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The Intune blog is moving to a new location!
5 months ago
Microsoft Intune Team
Microsoft Intune Team
Windows Intune to be renamed to Microsoft Intune
5 months ago
Microsoft Intune Team
Microsoft Intune Team
Welcome to the new Intune blog!
5 months ago
Pat Fetty {MSFT}
Pat Fetty {MSFT}
Windows 10 enterprise management and Intune
5 months ago
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Blog Post:
Welcome to the new Intune blog!
Pat Fetty {MSFT}
Hello, Intune Fans! My name is Pat Fetty, and I manage the newly formed Customer Advisory Team (CAT) which is part of the Enterprise Client and Mobility division at Microsoft. The CAT team provides a variety of functions in the mobility space, from helping customers with Proofs of Concepts...
2 Oct 2014
Blog Post:
Power, Beauty and Soul – How Aston Martin is Using Cloud Technologies to Enable Quicker Decisions
Microsoft Intune Team
Aston Martin sports cars are synonymous with luxury, heritage, and authentic craftsmanship. Alongside these core values comes passion about the cars the company produces: all models are hand crafted using advanced production techniques and technology within a modern environment. Head of IT Simon Callow...
5 Jun 2013
Blog Post:
Intune Maintenance: Downtime Notification
Colin Fritzke
Hello - The Windows Intune service will undergoing a brief maintenance window that will require 30 minutes of downtime. During this downtime window, you will be unable to access the Windows Intune Administration Console. Maintenance window is scheduled for: (UTC) 6 /11/2013 9:00:00 PM - 6/11/2013...
5 Jun 2013
Blog Post:
Exciting Updates to People-centric IT
Microsoft Intune Team
As a growing majority of organizations face the need to let their employees choose the devices they want to use for their jobs, IT organizations are looking for ways to enable consumerization without compromising compliance. Helping IT serve users and the devices they bring to the workplace lies at the...
4 Jun 2013
Blog Post:
TechEd North America 2013 Editor's Choice: Windows Intune
Microsoft Intune Team
Welcome Windows Intune fans to the start of TechEd North America, 2013! By now we hope that you have had a chance to hear from Microsoft Server and Tools President Satya Nadella on "The Enterprise Era" in this post and video on the new Microsoft Cloud OS YouTube channel. In addition, TechEd...
3 Jun 2013
Blog Post:
Baltimore Certificate Update
Colin Fritzke
On September 5, 2012, Microsoft updated its publicly trusted SSL infrastructure with a new 2,048-bit root (the Baltimore CyberTrust Root) in order to comply with the latest industry standards for minimal key strength certificates. To benefit from this update, Windows Intune, which currently uses the...
8 Apr 2013
Blog Post:
About Service Notifications
Aaron Czechowski [Microsoft]
This is the third and final post in this series on topics surrounding Windows Intune client updates. The first post covered the overall client update process, and the second post detailed the policy settings and end-user notifications. This post is about notifications when Microsoft schedules maintenance...
22 Jan 2013
Blog Post:
New TechNet Radio Edition: Cloud-Based Management with Windows Intune
Mark Williams [Microsoft]
A brief note to alert you to a new edition of TechNet Radio , this one with a specific focus on Windows Intune. In this edition, I explain to Technical Evangelist Keith Mayer how Windows Intune can be used to manage mobile devices, both through the "standalone" Windows Intune service and also as an add...
18 Jan 2013
Blog Post:
Upgrading to the latest Windows Intune Release
Jon Lynn
Existing Windows Intune customers, Today we announced the latest release of the Windows Intune service . We know you'll love the new features like Windows 8 support, System Center Configuration Manager 2012 SP1 integration and Modern Device Management features that enable IT Professionals to...
15 Jan 2013
Blog Post:
Delivering Unified Device Management with Windows Intune and System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1
Mike Schutz Windows Server and Management
Back in September, we announced our strategy around unified device management , and how the next releases of Windows Intune and System Center 2012 Configuration Manager will deliver on that vision. As part of today's update to our Cloud OS vision, we're pleased to announce that System Center...
15 Jan 2013
Blog Post:
Policy Settings for Mandatory Updates
Aaron Czechowski [Microsoft]
This is the second post in a three-part series on topics surrounding Windows Intune client update behavior. The first post covered the overall client update process; this post will detail the available Updates policy settings and what effect these policy settings have on the client behavior. First...
9 Jan 2013
Blog Post:
Client Update Process
Aaron Czechowski [Microsoft]
I'm Aaron Czechowski, a senior program manager on the Windows Intune engineering team. This is the first in a three-part series on topics surrounding Windows Intune client behavior when the Windows Intune team publishes a client update. We've recently heard a lot of feedback from customers...
10 Dec 2012
Blog Post:
TechNet Radio: Managing Mobile Devices with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 and Windows Intune
Mark Williams [Microsoft]
The next release of Windows Intune brings integration with System Center Configuration Manager (SP1). A new TechNet Radio episode featuring Wally Mead covers mobile device management from SCCM SP1, including the important role played by Windows Intune.
5 Dec 2012
Blog Post:
Expanding optional software features: New devices, new apps and BYOD
Mark Williams [Microsoft]
Software Installation in Windows Intune - a Potted History The first release of Windows Intune - announced at MMS 2011 - was primarily an IT Pro-centric release. We focused on delivering an essential range of features allowing administrators to manage and secure corporate PCs. This included update...
9 Nov 2012
Blog Post:
Deploying Windows 8 apps using Windows Intune (new DevRadio Episode)
Mark Williams [Microsoft]
With the release last week of Windows 8 and Windows RT, developers are excited to take advantage of these new platforms, creating rich and immersive applications. For many, the Windows Store (and/or the Windows Phone Store) is a great way to publish apps to the widest possible audience. For Line of Business...
31 Oct 2012
Blog Post:
Moving to the new Windows Intune release
Jon Lynn
As most of you know, Microsoft released an updated version of Windows Intune in June 2012. In today's blog post we'll walk through the process to activate your new features in Windows Intune, how the process will work and everything you need to know to jump into the June 2012 release. ...
27 Aug 2012
Blog Post:
Mobile Application Distribution Capabilities in Windows Intune June 2012 Release
Catherine Campbell
This post was written by two of Windows Intune Mobile feature PM's - Sharon Nakibly and Yuval Goldstein. In their words: We're Sharon and Yuval - two program managers from the Windows Intune team. We'd like to tell you about the mobile application distribution capabilities in the Windows Intune June...
24 Aug 2012
Blog Post:
Windows Intune Commercial Availability
Colin Fritzke
Microsoft has released a major update to Windows Intune that will add a host of much-awaited features, including the ability to import your Active Directory User and Security Groups; mobile device management; the introduction of information worker portals, and more. If you are not familiar with Windows...
18 Jun 2012
Blog Post:
Using Windows Intune to Mitigate Malware
As we outlined on the Microsoft Security Response Center blog , the update released with Security Advisory 2718704 invalidated unauthorized digital certificates that were used in targeted attacks. In addition to the security advisory, we have also developed a critical update available through Windows...
6 Jun 2012
Blog Post:
The Next Release of Windows Intune is Now Available
Julie Parsons
We are excited to announce that effective today the latest release of Windows Intune is commercially available. Visit www.windowsintune.com to check it out today. Since its initial general availability just last March, we have added many new enhancements and features to make Windows Intune an even more...
17 Oct 2011
Blog Post:
New Release of Windows Intune Will be Available Soon!
Windows Intune Team_1
Today, we are excited to announce that the new features and capabilities that you have seen in the Windows Intune beta will be commercially available on October 17th, 2011 . If you have a paid subscription in the Windows Intune service, your account information and your data will be upgraded...
6 Sep 2011
Blog Post:
Multi-Account Dashboard Enhancements
If you have access to multiple Windows Intune accounts, then you will have seen the multi-account dashboard. To have access to multiple accounts, the Live ID you use to log into Windows Intune must have been added as an administrator to more than one account. The multi-account dashboard displays...
2 Sep 2011
Blog Post:
Manage your PCs Anywhere, From Anywhere
Windows Intune Team_1
One of the most important benefits of using an online PC management solution like Windows Intune, is that you are not tethered to any geographic location. If you and the PCs you are managing are connected to the internet, you can access the Windows Intune administrator console, and you can manage your...
25 Aug 2011
Blog Post:
The Windows Intune team will be performing scheduled maintenance starting 9/3/2014 through 9/16/2014
Jon Lynn
The Windows Intune team will be performing scheduled maintenance starting 9/3/2014 through 9/16/2014. During this maintenance window you may be unable to login and use the service for up to 4 hours. If you cannot login to your account for more than 4 hours, please open a support case here: https:...
26 Aug 2014
Blog Post:
Welcome to the Windows Intune team blog
Windows Intune is new desktop infrastructure solution that uses cloud services, Windows 7 Enterprise upgrade rights, and advanced tools included in the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) to help midmarket businesses keep their PCs managed, secure, and up-to-date. Expected availability for this...
19 Apr 2010
© 2015 Microsoft Corporation.
