Described herein are minimal virus-like particles (mVLPs), comprising a membrane comprising a phospholipid bilayer with one or more ectodomain-truncated VSV envelope glycoproteins on the external side; and a biomolecule cargo disposed in the core of the mVLP on the inside of the membrane. Preferably, the mVLPs do not comprise a protein from viral gag, pro, pol, or other viral proteins that reside inside of enveloped particles. Also described are methods of use of the mVLPs for delivery of the biomolecule cargo to cells.

Described herein are programmable tropism virus-like particles (ptVLPs), comprising a membrane comprising a phospholipid bilayer with one or more wild-type or mutant/truncated virus-derived glycoproteins on the external side. The virus-derived envelope glycoprotein(s) can optionally be fused directly to a targeting domain (e.g., peptide, single chain variable fragment (scFv), nanobody, fibronectin type 3 domain (FN3), arginylglycylaspartic acid motif (RGD), single variable domain on a heavy chain/nanobody (VHH), variable domain of new antigen receptor (VNAR), darpin, or other targeting ligand), and/or can be present in combination with a membrane-anchored targeting domain. A biomolecule cargo (preferably fused to a membrane recruitment domain, such as a Pleckstrin homology domain) can be disposed in the core of the ptVLP. Preferably, the ptVLP does not comprise a protein from any human endogenous or exogenous viral gag, pro, pol, or other viral proteins that reside inside of enveloped particles.

Provided are a self-replicating RNA molecule and uses thereof. The self-replicating RNA molecule includes: a first RNA sequence encoding an N protein or a functional fragment of the N protein, a second RNA sequence encoding a P protein or a functional fragment of the P protein, and a third RNA sequence encoding an L protein or a functional fragment of the L protein. The self-replicating RNA molecule is suitable for producing the N protein, the P protein, the L protein, or the functional fragments thereof in animal cells.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for therapeutic immunization for treatment of infectious diseases and/or cancer. Methods of the invention include a method generating a high titer infectious agent and cancer vector, methods of treating and/or preventing cancer or an infection by an infectious disease, and methods of inducing a memory T and B cell immune response against infectious agent and cancer in a subject administered the VLV composition produced thereby. Furthermore, the invention encompasses a pharmaceutical composition for vaccinating a subject to protect the subject against cancer or an infectious agent.

The present disclosure provides recombinant fusogenic proteins comprising a rhabdovirus glycoprotein (G) and a targeting molecule attached to the N-terminus of the rhabdovirus glycoprotein. Further provided are related recombinant polynucleotides, host cells, and pharmaceutical compositions. Recombinant viruses, e.g., recombinant pseudotyped viruses, and cell-derived nanovesicles comprising the recombinant polynucleotides are also provided. Further provided are methods for using the recombinant fusogenic proteins, polynucleotides, viruses, and cell-derived nanovesicles, and/or pharmaceutical compositions thereof, including their use in the treatment of cancer.

A packaging system for a coronavirus pseudovirus, including a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vector in which Fluc and EGFP dual-reporter genes replace a GP gene, and packaging cell that expresses a coronavirus spike protein. The packaging system may quickly package pseudoviruses by using a one-step packaging method, and may be used in the research of coronaviruses such as COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), SARS (SARS-CoV) and MERS, and other viruses. The packaging system and thereby pseudovirus method may also be used to evaluate the efficacy of disinfectants by means of virus contamination distribution models, setting up scenarios, and sampling and testing steps.