Novel nucleic acid vectors comprising sequences encoding (a) an antigen, (b) a signal peptide, and (c) a heat shock protein, are disclosed, as are methods for using such vectors to induce antigen-specific immune responses and to treat tumors.

The invention relates to composite antigens comprising a peptide with contiguous amino acid sequence derived from a plurality of antigenic epitopes of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal that is protective against infection by the one or more pathogens. In addition, the invention relates to vaccines comprising composite antigens and to method for treating and preventing an infection.

A method for the creation of a personalized vaccine. Multiple and varied antigens in conjunction with heat shock proteins (and other protein chaperones) are generated by ionized gas lysing coupled with the separation, concentration, and purification of these chaperone protein-antigen complexes (CPAC) using insulator-dielectrophorsis (i-DEP)-based devices. The ionized gas uniquely forms more and varied chaperone proteins and chaperone protein-antigen complexes (CPAC) than prior art mechanical, chemical, electric or other lysing techniques. These CPAC generated by the ionized gas lysis and separated by i-DEP are electrospray-encapsulated by a biodegradeable polymer at the nano particle level to further enhance these personalized vaccines for accelerated immune system uptake. For the first time, sterile eradication of infectious pathogens and cancer (known or unknown to exist in the host) can be accomplished with multiple personalized vaccine treatments.

A method for the creation of a personalized vaccine. Multiple and varied antigens in conjunction with heat shock proteins (and other protein chaperones) are generated by ionized gas lysing coupled with the separation, concentration, and purification of these chaperone protein-antigen complexes (CPAC) using insulator-dielectrophorsis (i-DEP)-based devices. The ionized gas uniquely forms more and varied chaperone proteins and chaperone protein-antigen complexes (CPAC) than prior art mechanical, chemical, electric or other lysing techniques. These CPAC generated by the ionized gas lysis and separated by i-DEP are electrospray-encapsulated by a biodegradeable polymer at the nano particle level to further enhance these personalized vaccines for accelerated immune system uptake. For the first time, sterile eradication of infectious pathogens and cancer (known or unknown to exist in the host) can be accomplished with multiple personalized vaccine treatments.

A method for the creation of a personalized vaccine. Multiple and varied antigens in conjunction with heat shock proteins (and other protein chaperones) are generated by ionized gas lysing coupled with the separation, concentration, and purification of these chaperone protein-antigen complexes (CPAC) using insulator-dielectrophorsis (i-DEP)-based devices. The ionized gas uniquely forms more and varied chaperone proteins and chaperone protein-antigen complexes (CPAC) than prior art mechanical, chemical, electric or other lysing techniques. These CPAC generated by the ionized gas lysis and separated by i-DEP are electrospray-encapsulated by a biodegradeable polymer at the nano particle level to further enhance these personalized vaccines for accelerated immune system uptake. For the first time, sterile eradication of infectious pathogens and cancer (known or unknown to exist in the host) can be accomplished with multiple personalized vaccine treatments.

The present invention relates to methods of improving a treatment outcome comprising administering a heat shock protein (HSP) preparation or an -2-macroglobulin (2M) preparation with a non-vaccine treatment modality. In particular, an HSP preparation or an 2M preparation is administered in conjunction with a non-vaccine treatment modality for the treatment of cancer or infectious diseases. In the practice of the invention, a preparation comprising HSPs such as but not limited to, hsp70, hsp90 and gp96 alone or in combination with each other, noncovalently or covalently bound to antigenic molecules or 2M, noncovalently or covalently bound to antigenic molecules is administered in conjunction with a non-vaccine treatment modality.

The invention relates to composite antigens comprising a peptide with contiguous amino acid sequence derived from a plurality of antigenic epitopes of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal that is protective against infection by the one or more pathogens. In addition, the invention relates to vaccines comprising composite antigens and to method for treating and preventing an infection.

Methods are provided for inhibiting or enhancing down-regulation of an antigen-activated HLA-E.sup.+ T cell by an HLA-E-restricted CD8.sup.+ T cell comprising contacting the HLA-E.sup.+ T cell and CD8.sup.+ T cell with an agent which inhibits or enhances, respectively, binding between (i) T cell receptor (TCR) on the surface of the CD8.sup.+ T cell and (ii) a self peptide presented by HLA-E on the surface of the HLA-E.sup.+ T cell, thereby inhibiting or enhancing, respectively, down-regulation of the antigen-activated HLA-E.sup.+ T cell. Compositions comprising agents which inhibit or enhance/activate, respectively, binding between (i) T cell receptor (TCR) on the surface of a CD8 T cell and (ii) a self peptide presented by HLA-E on the surface of a HLA-E.sup.+ T cell, and assays for identifying such agents, are provided.

The invention relates to composite antigens comprising an antigen obtained or derived from an antigenic epitope of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal, an antigen obtained or derived from bacterial cell wall material that induces an immune response in a mammal such as LTA, PNG or LPS, and a T cell stimulating antigen such as CRM. Preferably the composite antigen comprises an immunogenic composition or a vaccine that is effective against the pathogen or can generate antibodies that can be collected that are protective against infection by the pathogen. In addition, the invention relates to vaccines comprising composite antigens and to method for treating and preventing an infection.

The invention relates to composite antigens comprising an antigen obtained or derived from an antigenic epitope of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal, an antigen obtained or derived from bacterial cell wall material that induces an immune response in a mammal such as LTA, PNG or LPS, and a T cell stimulating antigen such as CRM. Preferably the composite antigen comprises an immunogenic composition or a vaccine that is effective against the pathogen or can generate antibodies that can be collected that are protective against infection by the pathogen. In addition, the invention relates to vaccines comprising composite antigens and to method for treating and preventing an infection.