The methods, processes, and systems described herein include identifying an epitope of a peptide that may elicit an immune response in a subject. Often the methods, systems and processes may include designing and producing a composition comprising an epitope of a peptide identified using the methods or processes described herein.

The invention relates to the use of IL-22 in prevention and therapy of infections in particular related to viral infections in individuals who are unable to respond to viral exposure with enhanced IL-22 gene expression or protein production.

A four-biomarker panel for diagnosis of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and methods of prognosing and/or diagnosing cGVHD using the biomarker panel are disclosed.

In some aspects, the invention provides methods of treating a subject in need of treatment for a chronic complement-mediated disorder. In some aspects, the invention provides methods of treating a subject in need of treatment for a Th17-associated disorder. In some aspects, the invention provides methods of treating a subject in need of treatment for a chronic respiratory system disorder. In some aspects, the invention provides methods of administering a complement inhibitor to a subject. In some embodiments, a method of treating a subject comprises administering multiple doses of a complement inhibitor to the subject according to a dosing schedule that leverages the prolonged effect of complement inhibition in chronic respiratory disorders. In some embodiments, a subject has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In some embodiments, a subject has asthma.

Diagnostic screening tests that can be used to identify if a patient is a good candidates for an implantable vagus nerve stimulation device. One or more analyte, such as a cytokine or inflammatory molecule, can be measured from a blood sample taken prior to implantation of a vagus nerve stimulator to determine the patient's responsiveness to VNS for treatment of an inflammatory disorder.

The technology relates in part to methods for detecting the activity of IL-40 and modified versions thereof. The technology also relates in part to uses of IL-40 for promoting cell differentiation.

The invention provides therapeutic compositions that present an artificial repertoire of mammalian pattern recognition receptor (PRR) agonists, so that the pattern of PRR agonists recapitulates a distinct portion of a PRR agonist signature of a mammalian pathogen. The artificial repertoire of PRR agonists may be formulated together in a therapeutic vehicle for combined presentation to an innate immune cell resident in a target tissue in a mammalian host, and the vehicle adapted to deliver the PRR agonists to the target tissue, so as to modulate an immune response.

De novo designed polypeptides that bind to IL-2 receptor β.sub.c heterodimer (IL-2Rβ.sub.c), IL-4 receptor α.sub.c heterodimer (IL-4Rα.sub.c), or IL-13 receptor α subunit (IL-13Rα) are disclosed, as are methods for using and designing the polypeptides.

Antibodies which block binding of hPD-1 to hPD-L1 or hPD-L2 and their variable region sequences are disclosed. A method of increasing the activity (or reducing downmodulation) of an immune cell through the PD-1 pathway is also disclosed.

A method is described for using IL-12Rβ1/IL-23R, CCR6, BATF, AHR, STAT3, IRF4 crucial actors in TH17 cells differentiation as markers for acne. Also described are methods of their use to diagnose acne, and to screen inhibitors of Th17 differentiation. In particular, methods are described for inhibiting IL12Rβ1/1L-23R, CCR6, BATF, AHR, STAT3, IRF4 and the use of these screened inhibitors in acne treatment.