HCV复合多表位抗原基因的克隆表达及其免疫学特性分析

目的构建丙型肝病炎病毒（HCV）截短C基因和多表位基因重组原核表达质粒,表达纯化融合蛋白,分析其免疫原性和抗原性。方法PCR方法扩增核心区羧基端部分缺失的基因片段Ct;合成HCVE2区模拟表位与NS3～NS57个表位基因Em;分别将Ct、Em克隆人原核表达质粒pQE30,筛选阳性重组质粒pQE30-CtEm,转化E．coli M15,IPTG诱导融合蛋白表达,薄层扫描分析表达蛋白;可溶性分析后用Ni^2＋-NTA凝胶亲和层析柱纯化、透析并浓缩融合蛋白;Westernblot分析纯化蛋白的特异性和抗原性;纯蛋白免疫小鼠后分析其免疫原性。结果成功构建了HCV复合多表位抗原基因的原核表达质粒pQE30-CtEm,目的基因可高效表达,表达产物主要以包涵体形式存在,Ni^2＋-NTA纯化可获得目的蛋白,纯化蛋白具有良好的抗原性和免疫原性。结论HCV复合多表位抗原基因融合蛋白可高效表达并得到纯化,该融合蛋白可作为HCV诊断抗原,也为丙型肝炎新型疫苗的研究提供了靶抗原。     

HIV-1C亚型nef基因构建的DNA质粒诱导小鼠免疫反应的研究

目的构建表达中国流行株HIV-1C亚型调控nef基因的重组质粒pVAX-nef，并免疫BALB／c小鼠，观察其免疫效果，为探索新型HIV DNA疫苗提供数据。方法利用分子生物学技术，将nef基因克隆到pVAX，并在体外进行表达与鉴定。以纯化的Nef蛋白作为包被抗原，用ELISA检测其体液免疫反应，用ELISPOT检测其细胞免疫反应。结果重组质粒pVAX-nef成功构建。接种小鼠后2周，ELISPOT结果显示产生了针对HIV特异的CD4和CD8细胞抗原表位的免疫应答，且与免疫剂量存在一定的正相关性。ELISA实验诱导产生了抗HIV-1特异性抗体，其中40μg免疫组诱导的抗体水平最高。结论重组质粒pVAX-nef免疫小鼠后可有效地诱导机体产生细胞免疫和体液免疫反应。     

用于治疗尖锐湿疣的HPV6型L2△N360E7E6融合蛋白的原核表达及其免疫效果的初步评价

目的 原核表达人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）6型L2AN360E7E6融合蛋白并对其免疫效果进行初步评价.方法 用重叠PCR将HPV6b 12（1～360 bp）、E7、E6三个基因片段融合,原核表达HPV6bL2△N360E7E6融合蛋白,蛋白纯化后与Al（OH）3、CpG佐剂配伍肌内注射免疫C57BL/6小鼠,使用IFN-γ ELISPOT与ELISA分别对其细胞免疫和体液免疫效果进行评价.结果 蛋白＋CpG佐剂组与其他免疫组相比,针对E7与E6均有明显较强的细胞免疫反应;各免疫组均能检测到高滴度的抗L2的抗体,但各组之间无明显差异.结论 利用pQE30原核表达系统成功克隆、表达和纯化了HPV6bL2△N360E7E6融合蛋白,且该蛋白与合适佐剂配伍能在C57BL/6小鼠体内诱发强的细胞免疫和体液免疫反应,为该蛋白的后期研究奠定了基础.     

TRPM2蛋白在大肠杆菌的表达纯化和多克隆抗体制备

目的 获得人瞬时受体电位M2(TRPM2)离子通道蛋白N末端的原核表达融合蛋白,制备兔抗人TRPM2多克隆抗体.方法 采用PCR扩增编码人TRPM2蛋白N末端l～334位氨基酸残基(在人与小鼠中高度保守)的cDNA序列,将其克隆至谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)融合蛋白表达质粒pGEX-4T-3上.将原核表达重组质粒转化BL21(DE3)感受态细胞,IPTG诱导GST-TRPM2N融合蛋白的表达,并纯化获得相对分子质量(Mr)约70 000的GST-TRPM2融合蛋白.将此融合蛋白与弗氏完全佐剂混合后采用经典的4次免疫法免疫新西兰大白兔制备多克隆抗体,用Western blot法对该抗体进行鉴定.结果 通过PCR扩增获得编码TRPM2蛋白N末端的cDNA片段并将其定向克隆至原核表达载体pGEX-4T3中,采用IPTG诱导、蛋白质的变性与复性纯化获得融合蛋白GST-TRPM2N,将纯化的融合蛋白免疫新西兰大白兔,制备获得特异性抗TRPM2蛋白的多克隆抗体.结论 成功制备了特异性抗人TRPM2蛋白的多克隆抗体.     

