This invention relates generally to compositions for making anellovectors and uses thereof.

The present invention relates to the preparation of the recombinant antigen of the viral capsid of Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) and modifications thereof, upon expression in a prokaryotic system, purification in the monomer form, recovery of virus-like particles (VLPs) and their use in vaccine formulations, diagnostic kits and a system for quantifying in vaccine lots of the PCV-2 antigen by means of a capture ELISA assay. The antigens and vaccine formulations can be used in animal's immunization in programs for combatting PCV-2-associated diseases in conventional swine breeding systems, and represent alternatives to the commercially available vaccines. The ELISA kit can be used for testing the quality of commercial and/or experimental vaccines against PCV-2.

A method of enhancing immune response in hosts, including vaccinating the hosts with a immunogenic composition, so as to enhance antibody immune response and/or cellular immune response to an immunogen. The immunogenic composition includes the immunogen and an adjuvant additive. The adjuvant additive includes a receptor associated protein (RAP) having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and/or a pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE) protein.

Provided herein is a mammalian expression system for producing recombinant porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) virus-like particles (VLPs). The expression system includes a mammalian cell and a plasmid that comprises a PCV2 gene encoding a capsid protein. The PCV2 gene is codon optimized, and the mammalian cell is transfected with the plasmid. The expression system produces recombinant PCV2 VLPs, such as PCV2d VLPs. Also provided herein are a method for producing porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) virus-like particles (VLPs), as well as a PCV2 VLP generated by the method.

The present invention relates to recombinantly constructed polypeptides useful for preparing vaccines, in particular for reducing one or more clinical signs caused by an infection with at least one pathogen, such as clinical signs caused by a viral infection. More particular, the present invention is directed to a polypeptide comprising a Circoviridae capsid protein linked to a heterologous protein or fragment thereof, and to chimeric virus-like particles composed of such polypeptides. In one example, a fusion protein is provided which comprises PCV2 ORF2 protein linked to an immunogenic fragment of rotavirus VP8 protein, and which is usable for reducing one or more clinical signs, mortality or fecal shedding caused by a rotavirus infection in swine.

Provided is PCV2 VLP that can be used as a vaccine for use in the field of animal husbandry and that has high molecular stability against physicochemical load. A fusion protein according to the present invention includes a capsid protein of porcine circovirus type 2 and an immunoglobulin-binding domain.

The present invention relates to the field of veterinary vaccines, in particular to porcine vaccines against PCV2 and associated diseases. Specifically the invention relates to the finding that a mutation is required in PCV2b ORF2 protein, to prevent its nuclear accumulation upon expression in insect cells; the mutation introduces a Proline at amino acid position 131. This allows efficient expression in insect cells, easy harvesting, and generates large amounts of virus-like particles. The VLPs are highly effective in vaccines for porcines for reduction of infection by PCV2 or of associated signs of disease.

The present invention relates to a technique of preparing a vaccine composition from PCV2 isolated from a plant transformed with a chlorophyll-targeting recombinant vector for expression in plants and provides a recombinant vector carrying a polynucleotide coding for a recombinant protein in which a chlorophyll-targeting protein and a PCV2 capsid protein are fused to each other. In addition, provided are a transgenic plant transformed with the recombinant vector, a method for isolating and purifying a target protein from the transgenic plant, a method for preparing a vaccine composition containing virus-like particles by using same, and a vaccine composition prepared by the preparation method.

Vaccination methods to control PCV2 infection with different PCV2 subtypes are disclosed. Specifically, a PCV2 subtype b (PCV2b) ORF2 proteins or immunogenic compositions comprising a PCV2b ORF2 protein are used in a method for the treatment or prevention of an infection with PCV2 of the same PCV2b and/or different subtype; the reduction, prevention or treatment of clinical signs caused by an infection with PCV2 of the same PCV2b or a different subtype; and/or the prevention or treatment of a disease caused by an infection with PCV2 of the same PCV2b and/or a different subtype. The present invention in particular relates to PCV2 subtype b (PCV2b) ORF2 proteins characterized in that they contain at least one mutation in the BC loop that such that the expressed protein is preferably expressed in a higher amount compared to a PCV2 ORF2 protein that does not contain such mutation.

Vaccination methods to control PCV2 infection with different PCV2 subtypes are disclosed. Specifically, a PCV2 subtype b (PCV2b) ORF2 proteins or immunogenic compositions comprising a PCV2b ORF2 protein are used in a method for the treatment or prevention of an infection with PCV2 of the same PCV2b and/or different subtype; the reduction, prevention or treatment of clinical signs caused by an infection with PCV2 of the same PCV2b or a different subtype; and/or the prevention or treatment of a disease caused by an infection with PCV2 of the same PCV2b and/or a different subtype. The present invention in particular relates to PCV2 subtype b (PCV2b) ORF2 proteins characterized in that they contain at least one mutation in the BC loop that such that the expressed protein is preferably expressed in a higher amount compared to a PCV2 ORF2 protein that does not contain such mutation.