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WO2024158596A1 - Compositions immunogènes à base de peptide tau et de peptide bêta-amyloïde et procédés associés - Google Patents

Compositions immunogènes à base de peptide tau et de peptide bêta-amyloïde et procédés associés Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024158596A1
WO2024158596A1 PCT/US2024/011843 US2024011843W WO2024158596A1 WO 2024158596 A1 WO2024158596 A1 WO 2024158596A1 US 2024011843 W US2024011843 W US 2024011843W WO 2024158596 A1 WO2024158596 A1 WO 2024158596A1
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tau
peptide immunogen
seq
cell epitope
immunogen construct
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WO2024158596A8 (fr
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Justin Boyd
Jean-cosme DORART
Cyrille Vivian GINESTE
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Vaxxinity Inc
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Vaxxinity Inc
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Priority to EP24747562.7A priority Critical patent/EP4654992A1/fr
Priority to CN202480022008.XA priority patent/CN121001737A/zh
Priority to AU2024212682A priority patent/AU2024212682A1/en
Publication of WO2024158596A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024158596A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K39/0005—Vertebrate antigens
    • A61K39/0007—Nervous system antigens; Prions
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/46—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates
    • C07K14/47—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals
    • C07K14/4701—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals not used
    • C07K14/4711—Alzheimer's disease; Amyloid plaque core protein
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/555—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by a specific combination antigen/adjuvant
    • A61K2039/55505—Inorganic adjuvants
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/555—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by a specific combination antigen/adjuvant
    • A61K2039/55511—Organic adjuvants
    • A61K2039/55516—Proteins; Peptides
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/555—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by a specific combination antigen/adjuvant
    • A61K2039/55511—Organic adjuvants
    • A61K2039/55544—Bacterial toxins
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/555—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by a specific combination antigen/adjuvant
    • A61K2039/55511—Organic adjuvants
    • A61K2039/55561—CpG containing adjuvants; Oligonucleotide containing adjuvants
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/57—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by the type of response, e.g. Th1, Th2
    • A61K2039/575—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by the type of response, e.g. Th1, Th2 humoral response
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/60—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characteristics by the carrier linked to the antigen
    • A61K2039/6031—Proteins
    • A61K2039/6037—Bacterial toxins, e.g. diphteria toxoid [DT], tetanus toxoid [TT]
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/60—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characteristics by the carrier linked to the antigen
    • A61K2039/6031—Proteins
    • A61K2039/6068—Other bacterial proteins, e.g. OMP
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/60—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characteristics by the carrier linked to the antigen
    • A61K2039/6031—Proteins
    • A61K2039/6075—Viral proteins
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
    • C07K2319/40—Fusion polypeptide containing a tag for immunodetection, or an epitope for immunisation

Definitions

  • the disclosure further relates to compositions comprising peptide immunogen constructs based on portions of the Tau protein and peptide immunogen constructs based on portions of the amyloid beta protein, and use of these compositions in therapeutic methods.
  • Tau proteins are abundant in neurons of the central nervous system and play a role in stabilization of microtubules. Pathologies and dementias of the nervous system, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), are associated with Tau proteins that have become defective and no longer stabilize microtubules properly. Additional neurodegenerative diseases, referred to as tauopathies, are characterized by abundant filamentous Tau.
  • Amyloid beta (A ⁇ ) peptides are the main components of amyloid plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, and oligomers of these peptides are toxic to nerve cells.
  • a ⁇ Amyloid beta
  • the present disclosure is directed to individual peptide immunogen constructs targeting portions of the Tau protein for the treatment and/or prevention of tauopathies.
  • the present disclosure is also directed to individual peptide immunogen constructs targeting portions of the amyloid beta protein for the treatment and/or prevention of tauopathies.
  • the present disclosure is also directed to compositions containing one, two or more of the peptide immunogen constructs, methods of making and using the peptide immunogen constructs, and antibodies produced by the peptide immunogen constructs.
  • compositions comprising combinations of one, two or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs, compositions comprising combinations of one, two or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs and one or more amyloid beta (A ⁇ ) peptide immunogen constructs, and methods of using these compositions and combinations in the prevention and treatment of tauopathies, e.g., Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies described herein.
  • the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs contain about 15 or more amino acids.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell epitope from portions of the longest isoform of the human Tau protein (GenBank: AGF19246.1) having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 60 shown in Table 6.
  • the amyloid beta (A ⁇ ) peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell epitope from A ⁇ 1-42 (SEQ ID NO: 68), e.g., A ⁇ 1-14 (SEQ ID NO: 69) (see Table 3 and SEQ ID NOs: 70 and ⁇ also see the A ⁇ peptides described in WO 2014/143087, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference).
  • the peptide immunogen constructs and/or B cell epitopes contain chemical modifications and/or unnatural amino acids as described herein.
  • the B cell epitopes can be linked to a heterologous T helper cell (Th) epitope derived from a pathogen protein, e.g., through an optional heterologous spacer.
  • Th heterologous T helper cell
  • the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs stimulate the generation of highly specific antibodies directed against the B cell epitopes.
  • the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs can be used as an immunotherapy for patients suffering from tauopathies (e.g., ⁇ .
  • the B cell epitope portion of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs have amino acid sequences from the full-length Tau protein (SEQ ID NO: 60).
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct has any B cell epitope sequence from the Tau protein as described herein.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct has a B cell epitope sequence from the Tau protein which has not been modified.
  • VXH-11025 has a B cell epitope sequence from the Tau protein which has been modified, e.g., as described herein (for example, by substitution or chemical modification of one or more amino acids). Contemplated modifications include, without limitation, substitution of one or more amino acids with Cysteine to create a disulfide bond, acetylation or N-methylation of one or more amino acids, as described herein.
  • the Tau B cell epitope has any of the sequences shown in Table 1.
  • the Tau B cell epitope has any of the sequences shown in Tables 7-10 (in particular, immunogenic Tau B cell epitopes provided in any one of Tables 7-10).
  • the B cell epitope has a sequence containing any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8, 17-30, or 63-67 as shown in Table 1 or any one of the sequences shown in Tables 7-10, or combinations thereof, e.g., SEQ ID NO: 2 and 7.
  • the B cell epitope has a sequence containing any one of SEQ ID NOs: 72-76 as shown in Table 1.
  • the B cell epitope portion of the A ⁇ peptide immunogen constructs can have amino acid sequences from full-length A ⁇ 1-42 (SEQ ID NO: 68).
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct has any B cell epitope sequence from the A ⁇ protein as described herein.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct has a B cell epitope sequence from the A ⁇ protein which has not been modified. In some embodiments, the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct has a B cell epitope sequence from the A ⁇ protein which has been modified, e.g., as described herein (for example, by substitution or chemical modification of one or more amino acids). Contemplated modifications include, without limitation, substitution of one or more amino acids with Cysteine to create a disulfide bond, acetylation or N-methylation of one or more amino acids, as described herein. In some embodiments, the A ⁇ B cell epitope has any of the sequences shown in Table 3.
  • the A ⁇ B cell epitope has any of the sequences disclosed in WO2014/143087 and/or US 9,102,752 B2, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and specifically for the disclosure of A ⁇ B cell epitopes (in particular, immunogenic A ⁇ B cell epitopes provided in WO2014/143087 and/or US 9,102,752 B2).
  • the B cell epitope has a sequence comprising A ⁇ 1-14 (SEQ ID NO: 69) or any other A ⁇ peptide sequence described in WO 2014/143087.
  • the amyloid beta B cell epitope has SEQ ID NO:69 or SEQ ID NO:82.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs of the present disclosure can contain a heterologous Th epitope amino acid sequence derived from a pathogenic protein (e.g., any one of ID NOs: 31-59) as shown in Table 5.
  • a pathogenic protein e.g., any one of ID NOs: 31-59
  • the heterologous Th epitope is derived from natural pathogens, such as Diphtheria Toxin (SEQ ID NO: 35), Plasmodium Falciparum (SEQ ID NO: 36), Cholera Toxin (SEQ ID NO: 38).
  • the heterologous Th epitope is an idealized artificial Th epitope derived from Measles Virus Fusion protein (MVF 1 to 5) or Hepatitis B Surface 3 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • VXH-11025 Antigen (HBsAg 1 to 3) in the form of either single sequence or combinatorial sequences (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 32, 39, or 41-45).
  • the Th epitope sequence is SEQ ID NO: 44.
  • the Th epitope sequence is SEQ ID NO: 42.
  • the Th epitope sequence is SEQ ID NO: 45.
  • the Th epitope sequence is SEQ ID NO: 97.
  • the provided Th epitope can be substituted with the Th epitope of any of SEQ ID NOs: 42, 44, 45 or 97, e.g., SEQ ID NO: 44.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell epitope from Tau or A ⁇ covalently linked to a heterologous T helper cell (Th) epitope.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell epitope from Tau or A ⁇ linked to a heterologous T helper cell (Th) epitope through an optional heterologous spacer.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell epitope from Tau or A ⁇ directly covalently linked to a heterologous T helper cell (Th) epitope.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell antigenic site having the amino acid sequence from Tau (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8, 17-30, or 63-67, or 202) linked to a heterologous Th epitope derived from a pathogenic protein (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31-59 and 97) through an optional heterologous spacer.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct contains a B cell antigenic site having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct contains a B cell antigenic site having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7.
  • the optional heterologous spacer is a molecule or chemical structure capable of linking two amino acids and/or peptides together.
  • the spacer is a naturally occurring amino acid, a non-naturally occurring amino acid, or a combination thereof.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen constructs have the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9-16 (e.g., SEQ ID NO: 10 or 15) shown in Table 2 (or a construct in which the positions of the Tau peptide and the Th peptide are reversed).
  • the Tau peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell antigenic site having the amino acid sequence from Tau (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 72-76 or 96) linked to a heterologous Th epitope derived from a pathogenic protein (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31-59 and 97) through an optional heterologous spacer.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct contains a B cell antigenic site having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 72.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct contains a B cell antigenic site having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 73.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct contains a B cell antigenic site having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 74. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct contains a B cell antigenic site having the amino 4 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 75. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct contains a B cell antigenic site having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 76.
  • the optional heterologous spacer is a molecule or chemical structure capable of linking two amino acids and/or peptides together. In certain embodiments, the spacer is a naturally occurring amino acid, a non-naturally occurring amino acid, or a combination thereof.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen constructs have the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 77- 81 shown in Table 2 (or a construct in which the positions of the Tau peptide and the Th peptide are reversed).
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell antigenic site having an amino acid sequence from A ⁇ 1-42 (SEQ ID NO: 68) linked to a heterologous Th epitope derived from a pathogenic protein (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31-59 and 97) through an optional heterologous spacer.
  • the optional heterologous spacer is a molecule or chemical structure capable of linking two amino acids and/or peptides together.
  • the spacer is a naturally occurring amino acid, a non-naturally occurring amino acid, or a combination thereof.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct has the amino acid sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs: 70 or 71 shown in Table 4 (or a construct in which the positions of the A ⁇ peptide and the Th peptide are reversed).
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell antigenic site having an amino acid sequence of one of SEQ ID Nos: 68, 69, 82-88 as shown in Table 3, linked to a heterologous Th epitope derived from a pathogenic protein (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31-59 and 97) through an optional heterologous spacer.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct contains a B cell antigenic site having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 69.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct contains a B cell antigenic site having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 82.
  • the optional heterologous spacer is a molecule or chemical structure capable of linking two amino acids and/or peptides together.
  • the spacer is a naturally occurring amino acid, a non-naturally occurring amino acid, or a combination thereof.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 70 or 89 shown in Table 4 (or a construct in which the positions of the A ⁇ peptide and the Th peptide are reversed).
  • the present disclosure is also directed to compositions containing a Tau peptide immunogen construct.
  • the disclosed compositions contain more than one Tau peptide immunogen constructs to cover multiple B epitopes from Tau (e.g., 2, 3, 4 or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs).
  • the compositions contain a mixture of Tau peptide 5 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 immunogen constructs (e.g., any combination of two or more of SEQ ID NOs: 9-16, or any combination of two or more of SEQ ID Nos: 9-16 and 77-81) with more than one heterologous Th epitope derived from pathogenic proteins to cover a broad genetic background in patients.
  • compositions containing a mixture of peptide immunogen constructs can lead to a higher percentage in responder rate upon immunization for the treatment of tauopathies compared to compositions containing only a single Th peptide immunogen construct.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs targeting Tau target different regions of Tau (e.g., the N-terminal region of Tau for one peptide immunogen construct and the repeat domain for the second peptide immunogen ⁇ ⁇ !s: 10 and 15, respectively).
  • the N-terminal region of Tau targeted by one or more Tau peptide immunogen construct is within amino acids 1-44 of SEQ ID NO: 60.
  • the N-terminal region of Tau targeted by one or more Tau peptide immunogen construct is within amino acids 13-22 of SEQ ID NO: 60. In some embodiments, the region targeted by one or more Tau peptide immunogen construct is within amino acids 244-372 of SEQ ID NO: 60. In some embodiments, the region targeted by one or more Tau peptide immunogen construct is an amino acid region repeated (e.g., repeated 2, 3 or 4 times) within amino acids 244-372 of SEQ ID NO: 60. In some embodiments, the region targeted by one or more Tau peptide immunogen construct is within amino acids 250-320 of SEQ ID NO: 60.
  • the region targeted by one or more Tau peptide immunogen construct is an amino acid region repeated (e.g., repeated 2, 3 or 4 times) within amino acids 250-320 of SEQ ID NO: 60. In some embodiments, the region targeted by one or more Tau peptide immunogen construct is an amino acid region within 1R, 2R, 3R, and/or 4R repeat regions of Tau, which repeat regions are known in the art or described herein.
  • one or more peptide immunogen construct targets the region of Tau within amino acids 1-44 or 13-22 of SEQ ID NO:60, and one or more peptide immunogen construct targets the region of Tau within amino acids 244-372 or 250-320 of SEQ ID NO: 60 (or an amino acid region repeated within amino acids 244-372 or 250-320 of SEQ ID NO: 60 as described herein).
  • the compositions comprising one or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs also includes one or more A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct(s) (e.g., a peptide immunogen construct comprising SEQ ID NO: 70, a peptide immunogen construct comprising SEQ ID NO: 71, or a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71).
  • compositions comprising one or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs also includes one or more A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct(s) (e.g., a peptide immunogen construct comprising SEQ ID NO: 70, a peptide immunogen construct comprising SEQ ID NO: 89, or a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 89).
  • a ⁇ peptide immunogen construct(s) e.g., a peptide immunogen construct comprising SEQ ID NO: 70, a peptide immunogen construct comprising SEQ ID NO: 89, or a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 89.
  • the present disclosure is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment and/or 6 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 prevention of tauopathies.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions contain one, two or more of the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs in the form of a stabilized immunostimulatory complex formed through electrostatic associations by mixing a CpG oligomer (e.g., CpG1, CpG2, or CpG3) with a composition containing a peptide immunogen complex.
  • a CpG oligomer e.g., CpG1, CpG2, or CpG3
  • the pharmaceutical compositions contain adjuvants such as mineral salts, including alum gel (ALHYDROGEL), aluminum phosphate (ADJUPHOS), or water-in-oil emulsions including MONTANIDE ISA 51 or 720.
  • the present disclosure is also directed to antibodies directed against the disclosed Tau peptide immunogen constructs.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen constructs of the present disclosure are able to stimulate the generation of highly specific antibodies that are cross-reactive with the Tau amino acid sequences (e.g., any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8, 17-30, 63-67, or 202) when administered to a subject.
  • the highly specific antibodies produced by the peptide immunogen constructs are cross reactive with recombinant Tau-containing proteins.
  • the disclosed antibodies bind with high specificity to Tau without much, if any, directed to the heterologous Th epitopes employed for immunogenicity enhancement, which is in sharp contrast to the conventional protein or other biological carriers used for such peptide antigenicity enhancement.
  • the present disclosure is also directed to antibodies directed against the disclosed amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs.
  • the amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs of the present disclosure are able to stimulate the generation of highly specific antibodies that are cross-reactive with the amyloid beta amino acid sequences (e.g., any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 68, 69, or 83-88) when administered to a subject.
  • the highly specific antibodies produced by the peptide immunogen constructs are cross reactive with recombinant amyloid beta-containing proteins.
  • the disclosed antibodies bind with high specificity to amyloid beta without much, if any, directed to the heterologous Th epitopes employed for immunogenicity enhancement, which is in sharp contrast to the conventional protein or other biological carriers used for such peptide antigenicity enhancement.
  • the present disclosure also includes methods for treating and/or preventing tauopathies using the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs and/or antibodies directed against the peptide immunogen constructs.
  • the methods for treating and/or preventing tauopathies including administering to a subject (e.g., a mammal) a composition containing one, two or more disclosed peptide immunogen constructs.
  • compositions utilized in the methods contain any one or more of the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs in the form of a stable immunostimulatory complex with negatively charged oligonucleotides, such as CpG oligomers, 7 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 through electrostatic association, which complexes are further supplemented, optionally, with a mineral salt or oil as adjuvant, for administration to patients with tauopathies.
  • the disclosed methods also include dosing regimens, dosage forms, and routes for administering the peptide immunogen constructs to a host at risk for, or with, tauopathies.
  • the subject or patient is a human.
  • the disclosure provides a composition or a kit comprising a first Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising a first Tau B cell epitope comprising or consisting of about 6 to about 40 amino acid residues from the full- ⁇ # ⁇ $ ⁇ ⁇ !% ⁇ &' ⁇ (i) a second Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising a second Tau B cell epitope comprising or consisting of about 6 to about 40 amino acid residues from the full- length Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60, wherein the second B cell epitope is not the same as the first B cell epitope, and/or (ii) an amyloid beta (A ⁇ ) peptide immunogen construct comprising an amyloid beta B cell epitope comprising or consisting of about 6 to about 42 amino acid residues from the full-length amyloid beta protein of SEQ ID NO: 68.
