AU723006B2 - Modified small RNA viruses - Google Patents

Description

WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 1 MODIFIED SMALL RNA VIRUSES Field of the Invention: This invention relates to small RNA viruses and virus-like particles (VLPs) having altered or substituted Ig-like domains so as to modify host cell tropism or, in other words, the specificity of host cell binding and infection.

The invention also relates to the use of such small RNA viruses and VLPs in insecticidal and medicinal applications.

Background to the Invention: Formally recognised small RNA viruses include members of Picornaviradae, the Nodaviradae and the Tetraviradae. However, there are many unrecognised insect viruses that also fall into this category. The Tetraviradae are a family of small isometric insect viruses with unenveloped, icosahedral capsids 35-41 nm in diameter and single-stranded positive-sense RNA (ss +RNA) genomes. They have not received wide attention from virologists. Their known host range is confirmed to only a few families of moths in a single insect order, the Lepidoptera (moths, butterflies), making them the only small RNA virus family restricted to insect hosts. While they appear to be effective at controlling several of their hosts that are important insect pests, they have been little used in this regard. The lack of a cell culture system or, until recently, a reliable means to obtain the virus from laboratory reared insects made it necessary to rely on sporadically available field-collected material of uncertain quality. Such was the difficulty that only recently did it emerge that there are actually two groups of tetraviruses, Nudaurelia P-like viruses having a mono-partite genome of ca. 6 kb and Nudaurelia co-like viruses having a bi-partite genome comprising ss RNAs of 5.3 and 2.5 kb. There are only two known Nudaurelia c-like viruses. The complete genome of one member (Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus HaSV) has been previously sequenced by the present inventors. The other member is Nudaurelia o virus (NcoV) which has been partially sequenced.

One of the most intriguing aspects of infections by tetraviruses is that they appear only to infect a single tissue type, which in the case of HaSV is the midgut. In a definitive experiment that highlights the specificity of HaSV, the present inventors showed that its midgut specificity prevailed even when virus was injected into the haemocoel of larvae, WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 2 thereby exposing host non-midgut cell types not normally exposed to HaSV.

The presence of virus was examined by using cloned cDNA probes on Northern blots of RNA extracted from midguts and from the rest of the carcasses from three groups of larvae, one injected with HaSV, one fed HaSV and uninfected controls. They observed a positive signal only in the midgut RNA of both groups of larvae treated with HaSV.

Further evidence for specific binding of HaSV particles to a particular cell type comes from a rigorous examination of larvae of H.

armigera infected with HaSV. The sensitive immuno-histochemistry technique of immuno-gold staining with silver enhancement was employed on a series of cross- and sagittal-sections of infected larvae. Sections in this series were also examined with electron microscopy. Staining appeared only in midgut cells despite close attention to tissues from the foregut, fat, body, salivary gland, and brain. Both types of differentiated cells of the midgut, the columnar and goblet cells, were found to be infected, as were the much smaller undifferentiated regenerative cells at the basal membrane. Although all these midgut cell types were found to be infected, analysis of virus binding to cells in sections of wax-embedded midgut showed that only goblet cells, and not columnar cells, were the primary target of HaSV binding.

The two known 0-like viruses show a high degree of sequence identity. That is, the amino acid sequences of the coat proteins of the two 0olike viruses show an overall 67% identity (76% similarity). This comparison defined four domains in the coat (capsid) protein, with two regions of high homology (ca. 80% identity and containing extensive stretches of sequence reaching over 95% identity) (Hanzlik et al., 1995). A 49 residue aminoterminal domain shows lower homology, as does a 165 residue sequence located towards the middle of the sequence and showing 33% identity.

Surprisingly, the high overall sequence identity is not reflected in a detectable serological relationship suggesting that the central domain of low sequence homology is exposed on the capsid surface as the sole immunogenic portion of the intact virion. As first suggested by Hanzlik et al. (1995), this region is responsible for the differing host specificities of the two viruses.

The present inventors have now surprisingly realised that the central domain (corresponding to residues 287 to 416) of HaSV forms a structure WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 3 belonging to the Immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily. Other protein domains whose structures show an Ig-like fold include the variable and constant domains found on antibodies the Fab fragment of IgGs), the HLA surface antigens of the MHC complex and cell adhesion proteins and receptors the CD4 receptor recognised by HIV gp 120). Mediation of cell adhesion to other cells or the extracellular matrix by these proteins is central to development, differentiation, the immune response and tissue structure and healing. Many of these proteins are also used as receptors by viruses (Lentz (1990).

Recent studies based on cell adhesion assays and analysis of artificial lipid bilayers attached to plates have elucidated the basis of cell adhesion promoted by binding of surface proteins. These studies are exemplified by work on the binding between the MHC class II and CD4 proteins, which mediate adhesion of antigen presenting cells (APCs) and CD4 T cells in the immune response. Soluble (monomeric) CD4 (sCD4) fails to inhibit the MHC class II-specific proliferative response of T-cell clones (Hussey et al., 1988) or the binding of MHC class II B cells to CD4-transfected COS-7 cells in cell adhesion assays, even at a concentration of 100 utM (Sakihama et al., 1995a). This implies that the affinity of the monomeric sCD4 for the MHC class II proteins is >10 4 M. It has now been shown that oligomerization of CD4 molecules on the surface of CD4 cells is required for stable binding to MHC class II proteins, by increasing the avidity of the interaction between these cell adhesion protein molecules (Sakihama et al., 1995 This oligomerization follows an initial interaction between 1 or 2 CD4 molecules and MHC class II dimers.

Characterization of chimaeric CD4 molecules has shown that the membrane proximal domains 3 and/or 4 appear to be involved in oligomerization.