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text:
HoopsHype Ryan Anderson rumors
Anderson said his lateral movement is better than it was a week ago. He said they are doing slide exercises and his new brace will provide extra protection. Ryan Anderson said he could be sidelined for another week before returning. New Orleans Times-Picayune
Josh Robbins: After MRI, Ryan Anderson was diagnosed w/an MCL sprain in his right knee, Pelicans officials said. He's expected to miss 2-4 weeks. Twitter @JoshuaBRobbins
The Pelicans will look for a small forward, but they're not trading Ryan Anderson for some run-of-the-mill wing player — especially with Quincy Pondexter giving them solid minutes. The Clips and Heat will try to turn nothing into something. The Hawks have freaking $4.9 million in cap room, which seems unfair. They could sign a free agent or absorb extra salary in a lopsided trade. Grantland
John Reid: Ryan Anderson will miss his second consecutive game with right elbow strain on Wed vs. Pacers. Twitter @JohnReid64
One month ago, Sports Illustrated published a long feature on Anderson and the suicide of his girlfriend, Gia Allemand, who starred in "The Bachelor" and "Bachelor Pad." She killed herself after a fight with Anderson one month before training camp opened last season. Smith was a central part of the story, rushing to Anderson's house that night to console him and being part of his recovery from the tragedy. Smith was depicted as his best friend on the Pelicans. New York Post
Anderson, a power forward, has become an advocate for suicide awareness. "I still have not read [the article],'' Smith said before the Knicks' 104-93 loss to the Pelicans Tuesday night. "It's still very fresh in my mind. I told him that [Monday] night. He was surprised. Some day down the line I'll read it. But I'm glad they did very good job of writing it from what I heard. Ryan was very happy about it. I think it helped him in the process of getting closure.'' New York Post
Jason Smith: Amazing article and a powerful read. Proud of you rjanderson33… instagram.com/p/vYjGPLsuYW/ Twitter @JasonSmith014
John Reid: Monty Williams said after practice today that Ryan Anderson will get some playing time at small forward this season. Twitter @JohnReid64
John Reid: There will be occasions this season where the Pelicans will go big with Anthony Davis, Omer Asik and Ryan Anderson paired together. Twitter @JohnReid64
New Orleans Pelicans: [VIDEO]: @ryananderson33 says he's progressed quicker than anticipated after his back injury. http://on.nba.com/1qNCsx5 Twitter @PelicansNBA
New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson announced on his Twitter account Wednesday that he has been medically cleared to begin contact work. It comes eight months after Anderson suffered a season-ending neck injury on Jan. 3 when he collided with Boston Celtics forward Gerald Wallace and was carted off the court at the TD Garden on a stretcher. New Orleans Times-Picayune
Ryan Anderson: I'm cleared for contact! After 8 months out, I can finally play again. Thank you God! http://instagram.com/p/sfu7ZFNVqw Instagram
Any rumor missing? E-mail us at email@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Attention! The version of Internet Explorer you are using prevents you from accessing features on jwpepper.com.
Use the link below to update your version of Internet Explorer or visit our site using Chrome or Firefox.
This fine arrangement in the Contemporary A Cappella series will display your choir's musicianship beautifully at Christmas.
Now available in mixed and men's voicings is this calypso-flavored treatment of the familiar English carol with a fa-la-la chorus, fresh harmonies and a cool bass line! Festive!


text:
gold versionIn software and application development, a gold version is the final stage of software development and follows the alpha and beta testing cycles of software development. The gold version is the final version of the software as it will be released to the public. Most or all known bugs prior to release are fixed, and all intended functions for final release are implemented. Media and developers will often use the phrase "gone gold" to announce a software product's impending release.
Perceptual computing is the ability for a computer to recognize what is going on around it. More specifically, the computer can perceive the... Read More »Apple Pay Promises to Strengthen Payment Security
Experts believe that Apple Pay and other competitive payment systems will be far more secure than cards, even cards equipped with EMV chips. Read More »The Great Data Storage Debate: Is Tape Dead?
Tape clearly is on the decline. But remember, legacy systems can hang for a shockingly long time. Read More »
A network is a group of two or more computer systems or devices, linked together to share resources, exchange files and electronic communications.... Read More »Computer Architecture Study Guide
This Webopedia study guide describes the different parts of a computer system and their relations. Read More »Webopedia Polls
The trend for the past two years has been for shoppers to spend more online during the holiday season. How do you typically shop for holiday... Read More »
Stay up to date on the latest developments in Internet terminology with a free weekly newsletter from Webopedia. Join to subscribe now.
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Datamation Hangouts with Tech ExpertsWatch Datamation's editor James Maguire moderate roundtable discussions with tech experts from companies such as Accenture, Dell, Blue Jeans Network, Microsoft and more »


text:
Will wellness plans work for my veterinary practice?
Commitment to wellness packages requires due diligence.
May 16, 2013
Wellness plans can be complex and difficult to implement. Consultant Denise Tumblin, CPA, recommends that you define the package, dig into the numbers and examine if the plans fit with your practice.
Hot topics on dvm360
Veterinarians: Your clients are going to Google with these cat questions
You might be surprised by what your clients are researching. Plus, get an educational client handout.
Vetcetera: The complex topic of canine fear-related aggression
A guided tour of resources for addressing this popular and complicated subject, featuring advice from Dr. John Ciribassi.
Reality TV and the veterinarian: Discussing mainstream dog training advice with clients
Your clients may be getting behavior advice from cable TV. Get your opinion in the mix.
Blog: Election results pose obstacles for veterinary prescription law
Flip in U.S. Senate's majority may slow progress of Fairness to Pet Owners Act.
7 steps to a better relationship between veterinarians and rescue groups
A DVM in the city shares his advice to veterinary practices for working with rescues.


text:
The invention provides nucleic acid construct and nucleic acid expression vectors directing the expression of a fusion protein consisting of a disease peptide antigen and a first domain of FrC of tetanus toxin. The invention provides nucleic acid (DNA) vaccines for use in inducing an immune response against a disease. There is also provided methods of producing nucleic acid constructs and vectors for use as nucleic acid (DNA) vaccines.
1. A nucleic acid construct for delivery into living cells in vivo to induce an immune response in a patient to a disease peptide antigen; the construct directing the expression of a fusion protein consisting of the disease peptide antigen and the naturally occurring first domain of fragment C (FrC) of tetanus toxin; wherein said first domain consists of amino acids 865 to 1120 of tetanus toxin.
2. The nucleic acid construct according to
3. The nucleic acid construct according to
4. The nucleic acid construct according to
5. The nucleic acid construct according to
6. The nucleic acid construct according to
7. A nucleic acid construct for delivery into living cells in vivo to induce an immune response in a patient to a disease peptide antigen; the construct directing the expression of a fusion protein consisting of a leader sequence which is capable of directing the fusion protein to endoplasmic reticulum, the disease peptide antigen and the naturally occurring first domain of fragment C (FrC) of tetanus toxin; wherein said first domain consists of amino acids 865 to 1120 of tetanus toxin.
8. A nucleic acid expression vector comprising the nucleic acid construct according to
9. An isolated host cell comprising the nucleic acid construct according to
10. A nucleic acid vaccine for inducing an immune response in a patient, comprising the nucleic acid construct according to
11. A method of producing a nucleic acid construct for inducing an immune response in a patient, said method comprising:
(a) identifying a nucleic acid sequence encoding a disease peptide antigen comprising epitopes characteristic of the disease;
(b) cloning the nucleic acid sequence encoding the disease peptide antigen; and
(c) introducing the cloned nucleic acid sequence into a vector, which vector allows for the disease peptide antigen to be expressed as a fusion protein with the naturally occurring first domain of FrC from tetanus toxin; wherein said first domain consists of amino acids 865 to 1120 of tetanus toxin.
12. The method according to
13. The method according to
14. The method according to
15. A method of inducing an immune response to a disease peptide antigen in a patient, said method comprising administering to the patient the nucleic acid construct according to
16. The method according to
17. A composition comprising the nucleic acid construct according to
18. A composition comprising the nucleic acid expression vector according to
19. The composition according to
20. The nucleic acid construct according to
21. The nucleic acid construct according to
22. The nucleic acid construct according to
23. The nucleic acid construct according to
24. A nucleic acid construct for delivery into living cells in vivo to induce an immune response in a patient to a disease peptide antigen; the construct directing the expression of a fusion protein consisting of a leader sequence which is capable of directing the fusion protein to endoplasmic reticulum, the disease peptide antigen and the naturally occurring first domain of fragment C (FrC) of tetanus toxin; wherein said first domain consists of amino acids 865 to 1120 of tetanus toxin and wherein the disease peptide antigen is a tumour antigen.
25. A nucleic acid expression vector comprising the nucleic acid construct according to
26. An isolated host cell comprising the nucleic acid construct according to
27. An isolated host cell comprising the nucleic acid expression vector according to
28. An isolated host cell comprising the nucleic acid expression vector according to
29. A nucleic acid vaccine for inducing an immune response in a patient, comprising the nucleic acid construct according to
30. A nucleic acid vaccine for inducing an immune response in a patient, comprising the nucleic acid expression vector according to
31. A nucleic acid vaccine for inducing an immune response in a patient, comprising the nucleic acid expression vector according to
32. The method according to
33. The method according to
34. A method of inducing an immune response to a disease peptide antigen in a patient, said method comprising administering to the patient the nucleic acid construct according to
35. The method according to
36. A method of inducing an immune response to a disease peptide antigen in a patient, said method comprising administering to the patient the nucleic acid expression vector according to
37. The method according to
38. A method of inducing an immune response to a disease peptide antigen in a patient, said method comprising administering to the patient the nucleic acid expression vector according to
39. The method according to
40. A composition comprising the nucleic acid construct according to
41. A composition comprising the nucleic acid expression vector according to
42. The composition according to
This application is a �371 application of PCT/GB01/01719, filed on 17 Apr. 2001, which in turn claims priority to GB application 0009470.6 filed 17 Apr. 2000. Each of the above identified applications is incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to materials and methods involved in inducing an immune response in an individual. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to DNA vaccines comprising Fragment C (FrC) domains as adjuvants for raising cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) against disease peptide antigens.
