Abstract: Viral promoters and compositions and methods of use thereof are provided. Compositions include viruses with impaired ability to reactivate from latency, and pharmaceutical compositions and method of use thereof. The genome of the viruses include one or more mutations that reduce expression from one or more promoters that regulate expression of viral genes during reactivation from latency. The mutation(s) are typically in a region of the viral genome that includes (i) promoter elements of the iP1 promoter of human cytomegalovirus, or the sequence of another virus corresponding thereto (e.g., an iP1 promoter homolog); (ii) promoter elements of the iP2 promoter of human cytomegalovirus, or sequence of another virus corresponding thereto (e.g., an iP2 promoter homolog); or (iii) a combination thereof. In some embodiments the virus encodes one or more heterologous antigens. The viruses can be used as vaccines to induce prophylactic and therapeutic immune responses in subjects in need thereof.

Abstract: Viral promoters and compositions and methods of use thereof are provided. Compositions include viruses with impaired ability to reactivate from latency, and pharmaceutical compositions and method of use thereof. The genome of the viruses include one or more mutations that reduce expression from one or more promoters that regulate expression of viral genes during reactivation from latency. The mutation(s) are typically in a region of the viral genome that includes (i) promoter elements of the iP1 promoter of human cytomegalovirus, or the sequence of another virus corresponding thereto (e.g., an iP1 promoter homolog); (ii) promoter elements of the iP2 promoter of human cytomegalovirus, or sequence of another virus corresponding thereto (e.g., an iP2 promoter homolog); or (iii) a combination thereof. In some embodiments the virus encodes one or more heterologous antigens. The viruses can be used as vaccines to induce prophylactic and therapeutic immune responses in subjects in need thereof.

Abstract: A method of detecting integrated stress response activity in living cells comprising inducing UL148-marker expression, scanning the cells to determine if the UL148 is punctate or diffuse, and ranking the level of ISR activity based on how punctate the UL148 is in the cell. The marker may be a fluorescent marker. The fluorescent marker may be Green fluorescent protein. The cell may be an epithelial cell. The cells may be ARPE-19 epithelial cells carrying a doxycycline inducible gene expression cassette encoding UL148-GFP and treating the cells for 18 hours with 100 ng/mL doxycycline hyclate to induce UL148-GFP expression. The cells may have an inducible gene expression cassette encoding UL148-marker expression. The UL148-marker expression may be induced by the cell being treated with an antibiotic. The method may include adding marker to the cells. The cells may be mutated to express UL148-marker upon inducement. A kit to conduct the method.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating or preventing viral infections using modulators of host cell enzymes relating to mTOR. The invention also provides methods and compositions for treating or preventing viral infections using modulators of host cell enzymes relating to mTOR and modulators of the unfolded protein response.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating or preventing viral infections using modulators of host cell enzymes relating to mTOR. The invention also provides methods and compositions for treating or preventing viral infections using modulators of host cell enzymes relating to mTOR and modulators of the unfolded protein response.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating or preventing viral infections using modulators of host cell enzymes relating to mTOR. The invention also provides methods and compositions for treating or preventing viral infections using modulators of host cell enzymes relating to mTOR and modulators of the unfolded protein response.