The present inventors have now recognised that the lack of sequence similarity between the Ig-like domain of HaSV and the corresponding domain of NoV may allow tetravirus particles to be used as icosahedral platforms capable of carrying altered Ig-like domains or substituted tertiary structures and thereby show modified host cell binding specificities.

The Ig-like domain forms a prominent protrusion which interacts with either quasi 3-fold or icosahedral 3-fold related subunits on the surface of the tetravirus capsid. The icosahedral particles therefore present a defined oligomeric form of the Ig-like domain which is likely to allow stable WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 4 binding of the complete capsid to the cell-surface receptor, analogous to the binding between CD4 and MHC class II oligomers. Support for this notion comes from the findings of Weber and Karjalainen (1993), who reported that a soluble, pentameric immunofusion construct of mouse CD4 and human CFt could inhibit the interaction between polymer-bound mouse sCD4 and B cells, whereas a soluble monomeric immunofusion construct of mouse CD4 and mouse CK could not.

Disclosure of the Invention: Thus, in a first aspect, the present invention provides an isolated small RNA virus of a kind which includes an Ig-like domain within the wildtype coat protein(s), wherein said Ig-like domain has been altered or substituted so as to modify host cell tropism.

By "Ig-like domain" we refer to a distinct structural domain having a core structure with seven to nine antiparallel 3 -strands forming a "barrellike" shape however, since hydrogen bonds do not extend around the barrel, there is, in effect, two distinct P-pleated sheets and physically the fold is a Psandwich (Bork et al. 1994). Some Ig-like domains within this definition (such as the tetravirus Ig-like domain), may also have additional P-strands outside of the core structure.

By "host cell tropism" we refer to the capacity of viruses (and viruslike particles (VLPs) as described below) to bind, enter and commence infection in specific populations of cells within an organism.

Preferably, the Ig-like domain is altered such that the virus selectively binds and infects a predetermined cell type which is other than the virus' normal host cell type(s). Such "targeting" enables, for example, the utilisation of the small RNA virus' insecticidal properties in the control of pest insects outside of the normal host species range. Small RNA viruses according to the invention thereby offer significant potential as insecticidal agents.

Whilst the invention is particularly described in relation to Tetraviradae, it is anticipated that Ig-like domains are also located in other small RNA viruses. Accordingly, the small RNA virus of the first aspect is selected from members of Picornaviradae, the Nodaviradae and the Tetraviradae. Preferably, the small RNA virus is a member of the Tetraviradae family such as a Nudaurelia P-like virus (particularly NpV).

WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 More preferably, the small RNA virus is a member of the genus of Nudaurelia w-like viruses. Most preferably, the small RNA virus is selected from Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus (HaSV) and Nudaurelia co virus (NoV).

The Ig-like domain of the HaSV wild-type coat protein (p71) is located at residues 281 to 414 of the amino acid sequence shown at figure 1.

The Ig-like domain of the NPV wild-type coat protein is located within residues 285 to 433 of the 634 amino acid sequence shown at Figure 2. The Ig-like domain of the NoV wild-type coat protein is located at residues 280 to 413 of the sequence reported by Agrawal and Johnson, 1995.

Alterations or substitutions of the Ig-like domain may be achieved by replacing the wild-type coat protein gene(s) with a chimaeric gene(s) including nucleotide sequences encoding all or a functional portion(s) of Iglike domains derived from other proteins such as those mentioned above.

Functional portion(s) in this context refers to portion(s) of Ig-like domains which still permit the small RNA virus to specifically bind and infect one or more cell types.

For targeting the small RNA virus to cell types of pest insects outside of the normal host species range, the chimaeric gene(s) may include nucleotide sequences encoding all or a functional portion(s) of the variable or constant domains of antibodies specific to gut cell types belonging to the target pest insect. Alternatively, the chimaeric gene(s) may include nucleotide sequences encoding all or a functional portion(s) of Ig-like domains derived from proteins involved in cell adhesion or monoclonal antibodies specific for cell surface epitopes.

Whilst it is preferred to alter or substitute the Ig-like domain using nucleotide sequences encoding Ig-like domains or functional portion(s) thereof derived from other proteins, it is to be understood that the invention contemplates alteration and substitution of the Ig-like domain using nucleotide sequences encoding non-Ig-like tertiary structures so as to achieve favourable modification of host cell tropism. For example, the Iglike domain may be altered by inclusion of, or substituted with, a peptide loop such as those present on the coat protein of nodaviruses), small protein or lectin.

Suitable alterations of the Ig-like domain might also be achieved with techniques such as site-directed mutagenesis of the wild-type coat protein gene(s).

WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 6 In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for controlling the proliferation of a pest insect, comprising applying to an area infected with said pest insect a small RNA virus according to the first aspect, optionally in admixture with an agriculturally acceptable carrier.

The coat proteins from both NcoV and HaSV have the ability to form virus like particles (VLPs) when expressed in a baculovirus expression system. The findings of the present inventors therefore offer the possibility of producing VLPs for use as specific delivery agents of, for example, nucleic acid molecules. These VLPs may therefore be useful as insecticidal agents or for use as a means of specific gene delivery for, for example, gene therapy.

The production of VLPs from small RNA viruses is discussed in International Patent Application No. PCT/AU93/00411, the entire disclosure of which is to be regarded as incorporated herein by reference.

The HaSV VLPs have properties highly similar to those of HaSV virions. These include resistance to proteolytic degradation, buoyancy in CsC1 solutions, morphology and dimensions, ability to protect encapsidated RNA from degradation, and affinity to the H. armigera gut cell receptor for HaSV. The latter property was demonstrated by the observation that VLPs bound in an identical manner to receptors on H. armigera gut cells in wax cross sections of larvae. This indicates that VLPs will be able to enter the cells and express RNAs within them.

