The present invention includes compositions and methods for the expression, secretion and use of novel compositions for use as, e.g., vaccines and antigen delivery vectors, to delivery antigens to antigen presenting cells. In one embodiment, the vector is an anti-CD40 antibody, or fragments thereof, and one or more antigenic peptides linked to the anti-CD40 antibody or fragments thereof, including humanized antibodies.

Modified hepatitis C virus polypeptides are described. The polypeptides include the HCV NS4a domain and modified NS3 domain. The polypeptides retain conformational epitopes. HCV immunoassays including the polypeptides are also described.

The disclosure provides compositions and methods that make use of a target protein that is capable of binding to a small molecule in order to form a complex, and a binding member that specifically binds to the complex, wherein the target protein is derived from a non-human protein and the small molecule is an inhibitor of the non-human protein. The non-human protein may be derived from a viral, bacterial, fungal or protozoal protein. These compositions and methods permit the controlled interaction of polypeptides that are individually fused to the target protein and binding member, respectively, and can be used to control the activity of dimerization-inducible proteins such as split transcription factors and split chimeric antigen receptors through the addition of the small molecule. The disclosure provides expression vectors, binding members, dimerization-inducible proteins, nucleic acids, cells, viral particles, kits, systems and methods that involve these components.

The present invention provides novel engineered HCV E2 polypeptide immunogens and related vaccine compositions that display the engineered E2 polypeptides. The invention also provides methods of using such immunogens and vaccine compositions in various therapeutic applications, e.g., for preventing or treating HCV infections.

The technology described herein is directed to polypeptide systems using drug-controlled peptide docking domains and cognate docking domain-binding peptides and their use to control cellular signaling, activity, and/or gene expression.

Methods for the rapid detection of the presence or absence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in a biological or non-biological sample are described. The methods can include performing an amplifying step, a hybridizing step, and a detecting step. Furthermore, primers and probes targeting HCV and kits are provided that are designed for the detection of HCV.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a variable domain deleted E2 polypeptide of HCV (e.g., E2Delta123). The composition is suitable for use, for use, or when used, in the treatment or prevention of HCV infection. The nucleic acid molecule may be DNA or RNA or a modified or synthetic form, or contained within a plasmid, a viral or non-viral vector for vaccination, a polynucleotide expression cassette, or a cell for vector propagation. Methods of administration as prime and boost vaccinations are also provided.

The present invention can induce stronger cellular immunity to hepatitis C and provide a treatment means and a prevention means that are effective in completely eliminating the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Provided is a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of hepatitis C, said composition comprising a recombinant vaccinia virus (a) and a recombinant vector (b) and characterized in that after one of the recombinant vaccinia virus (a) and the recombinant vector (b) is administered for initial immunity, the other is administered for additional immunity. The recombinant vaccinia virus (a) contains an expression promoter and all or a portion of the cDNA of the HCV genome. The recombinant vector (b) contains an expression promoter and all or a portion of the cDNA of the HCV (where the cDNA contained in the recombinant vector (b) has a different base sequence than that included in the recombinant vaccinia virus (a)).

Disclosed are modified HCV E2 glycoproteins. Disclosed are modified HCV E2 glycoproteins comprising an antigenic domain D, wherein the modified HCV E2 glycoproteins comprise one or more amino acid alterations in the antigenic domain D, wherein at least one amino acid alteration is a proline substitution. In some aspects, the proline substitution occurs at position 445 based on the amino acid numbering of HCV strain H77. Disclosed are modified HCV E2 glycoproteins comprising an antigenic domain A, wherein the antigenic domain A comprises an N-glycan sequon substitution. In some aspects, the N-glycan sequon substitution results in an Asn-Xaa-Ser or Asn-Xaa-Thr substitution, wherein Xaa is any amino acid except proline. Also disclosed are methods of using the disclosed modified HCV E2 glycoproteins, such as methods of inducing an immune response in a subject, methods of treating a subject, and methods of increasing antigenicity of HCV E2 glycoprotein.

The present application relates to novel administration regimens for poxviral vectors comprising nucleic acid constructs encoding antigenic proteins and invariant chains. In particular the use of said poxviral vectors for priming or for boosting an immune response is disclosed.