Modified influenza virus neuraminidases are described herein that have stabilized NA tetramers which may improve vaccine production efficiency, thus improving the yield of vaccine viruses.

Provided are methods for rapidly inactivating a pathogen, or for producing a vaccine composition containing an inactivated noninfectious pathogen having retained antigenicity and/or immunogenicity, comprising exposing the pathogen to a chemical inactivating agent (e.g., one or more chemical oxidizing, alkylating or crosslinking agents) in the presence of inorganic polyatomic oxyanions in an amount and for a time sufficient to render the pathogen noninfectious while enhancing retention of pathogen antigenicity and/or immunogenicity relative to that retained by contacting the pathogen with the chemical inactivating agent alone. The methods are broadly applicable to pathogens having RNA or DNA genomes (e.g., including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites). Also provided are vaccine compositions (medicaments) containing a pathogen inactivated by exposure to an inactivating agent in the presence of elevated concentrations of inorganic polyatomic oxyanions, and methods for eliciting an immune response in a subject by administering the vaccine compositions.

Provided are methods for rapidly inactivating a pathogen, or for producing a vaccine composition containing an inactivated noninfectious pathogen having retained antigenicity and/or immunogenicity, comprising exposing the pathogen to a chemical inactivating agent (e.g., one or more chemical oxidizing, alkylating or crosslinking agents) in the presence of inorganic polyatomic oxyanions in an amount and for a time sufficient to render the pathogen noninfectious while enhancing retention of pathogen antigenicity and/or immunogenicity relative to that retained by contacting the pathogen with the chemical inactivating agent alone. The methods are broadly applicable to pathogens having RNA or DNA genomes (e.g., including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites). Also provided are vaccine compositions (medicaments) containing a pathogen inactivated by exposure to an inactivating agent in the presence of elevated concentrations of inorganic polyatomic oxyanions, and methods for eliciting an immune response in a subject by administering the vaccine compositions.

A number of improvements for preparing vaccine antigens from disintegrated influenza viruses are disclosed. A splitting step can be followed by detergent exchange. Splitting can take place in the presence of a buffer with a higher ionic strength and/or in the presence of phosphate buffer.

The present invention provides recombinant herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) vectors that contain and express antigens of avian pathogens, compositions comprising the recombinant HVT vectors and polyvalent vaccines comprising the recombinant HVT vectors. The present invention further provides methods of vaccination against a variety of avian pathogens and method of producing the recombinant HVT vectors.

The present invention provides recombinant herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) vectors that contain and express antigens of avian pathogens, compositions comprising the recombinant HVT vectors and polyvalent vaccines comprising the recombinant HVT vectors. The present invention further provides methods of vaccination against a variety of avian pathogens and method of producing the recombinant HVT vectors.

Modified influenza virus neuraminidases are described herein that have stabilized NA tetramers which may improve vaccine production efficiency, thus improving the yield of vaccine viruses.

This invention relates to a nucleic acid aptamer specifically binding to avian influenza virus subtype H5 and a method of detecting avian influenza virus subtype H5 using the same, and more particularly to a method of detecting avian influenza virus subtype H5, which is able to rapidly check the presence and concentration of avian influenza virus subtype H5 using a nucleic acid aptamer specifically binding to hemagglutinin, which is a surface protein of avian influenza virus subtype H5.

Provided are methods for rapidly inactivating a pathogen, or for producing a vaccine composition containing an inactivated noninfectious pathogen having retained antigenicity and/or immunogenicity, comprising exposing the pathogen to a chemical inactivating agent (e.g., one or more chemical oxidizing, alkylating or crosslinking agents) in the presence of inorganic polyatomic oxyanions in an amount and for a time sufficient to render the pathogen noninfectious while enhancing retention of pathogen antigenicity and/or immunogenicity relative to that retained by contacting the pathogen with the chemical inactivating agent alone. The methods are broadly applicable to pathogens having RNA or DNA genomes (e.g., including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites). Also provided are vaccine compositions (medicaments) containing a pathogen inactivated by exposure to a an inactivating agent in the presence of elevated concentrations of inorganic polyatomic oxyanions, and methods for eliciting an immune response in a subject by administering the vaccine compositions.

Provided are surprisingly effective methods for inactivating pathogens, and for producing highly immunogenic vaccine compositions containing an inactivated pathogen rendered noninfectious by exposure to a Fenton reagent, or by exposure to a Fenton reagent or a component thereof in combination with a methisazone reagent selected from the group consisting of methisazone, methisazone analogs, functional group(s)/substructure(s) of methisazone, and combinations thereof. The methods efficiently inactivate pathogens, while substantially retaining pathogen antigenicity and/or immunogenicity, and are suitable for inactivating pathogens, or for the preparation of vaccines for a wide variety of pathogens with genomes comprising RNA or DNA, including viruses and bacteria. Also provided are highly immunogenic inactivated vaccine compositions prepared by using any of the disclosed methods, and methods for eliciting an immune response in a subject by administering such vaccine compositions.