Patent ID: 7205274

Claim:
A method for enhancing presentation by an MHC class II expressing antigen presenting cell of an MHC class II restricted antigenic epitope to a T cell, comprising: a) incorporating the MHC class II restricted antigenic epitope into an MHC class II antigen presentation enhancing hybrid polypeptide, the hybrid polypeptide comprising; i) an N-terminus comprising the mammalian Ii key peptide LRMKLPKPPKPVSKMR (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a truncated form thereof in which the LRMK residues are unaltered and which retains antigen presentation enhancing activity; ii) a C-terminus comprising the MHC class II restricted antigenic epitope in the form of a polypeptide structure which binds into the antigenic peptide binding site of an MHC class II molecule of an MHC II expressing antigen presenting cell; and iii) an intervening chemical structure covalently linking the N-terminal and C-terminal components of the hybrid, the chemical structure being a covalently joined group of atoms which when arranged in a linear fashion forms a flexible chain which extends up to the length of 20 amino acids likewise arranged in a linear fashion; and b) contacting under physiological conditions: i) the hybrid polypeptide of step a); ii) the MHC class II expressing antigen presenting cell; and iii) a T cell which is responsive to the presentation of the antigenic epitope by the MHC class II molecule of the MHC II expressing antigen presenting cell.