Chimeric flaviviruses that include non-coding regions, non-structural proteins, a capsid (C) protein and a portion of a premembrane (prM) signal sequence from an attenuated or wild-type dengue serotype 2 virus (DENV-2), and a portion of a prM signal sequence, a prM protein and at least a portion of an envelope (E) protein from a Zika virus (ZIKV) are described. Also described are immunogenic compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response in a subject, such as an immune response directed against ZIKV.

The present invention relates to the provision of immunogenic or vaccine compositions comprising at least one recombinant Zika virus antigen, wherein the at least one recombinant Zika virus antigen is encoded by at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one E-protein of a Zika virus or a functional fragment thereof. Further provided are nucleic acid molecules and a recombinant chimeric virus encoding and/or comprising selected antigens from a Zika virus, which are suitable as vaccine compositions. Preferably, the sequences encoding at least one Zika virus antigens suitable for eliciting an immune response are operably linked to a non-flavivirus derived vector backbone. Further provided are methods for purifying the recombinant chimeric virus particles or the immunogenic composition. Finally, there is provided an immunogenic/vaccine composition for use in a method of preventing or treating a Zika virus disease.

Attenuated viruses and methods of designing them are disclosed. In one embodiment, there is disclosed an attenuated form of a virulent virus comprising an RNA encoding a viral protein or a nucleic acid sequence transcribable to said RNA, wherein the folding energy or structure of the RNA is changed at positions of evolutionarily conserved RNA structures with respect to that of said RNA encoding said viral protein in the virulent virus so as to bring about attenuation of the virus.

Compositions and methods useful for treating and/or preventing a Zika virus infection are provided.

The present invention has been made in view of a problem regarding stability, reproducibility, economy, and easiness of operation in studies for a monocyte- or dendritic cell-mediated infectious microorganism, and is directed to provide a method for maintenance culturing a monocyte- or dendritic cell-mediated infectious microorganism utilizing a monocyte having a proliferative capacity. The present invention is based on the finding that a dengue virus efficiently infects a proliferable human monocytic cell obtained by introducing a gene into a CD14-positive cell and a cell having a phagocytic capacity obtained by inducing the monocytic cell to differentiate (e.g., dendritic cell) and proliferates therein. Thus, provided is a novel method for evaluating a pharmaceutical such as a compound or a vaccine for treating an infection with a monocyte- or dendritic cell-mediated infectious microorganism.

The present invention relates to enveloped RNA viruses. The invention in particular relates to the generation of superior antigens for mounting an immune response by first identifying then mutating the immunosuppressive domains in fusion proteins of enveloped RNA viruses resulting in decreased immunosuppressive properties of viral envelope proteins from the viruses.

Described herein are compositions and methods for treating a disease, particularly a cancer, with a Dengue Virus and, optionally, primed dendritic cells recognizing a tumor antigen. Lysis protocols are described where the lysis does not result in complete or less than complete lysis of cells in order to provide cell surface molecules maintained in a cell surface-embedded state. Non-lethal Dengue virus strains are also provided for therapeutic purposes.

The present invention relates to a method of generating a live attenuated vaccine. The present invention also relates to a live attenuated vaccine produced according to the method of the invention.

The present disclosure involves a composition and method of treatment of glioblastoma, using ZIKA virus.

The present disclosure relates to Zika vaccines. In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to vaccine compositions for use in methods of protecting a human subject against Zika disease or infection, wherein said composition comprises a vaccinal for Zika such as a live attenuated or inactivated chimeric Zika virus; live attenuated Zika virus; an inactivated Zika virus; a replication-defective pseudo-infectious Zika virus; a Zika virus-like particle (VLP), a Zika protein or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the Zika vaccinal comprises or encodes altered polypeptide sequences disclosed herein.