Boonkua S.Thongsum O.Soongnart P.Chantunmapitak R.Jaranathummakul S.Srisanga K.Asuvapongpatana S.Wongtrakoongate P.Weerachatyanukul W.Watthammawut A.Somrit M.Mahidol University2025-01-052025-01-052024-12-01Scientific Reports Vol.14 No.1 (2024)https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/102627SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, primarily targets lung tissue, leading to pneumonia and lung injury. The spike protein of this virus binds to the common receptor on susceptible tissues and cells called the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) of the angiotensin (ANG) system. In this study, we produced chimeric Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus virus-like particles, presenting a short peptide ligand (ACE2tp), based on angiotensin-II (ANG II), on their outer surfaces to allow them to specifically bind to ACE2-overexpressing cells called ACE2tp-MrNV-VLPs. Replacing the ACE2tp at the protruding domains (P-domain) of the MrNV capsid proteins did not affect their normal assembly into icosahedral VLPs. The presentation of the ACE2tp on the P-domains significantly improved the binding and internalization of ACE2tp-MrNV-VLPs to hACE2-overexpressing HEK293T cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, ACE2tp-MrNV-VLPs exhibited the ability to block the binding and infection of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus variants, including Wuhan, BA.2 Omicron, and Delta subtypes. Our results suggest that chimeric ACE2tp-MrNV-VLPs can serve as a blocking agent against various SARS-CoV-2 mutated variants and could also potentially serve as target-specific nano-containers to carry therapeutic agents to combat SARS-CoV-2 infections in the future.MultidisciplinaryArticleSCOPUS10.1038/s41598-024-83024-z2-s2.0-8521351357920452322