Abstract: The present invention relates to a fusion protein consisting of a scFv linked to a horseradish peroxidase enzyme or to an alkaline phosphatase enzyme by a peptide linker. The fusion protein also includes a histidine tag and optionally an endoplasmic reticulum retention signal. The invention also includes nucleic acids encoding the fusion protein, expression vectors containing the nucleic acids, plant cells transformed with the expression vectors and methods of producing the fusion proteins of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing the expression and/or promoting correct folding of a heterologous polypeptide of interest in a plant cell, comprising co-expressing the heterologous polypeptide of interest with a polypeptide encoding a mammalian chaperone protein. The invention also relates to plant cells and plants, which either transiently or stably, co-express the heterologous polypeptide of interest and the chaperone protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a matrix-mediated algal cell culture system comprising a porous matrix, a microalgal cell culture comprising cells immobilised on the porous matrix, and a vector including a nucleic acid sequence encoding a heterologous polypeptide of interest, wherein immobilisation of microalgal cells on the porous matrix results in the formation of interstitial spaces between the microalgal cells to allow for increased contact of the microalgal cells with the vector compared with a culture of microalgal cells which are not immobilised on a porous matrix, thereby allowing for more efficient transfection of the microalgal cells with the vector. The invention also relates to methods of screening single species of microalgae and mixed ecology samples for the ability to be transfected using the algal cell culture system, and to methods for the production of heterologous polypeptides using the matrix-mediated cell culture system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a second generation, plant-produced synthetic Orbivirus candidate vaccine. The vaccine comprises a plant produced chimaeric Orbivirus virus like particle (VLP) comprising at least one structural protein from one Orbivirus serotype and at least one structural protein selected from another serotype of the Orbivirus, wherein both structural capsid proteins are from the same Orbivirus species. In particular the invention relates to a vaccine against an Orbivirus, a method of producing chimaeric Orbivirus virus-like particles (VLPs) for use in a method of prevention and/or treatment of an Orbivirus infection, the use of the chimaeric Orbivirus VLPs in the manufacture of a vaccine for an Orbivirus, and a method of preventing and/or treating an Orbivirus infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing porcine circovirus (PCV) pseudovirions in plant cells, the plant-produced PCV pseudovirions, a neutralisation assay using the plant-produced PCV pseudovirions and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the plant produced PCV pseudovirions. In particular, the method of the invention relates to introducing expression vectors, replicating vectors and nucleic acids into the plant cell and allowing for expression of capsid proteins and replication of the replicating vector. The expressed PCV capsid polypeptides assemble, together with a single-stranded copy of the replicating vector and encapsidate it as a pseudogenome to produce a PCV pseudovirion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a second generation, plant-produced synthetic Orbivirus candidate vaccine. The vaccine comprises a plant produced chimaeric Orbivirus virus like particle (VLP) comprising at least one structural protein from one Orbivirus serotype and at least one structural protein selected from another serotype of the Orbivirus, wherein both structural capsid proteins are from the same Orbivirus species. In particular the invention relates to a vaccine against an Orbivirus, a method of producing chimaeric Orbivirus virus-like particles (VLPs) for use in a method of prevention and/or treatment of an Orbivirus infection, the use of the chimaeric Orbivirus VLPs in the manufacture of a vaccine for an Orbivirus, and a method of preventing and/or treating an Orbivirus infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing the expression and/or promoting correct folding of a heterologous polypeptide of interest in a plant cell, comprising co-expressing the heterologous polypeptide of interest with a polypeptide encoding a mammalian chaperone protein. The invention also relates to plant cells and plants, which either transiently or stably, co-express the heterologous polypeptide of interest and the chaperone protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a recombinant HIV glycoprotein polypeptide in a plant and to trimeric complexes of the recombinant, plant-produced HIV glycoprotein polypeptide which mimic the native HIV Env complex. The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding the recombinant polypeptides, expression vectors containing the aforementioned nucleic acids and to pharmaceutical compositions, uses and methods of eliciting an immune response against HIV in a subject using the recombinant polypeptides and trimeric complexes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fusion protein consisting of a scFv linked to a horseradish peroxidase enzyme or to an alkaline phosphatase enzyme by a peptide linker. The fusion protein also includes a histidine tag and optionally an endoplasmic reticulum retention signal. The invention also includes nucleic acids encoding the fusion protein, expression vectors containing the nucleic acids, plant cells transformed with the expression vectors and methods of producing the fusion proteins of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a recombinant HIV glycoprotein polypeptide in a plant and to trimeric complexes of the recombinant, plant-produced HIV glycoprotein polypeptide which mimic the native HIV Env complex. The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding the recombinant polypeptides, expression vectors containing the aforementioned nucleic acids and to pharmaceutical compositions, uses and methods of eliciting an immune response against HIV in a subject using the recombinant polypeptides and trimeric complexes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a second generation, plant-produced synthetic Orbivirus candidate vaccine. The vaccine comprises a plant produced chimaeric Orbivirus virus like particle (VLP) comprising at least one structural protein from one Orbivirus serotype and at least one structural protein selected from another serotype of the Orbivirus, wherein both structural capsid proteins are from the same Orbivirus species. In particular the invention relates to a vaccine against an Orbivirus, a method of producing chimaeric Orbivirus virus-like particles (VLPs) for use in a method of prevention and/or treatment of an Orbivirus infection, the use of the chimaeric Orbivirus VLPs in the manufacture of a vaccine for an Orbivirus, and a method of preventing and/or treating an Orbivirus infection.

