Virus-like particles: flexible platforms for vaccine development.
Virus-like particles (VLPs) consist of viral structural proteins that, when overexpressed, spontaneously self-assemble into particles that are antigenically indistinguishable from infectious virus or subviral particles. VLPs can be considered as dense, repetitive arrays of one or more protein subunits with properties that are highly advantageous for use as stand-alone vaccines or as vaccine platforms. This review discusses the development of VLP-based platform technologies for vaccines against pathogens, as well as nontraditional targets such as self-antigens involved in chronic diseases.
Chackerian
Bryce
B
University of New Mexico, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for Infectious Disease and Immunity, Cancer Research and Treatment Center, Cancer Biology Program, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. bchackerian@salud.unm.edu
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D022721:Vaccines, Virosome / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001324:Autoantigens; D022721:Vaccines, Virosome