Design of a Multivalent SARS-CoV-2 vaccine using Virus-like particles

Gomatos, Dimitris (2025) Design of a Multivalent SARS-CoV-2 vaccine using Virus-like particles. Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

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Abstract

The recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for efficient vaccines that provide broad, durable immunity against multiple viral strains. Current SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have shown reduced potency against emerging variants and, for this reason, exhibit waning immunity over time. To address these limitations, we propose the development of a novel Virus-Like Particle (VLP) vaccine designed to present spike proteins from two different SARS-CoV-2 strains. VLPs are non-infectious, self-assembling structures that mimic native viruses and are known to stimulate robust humoral and cellular immune responses. For proof-of-principle, the proposed design incorporates spike proteins from the original Wuhan-1 strain and the Delta strain, along with the 4 SARS-CoV-2 proteins. This vaccine is intended for production using a plant-based expression system, specifically Nicotiana benthamiana. Plant systems offer advantages such as proper eukaryotic post-translational modifications necessary for VLP immunogenicity, high scalability, rapid production time, and significantly lower costs than mammalian cell cultures, while being free of mammalian pathogens. The pEAQexpress vector will be utilized for efficient transient protein expression in N. benthamiana. The vaccine's potential efficiency will be evaluated using an N-based genetic complementation system and in hACE2 transgenic mice in vivo. This approach aims to provide broader protection against multiple strains and elici

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Bogaart, G. van den
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	14 Jul 2025 13:43
Last Modified:	14 Jul 2025 13:43
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/36138

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