Methods for diagnosing and treating CD1d-restricted gamma/delta T cell lymphomas are disclosed. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a method for diagnosing a T cell lymphoma as a CD1d-restricted gamma/delta T cell lymphoma in a patient in need thereof including i) detecting the presence of CD1d restricted gamma/delta T lymphoma cells in a cell lymphoma sample obtained from the patient and ii) concluding that the T cell lymphoma is a CD1d-restricted gamma/delta T cell lymphoma when the presence of CD1d restricted gamma/delta T cells is detected in the sample. The present disclosure also relates to a method for treating a CD1d-restricted gamma/delta T cell lymphoma as diagnosed by the diagnostic method, including administering the patient with a therapeutically effective amount of a CD1d antagonist.

The present description relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present description relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present description further relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T-cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for single cell characterization using affinity-oligonucleotide conjugates. Provided herein are methods and compositions for single cell characterization using tetramer-oligonucleotide conjugates.

The present invention provides antigen-binding proteins capable of binding to human MICA polypeptides. The antigen-binding proteins have increased activity in the treatment of disorders characterized by MICA-expressing cells, particularly cancer.

Nanoparticle-based vaccines, compositions, kits and methods are used for the effective delivery of one or more antigens in vivo for vaccination and antibody (e.g., monoclonal antibody) production, and for the effective delivery of peptides, proteins, siRNA, RNA or DNA to PAPCs or MHC class II positive cells (e.g. tumor cells). Antigens may be, for example, DNA that results in expression of the gene of interest and induction of a robust and specific immune response to the expressed protein in a subject (e.g., mammal). Antigens may also be immunogenic peptides or polypeptides that are processed and presented. In one embodiment, a nanoparticle-based method to deliver antigens in vivo as described herein includes injection of a vaccine composed of a DNA encoding at least one antigen, or at least one antigenic peptide or polypeptide conjugated to a charged dendrimer (e.g., PADRE-derivatized dendrimer) that is also conjugated to a T helper epitope (e.g., PADRE). Negatively-charged plasmids bind naturally to a positively-charged PADRE-dendrimer, while peptide or polypeptide antigens can be chemically linked to the PADRE-dendrimer if they are not negatively-charged. Alternatively, negatively-charged dendrimers may be used. The compositions, kits, vaccines and methods described herein have both prophylactic and treatment applications, i.e., can be used as a prophylactic to prevent onset of a disease or condition in a subject, as well as to treat a subject having a disease or condition. A vaccine as described herein can be used to mount an immune response against any infectious pathogen or cancer.

Compositions consisting of bioactive molecules derived from the microbiota of a mammal are provided herein. When administered orally with a colonic delivery system, the compositions are useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of diseases, in particular inflammatory, autoimmune and infectious diseases. The compositions comprise combinations of small molecules and bacterial antigens formulated in colonic delivery systems. Use of the compositions results in any or all of: induction of immune tolerance; strengthening of the gut mucosal barrier integrity; reduction of inflammation; and amelioration of a disease state caused by inflammation, an autoimmune reaction or an infectious agent.

Provided herein are methods and kits for predicting and monitoring a cancer patient's response to treatment with a therapeutic agent by measuring the amount of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) having the profile CDl11b.sup.+CD33.sup.+HLA-DR.sup.− and/or CDl11b.sup.+CD33.sup.+HLA-DR.sup.low, and optionally by further measuring various suppressive features of the patient's immune system. Also provided herein are methods of treating a cancer patient comprising as an initial step determining whether the cancer patient would be responsive to treatment with the therapeutic agent as described above and wherein the patient is found to be responsive, administering the therapeutic agent.

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

A set of phosphorylated peptides are presented by HLA A*0101, A*0201, A*0301, B*4402, B*2705, B*1402, and el B*0702 on the surface of melanoma cells. They have the potential to (a) stimulate an immune response to the cancer, (b) to function as immunotherapeutics in adoptive T-cell therapy or as a vaccine, (c) to facilitate antibody recognition of the tumor boundaries in surgical pathology samples, and (d) act as biomarkers for early detection of the disease. Phosphorylated peptides are also presented for other cancers.

The present invention pertains to a method for detecting antigen presentation via antigen presenting molecules such as major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or II. The invention deploys a first binding agent specific for the antigen epitope and a second binding agent specific for the antigen presenting molecule. The binding agents of the invention are coupled to proximity probes which upon antigen presentation elicit a detectable signal. The method of the invention allows detecting antigen presentation via MHC in-vitro and in a tissue sample in-situ. Thus the method of the present invention finds application as a new diagnostic tool, for example in the diagnosis of various diseases such as infectious diseases, immunological disorders, in particular autoimmune diseases, and proliferative disorders such as cancer.