Immune responses using compositions containing stress proteins

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vaccine for inducing an immune response to an antigen in a vertebrate (e.g., mammal) comprising an antigen and all or a portion of a stress protein or all or a portion of a protein having an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to the amino acid sequence of the stress protein to induce the immune response against the antigen. In a particular embodiment, the present invention relates to vaccines and compositions which induce a CTL response in a mammal comprising an antigen and all or a portion of a stress protein. In another embodiment, the invention relates to vaccines and compositions which induce an immune response to an influenza virus in a mammal comprising an antigen of the influenza virus and all or a portion of one or more stress proteins. The invention also relates to vaccines and compositions for inducing a CTL response to a tumor-associated antigen comprising a tumor-associated antigen and all or a portion of the stress protein. The invention also relates to vaccines and composition for suppressing allergic immune responses to allergens comprising an allergen and all or a portion of a stress protein.

1 - 5 . (canceled)  
     
     
         6 . A vaccine for inducing a cell-mediated cytolytic immune response against an antigen in a mammal comprising a polynucleotide which encodes and directs expression of an antigen and a stress protein sequence in the mammal.  
     
     
         7 . The vaccine of  claim 6  wherein the antigen and the stress protein are expressed as a fusion protein.  
     
     
         8 . The vaccine of  claim 6  wherein the stress protein sequences are from a mycobacterial stress protein or a protein having an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to the amino acid sequence of the mycobacterial stress protein to induce the immune response to the antigen in the mammal to whom it is administered.  
     
     
         9 . The vaccine of  claim 6  wherein the stress protein is selected from the group consisting of: hsp65 and hsp71.  
     
     
         10 . A vaccine for inducing a cell-mediated cytolytic immune response against an antigen of an influenza virus in a mammal comprising a polynucleotide which directs expression of the antigen of the influenza virus and a stress protein in the mammal.  
     
     
         11 . The vaccine of  claim 10  wherein the stress protein is a mycobacterial stress protein or a protein having an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to the amino acid sequence of the mycobacterial stress protein to induce the immune response to the antigen in the mammal to whom it is administered.  
     
     
         12 . The vaccine of  claim 10  wherein the stress protein sequences are selected from the group consisting of: hsp65 and hsp71.  
     
     
         13 - 41 . (canceled)  
     
     
         42 . The vaccine of  claim 10  wherein the antigen of the influenza virus includes a cytolytic T cell epitope.  
     
     
         43 - 48 . (canceled)  
     
     
         49 . A vaccine for suppressing a Th2 response to an allergenic antigen in a mammal comprising the antigen and all or a portion of a stress protein or all or a portion of a protein having an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to the amino acid sequence of the stress protein to suppress the Th2 response to the antigen.  
     
     
         50 . A composition for suppressing a Th2 response to an allergenic antigen in a mammal comprising the antigen and all or a portion of a stress protein or all or a portion of a protein having an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to the amino acid sequence of the stress protein to suppress the Th2 response to the antigen.  
     
     
         51 . A conjugate for suppressing a Th2 response to an allergenic antigen in a mammal comprising the antigen and all or a portion of a stress protein or all or a portion of a protein having an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to the amino acid sequence of the stress protein to suppress the Th2 response to the antigen.  
     
     
         52 . A fusion protein for suppressing a Th2 response to an allergenic antigen in a mammal comprising the antigen and all or a portion of a stress protein or all or a portion of a protein having an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to the amino acid sequence of the stress protein to suppress the Th2 response to the antigen.