A RECOMBINANT BIRTH CONTROL VACCINE

Abstract: A recombinant birth control vaccine comprising a beta subunit of chorionic gonadotropin, a recombinant luteinizing hormone or a mixture thereof has been developed. This recombinant birth control vaccine may also act as a vaccine against a protein or peptide unassociated with the mammalian reproductive system, such as a protein or peptide associated with a disease organism such as hepatitis B.

Description: A RECOMBINANT BIRT CONTROL VACCINE Population is gro ing at a rapid pace in many economically developing countries and there is a continuing need of an alternate method for regulation of fertility. W proposed several years back a birth control vaccine which induces the formation of antibodies against the human pregnancy hormone, the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). These inventions are described in patents issued in India, U.S.A. and several other countries. (Ref. EP 204566, JP 62286928, CA 1239346, US 4780312, CN 8603854). We describe now another invention which generates antibody response of long duration against hCG after a single or a limited numbe of injections. Whereas the possibility of controlling fertility by raising antibodies against hCG is known from our previous studies and those of others, the vaccines utilized earlier were conjugates of two or more peptides such as the natural beta hCG peptide of 145 amino acids linked to tetanus toxoi or other carriers. In another modality, the beta hCG peptide was associated with alpha oLH and then linked to carriers (Talwar et al 1988; US Patent No. 4780312). These vaccines demand purification and preparation of the constituent proteins from natural sources. The cost of some of these is at present very high which will be restrictive to their large scale use in family planning programs of economically developing countries. Moreover these vaccines demand three injections for primary immunization followed by a fourth as booster. A major advantage of the present embodiment is the possibility of getting satisfactory and sustained antibody response with one primary injection and at most one booster. Another interesting feature is the low cost at which this vaccine can be prepared and made available for large scale use. Vaccinia virus is well known as a versatile tool for molecular biologists. In the New Scientist dated 3 December SUBSTITUTE SHEET 1988 (Anon, p.38) an article refers to a new vaccine for rinderpest virus in cattle and states that the vaccine is a genetically engineered version of the vaccinia virus, researchers having transformed two genes coding for the coating of rinderpest virus into the vaccinia virus. In a Tibtech article dated January 1990, Miner et al (p. 20-25), discusses vaccinia virus as a vesatile tool for molecular biologists and suggests that "the vaccinia virus system is a promising way of producing significant amounts of correctly processed and modified eukaryotic proteins in mammalian cells". U.S. Patent 4,603,112 (inventors: E. Paoletti et al; issued: July 29th, 1986) discloses methods for modifying the genome of vaccinia virus to produce recombinant vaccinia virus comprising DNA not naturally occurring in vaccinia virus. While this reference includes reference to the heterologous DNA coding for a protein which may be an antigen, it does not appear to make any suggestion that this technology is a route to birth control vaccines or birth control vaccines which also double-up as vaccines capable of raising antibodies against proteins or peptides unassociated with the mammalian reproductive system. PCT application number US88/00614 (inventors: B.R. Bloom et ai; filed: 29 February 1988) relates to the use of recombinant mycobacteria as vehicles capable of expressing foreign DNA. It also indicates that such mycobacteria could be used as an anti-fertility vaccine vehicle. However, it appears to make no claim to the use of mycobacteria for control of fertility and also directs readers away from the use of vaccinia in this field pointing out alleged disadvantages on pages 4 and 5. Therefore there appears to be a need to provide a safe, simple and effective birth control vaccine at low cost which can also, if required, act as a vaccine against non- reproductive-εystem-associated disorders such as infections by bacteria and viruses. While some of the references SUBSTITUTE SHEET suggest that the use of vaccinia as a biotechnological tool other references, especially Bloom e_t a_l appear strongly to discourage consideration of vaccinia. In view of the expenses involved in this type of research it therefore cannot be said that there are clear signposts to research works in this area pointing to the use of vaccinia in birth control vaccines. The present invention therefore provides a nucleotid sequence comprising