EP4413017A1 - Polypeptides neutralisants et leurs applications - Google Patents
Polypeptides neutralisants et leurs applicationsInfo
- Publication number
- EP4413017A1 EP4413017A1 EP22800183.0A EP22800183A EP4413017A1 EP 4413017 A1 EP4413017 A1 EP 4413017A1 EP 22800183 A EP22800183 A EP 22800183A EP 4413017 A1 EP4413017 A1 EP 4413017A1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- polypeptide
- seq
- formula
- cov
- sars
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C07K—PEPTIDES
- C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
- A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
- A61P31/12—Antivirals
- A61P31/14—Antivirals for RNA viruses
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C07K—PEPTIDES
- C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
- C07K14/005—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from viruses
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
- C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
- C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
- C12N15/63—Introduction of foreign genetic material using vectors; Vectors; Use of hosts therefor; Regulation of expression
- C12N15/79—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts
- C12N15/85—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts for animal cells
- C12N15/86—Viral vectors
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
- A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C07K—PEPTIDES
- C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
- C07K2319/01—Fusion polypeptide containing a localisation/targetting motif
- C07K2319/02—Fusion polypeptide containing a localisation/targetting motif containing a signal sequence
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C07K—PEPTIDES
- C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
- C07K2319/20—Fusion polypeptide containing a tag with affinity for a non-protein ligand
- C07K2319/21—Fusion polypeptide containing a tag with affinity for a non-protein ligand containing a His-tag
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
- C12N2740/00—Reverse transcribing RNA viruses
- C12N2740/00011—Details
- C12N2740/10011—Retroviridae
- C12N2740/13011—Gammaretrovirus, e.g. murine leukeamia virus
- C12N2740/13041—Use of virus, viral particle or viral elements as a vector
- C12N2740/13043—Use of virus, viral particle or viral elements as a vector viral genome or elements thereof as genetic vector
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
- C12N2770/00—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA ssRNA viruses positive-sense
- C12N2770/00011—Details
- C12N2770/20011—Coronaviridae
- C12N2770/20022—New viral proteins or individual genes, new structural or functional aspects of known viral proteins or genes
Definitions
- the present description relates to new artificial polypeptides, in particular to new HEAT-like alpha-helical repeat proteins (aRep).
- the present description also relates to the use of these novel polypeptides as medicaments, in particular for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases and/or conditions caused by an infection with a virus of the SARS-CoV species, in particular SARS-CoV-2.
- Viruses are one of the main causes of disease in the world. Viruses are generally defined as small, non-living infectious agents that replicate only within living cells, as they do not possess a fully autonomous replication mechanism. Although of various shapes and sizes, they generally consist of a viral particle (called a "virion"), consisting of a protein envelope which includes at least one nucleic acid molecule and possibly, depending on the type of virus, one or more several proteins or nucleoproteins.
- a viral particle consisting of a protein envelope which includes at least one nucleic acid molecule and possibly, depending on the type of virus, one or more several proteins or nucleoproteins.
- therapeutic solutions have been designed to interfere with one or more of these mechanisms.
- viruses are classified according to their genome type.
- the current classification of viruses, as of 2018, includes seven different groups:
- dsDNA double-stranded DNA virus
- sDNA single-stranded DNA virus
- dsRNA double-stranded RNA virus
- RNA virus (+) strand or sense (+) ssRNA RNA virus (+) strand or sense (+) ssRNA
- RNA virus (-) stranded or antisense ((-)ssRNA) RNA virus; - Group VI: single-stranded RNA viruses with DNA intermediates (sRNA-TR)
- dsDNA-TR double-stranded DNA virus with RNA intermediates
- RNA viruses especially single-stranded RNA viruses, and more specifically infections with RNA viruses belonging to group IV of the Baltimore classification.
- coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
- SARS-CoV-2 also known as coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
- coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
- This new coronavirus belongs to the Coronaviridae family, of the SARS-CoV species and is part of group IV of the Baltimore classification.
- the World Health Organization has officially declared the COVID-19 pandemic a public health emergency of international concern.
- This new coronavirus spreads mainly through the respiratory tract and causes acute respiratory illnesses.
- the elderly and those with underlying illnesses are susceptible to infection and prone to serious outcomes, which may be associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
- ARDS acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus begins in the nasal cavities, with the virus replicating to high titers in the olfactory epithelia before reaching the lower respiratory tract. Infection of the olfactory epithelium leads to massive lesions which may explain the high prevalence of loss of smell (anosmia).
- This coronavirus is a single-stranded, positive-sense, approximately 30 kilobase RNA virus that replicates in the cytoplasm of host cells.
- This virus is enveloped and comprises, on its surface, peplomeric structures called spicules made up of the Spike (S) protein.
- the Spike or S protein is a membrane glycoprotein (200-220 kDa) which is in the form of spicules or "Spike” emerging from the surface of the viral envelope.
- This surface protein binds to the cell receptor ACE2 which is expressed in many tissues. It contains 2 subunits (SI and S2), SI including the receptor binding domain (RBD), containing the receptor binding motif (RBM, receptor binding motif) and S2 containing the fusion peptide allowing the induction of the fusion of the viral envelope with the cell membrane.
- Protein S is the main target of the neutralizing antibody response.
- Several therapeutic strategies are currently being explored, including limiting the spread of infection by viruses of the SARS-CoV species by blocking virus replication. This can be done by preventing virus entry into target cells in the lungs and other tissues by targeting the S protein and primarily its RBD domain (Spike protein S-subunit receptor binding domain).
- This neutralization of the S protein can be done, in particular, thanks to natural or artificial proteins, such as:
- VHH Recombinant Llama Antibodies
- the present invention aims to meet all or part of these needs.
- the inventors have developed new polypeptides for treating and/or preventing an infection by a virus of the SARS-CoV species, in particular an infection with a SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- a plurality of artificial polypeptides called aReps, as defined in the present description exhibited neutralizing activity for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- human monoclonal antibodies Barnes et al. Nature 588, 682-687, 2020; Baum et al. Science 370, 1110-1115, 2020; Chen et al N. Engl. J. Med, 2020; Fagre et al.
- these artificial polypeptides have the advantage of having a low production cost and facilitated production in E. coli bacteria.
- the artificial polypeptides of the present description are not very immunogenic, or even non-immunogenic.
- HEAT-like alpha-helical repeat proteins aReps
- aReps HEAT-like alpha-helical repeat proteins
- the polypeptides according to the present description would also exhibit better virus neutralizing activity when these polypeptides are in a form of homologous or heterologous multimerization. These polypeptides are thus referred to as composite polypeptides in the present description.
- polypeptides described here also have the advantage of being highly soluble in water.
- the present invention aims to provide new polypeptides and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such polypeptides.
- These new polypeptides or pharmaceutical compositions which can be implemented as a medicament for treating and/or preventing diseases or conditions caused by an infection by a virus of the SARS-CoV species, in particular the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- polypeptides in the nasal cavity would be increased when the polypeptides were combined with a protein domain of the StcE protein of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) bacteria.
- Polypeptides can also be combined with biodegradable nanoparticles before being administered to an individual.
- polypeptides as described here would also have the advantage of being administered by the nasal route and would prevent the multiplication of the virus, thus allowing a therapeutic benefit and a prophylactic protection.
- - Nt consists of a peptide chosen from SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29 SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52 and SEQ ID NO. 53;
- - Ct consists of a peptide having a length of 1 to 100 amino acids
- SBP consists of a peptide, whose variable amino acids are identical or different from one SBP to another, of formula (II) NH2 - [SEQ ID NO. 16] - X1-X2-VR-X3-X4-AA-X5-ALG-X6-I - COOH (II) in which:
- - XI is an amino acid chosen from A (Alanine), E (Glutamic Acid), T (Threonine), S (Serine), P (Proline), V (Valine), G (Glycine), L (Leucine), K (Lysine), R (Arginine), W (Tryptophan), Y (Tyrosine);
- - X2 is an amino acid chosen from N (Asparagine), A (Alanine), D (Aspartic acid), T (Threonine), R (Arginine), S (Serine), Q (Glutamine), Y (Tyrosine), G (Glycine), E (Glutamic Acid), L (Leucine), F (Phenylalanine), W (Tryptophan), N (Asparagine), ;
- - X3 is an amino acid chosen from I (Isoleucine), Q (Glutamine), R (Arginine), Y (Tyrosine), K (Lysine), T (Threonine), V (Valine), L (Leucine), A ( Alanine), F (Phenylalanine), E (Glutamic Acid), S (Serine), M (Methionine), W (Tryptophan);
- - X4 is an amino acid chosen from S (Serine), E (Glutamic Acid), T (Threonine), A (Alanine), R (Arginine), G (Glycine), L (Leucine), V (Valine), N (Asparagine);
- - X5 is an amino acid chosen from A (Alanine), S (Serine), R (Arginine), T (Threonine), N (Asparagine), F (Phenylalanine), V (Valine), G (Glycine), L ( Leucine), D (Aspartic Acid), Y (Tyrosine), K (Lysine), R (Arginine), E (Glutamic Acid), W (Tryptophan), N (Asparagine), Q (Glutamine), I (Isoleucine); And
- - X6 is an amino acid chosen from K (Lysine), Q (Glutamine), E (Glutamic Acid).
- the SBP of formula (II) as described herein may comprise:
- - X4 this being an amino acid chosen from S (Serine), E (Glutamic Acid), T (Threonine), A (Alanine), R (Arginine), G (Glycine), L (Leucine), V ( Valine), N (Asparagine);
- the integer z, of the polypeptide of formula (I) can be an integer from 3 to 8.
- Nt of the polypeptide of formula (I), can be chosen from the polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28 and SEQ ID NO. 29.
- Ct, of the polypeptide of formula (I) can consist of a polypeptide having a length of 1 to 50 amino acids.
- Ct, of the polypeptide of formula (I) can consist of a polypeptide having a length of 1 to 36 amino acids, more preferably of a polypeptide of 36 amino acids.
- Ct, of the polypeptide of formula (I) may consist of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 18.
- the polypeptide of formula (I) can be chosen from the polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 30, SEQ ID NO. 31, SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40 and SEQ ID NO. 4L
- polypeptide of formula (I) can be chosen from the polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 7, and SEQ ID NO. 10.
- the present description also relates to a composite polypeptide comprising a plurality of polypeptides of formula (I) according to the present description or a polypeptide of formula (I) covalently linked by its amino acid residue to the N-terminal end to a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 54.
- a composite polypeptide according to the description can consist of a dimer or a trimer of a polypeptide of formula (I) as described in the present description.
- a polypeptide dimer can be a composite polypeptide of construct NH2-[SEQ ID NO.1 or SEQ ID NO. 2 or SEQ ID NO.
- a polypeptide dimer can be a composite polypeptide of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 12 or SEQ ID NO. 13.