EGFRvIII/PEP-3 cDNA与HBcAg重组基因原核表达载体的构建、表达与免疫分析

目的:构建EGFRvIII与HBcAg重组基因的原核表达质粒,进行原核表达、纯化,观察表达蛋白的免疫原性和抗原性。方法:通过双酶切从pGEM-TEasy/PEP-3载体获得编码EGFRvIII突变区的cDNA片段,插入去除了主要免疫优势区的重组质粒pGEMEX/HBcAg中,获得重组质粒pGEMEX/c-PEP-3-c,将重组基因亚克隆于原核表达载体pET28a( )中,通过IPTG诱导蛋白表达,利用Ni2 -NTA亲和层析法对融合蛋白进行纯化;用融合蛋白常规免疫BALB/c小鼠,用间接ELISA检测小鼠血清中抗体的滴度。结果:经酶切鉴定、序列测定证实融合基因已插入pET28a( )载体中,融合基因序列与设计序列完全一致。原核表达后表达量占沉淀全菌蛋白的56%,纯化产物占总蛋白的92%,浓度约8g/L。BALB/c小鼠经4次免疫后,其血清中中和抗体的滴度可达1∶16000,第6次免疫后血清中中和抗体的滴度达到1∶2.56×105,抗PEP-3抗体滴度达到1∶1.28×105,抗HBcAg抗体滴度小于1∶4×103。结论:融合基因PEP-3-HBcAg在大肠杆菌中可获得高效表达,表达的融合蛋白可以诱导小鼠产生高滴度和高特异性中和抗体,从而为高表达EGFRvIII恶性肿瘤基因工程疫苗的研究奠定基础。     

His 标记 STAT4(565-748 氨基酸)肽段融合蛋白原核表达及纯化

目的:构建His 标记的人STAT4 C-端565-748 氨基酸肽段原核表达载体,埃希氏菌中诱导表达,并纯化蛋白。方法:PCR 扩增编码STAT4 C-端565-748 氨基酸肽段的基因片段,克隆到pET-28a 原核表达载体,转化感受态细菌BL21,IPTG诱导蛋白表达,经包涵体变性、复性、树脂纯化、透析。免疫印迹鉴定纯化的融合蛋白。结果:PCR 扩增获得目的片段,克隆到pET-28a,转化感受态细胞,IPTG诱导发现融合蛋白存在于包涵体。经变性、复性、树脂纯化和透析,免疫印迹实验发现融合蛋白表达、被纯化。结论:成功构建人STAT4(565-748aa)肽段原核表达质粒并获纯化融合蛋白。     

人肝再生增强因子单克隆抗体的制备:以非纯化的大肠杆菌表达抗原筛选杂交瘤

目的 :利用杂交瘤技术、以非纯化的大肠杆菌表达重组蛋白作为筛选抗原 ,制备小鼠抗人肝再生增强因子(hALR)的单克隆抗体。方法 :用实验室纯化的重组hALR 硫氧环蛋白融合蛋白免疫BALB c小鼠 ;小鼠脾细胞与SP2 0骨髓瘤细胞融合后经HAT选择培养基筛选杂交瘤 ;以重组质粒pQE30 hALR与空质粒pQE30在大肠杆菌中诱导表达后的细菌裂解产物作为筛选抗原和对照抗原 ,用ELISA方法筛选能分泌抗hALR单克隆抗体的阳性杂交瘤细胞克隆 ;进一步以ELISA方法和免疫印迹方法检测该杂交瘤细胞产生的抗体对真核细胞表达的重组hALR及人体血清中天然hALR的反应性。结果 :成功筛选出一株能稳定分泌抗hALR单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞 ;其产生的抗体能对真核细胞表达的重组hALR及人体血清中天然的hALR发生特异的抗原抗体反应。结论 :大肠杆菌表达的重组蛋白在以空质粒表达产物作为对照下 ,不经过任何纯化步骤也能够用于单克隆抗体制备中的杂交瘤筛选 ;hALR单克隆抗体为深入研究hALR提供了研究手段。     

