The disclosure provides improved neutralizing anti-GDF-8 antibodies capable of substantially higher levels of expression in host cells compared to previous anti-GDF-8 antibodies. Also provided are methods of using compositions comprising such antibodies to increase muscle mass or strength, and to treat or prevent muscular disorders, neuromuscular disorders, metabolic disorders, adipose tissue disorders or bone disorders.

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.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for the stimulation of immune responses. In particular, the present invention provides compositions (e.g., vaccines) and methods of using the same for the induction of immune responses (e.g., innate and adaptive immune responses (e.g., for generation of host immunity against cancer (e.g., a tumor) or against any type of antigen (e.g. bacterial, viral, parasite-derived)). Compositions and methods of the present invention find use in, among other things, clinical (e.g. prophylactic, therapeutic and preventive medicine (e.g., vaccination)) and research applications. It particularly relates to the area of active specific immunotherapy of cancer (cancer vaccines), and provides procedures for the preparation of therapeutic vaccines that can eliminate cancer cells. These vaccines are constructed in such a way that they mimic the release and exchange of cytokines and other bio-molecules on the local cellular level as they occur during induction of natural immune responses.

The present invention provides methods, compositions, systems, and kits comprising nano-satellite complexes and/or serum albumin carrier complexes, which are used for modulating antigen-specific immune response (e.g., enhancing anti-tumor immunity). In certain embodiments, the nano-satellite complexes comprise: a) a core nanoparticle complex comprising a biocompatible coating surrounding a nanoparticle core; b) at least one satellite particle attached to, or absorbed to, the biocompatible coating; and c) an antigenic component conjugated to, or absorbed to, the at least one satellite particle component. In certain embodiments, the complexes further comprise: d) an type I interferon agonist agent. In some embodiments, the serum albumin complexes comprise: a) at least part of a serum albumin protein, b) an antigenic component conjugated to the carrier protein, and c) a type I interferon agonist agent.

The present invention provides compositions comprising peptide-coupled biodegradable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) particles. In particular, PLG particles are surface-functionalized to allow for coupling of peptide molecules to the surface of the particles (e.g., for use in eliciting induction of immunological tolerance).

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.

Provided are polypeptides and compositions comprising novel HSP-binding peptides. Such polypeptides and compositions are particularly useful as immunotherapeutics (e.g., cancer vaccines). Also provided are methods of inducing a cellular immune response using such polypeptides and compositions, methods of treating a disease using such polypeptides and compositions, kits comprising such polypeptides and compositions, and methods of making such compositions.

The present invention provides methods for enhancing the efficacy and/or safety of a vaccine. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods to increase or potentiate the immune response to a vaccine in a subject in need thereof. The methods of the present invention comprise administering to a subject in need thereof an interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) antagonist such as an anti-IL-4R antibody in combination with said vaccine. In certain embodiments, the methods of the present invention are used to afford enhanced protection to an infectious disease such as whooping cough.

The present invention is directed to an artificial nucleic acid and to polypeptides suitable for use in treatment or prophylaxis of an infection with Henipavirus, particularly Hendra virus and/or Nipah virus or a disorder related to such an infection. In particular, the present invention concerns a Hendra virus and/or Nipah virus vaccine. The present invention is directed to an artificial nucleic acid, polypeptides, compositions and vaccines comprising the artificial nucleic acid or the polypeptides. The invention further concerns a method of treating or preventing a disorder or a disease, first and second medical uses of the artificial nucleic acid, polypeptides, compositions and vaccines. Further, the invention is directed to a kit, particularly to a kit of parts, comprising the artificial nucleic acid, polypeptides, compositions and vaccines.

The present invention describes a second-generation tetanus toxoid vaccine and a process for the preparation thereof, comprising the steps of: inducing an E. Coli culture OD 600=0.5 by adding 0.2 mM IPTG; growing the culture at 14-16? C. for 14 to 20 hours; suspending the culture in 25 mM phosphate buffer containing 200 mM sodium chloride; adding 1% of triton-X-100 to the phosphate buffer, and adding the buffer to the culture; sonicating the culture for a period of 3 minutes (at 5 sec on/off pulse) at 4? C. on cold beads; centrifuging the culture for 60 to 90 minutes; collecting and purifying a supernatant using Ni-NTA affinity column with an eluant; and combining the supernatant into a pool with contaminated bands and concentrating using Centriprep-30 centrifuge filters (30 kDa pores).