In the various aspects and embodiments, this disclosure provides messenger RNA (mRNA) constructs for therapeutic delivery, as well as methods for making such mRNA constructs and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same (including mRNA vaccine compositions). In still other aspects, the invention provides methods for treating patients by expression of therapeutic proteins, including for preventing or reducing probability of infection by, or illness involving, a virus. Exemplary viruses include coronaviruses (such as SARS-CoV-2 and variants therefore) and influenza viruses, among others.

A pDNA-based vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 and methods for preventing or treating COVID-19 using it.

Compositions for inhibiting the binding between ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 are disclosed. Methods of treating COVID-19 are disclosed. Methods of making an in vivo model of COVID-19 are also disclosed.

In one embodiment, the present specification discloses a modified spike (S) protein comprising of SEQ ID NO: 2, the modified spike protein encoded by a gene sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, and methods of using the modified spike protein as disclosed herein.

The present disclosure relates in some aspects to immunogenic compositions including recombinant peptides and proteins comprising coronavirus viral antigens and immunogens, e.g., coronavirus S protein peptides. In some aspects, the immunogenic composition comprises a secreted fusion protein comprising a soluble coronavirus viral antigen joined by in-frame fusion to a C-terminal portion of a collagen which is capable of self-trimerization to form a disulfide bond-linked trimeric fusion protein. In some aspects, the immunogenic compositions provided herein are useful for generating an immune response, e.g., for treating or preventing a coronavirus infection. In some aspects, the immunogenic compositions provided herein may be used in a vaccine composition, e.g., as part of a prophylactic and/or therapeutic vaccine. Also provided herein are methods for producing the recombinant peptides and proteins, prophylactic, therapeutic, and/or diagnostic methods, and related kits.

Disclosed are methods of producing poxvirus-based vectors or recombinant poxvirus-based vectors from naturally derived, chemically synthesized DNA fragments, or a combination of naturally derived and chemically synthesized DNA fragments. One or more DNA sequences encoding one or more antigens, subunits or fragments thereof or other heterologous gene sequences are inserted in one or more poxvirus insertion sites in one or more DNA fragments. The methods include transfecting a host cell with one or more circular or linear DNA fragments such that a poxvirus or recombinant poxvirus is reconstituted in the host cell, the reconstituted poxvirus or recombinant poxvirus comprising the genome of a desired poxvirus. Also disclosed are poxviruses or recombinant poxviruses produced by the technology and uses thereof.

Disclosed herein are methods for inducing immunity against a virus such as a coronavirus in the mucosal tissue of a patient, include administering a vaccine composition to the patient by oral administration (e.g., nasal injection, nasal inhalation, oral inhalation, and/or oral ingestion). Also disclosed are compositions for assaying the presence of antiviral antibodies induced by the administered vaccine or the presence of viral proteins in a saliva sample include a stabilizing solution and may also include the use of aragonite particle beads. Compositions and methods are presented for prevention and/or treatment of a coronavirus disease wherein the composition comprises a recombinant entity. The recombinant entity is bivalent, comprising a nucleic acid encoding a coronavirus 2 nucleocapsid protein CoV2 nucleocapsid protein fused to an endosomal targeting sequence, and a nucleic acid encoding a CoV2 spike protein sequence optimized for cell surface expression.

Disclosed herein are nucleic acid molecules encoding a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike antigen, SARS-CoV-2 spike antigens, immunogenic compositions, and vaccines and their use in inducing immune responses and protecting against or treating a SARS-CoV-2 infection in a subject.

Compositions and methods for the prevention and/or treatment of a viral infection, in particular of the Coronaviridae family.

Disclosed is an Ad7-vectored vaccine for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is an adenovirus vectored vaccine, comprising an Ad7 vector loaded with a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. Some embodiments of the disclosure have good safety and are convenient to use. Experiments have shown that the vaccine is capable of producing more S protein in human cells, which is expected to be developed as a vaccine for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some embodiments of the disclosure may be used in combination with other vaccines, and may also be used as therapeutic vaccines for COVID-19. When a patient is vaccinated with the Ad7-vectored vaccine of the present disclosure at the initial stage of infection, the vaccine can quickly induces immune response in the human body, thereby achieving a therapeutic effect.