The present invention relates to novel peptides and methods for inducing an immune response in a subject against an antigen and for treatment, diagnosis and prognosis of infections or autoimmune diseases including infections with HCV, HIV, CMV and Flu. The invention further relates to methods for identifying and providing peptides useful for the treatment and diagnosis.

The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences that encode hepatitis C viruses (HCV) of genotype 2b that are useful in the fundamental research of HCV as well as in the search of a vaccine against HCV. In particular the present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences that comprises HCVs, which are capable of expressing said virus when transfected into cells and are capable of infectivity in vivo.

The present disclosure in some aspects relates to HCV core antigen polypeptides. In some aspects, the present disclosure further relates to HCV antibodies, including camelid antibodies that specifically bind to HCV core antigen, and antibody fragments. The disclosure further relates to methods of detecting an analyte in a sample using a camelid antibody, such as a camelid VHH antibody or fragments thereof. In one aspect, provided herein is a technology platform for isolating highly specific antibodies and applying these antibodies in an immunoassay, such as a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA). In some aspects, this technology is used to develop HCV core antigen specific antibodies and to produce LFIA devices for rapid and early diagnosis of HCV. In other aspects, a rapid test is provided for screening and detection of hepatitis C virus infection to improve the diagnosis rate and effectively prevent HCV infection transmission.

The present disclosure provides affinity tagged heterodimeric polypeptides comprising a hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1 polypeptide and an HCV E2 polypeptide, where one or both of the E1 and E2 polypeptides comprises an affinity tag. The present disclosure provides a method of producing an affinity tagged E1/E2 heterodimer of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides methods of producing untagged HCV E1/E2 heterodimers. The present disclosure provides HCV E1/E2 heterodimers, compositions comprising same, and methods of inducing an immune response to HCV.

The present invention provides a composition comprising hepatitis B virus (HBV) component(s), and which may be either nucleic acid- or polypeptide-based as well as nucleic acid molecules and vectors encoding such HBV component(s). It also relates to infectious viral particles and host cells comprising such nucleic acid molecules or vectors. It also provides composition and kits of parts comprising such nucleic acid molecules, vectors, infectious viral particles or host cells and the therapeutic use thereof for preventing or treating HBV infections.

GB virus C (GBV-C or hepatitis G virus) is a flavivirus that frequently leads to chronic viremia in humans. The invention provides compositions and methods involving an anti-GBV-C antibody or other GBV-C binding agent, or a GBV-C antigen, for inhibiting and treating HIV infections.

The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences that encode hepatitis C viruses (HCV) that are useful in the fundamental research of HCV as well as in the search of a vaccine against HCV. In particular the present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences that comprises HCVs which are capable of expressing said virus when transfected into cells and are capable of infectivity in vivo.

The present invention encompasses FMDV vaccines or compositions. The vaccine or composition may be a vaccine or composition containing FMDV antigens. The invention also encompasses recombinant vectors encoding and expressing FMDV antigens, epitopes or immunogens which can be used to protect animals, in particular ovines, bovines, caprines, or swines, against FMDV. The invention further encompasses methods of making or producing antigenic polypeptides or antigens.

Conserved consensus sequences from known hepatitis B virus strains and known hepatitis C virus strains, which are useful in inhibiting the expression of the viruses in mammalian cells, are provided. These sequences are useful to silence the genes of HBV and HCV, thereby providing therapeutic utility against HBV and HCV viral infection in humans.

Described are compositions comprising a nucleoside-modified RNA molecules encoding a HCV p7 protein in combination with at least one additional HCV antigen, adjuvant, or a combination thereof, and their use for inducing an immune response against HCV.