Highly effective vaccine compositions are constructed according to the methods of this invention. The methods are amenable to use with any peptidic antigen sequence and involve covalent attachment of an immunostimulatory nucleotide sequence to an antigenic peptide sequence. Preferred antigenic peptides are fusion peptides made up of one or more CTL epitope peptides in sequence fused to a T helper peptide.

The present invention relates, in part, to methods and compositions for enhancing anti-tumor immune responses. Particularly, the invention provides methods for enhancing the immune functions of Fc receptor (FcR)-expressing cells including dendritic cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and eosinophils.

The present disclosure is directed methods and products for synthesizing and using targeted templated assembly reactants comprising at least one nucleic acid recognition moiety, at least one selectively-reactive moiety, and at least one effector partial moiety. The nucleic acid recognition moiety can bind a target nucleic acid sequence within a sample. The nucleic acid recognition moiety also can bind the selectively-reactive moiety. Additionally, the effector partial moiety can bind the selectively-reactive moiety to produce an active effector structure. Also disclosed are methods of delivering the targeted templated assembly reactants and active effector structures formed front the targeted templated assembly reactants.

Highly effective vaccine compositions are constructed according to the methods of this invention. The methods are amenable to use with any peptidic antigen sequence and involve covalent attachment of an immunostimulatory nucleotide sequence to an antigenic peptide sequence. Preferred antigenic peptides are fusion peptides made up of one or more CTL epitope peptides in sequence fused to a T helper peptide.

Compositions containing a nucleic acid nanostructure having a desired geometric shape and antigens bound to its surface are provided. The nanostructures can be, for example, in the form of a 6-helix bundle or icosahedron. The nanostructure design allows for control of the relative position and/or stoichiometry of the antigen bound to its surface. The antigens displayed on the nanostructure surface are arranged with the preferred number, spacing, and 3D organization to elicit a robust immune response. The displayed antigen can be an HIV immunogen such as eOD-GT6, eOD-GT8, or variants thereof. The compositions may thus be useful as immunogens, vaccines, immunostimulators, adjuvants, and the like. Methods of inducing immune responses, inducing protective immunity, inducing the production of neutralizing antibodies or inhibitory antibodies, inducing tolerance, and treating cancer, infectious or autoimmune diseases are also provided.

The present disclosure is directed methods and products for synthesizing and using targeted templated assembly reactants comprising at least one nucleic acid recognition moiety, at least one selectively-reactive moiety, and at least one effector partial moiety. The nucleic acid recognition moiety can bind a target nucleic acid sequence within a sample. The nucleic acid recognition moiety also can bind the selectively-reactive moiety. Additionally, the effector partial moiety can bind the selectively-reactive moiety to produce an active effector structure. Also disclosed are methods of delivering the targeted templated assembly reactants and active effector structures formed from the targeted templated assembly reactants.

Highly effective vaccine compositions are constructed according to the methods of this invention. The methods are amenable to use with any peptidic antigen sequence and involve covalent attachment of an immunostimulatory nucleotide sequence to an antigenic peptide sequence. Preferred antigenic peptides are fusion peptides made up of one or more CTL epitope peptides in sequence fused to a T helper peptide.

The present invention is directed towards an artificial RNA nanostructure comprising multiple external strands of RNA, each external strand comprising about 40-50 nucleotides; one internal strand of RNA comprising more than about 50 nucleotides; the internal strands and external strands assembled to form a triangle nanostructure, a square nanostructure, or a polygon nanostructure and a pRNA three-way junction (3WJ) motif at each vertex of the nanostructure. Such nanostructure can be provided in a composition together with an adjuvant for use in inducing the production of high affinity neutralizing antibodies or inhibitory antibodies, inducing the production of cytokines, inducing an immune response in a subject, or a combination thereof.

The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions comprising recombinantly constructed polypeptides useful for preparing vaccines, in particular for reducing one or more clinical signs caused by a rotavirus infection. More particular, the present invention is directed to an immunogenic composition containing (i) a fusion protein comprising in N- to C-terminal direction (A) an immunogenic fragment of a rotavirus VP8 protein and (B) an immunoglobulin Fc fragment such as, for example, an IgG Fc fragment, and (ii) an immunogenic substance, different from said fusion protein, wherein said immunogenic composition is usable in a method of reducing one or more clinical signs, mortality or fecal shedding caused by a rotavirus infection in swine.

A nucleic acid-antigen peptide conjugate is described that is capable of forming a complex with polysaccharides that have a -1,3-glucan skeleton, such as schizophyllan, and which can efficiently present the antigen peptide in an antigen-presenting cell. A conjugate bonded, via a linker added to polydeoxyadenine and a disulfide bond, to an N-terminal cysteine residue of an antigen peptide that has eight or more amino acid residues having a cysteine residue at the N-terminal is capable of forming a complex with polysaccharides that have a -1,3-glucan skeleton, and can efficiently present the antigen peptide in an antigen-presenting cell.