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Hao X, Yuan F, Yao X. Advances in virus-like particle-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1406091. [PMID: 38988812 PMCID: PMC11233461 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1406091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has incurred devastating human and economic losses. Vaccination remains the most effective approach for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, the sustained evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants has provoked concerns among the scientific community regarding the development of next-generation COVID-19 vaccines. Among these, given their safety, immunogenicity, and flexibility to display varied and native epitopes, virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccines represent one of the most promising next-generation vaccines. In this review, we summarize the advantages and characteristics of VLP platforms, strategies for antigen display, and current clinical trial progress of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines based on VLP platforms. Importantly, the experience and lessons learned from the development of SARS-CoV-2 VLP vaccines provide insights into the development of strategies based on VLP vaccines to prevent future coronavirus pandemics and other epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Hao
- Department of Teaching Administration, Xiangyang No.1 People’s Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, China
| | - Feifei Yuan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xiangyang No.1 People’s Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, China
| | - Xuan Yao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangyang No.1 People’s Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, China
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2
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Travassos R, Martins SA, Fernandes A, Correia JDG, Melo R. Tailored Viral-like Particles as Drivers of Medical Breakthroughs. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6699. [PMID: 38928403 PMCID: PMC11204272 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the recognized potential of nanoparticles, only a few formulations have progressed to clinical trials, and an even smaller number have been approved by the regulatory authorities and marketed. Virus-like particles (VLPs) have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional nanoparticles due to their safety, biocompatibility, immunogenicity, structural stability, scalability, and versatility. Furthermore, VLPs can be surface-functionalized with small molecules to improve circulation half-life and target specificity. Through the functionalization and coating of VLPs, it is possible to optimize the response properties to a given stimulus, such as heat, pH, an alternating magnetic field, or even enzymes. Surface functionalization can also modulate other properties, such as biocompatibility, stability, and specificity, deeming VLPs as potential vaccine candidates or delivery systems. This review aims to address the different types of surface functionalization of VLPs, highlighting the more recent cutting-edge technologies that have been explored for the design of tailored VLPs, their importance, and their consequent applicability in the medical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Travassos
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139.7), 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal; (R.T.); (S.A.M.); (A.F.)
| | - Sofia A. Martins
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139.7), 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal; (R.T.); (S.A.M.); (A.F.)
| | - Ana Fernandes
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139.7), 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal; (R.T.); (S.A.M.); (A.F.)
| | - João D. G. Correia
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139.7), 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal; (R.T.); (S.A.M.); (A.F.)
- Departamento de Engenharia e Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139.7), 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal
| | - Rita Melo
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139.7), 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal; (R.T.); (S.A.M.); (A.F.)
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3
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Hillebrandt N, Hubbuch J. Size-selective downstream processing of virus particles and non-enveloped virus-like particles. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1192050. [PMID: 37304136 PMCID: PMC10248422 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1192050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-enveloped virus-like particles (VLPs) are versatile protein nanoparticles with great potential for biopharmaceutical applications. However, conventional protein downstream processing (DSP) and platform processes are often not easily applicable due to the large size of VLPs and virus particles (VPs) in general. The application of size-selective separation techniques offers to exploit the size difference between VPs and common host-cell impurities. Moreover, size-selective separation techniques offer the potential for wide applicability across different VPs. In this work, basic principles and applications of size-selective separation techniques are reviewed to highlight their potential in DSP of VPs. Finally, specific DSP steps for non-enveloped VLPs and their subunits are reviewed as well as the potential applications and benefits of size-selective separation techniques are shown.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jürgen Hubbuch