小鼠肺炎链球菌脂蛋白SPD_1609多克隆抗体的制备

目的制备肺炎链球菌脂蛋白SPD_1609的小鼠多克隆抗体。方法通过PCR扩增肺炎链球菌D39菌株中的spd_1609基因,连接到原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1上,构建重组质粒pGEX-4T-1609。将重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),用异丙基β-D-硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导表达谷胱甘肽巯基转移酶-SPD_1609(GST-1609)融合蛋白。利用GST亲和层析柱纯化GST-1609融合蛋白,纯化后的融合蛋白用凝血酶(thrombin)外切酶切掉GST标签,进一步通过GST亲和层析得到SPD_1609蛋白。用纯化的不含GST标签的SPD_1609蛋白免疫小鼠,制备多克隆抗体,用ELISA检测抗体的效价, Western blot法检测抗体的特异性。结果成功构建了原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1609,经GST亲和层析柱分离纯化后可得到相对分子质量(M_r)35 000的SPD_1609蛋白,蛋白纯度在95%以上。ELISA检测结果显示纯化后的SPD_1609蛋白可诱导小鼠产生特异性免疫应答,免疫小鼠血清抗体的效价达1∶40 960, Western blot法检测显示此多克隆抗体可以特异地识别原核表达和肺炎链球菌细胞内表达的SPD_1609蛋白。结论成功制备具有较好特异性的SPD_1609蛋白的小鼠多克隆抗体。     

小鼠GITRL融合蛋白的表达、纯化及免疫原性的研究

目的:构建含小鼠GITRL基因原核表达载体,经转化E.coli以表达GITRL融合蛋白,纯化蛋白并制备相应的抗血清.方法:将GITRL-pMD18-T重组质粒经EcoRⅠ和SalⅠ双酶切回收目的基因,与原核表达载体PET32a连接,应用电转法转化BL21(DE3)菌.阳性克隆经鉴定后用IPTG诱导GITRL蛋白表达,经Ni+-NTA层析柱纯化融合蛋白,通过SDS-PAGE、Western blot进行特异性鉴定,CD4+CD25+T细胞免疫抑制试验验证其生物学功能.采用弗氏完全佐剂常规免疫方案,制备抗GITRL抗血清,抗血清的效价和特异性测定采用双向琼脂免疫扩散法.结果:经酶切鉴定和测序分析证实原核表达质粒构建正确,SDS-PAGE和Western blot结果显示,在40 kD处呈现单一蛋白条带,该蛋白具有阻断CD4+CD25+T细胞免疫抑制功能的作用,双向免疫扩散结果显示兔抗小鼠GITRL抗血清效价为1∶16.结论:成功构建GITRL原核表达质粒,制备和纯化的GITRL融合蛋白具有较好的纯度和生物学功能,制备并获得特异性抗血清,可用于GITRL融合蛋白生物学活性的进一步研究.     

人源Nodal成熟肽的原核表达及多克隆抗体的制备

目的:表达人Nodal成熟肽,免疫小鼠制备其多克隆抗体。方法:构建原核表达质粒pReceiver-hNodal,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),经IPTG诱导表达His6-hNodal融合蛋白,融合蛋白经Ni-NTA树脂亲和纯化后,回收融合蛋白,免疫BALB/c小鼠制备多克隆抗体。通过间接ELISA、Westernblot和免疫细胞化学染色和间接免疫荧光等方法检测抗体的效价和特异性。结果:在大肠杆菌中高效表达了与预期理论值大小相符的Mr约13 000的人Nodal成熟肽的融合蛋白,通过免疫小鼠制备的多克隆抗体效价高、特异性强。结论:成功制备了抗人Nodal成熟肽多克隆抗体,为进一步深入研究Nodal在肿瘤发生发展过程中的生物学功能奠定了基础。     

