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CDC researchers have characterized epitopes of Bacillus anthracis Lethal Factor (LF), a critical component of the B. anthracis lethal toxin. These epitopes may allow for development of therapeutics for the treatment or prevention of B. anthracis infection. They may also allow screening for B. anthracis LF in a sample and development of a peptide anthrax vaccine.

This CDC invention relates to primers and probes that specifically hybridize with Heartland virus (HRTLDV), a unique member of the genus Phlebovirus. It further relates to polyclonal antibodies specific for HRTLDV proteins. Serological detection assays using HRTLDV nucleic acid molecules, proteins, probes, primers, and antibodies are provided. Importantly, the HRTLDV genome can be engineered using reverse genetics to be attenuated, allowing development of a vaccine for other viruses within the Phlebovirus genus or Bunyaviridae family.

The uses for human anti-HIV monoclonal antibody 10E8 and its variants include passive immunization, therapeutic vaccination, and the development of vaccine immunogens. 10E8 is one of the most potent HIV-neutralizing antibodies isolated and it neutralizes up to 98% of diverse HIV-1 strains. 10E8 is specific to the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of the HIV envelope protein gp41 and 10E8 is orthogonal to other anti-HIV antibodies. In combination with other antibodies 10E8 may provide an antibody response that neutralizes nearly all strains of HIV-1.