T cell epitopes of ryegrass pollen allergen Number:7,112,333 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent The present invention provides isolated peptides of Lol p V, a major protein allergen of the species Lolium perenne. Therapeutic peptides within the scope of the invention comprise at least one T cell epitope, or preferably at least two T cell epitopes of a protein allergen of Lol p V. Diagnostic peptides within the scope of the invention bind IgE. The invention also provides modified peptides having similar or enhanced therapeutic properties or other desirable properties as the corresponding, naturally-occurring allergen or portion thereof. The invention further provides nucleic acid sequences coding for peptides of the invention. Use of the therapeutic compositions comprising one or more peptides of the invention in the manufacture of medicaments for treating sensitivity to Lol p V or an allergen immunologically related to Lol p V, or for general ryegrass sensitivity in an individual, is also provided. The invention also provides nucleic acid sequence coding for Dac g V protein allergen as well as the amino acid sequence of Dac g V protein allergen.<H allergen, ryegrass, T, cell, epitopes, 7112333.html, Patent, pto, 7112333

Title: T cell epitopes of ryegrass pollen allergen

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated peptides of Lol p V, a major protein allergen of the species Lolium perenne. Therapeutic peptides within the scope of the invention comprise at least one T cell epitope, or preferably at least two T cell epitopes of a protein allergen of Lol p V. Diagnostic peptides within the scope of the invention bind IgE. The invention also provides modified peptides having similar or enhanced therapeutic properties or other desirable properties as the corresponding, naturally-occurring allergen or portion thereof. The invention further provides nucleic acid sequences coding for peptides of the invention. Use of the therapeutic compositions comprising one or more peptides of the invention in the manufacture of medicaments for treating sensitivity to Lol p V or an allergen immunologically related to Lol p V, or for general ryegrass sensitivity in an individual, is also provided. The invention also provides nucleic acid sequence coding for Dac g V protein allergen as well as the amino acid sequence of Dac g V protein allergen.

Patent Number: 7,112,333 Issued on 09/26/2006 to Griffith, et al.

Inventors: Griffith; Irwin J. (Edmonton, CA), Kuo; Mei-Chang (Palo Alto, CA), Luqman; Mohammad (Acton, MA)
Assignee: Heska Corporation (Loveland, CO)

Appl. No.: 08/737,904

Filed: August 5, 1994

PCT Filed: August 05, 1994

PCT No.: PCT/US94/09024

371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: November 20, 1996

PCT Pub. No.: WO95/06728

PCT Pub. Date: March 09, 1995

Current U.S. Class: 424/275.1 ; 424/185.1; 424/276.1; 514/12; 514/13; 514/14; 514/15; 514/16; 514/2; 514/885; 530/324; 530/325; 530/326; 530/327; 530/328; 530/329; 530/370; 530/868

Current International Class: A61K 38/04 (20060101); A61K 38/10 (20060101); C07K 7/00 (20060101); C07K 7/06 (20060101)

Field of Search: 424/185.1,275.1,276.1 514/2,12,13,14,15,16,885 530/324,325,326,327,328,329,370,868

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


5721119	February 1998	Singh et al.

Foreign Patent Documents


WO 93/04174	Mar., 1993	WO
WO 94/04564	Mar., 1994	WO
WO 95/06728	Mar., 1995	WO

Other References

Perez et al. J. Biol. Chem., 27:16210-16215, 1990. cited by examiner .
Hurtenbach, U. et al.,"Prevention of Autoimmune Diabetes in Non-Obese Diabetic Mice by Treatment with a Class II Major Histocompatibility Complex-blocking Peptide", J. Exp. Med., vol. 177 pp. 1499-1504 (1993). cited by other .
Klysner, S. et al.,"Group V Allergens in grass pollens: IV. Similarities in amino acid compositions and NH2-terminal sequences of the Group V allergens from Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis and Dactylis glomerata", Clin. and Experimental Allergy, vol. 22 pp. 491-497 (1992). cited by othe- r .
Matthiesen, F. et al.,"Group V allergens in grass pollens. II. Investigation of group V allergens in pollens from 10 grasses",Clin. and Experimental Allergy, vol. 21 pp. 309-320 (1991). cited by other .
Roberts, A. et al.,"N-Terminal Amino Acid Sequence Homologies of Group V Grass Pollen Allergens", Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol., vol. 98 pp. 178-180 (1992). cited by other .
Singh, M. et al.,"Isolation of cDNA encoding a newly identified major allergenic protein of rye-grass pollen: Intracellular targeting to the amyloplast", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., vol. 88 pp. 1384-1388 (1991). cited by other .
van Ree, R. et al.,"Characterization with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies of a new major allergen from grass pollen in the group I molecular weight range", J. Allergy Clin. Immunol., vol. 83 No. 1, pp. 144-151 (1989). cited by other .
Zhang, L. et al.,"Allergenic and Antigenic Cross-Reactivities of Group IX Grass Pollen Allergens", Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol., vol. 96 pp. 28-34 (1991). cited by other.

Primary Examiner: Schwadron; Ronald B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lahive & Cockfield, LLP

