Abstract: A suprastructure comprising a modified influenza hemagglutinin (HA) is provided. The modified HA may comprise one or more than one alteration that reduces non-cognate binding of the modified HA to sialic acid (SA) on the surface of a cell, while maintaining cognate interaction with the cell, such as a B cell. A composition comprising the suprastructure and modified HA and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is also described. A method of increasing an immunological response or inducing immunity in response to a vaccine comprising the suprastructure and modified HA is also provided.

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 plant 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 plant 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 plant 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 plant 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 plant 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 a novel influenza HA protein in plants and its purification 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 improved 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 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 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 plant 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 plant 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 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: 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 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 influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) within a plant or a portion of a plant is provided. The method involves expression of a novel influenza HA protein in plants and its purification 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 improved influenza HA 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.

Abstract: A cholesterol-lowering preparation comprising medicagenic acid saponin is disclosed. The amount of medicagenic acid saponin in the preparation is greater than 50% by weight to produce the cholesterol-lowering effect in an animal. A method of purifying a preparation of at least 30% medicagenic acid saponin is also disclosed. The preparation may be purified from alfalfa plants and used as a treatment for lowering cholesterol and triglycerides in an animal, in particular a human.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of obtaining different biologically pure cultures of bacteria isolated from different species of Taxus such as Taxus canadensis. T. brevifolia, T. baccata, T. cuspidata, and T. hunnewelliana, wherein the bacteria produce in vitro taxanes and paclitaxel, and wherein the bacteria are of the genus Sphingomonas, Bacillus, Pantoea or Curtobacterium. Also, the present invention relates to a method of a bacterial mass production of at least one taxane or paclitaxel. There is also disclosed a novel bacterial taxane. The present invention also relates to the use of different biologically pure cultures of bacteria isolated from different species of Taxus, wherein the bacteria are able to biotransform pro-taxanes. There is also provided a process for improving taxanes and paclitaxel production of taxanes and paclitaxel producing bacteria which include culturing bacteria in the presence of a mutagenic agent for a period a time sufficient to allow mutagenesis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biologically pure culture of a novel bacteria of genus Erwinia, which is isolated from Taxus canadensis, and wherein said bacteria of genus Erwinia is characterized by the production of paclitaxel and related taxanes in a fermentative or respiratory type of metabolism from simple semi-synthetic or synthetic culture media. Also, the present invention relates to a method of bacterial mass production of paclitaxel and related taxanes which comprises the steps of: a) culturing the bacteria of genus Erwinia of the present invention in a growth-supporting nutrient medium capable of promoting growth and reproduction of said bacteria, and wherein said culturing is effected for a time sufficient to allow production of paclitaxel and related taxanes; and b) isolating said produced paclitaxel and related taxanes from said culturing medium of step a).