Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease characterized by granulomatous inflammation in affected organs. The present invention discloses kits and a system for a blood test using mycobacterial catalase-peroxidase that has a high positive predictive value for confirming a diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

There is provided methods of determining tuberculosis (TB) infection status in an individual comprising: (i) providing a sample comprising T-cells; (ii) exposing the sample of (i) to one or more TB antigens; (iii) identifying T-cells in the sample that are CD4 positive and (a) secrete TNF-α without secreting IFN-γ; or (b) secrete IFN-γ without secreting TNF-α; (iv) identifying those cells of (iii) which are also CCR7 and, CD127 negative; and optionally (v) calculating the cells identified in (iv) as a percentage of those identified in (iii); wherein the identification of cells in (iv) and/or the percentage of T-cells calculated in (v) correlates to TB infection status of the individual, and wherein steps (iii) and (iv) can be carried out either sequentially or simultaneously. There are also provided compositions and kits for use in such methods.

The invention provides a method for predicting whether a binding peptide, which binds to a target peptide presented by a Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) and is for administration to a subject, has the potential to cross react with another peptide in the subject in vivo. The method comprises the steps of identifying at least one binding motif in the target peptide to which the binding peptide binds; and searching for peptides that are present in the subject that comprise the at least one binding motif and that are not the target peptide. The presence of one or more such peptides indicates that the binding peptide has the potential to cross react in vivo.

Described are cell-based cancer vaccines and anti-cancer immunotherapies. The vaccines include isolated tumor cells activated with one or more genotoxic drugs, and, optionally, treated with one or more MK2 inhibitors. The activated cells are highly immunogenic non-proliferative cells, and may be tested for immunogenicity ex vivo for priming T cells by co-incubating the isolated activated cells with dendritic cells and T cells. The vaccines are typically administered into patient's tumor to provide an intratumoral immune activation. Immune checkpoint inhibitor(s) (ICI) may be administered before, during, or after vaccine administration. ICI may be a component of the vaccine. The vaccines confer heightened cytotoxic immune response against the cancer cells, induce tumor regression, and enhance survival from cancer. The vaccines prevent tumor recurrence and induce a long-lasting anti-tumor immunological memory.

The invention provides high-sensitivity methods for detection and quantification of target analytes in liquid samples (e.g., biological or environmental samples). The methods can be multiplexed to allow simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple target analytes that are contained in the same sample. The invention also provides related compositions and kits.

Provided herein is a method for measuring the levels of chronic inflammaging (SCI) of a subject. In some embodiments, the method may comprise measuring the amount of two or more of the proteins CXCL9, TRAIL, IFNG, EOTAXIN and GROA in a sample (e.g., blood serum) from the subject calculating a score based on the weighted amounts of each of those proteins.

Provided are immunomodulatory pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical compositions that include alpha-synuclein and at least one preselected antigen, such as at least one preselected peptide antigen or immunogen. Also provided are methods for modulating immune activity toward at least one preselected antigen in an at least substantially antigen-specific manner that include administering such a composition to a human patient or to a non-human mammalian subject. Still further provided are enhanced assay methods for quantifying antigen-specific cellular responses, such as cytokine release, to preselected antigens.

The application relates to the discovery of novel gene expression profiles and/or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and/or insertions or deletions of bases (INDEL) profiles that correlate with a subject's positive receptiveness to Interleukin 10 (IL-10) or IL-10 based agent treatments. The application also relates to methods of treating patients with an IL-10 or IL-10 based agent treatment by screening, examining, or determine patients possessing a gene expression profile and/or SNP and/or INDEL profile most receptive to the treatment.

One embodiment of this invention is a method for confirming expression of the PRDM14 gene from blood or lymphatic fluid collected from a subject by: (1) detecting PRDM14 positive CTC which expresses the PRDM14 gene; or (2) measuring the concentration of at least one protein selected from the group consisting of leptin receptor (LEPR), macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) and gamma-interferon (IFN).

The present invention relates, in part, to certain serum biomarkers and use thereof in methods for treating cancer, such as in evaluating and/or in additional methods such as predicting patient responses to treatment with a CXCR4 inhibitor optionally in combination with a immunotherapeutic agent, in patients with a cancer such as melanoma, including resectable and unresectable melanoma.