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A composition consisting of a combination of peptides selected from the group of combinations consisting of: COMBINATION (a): LPIX-4 (SEQ ID NO:6), LPIX-5 (SEQ ID NO:7), LPIX-6 (SEQ ID NO:8), LPIX-16 (SEQ ID NO:18), LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (b): LPIX-4 (SEQ ID NO:6), LPIX-5 (SEQ ID NO:7), LPIX-6 (SEQ ID NO:8), LPIX-12 (SEQ ID NO:14), LPIX-16 (SEQ ID NO:18), LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); LPIX-4 (SEQ ID NO:6), LPIX-5 (SEQ ID NO:7), LPIX-6 (SEQ ID NO:8), LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (c): LPIX-4 (SEQ ID NO:6), LPIX-5 (SEQ ID NO:7), LPIX-6 (SEQ ID NO:8), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (d): LPIX-4 (SEQ ID NO:6), LPIX-5 (SEQ ID NO:7), LPIX-6 (SEQ ID NO:8), LPIX-11 (SEQ ID NO: 13), LPIX-12 (SEQ ID NO:14), LPIX-16 (SEQ ID NO:18), LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (e): LPIX-4 (SEQ ID NO:6), LPIX-5 (SEQ ID NO:7), LPIX-6 (SEQ ID NO:8), LPIX-8 (SEQ ID NO: 10), LPIX-9 (SEQ ID NO: 11), LPIX-11 (SEQ ID NO: 13), LPIX-12 (SEQ ID NO:14), LPIX-16 (SEQ ID NO:18), LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), LPIX-19 (SEQ ID NO: 21), LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22), LPIX-23 (SEQ ID NO:25), and LPIX-26 (SEQ ID NO:28); COMBINATION (f): LPIX-4 (SEQ ID NO:6), LPIX-11 (SEQ ID NO: 13), LPIX-16 (SEQ ID NO:18), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (g): LPIX-4 (SEQ ID NO:6), LPIX-11 (SEQ ID NO: 13), LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); LPIX-4 (SEQ ID NO:6), LPIX-16 (SEQ ID NO:18), LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (h): LPIX-5 (SEQ ID NO:7), LPIX-11 (SEQ ID NO: 13), LPIX-16 (SEQ ID NO:18), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (i): LPIX-5 (SEQ ID NO:7), LPIX-11 (SEQ ID NO: 13), LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (j): LPIX-5 (SEQ ID NO:7), LPIX-16 (SEQ ID NO:18), LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (k): LPIX-11 (SEQ ID NO: 13), LPIX-16 (SEQ ID NO:18), LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); LPIX-4 (SEQ ID NO:6), LPIX-11 (SEQ ID NO: 13), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (l): LPIX-4 (SEQ ID NO:6), LPIX-16 (SEQ ID NO:18), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (m): LPIX-4 (SEQ ID NO:6), LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (n): LPIX-5 (SEQ ID NO:7), LPIX-11 (SEQ ID NO: 13), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (o): LPIX-5 (SEQ ID NO:7), LPIX-16(SEQ ID NO:18), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (p): LPIX-11 (SEQ ID NO: 13), LPIX-16 (SEQ ID NO:18), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (q): LPIX-11 (SEQ ID NO: 13), LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (r): LPIX-16 (SEQ ID NO:18), LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (s): LPIX-5 (SEQ ID NO:7), LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (t): LPIX-4 (SEQ ID NO:6), LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (u): LPIX-5 (SEQ ID NO:7), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (v): LPIX-6 (SEQ ID NO:8), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (w): LPIX-11 (SEQ ID NO: 13), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (x): LPIX-12 (SEQ ID NO:14), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); COMBINATION (y): LPIX-16 (SEQ ID NO:18), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22); and COMBINATION (z): LPIX-17 (SEQ ID NO:19), and LPIX-20 (SEQ ID NO:22).

2. A composition consisting of the composition of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Stage of PCT/US94/09024, filed Aug. 5, 1994 (published in English), which claims benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/106,016, filed Aug. 13, 1993 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Allergens constitute the most abundant proteins of grass pollen, which is the major cause of allergic disease in temperate climates (Marsh (1975) Allergens and the genetics of allergy; in M. Sela (ed.), The Antigens, Vol. 3, pp 271 359, Academic Press Inc., London, N.Y.)., Hill et al. (1979) Medical Journal of Australia, 1:426 429). The first descriptions of the allergenic proteins in ryegrass showed that they are immunochemically distinct, and are known as groups I, II, III and IV (Johnson and Marsh (1965) Nature, 206:935 942; and Johnson and Marsh (1966) Immunochemistry, 3:91 100). Using the International Union of Immunological Societies' (IUIS) nomenclature, these allergens are designated Lol p I, Lol p II, Lol p III and Lol p IV. In addition, another important Lolium perenne L. allergen that has been identified in the literature is Lol p IX which is also known as Lol p V or Lol p Ib (Singh et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci, USA, 88:1384 1388).

These five proteins have been identified in pollen ryegrass, Lolium perenne L., and act as antigens in triggering immediate (Type 1) hypersensitivity in susceptible humans.

Lol p V is defined as an allergen because of its ability to bind to specific IgE in sera of ryegrass-sensitive patients, to act as an antigen in IgG responses and to trigger T-cell responses. The allergenic properties have been demonstrated by immunoblotting studies showing 80% of ryegrass pollen sensitive patients possessed specific IgE antibody that bound to Lol p V isoforms (PCT application publication number WO 93/04174, page 65). These results indicate that Lol p V is a major ryegrass allergen.

Substantial allergenic cross-reactivity between grass pollens has been demonstrated using an IgE-binding assay, the radioallergo-sorbent test (RAST), for example, as described by Marsh et al. (1970) J. Allergy, 46, 107 121, and Lowenstein (1978) Prog. Allergy, 25, 1 62. (Karger, Basel).

The immunochemical relationship of Lol p V with other grass pollen antigens have been demonstrated using both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies (Zhang et al., Int. Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 96:28 34 (1991); Roberts et al., Int. Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 98:178 180 (1992); Mattheisen and Lowenstein, Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 21:309 320 (1991); and van Ree et al., J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 83:144 151 (1989)). Antibodies have been prepared to purified proteins that bind IgE components. These data demonstrate that a major allergen is present in pollen of closely related grasses is immunochemically similar to Lol p V and are generally characterized as Group V allergens.

In view of the prevalence of ryegrass pollen allergens and related grass allergens all over the world, there is a pressing need for the development of compositions and methods that could be used in detecting sensitivities to Lol p V or other immunologically related grass allergens, or in treating sensitivities to such allergens, or in assisting in the manufacture of medicaments to treat such sensitivities. The present invention provides materials and methods having one or more of those utilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides isolated peptides of Lol p V. Peptides within the scope of the invention comprise at least one T cell epitope, preferably at least two T cell epitopes of Lol p V. The invention further provides peptides comprising at least two regions, each region comprising at least one T cell epitope of Lol p V.

The invention also provides modified peptides having similar or enhanced therapeutic properties as the corresponding, naturally-occurring allergen or portion thereof, but having reduced side effects, as well as modified peptides having improved properties such as increased solubility and stability. Therapeutic peptides of the invention are capable of modifying, in a Lol p V-sensitive individual to whom they are administered, the allergic response of the individual to Lol p V or an allergen immunologically cross-reactive Lol p V e.g. allergens derived from pollen belonging to the Poacea (Graminae) family such as Dactylis glomerata, Dac g V.

Methods of treatment or of diagnosis of sensitivity to ryegrass pollen protein, Lol p V in an individual or to pollen proteins that are immunologically related to Lol p V such as Dac g V, and therapeutic compositions comprising one or more peptides of the invention are also provided.

The present invention also provides nucleic and amino acid sequences of Dac g V protein allergen which is immunologically cross-reative with Lol p V.

Further features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the appended figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B shows the nucleotide sequence of cDNA clone 12R (SEQ ID NO:1) and its predicted amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:2). Clone 12R is a full-length clone of Lol p V derived from a .lamda.gtII library (see PCT application publication number WO93/04174).

FIG. 2 shows peptides of the invention of various lengths derived from Lol p V (SEQ ID NO: 3 29, 60).

FIG. 3 shows peptides of various lengths derived from Lol p I (SEQ ID NO:30 53, 55, 56, 61, 62).

FIG. 4 is a graphic representation depicting the response of T cell lines from 19 patients primed in vitro with affinity purified Lol p V and analyzed for response to Lol p V peptides (derived from the Lol p V protein allergen) by percent of responses with a mean S.I. of at least 2 (indicated above each bar), the numbers enclosed in the parenthesis denote percentage of patients responding to the particular peptide, and the bar represents the positivity index for each peptide (% of patients responding multiplied by the mean S.I.).

FIG. 5 is a graphic representation derived from the same data shown in FIG. 4 showing the ranked sum for each peptide, the bar represents the cumulative rank of the peptide response in the group of 19 patients tested, above each bar in parenthesis is the percent of patients positively responding to each peptide, the S.I. is also indicated above each bar.

FIG. 6 is a graphic representation of the results of a direct ELISA, the source of IgE was a sample of pooled human plasma (PHP) designated PHP-A, and wherein the antigen is either soluble pollen extract (SPE) of ryegrass pollen, or bacterially expressed recombinant Lol p V (rLolpV).

FIG. 7 is a graphic representation of the results of a direct ELISA, the source of IgE was a sample of pooled human plasma (PHP) designated PHP-B and wherein the antigen is either soluble pollen extract (SPE) of ryegrass pollen, rLol pV.

FIG. 8 is a graphic representation of the results of a direct ELISA, the source of IgE was plasma from 4 individual patients, #1118, #1120, #1125, #1141, and wherein the antigen is ryegrass pollen SPE.

FIG. 9 is a graphic representation of the results of a direct ELISA the source of IgE was plasma from 4 individual patients, #1118, #1120, #1125, #1141, and wherein the antigen is rLol p V.

FIG. 10 is a graphic representation of the results of a competition ELISA, the source of IgE was a sample of pooled human plasma designated PHP-A, IgE binding was measured in the presence of ryegrass pollen SPE, affinity purified native Lol p V or rLol p V.

FIG. 11 is a graphic representation of the results of a competition ELISA, the source of IgE was plasma from individual patient #706 as a source of IgE, IgE binding was measured in the presence of ryegrass pollen SPE, affinity purified Lol p V or rLol p V.

FIG. 12 is a graphic representation of a histamine release assay to ryegrass pollen SPE and rLol p V.

FIG. 13a and FIG. 13b each show a graphic representation of a direct ELISA using a sample of pooled human plasma designated PHP-B as a source of IgE, and wherein the antigen was either a selected peptide derived from Lol p V or rLol p V.

FIG. 14 is a graphic representation of a competition ELISA using a sample of pooled human plasma designated PHP-B as a source of IgE, and wherein the antigens were a mixture of affinity purified Lol p I and Lol p V or a mixture of recombinant Lol p I (rLol p I) or rLol p V to compete for IgE binding to ryegrass pollen SPE.

FIG. 15 is a photograph of a Coomassie blue stained SDS-PAGE (12.5%) analysis of an Ab1B9-affinity purified native Lol p V, the sample was run under reducing conditions, the molecular weight standards are shown on the left.

FIG. 16A, FIG. 16B, and FIG. 16C show the nucleotide sequence of clone 259 (SEQ ID NO:57) of Dac g V, and its predicted amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:58), the nucleotide sequence of nucleotides 1 to 699 has been confirmed, and the nucleotide sequence of nucleotides 700 to 1181 are unconfirmed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides isolated peptides derived from Lol p V. The present invention also provides Dac g V protein allergen which is immunologically cross-reactive with Lol p V. As used herein, a "peptide" refers to any protein fragment of Lol p V that induces an immune response. The terms "fragment" and "antigenic fragment" as used herein refer to an amino acid sequence having fewer amino acid residues than the entire amino acid sequence of the protein from which the fragment is derived, and that induces an immune response. The terms "isolated" and "purified" as used herein refer to peptides of the invention which are substantially free of cellular material or culture medium when produced by recombinant DNA techniques, or substantially free of chemical precursors or other chemicals when synthesized chemically. As used herein, the term "peptide" of the invention include peptides derived from Lol p V which comprise at least one T cell epitope of the allergen or a portion of such peptide which comprises at least one T cell epitope.

Peptides comprising at least two regions, each region comprising at least one T cell epitope of Lol p V are also within the scope of the invention. Isolated peptides or regions of isolated peptides, each comprising at least two T cell epitopes of Lol p V protein allergen are particularly desirable for increased therapeutic effectiveness. Peptides which are immunologically related (e.g., by antibody or T cell cross-reactivity) to peptides of the present invention, such as peptides from Dac g V, are also within the scope of the invention. Peptides immunologically related by antibody cross-reactivity, are bound by antibodies specific for a peptide of Lol p V. Peptides immunologically related by T cell cross-reactivity are capable of reacting with the same T cells as a peptide of the invention.

Isolated peptides of the invention can be produced by recombinant DNA techniques in a host cell transformed with a nucleic acid having a sequence encoding such peptide. The isolated peptides of the invention can also be produced by chemical synthesis. When a peptide is produced by recombinant techniques, host cells transformed with a nucleic acid having a sequence encoding a peptide of the invention or the functional equivalent of the nucleic acid sequence are cultured in a medium suitable for the cells and peptides can be purified from cell culture medium, host cells, or both using techniques known in the art for purifying peptides and proteins including ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography, ultrafiltration, electrophoresis or immunopurification with antibodies specific for the peptide, the protein allergen from which the peptide is derived, or a portion thereof.

The present invention provides expression vectors and host cells transformed to express the nucleic acid sequences of the invention. Nucleic acid coding for a Lol p V peptide of the invention or at least one fragment thereof may be expressed in bacterial cells such as E. coli, insect cells, yeast, or mammalian cells such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO). Suitable expression vectors, promoters, enhancers, and other expression control elements may be found in Sambrook et al. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, second edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989. Other suitable expression vectors, promoters, enhancers, and other expression elements are known to those skilled in the art. Suitable vectors for expression in yeast include YepSec1 (Baldari et al. (1987) Embo J. 6: 229 234); pMFa (Kurjan and Herskowitz (1982) Cell 30: 933 943); JRY88 (Schultz et al. (1987) Gene 54: 113 123) and pYES2 (Invitrogen Corporation, San Diego, Calif.). These vectors are freely available. Baculovirus and mammalian expression systems are also available. For example, a baculovirus system is commercially available (PharMingen, San Diego, Calif.) for expression in insect cells while the pMSG vector is commercially available (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.) for expression in mammalian cells.

