Embodiments of immunogens based on the outer domain of HIV-1 gp120 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 prime an immune response to gp120 in a subject, for example, to treat or prevent an HIV-1 infection in the subject.

The invention relates to PGT121-germline-targeting designs, trimer stabilization designs, combinations of those two, trimers designed with modified surfaces helpful for immunization regimens, other trimer modifications and on development of trimer nanoparticles and methods of making and using the same.

The subject invention pertains to materials and methods for detecting, preventing and treating retroviral infections in humans and other animals susceptible to infection by retrovirus. It has been discovered that FIV can be transmitted from cats to humans and that the FIV can infect human cells in vivo and that antibodies generated by the infected person cross-react with HIV antigens. Thus, the methods and compositions of the subject invention can be used to detect, prevent and treat FIV infection in humans and other non-feline animals that are susceptible to FIV infection. The methods and compositions of the invention can also be used to prevent and treat infection by HIV in humans.

The invention is directed to modified HIV-1 envelopes, compositions comprising these modified envelopes, nucleic acids encoding these modified envelopes, compositions comprising these nucleic acids, and methods of using these modified HIV-1 envelopes and/or these nucleic acids to induce immune responses.

The technology is directed to HIV envelopes which comprise sequence modifications wherein these modifications prevent CD4-induced transitions of the HIV envelope. Specifically, the disclosure provides recombinant HIV-1 Env proteins comprising mutations, wherein the envelope is a protomer, and wherein three protomers form a trimer stabilized by the presence of the mutations. Provided also are compositions comprising envelopes of the technology, and methods of use.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope proteins having mutations that stabilize the trimeric form of the envelope protein are provided. The HIV envelope proteins have certain amino acid substitutions at specified positions in the envelope protein sequence. The HIV envelope proteins described herein have an improved percentage of trimer formation and/or an improved trimer yield as compared to an HIV envelope protein that does not have one or more of the indicated amino acid substitutions. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules and vectors encoding the HIV envelope proteins, as well as compositions containing the HIV envelope proteins, nucleic acid, and vectors.

Embodiments of immunogens based on the outer domain of HIV-1 gp120 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 prime an immune response to gp120 in a subject, for example, to treat or prevent an HIV-1 infection in the subject.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) bridging protein are provided comprising a CAR-binding domain linked to an antigen-binding domain, which can be used to re-direct the targeting of CAR-T cells. The bridging protein may comprie an antigen-binding domain that targets any antigen of interest, such as, for example, a tumor antigen or viral antigen. Also provided are methods of using the bridging proteins in combination with CAR-T cells to treat a disease, such as, for example, a cancer or an infectious disease.

The present invention provides HIV-1 vaccine immunogens. Some of the immunogens contain a soluble gp140-derived protein that harbors a modified N-terminus of the HR1 region in gp41. Some of the immunogens contain an HIV-1 Env-derived trimer protein that is presented on a nanoparticle platform. The invention also provides methods of using the HIV-1 vaccine immunogens for eliciting an immune response or treating HIV infections.

The present invention relates to glycosylate HIV timer nanoparticles fused to self-assembling ferritin proteins which may be utilized as immunogens to enhance trafficking to lymph nodes and germinal centers and to heighten immune responses.