Spatial configuration of hepatitis E virus antigenic domain

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a human pathogen that causes acute hepatitis. When an HEV capsid protein containing a 52-amino-acid deletion at the C terminus and a 111-amino-acid deletion at the N terminus is expressed in insect cells, the recombinant HEV capsid protein can self-assemble into a T=1 virus-like particle (VLP) that retains the antigenicity of the native HEV virion. In this study, we used cryoelectron microscopy and image reconstruction to show that anti-HEV monoclonal antibodies bind to the protruding domain of the capsid protein at the lateral side of the spikes. Molecular docking of the HEV VLP crystal structure revealed that Fab224 covered three surface loops of the recombinant truncated second open reading frame (ORF2) protein (PORF2) at the top part of the spike. We also determined the structure of a chimeric HEV VLP and located the inserted B-cell tag, an epitope of 11 amino acids coupled to the C-terminal end of the recombinant ORF2 protein. The binding site of Fab224 appeared to be distinct from the location of the inserted B-cell tag, suggesting that the chimeric VLP could elicit immunity against both HEV and an inserted foreign epitope. Therefore, the T=1 HEV VLP is a novel delivery system for displaying foreign epitopes at the VLP surface in order to induce antibodies against both HEV and the inserted epitope.     

Intranasal delivery of recombinant parvovirus-like particles elicits cytotoxic T-cell and neutralizing antibody responses

We previously demonstrated that chimeric porcine parvovirus-like particles (PPV:VLP) carrying heterologous epitopes, when injected intraperitoneally into mice without adjuvant, activate strong CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell responses specific for the foreign epitopes. In the present study, we investigated the immunogenicity of PPV:VLP carrying a CD8(+) T-cell epitope from the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) administered by mucosal routes. Mice immunized intranasally with recombinant PPV:VLP, in the absence of adjuvant, developed high levels of PPV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and/or IgA in their serum, as well as in mucosal sites such as the bronchoalveolar and intestinal fluids. Antibodies in sera from mice immunized parenterally or intranasally with PPV:VLP were strongly neutralizing in vitro. Intranasal immunization with PPV:VLP carrying the LCMV CD8(+) T-cell epitope also elicited a strong peptide-specific cytotoxic-T-cell (CTL) response. In contrast, mice orally immunized with recombinant PPV:VLP did not develop any antibody or CTL responses. We also showed that mice primed with PPV:VLP are still able to develop strong CTL responses after subsequent immunization with chimeric PPV:VLP carrying a foreign CD8(+) T-cell epitope. These results highlight the attractive potential of PPV:VLP as a safe, nonreplicating antigen carrier to stimulate systemic and mucosal immunity after nasal administration.     

Expression and purification of the synthetic preS1 gene of Hepatitis B Virus with preferred Escherichia coli codon preference

To produce high levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) preS1 protein at low cost, a DNA fragment encoding the preS1 region, residues 1-119, of HBV adr subtype was synthesized by overlapping-PCR according to Escherichia coli (E. coli) B preferred codon usage. The synthetic preS1 gene (spreS1) was cloned into the bacterial expression vector pET-30a and transferred into the expression strain E. coli BL21(DE3). Recombinant preS1 protein with an N-terminal His6 tag was expressed at high levels in soluble form, yielding about 44% of the total cellular protein. This technique overcomes problems that existed in previously reported expression systems of preS1 or its epitope, i.e., low-level expression or expression in inclusion bodies. Using this His-tagged preS1 expression system, recombinant protein was purified by single-step affinity chromatography on a Ni-NTA column resulting in a yield was about 28 mg recombinant protein per liter culture. Furthermore, Western blotting and indirect ELISA analysis demonstrate that the reactivity of preS1-specific antibody is comparable between the recombinant and commercialized preS1 protein. Thus, our improved expression system could be used for practical, low-cost large-scale production of recombinant preS1 without refolding steps.     

