The present invention relates to compositions and methods for generating a nucleic acid delivery system comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a heterologous protein comprising a canine tumor-specific antigen (canine melanoma polyepitope (K9Melapoly)) and an inhibitor of an immuno-inhibitory pathway (HSV-1 gD). Additionally, the current invention includes compositions and methods of treating and/or preventing or immunizing a canine against melanoma, and methods of inducing an effector and memory T cell immune response in a canine administered the nucleic acid delivery system of the invention. Furthermore, the invention encompasses a pharmaceutical composition for vaccinating a canine as well as a protein expression system.

A recombinant herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a recombinant HSV-1 vector, and a method of preparing the recombinant HSV-1, may enable easy genetic modification, as a relatively large foreign gene may be inserted or various foreign genes may be inserted simultaneously, as ICP6 and IR regions are simultaneously deleted. These may be used in cancer treatment as an oncolytic virus that is safe, while having an excellent effect in killing cancer cells.

The present disclosure provides recombinant nucleic acids comprising one or more polynucleotides encoding an immunomodulatory polypeptide (e.g., a pro-inflammatory cytokine such as a human IL-2 or IL-12 polypeptide); viruses comprising the recombinant nucleic acids; compositions and formulations comprising the recombinant nucleic acids and/or viruses; methods of their use (e.g., for the treatment of cancer, such as lung cancer); and articles of manufacture or kits thereof.