Abstract:
We have generated virus-like particles (VLPs) that can display other proteins through covalent protein-protein linkages mediated by the 'Dock and Lock' interaction between the Drosophila NorpA protein and the C-terminal pentapeptide tail of the InaD protein. This interaction may also be mediated by a portion of the SITAC protein and the Tetraspanin L6 Antigen protein. This system can be used to generate high-density scaffolded arrays of epitopes for immunization. This technology can streamline VLP vaccine candidate production, making it possible to rapidly evaluate panels of candidates in response to current vaccine needs and emerging pathogen threats.
Abstract:
Compositions and methods to utilize coat proteins of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) as a scaffold with commonly available linker chemistries and surface antigens to enhance immune responses when used as a vaccination; randomized library to introduce a reactive lysine or cysteine residue externally located at the amino-terminus of the coat protein. TMV coat protein modification allows a controlled stoichiometric biotinylation of the Introduced lysine or cysteine residues further allowing the attachment of antigens using streptavidin as a linker to the biotinylated coat protein. A TMV-protein complex vaccine prepared utilizing this invention results in enhanced immunogenicity and a detectable humoral immune response after only a single immunization in mice.
Abstract:
Display of peptides or proteins in an ordered, repetitive array, such as on the surface of a virus- like particle, is known to induce an enhanced immune response relative to vaccination with the "free" protein antigen. The 2100 coat proteins comprising the rod-shaped capsid of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) can accommodate short peptide insertions into the primary sequence, but the display of larger protein moieties on the virion surface by genetic fusions to the capsid protein has not been possible. Since TMV lacks surface exposed residues compatible with commonly available linker chemistries, we employed a randomized library approach to introduce a reactive lysine at the externally located at the amino-terminus of the coat protein. We found that we could easily control the extent of virion conjugation and demonstrated stoichiometric biotinylation of the introduced lysine. To characterize this modular platform for the display of heterologous proteins, we bound a model antigen (streptavidin (S A)-green fluorescent protein (GFP), expressed and purified from plants) to the surface of TMV, creating a GFP-SA decorated virus particle. Rapid and quantitative determination of the level of TMV capsid decoration was accomplished by subjecting the complex to amino acid analysis and solving the family of linear equations relating the pmoles of each residue to the known amino acid composition of the complex components. We obtained a GFP-SA tetramer loading of 26%, which corresponds to display of approximately 2200 GFP moieties per intact virion. We evaluated the immunogenicity of GFP decorated virions in both mice and guinea pigs, and found augmented humoral IgG titers in both species, relative to unbound GFP-SA tetramer. In mice, we observed a detectable humoral immune response after only a single immunization with the TMV-protein complex. By demonstrating the presentation of whole proteins, this study expands the utility of TMV as a vaccine scaffold beyond that which is possible by genetic manipulation.
Abstract:
The invention relates to the field of virology. The invention provides an isolated plant virus (ToTV) named Tomato torrado virus (ToTV), and components thereof. The invention further relates to methods of producing a ToTV-resistant plant comprising the steps of identifying a ToTV-resistant donor plant, crossing said ToTV-resistant donor plant with a recipient plant, and selecting from an offspring plant a resistant plant.
Abstract:
A method for screening for mutant virus movement proteins (MP) which confer virus resistance to a plant transfected with the mutant MP is provided comprising the steps of (a) carrying out at least one point mutation at a regulatory phosphorylation site of the virus MP, (b) transfecting said mutant MP into at least one plant cell of a cellular structure, (c) analysing an intracellular targeting profile and translocation rate of the mutant MP in the cellular structure and (d) comparing the targeting profile and translocation rate of the mutant MP with the targeting profile and translocation rate of a corresponding wild-type MP, whereby is a mutant virus MP which confers virus resistance to a plant shows localisation to movement relevant cellular structures and a lower translation rate.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to foreign peptide sequences fused to the amino-terminal of plant viral structural proteins and a method of their production. Fusion proteins are economically synthesized in plants at high levels by biologically contained tobamoviruses. The foreign peptide sequences can be cleaved from the fusion proteins by proteolytic enzymes or chemical reagents. The foreign peptide sequences of the invention have many uses. Such uses include use as antigens for inducing the production of antibodies having desired binding properties, e.g., protective antibodies, for use as vaccine antigens for the induction of protective immunity, including immunity against parasitic infections, for use as a protein involved in hormonal activity, or for use as a protein involved in immunoregulatory activity.
Abstract:
The present invention concerns a method for inducing resistance to a virus comprising a TGB2 sequence into a cell plant or a plant, comprising the following steps: preparing a nucleotide construct comprising a nucleotide sequence corresponding to at least 70 % of the nucleotide sequence of TGB2 of said virus or its complementary cDNA, being operably linked to one or more regulatory sequence(s) active in a plant, transforming a plant cell with the nucleotide construct, and possibly regenerating a transgenic plant from the transformed plant cell. The present invention is also related to the plant obtained.
Abstract:
The present invention concerns a method of genetic modification of a TGB-3 wild type viral sequence for reducing or suppressing the possible deleterious effects of the agronomic properties of a transformed plant or plant cell by said TGB-3 viral sequence, comprising the following successive steps: submitting said sequence to point mutation(s) which allow the substitution of at least one amino-acid into a different amino-acid; selecting genetically modified TGB-3 wild type viral sequences having said point mutation(s) and which are not able to promote cell-to-cell movement of a mutant virus having a dysfunctional TGB-3 wild type viral sequence, when expressed in trans from a replicon; further selecting among said genetically modified TGB-3 viral sequences, the specifically genetically modified sequence which inhibits infection with a co-inoculated wild type virus when the mutant form was expressed from a replicon; and recovering said specifically genetically modified TGB-3 viral sequence.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to nuclease resistant nucleic acids in general and ribonuclease resistant RNAs in particular. Methods of making and using such nucleic acids are disclosed.