Recombinant herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) vaccine vectors, virions thereof, compositions and vaccines comprising such, and methods of use thereof are each provided.

The invention provides viral vectors (e.g., herpes viral vectors) and methods of using these vectors to treat disease.

The present disclosure provides recombinant nucleic acids comprising one or more polynucleotides encoding a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) polypeptide (e.g., a human CFTR 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 a chronic lung disease, such as cystic fibrosis); and articles of manufacture or kits thereof.

Persistence of HIV in anatomic sanctuary sites such as the brain prevents viral eradication. Although combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) inhibits viral replication to undetectable level by standard clinical assay, it does not selectively eliminate virus reservoirs. To target HIV reservoirs, the present inventor developed an HIV Rev-dependent lentiviral vector carrying a series of therapeutic genes, such as diphtheria toxin, anthrolysin O from Bacillus anthracis, human TRAF6, or the herpes simplex 1 virus thymidine kinase gene (HSV-tk). The present disclosure provides the Rev-dependent vectors for targeting viral reservoir in a SIV/rhesus macaque model. SIV-infected rhesus macaques were first treated with cART for over 6 months starting 12 weeks post infection, followed by injections with viral particles assembled from a SIV Rev-dependent vector carrying HSV-tk. Following particle injection, animals were further treated briefly (two weeks) with ganciclovir (GCV), which induces the killing of SIV+, HSV-tk expressing cells. cART was terminated following the GCV treatment, and there was observed a partial control of viral rebound over a period of 4 months after cART cessation. The animal was further treated with additional Rev-dependent vector particles, and viral load was diminished to the undetectable level for over 1 year in the absence of any treatment. These results suggest that the Rev-dependent vector, with or without a functional gene, has the potential to diminish viral reservoirs in vivo and can offer a cure of functional cure of HIV/SIV infection.

Malignant tumors that are resistant to conventional therapies represent significant therapeutic challenges. An embodiment of the present invention provides a second generation oncolytic virus rQNestin34.5v2 with less toxicity that is more effective at selective killing target cells, such as tumor cells. In various embodiments presented herein, the oncolytic virus described herein is suitable for treatment of glioblastoma, as well as other cancers.

A modified protein of a herpes simplex virus (HSV) envelope glycoprotein B (gB), in which at least one non-neutralizing antibody-inducing epitope (non-neutralizing epitope) present in domain IV and domain I of wild-type HSV gB is inactivated (de-epitoped).

The present disclosure provides recombinant nucleic acids comprising one or more polynucleotides encoding a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) polypeptide (e.g., a human CFTR 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 a chronic lung disease, such as cystic fibrosis); and articles of manufacture or kits thereof.

The present disclosure relates to recombinant viral vectors for the treatment and prevention of cancer. Oncolytic viral vectors incorporate one or more of the following features: viral replication restriction by insertion of microRNA (miRNA) target sequences into the viral genome; disruption of oncogenic miRNA function; cancer microenvironment remodeling; and cancer cell targeting by incorporation of protease-activated antibodies into the viral particle.

Disclosed herein is an isolated stem cell or population thereof that comprises oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV). Examples of possible stem cells include mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), neuronal stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Various forms of the oHSV are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of treating brain cancer in a subject by administering the stem cells containing oHSV to the subject to deliver the oHSV to brain cancer cells in the subject. The method is for the treatment of primary brain cancer and secondary metastatic brain cancer.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating cancer. More specifically, the present invention relates to compositions of engineered oncolytic viruses for administration to a subject with cancer that specifically lyse tumor cells and actively target tumor cells and cell debris to antigen presenting cells, in order to generate anti-tumor immunity.