Provided herein are, inter alia, methods and compositions for treating and preventing arenavirus infection. Compositions include recombinant arenavirus glycoproteins that are able to form glycoprotein timers. The glycoprotein timers are contemplated to be effective for preventing and/or treating arenavirus infections.

Provided herein are, inter alia, methods and compositions for treating and preventing arenavirus infection. Compositions include recombinant arenavirus glycoproteins that are able to form glycoprotein timers. The glycoprotein timers are contemplated to be effective for preventing and/or treating arenavirus infections.

The purpose of the present invention is to develop a virus vector, the activity of which is rendered controllable. A virus protein gene derived from an RNA virus is provided in which a gene encoding an optical switch protein is inserted into a foreign gene introducible region of the virus protein so as to enable expression of the gene. By means of this virus vector, it is possible to control, with irradiation of light, enzyme activity of the virus protein and virus vector activity based thereon.

The purpose of the present invention is to develop a virus vector, the activity of which is rendered controllable. A virus protein gene derived from an RNA virus is provided in which a gene encoding an optical switch protein is inserted into a foreign gene introducible region of the virus protein so as to enable expression of the gene. By means of this virus vector, it is possible to control, with irradiation of light, enzyme activity of the virus protein and virus vector activity based thereon.

The present invention provides peptide compounds that regulate the complement system and methods of using these compounds. The invention is an isolated, purified peptide of 30 amino acids derived from human astrovirus protein, called CP1. The invention is directed to peptide compounds that are peptide mimetics, peptide analogs and/or synthetic derivatives of CP1 having, for example, internal peptide deletions and substitutions, deletions and substitutions at the N-terminus and C-terminus, and that are able to regulate complement activation. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions of therapeutically effective amounts of the peptide compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent, or excipient for treating a disease or condition associated with complement-mediated tissue damage.

The present invention provides peptide compounds that regulate the complement system and methods of using these compounds. The invention is an isolated, purified peptide of 30 amino acids derived from human astrovirus protein, called CP1. The invention is directed to peptide compounds that are peptide mimetics, peptide analogs and/or synthetic derivatives of CP1 having, for example, internal peptide deletions and substitutions, deletions and substitutions at the N-terminus and C-terminus, and that are able to regulate complement activation. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions of therapeutically effective amounts of the peptide compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent, or excipient for treating a disease or condition associated with complement-mediated tissue damage.

Provided herein are engineered hMPV F proteins. In some aspects, the engineered F proteins exhibit enhanced conformational stability and/or antigenicity. Methods are also provided for use of the engineered F proteins as diagnostics, in screening platforms, and/or in vaccine compositions.

Provided herein are engineered hMPV F proteins. In some aspects, the engineered F proteins exhibit enhanced conformational stability and/or antigenicity. Methods are also provided for use of the engineered F proteins as diagnostics, in screening platforms, and/or in vaccine compositions.

According to some embodiments, a carrier for reducing a likelihood of a pathogen binding to cell structures of a host comprises a core, surface features extending from an exterior surface of the core, wherein the surface features are configured to bind to target areas of cell structures of the host to at least partially block the pathogen from binding to said target areas as a result of competitive inhibition, and a plurality of binding sites along the exterior surface, wherein the binding sites are configured to attract at least one portion of the pathogen, wherein the binding sites are recognizable by the pathogen and are able to be bound by the pathogen, thereby at least partially immobilizing the pathogen and reducing the likelihood of the pathogen binding to target areas of cell structures of the host.

According to some embodiments, a carrier for reducing a likelihood of a pathogen binding to cell structures of a host comprises a core, surface features extending from an exterior surface of the core, wherein the surface features are configured to bind to target areas of cell structures of the host to at least partially block the pathogen from binding to said target areas as a result of competitive inhibition, and a plurality of binding sites along the exterior surface, wherein the binding sites are configured to attract at least one portion of the pathogen, wherein the binding sites are recognizable by the pathogen and are able to be bound by the pathogen, thereby at least partially immobilizing the pathogen and reducing the likelihood of the pathogen binding to target areas of cell structures of the host.