Abstract: A method for treating an HIV disease in a subject in need of said treatment, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a DNA vaccine comprising an expression vector and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, where the expression vector comprises: (a) a heterologous promoter operatively linked to a DNA sequence encoding a nuclear-anchoring protein, where the nuclear-anchoring protein comprises: (i) a DNA binding domain which binds to a specific DNA binding sequence, and (ii) a functional domain of the Bovine Papilloma Virus Type 1 E2 protein, where the functional domain binds to a nuclear component; (b) a multimerized DNA sequence that forms a binding site for the nuclear anchoring protein; and (c) at least one expression cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a protein or peptide that stimulates an immune response specific to the protein or peptide; where the expression vector lacks an origin of replication functional in mammalian cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an alphaviral replicase, especially Semliki Forest Virus replicase, or an expression vector encoding an alphaviral replicase, said alphaviral replicase comprising RNA dependent RNA polymerase activity, for use as an immune system modulating adjuvant. The alphaviral replicase may be used in the combination with a vaccine providing an adjuvant function therein, which when present therein will generate an additional boost to the immune response in the subject to whom this combination is administered as compared to when the vaccine alone is administered to a subject in need thereof. The aim of the present invention is to provide an efficient and easy to administer, species-independent adjuvant which will provide advantages to the adjuvants used together with vaccines today.

Abstract: A method for treating an HIV disease in a subject in need of said treatment, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a DNA vaccine comprising an expression vector and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, where the expression vector comprises: (a) a heterologous promoter operatively linked to a DNA sequence encoding a nuclear-anchoring protein, where the nuclear-anchoring protein comprises: (i) a DNA binding domain which binds to a specific DNA binding sequence, and (ii) a functional domain of the Bovine Papilloma Virus Type 1 E2 protein, where the functional domain binds to a nuclear component; (b) a multimerized DNA sequence that forms a binding site for the nuclear anchoring protein; and (c) at least one expression cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a protein or peptide that stimulates an immune response specific to the protein or peptide; where the expression vector lacks an origin of replication functional in mammalian cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an alphaviral replicase, especially Semliki Forest Virus replicase, or an expression vector encoding an alphaviral replicase, said alphaviral replicase comprising RNA dependent RNA polymerase activity, for use as an immune system modulating adjuvant. The alphaviral replicase may be used in the combination with a vaccine providing an adjuvant function therein, which when present therein will generate an additional boost to the immune response in the subject to whom this combination is administered as compared to when the vaccine alone is administered to a subject in need thereof. The aim of the present invention is to provide an efficient and easy to administer, species-independent adjuvant which will provide advantages to the adjuvants used together with vaccines today.

Abstract: A method for treating an HIV disease in a subject in need of said treatment, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a DNA vaccine comprising an expression vector and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, where the expression vector comprises: (a) a heterologous promoter operatively linked to a DNA sequence encoding a nuclear-anchoring protein, where the nuclear-anchoring protein comprises: (i) a DNA binding domain which binds to a specific DNA binding sequence, and (ii) a functional domain of the Bovine Papilloma Virus Type 1 E2 protein, where the functional domain binds to a nuclear component; (b) a multimerized DNA sequence that forms a binding site for the nuclear anchoring protein; and (c) at least one expression cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a protein or peptide that stimulates an immune response specific to the protein or peptide; where the expression vector lacks an origin of replication functional in mammalian cells.

Abstract: A selection system free of antibiotic resistance genes, which is based on the use of an araD gene as a selection marker carried on a vector which is inserted in a bacterial strain deficient of the araD gene. The araD gene from E. coli encodes the L-ribulose-5-phosphate-4-epimerase. A method of selecting the cells transformed with a plasmid, which contains the araD gene. The non-antibiotic selection marker makes the system suitable for producing therapeutics. The araD gene is not essential for growth of the host but manipulation of it affects the growth under certain selective conditions. Deletion of araD leads to accumulation of substance which is toxic to the host but not to humans. The araD gene is relatively small and therefore a small plasmid may be constructed, which requires less energy for replication, and leads to increased growth rate and yield.