Vaccines and Methods for Using the Same

Abstract

Compositions comprising one or more isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode an immunogen in combination with one or more of CTACK protein, TECK protein, MEC protein and functional fragments thereof and/or an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes an protein selected from the group consisting of: CTACK, TECK, MEC and functional fragments thereof are disclosed. Methods of inducing an immune response, including methods of inducing mucosal immune responses, in an individual against an immunogen, using such compositions are disclosed.

1 . A composition comprising: an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes an immunogen; and an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes one or more proteins of selected from the group consisting of: CTACK, TECK, MEC and functional fragments thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said nucleic acid molecules are plasmids. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said immunogen is a pathogen antigen, a cancer-associated antigen or an antigen linked to cells associated with autoimmune diseases. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein said immunogen is a pathogen antigen. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein said immunogen is an HIV antigen. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein said HIV antigen is gag. 
     
     
         7 . A composition comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes an immunogen; and a nucleotide sequence that encodes one or more proteins of selected from the group consisting of: CTACK, TECK, MEC and functional fragments thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein said nucleic acid molecule is a plasmid. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein said immunogen is a pathogen antigen, a cancer-associated antigen or an antigen linked to cells associated with autoimmune diseases. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9  wherein said immunogen is a pathogen antigen. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein said immunogen is an HIV antigen. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11  wherein said HIV antigen is gag. 
     
     
         13 . An injectable pharmaceutical composition comprising the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A method of inducing an immune response in an individual against an immunogen comprising administering to said individual a composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said immune response is a mucosal immune response. 
     
     
         16 . A recombinant vaccine comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes an immunogen operably linked to regulatory elements, a nucleotide sequence that encodes one or more proteins of selected from the group consisting of: CTACK, TECK, MEC and functional fragments thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The recombinant vaccine of  claim 16  wherein said immunogen is a pathogen antigen, a cancer-associated antigen or an antigen linked to cells associated with autoimmune diseases. 
     
     
         18 . The recombinant vaccine of  claim 17  wherein said immunogen is a pathogen antigen. 
     
     
         19 . The recombinant vaccine of  claim 18  wherein said recombinant vaccine is a recombinant vaccinia vaccine. 
     
     
         20 . A method of inducing an immune response in an individual against an immunogen comprising administering to said individual a recombinant vaccine of  claim 17 . 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said immune response is a mucosal immune response. 
     
     
         22 . A live attenuated pathogen comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes one or more proteins of selected from the group consisting of: CTACK, TECK, MEC and functional fragments thereof. 
     
     
         23 . A method of immunizing an individual against a pathogen comprising administering to said individual the live attenuated pathogen of  claim 22 . 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said immune response is a mucosal immune response. 
     
     
         25 . A method of inducing an immune response in an individual against an immunogen comprising administering to said individual: one or more of CTACK protein, TECK protein, MEC protein and functional fragments thereof in combination with an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes an immunogen; and/or a recombinant vaccine that encodes an immunogen and/or a subunit vaccine that comprises an immunogen and/or a live attenuated vaccine and/or a killed vaccine. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes one or more proteins of selected from the group consisting of: CTACK, TECK, MEC and functional fragments thereof is administered to the individual. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said immunogen is a pathogen antigen, a cancer-associated antigen or an antigen linked to cells associated with autoimmune diseases. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said immunogen is a pathogen antigen. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said immunogen is an HIV antigen. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said HIV antigen is gag. 
     
     
         31 . The method of any one of  claim 24  wherein the immune response is a mucosal immune response. 
     
     
         32 . A composition comprising: one or more of CTACK protein, TECK protein, MEC protein and functional fragments thereof in combination with one or more of an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes an immunogen; a recombinant vaccine comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes an immunogen operably linked to regulatory elements; a live attenuated pathogen; and a killed pathogen. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 32  comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes an immunogen and/or a recombinant vaccine comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes an immunogen operably linked to regulatory elements; wherein said immunogen is a pathogen antigen, a cancer-associated antigen or an antigen linked to cells associated with autoimmune diseases. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 33  wherein said immunogen is a pathogen antigen. 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 34  wherein said immunogen is an HIV antigen. 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 35  wherein said HIV antigen is gag. 
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 32  further comprising nucleic acid molecule that encodes one or more proteins of selected from the group consisting of: CTACK, TECK, MEC and functional fragments thereof is administered to the individual. 
     
     
         38 . An injectable pharmaceutical composition comprising the composition of  claim 32 . 
     
     
         39 . A method of inducing an immune response in an individual against an immunogen comprising administering to said individual a composition of  claim 32 . 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said immune response is a mucosal immune response.