Heat shock proteins as immunological carriers and vaccines

HSPs are among the major targets of the immune response to bacterial, fungal and parasitic pathogens. The antigenic nature of HSPs is emphasized by evidence that mammals are capable of recognizing multiple B- and T cell epitopes in these proteins. The powerful immunological features of HSPs have led to their experimental use as immunomodulators and as subunit vaccine candidates. Mycobacterial hsp70 and hsp60 have been found to be excellent immunological carriers of molecules against which an immune response is desired; in the absence of adjuvants, the HSPs can stimulate strong and long-lasting immune responses against molecules which have been covalently attached to the HSPs. When used as subunit vaccines, HSPs derived from a variety of bacterial and fungal pathogens have been found to stimulate protective immunity in animal models. These studies suggest that HSPs might be used as immunomodulators or subunit vaccines against infectious disease in man.