The present disclosure provides methods useful for determining levels of HCMV infection in host cells and, by extension, determining levels of neutralizing antibodies present in a sample. The present disclosure encompasses the recognition that HCMV viruses that have a fluorescent moiety permit detection of viral infection (e.g., by assessing fluorescence in cells after contacting the host cell with the virus). In some embodiments, levels of HCMV infection are determined by fluorescence detection where the virus has been preincubated with a test sample (e.g., a serum sample) from a subject. In some embodiments, the subject has been administered a candidate HCMV vaccine.

The present invention relates to a new binder molecule useful e.g. as an immune suppressor. In particular, it has been recognized that the UL11 protein of human the cytomegalovirus, binds to the CD45 molecule, potentially altering the immune system of an individual. In addition, the present invention relates to binder molecules, in particular, fusion molecules containing the CD45 binding domain of the UL11 protein in combination with a second molecule of interest for delivery of said molecule to cells expressing the CD45 molecule. Moreover, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the UL11 protein of human cytomegalovirus, or derivatives or homologs thereof, or a nucleic acid sequence encoding the same.

The present invention provides compositions and methods that can be used to determine a peptide signature for an antibody repertoire in a sample comprising multiple antibodies. The method can be used to characterize a phenotype in a sample, such as providing a diagnosis, prognosis or theranosis of a medical condition.

The present invention concerns materials and methods for characterizing monoclonal immunoglobulin specificity of a Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) or Myeloma patients using a protein microarray comprising (a) a substrate, (b) antigens immobilized on the substrate, said antigens being selected from a defined group consisting of infectious agent antigens and/or self-antigens. In particular said protein microarray may be used to improve diagnosis, for the prognosis of myeloma or MGUS, for preventing transformation of MGUS toward myeloma, for adapting treatment of MGUS and myeloma or for monitoring the response to therapy of MGUS and myeloma patients.

The invention belongs to the fields of medicine and immunology, particularly, the field of immunological diagnosis. In particular, the invention discloses a method for assessing whether a subject is at risk of developing human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) active infection and a kit therefore. The method comprises the steps of: (1) determining the level of an antibody against a HCMV protein in a body fluid sample from the subject; and (2) comparing the level with a predetermined reference value, wherein if the level is below the predetermined reference value, the subject is determined to be at risk of developing HCMV active infection. In addition, the invention also discloses a method for screening a candidate drug which is capable of improving the ability of a subject to resist human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) active infection, and a kit therefore.

The present invention provides compositions and methods that can be used to determine a peptide signature for an antibody repertoire in a sample comprising multiple antibodies. The method can be used to characterize a phenotype in a sample, such as providing a diagnosis, prognosis or theranosis of a medical condition.

The present invention relates to a genetic variant of CMV, said genetic variant lacking intron 2 of the IE region of CMV (CMV IEi2) The present invention also relates to various uses of this genetic variant as well as RNA splice variants transcribed therefrom, and proteins expressed from the RNA splice variants, such as in the diagnosis of a CMV related cancer disease, and identification of individuals at risk of developing cancer or risk of transferring the CMV IEi2 virus with a human sample and prevention and treatment through targeting of unique CMV IE proteins for immunotherapy and vaccination.

The present invention provides compositions and methods that can be used to determine a peptide signature for an antibody repertoire in a sample comprising multiple antibodies. The method can be used to characterize a phenotype in a sample, such as providing a diagnosis, prognosis or theranosis of a medical condition.

The present application relates to antibodies which bind to the extracellular domain of an Fc-gamma-binding glycoprotein gp34 and gp68 of human cytomegalovirus and its use in the treatment of a HCMV infection or in its prevention.

Provided are methods of determining prognosis of a subject diagnosed with sepsis, by determining the baseline levels of T-cell senescence in the subject. Also provided are methods of treating a subject diagnosed with sepsis, by monitoring the subject diagnosed with sepsis and treating the subject which exhibits high baseline levels of T-cell senescence.