For expression in E. coli, suitable expression vectors include, among others, pTRC (Amann et al. (1988) Gene 69: 301 315); pGEX (Amrad Corp., Melbourne, Australia); pMAL (N.E. Biolabs, Beverly, Mass.); pRIT5 (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.); pET-11d (Novagen, Madison, Wis.) Jameel et al., (1990) J. Virol. 64:3963 3966; and pSEM (Knapp et al. (1990) BioTechniques 8: 280 281). The use of pTRC, and pET-11d, for example, will lead to the expression of unfused protein. The use of pMAL, pRIT5 pSEM and pGEX will lead to the expression of allergen fused to maltose E binding protein (pMAL), protein A (pRIT5), truncated .beta.-galactosidase (PSEM), or glutathione S-transferase (pGEX). When a Lol p V peptide of the invention is expressed as a fusion protein, it is particularly advantageous to introduce an enzymatic cleavage site at the fusion junction between the carrier protein and Lol p V peptide. The Lol p V peptide may then be recovered from the fusion protein through enzymatic cleavage at the enzymatic site and biochemical purification using conventional techniques for purification of proteins and peptides. Suitable enzymatic cleavage sites include those for blood clotting Factor Xa or thrombin for which the appropriate enzymes and protocols for cleavage are commercially available from, for example, Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, Mo. and N.E. Biolabs, Beverly, Mass. The different vectors also have different promoter regions allowing constitutive or inducible expression with, for example, IPTG induction (PRTC, Amann et al., (1988) supra; pET-11d, Novagen, Madison, Wis.) or temperature induction (pRIT5, Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.). It may also be appropriate to express recombinant Lol p V peptides in different E. coli hosts that have an altered capacity to degrade recombinantly expressed proteins (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,512). Alternatively, it may be advantageous to alter the nucleic acid sequence to use codons preferentially utilized by E. coli, where such nucleic acid alteration would not affect the amino acid sequence of the expressed protein.

Host cells can be transformed to express the nucleic acid sequences of the invention using conventional techniques such as calcium phosphate or calcium chloride co-precipitation, DEAE-dextran-mediated transfection, or electroporation. Suitable methods for transforming the host cells may be found in Sambrook et al. supra, and other laboratory textbooks. The nucleic acid sequences of the invention may also be chemically synthesized using standard techniques (i.e. solid phase synthesis). Details of the isolation and cloning of clone 12R encoding Lol p V (described as Lol p Ib.1) are given in PCT application Publication Number WO 93/04174 incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Inducible non-fusion expression vectors include pTrc (Amann et al., (1988) Gene, 69:301 315) and pET11d (Studier et al., Gene Expression Technology: Methods in Enzymology, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990), 185:60 89). While target gene expression relies on host RNA polymerase transcription from the hybrid trp-lac fusion promoter in pTrc, expression of target genes inserted into pET11d relies on transcription from the T7 gn10-lac 0 fusion promoter mediated by coexpressed viral RNA polymerase (T7 gn1). This viral polymerase is supplied by host strains BL21 (DE3) or HMS174(DE3) from a resident .lamda. prophage harboring a T7 gn1 under the transcriptional control of the lacUV 5 promoter.

One strategy to maximize recombinant Lol p V peptide expression in E. coli is to express the protein in a host bacteria with an impaired capacity to proteolytically cleave the recombinant protein (Gottesman, S., Gene Expression Technology: Methods in Enzymology, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990), 185:119 128). Another strategy would be to alter the nucleic acid sequence of the desired gene to be inserted into an expression vector so that the individual codons for each amino acid would be those preferentially utilized in highly expressed E. coli proteins (Wada et al. (1992) Nuc. Acids Res, 20:2111 2118). Such alteration of nucleic acid sequences of the invention could be carried out by standard DNA synthesis techniques.

The nucleic acids of the invention can also be chemically synthesized using standard techniques. Various methods of chemically synthesizing polydeoxynucleotides are known, including solid-phase synthesis which, like peptide synthesis, has been fully automated in commercially available DNA synthesizers (See e.g., Itakura et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,049; Caruthers et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,066; and Itakura U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,401,796 and 4,373,071, incorporated by reference herein).

The present invention also provides nucleic acid sequences encoding peptides of the invention. Nucleic acid sequences used in any embodiment of this invention can be cDNAs encoding corresponding peptide sequences as shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:3 29, 60). Such oligodeoxynucleotide sequences can be produced chemically or mechanically, using known techniques. A functional equivalent of an oligonucleotide sequence is one which is 1) a sequence capable of hybridizing to a complementary oligonucleotide to which the sequence (or corresponding sequence portions) of Lol p V as shown in FIG. 1 or fragments thereof hybridizes, or 2) the sequence (the corresponding sequence portions complementary to the nucleic acid sequences encoding the peptide sequence derived from Lol p V as shown in FIGS. 2 and/or 3) a sequence which encodes a product (e.g., a polypeptide or peptide) having the same functional characteristics of the product encoded by the sequence (or corresponding sequence portion) of Lol p V as shown in FIG. 1. Whether a functional equivalent must meet one or more criteria will depend on its use (e.g., if it is to be used only as an oligoprobe, it need meet only the first or second criteria and if it is to be used to produce a Lol p V peptide of the invention, it need only meet the third criterion). The nucleic acid sequences of the invention also include RNA which can be transcribed from the DNA prepared as described above.

Preferred nucleic acids encode a peptide having at least about 50% homology to a Lol p V peptide of the invention, more preferably at least about 60% homology and most preferably at least about 70% homology with a Lol p V peptide of the invention. Nucleic acids that encode peptides having at least about 90%, more preferably at least about 95%, and most preferably at least about 98 99% homology with Lol p V peptides of the invention are also within the scope of the invention. Homology refers to sequence similarity between two peptides of Lol p V, or between two nucleic acid molecules. Homology can be determined by comparing a position in each sequence which may be aligned for purposes of comparison. When a position in the compared sequence is occupied by the same nucleotide or amino acid, then molecules are homologous at that position. A degree of homology between sequences is a function of the number of matching or homologous positions shared by the sequences.

