IN VITRO METHOD FOR DISASSEMBLY/REASSEMBLY OF PAPILLOMAVIRUS VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES (VLPS), HOMOGENEOUS VLP AND CAPSOMERE COMPOSITIONS PRODUCED BY SAID METHODS; USE THEREOF AS VEHICLE FOR IMPROVED PURIFICATION, AND DELIVERY OF ACTIVE AGENTS

摘要

A method of disassembly/reassembly of papillomavirus VLPs is provided. The resultant VLPs have enhanced homogeneity, present conformational, neutralizing PV epitopes, and therefore are useful prophylactic and diagnostic agents. Further, these VLPs can be used to encapsulate desired moieties, e.g., therapeutic or diagnostic agents, or "marker" DNAs, and the resultant VLPs used as in vivo delivery vehicles or as pseudovirions for evaluating vaccine efficacy.