Assembly of bacteriophage Qbeta virus-like particles in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris

Recombinant bacteriophage Qbeta coat protein (CP), which has been proposed as a promising carrier of foreign epitopes via their incorporation either by gene engineering techniques or by chemical coupling, efficiently self-assembles into virus-like particles (VLPs) when expressed in Escherichia coli. Here, we demonstrate expression and self-assembly of Qbeta CP in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris. Production reached 3-4 mg/1g of wet cells for S. cerevisiae and 4-6 mg for P. pastoris, which was about 15-20% and 20-30% of the E. coli expression level, respectively. Qbeta VLPs were easily purified by size-exclusion chromatography in both cases and contained nucleic acid, shown by native agarose gel electrophoresis. The obtained particles were highly immunogenic in mice and the resulting sera recognized both E. coli- and yeast-derived Qbeta VLPs equally well.     

Chimeric hepatitis B virus core particles as probes for studying peptide-integrin interactions.

An RGD-containing epitope from the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) VP1 protein was inserted into the e1 loop of the hepatitis B virus core (HBc) protein. This chimeric protein was expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli and spontaneously assembled into virus-like particles which could be readily purified. These fusion particles elicited high levels of both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay- and FMDV-neutralizing antibodies in guinea pigs. The chimeric particles bound specifically to cultured eukaryotic cells. Mutant particles carrying the tripeptide sequence RGE in place of RGD and the use of a competitive peptide, GRGDS, confirmed the critical involvement of the RGD sequence in this binding. The chimeric particles also bound to purified integrins, and inhibition by chain-specific anti-integrin monoclonal antibodies implicated alpha 5 beta 1 as a candidate cell receptor for both the chimeric particle and FMDV. Some serotypes of FMDV bound to beta 1 integrins in solid- phase assays, and the chimeric particles competed with FMDV for binding to susceptible eukaryotic cells. Thus, HBc particles may provide a simple, general system for exploring the interactions of specific peptide sequences with cellular receptors.     

Behavior of a short preS1 epitope on the surface of hepatitis B core particles

The major immunodominant region of hepatitis B core particles is widely recognized as the most prospective target for the insertion of foreign epitopes, ensuring their maximal antigenicity and immunogenicity. This region was mapped around amino acid residues 79-81, which were shown by electron cryo-microscopy to be located on the tips of the spikes protruding from the surface of hepatitis B core shells. Here we tried to expose a model sequence, the short immunodominant hepatitis B preS1 epitope 31-DPAFR-35, onto the tip of the spike, with simultaneous deletion of varying stretches from the major immunodominant region of the HBc molecule. Accessibility to the monoclonal anti-preS1 antibody MA18/7 and specific immunogenicity of the preS1 epitope depended on the location and length of the deletion. While chimeras with deletions within the stretch 79-88 presented the preS1 epitope on their surface and demonstrated remarkable preS1 immunogenicity, the corresponding chimeras without any deletion or with a more prolonged deletion (79-93) were unable to provide such presentation and possessed a lower specific preS1 immunogenicity. Deletion of the stretch 79-81 was sufficient to avoid the intrinsic HBc immunogenicity of the core particles, although chimeras with deleted major immunodominant region retained their property to be recognized by human polyclonal or hyperimmune anti-HBc antibodies.     

Papaya ringspot virus coat protein gene for antigen presentation in Escherichia coli

The coat protein (CP) of Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) was analyzed for presentation of the antigenic peptide of animal virus, Canine parvovirus (CPV), in Escherichia coli (E. coli). The 45 nucleotides fragment coding for the 15-aa peptide epitope of the CPV-VP2 protein was either inserted into the PRSV-cp gene at the 5', 3' ends, both 5' and 3' ends or substituted into the 3' end of the PRSV cp gene. Each of the chimeric PRSV cp genes was cloned into the pRSET B vector under the control of the T7 promoter and transformed into E. coli. The recombinant coat proteins expressed from different chimeric PRSV-cp genes were purified and intraperitoneally injected into mice. All of the recombinant coat proteins showed strong immunogenicity and stimulate mice immune response. The recombinant coat proteins containing the CPV epitope insertion at the C terminus and at both N and C termini elicited ten times higher specific antisera in immunized mice compared with the other two recombinant coat proteins which contain the CPV epitope insertion at the N terminus and substitution at the C terminus.     

