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Lu C, Li Y, Chen R, Hu X, Leng Q, Song X, Lin X, Ye J, Wang J, Li J, Yao L, Tang X, Kuang X, Zhang G, Sun M, Zhou Y, Li H. Safety, Immunogenicity, and Mechanism of a Rotavirus mRNA-LNP Vaccine in Mice. Viruses 2024; 16:211. [PMID: 38399987 PMCID: PMC10892174 DOI: 10.3390/v16020211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Rotaviruses (RVs) are a major cause of diarrhea in young children worldwide. The currently available and licensed vaccines contain live attenuated RVs. Optimization of live attenuated RV vaccines or developing non-replicating RV (e.g., mRNA) vaccines is crucial for reducing the morbidity and mortality from RV infections. Herein, a nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNP) and encoding the VP7 protein from the G1 type of RV was developed. The 5' untranslated region of an isolated human RV was utilized for the mRNA vaccine. After undergoing quality inspection, the VP7-mRNA vaccine was injected by subcutaneous or intramuscular routes into mice. Mice received three injections in 21 d intervals. IgG antibodies, neutralizing antibodies, cellular immunity, and gene expression from peripheral blood mononuclear cells were evaluated. Significant differences in levels of IgG antibodies were not observed in groups with adjuvant but were observed in groups without adjuvant. The vaccine without adjuvant induced the highest antibody titers after intramuscular injection. The vaccine elicited a potent antiviral immune response characterized by antiviral clusters of differentiation CD8+ T cells. VP7-mRNA induced interferon-γ secretion to mediate cellular immune responses. Chemokine-mediated signaling pathways and immune response were activated by VP7-mRNA vaccine injection. The mRNA LNP vaccine will require testing for protective efficacy, and it is an option for preventing rotavirus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yan Zhou
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (H.L.); Tel.: +86-13888340684 (Y.Z.); +86-13888918945 (H.L.)
| | - Hongjun Li
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (H.L.); Tel.: +86-13888340684 (Y.Z.); +86-13888918945 (H.L.)
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Mhango C, Banda A, Chinyama E, Mandolo JJ, Kumwenda O, Malamba-Banda C, Barnes KG, Kumwenda B, Jambo KC, Donato CM, Esona MD, Mwangi PN, Steele AD, Iturriza-Gomara M, Cunliffe NA, Ndze VN, Kamng’ona AW, Dennis FE, Nyaga MM, Chaguza C, Jere KC. Comparative whole genome analysis reveals re-emergence of human Wa-like and DS-1-like G3 rotaviruses after Rotarix vaccine introduction in Malawi. Virus Evol 2023; 9:vead030. [PMID: 37305707 PMCID: PMC10256189 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vead030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
G3 rotaviruses rank among the most common rotavirus strains worldwide in humans and animals. However, despite a robust long-term rotavirus surveillance system from 1997 at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi, these strains were only detected from 1997 to 1999 and then disappeared and re-emerged in 2017, 5 years after the introduction of the Rotarix rotavirus vaccine. Here, we analysed representative twenty-seven whole genome sequences (G3P[4], n = 20; G3P[6], n = 1; and G3P[8], n = 6) randomly selected each month between November 2017 and August 2019 to understand how G3 strains re-emerged in Malawi. We found four genotype constellations that were associated with the emergent G3 strains and co-circulated in Malawi post-Rotarix vaccine introduction: G3P[4] and G3P[6] strains with the DS-1-like genetic backbone genes (G3-P[4]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2 and G3-P[6]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2), G3P[8] strains with the Wa-like genetic backbone genes (G3-P[8]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1), and reassortant G3P[4] strains consisting of the DS-1-like genetic backbone genes and a Wa-like NSP2 (N1) gene (G3-P[4]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N1-T2-E2-H2). Time-resolved phylogenetic trees demonstrated that the most recent common ancestor for each ribonucleic acid (RNA) segment of the emergent G3 strains was between 1996 and 2012, possibly through introductions from outside the country due to the limited genetic similarity with G3 strains which circulated before their disappearance in the late 1990s. Further genomic analysis revealed that the reassortant DS-1-like G3P[4] strains acquired a Wa-like NSP2 genome segment (N1 genotype) through intergenogroup reassortment; an artiodactyl-like VP3 through intergenogroup interspecies reassortment; and VP6, NSP1, and NSP4 segments through intragenogroup reassortment likely before importation into Malawi. Additionally, the emergent G3 strains contain amino acid substitutions within the antigenic regions of the VP4 proteins which could potentially impact the binding of rotavirus vaccine-induced antibodies. Altogether, our findings show that multiple strains with either Wa-like or DS-1-like genotype constellations have driven the re-emergence of G3 strains. The findings also highlight the role of human mobility and genome reassortment events in the cross-border dissemination and evolution of rotavirus strains in Malawi necessitating the need for long-term genomic surveillance of rotavirus in high disease-burden settings to inform disease prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chimwemwe Mhango
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Allied Health Professions, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
| | - Akuzike Banda
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, University of Malawi, Zomba 305205, Malawi
| | - End Chinyama
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
| | - Jonathan J Mandolo
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Allied Health Professions, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