Preferred nucleic acid fragments encode peptides of at least 7 amino acid residues in length, and preferably 13 40 amino acid residues in length, and more preferably at least 16 30 amino acids residues in length, Nucleic acid fragments encoding peptides of at least 30 amino acid residues in length, at least 40 amino acid residues in length, at least about 80 amino acid residues in length, at least about 100 amino acid residues in length or more, are also contemplated.

Also within the scope of the invention are nucleic acid sequences encoding allergens immunologically cross-reactive with Lol p V, such as full length Dac g V protein or peptides (FIG. 16). Proteins and peptides of Dac g V may be produced recombinantly as discussed above, or synthetically. Expression vectors and host cells transformed to express Dac g V protein or peptides thereof are also within the scope of the invention. Details of the cloning of Dac g V are given in the examples.

The present invention also provides a method of producing isolated Lol p V peptides of the invention or a portion thereof comprising the steps of culturing a host cell transformed with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a Lol p V peptide of the invention in an appropriate medium to produce a mixture of cells and medium containing said Lol p V peptide; and purifying the mixture to produce substantially pure Lol p V peptide. Host cells transformed with an expression vector containing DNA coding for a Lol p V peptide of the invention or a portion thereof are cultured in a suitable medium for the host cell. Lol p V peptides of the invention can be purified from cell culture medium, host cells, or both using techniques known in the art for purifying peptides and proteins including ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography, ultrafiltration, electrophoresis and immunopurification with antibodies specific for the Lol p V peptides or portions thereof of the invention.

Another aspect of the present invention pertains to an antibody specifically reactive with a Lol p V peptide. Such antibodies may be used to standardize allergen extracts or to isolate the naturally occurring Lol p V. Also, Lol p V peptides of the invention can be used as "purified" allergens to standardize allergen extracts. For example, an animal such as a mouse or rabbit can be immunized with an immunogenic form of an isolated Lol p V peptide of the invention capable of eliciting an antibody response. Techniques for conferring immunogenicity on a peptide include conjugation to carriers or other techniques well-known in the art. The Lol p V peptide also can be administered in the presence of adjuvant. The progress of immunization can be monitored by detection of antibody titers in plasma or serum standard ELISA or other immunoassay can be used with the immunogen as antigen to assess the levels of antibodies.

Following immunization, anti-Lol p V peptide antisera can be obtained and, if desired, polyclonal anti-Lol p V peptide antibodies from the serum. To produce monoclonal antibodies, antibody producing cells (lymphocytes) can be harvested from an immunized animal and fused by standard somatic cell fusion procedures with immortalizing cells such as myeloma cells to yield hybridoma cells. Hybridoma cells can be screened immunochemically for production of antibodies reactive with the Lol p V peptides of the invention. These sera or monoclonal antibodies can be used to standardize allergen extracts.

Through use of the peptides and antibodies of the present invention, preparations of consistent, well-defined composition and biological activity can be made and administered for therapeutic purposes (e.g. to modify the allergic response of a ryegrass pollen sensitive individual to pollen of such grasses or pollen of an immunologically related grass such as Dac g V). Administration of such peptides may, for example, modify B-cell response to Lol p V allergen, T-cell response to Lol p V allergen or both responses. Isolated peptides can also be used to study the mechanism of immunotherapy of ryegrass pollen allergy and to design modified derivatives or analogues useful in immunotherapy.

The present invention also pertains to T cell clones which specifically recognize Lol p V peptides of the invention. These T cell clones may be suitable for isolation and molecular cloning of the gene for the T cell receptor which is specifically reactive with a peptide of the present invention. The T cell clones may be produced as described in Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Abdul K. Abbas et al., W.B. Saunders Co. (1991) pg. 139. The present invention also pertains to soluble T cell receptors. These receptors may inhibit antigen-dependent activation of the relevant T cell subpopulation within an individual sensitive to Lol p V. Antibodies specifically reactive with such a T cell receptor can also be produced according to the techniques described herein. Such antibodies may also be useful to block T-cell -MHC interaction in an individual. Methods for producing soluble T cell receptors are described in Immunology; A Synthesis, 2nd Ed., Edward S. Golub et al., Sinaur Assoc, Sunderland Mass., (1991) pp. 366 369.

To obtain isolated peptides of the present invention, Lol p V is divided into non-overlapping peptides of desired length or overlapping peptides of desired lengths as discussed in Example 2 which can be produced recombinantly, synthetically, or in certain situations, by chemical cleavage of the allergen. Peptides comprising at least one T cell epitope are capable of eliciting a T cell response, such as stimulation (i.e. proliferation or lymphokine secretion) and/or are capable of inducing T cell non-responsiveness. To determine peptides comprising at least one T cell epitope, isolated peptides are tested by, for example, T cell biology techniques, to determine whether the peptides elicit a T cell response or induce T cell non-responsiveness. Those peptides found to elicit a T cell response or induce T cell non-responsiveness are defined as having T cell stimulating activity.

Screening peptides of the invention for human T cell stimulating acitivity can be accomplished using one or more of several different assays. For example, in vitro, T cell stimulatory activity is assayed by contacting a peptide of the invention with an antigen presenting cell which presents appropriate MHC molecules in a T cell culture. Presentation of a peptide of the invention in association with appropriate MHC molecules to T cells, in conjunction with the necessary costimulation has the effect of transmitting a signal to the T cell that induces the production of increased levels of cytokines, particularly of interleukin-2 and interleukin-4. The culture supernatant can be obtained and assayed for interleukin-2 or other known cytokines. For example, any one of several conventional assays for interleukin-2 can be employed, such as the assay described in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA, 86:1333 (1989) the pertinent portions of which are incorporated herein by reference. A kit for an assay for the production of interferon is also available from Genzyme Corporation (Cambridge, Mass.).

A common assay for T cell proliferation entails measuring tritiated thymidine incorporation. The proliferation of T cells can be measured in vitro by determining the amount of .sup.3H-labeled thymidine incorporated into the replicating DNA of cultured cells. Therefore, the rate of DNA synthesis and, in turn, the rate of cell division can be quantified.

A peptide may also be screened for the ability to reduce T cell responsiveness. The ability of a peptide known to stimulate T cells, to inhibit or completely block the activity of a purified native Lol p V protein allergen or portion thereof and induce a state of T cell nonresponsiveness or reduced T cell responsiveness, can be determined using subsequent attempts at stimulation of the T cells with antigen presenting cells that present a native Lol p V allergen following exposure to a peptide of the invention. If the T cells are unresponsive to the subsequent activation attempts, as determined by interleukin-2 synthesis and T cell proliferation, a state of nonresponsiveness has been induced. See, e.g., Gimmi, et al. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA, 90:6586 6590; and Schwartz (1990) Science, 248:1349 1356, for assay systems that can be used as the basis for an assay in accordance with the present invention.

