Institut Pasteur and Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Institut National De La Sante Et De La Recherche Medicale

Institut Pasteur

Estelle Mottez

Philippe Kourilsky

Jean-Pierre Abastado

Yu-Chun Lone

Armanda Casrouge

David Ojcius

An altered MHC class I determinant comprises .alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2, .alpha..sub.3, .beta..sub.2 -microglobulin (.beta..sub.2 m) polypeptide domains encoded by a mammalian MHC class I locus in which the .alpha..sub.3 domain is covalently linked to the .beta..sub.2 M domain. An altered MHC class II determinant comprises .alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2, .beta..sub.1, and .beta..sub.2 polypeptide domains encoded by a mammalian MHC class II locus, in which the domains are covalently linked to form a polypeptide comprising the .beta..sub.2 -.alpha..sub.2 -.alpha..sub.1 -.beta..sub.1 domains in sequence. The altered MHC class I and class II determinants can be associated with an antigen to elicit an immune response. The invention can be used in the immunization or treatment of diseases such as AIDS, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus, toxic shock or snake bite.

Altered major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determinant and methods

An altered MHC class II determinant comprises .alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2, .beta..sub.1, .beta..sub.2, domains of a mammalian MHC class II locus in which the domains are covalently linked to form a construct comprising the .beta..sub.2 -.alpha..sub.2 -.alpha..sub.1 .beta..sub.1 domains in sequence. The altered class II determinants can be associated with an antigen to elicit an immune response. In addition, the altered determinants may be used to prepare antibodies. The antibodies so produced have various diagnostic and therapeutic uses.

Altered major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determinant and method of

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Estelle Mottez