Abstract: An experiment has shown that ranpirnase is a microbicide. It is believed that topical application of a topical pharmaceutical composition consisting essentially of a prophylactically effective concentration of an enzymatically-active ribonuclease (e.g. ranpirnase) and a viscous vehicle that does not unacceptably interfere with the enzymatic activity (e.g. K-Y® Brand Jelly) will prophylactically protect an individual from a sexually-transmitted viral infection, particularly HIV. It is also believed that e.g. ranpirnase can be delivered to tissues of an individual who is to be prophylactically protected against viral infections by transfecting ranpirnase DNA into human microbiota and exposing the individual to the thus-modified human microbiota. It is also believed that ranpirnase can be delivered to a woman who is to be prophylactically protected against a sexually-transmitted viral infection by use of an intravaginal ring that has been impregnated with ranpirnase.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to an HIV-1 vaccine and, in particular, to a B cell lineage-based vaccination protocol.

Abstract: This invention provides antibodies or fragments thereof that are capable of specifically binding to at least one conformational epitope of Human Enterovirus 71 (EV71), wherein the antibody individually comprises at least one variable light chain and at least one variable heavy chain. There is also provided a method of producing an antibody capable of specifically binding to at least one conformational epitope of Human Enterovirus 71 (EV71).

Abstract: Compositions, methods and kits are provided for treating complement related disorders in a subject with protein in combination having protein fusions of at least two of a CD46 protein, a CD55 protein and a CD59 protein or with a recombinant chimeric protein having at least two of a CD46 protein, a CD55 protein and a CD59 protein or with nucleic acids encoding these proteins. The composition negatively modulates classical and alternative complement pathways thereby treating complement related disorder such as macular degeneration, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, inflammatory bowel disease, thyroiditis, cryoglobulinaemia, fetal loss, organ graft rejection, cancer, etc.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to compositions of and methods for live attenuated alphaviruses. In certain embodiments, a live, attenuated virus composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more live, attenuated alphaviruses and compositions to reduce inactivation and/or degradation of the live, attenuated alphavirus. In other embodiments, the live, attenuated virus composition may be a vaccine composition. In yet other compositions, a live, attenuated alphavirus composition may include HEPES buffer. In other embodiments, the HEPES buffer may further include a carbohydrate and gelatin and/or a salt.

Abstract: Described are methods for preparing virosomes comprising the steps of: (a) providing an enveloped virus, and optionally inactivating the virus; (b) solubilizing the viral envelopes in a first solubilizing agent; (c) pre-solubilizing exogenous components in a second solubilizing agent; (d) adding the pre-solubilized exogenous components to the solubilized viral envelopes; and (e) reconstituting virosomal membranes by removing the solubilizing agent. According to the disclosure, the viral envelopes and the exogenous components are (pre-)solubilized at a temperature below 33° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to adenoviral vectors, wherein the viral capsid has been coated with polypeptides, which are capable of stimulating a peptide-specific immune response in a subject and uses thereof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods of treating diseases, e.g. cancer, by adenoviral vectors which have been coated by polypeptides causing peptide-specific immune response. Also the present invention relates to a method of coating adenoviral vectors by specific peptides as well as to a method of identifying those peptides suitable for coating the capsid of an adenoviral vector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant adenoviruses and vectors thereof. In particular, the adenoviruses are novel simian adenoviruses having a low seroprevalence and high immunogenicity relative to other adenoviruses and vectors thereof. The invention also provides methods for production of the adenoviruses and for the treatment of diseases by administering the adenoviral vector(s) to a subject (e.g., a human).

Abstract: Provided herein are methods related to co-packaging of multiple rAAV particles, e.g., by introducing multiple nucleic acid vectors encoding proteins or polypeptides or RNAs of interest into a single cell preparation.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an oncolytic virus for the treatment of cancer, such as in brain cancer, for example glioblastoma. The oncolytic virus may exhibit reduced levels of neurotoxicity. The oncolytic virus may be an isolated viral particle capable of producing a cDNA polynucleotide that includes a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 when the virus is in a host cell. The oncolytic virus may be an isolated viral particle that includes an RNA polynucleotide that includes a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 2. The oncolytic virus may be an isolated viral particle having a genome that includes open reading frames that encode: proteins having sequences comprising SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7; or variants thereof.

