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Kim MJ, Chu KB, Yoon KW, Kang HJ, Lee DH, Moon EK, Quan FS. Virus-like particles expressing microneme-associated antigen of Plasmodium berghei confer better protection than those expressing apical membrane antigen 1. PARASITES, HOSTS AND DISEASES 2024; 62:193-204. [PMID: 38835260 PMCID: PMC11150920 DOI: 10.3347/phd.24017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Malaria is a global disease affecting a large portion of the world's population. Although vaccines have recently become available, their efficacies are suboptimal. We generated virus-like particles (VLPs) that expressed either apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) or microneme-associated antigen (MIC) of Plasmodium berghei and compared their efficacy in BALB/c mice. We found that immune sera acquired from AMA1 VLP- or MIC VLP-immunized mice specifically interacted with the antigen of choice and the whole P. berghei lysate antigen, indicating that the antibodies were highly parasite-specific. Both VLP vaccines significantly enhanced germinal center B cell frequencies in the inguinal lymph nodes of mice compared with the control, but only the mice that received MIC VLPs showed significantly enhanced CD4+ T cell responses in the blood following P. berghei challenge infection. AMA1 and MIC VLPs significantly suppressed TNF-α and interleukin-10 production but had a negligible effect on interferon-γ. Both VLPs prevented excessive parasitemia buildup in immunized mice, although parasite burden reduction induced by MIC VLPs was slightly more effective than that induced by AMA1. Both VLPs were equally effective at preventing body weight loss. Our findings demonstrated that the MIC VLP was an effective inducer of protection against murine experimental malaria and should be the focus of further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ju Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
| | - Ki Back Chu
- Department of Parasitology, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 47392,
Korea
- Department of Infectious Disease and Malaria, Paik Institute of Clinical Research, Inje University, Busan 47392,
Korea
| | - Keon-Woong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Department of Microbiology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066,
Korea
| | - Dong-Hun Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
| | - Eun-Kyung Moon
- Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul 02447,
Korea
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul 02447,
Korea
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
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Sun Y, Shi X, Lu F, Fu H, Yin Y, Xu J, Jin C, Han ET, Huang X, Chen Y, Dong C, Cheng Y. Vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine targeting plasmodium blood-stage antigens elicits immune response and protects against malaria with protein booster strategy. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1042414. [PMID: 36504817 PMCID: PMC9731671 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1042414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Merozoite invasion of the erythrocytes in humans is a key step in the pathogenesis of malaria. The proteins involved in the merozoite invasion could be potential targets for the development of malaria vaccines. Novel viral-vector-based malaria vaccine regimens developed are currently under clinical trials. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a single-stranded negative-strand RNA virus widely used as a vector for virus or cancer vaccines. Whether the VSV-based malarial vaccine is more effective than conventional vaccines based on proteins involved in parasitic invasion is still unclear. In this study, we have used the reverse genetics system to construct recombinant VSVs (rVSVs) expressing apical membrane protein 1 (AMA1), rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2), and reticulocyte-binding protein homolog 5 (RH5), which are required for Plasmodium falciparum invasion. Our results showed that VSV-based viral vaccines significantly increased Plasmodium-specific IgG levels and lymphocyte proliferation. Also, VSV-PyAMA1 and VSV-PyRON2sp prime-boost regimens could significantly increase the levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ-producing by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and suppress invasion in vitro. The rVSV prime-protein boost regimen significantly increase Plasmodium antigen-specific IgG levels in the serum of mice compared to the homologous rVSV prime-boost. Furthermore, the protective efficacy of rVSV prime protein boost immunization in the mice challenged with P. yoelii 17XL was better compared to traditional antigen immunization. Together, our results show that VSV vector is a novel strategy for malarial vaccine development and preventing the parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Sun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China,Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaodan Shi
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feng Lu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Haitian Fu
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China,Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi Yin
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jiahui Xu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Cheng Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Eun-taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, South Korea
| | - Xuan Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yongquan Chen
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chunsheng Dong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China,*Correspondence: Chunsheng Dong,
| | - Yang Cheng
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China,Yang Cheng,