Thus, in a third aspect, the present invention provides a virus-like particle (VLP) prepared from expression of a coat protein gene(s) derived from a small RNA virus of a kind which includes an Ig-like domain within the wild-type coat protein(s), said gene(s) having been altered such that the Ig-like domain of the expressed coat protein is altered or substituted so as to modify host cell tropism.

Preferably, the VLP is prepared from expression of a coat protein gene(s) which has been altered such that the Ig-like domain of the expressed coat protein is altered or substituted such that the VLP selectively binds and infects a predetermined cell type(s) which is other than a host cell type(s) which the VLP, absent the alteration or substitution of the Ig-like domain of its coat protein(s), would bind and infect.

Preferably, the coat protein gene(s) is derived from a member of Picornaviradae, the Nodaviradae and the Tetraviradae. However, preferably, the gene(s) is derived from a member of the Tetraviradae family such as WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 7 Nudaurelia p-like virus (particularly NPV). More preferably, the gene(s) is derived from a member of the genus of Nudaurelia w-like viruses. Most preferably, the gene(s) is derived from Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus (HaSV) or Nudaurelia o virus (NoV).

The coat protein gene(s) used to express the VLP may be produced by replacing the wild-type coat protein gene(s) with a chimaeric gene(s) as described above in regard to the first aspect.

VLPs according to the third aspect of the present invention offer significant potential for specifically delivering nucleic acid molecules to a predetermined cell type(s). For use as insecticidal agents, the nucleic acid may, for example, encode a toxin such as ricin, neurotoxins, gelonin and diptheria toxins. In medicinal applications, the nucleic acid molecules may, for example, encode a cytotoxin for cancer treatment) or other peptide, polypeptide or protein as required for gene therapy).

Although the inventors have observed, on occasion, that VLPs from the HaSV coat protein will encapsidate low molecular weight RNA having no virus sequences, it is probably necessary that encapsidation (and replication) signal sequences on the virus RNA be utilised, if the VLPs of the third aspect are to be useful for delivering desired genes to target cells. That is, it is probably necessary that encapsidation (and replication) signals be utilised to allow production of VLPs which specifically encapsidate and deliver expressible RNA of exogenous origin, thereby enabling the delivery of desirable activities to target cells. This may be in the form of an mRNA to produce a functional protein when translated in the target cell or in the form of retroviral or retrotransposon RNA which will be incorporated into the target cell genome from which the product will eventually be expressed.

The possibility of altering or substituting the Ig-like domain of small RNA virus coat proteins also offers the development of VLPs carrying antigenic tertiary structures. Such VLPs would offer considerable promise as vaccination agents.

Thus, in a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a vaccine comprising a virus-like particle (VLP) prepared from expression of a coat protein gene(s) derived from a small RNA virus of a kind which includes an Ig-like domain within the wild-type coat protein(s), said gene(s) having been altered such that the Ig-like domain of the expressed coat protein is altered WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 8 or substituted so that the VLP presents a surface located antigen to elicit an immune response in a host organism.

The antigen may be all or an antigenic portion of a protein from, for example, a virus HIV, HCV, CMV) or bacteria Mycobacteria, Streptococcus, Haemophilias).

From studies conducted on tetravirus coat proteins and VLPs, the present inventors have identified a unique group of six properties or characteristics which enable the production of the specific RNA delivery VLPs contemplated by the present invention. These characteristics may be summarised as: 1. The ability of tetravirus coat proteins when expressed from exogenous expression systems to readily produce VLPs.

2. The ability of tetravirus VLPs to readily encapsidate exogenous mRNAs including viral encapsidation signal sequences and encoding peptides, polypeptides and proteins of differing activities.

3. The ability of tetravirus VLPs to be able to deliver exogenous mRNAs in such a manner that translation of encoded peptides, polypeptides or proteins occurs specifically in the cells to which the VLPs bind and infect.

4. The provision within the tetravirus coat proteins of a distinct region that forms an Ig-like domain responsible for host cell tropism.

The possibility of modifying or substituting the Ig-like domain on tetravirus coat proteins with other Ig-like domains and structures of exogenous origin.

6. The possibility of producing tetravirus VLPs exhibiting low reactivity to the vertebrate immune system.

These characteristics and the feasibility of producing specific RNA delivery VLPs is described in greater detail below with reference to the following, non-limiting examples and accompanying figures.

Brief description of the figures: Figure 1 provides the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding RNA 2 of the HaSV genome (the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding RNA1 is WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 9 provided in the abovementioned Patent Application No. PCT/AU93/00411).

The putative amino acid sequences of the coat proteins p71 and p17 are also shown, p71 includes an Ig-like domain at residues G281 to E414.

Figure 2 provides the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding the NPV RNA genome. The putative amino acid sequences of encoded proteins is also provided. The coat protein (p70) includes an Ig-like domain at residues P285 to K433 of the 634 residue sequence.

EXAMPLE 1 VLP production from exogenous expression systems: The tetravirus coat proteins easily produce VLPs after being expressed by exogenous expression systems, and importantly, they assemble into RNA-containing VLPs under in vitro conditions. In vitro assembly facilitates inexpensive, large scale production of VLPs carrying mRNAs encoding a variety of desired peptides, polypeptides or proteins and including cytotoxins which would be expected to hamper in vivo production due to their toxicities towards the host. In vitro production of VLPs may also be of importance in medicinal applications, since it should be possible to readily meet the stringent requirements for elimination of contaminating organisms/factors.

