Compositions and methods for inducing a protective immune response against Coxiella burnetii, to reduce a subject's risk of developing Q fever.

The present invention relates to a carrier protein with site-directed mutation and use thereof in preparation of a vaccine, wherein the carrier protein is selected from fusion proteins formed by one, two or more of diphtheria toxoid, a non-toxic mutant of diphtheria toxin, a bacterial outer membrane protein and a bacterially expressed protein, wherein an amino acid at at least one site on the carrier protein is mutated into an unnatural amino acid, and the unnatural amino acid contains an azido or alkynyl terminal group. In a mutual reaction process of the carrier protein with site-directed mutation of the present invention and a polysaccharide antigen, a covalent bond is formed, and meanwhile a formed conjugate is in a bead-string state, so that the carrier protein and the polysaccharide antigen can be effectively prevented from being excessively crosslinked. Further, particle size distribution of the conjugate is significantly uniform and controllable, which provides an effective means for improving quality of a polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine.

Disclosed are immunogenic compositions and methods for their use in the formulation and administration of therapeutic and prophylactic pharmaceutical agents. In particular, the invention provides immunogenic compositions and methods for preventing, treating, and/or ameliorating the symptoms of one or more microbial infections, including, for example, influenza.

Anti-peptide antibodies (APAs) are extremely important tools for biomedical research. Many important techniques, such as immunoblots, ELISA immunoassays, immunocytochemistry, and protein microarrays are intrinsically linked to APA function and completely dependent on APA quality. Unfortunately, not all commercially-available APAs have good antigen binding characteristics; as a result, researchers are often unable to perform high quality protein analysis experiments. This disclosure describes a new method for the scalable production of polyclonal APAs using recombinant antigens. These recombinant peptide antigens have several advantages over traditional peptide antigens which improve the ease and speed of antibody production. The recombinant antigens can be scalably produced and purified much faster than traditional synthetic peptide-conjugates. These recombinant antigen-carriers are designed to specifically aggregate in vivo after administration into the host; this aggregation greatly enhances immunogenicity and may eliminate the need for the use of chemical adjuvants which cause physical irritation and discomfort to the host.

This disclosure is directed to methods of preparing dendritic cells or other CD40 bearing antigen-presenting cells and methods of treating cancer by using the dendritic cells or other antigen-presenting cells in combination with anti-chemorepellant agents. This disclosure is further directed to methods of preparing T cells and methods of treating cancer, by activated T cells optionally in combination with anti-chemorepellant agents. The antigen presenting cells of the disclosure are activated by incubation with cancer cells and fusion proteins. The T cells of the disclosures are activated by incubation with activated antigen-presenting cells that were activated by incubation with cancer cells and a fusion protein. In particular, the fusion protein comprises an antigen-binding domain, e.g., an antibody or antibody fragment, and a stress protein domain.

The invention relates to composite antigens comprising an antigen obtained or derived from an antigenic epitope of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal, an antigen obtained or derived from bacterial cell wall material that induces an immune response in a mammal such as LTA, PNG or LPS, and a T cell stimulating antigen such as CRM. Preferably the composite antigen comprises an immunogenic composition or a vaccine that is effective against the pathogen or can generate antibodies that can be collected that are protective against infection by the pathogen. In addition, the invention relates to vaccines comprising composite antigens and to method for treating and preventing an infection.

Provided are polypeptides and compositions comprising novel HSP-binding peptides. Such polypeptides and compositions are particularly useful as immunotherapeutics (e.g., cancer vaccines). Also provided are methods of inducing a cellular immune response using such polypeptides and compositions, methods of treating a disease using such polypeptides and compositions, kits comprising such polypeptides and compositions, and methods of making such compositions.

Provided herein are chimeric polypeptides that may be used, e.g., for the diagnosis of or vaccination against Ehrlichia chaffeensis and/or Ehrlichia canis.

This disclosure is directed to methods of preparing dendritic cells or other CD40 bearing antigen-presenting cells and methods of treating cancer by using the dendritic cells or other antigen-presenting cells in combination with anti-chemorepellant agents. This disclosure is further directed to methods of preparing T cells and methods of treating cancer, by activated T cells optionally in combination with anti-chemorepellant agents. The antigen presenting cells of the disclosure are activated by incubation with cancer cells and fusion proteins. The T cells of the disclosures are activated by incubation with activated antigen-presenting cells that were activated by incubation with cancer cells and a fusion protein. In particular, the fusion protein comprises an antigen-binding domain, e.g., an antibody or antibody fragment, and a stress protein domain.

Provided are novel antigenic polypeptides comprising tumor-associated peptides, and compositions comprising the same. Such antigenic polypeptides and compositions are particularly useful as immunotherapeutics (e.g., cancer vaccines). Also provided are methods of inducing a cellular immune response using the polypeptides and compositions, methods of treating a disease using the polypeptides and compositions, kits comprising the polypeptides and compositions, methods of making the compositions, and antibodies and T cell receptors that specifically bind to the polypeptides.