Disclosed are compositions comprising an expressible nucleic acid sequence comprising a first nucleic acid sequence comprising a leader sequence or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and a second nucleic acid sequence comprising a sequence that encodes a self-assembling polypeptide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In some embodiments, the expressible nucleic acid sequence further comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one viral antigen or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In some embodiments, the expressible nucleic acid sequence further comprises at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a linker. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compositions and methods of using the disclosed compositions.

Embodiments of immunogens based on the outer domain of HIV-1 gp120 and methods of their use and production are disclosed. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the immunogens are also provided. In several embodiments, the immunogens can be used to prime an immune response to gp120 in a subject, for example, to treat or prevent an HIV-1 infection in the subject.

The present invention relates to engineered outer domain (eOD) immunogens of HIV gp120 and mutants thereof and methods of making and using the same. The present invention also includes fusions of eOD to various protein multimers to enhance immunogenicity. The mutant eODs bind to neutralizing antibody precursors. The mutant eODs can activate germline precursors on the pathway to eliciting a broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) response. The invention also relates to immunized knock-in mice expressing germline-reverted heavy chains. Induced antibodies showed characteristics of bnAbs and mutations that favored binding to near-native HIV-1 gp120 constructs. In contrast, native-like immunogens failed to activate precursors. The invention also relates to rational epitope design that can prime rare B cell precursors for affinity maturation to desired targets.

Embodiments of immunogens based on the outer domain of HIV-1 gp120 and methods of their use and production are disclosed. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the immunogens are also provided. In several embodiments, the immunogens can be used to prime an immune response to gp120 in a subject, for example, to treat or prevent an HIV-1 infection in the subject.

Embodiments of immunogenic conjugates including the HIV-1 Env fusion peptide and methods of their use and production are disclosed. In several embodiments, the immunogenic conjugates can be used to generate an immune response to HIV-1 Env in a subject, for example, to treat or prevent an HIV-1 infection in the subject.

The present invention to the identification of a novel isolated bacterial strain, the Limosilactobacillus reuteri strain which is characterized by a naturally occurring overproduction of riboflavin (vitamin B2) compared to other known strains of lactobacilli. Said strain of the Limosilactobacillus species is deposited under accession number LMG P-32020. In a further aspect, also the uses of said L. reuteri strain are disclosed herein. In particular, the use of said strain in food and feed industry, human and veterinary health, large-scale vitamin production, cosmetics and consumer care products is disclosed.

A fusion protein comprises a nanocage monomer; and an antibody or fragment thereof linked to the nanocage monomer, the antibody or fragment thereof comprising a first member of a binding pair; wherein a plurality of the fusion proteins self-assemble to form a nanocage in which a plurality of the antibodies or fragments thereof decorate the exterior surface of the nanocage, whereby the first member of the binding pair is exposed for interacting with a second member of a binding pair.

Embodiments of immunogens based on the outer domain of HIV-1 gp120 and methods of their use and production are disclosed. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the immunogens are also provided. In several embodiments, the immunogens can be used to prime an immune response to gp120 in a subject, for example, to treat or prevent an HIV-1 infection in the subject.

An antigen-specific T cell binding agent is provided, where a multivalent spheromer system utilizes a scaffold of a self-assembling polypeptide nanoparticle, for example using selfassembling ferritin polypeptides. The system is compatible with current pMHC reagents, including both MHC-I and MHC-II molecules, and streptavidin reagents that allow ease-of-use. The spheromer assembly pipeline provides a consistent reagent across multiple batches of synthesis with ease of production. The defined geometry of the scaffold allows precise site-directed conjugation of pMHC, leading to a homogenous reagent. The spheromer binds cognate TCRs with a significantly higher avidity than a tetrameric reagent.

Provided herein are compositions comprising novel MHC class II T cell epitopes and method using thereof. In some embodiments, a composition described herein comprises an immunogenic polypeptide comprising an MHC class II T cell epitope and a target antigen. In some embodiments, the target antigen is a viral, bacterial, parasite or tumor specific antigen. In some embodiments, the target antigen comprises a virus, bacteria, parasite or tumor specific polypeptide. In some embodiments, the composition comprises a fusion polypeptide comprising the immunogenic polypeptide and the target polypeptide. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the fusion polypeptide, and methods of administering a composition comprising the polynucleotide to a subject to elicit an immune response. In some embodiments, the polynucleotide is an RNA comprising modified ribonucleotides.