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Alatrash R, Herrera BB. The Adaptive Immune Response against Bunyavirales. Viruses 2024; 16:483. [PMID: 38543848 PMCID: PMC10974645 DOI: 10.3390/v16030483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The Bunyavirales order includes at least fourteen families with diverse but related viruses, which are transmitted to vertebrate hosts by arthropod or rodent vectors. These viruses are responsible for an increasing number of outbreaks worldwide and represent a threat to public health. Infection in humans can be asymptomatic, or it may present with a range of conditions from a mild, febrile illness to severe hemorrhagic syndromes and/or neurological complications. There is a need to develop safe and effective vaccines, a process requiring better understanding of the adaptive immune responses involved during infection. This review highlights the most recent findings regarding T cell and antibody responses to the five Bunyavirales families with known human pathogens (Peribunyaviridae, Phenuiviridae, Hantaviridae, Nairoviridae, and Arenaviridae). Future studies that define and characterize mechanistic correlates of protection against Bunyavirales infections or disease will help inform the development of effective vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Alatrash
- Rutgers Global Health Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases and Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Bobby Brooke Herrera
- Rutgers Global Health Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases and Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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Jenkin D, Wright D, Folegatti PM, Platt A, Poulton I, Lawrie A, Tran N, Boyd A, Turner C, Gitonga JN, Karanja HK, Mugo D, Ewer KJ, Bowden TA, Gilbert SC, Charleston B, Kaleebu P, Hill AVS, Warimwe GM. Safety and immunogenicity of a ChAdOx1 vaccine against Rift Valley fever in UK adults: an open-label, non-randomised, first-in-human phase 1 clinical trial. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 23:956-964. [PMID: 37060917 PMCID: PMC7614834 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(23)00068-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rift Valley fever is a viral epidemic illness prevalent in Africa that can be fatal or result in debilitating sequelae in humans. No vaccines are available for human use. We aimed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a non-replicating simian adenovirus-vectored Rift Valley fever (ChAdOx1 RVF) vaccine in humans. METHODS We conducted a phase 1, first-in-human, open-label, dose-escalation trial in healthy adults aged 18-50 years at the Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Oxford, UK. Participants were required to have no serious comorbidities or previous history of receiving an adenovirus-based vaccine before enrolment. Participants were non-randomly allocated to receive a single ChAdOx1 RVF dose of either 5 × 109 virus particles (vp), 2·5 × 1010 vp, or 5 × 1010 vp administered intramuscularly into the deltoid of their non-dominant arm; enrolment was sequential and administration was staggered to allow for safety to be assessed before progression to the next dose. Primary outcome measures were assessment of adverse events and secondary outcome measures were Rift Valley fever neutralising antibody titres, Rift Valley fever GnGc-binding antibody titres (ELISA), and cellular response (ELISpot), analysed in all participants who received a vaccine. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04754776). FINDINGS Between June 11, 2021, and Jan 13, 2022, 15 volunteers received a single dose of either 5 × 109 vp (n=3), 2·5 × 1010 vp (n=6), or 5 × 1010 vp (n=6) ChAdOx1 RVF. Nine participants were female and six were male. 14 (93%) of 15 participants reported solicited local adverse reactions; injection-site pain was the most frequent (13 [87%] of 15). Ten (67%) of 15 participants (from the 2·5 × 1010 vp and 5 × 1010 vp groups only) reported systemic symptoms, which were mostly mild in intensity, the most common being headache (nine [60%] of 15) and fatigue (seven [47%]). All unsolicited adverse events reported within 28 days were either mild or moderate in severity; gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common reaction (at least possibly related to vaccination), occurring in four (27%) of 15 participants. Transient decreases in total white cell, lymphocyte, or neutrophil counts occurred at day 2 in some participants in the intermediate-dose and high-dose groups. Lymphopenia graded as severe occurred in two participants in the 5 × 1010 vp group at a single timepoint, but resolved at the subsequent follow-up visit. No serious adverse events occurred. Rift Valley fever neutralising antibodies were detectable across all dose groups, with all participants in the 5 × 1010 vp dose group having high neutralising antibody titres that peaked at day 28 after vaccination and persisted through the 3-month follow-up. High titres of binding IgG targeting Gc glycoprotein were detected whereas those targeting Gn were comparatively low. IFNγ cellular responses against Rift Valley fever Gn and Gc glycoproteins were observed in all participants except one in the 5 × 1010 vp dose group. These IFNγ responses peaked at 2 weeks after vaccination, were highest in the 5 × 1010 vp dose group, and tended to be more frequent against the Gn glycoprotein. INTERPRETATION ChAdOx1 RVF was safe, well tolerated, and immunogenic when administered as a single dose in this study population. The data support further clinical development of ChAdOx1 RVF for human use. FUNDING UK Department of Health and Social Care through the UK Vaccines Network, Oak Foundation, and the Wellcome Trust. TRANSLATION For the Swahili translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Jenkin
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Daniel Wright
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Abigail Platt
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ian Poulton
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alison Lawrie
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nguyen Tran
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Amy Boyd
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Cheryl Turner
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - John N Gitonga
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Henry K Karanja
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Daisy Mugo
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Katie J Ewer
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Thomas A Bowden
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah C Gilbert
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science Oxford Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Pontiano Kaleebu
- Medical Research Council-Uganda Virus Research Institute and The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | - George M Warimwe
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.
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Bracci N, de la Fuente C, Saleem S, Pinkham C, Narayanan A, García-Sastre A, Balaraman V, Richt JA, Wilson W, Kehn-Hall K. Rift Valley fever virus Gn V5-epitope tagged virus enables identification of UBR4 as a Gn interacting protein that facilitates Rift Valley fever virus production. Virology 2022; 567:65-76. [PMID: 35032865 PMCID: PMC8877469 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2021.12.010] [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: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an arbovirus that was first reported in the Rift Valley of Kenya which causes significant disease in humans and livestock. RVFV is a tri-segmented, negative-sense RNA virus consisting of a L, M, and S segments with the M segment encoding the glycoproteins Gn and Gc. Host factors that interact with Gn are largely unknown. To this end, two viruses containing an epitope tag (V5) on the Gn protein in position 105 or 229 (V5Gn105 and V5Gn229) were generated using the RVFV MP-12 vaccine strain as a backbone. The V5-tag insertion minimally impacted Gn functionality as measured by replication kinetics, Gn localization, and antibody neutralization assays. A proteomics-based approach was used to identify novel Gn-binding host proteins, including the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, UBR4. Depletion of UBR4 resulted in a significant decrease in RVFV titers and a reduction in viral RNA production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Bracci
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University
| | - Cynthia de la Fuente
- The National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, DEA,National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University
| | - Sahar Saleem
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University
| | - Chelsea Pinkham
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University
| | - Aarthi Narayanan
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University
| | | | - Velmurugan Balaraman
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University
| | - Juergen A. Richt
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University
| | - William Wilson
- National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, Agricultural Research Service, USDA
| | - Kylene Kehn-Hall
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University,Center for Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,Corresponding Author: Kylene Kehn-Hall, Ph.D., Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Integrated Life Sciences Building, 1981 Kraft Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060 USA,
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Wright D, Allen ER, Clark MH, Gitonga JN, Karanja HK, Hulswit RJ, Taylor I, Biswas S, Marshall J, Mwololo D, Muriuki J, Bett B, Bowden TA, Warimwe GM. Naturally Acquired Rift Valley Fever Virus Neutralizing Antibodies Predominantly Target the Gn Glycoprotein. iScience 2020; 23:101669. [PMID: 33134899 PMCID: PMC7588868 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral hemorrhagic disease first discovered in Kenya in 1930. Numerous animal studies have demonstrated that protective immunity is acquired following RVF virus (RVFV) infection and that this correlates with acquisition of virus-neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) that target the viral envelope glycoproteins. However, naturally acquired immunity to RVF in humans is poorly described. Here, we characterized the immune response to the viral envelope glycoproteins, Gn and Gc, in RVFV-exposed Kenyan adults. Long-lived IgG (dominated by IgG1 subclass) and T cell responses were detected against both Gn and Gc. However, antigen-specific antibody depletion experiments showed that Gn-specific antibodies dominate the RVFV nAb response. IgG avidity against Gn, but not Gc, correlated with nAb titers. These data are consistent with the greater level of immune accessibility of Gn on the viral envelope surface and confirm the importance of Gn as an integral component for RVF vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Wright
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, CGMRC, PO Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Elizabeth R. Allen
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | | | - John N. Gitonga
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, CGMRC, PO Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Henry K. Karanja
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, CGMRC, PO Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Ruben J.G. Hulswit
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Iona Taylor
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Sumi Biswas
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | | | - Damaris Mwololo
- International Livestock Research Institute, PO Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - John Muriuki
- International Livestock Research Institute, PO Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Bernard Bett
- International Livestock Research Institute, PO Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Thomas A. Bowden
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - George M. Warimwe
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, CGMRC, PO Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
