Provided herein are immunogenic compositions comprising an immunogen with at least one complement component 5 (C5) epitope, wherein the immunogen is capable of generating autologous anti-C5 antibodies in a subject. In certain embodiments, such compositions are employed for treating and preventing complement component 5 (C5) related diseases. In certain embodiments, the immunogenic compositions comprise virus like particles and/or PADRE sequences, in addition to the C5 epitope(s).

Novel processes and compositions are described which use viral capsid proteins resistant to hydrolases to prepare virus-like particles to enclose and subsequently isolate and purify target cargo molecules of interest including nucleic acids such as siRNAs and shRNAs, miRNAs, messenger RNAs, small peptides and bioactive molecules.

The present invention is directed virus-like particles (VLPs) which are useful in immunogenic compositions and vaccines epitopes mediating protection are disclosed. Immunogenic peptides are identified and are displayed on virus-like particles, especially Qbeta, MS2, or AP205 VLPs which provide a potent immunogenic response in a patient or subject and enhanced protection from Ct infection in a patient or subject. Pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines are disclosed as are methods for providing an immunogenic response and/or vaccinating a patient or subject against Chlamydia trachomatis infections.

The invention provides processes for the producing compositions comprising (i) a virus-like particle, wherein said virus-like particle is a virus-like particle of an RNA bacteriophage, and (ii) an oligonucleotide, wherein said oligonucleotide is packaged into said virus-like particle. The invention further provides processes for producing nucleotide compositions comprising oligonucleotides suitable to be used in the processes mentioned before. The invention further provides nucleotide compositions obtainable by the processes of the invention and uses thereof. The invention further provides compositions comprising (i) a virus-like particle, wherein said virus-like particle is a virus-like particle of an RNA bacteriophage, and (ii) an oligonucleotide, wherein said oligonucleotide is packaged into said virus-like particle, wherein said compositions are obtainable by the processes of the invention and wherein said compositions preferably comprises a purity of at least 98%, most preferably of at least 99%.

This disclosure describes immunogens, compositions, and methods for treating dyslipidemia. The immunogen included an ApoC3-derived peptide linked to a bacteriophage virus like particle (VLP) immunogenic carrier. The ApoC3 immunogen can be administered to a subject having, or at risk of having, dyslipidemia. The ApoC3 immunogen may be administered alone or co-administered with an additional dyslipidemia therapeutic agent.

A broad and extensive new category of targets for ribonucleic acids (RNAs) with interference activity (iRNAs), exclusive of the traditional messenger RNA (mRNA) targets have been discovered. iRNAs can be used to manipulate biological processes that do not explicitly involve mRNA and can be directed at non-coding RNAs, such as ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and transfer RNAs (tRNAs). iRNA sequences targeted at ribosomal rRNAs and tRNAs have been designed and tested. iRNA that targets a non-coding RNA is called non-coding interfering RNA (nciRNA). nciRNAs cause degradation of non-coding RNAs in vivo, and are highly active in biological assays. nciRNAs can be used as programmed toxins for specific targeting of eukaryotic pathogens and for protection of plants and structures from insects and weeds.

This disclosure describes, in one aspect, immunogens effective for treating and/or diagnosing tauopathy, and immunotherapeutic compositions and methods involving those immunogens. Generally, the immunogen includes an antigen presentation component and a microtubule-associated tau protein (MAPT) component linked to at least a portion of the antigen presentation component. This disclosure describes, in another aspect, a transgenic mouse. Generally, the transgenic mouse possesses brain cells that have a polynucleotide that encodes human microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT). The polynucleotide further exhibits a deletion of at least a portion of endogenous mouse MAPT. The transgenic mouse also includes a forebrain neuron-specific deletion of a polynucleotide that encodes Myeloid Differentiation Primary Response Gene 88 (MyD88). In a further aspect, this disclosure describes a method of producing the transgenic mouse.

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.

Provided are methods and compositions for modulating an immune response or for treating a disease or condition in a subject, such as cancer, infection, autoimmune disease, allergy, and asthma. The methods involve systemically administering to a subject a particle comprising a surface and an interior, wherein the surface of the particle comprises an antigen, the interior of the particle comprises an immune modulating agent, and the subject is or has been primed to mount an antibody response to the antigen. The antibody response to the particle permits Fc receptor-bearing target cells to take up the particle, thereby delivering the immune modulating agent to the target cells and modulating an immune response of the subject. In various embodiments, the immune modulating agent can be selected from the group consisting of therapeutic agents, immune activators, and immune suppressors. In certain embodiments, the immune activator is a TLR agonist, e.g, a CpG oligodeoxynucleotide.

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.