Abstract: Transcriptional units encoding Zika virus (ZIKV) premembrane (prM) and envelope (E) proteins, which upon translation form Zika virus-like particles (VLPs), are described. Use of the transcriptional units and VLPs in three different ZIKV vaccine platforms is described. Immunoassay-based detection methods using ZIKV VLPs are described for the diagnosis of ZIKV infection.

Abstract: Described herein are dengue virus E-glycoprotein polypeptides containing mutations that eliminate immunodominant cross-reactive epitopes associated with immune enhancement. The disclosed dengue virus E-glycoproteins optionally further include mutations that introduce a strong CD4 T cell epitope. The disclosed E-glycoprotein polypeptides, or nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, can be used, for example, in monovalent or tetravalent vaccines against dengue virus.

Abstract: Transcriptional units encoding Zika virus (ZIKV) premembrane (prM) and envelope (E) proteins, which upon translation form Zika virus-like particles (VLPs), are described. Use of the transcriptional units and VLPs in three different ZIKV vaccine platforms is described. Immunoassay-based detection methods using ZIKV VLPs are described for the diagnosis of ZIKV infection.

Abstract: Transcriptional units encoding Zika virus (ZIKV) premembrane (prM) and envelope (E) proteins, which upon translation form Zika virus-like particles (VLPs), are described. Use of the transcriptional units and VLPs in three different ZIKV vaccine platforms is described. Immunoassay-based detection methods using ZIKV VLPs are described for the diagnosis of ZIKV infection.

Abstract: Described herein are dengue virus E-glycoprotein polypeptides containing mutations that eliminate immunodominant cross-reactive epitopes associated with immune enhancement. The disclosed dengue virus E-glycoproteins optionally further include mutations that introduce a strong CD4 T cell epitope. The disclosed E-glycoprotein polypeptides, or nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, can be used, for example, in monovalent or tetravalent vaccines against dengue virus.

Abstract: Described herein are dengue virus E-glycoprotein polypeptides containing mutations that eliminate immunodominant cross-reactive epitopes associated with immune enhancement. The disclosed dengue virus E-glycoproteins optionally further include mutations that introduce a strong CD4 T cell epitope. The disclosed E-glycoprotein polypeptides, or nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, can be used, for example, in monovalent or tetravalent vaccines against dengue virus.

Abstract: Transcriptional units encoding Zika virus (ZIKV) premembrane (prM) and envelope (E) proteins, which upon translation form Zika virus-like particles (VLPs), are described. Use of the transcriptional units and VLPs in three different ZIKV vaccine platforms is described. Immunoassay-based detection methods using ZIKV VLPs are described for the diagnosis of ZIKV infection.

Abstract: Described herein are dengue virus E-glycoprotein polypeptides containing mutations that eliminate immunodominant cross-reactive epitopes associated with immune enhancement. The disclosed dengue virus E-glycoproteins optionally further include mutations that introduce a strong CD4 T cell epitope. The disclosed E-glycoprotein polypeptides, or nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, can be used, for example, in monovalent or tetravalent vaccines against dengue virus.

Abstract: Described herein are dengue virus E-glycoprotein polypeptides containing mutations that eliminate immunodominant cross-reactive epitopes associated with immune enhancement. The disclosed dengue virus E-glycoproteins optionally further include mutations that introduce a strong CD4 T cell epitope. The disclosed E-glycoprotein polypeptides, or nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, can be used, for example, in monovalent or tetravalent vaccines against dengue virus.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for identifying flavivirus cross-reactive epitopes. Also provided are flavivirus E-glycoprotein cross-reactive epitopes and flavivirus E-glycoprotein cross-reactive epitopes having reduced or ablated cross-reactivity (and polypeptides comprising such epitopes), as well as methods of using these molecules to elicit an immune response against a flavivirus and to detect a flaviviral infection.

Abstract: Described herein are dengue virus E-glycoprotein polypeptides containing mutations that eliminate immunodominant cross-reactive epitopes associated with immune enhancement. The disclosed dengue virus E-glycoproteins optionally further include mutations that introduce a strong CD4 T cell epitope. The disclosed E-glycoprotein polypeptides, or nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, can be used, for example, in monovalent or tetravalent vaccines against dengue virus.

