Provided are HBV immunogenic polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, vectors expressing such immunogenic polypeptides for use in eliciting an immune response against HBV; pharmaceutical and immunogenic compositions and kits comprising such polypeptides, polynucleotides or vectors, and methods of use in treating and/or preventing HBV.

Described herein is the use of thin film freeze drying methods with oil-in-water adjuvants to produce improved vaccine compositions. This approach solves several major problems associated with the emulsion-adjuvanted vaccines. Additionally, the developed dry powder compositions have the potential to be administered via non-invasive routes (such as intranasal, pulmonary, transcutaneous with or without microneedles) and be stored at ambient temperatures which significantly reduce the costs of vaccination programs.

The present invention provides novels method of targeting delivery of a compound to hypoxic cells, for example treatment of diseases and disorders associated with hypoxia, comprising administration of a construct comprising a targeting carrier peptide and a compound for delivery to a hypoxic cell. The invention also provides novel methods for the treatment of diseases or disorders of the eye by administration of a novel construct, a nucleic acid encoding a novel construct, and/or a nucleic acid vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding a novel construct. The invention further provides novel constructs, nucleic acids encoding such constructs, and/or nucleic acid vectors comprising nucleic acids encoding such constructs.

The present disclosure is directed to peptide immunogen constructs targeting portions of Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), compositions containing the constructs, antibodies elicited by the constructs, and methods for making and using the constructs and compositions thereof. The disclosed peptide immunogen constructs have more than about 20 amino acids and contain (a) a B cell epitope having about more than about 9 contiguous amino acid residues from the PACAP receptor binding or activation regions of the full-length PACAP protein; (b) a heterologous Th epitope; and (c) an optional heterologous spacer. The disclosed PACAP peptide immunogen constructs stimulate the generation of highly specific antibodies directed PACAP for the prevention and/or treatment of migraine.

The present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising at least three peptide fragments consisting of 10 to 50 consecutive amino acid residues of at least one wild-type allergen fused to the N- and C-terminus of a surface polypeptide of a virus of the hepadnaviridae family or at least one fragment of said surface polypeptide.

Genetically modified HBc polypeptides are provided.

The present invention relates to methods and uses for screening anti-hepadnaviral substances, wherein the substances are screened for the capacity to inhibit covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA of a hepadnavirus, like hepatitis B virus. The methods and uses take advantage of cells comprising a nucleic sequence encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen, like Hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg). Furthermore, the present invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen and proteins encoded thereby. Also kits for use in the screening methods are provided.

The invention provides a recombinant polypeptide comprising the EDIII domain of each of Dengue virus serotype DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4 linked to the N-terminal of HBsAg.

The present invention relates to a recombinant self-assembled protein comprising a target-oriented peptide and a use thereof. The recombinant self-assembled protein according to the present invention, comprising a target-oriented peptide, does not require an additional process for providing target-orientedness, and is thus capable of delivering a desired drug to a target tissue or target cell without using additives, such as chemical binders or stabilizers; therefore, the protein can be used for photothermal therapy, drug delivery, imaging, or the like. In particular, according to the present invention, it is possible to prepare gold-protein nanoparticle fusions in which uniform high-density gold nanoparticles having target-orientedness are bound to protein surfaces, without an additional process of surface stabilization or process for providing target-orientedness. Compared with conventional gold nanoparticles, the gold-protein nanoparticle fusions according to the present invention show structural stability against pH variation and concentration variation, and also have excellent target-orientedness; therefore, the fusions can bring a dramatic enhancement to the utilization of gold nanoparticles in photothermal therapy.

The present invention provides a combination preparation for inducing a specific immune response to an antigenic peptide, which contains (I) the antigenic peptide, and (II) an expression vector encoding a chimeric hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide, into which the antigenic peptide has been inserted or added, wherein said antigenic peptide is inserted in a region of amino acid residues 74-87 or 130-138 of the hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide, or added to the N-terminal or C-terminal of the hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide, wherein the antigenic peptide of (I) and the expression vector of (II) are substantially simultaneously administered to a subject.