Viruses and Virus-Like Particles as Nanoplatforms for Vaccines, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Nanomedicine

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Viral Immunology, Vaccines, and Antivirals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 3168

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Federal Medical Biological Agency, 119435 Moscow, Russia
2. Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, N.F. Gamaleya of the Russian Ministry of Health, 123098 Moscow, Russia
Interests: bionanotechnology; virology; immunology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nearly 1030 various viruses co-exist around us. Today, they remain a public health concern. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic being over, SARS-CoV-2 continues to persist and to infect new hosts. However, the available knowledge allows us to use the already isolated viruses and virus-like particles in vaccinology and clinical diagnostics, and for targeted drug delivery.

Rapid progress in virus detection and identification, phylogenetic analysis of full-length genomes, multiplex determination of viral and bacterial pathogens, and fabrication of protein and lipid nanoparticles raises new fundamental questions. Further research into molecular evolution and rearrangements of quasi-species of RNA- and DNA-containing viruses, the possible integration of viral genomic DNA into cellular chromosomes and mitochondrial DNA, innate and adaptive immune responses during natural infection and after vaccination, the interaction of viral factors with the host immune system and cellular proteins, and the evaluation of currently available vaccines against new viral threats is necessary for possible implementation in bio-nanotechnology, vaccinology, drug design, and the development of diagnostic systems for acute and chronic infections with low viral loads of attenuated persistent viruses. Currently, viruses are the best tool for the targeted delivery of drugs in permissive cells with specific surface receptors.

This Special Issue, “Viruses and Virus-Like Particles as Nanoplatforms for Vaccines, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Nanomedicine”, will include selected research and review articles devoted to new approaches for vaccine design, the estimation of possible risks of mRNA vaccines and vector vaccines, describing criteria to select viral antigens for multiplex immunoassays, mechanisms of virus adaptation to their hosts, factors of innate and adaptive immunity, and the possible implementation of attenuated viruses in the packaging and delivery of drugs.

Dr. Olga V. Morozova
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • bionanotechnology
  • virology
  • immunology

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 4237 KiB  
Article
Plant-Produced Chimeric Hepatitis E Virus-like Particles as Carriers for Antigen Presentation
by Eugenia S. Mardanova, Egor A. Vasyagin, Kira G. Kotova, Gergana G. Zahmanova and Nikolai V. Ravin
Viruses 2024, 16(7), 1093; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16071093 - 8 Jul 2024
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Abstract
A wide range of virus-like particles (VLPs) is extensively employed as carriers to display various antigens for vaccine development to fight against different infections. The plant-produced truncated variant of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) coat protein is capable of forming VLPs. In this [...] Read more.
A wide range of virus-like particles (VLPs) is extensively employed as carriers to display various antigens for vaccine development to fight against different infections. The plant-produced truncated variant of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) coat protein is capable of forming VLPs. In this study, we demonstrated that recombinant fusion proteins comprising truncated HEV coat protein with green fluorescent protein (GFP) or four tandem copies of the extracellular domain of matrix protein 2 (M2e) of influenza A virus inserted at the Tyr485 position could be efficiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using self-replicating vector based on the potato virus X genome. The plant-produced fusion proteins in vivo formed VLPs displaying GFP and 4M2e. Therefore, HEV coat protein can be used as a VLP carrier platform for the presentation of relatively large antigens comprising dozens to hundreds of amino acids. Furthermore, plant-produced HEV particles could be useful research tools for the development of recombinant vaccines against influenza. Full article
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14 pages, 1974 KiB  
Article
Production and Immunogenicity of FeLV Gag-Based VLPs Exposing a Stabilized FeLV Envelope Glycoprotein
by Raquel Ortiz, Ana Barajas, Anna Pons-Grífols, Benjamin Trinité, Ferran Tarrés-Freixas, Carla Rovirosa, Víctor Urrea, Antonio Barreiro, Anna Gonzalez-Tendero, Maria Rovira-Rigau, Maria Cardona, Laura Ferrer, Bonaventura Clotet, Jorge Carrillo, Carmen Aguilar-Gurrieri and Julià Blanco
Viruses 2024, 16(6), 987; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16060987 - 19 Jun 2024
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Abstract
The envelope glycoprotein (Env) of retroviruses, such as the Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), is the main target of neutralizing humoral response, and therefore, a promising vaccine candidate, despite its reported poor immunogenicity. The incorporation of mutations that stabilize analogous proteins from other viruses [...] Read more.
The envelope glycoprotein (Env) of retroviruses, such as the Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), is the main target of neutralizing humoral response, and therefore, a promising vaccine candidate, despite its reported poor immunogenicity. The incorporation of mutations that stabilize analogous proteins from other viruses in their prefusion conformation (e.g., HIV Env, SARS-CoV-2 S, or RSV F glycoproteins) has improved their capability to induce neutralizing protective immune responses. Therefore, we have stabilized the FeLV Env protein following a strategy based on the incorporation of a disulfide bond and an Ile/Pro mutation (SOSIP) previously used to generate soluble HIV Env trimers. We have characterized this SOSIP-FeLV Env in its soluble form and as a transmembrane protein present at high density on the surface of FeLV Gag-based VLPs. Furthermore, we have tested its immunogenicity in DNA-immunization assays in C57BL/6 mice. Low anti-FeLV Env responses were detected in SOSIP-FeLV soluble protein-immunized animals; however, unexpectedly no responses were detected in the animals immunized with SOSIP-FeLV Gag-based VLPs. In contrast, high humoral response against FeLV Gag was observed in the animals immunized with control Gag VLPs lacking SOSIP-FeLV Env, while this response was significantly impaired when the VLPs incorporated SOSIP-FeLV Env. Our data suggest that FeLV Env can be stabilized as a soluble protein and can be expressed in high-density VLPs. However, when formulated as a DNA vaccine, SOSIP-FeLV Env remains poorly immunogenic, a limitation that must be overcome to develop an effective FeLV vaccine. Full article
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Review

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13 pages, 2553 KiB  
Review
The Role of Macrophages in Airway Disease Focusing on Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus and the Treatment with Antioxidant Nanoparticles
by Kyuhyung Choi
Viruses 2024, 16(10), 1563; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16101563 - 1 Oct 2024
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Abstract
Lung macrophage cells play a critical role in various lung diseases, and their state can change depending on the progression of the disease by inducing either an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory state. In this review, the potential therapeutic effects of treatment with antioxidant nanoparticles [...] Read more.
Lung macrophage cells play a critical role in various lung diseases, and their state can change depending on the progression of the disease by inducing either an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory state. In this review, the potential therapeutic effects of treatment with antioxidant nanoparticles in air-borne diseases focusing on porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV), considering reactive oxygen species (ROS) as one of the factors that regulate M1 and M2 macrophages in the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory states, respectively, was described. In addition, the author examines the status of protein structure research on CD163 (one of the markers of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages) in human and veterinary lung diseases. Full article
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