In one embodiment, an expression system for expressing a UL128 complex is provided herein. The expression system may include a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) construct, wherein the BAC construct comprises a viral vector inserted with a set of DNA sequences that encode a UL128 complex. In another embodiment, a vaccine composition for preventing HCMV infection is provided. The vaccine composition may include a viral or bacterial vector capable of expressing a UL128 complex and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant, additive or combination thereof or additional vector expressing a protein adjuvant. The viral vector may be an MVA and the UL128 complex includes five HCMV proteins or antigenic fragments thereof: UL128, UL130, UL131A, gL, and gH. In some embodiments, the viral vector is further inserted with one or more additional DNA sequences that encode one or more additional HCMVHCMV proteins or antigenic fragments thereof such as pp65, gB or both, or such as gM/gN or gO.

In one embodiment, an expression system for expressing a UL128 complex is provided herein. The expression system may include a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) construct, wherein the BAC construct comprises a viral vector inserted with a set of DNA sequences that encode a UL128 complex. In another embodiment, a vaccine composition for preventing HCMV infection is provided. The vaccine composition may include a viral or bacterial vector capable of expressing a UL128 complex and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant, additive or combination thereof or additional vector expressing a protein adjuvant. The viral vector may be an MVA and the UL128 complex includes five HCMV proteins or antigenic fragments thereof: UL128, UL130, UL131A, gL, and gH. In some embodiments, the viral vector is further inserted with one or more additional DNA sequences that encode one or more additional HCMVHCMV proteins or antigenic fragments thereof such as pp65, gB or both, or such as gM/gN or gO.

In one embodiment, an expression system for expressing a UL128 complex is provided herein. The expression system may include a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) construct, wherein the BAC construct comprises a viral vector inserted with a set of DNA sequences that encode a UL128 complex. In another embodiment, a vaccine composition for preventing HCMV infection is provided. The vaccine composition may include a viral or bacterial vector capable of expressing a UL128 complex and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant, additive or combination thereof or additional vector expressing a protein adjuvant. The viral vector may be an MVA and the UL128 complex includes five HCMV proteins or antigenic fragments thereof: UL128, UL130, UL131A, gL, and gH. In some embodiments, the viral vector is further inserted with one or more additional DNA sequences that encode one or more additional HCMVHCMV proteins or antigenic fragments thereof such as pp65, gB or both, or such as gM/gN or gO.

Provided herein are prime-boost regimens and materials used therein. The prime-boost regimens enhance the immune response to a target antigen. The vaccines used for boost are comprised of recombinant attenuated metabolically active Listeria that encodes an expressible antigen that is cross-reactive with the target antigen. In some examples, the immune response is a cellular immune response.

The present invention relates to an isolated immunogenic peptide comprising a V2 loop fragment from HIV surface envelope glycoprotein gp120. This peptide binds specifically with antibodies in blood of patients vaccinated with a vaccine that has shown protection from HIV-1 infection, does not react with blood of matched patients who did not receive the vaccine, and can, therefore, elicit anti-HIV-1 antibodies which protect against HIV-1 infection. Other aspects of the present invention relate to an isolated immunogenic polypeptide comprising the peptide inserted into an immunogenic scaffold protein, a vaccine composition comprised of the immunogenic peptide and an immunologically or pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle or excipient as well as methods of inducing an immune response against HIV-1 and methods of detecting HIV-1.

The invention provides novel malaria polypeptides expressed at the pre-erythrocytic stage of the malaria life-cycle. The antigens can be utilized to induce an immune response against malaria in a mammal by administering the antigens in vaccine formulations or expressing the antigens in DNA or other nucleic acid expression systems delivered as a vaccine formulation.

The present invention provides an oncolytic virus comprising nucleotide sequence(s) encoding one or more immune checkpoint modulator(s). It also concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising effective amount of said oncolytic virus and, eventually, a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and its use for treating proliferative diseases such as cancers.

The present invention relates to polymerase HBV mutant polypeptides comprising a mutated polymerase domain which is functionally disrupted for polymerase activity and fusion proteins comprising such polymerase mutant polypeptide. The present invention also relates to a nucleic acid molecule and an expression vector for expressing said polymerase mutant polypeptide as well as a composition which can be used for eliciting an immune response to HBV with the goal of providing a protective or therapeutic effect against HBV infection.

The present invention relates to an isolated immunogenic peptide comprising a V2 loop fragment from HIV surface envelope glycoprotein gp120. This peptide binds specifically with antibodies in blood of patients vaccinated with a vaccine that has shown protection from HIV-1 infection, does not react with blood of matched patients who did not receive the vaccine, and can, therefore, elicit anti-HIV-1 antibodies which protect against HIV-1 infection. Other aspects of the present invention relate to an isolated immunogenic polypeptide comprising the peptide inserted into an immunogenic scaffold protein, a vaccine composition comprised of the immunogenic peptide and an immunologically or pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle or excipient as well as methods of inducing an immune response against HIV-1 and methods of detecting HIV-1.

The present invention provides vectors that contain and express in vivo or in vitro one or more Hendra virus polypeptides or antigens that elicit an immune response in animal or human against Hendra virus and Nipah virus, compositions comprising said vectors and/or Hendra virus polypeptides, methods of vaccination against Hendra virus and Nipah virus, and kits for use with such methods and compositions.