Abstract: Disclosed herein are isolated immunogens including variant hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAgs). In an example, a variant HBsAg includes a HBsAg with one or more transmembrane domains of the HBsAg replaced with a gp41 antigenic insert. The antigenic insert can include an antigenic polypeptide fragment of gp41 including the membrane proximal region of gp41 and a transmembrane membrane region of gp41. The replacement of a membrane spanning domain of HBsAg with a membrane spanning domain of gp41 anchors gp41 into HBsAg in virtually the identical orientation as on HIV virions and correctly orients the nearby MPR on the lipid layer. Thus, the disclosed variant HBsAgs display the neutralization-sensitive MPR in association with a lipid layer, while presenting it at the most immunogenic site on HBsAg. Also disclosed are uses of these variant HBsAgs, and nucleic acids encoding variant HBsAgs, such as to induce an immune response to HIV-1.

Abstract: Provided is a recombinant virus which is efficacious in preventing the onset of hepatitis C infection and has a high safety. Also provided is a vaccine for hepatitis C virus which contains the recombinant virus. A recombinant vaccinia virus which can express hepatitis C virus gene. The hepatitis C virus vaccine as described above contains the recombinant virus as described above.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the murine monoclonal antibody 4C2 or to chimeric or humanized monoclonal antibodies specific to a major neutralizing epitope of influenza H5 hemagglutinin and active fragments thereof. The present invention also relates to methods and compositions for the prophylaxis and treatment of H5N1 influenza using such murine or chimeric or humanized monoclonal antibodies or fragments thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of detection of viruses, and in particular to detection of viruses using a liquid crystal assay format. In the present invention, virus binding in a detection region is identified by changes in liquid crystal orientation caused by virus binding independent orientation caused by any topography associated with the detection region.

Abstract: The invention concerns the development of a system to deliver vaccines via cutaneous route. The invention more particularly concerns the use of a device comprising a condensation compartment for epicutaneous vaccination. The invention also concerns protocols for epicutaneous vaccination allowing an efficient immune response to be obtained without any skin treatment. The invention can be implemented in any mammal, preferably in human beings, to induce a therapeutic or preventive immune response against any type of antigen.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method for purifying the rabies virus, comprising a single ion-exchange chromatography step, said step being cation exchange chromatography according to which: a) the supernatant of a culture of cells infected with this virus is brought into contact with a cation exchange chromatography support comprising a polymethacrylate matrix onto which sulfoisobutyl groups have been grafted such that the rabies virus binds to this support, and; b) the virus is eluted from its support.

Abstract: Provided are antigenic polypeptides of HIV envelope glycoproteins which are constructed based on amino acid mutation of attenuated live vaccine of Equine Infectious Anemia Virus, DNA constructions and recombinant virus vectors comprising polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides, antibodies against said polypeptides as well as uses thereof in preventing and treating HIV infection. Said antigenic polypeptides and vaccines can induce high titer neutralization antibodies against HIV in organism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of vaccination via hair follicles that makes it possible to target vaccine components to the antigen-presenting cells in order to induce a protective and effective immune response against pathogens.

Abstract: An improved assay for detecting an analyte in a fluid sample includes a step of conducting a photochemical reaction, in which a substrate conversion catalyzed by a photosensitizer into a product of the photochemical reaction is temporary inhibited when the reaction mixture is irradiated with a light at a wavelength within a light absorption spectrum of the photosensitizer. The photosensitizer (or an enzyme to catalyze producing thereof) is attached to an entity having an affinity to the analyte, such entity is bound to the analyte prior to irradiation. To achieve temporary inhibition, certain additives are used such as ascorbic acid or its derivatives. The assay may increase the sensitivity of ELISA 20- to 100-fold.

Abstract: Described is a composition comprising a plurality of recombinant adenovirus particles, being a recombinant human adenovirus of serotype 5, 26, 34, 35, 48, 49 or 50, or a recombinant simian adenovirus, characterized in that the genomes of essentially all adenovirus particles in the composition comprise as the 5? terminal nucleotides the nucleotide sequence: CTATCTAT (nucleotides 1-8 of SEQ ID NO:7). Also described are methods to produce such compositions.

Abstract: An improved assay for detecting an analyte in a fluid sample includes a step of conducting a photochemical reaction, in which a substrate conversion catalyzed by a photosensitizer into a product of the photochemical reaction is temporary inhibited when the reaction mixture is irradiated with a light at a wavelength within a light absorption spectrum of the photosensitizer. The photosensitizer (or an enzyme to catalyze producing thereof) is attached to an entity having an affinity to the analyte, such entity is bound to the analyte prior to irradiation. The assay may increase the sensitivity of ELISA 20- to 100-fold.

Abstract: Methods and compositions concerning mutant flaviviruses with host-range phenotypes are provided. Nucleotide sequences that encode mutant flavivirus proteins are also provided. In certain aspects, viruses comprising these sequences display reduced replication in mammalian cells. In further aspects of the invention, flavivirus vaccine compositions and methods for vaccination against flavivirus infection are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing pH-stable enveloped viruses wherein said viruses are used for infection of host cells under low pH conditions and for incubation with cell culture cells under conditions of low pH, as well as influenza viruses obtainable by this method which exhibit a high growth rate in cell culture, increased pH and temperature stability and which have human receptor specificity.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for determining whether a subject is infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). These methods include obtaining a sample from a subject with increased susceptibility to LCMV infection, contacting the sample with one or more compositions for detecting LCMV, and determining whether the one or more compositions for detecting LCMV is associated with a marker of LCMV from the sample, wherein detection of an association indicates that that the subject is infected with LCMV.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to novel peptide agents, e.g., antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof, that bind hemagglutinin protein of influenza viruses, and methods of their use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layered biological in vitro tissue containing: dermis layer, containing a collagen biomatrix with fibroblasts embedded therein and epidermis layer, containing epithelial cells. It is provided that latently virally infected neuronal cells are integrated at least into the dermis layer.

Abstract: Methods of producing a pathogen with reduced replicative fitness are disclosed, as are attenuated pathogens produced using the methods. In particular examples, the method includes deoptimizing one or more codons in a coding sequence, thereby reducing the replicative fitness of the pathogen. Methods of using the attenuated pathogens as immunogenic compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV) E2 glycoprotein is a major inducer of neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity in swine. E2 mediates virus adsorption to the target cell, and harbors genetic determinants associated with virus virulence. CSFV E2 also contains between residues 829 and 837 a discrete epitope (TAVSPTTLR) recognized by monoclonal antibody (mAb) WH303, used to differentiate CSFV from related Pestiviruses Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) and Border Disease Virus (BDV). In this report, a CSFV infectious clone of the virulent Brescia isolate (BICv) was used to progressively mutate the mAb WH303 epitope of CSFV E2 to the homologous amino acid sequence of BVDV strain NADL E2 (TSFNMDTLA).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel nucleotide and amino acid sequences of Torque teno virus (“TTV”), including novel genotypes thereof, all of which are useful in the preparation of vaccines for treating and preventing diseases in swine and other animals. Vaccines provided according to the practice of the invention are effective against multiple swine TTV genotypes and isolates. Diagnostic and therapeutic polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are also a feature of the present invention, as are infectious clones useful in the propagation of the virus and in the preparation of vaccines. Particularly important aspects of the invention include vaccines that provide TTV ORF1 protein, or peptide fragments thereof, as antigen.

Abstract: Provided are antibodies specifically binding to the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) which are effective for the prevention or treatment of hepatitis B.