Object of the present invention is to provide a hemagglutinin-binding peptide producing an anti-influenza virus effect higher than that of existing peptides. The present invention provides, for example, a hemagglutinin-binding peptide comprising a polypeptide having any of the following amino acid sequences (i) to (iv): (i) Thr-MeGly-Asp-MePhe-MePhe-Ser-MeSer-His-Tyr-Thr-Val-Pro-Arg (SEQ ID NO: 1); (ii) Arg-Val-Ser-MePhe-Thr-Tyr-MePhe-MeSer-Tyr-Thr-Pro-Ser (SEQ ID NO: 2); (iii) an amino acid sequence with deletions, additions, or substitutions of one or several amino acids in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2; and (iv) an amino acid sequence having 90% or more sequence identity to that of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2.

Object of the present invention is to provide a hemagglutinin-binding peptide producing an anti-influenza virus effect higher than that of existing peptides. The present invention provides, for example, a hemagglutinin-binding peptide comprising a polypeptide having any of the following amino acid sequences (i) to (iv): (i) Thr-MeGly-Asp-MePhe-MePhe-Ser-MeSer-His-Tyr-Thr-Val-Pro-Arg (SEQ ID NO: 1); (ii) Arg-Val-Ser-MePhe-Thr-Tyr-MePhe-MeSer-Tyr-Thr-Pro-Ser (SEQ ID NO: 2); (iii) an amino acid sequence with deletions, additions, or substitutions of one or several amino acids in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2; and (iv) an amino acid sequence having 90% or more sequence identity to that of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2.

An apparatus for vaccine generation includes a syringe with a cavity that includes a solution with photosensitizers. Microbial particles are added to the solution. A light source is capable of emitting one or more wavebands of light that are effectively absorbed by the one photosensitizers to generate singlet oxygen in the solution and other radical species that rapidly react with and damage lipids, proteins, DNA, and RNA of the microbial particles. This damage produces immunogens that can be applied as a vaccine to viruses and other infectious microbial particles. A plunger that fits within a proximal opening in the syringe is used for forcing the solution including the immunogens through the filter and out of the syringe while the photosensitizers, debris and unwanted microbial particles are trapped within the filter.

The present invention provides a recombinant turkey herpesvirus modified by the presence of the cDNA encoding the hemagglutinin protein of avian influenza virus under a promoter. A poultry vaccine comprising the recombinant turkey herpesvirus described in the present invention can induce serological responses that may be easily detected by the hemagglutination inhibition assay but not by commercially available diagnostic ELISA kits; thus enabling easy differentiation between vaccination and field infection.

The present invention provides a recombinant turkey herpesvirus modified by the presence of the cDNA encoding the hemagglutinin protein of avian influenza virus under a promoter. A poultry vaccine comprising the recombinant turkey herpesvirus described in the present invention can induce serological responses that may be easily detected by the hemagglutination inhibition assay but not by commercially available diagnostic ELISA kits; thus enabling easy differentiation between vaccination and field infection.

The disclosure provides methods for generating an optimized nucleotide sequence encoding an engineered influenza structural protein and the optimized nucleotide sequences obtained therefrom. The optimized nucleotide sequences can be used in a reverse genetics system to facilitate the rescue of infectious influenza virus containing the engineered structural proteins and/or enhance viral titers. Also provided are methods of preparing an influenza vaccine composition using the optimized nucleotide sequences, as well as methods of inducing an immune response using the influenza vaccine composition.

The disclosure provides methods for generating an optimized nucleotide sequence encoding an engineered influenza structural protein and the optimized nucleotide sequences obtained therefrom. The optimized nucleotide sequences can be used in a reverse genetics system to facilitate the rescue of infectious influenza virus containing the engineered structural proteins and/or enhance viral titers. Also provided are methods of preparing an influenza vaccine composition using the optimized nucleotide sequences, as well as methods of inducing an immune response using the influenza vaccine composition.

The invention provides an agent for preventing or treating a condition characterised by the presence of unwanted cells, the agent comprising: (i) a targeting moiety that is capable of targeting to the unwanted cells; and (ii) a T cell antigen, wherein the T cell antigen can be released from the targeting moiety by selective cleavage of a cleavage site in the agent in the vicinity of the unwanted cells.

Modified forms of hemagglutinin (HA) protein including those with modified immunodominant regions and with modified maturation cleavage sites, and virus and virus-like particles containing them are disclosed.

The invention relates to fusion proteins, and to the use of fusion proteins (or genetic constructs or vectors encoding such fusion proteins) to vaccinate against viral infections. The invention extends to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such fusion proteins or constructs for preventing and treating viral infections, and to methods and uses thereof.