Production of SARS-CoV-2 Virus-Like Particles in Insect Cells
Youjun Mi, Tao Xie, Bingdong Zhu, Jiying Tan, Xuefeng Li, Yanping Luo, Fei Li, Hongxia Niu, Jiangyuan Han, Wei Lv, Juan Wang
Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) causes a serious threat to human health. Virus-like particles (VLPs) constitute a promising platform in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development. In this study, the E, M, and S genes were cloned into multiple cloning sites of a new triple expression plasmid with one p10 promoter, two pPH promoters, and three multiple cloning sites. The plasmid was transformed into DH10 BacTMEscherichia coli competent cells to obtain recombinant bacmid. Then the recombinant bacmid was transfected in ExpiSf9TM insect cells to generate recombinant baculovirus. After ExpiSf9TM cells infection with the recombinant baculovirus, the E, M, and S proteins were expressed in insect cells. Finally, SARS-CoV-2 VLPs were self-assembled in insect cells after infection. The morphology and the size of SARS-CoV-2 VLPs are similar to the native virions.