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Asarnow D, Becker VA, Bobe D, Dubbledam C, Johnston JD, Kopylov M, Lavoie NR, Li Q, Mattingly JM, Mendez JH, Paraan M, Turner J, Upadhye V, Walsh RM, Gupta M, Eng ET. Recent advances in infectious disease research using cryo-electron tomography. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 10:1296941. [PMID: 38288336 PMCID: PMC10822977 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1296941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
With the increasing spread of infectious diseases worldwide, there is an urgent need for novel strategies to combat them. Cryogenic sample electron microscopy (cryo-EM) techniques, particularly electron tomography (cryo-ET), have revolutionized the field of infectious disease research by enabling multiscale observation of biological structures in a near-native state. This review highlights the recent advances in infectious disease research using cryo-ET and discusses the potential of this structural biology technique to help discover mechanisms of infection in native environments and guiding in the right direction for future drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Asarnow
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Vada A. Becker
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Daija Bobe
- Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Charlie Dubbledam
- Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jake D. Johnston
- Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mykhailo Kopylov
- Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nathalie R. Lavoie
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Qiuye Li
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Jacob M. Mattingly
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Joshua H. Mendez
- Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mohammadreza Paraan
- Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jack Turner
- European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Viraj Upadhye
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Richard M. Walsh
- Harvard Cryo-Electron Microscopy Center for Structural Biology and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Meghna Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Edward T. Eng
- Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, United States
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2
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Panasiuk M, Zimmer K, Czarnota A, Narajczyk M, Peszyńska-Sularz G, Chraniuk M, Hovhannisyan L, Żołędowska S, Nidzworski D, Żaczek AJ, Gromadzka B. Chimeric virus-like particles presenting tumour-associated MUC1 epitope result in high titers of specific IgG antibodies in the presence of squalene oil-in-water adjuvant: towards safe cancer immunotherapy. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:160. [PMID: 35351156 PMCID: PMC8961490 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01357-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immunotherapy is emerging as a powerful treatment approach for several types of cancers. Modulating the immune system to specifically target cancer cells while sparing healthy cells, is a very promising approach for safer therapies and increased survival of cancer patients. Tumour-associated antigens are favorable targets for cancer immunotherapy, as they are exclusively expressed by the cancer cells, minimizing the risk of an autoimmune reaction. The ability to initiate the activation of the immune system can be achieved by virus-like particles (VLPs) which are safe and potent delivery tools. VLP‐based vaccines have evolved dramatically over the last few decades and showed great potential in preventing infectious diseases. Immunogenic potency of engineered VLPs as a platform for the development of effective therapeutic cancer vaccines has been studied extensively. This study involves recombinant VLPs presenting multiple copies of tumour-specific mucin 1 (MUC1) epitope as a potentially powerful tool for future immunotherapy. Results In this report VLPs based on the structural protein of Norovirus (NoV VP1) were genetically modified to present multiple copies of tumour-specific MUC1 epitope on their surface. Chimeric MUC1 particles were produced in the eukaryotic Leishmania tarentolae expression system and used in combination with squalene oil-in-water emulsion MF59 adjuvant to immunize BALB/c mice. Sera from vaccinated mice demonstrated high titers of IgG and IgM antibodies which were specifically recognizing MUC1 antigen. Conclusions The obtained results show that immunization with recombinant chimeric NoV VP1- MUC1 VLPs result in high titers of MUC1 specific IgG antibodies and show great therapeutic potential as a platform to present tumour-associated antigens. Graphical Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirosława Panasiuk
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, A. Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdańsk, Poland.,NanoExpo Sp. z o.o., Kładki 24, 80-822, Gdańsk, Poland.,Department of in vitro Studies, Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Kampinoska 25, 80-180, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Karolina Zimmer
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, A. Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdańsk, Poland.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bielsko-Biala, Willowa 2, 43-309, Bielsko-Biala, Poland
| | - Anna Czarnota
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, A. Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Magdalena Narajczyk
- Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Grażyna Peszyńska-Sularz
- Tri-City Central Animal Laboratory Research and Service Center, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1, 80-211, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Milena Chraniuk
- Department of in vitro Studies, Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Kampinoska 25, 80-180, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Lilit Hovhannisyan
- Department of in vitro Studies, Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Kampinoska 25, 80-180, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Sabina Żołędowska
- Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Kampinoska 25, 80-180, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Dawid Nidzworski
- Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Kampinoska 25, 80-180, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Anna J Żaczek
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1, 80-210, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Beata Gromadzka
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, A. Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdańsk, Poland. .,NanoExpo Sp. z o.o., Kładki 24, 80-822, Gdańsk, Poland. .,Department of in vitro Studies, Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Kampinoska 25, 80-180, Gdańsk, Poland.