- a polypeptide trimer can be a composite polypeptide of construct NH2-[SEQ ID NO.1 or SEQ ID NO. 2 or SEQ ID NO. 7 or SEQ ID NO. 10]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO.l or SEQ ID NO. 2 or SEQ ID NO. 7 or SEQ ID NO. 10]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO.l or SEQ ID NO. 2 or SEQ ID NO. 7 or SEQ ID NO. 10]-COOH.
- the polypeptide of formula (I) can be linked by a linker peptide, preferably a linker peptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 19.
- a polypeptide of formula (I) can be chosen from the polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 7 and SEQ ID NO. 10.
- the composite polypeptide can be chosen from the polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14 and SEQ ID NO. 15.
- a polypeptide of formula (I) according to the present description or a composite polypeptide according to the present description can be conjugated to an adhesion protein having at least about 90% amino acid identity with a sequence in amino acids SEQ ID NO. 66.
- a polypeptide of formula (I) according to the present description or a composite polypeptide according to the present description can be conjugated to an adhesion protein having an amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 66.
- a polypeptide of formula (I) according to the present description or a composite polypeptide according to the present description can be associated with a biodegradable nanoparticle as described in the present description.
- the present description also relates to a pharmaceutical composition
- a pharmaceutical composition comprising a polypeptide of formula (I) or a polypeptide composite as described in the present description, in combination with at least one pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable vehicle.
- the present description also relates to a polypeptide of formula (I), a composite polypeptide or a pharmaceutical composition as described in the present description, for use as a medicament.
- the present description also relates to a polypeptide of formula (I), a composite polypeptide or a pharmaceutical composition as described in the present description, for use in the treatment and/or prevention in an individual of a condition caused by infection with a virus of the species SARS-CoV, specifically SARS-CoV-2.
- the present description also relates to a method for treating and/or preventing a condition caused by an infection by a virus of the SARS-CoV species, in particular SARS-CoV-2, in individual in need, comprising a step of administering to the individual a polypeptide of formula (I), a composite polypeptide or a pharmaceutical composition as described in the present description.
- the present description also relates to the use of a polypeptide of formula (I), of a composite polypeptide or of a pharmaceutical composition as described in the present description for obtaining a medicinal product intended for treating and/or preventing a condition caused by an infection by a virus of the SARS-CoV species, in particular SARS-CoV-2, in an individual in need thereof.
- Figure 1 shows that aReps C2, C12, F9, Gl, H10 and H12 have low dissociation rates unlike aReps C7, D7 and F7.
- Figure 1 represents the binding of aReps H7 (negative control), C7, H10, C12, F9, F7, D7, Gl and C2 concentrated at 1 pM on the RBD domain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by bi-layer interferometry. Abscissa: The time in seconds.
- Y-axis Thickness of the bi-layer on the sensor (expressed in nm)
- Figure 2 shows that aReps C2 and F9 have high binding affinity for the RBD domain and the S1 subunit (the N-ter domain of the S protein) of the SARS-CoV-2.
- [Fig 2A-2B-2C-2D] and [Fig 2E] represent the binding of aReps C2, F9 and the dimer F9-C2 to the RBD domain of the SI subunit analyzed by bi-layer interferometry.
- 2A represents the binding of aRep C2 to the RBD domain.
- There 2B shows the binding of aRep C2 to the S1 subunit.
- 2C represents the binding of aRep F9 to the RBD domain.
- the 2D represents the binding of the aRep F9 on the SL subunit
- the [FIG 2E] represents the binding of the composite aRep F9-C2 on the SL subunit Abscissa: Time in seconds.
- Y-axis Thickness of the bi-layer on the sensor (expressed in nm).
- Figure 3 shows that aReps C2, C7, F9 and H12 neutralize pseudotyped particles of the S protein and the SARS-CoV-2 virus and protect against infection depending on their concentrations. Three biological replicates per concentration were performed. The error bars represent the standard deviation from the mean.
- the 3A represents the rate of infection of HEK-293T cells expressing ACE2 by pseudotyped particles of the murine leukemia virus (MLV) carrying the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of aReps H12, C2, Gl , F9, C7 and H7 (negative control) after 24 h of contacting.
- MLV murine leukemia virus
- Abscissa aReps tested at concentrations of (a) 3 pM (black), (b) 600 nM (medium gray) or (c) 60 nM (dark gray) in cell culture medium and (d) VS VG (control of specificity of infection inhibition): cells infected with MLV-like particles carrying the G protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSVG) with the aReps tested at the concentration of 3 pM (from left to right) H12, C2, Gl, F9, C7, H7 or phosphate buffered saline (PBS).
- Y-axis Percentage infection rate of HEK 293T cells by particles pseudotyped with protein S (SARS-CoV-2) or G (VSVG).
- Abscissa Concentration of aReps C2, C7, F9, Gl, H12 and H7 in the cell culture medium in log10 (nM). Cells were infected without aRep (virus alone) or uninfected (medium alone).
- Y-axis Viability of Vero-E6 cells infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the presence of aReps (in arbitrary luminescence units).
- Figure 4 shows that the composite aRep F9-C2 neutralizes infection of HEK 293T cells by MLV-like particles carrying protein S or by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Three biological replicates per concentration. The error bars represent the standard deviation from the mean.
- 4A represents inhibition of infection of ACE2-expressing HEK-293T cells by MLV-like particles with SARS-CoV-2 protein S in the presence of composite aRep F9-C2 and aReps F9, C2 and H7 (negative control).
- Abscissa HEK-293T cells in the presence of mixtures of (a) 100 nM (black), (b) 10 nM (dark gray), (c) 1 nM (medium gray) aRep with particles pseudo-typed with the SARS-CoV-2 protein S or (d) MLV-like particle infected cells carrying Vesicular stomatitis virus G protein (VSVG - light gray) with aReps at 3 pM concentration ( witness of specificity of infection inhibition).
- Y-axis Percentage infection rate of HEK 293T cells by particles pseudotyped with protein S (SARS-CoV-2) or G (VSVG).
- 4B represents inhibition of infection of Vero-E6 cells by SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
- Y-axis Viability of Vero-E6 cells infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the presence of aReps (in arbitrary luminescence units).
- Figure 5 shows that C2-foldon and F9-foldon composite aReps have similar or even greater neutralizing activity on SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to F9 and C2 aReps alone and F9-C2.
- Three biological replicates per concentration were performed. Error bars represent the standard deviation from the mean Abscissa: Concentration in pM of aReps C2-foldon ( ⁇ ), F9-foldon (star), F9-C2 (A), F9 ( ⁇ ), C2 (•) and H7 (o) in the culture medium of cells infected with SARS-CoV-2.
- Y-axis Viability of Vero-E6 cells infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the presence of aReps (in arbitrary luminescence units).
- Figure 6 shows that aReps F9, C2 and F9-C2 have neutralizing activity on SARS-CoV-2 protein S mutants.
- the four variants analyzed (alpha, beta, gamma and kappa) are all more sensitive to the neutralization of the F9-C2 composite aRep than the F9 and C2 aReps alone, highlighting the cooperative effect associated with the fusion of F9 and C2 .
- 6a represents the inhibition of the infection of HEK-293T cells expressing ACE2 by retroviruses pseudotyped with the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 (from the Wuhan-Hu-1 isolate).
- Abscissa HEK-293T cells in the presence of mixtures of (top to bottom) 500 nM, 250 nM, 100 nM, 50 nM or 10 nM of aRep with particles pseudo-typed with the S protein of SARS-CoV-2, and VSVG (control of specificity of the inhibition of infection): Cells infected with pseudo-particles of MLV carrying the G protein of the virus of vesicular stomatitis (VSVG) with the aReps at a concentration of 3 mM.
- Y-axis Percentage infection rate of HEK 293 T cells by particles pseudo-typed with protein S (SARS-CoV-2) or G (VSVG).
- FIG. 7 (FIGS. 7A, 7B) shows that the composite aRep F9-C2 allows a reduction in the infection by SARS-CoV-2 in vivo in comparison with the control aRep H7 on a hamster model.
- SARS-CoV-2 protein E represents the relative expression of SARS-CoV-2 protein E reflecting the presence of the virus in the presence of aRep H7 (white dot) or F9-C2 (black dot) in the olfactory mucosa and day-to-day lungs 1 (D 1) or day 3 (D3) post infection.
- Abscissa Sampling on D1 and D3 post-infection of the olfactory mucosa and lungs of hamsters that received nasal inoculation with aRep H7 or F9-C2 1 hour before infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- Y-axis Relative log expression of SARS-CoV-2 virus E protein.
- 7B represents the viral titer of nasal smears reflecting the production of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by the nasal cavity of infected hamsters on 3 days post infection. Abscissa: Days post-infection with SARS-CoV-2 (dpi). Y-axis: Viral titer of nasal smears (log TCID50) of hamsters that received aRep H7 or F9-C2 by nasal inoculation 1 hour before infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- Figure 8 represents four photos taken by fluorescence optical microscopy in the nasal cavity of mice 1 h and 6 h after the administration by instillation of aRep C2 polypeptides or of aRep C2 polypeptides conjugated to adhesion protein X409 (C2-X409 ).
- Photo top left The aRep C2 polypeptide is present on the surface of the epithelium (OE) in the nasal cavity 1 h post-administration.
- Bottom left photo The aRep C2 polypeptide is present in the lamina intestinal (LP) of the nasal cavity 6 h post-administration.
- Photo top right The aRep C2-X409 polypeptide is present on the surface of the epithelium (OE) in the nasal cavity 1 h post-administration.
- Bottom right photo The aRep C2-X409 polypeptide is present on the surface of the epithelium (OE) in the nasal cavity 6 h post-administration.
- alphaRep or "aRep” protein is meant a polypeptide or artificial protein comprising n repeats of a motif of 31 amino acids derived from HEAT proteins in which only 6 of them are variable and form the concave surface of the polypeptide.
- These polypeptides are capable of binding a ligand of interest or of neutralizing viruses, in particular viruses of the SARS-CoV species, in particular SARS-CoV-2.
- an aRep protein corresponds to a polypeptide of formula (I) as described and illustrated in the present description.
- a polypeptide of formula (I) as described and illustrated herein may correspond to an aRep C2 polypeptide, an aRep C7 polypeptide, an aRep F9 polypeptide or an aRep H12 polypeptide.
- Terms such as "C2 polypeptide”, “aRep C2” or “C2" may be used herein to refer to an "aRep C1 polypeptide". These terms apply equally to all of the aRep polypeptides described herein.
- target cell is meant here a cell which expresses a target antigen capable of being recognized by a polypeptide according to the present description, in particular a cell which expresses the cellular receptor ACE2 capable of being recognized by the S protein, in particular the RBD domain, viruses of the SARS-CoV species, in particular SARS-CoV-2, and to confer susceptibility to the virus.
