Computational prediction of immunogenic epitopes is a promising platform for designing therapeutic and preventive vaccines. A potential target is, for example, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) for which, despite decades of efforts, no vaccine is available. Indeed, due to the enormous variability of the virus, a single formulation effective against all or most HIV strains might not be achievable. Moreover, upon infecting host cells, HIV-1 can integrate in the host genome and form long lasting latent reservoirs that are not susceptible to common antiretroviral treatments. Therefore, a therapeutic vaccine designed to eliminate infected cells might represent a key component of strategies aimed at curing the infection. We herein introduce an automated algorithm to produce personalized and population-based vaccines.

Disclosed herein are fusion proteins having a first domain that activates an antigen-presenting cell (APC) (e.g., a dendritic cell) by binding to an activation receptor of the APC, and a second domain that activates an immune effector cell (e.g., a T cell) by targeting a co-stimulatory signaling pathway of the immune effector cell, as well as polynucleotides that encode such fusion proteins. Disclosed herein are also genetically engineered immune effector cells expressing such fusion protein, methods of their production, and their uses in treatment of diseases such as cancers.

Disclosed are: a method for activating a helper T cell, which comprises the step of adding a WT1 peptide to an antigen-presenting cell to activate the helper T cell, wherein the WT1 peptide is capable of binding to any one selected from an HLA-DRB1*1501 molecule, an HLA-DPB1*0901 molecule and an HLA-DPB1*0501 molecule; a composition for use in the method; a therapeutic and/or prophylactic method for cancer by activating a helper T cell; a pharmaceutical composition for use in the therapeutic and/or prophylactic method; and others.

Use of a CXCR4 antagonistic peptide and an immune-check point regulator in the treatment of cancer is provided. Accordingly there is provided a method of treating cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or an analog or derivative thereof; and a therapeutically effective amount of a PD1 antagonist, a PDL-1 antagonist, a CTLA-4 antagonist, a LAG-3 antagonist, a TIM-3 antagonist, a KIR antagonist, an IDO antagonist, an OX40 agonist, a CD137 agonist, a CD27 agonist, a CD40 agonist, a GITR agonist, a CD28 agonist or an ICOS agonist, thereby treating the cancer in the subject. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions and articles of manufacture.

The present invention provides for novel immunological and vaccine formulations comprising a newly applied non-crosslinked polyacrylic acid polymer adjuvant. The adjuvants may be combined with a wide variety of immunogens to produce vaccines that are safe and effective when administered to a wide range of target animals. The immunogens may include, but are not limited to: inactivated pathogens, attenuated pathogens, subunits, recombinant expression vectors, plasmids or combinations thereof. The animals may include, but are not limited to: humans, murine, canines, felines, equines, porcines, ovines, caprines and bovines.

The present invention provides for novel immunological and vaccine formulations comprising a newly applied non-crosslinked polyacrylic acid polymer adjuvant. The adjuvants may be combined with a wide variety of immunogens to produce vaccines that are safe and effective when administered to a wide range of target animals. The immunogens may include, but are not limited to: inactivated pathogens, attenuated pathogens, subunits, recombinant expression vectors, plasmids or combinations thereof. The animals may include, but are not limited to: humans, murine, canines, felines, equines, porcines, ovines, caprines and bovines.

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device for delivering the agents. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade to release the drug into the bloodstream to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be operably coupled to delivery means having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.

The present invention provides an immunomodulator for use in the treatment and/or control of a neoplastic disease in a patient intended to undergo immunogenic cell death therapy simultaneously, separately or sequentially with administration of the immunomodulator. The therapy can be selected from microwave irradiation, targeted radiotherapy, embolisation, cryotherapy, ultrasound, high intensity focused ultrasound, cyberknife, hyperthermia, radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, electrotome heating, hot water injection, alcohol injection, embolization, radiation exposure, photodynamic therapy, laser beam irradiation, and combinations thereof.

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for determining whether a patient exhibiting acute gastroenteritis will benefit from treatment with therapeutic agents that inhibit Norovirus genogroup I (GI) or Norovirus genogroup II (GII). The methods disclosed herein are based on detecting Norovirus genogroup I (GI) and Norovirus genogroup II (GII) in a stool sample without extracting viral nucleic acids from a clinical specimen prior to performing real-time reverse transcription PCR. Kits for use in practicing the methods are also provided.