An engineered adenovirus penton base protomer, wherein the penton base protomer comprises a first RGD-loop, a second RGD-loop, a variable loop (V loop), an Adenovirus fiber protein binding cleft, and an N-terminal domain; wherein at least one of the first RGD-loop, the second RGD-loop, and the V loop comprises at least one inserted non-adenoviral antigenic polypeptide; and wherein the engineered adenovirus penton base protomer is capable of assembling into virus-like particles (VLPs).

Provided herein are polypeptides, polynucleotides, expression vectors, infectious clones, virus particles and immunogenic compositions of recombinant alphaviruses which can be used as vaccines. Also provided are methods for eliciting an immune response against alphavirus infection using the immunogenic composition comprising the alphavirus mutants described herein.

The present invention relates to novel polypeptide scaffolds for optimized presentation of oligopeptides, polypeptide sequences, protein domains, proteins and protein complexes made up of two, several or many subunits. These oligopeptides, polypeptide sequences, protein domains and proteins presented by the polypeptide scaffolds of the invention can include antigenic entities that stimulate the immune system to trigger an immune response, for example for vaccination purposes, or for preparing antibodies or other binder molecules in cell culture, or in vitro in a test tube. In a preferred embodiment, the polypeptides of the invention are assembled into Virus Like Particles (VLPs) optimized for presentation of antigens useful in the context of vaccination against infectious agents or tumors.

The present invention relates to a process for producing an immunogenic live attenuated Chikungunya virus, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same.

Genetic circuits have been developed to regulate behaviors of replicon RNA in responses to small molecules, which has broader applications, such as for quantitative expression of cargo genes, temporary expression of immunomodulatory cytokines or antigens for better cancer immunotherapy or vaccination, and for increased safety in use of self-replicating vectors or in combination with other viral-delivery vectors. Described herein are genetic circuits suitable for systems that either require a tight off state or a slow off state, which can serve for instance where either a kill switch or prolonged protein expression (e.g., of vaccine antigens) are needed.

Compositions of a recombinant adenovirus based vector vaccine containing one or more alphavirus antigen genes are disclosed herein. Methods for constructing and producing such vaccines and methods of using these vaccines to generate broad based immune responses against alphaviruses are also described. Compositions described herein allow for vaccinations in individuals with preexisting immunity to adenovirus.

The invention features modified alphavirus or flavivirus virus-like particles (VLPs). The invention provides methods, compositions, and kits featuring the modified VLPs. The invention also features methods for enhancing production of modified VLPs for use in the prevention or treatment of alphavirus and flavivirus-mediated diseases. The invention also provides methods for delivering agents to a cell using the modified VLPs.

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.

The invention relates to a vaccine comprising live attenuated recombinant alphavirus comprising mutated capsid protein. The invention also relates to a method of preventing a subject from contracting an alphaviral infection that would otherwise produce clinical signs of disease. In an embodiment the mutated capsid protein is Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) capsid protein having a mutated nucleolar localisation signal/sequence (NoLS), preferably the mutant NLS 101/95.

Provided herein are nucleic acid molecules encoding viral replication proteins and antigenic proteins or fragments thereof. Also provided herein are compositions that include nucleic acid molecules encoding viral replication and antigenic proteins, and lipids. Nucleic acid molecules provided herein are useful for inducing immune responses.