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Morini S, Calzolari M, Rossini G, Pascarelli N, Porcellini A, Randi V, Re MC, Albieri A, Bonilauri P, Bellini R, Ayhan N, Charrel R, Varani S. Detection of Specific Antibodies against Toscana Virus among Blood Donors in Northeastern Italy and Correlation with Sand Fly Abundance in 2014. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8020145. [PMID: 31973058 PMCID: PMC7074719 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8020145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Toscana virus (TOSV) is a Phlebovirus transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies and is an important etiological agent of summer meningitis in the Mediterranean basin. Since TOSV infection is often asymptomatic, we evaluated the seroprevalence in blood donors (BDs) in the Bologna and Ferrara provinces (Northeastern Italy)-the areas with the highest and lowest numbers of TOSV neuroinvasive cases in the region, respectively. A total of 1208 serum samples from BDs were collected in April-June 2014 and evaluated for the presence of specific TOSV-IgG by ELISA. The IgG-reactive samples were confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF) and by microneutralization test (MN). Serum samples were defined as positive for anti-TOSV IgG when reactive by ELISA and by at least one second-level test; TOSV seroprevalence was 6.8% in the Bologna province, while no circulation of TOSV was detected in the Ferrara province. Sand fly abundance in 2014 was also estimated by a geographic information system using a generalized linear model applied to a series of explanatory variables. TOSV seroprevalence rate was strongly associated with the sand fly abundance index in each municipality, pointing out the strong association between sand fly abundance and human exposure to TOSV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Morini
- Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Regional Reference Centre for Microbiological Emergencies (CRREM), St. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.)
| | - Mattia Calzolari
- Laboratory of Entomology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “B. Ubertini” (IZLER), 42124 Reggio Emilia, Italy; (M.C.); (P.B.)
| | - Giada Rossini
- Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Regional Reference Centre for Microbiological Emergencies (CRREM), St. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.)
| | - Nadia Pascarelli
- Centro Regionale Sangue Emilia-Romagna, Maggiore Hospital, 40133 Bologna, Italy; (N.P.); (A.P.); (V.R.)
| | - Andrea Porcellini
- Centro Regionale Sangue Emilia-Romagna, Maggiore Hospital, 40133 Bologna, Italy; (N.P.); (A.P.); (V.R.)
| | - Vanda Randi
- Centro Regionale Sangue Emilia-Romagna, Maggiore Hospital, 40133 Bologna, Italy; (N.P.); (A.P.); (V.R.)
| | - Maria Carla Re
- Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Regional Reference Centre for Microbiological Emergencies (CRREM), St. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.)
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Albieri
- Department of Medical and Veterinary Entomology, Centro Agricoltura Ambiente ‘G. Nicoli’, 40014 Crevalcore, Italy; (A.A.); (R.B.)
| | - Paolo Bonilauri
- Laboratory of Entomology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “B. Ubertini” (IZLER), 42124 Reggio Emilia, Italy; (M.C.); (P.B.)
| | - Romeo Bellini
- Department of Medical and Veterinary Entomology, Centro Agricoltura Ambiente ‘G. Nicoli’, 40014 Crevalcore, Italy; (A.A.); (R.B.)
| | - Nazli Ayhan
- Unité des Virus Emergents (UVE: Aix Marseille Univ, IRD 190, INSERM 1207, IHU Méditerranée Infection), 13005 Marseille, France; (N.A.); (R.C.)
| | - Remi Charrel
- Unité des Virus Emergents (UVE: Aix Marseille Univ, IRD 190, INSERM 1207, IHU Méditerranée Infection), 13005 Marseille, France; (N.A.); (R.C.)
| | - Stefania Varani
- Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Regional Reference Centre for Microbiological Emergencies (CRREM), St. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.)
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-051-2143013
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Abstract
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis that was first discovered in Kenya in 1930 and is now endemic throughout multiple African countries and the Arabian Peninsula. RVF virus primarily infects domestic livestock (sheep, goats, cattle) causing high rates of neonatal mortality and abortion, with human infection resulting in a wide variety of clinical outcomes, ranging from self-limiting febrile illness to life-threatening haemorrhagic diatheses, and miscarriage in pregnant women. Since its discovery, RVF has caused many outbreaks in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula with major impacts on human and animal health. However, options for the control of RVF outbreaks are limited by the lack of licensed human vaccines or therapeutics. For this reason, RVF is prioritized by the World Health Organization for urgent research and development of countermeasures for the prevention and control of future outbreaks. In this review, we highlight the current understanding of RVF, including its epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and status of vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Wright
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas A. Bowden
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
| | - George M. Warimwe
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
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7
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Lindahl JF, Ragan IK, Rowland RR, Wainaina M, Mbotha D, Wilson W. A multiplex fluorescence microsphere immunoassay for increased understanding of Rift Valley fever immune responses in ruminants in Kenya. J Virol Methods 2019; 269:70-76. [PMID: 30974177 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2019.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an important mosquito-borne pathogen with devastating impacts on agriculture and public health. With outbreaks being reported beyond the continent of Africa to the Middle East, there is great concern that RVFV will continue to spread to non-endemic areas such as the Americas and Europe. There is a need for safe and high throughput serological assays for rapid detection of RVFV during outbreaks and for surveillance. We evaluated a multiplexing fluorescence microsphere immunoassay (FMIA) for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies in ruminant sera against the RVFV nucleocapsid Np, glycoprotein Gn, and non-structural protein NSs. Sheep and cattle sera from a region in Kenya with previous outbreaks were tested by FMIA and two commercially available competitive ELISAs (BDSL and IDvet). Our results revealed strong detection of RVFV antibodies against the Np, Gn and NSs antigen targets. Additionally, testing of samples with FMIA Np and Gn had 100% agreement with the IDvet ELISA. The targets developed in the FMIA assay provided a basis for a larger ruminant disease panel that can simultaneously screen several abortive and zoonotic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna F Lindahl
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Swedish University of Agricultural Research, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Izabela K Ragan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - R R Rowland
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | | | - Deborah Mbotha
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - William Wilson
- Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA, ARS, Manhattan, KS, USA
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8
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Mbewana S, Meyers AE, Rybicki EP. Chimaeric Rift Valley Fever Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Candidate Production in Nicotiana benthamiana. Biotechnol J 2019; 14:e1800238. [PMID: 30488669 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201800238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging mosquito-borne virus and hemorrhagic fever agent, which causes abortion storms in farmed small ruminants and potentially causes miscarriages in humans. Although live-attenuated vaccines are available for animals, they can only be used in endemic areas and there are currently no commercially available vaccines for humans. Here the authors describe the production of chimaeric RVFV virus-like particles transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer. The glycoprotein (Gn) gene is modified by removing its ectodomain (Gne) and fusing it to the transmembrane domain and cytosolic tail-encoding region of avian influenza H5N1 hemagglutinin. This is expressed transiently in N. benthamiana with purified protein yields calculated to be ≈57 mg kg-1 fresh weight. Transmission electron microscopy shows putative chimaeric RVFV Gne-HA particles of 49-60 nm which are immunogenic, eliciting Gn-specific antibody responses in vaccinated mice without the use of adjuvant. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the synthesis of Gne-HA chimaeric RVFV VLPs and the first demonstration of a detectable yield of RVFV Gn in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandiswa Mbewana
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, 22 University Ave, Rondebosch 7700, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ann E Meyers
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, 22 University Ave, Rondebosch 7700, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Edward P Rybicki
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, 22 University Ave, Rondebosch 7700, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory 7925, South Africa
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A Rift Valley fever virus Gn ectodomain-based DNA vaccine induces a partial protection not improved by APC targeting. NPJ Vaccines 2018; 3:14. [PMID: 29707242 PMCID: PMC5910381 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-018-0052-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus, a phlebovirus endemic in Africa, causes serious diseases in ruminants and humans. Due to the high probability of new outbreaks and spread to other continents where competent vectors are present, vaccine development is an urgent priority as no licensed vaccines are available outside areas of endemicity. In this study, we evaluated in sheep the protective immunity induced by DNA vaccines encoding the extracellular portion of the Gn antigen which was either or not targeted to antigen-presenting cells. The DNA encoding untargeted antigen was the most potent at inducing IgG responses, although not neutralizing, and conferred a significant clinical and virological protection upon infectious challenge, superior to DNA vaccines encoding the targeted antigen. A statistical analysis of the challenge parameters supported that the anti-eGn IgG, rather than the T-cell response, was instrumental in protection. Altogether, this work shows that a DNA vaccine encoding the extracellular portion of the Gn antigen confers substantial—although incomplete—protective immunity in sheep, a natural host with high preclinical relevance, and provides some insights into key immune correlates useful for further vaccine improvements against the Rift Valley fever virus. A vaccine made from the genome of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) offers partial protection, but pieces of the puzzle are missing, say scientists. French and Spanish researchers, led by the French National Institute for Agricultural Research’s Isabelle Schwartz-Cornil, tested in sheep three slightly-differing vaccine candidates using RVFV genes. Such DNA vaccines are designed to generate proteins which a host’s immune system can use to arm itself against a genuine viral infection. Two of the candidates, designed to target cells that would present the viral proteins to the host’s immune system, provided some benefit to the vaccinated sheep. However, the third untargeted candidate, was the most efficient at protecting sheep, although not completely, and at boosting antibody levels despite not neutralizing the virus. These results provide hope for DNA vaccines against RVFV, and offer direction for future research effort.
