Systems and methods to genetically modify B cells to express selected antibodies are described. The systems and methods can be used to: obviate the need for classical vaccinations; provide protection against infectious agents for which no vaccinations are currently available; provide protection against infectious agents when patients are otherwise immune-suppressed; and/or provide a benefit provided by a therapeutic antibody, such as in the treatment of autoimmune disorders.

A TCR-like antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, the antibody binding to and having specific and improved affinity to an MHC-I molecule, particularly a CMV pp65 peptide complex (CMVP495-503/HLA-A*02:01) presented by HLA-A*02 are disclosed. A nucleic acid for coding the TCR-like antibody or the antigen-binding fragment thereof; an expression vector containing the nucleic acid; a cell transformed to the expression vector; a method for producing same; a composition containing a T cell for expressing the antibody or the antigen-binding fragment thereof as a chimeric antigen receptor; uses of the composition in preventing or treating cancer or an infectious disease; uses of the composition in diagnosis; methods for preventing and/or treating cancer or infectious diseases; and methods for diagnosing are disclosed.

Methods for treating or reducing the risk of a cytomegalovirus infection in a subject that include administering one or more of an inhibitor of Deleted in Malignant Brain Tumors 1 (DMBT1), an inhibitor of OR14I1, or an inhibitor of adenylyl cyclases.

Disclosed are a monoclonal antibody that is specific to human cytomegalovirus and binds to human cytomegalovirus with a high affinity, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, and a method for preparing the antibody. The antibody is also highly effective in neutralizing infections. Also disclosed are an epitope to which the antibody binds, and the use of the antibody in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of an infected individual.

Methods for treating or reducing the risk of a cytomegalovirus infection in a subject that include administering one or more of an inhibitor of Deleted in Malignant Brain Tumors 1 (DMBT1), an inhibitor of OR14I1, or an inhibitor of adenylyl cyclases.

The present invention relates to relates to T cell epitope peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunother-apeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of viral infection. The present invention specifically relates to virus-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other virus-associated peptides that can serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-viral immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

Provided herein are compositions comprising recombinant mammalian cells that express recombinant T cell rectors with specificity against EBV or CMV peptide:MHC antigens. Also provided are therapeutic methods of using the recombinant mammalian cells as cell therapies against viral infections.

The invention relates to the use of a single heavy chain variable domain antibody against human cytomegalovirus protein US28, which antibody binds to the extracellular region including, for example, the N-terminal extracellular region and/or the extracellular loops of US28, for isolation of cells that are infected with cytomegalovirus and/or for ex vivo reactivation of cytomegalovirus in latently infected cells. The invention further relates to the anti-US28 antibody for use in a method of reactivating cytomegalovirus in infected cells, or in a method of eliminating infected cells. The invention further relates to a tissue, organ, or cells such as bone marrow stem cells, from which cells that were infected with CMV have been removed with the use of the anti-US28 antibody.

The present invention relates to: a composition for delivering a viral antigen-derived CD8.sup.+ T cell antigen epitope or a peptide comprising same to the cytoplasm of a target cell to thereby present the epitope or peptide to major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-1), which is an antigen-presenting molecule on the cell surface; a composition comprising same; and a use thereof.

This disclosure provides modified cytomegalovirus (CMV) gL proteins and complexes comprising gL proteins. The modified gL proteins remain intact and are able to form complexes with other CMV proteins.