Partner: M. Pyrski


Recent publications
1.Rybka J.D., Mieloch A.A., Plis A., Pyrski M., Pniewski T., Giersig M., Assembly and characterization of HBc derived virus-like particles with magnetic core, Nanomaterials, ISSN: 2079-4991, DOI: 10.3390/nano9020155, Vol.9, No.2, pp.155-1-11, 2019
Abstract:

Core-virus like particles (VLPs) assembly is a kinetically complex cascade of interactions between viral proteins, nanoparticle's surface and an ionic environment. Despite many in silico simulations regarding this process, there is still a lack of experimental data. The main goal of this study was to investigate the capsid protein of hepatitis B virus (HBc) assembly into virus-like particles with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as a magnetic core in relation to their characteristics. The native form of HBc was obtained via agroinfection of Nicotiana benthamiana with pEAQ-HBc plasmid. SPIONs of diameter of 15 nm were synthesized and functionalized with two ligands, providing variety in ζ-potential and hydrodynamic diameter. The antigenic potential of the assembled core-VLPs was assessed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Morphology of SPIONs and core-VLPs was evaluated via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The most successful core-VLPs assembly was obtained for SPIONs functionalized with dihexadecyl phosphate (DHP) at SPIONs/HBc ratio of 0.2/0.05 mg/mL. ELISA results indicate significant decrease of antigenicity concomitant with core-VLPs assembly. In summary, this study provides an experimental assessment of the crucial parameters guiding SPION-HBc VLPs assembly and evaluates the antigenicity of the obtained structures.

Keywords:

virus-like particles, VLPs, hepatitis B virus capsid protein, HBc, viral self-assembly, magnetic core, HBcAg

Affiliations:
Rybka J.D.-other affiliation
Mieloch A.A.-other affiliation
Plis A.-other affiliation
Pyrski M.-other affiliation
Pniewski T.-other affiliation
Giersig M.-other affiliation