mx3005p QPCR Systems, Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.). A sample volume of approximately 100 μL was added to each well and the plate was then capped with optical cap strips (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) to prevent sample evaporation. Plates were centrifuged at 200 g for 1 mM at room temperature in a Contifuge Stratos centrifuge (Heraeus Instruments, England) equipped with a 96 well plate rotor . The plates were then heated at 1° C. per min from 25° C. to 96 ° C. Fluorescence excitation and emission filters were set at 492 nm and 610 nm, respectively. Fluorescence readings (emission at 610 nm, excitation at 492 nm) were taken for each sample at 25° C. and then with each increase in 1° C.
Thermal transitions (melting temperatures, Tm) were obtained using the corresponding temperature of the first derivative of the minimum of fluorescence. The minimum of the negative first derivative trace from the melting curve (or dissociation curve) was calculated using MxPro software provided with RT-PCR system. Tm is defined as a midpoint in a thermal melt and represents a temperature at which the free energy of the native and non-native forms of a protein are equivalent. The effect of each excipient was assessed as the ΔTm=Tm (sample with protein+compound)−Tm (protein control sample). A summary of the results obtained are noted in Table 13. The sensitivity of the assay was +/−0.5° C.
Polyols, monosaccharides and disaccharides increased the Tm of adjuvanted PlyD1 in a concentration dependant manner with maximum stabilization (i.e., an increase in Tm of about 4° C.) observed at high concentration of sugars. Similar results were detected for each of PcpA and PhtD with the exception of arginine which decreased the Tm of PhtD by about 2° C. The following excipients were found to efficiently increase the thermal stability of all three proteins: sorbitol (20%, 10%), trehalose (20%), dextrose (20%, 10%), sucrose (10%, 5%), and 10% lactose.
The effect of several excipients identified in the screening assays on the physical stability and antigenicity of PcpA stored under stress conditions was also studied to note any correlation with the thermal stability effects noted earlier. PcpA protein was diluted to the desired concentration (e.g., about 100 μg/mL) with the appropriate excipient solution described in the FIG. (10% Sorbitol, 10% Sucrose, 10% Trehalose in 10mM Tris Buffer pH 7.4), and PTH was added to the protein solutions to achieve a final concentration of 0.6 mg of elemental Al/mL. A control sample (lacking excipient) was also included in the study. Samples were stored at 50° C. for a three day period. Protein degradation was evaluated by RP-HPLC and antigenicity was assessed by quantitative, sandwich ELISA. Results are set out in FIGS. 13A and 13B.
The concentration of intact protein was measured by RP-HPLC in an Agilent 1200 HPLC system equipped with a diode array UV detector. Samples were desorbed from the adjuvant in PBS/Zwittergent buffer for 5 h at 37 ° C. and separated using an ACE C4 column (Advanced Chromatography Technologies, Aberdeen, UK) and a mobile phase gradient of buffer A (0.1% TFA in water) and buffer B (0.1% TFA in CAN) using a gradient of 0.75% of buffer B per minute over 30 min at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. Proteins were monitored by UV absorbance at 210 nm and quantitated against a 5-point linear calibration curve produced with external standards.
The quantitative antigen ELISA sandwich was used to evaluate antigenicity of PcpA formulations at time zero and after 3 days of incubation at 50 ° C. A rabbit IgG anti-PcpA sera was used for antigen capture, and a well characterized monoclonal anti-PcpA for detection. Briefly, 96 well plates were coated with rabbit anti-PhtD IgG at a concentration of 2 μg/mL in 0.05 M Na2CO3/NaHCO3 buffer for 18 hours at room temperature (RT), and blocked with 1% BSA/PBS for 1 hour at RT followed by 2 washes in a washing buffer of PBS/0.1% Tween 20 (WB). Two-fold dilutions of test samples, an internal control and a reference standard of purified PcpA of known concentration were prepared in 0.1% BSA/PBS/0.1% Tween 20 (SB), added to wells and incubated at RT for 1 hour followed by 5 washes in WB. Detecting primary mAb was diluted in SB to a concentration of 0.1 μg/mL, and incubated for 1 hour at RT and followed by 5 washes in WB, and addition of F(ab′)2 Donkey anti-mouse IgG (H+L) specific at 1/40K dilution in SB. Following 5 washes in WB, TMB/H2O2 substrate is added to the wells, and incubated for 10 minutes at RT. The reaction is stopped by the addition of 1M H2SO4. ELISA plates were read in a plate reader (SpectraMax, M5, Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.) at A450/540 nm, and test sample data is calculated by extrapolation from a standard curve using 4-parameter logistic using the software SoftMax PRO.
As shown in FIG. 12A, data derived from RP-HPLC showed that those excipients that increased the Tm of adjuvanted PcpA also decreased the protein's rate of degradation at 50° C. over a three day period. The greatest stability as determined by percent recovery of the PcpA protein over time was provided by 10% sorbitol (as shown in FIG. 12A). The antigenicity of adjuvanted PcpA was also preserved by these excipients (as shown in FIG. 12B). In good correlation with RP-HPLC results, sorbitol appeared to preserve antigenicity to a higher degree than sucrose or trehalose.
The addition of 10% sorbitol, 10% sucrose, or 10% trehalose significantly decreased the rate constant at 50° C. and increased the half life of PcpA when compared to that of the control sample without excipients (Table 14). The buffer pH of 9.0 decreased the Tm of the protein, but accelerated degradation (i.e., increased the rate constant) at 50 ° C. as compared to that of the control (Table 14). Altogether, these results suggest a good correlation between thermal stability detected by the assay, physical stability detected by RP-HPLC and antigenicity detected by ELISA.
In view of the results obtained in these studies, sorbitol, sucrose, dextrose, lactose and/or trehalose are examples of excipients that may be included in monovalent and multivalent (e.g., bivalent, trivalent) formulations of PcpA, PhtD and detoxified pneumolysin proteins (such as, PlyD1) adjuvanted with PTH to increase physical stability.