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11
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Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) (genus Phlebovirus, family Bunyaviridae) is an arbovirus that causes severe disease in humans and livestock in sub-Saharan African countries. The virus carries a tripartite, single-stranded, and negative-sense RNA genome, designated as L, M, and S RNAs. RVFV spread can be prevented by the effective vaccination of animals and humans. Although the MP-12 strain of RVFV is a live attenuated vaccine candidate, MP-12 showed neuroinvasiveness and neurovirulence in young mice and immunodeficiency mice. Hence, there is a concern for the use of MP-12 to certain individuals, especially those that are immunocompromised. To improve MP-12 safety, we have generated a single-cycle, replicable MP-12 (scMP-12), which carries L RNA, S RNA encoding green fluorescent protein in place of a viral nonstructural protein NSs, and an M RNA encoding a mutant envelope protein lacking an endoplasmic reticulum retrieval signal and defective for membrane fusion function. The scMP-12 undergoes efficient amplification in the Vero-G cell line, which is a Vero cell line stably expressing viral envelope proteins, while it undergoes single-cycle replication in naïve cells and completely lacks neurovirulence in suckling mice after intracranial inoculation. A single-dose vaccination of mice with scMP-12 confers protective immunity. Thus, scMP-12 represents a new, promising RVF vaccine candidate. Here we describe protocols for scMP-12 generation by using a reverse genetics system, establishment of Vero-G cells, and titration of scMP-12 in Vero-G cells.
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12
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Calvert AE, Brault AC. Development and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies Directed Against the Nucleoprotein of Heartland Virus. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2015; 93:1338-40. [PMID: 26503274 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 08/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Heartland virus (HRTV), a phlebovirus first isolated from two Missouri farmers in 2009, has been proposed to be transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Amblyomma americanum ticks. It is closely related to severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) from China, another previously unrecognized phlebovirus that has subsequently been associated with hundreds of cases of severe disease in humans. To expand diagnostic capacity to detect HRTV infections, 20 hybridoma clones secreting anti-HRTV murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were developed using splenocytes from HRTV-inoculated AG129 alpha/beta and gamma interferon receptor-deficient mice. Nine of these MAbs were characterized herein for inclusion in future HRTV diagnostic assay development. All of the MAbs developed were found to be non-neutralizing and reactive to linear epitopes on HRTV nucleocapsid protein. MAb 2AF11 was found to be cross-reactive with SFTSV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E Calvert
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Aaron C Brault
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado
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Terasaki K, Tercero BR, Makino S. Single-cycle replicable Rift Valley fever virus mutants as safe vaccine candidates. Virus Res 2015; 216:55-65. [PMID: 26022573 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2015.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Revised: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an arbovirus circulating between ruminants and mosquitoes to maintain its enzootic cycle. Humans are infected with RVFV through mosquito bites or direct contact with materials of infected animals. The virus causes Rift Valley fever (RVF), which was first recognized in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya in 1931. RVF is characterized by a febrile illness resulting in a high rate of abortions in ruminants and an acute febrile illness, followed by fatal hemorrhagic fever and encephalitis in humans. Initially, the virus was restricted to the eastern region of Africa, but the disease has now spread to southern and western Africa, as well as outside of the African continent, e.g., Madagascar, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. There is a serious concern that the virus may spread to other areas, such as North America and Europe. As vaccination is an effective tool to control RVFV epidemics, formalin-inactivated vaccines and live-attenuated RVFV vaccines have been used in endemic areas. The formalin-inactivated vaccines require boosters for effective protection, whereas the live-attenuated vaccines enable the induction of protective immunity by a single vaccination. However, the use of live-attenuated RVFV vaccines for large human populations having a varied health status is of concern, because of these vaccines' residual neuro-invasiveness and neurovirulence. Recently, novel vaccine candidates have been developed using replication-defective RVFV that can undergo only a single round of replication in infected cells. The single-cycle replicable RVFV does not cause systemic infection in immunized hosts, but enables the conferring of protective immunity. This review summarizes the properties of various RVFV vaccines and recent progress on the development of the single-cycle replicable RVFV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaori Terasaki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1019, USA.
