Production and characterization of Hantaan Virus-Like Particles from Baculovirus Expression System

Abstract Hantaan virus-like particles (VLPs) have been produced and purified by co-expressing Hantaan virus nucleocapsid (N) protein and glycoproteins (Gn and Gc) in baculovirus insect cell systems. The potential of VLPs as a vaccine was evaluated by comparing the humoral immune response and neutralizing antiserum induced by the purified VLP and the recombinant baculovirus bearing the Hantaan virus glycoproteins alone. After immunization of C57BL/6 mice, Hantaan VLPs efficiently induced both hantaan virus-specific humoral immune response and neutralizing antibodies. Hantaan VLPs from baculovirus expression system also protected mice from HTNV challenge. These data provide information important to the development of Hantaan virus-like particles using the baculovirus-insect cell system as a potential vaccine for the prevention of Hantavirus infection.