  • a first Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising a first Tau B cell epitope comprising or consisting of about 6 to about 40 amino acid residues from the full- ⁇ # ⁇
  • the composition or kit disclosed herein comprises the second Tau peptide immunogen construct. In some embodiments of the foregoing or related aspects, the composition or kit disclosed herein comprises the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct. In some embodiments of the foregoing or related aspects, the composition or kit disclosed herein comprises the second Tau peptide immunogen construct and the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct.
  • the first Tau B cell epitope comprises or consists of about 6 to 40 amino acid residues from N-terminal amino acids 1 to 44 of SEQ ID NO: 60
  • the second Tau B cell epitope comprises or consists of about 6 to 40 amino acid residues from repeat domain amino acids 244 to 372 of SEQ ID NO: 60
  • the amyloid beta B cell epitope comprises at least 6 amino acid residues from amino acids 1-16 of SEQ ID NO: 68.
  • the amyloid beta B cell epitope comprises at least 8 amino acid residues from amino acids 1- 16 of SEQ ID NO: 68.
  • the first Tau B cell epitope, the second Tau B cell epitope, and the amyloid beta B cell epitope are each or independently about 8 to 8 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 40 amino acids in length. In some embodiments of the foregoing or related aspects, the first Tau B cell epitope, the second Tau B cell epitope, and the amyloid beta B cell epitope are each or independently about 8 to 15 amino acids in length. In some embodiments of the foregoing or related aspects, the first Tau B cell epitope, the second Tau B cell epitope, and the amyloid beta B cell epitope are each or independently about 10 to 14 amino acids in length.
  • the first Tau B cell epitope and, if present, the second Tau B cell epitope are independently selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1-8, 17-30, 63- 67, 72-76, 96, and 202.
  • the first Tau B cell epitope comprises or consists of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8, 17-30, 63-67, 72-76, 96, and 202
  • the second Tau B cell epitope comprises or consists of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8, 17-30, 63-67, 72-76, 96, and 202.
  • the first Tau B cell epitope and, if present, the second Tau B cell epitope are independently selected from SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 7, 72-76, and 202.
  • the first Tau B cell epitope comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO: 2.
  • the first Tau B cell epitope comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO: 7.
  • the first Tau B cell epitope comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO: 202.
  • the first Tau B cell epitope is selected from SEQ ID No: 1 or SEQ ID NO:2, and the second Tau B cell epitope is selected from SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 72-76.
  • the first Tau B cell epitope comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO: 2
  • the second Tau B cell epitope comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO: 7.
  • the amyloid beta B cell epitope is selected from SEQ ID NOs: 69 and 82-88.
  • the amyloid beta B cell epitope comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO: 69 or SEQ ID NO: 82.
  • the first Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises a first heterologous T helper (Th) epitope
  • the second Tau peptide immunogen construct if present, comprises a second heterologous Th epitope
  • the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct if present, comprises a third heterologous Th epitope.
  • the first heterologous Th epitope, the second heterologous Th epitope and the third heterologous Th epitope is each independently selected from SEQ ID NOs: 31-59 and 97.
  • the first heterologous Th epitope, the second heterologous Th epitope and the third heterologous Th epitope is each independently selected from SEQ ID NOs: 42, 44, 45 and 97.
  • each of the first heterologous Th epitope, the second heterologous Th epitope and the third 9 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 heterologous Th epitope has SEQ ID NO: 44.
  • the first heterologous Th epitope and the first Tau B cell epitope, the second heterologous Th epitope and the second Tau B cell epitope, and the third heterologous Th epitope and the amyloid beta B cell epitope are each covalently linked directly or through a heterologous spacer.
  • the composition or kit disclosed herein comprises the heterologous spacer linking the first heterologous Th epitope and the first Tau B cell epitope, the second heterologous Th epitope and the second Tau B cell epitope, and/or the third heterologous Th epitope and amyloid beta B cell epitope.
  • the heterologous spacer comprises one or more amino acids.
  • the one or more amino acids is Lys-, Gly-, Lys-Lys-Lys-, ((, )-N)Lys, Lys-Lys-Lys-)-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 95), or )-Lys-Lys-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 62).
  • the one or more amino acids is Lys-Lys-Lys-)-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 95) or )-N-Lys-Lys-Lys-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 62).
  • the first Tau peptide immunogen construct and, if present, the second Tau peptide immunogen construct is represented by the formulae: (Th)m–(A)n–(Tau fragment)–X or (Tau fragment)–(A)n–(Th)m–X wherein # ⁇ # ⁇ ⁇ (Tau fragment) is a B cell epitope having about 6 to about 40 amino acid residues (optionally, about 10 to 40 amino acid residues) from the full- ⁇ # ⁇ $ ⁇ ⁇ !% ⁇ &' ⁇ X is an (-COOH or (-CONH 2 ⁇ $ ⁇ ⁇ $ ⁇ * ⁇ + ⁇ n is from 0 to about 10.
  • the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct is represented by the formulae: (Th)m–(A)n–(A ⁇ fragment)–X or (A ⁇ fragment)–(A)n–(Th)m–X wherein 10 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 # ⁇ # ⁇ ⁇ (A ⁇ fragment) is a B cell epitope having about 6 to about 42 amino acid residues (optionally, about 10 to 42 amino acid resides) from the full-length A ⁇ protein of SEQ ID NO: &, ⁇ X is an (-COOH or (-CONH2 ⁇ $ ⁇ ⁇ $ ⁇ * ⁇ + ⁇ n is from 0 to about 10.
  • the first Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises the first heterologous Th epitope covalently linked to the carboxyl terminus of the first Tau B cell epitope
  • the second Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises the second heterologous Th epitope covalently linked to the amino terminus of the second Tau B cell epitope
  • the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct comprises the third heterologous Th epitope covalently linked to the carboxyl terminus of the amyloid beta B cell epitope.
  • the first Tau peptide immunogen construct and the second Tau peptide immunogen construct are selected from SEQ ID NOs: 9-16 and 77-81, or a construct in which the positions of the peptide cell epitope and the Th epitope are reversed.
  • the first Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or SEQ ID NO: 15.
  • the first Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10
  • the second Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15.
  • the first Tau peptide immunogen construct and/or the second Tau peptide immunogen construct is selected from SEQ ID NOs: 77-81, optionally wherein the first Tau peptide immunogen construct has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 and the second Tau peptide immunogen construct is selected from SEQ ID NOs: 77-81.
  • the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct is selected from SEQ ID Nos: 70, 71 and 89, or a construct in which the positions of the B cell epitope and the Th epitope are reversed.
  • the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO: 70.
  • the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO: 89.
  • the disclosure provides a Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising a B cell epitope comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 202.
  • the disclosure provides a Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising a B 11 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 cell epitope comprising an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 72-76.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct disclosed herein is represented by the formulae: (Th)m–(A)n–(the B cell epitope)–X or (the B cell epitope)–(A) n –(Th) m –X wherein Th is a ⁇ # ⁇ ⁇ (the B cell epitope) comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 72-76 ⁇ X is an (-COOH or (-CONH 2 ⁇ $ ⁇ ⁇ $ ⁇ * ⁇ + ⁇ n is from 0 to about 10.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct disclosed herein comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 77-81.
  • the disclosure provides an amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct comprising a B cell epitope comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 82.
  • amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct disclosed herein is represented by the formulae: (Th)m–(A)n–(the B cell epitope)–X or (the B cell epitope)–(A) n –(Th) m –X wherein # ⁇ # ⁇ ⁇ (the B cell epitope) comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 82 ⁇ X is an (-COOH or (-CONH 2 ⁇ $ ⁇ ⁇ $ ⁇ * ⁇ + ⁇ n is from 0 to about 10.
  • the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct disclosed herein comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 89. 12 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025
  • the disclosure provides a composition or kit comprising a Tau peptide immunogen construct disclosed herein.
  • the disclosure provides a composition or kit comprising an amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct disclosed herein.
  • the composition or kit disclosed herein is a single composition comprising the first Tau peptide immunogen construct, and at least one of (or both of): (i) the second Tau peptide immunogen construct and (ii) the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct.
  • a composition comprising the first Tau peptide immunogen construct can be combined or co-administered with one or more compositions comprising one or more of: (i) the second Tau peptide immunogen construct and (ii) the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct.
  • the composition or kit disclosed herein is a kit comprising the first Tau peptide immunogen construct, and at least one of: the second Tau peptide immunogen construct and the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct.
  • the components of the kit prior to administration to a subject, are mixed to create a single composition comprising the first Tau peptide immunogen construct, and at least one of: the second Tau peptide immunogen construct and the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct.
  • the components of the kit are used to create a first composition comprising the first Tau peptide immunogen construct, and a second composition comprising at least one of: the second Tau peptide immunogen construct and the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct.
  • the disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the composition disclosed herein, and a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle and/or adjuvant.
  • the first Tau peptide immunogen construct, the second Tau peptide immunogen construct and/or the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct are mixed with an CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) to form a stabilized immunostimulatory complex.
  • ODN CpG oligodeoxynucleotide
  • the pharmaceutical composition disclosed herein comprises 3 or 4 of Tau peptide immunogen constructs. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition disclosed herein comprises more than one amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs. In some aspects, the disclosure provides an isolated antibody or epitope-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to the B cell epitope of the Tau peptide immunogen construct or the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct obtained by administering to a mammal a composition or compositions disclosed herein, or a peptide immunogen construct disclosed herein. In some embodiments of the foregoing or related aspects, the isolated antibody or epitope-binding fragment 13 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • VXH-11025 thereof disclosed herein is bound to the Tau peptide immunogen construct or the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct.
  • the disclosure provides a composition comprising an isolated antibody or epitope-binding fragment thereof disclosed herein.
  • the disclosure provides a method of preventing, inhibiting, reducing the severity of, delaying, or treating a tauopathy in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a Tau peptide immunogen construct, an amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct, a composition or compositions disclosed herein.
  • the method comprises administering the composition wherein the first Tau peptide immunogen construct and at least one of the second Tau peptide immunogen construct and the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct are comprised within a single composition.
  • the disclosure provides a method of preventing, inhibiting, reducing the severity of, delaying, or treating a tauopathy in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject: a first Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising a first Tau B cell epitope comprising or consisting of about 6 to about 40 (e.g., 6 to 40, 8 to 40, or 8 to 15) amino acid residues from the full- length Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60; and (i) a second Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising a second Tau B cell epitope comprising or consisting of about 6 to about 40 (e.g., 6 to 40, 8 to 40, or 8 to 15) amino acid residues from the full-length Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60, wherein the second B cell epitope is not the same as the first B cell epitope, and/or (ii) an amyloid beta (A ⁇ ) peptide immunogen construct comprising an amyloid beta B cell epitope comprising or consisting of about 6
  • the first Tau peptide immunogen construct, and the second Tau peptide immunogen construct and/or the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct are comprised within a single composition.
  • the tauopathy is selected from Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease, frontotemporal dementia, parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17), progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, Pick's disease, progressive subcortical gliosis, tangle only dementia, diffuse neurofibrillary tangles with calcification, 14 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • VXH-11025 argyrophilic grain dementia amyotrophic lateral sclerosis parkinsonism-dementia complex, dementia pugilistica, Down syndrome, Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease, Hallerworden-Spatz disease, inclusion body myositis, Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, multiple system atropy, Niemann-Pick disease type C, prion protein cerebral amyloid angiopathy, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, myotonic dystrophy, non-guanamian motor neuron disease with neurofibrillary tangles, postencephalitic parkinsonism, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
  • the tauopathy is Alzheimer’s disease.
  • the subject is a mammal.
  • the subject is a human.
  • Fig.1 is a schematic diagram showing a Th peptide carrier linked to a target-specific B-cell epitope (Top) and tau primary structure with functional domains and targeting peptides annotated (Bottom).
  • Figs.2A and 2B are a dot blot, set of graphs, and table showing the results of antibody binding characterization.
  • Figs.3A and 3B are a set of graphs showing the results of an aggregation assay using a Tau biosensor line.
  • Figs.4A and 4B are a set of graphs showing the results of a Tau uptake assay.
  • Figs.5A and 5B are graphs showing the results of a Tau uptake assay.
  • Fig.5C is a graph showing biolayer interferometry analysis of IgGs from p5555kb, IgGs from p5187kb, and mixed IgGs from p5555kb and p5187kb.
  • FIG.5D shows anti-tau IgG isotype EC50 titers.
  • Figs.6A-6C are graphs and photographic images showing the results of vaccination of WT and P301L mice with p5555kb. The arrowheads in Fig.6A indicate the injections.
  • Figs.7A-7E are graphs showing IgG titers in rats immunized with p5555kb, p5187kb, or VXX-301.
  • VXX-301 refers to the combination vaccine of p5555kb and p5187kb in one formulation.
  • Figs.7A-7B show IgG titers against monomeric Tau (Fig.7A) or fibril Tau (Fig.7B) following vaccination with p5555kb, p5187kb, or VXX-301.
  • Figs.7C-7E show IgG titer curves over time against monomeric Tau following vaccination with p5555kb (Fig.7C), p5187kb (Fig.
  • Figs.10A-10B are graphs showing the inhibition of Tau aggregation by anti-Tau mAb Bepranemab or anti-Tau antibodies from rats vaccinated with p5555kb, p5187kb, or VXX-301.
  • Figs.11A-11B are graphs showing the results of a pHrodo-PFF Tau uptake assay in b103 cells with anti-Tau mAbs Semorinemab (Sem), Bepranemab (Bep), or anti-Tau antibodies from rats vaccinated with p5555kb, p5187kb, or VXX-301.
  • Figs.12A-12D are graphs showing protection against Tau-associated pathology and death, and antibody titers in female P301L mice vaccinated with saline control, p5555kb, p6187kb, or VXX-301.
  • Figs.12A-12B show Kaplan Meier curves of ⁇ observed onset of ataxia (Fig.12A) and survival of P301L mice (Fig.12B).
  • Figs.12C-12D show terminal anti-Tau antibody titers against monomeric Tau (Fig.12C) or fibril Tau (Fig.12D).
  • the arrowheads in Figs.12A-12B indicate the injections.
  • Figs.13A and 13B are graphs showing the immunogenicity of A ⁇ (p3102kb) and Tau (p5555kb, p5404kb, or p5137kb) combination vaccines against monomeric Tau, fibril Tau, fibril P301S Tau, or a control B-cell epitope peptide not conjugated to a Th peptide (a-peptide).
  • a ⁇ p3102kb
  • Tau p5555kb, p5404kb, or p5137kb
  • a-peptide a control B-cell epitope peptide not conjugated to a Th peptide
  • the present disclosure is also directed to compositions containing the Tau peptide immunogen constructs, methods of making and using the peptide immunogen constructs, and antibodies produced by the peptide immunogen constructs.
  • the present disclosure is further directed to compositions comprising more than one (e.g., 2, 3, or 4) Tau peptide immunogen constructs (e.g., one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 9- ⁇ & ⁇ ' ⁇ . ⁇ or one or more of SEQ ID NO: 77-, ⁇ ⁇ - ⁇ * ⁇ also see below), and methods of using such compositions or combinations for the prevention and/or treatment of Alzheimer's disease and tauopathies.
  • compositions comprising one or more (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or 4) Tau peptide immunogen construct and one or more (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or 4) A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct (e.g., SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 89, or any combinations thereof such as SEQ ID NO: 70 and SEQ ID NO: 71, or SEQ 16 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 ID NO: 70 and SEQ ID NO: 89), and methods of using such compositions or combinations for the prevention and/or treatment of Alzheimer's disease and tauopathies.
  • SEQ ID NO: 10 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71.
  • SEQ ID NO: 11 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71.
  • SEQ ID NO: 12 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71.
  • SEQ ID NO: 13 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71.
  • SEQ ID NO: 14 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71.
  • SEQ ID NO: 15 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71.
  • SEQ ID NO: 16 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71.
  • an additional, different sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 is added to an above- listed combination (such as any additional Tau peptide immunogen construct sequence described herein).
  • only SEQ ID NO: 70 or only SEQ ID NO: 71 is included in an above- listed combination.
  • SEQ ID NO: 10 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and/or 89.
  • SEQ ID NO: 11 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and/or 89.
  • SEQ ID NO: 12 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and/or 89.
  • SEQ ID NO: 13 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and/or 89.
  • SEQ ID NO: 14 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and/or 89.
  • SEQ ID NO: 15 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and/or 89.
  • SEQ ID NO: 16 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and/or 89.
  • SEQ ID NO: 77 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and/or 89.
  • SEQ ID NO: 78 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and/or 89.
  • SEQ ID NO: 79 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and/or 89.
  • SEQ ID NO: 80 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and/or 89.
  • SEQ ID NO: 81 is combined with SEQ ID NOs: 70 and/or 89.
  • an additional, different Tau peptide immunogen construct sequence is added to any of the above-listed combinations (such as any additional Tau peptide immunogen construct sequence described herein).
  • only SEQ ID NO: 70 or only SEQ ID NO: 89 is included in any of the above-listed combinations.
  • the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs contain about 15 or more amino acids. In some embodiments, the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs contain about 80 or less, about 75 or less, about 70 or less, about 60 or less, about 50 or less, about 40 or less, or about 35 or less amino acids.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell epitope from portions of the longest isoform of the human Tau protein (GenBank: AGF19246.1) having the amino acid sequence shown in Table 6.
  • Tau B cell epitopes provided in Tables 1 and 7-10 can be used in the peptide immunogen constructs described herein.
  • the amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell epitope from a portion of A ⁇ (see, e.g., 17 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 Table 3).
  • amyloid beta B cell epitopes provided in Table 3, WO 2014/143087 or US 9,102,752 B2 (each of which is incorporated by reference herein) can be used in the peptide immunogen constructs described herein.
  • the B cell epitopes can each be linked to a heterologous T helper cell (Th) epitope derived from a pathogen protein through an optional heterologous spacer.
  • the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs stimulate the generation of highly specific antibodies directed against Tau or A ⁇ .
  • the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs can be used as an immunotherapy for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and/or tauopathies.
  • the B cell epitope portion of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs can have amino acid sequences from the full-length Tau protein (Table 6).
  • the B cell epitope has a sequence containing any one of the target sequences listed in Table 1 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 1-8, 202).
  • the Tau B cell epitope has a sequence provided in any one of Tables 7-10.
