The invention is related to a dengue virus or chimeric dengue virus that contains a mutation in the 3′ untranslated region (3′-UTR) comprising a Δ30 mutation that removes the TL-2 homologous structure in each of the dengue virus serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, and nucleotides additional to the Δ30 mutation deleted from the 3′-UTR that removes sequence in the 5′ direction as far as the 5′ boundary of the TL-3 homologous structure in each of the dengue serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, or a replacement of the 3′-UTR of a dengue virus of a first serotype with the 3′-UTR of a dengue virus of a second serotype, optionally containing the Δ30 mutation and nucleotides additional to the Δ30 mutation deleted from the 3′-UTR; and immunogenic compositions, methods of inducing an immune response, and methods of producing a dengue virus or chimeric dengue virus.

The invention features compositions and methods for the prevention or treatment of one or more strains of Chikungunya virus, as well as other alphavirus-mediated diseases.

The disclosure relates to defective interfering viruses and defective interfering virus RNAs that are effective as antiviral agents. The disclosure also relates to methods for identifying defective interfering virus RNAs that can be used as effective antiviral agents.

An expression enhancer comprising a CPMV 5′UTR nucleotide sequence consisting of X nucleotides (CMPVX), where X=160, 155, 150, or 114 of SEQ ID NO:1, or consisting of a nucleotide sequence comprising from about 80% to 100% sequence similarity with CMPVX, where X=160, 155, 150, or 114 of SEQ ID NO:1 SEQ ID NO:1 is provided. The expression enhancer may further comprise a stuffer sequence fused to the 3′ end of the 5′UTR nucleotide sequence (CMPVX+, where X=160, 155, 150, or 114 of SEQ ID NO:1). The stuffer sequence may comprise one or more plant kozak sequences. Plants comprising the expression enhancer and methods using the expression enhancer are also described.

The invention is related to a dengue virus or chimeric dengue virus that contains a mutation in the 3′ untranslated region (3′-UTR) comprising a Δ30 mutation that removes the TL-2 homologous structure in each of the dengue virus serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, and nucleotides additional to the Δ30 mutation deleted from the 3′-UTR that removes sequence in the 5′ direction as far as the 5′ boundary of the TL-3 homologous structure in each of the dengue serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, or a replacement of the 3′-UTR of a dengue virus of a first serotype with the 3′-UTR of a dengue virus of a second serotype, optionally containing the Δ30 mutation and nucleotides additional to the Δ30 mutation deleted from the 3′-UTR; and immunogenic compositions, methods of inducing an immune response, and methods of producing a dengue virus or chimeric dengue virus.

The compositions and methods are described for generating an immune response to an antigen. The compositions and methods described herein relate to a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector encoding one or more viral antigens as a fusion product with a viral glycoprotein and matrix protein for generating a protective immune response to a subject to which the vector is administered. The compositions and methods of the present invention are useful both prophylactically and therapeutically and may be used to prevent and/or treat diseases.

The compositions and methods are described for generating an immune response to a tumor associated antigen such as MUC1. The compositions and methods described herein relate to a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector encoding one or more viral antigens for generating a protective immune response to a neoplasm expressing the tumor associated antigen in the subject to which the vector is administered. The compositions and methods of the present invention are useful both prophylactically and therapeutically and may be used to prevent and/or treat neoplasms and associated diseases.

The present invention relates to a retro viral system for the transfer of non-viral RNA into target cells and more particularly a retroviral particle capable of delivering multiple RNAs. More particularly, it relates to retroviral particles comprising a protein derived from the Gag polyprotein, an envelope protein, optionally an integrase and at least two encapsidated non-viral RNAs, the encapsidated non-viral RNAs each comprising an RNA sequence of interest linked to an encapsidation sequence, each encapsidation sequence being recognised by a binding domain introduced into the protein derived from the Gag polyprotein and/or into the integrase.

The present invention relates to a retroviral system for the transfer of non-viral RNA into target cells and more particularly a retroviral particle capable of delivering multiple RNAs. More particularly, it relates to retroviral particles comprising a protein derived from the Gag polyprotein an envelope protein, optionally an integrase and at least two encapsidated non-viral RNAs, the encapsidated non-viral RNAs each comprising an RNA sequence of interest linked to an encapsidation sequence, each encapsidation sequence being recognised by a binding domain introduced into the protein derived from the Gag polyprotein and/or into the integrase.

The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding a recombinant human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strain, dense bodies produced by said HCMV strain and preparations of said dense bodies for use in medicine, particularly as a vaccine against HCMV.