In vivo production of tetravirus VLPs in eukaryotic expression systems such as baculoviruses, yeast and plant cells is described in the abovementioned International Patent Specification No. PCT/AU/93/00411, and Hanzlik and Gordon, 1997. Briefly, the production of tetravirus VLPs in these systems involves the expression of the coat protein precursor gene (e.g.

for HaSV; p71 of RNA2) with a strong promoter, then purifying the VLPs as for HaSV virions or by the procedure of Agrawal and Johnson (1995). To produce tetravirus VLPs under in vitro conditions, a procedure described by Yusibov et al. (1996) may be used after expression of the coat protein precursor in a prokaryotic host such as E. coli.

WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 EXAMPLE 2 Production of HaSV VLPs encapsidating exogenous RNA: The VLPs produced from tetravirus coat proteins readily incorporate exogenous mRNAs having certain viral encapsidation signal sequences.

Such mRNAs may encode a variety of desired peptides, polypeptides and proteins. This can be demonstrated by the following experiment which places the nonviral gene, E.coli P-glucuronidase (GUS) within HaSV VLPs.

HaSV VLPs having translatable GUS mRNA within them can be made by coinfecting Sf9 cells with two recombinant baculoviruses. Using the commercially available baculovirus vector, pFastBac of the Bac-to-Bac Expression System (Gibco-BRL). Baculovirus 1 was constructed by placing the p71 coat protein open reading frame (ORF) (see Figure 1) behind the polyhedrin promoter. When Baculovirus 1 infects Sf9 cells by itself, VLPs are formed which selectively encapsidates the transcribed mRNAs of the coat protein ORF. This indicates that an encapsidation signal sequence is within the coat protein ORF. This information was used to construct Baculovirus 2 which produced an encapsidatable RNA that expressed GUS activity.

Baculovirus 2 or pFBGUSp71 virus was constructed by placing the GUS ORF (p-glucuronidase, Jefferson et al., 1986) between the coat protein ORF and the polyhedrin promoter so that the initiating AUG codon would start translation of the GUS ORF instead of the coat protein ORF. Thus, when transcription occurs during the baculovirus infection, mRNA is produced that is expressed as GUS. This mRNA also possesses the encapsidation signal sequences possessed by the HaSV p71 coat protein ORF placed behind the GUS ORF. Consequently, when Baculoviruses 1 and 2 infect the same cell, VLPs made from Baculovirus 1 selectively encapsidate RNAs with the coat protein ORF only as well as those RNAs with the GUS ORF followed by the coat protein ORF.

Encapsidation of the GUS mRNA is confirmed by Northern blotting of RNA extracted from purified VLPs produced from Sf9 cells coinfected with both baculoviruses. To purify the VLPs, Sf9 cells are infected with the two viruses and after four days the cells are lysed with freeze/thaw and vortexing in Tris buffer 50 mM Tris pH 7.4) with 0.2% Nonidet detergent. After clarification at 10,000 x g for 10 minutes, the supernatant of WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 11 homogenate is pelleted through a 10% sucrose cushion at 100,000 x g for three hours. The pellet, resuspended by an overnight incubation, is directly layered onto a centrifuge tube having equal volumes of 30% and 60% CsCl in Tris buffer which is then spun at 200,000 x g for 12 hours. The opalescent band is then pelleted at 100,000 x g for three hours then resuspended in Tris buffer. When the extracted RNA is probed with a radioactively labelled GUS only probe, the RNA from the VLPs hybridises strongly to a 4.6 kb band, which is the size of the expected mRNA transcribed from the pFBGUSp71 virus. These GUS RNA containing VLPs also bind to H. armigera midgut cells in a manner highly similar to HaSV virions. This is seen when the particles are incubated with wax cross-sections of H. armigera midguts and immunologically detected according to the procedure of Bravo et al. (1992).

Alternative constructions of Baculovirus 2 could have included all of the HaSV RNA2 (Figure 1) placed behind the GUS ORF, or the GUS ORF placed within RNA2 with the initiating AUG codon located at the site of the initiating AUG codon of either the p17 or p71 ORFs.

VLPs containing almost any mRNA can be made in vitro by first transcribing capped RNA in vitro with T7 polymerase then assembling the transcripts with purified coat proteins as described by Yusibov (1996).

EXAMPLE 3 Delivery of exogenous RNA encapsidated in HaSV VLPs: Tetravirus VLPs are able to deliver encapsidated mRNAs for translation specifically in cells to which they bind and infect. This phenomenon has been observed by feeding GUS mRNA containing VLPs made in accordance with Example 2 from HaSV p71, to neonate larvae of H.

armigera.

A 10% sucrose solution with 100 |tg/ml (mRNA) concentration of GUS VLPs were fed to neonate larvae with the droplet feeding method (Hughes and Wood, 1981) and then sacrificed after three hours at room temperature. Eleven (11) GUS VLP-fed larvae were collected and separately homogenized in GUS extraction buffer (Jefferson et al., 1986) with 1 mM X- Gluc (50 mM NaHPO 4 pH 7.0, 5 mM dithiothreitol, 1 mM Na 2 EDTA, 0.1% triton X-100). A distinct blue colour indicating the presence of GUS, developed overnight in the extract, whilst a similar extract obtained from WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 12 control larvae (11) fed VLPs without GUS mRNA, remained colourless. The result was confirmed by excising the midguts of the neonate larvae fed GUS mRNA containing VLPs and placing them into X-Gluc assay buffer (2 nmM X- Gluc, 50 mM NaHPO 4 pH 7.0, 0.1% triton X-100). After incubation overnight, a blue spot occurred directly behind the stromadeal valve indicating GUS activity. The controls failed to show any blue colour.

EXAMPLE 4 Substituting the Ig-like domain of HaSV and NoV VLPs: Tetravirus coat proteins have a distinct region in the amino acid sequence that forms a domain on the surface of the VLP which is responsible for host cell tropism. X-ray crystallography studies indicate that this domain has a immunoglobulin-like (Ig-like) tertiary structure (Munshi et al., 1996).

