VLPsQ VLPs were produced in Escherichia coli using methods that we have previously described for the production of MS2 bacteriophage VLPs [20]. Peptides representing huPCSK9 aminoacids 68–76, 153–163, and 207–223 were synthesized (Gen-Script) and modified to include a C-terminal cysteine residuepreceded by a 2-glycine-spacer sequence. Peptides were conju-gated to VLPs using the bifunctional cross-linker succinimidyl6-[(-maleimidopropionamido)hexanoate] (SMPH; ThermoScien-tific) [21]. Efficiency of conjugation was measured using denaturingpolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.Recombinant PCSK9-VLP expression vectors were constructedby genetically inserting huPCSK9 sequences (amino acids 153–163,188–200, 208–222, and 368–381) by PCR at the N-terminus of asingle-chain dimer version of the MS2 bacteriophage coat protein[20]. All constructs were sequenced to verify correct location andsequence of PCSK9 insert. Recombinant MS2 VLPs were expressedand purified as described [20].