恙虫病东方体58kDa热休克蛋白与47kDa外膜蛋白的基因嵌合及58-47嵌合基因在大肠杆菌中的表达

采用PCR方法 ,从恙虫病东方体Karp株基因组DNA中扩增 5 8kDa热休克蛋白的基因 ,将该基因分别与原核表达载体pQE30及 4 7kDa外膜蛋白的基因重组质粒 (pQE30 4 7)连接 ,构建pQE30 5 8及pQE30 5 8 4 7重组质粒 ,用重组质粒转化大肠杆菌。SDS PAGE显示 ,pQE30 5 8和pQE30 5 8 4 7转化的大肠杆菌分别产生一 5 8kDa重组蛋白和一 90kDa的双抗原 (5 8- 4 7)融合蛋白。免疫印迹分析显示Karp株免疫血清能特异识别 5 8kDa重组蛋白和 90kDa融合蛋白 ,90kDa融合蛋白既与 4 7kDa重组蛋白也与 5 8kDa重组蛋白的免疫血清特异反应 ,5 8kDa与 4 7kDa重组蛋白也被 90kDa融合蛋白免疫血清所识别。研究结果证明 5 8 4 7融合蛋白具有恙虫病东方体Karp株 4 7kDa外膜蛋白和 5 8kDa热休克蛋白的抗原特性     

Comparative study of the antigenic and immunogenic properties of native and recombinant Marburg virus VP35 proteins]

Antigenic structure of Marburg virus (MBG) VP35 was compared with that of the recombinant VP35 (f35) expressed in a prokaryotic system. For this purpose, a gene encoding the full-length VP35 was cloned in vector pQE31(QIAGEN) and expressed at about 70 mg/liter culture fluid in Escherichia coli JM103 as a recombinant fusion protein f35. BALB/c mice were immunized with soluble f35 or purified inactivated virions of MBG. Antibodies cross-reacting with VP35 and f35 antigens were detected by ELISA and Western Blot analysis in immune sera. Serum from a convalescent after Marburg disease and polyclonal antibodies from animals immunized with MBG recognized f35 and the MBG VP35. VP35 and its recombinant analog induced the production of specific antiviral antibodies in mice, which cross-reacted with the studied antigens. Competitive EIA showed that VP35 and f35 cross-inhibit the antigenic reactivity with polyclonal antibodies of immune sera. Antigenic structure of f35 protein corresponded to antigenic structure of MBG VP35 protein.     

抗多囊蛋白1氨基端单克隆抗体的制备和鉴定

目的 :用杂交瘤技术制备抗多囊蛋白 1胞外区氨基端的单克隆抗体 (mAb) ,并对其特异性进行鉴定。方法 :以肾组织总RNA为模板 ,用RT PCR扩增多囊蛋白 1胞外区氨基端的编码基因PKD1cDNA。将该基因克隆到融合蛋白表达载体pQE3 0中 ,转染大肠杆菌M15。以异丙基硫代半乳糖苷 (IPTG)诱导表达多囊蛋白 1胞外区氨基端的组氨酸融合蛋白 (PC1 e2 ) ,用亲和层析法纯化。以纯化的融合蛋白作为抗原免疫BALB/c小鼠 ,取小鼠脾细胞与小鼠骨髓瘤细胞株Sp2 / 0进行细胞融合 ,间接ELISA筛选阳性克隆 ,有限稀释法进行单克隆化。mAb的特异性用间接ELISA和Westernblot鉴定。结果 :克隆到两个编码多囊蛋白 1氨基端的cDNA片段 (50 2bp和 471bp)。构建的表达质粒经酶切和DNA测序证实 ,为所需要的质粒。表达出相对分子质量 (Mr)分别为 1980 0和 1890 0的融合蛋白 ,经Westernblot鉴定 ,均为多囊蛋白 1的融合蛋白。用Mr 为 1890 0的融合蛋白免疫小鼠 ,得到杂交瘤细胞株 7B1。Westernblot分析表明 ,该细胞株分泌的mAb能特异地与多囊蛋白 1氨基端结合。结论 :本实验表达了PKD1多拷贝区所编码的PC1 e2 ,成功地制备了抗多囊蛋白 1胞外区N端的mAb。     

The immunization of A2/K(b) transgenic mice with the KMP11-HSP70 fusion protein induces CTL response against human cells expressing the T. cruzi KMP11 antigen: identification of A2-restricted epitopes