a first sequence coding for a mammalian reproductive peptide hormone or active fragment thereof or mammalian reproductive peptide hormone or active fragment thereof in reading frame alignment with a gene or gene fragment coding for a protein or peptide unassociated with amma.lian reproductive system and a second sequence coding for at least part of a vaccinia virus genome. The invention also provides a nucleotide sequence comprising a first sequence coding for (a) a beta subunit o a chorionic gonadotropin, (b) an alpha subunit of a luteinizing hormone or (c) either a beta subunit of chorionic gonadotropin oran alpha subunit of luteinizing hormone in reading frame alignment with a gene or gene fragment coding for a protein or peptide unassociated with a mammalian reproductive system and a second sequence coding for at least part of a vaccinia virus genome. The invention also provides a nucleotide sequence comprising a first sequence coding for (a) a beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, (b) an alpha subunit of ovine luteinizing hormone or (c) either a beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin or an alpha subunit of ovine luteinizing hormone in reading frame alignment with a gene or gene fragment coding for a hepatitis B surface protein, and a second sequence coding for at least part of a vaccinia virus genome. The above nucleotide sequences are preferably inserted into a nonessential part of a vaccinia virus genome to give a recombinant vaccinia virus. SUBSTITUTE SHEET The vaccine may consist of the genes of beta subunit of hCG fused at the DNA level with a gene fragment coding for a trans-membrane protein or peptide. A preferred trans¬ membrane peptide comprises 49 amino acids. A companion vaccine may consist of a physical mixture of vaccinia-beta hCG(e.g. vSS2) and vaccinia-alpha ovine luteinizing hormone(oLH)e. g. (vSL5) . According to the present invention there is provided a birth control vaccine comprising a recombinant beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, a recombinant alpha ovine luteinizing hormone or a mixture thereof. A preferred embodiment comprises a recombinant virus, e.g. vSS2, in which the gene for the beta subunit of hCG fused with the gene coding for a trans-membrane peptide is inserted in vaccinia virus. A further preferred embodiment comprises a recombinant virus such as vSL5, in which the gene for the alpha subunit of oLH is inserted in vaccinia virus. Another preferred embodiment comprises a recombinant virus in which a first nucleotide sequence comprises the beta unit of human chorionic gonadotropin in reading frame alignment with a gene coding for the middle protein of hepatitis B surface protein. Other proteins from other organisms, especially pathogens, or even synthetic sequences can be coded in place of hepatitis B proteins. In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention; Figure 1 shows the strategy for the construction of anchored beta hCG; Figure 2 shows the strategy for the insertion of alpha oLH gene into vaccinia virus; and, Figure 3 demonstrates the anti hCG response in terms of antigen binding capacity. The figure shows typical antibody response in four rats given a single injection of vSS2 recombinant vaccine at a dose of 10 pfu (plaque forming units). Each animal response with antibodies in circulation SUBSTITUTE SHEE i measurable at the end of four weeks. The titers ranged fro 100 to 900 ng/ l and are distinctly above the threshold value of 20 ng/ml considered to be protective against pregnancy. The titers were sustained over 12 weeks of observation. Figures 4a to 4h show development of hCG antibodies in 8 bonnet monkeys injected with vSS2 recombinant vaccine. Figure 5 shows the strategy for the construction of BhCG-HBsAg. The final plasmid, pSS4 is shown along with th junction sequences between BhCG and HBsAg. Figure 6 shows a southern blot of pSS4. Nick- translated S gene was used as the probe and washed at high stringency. Figure 7 shows subcloning of hepatitis B genome in pUC plasmids. Figure 8 gives assay results for BhCG and HBsAg. On the X-axis are the three parallel purified recombinants of the virus vSS4 (1,2 and 3) along with vSS2, an internal control and Abbott's positive and negative controls. Figure 9 shows development of hCG antibodies in 7 rats injected with vSS4 recombinant vaccine. EXAMPLE 1 SYNTHESIS AND UTILITY OF RECOMBINANT ANTI-hCG VACCINE The construction strategy of vSS2: The virus containing the anchored beta hCG was made by an in-frame fusion of the trans- membrane and cytoplasmic domains of the gene coding for vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSVg) to the 3 ' end of the beta hCG cDNA (Fig. 1). The VSVg gene was digested with Alu I and Xho I to release the 249 bp membrane anchor sequence.; This