Patent ID: 6710035
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: A61K,C07K,C12N,C12Y

Abstract:
A method of generating an immune response to a pathogen in a vertebrate, comprising:administering in vivo into a tissue of a vertebrate in need of said immune response a composition consisting essentially of (a) a polynucleotide which directs synthesis of an immunogenic peptide or polypeptide in vertebrate cells, wherein said peptide or polypeptide is a pathogen-specific antigen; (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and optionally, (c) an adjuvant; wherein said polynucleotide is a DNA plasmid operably encoding said immunogenic peptide or polypeptide through association with a promoter; wherein said immune response is selected from the group consisting of a detectable antibody response, a detectable T-cell response, and a combination thereof; wherein a sufficient amount of said composition is administered to allow incorporation of said polynucleotide into the cells of said vertebrate; and wherein sufficient expression of said immunogenic peptide or polypeptide occurs to generate said immune response in said vertebrate.