HBcAg和HBsAg前S1表位肽融合蛋白的表达研究

构建、表达并纯化了HBcAg与HBsAg前S1表位肽融合蛋白BTcs1,为开发新型HBV治疗和预防性疫苗提供实验依据。利用DNA重组技术,构建了HBcAg与HBsAg前S1表位肽融合蛋白原核表达质粒pBTcs1,在大肠杆菌（HB101）中进行表达,用蔗糖密度梯度超速离心对表达产物BTcs1进行纯化,用SDS-PAGE、SEC、WESTERN-BLOT和电镜进行鉴定。结果表明成功构建了HBcAg与HBsAg前S1表位肽融合蛋白原核表达质粒pBTcs1,BTcs1的表达量为20-25 mg/L,DOT-BLOT结果显示BTcs1主要分布在30%-50%蔗糖介质中,SDS-PAGE和SEC结果显示蛋白纯度>95%,WESTERN-BLOT结果显示BTcs1可以与抗HBcAg抗体和抗HBsAg前S1抗体特异杂交,显色条带在约28 kD处,电镜分析表明BTcs1可以自主组装成病毒样颗粒（VLP）,直径约为30-34 nm。本研究为进一步探讨BTcs1的功能及应用奠定了基础。     

Development of a vaccine marker technology: display of B cell epitopes on the surface of recombinant polyomavirus-like pentamers and capsoids induces peptide-specific antibodies in piglets after vaccination

Highly immunogenic capsomers (pentamers) and virus-like particles (VLPs) were generated through insertion of foreign B cell epitopes into the surface-exposed loops of the VP1 protein of murine polyomavirus and via heterologous expression of the recombinant fusion proteins in E. coli. Usually, complex proteins like the keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) act as standard carrier devices for the display of such immunogenic peptides after chemical linkage. Here, a comparative analysis revealed that antibody responses raised against the carrier entities, KLH or VP1 pentamers, did not significantly differ up to 18 weeks, demonstrating the highly immunogenic nature of VP1-based particulate structures. The carrier-specific antibody response was reproducibly detected in the meat juice after processing. More importantly, chimeric VP1 pentamers and VLPs carrying peptides of 12 and 14 amino acids in length, inserted into the BC2 loop, induced a strong and long-lasting humoral immune response against VP1 and the inserted foreign epitope. Remarkably, the epitope-specific antibody response was only moderately decreased when VP1 pentamers were used instead of VLPs. In conclusion, we identified polyomavirus VP1-based structures displaying surface-exposed immunodominant B cell epitopes as being an efficient carrier system for the induction of potent peptide-specific antibodies. The application of this approach in vaccine marker technology in livestock holding and the meat production chain is discussed.     

Analysis of foreign epitope inserts in HBcAg. Approaches to solving the problem of core particle self-assembly

The hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) is a promising protein carrier for exposing the epitopes of various human and animal pathogens. HBcAg-based chimeric proteins can be used in creating highly efficient vaccines; however, not all chimeric HBcAg with foreign epitope inserts are capable of assembly into virus-like particles. Using computer programs ProAnalyst, SALIX, and QSARPro, we examined the relationship between the self-assembly capability of chimeric HBcAg and the physicochemical properties of the inserts. The self-assembly was found to be impaired when the inserted peptides contained highly hydrophobic and bulky residues tending to form β-structures; this especially concerned the C-proximal residues in the insert. Recommendations were elaborated for constructing foreign epitopes that would ensure correct self-assembly of chimeric HBcAg particles.     

乙肝病毒核心抗原作为载体用于病毒样颗粒疫苗研究的主要进展

乙肝病毒核心抗原(Hepatitis B virus core antigen,HBcAg)是乙肝病毒的核壳结构蛋白,由183～185个氨基酸组成,大小约21～23kD。HBcAg由于其能自我组装成病毒样颗粒(Virus-like particle,VLP)、高表达、易纯化以及强免疫原性等特点,使其成为一个高效安全且应用广泛的VLP载体,可用于各种病原的疫苗研发。发展至今已有数十种病毒、细菌以及寄生虫的相关基因的抗原表位成功表达在HBcAg VLP颗粒上,成为新型疫苗研发的重要平台。     

Generation of chimeric HBc proteins with epitopes in E.coli: formation of virus-like particles and a potent inducer of antigen-specific cytotoxic immune response and anti-tumor effect in vivo

