LECTIN COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR MODULATING AN IMMUNE RESPONSE TO AN ANTIGEN

摘要

The present invention provides a fusion polypeptide which can bind to a cell surface binding moiety (e.g., a carbohydrate) and serve as a ligand for a cell surface polypeptide, as well as a vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding for such a fusion polypeptide, and a host cell comprising such nucleic acid. The present invention also provides a composition comprising an antigen bearing target and such a fusion polypeptide, as well as a composition comprising a virus or a cell and such a fusion polypeptide. The present invention further relates to a method of modulating an immune response in an animal using such compositions.

主权项

1. A vaccine composition comprising an antigen bearing target and further comprising a fusion polypeptide, said fusion polypeptide comprising
a first amino acid sequence which can bind to a carbohydrate and a second amino acid sequence comprising a ligand for a cell surface polypeptide of a leukocyte, wherein said vaccine composition comprises said fusion polypeptide bound to a carbohydrate on said antigen bearing target and further comprises some of said polypeptide which is not bound to said antigen bearing target.