Abstract: The present invention provides novel artificial oligopeptides capable of binding HLA Class II molecules encoded by several alleles. The oligopeptides include the sequence AX1FVAAX2TLX3AX4A (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein X1 is H; X2 is selected from the group consisting of F, N, Y and W; X3 is H and X4 is selected from the group consisting of A, D and E. The invention also relates to large peptides comprising the oligopeptides, polynucleotides encoding the oligopeptides and larger peptides, as well as to compositions comprising the oligopeptides, peptides or polynucleotides. Also disclosed are methods for inducing immune responses.

Abstract: The present invention provides polynucleotides and polypeptides capable of enhancing the immune response of a human in need of protection against influenza virus infection by administering in vivo, into a tissue of the human, at least one polynucleotide comprising one or more regions of nucleic acid encoding an influenza protein or a fragment, variant, or derivative thereof, or at least one polypeptide encoded therefrom. The present invention also relates to identifying and preparing influenza virus epitopes and to polynucleotides and polypeptides comprising such influenza virus epitopes. The present invention also relates to compositions and methods of use in the prevention and treatment of influenza virus infection.

Abstract: This invention uses our knowledge of the mechanisms by which antigen is recognized by T cells to identify and prepare Plasmodium falciparum epitopes, and to develop epitope-based vaccines directed towards malaria. More specifically, this application communicates our discovery of pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use in the prevention and treatment of malaria. In particular, this application discloses isolated peptides comprising oligopeptides, for example the oligopeptides LLACAGLAY, FLIFFDLFLV, FMKAVCVEV, VLAGLLGNV, GLIMVLSFL, KILSVFFLA, GLLGNVSTV, VLLGGVGLVL, ILSVSSFLFV, QTNFKSLLR, LACAGLAYK, ALFFIIFNK, LLACAGLAYK, HVLSHNSYEK, FILVNLLIFH, FQDEENIGIY, PSDGKCNLY, YYIPHQSSL, FYFILVNLL, KYLVIVFLI and KYKLATSVL, or isolated peptides conjugated with T helper peptides that are used as antigens in epitope-based vaccines to prevent and/or treat malaria.

Abstract: The present invention provides the means and methods for selecting immunogenic peptides and the immunogenic peptide compositions capable of specifically binding glycoproteins encoded by HLA alleles and inducing T cell activation in T cells restricted by the allele. One such peptide, NMLSTVLGV (SEQ ID NO: 183) is useful to elicit an immune response against influenza. The present invention also provides a heteropolymer of an isolated immunogenic peptide less than 15 amino acids in length comprising the oligopeptide NMLSTVLGV (SEQ ID NO: 183) and at least one different peptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel artificial oligopeptides capable of binding HLA Class II molecules encoded by several alleles. The oligopeptides include the sequence AX1FVAAX2TLX3AX4A (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein X1 is selected from the group consisting of W, F, Y, H, D, E, N, Q, I and K; X2 is selected from the group consisting of F, N, Y and W; X3 is selected from the group consisting of H and K, and X4 is selected from the group consisting of A, D and E, with the proviso that the oligopeptide sequence is not AKFVAAWTLKAAA. The invention also relates to larger peptides comprising the oligopeptides, polynucleotides encoding the oligopeptides and larger peptides, as well as to compositions comprising the oligopeptides, peptides or polynucleotides. Also disclosed are methods for inducing immune responses.

