Transcriptional units encoding Zika virus (ZIKV) premembrane (prM) and envelope (E) proteins, which upon translation form Zika virus-like particles (VLPs), are described. Use of the transcriptional units and VLPs in three different ZIKV vaccine platforms is described. Immunoassay-based detection methods using ZIKV VLPs are described for the diagnosis of ZIKV infection.

Insecticidal toxins described herein are fused toxin peptides made up of a targeting domain fused to a toxin domain. The targeting peptide generates a specific association with mosquitoes by causing the fused toxin peptide to bind mosquitoes in a way that leads to the insecticidal activity. Transgenic plants described herein are mosquitocidal by expressing an insecticidal toxin protein in nectar that includes a targeting peptide to ensure specificity against mosquitoes. These transgenic plants serve as role models for safety, since they are non-crop plants and specific to one mosquito species.

Described herein are Zika virus vaccines and compositions and methods of producing and administering said vaccines to subjects in need thereof.

The disclosure provides materials in the form of flavivirus variants that each encode a Non-Structural Protein-1 (NS1) variant, wherein the coding region is a chimera of at least two different NS1 coding regions, or wherein the coding region has at least one mutation in a codon of a canonical Asn-Xxx-Ser/Thr N-linked glycosylation site, wherein Asn is asparagine, Xxx is any amino acid, and Ser/Thr is either serine or threonine, or wherein the coding region is both a chimera and has at least one mutation in a codon of a canonical N-liked glycosylation site, wherein Asn is asparagine, Xxx is any amino acid, and Ser/Thr is either serine or threonine. The disclosure also provides methods of using such flavivirus variants to inhibit the transmission of infectious flavivirus.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to nucleic acid vaccines. The vaccines include one or more RNA polynucleotides having an open reading frame encoding one or more Chikungunya antigen(s), one or more Zika virus antigens, and one or more Dengue antigens. Methods for preparing and using such vaccines are also described.

The present invention provides compositions and methods of use comprising a chimeric dengue virus E glycoprotein comprising a dengue virus E glycoprotein backbone, which comprises amino acid substitutions that may introduce an epitope that is recognized by an antibody from a dengue virus serotype that is different from the dengue virus serotype of the dengue virus E glycoprotein backbone.

Described herein are processes for purifying infectious virus particles and uses of protamine in such processes.

Insecticidal toxins described herein are fused toxin peptides made up of a targeting domain fused to a toxin domain. The targeting peptide generates a specific association with mosquitoes by causing the fused toxin peptide to bind mosquitoes in a way that leads to the insecticidal activity. Transgenic plants described herein are mosquitocidal by expressing an insecticidal toxin protein in nectar that includes a targeting peptide to ensure specificity against mosquitoes. These transgenic plants serve as role models for safety, since they are non-crop plants and specific to one mosquito species.

The invention provides a vaccine composition comprising a flavivirus peptide comprising one or more CD8+ T cell epitopes, wherein the peptide is attached to a nanoparticle.

Chimeric flaviviruses engineered to contain a reporter gene and chimeric nucleic acid molecules encoding the chimeric flaviviruses are described. The chimeric flaviviruses further include genomic non-coding regions, non-structural proteins, and at least a portion of a capsid (C) protein from West Nile virus (WNV), and premembrane (prM) and envelope (E) proteins from dengue virus (DENV). Diagnostic assays that utilize chimeric West Nile/dengue viruses are further described.