A vaccine composition includes an icosahedral-shaped plant virus or virus-like particle linked to a plurality of NY-ESO-1 antigens.

Hematopoeitic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC) and/or non-T effector cells are modified to express an extracellular component including a tag cassette. The tag cassette can be used to activate, promote proliferation of, detect, enrich, isolate, track, deplete and/or eliminate modified cells. The cells can also be modified to express a binding domain.

The present invention relates to a recombinant virus of the family Paramyxoviridae comprising an expressible polynucleotide encoding at least one of (i) a tumor antigen, (ii) a fragment of a tumor antigen, and (iii) a variant of (i) or (ii). The present invention further relates to a polynucleotide encoding said recombinant virus of the family Paramyxoviridae and to a host cell comprising said recombinant virus of the family Paramyxoviridae and/or said polynucleotide encoding said recombinant virus of the family Paramyxoviridae. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for activating immune cells with antitumor activity in a sample comprising cancer cells and to further means, methods, and uses related to the present invention.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a modified mRNA that is stabilised by sequence modifications and optimised for translation. The pharmaceutical composition according to the invention is particularly well suited for use as an inoculating agent, as well as a therapeutic agent for tissue regeneration. In addition, a process is described for determining sequence modifications that promote stabilisation and translational efficiency of modified mRNA of the invention.

To allow control over injected genetically engineered cells, it is helpful that the genetically engineered cells express a marker that can be used to detect such cells among a pool of unmodified cells. Some embodiments relate to a marked protein comprising a TCR constant domain and an exogenous amino acid variation that comprises a sequence that is detectable and identifiable within the TCR constant domain. Other embodiments relate to an antibody epitope that is attached to a TCR chain. Both the marked proteins and the antibody epitopes can be used to track genetically engineered cells.

Disclosed are a fusion peptide of CD4 helper T cell epitopes, a nucleic acid encoding the same and an immunogenic composition comprising the same. The epitope fusion peptide comprises a cytomegalovirus epitope and an influenza virus epitope. The epitope fusion peptide can substantially improve the level of cellular immune response to a target immunogen, particularly a weak immunogen, and is an effective means for overcoming the immune tolerance of immune system to an antigen, particularly to a tumor antigen or an infection-related antigen, and is suitable for efficiently enhancing the efficacy of vaccine.

The present disclosure is directed recombinant T cell receptors capable of binding an NY-ESO-1 epitope and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid molecules further comprise a second nucleotide sequence, wherein the second nucleotide sequence or the polypeptide encoded by the second nucleotide sequence inhibits the expression of an endogenous TCR. Other aspects of the disclosure are directed to vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecule and cells comprising the recombinant TCR, the nucleic acid molecule, or the vector. Still other aspects of the disclosure are directed to methods of using the same. In some embodiments, the methods comprise treating a cancer in a subject in need thereof.

The present invention provides immunoresponsive cells, including T cells, cytotoxic T cells, regulatory T cells, and Natural Killer (NK) cells, expressing an antigen recognizing receptor and an inhibitory chimeric antigen receptor (iCAR). Methods of using the immunoresponsive cell include those for the treatment of neoplasia and other pathologies where an increase in an antigen-specific immune response is desired.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for antigen identification. The methods provided herein comprise capturing polypeptides such as cytokines secreted by TCR-expressing cells (e.g., T cells) by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) presenting the antigens recognized by the TCRs of the TCR-expressing cells. The APCs can be detected or selected for antigen identification.

This document provides methods and materials for expanding antigen-specific T cells (e.g., antigen-specific CD4.sup.+ T cells and/or antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ T cells) in culture. For example, methods and materials for performing a polyclonal stimulation step for a particular duration (e.g., from about 1 hour to about 48 hours) to increase the expansion of T cells having a desired antigen specificity are provided.