1
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Han Z, Wang S, Mu T, Zhao P, Song L, Zhang Y, Zhao J, Yin W, Wu Y, Wang H, Gong B, Ji M, Roden RBS, Yang Y, Klein M, Wu K. Vaccination with a Human Papillomavirus L2 Multimer Provides Broad Protection against 17 Human Papillomavirus Types in the Mouse Cervicovaginal Challenge Model. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:689. [PMID: 38932417 PMCID: PMC11209485 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent cause of mucosal and cutaneous infections and underlying conditions ranging from benign warts to anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers affecting both males and females, notably cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths among women globally and is the most impactful in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the costs of screening and licensed L1-based HPV vaccines pose significant barriers to comprehensive administration. Additionally, the licensed L1-based HPV vaccines fail to protect against all oncogenic HPV types. This study generated three independent lots of an L2-based target antigen (LBTA), which was engineered from conserved linear L2-protective epitopes (aa11-88) from five human alphapapillomavirus genotypes in E. coli under cGMP conditions and adjuvanted with aluminum phosphate. Vaccination of rabbits with LBTA generated high neutralizing antibody titers against all 17 HPV types tested, surpassing the nine types covered by Gardasil®9. Passive transfer of naïve mice with LBTA antiserum revealed its capacity to confer protection against vaginal challenge with all 17 αHPV types tested. LBTA shows stability at room temperature over >1 month. Standard in vitro and in vivo toxicology studies suggest a promising safety profile. These findings suggest LBTA's promise as a next-generation vaccine with comprehensive coverage aimed at reducing the economic and healthcare burden of cervical and other HPV+ cancers in LMICs, and it has received regulatory approval for a first-in-human clinical study (NCT05672966).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenwei Han
- Project Management Department, Wuhan BravoVax Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430070, China;
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China;
| | - Shen Wang
- Regulatory and Medical Affairs Department, Wuhan BravoVax Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430070, China; (S.W.); (L.S.); (B.G.); (M.J.)
| | - Ting Mu
- Innovative Discovery Department, Wuhan BravoVax Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430070, China; (T.M.); (Y.Z.); (H.W.)
| | - Ping Zhao
- Test Development Department, Wuhan BravoVax Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430070, China; (P.Z.); (Y.W.)
| | - Lingli Song
- Regulatory and Medical Affairs Department, Wuhan BravoVax Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430070, China; (S.W.); (L.S.); (B.G.); (M.J.)
| | - Ying Zhang
- Innovative Discovery Department, Wuhan BravoVax Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430070, China; (T.M.); (Y.Z.); (H.W.)
| | - Jin Zhao
- Test Development Department, Wuhan BravoVax Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430070, China; (P.Z.); (Y.W.)
| | - Wen Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China;
| | - Yue Wu
- Test Development Department, Wuhan BravoVax Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430070, China; (P.Z.); (Y.W.)
| | - Huan Wang
- Innovative Discovery Department, Wuhan BravoVax Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430070, China; (T.M.); (Y.Z.); (H.W.)
| | - Bo Gong
- Regulatory and Medical Affairs Department, Wuhan BravoVax Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430070, China; (S.W.); (L.S.); (B.G.); (M.J.)
| | - Min Ji
- Regulatory and Medical Affairs Department, Wuhan BravoVax Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430070, China; (S.W.); (L.S.); (B.G.); (M.J.)
| | - Richard B. S. Roden
- Departments of Pathology, Oncology and Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Yanping Yang
- Executive Office, Wuhan BravoVax Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430070, China;
- Executive Office, Shanghai BravoBio Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Michel Klein
- Executive Office, Wuhan BravoVax Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430070, China;
- Executive Office, Shanghai BravoBio Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Ke Wu
- Executive Office, Wuhan BravoVax Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430070, China;
- Executive Office, Shanghai BravoBio Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200000, China
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2
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Naskalska A, Heddle JG. Virus-like particles derived from bacteriophage MS2 as antigen scaffolds and RNA protective shells. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2024; 19:1103-1115. [PMID: 38629576 PMCID: PMC11225317 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2023-0362] [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: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The versatile potential of bacteriophage MS2-derived virus-like particles (VLPs) in medical biotechnology has been extensively studied during the last 30 years. Since the first reports showing that MS2 VLPs can be produced at high yield and relatively easily engineered, numerous applications have been proposed. Particular effort has been spent in developing MS2 VLPs as protective capsules and delivery platforms for diverse molecules, such as chemical compounds, proteins and nucleic acids. Among these, two are particularly noteworthy: as scaffolds displaying heterologous epitopes for vaccine development and as capsids for encapsulation of foreign RNA. In this review, we summarize the progress in developing MS2 VLPs for these two areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonina Naskalska
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, 30-392, Poland
| | - Jonathan Gardiner Heddle
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, 30-392, Poland
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
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3
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Dang M, Wu LJ, Zhang SR, Zhu JR, Hu YZ, Yang CX, Zhang XY. MS2 Virus-like Particles as a Versatile Peptide Presentation Platform: Insights into the Deterministic Abilities for Accommodating Heterologous Peptide Lengths. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:3704-3715. [PMID: 37946498 PMCID: PMC10729756 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00503] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are nanostructures with the potential to present heterologous peptides at high density, thereby triggering heightened immunogenicity. RNA bacteriophage MS2 VLPs are a compelling delivery platform among them. However, a notable hurdle arises from the immune response toward MS2 coat protein, swiftly eliminating subsequent vaccinations via the same vector. Although larger inserts effectively mask carrier epitopes, current research predominantly focuses on displaying short conserved peptides (<30 aa). A systematic evaluation regarding the deterministic ability of MS2 VLPs as a platform for presenting heterologous peptides remains a gap. In light of this, we employed the "single-chain dimer" paradigm to scrutinize the tolerance of MS2 VLPs for peptide/protein insertions. The results unveiled functional MS2 VLP assembly solely for inserts smaller than 91 aa. Particularly noteworthy is the largest insertion achieved on the MS2 VLPs to date: the RNA helicase A (RHA) dsRNA-binding domains (dsRBD1). Attempts to introduce additional linkers or empty coat subunits fail to augment the expression level or assembly of the MS2 VLPs displaying dsRBD1, affirming 91 aa as the upper threshold for exogenous protein presentation. By illuminating the precise confines of MS2 VLPs in accommodating distinct peptide lengths, our study informs the selection of appropriate peptide and protein dimensions. This revelation not only underscores the scope of MS2 VLPs but also establishes a pivotal reference point, facilitating the strategic manipulation of MS2 VLPs to design next-generation epitope/antibody-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Dang
- Qinba
State Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Ecological Environment,
College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, Shaanxi 723000, China
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Keng Ridge Crescent, 119260, Singapore
| | - Long J. Wu
- Qinba
State Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Ecological Environment,
College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, Shaanxi 723000, China
| | - Si R. Zhang
- Xi’an
Middle School of Shaanxi Province, Fengcheng Wulu 69, Weiyang, Xi’an 710006, China
- Department
of Genetics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
- HSS,
Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94305, United States
| | - Jian R. Zhu
- School of
Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Yu Z. Hu
- Qinba
State Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Ecological Environment,
College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, Shaanxi 723000, China
| | - Chen X. Yang
- Qinba
State Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Ecological Environment,
College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, Shaanxi 723000, China
| | - Xiao Y. Zhang
- Qinba
State Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Ecological Environment,
College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, Shaanxi 723000, China
- Centre
of Molecular & Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Department
of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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4
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Zahedipour F, Jamialahmadi K, Zamani P, Reza Jaafari M. Improving the efficacy of peptide vaccines in cancer immunotherapy. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 123:110721. [PMID: 37543011 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Peptide vaccines have shown great potential in cancer immunotherapy by targeting tumor antigens and activating the patient's immune system to mount a specific response against cancer cells. However, the efficacy of peptide vaccines in inducing a sustained immune response and achieving clinical benefit remains a major challenge. In this review, we discuss the current status of peptide vaccines in cancer immunotherapy and strategies to improve their efficacy. We summarize the recent advancements in the development of peptide vaccines in pre-clinical and clinical settings, including the use of novel adjuvants, neoantigens, nano-delivery systems, and combination therapies. We also highlight the importance of personalized cancer vaccines, which consider the unique genetic and immunological profiles of individual patients. We also discuss the strategies to enhance the immunogenicity of peptide vaccines such as multivalent peptides, conjugated peptides, fusion proteins, and self-assembled peptides. Although, peptide vaccines alone are weak immunogens, combining peptide vaccines with other immunotherapeutic approaches and developing novel approaches such as personalized vaccines can be promising methods to significantly enhance their efficacy and improve the clinical outcomes for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Zahedipour
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Khadijeh Jamialahmadi
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Parvin Zamani
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Reza Jaafari
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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5
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Setyo Utomo DI, Suhaimi H, Muhammad Azami NA, Azmi F, Mohd Amin MCI, Xu J. An Overview of Recent Developments in the Application of Antigen Displaying Vaccine Platforms: Hints for Future SARS-CoV-2 VLP Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1506. [PMID: 37766182 PMCID: PMC10536610 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11091506] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, a great effort has been devoted to studying attenuated and subunit vaccine development against SARS-CoV-2 since its outbreak in December 2019. It is known that diverse virus-like particles (VLPs) are extensively employed as carriers to display various antigenic and immunostimulatory cargo modules for vaccine development. Single or multiple antigens or antigenic domains such as the spike or nucleocapsid protein or their variants from SARS-CoV-2 could also be incorporated into VLPs via either a genetic or chemical display approach. Such antigen display platforms would help screen safer and more effective vaccine candidates capable of generating a strong immune response with or without adjuvant. This review aims to provide valuable insights for the future development of SARS-CoV-2 VLP vaccines by summarizing the latest updates and perspectives on the vaccine development of VLP platforms for genetic and chemical displaying antigens from SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doddy Irawan Setyo Utomo
- Research Center for Vaccine and Drug, Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Gedung 611, LAPTIAB, KST Habibie, Serpong, Tangerang Selatan 15314, Indonesia;
| | - Hamizah Suhaimi
- Centre of Drug Delivery Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia; (H.S.); (F.A.); (M.C.I.M.A.)
| | - Nor Azila Muhammad Azami
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia;
| | - Fazren Azmi
- Centre of Drug Delivery Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia; (H.S.); (F.A.); (M.C.I.M.A.)
| | - Mohd Cairul Iqbal Mohd Amin
- Centre of Drug Delivery Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia; (H.S.); (F.A.); (M.C.I.M.A.)
| | - Jian Xu
- Laboratory of Biology and Information Science, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
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6
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Kheirvari M, Liu H, Tumban E. Virus-like Particle Vaccines and Platforms for Vaccine Development. Viruses 2023; 15:1109. [PMID: 37243195 PMCID: PMC10223759 DOI: 10.3390/v15051109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) have gained a lot of interest within the past two decades. The use of VLP-based vaccines to protect against three infectious agents-hepatitis B virus, human papillomavirus, and hepatitis E virus-has been approved; they are very efficacious and offer long-lasting immune responses. Besides these, VLPs from other viral infectious agents (that infect humans, animals, plants, and bacteria) are under development. These VLPs, especially those from human and animal viruses, serve as stand-alone vaccines to protect against viruses from which the VLPs were derived. Additionally, VLPs, including those derived from plant and bacterial viruses, serve as platforms upon which to display foreign peptide antigens from other infectious agents or metabolic diseases such as cancer, i.e., they can be used to develop chimeric VLPs. The goal of chimeric VLPs is to enhance the immunogenicity of foreign peptides displayed on VLPs and not necessarily the platforms. This review provides a summary of VLP vaccines for human and veterinary use that have been approved and those that are under development. Furthermore, this review summarizes chimeric VLP vaccines that have been developed and tested in pre-clinical studies. Finally, the review concludes with a snapshot of the advantages of VLP-based vaccines such as hybrid/mosaic VLPs over conventional vaccine approaches such as live-attenuated and inactivated vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ebenezer Tumban
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Texas Tech University, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
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7
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Li Y, Sun R, Li S, Tan Z, Li Z, Liu Y, Guo Y, Huang J. ASFV proteins presented at the surface of T7 phages induce strong antibody responses in mice. J Virol Methods 2023; 316:114725. [PMID: 36965632 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2023.114725] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
African swine fever virus (ASFV) infection causes substantial economic losses to the swine industry worldwide, and there are still no safe and effective vaccines or therapeutics available. The granulated virus antigen improves the antigen present process and elicits high antibody reaction than the subunit antigen. In this study, the SpyTag peptide-p10 fusion protein was altered and displayed on the surface of the T7 phage to construct an engineered phage (T7-ST). At the same time, ASFV antigen-Spycatcher C-terminal-fused protein (antigen-SC) was expressed and purified by an E. coli prokaryotic expression system. Five virus-like particles (VLPs) displaying the main ASFV antigenic proteins P30, P54, P72, CD2v, and K145R were reconstructed by the isopeptide bond between SpyTag and antigen-SC proteins. The stability of five ASFV VLPs in high temperature and extreme pH conditions was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and plaque analysis. All ASFV VLPs induced a high titer antigen-specific antibody response in mice. Our results showed that the granulated antigen displaying ASFV protein on the surface of the T7 phage provides a robust potential vaccine and diagnostic tool to address the challenge of the ASFV pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanfang Li
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 300072
| | - Ruiqi Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 300072
| | - Shujun Li
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 300072
| | - Zheng Tan
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 300072
| | - Zexing Li
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 300072
| | - Yebin Liu
- China Institute of Veterinary Drug Control, Beijing, China, 100081
| | - Yanyu Guo
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 300072.
| | - Jinhai Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 300072.
