The present invention is directed to novel promiscuous and artificial T helper cell epitopes (Th epitopes) designed to provide optimum immunogenicity of a target antigenic site. The target antigenic site can include a B cell epitope, a CTL epitope, a peptide hapten, a non-peptide hapten, or any immunologically reactive analogue thereof. The disclosed Th epitopes, when covalently linked to a target antigenic site in a peptide immunogen construct, elicit a strong B cell antibody response or an effector T cell response to the target antigenic site. The Th epitopes are immunosilent on their own, i.e., little, if any, of the antibodies generated by the peptide immunogen constructs will be directed towards the Th epitope, thus allowing a very focused immune response directed to the targeted antigenic site. The promiscuous artificial Th epitopes provide effective and safe peptide immunogens that do not generate inflammatory, anti-self, cell-mediated immune responses following administration.

Aspects of the present invention relate inter alia to compositions which may have utility as anti-microbials. Such antimicrobial compositions may be for use in promoting wound healing and/or the treatment of microbial infections. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to an antimicrobial composition and/or combinations comprising copper gluconate and zinc gluconate which may be for use in treating and/or preventing infections and/or promoting wound healing. Certain aspects of the present invention further elate to an antimicrobial composition and/or device comprising copper gluconate, zinc gluconate and Lactobacillus plantarum for use in treating infections and/or promoting wound healing. Also encompassed by the present invention are methods of treating microbial and/or fungal infections in a subject, for example infections of the genital tract. Aspects of the present invention include a composition comprising a zinc salt and a copper salt, wherein the zinc salt is zinc gluconate and the copper salt is copper gluconate.

The present application provides a use of hydroxyprogesterone caproate for treating multiple diseases that cause a cytokine storm, such as novel coronavirus pneumonia, various virulent virus infections, side effects after monoclonal antibody treatment, side effects after CAR-T treatment, inflammatory bowel disease, and acute pancreatitis. Moreover, the present application also provides a method for treating the diseases by using a corresponding pharmaceutical composition. Experimental results show that progestin hydroxyprogesterone caproate can effectively inhibit the cytokine storm and is expected to be an effective drug for treating diseases such as novel coronavirus pneumonia.

Disclosed herein are methods and composition producing a viral vaccine with reduced particle size, particularly for use in the production of influenza virus vaccines.

A compound of formula (I)

##STR00001## wherein n is 0 to 4; m is 0 or 1 with the proviso that the sulphur atom and R.sub.3 are in vicinal position (if m=0 then R.sub.3 is in position 2′, and if m=1 then R.sub.3 is on position 1′); R is ethyl or vinyl; R.sub.1 is hydrogen or (C.sub.1-6)alkyl, R.sub.2 is hydrogen or (C.sub.3-6)cycloalkyl, or unsubstituted (C.sub.1-6)alkyl, or (C.sub.1-6)alkyl substituted by one or more of hydroxy; preferably one or two, methoxy, halogen, (C.sub.3-6)cycloalkyl, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a 5 to 7 membered heterocyclic ring containing at least 1 nitrogen atom or 1 nitrogen and 1 additional heteroatom e. g. selected from N or O, or R.sub.1 is hydroxy and R.sub.2 is formyl; R.sub.3 is OH, OR.sub.4, a halogen atom, or R.sub.3 is bound to 2′ and represents —O—(CH.sub.2).sub.p—O— with p is 2 or 3; R.sub.4 is unsubstituted (C.sub.1-6)alkyl or (C.sub.3-6)cycloalkyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, prodrug or metabolite thereof for the specific use in the treatment or prevention of a disease mediated by a virus.

Disclosed herein are new therapeutic methods comprising administering compounds that can stabilize HIF and inhibit HIF prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH). In particular, methods described herein can be useful for treating/preventing a disease or condition in patients in need thereof, such as a patient having a viral infection such as a respiratory and/or pulmonary viral infection (e.g., an infection such as COVID-19 or a coronavirus infection). Methods described herein can also be useful for treating/preventing organ injury (e.g. organ injury that occurs concurrently or as a result of an infection). For example, methods described herein can be useful for treating or preventing acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), cardiovascular injury, injury to the liver, kidney diseases, and/or multi-organ failure.

Compositions of dendrimers conjugated with one or more therapeutic agents that decrease exosome secretion and methods of use thereof for treating, alleviating, and/or preventing one or more symptoms associated with one or more neurological disease or disorders, cancer, inflammatory diseases, bacterial and viral infections, and other disorders have been developed. Preferably, the therapeutic agents are one or more agents that inhibit or reduce activity and/or quantity of neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) such as small molecule inhibitors of nSMase2. Compositions are particularly suited for reducing Aβ plaque formation, reducing tau propagation, improving cognition, or combinations thereof in a subject with psychiatric and neurological disorders. Compositions are also suited for treating, alleviating, and/or preventing one or more symptoms associated with cancer, bacterial and viral infections, and inflammatory diseases. Methods of treating a human subject having one or more of the diseases and disorders are provided.

According to embodiments, at least one polypeptide comprising at least one antiviral single domain antibody and their methods of use in antiviral treatment are provided. More specifically, embodiments provide at least one polypeptide having at least one anti-viral single domain antibody (e.g. anti-Hepatitis B Virus) for targeting a guanine-rich region of the viral DNA, inhibiting transcription of the viral DNA.

Described herein are antiviral peptides, polynucleotides encoding the peptides, and compositions containing the peptides. Furthermore, described herein are methods for using the peptides, polynucleotides, and compositions for treating or inhibiting a viral infection or one or more symptoms of a viral infection.

The present invention relates to the field of caspase inhibition. More specifically, the present invention provides compositions and methods utilizing caspase inhibitors to enhance injury repair and to treat bacterial and viral infections. In a specific embodiment, a method for treating a bacterial infection and skin lesions in a patient comprises the step of administering to the patient an effective amount of a caspase inhibitor.