Nucleic Acid Constructs Combining T/B Epitopes for Self-Protein Antibodies

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vaccine technologies cannot induce production of antibodies against self-proteins due to immune tolerance, limiting their application in treating chronic and intractable diseases.

Innovation Solution

A nucleic acid construct comprising polynucleotides encoding two or more T cell epitopes and one or more B cell epitopes of the target protein, designed to induce antibody production against both foreign and self-proteins.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing vaccine technologies are used to induce antibody production, then antibodies against foreign antigens can be produced effectively, but antibodies against self-proteins cannot be produced due to immune tolerance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantibody production effectivenessVSAvoidapplicability to self-proteins
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the target protein into distinct T cell epitopes and B cell epitopes, encoding them separately in the nucleic acid construct. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each epitope's function - T cell epitopes for breaking immune tolerance and B cell epitopes for antibody production - thereby resolving the contradiction between effective antibody induction and applicability to self-proteins

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges T cell epitopes and B cell epitopes into a single nucleic acid construct that co-expresses both types of epitopes. This combination enables simultaneous engagement of T cells (to overcome tolerance) and B cells (to produce antibodies), resolving the contradiction by integrating both necessary functions into one vaccine platform

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If vaccines are designed to induce antibodies against foreign antigens, then infectious diseases can be treated, but chronic diseases and intractable diseases cannot be treated due to immune tolerance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease treatment coverageVSAvoiddisease type applicability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal vaccine platform with multi-functionality that can treat both infectious diseases and chronic/autoimmune diseases. By using the same nucleic acid construct approach with appropriate epitope selection, the system adapts to different disease types, thereby expanding productivity and disease type applicability simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If conventional vaccine approaches are used, then simple antigen presentation occurs, but effective antibody production against self-proteins is blocked by immune tolerance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevaccine structure simplicityVSAvoidantibody induction reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines T cell epitope presentation and B cell epitope presentation into a single integrated nucleic acid construct. This merging maintains relative structural simplicity while enabling reliable antibody induction against self-proteins by simultaneously engaging both T cells (to overcome tolerance) and B cells (to produce antibodies)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The nucleic acid construct functions as a composite vaccine material containing both T cell epitope-encoding sequences and B cell epitope-encoding sequences. This composite structure maintains simplicity in delivery mechanism while achieving reliable antibody production through the synergistic action of dual epitope types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP4600361A1Design method and production method for nucleic acid construct and protein complex
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 UNIV OF TSUKUBA
  • EP4600361A1 patent drawingFigure 1-1
  • EP4600361A1 patent drawingFigure 1-2
  • EP4600361A1 patent drawingFigure 1-3

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel nucleic acid construct that induces antibody production. According to the present invention, there is provided a nucleic acid construct that induces production of an antibody against a target protein, the nucleic acid construct comprising: a polynucleotide encoding two or more T cell epitopes; and a polynucleotide encoding one or more B cell epitopes of the target protein. According to the present invention, it is possible to strongly induce the antibody against the target protein in the body of a subject, and thus the present invention is advantageous in that it is possible not only to induce production of an antibody against a foreign antigen such as a bacterium or a virus, but also to induce production of an antibody against a protein produced in a subject's body.