Abstract: Pseudotyped lentiviral vector particles bearing a SARS-CoV-2 S protein and comprising a heterologous polynucleotide that encodes a label or a recombinase. Compositions or kits comprising the pseudotyped lentiviral vector particles and a mammalian cell expressing an Angiotensin-converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein. Methods of assaying for the presence of neutralizing antibodies against a SARS-CoV-2 S protein in a sample comprising antibodies by providing pseudotyped lentiviral vector particles bearing a SARS-CoV-2 S protein and comprising a heterologous polynucleotide that encodes a label or a recombinase; providing mammalian cells expressing an ACE2 protein; contacting the mammalian cells expressing the ACE2 protein with the pseudotyped lentiviral vector particles bearing a SARS-CoV-2 S protein in the presence of a sample comprising antibodies; and assaying for the presence of a label in the mammalian cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recombinant lentiviral vector genome comprising a polynucleotide encoding a fusion polypeptide, wherein said fusion protein comprises arranged from N-terminal to C-terminal ends: (i) a first polypeptide comprising a multimerization scaffold which comprises at least one collectin or a fragment thereof suitable to enable self-assembly of multimers of the first polypeptide, fused with at least one antigenic polypeptide; (ii) a second polypeptide comprising a CD40L ectodomain or a receptor binding fragment thereof, in particular the CD40L ectodomain of the human CD40L. The invention also relates to a lentiviral vector and pharmaceutical compositions comprising it.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lentiviral vector-based Japanese encephalitis (JE) immunogenic composition. The present invention is directed to a recombinant lentiviral vector expressing the precursor of membrane (prM) and the envelope (E) protein, in particular glycoprotein of a Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) or immunogenic fragments thereof. The present invention also provides cells expressing the lentiviral vector, uses and methods to prevent a JEV infection in a mammalian host, especially in a human or an animal host, in particular a pig or a piglet, preferably a domestic pig or a domestic piglet.

Abstract: A method of inducing a protective immune response against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome beta-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), comprising administering to the upper respiratory tract of a subject an effective amount of an agent that induces a protective immune response against SARS-CoV-2. A dosage form for administration to the upper respiratory tract of a pseudotyped lentiviral vector particle encoding a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome beta-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein or a derivative or fragment thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to Plasmodium antigenic polypeptides identified through the use of a specifically devised functional immunization screening assay. In particular, the invention relates to antigenic polypeptides of malaria parasites wherein said antigenic polypeptides that exhibit a protective effect, especially that of eliciting a protective immune response in a host against challenge by Plasmodium sporozoites. The invention relates to a combination of compounds, comprising at least 2 distinct active ingredients wherein each active ingredient consists of an antigenic polypeptide of a Plasmodium parasite, a polynucleotide encoding the antigenic polypeptide, or a vector, in particular a viral vector, especially a lentiviral vector, expressing such antigenic polypeptide of a Plasmodium parasite, wherein one antigenic polypeptide is the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) or a polypeptidic derivative thereof and another antigenic polypeptide is either protein Ag40 (11-09) or protein Ag45 (11-10).

Abstract: The invention relates to chimeric Plasmodium antigenic polypeptides derived from pre-erythrocytic (PE) antigens and associated in a fusion polypeptide. In particular, the invention relates to antigenic fusion polypeptides of malaria parasites wherein said antigenic polypeptides exhibit a protective effect, especially that of eliciting a protective immune response in a host against challenge by Plasmodium sporozoites or a sterile response. Such identified antigenic fusion polypeptides may thus constitute active ingredients suitable for the design of a vaccine candidate, in particular a vaccine suitable for a human host.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lentiviral vector-based Japanese encephalitis (JE) immunogenic composition. The present invention is directed to a recombinant lentiviral vector expressing the precursor of membrane (prM) and the envelope (E) protein, in particular glycoprotein of a Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) or immunogenic fragments thereof. The present invention also provides cells expressing the lentiviral vector, uses and methods to prevent a JEV infection in a mammalian host, especially in a human or an animal host, in particular a pig or a piglet, preferably a domestic pig or a domestic piglet.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of functional screening of protective antigens against pathogens in particular against pathogens such as parasites, bacteria, viruses or protective antigens of cancer cells in order to identify antigens suitable for the elicitation of a protective immune response in a host, and/or to optimize antigen design, in particular to define suitable antigen combinations for a protective immune response. The invention thus involves using a lentiviral vaccine platform for induction of a specific cellular or humoral response against assayed antigens on one hand, and using a fast and reproducible assay for the evaluation of the induced protective effect after challenge.

