The disclosure provides modified cytomegalovirus (CMV) gL proteins and complexes comprising gL proteins. The modified gL proteins remain intact and are able to form complexes with other CMV proteins.

Recombinant, live, attenuated viruses of the Pneumoviridae family are disclosed that include a baculovirus GP64 envelope glycoprotein or variant or fragment thereof and a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F protein variant or fragment thereof. Also disclosed are polynucleotides encoding the virus as well as pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines containing the virus. In addition, methods of producing and using each of the above compositions are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to methods for preparing virus-like particles comprising immunogenic cyclic dinucleotides and its use for treating cancer.

The invention provides methods for administering lentiviral vectors to the respiratory system of a patient to treat a disease.

A method of preparing a vaccine for immunization against a herpes virus comprising the steps of one of deleting, substituting, or modifying a UL148 gene and interfering with or modifying an expression of the UL148 gene. Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned shortcomings and drawbacks associated with the prior art The inventors observed that less extensively passaged HCMV strains that retain expression of gH/gL/UL128-131 can efficiently infect epithelial and endothelial cells.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an HSV vector comprising a mutant gB and/or a mutant gH glycoprotein, where the viral envelope further comprises a non-native ligand specific for a protein present on the surface of a predetermined cell type. In another embodiment, the invention provides an HSV vector comprising (a) a mutant gC and/or gD envelope glycoprotein which comprises a non-native ligand specific for a protein present on the surface of a predetermined cell type; and (b) a mutant envelope glycoprotein other than gD.

The present invention provides an HSV vector comprising an envelope comprising one or more mutant gB and/or gH envelope glycoproteins, whereby the HSV vector exhibits at least 25% increased rate-of-entry after 20 minutes when assayed at 30 C. or 37 C. in Vero cells after first incubating at 4 C. relative to a control HSV comprising wild-type gB and gH glycoproteins. The invention also provides a viral stock comprising the inventive HSV vector.

The invention provides modified HSV vectors that exhibit enhanced entry of cells, either through direct infection and/or lateral spread. In one aspect, HSV vectors of the present invention can directly infect cells through interaction with cell proteins other than typical mediators of HSV infection. In another aspect, the invention provides an HSV vector, which exhibits lateral spread in cells typically resistant to HSV lateral spread, such as cells lacking gD receptors. The invention further provides DNA encoding mutant forms of the HSV gB and gH glycoproteins, stocks of the inventive virus, and methods for effecting viral targeting and efficient entry of cells. The invention also pertains to the use of the inventive vectors for treating cancers.