Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics

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Browsing Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics by Author "Abraş, İrem"

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    Development and preclinical evaluation of virus-like particle vaccine against COVID-19 infection
    (Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2021-09-14) Yılmaz, İsmail Cem; İpekoğlu, E. M.; Bülbül, Artun; Turay, Nilsu; Yıldırım, Muzaffer; Evcili, İrem; Yılmaz, N. S.; Güvençli, N.; Aydın, Y.; Güngör, Bilgi; Saraydar, Berfu; Bartan, Aslı Gülce; İbibik, Bilgehan; Bildik, Tuğçe; Baydemir, İ.; Şanlı, H. A.; Kayaoğlu, B.; Ceylan, Yasemin; Yıldırım, Tuğçe; Abraş, İrem; Ayanoğlu, C.; Cam, S. B.; Dede, E. C.; Gizer, M.; Erganis, O.; Saraç, F.; Uzar, S.; Enul, H.; Adıay, C.; Aykut, Gamze; Polat, H.; Yıldırım, İ. S.; Tekin, S.; Körüklüoğlu, G.; Zeytin, H. E.; Korkusuz, P.; Gürsel, İhsan; Gürsel, M.
    Background Vaccines that incorporate multiple SARS-CoV-2 antigens can further broaden the breadth of virus-specific cellular and humoral immunity. This study describes the development and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 VLP vaccine that incorporates the four structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Methods VLPs were generated in transiently transfected HEK293 cells, purified by multimodal chromatography, and characterized by tunable-resistive pulse sensing, AFM, SEM, and TEM. Immunoblotting studies verified the protein identities of VLPs. Cellular and humoral immune responses of immunized animals demonstrated the immune potency of the formulated VLP vaccine. Results Transiently transfected HEK293 cells reproducibly generated vesicular VLPs that were similar in size to and expressing all four structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Alum adsorbed, K3-CpG ODN-adjuvanted VLPs elicited high titer anti-S, anti-RBD, anti-N IgG, triggered multifunctional Th1-biased T-cell responses, reduced virus load, and prevented lung pathology upon live virus challenge in vaccinated animals. Conclusion These data suggest that VLPs expressing all four structural protein antigens of SARS-CoV-2 are immunogenic and can protect animals from developing COVID-19 infection following vaccination.