Virus-like particles, methods of preparation, and immunogenic compositions
AssigneeEmory University
InventorsRichard Compans, Chinglai Yang, Qizhi Yao, Sang-moo Kang
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Abstract
Briefly described, virus-like particles, methods of preparing virus-like particles, immunogenic compositions that include virus-like particles, and methods of eliciting an immune response using immunogenic compositions that include virus-like particles are described herein. A virus-like particle (VLP) can include a viral core protein that can self assemble into the VLP core and at least one viral surface envelope glycoprotein expressed on the surface of the VLP. The VLP can also optionally include at least one adjuvant molecule expressed on the surface of the VLP.
Claims48
A virus-like particle (VLP), comprising:
- a viral core protein that can self assemble into the VLP core;
- and
- at least one viral surface envelope glycoprotein expressed on the surface of the VLP, wherein the viral core protein and at least one viral surface envelope glycoprotein are from different viruses.
A virus-like particle (VLP), comprising:
- a viral core protein that can self assemble into a VLP core;
- at least one viral surface envelope glycoprotein expressed on the surface of the VLP;
- and
- at least one adjuvant molecule expressed on the surface of the VLP.
A method of determining exposure of a host to a virus, comprising the steps of:
- contacting a biological fluid of the host with a virus-like particle (VLP) comprising:
- a viral core protein that can self assemble into the VLP core;
- and
- at least one viral surface envelope glycoprotein expressed on the surface of the VLP, wherein the viral core protein and at least one viral surface envelope glycoprotein are from different viruses, wherein the VLP is of the same virus type to which exposure is being determined, under conditions which are permissive for binding of antibodies in the biological fluid with the VLP;
- and
- detecting binding of antibodies within the biological fluid with the VLP, whereby exposure of the host to the virus is determined by the detection of antibodies bound to the VLP.
A method of producing a virus-like particle (VLP) in a host comprising:
- providing one or more expression vectors, wherein the one or more expression vectors comprise polynucleotide sequences encoding for a viral core protein, at least one viral surface envelope glycoprotein, and at least one adjuvant molecule;
- introducing the one or more expression vectors into a host cell;
- and
- expressing the viral core protein, at least one viral surface envelope glycoprotein, and at least one adjuvant molecule, whereby the VLP is formed by the cell.
A method of immunizing a host comprising:
- co-expressing a viral core protein, at least one viral surface envelope surface glycoprotein, and at least one adjuvant molecule in one or more host cells;
- whereby the viral core protein, at least one viral surface envelope glycoprotein, and at least one adjuvant molecule assemble to form a Virus Like Particle (VLP).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.