Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Expression and Purification of Virus-like Particles for Vaccination
Published on: June 2, 2016
Immunogenic recombinant Mayaro virus-like particles present natively assembled glycoprotein
Young Chan Kim1,2, Yasunori Watanabe3, Arlen-Celina Lücke4
1Department of Paediatrics, Oxford Vaccine Group, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. young.kim@strubi.ox.ac.uk.
Mayaro virus-like particles (VLPs) closely mimic the native virus structure. MAYV VLPs offer a promising, non-infectious vaccine candidate, providing protection against viremia and swelling with or without adjuvants.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Vaccinology
- Structural Biology
Background:
- Virus-like particles (VLPs) are established vaccine platforms.
- Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an emerging alphavirus pathogen.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the structure of Mayaro virus VLPs (MAYV VLPs).
- To evaluate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of MAYV VLPs as a vaccine candidate.
Main Methods:
- Cryo-electron microscopy was used to determine VLP architecture.
- Immunization studies in mice were conducted using MAYV VLPs, viral vectors, and soluble glycoproteins.
- Neutralizing antibody levels and protection against MAYV challenge were assessed.
Main Results:
- MAYV VLPs exhibit an architecture closely resembling the native Mayaro virus.
- MAYV VLPs, viral-vectored vaccines, and soluble E2 glycoprotein induced neutralizing antibodies.
- Non-adjuvanted MAYV VLPs provided significant protection against viremia and foot swelling in mice.
Conclusions:
- MAYV VLPs are a potent, non-infectious vaccine candidate.
- MAYV VLPs elicit strong neutralizing antibody responses and protective immunity.
- MAYV VLPs may be effective without the need for adjuvants, simplifying vaccination strategies.
More Related Videos
08:40Production of Pseudotyped Particles to Study Highly Pathogenic Coronaviruses in a Biosafety Level 2 Setting
Published on: March 1, 2019
05:15Detection of Neutralization-sensitive Epitopes in Antigens Displayed on Virus-Like Particle VLP-Based Vaccines Using a Capture Assay
Published on: February 10, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Protein Complex Assembly
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...
Insulin Secretory Vesicles
Poliomyelitis
Rabies