Ebolavirus is a highly lethal filovirus that causes hemorrhagic fever in humans and non-human primates. With no approved treatments or preventatives, the development of an anti-ebolavirus therapy to protect against natural infections and potential weaponization is an urgent unmet global health need. The design, biophysical characterization, and validation of peptide mimics of the ebolavirus N-trimer (“N-trimer mimics”) are described herein.

Described is a construct comprising (a) a targeting moiety; (b) a fusogenic moiety consisting one or more fusogenic sequence(s) derived from dengue virus glycoprotein E comprising the sequence DRGWGNGCGLFGKGGI (SEQ ID NO:1) or a sequence which shows 1 to 8 substitutions, deletions, or insertions in comparison to SEQ ID NO:1; and (c) a molecule which is to be delivered into the cytoplasm of a cell. Moreover, described is a pharmaceutical composition comprising the construct according to the invention and optionally a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier. Further, described is a kit comprising one or more fusogenic sequence(s) derived from dengue virus glycoprotein E comprising the sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or a sequence which shows 1 to 8 substitutions, deletions, or insertions in comparison to SEQ ID NO:1. Further, described is the use of one or more fusogenic sequence(s) derived from dengue virus glycoprotein E for use in delivery of a therapeutic moiety, a detectable moiety, a nucleic acid molecule, preferably an siRNA, a carrier molecule, preferably a nanoparticle, a liposome and a viral vector into the cytoplasm of a cell.

The present invention provides a method for generating an immune response in a subject, comprising administering to the subject's skin an immunizing composition from a SARS-CoV-2 pathogen, wherein the composition is administered with a microneedle delivery device.

The present invention provides a method for generating an immune response in a subject, comprising administering to the subject's skin an immunizing composition from a SARS-CoV-2 pathogen, wherein the composition is administered with a microneedle delivery device.

Disclosed herein are virus-like particle (VLP)-based bivalent vaccine compositions. The compositions may comprise a spherical retroviral Group-specific Antigen (“Gag”) protein core and at least two Ebola glycoproteins. The at least two Ebola glycoproteins may be located at the exterior surface of the spherical Gag protein core, such that the VLP-based vaccine presents at least two Ebola glycoprotein antigens. In one aspect, the at least two Ebola glycoproteins are a Zaire (EBOV) glycoprotein, and a Sudan (SUDV) glycoprotein.

Disclosed herein are virus-like particle (VLP)-based bivalent vaccine compositions. The compositions may comprise a spherical retroviral Group-specific Antigen (“Gag”) protein core and at least two Ebola glycoproteins. The at least two Ebola glycoproteins may be located at the exterior surface of the spherical Gag protein core, such that the VLP-based vaccine presents at least two Ebola glycoprotein antigens. In one aspect, the at least two Ebola glycoproteins are a Zaire (EBOV) glycoprotein, and a Sudan (SUDV) glycoprotein.

The invention relates to fusion proteins, and to the use of fusion proteins (or genetic constructs or vectors encoding such fusion proteins) to vaccinate against viral infections. The invention extends to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such fusion proteins or constructs for preventing and treating viral infections, and to methods and uses thereof.

The invention generally provides compositions and methods of treating or preventing an arenavirus infection, using an agent that inhibits binding of an arenavirus glycoprotein 1 (GP1) polypeptide to transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1). The invention also provides methods of designing or identifying therapeutic agents that bind to or target a GP1 receptor-binding site (RBS) to inhibit arenavirus attachment to a cell, and therapeutic agents identified using the methods.

The invention generally provides compositions and methods of treating or preventing an arenavirus infection, using an agent that inhibits binding of an arenavirus glycoprotein 1 (GP1) polypeptide to transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1). The invention also provides methods of designing or identifying therapeutic agents that bind to or target a GP1 receptor-binding site (RBS) to inhibit arenavirus attachment to a cell, and therapeutic agents identified using the methods.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for transducing cells (e.g. T cells or immune cells). Also provided herein are methods of treating a disease in a subject in need thereof.