CHIMERA AND ITS MODERN VIRUS-LIKE DESCENDANTS

Chimaera was a monster in ancient Greek mythology combining elements f rom different animal species in its body. Modern molecular biology ena bled the generation of harmless but useful chimaeras consisting of ele ments from Chimaera was a monster in ancient Greek mythology combining elements different nonrelated viruses. The objective is that the resu lting chimaeras form highly immunogenic virus-like particles (VLPs). S uch chimaeric VLPs can be used as highly efficient carriers for sequen tial and conformational B cell epitopes and T cell epitopes. Most VLPs are readily produced in heterologous hosts and are easy to purify. Th is article deals with various systems of VLPs described in this topica l issue of Intervirology and makes comparisons with chimaeric replicat ion-competent viruses, recombinant virus vectors expressing foreign pr oteins, and DNA vaccines.