SOLUBLE VIRUS-SPECIFIC T-CELL RECEPTOR COMPOSITIONS

Background of the Invention

Viral infections such as infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) such as HIV-I and infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are a significant public health problem. A number of drugs are currently used to treat individuals infected with such viral infections, e.g., anti-retroviral drugs include Reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors and Protease inhibitors (PI). Although these agents have been effective in treating HIV infection, development of drug resistant strains and cumulative drug toxicity of the virus is a concern.

Summary of the Invention

The invention features methods and compositions for diagnosis and treatment of viral infections. The methods are based on the identification of T-cell receptor gene sequences from cytotoxic T cell clones that are specific for HIV-I or HCV. Accordingly, the invention includes isolated T cell receptor genes and polypeptides encoded by the genes, which encode soluble T cell receptor polypeptides or proteins that specifically bind to cytotoxic T cell epitopes in HIV-I or HCV and polypeptides encoded by the genes.

The epitope comprises or consists of a short, 8 to 11-mer peptide that is associated with a class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen such as an HLA molecule on the surface of a cell. The epitope contains polypeptide sequence corresponding to or derived from a naturally-occurring HIV or HCV protein.

The T cell receptor genes encode for both the alpha chain of the T cell receptor and the beta chain of the T cell receptor. Both the TCR alpha chain and the TCR beta chain comprise or consist of a constant region (C region), a variable region (V region) and a complementary- determining 3 region (CDR3) region. The CDR3 regions mediate the interaction with the antigenic peptide/MHC class I complex and consist of a random sequence of 1-90 nucleotides that are generated by somatic recombination. These gene sequences are used to construct recombinant HIV-I or HCV-specific soluble TCR receptor molecules, which are used for diagnostic in vitro use and therapeutic in vivo use. For instance, these soluble TCRs can be used as a staining reagent to detect HIV-I or HCV cytotoxic T cell epitope presentation in patient- derived tissue or fluid samples in vitro assays. Optionally, the soluble T cell receptor

polypeptide can be associated with a detectable marker such as a fluorescent molecule. The detectable marker is linked to or conjugated to the receptor polypeptide to facilitate diagnostic methods. Moreover, a plurality of soluble single chain HLA class I-restricted T cell receptor polypeptides are immobilized on a solid support such as a chip or plate. For example, the TCRs are configured in a microarray format for identification and detection of processed viral epitopes. For therapeutic purposes, a cytotoxic molecule or cytokine is linked to or associated with the TCR.

Preferred soluble TCR constructs include the following sequences that correspond to TCR α, p chain pairs: Vb sequence CASSQGVTLLN (SEQ ID NO:4) and Va5 sequence CAETY (SEQ ID NO:6) . This soluble TCR has an epitope specificity of SEQ ID NO:5 (HIV-I vpr) in the context of HLA class I molecule A2. Derivatives of the sequence of the TCR are also within the scope of the invention. Derivative TCRs are characterized by a higher binding affinity to the HLA class I restricted epitope shown in Table 1 below. For example, a derivative soluble TCR construct relative to the reference sequences SEQ ID NO:4 and 6 may include 1, 2, 3, 4 or more conservative or non-conservative amino amino acid substitutions and is characterized by a binding affinity for the epitope that is increased compared to a construct containing the original reference sequence. A preferred soluble TCR construct with an epitope binding specificity for HCV include sequences that correspond to TCR α, β chain pairs: Va sequence CAVNEYGQNFV (SEQ ID NO:27) and Vb sequence CAWSGGLNTEAF (SEQ ID NO:29). This soluble TCR construct has an epitope binding specificity of SEQ ID NO:28, an HCV peptide that is also presented in the context of HLA class I molecule A2. These and other TCR sequences as well as their binding specificities and HLA restriction are shown in Table 1.

By "substantially pure" is meant a nucleic acid, polypeptide, or other molecule that has been separated from the components that naturally accompany it. Typically, the polypeptide is substantially pure when it is at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or even 99%, by weight, free from the proteins and naturally-occurring organic molecules with which it is naturally associated. For example, a substantially pure polypeptide may be obtained by extraction from a natural source, by expression of a recombinant nucleic acid in a cell that does not normally express that protein, or by chemical synthesis. An isolated fragment of a protein means a peptide having a portion of the sequence of the reference protein which is less than the entire sequence, and does not contain the naturally occurring flanking regions. An isolated polypeptide lacks one or more

amino acids, which immediately flank the reference fragment in the naturally-occurring molecule.

Where a particular polypeptide or nucleic acid molecule is said to have a specific percent identity to a reference polypeptide or nucleic acid molecule of a defined length, the percent identity is relative to the reference polypeptide or nucleic acid molecule. Thus, a peptide that is 50% identical to a reference polypeptide that is 100 amino acids long can be a 50 amino acid polypeptide that is completely identical to a 50 amino acid long portion of the reference polypeptide. It might also be a 100 amino acid long polypeptide which is 50% identical to the reference polypeptide over its entire length. The same rule applies for nucleic acid molecules. For polypeptides, the length of the reference polypeptide sequence will generally be at least 5 amino acids in length. For example, the peptide is 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 amino acids in length. In some cases, the peptide is larger, e.g., 15, 20, 25 amino acids or more in length. For example, the peptide of a specific sequence, e.g., epitope sequence, is flanked by other amino acids that differ from those amino acids which flank the sequence in a naturally-occurring protein. For nucleic acids, the length of the reference nucleic acid sequence will generally be at least 15, 20, or 25 nucleotides in length. However, larger constructs, e.g., those that are at least 50 nucleotides, preferably at least 60 nucleotides, more preferably at least 75 nucleotides, and most preferably 100 nucleotides or 300 nucleotides.

The invention also encompasses derivative peptides corresponding to TCR sequences or epitope sequences. In the case of polypeptide sequences which are less than 100% identical to a reference sequence, the non-identical positions are preferably, but not necessarily, conservative substitutions for the reference sequence. Conservative substitutions typically include substitutions within the following groups: glycine and alanine; valine, isoleucine, and leucine; aspartic acid and glutamic acid; asparagine and glutamine; serine and threonine; lysine and arginine; and phenylalanine and tyrosine. In peptides in which amino acids substitutions are made relative to the reference sequence, the binding affinity of the T-cell receptor to its HLA- restricted epitope is increased. Alternatively, constructs containing derivative sequences have great stability, e.g., a longer half-life in a physiologically acceptable solution such as culture media or a bodily fluid such as blood, plasma, or serum. For example, the binding affinity and/or stability of such derivative peptides is at least 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 90%, 100%, 2- fold, 5-fold, 10-fold, 20-fold, or more relative to that of the reference peptide sequence. Optionally, derivative peptide sequences include additional amino acids that flank the reference

sequences on the ami no-terminal and/or the carboxy-terminal end of the sequence. As is described above, such constructs, which contain non-naturally occurring flanking sequences are characterized as having increased epitope binding affinity and/or increased stability. Nucleic acid sequences that encode such derivative peptide sequences are encompassed by the invention.

An isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule is one that is separated from the 5' and 3' coding sequences or non-coding sequences with which it is immediately contiguous in the naturally occurring genome of an organism. Isolated nucleic acid molecules include nucleic acid molecules which are not naturally occurring, e.g., nucleic acid molecules created by recombinant DNA techniques. The nucleic acids identified herein include a sequence that are at least 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% identical to a reference sequence and degenerate variants of a reference nucleic acid sequence.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof, and from the claims. The entire contents of references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.

Detailed Description of the Invention

HIV-I- or HCV-specific cells recognizing defined, MHC class I restricted cytotoxic T cell epitopes were isolated by limiting dilution cloning. Cloned cells were stained with MHC class I tetramers refolded with the respective epitopic peptide, and tetramer-binding cells were sorted using a FACS ARIA instrument. mRNA of sorted cells was extracted, reverse transcribed and cDNA of the TCR gene was amplified by nested PCR. PCR products were ligated into a cloning vector used to transform E. coli. After bacterial amplification, vector inserts were purified and sequenced according to standard procedures. The sequences of the following TCRs were identified.

