Abstract: This invention relates to therapeutic compositions and methods for systemic immune activation which are effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in mammals. The methods are particularly effective for protecting mammals from herpes simplex virus.

Abstract: The invention is related to polynucleotide-based cytomegalovirus vaccines. In particular, the invention is plasmids operably encoding HCMV antigens, in which the naturally-occurring coding regions for the HCMV antigens have been modified for improved translation in human or other mammalian cells through codon optimization. HCMV antigens which are useful in the invention include, but are not limited to pp65, glycoprotein B (gB), IE1, and fragments, variants or derivatives of either of these antigens. In certain embodiments, sequences have been deleted, e.g., the Arg435-Lys438 putative kinase in pp65 and the membrane anchor and endocellular domains in gB. The invention is further directed to methods to induce an immune response to HCMV in a mammal, for example, a human, comprising delivering a plasmid encoding a codon-optimized HCMV antigen as described above.

Abstract: This invention relates to therapeutic polynucleotide compositions and methods for systemic immune activation which are effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in mammals. The polynucleotide compositions are particularly effective for protecting mammals from herpes simplex virus (HSV), such as HSV gD2 polypeptides.

Abstract: The disclosure provides adjuvants, immunogenic compositions, and methods useful for vaccination and immune response. In particular, the disclosure provides a class of adjuvants comprising cationic lipid:co-lipid mixtures and methods for delivering formulated compositions.

Abstract: The disclosure provides adjuvants, immunogenic compositions, and methods useful for vaccination and immune response. In particular, the disclosure provides a class of adjuvants comprising cationic lipid:co-lipid mixtures and methods for delivering formulated compositions.

Abstract: This invention relates to therapeutic compositions and methods for systemic immune activation which are effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in mammals. The methods are particularly effective for protecting mammals from herpes simplex virus.

Abstract: This invention relates to therapeutic compositions and methods for systemic immune activation which are effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in mammals. The methods are particularly effective for protecting mammals from herpes simplex virus.

Abstract: This invention relates to therapeutic polynucleotide compositions and methods for systemic immune activation which are effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in mammals. The polynucleotide compositions are particularly effective for protecting mammals from herpes simplex virus (HSV), such as HSV gD2, VP11/12, and VP13/14 polypeptides.

Abstract: This invention relates to therapeutic polynucleotide compositions and methods for systemic immune activation which are effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in mammals. The polynucleotide compositions are particularly effective for protecting mammals from herpes simplex virus (HSV), such as HSV gD2 polypeptides.

Abstract: This invention relates to therapeutic compositions and methods for systemic immune activation which are effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in mammals. The methods are particularly effective for protecting mammals from herpes simplex virus.

Abstract: This invention relates to therapeutic compositions and methods for systemic immune activation which are effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in mammals. The methods are particularly effective for protecting mammals from herpes simplex virus.

Abstract: This invention relates to therapeutic polynucleotide compositions and methods for systemic immune activation which are effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in mammals. The polynucleotide compositions are particularly effective for protecting mammals from herpes simplex virus (HSV), such as HSV gD2, VP11/12, and VP13/14 polypeptides.

Abstract: This invention relates to therapeutic polynucleotide compositions and methods for systemic immune activation which are effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in mammals. The polynucleotide compositions are particularly effective for protecting mammals from herpes simplex virus (HSV), such as HSV VP11/12 polypeptides.

Abstract: This invention relates to therapeutic polynucleotide compositions and methods for systemic immune activation which are effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in mammals. The polynucleotide compositions are particularly effective for protecting mammals from herpes simplex virus (HSV), such as HSV gD2 polypeptides.

Abstract: This invention relates to therapeutic polynucleotide compositions and methods for systemic immune activation which are effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in mammals. The polynucleotide compositions are particularly effective for protecting mammals from herpes simplex virus (HSV), such as HSV VP13/14 polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for enhancing the immune response of a human in need of protection against influenza virus (IV) 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 IV protein or a fragment, a variant, or a derivative thereof, or a protein encoded thereby. The polynucleotide is incorporated into the cells of the human in vivo, and an immunologically effective amount of an immunogenic epitope of an IV, or a fragment, variant, or derivative thereof is produced in vivo. The IV protein (in purified form or in the form of an inactivated IV vaccine) is also administered in an immunologically effective amount.

Abstract: The invention is related to polynucleotide-based cytomegalovirus vaccines. In particular, the invention is plasmids operably encoding HCMV antigens, in which the naturally-occurring coding regions for the HCMV antigens have been modified for improved translation in human or other mammalian cells through codon optimization. HCMV antigens which are useful in the invention include, but are not limited to pp65, glycoprotein B (gB), IE1, and fragments, variants or derivatives of either of these antigens. In certain embodiments, sequences have been deleted, e.g., the Arg435-Lys438 putative kinase in pp65 and the membrane anchor and endocellular domains in gB. The invention is further directed to methods to induce an immune response to HCMV in a mammal, for example, a human, comprising delivering a plasmid encoding a codon-optimized HCMV antigen as described above.

Abstract: The invention relates to plasmids operably encoding HCMV antigens, in which the naturally-occurring coding regions for the HCMV antigens have been modified for improved translation in human or other mammalian cells through codon optimization. HCMV antigens, which are useful in the invention include, but are not limited to pp65, glycoprotein B (gB), IE1, and fragments, variants or derivatives of any of these antigens. In certain embodiments, sequences have been deleted, e.g., the Arg435-Lys438 putative kinase in pp65 and the membrane anchor and endocellular domains in gB. The invention is further directed to methods of inducing an immune response to HCMV in a mammal, for example, a human, comprising delivering a plasmid encoding a codon-optimized HCMV antigen as described above. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising plasmids encoding a codon-optimized HCMV antigen as described above, and further comprising adjuvants, excipients, or immune modulators.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides combinations of immunotherapeutics and methods for treating medical conditions that are characterized by the lack of an effective immune response, for example as would result following a down-regulation of MHC class I, such as in cancer. The immunotherapeutic compositions of the invention, which can be used to treat the medical conditions, include one or more immunostimulatory antibodies or molecules having specificity for CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, CD40, OX40, CD137, GITR, ILT2, or ILT3, or ligands for these molecules (e.g., an isolated fully-human monoclonal antibody) in association with one or more alloantigens, such as, vector(s) capable of expressing protein(s) or peptide(s) that stimulate T-cell immunity against tissues or cells, formulated in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The proteins or peptides may comprise class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens, ?2-microglobulins, or cytokines. The MHC antigen may be foreign to the subject.

Abstract: Cationic lipids having a derivatized quaternary ammonium head group that provide improved cell targeting ability and enhanced transfective efficacy for introducing molecules into cells are provided.