The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling peptide display valency on virus-like particles (VLPs), especially including MS2 VLPs. In this method, large amounts of wild-type and low quantities of single-chain dimer coat proteins may be produced from a single RNA. Valency is controlled in immunogen (vaccine) production by providing a system that allows the production of large amounts of wild-type and low quantities of single-chain dimer coating proteins from a single RNA, allowing facile adjustment of display valency levels on VLPs, especially MS2 VLPS over a wide range, from few than one-on average- to as many as ninety per particle. This facilitates the production of immunogens and vaccines, including VLPs exhibiting low valency. Nucleic acid constructs useful in the expression of virus-like particles are disclosed, comprised of a coat polypeptide of MS2 modified by insertion of a heterologous peptide, wherein the heterologous peptide is displayed on the virus-like particle and encapsidates MS2 niRNA. Nucleic acid constructs are also disclosed which are useful in the expression of virus-like particles comprised of a coat polypeptide of PP7 modified by insertion of a heterologous peptide, wherein the heterologous peptide is displayed on the virus-like particle and encapsidates PP7 mRNA.

The invention describes recombinant DNA sequences transcribed into RNA constructs capable of forming Virus Like Particles (VLPs) suitable for insect control applications.

The invention describes recombinant DNA sequences transcribed into RNA constructs capable of forming Virus Like Particles (VLPs) suitable for insect control applications. Specifically, the disclosure provides a method for controlling target insects comprising, transforming a microbial host with a first DNA sequence comprising a gene encoding a bacteriophage capsid protein and a second DNA sequence encoding an RNA transcript comprising at least one bacteriophage pac sequence coupled to an RNAi precursor sequence, inducing the microbial host to express the first and second DNA sequences, isolating virus-like-particles (VLPs) comprising the capsid protein and RNAi precursor from the microbial host, and contacting the isolated VLPs with the target insects.

The invention describes recombinant DNA sequences transcribed into RNA constructs capable of forming Virus Like Particles (VLPs) suitable for insect control applications. Specifically, the disclosure provides a method for controlling target insects comprising, transforming a microbial host with a first DNA sequence comprising a gene encoding a bacteriophage capsid protein and a second DNA sequence encoding an RNA transcript comprising at least one bacteriophage pac sequence coupled to an RNAi precursor sequence, inducing the microbial host to express the first and second DNA sequences, isolating virus-like-particles (VLPs) comprising the capsid protein and RNAi precursor from the microbial host, and contacting the isolated VLPs with the target insects.