Alphavirus and compositions, methods, and kits related thereto

1. An alphavirus having a capsid protein comprising a modification to decrease phosphorylation of the capsid protein compared to a nonmodified capsid,

wherein the alphavirus is a live, attenuated VEEV virus,

the modification prevents phosphorylation of one or more amino acid residues of the capsid protein by a serine/threonine kinase, and

the modification comprises one or more substitutions at amino acid residues corresponding to positions T93, T108, S124, and/or T127, or equivalent position, of SEQ ID NO:1.

2. The alphavirus of claim 1 , wherein the serine/threonine kinase is a PKGδ.

3. The alphavirus of claim 1 , wherein the alphavirus is capable of replication, wherein pathogenicity of the virus is reduced compared to a control virus comprising the nonmodified capsid, and wherein administration of the virus to a subject elicits an immune response.

4. The alphavirus of claim 1 , wherein the capsid protein comprises the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:10.

5. A composition comprising the alphavirus of claim 1 ; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

6. An isolated host cell comprising the alphavirus of claim 1 .

7. A kit comprising the alphavirus of claim 1 .

8. A method for eliciting an immune response in a subject against VEEV, the method comprises administering to the subject a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of the alphavirus of claim 1 .

9. A method for preparing the live, attenuated VEEV alphavirus of claim 1 , the method comprising

providing a modified alphavirus having a genome capable of expressing a modified capsid protein comprising a modification relative to a nonmodified capsid of a wild-type alphavirus genome, wherein the modification decreases phosphorylation of the modified capsid protein compared to the nonmodified capsid.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the modified capsid protein has the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:10.