The major aim of the project was to develop the virus-like particles (VLPs) displaying single or multi-epitope of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) in Escherichia coli and to evaluate the effect on inducing Ag-specific CD8(+) T cell response and antitumor efficacy as candidate vaccines. To this end, hepatitis B virus core (HBc) particles were used as a carrier of HCC epitopes. Four HCC epitopes MAGE-1(278-286aa), MAGE-3(271-279aa), AFP1 (158-166aa) or AFP2 (542-550aa) were fused to the 3' terminus of the truncated HBV core gene, respectively, or conjunctively. Not all recombinant plasmids led to expression of chimeric proteins in expression strain E. coli BL21 (DE3), but chimeric proteins which are expressed in inclusion bodies resulted in the formation of complete "mature" VLPs. E. coli-derived truncated HBc(1-144) chimeric protein self-assembled into VLPs that both morphologically and physically are similar to the wild-type ones and they still remained activity after purification and refolding from 6M urea solution. We also showed that they could be internalized and presented by DCs in vitro. Additionally, DCs pulsed with the chimeric HBc-VLPs could induce stronger CTL activity and greater IFN-gamma secretion by responding T cells compared with peptid-pulsed DCs. In the B16-pIR-HH tumor therapy model, the growth of established tumors was significantly inhibited by immunization using VLP-pulsed DCs, resulting in significantly higher survival rate of immunized animals. Thus, the results of the current study have demonstrated the principal possibility of using VLP on the basis of HBcAg for creation of a new type of HCC-specific immunogen.     

Crystal structure of a recombinant form of the maltodextrin-binding protein carrying an inserted sequence of a B-cell epitope from the preS2 region of hepatitis B virus

We report the crystal structure of MalE-B133, a recombinant form of the maltodextrin-binding protein (MBP) of Escherichia coli carrying an inserted amino-acid sequence of a B-cell epitope from the preS2 region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The structure was determined by molecular replacement methods and refined to 2.7 Å resolution. MalE-B133 is an insertion/deletion mutant of MBP in which residues from positions 134 to 142, an external α helix in the wild-type structure, are replaced by a foreign peptide segment of 19 amino acids. The inserted residues correspond to the preS2 sequence from positions 132 to 145 and five flanking residues that arise from the creation of restriction sites. The conformation of the recombinant protein, excluding the inserted segment, closely resembles that of wild-type MBP in the closed maltose-bound form. MalE-B133 was shown by previous studies to display certain immunogenic and antigenic properties of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), which contains the preS2 region. The crystal structure reveals the conformation of the first nine epitope residues (preS2 positions 132 to 140) exposed on the surface of the molecule. The remaining five epitope residues (preS2 positions 141 to 145) are not visible in electron density maps. The path of the polypeptide chain in the visible portion of the insert differs from that of the deleted segment in the structure of wild-type MBP, displaying a helical conformation at positions 134 to 140 (preS2 sequence numbering). A tripeptide (Asp-Pro-Arg) at the N terminus of the helix forms a stable structural motif that may be implicated in the cross-reactivity of anti-HBsAg antibodies with the hybrid protein. Proteins 27:1–8 © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Presentation of two epitopes of the preS2 region of hepatitis B virus on live recombinant bacteria

Having developed a genetic procedure to expose a foreign epitope at the surface of Escherichia coli by using the outer membrane LamB protein as a carrier, we apply this procedure to express two distinct portions of the preS2 region of hepatitis B virus: region A, residues 132-145, and region B, residues 153-171. The resulting hybrid proteins (LamB-preS2 A and LamB-preS2 B) were normally expressed, stable, and still kept most biologic functions of LamB. The corresponding bacterial strains were used directly as immunogens in rabbits and mice. Both viral sequences were found to be immunogenic in the two animal species. With LamB-preS2 A, antibodies induced were able to react with the viral particles and the immobilized peptide. With LamB-preS2 B, the antibodies raised were not able to recognize the immobilized peptide. However, the results suggest that the B epitope, inserted in LamB, was at least as efficient as the corresponding synthetic peptide in raising antiviral antibodies. Thus, epitope presentation with LamB may present advantages for immunization. We also have shown that peptide A is an essential part of the polymerized human serum albumin receptor. These results, which validate further the LamB vector system for epitope presentation, provide information on the two hepatitis B regions expressed.     

