Characterization and immunogenicity of a novel chimeric hepatitis B core-virus like particles (cVLPs) carrying rotavirus VP8*protein in mice model.

Given the efficacy and safety issues of the WHO for approved/prequalified live attenuated rotavirus (RV) vaccines, studies on alternative non-replicating modals and proper RV antigens are actively undertaken. Herein, we report the novel chimeric hepatitis B core-virus like particles (VLPs) carrying RV VP8* protein of a P [8] strain (cVLP), as a parenteral VLP RV vaccine candidate. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analyses indicated the expected size of the E. coli-derived HBc-VP8* protein that self-assembled to cVLP particles. Immunization in mice indicated development of higher levels of IgG and IgA as well as higher IgG1/IgG2a ratios by cVLP vaccination compared to the VP8* alone. Assessment of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) indicated development of heterotypic nAbs with cross-reactivity to a heterotypic RV strain by cVLP immunization compared to VP8* alone. The observed anti-VP8* cross-reactivity might indicate the possibility of developing a Pan-genomic RVA vaccine based on the cVLP formulation that deserves further challenge studies.