The importance of the Ig-like domain in host cell tropism is made evident by the following experimentation which show that the HaSV Ig-like domain binds highly specifically to a factor in the midgut goblet cell cavity.

H. armigera midguts were excised and embedded in wax then sectioned by standard procedures. HaSV virions and GUS VLPs produced according to Example 2 were then incubated with the sections for 30 min, washed and then histochemically tested for the presence of HaSV virions or VLPs according to method of Bravo et al. (1992). The results obtained showed that specific binding of HaSV VLPs occurs only to the goblet cell factor. No binding occurs on other tissues or cultured cells. In addition, no binding of HaSV VLPs occurs to other lepidopteran midguts such as Nudaurelia cyntheria capensis or Galleria melonella.

Experimentation also showed that the binding is saturable. This was observed by a double label experiment using HaSV virions and GUS VLPs labeled with photo-biotin (Bresatec) in accordance with the supplier's instructions, and detected with avidin reagents according to standard procedures. Biotin labelled particles incubated with midgut wax sections were only detected in the absence of a 30 min preincubation with unlabelled HaSV VLPs.

In further experimentation involving the wax section binding assay described above, it was shown that the HaSV Ig-like domain is responsible for binding activity. This was achieved by producing hybrid Nudaurelia a WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 13 virus (NoV) VLPs having the Ig-like domain of HaSV, thereby conferring to the NoV VLPs the identical, specific binding activity to H. armigera midgut goblet cells as that of HaSV virions and VLPs. Furthermore, the hybrid particles were able to deliver GUS mRNA having the NoV RNA2 sequence (Agrawal and Johnson, 1992) on the transcript 3' to the GUS ORF. This was also shown in a complementary experiment where HaSV hybrid particles with the Ig-like domain of NoV showed specific binding to Nudaurelia midguts not shown by HaSV VLPs.

The NwV hybrid particles with the HaSV Ig-like domains were made by placing the NoV coat protein ORF (Agrawal and Johnson, 1995) into the baculovirus expression vector, pFastBac (Gibco-BRL) to generate pFBWCAP and performing the seamless cloning procedure described by Padgett and Sorge (1996). Primer Omegal (ATGACTCTTCTCTGTGTGGTGGCGATCGGAGTAAG) and primer Omega2 (AGTACTCTTCAACTACCGCTGCTTCTAATCGCAG) were used to produce a 6.4 kb PCR fragment from pFBWCAP and having the vector containing the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of the coat protein ORF prior to and after the Ig-like domain (from residues M1-Q274 and T415-stop 445). Similarly, a 428 bp fragment having residues Q277- T420 of the HaSV coat protein was produced by PCR with Pfu polymerase from Primers StuntIgN (AGTACTCTTCGCAGTACGACGTCAGCGAGGCCGAC) and primer StuntIgC (ATGACTCTTCGAGTCTCTAAGAGCGTGTTCCTAAA). Both fragments were digested with Eam 1104 I and ligated to form plasmid pFBWIg. This plasmid was then used to produce a recombinant baculovirus according to the supplier (Gibco-BRL) of the Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system.

The resulting hybrid VLPs were prepared from Sf9 cells infected with the recombinant baculovirus by the procedure used to prepare HaSV VLPs in Example 2.

EXAMPLE Modification of the Ig-like domain of HaSV VLPs: The tetravirus Ig-like domain can be substituted for other structures -without interfering with particle formation.

WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 14 Substitution with loop structures.

The purpose of this experiment was to show that the region encoding the Ig-like domain of tetravirus coat proteins could be exchanged for a minimum loop structure without affecting particle formation and RNA encapsidation. Such loops could be used to modify the host cell tropism of VLPs.

The HaSV p71 coat protein ORF was modified by removing the Iglike domain between residues Q276-T416 and inserting a linker of five SGSGS residues. This was done by the method of Imai et al. (1991) with the primers HR2noIgL (CTGCGGTAGGCTAGTCGGGGT) and HR2Loop (AGTGGAAGTGGCACTACTCGACCCTCCTCTCGTAGG), the latter having an anchor sequence encoding the SGSGS linker. The PCR with kinased primers was performed on the plasmid pFBp71 which contained the p71 ORF and the ends of the resulting 6.8 kb fragment were ligated and transformed into E. coli and screened. The resulting plasmid pFBHloop was used to produce a recombinant baculovirus with the Bac-to-Bac system (Gibco-BRL). Particles were purified as for HaSV virions and showed the expected dimensions and morphology of 32-34 nM diameter and a smoother appearance than unmodified VLPs. The particles with modified p71 also encapsidated RNA as seen by the presence of RNA on a formaldehyde RNA gel after RNA extraction from the particles.

The Hloop construct can also be made by inserting an SGSGS loop domain at alternative sites of the tetravirus coat protein. For example, an SGSGS loop can be placed with a similar procedure to the above HR21oop, between G281 and E414. Or alternatively as an addition on one of the loops of the endogenous Ig-like domain itself; for example D353 and E358.

That loop structures are likely to give tetravirus VLPs predetermined host cell tropisms is evident in the comparison of the crystal structures of nodavirus and tetravirus coat proteins (Munshi et al., 1996). That is, at the analogous region of the Ig-like domain of the tetravirus coat protein, nodavirus coat protein have a pentapeptide loop with varying sequences (Dasgupta and Sgro, 1989). Hence replacement of the tetravirus Ig-like domain with the pentapeptide loop, ATTFA, of the flock house virus (Wery et al., 1994) will likely give the resulting VLPs a binding and entry affinity to Drosophila cells similar to FHV. Another means of modifying the host cell tropism of tetravirus VLPs is to place the tripeptide sequence, RGD, in an WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 accessible place on the coat protein. This will likely give the resulting VLPs binding affinity for RGD receptors of the integrin family of proteins located on many human cells (Pierschbacher and Ruoslahti, 1984). This can either be done with the nodavirus-like loop structure or by replacing an existing tripeptide sequence with RGD on one of the loops present on the endogenous tetravirus Ig-like domain.

Loop structures with binding affinities to cells with particular cell surface epitopes should be readily obtained with stochastic methods. One such method would be based on the pSKAN procedure (MoBiTec) which provides a 6-8 residue loop having desired binding affinities with a phagemid display system (Rottgen and Collins, 1995). A second method would be based on the use of the tetravirus coat protein itself to form VLPs with variable loop regions which are then selected for desired binding affinities. Recovery of VLPs with a desired affinity produced from this second method is facilitated by the fact that the VLPs will encapsidate the mRNA encoding the desirable loop region. A reiterative process will enrich for the VLPs with the desired affinity. This may be achieved by a process similar to the pSKAN procedure but suitably modified to account for the non-replicating nature of VLPs.

In detail, an altered loop version of the HaSV p71, pFBHLoop, may be used to place a hypervariable region, derived from a loop primer, in the loop region. The primer HR2noIgL (CTGCGGTAGGCTAGTCGGGGT) can then be used in conjunction with HR2LoopVar (NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNACTCGACCCTCCTCTCGTAGG), to PCR a 6.8 kb fragment from pFBp71 which is then ligated to itself to produce a series of plasmids with p71 having different loop regions behind the polyhedrin promoter. These plasmids may then be used to produce pools of colonies with recombinant baculoviruses produced with the Bac-to-Bac system.

Recombinant baculoviruses would then be prepared from the pools and used to transfect Sf9 cells. After 6 days, the Sf9 cells would be lysed with freezethaw and sonication Triton X-100 in Tris buffer pH 8.0) and the particles allowed to mature by incubation a 4°C for 1 week. The lysate can then be incubated with the desired ligand or surface epitope protein bound to magnetic beads according to the manufacturer (Dynal). The bound particles will be washed extensively but gently and directly extracted for RNA without elution. The RNA can then be used to perform RT-PCR with WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 16 primers HR236F5 (AGAAGAAACCAACGGCGT) and HR2R2140 (AGGACGTTGCCTCCGACTTC) to produce a 1.7 kb fragment which can be digested with EcoRI and NotI enzymes then ligated to the larger fragment of pFBp71 resulting from digestion of the same two enzymes and having the rest of the HaSV p71 ORF. The resulting plasmid is then used to commence a reiterative second round of recombinant baculovirus production/transfection/particle binding/RT-PCR/plasmid preparation.

At least three rounds of recombinant baculovirus production/transfection/particle binding/RT-PCR/plasmid preparation would be required to arrive at particles with loops having affinity to the desired surface epitope.

(ii) Substitution with small proteins.

The purpose of this experiment was to demonstrate that small proteins with less than 30 kDa molecular weight can be inserted into the Iglike domain of tetravirus coat proteins so that when VLPs are made the small protein is displayed on the outside of the particles. This can either be used to modify host cell tropism or to produce vaccines to the protein. For example, it was demonstrated that the 27 kDa green fluorescent protein (GFP) (Prasher et al., 1992) could be displayed on the outside of the NoV VLP. This was achieved by a procedure similar to that described in Example 4 to insert the HaSV Ig-like domain into the NoV coat protein. The procedure utilised the primers WGFPN (AGTACTCTTCGCAGAGTATGAGTAAAGGAGAAGAACTT) and WGFPC

(ATGACTCTTCGAGTACTGCCACTTCCACTTTTGTATAGTTCATCCATG

CC) to perform PCR on gfpl0 cDNA (Prasher et al., 1992) to produce a 750 bp fragment which, when digested with Ear 11041, had complementary ends to the Eam 11041 digested 6.4 kb PCR fragment produced with ol and 02 from pFBWCAP. When ligated together into pFBWGFP, a hybrid NoV coat protein was formed having the primary structure: (NoV M1-Q280)-(GFP)- (linker peptide SGSGS)-(NoV T415-stop 445). This plasmid was used to produce a recombinant baculovirus according to the Bac-to-Bac system.

The hybrid protein was expressed in a manner similar to pFBWCAP and fluorescing cells were evident when irradiated with UV light. Particles were evident inside cells when examined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), although they proved to be unstable when purified.

WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 17 However, when a particle was formed with a combination of proteins produced from pFBW loop virus and pFBWGFP virus at a ratio of 3:1, a stable VLP was formed which was able to be purified. Virus pFBW loop is the analogous NwV VLP version of Hloop having the loop structure and made by the same procedure and inserting the residues, SGSGS in place of the NcoV Ig-like domain. The particle had a larger diameter, 45nm, and the morphology showed larger protrusions on the outside of the purified particles. The particles were shown to encapsidate RNA.

The successful demonstration of hybrid tetravirus/GFP particles showed that proteins of less than 30 kDa could be displayed on the outside of the tetravirus particle. If such proteins possess binding affinities for cell surface proteins, then the tropism of the VLPs could be predetermined.

Immunoglobulin domains or lectins are excellent examples of such proteins which could be inserted into the region specified as the Ig-like domain of tetravirus coat proteins. However, certain modifications may be necessary to the proteins before their insertion to the tetravirus coat protein ORF. This is because of the need for the N-terminus and C-terminus to be adjacent in the tertiary structure of the protein as this conformation is evident in the tertiary structure of the tetravirus Ig-like domain. It is this conformation which makes the Ig-like domain exchange for other proteins possible without extensive reconstruction that would be detrimental to the conformation of the tetravirus coat protein. Examples of proteins to be modified to make the N- and C-termini adjacent are the V- and C-type domains of the Immunoglobulin superfamily and Ig-like domains from antibodies where the N-termini are separated from the C-termini by nearly the length of the protein (Bork et al., 1994, Williams and Barclay, 1988).