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
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4
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Gupta R, Arora K, Roy SS, Joseph A, Rastogi R, Arora NM, Kundu PK. Platforms, advances, and technical challenges in virus-like particles-based vaccines. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1123805. [PMID: 36845125 PMCID: PMC9947793 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1123805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral infectious diseases threaten human health and global stability. Several vaccine platforms, such as DNA, mRNA, recombinant viral vectors, and virus-like particle-based vaccines have been developed to counter these viral infectious diseases. Virus-like particles (VLP) are considered real, present, licensed and successful vaccines against prevalent and emergent diseases due to their non-infectious nature, structural similarity with viruses, and high immunogenicity. However, only a few VLP-based vaccines have been commercialized, and the others are either in the clinical or preclinical phases. Notably, despite success in the preclinical phase, many vaccines are still struggling with small-scale fundamental research owing to technical difficulties. Successful production of VLP-based vaccines on a commercial scale requires a suitable platform and culture mode for large-scale production, optimization of transduction-related parameters, upstream and downstream processing, and monitoring of product quality at each step. In this review article, we focus on the advantages and disadvantages of various VLP-producing platforms, recent advances and technical challenges in VLP production, and the current status of VLP-based vaccine candidates at commercial, preclinical, and clinical levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Prabuddha K. Kundu
- Department of Research and Development, Premas Biotech Pvt Ltd., Sector IV, Industrial Model Township (IMT), Manesar, Gurgaon, India
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5
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Hillebrandt N, Vormittag P, Dietrich A, Hubbuch J. Process Monitoring Framework for Cross‐flow Diafiltration‐based Virus‐like Particle Disassembly: Tracing Product Properties and Filtration Performance. Biotechnol Bioeng 2022; 119:1522-1538. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.28063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nils Hillebrandt
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Fritz‐Haber‐Weg 2 76131 Karlsruhe Baden‐Württemberg Germany
| | - Philipp Vormittag
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Fritz‐Haber‐Weg 2 76131 Karlsruhe Baden‐Württemberg Germany
| | - Annabelle Dietrich
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Fritz‐Haber‐Weg 2 76131 Karlsruhe Baden‐Württemberg Germany
| | - Jürgen Hubbuch
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Fritz‐Haber‐Weg 2 76131 Karlsruhe Baden‐Württemberg Germany
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6
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Complete and cooperative in vitro assembly of computationally designed self-assembling protein nanomaterials. Nat Commun 2021; 12:883. [PMID: 33563988 PMCID: PMC7873210 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21251-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in computational methods have enabled the predictive design of self-assembling protein nanomaterials with atomic-level accuracy. These design strategies focus exclusively on a single target structure, without consideration of the mechanism or dynamics of assembly. However, understanding the assembly process, and in particular its robustness to perturbation, will be critical for translating this class of materials into useful technologies. Here we investigate the assembly of two computationally designed, 120-subunit icosahedral complexes in detail using several complementary biochemical methods. We found that assembly of each material from its two constituent protein building blocks was highly cooperative and yielded exclusively complete, 120-subunit complexes except in one non-stoichiometric regime for one of the materials. Our results suggest that in vitro assembly provides a robust and controllable route for the manufacture of designed protein nanomaterials and confirm that cooperative assembly can be an intrinsic, rather than evolved, feature of hierarchically structured protein complexes. Recent advances in computational methods have enabled the predictive design of self-assembling protein nanomaterials with atomic-level accuracy. Here authors investigate the assembly of two computationally designed, 120-subunit icosahedral complexes and find that assembly of each material from its two constituent protein building blocks was highly cooperative.
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7
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Ibrahim A, Odon V, Kormelink R. Plant Viruses in Plant Molecular Pharming: Toward the Use of Enveloped Viruses. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:803. [PMID: 31275344 PMCID: PMC6594412 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Plant molecular pharming has emerged as a reliable platform for recombinant protein expression providing a safe and low-cost alternative to bacterial and mammalian cells-based systems. Simultaneously, plant viruses have evolved from pathogens to molecular tools for recombinant protein expression, chimaeric viral vaccine production, and lately, as nanoagents for drug delivery. This review summarizes the genesis of viral vectors and agroinfection, the development of non-enveloped viruses for various biotechnological applications, and the on-going research on enveloped plant viruses.