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3
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Panasiuk M, Zimmer K, Czarnota A, Grzyb K, Narajczyk M, Peszyńska-Sularz G, Żołędowska S, Nidzworski D, Hovhannisyan L, Gromadzka B. Immunization with Leishmania tarentolae-derived norovirus virus-like particles elicits high humoral response and stimulates the production of neutralizing antibodies. Microb Cell Fact 2021; 20:186. [PMID: 34560881 PMCID: PMC8464126 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-021-01677-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Noroviruses are a major cause of epidemic and sporadic acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Unfortunately, the development of an effective norovirus vaccine has proven difficult and no prophylactic vaccine is currently available. Further research on norovirus vaccine development should be considered an absolute priority and novel vaccine candidates are needed. One of the recent approaches in safe vaccine development is the use of virus-like particles (VLPs). VLP-based vaccines show great immunogenic potential as they mimic the morphology and structure of viral particles without the presence of the virus genome. RESULTS This study is the first report showing successful production of norovirus VLPs in the protozoan Leishmania tarentolae (L. tarentolae) expression system. Protozoan derived vaccine candidate is highly immunogenic and able to not only induce a strong immune response (antibody titer reached 104) but also stimulate the production of neutralizing antibodies confirmed by receptor blocking assay. Antibody titers able to reduce VLP binding to the receptor by > 50% (BT50) were observed for 1:5-1:320 serum dilutions. CONCLUSIONS Norovirus VLPs produced in L. tarentolae could be relevant for the development of the norovirus vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirosława Panasiuk
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdańsk, Poland.,Nano Expo Sp. z o. o., Kładki 24, 80-822, Gdańsk, Poland.,Department of in Vitro Studies, Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Kampinoska 25, 80-180, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Karolina Zimmer
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Anna Czarnota
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Grzyb
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Magdalena Narajczyk
- Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Grażyna Peszyńska-Sularz
- Tri-City Central Animal Laboratory Research and Service Center, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1, 80-211, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Sabina Żołędowska
- Department of in Vitro Studies, Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Kampinoska 25, 80-180, Gdańsk, Poland.,Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Dawid Nidzworski
- Department of in Vitro Studies, Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Kampinoska 25, 80-180, Gdańsk, Poland.,Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Lilit Hovhannisyan
- Department of in Vitro Studies, Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Kampinoska 25, 80-180, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Beata Gromadzka
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdańsk, Poland. .,Nano Expo Sp. z o. o., Kładki 24, 80-822, Gdańsk, Poland. .,Department of in Vitro Studies, Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Kampinoska 25, 80-180, Gdańsk, Poland.
