Recombinant influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) produced in transgenic plants expressing hemagglutinin

A plant comprising a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an influenza hemagglutinin (HA), the HA being operatively linked to a regulatory element that is operative in a plant, wherein the regulatory element comprises a Cowpea Mosaic Virus (CPMV) regulatory region;

• and the plant further comprising influenza virus like particle (VLP).

A method of producing an influenza virus like particle (VLP) in a plant comprising:

• a) providing a plant or a portion of a plant comprising a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an influenza hemagglutinin (HA), the HA being operatively linked to a regulatory element that is operative in a plant and wherein the regulatory element comprises a Cowpea Mosaic Virus (CPMV) regulatory region, and
• b) incubating the plant or portion of the plant under conditions that permit the expression of the nucleic acid, thereby producing the VLP.