Method for augmenting the immunogenicity of an antigen

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for augmenting the immunogenicity of an antigen in a mammal, comprising immunizing the mammal with a composition comprising the antigen, and an adjuvant in an amount of effective to augment the immunogenicity of said antigen, wherein the adjuvant comprises a Ling-Zhi-8 (LZ-8) protein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for augmenting immunogenicity of an antigen in a mammal, comprising immunizing the mammal with a composition comprising
 (i) the antigen, and   (ii) an adjuvant in an effective amount to augment the immunogenicity of the antigen, wherein the adjuvant comprises a Ling-Zhi-8 (LZ-8) protein, wherein the antigen is a protein.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protein is an inactivated virus, a cancer cell extract or a recombinant protein. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the LZ-8 protein is isolated from  Ganoderma lucidum  or prepared by recombinant protein technology in yeast or bacterium system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen and the adjuvant are administered simultaneously. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the augmenting the immunogenicity is manifested by the enhancement of the T helper 1 (Th1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is human.