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Charlton Hume HK, Vidigal J, Carrondo MJT, Middelberg APJ, Roldão A, Lua LHL. Synthetic biology for bioengineering virus-like particle vaccines. Biotechnol Bioeng 2018; 116:919-935. [PMID: 30597533 PMCID: PMC7161758 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Vaccination is the most effective method of disease prevention and control. Many viruses and bacteria that once caused catastrophic pandemics (e.g., smallpox, poliomyelitis, measles, and diphtheria) are either eradicated or effectively controlled through routine vaccination programs. Nonetheless, vaccine manufacturing remains incredibly challenging. Viruses exhibiting high antigenic diversity and high mutation rates cannot be fairly contested using traditional vaccine production methods and complexities surrounding the manufacturing processes, which impose significant limitations. Virus‐like particles (VLPs) are recombinantly produced viral structures that exhibit immunoprotective traits of native viruses but are noninfectious. Several VLPs that compositionally match a given natural virus have been developed and licensed as vaccines. Expansively, a plethora of studies now confirms that VLPs can be designed to safely present heterologous antigens from a variety of pathogens unrelated to the chosen carrier VLPs. Owing to this design versatility, VLPs offer technological opportunities to modernize vaccine supply and disease response through rational bioengineering. These opportunities are greatly enhanced with the application of synthetic biology, the redesign and construction of novel biological entities. This review outlines how synthetic biology is currently applied to engineer VLP functions and manufacturing process. Current and developing technologies for the identification of novel target‐specific antigens and their usefulness for rational engineering of VLP functions (e.g., presentation of structurally diverse antigens, enhanced antigen immunogenicity, and improved vaccine stability) are described. When applied to manufacturing processes, synthetic biology approaches can also overcome specific challenges in VLP vaccine production. Finally, we address several challenges and benefits associated with the translation of VLP vaccine development into the industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley K Charlton Hume
- The University of Queensland, Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - João Vidigal
- Health & Pharma Division, Animal Cell Technology Unit, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica (iBET), Oeiras, Portugal.,Health & Pharma Division, Animal Cell Technology Unit, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Manuel J T Carrondo
- Health & Pharma Division, Animal Cell Technology Unit, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica (iBET), Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Anton P J Middelberg
- Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - António Roldão
- Health & Pharma Division, Animal Cell Technology Unit, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica (iBET), Oeiras, Portugal.,Health & Pharma Division, Animal Cell Technology Unit, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Linda H L Lua
- The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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9
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Lopez-Guerrero DV, Arias N, Gutierrez-Xicotencatl L, Chihu-Amparan L, González A, Pedroza-Saavedra A, Rosas-Salgado G, Villegas-Garcia JC, Badillo-Godinez O, Fernandez G, Lopez S, Esquivel-Guadarrama F. Enhancement of VP6 immunogenicity and protective efficacy against rotavirus by VP2 in a genetic immunization. Vaccine 2018; 36:3072-3078. [PMID: 28465094 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.03.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
VP2/VP6 virus like particles (VLPs) are very effective in inducing protection against the rotavirus infection in animal models. Individually, VP6 can also induce protection. However, there is no information about the immunogenicity of VP2. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of DNA vaccines codifying for VP2 or VP6, alone or combined, to induce protection against the rotavirus infection. Murine rotavirus VP2 and VP6 genes were cloned into the pcDNA3 vector. Adult BALB/c mice were inoculated three times by intramuscular (i.m.) injections with 100 or 200µg of pcDNA3-VP2 or pcDNA3-VP6 alone or co-administered with 100µg of pcDNA3-VP2/100µg of pcDNA3-VP6. Two weeks after the last inoculation, mice were challenged with the wild type murine rotavirus strain epizootic diarrhea of infant mice (EDIMwt). We found that both plasmids, pcDNA3-VP2 and pcDNA3-VP6, were able to induce rotavirus-specific serum antibodies, but not intestinal rotavirus-specific IgA; only 200µg of pcDNA3-VP6 induced 35% protection against the infection. A similar level of protection was found when mice were co-administered with 100µg of pcDNA3-VP2/100µg of pcDNA3-VP6 (1:1 ratio). However, the best protection (up to 58%) occurred when mice were inoculated with 10µg of pcDNA3-VP2/100µg of pcDNA3-VP6 (1:10 ratio). These results indicate that the DNA plasmid expressing VP6 is a better vaccine candidate that the one expressing VP2. However, when co-expressed, VP2 potentiates the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of VP6.
