An immunogen useful for treating malaria generally includes an immunogenic carrier and an antigenic malaria circumsporozoite protein (CSP) peptide that includes the peptide NPDPNANPNVDPNAN (amino acids 5-19 of SEQ ID NO:1) linked to the immunogenic carrier. The immunogen may be administered to a subject having or at risk of having malaria.

Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and compositions comprising genetically modified probiotic microorganisms. In some embodiments, the genetically modified probiotic microorganisms produce at least one viral coat protein and/or at least one fusion protein comprising an antigenic polypeptide linked to a viral coat protein.

Provided is a method for activating CD4+ T cells using a polymer-based antigen complex. The method comprises the steps of bringing the polymer-based antigen complex into contact with B cells so that B cells process and present the antigen complex, and of bringing the B cells into contact with CD4+ T cells to activate CD4+ T cells. Also provided are a method for promoting the differentiation of CD4+ T cells into Tfh cells and Thl cells using the antigen complex, and a method for treating diseases by activating CD4+ T cells and/or promoting the differentiation of CD4+ T cells.

The present invention relates to processes for producing compositions comprising (i) a virus-like particle of an RNA bacteriophage, and (ii) aggregated oligonucleotides, wherein said aggregated oligonucleotides are packaged into said virus-like particle. The invention further provides processes for producing nucleotide compositions comprising aggregated oligonucleotides suitable for use in the aforementioned processes before. Moreover, the invention further provides nucleotide compositions comprising aggregated oligonucleotides. Furthermore, the invention further provides compositions comprising (i) a virus-like particle of an RNA bacteriophage, and (ii) aggregated oligonucleotides, wherein said aggregated oligonucleotides are packaged into said virus-like particle.

A vaccine construct comprising an antigenic PCSK9 peptide and an immunogenic carrier, and methods of using the same that are effective to lower blood cholesterol levels in a mammal and treat dyslipidemias and related disease states in a mammal without the frequency of administration required by passive immunity strategies.

An immunogen includes an antigenic EGFRvIII peptide linked to a Qβ bacteriophage virus-like particle (VLP) carrier. The antigenic EGFRvIII peptide has at least 53%, at least 61%, at least 69%, at least 76%, at least 84%, or at least 92% sequence similarity amino acid similarity to LEEKKGNYVVTDH (SEQ ID NO:1).

Provided are compositions and methods for treating cancer using administration of certain volumes of CpG oligonucleotides (CpG ODN) and, optionally, administration of a checkpoint inhibitor such as an anti-PD-1 antibody, an anti-PD-L1 antibody, and/or an anti-CTLA-4 antibody. In preferred embodiments, the CpG ODN are selected based on their propensity to induce high amounts of interferon alpha (IFN-a) and T-cell activation relative to interleukin-10 (IL-10) and B-cell activation. In certain embodiments, the methods further include pretreatment with radiotherapy, to potentiate the combination immunotherapy.

An immunogen generally includes a virus-like particle and an antigen linked to the virus-like particle. The antigen includes an antigenic portion of a polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide inhibits lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity by binding to LPL. In some embodiments, the polypeptide is at least a portion of angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3). In other embodiments, the polypeptide is at least a portion of angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4). In other embodiments, the polypeptide at least a portion of angiopoietin-like 8 (ANGPTL8). In some embodiments, the virus-like particle is a Qbeta immunogenic carrier. In some of these embodiments, the antigen is linked to the virus-like particle through a Gly-Gly-Gly-Cys linker at the C-terminal of the antigen.

The present invention is directed to virus-like particles (VLPs) which are engineered to present epitopes from Staphylococcus aureus (SA), preferably autoinducing peptides (AIPs) which regulate quorum-sensing dependent virulence in this pathogen, or epitopes from SA toxins and leukocidins. These VLPs may be used to provide immunogenic compositions and efficacious vaccines. In a mouse model of SA dermonecrosis, vaccination with AIP-containing VLPs or SA toxin-containing VLPs induces protective immunity to limit the pathogenesis of SA infection and promote bacterial clearance.

Provided herein are vaccine composition comprising an antigen conjugated to a capsid, wherein the capsid comprises wild type or native sequence. Provided herein are also vaccine composition comprising an antigen conjugated to a capsid, wherein said capsid comprises at least one mutation, such as a non-natural mutation. Such compositions are useful in the treatment and prevention of pathogenic infections, inflammatory diseases, and neurodegenerative disease, and cancer, among others.