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte response against Jurkat-A2/K(b) cells expressing the T. cruzi KMP11 protein has been evaluated after immunization of C57BL/6-A2/K(b) transgenic mice with the KMP11 and KMP11-HSP70 recombinant proteins. The results show that mice immunized with KMP11 covalently fused to the T. cruzi HSP70 protein, but not mice immunized with KMP11 alone, elicit a CTL response against the Jurkat-A2/K(b) cells expressing the KMP11 protein. The data also show that spleen cells from mice immunized with the fusion protein and stimulated with the K1 peptide induce lysis of both the Jurkat-A2/K(b) cells transfected with the KMP11 coding gene and the Jurkat-A2-K(b) cells pulsed with the K1 peptide. Splenocytes stimulated with the K3 peptide induce lysis of the Jurkat-A2/K(b) cells loaded with the K3 peptide but they do not recognize the target cells expressing the KMP11 protein. Similar results were obtained using lymph node from mice immunized with the peptides. Thus, we believe there are two cytotoxic T cell epitopes restricted to the A2 molecule (K1(KMP11) (4-12) and K3(KMP11) (41-50)) in the KMP11 protein, and suggest that the K1 peptide could be considered an immunodominant antigen whilst the K3 peptide may be regarded as a cryptic epitope. The fact that the CTL lines induced in B6-A2/K(b) mice recognize human cells expressing KMP11 protein, indicates that the KMP11 antigen fused to HSP70 could be a good candidate for the induction of immunoprotective cytotoxic responses against T. cruzi natural infection.     

人乳头瘤病毒16型E4蛋白表达、纯化及抗血清制备

目的 表达人乳头瘤病毒16型(HPV16) E4蛋白,并制备小鼠抗HPV16 E4血清.方法 将HPV16 E4基因克隆入pQE30,重组质粒pQE30-HPV 16E4经鉴定后转化大肠埃希菌M15(PREP4),诱导表达并鉴定表达产物.因纯化、变性和复性方法,制备可溶性HPV16 E4蛋白.免疫Bal B/C小鼠制备抗血清,检测小鼠IFN-γ水平、CD4/CD8比值和抗血清滴度变化.结果 酶切和测序结果表明pQE30-HPV16F4构建成功.表达分子相对分子量(Mr)为10 000,Western blot法证明具有较高特异性.小鼠抗血清效价升高,CD4/CD8无升高,小鼠γ干扰素(IFN-γ)无升高.结论 成功制备可溶性HPV16 E4蛋白和小鼠抗HPV16 E4高效价的抗血清.     

Fusion protein of ATPase domain of Hsc70 with TRP2 acting as a tumor vaccine against B16 melanoma

HSP70s are a family of ATP-dependent chaperones of relative molecular masses around 70kDa. Immunization of mice with HSP70 isolated from tumor tissues has been proved to elicit specific protective immunity against the original tumor. Recent researches have demonstrated that the ATPase domain of HSP70 and the tumor antigenic peptide that binds to Hsp70 were the crucial parts eliciting tumor-specific immunity. These findings suggested that a recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli, comprising a covalently fused fragment of tumor rejection antigen to ATPase domain of HSP70, could be used as a tumor vaccine. However, high-level expressions of heterologous recombinant proteins in E. coli often lead to the formation of inclusion bodies, resulting in defects in solubility and bioactivity. In the present work, we found an approach to resolve these problems, focusing on a refolding procedure via gel-filtration chromatography for denatured inclusion body proteins. Here, we expressed, purified and refolded a fusion protein comprising murine heat shock cognate protein 70 (Hsc70) N-terminal ATPase domain (Hsc70NTD) and a portion of TRP2 (aa153-417) as a model protein. The refolding effectivities were assessed according to their ATPase activities, the vaccine function was assessed according to immunization effect in inducing antigen-specific CTLs and to in vivo tumor protection. The results showed that the fusion protein refolded via gel-filtration chromatography exhibited ATPase activity, succeeded in eliciting antigen-specific CTL in vivo and delayed tumor growth on tumor-bearing mice.     