Abstract: This invention uses our knowledge of the mechanisms by which antigen is recognized by T cells to identify and prepare Plasmodium falciparum epitopes, and to develop epitope-based vaccines directed towards malaria. More specifically, this application communicates our discovery of pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use in the prevention and treatment of malaria. In particular, this application discloses isolated peptides comprising oligopeptides, for example the oligopeptide GVSENIFLK, or isolated peptides conjugated with T helper peptides that are used as antigens in epitope-based vaccines to prevent and/or treat malaria.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel artificial oligopeptides capable of binding HLA Class II molecules encoded by several alleles. The oligopeptides include the sequence AX1FVAAX2TLX3AX4A (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein X1 is selected from the group consisting of W, F, Y, H, D, E, N, Q, I and K; X2 is selected from the group consisting of F, N, Y and W; X3 is selected from the group consisting of H and K, and X4 is selected from the group consisting of A, D and E, with the proviso that the oligopeptide sequence is not AKFVAAWTLKAAA. The invention also relates to larger peptides comprising the oligopeptides, polynucleotides encoding the oligopeptides and larger peptides, as well as to compositions comprising the oligopeptides, peptides or polynucleotides. Also disclosed are methods for inducing immune responses.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel Plasmodium falciparum antigens and novel polynucleotides encoding these antigens. Also provided by the subject invention are methods of using these antigens and polynucleotides.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel artificial oligopeptides capable of binding HLA Class II molecules encoded by several alleles. The oligopeptides include the sequence AX1FVAAX2TLX3AX4A (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein X1 is selected from the group consisting of W, F, Y, H, D, E, N, Q, I and K; X2 is selected from the group consisting of F, N, Y and W; X3 is selected from the group consisting of H and K, and X4 is selected from the group consisting of A, D and E, with the proviso that the oligopeptide sequence is not AKFVAAWTLKAAA. The invention also relates to larger peptides comprising the oligopeptides, polynucleotides encoding the oligopeptides and larger peptides, as well as to compositions comprising the oligopeptides, peptides or polynucleotides. Also disclosed are methods for inducing immune responses.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel Plasmodium falciparum antigens and novel polynucleotides encoding these antigens. Also provided by the subject invention are methods of using these antigens and polynucleotides.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of biology. In particular, it relates to multi-epitope nucleic acid and peptide vaccines and methods of designing such vaccines to provide increased immunogenicity.

Abstract: the subject invention provides novel Plasmodium falciparum antigens and novel polynucleotides encoding these antigens. Also provided by the subject invention are methods of using these antigens and polynucleotides.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to peptides, and nucleic acids encoding them, derived from the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). The peptides are those which elicit a CTL and/or HTL response in a host. The invention is also directed to compositions and vaccines for prevention and treatment of HCV infection and diagnostic methods for detection of HCV exposure in patients.

Abstract: This invention uses our knowledge of the mechanisms by which antigen is recognized by T cells to identify and prepare human papillomavirus (HPV) epitopes, and to develop epitope-based vaccines directed towards HPV. More specifically, this application communicates our discovery of pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use in the prevention and treatment of HPV infection.

Abstract: This invention provides HLA-DR binding peptides, called “pan DR binding peptides” that are recognized by a broad spectrum of DR molecules. In particular, the present invention provides compositions comprising nucleic acid segments that encode such pan DR binding peptides, which are useful for enhancing the immune response to a desired immunogen.

Abstract: The present invention provides the means and methods for selecting immunogenic peptides and the immunogenic peptide compositions capable of specifically binding glycoproteins encoded by HLA-A2.1 allele and inducing T cell activation in T cells restricted by the A2.1 allele. The peptides are useful to elicit an immune response against a desired antigen.

Abstract: This invention uses our knowledge of the mechanisms by which antigen is recognized by T cells to develop epitope-based vaccines directed towards HBV. More specifically, this application communicates our discovery of pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use in the prevention and treatment of HBV infection.

Abstract: A composition or vaccine composition comprising eight isolated epitopes consisting of YLSGANLNV (SEQ. ID. NO: 1), IMIGVLVGV (SEQ. ID. NO: 2), KLBPVQLWV (SEQ. ID. NO: 3), SMPPPGTRV (SEQ. ID. NO: 4), KVAELVHFL (SEQ. ID. NO: 5), YLQLVFGIEV (SEQ. ID. NO: 6), RLLQETELV (SEQ. ID. NO: 7), and, VVLGVVFGI (SEQ. ID. NO: 8).

Abstract: Heteroclitic analogs of Class I epitopes are prepared by providing conservative or semi-conservative amino acid substitutions at positions 3 and/or 5 and/or 7 of these epitopes. The analogs are useful in eliciting immune responses with respect to the corresponding wildtype epitopes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid vaccines encoding multiple CTL and HTL epitopes and MHC targeting sequences.