Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an immunogenic composition comprising a combination of meningococcal antigens which comprises at least one factor H binding protein (fHBP) A protein, at least one fHBP B protein, at least one Neisseria adhesin A (NadA) protein, and at least one detergent-extracted Outer Membrane Vesicle (dOMV). The meningococcal antigens may be from a Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B. The combination of antigens provided a broad coverage of bacteria strains. Further, the present disclosure relates to the use of the immunogenic composition in methods for eliciting an immune response.

Abstract: Applicants disclose herein novel methods, vectors, and vector compositions for improving the efficiency of adenoviral vectors in the delivery and expression of heterologous nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide(s) (e.g, a protein or antigen) of interest. Adenoviral infection is quite common in the general population, and a large percentage of people have neutralizing antibodies to the more prevalent adenoviral serotypes. Such pre-existing anti-adenoviral immunity can dampen or possibly abrogate the effectiveness of this virus for the delivery and expression of heterologous proteins or antigens. The method taught herein functions to offset pre-existing immunity through the delivery of the protein or antigen by a cocktail of at least two adenoviral serotypes. Utilizing a composition of at least two adenoviral serotypes in this manner has been found to increase the effectiveness of adenoviral administration.

Abstract: Human scFvs are disclosed which interact with a conformational epitope along the pre-hairpin, N-helix coiled coil structure within the heptad repeat 1 (HR1) region of gp41 of HIV. These antibodies, as well as IgG conversions, are shown to neutralize diverse HIV isolates. Isolated nucleic acid molecules are also disclosed which encode relevant portions of these antibodies, as well as the purified forms of the expressed antibodies or relevant antibody fragments, such as VH and VL chains. The antibody compositions disclosed within this specification may provide for a therapeutic treatment against HIV infection by reducing viral load levels within an infected individual, thus prolonging the asymptomatic phase of HIV infection. These antibodies will also be useful in assays to identify HIV antiviral compounds as well as allowing for the identification of candidate HIV vaccines, such as HIV peptide vaccines.

Abstract: First generation adenoviral vectors and-recombinant adenovirus-based HIV vaccines which contain HIV-1 gag, HIV-1 pol and/or HIV-1 nef polynucleotide pharmaceutical products, and biologically relevant modifications thereof are described. The adenovirus vaccines, when directly introduced into living vertebrate tissue, express the relevant proteins, inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes HIV-1. The exemplified polynucleotides of the present invention are synthetic DNA molecules encoding HIV-1 Gag, HIV-1 Pol, HIV-1 Nef, and derivatives thereof. The adenoviral vaccines of the present invention, alone or in combination, will offer a prophylactic advantage to previously uninfected individuals and/or provide a therapeutic effect by reducing viral load levels within an infected individual, thus prolonging the asymptomatic phase of HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: First generation adenoviral vectors and associated recombinant adenovirus-based HIV vaccines which show enhanced stability and growth properties and greater cellular-mediated immunity are described within this specification. These adenoviral vectors are utilized to generate and produce through cell culture various adenoviral-based HIV-1 vaccines which contain HIV-1 gag, HIV-1 pol and/or HIV-1 nef polynucleotide pharmaceutical products, and biologically relevant modifications thereof. These adenovirus vaccines, when directly introduced into living vertebrate tissue, preferably a mammalian host such as a human or a non-human mammal of commercial or domestic veterinary importance, express the HIV1-Gag, Pol and/or Nef protein or biologically modification thereof, inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes HIV-1.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for eliciting a therapeutic immune response in an individual infected with human immunodeficiency virus (“HIV”). The method comprises administering an adenoviral vaccine composition expressing an HIV antigen to an individual with controlled viremia. Immunization of infected individuals in this manner elicits a cellular-mediated immune response against the virus that is significant both in the level of the response and the breadth of the response. The therapeutic immune response that ensues is capable of effectively maintaining low titers of virus and, thus, offers the prospect of reducing individual dependency on antiviral therapy.

