This disclosure relates to HIV envelope proteins or envelope protein fragments, or trimeric complexes thereof which have uses in vaccination methods or therapeutic strategies. In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to HIV envelope proteins or envelope protein fragments, or trimeric complexes thereof, comprising an arginine (R) at position 166, glutamine (Q) at position 170, and an amino acid histidine (H) at position 173. In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to nucleic acids and recombinant vectors encoding said proteins.

Compositions and methods based on the use of mutated HIV-1 gp120 polypeptides having amino acid substitutions at positions 61, 105, 108, 375, 474, 475 and 476 are described. These mutated HIV-1 gp120 polypeptides, which make the HIV env protein more amenable to adopt specific conformations when contacted with gp120 ligands, may be useful as vaccines or tools to identify and characterize agents modulating HIV infection.

In certain aspects the invention provides HIV-1 immunogens, including HIV-1 envelopes with optimized V2 loop for antibody induction.

Disclosed are compositions comprising an expressible nucleic acid sequence comprising a first nucleic acid sequence comprising a leader sequence or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and a second nucleic acid sequence comprising a sequence that encodes a trimer of a retroviral envelope or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In some embodiments, the expressible nucleic acid sequence further comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one viral antigen or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In some embodiments, the expressible nucleic acid sequence further comprises at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a linker. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compositions and methods of using the disclosed compositions.

Immunogenic compositions containing a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp140 protein, sorbitol, polysorbate 20, and histidine buffer are described. The described immunogenic compositions are advantageous in that they are stable at refrigerated temperature for extended periods of time, and are compatible with an adjuvant. Also described are methods for storing the immunogenic compositions.

Embodiments of immunogens based on the HIV-1 Env fusion peptide and methods of their use and production are disclosed. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the immunogens are also provided. In several embodiments, the immunogens can be used to generate an immune response to HIV-1 Env in a subject, for example, to treat or prevent an HIV-1 infection in the subject.

Disclosed herein are compositions that include antigen-encoding nucleic acid sequences and/or antigen peptides. Also disclosed are nucleotides, cells, and methods associated with the compositions including their use as vaccines against infectious diseases such as HIV.

Disclosed are compositions and virus-like particles (VLPs) self-assembled from the expression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Gag protein and a fragment of gp41 protein containing its N-terminus ectodomain. The fragment of gp41 protein is linked to an antigen that is not a peptide or protein from HIV, which is presented by HIV VLP. In some aspects, the presented antigen is trimerized. Also disclosed are methods of inducing an immune response against the antigen.

A method of reducing a latent HIV-specific memory-CD4+ T cell pool in a subject includes administering to the subject at least one HIV-1 protein and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the at least one HIV-1 protein is derived from an allogenic infecting HIV-1 virus, and wherein the HIV-1 protein stimulates latent HIV-specific memory CD4+ T cells to induce latent HIV-1 replication resulting in HIV-specific memory-CD4+ T cell death in the subject.

Example methods comprise administering an immunogenic vaccine composition to a subject, the immunogenic vaccine composition comprising a glycoconjugate. The method can further comprise, in response to the administration of the immunogenic vaccine composition, inducing production of anti-oligomannose antibodies in the subject and thereby eliciting an immune response to a viral pathogen in the subject.