Abstract: This invention provides methods of evaluating immune system parameters to identify and treat patients who are likely to experience more favorable treatment outcomes. This invention also provides methods for treating a human patient with a dendritic cell therapy by obtaining at least one value or measurement of the level and/or amount of a particular type of treatment indicator in the patient, confirming that said value or measurement exceeds or is less than the treatment threshold value for that value or measurement, and administering said dendritic cell therapy to the patient.

Abstract: This in invention relates to methods for the nucleic acid amplification of multiple variants (strains) of any pathogen present in a sample, and preferably in a sample from a pathogen infected individual. In preferred embodiments, the pathogen is a retrovirus, such as HIV. The amplified pathogen nucleic acid can be used to identify the pathogen variants present in a sample, to quantitate the pathogen present in a sample, and as a nucleic acid vaccine, or in the preparation of antigen presenting cell vaccines. Nucleic acids produced by the methods of the invention or the proteins encoded thereby can be used to transfect/load antigen presenting cells. The loaded antigen presenting cells can then be used as a vaccine for the treatment of pathogen infection. In another embodiment, nucleic acids produced by the methods of the invention can be used directly as nucleic acid vaccines without prior loading into antigen presenting cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to TSCM cells and uses thereof. TSCM cells can be used help identify and treat patients who are likely to experience particular treatment outcomes. In other embodiments TSCM cells are generated in vitro and used for adoptive transfer therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods of suppressing and/or preventing an undesired immune response comprising the use of CD83. In some embodiments, CD83 is coadministered to a subject with at least one other immunosuppressive compound. Methods are also provided for generating tolerogenic dendritic cells and regulatory T cells. These cells can be used in vitro to produce additional cells for therapeutic purposes or they can be used in vivo to suppress and/or prevent an undesired immune response. Methods of the invention can be used to prevent or reduce the severity of autoimmune diseases and can also be used to induce tolerance to at least one therapeutic composition, such as a therapeutic protein or transplanted tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods of suppressing and/or preventing an undesired immune response comprising the use of CD83. In some embodiments, CD83 is coadministered to a subject with at least one other immunosuppressive compound. Methods are also provided for generating tolerogenic dendritic cells and regulatory T cells. These cells can be used in vitro to produce additional cells for therapeutic purposes or they can be used in vivo to suppress and/or prevent an undesired immune response. Methods of the invention can be used to prevent or reduce the severity of autoimmune diseases and can also be used to induce tolerance to at least one therapeutic composition, such as a therapeutic protein or transplanted tissue.

Abstract: This in invention relates to methods for the nucleic acid amplification of multiple variants (strains) of any pathogen present in a sample, and preferably in a sample from a pathogen infected individual. In preferred embodiments, the pathogen is a retrovirus, such as HIV. The amplified pathogen nucleic acid can be used to identify the pathogen variants present in a sample, to quantitate the pathogen present in a sample, and as a nucleic acid vaccine, or in the preparation of antigen presenting cell vaccines. Nucleic acids produced by the methods of the invention or the proteins encoded thereby can be used to transfect/load antigen presenting cells. The loaded antigen presenting cells can then be used as a vaccine for the treatment of pathogen infection. In another embodiment, nucleic acids produced by the methods of the invention can be used directly as nucleic acid vaccines without prior loading into antigen presenting cells.

Abstract: This in invention relates to methods for the nucleic acid amplification of multiple variants (strains) of any pathogen present in a sample, and preferably in a sample from a pathogen infected individual. In preferred embodiments, the pathogen is a retrovirus, such as HIV. The amplified pathogen nucleic acid can be used to identify the pathogen variants present in a sample, to quantitate the pathogen present in a sample, and as a nucleic acid vaccine, or in the preparation of antigen presenting cell vaccines. Nucleic acids produced by the methods of the invention or the proteins encoded thereby can be used to transfect/load antigen presenting cells. The loaded antigen presenting cells can then be used as a vaccine for the treatment of pathogen infection. In another embodiment, nucleic acids produced by the methods of the invention can be used directly as nucleic acid vaccines without prior loading into antigen presenting cells.