While acellular vaccines are inevitably safer than vaccines based on whole organisms, a fully effective vaccine cannot normally be made from a single isolated constituent of a microorganism, and it is now clear that this is because of the need to activate more than one cell type to initiate an immune response. One consequence of this insight has been the development of conjugate vaccines.
However, even conjugate vaccines are not usually strongly immunogenic on their own. Most of them require the addition of adjuvants: substances that enhance immunogenicity of antigens. It is thought that most, if not all, adjuvants act on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and reflect the importance of these cells in initiating immune responses. H. influenzae polysaccharides, for example, have been conjugated to tetanus toxoid because infants are vaccinated routinely with this protein and their T cells are already primed against it.
Tetanus toxin has been studied in detail. For example, see Umland T. C. et al, Nature Structural Biology, Vol. 4 No. 10 1997. A transport mechanism is exploited by the toxin for delivery to its cytotoxic target within the central nervous system. The receptor binding subunit of tetanus toxin plays a dominant role in this delivery process. This receptor binding subunit is known as HC and is composed of the 50,000 Mr fragment from the C-terminal end of the heavy chain of tetanus toxin. Historically, 50,000 Mr fragment has been termed the Fragment C (FrC). Isolated FrC retains the capability of being transported to the CNS in a manner similar to that of the intact tetanus toxin.
Tetanus toxoid has been used as a carrier protein for inducing immune responses against peptides (Herrington et al, 1992 J. Immunol. 149:717). There is considerable information available on immune responses against tetanus toxoid and the epitopes recognized by human CD4+ T cells (Valmori et al, 1992 J. Immunol. 149:717), as well as the mechanisms involved in enhancing immunity to added peptides (Panina-Bordignon et al, 1989 Eur. J. Immunol. 19:2237; Kumar 1992 J. Immunol, 148:1499). Fragment C (FrC), the 50 kD carboxy-terminal portion of the heavy chain of tetanus toxin, has been found to induce protective immunity again tetanus toxin which is largely antibody-mediated (Anderson et al, 1996. Infect. and Immun. 64:3168).
Previous work (King, C. A. et al, Nature Medicine, 1998, Vol. 4 p. 1281), jointly authored by a co-inventor of the present invention, describes the use and production of nucleic acid constructs for inducing an immune response in a mammal to a disease antigen present on a malignant B cell in the mammal. The DNA construct directs the expression of a fusion protein which comprises the tumour antigen and the tetanus toxin Fragment C (FrC). Thus, it has already been shown that an immune response to a given antigen can be enhanced by the presence of FrC itself.
The T-cell helper sequence p30 of Fragment C, from tetanus toxin, has the ability to activate CD4+ T-cells and has been used in constructs to help initiate an immune response to an antigen. However, it has been found that at the DNA level, for example, DNA vaccines, the isolated helper sequence is not as effective as hoped. This may be because the isolated helper sequence is not sufficient in order to prime or even to be recognised by the immune system. Thus, the present inventors have appreciated that an effective DNA vaccine must not only comprise the helper sequence but also sequence capable of priming the immune system. As mentioned above, effective DNA vaccines comprising tumour antigens linked to the complete Fragment C have been provided. However, the present inventors have now surprisingly found that the induction of an immune response to a disease peptide antigen can be improved and simplified by using a certain component of the Fragment C rather than the entire fragment.
The inventors have assembled a nucleic acid sequence encoding the first domain of FrC, which contains helper sequence(s) (e.g. p30), and linked it to a peptide-encoding sequence which has the ability to induce cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) responses. When the inventors injected the vector into mice, they saw a very rapid induction of CTLs. This induction was considerably faster than if the peptide had to be processed from its natural surrounding sequence. Indeed, the inventors have compared (i) a DNA vaccine containing full length FrC (2 domains) linked to an endogenous tumour antigen, with (ii) the one domain FrC format linked to a specific CTL epitope taken from the tumour antigen. The latter vaccine (ii) induced higher levels of CTLs. These levels remained higher even at day 55 post vaccination, as compared to the 2-domain vaccine.
Thus, the present inventors have for the first time determined a design of vaccine which contains all the ingredients for inducing immunity, i.e. helper sequence, and an activating sequence within the first domain of FrC which starts the priming process. The second domain of Fragment C comprises a number of cytotoxic T-cell motifs and it is believed by the inventors that these motifs may well compete with the motifs present in the disease antigen present in the fusion protein. With these motifs absent, the DNA vaccine has improved efficiency at inducing immunity.
Put broadly, therefore, the invention resides in the idea to use nucleic acid which encodes the first domain of FrC, but which lacks nucleic acid sequence(s) encoding one or more T cell epitopes of the second domain of FrC in a nucleic acid construct encoding a fusion polypeptide also comprising a disease antigen. The lack of the second domain improves the ability of the fusion polypeptide to induce a T-cell response against the disease antigen. The nucleic acid need not necessarily lack sequence encoding the entire second domain, however. For example, it is contemplated that some portion of the second domain might be present without adversely affecting the ability of the fusion polypeptide to induce a T-cell response. Preferably at least nucleic acid encoding peptide 1 and/or peptide 2 as identified herein is absent. More preferably, since other T cell epitopes may be present in the naturally occurring second domain, no more than an insubstantial part of the second domain is encoded by the nucleic acid. An insubstantial part may comprise less than 50%, less than 40%, less than 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%, 10% or less than 5% of the amino acids of the naturally occurring second domain of Fragment C.
While the following refers frequently to idiotypic antigens, the invention is not limited to such antigens, but may utilise any suitable disease antigens, particularly tumour antigens (such as a fragment of CEA), often small antigens for T cell induction.
More specifically, therefore, in a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nucleic acid construct for delivery into living cells in vivo for inducing an immune response in a patient to a disease peptide antigen; the construct directing the expression of a fusion protein, said fusion protein comprising the disease peptide/polypeptide antigen and the first domain of FrC.
The first domain of the FrC fragment comprises helper sequence(s) (particularly p30). The FrC domain acts as an adjuvant, which helps, boosts or primes the immune system and enabling it to respond to the disease antigen by inducing CTLs. As used herein, the term �first domain� preferably refers to an entire naturally occurring first domain of FrC. However, it is contemplated that minor sequence variations may be introduced without significantly affecting the ability of the fusion protein to induce T cell responses, and fusion proteins having a first domain of FrC including such variations are also included within the scope of the invention. Preferably the first domain of FrC encoded by the nucleic acid of the invention has at least 50%, more preferably at least about 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% amino sequence identity with a naturally occurring first domain of FrC (with identity determined by the NCBI-BLAST2 algorithm of Altschul et al. Nucleic Acid Res. 25:3389-3402 (1997) using default parameters). More preferably it contains an amino acid sequence having at least 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, or 99% amino acid sequence identity with the p30 helper sequence.
The inventors initially supposed that the one domain FrC vaccine format is capable of inducing higher numbers of CTLs, as compared to the two domain format when the DNA encoding the antigen of choice is fused to the 3′-terminus (carboxy end of the resulting protein) of the single domain of the FrC. However, following several experiments, the inventors have now determined that the impressive CTL response is also observed if the antigen/epitope is linked to the other end of the vaccine, at the start of the FrC domain (5′-terminus of the DNA, or the amino terminus of the resulting protein). This therefore raises the possibility of using either end or both ends of the FrC domain to associate to the antigen/epitope.
As described in Umland T. C. et al, Nature Structural Biology, Vol. 4 No. 10 1997, FrC has two main domains. The two domains are separated naturally in FrC by a linking amino acid sequence. The inventors have found that if this linking amino acid sequence is cut at the DNA level, a DNA sequence encoding a peptide of choice (e.g. a tumour or pathogen antigen) can be added to either the C-terminus or the N-terminus of the first domain which comprises helper sequence(s) (e.g. p30) and priming sequence. The two domains are identified in Umland et al and are shown again in
The disease peptide antigen may be any peptide sequence that comprises one or more epitopes characteristic of that disease. For example, the peptide may comprise epitopes characteristic of a particular infectious disease, pathogen or cancer (tumour antigen). The term �peptide� is not intended to imply any particular size restriction, and may embrace large polypeptides and proteins of up to at least several hundred amino acids, such as MUC-1 and gp70. Preferably, however, the peptide has between 5 and 40 amino acids, more preferably between 5 and 30, still more preferably between 7 and 25 amino acids (desirably between 7 and 10 amino acids), further preferably between 8 and 25 amino acids. Many cancer peptides are known and published. Candidates from melanoma such as MAGE and tyrosinase antigens or mutated proto-oncogenes such as Ras. These sequences are all published so it would be well within the capabilities of the skilled person to obtain them and place them in the FrC domain-containing vector according to the present invention. A useful review describing some of the candidate tumour sequences which could be targeted by CTLs is Henderson R. A. and Finn O. J. (1996) �Human tumor antigens are ready to fly� Adv. in Immunology 62:217.
