Peptides that specifically bind erythrocytes are described. These are provided as peptidic ligands having sequences that specifically bind, or as antibodies or fragments thereof that provide specific binding, to erythrocytes. The peptides may be prepared as molecular fusions with therapeutic agents, tolerizing antigens, or targeting peptides. Immunotolerance may be created by use of the fusions and choice of an antigen on a substance for which tolerance is desired.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to fibrillar adjuvants. Epitopes assembled into nanofibers by a short synthetic fibrillization domain elicited high antibody titers in the absence of any adjuvant.

Provided herein are recombinant polypeptides comprising a SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein binding domain polypeptide and a GM-CSF polypeptide, polynucleotide sequences encoding the same, virus-like particles comprising the same, and methods for using these compositions for the treatment of a SARS-CoV-2 infection in a subject, and for detection of a SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a subject.

Provided herein is an isolated polynucleotide, which encodes alphavirus non-structural proteins nsp1, nsp2, nsp3 and nsp4 and a polypeptide comprising a coronavirus protein fused to a signal sequence and/or transmembrane domain. The coronavirus protein may be the receptor binding domain of the S1 subunit of coronavirus spike (S) protein. The polynucleotide such as RNA is useful for as a vaccine against coronavirus infection, especially, COVID-19 infection.

Vaccines that elicit broadly protective anti-influenza antibodies. Some vaccines comprise nanoparticles that display HA trimers from influenza virus on their surface. The nanoparticles are fusion proteins comprising a monomeric subunit (e.g., ferritin) joined to the stem region of an influenza HA protein. The fusion proteins self-assemble to form the HA-displaying nanoparticles. The vaccines comprise only the stem region of an influenza HA protein joined to a trimerization domain. Also provided are fusion proteins, and nucleic acid molecules encoding such proteins, and assays using nanoparticles of the invention to detect anti-influenza antibodies.

A method of treating an infection that comprises administering to a subject a composition comprising an anti-AGE antibody. The anti-AGE antibody binds an AGE antigen comprising at least one protein or peptide that exhibits AGE modifications elected from the group consisting of FFI, pyrraline, AFGP, ALI, carboxymethyllysine, carboxyethyllysine and pentosidine. A method of treating an infection that comprises immunizing a subject in need thereof against AGE-modified proteins or peptides of a cell.

The present disclosure provides methods of preparing heteroaryl-containing compounds, wherein an azide-alkyne cycloaddition is accelerated in the presence of lauryldimethylamine oxide (LDAO). The present disclosure further provides conjugates of polypeptides and antigens prepared using such methods.

The present invention relates to vaccines comprising at least one mRNA encoding at least one antigen for use in the treatment of a disease in newborns and/or infants, preferably exhibiting an age of not more than 2 years, preferably of not more than 1 year, more preferably of not more than 9 months or even 6 months, wherein the treatment comprises vaccination of the newborn or infant and eliciting an immune response in said newborn or infant. The present invention is furthermore directed to kits and kits of parts comprising such a vaccine and/or its components and to methods applying such a vaccine or kit.

Components for enabling immunodection of MT-45 are described including immunogens, antibodies derived from the immunogens, immunoassay methods, detecting agents and kits.

Viral vectors are provided for use as genetic immunotherapeutic agents, including preventive and therapeutic vaccines as well as compositions to enhance cellular immune responses and innate immune responses. The vectors are particularly useful for treating or preventing cancer and infectious diseases. The vectors include lentiviral vectors that encode one or more antigens, a combination of adjuvants, and optionally may encode one or more soluble and secreted checkpoint inhibitor molecules. The adjuvants include latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) from Epstein Barr virus and a fusion protein including LMP1 with in which the intracytoplasmic domain has been replaced by human IPS1 or a variant thereof capable of activating the STING pathway. The vector-encoded sequences are codon optimized for human expression.