Provided herein are vaccine composition comprising an antigen conjugated to a capsid, wherein the capsid comprises wild type or native sequence. Provided herein are also vaccine composition comprising an antigen conjugated to a capsid, wherein said capsid comprises at least one mutation, such as a non-natural mutation. Such compositions are useful in the treatment and prevention of pathogenic infections, inflammatory diseases, and neurodegenerative disease, and cancer, among others.

A vaccine construct comprising an antigenic PCSK9 peptide and an immunogenic carrier, and methods of using the same that are effective to lower blood cholesterol levels in a mammal and treat dyslipidemias and related disease states in a mammal without the frequency of administration required by passive immunity strategies.

An immunogen includes an antigenic EGFRvIII peptide linked to a Qβ bacteriophage virus-like particle (VLP) carrier. The antigenic EGFRvIII peptide has at least 53%, at least 61%, at least 69%, at least 76%, at least 84%, or at least 92% sequence similarity amino acid similarity to LEEKKGNYVVTDH (SEQ ID NO:1).

The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, RNA molecules (e.g., RNA hairpin agonists) that bind to and agonize RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), and to use of the molecules, including RLR agonists packaged in vims like particles (VLPs), in methods for treating, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of, a disorder (e.g., cancer).

An immunogen useful for treating malaria generally includes an immunogenic carrier and an antigenic malaria circumsporozoite protein (CSP) peptide that includes the peptide NANPNVDPNANPNVD (SEQ ID NO:2) linked to the immunogenic carrier. The immunogen may be administered to a subject having or at risk of having malaria. Alternatively, the immunogen may be administered to an individual having or at risk of having Plasmodium falciparum blood stage parasitemia. In some cases, the immunogen can be administered in combination with another therapeutic agent for treating malaria of Plasmodium falciparum blood stage parasitemia.

An immunogen generally includes a virus-like particle and an antigen linked to the virus-like particle. The antigen includes an antigenic portion of a polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide inhibits lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity by binding to LPL. In some embodiments, the polypeptide is at least a portion of angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3). In other embodiments, the polypeptide is at least a portion of angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4). In other embodiments, the polypeptide at least a portion of angiopoietin-like 8 (ANGPTL8). In some embodiments, the virus-like particle is a Qbeta immunogenic carrier. In some of these embodiments, the antigen is linked to the virus-like particle through a Gly-Gly-Gly-Cys linker at the C-terminal of the antigen.

The invention is directed to virus-like particles (VLPs) of an RNA bacteriophage that (a) comprises a coat polypeptide of said phage modified by insertion of a heterologous peptide that is displayed on said VLP and (b) encapsidates said bacteriophage mRNA as well as populations of these VLPs, and their uses. The invention is further directed to VLPs that encapsidate heterologous substances, as well as populations of these VLPs and their uses.

Novel processes and compositions are described which use viral capsid proteins resistant to hydrolases to prepare virus-like particles to enclose and subsequently isolate and purify target cargo molecules of interest including nucleic acids such as siRNAs and shRNAs, miRNAs, messenger RNAs, small peptides and bioactive molecules.

Methods and materials for improved delivery of dsRNA are presented. In particular, methods for controlling an insect pest by stably delivering large quantities of dsRNA to the insect pest are provided. Compositions comprising a bacterium containing a large quantity of dsRNA targeting an insect gene in which the dsRNA exhibits increased stability and activity are also provided.

This disclosure provides HIV immunogens and use thereof for generating an immune response in a subject. Also disclosed is a method of isolating anti-HIV antibodies and use thereof. This disclosure further provides a method for treating or preventing a human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) infection in a subject using the disclosed HIV immunogens and/or antibodies.