Method of obtaining cellular immune responses from proteins

1. A method for producing a cytotoxic-T lymphocyte (CTL) response in a vertebrate subject comprising administering to said vertebrate subject an immunologically effective amount of an immunogenic composition that comprises a precipitated protein particle and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein said precipitated protein particle is not formed from protein that spontaneously forms into virus-like particles, wherein said precipitated protein particle is not provided on or within a carrier particle, wherein said protein particle is formed from a protein that is not a lipoprotein, and wherein said particle is generally spherical in shape.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising co-administering an immunological adjuvant with said protein particle.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising co-administering a second antigen with said protein particle, wherein said second antigen is distinct from said protein particle.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said protein particle is administered to said vertebrate subject prior to administering said second antigen.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein said protein particle is administered to said vertebrate subject subsequent to administering said second antigen.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein said protein particle is administered to said vertebrate subject concurrent with administering said second antigen.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said protein particle has a diameter ranging from 200 nanometers to 10 microns.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said protein particle has a diameter ranging from 500 nanometers to 5 microns.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein particle is formed from a viral protein.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein particle is formed from a fungal protein.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein particle is formed from a bacterial protein.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein particle is formed from an avian protein.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein particle is formed from a mammalian protein.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said mammalian protein is a tumor protein.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein said viral protein is selected from HIV, herpes simplex virus, hepatitis virus, and influenza A virus proteins.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein said bacterial protein is selected from pertussis, diphtheria, meningitis, H. pylori, Hemophilus influenza type B, and tetanus proteins.

17. The method of claim 3 , wherein said second antigen is conjugated onto said protein particle.

18. The method of claim 9 , wherein said viral protein is herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein B (HSV gB2) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) protein.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the HCV protein is HCV core protein, NS3, NS4, or NS5.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the HIV protein is gp120, gp160, gp41, p24gag or p55gag.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered by injection.

22. A method for producing a cellular immune response in a vertebrate subject comprising administering to said vertebrate subject an immunologically effective amount of an immunogenic composition that comprises a precipitated protein particle and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein said precipitated protein particle is not formed from protein that spontaneously forms into virus-like particles, wherein said precipitated protein particle is not provided on or within a carrier particle, wherein said precipitated protein particle is formed from a protein that is not a lipoprotein, and wherein said particle is generally spherical in shape.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the precipitated protein particle is a heat treated protein particle.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the precipitated protein particle is a chemically cross-linked precipitated protein particle.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the precipitated protein particle consists essentially of protein.

26. The method of claim 22 , wherein the precipitated protein particle is a heat treated protein particle that has been heat treated at 70° C. to 100° C.

27. The method of claim 22 , wherein said precipitated protein particle is formed from a protein that is a peptide or a polypeptide.

28. The method of claim 22 , wherein said particle possesses a diameter of about 200 nm to about 10 μm.

29. The method of claim 22 , wherein said particle possesses a diameter of about 500 nm to about 5 μm.