Provided here are certain recombinant HIV compositions and animal models to evaluate prophylactic and therapeutic antiviral compositions.

The present invention relates to a vector for expressing an NC protein of HIV and a method for producing an NC protein using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vector for expressing an NC protein of HIV, in which an intron sequence and an mRNA stability element in the downstream of NC gene are sequentially linked, and a method for producing an NC protein using the same. The vector for expressing an NC protein of HIV of the present invention, in which an intron sequence and an mRNA stability element in the downstream of NC gene are sequentially linked, can express a wild type NC protein in animal cells, and has an effect of improving the expression efficiency, as compared to a known art.

The present invention provides HIV-derived lentivectors which are safe, highly efficient, and very potent for expressing transgenes for human gene therapy, especially, in human hematopoietic progenitor cells as well as in all other blood cell derivatives. The lentiviral vectors comprise a self-inactivating configuration for biosafety and promoters such as the EF1α promoter as one example. Additional promoters are also described. The vectors can also comprise additional transcription enhancing elements such as the wood chuck hepatitis virus post-transcriptional regulatory element. These vectors therefore provide useful tools for genetic treatments such as inherited and acquired lympho-hematological disorders, gene-therapies for cancers especially the hematological cancers, as well as for the study of hematopoiesis via lentivector-mediated modification of human HSCs.

The subject invention pertains to materials and methods for detecting, preventing and treating retroviral infections in humans and other animals susceptible to infection by retrovirus. It has been discovered that FIV can be transmitted from cats to humans and that the FIV can infect human cells in vivo and that antibodies generated by the infected person cross-react with HIV antigens. Thus, the methods and compositions of the subject invention can be used to detect, prevent and treat FIV infection in humans and other non-feline animals that are susceptible to FIV infection. The methods and compositions of the invention can also be used to prevent and treat infection by HIV in humans.

Described herein are compositions and methods for treating a subject having or at risk of developing a neurocognitive disorder, such as Alzheimer's disease or Nasu-Hakola disease. For example, using the compositions and methods of the disclosure, a subject having or at risk of developing a neurocognitive disorder may be administered one or more cells that contain a transgene encoding triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells two (TREM2), such as a population of CD34+ hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells that express TREM2, thereby treating or preventing the disorder.

Provided are HIV-1 fusion polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding such fusion polypeptides, vectors expressing such fusion polypeptides for use in eliciting an immune response against HIV-1; pharmaceutical and immunogenic compositions and kits comprising such fusion polypeptides, polynucleotides or vectors, and methods of use in treating and/or preventing HIV-1. Further provided are methods for design of antiviral vaccines, including vaccines to elicit an immune response against HIV-1.

The subject invention pertains to materials and methods for detecting, preventing and treating retroviral infections in humans and other animals susceptible to infection by retrovirus. It has been discovered that FIV can be transmitted from cats to humans and that the FIV can infect human cells in vivo and that antibodies generated by the infected person cross-react with HIV antigens. Thus, the methods and compositions of the subject invention can be used to detect, prevent and treat FIV infection in humans and other non-feline animals that are susceptible to FIV infection. The methods and compositions of the invention can also be used to prevent and treat infection by HIV in humans.

The present invention is directed to recombinant lentiviral particles that array the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein on their surface (“SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Lentiviral Particles”), and that optionally comprise an additional copy of a polynucleotide encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein in their viral genome, and to methods for the production of such lentiviral particles. The invention particularly pertains to such SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Lentiviral Particles that have been engineered to be incapable of mediating the integration of their lentiviral genome into the chromosomes of infected cells and/or to be incapable of mediating the reverse transcription of their lentiviral genome. The present invention is also directed to “SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Lentiviral Vaccine” pharmaceutical compositions that comprise such SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Lentiviral Particles. The present invention is additionally directed to the use of such SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Lentiviral Vaccine pharmaceutical compositions for providing immunity to COVID-19 infection to humans and other mammals, either directly or as an inactivated form.

Provided here are certain recombinant HIV compositions and animal models to evaluate prophylactic and therapeutic antiviral compositions.

A method for detecting HIV infection in a mammal is disclosed. The method contains the steps of isolating exosomes from a urine sample of a mammal and detecting the presence of HIV-specific biomarker in said isolated exosomes. A method for diagnosing a mammal with an HIV-associated disease, in particular, HIV-associated nephropathy is also disclosed.