Virus-like particles (VLPs) are multiprotein structures that mimic the organization and
conformation of authentic native viruses but lack the viral genome, potentially yielding safer
and cheaper vaccine candidates. A handful of prophylactic VLP-based vaccines is currently
commercialized worldwide: GlaxoSmithKline's Engerix®(hepatitis B virus) and
Cervarix®(human papillomavirus), and Merck and Co., Inc.'s Recombivax HB®(hepatitis B
virus) and Gardasil®(human papillomavirus) are some examples. Other VLP-based vaccine …

Most of the successful vaccines against infectious diseases are based on live-attenuated or
inactivated pathogens that have, however, shown some adverse effects, raising concerns
regarding their safety. In order to address such concerns, several alternative vaccine
strategies have been and are constantly developed aiming at increasing the safety without
significant loss of immunogenicity. Among such a broad array of strategies, virus-like
particles (VLPs) offer several valuable features and represent a very appealing model. After …