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

A composition comprising an effective dose of a mixture of influenza virus like particles (VLPs), the mixture comprising VLPs comprising HA derived from two or more than two strains of influenza, the VLPs produced in a plant, portion of a plant or plant cell by a method comprising:

• a) introducing into the plant, portion of the plant or plant cell one or more than one nucleic acid comprising one or more than one nucleotide sequence encoding influenza hemagglutinin (HA) from two or more than two strains of influenza, the HA being operatively linked to a regulatory element that is operative in the plant, portion of the plant or plant cell, and
• b) incubating the plant, portion of the plant or plant cell under conditions that permit the expression of the one or more than one nucleic acid, thereby producing the VLPs, wherein each of the VLPs comprise one or more than one lipid derived from the plant, portion of the plant or plant cell,
• c) harvesting the plant, portion of the plant or plant cell and purifying the VLPs to produce the composition comprising the effective dose of the mixture of influenza VLPs, wherein each of the VLPs comprise a protein, and one or more than one lipid derived from the plant, portion of the plant or plant cell, the protein consisting of influenza hemagglutinin (HA), and wherein the mixture comprises VLPs comprising HA from two or more than two strains of influenza, the VLPs having a purity of at least 75% and being characterized as having a size from 80 to 300 nm.

A composition comprising an effective dose of a mixture of influenza virus like particle (VLPs), the mixture comprising VLPs comprising HA derived from two or more than two strains of influenza, the VLPs produced in a plant, portion of a plant or plant cell by a method comprising:

• a) providing the plant, portion of the plant or plant cell, the plant, portion of the plant or plant cell comprising one or more than one nucleic acid comprising one or more than one nucleotide sequence encoding influenza hemagglutinin (HA) from two or more than two strains of influenza, the HA being operatively linked to a regulatory element that is operative in the plant, portion of the plant or plant cell, and
• b) incubating the plant, portion of the plant or plant cell under conditions that permit the expression of the one or more than one nucleic acid, thereby producing the VLPs, wherein the VLPs comprise one or more than one lipid derived from the plant, portion of the plant or plant cell,
• c) harvesting the plant, portion of the plant or plant cell and purifying the VLPs to produce the composition comprising the effective dose of the mixture of influenza VLPs, wherein each of the VLPs comprise a protein, and one or more than one lipid derived from the plant, portion of the plant or plant cell, the protein consisting of influenza hemagglutinin (HA), and wherein the mixture comprises VLPs comprising HA from two or more than two strains of influenza, the VLPs having a purity of at least 75% and being characterized as having a size from 80 to 300 nm.