研究报告Ⅱ型脊灰病毒抗原表位嵌合蛋白的免疫学研究

目的：评价以轮状病毒（RV）重组VP6蛋白为载体插入Ⅱ型脊髓灰质炎病毒（PV2）VP1蛋白上的1个抗原表位构建而成的嵌合蛋白的体外免疫学性质。 方法：采用分子克隆和基因重组技术将PV2抗原表位插入到RV载体蛋白上,在大肠杆菌中表达并用SDS-PAGE确认表达产物,再通过动物免疫、Western blot、免疫荧光和病毒血清抗体中和试验分析嵌合蛋白的免疫学性质。结果：成功构建了以VP6为载体的PV2抗原表位嵌合蛋白6F/PV₂N₁,并且在E.coli系统中高效表达,嵌合蛋白免疫的豚鼠血清抗体对RV和PV2具备较好的中和活性。结论：以RV VP6为载体构建的嵌合蛋白具有较好的免疫原性,免疫豚鼠产生血清抗体可中和RV和PV2在体外细胞上的感染;进一步为研发RV/PV2嵌合疫苗提供了较好的基础。     

Route of administration of chimeric BPV1 VLP determines the character of the induced immune responses

To examine the mucosal immune response to papillomavirus virus-like particles (PV-VLP), mice were immunized with VLP intrarectally (i.r.), intravaginally (i.va.) or intramuscularly (i.m.) without adjuvant. PV-VLP were assembled with chimeric BPV-1 L1 proteins incorporating sequence from HIV-1 gp120, either the V3 loop or a shorter peptide incorporating a known CTL epitope (HIVP18I10). Antibody specific for BPV-1 VLP and P18 peptide was detected in serum following i.m., but not i.r. or i.va. immunization. Denatured VLP induced a much reduced immune response when compared with native VLP. Immune responses following mucosal administration of VLP were generally weaker than following systemic administration. VLP specific IgA was higher in intestine washes following i.r. than i.va. immunization, and higher in vaginal washes following i.m. than i.r. or i.va. immunization. No differences in specific antibody responses were seen between animals immunized with BPV-1 P18 VLP or with BPV-1 V3 VLP. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors specific for the P18 CTL epitope were recovered from the spleen following i.m., i.va. or i.r. immunization with P18 VLP, and were similarly detected in Peyer's patches following i.m. or i.r. immunization. Thus, mucosal or systemic immunization with PV VLP induces mucosal CTL responses and this may be important for vaccines for mucosal infection with human papillomaviruses and for other viruses.     

Versatile RHDV virus-like particles: incorporation of antigens by genetic modification and chemical conjugation

Virus‐like particles have proved to be excellent molecular scaffolds, yet the individual characteristics and immune responses generated against each VLP requires the development of a wide range of capsids for use as vaccines, molecular delivery vessels, and nanoscale templates. Here we describe the development of Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV)‐like particles as a rapidly versatile molecular workbench, overcoming limitations imposed by established genetic antigen incorporation procedures with chimeric VLP. Production of the RHDV capsid protein in a baculovirus system led to the self‐assembly of VLP which were recovered at over 99% purity and manipulated both genetically and chemically. Fusion of small peptide sequences to RHDV VLP was well tolerated, forming chimeric capsids that enhanced the presentation of foreign peptide to hybridoma T helper cells 700‐fold. Rapid and simple conjugation techniques employing the hetero‐bifunctional chemical linker sulfo‐SMCC enabled both small peptides and whole proteins to be conjugated to the surface of RHDV VLP, overcoming limitations imposed on VLP formation and yield experienced with chimeric VLP. Administration of VLP/ovalbumin conjugate provoked high titre ovalbumin‐specific antibody in mice, demonstrating the immune stimulatory properties of the capsid were conferred to conjugated foreign antigen. VLP facilitated delivery of conjugated antigen to dendritic cells, eliciting proliferative responses in naïve TCR transgenic T helper cells that were at least 10‐fold greater than ovalbumin antigen delivered alone. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;98: 968–977. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Expression and characterization of chimeric hepatitis B surface antigen particles carrying preS epitopes.