- a target cell can be a lung cell, an arterial cell, a heart cell, a kidney cell, or a digestive tract cell.
- a "condition caused by infection" by a virus of the species SARS-CoV may be selected from a list including or consisting of: severe respiratory distress syndrome, cardiovascular condition, a vascular condition, a gastrointestinal condition or a neurological condition.
- patients presenting, or at risk of presenting, a condition linked to an infection with a virus of the SARS-CoV species, in particular SARS-CoV-2 can also be taken into account.
- conditions caused by infection with a virus of the species SARS-CoV including SARS-CoV-2, which are particularly considered include: pulmonary fibrosis, vasculitis, Kawasaki disease and lesions or tissue destruction, particularly injury and destruction of lung tissue and endothelia.
- mammals considered include, but are not limited to, domestic animals (e.g. cattle, sheep, cats, dogs, and horses), primates (e.g. humans and non-humans), rabbits, and rodents (e.g. example, mice and rats). According to a particular embodiment, an individual is a human being.
- a pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable vehicle is a vehicle recognized as satisfying, in particular, the criteria of safety, compatibility and inertness required for use in the pharmaceutical field.
- a physiologically acceptable vehicle is a substance or composition whose administration to an individual is not accompanied by significant deleterious effects.
- such a vehicle is compatible with oral or rectal administration, and is preferably suitable for administration by the oral route.
- a pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable vehicle mention may be made of sterile water, saccharides such as sucrose or sucrose, starches, sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, polymers such as PVP or PEG, lubricating agents, such as magnesium stearate, preservatives, coloring or flavoring agents.
- prevent and “prevention” (and variants of these expressions) with regard to a physiological disorder or a disease caused by an infection by a virus of the SARS-CoV species, in particular SARS-CoV -2, relates to the prophylactic treatment of the disease or disorder, for example in an individual infected with a virus of the species SARS-CoV, in particular SARS-CoV-2, and at risk of developing a disease or disorder related to this infection.
- Preventing includes, but is not limited to, preventing or slowing the development of disease, and/or maintaining one or more disease symptoms at or less than a desired level.
- the term “prevent” does not require 100% elimination of the possibility or probability of occurrence of the disease or disorder. This term rather designates the reduction to a lesser degree of the risk or the probability of occurrence of a given phenomenon linked to an infection by a virus of the SARS-CoV species, in particular SARS-CoV-2.
- prevention can be complete, i.e. the absence of symptoms or detectable disease, or partial, such that there are fewer symptoms or the symptoms are of less intensity although that the virus remains detectable in the infected individual.
- SARS-CoV designates a virus belonging to the viral species Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus and is a member of the genus Betacoronavirus and the subgenus Sarbecovirus (subgroup B) in the Coronaviridae family and the Orthocoronavirinae subfamily.
- SARS-CoV includes, in a non-exhaustive manner, SARS-CoV (or SARS-CoV-1) strains, SARSr-CoV WIV1, SARSr-CoV HKU3, SARSr-CoV RP3, SARS-CoV-2 ; including the strains responsible for COVID-19, their mutants and variants.
- viruses of the SARS-CoV species are preferably SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
- viruses of the SARS-CoV species include an RBD domain on protein S, conserved between each strain of the species (Jaimes et al. Journal of Molecular Biology (2020) 432, 3309-3325).
- a virus of the SARS-CoV species is characterized by at least one RBD domain having at least 72% amino acid identity with the protein of sequence SEQ ID NO. 56.
- a virus of the SARS-CoV species is characterized by at least one protein of sequence SEQ ID NO. 56 (RBD domain).
- a virus of the SARS-CoV species can be a SARS-CoV-2.
- SARS-CoV-2 is meant a virus belonging to the SARS-CoV species, to the Coronaviridae family and belonging to group IV of the Baltimore classification.
- SARS-CoV-2 is also called coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) and means “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2” in English.
- SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that spreads mainly through the respiratory tract and causes acute respiratory illnesses.
- the SARS-CoV-2 virus collectively refers to all strains responsible for COVID-19 and its mutants, such as the wild form Wuhan-Hu-1 (NCBI Reference Sequence: NC_045512.2), the alpha variant carrying the N501 Y substitution according to the EU numbering, compared to the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 (Bl1.7), the beta variant carrying the substitutions K417H, E484K, N501Y in the RBD domain according to the EU numbering, compared to the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.351), the gamma variant carrying the substitutions K417T, E484K and N501Y in the RBD domain according to EU numbering, compared to the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 (Pl), the delta variant (B.1.617.2) carrying the substitutions L452R and T478K in the RBD domain according to the EU numbering, and the kappa variant (Bl617.1) carrying the substitutions L452R and E484Q in the RBD
- SARS-CoV-2 is described in particular in the document Dhama K, Khan S, Tiwari R, et al. Coronavirus Disease 2019-COVID-19. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2020;33(4):e00028-20. Published 2020 Jun 24. Doi:10.1128/CMR.00028-20.
- S protein or “Spike protein” is understood to mean a membrane glycoprotein (200-220 kDa) present on the surface of the viral envelope of viruses of the SARS-CoV species which binds to the cellular receptor ACE2.
- the S protein contains 2 subunits (S1 and S2), S1 including the receptor binding domain (RBD) containing the receptor binding motif (RBM) and S2 containing the peptide of fusion allowing the induction of the fusion of the viral envelope with the cell membrane.
- RBD receptor binding domain
- RBM receptor binding motif
- S protein of SARS-CoV-2 is registered under the reference Gene ID: 43740568.
- protein E or “envelope protein” is meant a polypeptide of 100 residues which contains at least one helical transmembrane domain ⁇ and a group of 2-3 juxtamembrane cysteines.
- Protein E is involved in several processes of the virus life cycle, such as assembly, budding, envelope formation and pathogenesis. Protein E contributes to assembly and release of the virion from the infected cell, following the secretory pathway, which makes it a good indicator of the presence of the virus in the tissues.
- the SARS-CoV-2 protein E is referenced under the reference Gene ID: 43740570.
- RBD domain or "receptor-binding domain” or “receptor-binding domain” or “receptor-binding motif” is meant an immunogenic region of a peptide sequence of a virus which binds to an endogenous peptide sequence specific for the ACE2 membrane receptor of a target cell to allow entry of the virus into said target cell.
- the RBD domain is present in the SI subunit of the S protein and located between residues Arg319 and Phe541 of the S protein of viruses of the SARS-CoV species, more particularly SARS CoV-1 and SARS-CoV- 2.
- An example of an RBD domain is represented by the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 56.
- the terms “therapeutically effective amount” and “prophylactically effective amount” refer to an amount of active ingredient, such as the polypeptide of formula (I), which provides therapeutic benefit in the treatment, prevention or management of the pathological processes under consideration.
- the specific amount which is therapeutically effective can be readily determined by a physician and may vary depending on such factors as the type and stage of disease processes under consideration, medical history, sex, weight and age of the patient, his or her diet, and the administration of other therapeutic agents.
- the terms “treating”, “treatment”, “therapy” or “therapeutic” refer to the administration or consumption of an active ingredient, that is to say a polypeptide according to the present description, or of a pharmaceutical composition comprising such a polypeptide for the purpose of curing, alleviating, reducing, attenuating, or ameliorating a disease or a pathological disorder, or one or more symptoms associated, or to prevent or slow the progression of such symptom(s) or disease, or to arrest the development of such symptom(s), or disease or pathological disorder in a statistically significant manner.
- treating includes any approach to achieve a beneficial effect or desired result with respect to a disease or condition caused by infection with a virus of the species SARS-CoV, in particular SARS-CoV-2, in an individual.
- Beneficial or desired clinical outcomes may include, but are not limited to, alleviation or improvement of the condition or disease caused by infection with a virus of the species SARS-CoV, in particular SARS-CoV-2, or of one or more symptoms caused by infection with a virus of the species SARS-CoV, in particular SARS-CoV-2; the decrease or reduction in the extent of the disease, the stabilization, that is to say the absence of aggravation of a disease or condition caused by an infection with a virus of the species SARS-CoV, in particular SARS-CoV-2, or one or more symptoms caused by an infection with a virus of the SARS-CoV species, in particular SARS-CoV-2; the prevention of a disease or condition caused by infection with a virus of the species SARS-CoV, in
- treatment includes any cure, amelioration, reduction or cessation of a disease or condition caused by infection with a virus of the species SARS-CoV, in particular SARS- CoV-2, or one or more symptoms of such a disease.
- a "reduction" of a symptom or disease means a decrease in the severity or frequency of the disease or symptom, or the elimination of the disease or symptom.
- a polypeptide comprising "1 to 100 amino acids” includes a polypeptide comprising 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 and 100 amino acids.
- identity percentage between two amino acid sequences means the percentage of identical residues between the two sequences to be compared, obtained after optimal alignment, this percentage being purely statistical and the differences between the two sequences being randomly distributed over their length.
- the optimal alignment of the sequences to be compared can be achieved, in addition to the manual comparison, by means of BLAST P.
- nano refers to a special state of subdivision implying that a particle has an average dimension less than about 1000 nanometers (1000 x 10'9 meters).
- each minimum numerical limitation given in this description includes any upper numerical limitation, as if such upper numerical limitations were expressly written herein.
- the expression “at least 72%” includes all numerical values from 72, above 72 and up to 100.
- each numeric range given throughout the description includes each narrower numeric range included within such wider numeric range, as if those narrower numeric ranges were all expressly written.
- the expression "between 2 and 5" includes all values from 2 to 5, including 2, 3, 4 and 5.
- the present invention provides an artificial, isolated or recombinant polypeptide or protein.
- This polypeptide is capable of binding to the RBD domain of the S protein of viruses of the SARS-CoV species, in particular SARS-CoV-2, and of affecting the entry of the virus into the target cell.
- - Nt consists of a peptide chosen from SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29 SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52 and SEQ ID NO. 53;
- - Ct consists of a peptide having a length of 1 to 100 amino acids
- - SBP consists of a peptide, whose variable amino acids are identical or different from one SBP to another, of formula (II)
- - Xi is an amino acid chosen from A (Alanine), E (Glutamic Acid), T (Threonine), S (Serine), P (Proline), V (Valine), G (Glycine), L (Leucine), K (Lysine), R (Arginine), W (Tryptophan), Y (Tyrosine);
- - X 2 is an amino acid chosen from N (Asparagine), A (Alanine), D (Aspartic acid), T (Threonine), R (Arginine), S (Serine), Q (Glutamine), Y (Tyrosine), G (Glycine), E (Glutamic Acid), L (Leucine), F (Phenylalanine), W (Tryptophan), N (Asparagine);
- - X3 is an amino acid chosen from I (Isoleucine), Q (Glutamine), R (Arginine), Y (Tyrosine), K (Lysine), T (Threonine), V (Valine), L (Leucine), A ( Alanine), F (Phenylalanine), E (Glutamic Acid), S (Serine), M (Methionine), W (Tryptophan);
- - X4 is an amino acid chosen from S (Serine), E (Glutamic Acid), T (Threonine), A (Alanine), R (Arginine), G (Glycine), L (Leucine), V (Valine), N (Asparagine);
- - X5 is an amino acid chosen from A (Alanine), S (Serine), R (Arginine), T (Threonine), N (Asparagine), F (Phenylalanine), V (Valine), G (Glycine), L ( Leucine), D (Aspartic acid), Y (Tyrosine), K (Lysine), R (Arginine), E (Glutamic Acid), W (Tryptophan), N (Asparagine), Q (Glutamine), I (Isoleucine); And
- - X ⁇ is an amino acid chosen from K (Lysine), Q (Glutamine), E (Glutamic Acid).