Examination of the three dimensional structure of candidate proteins for insertion into tetravirus coat proteins will show if modifications are necessary. An example of how to modify proteins with Ig-like domains for insertion into tetravirus coat proteins is provided below.

(iii) Substitution with exogenous Ig-like domains.

The use of protein members of the Immunoglobulin superfamily is -particularly desirable for determining tropisms for tetravirus VLPs as many of these proteins are known to be involved in cell surface recognition (Williams and Barclay, 1988), and in binding events such as those between WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 18 antibodies and their respective antigens (Rees et al., 1994). This makes it likely that the presence of such proteins on the exterior surface of the tetravirus VLPs will cause the VLPs to bind to the same cells that are normally bound by the proteins.

However, most such Ig-like proteins have their N- and C-termini at the opposite ends of the three dimensional structure of the protein and thus modification of the Ig-like protein is necessary before insertion into the tetravirus coat protein as discussed in the previous section. Modification may be achieved by adding a 15-20 residue peptide linker which connects the last tetravirus coat protein residue before the commencement of the tetravirus Ig-like domain to the N-terminus of the nominated Ig-like domain to be inserted into the region of the tetravirus Ig-like domain. In such a manner the N-terminus, which would normally be at the non-proximal end of the Ig-like domain, is connected to the surface of the tetravirus capsid.

The C-terminus of the nominated Ig-like domain is then connected to the residue terminating the tetravirus Ig-like domain by a shorter 3-5 residue peptide linker. Lengths of the linkers need to be empirically determined for optimal conformation of the Ig-like domain on the surface of the VLP.

Composition of the peptide linkers may be alternating Ser-Gly residues for the required length as described by Bird et al. (1988).

Alternative linker compositions may be more optimal in some cases such as (Gly 4Ser) 4 (Somia et al., 1995). For example, the construction of one such hybrid tetravirus coat protein employing the NoV coat protein would be (NoV M1-Q280)-(linker peptide [SerGly]8)-(N-term-V-type Ig domain-C-term)-(linker peptide SerGlySer)-(NoV T415-stop 445).

An example of how a V-type Ig may be placed into the tetravirus coat protein so as to modify the tropism of the VLP to human cells having the low density lipoprotein receptor is based on the work of Somia et al. (1995). A 400 bp fragment containing the gamma Ig region of the C7 hybridoma is produced with PCR from pBS(Gly 4Ser) 4 Somia et al. (1995) with the primer GlySer (GGCGGTGGCGGATCGGGCGGT) and GammaC GCCTTTAATTAATGAGGAGAC) and blunt end cloned to the 6.8 kb PCR fragment from pFBp71 with the primers HR2noIgL (CTGCGGTAGGCTAGTCGGGGT) and HR2LoopIg (AGTGGCACTACTCGACCCTCCTCTCGTAGG), the latter having an anchor sequence encoding a SGS linker. The resulting plasmid produces a protein WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 19 having the primary structure (HaSV p71 M1-Q276)-(Gly 4Ser) 4-(gamma Vtype Ig domain)-(SerGlySer)-(HaSV p 7 1 T421-N446) when used to produce a recombinant baculovirus with the Bac-to-Bac system. Stable VLPs encapsidating RNA and capable of binding to QT6 cells, should be produced when this protein is expressed (Somia et al., 1995). Suitable Ig-like domains with binding specificities for desired cell types can also be derived stochastically with phage display techniques (Clackson et al., 1991).

EXAMPLE 6 Production of HaSV VLPs with low reactivity to the vertebrate immune system: VLPs produced from tetravirus coat proteins can be made to have a low reactivity to the vertebrate immune system.

The human immune system is one of the largest obstacles to therapeutics based on particles containing nucleic acids. This limits their use to only a few occasions before an immune reaction neutralises the particles before they enter cells. However, hybrid tetravirus VLPs may have a means to counter this phenomenon by being "invisible" to the immune system. Experiments described below show that >98% of the VLPs immunogenicity to the rabbit and mouse immune systems resides in the tetravirus Ig-like domain and that the VLP's contiguous surface (ie. the surface created by loop-type constructs of the tetravirus coat protein) displays little, if any, immunogenicity in the presence of an Ig-like feature on the surface. This suggests that the placement of an Ig-like domain from a human source will not induce the human immune system conditioned to the presence of such proteins similar to a blood transfusion with different human antibodies with human Ig-like domains).

To determine the region of the tetravirus coat protein responsible for immunogenicity of the particle, the following experiment was conducted.

Plasmid pT7T2p69 was constructed as outlined by Hanzlik et al. (1995) for plasmid pT7T2p71. However, instead of expressing HaSV p71 in bacteria as for pT7T2p71, the plasmid pT7T2p69 expressed a fusion of a part of HaSV p17 (Hanzlik et al., 1995) and the p71 coat protein by virtue of a frame-shift mutation after nucleotide C569 where an additional C was inserted. Thus fusion protein produced incorporated M1-P96 of p17 and N70-N646 of p71.

WO 97/46666 PCT/AU97/00349 The region encoding the Ig-like domain of p71 was deleted using the method of Imai et al. (1991) using pFBp71 and the primers HR2noIgR and HR2noIgL (see above for sequences). This removed residues Q280-T415 from the resulting protein expressed by the recombinant baculovirus produced from the plasmid with the Bac-to-Bac system. When Western blotted on two different membranes and separately probed with anti-pl7 or anti-p71 antisera (Hanzlik et al., 1995) and detected using alkaline phosphatase induced luminescence on film, the signal from the deleted protein probed with anti-p71 was less than 2% than that of the non-deleted protein.