  • the Tau B cell epitope has any immunogenic sequence provided in any one of Tables 1 and 7-10 (a sequence capable of eliciting anti-Tau antibodies).
  • the Tau B cell epitope has a sequence of p5543a, p5546a, p5547a, p5555a, p5557a, p5558a, p5559a, p5564a, p5565a, p5566a, p5569a, p5695a, p5696, or p5535a, which are SEQ ID NOs: 17-30, respectively ⁇ or a sequence of p5556a, p5456a, p4579a, p5541a, or p4062a, which are SEQ ID NOs: 63-67, respectively, also shown in Table 1.
  • the B cell epitope portion of the A ⁇ peptide immunogen constructs can have amino acid sequences from A ⁇ 1-42 , e.g., A ⁇ 1-14 (see Table 3 ⁇ peptides in WO 2014/143087). In some embodiments, the B cell epitope portion of the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct has any one amino acid sequence shown in Table 3. In some embodiments, the B cell epitope portion of the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct has any one A ⁇ peptides amino acid sequence in WO 2014/143087 and/or US 9,102,752 B2, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • amyloid beta B cell epitopes and amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs comprising such B cell epitopes, in WO 2014/143087 and/or US 9,102,752 B2, is specifically incorporated by reference herein.
  • the A ⁇ B cell epitope has any A ⁇ B cell epitope sequence provided in WO 2014/143087 and/or US 9,102,752 B2.
  • the A ⁇ B cell epitope has any immunogenic A ⁇ B cell epitope sequence provided in WO 2014/143087 and/or US 9,102,752 B2 (a sequence capable of eliciting anti- A ⁇ antibodies).
  • the Tau and A ⁇ peptide immunogen constructs of the present disclosure can contain a heterologous Th epitope amino acid sequence derived from a pathogenic protein (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31 to 59, and 97) as shown in Table 5.
  • a pathogenic protein e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31 to 59, and 97
  • the heterologous Th epitope is derived from natural pathogens, such as Diphtheria Toxin (SEQ ID NO: 35), Plasmodium 18 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 Falciparum (SEQ ID NO: 36), Cholera Toxin (SEQ ID NO: 38).
  • the heterologous Th epitope is an idealized artificial Th epitope derived from Measles Virus Fusion protein (MVF 1 to 5) or Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg 1 to 3) in the form of either single sequence or combinatorial sequences (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 32, 39, or 41-45).
  • the heterologous Th epitope has amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 42, 44, 45, and 97.
  • the heterologous Th epitope has amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:44.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell epitope from Tau or A ⁇ linked to a heterologous T helper cell (Th) epitope through an optional heterologous spacer.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell antigenic site having an amino acid sequence from Tau (see Table 1 (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8) and Tables 7-10 (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 17-30 or 63-67) or from A ⁇ (e.g., SEQ ID NO: 68 or 69) linked to a heterologous Th epitope derived from a pathogenic protein (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31 to 59) through an optional heterologous spacer.
  • the optional heterologous spacer is a molecule or chemical structure capable of linking two amino acids and/or peptides together.
  • the spacer is a naturally occurring amino acid, a non-naturally occurring amino acid, or a combination thereof.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen constructs have an amino acid sequence shown in Table 2 (e.g., a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9-16 or a construct in which the positions of the Tau peptides and the Th epitopes are reversed).
  • the Tau peptide immunogen constructs have an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 77-81 or a construct in which the positions of the Tau peptides and the Th epitopes are reversed.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen constructs have an amino acid sequence shown in Table 4 (e.g., a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 70, 71, or 89, or a construct in which the positions of the A ⁇ peptide and the Th epitopes are reversed).
  • the present disclosure is also directed to compositions containing a Tau peptide immunogen construct.
  • the disclosed compositions contain more than one Tau peptide immunogen construct to cover multiple B epitopes from Tau.
  • compositions contain a mixture of Tau peptide immunogen constructs with more than one heterologous Th epitope derived from pathogenic protein to cover a broad genetic background in patients.
  • Compositions containing a mixture of peptide immunogen constructs can lead to a higher percentage in responder rate upon immunization for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and/or tauopathies compared to compositions containing only a single peptide immunogen construct.
  • the present disclosure is also directed to compositions containing one or more Tau peptide immunogen 19 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 construct, e.g., as described herein, and one or more A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct, e.g., as described herein.
  • the present disclosure is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment and/or prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and/or tauopathies.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions contain the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs or combinations thereof (e.g., mixtures of Tau peptide immunogen constructs or mixtures of Tau peptide immunogen constructs and A ⁇ peptide immunogen constructs) in the form of a stabilized immunostimulatory complex formed through electrostatic associations by mixing a CpG oligomer with a composition containing a peptide immunogen complex.
  • stabilized immunostimulatory complexes are able to further enhance the immunogenicity of the peptide immunogen constructs.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions contain adjuvants such as mineral salts, including alum gel (ALHYDROGEL), aluminum phosphate (ADJUPHOS), or water-in-oil emulsions including MONTANIDE ISA 51 or 720.
  • adjuvants such as mineral salts, including alum gel (ALHYDROGEL), aluminum phosphate (ADJUPHOS), or water-in-oil emulsions including MONTANIDE ISA 51 or 720.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs described herein, when used in combination, can be comprised within a single composition, or can be comprised within separate compositions.
  • the present disclosure is also directed to antibodies directed against the disclosed Tau peptide immunogen constructs and/or disclosed amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs of the present disclosure are able to stimulate the generation of highly specific antibodies that are cross-reactive with the target amino acid sequences when administered to a subject.
  • the highly specific antibodies produced by the peptide immunogen constructs are cross reactive with recombinant Tau-containing proteins.
  • the disclosed antibodies bind with high specificity to Tau without much, if any, directed to the heterologous Th epitopes employed for immunogenicity enhancement, which is in sharp contrast to the conventional protein or other biological carriers used for such peptide antigenicity enhancement.
  • the present disclosure also includes methods for treating and/or preventing Alzheimer’s disease and/or tauopathies using the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs (including, e.g., the combinations described above and elsewhere herein) and/or antibodies directed against the peptide immunogen constructs.
  • the methods for treating and/or preventing Alzheimer’s disease and/or tauopathies including administering to a host a composition containing a disclosed peptide immunogen construct.
  • the compositions utilized in the methods contain one or more disclosed peptide immunogen construct in the form of a stable immunostimulatory complex with negatively charged oligonucleotides, such as CpG oligomers, through electrostatic association, which complexes are further supplemented, optionally, with a mineral salt or oil as adjuvant, for administration to patients with Alzheimer’s disease and/or 20 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 tauopathies.
  • the disclosed methods also include dosing regimens, dosage forms, and routes for administering the peptide immunogen constructs to a host at risk for, or with, Alzheimer’s disease and/or tauopathies.
  • the section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described. All references or portions of references cited in this application are expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for any purpose. Unless otherwise explained, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word “or” is intended to include “and” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  • a or B means including A, or B, or A and B. It is further to be understood that all amino acid sizes, and all molecular weight or molecular mass values, given for polypeptides are approximate, and are provided for description. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the disclosed method, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including explanations of terms, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. Terminology The term “about,” as used herein, refers to a range of +/- 10% of the stated value.
  • the range is +/- 5%, +/- 3%, +/- 2%, +/- 1%, +/- 0.5%, or +/- 0.1% of the stated value.
  • peptide immunogen or “peptide immunogen construct,” as used herein, refers to peptides comprising a heterologous T helper cell epitope covalently linked to a peptide containing a B cell epitope. The covalent linkage may be through a covalent peptide bond, thioester or a heterologous spacer. In some embodiments, the heterologous spacer is or comprises an amino acid sequence.
  • a disease or condition in a subject refers to administering a medicament (e.g., the peptide immunogen construct described herein) to the subject 21 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • VXH-11025 prior to the onset of the disease or condition, when administration of the medicament to a statistical sample prior to the onset of the disease or condition reduces the occurrence of the disease or condition in the treated sample relative to an untreated control sample, or delays the onset or reduces the occurrence or severity of one or more symptoms of the disease or condition relative to the untreated control sample.
  • treating refers to administering a medicament (e.g., the peptide immunogen construct described herein) to the subject having or suspected of having a disease or condition (i.e., after the onset of the disease or condition), such that at least one symptom of the disease or condition is decreased or prevented from worsening.
  • Peptide immunogen constructs containing a B cell epitope with an amino acid sequence from Tau or amyloid beta (A ⁇ ) covalently linked to a heterologous T helper cell (Th) epitope directly or through an optional heterologous spacer.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs described herein are modified as described herein, e.g., by acetylation of amino acids, N-methylation of amino acids, substitution of one or two amino acids with cysteine for purposes of disulfide bond formation, and/or use of N- terminal pyroglutamic acid. Acceptable modifications are any described herein (see, e.g., Table 2 and Table 4).
  • the modifications contemplated herein protein the peptide immunogen construct from protease degradation.
  • the phrase “Tau peptide immunogen construct,” as used herein, refers to a peptide containing (a) a B cell epitope having about 6 or more amino acid residues from the full-length sequence of the longest Tau isoform (SEQ ID NO: 60) (e.g., about 6-40, 8-40, 9-30, 10-25, 8-20, 9-18, 8-15, 10-15, 8-14, or 10-14; or about 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, or 40 amino acids) ⁇ /* ⁇ # ⁇ / ⁇ an optional heterologous spacer.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct can be represented by the formulae: (Th) m –(A) n –(Tau fragment)–X or (Tau fragment)–(A)n–(Th)m–X wherein 22 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • VXH-11025 Th is a ⁇ # ⁇ ⁇ (Tau fragment) is a B cell epitope having about 6 to about 40 amino acid residues from SEQ ID NO: 60 (e.g., about 6-40, 8-40, 9-30, 10-25, 8-20, 9-18, 8-15, 10-15, 8-14, or 10-14; or about 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, or 40 amino acids) ⁇ X is an (-COOH or (-CONH2 ⁇ $ ⁇ ⁇ $ ⁇ * ⁇ + ⁇ n is from 0 to about 10.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct is selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9-16, and 77-81 or any combination of two, three or more thereof is used (see Table 2). In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct is selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9-16, or any combination of two, three or more thereof is used (see Table 2). In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct is selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 77-81, or any combination of two, three or more thereof is used (see Table 2).
  • more than one (e.g., 2, 3, 4 or more) Tau peptide immunogen construct is used (e.g., in compositions, kits and methods described herein) to elicit antibodies targeting multiple B epitopes from Tau (e.g., 2, 3, 4 or more epitopes, respectively).
  • the more than one Tau peptide immunogen constructs comprise B cell epitope from different regions of Tau (e.g., the N-terminal region of Tau for one peptide immunogen construct and the repeat domain for the second peptide im ⁇ ⁇ ! ⁇ % ⁇ ' ⁇ . ⁇ 0 ⁇ - ⁇ In some embodiments, the N-terminal region of Tau is within amino acids 1-44 (e.g., amino acids 13-22) of SEQ ID NO: 60.
  • the repeat domain of Tau is within amino acids 244-372 of SEQ ID NO: 60.
  • a Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising a B cell epitope within amino acids 1-44 (e.g., amino acids 13-22) of SEQ ID NO: 60 is used together with (e.g., in the same composition, same kit, or co-administered with) another Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising a B cell epitope within amino acids 244-372 of SEQ ID NO: 60.
  • one of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs comprises a B cell epitope from the N- terminal region of Tau (having a sequence from within amino acids 1-44, e.g., amino acids 13-22) of SEQ ID NO: 60.
  • another Tau peptide immunogen constructs comprises a B cell epitope from an amino acid region that is repeated (e.g., repeated 2, 3 or 4 times) within amino acids 244-372 of SEQ ID NO: 60.
  • the amino acid region that is repeated is an amino acid region within 1R, 2R, 3R, and/or 4R repeat regions of Tau, which repeat regions are known 23 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 in the art or described herein.
  • one Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises a B cell epitope from the N-terminal region, and one Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises a B cell epitope from a region other than the N-terminal region (e.g., where one or both of such constructs elicit antibodies binding to 4, 5, or each of 6 isoforms of Tau provided in Table 6).
  • one Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises a B cell epitope from the repeat domain on Tau, and one Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises a B cell epitope from a region other than the repeat domain of Tau (e.g., where one or both of such constructs elicit antibodies binding to 4, 5, or each of 6 isoforms of Tau provided in Table 6).
  • At least one Tau peptide immunogen construct selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9 and 10 is used together with (e.g., in the same composition, kit, or co-administered with) at least one Tau peptide immunogen construct selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, and 77-81.
  • at least one Tau peptide immunogen construct selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9-16 is used together with (e.g., in the same composition, kit, or co-administered with) at least one Tau peptide immunogen construct selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 77-81.
  • At least one Tau peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NOs: 10 is used together with (e.g., in the same composition, kit, or co-administered with) at least one Tau peptide immunogen construct selected from any other provided herein.
  • at least one Tau peptide immunogen construct selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15 and 77-81 is used together with (e.g., in the same composition, kit, or co- administered with) at least one Tau peptide immunogen construct selected from any other provided herein.
  • At least one Tau peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NOs: 10 is used together with (e.g., in the same composition, kit, or co-administered with) at least one Tau peptide immunogen construct selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15 and 77-81.
  • a composition or a kit comprises at least one Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 10, and at least one Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15 (or a modified version thereof comprising modified amino acids or chemical groups). Acceptable modifications are any described herein (such as in SEQ ID NOs:77-81).
  • a composition or a kit comprises Tau peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NO: 10, and Tau peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NO: 15.
  • a composition or a kit comprises Tau peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NO: 10, and at least one Tau peptide immunogen construct of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 77-81. 24 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:9.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:10.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:11. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:12. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:13. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:14. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:15. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:16.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:77. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:78. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:79. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:80. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:81.
  • Amyloid beta or A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct refers to a peptide containing (a) a B cell epitope having about 6 or more amino acid residues from the full- length sequence of amyloid beta protein of SEQ ID NO: 68 (e.g., about 6-40, 8-40, 9-30, 10-25, 8- 20, 9-18, 8-15, 10-15, 8-14, or 10-14; or about 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, or 40 amino acids) ⁇ /* ⁇ # ⁇ / ⁇
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct can be represented by the formulae: (Th) m –(A) n –( A ⁇ fragment)–X or (A ⁇ fragment)–(A)n–(Th)m–X wherein # ⁇ # ⁇ ⁇ (A ⁇ fragment) is a B cell epitope having about 6 to about 40 amino acid residues
  • VXH-11025 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, or 40 amino acids) ⁇ X is an (-COOH or (-CONH 2 ⁇ $ ⁇ ⁇ $ ⁇ * ⁇ + ⁇ n is from 0 to about 10.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct is selected from SEQ ID NO: 70 and SEQ ID NO: 71 or a combination thereof is used (see Table 4).
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct is selected from SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 71 and SEQ ID NO:89, or any combination of two or three thereof is used (see Table 4).
  • WO 2014/143087 for additional A ⁇ peptides and A ⁇ peptide immunogenic constructs that can be used in combination with Tau peptide immunogen constructs described herein.
  • Peptides immunogen constructs falling within the formulae disclosed in WO 2014/143087 can also be used and are included in this disclosure.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct can be represented by any of the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct formulas presented in WO 2014/143087 and/or US 9,102,752 B2, the disclosures of which are specifically incorporated by reference herein in respect to such formulas.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:70 or a modified version thereof comprising modified amino acids or chemical groups. Acceptable modifications are any described herein (such as in SEQ ID NO: 89).
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:70.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:71.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct comprises, essentially consists of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:89.
  • the C-terminal end of a peptide immunogen construct described herein is amidated.
  • a combination of one or more (e.g., 1, 2, or 3) Tau peptide immunogen constructs and one or more (e.g., 1, 2, or 3) amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs is used in compositions, kits and methods described herein.
  • a combination of one Tau peptide immunogen construct and one amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct is used in compositions, kits and methods described herein.
  • a composition or a kit comprises at least one Tau peptide immunogen construct, e.g., comprising or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 10, and/or comprising or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15 (or a modified version thereof comprising modified amino acids or chemical groups, e.g., any of SEQ ID Nos: 77-81), and at least one amyloid 26 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 beta peptide immunogen construct, e.g., having amino acid sequence comprising or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 70 (or a modified version thereof comprising modified amino acids or chemical groups, e.g, SEQ ID NO:89).
  • a composition or a kit comprises at least one Tau peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NO: 10 and/or SEQ ID NO: 15, and at least one amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NO: 70.
  • the heterologous spacer and the heterologous Th epitope can be substituted by another heterologous spacer and/or heterologous Th epitope described herein.
  • the heterologous spacer can be any of SEQ ID Nos: 62 and 95.
  • the heterologous Th epitope can be any of SEQ ID Nos: 42, 44, 45 and 97.
  • the various components of the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs are described below. a. Tau and A ⁇ fragments
  • the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell epitope of about 6 or more amino acids.
  • the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell epitope of about 8 or more amino acids.
  • the Tau or amyloid beta B cell epitope provided herein is about 6 to 40 amino acids.
  • the Tau or amyloid beta B cell epitope provided herein is about 8-40, 9-30, 10-25, 8-20, 9-18, 8-15, 10-15, 8-14, or 10-14 amino acids in length, or about 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, or 40 amino acids, or any number of amino acids in between these values.
  • the B cell epitopes described herein are modified as described herein, e.g., by acetylation of amino acids, N-methylation of amino acids, substitution of one or two amino acids by cysteine for purposes of disulfide bond formation, and/or use of N-terminal pyroglutamic acid. Acceptable modifications are any described herein (see, e.g., Table 1 and Table 3).
  • the Tau peptide immunogen constructs contain a B cell epitope from portions of the longest isoform of the human Tau protein (GenBank: AGF19246.1) having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 60 shown in Table 6.
  • the B cell epitope can be linked to a heterologous T helper cell (Th) epitope derived from pathogen proteins through an optional heterologous spacer.
  • the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs stimulate the generation of highly specific antibodies directed against Tau.
  • the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs can be used as an immunotherapy for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and/or tauopathies.
