NOVEL METHODS FOR INTRODUCING MOLECULES INTO CELLS AND VECTORS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR USE IN SUCH METHODS

摘要

Provided are chimeric molecules (i.e., antibody fusion or fusion protein) comprising a carboxy terminal protein import sequence and an animo terminal cargo region. A preferred chimeric molecule according to the invention is a chimeric molecule in which a protein import sequence (i.e., a HIV tat peptide) is linked to a Fab directed against a viral pathogen, such hCMV. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules encoding the chimeric molecules of the invention, as well as vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid molecules. In addition, methods of making, methods of using, and compositions comprising a chimeric molecule of the invention are provided. The vector constructs according to the invention can be employed for intracellular delivery, and particularly, for intracellular immunization.