| abstract |
Methods for identifying optimized antigenic pathogen polypeptides capable of inducing a broadly neutralizing immune response, and associated T-cell responses, to a pathogen are described, as well as nucleic acid sequences encoding such polypeptides. Methods for determining whether a broadly neutralizing immune response is induced in a subject following immunization with an optimized antigenic pathogen polypeptide, or a nucleic acid encoding the optimized pathogen polypeptide, are also described. Nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, vectors, cells, fusion proteins, pharmaceutical compositions, and their use as vaccines against pathogens, especially against emerging or re-emerging pathogens (particularly RNA viruses), are also described. |