Abstract: Compositions comprising viral antigens and antigenic peptides corresponding to or derived from Hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins or fragments thereof, fused to heavy and/or light chain of antibodies, or fragments thereof specific for dendritic cells (DCs) are described herein. Included herein are immunostimulatory compositions (HCV vaccines, HCV antigen presenting dendritic cells, etc.) and methods for increasing effectiveness of HCV antigen presentation by an antigen presenting cell, for a treatment, a prophylaxis or a combination thereof against hepatitis C in a human subject, and methods of providing immunostimulation by activation of one or more dendritic cells, methods to treat or prevent hepatitis C.

Abstract: DNA clones encoding a receptor in the Ig superfamily and a related soluble variant have been isolated from a human monocyte library. The invention provides receptor polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding them, expression vectors, and transformed cells for recombinant production of the polypeptides.

Abstract: DNA clones encoding a receptor in the Ig superfamily and a related soluble variant have been isolated from a human monocyte library. The invention provides receptor polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding them, expression vectors, and transformed cells for recombinant production of the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for making and using anti DC-ASGPR antibodies that can, e.g., activate DCs and other cells.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for increasing the effectiveness of antigen presentation using a DCIR-specific antibody or fragment thereof to which an antigen is attached that forms an antibody-antigen complex, wherein the antigen is processed and presented by a dendritic cell that has been contacted with the antibody-antigen complex.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for the expression, secretion and use of novel compositions for use as, e.g., vaccines and antigen delivery vectors, to delivery antigens to antigen presenting cells. In one embodiment, the vector is an anti-CD40 antibody, or fragments thereof, and one or more antigenic peptides linked to the anti-CD40 antibody or fragments thereof, including humanized antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for targeting the LOX-1 receptor on immune cells and uses for the anti-LOX-1 antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for increasing the effectiveness of antigen presentation using a DCIR-specific antibody or fragment thereof to which an antigen is attached that forms an antibody-antigen complex, wherein the antigen is processed and presented by a dendritic cell that has been contacted with the antibody-antigen complex.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for the expression, secretion and use of novel compositions for use as, e.g., vaccines and antigen delivery vectors, to delivery antigens to antigen presenting cells. In one embodiment, the vector is an anti-CD40 antibody, or fragments thereof, and one or more antigenic peptides linked to the anti-CD40 antibody or fragments thereof, including humanized antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for targeting the LOX-1 receptor on immune cells and uses for the anti-LOX-1 antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for increasing the effectiveness of antigen presentation using a DCIR-specific antibody or fragment thereof to which an antigen is attached that forms an antibody-antigen complex, wherein the antigen is processed and presented by a dendritic cell that has been contacted with the antibody-antigen complex.

Abstract: A flexible method for making multiplexed assays for antigen-specific antibody responses is disclosed herein. The method of the present invention comprises incubation of a substrate or a set of beads coated with a dockerin or a cohesin protein with a cohesin or dockerin-antigen fusion proteins to attach the fusion protein essentially irreversibly by non-covalent interaction. The present invention enables the use of one dockerin- or cohesin-coated bead for multiple sets of cohesin- or dockerin-antigens, obviating the need to directly chemically couple new antigens to new beads.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for enhancing Th1/Th17 cell responses and decreasing Th2 cell responses. In various embodiments the present invention describes activation of human dendritic cells and enhancement of antigen-specific T cell responses in a Dectin-1-expressing human dendritic cells comprising an anti-Dectin-1-specific antibody or fragment thereof fused with one or more antigens. TLR2 ligands may also be included to enhance the activation and for enhancement of T-cell responses. Further, the invention also includes methods based on the compositions described herein for the treatment of allergy, and asthma.

Abstract: Nucleic acids encoding various monocyte cell proteins from a primate, reagents related thereto, including specific antibodies, and purified proteins are described. Methods of using said reagents and related diagnostic kits are also provided.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for inhibiting effector CD8+ T cell priming by Langerhans cells (LCs), together with promotion of the production of IL-4 and IL-10 are disclosed herein. The findings of the present indicate that immunoglobulin-like transcript (ILT) inhibitory receptors expressed on dermal CD14+ DCs represent natural counterparts of the anti-CD8 mAbs. Accordingly, blocking ILT2 or ILT4 on dermal CD14+ DCs enhanced the generation of effector polyfunctional CD8+ T cells. Conversely, soluble ILT2 and ILT4 act as CD8-antagonists that inhibit effector CD8+ T cell priming by LCs, together with promoting the production of IL-4 and IL-10. The results presented herein indicate that ILT receptor family members can skew the polarization of CD8+ T cell responses and strategies to block ILT expression on dendritic cells (DCs) may be useful to augment dendritic cell function to enhance responses to cancer or chronic viral infections.

Abstract: Compositions comprising viral antigens and antigenic peptides corresponding to or derived from Hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins or fragments thereof, fused to heavy and/or light chain of antibodies, or fragments thereof specific for dendritic cells (DCs) are described herein. Included herein are immunostimulatory compositions (HCV vaccines, HCV antigen presenting dendritic cells, etc.) and methods for increasing effectiveness of HCV antigen presentation by an antigen presenting cell, for a treatment, a prophylaxis or a combination thereof against hepatitis C in a human subject, and methods of providing immunostimulation by activation of one or more dendritic cells, methods to treat or prevent hepatitis C.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for making and using anti DC-ASGPR antibodies that can, e.g., activate DCs and other cells.

Abstract: Compositions and methods comprising high affinity monoclonal antibody conjugates against several DC receptors are described herein. The inventors prepared fusion proteins with antigens for DC-targeting vaccine generation by conjugating several M. tuberculosis protein antigens with high affinity monoclonal antibodies against several DC receptors with a view to developing novel human vaccines based on in vivo DC-targeting. The findings of studies described herein indicate that vaccines bearing TB antigens can recall a potent memory antigen-specific T cell response in vitro resulting in IFN? secretion.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for increasing the effectiveness of antigen presentation using a DCIR-specific antibody or fragment thereof to which an antigen is attached that forms an antibody-antigen complex, wherein the antigen is processed and presented by a dendritic cell that has been contacted with the antibody-antigen complex.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for enhancing an immune response with an adjuvant composition comprising: an anti-dendritic cell (DC)-specific antibody or fragment thereof conjugated to at least a portion of Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) agonist, more specifically a TLR7 ligand (TLR7L), and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the conjugate and agonist are each comprised in an amount such that, in combination with the other, are effective to produce the immune response in a human or animal subject in need of immunostimulation.