A recombinant BHV-1 oncolytic virus is provided comprising a BHV-1 mutant with enhanced cancer selectivity and/or enhance immunostimulatory activity as compared to wildtype BHV-1. The BHV-1 mutant is genetically modified to express one or more immunomodulatory molecules that induce an anti-tumor immune response. A method of generating the recombinant BHV-1 oncolytic virus is also provided.

The present invention relates to a vaccine composition for prevention or treatment of chicken pox or Herpes zoster, the vaccine composition comprising a surface protein (gE) of Varicella zoster Virus and especially an aluminum salt as an adjuvant. The vaccine composition according to the present invention employs a protein antigen, thus showing greater outstanding stability than a live vaccine and has an optimized mixture ratio of adjuvants to elicit effective antibody induction, thereby being useful as a vaccine for preventing or treating Varicella zoster Virus-caused chicken pox or Herpes zoster.

Provided are antigenic compositions and uses thereof that include at least two human herpesvirus (HHV) polypeptides involved in mediating HHV binding, fusion, and entry into host cells, such as gp350, gH, gL, and gB, or nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides. The two HHV polypeptides comprise any combination of: a gB polypeptide; a gp350 polypeptide; a gL polypeptide; and a gH polypeptide, and optionally any one or more of the following polypeptides: gp42, gM, gN, gl, gC, gE, gD, ORF68, BMRF-2, BDLF2, UL128, UL130, UL131A, and gpK8.1. Also disclosed are methods of inducing an immune response or treating or preventing an HHV infection in a subject by administering to the subject at least two of the HHV polypeptides or nucleic acid(s) encoding the same. Methods of passively transferring immunity using high-titer anti-HHV antibodies or immune cells are also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to immunogenic compositions comprising a varicella zoster vims (VZV) glycoprotein E antigen and a toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist, such as an oligonucleotide comprising an unmethylated cytidine-phospho-guanosine (CpG) motif. The immunogenic compositions are suitable for stimulating an immune response against VZV in an individual in need thereof.

Described herein are dry powder compositions of liposomes, liposomal adjuvant or liposomal adjuvanted vaccines. Formulations containing a cryoprotectant can be converted to dry powders using, e.g., thin-film freeze-drying (TFFD). The composition may comprise a liposomal adjuvant, such as AS01.sub.B adjuvant, or also including an antigen, i.e., AS01.sub.B-adjuvanted vaccine compositions.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to nucleic acid vaccines. The vaccines include at least one RNA polynucleotides having an open reading frame encoding at least one varicella zoster virus (VZV) antigen. Methods for preparing and using such vaccines are also described.

An antigen variant and a use thereof are disclosed. The antigen variant is a protein, among surface proteins (gE) of the varicella zoster virus, exhibits a high expression level and high immunogenicity, and thus, when the antigen variant is used as a vaccine composition, the vaccine composition has more excellent safety compared to a live virus vaccine, and the antigen variant exhibits a higher expression level in a host cell compared to other antigens. The antigen variant is useful as a vaccine for preventing or treating chicken pox or herpes zoster caused by the varicella zoster virus.

Provided are methods for reducing the risk of occurrence and/or the severity of transaminitis in a subject that is receiving a gene therapy.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to nucleic acid vaccines. The vaccines include at least one RNA polynucleotides having an open reading frame encoding at least one varicella zoster virus (VZV) antigen. Methods for preparing and using such vaccines are also described.

This invention generally relates to cationic oil-in-water emulsions that contain high concentrations of cationic lipids and have a defined oil:lipid ratio. The cationic lipid can interact with the negatively charged molecule thereby anchoring the molecule to the emulsion particles. The cationic emulsions described herein are useful for delivering negatively charged molecules, such as nucleic acid molecules to cells, and for formulating nucleic acid-based vaccines.