The peptide may also be an idiotypic determinant which is preferably present in the fusion protein in essentially the same conformation as that which it adopts on the surface of malignant B cells, thereby optimising the efficiency of the anti-idiotypic immune response induced by the fusion protein. With regard to idiotypic determinants, optimising the efficiency of the immune response may be achieved by expression of the idiotypic determinant within the context of a portion of an immunoglobulin (Ig) molecule or immunoglobulin-like molecule, such as a single chain Fv (scFv) fragment. The scFv fragment is particularly convenient, providing the necessary structural features of the idiotypic determinant with few extraneous amino acid residues. However, if desired additional amino acid residues could be included in the fusion protein, such as one or more constant domains (e.g. Syrengelas et al, 1996 Nature Medicine 2, 1038). Thus, for example, one could express the idiotypic determinant in the context of an entire immunoglobulin molecule.
In a preferred embodiment, the fusion protein is expressed with a leader sequence (recognised in human cells) which directs the fusion protein to the endoplasmic reticulum, where the leader sequence is cleaved from the fusion protein. In this way, the fusion protein will be correctly folded before leaving the cell. The correct folding of the fusion protein is important as this will ensure that the epitopes characteristic of the disease in question are displayed appropriately to the immune system. A large number of suitable leader sequences are known including, for example, the leader sequences (such as that for VHl described below) found at the 5′ end of human V genes. Such leader sequences have been found by the present inventors to increase the immunogenicity of the fusion protein. In principle, any other leader sequence is likely to exert an equivalent advantageous effect, but it is probable that those most similar to the natural immunoglobulin-type leader sequence will be optimal.
For the sake of convenience, the nucleic acid construct will preferably comprise a number of restriction endonuclease recognition sites. In particular, if the construct is designed with the FrC domain linked upstream of the disease CTL epitope sequence, one or more such recognition sites may be located 5′ of the sequence encoding the FrC first domain (possibly between the optional leader sequence and the sequence encoding the FrC domain), and one or more sites may be located 3′ of the sequence encoding the disease antigen. In this way, the same basic construct can readily be adapted to express different fusion proteins in which the disease antigen may be altered. Thus, sequences encoding disease antigens such as idiotypic determinants from different patients can easily be introduced into the construct.
An alternative method for associating a disease antigen (especially a small antigen) with the FrC domain is shown in
In a particular embodiment this invention provides a vaccine nucleic acid which can be used to elicit an immune response against transformed human lymphocytes displaying an idiotypic marker, the nucleic acid encoding proteins comprising the heavy and light chain variable regions of an anti-idiotypic antibody displayed on surface of a malignant human B-cell or T-cell.
In a second aspect, the invention provides a method of making a nucleic acid construct for inducing an immune response in a patient, the method comprising:
The vector comprising the first domain of FrC may also conveniently comprise a leader sequence for association with the fusion protein, e.g. 5′ of the FrC domain. The vector may be prepared as part of the method, or it may be produced in advance ready to incorporate the desired disease peptide antigen. In this way, nucleic acid primers may be designed which are capable of introducing the nucleic acid encoding the disease antigen into the vector during a PCR technique. This is described in the detailed description. A vector comprising the first domain of FrC and a leader sequence forms a further aspect of the present invention, and it may be provided as part of a kit. Preferably the vector comprises restriction sites so that the nucleic acid encoding the disease antigen can be inserted into the vector with ease. In an alternative example, a nucleic acid encoding the leader sequence, FrC domain and disease antigen can be prepared (e.g. by PCR) and inserted as a single fusion (using suitable restriction sites) into a vector comprising suitable regulatory regions.
As mentioned above, the disease antigen any be any peptide comprising epitopes characteristic of a particular disease, e.g. tumour antigens, pathogens and idiotypic determinants. For convenience, the following text describes the case where the disease antigen is an idiotypic determinant. However, the skilled person would have no difficulty in adapting this teaching to the use of other disease antigens and the present invention is not limited to the use of idiotypic determinants.
Therefore, by way of example, nucleic acid encoding the idiotypic determinant may be cloned from a sample comprising the patient's cells by PCR. A large family of suitable generic PCR primers, capable of recovering nucleic acid sequences encoding essentially any B cell idiotypic determinant, is now available (Hawkins & Winter, 1992 Eur. J. Immunol. 22, 876). Typically the B cell malignancy is a lymphoma. Generally, the nucleic acid construct made by the method defined above will be in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.
The first and second domains are separated naturally in FrC by a linking amino acid sequence. This linking amino acid sequence may be cut at the DNA level so that the nucleic acid sequence encoding the peptide comprising the disease antigen may be linked to the C-terminus of the first domain and the second domain discarded. The disease antigen is added at the DNA level and is effectively linked to either the C-terminus or the N-terminus of the FrC first domain. The thus formed nucleic acid construct is then placed in a DNA vector. The vector backbone is preferably a bacterial DNA comprising the appropriate control sequences to direct gene expression. Standard PCR and ligation steps known to the skilled person may then be used to introduce the DNA construct into the vector. The DNA vector may then be injected into the patient, via, for example, muscle cells. The DNA enters the muscle cell where the nucleic acid construct encoding the fusion protein comprising the first domain of FrC and the disease antigen is read. Following transcription and translation the fusion protein is expressed. As the protein is perceived as foreign to its surroundings, it is then presented to the immune system. Activation of immunity is assisted by the presence of �immunostimulatory sequences� in the bacterial DNA backbone of the vector. Thus, the outcome is the presentation of the encoded protein to the immune cells of the host.
In a third aspect, the invention provides a method for treating a patient suffering from a disease, the method comprising administering to the patient a nucleic acid construct in accordance with the first aspect of the invention defined above, so as to induce an immune response to the disease. Further, the present invention provides use of the nucleic acid construct in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention in the preparation of a medicament for treatment of a disease, such as an infectious disease or a cancer.
In the case of idiotypic determinants, preferably the nucleic acid sequence encoding the idiotypic determinant is cloned from samples obtained from the individual to whom it is delivered. Conveniently the nucleic acid sequence is delivered in unencapsidated form (i.e. not enclosed within a viral particle or other package). The nucleic acid may, however, be associated with the external surface of a package or particle (e.g. a liposome or a viral particle), which allows for the possibility of receptor-mediated delivery of the nucleic acid.
The fusion protein may direct the expression of the disease antigen and the FrC first domain alone. Alternatively the fusion protein may additionally comprise further immunomodulatory polypeptide sequences, such as other foreign immunogenic proteins, or cytokines. Indeed it may be valuable to use several antigenic fusion partners to help prevent the theoretical problem that the immune response to the highly immunogenic moiety of the fusion protein could ultimately overwhelm any response to the relatively weakly immunogenic disease antigen (although the single-domain FrC-antigen fusion format has been designed to reduce this). Coat proteins of enveloped viruses and immunogenic cell surface or secreted proteins derived from any pathogenic organism or non-human species may be suitable for inclusion in the fusion protein. An alternative modification is to design the nucleic acid construct so as to allow for the co-expression of the further immunomodulatory polypeptides as separate entities rather than as fusions with the disease antigen/FrC first domain. Less preferably, the method of the invention could employ the use of a separate nucleic acid construct to express the further immunomodulatory polypeptides.
A number of cytokines are known to improve aspects of antigen presentation and the direct delivery of expression vectors containing cytokine genes could enhance vaccine efficacy. Interferon gamma is one example which could be useful due to the property of upregulating MHC expression (Gaczynska et al. 1993 Nature 365, 264-267). Another polypeptide which could be expressed by the vaccine nucleic acid is granulocytelmacrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The relevant gene could be encoded on the same, or on a separate, vector and the amount of polypeptide expressed varied independently.
One advantage of the genetic approach to vaccination is that it potentially allows efficient use of the natural method of presenting antigen, which should therefore engage a wide range of effector systems. Moreover, manipulation and improvement of the response obtained should be relatively easy; for example, it may be possible to improve the efficiency of presentation of antigen to T cells by expressing molecules with co-stimulatory activity together with the immunogen. One important molecule involved in co-stimulation is B7, which interacts with CD28 expressed by T cells thereby providing accessory signals for T-cell activation (Galvin et al., 1992 J. Immunol. 12, 3802-3808). Vectors could be constructed which express both B7 and the single-domain Fragment C fusion. Sequences of both mouse and human B7 are published (Freeman et al., 1989 J. Immunol. 8, 2714-2722) and the genes may readily be cloned by PCR.
It is thus an optional feature of the present invention that the method further comprises the delivery of a second nucleic acid sequence to the individual which directs the expression of a further immunomodulatory polypeptide for the purpose of further modulating the immune response to the disease antigen. This second nucleic acid sequence may be comprised on the same nucleic acid molecule as the first nucleic acid sequence, or may be present on a second nucleic acid molecule.
Methods of introducing the nucleic acid construct into living cells in vivo are now well known to those skilled in the art. Conveniently the nucleic acid is simply injected as naked DNA into the patient (typically intramuscularly) as a mixture with a physiologically acceptable diluent, such as saline solution. Details of some suitable methods and preferred embodiments of the administration of the nucleic acid construct into a patient are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,580,859 and 5,589,466. More involved methods of gene transfer include the use of viral vectors, encapsulating the DNA into liposomes, coupling of DNA to cationic liposomes or to the outside of viruses (for review see Miller, 1992 Nature 357, 45-46). These have the advantage of increased efficiency of transfer but, by comparison with direct injection of purified plasmid DNA, these alternative approaches are somewhat involved and raise more safety issues.
