The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling peptide display valency on virus-like particles (VLPs), especially including MS2 VLPs. In this method, large amounts of wild-type and low quantities of single-chain dimer coat proteins may be produced from a single RNA. Valency is controlled in immunogen (vaccine) production by providing a system that allows the production of large amounts of wild-type and low quantities of single-chain dimer coating proteins from a single RNA, allowing facile adjustment of display valency levels on VLPs, especially MS2 VLPS over a wide range, from few than one-on average- to as many as ninety per particle. This facilitates the production of immunogens and vaccines, including VLPs exhibiting low valency. Nucleic acid constructs useful in the expression of virus-like particles are disclosed, comprised of a coat polypeptide of MS2 modified by insertion of a heterologous peptide, wherein the heterologous peptide is displayed on the virus-like particle and encapsidates MS2 niRNA. Nucleic acid constructs are also disclosed which are useful in the expression of virus-like particles comprised of a coat polypeptide of PP7 modified by insertion of a heterologous peptide, wherein the heterologous peptide is displayed on the virus-like particle and encapsidates PP7 mRNA.

The present disclosure provides adjuvanting systems comprising: (a) a polyI:C polynucleotide adjuvant; (b) a lipid-based adjuvant; (c) an amphipathic compound; and (d) a hydrophobic carrier. Also provided are vaccine compositions that are water-free or substantially free of water, which comprise the same components together with one or more antigens. The disclosure also provides uses for such compositions in inducing an antibody (humoral) and/or cell-mediated immune response and methods for their use in the treatment of a disease, disorder or ailment ameliorated by an antibody and/or cell-mediated immune response.

The present disclosure provides adjuvanting systems comprising: (a) a polyI:C polynucleotide adjuvant; (b) a lipid-based adjuvant; (c) an amphipathic compound; and (d) a hydrophobic carrier. Also provided are vaccine compositions that are water-free or substantially free of water, which comprise the same components together with one or more antigens. The disclosure also provides uses for such compositions in inducing an antibody (humoral) and/or cell-mediated immune response and methods for their use in the treatment of a disease, disorder or ailment ameliorated by an antibody and/or cell-mediated immune response.

A vaccine vector comprising a first polynucleotide encoding the antigenic polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, or any combination thereof.

Embodied herein are engineered fusion proteins that bind and target nociceptor neurons, compositions comprising these engineered fusion proteins, and methods for treatment of pain using these engineered fusion proteins or compositions containing the engineered fusion proteins. The engineered fusion proteins contain domains derived from protein toxins such as the anthrax toxin, clostridial botulinum family of toxins, disulphide-containing toxins, and AB component type toxins.

Embodied herein are engineered fusion proteins that bind and target nociceptor neurons, compositions comprising these engineered fusion proteins, and methods for treatment of pain using these engineered fusion proteins or compositions containing the engineered fusion proteins. The engineered fusion proteins contain domains derived from protein toxins such as the anthrax toxin, clostridial botulinum family of toxins, disulphide-containing toxins, and AB component type toxins.

A vaccine vector comprising a first polynucleotide encoding the antigenic polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, or any combination thereof.

In certain aspects, the disclosure relates to a virus engineered to comprise one or more polynucleotides that promote thanotransmission by a target cell. Thanotransmission is communication between cells that is a result of activation of a cell turnover pathway in a target cell, which signals a responding cell to undergo a biological response. Methods of promoting thanotransmission by a target cell, methods of promoting an immune response in a subject, and methods of treating cancer in a subject are also disclosed.

In certain aspects, the disclosure relates to a virus engineered to comprise one or more polynucleotides that promote thanotransmission by a target cell. Thanotransmission is communication between cells that is a result of activation of a cell turnover pathway in a target cell, which signals a responding cell to undergo a biological response. Methods of promoting thanotransmission by a target cell, methods of promoting an immune response in a subject, and methods of treating cancer in a subject are also disclosed.

A composition and methods of using the composition for the control of mollusks are provided, which include an effective amount of one or more isolated Phasmarhabditis nematodes, wherein at least one of the isolated nematodes is P. californica, P. papillosa or P. hermaphrodita, and wherein the P. hermaphrodita does not comprise Moraxella osloensis.