This document provides methods and materials relating to isolated polypeptides, polypeptide preparations, vaccine preparations (e.g., anti-cancer vaccine preparations), and methods for vaccinating mammals. For example, polypeptides (e.g., CMV, MUC1, HER2, Mesothelin (MESO), TRAG-3, or CALR polypeptides) having the ability to be processed into different polypeptides such that the processed polypeptides as a group are capable of being presented by different MHC molecules present in a particular mammalian population are provided.

Provided are antigenic compositions and uses thereof that include at least two human herpesvirus (HHV) polypeptides involved in mediating HHV binding, fusion, and entry into host cells, such as gp350, gH, gL, and gB, or nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides. The two HHV polypeptides comprise any combination of: a gB polypeptide; a gp350 polypeptide; a gL polypeptide; and a gH polypeptide, and optionally any one or more of the following polypeptides: gp42, gM, gN, gl, gC, gE, gD, ORF68, BMRF-2, BDLF2, UL128, UL130, UL131A, and gpK8.1. Also disclosed are methods of inducing an immune response or treating or preventing an HHV infection in a subject by administering to the subject at least two of the HHV polypeptides or nucleic acid(s) encoding the same. Methods of passively transferring immunity using high-titer anti-HHV antibodies or immune cells are also disclosed.

Provided are antigenic compositions and uses thereof that include at least two human herpesvirus (HHV) polypeptides involved in mediating HHV binding, fusion, and entry into host cells, such as gp350, gH, gL, and gB, or nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides. The two HHV polypeptides comprise any combination of: a gB polypeptide; a gp350 polypeptide; a gL polypeptide; and a gH polypeptide, and optionally any one or more of the following polypeptides: gp42, gM, gN, gl, gC, gE, gD, ORF68, BMRF-2, BDLF2, UL128, UL130, UL131A, and gpK8.1. Also disclosed are methods of inducing an immune response or treating or preventing an HHV infection in a subject by administering to the subject at least two of the HHV polypeptides or nucleic acid(s) encoding the same. Methods of passively transferring immunity using high-titer anti-HHV antibodies or immune cells are also disclosed.

The present invention generally relates to the field of herpesviruses and herpesvirus proteins that can be used for the production of antibodies or therapeutic agents, such as vaccines. More specifically, the present invention relates to a modified herpesvirus glycoprotein B that comprises one or more mutations at defined positions in the primary structure of the protein which retain a stable prefusion conformation which is highly advantageous for the production of antibodies or therapeutic agents, such as vaccines. The invention further relates to nucleic acid molecules which encode such a modified herpesvirus glycoprotein B. The invention further provides methods for producing antibodies or therapeutic agents, such as vaccines, which make use of the modified herpesvirus glycoprotein B or a nucleic acid molecule encoding it. Kits comprising the modified herpesvirus glycoprotein B are provided as well. Finally, the invention also relates to the use of the modified herpesvirus glycoprotein B or a nucleic acid molecule encoding same for drug screening.

The present invention generally relates to the field of herpesviruses and herpesvirus proteins that can be used for the production of antibodies or therapeutic agents, such as vaccines. More specifically, the present invention relates to a modified herpesvirus glycoprotein B that comprises one or more mutations at defined positions in the primary structure of the protein which retain a stable prefusion conformation which is highly advantageous for the production of antibodies or therapeutic agents, such as vaccines. The invention further relates to nucleic acid molecules which encode such a modified herpesvirus glycoprotein B. The invention further provides methods for producing antibodies or therapeutic agents, such as vaccines, which make use of the modified herpesvirus glycoprotein B or a nucleic acid molecule encoding it. Kits comprising the modified herpesvirus glycoprotein B are provided as well. Finally, the invention also relates to the use of the modified herpesvirus glycoprotein B or a nucleic acid molecule encoding same for drug screening.

Disclosed are methods of producing poxvirus-based vectors or recombinant poxvirus-based vectors from naturally derived, chemically synthesized DNA fragments, or a combination of naturally derived and chemically synthesized DNA fragments. One or more DNA sequences encoding one or more antigens, subunits or fragments thereof or other heterologous gene sequences are inserted in one or more poxvirus insertion sites in one or more DNA fragments. The methods include transfecting a host cell with one or more circular or linear DNA fragments such that a poxvirus or recombinant poxvirus is reconstituted in the host cell, the reconstituted poxvirus or recombinant poxvirus comprising the genome of a desired poxvirus. Also disclosed are poxviruses or recombinant poxviruses produced by the technology and uses thereof.

Disclosed are methods of producing poxvirus-based vectors or recombinant poxvirus-based vectors from naturally derived, chemically synthesized DNA fragments, or a combination of naturally derived and chemically synthesized DNA fragments. One or more DNA sequences encoding one or more antigens, subunits or fragments thereof or other heterologous gene sequences are inserted in one or more poxvirus insertion sites in one or more DNA fragments. The methods include transfecting a host cell with one or more circular or linear DNA fragments such that a poxvirus or recombinant poxvirus is reconstituted in the host cell, the reconstituted poxvirus or recombinant poxvirus comprising the genome of a desired poxvirus. Also disclosed are poxviruses or recombinant poxviruses produced by the technology and uses thereof.

The present invention describes a recombinant herpesvirus of turkeys (rHVT) that can be used as a vector vaccine for poultry against infection and disease from multiple poultry pathogens. Specifically the rHVT expresses an infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) viral protein 2 (VP2) gene and a Newcastle disease virus (NDV) fusion (F) protein gene from a first and a second expression cassette inserted in the unique small (Us) region, and expresses an avian influenza vims (AIV) haemagglutinin (HA) gene from a third expression cassette inserted in the unique long (UL) region of the genome of said rHVT either between the UL40 and UL41 genes, or between the UL44 and UL45 genes. This rHVT can be used to vaccinate poultry against MDV, IBDV, NDV and AIV.

There is provided polymeric nanoparticles with non-tumour antigen payloads for use in tagging cells for destruction by a subject's immune system and the use thereof for the treatment of cancer. Suitably there is provided a method of treatment comprising administration of nanoparticle comprising a non-tumour protein payload to a subject with cancer, in particular to a cancer cell.

There is provided polymeric nanoparticles with non-tumour antigen payloads for use in tagging cells for destruction by a subject's immune system and the use thereof for the treatment of cancer. Suitably there is provided a method of treatment comprising administration of nanoparticle comprising a non-tumour protein payload to a subject with cancer, in particular to a cancer cell.