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AssigneesHealth Research, Inc., Board of Regents, The University of Texas Systems
InventorsSoldano Ferrone, Constantin Ioannides, James Murray, Kouichiro Kawano
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The invention provides a method for identifying peptides for use in increasing a cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) response to an antigen. The method comprises the steps of comparing the amino acid sequence of the VH and/or VL portions of an anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody to the amino acid sequence of an antigen to identify regions of homology between the Ab2 and the antigen, and to further identify an HLA binding motif in a homologous region. The identified homologous region which comprises an HLA binding motif defines a peptide sequence that is useful for stimulating a CTL response. Also provided are peptides identified by the method, and a method of using the peptides to stimulate a CTL response in an individual.
A method for identifying a peptide sequence for use in stimulating a cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response to an antigen, comprising:
An isolated peptide of from 8-20 amino acids in length which is capable of improving the activation of a CTL compared to the activation of the CTL by an antigen, wherein the peptide has at least 55% homology to an 8-20 amino acid portion of the antigen and to an 8-20 amino acid portion of an Ab2 which mimics an epitope on the antigen, and wherein the peptide comprises an HLA binding motif.
A method of stimulating a CTL response against an antigen in an individual comprising administering to the individual an amount of isolated peptide of from 9-11 amino acids in length, wherein the peptide has at least 55% homology to a 9-11 amino acid portion of the antigen and to a 9-11 amino acid portion of an Ab2 which mimics an epitope of the antigen, and wherein the peptide comprises an HLA binding motif, such that a CTL response to the antigen is stimulated in the individual.
The method of claim 20, wherein the antigen is a tumor associated antigen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.