A perspective on SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles vaccines

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has spread to almost all corners of the world at an alarming rate. Vaccination is important for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts are underway worldwide to develop an effective vaccine against COVID-19 using both traditional and innovative vaccine strategies. Compared to other vaccine platforms, SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles （VLPs ）vaccines, as a new vaccine platform, have unique advantages: they have artificial nanostructures similar to natural SARS-CoV-2, which can stimulate good cellular and humoral immune responses in the organism; they have no viral nucleic acids, have good safety and thermal stability, and can be mass-produced and stored; their surfaces can be processed and modified, such as the adjuvant addition, etc.; they can be considered as an ideal platform for COVID-19 vaccine development. This review aims to shed light on the current knowledge and progress of VLPs vaccines against COVID-19, especially those undergoing clinical trials.