Abstract: Provided herein are influenza hemagglutinin stem polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides, vectors comprising said nucleic acid and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, as well as methods of their use, in particular in the prevention and/or treatment of influenza virus infections.

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: Disclosed herein are virus-like particle (VLP)-based bivalent vaccine compositions. The compositions may comprise a spherical retroviral Group-specific Antigen (“Gag”) protein core and at least two Ebola glycoproteins. The at least two Ebola glycoproteins may be located at the exterior surface of the spherical Gag protein core, such that the VLP-based vaccine presents at least two Ebola glycoprotein antigens. In one aspect, the at least two Ebola glycoproteins are a Zaire (EBOV) glycoprotein, and a Sudan (SUDV) glycoprotein.

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: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions related to the treatment, prevention, and/or amelioration of cancer in a subject in need thereof. In particular aspects, the present technology relates to the use of poxviruses, including a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus or vaccinia virus with deletion of vaccinia host-range factor C7 (MVA?C7L and VACV?C7L, respectively), alone or in combination with immune checkpoint blocking agents, as an oncolytic and immunotherapeutic composition. In some embodiments, the technology of the present disclosure relates to a MVA?C7L or VACV?C7L virus further modified to express human Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L).

Abstract: A treatment of cervical tumor caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is disclosed. Methods for improving cervical tumor treatment and methods for treating cervical tumor caused by HPV infection include administering a combination of a HPV-specific fusion protein and an immunomodulatory agent.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the field of RNA to prevent or treat coronavirus infection. In particular, the present disclosure relates to methods and agents for vaccination against coronavirus infection and inducing effective coronavirus antigen-specific immune responses such as antibody and/or T cell responses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a Zika virus (ZIKV) chimeric polyepitope comprising non-structural proteins and its use in an immunogenic composition. The present invention provides means, in particular polynucleotides, vectors and cells expressing said chimeric polyepitope. The present invention also relates to a composition or a vaccine comprising at least one of said polyepitope, polynucleotide, vector or host cell for use in the prevention of a ZIKV infection in a human subject, or for use in the prevention of ZIKV and dengue virus (DENV) infections in a human subject.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, variants of the receptor binding domain of a coronavirus (e.g., SARS-CoV-2) having increased immunogenicity and reduced aggregation, and the use of the RBD variants in methods for preventing infection of the coronavirus.

Abstract: The invention features lentiviral transfer vectors that include heterologous nucleic acids to be introduced into a cell. The lentiviral transfer vector may be characterized by the following features: (a) including a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter; (b) including a polynucleotide encoding a partial gag protein that includes a mutated INS1 inhibitory sequence that reduces restriction of nuclear export of RNA; (c) not including a polynucleotide encoding the INS2, INS3, and INS4 inhibitory sequences of gag; (d) not including an SV40 origin of replication and/or an f1 origin of replication; (e) including a cPPT sequence that contains splice site; (f) including an EF1alpha promoter with intact splice donor and acceptor sites; and (g) including hepatitis B PRE with mutation in start codon of X protein ORF.

Abstract: Provided herein are chimeric hemagglutinin (HA) polypeptides and uses thereof for inducing an immune response (e.g., an antibody response) against influenza virus. Also provided herein are methods of generating antibodies to the chimeric HA polypeptides in a subject.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a DNA vaccine for a subject having a human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated disease. The DNA vaccine may include a DNA construct including a fusion gene. The fusion gene may be a subsegment of the DNA construct that includes an optimized HPV subsequence encoding at least one HPV antigen. The optimized HPV subsequence may include one or more of: an HPV-16 E6 expressing gene set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, an HPV-16 E7 expressing gene set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, an HPV-18 E6 expressing gene set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3, and an HPV-18 E7 expressing gene set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to vaccination compositions, for example, against human papillomavirus, Zika virus, and flu virus. The disclosure also relates to vectors for producing the virus-like particles and immune complex platforms of the vaccination compositions.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for determining viruses such as coronaviruses. For instance, some aspects are directed to systems and methods for determining viruses using a partitioning system. Within the partitioning system, free RNA or other nucleic acids may preferentially partition into one phase, while intact viruses may be present in the other phase or in both phases. Accordingly, in some cases, free RNA or other nucleic acids may be preferentially removed, e.g., as compared to intact RNA or other nucleic acids present within a virus. In some cases, the phase containing intact viruses can be determined to determine the infectiousness, e.g., of a sample arising from a subject. This may be useful, for example, for distinguishing subjects who are capable of spreading an infection from those who are not infectious.

Abstract: Disclosed are virus-inspired compositions and preparation methods thereof, where the compositions comprise mutant papillomavirus L1 proteins that spontaneously form capsid backbones and that are conjugated to a peptide comprising an epitope to form immune redirector capsids (IRCs). The epitopes on the peptides are designed to be recognized by a subject's immune system based on the subject's preexisting immune memory developed from the subject's past exposure to the epitope through infection or vaccination. The mutant papillomavirus L1 proteins possess three mutations including an amino-terminal truncation, a carboxy-terminal truncation, and a truncation at helix four. These mutations in the L1 protein yield capsomeres that are form non-canonical T=1 geometry capsid backbones. Disclosed are uses and methods of using the compositions in treating and/or preventing cancers in subjects in need thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein are non-naturally occurring variants of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) Core protein, the HBV polymerase N-terminal domain, and the HBV polymerase C-terminal domain, as well as immunogenic fragments thereof. Fusion proteins comprising the HBV variants fused to a herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein (gD) sequence, as well as methods of using the fusion proteins, are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for generating engineered cells, such as cells expressing a recombinant receptor, including methods involving stimulation and/or engineering of an input composition having a defined ratio of naive-like CD4+ T cells to naive-like CD8+ T cells. In particular, the methods can be used to engineer T cells with genetically engineered receptors, such as genetically engineered antigen receptors such as engineered (recombinant) TCRs and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), or other recombinant chimeric receptors. Features of the methods include producing a more consistent and/or predictable T cell product and/or a product with lower toxicity compared with other methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide and a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide for use in a method of detecting the presence of hepatitis D virus (HDV) and/or of diagnosing an HDV infection and/or of monitoring the treatment of an HDV infection. The present invention further relates to an in vitro method, an immunographic test device as well as a kit. In particular, the present invention relates to a point of care diagnostic for HDV infections.

Abstract: The invention relates to cancer immunotherapy, particularly to improved therapeutic modalities involving specifically modulating the expression and/or activity of SLAMF6 splice variants. More specifically, embodiments of the invention provide compositions and methods for cancer therapy, including adoptive T cell transfer therapies, cell vaccines and/or polypeptide- based medicaments. In various embodiments, compositions and methods providing selective augmentation of SLAMF6 variant 3 (SLAMF6var3) N expression or activity on T cells and/or tumor cells are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to vaccine compositions comprising Norovirus antigens and adjuvants, in particular, mixtures of monovalent VLPs and mixtures of multivalent VLPs, and to methods of conferring protective immunity to Norovirus infections in a human subject.