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Kim MJ, Chu KB, Lee SH, Kang HJ, Yoon KW, Ahmed MA, Quan FS. Recombinant Vaccinia Virus Expressing Plasmodium berghei Apical Membrane Antigen 1 or Microneme Protein Enhances Protection against P. berghei Infection in Mice. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:350. [PMID: 36355892 PMCID: PMC9698705 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7110350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant vaccinia viruses (rVV) are effective antigen delivery vectors and are researched widely as vaccine platforms against numerous diseases. Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is one of the candidate antigens for malaria vaccines but rising concerns regarding its genetic diversity and polymorphism have necessitated the need to search for an alternative antigen. Here, we compare the efficacies of the rVV vaccines expressing either AMA1 or microneme protein (MIC) of Plasmodium berghei in mice. Mice (BALB/c) were immunized with either rVV-AMA1 or rVV-MIC and subsequently challenge-infected with P. berghei. Compared to the control group, both antigens elicited elevated levels of parasite-specific antibody responses. Immunization with either one of the two vaccines induced high levels of T cells and germinal center B cell responses. Interestingly, rVV-MIC immunization elicited higher levels of cellular immune response compared to rVV-AMA1 immunization, and significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine productions were observed from the former vaccine. While differences in parasitemia and bodyweight changes were negligible between rVV-AMA1 and rVV-MIC immunization groups, prolonged survival was observed for the latter of the two. Based on these results, our findings suggest that the rVV expressing the P. berghei MIC could be a vaccine-candidate antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ju Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Ki-Back Chu
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Su-Hwa Lee
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Keon-Woong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Md Atique Ahmed
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region, Dibrugarh 786010, Assam, India
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
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Recombinant AMA1 Virus-like Particle Antigen for Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10112812. [PMID: 36359332 PMCID: PMC9687185 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis diagnosis predominantly relies on serology testing via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), but these results are highly variable. Consequently, various antigens are being evaluated to improve the sensitivity and specificity of toxoplasmosis serological diagnosis. Here, we generated Toxoplasma gondii virus-like particles displaying AMA1 of T. gondii and evaluated their diagnostic potential. We found that AMA1 VLPs were highly sensitive and reacted with the sera acquired from mice infected with either T. gondii ME49 or RH strains. The overall IgG and IgM antibody responses elicited by AMA1 VLPs were substantially higher than those induced by the conventionally used T. gondii lysate antigen (TLA). Importantly, AMA1 VLPs were capable of detecting parasitic infection with T. gondii RH and ME49 as early as 1 week post-infection, even when mice were exposed to low infectious doses (5 × 103 and 10 cysts, respectively). AMA1 VLPs also did not cross-react with the immune sera acquired from Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Compared to TLA, stronger antibody responses were induced by AMA1 VLPs when tested using T. gondii-infected human sera. The sensitivities and specificities of the two antigens were substantially different, with AMA1 VLPs demonstrating over 90% sensitivity and specificity, whereas these values were in the 70% range for the TLA. These results indicated that AMA1 VLPs can detect infections of both T. gondii ME49 and RH at an early stage of infection caused by very low infection doses in mice, and these could be used for serological diagnosis of human toxoplasmosis.
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Kim MJ, Chu KB, Kang HJ, Yoon KW, Eom GD, Mao J, Lee SH, Subbiah J, Kang SM, Moon EK, Quan FS. Protective Immunity Induced by Immunization with Baculovirus, Virus-like Particle, and Vaccinia Virus Expressing the AMA1 of Plasmodium berghei. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10092289. [PMID: 36140395 PMCID: PMC9496152 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterologous prime–boost immunization regimens using various vaccine platforms demonstrated promising results against infectious diseases. Here, mice were sequentially immunized with the recombinant baculovirus (rBV), virus-like particle (VLP), and recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV) vaccines expressing the Plasmodium berghei apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) for protective efficacy evaluation. The rBV_V_rVV heterologous immunization regimen elicited high levels of parasite-specific IgG, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibody responses in sera. Upon P. berghei challenge infection, proliferations of germinal center B cells in the inguinal lymph nodes, as well as blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were induced. More importantly, rBV_V_rVV immunization significantly diminished the parasitemia and prevented drastic bodyweight loss in mice post-challenge infection with P. berghei. Our findings revealed that immunization with rBV, VLP, and rVV expressing the AMA1 conferred protection against P. berghei infection, providing evidence for the potential implementation of this strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ju Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Ki-Back Chu
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Keon-Woong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Gi-Deok Eom
