| abstract |
This invention describes novel immunogenic complexes designed to trigger a host immune response against cancer cells by co-opting the immune system's natural ability to eliminate pathogen-infected host cells. The immunogenic complexes, referred to as microbial mimetics, have unique physical and biochemical properties, designed to simulate a pathogenic infection of similar sized bacteria and viruses, permitting tumor-associated and tumor-specific peptide antigens to be presented to immune cells as microbial constituents. The MM are well-suited to mimic a systemic infection with microbe sized particles comprised largely of tumor antigens. Under this framework, tumor cells may be eliminated in the ensuing immune response. The MM exhibit unique properties, including size tunability and contain antigenic cargo complexed to immune stimulatory molecules, which synergize to potentiate immune responses. The MM constitute a versatile platform for triggering immune responses against cells expressing epitopes contained within the complexed antigenic cargo. |