The invention relates to a method for identifying MHC-restricted antigens. The inventive method comprises the following steps: (a) producing a gene bank or a cDNA bank from a cell to be analysed or a micro-organism to be analysed; (b) introducing the cDNA or DNA of the gene bank into the genome of retroviruses or in the form of additional vRNA of modified influenza viruses with a higher transcription, replication and/or expression rate than the wild type, in order to obtain recombinant virus particles; (c) infecting immortalised autologous cells which express MHC class I and/or MHC class II molecules on their surface with the recombinant virus particles obtained in step (b); (d) expressing proteins coded for by the cDNA or the DNA of the gene bank in the autologous cells and presenting the cleavage products of these proteins produced by the autologous cell on the cell surface in conjunction with MHC molecules; (e) co-cultivating T-cells with the autologous cells; (f) stimulating the T-cells with such autologous cells as present an antigen on their cell surface that is recognised by the T-cells; (g) separation of the clones that express the antigen and identification of the antigen.
