The invention relates to vectors comprising two or more homologous nucleotide sequences and methods for generating them. The invention concerns substituting bases in the homologous nucleotide sequences with different bases that do not alter the encoded amino acid sequence. The invention allows for the reduction of intramolecular recombination between homologous nucleotide sequences, in particular in mammalian cells. The invention further relates to nucleotide sequences containing substituted bases.

The invention encompasses recombinant poxviruses, preferably modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) viruses, comprising a Pr13.5 promoter operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding an antigen and uses thereof. The invention is drawn to compositions and methods for the induction of strong CD8 T cell and antibody responses to a specific antigen(s) by administering one or more immunizations of the recombinant MVA to a mammal, preferably a human.

There is provided a method for inserting a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a foreign peptide into a poxvirus genome, said method comprising: identifying in the poxvirus genome a poxvirus open reading frame wherein said open reading frame is characterized by an initial ATG start codon and wherein expression of said open reading frame is driven by an operably-linked poxvirus promoter located upstream of the open reading frame and wherein expression of said open reading frame provides a peptide that is non-essential to viability of the poxvirus; and inserting the nucleic acid sequence that encodes the foreign peptide at a position downstream of the poxvirus promoter; wherein following said insertion, (i) the nucleic acid that encodes the foreign peptide is operably-linked to the poxvirus promoter and expression of said nucleic acid is driven by said poxvirus promoter; and (ii) translation of the foreign peptide is initiated at an ATG start codon located at the same position as the ATG start codon of the poxvirus open reading frame. Also provided are a poxvirus vector and corresponding uses of the poxvirus vector in medicine.

Disclosed herein are viruses that can be used in methods of treatment for cancer. More specifically, the viruses express two or more antibodies which induce an effective anti-tumor immune response. The viruses also can be used in diagnostic methods.

The invention generally relates to compositions and methods for preventing and treating cancer. More specifically, the invention relates to antigenic polypeptides and their use in cancer vaccines that may be used, in part, to treat cancer types dependent upon HER2-mediated signaling.

The invention generally relates to compositions and methods for preventing and treating cancer. More specifically, the invention relates to antigenic polypeptides and their use in cancer vaccines that may be used, in part, to treat cancer types dependent upon HER2-mediated signaling.

The present invention provides a poxvirus-derived promoter, a vector comprising the same, a method for expressing a transgene using the promoter, and use of the vector in the prevention or treatment of a disease. A promoter according to the present invention can be used for induction of strong expression of a transgene.

The present invention provides a poxvirus-derived promoter, a vector comprising the same, a method for expressing a transgene using the promoter, and use of the vector in the prevention or treatment of a disease. A promoter according to the present invention can be used for induction of strong expression of a transgene.

The present invention relates to recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus containing restructured sites useful for the integration of heterologous nucleic acid sequences into an intergenic region (IGR) of the virus genome, where the IGR is located between two adjacent, essential open reading frames (ORFs) of the vaccinia virus genome, wherein the adjacent essential ORFs are non-adjacent in a parental MVA virus used to construct the recombinant MVA virus, and to related nucleic acid constructs useful for inserting heterologous DNA into the genome of a vaccinia virus, and further to the use of the disclosed viruses as a medicine or vaccine.

Chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAd) and MVA virus vectors containing polynucleotide sequences encoding cancer antigens are administered sequentially to a subject in a suitable adjuvant in order to achieve a prime boost effect. The polynucleotides are expressed in situ following administration to provide a MAGEA3/linker/NY-ESO-1 fusion protein and variants thereof. Also, a hli/MAGEA3/linker/NY-ESO-1 fusion protein and variants thereof. An improved T cell response is found. In a particular synergistic therapeutic approach a triple combination of ChAdOx and MVA vectors together with chemotherapeutic agent and checkpoint inhibitor results in depleted myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and dramatically improves survival time in a mouse model of cancer.