Normalisation of the anti-pl7 signal which accounted for differing amounts of antigen on the membrane was achieved with the signal from p17 which was unaffected by the deletion. The phenomenon of the Ig-like domain accounting for >98% of the immunogenicity was true for two different rabbit and three different mouse polyclonal antiseras. This observation is supported by that of Hanzlik et al. (1995) who noted that the anti-seras against NcoV and HaSV did not cross react despite >80% identity in areas of the coat protein other than the Ig-like domain which had <35% identity.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

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Claims (32)

1. An isolated small RNA virus selected from Picornaviradae, Nodaviradae and Tetraviradae being of a kind which includes an Ig-like domain within the wild-type coat protein(s), wherein said Ig-like domain has been altered or substituted so as to modify host cell tropism.

2. The isolated virus of claim 1, wherein the Ig-like domain has been altered such that the virus selectively binds and infects a predetermined cell type which is other than the virus' normal host cell type(s).

3. The isolated virus of claim 2, wherein the predetermined cell type is a cell type belonging to an insect species outside of the virus' normal host species range.

4. The isolated virus of claim 1, wherein the virus is selected from Tetraviradae.

5. The isolated virus of claim 4, wherein the virus is a member of the 20 Nudaurelia 13-like or Nudaurelia c-like virus families.

6. The isolated virus of claim 5, wherein the virus is selected from Helicoveipa armigera stunt virus (HaSV), Nudaurelia w virus (NcoV) and Nudaurelia fl virus (N3V).

7. The isolated virus of claim 1, wherein said Ig-like domain is altered or substituted by including all or a functional portion(s) of an Ig-like domain derived from an exogenous protein. 30

8. The isolated virus of claim 7, wherein the Ig-like domain derived from an exogenous protein is selected from variable or constant domains of antibodies, and Ig-like domains of cell adhesion proteins and receptors.

9. The isolated virus of claim 1, wherein the Ig-like domain is altered or substituted by including a non-Ig-like tertiary structure.

The isolated virus of claim 9, wherein the non-Ig-like tertiary structure is selected from peptide loops, proteins of <30 kDa and lectins.

11. The isolated virus of claim 9, wherein the non-Ig-like tertiary structure is antigenic.

12. A method for controlling the proliferation of a pest insect, comprising applying to an area infected with said pest insect, the small RNA virus of claim 1, optionally in admixture with an agriculturally acceptable carrier.

13. A virus-like particle (VLP) prepared from expression of a coat protein gene(s) derived from a small RNA virus selected from Picornaviradae, Nodaviradae and Tetraviradae being of a kind which includes an Ig-like domain within the wild-type protein(s), said gene(s) having been altered such that the Ig-like domain of the expressed coat protein is altered or substituted so as to modify host cell tropism.

14. The VLP of claim 13, wherein the Ig-like domain has been altered such that the virus selectively binds and infects a predetermined cell type which S 20 is other than a host cell type(s) which the VLP, absent the alteration or substitution of the Ig-like domain, would otherwise bind and infect.

15. The VLP of claim 14, wherein the predetermined cell type is a cell type belonging to an insect species.

16. The VLP of claim 13, wherein the virus from which the coat protein gene(s) is derived is selected from Tetraviradae.

17. The VLP of claim 16, wherein the virus is a member of the Nudaurelia 30 P-like or Nudaurelia o-like virus families.

18. The VLP of claim 17, wherein the virus is selected from Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus (HaSV), Nudaurelia ovirus (NoV) and Nudaurelia P virus (NPV).

19. The VLP of claim 13, wherein said Ig-like domain is altered or substituted by including all or a functional portion(s) of an Ig-like domain derived from an exogenous protein.

20. The VLP of claim 19, wherein the Ig-like domain derived from an exogenous protein is selected from variable or constant domains of antibodies, and Ig-like domains of cell adhesion proteins and receptors.

21. The VLP according to claim 13, wherein the Ig-like domain is altered or substituted by including a non-Ig-like tertiary structure.

22. The VLP of claim 21, wherein the non-Ig-like tertiary structure is selected from peptide loops, proteins of <30 kDa and lectins.

23. The VLP of claim 21, wherein the non-Ig-like tertiary structure is antigenic.

24. The VLP according to claim 13, wherein the VLP encapsidates an exogenous nucleic molecule which is expressed when said VLP binds and S. 20 infects a host cell.

25. The VLP of claim 24, wherein the exogenous nucleic acid molecule is insecticidal or encodes an insecticidal toxin. 25

26. The VLP of claim 24, wherein the exogenous nucleic acid molecule encodes a cytotoxin.

27. A vaccine comprising a virus-like particle (VLP) prepared from expression of a coat protein gene(s) derived from a small RNA virus selected 30 from Picornaviradae, Nodaviradae and Tetraviradae being of a kind which includes an Ig-like domain within the wild-type coat protein(s), said gene(s) having been altered such that the Ig-like domain of the expressed coat protein is altered or substituted so that the VLP presents a surface located antigen to elicit an immune response in a host organism. 26

28. The vaccine of claim 27, wherein the virus from which the coat protein gene(s) is derived is selected from Tetraviradae.

29. The vaccine of claim 28, wherein the virus is a member of the Nudaurelia P-like or Nudaurelia o-like virus families.

The vaccine of claim 29, wherein the virus is selected from Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus (HaSV), Nudaurelia wcvirus (NcV) and Nudaurelia f virus (NOV).

31. The vaccine of claim 27, wherein the Ig-like domain is altered or substituted by including a non-Ig-like tertiary structure.

32. The vaccine of claim 31, wherein the non-Ig-like tertiary structure is selected from peptide loops, proteins of <30 kDa and lectins. :Dated this thirteenth day of June 2000 *a. COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: o*9e F B RICE CO 0