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8
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Shi T, Sun M, Lu C, Meng F. Self-assembled nanoparticles: A new platform for revolutionizing therapeutic cancer vaccines. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1125253. [PMID: 36895553 PMCID: PMC9988954 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1125253] [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: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer vaccines have had some success in the past decade. Based on in-depth analysis of tumor antigen genomics, many therapeutic vaccines have already entered clinical trials for multiple cancers, including melanoma, lung cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, which have demonstrated impressive tumor immunogenicity and antitumor activity. Recently, vaccines based on self-assembled nanoparticles are being actively developed as cancer treatment, and their feasibility has been confirmed in both mice and humans. In this review, we summarize recent therapeutic cancer vaccines based on self-assembled nanoparticles. We describe the basic ingredients for self-assembled nanoparticles, and how they enhance vaccine immunogenicity. We also discuss the novel design method for self-assembled nanoparticles that pose as a promising delivery platform for cancer vaccines, and the potential in combination with multiple therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Shi
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.,The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Mengna Sun
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.,The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Changchang Lu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.,The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Fanyan Meng
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.,The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
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9
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Zhang L, Xu W, Ma X, Sun X, Fan J, Wang Y. Virus-like Particles as Antiviral Vaccine: Mechanism, Design, and Application. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2023; 28:1-16. [PMID: 36627930 PMCID: PMC9817464 DOI: 10.1007/s12257-022-0107-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are viral structural protein that are noninfectious as they do not contain viral genetic materials. They are safe and effective immune stimulators and play important roles in vaccine development because of their intrinsic immunogenicity to induce cellular and humoral immune responses. In the design of antiviral vaccine, VLPs based vaccines are appealing multifunctional candidates with the advantages such as self-assembling nanoscaled structures, repetitive surface epitopes, ease of genetic and chemical modifications, versatility as antigen presenting platforms, intrinsic immunogenicity, higher safety profile in comparison with live-attenuated vaccines and inactivated vaccines. In this review, we discuss the mechanism of VLPs vaccine inducing cellular and humoral immune responses. We outline the impact of size, shape, surface charge, antigen presentation, genetic and chemical modification, and expression systems when constructing effective VLPs based vaccines. Recent applications of antiviral VLPs vaccines and their clinical trials are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Department of Basic Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi China
| | - Wen Xu
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Department of Basic Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi China
| | - Xi Ma
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Department of Basic Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi China
| | - XiaoJing Sun
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Department of Basic Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi China
| | - JinBo Fan
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Department of Basic Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi China
| | - Yang Wang
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Department of Basic Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi China
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10
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Epitope-Based Vaccines against the Chlamydia trachomatis Major Outer Membrane Protein Variable Domain 4 Elicit Protection in Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10060875. [PMID: 35746483 PMCID: PMC9227494 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10060875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most common bacterial sexual transmitted pathogen, yet a vaccine is not currently available. Here, we used the immunogenic bacteriophage MS2 virus-like particle (VLP) technology to engineer vaccines against the Ct major outer membrane protein variable domain 4 (MOMP-VD4), which contains a conserved neutralizing epitope (TTLNPTIAG). A previously described monoclonal antibody to the MOMP-VD4 (E4 mAb) is capable of neutralizing all urogenital Ct serovars and binds this core epitope, as well as several non-contiguous amino acids. This suggests that this core epitope may require conformational context in order to elicit neutralizing antibodies to Ct. In order to identify immunogens that could elicit neutralizing antibodies to the TTLNPTIAG epitope, we used two approaches. First, we used affinity selection with a bacteriophage MS2-VLP library displaying random peptides in a constrained, surface-exposed loop to identify potential E4 mAb mimotopes. After four rounds of affinity selection, we identified a VLP-displayed peptide (HMVGSTKWTN) that could bind to the E4 mAb and elicited serum IgG that bound weakly to Ct elementary bodies by ELISA. Second, two versions of the core conserved TTLNPTIAG epitope (TTLNPTIAG and TTLNPTIAGA) were recombinantly expressed on the coat protein of the MS2 VLP in a constrained, surface-exposed loop. Mouse immune sera IgG bound to Ct elementary bodies by ELISA. Immunization with these MS2 VLPs provided protection from vaginal Chlamydia infection in a murine challenge model. These data suggest that short peptide epitopes targeting the MOMP-VD4 could be appropriate for Ct vaccine design when displayed on an immunogenic bacteriophage VLP vaccine platform.
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11
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Curley SM, Putnam D. Biological Nanoparticles in Vaccine Development. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:867119. [PMID: 35402394 PMCID: PMC8984165 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.867119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines represent one of the most successful public health initiatives worldwide. However, despite the vast number of highly effective vaccines, some infectious diseases still do not have vaccines available. New technologies are needed to fully realize the potential of vaccine development for both emerging infectious diseases and diseases for which there are currently no vaccines available. As can be seen by the success of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, nanoscale platforms are promising delivery vectors for effective and safe vaccines. Synthetic nanoscale platforms, including liposomes and inorganic nanoparticles and microparticles, have many advantages in the vaccine market, but often require multiple doses and addition of artificial adjuvants, such as aluminum hydroxide. Biologically derived nanoparticles, on the other hand, contain native pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which can reduce the need for artificial adjuvants. Biological nanoparticles can be engineered to have many additional useful properties, including biodegradability, biocompatibility, and are often able to self-assemble, thereby allowing simple scale-up from benchtop to large-scale manufacturing. This review summarizes the state of the art in biologically derived nanoparticles and their capabilities as novel vaccine platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M. Curley
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - David Putnam
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: David Putnam,
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12
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Ray S, Wirth DM, Ortega-Rivera OA, Steinmetz NF, Pokorski JK. Dissolving Microneedle Delivery of a Prophylactic HPV Vaccine. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:903-912. [PMID: 35139303 PMCID: PMC9831510 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c01345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Prophylactic vaccines capable of preventing human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are still inaccessible to a vast majority of the global population due to their high cost and challenges related to multiple administrations performed in a medical setting. In an effort to improve distribution and administration, we have developed dissolvable microneedles loaded with a thermally stable HPV vaccine candidate consisting of Qβ virus-like particles (VLPs) displaying a highly conserved epitope from the L2 protein of HPV (Qβ-HPV). Polymeric microneedle delivery of Qβ-HPV produces similar amounts of anti-HPV16 L2 IgG antibodies compared to traditional subcutaneous injection while delivering a much smaller amount of intradermal dose. However, a dose sparing effect was found. Furthermore, immunization yielded neutralizing antibody responses in a HPV pseudovirus assay. The vaccine candidate was confirmed to be stable at room temperature after storage for several months, potentially mitigating many of the challenges associated with cold-chain distribution. The ease of self-administration and minimal invasiveness of such microneedle patch vaccines may enable wide-scale distribution of the HPV vaccine and lead to higher patient compliance. The Qβ VLP and its delivery technology is a plug-and-play system that could serve as a universal platform with a broad range of applications. Qβ VLPs may be stockpiled for conjugation to a wide range of epitopes, which are then packaged and delivered directly to the patient via noninvasive microneedle patches. Such a system paves the way for rapid distribution and self-administration of vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayoni Ray
- Department of NanoEngineering and Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California 92039, United States
| | - David M. Wirth
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California 92039, United States
| | - Oscar A. Ortega-Rivera
- Department of NanoEngineering and Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California 92039, United States
| | - Nicole F. Steinmetz
- Department of NanoEngineering, Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, Institute for Materials Discovery and Design, Department of Bioengineering, Department of Radiology, and Moores Cancer Center, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California 92039, United States
| | - Jonathan K. Pokorski
- Department of NanoEngineering, Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, and Institute for Materials Discovery and Design, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California 92039, United States
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13
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Biela AP, Naskalska A, Fatehi F, Twarock R, Heddle JG. Programmable polymorphism of a virus-like particle. COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS 2022; 3:7. [PMID: 35284827 PMCID: PMC7612486 DOI: 10.1038/s43246-022-00229-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) have significant potential as artificial vaccines and drug delivery systems. The ability to control their size has wide ranging utility but achieving such controlled polymorphism using a single protein subunit is challenging as it requires altering VLP geometry. Here we achieve size control of MS2 bacteriophage VLPs via insertion of amino acid sequences in an external loop to shift morphology to significantly larger forms. The resulting VLP size and geometry is controlled by altering the length and type of the insert. Cryo electron microscopy structures of the new VLPs, in combination with a kinetic model of their assembly, show that the abundance of wild type (T = 3), T = 4, D3 and D5 symmetrical VLPs can be biased in this way. We propose a mechanism whereby the insert leads to a change in the dynamic behavior of the capsid protein dimer, affecting the interconversion between the symmetric and asymmetric conformers and thus determining VLP size and morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur P. Biela
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, 30-392 Krakow, Poland
| | - Antonina Naskalska
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, 30-392 Krakow, Poland
| | - Farzad Fatehi
- Departments of Mathematics, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
- York Cross-Disciplinary Centre for Systems Analysis, University of York, York YO10 5GE, UK
| | - Reidun Twarock
- Departments of Mathematics, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
- York Cross-Disciplinary Centre for Systems Analysis, University of York, York YO10 5GE, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Jonathan G. Heddle
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, 30-392 Krakow, Poland
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14
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McFall-Boegeman H, Huang X. Mechanisms of cellular and humoral immunity through the lens of VLP-based vaccines. Expert Rev Vaccines 2022; 21:453-469. [PMID: 35023430 PMCID: PMC8960355 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2022.2029415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vaccination can be effective defense against many infectious agents and the corresponding diseases. Discoveries elucidating the mechanisms of the immune system have given hopes to developing vaccines against diseases recalcitrant to current treatment/prevention strategies. One such finding is the ability of immunogenic biological nanoparticles to powerfully boost the immunogenicity of poorer antigens conjugated to them with virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccines as a key example. VLPs take advantage of the well-defined molecular structures associated with sub-unit vaccines and the immunostimulatory nature of conjugate vaccines. AREAS COVERED In this review, we will discuss how advances in understanding the immune system can inform VLP-based vaccine design and how VLP-based vaccines have uncovered underlying mechanisms in the immune system. EXPERT OPINION As our understanding of mechanisms underlying the immune system increases, that knowledge should inform our vaccine design. Testing of proof-of-concept vaccines in the lab should seek to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of immune responses. The integration of these approaches will allow for VLP-based vaccines to live up to their promise as a powerful plug-and-play platform for next generation vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter McFall-Boegeman
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.,Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Xuefei Huang
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.,Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
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15
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Optimizing the synthesis and purification of MS2 virus like particles. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19851. [PMID: 34615923 PMCID: PMC8494748 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98706-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introducing bacteriophage MS2 virus-like particles (VLPs) as gene and drug delivery tools increases the demand for optimizing their production and purification procedure. PEG precipitation method is used efficiently to purify VLPs, while the effects of pH and different electrolytes on the stability, size, and homogeneity of purified MS2 VLPs, and the encapsulated RNA sequences remained to be elucidated. In this regard, a vector, capable of producing VLP with an shRNA packed inside was prepared. The resulting VLPs in different buffers/solutions were assessed for their size, polydispersity index, and ability to protect the enclosed shRNA. We report that among Tris, HEPES, and PBS, with or without NaNO3, and also NaNO3 alone in different pH and ionic concentrations, the 100 mM NaNO3-Tris buffer with pH:8 can be used as a new and optimal MS2 VLP production buffer, capable of inhibiting the VLPs aggregation. These VLPs show a size range of 27-30 nm and suitable homogeneity with minimum 12-month stability at 4 °C. Moreover, the resulting MS2 VLPs were highly efficient and stable for at least 48 h in conditions similar to in vivo. These features of MS2 VLPs produced in the newly introduced buffer make them an appropriate candidate for therapeutic agents' delivery.
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16
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Zhai L, Anderson D, Bruckner E, Tumban E. Novel expression of coat proteins from thermophilic bacteriophage ΦIN93 and evaluation for assembly into virus-like particles. Protein Expr Purif 2021; 187:105932. [PMID: 34214599 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2021.105932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) have the potential to be used as display platforms to develop vaccines against infectious and non-infectious agents. However, most VLPs used as vaccine display platforms are derived from viruses that infect humans; unfortunately, most humans already have pre-existing antibodies against these platforms and thus, the immunogenicity of these vaccines may be compromised. VLP platforms derived from viruses that infect bacteria (bacteriophages), especially bacteriophages that infect bacteria, which do not colonize humans are less likely to have pre-existing antibodies against the platforms in the human population. In this study, we assessed whether two putative coat proteins (ORF13 and ORF14) derived from a thermophilic bacteriophage (ΦIN93) can be expressed and purified from a mesophilic bacterium such as E. coli. We also assessed whether expressed coat proteins can assemble to form VLPs. Truncated versions of ORF13 and ORF14 were successfully co-expressed in bacteria; the co-expressed truncated proteins formed oval structures that look like VLPs, but their sizes were less than those of an authentic ΦIN93 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukai Zhai
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA
| | - Dana Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA
| | - Elizabeth Bruckner
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA
| | - Ebenezer Tumban
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA.
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17
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Mixed Bacteriophage MS2-L2 VLPs Elicit Long-Lasting Protective Antibodies against HPV Pseudovirus 51. Viruses 2021; 13:v13061113. [PMID: 34200586 PMCID: PMC8227171 DOI: 10.3390/v13061113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Three prophylactic vaccines are approved to protect against HPV infections. These vaccines are highly immunogenic. The most recent HPV vaccine, Gardasil-9, protects against HPV types associated with ~90% of cervical cancer (worldwide). Thus, ~10% of HPV-associated cancers are not protected by Gardasil-9. Although this is not a large percentage overall, the HPV types associated with 10% of cervical cancer not protected by the current vaccine are significantly important, especially in HIV/AIDS patients who are infected with multiple HPV types. To broaden the spectrum of protection against HPV infections, we developed mixed MS2-L2 VLPs (MS2-31L2/16L2 VLPs and MS2-consL2 (69-86) VLPs) in a previous study. Immunization with the VLPs neutralized/protected mice against infection with eleven high-risk HPV types associated with ~95% of cervical cancer and against one low-risk HPV type associated with ~36% of genital warts & up to 32% of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Here, we report that the mixed MS2-L2 VLPs can protect mice from three additional HPV types: HPV51, which is associated with ~0.8% of cervical cancer; HPV6, which is associated with up to 60% of genital warts; HPV5, which is associated with skin cancers in patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV). Overall, mixed MS2-L2 VLPs can protect against twelve HPV types associated with ~95.8% of cervical cancers and against two HPV types associated with ~90% of genital warts and >90% recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Additionally, the VLPs protect against one of two HPV types associated with ~90% of HPV-associated skin cancers in patients with EV. More importantly, we observed that mixed MS2-L2 VLPs elicit protective antibodies that last over 9 months. Furthermore, a spray-freeze-dried formulation of the VLPs is stable, immunogenic, and protective at room temperature and 37 °C.
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18
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Delfi M, Sartorius R, Ashrafizadeh M, Sharifi E, Zhang Y, De Berardinis P, Zarrabi A, Varma RS, Tay FR, Smith BR, Makvandi P. Self-assembled peptide and protein nanostructures for anti-cancer therapy: Targeted delivery, stimuli-responsive devices and immunotherapy. NANO TODAY 2021; 38:101119. [PMID: 34267794 PMCID: PMC8276870 DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2021.101119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembled peptides and proteins possess tremendous potential as targeted drug delivery systems and key applications of these well-defined nanostructures reside in anti-cancer therapy. Peptides and proteins can self-assemble into nanostructures of diverse sizes and shapes in response to changing environmental conditions such as pH, temperature, ionic strength, as well as host and guest molecular interactions; their countless benefits include good biocompatibility and high loading capacity for hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. These self-assembled nanomaterials can be adorned with functional moieties to specifically target tumor cells. Stimuli-responsive features can also be incorporated with respect to the tumor microenvironment. This review sheds light on the growing interest in self-assembled peptides and proteins and their burgeoning applications in cancer treatment and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Delfi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia, Naples 80126, Italy
| | - Rossella Sartorius
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council (CNR), Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Orta Mahalle, Üniversite Caddesi No. 27, Orhanlı, Tuzla, 34956 Istanbul, Turkey
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Tuzla, 34956, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Esmaeel Sharifi
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, 6517838736, Hamadan, Iran
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, IPCB-CNR, Naples 80125, Italy
| | - Yapei Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | | | - Ali Zarrabi
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Tuzla, 34956, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Rajender S. Varma
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Franklin R Tay
- The Graduate School, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Bryan Ronain Smith
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Radiology and the Molecular Imaging Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Pooyan Makvandi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Centre for Micro-BioRobotics, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Pisa, Italy
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19
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Butkovich N, Li E, Ramirez A, Burkhardt AM, Wang SW. Advancements in protein nanoparticle vaccine platforms to combat infectious disease. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 13:e1681. [PMID: 33164326 PMCID: PMC8052270 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Infectious diseases are a major threat to global human health, yet prophylactic treatment options can be limited, as safe and efficacious vaccines exist only for a fraction of all diseases. Notably, devastating diseases such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) currently do not have vaccine therapies. Conventional vaccine platforms, such as live attenuated vaccines and whole inactivated vaccines, can be difficult to manufacture, may cause severe side effects, and can potentially induce severe infection. Subunit vaccines carry far fewer safety concerns due to their inability to cause vaccine-based infections. The applicability of protein nanoparticles (NPs) as vaccine scaffolds is promising to prevent infectious diseases, and they have been explored for a number of viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic diseases. Many types of protein NPs exist, including self-assembling NPs, bacteriophage-derived NPs, plant virus-derived NPs, and human virus-based vectors, and these particular categories will be covered in this review. These vaccines can elicit strong humoral and cellular immune responses against specific pathogens, as well as provide protection against infection in a number of animal models. Furthermore, published clinical trials demonstrate the promise of applying these NP vaccine platforms, which include bacteriophage-derived NPs, in addition to multiple viral vectors that are currently used in the clinic. The continued investigations of protein NP vaccine platforms are critical to generate safer alternatives to current vaccines, advance vaccines for diseases that currently lack effective prophylactic therapies, and prepare for the rapid development of new vaccines against emerging infectious diseases. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Infectious Disease Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus-Based Structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Butkovich
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Enya Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Aaron Ramirez
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Amanda M. Burkhardt
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA
| | - Szu-Wen Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
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20
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Nooraei S, Bahrulolum H, Hoseini ZS, Katalani C, Hajizade A, Easton AJ, Ahmadian G. Virus-like particles: preparation, immunogenicity and their roles as nanovaccines and drug nanocarriers. J Nanobiotechnology 2021; 19:59. [PMID: 33632278 PMCID: PMC7905985 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-00806-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 302] [Impact Index Per Article: 100.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are virus-derived structures made up of one or more different molecules with the ability to self-assemble, mimicking the form and size of a virus particle but lacking the genetic material so they are not capable of infecting the host cell. Expression and self-assembly of the viral structural proteins can take place in various living or cell-free expression systems after which the viral structures can be assembled and reconstructed. VLPs are gaining in popularity in the field of preventive medicine and to date, a wide range of VLP-based candidate vaccines have been developed for immunization against various infectious agents, the latest of which is the vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the efficacy of which is being evaluated. VLPs are highly immunogenic and are able to elicit both the antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses by pathways different from those elicited by conventional inactivated viral vaccines. However, there are still many challenges to this surface display system that need to be addressed in the future. VLPs that are classified as subunit vaccines are subdivided into enveloped and non- enveloped subtypes both of which are discussed in this review article. VLPs have also recently received attention for their successful applications in targeted drug delivery and for use in gene therapy. The development of more effective and targeted forms of VLP by modification of the surface of the particles in such a way that they can be introduced into specific cells or tissues or increase their half-life in the host is likely to expand their use in the future. Recent advances in the production and fabrication of VLPs including the exploration of different types of expression systems for their development, as well as their applications as vaccines in the prevention of infectious diseases and cancers resulting from their interaction with, and mechanism of activation of, the humoral and cellular immune systems are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saghi Nooraei
- Department of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), P. O. BOX: 14155-6343, Tehran, 1497716316, Iran
| | - Howra Bahrulolum
- Department of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), P. O. BOX: 14155-6343, Tehran, 1497716316, Iran
| | - Zakieh Sadat Hoseini
- Department of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), P. O. BOX: 14155-6343, Tehran, 1497716316, Iran
| | - Camellia Katalani
- Sari Agriculture Science and Natural Resource University (SANRU), Genetics and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute of Tabarestan (GABIT), Sari, Iran
| | - Abbas Hajizade
- Applied Microbiology Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Andrew J Easton
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Campus, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
| | - Gholamreza Ahmadian
- Department of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), P. O. BOX: 14155-6343, Tehran, 1497716316, Iran.
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21
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Gerstweiler L, Bi J, Middelberg APJ. Virus-like particle preparation is improved by control over capsomere-DNA interactions during chromatographic purification. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 118:1707-1720. [PMID: 33484156 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Expression of viral capsomeres in bacterial systems and subsequent in vitro assembly into virus-like particles is a possible pathway for affordable future vaccines. However, purification is challenging as viral capsomeres show poor binding to chromatography media. In this study, the behavior of capsomeres in unfractionated bacterial lysate was compared with that for purified capsomeres, with or without added microbial DNA, to better understand reasons for poor bioprocess behavior. We show that aggregates or complexes form through the interaction between viral capsomeres and DNA, especially in bacterial lysates rich in contaminating DNA. The formation of these complexes prevents the target protein capsomeres from accessing the pores of chromatography media. We find that protein-DNA interactions can be modulated by controlling the ionic strength of the buffer and that at elevated ionic strengths the protein-DNA complexes dissociate. Capsomeres thus released show enhanced bind-elute behavior on salt-tolerant chromatography media. DNA could therefore be efficiently removed. We believe this is the first report of the use of an optimized salt concentration that dissociates capsomere-DNA complexes yet enables binding to salt-tolerant media. Post purification, assembly experiments indicate that DNA-protein interactions can play a negative role during in vitro assembly, as DNA-protein complexes could not be assembled into virus-like particles, but formed worm-like structures. This study reveals that the control over DNA-protein interaction is a critical consideration during downstream process development for viral vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Gerstweiler
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jingxiu Bi
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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22
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Shao S, A. Ortega-Rivera O, Ray S, K. Pokorski J, F. Steinmetz N. A Scalable Manufacturing Approach to Single Dose Vaccination against HPV. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9010066. [PMID: 33478147 PMCID: PMC7835769 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9010066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a globally prevalent sexually-transmitted pathogen, responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. HPV vaccination rates remain suboptimal, partly due to the need for multiple doses, leading to a lack of compliance and incomplete protection. To address the drawbacks of current HPV vaccines, we used a scalable manufacturing process to prepare implantable polymer-protein blends for single-administration with sustained delivery. Peptide epitopes from HPV16 capsid protein L2 were conjugated to the virus-like particles derived from bacteriophage Qβ, to enhance their immunogenicity. The HPV-Qβ particles were then encapsulated into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) implants, using a benchtop melt-processing system. The implants facilitated the slow and sustained release of HPV-Qβ particles without the loss of nanoparticle integrity, during high temperature melt processing. Mice vaccinated with the implants generated IgG titers comparable to the traditional soluble injections and achieved protection in a pseudovirus neutralization assay. HPV-Qβ implants offer a new vaccination platform; because the melt-processing is so versatile, the technology offers the opportunity for massive upscale into any geometric form factor. Notably, microneedle patches would allow for self-administration in the absence of a healthcare professional, within the developing world. The Qβ technology is highly adaptable, allowing the production of vaccine candidates and their delivery devices for multiple strains or types of viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Shao
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (O.A.O.-R.); (S.R.)
- Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Oscar A. Ortega-Rivera
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (O.A.O.-R.); (S.R.)
- Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sayoni Ray
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (O.A.O.-R.); (S.R.)
- Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jonathan K. Pokorski
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (O.A.O.-R.); (S.R.)
- Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Institute for Materials Discovery and Design, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Correspondence: (J.K.P.); (N.F.S.)
| | - Nicole F. Steinmetz
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.S.); (O.A.O.-R.); (S.R.)
- Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Institute for Materials Discovery and Design, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Moore’s Cancer Center, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Correspondence: (J.K.P.); (N.F.S.)
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23
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Mogus AT, Liu L, Jia M, Ajayi DT, Xu K, Kong R, Huang J, Yu J, Kwong PD, Mascola JR, Ho DD, Tsuji M, Chackerian B. Virus-Like Particle Based Vaccines Elicit Neutralizing Antibodies against the HIV-1 Fusion Peptide. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8040765. [PMID: 33333740 PMCID: PMC7765226 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8040765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) isolated from HIV-infected individuals delineate vulnerable sites on the HIV envelope glycoprotein that are potential vaccine targets. A linear epitope within the N-terminal region of the HIV-1 fusion peptide (FP8) is the primary target of VRC34.01, a bnAb that neutralizes ~50% of primary HIV isolates. FP8 has attracted attention as a potential HIV vaccine target because it is a simple linear epitope. Here, platform technologies based on RNA bacteriophage virus-like particles (VLPs) were used to develop multivalent vaccines targeting the FP8 epitope. Both recombinant MS2 VLPs displaying the FP8 peptide and Qβ VLPs displaying chemically conjugated FP8 peptide induced high titers of FP8-specific antibodies in mice. Moreover, a heterologous prime-boost-boost regimen employing the two FP8-VLP vaccines and native envelope trimer was the most effective approach for eliciting HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies. Given the potent immunogenicity of VLP-based vaccines, this vaccination strategy-inspired by bnAb-guided epitope mapping, VLP bioengineering, and prime-boost immunization approaches-may be a useful strategy for eliciting bnAb responses against HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alemu Tekewe Mogus
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; (A.T.M.); (D.T.A.)
| | - Lihong Liu
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; (L.L.); (M.J.); (J.H.); (J.Y.); (D.D.H.)
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Manxue Jia
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; (L.L.); (M.J.); (J.H.); (J.Y.); (D.D.H.)
| | - Diane T. Ajayi
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; (A.T.M.); (D.T.A.)
| | - Kai Xu
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, 40 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (K.X.); (R.K.); (P.D.K.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Rui Kong
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, 40 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (K.X.); (R.K.); (P.D.K.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Jing Huang
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; (L.L.); (M.J.); (J.H.); (J.Y.); (D.D.H.)
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jian Yu
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; (L.L.); (M.J.); (J.H.); (J.Y.); (D.D.H.)
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Peter D. Kwong
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, 40 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (K.X.); (R.K.); (P.D.K.); (J.R.M.)
| | - John R. Mascola
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, 40 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (K.X.); (R.K.); (P.D.K.); (J.R.M.)
| | - David D. Ho
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; (L.L.); (M.J.); (J.H.); (J.Y.); (D.D.H.)
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Moriya Tsuji
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; (L.L.); (M.J.); (J.H.); (J.Y.); (D.D.H.)
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (B.C.); Tel.: +1-212-304-6165 (M.T.); +1-505-272-0269 (B.C.)
| | - Bryce Chackerian
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; (A.T.M.); (D.T.A.)
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (B.C.); Tel.: +1-212-304-6165 (M.T.); +1-505-272-0269 (B.C.)
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24
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Robinson SA, Hartman EC, Ikwuagwu BC, Francis MB, Tullman-Ercek D. Engineering a Virus-like Particle to Display Peptide Insertions Using an Apparent Fitness Landscape. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:4194-4204. [PMID: 32880435 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Peptide insertions in the primary sequence of proteins expand functionality by introducing new binding sequences, chemical handles, or membrane disrupting motifs. With these properties, proteins can be engineered as scaffolds for vaccines or targeted drug delivery vehicles. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are promising platforms for these applications since they are genetically simple, mimic viral structure for cell uptake, and can deliver multiple copies of a therapeutic agent to a given cell. Peptide insertions in the coat protein of VLPs can increase VLP uptake in cells by increasing cell binding, but it is difficult to predict how an insertion affects monomer folding and higher order assembly. To this end, we have engineered the MS2 VLP using a high-throughput technique, called Systematic Mutagenesis and Assembled Particle Selection (SyMAPS). In this work, we applied SyMAPS to investigate a highly mutable loop in the MS2 coat protein to display 9,261 non-native tripeptide insertions. This library generates a discrete map of three amino acid insertions permitted at this location, validates the FG loop as a valuable position for peptide insertion, and illuminates how properties such as charge, flexibility, and hydrogen bonding can interact to preserve or disrupt capsid assembly. Taken together, the results highlight the potential to engineer VLPs in a systematic manner, paving the way to exploring the applications of peptide insertions in biomedically relevant settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A Robinson
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-1460, United States.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3120, United States
| | - Emily C Hartman
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-1460, United States
| | - Bon C Ikwuagwu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3120, United States
| | - Matthew B Francis
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-1460, United States.,Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories, Berkeley, California 94720-1460, United States
| | - Danielle Tullman-Ercek
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3120, United States
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25
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Progress in L2-Based Prophylactic Vaccine Development for Protection against Diverse Human Papillomavirus Genotypes and Associated Diseases. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8040568. [PMID: 33019516 PMCID: PMC7712070 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8040568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are a family of small DNA tumor viruses including over 200 genotypes classified by phylogeny into several genera. Different genera of HPVs cause ano-genital and oropharyngeal cancers, skin cancers, as well as benign diseases including skin and genital warts. Licensed vaccines composed of L1 virus-like particles (VLPs) confer protection generally restricted to the ≤9 HPV types targeted. Here, we examine approaches aimed at broadening the protection against diverse HPV types by targeting conserved epitopes of the minor capsid protein, L2. Compared to L1 VLP, L2 is less immunogenic. However, with appropriate presentation to the immune system, L2 can elicit durable, broadly cross-neutralizing antibody responses and protection against skin and genital challenge with diverse HPV types. Such approaches to enhance the strength and breadth of the humoral response include the display of L2 peptides on VLPs or viral capsids, bacteria, thioredoxin and other platforms for multimerization. Neither L2 nor L1 vaccinations elicit a therapeutic response. However, fusion of L2 with early viral antigens has the potential to elicit both prophylactic and therapeutic immunity. This review of cross-protective HPV vaccines based on L2 is timely as several candidates have recently entered early-phase clinical trials.