| | - Breanna R Tercero
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1019, USA
| | - Shinji Makino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1019, USA; Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1019, USA; UTMB Center for Tropical Diseases, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1019, USA; Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1019, USA; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1019, USA
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14
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Murakami S, Terasaki K, Ramirez SI, Morrill JC, Makino S. Development of a novel, single-cycle replicable rift valley Fever vaccine. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2746. [PMID: 24651859 PMCID: PMC3961198 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) (genus Phlebovirus, family Bunyaviridae) is an arbovirus that causes severe disease in humans and livestock in sub-Saharan African countries. Although the MP-12 strain of RVFV is a live attenuated vaccine candidate, neuroinvasiveness and neurovirulence of MP-12 in mice may be a concern when vaccinating certain individuals, especially those that are immunocompromised. We have developed a novel, single-cycle replicable MP-12 (scMP-12), which carries an L RNA, M RNA mutant encoding a mutant envelope protein lacking an endoplasmic reticulum retrieval signal and defective for membrane fusion function, and S RNA encoding N protein and green fluorescent protein. The scMP-12 underwent efficient amplification, then formed plaques and retained the introduced mutation after serial passages in a cell line stably expressing viral envelope proteins. However, inoculation of the scMP-12 into naïve cells resulted in a single round of viral replication, and production of low levels of noninfectious virus-like particles. Intracranial inoculation of scMP-12 into suckling mice did not cause clinical signs or death, a finding which demonstrated that the scMP-12 lacked neurovirulence. Mice immunized with a single dose of scMP-12 produced neutralizing antibodies, whose titers were higher than in mice immunized with replicon particles carrying L RNA and S RNA encoding N protein and green fluorescent protein. Moreover, 90% of the scMP-12-immunized mice were protected from wild-type RVFV challenge by efficiently suppressing viremia and replication of the challenge virus in the liver and the spleen. These data demonstrated that scMP-12 is a safe and immunogenic RVFV vaccine candidate.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Disease Models, Animal
- Female
- Mice
- Mutant Proteins/genetics
- Mutant Proteins/metabolism
- Rift Valley Fever/prevention & control
- Rift Valley fever virus/genetics
- Rift Valley fever virus/immunology
- Rift Valley fever virus/physiology
- Survival Analysis
- Vaccines, Attenuated/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Attenuated/adverse effects
- Vaccines, Attenuated/genetics
- Vaccines, Attenuated/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Synthetic/adverse effects
- Vaccines, Synthetic/genetics
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
- Viral Proteins/genetics
- Viral Proteins/immunology
- Viral Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Viral Vaccines/adverse effects
- Viral Vaccines/genetics
- Viral Vaccines/immunology
- Virus Internalization
- Virus Replication
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Murakami
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kaori Terasaki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sydney I. Ramirez
- Department of Pathology, the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - John C. Morrill
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Shinji Makino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- UTMB Center for Tropical Diseases, the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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15
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Weingartl HM, Zhang S, Marszal P, McGreevy A, Burton L, Wilson WC. Rift Valley fever virus incorporates the 78 kDa glycoprotein into virions matured in mosquito C6/36 cells. PLoS One 2014; 9:e87385. [PMID: 24489907 PMCID: PMC3905018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), genus Phlebovirus, family Bunyaviridae is a zoonotic arthropod-borne virus able to transition between distant host species, causing potentially severe disease in humans and ruminants. Viral proteins are encoded by three genomic segments, with the medium M segment coding for four proteins: nonstructural NSm protein, two glycoproteins Gn and Gc and large 78 kDa glycoprotein (LGp) of unknown function. Goat anti-RVFV polyclonal antibody and mouse monoclonal antibody, generated against a polypeptide unique to the LGp within the RVFV proteome, detected this protein in gradient purified RVFV ZH501 virions harvested from mosquito C6/36 cells but not in virions harvested from the mammalian Vero E6 cells. The incorporation of LGp into the mosquito cell line - matured virions was confirmed by immune-electron microscopy. The LGp was incorporated into the virions immediately during the first passage in C6/36 cells of Vero E6 derived virus. Our data indicate that LGp is a structural protein in C6/36 mosquito cell generated virions. The protein may aid the transmission from the mosquitoes to the ruminant host, with a possible role in replication of RVFV in the mosquito host. To our knowledge, this is a first report of different protein composition between virions formed in insect C6/36 versus mammalian Vero E6 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana M. Weingartl
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Shunzhen Zhang
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Peter Marszal
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Alan McGreevy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Lynn Burton
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - William C. Wilson
- Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America
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16
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Ergunay K, Kocak Tufan Z, Bulut C, Kinikli S, Demiroz AP, Ozkul A. Antibody responses and viral load in patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: a comprehensive analysis during the early stages of the infection. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2014; 79:31-6. [PMID: 24630756 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2013.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2013] [Revised: 12/23/2013] [Accepted: 12/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This study was performed to assess viral load, viral nucleocapsid (N), and glycoprotein precursor (GPC) antibodies in consecutive samples obtained from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever patients to reveal viral replication kinetics and antiviral immune responses during the early stages of the infection. Among 116 samples from 20 individuals, 43.9% and 76.7% were positive for viral RNA and IgM/IgG antibodies, respectively, whereas both markers could be detected in 22.4%. Mean duration of viremia was 3 days (range: 1-6 days). N-IgM antibodies were identified as the initial serological marker during the infection, becoming detectable in a median of 2-3 days after disease onset, followed by GPC-IgM (4-6 days) and IgG antibodies (5-6 days). Clearance of viremia followed or coincided N-IgM response. Partial S gene sequences amplified in viremic patients were identical or closely related to previously characterized strains and grouped within European lineage I group II viruses via neighbor-joining analysis without significant amino acid substitutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koray Ergunay
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Zeliha Kocak Tufan
- Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Department, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Cemal Bulut
- Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Department, MOH Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sami Kinikli
- Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Department, MOH Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ali Pekcan Demiroz
- Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Department, MOH Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aykut Ozkul
- Department of Virology, Ankara University; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
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17
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Possible future monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based therapy against arbovirus infections. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 2013:838491. [PMID: 24058915 PMCID: PMC3766601 DOI: 10.1155/2013/838491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2013] [Revised: 07/05/2013] [Accepted: 07/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
More than 150 arboviruses belonging to different families are known to infect humans, causing endemic infections as well as epidemic outbreaks. Effective vaccines to limit the occurrence of some of these infections have been licensed, while for the others several new immunogens are under development mostly for their improvements concerning safety and effectiveness profiles. On the other hand, specific and effective antiviral drugs are not yet available, posing an urgent medical need in particular for emergency cases. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of several infectious diseases as well as in preliminary in vitro and in vivo models of arbovirus-related infections. Given their specific antiviral activity as well-tolerated molecules with limited side effects, mAbs could represent a new therapeutic approach for the development of an effective treatment, as well as useful tools in the study of the host-virus interplay and in the development of more effective immunogens. However, before their use as candidate therapeutics, possible hurdles (e.g., Ab-dependent enhancement of infection, occurrence of viral escape variants) must be carefully evaluated. In this review are described the main arboviruses infecting humans and candidate mAbs to be possibly used in a future passive immunotherapy.
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18
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Xu W, Watts DM, Costanzo MC, Tang X, Venegas LA, Jiao F, Sette A, Sidney J, Sewell AK, Wooldridge L, Makino S, Morrill JC, Peters CJ, Kan-Mitchell J. The nucleocapsid protein of Rift Valley fever virus is a potent human CD8+ T cell antigen and elicits memory responses. PLoS One 2013; 8:e59210. [PMID: 23527138 PMCID: PMC3601065 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2012] [Accepted: 02/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
There is no licensed human vaccine currently available for Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV), a Category A high priority pathogen and a serious zoonotic threat. While neutralizing antibodies targeting the viral glycoproteins are protective, they appear late in the course of infection, and may not be induced in time to prevent a natural or bioterrorism-induced outbreak. Here we examined the immunogenicity of RVFV nucleocapsid (N) protein as a CD8(+) T cell antigen with the potential for inducing rapid protection after vaccination. HLA-A*0201 (A2)-restricted epitopic determinants were identified with N-specific CD8(+) T cells from eight healthy donors that were primed with dendritic cells transduced to express N, and subsequently expanded in vitro by weekly re-stimulations with monocytes pulsed with 59 15mer overlapping peptides (OLPs) across N. Two immunodominant epitopes, VT9 (VLSEWLPVT, N(121-129)) and IL9 (ILDAHSLYL, N165-173), were defined. VT9- and IL9-specific CD8(+) T cells identified by tetramer staining were cytotoxic and polyfunctional, characteristics deemed important for viral control in vivo. These peptides induced specific CD8(+) T cell responses in A2-transgenic mice, and more importantly, potent N-specific CD8(+) T cell reactivities, including VT9- and IL9-specific ones, were mounted by mice after a booster vaccination with the live attenuated RVF MP-12. Our data suggest that the RVFV N protein is a potent human T cell immunogen capable of eliciting broad, immunodominant CD8(+) T cell responses that are potentially protective. Understanding the immune responses to the nucleocapsid is central to the design of an effective RVFV vaccine irrespective of whether this viral protein is effective as a stand-alone immunogen or only in combination with other RVFV antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Xu
