Pre-implantation factor (PIF) may be used to treat intracellular damage. Aspects of the invention are directed to a method of treating intracellular damage comprising administering PIF to a subject in need thereof. Some aspects may be directed to methods of increasing cytokine secretion in response to intracellular damage comprising administering PIF to a subject in need thereof. The intracellular damage may be a result of a disease such as Listeria monocytogenes infection, malaria, Lyme disease, cardiovascular disease, duodenal peptic ulcer, atherosclerosis, peritonitis or tuberculosis. In some aspects, a method of treating tuberculosis is disclosed, comprising administering PIF to a subject in need thereof. In some aspects, a method of treating atherosclerosis is disclosed, comprising administering PIF to a subject in need thereof. In some aspects, a method of treating peritonitis is disclosed, comprising administering PIF to a subject in need thereof.

Compositions and methods are provided for cancer treatments. The methodology entails, for instance, administering to a cancer patient a first composition comprising a plurality of bacterially derived intact minicells or intact killed bacterial cells, each of which encompasses an anti-neoplastic agent and carries a bispecific ligand on the surface, the ligand having specificity for a mammalian cell component, and a second composition comprising interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or an agent that increases the expression of IFN-gamma in the subject. The compositions include the first composition and the second composition as described, optionally with additional anti-neoplastic agents.

Compositions and methods are provided for cancer treatments. The methodology entails, for instance, administering to a cancer patient a first composition comprising a plurality of bacterially derived intact minicells or intact killed bacterial cells, each of which encompasses an anti-neoplastic agent and carries a bispecific ligand on the surface, the ligand having specificity for a mammalian cell component, and a second composition comprising interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or an agent that increases the expression of IFN-gamma in the subject. The compositions include the first composition and the second composition as described, optionally with additional anti-neoplastic agents.

Methods for generating immune responses using adenovirus vectors that allow multiple vaccinations with the same adenovirus vector and vaccinations in individuals with preexisting immunity to adenovirus are provided.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for enhancement of stem-cell based immunomodulation and promotion of tissue repair.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for enhancement of stem-cell based immunomodulation and promotion of tissue repair.

The present embodiments relate to an FDA-approved injectable multi-dose antigen pulsed dendritic cell (DC) vaccine. In one embodiment, the activated antigen-loaded DC vaccine comprises an initial immunizing dose and multiple “booster” doses. Also provided is a method of blocking both HER-2 and HER-3 as a treatment in causing permanent tumor senescence in HER-2 expressing breast cancers. Also provided is combination anti-estrogen therapy and anti-HER2 dendritic call vaccination for ER.sup.pos/HER2.sup.pos DCIS breast cancer patients.

The present embodiments relate to an FDA-approved injectable multi-dose antigen pulsed dendritic cell (DC) vaccine. In one embodiment, the activated antigen-loaded DC vaccine comprises an initial immunizing dose and multiple “booster” doses. Also provided is a method of blocking both HER-2 and HER-3 as a treatment in causing permanent tumor senescence in HER-2 expressing breast cancers. Also provided is combination anti-estrogen therapy and anti-HER2 dendritic call vaccination for ER.sup.pos/HER2.sup.pos DCIS breast cancer patients.

Methods for treating subjects afflicted with a psychiatric disorders [e.g., autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, and/or depression] are described herein. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for treating a subject afflicted with or at risk for developing a psychiatric disorder (e.g., ASD, of which autism is a particular example) that calls for selecting a subject afflicted with or at risk for developing the psychiatric disorder based in part on previous in utero exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) and treating the subject by administering pharmacological agents or implementing optogenetic tools or chemogenetic tools that correct dysregulated neuronal excitation/inhibition (E/I) ratios in cortical patches of the subject wherein the E/I ratio is dysregulated. A subject may also be selected for treatment using methods described herein based on the presence or detection of cortical patches having dysregulated neuronal E/I ratios.

A method for the treatment of cancer comprising administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an intralesional chemoablative pharmaceutical composition, or variant of said composition, in combination with a therapeutically effective amount of a systemic immunomodulatory anticancer agent. A further method for the treatment of cancer comprising administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an intralesional chemoablative pharmaceutical composition, or variant of said composition, in combination with a therapeutically effective amount of a systemic targeted anticancer agent. The present invention is further directed to pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of cancer. The intralesional chemoablative pharmaceutical composition can comprise an IL chemoablative agent comprising primarily a halogenated xanthene.