Virus-like Particle-based Vaccines: Strategies for Multi-Pathogen Immunity

Vaccine research has increasingly focused on virus-like particles (VLPs) due to their unique ability to mimic the structures of viruses without containing any viral genetic material. This innovative approach shows potential for broad immune activation against various pathogens, crucial in combating established and emerging infectious diseases.  Recent advancements in animal model studies, particularly concerning foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and Senecavirus A (SVA), have highlighted the effectiveness of VLPs in generating protective immune responses in different contexts and against multiple infections. Like viruses, VLPs can be classified as non-enveloped VLPs (neVLPs) or enveloped VLPs (eVLPs).

The goal of this Research Topic is to investigate the diverse applications of neVLP or eVLP-based vaccines, aiming to understand and enhance their protective capabilities in humans or animals. Research will focus on engineering these vaccines to improve their efficacy and safety profiles, enabling them to combat multiple pathogens effectively in various aspects from clinical trials or different animal models related to human viral infection to animal diseases -a vital aspect for future outbreak preparedness and response.

To broaden our understanding of the capabilities of neVLP or eVLP-based vaccines, this topic welcomes articles that extend into:

-Comparative studies on the immunogenic effects of VLPs against various pathogens
-Innovative design and manufacturing processes of VLP vaccines
-Strategies to overcome the translational barriers of VLP-based immunizations
-Investigations into the broad-range effectiveness of VLPs without concurrent infections
-Reviews of immunological outcomes following vaccination with VLPs in different animal models, including diverse species
Reviews of immunological outcomes following vaccination with VLPs in different animal diseases, including challenge approaches on different animals

This framework aims not only to showcase current successes but also to identify knowledge gaps that need to be addressed in order to maximize the potential of VLP vaccines for global health.

Keywords: Virus-like particles (VLPs), vaccine development, broad-spectrum efficacy, emerging pathogens, animal models (FMD, SVA)

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.