51
|
Padron-Regalado E, Ulaszewska M, Douglas AD, Hill AVS, Spencer AJ. STING-pathway modulation to enhance the immunogenicity of adenoviral-vectored vaccines. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14464. [PMID: 36002507 PMCID: PMC9401198 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18750-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional chemical adjuvants remain a practical means of enhancing the immunogenicity of vaccines. Nevertheless, it is recognized that increasing the immunogenicity of viral vectors is challenging. Recently, STING ligands have been shown to enhance the efficacy of different vaccine platforms, but their affectivity on viral-vectored vaccination has not been fully assessed. In this study we used a multi-pronged approach to shed light on the immunological properties and potential mechanisms of action of this type of adjuvant and focused our study on replication-deficient human adenovirus serotype 5 (AdHu5). When the STING ligand 2'3'-cGAMP was mixed with AdHu5, the adjuvant enhanced anti-vector immune responses while decreasing the transgene-specific CD8+ T cell response. Studies employing STING-knockout mice and a 2'3'-cGAMP inactive analogue confirmed the aforementioned effects were STING dependent. In vitro assays demonstrated 2'3'-cGAMP induced the production of IFN-β which in turn negatively affected AdHu5 transgene expression and CD8+ T cell immunogenicity. In an effort to overcome the negative impact of early 2'3'-cGAMP signaling on AdHu5 transgene immunogenicity, we generated a bicistronic vector encoding the 2'3'-cGAMP together with a model antigen. Intracellular production of 2'3'-cGAMP after AdHu5 infection was able to enhance transgene-specific CD8+ T cell immunogenicity, although not to a level that would warrant progression of this adjuvant to clinical assessment. This work highlights the importance of timing of 2'3'-cGAMP administration when assessing its adjuvant capacity with different vaccine modalities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eriko Padron-Regalado
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Marta Ulaszewska
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alexander D Douglas
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Adrian V S Hill
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alexandra J Spencer
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
52
|
Zaheer T, Abbas RZ, Imran M, Abbas A, Butt A, Aslam S, Ahmad J. Vaccines against chicken coccidiosis with particular reference to previous decade: progress, challenges, and opportunities. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:2749-2763. [PMID: 35925452 PMCID: PMC9362588 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07612-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Chicken coccidiosis is an economically significant disease of commercial chicken industry accounting for losses of more than £10.4 billion (according to 2016 prices). Additionally, the costs incurred in prophylaxis and therapeutics against chicken coccidiosis in developing countries (for instance Pakistan according to 2018 prices) reached US $45,000.00 while production losses for various categories of chicken ranges 104.74 to US $2,750,779.00. The infection has been reported from all types of commercial chickens (broiler, layer, breeder) having a range of reported prevalence of 7-90%. The concern of resistance towards major anticoccidials has provided a way forward to vaccine research and development. For prophylaxis of chicken coccidiosis, live virulent, attenuated, ionophore tolerant strains and recombinant vaccines have been extensively trialed and commercialized. Eimeria antigens and novel vaccine adjuvants have elicited the protective efficacy against coccidial challenge. The cost of production and achieving robust immune responses in birds are major challenges for commercial vaccine production. In the future, research should be focused on the development of multivalent anticoccidial vaccines for commercial poultry. Efforts should also be made on the discovery of novel antigens for incorporation into vaccine designs which might be more effective against multiple Eimeria species. This review presents a recap to the overall progress against chicken Eimeria with particular reference to previous decade. The article presents critical analysis of potential areas for future research in chicken Eimeria vaccine development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tean Zaheer
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Rao Zahid Abbas
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
| | - Muhammad Imran
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Asghar Abbas
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Ali Butt
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Sarfraz Aslam
- Institute of Physiology, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Jameel Ahmad
- Institute of Physiology, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
53
|
Jagannath DK, Valiyaparambil A, Viswanath VK, Hurakadli MA, Kamariah N, Jafer AC, Patole C, Pradhan S, Kumar N, Lakshminarasimhan A. Refolding and characterization of a diabody against Pfs25, a vaccine candidate of Plasmodium falciparum. Anal Biochem 2022; 655:114830. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2022.114830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
54
|
Abstract
"The Primate Malarias" book has been a uniquely important resource for multiple generations of scientists, since its debut in 1971, and remains pertinent to the present day. Indeed, nonhuman primates (NHPs) have been instrumental for major breakthroughs in basic and pre-clinical research on malaria for over 50 years. Research involving NHPs have provided critical insights and data that have been essential for malaria research on many parasite species, drugs, vaccines, pathogenesis, and transmission, leading to improved clinical care and advancing research goals for malaria control, elimination, and eradication. Whilst most malaria scientists over the decades have been studying Plasmodium falciparum, with NHP infections, in clinical studies with humans, or using in vitro culture or rodent model systems, others have been dedicated to advancing research on Plasmodium vivax, as well as on phylogenetically related simian species, including Plasmodium cynomolgi, Plasmodium coatneyi, and Plasmodium knowlesi. In-depth study of these four phylogenetically related species over the years has spawned the design of NHP longitudinal infection strategies for gathering information about ongoing infections, which can be related to human infections. These Plasmodium-NHP infection model systems are reviewed here, with emphasis on modern systems biological approaches to studying longitudinal infections, pathogenesis, immunity, and vaccines. Recent discoveries capitalizing on NHP longitudinal infections include an advanced understanding of chronic infections, relapses, anaemia, and immune memory. With quickly emerging new technological advances, more in-depth research and mechanistic discoveries can be anticipated on these and additional critical topics, including hypnozoite biology, antigenic variation, gametocyte transmission, bone marrow dysfunction, and loss of uninfected RBCs. New strategies and insights published by the Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center (MaHPIC) are recapped here along with a vision that stresses the importance of educating future experts well trained in utilizing NHP infection model systems for the pursuit of innovative, effective interventions against malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary R Galinski
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory National Primate Research Center (Yerkes National Primate Research Center), Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
55
|
An In Silico Analysis of Malaria Pre-Erythrocytic-Stage Antigens Interpreting Worldwide Genetic Data to Suggest Vaccine Candidate Variants and Epitopes. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061090. [PMID: 35744609 PMCID: PMC9231253 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Failure to account for genetic diversity of antigens during vaccine design may lead to vaccine escape. To evaluate the vaccine escape potential of antigens used in vaccines currently in development or clinical testing, we surveyed the genetic diversity, measured population differentiation, and performed in silico prediction and analysis of T-cell epitopes of ten such Plasmodium falciparum pre-erythrocytic-stage antigens using whole-genome sequence data from 1010 field isolates. Of these, 699 were collected in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, and Tanzania), 69 in South America (Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, and Peru), 59 in Oceania (Papua New Guinea), and 183 in Asia (Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand). Antigens surveyed include cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites, circumsporozoite protein, liver-stage antigens 1 and 3, sporozoite surface proteins P36 and P52, sporozoite asparagine-rich protein-1, sporozoite microneme protein essential for cell traversal-2, and upregulated-in-infectious-sporozoite 3 and 4 proteins. The analyses showed that a limited number of these protein variants, when combined, would be representative of worldwide parasite populations. Moreover, predicted T-cell epitopes were identified that could be further explored for immunogenicity and protective efficacy. Findings can inform the rational design of a multivalent malaria vaccine.
Collapse
|
56
|
Teixeira AR, Pérez-Cabezas B, Costa DM, Sá M, Golba S, Sefiane-Djemaoune H, Ribeiro J, Kaneko I, Iwanaga S, Yuda M, Tsuji M, Boscardin SB, Amino R, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Tavares J. Immunization with CSP and a RIG-I Agonist is Effective in Inducing a Functional and Protective Humoral Response Against Plasmodium. Front Immunol 2022; 13:868305. [PMID: 35669785 PMCID: PMC9163323 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.868305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a major public health concern, as a highly effective human vaccine remains elusive. The efficacy of a subunit vaccine targeting the most abundant protein of the sporozoite surface, the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) has been hindered by difficulties in generating an effective humoral response in both quantity and quality. Using the rodent Plasmodium yoelii model we report here that immunization with CSP adjuvanted with 5’ppp-dsRNA, a RIG-I agonist, confers early and long-lasting sterile protection in mice against stringent sporozoite and mosquito bite challenges. The immunization induced high levels of antibodies, which were functional in targeting and killing the sporozoites and were sustained over time through the accumulation of long-lived plasma cells in the bone marrow. Moreover, 5’ppp-dsRNA-adjuvanted immunization with the CSP of P. falciparum was also significantly protective against challenges using a transgenic PfCSP-expressing P. yoelii parasite. Conversely, using the TLR3 agonist poly(A:U) as adjuvant resulted in a formulation that despite inducing high antibody levels was unable to generate equally functional antibodies and was, consequently, less protective. In conclusion, we demonstrate that using 5’ppp-dsRNA as an adjuvant to vaccines targeting CSP induces effective anti-Plasmodium humoral immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rafaela Teixeira
- Host-Parasite Interactions Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Begoña Pérez-Cabezas
- Host-Parasite Interactions Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - David M. Costa
- Host-Parasite Interactions Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mónica Sá
- Host-Parasite Interactions Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sylvain Golba
- Center for Production and Infection of Anopheles, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | - Joana Ribeiro
- Host-Parasite Interactions Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Izumi Kaneko
- Department of Medical Zoology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Shiroh Iwanaga
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masao Yuda
- Department of Medical Zoology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Moriya Tsuji
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Silvia Beatriz Boscardin
- Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii)-INCT, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Unit of Malaria Infection and Immunity, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Tavares
- Host-Parasite Interactions Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Joana Tavares,
| |
Collapse
|
57
|
Yu JL, Liu QY, Yang B, Sun YF, Wang YJ, Jiang J, Wang B, Cheng Y, Wang QB. Immunogenicity Analysis of the Recombinant Plasmodium falciparum Surface-Related Antigen in Mice. Pathogens 2022; 11:550. [PMID: 35631071 PMCID: PMC9145071 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11050550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum, mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, has received widespread attention owing to its severity. As a novel protein, P. falciparum surface-related antigen (PfSRA) has the structural and functional characteristics to be considered as a malaria vaccine candidate; however, limited information is available on its immunogenicity. Here, we expressed three fragments of recombinant PfSRA in an Escherichia coli system and further analyzed its immunogenicity. The results showed that rPfSRA-immunized mice produced specific antibodies with high endpoint titers (1:10,000 to 1:5,120,000) and affinity antibodies (i.e., rPfSRA-F1a (97.70%), rPfSRA-F2a (69.62%), and rPfSRA-F3a (91.87%)). In addition, the sera of immunized mice recognized both the native PfSRA and recombinant PfSRA, the rPfSRA antibodies inhibited the invasion of P. falciparum into the erythrocytes, and they were dose-dependent in vitro. This study confirmed PfSRA could be immunogenic, especially the F1a at the conserved region N-terminal and provided further support for it as a vaccine candidate against P.falciparum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Li Yu
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000, China; (J.-L.Y.); (B.Y.); (Y.-F.S.)
| | - Qing-Yang Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Wuxi 9th Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Wuxi 9th People’s Hospital), Wuxi 214000, China;
| | - Bo Yang
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000, China; (J.-L.Y.); (B.Y.); (Y.-F.S.)
| | - Yi-Fan Sun
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000, China; (J.-L.Y.); (B.Y.); (Y.-F.S.)
| | - Ya-Ju Wang
- Wuxi Red Cross Blood Center, Wuxi 214000, China; (Y.-J.W.); (J.J.)
| | - Jian Jiang
- Wuxi Red Cross Blood Center, Wuxi 214000, China; (Y.-J.W.); (J.J.)