- Department of Biological Science and Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
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19
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Rusu M, Bonneau R, Holbrook MR, Watowich SJ, Birmanns S, Wriggers W, Freiberg AN. An assembly model of rift valley Fever virus. Front Microbiol 2012; 3:254. [PMID: 22837754 PMCID: PMC3400131 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2012] [Accepted: 06/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a bunyavirus endemic to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula that infects humans and livestock. The virus encodes two glycoproteins, Gn and Gc, which represent the major structural antigens and are responsible for host cell receptor binding and fusion. Both glycoproteins are organized on the virus surface as cylindrical hollow spikes that cluster into distinct capsomers with the overall assembly exhibiting an icosahedral symmetry. Currently, no experimental three-dimensional structure for any entire bunyavirus glycoprotein is available. Using fold recognition, we generated molecular models for both RVFV glycoproteins and found significant structural matches between the RVFV Gn protein and the influenza virus hemagglutinin protein and a separate match between RVFV Gc protein and Sindbis virus envelope protein E1. Using these models, the potential interaction and arrangement of both glycoproteins in the RVFV particle was analyzed, by modeling their placement within the cryo-electron microscopy density map of RVFV. We identified four possible arrangements of the glycoproteins in the virion envelope. Each assembly model proposes that the ectodomain of Gn forms the majority of the protruding capsomer and that Gc is involved in formation of the capsomer base. Furthermore, Gc is suggested to facilitate intercapsomer connections. The proposed arrangement of the two glycoproteins on the RVFV surface is similar to that described for the alphavirus E1-E2 proteins. Our models will provide guidance to better understand the assembly process of phleboviruses and such structural studies can also contribute to the design of targeted antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirabela Rusu
- School of Biomedical Informatics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Houston, TX, USA
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20
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Yu L, Zhang L, Sun L, Lu J, Wu W, Li C, Zhang Q, Zhang F, Jin C, Wang X, Bi Z, Li D, Liang M. Critical epitopes in the nucleocapsid protein of SFTS virus recognized by a panel of SFTS patients derived human monoclonal antibodies. PLoS One 2012; 7:e38291. [PMID: 22719874 PMCID: PMC3373585 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2012] [Accepted: 05/03/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background SFTS virus (SFTSV) is a newly discovered pathogen to cause severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in human. Successful control of SFTSV epidemic requires better understanding of the antigen target in humoral immune responses to the new bunyavirus infection. Methodology/Principal Findings We have generated a combinatorial Fab antibody phage library from two SFTS patients recovered from SFTSV infection. To date, 94 unique human antibodies have been generated and characterized from over 1200 Fab antibody clones obtained by screening the library with SFTS purified virions. All those monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) recognized the nucleocapsid (N) protein of SFTSV while none of them were reactive to the viral glycoproteins Gn or Gc. Furthermore, over screening 1000 mouse monoclonal antibody clones derived from SFTSV virions immunization, 462 clones reacted with N protein, while only 16 clones were reactive to glycoprotein. Furthermore, epitope mapping of SFTSV N protein was performed through molecular simulation, site mutation and competitive ELISA, and we found that at least 4 distinct antigenic epitopes within N protein were recognized by those human and mouse MAbs, in particular mutation of Glu10 to Ala10 abolished or significantly reduced the binding activity of nearly most SFTS patients derived MAbs. Conclusions/Significance The large number of human recombinant MAbs derived from SFTS patients recognized the viral N protein indicated the important role of the N protein in humoral responses to SFTSV infection, and the critical epitopes we defined in this study provided molecular basis for detection and diagnosis of SFTSV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yu
- Laboratory Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Laboratory Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | - Lina Sun
- Laboratory Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Lu
- Laboratory Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Laboratory Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | - Chuan Li
- Laboratory Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | - Quanfu Zhang
- Laboratory Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | - Fushun Zhang
- Laboratory Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | - Cong Jin
- Laboratory Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | - Xianjun Wang
- Shandong Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Shandong Province CDC, Jinan Shandong, China
| | - Zhenqiang Bi
- Shandong Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Shandong Province CDC, Jinan Shandong, China
| | - Dexin Li
- Laboratory Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | - Mifang Liang
- Laboratory Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
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21
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Ahmed Kamal S. Observations on rift valley fever virus and vaccines in Egypt. Virol J 2011; 8:532. [PMID: 22152149 PMCID: PMC3264540 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-8-532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2011] [Accepted: 12/12/2011] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV, genus: Phlebovirus, family: Bunyaviridae), is an arbovirus which causes significant morbidity and mortality in animals and humans. RVFV was introduced for the first time in Egypt in 1977. In endemic areas, the insect vector control and vaccination is considering appropriate measures if applied properly and the used vaccine is completely safe and the vaccination programs cover all the susceptible animals. Egypt is importing livestock and camels from the African Horn & the Sudan for human consumption. The imported livestock and camels were usually not vaccinated against RVFV. But in rare occasions, the imported livestock were vaccinated but with unknown date of vaccination and the unvaccinated control contacts were unavailable for laboratory investigations. Also, large number of the imported livestock and camels are often escaped slaughtering for breeding which led to the spread of new strains of FMD and the introduction of RVFV from the enzootic African countries. This article provide general picture about the present situation of RVFV in Egypt to help in controlling this important disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samia Ahmed Kamal
- Virology department, Animal Health Research Institute, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
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22
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Ergünay K, Litzba N, Lo MM, Aydoğan S, Saygan MB, Us D, Weidmann M, Niedrig M. Performance of various commercial assays for the detection of Toscana virus antibodies. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2011; 11:781-7. [PMID: 21395410 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2010.0224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sandfly fever virus (SFV) serotypes sandfly fever Naples virus, sandfly fever Sicilian virus, and sandfly fever Cyprus virus cause febrile diseases, whereas Toscana virus (TOSV) is responsible for aseptic meningoencephalitis. Diagnosis and surveillance of TOSV depend heavily on virus serology, and various commercial assays utilizing various antigen sources and formats have been available. The aim of this study was to perform comparative evaluation of commercially available serological assays for anti-TOSV immunoglobulins. MATERIALS AND METHODS A collection of 120 sera from healthy blood donors from an endemic region, previously identified to be reactive for antibodies against various SFV serotypes by indirect immunofluorescence test (IIFT), was reevaluated for IgG/IgM via IIFT, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and an immunoblot assay manufactured by Euroimmun, Diesse, and Mikrogen, respectively. Virus neutralization test (VNT) was performed for 99 sera using standard TOSV, sandfly fever Sicilian virus, and sandfly fever Naples virus strains. RESULTS A total of 89 samples (74.2%) were reactive for TOSV IgG in at least one of the commercial assays, and 31 samples (31.3%) were reactive in VNT for various SFV serotypes. Average percentage agreements among commercial assays and between VNT and the commercial assays were noted as 57.8% and 62.6%, respectively. No significant correlation between assay results and VNT titers was observed. SFV IgM antibodies were detected in a total of eight samples (6.7%) via IIFT, which were nonreactive in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and VNT. DISCUSSION Commercial diagnostic immunoassays displayed slight to fair agreement for TOSV IgG as assessed via kappa and percentage agreement values. The results could only be confirmed via virus neutralization in a portion of the samples, and overall agreement between the commercial assays and VNT was slight. Commercial assays such as immunoblot can be used in addition to VNT for confirmation of TOSV exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koray Ergünay
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
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23
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Characterization of the Candiru antigenic complex (Bunyaviridae: Phlebovirus), a highly diverse and reassorting group of viruses affecting humans in tropical America. J Virol 2011; 85:3811-20. [PMID: 21289119 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02275-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Phlebovirus of the family Bunyaviridae consists of approximately 70 named viruses, currently assigned to nine serocomplexes (species) based on antigenic similarities. Sixteen other named viruses that show little serologic relationship to the nine recognized groups are also classified as tentative species in the genus. In an effort to develop a more precise classification system for phleboviruses, we are attempting to sequence most of the named viruses in the genus with the goal of clarifying their phylogenetic relationships. In this report, we describe the serologic and phylogenetic relationships of 13 viruses that were found to be members of the Candiru serocomplex; 6 of them cause disease in humans. Analysis of full genome sequences revealed branching inconsistencies that suggest five reassortment events, all involving the M segment, and thus appear to be natural reassortants. This high rate of reassortment illustrates the inaccuracy of a classification system based solely on antigenic relationships.
