METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING T-CELL EPITOPES ASSOCIATED WITH IMPAIRED PEPTIDE PROCESSING AND APPLICATIONS OF THE IDENTIFIED EPITOPES

摘要

The current invention provides methods for the identification of antigens and/or epitopes that are differentially displayed on TAP deficient or TAP impaired cells and are not detectably displayed on normal or TAP proficient cells. The identification and applications of these differentially presented antigens, which in this specification are referred to as TEIPP, T cell Epitopes associated with Impaired Peptide Processing, is a prime object of this invention. The invention also provides peptides comprising a TEIPP epitope obtained from the methods of the invention, which may be applied in medicaments and methods of treatment raising a T cell response against TAP deficient tumor cells or virally infected cells.