Abstract: A stable immunogenic or vaccine composition comprising a complex or polyhedra comprising same comprising an antigen of a pathogen or other antigen against which a immune response is sought in a human or non-human animal subject and a polyhedrin protein derived from a cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (CPV). Delivery of the complex to a subject in substantially polyhedral form induces an immune response thereto. Methods of using same to elicit an immune response.

Abstract: A fusion protein comprising an N-terminal portion and a C-terminal portion, wherein the N-terminal portion is a heterologous protein of interest which includes membrane proteins and antigens and the C-terminal portion is a polyhedrin targeting peptide which is derived from cypovirus polyhedrin and binds to cypovirus polyhedrin. The polyhedrin targeting peptide is described as a C-terminal portion of cypovirus polyhedrin and as C-terminal portion of cypovirus polyhedrin absent all or part of the N-terminal H1 helix sequence. Vectors and cells capable of expressing the fusion proteins are also provided. The fusion proteins fold with cypovirus polyhedrin to form modified complexes, polyhedra/microcubes useful in myriad applications, including as a platform technology for prophylactic or therapeutic vaccinations, therapeutics and diagnostics, including vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics etc. employing membrane proteins.

Abstract: A fusion protein comprising an N-terminal portion and a C-terminal portion, wherein the N-terminal portion is a heterologous protein of interest which includes membrane proteins and antigens and the C-terminal portion is a polyhedrin targeting peptide which is derived from cypovirus polyhedrin and binds to cypovirus polyhedrin. The polyhedrin targeting peptide is described as a C-terminal portion of cypovirus polyhedrin and as C-terminal portion of cypovirus polyhedrin absent all or part of the N-terminal H1 helix sequence. The polyhedrin targeting peptide may also be derived from silkworm cypovirus (BmCPV) polyhedrin. In one example, the polyhedrin targeting peptide comprises the peptide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO:13 or SEQ ID NO:12 or a functional variant thereof. Vectors and cells capable of expressing the fusion proteins are also provided.

Abstract: A stable immunogenic or vaccine composition comprising a complex or polyhedra comprising same comprising an antigen of a pathogen or other antigen against which a immune response is sought in a human or non-human animal subject and a polyhedrin protein derived from a cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (CPV). Delivery of the complex to a subject in substantially polyhedral form induces an immune response thereto. Methods of using same to elicit an immune response.

Abstract: Cypoviruses and baculoviruses are notoriously difficult to eradicate because the virus particles are embedded in micron-sized protein crystals called polyhedra. The remarkable stability of polyhedra means that like bacterial spores these insect viruses remain infectious for years in soil. Although these unique in vivo protein crystals have been extensively characterized since the early 1900s, their atomic organization remains elusive. Here we describe the 2 crystal structure of both recombinant and infectious silkworm cypovirus polyhedra determined using 5-12 micron crystals purified from insect cells. These are the smallest crystals yet used for de novo X-ray protein structure determination. It was found that polyhedra are made of trimers of the viral polyhedrin protein and contain nucleotides. Although the shape of these building blocks is reminiscent of some capsid trimers, polyhedrin has a new fold and has evolved to assemble in vivo into 3-D cubic crystals rather than icosahedral shells.

Abstract: A stable immunogenic or vaccine composition comprising a complex or polyhedra comprising same comprising an antigen of a pathogen or other antigen against which a immune response is sought in a human or non-human animal subject and a polyhedrin protein derived from a cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (CPV), Delivery of the complex to a subject in substantially polyhedral form induces an immune response thereto. Methods of using same to elicit an immune response.

Abstract: Cypoviruses and baculoviruses are notoriously difficult to eradicate because the virus particles are embedded in micron-sized protein crystals called polyhedra. The remarkable stability of polyhedra means that like bacterial spores these insect viruses remain infectious for years in soil. Although these unique in vivo protein crystals have been extensively characterized since the early 1900s, their atomic organization remains elusive. Here we describe the 2 crystal structure of both recombinant and infectious silkworm cypovirus polyhedra determined using 5-12 micron crystals purified from insect cells. These are the smallest crystals yet used for de novo X-ray protein structure determination. It was found that polyhedra are made of trimers of the viral polyhedrin protein and contain nucleotides. Although the shape of these building blocks is reminiscent of some capsid trimers, polyhedrin has a new fold and has evolved to assemble in vivo into 3-D cubic crystals rather than icosahedral shells.