TABLE 13







Effect of GRAS excipients on Tm (as assessed by monitoring fluorescence emission over a


temperature range). Compounds that increase thermal stability provide a positive Tm difference value.











PcpA
PhtD
Ply mutant















ΔTm

ΔTm

ΔTm




(ΔTm = Tm

(ΔTm = Tm

(ΔTm = Tm




(excipient) −

(excipient) −

(excipient) −


Excipient
Tm (° C.)
Tm (control)
Tm (° C.)
Tm (control)
Tm (° C.)
Tm (control)
















Control
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
49.7
0.0


5% Sucrose
57.0
0.3
60.0
1.3
50.4
0.7


10% Sucrose
58.4
1.7
60.0
1.3
52.1
2.4


20% Sucrose
60.0
3.3
61.7
3.0
52.5
2.8


5% Dextrose
57.7
1.0
58.7
0.0
49.7
0.0


10% Dextrose
58.7
2.0
59.7
1.0
51.7
2.0


20% Dextrose
60.7
4.0
60.7
2.0
53.7
4.0


5% Trehalose
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
49.7
0.0


10% Trehalose
57.7
1.0
58.7
0.0
50.7
1.0


20% Trehalose
58.7
2.0
60.7
2.0
51.7
2.0


5% Mannitol
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
49.7
0.0


10% Mannitol
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
49.7
0.0


20 % Mannitol
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
50.7
1.0


5% Sorbitol
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
49.7
0.0


10% Sorbitol
58.7
2.0
59.7
1.0
51.7
2.0


20% Sorbitol
60.7
4.0
60.7
2.0
53.7
4.0


5% Glycerol
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
49.7
0.0


10% Glycerol
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
49.7
0.0


20% Glycerol
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
49.7
0.0


0.05M Lysine
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
49.7
0.0


0.1M Lysine
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
49.7
0.0


5% Lactose
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
50.7
1.0


10% Lactose
58.7
2.0
60.7
2.0
50.7
1.0


0.05M Proline
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
48.7
−1.0


0.1M Proline
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
48.7
−1.0


0.05M Glycine
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
50.7
1.0


0.1M Glycine
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
50.7
1.0


0.01M Aspartate
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
48.7
−1.0


0.05M Glutamate
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
50.7
1.0


0.05M Lactic acid
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
49.7
0.0


0.05M Malic Acid
58.7
2.0
58.7
0.0
48.7
−1.0


0.05M Arginine
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
48.7
−1.0


0.1M Arginine
56.7
0.0
56.7
−2.0
48.7
−1.0


0.05M Diethanolamine
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
48.7
−1.0


0.1M Diethanolamine
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
48.7
−1.0


0.05M Histidine
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
50.7
1.0


0.1M Histidine
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
49.7
0.0


0.15M Taurine
56.7
0.0
58.7
0.0
50.7
1.0
















TABLE 14







Rate constant values from stability data of formulations incubated at 50° C.











k at 50° C.
Half life at 50° C.



Formulation
(μg · mL-1 · day-1)
(days)
R2













10% Sorbitol
7.5
7.3
0.99


10% Trehalose
9.8
5.6
0.95


10% Sucrose
10.9
5.1
0.98


Control (TBS pH 7.4)
13.4
4.1
0.94


TBS pH9
16.2
3.4
0.93





Rate constant for formulations incubated at 50° C. were calculated by fitting the RP-HPLC stability data presented in FIG. 12A using zero order kinetics equation (1) [At] = -kt + [A0], where At, is the concentration of the antigen at a given time, A0 is the initial protein concentration in μg/mL and t is the time in days. R2 is reported for the linear fit of the data using equation (1).

## Claims

1. An immunogenic composition comprising at least one antigen adsorbed to an aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups that has been treated with about 2 mM to about 80 mM phosphate, the at least one antigen being adsorbed to the treated compound at about neutral pH, wherein:
the treatment of the aluminum compound with about 2 mM to about 80 mM phosphate prior to adsorption increases the stability of the at least one antigen adsorbed relative to a composition where the at least one antigen is adsorbed to an untreated aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups; and the at least one antigen is selected from PcpA, a S. pneumoniae protein from the polyhistidine triad family (PhtX) and pneumolysin.