Table 1 : TCR sequences

Table 2: Nucleotide sequences encoding TCRs HCV-A2-KV 10 (KLVALGINAV) Vb25.1 -C ASSNGYEQ Y- J2.7 (SEQ ID NO:43)

NNNNNNNNGNNNNNNNTCGCCCTTNNCAGTGGTTCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGGGGG GAGACATCCTCTCTAGCCCCAACTGTGCCATGACTATCAGGCTCCTCTGCTACATGG GCTTTTATTTTCTGGGGGCAGGCCTCATGGAAGCTGACATCTACCAGACCCCAAGAT ACCTTGTTATAGGGACAGGAAAGAAGATCACTCTGGAATGTTCTCAAACCATGGGC CATGACAAAATGTACTGGTATCAACAAGATCCAGGAATGGAACTACACCTCATCCA CTATTCCTATGGAGTTAATTCCACAGAGAAGGGAGATCTTTCCTCTGAGTCAACAGT CTCCAGAATAAGGACGGAGCATTTTCCCCTGACCCTGGAGTCTGCCAGGCCCTCACA TACCTCTCAGTACCTCTGTGCCAGCAGTAATGGATACGAGCAGTACTTCGGGCCGGG CACCAGGCTCACGGTCACAGAGGACCTGAAAAACGTGTTCCCACCCGAGGTCGCTG TGTTTGAGCCATCAGAAGCAGAGATCTCCCACACCAAGGGCGAATTCGTTTAAACCT GCAGGACTAGTCCCTTTAGTGAGGGTTAATTCTGAGCTTGGCGTAATCATGGTCATA GNNNNTTTCCTNN (SEQ ID NO:49) Va38.2-CAYRSDNDMR-J43 (SEQ ID NO:44)

NNNNNNNGGNNNNNNNANTCGCCCTTNNNAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGG GAGAAGAGGAGGCTTCTCACCCTGCAGCAGGGACCTGTGAGCATGGCATGCCCTGG CTTCCTGTGGGCACTTGTGATCTCCACCTGTCTTGAATTTAGCATGGCTCAGACAGTC ACTCAGTCTCAACCAGAGATGTCTGTGCAGGGGGCAGAGACCGTGACCCTGAGCTG CACATATGACACCAGTGAGAGTGATTATTATTTATTCTGGTACAAGCAGCCTCCCAG CAGGCAGATGATTCTCGTTATTCGCCAAGAAGCTTATAAGCAACAGAATGCAACAG AGAATCGTTTCTCTGTGAACTTCCAGAAAGCAGCCAAATCCTTCAGTCTCAAGATCT CAGACTCACAGCTGGGGGATGCCGCGATGTATTTCTGTGCTTATAGGAGCGACAATG ACATGCGCTTTGGAGCAGGGACCAGACTGACAGTAAAACCAAATATCCAGAACCCT GACCCTGCCGTGTACCAGCTGAGAGACTCTAAATCCAGTGACAAGTCTGTCTGCCTA TTCACCGATTTTGATTCTCAAACAAATGTGTCACAAAGTAAGGATTCTGATGTGTAT AAGGGCGAATTCGTTTAAACCTGCAGGACTAGTCCCTTTAGTGAGGGTTAATTCTGA GCTTGGCGTANTCATGGTCATAGNNNNNTTTCNNNN (SEQ ID NO:50)

HCV-B7-GT9 (GPRLGVRAT) (SEQ ID NO:48)

Vb24.1-CATSSQDGQVYEQY-J2.7 (SEQ ID NO:46) NNNNNNNNNNNNNNCNNNTCGCCCTTAAGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGG GGAGAGCTGGAAACACCTCCATCCTGCCTCTTCATGCCATGGCCTCCCTGCTCTTCTT CTGTGGGGCCTTTTATCTCCTGGGAACAGGGTCCATGGATGCTGATGTTACCCAGAC CCCAAGGAATAGGATCACAAAGACAGGAAAGAGGATTATGCTGGAATGTTCTCAGA CTAAGGGTCATGATAGAATGTACTGGTATCGACAAGACCCAGGACTGGGCCTACGG TTGATCTATTACTCCTTTGATGTCAAAGATATAAACAAAGGAGAGATCTCTGATGGA TACAGTGTCTCTCGACAGGCACAGGCTAAATTCTCCCTGTCCCTAGAGTCTGCCATC CCCAACCAGACAGCTCTTTACTTCTGTGCCACCAGTTCCCAGGACGGGCAAGTCTAC GAGCAGTACTTCGGGCCGGGCACCAGGCTCACGGTCACAGAGGACCTGAAAAACGT GTTCCCACCCGAGGTCGCTGTGTTTGAGCCATCAGAAGCAGAGATCTCCCACACCAA GGGCGAATTCGTTTAAACCTGCAGGACTAGTCCCTTTAGTGAGGGTTAATTCTGAGC TTGGCGTAATCATGGTCATAGCTNNNTTNNNNGNN (SEQ ID NO:51)

Va24-CASYKAAGNKLT-J17 (SEQ ID NO:47)

NNNNNNNNNNNNNCNNCNAATTCGCCCTTANGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGC GGGGGTTTTTCTGCTGTGGGTACGTGAGCAGGAAACATGGAGAAGAATCCTTTGGC AGCCCCATTACTAATCCTCTGGTTTCATCTTGACTGCGTGAGCAGCATACTGAACGT GGAACAAAGTCCTCAGTCACTGCATGTTCAGGAGGGAGACAGCACCAATTTCACCT GCAGCTTCCCTTCCAGCAATnTTATGCCTTACACTGGTACAGATGGGAAACTGCAA AAAGCCCCGAGGCCTTGTTTGTAATGACTTTAAATGGGGATGAAAAGAAGAAAGGA CGAATAAGTGCCACTCTTAATACCAAGGAGGGTTACAGCTATTTGTACATCAAAGGA TCCCAGCCTGAAGACTCAGCCACATACCTCTGTGCCTCCTACAAAGCTGCAGGCAAC AAGCTAACTTTTGGAGGAGGAACCAGGGTGCTAGTTAAACCAAATATCCAGAACCC TGACCCTGCCGTGTACCAGCTGAGAGACTCTAAATCCAGTGACAAGTCTGTCTGCCT ATTCACCGATTTTGATTCTCAAACAAATGTGTCACAAAGTAAGGATTCTGATGTGTA

TAAGGGCGAATTCGTTTAAACCTGCAGGACTAGTCCCTTTAGTGAGGGTTAATTCTG AGCTTGGCGTAATCATGGTCNTANNNTNNTNNNNNN (SEQ ID NO:52)

HCV A2-AL9 Va8.1 -CAVNEYGQNFV- J26 (SEQ ID NO:27)

NNNNNNNNNNGNNNNCNNNTCNCCCTTATACNCATCAGAATCCTTACTTTGTGACA

CATTTGTTTGAGAATCAAAATCGGTGACTAGGCAGACAGACTTGTCACTGGATTTAG

AGTCTCTCAGCTGGTACACGGCAGGGTCAGGGTTCTGGATATAGGGCAGCACGGAC AATCTGGTTCCGGGACCAAAGACAAAATTCTGACCATACTCATTCACGGCACAGAA GTACTCAGCTGTGTCACTCCACTGCACAGAGGGTTTCCTCAGATTAAAGGAGAATTT ACTCTTTATAAATTCAGCCTCAAAGCCCTTGATGCCTTTAACCAGTGGATCCCCTGA AAAGTACTTGAGGAGAAGCTGAAGGTGTTGACCAGGGTACTGGACATACCAGAAGA GATTAACAGTTCCACCGTAGGAATAGTTGCATCCCAACTCCAGTGAGGCTGCTTCAG AGAGAATTACGTGGTGGTTATGCTGGCTCACAGACTGGGCTCTGGCATCTCTCAGGG CAAAAATCATCCCCAGCACTGGTATGAGCAACAGGAGCATGGCTGAGCTGTGGAAA CACTGCAAGCGTCTCTTTGGAAATTCTCCTCGGGGCCAGTAGGAAAGTGGCTGGAAC CCAGGTCTTGAGAATAGCGAGCGTGAGGAAGGTTGGGCTAGGCAAGTCTCTTGTTTT GGTAAGAATCCCCGCGTACTCTGCGTTGATACCACTGCTTAANGGCGAATTCGTTTA AACCTGCNNNACTAGTCCCTTTAGTGAGGGTTAATTCTGAGCTTGGNGTAATCATGG TCNNNNNNTGTTTTCCNGN (SEQ ID NO:53)

HCV A2-AL9

Vb30-C AWSGGLNTEAF-J 1.1 (SEQ ID NO:29)

