Virus-like particles (VLPs) and nano-particles (NP) are increasingly considered for both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for a wide variety of human and animal diseases. Indeed, 2 VLPs have already been licensed for use in humans, the human papilloma virus vaccine and the hepatitis B virus vaccine. (1) Reflecting this increased interest, a second international conference with a specific focus on VLPs and NP was held at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, in June 2014. Approximately 100 attendees, hailing from many nations, came from academic institutions, research institutes, and biotech companies. A wide variety of topics were discussed, ranging from development and characterization of specific VLP and NP vaccine candidates to methods of production of these particles. Session three was focused on the general question of immune responses to VLPs.
Keywords: BLys, B lymphocyte stimulator; ELISpot, enzyme-linked immunoSpot; F, fusion; G, glycoprotein; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; HN, hemagglutinin-neuraminidase; LLPC, long-lived plasma cells; M, membrane; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; NDV, Newcastle disease virus; NOD, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domains; NP, nanoparticles or nucleocapsid protein; PBL, peripheral blood lymphocytes; RHDV, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus; T cell responses; TLR, toll-like receptor; TMV, tobacco mosaic virus; TrV, triatoma virus; VLPs, virus-like particles; Virus-like particles; adjuvants; anti-glycan immunity; human humoral immune responses; memory responses; mucosal immunity.