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Affiliation(s)
- D V Lopez-Guerrero
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - N Arias
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - L Gutierrez-Xicotencatl
- Centro de Investigaciones Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, INSP, SSA, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - L Chihu-Amparan
- Centro de Investigaciones Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, INSP, SSA, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - A González
- Centro de Investigacion en Dinamica Celular, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - A Pedroza-Saavedra
- Centro de Investigaciones Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, INSP, SSA, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - G Rosas-Salgado
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - J C Villegas-Garcia
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - O Badillo-Godinez
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; Centro de Investigaciones Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, INSP, SSA, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - G Fernandez
- Instituto de Biotecnologia-UNAM, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - S Lopez
- Instituto de Biotecnologia-UNAM, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - F Esquivel-Guadarrama
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
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10
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Jeong H, Seong BL. Exploiting virus-like particles as innovative vaccines against emerging viral infections. J Microbiol 2017; 55:220-230. [PMID: 28243941 PMCID: PMC7090582 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-017-7058-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 02/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Emerging viruses pose a major threat to humans and livestock with global public health and economic burdens. Vaccination remains an effective tool to reduce this threat, and yet, the conventional cell culture often fails to produce sufficient vaccine dose. As an alternative to cell-culture based vaccine, virus-like particles (VLPs) are considered as a highpriority vaccine strategy against emerging viruses. VLPs represent highly ordered repetitive structures via macromolecular assemblies of viral proteins. The particulate nature allows efficient uptake into antigen presenting cells stimulating both innate and adaptive immune responses towards enhanced vaccine efficacy. Increasing research activity and translation opportunity necessitate the advances in the design of VLPs and new bioprocessing modalities for efficient and cost-effective production. Herein, we describe major achievements and challenges in this endeavor, with respect to designing strategies to harnessing the immunogenic potential, production platforms, downstream processes, and some exemplary cases in developing VLP-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hotcherl Jeong
- Department of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Baik Lin Seong
- Department of Biotechnology & Vaccine Translational Research Center, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
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11
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Sheng J, Lei S, Yuan L, Feng X. Cell-free protein synthesis of norovirus virus-like particles. RSC Adv 2017. [DOI: 10.1039/c7ra03742b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein expression of norovirus virus-like-particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayuan Sheng
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Blacksburg
- USA
| | - Shaohua Lei
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Blacksburg
- USA
| | - Lijuan Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Blacksburg
- USA
| | - Xueyang Feng
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Blacksburg
- USA
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12
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Abstract
During the life cycle of a virus, viral proteins and other components self-assemble to form an ordered protein shell called a capsid. This assembly process is subject to multiple competing constraints, including the need to form a thermostable shell while avoiding kinetic traps. It has been proposed that viral assembly satisfies these constraints through allosteric regulation, including the interconversion of capsid proteins among conformations with different propensities for assembly. In this article, we use computational and theoretical modeling to explore how such allostery affects the assembly of icosahedral shells. We simulate assembly under a wide range of protein concentrations, protein binding affinities, and two different mechanisms of allosteric control. We find that above a threshold strength of allosteric control, assembly becomes robust over a broad range of subunit binding affinities and concentrations, allowing the formation of highly thermostable capsids. Our results suggest that allostery can significantly shift the range of protein binding affinities that lead to successful assembly and thus should be taken into account in models that are used to estimate interaction parameters from experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo R Lazaro
- Martin Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University , Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, United States
| | - Michael F Hagan
- Martin Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University , Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, United States
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13
