SARS-CoV-2 VLP production

• Grant number: 20/05264-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2021
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biology
• Principal Investigator: Soraia Attie Calil Jorge
• Grantee: Soraia Attie Calil Jorge
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo
• Associated researchers: Aldo Tonso ; Aurora Marques Cianciarullo ; Durvanei Augusto Maria ; Eutimio Gustavo Fernández Núñez ; Renato Mancini Astray ; Viviane Fongaro Botosso
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/05158-8 - Recombinant Baculvirus Titration, BP.TT

Abstract

The beginning of 2020 saw the outbreak of the COVID-19 caused by a new coronavirus, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2). A better understanding of this new virus and the development of ways to control its spread is imminent. In this study, we intend to test an already established VLP production platform using the baculovirus-based on gene expression system. Initially we propose to express 4 genes of the SARS Cov-2, the gene of the Nucleocapsid (N), Envelope (E), Spike (S) and Membrane (M) proteins, these being in 4 different bacmids. This provides us with the flexibility to test different MOIs, different combinations and even combinations with proteins from other CoVs, opening the possibility to search for universal VLPs for CoVs. In addition, it is our expectation to use epitopes of these same proteins for immunogenicity tests. VLP-SARS CoV-2 may be studied not only for the production of vaccines, but also for safe biological material for the production of diagnostic kits, the production of hyperimmune serums and other immunobiologicals. Thus, our studies may provide biological material that can help guide experimental efforts for the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and other CoVs that exist or may arise in the future. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GUARDALINI, LUIS GIOVANI DE OLIVEIRA; DIAS, FELIPE MOURA; CAMALHONTE, SAMANTA OMAE; LEME, JACI; BERNARDINO, THAISSA CONSONI; SPOSITO, FELIPE SOARES; DIAS, EDUARDO; ASTRAY, RENATO MANCINI; TONSO, ALDO; JORGE, SORAIA ATTIE CALIL; et al. Multiplicity of infection and culture medium on the SARS-CoV-2 virus like-particles production by baculovirus/insect system. Biotechnology Letters, v. 47, n. 2, p. 16-pg., 2025-04-01. (20/05264-0, 21/14451-0, 22/02713-3)

DIAS, FELIPE MOURA; TERUYA, MILENA MIYU; CAMALHONTE, SAMANTA OMAE; DIAS, VINICIUS ARAGAO TEJO; GUARDALINI, LUIS GIOVANI DE OLIVEIRA; LEME, JACI; BERNARDINO, THAISSA CONSONI; SPOSITO, FELIPE S.; DIAS, EDUARDO; ASTRAY, RENATO MANCINY; et al. Inline Raman spectroscopy as process analytical technology for SARS-CoV-2 VLP production. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, v. N/A, p. 22-pg., 2024-10-09. (23/14085-0, 22/04711-8, 22/02713-3, 21/14451-0, 20/05264-0)

GUARDALINI, LUIS GIOVANI DE OLIVEIRA; BERNARDINO, THAISSA CONSONI; DIAS, FELIPE MOURA; LEME, JACI; DE OLIVEIRA, HENRIQUE COELHO; TONSO, ALDO; NUNEZ, EUTIMIO GUSTAVO FERNANDEZ; JORGE, SORAIA ATTIE CALIL. Scalable approach for coronavirus-like particles making based on the spike protein using Sf9 cells. Protein Expression and Purification, v. 235, p. 7-pg., 2025-07-14. (20/05264-0, 21/14451-0, 22/02713-3)