Patent ID: 6962790
Filing Date: 2005-11-08
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for selecting one or more vaccine compositions from among a group consisting of two or more distinct vaccine compositions for assessment in one or more human subjects, said vaccine compositions each comprising one or more nucleic acid molecules encoding one or more antigens which comprise the same CD8 + T cell epitope, said method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting human antigen presenting cells in culture with a vaccine composition selected from among said group of vaccine compositions, thereby, if one or more of the nucleic acid molecules encoding one or more antigens which comprise said T cell epitope are taken up and processed by said antigen presenting cells, producing one or more processed antigens; (b) contacting said antigen presenting cells of step (a) with monoclonal human T cells, wherein the monoclonal human T cells, are CD8 (c) determining the level of said T cells' response to one or more of the processed antigens; (d) repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) with each additional vaccine composition in the group; and (e) selecting at least one vaccine composition that exceeds a predetermined level of said T cells' response for assessment in one or more human subjects.