Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for the generation of an antibody or immunogenic composition, such as a vaccine, through epitope focusing by variable effective antigen surface concentration. Generally, the composition and methods of the disclosure comprise three steps: a “design process” comprising one or more in silico bioinformatics steps to select and generate a library of potential antigens for use in the immunogenic composition; a “formulation process”, comprising in vitro testing of potential antigens, using various biochemical assays, and further combining two or more antigens to generate one or more immunogenic compositions; and an “administering” step, whereby the immunogenic composition is administered to a host animal, immune cell, subject or patient. Further steps may also be included, such as the isolation and production of antibodies raised by host immune response to the immunogenic composition.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides immunogenic compositions comprising: a) hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1E2 heterodimers, HCV E2, or HCV E1; and b) an adjuvant, where the adjuvant is a cyclic dinucleotide or an archaeosome. The present disclosure provides methods of inducing an immune response in an individual to HCV, the methods comprising administering to an individual an effective amount of an immunogenic composition of the present disclosure.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, a novel and improved method for generating “mosaic” influenza antigenic polypeptides including hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) polypeptides based on unique combination of epitope patterns that maximize exposure to epitopes present across multiple HA or NA sequences and therefore improved influenza strain coverage. In particular, the present invention provides engineered H1N1 influenza hemagglutinin (HA) polypeptides that are comprised of novel combinations of protective epitopes and antigenic regions from multiple H1N1 viral strains. Such engineered HA polypeptides have improved properties over HA polypeptides developed through conventional approaches that rely on consensus alignments of viral sequences.

Abstract: The invention provides improved compositions and methods for the treatment of solid cancers.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of assessing a patient's risk of developing Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adenoviral vector capable of encoding a virus-like particle (VLP), said VLP displaying an inactive immune-suppressive domain (ISD). The vaccine of the invention shows an improved immune response from either of both of the response pathways initiated by CD4 T cells or CD8 T cells.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for obtaining a broadly neutralizing antibody (bNab), including screening memory B cell cultures from a donor PBMC sample for neutralization activity against a plurality of HIV-1 species, cloning a memory B cell that exhibits broad neutralization activity; and rescuing a monoclonal antibody from that memory B cell culture. The resultant monoclonal antibodies are characterized by their ability to selectively bind epitopes from the Env proteins in native or monomeric form, as well as to inhibit infection of HIV-1 species from a plurality of clades. Compositions containing human monoclonal anti-HIV antibodies used for prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection are provided. Methods for generating such antibodies by immunization using epitopes from conserved regions within the variable loops of gp120 are provided. Immunogens for generating anti-HIV1 bNAbs are also provided. Furthermore, methods for vaccination using suitable epitopes are provided.

Abstract: This document relates to methods and materials for making and using viruses (e.g., measles viruses or adenoviruses) having a reduced susceptibility to antibody neutralization (e.g., antibody neutralization by serum from measles virus vaccines). For example, recombinant morbilliviruses (e.g., recombinant measles viruses) having a modified H gene and a modified F gene, as well as methods of using a recombinant virus are provided.

Abstract: The present application discloses a nucleic acid composition for expressing recombinant EBIV-related genes and proteins and the use thereof. The nucleic acid composition includes a nucleic acid molecule having sequences shown in SEQ ID NO. 14, 15, 16, and 17. In the present application, a recombinant EBIV is also constructed with this nucleic acid composition. The virus not only has broad-spectrum infectivity to mammalian and mosquito cells, can be stably passaged, but also has green fluorescence, which can provide a research foundation for in vitro and in vivo virus tracing, virus detection, antiviral drugs, vaccine screening, with significant application prospects.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides heterodimeric polypeptides comprising: 1) a variant hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 polypeptide and an HCV E1 polypeptide; 2) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and an HCV E2 polypeptide; or 3) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and a variant HCV E2 polypeptide, where the variant HCV E2 polypeptide and/or the HCV E1 polypeptide comprises one or more T cell epitopes, present in an HCV polypeptide other than an HCV E1 polypeptide or an HCV E2 polypeptide. The present disclosure provides nucleic acids encoding a polyprotein that includes E1 and variant E2, E2 and variant E1, or variant E2 and variant E1. The present disclosure provides a method of producing an E1/E2 heterodimer of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides a method of inducing an immune response in an individual. The present disclosure provides variant E2 polypeptides and variant E1 polypeptides; and nucleic acids encoding same.

Abstract: Described herein are Zika virus vaccines and compositions and methods of producing and administering said vaccines to subjects in need thereof.

Abstract: An anti-cancer virus composition including an icosahedral-shaped plant virus or virus-like particle linked to a HER2 antigen is described. The anti-cancer virus composition can be used for methods of treating or decreasing the risk of developing a HER2-expressing cancer in a subject by administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the anti-cancer virus composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purifying an enveloped virus. The present invention further relates to an enveloped virus or a plurality of enveloped viruses obtainable by said method.

Abstract: The present invention relates i.a. to a recombinant avian coronavirus spike protein or fragment thereof comprising a mutation at amino acid position 267 to Cysteine. Further, the present invention relates to an immunogenic composition comprising an avian coronavirus with such spike protein.

Abstract: Compositions, recombinant vaccines and live attenuated pathogens comprising one or more isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode an immunogen in combination with an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes IL-28 or a functional fragment thereof are disclosed. Methods of inducing an immune response in an individual against an immunogen, using such compositions are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates a method of fabricating a literal flow immunoassay (LFIA) for the diagnosis of diseases, including COVID-19. The present disclosure further relates to a fusion-epitopes peptide that can be used in the LFIA test to improve sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the test.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to extracellular vesicles (EVs), e.g., exosomes, comprising a payload (e.g., an antigen, adjuvant, and/or immune modulator) and/or a targeting moiety. Also provided herein are methods for producing the EVs (e.g., exosomes) and methods for using the EVs (e.g., exosomes) to treat and/or prevent diseases or disorders, e.g., cancer, graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), autoimmune disease, infectious diseases, or fibrotic diseases.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a chimeric influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) polypeptide, comprising one or more stem domain sequence, each having at least 60% homology with a stem domain consensus sequence of H1 subtype HA (H1 HA) and/or H5 subtype HA (H5 HA), fused with one or more globular head domain sequence, each having at least 60% homology with a globular head domain consensus sequence of H1 subtype HA (H1 HA) or H5 subtype HA (H5 HA).

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the fields of oncology, virology and immunotherapy. More particularly, it concerns the use of poxviruses, specifically the replication competent attenuated vaccinia virus with deletion of thymidine kinase (VC-TK?) with and without the expression of human Flt3L or GM-CSF as oncolytic and immunotherapy. The foregoing poxviruses can also be used in combination with immune checkpoint blocking agents. The foregoing poxviruses can also be inactivated via Heat or UV-treatment and the inactivated virus can be used as immunotherapy either alone or in combination with immune checkpoint blocking agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to monoclonal antibodies which have high anti-RSV neutralizing titers. The invention further provides for isolated nucleic acids encoding the antibodies of the invention and host cells transformed therewith. The invention yet further provides for diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic methods employing the antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention, particularly as a passive immunotherapy agent in infants and the elderly.