Abstract: Described herein, are Bovine immunodeficiency virus gag protein (“Bgag”) recombinant virus like particles (“VLPs”) including one or more different types of target pathogen proteins. Also described, are compositions including the Bgag VLPs and the methods of making and using the novel Bgag VLP.

Abstract: Transcriptional units encoding Zika virus (ZIKV) premembrane (prM) and envelope (E) proteins, which upon translation form Zika virus-like particles (VLPs), are described. Use of the transcriptional units and VLPs in three different ZIKV vaccine platforms is described. Immunoassay-based detection methods using ZIKV VLPs are described for the diagnosis of ZIKV infection.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel anti-HIV antibodies that can be used in the treatment and detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These antibodies exhibit a high degree of sensitivity and can provide a broad range of specificity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new antibody against ECSA type Chikungunya virus, WA type Chikungunya virus, and Asian type Chikungunya virus or an antigen-binding fragment of the antibody. The antibody against Chikungunya virus or the antigen-binding fragment of the antibody of the present invention includes a heavy chain variable region or a heavy chain (1), (2), or (3) and a light chain variable region or a light chain (4).

Abstract: Provided herein are HIV-1 vaccines comprising a carrier and a population episensus antigen determined using the EpiGraph approach. Also provided are HIV-1 vaccines comprising a carrier, a population episensus antigen, and a tailored antigen. Also provided are methods of designing and producing an HIV-1 vaccine for a subject comprising designing vaccine antigens to optimally cover the diversity within a geographic area using an antigen amino acid sequence generated using the EpiGraph approach, and producing said designed vaccine antigen. Also provided are methods of inducing an effector memory T cell response comprising designing the one or more EpiGraph amino acid sequences, producing a vaccine comprising the one or more EpiGraph amino acid sequences and a vector, and administering the vaccine to a subject. Further provided are methods of treating HIV-1 in a subject comprising administering an effective amount of the described HIV-1 vaccines to the subject in need thereof.

Abstract: Methods for treating coronavirus infection, such as an infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, in a subject in need thereof include administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an isolated polypeptide targeting the spike protein and the transmembrane region of the coronavirus envelope protein. Compositions include isolated polypeptides complementary to residues 30-38 of the envelope protein transmembrane region.

Abstract: Described herein are nucleic acids encoding single-domain antibodies that might serve as alternatives to conventional monoclonal antibodies for either the detection or treatment of Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV).

