A method of treating or preventing the onset of diabetes or diabetic complications comprises administering to a subject a composition comprising an anti-AGE antibody. A composition for treating or preventing the onset of diabetes or diabetic complications comprises a first anti-AGE antibody, a second anti-AGE antibody and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The first anti-AGE antibody is different from the second anti-AGE antibody. A method of treating or preventing the onset of diabetes or diabetic complications comprises immunizing a subject in need thereof against AGE-modified proteins or peptides of a cell.

Provided herein are genetically engineered mammalian stem and progenitor cells that have increased potential to differentiate into regulatory T cells. Also provided are methods of making and use thereof.

The present invention provides compositions comprising tolerizing immune modified particles (TIMPs) and methods for using and making said TIMPs. In particular, carrier polymer is covalently conjugated with antigenic peptide before particle formation, which allows for exquisite control of particle size and antigen encapsulation (e.g., for use in eliciting induction of immunological tolerance).

Nanoparticles to treat autoimmune diseases and HIV infection are provided. The nanoparticles comprise a biocompatible polymer and a complex, wherein the complex is a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen E (HLA-E) linked to a peptide, and wherein the HLA-E-peptide complex is linked to the surface of the nanoparticle. The present invention also relates to methods for treating autoimmune diseases and HIV infection.

The serotonin receptor 5HT2A (5HT2aR) and membrane NADPH oxidases (NOX enzymes) are found to be a target of autoantibodies present in Multiple Sclerosis patients. The present invention refers to peptides comprised in the extracellular regions of the human 5HT2aR and/or NOXs for diagnosis and therapy of Multiple Sclerosis.

Disclosed are compositions, kits, and methods for modulating an immune response. The compositions and kits include and the methods utilize carbohydrate-modified particles having an immune modulator attached at the surface of the particles. The carbohydrate-modified particles and particulate formulations comprising the carbohydrate-modified particles may be utilized for modulating an immune response in a subject.

Provided is use of a recombinant nucleic acid construct containing a B7-2-PE40 exotoxin fusion gene in the preparation of a DNA vaccine or medicament for treatment and/or prevention of type 1 diabetes. The DNA vaccine can reduce blood glucose in patient with type 1 diabetes, restore the secretion of insulin of the patients per se, and reduce the contents of islet cell autoantibody (ICA) and glutamate decarboxylase autoantibody (GAD) in the patients.

Provided are modified microorganisms, such as live recombinant commensal bacteria, that express a heterologous antigen, and methods of using the modified microorganisms to induce an antigen-specific immune response to the heterologous antigen. The modified microorganism can be used to induce a regulatory T cell immune response to the heterologous antigen to treat an autoimmune disease in a subject in need thereof, or can be used to induce an effector T cell immune response to the heterologous antigen to treat a proliferative disease in a subject in need thereof.

Methods and compositions for altering the microenvironment of a tumor are provided. The methods comprise reducing the population of tumor-residing immune suppressive regulatory T-cells, increasing the population of tumor lysing T-cells (such as CD8+ T-cells) and improving the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. The compositions comprise the use of cationic lipids optionally combined with autologous antigens, non-autologous antigens, or tumor-associated antigens.

A method for creating a consolidated compound for delivering an immunomodulatory and imiquimod to a patient, comprising diluting immunomodulator extract to a desired dilution by transferring a desired quantity of the concentrated immunomodulator to an associated sterile container, the associated sterile container having a defined volume of diluted immunomodulator after dilution thereof, providing a viscous encapsulation material, selecting a prescribed amount of concentrated immunomodulator, the prescribed amount defined as that amount of the diluted immunomodulator extract required to provide a number of doses equal to the number of dispensable increments from the container containing the viscous encapsulation material, introducing the selected amount of each of the diluted immunomodulator extract into the viscous encapsulation material, introducing an amount of imiquimod into the viscous encapsulation material, and mixing the introduced amount of each of the diluted immunomodulator extracts and the introduced amount of imiquimod with the viscous encapsulating material.