Abstract: An immunogenic composition containing antigen-presenting cells and a heat shock protein or a heat shock fusion protein. Also disclosed is a method of using such a composition for enhancing cell-based immunotherapy, especially cancer immunotherapy. The method includes administering the composition to a target site.

Abstract: The invention discloses a Lac shuttle vector, comprising at least (a) a region which regulates a plasmid copy number; (b) an eukaryotic gene expression cassette, which comprises at least an eukaryotic gene transcriptional promoter sequence, a multiple cloning site and a transcriptional terminator sequence; (c) a lactic acid bacteria plasmid sequence, which comprises a plus origin of replication, and a nucleic acid sequence encoding for a protein which relates to the lactic acid bacteria plasmid replication; and (d) a non-antibiotic resistance selection gene and the promoter sequence thereof. The Lac shuttle vector features a non-antibiotic resistance gene as a selection marker, which is useful in pharmaceuticals and foods.

Abstract: The invention provides the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of a novel human tumor-associated antigen, planenta derived apoptotic factor (PDAF), and the use of these sequences in the treatment of disorders associated with immune and cell proliferation.