A method for synthesizing influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) within a plant or a portion of a plant is provided. The method involves expression of influenza HA in plants and the purification by size exclusion chromatography. The invention is also directed towards a VLP comprising influenza HA protein and plant lipids. The invention is also directed to a nucleic acid encoding influenza HA as well as vectors. The VLPs may be used to formulate influenza vaccines, or may be used to enrich existing vaccines.

Plants and plant produced compositions which include Coronavirus S proteins are disclosed. These may be used as vaccines, boosters or immune modulators. The compositions have been shown to reduce the inflammatory cytokine response by altering cytokine levels when administered to an animal. The compositions may be used as an immune modulator to reduce/ameliorate or prevent the cytokine storm often associated with Coronavirus or other virus infection. The compositions may also be used to produce additive protection when administered with any vaccine composition to increase vaccine effectiveness. The compositions when used as vaccines have been shown to protect newborn animals through passive immunity.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 antigen virus-like particles (VLPs) and recombinant immune complexes (RICs) are described, along with methods of making said VLPs and RICs in plants and using said VLPs and RICs to induce an immune response in a subject.

A suprastructure comprising a modified influenza hemagglutinin (HA) is provided. The modified HA may comprise one or more than one alteration that reduces non-cognate binding of the modified HA to sialic acid (SA) on the surface of a cell, while maintaining cognate interaction with the cell, such as a B cell. A composition comprising the suprastructure and modified HA and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is also described. A method of increasing an immunological response or inducing immunity in response to a vaccine comprising the suprastructure and modified HA is also provided.

Plant-based, edible vaccines are provided. The vaccines are or are made from plants that are genetically engineered to express antigens of disease-causing microbes, for example, antigens of the MERS-CoV virus, such as the S1 subunit of the spike protein.

Increased antigenicity of a membrane-bound polypeptide produced from a plant is provided in a process in which extraction of the polypeptide or other compounds from the plant is such that phospholipids are associated with the polypeptide. Reducing fat by supercritical fluid extraction increases antigenicity of such plant-produced membrane-bound polypeptides. Methods and means of producing such membrane-bound polypeptides are provided. Methods to produce a protective response in animals are provided by administering to the animal the membrane-bound polypeptide. Binding of antibody specific to the membrane-bound polypeptide is increased. The process provides for increased preferred formation of the membrane-bound polypeptide. Stability of the membrane-bound polypeptide is increased when the plant material is defatted.

The present disclosure provides non-parenteral compositions comprising a recombinant Spirulina comprising at least one exogenous therapeutic. Compositions of the present disclosure can be used as vaccines and/or therapeutic drugs. The present disclosure also provides methods of making recombinant Spirulina comprising at least one exogenous therapeutic, and methods of treatment.

Methods of preparing plant-derived virus like particles (VLPs) are provided. The method may comprise obtaining a plant, or plant matter comprising apoplast-localized VLPs, producing a protoplast/spheroplast fraction and apoplast fraction from the plant or plant matter, and recovering the apoplast fraction. The apoplast fraction comprises plant-derived VLPs. Alternatively, VLPs may be obtained from plant or plant matter comprising plant-derived VLPs by digesting the plant matter using a cell wall degrading enzyme composition to produced a digested fraction. The digested fraction is filtered to produced a filtered fraction, and the plant-derived VLPs are recovered from the filtered fraction.

Methods of preparing plant-derived proteins or suprastructure proteins, are provided. The method may comprise obtaining a plant, or plant matter comprising apoplast-localized proteins, or suprastructure proteins, producing a protoplast/spheroplast fraction and apoplast fraction from the plant or plant matter, and recovering the apoplast fraction. The apoplast fraction comprises plant-derived proteins or suprastructure proteins. Alternatively, the proteins, or suprastructure proteins, may be obtained from plant or plant matter comprising plant-derived proteins or suprastructure proteins, by digesting the plant matter using a cell wall degrading enzyme composition to produced a digested fraction. The digested fraction is filtered to produced a filtered fraction, and the plant-derived proteins or suprastructure proteins, are recovered from the filtered fraction.

Methods of vaccination of animals are provided. In an embodiment, a paired administration of a primer vaccine provides for non-oral administration of a vaccine and an oral administration of the vaccine and can be followed by a paired administration of a booster vaccine of a non-oral administration and an oral administration. Embodiments provide the non-oral and oral administration are within three days of each other. The methods provide for improved protective response in an animal compared to administration of a primer non-oral administered vaccine followed by three booster non-oral administered vaccines. An adjuvant is provided that is a microcrystalline polysaccharide-based adjuvant derived from delta inulin.