Abstract: Provided is a recombinant BCG employing a pMyong2 vector system to express HIV-1 p24 and a use thereof as a HIV-1 vaccine. rBCG-pMyong2-p24, which is a pMyong2 vector system, was found to induce the upregulation of HIV-1 p24 gag expression in rBCG and infected antigen-presenting cells (APC) and to induce improved p24-specific immune responses in vaccinated mice, compared to rBCG-pAL-p24 in a pAL5000 derived vector system. rBCG-pMyong2-p24 was identified to exhibit a higher p24-specific Ab production level than rSmeg-pMyong2-p24 in the same pMyong2 vector system. Therefore, the recombinant BCG employing rBCG-pMyong2-p24 to express HIV-1 p24 according to the present invention is identified to elicit enhanced immune responses to HIV-1 infection in mouse model systems and thus can be expected to be used as a prime vaccine in the heterologous prime-boost vaccination strategy against HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to Zika vaccines. In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to vaccine compositions for use in methods of protecting a human subject against Zika disease or infection, wherein said composition comprises a vaccinal for Zika such as a live attenuated or inactivated chimeric Zika virus; live attenuated Zika virus; an inactivated Zika virus; a replication-defective pseudo-infectious Zika virus; a Zika virus-like particle (VLP), a Zika protein or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the Zika vaccinal comprises or encodes altered polypeptide sequences disclosed herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to compositions and methods for anti-HIV (anti-CD4 binding site) potent VRC01-like (PVL) antibodies targeted to gp120 having an amino acid substitution at a residue in the anti-CD4 binding site PVL antibody that is equivalent to Phe43 in CD4, these antibodies having improved potency and breadth.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining whether a human immunodeficiency virus is resistant to a viral entry inhibitor. The methods are particularly useful for determining resistance to inhibitors that act by a non-competitive mechanism. In certain aspects, the methods comprise determining whether an HIV population is resistant to an HIV entry inhibitor, comprising determining a log-sigmoid inhibition curve comprising data points for entry of the HIV population in the presence of varying concentrations of the HIV entry inhibitor, wherein if the entry of the HIV population cannot be completely inhibited by the HIV entry inhibitor, the HIV population is resistant to the HIV entry inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel scaffolded HIV-1 vaccine immunogens. Some of the scaffolded immunogens contain a soluble gp140 trimer linked to the N-terminus of the nanoparticle subunit and a T-helper epitope that is fused via a short peptide spacer to the C-terminus of the nanoparticle subunit. Some other immunogens of the invention contain a soluble gp140 trimer protein that is linked to a stable nanoparticle via a short peptide spacer that is a T-helper epitope. Some of the scaffolded immunogens contain a gp140 trimer immunogen presented on a nanoparticle platform formed with I3-01 protein, E2p, or variants of protein 1VLW. Also provided in the invention are nucleic acids that encode the various vaccine immunogens described herein, and expression vectors and host cells harboring the nucleic acids. The invention further provides methods of using the scaffolded HIV-1 vaccine immunogens for preventing or treating HIV infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 for encoding a Marburg virus envelope glycoprotein, and to a human replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus capable of expressing the nucleotide sequence and a preparation method therefor, as well as an application thereof in the preparation of a vaccine against Marburg virus disease. The vaccine uses an E1 and E3 deleted replication-deficient human type-5 adenovirus as a vector, and HEK293 cells integrating an adenovirus E1 gene as a packaging cell line, and a protective antigen gene carried is a codon-optimized Marburg virus Angola strain envelope glycoprotein gene. After codon optimization of the envelope glycoprotein gene, significant expression of envelope glycoprotein can be detected in transfected cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to T cell receptors (TCRs) which bind the HLA-A*02 restricted peptide SLYNTVATL (SEQ ID NO: 1) derived from the HIV Gag gene product, p17. Said TCRs comprise non-natural mutations within the alpha and/or beta variable domains relative to a native HIV TCR. The TCRs of the invention possess unexpectedly high affinity, specificity and sensitivity for a complex of SEQ ID NO: 1 and HLA-A*02, and drive a particularly potent T cell response. Such TCRs are particularly useful in the development of soluble immunotherapeutic reagents for the treatment of HIV infected individuals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to vaccine compositions and therapeutic interventions for treating and preventing infections and diseases caused by flaviviruses, including Zika, dengue, and Usutu virus. It also relates to compositions and methods for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of flaviviruses and co-endemic pathogens.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to compositions, assays, methods and kits comprising one or more amino acid sequences of a filovirus protein, or a fragment thereof, which find use in the detection of a filovirus infection and/or the presence of antibodies specific for a filovirus in a biological sample.

Abstract: Instead of generating immune responses to several HIV proteins and risk over activating more CD4+ T cells (easy targets for HIV-1 infection) as current candidate vaccines try to do, a lower magnitude, narrowly focused, well maintained virus specific CD8+ T cell response to multiple subtypes should destroy and eliminate a few founder viruses without inducing inflammatory responses that may activate more CD4+ T cells and provide more targets for HIV-1 virus infection. Specifically, described herein is a method that focuses the immune response to the 12 protease cleavage sites.

Abstract: The invention features compositions and methods for the prevention or treatment of one or more strains of Chikungunya virus, as well as other alphavirus-mediated diseases.

Abstract: Antibodies to Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue 1 virus (DENV1) are provided. The amino acid sequences of the antibodies may be modified. Methods for prophylaxis and/or therapy by administering the antibodies and combinations thereof are provided. Immunological detection methods using the antibodies are provided. Also provided are vaccine compositions which comprise peptides derived from ZIKV and DENV1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a particle comprising a polypeptide and at least one antigen, and a composition comprising thereof.