Provided are methods of generating an immune response to any of various antigens including foreign antigens such as infectious agent antigens. In general, the method comprises administering an expression vector encoding a transcription unit encoding a secretable fusion protein, the fusion protein containing the foreign antigen and CD40 ligand and also administering the encoded fusion protein. In another approach, an immune response to the foreign antigen is elicited using the encoded fusion protein without administering the vector. The invention methods may be used to immunize an individual against an infectious agent such as influenza virus. Methods of obtaining an immune response in older individuals also is described.

The present invention generally relates to the field of adenoviruses and adenoviral vectors that can be used as vaccines and gene therapy vectors. More specifically, the present invention relates to an adenovirus or an adenoviral vector that comprises a mutated DNA-binding protein that inhibits adenoviral DNA replication in a cell infected with a virus expressing said protein. The invention further relates to a nucleotide sequence encoding the mutated DNA-binding protein. In another aspect, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions, vaccines and cells that comprise the mutated protein, a nucleotide sequence encoding same, or a modified adenovirus or adenoviral vector comprising any of those. The invention also relates to the use of the mutated protein, a nucleotide sequence encoding the same, or an adenovirus or recombinant adenoviral vector comprising any of those for the preparation of a vaccine.

This disclosure describes a number of different polypeptide sequences, and the nucleic acid sequences encoding such polypeptide sequences, that can be used alone or in combination as universal vaccines (e.g., against influenza A or influenza B in humans or influenza in swine).

The present invention relates to a method for preparing viral vector-based compositions wherein the viral vector-based particles present in the composition have a particle size distribution with a polydispersity index (PDI) of less than 0.5, the method comprising the steps: (a) providing replication-deficient viral vectors; (b) providing a solution comprising at least one sugar and at least three different excipients selected from hydrophilic and amphiphilic excipients, wherein the excipients are characterized by polar, aliphatic, aromatic, negatively charged, and/or positively charged functional groups, and wherein the solution is further characterized by an excipient-sugar ratio of at least 1:2 (w/w); and (c) mixing the replication deficient viral vectors of step (a) with the solution of step (b). The present invention further relates to a viral vector-based composition obtainable by the method of the invention as well as to the viral vector-based composition of the invention for use as a prime-boost vaccine.

The invention relates to combinations, compositions, methods and dosage regimes for use in medicine, optionally wherein the use may be the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or cancer, including inducing an improved immune response and improvement in the performance of therapeutic vaccines.

Methods for generating immune responses using adenovirus vectors that allow multiple vaccinations with the same adenovirus vector and vaccinations in individuals with preexisting immunity to adenovirus are provided.

Methods for generating immune responses using adenovirus vectors that allow multiple vaccinations with the same adenovirus vector and vaccinations in individuals with preexisting immunity to adenovirus are provided.

The present disclosure relates to compositions and therapeutic methods for activating an immune response in a patient in need thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the subject methods and compositions are able to antagonize the activity of VISTA, a naturally occurring “checkpoint” protein which contributes to immune tolerance, optionally in combination with an antagonist of a second checkpoint pathway such as PD-1. For example, such methods and compositions may be suitable for preventing and treating colon cancer or another cancer. An exemplary VISTA antagonist, specifically, an anti-VISTA antibody, is demonstrated herein to activate an immune response against cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, thereby conferring protective anti-tumor immunity which decreased tumor burden. Additionally, an additive benefit was observed when a VISTA antagonist was used in combination with a second checkpoint protein antagonist, specifically, an antibody against PD-1 ligand (PD-L1).

Methods for generating immune responses using adenovirus vectors that allow multiple vaccinations with the same adenovirus vector and vaccinations in individuals with preexisting immunity to adenovirus are provided.

This invention relates to a method of treating a dog for canine diseases comprising administering to the dog therapeutically effective amounts of a vaccine, wherein the vaccine comprises viral antigens, a bacterin, or both, and wherein the vaccine is administered subcutaneously or orally according to the schedules provided herein.