Marburg virus-like particles by co-expression of glycoprotein and matrix protein in insect cells induces immune responses in mice

Gai, Weiwei; Zheng, Xuexing; Wang, Chong; Wang, Hualei; Zhao, Yongkun; Wang, Qi; Wong, Gary; Zhang, Weijiao; Feng, Na; Qiu, Boning; Chi, Hang; Li, Nan; Wang, Tiecheng; Gao, Yuwei; Shan, Junjie; Yang, Songtao; Xia, Xianzhu

BACKGROUND: Marburg virus (MARV) causes severe haemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates and has a high mortality rate. However, effective drugs or licensed vaccines are not currently available to control the outbreak and spread of this disease. METHODS: In this study, we generated MARV virus-like particles (VLPs) by co-expressing the glycoprotein (GP) and matrix protein (VP40) using the baculovirus expression system. MARV VLPs and three adjuvants, Poria cocos polysaccharide (PCP-II), poly(I:C) and aluminium hydroxide, were evaluated after intramuscular vaccination in mice. RESULTS: Murine studies demonstrated that vaccination with the MARV VLPs induce neutralizing antibodies and cellar immune responses. MARV VLPs and the PCP-II adjuvant group resulted in high titres of MARV-specific antibodies, activated relatively higher numbers of B cells and T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and induced greater cytokine secretion from splenocytes than the other adjuvants. CONCLUSION: MARV VLPs with the PCP-II adjuvant may constitute an effective vaccination and PCP-II should be further investigated as a novel adjuvant.