The present invention relates to artificial antigen presenting cell (aAPC) scaffolds to provide cells with specific functional stimulation to obtain phenotypic and functional properties ideal to mediate tumor regression or viral clearance. In particular, the scaffolds of the present invention comprise antigens, such as peptide-MHC (pMHC) class I molecules, and specific combinations of cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules to allow effective expansion and functional stimulation of specific T cells.

Disclosed herein are compositions that include antigen-encoding nucleic acid sequences having multiple repeats of distinct epitope-encoding sequences or having antigen-encoding nucleic acid sequences having less than 700 nucleotides and encoding multiple distinct epitope-encoding sequences. Also disclosed are nucleotides, cells, and methods associated with the compositions including their use as vaccines.

The present invention relates to an individualized therapeutic anticancer vaccine, methods of treatment of cancer wherein such an anticancer vaccine is used as well as methods for producing the vaccine.

The disclosure provides peptide compositions and immunotherapy compositions comprising an amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide and an alpha-synuclein peptide. The disclosure also provides methods of treating or effecting prophylaxis of Alzheimer's disease or other diseases with beta-amyloid deposition in a subject, including methods of clearing deposits, inhibiting or reducing aggregation of Aβ and/or alpha-synuclein, blocking the uptake by neurons, clearing amyloid, and inhibiting propagation of alpha-synuclein seeds in a subject having or at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or other diseases containing alpha-synuclein and/or amyloid-beta accumulations. The methods include administering to such patients the compositions comprising an amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide and an alpha-synuclein peptide.

The present disclosure provides T-cell modulatory multimeric polypeptides (TMMPs) comprising a type 1 diabetes (T1D)-associated peptide epitope, MHC class II polypeptides, and one or more immunomodulatory polypeptides. A TMMP of the present disclosure is useful for modulating activity of a T cell. Thus, the present disclosure provides compositions and methods for modulating the activity of T cells, as well as compositions and methods for treating persons who have T1D.

A method of treating cancer in a subject in need thereof includes administering in situ to cancer cells of the subject a nanoparticle construct that includes a plurality of cowpea mosaic virus or virus-like particles electrostatically coupled to a plurality of G4 dendrimers having a different surface charge than the cowpea mosaic virus or virus-like particles. The nanoparticle construct upon delivery to a subject can provide a sustained release of the cowpea mosaic virus or virus-like particles and/or G4 dendrimers to a cell or tissue of the subject. The cancer selected from the group consisting of melanoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, and ovarian cancer.

The invention relates to the design of rationally engineered Carrier Proteins (reCaPs) geared towards producing Multifunctional Chimeric recombinant Fusion Proteins (MCFPs) useful as vaccine candidates. The key components of the MCFPs are (i) genetically engineered carrier proteins; (ii) polypeptide antigens; (iii) linker peptides, optionally fused to heterologous T-cell epitopes; (iv) Dual Function Peptides (DFP) which can act as a purification aids as well having the non-covalent affinity to bind to an adjuvant. The present invention also relates to recombinantly expressed Self-Assembling Adjuvanted Nanoparticles (SAANPs), comprising reCaPs fused with various polypeptide and protein antigens, useful as vaccine candidates. The present invention also provides novel ‘integrated Multiple Conjugate Antigen displayed Adjuvanted Systems’ [iMCAAS], comprising rationally engineered Carrier Proteins, based on ‘Self Assembling Adjuvanted Nanoparticles’ [SAANPs]. These adjuvanted nanoparticles, eventually provide stronger antigen-antibody interactions compared to the low affinity interactions provided by the monovalent binding generated by single antigen immunogens.

The present disclosure provides novel adjuvants which may be used in combination with one or more antigens to augment, modulate or enhance a host immune response to the one or more antigens. The adjuvants are based on sialic acid binding molecules and may be combined with any type of antigen. The adjuvants may be formulated for mucosal and/or intranasal administration.

The present invention provides HIV-1 vaccine immunogens. Some of the immunogens contain a soluble gp140-derived protein that harbors a modified N-terminus of the HR1 region in gp41. Some of the immunogens contain an HIV-1 Env-derived trimer protein that is presented on a nanoparticle platform. The invention also provides methods of using the HIV-1 vaccine immunogens for eliciting an immune response or treating HIV infections.

The invention provides a phagocytosable particle for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of cancer in a subject, wherein the phagocytosable particle comprises a core and a neoantigenic construct tightly associated to the core, and wherein the neoantigenic construct comprises a neoepitope peptide having an amino acid sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence of a part of a protein or peptide known or suspected to be expressed by a cancer cell in the subject, wherein the part of the protein or peptide has at least one somatic mutated amino acid. The invention also relates to injectable pharmaceutical compositions for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of cancer.