Expression and Purification of Virus-like Particles for Vaccination

Here, we present a protocol for synthesizing virus-like particles using either baculovirus or mammalian expression systems, and ultracentrifugation purification. This highly customizable approach is used to identify viral antigens as vaccine targets in a safe and flexible manner.

The overall goal of this procedure is to purify virus-like particles, or VLPs, expressed and secreted by mammalian or insect-cell expression systems. This method can answer key questions in a vaccinoly's field, such as how to express and purify conformationally relevant viral antigens in a safe and flexible manner. The main advantage of this technique is that it does not require protein precipitation using polyethylene glycol or preparation of multiple density layers to concentrate VLPs.

Though this method can provide insight into the identification of viral antigens as vaccine targets, VLPs can also be used as tools for disease diagnosis and serology. Visual demonstration of this method is critical as a glycerol underlay in VLP resuspension steps are difficult to learn because beginners may fail to exercise proper technique. On the day of transvection prepare liposome and DNA solutions per the manufacturer's recommendations.

Transvect the DNA cells with a DNA composition of one to one to two of HA to NA to Gag and a total DNA quantity of 40 micrograms per T150 flask. Repeat this step to create nine T150 flasks, for a total volume of 200 milliliters. Next, dilute the DNA and liposome solutions in serum-free transvection media without antibiotics, so that each flask contains a total volume of 24 milliliters.

Return the flasks to the incubator and maintain the cells and transvection culture medium until the day a virus-like particle, or VLP, harvest. Transfer the supernatant into 50 milliliter conical tubes to harvest the culture from the cells after 72 to 96 hours post-transvection. Spin the cells down to pellet the cellular debris.

Collect the supernatants and filter them through a 0.22 micron pour membrane. Culture previously prepared spodoptera frugiperda, or Sf9 cells, in suspension in spinner flasks, by continuously stirring at 130 rpm on a multi-point stirrer plate system. Maintain culture volumes at no more than half the volume of the spinner flask for proper aeration.

Next, express CHIK VLPs by infecting 250 milliliters of Sf9 cells in a spinner flask at a density of two times ten to the six cells per milliliter with previously prepared recombinant baculovirus, and return the cells to a 28 degree Celsius incubator. Use trypan blue exclusion to determine if the cell viability has decreased to 70 to 80%Upon confirmation, transfer the cultures directly from suspension into 50 milliliter conical tubes and spin the cells down. Collect the supernatants and filter them through a 0.22 micron pour membrane before sedimentation.

Sterilize six 25 millimeter by 89 millimeter open top ultracentrifuge tubes with 70%ethanol. Then, ensure the ethanol has dried off completely. Load 32 milliliters of supernatants into the clean tubes.

Next, carefully underlay supernatants with three milliliters of sterile 20%glycerol and PBS. Underlay the glycerol slowly to avoid disruption of the thin density layer between the glycerol and the VLP solution. Dispensing the glycerol too quickly will cause the glycerol and the VLP solutions to mix, reducing VLP sedimentation.

Make sure the tubes are balanced, then start the spin. After four hours, remove the tubes from the centrifuge. Aspirate the supernatant, being careful not to dislodge the pellet from the tube.

Resuspend the sedimented VLPs in at least 100 microliters at the bottom of the tubes with sterile PBS by gently and slowly pipetting up and down. Resuspension of the VLP pellet should be performed with gentle, slow repeated aspiration and expulsion of PBS using a pipette. Avoid the creation of bubbles to limit VLP loss.

Finally, store the resuspended VLPs. VLP volumes and total protein yield from a conventional BCA assay were obtained from a variety of SVP and VLP constructs. CHIK SVP yields from Sf9 cells range between 0.008 to 0.016 milligrams of total protein per milliliter of supernatant volume.

While production through mammalian 293 T-cells yields a ten-fold reduction of protein. This electron micrograph image shows that HA Gag core influenza VLPs are successfully expressed, assembled and purified as VLPs. Well attempting this procedure it's important to remember to transvect and infect only healthy and viable cell cultures as this will effect overall protein expression levels.

Following this procedure, other methods like BCA, ELIZA, and HA assays can be performed in order to measure total protein content, specific antigen content and expression of the functional HA.Don't forget that working with an ultracentrifuge can be dangerous and precautions such as balancing the tubes, using only recommended rotors and speeds, and proper supervision of new lab personnel should always be taken while performing this procedure.