Chimeric flaviviruses that include non-coding regions, non-structural proteins, a capsid (C) protein and a portion of a premembrane (prM) signal sequence from West Nile virus (WNV), and a portion of a prM signal sequence, a prM protein and an E protein from Zika virus (VIKV) are described. Also described are compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response in a subject, such as an immune response directed against ZIKV. Diagnostic assays that utilize chimeric West Nile/Zika viruses are further described.

Embodiments herein report compositions, uses and manufacturing of dengue virus constructs and live attenuated dengue viruses. Some embodiments concern a composition that includes, but is not limited to, a tetravalent dengue virus composition. In certain embodiments, compositions can include constructs of one or more serotypes of dengue virus, such as dengue-1 (DEN-1) virus, dengue-2 (DEN-2) virus, dengue-3 (DEN-3) or dengue-4 (DEN-4) virus constructs. In other embodiments, constructs disclosed herein can be combined in a composition to generate a vaccine against more one or more dengue virus constructs that may or may not be subsequently passaged in mammalian cells.

Embodiments herein report compositions, uses and manufacturing of dengue virus constructs and live attenuated dengue viruses. Some embodiments concern a composition that includes, but is not limited to, a tetravalent dengue virus composition. In certain embodiments, compositions can include constructs of one or more serotypes of dengue virus, such as dengue-1 (DEN-1) virus, dengue-2 (DEN-2) virus, dengue-3 (DEN-3) or dengue-4 (DEN-4) virus constructs. In other embodiments, constructs disclosed herein can be combined in a composition to generate a vaccine against more one or more dengue virus constructs that may or may not be subsequently passaged in mammalian cells.

Chimeric flaviviruses that include non-coding regions, non-structural proteins, a capsid (C) protein and a portion of a premembrane (prM) signal sequence from West Nile virus (WNV), and a portion of a prM signal sequence, a prM protein and an E protein from Zika virus (VIKV) are described. Also described are compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response in a subject, such as an immune response directed against ZIKV. Diagnostic assays that utilize chimeric West Nile/Zika viruses are further described.

An aspect of the present invention is related to nucleic acid constructs capable of expressing a polypeptide, such as a consensus dengue prME that elicits an immune response in a mammal against more than one subtype of dengue virus, and methods of use thereof. Additionally, there are DNA plasmid vaccines capable of generating in a mammal an immune response against a plurality of dengue virus subtypes, comprising a DNA plasmid and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, and methods of use thereof. The DNA plasmid is capable of expressing a consensus dengue antigen in a cell of the mammal in a quantity effective to elicit an immune response in the mammal that is cross reactive against all 4 dengue subtypes.

The present invention relates to a yellow fever (YF) vaccine for use in a method for inducing a protective immune response against yellow fever, wherein said method comprises concomitantly administering said yellow fever vaccine to a human subject together with a tetravalent dengue vaccine which comprises a live attenuated dengue virus of each of serotypes 1 to 4. This invention also pertains to a tetravalent dengue vaccine which comprises a live attenuated dengue virus of each of serotypes 1 to 4 for use in a method of inducing a protective immune response against yellow fever, wherein said method comprises concomitantly administering said tetravalent dengue vaccine to a human subject together with a yellow fever (YF) vaccine.

An aspect of the present invention is related to nucleic acid constructs capable of expressing a polypeptide, such as a consensus dengue prME that elicits an immune response in a mammal against more than one subtype of dengue virus, and methods of use thereof. Additionally, there are DNA plasmid vaccines capable of generating in a mammal an immune response against a plurality of dengue virus subtypes, comprising a DNA plasmid and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, and methods of use thereof. The DNA plasmid is capable of expressing a consensus dengue antigen in a cell of the mammal in a quantity effective to elicit an immune response in the mammal that is cross reactive against all 4 dengue subtypes.

Embodiments herein report compositions, uses and manufacturing of dengue virus constructs and live attenuated dengue viruses. Some embodiments concern a composition that includes, but is not limited to, a tetravalent dengue virus composition. In certain embodiments, compositions can include constructs of one or more serotypes of dengue virus, such as dengue-1 (DEN-1) virus, dengue-2 (DEN-2) virus, dengue-3 (DEN-3) or dengue-4 (DEN-4) virus constructs. In other embodiments, constructs disclosed herein can be combined in a composition to generate a vaccine against more one or more dengue virus constructs that may or may not be subsequently passaged in mammalian cells.

Embodiments herein report compositions, uses and manufacturing of dengue virus constructs and live attenuated dengue viruses. Some embodiments concern a composition that includes, but is not limited to, a tetravalent dengue virus composition. In certain embodiments, compositions can include constructs of one or more serotypes of dengue virus, such as dengue-1 (DEN-1) virus, dengue-2 (DEN-2) virus, dengue-3 (DEN-3) or dengue-4 (DEN-4) virus constructs. In other embodiments, constructs disclosed herein can be combined in a composition to generate a vaccine against more one or more dengue virus constructs that may or may not be subsequently passaged in mammalian cells.

Embodiments herein report compositions, uses and manufacturing of dengue virus constructs and live attenuated dengue viruses. Some embodiments concern a composition that includes, but is not limited to, a tetravalent dengue virus composition. In certain embodiments, compositions can include constructs of one or more serotypes of dengue virus, such as dengue-1 (DEN-1) virus, dengue-2 (DEN-2) virus, dengue-3 (DEN-3) or dengue-4 (DEN-4) virus constructs. In other embodiments, constructs disclosed herein can be combined in a composition to generate a vaccine against more one or more dengue virus constructs that may or may not be subsequently passaged in mammalian cells.