Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41772112›Full record

ArticlePlanta2026

Plant-based production of virus-like particles from hepatitis C virus.

Laura M López-Castillo, Rafael Gonzalez-Castro, Lino Sánchez-Segura, Brisia A Aguilar-Barragán, Miguel A Gomez Lim

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Planta, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Laura M López-CastilloVelozBio.Com, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
Rafael Gonzalez-CastroCentro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Lino Sánchez-SeguraCentro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Brisia A Aguilar-BarragánCentro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Miguel A Gomez LimCentro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico. miguel.gomez@cinvestav.mx.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5589-0720

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

MAIN

conclusionVirus-like particles (VLP) from hepatitis C virus were successfully produced in Nicotiana benthamiana plants for the first time, by co-expressing three viral proteins (Core, E1 and E2) in a polycistron-like arrangement. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a global health challenge, underscoring the need for a preventive vaccine. Virus-like particles (VLP) offer a safe alternative, as they resemble native virions without infectious genomes. We expressed the HCV structural proteins Core, E1, and E2 in Nicotiana benthamiana using binary and deconstructed viral vector systems. Western blot confirmed expression, with the binary system achieving higher yields. Purified proteins assembled into spherical VLP (40-60 nm) were confirmed by electron microscopy. These findings demonstrate for the first time the feasibility of producing complete HCV-VLP in plants, supporting their potential as a scalable platform for vaccine development.

Indexed as

HepacivirusNicotianaVaccines, Virus-Like ParticlePlants, Genetically ModifiedViral Core ProteinsViral Envelope ProteinsVirionE1 protein, Hepatitis C virusVaccines, Virus-Like ParticleViral Core ProteinsViral Envelope ProteinsHepatitis C virusNicotiana benthamianaTherapeutical treatmentTransient expressionVaccine developmentVirus-like particles

Identifiers

PMID41772112
PMCPMC12953474

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.