Chimeric antigens for eliciting an immune response

Abstract

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for eliciting immune responses against antigens. In particular embodiments, the compounds and methods elicit immune responses against antigens that are otherwise recognized by the host as “self” antigens. The immune response is enhanced by presenting the host immune system with a chimeric antigen comprising an immune response domain and a target binding domain, wherein the target binding domain comprises a xenotypic antibody fragment. By virtue of the target binding domain, antigen presenting cells take up, process, and present the chimeric antigen, eliciting both a humoral and cellular immune response.

1 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A method of producing a chimeric antigen comprising:
 (a) providing a microorganism or a cell;   (b) culturing said microorganism or cell under conditions whereby the chimeric antigen is expressed.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the microorganism or cell is a eukaryotic microorganism or cell. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the cell is a yeast cell, a plant cell or an insect cell. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the chimeric antigen is post-translationally modified to comprise glycosylation. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the chimeric antigen is post-translationally modified to comprise a mannose glycosylation. 
     
     
         55 . A method of producing a chimeric antigen comprising:
 (a) providing a microorganism or a cell, the microorganism or cell comprising a polynucleotide that encodes a target binding domain bound to a linker molecule;   (b) culturing said microorganism or cell under conditions whereby the target binding domain-linker molecule is expressed; and   (c) contacting the target binding domain-linker molecule and an immune response domain under conditions that allow for the binding of the linker to the immune response domain, the binding resulting in a chimeric antigen.   
     
     
         56 . A polynucleotide encoding a chimeric antigen, said polynucleotide comprising a first polynucleotide portion encoding an immune response domain and a second polynucleotide portion encoding a target binding domain, wherein the target binding domain comprises an antibody fragment. 
     
     
         57 . The polynucleotide of  claim 56 , wherein the antibody fragment is a xenotypic antibody fragment. 
     
     
         58 . The polynucleotide of  claim 56 , wherein the polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of the nucleotide sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs:39 and 41-51. 
     
     
         59 . The polynucleotide of  claim 56 , wherein the polynucleotide encodes a chimeric antigen that is at least 90% identical to an entire amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs:40 and 52-62. 
     
     
         60 . The polynucleotide of  claim 56 , wherein the polynucleotide selectively hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of nucleotide sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs:39 and 41-51. 
     
     
         61 . A vector comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 57 . 
     
     
         62 . The vector of  claim 61 , wherein the polynucleotide is operably linked to a transcriptional regulatory element (TRE). 
     
     
         63 . A microorganism or cell comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 57 .