  • 27 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025
  • the B cell epitope portion of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs have amino acid sequences from the full-length Tau protein (SEQ ID NO: 60).
  • the Tau B cell epitope has a sequence shown in Table 1 (any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8) or in Tables 7-10 (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 17-30 or 63-67).
  • the Tau peptide (or Tau B cell epitope) of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs comprises or consists of a peptide of any one of Tables 1 and 7-10.
  • the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 1.
  • the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 2.
  • the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:3. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 4. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 5. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 6. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 7. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 8.
  • the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 202. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 17. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 18. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 19. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 20. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 21.
  • the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 22. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:23. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 24. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 25. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 26. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 27.
  • the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 28. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 29. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 30. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 63. In some 28 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 64.
  • the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 65. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 66. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 67. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide (B cell epitope) of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs comprises or consists of a peptide of any one of Tables 1 and 7-10, wherein the peptide includes 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 additional amino acids of the Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60 on the N-terminal end of the peptide of Table 1 or 7-10.
  • the Tau peptide (B cell epitope) of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs comprises or consists of a peptide of any one of Tables 1 and 7- 10, wherein the peptide includes 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 additional amino acids of the Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60 on the C-terminal end of the peptide of Table 1 or 7-10.
  • the Tau peptide (B cell epitope) of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs comprises or consists of a peptide of any one of Tables 1 and 7-10, wherein the peptide includes 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 additional amino acids of the Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60 on the N-terminal end and/or the C-terminal end of the peptide of Table 1 or 7-10.
  • the additional amino acids in the latter peptides are to be understood to be those of the Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60 that are contiguous with the peptide sequences of Tables 1 and 7-10.
  • the Tau B cell epitope has a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 72- 76.
  • the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 72. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 73. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 74. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 75. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 76. In some embodiments, the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 77.
  • the Tau B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 96.
  • the Tau B cell epitope of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs comprises or consists of a peptide of any one of SEQ ID Nos: 72-76 or 96, wherein the B cell epitope includes 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 additional amino acids of the Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60 on the N-terminal end of the peptide.
  • the Tau B cell epitope of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs comprises or consists of a peptide of any one of SEQ ID Nos: 72-76 or 96, wherein the B cell epitope includes 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 additional amino acids of the Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60 on 29 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 the C-terminal end of the peptide.
  • the Tau B cell epitope of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs comprises or consists of a peptide of any one of SEQ ID Nos: 72-76 or 96, wherein the B cell epitope includes 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 additional amino acids of the Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60 on the N-terminal end and/or the C-terminal end of the peptide.
  • the additional amino acids are to be understood to be those of the Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60 that are contiguous with the peptide sequences of any one of SEQ ID Nos: 72-76 and 96, respectively.
  • the Tau peptide (B cell epitope) of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs comprises or consists of about 8 to about 40 amino acid residues from SEQ ID NO: 60 (e.g., about 8-40, 9-30, 10-25, 8-20, 9-18, or 10- ⁇ . ⁇ * ⁇ , ⁇ 1 ⁇ ' ⁇ 2 ⁇ 3 ⁇ + ⁇ . ⁇ & ⁇ , ⁇ 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40 amino acids).
  • SEQ ID NO: 60 e.g., about 8-40, 9-30, 10-25, 8-20, 9-18, or 10- ⁇ . ⁇ * ⁇ , ⁇ 1 ⁇ ' ⁇ 2 ⁇ 3 ⁇ + ⁇ . ⁇ & ⁇ , ⁇ 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40 amino acids.
  • the Tau peptide of the peptide immunogen constructs are of any one of Tables 1 and 7-10, e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8, 17-30, or 63-67, wherein optionally the peptide has one or more of the additional amino acids noted above.
  • the Tau peptide (B cell epitope) of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs is of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 72-76, wherein optionally the peptide has one or more of the additional amino acids noted above.
  • the B cell epitope portion of the amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs have amino acid sequences from the full-length amyloid beta protein (SEQ ID NO: 68).
  • the amyloid beta peptide (or amyloid beta B cell epitope) of the amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs comprises or consists of a peptide of any one of Table 3.
  • the amyloid beta B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 69.
  • the amyloid beta B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 82.
  • the amyloid beta B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO:83.
  • the amyloid beta B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 84. In some embodiments, the amyloid beta B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 85. In some embodiments, the amyloid beta B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 86. In some embodiments, the amyloid beta B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 87. In some embodiments, the amyloid beta B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of SEQ ID NO: 88.
  • the amyloid beta B cell epitope comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of any of the sequences of amyloid beta peptides or B cell epitopes described in WO 2014/143087 or US 9,102,752 B2.
  • the B cell epitope of the amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs 30 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 comprises or consists of a peptide of any one of SEQ ID Nos: 69 and 82-88, wherein the B cell epitope includes 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 additional amino acids of the amyloid beta protein of SEQ ID NO: 68 on the N-terminal end of the peptide.
  • the B cell epitope of the amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs comprises or consists of a peptide of any one of SEQ ID Nos: 69 and 82-88, wherein the B cell epitope includes 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 additional amino acids of the amyloid beta protein of SEQ ID NO: 68 on the C-terminal end of the peptide.
  • the B cell epitope of the amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs comprises or consists of a peptide of any one of SEQ ID Nos: 69 and 82-88, wherein the B cell epitope includes 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 additional amino acids of the amyloid beta protein of SEQ ID NO: 68 on the N-terminal end and/or the C-terminal end of the peptide.
  • the additional amino acids are to be understood to be those of the amyloid protein of SEQ ID NO: 68 that are contiguous with the peptide sequences of any one of SEQ ID Nos: 69 and 82-88, respectively.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct is selected from SEQ ID NO: 70 and SEQ ID NO: 71 or a combination thereof is used (see Table 4). Also see WO 2014/143087 for additional A ⁇ peptides and A ⁇ peptide immunogenic constructs that can be used in combination with Tau peptide immunogen constructs described herein. Peptides immunogen constructs falling within the formulae of WO 2014/143087 can also be used and are included in this disclosure. In some embodiments, the C-terminus of a peptide immunogenic construct described herein is amidated. b.
  • Heterologous T helper cell epitopes The present disclosure provides peptide immunogen constructs containing a B cell epitope from Tau or A ⁇ covalently linked to a heterologous T helper cell (Th) epitope directly or through an optional heterologous spacer.
  • the heterologous Th epitope in the peptide immunogen constructs enhance the immunogenicity of the Tau or A ⁇ fragments, which facilitates the production of specific high titer antibodies directed against the optimized target B cell epitope (e.g., the Tau fragment) through rational design.
  • heterologous refers to an amino acid sequence that is derived from an amino acid sequence that is not part of, or homologous with, the wild-type sequence of Tau or A ⁇ .
  • a heterologous Th epitope is a Th epitope derived from an amino acid sequence that is not naturally found in Tau (i.e., the Th epitope is not autologous to Tau). Since the 31 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 Th epitope is heterologous to Tau, the natural amino acid sequence of Tau is not extended in either the N-terminal or C-terminal directions when the heterologous Th epitope is covalently linked to the Tau fragment.
  • a heterologous Th epitope is a Th epitope derived from an amino acid sequence that is not naturally found in A ⁇ (i.e., the Th epitope is not autologous to A ⁇ ). Since the Th epitope is heterologous to A ⁇ , the natural amino acid sequence of A ⁇ is not extended in either the N-terminal or C-terminal directions when the heterologous Th epitope is covalently linked to the A ⁇ fragment.
  • the heterologous Th epitope of the present disclosure can be any Th epitope that does not have an amino acid sequence naturally found in Tau (or A ⁇ ).
  • the Th epitope can have an amino acid sequence derived from any species (e.g., human, pig, cattle, dog, rat, mouse, guinea pigs, etc.).
  • the Th epitope can also have promiscuous binding motifs to MHC class II molecules of multiple species.
  • the Th epitope comprises multiple promiscuous MHC class II binding motifs to allow maximal activation of T helper cells leading to initiation and regulation of immune responses.
  • the Th epitope is preferably immunosilent on its own, i.e., little, if any, of the antibodies generated by the peptide immunogen constructs will be directed towards the Th epitope, thus allowing a very focused immune response directed to the targeted B cell epitope of the Tau or A ⁇ fragment.
  • Th epitopes of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, amino acid sequences derived from foreign pathogens, as exemplified in Table 5 (any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31 to 59, or SEQ ID NO: 97). Further, Th epitopes include idealized artificial Th epitopes and combinatorial idealized artificial Th epitopes (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 32 and 39-45).
  • the heterologous Th epitope peptides presented as a combinatorial sequence e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 40-43
  • An assembly of combinatorial peptides can be synthesized in one process by adding a mixture of the designated protected amino acids, instead of one particular amino acid, at a specified position during the synthesis process.
  • Such combinatorial heterologous Th epitope peptides assemblies can allow broad Th epitope coverage for animals having a diverse genetic background.
  • Representative combinatorial sequences of heterologous Th epitope peptides include SEQ ID NOs: 40-43 which are shown in Table 5.
  • Th epitope peptides of the present invention provide broad reactivity and immunogenicity to animals and patients from genetically diverse populations.
  • the N-terminal lysines can be removed for use in the peptide immunogen constructs described herein (e.g., for use in the peptide 32 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 immunogen constructs comprising a spacer comprising one or more lysines).
  • the “KKK” amino acid sequence in the Th epitopes shown in Table 5 that comprise the “KKK” amino acid sequence at the N-terminal end, can be removed for use in the peptide immunogen constructs described herein (e.g., for use in the peptide immunogen constructs comprising a spacer comprising “KKK” amino acid sequence). See, for example, the peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NO:71, wherein the sequence of the UBITh®2 Th epitope in the peptide immunogen construct lacks three N- terminal lysines.
  • the heterologous Th epitope comprises or has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 44.
  • the heterologous Th epitope comprises or has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 42. In some embodiments, the heterologous Th epitope comprises or has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 45. In some embodiments, the heterologous Th epitope comprises or has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 97.
  • Peptide immunogen constructs comprising Th epitopes are or can be produced simultaneously in a single solid-phase peptide synthesis in tandem with the B cell epitope-containing fragment. Th epitopes also include immunological analogues of Th epitopes.
  • Immunological Th analogues include immune-enhancing analogs, cross-reactive analogues and segments of any one of these Th epitopes that are sufficient to enhance or stimulate an immune response to the B cell epitope-containing fragments.
  • Functional immunologically analogues of the Th epitope peptides are also effective and included as part of the present invention.
  • Functional immunological Th analogues can include conservative substitutions, additions, deletions, and insertions of from one to about five amino acid residues in the Th epitope which do not essentially modify the Th-stimulating function of the Th epitope. The conservative substitutions, additions, and insertions can be accomplished with natural or non-natural amino acids.
  • Table 5 identifies another variation of a functional analogue for Th epitope peptide.
  • SEQ ID NOs: 32 and 39 of MvF1 and MvF2 Th are functional analogues of SEQ ID NOs: 42 and 44 of MvF4 and MvF5 in that they differ in the amino acid frame by the deletion (SEQ ID NOs: 32 and 39) or the inclusion (SEQ ID NOs: 42 and 44) of two amino acids each at the N- and C-termini. The differences between these two series of analogous sequences would not affect the function of the Th epitopes contained within these sequences.
  • Th analogues include several versions of the Th epitope derived from Measles Virus Fusion protein MvF1-4 Ths (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 32, 39, 40, 42, and 44) and from Hepatitis Surface protein HBsAg 1-3 Ths (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs: 41, 43, and 45).
  • a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 44 is used.
  • the sequence of 33 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 SEQ ID NO: 42 is used.
  • the Th epitope in the peptide immunogen constructs can be covalently linked at either N- or C- terminal end of the B cell epitope-containing peptides.
  • the Th epitope is covalently linked to the N-terminal end of the B cell epitope-containing peptide.
  • the Th epitope is covalently linked to the C-terminal end of the B cell epitope- containing peptide.
  • more than one Th epitope is covalently linked to the B cell epitope-containing fragment. When more than one Th epitope is linked to the B cell epitope- containing fragment, each Th epitope can have the same amino acid sequence or different amino acid sequences.
  • the Th epitopes can be arranged in any order.
  • the Th epitopes can be consecutively linked to the N-terminal end of the B cell epitope-containing fragment, or consecutively linked to the C-terminal end of the B cell epitope-containing fragment, or a Th epitope can be covalently linked to the N-terminal end of the B cell epitope-containing fragment while a separate Th epitope is covalently linked to the C-terminal end of the B cell epitope-containing fragment.
  • the Th epitopes in relation to the B cell epitope-containing fragment.
  • the disclosure includes corresponding immunogenic constructs in which the positions of the B cell epitope-containing peptide and the Th epitope are reversed from the orientation set forth in Tables 2 and 4.
  • another Th epitope can be used (i.e., the provided Th epitope can be replaced by another described herein or known in the art).
  • the Th epitope is covalently linked to the B cell epitope-containing fragment directly.
  • the Th epitope is covalently linked to the B cell epitope- containing fragment through a heterologous spacer described in further detail below.
  • heterologous Spacer The disclosed B cell epitope-containing peptide immunogen constructs optionally contain a heterologous spacer that covalently links the B cell epitope from B cell epitope-containing to the heterologous T helper cell (Th) epitope.
  • heterologous refers to an amino acid sequence that is derived from an amino acid sequence that is not part of, or homologous with, the wild-type sequence of Tau or A ⁇ .
  • the natural amino acid sequence of Tau or A ⁇ is not extended in either the N-terminal or C-terminal directions when the heterologous spacer is covalently linked to the B cell epitope from 34 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • the spacer is any molecule or chemical structure capable of linking two amino acids and/or peptides together.
  • the spacer can vary in length or polarity depending on the application.
  • the spacer attachment can be through an amide- or carboxyl- linkage but other functionalities are possible as well.
  • the spacer can include a chemical compound, a naturally occurring amino acid, or a non- naturally occurring amino acid.
  • the spacer can provide structural features to the Tau or beta amyloid peptide immunogen construct. Structurally, the spacer provides a physical separation of the Th epitope from the B cell epitope of the Tau or beta amyloid fragment.
  • the physical separation by the spacer can disrupt any artificial secondary structures created by joining the Th epitope to the B cell epitope. Additionally, the physical separation of the epitopes by the spacer can eliminate interference between the Th cell and/or B cell responses.
  • the spacer can be designed to create or modify a secondary structure of the peptide immunogen construct. For example, a spacer can be designed to act as a flexible hinge to enhance the separation of the Th epitope and B cell epitope.
  • a flexible hinge spacer can also permit more efficient interactions between the presented peptide immunogen and the appropriate Th cells and B cells to enhance the immune responses to the Th epitope and B cell epitope. Examples of sequences encoding flexible hinges are found in the immunoglobulin heavy chain hinge region, which are often proline rich.
  • One particularly useful flexible hinge that can be used as a spacer is provided by the sequence Pro-Pro-Xaa-Pro-Xaa-Pro (SEQ ID NO: 61), where Xaa is any amino acid, and preferably aspartic acid.
  • the spacer can also provide functional features to the peptide immunogen constructs.
  • the spacer can be designed to change the overall charge of the peptide immunogen constructs, which can affect the solubility of the peptide immunogen construct.
  • changing the overall charge of the peptide immunogen constructs can affect the ability of the peptide immunogen construct to associate with other compounds and reagents.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs can be formed into a stable immunostimulatory complex with a highly charged oligonucleotide, such as CpG oligomers through electrostatic association.
  • the overall charge of the peptide immunogen constructs is important for the formation of these stable immunostimulatory complexes.
  • the heterologous spacer comprises or consists of one of the following amino acids: Lys-, Gly-, Lys-Lys-Lys-, ((, )-N)Lys, Lys-Lys-Lys-)Lys, )-N-Lys-Lys-Lys, and Pro-Pro-Xaa-Pro-Xaa-Pro, wherein Xaa is any amino acid or is aspartic acid.
  • the spacer comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence Lys-Lys-Lys, )-Lys-Lys-Lys-Lys or 35 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • the sequence of the spacer comprises or consists of )- Lys-Lys-Lys-Lys or Lys-Lys-Lys-)-Lys.
  • the heterologous spacer is Lys- Lys-Lys-)Lys.
  • the heterologous spacer is ⁇ Lys-Lys-Lys-Lys ⁇
  • the C- terminus of a first peptide sequence is conjugated to the epsilon amino group of the lysine to form a first amide bond
  • the N-terminus of a second peptide sequence is conjugated to the carboxyl group of the lysine to form a second amide bond.
  • the structure of the Lys- )-Lys (K-)K) linkage is shown below: .
  • Chemical compounds that can be used as a spacer include, but are not limited to, (2- aminoethoxy) acetic acid (AEA), 5-aminovaleric acid (AVA), 6-aminocaproic acid (Ahx), 8-amino- 3,6-dioxaoctanoic acid (AEEA, mini-PEG1), 12-amino-4,7,10-trioxadodecanoic acid (mini-PEG2), 15-amino-4,7,10,13-tetraoxapenta-decanoic acid (mini-PEG3), trioxatridecan-succinamic acid (Ttds), 12-amino-dodecanoic acid, Fmoc-5-amino-3-oxapentanoic acid (O1Pen), and the like.
  • AEA (2- aminoethoxy) acetic acid
  • AVA 5-aminovaleric acid
  • Ahx 6-aminocaproic acid
  • Naturally occurring amino acids include alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine and valine.
  • Non-naturally occurring amino acids include, but are not limited to, )-N Lysine, ß-alanine, ornithine, norleucine, norvaline, hydroxyproline, thyroxine, 4-amino butyric acid, homoserine, citrulline, aminobenzoic acid, 6- ⁇ / ⁇ &-Aminohexanoic acid), hydroxyproline, mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), 3-nitro-tyrosine, pyroglutamic acid, and the like.
  • the spacer in the peptide immunogen constructs can be covalently linked at either N- or C- terminal end of the Th epitope and the B cell epitope-containing peptide.
