title: Virus-Like Particles Produced in Pichia Pastoris Induce Protective Immune Responses Against Coxsackievirus A16 in Mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) is one of the main causative agents of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), and the development of a safe and effective vaccine has been a top priority among CA16 researchers. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, we developed a Pichia pastoris yeast system for secretory expression of the virus-like particles (VLPs) for CA16 by co-expression of the P1 and 3CD proteins of CA16. SDS-PAGE, Western blot, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed to identify the formation of VLPs. Immunogenicity and vaccine efficacy of the CA16 VLPs were assessed in BABL/c mouse models. RESULTS Biochemical and biophysical analysis showed that the yeast-expressed CA16 VLPs were composed of VP0, VP1, and VP3 capsid subunit proteins, and present spherical particles with a diameter of 30 nm, similar to the parental infectious CA16 virus. Furthermore, CA16 VLPs elicited potent humoral and cellular immune responses, and VLPs-immunized sera conferred efficient protection to neonatal mice against lethal CA16 challenge. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that VLPs produced in Pichia pastoris represent a safe and effective vaccine strategy for CA16.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Qianjin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Microbiological Lab, Shenzhen Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Yaqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Jiahai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu