Abstract: Polypeptides, nucleic acid molecules, vectors, cells, fusion proteins, pharmaceutical compositions, combined preparations, and their use as vaccines against influenza are described. The polypeptides comprise a haemagluttinin subtype 5 (H5) globular head domain, and optionally a haemagluttinin stem domain, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence in which an amino acid residue at a position corresponding to residue position 144 or 145 of a wild-type H5 globular head domain has been deleted, or wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence with an E amino acid residue at a position corresponding to residue position 238 of a wild-type H5 globular head domain.

Abstract: Designed coronavirus polypeptide sequences are described, and their use as vaccines against viruses of the coronavirus family. The designed sequences include designed coronavirus spike (S) proteins and fragments thereof, including designed S protein receptor binding domain (RBD) sequence SEQ ID NO:17, designed truncated S protein sequence SEQ ID NO:15, and designed full length S protein sequence SEQ ID NO:13. Designed coronavirus envelope (E), membrane (M), and nucleocapsid (N) protein sequences are also described, and their use as vaccines. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, vectors, fusion proteins, pharmaceutical compositions, cells, and their use as vaccines against viruses of the coronavirus family are also described.

Abstract: Polypeptides for use in vaccines against influenza are described. The polypeptides comprise a haemagglutinin subtype 5 (H5) globular head domain, and optionally a haemagglutinin stem domain, with the following amino acid residues at positions 156, 157, 171, 172, and 205 of the head domain: •156: R; •157: P or S, preferably P; •171: D or N; •172: T or A, preferably T; and •205: K or R, preferably K Nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, vectors, cells, fusion proteins, and pharmaceutical compositions are also described.

Abstract: Methods for identifying optimized antigenic pathogen polypeptides capable of inducing a broadly neutralizing immune response, and associated T-cell responses, to a pathogen are described, as well as nucleic acid sequences encoding such polypeptides. Methods for determining whether a broadly neutralizing immune response is induced in a subject following immunization with an optimized antigenic pathogen polypeptide, or a nucleic acid encoding the optimized pathogen polypeptide, are also described. Nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, vectors, cells, fusion proteins, pharmaceutical compositions, and their use as vaccines against pathogens, especially against emerging or re-emerging pathogens (particularly RNA viruses), are also described.

Abstract: A large number of recombinant of viral and bacterial systems has been engineered as vectors to express foreign genes for vaccination and/or gene therapy. A common problem is the immune response to the vector itself. The presence of anti-vector immune response may preclude sufficient priming or delivery if pre-existing immune responses are present, or impair optimal “boosting” upon subsequent immunisation or delivery. The invention provides means and methods for vaccinating an animal or a human to obtain therein an immune response against at least one antigen, comprising different vaccine compositions for sequential administration to said animal or said human, each containing at least said antigen or a precursor thereof, wherein said vaccine compositions differ from each other by the presence therein of a different vector.