The invention provides immunostimulatory glycolipids and compositions thereof and methods of use thereof.

The present invention relates to an immunogenic conjugate comprising: a carrier protein and at least one polypeptide having at most 100 amino acids comprising a sequence of 5 to 50 amino acids of interleukin 6 (IL-6) or IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), or a variant sequence having at least 75% identity with the sequence of 5 to 50 amino acids of IL-6 or IL-6R, wherein the polypeptide is covalently linked to the carrier protein and the carrier protein is a non-toxic mutant diphtheria toxin.

Genetically engineered immune cells such as T cells having a disrupted CD83 gene and optionally expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and therapeutic applications thereof. Such genetically engineered immune cells may further comprise a disrupted TRAC gene, a disrupted β2M gene, or a combination thereof.

There is provided inter alia according to the invention an ex vivo method of obtaining tolerogenic antigen presenting cells (APCs) that have the capability to induce tolerance in the immune system to an antigen, the method comprising (a) isolating monocytes from a sample obtained from a mammal; and (b) culturing the isolated monocytes in a cell culture to induce differentiation of the monocytes into antigen presenting cells having a tolerogenic phenotype, wherein the cell culture comprises (i) retinoic acid and TGFbeta, (ii) retinoic acid, TGFbeta and an AhR agonist or (iii) retinoic acid and an AhR agonist.

Disclosed are compounds for the induction of antigen-specific immune tolerance in a subject, the compounds comprising an antigen, a polymeric linker and a liver targeting moiety, wherein the polymeric linker comprises a terminal end unit lacking each of a dithioester and a dithiobenzoate and wherein the terminal end unit confers improved stability to the compound when in solution.

The disclosure relates to polypeptides and pharmaceutical compositions comprising polypeptides that find use in the prevention or treatment of cancer, in particular breast cancer, ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer. The disclosure also relates to methods of inducing a cytotoxic T cell response in a subject or treating cancer by administering pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides, and companion diagnostic methods of identifying subjects for treatment. The peptides comprise T cell epitopes that are immunogenic in a high percentage of patients.

A method for producing at least one microneedle containing a vaccine for transdermal delivery of the vaccine to a patient includes preparing microparticles or nanoparticles of encapsulated vaccine by preparing a solution comprising a vaccine antigen and a biocompatible polymer matrix; and spray drying the solution to form the microparticles or nanoparticles. The method includes the further steps of preparing a film composition including at least one pre-polymer solution; preparing a suspension comprising the microparticles or nanoparticles and the film composition; loading the suspension into a 3D printer; printing, via the 3D printer, at least one microneedle made from the suspension; and, converting the pre-polymer solution into a cross-linked biopolymer by exposing the at least one microneedle to UV light. Also disclosed are microneedles containing a vaccine for transdermal delivery.

The present invention relates to the field of immunology, in particular, to the field of modulation of immune responses, in particular, suppression of immune responses and/or induction of tolerance. It provides a tregitope (regulatory T cell activating epitope) carrying polypeptide based on sequences derived from the Fc part of human IgG, wherein said TCP comprises at least one tregitope heterologous to human IgG that is located within at least one of three specific sequence frames. The invention provides such polypeptides for multiple purposes, e.g., in monomeric or dimeric form, wherein both are optionally be linked to an agent, e.g., to which an immune response is to be modulated or suppressed, or co-administered to such an agent, or for use as a stand-alone therapeutic. Nucleic acids encoding the TCP of the invention, pharmaceutic compositions and uses of said TCP are also provided.

Disclosed are compositions and methods for mediating immunosuppressive myelopoiesis. Additionally, disclosed herein are combination therapies for treating cancers and methods of using the same.

Several embodiments of the present disclosure relate to glycotargeting therapeutics that are useful in the treatment of transplant rejection, autoimmune disease, food allergy, and immune response against a therapeutic agent. In several embodiments, the compositions are configured to target the liver and deliver antigens to which tolerance is desired. Methods and uses of the compositions for induction of immune tolerance are also disclosed herein.