The present disclosure describes the generation and the use of Ad variants (Ad) possessing any combination of mutations in genes that code for the hexon, penton, fiber, and non-structural proteins, where simultaneous modification of hexon and penton are made to avoid the trapping of Ad in the liver and to reduce toxicity after intravascular virus administration. Such liver de-targeted Ad can be useful tool for selective and specific gene delivery to extra-hepatic tissues and cells, including disseminated metastatic cancer cells.

A mammalian expression system comprising an attenuated, recombinant Ranavirus that has at least one foreign expression element using a unique combination of mammalian transcriptional and translational enhancement elements is disclosed. In other contemplated embodiments, a mammalian expression system comprising a virus, wherein the virus is engineered to express at least two vaccine antigens is disclosed. In addition, methods of delivering human antigens to a mammal are disclosed that include: providing a non-mammalian virus, engineering a recombinant virus that can express at least one foreign molecule by modifying the non-mammalian virus, and using the recombinant Ranavirus to express and deliver foreign antigens to a mammal.

The invention relates to immunogenic compositions and vaccines containing a ZIKV protein or a polynucleotide encoding a Zika virus (ZIKV) protein and uses thereof. The invention also provides methods of treating and/or preventing a ZiKV infection by administering an immunogenic composition or vaccine of the invention to a subject (e.g., a human).

A vaccine vector comprising an attenuated, recombinant ranavirus that has at least one foreign expression element is disclosed. In other contemplated embodiments, a vaccine vector comprising a virus, wherein the virus is engineered to express at least two vaccine antigens is disclosed. In addition, methods of delivering human antigens to a mammal are disclosed that include: providing a non-mammalian virus, engineering a recombinant virus that can express at least one foreign molecule by modifying the non-mammalian virus, and using the recombinant ranavirus to deliver human antigens to a mammal.

The present disclosure is directed to a novel sequence constructed from viral elements for use as a transgenic promoter; for example, in transgenic plants. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to a chimeric transgenic promoter sequence comprising a portion derived from the Figwort Mosaic Vims (FMV/FiMV) genome and a portion derived from the Cassava Vein Mosaic Virus (CsVMV) genome. The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for the making and using such a transgenic promoter.

A method of modifying the amount of at least one biochemical component in a plant comprising expressing Qua-Quine Starch (QQS) in the plant, the wild-type of which does not express QQS; a transgenic plant, or part thereof, which comprises and expresses QQS as a transgene and in which the amount of at least one biochemical component is modified; a tissue culture of regenerable cells of the transgenic plant; a vector comprising a nucleotide sequence, which encodes the coding sequence of QQS, operably linked to a non-native promoter, which promotes expression of the nucleotide sequence in a plant, which is other than Arabidopsis; and a method of producing a food or industrial product from a plant.

The present disclosure describes the generation and the use of Ad variants (Ad) possessing any combination of mutations in genes that code for the hexon, penton, fiber, and non-structural proteins, where simultaneous modification of hexon and penton are made to avoid the trapping of Ad in the liver and to reduce toxicity after intravascular virus administration. Such liver de-targeted Ad can be useful tool for selective and specific gene delivery to extra-hepatic tissues and cells, including disseminated metastatic cancer cells.

The present invention relates to the field of (vector) vaccines, and especially to novel promoter sequences, expression cassettes and vectors, which are suitable to express genes of interest, especially antigen encoding sequences. The viral vectors of the present invention are useful for producing an immunogenic composition or vaccine.

The present invention relates to novel hybrid promoters comprising a caulimovirus promoter operably linked to one or more of an EF1, Act8, Act2 or Act11 promoter. The present invention also relates to novel DNA constructs comprising at least one expression cassette which comprises the hybrid promoter thereof. The present invention further relates to transgenic plants/seeds comprising such DNA constructs.

The present disclosure provides recombinant nucleic acids comprising one or more polynucleotides encoding a polypeptide (e.g., an inhaled therapeutic polypeptide, such as a human alpha-1-antitrypsin polypeptide); viruses comprising the recombinant nucleic acids; compositions and formulations comprising the recombinant nucleic acids and/or viruses; methods of their use (e.g., for delivering the polypeptide to one or more cells of the respiratory tract and/or for the treatment of a disease affecting the lungs, such as alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency); and articles of manufacture or kits thereof.