  • the spacer is covalently linked to the C-terminal end of the Th epitope and to the N-terminal end of the B cell epitope-containing peptide. In other embodiments, the spacer is covalently linked to the C- terminal end of the B cell epitope-containing peptide and to the N-terminal end of the Th epitope. In certain embodiments, more than one spacer can be used, for example, when more than one Th epitope 36 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 is present in the peptide immunogen construct. When more than one spacer is used, each spacer can be the same as each other or different.
  • the Th epitopes can be separated with a spacer, which can be the same as, or different from, the spacer used to separate the Th epitope from the B cell epitope.
  • a spacer can be the same as, or different from, the spacer used to separate the Th epitope from the B cell epitope.
  • the heterologous spacer is a naturally occurring amino acid or a non- naturally occurring amino acid.
  • the spacer contains more than one naturally occurring or non-naturally occurring amino acids.
  • the spacer comprises at least 3, or at least 4 amino acids (e.g., lysines).
  • the spacer comprises less than 7, 6, or 5 amino acids.
  • the spacer is Lys-, Gly-, Lys-Lys-Lys-, ((, )-N)Lys, or )-N-Lys-Lys-Lys-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 62).
  • Modified B cell epitopes and peptide immunogen constructs In some embodiments, provided herein are modified Tau and A ⁇ B cell epitopes. The specific modified B cell epitopes provided herein are shown in Table 1 and Table 3. In some embodiments, provided herein are modified Tau and A ⁇ peptide immunogen constructs. The specific modified peptide immunogen constructs provided herein are shown in Table 2 and Table 4.
  • a Tau B cell epitope comprises an N-methylated amino acid or amino acids.
  • N-methylated amino acids are mono methylated and attached to the following amino acid by an amide bond between the N-methylated amine of an amino acid and the carboxylic acid of the following amino acid.
  • One, two or more amino acids can be N-methylated.
  • N- methylated amino acids are isoleucine and/or lysine.
  • one isoleucine in the B cell epitope is N-methylated.
  • one lysine in the B cell epitope is N-methylated.
  • one isoleucine and one lysine in the B cell epitope are N-methylated.
  • N-methylated amino acids appear at the N-terminal end of a B cell epitope (such as a Tau B cell epitope).
  • N-methylated amino acids are present in Tau B cell epitopes of SEQ ID Nos: 73- 75. Examples of N-methylated amino acid analogs are shown below: 37 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025
  • a Tau B cell epitope comprises an acetylated amino acid or amino acids.
  • isoleucine e.g., one isoleucine of the B cell epitope is acetylated.
  • acetylated amino acid is at the N-terminal end of a B cell epitope (such as a Tau B cell epitope).
  • An acetylated amino acid is present in Tau B cell epitope of SEQ ID No: 72.
  • a Th epitope comprises an acetylated amino acid or amino acids.
  • acetylated amino acid is at the N-terminal end of a Th epitope.
  • isoleucine e.g., one isoleucine of the Th epitope is acetylated.
  • acetylated amino acids contemplated herein are shown below (in particular, an N-acetylated isoleucine):
  • a Tau B cell epitope, a Th epitope or a peptide immunogen construct instead of an acetylated amino acid, comprises another modification (as an alternative to acetylation) protecting the N-terminal end from protease degradation.
  • another modification is any modification known in the art (that can protect the N-terminal end from protease degradation).
  • a Tau B cell epitope, a Th epitope or a peptide immunogen construct comprises one of the following modifications at the N-terminal end: one or more additional glycines (e.g., three additional glycines or GGG), propionylation, a benzyloxycarbonyl group, a short PEG, or a D-amino acid.
  • a Tau B cell epitope, a Th epitope or a peptide immunogen construct comprises three glycines (which are not part of the B cell epitope) at the N-terminal end.
  • a Tau B cell epitope, a Th epitope or a peptide immunogen construct is propionylated at the N-terminal end.
  • a Tau B cell epitope, a Th epitope or a peptide immunogen construct comprises benzyloxycarbonyl at the N-terminal end.
  • a Tau B cell epitope, a Th epitope or a peptide immunogen construct comprises a PEG (e.g., a short PEG) at the N-terminal end.
  • a Tau B cell epitope, a Th epitope or a peptide immunogen construct comprises a D-amino acid at the N-terminal end.
  • a Tau B cell epitope, a Th epitope or a peptide immunogen construct is acetylated at the N-terminal end.
  • a Tau B cell epitope comprises one or two amino acid substitutions wherein a non-cysteine amino acid is replaced with a cysteine, such that the resulting B cell epitope comprises two cysteines that can form a disulfide bond (resulting in cyclization by cysteine disulfide bonds).
  • an amyloid beta B cell epitope comprises a pyroglutamic acid.
  • an amyloid beta B cell epitope comprises a pyroglutamic acid at the N-terminal end of a B cell epitope.
  • Pyroglutamic acid is a derivative of Glutamic acid in which the side chain underwent dehydration resulting in an amide bond between the side chain acid group and the alpha amino group, as shown below: .
  • the specific B cell epitope modifications described herein are based upon predicted structures of Tau and amyloid beta peptide sequences and/or empirically determined tryptic digest products. In some embodiments, the modifications described herein improve protease stability of the peptides or impart protease stability to the peptides.
  • Specific embodiments of the Tau and A ⁇ peptide immunogen constructs and combinations The Tau peptide immunogen construct can be represented by the formulae: (Th) m –(A) n –(Tau fragment)–X or (Tau fragment)–(A)n–(Th)m–X wherein 39 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • VXH-11025 # ⁇ # ⁇ ⁇ (Tau fragment) is a B cell epitope having 6 to about 40, or about 8 to about 40, amino acid residues from the full-length Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60 (e.g., 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, or 40 amino acids, or any length range in between these values);
  • X is an (-COOH or (-CONH2 ⁇ $ ⁇ ⁇ $ ⁇ * ⁇ + ⁇ n is from 0 to about 10.
  • the heterologous Th epitope in the Tau peptide immunogen construct has an amino acid sequence selected from any one of those set forth in Table 5.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct contains more than one Th epitope. In certain embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct contains more than one Th epitope, e.g., of SEQ ID NO:44.
  • the optional heterologous spacer is selected from any one of Lys-, Gly-, Lys-Lys-Lys-, ((, )-N)Lys, )-N-Lys-Lys-Lys-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 62), or Lys-Lys-Lys-)-Lys (SEQ ID NO:95), and combinations thereof.
  • the heterologous spacer is )-N-Lys- Lys-Lys-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 62). In specific embodiments, the heterologous spacer is Lys-Lys-Lys-)- Lys (SEQ ID NO:95).
  • the Tau fragment has about 8 to about 40 (e.g., 10-30, 10-25, 12-20, or 12-15) amino acid residues from the full-length Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60. In some embodiments, the Tau fragment has about 8-20, 8-15, 10-15, or 10-14 amino acid residues from the full-length Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60.
  • the Tau fragment has an amino acid sequence shown in Table 1 (e.g., one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8) or in one of Tables 7-10 (e.g., one of SEQ ID NOs: 17-30 or 63-67). In other specific embodiments, the Tau fragment has an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 72-76 shown in Table 1.
  • the tau peptide immunogen construct is selected from: a. MAEPRQEFEVMEDHAGTYGLGDKKK-eK- SEQ ID NO: 9 ISITEIKGVIVHRIETILF-NH2; b. DHAGTYGLGDKKK-eK-ISITEIKGVIVHRIETILF-NH2; SEQ ID NO: 10 c.
  • the T cell epitope of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9-16 is replaced with a T cell epitope of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31-59.
  • the positions of the B cell epitope and the T cell epitope of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9-16 is reversed within the molecule (i.e., if the B cell epitope is at the N-terminal end of the original molecule, it is placed at the C-terminal end of the molecule in the reversed molecule, etc.).
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct is selected from any one of SEQ ID Nos:77-81.
  • the T cell epitope of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 77-81 is replaced with a T cell epitope of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31-59.
  • the positions of the B cell epitope and the T cell epitope of any one of SEQ ID Nos:77-81 is reversed within the molecule (i.e., if the B cell epitope is at the N-terminal end of the original molecule, it is placed at the C- terminal end of the molecule in the reversed molecule, etc.).
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct can be represented by the formulae: (Th)m–(A)n–( A ⁇ fragment)–X or (A ⁇ fragment)–(A) n –(Th) m –X wherein # ⁇ # ⁇ ⁇ (A ⁇ fragment) is a B cell epitope having 6 to about 40, or about 8 to about 40, amino acid residues from the full-length A ⁇ protein of SEQ ID NO: 68 (e.g., 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, or 40 amino acids, or any length range in between these values);
  • X is an (-COOH or (-CONH2 ⁇ $ ⁇ ⁇ $ ⁇ * ⁇ + ⁇ n is from 0 to about 10.
  • the heterologous Th epitope in the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct 41 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 has an amino acid sequence selected from any one of those set forth in Table 5.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct contains more than one Th epitope.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct contains more than one Th epitope, e.g., of SEQ ID NO:44.
  • the optional heterologous spacer is selected from any one of Lys-, Gly-, Lys-Lys-Lys-, ((, )-N)Lys, )-N-Lys-Lys-Lys-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 62), or Lys-Lys-Lys-)-Lys (SEQ ID NO:95), and combinations thereof.
  • the heterologous spacer is )-N-Lys- Lys-Lys-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 62).
  • the heterologous spacer is Lys-Lys-Lys-)- Lys (SEQ ID NO:95).
  • the A ⁇ fragment has about 8 to about 40 (e.g., 10-30, 10-25, 12-20, or 12-15) amino acid residues from the full-length Tau protein of SEQ ID NO: 60. In some embodiments, the A ⁇ fragment has about 8-20, 8-15, 10-15, or 10-14 amino acid residues from the full-length A ⁇ protein of SEQ ID NO: 68. In specific embodiments, the A ⁇ fragment has an amino acid sequence shown in Table 3 (e.g., one of SEQ ID NOs: 68 or 69). In other specific embodiments, the A ⁇ fragment has an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 83-88 shown in Table 3.
  • the A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct is selected from SEQ ID NOs:70, 71 and 89.
  • the T cell epitope of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 70, 71 and 89 is replaced with a T cell epitope of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 31-59.
  • the positions of the B cell epitope and the T cell epitope of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 70, 71 and 89 is reversed within the molecule (i.e., if the B cell epitope is at the N-terminal end of the original molecule, it is placed at the C-terminal end of the molecule in the reversed molecule, etc.).
  • provided herein is a combination of any two, three or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs described herein. In some embodiments, provided herein is a combination of any one, two or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs described herein, with any one or more A ⁇ peptide immunogen constructs described herein. In some embodiments, the combination is formulated in a single composition, as described herein. In some embodiments, such two or more peptide immunogen constructs are present in the same kit, as described herein. f. Variants, homologues, and functional analogues Variants and analogs of the above immunogenic peptides that induce and/or cross-react with antibodies to the preferred epitopes of Tau or A ⁇ protein can also be used.
  • Analogs including allelic, 42 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 species, and induced variants, typically differ from naturally occurring peptides at one, two, or a few positions, often by virtue of conservative substitutions. Analogs typically exhibit at least 80 or 90% sequence identity with natural peptides. Some analogs also include unnatural amino acids or modifications of N- or C-terminal amino acids at one, two, or a few positions. Variants that are functional analogues can have a conservative substitution in an amino acid ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ - ⁇ ⁇ 5 ⁇ - ⁇ * ⁇ $ ⁇ Conservative substitutions are when one amino acid residue is substituted for another amino acid residue with similar chemical properties.
  • the nonpolar (hydrophobic) amino acids include alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, phenylala ⁇ - ⁇ polar neutral amino acids include glycine, serine, threonine, cysteine, tyrosine, asparagine, and ⁇ 0 ⁇ - ⁇ /* ⁇ - ⁇ negatively charged (acidic) amino acids include aspartic acid and glutamic acid.
  • the functional analogue has at least 50% identity to the original amino acid sequence.
  • the functional analogue has at least 80% identity to the original amino acid sequence.
  • the functional analogue has at least 85% identity to the original amino acid sequence.
  • the functional analogue has at least 90% identity to the original amino acid sequence.
  • Variants also include variations to the phosphorylated residues.
  • variants can include different residues within the peptides that are phosphorylated.
  • Variant immunogenic Tau or A ⁇ peptides can also include pseudo-phosphorylated peptides.
  • the pseudo-phosphorylated peptides are generated by substituting one or more of the phosphorylated serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues of the Tau or A ⁇ peptides with acidic amino acid residues such as glutamic acid and aspartic acid.
  • Tau isoforms targeted by the Tau peptide immunogen constructs and combinations Tau is expressed in six isoforms, reflecting alternative splicing of the same gene.
  • These isoforms comprise splice variants at the N terminus (0N, 1N, and 2N forms) and within the repeat domain (3R and 4R forms), yielding combinations 0N3R, 1N3R, 2N3R, 0N4R, 1N4R, and 2N4R (see, e.g., Wu et al., 2022, Frontiers in Aging Science 14: Article 945875, doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.945875, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and in particular for its disclosure of Tau splice variants).
  • the Tau peptide immunogen constructs provided herein elicit antibodies capable of binding at least two, three, four, five or each of isoforms of Tau selected from: 0N3R, 1N3R, 2N3R, 0N4R, 1N4R, and 2N4R.
  • the amino acid sequences of such Tau isoforms are set forth in Table 6 (in particular, 2N4R isoform has SEQ ID NO:60, 0N3R isoform has SEQ ID NO: 1' ⁇ !36 ⁇ $ ⁇ ⁇ !% ⁇ 1 ⁇ 2!36 ⁇ $ ⁇ ⁇ !% ⁇ 12 ⁇ '!+6 ⁇ $ ⁇ ID NO: 93, and 1N4R isoform has SEQ ID NO: 94).
  • the Tau peptide immunogen constructs provided herein elicit antibodies capable of binding each of the isoforms of Tau of SEQ ID Nos: 60 and 90-94.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct provided herein comprising a B cell epitope from the N-terminal region of Tau (within amino acids 1-44) elicits antibodies binding to at least two, three, four, five or each isoforms of Tau selected from: 0N3R, 1N3R, 2N3R, 0N4R, 1N4R, and 2N4R.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct provided herein comprising a B cell epitope from the N-terminal region of Tau (within amino acids 1-44) elicits antibodies binding to at least two, three, four, five or each of SEQ ID Nos: 60, and 90-94. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct provided herein comprising a B cell epitope from the N-terminal region of Tau (within amino acids 1-44) elicits antibodies binding to each of SEQ ID Nos: 60, and 90-94.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct provided herein comprising a B cell epitope from the repeat domain of Tau (within amino acids 244-372, or within amino acids 250-320) elicits antibodies binding to at least two, three, four, five or each isoforms of Tau selected from: 0N3R, 1N3R, 2N3R, 0N4R, 1N4R, and 2N4R.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct provided herein comprising a B cell epitope from the repeat domain of Tau (within amino acids 244-372) elicits antibodies binding to at least two, three, four, five or each of SEQ ID Nos: 60, and 90-94.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct provided herein comprising a B cell epitope from the repeat domain of Tau elicits antibodies binding to each of SEQ ID Nos: 60, and 90-94.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct provided herein comprising a B cell epitope from the repeat domain of Tau elicits antibodies that can bind to two epitopes in Tau isoforms comprising 4R, and one epitope in Tau isoforms comprising 3R.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 10 elicits antibodies binding to each of SEQ ID Nos: 60, 44 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 and 90-94.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15 elicits antibodies binding to each of SEQ ID Nos: 60, and 90-94.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15 elicits antibodies that can bind to at least one epitope in Tau isoforms comprising 4R.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15 elicits antibodies that can bind to two epitopes in Tau isoforms comprising 4R. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15 elicits antibodies that can bind to one epitope in Tau isoforms comprising 3R. In some embodiments, the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15 elicits antibodies that can bind to P301S mutant form of Tau.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15 elicits antibodies that can bind to P301L mutant form of Tau.
  • a composition or combination comprising Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15 and Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 10 elicits antibodies that can bind to Tau isoforms comprising 4R.
  • a composition or combination comprising Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15 and Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 10 peptide elicits antibodies that can bind to Tau isoforms comprising 3R.
  • a composition or combination comprising Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15 and Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 10 elicits antibodies that can bind to P301S mutant form of Tau.
  • compositions or combination comprising Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15 and Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 10 elicits antibodies that can bind to P301L mutant form of Tau.
  • Compositions The present disclosure also provides compositions comprising one, two or more of the disclosed Tau peptide immunogen constructs, and/or one or more of the disclosed Tau peptide immunogen constructs in combination with one or more A ⁇ peptide immunogen constructs. 45 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 a.
  • compositions containing one, two or more disclosed Tau peptide immunogen constructs, optionally in combination with one or more A ⁇ peptide immunogen constructs can be in liquid or solid form.
  • Liquid compositions can include water, buffers, solvents, salts, and/or any other acceptable reagent that does not alter the structural or functional properties of the peptide immunogen construct.
  • Peptide compositions can contain one or more of the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs.
  • Pharmaceutical compositions The present disclosure is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions containing the disclosed peptide immunogen constructs.
  • Pharmaceutical compositions can contain carriers and/or other additives in a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery system.
  • compositions can contain a pharmaceutically effective amount of one or more peptide immunogen construct together with pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier, adjuvant, and/or other excipients such as diluents, additives, stabilizing agents, preservatives, solubilizing agents, buffers, and the like.
  • Pharmaceutical compositions can contain one or more adjuvant that act(s) to accelerate, prolong, or enhance the immune response to the peptide immunogen constructs without having any specific antigenic effect itself.
  • Adjuvants used in the pharmaceutical composition can include oils, aluminum salts, virosomes, aluminum phosphate (e.g., ADJU-PHOS®), aluminum hydroxide (e.g., ALHYDROGEL®), liposyn, saponin, squalene, L121, Emulsigen®, monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), QS21, ISA 35, ISA 206, ISA50V, ISA51, ISA 720, as well as the other adjuvants and emulsifiers.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions described herein comprise an adjuvant which is an aluminum adjuvant.
  • the adjuvant is an aluminum salt.
