Inventors:
Rafi Ahmed - Atlanta GA, US
Christian P. Larsen - Atlanta GA, US
Koichi Araki - Atlanta GA, US
Assignee:
EMORY UNIVERSITY - Atlanta GA
International Classification:
A61K 39/12, A61K 39/02, A61K 39/00, A61P 31/04, A61P 31/10, A61P 31/12, A61P 33/00, A61P 35/00
US Classification:
4242041, 4242341, 4242651, 4242741, 4242771
Abstract:
It is disclosed herein that treatment of a subject with an mTOR inhibitor enhances antigen-specific T cell immune responses. Thus, provided herein is a method of enhancing an antigen-specific T cell response in a subject by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an mTOR inhibitor. The antigen can be any antigen, such as an antigen from a pathogen or a vaccine, or a tumor antigen. In some embodiments, the method further comprises administering to the subject a vaccine, such as a virus vaccine or a cancer vaccine. The mTOR inhibitor can be administered either before or after vaccination to enhance the quantity and quality of the T cell immune response and immunological memory. In some examples, the mTOR inhibitor is rapamycin or a rapamycin analog.