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, China;
| | - Yang Cheng
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000, China; (J.-L.Y.); (B.Y.); (Y.-F.S.)
| | - Qiu-Bo Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Wuxi 9th Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Wuxi 9th People’s Hospital), Wuxi 214000, China;
| |
Collapse
|
58
|
Can Virus-like Particles Be Used as Synergistic Agent in Pest Management? Viruses 2022; 14:v14050943. [PMID: 35632685 PMCID: PMC9144638 DOI: 10.3390/v14050943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Among novel strategies proposed in pest management, synergistic agents are used to improve insecticide efficacy through an elevation of intracellular calcium concentration that activates the calcium-dependent intracellular pathway. This leads to a changed target site conformation and to increased sensitivity to insecticides while reducing their concentrations. Because virus-like particles (VLPs) increase the intracellular calcium concentration, they can be used as a synergistic agent to synergize the effect of insecticides. VLPs are self-assembled viral protein complexes, and by contrast to entomopathogen viruses, they are devoid of genetic material, which makes them non-infectious and safer than viruses. Although VLPs are well-known to be used in human health, we propose in this study the development of a promising strategy based on the use of VLPs as synergistic agents in pest management. This will lead to increased insecticides efficacy while reducing their concentrations.
Collapse
|
59
|
Nadeem AY, Shehzad A, Islam SU, Al-Suhaimi EA, Lee YS. Mosquirix™ RTS, S/AS01 Vaccine Development, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10050713. [PMID: 35632469 PMCID: PMC9143879 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10050713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a parasitic infection caused by bites from Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum)-infected mosquitoes with a present scale of symptoms ranging from moderate fever to neurological disorders. P. falciparum is the most lethal of the five strains of malaria, and is a major case of morbidity and mortality in endemic regions. Recent advancements in malaria diagnostic tools and prevention strategies have improved conjugation antimalarial therapies using fumigation and long-lasting insecticidal sprays, thus lowering malarial infections. Declines in the total number of infected individuals have been correlated with antimalarial drugs. Despite this, malaria remains a major health threat, affecting more than 30 million men, women, and children around the globe, and 20 percent of all children around the globe have malaria parasites in their blood. To overcome this life-threatening condition, novel therapeutic strategies, including immunization, are urgently needed to tackle this infection around the world. In line with this, the development of the RTS, S vaccine was a significant step forward in the fight against malaria. RTS, S is a vaccine for P. falciparum in which R specifies central repeat units, T the T-cell epitopes, and S indicates surface antigen. The RTS, S/AS01 malarial vaccine was synthesized and screened in several clinical trials between 2009 and 2014, involving thousands of young children in seven African countries, showing that children who received the vaccine did not suffer from severe malaria. Mosquirix™ was approved by the World Health Organization in 2021, indicating it to be safe and advocating its integration into routine immunization programs and existing malaria control measures. This paper examines the various stages of the vaccine’s development, including the evaluation of its immunogenicity and efficacy on the basis of a total of 2.3 million administered doses through a routine immunization program. The protection and effectiveness provided by the vaccine are strong, and evidence shows that it can be effectively delivered through the routine child immunization platform. The economic cost of the vaccine remains to be considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aroosa Younis Nadeem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan; (A.Y.N.); (A.S.)
| | - Adeeb Shehzad
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan; (A.Y.N.); (A.S.)
| | - Salman Ul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, CECOS University, Peshawar 25000, Pakistan;
| | - Ebtesam A. Al-Suhaimi
- Biology Department, College of Science and Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Young Sup Lee
- BK21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, School of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-53-950-6353; Fax: +82-53-943-2762
| |
Collapse
|
60
|
White M, Chitnis CE. Potential role of vaccines in elimination of Plasmodium vivax. Parasitol Int 2022; 90:102592. [PMID: 35489701 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The unique biology of Plasmodium vivax, with its ability to form latent hypnozoites in the liver stage and the early appearance of gametocytes during blood stage infection, makes it difficult to target for elimination with standard malaria control tools. Here, we use modelling studies to demonstrate that vaccines that target different stages of P. vivax could greatly assist efforts to eliminate P. vivax. Combination of vaccines that target different P. vivax life cycle stages may be required to achieve high efficacy. Our simulations demonstrate that repeated rounds of mass vaccination with multi-stage vaccines can help achieve pre-elimination levels of P. vivax in both low and high transmission settings. We review the status of global efforts to develop vaccines for P. vivax malaria. We describe the status of the leading P. vivax vaccine candidates and share some thoughts on the prospects for availability of an effective vaccine for P. vivax malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael White
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Analytics G5 Unit, Department of Global Health, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Chetan E Chitnis
- Malaria Parasite Biology and Vaccines Unit, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
61
|
Randomized clinical trial to assess the protective efficacy of a Plasmodium vivax CS synthetic vaccine. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1603. [PMID: 35338131 PMCID: PMC8956637 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29226-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A randomized, double-blind, controlled vaccine clinical trial was conducted to assess, as the primary outcome, the safety and protective efficacy of the Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite (CS) protein in healthy malaria-naïve (phase IIa) and semi-immune (phase IIb) volunteers. Participants (n = 35) were randomly selected from a larger group (n = 121) and further divided into naïve (n = 17) and semi-immune (n = 18) groups and were immunized at months 0, 2, and 6 with PvCS formulated in Montanide ISA-51 adjuvant or placebo (adjuvant alone). Specific antibodies and IFN-γ responses to PvCS were determined as secondary outcome; all experimental volunteers developed specific IgG and IFN-γ. Three months after the last immunization, all participants were subjected to controlled human malaria infection. All naive controls became infected and drastic parasitemia reduction, including sterile protection, developed in several experimental volunteers in phase IIa (6/11) (54%, 95% CI 0.25-0.84) and phase IIb (7/11) (64%, 95% CI 0.35-0.92). However, no difference in parasitemia was observed between the phase IIb experimental and control subgroups. In conclusion, this study demonstrates significant protection in both naïve and semi-immune volunteers, encouraging further PvCS vaccine clinical development. Trial registration number NCT02083068. This trial was funded by Colciencias (grant 529-2009), NHLBI (grant RHL086488 A), and MVDC/CIV Foundation (grant 2014-1206).
Collapse
|
62
|
Abstract
This review discusses peptide epitopes used as antigens in the development of vaccines in clinical trials as well as future vaccine candidates. It covers peptides used in potential immunotherapies for infectious diseases including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, hepatitis B and C, HIV, malaria, and others. In addition, peptides for cancer vaccines that target examples of overexpressed proteins are summarized, including human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), mucin 1 (MUC1), folate receptor, and others. The uses of peptides to target cancers caused by infective agents, for example, cervical cancer caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), are also discussed. This review also provides an overview of model peptide epitopes used to stimulate non-specific immune responses, and of self-adjuvanting peptides, as well as the influence of other adjuvants on peptide formulations. As highlighted in this review, several peptide immunotherapies are in advanced clinical trials as vaccines, and there is great potential for future therapies due the specificity of the response that can be achieved using peptide epitopes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ian W Hamley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AD, U.K
| |
Collapse
|
63
|
Wahl I, Wardemann H. How to induce protective humoral immunity against Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein. J Exp Med 2022; 219:212951. [PMID: 35006242 PMCID: PMC8754000 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20201313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The induction of protective humoral immune responses against sporozoite surface proteins of the human parasite Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) is a prime goal in the development of a preerythrocytic malaria vaccine. The most promising antibody target is circumsporozoite protein (CSP). Although PfCSP induces strong humoral immune responses upon vaccination, vaccine efficacy is overall limited and not durable. Here, we review recent efforts to gain a better molecular and cellular understanding of anti-PfCSP B cell responses in humans and discuss ways to overcome limitations in the induction of stable titers of high-affinity antibodies that might help to increase vaccine efficacy and promote long-lived protection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilka Wahl
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hedda Wardemann
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
64
|
Hills RA, Howarth M. Virus-like particles against infectious disease and cancer: guidance for the nano-architect. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 73:346-354. [PMID: 34735984 PMCID: PMC8555979 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) can play important roles in prevention and therapy for infectious diseases and cancer. Here we describe recent advances in rational construction of VLP assemblies, as well as new approaches to enhance long-lasting antibody and CD8+ T cell responses. DNA origami and computational protein design identified optimal spacing of antigens. Chemical biology advances enabled simple and irreversible VLP decoration with protein or polysaccharide antigens. Mosaic VLPs co-displayed antigens to generate cross-reactive antibodies against different influenza strains and coronaviruses. The mode of action of adjuvants inside VLPs was established through knock-outs and repackaging of innate immune stimuli. VLPs themselves showed their power as adjuvants in cancer models. Finally, landmark clinical results were obtained against malaria and the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Collapse
|
65
|
Langowski MD, Khan FA, Savransky S, Brown DR, Balasubramaniyam A, Harrison WB, Zou X, Beck Z, Matyas GR, Regules JA, Miller R, Soisson LA, Batchelor AH, Dutta S. Restricted valency (NPNA) n repeats and junctional epitope-based circumsporozoite protein vaccines against Plasmodium falciparum. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:13. [PMID: 35087099 PMCID: PMC8795123 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00430-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The Circumsporozoite Protein (CSP) of Plasmodium falciparum contains an N-terminal region, a conserved Region I (RI), a junctional region, 25-42 copies of major (NPNA) and minor repeats followed by a C-terminal domain. The recently approved malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01 contains NPNAx19 and the C-terminal region of CSP. The efficacy of RTS,S against natural infection is low and short-lived, and mapping epitopes of inhibitory monoclonal antibodies may allow for rational improvement of CSP vaccines. Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) was used here to display the junctional epitope (mAb CIS43), Region I (mAb 5D5), NPNAx5, and NPNAx20 epitope of CSP (mAbs 317 and 580). Protection studies in mice revealed that Region I did not elicit protective antibodies, and polyclonal antibodies against the junctional epitope showed equivalent protection to NPNAx5. Combining the junctional and NPNAx5 epitopes reduced immunogenicity and efficacy, and increasing the repeat valency to NPNAx20 did not improve upon NPNAx5. TMV was confirmed as a versatile vaccine platform for displaying small epitopes defined by neutralizing mAbs. We show that polyclonal antibodies against engineered VLPs can recapitulate the binding specificity of the mAbs and immune-focusing by reducing the structural complexity of an epitope may be superior to immune-broadening as a vaccine design approach. Most importantly the junctional and restricted valency NPNA epitopes can be the basis for developing highly effective second-generation malaria vaccine candidates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Langowski