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNTCGCCCTTGGTGTGGGANNNCTCTGCTTCTGATGGCTCAAA CACAGCGACCTCGGGTGGGAACACCTTGTTCAGGTCCTCTACAACTGTGAGTCTGGT GCCTTGTCCAAAGAAAGCTTCAGTGTTCAGGCCTCCCGACCAGGCACAGAGATAGA AGCCAGAGTCACTGAGAAGGAGCTTCTTAGAACTCAGGATGAACTGCCGGTCCTGG GGTCTGGAGGCTGAGAGATTCTGGGGCACCTCAGAGCTGATCTGGCCAATACCAAC GGAGTAGAAGAGCAGCTGGAGGCCCCTGCCTGCAGCCTGTCGGTACCAGTATAGGT TGGGGTTTGATGTTCCCTCCACAGTGCACTCCAGAGAGAGCGGGCTGCCCACAGGCT GCACCAGGGTCGCTGGCCATTGATGAATAGTCTGAGATCTGACCCCAAAGAAAGTG CCCAGGAGAAGGGCAAGGAGAGAGCAGAGCATCATCCAAGCCAGCCTTTCCTTCAG CTAGTCTGGGGGACAGACGCCTCCTCTTCTGGGCCAGTGATGTGGCCAGGCACACCA GTGTGGCCCGCGTACTCTGCGTTGATACCACTGCTTAAGGGCGAATTCGCGGCCGCT AAATTCAATTCGCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTACAATTCACTGGCNNNNCNNTTTTAN (SEQ ID NO:54) B8-EI8

Val3.1-CAATSGYALN-J41 (SEQ ID NO:21)

NNNNNNNNNNNNNCGCCCTTATACACATCAGAATCCTTACTTTGTGACACATTTGTT TGAGAATCAAAATCGGTGAATAGGCAGACAGACTTGTCACTGGATTTAGAGTCTCTC AGCTGGTACACGGCAGGGTCAGGGTTCTGGATATGGGGTGTGACCAACAGCGAGGT GCCTTTGCCGAAGTTGAGTGCATACCCGGACGTTGCTGCACAGAAGTAGACAGCCG AGTCTTCAGGTTGGGTCTCTGTGATGTGCAGGGAGAAATGTTTGGCTGTCTTGTTCA

ATGTAACAGCAATTCGTTGGTCTTTCTTTTCGCCCACATTTGAACGAATGTCTATAA T AAGCTGAGGTCTTTTTCCAAGTTCTTGCTTATACCAAGGGAAGTAGTTTGAGGCACT GTCTGAATAAGTACACTTGATAACAGCGCTGTCTCCCTCCTGGACACTCAGGGTTGA AGGATGCTGCTCCACATTCTCTCCATTCACCAAGTCCAGCTGCAGCCACAGGAATAT AAATACAGCTCGAATGGATGTCATCCTTGTTCTTCCCAATTAAGATCAGTCATTGAC CTGCAACCTCCAGTTATCCCCGCGTACTCTGCGTTGATACCACTGCTTAAGGGCGAA TTCGCGGCCGCTAAATTCAATTCGCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTACAATTCACTGGCN TNCCNTTTTTAN (SEQ ID NO:55) B8-EI8

Vb9-CASSVQGEFREKLF-J1.4 (SEQ ID NO:23)

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNCGCCCTTGGTGTGGGANANCTCTGCTTCTGATGGCTCAAA CACAGCGACCTCGGGTGGGAACACCTTGTTCAGGTCCTCCAAGACAGAGAGCTGGG TTCCACTGCCAAAAAACAGTTTTTCTCTAAACTCCCCCTGTACGCTGCTGGCACAGA AATACAAAGCTGAGTCCCCCAGCTCCAGAGAGCTCAGGTTTAGTTCAGAGTGCAAG TCAGGGAACTGTTGTGCGGAGAATCGTTCAAGAATGTTTCCTTTTGCTCTCTCTTCTC CATTATAATACTGAATGAGGAACTGGAGGCCCTGGTCCAGGCTCTGTTGGTACCAGT ACACAGAGAGGTCTCCAGACCTAGGGGAGCATCTCAGCGTCACTCGCTGTCCAGTT GCTGTGATCAGGTGCTTTGGGGTTTGTGTGACTCCAGAATCCACTGGGCCTGCTCCC AGGAGACAAAAGGCCACACAGCAGAGGAGCCTGAAGCCCATGGCAGGATCTCCTA GCTTGGGGCTGGTGTCTCTGTAGTAAGCATTCTCCCCGCGTACTCTGCGTTGATACCA CTGCTTAAGGGCGAATTCGCGGCCGCTAAATTCAATTCGCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTAT TACAATTCACTGGCCNNNNNTTTTTACANNNN (SEQ ID NO:56)

B60-KL9

Va27-CAGRDYKLS-J20 (SEQ ID NO:24)

NNNNNNNNNNNNNCGCCCTTATACACATCAGAATCCTTACTTTGTGACACATTTGTT TGAGAATCAAAATCGGTGAATAGGCAGACAGACTTGTCACTGGATTTAGAGTCTCTC AGCTGGTACACGGCAGGGTCAGGGTTCTGGATATTTGCTCTTACAGTTACTGTGGTT CCGGCTCCAAAGCTGAGCTTGTAGTCGCGTCCTGCACAGAGGTAGAGGCCTGTATCA CCAGGCTGGGCCGCAGTGATGTGGAGAGAACTGTCCTTTCTTGCATCACCAAACTGA AAGGTTAGTCTCTTCAGCTTCTTCACTTCTCCACCCGTAACTACTGTCACCAGGAGGA CAGGACCTTCCCCAGGCTCCTGTCTGTACCATTGTAAGCTGGAAAAAACACTTGAGG AGTTGCAGTACACAGTGAGATTTTCTCCCTCTTGGATGCTTAGAAACTGAGGGCTCT GCTCCAGCAGCTGGGTGCTCACCCATGCCAACTGAATCCAAAGAATGGACACGGAG AATTTCAGGACCATCTTGTCTTTCTATCACATGGTGGACATGGCCCCTGACTTTAGCT GCTCCTGAAAGAGCCCGTCCTGGAACANACTTCTCTGNNCTANAANANTGCTTGCTG CCACCCACTTTGAGTTCCATANAAAGCCCCCCGCGACTCTGCGTTGATACCACTGCT TNAGGGCGANNTCNCGNNCNNTAAATTCAATTCGCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTANTACA ATTCACTGGCNNNNNNNTTTTANN (SEQ ID NO:57)

B60-KL9 VB20.1 -CSARGDNPNTEAF-J 1.1 (SEQ ID NO:26)

NNNNNNNGGNNNCNNANTCGCCCTTANGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGTA AGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGGAGAGAAGGTGGTGTGAGGCCATCACGG

AAGATGCTGCTGCTTCTGCTGCTTCTGGGGCCAGGCTCCGGGCTTGGTGGTGTCGTC T CTCAACATCCGAGCTGGGTTATCTGTAAGAGTGGAACCTCTGTGAAGATCGAGTGCC GTTCCCTGGACTTTCAGGCCACAACTATGTTTTGGTATCGTCAGTTCCCGAAACAGA GTCTCATGCTGATGGCAACTTCCAATGAGGGCTCCAAGGCCACATACGAGCAAGGC GTCGAGAAGGACAAGTTTCTCATCAACCATGCAAGCCTGACCTTGTCCACTCTGACA GTGACCAGTGCCCATCCTGAAGACAGCAGCTTCTACATCTGCAGTGCTAGAGGGGA CAACCCGAACACTGAAGCTTTCTTTGGACAAGGCACCAGACTCACAGTTGTAGAGG ACCTGAACAAGGTGTTCCCACCCGAGGTCGCTGTGTTTGAGCCATCAGAAGCAGAG ATCTCCCACACCAAGGGCGAATγCGTTTAAACCTGCAGGACTAGTCCCTTTAGTGAG GGTTAATTCTGAGCTTGGCGTAATCATGGTCATANNNNNNTTTCCTNN (SEQ ID NO:58)

A2-AL9 alpha chain: Va5-CAETY-J36 (SEQ ID NO:6)

