Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2025
06:17
Expression and Purification of Virus-like Particles for Vaccination
Published on: June 2, 2016
21.8K
Development of Plant-Based Multivalent Vaccine Candidates for SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Virus Using Inactivated
Dong-Sook Lee1, Hasanul Banna2, Heeyeon Kim1
1Division of Acute Viral Disease, Center for Emerging Virus Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea.
Vaccines
|April 23, 2025
Summary
This study developed a plant-based vaccine using bacterium-like particles to target both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. The dual-target vaccine showed promise in protecting mice against co-infections, reducing viral load and improving survival.
Area of Science:
- * Molecular biology
- * Vaccinology
- * Immunology
Background:
- * The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has led to millions of infections and deaths globally.
- * The re-emergence of seasonal influenza created a
- twindemic
- with SARS-CoV-2, increasing risks associated with co-infections.
- * There is a critical need for vaccines that can provide dual protection against both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate the potential of plant-based bacterium-like particle (BLP) vaccines for co-targeting SARS-CoV-2 and influenza.
- * To assess the efficacy of these dual-target vaccines in a mouse model.
- * To evaluate the immune response and protective effects against single and co-infections.
Main Methods:
- * Synthesized DNA fragments encoding SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 spike (S) protein and H1N1 influenza hemagglutinin (HA) ectodomain.
- * Developed recombinant constructs expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana and purified using a Lactobacillus sakei BLP system.
- * Immunized K18-hACE2 mice with the vaccine and challenged them with SARS-CoV-2, influenza, or both, assessing viral load and lung pathology.
Main Results:
- * Successful expression and BLP binding of SARS-CoV-2 S protein and influenza HA protein.
- * Vaccination elicited potent humoral and cellular immune responses, including high neutralizing antibody titers and increased IFN-γ levels.
- * Vaccinated mice showed protection against viral challenges, reduced lung viral loads, improved survival, and effective viral clearance during co-infections.
Conclusions:
- * BLP-based multivalent vaccines demonstrate potential for dual protection against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza.
- * This approach offers a promising strategy for combating simultaneous viral infections.
- * Further development could lead to effective vaccines against major public health threats.