Abstract: An efficient means of inducing an immune response against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) utilizing specific prime-boost regimes is disclosed. The specific prime-boost regimes employ a heterologous prime-boost protocol employing recombinant adenoviral vectors of alternative and distinct serotypes comprising exogenous genetic material encoding a common HIV antigen. Vaccines administered into living vertebrate tissue in accordance with the disclosed regimes, preferably a mammalian host, such as a human or a non-human mammal of commercial or domestic veterinary importance, express the HIV-1 antigen (e.g., Gag), inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes HIV-1. It is believed that the disclosed prime/boost regime will offer a prophylactic advantage to previously uninfected individuals and/or provide a therapeutic effect by reducing viral load levels within an infected individual, thus prolonging the asymptomatic phase of HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions which comprise HIV Pol DNA vaccines are disclosed, along with the production and use of these DNA vaccines. The pol-based DNA vaccines of the invention are administered directly introduced into living vertebrate tissue, preferably humans, and preferably express inactivated versions of the HIV Pol protein devoid of protease, reverse transcriptase activity, RNase H activity and integrase activity, inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). The DNA molecules which comprise the open reading frame of these DNA vaccines are synthetic DNA molecules encoding codon optimized HIV-1 Pol and codon optimized inactive derivatives of optimized HIV-1 Pol, including DNA molecules which encode inactive Pol proteins which comprise an amino terminal leader peptide.

Abstract: Nucleic acids, including DNA constructs and RNA transcripts, capable of inducing coordinate expression of two to three cistrons upon direct introduction into animal tissues, are. bi- or tri-cistronic polynucleotides of this invention include those encoding and co-expressing HIV gene products, genes encoding antigens unrelated to HIV, and immunostimulatory gene products, including but not limited to GM-CSF, interleukins, interferon and members of the B7 family of proteins which act as T-cell costimulatory elements. The methods and polynucleotides of this invention are generally applicable to co-ordinate expression in vivo of any two or more genes in a single cell.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions which comprise HIV Nef DNA vaccines are disclosed, along with the production and use of these DNA vaccines. The nef-based DNA vaccines of the invention are administered directly introduced into living vertebrate tissue, preferably humans, and express the HIV Nef protein or biologically relevant portions thereof, inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). The DNA molecules which comprise the open reading frame of these DNA vaccines are synthetic DNA molecules encoding codon optimized HIV-1 Nef and derivatives of optimized HIV-1 Nef, including nef modifications comprising amino terminal leader peptides, removal of the amino terminal myristylation site, and/or modification of the Nef dileucine motif. These modifications may effect wild type characteristics of Nef, such as myristylation and down regulation of host CD4.

Abstract: An efficient means of inducing an immune response against human immunodeficiency virus (“HIV”) utilizing specific prime-boost regimes is disclosed. The specific prime-boost regimes employ a heterologous prime-boost protocol wherein recombinant adenoviral and poxvirus vectors comprising exogenous genetic material encoding a common HIV antigen are administered in that order. Vaccines administered into living vertebrate tissue in accordance with the disclosed regimes, preferably a mammalian host such as a human or a non-human mammal of commercial or domestic veterinary importance, express the HIV-1 antigen (e.g., Gag), inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes HIV-1. It is believed that the disclosed prime/boost regime will offer a prophylactic advantage to previously uninfected individuals and/or provide a therapeutic effect by reducing viral load levels within an infected individual, thus prolonging the asymptomatic phase of HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel formulations of pharmaceutical products, specifically nucleic acid vaccine products. The nucleic acid vaccine products, when introduced directly into muscle cells, induce the production of immune responses which specifically recognize Hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Abstract: First generation adenoviral vectors and associated recombinant adenovirus-based HIV vaccines which show enhanced stability and growth properties and greater cellular-mediated immunity are described within this specification. These adenoviral vectors are utilized to generate and produce through cell culture various adenoviral-based HIV-1 vaccines which contain HIV-1 gag, HIV-1 pol and/or HIV-1 nef polynucleotide pharmaceutical products, and biologically relevant modifications thereof. These adenovirus vaccines, when directly introduced into living vertebrate tissue, preferably a mammalian host such as a human or a non-human mammal of commercial or domestic veterinary importance, express the HIV1-Gag, Pol and/or Nef protein or biologically modification thereof, inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes HIV-1.