NNNNNNNNNNNNCGCCCTTATACACATCAGAATCCTTACTTTGTGACACATTTGTTT

GAGAATCAAAATCGGTGAATAGGCAGACAGACTTGTCACTGGATTTAGAGTCTCTC

AGCTGGTACACGGCAGGGTCAGGCTTCTGGATATAGGGAATAACGGTGAGTCTCGT TCCAGTCCCAAAGAAGAGGTTGTTTGCCCCAGTTTGATAAGTCTCTGCACAGAAGTA GATAGCTGAGTCCCCAGTCTGGGTGTCTGCAATGCGCAGAGACAGATGTTTATCCTT TγTATTCAATAGAACAGTGAGTCTTTGGTCTTGTTTCATGTCCATATTTGAGAAAATA TACGTCAGCAACTGGAGACCTGCTCCAGATTCTTGCTTATACCAGTATAAGTAGGTG GAGGAGCTGTCTGTGTAAGTGCAGTTTATAACGGAGCTGTCTCCCTCTCGGACACTC AGGAAAAGACTCTGCTCCACATCCTCTCCTCTACTCATACAGTCCAGCTGCAGCCAC AAAAACAGGAACGAAAATCCAGCAAATGTCTTCATTGTTCTCCCCACTGGGACCTGC CCCGCGTACTCTGCGTTGATACCACTGCTTAAGGGCGAATTCGCGGCCGCTAAATTC

AATTCGCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTACAATTCACTGNNNNNNNNTTTNNNNN (SEQ ID NO:59)

A2-AL9 beta chain: Vbl4-CASSQGVTLLN-J2.1 (SEQ ID NO:4)

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNCGCCCTTGGTGTGGGAGANCTCTGCTTCTGATGGCTCAAAC ACAGCGACCTCGGGTGGGAACACGTTTTTCAGGTCCTCTAGCACGGTGAGCCGTGTC CCTGGCCCGAAGAACTGCTCATTCAACAAAGTCACCCCTTGGCTGCTGGCACAGAA ATAAACTCCAGAATCCTCCAGTTCTGCAGGCTGCACCTTCAGAGTAGAATACGTCCC TCCAGTCCTTTCAGCTAAGAATCGATTGTTGGGCATACCGGACTCATCCTGTTTAGA CTCTTTCACAAAATGTAACAGAAATTTTATTTCTTTTCCCATAACACGTCGATACCAA TA AAG ATTATC ATGTCC AG A A ATTG GGTC AC ATCTCAGAGTCAC AGTCTGGCCCTTC TCTATTACGCTGTGGCTGGGGAACTGAGTAACTCCAGCTTCTATGTGCTAAGCATGA GAAAAAGGAAAGCAAATCTGTCTCTTGGCCCTGTAAGATGTGGCCTCCAGTGACATC AGTATATTAGCCAATGTCCACAGTCTCAGGAGCTCCCTCTACCCCGCGTACTCTGCG TTGATACCACTGCTTAAGGGCGAATTCGCGGCCGCTAAATTCAATTCGCCCTATAGT GAGTCGTATTACAATTCACTGGCN (SEQ ID NO:60)

B8-FL8 alpha chain: Val2.2-CAVRGSGTYKYI-J40 (SEQ ID NO:11)

NNNNGNNCNNANTCGCCCTTNAGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGGGAAGA ATGATGAAATCCTTGAGAGTTTTACTAGTGATCCTGTGGCTTCAGTTGAGCTGGGTTT GGAGCCAACAGAAGGAGGTGGAGCAGAATTCTGGACCCCTCAGTGTTCCAGAGGGA GCCATTGCCTCTCTCAACTGCACTTACAGTGACCGAGTTTCCCAGTCCTTCTTCTGGT ACAGACAATATTCTGGGAAAAGCCCTGAGTTGATAATGTCCATATACTCCAATGGTG ACAAAGAAGATGGAAGGTTTACAGCACAGCTCAATAAAGCCAGCCAGTATGTTTCT CTGCTCATCAGAGACTCCCAGCCCAGTGATTCAGCCACCTACCTCTGTGCCGTGCGA GGCTCAGGAACCTACAAATACATCTTTGGAACAGGCACCAGGCTGAAGGTTTTAGC AAATATCCNGAACCCTGACCCTGCCGTGTACCAGCTGAGAGACTCTAAATCCAGTG ACAAGTCTGTCTGCCTATTCACCGATTTTGATTCTCAAACAAATGTGTCACAAAGTA AGGATTCTGATGTGTATAANGGCGAATTCGTTTAAACCTGCAGGACTAGTCCCTTTA GTGAGGGTT AATTCTGANCTTGGCGTANTCATGG>πNlNNNNNT>mNNNTTNNN>fNNN (SEQ ID NO:61)

B8-FL8 beta chain: Vb 15-CATSRGAGSNTGELF- J2.2 (SEQ ID NO: 10)

NNNNNNNNCNNNNTCGCCCTTANGCAGTGGTATCACGCAGAGTCGCGGGGGAGACA GACAGATGCTTCATTCCTGCATGGGGTGGTATTCCTGCCATGGGTCCTGGGCTTCTCC ACTGGATGGCCCTTTGTCTCCTTGGAACAGGTCACGGGGATGCCATGGTCATCCAGA ACCCAAGATACCAGGTTACCCAGTTTGGAAAGCCAGTGACCCTGAGTTGTTCTCAGA CTTTGAACCATAACGTCATGTACTGGTACCAGCAGAAGTCAAGTCAGGCCCCAAAG CTGCTGTTCCACTACTATGACAAAGATTTTAACAATGAAGCAGACACCCCTGATAAC TTCCAATCCAGGAGGCCGAACACTTCTTTCTGCTTTCTTGACATCCGCTCACCAGGCC TGGGGGACGCAGCCATGTACCTGTGTGCCACCAGCAGAGGGGCAGGATCGAACACC GGGGAGCTGTTTTTTGGAGAAGGCTCTAGGCTGACCGTACTGGAGGACCTGAAAAA CGTGTTCCCACCCGAGGTCGCTGTGTTTGAGCCATCAGAAGCAGAGATCTCCCACAC CAAGGGCGAATTCGTTTAAACCTGCAGGACTAGTCCCTTTAGTGAGGGTTAATTCTG AGCTTGGCGTANTCATGGNNNNNNNNNTNTTTNCNNGN (SEQ ID NO:62)

A2-SL9: VaI 3.2-C AENSD AGGTS YGKLT-J52 (SEQ ID NO:9) NNNNNNNGNNNCNNANTCGCCCTNNAGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGGG ATGGCTGGAGATTGCAGGTTTATGACTGATCCTATTTGGGAAGAACAATGATGGCAG GCATTCGAGCTTTATTTATGTACTTGTGGCTGCAGCTGGACTGGGTGAGCAGAGGAG AGAGTGTGGGGCTGCATCTTCCTACCCTGAGTGTCCAGGAGGGTGACAACTCTATTA TCAACTGTGCTTATTCAAACAGCGCCTCANACTACTTCATTTGGTACAAGCAAGAAT CTGGAAAAGATCCTCAATTCATTATAGACATTCGTTCAAATATGGACAAAAGGCAA GGCCAAAGAGTCACCGTTTTATTGAATAAGACAGTGAAACATCTCTCTCTGCAAATT GCAGCTACTCAACCTGGAGACTCAGCTGTCTACTTTTGTGCAGAGAATTCTGATGCT GGTGGTACTAGCTATGGAAAGCTGACATTTGGACAAGGGACCATCTTGACTGTCCAT CCNAATATCCAGAAGCCTGACCCTGCCGTGTACCAGCTGAGAGACTCTAAATCCAGT GACAAGTCTGTCTGCCTATTCACCGATTTTGATTCTCAAACAAATGTGTCACAAAGT AAGGATTCTGATGTGTATAAGGGCGAATTCGTTTAAACCTGCAGGACTAGTCCCTTT AGTGAGGGTTAATTCTGAGCTTGGCGTATCATGTNNNNNN (SEQ ID NO:63) (SEQ ID NO:63)

A2-SL9: Vbl9-CASSIDGASNQPQH-J1.5 (SEQ ID NO: 7)

NNNNNNNNGNNNNCNANTTCGCCCTTCCCTTTGCACTATGAGCAACATTTGTTTCCT GGGAGCAAACACCGTGGATGGTGGAATCACTCAGTCCCCGAAGTACCTGTTCAGAA AGGAAGGACAGAATGTGACCCTGAGTTGTGAACAGAATTTGAACCACGATGCCATG TACTGGTACCGACAGGACCCAGGGCAAGGGCTGAGATTGATCTACTACTCACAGAT AGTAAATGACTTTCAGAAAGGAGGTATAGCTGAAGGGTACAGCGTCTCTCGGGAGA AGAAGGAATCCTTTCCTCTCACTGTGACATCGGCCCAAAAGAACCCGACAGCTTTCT ATCTCTGTGCCAGTAGTATAGATGGCGCTAGCAATCAGCCCCAGCATTTTGGTGATG GGACTCGACTCTCCATCCTAGAGGACCTGAACAAGGTGTTCCCACCCGAGGTCGCTG TGTTTGAGCCATCAGAAGCAGAGATCTCCCACACCAAGGGCGAATTCGTTTAAACCT GCAGGACTAGTCCCTTTAGTGAGGGTTAATTCTGAGCTTGGCGTAATCATGGTCATA NNNNNTTNNNNN (SEQ ID NO:64) B8-FL8: Vb27-CASSLGQGLANYG YT-Jl .2 (SEQ ID NO: 1)