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Farhat A Khan
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Sofya Savransky
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Dallas R Brown
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Arasu Balasubramaniyam
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - William B Harrison
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Zou
- Malaria Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Zoltan Beck
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
- Pfizer, 401N Middletown Rd, Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | - Gary R Matyas
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Jason A Regules
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Robin Miller
- United States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Adrian H Batchelor
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Sheetij Dutta
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
66
|
Labis da Costa MJ, Nascimento GC, Athie TS, Sales Silva JD, Reis EA, Martin AP, Godman B, Dias Godói IP. Willingness to pay for a hypothetical malaria vaccine in Brazil: a cross-sectional study and the implications. J Comp Eff Res 2022; 11:263-274. [PMID: 35029122 DOI: 10.2217/cer-2021-0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Malaria is an infection caused by protozoa of genus Plasmodium, considered the one associated with increasingly large outbreaks. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with residents in the northern region of Brazil on the willingness to pay (WTP) for a hypothetical vaccine against malaria (effective protection of 80%). Results: Of 616 people interviewed, most interviewees were female (61%) and were employed (97%). The median individual maximum WTP for a hypothetical malaria vaccine was US$11.90 (BRL 50). Conclusion: The northern region of Brazil is one of the largest markets for a malaria vaccine due to its epidemiological relevance. Consequently, economic studies will be important to assist in the assessment of the potential price and value of new vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria José Labis da Costa
- Instute of Health & Biological Studies - Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, Avenida dos Ipês, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Cidade Jardim, Marabá, Pará 68.500-000, Brazil
| | - Gesiane Cavalcante Nascimento
- Instute of Health & Biological Studies - Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, Avenida dos Ipês, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Cidade Jardim, Marabá, Pará 68.500-000, Brazil
| | - Thannuse Silva Athie
- Instute of Health & Biological Studies - Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, Avenida dos Ipês, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Cidade Jardim, Marabá, Pará 68.500-000, Brazil
| | - Juliana de Sales Silva
- Institute of Studies in Agricultural & Regional Development - Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, Avenida dos Ipês, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Cidade Jardim, Marabá, Pará 68.500-000, Brazil
| | - Edna Afonso Reis
- Departament of Stascs, Exact Sciences Institute, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil.,Researcher of the Group (CNPq) for Epidemiological, Economic & Pharmacological Studies of Arboviruses (EEPIFARBO) - Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará; Avenida dos Ipês, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Cidade Jardim, Marabá, Pará, Brazil
| | - Antony Paul Martin
- Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK.,QC Medica, York, North Yorkshire, UK
| | - Brian Godman
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.,Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Isabella Piassi Dias Godói
- Instute of Health & Biological Studies - Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, Avenida dos Ipês, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Cidade Jardim, Marabá, Pará 68.500-000, Brazil.,Researcher of the Group (CNPq) for Epidemiological, Economic & Pharmacological Studies of Arboviruses (EEPIFARBO) - Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará; Avenida dos Ipês, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Cidade Jardim, Marabá, Pará, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
67
|
Thomas S, Abraham A, Callaghan PJ, Rappuoli R. Challenges for Vaccinologists in the First Half of the Twenty-First Century. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2410:3-25. [PMID: 34914040 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1884-4_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021 has highlighted the importance of vaccines and vaccination in human health. The pandemic has resulted in social distancing, travel restrictions, decreased trade, high unemployment, commodity price decline, and financial stress that has impacted the global economy. Since December 2020, a massive vaccination campaign is undergoing in every country on the planet to protect against SARS-CoV-2. Vaccination is the cheapest health-care interventions that can save more lives than any other drugs or therapies. Some of the common diseases of the twentieth century including smallpox and polio are seldom reported due to intense vaccination programs that eradicated it. Smallpox is completely eradicated globally; whereas, polio is confined to only a couple of countries. Vaccination has not only improved the health of man but also improved food security by preventing diseases in farm animals and aquacultured fish. Awareness of the principles of immunology and novel vaccines has led to effective vaccination strategies. Climate change could lead to generation of new strains of infectious microorganisms that would require development of novel vaccines. Recent years have seen the increase in incidence of brain-eating amoeba and flesh-eating bacteria (necrotizing fasciitis). There are no vaccines for these diseases. Though vaccination programs have eradicated several diseases and increased the quality of life, there are several diseases that have no effective vaccines. Currently there are no vaccines for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune diseases, as well as infectious diseases like tuberculosis, AIDS, and parasitic diseases including malaria. Spontaneous evolution of pathogenic microorganisms may lead to pandemics that impact the health of not only humanity but also other animals. Hence, the challenge to vaccinologists is the development of novel vaccines and vaccination strategies within limited time period and using minimum resources. In addition, the vaccine developed should be administered globally within a short duration so as to prevent generation of pathogenic variants more lethal than the parent strain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Thomas
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, USA.
| | - Ann Abraham
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
68
|
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, da Costa JJ, Sobczak JM, Nonic A, Brand L, 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. [PMID: 34496033 PMCID: PMC8653185 DOI: 10.1111/all.15080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2 caused one of the most devastating pandemics in the recent history of mankind. Due to various countermeasures, including lock-downs, wearing masks, and increased hygiene, the virus has been controlled in some parts of the world. More recently, the availability of vaccines, based on RNA or adenoviruses, has greatly added to our ability to keep the virus at bay; again, however, in some parts of the world only. While available vaccines are effective, it would be desirable to also have more classical vaccines at hand for the future. Key feature of vaccines for long-term control of SARS-CoV-2 would be inexpensive production at large scale, ability to make multiple booster injections, and long-term stability at 4℃. METHODS Here, we describe such a vaccine candidate, consisting of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding motif (RBM) grafted genetically onto the surface of the immunologically optimized cucumber mosaic virus, called CuMVTT -RBM. RESULTS Using bacterial fermentation and continuous flow centrifugation for purification, the yield of the production process is estimated to be >2.5 million doses per 1000-litre fermenter run. We demonstrate that the candidate vaccine is highly immunogenic in mice and rabbits and induces more high avidity antibodies compared to convalescent human sera. The induced antibodies are more cross-reactive to mutant RBDs of variants of concern (VoC). Furthermore, antibody responses are neutralizing and long-lived. In addition, the vaccine candidate was stable for at least 14 months at 4℃. CONCLUSION Thus, the here presented VLP-based vaccine may be a good candidate for use as conventional vaccine in the long term.
Collapse
|
69
|
Ranade D, Jena R, Sancheti S, Deore V, Dogar V, Gairola S. Rapid, high throughput protein estimation method for saponin and alhydrogel adjuvanted R21 VLP Malaria vaccine based on intrinsic fluorescence. Vaccine 2021; 40:601-611. [PMID: 34933766 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Protein content estimation of recombinant vaccines at drug product (DP) stage is a crucial lot release and stability indicating assay in biopharmaceutical industries. Regulatory bodies such as US-FDA and WHO necessitates the quantitation of protein content to assess process parameters as well as formulation losses. Estimation of protein content at DP stage in presence of adjuvants (e.g AlOOH, AlPO4, saponin and squalene) is quite challenging, and the challenge intensifies when the target protein is in Virus like particles (VLP) form, owing to its size and structural complexity. Methods available for protein estimation of adjuvanted vaccines mostly suffer from inaccuracy at lower protein concentrations and in most cases require antigen desorption before analysis. Present research work is based on the development of a rapid plate-based method for protein estimation through intrinsic fluorescence by using Malaria vaccine R21 VLP as a model protein. Present method exhibited linearity for protein estimation of R21, in the range of 5-30 µg/mL in Alhydrogel and 4-20 µg/mL for Matrix M adjuvant. The method was validated as per ICH guidelines. The limit of quantification was found to be 0.94 µg/mL for both Alhydrogel and Matrix M adjuvanted R21. The method was found specific, precise and repeatable. This method is superior in terms of less sample quantity requirement, multiple sample analysis, short turnaround time and is non-invasive. This method was found to be stability indicating, works for other proteins containing tryptophan residues and operates well even in presence of host cell proteins. Based on the study, present method can be used in vaccine industries for routine in-process sample analysis (both inline and offline), lot release of VLP based drug products in presence of Alhydrogel and saponin based adjuvant systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dnyanesh Ranade
- Quality Control Department, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, 212/2, Soli Poonawalla Rd, JJC Colony, Suryalok Nagari, Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra 411028, India
| | - Rajender Jena
- Quality Control Department, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, 212/2, Soli Poonawalla Rd, JJC Colony, Suryalok Nagari, Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra 411028, India
| | - Shubham Sancheti
- Quality Control Department, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, 212/2, Soli Poonawalla Rd, JJC Colony, Suryalok Nagari, Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra 411028, India
| | - Vicky Deore
- Quality Control Department, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, 212/2, Soli Poonawalla Rd, JJC Colony, Suryalok Nagari, Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra 411028, India
| | - Vikas Dogar
- Quality Control Department, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, 212/2, Soli Poonawalla Rd, JJC Colony, Suryalok Nagari, Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra 411028, India
| | - Sunil Gairola
- Quality Control Department, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, 212/2, Soli Poonawalla Rd, JJC Colony, Suryalok Nagari, Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra 411028, India.
| |
Collapse
|
70
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Allergen immunotherapy is the only recognized causal treatment for allergic disease that modulates the immune system toward a tolerogenic or desensitized state. Allergens or their derivative preparations are formulated with adjuvants of different origin and having diverse immunological functions, such as prolonged tissue release and specific immunomodulatory properties. In the last 2 decades, thanks to developments in the field of nanotechnology, more biosafe nanoscale materials have become available for use as pharmaceutical adjuvants in medical research. RECENT FINDINGS Nanomaterials possess unique and versatile properties which can be employed to develop drug carriers with safer profiles, better stability in physiological conditions and immunomodulatory properties. Nanoparticles can have an adjuvant effect per se or also when they are packed in structures whose physical-chemical properties can be handled in a way that also influences its release dynamics. In particular, it has been suggested that nanoparticle preparations can be put in complexes or loaded with allergens or allergenic extracts, opening the way to innovative paradigms. SUMMARY In this review, we analyze allergen/nanoparticle properties in terms of cytotoxicity, stability and immunogenic reaction in in-vitro and animal systems.
