This invention provides an attenuated virus which comprises a modified viral genome containing nucleotide substitutions engineered in multiple locations in the genome, wherein the substitutions introduce synonymous deoptimized codons into the genome. The instant attenuated virus may be used in a vaccine composition for inducing a protective immune response in a subject. The invention also provides a method of synthesizing the instant attenuated virus. Further, this invention further provides a method for preventing a subject from becoming afflicted with a virus-associated disease comprising administering to the subject a prophylactically effective dose of a vaccine composition comprising the instant attenuated virus.

This invention provides an attenuated virus which comprises a modified viral genome containing nucleotide substitutions engineered in multiple locations in the genome, wherein the substitutions introduce synonymous deoptimized codons into the genome. The instant attenuated virus may be used in a vaccine composition for inducing a protective immune response in a subject. The invention also provides a method of synthesizing the instant attenuated virus. Further, this invention further provides a method for preventing a subject from becoming afflicted with a virus-associated disease comprising administering to the subject a prophylactically effective dose of a vaccine composition comprising the instant attenuated virus.

Human clinical use of a chimeric poliovirus construct has demonstrated excellent anti-tumor effect. Combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors increases the anti-tumor effect. Tumors of different types are susceptible to the combination treatment, including but not limited to melanoma, glioglastoma, renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, medulloblastoma, and colorectal cancer.

It is disclosed herein that viruses coated in silica retain infectivity and the capacity to induce an immune response in an infected host. In addition, silicified virus is remarkably resistant to desiccation. Provided herein are methods of inducing a virus-specific immune response in a subject by administering to the subject an effective amount of silicified virus or silicified virus particles. Methods of enhancing a virus-specific cell-mediated immune response (such as a T cell-mediated immune response) in a subject by administering to the subject a silicified virus or silicified virus particles are also described herein. Further provided are immunogenic compositions comprising silicified virus or silicified virus particles, such as compositions useful as vaccines. The immunogenic compositions include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or an adjuvant.

Human clinical use of a chimeric poliovirus construct has demonstrated excellent anti-tumor effect. Combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors increases the anti-tumor effect. Tumors of different types are susceptible to the combination treatment, including but not limited to melanoma, glioglastoma, renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, medulloblastoma, and colorectal cancer.

A poliovirus (PV) strain was attenuated by a novel method of Cold-Adapted-Viral-Attenuation (CAVA). The resulting recombinant attenuated PV, CAVA-PV, shows wild-type replication at 30 C., but no substantial replication at 37 C. The inability to replicate at 37 C. is defined by an inability to quantify virus during infection at this temperature by titration (infectious units), qPCR (viral RNA) or Electron Microscopy (visual signs of infection). CAVA-PV is genetically stable under production conditions and shows utility for use as the backbone to produce attenuated strains with the same antigenic profile as conventional vaccines by replacing the sequence coding for the capsid of CAVA-PV with sequences coding for capsids of different PV strains. Furthermore, mutations identified in CAVA-PV can be engineered into different, even wild-type and neurovirulent poliovirus background strains to obtain additional CAVA-PV strains.

This invention provides an attenuated virus which comprises a modified viral genome containing nucleotide substitutions engineered in multiple locations in the genome, wherein the substitutions introduce synonymous deoptimized codons into the genome. The instant attenuated virus may be used in a vaccine composition for inducing a protective immune response in a subject. The invention also provides a method of synthesizing the instant attenuated virus. Further, this invention further provides a method for preventing a subject from becoming afflicted with a virus-associated disease comprising administering to the subject a prophylactically effective dose of a vaccine composition comprising the instant attenuated virus.

Provided is a method of treating a tumor in an individual by neoadjuvant therapy, wherein the individual has not previously undergone treatment to effectively reduce tumor burden, the method comprising administering an oncolytic chimeric poliovirus construct, or an oncolytic chimeric poliovirus construct and an immune checkpoint inhibitor, followed by reduction of the tumor. The method may further comprise administration of immune checkpoint inhibitor or oncolytic chimeric poliovirus construct following reduction of tumor. Kits for performing the methods are also provided.