Dengue-specific subviral nanoparticles: design, creation and characterization

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology and Biomaterials
• Virology and Immunology
• Biotechnology and Drug Development

Background:

• Dengue fever is a major global arboviral disease requiring new control strategies.
• Virus-like particles (VLPs) offer a flexible nanoscale platform for biomedical tools.
• Dengue virus envelope protein domain III (EDIII) is a key target for serotype-specific diagnostics and vaccines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a VLP-based system for displaying dengue virus envelope protein domain III (EDIII).
• To investigate the co-expression and co-purification of Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (S) with EDIII.
• To assess the functional display of EDIII on engineered VLPs.

Main Methods:

• Co-expression and co-purification of Hepatitis B virus surface (S) antigen in two forms: independent and fused with EDIII.
• Physical and functional characterization of the resulting VLPs.
• Optimization of the ratio between fused and un-fused S antigen components for maximal VLP function.

Main Results:

• Both forms of the S antigen successfully associated into virus-like particles (VLPs).
• Functional display of EDIII on VLPs was dependent on the relative levels of the two S antigen forms.
• Mosaic VLPs with a 1:4 ratio of fused to un-fused S antigen demonstrated optimal functional competence.

Conclusions:

• Engineered VLPs displaying EDIII represent a promising platform for dengue virus applications.
• These VLPs hold potential for development into diagnostic, therapeutic, and prophylactic tools against dengue.
• The study highlights the versatility of VLPs for creating targeted biomedical solutions.