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Imagawa T, Ito M, Matsuda M, Nakashima K, Tokunaga Y, Ohta I, Li TC, Suzuki R, Suzuki T. Virus-like particles with FLAG-tagged envelope protein as a tetravalent dengue vaccine candidate. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17542. [PMID: 34475493 PMCID: PMC8413300 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97038-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The global incidence of dengue, which is caused by dengue virus (DENV) infection, has grown dramatically in recent decades and secondary infection with heterologous serotype of the virus may cause severe symptoms. Efficacious dengue vaccines should be able to provide long-lasting immunity against all four DENV serotypes simultaneously. In this study, we constructed a novel vaccine platform based on tetravalent dengue virus-like particles (DENV-LPs) in which envelope (E) protein carried a FLAG tag sequence at the position located not only in the exterior loop on the protruding domain but outside of dimerization interface of the protein. We demonstrated an effective strategy to produce the DENV-LPs by transient transfection with expression plasmids for pre-membrane and E proteins of DENV-1 to DENV-4 in mammalian cells and to concentrate and purify them with one-step affinity chromatography. Characteristic features of VLPs such as particle size, shape and density were comparable to flavivirus-like particles reported. The neutralizing activity against all four DENV serotypes was successfully induced by immunization with the purified tetravalent VLPs in mice. Simple, one-step purification systems for VLP vaccine platforms using epitope-tagging strategy should be advantageous for vaccine development not only for dengue but for emerging pandemics in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshifumi Imagawa
- Department of Virology and Parasitology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, 431-3192, Japan
| | - Masahiko Ito
- Department of Virology and Parasitology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, 431-3192, Japan
| | - Mami Matsuda
- Department of Virology II, National Institute for Infectious Disease, Musashi-murayama, Tokyo, 208-0011, Japan
| | - Kenji Nakashima
- Department of Virology and Parasitology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, 431-3192, Japan
| | - Yuhei Tokunaga
- Advanced Research Facilities and Services, Preeminent Medical Photonics Education and Research Center, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, 431-3192, Japan
| | - Isao Ohta
- Advanced Research Facilities and Services, Preeminent Medical Photonics Education and Research Center, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, 431-3192, Japan
| | - Tian-Cheng Li
- Department of Virology II, National Institute for Infectious Disease, Musashi-murayama, Tokyo, 208-0011, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Suzuki
- Department of Virology II, National Institute for Infectious Disease, Musashi-murayama, Tokyo, 208-0011, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Suzuki
- Department of Virology and Parasitology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, 431-3192, Japan.
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Modular vaccine platform based on the norovirus-like particle. J Nanobiotechnology 2021; 19:25. [PMID: 33468139 PMCID: PMC7815183 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-00772-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines have recently emerged as a safe and effective alternative to conventional vaccine technologies. The strong immunogenic effects of VLPs can be harnessed for making vaccines against any pathogen by decorating VLPs with antigens from the pathogen. Producing the antigenic pathogen fragments and the VLP platform separately makes vaccine development rapid and convenient. Here we decorated the norovirus-like particle with two conserved influenza antigens and tested for the immunogenicity of the vaccine candidates in BALB/c mice. RESULTS SpyTagged noro-VLP was expressed with high efficiency in insect cells and purified using industrially scalable methods. Like the native noro-VLP, SpyTagged noro-VLP is stable for months when refrigerated in a physiological buffer. The conserved influenza antigens were produced separately as SpyCatcher fusions in E. coli before covalent conjugation on the surface of noro-VLP. The noro-VLP had a high adjuvant effect, inducing high titers of antibody production against the antigens presented on its surface. CONCLUSIONS The modular noro-VLP vaccine platform presented here offers a rapid, convenient and safe method to present various soluble protein antigens to the immune system for vaccination and antibody production purposes.
