Abstract: A method of synthesizing sialic acid in plants, and plants capable of synthesizing sialic acid is provided. Furthermore, a method of producing sialylated protein in a plant is also provided. The method to synthesize sialic acid comprises providing a plant comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding N-acetyl neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) synthase or Neu5Ac lyase, and expressing the nucleotide sequence thereby synthesizing sialic acid. The plant may also co-express a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more than one of an epimerase, a CMP-Neu5 Ac synthase, a CMP-Neu5Ac transporter and a sialyltransferase.

Abstract: It is provided a plant infiltration device for infiltrating plants with an inoculum and method of using same, the device comprising a frame having one or more tray racks adapted for receiving at least one tray of plants to be infiltrated; an automated manipulation mechanism mounted to the frame and operable to displace the plant trays within the device; a plurality of inoculum reservoirs mounted to the frame and containing one or more inoculum fluids; an infiltration tank mounted to the frame and within which the plant trays are received when disposed in the infiltration position; and a vacuum generating device in communication with the infiltration tank to apply a negative pressure within the infiltration tank, thereby opening pores of the plant leaves immersed in the inoculum within the infiltration tank and causing the inoculum fluid to infiltrate into the plant leaves.

Abstract: Materials and methods are provided for making plants (e.g., Nicotiana varieties) that are suitable for producing therapeutic polypeptides suitable for administration to humans and animals, particularly by making TAL effector endonuclease-induced mutations in genes encoding xylosyltransferases and fucosyltransferases.

Abstract: A method of producing a picornavirus-like particle (PVLP) in a plant is provided. The method comprises introducing a first nucleic acid and a second nucleic acid into the plant, portion of the plant, or a plant cell. The first nucleic acid comprising a first regulatory region active in the plant operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a polyprotein. The second nucleic acid comprises a second regulatory region active in the plant and operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more protease. The plant, portion of the plant, or plant cell is incubated under conditions that permit the expression of the nucleic acids, thereby producing the PVLP. A PVLP comprising the polyprotein is also provided.

Abstract: A method of increasing the yield, stability, or both of an acid sensitive protein in a plant is provided. The method comprises introducing a first nucleic acid and a second nucleic acid into the plant, or portion of the plant. The first nucleic acid comprises a first regulatory region active in the plant and operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding the acid sensitive protein. The second nucleic acid comprises a second regulatory region active in the plant and operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a channel protein, for example but not limited to a proton channel protein. The plant or portion of the plant is incubated under conditions that permit the expression of the nucleic acids, thereby increasing the yield of the acid sensitive protein when compared to the yield of the acid sensitive protein produced in the plant or portion of the plant produced under the same conditions, and in the absence of the proton channel protein.

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: A method of producing a virus like particle (VLP) in a plant is provided. The method comprises introducing a first nucleic acid and a second nucleic acid into the plant, or portion of the plant. The first nucleic acid comprises a first regulatory region active in the plant and operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a structural virus protein. The second nucleic acid comprises a second regulatory region active in the plant and operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a channel protein, for example but not limited to a proton channel protein. The plant or portion of the plant is incubated under conditions that permit the expression of the nucleic acids, thereby producing the VLP.

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 a native rabies virus structural protein. The nucleotide sequence may further comprise one or more than one amplification element. Optionally, a second nucleic acid might be introduced into the plant, or portion of the plant. The second nucleic acid comprising a second regulatory region active in the plant and operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a matrix protein, for example but not limited to a rabies matrix protein. The plant or portion of the plant is incubated under conditions that permit the expression of the nucleic acids, thereby producing the VLP.

Abstract: Materials and Methods are provided for making plants (e.g., Nicotiana varieties) that are suitable for producing therapeutic polypeptides suitable for administration to humans and animals, particularly by making TAL effector endonuclease-induced mutations in genes encoding xylosyltransferases and fucosyltransferases.

Abstract: A method of producing a virus like particle (VLP) in a plant, and compositions comprising VLPs, are provided. The method involves introducing a nucleic acid comprising a regulatory region active in the plant and operatively linked to a chimeric nucleotide sequence encoding, in series, an ectodomain from a virus trimeric surface protein or fragment thereof, fused to an influenza transmembrane domain and cytoplasmic tail, into the plant, or portion of the plant, the ectodomain is from a non-influenza virus trimeric surface protein and heterologous with respect to the influenza transmembrane domain, and the cytoplasmic tail. The plant or portion of the plant are incubated under conditions that permit the expression of the nucleic acid, thereby producing the VLP. A VLP produced by this method are also provided.

