Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) fusion proteins are provided, the TERT fusion proteins comprising a TERT protein, or functional variant thereof, fused to a substantial portion of the B subunit of heat labile enterotoxin (LTB). TERT variants useful in TERT-LTB fusion proteins of the invention comprise mutations that function to eliminate telomerase catalytic activity. The polynucleotides of the present invention can elicit an immune response in a mammal, which, in preferred embodiments, is stronger than the immune response elicited by a wild-type TERT. TERT expression is commonly associated with the development of human carcinomas. The present invention provides compositions and methods to elicit or enhance immunity to the protein product expressed by the TERT tumor-associated antigen, wherein aberrant TERT expression is associated with a carcinoma or its development.

Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) fusion proteins are provided, the TERT fusion proteins comprising a TERT protein, or functional variant thereof, fused to a substantial portion of the B subunit of heat labile enterotoxin (LTB). TERT variants useful in TERT-LTB fusion proteins of the invention comprise mutations that function to eliminate telomerase catalytic activity. The polynucleotides of the present invention can elicit an immune response in a mammal, which, in preferred embodiments, is stronger than the immune response elicited by a wild-type TERT. TERT expression is commonly associated with the development of human carcinomas. The present invention provides compositions and methods to elicit or enhance immunity to the protein product expressed by the TERT tumor-associated antigen, wherein aberrant TERT expression is associated with a carcinoma or its development.

Abstract: Synthetic polynucleotides encoding human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are provided, the synthetic polynucleotides being codon-optimized for expression in a human cellular environment. The gene encoding CEA is commonly associated with the development of human carcinomas. The present invention provides compositions and methods to elicit or enhance immunity to the protein product expressed by the CEA tumor-associated antigen, wherein aberrant CEA expression is associated with a carcinoma or its development. This invention specifically provides adenoviral vector and plasmid constructs carrying codon-optimed human CEA and discloses their use in vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and treating cancer.

Abstract: A method of delivering a pharmaceutical agent, such as a nucleic acid molecule, to a vertebrate host is disclosed which comprises combining the synergistic steps of electrical stimulation with administration of a biologically active amount of hyaluronidase. Additionally, formulations which comprise hyaluronidase and a pharmaceutical agent, such as a nucleic acid molecule, are disclosed. The hyaluronidase preparation is preferably administered prior to or simultaneous with the pharmaceutical agent and in conjunction with an applied electrical stimulation, thus affecting increased transfer of the population of a pharmaceutical agent into the target tissue when compared to the affect of electrical stimulation alone. The combination of hyaluronidase administration and electrostimulation results in a substantial increase in the transfer of the pharmaceutical agent, such as a nucleic acid molecule, to the target vertebrate host tissue.