Vault Compositions For Immunization
Methods and compositions are provided herein for immunizing a subject by administering to the subject an effective amount of an immunogenic peptide or an immunogenic fragment or variant thereof incorporated within a vault-like particle carrier. The methods and compositions advantageously exhibit enhanced ability to induce cell-mediated immunity and/or antibody-based immunity.
1 . A method for stimulating a cellular immune response in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an antigenic peptide or an antigenic fragment or variant thereof incorporated within a vault complex, thereby stimulating a cellular immune response.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the antigenic peptide is fused to INT.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the antigenic peptide is fused to MVP.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the antigenic peptide is fused to the N-terminus of MVP.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vault complex comprises MVP.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the number of MVP is 1-78.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the number of MVP is 78.
8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the vault complex further comprises VPARP or modified VPARP, or a portion of VPARP, or a modified portion of VPARP.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellular immune response is induction of Th cells.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the Th cells comprise Th-1 cells.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellular immune response is induction of CD4 + and/or CD8+ T-cells.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellular immune response is production of INFγ.
13 . A pharmaceutical composition for stimulating a cellular immune response in a subject, comprising an antigenic peptide or an antigenic fragment or variant thereof incorporated within a vault complex, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, sufficient to stimulate a cellular immune response.
14 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 13 , wherein antigenic peptide is fused to INT.
15 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 13 , wherein the antigenic peptide is fused to MVP.
16 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 13 , wherein the vault complex comprises MVP.
17 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 16 , wherein the number of MVP is 1-78.
18 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 16 , wherein the number of MVP is 78.
19 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 16 , wherein the vault complex further comprises VPARP or modified VPARP, or a portion of VPARP, or a modified portion of VPARP.
20 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 13 , wherein the cellular immune response is induction of Th cells.
21 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 20 , wherein the Th cells comprise Th-1 cells.
22 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 13 , wherein the cellular immune response is induction of CD4 + and/or CD8+ T-cells.
23 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 13 , wherein the cellular immune response is production of INFγ.