Disclosed herein are recombinant adenoviruses with one or more nucleotide sequences inserted between two viral transcription units, formulations comprising the recombinant adenoviruses, and methods of treatment using the recombinant adenoviruses. In some embodiments, the one or more nucleotide sequences are inserted in an IX-E2 insertion site and/or an L5-E4 insertion site.

CMV vectors that lack active UL128, UL130, UL146 and UL147 proteins that may also comprise one or more microRNA regulatory elements (MRE) that restrict expression of the CMV are provided. Immunization with CMV vectors having the described features allows selection of different CD8+ T cell responses—CD8+ T cells restricted by MHC-Ia, MHC-II, or by MHC-E.

Provided herein are details on the construction of a recombinant African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) live attenuated vaccine for prevention of ASF caused by various strains of ASFV, such as the highly virulent Georgia 2007 isolate (“ASFV-G”). An exemplary vaccine comprises a deletion of multiple genes allowing for industrial-scale growth in stable cell lines.

Provided herein are details on the construction of a recombinant African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) live attenuated vaccine for prevention of ASF caused by various strains of ASFV, such as the highly virulent Georgia 2007 isolate (“ASFV-G”). An exemplary vaccine comprises a deletion of multiple genes allowing for industrial-scale growth in stable cell lines.

The invention relates to a method for selecting a yeast strain having improved capability for fermenting a pentose, advantageously xylose, in the presence of organic acid, advantageously acetic acid, in non-dissociated form, in which at least one yeast strain that is capable of fermenting said pentose is consecutively cultured in the following two media: a first growth medium comprising said pentose as the only carbon source and said organic acid in non-dissociated form; a second growth medium comprising another carbon source as the only carbon source, advantageously glucose, free of said organic acid in non-dissociated form, the consecutive culture in at least said two growth media being repeated at least twice, in the presence of rising concentrations of organic acid in non-dissociated form.

Attenuated viruses and methods of designing them are disclosed. In one embodiment, there is disclosed an attenuated form of a virulent virus comprising an RNA encoding a viral protein or a nucleic acid sequence transcribable to said RNA, wherein the folding energy or structure of the RNA is changed at positions of evolutionarily conserved RNA structures with respect to that of said RNA encoding said viral protein in the virulent virus so as to bring about attenuation of the virus.

Attenuated viruses and methods of designing them are disclosed. In one embodiment, there is disclosed an attenuated form of a virulent virus comprising an RNA encoding a viral protein or a nucleic acid sequence transcribable to said RNA, wherein the folding energy or structure of the RNA is changed at positions of evolutionarily conserved RNA structures with respect to that of said RNA encoding said viral protein in the virulent virus so as to bring about attenuation of the virus.

There is described herein a non-replicating Rhabdovirus-derived particle that lacks the ability to spread between cells while having tropism against immortalized cells. The non-replicating Rhabdovirus-derived particle may have cytolytic tropism against immortalized cells. There is also described a non-replicating Rhabdovirus-derived particle that lacks the ability to spread between cells but has innate and/or adaptive immune-stimulating properties.

An enveloped viral particle producer or packaging cell, wherein the cell is genetically engineered to decrease expression of MHC-I on the surface of the cell.

An enveloped viral particle producer or packaging cell, wherein the cell is genetically engineered to decrease expression of MHC-I on the surface of the cell.