Expression vectors for stimulating an immune response and methods of using the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to nucleic acid vaccines encoding multiple CTL and HTL epitopes and MHC targeting sequences.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . An expression system which comprises a promoter operably linked to a nucleotide sequence which encodes a peptide comprising a first amino acid sequence which is a MHC targeting sequence fused to a second amino acid sequence encoding a class I MHC restricted CTL peptide epitope and HIV HTL peptide epitope, wherein the HIV HTL peptide epitope is selected from the group consisting of HIV HTL peptide epitopes set forth as SEQ ID NOs: 295, 298-303, 305-311, 313, 316, and 318-323, and an analog of each of the foregoing HTL peptide epitopes.  
     
     
         2 . The expression system of  claim 1 , wherein the CTL peptide epitope is an HIV CTL peptide epitope.  
     
     
         3 . The expression system of  claim 2 , wherein the CTL peptide epitope is an A2 peptide epitope.  
     
     
         4 . The expression system of  claim 2 , wherein the CTL peptide epitope is an A3 peptide epitope.  
     
     
         5 . The expression system of  claim 2 , wherein the CTL peptide epitope is a B7 peptide epitope.  
     
     
         6 . The expression system of  claim 2 , wherein the CTL peptide epitope is selected from the group consisting of CTL peptide epitopes set forth as SEQ ID NOs: 101, 105, 324-412, and 463, and an analog of each of the foregoing CTL peptide epitopes.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the MHC targeting sequence is the signal sequence from Ig kappa.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the MHC targeting sequence is the signal sequence from insulin.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the MHC targeting sequence is the signal sequence from tissue plasminogen.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the MHC targeting sequence is the signal sequence from LAMP-1.  
     
     
         11 . A method for inducing an immune response in a subject which comprises administering to a mammalian subject the expression system comprising a promoter operably linked to a nucleotide sequence which encodes a peptide comprising a first amino acid sequence which is a MHC targeting sequence fused to a second amino acid sequence encoding a class I MHC restricted CTL peptide epitope and HIV HTL peptide epitope, wherein the HIV HTL peptide epitope is selected from the group consisting of HIV HTL peptide epitopes set forth as SEQ ID NOs: 295, 298-303, 305-311, 313, 316, and 318-323, and an analog of each of the foregoing HTL peptide epitopes.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the CTL peptide epitope is an HIV CTL peptide epitope.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the CTL peptide epitope is an A2 peptide epitope.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the CTL peptide epitope is an A3 peptide epitope.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the CTL peptide epitope is a B7 peptide epitope.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the CTL peptide epitope is selected from the group consisting of CTL peptide epitopes set forth as SEQ ID NOs: 101, 105, 324-412, and 463, and an analog of each of the foregoing CTL peptide epitopes.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the MHC targeting sequence is the signal sequence from Ig kappa.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the MHC targeting sequence is the signal sequence from insulin.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the MHC targeting sequence is the signal sequence from tissue plasminogen.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the MHC targeting sequence is the signal sequence from LAMP-1.