Bavarian Nordic A/s

Meredith O'Keeffe

Hubertus Hochrein

A novel dendritic cell type has been identified within bone marrow, termed myelos interferon dendritic cells (miDC). These novel cells possess the high IFN-alpha producing activity of pDC, but they also display a wide TLR responsiveness along with T-cell stimulation capacities that more closely resemble the conventional DC populations. Moreover, these cells appear less prone to apoptosis upon activation stimuli, including viruses. These cells constitute a novel bone marrow innate immune cell type, ideally geared to linking innate and adaptive immune responses via their potent IFN-alpha production and high cell stimulatory capacity.

Interferon-alpha-producing bone marrow dendritic cells

The invention relates to methods and kits comprising poxviruses including, but not limited to modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and uses thereof to provide immediate protection against pathogens. Poxviruses including, but not limited to MVA can be delivered to a host animal just prior to or after exposure to a pathogen and provide protection against the pathogen.

Immediate protection against pathogens via MVA

A method of inducing dendritic cell (DC) development by administering Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor (M-CSF) is provided. M-CSF induces DCs to differentiate into Subtypes, for example plasmacytoid DCs and conventional DCs. Said differentiation is independent of Fms-like-Tyrosine-Kinase 3-Ligand (FL) and/or Granulocyte-Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF). Induction with M-CSF can be achieved in vitro from hematopoietic precursors, such as bone marrow cells, or in vivo. In vitro, M-CSF-derived DCs can be used to produce cytokines and to stimulate other immune response cells. M-CSF can also be used to induce precursor cells removed from an animal to develop into DCs. In addition, these isolated DCs can be exposed to antigens to stimulate a specific immune response when reintroduced into the animal. Treatments for Cancers, such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, are also provided in the invention.

Induction of dendritic cell development with macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF)

A method of inducing dendritic cell (DC) development by administering Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor is provided. M-CSF induces DCs to differentiate into subtypes, for example plasmacytoid DCs and conventional DCs. Induction with M-CSF can be achieved in vitro from hematopoietic precursors, such as bone marrow cells, or in vivo. In vitro, M-CSF-derived DCs can be used to produce cytokines and to stimulate other immune response cells. M-CSF can also be used to induce precursor cells removed from an animal to develop into DCs. In addition, these isolated DCs can be exposed to antigens to stimulate a specific immune response when reintroduced into the animal. Treatments for cancers, such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, are also provided in the invention.

The invention relates to the methods and kits comprising modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) to provide immediate protection against pathogens. MVA can be delivered to a host animal just prior to or after exposure to a pathogen and provide protection against the pathogen.

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Munich, Germany

Meredith O'Keeffe