- the SBP of formula (II), included in the polypeptide of formula (I), consists of:
- - Xi is an amino acid chosen from A (Alanine), E (Glutamic Acid), T (Threonine), S (Serine), P (Proline), V (Valine), G (Glycine), L (Leucine), K (Lysine), R (Arginine), W (Tryptophan);
- - X2 is an amino acid chosen from N (Asparagine), A (Alanine), D (Aspartic acid), T (Threonine), R (Arginine), S (Serine), Q (Glutamine), Y (Tyrosine), G (Glycine), E (Glutamic Acid), L (Leucine), F (Phenylalanine), W (Tryptophan);
- - X3 is an amino acid chosen from I (Isoleucine), Q (Glutamine), R (Arginine), Y (Tyrosine), K (Lysine), T (Threonine), V (Valine), L (Leucine), A ( Alanine), F (Phenylalanine);
- - X4 is an amino acid chosen from S (Serine), E (Glutamic Acid), T (Threonine), A (Alanine), R (Arginine), G (Glycine), L (Leucine), V (Valine);
- - X5 is an amino acid chosen from A (Alanine), S (Serine), R (Arginine), T (Threonine), N (Asparagine), F (Phenylalanine), V (Valine), G (Glycine), L ( Leucine), D (Aspartic Acid), Y (Tyrosine), K (Lysine), R (Arginine), E (Glutamic Acid), W (Tryptophan), N (Asparagine), Q (Glutamine); And
- - X ⁇ is an amino acid chosen from K (Lysine), Q (Glutamine), E (Glutamic Acid).
- z can be an integer from 3 to 8.
- Nt can be chosen from the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28 and SEQ ID NO. 29.
- Nt can be chosen from the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 26, and SEQ ID NO. 29.
- Nt consists of an amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 20.
- Ct includes l; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 29; 30 ; 31;
- the Ct portion of the polypeptide of the present description comprises less than 70 amino acids. In certain embodiments, the Ct portion of the polypeptide of the present description comprises less than 50 amino acids.
- the Ct part of the polypeptide of the present description comprises less than 40 amino acids.
- the Ct portion of the polypeptide of the present description comprises 36 amino acids.
- Ct consists of a peptide having a length of 1 to 50 amino acids.
- Ct consists of a peptide having a length of 1 to 36 amino acids.
- Ct consists of an amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 18.
- the SBP of formula (II), included in the polypeptide of formula (I), comprises:
- - Xi is an amino acid chosen from A (Alanine), E (Glutamic Acid), S (Serine), P (Proline), G (Glycine), R (Arginine), W (Tryptophan);
- - X2 is an amino acid chosen from N (Asparagine), A (Alanine), D (Aspartic acid), R (Arginine), S (Serine), Y (Tyrosine), E (Glutamic acid), L (Leucine), F (Phenylalanine);
- - X3 is an amino acid chosen from I (Isoleucine), Q (Glutamine), R (Arginine), K (Lysine), V (Valine), L (Leucine), A (Alanine), F (Phenylalanine);
- - X4 is an amino acid chosen from S (Serine), E (Glutamic Acid), A (Alanine), R (Arginine), N (Asparagine);
- - X5 is an amino acid chosen from A (Alanine), S (Serine), R (Arginine), T (Threonine), N (Asparagine), G (Glycine), L (Leucine), K (Lysine), W ( Tryptophan); And
- - X ⁇ is an amino acid chosen from K (Lysine), Q (Glutamine), E (Glutamic Acid).
- polypeptide of formula (I) can be chosen from SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO.
- SEQ ID NO. 31 SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40 and SEQ ID NO. 41.
- polypeptide of formula (I) can be chosen from SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9 and SEQ ID NO. 10.
- the polypeptide of formula (I) does not consist of a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 8. According to certain other preferred embodiments, the polypeptide of formula (I) can be chosen from the polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 7 and SEQ ID NO. 10.
- polypeptide of formula (I) can be chosen from the polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 7 and SEQ ID NO. 10.
- polypeptide of formula (I) can be the polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1 (C2).
- polypeptide of formula (I) can be the polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO. 2 (C7).
- polypeptide of formula (I) can be the polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO. 7 (F9).
- polypeptide of formula (I) can be the polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO. 10 (H12).
- the present description relates to a composite polypeptide comprising a plurality of polypeptides of formula (I) as described here or a polypeptide of formula (I) covalently linked to a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 54.
- polypeptide of formula (I) also denotes the composite polypeptide since the latter comprises at least one polypeptide of formula (I).
- a composite polypeptide according to the present description can consist of a dimer or a trimer of a polypeptide of formula (I) of the present description.
- dimer is meant a protein composed of two polypeptides of formula (I) which may be either identical in the case of a homodimer, or different in the case of a heterodimer.
- the two polypeptides of formula (I) being able to be linked by a linker peptide.
- trimer is understood to mean a protein composed of three polypeptides of formula (I) which may be either identical in the case of a homotrimer, or different in the case of a heterotrimer.
- the three polypeptides of formula (I) being able to be linked by a linker peptide.
- the inventors have demonstrated that the homologous or heterologous multimerization of a polypeptide of formula (I) makes it possible, without wishing to be bound by any theory, to increase the neutralizing activity of the polypeptide of formula (I).
- polypeptides of formula (I) included in a composite polypeptide according to the present description are linked directly to each other, therefore in the absence of a linking peptide.
- polypeptides of formula (I) are linked non-covalently or covalently.
- the polypeptides of formula (I) are linked by a linking peptide in a covalent manner.
- a composite polypeptide comprising a polypeptide dimer of formula (I) consists of a composite polypeptide of construct (Chem 1) such as:
- the [linking peptide] comprises a polypeptide sequence of 1 to 100 amino acids, preferably 1 to 50 amino acids, more preferably the [linking peptide] consists of a peptide of SEQ ID NO. 19, where preferably the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , the [linker peptide] and the [polypeptide of formula (I)] b are covalently linked.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a polypeptide of construct (Chem 1), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a and the [polypeptide of formula (I)] b are identical or different.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a polypeptide of construct (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] has consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 2.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 3.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 4.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 5.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 6.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 7.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 9.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 10.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 54.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 2, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 2.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 2, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 3.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 2, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 4.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 2, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 5.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 2, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 6.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 2, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 7.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 2, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 9.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a polypeptide of construct (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] has consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 2, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 10.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 2, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 54.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 3, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 3.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 3, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 4.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 3, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 5.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 3, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 6.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 3, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 7.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 3, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 9.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 3, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 10.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 3, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 54.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 4, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 4.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 4, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 5.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 4, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 6.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 4, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 7.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 4, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 9.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 4, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 10.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 4, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 54.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a polypeptide of construct (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] has consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 5, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 5.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 5, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 6.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 5, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 7.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 5, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 9.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 5, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 10.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 5, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 54.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 6, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 6.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 6, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 7.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 6, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 9.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 6, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 10.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 6, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 54.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 7, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 7.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 7, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 9.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 7, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 10.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 7, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 54.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 9, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 9.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 9, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 10.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a polypeptide of construct (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] has consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 9, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 54.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), in which when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 10, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 10.
- the composite polypeptide consists of a construct polypeptide (Chem 1), wherein when the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 10, the [polypeptide of formula (I)]b consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 54.
- the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a and the [polypeptide of formula (I)] b, of a composite polypeptide consisting of a polypeptide of construct (Chem 1) do not consist of polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO. 8.
- a polypeptide dimer as described herein may be a composite polypeptide of construct NH2-[SEQ ID NO.1 or SEQ ID NO. 2 or SEQ ID NO. 7 or SEQ ID NO. 10]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[ SEQ ID NO.l or SEQ ID NO. 2 or SEQ ID NO. 7 or SEQ ID NO. 10]-COOH.
- the composite polypeptide can be chosen from the following dimers of the polypeptide of formula (I): NH2-[SEQ ID NO. 1]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 1]-COOH, NH2-[SEQ ID NO. 7]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 7]-COOH, NH2- [SEQ ID NO. 10]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 10]-COOH, NH2- [SEQ ID NO. 2]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 2]-COOH, NH2- [SEQ ID NO. 1]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO.
- the composite polypeptide as described here can be chosen from the following polypeptide dimers of formula (I) C2-C2, F9-F9, H12-H12, C7-C7, C2-F9, F9-C2, C2- H12, H12-C2, C2-C7, C7-C2, F9-H12, H12-F9, F9-C7, C7-F9, H12-C7 and C7-H12.
- a polypeptide dimer can be a composite polypeptide of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 12 or SEQ ID NO. 13.
- the composite polypeptide can be the F9-C2 dimer or the C2-F9 dimer.
- the composite polypeptide may comprise a polypeptide of formula (I) linked, preferably, non-covalently via its amino acid residue at the N-terminal end to a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO . 54.
- polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 54 can also be linked, preferably non-covalently, to the amino acid residue located at the C-terminal end of the polypeptide of formula (I).
- polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 54 is referred to as "Foldon" in this description.
- the inventors have demonstrated that the homologous multimerization of a polypeptide of formula (I) with a "foldon" sequence makes it possible, without wishing to be bound by any theory, to increase the neutralizing activity of the polypeptide of formula (I) by allowing better multimerization of the polypeptide of formula (I).
- a composite polypeptide can consist of a composite polypeptide of construct (Chem 2) such as:
- the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a is chosen from the various embodiments of the polypeptide of formula (I), as defined in the present description, where, preferably, the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a and the polypeptide [SEQ ID NO. 54] are non-covalently linked.
- the composite polypeptide comprises a construct polypeptide (Chem 2), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1.
- the composite polypeptide comprises a construct polypeptide (Chem 2), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 2.
- the composite polypeptide comprises a construct polypeptide (Chem 2), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 3.
- the composite polypeptide comprises a construct polypeptide (Chem 2), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 4.
- the composite polypeptide comprises a construct polypeptide (Chem 2), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 5.
- the composite polypeptide comprises a construct polypeptide (Chem 2), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 6.