Additionally, peptides comprising "cryptic epitopes" may be determined and are also within the scope of this invention. Cryptic epitopes are those determinants in a protein antigen which, due to processing and presentation of the native protein antigen to the appropriate MHC molecule, are not normally revealed to the immune system. However, a peptide comprising a cryptic epitope is capable of causing T cells to become non-responsive, and when a subject is primed with the peptide, T cells obtained from the subject will proliferate in vitro in response to the peptide or the protein antigen from which the peptide is derived. Peptides which comprise at least one cryptic epitope derived from a protein antigen are referred to herein as "cryptic peptides". To confirm the presence of cryptic epitopes in the above-described T cell proliferation assay, antigen-primed T cells are cultured in vitro in the presence of each peptide separately to establish peptide-reactive T cell lines. A peptide is considered to comprise at least one cryptic epitope if a T cell line can be established with a given peptide and T cells are capable of proliferation upon challenge with the peptide and the protein antigen from which the peptide is derived.

It is also possible to modify the structure of a peptide of the invention for such purposes as increasing solubility, enhancing therapeutic or preventive efficacy, or stability (e.g., shelf life ex vivo, and resistance to proteolytic degradation in vivo). A modified peptide can be produced in which the amino acid sequence has been altered, such as by amino acid substitution, deletion, or addition, to modify immunogenicity and/or reduce allergenicity, or to which a component has been added for the same purpose.

For example, a peptide can be modified so that it maintains the ability to induce T cell anergy and bind MHC proteins without the ability to induce a strong proliferative response or possibly, any proliferative response when administered in immunogenic form. In this instance, critical binding residues for the T cell receptor can be determined using known techniques (e.g., substitution of each residue and determination of the presence or absence of T cell reactivity). Those residues shown to be essential to interact with the T cell receptor can be modified by replacing the essential amino acid with another, preferably similar amino acid residue (a conservative substitution) whose presence is shown to enhance, diminish but not eliminate, or not affect T cell reactivity. In addition, those amino acid residues which are not essential for T cell receptor interaction can be modified by being replaced by another amino acid whose incorporation may enhance, diminish or not affect T cell reactivity but does not eliminate binding to relevant MHC.

Additionally, peptides of the invention can be modified by replacing an amino acid shown to be essential to interact with the MHC protein complex with another, preferably similar amino acid residue (conservative substitution) whose presence is shown to enhance, diminish but not eliminate, or not affect T cell activity. In addition, amino acid residues which are not essential for interaction with the MHC protein complex but which still bind the MHC protein complex can be modified by being replaced by another amino acid whose incorporation may enhance, not affect, or diminish but not eliminate T cell reactivity. Preferred amino acid substitutions for non-essential amino acids include, but are not limited to substitutions with alanine, glutamic acid, or a methyl amino acid.

In order to enhance stability and/or reactivity, peptides of the invention can also be modified to incorporate one or more polymorphisms in the amino acid sequence of the protein allergen resulting from natural allelic variation. Additionally, D-amino acids, non-natural amino acids or non-amino acid analogues can be substituted or added to produce a modified peptide within the scope of this invention. Furthermore, peptides of the present invention can be modified using the polyethylene glycol (PEG) method of A. Sehon and co-workers (Wie et al. supra) to produce a protein or peptide conjugated with PEG. In addition, PEG can be added during chemical synthesis of a protein or peptide of the invention. Modifications of peptides or portions thereof can also include reduction/alkylation (Tarr in: Methods of Protein Microcharacterization, J. E. Silver ed. Humana Press, Clifton, N.J., pp 155 194 (1986)); acylation (Tarr, supra); chemical coupling to an appropriate carrier (Mishell and Shiigi, eds., Selected Methods in Cellular Immunology, WH Freeman, San Francisco, Calif. (1980); U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,239; or mild formalin treatment (Marsh, International Archives of Allergy and Applied Immunology, 41:199 215 (1971)).

To facilitate purification and potentially increase solubility of peptides of the invention, it is possible to add reporter group(s) to the peptide backbone. For example, poly-histidine can be added to a peptide to purify the peptide on immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (Hochuli, E. et al., Bio/Technology, 6:1321 1325 (1988)). In addition, specific endoprotease cleavage sites can be introduced, if desired, between a reporter group and amino acid sequences of a peptide to facilitate isolation of peptides free of irrelevant sequences. In order to successfully desensitize an individual to a protein antigen, it may be necessary to increase the solubility of a peptide by adding functional groups to the peptide or by not including hydrophobic T cell epitopes or regions containing hydrophobic epitopes in the peptides or hydrophobic regions of the protein or peptide. Functional groups such as charged amino acid pairs (e.g., KK or RR) are particularly useful for increasing the solubility of a peptide when added to the amino or carboxy terminus of the peptide.

To potentially aid proper antigen processing of T cell epitopes within a peptide, canonical protease sensitive sites can be recombinantly or synthetically engineered between regions, each comprising at least one T cell epitope. For example, charged amino acid pairs, such as KK or RR, can be introduced between regions within a peptide during recombinant construction of the peptide. The resulting peptide can be rendered sensitive to cathepsin and/or other trypsin-like enzymes cleavage to generate portions of the peptide containing one or more T cell epitopes. In addition, as discussed above, such charged amino acid residues can be added to the amino or carboxy terminus of the peptide and can result in an increase in solubility of a peptide.

Site-directed mutagenesis of DNA encoding a peptide of the invention can be used to modify the structure of the peptide by methods known in the art. Such methods may, among others, include PCR with oligonucleotides containing the sequences encoding the desired amino acids (Ho et al., Gene, 77:51 59 (1989)) or total synthesis of mutated genes (Hostomsky, Z. et al., Biochem. Biophys, Res. Comm., 161:1056 1063 (1989)). To enhance bacterial expression, the aforementioned methods can be used in conjunction with other procedures to change the eukaryotic codons in DNA constructs encoding protein or peptides of the invention to ones preferentially used in E. coli, yeast, mammalian cells, or other eukaryotic cells.