In a fourth aspect the invention therefore provides a composition for use in a method of inducing an immune response in a patient suffering from a disease (according to the third aspect of the invention defined above), the composition comprising a nucleic acid construct directing the expression of a fusion protein, said fusion protein comprising a disease antigen comprising epitopes characteristic of said disease and a helper sequence (preferably the p30 helper sequence) of FrC from tetanus toxin, together with a physiologically acceptable diluent or carrier. Preferably, the helper sequence of the FrC domain is comprised within the first domain of FrC such that the fusion protein comprises the first domain of FrC linked to the disease antigen in question. Indeed, it has been found that the first domain of FrC (which includes the p30 helper sequence) when fused to a disease antigen is much more effective at producing a T cell response (especially cytotoxic T cells) than the p30 helper sequence alone.
Ideally a vaccine should be capable of stimulating antigen-specific B cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and helper T cells. B cell stimulation requires that the target antigen should bind with sufficiently high affinity to specific antigen receptors (surface Ig) on the B-cell surface. Certain multivalent antigens can stimulate B cell proliferation directly but more often, and to provide an effective anamnestic response, there is a requirement for additional signals provided by helper T cells (see below). In the present invention, T cell help is recruited by expressing the disease antigen as a fusion protein with the helper sequence, preferably comprised within the first domain, of FrC from tetanus toxin.
The T cell receptors (TCRs) of CTLs recognise specific MHC class I-associated peptides displayed at the target cell surface. Such peptides are generally derived by processing of larger polypeptides or proteins manufactured within the target cell. Thus, for efficient CTL stimulation the target antigen should be synthesised or processed intracellularly in MHC class 1-expressing cells able to activate CTLs. The level of expression should be high enough to generate sufficient peptide to displace those self peptides which are normally bound (possibly with higher affinity) in the MHC peptide-binding groove (Ohno, 1992 PNAS 89, 4643-4647). Similar to antigen-specific B cells, for proliferation and increased cytotoxic capability, CTLs require additional signals (in the form of cytokines) following antigen recognition and these are provided by helper T cells.
CD4-positive helper T cells interact (via their unique TCRs) with specific cell surface MHC class II-associated peptides and such peptides are generally derived by proteolytic cleavage of protein antigens internalised by specialised antigen presenting cells (APCs). Macrophages, dendritic cells and B lymphocytes are amongst the cells which can present antigen in this way. Thus, B lymphocytes internalise and process antigen bound to their surface Ig and subsequently present MHC class II-associated derivative peptides (they can also present in class I). CD4-positive T helper cells recognising the surface peptide can then release various immunostimulatory cytokines and stimulate further B cell activation, proliferation and antibody production. Similarly, macrophages present at the site of a local inflammatory response can process phagocytosed antigen and stimulate cytokine release by T helper cells, leading to enhanced activation, proliferation and cytotoxicity of locally resident CTLs.
The vaccine antigen should therefore ideally 1) be synthesised intracellularly by MHC class I-positive host cells, 2) give rise to peptides which, when displayed by host cell class I MHC can stimulate a subset of host CTLs via their TCRs, 3) give rise to peptides which, when displayed by host cell class II MHC can stimulate a subset of host helper T cells via their TCRs, 4) be internalised and processed by host APCs including both macrophages and antigen-specific B cells, 5) be available in its native form for interaction with host B lymphocytes.
Aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All documents mentioned in this text are incorporated herein by reference.
Table 1 shows the PCR primer sequences used to construct the DNA vaccines used in the experimental work underlying the invention.
Strategies for activating immunity against cancer are now under intensive investigation. DNA vaccination offers a relatively simple route between identification of genetic changes in tumour cells and preparing a test vaccine. However, the way in which the encoded protein gains access to the machinery of antigen presentation and to activation of effective immunity is not yet completely clear. Injected muscle cells do not appear to present antigen directly to T cells (1,2), but are likely to act as a reservoir of antigen for indirect presentation (2). Direct transfection of antigen presenting cells (APCs) may occur from the muscle site (3), but only at very low levels (4,5). There is also the question of which effector pathway will be most efficient in attacking the tumor cell, and this obviously depends on the nature of the expressed antigen.
Preceding this invention, DNA vaccines were being developed to treat B-cell malignancies, using as the target antigen the idiotypic (Id) determinants of the clonotypic Ig, encoded by the variable region genes VH and VL (6,7). For lymphoma, anti-Id antibody is effective in killing tumour cells (6, 8, 9), therefore the DNA vaccine was designed to induce antibody. Initially, a vaccine containing the VH and VL genes assembled as single chain Fv alone (10) proved ineffective in inducing anti-Id in mouse models (11). Fusion of a gene encoding the Fragment C (FrC) of tetanus toxin to the scFv sequence led to strong promotion of antibody production, with protection against lymphoma challenge (12,13). This design is now being tested in a pilot clinical trial of patients with low grade follicular lymphoma. The requirement for fusion of genes encoding additional proteins, such as xenogeneic protein (14) or chemokines (15), in order to engage the immune response against Id antigens has been a general finding. In the present case, the fact that fusion was an absolute requirement, with separate plasmids having no promotional effect supported the concept that the FrC-specific T cells may be providing help to B cells secreting anti-Id (12). Interestingly however, the same scFv-FrC design was able to induce protective immunity against an Ig-secreting, surface Ig-negative myeloma model, apparently mediated by effector T cells (13), likely to be of the CD4+ subset (16).
Although this design may be suitable for surface or secreted target antigens, many candidate tumour antigens are intracellular, and will be presented only as peptides in association with MHC Class I molecules (reviewed in 17). The question then is whether fusion with FrC sequence would be necessary or useful for inducing CTL-mediated immunity against candidate tumour-derived peptides. The inventors had already found that FrC itself, when delivered as a DNA vaccine, was able to induce a CTL response, and an H2-Kb-restricted peptide motif had been identified at position 1287-94 in the FrC sequence (13,18). The phenomenon of immunodominance, where CD8+ T cells focus on only one or a few peptide motifs, is clearly evident in responses to viral infection (19). In fact, immunodomination has been described as a central feature of CD8+ T-cell responses (reviewed in 20). If this is the case for DNA vaccines, it would argue against fusing potentially competing FrC sequence to the tumour peptide sequence.
FrC is composed of two domains, a jelly roll N-terminal domain and a second β-trefoil domain (21). The first domain contains a well described �universal� helper epitope, p30 (22,23), which binds to a range of mouse and human MHC Class II alleles, and is recognized by CD4+ T cells (24). Previously, the inventors identified an epitope involved in inducing CD8+ T cells in the second domain (18). They have identified a further epitope with a similar ability to induce CD8+ T-cell responses, also in this domain. The inventors have now investigated two factors which may be important for induction of CTL responses against candidate epitopes presented via DNA: first the position of the peptide epitope in the DNA sequence; second the role of the domain containing the helper epitope in promoting CTL activity.
To test the relevance of the induced CTLs for attacking cancer cells, the inventors have transfected full length FrC into EL-4 cells, where processed peptides can act as surrogate target antigens. To move closer to cancer, the inventors have also demonstrated that a vaccine of similar design, incorporating a known epitope from carcinoembryonic antigen, induced high levels of specific CTL. Using this model, the requirement to remove potentially competing epitopes from the adjuvant FrC sequence was validated.
Production of ΔFrC
A nucleic acid sequence was assembled comprising a first part that encodes the first domain of FrC and a second part which encodes a peptide known to induce cytotoxic T-cell responses. In this particular example, the peptide is contained within second domain of FrC. However, it is representative of a peptide comprising cytotoxic T-cell motifs.
The assembly of the nucleic acid construct is carried out as outlined in
Primers are then used to isolate the first domain of FrC (ΔFrC) as shown in part 2 of
Production of ΔFrC Plus Peptide Antigen
In order to introduce a disease antigen into the plasmid, a reverse primer at the 3′ end of ΔFrC also coding for the disease antigen in question is used to add this sequence to the ΔFrC sequence. This is shown diagrammatically in part 3 of
For disease antigens that are contained on longer peptide sequences, a PCR Soeing technique is used with overlapping primers.
Identification of CTL-Inducing MHC Class I Binding Motifs in FrC
The amino acid sequence of FrC was scanned for peptide 8-mer motifs with potential for binding to or H2-Kb or H2-Db(31). Using an algorithm to assign a score based on the estimated half time of dissociation of a molecule containing this sequence (31), 8 peptides with values of >13 for binding to H2-Kb were identified and synthesized. The top 20 predicted binding sequences gave values ranging from 86.4 to 1.32. Known immunodominant Kb-restricted CTL epitopes score between 132 (RGYVYQGL; SEQ ID NO: 5) and 17 (SIINFEKL; SEQ ID NO: 6) The Kb-binding Sendai virus nucleoprotein derived sequence FAGNYPAL (SEV; SEQ ID NO: 7) scored 60, while a control, Db-restricted epitope (ASNENMDAM; SEQ ID NO: 8) scored 1. FrC sequences which scored <8, including the only H2-Db-binding candidate, were not investigated further.