- the composite polypeptide comprises a construct polypeptide (Chem 2), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 7.
- the composite polypeptide comprises a construct polypeptide (Chem 2), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 9.
- the composite polypeptide comprises a construct polypeptide (Chem 2), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a consists of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 10.
- the composite polypeptide as described herein can also be chosen from composite polypeptides of construct NH2-[SEQ ID NO. 1]-[SEQ ID NO. 54]-COOH, NH2-[SEQ ID NO. 2]-[SEQ ID NO. 54]-COOH, NH2-[SEQ ID NO. 7]-[SEQ ID NO. 54]-COOH and NH2-[SEQ ID NO. 10]-[SEQ ID NO. 54]-COOH.
- the composite polypeptide can be chosen from the composite polypeptides C2-foldon, C7-foldon, F9-foldon and H12-foldon.
- the composite polypeptide may be a composite polypeptide of construct NH2-[SEQ ID NO. 1]-[SEQ ID NO. 54]-COOH or NH2- [SEQ ID NO. 7]-[SEQ ID NO. 54]-COOH.
- the composite polypeptide can be chosen from the composite polypeptide C2-foldon or F9-foldon.
- the composite polypeptide when it is in a dimerized form, can preferably be chosen from the composite polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14 and SEQ ID NO. 15.
- a composite polypeptide may comprise a polypeptide trimer of formula (I) consisting of a composite polypeptide of construction (Chem 3) such as:
- binding peptide_1 and [binding peptide_2], identical or different, each comprise a peptide of 1 to 100 amino acids, preferably 1 to 50 amino acids.
- [linker peptide_1] and/or [linker_2 peptide] consists of a peptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 19, wherein, preferably, [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , [linker peptide_1], [polypeptide of formula (I)]t>, [linker peptide_2], and [polypeptide of formula (I)] c are covalently linked.
- the composite polypeptide of the present description can consist of a polypeptide of construct (Chem 2), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , the [polypeptide of formula (I)], and the [ polypeptide of formula (I)] c are identical or different.
- [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , [polypeptide of formula (I)] and [polypeptide of formula (I)] c are identical.
- [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , [polypeptide of formula (I)] and [polypeptide of formula (I)] c are all different from each other.
- polypeptides among [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , [polypeptide of formula (I)] and [polypeptide of formula (I)] c are identical, the third polypeptide of formula (I ) being different from the other two.
- the composite polypeptide may consist of a polypeptide of construction (Chem 3), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , the [polypeptide of formula (I)] b and the [polypeptide of formula (I)] c consist of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1.
- the composite polypeptide may consist of a polypeptide of construction (Chem 3), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , the [polypeptide of formula (I)] b and the [polypeptide of formula (I)] c consist of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 2.
- the composite polypeptide may consist of a polypeptide of construction (Chem 3), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , the [polypeptide of formula (I)] b and the [polypeptide of formula (I)] c consist of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 3.
- the composite polypeptide may consist of a polypeptide of construction (Chem 3), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , the [polypeptide of formula (I)] b and the [polypeptide of formula (I)] c consist of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 4.
- the composite polypeptide may consist of a polypeptide of construction (Chem 3), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , the [polypeptide of formula (I)] b and the [polypeptide of formula (I)] c consist of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 5.
- the composite polypeptide may consist of a polypeptide of construction (Chem 3), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , the [polypeptide of formula (I)] b and the [polypeptide of formula (I)] c consist of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 6.
- the polypeptide may consist of a polypeptide of construction (Chem 3), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , the [polypeptide of formula (I)] b and the [polypeptide of formula (I)] c consist of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 7.
- the composite polypeptide may consist of a polypeptide of construction (Chem 3), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , the [polypeptide of formula (I)] b and the [polypeptide of formula (I)] c consist of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 9.
- the composite polypeptide may consist of a construction polypeptide (Chem 3), in which the [polypeptide of formula (I)] a , the [polypeptide of formula (I)] b and the [polypeptide of formula (I)] c consist of a polypeptide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 10.
- the composite polypeptide in a trimerized form can consist of a polypeptide of construct NH2-[SEQ ID NO.1 or SEQ ID NO. 2 or SEQ ID NO. 7 or SEQ ID NO. 10]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[ SEQ ID NO.l or SEQ ID NO. 2 or SEQ ID NO. 7 or SEQ ID NO. 10]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO.l or SEQ ID NO. 2 or SEQ ID NO. 7 or SEQ ID NO. 10]-COOH.
- the composite polypeptide in a trimerized form can consist of a polypeptide of construct NH2-[SEQ ID NO. 1]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 1]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 1]-COOH, NH2-[SEQ ID NO. 2]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 2]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 2]-COOH, NH2-[SEQ ID NO. 7]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 7]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 7]-COOH or NH2-[SEQ ID NO. 10]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 10]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 10]-COOH.
- the composite polypeptide in a trimerized form can consist of a C2-C2-C2, C7-C7-C7, F9-F9-F9 or H12-H12-H12 polypeptide.
- the composite polypeptide in a trimerized form can consist of a polypeptide of construct [SEQ ID NO. 1]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 1]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 1] or of construction [SEQ ID NO. 7]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 7]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 7],
- the composite polypeptide in a trimerized form can consist of a C2-C2-C2 or F9-F9-F9 polypeptide.
- the composite polypeptide in a trimerized form can consist of a polypeptide of construct [SEQ ID NO. 1]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 1]-[SEQ ID NO. 19]-[SEQ ID NO. 1].
- the composite polypeptide in a trimerized form may consist of a polypeptide of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 11.
- the composite polypeptide in a trimerized form can consist of a C2-C2-C2 polypeptide.
- the composite polypeptide of the present description can be chosen from the polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14 and SEQ ID NO. 15.
- a polypeptide of formula (I) or a composite polypeptide as described herein can be coupled to an adhesion protein.
- Such coupling to an adhesion protein makes it possible to increase the therapeutic efficacy of the polypeptide of formula (I), or of the composite polypeptide, once administered nasally or orally to an individual.
- the inventors have discovered that the conjugation of a polypeptide of formula (I) or a composite polypeptide as described here with an adhesion protein allows the attachment of the polypeptide to mucins and thus increases the half-life time of the polypeptide and its therapeutic or preventive effect against an infection of a virus of the SARS-CoV species in an individual.
- this adhesion protein is encoded by a section of the gene encoding the StcE protein (secreted protease of Cl esterase inhibitor from EHEC) of the bacterium E. coli.
- the StcE protein is a 898 amino acid protein (SEQ ID NO.65) encoded by the ZL7031 gene (transcript AAC70099 of plasmid pO157), present on plasmid pO157 (GenBank accession no. #AF074613, position 23016-25712 on plasmid pO157) of the bacterium Escherichia coli 0157:H7 (Lathem et al. Molecular Microbiology, 45: 277-288; Grys et al. Infect Immun. 2005 Mar; 73(3): 1295-303).
- An adhesion protein according to the present description capable of binding to mucins is in particular described in the document Nason et al. Nature communications (2021) 12:4070 and is referred to as module X409.
- an adhesion protein according to the present description exhibits at least about 90% amino acid identity with the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 66.
- an adhesion protein according to the present disclosure has at least about 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100 % identity in amino acids with an amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 66.
- an adhesion protein according to the present description consists of an amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 66.
- Mucus is a viscous substance covering the cells of an organism in contact with the external environment, in in particular, it may be the mucus covering the nasal or oral cavity of an individual (Nason et al. Nature communications (2021) 12:4070).
- a polypeptide of formula (I) as described herein or a composite polypeptide as described here can be conjugated, covalently or non-covalently, to an adhesion protein having at least 90% of identity in amino acids with the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 66.
- a polypeptide of formula (I) as described herein or a composite polypeptide as described here can be conjugated, covalently or non-covalently, to an adhesion protein having at least approximately 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% amino acid identity with the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 66.
- a polypeptide of formula (I) as described here or a composite polypeptide as described here can be conjugated, covalently or non-covalently, to an adhesion protein of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 66.
- a polypeptide of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO.1, SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQID NO. 7 or SEQ ID NO.10 can be conjugated, covalently or non-covalently, to an adhesion protein of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 66.
- a composite polypeptide of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO.11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14 or SEQ ID NO.15 can be conjugated, covalently or non-covalently, to an adhesion protein of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 66.
- the adhesion protein can be conjugated to the N-terminus of the polypeptide or of the composite polypeptide,
- the adhesion protein can be conjugated to the C-terminus of the polypeptide or the composite polypeptide.
- any appropriate conjugation reaction can be used, with, if necessary, any appropriate linker well known to those skilled in the art.
- a recombinant DNA sequence coding for a fusion protein consisting of an aRep polypeptide of formula (I) bound to an adhesion protein by means of a binding protein sequence (linker ) more or less long.
- Recombinant DNA encoding the fusion protein can be prepared using cloning technology, and inserted into an autonomously replicable vector to prepare recombinant DNA.
- a linker protein sequence can generally be attached between the C-terminus of one part of the fusion protein and the N-terminus of the other part.
- binding protein sequences are known in the art and for example described in Chen et al. Adv Drug Deliv Rev; 65(10): 1357-69 (2013).
- the binding protein sequence can therefore be any binding protein sequence known in the art, so long as the binding protein sequence does not interfere with the function of either or both parts of the fusion protein.
- a binding protein sequence suitable for the fusion protein may comprise two or more, five or more, 10 or more, 15 or more, or 20 or more amino acid residues.
- compositions comprising a polypeptide of formula (I) according to the present description and/or a composite polypeptide of formula (I) in a dimerized or trimerized form, formulated with a pharmacologically or pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or vehicle.
- compositions may comprise one or more combinations of the polypeptide of formula (I) according to the present description (for example, two or more different ones).
- a pharmaceutical composition described herein may comprise a combination of polypeptides of formula (I) that bind to different epitopes of a target virus.
- the pharmaceutical composition comprises at least about 1 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml, 150 mg/ml, 200 mg/ml, 1 -300 mg / ml or about 100-300 mg / ml of polypeptide of formula (I) and/or of composite polypeptide of formula (I) in a dimerized or trimerized form.
- compositions described here can also be administered in combination therapy, i.e. in combination with other agents.
- the combination therapy can include a polypeptide of formula (I) described herein in combination with at least one antiviral agent and/or one antipathogenic agent.
- compositions described herein may include one or more pharmaceutically acceptable salts.
- pharmaceutically acceptable salt is meant a salt which retains the desired biological activity of the parent compound and which does not impart undesirable toxic effects.
- Acid addition salts and base addition salts are examples of such salts.
- Acid addition salts include non-toxic inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydriodic acid, phosphoric acid, and aliphatic mono- and dicarboxylic acids, phenyl-substituted alkanoic acids, hydroxyalkanes. Salts derived from non-toxic organic acids such as acids, aromatic acids, aliphatic and aromatic sulfonic acids are included.