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Rotavirus VP6 Adjuvant Effect on Norovirus GII.4 Virus-Like Particle Uptake and Presentation by Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells In Vitro and In Vivo. J Immunol Res 2020; 2020:3194704. [PMID: 32411793 PMCID: PMC7204108 DOI: 10.1155/2020/3194704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that rotavirus (RV) inner capsid protein VP6 has an adjuvant effect on norovirus (NoV) virus-like particle- (VLP-) induced immune responses and studied the adjuvant mechanism in immortalized cell lines used as antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Here, we investigated the uptake and presentation of RV VP6 and NoV GII.4 VLPs by primary bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). The adjuvant effect of VP6 on GII.4 VLP presentation and NoV-specific immune response induction by BMDC in vivo was also studied. Intracellular staining demonstrated that BMDCs internalized both antigens, but VP6 more efficiently than NoV VLPs. Both antigens were processed and presented to antigen-primed T cells, which responded by robust interferon γ secretion. When GII.4 VLPs and VP6 were mixed in the same pulsing reaction, a subpopulation of the cells had uptaken both antigens. Furthermore, VP6 copulsing increased GII.4 VLP uptake by 37% and activated BMDCs to secrete 2-5-fold increased levels of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α compared to VLP pulsing alone. When in vitro-pulsed BMDCs were transferred to syngeneic BALB/c mice, VP6 improved NoV-specific antibody responses. The results of this study support the earlier findings of VP6 adjuvant effect in vitro and in vivo.
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Rotavirus VP6 as an Adjuvant for Bivalent Norovirus Vaccine Produced in Nicotiana benthamiana. Pharmaceutics 2019; 11:pharmaceutics11050229. [PMID: 31083495 PMCID: PMC6572255 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11050229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Rotaviruses (RVs) and noroviruses (NoVs) are major causes of childhood acute gastroenteritis. During development of a combination vaccine based on NoV virus-like particles (VLP) and RV VP6 produced in baculovirus expression system in insect cells, a dual role of VP6 as a vaccine antigen and an adjuvant for NoV-specific immune responses was discovered. Here the VP6 adjuvant effect on bivalent GI.4 and GII.4-2006a NoV VLPs produced in Nicotiana benthamiana was investigated. BALB/c mice were immunized intradermally with suboptimal (0.3 µg) dose of each NoV VLP alone or combined with 10 µg of VP6, or equal doses of NoV VLPs and VP6 (1 µg/antigen). NoV-specific serum IgG antibodies and their blocking activity were analyzed using vaccine-homologous and heterologous NoV VLPs. Immunization with 0.3 µg NoV VLPs alone was insufficient to induce NoV-specific immune responses, but with co-administration of 10 µg of VP6, antibodies against vaccine-derived and heterologous NoV genotypes were generated. Furthermore, corresponding adjuvant effect of VP6 was observed with 1 µg dose. Efficient uptake and presentation of VP6 by dendritic cells was demonstrated in vitro. These results show that adjuvant effect of VP6 on bivalent NoV VLP vaccine is independent of the cell source used for vaccine production.
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Tamminen K, Malm M, Vesikari T, Blazevic V. Immunological Cross-Reactivity of an Ancestral and the Most Recent Pandemic Norovirus GII.4 Variant. Viruses 2019; 11:v11020091. [PMID: 30678195 PMCID: PMC6410201 DOI: 10.3390/v11020091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Norovirus (NoV) genotype GII.4 is responsible for the majority of NoV infections causing pandemics every few years. A NoV virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccine should optimally cover the high antigenic variation within the GII.4 genotype. We compared the immune responses generated by VLPs of the ancestral GII.4 1999 strain (GII.4 1995/96 US variant) and the most recent GII.4 Sydney 2012 pandemic strains in mice. No significant differences were observed in the type-specific responses but GII.4 1999 VLPs were more potent in inducing high-avidity antibodies with better cross-reactivity. GII.4 1999 immune sera blocked binding of GII.4 2006 and GII.4 2012 VLPs to the putative receptors in a surrogate neutralization assay, whereas GII.4 2012 immune sera only had low blocking activity against GII.4 2006 VLPs. Amino acid substitution in the NERK motif (amino acids 310, 316, 484, and 493, respectively), altering the access to conserved blocking epitope F, moderately improved the cross-blocking responses against mutated GII.4 2012 VLPs (D310N). NoV GII.4 1999 VLPs, uptaken and processed by antigen-presenting cells, induced stronger interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production from mice splenocytes than GII.4 2012 VLPs. These results support the use of GII.4 1999 VLPs as a major component of a NoV vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsi Tamminen
- Vaccine Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Biokatu 10, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland.
| | - Maria Malm
- Vaccine Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Biokatu 10, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland.
| | - Timo Vesikari
- Vaccine Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Biokatu 10, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland.
| | - Vesna Blazevic
- Vaccine Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Biokatu 10, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland.
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Malm M, Tamminen K, Heinimäki S, Vesikari T, Blazevic V. Functionality and avidity of norovirus-specific antibodies and T cells induced by GII.4 virus-like particles alone or co-administered with different genotypes. Vaccine 2018; 36:484-490. [PMID: 29246474 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Norovirus (NoV) is the main cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide across all age groups. Current NoV vaccine candidates are based on non-infectious highly immunogenic virus-like particles (VLPs) produced in cell cultures in vitro. As NoVs infecting human population are highly divergent, it is proposed that the vaccine should contain at least two different NoV genotypes, potentially affecting the immunogenicity of each other. We investigated the immunogenicity of NoV GII.4 VLPs administered by intramuscular (IM) or intradermal (ID) injections to BALB/c mice either alone or co-delivered with genogroup I (GI) and other genogroup GII VLPs. Serum NoV-specific IgG binding antibody titers and antibody functionality in terms of avidity and blocking potential were assessed. Furthermore, the specificity and functional avidity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses were analyzed using synthetic peptides previously identified to contain NoV VP1 P2 domain-specific H-2d epitopes. The results showed that IM and ID immunization induced comparable GII.4-specific antibodies and T cell responses. Similar magnitude and functionality of antibodies and interferon-gamma producing T cells were developed using monovalent GII.4 VLPs or different genotype combinations. For the first time, degranulation assay using multicolor flow cytometry showed that NoV GII.4-specific CD8+ T cells had cytotoxic T lymphocyte phenotype. To conclude, our results demonstrate that there is no immunological interference even if up to five different NoV VLP genotypes were co-administered at the same time. Furthermore, no inhibition of NoV-specific antibody functionality or the magnitude, specificity and affinity of T cell responses was observed in any of the immunized animals, observations relevant for the development of a multivalent NoV VLP vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Malm
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere, Biokatu 10, 33520 Tampere, Finland; University of Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Tampere, Finland
| | - Kirsi Tamminen
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere, Biokatu 10, 33520 Tampere, Finland; University of Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Tampere, Finland
| | - Suvi Heinimäki
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere, Biokatu 10, 33520 Tampere, Finland; University of Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Tampere, Finland
| | - Timo Vesikari
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere, Biokatu 10, 33520 Tampere, Finland; University of Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Tampere, Finland
| | - Vesna Blazevic
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere, Biokatu 10, 33520 Tampere, Finland; University of Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Tampere, Finland.
