Abstract: The present disclosure provides Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vectors encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike(S) protein or an immunogenic variant thereof, recombinant replicable VSV particles having a SARS-CoV-2 S protein or an immunogenic variant thereof on the surface of the particles, and immunogenic recombinant proteins comprising a SARS-CoV-2 S protein or a variant thereof. Immunogenic compositions comprising the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, the recombinant VSV vectors, the recombinant replicable VSV particles and/or the immunogenic recombinant proteins may be used for inducing an immune response to the SARS-CoV-2, preventing infection by the SARS-CoV-2, vaccinating against the SARS-CoV-2 and/or producing adaptive mutants of the recombinant replicable VSV particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for inhibiting Krüppel-like Factor 10 (KLF10) for modulation of T regulatory cells and cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for inhibiting Krüppel-like Factor 10 (KLF10) for modulation of T regulatory cells and cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vectors encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein or an immunogenic variant thereof, recombinant replicable VSV particles having a SARS-CoV-2 S protein or an immunogenic variant thereof on the surface of the particles, and immunogenic recombinant proteins comprising a SARS-CoV-2 S protein or a variant thereof. Immunogenic compositions comprising the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, the recombinant VSV vectors, the recombinant replicable VSV particles and/or the immunogenic recombinant proteins may be used for inducing an immune response to the SARS-CoV-2, preventing infection by the SARS-CoV-2, vaccinating against the SARS-CoV-2 and/or producing adaptive mutants of the recombinant replicable VSV particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for inhibiting Krüppel-like Factor 10 (KLF10) for modulation of T regulatory cells and cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract: This invention provides a non-radioactive assay to monitor and quantify the target-cell killing activities mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). This assay is predicated on the discovery that apoptosis pathway activation and, in particular, caspase activity, provides a measure of cytotoxic effector cell activity. In one embodiment, measurement of CTL-induced caspase activation in target cells is achieved through detection of the specific cleavage of fluorogenic caspase substrates. This assay reliably detects antigen-specific CTL killing of target cells, and provides a more sensitive, more informative and safer alternative to the standard 51Cr-release assay most often used to quantify CTL responses. The assay can be used to study CTL-mediated killing of primary host target cells of different cell lineages, and enables the study of antigen-specific cellular immune responses in real time at the single-cell level.

Abstract: Recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara vectors are provided having a null mutation in a gene necessary for replication of the recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara virus and at least one heterologous antigen. The disclosed vectors optionally encode at least one pro-apoptotic factor, at least one anti-apoptotic factor, at least one immunomodulator, and combinations thereof. Cells complementing the null mutation the disclosed vectors are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a Schema Generation Program (SGP) and Schema Update Program (SUP). The SGP creates an initial XML Schema and copies the database into a hashtable. At the occurrence of a query interval, the SGP compares the database to the hashtable. If the database is identical to the hashtable, then the SGP resets the query interval and repeats the comparison. If the database and the hashtable are not identical, then the SGP deletes the old hashtable, stores a copy of the database as a new hashtable, and creates a new XML Schema. The XML Schema is stored in the web server so that a registered party may access the XML Schema and check the validity of a group of data before sending the data to the web server as a proposed addition to the database. The SUP notifies registered parties of updates to the XML Schema.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer program product for displaying real-time service level performance, breach, and guaranteed uniformity with automatic alerts and proactive rebating for a utility computing environment. Service level agreement parameters, based on a service level agreement between a customer and a service provider, are used to identify discrepancies in a promised service level for the utility computing environment. A real-time view of a current service level and the promised service level for the customer are displayed. When a discrepancy between the promised service level and the current service level occurs, a rebate is generated for the customer. Alerts identifying the discrepancy and its root cause are provided to the customer and the service provider for the discrepancy. Alerts may also be provided prior to the occurrence of the discrepancy so that an action may be performed to eliminate the potential discrepancy.

Abstract: This invention provides a non-radioactive assay to monitor and quantify the target-cell killing activities mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). This assay is predicated on the discovery that apoptosis pathway activation and, in particular, caspase activity, provides a measure of cytotoxic effector cell activity. In one embodiment, measurement of CTL-induced caspase activation in target cells is achieved through detection of the specific cleavage of fluorogenic caspase substrates. This assay reliably detects antigen-specific CTL killing of target cells, and provides a more sensitive, more informative and safer alternative to the standard 51Cr-release assay most often used to quantify CTL responses. The assay can be used to study CTL-mediated killing of primary host target cells of different cell lineages, and enables the study of antigen-specific cellular immune responses in real time at the single-cell level.

Abstract: Replication-competent recombinant viruses, particularly replication-competent recombinant polioviruses, which include (1) exogenous nucleic acid sequences which encode an exogenous polypeptide and (2) a nucleic acid sequence which encodes an artificial proteolytic cleavage site for a viral or cellular protease which proteolytically processes (cleaves) the precursor protein produced by the parent virus and uses therefor. The recombinant precursor is cleaved into the usual array of constituent proteins, freeing the exogenous polypeptide. Replication-competent recombinant viruses are useful as vaccines against bacterial, viral, fungal and yeast infections, parasitic diseases, cancer and allergies.