- Base addition salts include, for example, alkaline earth metals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium, as well as N,N'-dibenzylethylenediamine, N-methylglucamine, chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine , ethylenediamine, procaine and others. Salts derived from toxic organic amines are included.
- compositions described herein may also include a pharmaceutically acceptable antioxidant.
- pharmaceutically acceptable antioxidants include (1) water-soluble antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, cysteine hydrochloride, sodium bisulfate, sodium metabisulfite, sodium sulfite, etc. (2) oil-soluble antioxidants, oxidizing agents such as ascorbyl palmitate, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), lecithin, propyl gallate, alpha -tocopherol and others; and (3) metal chelators such as citric acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), sorbitol, tartaric acid, phosphoric acid and others are included.
- water-soluble antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, cysteine hydrochloride, sodium bisulfate, sodium metabisulfite, sodium sulfite, etc.
- oil-soluble antioxidants such as ascorbyl palmitate, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA),
- aqueous or non-aqueous carriers examples include water, ethanol, polyols (eg, glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, etc.) and suitable mixtures thereof, vegetable oils such as olive oil and injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate.
- Appropriate fluidity can be maintained, for example, by maintaining the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by using surfactants.
- compositions may also contain adjuvants such as preservatives, wetting agents, emulsifying agents and dispersing agents. Prevention of the presence of microorganisms can be ensured both by the sterilization methods described above and by the inclusion of various antibacterial and antifungal agents such as parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid and others. It may also be desirable to include in the pharmaceutical composition isotonic agents such as sugars, sodium chloride. Besides, the inclusion of agents that delay absorption, such as aluminum monostearate and gelatin, may delay the absorption of injectable pharmaceutical forms.
- adjuvants such as preservatives, wetting agents, emulsifying agents and dispersing agents. Prevention of the presence of microorganisms can be ensured both by the sterilization methods described above and by the inclusion of various antibacterial and antifungal agents such as parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid and others. It may also be desirable to include in the pharmaceutical composition isotonic agents
- Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include sterile aqueous solutions or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersions.
- the use of such carriers and agents for pharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art. Except to the extent that a conventional medium or agent is incompatible with the active ingredient, its use in the pharmaceutical compositions described herein is contemplated. Additional active substances can also be incorporated into the compositions.
- a pharmaceutical composition should generally be sterile and stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage.
- the composition can be formulated as a solution, microemulsion, solution, microemulsion, liposome, or other ordered structure suitable for high drug concentration.
- the carrier can be a solvent or a dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol and liquid polyethylene glycol, and others), and suitable mixtures thereof.
- Appropriate fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating such as lecithin, by maintaining the required particle size in the case of a dispersion and by the use of surfactants.
- isotonic agents for example sugars, polyalcohols such as mannitol and sorbitol, or sodium chloride in the composition. Delayed absorption of injectable compositions can be caused by the inclusion in the composition of an agent that delays absorption, for example, monostearate salts and gelatin.
- Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by including the active compound, i.e. polypeptides of formula (I) and/or composite polypeptides described herein, in the required amount in a suitable solvent, optionally with one or a combination of the ingredients listed above, followed by sterilization by microfiltration.
- dispersions are prepared by incorporating the active compound into a sterile vehicle which contains a basic dispersion medium and the necessary other ingredients from those listed above.
- the preferred method of preparation is a drying method under vacuum, in which a powder of the active principle plus any other desired ingredient is produced from the previously sterilized filtered solution, and lyophilization.
- the amount of active ingredient that may be combined with carrier materials to produce a single dosage form may vary depending on the subject being treated and the particular mode of administration.
- the amount of active ingredient, i.e. the polypeptides of formula (I) described herein, which can be combined with a carrier material to produce a single dosage form will generally be the amount of the composition which produces a therapeutic effect.
- the quantity of active principle that is to say of the polypeptides of formula (I) and/or of the composite polypeptides described here, is from approximately 0.01% to approximately 99% with respect to the quantity of final composition, preferably from about 0.1% to about 70% relative to the amount of final composition, most of the time combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
- Dosage regimens are adjusted to achieve the desired optimal response (eg, therapeutic response).
- a single bolus administration is possible and several divided doses can be administered over a long period, or the dose can be reduced or increased proportionally as indicated in an imminent treatment situation.
- the formulation of parenteral compositions is in the form of unit doses, in particular to facilitate administration and uniformity of dosage.
- parenteral administration refers to modes of administration other than enteral and topical administration, generally by injection, intravenous, intramuscular, intra-arterial, intrathecal, intracapsular, intra-orbital, intracardiac, intradermal, intraperitoneal, transtracheal, intranasal , subcutaneous, epidermal, intra-articular, subcapsular, subarachnoid, intraspinal, epidural and intrastemal, including but not limited to injections and infusions.
- a unit dosage form refers to a unit physically suitable as a single dose for the individual to be treated; each unit, together with the required pharmaceutical carrier, produces the desired therapeutic effect.
- the dosage varies between approximately 0.0001 and 100 mg, more generally between 0.01 and 5 mg per kg of body weight. of the host.
- the dosage is between 0.3 mg/kg body weight, 1 mg/kg body weight, 3 mg/kg body weight, 5 mg/kg body weight or 10 mg/kg body weight, or 1- 10mg/kg.
- a treatment regimen may be once-daily, twice-daily, three-times-daily, or four-times-daily administration over a 7-day period.
- the dosage regimens for the administration of a pharmaceutical composition according to the present description comprise 1 mg/kg of body weight or 3 mg/kg of body weight by intranasal, intraperitoneal or intravenous administration.
- the composition is administered (i) 3 times per day for 7 days, followed by (ii) once per day for 7 days.
- the dosage regimens for the administration of a pharmaceutical composition according to the present description comprise 15 mg/0.1 ml or 20 mg/0.1 ml by nasal administration.
- the composition is administered (i) 3 times per day in each nostril for 7 days, followed by (ii) 1 time per day in each nostril for 7 days.
- the pharmaceutical composition is used for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment.
- the dosage and frequency of administration may vary depending on whether the treatment is prophylactic or therapeutic.
- relatively low doses are administered over long periods at relatively infrequent intervals. Some patients continue to receive treatment for the rest of their lives.
- relatively high doses at relatively short intervals may be required until disease progression is reduced or halted, preferably until the patient exhibits partial or complete improvement in symptoms of disease. Thereafter, the patient may be given a prophylactic regimen.
- the actual dosage levels of the active principles of the pharmaceutical compositions according to the present description are not toxic for the patient in order to obtain the desired therapeutic response for the individual, in particular the composition and the mode of administration. It is possible to vary them to obtain an effective amount of active principle.
- the dosage level selected depends on the particular composition used, or the activity of its ester, salt or amide, route of administration, time of administration, rate of elimination of the particular compound used, duration of treatment, other drugs, compounds and /or substances used in combination with a particular composition, age, sex, weight, condition, general health and medical history of the individual to be treated, and similar factors well known in the medical field.
- the dosage level may also vary depending on various pharmacokinetic factors.
- a therapeutically effective dose can prevent or delay the onset of a disease or condition related to infection by a virus of the species SARS-CoV, in particular SARS-CoV-2.
- laboratory tests used to diagnose disease include chemistry, hematology, serology, and radiology.
- clinical or biochemical tests that monitor any of the above can be used to determine if a particular treatment is a therapeutically effective dose to treat disease.
- One skilled in the art can determine such amounts depending on such factors as the size of the individual, the severity of the individual's symptoms, and the particular composition or route of administration chosen.
- a polypeptide of formula (I) or a composite polypeptide as described herein can be associated with a biodegradable nanoparticle in order to control the release of the polypeptide once administered to an individual.
- a biodegradable nanoparticle associated with a polypeptide of formula (I) or a composite polypeptide can be incorporated into a pharmaceutical composition as described here to provide a controlled delivery system for the polypeptide once administered to an individual.
- a biodegradable nanoparticle suitable for the present description can consist of non-toxic biodegradable polymers. Such a nanoparticle is in particular described, for example, in the document Soppimath et al. J Control Release. 2001 Jan 29;70(l-2):l-20 or Al-Halifa et al. Frontiers in Immunology. Flight. 10. 2019.
- a biodegradable nanoparticle can be used as a delivery vehicle based on the attachment of a polypeptide of formula (I) or a composite polypeptide to the surface of the nanoparticle.
- a biodegradable nanoparticle can be composed of biodegradable polymers.
- a biodegradable polymer constituting a nanoparticle can be chosen from poly-lactic-co-glycolic acids (PLGA), poly-lactic acid (PLA), poly-caprolactone (PCL), polyglycolide (PGA), poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) (PACA), poly(amino acid) and a mixture thereof.
- the use of a biodegradable nanoparticle can have the advantage of protecting the polypeptide from early degradation after in vivo administration, but also of controlling the release of the polypeptide in terms of localization but also of duration.
- the nanoparticle is naturally degraded and thus allows the release of the polypeptide in the organism where it was administered.
- a biodegradable nanoparticle has a set of physicochemical characteristics, including size, surface charge, reactivity, shape, porosity and hydrophobicity. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, these physicochemical properties will be determined and adapted according to the type of administration chosen and the characteristics of the polypeptide chosen. Thus, the person skilled in the art can, using his general knowledge, adapt the physicochemical properties of the biodegradable nanoparticle so that the nanoparticle is suitable for an association and an effective release of a polypeptide as described here. A person skilled in the art can in particular modify the polymer concentration and/or the synthesis method for this purpose.
- Biodegradable nanoparticles can be synthesized by nano precipitation. Such a nanoparticle synthesis method is in particular described in the document Stephan et al., International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Volume 532, Issue 1, 2017, Pages 66-81, the document Megy, S. et al. Nanomate. Basel Switz. 10, E2209 (2020) or Lamrayah, M. et al. Int. J.Pharm. 568, 118569 (2019).
- the polypeptides are then adsorbed onto the surface of the nanoparticle before being introduced into an appropriate pharmaceutical composition and administered to an individual.
- the polypeptide is thus found on the surface of the nanoparticle to then be released in the body once the nanoparticle has biodegraded.
- compositions according to the present description can be administered according to one or more methods known in the field, by one or more routes of administration.
- routes of administration As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the route of administration and/or mode of administration will vary depending on the desired result.
- compositions according to the present description or the polypeptides of formula (I) according to the present description can be administered orally, parenterally, by inhalation, by aerosol, by spraying, by the topical route, by the rectal, nasal, buccal, vaginal, ophthalmological or via an implanted reservoir.
- compositions according to the present description or the polypeptides of formula (I) according to the present description are administered orally, intraperitoneally, intravenously, intranasally or by inhalation.
- Sterile injectable forms of the compositions of this invention may be aqueous or oleaginous suspensions. These suspensions can be formulated according to techniques known in the art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents.
- compositions according to the present description can be administered intranasally.
