Provided herein are methods and compositions related to a method of stimulating the immune system in a subject in need thereof by administering an agent that increases the level or activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) and/or aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr).

The invention relates to the field of prophylaxis and therapy of cancer. Provided is a Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) or peptide fragments hereof that are capable of eliciting anti-cancer immune responses. Specifically, the invention relates to the use of IDO or peptides derived herefrom or IDO specific T-cells for treatment of cancer. The invention thus relates to an anti-cancer vaccine which optionally may be used in combination with other immunotherapies and to IDO specific T-cells adoptively transferred or induced in vivo by vaccination as a treatment of cancer. The invention also provides that the medicaments herein provided may be used in combination with cancer chemotherapy treatment. The invention further provides the prophylaxis and therapy of infections by the same means as described above. The use of IDO and immunogenic peptide fragments hereof in cancer and infection treatment, diagnosis and prognosis is also provided.

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods to increase the expression of PD-L1 and/or IDO-1 in a population of cells, the modulated cells expressing increased PD-L1 and/or IDO-1, and methods related to the immunosuppressive effects obtained by cells expressing increased PD-L1 and/or IDO-1.

The invention provides compositions and methods for suppressing autoimmune components of neurodegenerative diseases and thereby providing therapeutic effects to patients suffering from such diseases, Compositions and methods include immunosuppressive moieties such as regulatory T cells (Tregs) and proteins expressed by Tregs coupled to a chimeric antigen receptor or protein that specifically binds one or more glial cell markers. Therapeutically effective doses of said compounds for treating neurodegenerative diseases including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), multiple sclerosis, and prion diseases are disclosed.

Blockade of immune checkpoints such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death-1 (PD-1) shows promise in patients with cancer. Inhibitory antibodies directed at these receptors have been shown to break immune tolerance and promote anti-tumor immunity. These agents work particularly well in patients with a certain category of tumor. Such tumors may be particularly susceptible to treatment because of the multitude of neoantigens which they produce.

Provided herein are targeted effector fusion proteins, complexes thereof, and uses thereof. The targeted effector fusion proteins can include an effector protein that can be linked to a targeting moiety. Monomer targeted effector fusion proteins can form homogeneous or heterogeneous complexes. The targeted effector fusion proteins and complexes thereof can be formulated as pharmaceutical formulations. The targeted effector fusion proteins, complexes thereof, and formulations thereof can be administered to a subject in need thereof.

Blockade of immune checkpoints such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death-1 (PD-1) shows promise in patients with cancer. Inhibitory antibodies directed at these receptors have been shown to break immune tolerance and promote anti-tumor immunity. These agents work particularly well in patients with a certain category of tumor. Such tumors may be particularly susceptible to treatment because of the multitude of neoantigens which they produce.

Blockade of immune checkpoints such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death-1 (PD-1) shows promise in patients with cancer. Inhibitory antibodies directed at these receptors have been shown to break immune tolerance and promote anti-tumor immunity. These agents work particularly well in patients with a certain category of tumor. Such tumors may be particularly susceptible to treatment because of the multitude of neoantigens which they produce.

The present invention relates to the field of prophylaxis and therapy of cancer. In particular there is provided a protein Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) or peptide fragments here of that are capable of eliciting anti-cancer immune responses. Specifically, the invention relates to the use of IDO or peptides derived here from or IDO specific T-cells for treatment of cancer. The invention thus relates to an anti-cancer vaccine which optionally may be used in combination with other immunotherapies and to IDO specific T-cells adoptively transferred or induced in vivo by vaccination as a treatment of cancer. It is an aspect of the invention that the medicaments herein provided may be used in combination with cancer chemotherapy treatment. A further aspect relates to the prophylaxis and therapy of infections by the same means as described above. The use of IDO and immunogenic peptide fragments hereof in cancer and infection treatment, diagnosis and prognosis is also provided.

Provided herein are recombinant polynucleotides including a first nucleic acid sequence encoding an antigen, and a second nucleic acid sequence encoding an enzyme of an amino acid catabolic pathway. The provided recombinant polynucleotides are particularly useful for inducing long-lived immune responses having improved memory characteristics. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, viral particles, and host cells including the disclosed recombinant polynucleotides, and methods for using the disclosed materials.