Khadka Ram Bahadur, Karki Khimdhoj, Pandey Jitendra, Gyawali Rabin, Chaudhary Gautam Prasad
Department of Laboratory Science, Crimson College of Technology, Affiliated with Pokhara University, Butwal-11, Devinagar, Rupandehi 32907, Nepal.
Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
Sci One Health. 2024 Aug 10;3:100076. doi: 10.1016/j.soh.2024.100076. eCollection 2024.
The Marburg virus (MARV), belonging to the family, poses a significant global health threat, emphasizing the urgency to develop Marburg virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines for outbreak mitigation. The virus's menacing traits accentuate the need for such vaccines, which can be addressed by VLPs that mimic its structure safely, potentially overcoming past limitations. Early Marburg vaccine endeavors and their challenges are examined in the historical perspectives section, followed by an exploration of VLPs as transformative tools, capable of eliciting immune responses without conventional risks. Noteworthy milestones and achievements in Marburg VLP vaccine development, seen through preclinical and clinical trials, indicate potential cross-protection. Ongoing challenges, encompassing durability, strain diversity, and equitable distribution, are addressed, with proposed innovations like novel adjuvant, mRNA technology, and structure-based design poised to enhance Marburg VLP vaccines. This review highlights the transformative potential of Marburg VLPs in countering the virus, showcasing global collaboration, regulatory roles, and health equity for a safer future through the harmonious interplay of science, regulation, and global efforts.