METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING A MHC CLASS II-DEPENDENT TUMOR-ASSOCIATED T HELPER CELL ANTIGEN

摘要

The present invention is a method for identifying MHC class Il-dependent disease-associated antigens. The instant method involves expressing a library of disease-derived proteins in lytic bacteriophage for subsequent presentation by antigen presenting cells to T helper cells. Disease- associated antigens are provided as are the use of such antigens in vaccines for inducing an immune response and preventing or treating disease. Moreover, the present invention provides antibodies, which specifically bind to MHC class II -dependent disease-associated antigens or epitope peptides thereof, and their diagnostic and therapeutic use.