AI Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the antigenic properties of dengue virus-like particles (VLPs) compared to infectious virus particles, highlighting their potential in diagnostics and vaccination.
- Using a variety of antibodies, researchers confirmed that VLPs can display significant antibody epitopes similar to those found on actual DENV particles, indicating their usefulness in serological applications.
- The findings support the idea that VLPs are a safe and effective alternative to live viruses for vaccine development and diagnostic testing for dengue.
Article Abstract
Background: The 4 dengue serotypes (DENV) are mosquito-borne pathogens that are associated with severe hemorrhagic disease. DENV particles have a lipid bilayer envelope that anchors two membrane glycoproteins prM and E. Two E-protein monomers form head-to-tail homodimers and three E-dimers align to form "rafts" that cover the viral surface. Some human antibodies that strongly neutralize DENV bind to quaternary structure epitopes displayed on E protein dimers or higher order structures forming the infectious virus. Expression of prM and E in cell culture leads to the formation of DENV virus-like particles (VLPs) which are smaller than wildtype virus particles and replication defective due to the absence of a viral genome. There is no data available that describes the antigenic landscape on the surface of flavivirus VLPs in comparison to the better studied infectious virion.
Methods: A large panel of well characterized antibodies that recognize epitope of ranging complexity were used in biochemical analytics to obtain a comparative antigenic surface view of VLPs in respect to virus particles. DENV patient serum depletions were performed the show the potential of VLPs in serological diagnostics.
Results: VLPs were confirmed to be heterogeneous in size morphology and maturation state. Yet, we show that many highly conformational and quaternary structure-dependent antibody epitopes found on virus particles are efficiently displayed on DENV1-4 VLP surfaces as well. Additionally, DENV VLPs can efficiently be used as antigens to deplete DENV patient sera from serotype specific antibody populations.
Conclusions: This study aids in further understanding epitopic landscape of DENV VLPs and presents a comparative antigenic surface view of VLPs in respect to virus particles. We propose the use VLPs as a safe and practical alternative to infectious virus as a vaccine and diagnostic antigen.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5879749 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12985-018-0970-2 | DOI Listing |
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