Collapse
|
71
|
Wang LT, Pereira LS, Kiyuka PK, Schön A, Kisalu NK, Vistein R, Dillon M, Bonilla BG, Molina-Cruz A, Barillas-Mury C, Tan J, Idris AH, Francica JR, Seder RA. Protective effects of combining monoclonal antibodies and vaccines against the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010133. [PMID: 34871332 PMCID: PMC8675929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Combinations of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against different epitopes on the same antigen synergistically neutralize many viruses. However, there are limited studies assessing whether combining human mAbs against distinct regions of the Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) circumsporozoite protein (CSP) enhances in vivo protection against malaria compared to each mAb alone or whether passive transfer of PfCSP mAbs would improve protection following vaccination against PfCSP. Here, we isolated a panel of human mAbs against the subdominant C-terminal domain of PfCSP (C-CSP) from a volunteer immunized with radiation-attenuated Pf sporozoites. These C-CSP-specific mAbs had limited binding to sporozoites in vitro that was increased by combination with neutralizing human "repeat" mAbs against the NPDP/NVDP/NANP tetrapeptides in the central repeat region of PfCSP. Nevertheless, passive transfer of repeat- and C-CSP-specific mAb combinations did not provide enhanced protection against in vivo sporozoite challenge compared to repeat mAbs alone. Furthermore, combining potent repeat-specific mAbs (CIS43, L9, and 317) that respectively target the three tetrapeptides (NPDP/NVDP/NANP) did not provide additional protection against in vivo sporozoite challenge. However, administration of either CIS43, L9, or 317 (but not C-CSP-specific mAbs) to mice that had been immunized with R21, a PfCSP-based virus-like particle vaccine that induces polyclonal antibodies against the repeat region and C-CSP, provided enhanced protection against sporozoite challenge when compared to vaccine or mAbs alone. Collectively, this study shows that while combining mAbs against the repeat and C-terminal regions of PfCSP provide no additional protection in vivo, repeat mAbs do provide increased protection when combined with vaccine-induced polyclonal antibodies. These data should inform the implementation of PfCSP human mAbs alone or following vaccination to prevent malaria infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence T. Wang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lais S. Pereira
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Patience K. Kiyuka
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Arne Schön
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Neville K. Kisalu
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rachel Vistein
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Marlon Dillon
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Brian G. Bonilla
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alvaro Molina-Cruz
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Carolina Barillas-Mury
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joshua Tan
- Antibody Biology Unit, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Azza H. Idris
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- The Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Joseph R. Francica
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Robert A. Seder
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
72
|
Epitope-coated polymer particles elicit neutralising antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:141. [PMID: 34845267 PMCID: PMC8630014 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00408-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The current Malaria RTS,S vaccine is based on virus-like particles (VLPs) comprising the NANP repetitive epitopes from the cicumsporozoite protein (CSP) of Plasmodium falciparum. This vaccine has limited efficacy, only preventing severe disease in about 30% of vaccinated individuals. A more efficacious vaccine is urgently needed to combat malaria. Here we developed a particulate malaria vaccine based on the same CSP epitopes but using biopolymer particles (BPs) as an antigen carrier system. Specific B- and T-cell epitope-coated BPs were assembled in vivo inside an engineered endotoxin-free mutant of Escherichia coli. A high-yield production process leading to ~27% BP vaccine weight over biomass was established. The epitope-coated BPs were purified and their composition, i.e., the polymer core and epitope identity, was confirmed. Epitope-coated BPs were used alongside soluble peptide epitopes and empty BPs to vaccinate sheep. Epitope-coated BPs showed enhanced immunogenicity by inducing anti-NANP antibody titre of EC50 > 150,000 that were at least 20 times higher than induced by the soluble peptides. We concluded that the additional T-cell epitope was not required as it did not enhance immunogenicity when compared with the B-cell epitope-coated BPs. Antibodies specifically bound to the surface of Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites and efficiently inhibited sporozoite motility and traversal of human hepatocytes. This study demonstrated the utility of biologically self-assembled epitope-coated BPs as an epitope carrier for inclusion in next-generation malaria vaccines.
Collapse
|
73
|
Virnik K, Zhou W, Medvedev A, Walsh G, Perry-Anderson J, Majam V, Felber BK, Kumar S, Berkower I. Live attenuated rubella vectors expressing Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (Pf-CSP) provide a novel malaria vaccine platform in the rhesus macaque. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 577:58-63. [PMID: 34507066 PMCID: PMC10167915 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.08.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
There is an urgent need for a malaria vaccine that can prevent severe disease in young children and adults. Despite earlier work showing an immunological mechanism for preventing infection and reducing disease severity, there is currently no reliable vaccine that can provide durable protection. In part, this may reflect a limited number of ways that the host can respond to the NANP repeat sequences of circumsporozoite protein (CSP) in the parasite. In addition, it may reflect antigenic escape by the parasite from protective antibodies. To be successful, a vaccine must protect against repeated exposure to infected mosquitoes in endemic areas. We have created a series of live viral vectors based on the rubella vaccine strain that express multiple tandem repeats of NANP, and we demonstrate immunogenicity in a rhesus macaque model. We tested the vectors in a sequential immunization strategy. In the first step, the animals were primed with CSP-DNA vaccine and boosted with rubella/CSP vectors. In the second step, we gave rubella/CSP vectors again, followed by recombinant CSP protein. Following the second step, antibody titers were comparable to adult exposure to malaria in an endemic area. The antibodies were specific for native CSP protein on sporozoites, and they persisted for at least 1½ years in two out of three macaques. Given the safety profile of rubella vaccine in children, these vectors could be most useful in protecting young children, who are at greatest risk of severe malarial disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Virnik
- Lab of Immunoregulation, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics, FDA, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Wenshuo Zhou
- Lab of Immunoregulation, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics, FDA, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Alexei Medvedev
- Lab of Immunoregulation, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics, FDA, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Gabrielle Walsh
- Lab of Immunoregulation, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics, FDA, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Jasper Perry-Anderson
- Lab of Immunoregulation, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics, FDA, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Victoria Majam
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, CBER, FDA, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Barbara K Felber
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Sanjai Kumar
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, CBER, FDA, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Ira Berkower
- Lab of Immunoregulation, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics, FDA, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
74
|
Laurens MB. Novel malaria vaccines. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2021; 17:4549-4552. [PMID: 34347570 PMCID: PMC8827625 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1947762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria vaccines hold significant promise for life-saving benefit, especially to children who bear the major burden of malaria mortality. The RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine provides moderate efficacy and is being tested in implementation studies. In parallel, multiple strategies are being advanced to test next-generation malaria vaccines, including novel approaches that build on principles learned from RTS,S development, vaccination with radiation-attenuated sporozoites, and development of monoclonal antibodies targeting immunogenic peptides. Novel vaccine delivery approaches are also being advanced, including self-amplifying RNA vaccine delivery, self-assembling protein nanoparticle methods, circumsporozoite protein-based approaches, and whole organism vaccination. Techniques employed for COVID-19 vaccine development should also be considered for malaria vaccination, including sustained release polymer nanoparticle hydrogel vaccination and charge-altering releasable transporters. As vaccine science advances and new approaches optimize knowledge gained, highly effective malaria vaccines that provide sustained protection are within reach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew B. Laurens
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| |
Collapse
|
75
|
Sublingual Immunization with Chimeric C1q/CD40 Ligand/HIV Virus-like Particles Induces Strong Mucosal Immune Responses against HIV. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9111236. [PMID: 34835167 PMCID: PMC8618657 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9111236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of a vaccine that can elicit robust HIV specific antibody responses in the mucosal compartments is desired for effective prevention of HIV via sexual transmission. However, the current mucosal vaccines have either poor immunogenicity when administered orally or invite safety concerns when administered intranasally. Sublingual immunization has received more attention in recent years based on its efficiency in inducing systemic and mucosal immune responses in both mucosal and extra-mucosal tissues. To facilitate the transport of the immunogen across the sub-mucosal epithelial barrier, we found that CD91, the receptor of C1q, is prevalently expressed in the sublingual mucosal lining, and thus, a modified chimeric C1q surface conjugated CD40L/HIV VLP was generated. The ability of this chimeric C1q/CD40L/HIV VLP to bind, cross the epithelial layer, access and activate the sub-mucosal layer dendritic cells (DCs), and ultimately induce enhanced mucosal and systemic immune responses against HIV is evaluated in this study. We found that C1q/CD40L/HIV VLPs have enhanced binding, increased transport across the epithelial layer, and upregulate DC activation markers as compared to CD40L/HIV VLPs alone. Mice immunized with C1q/CD40L/HIV VLPs by sublingual administration showed higher levels of IgA salivary antibodies against both HIV Gag and Env than mice immunized with CD40L/HIV VLPs. Moreover, sublingual immunization with C1q/CD40L/HIV VLPs induced more Env- and Gag-specific IFN-γ producing T cells than the CD40L/HIV VLPs group. Interestingly, C1q/CD40L/HIV VLP immunization can also induce more mucosal homing T cells than that in CD40L/HIV VLP group. Our data suggest that incorporation of C1q to CD40L/HIV VLPs is a promising novel strategy and that the sublingual immunization can be a favorite immunization route for HIV mucosal vaccines.
Collapse
|
76
|
Bonam SR, Rénia L, Tadepalli G, Bayry J, Kumar HMS. Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Vaccines and Vaccine Adjuvants. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1072. [PMID: 34696180 PMCID: PMC8541031 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9101072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria-a parasite vector-borne disease-is a global health problem, and Plasmodium falciparum has proven to be the deadliest among Plasmodium spp., which causes malaria in humans. Symptoms of the disease range from mild fever and shivering to hemolytic anemia and neurological dysfunctions. The spread of drug resistance and the absence of effective vaccines has made malaria disease an ever-emerging problem. Although progress has been made in understanding the host response to the parasite, various aspects of its biology in its mammalian host are still unclear. In this context, there is a pressing demand for the development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies, including new drugs and novel adjuvanted vaccines that elicit protective immunity. The present article provides an overview of the current knowledge of anti-malarial immunity against P. falciparum and different options of vaccine candidates in development. A special emphasis has been made on the mechanism of action of clinically used vaccine adjuvants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Srinivasa Reddy Bonam
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Equipe-Immunopathologie et Immunointervention Thérapeutique, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, F-75006 Paris, France;
| | - Laurent Rénia
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs, 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore 138648, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
| | - Ganesh Tadepalli
- Vaccine Immunology Laboratory, Organic Synthesis and Process Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India;
| | - Jagadeesh Bayry
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Equipe-Immunopathologie et Immunointervention Thérapeutique, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, F-75006 Paris, France;
- Biological Sciences & Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad, Palakkad 678623, India
| | - Halmuthur Mahabalarao Sampath Kumar
- Vaccine Immunology Laboratory, Organic Synthesis and Process Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India;
| |
Collapse
|
77
|
Reeder SM, Bah MA, Tursi NJ, Brooks RC, Patel A, Esquivel R, Eaton A, Jhun H, Chu J, Kim K, Xu Z, Zavala F, Weiner DB. Strategic Variants of CSP Delivered as SynDNA Vaccines Demonstrate Heterogeneity of Immunogenicity and Protection from Plasmodium Infection in a Murine Model. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e0072820. [PMID: 34152830 PMCID: PMC8445182 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00728-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria infects millions of people every year, and despite recent advances in controlling disease spread, such as vaccination, it remains a global health concern. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) has long been acknowledged as a key target in antimalarial immunity. Leveraging the DNA vaccine platform against this formidable pathogen, the following five synthetic DNA vaccines encoding variations of CSP were designed and studied: 3D7, GPI1, ΔGPI, TM, and DD2. Among the single CSP antigen constructs, a range of immunogenicity was observed with ΔGPI generating the most robust immunity. In an intravenous (i.v.) sporozoite challenge, the best protection among vaccinated mice was achieved by ΔGPI, which performed almost as well as the monoclonal antibody 311 (MAb 311) antibody control. Further analyses revealed that ΔGPI develops high-molecular-weight multimers in addition to monomeric CSP. We then compared the immunity generated by ΔGPI versus synDNA mimics for the antimalaria vaccines RTS,S and R21. The anti-CSP antibody responses induced were similar among these three immunogens. T cell responses demonstrated that ΔGPI induced a more focused anti-CSP response. In an infectious mosquito challenge, all three of these constructs generated inhibition of liver-stage infection as well as immunity from blood-stage parasitemia. This study demonstrates that synDNA mimics of complex malaria immunogens can provide substantial protection as can a novel synDNA vaccine ΔGPI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophia M. Reeder
- The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mamadou A. Bah
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Tursi
- The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rebekah C. Brooks
- The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ami Patel
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rianne Esquivel
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alison Eaton
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hugo Jhun
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jacqueline Chu
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kevin Kim
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ziyang Xu
- The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - David B. Weiner
- The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
78
|
Virus-Like Particle Vaccines Against Respiratory Viruses and Protozoan Parasites. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2021; 433:77-106. [PMID: 33650036 DOI: 10.1007/82_2021_232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The field of vaccinology underwent massive advances over the past decades with the introduction of virus-like particles (VLPs), a supra-molecular nanoparticle vaccine platform that resembles viral structures without the ability to replicate in hosts. This innovative approach has been remarkably effective, as evidenced by its profound immunogenicity and safety. These highly desirable intrinsic properties enabled their further development as vaccines against a multitude of diseases. To date, several VLP-based vaccines have already been commercialized and many more are undergoing clinical evaluation prior to FDA approval. However, efficacious vaccines against a plethora of pathogens are still lacking, which imposes a tremendous socioeconomic burden and continues to threaten public health throughout the globe. This is especially the case for several respiratory pathogens and protozoan parasites. In this review, we briefly describe the fundamentals of VLP vaccines and the unique properties that enable these to be such valuable vaccine candidates and summarize current advances in VLP-based vaccines targeting respiratory and parasitic diseases of global importance.
