The present invention provides immunostimulatory combinations. Generally, the immunostimulatory combinations include a TLR agonist and a TNF/R agonist. Certain immunostimulatory combinations also may include an antigen.

Vaccines and methods of inoculation for conferring immunity to Cryptococcus infection are disclosed. Strains of Cryptococcus fungi, including Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, can be administered to a human or animal subject via inhalation. Cryptococcus fungi that can be used to confer immunity can comprise one or more mutations in genes that contribute to chitosan production, such as genes encoding a chitin deacetylase (cda), a chitin synthase (chs) and/or a regulator of chitin synthase (csr). Inhalation administration of heat-killed Cryptococcus harboring deletions in cda1, cda2 and cda3 genes can confer immunity. In a murine model system, inhalation administration of Cryptococcus neoformans harboring deletions in cda1, cda2 and cda3 genes conferred immunity against subsequent exposure to wild type Cryptococcus neoformans in 100% of test animals. Inhalation administration of heat-killed Cryptococcus grown under conditions leading to reduced chitosan production can also confer immunity.

This invention is directed to vaccine compositions and methods of using the same to prevent infection.

A Dectin-2 ligand vaccine adjuvant and a method of making and using the Dectin-2 ligand vaccine adjuvant in a vaccine to immunize a patient are disclosed. Also discloses is a vaccine composition comprising a Bl-Eng2 antigen and methods of using the vaccine composition to immunize a subject against a fungal infection.

A method for detection and prevention of leukemia and lymphoma is disclosed. When mononuclear blood cells from an individual are exposed to a supernatant of a mycovirus-containing Aspergillus flavus, the degree and pattern of activation and upregulation or downregulation transcription factors are indicative of an individual's susceptibility to leukemia or lymphoma. Upon detection of observed transcription factors, preventive measures are provided to the individual. Preventive measures may include, for example, a vaccine, or may be provided upon detection of observed transcription factors with those individuals that are genetically susceptible to leukemia and lymphoma.

A method for detection and prevention of leukemia and lymphoma is disclosed. When mononuclear blood cells from an individual are exposed to a supernatant of a mycovirus-containing Aspergillus flavus, the degree and pattern of activation and upregulation or downregulation transcription factors are indicative of an individual's susceptibility to leukemia or lymphoma. Upon detection of observed transcription factors, preventive measures are provided to the individual. Preventive measures may include, for example, a vaccine, or may be provided upon detection of observed transcription factors with those individuals that are genetically susceptible to leukemia and lymphoma.

Two-component vaccine formulations and methods are contemplated where the vaccine has an adjuvant component and a therapeutic component. The therapeutic component comprises preferably a recombinant therapeutic virus encoding a therapeutic antigen while the adjuvant component comprises a non-host cell or immune stimulating portion thereof. Notably, use of the adjuvant component will result in significant uptake of the therapeutic component into immune competent cells, even in the absence of receptors for entry of the therapeutic component. In addition, such adjuvant also stimulates expression of the therapeutic antigen.

The disclosure relates to methods of identifying fragments of a polypeptide that are immunogenic for a specific human subject, methods of preparing personalised pharmaceutical compositions comprising such polypeptide fragments, human subject-specific pharmaceutical compositions comprising such polypeptide fragments, and methods of treatment using such compositions. The methods comprise identifying a fragment of the polypeptide that binds to multiple HLA of the subject.

The disclosure relates to methods of identifying fragments of a polypeptide that are immunogenic for a specific human subject, methods of preparing pharmaceutical compositions comprising such polypeptide fragments, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such polypeptide fragments, and methods of treatment using such compositions. The methods comprise identifying a fragment of the polypeptide that binds to multiple HLA of individual subjects.

A compound comprising one or more polysaccharide moieties each independently represented by the formula (1.fwdarw.4)-[GlcNH-R].sub.n-2,5-anhydromannose, wherein n is a positive integer from 3 to 500, and R is H or an acyl group, is described. The compound can be manufactured by (a) reacting chitosan with an acylating agent sufficient to partially N-acylate the chitosan, yielding a modified chitin/chitosan mixed polymer; and (b) reacting the modified chitin/chitosan mixed polymer with a deaminating agent to cleave the mixed polymer at the unacylated chitosan moieties. The compound can be used to immunize against fungal infection. Antibodies specific to the compound, and the use of such antibodies to protect against fungal infection are also described.