Open AccessNovel coronavirus-like particles targeting cells lining the respiratory tract
Author(s) -
Antoniskalska,
Agnieszka Dąbrowska,
Pauliowak,
Artur Szczepański,
Krzysztof Jasik,
Aleksandra Milewska,
Marek Ochman,
Sławomir Żegleń,
Ze Rajfur,
Krzysztof Pyrć
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0203489
Subject(s) - virus like particle , tropism , virus , tissue tropism , virology , biology , vector (molecular biology) , covid-19 , coronavirus , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , computational biology , gene , biochemistry , medicine , recombinant dna , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Virus like particles (VLPs) produced by the expression of viral structural proteins can serve as versatile nanovectors or potential vaccine candidates. In this study we describe for the first time the generation of HCoV-NL63 VLPs using baculovirus system. Major structural proteins of HCoV-NL63 have been expressed in tagged or native form, and their assembly to form VLPs was evaluated. Additionally, a novel procedure for chromatography purification of HCoV-NL63 VLPs was developed. Interestingly, we show that these nanoparticles may deliver cargo and selectively transduce cells expressing the ACE2 protein such as ciliated cells of the respiratory tract. Production of a specific delivery vector is a major challenge for research concerning targeting molecules. The obtained results show that HCoV-NL63 VLPs may be efficiently produced, purified, modified and serve as a delivery platform. This study constitutes an important basis for further development of a promising viral vector displaying narrow tissue tropism.