Polyglutamine length-dependent interaction of Hsp40 and Hsp70 family chaperones with truncated N-terminal huntingtin: their role in suppression of aggregation and cellular toxicity

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by polyglutamine expansion in the disease protein, huntingtin. In HD patients and transgenic mice, the affected neurons form characteristic ubiquitin-positive nuclear inclusions (NIs). We have established ecdysone-inducible stable mouse Neuro2a cell lines that express truncated N-terminal huntingtin (tNhtt) with different polyglutamine lengths which form both cytoplasmic and nuclear aggregates in a polyglutamine length- and inducer dose-dependent manner. Here we demonstrate that newly synthesized polyglutamine-expanded truncated huntingtin interacts with members of Hsp40 and Hsp70 families of chaperones in a polyglutamine length-dependent manner. Of these interacting chaperones, only Hdj-2 and Hsc70 frequently (Hdj-2 > Hsc70) co-localize with both the aggregates in the cellular model and with the NIs in the brains of HD exon 1 transgenic mice. However, Hdj-2 and Hsc70 do not co-localize with cytoplasmic aggregates in the brains of transgenic mice despite these chaperones being primarily localized in the cytoplasmic compartment. This strongly suggests that the chaperone interaction and their redistribution to the aggregates are two completely different phenomena of the cellular unfolded protein response. This unfolded protein response is also evident from the dramatic induction of Hsp70 on expression of polyglutamine-expanded protein in the cellular model. Transient overexpression of either Hdj-1 or Hsc70 suppresses the aggregate formation; however, suppression efficiency is much higher in Hdj-1 compared with Hsc70. Overexpression of Hdj-1 and Hsc70 is also able to protect cell death caused by polyglutamine-expanded tNhtt and their combination proved to be most effective.     

幽门螺杆菌UreB-Omp11融合蛋白的重组疫苗候选株构建和融合蛋白的表达、纯化及免疫学活性

目的:构建幽门螺杆菌(Hp)UreB-Omp11融合蛋白的重组疫苗候选株,在大肠杆菌中表达UreB-Omp11融合蛋白,并检测其免疫学活性。方法:用PCR方法扩增郑州分离Hp菌株MEL-HP27的ureB和omp11基因并用重叠延伸PCR法获得ureB-omp11融合基因,将融合基因ureB-omp11插入原核表达载体pET30a( )、pET28a( )及pMAL-c2X中,筛选出合适的表达系统并进行融合蛋白的表达,采用Western blot对表达产物进行鉴定,并用Amylose亲和层析法纯化融合蛋白,应用SDS-PAGE方法对纯化产物进行分析,纯化的融合蛋白辅以免疫佐剂皮下免疫小鼠,Western blot对免疫小鼠血清进行检测。结果:特异PCR法、酶切鉴定并经测序分析后证实融合基因ureB-omp11克隆入表达载体pET30a( )、pET28a( )与pMAL-c2X中;重组菌TB1(pMAL-ureB-omp11)经诱导获得了高效表达的MBP-UreB-Omp11融合蛋白,该融合蛋白可以被Hp免疫小鼠血清和Hp阳性患者血清中的相应抗体所识别,纯化后的融合蛋白纯度达90%以上。通过大肠杆菌抗原吸收法纯化免疫小鼠血清后,与纯化的融合蛋白进行杂交,结果显示在Mr134000处出现特异杂交带,融合蛋白具有良好的免疫原性和免疫反应性。结论:成功地构建并筛选出了HpMELHP27融合蛋白UreB-Omp11的重组疫苗候选株TB1(pMAL-ureB-omp11),为Hp蛋白质疫苗和核酸疫苗的研制奠定了基础。     

Humoral Epitope-Spreading Following Immunization with a HER-2/neu Peptide Based Vaccine in Cancer Patients

HER-2/neu is a tumor antigen in patients with breast and ovarian cancer. Multiple varieties of vaccine strategies are being developed to immunize patients against HER-2/neu. Studies in animal models have demonstrated both T cell and antibody immunity are needed to mediate an antitumor response. Thirty-five patients, immunized with HER-2/neu peptide based vaccines, were evaluated for the generation of HER-2/neu-specific antibody immunity. Sixty percent of patients developed HER-2/neu IgG specific antibody responses to at least one peptide included in their vaccine. Twenty-nine percent of patients developed IgG immunity to the native HER-2/neu protein after peptide immunization. Humoral intramolecular epitope-spreading within the HER-2/neu protein occurred in 49% of immunized patients. Intermolecular epitope-spreading to p53 was evident in 20% of vaccinated patients. Of those patients who developed new immunity to p53, 71% had demonstrated antibody epitope-spreading within HER-2/neu.