- the infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus starting in the nasal cavities and replicating in the upper airways before reaching the lower respiratory tract the administration of a composition pharmaceutical as described above intranasally and / or orally has the advantage of blocking and neutralizing the multiplication of the virus before its progression and the infection of the cells in the airways inside the lungs, in particular the bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli.
- Administration by the nasal route or by the oral route thus has the advantage of making it easier for the individual to take the pharmaceutical composition and of providing prophylactic protection for the individual.
- compositions according to the present description can also be administered by nasal aerosol or by inhalation.
- a pharmaceutical composition as described herein may comprise a polypeptide of formula (I) or a composite polypeptide coupled to an adhesion protein as defined herein. All of the characteristics and particular modes relating to the polypeptide of formula (I), to the composite polypeptide and to the pharmaceutical composition comprising it, also apply to the uses and methods targeted according to the present description.
- polypeptide of formula (I), said composite polypeptide according to the present description or said pharmaceutical composition comprising said polypeptide of formula (I) or composite polypeptide can be implemented as a medicament.
- the uses and methods as described herein can be carried out in vitro, in vivo or ex vivo.
- the present description relates to a polypeptide of formula (I), a composite polypeptide or a pharmaceutical composition according to the present description for use as a medicament.
- the present description relates to a polypeptide of formula (I) or a pharmaceutical composition comprising a polypeptide of formula (I):
- - Nt consists of a peptide chosen from SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29 SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52 and SEQ ID NO. 53;
- - Ct consists of a peptide having a length of 1 to 100 amino acids
- - SBP consists of a peptide, whose variable amino acids are identical or different from one SBP to another, of formula (II)
- - Xi is an amino acid chosen from A (Alanine), E (Glutamic Acid), T (Threonine), S (Serine), P (Proline), V (Valine), G (Glycine), L (Leucine), K (Lysine), R (Arginine), W (Tryptophan), Y (Tyrosine);
- - X2 is an amino acid chosen from N (Asparagine), A (Alanine), D (Aspartic acid), T (Threonine), R (Arginine), S (Serine), Q (Glutamine), Y (Tyrosine), G (Glycine), E (Glutamic Acid), L (Leucine), F (Phenylalanine), W (Tryptophan), N (Asparagine), ;
- - X3 is an amino acid chosen from I (Isoleucine), Q (Glutamine), R (Arginine), Y (Tyrosine), K (Lysine), T (Threonine), V (Valine), L (Leucine), A ( Alanine), F (Phenylalanine), E (Glutamic Acid), S (Serine), M (Methionine), W (Tryptophan);
- - X4 is an amino acid chosen from S (Serine), E (Glutamic Acid), T (Threonine), A (Alanine), R (Arginine), G (Glycine), L (Leucine), V (Valine), N (Asparagine);
- - Xs is an amino acid chosen from A (Alanine), S (Serine), R (Arginine), T (Threonine), N (Asparagine), F (Phenylalanine), V (Valine), G (Glycine), L ( Leucine), D (Aspartic Acid), Y (Tyrosine), K (Lysine), R (Arginine), E (Glutamic Acid), W (Tryptophan), N (Asparagine), Q (Glutamine), I (Isoleucine); And
- - X ⁇ is an amino acid chosen from K (Lysine), Q (Glutamine), E (Glutamic Acid), for its use as a medicament.
- the present description relates to a polypeptide of formula (I) chosen from the polypeptides of sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 7, and SEQ ID NO. 10 or a composite polypeptide comprising such a polypeptide of formula (I), for its use as a medicament.
- a pharmaceutical composition according to the present description, a polypeptide of formula (I) according to the present description or a composite polypeptide according to the present description can in particular be used in a therapeutic method for treating and /or prevent a disease or condition caused by infection with a virus of the species SARS-CoV, in particular SARS-CoV-2, in an individual in need thereof.
- a pharmaceutical composition according to the present description, a polypeptide of formula (I) or a composite polypeptide according to the present description can be used in a therapeutic method for treating and/or preventing a disease or a condition caused by infection with a virus of the species SARS-CoV, in particular SARS-CoV-2 in an individual in need thereof.
- a condition caused by infection by a virus of the species SARS-CoV, in particular SARS-CoV-2 can be a severe respiratory distress syndrome, a cardiovascular condition, a vascular condition, a gastrointestinal or neurological condition.
- a disease caused by infection with a virus of the SARS-CoV species, particularly SARS-CoV-2 may be COVID-19.
- a pharmaceutical composition according to the present description, a polypeptide of formula (I) or a composite polypeptide according to the present description for use in a method of treating or preventing an infection by a virus of the SARS-CoV species, particularly SARS-CoV-2, is intended to reduce inflammation associated with virus infection.
- a pharmaceutical composition according to the present description, a polypeptide of formula (I) or a composite polypeptide according to the present description for use in a method of treating or preventing an infection by a virus of the SARS-CoV species, in particular SARS-CoV-2, is intended to reduce the viral load of the virus.
- a pharmaceutical composition according to the present description, a polypeptide of formula (I) or a composite polypeptide according to the present description may be particularly suitable for use in a method of treatment or prevention of an infectious disease , in particular for inhibiting or destroying cells infected with a virus of the SARS-CoV species, in particular SARS-CoV-2, infectious.
- an infectious disease may be a respiratory infectious disease called COVID-19.
- polypeptide of formula (I), the composite polypeptide or the pharmaceutical composition as described herein can also be used in combination with another therapy using antivirals or antipathogens.
- a polypeptide of formula (I) can be administered in combination with one or more molecules targeting enzymes, such as proteases, encoded by the SARS-CoV-2 genome or the viral RNA polymerase.
- a virus of the SARS-CoV species is characterized by at least one RBD domain having at least 72% amino acid identity with the protein of sequence SEQ ID NO. 56.
- a virus of the SARS-CoV species is characterized by at least one protein of sequence SEQ ID NO. 56.
- a virus of the SARS-CoV species may be a SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- a SARS-CoV-2 virus comprises the wild-type strain of SARS-CoV-2 and/or one of its variants.
- the wild strain of SARS-CoV-2 consists of the Wuhan-Hu-1 form (NCBI Reference Sequence: NC_045512.2).
- a variant of SARS-CoV-2 can be selected from the alpha variant, the beta variant, the gamma variant, the delta variant, and the kappa variant.
- the alpha variant carries the N501Y substitution in the RBD domain according to EU numbering, compared to the S protein of wild-type SARS-CoV-2.
- the beta variant carries the substitutions K417H, E484K and N501Y in the RBD domain according to the EU numbering, compared to the S protein of wild-type SARS-CoV-2.
- the gamma variant carries the substitutions K417T, E484K and N501Y in the RBD domain according to EU numbering, compared to the S protein of wild-type SARS-CoV-2.
- the delta variant carries the L452R and T478K substitutions in the RBD domain according to EU numbering, compared to the S protein of wild-type SARS-CoV-2.
- the kappa variant carries the L452R and E484Q substitutions in the RBD domain according to EU numbering, compared to the S protein of wild-type SARS-CoV-2.
- the SI subunit consisting of the first 681 amino acids of the S protein was fused at its C-terminal end to a histidine tag (8xHis) for expression in HEK-293T cells and purification (provided by CreativeDiagnostics).
- a DNA segment coding for the RBD domain (highlighted in bold in SEQ ID NO. 55) placed downstream of a segment coding for a signal peptide and upstream of a sequence coding for a His-Tag was expressed by transient transfection of HEK-293T cells using the pCI expression vector.
- the RBD domain (SEQ ID NO. 56, highlighted in bold in SEQ ID NO. 57) is positioned between a signal peptide to ensure its translocation and a histidine tag (SEQ ID NO. 57).
- RBD domain Purification of the RBD domain was performed by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography followed by gel filtration and concentration. Then, 0.3 mg of SI and 5 mg of RBD domain were used for aReps screening.
- aRep genes corresponding to proteins having a high binding affinity to the S1 subunit and of the RBD domain were subcloned using the BamHI-HindIII restriction sites in the plasmid pQE81 for amplification.
- pQE81 derivatives were used for transformation of Rosetta E. coli cells and the resulting clones were grown at 37°C in 2XYT broth supplemented with ampicillin (100 ⁇ g/ml) and chloramphenicol (40 ⁇ g/ml ) under stirring. When the absorbance at 600 nm reached 0.8 to 1, the expression of the protein aRep was induced by adding 0.5-1 mM IPTG, and cells were then incubated for 4-12 hours at 28°C or 37°C with shaking.
- the bacteria were pelleted by centrifugation (5,000 x g for 30 minutes at 4°C), and the bacterial cell pellets were resuspended in 200 mM NaCl, 20 mM Tris pH 7.4 to 8, depending on the point. isoelectric of the protein, containing a cocktail of protease inhibitors (Roche Diagnostics GmbH), then lysed by sonication in ice (5 times x (30 s of rest and 30 s of sonication at approximately 40% amplitude) using a QSONICA Q700 sonicator). Bacterial cell lysates were clarified by centrifugation at 10,000 x g for 30 minutes at 4°C.
- the soluble recombinant aReps proteins, labeled 6xHis, were purified by affinity chromatography on HisTrap columns (GE Healthcare Life Sciences) and eluted by an imidazole buffer gradient (equilibration buffer: 40 mM Imidazole, 300 mM NaCl, 20 mM Tris pH8, Elution Buffer: IM Imidazole, 300 mM NaCl, 20 mM Tris pH 8).
- the fractions of interest were pooled and injected into a Superdex S200 gel filtration previously equilibrated with PB S.
- the resulting fractions were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and the fractions containing the purified aReps were pooled and frozen at -20°C.
- the His-tagged RBD or SI protein of SARS-CoV-2 was loaded onto HislK biosensors (Pali ForteBio) to a loading threshold of 1 nm.
- HislK biosensors Pali ForteBio
- assay buffer PBS [pH 7.4], 0.1% bovine serum albumin, 0.05% Tween 20
- the ligand-loaded sensors were immersed in concentrations known to aReps for an association phase followed by a dissociation phase induced by the replacement of the solutions containing the aReps by the buffer alone.
- Association and dissociation curves were globally fitted to a 1:1 binding model. Binding curves were fitted using the "association then dissociation" equation in GraphPad Prism to calculate the dissociation constant (KD). The lower the KD value, the higher the binding affinity between the aReps and its target, RBD or SI.
- Supernatants containing pseudotyped particles were harvested at 48 h, 72 h and 96 h after transfection, pooled and filtered through 0.45 ⁇ m pore membranes. The day before transduction, 50,000 HEK293T cells expressing ACE2 were placed in each well of a 24-well plate. The amount of pseudotyped particles used per well is established beforehand to obtain a signal of approximately 10 5 (in arbitrary fluorescence units) three days after transduction. 10 in 10 dilutions of the alphaReps were made in complete medium (DMEM + 2% FBS + PSG) and were preincubated for 1 h at room temperature with the SARS-CoV-2PPs in a final volume of 200 pL.