Abstract: A plant expression system and methods for expressing a protein of interest in a plant are provided. The plant expression system comprises a first nucleic acid sequence regulatory region sequence, operatively linked with a one or more than one comovirus enhancer, a nucleotide sequence of interest, one or more than one geminivirus amplification elements, and a second nucleic acid encoding a geminivirus replicase. The method of producing a protein of interest in a plant, involves introducing the plant expression system into a plant, or portion of the plant, and incubating the plant or the portion of the plant under conditions that permit the expression of the nucleotide sequence and producing the protein of interest.

Abstract: This invention comprises a combined transgene/virus vector system for the expression of heterologous proteins in plants. While exemplified with respect to the bipartite RNA plant virus, Cowpect mosaic virus (CPMV), other bipartite viral systems may be used to advantage according to the method, system and composition described in detail herein.

Abstract: Methods of preparing plant-derived proteins or suprastructure proteins, are provided. The method may comprise obtaining a plant, or plant matter comprising apoplast-localized proteins, or suprastructure proteins, producing a protoplast/spheroplast fraction and apoplast fraction from the plant or plant matter, and recovering the apoplast fraction. The apoplast fraction comprises plant-derived proteins or suprastructure proteins. Alternatively, the proteins, or suprastructure proteins, may be obtained from plant or plant matter comprising plant-derived proteins or suprastructure proteins, by digesting the plant matter using a cell wall degrading enzyme composition to produced a digested fraction. The digested fraction is filtered to produced a filtered fraction, and the plant-derived proteins or suprastructure proteins, are recovered from the filtered fraction.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing chimeric influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) within a plant or a portion of a plant is provided. The method involves expression of chimeric influenza HA in a plant or a portion of a plant. The invention is also directed towards a VLP comprising chimeric influenza HA protein and plants lipids. The invention is also directed to a nucleic acid encoding chimeric influenza HA as well as vectors. The VLPs may be used to formulate influenza vaccines, or may be used to enrich existing vaccines.

Abstract: Methods of preparing plant-derived virus like particles (VLPs) are provided. The method may comprise obtaining a plant, or plant matter comprising apoplast-localized VLPs, producing a protoplast/spheroplast fraction and apoplast fraction from the plant or plant matter, and recovering the apoplast fraction. The apoplast fraction comprises plant-derived VLPs. Alternatively, VLPs may be obtained from plant or plant matter comprising plant-derived VLPs by digesting the plant matter using a cell wall degrading enzyme composition to produced a digested fraction. The digested fraction is filtered to produced a filtered fraction, and the plant-derived VLPs are recovered from the filtered fraction.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and constructs for increasing recombinant protein production in plants during dehydration stress. The invention includes nucleic acids, inducible expression systems, and methods for using same for increasing recombinant protein production in plants and plant protection.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) within a plant or a portion of a plant is provided. The method involves expression of influenza HA of type A/California/04/09 in plants and the purification by size exclusion chromatography. The invention is also directed towards a VLP comprising influenza HA protein of type A/California/04/09 and plants lipids. The invention is also directed to a nucleic acid encoding influenza HA of type A/California/04/09 as well as vectors. The VLPs may be used to formulate influenza vaccines, or may be used to enrich existing vaccines.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a protein of interest with a modified N-glycosylation profile within a plant, a portion of a plant, or a plant cell is provided. The method comprises co-expressing within a plant a nucleotide sequence encoding a first nucleotide sequence encoding a hybrid protein (GNT1-GalT) comprising a CTS domain of N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase (GNT1) fused to a catalytic domain of beta-1,4galactosyltransferase (GalT), the first nucleotide sequence operatively linked with a first regulatory region that is active in the plant, and a second nucleotide sequence for encoding the protein of interest, the second nucleotide sequence operatively linked with a second regulatory region that is active in the plant. The first and second nucleotide sequences are co-expressed to synthesize a protein of interest comprising glycans with the modified N-glycosylation profile within the plant, the portion of the plant, or the plant cell.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) within a plant or a portion of a plant is provided. The method involves expression of influenza HA in plants and the purification by size exclusion chromatography. The invention is also directed towards a VLP comprising influenza HA protein and plants lipids. The invention is also directed to a nucleic acid encoding influenza HA as well as vectors. The VLPs may be used to formulate influenza vaccines, or may be used to enrich existing vaccines.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a protein of interest within a plant or a portion of a plant is provided. The method involves introducing one or more than one nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein of interest operatively linked with a regulatory region obtained from a photosynthetic gene that is active in the plant, in a transient manner. The plant is then maintained under conditions that permit the nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein of interest to be expressed in the plant or the portion of the plant. The plant may be pruned prior to the introducing one or more than one nucleic acid sequence.