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Blazevic V, Malm M, Arinobu D, Lappalainen S, Vesikari T. Rotavirus capsid VP6 protein acts as an adjuvant in vivo for norovirus virus-like particles in a combination vaccine. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2017; 12:740-8. [PMID: 26467630 PMCID: PMC4964741 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2015.1099772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Rotavirus (RV) and norovirus (NoV) are the 2 leading causes of acute viral gastroenteritis worldwide. We have developed a non-live NoV and RV vaccine candidate consisting of NoV virus-like particles (VLPs) and recombinant polymeric RV VP6 protein produced in baculovirus-insect cell expression system. Both components have been shown to induce strong potentially protective immune responses. As VP6 nanotubes are highly immunogenic, we investigated here a possible adjuvant effect of these structures on NoV-specific immune responses in vivo. BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly with a suboptimal dose (0.3 μg) of GII.4 or GI.3 VLPs either alone or in a combination with 10 μg dose of VP6 and induction of NoV-specific antibodies in sera of experimental animals were measured. Blocking assay using human saliva or synthetic histo-blood group antigens was employed to test NoV blocking antibodies. Suboptimal doses of the VLPs alone did not induce substantial anti-NoV antibodies. When co-administered with the VP6, considerable titers of not only type-specific but also cross-reactive IgG antibodies against NoV VLP genotypes not included in the vaccine composition were induced. Most importantly, NoV-specific blocking antibodies, a surrogate for neutralizing antibodies, were generated. Our results show that RV VP6 protein has an in vivo adjuvant effect on NoV-specific antibody responses and support the use of VP6 protein as a part of the NoV-RV combination vaccine, especially when addition of external adjuvants is not desirable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vesna Blazevic
- a Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere Medical School , Tampere , Finland
| | - Maria Malm
- a Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere Medical School , Tampere , Finland
| | - Daisuke Arinobu
- b R&D Project Office, UMN Pharma Inc. , Yokohama , Kanagawa , Japan
| | - Suvi Lappalainen
- a Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere Medical School , Tampere , Finland
| | - Timo Vesikari
- a Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere Medical School , Tampere , Finland
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Heinimäki S, Tamminen K, Malm M, Vesikari T, Blazevic V. Live baculovirus acts as a strong B and T cell adjuvant for monomeric and oligomeric protein antigens. Virology 2017; 511:114-122. [PMID: 28843813 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2017.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant proteins produced by baculovirus (BV) expression systems contain residual BV after crude purification. We studied adjuvant effect of BV on antibody and T cell responses against two model antigens, monomeric ovalbumin (OVA) protein and oligomeric norovirus (NoV) virus-like particles (VLPs). BALB/c mice were immunized intradermally with OVA alone or OVA formulated with live or inactivated BV, and VLP formulations comprised of chromatographically purified NoV GII.4 VLPs alone or mixed with BV, or of crude purified VLPs containing BV impurities from expression system. Live BV improved immunogenicity of NoV VLPs, sparing VLP dose up to 10-fold. Moreover, soluble OVA protein induced IgG2a antibodies and T cell response only when co-administered with live BV. BV adjuvant effect was completely abrogated by removal or inactivation of BV. These findings support the usage of crude purified proteins containing residual BV as vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvi Heinimäki
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere, Finland.
| | - Kirsi Tamminen
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere, Finland.
| | - Maria Malm
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere, Finland.
| | - Timo Vesikari
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere, Finland.
| | - Vesna Blazevic
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere, Finland.
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12
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Simple and efficient ultrafiltration method for purification of rotavirus VP6 oligomeric proteins. Arch Virol 2016; 161:3219-23. [DOI: 10.1007/s00705-016-2991-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 07/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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13
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Lee MFX, Chan ES, Tan WS, Tam KC, Tey BT. Negative chromatography of hepatitis B virus-like particle: Comparative study of different adsorbent designs. J Chromatogr A 2016; 1445:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2016.03.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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14
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Abstract
Norovirus (NoV)-specific serum antibodies bind to NoV-derived virus-like particles (VLPs) and block the binding of VLPs to the host cell attachment factors/receptors, histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs). Blocking antibodies in human sera have been associated with a protection from NoV infection and disease. Studies of experimental NoV VLP-based vaccines measure blocking antibodies in animal sera instead of a traditional virus neutralization assay. This chapter describes the methodology for analyzing blocking antibodies from NoV GII.4 VLP-immunized mouse sera. Protocol for obtaining mouse NoV GII.4-specific immune sera is described, followed by the detailed protocol for blocking assay using synthetic HBGAs.