Abstract: Described herein is the identification and of a potent West Nile virus (WNV) CD4 positive T cell epitope and its use for increasing the immunogenicity of heterologous flavivirus vaccines, such as dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) DNA and virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines. Also described are methods for the identification of potent T cell epitopes to enhance immunogenicity of multivalent vaccines.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for identifying flavivirus cross-reactive epitopes. Also provided are flavivirus E-glycoprotein cross-reactive epitopes and flavivirus E-glycoprotein cross-reactive epitopes having reduced or ablated cross-reactivity (and polypeptides comprising such epitopes), as well as methods of using these molecules to elicit an immune response against a flavivirus and to detect a flaviviral infection.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for identifying flavivirus cross-reactive epitopes. Also provided are flavivirus E-glycoprotein cross-reactive epitopes and flavivirus E-glycoprotein cross-reactive epitopes having reduced or ablated cross-reactivity (and polypeptides comprising such epitopes), as well as methods of using these molecules to elicit an immune response against a flavivirus and to detect a flaviviral infection.

Abstract: Described herein are dengue virus E-glycoprotein polypeptides containing mutations that eliminate immunodominant cross-reactive epitopes associated with immune enhancement. The disclosed dengue virus E-glycoproteins optionally further include mutations that introduce a strong CD4 T cell epitope. The disclosed E-glycoprotein polypeptides, or nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, can be used, for example, in monovalent or tetravalent vaccines against dengue virus.

Abstract: Described herein is the identification and of a potent West Nile virus (WNV) CD4 positive T cell epitope and its use for increasing the immunogenicity of heterologous flavivirus vaccines, such as dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) DNA and virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines. Also described are methods for the identification of potent T cell epitopes to enhance immunogenicity of multivalent vaccines.

Abstract: The invention encompasses nucleic acid molecules containing transcription units which encode the flavivirus M and E protein antigens. The flaviviruses include Japanese encephalitis virus, dengue, yellow fever virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus. The nucleic acids function to provide the M and E protein antigens when the nucleic acid resides in an appropriate host cell, especially when the host cell is the cell of a subject. The invention also encompasses a vaccine whose active agent is the nucleic acid. The invention further encompasses the cultured host cells when they contain within them nucleic acid molecules containing the transcription units. The invention in addition encompasses a method of immunizing a subject against flavivirus infection by administering to the subject an effective amount of a vaccine containing a nucleic acid molecule containing the transcription unit of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses isolated nucleic acids containing transcriptional units which encode a signal sequence of one flavivirus and an immunogenic flavivirus antigen of a second flavivirus. The invention further encompasses a nucleic acid and protein vaccine and the use of the vaccine to immunize a subject against flavivirus infection. The invention also provides antigens encoded by nucleic acids of the invention, antibodies elicited in response to the antigens and use of the antigens and/or antibodies in detecting flavivirus or diagnosing flavivirus infection.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses isolated nucleic acids containing transcriptional units which encode a signal sequence of one flavivirus and an immunogenic flavivirus antigen of a second flavivirus or of a chimeric immunogenic flavivirus antigen comprising sequence from more than one flavivirus. The invention further encompasses a nucleic acid and protein vaccine and the use of the vaccine to immunize a subject against flavivirus infection. The invention also provides antigens encoded by nucleic acids of the invention, antibodies elicited in response to the antigens and use of the antigens and/or antibodies in detecting flavivirus or diagnosing flavivirus infection.

Abstract: The invention encompasses nucleic acid molecules containing transcription units which encode the flavivirus M and E protein antigens. The flaviviruses include Japanese encephalitis virus, dengue, yellow fever virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus. The nucleic acids function to provide the M and E protein antigens when the nucleic acid resides in an appropriate host cell, especially when the host cell is the cell of a subject. The invention also encompasses a vaccine whose active agent is the nucleic acid. The invention further encompasses the cultured host cells when they contain within them nucleic acid molecules containing the transcription units. The invention in addition encompasses a method of immunizing a subject against flavivirus infection by administering to the subject an effective amount of a vaccine containing a nucleic acid molecule containing the transcription unit of the invention.