Abstract: This invention relates to a chimaeric human papillomavirus (HPV) virus like particle (VLP) having a diameter of about 30 nm. The invention further relates to methods of treatment and/or prophylaxis of HPV infection and/or cervical cancer by administration of the chimaeric HPV VLP of the invention to a subject.

Abstract: An immunogen-specific is adjuvant for a vaccine or inoculum is disclosed. The adjuvant is comprised of particulate recombinant protein body-like assemblies (RPBLAs) that contain a recombinant fusion protein that contains two portions peptide-linked together. A first portion is a protein body-inducing sequence (PBIS) and a second portion is a T-cell stimulating immunogenic polypeptide whose sequence is that of a pathogenic polypeptide sequence present in or induced by a vaccine or inoculum. The adjuvant, when used as an inoculum in a host animal without a prior priming vaccination or inoculation, does not induce production of antibodies or T cell activation to the pathogenic sequence.

Abstract: An immunogen-specific is adjuvant for a vaccine or inoculum is disclosed. The adjuvant is comprised of particulate recombinant protein body-like assemblies (RPBLAs) that contain a recombinant fusion protein that contains two portions peptide-linked together. A first portion is a protein body-inducing sequence (PBIS) and a second portion is a T-cell stimulating immunogenic polypeptide whose sequence is that of a pathogenic polypeptide sequence present in or induced by a vaccine or inoculum. The adjuvant, when used as an inoculum in a host animal without a prior priming vaccination or inoculation, does not induce production of antibodies or T cell activation to the pathogenic sequence.

Abstract: A method of producing a virus-like particle (VLP) in a plant is provided. The method comprises introducing a first nucleic acid into the plant, or portion of the plant. The first nucleic acid comprising a first regulatory region active in the plant operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more rotavirus structural protein for example but not limited to rotavirus protein VP2. The nucleotide sequence may further comprise one or more than one amplification element and/or a compartment targeting sequence. A second nucleic acid might be introduced into the plant, or portion of the plant. The second nucleic acid comprises a second regulatory region active in the plant and operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more rotavirus structural protein, for example but not limited to rotavirus protein VP6. Optionally, a third nucleic acid and/or fourth nucleic acid might be introduced into the plant, or portion of the plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing an influenza virus H5 polypeptide in a plant comprising the steps of cloning an influenza H5 gene or nucleic acid encoding its functional equivalent into a vector adapted to target components present in the plant, infiltrating at least a portion of the plant with the vector or transforming plant tissue with the vector so as to transiently express the influenza virus H5 polypeptide, and/or to create a transgenic plant; and recover the influenza virus H5 polypeptide expressed by the plant. The invention further relates to vectors, transgenic plants or parts thereof and the progeny of such plants used in or which come about as a result of the method.

Abstract: This invention relates to a chimaeric human papillomavirus (HPV) virus like particle (VLP) having a diameter of about 30 nm. The invention further relates to methods of treatment and/or prophylaxis of HPV infection and/or cervical cancer by administration of the chimaeric HPV VLP of the invention to a subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a HPV polypeptides and/or an influenza virus H5 polypeptide in a plant comprising the steps of cloning a HPV gene; and/or an influenza virus H5 gene or nucleic acid encoding their functional equivalents into a vector adapted to target components present in the plant, infiltrating at least a portion of the plant with the vector or transforming plant tissue with the vector so as to transiently express the HPV polypeptides and/or an influenza virus H5 polypeptide, and/or to create a transgenic plant; and recovering the HPV polypeptides and/or an influenza virus H5 polypeptide expressed by the plant. The invention further relates to vectors, transgenic plants or parts thereof and the progeny of such plants used in or which come about as a result of the method.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for enhancing expression of a transgene in a host cell, which includes the steps of inserting a capsid promoter element (Pcap), or a sequence comprising the reverse complement of the capsid promoter element (PcapR), into a mammalian expression cassette upstream (5?) of a cytomegalovirus immediate/early enhancer/promoter region (Pcmv); inserting the transgene into the expression cassette downstream (3?) of the cytomegalovirus immediate/early enhancer/promoter region; inserting a vector containing the expression cassette into the host organism; and causing expression of the transgene. The capsid promoter element (Pcap) is typically from a circovirus, parvovirus or anellovirus. The transgene is typically expressed at a higher level than when expressed by a vector containing the expression cassette without the transcriptional control element. An expression cassette, vector, DNA vaccine, pharmaceutical composition and method of treatment are also claimed.

Abstract: A method for producing a chimaeric human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 polypeptide containing a heterologous peptide, and in particular, a HPV L2 peptide comprising the steps of introducing a DNA sequence coding for the heterologous peptide into a DNA sequence coding for the L1 polypeptide; introducing the DNA sequence including the sequences for the L1 polypeptide and heterologous peptide into a host cell in which the DNA sequence can be expressed; causing expression of the DNA sequence; and recovering the resulting chimaeric L1 polypeptide which includes the heterologous peptide. The invention also describes a vector for use in the method, a host cell containing the vector, and a vaccine including the chimaeric HPV L1 polypeptide produced according to the method.