ABSTRACT
Virus‐like particles (VLPs) resemble the viral native conformation by the recombinant expression of their structural proteins lacking the genetic material making them very safe. Their highly organized and repetitive structure has proven that they generate a potent immunogenic response activating both cellular and humoral immunogenicity responses. There is a large diversity of VLP configurations: from the simplest non‐enveloped single‐protein structure, such as in the Hepatitis B, to multilayered protein configurations and enveloped VLPs. Enveloped VLPs consist of one or more structural protein surrounded by the producer cell membrane that is acquired when the VLP buds from the cell. If there are antigens expressed at the producer cell membrane, when it buds, they are incorporated at the surface of the VLP. The ease of production, safety and their efficient recognition and cellular uptake, has expanded the interest on the possible applications of these structures in the last decade. VLPs can be further improved by encapsulation, chemical conjugation, and genetic manipulation. Bioengineering has been applied to strengthen their stability and immunostimulatory properties and to generate novel engineered VLPs, as well as vectors for DNA and drug delivery strategies. In this chapter an example of Gag based enveloped VLPs will be discussed.
