Multi-Antigenic Virus-like Particle of SARS CoV-2 produced inSaccharomyces cerevisiaeas a vaccine candidate

Abstract

Spike, Envelope and Membrane proteins from the SARS CoV-2 virus surface coat are important vaccine targets. We hereby report recombinant co-expression of the three proteins (Spike, Envelope and Membrane) in a engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae platform (D-Crypt™) and their self-assembly as Virus-like particle (VLP). This design as a multi-antigenic VLP for SARS CoV-2 has the potential to be a scalable vaccine candidate. The VLP is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the SARS CoV-2, along with supportive HPLC, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and allied analytical data. The

COVID-19 Vaccine: A comprehensive status report

“…This prototype has the potential to enter the pre-clinical trials as a vaccine candidate after further research and development. Furthermore, it is thought to be safe and easy to manufacture on a mass scale, in a cost-effective manner ( Arora and Rastogi, 2020 ).…”

A Scoping Insight on Potential Prophylactics, Vaccines and Therapeutic Weaponry for the Ongoing Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic- A Comprehensive Review

“…The vaccine developed by Premas Biotech, India is a multi-antigenic virus-like particles (VLPs) vaccine prototype with a recombinant co-expression of recombinant S, M, and E protein of SARS-CoV-2 in an engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression platform (D-Crypt™). Biophysical characterization of VLPs using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) supported the entry of the prototype into the pre-clinical trials as a potential vaccine candidate with a safety profile accompanied with feasible and cost-effective manufacturing on a large scale ( Arora et al 2020 ).…”

PRAK-03202: A triple antigen VLP vaccine candidate against SARS CoV-2

“…Electron microscopy: To characterise and determine the size and structure of PRAK-03202, the HPLC purified fractions from the cell lysate were subjected to electron microscopic analysis, as described previously 9 . The fractions were briefly adsorbed onto Carbon-Formvar copper grids and subsequently negatively stained with 1.5% uranyl acetate aqueous solution for the 50s.…”

“…The design and manufacture of the PRAK-03202 vaccine candidate represent a plug and play process in which we insert the three-target antigen (S, E, and M) sequence into a highly characterized S.cerevisiae based D-Crypt TM platform (Premas Biotech). This system allows the drug product’s scalability, and thus circumventing conventional vaccine production complexities in eggs or cell culture 9 . PRAK-03202 was purified from the cell lysates and analysed for expression of SEM proteins.…”

“…Here preclinical development of a VLP vaccine candidate, PRAK-03202, to combat this emerging infectious disease is described. To produce PRAK-03202, we have used the D-crypt TM platform due to its low risk of contamination by adventitious agents, low production costs, and the ability to produce VLPs with reliable qualities 9 .…”