The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery of galectin 1 (Gal1) epitopes against which anti-Gal1 agents can neutralize Gal1 function, as well as anti-Gal1 agents and methods useful for neutralizing Gal1 function.

It is disclosed herein that (a) an anti-tumor DNA vaccine delivered using a MIP DNA vector is a less effective tumor treatment than the corresponding anti-tumor DNA vaccine delivered using a conventional pDNA vector, despite the MIP DNA vector eliciting a higher frequency of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells; and (b) tumor infiltrating CD8+ T cells in animals immunized with the MIP DNA vector express higher levels of the immune checkpoint protein LAG-3 than animals immunized with a conventional pDNA vector, while the expression levels of other immune checkpoint proteins was the same for both groups. Based on these findings, improved methods and compositions for administering DNA vaccines are disclosed. Specifically, DNA vaccines delivered with MIP DNA are administered along with a LAG-3 pathway blocking agent, resulting in a more effective vaccine-induced cellular immune response.

The invention is in the field of methods and preparations for medical treatments, in particular the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The invention provides such methods wherein antibodies or fragments thereof that react with selected citrullinated epitopes are used in the treatment of IPF. Antibodies against citrullinated epitopes situated at the amino terminus of histone polypeptides H2A and H4 were found to be particularly useful. The invention therefore relates to an antibody specifically reactive with a citrullinated epitope on the N-terminus of deiminated histone H2A or H4 for use in the prevention or treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The present invention relates to a binding molecule which is at least bispecific comprising a first and a second binding domain, wherein the first binding domain is capable of binding to epitope cluster 3 of BCMA, and the second binding domain is capable of binding to the T cell CD3 receptor complex. Moreover, the invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding the binding molecule, a vector comprising said nucleic acid sequence and a host cell transformed or transfected with said vector. Furthermore, the invention provides a process for the production of the binding molecule of the invention, a medical use of said binding molecule and a kit comprising said binding molecule.

The present disclosure provides novel macrocyclic peptides which inhibit the PD-1/PD-L1 and PD-L1/CD80 protein/protein interaction, and thus are useful for the amelioration of various diseases, including cancer and infectious diseases.

The present invention relates to virus-like particles of plant virus Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV), and in particular to modified VLPs of CMV comprising Th cell epitopes, in particular universal Th cell epitopes. Furthermore, these modified VLPs serve as, preferably, vaccine platform, for generating immune responses, in particular antibody responses, against antigens linked to said modified VLPs. The presence of the Th cell epitopes, in particular universal Th cell epitopes, led to a further increase in the generated immune response.

Provided are methods and agents for depleting senescent cells endogenous to a subject, involving administering to the subject a binding agent that is selectively toxic to senescent cells in an amount effective to reduce the number of such cells, wherein the binding agent binds selectively to a senescent cell surface protein having a misfolded conformation, relative to said protein in a native conformation.

Glycotargeting therapeutics are useful in the treatment of transplant rejection, autoimmune disease, food allergy, and immune response against a therapeutic agent.

Disclosed herein are antibodies that specifically bind human erythroferrone and assay methods for detecting and/or measuring human erythroferrone, analogs of human erythroferrone, and fragments thereof. Specifically, the methods comprising using an antibody as a capture reagent and an antibody as a detection reagent for detecting or measuring a detectable label of the at least one detection reagent bound to the erythroferrone polypeptide that is bound to the capture reagent. Further disclosed are the sequences of antibodies.

The invention relates to methods of protecting against chronic stress in a subject and treating stress sensitive disorders in a subject by antagonizing ghrelin or ghrelin receptor.