Peptides or antibodies of the present invention can also be used for detecting and diagnosing ryegrass pollinosis. For example, this could be done in vitro by combining blood or blood products obtained from an individual to be assessed for sensitivity to ryegrass pollen or another cross reactive pollen such as Dac g V, with isolated peptides of Lol p V, under conditions appropriate for binding of components in the blood (e.g., antibodies, T cells, B cells) with the peptide(s) and determining the extent to which such binding occurs. Other diagnostic methods for allergic diseases in which the protein, peptides or antibodies of the present invention will be useful include radio-allergergosorbent test (RAST), paper radioimmunosorbent test (PRIST), enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radioimmunoassays (RIA), immuno-radiometric assays (IRMA), luminescence immunoassays (LIA), histamine release assays and IgE immunoblots.

The presence in individuals of IgE specific for at least one protein allergen and the ability of T cells of the individuals to respond to T cell epitope(s) of the protein allergen can be determined by administering to the individuals an Immediate Type Hypersensitivity test and a Delayed Type Hypersensitiity test. The individuals are administered an Immediate Type Hypersensitivity test (see e.g., Immunology (1985) Roitt, I. M., Brostoff, J., Male, D. K. (eds), C.V. Mosby Co., Gower Medical Publishing, London, N.Y., pp. 19.2 19.18; pp. 22.1 22.10) utilizing the protein allergen or a portion thereof, or a modified form of the protein allergen or a portion thereof, each of which binds IgE specific for the allergen. The same individuals are administered a Delayed Type Hypersensitivity test prior to, simultaneously with, or subsequent to administration of the Immediate Type Hypersensitivity test. Of course, if the Immediate Type Hypersensitivity test is administered prior to the Delayed Type Hypersensitivity test, the Delayed Type Hypersensitivity test would be given to those individuals exhibiting a specific Immediate Type Hypersensitivity reaction. The Delayed Type Hypersensitivity test utilizes a modified form of the protein allergen or a portion thereof, the protein allergen produced recombinantly, or a peptide derived from the protein allergen, each of which has human T cell stimulating activity and each of which does not bind IgE specific for the allergen in a substantial percentage of the population of individuals sensitive to the allergen (e.g., at least about 75%). Those individuals found to have both a specific Immediate Type Hypersensitivity reaction and a specific Delayed Type Hypersensitivity reaction may be treated with a therapeutic composition comprising the same modified form of the protein or portion thereof, the recombinantly produced protein allergen, or the peptide, each as used in the Delayed Type Hypersensitivity test.

Isolated peptides of the invention when administered in a therapeutic regimen to a Lol p V-sensitive individual, or an individual allergic to an allergen cross-reactive with Lol p V such as Dac g V, are capable of modifying the allergic response of the individual to Lol p V ryegrass pollen allergen or such cross-reactive allergen, and preferably are capable of modifying the B-cell response, T-cell response or both the B-cell and the T-cell response of the individual to the allergen. As used herein, modification of the allergic response of an individual sensitive to a ryegrass pollen allergen or cross-reactive allergen can be defined as non-responsiveness or diminution in symptoms to the allergen, as determined by standard clinical procedures (See e.g. Varney et al, British Medical Journal, 302:265 269 (1990)) including diminution in ryegrass pollen induced asthmatic symptoms. As referred to herein, a diminution in symptoms includes any reduction in the allergic response of an individual to the allergen after the individual has completed a treatment regimen with a peptide or protein of the invention. This diminution may be subjective (i.e. the patient feels more comfortable in the presence of the allergen). Diminution in symptoms can be determined clinically as well, using standard skin tests as is known in the art.

Lol p V peptides of the present invention which have T cell stimulating activity, and thus comprise at least one T cell epitope are particularly desirable for therapeutic purposes. In referring to an epitope, the epitope will be the basic element or smallest unit of recognition by a receptor, particularly immunoglobulins, histocompatibility antigens and T cell receptors where the epitope comprises amino acids essential to receptor recognition. Amino acid sequences which mimic those of the epitopes and which are capable of down regulating or reducing allergic response to Lol p V can also be used. T cell epitopes are believed to be involved in initiation and perpetuation of the immune response to a protein allergen which is responsible for the clinical symptoms of allergy. These T cell epitopes are thought to trigger early events at the level of the T helper cell by binding to an appropriate HLA molecule on the surface of an antigen presenting cell and stimulating the relevant T cell subpopulation. These events lead to T cell proliferation, lymphokine secretion, local inflammatory reactions, recruitment of additional immune cells to the site, and activation of the B cell cascade leading to production of antibodies. One isotype of these antibodies, IgE, is fundamentally important to the development of allergic symptoms and its production is influenced early in the cascade of events, at the level of the T helper cell, by the nature of the lymphokines secreted.

Exposure of ryegrass pollen patients to isolated Lol p V peptides of the present invention which comprise at least one T cell epitope and are derived from Lol p V protein allergen may cause appropriate T cell subpopulations to become nonresponsive or have a reduced response to the protein allergen and thus do not participate in stimulating an immune response upon such exposure. In addition, administration of a peptide of the invention or portion thereof which comprises at least one T cell epitope may modify the lymphokine secretion profile as compared with exposure to the naturally-occurring Lol p V protein allergen or portion thereof (e.g. result in a decrease of IL-4 and/or an increase in IL-2). Furthermore, administration of such peptide of the invention may influence T cell subpopulations which normally participate in the response to the naturally occurring allergen such that these T cells are drawn away from the site(s) of normal exposure to the allergen (e.g., nasal mucosa, skin, and lung) towards the site(s) of therapeutic administration of the fragment or protein allergen. This redistribution of T cell subpopulations may ameliorate or reduce the ability of an individual's immune system to stimulate the usual immune response at the site of normal exposure to the allergen, resulting in a diminution in allergic symptoms.

The isolated Lol p V peptides of the invention can be used in methods of diagnosing, treating and preventing allergic reactions to Lol p V allergen or a cross reactive protein allergen. Thus the present invention provides compositions useful in allergy diagnosis and/or useful in allergy therapy comprising isolated Lol p V peptides or portions thereof. Such compositions will typically also comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent when intended for in vivo administration. Therapeutic compositions of the invention may also comprise synthetically prepared Lol p V peptides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

Administration of the therapeutic compositions of the present invention to an individual to be desensitized can be carried out using known techniques. Lol p V peptides or portions thereof may be administered to an individual in combination with, for example, an appropriate diluent, a carrier and/or an adjuvant. Pharmaceutically acceptable diluents include saline and aqueous buffer solutions. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include polyethylene glycol (Wie et al. (1981) Int. Arch Allergy Appl. Immunol. 64:84 99) and liposomes (Strejan et al. (1984) J. Neuroimmunol, 7: 27).

