Virus-like Particles

Current Context : Scientists at the Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV) Kerala’s developed non-infectious Nipah virus-like particles to help in vaccine production and development of monoclonal antibodies.

ABOUT VIRUS LIKE PARTICLES

• Virus-like particles (VLPs) are molecules that closely resemble viruses, but are non-infectious because they contain no viral genetic material.
• They are a very effective way of creating vaccines against diseases such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B, malaria.
• They are similar to real viral molecules.
• VLPs are very small, with a particle radius of approximately 20 to 200 nm, as they can easily enter the lymph nodes, where the immune system is activated in the case of an infection.
• It consists of one or more structural proteins that can be arranged in multiple layers.

ABOUT NIPAH VIRUS

• It is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans) and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people.
• Symptoms : range of illnesses, from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis.
• The virus can also cause severe disease in animals, such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.
• First found in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 and 1999.