Disclosed herein are nuclease-based systems for genome editing and methods of using the system for genome editing. Also, disclosed are approaches to enhance Cas9-mediated gene editing efficiency in primary human cells with minimal toxicity when using adeno-associated virus vectors (AAV) to express the guide RNAs necessary for CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing in the presence of helper proteins.

Phage 241 specific for Escherichia coli O157:H7 was isolated from an industrial cucumber fermentation where both acidity (pH3.7) and salinity (5% NaCI) were high. A method for preparing a food item at least substantially free of Escherichia coli O157:H7 contamination contacted the food item with a bacteriophage 241 under conditions for the bacteriophage 241 to lyse all or substantially all the Escherichia coli O157:H7 present in the food item, while Escherichia coli strains other than O157:H7 were not affected. A method for detecting the presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 by contacting a bacteriophage 241 with a food item is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to the field of (vector) vaccines, and especially to novel promoter sequences, expression cassettes and vectors, which are suitable to express genes of interest, especially antigen encoding sequences. The viral vectors of the present invention are useful for producing an immunogenic composition or vaccine.

Described herein are mutant pneumoviruses comprising a nucleotide sequence which encodes a mutated zinc binding motif in an M2-1 protein of the pneumovirus, wherein the zinc binding motif is mutated relative to wild-type pneumovirus. The mutant pneumoviruses described herein grow to high titer in cell culture, are genetically stable, are attenuated in vitro and in vivo, and are highly immunogenic. Also described herein are vaccines and vaccine compositions comprising the live attenuated mutant pneumoviruses. Vaccine compositions can further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, vehicle, excipient, and/or adjuvant. Methods for inducing a protective immune response in a subject against a pneumovirus infection are also described and disclosed. The vaccine compositions and methods described herein can be used to prevent metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus infection in humans, respiratory syncytial virus infection in cattle, avian metapneumovirus infection in various avian species, and pneumonia virus of mice in rodents.

The present disclosure is directed to methods for determining the presence and/or amount of norovirus-reactive antibodies in a sample from a subject. The subject may be vaccinated with a norovirus vaccine or infected with a norovirus. The present disclosure further relates to in vitro methods for diagnosing a norovirus infection and determining protection against a norovirus infection in a subject for instance after vaccination with a norovirus vaccine. The present disclosure is further directed to kits for determining norovirus-reactive antibodies in a sample. The present disclosure is further directed to microsphere complexes comprising microspheres coupled to norovirus virus like particles.

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 30 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 30 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 30 mutation and nucleotides additional to the 30 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 provides compositions of matter comprising a cowpea chlorotic mottle virus capsid protein (CCMV CP) and a ribonucleic acid, as well as methods for using such compositions. In such compositions, the cowpea chlorotic mottle virus capsid protein envelops the ribonucleic acid so as to for a capsid that can inhibit the degradation of the ribonucleic acid (e.g. by RNAses). A method of delivering a ribonucleic acid into the cytoplasm of a mammalian cell is also provided. Typically, the method comprises the steps of combining the mammalian cell with a composition of matter described herein under conditions selected to allow the cowpea chlorotic mottle virus capsid to contact the mammalian cell and deliver the ribonucleic acid into the cytoplasm of a mammalian cell.

The invention relates to retroviral producer cell comprising nucleic acid sequences encoding: gag and pol proteins; envelope protein or a functional substitute thereof; and the RNA genome of the retroviral vector particle, wherein said nucleic acid sequences are all located at a single locus within the retroviral producer cell genome.

The invention provides compositions of matter comprising a cowpea chlorotic mottle virus capsid protein (CCMV CP) and a ribonucleic acid, as well as methods for using such compositions. In such compositions, the cowpea chlorotic mottle virus capsid protein envelops the ribonucleic acid so as to for a capsid that can inhibit the degradation of the ribonucleic acid (e.g. by RNAses). A method of delivering a ribonucleic acid into the cytoplasm of a mammalian cell is also provided. Typically, the method comprises the steps of combining the mammalian cell with a composition of matter described herein under conditions selected to allow the cowpea chlorotic mottle virus capsid to contact the mammalian cell and deliver the ribonucleic acid into the cytoplasm of a mammalian cell.

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.