Described is hybrid viral vector comprising: a first virus such as bacteriophage T4; one or more second virus such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) attached to the first virus through cross-bridges, such as avidin-biotin cross-bridges; one or more DNA molecules packaged in the first virus; one or more nucleic acid molecules packaged in the second virus; and one or more proteins displayed on the surface of the first virus. Also described are methods of making and using such a hybrid viral vector.

Disclosed are a SARS-COV-2 antigen polypeptide, a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) expressing the polypeptide, and a vaccine containing the virus. A sequence of the antigen polypeptide is shown in SEQ NO. 1. and SEQ ID NO. 2. A method for preparing the recombinant adeno-associated virus comprises co-incubating pHelper, pRep2Cap5, and an expression vector, transfecting a cell in the presence of polyethyleneimine as a transfection reagent; culturing the cell, then collecting the cell by centrifugation, performing lysis and purification to obtain a purified liquid comprising the recombinant adeno-associated virus. The rAAV is delivered and expressed in vivo to produce a fusion antigen polypeptide, induces the production of serum neutralizing antibodies, which have a neutralizing titer to the novel SARS-COV-2 coronavirus and are expressed continuously; the rAAV composition can be used to immunize humans against the novel coronavirus pneumonia COVID-19.

The present invention relates to a mutated parvovirus structural protein, comprising at least one insertion comprising a sequence of at least six consecutive amino acids comprised within amino acids 320 to 641 of human HSP70i. Furthermore, the invention relates to multimeric structures comprising the protein, VLPs, a method of producing the mutated parvovirus structural protein and to medicaments or vaccines comprising the mutated parvovirus structural protein that may be used for treating vitiligo or other autoimmune diseases.

A compound for the sequestration of undesirable neutralizing antibodies against viral vectors in a patient. The compound includes an inert biopolymer scaffold and at least a first peptide n-mer of the general formula P ( - S - P ) .sub.(n-1) and a second peptide n-mer of the general formula P ( - S - P ) .sub.(n-1); wherein, P is a peptide with a sequence length of 2-13 amino acids and S is a non-peptide spacer, independently for each of the peptide n-mers, n is an integer of at least 1, each of the peptide n-mers is bound to the biopolymer scaffold. Independently for each occurrence, P has an amino-acid sequence including a sequence fragment with a length of at least six amino acids of a capsid protein sequence of a viral vector. Compositions including the compound and sequestering and inhibiting methods are also provided.

There is provided inter alia an isolated polynucleotide, wherein the polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, (b) a functional derivative of a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the functional derivative has an amino acid sequence which is at least 80% identical over its entire length to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, and (c) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 3.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to compositions and methods for modulating the immune response of a subject (e.g., a human subject) to certain viral antigens (e.g., antigens derived from AAV capsid proteins). The disclosure is based, in part, on isolated nucleic acids and expression constructs encoding chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that target AAV capsid proteins, and recombinant immune cells comprising such constructs (e.g., recombinant T-cell comprising a CAR (CAR T-cells), and recombinant T-regulatory cells comprising a CAR (CAR T-regs)).

The invention is directed to the field of gene therapy, i.e. gene delivery into target cells, tissue, organ and organism, and more particularly to gene delivery via viral vectors. The inventors showed that it is possible by chemical coupling to modulate the coupling of a ligand in the surface of the capsid of AAV, for example AAV2 and AAV3b. In particular, the present invention relates to a recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle having at least one primary amino group contained in the capsid proteins, chemically coupled with at least one ligand L, wherein coupling of said ligand L is implemented through a bond comprising a —CSNH— bond and an optionally substituted aromatic moiety. Particularly, the inventors tested the chemical coupling of mannose ligand on AAV2 for subretinally injection to rats. The present invention further relates to a method for chemically coupling an Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vector particle with at least one ligand L and to a Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle obtained by said method as well as a pharmaceutical composition comprising it and their corresponding medical use.

Adeno-associated virus has numerous advantages for its use in gene therapy. The present disclosures provide genetically modified adeno-associated viral vectors, and the methods of making the genetically modified adeno-associated viral vectors and compositions in treating cancer, other conditions, diseases, and disorders.

There is provided inter alia an isolated polynucleotide, wherein the polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, (b) a functional derivative of a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the functional derivative has an amino acid sequence which is at least 80% identical over its entire length to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, and (c) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 3.

Vectors having a nucleotide sequence having SEQ ID NO:1 or a nucleotide sequence having at least 85% identity to SEQ ID NO:1, or a portion thereof, that is capable of regulating bocaparvovirus replication, or vectors having the complement of the nucleotide sequence, and methods of using the vectors, are provided.