The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding a recombinant human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strain, dense bodies produced by said HCMV strain and preparations of said dense bodies for use in medicine, particularly as a vaccine against HCMV.

The present invention relates to artificial antigen presenting cell (aAPC) scaffolds to provide cells with specific functional stimulation to obtain phenotypic and functional properties ideal to mediate tumor regression or viral clearance. In particular, the scaffolds of the present invention comprise antigens, such as peptide-MHC (pMHC) class I molecules, and specific combinations of cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules to allow effective expansion and functional stimulation of specific T cells.

Compositions and methods are presented that allow for detection and prediction of an immune response in a subject that is selected to receive or that has received a vaccine. In selected embodiments, whole blood is used as starting material to obtain both dendritic cells and T cells, and synthetic or recombinant polypeptide(s) are used that include an antigen of the vaccine. The dendritic cells are then exposed to the synthetic or recombinant polypeptide(s), and thusly exposed dendritic cells are combined with the T cells to generate antigen reactive T cells. For detection or quantification, the antigen reactive T cells are expanded in vitro prior to ELISPOT or FACS analysis. Advantageously, such systems and methods are especially suitable for ascertaining an immune response against cancer antigens following vaccination with an anti-cancer vaccine.

The present disclosure provides in vitro modified cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) that comprise: a) a T-cell receptor (TCR) specific for a preselected antigen in a human; and b) a nucleic acid(s) encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) specific for a cancer-associated antigen. The present disclosure provides methods of producing the modified CTLs. The present disclosure provides of treating cancer, comprising administering the modified CTLs to an individual in need thereof.

The disclosure features immune cell delivery lipid nanoparticle (LNP) compositions that allow for enhanced delivery of agents, e.g., nucleic acids, such as therapeutic and/or prophylactic RNAs, to immune cells, in particular T cells, as well as B cells, dendritic cells and monocytes. The LNPs comprise an effective amount of an immune cell delivery potentiating lipid such that delivery of an agent by an immune cell delivery LNP is enhanced as compared to an LNP lacking the immune cell delivery potentiating agent. Methods of using the immune cell delivery LNPs for delivery of agents, e.g., nucleic acid delivery, for protein expression, for modulating immune cell activity and modulating immune responses are also disclosed.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods useful for treating Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) which comprise virus-like particles (VLPs) comprising murine leukemia virus (MLV) core proteins and the human cytomegalovirus epitopes, gB and pp65, formulated with an adjuvant comprising a saponin and a TLR4 agonist.

Disclosed herein are compositions that include antigen-encoding nucleic acid sequences and/or antigen peptides. Also disclosed are nucleotides, cells, and methods associated with the compositions including their use as vaccines, including vectors and methods for a heterologous prime/boost vaccincation strategy.

Provided herein are genetically modified arenaviral vectors suitable as vaccines for prevention and treatment of cytomegalovirus infections and reactivation. Also provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment of cytomegalovirus infections and reactivation. Specifically, provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions, vaccines, and methods of treating cytomegalovirus infections and reactivation.

The present disclosure provides a Farmington virus formulated to induce an immune response in a mammal against a tumour associated antigen. The Farmington virus may express an antigenic protein that includes an epitope from the tumour associated antigen. The Farmington virus may be formulated in a composition where the virus is separate from an antigenic protein that includes an epitope from the tumour associated antigen. The present disclosure also provides a prime:boost therapy for use in inducing an immune response in a mammal. The boost includes a Farmington virus, or a composition that includes a Farmington virus.

A peptide vaccine complexed so that the peptide vaccine can be delivered specifically to the surface of specific immune cells and a method for delivering a peptide vaccine specifically to the surface of specific immune cells. The peptide vaccine is combined with an IgG binding peptide capable of binding to an IgG that is an agonist against molecules on the surface of specific immune cells such as dendritic cells.