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15
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The application of virus-like particles as vaccines and biological vehicles. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 99:10415-32. [PMID: 26454868 PMCID: PMC7080154 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-7000-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2015] [Revised: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) can be spontaneously self-assembled by viral structural proteins under appropriate conditions in vitro while excluding the genetic material and potential replication probability. In addition, VLPs possess several features including can be rapidly produced in large quantities through existing expression systems, highly resembling native viruses in terms of conformation and appearance, and displaying repeated cluster of epitopes. Their capsids can be modified via genetic insertion or chemical conjugation which facilitating the multivalent display of a homologous or heterogeneous epitope antigen. Therefore, VLPs are considered as a safe and effective candidate of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. VLPs, with a diameter of approximately 20 to 150 nm, also have the characteristics of nanometer materials, such as large surface area, surface-accessible amino acids with reactive moieties (e.g., lysine and glutamic acid residues), inerratic spatial structure, and good biocompatibility. Therefore, assembled VLPs have great potential as a delivery system for specifically carrying a variety of materials. This review summarized recent researches on VLP development as vaccines and biological vehicles, which demonstrated the advantages and potential of VLPs in disease control and prevention and diagnosis. Then, the prospect of VLP biology application in the future is discussed as well.
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Genotype considerations for virus-like particle-based bivalent norovirus vaccine composition. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2015; 22:656-63. [PMID: 25903355 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00015-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Norovirus (NoV) genogroup I (GI) and GII are responsible for most human infections with NoV. Because of the high genetic variability of NoV, natural infection does not induce sufficient protective immunity to different genotypes or to variants of the same genotype and there is little or no cross-protection against different genogroups. NoV-derived virus-like particles (VLPs) are promising vaccine candidates that induce high levels of NoV-specific humoral and cellular immune responses. It is believed that a bivalent NoV vaccine consisting of a representative VLP from GI and GII is a minimum requirement for an effective vaccine. Here, we compared the abilities of monovalent immunizations with NoV GI.1-2001, GI.3-2002, GII.4-1999, and GII.4-2010 New Orleans VLPs to induce NoV type-specific and cross-reactive immune responses and protective blocking antibody responses in BALB/c mice. All of the VLPs induced comparable levels of type-specific serum IgG antibodies, as well as blocking antibodies to the VLPs used for immunization. However, the abilities of different VLP genotypes to induce cross-reactive IgG and cross-blocking antibodies varied remarkably. Our results confirm previous findings of a lack of cross-protective immune responses between GI and GII NoVs. These data support the rationale for including NoV GI.3 and GII.4-1999 VLPs in the bivalent vaccine formulation, which could be sufficient to induce protective immune responses across NoV genotypes in the two common genogroups in humans.
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Tomé-Amat J, Fleischer L, Parker SA, Bardliving CL, Batt CA. Secreted production of assembled Norovirus virus-like particles from Pichia pastoris. Microb Cell Fact 2014; 13:134. [PMID: 25201129 PMCID: PMC4174286 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-014-0134-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Norovirus virus-like particles (NoV VLPs) have recently been explored as potential vaccine platforms due to their ability to produce an effective immune response. Expression of the main structural protein, VP1, leads to formation of self-assembled particles with similar characteristics to the original virus. These NoV VLPs have been expressed in Escherichia coli, yeast and insect cells. Expression in E. coli and insect cells share downstream processing issues due to the presence of inclusion bodies or the need for numerous purification steps. NoV VLPs have also been produced in the yeast P. pastoris; however the protein was only expressed intracellularly. RESULTS We have successfully expressed and secreted the VP1 protein in the novel P. pastoris strain, Bg11, using the methanol inducible pJ912 expression vector, containing the cDNA of NoV VP1. Expression of the VP1 protein in Bg11 was carried out in a 1.5 L bioreactor resulting in a total yield of NoV VLPs greater than 0.6 g/L. NoV VLPs obtained from the culture supernatant were purified via ion-exchange chromatography, resulting in particles with a purity over 90%. The average size of the particles after purification was 40 nm. Transmission electron microscopy was used to visualize the morphology of the particles and saliva-binding assay confirmed that the NoV VLPs bind to Histo-Blood Group Antigens (HBGA). CONCLUSIONS In this study we describe the expression and characterization of fully assembled Norovirus virus-like particles obtained from P. pastoris. The particles are similar in size, morphology and binding capacity, as previously described, for the original NoV. Our results detail the successful expression and secretion of VLPs in P. pastoris, improving their candidacy as a vaccine platform.
