Virus-like particle & Nano-particle Vaccines: A Selection of papers from the conference of VLPNPV 2018

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2018) | Viewed by 10983

Special Issue Editor


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Department of Immunology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Interests: virus-like particles; vaccines; infectious diseases; immunology; antibody; allergy; cancer immunotherapy and immunology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This special issue of Vaccines will consist of selected papers from the “Virus-Like Particle & Nano-Particle Vaccines―VLPNPV 2018”, taking place on 25–27 Sptember 2018, in Bern, Switzerland. VLPNPV 2018 is the fifth meeting and will focus on the essential role of VLP technology in new-generation vaccines against prevalent and emergent diseases. This technological innovation has greatly broadened the scope of their use, from immunizing against microbial pathogens to immunotherapy for chronic diseases. Towards this end, virus-like particles have been used to induce auto-antibodies to disease-associated self-molecules involved in chronic diseases, such as hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease. The recognition of the potent immunogenicity and commercial potential for virus-like particles has greatly accelerated research and development activities. During the last decade, three prophylactic virus-like particle vaccines have been registered for human use, while a great many have entered clinical development. The implications of large-scale VLP production will be important for process control, monitorization and optimization. VLP-based and NP-based vaccines updates will be presented with the latest results from clinical trials and the recent developments in chimeric VLP-based technology for either therapeutic or prophylactic vaccination. This Special Issue will cover new and novel areas of research pertaining to VLP-based and NP-based vaccines and therefore will represent state-of-the-art and up-to-date coverage of progress.

Prof. Dr. Martin Bachmann
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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20 pages, 2990 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Immune Responses to Different Versions of VLP Associated Stabilized RSV Pre-Fusion F Protein
by Lori M. Cullen, Madelyn R. Schmidt, Gretel M. Torres, Adam A. Capoferri and Trudy G. Morrison
Vaccines 2019, 7(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines7010021 - 15 Feb 2019
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5643
Abstract
Efforts to develop a vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have primarily focused on the RSV fusion protein. The pre-fusion conformation of this protein induces the most potent neutralizing antibodies and is the focus of recent efforts in vaccine development. Following the first [...] Read more.
Efforts to develop a vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have primarily focused on the RSV fusion protein. The pre-fusion conformation of this protein induces the most potent neutralizing antibodies and is the focus of recent efforts in vaccine development. Following the first identification of mutations in the RSV F protein (DS-Cav1 mutant protein) that stabilized the pre-fusion conformation, other mutant stabilized pre-fusion F proteins have been described. To determine if there are differences in alternate versions of stabilized pre-fusion F proteins, we explored the use, as vaccine candidates, of virus-like particles (VLPs) containing five different pre-fusion F proteins, including the DS-Cav1 protein. The expression of these five pre-F proteins, their assembly into VLPs, their pre-fusion conformation stability in VLPs, their reactivity with anti-F monoclonal antibodies, and their induction of immune responses after the immunization of mice, were characterized, comparing VLPs containing the DS-Cav1 pre-F protein with VLPs containing four alternative pre-fusion F proteins. The concentrations of anti-F IgG induced by each VLP that blocked the binding of prototype monoclonal antibodies using two different soluble pre-fusion F proteins as targets were measured. Our results indicate that both the conformation and immunogenicity of alternative VLP associated stabilized pre-fusion RSV F proteins are different from those of DS-Cav1 VLPs. Full article
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13 pages, 766 KiB  
Review
Feasibility Analysis of Interleukin-13 as a Target for a Therapeutic Vaccine
by John Foerster and Aleksandra Molęda
Vaccines 2019, 7(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines7010020 - 12 Feb 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4539
Abstract
Background: The development of therapeutic vaccines requires thorough knowledge of potential hazards associated with long-term inactivation of self-proteins. Among potential targets, interleukin 13 (IL-13) merits consideration, as monoclonal antibodies disrupting IL-13 signaling are proving to be exceedingly effective in common conditions such as [...] Read more.
Background: The development of therapeutic vaccines requires thorough knowledge of potential hazards associated with long-term inactivation of self-proteins. Among potential targets, interleukin 13 (IL-13) merits consideration, as monoclonal antibodies disrupting IL-13 signaling are proving to be exceedingly effective in common conditions such as atopic dermatitis. Objective: Given the mass publication of scientific data, an appraisal of safety aspects is challenging. Methods: We here provide a three-fold approach to survey clinically relevant information on off-target effects, both adverse and beneficial, that may potentially be encountered in patients undergoing long-term IL-13 inactivation. First, we review non-clinical data in vivo and in vitro. Second, we summarize safety data accumulating from patients dosed with anti-IL-13 drugs. Third, we exploit human mutation data as well as emerging large-scale genetic datasets (global exome data from 60,000 patients) to obtain information on any association of IL-13-inactivating genetic variants with disease states. In addition, we: (1) dissect the precise efficacy signals obtained with various drugs targeting IL-13 and/or IL-4, and (2) summarize unintended, but potentially beneficial effects of prolonged IL-13 inactivation on several functional systems. Results: Prolonged repression of IL-13 in several thousand patients so far has not uncovered any non-redundant functions of IL-13 in immune defense. Furthermore, missense mutations in the key genes IL-13, IL-13Rα1, IL-13Rα2, IL-4, IL-4Rα are common, while no case reports have been published on any immune deficiency or increased risk of neoplastic disease associated with such mutations, suggesting that these genes do not harbor non-redundant roles in adult outbred humans. In terms of efficacy, data from clinically used drugs strongly suggest that targeting IL-13 only, as opposed to IL-13 and IL-4, may be effective in eczema while being more selective. Importantly, several lines of evidence suggest that inhibition of IL-13 may in fact harbor potentially beneficial effects on non-targeted systems, including glucose metabolism, hepatic fibrosis, and atherosclerosis, suggesting that respective outcomes should be systematically captured in patients dosed with IL-13 interfering drugs. Collectively, available evidence suggests that IL-13 may fulfill safety requirements required for the target of a therapeutic vaccine. Full article
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