fragment was eluted out from an acrylamide gel, klenow filled and ligated to the Sma I cut vector pSS I, the latter was prepared by the procedure described by us previously (Chakrabartit e_t ai 1989). Orientation of the anchor sequence with reference to SUBSTITUTE SHEET beta hCG was checked by suitable restriction enzyme digestions. This was used to transfect CV-1 cells pre- infected with wild type virus and the recombinants were picked up by visual screening for the blue plaques by the technique described elsewhere. Assay for beta hCG: The expression of beta hCG was detected in the pellet of the vSS2 infected cells by a competitive radio-immunoassay using mouse monoclonal antibodies raised against beta hCG. The cellular localisation of hCG was determined by immunofluorescence technique using anti beta hCG MoAb followed by rabbit anti mouse conjugated to FITC. Immunogenic properties: A single intra-dermal Q injection of 10 pfu of vSS2 elicited the formation of antibodies in rats which reacted with hCG (Fig. 3) and prevented effectively the binding of hCG to receptors on target tissue. The antibodies were detectable within four weeks. The titers were sustained without a decline over a period of several months. Antibody titers in monkeys immunized with recombinant anti hCG vaccine (vSS2): Bonnet monkeys (Mecacca radiata) were immunized intradermally with 10 pfu of the recombinant vaccine. Two immunizations were done at 3 months interval (day 0 to 95). Four months later (day 226), a booster injection of 100 ug of beta hCG adsorbed on alum was given intramuscularly. Anti hCG antibodies were measured ( __ Q ) by radio-immunoassay (see O Singh §_t al) . These are expressed on the ordinate on a logarithmic scale. The antibody titers were measurable after the first immunization with the recombinant vaccine. Their titers after two primary and a booster injection increased to very high levels ranging from 3,200 to 14,000 ng of hCG binding capacity per ml. These antibodies had high affinity (ka = SUBSTITUTE SHEET 10-11LM). The antibodies were competent to prevent the binding of hCG to the target tissue receptors as determine by competitive radio receptor assays (+ +). The competence of the antibodies in neutralizing the bioefficacy of hCG indicates the efficacy of immunization with such vaccines in order to intercept events supported hCG, such as the establishment and sustenance of early pregnancy. Figure 4 gives data in eight monkeys to demonstrate the consistency of the phenomenon. These experiments also demonstrate the immunogenicity of these products not only i rodents but also in primates (and, by extension, humans). To date, the best results in both monkeys and rats have bee o obtained with 10 pfu. An operating range runs from about 10 9 down to about 104pfu, preferably of the order of 107 to Q 10 pfu. Interestingly, dose does not appear to work in thi case on a body weight basis and this may be related to the use of live vaccine. Attenuation by passaging may be usefu to avoid possible side effects. Example 2: Synthesis and utility of anti-oLH vaccine Construction of vSL5: The alpha oLH cDNA was cut out by th restriction enzyme Bgl II from a previously described vecto (Lall _t. a_ 1988). This fragment was klenow filled, ligate to 8-mer Eco RI linkers and cloned into the unique Eco RI site of the vaccinia vector pSC45 (Fig. 2). The final plasmid, pSL5, was characterised in detail with respect to the correct orientation of the alpha oLH gene by multiple restriction enzyme digestions and Southern hybridization. This plasmid was subsequently used in DNA transfection to construct the recombinant virus vSL5 as described earlier. Assay for alpha oLH: The medium of the cells SUBSTITUTE SHEET infected with recombinant virus vSL5, was assayed for the presence of alpha oLH by a competitive radio-immunoassay using anti alpha oLH antibodies raised in monkeys. The expression of alpha oLH was quantitated using a standard subunit peptide. The presence of alpha oLH could be detected within three hours of infection and was found to be 280ng/ml/3xl0 cells in 24 hours. Example 3: Production of mixed recombinant vaccines Biological activity: The alpha oLH subunit associates with beta hCG to form a hetero-dimer. The ability of this hetero-dimer to stimulate steroidogenesis in a Leydig cell system is well established (Talwar e_t al. , 1988). In order to show that the recombinant alpha oLH-beta hCG hetero-dimer retains its biological activity, a co- infection of viruses vSSl and vSL5 was done in the CV1 cells and the supernatant, collected 24h post-in ection was used in a Leydig cell bio-assay. The steroidogenesis elicited by the vaccinia expressed alpha oLH-beta hCG hetero-dimer was greater than the native hCG dimer indicating the correct and full length expression