Provided herein are compositions of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), or pancreatic beta cells, and poxvirus, and methods of making and using the same to treat disease.

Compositions, vaccines and methods for inducing an immunity, including a protective immunity, against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection are described. Heterologous vaccine combinations of one or more adenovirus 26 vectors using for priming immunization and an isolated HIV antigenic polypeptide in combination with one or more MVA vectors for boosting immunization induced strong protective immunity against infections by one or multiple clades of HIV.

The present invention relates to modified poxviral vectors and to methods of making and using the same. In particular, the invention relates to recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara-based (MVA-based) vaccine against FMDV infection and to related products, methods and uses. Specifically, the present invention relates to genetically engineered (recombinant) MVA vectors comprising at least one heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding an antigenic determinant of a FMDV protein. The invention also relates to products, methods and uses thereof, e.g., suitable to induce a protective immune response in a subject.

The present invention discloses recombinant vaccinia virus (VV) virions that are resistant to antiviral defenses and have enhanced anti-tumor activities. In one embodiment, the recombinant VV comprise one or more variant VV proteins that have mutations at one or more neutralizing antibody epitopes, thereby conferring viral escape from the neutralizing antibodies. In another embodiment, the recombinant VV is resistant to complement-mediated neutralization due to the expression of a regulator of complement activation (e.g. CD55). In another embodiment, the recombinant VV has enhanced anti-tumor activities due to the expression of bi-specific antibodies co-targeting cancer cells and immune effector cells, or the expression of a polypeptide blocking the PD-1 pathway. The recombinant vaccinia virus virions can be used to treat cancer in a subject.

An oncolytic virus with improved safety and anticancer effects and uses thereof are disclosed. The oncolytic virus contains a recombinant nucleic acid including a nucleotide sequence encoding an effector domain derived from herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK). The oncolytic virus can express an HSV-TK fragment which contains an effector domain composed of a minimum amino acid sequence capable of phosphorylating GCV or ACV while having no thymidine kinase (TK) activity, or a variant thereof to phosphorylate GCV or ACV, thereby killing cancer cells infected with the oncolytic virus and even neighboring cancer cells.

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 disclosure relates to recombinant vectors and methods for using the same. In certain embodiments, the recombinant vectors are immunogenic.

The present invention discloses a modified interleukin 12 (nsIL-12) and its gene, recombinant vector and use in manufacture of a medicament for treatment of tumors. When the oncolytic adenovirus vector carrying the modified interleukin 12 gene targets tumor tissue, the modified interleukin 12 is continuously expressed at a low level and mainly distributed in the local tumor tissue, which improves the specificity to tumor cells and reduces the systemic toxicity of interleukin 12; the modified interleukin 12 shows stronger inhibitory effect on tumor growth in intraperitoneally disseminated tumors and orthotopic tumors, and has low toxicity. The modified interleukin 12 armed oncolytic viruses show excellent anti-tumor effects, with a significant regression of tumors and lower toxicity compared with the existing IL-12 armed virus.

The present invention provides a genetically recombinant vaccinia virus effective in preventing or treating cancer. Specifically, the present invention provides a recombinant vaccinia virus lacking functions of VGF and O1L and having a gene encoding B5R in which an SCR domain has been deleted. Specifically, the present invention provides a vaccinia virus comprising two polynucleotides, a polynucleotide encoding IL-7 and a polynucleotide encoding IL-12; a combination kit of two vaccinia viruses, a vaccinia virus comprising a polynucleotide encoding IL-7 and a vaccinia virus comprising a polynucleotide encoding IL-12; and use of the two vaccinia viruses in combination.

In one aspect, provided herein is a heterologous boost method for inducing an immune response to at least one neoantigen, the method comprising administering to a subject a first boost and subsequently administering to the subject a second boost, wherein the first boost comprises a first oncolytic virus comprising a genome that expresses, in the subject, a first peptide, or the first boost comprises a first oncolytic virus and a second peptide, wherein the second boost comprises a second oncolytic virus comprising a genome that expresses, in the subject, a third peptide, or the second boost comprises a second oncolytic virus and a fourth peptide, wherein the first peptide, the second peptide, 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 subject may have been administered a priming composition before receiving the first boost, wherein the priming composition is capable of inducing an immune response to the at least one neoantigen.