Collapse
|
79
|
Chen S, Quan DH, Wang XT, Sandford S, Kirman JR, Britton WJ, Rehm BHA. Particulate Mycobacterial Vaccines Induce Protective Immunity against Tuberculosis in Mice. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11082060. [PMID: 34443891 PMCID: PMC8402087 DOI: 10.3390/nano11082060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Currently available vaccines fail to provide consistent protection against tuberculosis (TB). New, improved vaccines are urgently needed for controlling the disease. The mycobacterial antigen fusions H4 (Ag85B-TB10.4) and H28 (Ag85B-TB10.4-Rv2660c) have been shown to be very immunogenic and have been considered as potential candidates for TB vaccine development. However, soluble protein vaccines are often poorly immunogenic, but augmented immune responses can be induced when selected antigens are delivered in particulate form. This study investigated whether the mycobacterial antigen fusions H4 and H28 can induce protective immunity when assembled into particulate vaccines (polyester nanoparticle-H4, polyester nanoparticle-H28, H4 nanoparticles and H28 nanoparticles). The particulate mycobacterial vaccines were assembled inside an engineered endotoxin-free production strain of Escherichia coli at high yield. Vaccine nanoparticles were purified and induced long-lasting antigen-specific T cell responses and protective immunity in mice challenged by aerosol with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A significant reduction of M. tuberculosis CFU, up to 0.7-log10 protection, occurred in the lungs of mice immunized with particulate vaccines in comparison to placebo-vaccinated mice (p < 0.0001). Polyester nanoparticles displaying the mycobacterial antigen fusion H4 induced a similar level of protective immunity in the lung when compared to M. bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the currently approved TB vaccine. The safe and immunogenic polyester nanoparticle-H4 vaccine is a promising subunit vaccine candidate, as it can be cost-effectively manufactured and efficiently induces protection against TB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuxiong Chen
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia;
| | - Diana H. Quan
- Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; (D.H.Q.); (X.T.W.); (W.J.B.)
| | - Xiaonan T. Wang
- Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; (D.H.Q.); (X.T.W.); (W.J.B.)
| | - Sarah Sandford
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia;
| | - Joanna R. Kirman
- Microbiology & Immunology Department, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
| | - Warwick J. Britton
- Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; (D.H.Q.); (X.T.W.); (W.J.B.)
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Bernd H. A. Rehm
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia;
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-(0)7-3735-4233
| |
Collapse
|
80
|
Blight J, Sala KA, Atcheson E, Kramer H, El-Turabi A, Real E, Dahalan FA, Bettencourt P, Dickinson-Craig E, Alves E, Salman AM, Janse CJ, Ashcroft FM, Hill AV, Reyes-Sandoval A, Blagborough AM, Baum J. Dissection-independent production of Plasmodium sporozoites from whole mosquitoes. Life Sci Alliance 2021; 4:e202101094. [PMID: 34135099 PMCID: PMC8321652 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Progress towards a protective vaccine against malaria remains slow. To date, only limited protection has been routinely achieved following immunisation with either whole-parasite (sporozoite) or subunit-based vaccines. One major roadblock to vaccine progress, and to pre-erythrocytic parasite biology in general, is the continued reliance on manual salivary gland dissection for sporozoite isolation from infected mosquitoes. Here, we report development of a multi-step method, based on batch processing of homogenised whole mosquitoes, slurry, and density-gradient filtration, which combined with free-flow electrophoresis rapidly produces a pure, infective sporozoite inoculum. Human-infective Plasmodium falciparum and rodent-infective Plasmodium berghei sporozoites produced in this way are two- to threefold more infective than salivary gland dissection sporozoites in in vitro hepatocyte infection assays. In an in vivo rodent malaria model, the same P. berghei sporozoites confer sterile protection from mosquito-bite challenge when immunisation is delivered intravenously or 60-70% protection when delivered intramuscularly. By improving purity, infectivity, and immunogenicity, this method represents a key advancement in capacity to produce research-grade sporozoites, which should impact delivery of a whole-parasite based malaria vaccine at scale in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Blight
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, London, UK
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Katarzyna A Sala
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, London, UK
| | - Erwan Atcheson
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Holger Kramer
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Henry Wellcome Building for Gene Function, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council London Institute of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Aadil El-Turabi
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Eliana Real
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, London, UK
| | - Farah A Dahalan
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, London, UK
| | - Paulo Bettencourt
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Emma Dickinson-Craig
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Eduardo Alves
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Ahmed M Salman
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Chris J Janse
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden Malaria Research Group, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, (LUMC, L4-Q), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Frances M Ashcroft
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Henry Wellcome Building for Gene Function, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Adrian Vs Hill
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
| | - Arturo Reyes-Sandoval
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Andrew M Blagborough
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, London, UK
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
81
|
Zhai L, Anderson D, Bruckner E, Tumban E. Novel expression of coat proteins from thermophilic bacteriophage ΦIN93 and evaluation for assembly into virus-like particles. Protein Expr Purif 2021; 187:105932. [PMID: 34214599 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2021.105932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) have the potential to be used as display platforms to develop vaccines against infectious and non-infectious agents. However, most VLPs used as vaccine display platforms are derived from viruses that infect humans; unfortunately, most humans already have pre-existing antibodies against these platforms and thus, the immunogenicity of these vaccines may be compromised. VLP platforms derived from viruses that infect bacteria (bacteriophages), especially bacteriophages that infect bacteria, which do not colonize humans are less likely to have pre-existing antibodies against the platforms in the human population. In this study, we assessed whether two putative coat proteins (ORF13 and ORF14) derived from a thermophilic bacteriophage (ΦIN93) can be expressed and purified from a mesophilic bacterium such as E. coli. We also assessed whether expressed coat proteins can assemble to form VLPs. Truncated versions of ORF13 and ORF14 were successfully co-expressed in bacteria; the co-expressed truncated proteins formed oval structures that look like VLPs, but their sizes were less than those of an authentic ΦIN93 virus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lukai Zhai
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA
| | - Dana Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA
| | - Elizabeth Bruckner
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA
| | - Ebenezer Tumban
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
82
|
Collins KA, Brod F, Snaith R, Ulaszewska M, Longley RJ, Salman AM, Gilbert SC, Spencer AJ, Franco D, Ballou WR, Hill AVS. Ultra-low dose immunization and multi-component vaccination strategies enhance protection against malaria in mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10792. [PMID: 34031479 PMCID: PMC8144388 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90290-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
An effective vaccine would be a valuable tool for malaria control and elimination; however, the leading malaria vaccine in development, RTS,S/AS01, provided only partial protection in a Phase 3 trial. R21 is a next-generation RTS,S-like vaccine. We have previously shown in mice that R21 administered in Matrix-M is highly immunogenic, able to elicit complete protection against sporozoite challenge, and can be successfully administered with TRAP based viral-vectors resulting in enhanced protection. In this study, we developed a novel, GMP-compatible purification process for R21, and evaluated the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of ultra-low doses of both R21 and RTS,S when formulated in AS01. We demonstrated that both vaccines are highly immunogenic and also elicit comparable high levels of protection against transgenic parasites in BALB/c mice. By lowering the vaccine dose there was a trend for increased immunogenicity and sterile protection, with the highest dose vaccine groups achieving the lowest efficacy (50% sterile protection). We also evaluated the ability to combine RTS,S/AS01 with TRAP based viral-vectors and observed concurrent induction of immune responses to both antigens with minimal interference when mixing the vaccines prior to administration. These studies suggest that R21 or RTS,S could be combined with viral-vectors for a multi-component vaccination approach and indicate that low dose vaccination should be fully explored in humans to maximize potential efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katharine A Collins
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. .,Radboud Institute for Health Science, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Florian Brod
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rebecca Snaith
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Marta Ulaszewska
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rhea J Longley
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ahmed M Salman
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah C Gilbert
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alexandra J Spencer
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | - Adrian V S Hill
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|
83
|
Datoo MS, Natama MH, Somé A, Traoré O, Rouamba T, Bellamy D, Yameogo P, Valia D, Tegneri M, Ouedraogo F, Soma R, Sawadogo S, Sorgho F, Derra K, Rouamba E, Orindi B, Ramos Lopez F, Flaxman A, Cappuccini F, Kailath R, Elias S, Mukhopadhyay E, Noe A, Cairns M, Lawrie A, Roberts R, Valéa I, Sorgho H, Williams N, Glenn G, Fries L, Reimer J, Ewer KJ, Shaligram U, Hill AVS, Tinto H. Efficacy of a low-dose candidate malaria vaccine, R21 in adjuvant Matrix-M, with seasonal administration to children in Burkina Faso: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2021; 397:1809-1818. [PMID: 33964223 PMCID: PMC8121760 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00943-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 72.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stalled progress in controlling Plasmodium falciparum malaria highlights the need for an effective and deployable vaccine. RTS,S/AS01, the most effective malaria vaccine candidate to date, demonstrated 56% efficacy over 12 months in African children. We therefore assessed a new candidate vaccine for safety and efficacy. METHODS In this double-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2b trial, the low-dose circumsporozoite protein-based vaccine R21, with two different doses of adjuvant Matrix-M (MM), was given to children aged 5-17 months in Nanoro, Burkina Faso-a highly seasonal malaria transmission setting. Three vaccinations were administered at 4-week intervals before the malaria season, with a fourth dose 1 year later. All vaccines were administered intramuscularly into the thigh. Group 1 received 5 μg R21 plus 25 μg MM, group 2 received 5 μg R21 plus 50 μg MM, and group 3, the control group, received rabies vaccinations. Children were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to groups 1-3. An independent statistician generated a random allocation list, using block randomisation with variable block sizes, which was used to assign participants. Participants, their families, and the local study team were all masked to group allocation. Only the pharmacists preparing the vaccine were unmasked to group allocation. Vaccine safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy were evaluated over 1 year. The primary objective assessed protective efficacy of R21 plus MM (R21/MM) from 14 days after the third vaccination to 6 months. Primary analyses of vaccine efficacy were based on a modified intention-to-treat population, which included all participants who received three vaccinations, allowing for inclusion of participants who received the wrong vaccine at any timepoint. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03896724. FINDINGS From May 7 to June 13, 2019, 498 children aged 5-17 months were screened, and 48 were excluded. 450 children were enrolled and received at least one vaccination. 150 children were allocated to group 1, 150 children were allocated to group 2, and 150 children were allocated to group 3. The final vaccination of the primary series was administered on Aug 7, 2019. R21/MM had a favourable safety profile and was well tolerated. The majority of adverse events were mild, with the most common event being fever. None of the seven serious adverse events were attributed to the vaccine. At the 6-month primary efficacy analysis, 43 (29%) of 146 participants in group 1, 38 (26%) of 146 participants in group 2, and 105 (71%) of 147 participants in group 3 developed clinical malaria. Vaccine efficacy was 74% (95% CI 63-82) in group 1 and 77% (67-84) in group 2 at 6 months. At 1 year, vaccine efficacy remained high, at 77% (67-84) in group 1. Participants vaccinated with R21/MM showed high titres of malaria-specific anti-Asn-Ala-Asn-Pro (NANP) antibodies 28 days after the third vaccination, which were almost doubled with the higher adjuvant dose. Titres waned but were boosted to levels similar to peak titres after the primary series of vaccinations after a fourth dose administered 1 year later. INTERPRETATION R21/MM appears safe and very immunogenic in African children, and shows promising high-level efficacy. FUNDING The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, Wellcome Trust, and National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mehreen S Datoo
- Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Magloire H Natama
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Athanase Somé
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Ousmane Traoré
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Toussaint Rouamba
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Duncan Bellamy
- The Jenner Institute Laboratories, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Prisca Yameogo
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Daniel Valia
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Moubarak Tegneri
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Florence Ouedraogo
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Rachidatou Soma
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Seydou Sawadogo
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Faizatou Sorgho
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Karim Derra
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Eli Rouamba
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Fernando Ramos Lopez
- Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Amy Flaxman
- The Jenner Institute Laboratories, University of Oxford, UK
| | | | - Reshma Kailath
- The Jenner Institute Laboratories, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Sean Elias
- The Jenner Institute Laboratories, University of Oxford, UK
| | | | - Andres Noe
- The Jenner Institute Laboratories, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew Cairns
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Alison Lawrie
- Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Rachel Roberts
- Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Innocent Valéa
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Hermann Sorgho
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | | | | | | | | | - Katie J Ewer
- The Jenner Institute Laboratories, University of Oxford, UK
| | | | - Adrian V S Hill
- Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute Laboratories, University of Oxford, UK.
| | - Halidou Tinto
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso.
| |
Collapse
|
84
|
Nguyen B, Tolia NH. Protein-based antigen presentation platforms for nanoparticle vaccines. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:70. [PMID: 33986287 PMCID: PMC8119681 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00330-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern vaccine design has sought a minimalization approach, moving to the isolation of antigens from pathogens that invoke a strong neutralizing immune response. This approach has created safer vaccines but may limit vaccine efficacy due to poor immunogenicity. To combat global diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, and AIDS there is a clear urgency for more effective next-generation vaccines. One approach to improve the immunogenicity of vaccines is the use of nanoparticle platforms that present a repetitive array of antigen on its surface. This technology has been shown to improve antigen presenting cell uptake, lymph node trafficking, and B-cell activation through increased avidity and particle size. With a focus on design, we summarize natural platforms, methods of antigen attachment, and advancements in generating self-assembly that have led to new engineered platforms. We further examine critical parameters that will direct the usage and development of more effective platforms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Nguyen
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Niraj H Tolia
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
85
|
Vekemans J, Schellenberg D, Benns S, O'Brien K, Alonso P. Meeting report: WHO consultation on malaria vaccine development, Geneva, 15-16 July 2019. Vaccine 2021; 39:2907-2916. [PMID: 33931251 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.03.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Considerable progress has been made in malaria control in the last two decades, but progress has stalled in the last few years. New tools are needed to achieve public health goals in malaria control and elimination. A first generation vaccine, RTS,S/AS01, is currently being evaluated as it undergoes pilot implementation through routine health systems in parts of three African countries. The development of this vaccine took over 30 years and has been full of uncertainties. Even now, important unknowns remain as to its future role in public health. Lessons need to be learnt for second generation and future vaccines, including how to facilitate early planning of investments, streamlining of development, regulatory and policy pathways. A number of candidate vaccines populate the current development pipeline, some of which have the potential to contribute to burden reduction if efficacy is confirmed in conditions of natural exposure, and if they are amenable to affordable supply and programmatic implementation. New, innovative technologies will be needed if future malaria vaccines are to overcome important scientific hurdles and induce durable, high level protection. WHO convened a stakeholder consultation on the status of malaria vaccine research and development to inform the recently reconstituted Malaria Vaccine Advisory Committee (MALVAC) which will assist WHO in updating its current guidance and recommendations about priorities and product preferences for malaria vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johan Vekemans
- World Health Organization, 20 Av Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Kate O'Brien
- World Health Organization, 20 Av Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
| | - Pedro Alonso
- World Health Organization, 20 Av Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
86
|
Atcheson E, Hill AVS, Reyes-Sandoval A. A VLP for validation of the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein junctional epitope for vaccine development. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:46. [PMID: 33795695 PMCID: PMC8016880 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00302-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria continues to be a pressing global health issue, causing nearly half a million deaths per year. An effective malaria vaccine could radically improve our ability to control and eliminate this pathogen. The most advanced malaria vaccine, RTS,S, confers only 30% protective efficacy under field conditions, and hence the search continues for improved vaccines. New antigens and formulations are always first developed at a pre-clinical level. This paper describes the development of a platform to supplement existing tools of pre-clinical malaria vaccine development, by displaying linear peptides on a virus-like particle (VLP). Peptides from PfCSP, particularly from outside the normal target of neutralizing antibodies, the central NANP repeat region, are screened for evidence of protective efficacy. One peptide, recently identified as a target of potent neutralizing antibodies and lying at the junction between the N-terminal domain and the central repeat region of PfCSP, is found to confer protective efficacy against malaria sporozoite challenge in mice when presented on the Qβ VLP. The platform is also used to explore the effects of increasing numbers of NANP unit repeats, and including a universal CD4+ T-cell epitope from tetanus toxin, on immunogenicity and protective efficacy. The VLP-peptide platform is shown to be of use in screening malaria peptides for protective efficacy and answering basic vaccinology questions in a pre-clinical setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Arturo Reyes-Sandoval
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. .,Instituto Politécnico Nacional, IPN. Av. Luis Enrique Erro s/n. Unidad Adolfo López Mateos, Mexico City, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
87
|
Pirahmadi S, Zakeri S, Djadid ND, Mehrizi AA. A review of combination adjuvants for malaria vaccines: a promising approach for vaccine development. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:699-717. [PMID: 33798560 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
It is obvious that there is a critical need for an efficient malaria vaccine to accelerate malaria eradication. Currently, recombinant subunit vaccination against malaria using proteins and peptides is gaining attention. However, one of the major drawbacks of this approach is the lack of an efficient and durable immune response. Therefore, subunit vaccines require adjuvants to make the vaccine sufficiently immunogenic. Considering the history of the RTS,S vaccine, it seems likely that no single adjuvant is capable of eliciting all the protective immune responses required in many malarial subunit vaccines and the use of combination adjuvants will be increasingly important as the science of malaria vaccines advances. In light of this, it appears that identifying the most effective mixture of adjuvants with minimal adverse effects offers tremendous opportunities in improving the efficacy of vaccines against malaria. Owing to the importance of a multi-adjuvanted approach in subunit malaria vaccine development, this review paper outlines some of the best known combination adjuvants used in malaria subunit vaccines, focusing on their proposed mechanisms of action, their immunological properties, and their notable results. The aim of the present review is to consolidate these findings to aid the application of these combination adjuvants in experimental malaria vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sakineh Pirahmadi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sedigheh Zakeri
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Navid D Djadid
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Akram A Mehrizi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
88
|
Eacret JS, Parzych EM, Gonzales DM, Burns JM. Inclusion of an Optimized Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein 2-Based Antigen in a Trivalent, Multistage Malaria Vaccine. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:1817-1831. [PMID: 33789984 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein (PfMSP)2 is a target of parasite-neutralizing Abs. Inclusion of recombinant PfMSP2 (rPfMSP2) as a component of a multivalent malaria vaccine is of interest, but presents challenges. Previously, we used the highly immunogenic PfMSP8 as a carrier to enhance production and/or immunogenicity of malaria vaccine targets. In this study, we exploited the benefits of rPfMSP8 as a carrier to optimize a rPfMSP2-based subunit vaccine. rPfMSP2 and chimeric rPfMSP2/8 vaccines produced in Escherichia coli were evaluated in comparative immunogenicity studies in inbred (CB6F1/J) and outbred (CD1) mice, varying the dose and adjuvant. Immunization of mice with both rPfMSP2-based vaccines elicited high-titer anti-PfMSP2 Abs that recognized the major allelic variants of PfMSP2. Vaccine-induced T cells recognized epitopes present in both PfMSP2 and the PfMSP8 carrier. Competition assays revealed differences in Ab specificities induced by the two rPfMSP2-based vaccines, with evidence of epitope masking by rPfMSP2-associated fibrils. In contrast to aluminum hydroxide (Alum) as adjuvant, formulation of rPfMSP2 vaccines with glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant-stable emulsion, a synthetic TLR4 agonist, elicited Th1-associated cytokines, shifting production of Abs to cytophilic IgG subclasses. The rPfMSP2/8 + glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant-stable emulsion formulation induced significantly higher Ab titers with superior durability and capacity to opsonize P. falciparum merozoites for phagocytosis. Immunization with a trivalent vaccine including PfMSP2/8, PfMSP1/8, and the P. falciparum 25 kDa sexual stage antigen fused to PfMSP8 (Pfs25/8) induced high levels of Abs specific for epitopes in each targeted domain, with no evidence of antigenic competition. These results are highly encouraging for the addition of rPfMSP2/8 as a component of an efficacious, multivalent, multistage malaria vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline S Eacret
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Elizabeth M Parzych
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Donna M Gonzales
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - James M Burns
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| |
Collapse
|
89
|
Feng G, Wines BD, Kurtovic L, Chan JA, Boeuf P, Mollard V, Cozijnsen A, Drew DR, Center RJ, Marshall DL, Chishimba S, McFadden GI, Dent AE, Chelimo K, Boyle MJ, Kazura JW, Hogarth PM, Beeson JG. Mechanisms and targets of Fcγ-receptor mediated immunity to malaria sporozoites. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1742. [PMID: 33741975 PMCID: PMC7979888 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21998-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A highly protective vaccine will greatly facilitate achieving and sustaining malaria elimination. Understanding mechanisms of antibody-mediated immunity is crucial for developing vaccines with high efficacy. Here, we identify key roles in humoral immunity for Fcγ-receptor (FcγR) interactions and opsonic phagocytosis of sporozoites. We identify a major role for neutrophils in mediating phagocytic clearance of sporozoites in peripheral blood, whereas monocytes contribute a minor role. Antibodies also promote natural killer cell activity. Mechanistically, antibody interactions with FcγRIII appear essential, with FcγRIIa also required for maximum activity. All regions of the circumsporozoite protein are targets of functional antibodies against sporozoites, and N-terminal antibodies have more activity in some assays. Functional antibodies are slowly acquired following natural exposure to malaria, being present among some exposed adults, but uncommon among children. Our findings reveal targets and mechanisms of immunity that could be exploited in vaccine design to maximize efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaoqian Feng
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine and Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Bruce D Wines
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Clinical Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Liriye Kurtovic
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jo-Anne Chan
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Philippe Boeuf
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine and Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Vanessa Mollard
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Anton Cozijnsen