2. The immunogenic composition of claim 1 wherein the aluminum compound is aluminum hydroxide adjuvant.

3. The immunogenic composition of claim 2 wherein the adjuvant is aluminum oxyhydroxide.

4. The immunogenic composition of claim 1 comprising about 0.28 mg/ml to 1.68 mg/ml elemental aluminum.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one antigen is a protein or a polysaccharide, or a protein polysaccharide conjugate.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the concentration of elemental phosphorus is between about 2.0 mM and about 20 mM.

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition further includes a buffer.

8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the pH of the composition is between about 6.4 and about 8.4.

9. The composition of claim 8 wherein the pH of the composition is about 7.4.

10. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises more than one antigen.

11. The composition of claim 10 wherein the aluminum compound is aluminum hydroxide adjuvant.

12. The composition of claim 11 wherein the composition comprises more than one antigens adsorbed to the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant.

13. The composition of claim 1 wherein the PhtX antigen is PhtD and the pneumolysin antigen is an enzymatically inactive pneumolysin.

14. The composition of claim 10 wherein one antigen is PepA and a second antigen is PhtD.

15. The composition of claim 14 wherein the composition further comprises an enzymatically inactive pneumolysin.

16. The composition of claim 15 wherein the enzymatically inactive pneumolysin is a mutant pneumolysin protein.

17. The composition of claim 16, wherein the mutant pneumolysin protein is PlyD1, SEQ ID NO:9.

18. A method for preparing an immunogenic composition comprising: (a) treating an aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups with about 2 mM to about 80 mM phosphate; and (b) mixing the preparation in step (a) with at least one antigen selected from PcpA, a S. pneumoniae protein from the polyhistidine triad family (PhtX), and pneumolysin at about neutral pH, wherein the mixing of the preparation in step (a) with at least one antigen increases the stability of the at least one antigen relative to a composition where the at least one antigen is mixed with an untreated aluminum compound comprising hydroxyl groups.

19. A method of preventing the development of a disease associated with S. pneumoniae infection in a subject comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the immunogenic composition of claim 1.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the route of administration is subcutaneous or intramuscular.

21. A method of treating a disease associated with S. pneumoniae infection in a subject comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the immunogenic composition of claim 1.

22. A method of raising an immune response in a mammal comprising the step of administering an effective amount of the composition of claim 1.

23. A vaccine comprising the composition of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

24. The immunogenic composition of claim 1 wherein the composition is in liquid form.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the PhtX antigen is PhtD and the pneumolysin antigen is an enzymatically inactive pneumolysin.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the PhtX antigen is PhtD and the pneumolysin antigen is an enzymatically inactive pneumolysin.

27. The composition of claim 1 wherein PcpA has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7.

28. The composition of claim 14 wherein PcpA has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7.

29. The method of claim 18 wherein PcpA has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7.

30. The method of claim 19 wherein PcpA has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7.

31. The method of claim 21 wherein PcpA has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7.

32. The composition of claim 1 wherein the PhtX is PhtD having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5.

33. The composition of claim 13 wherein PhtD has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5.

34. The composition of claim 14 wherein PhtD has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5.

35. The method of claim 18 wherein PhtX is PhtD having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5.

36. The method of claim 19 wherein PhtX is PhtD having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5.

37. The method of claim 21 wherein the PhtX is PhtD having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5.

38. The method of claim 25 wherein PhtX is PhtD having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5.

39. The method of claim 26 wherein the PhtX is PhtD having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5.

40. The method of claim 25, wherein the enzymatically inactive pneumolysin protein is PlyD1, SEQ ID NO:9.

41. The method of claim 26, wherein the enzymatically inactive pneumolysin protein is PlyD1, SEQ ID NO:9.

42. The composition of claim 1 wherein PcpA has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, PhtX is PhtD having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and pneumolysin has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9.

43. The method of claim 18 wherein PcpA has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, PhtX is PhtD having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and pneumolysin has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9.

44. The method of claim 19 wherein PcpA has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, PhtX is PhtD having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and pneumolysin has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9.

45. The method of claim 21 wherein PcpA has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, PhtX is PhtD having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and pneumolysin has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9.

46. The immunogenic composition of claim 4 comprising about 0.56 mg/ml elemental aluminum.

47. The composition of claim 1 comprising up to 46μg/m1 of one of PcpA, PhtD or pneumolysin; and an adjuvant comprising about 0.56 mg/ml elemental aluminum.

48. The composition of claim 47 wherein PcpA has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, PhtX is PhtD having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and pneumolysin has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9.

49. The composition of claim 1 comprising up to 100μg/m1 each of at least two of PcpA, PhtD and pneumolysin; and an adjuvant comprising about 0.56 mg/ml elemental aluminum.

50. The composition of claim 49 wherein PcpA has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, PhtX is PhtD having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and pneumolysin has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9.

51. The composition of claim 1 comprising up to 100μg/m1 each of PcpA, PhtD and pneumolysin; and an adjuvant comprising about 0.56 mg/ml elemental aluminum.

52. The composition of claim 51 wherein PcpA has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, PhtX is PhtD having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and pneumolysin has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9.

53. The composition of claim 4 wherein the phosphate to elemental aluminum ratio is 0.1.