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).

Provided is a method for activating CD4+ T cells using a polymer-based antigen complex. The method comprises the steps of bringing the polymer-based antigen complex into contact with B cells so that B cells process and present the antigen complex, and of bringing the B cells into contact with CD4+ T cells to activate CD4+ T cells. Also provided are a method for promoting the differentiation of CD4+ T cells into Tfh cells and Thl cells using the antigen complex, and a method for treating diseases by activating CD4+ T cells and/or promoting the differentiation of CD4+ T cells.

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).

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.

Provided herein are immunogenic compositions comprising an immunogen with at least one complement component 5 (C5) epitope, wherein the immunogen is capable of generating autologous anti-C5 antibodies in a subject. In certain embodiments, such compositions are employed for treating and preventing complement component 5 (C5) related diseases. In certain embodiments, the immunogenic compositions comprise virus like particles and/or PADRE sequences, in addition to the C5 epitope(s).

The present invention is directed virus-like particles (VLPs) which are useful in immunogenic compositions and vaccines epitopes mediating protection are disclosed. Immunogenic peptides are identified and are displayed on virus-like particles, especially Qbeta, MS2, or AP205 VLPs which provide a potent immunogenic response in a patient or subject and enhanced protection from Ct infection in a patient or subject. Pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines are disclosed as are methods for providing an immunogenic response and/or vaccinating a patient or subject against Chlamydia trachomatis infections.

This disclosure describes, in one aspect, immunogens effective for treating and/or diagnosing tauopathy, and immunotherapeutic compositions and methods involving those immunogens. Generally, the immunogen includes an antigen presentation component and a microtubule-associated tau protein (MAPT) component linked to at least a portion of the antigen presentation component. This disclosure describes, in another aspect, a transgenic mouse. Generally, the transgenic mouse possesses brain cells that have a polynucleotide that encodes human microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT). The polynucleotide further exhibits a deletion of at least a portion of endogenous mouse MAPT. The transgenic mouse also includes a forebrain neuron-specific deletion of a polynucleotide that encodes Myeloid Differentiation Primary Response Gene 88 (MyD88). In a further aspect, this disclosure describes a method of producing the transgenic mouse.