Chimeric hepatitis E virus-like particle as a carrier for oral-delivery

► Sequence insertion at antigenic domain of HEV-VLP does not interfere with icosahedral assembly. ► Sequence insertion induces conformational changes at HEV antigenic domain leading to deterioration in antibody-binding. ► Sequence insertion introduces a trypsin cleavage site in the recombinant HEV capsid protein. ► The chimeric VLP remains intact after trypsin cleavage.