Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for enhancing immune responses to a vaccine in immunocompromised individuals, including those receiving a statin therapy. Related products are also provided.

Abstract: We have developed a series of Ebola vims envelope glycoprotein (EboGP)-based chimeric fusion proteins that are still able to maintain an efficient EboGP-mediated virus entry in various cell types including human antigen-presenting cells (APCs) while presenting large viral polypeptides, such as HIV Env v3-v5 domain (as large as 241 aa), at the apex and the sides of each EboGP monomer to elicit robust host immune responses. This invention demonstrates the feasibility of an EboGP-based chimeric fusion technology as a novel vaccine approach against different microbial pathogens, including that in human and animals, and against cancers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure concern systems, methods, and/or compositions for cultivation of mammalian viruses, including at least human noroviruses and sapoviruses within the Caliciviridae family of viruses. The ex vivo culture systems include intestinal enteroids in combination with bile or a functionally active fraction or component thereof. In specific embodiments, the culture system is utilized to test inactivation compounds for therapeutic or environmental efficacy and to test contaminated comestibles and/or environmental entities for determination of the presence of infectious virus. Furthermore, antiviral compositions may be tested using systems of the disclosure, including drugs, small molecule inhibitors, and biologics such as neutralizing monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: Recombinant, live, attenuated viruses of the Pneumoviridae family are disclosed that include a baculovirus GP64 envelope glycoprotein or variant or fragment thereof and a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F protein variant or fragment thereof. Also disclosed are polynucleotides encoding the virus as well as pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines containing the virus. In addition, methods of producing and using each of the above compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided herein, the use of mammalian derived HLA class I molecule for in vitro peptide exchange. For example, there is provided a method of producing an HLA class I molecule complexed to a pre-selected peptide comprising: (a) providing a mammalian derived HLA class I molecule complexed to an existing peptide; (b) incubating, in vitro, the HLA class I molecule complexed to the existing peptide with the pre-selected peptide, wherein the pre-selected peptide is at a concentration sufficient to replace the existing peptide to produce the HLA class I molecule complexed to the pre-selected peptide; and the HLA class I molecule comprises ?1, ?2, ?3 and ?2m domains.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates in some aspects to immunogenic compositions including recombinant peptides and proteins comprising coronavirus viral antigens and immunogens, e.g., coronavirus S protein peptides. In some aspects, the immunogenic composition comprises a secreted fusion protein comprising a soluble coronavirus viral antigen joined by in-frame fusion to a C-terminal portion of a collagen which is capable of self-trimerization to form a disulfide bond-linked trimeric fusion protein. In some aspects, the immunogenic compositions provided herein are useful for generating an immune response, e.g., for treating or preventing a coronavirus infection. In some aspects, the immunogenic compositions provided herein may be used in a vaccine composition, e.g., as part of a prophylactic and/or therapeutic vaccine. Also provided herein are methods for producing the recombinant peptides and proteins, prophylactic, therapeutic, and/or diagnostic methods, and related kits.

Abstract: An isolated recombinant influenza virus is provided having PA, PB1, PB2, NP, NS, M, NA and HA viral segments, wherein the PB1 viral segment encodes a PB1 with a residue other than isoleucine at position 711 or the M viral segment encodes a M1 with a residue other than methionine at position 128, wherein the recombinant influenza virus has enhanced replication relative to a corresponding influenza virus having a PB1 viral segment that encodes a PB1 with an isoleucine at position 711 or having a M viral segment that encodes a M1 with methionine at position 128, as well as methods of making and using the virus.

Abstract: Reported herein are presumptively de-attenuating mutations that are useful, either individually or in combinations that may include other known mutations, in producing recombinant strains of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) exhibiting attenuation phenotypes. Also described herein is a novel RSV construct, Min_L-NPM2-1(N88K)L, which exhibits an attenuated phenotype, is stable and is as immunogenic as wild type RSV. The recombinant RSV strains described here are suitable for use as live-attenuated RSV vaccines. Exemplary vaccine candidates are described. Also provided are polynucleotide sequences capable of encoding the described viruses, as well as methods for producing and using the viruses.

Abstract: The invention relates to immunogenic compositions and vaccines containing a coronavirus (e.g., Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV; also referred to as SARS-CoV-2)) protein or a polynucleotide encoding a coronavirus (e.g., Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV; SARS-CoV-2)) protein and uses thereof. The invention also provides methods of treating and/or preventing a coronavirus (e.g., Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV; SARS-CoV-2)) infection by administering an immunogenic composition or vaccine to a subject (e.g., a human). The invention also provides methods of detecting and/or monitoring a protective anti-coronavirus (e.g., Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV; SARS-CoV-2)) antibody response (e.g., anti-coronavirus antibody response, e.g., anti-2019-nCoV antibody response, e.g., anti-Spike antibody response, e.g., anti-Spike neutralizing antibody response).

Abstract: The present invention relates to retroviral particle comprising a protein derived from the Gag polyprotein, an envelope protein, optionally an integrase and at least two encapsidated non-viral RNAs, the encapsidated non-viral RNAs each comprising an RNA sequence of interest bound to an encapsidation sequence, each encapsidation sequence being recognized by a binding domain introduced into the protein derived from the Gag polyprotein and/or into the integrase, and at least one of said sequences of interest of the encapsidated non-viral RNAs comprises a part coding at least one epitope and/or at least one molecular structure specifically recognizing an epitope.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide novel compositions, methods of use and methods for single composition, multi-dose, thermostable vaccine formulations. In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides compositions and methods for dehydrating immunogenic agents in the presence of glass-forming agents, and coating the particles formed by the glass-forming agents. In other embodiments, the present disclosure provides for generating compositions for administering an immunogenic composition to a subject multiple times using a single immunogenic composition capable of time-release administration. In other embodiments, single-dose immunogenic agent-containing particles can be directed to two or more pathogens.

Abstract: Provided is a recombinant polypeptide containing at least one immunogenic fragment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike glycoprotein, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same.

Abstract: Disclosed are a fusion peptide of CD4 helper T cell epitopes, a nucleic acid encoding the same and an immunogenic composition comprising the same. The epitope fusion peptide comprises a cytomegalovirus epitope and an influenza virus epitope. The epitope fusion peptide can substantially improve the level of cellular immune response to a target immunogen, particularly a weak immunogen, and is an effective means for overcoming the immune tolerance of immune system to an antigen, particularly to a tumor antigen or an infection-related antigen, and is suitable for efficiently enhancing the efficacy of vaccine.

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: One embodiment according to the present invention relates to a primer set for detecting SARS-CoV-2, the set comprising a plurality of LAMP primers targeting one or more open reading frame (ORF) regions in a SARS-CoV-2 genome, wherein the one or more ORF regions are selected from the group consisting of Orf1b, OrfM, OrfN, and OrfS; and a technique relating to use of this primer set.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated, recombinant or synthetic polypeptide comprising an Env polypeptide of an HIV virus, the Env polypeptide comprising at least the amino acid residues K275, D276 and R278, wherein said numbering is according to the HxB2 reference sequence having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a process for purifying virus particles from cell culture, comprising the steps of subjecting the cell culture to centrifugation to get a supernatant fraction of virus particles, incubating said fraction with a nuclease, diluting the fraction with low conductivity buffer, subjecting said diluted fraction to a SO3 chromatography step, performing a washing step with low conductivity buffer, and eluting virus particles.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions, methods, and kits for the treatment or prevention of viral infections. The polyvalent (e.g., 2-valent) vaccines described herein incorporate computationally-optimized viral polypeptides that can increase the diversity or breadth and depth of cellular immune response in vaccinated subjects.

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: An immunogenic CD40-targeted trimeric MERS-CoV S1 fusion polypeptide as well as a corresponding polynucleotide encoding it and its use for safely inducing immune responses directed against MERS-CoV without inducing vaccine associated respiratory pathologies associated with non-targeted vaccines.