Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, and cancers. The methods of the invention comprises complexing a population of antigenic proteins or antigenic peptides derived from antigenic cells or viral particles to one or more different heat shock proteins in vitro. The population or the protein preparation used to produce the antigenic peptides comprises at least 50% of the different proteins or at least 50 different proteins of the antigenic cells or viral particles. Methods for making antigenic peptides comprise digesting a protein preparation of antigenic cells, a cellular fraction thereof, or of viral particles with one or more proteases, or exposing the protein preparation to ATP, guanidium hydrochloride, and/or acidic conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunogenic complexes of heat shock proteins (hsp) noncovalently bound to exogenous antigenic molecules which when administered to an individual elicit specific immunological responses in the host. Methods of prevention and treatment of cancer and infectious disease are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions for the promotion of tissue repair. Specifically, compositions comprising heat shock proteins, including gp96, hsp90, and hsp70, uncompleted or completed noncovalently with antigenic molecules, are disclosed. Therapeutic methods for administering the hsp-containing compositions are disclosed. The disclosed methods are useful for promoting repair of tissues that were disrupted by a variety of causes including trauma (e.g., surgery, injury or burns) or disease or disorder (e.g., atherosclerosis and multiple sclerosis).

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for eliciting an immune response and the prevention-and treatment of primary and metastatic neoplastic diseases and infectious diseases. The methods of the invention comprise administering a composition comprising an effective amount of a complex, in which the complex consists essentially of a heat shock protein (hsp) noncovalently bound to an antigenic molecule. Optionally, the methods further comprise administering antigen presenting cells sensitized with complexes of hsps noncovalently bound to an antigenic molecule. “Antigenic molecule” as used herein refers to the peptides with which the hsps are endogenously associated in vivo as well as exogenous antigens/immunogens (i.e., with which the hsps are not complexed in vivo) or antigenic/immunogenic fragments and derivatives thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the complex is autologous to the individual. In a specific embodiment, the effective amounts of the complex are in the range of 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for making compositions comprising heat shock proteins or alpha (2) macroglobulin (“&agr;2M”), which compositions are immunogenic against a type of cancer or an agent of an infectious disease, and the compositions produced by the methods described herein. The invention further relates to methods for eliciting an immune response and the prevention and treatment of primary and metastatic neoplastic diseases and infectious diseases.

Abstract: The use of cognate heat shock protein 70-peptide complex to elicit an immune response against cancer and viral, bacterial and other infectious agents.