Mice were then vaccinated with the DNA vaccine containing the gene encoding full length FrC (p. FrC). At day 14 after one vaccination, CTL responses against peptide-loaded EL4 cells could be detected using 2 of the 8 peptides following. one restimulation in vitro (
The remaining peptides were unable to stimulate any detectable CTL activity. Interestingly, of the two immunostimulatory peptides, peptide 1 (SNWYFNHL; SEQ ID NO: 2) had the lowest score (13.2) and peptide 2 (LNIYYRRL; SEQ ID NO: 3) was ranked third, with a score of 26.4. In an in vitro binding assay, both peptide 1 and peptide 2 were able to bind to H2-Kb equally well, and not significantly differently to the positive control peptide SEV (
Effect of Repositioning the Peptide Sequences to the C-Terminus of the First Domain
Peptides 1 and 2 were able to induce CTL responses following vaccination with full length FrC sequence, but the response was relatively weak, with two restimulations required to produce high levels of 51Cr release. Since tumour antigens may also have low immunogenicity, the inventors used these peptides as models to improve immunogenic activity via DNA delivery. They investigated first the effect of removing the peptide sequences from the FrC backbone and repositioning them at the C-terminus of the first domain (p.DOM). A single intramuscular injection with p.DOM-peptide 1 or p.DOM-peptide 2 generated rapid high level CTL responses detectable after one stimulation in vitro. Comparison with the original p.FrC vaccine is shown in
Cytolytic activity was paralleled by the levels of intracellular IFNγ found in the CD8+ T-cell population (
Although only low levels of specific lysis were observed for CTLs against peptide 2, these were consistent in repeated experiments. In contrast, no significant lysis of EL4 cells transfected with empty vector was observed. Addition of peptide to the target cells clearly increased specific lysis, indicating that the transfectant was able to process and present only low levels of both peptides by the endogenous route (
Contribution of Domain 1 (p.DOM) to CTL Induction Via DNA Vaccination
Domain 1 contains one identified �universal� peptide at position 947-967 which can be recognized by human T cells (24) or mouse T cells (33) in association with a large number of MHC Class II molecules. Since this could be a critical component of p.DOM for provision of T-cell help (34), the inventors investigated its role in CTL induction. They compared the ability of a DNA vaccine containing only the p30 sequence linked to each of the CTL peptide sequences with that of p.DOM-peptide vaccines.
Contribution of p.DOM to CTL Induction via Peptide Vaccination
The inventors then investigated whether the adjuvant effect of p.DOM on CTL induction via DNA delivery was apparent when administered with synthetic peptides. Peptide 1 was mixed with p.DOM, and injected into muscle.
However, no CTL activity was induced, even following three injections at days 0, 21 and 42, and up to 4 weekly restimulations in vitro (data not shown). It appears that fusion of p.DOM to the peptide sequence is required, either for delivery to the same cell, or to ensure that synthesis of the first domain and the presence of the peptide are coincident.
Vaccination at day 0 and day 21 with p.DOM-peptide 1 led to significant protection against challenge with the EL4-FrC transfectant at day 28 (
p.DOM-peptide Design to Induce CTLs Against a Peptide from Carcinoembryonic Antigen
To test the ability of the p. DOM-peptide design to induce CTLs against a candidate tumor-associated antigen, a peptide derived from carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was chosen. Peptide EAQNTTYL (SEQ ID NO: 4) is known to act as a target for CTLs induced by vaccination of B6 mice with recombinant vaccinia virus (35). The encoding sequence was placed at the 3′-end of first domain to make the peptide vaccine (
Evidence for Epitopic Competition
The CEA model was used to investigate the assumption that epitopes in the second domain of FrC would compete with attached tumor-derived epitopes. The CEA peptide sequence was placed at the carboxyl end of the 2-domain (full length) FrC sequence to produce p.FrC-CEA526-533 (
Cytolytic activity against CEA peptide was paralleled by the levels of intracellular IFNγ found in the CD8+ T-cell population, with the p.DOM-CEA526-533 vaccine inducing 2-3 fold higher levels of IFNγ-positive cells, as compared to the 2-domain vaccine (
These results confirm the anticipated advantage of removing the second domain of FrC on induction of the response to the CEA epitope, and suggest that the p.DOM-peptide design may have general application for tumor antigens.
Successful vaccination against cancer is likely to require activation of multiple pathways of immunity, including CTLs. Although DNA vaccines are efficient in inducing CTL responses (36), tumor antigens are often weak (12), and deletion of high affinity CD8+ T cells may have occurred (37). To generate CTLs, candidate peptides should be processed and presented efficiently by the APCs, preferably in the absence of competing peptides which could override the response (reviewed in 20). The inventors have investigated CTL responses against the FrC sequence of tetanus toxin, first because of their interest in using FrC as an adjuvant �foreign� sequence to activate immunity against attached scFv sequence (12).
Using their DNA scFv-FrC vaccines against a mouse B-cell lymphoma and myeloma, protective anti-Id immunity is promoted, involving antibody and CD4+ T cells respectively (13). CTL responses were not detected against scFv, possibly due to a lack of MHC Class I-binding motifs within the V-genes. However, CTLs were induced against two peptide motifs in the second domain of FrC (13,18). While responses were relatively weak, they have the potential to compete with CTL motifs from attached tumour sequences (38). In order to investigate the adjuvant potential of FrC sequence for inducing CTLs against candidate peptides, the inventors removed the second domain, leaving the first domain to provide T-cell help via the �universal� peptide p30 (24,34).
Operation of the first domain (p.DOM) as an adjuvant was then tested using the two peptide motifs from the second discarded domain. Repositioning to the C-terminus of p.DOM led to a striking increase in CTLs against each peptide. The inventors found previously that CTLs against FrC are induced more efficiently if the leader sequence is present (18), and consequently they have included the leader in all the constructs described here. Inclusion of the leader sequence should ensure that all constructs longer than around 60 amino acids are co-translationally transported into the ER. The effect of repositioning may then reflect the �C-end rule�, whereby antigenic peptides are preferentially produced from the C-terminus of precursor peptides or proteins in the ER site (39). This could also be relevant for indirect transfer of peptides from muscle to APCs via heat shock proteins such as gp96 or calreticulin, which are normally resident in the ER (40).
The second investigation was to assess the contribution of p.DOM to induction of CTLs against attached peptide sequence. In a model system, a DNA vaccine encoding the immunogenic Kb-restricted epitope of OVA (SIINFEKL; SEQ ID NO:6), fused to the adjacent I-Ab-restricted helper peptide sequence was able to induce CTLs (34). This indicates that a helper epitope and a CTL epitope might be the only requirements. In this particular case, this design was insufficient, since a fusion gene encoding the �universal� helper peptide sequence fused to either of the CTL epitopes generated only low levels of CTL activity. This may be due to the relative weakness of the FrC-derived peptides, as compared to the OVA peptide, but it may indicate a problem for tumour antigens. Another possibility relates to the important contribution of the leader sequence to the immunological potency of these DNA vaccines. The supply of shorter constructs to the ER may be poor since these will depend on rather than co-translational transport (41) which is less efficient and may therefore give rise to less efficient priming. It is nevertheless likely that additional sequences in p.DOM either provide more T-cell help, or contribute to peptide presentation by other mechanisms. One possibility is that the 25 KD domain increases the level of the attached peptide by protecting it from degradation in the cytosol. A further possibility is that the presence of some mis-folded FrC domain in the ER may influence loading of attached peptides onto heat shock proteins for cross-priming (42).
The finding that p.DOM-peptide 1 activates a rapid CD8+ T-cell-mediated protective immunity against the EL4-FrC tumour, and appears more efficient than the vaccine containing full length FrC (p.FrC) indicates two features with relevance for cancer therapy. The first is that repositioning can increase the effectiveness of a vaccine aimed to induce peptide-specific CTLs. Obviously the peptide chosen must also be presented by the tumour cell, but levels required for effector cell recognition can be low (20). The second is that p.DOM can provide activating signals required for DNA vaccines against weak peptide antigens. Interestingly, 4/6 candidate HLA-A2-binding motifs are also in the second domain of FrC, and early studies have shown that the highest functional levels are also in that sequence (unpublished observations). The inventors' data using the known CEA-derived peptide sequence indicate that the p.DOM-peptide design may be applicable to other cancer antigens. Using this model, it was also possible to demonstrate the advantage of removing the second domain of FrC, since potentially competitive epitopes within that domain were able to depress induction of CEA-specific CTLs. This finding confirms the principle behind the design. The fact that the first candidate peptide from CEA generates a rapid and high level of CTLs from this format is encouraging and the results show that the p.DOM strategy has relevance for human vaccines.
