HUMANIZED HLA-A2 / HLA-DP4 TRANSGENIC MICE AND USES THEREOF AS AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

摘要

The present invention concerns transgenic mice comprising non-functional H2 class and H2 class II genes and comprising a functional HLA-A2 transgene and a functional HLA-DP4 transgene. The present invention also relates to methods of identifying the presence of one or more epitopes in a candidate antigen or group of antigens, methods of determining the immune response of a mouse following its immunization with an antigen or a vaccine or following its treatment with an immunotherapeutic compound, methods of comparing the efficiency of a response induced by two or more vaccinal or immunotherapeutic compositions, and methods of determining whether a vaccinal or an immunotherapeutic composition poses a risk of induction of an autoimmune disease when administered to a human. The invention further concerns transgenic mouse cells comprising non-functional H2 class I and H2 class II genes and comprising a functional HLA-A2 transgene and a functional HLA-DP4 transgene, and kits for identifying the presence of one or more epitopes in a candidate antigen or group of antigens.