NNNNNNNNNNNNTNNNNNNGTCCTCTACNACGGTTAACCTGGTCCCCGAACCGAAG

GTGTAGCCATAGTTAGCTAAGCCCTGCCCTAAACTGCTGGCACAGAAGTACGGAGA

GGTCTGGTTGGGGCTGGGCGACTCCAGGATCAGGGGGAAATTCCTCTTCTCTTTTCG AGAGACTTTGTACCCTTCAGGAACACCTCCCTTATCAGTCACCTCAACATTCATTGA ATAGTAGATCTGCCTTAAGCCCAGCCCTGGGTCTTGTCGATACCAGGACATATACTC ATGGTTCATATTCTGAGAACAAGTCACTGTTAACTTCTTTCCAGTCACTGTGATGAG GTATCTTGGGTTCTGGGTCACTTGGGCTTCCAGGGGGCCTGCTCCTAGAAGGCAAAG GACCACATAGCCAAGGAGCTGGGGGCCCATGGCAGCATCAGGCAGGTGTCTGCCAG TTCTGGGGGCTCCAGGTGGTTTCTGTAACGTCTCCACCTCTTCCCCCGCGTACTCTGC GTTGATACCACTGCNNNCNCTGCGTTGANACNNCTGNNN (SEQ ID NO:65)

B8-FL8: Va3-CAVRDLTGNQFY-J49 (SEQ ID NO: 3)

GACCCCCCNNNNNNCGCCCGCCGNGAGCTTANNTGGAGCCATGGCCTCTGCACCCA TCTCGATGCTTGCGATGCTCTTCACATTGAGTGGGCTGAGAGCTCAGTCAGTGGCTC AGCCGGAAGATCAGGTCAACGTTGCTGAAGGGAATCCTCTGACTGTGAAATGCACC TATTCAGTCTCTGGAAACCCTTATCTTTTTTGGTATGTTCAATACCCCAACCGAGGCC TCCAGTTCCTTCTGAAATACATCACAGGGGATAACCTGGTTAAAGGCAGCTATGGCT TTGAAGCTGAATTTAACAAGAGCCAAACCTCCTTCCACCTGAANAAACCATCTGCCC TTGTGAGCGACTCCGCTTTGTACTTCTGTGCTGTGAGAGACCTCACCGGTAACCAGT TCTATTTTGGGACAGGGACAAGTTTGACGGTCATTCCAAATATCCAGAACCCTGACC CTGCCGTGTACCAGCTGANAGACTCTAAATCCAGTGACAAGTCTGTCTGCCTATTCA CCGATTTTGATTCTCAAACAAATGTGTCACAAANNNNN (SEQ ID NO:66)

B57-TW10 Val9-CALSGNHSGGATNKLI-J32 (SEQ ID NO:12)

NNNGGNCGCNNATTCGCCCTTAAGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGGGCAGT AACTTTGCTAGTACCTCTTGAGTGCAAGGTGGAGAATTAAGATCTGGATTTGAGACG GAGCACGGAACATTTCACTCAGGGGAAGAGCTATGAACATGCTGACTGCCAGCCTG TTGAGGGCAGTCATAGCCTCCATCTGTGTTGTATCCAGCATGGCTCAGAAGGTAACT CAAGCGCAGACTGAAATTTCTGTGGTGGAGAAGGAGGATGTGACCTTGGACTGTGT GTATGAAACCCGTGATACTACTTATTACTTATTCTGGTACAAGCAACCACCAAGTGG AGAATTGGTTTTCCTTATTCGTCGGAACTCTTTTGATGAGCAAAATGAAATAAGTGG TCGGTATTCTTGGAACTTCCAGAAATCCACCAGTTCCTTCAACTTCACCATCACAGC CTCACAAGTCGTGGACTCAGCAGTATACTTCTGTGCTCTGAGTGGAAATCACTCAGG TGGTGCTACAAACAAGCTCATCTTTGGAACTGGCACTCTGCTTGCTGTCCGGCCAAA TATCCAGAACCCTGACCCTGCCGTGTACCAGCTGAGAGACTCTAAATCCAGTGACAA GTCTGTCTGCCTATTCACCGATTTTGATTCTCAAACAAATGTGTCACAAAGTAAGGA TTCTGATGTGTATAANGGCGAATTCGTTTAAACCTGCANGGACTAGTCCCTTTAGTG AGGGNTAATTCTGANCTNGNCGNNATCNNNNNNN^fNNNNNNNN^^^^INNNNNNN (SEQ ID NO:67)

B57-TW10

VMJ-CASSPWTGGGQPQH-JI.5 (SEQ ID NO: 14)

NNNNNNNGNNNNCNNNTTCGCCCTTANGCAGTGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGGAA GCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGGAAGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCG GGAAGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGGAAGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTA CGCGGGAAGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGGGGTCATAACGCTATGTATTG GTACAAGCAAAGTGCTAAGAAGCCACTGGAGCTCATGTTTGTCTACAGTCTTGAAGA ACGGGTTGAAAACAACAGTGTGCCAAGTCGCTTCTCACCTGAATGCCCCAACAGCTC TCACTTATTCCTTCACCTACACACCCTGCAGCCAGAAGACTCGGCCCTGTATCTCTGC GCCAGCAGCCCGTGGACAGGGGGCGGCCAGCCCCAGCATTTTGGTGATGGGACTCG ACTCTCCATCCTAGAGGACCTGAACAAGGTGTTCCCACCCGAGGTCGCTGTGGTTGA GCCATCAGAAGCGAGATCTCCCACACCAAGGGCGAATTCGTTTAAACCTGCAGGAC TAGTCCCTTTAGTGAGGGTTAATTCTGAGCTTGGCGTAATCATGGTCNTAGNNNNGT TTCCNGA (SEQ ID NO:68)

B57-KF11

Va5-CAASGGYQKVTFGTGTKLQVIP (SEQ ID NO: 15)

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNTCNCCCTTNNNCNGNGGTNNCNNCGCNNAGNANNCGGGGGA AGANATACTTGNNNNTATNGCTCTCTTGGCTGGAGATTGCAGGTCCCAGTGGGGAG AACAATGAAGACATITGCTGGATITTCGTTCCTGTTTTTGTGGCTGCAGCTGGACTGT ATGAGTAGAGGAGAGGATGTGGAGCAGAGTCTTTTCCTGAGTGTCCGAGAGGGAGA CAGCTCCGTTATAAACTGCACTTACACAGACAGCTCCTCCACCTACTTATACTGGTA TAAGCAAGAACCTGGAGCAGGTCTCCAGTTGCTGACGTATATTTTTTCAAATATGGA CATGAAACAAGACCAAAGACTCACTGTTCTATTGAATAAAAAGGATAAACATCTGT CTCTGCGCATTGCAGACACCCAGACTGGGGACTCAGCTATCTACTTCTGTGCAGCTT CTGGGGGTTACCAGAAAGTTACCTTTGGAACTGGAACAAAGCTCCAAGTCATCCCA AATATCCAGAAGCCTGACCCTGCCGTGTACCAGCTGAGAGACTCTAAATCCAGTGA CAAGTCTGTCTGCCTATTCACCGATTTTGATTCTCAAACAAATGTGTCACAAAGTAA GGATTCTGATGTGTATATCACAGACAAAACTGTCCATAGACCTCATGTCTAGCACAG TTTTGTCTGTGATCCCGCGTACTCTGCGTTGATACCACTGCTTANNNGNCGAATTCGT TTAAACCTGCNNNACTAGTCCCTTTANTGAGGGTTAATTCTGANCTTGNNGTAATCN TGGNNNNNNCNNNNNNTTTNCCNGNNNNN (SEQ ID NO:69) B57-KF11

Vb 19-CASTGTYG YT-Jl.2 (SEQ ID NO: 16)

