Abstract: An optimized synthetic polynucleotide encoding a Bacillus anthracis protective antigen and an anthrax vaccine based on the encoded protective antigen. Furthermore, heterologous expression in a host Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria of an optimized polynucleotide sequence encoding a Bacillus anthracis protective antigen.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to plant viruses, produced by plants, for use as vaccines and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to simple inactivation methods, and plant virus particles thereby obtained. The invention described herein provides means and methods to produce a safe vaccine based on an epitope display of epitopes derived from a pathogenic agent on the surface of inactivated plant virus-like particles. This invention teaches inactivation of chimeric plant virus particles and integration of the inactivation step into the virus particle purification procedure. The inactivation method renders the virus incapable of infecting plants and the integrity of virus particles is retained.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production and in vitro assembly of recombinant viral capsid proteins into virus like particles. In particular, the present invention provides rapid, scalable, and cost efficient methods for the production of multivalent virus like particles utilizing separate populations of capsid fusion peptides containing differing antigenic peptide inserts that are combined in vitro to produce homogenous populations of multivalent virus like particles. The virus like particles produced according to the present invention can be utilized to induce an immunological response in human or animal.