Genetically engineered Foot and Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) and related engineered proteins and polynucleotides, nanolipoprotein particles, compositions, methods and systems are described. The genetically engineered FMDV is modified by the strategic insertion of a protein tag into select regions of the FMDV genome which encode viral proteins that are exposed on the surface of the FMDV viral capsid. The inserted protein tag is displayed as a decoration or attachment on the viral capsid surface.

The present disclosure provides a type O foot-and-mouth disease virus-like particle antigen, wherein the type O foot-and-mouth disease virus-like particle antigen is type O CATHAY type foot-and-mouth disease virus-like particle antigen, and the type O CATHAY type foot-and-mouth disease virus-like particle antigen is assembled by VP0, VP3 and VP1 antigen proteins of type O CATHAY type foot-and-mouth disease virus. The type O foot-and-mouth disease virus-like particle antigen of the present disclosure has good immunogenicity. The prepared vaccine can produce complete protection against the O-type foot-and-mouth disease virus on the 14th day after immunization. The antibody titer produced is higher than that of the commercial inactivated vaccine, and the duration of immune protection can be maintained for at least 133 days. The disclosure also relates to the prepared vaccine composition, preparation method and use thereof.

Provided herein is a nucleic acid comprising consensus amino acid sequence of foot-and-mouth disease FMDV VP1-4 coat proteins of FMDV subtypes A, Asia 1, C, O, SAT1, SAT2, and SAT3 as well as plasmids and vaccines expressing the sequences. Also provided herein is methods for generating an immune response against one or more FMDV subtypes using the vaccine as described above as well as methods for deciphering between vaccinated mammals with the vaccine and those that are infected with FMDV.

The present invention relates to the stabilisation of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) capsids, by specific substitution of amino acids in a specific region of FMDV VP2. The invention provides stabilised FMDV capsids and vaccines against FMD.

The present invention provides bi-terminal PEGylated peptide conjugates that target an integrin such as α.sub.vβ.sub.6 integrin. In particular embodiments, the peptide conjugates of the present invention further comprise a biological agent such as an imaging agent or a therapeutic agent, e.g., covalently attached to one of the PEG moieties. The peptide conjugates of the present invention are particularly useful for imaging a tumor, organ, or tissue and for treating integrin-mediated diseases and disorders such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, chronic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung emphysema, and chronic wounding skin disease. Compositions and kits containing the peptide conjugates of the present invention find utility in a wide range of applications including, e.g., in vivo imaging and immunotherapy.

The invention concerns a baculovirus expression vector for recombinantly expressing an FMDV capsid precursor protein under control of a promoter, the expression vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the FMDV capsid precursor protein and the translational enhancers Syn2 land p10UTR. The invention further relates to a host cell comprising the baculovirus expression vector, a method of producing FMDV virus-like particles (VLPs), and a method of producing a vaccine.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical combination for inducing one or more immune responses and/or for enhancing effectiveness of vaccination in the host, which is capable of inducing cross-protection against multiples strains and/or serotypes of a virus. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical combination is able to generate protection in food producing animals, such as cattle, sheep, goats, swine and other cloven-hoofed animals with fewer vaccination campaigns. This universal vaccine comprises an inactivated virus with one or more of the following components: polynucleotides encoding viral peptides, polypeptides or proteins in different types of plasmids; viral peptides, polypeptides and proteins; synthetic viral peptides and polypeptides; recombinant viral peptides, polypeptides and proteins; virus-like-particles; virus-like-particles derived from other viruses; proteins used as a carrier or as molecular adjuvant fused to peptides, polypeptides and/or proteins derived from viruses; adjuvants; emulsifiers, molecular adjuvants and carrier systems.

Genetically engineered Foot and Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) and related engineered proteins and polynucleotides, nanolipoprotein particles, compositions, methods and systems are described. The genetically engineered FMDV is modified by the strategic insertion of a protein tag into select regions of the FMDV genome which encode viral proteins that are exposed on the surface of the FMDV viral capsid. The inserted protein tag is displayed as a decoration or attachment on the viral capsid surface.

Polynucleotide constructs that express an engineered foot-and-mouth disease (FMDV) P1 precursor protein and a non-FMDV TEV protease and methods for safe and efficient recombinant production of FMDV antigens and immunogens. Recombinant production of FMDV antigens avoids the need to culture highly-infectious FMDV, while conventional culture methods for producing FMDV antigens rely on the native FMDV 3C protease which exerts toxic effects on host cells. The inventors have developed a new system that efficiently and safely processes FMDV P1 precursor without the FMDV 3C protease, thus avoiding the toxic effects associated with use of the 3C protease. The invention is also directed to the FMDV antigens and virus-like particles produced by this system as well as to FMDV vaccines, diagnostics and other biologics.

The present invention provides bi-terminal PEGylated peptide conjugates that target an integrin such as .sub.v.sub.6 integrin. In particular embodiments, the peptide conjugates of the present invention further comprise a biological agent such as an imaging agent or a therapeutic agent, e.g., covalently attached to one of the PEG moieties. The peptide conjugates of the present invention are particularly useful for imaging a tumor, organ, or tissue and for treating integrin-mediated diseases and disorders such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, chronic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung emphysema, and chronic wounding skin disease. Compositions and kits containing the peptide conjugates of the present invention find utility in a wide range of applications including, e.g., in vivo imaging and immunotherapy.