GENETIC IMMUNIZATION WITH CATIONIC LIPIDS

1 - 11 . (canceled)

12 . A method for mapping the epitopes of a protein molecule, comprising the steps of:

(a) fragmenting DNA molecules coding for the protein molecule in a random manner;

(b) subcloning the DNA fragments in an expression vector;

(c) mixing at least one cationic lipid with each of the expression vector subclones, thereby forming a cationic lipid-expression vector complex with each of the expression vector subclone;

(d) administering said cationic lipid-expression vector complex to an animal; and

(c) determining which of the DNA fragments are capable of generating the production of antibodies in the animal.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein a promoter of the expression vector is a SV40 promoter.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein a promoter of the expression vector is an RSV promoter.

15 . The method of claim 7 , wherein a promoter of the expression vector is a CMV promoter.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cationic lipid is a formulation having a 3:1 ratio of 2,3-dioleoyl-N-[2(sperminecarboxyamido)ethyl]-N,N-dimethyl propanium trifluoroacetate and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE).

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cationic lipid is a formulation having a 1:2.5 ration of dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE).

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cationic lipid is a 1:1 formulation of N-(1-(2,3v-dioleoyloxy)propyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA) and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE).

19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cationic lipid is 1-propanaminium, N-[2(2-bromo)ethyl]-N,N-dimethyl-2,3-bis(9-octadecenyloxy)bromide, N-(1-(2,3-dioleoyloxy)propyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA), 1,2-bis(oleoyloxy)-3-3-(trimethylammonia)propane (DOTAP), 5-carboxyspermyglycine dioctadecylamide (DOGS) or dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine 5-carboxyspermylamide (DPPES).

20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cationic lipid is a DORI-ether or a lipopolylysine.

21 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cationic lipid is a cationic lipid having the formula:

22 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cationic lipid has the formula:

wherein:

R 1 and R 2 , separately or together, are C 1-23 alkyl or —CO—C 1-23 alkyl or alkenyl;

q is 1 to 6;

Z 1 and Z 2 , separately or together, are H or unbranched alkyl C 1-6 and

X 1 -X 16 are defined as follows:

X 1 is -(CH 2 ) n Br, Cl, F or I, where n=0-6;

X 2 is -(CH 2 ) 2 NH 2 , where n=0-6;

X 3 is -NH-(CH 2 ) m -NH 2 , where m=2-6;

X 4 is -NH-(CH 2 ) 3 -NH-(CH 0.2 ) 4 -NH 2 ;

X 5 is -NH-(CH 2 ) 3 -NH-(CH 2 ) 4 -NH(CH 2 ) 3 -NH 2 ;

X 6 is

wherein p is 2-5, Y is H or an alkyl group attached by an amide or an alkyl amino group;

X 9 is polylysine, polyarginine, polybrene, histone or protamine;

X 10 is biotin, folic acid, -NHCO-fluorescein or PPD;

X 11 is a polysaccharide or substituted polysaccharide;

X 12 is a protein;

X 13 is an antibody;

X 14 is an amine;

X 15 is -(CH 2 ) r -SH, wherein r is 0-6; and

X 16 is -(CH2) s -S—S-(CH 2 ) t -NH 2 , wherein s is 0-6 and t is 2-6.

23 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the cationic lipid is further combined with dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE) or cholesterol.

24 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the cationic lipid is formulated into liposomes or other lipid aggregates.

25 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the DNA molecules are genomic DNA sequences.

26 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the DNA molecules are complementary DNA sequences.

27 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said animal is a mouse.

28 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said administering is intraperitoneal.

29 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said administering is intranasal.

30 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said administering is intramuscular.

31 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the antibodies are monoclonal antibodies.