of the two peptides. A similar and somewhat bio-effectively better immune- response to that shown by construct vSS2 alone could be generated by using a mixture of the constructs vSS2 and vSL5. It is known from other studies that the antibodies generated by a heterospecies dimer of beta hCG and alpha oLH have about 25% better bio-efficacy as a function of their immunological titers as compared to those generated to beta hCG alone. Example 4: Production of a recombinant birth control vaccine also having other antigenic properties associated with the same nucleotide sequence The gene for beta hCG together with sequences enabling it to anchor on the membrane of the infected cells is one effective modality to induce antibodies against hCG. SUBSTITUTE SHEET Another modality which results in production of hCG antibodies together with protection against hepatitis B viral infection is as follows: The gene for beta hCG is cloned in right alignment and in- frame with the gene coding for hepatitis B surface protein, which includes the portion coding for the S region of the protein as well as the pre S2 region. The manner in which this construct is prepared is exemplified below. Cloning of BhCG-HBsfig into vaccinia: The vector pSSI (see above and Fig. 1), containing beta hCG cDNA in a vaccinia vector, was digested with the restrictio endonuclease, Sma I, which cuts just upstream of the BhCG termination codon. The Hind III fragment coding for the entire middle protein of hepatitis B surface protein (pre S + S region) was digested out from the intermediate vector pJS5 (described below), klenow filled and ligated to the Sm I cut pSSI to give rise to the plasmid pSS4. (Fig. 5). The orientation of the hepatitis B surface protein gene in relation to beta hCG was verified by various restriction enzyme digestions and Southern blotting (Fig. 6). This plasmid was used to make the recombinant vaccinia virus and the recombinants (vSS4) were picked up as described earlier Cloning of the intermediate vector pJS5 : Hepatitis B genome was cut out of the plasmid pCF80 by EcoR digestion. The 3.2 kb EcoRI fragment was purified from an agarose gel and was further digested with Nco I to give ris to a fragment of approximately 1.9 kb (coding for X and C proteins) and a fragment of approximately 1.3 kb, (coding for pre S2 + S pr.tein of hepatitis B) 10 mer Hind III linkers were ligated to the 1.3 'kb fragment and cloned into the Hind III site of the plasmid pUC 18 to give rise to the plasmids pJS5 & pJS6. The 1.3 kb EcoRI-NcoI fragment was blunt ended and cloned into the Sma I site of the plasmid SUBSTITUTE SHEET pUC 19 to give rise to the plas ids pJS7 pJS8 (Fig. 7). Assay for beta hCG HBsAg: This recombinant virus (vSS4) expresses both beta hCG, as detected in a competitive radio- immunoassay, as well the surface antigen (HBsAg) as measured by Abbott's monoclonal antibody based Elisa (Fig. 8). Immunogenicity of beta hCG-HBsAq constructs in vaccinia: Rats immunized with the above construct by intra-dermal route developed antibodies against hCG (Fig. 9). Being given that antibodies against hCG have been demonstrated to be protective against pregnancy, this version of the vaccine is also usable for control of fertility in women. Furthermore in view of the fact that the gene of Hepatitis B surface protein is also present in the recombinant organism means that the vaccine has immunoprophylactic benefit in a recipient against hepatitis. The new live recombinant vaccines described here were well tolerated, no side effects were observed during standard acute and subacute toxicology studies in the two animal species studied to date. These vaccines can be employed with conventional pharmaceutically acceptable diluents. SUBSTITUTE SHEET REFERENCES NOT DETAILED IN THE DISCLOSURE S. Chakrabarti, Srinivasan. J, L. Lall, L.V. Rao and G.P. Talv.jr: Expression of biologically active human chorionic gonadotropin and its subunits by recombinant vaccinia viru Gene, 77, (1989) 87-93. Chakrabarti S, Brechling K and Moss B.: Vaccinia virus expression vector: Co-expression of B-galactosidase provides visual screening of recombinant viral plagues. Mol. Cell. Biol., 5, (1985) 3403-3409. Jain S.K, Chin W.W and Talwar G.P. : Isolation and characterization of cDNA clones for and B subunits of ovine luteinizing hormone. J. Biosci., 12, (1987) 349-357. Lavanya Lall, J. Srinivasan, L.V. Rao, S.K. Jain, G.P. Talwar and S. Chakrabarti. : Recombinant vaccinia virus expresses immunoreactive alpha subunit of Ovine Luteinizing Hormone which associates with B-hCG to generate bioactive dimer. Indian J. Bioche . Biophy. , 25, (1988) 510-514. Talwar G.P, Om Singh and Rao L.V.: An improved immunogen for anti-hCG vaccine eliciting antibodies reactive with conformation native to the hormone without cross-reaction with hFSH and hTSH. J. Repro. Immu. , 13, (1988) 53-63. Om Singh, N.C. Sharma, L.V, Rao, A. Alam A. Gaur and G.P. Talwar (1989): Antibody response and characteristics of antibodies in women immunized with three contraceptive vaccines inducing antibodies against human chorionic gonadotropin. Fertility and Sterility: vol. 52, No. 5, 739-744. