Arenavirus vectors encoding hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines are described. Methods of inducing an immune response against HBV or treating an HBV-induced disease, particularly in individuals having chronic HBV infection, using the disclosed arenavirus vectors are also described.

Human antibodies which specifically bind to human CTLA-4, and related antibody-based compositions and molecules, are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the human antibodies, and therapeutic and diagnostic methods for using the human antibodies.

Provided herein are non-naturally occurring variants of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) Core protein, the HBV polymerase N-terminal domain, and the HBV polymerase C-terminal domain, as well as immunogenic fragments thereof. Fusion proteins comprising the HBV variants fused to a herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein (gD) sequence, as well as methods of using the fusion proteins, are also provided.

The present invention relates to the construction of, and immunization with viral vaccines. In particular, bivalent vaccines that are capable of providing simultaneous virus infection protection for two or more different viruses. Furthermore, the bivalent vaccines contemplated herein are contemplated as being effective in a neonatal mammal. One such bivalent viral vaccine comprises two antigenic epitopes against the dengue viruses and at least one antigenic epitope against hepatitis B virus. Immunization cross-reactivity may also provide infection protection against other viruses as well.

The present invention relates to a microneedle system (MNS for short) for the intradermal application of a hepatitis vaccine, namely the antigen HBsAg.

Provided is a hepatitis B treatment vaccine based on an inactivated whole recombinant Hansenula polymorpha cell which expresses HBsAg and HBcAg. An HBsAgVLP and an HBcAgVLP expressed in the recombinant Hansenula polymorpha cell are used as antigens, the amino acid sequence of the HBsAg expressed by the recombinant Hansenula polymorpha contains a total of 19 CTL epitopes, the amino acid sequence of the HBcAg expressed by the recombinant Hansenula polymorpha contains a total of 19 CTL epitopes, and the inactivated whole recombinant Hansenula polymorpha cell is used as an adjuvant.

Nucleic acid molecules and compositions comprising: a nucleic acid sequence that encodes IL-12 p35 subunit or a functional fragment thereof and/or a nucleic acid sequence that encodes IL12 p40 subunit or a functional fragment thereof, are disclosed. The nucleic acid molecules and compositions further comprising a nucleic acid sequence that encodes an immunogen are also disclosed. Method of modulating immune response and methods of inducing an immune response against an immunogen are disclosed. Therapeutic and prophylactic vaccination methods are also disclosed.

Increased antigenicity of a membrane-bound polypeptide produced from a plant is provided in a process in which extraction of the polypeptide or other compounds from the plant is such that phospholipids are associated with the polypeptide. Reducing fat by supercritical fluid extraction increases antigenicity of such plant-produced membrane-bound polypeptides. Methods and means of producing such membrane-bound polypeptides are provided. Methods to produce a protective response in animals are provided by administering to the animal the membrane-bound polypeptide. Binding of antibody specific to the membrane-bound polypeptide is increased. The process provides for increased preferred formation of the membrane-bound polypeptide. Stability of the membrane-bound polypeptide is increased when the plant material is defatted.

This invention reveals the pharmaceutical composition that includes the surface antigen (HBsAg) of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the antigen of the nucleocapsid (or core, HBcAg) of the same virus. The HBcAg of this composition contains messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) at a proportion of over 45% of the total amount of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in this antigen. Because of the changes in the constitution of the antigens forming it, the composition of the invention is useful for the prevention or treatment of chronic hepatitis B. It also covers the use of this pharmaceutical composition in the production of a drug for immuno-prophylaxis or immunotherapy against HBV infection, and its use to increase the immune response against an additional antigen that is co-administered with the mixture of these antigens.

Disclosed is a zinc zoledronate micro-nanoparticle adjuvant, which contains zinc and zoledronic acid and optionally contains a phosphate and aluminum. The preparation method therefor comprises performing mixed precipitation on a soluble salt solution containing zinc ions, zoledronic acid, and sodium hydroxide. The adjuvant can be used to prepare vaccines, etc.