PROTECTIVE ANTIGEN OF EPSTEIN BARR VIRUS

摘要

The present invention relates to the identification of a subunit vaccine to prevent or treat infection of Epstein Barr Virus. In particular, EBNA-1 was identified as a vaccine antigen. In a specific embodiment, a purified protei n corresponding to EBNA-1 elicited a strong CD4+ T cell response. The responsi ve CD4+ T cell are primarily TH1 in function. EBNA-1 is an attractive candidate for a protective vaccine against EBV, and for immunotherapy of EBV infection and neoplasms, particularly with dendritic cells charged with EBNA-1.