- complete medium DMEM + 2% FBS + PSG
- SARS-CoV-2 isolate France/IDF0372/2020, was provided by the National Reference Center for Respiratory Viruses hosted by the Pasteur Institute (Paris, France) Mutant neutralization experiments were performed with pseudo -types of protein S mutants representative of the RBD of the different variants tested.
- Viral stocks were prepared by propagation in Vero E6 cells in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 2% (v/v) fetal bovine serum (FBS, Invitrogen). Viral titers were determined by the plaque assay. All plaque assays involving live SARS-CoV-2 were performed in an approved laboratory, in biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) containment.
- DMEM Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium
- FBS fetal bovine serum
- Cell viability was measured by removing 100 ⁇ l of supernatant from all wells and adding 100 ⁇ l of CellTiter-Glo reagent as described in the manufacturer's protocol (CellTiter-Glo Luminescent Cell Viability Assay). The luminescence was read after 2 minutes of shaking on an orbital shaker and quantified using the Infinite M200Pro TECAN device.
- the SARS-CoV-2 isolate (BetaCoV/IdF0372/2020) was provided by Pr. Manuguerra (Institut Pasteur). After two amplification passages on the VeroEô line (ATCC) the seed stock was titrated in VeroEô cells to a concentration of 6.0 log10 TCID50/ml. Seed stock was thawed and diluted in cold phosphate buffered saline (PBS) before infection.
- PBS cold phosphate buffered saline
- the experiments were carried out on 16 male Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) aged 10 weeks and supplied by the company Janvier Labs. The animals were housed alone in a cage in a BSL-III security level animal facility.
- the animals were bred according to INRAE guidelines in compliance with resolution No. 493 on the protection of animal welfare within the European Union. The animals were checked daily for overt signs of disease.
- Two groups of eight hamsters were instilled intranasally with 0.8 mg of composite aRep F9-C2 or 0.8 mg of aRep H7 (control aReps recognizing an influenza virus protein. SEQ ID NO. 63) in a volume of 80 ⁇ L of PBS. After 1 h, the animals were infected intranasally with 5.10 3 TCID50 of SARS-CoV-2 (diluted in 80 pL of DMEM. The animals were weighed daily and daily nasal swabs made it possible to measure the rate of production of particles viral infections during the infection. Subsequently, the animals were euthanized after 1 or 3 days post infection (D1/D3, i.e. 4 hamsters per group). On each animal, the olfactory mucosa (major site of viral replication in the respiratory sphere) and part of the lungs were removed for molecular analyses.
- a first test was carried out by measuring the rate of attachment and dissociation of aReps concentrated at 1 pM on the RBD domain (Fig. 1). At this concentration, aReps C2, C12, F9, Gl, H10 and H12 have low dissociation rates unlike C7, D7 and F7.
- the dissociation constant (KD) was calculated for the C2 and F9 aReps on the RBD domain and SI subunit (Fig. 2A-2B-2C-2D). They are 0.29 nM for C2 and F9 (Figs 2A and 2C) on RBD and 0.31 nM for C2 (Fig. 2B) and 1.16 nM for F9 (Fig. 2D) on SI domain, this which makes them monovalent ligands of interest.
- the avidity of the F9-C2 composite aRep is 0.091 nM, providing increased efficiency compared to F9 or C2 alone (Fig. 2E).
- the neutralizing power of aReps was measured by pre-incubating aRep dilutions with pseudotyped particles expressing the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 before depositing the mixture on target cells, as described previously.
- the ability of virions to infect target cells is measured by the expression of a reporter gene, that of firefly luciferase, present in the virions.
- Pseudotyped particles contain a reporter gene (firefly luciferase) that quantifies the ability of alphaReps to block infection.
- the infection is calibrated beforehand in the absence of alphaRep to obtain a signal/background ratio greater than 1000.
- aRep H7 does not neutralize the virus.
- a first consisted in constructing dimers covalently associating the aReps C2 and F9, namely the constructs C2-F9 (SEQ ID NO. 13) and F9-C2 (SEQ ID NO. 12) in which the two aReps are separated by a spacer domain of 25 amino acids consisting of serines and glycines (SEQ ID NO. 19).
- a second strategy consisted in multimerizing a sequence allowing trimerization, called here Foldon (SEQ ID NO. 54), at the C-terminal end of aReps.
- the non-covalently trimerizing aRep-foldon protein The non-covalently trimerizing aRep-foldon protein.
- the F9-C2 and C2-foldon composite constructs (SEQ ID NO. 14) were expressed efficiently.
- F9-C2 and C2-foldon composite constructions are highly water soluble. This allows, in particular, a better production yield.
- the neutralizing power of F aRep composite F9-C2 was quantified as before by mixing dilutions of F aRep composite F9-C2 with fixed amounts of particles pseudo-typed with protein S or SARS-CoV-2 virus (Fig. 4A-AB).
- the pseudo-typed particles contain a reporter gene (firefly luciferase) which makes it possible to quantify the inhibitory power of alphaReps.
- the infection is calibrated beforehand to obtain a signal / background ratio greater than 1000.
- the F9-C2 construct very effectively neutralizes particles pseudotyped with protein S as well as the SARS-CoV-2 virus and more effectively than C2 alone as well as F9 and C2 together (F9+C2).
- LTC50 of F9-C2 on SARS-CoV-2 is 8 nM while those of C2 and F9 are around 250 nM (Table 1).
- Fig. 5 shows that C2-foldon neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 more effectively than C2 alone, and that its neutralizing activity is of the same order of magnitude, or even greater, than that of the composite aRep F9-C2.
- the C2-C2-C2 composite aRep also has superior neutralizing activity to C2 alone (not shown). These couplings increase the avidity for the S protein of SARS-CoV-2.
- Pseudotyped MLVs carrying the RBD domain-specific mutations of the alpha, beta, gamma and delta/kappa variants were produced to carry out infections of HEK-293T-ACE2 cells.
- the S proteins produced carry the N501Y mutation (representative of the alpha variant), the mutations K417N, E484K, N501Y (representative of the beta variant), K417T, E484K, N501Y (representative of the gamma variant) and L452R, E484Q (representative of the delta/ kappa).
- Figs 6a-6b and Figs 6c-6d-6e show that the neutralizing power of F9-C2 is not or only slightly affected on the mutants representative of the alpha and beta variants if they are compared to the type strain Wuhan-Hu-1 .
- the neutralizing power of F9-C2 is moderately affected on the representative mutant of the gamma variant.
- the mutant representative of the delta and kappa variants is less well neutralized by F9-C2 than its counterparts.
- the four variants analyzed are all more sensitive to the neutralization of F9-C2 than F9 and C2 alone, underlining the cooperative effect associated with the multimerization of F9 and C2.
- Antiviral activity of composite aRep F9-C2 in vivo in a hamster model The antiviral activity of composite aRep F9-C2 was measured in the Syrian golden hamster model, which reflects the non-severe syndromes of human infections in terms of cell tropism, weight loss and kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 presence.
- Nasal inoculation of the composite aRep F9-C2 1 h before SARS-CoV-2 infection limits the presence of the virus in the olfactory mucosa by a factor of 30 on D1 and by a factor of 2.3 on D3 post infection compared to nasal inoculation of an aRep (H7) unrelated to SARS-CoV-2 (Fig. 7A). In the lungs, it is limited by a factor of 5 and 2.5 on D1 and D3, respectively.
- the antiviral efficacy of aReps was also evaluated by measuring the production of infectious viral particles produced in the nasal cavity of infected animals. It is reduced by a factor of 50 on D2 at the peak of production (Fig. 7B).
- the aReps of the present disclosure exhibit highly specific activity for the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 and provide strong neutralization of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in vitro and in vivo.
- C2, F9 and H12 have a strong neutralizing and protective activity, more particularly C2.
- Homologous (C2-C2-C2 or C2-foldon) or heterologous (F9-C2) multimerization of aRep increases neutralizing activity.
- the composite aRep F9-C2 has protective activity in a hamster infection model.
- a polypeptide formula (I) or a composite polypeptide according to the present description is capable of treating and/or preventing a condition caused by an infection with SARS-CoV-2.
- the aRep polypeptide is present longer at the surface of the nasal cavity and remains in contact with antigens, in particular viruses, improving its therapeutic or preventive efficacy against an infection with a virus.
- SEQ ID NO. 17 MRGSHHHHHH
- SEQ ID NO. 19 binding peptide: GGGGSGGGGSGGGGSGGGGSGGGGS
- SEQ ID NO. 36 aRep DIO:
- SEQ ID NO. 40 aRep G5:
- SEQ ID NO. 51 (Nt of G3): MRGSHHHHHHTDPEKVEMYIKNLQDDSGTIEDRI
- SEQ ID NO. 55 segment d'ADN codant pour « peptide signal-RBD-His tag » ctcgagATGGGCATCCTGCCCAGCCCCGGAATGCCCGCTCTGCTGTCCCTGGTGTCCC TGCTGTCCGTGCTGCTGATGGGCTGCGTGGCCGAGACCGGCACCAGAGTGCAGCC CACCGAGTCCATCGTGCGCTTTCCCAACATCACAAACCTGTGCCCCTTCGGC GAGGTGTTCAACGCCACCAGGTTCGCCAGCGTGTACGCTTGGAATAGAAAGA GAATCTAACTGCGTGGCCGACTACTCCGTGCTGTACAACAGCGCCAGCTT CAGCACCTTCAAGTGCTATGGCGTGAGCCCCACAAAGCTGAACGATCTGTGT TTCACCAACGTGTACGCCGACTCCTTCGTGATTAGAGGCGACGAGGTGAGGC AGATTGCCCCAGGCCAGACCGGCAAGATCGCCGACTATAACTACAAACTGCC CGACGACTTCACCGGCTGCGTGATCG
- SEQ ID NO. 57 Peptide signal-RBD-His tag
- SEQ ID NO. 60 ACTGCCGCATCCTCTTCCT
- SEQ ID NO. 61 TCGTTGCCAATGGTGATGAC
- Nter to Cter 1st X being A, E, T, S, P, V, G, L, K, R, W or Y; 2nd X being N, A, D, T, R, S, Q, Y, G, E, L, F, W or N; 3rd X being I, Q, R, Y, K, T, V, L, A, F, E, S, M or W; 4th X being S, E, T, A, R, G, L, V or N; 5th X being A, S, R, T, N, F, G, G, L, D, Y, K, R, E, W, N or Q; 6th X being K, Q or E
- SEQ ID NO. 64 SARS-CoV-2 RBD domain gene
- SEQ ID NO. 65 StcE protein
- SEQ ID NO. 66 Adhesion protein (X409)
- CoV-AbDab the coronavirus antibody database.
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