Antiviral, Antitumour/Albumin-CD4 Conjugate: Genetically Engineered Albumin for Coupling to Soluble Clinically Useful Molecules

Summary

Novelty: Antiviral properties are claimed for conjugates of albumin (HSA) or its variants with receptor fragments that can recognise a virus or the Fc fragment of an immunoglobulin which binds to a virus or binds to a ligand that intervenes in a pathological process. The treatment of AIDS or of certain cancers is claimed for such processes. A preferred viral receptor is the CD4-receptor or the CD16 molecule. Such conjugates would bind the virus in preference to a host cell.

Biology: The antiviral properties of the HSA-CD4 conjugate are demonstrated in vitro and biological half-lives are shown to be extended when tested iv in rabbits against unconjugated controls.

Chemistry: Recombinant technology is used to construct restriction fragments coding for preproHSA, the CD4-VIV2 domains and their in frame fusion. Other expression plasmids are described. The expression of the constructs in yeast (K. lactis) and the purification and characterisation of the secreted product are also described.