Low-temperature enhances production of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus virus-like particles

• DOI: 10.1007/s00253-025-13436-y
• Publication Date: 2025-03-03T19:25:36Z
• Authors: Isabelle Loop; Yuan-Dun Ke; Wei-June Chen; Kun-Hsien Tsai; Wei-Li Hsu; Yi-Chin Fan
• Keywords: Virus-like particle; Nucleoprotein

Abstract Tick-borne severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). Serological assays based on nucleocapsid protein and partial glycoprotein of this have been used for detecting SFTSV infections in humans animals. However, whether complete (Gn/Gc) can induce assembly virus-like particles (VLPs) which be serological surveillance vaccine production remains unclear. In study, we successfully expressed secreted Gn/Gc antigens using a single plasmid encoding sequence dominant genotype B virus. HEK293T COS-1 cells were transfected aforementioned plasmid; cultivating these at 32 °C, instead 37 led to 4.0- 3.3-fold higher antigen recovery, respectively. The °C retained epitopes resembling those virion; recognized human–derived monoclonal antibody. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation, followed transmission electron microscopy, confirmed formation VLPs diameter approximately 100 nm. Overall, our findings highlight potential development. Key points • Cultivating boosts production. Complete expression facilitates particle assembly. does not require any other viral proteins or RNA.