A Computationally Designed Prefusion Stabilized Human Metapneumovirus Fusion Protein Vaccine Antigen Elicited a Potent Neutralization Response.

ABSTRACT: Background/Objectives: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a leading cause of respiratory infections in the elderly, with high morbidity and mortality and with no vaccines or specific therapies available. The primary protective antigen of hMPV is the fusion protein, and its prefusion conformation (pre-F) is considered the most promising target for vaccine development. Methods: Utilizing computational design strategies focused on intraprotomer interface stabilization, we designed hMPV pre-F recombinant subunit vaccine candidates based on the most prevalent A2 subtype and characterized them in vitro and in vivo, benchmarking to the prototypical hMPV pre-F stabilized by an introduction of a proline at site 185. Results: The top candidate (N46V_T160F) yielded 14.4 mg/L with a

SUBMITTER: Kishko M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12115362 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature