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: 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: The present invention provides a recombinant soluble trimeric hemagglutinin (rHA) protein comprising a hemagglutinin ectodomain and an oligomerization domain. The rHA is produced as a soluble homotrimer, and may further comprises a signal peptide and/or an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal. The invention is also directed to nucleic acids encoding the rHA of the invention, as well as vectors and chimeric constructs comprising the nucleic acid. Methods of producing the rHA are also provided. The rHA described herein may be used to formulate influenza vaccines, or may be used to enrich existing vaccines.

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 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.