Heterologous Prime-Boost with Immunologically Orthogonal Protein Nanoparticles for Peptide Immunofocusing.

Protein nanoparticles are effective platforms for antigen presentation and targeting effector immune cells in vaccine development. Encapsulins are a class of protein-based microbial nanocompartments that self-assemble into icosahedral structures with external diameters ranging from 24 to 42 nm. Encapsulins from were designed to package bacterial RNA when produced in and were shown to have immunogenic and self-adjuvanting properties enhanced by this RNA.

Heterologous Prime-Boost with Immunologically Orthogonal Protein Nanoparticles for Peptide Immunofocusing.

Protein nanoparticles are effective platforms for antigen presentation and targeting effector immune cells in vaccine development. Encapsulins are a class of protein-based microbial nanocompartments that self-assemble into icosahedral structures with external diameters ranging from 24 to 42 nm. Encapsulins from were designed to package bacterial RNA when produced in and were shown to have immunogenic and self-adjuvanting properties enhanced by this RNA.

Exploring the Landscape of the PP7 Virus-like Particle for Peptide Display.

Self-assembling virus-like particles (VLPs) can tolerate a wide degree of genetic and chemical manipulation to their capsid protein to display a foreign molecule polyvalently. We previously reported the successful incorporation of foreign peptide sequences in the junction loop and onto the C-terminus of PP7 dimer VLPs, as these regions are accessible for surface display on assembled capsids. Here, we report the implementation of a library-based approach to test the assembly tolerance of PP7 dimer capsid proteins to insertions or terminal extensions of randomized 15-mer peptide sequences.

Preparation and Biological Properties of Oligonucleotide-Functionalized Virus-like Particles.

Oligonucleotides are powerful molecules for programming function and assembly. When arrayed on nanoparticle scaffolds in high density, the resulting molecules, spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), become imbued with unique properties. We used the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition to graft oligonucleotides on Qβ virus-like particles to see if such structures also gain SNA-like behavior.