The invention relates to composite antigens comprising an antigen obtained or derived from an antigenic epitope of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal, an antigen obtained or derived from bacterial cell wall material that induces an immune response in a mammal such as LTA, PNG or LPS, and a T cell stimulating antigen such as CRM. Preferably the composite antigen comprises an immunogenic composition or a vaccine that is effective against the pathogen or can generate antibodies that can be collected that are protective against infection by the pathogen. In addition, the invention relates to vaccines comprising composite antigens and to method for treating and preventing an infection.

The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of an immunogenic lysate from mesothelioma tumor cells, to such a lysate and to dendritic cells loaded with the lysate, the present invention further relates a pharmaceutical composition comprising such lysate or dendritic cells, to the use of the lysate, and to said loaded dendritic cells or said pharmaceutical composition for use in the prevention or treatment of mesothelioma.

The present invention relates to methods of rescue and/or propagation of paramyxovirus species, particularly wherein both rescue and propagation are carried out in the same cell type; i.e., without the use of helper cells for viral rescue. The paramyxoviruses produced by the disclosed methods may encompass wild-type viruses, chimeric viruses, recombinant viruses or engineered viral products such as virus like particles (VLP). Viruses and/or viral products produced in the method according to the current invention are suitable for medical or veterinary use in such applications as treating or preventing infectious diseases, particularly avian paramyxovirus and human respiratory virus infections, and cancer treatment.

Provided herein are chimeric polypeptides that may be used, e.g., for the diagnosis of or vaccination against Ehrlichia chaffeensis and/or Ehrlichia canis.

Provided are polypeptides and compositions comprising novel HSP-binding peptides. Such polypeptides and compositions are particularly useful as immunotherapeutics (e.g., cancer vaccines). Also provided are methods of inducing a cellular immune response using such polypeptides and compositions, methods of treating a disease using such polypeptides and compositions, kits comprising such polypeptides and compositions, and methods of making such compositions.

Provided herein are chimeric polypeptides that may be used, e.g., for the diagnosis of or vaccination against Ehrlichia chaffeensis and/or Ehrlichia canis.

Compositions and methods for inducing a protective immune response against Coxiella burnetii, to reduce a subject's risk of developing Q fever

The present invention claims an isolated nucleotide sequence characterized by encoding the PFR1 protein of Leishmania infantum or a fragment thereof. This PFR1 protein or a fragment thereof comprises at least a selected immunodominant epitope between the following group: SEQ ID No: 1, SEQ ID No: 2, SEQ ID No: 3, SEQ ID No: 4, SEQ ID No: 5, SEQ ID No: 6, SEQ ID No: 7 and SEQ ID No: 8, where the immunodominant epitope is able to induce an antigen-specific T cell cytotoxic immune response in an animal, against the kinetoplastids causing the leishmaniasis disease. The immunodominant epitopes are cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activators and they present a high binding affinity for A2 type MHC Class I molecule.

Methods and compositions for generating enhanced immune responses using adenovirus vectors that encode for an antigen and calreticulin, which serves as an immunologic adjuvant.

Novel nucleic acid vectors comprising sequences encoding (a) an antigen, (b) a signal peptide, and (c) a heat shock protein, are disclosed, as are methods for using such vectors to induce antigen-specific immune responses and to treat tumors.