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Damien R Drew
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rob J Center
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine and Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Daniel L Marshall
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sandra Chishimba
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine and Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Geoffrey I McFadden
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Arlene E Dent
- Centre for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kiprotich Chelimo
- Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Maseno University, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Michelle J Boyle
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Immunology, IMR-Berghofer Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - James W Kazura
- Centre for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - P Mark Hogarth
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Clinical Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - James G Beeson
- Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Medicine and Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
90
|
Francica JR, Shi W, Chuang GY, Chen SJ, Da Silva Pereira L, Farney SK, Flynn BJ, Ou L, Stephens T, Tsybovsky Y, Wang LT, Anderson A, Beck Z, Dillon M, Idris AH, Hurlburt N, Liu T, Zhang B, Alving CR, Matyas GR, Pancera M, Mascola JR, Kwong PD, Seder RA. Design of Alphavirus Virus-Like Particles Presenting Circumsporozoite Junctional Epitopes That Elicit Protection against Malaria. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9030272. [PMID: 33803622 PMCID: PMC8003078 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9030272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The most advanced malaria vaccine, RTS,S, includes the central repeat and C-terminal domains of the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP). We have recently isolated human antibodies that target the junctional region between the N-terminal and repeat domains that are not included in RTS,S. Due to the fact that these antibodies protect against malaria challenge in mice, their epitopes could be effective vaccine targets. Here, we developed immunogens displaying PfCSP junctional epitopes by genetic fusion to either the N-terminus or B domain loop of the E2 protein from chikungunya (CHIK) alphavirus and produced CHIK virus-like particles (CHIK-VLPs). The structural integrity of these junctional-epitope-CHIK-VLP immunogens was confirmed by negative-stain electron microscopy. Immunization of these CHIK-VLP immunogens reduced parasite liver load by up to 95% in a mouse model of malaria infection and elicited better protection than when displayed on keyhole limpet hemocyanin, a commonly used immunogenic carrier. Protection correlated with PfCSP serum titer. Of note, different junctional sequences elicited qualitatively different reactivities to overlapping PfCSP peptides. Overall, these results show that the junctional epitopes of PfCSP can induce protective responses when displayed on CHIK-VLP immunogens and provide a basis for the development of a next generation malaria vaccine to expand the breadth of anti-PfCSP immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R. Francica
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Wei Shi
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Gwo-Yu Chuang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Steven J. Chen
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Lais Da Silva Pereira
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - S. Katie Farney
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Barbara J. Flynn
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Li Ou
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Tyler Stephens
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21701, USA; (T.S.); (Y.T.)
| | - Yaroslav Tsybovsky
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21701, USA; (T.S.); (Y.T.)
| | - Lawrence T. Wang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Alexander Anderson
- Laboratory of Adjuvant & Antigen Research, US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (A.A.); (Z.B.); (C.R.A.); (G.R.M.)
| | - Zoltan Beck
- Laboratory of Adjuvant & Antigen Research, US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (A.A.); (Z.B.); (C.R.A.); (G.R.M.)
| | - Marlon Dillon
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Azza H. Idris
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Nicholas Hurlburt
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA;
| | - Tracy Liu
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Baoshan Zhang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Carl R. Alving
- Laboratory of Adjuvant & Antigen Research, US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (A.A.); (Z.B.); (C.R.A.); (G.R.M.)
| | - Gary R. Matyas
- Laboratory of Adjuvant & Antigen Research, US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (A.A.); (Z.B.); (C.R.A.); (G.R.M.)
| | - Marie Pancera
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA;
| | - John R. Mascola
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Peter D. Kwong
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
- Correspondence: (P.D.K.); (R.A.S.)
| | - Robert A. Seder
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
- Correspondence: (P.D.K.); (R.A.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
91
|
Kurtovic L, Wetzel D, Reiling L, Drew DR, Palmer C, Kouskousis B, Hanssen E, Wines BD, Hogarth PM, Suckow M, Jenzelewski V, Piontek M, Chan JA, Beeson JG. Novel Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Encoding the Circumsporozoite Protein of Plasmodium falciparum Is Immunogenic and Induces Functional Antibody Responses in Mice. Front Immunol 2021; 12:641421. [PMID: 33815393 PMCID: PMC8010251 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.641421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
RTS,S is the leading malaria vaccine in development, but has demonstrated only moderate protective efficacy in clinical trials. RTS,S is a virus-like particle (VLP) that uses the human hepatitis B virus as scaffold to display the malaria sporozoite antigen, circumsporozoite protein (CSP). Particle formation requires four-fold excess scaffold antigen, and as a result, CSP represents only a small portion of the final vaccine construct. Alternative VLP or nanoparticle platforms that reduce the amount of scaffold antigen and increase the amount of the target CSP antigen present in particles may enhance vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy. Here, we describe the production and characterization of a novel VLP that uses the small surface antigen (dS) of duck hepatitis B virus to display CSP. The CSP-dS fusion protein successfully formed VLPs without the need for excess scaffold antigen, and thus CSP represented a larger portion of the vaccine construct. CSP-dS formed large particles approximately 31-74 nm in size and were confirmed to display CSP on the surface. CSP-dS VLPs were highly immunogenic in mice and induced antibodies to multiple regions of CSP, even when administered at a lower vaccine dosage. Vaccine-induced antibodies demonstrated relevant functional activities, including Fc-dependent interactions with complement and Fcγ-receptors, previously identified as important in malaria immunity. Further, vaccine-induced antibodies had similar properties (epitope-specificity and avidity) to monoclonal antibodies that are protective in mouse models. Our novel platform to produce VLPs without excess scaffold protein has wide implications for the future development of vaccines for malaria and other infectious diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liriye Kurtovic
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Departments of Immunology and Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Linda Reiling
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Damien R. Drew
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | - Eric Hanssen
- The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Bruce D. Wines
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Departments of Immunology and Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Clinical Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - P. Mark Hogarth
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Departments of Immunology and Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Clinical Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Jo-Anne Chan
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Departments of Immunology and Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - James G. Beeson
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Departments of Immunology and Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
92
|
Chatterjee D, Cockburn IA. The challenges of a circumsporozoite protein-based malaria vaccine. Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 20:113-125. [PMID: 33554669 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1874924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A safe and effective vaccine will likely be necessary for the control or eradication of malaria which kills 400,000 annually. Our most advanced vaccine candidate to date is RTS,S which is based on the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) of the malaria parasite. However, protection by RTS,S is incomplete and short-lived. AREAS COVERED Here we summarize results from recent clinical trials of RTS,S and critically evaluate recent studies that aim to understand the correlates of protective immunity and why vaccine-induced protection is short-lived. In particular, recent systems serology studies have highlighted a key role for the necessity of inducing functional antibodies. In-depth analyses of immune responses to CSP in both mouse models and vaccinated humans have also highlighted difficulties in generating the maintaining high-quality antibody responses. Finally, in recent years biophysical and structural studies of antibody binding to PfCSP have led to a better understanding of how highly potent antibodies can block infection, which can inform vaccine design. EXPERT OPINION We highlight how both structure-guided vaccine design and a better understanding of the immune response to PfCSP can inform a second generation of PfCSP-based vaccines stimulating a broader range of protective targets within PfCSP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepyan Chatterjee
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, John Curtin School of Medical Research, the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Ian Andrew Cockburn
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, John Curtin School of Medical Research, the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
93
|
Jelínková L, Jhun H, Eaton A, Petrovsky N, Zavala F, Chackerian B. An epitope-based malaria vaccine targeting the junctional region of circumsporozoite protein. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:13. [PMID: 33479242 PMCID: PMC7820318 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-020-00274-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A malaria vaccine that elicits long-lasting protection and is suitable for use in endemic areas remains urgently needed. Here, we assessed the immunogenicity and prophylactic efficacy of a vaccine targeting a recently described epitope on the major surface antigen on Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites, circumsporozoite protein (CSP). Using a virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccine platform technology, we developed a vaccine that targets the junctional region between the N-terminal and central repeat regions of CSP. This region is recognized by monoclonal antibodies, including mAb CIS43, that have been shown to potently prevent liver invasion in animal models. We show that CIS43 VLPs elicit high-titer and long-lived anti-CSP antibody responses in mice and is immunogenic in non-human primates. In mice, vaccine immunogenicity was enhanced by using mixed adjuvant formulations. Immunization with CIS43 VLPs conferred partial protection from malaria infection in a mouse model, and passive transfer of serum from immunized macaques also inhibited parasite liver invasion in the mouse infection model. Our findings demonstrate that a Qβ VLP-based vaccine targeting the CIS43 epitope combined with various adjuvants is highly immunogenic in mice and macaques, elicits long-lasting anti-CSP antibodies, and inhibits parasite infection in a mouse model. Thus, the CIS43 VLP vaccine is a promising pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine candidate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Jelínková
- grid.266832.b0000 0001 2188 8502Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico USA
| | - Hugo Jhun
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Allison Eaton
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Nikolai Petrovsky
- grid.451447.7Vaxine Pty Ltd, 11 Walkley Avenue, Warradale, Adelaide, SA 5046 Australia ,grid.1014.40000 0004 0367 2697College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042 Australia
| | - Fidel Zavala
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Bryce Chackerian
- grid.266832.b0000 0001 2188 8502Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico USA
| |
Collapse
|
94
|
Zaheer T, Pal K, Zaheer I. Topical review on nano-vaccinology: Biochemical promises and key challenges. Process Biochem 2021; 100:237-244. [PMID: 33013180 PMCID: PMC7521878 DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2020.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nanomaterials have wide-ranging biomedical applications in prevention, treatment and control of diseases. Nanoparticle based vaccines have proven prodigious prophylaxis of various infectious and non-infectious diseases of human and animal concern. Nano-vaccines outnumber the conventional vaccines by virtue of plasticity in physio-chemical properties and ease of administration. The efficacy of nano-based vaccines may be attributed to the improved antigen stability, minimum immuno-toxicity, sustained release, enhanced immunogenicity and the flexibility of physical features of nanoparticles. Based on these, the nano-based vaccines have potential to evoke both cellular and humoral immune responses. Targeted and highly specific immunological pathways required for solid and long lasting immunity may be achieved with specially engineered nano-vaccines. This review presents an insight into the prevention of infectious diseases (of bacterial, viral and parasitic origin) and non-infectious diseases (cancer, auto-immune diseases) using nano-vaccinology. Additionally, key challenges to the effective utilization of nano-vaccines from bench to clinical settings have been highlighted as research domains for future.
