This disclosure provides a modified oncolytic poxvirus, such as a vaccinia virus, that can contain modifications in the viral genome that increases production of an extracellular enveloped form of the virus. The modified oncolytic poxvirus can be utilized as a vector for systemic delivery. Also provided are methods of using the modified oncolytic poxvirus.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions related to the treatment, prevention, and/or amelioration of cancer in a subject in need thereof. In particular aspects, the present technology relates to the use of poxviruses, including a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus or vaccinia virus with deletion of vaccinia host-range factor C7 (MVAΔC7L and VACVΔC7L, respectively), alone or in combination with immune checkpoint blocking agents, as an oncolytic and immunotherapeutic composition. In some embodiments, the technology of the present disclosure relates to a MVAΔC7L or VACVΔC7L virus further modified to express human Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L).

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising Vaccinia virus and hydroxyurea as active ingredients for prevention or treatment of cancer. The pharmaceutical composition comprising Vaccinia virus and hydroxyurea as active ingredients for treatment of cancer according to the present invention exhibits higher anticancer effects and safety than the conventional administration of Vaccinia virus alone. Therefore, the pharmaceutical composition comprising Vaccinia virus and hydroxyurea as active ingredients according to the present invention may be advantageously used for treating cancer.

Provided herein is a method for inducing an immune response to at least one neoantigen, the method comprising administering to a subject a priming composition comprising a peptide antigen conjugate and at least a first boost. The first boost comprises a first oncolytic virus comprising a genome that expresses a first peptide or a second peptide, wherein the first and second peptide are each capable of inducing an immune response to at least one neoantigen. The method further comprises administering the subject a second boost, comprising a second oncolytic virus comprising a genome that expresses a third peptide or a fourth peptide, wherein the third peptide and the fourth peptide are each capable of inducing an immune response to at least one neoantigen, and wherein the second oncolytic virus is immunologically distinct from the first oncolytic virus. The subject may have pre-existing immunity to the at least one neoantigen.

The present disclosure provides human IL-2 variants, recombinant oncolytic viruses comprising the IL-2 variant, compositions comprising the IL-2 variant or recombinant oncolytic virus, and use of the IL-2 variants, recombinant oncolytic virus, or compositions for treating cancer in an individual.

The invention provides a method for the prophylaxis or treatment of hepatitis C in a mammal with a peptide-bound liposome wherein the peptide contains a partial amino acid sequence having a length of not less than 9 amino acids in the amino acid sequence of hepatitis C virus NS3 protein, has a length of 9 to 11 amino acids, and is capable of inducing cytotoxic T lymphocytes; the liposome contains a phospholipid containing an acyl group having 14 to 24 carbon atoms and one unsaturated bond or a hydrocarbon group having 14 to 24 carbon atoms and one unsaturated bond, and a liposome stabilizer; and the peptide is bound to the surface of the liposome. The invention also provides a cytotoxic T lymphocyte activator containing the peptide-bound liposome, as well as a hepatitis C virus vaccine.

The present invention is drawn to compositions and methods to enhance an immune response in order to prevent or treat infections or hyperproliferative diseases such as cancer. More particularly, the composition is an immunostimulatory intracellular signaling peptide fused directly or indirectly to a peptide that leads to multimerization into complexes of three or more units, where the intracellular signaling peptide must be present in a complex of three or more units in order to stimulate an immune response. Inserting this fusion construct into viruses like HIV-1 or introducing it into dendritic cells or tumor cells is predicted to lead to a positive therapeutic effect in humans, non-human mammals, birds, and fish.

The present disclosure provides mutant vaccinia virus strains that can selectively replicate in tumor cells. The present disclosure also provides use of the mutant vaccinia virus strains for preventing and treating tumors.

Described are novel anti-CTLA-4 antibody molecules and nucleotide sequences and expression vectors, such as viruses, encoding such antibody molecules. The novel antibody molecules are Treg depleting antibody molecules, and they have an improved depleting effect on CTLA-4 positive cells, such as Tregs, compared to ipilimumab. Described is also the use of such antibody molecules or nucleotide sequences or viruses in medicine, such as in the treatment of cancer, such as solid tumours.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for treating cancer in an individual comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of an adenoviral vector with a genetically modified fiber incorporating a Lyp-1 peptide motif and at least one CD122/CD132 agonist and/or an immune checkpoint inhibitor.