Abstract: The use of cognate heat shock protein 70-peptide complex to elicit an immune response against cancer and viral, bacterial and other infectious agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of using heat shock proteins (HSPs) to amplify the immune response initiated by a vaccine. HSPs can be introduced into a subject before, concurrently, or after the administration of a vaccine. The HSPs can also be used to activate antigen presenting cells which are then introduced into a subject in conjunction with a vaccine. The HSPs used in the methods of the invention can be unbound or can be covalently or noncovalently bound to a peptide that is unrelated to the vaccine. The subject is preferably mammalian, and most preferably human. It is shown by way of example herein that HSPs induces secretion of cytokines and surface expression of antigen-presenting and co-stimulatory molecules. The invention also encompasses methods of treatment and prevention of cancer and infectious diseases in a subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions for the promotion of tissue repair. Specifically, compositions comprising heat shock proteins, including gp96, hsp90, and hsp70, uncomplexed or complexed noncovalently with antigenic molecules, are disclosed. Therapeutic methods for administering the hsp-containing compositions are disclosed. The disclosed methods are useful for promoting repair of tissues that were disrupted by a variety of causes including trauma (e.g., surgery, injury or burns) or disease or disorder (e.g., atherosclerosis and multiple sclerosis).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for inhibiting the proliferation of a tumor in a mammal. The method involves the steps of (a) isolating a stress protein-peptide complex from tumor cells previously removed from the mammal and (b) administering the isolated stress protein-peptide complex back to the mammal in order to stimulate in the mammal an immune response against the tumor from which the complex was isolated. Stress protein-peptide complexes having particular utility in the practice of the instant invention include the Hsp70-peptide, Hsp90-peptide and gp96-peptide complexes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunogenic complexes of heat shock proteins (hsp) noncovalently bound to exogenous antigenic molecules which when administered to an individual elicit specific immunological responses in the host. Methods of prevention and treatment of cancer and infectious disease are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a family of vaccines that contain stress protein-peptide complexes which when administered to a mammal are operative to initiate in the mammal a cytotoxic T cell response against cells infected with a preselected intracellular pathogen. Also disclosed are methodologies for preparing and administering vaccines containing such stress protein-peptide complexes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for eliciting an immune response and the prevention and treatment of primary and metastatic neoplastic diseases and infectious diseases. The methods of the invention comprise administering a composition comprising an effective amount of a complex, in which the complex consists essentially of a heat shock protein (hsp) noncovalently bound to an antigenic molecule. Optionally, the methods further comprise administering antigen presenting cells sensitized with complexes of hsps noncovalently bound to an antigenic molecule. “Antigenic molecule” as used herein refers to the peptides with which the hsps are endogenously associated in vivo as well as exogenous antigens/immunogens (i.e., with which the hsps are not complexed in vivo) or antigenic/immunogenic fragments and derivatives thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the complex is autologous to the individual. In a specific embodiment, the effective amounts of the complex are in the range of 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for generating antigen-reactive T cells in vitro comprising priming immune cells and incubating the primed immune cells in vitro with a non-covalent complex of an heat shock protein and an antigenic molecule. The present invention further relates to methods for generating antigen-reactive CD4+ T cells for immunotherapy. Methods and compositions are also disclosed for the treatment and prevention of cancer or infectious disease in a subject comprising administering to the subject MHC matched antigen-reactive T cells that are generated in vitro by the present methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for eliciting an immune response and the prevention and treatment of primary and metastatic neoplastic diseases and infectious diseases. The methods of the invention comprise administering a composition comprising an effective amount of a complex, in which the complex consists essentially of a heat shock protein (hsp) noncovalently bound to an antigenic molecule. Optionally, the methods further comprise administering antigen presenting cells sensitized with complexes of hsps noncovalently bound to an antigenic molecule. “Antigenic molecule” as used herein refers to the peptides with which the hsps are endogenously associated in vivo as well as exogenous antigens/immunogens (i.e., with which the hsps are not complexed in vivo) or antigenic/immunogenic fragments and derivatives thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the complex is autologous to the individual. In a specific embodiment; the effective amounts of the complex are in the range of 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunogenic complexes of heat shock proteins (hsp) noncovalently bound to exogenous antigenic molecules which when administered to an individual elicit specific immunological responses in the host. Methods of prevention and treatment of cancer and infectious disease are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for eliciting an immune response and the prevention and treatment of primary and metastatic neoplastic diseases and infectious diseases. The methods of the invention comprise administering a composition comprising an effective amount of a complex, in which the complex consists essentially of a heat shock protein (hsp) noncovalently bound to an antigenic molecule. Optionally, the methods further comprise administering antigen presenting cells sensitized with complexes of hsps noncovalently bound to an antigenic molecule. “Antigenic molecule” as used herein refers to the peptides with which the hsps are endogenously associated in vivo as well as exogenous antigens/immunogens (i.e., with which the hsps are not complexed in vivo) or antigenic/immunogenic fragments and derivatives thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the complex is autologous to the individual. In a specific embodiment, the effective amounts of the complex are in the range of 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for modulating an immune response in a patient by modulating the circulating levels of CD36 ligands. In particular, an extracorporeal apheresis method is described which can be used to modulate the levels of CD36 ligands in the bloodstream of a patient in need of immunotherapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunogenic complexes of heat shock proteins (hsp) noncovalently bound to exogenous antigenic molecules which when administered to an individual elicit specific immunological responses in the host. Methods of prevention and treatment of cancer and infectious disease are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for preparing immunogenic, prophylactically and therapeutically effective complexes of heat shock proteins noncovalently associated with antigenic peptides of cancer cells. The claimed methods comprise the constructing of a cDNA library from cancer or preneoplastic cell RNA, expressing the cDNA library in an appropriate host cell, and recovering the immunogenic complexes from the cells. Large amounts of such immunogenic complexes can be obtained by large-scale culturing of host cells containing the cDNA library. The complexes can be used as a vaccine to elicit specific immune responses against cancer or preneoplastic cells, and to treat or prevent cancer.