The present invention provides methods for producing scaffolded (e.g., nanoparticle presented) or non-scaffolded vaccines that are based on viral immunogenic proteins with a glycan shielded (e.g., HIV-1 Env). The vaccines thus generated demonstrate enhanced immunogenicity and responder frequency. The methods entail (1) enzymatic digestion of glycan chain on the surface of a viral trimer protein immunogen or a self-assembling nanoparticle vaccine displaying the viral immunogen (e.g., an HIV-1 UFO trimer), or (2) expression of a construct encoding the vaccine in an expression system lacking normal glycosylation function for human proteins. Also provided in the invention are vaccine compositions produced with the described methods. The invention further provides methods of using the vaccine compositions described herein (e.g., scaffolded or non-scaffolded HIV-1 vaccines) in various therapeutic applications, e.g., for preventing or treating viral infections.

The present invention provides methods for producing scaffolded (e.g., nanoparticle presented) or non-scaffolded vaccines that are based on viral immunogenic proteins with a glycan shielded (e.g., HIV-1 Env). The vaccines thus generated demonstrate enhanced immunogenicity and responder frequency. The methods entail (1) enzymatic digestion of glycan chain on the surface of a viral trimer protein immunogen or a self-assembling nanoparticle vaccine displaying the viral immunogen (e.g., an HIV-1 UFO trimer), or (2) expression of a construct encoding the vaccine in an expression system lacking normal glycosylation function for human proteins. Also provided in the invention are vaccine compositions produced with the described methods. The invention further provides methods of using the vaccine compositions described herein (e.g., scaffolded or non-scaffolded HIV-1 vaccines) in various therapeutic applications, e.g., for preventing or treating viral infections.

Capsular saccharides derived from serogroups W135 and Y of Neisseria meningitidis have altered levels of O-acetylation at the 7 and 9 positions of their sialic acid residues, and can be used to make immunogenic compositions. Relative to unmodified native saccharides, derivatives of the invention are preferentially selected during conjugation to carrier proteins, and conjugates of the derivatives show improved immunogenicity compared to native polysaccharides.

Capsular saccharides derived from serogroups W135 and Y of Neisseria meningitidis have altered levels of O-acetylation at the 7 and 9 positions of their sialic acid residues, and can be used to make immunogenic compositions. Relative to unmodified native saccharides, derivatives of the invention are preferentially selected during conjugation to carrier proteins, and conjugates of the derivatives show improved immunogenicity compared to native polysaccharides.

The present invention can induce stronger cellular immunity to hepatitis C and provide a treatment means and a prevention means that are effective in completely eliminating the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Provided is a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of hepatitis C, said composition comprising a recombinant vaccinia virus (a) and a recombinant vector (b) and characterized in that after one of the recombinant vaccinia virus (a) and the recombinant vector (b) is administered for initial immunity, the other is administered for additional immunity. The recombinant vaccinia virus (a) contains an expression promoter and all or a portion of the cDNA of the HCV genome. The recombinant vector (b) contains an expression promoter and all or a portion of the cDNA of the HCV (where the cDNA contained in the recombinant vector (b) has a different base sequence than that included in the recombinant vaccinia virus (a)).

A vaccination method is provided. The method comprises administering to a mammal a histone deacytelase inhibitor in conjunction with a vaccine that expresses an antigen to which the mammal has a pre-existing immunity.

A vaccination method is provided. The method comprises administering to a mammal a histone deacytelase inhibitor in conjunction with a vaccine that expresses an antigen to which the mammal has a pre-existing immunity.

The present invention relates to an epitope specific to hepatitis B virus surface antigen and a binding molecule binding to the same for neutralizing hepatitis B virus. Since the epitope provided by the present invention is produced by forming a three-dimensional structure and does not comprise a determinant, by which escape mutation is induced against an administration of existing vaccines or HBIg, a composition comprising an antibody biding to the epitope or a vaccine composition comprising the epitope has a very low possibility of causing a decrease in efficacy due to escape mutation. Therefore, such an antibody or vaccine composition can be very effectively used in prevention and/or treatment of HBV.

The present invention relates to an epitope specific to hepatitis B virus surface antigen and a binding molecule binding to the same for neutralizing hepatitis B virus. Since the epitope provided by the present invention is produced by forming a three-dimensional structure and does not comprise a determinant, by which escape mutation is induced against an administration of existing vaccines or HBIg, a composition comprising an antibody biding to the epitope or a vaccine composition comprising the epitope has a very low possibility of causing a decrease in efficacy due to escape mutation. Therefore, such an antibody or vaccine composition can be very effectively used in prevention and/or treatment of HBV.

The invention relates to the use of a polypeptide derived from the adenylate cyclase of a Bordetella sp. (CyaA-derived polypeptide) by deletion of a segment of at least 93 amino acid residues, in particular a polypeptide derived from CyaA of Bordetella pertussis, as an immunomodifying antigen of the TH1/TH17-oriented immune response in an immunogenic composition. The invention relates to a vaccine candidate comprising such CyaA-derived polypeptide, either in an acellular immunogenic composition for active immunization against a condition causally related to the infection of a host by Bordetella sp. or in a combination composition encompassing said acellular immunogenic composition.