Virus-like particles (VLP) Virus-like particles resemble viruses, but are non-infectious because they do not contain any viral genetic material. The expression of viral structural proteins, such as Envelope or Capsid, can result in the self-assembly of virus like particles (VLPs). VLPs are a useful tool for the development of vaccines. VLPs contain repetitive high density displays of viral surface proteins which present conformational viral epitopes that can elicit strong T cell and B cell immune responses. Additionally, since VLPs lack genetic material, they provide a safer alternative to attenuated viruses. VLPs have already been used to develop FDA approved vaccines for Hepatitis B. Recently scientists used VLPs to find vaccine for the Ebola virus. They created VLPs made up of clumps of a protein from the coating of the Ebola virus which was developed by biotech company Integrated BioTherapeutics in Gaithersburg, Maryland and injected it into six chimps. Because the vaccine the researchers used is made only of pieces of the virus, it cannot lead to an infection. As expected, the six chimps the scientists vaccinated showed no symptoms of Ebola infection, and displayed none of the changes in blood chemistry or drastic weight loss typical of infection with the virus. For ethical reasons, the researchers did not test vaccinated chimpanzees with live Ebola virus. Instead, they analyzed the effects of antibodies the apes generated after they received the vaccine. When these antibodies were harvested and given to mice infected with Ebola, the survival rates of the rodents climbed from 0 percent to 30 or 60 percent, depending on which of two different vaccine formulations the chimps were given. https://youtube/watch?v=9Pae__M5ONk
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 10:16:46 +0000