Nucleic acid molecules and compositions comprising one or more nucleotide sequences that encode a consensus Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCV) T antigen. Immunomodulatory methods and methods of inducing an immune response against MCV are disclosed. Method of treating infection by MCV and methods of treating or preventing Merkel Cell Carcinoma associated with MCV are disclosed. Modified consensus MCV T antigens are disclosed.

Disclosed herein are peptide-polymer conjugates for the delivery of peptide epitopes sublingually to elicit an immune response.

The present invention provides a compound of formula (I): A-B-C (I), wherein A is a hydrophobic moiety; B is a peptide, wherein the peptide forms a beta-sheet; and C is a hydrophilic targeting ligand, wherein the hydrophilic targeting ligand is a LLP2A prodrug, LLP2A, LXY30, LXW64, DUPA, folate, a LHRH peptide, a HER2 ligand, an EGFR ligand, or a toll-like receptor agonist CpG oligonucleotides. The present invention also provides nanocarriers comprising compounds of the present invention, nanofibril formation from the nanocarriers, and methods of using the nanocarriers for treating diseases and imaging.

Methods of treating a subject with cancer with CD8 T cell-mediated immune therapy are provided. The methods include measuring an amount of CXCR3-positive T cells in a peripheral blood sample or a tumor sample from a subject with cancer following treatment of the subject with at least one dose of the CD8 T cell-mediated therapy and comparing the amount of CXCR3-positive T cells in the sample to a control. Responsiveness of the cancer to the CD8 T cell-mediated therapy is predicted based on whether there is an increase or decrease in the amount of CXCR3-positive T cells in the sample. Methods further including treating the subject with at least one additional dose of the CD8 T cell-mediated immune therapy are also provided.

This disclosure relates to immunogenic peptides that are specific to B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and Transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI), and methods of use thereof.

Methods of eliciting and/or modulating immune responses, therapeutic methods, and antigen delivery methods that include the step of administering a protein particle derived from a cell, the protein particle comprising a diphtheria toxin Cross Reacting Material (CRM) amino acid sequence are disclosed. Included are diagnostic methods using the protein particle derived from a cell, the protein particle comprising a diphtheria toxin CRM amino acid sequence. The methods disclosed herein may be useful as an antigen carrier delivery system.

The present disclosure provides methods for inducing neoepitope-specific CD8+ T cells in an individual or for inducing trafficking of neoepitope-specific CD8+ T cells to a tumor in an individual using an RNA vaccine or using an RNA vaccine in combination with a PD-1 axis binding antagonist. Also provided herein are PD-1 axis binding antagonists and RNA vaccines that include one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more neoepitopes resulting from cancer-specific somatic mutations present in a tumor specimen obtained from the individual for use in methods of inducing neoepitope-specific CD8+ T cells in an individual or for inducing trafficking of neoepitope-specific CD8+ T cells to a tumor in an individual.

Provided are methods and compositions for obtaining functionally enhanced derivative effector cells obtained from directed differentiation of genomically engineered iPSCs. The derivative cells provided herein have stable and functional genome editing that delivers improved or enhanced therapeutic effects. Also provided are therapeutic compositions and the used thereof comprising the functionally enhanced derivative effector cells alone, or with antibodies or checkpoint inhibitors in combination therapies.

Provided are a polypeptide for tumor immunotherapy and use thereof. The polypeptide includes at least one polypeptide in a first peptide group, and optionally, at least one polypeptide in a second peptide group, the first peptide group includes polypeptides having amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 6, and first derivative peptides thereof, and the second peptide group includes polypeptides having amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 to SEQ ID NO: 15, and second derivative peptides thereof. Further provided are an isolated nucleic acid, a construct, an expression vector, a host cell, a pharmaceutical composition, an antigen-presenting cell, an immune effector cell, a tumor vaccine, use of the polypeptide in the preparation of drugs for preventing or treating tumors, and a method for treating a patient suffering from tumors.

An object of the present invention is to discover a novel peptide useful as an active ingredient in an agent for treating or preventing cancer, and to provide the use of the polypeptide as an immune inducer. The immune inducer contains as an active ingredient, the following (i) or (ii): (i) at least one polypeptide having an immune-inducing activity and selected from the group of polypeptides (a) or (b), where: (a) polypeptides consisting of 7 or more consecutive amino acids within the region of positions 24 to 97 in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2; and (b) polypeptides comprising one to several amino acid deletions, substitutions and/or additions in the amino acid sequence of any one of the polypeptides (a); and (ii) a recombinant vector comprising at least one polynucleotide encoding any one of the polypeptides, and capable of expressing the polypeptide in vivo.