NNNNNNNNNCNCNNANTCGCCCTTAAGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGGGA CATTAGGCCAGGAGAAGCCCCCGAGCCAAGTCTCTTTTCTCATTCTCTTCCAACAAG TGCTTGGAGCTCCAAGAAGGCCCCCTTTGCACTATGAGCAACCAGGTGCTCTGCTGT GTGGTCCTTTGTCTCCTGGGAGCAAACACCGTGGATGGTGGAATCACTCAGTCCCCA AAGTACCTGTTCAGAAAGGAAGGACAGAATGTGACCCTGAGTTGTGAACAGAATTT GAACCACGATGCCATGTACTGGTACCGACAGGACCCAGGGCAAGGGCTGAGATCGA TCTACTACTCACAGATAGTAAATGACTTTCAGAAAGGAGATATAGCTGAAGGGTAC AGCGTCTCTCGGGAGAAGAAGGAATCCTTTCCTCTCACTGTGACATCGGCCCAAAAG AACCCGACAGCTTTCTATCTCTGTGCCAGTACCGGGACTTATGGCTACACCTTCGGTT CGGGGACCAGGTTAACCGTTGTAGAGGACCTGAACAAGGTGTTCCCACCCGAGGTC GCTGTGTTTGAGCCATCAGAAGCAGAGATCTCCCACACCAAGGGCGAATTCGTTTAA ACCTGCAGGACTAGTCCCTTTAGTGAGGGTTAATTCTGAGCTTGGCGTANTCATGGT CNNNNNNTNNNTTNCCNGNN (SEQ ID NO:70)

B60-SL9

Val2.3-CAMSAQQAGTALI-J15 (SEQ ID NO: 18) NNNNNNNGNNNNCNNNTCGCCCTTNAGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGGG AGGACAGATTTCTTTTATGATTCCTACAGCAGAAAAATGAGAAACGTTTGTTATTAT TTTTTTTTCGTGTTTAAAGTTTGAATCCTCAGTGAACCAGGGCAGAAAAGAATGATG AAATCCTTGAGAGTTTTACTGGTGATCCTGTGGCTTCAGTTAAGCTGGGTTTGGAGC CAACAGAAGGAGGTGGAGCAGGATCCTGGACCACTCAGTGTTCCAGAGGGAGCCAT TGTTTCTCTCAACTGCACTTACAGCAACAGTGCTTTTCAATACTTCATGTGGTACAGA CAGTATTCCAGAAAAGGCCCTGAGTTGCTGATGTACACATACTCCAGTGGTAACAAA GAAGATGGAAGGTTTACAGCACAGGTCGATAAATCCAGCAAGTATATCTCCTTGTTC ATCAGAGACTCACAGCCCAGTGATTCAGCCACCTACCTCTGTGCAATGAGCGCGCA

ACAGGCAGGAACTGCTCTGATCTTTGGGAAGGGAACCACCTTATCAGTGAGTTCCAA TATCCAGAACCCTGACCCTGCCGTGTACCAGCTGAGAGACTCTAAATCCAGTGACAA GTCTGTCTGCCTATTCACCGATTTTGANTCTCAAACAAATGTGTCACAAAGTAAGGA TTCTGATGTGTATAANGGCGAATTCGTTTAAACCTGCAGGACTAGTCCCTTTAGTGA GGGTTAATTCTGAGCTTGGCGNNATCNNNNNNAANNNTNTTTTNNNNNNNNN (SEQ ID NO:71)

B60-SL9 Vbl l.2

VbI 1.2-C ASSLVIMSEQ Y- J2.7 (SEQ ID NO:20)

NNNNNNNNGNNNCNNNTCGCCCTTGGTGTGGGAGANCTCTGCTTCTGATGGCTCAA ACACAGCGACCTCGGGTGGGAACACGTTTTTCAGGTCCTCTGTGACCGTGAGCCTGG TGCCCGGCCCGAAGTACTGCTCGCTCATGGTGACTAAGCTGCTGGCACAGAGATAC ACGGCCGAGTCCTCAAGCTTTGCAGGCTGGATCTTGAGAGTGGAGTCTACTCCTTTG AGCCTCTCTGCAGAAAATCGATCCTTAGGCAACTGTGAATCATCCACTACACCGTTA TTCTGAAACTGAATCAGAAGCTTTGGGCCCTGTCCCAGGATCTGCTGGTACCAGTAA AGGGTAGCATGGCCAGATATAGGATTGCACCAAAAAGCCACACTCTGCCTTTTCTCT ATAATCTTATATCTGGGAGACTGGGCAACTCCAGCTTCTGTGAGTTCTGCTCCCAGG AGACAGAGGGCCGCCCAGCAGAGGAGCCTGGTGCCCATGGCAGGGTCAGGGAAGG ATGGGAGCTTTGCCCAATCAAGGTCACTGTGAGCAACAGCCCCCGCGTACTCTGCGT TGATACCACTGCTTAAGGGCGAATTCGTTTAAACCTGCAGGACTAGTCCCTTTAGTG AGGGTTAATTCTGAGCTTGGCGTNNTCATGGTNNNNNNNNNTTTNCCNNNN (SEQ ID NO:72) A3/A11 OKlO

Vb27-CASSVRTGELF-J2.2 (SEQ ID NO:30)

NNNNNNNNNNN A NTCGCCCTTGGTGTGGGAG ANCTCTGCTTCTGATGGCTC AAAC A

CAGCGACCTCGGGTGGGAACACGnTTTCAGGTCCTCCAGTACGGTCAGCCTAGAGC CTTCTCCAAAAAACAGCTCCCCGGTCCGTACGCTGCTGGCACAGAAGTACAGAGAG GTCTGGTTGGGGCTCGGCGACTCCAGGATCAGGGGGAAATTCCTCTTCTCTTTTCGA GAGACTTTGTACCCTTCAGGAACATCTCCCTTATCAGTCACCTCAACATTCATTGAAT AGTAGATCTGCCTTAAGCCCAGCCCTGGGTCTTGNTGNNACCAGAACAGAATTCGA GAAGGGCGAATTCGCGGCCGCTAAATTCAATTCGCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTACAA TTCACTGGCCGNNNTTTTANNN (SEQ ID NO:73)

Vb9-CASSERDSQYQETQY-J2.5 (SEQ ID NO:33)

NNNNNNNNNNNNNTCGCCCTTGGTGTGGGAGANCTCTGCTTCTGATGGCTCAAACA

CAGCGACCTCGGGTGGGAACACGTTTTTCAGGTCCTCGAGCACCAGGAGCCGCGTG CCTGGCCCGAAGTACTGGGTCTCTTGGTACTGACTGTCCCTCTCGCTGCTGGCACAG AAATACAAAGCTGAGTCCCCCAGCTCCAGAGAGCTCAGGTTTAGTTCAGAGTGCAA GTCAGGGAACTGTTGTGCGGAGAATCGTTCAAGAATGTTTCCTTTTGCTCTCTCTTCT CCATTATAATACTGAATGAGGAACTGGAGGCCCTGGTCCAGGCTCTGATGGTACCAN NACAGAATTCGAGAAGGGCGAATTCGCGGCCGCTAAATTCAATTCGCCCTATAGTG AGTCGTATTACAATTCACTGGCCGNNCGTTTTANAN (SEQ ID NO:74)

Va29-CAASFTQNGLT-J45 (SEQ ID NO:34)

NNNNNNNNNNNNANTCGCCCTTANCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGGGGGA CATGAATAAAGCACAGGAGGTTGAAGTCAGATTTGCAGCTTTCTAGGCGGGAGACA AGACAATCTGCATCTTCACAGGGGGGATGGCCATGCTCCTGGGGGCATCAGTGCTG ATTCTGTGGCTTCAGCCAGACTGGGTAAACAGTCAACAGAAGAATGATGACCAGCA AGTTAAGCAAAATTCACCATCCCTGAGCGTCCAGGAAGGAAGAATTTCTATTCTGAA CTGTGACTATACTAACAGCATGTTTGATTATTTCCTATGGTACAAAAAATACCCTGCT GAAGGTCCTACATTCCTGATATCTATAAGTTCCATTGAGGATAAAAATGAAGATGGA AGATTCACTGTCTTCTTAAACAAAAGTGCCAAGCACCTCTCTCTGCACATTGTGCCCT CCCAGCCTGGAGACTCTGCAGTGTACTTCTGTGCAGCAAGCTTCACGCAGAACGGAC TCACCTTTGGCAAAGGGACTCATCTAATCATCCAGCCCTATATCCAGAACCCTGACC CTGCCGTGTACCAGCTGAGAGACTCTAACTCCAGTGACAAGTCTGTCTGCCTATTCA CCGATTTTGATTCTCAAACAAATGTGTCACAAAGTAAGGATTCTGATGTGTATAANG NCGAATTCGCGGCCGCTAAATTCAATTCGCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTACAATTCAC TGNNNNNCNNNNTTTNN (SEQ ID NO:75)

A3/A11 OK10

Vbl4-CASSPVLYEQY-J2.7 (SEQ ID NO:35) NNNNNNNNNNNNNCGCCCTTGGTGTGGGANANCTCTGCTTCTGATGGCTCAAACAC AGCGACCTCGGGTGGGAACACGTTTTTCAGGTCCTCTGTGACCGTGAGCCTGGTGCC CGGCCCGAAGTACTGCTCGTATAGAACGGGGCTGCTGGCACAGAAATAAACTCCAG AATCCTCCAGTTCTGCAGGCTGCACCTTCAGAGTAGAATACGTCCCTCCAGTCCTTT CAGCTAAGAATCGATTGTTGGGCATACCGGACTCATCCTGTTTAGACTCTTTCACAA AATGTAACAGAAATTTTATTTCTTTTCCCATAACATGTCGATACCAGTACAGAATTC GAGAAGGGCGAATTCGCGGCCGCTAAATTCAATTCGCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTAC AATTCACTGGCCGNCGTTTTNNNN (SEQ ID NO:76)

Vb9-CASSARAFPEGNQPQH-J1.5 (SEQ ID NO:37) NNNNNTNNNNNNNATTCGCCCTTGGTGTGGGANANCTCTGCTTCTGANGGCTCAAA CACAGCGACCTCGGGTGGGAACACCTTGTTCAGGTCCTCTAGGATGGAGAGTCGAG TCCCATCACCAAAATGCTGGGGCTGATTGCCCTCTGGGAAGGCCCGGGCGCTGCTGG CACAGAAATACAAAGCTGAGTCCCCCAGCTCCAGAGAGCTCAGGTTTAGTTCAGAG TGCAAGTCAGGGAACTGTTGTGCGGAGAATCGTTCAAGAATGTTTCCTTTTGCTCTC TCTTCTCCATTATAATAGTGAATGAGGAACTGGAGGCCCTGGTCCAGGCTCTGACGG TACCAGTACAGAATTCGAGAAGGGCGAATTCGCGGCCGCTAAATTCAATTCGCCCTA TAGTGAGTCGTATTACAATTCACTGGCCGTCGTTTTANAN (SEQ ID NO:77)

Va39-CAVVAQGGSEKLV-J57 (SEQ ID NO:38) NNNNNTNNNNNNNATTCGCCCTTGGTGTGGGANANCTCTGCTTCTGANGGCTCAAA CACAGCGACCTCGGGTGGGAACACCTTGTTCAGGTCCTCTAGGATGGAGAGTCGAG TCCCATCACCAAAATGCTGGGGCTGATTGCCCTCTGGGAAGGCCCGGGCGCTGCTGG CACAGAAATACAAAGCTGAGTCCCCCAGCTCCAGAGAGCTCAGGTTTAGTTCAGAG TGCAAGTCAGGGAACTGTTGTGCGGAGAATCGTTCAAGAATGTTTCCTTTTGCTCTC TCTTCTCCATTATAATAGTGAATGAGGAACTGGAGGCCCTGGTCCAGGCTCTGACGG TACCAGTACAGAATTCGAGAAGGGCGAATTCGCGGCCGCTAAATTCAATTCGCCCTA TAGTGAGTCGTATTACAATTCACTGGCCGTCGTTTTANAN (SEQ ID NO:78)

A3 OKlO

Vb 10.2-C ASSETNR VMEAF-J 1.1 (SEQ ID NO:39)

NNNNNNNNANNNNTTCGCCCTTGGTGTGGGAGNNCTCTGCTTCTGATGGCTCAAAC ACAGCGACCTCGGGTGGGAACACCTTGTTCAGGTCCTCTACAACTGTGAGTCTGGTG CCTTGTCCAAAGAAAGCTTCCATTACCCTGTTTGTTTCACTGCTGGCGCAGAAATAC ACAGATGTCTGGGAGCGGGTAGCTGACTCCAGAGTGAGGGGGAAATTCTCTGTCTT GGATCTGGAGACAACATAGCCATCGGGGACTTCTCCTTTATCTGTAATATCAGCAGC TGCTGAGTAATAGATCAGCCTCAGCCCATGTCCCAGGTCTTGACGGTACCAGAACAG AATTCGAGAAGGGCGAATTCGCGGCCGCTAAATTCAATTCGCCCTATAGTGAGTCGT ATTACAATTCACTGGCCGTCGTTTTACN (SEQ ID NO:79)

Vb24-CATSAGRQRDTGELF-J2.2 (SEQ ID NO:41) NNNNNNNNNNNNTCGCCCTTGGTGTGGGANNNCTCTGCTTCTGATGGCTCAAACAC AGCGACCTCGGGTGGGAACACGTTTTTCAGGTCCTCCAGTACGGTCAGCCTAGAGCC TTCTCCAAAAAACAGCTCCCCGGTGTCTCGCTGCCTCCCGGCACTGGTGGCACAGAA GTAAAGAGCTGTCTGGTTGGGGATGGCAGACTCTAGGGACAGGGAGAATTTAGCCT GTGCCTGTCGAGAGACACTGTATCCATCAGAGATCTCTCCTTTGTTTATATCTTTGAC ATCAAAGGAGTAATAGATCAACTGTAGGCCCAGTCCTGGGTCTTGATGGTACCAATA CAGAATTCGAGAAGGGCGAATTCGCGGCCGCTAAATTCAATTCGCCCTATAGTGAGT CGTATTACAATTCACTGGCCGTCGTTTTANNN (SEQ ID NO:80)

Va8.6-CAVSDPGFKTI-J9 (SEQ ID NO:40) NNNNNNNNNNNNNANNNTCGCCCTTATACNCATCAGAATCCTTACTTTGTGACACA TTTGTTTGAGAATCAAAATCGGTGAATAGGCAGACAGACTTGTCACTGGATTTAGAG TCTCTCAGCTGGTACACGGCAGGGTCAGGGTTCTGGATATTTGCTTTAACAAATAGT CTTGTTCCTGCTCCAAAGATAGTTTTGAAGCCTGGATCACTCACAGCACAGAAGTAC TCAGCCGTGTCGCTTATATGGACTGAGGGTTTCCTCAAGTGGAAGGAAGTTTGACTC TTGTTAAATTCAGCCTCAAAACCGTTGATGCCTTTAACCAGGGTGGATCCTGATAAA TACTTCAGGAGAAGCTGGAGTCCTTGGTTGGGGTATTGCACATACCAGAAGAGATA CACTGAAACAGACGATGAGTAGTTGCACCTCAGCACCACAGGGGCTTCTTCAAAGA CAGGGACTTGGCTGTCAAGCTGGGTCACAGGCTGGGCTCTGGTTCCTCCCCGGGTAA AAATCACCTGGAACGCTGGGACGAGCAGCAGGAGCATGGCTGAGCAGTGGCAATGC TGCAGGACCTTGAGCTGGGCGGACAGAAGCCAAGGGCGCTGAGCCTCAGGAGCTAG GAACTGTGAGGAGGTTGGATTGGACAAGTCCCTGGCTTTGAAAAGTTTCAGAAACA GCCCCGCGTACTCCCCGCGTACTCTGCGTTGATACCACTGCTTAAGGGCGAATTCGC GGCCGCTAAATTCAATTCGCCCTATAGTGAGTCNNATTACAATTCACTGGCNN (SEQ ID NO:81)

B27-KK10

Va5-CAEDPTSSSGYALN-J4 (SEQ ID NO: 84)

NNNNNNNNGGNNNCNNNTCGCCCTTAAGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGG GCAGGTCCCAGTGGGGAGAACAATGAAGACATTTGCTGGATTTTCGTTCCTGTTTTT GTGGCTGCAGCTGGACTGTATGAGTAGAGGAGAGGATGTGGAGCAGAGTCTTTTCC TGAGTGTCCGAGAGGGAGACAGCTCCGTTATAAACTGCACTTACACAGACAGCTCCT CCACCTACTTATACTGGTATAAGCAAGAACCTGGAGCAGGTCTCCAGTTGCTGACGT

