Virus-Like Particle Vaccine-Based Anti-monkeypox Drug Discovery Solutions

In response to the current monkeypox outbreak, as a leading company in biotechnology, Creative Biolabs provides one-stop virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine-based anti-monkeypox drug discovery solutions for our clients. Our services are not limited to the screening of viral surface antigen modules, the production and assembly of VLPs, and the evaluation of the anti-monkeypox efficacy of VLP vaccines. Our cutting-edge technology platform will provide the most comprehensive services with stable and high-quality results.

Infection Process of Monkeypox Virus (MPXV)

The MPXV is classified in the Poxviridae family, the Orthopoxvirus (OPV) genus, and the Ridgepoxvirus subfamily along with many animal poxviruses for their significant nucleotide/protein homology. MPXV is an enveloped brick-shaped virus, which contains approximately 200kb of double-stranded DNA genome. After recognizing the host cell, the mature virus particles adhere to the cell membrane, and then the outer viral envelope fuses with the cell membrane to release the virus core. Proteomic studies of the monkeypox virus have been carried out to identify several key proteins and their roles in the MPXV life cycle. The D13L trimer complex is the main capsid protein component of MPXV, which imparts morphological stiffness to the virus and contributes to immunogenicity and infectivity. In addition, there are many proteins like B5R, F13L, F12L, H3L, etc., that play important roles in MPXV infection as envelope or capsid proteins.

Fig 1. Virion protein sequencing for OPV. (Doellinger, 2015)

Virus-like Particle (VLP)

VLPs are self-assembling complexes of capsid proteins that mimic the overall structure of the parent virus without carrying any viral genetic material. Due to the lack of viral nucleic acid genomes, VLPs are completely non-infectious and therefore safer than traditional inactivated or attenuated viruses. In addition, VLPs are produced by recombinant techniques to infect plants or insects with a specific virus type, so no inactivation process is required and no unexpected epitope modifications. Most importantly, the structure of VLPs mimics infectious viruses and thus can efficiently induce cellular and humoral immune responses without adjuvants. The engineered VLPs can efficiently bind to specific receptors on B cells to induce strong B cell immune responses, and also can be recognized by antigen-presenting cells and dendritic cells to induce T cell-mediated immune responses.

Fig 2. VLP is a viral vector platform technology that does not contain any genetic information. (Afrough, 2019)

Our VLP Vaccine-based Anti-Monkeypox Drug Discovery Services

Inherent advantages of VLP have made them one of the most successful recombinant vaccine development tools, but VLP vaccines against MPXV are still in development. With our cutting-edge technology platform, we offer comprehensive and cutting-edge one-stop virus-like particle vaccine-based anti-monkeypox drug discovery solutions.

1. We provide genomics, proteomics and immunologic tools combined with bioinformatics techniques to identify MPXV capsid proteins and surface proteins, screen pathogen-specific antigens with high immunogenic potential, and use them for VLP design.
2. We composite VLPs by recombinant techniques using commonly used baculovirus, tobamovirus, geminivirus or Venezuelan equine encephalitis replicon system.
3. The morphological characteristics of VLPs are analyzed through structural biology and imaging techniques to ensure that the capsid proteins that make up VLPs can be properly folded.
4. Our robust immunology platform is also at your service, allowing assessment of the function, cellular responses, signaling molecules and antigen recognition of the immune system, and validation of the anti-MPXV effect of VLP vaccines through a variety of standardized experiments.
5. Commonly used cell lines and experimental animals are also available. In addition, we are also happy to improve our approaches or develop new technologies for you according to your projects.

Fig 3. Design tools for VLP vaccine engineering. (Hume, 2019)

Creative Biolabs has been working in the field of therapeutic areas for years, and our scientists are fully confident in completing the most challenging projects. We provide the most comprehensive and robust one-stop virus-like particle vaccine-based anti-monkeypox drug discovery solutions and quality monkeypox products for our clients all over the world, please do not hesitate to contact us for more information if you have any demands.

References

1. Doellinger, J.; et al. Comparison of the cowpox virus and vaccinia virus mature virion proteome: analysis of the species- and strain-specific proteome. PLoS ONE. 2015, 10(11): e0141527.
2. Afrough, B.; et al. Emerging viruses and current strategies for vaccine intervention. Clinical and Experimental Immunology. 2019, 196: 157-166.
3. Hume, H.K.; et al. Synthetic biology for bioengineering virus-like particle vaccines. Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 2019, 116: 919-935.