Jennings Gary T, Bachmann Martin F
Cytos Biotechnology AG, CH-8952 Zurich-Schlieren, Switzerland.
Biol Chem. 2008 May;389(5):521-36. doi: 10.1515/bc.2008.064.
Virus-like particles are supra-molecular assemblages, usually icosahedral or rod-like structures. They incorporate key immunologic features of viruses which include repetitive surfaces, particulate structures and induction of innate immunity through activation of pathogen-associated molecular-pattern recognition receptors. They carry no replicative genetic information and can be produced recombinantly in large scale. Virus-like particles thus represent a safe and effective vaccine platform for inducing potent B- and T-cell responses. In addition to being effective vaccines against the corresponding virus from which they are derived, virus-like particles can also be used to present foreign epitopes to the immune system. This can be achieved by genetic fusion or chemical conjugation. 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 autoantibodies 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, two prophylactic virus-like particle vaccines have been registered for human use, while another 12 vaccines entered clinical development.
病毒样颗粒是超分子聚集体，通常为二十面体或杆状结构。它们具备病毒的关键免疫学特征，包括重复的表面、颗粒结构以及通过激活病原体相关分子模式识别受体来诱导先天免疫。它们不携带复制性遗传信息，并且可以大规模重组生产。因此，病毒样颗粒是诱导强效B细胞和T细胞反应的安全有效的疫苗平台。除了作为针对其来源的相应病毒的有效疫苗外，病毒样颗粒还可用于向免疫系统呈递外源表位。这可以通过基因融合或化学偶联来实现。这项技术创新极大地拓宽了它们的应用范围，从针对微生物病原体的免疫接种到慢性疾病的免疫治疗。为此，病毒样颗粒已被用于诱导针对参与慢性疾病（如高血压和阿尔茨海默病）的疾病相关自身分子的自身抗体。对病毒样颗粒强大的免疫原性和商业潜力的认识极大地加速了研发活动。在过去十年中，两种预防性病毒样颗粒疫苗已获批准用于人类，另有12种疫苗进入临床开发阶段。