  • the aluminum salt is aluminum phosphate (ADJU-PHOS®) or AlPO4. In some embodiments, the aluminum salt is aluminum hydroxide (ALHYDROGEL®) or Al(OH)3. In some embodiments, the peptide immunogens are adsorbed to aluminum gels. In some embodiments, the peptide immunogen is precipitated with an aluminum adjuvant. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is a mineral salt suspension. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is a gel. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is a polymeric gel. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is a wet gel suspension. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition contains MONTANIDETM ISA 51 (an 46 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • VXH-11025 oil adjuvant composition comprised of vegetable oil and mannide oleate for production of water-in- oil emulsions), Tween® 80 (also known as: Polysorbate 80 or Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate), a CpG oligonucleotide, and/or any combination thereof.
  • the pharmaceutical composition is a water-in-oil-in-water (i.e., w/o/w) emulsion with Emulsigen or Emulsigen D as the adjuvant.
  • the pharmaceutical composition described herein comprises a peptide immunogen and a CpG oligonucleotide.
  • the pharmaceutical composition comprises CpG1, CpG2, and/or CpG3. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprises a CpG1 oligonucleotide. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprises a CpG2 oligonucleotide. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprises a CpG3 oligonucleotide. In some embodiments, the CpG oligonucleotide acts as a peptide immunogen stabilizer. In some embodiments, the peptide immunogen and CpG oligonucleotide are in the form of a particulate. In some embodiments, the peptide immunogen and CpG oligonucleotide are formulated as a suspension.
  • the CpG oligonucleotide is as described in WO 03/068169, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and specifically as it relates to CpG oligonucleotides.
  • the CpG comprises or consists of a sequence of CpG1 (tcgtcgttttt gtcgttttgt cgttttgtcg tt), CpG2 (tcgtcgttttt gtcgttttgt cgtt), or CpG3 (tcgtcgttttt gtcgttttgt cgttt).
  • the CpG oligonucleotide (e.g., CpG1, CpG2, or CpG3) is a phosphorothioate oligonucleotide.
  • CpG1 comprises the sequence of 5’ TCgTCgTTTTgTCgTTTTgTCgTTTTgTCgTTTTgTCgTT 3’, which is fully phosphorothioated.
  • Non-limiting examples of CpG oligonucleotides are provided in Table 11.
  • Pharmaceutical compositions can be formulated as immediate release or sustained release formulations. Additionally, the pharmaceutical compositions can be formulated for induction of systemic, or localized mucosal, immunity through immunogen entrapment and co-administration with microparticles.
  • compositions can be prepared as injectables, either as liquid solutions or suspensions. Liquid vehicles containing the peptide immunogen construct can also be prepared prior to injection.
  • the pharmaceutical composition can be administered by any suitable mode of application, for example, i.d. (intradermally), i.v. (intravenously), i.p. (intraperitoneally), i.m. (intramuscularly), intranasally, orally, subcutaneously, etc. and in any suitable delivery device.
  • the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for intravenous, subcutaneous, intradermal, or intramuscular administration. Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for other modes of administration can also be prepared, including oral and intranasal applications.
  • compositions can also be formulated in a suitable dosage unit form.
  • the pharmaceutical composition contains from about 0.5 7g to about 1 mg of the peptide immunogen construct(s) per kg body weight.
  • Effective doses of the pharmaceutical compositions vary depending upon many different factors, including means of administration, target site, physiological state of the patient, whether the patient is human or an animal, other medications administered, and whether treatment is prophylactic or therapeutic.
  • the patient is a human but nonhuman mammals including transgenic mammals can also be treated.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions may be conveniently divided into an appropriate amount per dosage unit form.
  • the pharmaceutical composition contains more than one peptide immunogen construct.
  • Pharmaceutical compositions containing more than one peptide immunogen construct can be more effective in a larger genetic population due to a broad MHC class II coverage thus provide an improved immune response to the peptide immunogen constructs.
  • the pharmaceutical composition contains a Tau peptide immunogen construct shown in Table 2, or a homologue, analogue and/or combinations thereof.
  • compositions contain a Tau peptide immunogen construct including a Tau peptide from one of Tables 1 and 7-10.
  • the pharmaceutical composition contains at least two (e.g., 2 or 3) Tau peptide immunogen constructs having a B cell epitope shown in Table 1.
  • the pharmaceutical composition contains at least two (e.g., 2 or 3) Tau peptide immunogen constructs shown in Table 2.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs targeting Tau target different regions of Tau (e.g., the N-terminal region of Tau for one peptide immunogen construct and the repeat domain for the second peptide immunogen construct; e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 10 and 15, respectively).
  • the pharmaceutical composition contains an amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct shown in Table 4, or a homologue, analogue and/or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, pharmaceutical compositions contain an amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct including an amyloid beta peptide shown in Table 3. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition contains a Tau peptide immunogen construct (or a homologue, analogue and/or combinations thereof) and an amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct (or a homologue, analogue and/or combinations thereof). In some 48 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • the pharmaceutical composition contains at least one (or e.g., 2 or 3) Tau peptide immunogen construct having a B cell epitope shown in Table 1, and at least one (or e.g., 2 or 3) amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct having a B cell epitope shown in Table 3.
  • the pharmaceutical composition contains at least one (or e.g., 2 or 3) Tau peptide immunogen construct shown in Table 2, and at least one (or e.g., 2 or 3) amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct shown in Table 4.
  • Pharmaceutical compositions containing a peptide immunogen construct can be used to elicit an immune response and produce antibodies in a host upon administration. c.
  • Immunostimulatory complexes The present disclosure is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more peptide immunogen constructs in the form of an immunostimulatory complex with a CpG oligonucleotide. Such immunostimulatory complexes are specifically adapted to act as an adjuvant and as a peptide immunogen stabilizer.
  • the immunostimulatory complexes are in the form of a particulate, which can efficiently present the peptide immunogen to the cells of the immune system to produce an immune response.
  • the immunostimulatory complexes may be formulated as a suspension for parenteral administration.
  • the immunostimulatory complexes may also be formulated in the form of w/o emulsions, as a suspension in combination with a mineral salt or with an in-situ gelling polymer for the efficient delivery of the peptide immunogen to the cells of the immune system of a host following parenteral administration.
  • the stabilized immunostimulatory complex can be formed by complexing a peptide immunogen construct with an anionic molecule, oligonucleotide, polynucleotide, or combinations thereof via electrostatic association.
  • the stabilized immunostimulatory complex may be incorporated into a pharmaceutical composition as an immunogen delivery system.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs are designed to contain a cationic portion that is positively charged at a pH in the range of 5.0 to 8.0.
  • the net charge on the cationic portion of the peptide immunogen construct, or mixture of constructs, is calculated by assigning a +1 charge for each lysine (K), arginine (R) or histidine (H), a -1 charge for each aspartic acid (D) or glutamic acid (E) and a charge of 0 for the other amino acid within the sequence.
  • the charges are summed within the cationic portion of the peptide immunogen construct and expressed as the net average charge.
  • a suitable peptide immunogen has a cationic portion with a net average positive charge of +1.
  • the peptide immunogen has a net positive charge in the range that is larger than +2.
  • the cationic portion of the peptide immunogen construct is the 49 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 heterologous spacer.
  • the cationic portion of the peptide immunogen construct has a charge of +4 when the spacer sequence is ((, )-N)Lys, )-N-Lys-Lys-Lys-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 62).
  • An “anionic molecule” as described herein refers to any molecule that is negatively charged at a pH in the range of 5.0-8.0.
  • the anionic molecule is an oligomer or polymer.
  • the net negative charge on the oligomer or polymer is calculated by assigning a -1 charge for each phosphodiester or phosphorothioate group in the oligomer.
  • a suitable anionic oligonucleotide is a single-stranded DNA molecule with 8 to 64 nucleotide bases, with the number of repeats of the CpG motif in the range of 1 to 10.
  • the CpG immunostimulatory single-stranded DNA molecules contain 18-48 nucleotide bases, with the number of repeats of CpG motif in the range of 3 to 8.
  • the anionic oligonucleotide is represented by the formula: 5' X 1 CGX 2 3' 8 ⁇ 9 ⁇ : ⁇ - ⁇ ; 1 ⁇ $ ⁇ / ⁇ : ⁇ / ⁇ # ⁇ / ⁇ - ⁇ and X 2 is C (cytosine) or T (thymine).
  • the anionic oligonucleotide is represented by the formula: 5' (X 3 )2CG(X 4 )23 ⁇ 8 ⁇ 9 ⁇ : ⁇ - ⁇ ; 3 ⁇ $ ⁇ # ⁇ : ⁇ ; 4 is C or T.
  • the resulting immunostimulatory complex is in the form of particles with a size typically in the range from 1-50 microns and is a function of many factors including the relative charge stoichiometry and molecular weight of the interacting species.
  • the particulated immunostimulatory complex has the advantage of providing adjuvantation and upregulation of specific immune responses in vivo.
  • the stabilized immunostimulatory complex is suitable for preparing pharmaceutical compositions by various processes including water-in-oil emulsions, mineral salt suspensions and polymeric gels.
  • Antibodies Also provided herein are isolated antibodies, or epitope-binding fragments thereof, that specifically bind to the B cell epitope of the disclosed peptide immunogens. In some embodiments, such antibodies are IgG antibodies.
  • such antibodies are IgG1 antibodies.
  • Antibodies for use in therapy can be generated using standard methods in the art and include, e.g., monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, multispecific antibodies (e.g., bispecific and trispecific antibodies), and antibody fragments, provided that the desired antigen-binding activity and specificity is maintained.
  • Antibody fragments include, for example, Fv, single-chain Fv (scFv), Fab, Fab’, di-scFv, sdAb (single domain antibody), and (Fab’)2 (including a chemically 50 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 linked F(ab’)2).
  • Antibodies also include, e.g., chimeric antibodies, humanized antibodies, and antibodies of various species such as mouse, human, cynomolgus monkey, etc.
  • methods of making antibodies, or epitope- binding fragments thereof, that specifically bind to the B cell epitope of the disclosed peptide immunogens comprise administering (e.g., parenterally, e.g., intramuscularly) a peptide immunogen to a subject (e.g., a mammal, such as a mouse, a rat, a non- human primate, or a human).
  • such methods further comprise, after a period of time sufficient to generate antibodies (e.g., at from about week 1 to about week 16 post- administration, or about week 6, week 9 and/or week 12 post-administration), recovering and isolating produced antibodies.
  • the present disclosure provides antibodies elicited by any of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs.
  • the disclosed Tau peptide immunogen constructs comprising a Tau fragment, heterologous Th epitope, and optional heterologous spacer, are capable of eliciting an immune response and the production of anti-Tau antibodies when administered to a subject.
  • the design of the Tau peptide immunogen constructs can break tolerance to self Tau and elicit the production of site-specific antibodies that recognize conformational, not linear, epitopes.
  • the antibodies produced by the Tau peptide immunogen constructs recognize and bind to Tau in the forms of monomers, dimers, trimers, and oligomers.
  • Antibodies elicited by the Tau peptide immunogen constructs surprisingly can prevent aggregation of Tau (anti-aggregation activity) and can disassociate preformed Tau aggregates (disaggregation activity).
  • the resulting immune responses from animals immunized with Tau peptide immunogen constructs of the present invention demonstrated the ability of the constructs to produce potent site- directed antibodies that are reactive with Tau in the forms of monomers, dimers, trimers, and oligomers.
  • the present disclosure provides antibodies elicited by any of the amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs.
  • the disclosed amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs comprising an amyloid beta fragment, heterologous Th epitope, and optional heterologous spacer, are capable of eliciting an immune response and the production of anti-amyloid beta antibodies when administered to a subject. 51 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • kits comprising, essentially consisting of, or consisting of one, two, three or more peptide immunogen constructs described herein (e.g., including two or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs, or a Tau peptide immunogen construct and an amyloid beta immunogen construct), optionally one or more adjuvants described herein (e.g., one or more aluminum salts described herein), optionally a CpG oligonucleotide described herein, and optionally one or more excipients.
  • peptide immunogen constructs described herein e.g., including two or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs, or a Tau peptide immunogen construct and an amyloid beta immunogen construct
  • adjuvants described herein e.g., one or more aluminum salts described herein
  • CpG oligonucleotide described herein optionally one or more excipients.
  • kits comprise a single container comprising two, three or more peptide immunogen constructs described herein in one formulation (e.g., including two or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs, or a Tau peptide immunogen construct and an amyloid beta immunogen construct). In some embodiments, such kits comprise these components in separate containers. In some embodiments, the kits further comprise instructions for use, such as instructions regarding making a peptide immunogen composition using the provided components. In some embodiments, the kits further comprise a delivery vehicle (e.g., a syringe) for administering a peptide immunogen composition to a subject.
  • a delivery vehicle e.g., a syringe
  • the peptide immunogen constructs of this disclosure can be made by chemical synthesis methods well known to the ordinarily skilled artisan (see, e.g., Fields et al., Chapter 3 in Synthetic Peptides: A User’s Guide, ed. Grant, W. H. Freeman & Co., New York, NY, 1992, p.77).
  • the peptide immunogen constructs can be synthesized using the automated Merrifield techniques of solid phase synthesis with the (-NH 2 protected by either t-Boc or F-moc chemistry using side chain protected amino acids on, for example, an Applied Biosystems Peptide Synthesizer Model 430A or 431.
  • Preparation of peptide immunogen constructs comprising combinatorial library peptides for Th epitopes can be accomplished by providing a mixture of alternative amino acids for coupling at a given variable position.
  • the resin can be treated according to standard procedures to cleave the peptide from the resin and the functional groups on the amino acid side chains can be deblocked.
  • the free peptide can be purified by HPLC and characterized biochemically, for example, by amino acid analysis or by sequencing. Purification and characterization methods for peptides are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The quality 52 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • VXH-11025 of peptides produced by this chemical process can be controlled and defined and, as a result, reproducibility of peptide immunogen constructs, immunogenicity, and yield can be assured.
  • the range in structural variability that allows for retention of an intended immunological activity has been found to be far more accommodating than the range in structural variability allowed for retention of a specific drug activity by a small molecule drug or the desired activities and undesired toxicities found in large molecules that are co-produced with biologically-derived drugs.
  • peptide analogues either intentionally designed or inevitably produced by errors of the synthetic process as a mixture of deletion sequence byproducts that have chromatographic and immunologic properties similar to the intended peptide, are frequently as effective as a purified preparation of the desired peptide.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs can also be made using recombinant DNA technology including nucleic acid molecules, vectors, and/or host cells.
  • nucleic acid molecules encoding the peptide immunogen construct and immunologically functional analogues thereof are also encompassed by the present disclosure as part of the present invention.
  • vectors, including expression vectors, comprising nucleic acid molecules as well as host cells containing the vectors are also encompassed by the present disclosure as part of the present invention.
  • Various exemplary embodiments also encompass methods of producing the peptide immunogen construct and immunologically functional analogues thereof.
  • methods can include a step of incubating a host cell containing an expression vector containing a nucleic acid molecule encoding a peptide immunogen construct and/or immunologically functional analogue thereof under such conditions where the peptide and/or analogue is expressed.
  • the longer synthetic peptide immunogens can be synthesized by well-known recombinant DNA techniques. Such techniques are provided in well-known standard manuals with detailed protocols.
  • a gene encoding a peptide of this invention the amino acid sequence is reverse translated to obtain a nucleic acid sequence encoding the amino acid sequence, preferably with codons that are optimum for the organism in which the gene is to be expressed.
  • a synthetic gene is made typically by synthesizing oligonucleotides which encode the peptide and any regulatory elements, if necessary.
  • the synthetic gene is inserted in a suitable cloning vector and transfected into a host cell.
  • the peptide is then expressed under suitable conditions appropriate for the selected expression system and host.
  • the peptide is purified and characterized by standard methods. 53 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 b.
  • Various exemplary embodiments also encompass methods of producing the immunostimulatory complexes comprising peptide immunogen constructs and CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) molecule.
  • Stabilized immunostimulatory complexes are derived from a cationic portion of the peptide immunogen constructs and a polyanionic CpG ODN molecule. The self-assembling system is driven by electrostatic neutralization of charge. Stoichiometry of the molar charge ratio of cationic portion of the peptide immunogen constructs to anionic oligomer determines extent of association.
  • the non-covalent electrostatic association of peptide immunogen constructs and CpG ODN is a completely reproducible process.
  • the peptide/CpG ODN immunostimulatory complex aggregates which facilitate presentation to the “professional” antigen- presenting cells (APC) of the immune system thus further enhancing the immunogenicity of the complexes.
  • APC antigen-presenting cells
  • These complexes are easily characterized for quality control during manufacturing.
  • the peptide/CpG ISC are well tolerated in vivo.
  • the particulate system comprising CpG ODN and B cell epitope-containing fragment derived peptide immunogen constructs was designed to take advantage of the generalized B cell mitogenicity associated with CpG ODN use, yet promote balanced Th-1/Th- 2 type responses.
  • the CpG ODN in the disclosed pharmaceutical compositions is 100% bound to immunogen in a process mediated by electrostatic neutralization of opposing charge, resulting in the formation of micron-sized particulates.
  • the particulate form allows for a significantly reduced dosage of CpG from the conventional use of CpG adjuvants, less potential for adverse innate immune responses, and facilitates alternative immunogen processing pathways including antigen-presenting cells (APC). Consequently, such formulations are novel conceptually and offer potential advantages by promoting the stimulation of immune responses by alternative mechanisms.
  • API antigen-presenting cells
  • Alum In order for a pharmaceutical composition to be used by a large population and with prevention of Tau or amyloid aggregation also being part of the goal for administration, safety becomes another important factor for consideration.
  • Alum In order for a pharmaceutical composition to be used by a large population and with prevention of Tau or amyloid aggregation also being part of the goal for administration, safety becomes another important factor for consideration.
  • Alum or its mineral salt Aluminum phosphate (ADJUPHOS) are, therefore, frequently used 54 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 as adjuvants in preparation for clinical applications.
  • adjuvants and immunostimulating agents that can be used include 3 De-O-acylated monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) or 3-DMP, polymeric or monomeric amino acids, such as polyglutamic acid or polylysine.