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26
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Shukla S, Hu H, Cai H, Chan SK, Boone CE, Beiss V, Chariou PL, Steinmetz NF. Plant Viruses and Bacteriophage-Based Reagents for Diagnosis and Therapy. Annu Rev Virol 2020; 7:559-587. [PMID: 32991265 PMCID: PMC8018517 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-010720-052252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Viral nanotechnology exploits the prefabricated nanostructures of viruses, which are already abundant in nature. With well-defined molecular architectures, viral nanocarriers offer unprecedented opportunities for precise structural and functional manipulation using genetic engineering and/or bio-orthogonal chemistries. In this manner, they can be loaded with diverse molecular payloads for targeted delivery. Mammalian viruses are already established in the clinic for gene therapy and immunotherapy, and inactivated viruses or virus-like particles have long been used as vaccines. More recently, plant viruses and bacteriophages have been developed as nanocarriers for diagnostic imaging, vaccine and drug delivery, and combined diagnosis/therapy (theranostics). The first wave of these novel virus-based tools has completed clinical development and is poised to make an impact on clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourabh Shukla
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - He Hu
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Hui Cai
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Soo-Khim Chan
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Christine E Boone
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Veronique Beiss
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Paul L Chariou
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Nicole F Steinmetz
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
- Moores Cancer Center and Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA;
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27
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Crooke SN, Ovsyannikova IG, Kennedy RB, Poland GA. Immunoinformatic identification of B cell and T cell epitopes in the SARS-CoV-2 proteome. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14179. [PMID: 32843695 PMCID: PMC7447814 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70864-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged from China in late 2019 and rapidly spread across the globe, infecting millions of people and generating societal disruption on a level not seen since the 1918 influenza pandemic. A safe and effective vaccine is desperately needed to prevent the continued spread of SARS-CoV-2; yet, rational vaccine design efforts are currently hampered by the lack of knowledge regarding viral epitopes targeted during an immune response, and the need for more in-depth knowledge on betacoronavirus immunology. To that end, we developed a computational workflow using a series of open-source algorithms and webtools to analyze the proteome of SARS-CoV-2 and identify putative T cell and B cell epitopes. Utilizing a set of stringent selection criteria to filter peptide epitopes, we identified 41 T cell epitopes (5 HLA class I, 36 HLA class II) and 6 B cell epitopes that could serve as promising targets for peptide-based vaccine development against this emerging global pathogen. To our knowledge, this is the first study to comprehensively analyze all 10 (structural, non-structural and accessory) proteins from SARS-CoV-2 using predictive algorithms to identify potential targets for vaccine development.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- B-Lymphocytes/immunology
- B-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Betacoronavirus/classification
- Betacoronavirus/genetics
- Betacoronavirus/immunology
- Betacoronavirus/metabolism
- COVID-19
- Computational Biology/methods
- Coronavirus Infections/immunology
- Coronavirus Infections/metabolism
- Coronavirus Infections/virology
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Genome, Viral
- Genomics/methods
- Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology
- Humans
- Models, Molecular
- Pandemics
- Peptides/chemistry
- Peptides/immunology
- Phylogeny
- Pneumonia, Viral/immunology
- Pneumonia, Viral/metabolism
- Pneumonia, Viral/virology
- SARS-CoV-2
- Structure-Activity Relationship
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Vaccines, Subunit/immunology
- Viral Proteins/chemistry
- Viral Proteins/immunology
- Viral Vaccines/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen N Crooke
- Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic, Guggenheim Building 611C, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Inna G Ovsyannikova
- Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic, Guggenheim Building 611C, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Richard B Kennedy
- Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic, Guggenheim Building 611C, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Gregory A Poland
- Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic, Guggenheim Building 611C, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
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28
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Negahdaripour M, Nezafat N, Heidari R, Erfani N, Hajighahramani N, Ghoshoon MB, Shoolian E, Rahbar MR, Najafipour S, Dehshahri A, Morowvat MH, Ghasemi Y. Production and Preliminary In Vivo Evaluations of a Novel in silico-designed L2-based Potential HPV Vaccine. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2020; 21:316-324. [PMID: 31729940 DOI: 10.2174/1389201020666191114104850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND L2-based Human Papillomavirus (HPV) prophylactic vaccines, containing epitopes from HPV minor capsid proteins, are under investigation as second-generation HPV vaccines. No such vaccine has passed clinical trials yet, mainly due to the low immunogenicity of peptide vaccines; so efforts are being continued. A candidate vaccine composed of two HPV16 L2 epitopes, flagellin and a Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 4 agonist (RS09) as adjuvants, and two universal T-helper epitopes was designed in silico in our previous researches. METHODS The designed vaccine construct was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) and purified through metal affinity chromatography. Following mice vaccination, blood samples underwent ELISA and flow cytometry analyses for the detection of IgG and seven Th1 and Th2 cytokines. RESULTS Following immunization, Th1 (IFN-γ, IL-2) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10) type cytokines, as well as IgG, were induced significantly compared with the PBS group. Significant increases in IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-5 levels were observed in the vaccinated group versus Freund's adjuvant group. CONCLUSION The obtained cytokine induction profile implied both cellular and humoral responses, with a more Th-1 favored trend. However, an analysis of specific antibodies against L2 is required to confirm humoral responses. No significant elevation in inflammatory cytokines, (IL-6 and TNF-α), suggested a lack of unwanted inflammatory side effects despite using a combination of two TLR agonists. The designed construct might be capable of inducing adaptive and innate immunity; nevertheless, comprehensive immune tests were not conducted at this stage and will be a matter of future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manica Negahdaripour
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Navid Nezafat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Reza Heidari
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Nasrollah Erfani
- Cancer Immunology Group, Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Nasim Hajighahramani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad B Ghoshoon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Eskandar Shoolian
- Charité University of Medicine, Campus Research House of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.,Biotechnology incubator center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad R Rahbar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sohrab Najafipour
- Microbiology Department, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Ali Dehshahri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad H Morowvat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Younes Ghasemi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
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29
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Basu R, Zhai L, Rosso B, Tumban E. Bacteriophage Qβ virus-like particles displaying Chikungunya virus B-cell epitopes elicit high-titer E2 protein antibodies but fail to neutralize a Thailand strain of Chikungunya virus. Vaccine 2020; 38:2542-2550. [PMID: 32044164 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.01.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus associated with arthritis and musculoskeletal pains. More than 2.9 million people worldwide have been infected with the virus within the last 1.5 decades; currently, there are no approved vaccines to protect against CHIKV infection. To assess the potential of using CHIKV peptides as vaccine antigens, we multivalently displayed CHIKV peptides representing B-cell epitopes (amino acids 2800-2818, 3025-3058, 3073-3081, 3121-3146, and 3177-3210), from E2 glycoprotein (Singapore strain), on the surface of a highly immunogenic bacteriophage Qβ virus-like particle (VLP). We assessed the immunogenicity of CHIKV E2 amino acid 3025-3058 (including the other epitopes) displayed on Qβ VLPs in comparison to the same peptide not displayed on VLPs. Mice immunized with the E2 peptides displayed on Qβ VLPs elicited high-titer antibodies compared with the group immunized just with the peptide. However, sera from immunized mice did not neutralize CHIKV AF15561 (isolated from Thailand). The data suggest that Qβ VLPs is an excellent approach to elicit high-titer CHIKV E2-protein antibodies at a lower dose of antigen and future studies should assess whether Qβ-CHIKV E2 aa 2800-2818 VLPs and Qβ-CHIKV E2 aa 3025-3058 VLPs can neutralize a Singapore Strain of CHIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupsa Basu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
| | - Lukai Zhai
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
| | - Brenna Rosso
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
| | - Ebenezer Tumban
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA.
