Medicago Inc.

Aramis Biotechnologies Inc.

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation

Medicago Inc. of Quebec, Canada

Pierre-Olivier Lavoie

Marc-Andre D'Aoust

Manon Couture

Louis-Philippe Vezina

Nathalie Landry

Michele Dargis

Frederic Ors

Sonia Trepanier

Alain Doucet

Aurelien Lorin

Lucie Poulin

Marc-Andre D'aoust

Edward Peter Rybicki

Ko Kato

Louis-Philippe Vézina

Inga Isabel Hitzeroth

Shotaro Yamasaki

Naomi Asahara

Sonia Trépanier

Michèle Dargis

Frédéric Ors

Masaaki Arai

David Levi Rutendo Mutepfa

Michéle Dargis

Louis-Philippe VÉZINA

Marc-André D'AOUST

The present invention relates to the production of modified influenza vial proteins in plants. More specifically, the present invention relates to producing and increasing influenza virus-like particle (VLP) production in plants, wherein the VLPs comprise the modified influenza viral proteins, such as modified influenza hemagglutinin (HA). The HA protein may comprising an amino acid sequence comprising at least one substitution when compared to a corresponding wildtype amino acid sequence. Further provided are nucleic acid encoding the modified HA protein. Furthermore methods of producing an influenza virus like particle (VLP) and methods of increasing yield of production of an influenza virus like particle (VLP) in a plant, portion of a plant, or a plant cell, are also provided.

Influenza virus hemagglutinin mutants

An isolated expression enhancer active in a plant, portion of a plant or plant cell, the expression enhancer is provided. The isolated expression enhancer may be selected from the group consisting of nbEPI42 (SEQ ID NO:1); nbSNS46 (SEQ ID NO:2); nbCSY65 (SEQ ID NO:3); nbHEL40 (SEQ ID NO:4); and nbSEP44 (SEQ ID NO:5). Methods for using the isolated expression enhancer are also provided.

Endogenous plant expression enhancer

Production of modified influenza viral proteins in plants is described. More specifically, producing and increasing influenza virus-like particle (VLP) production in plants, wherein the VLPs comprise the modified influenza viral proteins, such as modified influenza hemagglutinin (HA) is described. The HA protein may comprise an amino acid sequence comprising at least one substitution when compared to a corresponding wildtype amino acid sequence. Further provided are nucleic acids encoding the modified HA protein. Furthermore, methods of producing an influenza virus like particle (VLP) and methods of increasing yield of production of an influenza virus like particle (VLP) in a plant, portion of a plant, or a plant cell, are also provided.

The present invention relates to the production of modified influenza viral proteins in plants. More specifically, the present invention relates to producing and increasing influenza virus-like particle (VLP) production in plants, wherein the VLPs comprise the modified influenza viral proteins, such as modified influenza hemagglutinin (HA). The HA protein may comprising an amino acid sequence comprising at least one substitution when compared to a corresponding wildtype amino acid sequence. Further provided are nucleic acid encoding the modified HA protein. Furthermore methods of producing an influenza virus like particle (VLP) and methods of increasing yield of production of an influenza virus like particle (VLP) in a plant, portion of a plant, or a plant cell, are also provided.

Nucleic acids encoding modified norovirus VP1 proteins, and virus-like particles (VLPs) containing one or more of the modified norovirus VP1 proteins, and compositions containing the nucleic acids, VP1 proteins, or the VLPs are provided. Methods for producing modified norovirus VP1 protein, and norovirus VLP, production in plants, portions of the plant or a plant cell, are also provided.

Modified norovirus VP1 proteins and VLPS comprising modified norovirus VP1 proteins

Nucleic acids encoding norovirus VP1 fusion proteins and VLPs comprising the norovirus VP1 fusion proteins are provided. Methods for norovirus VP1 fusion protein and norovirus VLP production in plants are also described. The VP1 fusion protein comprises, a first sequence encoding an S domain derived from a first norovirus strain, and a second sequence encoding a P domain derived from a second norovirus strain.

Norovirus fusion proteins and VLPs comprising norovirus fusion proteins

An expression enhancer comprising a CPMV 5′UTR nucleotide sequence consisting of X nucleotides (CMPVX), where X=160, 155, 150, or 114 of SEQ ID NO:1, or consisting of a nucleotide sequence comprising from about 80% to 100% sequence similarity with CMPVX, where X=160, 155, 150, or 114 of SEQ ID NO:1 SEQ ID NO:1 is provided. The expression enhancer may further comprise a stuffer sequence fused to the 3′ end of the 5′UTR nucleotide sequence (CMPVX+, where X=160, 155, 150, or 114 of SEQ ID NO:1). The stuffer sequence may comprise one or more plant kozak sequences. Plants comprising the expression enhancer and methods using the expression enhancer are also described

CPMV enhancer elements

Nucleic acids encoding modified norovirus VP1 proteins, and VLPs comprising one or more of the modified norovirus VP1 proteins are provided. Methods for modified norovirus VP1 protein, and norovirus VLP, production in plants, portions of the plant or a plant cell, are also described.

Modified norovirus VP1 proteins and VLPs comprising modified norovirus VP1 proteins

Norovirus fusion proteins and VLPS comprising norovirus fusion proteins

An expression enhancer comprising a CPMV 5'UTR nucleotide sequence consisting of X nucleotides (CMPVX), where X=160, 155, 150, or 114 of SEQ ID NO:1, or consisting of a nucleotide sequence comprising from about 80% to 100% sequence similarity with CMPVX, where X=160, 155, 150, or 114 of SEQ ID NO:1 SEQ ID NO:1 is provided. The expression enhancer may further comprise a stuffer sequence fused to the 3&#x2032; end of the 5&#x2032;UTR nucleotide sequence (CMPVX+, where X=160, 155, 150, or 114 of SEQ ID NO:1). The stuffer sequence may comprise one or more plant kozak sequences. Plants comprising the expression enhancer and methods using the expression enhancer are also described.

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.

Recombinant influenza virus-like particles (VLPS) produced in transgenic plants

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.

Picornavirus-like particle production in plants

An expression enhancer comprising, in series, a CPMV 5'UTR nucleotide sequence comprising nucleotides 1-160 of SEQ ID NO:1, or comprising a nucleotide sequence comprising from about with 80% to 100% sequence similarity with SEQ ID NO:1, and a stuffer fragment is provided. The stuffer fragment comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding an incomplete M protein and one or more kozak sequence active in a plant. Plants and plant matter comprising the expression enhancer and methods using the expression enhancer are also described.

Modified CPMV enhancer elements

A method of producing a rotavirus-like particle (RLP) in a plant is provided. The method comprises expressing within a host or host cell for example a plant, portion of a plant or plant cell one or more nucleic acid comprising one or more regulatory region operatively linked to a first, second and third nucleotide sequence, the regulatory region active in the host or host cell. The first nucleotide sequence encoding a first rotavirus protein, the second nucleotide sequence encoding a second rotavirus protein and the third nucleotide sequence encoding a third rotavirus protein. The first, second and third encode rotavirus protein NSP4 and VP2 or VP6 and VP4 or VP7. The host or host cell is incubated under conditions that permit the expression of the nucleic acids, so that NSP4 and either VP2 of VP6 and VP4 or VP7 are expressed, thereby producing the RLP. Hosts comprising the RLP, compositions comprising the RLP and method for using the composition are also provided.

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Pierre-Olivier Lavoie