Virus-like particles and methods of use

A method, comprising:

• administering to a subject a virus-like particle (VLP) comprising at least one altered viral protein as follows:
• a. an alphavirus E2 protein comprising one or more alterations, relative to the wild-type amino acid sequence, at one or more amino acid locations corresponding to one or more amino acid locations selected from the group consisting of amino acid 170, amino acid 200, amino acid 233, amino acid 234, amino acid 251, and amino acid 256 of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) E2 protein;
• and
• b. an alphavirus capsid protein comprising one or more alterations, relative to the wild-type amino acid sequence, at a charged amino acid residue in the Nuclear Localization Signal (NLS);
• and
• wherein the at least one altered viral protein is capable of self-assembling into a VLP;
• wherein the one or more alterations enhance VLP production;
• and
• wherein the VLP is administered to the subject in an amount effective to induce an immune response in the subject that inhibits infection with the alphavirus.