Many studies have provided evidence that hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) including preS1 and preS2 sequences could be an ideal candidate for a new hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine with higher efficacy. However, the large (L) protein containing the entire preS region expressed in mammalian cells is not efficiently assembled into particles and secreted. Here we report an alternative approach to include the dominant epitopes of preS1 and preS2 to the small (S) protein as fusion proteins by the recombinant DNA technology. Three fusion proteins containing preS2(120-146) and preS1(21-47) at the N-terminus and/or truncated C-terminus of S protein were expressed using the recombinant vaccinia virus system. All these fusion proteins were efficiently secreted in the particulate form, and displayed S, preS1 and/or preS2 antigenicity. Further analysis showed that these chimeric HBsAg particles elicited strong antibody responses against S, preS1 and preS2 antigens in BALB/c mice, suggesting that they could be promising candidates for a new recombinant vaccine to induce broader antibody response required for protection against hepatitis B viral infection.     

Epitope insertion at the N-terminal molecular switch of the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus T = 3 capsid protein leads to larger T = 4 capsids

Viruses need only one or a few structural capsid proteins to build an infectious particle. This is possible through the extensive use of symmetry and the conformational polymorphism of the structural proteins. Using virus-like particles (VLP) from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) as a model, we addressed the basis of calicivirus capsid assembly and their application in vaccine design. The RHDV capsid is based on a T=3 lattice containing 180 identical subunits (VP1). We determined the structure of RHDV VLP to 8.0-Å resolution by three-dimensional cryoelectron microscopy; in addition, we used San Miguel sea lion virus (SMSV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) capsid subunit structures to establish the backbone structure of VP1 by homology modeling and flexible docking analysis. Based on the three-domain VP1 model, several insertion mutants were designed to validate the VP1 pseudoatomic model, and foreign epitopes were placed at the N- or C-terminal end, as well as in an exposed loop on the capsid surface. We selected a set of T and B cell epitopes of various lengths derived from viral and eukaryotic origins. Structural analysis of these chimeric capsids further validates the VP1 model to design new chimeras. Whereas most insertions are well tolerated, VP1 with an FCV capsid protein-neutralizing epitope at the N terminus assembled into mixtures of T=3 and larger T=4 capsids. The calicivirus capsid protein, and perhaps that of many other viruses, thus can encode polymorphism modulators that are not anticipated from the plane sequence, with important implications for understanding virus assembly and evolution.     

Conformational and Thermal Stability Improvements for the Large-Scale Production of Yeast-Derived Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus-Like Particles as Multipurpose Vaccine

Recombinant virus-like particles (VLP) antigenically similar to rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) were recently expressed at high levels inside Pichia pastoris cells. Based on the potential of RHDV VLP as platform for diverse vaccination purposes we undertook the design, development and scale-up of a production process. Conformational and stability issues were addressed to improve process control and optimization. Analyses on the structure, morphology and antigenicity of these multimers were carried out at different pH values during cell disruption and purification by size-exclusion chromatography. Process steps and environmental stresses in which aggregation or conformational instability can be detected were included. These analyses revealed higher stability and recoveries of properly assembled high-purity capsids at acidic and neutral pH in phosphate buffer. The use of stabilizers during long-term storage in solution showed that sucrose, sorbitol, trehalose and glycerol acted as useful aggregation-reducing agents. The VLP emulsified in an oil-based adjuvant were subjected to accelerated thermal stress treatments. None to slight variations were detected in the stability of formulations and in the structure of recovered capsids. A comprehensive analysis on scale-up strategies was accomplished and a nine steps large-scale production process was established. VLP produced after chromatographic separation protected rabbits against a lethal challenge. The minimum protective dose was identified. Stabilized particles were ultimately assayed as carriers of a foreign viral epitope from another pathogen affecting a larger animal species. For that purpose, a linear protective B-cell epitope from Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV) E2 envelope protein was chemically coupled to RHDV VLP. Conjugates were able to present the E2 peptide fragment for immune recognition and significantly enhanced the peptide-specific antibody response in vaccinated pigs. Overall these results allowed establishing improved conditions regarding conformational stability and recovery of these multimers for their production at large-scale and potential use on different animal species or humans.