Plant Virology Group (A.Zeltiņš lab)
The work of Plant Virology group is focused on the identification of new viruses in agriculturally relevant plant species, characterization of plant virus genomes and their encoded proteins. Recently, after NGS analysis a new virus possibly infecting sea buckthorn plants was identified. Virus diseases are not described yet for these plants, therefore it can be the first virus found in sea buckthorn. The analysis of the genome and construction of new virus cDNA is in progress.
Another important research direction is the generation of new vaccine candidates based on plant virus-like particles (VLPs) and development of VLP vaccine platforms suitable for technology transfer and industrial production.
During last years, Plant virology group developed experimental vaccines against several antigens such as interleukins IL5, IL17, IL31, cat allergen Fel_d_1, peanut allergens Ara_h_1 and Ara_h_2, nerve growth factor NGF and melanoma. In parallel, a new vaccine platform based on genetic incorporation of antigens
into plant VLP structure is developed, which facilitates the technology transfer process and simplifies the industrial production.
Andris Zeltiņš, PhD
Head of the scientific group, senior researcher
Personnel
Andris Zeltiņš, PhD, anze@biomed.lu.lv
Villija Zeltiņa, vilija.zeltina@biomed.lu.lv
Gunta Reseviča, MSc. biol., gunta@biomed.lu.lv
Areas for searching partners
10 the most representative publications for the scientific group
- Balke, I., Resevica, G., Zeltina, V., Silamikelis I., Liepa E., Liepa R., Kalnciema I. Radovica I., Gudra D., Pjalkovskis J., Freivalds J., Kazaks A., Zeltins A. Investigation of plant virus-like particle formation in bacterial and yeast expression systems. Surfaces and Interfaces, 2025, 76, 107981; IF=6.3, Q1;
- Sobczak JM, Barkovska I, Balke I, Rothen DA, Mohsen MO, Skrastina D, Ogrina A, Martina B, Jansons J, Bogans J, Vogel M, Bachmann MF, Zeltins A. Identifying Key Drivers of Efficient B Cell Responses: On the Role of T Help, Antigen Organization, and Toll-like Receptor Stimulation for Generating a Neutralizing Anti-Dengue Virus Response. Vaccines (Basel). 2024;12(6):661, IF= 3.4; Q1;
- Krenger PS, Josi R, Sobczak J, Velazquez TLC, Balke I, Skinner MA, Kramer MF, Scott CJW, Hewings S, Heath MD, Zeltins A, Bachmann MF. Influence of antigen density and TLR ligands on preclinical efficacy of a VLP-based vaccine against peanut allergy. Allergy. 2024;79(1):184-199; IF=12.6; Q1;
- Ogrina A, Balke I, Kalnciema, I, Skrastina, D, Jansons, J, Bachmann MF, Zeltins A. Bacterial expression systems based on Tymovirus-like particles for the presentation of vaccine antigens. Fontiers Microbiol., 2023;14: 1154990; IF=5.08, Q1;
- Ogrina A, Skrastina D, Balke I, Kalnciema I, Jansons J, Bachmann MF, Zeltins A. Comparison of Bacterial Expression Systems Based on Potato Virus Y-like Particles for Vaccine Generation. Vaccines (Basel). 2022;10(4):485 IF=3.40, Q1;
- Sobczak JM, Krenger PS, Storni F, Mohsen MO, Balke I, Reseviča G, Heath MD, Carreno Velazquez TL, Kramer MF, Scott CJW, Skinner MA, Zeltiņš A, Kündig TM, Vogel M, Bachmann MF.The next generation virus-like particle platform for the treatment of peanut allergy. Allergy. 2023;78(7):1980-1996; IF=12.6 ; Q1.
- Mohsen MO, Balke I, Zinkhan S, Zeltina V, Liu X, Chang X, Krenger PS, Plattner K, Gharailoo Z, Vogt AS, Augusto G, Zwicker M, Roongta S, Rothen DA, Josi R, Costa JJD, Sobczak JM, Nonic A, Brand LA, Nuss K, Martina B, Speiser DE, Kündig T, Jennings GT, Walton SM, Vogel M, Zeltins A, Bachmann MF. A scalable and highly immunogenic virus-like particle-based vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Allergy. 2022; 77:243-257; IF=14.71, Q1;
- Balke I, Zeltins A. Use of plant viruses and virus-like particles for the creation of novel vaccines. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2019;145:119-129; IF=16.1; Q1;
- Mohsen MO, Heath MD, Cabral-Miranda G, Lipp C, Zeltins A, Sande M, Stein JV, Riether C, Roesti E, Zha L, Engeroff P, El-Turabi A, Kundig TM, Vogel M, Skinner MA, Speiser DE, Knuth A, Kramer MF, Bachmann MF. Vaccination with nanoparticles combined with micro-adjuvants protects against cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7(1):114; IF=12.48; Q1