In this invention, a non-infectious particle has been produced, comprising a pathogen antigen protein caused to be expressed on the surface of a virus particle having at least one species of paramyxovirus envelope protein missing from the particle. This particle has been found to hold within the particle a large amount of antigen protein compared to an infectious particle, and to be capable of eliciting a host immune response with extremely high efficiency. The non-infectious particle according to the present invention is useful as a vaccine against a pathogenic virus, or the like.

Disclosed herein are vectors that include antigen-encoding nucleic acid sequences and co-express immune modulators. Also disclosed are nucleotides, cells, and methods associated with the vectors including their use as vaccines.

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.

Disclosed herein are alphavirus vectors that include neoantigen-encoding nucleic acid sequences derived from a tumor of a subject. Also disclosed are nucleotides, cells, and methods associated with the vectors including their use as vaccines.

Provided are methods of identifying peptide epitopes of a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule of an antigen, such as a tumor antigen, autoimmune antigen or pathogenic antigen. In some embodiments, the methods relate to using cytomegalovirus containing a nucleic acid molecule encoding the antigen to infect cells under conditions to generate particular peptide epitopes of the antigen. Also provided are methods of identifying peptide binding molecules that bind to a peptide epitope in the context of an MHC molecule. In some embodiments, the peptide binding molecule is a T cell receptor (TCR) or antibody, including antigen-binding fragments thereof and chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) thereof. Also provided are methods of genetically engineering cells containing such peptide binding molecules, and such genetically engineered cells, including compositions and uses thereof in adoptive cell therapy.

In this invention, a non-infectious particle has been produced, comprising a pathogen antigen protein caused to be expressed on the surface of a virus particle having at least one species of paramyxovirus envelope protein missing from the particle. This particle has been found to hold within the particle a large amount of antigen protein compared to an infectious particle, and to be capable of eliciting a host immune response with extremely high efficiency. The non-infectious particle according to the present invention is useful as a vaccine against a pathogenic virus, or the like.

Provided is a vaccine for preventing and/or treating infection with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1).

A lipid particle encapsulating a nucleic acid expressing a gp46 antigen or a Tax antigen of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), wherein the lipid comprises a cationic lipid represented by general formula (Ia):

##STR00001##

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent a C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkyl group;

L.sup.1 represents a C.sub.17-C.sub.19 alkenyl group optionally having one or more C.sub.2-C.sub.4 alkanoyloxy groups;

L.sup.2 represents a C.sub.10-C.sub.19 alkyl group optionally having one or more C.sub.2-C.sub.4 alkanoyloxy groups, or a C.sub.10-C.sub.19 alkenyl group optionally having one or more C.sub.2-C.sub.4 alkanoyloxy groups; and

p is 3 or 4.

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.

Described herein, are Bovine immunodeficiency virus gag protein (Bgag) recombinant virus like particles (VLPs) including one or more different types of target pathogen proteins. Also described, are compositions including the Bgag VLPs and the methods of making and using the novel Bgag VLP.

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.