Abstract: A polypeptide comprising the contiguous amino acids 1-198 of SEQ ID NO: 2; a polypeptide, which comprises a contiguous amino acid sequence that is at least about 95% identical to the contiguous amino acids 1-198 of SEQ ID NO: 2, an epitope that is immunoreactive with an antibody that specifically binds to the core protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV), and an epitope that is immunoreactive with an antibody that specifically binds to the NS4 region of HCV; a nucleic acid encoding such a polypeptide; a host cell comprising such a nucleic acid; an immunodiagnostic reagent comprising such a polypeptide; a kit comprising such an immunodiagnostic reagent; and a method of determining the presence, amount, or concentration of anti-HCV antibodies in a test sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of the pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) as a molecular adjuvant for vaccines. Among other applications, these vaccines may be used in the protection against infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria and ectoparasites affecting mammals, birds and aquatic organisms. The PACAP, combined with a particular antigen, demonstrates its effectiveness as adjuvant increasing the host immune response against that antigen. This type of response can be observed when the vaccine compositions or combinations that include PACAP are administered orally, by injection, or by immersion baths, in case of aquatic organisms.

Abstract: A massive clonal expansion of activated CD8+ T-cells with increased frequency of HPV 16-specific CD8+ T-cells was discovered to be a characteristic of oral lichen planus (OLP), indicating a causal link between HPV infection and the dysimmune process. The invention relates to compositions and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of OLP patients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inducing an immune response to cytomegalovirus (CMV) using a genetically modified CMV that is conditionally replication defective. The methods of the invention can be used to treat and/or prevent primary CMV infection, infection due to reactivation of a latent CMV and a super-infection of a different strain of CMV that had been previously encountered. The present invention also relates to a replication defective CMV which has been recombinantly altered to allow for external control of viral replication. Compositions comprising the replication defective CMV are also encompassed by the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a truncated L1 protein of the Human Papillomavirus Type 11, a virus-like particle consisting of the protein, a vaccine comprising said virus-like particle, and the use of the vaccine in the prevention of condyloma acuminatum or HPV infections.

Abstract: The invention provides a vaccine injection, which includes a vaccine and a Traditional Chinese medicinal adjuvant in a mass ratio of 1:0.5-1:10, or a vaccine, a Traditional Chinese medicinal adjuvant and an aluminum adjuvant in a mass ratio of 1:0.5:2.5-1:10:20. The vaccine injection is in the form of powders, and the size of the powders is between 10 and 120 micrometers. The vaccine injection of the present invention is particularly suitable for the needle free injection technology. The invention also provides a preparation method for the vaccine injection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a particle comprising a polypeptide and at least one malaria antigen, and a composition or vaccine comprising thereof, its use in medicine, particularly in the prevention or treatment of malaria infections.

Abstract: Provided is a truncated L1 protein of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Type 52 which, compared to a wild type HPV52 L1 protein, is truncated by 27-42 amino acids at the N-terminal. Also provided are a coding sequence of the truncated HPV52 L1 protein, a virus-like particle (VLP) comprising the protein, and a method of preparing the protein and the VLP using an E. coli expression system. The truncated HPV52 L1 protein and an assembled VLP can be used to prevent an HPV52 infection and a disease caused by HPV52 infection, such as cervical cancer.

Abstract: An intraorally administrable vaccine composition useful to be a preventive or therapeutic agent for infectious diseases, and effectively induces a systemic immune response or a mucosal immune response is provided. A vaccine composition for administration to the oral cavity of a human or an animal, the vaccine composition containing at least one antigen derived from an infectious disease, and at least one selected from the group consisting of a toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist, a toll-like receptor 2/6 (TLR2/6) agonist, and cyclic dinucleotide, or a derivative or salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F peptides and compositions comprising them. The present invention also relates to methods of evaluating anti-RSV antibody binding to F peptides. The present invention also relates to antibodies that immunospecifically bind to an F peptide of the present invention. The invention further provides methods and protocols for the administration of F peptides and/or antibodies that immunospecifically bind to F peptides for the prevention, neutralization, treatment of RSV infection. Additionally, the methods of the invention may be useful for the treatment, prevention and the amelioration of symptoms associated with RSV infection.

