Claims
- 1. An immunological tolerance-inducing agent comprising a mucosa-binding molecule linked to a specific antigen derived from an infectious microorganism, wherein said mucosa binding molecule is selected from mucosa binding molecules selected from the group consisting of pure cholera toxin B subunit, pure Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit, and mucosa-binding fragments thereof and wherein infection of a host with said microorganism causes an unwanted immune response in said host.
- 2. An agent as defined in claim 1, wherein said unwanted immune response comprises delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH).
- 3. An agent as defined in claim 2, wherein said antigen comprises a DTH epitope.
- 4. An agent as defined in claim 1, wherein said unwanted immune response is associated with systemic production of IgM and IgG antibodies specific to said antigen.
- 5. An agent as defined in claim 1, wherein said antigen is selected from the group consisting of peptides and proteins.
- 6. An agent as defined in claim 5, wherein said protein is a heat shock protein.
- 7. An agent as defined in claim 1, wherein said mucosa-binding molecule is directly linked to said specific antigen.
- 8. An agent as defined in claim 7, wherein said direct linkage is selected from the group consisting of covalent and non-covalent linkages.
- 9. An agent as defmed in claim 8, wherein said linkage comprises a peptide bond.
- 10. An agent as defined in claim 1, wherein said mucosa-binding molecule is indirectly linked to said specific antigen.
- 11. An agent as defined in claim 10, wherein said indirect linkage is selected from the group consisting of covalent and non-covalent linkages.
- 12. An agent as defined in claim 10, wherein said linkage is achieved using a protective vehicle containing said antigen.
- 13. An agent as defined in claim 10, wherein said linkage is achieved using a spacer molecule.
- 14. An agent as defined in claim 13, wherein said spacer molecule specifically binds said antigen, said mucosa-binding molecule, or both.
- 15. An agent as defined in claim 14, wherein said spacer molecule comprises an antibody.
- 16. An agent as defined in claim 14, wherein said spacer molecule comprises galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-(sialyl)-galactosylglucosylceramide.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
9303301 |
Oct 1993 |
SE |
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Parent Case Info
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/883,817, filed Jun. 27, 1997, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/420,981 filed Apr. 10, 1995, now abandoned, which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.08/184,458, filed Jan. 19, 1994, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,571, on Oct. 28, 1997, which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/160,106, filed Nov. 30, 1993 now abandoned.
Continuations (1)
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08/420981 |
Apr 1995 |
US |
Child |
08/883817 |
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US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
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08/184458 |
Jan 1994 |
US |
Child |
08/420981 |
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US |
Parent |
08/160106 |
Nov 1993 |
US |
Child |
08/184458 |
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US |