The present invention relates to a vaccine comprising a nucleic acid construct such as a DNA construct especially a nucleic acid construct comprising sequences encoding invariant chain operatively linked to antigenic protein or peptide encoding sequences. The present vaccine stimulates an enhanced immune response.

Disclosed is producing recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in a pre-fusion state, using furin knock out or knockdown mammalian cells (such as HEK293, CHO or other mammalian cells) and using them to generate antibodies and related binding agents. The antibodies/binding agents can be used in SARS-CoV-2 detection assays or in diagnosis of active or prior infection with SARS-CoV-2; in prophylaxis or as a therapeutic; or for prophylactic or therapeutic use against coronaviruses related to SARS-CoV-2.

An expression system for expressing a herpesvirus glycoprotein complex including a vector inserted with two or more nucleic acid sequences that encode two or more subunits of a herpesvirus glycoprotein complex linked by one or more linking sequences such that the subunits are co-expressed simultaneously and self-processed to assemble into a glycoprotein complex. The expression system or the vector can be included in a vaccine composition. The vaccine composition can be used for preventing or treating herpesvirus infections.

An expression system for expressing a herpesvirus glycoprotein complex including a vector inserted with two or more nucleic acid sequences that encode two or more subunits of a herpesvirus glycoprotein complex linked by one or more linking sequences such that the subunits are co-expressed simultaneously and self-processed to assemble into a glycoprotein complex. The expression system or the vector can be included in a vaccine composition. The vaccine composition can be used for preventing or treating herpesvirus infections.

The present invention relates to a vaccine comprising a nucleic acid construct such as a DNA construct especially a nucleic acid construct comprising sequences encoding invariant chain operatively linked to antigenic protein or peptide encoding sequences. The present vaccine stimulates an enhanced immune response.

Antibodies and compositions of matter useful for the detection, diagnosis and treatment of Epstein Barr Virus infection in mammals, and methods of using those compositions of matter for the same are disclosed. Also disclosed are proteins, referred to as anti-gp350 antibody probes, and anti-gp350 B-cell probes, that maintain the epitope structure of the CR2-binding region of gp350, but do not bind CR2.

Antibodies and compositions of matter useful for the detection, diagnosis and treatment of Epstein Barr Virus infection in mammals, and methods of using those compositions of matter for the same are disclosed. Also disclosed are proteins, referred to as anti-gp350 antibody probes, and anti-gp350 B-cell probes, that maintain the epitope structure of the CR2-binding region of gp350, but do not bind CR2.

A method for treating cancer in mammals using an expression vector to transfect cancer cells in vivo and in situ. The vector includes one or more immunogenic exogenous polypeptides that are expressed by the cancer cells upon transfection. The body's immune response is triggered and directed to attack the transfected cancer cells. Once the immune response to the exogenous peptide on the cancer cells is initiated, an immune response to the other cancer associated or cancer specific antigens on or in the cancer cells takes over and eliminates all cancer cells, transfected or not.

A method for treating cancer in mammals using an expression vector to transfect cancer cells in vivo and in situ. The vector includes one or more immunogenic exogenous polypeptides that are expressed by the cancer cells upon transfection. The body's immune response is triggered and directed to attack the transfected cancer cells. Once the immune response to the exogenous peptide on the cancer cells is initiated, an immune response to the other cancer associated or cancer specific antigens on or in the cancer cells takes over and eliminates all cancer cells, transfected or not.

The invention provides nucleic acid molecules encoding FGF21 mutant polypeptides, FGF21 mutant polypeptides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising FGF21 mutant polypeptides, and methods for treating metabolic disorders using such nucleic acids, polypeptides, or pharmaceutical compositions.