Provided herein are recombinant poxviruses that are stable through successive passaging of the recombinant poxviruses. More particularly, the recombinant poxviruses comprise one or more modified nucleic acids encoding MUC1, CEA, and/or TRICOM antigens, wherein the recombinant poxviruses are stable through successive passaging. Also, provided herein are compositions and method related thereto.

The present invention relates to aqueous compositions conferring improved stability to poxvirus during storage as well as to the use of such compositions and methods for preparing the same. The compositions comprise recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA), gelatin or arginine, or combinations thereof.

This invention provides a vaccinia virus that induces cell fusion between infected cells and a method for producing the same. Such vaccinia virus is deprived of the K2L gene or the HA gene or functions of the K2L gene and the HA gene and is mutated to induce cell fusion between infected cells and induce cell death.

This disclosure relates to methods of promoting immune responses against coronavirus, such as SARS-CoV-2, and compositions related thereto. In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to methods of vaccinating for coronavirus comprising administering to the subject a composition disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the composition comprises a recombinant virus such as recombinant MVA that encodes a coronavirus spike protein. In certain embodiments, the coronavirus spike protein comprises a proline mutation at position 986. In certain embodiments, the coronavirus spike protein comprises a proline mutation at position 987.

The present invention provides a combination therapy of genetically modified vaccinia virus (particularly oncolytic vaccinia virus) and another cancer therapy for use in treating cancer, and a pharmaceutical composition and a combination kit for use in the therapy. More specifically, the invention provides a therapy with vaccinia virus containing a polynucleotide encoding interleukin-7 (IL-7) and a polynucleotide encoding interleukin-12 (IL-12) in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor, and a pharmaceutical composition and a combination kit for use in the therapy.

An expression system for expressing a herpesvirus glycoprotein complex including a vector inserted with two or more nucleic acid sequences that encode two or more subunits of a herpesvirus glycoprotein complex linked by one or more linking sequences such that the subunits are co-expressed simultaneously and self-processed to assemble into a glycoprotein complex. The expression system or the vector can be included in a vaccine composition. The vaccine composition can be used for preventing or treating herpesvirus infections.

The present disclosure provides a replication-competent, recombinant oncolytic vaccinia virus (RVV), compositions comprising the RVV, and use of the RVV or composition for inducing oncolysis in an individual having a tumor.

Herein is provided a recombinant tumor-selective viral particle comprising a nucleic acid encoding a recombinant polypeptide for directing an extracellular vesicle (EV) to at least one target cell, said recombinant polypeptide comprising: at least one targeting moiety for directing said EV to said at least one target molecule expressed by said at least one target cell; at least one EV-anchoring polypeptide; and at least one intravesicular polypeptide. The viral particle may be from an oncolytic viruses. Recombinant polypeptides for programming EVs to target particular molecules are also provided. Also described are therapeutic EVs for delivering payload polypeptides (and/or cargo molecules) to target cells, e.g., in vaccine or cell-free “CAR-T”-like applications, along with EVs for recruiting immune cells to target cells in EV-mediated BiTE -like applications. Oncolytic viruses may also be engineered to infect tumor cells and shed programmed EVs, yielding additional therapeutic effects.

The invention relates to a composition and related methods for reducing tumor volume and/or increasing the survival of a cancer patient. The composition comprises a recombinant MVA encoding a Tumor Associated Antigen (“TAA”) as well as 4-1BBL and/or CD40L and can be administered to a subject in any suitable manner, including by intravenous and/or intratumoral administration.

The disclosure relates to modified orthopoxvirus vectors, as well as methods of using the same for the treatment of various cancers. The disclosure provides modified orthopoxvirus vectors that exhibit various beneficial therapeutic activities, including enhanced oncolytic activity, spread of infection, immune evasion, tumor persistence, capacity for incorporation of exogenous DNA sequences, amenability for large scale manufacturing, and safety.