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims: THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS; 1. A nucleotide sequence comprising a first sequence coding from (a) a beta subunit of chorionic gonadotropin, (b) an alpha subunit of a luteinizing hormone or (c) either a beta subunit of chorionic gonadotropin or an alpha subunit of luteinizing hormone in reading frame alignment with a gene or gene fragment coding for a protein or peptide unassociated with a mammalian reproductive system and a second sequence coding for at least part of a vaccinia virus genome. 2. A nucleotide sequence comprising a first sequence coding for (a) a beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, (b) an alpha subunit of ovine luteinizing hormone or (c) either a beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin or an alpha subunit of ovine luteinizing hormone in reading frame alignment with a gene or gene fragment coding for a hepatitis B surface protein, and a second sequence coding for at least part of a vaccinia virus genome. 3. A nucleotide sequence according to claim 2 wherein said second sequence codes for a trans-membrane peptide or protein of vaccinia virus. SUBSTITUTE SHEET 4. A recombinant vaccinia virus comprising a nucleotide sequence according to claim 1 inserted into a non-essential region of the vaccinia virus genome. 5. A recombinant virus according to claim 4 wherei the first sequence comprises a gene coding for the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin and the second sequence codes for a trans-membrane peptide of vaccinia virus. 6. A recombinant virus according to claim 5, designated vSS2. 7. A recombinant virus according to claim 4 wherei the first sequence comprises a gene coding for the alpha subunit of ovine luteinizing hormone. 8. A recombinant virus according to claim 7, designated vSL5. 9. A recombinant virus according to claim 4, wherein the first sequence comprises the beta unit of human chorionic gonadotropin in reading frame alignment with a ger coding for the middle protein of a hepatitis B surface protein. 10. A recombinant virus according to claim 9, SUBSTITUTE SHEET designated vSS4. 11. A birth control vaccine comprising at least one recombinant virus according to claim 4. 12. A birth control vaccine comprising at least two different recombinant viruses according to claim 4. 13. A birth control vaccine comprising at least one recombinant virus according to .claim 4 wherein said vaccine is capable of raising an antibody to at least one protein or peptide unassociated with the mammalian reproductive system. 14. A birth control vaccine according to claim 13 wherein said protein or peptide unassociated with the mammalian reproductive system is a hepatitis B surface protein or fragment thereof. 15. Use of a nucleotide sequence according to claim 1 to produce a vaccine against a beta subunit of chorionic gonadotropin, an alpha unit of luteinizing hormone or a protein or peptide unassociated with a mammalian reproductive system. 16. Use of a nucleotide sequence according to claim 2 to produce a vaccine against a beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, an alpha unit of ovine luteinizing SUBSTITUTE SHEET 15 hormone or a hepatitis B surface protein. 17. Use of a vaccine according to claim 11 to control fertility in a mammal. 18. A process for preparing a vaccine according t claim 11 which process comprises genetically expressing sa first sequence to produce chorionic gonadotropin or luteinizing hormone. 19. A nucleotide sequence comprising a first sequence coding for a first sequence coding for a mammalia reproductive peptide hormone or active fragment thereof or mammalian reproductive peptide hormone or active fragment thereof in reading frame alignment with a gene or gene fragment coding for a protein or peptide unassociated with mammalian reproductive system and a second sequence coding for at least part of a vaccinia virus genome. 20. A nucleotide sequence according to claim 19 wherein said second sequence is in reading frame alignment with said first sequence. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Inventors: CHAKRABARTI SEKHAR, SRINIVASAN JAY, TALWAR GURSARAN PRASAD, CHAKRABARTI, SEKHAR, SRINIVASAN, JAY, TALWAR, GURSARAN, PRASAD
Applicants: INT DEV RES CENTER, INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE
Application year: 1990
Main classification: C12N15
IPC codes: A61K39, A61P13, A61P15, C07K14, C12N7, C12N15, C12R1