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Syphilis, a genital ulcerative disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, is associated with significant complications if left untreated. Syphilis rates in the United States have been increasing.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that remains a global health threat. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 12 million new cases are reported in adults annually worldwide. Syphilis rates are rising domestically as well. The rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test (including automated version) and the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test are commercially available and used to detect/screen active infection.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and World Health Organization (WHO) approved the antiretroviral drug emtricitabine (FTC)/ tenofovir disoproxil fumurate (TDF) combination for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in high risk populations. Efficacy of PrEP depends strongly on adherence to taking the FTC/TDF pill daily. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1.2 million Americans will benefit from PrEP. FTC is also a key component of antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens of HIV-infected persons and significantly associated with adherence.

Simian T-cell lymphotropic viruses (STLV) are nonhuman primate retroviruses closely related to the human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV). Types I, II, and III of HTLV have been found in humans and are believed to have originated from cross-species transmission of STLV from infected nonhuman primates. The HTLV viruses are known to cause leukemia, lymphoma, and neurological disorders.

Chemokine receptors are expressed by many cells, including lymphoid cells, and function to mediate cell trafficking and localization. CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) is a seven-transmembrane, G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) which regulates trafficking and effector functions of memory/effector T-lymphocytes, macrophages, and immature dendritic cells. Chemokine binding to CCR5 leads to cellular activation through pertussis toxin-sensitive heterotrimeric G proteins as well as G protein-independent signalling pathways.

This technology describes several hybridomas that produce monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) useful in HIV research applications. The mAbs are specific for either gp41 or gp120. In particular, the hybridomas producing mAbs designated D19, D56, M12, T8 and T24 (all anti-gp120), and T32 and T33 (gp41 specific) were found to be of particular utility. Additional hybridomas expressing mAbs disclosed in the publications may also be available.

One of the major limitations of using cultured keratinocytes for research studies is that primary keratinocytes senesce after a few passages. Keratinocytes from specific anatomical sites are also difficult to culture. Scientists at the NIH have demonstrated that primary keratinocytes, from several anatomical sites, when treated with a small-molecule inhibitor of the ROCK protein maintain a proliferative state and become immortal without genetic modification to the cells.

Investigators at the NIH have discovered a potential means for preventing or treating a herpes virus infection by inhibiting the activity of the host cell’s histone demethylases. When herpesviruses enter a cell, they are inactivated by cellular defense mechanisms that wrap the viral genome in repressive chromatin structures. In order for viral replication to progress, the host’s own histone demethylases are recruited to the viral genome to reverse this repression.

The present invention is related to a recombinant viral vector for vaccines.

Currently available poxvirus vectors for humans and other animals exhibit suboptimal expression of recombinant gene(s) and high expression of vector proteins which causes weak immunogenicity and high anti-vector immune response.