The therapeutic compositions of the invention are administered to ryegrass allergen sensitive individuals or individuals sensitive to an allergen which is immunologically cross-reactive with house ryegrass allergen (i.e. Dactylis glomerata, or Sorghum halepensis, etc.). For:

the purposes of inducing T cell non responsiveness, therapeutic compositions of the invention are preferably administered in non-immunogenic form, e.g. which does not contain adjuvant. While not intending to be limited to any theory, it is believed that T cell non responsiveness or reduced T cell responsiveness is induced as a result of not providing an appropriate costimulatory signal sometimes referred to as a "second signal" Briefly, it is believed that stimulation of T cells requires two types of signals, the first is the recognition by the T cell via the T cell receptor of appropriate MHC-associated processed antigens on antigen presenting cells (APCs) and the second type of signal is referred to as a costimulatory signal(s) or "second signal" which may be provided by certain competent APCs. When a composition of the invention is administered without adjuvant, it is believed that competent APCs which are capable of producing the second signal or costimulatory signal are not engaged in the stimulation of appropriate T cells therefore resulting in T cell nonresponsiveness or reduced T cell responsiveness. In addition, there are a number of antibodies or other reagents capable of blocking the delivery of costimulatory signals such as the "second signal" which include, but are not limited to B7 (including B7-1, B7-2, and BB-1), CD28, CTLA4, CD40 CD40L CD54 and CD11a/18 (Jenkins and Johnson, Current Opinion in Immunology, 5:361 367 (1993), and Clark and Ledbetter, Nature, 367:425 428 (1994)) Thus, a peptide of the invention may be administered in nonimmunogenic form as discussed above, in conjunction with a reagent capable of blocking costimulatory signals such that the level of T cell nonresponsiveness is enhanced.

Administration of the therapeutic compositions of the present invention to an individual to be desensitized can be carried out using known procedures at dosages and for periods of time effective to reduce sensitivity (i.e., reduce the allergic response) of the individual to the allergen. Effective amounts of the therapeutic compositions will vary according to factors such as the degree of sensitivity of the individual to ryegrass pollen, the age, sex, and weight of the individual, and the ability of the protein or fragment thereof to elicit an antigenic response in the individual.

The active compound (i.e., protein or fragment thereof) may be administered in a convenient manner such as by injection (subcutaneous, intravenous, etc.), oral administration, inhalation, transdermal application, or rectal administration. Depending on the route of administration, the active compound may be coated within a material to protect the compound from the action of enzymes, acids and other natural conditions which may inactivate the compound.

For example, preferably about 1 .mu.g 3 mg and more preferably from about 20 750 .mu.g of active compound (i.e., protein or fragment thereof) per dosage unit may be administered by injection. Dosage regimen may be adjusted to provide the optimum therapeutic response. For example, several divided doses may be administered daily or the dose may be proportionally reduced or increased as indicated by the exigencies of the therapeutic situation.

To administer a peptide by other than parenteral administration, it may be necessary to coat the protein with, or co-administer the protein with, a material to prevent its inactivation. For example, peptide or portion thereof may be co-administered with enzyme inhibitors or in liposomes. Enzyme inhibitors include pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DEP) and trasylol. Liposomes include water-in-oil-in-water CGF emulsions as well as conventional liposomes (Strejan et al., (1984) J. Neuroimmunol., 7:27).

The active compound may also be administered parenterally or intraperitoneally. Dispersions can also be prepared in glycerol, liquid polyethyline glycols, and mixtures thereof and in oils. Under ordinary conditions of storage and use, these preparations may contain a preservative to prevent the growth of microorganisms.

Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for injectable use include sterile aqueous solutions (where water soluble) or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions of dispersion. In all cases, the composition must be sterile and must be fluid to the extent that easy syringability exists. It must be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage and must be preserved against the contaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glyceral, propylene glycol, and liquid polyetheylene glycol, and the like), suitable mixtures thereof, and vegetable oils. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants. Prevention of the action of microorganisms can be achieved by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, ascorbic acid, thirmerosal, and the like. In many cases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars, polyalcohols such as manitol and sorbitol or sodium chloride in the composition. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought about, including in the composition, an agent which delays absorption, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating active compound (i.e., protein or peptide) in the required amount in an appropriate solvent with one or a combination of ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed by filtered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the active compound into a sterile vehicle which contains a basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation of sterile indectable solutions, the preferred methods of preparation are vacuum drying and freeze-drying which yields a powder of the active ingredient (i.e., protein or peptide) plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

When a peptide of the invention is suitably protected, as described above, the peptide may be orally administered, for example, with an inert diluent or an assimilable edible carrier. The peptide and other ingredients may also be enclosed in a hard or soft shell gelatin capsule, compressed into tablets, or incorporated directly into the individual's diet. For oral therapeutic administration, the active compound may be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of ingestible tablets, buccal tablets, troches, capsules, elixirs, suspensions, syrups, wafers, and the like. Such compositions and preparations should contain at least 1% by weight of active compound. The percentage of the composition and preparations may, of course, be varied and may conveniently be between about 5 to 80% of the weight of the unit. The amount of active compound in such therapeutically useful compositions is such that a suitable dosage will be obtained. Preferred compositions or preparations according to the present invention are prepared so that an oral dosage unit contains between from about 10 .mu.g to about 200 mg of active compound.

The tablets, troches, pills, capsules and the like may also contain the following: a binder such as gum tragacanth, acacia, corn starch or gelatin; excipients such as dicalcium phosphate; a disintegrating agent such as corn starch, potato starch, alginic acid and the like; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate; and a sweetening agent such as sucrose, lactose or saccharin or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, oil of wintergreen, or cherry flavoring. When the dosage unit form is a capsule, it may contain, in addition to materials of the above type, a liquid carrier. Various other materials may be present as coatings or to otherwise modify the physical form of the dosage unit. For instance, tablets, pills, or capsules may be coated with shellac, sugar or both. A syrup or elixir may contain the active compound, sucrose as a sweetening agent, methyl and propylparabens as preservative, a dye and flavoring such as cherry or orange flavor. Of course, any material used in preparing any dosage unit form should be pharmaceutically pure and substantially non-toxic in the amounts employed. In addition, the active compound may be incorporated into sustained-release preparations and formulations.

As used herein "pharmaceutically acceptable carrier" includes any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the active compound, use thereof in the therapeutic compositions is contemplate Supplementary active compounds can also be incorporated into the compositions.

It is especially advantageous to formulate parenteral compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit from as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the mammalian subjec