Patent ID: 8137672

Claim:
An immunostimulatory regimen for inducing CD70 expression on dendritic cells and inducing the expansion of CD8 + T cells in a subject in need thereof and thereby eliciting an anti-viral immune response comprising administering type I interferon and an immune agonist polypeptide other than said type 1 interferon, and further including the administration of a viral antigen, wherein said regimen does not include the administration of a TLR agonist and further requires that the only immune agonist polypeptide other than said type 1 interferon administered in said immunostimulatory regimen consists of an agonistic CD40L polypeptide or a CD40 agonistic antibody or a CD40 agonistic antibody fragment polypeptide, and further wherein said agonistic CD40L polypeptide, CD40 agonistic antibody or CD40 agonistic antibody fragment and said type 1 interferons are administered in amounts that in combination, but not separately, result in the induction of CD70 expression on dendritic cells.