Isolated dna molecule recombinant host cell expression vector method for preparing a polypeptide that stimulates a th1 immune response in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from an individual infected with leishmania polypeptide method to assess a patient's ability to generate an immune response method to improve a cellular and / or humoral immune response to a patient's antigen method to stimulate antibody production in a

摘要

Compounds and methods for stimulating and enhancing immune responses and for evaluating patient immune responses are disclosed. Disclosed compounds include polypeptides that contain at least a biologically active portion of a Leishmania braziliensis homolog of the eukaryotic initiation factor 4A, or a variant thereof. Such compounds are useful for stimulating a Th1 immune response and IL-12 production in patients, as well as in isolated cells and cell cultures. The polypeptides of this invention are further useful for the evaluation and treatment of patients, who may be afflicted with leishmaniasis or other disorders.