Nucleic acid constructs for presentation of CD4 and CD8 epitopes, cellular transfection and uses thereof

An isolated nucleic acid construct that encodes a polypeptide wherein the polypeptide comprises:

• (a) a first peptide sequence comprising an MHC class II targeting sequence and one or more different epitope sequences that are processed in endosomes for presentation to CD4+ T cells, wherein the MHC class II targeting sequence is operably linked to the one or more different epitope sequences intended for processing in endosomes;
• (b) a second peptide sequence comprising one or more different epitope sequences that are processed by cytoplasmic proteasomes for presentation to CD8+ T cells;
• (c) a third peptide sequence comprising-a MHC class II expression activator sequence;
• and
• (d) an additional sequence comprising a first cytosolic protease cleavage site located between the first and second sequences and a second additional sequence comprising a second cytosolic protease cleavage site located between the third sequence and either the first sequence or the second sequence.