Argos Therapeutics, Inc.

Coimmune, Inc.

Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Limited

Tamara Monesmith

Lois Dinterman

Irina Tcherepanova

Rebecca Pogue-caley

Melissa Adams

Don Healey

Tamara Tatroe Monesmith

Charles Nicolette

Mark Debenedette

Brad Lackford

Aijing Starr

Rebecca Pogue-Caley

Jason Harris

Donald Healey

Atsushi Hinohara

Rebecca Pogue

This invention provides methods to prepare and use immunostimulatory cells for enhancing an immune response. The invention provides a method for preparing mature dendritic cells (DCs), comprising the sequential steps of: (a) signaling isolated immature dendritic cells (iDCs) with a first signal comprising an interferon gamma receptor (IFN-&#x3b3;R) agonist and/or a tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor (TNF-&#x3b1;R) agonist to produce signaled dendritic cells; and (b) signaling said signaled dendritic cells with a second transient signal comprising an effective amount of a CD40 agonist to produce CCR7mature dendritic cells. Also provided by this invention are enriched populations of dendritic cells prepared by the methods of the invention. Such dendritic cells have enhanced immunostimulatory properties and increased IL-12 secretion and/or decreased IL-10 secretion. CD40 signaling can be initiated by one or more of polypeptide translated from an exogenous polynucleotide encoding CD40L (e.g., mRNA or DNA), an agonistic antibody to CD40 receptor or by CD40 ligand polypeptide. The enriched populations can be further modified by the administration of an immunogen to the DC. The DC will take up and process the immunogen on its cell surface.

Mature dendritic cell compositions and methods for culturing same

The invention relates to improved methods and compositions for the nucleic acid amplification of one or multiple variants (strains) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) present in a sample, and preferably in a sample from a pathogen infected individual. In particular, novel primers, methods and kits for the amplification of one or more species of HIV Rev, Gag and Nef nucleic acids are provided. The amplified HIV nucleic acid can be used to identify and/or quantitate HIV variants present in a sample. Nucleic acids produced by the methods of the invention or the proteins encoded thereby can also be used directly as vaccines or to transfect/load antigen presenting cells. The loaded antigen presenting cells can be used as a vaccine for the treatment or prevention of HIV infection.

Primers and probes for the amplification and detection of HIV GAG, REV and NEF polynucleotides

This in invention relates to methods for the nucleic acid amplification of multiple variants (strains) of any pathogen present in a sample, and preferably in a sample from a pathogen infected individual. In preferred embodiments, the pathogen is a retrovirus, such as HIV. The amplified pathogen nucleic acid can be used to identify the pathogen variants present in a sample, to quantitate the pathogen present in a sample, and as a nucleic acid vaccine, or in the preparation of antigen presenting cell vaccines. Nucleic acids produced by the methods of the invention or the proteins encoded thereby can be used to transfect/load antigen presenting cells. The loaded antigen presenting cells can then be used as a vaccine for the treatment of pathogen infection. In another embodiment, nucleic acids produced by the methods of the invention can be used directly as nucleic acid vaccines without prior loading into antigen presenting cells.

Strain-independent amplification of pathogens and vaccines thereto

Methods are provided for the production of dendritic cells from monocytes that have been incubated at a temperature of 1&#xb0; C.-34&#xb0; C. for a period of approximately 6 to 96 hours from the time they are isolated from a subject. After the incubation period, the monocytes can then be induced to differentiate into dendritic cells. Mature dendritic cells made by the methods of the invention have increased levels of one or more of CD80, CD83, CD86, MHC class I molecules, or MHC class II molecules as compared to mature dendritic cells prepared from monocytes that have not been held at 1&#xb0; C.-34&#xb0; C. for at least 6 hours from the time they were isolated from a subject. Dendritic cells made by the methods of the invention are useful for the preparation of vaccines and for the stimulation of T cells.

Dendritic cell compositions and methods

Primers and probes for the amplification and detection of HIV Gag, Rev and Nef polynucleotides

Growing community of inventors

Rougemont, NC, United States of America

Irina Tcherepanova