A novel method to produce Influenza A virus matrix protein M1 Capsid Like Particles (CLPs)

Avian influenza viruses represent a growing threat for an influenza pandemic. The currently licensed influenza vaccines have inherent drawbacks which has led many research groups to explore different approaches of vaccine development among which Virus Like particles (VLPs) seem like a promising alternative in the near future. Although it is known that the Matrix 1 protein (M1) of influenza plays an essential role in VLP formation and it is documented that M1 is able to form dimers, it is not clear if M1 is capable of forming higher order structures without the interference of other influenza proteins or cell derived envelope. Here, for the first time we have demonstrated that expression of M1 alone is enough to form a Capsid Like Particle (CLP) without the requirement of any other external factor.