Article
Immunology
Sucheta D'Sa, Kimberly Braz Gomes, Grace Lovia Allotey-Babington, Cemil Boyoglu, Sang-Moo Kang, Martin J. D'Souza
Summary: There are currently no approved vaccines for RSV infections, but a study found that the transdermal delivery of RSV-F VLP microparticulate vaccine has the potential to trigger robust immune responses, effectively clearing lung viruses and preventing weight loss.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kimberly Braz Gomes, Grace Lovia Allotey-Babington, Sucheta D'Sa, Sang-Moo Kang, Martin J. D'Souza
Summary: This study examined the activation status of dendritic cells (DCs) and the innate and adaptive immune responses after exposure to M2e VLP vaccine. Results showed that the M2e VLP microparticle had a strong stimulatory effect on DCs, and the presence of Alhydrogel(R) and MPL-A(R) adjuvants enhanced this effect.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yu-Ling Chen, Chun-Jie Bao, Jia-Lun Duan, Ying Xie, Wan-Liang Lu
Summary: Virus-like particles (VLPs) have similar structural antigens to viruses, which makes them valuable for vaccine immunization. They have shown significant potential in drug delivery, targeting specific organs, tissues, or cells and facilitating efficient drug release. Further modifications enable VLPs to overcome physiological barriers, ensuring efficient drug delivery and accurate therapy.
ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wan Lu, Zhuangzhuang Zhao, Yao-Wei Huang, Bin Wang
Summary: This review summarizes the research progress on VLPs from different known CoVs, mainly focusing on their characteristics, generation methods, chimerism, and applications in basic research and clinical settings. These studies may contribute to the development of novel VLP vaccines against emerging coronaviruses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Review
Virology
Milad Kheirvari, Hong Liu, Ebenezer Tumban
Summary: Virus-like particles (VLPs) have gained significant interest as vaccines. They have been approved for protection against various infectious agents and can also serve as platforms for displaying foreign peptide antigens. This review summarizes approved and under-development VLP vaccines for human and veterinary use, as well as chimeric VLP vaccines tested in pre-clinical studies. It concludes with the advantages of VLP-based vaccines over conventional approaches.
Review
Immunology
Vartika Srivastava, Kripa N. Nand, Aijaz Ahmad, Ravinder Kumar
Summary: Virus-like particles (VLPs) are ideal for vaccine development and drug delivery due to their noninfectious nature, high density of repeating epitopes, and ability to raise immune responses. Yeast-based platforms have been used to produce VLPs, and this review discusses the advantages, issues, and limitations of this approach. It also compiles a list of yeast-derived VLP-based vaccines currently in use or in clinical trials.
Article
Immunology
Katrin Campbell, Vivienne L. Young, Braeden C. Donaldson, Matthew J. Woodall, Nicholas J. Shields, Greg F. Walker, Vernon K. Ward, Sarah L. Young
Summary: The study investigated whether co-delivery of multiple antigens on virus-like particles (VLPs) could induce a superior anti-cancer response for breast cancer immunotherapy. Results showed that co-delivery of two tumor antigens on VLPs can induce a stronger anti-tumor immune response compared to the delivery of single antigens. However, additional strategies are needed to break tolerance when targeted tumor antigens are expressed as endogenous self-proteins.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesca Ruzzi, Maria Sofia Semprini, Laura Scalambra, Arianna Palladini, Stefania Angelicola, Chiara Cappello, Olga Maria Pittino, Patrizia Nanni, Pier-Luigi Lollini
Summary: Cancer vaccines are being studied to prevent and treat cancers. Prophylactic vaccines for virus-caused cancers are already approved and used globally, while therapeutic cancer vaccines still need further development. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are protein structures designed to mimic viruses and can trigger immune responses. This review provides an overview of preventive VLP-based vaccines approved worldwide for HBV and HPV infections, and evaluates their effectiveness in preventing virus-caused cancers. It also summarizes preclinical and early clinical data on VLP-based cancer vaccines, focusing on HER-2-positive breast cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Maria Zamora-Ceballos, Noelia Moreno, David Gil-Cantero, Jose R. Caston, Esther Blanco, Juan Barcena
Summary: The RHDV-based engineered VLPs have shown potential as efficient multivalent vaccines capable of delivering different foreign B-cell antigens simultaneously. The bivalent chimeric VLPs induced a strong and balanced antibody response towards the target epitopes tested.