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24
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Collao X, Palacios G, de Ory F, Sanbonmatsu S, Pérez-Ruiz M, Navarro JM, Molina R, Hutchison SK, Lipkin WI, Tenorio A, Sánchez-Seco MP. Granada virus: a natural phlebovirus reassortant of the sandfly fever Naples serocomplex with low seroprevalence in humans. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010. [PMID: 20889862 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A new member of the phlebovirus genus, tentatively named Granada virus, was detected in sandflies collected in Spain. By showing the presence of specific neutralizing antibodies in human serum collected in Granada, we show that Granada virus infects humans. The analysis of the complete genome of Granada virus revealed that this agent is likely to be a natural reassortant of the recently described Massilia virus (donor of the long and short segments) with a yet unidentified phlebovirus (donor of the medium segment).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximena Collao
- Department of Virology, National Center of Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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Collao X, Palacios G, de Ory F, Sanbonmatsu S, Pérez-Ruiz M, Navarro JM, Molina R, Hutchison SK, Lipkin WI, Tenorio A, Sánchez-Seco MP. Granada virus: a natural phlebovirus reassortant of the sandfly fever Naples serocomplex with low seroprevalence in humans. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010; 83:760-5. [PMID: 20889862 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A new member of the phlebovirus genus, tentatively named Granada virus, was detected in sandflies collected in Spain. By showing the presence of specific neutralizing antibodies in human serum collected in Granada, we show that Granada virus infects humans. The analysis of the complete genome of Granada virus revealed that this agent is likely to be a natural reassortant of the recently described Massilia virus (donor of the long and short segments) with a yet unidentified phlebovirus (donor of the medium segment).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximena Collao
- Department of Virology, National Center of Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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26
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Martín-Folgar R, Lorenzo G, Boshra H, Iglesias J, Mateos F, Borrego B, Brun A. Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against Rift Valley fever virus nucleocapsid protein generated by DNA immunization. MAbs 2010; 2:275-84. [PMID: 20400862 DOI: 10.4161/mabs.2.3.11676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper describes the generation of monoclonal antibodies directed to immunogenic nucleoprotein N epitopes of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), and their application in diagnostics, both for antibody detection in competitive ELISA and for antigen capture in a sandwich ELISA. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were generated after DNA immunization of Balb/c mice and characterized by western blot, ELISA and cell immunostaining assays. At least three different immunorelevant epitopes were defined by mAb competition assays. Interestingly, two of the mAbs generated were able to distinguish between RVFV strains from Egyptian or South African lineages. These monoclonal antibodies constitute useful tools for diagnosis, especially for the detection of serum anti-RVFV antibodies from a broad range of species by means of competitive ELISA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Martín-Folgar
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, Carretera de Valdeolmos, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
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27
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Kortekaas J, de Boer SM, Kant J, Vloet RPM, Antonis AFG, Moormann RJM. Rift Valley fever virus immunity provided by a paramyxovirus vaccine vector. Vaccine 2010; 28:4394-401. [PMID: 20434545 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.04.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2010] [Revised: 04/05/2010] [Accepted: 04/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) causes recurrent large outbreaks among humans and livestock. Although the virus is currently confined to the African continent and the Arabian Peninsula, there is a growing concern for RVFV incursions into countries with immunologically naïve populations. The RVFV structural glycoproteins Gn and Gc are preferred targets in the development of subunit vaccines that can be used to control future outbreaks. We here report the production of Gn and Gc by a recombinant vaccine strain of the avian paramyxovirus Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and demonstrate that intramuscular vaccination with this experimental NDV-based vector vaccine provides complete protection in mice. We also demonstrate that a single intramuscular vaccination of lambs, the main target species of RVFV, is sufficient to elicit a neutralizing antibody response.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kortekaas
- Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University Research Centre, AB Lelystad, The Netherlands.
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28
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Morrill JC, Ikegami T, Yoshikawa-Iwata N, Lokugamage N, Won S, Terasaki K, Zamoto-Niikura A, Peters CJ, Makino S. Rapid accumulation of virulent rift valley Fever virus in mice from an attenuated virus carrying a single nucleotide substitution in the m RNA. PLoS One 2010; 5:e9986. [PMID: 20376320 PMCID: PMC2848673 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2009] [Accepted: 03/10/2010] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), a member of the genus Phlebovirus within the family Bunyaviridae, is a negative-stranded RNA virus with a tripartite genome. RVFV is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes fever and severe hemorrhagic illness among humans, while in livestock it causes fever and high abortion rates. Methodology/Principal Findings Sequence analysis showed that a wild-type RVFV ZH501 preparation consisted of two major viral subpopulations, with a single nucleotide heterogeneity at nucleotide 847 of M segment (M847); one had a G residue at M847 encoding glycine in a major viral envelope Gn protein, while the other carried A residue encoding glutamic acid at the corresponding site. Two ZH501-derived viruses, rZH501-M847-G and rZH501-M847-A, carried identical genomic sequences, except that the former and the latter had G and A, respectively, at M847 were recovered by using a reverse genetics system. Intraperitoneal inoculation of rZH501-M847-A into mice caused a rapid and efficient viral accumulation in the sera, livers, spleens, kidneys and brains, and killed most of the mice within 8 days, whereas rZH501-M847-G caused low viremia titers, did not replicate as efficiently as did rZH501-M847-A in these organs, and had attenuated virulence to mice. Remarkably, as early as 2 days postinfection with rZH501-M847-G, the viruses carrying A at M847 emerged and became the major virus population thereafter, while replicating viruses retained the input A residue at M847 in rZH501-M847-A-infected mice. Conclusions/Significance These data demonstrated that the single nucleotide substitution in the Gn protein substantially affected the RVFV mouse virulence and that a virus population carrying the virulent viral genotype quickly emerged and became the major viral population within a few days in mice that were inoculated with the attenuated virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C. Morrill
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Tetsuro Ikegami
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Naoko Yoshikawa-Iwata
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nandadeva Lokugamage
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sungyong Won
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kaori Terasaki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Aya Zamoto-Niikura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - C. J. Peters
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (CJP); (SM)
| | - Shinji Makino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (CJP); (SM)
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29
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Mandell RB, Koukuntla R, Mogler LJ, Carzoli AK, Freiberg AN, Holbrook MR, Martin BK, Staplin WR, Vahanian NN, Link CJ, Flick R. A replication-incompetent Rift Valley fever vaccine: chimeric virus-like particles protect mice and rats against lethal challenge. Virology 2010; 397:187-98. [PMID: 19932911 PMCID: PMC2813982 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2009.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2009] [Revised: 10/27/2009] [Accepted: 11/02/2009] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) present viral antigens in a native conformation and are effectively recognized by the immune system and therefore are considered as suitable and safe vaccine candidates against many viral diseases. Here we demonstrate that chimeric VLPs containing Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) glycoproteins G(N) and G(C), nucleoprotein N and the gag protein of Moloney murine leukemia virus represent an effective vaccine candidate against Rift Valley fever, a deadly disease in humans and livestock. Long-lasting humoral and cellular immune responses are demonstrated in a mouse model by the analysis of neutralizing antibody titers and cytokine secretion profiles. Vaccine efficacy studies were performed in mouse and rat lethal challenge models resulting in high protection rates. Taken together, these results demonstrate that replication-incompetent chimeric RVF VLPs are an efficient RVFV vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Nicholas N. Vahanian
- BioProtection Systems Corporation, Ames, IA, USA,NewLink Genetics Corporation, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Charles J. Link
- BioProtection Systems Corporation, Ames, IA, USA,NewLink Genetics Corporation, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Ramon Flick
- BioProtection Systems Corporation, Ames, IA, USA,Corresponding author. Fax: +1 515 296 3820
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30
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de Boer SM, Kortekaas J, Antonis AF, Kant J, van Oploo JL, Rottier PJM, Moormann RJM, Bosch BJ. Rift Valley fever virus subunit vaccines confer complete protection against a lethal virus challenge. Vaccine 2010; 28:2330-9. [PMID: 20056185 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.12.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2009] [Revised: 12/08/2009] [Accepted: 12/23/2009] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging mosquito-borne virus causing significant morbidity and mortality in livestock and humans. Rift Valley fever is endemic in Africa, but also outside this continent outbreaks have been reported. Here we report the evaluation of two vaccine candidates based on the viral Gn and Gc envelope glycoproteins, both produced in a Drosophila insect cell expression system. Virus-like particles (VLPs) were generated by merely expressing the Gn and Gc glycoproteins. In addition, a soluble form of the Gn ectodomain was expressed and affinity-purified from the insect cell culture supernatant. Both vaccine candidates fully protected mice from a lethal challenge with RVFV. Importantly, absence of the nucleocapsid protein in either vaccine candidate facilitates the differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals using a commercial recombinant nucleocapsid protein-based indirect ELISA.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M de Boer
- Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Cluster of Mammalian Virology, Edelhertweg 15, 8219 PH, Lelystad, The Netherlands.