Materials and Methods
Construction of DNA Vaccines
Construction of the DNA vaccine (p.FrC) containing the gene encoding the full length two domain sequence of FrC (amino acids 865-1315 of tetanus toxin (TT865-1315)), with a leader sequence derived from the VH of the IgM of the BCL1 tumor has been described (25,26). The DNA vaccine containing the gene encoding the first domain (21) (p.DOM) was constructed by PCR amplification of the amino terminal domain sequence (TT865-1120) from p.FrC using the forward and reverse primers FrCf1 and FrCr1 respectively (Table 1), prior to cloning into pcDNA3. This plasmid was then used as template for the construction of three similar vaccines, each including the first domain but with a distinct CTL epitope sequence fused to the carboxyl terminus. Assembly of p.DOM-peptide 1, encoding the TT1287-1294 peptide; p.DOM-peptide 2, encoding the TT1162-1169 peptide; or p.DOM-CEA, encoding the CEA526-533 peptide, was identical to that of p.DOM alone, except that a different reverse primer was used in each case (FrCr2, FrCr3 and FrCr4 respectively) which overlapped with the p.DOM carboxyl sequence and incorporated the CTL epitope sequence of interest. The DNA vaccine p.FrC-CEA526-533 was constructed by PCR amplification of the full length FrC sequence using the forward primer FCf1, together with primer FCr5, which overlaps the 3′ sequence of FrC and encodes the CEA CTL epitope (CEA526-533), fusing it to the carboxyl terminus of FrC. The PCR product was then cloned into pcDNA3.
p.p30-peptide 1 was assembled by linking the DNA sequence encoding the CTL epitope TT1287-1294 to that encoding a �universal� T helper epitope, p30 (TT947-967), located in the first domain of FrC (24). A three step PCR assembly procedure was used: first, the BCL1 leader sequence was amplified from p.FrC using the forward primer PCMVf1, together with the reverse primer BCL1r1 containing p30 overlapping sequence. Secondly, p30 was amplified from p.FrC with the forward primer p30f1 and the reverse primer p30r1 containing an overhang encoding the CTL epitope TT1287-1294. Thirdly, these two gel-purified PCR products were combined and assembled by PCR-SOeing using primers PCMVf1 and p30r1. The vaccine p.p30-peptide 2 was assembled in a similar manner using the reverse primer p30r2 containing an overhang encoding the CTL epitope TT1162-1169. All assembled vaccine PCR products were ligated into the expression vector pcDNA3 (Invitrogen Corp., San Diego, Calif.) using Hind III and Not I restriction sites. Primer sequences are shown in Table 1.
The structures of the DNA vaccines are indicated in
Fragment C (FrC) peptides were synthesized in house on a Shimadzu PSSM8 peptide synthesizer using Fmoc chemistry, and checked for purity by HPLC.
Concentrations were measured by a colorimetric assay (BCA; Pierce, Rockford, Ill.). The coordinates for the H-2b-restricted FrC CTL epitope sequences TT1287-1294 (SNWYFNHL: peptide 1; SEQ ID NO: 2) and TT1162-1169 (LNIYYRRL; SEQ ID NO:3: peptide 2) correspond to complete Tetanus Toxin (TT) sequence. The CEA526-533 peptide (EAQNTTYL; SEQ ID NO:4) has been described previously (27,28). It was synthesized commercially and supplied at >95% purity (Peptide Protein Research Southampton, UK).
Peptide Binding Assay
Binding of each peptide to H2-Kb was performed using the assembly assay as described (29). This assay is based on the observation that, in a detergent lysate of RMA-S cells, Kb molecules are unstable and dissociate after an overnight incubation at 4� C. unless a stabilising (Kb-binding) peptide is added at the time of lysis. Only stabilised Kb molecules can therefore be recovered by immunoprecipitation with mAb Y3 after overnight incubation. The amount of recovered Kb is directly proportional to the amount of peptide bound, and the concentration of peptide required to effect 50% maximal recovery represents an approximate binding affinity (29). Recovery of H2-Kb heavy chains (HC) was quantitated after immunoprecipitation and SDS PAGE using AIDA (Fuji).
Vaccination Protocol and CTL Assay
C57BL/6 mice, bred in-house, were vaccinated at 6-10 weeks of age with 50 μg of DNA in normal saline injected into two sites in the quadriceps muscles. For measurement of CTL responses, mice were sacrificed on day 14. Spleens were pooled from vaccinated mice and single cell suspensions were prepared in RPMI medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated FCS (Life Technologies, Paisley, UK), 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 2 mM L-glutamine, non-essential amino acids (1% of 100� stock), 25 mM HEPES buffer and 50 μM 2-mercaptoethanol. Splenocytes were resuspended in 40 ml medium, at 3�106 cells/ml, and added to 80 cm2 flasks along with recombinant human IL-2 (20 U/ml, Perkin-Elmer, Foster City, Calif.) and peptide (5-20 μM). T cell cultures were re-stimulated 7 days later in 24-well plates. T cells (5�105/well) were mixed with irradiated syngeneic �feeder� splenocytes (5�106/well), together with rIL-2 (20U/ml) and peptide (5-20 μM). Cytolytic activity of the T cell cultures was assessed 6 days after one in vitro stimulation by standard 4-5 hour 51Cr-release assays, as previously described (18). For indicated experiments, a further in vitro stimulation was given. Target cells were EL4 cells (ATCC; TIB 39) incubated with a test or control peptide, EL4 cells alone or transfected EL4 cells (see below). Specific lysis was calculated by the standard formula ([release by CTL−release by targets alone]/[release by 4% NP40−release by targets alone]�100%). Spontaneous release by targets alone was always less than 20% of release by 4% NP40.
Intracellular γ-IFN Assay
Viable cells were selected by density centrifugation (Lymphoprep, Nycomed Pharma AS, Oslo, Norway). T cells were incubated for 4 hours at 37� C. in 96U-well plates, at 5�105 cells/well, together with 10U/well rIL-1321 2, 1 μM peptide and 1 μl/well golgiplug (PharMingen). Cells were blocked with 2% decomplemented mouse serum (15 minutes, 4� C.) prior to labeling with 1 μg/well FITC anti-mouse CD8b.2 (Ly-3.2, clone 53-5.8, PharMingen), or an isotype control (20 minutes, 4� C.). Following surface labeling, the cells were fixed with 1% formaldehyde (20 minutes, 4� C.) and then permeabilised with 0.5% saponin (10 minutes, 4� C.) before intracellular labeling with 0.5 μg/well PE rat anti-mouse γ-IFN (clone XMG1.2, PharMingen) for 20 minutes at 4� C. After a final wash the cells were resuspended in PBS and analyzed immediately by FACScalibur, using CELLQUEST software (Becton Dickinson).
Tumor Targets
The inventors have generated a tumour model consisting of EL4 tumor cells into which they have transfected a plasmid encoding a non-secreted (leaderless) form of FrC (18). Briefly, 2�106 cells, in 400 μl medium were mixed with 10 μg plasmid DNA and electroporated at 300V, 975 μF (Gene Pulser Cuvette, 0.4 cm electrode gap, Biorad). The cells were grown in the presence of a selective antibiotic (Geneticin, 2 mg/ml, Life Technologies Ltd.) and, following the restoration of a stable population, were cloned and tested for susceptibility to lysis by FrC-specific CTLs. This led to the generation of the tumour cell line EL4-FrC.
Tumor Challenge
C57BL/6 mice were challenged by subcutaneous injection of 1�105 EL4-FrC transfectants or EL4 cells transfected with empty vector (pcDNA3) into the right flank. Mice were sacrificed when the resulting tumor reached 1.5 cm diameter, in accordance with human endpoints guidelines (UK Coordinating Committee for Cancer Research, London, UK), and the day of death recorded. Cell depletion experiments were performed in vivo by intraperitoneal injection of 100 μg Ig (rat anti-mouse CD8, YTS 18.104.22.168, kindly supplied by Dr. S. Cobbold (30), or an isotype control), every 2-3 days for 14 days, beginning one week before tumor challenge.
The experimental work described herein has also been performed in another strain of mouse (Balb/C), with the same results.
FCf1=SEQ ID NO: 9
FCr2=SEQ ID NO: 11
FCr3=SEQ ID NO: 12
FCr4=SEQ ID NO: 13
FCr5=SEQ ID NO: 14
PCMVf1=SEQ ID NO: 15
BCL1r1=SEQ ID NO: 16
P30f1=SEQ ID NO: 17
P30r1=SEQ ID NO: 18
P304r2=SEQ ID NO: 19
The amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 20) of tetanus toxin is:
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Funny Pets
Watch: This Monkey Is an Expert Puppy Masseuse
Originally posted 03/28/2015 05:15PM
The capuchin monkey in this video can barely handle how doggone adorable these furry newborns. Meeting them for the first time, the monkey decides to make a strong first impression by covering the barking bundles with kisses and hugs.
Funny Video: The Way This Pup Reacts to Falling Off the Couch Is Priceless
Originally posted 03/27/2015 05:30PM
Funny Video: Cow Madly in Love with Its Cleaning Machine
Originally posted 03/25/2015 05:55PM
Bovine and machine may seem like an odd union, but this pair prove that romance can work for most duos, if they are just willing to try.
Dog Locked in SUV Learns How to Use the Horn
Originally posted 03/25/2015 12:10AM
[YOUTUBE "p4Zu-a1dWhk" "auto"] Someone was not too happy about being locked in the car. Either that or this little pooch just stumbled onto the wonderful noise-making toy that happened to be embedded in the steering wheel.
Funny Video: Baby Elephant Enjoys Super Slippery Bath
Originally posted 03/22/2015 06:00PM
We have new #vacationgoals after watching this video.
Godzilla Kitten Raids Dollhouse, Internet Says Ahh! and Aww
Originally posted 03/21/2015 11:55AM
Don't worry – a giant cat isn't going all Godzilla on the world as we know it.
These photos – taken by mother-and-son team Barbara Attwell, an artist, and her Cade Ritter, a student – have gone viral for all the right reasons.
The kitty culprit in the snaps appears to be destroying somebody's fully furnished house, but, thanks to our diligent detective work, we've cracked this case: that's a dollhouse, and that's a kitten. So, take if from us, you're totally safe.
