The compositions and methods are described for generating an immune response to a hemorrhagic fever virus such as ebolavirus, Marburgvirus, or arenavirus. The compositions and methods described herein relate to a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector encoding one or more viral antigens for generating a protective immune response to a member of genus Ebolavirus (such as a member of species Zaire ebolavirus), a member of genus Marburgvirus (such as a member of species Marburg marburgvirus), or a member of genus Arenavirus (such as a member of species Lassa virus) in the subject to which the vector is administered. The compositions and methods of the present invention are useful both prophylactically and therapeutically and may be used to prevent and/or treat an infection caused by ebolavirus, Marburgvirus, or arenavirus.

Disclosed herein are methods of forming compounds and exemplary stable compounds in the nature of a conjugated compound at refrigerated or room temperature, which in some embodiments comprises an antigen and virus particle mixed in a conjugation reaction to form a conjugate mixture, such that the conditions and steps of forming these products allow for use of the conjugate mixture as a vaccine, including but not limited to use as a vaccine against various pathogens including for treatment of diseases caused by novel coronaviruses (including SARS-COV 2).

The present invention relates to polynucleotides comprising a sequence of a live, infectious, attenuated Flavivirus wherein a nucleotide sequence encoding at least a part of a arenavirus glycoprotein protein is located at the intergenic region between the E and NS1 gene of said Flavivirus, such that a chimeric virus is expressed, characterised in that the encoded sequence C terminally of the E protein of said Flavivirus and N terminally of the signal peptide of the NS1 protein of said Flavivirus comprises in the following order:—a further signal peptide of a Flavivirus NS1 protein,—an arenavirus Glycoprotein protein lacking the N terminal signal sequence and the GP2 transmembrane domain,—a TM1 and TM2 domain of a flaviviral E protein.

The present application relates to arenavirus particles containing a genome engineered such that an arenaviral open reading frame (“ORF”) is sequestered into two or more functional fragments and these fragments are expressed from two or more viral mRNA transcripts. The arenavirus particles described herein are genetically stable and provide high-level transgene expression. In certain embodiments, the arenavirus particles are tri-segmented. In particular, described herein is a nucleotide sequence comprising one or more ORFs comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a functional fragment of arenavirus GP, NP, L or Z. Also described herein is an arenavirus particle containing a genome engineered such that an arenaviral ORF is sequestered into two or more functional fragments and these fragments are expressed from two or more viral mRNA transcripts. Also described herein is an arenavirus genomic or antigenomic segment engineered such that the transcription thereof results in one or more mRNA transcripts comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a functional fragment of arenavirus GP, NP, L or Z. The arenavirus particles described herein may be suitable for vaccines and/or treatment of diseases and/or for the use in immunotherapies.

Provided are HBV immunogenic polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, vectors expressing such immunogenic polypeptides for use in eliciting an immune response against HBV; pharmaceutical and immunogenic compositions and kits comprising such polypeptides, polynucleotides or vectors, and methods of use in treating and/or preventing HBV.

Disclosed herein are methods, compositions, and kits useful to enhance an immune response against an antigen and to improve vaccine efficacy. The disclosed methods, compositions, and kits may be utilized to improve vaccine immunogenicity and enhance immune protection following subsequent antigen challenges. In some embodiments, the methods include co-administering a blocker of the IFN-I pathway with an antigen that is used as part of a vaccine, such as a viral vaccine.

Disclosed herein are methods and exemplary compositions associated with virus purification, antigen purification, and conjugation of virus and proteins (e.g., antigen) to form vaccines for delivery of immunological and other therapeutic agents, exemplary aspects of which may include harvesting viral and antigenic substances from source organisms; a purification platform comprising chemical separation and size-difference separation for the removal of contaminants, debris and impurities from the viral and protein (e.g. antigenic, including influenza hemagglutinin antigens) substances, as well as their concentration and collection; and a conjugation platform providing activation of the virus at a pH that increases binding rate and binding propensity between the virus and the protein, wherein embodiments related to the conjugation platform include controlling the ratio of virus to protein.

Provided are HBV immunogenic polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, vectors expressing such immunogenic polypeptides for use in eliciting an immune response against HBV; pharmaceutical and immunogenic compositions and kits comprising such polypeptides, polynucleotides or vectors, and methods of use in treating and/or preventing HBV.

The present invention provides mRNAs usable as vaccines against lassa virus (LASV) infections. Further, the invention relates to (pharmaceutical) compositions and vaccines comprising said mRNAs and their use for treatment or prophylaxis of a lassa virus infection. The present invention further features a kit comprising the mRNAs, (pharmaceutical) compositions or vaccines and a method for treatment or prophylaxis of lassa virus infections using said mRNAs, pharmaceutical) compositions or vaccines.

Provided herein are methods of treating cancer by activating resident memory T cells using one or more antigenic peptides.