The present disclosure relates to a recombinant transglutaminase (TG) substrate having an amino acid sequence of the FKBP domain of an FKBP polypeptide, wherein the insert-in-flap (IF) domain thereof is, at least in part, replaced by an amino acid sequence (Q-tag) of 5 to 20 amino acids with a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to the YRYRQ portion of the peptide sequence X.sub.1-YRYRQ-X.sub.2 (SEQ ID NO. 1), and wherein said TG substrate is a substrate for the TG function of the Kutzneria albida TG. The present disclosure furthermore relates to uses of said substrate.

The invention concerns soluble and antigenic HTLV p24 variants that can be fused to chaperones and their use in diagnostic applications such as immunoassays for detecting antibodies against HTLV-I or HTLV-II in an isolated biological sample. In particular, the invention relates to a soluble HTLV-I or HTLV-II p24 antigen comprising either the N- or the C-terminal domain of p24 and lacking the other domain. Moreover, the invention covers recombinant DNA molecules encoding these HTLV-I and -II fusion antigens as well as their recombinant production using expression vectors and host cells transformed with such expression vectors. In addition, the invention focuses on compositions of these HTLV p24 antigens with HTLV gp21 antigen and on an immunoassay method for detection of HTLV antibodies using the antigens of the invention. Also the use of HTLV p24 antigens in an in vitro diagnostic assay as well as a reagent kit for detection of anti-HTLV-antibodies comprising said HTLV antigens is encompassed.

Provided herein are delivery particle systems (XDP) useful for the delivery of payloads of any type. In some embodiments, a XDP particle system with tropism for target cells of interest is used to deliver CRISPR/Cas polypeptides (e.g., CasX proteins) and guide nucleic acids (gNA), for the modification of nucleic acids in target cells. Also provided are methods of making and using such XDP to modify the nucleic acids in such cells.

The invention relates to recombinant bovine leukemia viruses that have an attenuated phenotype and comprise a combination of at least two specific mutations. The invention also provides recombinant nucleic acids encoding such viruses, vectors comprising such nucleic acids, and host cells comprising such nucleic acids or vectors. The recombinant attenuated BLV viruses, recombinant nucleic acids, vectors and host cells allow for the preparation of improved vaccines, in particular vaccines suitable for the prophylactic treatment of BLV-associated diseases in subjects. The invention further provides methods for treating BLV-associated diseases in subjects and pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use in these methods.

Provided are engineered primary blood and monocyte-derived dendritic cells, wherein the dendritic cell expresses a functional Tax protein from a T cell leukemia virus, and methods of making and using the same.

Provided are engineered primary blood and monocyte-derived dendritic cells, wherein the dendritic cell expresses a functional Tax protein from a T cell leukemia virus, and methods of making and using the same.

The present invention relates to compositions, methods, and uses employing lentiviral vector particles for induction of an immune response by administration to a human, wherein the lentiviral vector particles comprise a lentiviral vector, wherein the DNA of the lentiviral vector comprises a promoter directing expression of a HTLV-1 p12p30-Tax-HBZ fusion protein. The invention encompasses these vectors, methods of making the vectors, and methods of using them, including medicinal uses.

A method of immunizing against HTLV-1 is disclosed. The method may include preparing a DNA sequence corresponding to a chimeric peptide which may have immunogenic epitopes of HTLV-1. These epitopes can include a Tax epitope, a gp21 epitope, a gp46 epitope, and/or a gag epitope. The method also includes production of the chimeric peptide using the DNA sequence and purifying the produced chimeric peptide. The purified chimeric peptide can be employed for immunization against HTLV-1.

The invention concerns soluble and antigenic HTLV p24 variants that can be fused to chaperones and their use in diagnostic applications such as immunoassays for detecting antibodies against HTLV-I or HTLV-II in an isolated biological sample. In particular, the invention relates to a soluble HTLV-I or HTLV-II p24 antigen comprising either the N- or the C-terminal domain of p24 and lacking the other domain. Moreover, the invention covers recombinant DNA molecules encoding these HTLV-I and -II fusion antigens as well as their recombinant production using expression vectors and host cells transformed with such expression vectors. In addition, the invention focuses on compositions of these HTLV p24 antigens with HTLV gp21 antigen and on an immunoassay method for detection of HTLV antibodies using the antigens of the invention. Also the use of HTLV p24 antigens in an in vitro diagnostic assay as well as a reagent kit for detection of anti-HTLV-antibodies comprising said HTLV antigens is encompassed.

This invention relates to the identification of peptide binding to ligands, and in particular to identification of epitopes expressed by microorganisms and by mammalian cells. The present invention provides polypeptides comprising the epitopes, and vaccines, antibodies and diagnostic products that utilize or are developed using the epitopes.