| | - Orpha Kumwenda
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
| | - Chikondi Malamba-Banda
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7BE, UK
- Department of Biological Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Thyolo 310105, Malawi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and Health Profession, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
| | - Kayla G Barnes
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
| | - Benjamin Kumwenda
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Allied Health Professions, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
| | - Kondwani C Jambo
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Celeste M Donato
- Enteric Diseases Group, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Melbourne 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Mathew D Esona
- Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Medunsa, Pretoria 0204, South Africa
| | - Peter N Mwangi
- Next Generation Sequencing Unit and Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
| | - A Duncan Steele
- Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Medunsa, Pretoria 0204, South Africa
| | - Miren Iturriza-Gomara
- Centre for Vaccine Innovation and Access, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), Geneva 1218, Switzerland
| | - Nigel A Cunliffe
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7BE, UK
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Gastrointestinal Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7BE, UK
| | - Valentine N Ndze
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Arox W Kamng’ona
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Allied Health Professions, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
| | - Francis E Dennis
- Department of Electron Microscopy and Histopathology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, P. O. Box LG 581, Legon, Ghana
| | | | - Chrispin Chaguza
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7BE, UK
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
- NIHR Mucosal Pathogens Research Unit, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Yale Institute for Global Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
| | - Khuzwayo C Jere
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7BE, UK
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and Health Profession, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Gastrointestinal Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7BE, UK
- Next Generation Sequencing Unit and Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
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Agarwal S, Sahni N, Hickey JM, Robertson GA, Sitrin R, Cryz S, Joshi SB, Volkin DB. Characterizing and Minimizing Aggregation and Particle Formation of Three Recombinant Fusion-Protein Bulk Antigens for Use in a Candidate Trivalent Rotavirus Vaccine. J Pharm Sci 2019; 109:394-406. [PMID: 31400346 PMCID: PMC6941221 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2019.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In a companion paper, the structural integrity, conformational stability, and degradation mechanisms of 3 recombinant fusion-protein antigens comprising a non-replicating rotavirus (NRRV) vaccine candidate (currently being evaluated in early-stage clinical trials) are described. In this work, we focus on the aggregation propensity of the 3 NRRV antigens coupled to formulation development studies to identify common frozen bulk candidate formulations. The P2-VP8-P[8] antigen was most susceptible to shaking and freeze-thaw-induced aggregation and particle formation. Each NRRV antigen formed aggregates with structurally altered protein (with exposed apolar regions and intermolecular β-sheet) and dimers containing a non-native disulfide bond. From excipient screening studies with P2-VP8-P[8], sugars or polyols (e.g., sucrose, trehalose, mannitol, sorbitol) and various detergents (e.g., Pluronic F-68, polysorbate 20 and 80, PEG-3350) were identified as stabilizers against aggregation. By combining promising additives, candidate bulk formulations were optimized to not only minimize agitation-induced aggregation, but also particle formation due to freeze-thaw stress of P2-VP8-P[8] antigen. Owing to limited material availability, stabilization of the P2-VP8-P[4] and P2-VP8-P[6] was confirmed with the lead candidate P2-VP8-P[8] formulations. The optimization of these bulk NRRV candidate formulations is discussed in the context of subsequent drug product formulations in the presence of aluminum adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeev Agarwal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, 2030 Becker Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047
| | - Neha Sahni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, 2030 Becker Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047
| | - John M Hickey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, 2030 Becker Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047
| | - George A Robertson
- The Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, 455 Massachusetts Avenue NW Suite 1000, Washington, District of Columbia 20001
| | - Robert Sitrin
- The Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, 455 Massachusetts Avenue NW Suite 1000, Washington, District of Columbia 20001
| | - Stanley Cryz
- The Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, 455 Massachusetts Avenue NW Suite 1000, Washington, District of Columbia 20001
| | - Sangeeta B Joshi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, 2030 Becker Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047
| | - David B Volkin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, 2030 Becker Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047.
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