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Effio CL, Hubbuch J. Next generation vaccines and vectors: Designing downstream processes for recombinant protein-based virus-like particles. Biotechnol J 2015; 10:715-27. [PMID: 25880158 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201400392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Revised: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the development of novel recombinant virus-like particles (VLPs) has been generating new perspectives for the prevention of untreated and arising infectious diseases. However, cost-reduction and acceleration of manufacturing processes for VLP-based vaccines or vectors are key challenges for the global health system. In particular, the design of rapid and cost-efficient purification processes is a critical bottleneck. In this review, we describe and evaluate new concepts, development strategies and unit operations for the downstream processing of VLPs. A special focus is placed on purity requirements and current trends, as well as chances and limitations of novel technologies. The discussed methods and case studies demonstrate the advances and remaining challenges in both rational process development and purification tools for large biomolecules. The potential of a new era of VLP-based products is highlighted by the progress of various VLPs in clinical phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Ladd Effio
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe, Germany
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14
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Molinari P, Peralta A, Maletto BA, Pistoresi-Palencia MC, Crespo MI, Morón G, Taboga O. Double-layered rotavirus-like particles are efficient carriers to elicit strong CTL responses to delivered heterologous antigens. Process Biochem 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2014.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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15
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Shoja Z, Tagliamonte M, Jalilvand S, Mollaei-Kandelous Y, De Stradis A, Tornesello ML, Buonaguro FM, Buonaguro L. Formation of self-assembled triple-layered rotavirus-like particles (tlRLPs) by constitutive co-expression of VP2, VP6, and VP7 in stably transfected high-five insect cell lines. J Med Virol 2014; 87:102-11. [PMID: 24797918 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.23973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In this study, stable high-five insect cell line constitutively expressing rotavirus (RV) VP2 was co-transfected with VP6 and VP7-recombinant plasmids. The presence of RV proteins in stably transfected high-five cells was verified by molecular and protein analyses. To yield self-assembled triple-layered RV-like particles (tlRLPs), a stable insect high-five cell line was generated to produce RV VP6 and VP7 besides VP2. Self-assembled tlRLPs were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess their antigenicity in vivo. The results suggest that the stable transfected high-five cells are able to generate tlRLPs with the efficient antigenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zabihollah Shoja
- Virology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran; Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Lua LHL, Connors NK, Sainsbury F, Chuan YP, Wibowo N, Middelberg APJ. Bioengineering virus-like particles as vaccines. Biotechnol Bioeng 2013; 111:425-40. [PMID: 24347238 DOI: 10.1002/bit.25159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 243] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Revised: 10/23/2013] [Accepted: 11/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Virus-like particle (VLP) technology seeks to harness the optimally tuned immunostimulatory properties of natural viruses while omitting the infectious trait. VLPs that assemble from a single protein have been shown to be safe and highly efficacious in humans, and highly profitable. VLPs emerging from basic research possess varying levels of complexity and comprise single or multiple proteins, with or without a lipid membrane. Complex VLP assembly is traditionally orchestrated within cells using black-box approaches, which are appropriate when knowledge and control over assembly are limited. Recovery challenges including those of adherent and intracellular contaminants must then be addressed. Recent commercial VLPs variously incorporate steps that include VLP in vitro assembly to address these problems robustly, but at the expense of process complexity. Increasing research activity and translation opportunity necessitate bioengineering advances and new bioprocessing modalities for efficient and cost-effective production of VLPs. Emerging approaches are necessarily multi-scale and multi-disciplinary, encompassing diverse fields from computational design of molecules to new macro-scale purification materials. In this review, we highlight historical and emerging VLP vaccine approaches. We overview approaches that seek to specifically engineer a desirable immune response through modular VLP design, and those that seek to improve bioprocess efficiency through inhibition of intracellular assembly to allow optimal use of existing purification technologies prior to cell-free VLP assembly. Greater understanding of VLP assembly and increased interdisciplinary activity will see enormous progress in VLP technology over the coming decade, driven by clear translational opportunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda H L Lua
- Protein Expression Facility, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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17
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Rodríguez-Limas WA, Sekar K, Tyo KEJ. Virus-like particles: the future of microbial factories and cell-free systems as platforms for vaccine development. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2013; 24:1089-93. [PMID: 23481378 PMCID: PMC7127385 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2013.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2012] [Revised: 01/17/2013] [Accepted: 02/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Vaccines based on virus-like particles have proved their success in human health. More than 25 years after the approval of the first vaccine based on this technology, the substantial efforts to expand the range of applications and target diseases are beginning to bear fruit. The incursion of high-throughput screening technologies, combined with new developments in protein engineering and chemical coupling, have accelerated the development of systems capable of producing macrostructures useful for vaccinology, gene delivery, immunotherapy and bionanotechnology. This review summarizes the most recent developments in microbial cell factories and cell-free systems for virus-like particle production and discusses the future impact of this technology in human and animal health.
