The present invention relates to virus-like particles of plant virus Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV), and in particular to modified VLPs of CMV comprising Th cell epitopes, in particular universal Th cell epitopes. Furthermore, these modified VLPs serve as, preferably, vaccine platform, for generating immune responses, in particular antibody responses, against antigens linked to said modified VLPs. The presence of the Th cell epitopes, in particular universal Th cell epitopes, led to a further increase in the generated immune response.

The immune response of an animal to a target immunogen may be enhanced by use of an adjuvant which includes low concentrations of killed cells of Mycobacterium avium subspecies avium in combination with mineral oil. The adjuvant may be used in vaccine compositions for the immunization of an animal against any target immunogen and is particularly preferred for use with immunocontraceptive vaccines such as GnRH immunocontraceptive vaccines conjugated with a Blue carrier protein.

The invention provides an AMH-INH-GNIH tri-expression gene vaccine capable of improving fecundity of animals and a preparation method of engineering strain thereof. The engineering strain was deposited in China Center for Type Culture Collection on Aug. 15, 2018, with deposit No.: CCTCC NO:M 2018544. When the engineering strain is used for direct immunization of animals or immunization of animals after being mixed with DNA vaccine adjuvant, the fecundity of the animals can be effectively improved. The tri-expression gene is a tri-expression non-resistant DNA plasmid of Mullerian duct resisting hormone, inhibin and gonadotropin release restraining hormone, which can be used for direct immunization of the animals through mucosa immunization to generate antibodies in the manner of being sprayed to noses, orally administered, blended into feeds and the like. Since the gene vaccine does not contain a resistant gene, exogenous antibiotics do not need to be introduced for screening, and antibiotic residues are not generated. Compared with other gene vaccines which need plasmid extraction and purification, high production cost and inconvenient intramuscular injection, and enable the animals to generate stress response, the gene vaccine of the invention is lower in production cost and more convenient to use, and is free from resistance and injection stress response.

The invention provides an AMH-INH-GNIH tri-expression gene vaccine capable of improving fecundity of animals and a preparation method of engineering strain thereof. The engineering strain was deposited in China Center for Type Culture Collection on Aug. 15, 2018, with deposit No.: CCTCC NO:M 2018544. When the engineering strain is used for direct immunization of animals or immunization of animals after being mixed with DNA vaccine adjuvant, the fecundity of the animals can be effectively improved. The tri-expression gene is a tri-expression non-resistant DNA plasmid of Mullerian duct resisting hormone, inhibin and gonadotropin release restraining hormone, which can be used for direct immunization of the animals through mucosa immunization to generate antibodies in the manner of being sprayed to noses, orally administered, blended into feeds and the like. Since the gene vaccine does not contain a resistant gene, exogenous antibiotics do not need to be introduced for screening, and antibiotic residues are not generated. Compared with other gene vaccines which need plasmid extraction and purification, high production cost and inconvenient intramuscular injection, and enable the animals to generate stress response, the gene vaccine of the invention is lower in production cost and more convenient to use, and is free from resistance and injection stress response.

The present invention relates to virus-like particles of plant virus Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV), and in particular to modified VLPs of CMV comprising Th cell epitopes, in particular universal Th cell epitopes. Furthermore, these modified VLPs serve as, preferably, vaccine platform, for generating immune responses, in particular antibody responses, against antigens linked to said modified VLPs. The presence of the Th cell epitopes, in particular universal Th cell epitopes, led to a further increase in the generated immune response.

A vaccine composition for castrating pigs, comprising a peptide immunogen and a veterinarily acceptable delivery vehicle or adjuvant, wherein the peptide immunogen comprises (a) a LHRH peptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, and (b) at least one T helper epitope selected from a group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3, 4, and 5, and, optionally, an immunostimulatory peptide of SEQ IN NO: 6, wherein the LHRH peptide is covalently linked through its N-terminus residue to the T helper epitope or immunostimulatory peptide. A method for castrating or inhibiting characteristics, including boar taint, induced by the sexual maturation of pigs using the vaccine composition is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to virus-like particles of plant virus Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV), and in particular to modified VLPs of CMV comprising Th cell epitopes, in particular universal Th cell epitopes. Furthermore, these modified VLPs serve as, preferably, vaccine platform, for generating immune responses, in particular antibody responses, against antigens linked to said modified VLPs. The presence of the Th cell epitopes, in particular universal Th cell epitopes, led to a further increase in the generated immune response.

A vaccine adjuvant and immunogenic composition may be described herein. The vaccine adjuvant may comprise cell wall fragments of the genus Mycobacterium, and more particularly, of M. avium. The immunogenic composition may include the vaccine adjuvant conjugated to an antigen. For example, cell wall fragments of M. avium (herein also referred to as MAF) may be conjugated to an antigen targeting Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). The MAF-antigen conjugate may be delivered for the purposes of treatment through one of several methods, including intramuscular injection, naso-pharyngeal, or oral.

Disclosed are methods of preventing pregnancy through induction of immunological responses through vaccination with placental extracts and products associated with placentation. In one particular embodiment an immune response is triggered towards pregnancy associated neoangiogenesis through administration of placental endothelial cells capable of triggering immunity. In other embodiments the process of replicating immunological events associated with pregnancy failure are recapitulated by stimulation of immunity to antigens such as VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, CD105, FGF1-R, Integrin v3, and CD-248.

This document provides vaccine delivery devices and methods for vaccinating an animal (e.g., a mammal). For example, vaccine delivery devices that include a container having one or more openings, a vaccine depot located within the container, and a diffusion barrier located within the container in a manner such that material (e.g., an antigenic vaccine component) within the vaccine depot must pass through the diffusion barrier before reaching one of the openings are provided.