Non-infectious Nipah Virus-Like Particles (VLPs)

Source – This post on Development of Non-infectious Nipah virus-like particles (VLPs) has been created based on the article “In fight against Nipah, scientists find new way to generate virus-like particles in lab” published in “The Hindu” on 2 June 2024.

Why in News?

Recently, Scientists at the Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV) in Thonnakkal have created a new method to produce non-infectious Nipah virus-like particles (VLPs) in the lab.

About the new research

About Virus-Like Particles (VLPs)

1. About:  VLPs are molecules that resemble viruses but are non-infectious. They are useful for studying viral behavior without the risk of causing disease.

2. The new VLPs are tagged with a small peptide called HiBiT, which enhances their functionality in research, particularly in drug screening and vaccine development.

3. Vaccine Development: They are highly effective in creating vaccines for diseases such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B, and malaria.

4. Immune Response: When introduced into the body, VLPs trigger an immune response without causing disease symptoms, effectively training the body to recognize and fight the actual virus.

3. Applications: These virus-like particles (VLPs) allow scientists to test vaccines and treatments for the Nipah virus in safer labs with lower safety requirements (BSL-2). This makes the research process safer and more accessible.

4. Nanomachine Use: Recently, VLPs have been used as nanomachines to deliver drugs to specific sites and cells within the body.

Structure and Function:

i) Size: VLPs are small, with a radius of about 20 to 200 nm, allowing them to enter lymph nodes and activate the immune system.

ii) Composition: Composed of one or more structural proteins, possibly arranged in multiple layers, and may include an outer lipid envelope that mimics the virus’s protective outer layer.

iii) Vaccine Production: VLP vaccines can be produced using bacterial, yeast, insect, or mammalian cells and are known for their strong immune response due to the dense display of epitopes.

About Nipah Virus

1. Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, transmitting from animals to humans, through contaminated food, or directly between people.

2. Disease Impact: It can cause a spectrum of illnesses in humans, ranging from asymptomatic infections to acute respiratory problems and fatal encephalitis. It also causes severe disease in animals like pigs, affecting economic stability for farmers.

3. Treatment and Management:

i) Lack of Specific Treatments: Currently, there are no specific drugs or vaccines for Nipah virus.

ii) Supportive Care: Intensive supportive care is crucial to manage severe respiratory and neurological complications in infected individuals.

UPSC Syllabus: Science and technology