Abstract: The present invention refers to monoclonal antibodies, or fragments thereof, which recognize the pIII protein of the Adenovirus (ADV), useful for developing diagnostic methods of ADV infection in humans. Particularly, it refers to a monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof comprising a variable region of the heavy chain having a sequence with at least a 90%, 95% or 99% of identity with the SEQ ID No: 1 or SEQ ID No: 5 and a variable region of the light chain having a sequence with at least a 90%, 95% or 99% of identity with the SEQ ID No: 2 or SEQ ID No: 6. It also is addressed to the nucleotide sequences which define said antibodies, in vitro and/or ex vivo diagnostic methods of ADV infection in a biological sample using said monoclonal antibodies, and diagnostic kits for detecting ADV comprising at least one monoclonal antibody against ADV according to the above description.

Abstract: Compositions and treatments for inducing tumor regression by activating inflammasomes in tumor cells and tumor-associated cells. A tumor in a subject is treated by administering a composition to the subject that activates inflammasomes in cells of the tumor and thereby causes tumor cell pyroptosis and tumor regression.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of treating a pathogen-induced lung inflammation in a subject are provided in which an anti-S100A9 antibody is administered to a subject. Methods of treating a respiratory virus infection by administering an anti-S100A9 antibody are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods useful for treating viral infections. As described herein, the compositions and methods are based on the development of immunogenic compositions that include an attenuated or inactivated virus in combination with a non-ionic surfactant vesicle (NISV).

Abstract: The invention relates to a recombinant adenovirus that has an oncolytic effect in a cancer cell. By modulating the level and type of splice isoforms of the E1B gene product, expressed from the E1B gene, the oncolytic activity of such viruses can be enhanced. The invention provides a recombinant adenovirus in which the proportion of the E1B-156R isoform is increased relative to wild-type levels. Such a recombinant adenovirus may selectivity replicate in cancer cells, thereby killing cancer cells whilst sparing normal cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to expressing RNA in cells and, in particular, enhancing viability of cells in which RNA is to be expressed. Specifically, the present invention provides methods for expressing RNA in cells comprising the steps of preventing engagement of IFN receptor by extracellular IFN and inhibiting intracellular IFN signalling in the cells. Thus, preventing engagement of IFN receptor by extracellular IFN and inhibiting intracellular IFN signalling in the cells allows repetitive transfer of RNA into the cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to vaccines comprising at least one mRNA encoding at least one antigen for use in the treatment of a disease in newborns and/or infants, preferably exhibiting an age of not more than 2 years, preferably of not more than 1 year, more preferably of not more than 9 months or even 6 months, wherein the treatment comprises vaccination of the newborn or infant and eliciting an immune response in said newborn or infant. The present invention is furthermore directed to kits and kits of parts comprising such a vaccine and/or its components and to methods applying such a vaccine or kit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rabies virus G protein epitope and a rabies-virus-neutralizing binding molecule that binds specifically thereto, wherein different epitope sites of rabies virus G protein are identified and binding molecules that bind thereto and a cocktail thereof can be found to retain neutralizing activity against various rabies viruses.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides, for example, an improved method for identifying an epitope on a protein, comprising the following steps: (A) contacting a major histocompatibility complex (MHC molecule)-expressing cell differentiated from a stem cell or a progenitor cell derived therefrom with a target protein; (B) isolating a complex of a peptide contained in the target protein and the MHC molecule from the MHC molecule-expressing cell; and (C) eluting the peptide from the complex and identifying the peptide.

Abstract: A composition and method for activating immune cells ex-vivo, or inducing an immune response in a subject including a composition comprising at least one chiral cationic lipid. The chiral cationic lipid in one embodiment comprises a nonsteroidal cationic lipid having a structure represented by formula (I); wherein in R1 is a quaternary ammonium group, Y1 is a spacer chosen from a hydrocarbon chain, an ester, a ketone, and a peptide, C* is a chiral carbon, R2 and R3 are independently chosen from a saturated fatty acid, an unsaturated fatty acid, an ester-linked hydrocarbon, phosphor-diesters, and combinations thereof.