Patent ID: 8742087

Claim:
A plasmid expression vector for generating in an individual immunity against one or more mucin antigens, said vector comprising a transcription unit, said transcription unit comprising a nucleic acid operably linked to a promoter, said transcription unit encoding a secretable polypeptide, said encoded polypeptide comprising from the amino terminus, a secretory signal sequence, one or more mucin antigen(s) or fragments thereof, and a CD40 ligand, wherein the one or more mucin antigen(s) or fragments thereof are connected together, wherein (i) the one or more mucin antigen(s) or fragments thereof and the CD40 ligand lack all or substantially all of their transmembrane domains; (ii) one end of the connected, one or more mucin antigen(s) or fragments thereof is attached to the amino terminus of the extracellular domain of said CD40 ligand; and, (iii) said encoded polypeptide is configured to promote presentation on Class I MHC and activation with expansion of mucin-specific, Class I MHC restricted, cytotoxic T lymphocytes.