The present invention relates to the mannose-receptor selective lysinylated cationic amphiphile and a process for preparation thereof. The compounds of the present invention can target DNA vaccines to antigen presenting cells (APCs) such as macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), via mannose receptors expressed on the cell surface of APCs. The cationic amphiphiles disclosed herein show enhanced cellular and humoral immune response compared to their mannosyl counterparts in genetic immunization in mice. The present invention discloses that immunization with electrostatic complexes (lipoplexes) of DNA vaccines encoding melanoma antigens (gp100 and tyrosinase) and liposome of the presently described novel lysinylated cationic amphiphiles with mannose-mimicking shikimoyl head-groups provides long-lasting (100 days post melanoma tumor challenge) protective immunity in all immunized mice. Cationic amphiphiles with mannose-mimicking shikimoyl head-groups described in the present invention are likely to find future applications in the field of genetic immunization.