  • Oil-in-water emulsions include MF59 (see WO 90/14837 to Van Nest et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), containing 5% Squalene, 0.5% Tween 80, and 0.5% Span 85 (optionally containing various amounts of MTP-PE) formulated into submicron particles ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ $ ⁇ ⁇ > ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ '? ⁇ ⁇ @ ⁇ ' ⁇ +? ⁇ #8 ⁇ ,' ⁇ .? ⁇ ⁇ -blocked polymer L121, and thr-MDP, either microfluidized into a submicron emulsion or vortexed to generate ⁇ 6 ⁇ * ⁇ TM adjuvant system (RAS) (Ribi ImmunoChem, Hamilton, Mont.) containing 2% squalene, 0.2% Tween 80, and one or more bacterial cell wall components selected from monophosphoryllipid A (MPL), trehalose dimycolate (TDM), and cell wall skeleton (CWS),
  • adjuvants include Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA), Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (IFA), and cytokines, such as interleukins (IL-1, IL-2, and IL- 12), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF).
  • CFA Complete Freund's Adjuvant
  • IFA Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant
  • cytokines such as interleukins (IL-1, IL-2, and IL- 12), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF).
  • IL-1, IL-2, and IL- 12 granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor
  • TNF tumor necrosis factor
  • the choice of an adjuvant depends on the stability of the immunogenic formulation containing the adjuvant, the route of administration, the dosing schedule, the efficacy of the adjuvant for the species being vaccinated
  • compositions can include pharmaceutically-acceptable, non-toxic carriers or diluents, which are defined as vehicles commonly used to formulate pharmaceutical compositions for animal or human administration.
  • diluents are defined as vehicles commonly used to formulate pharmaceutical compositions for animal or human administration.
  • the diluent is selected so as not to affect the biological activity of the combination. Examples of such diluents are distilled water, physiological phosphate-buffered saline, Ringer's solutions, dextrose solution, and Hank's solution.
  • the pharmaceutical composition or formulation may also include other carriers, adjuvants, or nontoxic, nontherapeutic, 55 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 non-immunogenic stabilizers, and the like.
  • Pharmaceutical compositions can also include large, slowly metabolized macromolecules, such as proteins, polysaccharides like chitosan, polylactic acids, polyglycolic acids and copolymers (e.g., latex functionalized sepharose, agarose, cellulose, and the like), polymeric amino acids, amino acid copolymers, and lipid aggregates (e.g., oil droplets or liposomes). Additionally, these carriers can function as immunostimulating agents (i.e., adjuvants).
  • the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can further include a suitable delivery vehicle.
  • suitable delivery vehicles include, but are not limited to viruses, bacteria, biodegradable microspheres, microparticles, nanoparticles, liposomes, collagen minipellets, and cochleates.
  • Methods using pharmaceutical compositions The present disclosure also includes methods of using pharmaceutical compositions containing Tau peptide immunogen constructs, and methods of using pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more Tau peptide immunogen construct and/or one or more A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct. In some embodiments, the methods employ one or more compositions including one or more Tau peptide immunogen construct, and one or more separate compositions comprising one or more A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct.
  • one or more Tau peptide immunogen construct and one or more A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct are within a single composition.
  • the methods employ one, two or more compositions including two or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs.
  • the two or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs are within a single composition.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions containing the peptide immunogen constructs can be used for: (a) inhibiting Tau ⁇ (b) inducing disaggregate of preformed Tau ⁇ (c) reducing neurodegeneration triggered by exogeneous Tau ⁇ (d) reducing neurodegeneration in Tau overexpres ⁇ (e) reducing serum Tau ⁇ 0 ⁇ (f) reducing oligomeric Tau ⁇ 0 ⁇ * ⁇ $ ⁇ (g) ⁇ - ⁇ 0 ⁇ - ⁇ $ ⁇ 0 ⁇ A ⁇ 56 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 (h) reducing amyloid plaque formation.
  • administration to a subject (e.g., a mammal) of the Tau peptide immunogen construct or any combination composition described herein reduces, inhibits or prevents aggregation (e.g., pathological aggregation) of Tau in the brain of the subject.
  • administration to a subject (e.g., a mammal) of the Tau peptide immunogen construct or any combination composition described herein reduces, inhibits or prevents formation of neurofibrillary tangles in the brain of the subject.
  • administration to a subject (e.g., a mammal) of the Tau peptide immunogen construct or any combination composition described herein reduces the level of oligomeric Tau in the brain of the subject.
  • administration to a subject (e.g., a mammal) of the Tau peptide immunogen construct or any combination composition described herein reduces the level of Tau fibrils in the brain of the subject.
  • the Tau fibrils comprise p301S mutation.
  • the Tau fibrils comprise p301L mutation.
  • administration to a subject (e.g., a mammal) of the Tau peptide immunogen construct or any combination composition described herein reduces the level of Tau carrying p301S or p301L mutation (e.g., fibril Tau) in the brain of the subject.
  • administration of the Tau peptide immunogen construct or any combination composition described herein to a subject reduces monomeric Tau levels in the serum or the brain of the subject.
  • administration to a subject e.g., a mammal of the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct or any combination composition described herein reduces, inhibits or prevents accumulation of amyloid aggregates comprising amyloid beta peptide in the brain of the subject.
  • administration to a subject e.g., a mammal of the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct described herein reduces, inhibits or prevents amyloid plaque formation in the brain of the subject.
  • administration to a subject (e.g., a mammal) of the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct or any combination composition described herein reduces the level of oligomeric amyloid beta in the brain of the subject. In some embodiments, administration to a subject (e.g., a mammal) of the amyloid beta peptide immunogen construct or any combination composition described herein reduces the level of amyloid beta fibrils in the brain of the subject.
  • the methods comprise administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmacologically effective amount of one or more peptide immunogen construct to a subject in need thereof.
  • the methods described herein are for the treatment and/or prevention of a tauopathy.
  • a tauopathy encompasses any neurodegenerative disease that involves the pathological aggregation of the microtubule protein Tau within the brain.
  • the methods can further be used in the prevention and treatment of Lewy body disease.
  • the methods described herein are for the treatment and/or prevention of dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.
  • the methods described herein are for the treatment and/or prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
  • the methods described herein are for inhibiting formation of or reducing the level of misfolded or pathological Tau, e.g., prior to the clinical onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
  • the methods described herein are for inhibiting formation of or reducing the level of amyloid plaques, e.g., prior to the clinical onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method of promoting clearance of Tau and/or A ⁇ aggregates from the brain of a subject.
  • This method involves administering, to the subject, any one or more immunogenic Tau or A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct described herein, e.g., see Tables 2 and 4, or one or more antibodies recognizing an epitope of one of such peptides, under conditions effective to promote clearance of Tau or A ⁇ aggregates from the brain of the subject.
  • these methods include administration of one or more Tau peptide immunogen 58 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 constructs and one or more A ⁇ peptide immunogen constructs, e.g., as described herein.
  • the clearance of Tau aggregates includes clearance of neurofibrillary tangles and/or the pathological Tau precursors to neurofibrillary tangles.
  • Neurofibrillary tangles are often associated with neurodegenerative diseases including, for example, sporadic and familial Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, argyrophilic grain dementia, dementia pugilistica, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, diffuse neurofibrillary tangles with calcification, Down syndrome, Gerstmann- Straussler-Scheinker disease, Hallervorden-Spatz disease, hereditary frontotemporal dementia, parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17), inclusion body myositis, Creutsfeld-Jakob disease, multiple system atrophy, Niemann-Pick disease type C, Pick's disease, prion protein cerebral amyloid angiopathy, sporadic corticobasal degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy
  • Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method of slowing the progression of a Tau- or A ⁇ -pathology related behavioral phenotype in a subject.
  • This method involves administering, to the subject, any one or more immunogenic Tau or A ⁇ peptide immunogenic constructs described herein, e.g., see Tables 2 and 4, or one or more antibodies recognizing an immunogenic epitope of one of such peptides, under conditions effective to slow the Tau- or A ⁇ - pathology related behavioral phenotype in the subject.
  • This method can also involve administration of one or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs and one or more A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct, e.g., as described herein.
  • a Tau-pathology or A ⁇ -pathology related behavioral phenotype includes, without limitation, cognitive impairments, early personality change and disinhibition, apathy, abulia, mutism, apraxia, perseveration, stereotyped movements/behaviors, hyperorality, disorganization, inability to plan or organize sequential tasks, selfishness/callousness, antisocial traits, a lack of empathy, halting, agrammatic speech with frequent paraphasic errors but relatively preserved comprehension, impaired comprehension and word-finding deficits, slowly progressive gait instability, retropulsions, freezing, frequent falls, non-levodopa responsive axial rigidity, supranuclear gaze palsy, square wave jerks, slow vertical saccades, pseudobulbar palsy, limb apraxia, dystonia, cortical sensory loss, and tremor.
  • an immunogenic Tau peptide, a combination of immunogenic Tau peptides, or a combination of one or more Tau peptide immunogen construct and one or more A ⁇ immunogen construct are administered to a subject in need.
  • the subject e.g., a human
  • the subject has the disease, condition or pathology described herein or treated in accordance with the methods provided herein (e.g., has been 59 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 diagnosed with such disease, condition or pathology).
  • the subject e.g., a human
  • Suitable immunogenic peptide fragments of the protein contain one or more antigenic epitopes that mimic the pathological form of the corresponding protein.
  • Exemplary immunogenic Tau epitopes are phosphorylated at one or more amino acids that are phosphorylated in the pathological form of Tau, but not phosphorylated in the normal or non-pathological form of Tau.
  • administration of an immunogenic Tau or A ⁇ peptide induces an active immune response in the subject to the immunogenic Tau or A ⁇ peptide and to the pathological form of Tau or A ⁇ , thereby facilitating the clearance of related Tau or A ⁇ aggregates, slowing the progression of Tau- or A ⁇ - pathology related behavior and treating the underlying disease.
  • an immune response involves the development of a beneficial humoral (antibody mediated) and/or a cellular (mediated by antigen-specific T cells or their secretion products) response directed against the immunogenic Tau or A ⁇ peptide.
  • a humoral immunological response can be determined and monitored by testing a biological sample (e.g., blood, plasma, serum, urine, saliva feces, CSF or lymph fluid) from the subject for the presence of antibodies directed to the immunogenic Tau or A ⁇ peptide.
  • a biological sample e.g., blood, plasma, serum, urine, saliva feces, CSF or lymph fluid
  • Methods for detecting antibodies in a biological sample are well known in the art, e.g., ELISA, Dot blots, SDS- PAGE gels or ELISPOT.
  • the presence of a cell-mediated immunological response can be determined by proliferation assays (CD4+ T cells) or CTL (cytotoxic T lymphocyte) assays which are readily known in the art.
  • the administration is parenteral administration.
  • the administration is intravenous (IV), subcutaneous (SC), intramuscular (IM), intradermal (ID), or intraperitoneal (IP) administration.
  • the administration is intramuscular.
  • the administration is intranasal.
  • Isolated immunogenic Tau peptides of the present invention that can be used in Tau peptide immunogen constructs in any of the methods described herein include any one of the amino acid sequences of Tables 1 and 7-10 below.
  • Isolated immunogenic A ⁇ peptides that can be used in amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs in any of the methods described herein include any one of the amino acid sequences of Table 3 and any described in WO 2014/143087 and/or US 9,102,752 B2 (including peptides within the formulae thereof).
  • ⁇ 60 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 Specific Numbered Embodiments 1 Specific embodiments of the disclosure are set forth in the following numbered paragraphs. 1.
  • a Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising: a B cell epitope comprising about 8 to about 40 amino acid residues from the full-length Tau protein sequence of SEQ ID NO: 60 (e.g., about 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, or 40 amino acids) ⁇ a T helper epitope comprising an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 31-.1 ⁇ an optional heterologous spacer selected from an amino acid, Lys-, Gly-, Lys-Lys-Lys-, ((, )- N)Lys, and )-N-Lys-Lys-Lys-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 62), wherein the B cell epitope is covalently linked to the T helper epitope directly or through the optional heterologous spacer.
  • a T helper epitope comprising an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct of paragraph 5 wherein the B cell epitope is selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1-8, 17-30, and 63-67. 7.
  • 8. The Tau peptide immunogen construct of any one of paragraphs 5 to 7, wherein the optional heterologous spacer is ((, )-N)Lys or )-N-Lys-Lys-Lys-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 62).
  • a composition comprising a Tau peptide immunogen construct according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 10.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising: ⁇ # ⁇ - ⁇ $ ⁇ ' ⁇ b. and a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle and/or adjuvant.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct is selected from SEQ ID NOs: 9-16, or a Tau peptide immunogen construct in which the positions of the B cell epitope and the T cell epitope are reversed as compared to one of SEQ ID NOs: 9- ⁇ & ⁇ b.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct is mixed with an CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) to form a stabilized immunostimulatory complex.
  • ODN CpG oligodeoxynucleotide
  • 14 The composition of any one of paragraphs 11-13, wherein the composition or pharmaceutical composition comprises more than one of said Tau peptide immunogen constructs.
  • the composition or pharmaceutical composition comprises 2, 3, or 4 of said Tau peptide immunogen constructs. 16.
  • composition or pharmaceutical composition comprises one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 9-16, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 10 and SEQ ID NO: 15, or any combination thereof, or wherein the composition or pharmaceutical composition comprises a first peptide immunogen construct targeting a first region of Tau (e.g., the N-terminal region) and a second peptide immunogen construct targeting a second region of Tau (e.g., the repeat sequence), optionally wherein these peptide immunogen constructs comprise SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or 10, and 7 and/or 15, respectively. 17.
  • An isolated antibody or epitope-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to the B cell epitope of the Tau peptide immunogen construct according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 10. 18.
  • a composition comprising the isolated antibody or epitope-binding fragment thereof according to paragraph 17 or 18.
  • DHAGTYGLGDKKK-eK-ISITEIKGVIVHRIETILF-NH2 SEQ ID NO: 10 c. ISITEIKGVIVHRIETILF-eK-KKKNITHVPGGGNKK-NH2; SEQ ID NO: 11 d. ISITEIKGVIVHRIETILF-eK-KKKKDNIKHVPGGGSVQIVYK- SEQ ID NO: 12 NH2; e. ISITEIKGVIVHRIETILF-eK-KKKTKIATPRGAAPP-NH2; SEQ ID NO: 13 f. ISITEIKGVIVHRIETILF-eK-KKKVVRTPPKSPSSAKSRL-NH2; SEQ ID NO: 14 g.
  • a composition comprising a Tau peptide immunogen construct according to paragraph 20. 22. A pharmaceutical composition comprising: ⁇ # ⁇ 2' ⁇ b. and a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle and/or adjuvant. 23. The pharmaceutical composition of paragraph 22, wherein the Tau peptide immunogen construct is mixed with an CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) to form a stabilized immunostimulatory complex. 24.
  • compositions of any one of paragraphs 21-23, wherein the composition or pharmaceutical composition comprises more than one of said Tau peptide immunogen constructs.
  • compositions or pharmaceutical composition comprises 2, 3, or 4 of said Tau peptide immunogen constructs.
  • composition or pharmaceutical composition further comprises one or more amyloid-beta (A ⁇ ) peptide immunogen construct.
  • a ⁇ amyloid-beta
  • the composition comprises an A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NO: 70, an A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NO: 71, or an A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NO: 70 and an A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NO: 71.
  • the tauopathy is selected from Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease, frontotemporal dementia, parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17), progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, Pick's disease, progressive subcortical gliosis, tangle only dementia, diffuse neurofibrillary tangles with calcification, argyrophilic grain dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis parkinsonism-dementia complex, dementia pugilistica, Down syndrome, Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease, Hallerworden-Spatz disease, inclusion body myositis, Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, multiple system atropy, Niemann-Pick disease type C, prion protein cerebral amyloid angiopathy, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, myotonic dystrophy, non-guanamian motor neuron disease with neurofibrillary tangles
  • FTDP-17
  • the tauopathy is Alzheimer’s disease.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct according to any one of paragraphs 1 or 2, wherein the Th epitope is selected from SEQ ID NOs: 31-59. 4.
  • a Tau peptide immunogen construct comprising: 65 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • VXH-11025 a B cell epitope comprising about 8 to about 40 amino acid residues from the full-length Tau protein sequence of SEQ ID NO: 60 (e.g., about 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, or 40 amino acids) ⁇ a T helper epitope comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 31-.1 ⁇ an optional heterologous spacer selected from an amino acid, Lys-, Gly-, Lys-Lys-Lys-, ((, )- N)Lys, and )-N-Lys-Lys-Lys-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 62), wherein the B cell epitope is covalently linked to the T helper epitope directly or through the optional heterologous spacer.
  • SEQ ID NO: 60 e.g., about 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct of paragraph 5 wherein the B cell epitope is selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1-8, 17-30, and 63-67. 7.
  • a composition comprising a Tau peptide immunogen construct according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 10.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising: a. a Tau peptide immunogen construct according to any one of paragraphs ⁇ ' ⁇ b. and a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle and/or adjuvant. 13. The pharmaceutical composition of paragraph 12, wherein a.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct is selected from SEQ ID NOs: 9-16, or a Tau peptide immunogen construct in which the positions of the B cell epitope and the T cell epitope are 66 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 reversed as compared to one of SEQ ID NOs: 9- ⁇ & ⁇ b.
  • the Tau peptide immunogen construct is mixed with an CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) to form a stabilized immunostimulatory complex.
  • ODN CpG oligodeoxynucleotide
  • composition or pharmaceutical composition comprises 2, 3, or 4 of said Tau peptide immunogen constructs.
  • composition or pharmaceutical composition comprises one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 9-16, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 10 and SEQ ID NO: 15, or any combination thereof, or wherein the composition or pharmaceutical composition comprises a first peptide immunogen construct targeting a first region of Tau (e.g., the N-terminal region) and a second peptide immunogen construct targeting a second region of Tau (e.g., the repeat sequence), optionally wherein these peptide immunogen constructs comprise SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or 10, and 7 and/or 15, respectively.
