PLANT VIRUS PARTICLES WITH EXOGENOUS INTERNAL EITOPES

摘要

The present invention relates to the expression of peptides on viral particles, and more particularly to the expression of peptides on the interior of the viral capsid. Methods are described for modifying viruses so that exogenous epitopes are expressed on the interior of the viral capsid. Viruses that can be modified include (+) stranded RNA viruses, especially plant (+) stranded RNA viruses such as the cowpea mosaic virus. Internal expression is especially useful for the expression of hydrophobic epitopes. The modified viral particles also find use as vaccines and as such are capable of eliciting an immune response.