Disclosed are compositions comprising an expressible nucleic acid sequence comprising a first nucleic acid sequence comprising a leader sequence or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and a second nucleic acid sequence comprising a sequence that encodes a self-assembling polypeptide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In some embodiments, the expressible nucleic acid sequence further comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one viral antigen or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In some embodiments, the expressible nucleic acid sequence further comprises at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a linker. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compositions and methods of using the disclosed compositions.

HIV neutralizing peptides, sulfated HIV-1 envelope proteins and immunogenic fragments thereof are disclosed, as well as nucleic acids encoding these molecules and methods of producing these peptides, envelope proteins and fragments. Methods are also provided for the treatment or prevention of a human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1 ) infection. The methods can include administering to a subject an HIV neutralizing peptide, sulfated HIV-1 envelope protein or immunogenic fragment thereof as disclosed herein. In several embodiments, administering the HIV neutralizing peptide, sulfated HIV-1 envelope protein or immunogenic fragment generates an immune response in a subject.

The present application relates to novel HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins, which may be utilized as HIV-1 vaccine immunogens, and antigens for crystallization, electron microscopy and other biophysical, biochemical and immunological studies for the identification of broad neutralizing antibodies. The present invention encompasses the preparation and purification of immunogenic compositions, which are formulated into the vaccines of the present invention.

HIV-1 Env ectodomain trimers stabilized in a prefusion mature closed conformation and methods of their use and production are disclosed. In several embodiments, the HIV-1 Env ectodomain trimers and/or nucleic acid molecules can be used to generate an immune response to HIV-1 in a subject. In additional embodiments, the therapeutically effective amount of the HIV-1 Env ectodomain trimers can be administered to a subject in a method of treating or preventing HIV-1 infection.

The present invention provides novel nanoparticle presented vaccine compositions that are stabilized with a locking domain. Various immunogens can be employed in the preparation of the vaccine compositions, including viral immunogens such as HIV-1 and Ebola viral immunogens, and non-viral immunogens such as immunogens derived from bacteria, parasites and mammalian species. The invention also provides methods of using such vaccine compositions in various therapeutic applications, e.g., for preventing or treating viral infections.

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.

HIV-1 envelope proteins and fragments that possess naturally occurring and novel engineered epitopes that can be used to elicit (and are recognized by) broadly neutralizing antibodies.

Disclosed herein are mosaic conserved region HIV polypeptides and immunogenic polypeptides including one or more of the mosaic conserved region polypeptides. In some embodiments, the immunogenic polypeptides are included in an immunogenic composition, such as a polyvalent immunogenic composition. Also disclosed herein are methods for treating or inhibiting HIV in a subject including administering one or more of the disclosed immunogenic polypeptides or compositions to a subject having or at risk of HIV infection. In some embodiments, the methods include inducing an immune response in a subject comprising administering to the subject at least one of the disclosed immunogenic polypeptides or a nucleic acid encoding at least one of the immunogenic polypeptides.

Disclosed herein are compositions that include antigen-encoding nucleic acid sequences and/or antigen peptides. Also disclosed are nucleotides, cells, and methods associated with the compositions including their use as vaccines against infectious diseases such as HIV.