Virus-like particles in vaccine development

Abstract

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are multiprotein structures that mimic the organization and conformation of authentic native viruses but lack the viral genome, potentially yielding safer and cheaper vaccine candidates. A handful of prophylactic VLP-based vaccines is currently commercialized worldwide: GlaxoSmithKline’s Engerix^® (hepatitis B virus) and Cervarix^® (human papillomavirus), and Merck and Co., Inc.’s Recombivax HB^® (hepatitis B virus) and Gardasil^® (human papillomavirus) are some examples. Other VLP-based vaccine candidates are in clinical trials or undergoing preclinical evaluation, such as, influenza virus, parvovirus, Norwalk and various chimeric VLPs. Many others are still restricted to small-scale fundamental research, despite their success in preclinical tests. This article focuses on the essential role of VLP technology in new-generation vaccines against prevalent and emergent diseases. The implications of large-scale VLP production are discussed in the context of process control, monitorization and optimization. The main up- and down-stream technical challenges are identified and discussed accordingly. Successful VLP-based vaccine blockbusters are briefly presented concomitantly with the latest results from clinical trials and the recent developments in chimeric VLP-based technology for either therapeutic or prophylactic vaccination.

Keywords::

• assembly
• bioprocessing challenges
• chimeric VLP
• clinical trials
• disassembly
• drug delivery
• nanotechnology
• recombinant vaccines
• virus-like particles
• VLP technology

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors acknowledge the financial support received from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (SFRH/BD/21910/2005 and SFRH/BD/28323/2006) and from the European Commission (Clinigene Network of Excellence, LSHB-CT-2006-018933; Baculogenes, LSHB-2006-037541). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.