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31
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Ikegami T, Makino S. Rift valley fever vaccines. Vaccine 2009; 27 Suppl 4:D69-72. [PMID: 19837291 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.07.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2009] [Accepted: 07/15/2009] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), which belongs to the genus Phlebovirus, family Bunyaviridae, is a negative-stranded RNA virus carrying a tripartite RNA genome. RVFV is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes large outbreaks among ruminants and humans in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Human patients develop an acute febrile illness, followed by a fatal hemorrhagic fever, encephalitis or ocular diseases, whereas ruminants experience abortions during outbreak. Effective vaccination of both humans and ruminants is the best approach to control Rift Valley fever. This article summarizes the development of inactivated RVFV vaccine, live attenuated vaccine, and other new generation vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuro Ikegami
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0438, USA.
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32
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Electron cryo-microscopy and single-particle averaging of Rift Valley fever virus: evidence for GN-GC glycoprotein heterodimers. J Virol 2009; 83:3762-9. [PMID: 19193794 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02483-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a member of the genus Phlebovirus within the family Bunyaviridae. It is a mosquito-borne zoonotic agent that can cause hemorrhagic fever in humans. The enveloped RVFV virions are known to be covered by capsomers of the glycoproteins G(N) and G(C), organized on a T=12 icosahedral lattice. However, the structural units forming the RVFV capsomers have not been determined. Conflicting biochemical results for another phlebovirus (Uukuniemi virus) have indicated the existence of either G(N) and G(C) homodimers or G(N)-G(C) heterodimers in virions. Here, we have studied the structure of RVFV using electron cryo-microscopy combined with three-dimensional reconstruction and single-particle averaging. The reconstruction at 2.2-nm resolution revealed the organization of the glycoprotein shell, the lipid bilayer, and a layer of ribonucleoprotein (RNP). Five- and six-coordinated capsomers are formed by the same basic structural unit. Molecular-mass measurements suggest a G(N)-G(C) heterodimer as the most likely candidate for this structural unit. Both leaflets of the lipid bilayer were discernible, and the glycoprotein transmembrane densities were seen to modulate the curvature of the lipid bilayer. RNP densities were situated directly underneath the transmembrane densities, suggesting an interaction between the glycoprotein cytoplasmic tails and the RNPs. The success of the single-particle averaging approach taken in this study suggests that it is applicable in the study of other phleboviruses, as well, enabling higher-resolution description of these medically important pathogens.
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33
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Lagerqvist N, Näslund J, Lundkvist A, Bouloy M, Ahlm C, Bucht G. Characterisation of immune responses and protective efficacy in mice after immunisation with Rift Valley Fever virus cDNA constructs. Virol J 2009; 6:6. [PMID: 19149901 PMCID: PMC2637244 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-6-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2008] [Accepted: 01/17/2009] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Affecting both livestock and humans, Rift Valley Fever is considered as one of the most important viral zoonoses in Africa. However, no licensed vaccines or effective treatments are yet available for human use. Naked DNA vaccines are an interesting approach since the virus is highly infectious and existing attenuated Rift Valley Fever virus vaccine strains display adverse effects in animal trials. In this study, gene-gun immunisations with cDNA encoding structural proteins of the Rift Valley Fever virus were evaluated in mice. The induced immune responses were analysed for the ability to protect mice against virus challenge. Results Immunisation with cDNA encoding the nucleocapsid protein induced strong humoral and lymphocyte proliferative immune responses, and virus neutralising antibodies were acquired after vaccination with cDNA encoding the glycoproteins. Even though complete protection was not achieved by genetic immunisation, four out of eight, and five out of eight mice vaccinated with cDNA encoding the nucleocapsid protein or the glycoproteins, respectively, displayed no clinical signs of infection after challenge. In contrast, all fourteen control animals displayed clinical manifestations of Rift Valley Fever after challenge. Conclusion The appearance of Rift Valley Fever associated clinical signs were significantly decreased among the DNA vaccinated mice and further adjustment of this strategy may result in full protection against Rift Valley Fever.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Lagerqvist
- Swedish Defence Research Agency, Department of CBRN Defence and Security, Umeå, Sweden.
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34
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Venturi G, Ciccozzi M, Montieri S, Bartoloni A, Francisci D, Nicoletti L, Fortuna C, Marongiu L, Rezza G, Ciufolini MG. Genetic variability of the M genome segment of clinical and environmental Toscana virus strains. J Gen Virol 2007; 88:1288-1294. [PMID: 17374774 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.82330-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty-seven strains of Toscana virus, collected over a period of 23 years and isolated from several localities and from different hosts (humans, arthropods and a bat), were investigated by sequencing of a portion of the M genomic segment comprising the G(N) glycoprotein coding region. Sequence data indicated that the divergence among isolates ranged from 0 to 5.7 % at the nucleotide level and from 0 to 3.4 % at the amino acid level. Phylogenetic analysis revealed four main clusters. A close correspondence between viral strains and area/year of isolation could not be demonstrated, whilst co-circulation of different viral strains in the same area and in the same time period was observed for both patients and environmental viral isolates. Alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences and evolutionary analysis indicated that most of the sites along the gene may be invariable because of purifying and/or neutral selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulietta Venturi
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Stefania Montieri
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Francisci
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy
| | - Loredana Nicoletti
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Claudia Fortuna
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Luigi Marongiu
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Giovanni Rezza
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Ciufolini
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy
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35
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Spik K, Shurtleff A, McElroy AK, Guttieri MC, Hooper JW, SchmalJohn C. Immunogenicity of combination DNA vaccines for Rift Valley fever virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Hantaan virus, and Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. Vaccine 2005; 24:4657-66. [PMID: 16174542 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.08.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
DNA vaccines for Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), and Hantaan virus (HTNV), were tested in mice alone or in various combinations. The bunyavirus vaccines (RVFV, CCHFV, and HTNV) expressed Gn and Gc genes, and the flavivirus vaccine (TBEV) expressed the preM and E genes. All vaccines were delivered by gene gun. The TBEV DNA vaccine and the RVFV DNA vaccine elicited similar levels of antibodies and protected mice from challenge when delivered alone or in combination with other DNAs. Although in general, the HTNV and CCHFV DNA vaccines were not very immunogenic in mice, there were no major differences in performance when given alone or in combination with the other vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Spik
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702-5011, USA
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36
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Zaki A, Coudrier D, Yousef AI, Fakeeh M, Bouloy M, Billecocq A. Production of monoclonal antibodies against Rift Valley fever virus Application for rapid diagnosis tests (virus detection and ELISA) in human sera. J Virol Methods 2005; 131:34-40. [PMID: 16102851 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2005.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2005] [Revised: 06/29/2005] [Accepted: 07/11/2005] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This paper describes the production and characterization of RVFV monoclonal antibodies. The characteristics of 32 out of 55 ELISA and/or IFA positive monoclonal antibodies were determined, including the RVFV components against which they are directed. One monoclonal antibody recognized the nucleoprotein, 15 the Gc and 16 the Gn. Among the latter ones, five monoclonal antibodies possess another specificity and recognized both Gn and either the nucleoprotein (four of them) or the NSs protein (one). To validate the use of these monoclonal antibodies for diagnosis tests, a pool of monoclonal antibodies reacting with the structural proteins was prepared and used successfully to detect RVFV from cell culture as well as viral antigen-antibody complex in ELISA.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Zaki
- Virology Laboratory, Dr. Fakeeh Hospital, P.O. Box 2537, Jeddah 21461, Saudi Arabia
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37
