Patent ID: 6800442
Filing Date: 2004-10-05
Classification: C12N

Abstract:
A method for selecting a nucleic acid molecule encoding a target epitope of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, comprising:(a) contacting host cells with cytotoxic T-lymphocytes specific for said target epitope under conditions wherein a host cell expressing said target epitope undergoes a lytic event upon contact with said cytotoxic T-lymphocytes; wherein said host cells comprise a library of heterologous nucleic acid molecules, at least one of said heterologous nucleic acid molecules encoding said target epitope, wherein said library is constructed in a vector which expresses said target epitope in said host cells, wherein said host cells express a defined MHC molecule, and wherein said cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are restricted for said MHC molecule; and (b) recovering vector from floating host cells which are undergoing a lytic event; wherein said target epitope is selected from the group consisting of: a target epitope which is differentially expressed in infected cells and a target epitope which is specific for an-autoimmune disease.