A molecule or molecule complex capable of binding to TLR9 and to CD32 comprising at least one epitope of at least one antigen, and its use a medicament for the treatment of allergies.

The present invention relates generally to in vivo methods and compositions designed for allergen specific immunotherapy. The compositions include contiguous overlapping peptide fragments which together form an entire amino acid sequence of an allergen.

A DNA sequence encoding Der p1 protein having a particular base sequence is codon-optimized for the Pichia pastoris expression system, which is conducive to expressing Der p1 in Pichia pastoris. After gene optimization and adding an activating element to increase the expression of Der p1 in molecular level, it was found that Der p1 is expressed at a higher level as compared with the prior art and has biological activity similar to the natural protein.

The present invention provides novel peptides and homologues thereof. The peptides of the invention comprise (i) a T-cell epitope of an antigen (self or non-self) with a potential to trigger an immune reaction presented by a class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determinant and recognised by CD4+ T cell more specifically of an allergen or auto-antigen, coupled, optionally through the use of a linker to (ii) an amino acid sequence having a reducing activity, such as a thioreductase sequence. The peptides of the invention have been shown to be useful a medicine, more in particular for the prevention or treatment of immune disorders, more specifically of allergic disorders or autoimmune diseases. The present invention thus provides for the use of said peptides for the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of an immune disorder and further provides for methods of treatment or preventing immune disorders by using said peptides. The present invention also provides for compositions comprising said peptides.

[Problem] To provide a nucleic acid expected to be useful for treating mite allergy. [Means to be solved] Provided is a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a chimeric protein, wherein the nucleic acid comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal peptide, a nucleotide sequence encoding an intra-organelle stabilizing domain of LAMP, a nucleotide sequence encoding an allergen domain comprising Der p 1, Der p 2, Der p 23, and Der p 7, a nucleotide sequence encoding a transmembrane domain and a nucleotide sequence encoding an endosomal/lysosomal targeting domain of LAMP in this order.

A DNA sequence encoding Der p2 protein having a particular base sequence is codon-optimized for the Pichia pastoris expression system, which is conducive to expressing Der p2 in Pichia pastoris. After gene optimization and adding an activating element to increase the expression of Der p2 in molecular level, it was found that Der p2 is expressed at a higher level as compared with the prior art and has biological activity similar to the natural protein.

The invention describes a method and compounds for the prevention of immune responses towards allofactors, towards viral vectors used for gene therapy and gene vaccination, towards proteins to which subjects are naturally exposed, towards genetically-modified organisms and towards undesirable effects related to vaccine administration for allergic or infectious diseases.

[Problem] To provide a nucleic acid expected to be useful for treating mite allergy.

[Means to be solved] Provided is a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a chimeric protein, wherein the nucleic acid comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal peptide, a nucleotide sequence encoding an intra-organelle stabilizing domain of LAMP, a nucleotide sequence encoding an allergen domain comprising Der p 1, Der p 2, Der p 23, and Der p 7, a nucleotide sequence encoding a transmembrane domain and a nucleotide sequence encoding an endosomal/lysosomal targeting domain of LAMP in this order.

The present invention relates to a fusion protein having formula (I)
X.sub.1−Y−X.sub.2  (I),
wherein X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 comprise each four to six allergen fragments or variants thereof fused to each other, wherein said allergen fragments are derived from at least two allergens of the genus Dermatophagoides, and wherein Y is a carrier protein.

A peptide comprised of either a binary or a tertiary peptide, the peptide contains at least 4 amino acids and up to a maximum of 16 amino acids, comprised of 2 or 3 different regions, wherein the binary peptides have 2 different regions and the tertiary peptides have 3 different regions; wherein, the peptide can be cleaved by both an animal gut protease and an insect or nematode gut protease.