Vaccination, immune and gene therapy based on virus-like particles against viral infections and cancer

Abstract

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are self-assembling, non-replicating particles lacking the viral genome that are formed by one or several viral structural proteins. VLPs can be purified after expression in yeast cells, insect cells using baculoviruses, Escherichia coli or mammalian cells. Recently, vaccines based on VLPs have come into focus with the FDA approval of a VLP-based vaccine against human papilloma viruses. However, this application of VLPs is just one of many developments within the VLP field. Other potential applications under development besides vaccines against viruses or cancers also include gene delivery and treatment of different disorders.

Keywords::

• cancer
• immunotherapy
• vaccine
• virus
• virus-like particles

Acknowledgements

The authors are financially supported by the EC 6th Frame Work program: COMPUVAC, the Swedish Cancer Foundation, the Swedish Medical Research Council (VR), the Gustav V^th Jubileum Society, the Stockholm Cancer Society, the Stockholm City Council, and the Karolinska Institute.