| abstract |
This invention provides compositions and methods for inducing and enhancing immune responses, particularly antigen-specific CD8+ T cell mediated responses, against antigens of the SARS coronavirus. These antigens include epitopes of the Membrane (M), Envelope (E), Spike (S) and Nucleocapsid (N) proteins of the virus. Such responses are induced using DNA constructs as an immunogens or vaccines, which encode chimeric polypeptides comprising endoplasmic reticulum chaperone polypeptides, such as human calreticulin (CRT) and an antigenic peptide or polypeptide. In particular, the invention provides compositions and methods for enhancing immune responses induced by polypeptides made in vivo by administered nucleic acid, such as naked DNA or expression vectors, encoding the chimeric molecules. Such enhanced immunity, whether T cell mediated or antibody-mediated protects an infected subject from infection or spread of the SARS CoV in vivo. |