An agent is described that includes a plant virus particle or VLP conjugate to TRAIL. Associating TRAIL with the plant virus particle or VLP serves to both target cancer cells and induce their apoptosis. The agent can therefore be used for a method of treating cancer in a subject.

A peptide for targeting MRP-14 has an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 9, and SEQ ID NO: 10.

Photodynamic virus particles including a plant virus particle associated with a photosensitizing agent are described. Methods of treating cancer in a subject by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the photodynamic virus particles and illuminating a cancer-bearing region of the subject to activate the photodynamic virus particles are also described.

Methods and nucleic acid sequences for the synthesis of biotemplates in a non-plant based expression system are provided. Such biotemplates include Barley stripe mosaic virus viral-like particles (BSMV-VLPs) that are capable of self-assembly due to being operatively linked with an origin of self-assembly with the Barley stripe mosaic virus capsid protein (BSMV-CP). Also provided are BSMV-VLPs that are capable of self-assembly due one or more site-directed mutations on the BSMV-CP, and BSMV-VLPs that exhibit enhanced stability due to such site-directed mutation(s).

Photodynamic virus particles including a plant virus particle associated with a photosensitizing agent are described. Methods of treating cancer in a subject by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the photodynamic virus particles and illuminating a cancer-bearing region of the subject to activate the photodynamic virus particles are also described.

Provided herein is a method for stabilising a single stranded RNA (ssRNA) by encapsidation of the ssRNA with a tobamovirus coat protein to obtain a pseudovirion (PsV), the method comprising expressing a tobamovirus coat protein and the ssRNA comprising a tobamovirus encapsidation origin (OriA), wherein the expressed tobamovirus coat protein interacts with the OriA sequence on the ssRNA to initiate encapsidation of the ssRNA by the tobamovirus coat protein, thereby forming a pseudovirion. The PsVs produced according to the method can be used as a diagnostic control composition, where the ssRNA is a sequence detected by a molecular diagnostic assay. The pseudovirions may also be used as a vaccine to elicit an immune response in a subject, and in pharmaceutical compositions to be administered to a subject.

Provided herein is a recombinant rod-shaped viral particle comprising a fusion protein comprising a coat protein for a rod-shaped plant virus and a epitope from a human and/or human pathogen, where the epitope is disposed on the outer surface of the viral particle. In certain cases, the amino acid sequence of the coat protein is at least 40% identical to the amino acid sequence of the Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) coat protein.

The use of biomaterials, such as viruses and virus-like particles, to form nanostructures is generally disclosed. For instance, rod-like viruses can be used to form composite nanofibers that are fixed together in a head-to-tail assembly by a polymer. Also, 2-dimensional nanostructures formed from crosslinked viruses assembled in a single, film-like layer are generally disclosed. Porous gels having controllable pore size through the use of virus particles are also disclosed.

A method of treating cancer in a subject in need thereof includes administering in situ to the cancer a therapeutically effective amount of a virus or virus-like particle.

The present invention relates to nanoparticles and their use to form nanocomposite material, in particular bionanocomposite material, specifically wherein the nanoparticles are formed using plant virus attached to a scaffold of cellulosic material and/or cellulose derived materials, in particular wherein said cellulosic material further comprises plant cell components, for example hemicellulose, pectin, protein or combinations thereof.