METHOD OF STRENGTHENING FOREIGN EPITOPE PRESENTATION BY MHC CLASS I BY INHIBITING TAP ACTIVITY

摘要

A method of strengthening the presentation of a foreign epitope by MHC class I by inhibiting TAP activity. A mammalian cell-infecting viral vector encoding both of a TAP inhibitor and epitope-binding .beta.2m is constructed and transferred into mammalian cells. Thus, endogenous MHC class I/peptide complexes are decreased by the TAP inhibitor and MHC class I/peptide complex es containing epitope-binding .beta.2m expressed from the vector are successful ly presented on the cell surface at a high frequency. This method is useful in the vaccine therapy for infection and cancer.