ATATTTTTTCAAATATGGACATGGAACAAGACCAAAGACTCACTGTTCTATTGAATA AAAAGGATAAACATCTGTCTCTGCGCATTGCAGACACCCAGACTGGGGACTCAGCT ATCTACTTCTGTGCAGAGGATCCCACCTCAAGTTCCGGGTATGCACCCAACTTCGGC AAAGGCACCTCGCTGTTGGTCACACCCCATATCCAGAACCCTGACCCTGCCGTGTAC CAGCTGAGAGACTCTAAATCCAGTGACAAGTCTGTCTGCCTATTCACCGATTTTGAT TCTCAAACAAATGTGTCACAAAGTAAGGATTCTGATGTGTATAAGGGCGAATTCGTT TAAACCTGCAGGACTAGTCCCTTTAGTGAGGGTTAATTCTGAGCTTGGCGTAATCNT NNNNNNNNNNNTTTTNNNNNNN (SEQ ID NO:85)

Vb7.9-CASSSPKDPSNQPQH-Jl .5 (SEQ ID NO: 82)

NNNNNNNNNNNNGCNNNTCGCCCTTNAGCAGTGGTATCAACGCAGAGTACGCGGG GGATCTGGTAAAGCTCCCATCCTGCCCTGACCCTGCCATGGGCACCAGCCTCCTCTG CTGGATGGCCCTGTGTCTCCTGGGGGCAGATCACGCAGATACTGGAGTCTCCCAGAA CCCCAGACACAAGATCACAAAGAGGGGACAGAATGTAACTTTCAGGTGTGATCCAA TTTCTGAACACAACCGCCTTTATTGGTACCGACAGACCCTGGGGCAGGGCCCAGAGT TTCTGACTTACTTCCAGAATGAAGCTCAACTAGAAAAATCAAGGCTGCTCAGTGATC GGTTCTCTGCAGAGAGGCCTAAGGGATCTTTCTCCACCTTGGAGATCCAGCGCACAG AGCAGGGGGACTCGGCCATGTATCTCTGTGCCAGCAGCAGTCCCAAAGATCCTAGC AATCAGCCCCAGCATTTTGGTGATGGGACTCGACTCTCCATCCTAGAGGACCTGAAC AAGGTGTTCCCACCCGAGGTCGCTGTGTTTGAGCCATCAGAAGCAGAGATCTCCCAC ACCAAGGGCGAATTCGTTTAAACCTGCAGGACTAGTCCCTTTAGTGAGGGTTAATTC TG AGCTTGGCGTA ATCNNNNNNNNNNNNTTTTTNNNNNNNN (SEQ ID NO: 86)

Pathogen-specific soluble TCR constructs Molecular compounds that specifically recognize HIV-I cytotoxic T cell epitopes bound to MHC class I molecules on the surface of HIV-I infected cells are powerful tools for the direct targeting of infected cells for /;/ vivo immunotherapeutic approaches. Moreover, these compounds are used for the diagnostic ex vivo assessment of HIV-I antigen presented on lymphocytes or professional antigen presenting cells during natural infection. Soluble, single chain α/β T cell receptor constructs that specifically bind to cognate MHC complexes represent the most promising molecules for the direct ex vivo or in vivo targeting of HIV-I infected cells. The amino acid sequences of soluble TCRs recognizing a specific pathogen is based on the sequences of naturally-occurring TCRs. Prior to this disclosure, only very limited information was available on the TCR sequences of naturally occurring TCRs specific for HIV-I or HCV epitopes. The data described herein elucidates sequences for HIV-I or HCV-specific TCR genes that are used for the construction of soluble TCRs for diagnostic and therapeutic use.

Presently, recombinant HIV-I -specific antibodies are available for the direct targeting of HIV-I infected cells. One drawback of the antibody approach is that only the envelope of the

HIV-I virus is accessible for HIV-I antibodies, while the functionally most important HIV proteins are hidden inside the envelope and only accessible to the immune system after intracellular processing and presentation by MHC class I or II molecules. Once presented by MHC molecules, these HIV gene products are recognized by TCRs, but not by antibodies. HIV-I antibodies therefore only allow for a very limited targeting of HIV-I infected cells. The compositions described herein provide a solution to this problem.

The soluble TCRs, which are specific for HIVl or HCV have significant advantages over existing approaches

The complete sequences of TCR alpha and beta chains of naturally-occurring HIV-I- specific CD8+ T cell clones have been identified. These TCR sequences of HIV-I or HCV- specific CD8+ T cells have been identified to date.

The TCR sequences are useful for the production of recombinant single chain TCR that are able to specifically recognize HIV-I infected cells. These recombinant TCR are practically used for (i) the in vivo targeting of HIV-I infected cells in immunotherapeutic approaches, (ii) the ex vivo assessment of HIV-I antigen expression on lymphocytes or professional antigen presenting cells. The quantitative analysis of HIV-I antigen expression is important in studies on HIV-I immunopathogenesis and are useful for the ex vivo monitoring of immunotherapeutic treatment approaches.

Currently, treatment of HIV-I infected patients is based on the use of antiretroviral drugs. These drugs are very effective, but have cumulative toxicity, are associated with high pill burdens and can lead to viral resistance. Therefore, there is a continuing need for other treatment options for these patients. Immunotherapeutic treatment approaches with soluble TCRs represent an alternative treatment option for the HIV-I or HCV infected patient population. In addition, the TCR are used for the ex vivo assessment of HIV-I antigen expression.

Methods of Diagnosis

Soluble TCRs are used to analyze HLA class I-mediated presentation of cytotoxic T cell epitope presentation on professional antigen presenting cells. For example, a sample of bodily fluid, e.g., blood, or bodily tissue, e.g., lymph node, is obtained from a subject. Leukocytes from the sample are contacted with single chain TCRs described herein. To increase sensitivity, four single chain TCR constructs linked together, e.g., with a central streptavidin to form a tetrameric complex. The construct is linked to a detectable marker, e.g., it is labeled with a fluorescence fluorophore. Detectable markers include fluorochromes such as Phycoerythrin (PE), Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and Allophycocyanin (APC). Detection is carried out by flow cytometry and/or tissue staining (immunohistochemistry). In another example, a plurality of TCR constructs are immobilized in a microarray, e.g., a chip or plate, and a patient-derived sample is allowed to contact the array, the array is washed, and bound cells detected. In this manner, the peptide expressed or presented on the antigen presenting cell of a patient is determined. Thus, soluble TCRs are also useful as a research tool for the ex vivo assessment and quantification of HIV-I or HCV CTL epitope presentation. They are useful tools for identifying patients who express specific HIV-I or HCV CTL epitopes, and are therefore promising candidates for immunotherapeutic interventions described herein.

Methods of Therapy

To treat patients infected with HCV or HIV, one or a mixture of soluble single chain TCR constructs are administered. The TCRs are conjugated to a second composition such as a cytokine, such as interleukin-2, interferon-gamma, interferon-alpha or cytotoxic reagents, such as perforin, granzyme or specific drugs. For treatment of HCV, the soluble single chain HCV- specific TCR is optionally conjugated or linked to an interferon such as interferon-alpha. One advantage of such a construct is increased half-life and the antigen-specific delivery of these reagents directly to infected cells. This therapeutic strategy reduces the overall drug dose, the dosing frequency, and the treatment-associated side effects.

A TCR construct is selected based on the genetic characteristics (e.g., prevalence of particular HLA type) of the target population. For example, a pool of soluble TCRs are used that recognize a repertoire of cytotoxic T cell epitopes that a restricted by the most frequently- occurring HLA class I molecules in a specific population. Alternatively, the HLA type of one

particular patient is determined and one or more HLA specific TCRs are selected for administration based on the HLA type of the patient.

Parenteral administration, such as intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intraperitoneal delivery routes, may be used to deliver soluble TCR constructs. For instance, soluble TCR have been intravenously injected into mice at a dose of 32μg per animal.

Determination of patient doses is carried using methods wells known in the art.

The compositions are administered to inhibit a viral pathogen. Determination of the proper dosage and administration regime for a particular situation is within the skill of the art.

An effective amount of a therapeutic compound is preferably from about 0.1 mg/kg to about 150 mg/kg. Effective doses vary, as recognized by those skilled in the art, depending on route of administration, excipient usage, and coadministration with other therapeutic treatments including use of other agents or therapeutic agents. A therapeutic regimen is carried out by identifying a mammal, e.g., a human patient suffering from (or at risk of developing) infection by a viral pathogen, using standard methods. The pharmaceutical compound is administered to such an individual using methods known in the art. Preferably, the compound is administered orally, rectally, nasally, topically or parenterally, e.g., subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, intrathecally, intramuscularly, and intravenously.

Other Embodiments While the invention has been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims.