The present disclosure relates generally to gene delivery using a chimeric, retroviral-RNA replicon vector particle for increased expression of transgenes in a host cell. In particular, the chimeric vectors described herein can be used in any of a variety of settings including gene therapy and vaccine settings.

CMV vectors comprising a heterologous protein antigen, an active UL131 protein (or an ortholog thereof), and an active UL128 protein (or an ortholog thereof) but lacking an active UL130 protein (or an ortholog thereof) are provided. CMV vectors comprising a heterologous protein antigen, an active UL131 protein (or an ortholog thereof), and an active UL130 protein (or an ortholog thereof) but lacking an active UL128 protein are also provided. In addition, methods of using CMV vectors to generate an immune response characterized as having at least 10% of the CD8+ T cells directed against epitopes presented by MHC Class II are provided.

The disclosure relates to methods of modulating T cell responses by UL18 of human cytomegalovirus. The disclosure also relates to methods of generating MHC-Ia, MHC-II, and/or MHC-E restricted CD8+ T cells.

This invention provides improved replication-competent adenoviral vectors. The improved vectors have both a hybrid regulatory unit that provides for high level transgene expression. The vectors can be use, e.g., for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes.

The present invention provides for novel compositions and methods for delivering genes of interest to stem cells using vectors that contain differentiation-specific transcriptional regulatory elements. For example, stem cells in the internal epithelia could be transfected with a vaccine construct, which has an epithelial cell differentiation-specific promoter driving the expression of viral envelope proteins. When the promoter used is specific for terminally differentiated epithelial cells, then the viral envelope proteins will be expressed only in the upper part of the epithelia and therefore, stimulate the immune response. The infected epithelial stem cells in the basal layer will continue to produce new antigen-expressing cells, without being eliminated by the immune response. This invention will be useful in the development of vaccines against viral agents that target the internal mucosa like HIV.

Methods for generating immune responses using adenovirus vectors that allow multiple vaccinations with the same adenovirus vector and vaccinations in individuals with preexisting immunity to adenovirus are provided.

The present relation relates to a transgenic Vero cell line expressing CD4 and CCR5. The present invention encompasses the preparation and purification of immunogenic compositions which are formulated into the vaccines of the present invention.

Disclosed herein are recombinant CMV vectors which may comprise a heterologous antigen that can repeatedly infect an organism while inducing a CD8+ T cell response to immunodominant epitopes of the heterologous antigen. The CMV vector may comprise a deleterious mutation in the US11 glycoprotein or a homolog thereof.

The subject invention pertains to materials and methods for detecting, preventing and treating retroviral infections in humans and other animals susceptible to infection by retrovirus. It has been discovered that FIV can be transmitted from cats to humans and that the FIV can infect human cells in vivo and that antibodies generated by the infected person cross-react with HIV antigens. Thus, the methods and compositions of the subject invention can be used to detect, prevent and treat FIV infection in humans and other non-feline animals that are susceptible to FIV infection. The methods and compositions of the invention can also be used to prevent and treat infection by HIV in humans.

This patent application relates generally to the treatment of cancer, and more particularly to the use of a pseudotyped lentivirus expressing IL-12 for the treatment of cancer.