Next Generation of Multivalent Adenovirus Vaccines Based on Novel Virus-Like Particle (VLP) Technology

The objective of the proposal is to develop an adenovirus-like particle (AdVLP) platform technology to create safe and highly efficacious multivalent adenovirus vaccines that can be manufactured in a rapid and cost-efficient manner and can be formulated in a powder composition to facilitate storage, distribution and administration. VLPs are structures resembling native virus, however they do not contain viral genetic material and therefore are unable to replicate or cause infection. The particulate nature of the VLPs together with the display of an array of repetitive surface antigens make VLP vaccine compositions highly immunogenic as clearly demonstrated by the two licensed VLP based vaccines, HPV and Hepatitis B. Our strategy for creating AdVLP is based on co-expression in mammalian cells of adenovirus structural genes that self-assemble into particles resembling native adenovirus. We will characterize and evaluate immunogenicity (sera-neutralization) of the AdVLP vaccines and establish stable transfected cell lines for continuous vaccine production. This technology is suitable for multivalent vaccine formulation and rapid upgrade with new adenovirus serotypes. Creating an AdVLP system for multivalent vaccine manufacturing in mammalian cells offers a suitable and robust strategy for generating safe and highly effective adenovirus vaccines at a competitive cost.