| abstract |
A method is disclosed for inducing cell-mediated immunity against cellular antigens. Morenspecifically, the invention provides for a method for inducing cytotoxic T-lymphocytenimmunity against weak antigens, notably self-proteins. The method entails that antigennpresenting cells are induced to present at least one CTL epitope of the weak antigen and atnthe same time presenting at least one foreign T-helper lymphocyte epitope. In a preferrednembodiment, the antigen is a cancer specific antigen, e.g. PSM, Her2, or FGF8b. The methodncan be exercised by using traditional polypeptide vaccination, but also by using livenattenuated vaccines or nucleic acid vaccination. The invention furthermore providesnimmunogenic analogues of PSM, Her2 and FGF8b, as well as nucleic acid molecules encodingnthese analogues. Also vectors and transformed cells aer disclosed. The invention alsonprovides for a method for identification of immunogenic analogues of weak or non-immunogenicnantigens. |