Funny Video: You May Get Cat-Smacked If You Try to Use a Kitty Translator
Originally posted 03/14/2015 08:00AM
Here's the part of Dr. Dolittle they didn't show you.
Gentle Pup Is the Perfect Pretend Patient for This Aspiring Veterinarian
Originally posted 03/13/2015 03:55PM
Dog Gets Insanely Long Hug from Cat After 10 Days Apart
Originally posted 03/12/2015 07:15PM
WATCH: This Dog Is as Bad at Catching Food as He Is Adorable
Originally posted 03/24/2015 10:00AM
We've all been in Fritz's position – trying our hardest to achieve a life goal (in his case, catching an airborne chimichanga in his mouth), and then failing miserably.
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Ophthalmologist (eyes)
34 years of experience
Accepting new patients
34 years of experience
Accepting new patients
261 Route 45
Salem, NJ 08079 Phone number & directions
Salem, NJ 08079 Phone number & directions
License & Identifications
A medical license is required for a doctor to practice medicine in a particular state. Requirements vary by state but most require, at a minimum, post-graduate training in the doctor's specific specialty. An NPI number is a national identifier unique to an individual health care provider and is managed by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Learn more about Dr. Jay Calesnick:
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The overall average patient rating of Dr. Jay Calesnick is Average.
Specialties & Research
Dr. Jay Calesnick, MD is board certified in Ophthalmology.
- He has special expertise in 9 areas:
- Diabetic Eye Disease (Diabetic Retinopathy)
- Glaucoma
- Infections
- Lazy Eye (Strabismus)
- Lens Implants (Intraocular Lens Implantation)
- Macular Degeneration
- Macular Edema
- Pink eye (Conjunctivitis)
- Retinal Vein Occlusion
Education & Awards
Dr. Calesnick graduated from Drexel University , Philadelphia.
Dr. Calesnick has 14 hospital affiliations:
- Virtua Memorial Hospital Of Burlington County
- Virtua West Jersey Hospital - Voorhees
- German
- Russian
- English
Home > Find an Ophthalmologist > NJ > Salem Ophthalmologists > Dr. Jay Calesnick, MD
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- Additional Information
- Dr. Jay Lee Lee L Calesnick MD is a male Ophthalmologist, has 34 years of experience and practices in Ophthalmology.
- Where does Dr. Jay L. Calesnick practice?
- Dr. Jay Calesnick has 4 office locations.
Dr. Jay Calesnick practices Ophthalmology near Salem, NJ.
Additional practice locations include: Voorhees, NJ and Philadelphia, PA.
See Salem Ophthalmologists.


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How to Knit a Hat: 7 Cozy Free Knit Hat Patterns
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Spiral Knit Cap
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If you frequently find yourself knitting for charity, this Spiral Knit Cap is a great pattern to add to your repertoire. Cast on 82 stitches to being your hat. By varying purl and knit stitches, you quickly create a visually intriguing spiral design.
Knitting Needle Size: 8 or 5 mm
Yarn Weight: (4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)
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Hotel Royal
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Constantinople Rendezvous
... us off in the middle of town. We were just not about 18km away from the border, but there were no buses that went to the border. Our only options were to take an expensive taxi to the border or to hitchhike. We decided to walk for a bit and see if anyone would pick us up. After trying to flag a few cars down, a taxi pulled up and gave us a decent price so we decided to hop in. His name was Victor and he was very friendly. We enjoyed his taxi ride to the border. He took us out of ...
You don't make friends with salad
... thousand. These days they are popular place in which to lose one's virginity.
A horrible evening in a horrible bathroom: After a lovely dinner with a couple of lovely of English girls we met and travelled with from Gjirokastra to Tushemisht (and beyond) came the not so lovely, but reasonably familiar feeling of food poisoning. 24 hours of utter blurgh ensued... The culprit, a very delicious and highly vomit inducing mozzarella and tomato salad :(
4hr one way..2.5hr return...maniac bus driver!
... leave at 5am to get back to work...thankfully I got one...albeit with a lunatic driver while it was raining!
Lovely scenery between Tirana and Pogradec...reminded me alot of South Tirol, where I used to live in Merano, Italy.
"The Pogradec district has been inhabited since the period of the late neolith (6000-2000 BC). Near Buqeza, 20km north of Pogradec, there are prehistoric palaphites built over the surface of the water (??!). The residents of ...
Meandering through Macedonia
... us on his own walking tour of Skopje. He could speak english really well, which he learned from TV. Being a small city it was easy for us to see Skopje in a day. He first walked us through the area around his mosque, which is the older and poorer part of town and is predominately made up of Muslim Macedonians, Albanians and Roma - whose language consists only of approx 350 words. Following that we toured the university where he studied and now teaches whilst ...
... And the country's roads were busily being transformed from dirt to asphalt.
Beneath Alessandro's large home, in the coastal village of Shempieter, sat the tiny mortar home of Alessandro's parents. During the communist dictatorship of Enver Hozha, people lived in tiny red-roof homes, even if they had seven children, as Alessandro's parents had had. Alessandro called Hozha's regime "brutal". Alessandro's father had been imprisoned for fifteen days for ...
Other places to stay in Pogradec
Hotel MilleniumTushemisht, Pogradec | Hotelfrom $42
Hotel EnkelanaRruga "Reshit Collaku", Pogradec | Hotelfrom $30
Hotel PerlaRruga Deshmoret e Pojskes, Pogradec | Hotelfrom $36
Hotel 1 MajiPogradec Lake, Pogradec | Hotelfrom $50
Hotel BelvederePogradec Center, Pogradec | Hotelfrom $31


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Pink graphic striped trunks
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These Calvin Klein trunks have a pink graphic striped design with branding on the waist. They are made with soft, breathable cotton stretch fabric for enhanced comfort and a body-defining fit.
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Appreciative woman receiving gift, black background© djtaylor - See portfolio
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Suggest tile for my tub/shower surround
We've been moving along in our bathroom remodel and have made many of our choices. One thing that we still need to select is tile for our tub/shower surround. I've previously had ceramic tile at a number of places throughout our home, but I've grown to hate trying to keep grout clean. I opted to use wood-look vinyl planks for flooring in this bathroom remodel. But, I'm willing to go with tile for the tub/shower surround if the tiles are fairly large and the grout lines are rather minimal. So--no floor tile to match or coordinate in this case.
I've learned about rectified tile by reading this forum, and I've learned that I can have very tight grout lines if I select a rectified tile. I'd love some recommendations of tile brand and size for a 5' alcove bathtub/shower surround. Pictures would be wonderful!
I'm planning to install this tile myself. I've previously done a tub surround, a kitchen backsplash, bathroom floor, foyer floor, etc., so I have some experience. Is installing rectified tile in a shower surround something that a semi-experienced DIY'er should attempt? From what I'm reading, it's a very exacting process.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
We used Florida Tile's "Pristine" with 1/16" grout lines in our tub surrounds with unsanded grout and love the result. The tiles are nice & large at 9"x18". Here's a couple pics...
For our master shower, we went with Florida Tile's Renaissance with 1/16" grout lines using unsanded grout on the walls. It comes in 4 different colors & the largest wall tile is 10"x 13".
While they are not truly rectified (usually you have to go with natural stone to get truly rectified--cha-ching!$$$$), our tile guy said the edges were cut straight enough to pull off the smaller grout lines. As far as scrubbing tile & grout, the trick is to squeegee after you're finished showering, then you don't get water spots/mineral deposits on the tile and nothing growing in the grout so no grout scrubbing!
Hope this helps!
Mydreamhome, thank you for sharing your photos. I like the crown molding treatment above your tub in the first picture. From what I've seen so far in looking at tiles, most places are recommending a 10 x 13 or 10 x 16 tile for tub surround. We need to select our tile soon so that we can move forward with this project!
Mydreamhome, I had to read this post twice, because we are doing two bathrooms--and we chose Florida Tile Pristine for one bathroom, and Renaissance for the other! LOL!
We are doing the 9 x 18 in the walk in shower and the 10 x 13 in the tub/shower.
The walk in shower is our current project, and the other bath will follow (hopefully in the summer).
Nice to see how pretty it looks installed! I did a little digging and saw you got a great price on that tile. I was quoted significantly more...5$ a sq. ft. for wall and 18$ sq ft. for the floor :(
DH can plumb and install tile, but we are considering subbing out the tile and might hold off on ordering it--maybe we can get a contractor discount...
Thanks for posting!
Mydreamhome, I have another question. We're planning to create a niche in the tub/shower surround. I've noticed the curved bottom shelf of your niche in the bottom photo you've shared. Maybe I'm not looking at the right places, but I've seen similar curved shelf pieces in other people's niches on this forum, but I've never seen pieces like that in a store. Where do you get them?
We were thinking of using a piece of a marble baseboard or threshold as I've seen mentioned by others. That wouldn't create the rounded edge (which is also OK), but I'm curious where everyone is getting the rounded pieces.
Good catch, Dreamweaver! We actually used a large marble tile cut to size and design to create the shelf. Our tile guy did it for us based on our specs. It took some work to find just the right color. To do something similar, it will have to be a natural stone product--no other types of tile will work. DH didn't think we needed the extra depth, but I knew we definitely did. The standard depth works fine in the kids' baths but there's just more stuff when there are 2 of you sharing the shower + all the lady stuff :-) Plus it looks pretty!
Hope this helps!