Collapse
Key Words
- CAPN, calcium-phosphate nanoparticles
- CNT, carbon nanotube
- COVID-19, Corona virus disease-2019
- Chi-Alg, chitosan alginate
- HIV, human immune deficiency virus
- HPV, human papilloma virus
- ISCOMS, immune stimulating complexes
- IgA, immunoglobulin A
- Immunity
- MERS, Middle-East respiratory syndrome
- MRSA, methcillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
- NMVs, nano multilamellar lipid vesicles
- Nanoparticles
- PLGA, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)
- PSNP, polystyrene nanoparticles
- Pathogens
- Prevention
- SAPN, Self-Assembling Protein Nanoparticle
- SARS-CoV-1, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-1
- VLP, virus like particles
- Vaccine
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tean Zaheer
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
| | - Kaushik Pal
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro RJ, 21941-901, Brazil
- Wuhan University, 8 East Lake South Road, Wuchang 430072, Hubei Province, China
| | - Iqra Zaheer
- Department of Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
95
|
Subdominance in Antibody Responses: Implications for Vaccine Development. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2020; 85:85/1/e00078-20. [PMID: 33239435 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00078-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccines work primarily by eliciting antibodies, even when recovery from natural infection depends on cellular immunity. Large efforts have therefore been made to identify microbial antigens that elicit protective antibodies, but these endeavors have encountered major difficulties, as witnessed by the lack of vaccines against many pathogens. This review summarizes accumulating evidence that subdominant protein regions, i.e., surface-exposed regions that elicit relatively weak antibody responses, are of particular interest for vaccine development. This concept may seem counterintuitive, but subdominance may represent an immune evasion mechanism, implying that the corresponding region potentially is a key target for protective immunity. Following a presentation of the concepts of immunodominance and subdominance, the review will present work on subdominant regions in several major human pathogens: the protozoan Plasmodium falciparum, two species of pathogenic streptococci, and the dengue and influenza viruses. Later sections are devoted to the molecular basis of subdominance, its potential role in immune evasion, and general implications for vaccine development. Special emphasis will be placed on the fact that a whole surface-exposed protein domain can be subdominant, as demonstrated for all of the pathogens described here. Overall, the available data indicate that subdominant protein regions are of much interest for vaccine development, not least in bacterial and protozoal systems, for which antibody subdominance remains largely unexplored.
Collapse
|
96
|
Mo AXY, Pesce J, Augustine AD, Bodmer JL, Breen J, Leitner W, Hall BF. Understanding vaccine-elicited protective immunity against pre-erythrocytic stage malaria in endemic regions. Vaccine 2020; 38:7569-7577. [PMID: 33071001 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.09.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent malaria vaccine trials in endemic areas have yielded disparate results compared to studies conducted in non-endemic areas. A workshop was organized to discuss the differential pre-erythrocytic stage malaria vaccine (Pre-E-Vac) efficacies and underlying protective immunity under various conditions. It was concluded that many factors, including vaccine technology platforms, host genetics or physiologic conditions, and parasite and mosquito vector variations, may all contribute to Pre-E-Vac efficacy. Cross-disciplinary approaches are needed to decipher the multi-dimensional variables that contribute to the observed vaccine hypo-responsiveness. The malaria vaccine community has an opportunity to leverage recent advances in immunology, systems vaccinology, and high dimensionality data science methodologies to generate new clinical datasets with unprecedented levels of functional resolution as well as capitalize on existing datasets for comprehensive and aggregate analyses. These approaches would help to unlock our understanding of Pre-E-Vac immunology and to translate new candidates from the laboratory to the field more predictably.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annie X Y Mo
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Service, Rockville, MD 20892, MSC 9825, USA.
| | - John Pesce
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Service, Rockville, MD 20892, MSC 9825, USA
| | - Alison Deckhut Augustine
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Service, Rockville, MD 20892, MSC 9825, USA
| | | | - Joseph Breen
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Service, Rockville, MD 20892, MSC 9825, USA
| | - Wolfgang Leitner
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Service, Rockville, MD 20892, MSC 9825, USA
| | - B Fenton Hall
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Service, Rockville, MD 20892, MSC 9825, USA
| |
Collapse
|
97
|
Abuga KM, Jones-Warner W, Hafalla JCR. Immune responses to malaria pre-erythrocytic stages: Implications for vaccine development. Parasite Immunol 2020; 43:e12795. [PMID: 32981095 PMCID: PMC7612353 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Radiation-attenuated sporozoites induce sterilizing immunity and remain the 'gold standard' for malaria vaccine development. Despite practical challenges in translating these whole sporozoite vaccines to large-scale intervention programmes, they have provided an excellent platform to dissect the immune responses to malaria pre-erythrocytic (PE) stages, comprising both sporozoites and exoerythrocytic forms. Investigations in rodent models have provided insights that led to the clinical translation of various vaccine candidates-including RTS,S/AS01, the most advanced candidate currently in a trial implementation programme in three African countries. With advances in immunology, transcriptomics and proteomics, and application of lessons from past failures, an effective, long-lasting and wide-scale malaria PE vaccine remains feasible. This review underscores the progress in PE vaccine development, focusing on our understanding of host-parasite immunological crosstalk in the tissue environments of the skin and the liver. We highlight possible gaps in the current knowledge of PE immunity that can impact future malaria vaccine development efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin Mokaya Abuga
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Department of Epidemiology and Demography, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - William Jones-Warner
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Julius Clemence R Hafalla
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
98
|
Discovery of four new B-cell protective epitopes for malaria using Q beta virus-like particle as platform. NPJ Vaccines 2020; 5:92. [PMID: 33083027 PMCID: PMC7546618 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-020-00242-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains one of the world’s most urgent global health problems, with almost half a million deaths and hundreds of millions of clinical cases each year. Existing interventions by themselves will not be enough to tackle infection in high-transmission areas. The best new intervention would be an effective vaccine; but the leading P. falciparum and P. vivax vaccine candidates, RTS,S and VMP001, show only modest to low field efficacy. New antigens and improved ways for screening antigens for protective efficacy will be required. This study exploits the potential of Virus-Like Particles (VLP) to enhance immune responses to antigens, the ease of coupling peptides to the Q beta (Qβ) VLP and the existing murine malaria challenge to screen B-cell epitopes for protective efficacy. We screened P. vivax TRAP (PvTRAP) immune sera against individual 20-mer PvTRAP peptides. The most immunogenic peptides associated with protection were loaded onto Qβ VLPs to assess protective efficacy in a malaria sporozoite challenge. A second approach focused on identifying conserved regions within known sporozoite invasion proteins and assessing them as part of the Qβ. Using this VLP as a peptide scaffold, four new protective B-cell epitopes were discovered: three from the disordered region of PvTRAP and one from Thrombospondin-related sporozoite protein (TRSP). Antigenic interference between these and other B-cell epitopes was also explored using the virus-like particle/peptide platform. This approach demonstrates the utility of VLPs to help identifying new B-cell epitopes for inclusion in next-generation malaria vaccines.
Collapse
|
99
|
Xu Z, Chokkalingam N, Tello-Ruiz E, Walker S, Kulp DW, Weiner DB. Incorporation of a Novel CD4+ Helper Epitope Identified from Aquifex aeolicus Enhances Humoral Responses Induced by DNA and Protein Vaccinations. iScience 2020; 23:101399. [PMID: 32763137 PMCID: PMC7409978 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
CD4+ T cells play an important role in the maturation of the antibody responses. Conjugation of identified CD4+ T cell helper epitope to the target antigen has been developed as a strategy to enhance vaccine-induced humoral immunity. In this work, we reported the identification of a novel HLA-IAb helper epitope LS-3 from Aquifex aeolicus. In silico analysis predicted this epitope to have high binding affinity to common human HLA alleles and have complementary binding coverage to the established PADRE epitope. Introduction of HLA-IAb knockout mutations to the LS-3 epitope significantly attenuated humoral responses induced by a vaccine containing this epitope. Finally, engineered fusion of the epitope to a model antigen, influenza hemagglutinin, significantly improved both binding and hemagglutination inhibition antibody responses in mice receiving DNA or protein vaccines. In summary, LS-3 and additional identified CD4+ helper epitopes may be further explored to improve vaccine responses in translational studies. Identification of a novel CD4+ helper epitope, LS-3, from Aquifex aeolicus In silico analysis predicts high binding affinity of LS-3 to human HLA-DR alleles Fusing LS-3 to antigen enhances humoral response by vaccinations
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziyang Xu
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Neethu Chokkalingam
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Edgar Tello-Ruiz
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Susanne Walker
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Daniel W Kulp
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - David B Weiner
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
100
|
Lee SH, Chu KB, Kang HJ, Basak S, Kim MJ, Park H, Jin H, Moon EK, Quan FS. Virus-like particles expressing Plasmodium berghei MSP-8 induce protection against P. berghei infection. Parasite Immunol 2020; 42:e12781. [PMID: 32738150 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Merozoite surface protein 8 (MSP-8) of Plasmodium parasites plays an important role in erythrocyte invasion and is a potential malaria vaccine candidate. METHODS AND RESULTS In this study, virus-like particles (VLPs) expressing MSP-8 of Plasmodium berghei on the surface of influenza virus matrix protein 1 (M1) core protein were generated for vaccine efficacy assessment. Mice were intramuscularly (IM) immunized with MSP-8 VLPs twice and challenge-infected with P. berghei. We found that VLP vaccination elicited higher levels of P. berghei-specific IgG antibody response in the sera, along with blood CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell response enhancement compared to the naïve control mice. CD4+ and CD8+ effector memory T-cell and memory B-cell responses in the spleen were found to be higher in VLP-immunized mice compared to control mice. VLP vaccination significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine (IFN-γ) response in the spleen and parasitemia levels in blood compared to naïve control mice. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that MSP-8 containing virus-like particles could be a vaccine candidate for blood-stage vaccine design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Su-Hwa Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ki-Back Chu
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Swarnendu Basak
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Min-Ju Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | | | - Hui Jin
- Health Park Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun-Kyung Moon
- Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate school, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| |
Collapse
|