A fusion imaging gene and lentiviral expression plasmid, lentivirus and cell, and preparation methods and applications thereof are provided. The fusion imaging gene includes bioluminescence imaging gene, fluorescent protein gene and calcium imaging gene. The three genes are linked by linkers. The fusion gene is inserted into a modified lentiviral expression plasmid to obtain lentivirus particles carrying the fusion imaging gene.

The present invention relates to a new vaccine delivery system. In particular, the present invention includes compositions and methods of integrally transformed non-pathogenic, commensal bacteria that can express a nucleic acid molecule of a foreign polypeptide, wherein the nucleic acid molecule that encodes the foreign polypeptide is stably integrated into genomic DNA of the bacteria. The foreign polypeptide includes a vaccine antigen that elicits an immunogenic response, an inhibitor of a pathogen, or an immune booster or modulator.

The present relation relates to recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus for use as prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for infectious diseases of AIDS. The present invention encompasses the preparation and purification of immunogenic compositions which are formulated into the vaccines of the present invention.

The subject invention concerns methods and materials for inducing an immune response in an animal or person against an immunodeficiency virus, such as HIV, SIV, or FIV. In one embodiment, a method of the invention comprises administering one or more antigens and/or immunogens to the person or animal wherein the antigen and/or immunogen comprises one or more evolutionarily conserved epitopes of immunodeficiency viruses. In one embodiment, the epitope is one that is conserved between HIV and SIV, or between HIV and FIV. In another embodiment, the epitope is one that is conserved between HIV, SIV, and FIV.

The present invention relates to a new vaccine delivery system. In particular, the present invention includes compositions and methods of integrally transformed non-pathogenic, commensal bacteria that can express a nucleic acid molecule of a foreign polypeptide, wherein the nucleic acid molecule that encodes the foreign polypeptide is stably integrated into genomic DNA of the bacteria. The foreign polypeptide includes a vaccine antigen that elicits an immunogenic response, an inhibitor of a pathogen, or an immune booster or modulator.

Novel nucleic acids include non-integrative chimeric retroviral genomes including the 5 and 3 long terminal repeat sequences (LTRs) of the caprine lentivirus: the Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV) or of another retrovirus not integrating human cells and at least one viral gene of another retrovirus. A vector including such a nucleic acid, an immunogenic or vaccinal composition including the vector or the nucleic acid, as well as their use for treating and/or preventing an infection by a retrovirus or a disease induced by a pathogenic agent are also described.

The present invention relates to polypeptide for engineering integrase chimeric proteins and their use in gene therapy. In particular, the present invention relates to a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence ranging from the amino acid residue at position 617 to the amino acid residue at position 622 in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a function conservative thereof.

The present invention describes a unique method of treating cancer with the administration of an improved DAGRS construct which functions as a humanized agent specifically targeting cancer cells in vivo. A specific DAGRS is described constructed of a humanized drug delivery biologic, carboxyl to an Apoptin fragment consisting of Apoptin's proline-rich SH3-binding fragment, a spacer, and a MAP kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation site, in replacement of the SH3-binding domain at HIV-1 TAT's amino terminus. Apoptin is a viral protein with incumbent immunogenicity and toxicity in humans. Improved DAGRS constructs are described that replace the viral VP3 peptide with human AKT peptide or derivative, all equivalently spaced 11 amino acids from the initial proline to the beginning of the MAPK phosphorylation site, through which technology the DAGRS is fully humanized. DAGRS provide for improved bioavailability, enhanced specific activity, and low toxicity for in vivo treatment of cancer. DAGRS are a superior method for targeting any oncogene with an inhibitory peptide.

An algorithm for humanization is described through which human functional equivalent(s) to viral product(s) are identified by alignment of peptides anchored at each end by matching functional motifs that are spaced equivalently distant in the two aligned peptides. The algorithm totally disregards the primary amino acid composition of the spacer, and as such separates from current computer algorithms that prioritize primary amino acid alignments. Accounting for spacing dictates that functional domains be oriented correctly in three dimensions. The invention taught here can be developed into computer algorithms for rapidly identifying these anchored alignments, and thereafter developing safe humanized drugs from disruptive viral activities. Computers once taught the basic rules for anchoring equivalents, can improve on the basic algorithm through artificial intelligence to expand drug development.

The present invention relates to the use of immunogenic peptides comprising a T-cell epitope derived from a viral vector antigen and a redox motif such as C-(X)2-[CST] or [CST]-(X)2-C in the prevention and/or suppression of immune responses to viral vectors and in the manufacture of medicaments therefore.

This disclosure relates to recombinant bacteria, e.g. L. lactis, expressing heterologous pili containing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigens. In certain embodiments, the recombinant bacteria are administered in combination with other HIV antigens, nucleic acids encoding HIV antigens, recombinant virus encoding HIV antigens, anti-viral agents and/or adjuvants in an effective amount to elicit a mucosal immune response against HIV.