An antiviral peptide provided according to the present invention includes (1) an amino acid sequence (TM sequence) constituting a transmembrane region of G protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) or a modified amino acid sequence formed by conservative substitutions of 1, 2, or 3 amino acid residues in the TM sequence; and (2) an amino acid sequence (CPP sequence) functioning as a cell penetrating peptide (CPP), wherein a total number of amino acid residues is 100 or less.

This document provides methods and materials related to vesicular stomatitis viruses. For example, replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses, nucleic acid molecules encoding replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses, methods for making replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses, and methods for using replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses to treat cancer or infectious diseases are provided.

Provided herein are methods for enhancing infection, growth, spread, or titer of an oncolytic RNA virus in a cancer or tumor cell; enhancing the oncolytic activity, cytokine-induced cell death activity, and/or cytotoxic activity of an oncolytic RNA virus in a cancer or tumor cell; upregulating cytokine response to, and/or enhancing the immunotherapeutic activity of an oncolytic RNA virus in a cancer or tumor cell; and/or treating a tumor or cancer in a subject in need thereof. Such methods employ a vanadium-containing compound, administered to the cancer or tumor cells before, after, or concurrently with infection of the cancer or tumor cells with the oncolytic RNA virus. Related compositions, uses, and kits therefor are also provided. Methods for producing RNA viruses, RNA virus-based cancer vaccines, and RNA virus-based cancer gene therapy vectors are also provided.

Embodiments of the invention include compositions and methods related to non-VSV rhabdoviruses and their use as anti-cancer therapeutics. Such rhabdoviruses possess tumor cell killing properties in vitro and in vivo.

This document provides methods and materials related to vesicular stomatitis viruses. For example, replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses, nucleic acid molecules encoding replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses, methods for making replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses, and methods for using replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses to treat cancer or infectious diseases are provided.

The present invention relates generally to the field of cancer therapy and oncolytic viruses. More particularly, it concerns armed, chimeric oncolytic viruses.

Certain embodiments are directed to recombinant vesiculovirus encoding a heterologous polynucleotide and methods of using the same.

This document provides methods and materials related to vesicular stomatitis viruses. For example, replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses, nucleic acid molecules encoding replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses, methods for making replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses, and methods for using replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses to treat cancer or infectious diseases are provided.

The present invention relates to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) matrix (M) protein mutants. One mutant M protein includes a glycine changed to a glutamic acid at position 21, a leucine changed to a phenylalanine at position 111 and a methionine changed to an arginine at position 51. Another M protein mutant includes a glycine changed to a glutamic acid at position 22 and a methionine changed to an arginine at positions 48 and 51. Yet another VSV M protein mutant includes a glycine changed to a glutamic acid at position 22, a leucine changed to a phenylalanine at position 110 and a methionine changed to an arginine at positions 48 and 51. The present invention is directed also to recombinant VSVs (rVSV) having these M mutants and to vaccines based on the rVSV having the M mutants of the present invention. These new rVSVs having the mutant M were significantly attenuated and lost virulence, including neurovirulence, and are capable of inducing an immune responses against an antigen of interest. In addition, a rVSV serotype Indiana having the first described M mutant is capable of efficient replication at 31 C., and of poor replication or incapable of replication at about 37 C. or higher.

The present invention relates to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) matrix (M) protein mutants. One mutant M protein includes a glycine changed to a glutamic acid at position 21, a leucine changed to a phenylalanine at position 111 and a methionine changed to an arginine at position 51. Another M protein mutant includes a glycine changed to a glutamic acid at position 22 and a methionine changed to an arginine at positions 48 and 51. Yet another VSV M protein mutant includes a glycine changed to a glutamic acid at position 22, a leucine changed to a phenylalanine at position 110 and a methionine changed to an arginine at positions 48 and 51. The present invention is directed also to recombinant VSVs (rVSV) having these M mutants and to vaccines based on the rVSV having the M mutants of the present invention. These new rVSVs having the mutant M were significantly attenuated and lost virulence, including neurovirulence, and are capable of inducing an immune responses against an antigen of interest. In addition, a rVSV serotype Indiana having the first described M mutant is capable of efficient replication at 31 C., and of poor replication or incapable of replication at about 37 C. or higher.