Abstract: A first intracellular pathogen in a biological sample that may contain more than one intracellular pathogen is studied by a method comprising the steps of (i) contacting the sample with a population of cells in the presence of an agent inhibiting the reproduction of a second intracellular pathogen; (ii) incubating the cells under conditions that permit the reproduction of the first intracellular pathogen; and (iii) testing material arising from step (ii) for the first intracellular pathogen.

Abstract: This document relates to polynucleotides encoding antigenic polypeptides to induce an immune response to oncogenic viral polypeptides. Also provided are compositions comprising polynucleotides encoding antigenic polypeptides, and methods of use. In the provided methods, the virus can be a human papilloma virus. In some embodiments, a method for killing a cell expressing a first oncogenic viral polypeptide in a subject is provided. The method includes administering to the subject a composition in an amount sufficient to initiate an immune response against the first oncogenic viral peptide, where the composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a polynucleotide provided herein and the immune response is effective to cause a cytotoxic effect in the cell. In some embodiments, the polynucleotide includes a second nucleotide sequence encoding a second antigenic polypeptide. The first oncogenic viral polypeptide can be E6 and the second oncogenic viral polypeptide can be E7.

Abstract: Provided is a human antibody having a neutralization activity against a human influenza virus. More specifically, provided is a human antibody which recognizes a highly conserved region in a human influenza A virus subtype H3N2 or a human influenza B virus and has a neutralization activity against the virus. The human antibody is a human anti-human influenza virus antibody, which has a neutralization activity against a human influenza A virus subtype H3N2 and binds to a hemagglutinin HA1 region of the human influenza A virus subtype H3N2, or which has a neutralization activity against a human influenza B virus, and includes, as a base sequence of a DNA encoding a variable region of the antibody, a sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 5 to 12.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for priming T cells suitable for administration to a patient having a viral infection. The invention is also directed to the composition obtained by the method and uses thereof.

Abstract: Viral infection is a persistent cause of human disease. Guided nuclease systems target the genomes of viral infections, rendering the viruses incapacitated.

Abstract: We have developed an ASFV Georgia strain adapted to grow in Vero cell line. The resulting virus, ASF-GVAV, efficiently grows in Vero cells although it still is able to significantly replicate in primary cell cultures of swine macrophages. ASF-GVAV virus was successfully used as parental virus to develop several recombinant ASF viruses. The development of an ASFV adapted to grow in an established cell line is a significant advance for research and development of vaccine candidate strains using genetic manipulation based in the process of homologous recombination. The GVAVS can be utilized as a basis for large scale production of ASF vaccines.

Abstract: The invention provides peptides capable of binding with influenza hemagglutinin (HA) protein blocking pH-induced shape change or aggregation of the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) protein. The invention also provides a druggable site in influenza Hemagglutinin protein, said druggable site comprises peptide sequences comprising conserved residues.

Abstract: The invention relates to DNA vaccines that target multiple arenavirus agents singly or simultaneously.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK)-derived cell line. The MDCK-derived cell line is derived from MDCK cells deposited under accession number ATCC CCL-34. The MDCK-derived cell line can be prepared by serum-free culture and suspension culture. Preferably, the MDCK-derived cell line has low or no tumorigenicity. The MDCK-derived cell line is preferably selected from MDCK Sky1023, MDCK Sky10234 and MDCK Sky3851. Further disclosed are a culture method for growing the MDCK-derived cells and a method for producing a vaccine virus using the MDCK-derived cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides TC-83 VEE-derived replicons, alphaviral replicon particles and immunogenic compositions containing TC-83 alphaviral replicon particles which direct the expression of at least one antigen when introduced into a suitable host cell. The TC-83 VEE-derived ARPs described herein are improved in that they are subject to a lower vector-specific immune response than prior art ARPs.