Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.9
3.4
Journals
Vaccines
Special Issues
Recent Advances in Virus-Like Particle-Based Vaccines
share announcement

Recent Advances in Virus-Like Particle-Based Vaccines

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Vaccine Design, Development, and Delivery".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1416

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Abel Gutiérrez-Ortega

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, Mérida, Mexico
Interests: recombinant antigens; immune modulators; virus-like particles; livestock vaccines

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The first virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccine, designed to combat the hepatitis B virus, marks a significant milestone in subunit vaccine development. Among the notable examples of VLPs successfully employed as human and animal health immunizing agents are the vaccines for human papillomavirus and porcine circovirus type 2. Beyond their role as vaccines, VLPs have the potential to function as scaffolds for the incorporation of short peptides and antigens, thereby enhancing their delivery system. This targeted approach allows for a focused strategy to concentrate on one or a select few antigens instead of overwhelming the immune response with a myriad of antigens. Moreover, VLPs can be strategically utilized to induce immune tolerance or robust immune responses against antigens that are over-expressed in cancer cells, presenting new avenues for cancer immunotherapy.

In this Special Issue, we invite research articles and reviews that delve into these promising developments. Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. VLP Design and Antigen Engineering;
  2. Immune Response and Vaccine Delivery;
  3. Preclinical and Clinical Evaluation;
  4. Therapeutic Vaccines for Chronic Diseases;
  5. Rapid Vaccine Development for Emerging Pathogens.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Abel Gutiérrez-Ortega
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Vaccines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • virus-like particles (VLPs)
  • vaccine design
  • immune response mechanisms
  • clinical trials
  • therapeutic vaccines
  • vaccine manufacturing
  • antigen delivery
  • rapid vaccine development

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

19 pages, 2430 KB  
Article
Three Competitive ELISAs to Quantify the D-Antigen Content of Aluminum-Salt Adjuvanted Recombinant Polio VLPs (Types 1, 2, 3) to Enable Preformulation Characterization Studies
by Yanli Liu, John M. Hickey, Geetha Satya Sainaga Jyothi Vaskuri, Brandy Dotson, Sangeeta B. Joshi and David B. Volkin
Vaccines 2026, 14(6), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines14060479 - 28 May 2026
Viewed by 154
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Recombinant poliovirus (PV) virus-like particle (VLP) antigens mimic the conformation of the surface proteins in native PVs (i.e., serotype-specific D-antigen epitopes). Since they lack genomes and are non-infectious, PV-VLPs offer the promise of a safer, next-generation polio vaccine compared to traditional inactivated [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Recombinant poliovirus (PV) virus-like particle (VLP) antigens mimic the conformation of the surface proteins in native PVs (i.e., serotype-specific D-antigen epitopes). Since they lack genomes and are non-infectious, PV-VLPs offer the promise of a safer, next-generation polio vaccine compared to traditional inactivated (IPV) or attenuated live (OPV) vaccines. Sandwich D-antigen ELISA formats are commonly used to measure the in vitro potency values (relative D-antigen content, DU/mL) of unadjuvanted trivalent IPV antigens. If IPV is formulated with aluminum-salt adjuvants, however, a pretreatment step (i.e., adjuvant dissolution or antigen desorption) is required, which may compromise antigen integrity during sample handling. Methods: This work describes the development of three competitive ELISAs to measure the relative D-antigen content of aluminum-salt adjuvanted PV-VLPs (Types 1, 2, 3) without the need for pretreatment. Results: First, key assay parameters were established, including specificity, accuracy, precision, linearity, limit of quantification, and stability-indication. Next, preformulation characterization studies were performed with these methods including (1) rank-ordering the inherent thermal stability profiles of the PV-VLPs (Types 1 > 3 > 2) in-solution and adsorbed to an aluminum phosphate adjuvant (AdjuPhos™, AP) and (2) determining the effect of formulation variables on the thermal stability profiles of AP-adsorbed PV-VLPs including antimicrobial preservatives (thimerosal, 2-PE) and five different antigens present in pediatric combination vaccines (D, T, wP, Hib, Hep B). Conclusions: The development and application of three competitive D-antigen ELISAs were demonstrated, and future use in formulation and storage stability studies with the AP-adjuvanted, trivalent PV-VLPs (Types 1, 2, 3) is discussed with the long-term goal to develop a stable, efficacious, multi-dose, hexavalent combination vaccine presentation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Virus-Like Particle-Based Vaccines)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 984 KB  
Article
Virus-like Particles Carrying a Porcine Circovirus Type 2b Peptide Induce an Antibody Response and Reduce Viral Load in Immunized Pigs
by Ana del Socorro Hernández-Aviña, Marco Antonio Cuéllar-Galván, Jorge Alberto Salazar-González, Oscar Alejandro Albarrán-Velázquez, María de los Ángeles Beltrán-Juárez, René Segura-Velázquez, Sara Elisa Herrera-Rodríguez, Abel Gutiérrez-Ortega and José Iván Sánchez-Betancourt
Vaccines 2026, 14(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines14010024 - 24 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 725
Abstract
Background: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) remains one of the most important pathogens that infects swine, causing considerable economic losses worldwide. PCV2 vaccines are commercially available, and the development of experimental vaccines that could confer better protection against emerging genotypes is underway. [...] Read more.
Background: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) remains one of the most important pathogens that infects swine, causing considerable economic losses worldwide. PCV2 vaccines are commercially available, and the development of experimental vaccines that could confer better protection against emerging genotypes is underway. The expression of virus-like particles (VLPs) carrying different PCV2 capsid (Cap) peptides in E. coli was recently reported. These chimeric particles were adjuvated with an oil-in-water emulsion with polymer and induced different titers of serum IgG in BALB/c mice after a single subcutaneous injection. The aim of this study was to assess the immune response and protective efficacy elicited by VLPs carrying the PCV2b Cap carboxy-terminal peptide in the target species. Methods: Domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) were immunized intramuscularly with 25 μg of adjuvated chimeric VLPs on days 0 and 14 and challenged on day 28 with a PCV2b Mexican isolate. PCV2 peptide-specific IgG seroconversion, serum cytokines, viral load in nasal swabs and organs, and histopathological score were determined. Results: IgG levels peaked 28 days post-immunization. Interleukin-12 and -18 and interferon-gamma increased 21 days after immunization. In addition, genomic material of PCV2 was detected in nasal swabs from one specimen on day 7, two specimens on day 14, and two specimens on day 21 following viral challenge. Finally, histological lesions were not less severe in immunized specimens compared to non-vaccinated/challenged specimens. Conclusions: These results suggest that immunization with chimeric VLPs could contribute to controlling viral shedding in pig herds where a PCV2b genotype is most prevalent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Virus-Like Particle-Based Vaccines)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop