Virus-like particle-based vaccine against coxsackievirus A6 protects mice against lethal infections

Coxsackievirus A6 (CA6) is emerging as one of the major causative agents of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) worldwide. However, no vaccine is currently available for preventing CA6 infection. Here, we report the development of a virus-like particle (VLP)-based recombinant vaccine for CA6. We produced CA6 VLPs in insect cells by infecting the cells with a baculovirus coexpressing the genes encoding CA6 P1 and 3CD. Biochemical analyses showed that the produced VLPs consisted of VP0, VP1, and VP3 capsid subunit proteins generated by the cleavage of P1 by 3CD. Mice immunized with these VLPs produced CA6-specific serum antibodies. Passive transfer of antisera from CA6 VLP-immunized mice protected recipient mice from lethal infections caused by homologous and heterologous CA6 strains. Moreover, active immunization of mice with CA6 VLPs efficiently conferred protection against both homologous and heterologous CA6 infections. These results suggested that CA6 VLP-based recombinant vaccine is a promising candidate vaccine for preventing CA6 infection and can be incorporated into a multivalent HFMD vaccine formulation to achieve broad-spectrum and effective prevention of this disease.