  • ISITEIKGVIVHRIETILF-eK-KKKNITHVPGGGNKK-NH2 SEQ ID NO: 11 d. ISITEIKGVIVHRIETILF-eK-KKKKDNIKHVPGGGSVQIVYK- SEQ ID NO: 12 NH2; e. ISITEIKGVIVHRIETILF-eK-KKKTKIATPRGAAPP-NH2; SEQ ID NO: 13 f. ISITEIKGVIVHRIETILF-eK-KKKVVRTPPKSPSSAKSRL-NH2; SEQ ID NO: 14 67 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 g.
  • a composition comprising a Tau peptide immunogen construct according to paragraph 20. 22.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising: a. a Tau peptide immunogen construct according to paragraph 2' ⁇ b. and a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle and/or adjuvant. 23. The pharmaceutical composition of paragraph 22, wherein the Tau peptide immunogen construct is mixed with an CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) to form a stabilized immunostimulatory complex.
  • ODN CpG oligodeoxynucleotide
  • compositions of any one of paragraphs 21-23, wherein the composition or pharmaceutical composition comprises more than one of said Tau peptide immunogen constructs.
  • compositions or pharmaceutical composition comprises 2, 3, or 4 of said Tau peptide immunogen constructs.
  • composition or pharmaceutical composition further comprises one or more amyloid-beta (A ⁇ ) peptide immunogen construct.
  • a ⁇ amyloid-beta
  • the composition comprises an A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NO: 70, an A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NO: 71, or an A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NO: 70 and an A ⁇ peptide immunogen construct of SEQ ID NO: 71.
  • composition of any previous paragraph wherein the composition comprises any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 9-16, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 10 and SEQ ID NO: 15, or any combination thereof, for example, a combination of SEQ ID NO: 10 and SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71, a combination of SEQ ID NO: 11 and SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71, a combination of SEQ ID NO: 12 and SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71, a combination of SEQ ID NO: 13 and SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71, a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 14 and SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71, a combination of SEQ ID NO: 15 and SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71, a combination of SEQ ID NO: 16 and SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71, or a combination listed above that includes SEQ ID NO: 70 but not SEQ ID NO: 71 or 68 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • VXH-11025 includes SEQ ID NO: 71 but not SEQ ID NO: 70, or wherein the composition or pharmaceutical composition comprises a first peptide immunogen construct targeting a first region of Tau (e.g., the N-terminal region) and a second peptide immunogen construct targeting a second region of Tau (e.g., the repeat sequence), optionally wherein these peptide immunogen constructs comprise SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or 10, and 7 and/or 15, respectively. 29. The composition of any one of paragraphs 26-28, wherein the composition comprises an A ⁇ peptide immunogenic construct of WO 2014/143087. 30.
  • a method of preventing, inhibiting, reducing the severity of, delaying, or treating a tauopathy in a subject comprising administering a tau peptide immunogen construct or a composition of any one of the prior claims to the subject.
  • the tauopathy is selected from Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease, frontotemporal dementia, parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17), progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, Pick's disease, progressive subcortical gliosis, tangle only dementia, diffuse neurofibrillary tangles with calcification, argyrophilic grain dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis parkinsonism-dementia complex, dementia pugilistica, Down syndrome, Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease, Hallerworden-Spatz disease, inclusion body myositis, Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, multiple system atropy, Niemann-
  • the tauopathy is Alzheimer’s disease.
  • the method comprises administration of one or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs, optionally in combination with one more amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs.
  • the one or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs and/or the one or more amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs are comprised within a single composition.
  • the one or more Tau peptide immunogen constructs and/or 69 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • VXH-11025 the one or more amyloid beta peptide immunogen constructs are comprised within separate compositions, which are administered separately. 36. The method of any one of paragraphs 30-35, comprising administration of one or more of the peptide immunogen constructs, compositions, or combinations thereof of any of the previous claims.
  • ⁇ EXAMPLE 1 The accumulation of misfolded Tau in the brain correlates with clinical decline in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) but manifests decades earlier than cognitive symptoms (Congdon and NASAdsson, Nat. Rev. Neurol, 2018). Targeting pathological Tau prior to the clinical onset of AD could help prevent disease and/or progression. Described herein is a vaccine-based immunotherapy approach for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.
  • B-cells will recognize the B-cell epitope and generate antibodies against the peptide, which mimics the biologic target (e.g., Tau).
  • the linker chemically links the B-cell epitope to the Th peptide, thereby optimizing the presentation of the B-cell epitope to 70 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 the immune system.
  • the Th peptide carrier activates T-helper cells, which alert B-cells to start generating antibodies against the B-cell epitope, while avoiding inflammation and off-target activity.
  • the primary structure of Tau, with functional domains and targeting peptides annotated, is shown at the bottom of Fig.1.
  • the structures of the peptide immunogen constructs indicated in this figure are also shown (and referenced by letter code) in Table 2.
  • the peptide immunogen constructs tested as described herein were formulated in Adju-Phos CpG1 at 100 ug/mL + 300 ug / 0.25 mL peptide.
  • Guinea pigs were given 5 intramuscular shots 3 weeks apart, with the terminal bleed collected at 15 wpi.
  • Antibodies against the T helper peptide, adjuvant components, and Tau were quantified by ELISA in serial dilution.
  • antibody binding was characterized against recombinant and brain-derived Tau preps by Western blot, dot blot, and biolayer interferometry (BLI).
  • Figs.2A and 2B The binding potency of vaccine-induced antibodies against three forms of recombinant Tau (monomeric, oligomeric, and PFF) and a sarkosyl extract from postmortem brain tissue (Br) were characterized via dotblot (Fig. 2A). Diverse binding profiles were observed against the different forms of Tau. BLI results show antibody binding to Tau forms performing with Kd in nM range, with three Leads- induced antibodies having slower off rates than Bepranemab (Fig. 2B).
  • FIGs.3A and 3B Representative binding curves of Bep and Lead A-induced antibodies to PFF are presented.
  • the results of an aggregation assay using a Tau biosensor line are shown in Figs.3A and 3B.
  • Tau biosensor lines (Frost et al., J. Biol. Chem., 2009; 284(19):12845-12852) were used to assess the functional inhibition of Tau aggregation by vaccine induced antibodies compared to anti-Tau mAbs, Semorinemab, and Bepranemab.
  • Figs.4A and 4B The results of a Tau uptake assay are shown in Figs.4A and 4B.
  • B103 cells were exposed to pHrodo labeled Tau preparations for 6h.
  • pHrodo-Tau fluoresces which enabled quantification using the IncuCyte live cell imager.
  • Leads A, B, C, and F induced antibodies that inhibited the uptake of monomeric Tau in dose responsive manner (Fig. 4A). All Leads induced antibodies resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of PFF uptake (Fig.4B).
  • Leads induced antibodies varied in potency; however, all exhibited stronger inhibition of PFF than monomeric Tau uptake.
  • the antibodies induced by the tested Tau peptide immunogen constructs displayed diverse binding profiles against different forms of Tau.
  • FIG.5A shows the results of a Tau uptake assay in B103 cells treated with ⁇ pHrodo-PFF Tau and anti-Tau antibodies from rats vaccinated with p5555kb, p5187kb, or both p5555kb and p5187kb.
  • Fig.5A, 5B and 5C where it's p5555kb + p5187kb, the antibodies generated by the indicated vaccines were mixed together in the assay.
  • the data show that Tau uptake is decreased when anti-Tau IgG antibodies from rats vaccinated with p5555kb and p5187kb IgGs were used.
  • Fig.5B is another presentation of the data in Fig.5A, showing percent inhibition of Tau uptake.
  • biolayer interferometry BBI
  • BLI allows the quantification of binding by measuring the interference of light reflected from a biosensor coated with a target protein or peptide. As binding occurs, interference increases. If two antibodies can bind together, the interference is predicted in increase following the introduction of an antibody after the binding of a different antibody to the same target. If the antibodies cannot bind the same target together, the interference would not change with a second antibody after the first antibody binds.
  • Fig. 5C shows the results of biolayer interferometry analysis of IgGs from p5555kb and p5187kb. The data show that IgGs from p5555kb continued to bind PFF Tau following Tau binding by IgGs from p5187kb.
  • Fig.5D shows anti-Tau IgG isotypes generated by administration of p5555kb and p5187kB, showing enrichment of IgG1 and IgG2b isotypes.
  • VXX-301 A combination Tau vaccine, VXX-301, was designed by combining p5555kb and p5187kb Tau peptide immunogen constructs in one formulation.
  • Reference to VXX-301 in the figures refers 72 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 to antibodies derived from the VXX-301 vaccinated animals.
  • Figs.7A-7B show that rats vaccinated with p5555kb, p5187kb, or the combination vaccine VXX-301 generated robust antibody titers against monomeric or fibril PFF Tau.
  • 0.3 mg/ml of peptide immunogen was used per 0.25 mL dose, with 0.1 mg CpG, administered intramuscularly.
  • Figs. 7C-7E show that anti- monomeric Tau IgG titer curves over time following vaccination of rats with p5555kb (Grp1; Fig. 7C), p5187kb (Grp2; Fig.7D) and VXX-301 (Grp3; Fig.7E).
  • Fig.8 shows IgG isotypes of anti-Tau antibodies following vaccination with p5555kb, p5187kb, or VXX-301, showing that IgG1 and IgG2b were enriched following vaccination (and showing lower titers for IgG2a and IgG2c).
  • Western blot analysis of anti-Tau antibodies from rats vaccinated with p5555kb, p5187kb or VXX-301 was performed to evaluate binding to different recombinant preparations of Tau.
  • the recombinant preparations of Tau probed for binding included 2N4R full-length Tau, 2N3R, WT preformed fibrils (PFF), and P301S mutant Tau.
  • P301L K18 preparation is a C-terminal fragment of Tau containing the 4 repeat domain.
  • Fig.9 shows that p5555kb derived antibodies could bind to Tau preparations 2N4R, 2N3R, WT preformed fibrils (PFF), and P301S (but not K18), while p5187kb and VXX-301 derived antibodies could bind to all forms of Tau including P301L K18 preparation (see white arrow in Fig.9).
  • Anti-Tau antibodies from vaccinated rats inhibited Tau aggregation.
  • Fig. 10A shows that lysates from brains of rats vaccinated with VXX-301 exhibited evidence of enhanced inhibition of Tau aggregation in a Tau biosensor line.
  • Fig.10B shows that antibodies from p5555kb, p5187kb and VXX-301 vaccinated rats could comparably inhibit Tau aggregation when compared to Bepranemab.
  • Figs. 11A-11B show the results of a Tau uptake assay, showing that anti-Tau antibodies from vaccinated rata inhibited Tau uptake.
  • the data show that B103 cells treated with ⁇ pHrodo-PFF Tau exhibited significant Tau reuptake, and that Bepranemab (Bep), Semorinemab (Sem) or antibodies from rats vaccinated with p5555kb, p5187kb, or VXX-301 could comparably inhibit Tau reuptake.
  • Bep Bepranemab
  • VXX-301 could comparably inhibit Tau reuptake.
  • Vaccination with p5555kb, p6187kb or VXX-301 also resulted in high titers of antibodies against both monomeric (Fig.12C) and fibril PFF (Fig.12D) Tau in P301L mice.
  • Fig.12C monomeric
  • fibril PFF fibril PFF
  • Fig.12D fibril PFF
  • 73 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 EXAMPLE 4
  • the epitope specificity of anti-Tau antibodies generated with p5555kb, p5187kb, or VXX- 301 was determined by epitope mapping with ELISA.
  • ELISA assay plates were coated with 2 mg/mL of each of the target peptide in Table B, immobilized to the plate through a biotin linker, in 1X TBS and incubated overnight at 2-8°C.
  • Target peptides “N Terminal Tau (1-22)” and “p5555kb Targeting Sequence” resemble the epitope used in generating p5555kb-induced antibodies.
  • Target peptides “p5187kb Targeting Sequence”, “P301S p5187kb”, “P301L p5187kb”, and “3R Tau p5187kb” resemble the epitope used in generating p5187kb-induced antibodies.
  • Coated plates were blocked in PBS SuperBlock TM Buffer (SBB; Thermo Fisher) for 2 h at 28°C with shaking at 500 rpm.
  • SBB PBS SuperBlock TM Buffer
  • Serum samples from p5555kb, p5187kb, or VXX-301 vaccinated animals were serially diluted in half-log iterations from an initial factor of 20 in 1X PBS containing 2% BSA across a 12-point series, then arrayed in duplicate into assay plates and incubated for 1 h at 28°C.
  • HRP-conjugated anti-rat IgG was used for titer detection at a 1:10,000 dilution in SBB.
  • 3,3',5,5'- tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) Ultra ELISA substrate was applied to each plate and the reaction was stopped after 20 minutes by addition of 2N H2SO4 acid.
  • p5555kb-induced anti-Tau antibodies showed robust EC50 titers and binding potency to target peptides resembling p5555kb B-cell epitope
  • p5187kb-induced anti- Tau antibodies showed robust EC50 titers and binding potency to target peptides resembling p5187kb B-cell epitope
  • VXX-301 generated antibodies showed high EC50 titers and binding potency for all target peptides used.
  • a combination vaccine was designed by combining a A ⁇ targeting peptide vaccine, and a Tau targeting peptide vaccine in one vaccine formulation. Immunogenicity of vaccines were evaluated in guinea pigs, rats, and mice. Vaccine derived antibodies were characterized by Western Blot, dot blot, and immunohistochemistry. Vaccine efficacy was assessed in double transgenic mice (P301L) expressing both human A ⁇ and Tau, with a focus on A ⁇ and Tau brain pathology by immunohistochemistry and various immunoassays in brain homogenates.
  • Fig. 13A and 13B show A ⁇ -Tau combination vaccine antibody titers against Tau and A ⁇ .
  • p3102kb is the construct of SEQ ID NO: 70 shown in Table 4.
  • the results in Figs.13A-13B show that combination vaccines induced robust immunogenicity with high titers against both oligomeric A ⁇ and a range of Tau forms (monomeric, oligomeric, and fibrils).
  • 75 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No. VXH-11025 TABLES Table 1: Amino Acid Sequences of Tau B cell epitopes 76 FH11791722.1 Attorney Docket No.
  • VXH-11025 acetylation can be removed.
  • the acetylation, where present, can be replaced with another modification protecting the N-terminal end from protease degradation.
  • modifications on the N-terminus include, without limitation, adding glycines (e.g., GGG), propionylation, adding benzyloxycarbonyl group, adding a short PEG, or adding a D-amino acid.
  • acetylation can be added at the N- terminal end.
  • N-Me stands for N-methylated (mono methylated amino acid, attached to the following amino acid by an amide bond).
  • N-terminus modifications on the N-terminus include, without limitation, adding glycines (e.g., GGG), propionylation, adding benzyloxycarbonyl group, adding a short PEG, or adding a D-amino acid.
  • glycines e.g., GGG
  • propionylation adding benzyloxycarbonyl group
  • adding a short PEG or adding a D-amino acid.
  • acetylation can be added at the N-terminal end.
  • ⁇ N-Me stands for N-methylated (mono methylated amino acid, attached to the following amino acid by an amide bond).
  • Table 3 Amino Acid Sequences of A ⁇ molecules and B cell epitopes
  • Table 4 Amino Acid Sequences of A ⁇ Peptide Immunogen Constructs The target peptide sequences are underlined.
  • pE is a pyroglutamic acid.

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Abstract

La présente divulgation concerne des constructions immunogènes peptidiques améliorées ciblant des parties de la protéine Tau pour le traitement et/ou la prévention de tauopathies. La présente divulgation concerne également des constructions immunogènes peptidiques améliorées ciblant des parties de la protéine bêta-amyloïde pour le traitement et/ou la prévention de tauopathies. La présente divulgation concerne également des compositions et des kits contenant les constructions immunogènes peptidiques, en particulier des compositions et des kits comprenant des combinaisons de diverses constructions immunogènes peptidiques. La divulgation concerne également des procédés de fabrication et d'utilisation des constructions immunogènes peptidiques, et des anticorps produits par les constructions immunogènes peptidiques. Dans certains aspects, la divulgation concerne des compositions comprenant des constructions immunogènes peptidiques basées sur des parties de la protéine Tau et des constructions immunogènes peptidiques basées sur des parties de la protéine bêta-amyloïde, et l'utilisation de ces constructions immunogènes peptidiques et de ces compositions dans des procédés thérapeutiques.
PCT/US2024/011843 2023-01-26 2024-01-17 Compositions immunogènes à base de peptide tau et de peptide bêta-amyloïde et procédés associés Ceased WO2024158596A1 (fr)

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WO2025137102A1 (fr) * 2023-12-18 2025-06-26 Vaxxinity, Inc. Compositions immunogènes peptidiques et leurs utilisations

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US20030068325A1 (en) * 2001-05-25 2003-04-10 Wang Chang Yi Immunogenic peptide composition for the prevention and treatment of Altzheimers Disease
WO2004013172A2 (fr) * 2002-07-24 2004-02-12 Innogenetics N.V. Prevention, traitement et diagnostic de maladies associees a la formation et/ou a l'agregation de la beta-amyloide
WO2014031697A2 (fr) * 2012-08-21 2014-02-27 The Institute Of Molecular Medicine Compositions et procédés se rapportant à des maladies associées à des dépôts amyloïdes, de protéine tau et de protéine α-synucléine
US20210101948A1 (en) * 2017-10-27 2021-04-08 United Neuroscience Tau peptide immunogen constructs

Patent Citations (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030068325A1 (en) * 2001-05-25 2003-04-10 Wang Chang Yi Immunogenic peptide composition for the prevention and treatment of Altzheimers Disease
WO2004013172A2 (fr) * 2002-07-24 2004-02-12 Innogenetics N.V. Prevention, traitement et diagnostic de maladies associees a la formation et/ou a l'agregation de la beta-amyloide
WO2014031697A2 (fr) * 2012-08-21 2014-02-27 The Institute Of Molecular Medicine Compositions et procédés se rapportant à des maladies associées à des dépôts amyloïdes, de protéine tau et de protéine α-synucléine
US20210101948A1 (en) * 2017-10-27 2021-04-08 United Neuroscience Tau peptide immunogen constructs

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2025137102A1 (fr) * 2023-12-18 2025-06-26 Vaxxinity, Inc. Compositions immunogènes peptidiques et leurs utilisations

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