Article
Plant Sciences
Tanja Smith, Martha M. O'Kennedy, Craig S. Ross, Nicola S. Lewis, Celia Abolnik
Summary: In this study, an expression platform was established to produce Newcastle disease virus-like particles (VLPs) for use as vaccines. The ND Fusion (F) and Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) proteins of a genotype VII.2 strain formed ND VLPs in plants and agglutinated chicken erythrocytes. The partially-purified ND VLPs showed immunogenicity and successfully inhibited viral replication in vitro. These plant-produced ND VLPs have great potential as antigen-matched vaccines for poultry and other avian species.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hao-Han Pang, Chiung-Yin Huang, Pin-Yuan Chen, Nan-Si Li, Ying-Pei Hsu, Jan-Kai Wu, Hsiu-Fang Fan, Kuo-Chen Wei, Hung-Wei Yang
Summary: Since GBMs are radioresistant malignancies and most GBM recurrences occur in radiotherapy, increasing the effectiveness of radiotherapy by gene-silencing has recently attracted attention. However, the difficulty in precisely tuning the composition and RNA loading in nanoparticles leads to batch-to-batch variations of RNA therapeutics, thus significantly restricting their clinical translation. In this study, bioengineered bacteriophage Q beta particles with a designed broccoli light-up three-way junction (b-3WJ) RNA scaffold were used for gene silencing in radioresistant GBM cells.
Article
Immunology
Jeong In Yang, Dagoberto Sepulveda, Irina Vardia, Jakob Skov, Louise Goksoyr, Adam F. F. Sander, Niels Lorenzen
Summary: This study aimed to develop and test a recombinant alternative vaccine based on virus-like particles (VLPs) decorated with VapA protein as the key structural surface protein for combating A. salmonicida bacterial disease. The results showed that rainbow trout vaccinated with VapA-VLP vaccines exhibited comparable protection to the bacterin-based vaccine and produced a strong VapA-specific antibody response.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Keman Cheng, Nana Ma, Jie Liang, Xiaotu Ma, Qingqing Feng, Guangna Liu, Chen Xu, Ming Tang, Lizhuo Zhang, Xiaoyu Gao, Jiaqi Xu, Chufan Wang, Fei Zhu, Xinwei Wang, Xiang Li, Xiao Zhao, Guangjun Nie
Summary: This study presents a site-specific modification method for hepatitis B core (HBc) VLPs to enhance their immunogenicity as a potent antitumor vaccine. By incorporating azido-phenylalanine at the main immune region, the modified HBc VLPs could effectively assemble with tumor-associated antigens and activate a strong anti-tumor immune response even in the presence of preexisting immunity. These findings demonstrate the potential of this site-specific modification strategy for other VLP-based vaccine vectors.
Article
Virology
Pengchao Ji, Tiantian Li, Yanan Wu, Qi Zhao, Lu Li, Xuejian Shi, Wenting Jiang, Jiabin Wang, Panpan Wang, Tingting Wang, Dawei Jiang
Summary: This study aimed to develop an effective virus-like particles (VLPs) vaccine against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) by expressing IBDV VP2 proteins in Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results showed that the VLPs combined with adjuvants boosted antibody production and induced higher levels of cytokines, indicating that adjuvants can improve the immune efficacy of the subunit vaccine.
Article
Immunology
Vasilis C. Pliasas, Zach Menne, Virginia Aida, Ji-Hang Yin, Maria C. Naskou, Peter J. Neasham, J. Fletcher North, Dylan Wilson, Katharine A. Horzmann, Joshy Jacob, Ioanna Skountzou, Constantinos S. Kyriakis
Summary: This study evaluated the immunogenicity and efficacy of a novel vaccine against influenza virus infection in a pig model. The results showed that the vaccine induced high levels of anti-NA antibodies and provided protection comparable to a commercial vaccine.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daria Mezhenskaya, Irina Isakova-Sivak, Tatiana Kotomina, Victoria Matyushenko, Min-Chul Kim, Noopur Bhatnagar, Ki-Hye Kim, Sang-Moo Kang, Larisa Rudenko
Summary: Influenza viruses remain a serious public health problem, with seasonal influenza vaccines showing low effectiveness against drifted and new viruses. Research is ongoing to develop strategies to elicit immune responses against conserved parts of influenza virus proteins. A study constructing a universal live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) candidate with enhanced breadth of protection showed promising results in increasing protection against heterosubtypic challenge viruses compared to classical LAIV. Further investigation in pre-clinical and clinical trials is warranted.
Article
Immunology
Ki-Hye Kim, Noopur Bhatnagar, Subbiah Jeeva, Judy Oh, Bo Ryoung Park, Chong Hyun Shin, Bao-Zhong Wang, Sang-Moo Kang
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are facing supply and production challenges, and the efficacy in elderly populations remains unknown. Full-length S vaccine is more immunogenic in inducing IgG antibodies, while S1 subunit can induce neutralizing and receptor-binding inhibiting antibodies at high dose. Adjuvant effects are significant for effective immune responses induction.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ki-Hye Kim, Young-Tae Lee, Yoonsuh Park, Eun-Ju Ko, Yu-Jin Jung, Yu-Jin Kim, Eun-Kyeong Jo, Sang-Moo Kang
Summary: BCG-CWS acts as a promising adjuvant for influenza vaccine by enhancing protective immune responses in mice of different ages, including increased humoral immune responses and comparable effects on infants, adults, and old aged mice. The adjuvant effects are mediated through Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 signaling pathways, suggesting its potential application in boosting immune response to influenza vaccine in young and old aged populations.
Article
Virology
Bo Ryoung Park, Jeeva Subbiah, Ki-Hye Kim, Young-Man Kwon, Judy Oh, Min-Chul Kim, Chong-Hyun Shin, Baik Lin Seong, Sang-Moo Kang
Summary: The study demonstrates that heterologous prime-boost vaccination with recombinant influenza viruses expressing extra M2e epitopes provides more effective cross protection than homologous vaccination. Additionally, aging was shown to compromise the induction of M2e and HA stalk specific IgG antibodies, suggesting significant effects on antibody responses in older mice.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kimberly Braz Gomes, Grace Lovia Allotey-Babington, Sucheta D'Sa, Sang-Moo Kang, Martin J. D'Souza
Summary: This study examined the activation status of dendritic cells (DCs) and the innate and adaptive immune responses after exposure to M2e VLP vaccine. Results showed that the M2e VLP microparticle had a strong stimulatory effect on DCs, and the presence of Alhydrogel(R) and MPL-A(R) adjuvants enhanced this effect.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Sucheta D'Sa, Kimberly Braz Gomes, Grace Lovia Allotey-Babington, Cemil Boyoglu, Sang-Moo Kang, Martin J. D'Souza
Summary: There are currently no approved vaccines for RSV infections, but a study found that the transdermal delivery of RSV-F VLP microparticulate vaccine has the potential to trigger robust immune responses, effectively clearing lung viruses and preventing weight loss.
Article
Immunology
Jeeva Subbiah, Judy Oh, Ki-Hye Kim, Chong-Hyun Shin, Bo Ryoung Park, Noopur Bhatnagar, Baik-Lin Seong, Bao-Zhong Wang, Sang-Moo Kang
Summary: A new chimeric protein vaccine called M2e-H3 stalk has been developed to overcome the low efficacy of monomeric domain-based universal vaccines. The vaccine was found to be effective in inducing immune responses and providing protection against various subtypes of influenza viruses in mice, making it a potential candidate for a universal influenza A virus vaccine for both young and aged populations.
