Peptides that specifically bind erythrocytes are described. These are provided as peptidic ligands having sequences that specifically bind, or as antibodies or fragments thereof that provide specific binding, to erythrocytes. The peptides may be prepared as molecular fusions with therapeutic agents, tolerizing antigens, or targeting peptides. Immunotolerance may be created by use of the fusions and choice of an antigen on a substance for which tolerance is desired.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to fibrillar adjuvants. Epitopes assembled into nanofibers by a short synthetic fibrillization domain elicited high antibody titers in the absence of any adjuvant.

Disclosed are copolymer micelles for simultaneous delivery of Cas9 mRNA and guide RNA for Cas9 CRISPR gene editing. Also disclosed are copolymer micelles for simultaneous delivery of a therapeutic or diagnostic nucleic acid and a cross-linking or alkylating anticancer agent.

The present invention describes a combined vaccine that offers broad protection against meningococcal disease caused by the pathogenic bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. The vaccine is comprised of four distinct polysaccharide-protein conjugates that are formulated as a single dose of vaccine. Purified capsular polysaccharides from Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, W-135, and Y are chemically activated and selectively attached to a carrier protein by means of a covalent chemical bond, forming polysaccharide-protein conjugates capable of eliciting long-lasting immunity to a variety of N. meningitidis strains in children as well as adults.

The present invention provides novel scaffolded HIV-1 vaccine immunogens. Some of the scaffolded immunogens contain a soluble gp140 trimer linked to the N-terminus of the nanoparticle subunit and a T-helper epitope that is fused via a short peptide spacer to the C-terminus of the nanoparticle subunit. Some other immunogens of the invention contain a soluble gp140 trimer protein that is linked to a stable nanoparticle via a short peptide spacer that is a T-helper epitope. Some of the scaffolded immunogens contain a gp140 trimer immunogen presented on a nanoparticle platform formed with I3-01 protein, E2p, or variants of protein 1VLW. Also provided in the invention are nucleic acids that encode the various vaccine immunogens described herein, and expression vectors and host cells harboring the nucleic acids. The invention further provides methods of using the scaffolded HIV-1 vaccine immunogens for preventing or treating HIV infections.

Methods of producing bioconjugates of O-antigen polysaccharides covalently linked to a carrier protein using recombinant host cells are provided. The recombinant host cells used in the methods described herein encode a particular oligosaccharyl transferase enzyme depending on the O-antigen polysaccharide bioconjugate to be produced. The oligosaccharyl transferase enzymes can be PglB oligosaccharyl transferase or variants thereof. Also provided are compositions containing the bioconjugates, and methods of using the bioconjugates and compositions described herein to vaccinate a subject against extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli. (ExPEC).

The present disclosure relates to an immunologically active peptide-biliverdin conjugate (I), a preparation method therefor and an application thereof in cancer diagnosis, and/or tumor immunotherapy, and/or tumor “photothermal immunotherapy” (tumor photothermal therapy combined with immunotherapy). The conjugate to which the present disclosure relates not only may stimulate an organism to generate a tumor-immune effect, but also may relieve and/or eliminate tumor inflammation, remodel a tumor inflammatory microenvironment and achieve photothermal cancer immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy. The conjugate to which the present disclosure relates has high biocompatibility, good stability and an extended half-life. The conjugate is prepared from an immunologically active peptide and biliverdin by means of chemical synthesis. A peptide end of the conjugate exercises the function of immunoregulation, and a pigment end thereof exercises functions such as tumor imaging diagnosis, tumor photo-thermal ablation, immune inflammatory microenvironment regulation and the like. The conjugate may significantly enhance the antitumor effect and effectively inhibit tumor metastasis and recurrence.

This invention provides a composition of matter comprising a plurality of morphine-6-succinyl-BSA, wherein the average ratio of morphine-6-succinyl moieties to BSA is at least 7.0. This invention also provides a composition of matter comprising a plurality of heroin-6-succinyl-B SA, wherein the average ratio of heroin-6-succinyl moieties to BSA is at least 7.0. This invention further provides a composition of matter comprising a plurality of ethanol-succinyl-B SA, wherein the average ratio of ethanol-succinyl moieties to BSA is at least 7.0. This invention still further provides related pharmaceutical compositions, therapeutic methods, prophylactic methods, synthetic methods, and articles of manufacture.

The invention provides a process for preparing a conjugate of a S. aureus type 8 capsular polysaccharide and a carrier molecule, comprising the steps of: (a) depolymerising the capsular polysaccharide, to give a polysaccharide fragment; (b) oxidising the fragment in order to introduce an aldehyde group into at least one saccharide residue in the fragment, to give an oxidised saccharide residue; and (c) coupling the oxidised saccharide residue to a carrier molecule via the aldehyde group, thereby giving the conjugate. The coupling in step (c) may be direct, or may be via a linker molecule. The invention also provides a conjugate obtained or obtainable by this process.

The present invention relates to a cyclic peptide, a conjugate comprising said cyclic peptide and a lipopeptide building block, a bundle of said conjugates, a synthetic virus-like particle comprising at least one bundle of conjugates and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. The present invention further relates to said cyclic peptide, said conjugate said bundle of conjugates, said synthetic virus-like particle and said pharmaceutical compositions for use as a medicament, preferably for use in a method for preventing of an infectious disease or reducing the risk of an infectious disease, more preferably for use in a method for preventing or reducing the risk of an infectious disease associated with or caused by a respiratory syncytial virus.