Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of suppressing the virulence of one or more virulence antigenic factors of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Aspects of the invention include administering of an expression vector alone or in conjunction with a fusion protein. The expression vector has a transcription unit encoding a fusion protein composed of a virulence antigenic factor of MRSA attached through a linker to the aminoterminal end of the ecd CD40 ligand. The fusion protein is composed of a virulence antigenic factor of MRSA and CD40 ligand and has the ability to generate antibodies which prevents host cell infection by suppressing virulence functions of MRSA.

Abstract: Provided are expression vectors for generating an immune response to a mucin. The vectors comprise a transcription unit encoding a secretable polypeptide, the polypeptide comprising a secretory signal, a mucin antigen and CD40 ligand. Also provided are methods of generating an immune response against cells expressing a mucin by administering an effective amount of the vector. Further provided are methods of generating an immune response against cancer cells expressing a mucin in an individual by administering an effective amount of the vector. Still further provided are methods of overcoming anergy to a mucin self antigen by administering an effective amount of the vector.

Abstract: Provided are methods of generating an immune response to an antigen. The method comprises priming an individual by administering an expression vector encoding the antigen. The vector comprises a transcription unit encoding a secretable fusion protein, the fusion protein containing an antigen and CD40 ligand. Administration of a fusion protein containing the antigen and CD40 ligand is used to enhance the immune response above that obtained by vector administration alone. The methods may be used to generate an immune response against cancer expressing a tumor antigen such as a mucin or human papilloma viral tumor antigen and to generate an immune response against an infectious agent. Also provided is a method for simultaneously producing the expression vector and the fusion protein.

Abstract: Provided are expression vectors for generating an immune response to a mucin. The vectors comprise a transcription unit encoding a secretable polypeptide, the polypeptide comprising a secretory signal, a mucin antigen and CD40 ligand. Also provided are methods of generating an immune response against cells expressing a mucin by administering an effective amount of the vector. Further provided are methods of generating an immune response against cancer cells expressing a mucin in an individual by administering an effective amount of the vector. Still further provided are methods of overcoming anergy to a mucin self antigen by administering an effective amount of the vector.

Abstract: Provided are methods of generating an immune response to an antigen. The method comprises priming an individual by administering an expression vector encoding the antigen. The vectors comprises a transcription unit encoding a secretable fusion protein, the fusion protein containing an antigen and CD40 ligand. Administration of a fusion protein containing the antigen and CD40 ligand is used to enhance the immune response above that obtained by vector administration alone. The invention methods may be used to generate an immune response against cancer expressing a tumor antigen such as a mucin or human papilloma viral tumor antigen and to generate an immune response against an infectious agent. Also provided is a method for simultaneously producing the expression vector and the fusion protein.

Abstract: Provided are expression vectors for generating an immune response to a mucin. The vectors comprise a transcription unit encoding a secretable polypeptide, the polypeptide comprising a secretory signal, a mucin antigen and CD40 ligand. Also provided are methods of generating an immune response against cells expressing a mucin by administering an effective amount of the vector. Further provided are methods of generating an immune response against cancer cells expressing a mucin in an individual by administering an effective amount of the vector. Still further provided are methods of overcoming anergy to a mucin self antigen by administering an effective amount of the vector.

Abstract: A Tularemia vaccine proposes to induce antibodies which through their binding to the target proteins of the vaccine strategy will inactivate the proteins essential to mediating the secretory function of the pilus proteins of the “type IV pilus proteins” or Tfp proteins, thereby impairing the formation of the pilus proteins on the surface of the FT which are needed for binding and entry of the FT into macrophages, and will inhibit the secretion of several factors of FT which are necessary for the virulence of the FT, and which are missing in attenuated strains of FT used in current attenuate strain vaccination strategies.

Abstract: Provided are expression vectors for generating an immune response to a mucin. The vectors comprise a transcription unit encoding a secretable polypeptide, the polypeptide comprising a secretory signal, a mucin antigen and CD40 ligand. Also provided are methods of generating an immune response against cells expressing a mucin by administering an effective amount of the vector. Further provided are methods of generating an immune response against cancer cells expressing a mucin in an individual by administering an effective amount of the vector. Still further provided are methods of overcoming anergy to a mucin self antigen by administering an effective amount of the vector.

Abstract: Provided are expression vectors for generating an immune response to a mucin. The vectors comprise a transcription unit encoding a secretable polypeptide, the polypeptide comprising a secretory signal, a mucin antigen and CD40 ligand. Also provided are methods of generating an immune response against cells expressing a mucin by administering an effective amount of the vector. Further provided are methods of generating an immune response against cancer cells expressing a mucin in an individual by administering an effective amount of the vector. Still further provided are methods of overcoming anergy to a mucin self antigen by administering an effective amount of the vector.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel pharmaceutical compositions and methods of inhibiting or blocking one or more virulence antigenic factors of multiple strains of Bacillus anthracis in an individual. Specifically, it involves the administering of an expression vector alone or in conjunction with a fusion protein. The expression vector has a transcription unit encoding a fusion protein composed of an antigenic factor of Bacillus anthracis or fragment thereof attached via a linker to the aminoterminal end of the CD40 ligand. This fusion protein has the ability to generate antibodies and/or cytotoxic T cells which inhibit or block Bacillus anthracis infection in an individual.

Abstract: Provided are expression vectors for generating an immune response to a mucin. The vectors comprise a transcription unit encoding a secretable polypeptide, the polypeptide comprising a secretory signal, a mucin antigen and CD40 ligand. Also provided are methods of generating an immune response against cells expressing a mucin by administering an effective amount of the vector. Further provided are methods of generating an immune response against cancer cells expressing a mucin in an individual by administering an effective amount of the vector. Still further provided are methods of overcoming anergy to a mucin self antigen by administering an effective amount of the vector.

Abstract: Provided are expression vectors for generating an immune response to a mucin. The vectors comprise a transcription unit encoding a secretable polypeptide, the polypeptide comprising a secretory signal, a mucin antigen and CD40 ligand. Also provided are methods of generating an immune response against cells expressing a mucin by administering an effective amount of the vector. Further provided are methods of generating an immune response against cancer cells expressing a mucin in an individual by administering an effective amount of the vector. Still further provided are methods of overcoming anergy to a mucin self antigen by administering an effective amount of the vector.