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18
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Malm M, Uusi-Kerttula H, Vesikari T, Blazevic V. High serum levels of norovirus genotype-specific blocking antibodies correlate with protection from infection in children. J Infect Dis 2014; 210:1755-62. [PMID: 24970849 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Norovirus is a common cause of acute gastroenteritis in children. Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies have been implicated in protection against norovirus-associated gastroenteritis, but the level, specificity, and functionality necessary for protection remain to be elucidated. METHODS Norovirus-specific IgG antibodies to genogroup II (GII)-4-2010 New Orleans (NO), GII-4-1999, GII-12-1998, GI-1-2001, and GI-3-2002 virus-like particles (VLPs) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum samples collected from children who presented to the hospital because of acute norovirus gastroenteritis in 2009-2011. The blocking activity of the antibodies was tested in a surrogate neutralization assay. RESULTS Most norovirus infections (62.8%) in the study population were caused by a GII-4 NO variant. Children who acquired GII-4 NO infection had a low preexisting type-specific IgG level and blocking activity of the sera, in contrast to children infected with other GII genotypes. Following GII-4 NO infection, genotype-specific seroconversion and a corresponding increase in blocking antibody potential was observed. Although seroconversion to the heterologous GII-4-1999 variant was observed, there was no corresponding increase in the specific blocking antibody titer. There was no concomitant seroconversion against GI VLPs, indicating a highly genogroup-specific antibody response. CONCLUSIONS High preexisting norovirus genotype-specific serum IgG titers and blocking activity in children indicate protection from norovirus infection in a strain-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Malm
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere Medical School
| | | | - Timo Vesikari
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere Medical School Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Finland
| | - Vesna Blazevic
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere Medical School
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Uusi-Kerttula H, Tamminen K, Malm M, Vesikari T, Blazevic V. Comparison of human saliva and synthetic histo-blood group antigens usage as ligands in norovirus-like particle binding and blocking assays. Microbes Infect 2014; 16:472-80. [PMID: 24631874 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2014.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Revised: 02/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Blocking of norovirus-like particle binding to their cellular ligands, histo-blood group antigens with immune sera, is considered a surrogate norovirus neutralization assay. We compared human secretor positive saliva and synthetic biotinylated carbohydrates as a source of histo-blood group antigens in binding and blocking assays. Six norovirus capsid-derived virus-like particles belonging to genogroup I (GI-1-2001 and GI-3-2002) and genogroup II (GII-4-1999, GII-4-2010 New Orleans, GII-4-2012 Sydney and GII-12-1998) noroviruses were produced by a recombinant baculovirus expression system and binding profile to saliva type A, B and O and to synthetic antigens (A trimer, B trimer, H type 1, H type 3, Lewis(a) and Lewis(b)) was identified. Good correlation between virus-like particle binding to saliva type A and synthetic A trimer (r = 0.66, p < 0.05) and saliva type B and synthetic B trimer (r = 0.75, p < 0.05) was observed. Binding of each norovirus virus-like particle to the selected histo-blood group antigens was blocked by convalescent sera from NoV-infected subjects or type-specific mouse antisera. Our results support the use of either saliva or synthetic antigens in blocking assay to measure the ability of norovirus antisera to block virus-like particle binding to the carbohydrate ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanni Uusi-Kerttula
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere Medical School, Biokatu 10, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Kirsi Tamminen
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere Medical School, Biokatu 10, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Maria Malm
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere Medical School, Biokatu 10, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Timo Vesikari
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere Medical School, Biokatu 10, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland; Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Teiskontie 35, FI-33521 Tampere, Finland
| | - Vesna Blazevic
- Vaccine Research Center, University of Tampere Medical School, Biokatu 10, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland.
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