Computational prediction of immunogenic epitopes is a promising platform for designing therapeutic and preventive vaccines. A potential target is, for example, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) for which, despite decades of efforts, no vaccine is available. Indeed, due to the enormous variability of the virus, a single formulation effective against all or most HIV strains might not be achievable. Moreover, upon infecting host cells, HIV-1 can integrate in the host genome and form long lasting latent reservoirs that are not susceptible to common antiretroviral treatments. Therefore, a therapeutic vaccine designed to eliminate infected cells might represent a key component of strategies aimed at curing the infection. We herein introduce an automated algorithm to produce personalized and population-based vaccines.

Alternating electric fields (e.g., TTFields) may be applied to a subject's body using one or more electrode assemblies that includes a sheet of graphite, at least one layer of conductive material disposed on the front face of the sheet of graphite, and an electrode element positioned behind the sheet of graphite. The electrode element has a front face disposed in electrical contact with the rear face of the sheet of graphite. The sheet of graphite spreads both heat and current out in directions that are parallel to the front face of the sheet, which eliminates or at least minimizes hot spots on the electrode assembly. This in turn makes it possible to increase the current without exceeding a temperature safety threshold (e.g., 41° C.).

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for genetically modifying lymphocytes, for example T cells and/or NK cells. In some embodiments, the methods include reaction mixtures, and resulting cell formulations, that are created using whole blood, or a component thereof that is not a PBMC, and additionally comprise T cells and recombinant retroviral particles having polynucleotides that encode a CAR. In some embodiments, modified lymphocytes are reintroduced into a subject subcutaneously. In some embodiments, polynucleotides that provide T cells the ability to regulate cell survival and proliferation in response to binding to a CAR, are provided.

The present invention provides for novel immunological and vaccine formulations comprising a newly applied non-crosslinked polyacrylic acid polymer adjuvant. The adjuvants may be combined with a wide variety of immunogens to produce vaccines that are safe and effective when administered to a wide range of target animals. The immunogens may include, but are not limited to: inactivated pathogens, attenuated pathogens, subunits, recombinant expression vectors, plasmids or combinations thereof. The animals may include, but are not limited to: humans, murine, canines, felines, equines, porcines, ovines, caprines and bovines.

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

This disclosure relates to methods for producing immune cells with enhanced function. More specifically, disclosed herein is a method for enhancing the function of an immune cell comprising modifying an immune cell to inhibit the function of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of RC3H1, RC3H2, A2AR, FAS, TGFBR1, and TGFBR2. Also disclosed herein is a method comprising modifying a stem or progenitor cell capable of differentiating into an immune cell to inhibit the function of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of RC3H1, RC3H2, A2AR, FAS, TGFBR1, and TGFBR2. Also disclosed herein are immune cells or stem cells made by the present methods, as well as the use of immune cells in therapeutic treatment.

Cancer is treated via a coordinated treatment regimen that use various compounds and compositions that employ prime-boost vaccination in combination with immune modulatory treatment and biasing of an immune response towards a Th1 profile.

The present invention relates to artificial antigen presenting cell (aAPC) scaffolds to provide cells with specific functional stimulation to obtain phenotypic and functional properties ideal to mediate tumor regression or viral clearance. In particular, the scaffolds of the present invention comprise antigens, such as peptide-MHC (pMHC) class I molecules, and specific combinations of cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules to allow effective expansion and functional stimulation of specific T cells.

Disclosed are immunotherapeutic compositions and the concurrent use of combinations of such compositions for the improved induction of therapeutic immune responses and/or for the prevention, amelioration and/or treatment of disease, including, but not limited to, cancer and infectious disease.

The invention provides a bacterium containing a polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid encoding a heterologous antigen, as well as fusion protein partners. Also provided are vectors for mediating site-specific recombination and vectors comprising removable antibiotic resistance genes.