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Vaccines

COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Developed Using Virus-Like Particles

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at Sichuan University have successfully produced SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles (VLPs) as a vaccine candidate using a novel method that addresses the challenges of large-scale production. This breakthrough has the potential to provide a high-immunogenicity and low-cost vaccine platform for COVID-19. The study demonstrates the production of VLPs using HEK293T cells and inducible E and M protein expression, which enables the efficient production of vaccine candidates.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research team developed a method for producing SARS-CoV-2 VLPs using stable cell lines, which addresses the challenges of large-scale production.
  • The VLPs were produced through transient transfection of four plasmids containing the S, M, N, and E genes with optimized codons.
  • The VLPs were found to elicit spike-specific IgG antibodies in mice, although no significant neutralizing activity was detected at the tested time points.
  • The researchers established a stable HEK293T cell line for the expression of SARS-CoV-2 VLPs through co-selection with two antibiotics.
  • The VLPs were formulated with the alum adjuvant to elicit specific IgG antibodies against the S protein in mice.

Statistics:

  • The VLPs diameters were approximately 120 nm, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
  • The method of producing SARS-CoV-2 VLPs using stable cell lines has the potential to provide a high-immunogenicity and low-cost vaccine platform for COVID-19.
  • The study demonstrated the ability to produce VLPs using HEK293T cells and inducible E and M protein expression.
  • The researchers detected specific IgG antibodies against the S protein in mice immunized with VLPs formulated with the alum adjuvant.

Sources:

  • "Production of SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles as a vaccine candidate in stable cell lines through inducible E and M protein expression." Bmc Biotechnology, 2025;25(1):79. Bmc Biotechnology can be contacted at: Bmc, Campus, 4 Crinan St, London N1 9XW, England.

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