VLP-Based Vaccines as a Suitable Technology to Target Trypanosomatid Diseases

Abstract

Research on vaccines against trypanosomatids, a family of protozoa that cause neglected tropical diseases, such as Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and sleeping sickness, is a current need. Today, according to modern vaccinology, virus-like particle (VLP) technology is involved in many vaccines, including those undergoing studies related to COVID-19. The potential use of VLPs as vaccine adjuvants opens an opportunity for the use of protozoan antigens for the development of vaccines against diseases caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania spp., and Trypanosoma brucei. In this context, it is important to consider the evasion mechanisms of these protozoa in the host and the antigens involved in the mechanisms of the parasite–host interaction. Thus, the immunostimulatory properties of VLPs can be part of an important strategy for the development and evaluation of new vaccines. This work aims to highlight the potential of VLPs as vaccine adjuvants for the development of immunity in complex diseases, specifically in the context of tropical diseases caused by trypanosomatids.

COVID‐19 in early 2023: Structure, replication mechanism, variants of SARS‐CoV‐2, diagnostic tests, and vaccine & drug development studies

“… 109 VLPs offer a promising approach to produce vaccines against many diseases, including Ebola, influenza A, Zika, and respiratory syncytial virus infections. 115 …”

“…They are excellent prophylactics and eliminate virus‐based vaccine limitations 109 . VLPs offer a promising approach to produce vaccines against many diseases, including Ebola, influenza A, Zika, and respiratory syncytial virus infections 115 …”

Plant and insect virus‐like particles: emerging nanoparticles for agricultural pest management

“…In the context of developing vaccines, decoration of VLPs with antigens has gained considerable attention during past decades. 45,46 Furthermore, VLPs can also be decorated with functional peptides, such as the dsRNAbinding domain 47 that is used as delivery agent in RNAi-based www.soci.org Q Xue, L Swevers, CNT Taning wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/ps studies. In the same way, other functional peptides can be used to enable VLPs to carry a variety of cargoes.…”

Review: A systematic review of virus-like particles of coronavirus: Assembly, generation, chimerism and their application in basic research and in the clinic

“…Over the past few decades, there have been different VLPs studied to fight against important pathogens such as ebolavirus (EBOV), Chikungunya, Dengue, influenza A, respiratory syncytial virus, and Zika [138] . Several VLP-based vaccines including Recombivax HB and Engerix-B for HBV, Gardasil, Cervarix, and Gardasil-9 for HPV, Hecolin for HEV, as well as in the veterinary field, Ingelvac CircoFLEX for PCV2 are licensed and commercialized [16] , [83] .…”