Method of enhancing an immune response

Abstract

A method of enhancing an immune response to an antigen is provided. The method involves augmenting the level of a TAP molecule in a target cell bearing the antigen. Preferably, the TAP molecules enhanced by administering a nucleic acid sequence encoding a TAP-1 and/or TAP-2 molecule. The method is useful in treating infectious diseases and cancer.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of enhancing a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response in an animal to a bacterial or parasitic infection in cells expressing low to non-detectable levels of peptide/MHC class 1 complexes on the cell surface, comprising introducing into said animal at a location at or near the cell a vector encoding a TAP-1 or TAP-2 molecule in a manner which causes uptake of the vector by the cell, resulting in the expression of TAP-1 or TAP-2 in said cell. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein animal is a human. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the vector is a viral vector or a plasmid. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the vector encodes both the TAP-1 molecule and a TAP-2 molecule. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the vector is a viral vector selected from the group consisting of vaccinia based vectors, adenovirus based vectors, lenti virus based vectors and HSV based vectors. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the vector is administered to the patient in conjunction with another therapeutic agent.