Recentemente, vários arbovírus têm acometido a população de países emergentes ocasionando sérios problemas de saúde pública, como as doenças causadas pelos vírus da dengue, Chikungunya, Zika e febre amarela. Um vírus emergente e já circulante no Brasil, chamado Mayaro (MAYV), do mesmo gênero do Chikungunya (Alphavirus), possui potencial prejudicial semelhante a esses já estabelecidos. Seu vetor de transmissão é o mosquito do gênero Haemagogus, característico de regiões isoladas, principalmente florestas. Entretanto, estudos demonstraram que o Aedes aegypti é um competente vetor desse agente, o que possibilita sua disseminação em regiões urbanas. O presente trabalho avaliou a expressão das proteínas estruturais do vírus Mayaro (E1, E2, E3, C e 6K), utilizando dois sistemas de expressão distintos, um baseado na levedura Pichia pastoris, e outro derivado de Baculovírus (BEVS). Essa estratégia foi estabelecida para que a expressão dessas proteínas promova a formação de partículas semelhantes ao vírus (virus like particles), estruturas multiprotéicas que mimetizam a conformação de uma partícula viral podendo ser utilizada como um candidato vacinal. O trabalho evidenciou a correta obtenção de organismos recombinantes em ambos os sistemas, com a avaliação da expressão sendo feita com técnicas de dot blot, western blot e imunofluorescência indireta (IFI). Com o sistema baculovírus, foram avaliadas as linhagens Sf-9 e Hi-5, sendo evidenciada a expressão de proteínas do MAYV em ambas, utilizando MOI 10 e tempos pós-infecção de 96 e 72 h, respectivamente. A correta expressão das proteínas de MAYV também foi evidenciada com a levedura Pichia pastoris, com cultivo a 30 °C e tempo de análise 48 h após indução. A geração de VLPs foi avaliada em amostras de sobrenadantes de ambos os sistemasapós a concentração por ultracentrifugação em gradiente de iodixanol, e análise por microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, sendo observadas nos dois sistemas com tamanhos variando entre 30-60 nm. Os resultados desse projeto podem gerar ferramentas importantes no desenvolvimento de kits diagnósticos e métodos vacinais contra o MAYV. / Recently, several arboviruses have affected emerging countries causing serious public health problems, such as diseases caused by dengue viruses, Chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever. An emerging and already circulating virus in Brazil, called Mayaro (MAYV), of the same genus of Chikungunya (Alphavirus), has harmful potential similar to those already established. Its transmission vector is the mosquito of the genus Haemagogus, characteristic of isolated regions, mainly forests. However, studies have demonstrated that Aedes aegypti is a competent vector of this agent, which would allow its dissemination in urban areas. The present work evaluated the expression of the structural proteins of the Mayaro virus (E1, E2, E3, C and 6K) using two distinct expression systems, one based on the yeast Pichia pastoris and another derived from Baculovirus (BEVS). The strategy of expressing structural proteins has been established so that the expression of these proteins promotes the formation of viruslike particles or VLPs, multiprotein structures that mimic the conformation of a viral particle and can be used as a vaccine candidate. The work evidenced the correct obtaining of recombinant organisms in both systems, with the evaluation of the expression being done with dot blot, western blot and indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) techniques. With the baculovirus system, the Sf-9 and Hi-5 strains were evaluated, and the expression of the MAYV proteins was evidenced in both, using MOI 10 and the time of post-infection analysis of 96 and 72 h, respectively. Correct expression of MAYV proteins was also evidenced with yeast Pichia pastoris, with culture at 30 ° C and analysis time 48 h after induction. The generation of VLPs was evaluated in both supernatants after concentration by iodixanol gradient ultracentrifugation and transmission electron microscopy analysis, being observed in both systems with sizes ranging from 30-60 nm. The results of this project can generate important tools in the development of diagnostic kits and vaccine methods against the MAYV.

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is an emerging infectious disease found in both livestock and humans. RVF is associated with high abortion and mortality rates in livestock and can be fatal in humans. As such, RVF is economically and socially significant to affected smallholder and subsistence farmers, those infected, and national livestock industries. However, Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV) vaccines are not commercially available outside of endemic areas or for humans, and current vaccines are limited in their safety and efficacy. A plant-based, viral nanoparticle vaccine offers a more affordable alternative to conventional vaccines that is safe, rapidly producible, and easily scalable, better meeting the needs of impacted communities. This project focuses on assessing the potential of using a Nicotiana benthamiana plant expression system to generate recombinant tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) nanoparticles displaying RVFV glycoprotein epitopes. Eight TMV-RVFV glycoprotein constructs were designed. Five TMV-RVFV constructs were successfully cloned, and four recombinant TMV constructs were successfully expressed in planta. The antigenicity of these constructs was examined for their possible use in RVFV vaccine development.

Chez la guêpe parasitoïde Venturia canescens, des particules virales dépourvues d'ADN appelées VLP (pour "Virus-like Particules") sont produites spécifiquement dans les ovaires et tapissent le chorion des oeufs qui sont injectés dans la chenille hôte. Les VLP ont une fonction immunosuppressive pour l'hôte parasité et permettent ainsi la survie des oeufs du parasitoïde. Ces VLP résultent de l’intégration d’un nudivirus dans le génome de l’ancêtre de la guêpe, nudivirus qui a été ensuite domestiqué pour former des liposomes viraux capables de véhiculer dans l’hôte des protéines de virulence d'origine cellulaire. L’étude réalisée au cours de cette thèse a eu pour objet, d’une part, d'étudier les mécanismes de domestication virale qui ont conduit au virus symbiotique endogène actuel nommé VcENV (pour V. canescens endogenous nudivirus) et d’autre part, d'apporter des éléments de réponse sur le processus de morphogénèse et le mode d'action parasitaire des VLP. / Viral particles devoid of DNA called VLPs (for Virus-Like Particles) are specifically produced in the ovaries of the parasitoid wasp Venturia canescens and line the chorion of the wasp’s eggs injected into the host caterpillar. VLPs are immunosuppressive and allow parasitoid eggs survival. These VLPs result from the integration of a nudivirus into the wasp ancestor genome, nudivirus which was then domesticated to form viral liposomes capable of carrying, into the host, virulence proteins of cellular origin. The aim of the study carried out during this thesis was, first, to analyze the viral domestication mechanisms that led to the current endogenous symbiotic virus called VcENV (for V. canescens endogenous nudivirus) and secondly to provide some answers on VLPs morphogenesis process and parasitic mode of action.