| abstract |
The present invention provides a cellular vaccine for therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of a pathological condition, the vaccine comprising or consisting of a population of CD 4+ T cells modified such that they contain an antigenic component, and/or a nucleic acid molecule encoding an antigenic component thereof, wherein the T cells are (a) activated, or capable of being activated, and (b) apoptotic, or capable or being made apoptotic. The invention further provides an adjuvant composition for use in a method of vaccination, the composition comprising or consisting of a population of T cells, wherein the T cells are (a) activated, or capable of being activated, and (b) apoptotic, or capable or being made apoptotic. In addition, the invention provides a composition having microbicide activity, or capable thereof upon exposure to antigen-presenting cells, the composition comprising or consisting of a population of T cells, wherein the T cells are (a) activated, or capable of being activated, and (b) apoptotic, or capable or being made apoptotic. Also provided by the present invention are methods for making and using the vaccines and compositions described herein. |