Activation of HCV-specific T cells

Abstract

The invention provides a method of activating hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific T cells, including CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. HCV-specific T cells are activated using fusion proteins comprising HCV NS3, NS4, NS5a, and NS5b polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding such fusion proteins, or polypeptide or polynucleotide compositions containing the individual components of these fusions. The method can be used in model systems to develop HCV-specific immunogenic compositions, as well as to immunize a mammal against HCV.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A composition comprising hepatitis C virus (HCV) polynucleotides, wherein the HCV polynucleotides comprise HCV coding sequences, wherein the HCV coding sequences consist of:
 (a) an isolated and purified polynucleotide encoding an NS3 polypeptide of a HCV;   (b) an isolated and purified polynucleotide encoding an NS4 polypeptide of a HCV; and   (c) an isolated and purified polynucleotide encoding an NS5a polypeptide of a HCV;   wherein at least one of the polynucleotides encoding NS3, NS4, or NS5a is provided separately from the other polynucleotides and further wherein said composition includes a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and optionally an adjuvant.   
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17  wherein the polynucleotides encoding NS3, NS4, and NS5a are DNA. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18  wherein each of the polynucleotides is in a plasmid. 
     
     
         20 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A method of activating T cells which recognize an epitope of an HCV polypeptide, comprising the step of:
 contacting T cells with a composition according to  claim 17 , whereby a population of activated T cells recognizes an epitope of the NS3, NS4, or NS5a polypeptides.   
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The composition of  claim 17  wherein each of the polynucleotides encoding NS3, NS4, or NS5a is provided separately from the other polynucleotides. 
     
     
         46 . The composition of  claim 45  wherein the polynucleotides are DNA. 
     
     
         47 . The composition of  claim 46  wherein each of the polynucleotides is in a plasmid. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 43  wherein each of the polynucleotides encoding NS3, NS4, or NS5a comprised in the composition is provided separately from the other polynucleotides. 
     
     
         49 . The composition of  claim 17  wherein at least one of the polynucleotides encoding NS3, NS4 and NS5a is adsorbed to a microparticle. 
     
     
         50 . The composition of  claim 17  wherein at least one of the polynucleotides encoding NS3, NS4 and NS5a is adsorbed to a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) microparticle. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 43  wherein at least one of the polynucleotides encoding NS3, NS4 and NS5a comprised in the composition is adsorbed to a microparticle. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 43  wherein at least one of the polynucleotides encoding NS3, NS4 and NS5a comprised in the composition is adsorbed to a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) microparticle.