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 presently disclosed subject matter provides methods, reporter gene constructs, and kits for using prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) as an imaging reporter to image a variety of cells and tissues.

Provided herein are HIV-1 vaccines comprising a carrier and a population episensus antigen determined using the EpiGraph approach. Also provided are HIV-1 vaccines comprising a carrier, a population episensus antigen, and a tailored antigen. Also provided are methods of designing and producing an HIV-1 vaccine for a subject comprising designing vaccine antigens to optimally cover the diversity within a geographic area using an antigen amino acid sequence generated using the EpiGraph approach, and producing said designed vaccine antigen. Also provided are methods of inducing an effector memory T cell response comprising designing the one or more EpiGraph amino acid sequences, producing a vaccine comprising the one or more EpiGraph amino acid sequences and a vector, and administering the vaccine to a subject. Further provided are methods of treating HIV-1 in a subject comprising administering an effective amount of the described HIV-1 vaccines to the subject in need thereof.

The present invention generally relates to a glycopeptide conjugate compound of Formula (I):, as described herein, compositions comprising the conjugate compound and to the use of such a compound to as a vaccine.

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The present disclosure provides cytomegalovirus vectors encoding fusion proteins comprising Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigens, nucleic acid molecules encoding the same, cytomegalovirus vectors comprising nucleic acid molecules, compositions comprising the same, and methods of eliciting an immune response against tuberculosis.

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.

A method for the regulated removal of heterologous genetic material from disseminating viral vaccine vectors is provided.

Recombinant expression vectors are disclosed that include a control sequence for recombinant expression of proteins of interest; the control sequence combines a mCMV enhancer sequence with a rat EF-1alpha intron sequence. Some of the vectors are useful for tetracycline-inducible expression. Some of the vectors contain a 5′ PiggyBac ITR and a 3′ PiggyBac ITR to promote genomic integration into a host cell chromosome. A method of selecting a stable production cell line for manufacturing a protein of interest is also disclosed. Also disclosed are mammalian host cells comprising the inventive recombinant expression vectors and a method of producing a protein of interest, in vitro, involving the mammalian host cell.

Disclosed are methods for gene therapy by administration of genetically modified viral vectors. Gene therapy vectors can include a cytomegalovirus vector encoding one or more therapeutic donor genes such as human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). These vectors can be used in exemplary gene therapy methods for maintaining or improving one or more aspects of a recipient's physiological wellness and/or longevity. The recombinant viral vector can be administered or received intranasally or as an injectable therapeutic