A vaccine containing an epitope of a heat shock protein 90 and uses thereof are disclosed. The epitope(s) of heat shock protein 90 has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or 2. A multi-epitope vaccine containing the epitope(s) and a method for treating or preventing cancer using the same are disclosed.

Provided herein are methods for delaying or inhibiting T cell maturation or differentiation in vitro for a T cell therapy, comprising contacting one or more T cells from a subject in need of a T cell therapy with an AKT inhibitor and at least one of exogenous Interleukin-7 (IL-7) and exogenous Interleukin-15 (IL-15), wherein the resulting T cells exhibit delayed maturation or differentiation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises administering the one or more T cells to a subject in need of a T cell therapy.

The invention provides compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with expression of a cancer associated antigen as described herein. The invention also relates to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) specific to a cancer associated antigen as described herein, vectors encoding the same, and recombinant T cells comprising the CARs of the present invention. The invention also includes methods of administering a genetically modified T cell expressing a CAR that comprises an antigen binding domain that binds to a cancer associated antigen as described herein.

In certain embodiments, methods and compositions are provided for generating immune responses against tumor neo-antigens or neo-epitopes. In particular embodiments there may be provided methods for constructing and producing recombinant adenovirus-based vector vaccines containing nucleic acid sequences encoding tumor neo-antigens and neo-epitopes that allow for vaccinations in individuals with preexisting immunity to adenovirus. In additional embodiments, methods and compositions are provided for the treatment of cancer using immunotherapy based on recombinant adenovirus-based vectors combined with engineered natural killer cells. In some embodiments, the methods and compositions further comprises a nucleic acid encoding for an immunological fusion partner.

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical vaccine compositions comprising at least one vaccine antigen together with living immune cells. These immune cells include at least a portion of activated T-cells and act as an adjuvant. Methods for using these pharmaceutical compositions to prevent or treat diseases, such as cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune disease are also included.

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical vaccine compositions comprising at least one vaccine antigen together with living immune cells. These immune cells include at least a portion of activated T-cells and act as an adjuvant. Methods for using these pharmaceutical compositions to prevent or treat diseases, such as cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune disease are also included.

Provided herein are methods for delaying or inhibiting T cell maturation or differentiation in vitro for a T cell therapy, comprising contacting one or more T cells from a subject in need of a T cell therapy with an AKT inhibitor and at least one of exogenous Interleukin-7 (IL-7) and exogenous Interleukin-15 (IL-15), wherein the resulting T cells exhibit delayed maturation or differentiation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises administering the one or more T cells to a subject in need of a T cell therapy.

The present invention relates to methods for the production of heat shock protein complexes for use in vaccine compositions. In particular, there is provided a method for increasing the level and immunogenicity of heat shock protein complexes produced in cells by subjecting the cells to specific stress inducing stimuli. The invention further extends to the use of heat shock protein complexes produced according to the methods of the invention in the preparation of vaccine compositions for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and cancerous conditions.

The present invention provides a peptide containing 8 or more consecutive amino acid residues in an amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 15 and consisting of 11 or less amino acid residues.

Provided herein are methods of treating cancer and/or augmenting a microbiome in a subject who has a tumor.