Arboviruses are a group of viruses that are not phylogenetically related but are transmitted by arthropods. Among these viruses, there are two major groups: Alphaviruses and Flaviviruses. Some of the symptoms caused by these viruses can be common or similar. However, the viruses from these two genera are very different. Nonetheless, we have devised a way to generate new protein-protein interactions within the nucleocapsid that allow the assembly of virions containing all the structural proteins and the lipid membrane, but no nucleic acid. The goal is to develop rationally designed vaccines that provide a protective, long-lasting immune response against diverse arboviruses. 

     In particular, Arleth Miranda-Lopez, first an M.Sc. student and now a Ph.D. student, developed a subunit vaccine against ZIKV that induces neutralizing antibodies in mice. Now we have shown that the newborns of vaccinated mothers (mice) are protected against ZIKV, while the newborns from unvaccinated mothers die after a virus challenge.

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​

​

​

​

​

​​

​

Structure prediction of our rpZDIII vaccine candidate.

​

     Furthermore, we have used this method to generate several vaccine candidates against SARS-CoV-2 (see publications). The COVID-19 vaccine project is supported by grants from CONACYT (2020/2021 and 2021/2022). 

​

    Finally, we are using this approach to generate a vaccine against CHIKV and other vaccine candidates that will soon be disclosed.

​

    The participants of these projects are Profs. Sergio Rosales-Mendoza and, Omar González-Ortega.​

​​

Published articles on this topic:

1. Miranda-López, A., Castillo-Martin del Campo, C.G., González-Ortega, O., Romero-Maldonado, A., Comas-García, M.*, Rosales-Mendoza, S.* (2025) The rpZDIII vaccine triggers vertical protection on newborn mice against Zika virus infection. Vaccine 68 (5): 127941 

2. Miranda-Lopez, A., González-Ortega, O., Govea-Alonso, D., Betancourt-Mendiola, L., Comas-Garcia, M.*, & Rosales-Mendoza, S.* (2024) Rational design and production of a chimeric antigen targeting Zika virus that induces neutralizing antibodies in mice. Vaccine. 42(7) 

3. Wong-Arce, A., Gonzalez-Ortega *, O., Romero-Maldonado, A., Miranda-López, A., García-Soto, M., Farfán-Castro, S., Betancourt-Mendiola, L., Teeravechyan, S.,  Srisutthisamphan, K., Comas-García, M., Ivón Solís-Andrade, K. &   Rosales-Mendoza* S. (2024) Production and immunogenicity assessment of LTp50: an Escherichia coli-made chimeric antigen targeting S1- and S2-epitopes from the  SARS-CoV-2/BA.5 spike protein. Pharmaceuticals. 17(03):302 

4. Solis-Andrade, K.I., González-Ortega, O., Govea-Alonso, D.O., Comas-Garcia, M., & Rosales-Mendoza, S. (2022) Production and purification of LTB-RBD: a potential antigen for mucosal vaccine development against SARS-CoV-2. Vaccines 10(10), 1759 

5. Almendárez-Rodríguez, C., Solis-Andrade, K., Govea-Alonso, D., Comas-Garcia, M*. & Rosales-Mendoza, S*. (2022) Production and characterization of chimeric SARS-CoV-2 antigens based on the capsid protein of Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 213, 1007-1017. 

6. García Silva, I.*, Colunga-Saucedo, M.*, Almendarez-Rodríguez, C., Miranda-López, C., Rosales-Mendoza, S., & Comas-Garcia, M. (2021) Chapter 10.  VLP-based vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Biomedical Innovations to Combat COVID-19 1st Ed. Elsevier. October 19th, 2021. ISBN 9780323902489 

7. Farfán-Castro, S., García-Soto, M., Comas-Garcia, M., Arévalo-Villalobos, J., Palestino, G., González-Ortega, O., Rosales-Mendoza, S. (2021) Synthesis and immunogenicity assessment of a gold nanoparticle conjugate for the delivery of a peptide from SARS-CoV-2. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine. 34, 102372

​

Updated: November 2026