Yeast-hiv antigen compositions and methods of using the same

Abstract

Disclosed is a vaccine that includes a dendritic cell loaded with a yeast vehicle and antigen. Also disclosed are methods of making the vaccine and using the vaccine to elicit cellular and humoral immune responses in a mammal. Additionally, a method to elicit an immune response by administration of a yeast vehicle and an antigen that is not complexed to the yeast vehicle is disclosed.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method to reduce or eliminate cells comprising human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Gag protein, the method comprising injecting a subject with an immunogenic composition comprising a heat-inactivated yeast that recombinantly expresses an HIV Gag protein, wherein administration of the immunogenic composition reduces or eliminates cells comprising HIV Gag protein in the subject. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the yeast is from  Saccharomyces.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the yeast is from  Saccharomyces cerevisiae.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the yeast were heat-inactivated at 56° C. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the immunogenic composition is administered by subcutaneous injection. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the immunogenic composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising administering to the subject a biological response modifier, selected from a cytokine, a hormone, a lipidic derivative, or a small molecule drug. 
     
     
         28 . A method to reduce or eliminate cells comprising human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 Gag protein in a subject, the method comprising administering to a subject an immunogenic composition comprising:
 a) a heat-inactivated yeast from  Saccharomyces ; and,   b) a protein encoded by HIV-1 gag that is not expressed by or loaded into the yeast, and that has not been attached to the yeast;   wherein administration of the immunogenic composition reduces or eliminates cells comprising HIV-1 Gag in the subject.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the yeast is from  Saccharomyces cerevisiae.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the yeast were heat-inactivated at 56° C. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the immunogenic composition is administered by a route selected from the group consisting of: intraperitoneal injection, subcutaneous injection, intradermal injection, and intramuscular injection. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the immunogenic composition is administered by subcutaneous injection. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the immunogenic composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising administering to the subject a biological response modifier, selected from a cytokine, a hormone, a lipidic derivative, or a small molecule drug. 
     
     
         35 . A method to elicit an MHC Class I cell-mediated, HIV-1 Gag-specific immune response in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an immunogenic composition comprising:
 a) a heat-inactivated yeast from  Saccharomyces ; and,   b) a protein encoded by HIV-1 gag that is not expressed by or loaded into the yeast, and that has not been attached to the yeast;   wherein the composition elicits an MHC class I cell-mediated immune response against HIV-1 Gag protein.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the yeast is from  Saccharomyces cerevisiae.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the yeast were heat-inactivated at 56° C. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the immunogenic composition is administered by subcutaneous injection. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the immunogenic composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising administering to the subject a biological response modifier, selected from a cytokine, a hormone, a lipidic derivative, or a small molecule drug.