The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling peptide display valency on virus-like particles (VLPs), especially including MS2 or PP7 VLPs. In this method, large amounts of wild-type and low quantities of single-chain dimer coat proteins may be produced from a single RNA. Valency is controlled in immunogen (vaccine) production by providing a system that allows the production of large amounts of wild-type and low quantities of single-chain dimer coating proteins from a single RNA, allowing facile adjustment of display valency levels on bacteriophage VLPs, especially MS2 or PP7 VLPs over a wide range, from few than one—on average—to as many as ninety per particle. This facilitates the production of immunogens and vaccines, including VLPs exhibiting low valency. Nucleic acid constructs useful in the expression of virus-like particles are disclosed, comprised of a coat polypeptide of bacteriophage such as MS2 or PP7 modified by insertion of a heterologous peptide, optionally comprising a carbohydrate mimotope, wherein the heterologous peptide is displayed on the virus-like particle and encapsidates bacteriphage mRNA.