Article
Immunology
Ramireddy Bommireddy, Shannon Stone, Noopur Bhatnagar, Pratima Kumari, Luis E. Munoz, Judy Oh, Ki-Hye Kim, Jameson T. L. Berry, Kristen M. Jacobsen, Lahcen Jaafar, Swe-Htet Naing, Allison N. Blackerby, Tori Van der Gaag, Chloe N. Wright, Lilin Lai, Christopher D. Pack, Sampath Ramachandiran, Mehul S. Suthar, Sang-Moo Kang, Mukesh Kumar, Shaker J. C. Reddy, Periasamy Selvaraj
Summary: A hybrid vaccine using influenza virus-like particles (VLP) and protein fusion technology has been developed for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. The results demonstrate that the hybrid vaccine induces a strong antibody response and protects mice from both infections.
Article
Virology
Keegan Braz Gomes, Ipshita Menon, Priyal Bagwe, Lotika Bajaj, Sang-Moo Kang, Martin J. D'Souza
Summary: In this study, the researchers demonstrated that encapsulating a conserved influenza ectodomain matrix-2 protein virus-like particle (M2e5x VLP) into a pre-crosslinked bovine serum albumin (BSA) polymeric matrix enhanced in vitro antigen immunogenicity and in vivo efficacy. The combination of M2e5x VLP microparticles with adjuvant microparticles showed increased expression of antigen-presenting molecules and induced high levels of specific antibodies and T-cell stimulation in mice. This research utilized the advantages of both VLP and polymeric delivery platforms to enhance antigen immunogenicity and adaptive immunity in vivo.
Article
Immunology
Noopur Bhatnagar, Ki-Hye Kim, Jeeva Subbiah, Bo Ryoung Park, Pengfei Wang, Harvinder Singh Gill, Bao-Zhong Wang, Sang-Moo Kang
Summary: The study investigated the adjuvant effects of VSA-1, a newly developed analog of QS-21, on promoting protection in mice after vaccination with the inactivated split virus vaccine. Results showed that VSA-1 significantly improved antibody titers and homologous protection, and exhibited comparable effects in heterosubtypic protection to QS-21. T cell immunity played a crucial role in conferring cross-protection.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Min-Ju Kim, Ki-Back Chu, Hae-Ji Kang, Keon-Woong Yoon, Gi-Deok Eom, Jie Mao, Su-Hwa Lee, Jeeva Subbiah, Sang-Moo Kang, Eun-Kyung Moon, Fu-Shi Quan
Summary: Heterologous prime-boost immunization using rBV, VLP, and rVV vaccines was effective against P. berghei infection, providing evidence for its potential implementation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Keegan Braz Gomes, Sharon Vijayanand, Priyal Bagwe, Ipshita Menon, Akanksha Kale, Smital Patil, Sang-Moo Kang, Mohammad N. Uddin, Martin J. D'Souza
Summary: This study developed an influenza vaccine using polymeric nanoparticles delivered through dissolving microneedles. The vaccine particles effectively stimulated antigen-presenting cells, resulting in enhanced autophagy, nitric oxide, and antigen presentation. In mice, the vaccine induced the production of M2e-specific antibodies and significant expression of CD4(+) and CD8(+) populations. The study demonstrated that polymeric particulates delivered via fast-dissolving microneedles significantly enhanced the immunogenicity of a conserved influenza antigen.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Noopur Bhatnagar, Ki-Hye Kim, Jeeva Subbiah, Sakinah Muhammad-Worsham, Bo Ryoung Park, Rong Liu, Phillip Grovenstein, Bao-Zhong Wang, Sang-Moo Kang
Summary: The study suggests that heterologous prime-boost influenza vaccination strategy is more effective in inducing broader protective immunity compared to repeated vaccination with the same antigen, by increasing strain-specific hemagglutination inhibition titers and high levels of IgG antibodies.