Abstract: This in invention relates to methods for the nucleic acid amplification of multiple variants (strains) of any pathogen present in a sample, and preferably in a sample from a pathogen infected individual. In preferred embodiments, the pathogen is a retrovirus, such as HIV. The amplified pathogen nucleic acid can be used to identify the pathogen variants present in a sample, to quantitate the pathogen present in a sample, and as a nucleic acid vaccine, or in the preparation of antigen presenting cell vaccines. Nucleic acids produced by the methods of the invention or the proteins encoded thereby can be used to transfect/load antigen presenting cells. The loaded antigen presenting cells can then be used as a vaccine for the treatment of pathogen infection. In another embodiment, nucleic acids produced by the methods of the invention can be used directly as nucleic acid vaccines without prior loading into antigen presenting cells.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with fusions of dendritic cells and antigen presenting cells. Also provided are methods of making and using these cell fusions, including methods of adoptive immunotherapy. The fusions according to the invention can also be used in methods for antigen discovery.

Abstract: The present invention provides synthetic compounds, antibodies that recognize and bind to these compounds, polynucleotides that encode these compounds, and immune effector cells raised in response to presentation of these epitopes. The invention further provides methods for inducing an immune response and administering immunotherapy to a subject by delivering the compositions of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides immunoglobulins specific for p53BP2 ligand polypeptides. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a variant of an immunoglobulin variable domain, wherein the immunoglobulin variable domain contains (A) at least one CDR region and (B) framework regions flanking the CDR, and the variant includes: (a) the CDR region having added or substituted therein at least one binding sequence, and (b) the flaking framework regions, wherein the binding sequence is heterologous to the CDR and the binding sequence is derived from a human ligand having immunogenic properties relevant to human lung cancer. In a preferred embodiment, the binding sequence is an antigenic sequence. In a further preferred embodiment, the variant contains a variable domain lacking an intrachain disulfide bond.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for detecting, diagnosing, prognosing and monitoring the progress of gp 100-related cancers and malignancies and kits for use in said methods. Further provided are methods for screening to identify agonists and antagonists of cancer antigens associated with gp 100 related cancers and malignancies.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising altered peptide ligands that elicit immune responses in a subject to a native peptide. This invention also provides methods to raise T cell populations as well as a substantially purified population of said T cells. Altered peptide ligands find application in a wide variety of immunomodulatory protocols, including methods to induce or increase an immune response, as well as in methods to suppress or reduce an undesirable immune response, to a corresponding natural epitope.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for identifying antigens recognized by immune effector cells. In one embodiment, the methods combine identifying amino acid sequence motifs of such antigens and the DNA sequences that potentially encode the identified amino acid motifs and the DNA sequences which are aberrantly expressed in the cells. By comparison of these sequences, novel antigens that are recognized by immune effector cells are identified.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for detecting, diagnosing, prognosing and monitoring the progress of EPS8-related cancers and malignancies and kits for use in said methods. Further provided are methods for screening to identify agonists and antagonists of cancer antigens associated with EPS8-related cancers and malignancies.

Abstract: This invention provides a screen to identify novel therapeutic receptor-ligand pairs. In one embodiment, the receptor-ligand pairs identified by this method induce proliferation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes without systemic toxicity associated with the administration of wild-type cytokines. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods using the cytokine-receptor pairs identified by this screen also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for detecting, diagnosing, prognosing and monitoring the progress of gp100-related cancers and malignancies and kits for use in said methods. Further provided are methods for screening to identify agonists and antagonists of cancer antigens associated with gp100 related cancers and malignancies.

Abstract: The present invention provides synthetic compounds, antibodies that recognize and bind to these compounds, polynucleotides that encode these compounds, and immune effector cells raised in response to presentation of these epitopes. The invention further provides methods for inducing an immune response and administering immunotherapy to a subject by delivering the compositions of the invention.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with fusions of dendritic cells and antigen presenting cells. Also provided are methods of making and using these cell fusions, including methods of adoptive immunotherapy. The fusions according to the invention can also be used in methods for antigen discovery.

Abstract: This invention provides particulates of adenoviral particles comprised of individual adenovirus virions complexed to an insoluble micro-platform material and for such compositions further comprised of a polynucleotide encoding an antigenic peptide. The invention further provides method for forming such complexes such that the compositions are useful for transfecting phagocytic antigen presenting cells such as dendritic cells and for vaccinating a subject against disease.