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Liu DY, Tesh RB, Travassos da Rosa APA, Peters CJ, Yang Z, Guzman H, Xiao SY. Phylogenetic relationships among members of the genus Phlebovirus (Bunyaviridae) based on partial M segment sequence analyses. J Gen Virol 2003; 84:465-473. [PMID: 12560581 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.18765-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses in the Phlebovirus genus of the family Bunyaviridae cause clinical syndromes ranging from a short, self-limiting febrile illness to fatal haemorrhagic fever. The genus currently consists of 68 antigenically distinct virus serotypes, most of which have not been genetically characterized. RT-PCR with four 'cocktail' primers was performed to amplify a region of the M segment of the genome of 24 phleboviruses included in the sandfly fever Naples, sandfly fever Sicilian and Punta Toro serocomplexes. Partial M segment sequences were successfully obtained and phylogenetic analysis was performed. The three resultant genotypic lineages were consistent with serological data. The sequence divergences were 27.6 % (nucleotide) and 25.7 % (amino acid) within the Sicilian serocomplex, 33.7 % (nucleotide) and 34.4 % (amino acid) within the Naples serocomplex and 35.6 % (nucleotide) and 37.5 % (amino acid) within the Punta Toro serocomplex. Overall, the diversities among viruses of Sicilian, Naples and Punta Toro serocomplexes were 48.2 % and 57.6 % at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. This high genetic divergence may explain the difficulties in designing a consensus primer pair for the amplification of all the phleboviruses using RT-PCR. It also suggests that infection with one genotype may not completely immunize against infection with all other genotypes in a given serocomplex. These findings have implications for potential vaccine development and may help explain clinical reports of multiple episodes of sandfly fever in the same individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Ying Liu
- Institute of Virology, Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, PR of China
- Department of Pathology and Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0588, USA
| | - Robert B Tesh
- Department of Pathology and Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0588, USA
| | - Amelia P A Travassos da Rosa
- Department of Pathology and Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0588, USA
| | - Clarence J Peters
- Department of Pathology and Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0588, USA
| | - Zhanqiu Yang
- Institute of Virology, Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, PR of China
| | - Hilda Guzman
- Department of Pathology and Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0588, USA
| | - Shu-Yuan Xiao
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0588, USA
- Department of Pathology and Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0588, USA
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38
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Di Bonito P, Bosco S, Mochi S, Accardi L, Ciufolini MG, Nicoletti L, Giorgi C. Human antibody response to Toscana virus glycoproteins expressed by recombinant baculovirus. J Med Virol 2002; 68:615-9. [PMID: 12376972 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.10227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The arthropod-borne Toscana virus has been associated with acute neurological disease in humans. In this study, the viral envelope glycoproteins were expressed in soluble form in a baculovirus system. The recombinant sGN and sGC proteins were used as viral antigens in a Western blot assay to analyze the specific immune response in sera from patients with recognized virus-associated aseptic meningitis. The anti-glycoprotein and the anti-nucleoprotein N IgG responses were compared by an immunoassay based on the recombinant proteins. In this system, all the sera showed a high reactivity to the N protein, but they differed in the response to the glycoproteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Di Bonito
- Laboratory of Virology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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39
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Magurano F, Nicoletti L. Humoral response in Toscana virus acute neurologic disease investigated by viral-protein-specific immunoassays. CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY IMMUNOLOGY 1999; 6:55-60. [PMID: 9874664 PMCID: PMC95660 DOI: 10.1128/cdli.6.1.55-60.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The Toscana virus (family Bunyaviridae, genus Phlebovirus) is the only sandfly-transmitted virus that demonstrates neurotropic activity. Clinical cases ranging from aseptic meningitis to meningoencephalitis caused by Toscana virus are yearly observed in central Italy during the summer, and several cases have been reported among tourists returning from zones of endemicity (Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Cyprus). In Toscana virus patients, immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies, usually present at the onset of symptoms, can reveal elevated titers by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and can persist for at least 1 year. IgG antibodies can be absent at the onset of symptoms: titers rise in convalescent sera and persist for many years. At least five proteins have been identified in Toscana virus-infected cells: nucleoprotein N, glycoproteins G1 and G2, a large protein (L) assumed to be a component of the polymerase, and two nonstructural proteins, NSm and NSs. We report results of a study on the antibody response to individual viral proteins in patients with Toscana virus-associated acute neurologic disease. Immunoblotting and semiquantitative radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) allow identification of nucleoprotein N as the major antigen responsible for both IgM and IgG responses. Antibodies to proteins other than nucleoprotein N are detected only by RIPA. Antibodies to glycoproteins are detected in about one-third of patients, and whereas their presence always predicts neutralization, some serum samples with neutralizing activity have undetectable levels of antibodies to G1-G2. Antibodies to nonstructural proteins NSm and NSs are also identified. The results obtained raise some questions about antigenic variability and relevant neutralization epitopes of Toscana virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Magurano
- Laboratorio di Virologia, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Besselaar TG, Blackburn NK. The effect of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies on early events in Rift Valley fever virus infectivity. RESEARCH IN VIROLOGY 1994; 145:13-9. [PMID: 7517569 DOI: 10.1016/s0923-2516(07)80002-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were used to examine possible stages at which antibody-mediated neutralization of Rift Valley fever virus occurs, and to assess whether binding of antibody is dependent on viral protein structure in order that antibody recognition take place. Analysis of the structural properties of the antigenic determinants revealed that the neutralizing sites are highly conformation-dependent. None of the mAb prevented virus binding, suggesting that the epitopes they define are spatially separate from the site(s) responsible for virus attachment to the cellular receptor. The finding that many of the mAb also did not inhibit virus entry into the cell demonstrated that neutralization of RVFV infectivity by immune antibodies is not dependent on blocking at the early stages in the viral life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- T G Besselaar
- Department of Virology, University of the Witwatersrand, Sandringham, South Africa
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Besselaar TG, Blackburn NK. The synergistic neutralization of Rift Valley fever virus by monoclonal antibodies to the envelope glycoproteins. Arch Virol 1992; 125:239-50. [PMID: 1642552 DOI: 10.1007/bf01309641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
A panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) mapping to different antigenic sites on the RVFV G1 and G2 proteins were used to examine the mechanisms involved in neutralization of the virus. Three types of synergistic neutralization of RVFV were observed on mixing various pairs of MAbs. Firstly, enhanced neutralization occurred for two MAb pairs that showed augmented binding for G2. These comprised a combination of a neutralizing MAb with a non-neutralizing antibody, as well as two antibodies which were non-neutralizing individually. In the second category, synergistic neutralization was observed between combinations of MAbs for which increased binding had not been detected. Lastly, mixtures of G1 and G2-specific MAbs were also capable of enhancing neutralization. Post-adsorption neutralization assays revealed that some MAbs neutralized cell-attached virus efficiently, indicating that they can neutralize by inhibiting the infection process after virus attachment. MAbs mapping to G1 IIe, G2I b and G2I c were unable to neutralize adsorbed virus and thus probably neutralize by preventing virus attachment to cells. Several G1-reactive MAbs displayed low level post-adsorption activity, suggesting they may be capable of inhibiting RVFV infectivity at different stages of the replication cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- T G Besselaar
- Department of Virology, University of the Witwatersrand, Sandringham, South Africa
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Besselaar TG, Blackburn NK, Meenehan GM. Antigenic analysis of Rift Valley fever virus isolates: monoclonal antibodies distinguish between wild-type and neurotropic virus strains. RESEARCH IN VIROLOGY 1991; 142:469-74. [PMID: 1803412 DOI: 10.1016/0923-2516(91)90069-f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) isolates from southern Africa were analysed for possible strain variation using monoclonal antibodies prepared against the South African prototype RVF 1830 strain. By the indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay and neutralization tests, the wild type southern African isolates were found to be antigenically similar to RVFV strains from other parts of Africa. In contrast, differences in several biologically important neutralizing and haemagglutination epitopes on both the G1 and G2 glycoproteins of the attenuated Onderstepoort veterinary vaccine and the Smithburn neurotropic strain were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- T G Besselaar
- Department of Virology, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
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