Abstract: The invention relates to Plasmodium antigenic polypeptides identified through the use of a specifically devised functional immunization screening assay. In particular, the invention relates to antigenic polypeptides of malaria parasites wherein said antigenic polypeptides that exhibit a protective effect, especially that of eliciting a protective immune response in a host against challenge by Plasmodium sporozoites. The invention relates to a combination of compounds, comprising at least 2 distinct active ingredients wherein each active ingredient consists of an antigenic polypeptide of a Plasmodium parasite, a polynucleotide encoding the antigenic polypeptide, or a vector, in particular a viral vector, especially a lentiviral vector, expressing such antigenic polypeptide of a Plasmodium parasite, wherein one antigenic polypeptide is the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) or a polypeptidic derivative thereof and another antigenic polypeptide is either protein Ag40 (11-09) or protein Ag45 (11-10).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lentiviral vector-based Japanese encephalitis (JE) immunogenic composition. The present invention is directed to a recombinant lentiviral vector expressing the precursor of membrane (prM) and the envelope (E) protein, in particular glycoprotein of a Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) or immunogenic fragments thereof. The present invention also provides cells expressing the lentiviral vector, uses and methods to prevent a JEV infection in a mammalian host, especially in a human or an animal host, in particular a pig or a piglet, preferably a domestic pig or a domestic piglet.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid, vectors, viruses, and recombinant cells comprising triple-stranded structures, such as those resulting from central initiation and termination of HIV-1 reverse transcription at the center of HIV-1 linear DNA genomes. These triplex structures can act as a cis-determinant of HIV-1 DNA nuclear import, allowing infection of non-dividing target cells. In one aspect, the presence of the DNA triplex sequence in an HIV vector strongly stimulates gene transfer in hematopoietic stem cells. The invention also provides methods of using these triplex structures for making recombinant cells, as well as methods of using the recombinant cells to express proteins of interest both in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid, vectors, viruses, and recombinant cells comprising triple-stranded structures, such as those resulting from central initiation and termination of HIV-1 reverse transcription at the center of HIV-1 linear DNA genomes. These triplex structures can act as a cis-determinant of HIV-1 DNA nuclear import, allowing infection of non-dividing target cells. In one aspect, the presence of the DNA triplex sequence in an HIV vector strongly stimulates gene transfer in hematopoietic stem cells. The invention also provides methods of using these triplex structures for making recombinant cells, as well as methods of using the recombinant cells to express proteins of interest both in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid, vectors, viruses, and recombinant cells comprising triple-stranded structures, such as those resulting from central initiation and termination of HIV-1 reverse transcription at the center of HIV-1 linear DNA genomes. These triplex structures can act as a cis-determinant of HIV-1 DNA nuclear import, allowing infection of non-dividing target cells. In one aspect, the presence of the DNA triplex sequence in an HIV vector strongly stimulates gene transfer in hematopoietic stem cells. The invention also provides methods of using these triplex structures for making recombinant cells, as well as methods of using the recombinant cells to express proteins of interest both in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: The invention encompasses a lentiviral packaging vector comprising a non-subtype B gag-pol sequence, particularly a subtype D gag-pol sequence. The invention further encompasses methods for making and using these vectors. The invention further encompasses lentiviral vector particles comprising HIV-1 non-subtype B Gag and/or Pol proteins.

Abstract: The invention relates to lentiviral vector particles pseudotyped with a determined heterologous viral envelope protein or viral envelope proteins originating from a RNA virus and which comprise in its genome at least one recombinant polynucleotide encoding at least one polypeptide(s) carrying epitope(s) of an antigen of a Plasmodium parasite capable of infecting a mammalian host. The lentiviral vector particles are used in order to elicit an immunological response against malaria parasites.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lentiviral vector-based Japanese encephalitis (JE) immunogenic composition. The present invention is directed to a recombinant lentiviral vector expressing the precursor of membrane (prM) and the envelope (E) protein, in particular glycoprotein of a Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) or immunogenic fragments thereof. The present invention also provides cells expressing the lentiviral vector, uses and methods to prevent a JEV infection in a mammalian host, especially in a human or an animal host, in particular a pig or a piglet, preferably a domestic pig or a domestic piglet.

Abstract: The invention encompasses a lentiviral packaging vector comprising a non-subtype B gag-pol sequence, particularly a subtype D gag-pol sequence. The invention further encompasses methods for making and using these vectors. The invention further encompasses lentiviral vector particles comprising HIV-1 non-subtype B Gag and/or Pol proteins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant cells as well as to methods for the generation of non-segmented negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses (NNV or mononegavirales) from cloned deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA), especially from measles virus and in particular from attenuated strains such as those approved for vaccination, in particular from the attenuated Schwarz measles virus and various recombinant Schwarz measles-based viruses expressing heterologous sequences. Such rescued viruses can be used, after amplification, as vaccines for immunization against measles and/or against the heterologous peptides or proteins expressed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns wild-strains of Chikungunya virus isolated from patients exhibiting severe forms of infection and stemming from a human arbovirosis epidemy. The present invention also concerns polypeptide sequences and fragment thereof derived from their genome, the polynucleotide encoding same and their use as diagnostic products, as vaccine and/or as immunogenic compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the design of gene transfer vectors and especially provides lentiviral gene transfer vectors suitable for either a unique administration or for iterative administration in a host, and to their medicinal application (such as vaccination against Immunodeficiency Virus, especially suitable in human hosts). Gene transfer vectors can be either integrative or non-integrative vectors. The invention encompasses prophylactic, therapeutic, symptomatic, and curative treatments of animals, including humans, as well as gene therapy and vaccination in vivo.