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Jie Mao
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Su-Hwa Lee
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Jeeva Subbiah
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Sang-Moo Kang
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Eun-Kyung Moon
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Correspondence:
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Kim MJ, Chu KB, Kang HJ, Yoon KW, Lee DH, Lee SH, Moon EK, Quan FS. Influenza virus-like particle vaccine containing both apical membrane antigen 1 and microneme-associated antigen proteins of Plasmodium berghei confers protection in mice. BMC Immunol 2022; 23:21. [PMID: 35468726 PMCID: PMC9040335 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-022-00494-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) and microneme-associated antigen (MIC) of Plasmodium parasites are important factors involved in host cell invasion. Methods In this study, influenza VLP vaccines containing both codon-optimized AMA1 and MIC were generated and the vaccine efficacy was evaluated in mice. Results VLPs vaccine immunization elicited higher levels of parasite-specific IgG and IgG2a antibody responses in sera. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and germinal center B cells in blood, inguinal lymph nodes (ILN) and spleen were found to be significantly increased. Importantly, VLPs vaccination significantly reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α, decreased parasitemia in blood, resulting in lower body weight loss and longer survival time compared to control. Conclusion These results indicated that VLPs containing P. berghei AMA1 and MIC could be a candidate for malaria blood-stage vaccine design. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12865-022-00494-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ju Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Back Chu
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Keon-Woong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Hun Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Hwa Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Kyung Moon
- Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
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Lee SH, Chu KB, Kang HJ, Quan FS. Protection and Alleviated Inflammation Induced by Virus-like Particle Vaccines Containing Plasmodium berghei MSP-8, MSP-9 and RAP1. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10020203. [PMID: 35214662 PMCID: PMC8875819 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLP) are a highly efficient vaccine platform used to present multiple antigenic proteins. Merozoite surface protein 8 (MSP-8), 9 (MSP-9) and rhoptry-associated protein 1 (RAP1) of Plasmodium berghei are the important proteins in erythrocyte invasion and the replication of parasites. In this study, we generated three VLPs expressing MSP-8, MSP-9 or RAP1 together with influenza virus matrix protein M1 as a core protein, and the protection and alleviated inflammation induced by VLP immunization were investigated. Mice were immunized with a mixture of three VLPs, MSP-8, MSP-9 and RAP1, and challenge-infected with P. berghei. As a result, VLPs immunization elicited higher levels of P. berghei or VLPs-specific IgG antibody responses in the sera upon boost compared to that upon prime and naive. Upon challenge infection with P. berghei, higher levels of CD4+ T cell and memory B cell responses in the spleen were also found in VLPs-immunized mice compared to non-immunized control. Importantly, VLP immunization significantly alleviated inflammatory cytokine responses (TNF-α, IFN-γ) both in the sera and spleen. VLP vaccine immunization also assisted in diminishing the parasitic burden in the peripheral blood and prolonged the survival of immunized mice. These results indicated that a VLPs vaccine containing MSP-8, MSP-9 and RAP1 could be a vaccine candidate for P. berghei infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Hwa Lee
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea; (S.-H.L.); (K.-B.C.)
| | - Ki-Back Chu
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea; (S.-H.L.); (K.-B.C.)
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea;
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea; (S.-H.L.); (K.-B.C.)
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-961-2302
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Virus-Like Particle Vaccines Against Respiratory Viruses and Protozoan Parasites. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2021; 433:77-106. [PMID: 33650036 DOI: 10.1007/82_2021_232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The field of vaccinology underwent massive advances over the past decades with the introduction of virus-like particles (VLPs), a supra-molecular nanoparticle vaccine platform that resembles viral structures without the ability to replicate in hosts. This innovative approach has been remarkably effective, as evidenced by its profound immunogenicity and safety. These highly desirable intrinsic properties enabled their further development as vaccines against a multitude of diseases. To date, several VLP-based vaccines have already been commercialized and many more are undergoing clinical evaluation prior to FDA approval. However, efficacious vaccines against a plethora of pathogens are still lacking, which imposes a tremendous socioeconomic burden and continues to threaten public health throughout the globe. This is especially the case for several respiratory pathogens and protozoan parasites. In this review, we briefly describe the fundamentals of VLP vaccines and the unique properties that enable these to be such valuable vaccine candidates and summarize current advances in VLP-based vaccines targeting respiratory and parasitic diseases of global importance.
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