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18
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Polles G, Indelicato G, Potestio R, Cermelli P, Twarock R, Micheletti C. Mechanical and assembly units of viral capsids identified via quasi-rigid domain decomposition. PLoS Comput Biol 2013; 9:e1003331. [PMID: 24244139 PMCID: PMC3828136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2013] [Accepted: 09/13/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Key steps in a viral life-cycle, such as self-assembly of a protective protein container or in some cases also subsequent maturation events, are governed by the interplay of physico-chemical mechanisms involving various spatial and temporal scales. These salient aspects of a viral life cycle are hence well described and rationalised from a mesoscopic perspective. Accordingly, various experimental and computational efforts have been directed towards identifying the fundamental building blocks that are instrumental for the mechanical response, or constitute the assembly units, of a few specific viral shells. Motivated by these earlier studies we introduce and apply a general and efficient computational scheme for identifying the stable domains of a given viral capsid. The method is based on elastic network models and quasi-rigid domain decomposition. It is first applied to a heterogeneous set of well-characterized viruses (CCMV, MS2, STNV, STMV) for which the known mechanical or assembly domains are correctly identified. The validated method is next applied to other viral particles such as L-A, Pariacoto and polyoma viruses, whose fundamental functional domains are still unknown or debated and for which we formulate verifiable predictions. The numerical code implementing the domain decomposition strategy is made freely available. The genetic material of viruses is packaged inside capsids constituted from a few tens to thousands of proteins. The latter can organize in multimers that serve as fundamental blocks for the viral shell assembly or that control the capsid conformational transitions and response to mechanical stress. In this work, we introduce and apply a computational scheme that identifies the fundamental protein blocks from the structural fluctuations of the capsids in thermal equilibrium. These can be derived from phenomenological elastic network models with minimal computational expenditure. Accordingly, the basic functional protein units of a capsid can be obtained from the sole input of the capsid crystal structure. The method is applied to a heterogeneous set of viruses of various size and geometries. These include well-characterised instances for validation purposes, as well as debated ones for which predictions are formulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Polles
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuliana Indelicato
- York Centre for Complex Systems Analysis, Department of Mathematics, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | | | - Paolo Cermelli
- Dipartimento di Matematica, Università di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Reidun Twarock
- York Centre for Complex Systems Analysis, Department of Mathematics, University of York, York, United Kingdom
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Fernandes F, Teixeira AP, Carinhas N, Carrondo MJT, Alves PM. Insect cells as a production platform of complex virus-like particles. Expert Rev Vaccines 2013; 12:225-36. [PMID: 23414412 DOI: 10.1586/erv.12.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are multiprotein structures that resemble the conformation of native viruses but lack a viral genome, potentiating their application as safer and cheaper vaccines. The production of VLPs has been strongly linked with the use of insect cells and the baculovirus expression vector system, especially those particles composed of two or more structural viral proteins. In fact, this expression platform has been extensively improved over the years to address the challenges of coexpression of multiple proteins and their proper assembly into complexes in the same cell. In this article, the role of insect cell technology in the development and production of complex VLPs is overviewed; recent achievements, current bottlenecks and future trends are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Fernandes
- ITQB-Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
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