Chimeric Virus-like Particles of Physalis Mottle Virus as Carriers of M2e Peptides of Influenza a Virus

Plant viruses and virus-like particles (VLPs) are safe for mammals and can be used as a carrier/platform for the presentation of foreign antigens in vaccine development. The aim of this study was to use the coat protein (CP) of Physalis mottle virus (PhMV) as a carrier to display the extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 of influenza A virus (M2e). M2e is a highly conserved antigen, but to induce an effective immune response it must be linked to an adjuvant or carrier VLP. Four tandem copies of M2e were either fused to the N-terminus of the full-length PhMV CP or replaced the 43 N-terminal amino acids of the PhMV CP. Only the first fusion protein was successfully expressed in <i>Escherichia coli</i>, where it self-assembled into spherical VLPs of about 30 nm in size. The particles were efficiently recognized by anti-M2e antibodies, indicating that the M2e peptides were exposed on the surface. Subcutaneous immunization of mice with VLPs carrying four copies of M2e induced high levels of M2e-specific IgG antibodies in serum and protected animals from a lethal influenza A virus challenge. Therefore, PhMV particles carrying M2e peptides may become useful research tools for the development of recombinant influenza vaccines.