Virol J
. 2022 Jun 27;19(1):112.
doi: 10.1186/s12985-022-01844-9.
A chimeric MERS-CoV virus-like particle vaccine protects mice against MERS-CoV challenge
Jung-Eun Park 1 2 , Ji-Hee Kim 3 , Jae-Yeon Park 4 , Sung-Hoon Jun 5 , Hyun-Jin Shin 6 7
Affiliations
- PMID: 35761402
- DOI: 10.1186/s12985-022-01844-9
Abstract
Background: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes severe respiratory disease in humans, with a case fatality rate of approximately 35%, thus posing a considerable threat to public health. The lack of approved vaccines or antivirals currently constitutes a barrier in controlling disease outbreaks and spread.
Methods: In this study, using a mammalian expression system, which is advantageous for maintaining correct protein glycosylation patterns, we constructed chimeric MERS-CoV virus-like particles (VLPs) and determined their immunogenicity and protective efficacy in mice.
Results: Western blot and cryo-electron microscopy analyses demonstrated that MERS-CoV VLPs were efficiently produced in cells co-transfected with MERS-CoV spike (S), envelope, membrane and murine hepatitis virus nucleocapsid genes. We examined their ability as a vaccine in a human dipeptidyl peptidase 4 knock-in C57BL/6 congenic mouse model. Mice immunized with MERS VLPs produced S-specific antibodies with virus neutralization activity. Furthermore, MERS-CoV VLP immunization provided complete protection against a lethal challenge with mouse-adapted MERS-CoV and improved virus clearance in the lung.
Conclusions: Overall, these data demonstrate that MERS-CoV VLPs have excellent immunogenicity and represent a promising vaccine candidate.
Keywords: Immunogenicity; MERS-CoV; Protective efficacy; Vaccine; Virus-like particle.