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30
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Hess KL, Jewell CM. Phage display as a tool for vaccine and immunotherapy development. Bioeng Transl Med 2020; 5:e10142. [PMID: 31989033 PMCID: PMC6971447 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria and coopt the cellular machinery to create more phage proteins, eventually resulting in the release of new phage particles. Phages are heavily utilized in bioengineering for applications ranging from tissue engineering scaffolds to immune signal delivery. Of specific interest to vaccines and immunotherapies, phages have demonstrated an ability to activate both the innate and adaptive immune systems. The genome of these viral particles can be harnessed for DNA vaccination, or the surface proteins can be exploited for antigen display. More specifically, genes that encode an antigen of interest can be spliced into the phage genome, allowing antigenic proteins or peptides to be displayed by fusion to phage capsid proteins. Phages therefore present antigens to immune cells in a highly ordered and repetitive manner. This review discusses the use of phage with adjuvanting activity as antigen delivery vehicles for vaccination against infectious disease and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystina L. Hess
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological CenterAberdeen Proving GroundMaryland
| | - Christopher M. Jewell
- Fischell Department of BioengineeringUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMaryland
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical DevicesCollege ParkMaryland
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of Maryland Medical SchoolBaltimoreMaryland
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer CenterBaltimoreMaryland
- U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsBaltimoreMaryland
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31
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Yadav R, Zhai L, Tumban E. Virus-like Particle-Based L2 Vaccines against HPVs: Where Are We Today? Viruses 2019; 12:v12010018. [PMID: 31877975 PMCID: PMC7019592 DOI: 10.3390/v12010018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Ninety percent of infected individuals clear the infection within two years; however, in the remaining 10% of infected individuals, the infection(s) persists and ultimately leads to cancers (anogenital cancers and head and neck cancers) and genital warts. Fortunately, three prophylactic vaccines have been approved to protect against HPV infections. The most recent HPV vaccine, Gardasil-9 (a nonavalent vaccine), protects against seven HPV types associated with ~90% of cervical cancer and against two HPV types associated with ~90% genital warts with little cross-protection against non-vaccine HPV types. The current vaccines are based on virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from the major capsid protein, L1. The L1 protein is not conserved among HPV types. The minor capsid protein, L2, on the other hand, is highly conserved among HPV types and has been an alternative target antigen, for over two decades, to develop a broadly protective HPV vaccine. The L2 protein, unlike the L1, cannot form VLPs and as such, it is less immunogenic. This review summarizes current studies aimed at developing HPV L2 vaccines by multivalently displaying L2 peptides on VLPs derived from bacteriophages and eukaryotic viruses. Recent data show that a monovalent HPV L1 VLP as well as bivalent MS2 VLPs displaying HPV L2 peptides (representing amino acids 17–36 and/or consensus amino acids 69–86) elicit robust broadly protective antibodies against diverse HPV types (6/11/16/18/26/31/33/34/35/39/43/44/45/51/52/53/56/58/59/66/68/73) associated with cancers and genital warts. Thus, VLP-based L2 vaccines look promising and may be favorable, in the near future, over current L1-based HPV vaccines and should be explored further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashi Yadav
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA; (R.Y.); (L.Z.)
| | - Lukai Zhai
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA; (R.Y.); (L.Z.)
- Current address: Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Ebenezer Tumban
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA; (R.Y.); (L.Z.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-906-487-2256; Fax: +1-906-487-3167
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32
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Tumban E. A Current Update on Human Papillomavirus-Associated Head and Neck Cancers. Viruses 2019; 11:v11100922. [PMID: 31600915 PMCID: PMC6833051 DOI: 10.3390/v11100922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the cause of a growing percentage of head and neck cancers (HNC); primarily, a subset of oral squamous cell carcinoma, oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The majority of HPV-associated head and neck cancers (HPV + HNC) are caused by HPV16; additionally, co-factors such as smoking and immunosuppression contribute to the progression of HPV + HNC by interfering with tumor suppressor miRNA and impairing mediators of the immune system. This review summarizes current studies on HPV + HNC, ranging from potential modes of oral transmission of HPV (sexual, self-inoculation, vertical and horizontal transmissions), discrepancy in the distribution of HPV + HNC between anatomical sites in the head and neck region, and to studies showing that HPV vaccines have the potential to protect against oral HPV infection (especially against the HPV types included in the vaccines). The review concludes with a discussion of major challenges in the field and prospects for the future: challenges in diagnosing HPV + HNC at early stages of the disease, measures to reduce discrepancy in the prevalence of HPV + HNC cases between anatomical sites, and suggestions to assess whether fomites/breast milk can transmit HPV to the oral cavity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebenezer Tumban
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Dr, Houghton, MI 49931, USA.
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33
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Balke I, Zeltins A. Use of plant viruses and virus-like particles for the creation of novel vaccines. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2019; 145:119-129. [PMID: 30172923 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In recent decades, the development of plant virology and genetic engineering techniques has resulted in the construction of plant virus-based vaccines for protection against different infectious agents, cancers and autoimmune diseases in both humans and animals. Interaction studies between plant viruses and mammalian organisms have suggested that plant viruses and virus-like particles (VLPs) are safe and noninfectious to humans and animals. Plant viruses with introduced antigens are powerful vaccine components due to their strongly organized, repetitive spatial structure; they can elicit strong immune responses similar to those observed with infectious mammalian viruses. The analysis of published data demonstrated that at least 73 experimental vaccines, including 61 prophylactic and 12 therapeutic vaccines, have been constructed using plant viruses as a carrier structure for presentation of different antigens. This information clearly demonstrates that noninfectious viruses are also applicable as vaccine carriers. Moreover, several plant viruses have been used for platform development, and corresponding vaccines are currently being tested in human and veterinary clinical trials. This review therefore discusses the main principles of plant VLP vaccine construction, emphasizing the physical, chemical, genetic and immunological aspects. Results of the latest studies suggest that several plant virus-based vaccines will join the list of approved human and animal vaccines in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina Balke
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1, Riga LV1067, Latvia
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1, Riga LV1067, Latvia.
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34
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Tao P, Zhu J, Mahalingam M, Batra H, Rao VB. Bacteriophage T4 nanoparticles for vaccine delivery against infectious diseases. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2019; 145:57-72. [PMID: 29981801 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Subunit vaccines containing one or more target antigens from pathogenic organisms represent safer alternatives to whole pathogen vaccines. However, the antigens by themselves are not sufficiently immunogenic and require additives known as adjuvants to enhance immunogenicity and protective efficacy. Assembly of the antigens into virus-like nanoparticles (VLPs) is a better approach as it allows presentation of the epitopes in a more native context. The repetitive, symmetrical, and high density display of antigens on the VLPs mimic pathogen-associated molecular patterns seen on bacteria and viruses. The antigens, thus, might be better presented to stimulate host's innate as well as adaptive immune systems thereby eliciting both humoral and cellular immune responses. Bacteriophages such as phage T4 provide excellent platforms to generate the nanoparticle vaccines. The T4 capsid containing two non-essential outer proteins Soc and Hoc allow high density array of antigen epitopes in the form of peptides, domains, full-length proteins, or even multi-subunit complexes. Co-delivery of DNAs, targeting molecules, and/or molecular adjuvants provides additional advantages. Recent studies demonstrate that the phage T4 VLPs are highly immunogenic, do not need an adjuvant, and provide complete protection against bacterial and viral pathogens. Thus, phage T4 could potentially be developed as a "universal" VLP platform to design future multivalent vaccines against complex and emerging pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Tao
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
| | - Jingen Zhu
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - Marthandan Mahalingam
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - Himanshu Batra
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - Venigalla B Rao
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA.
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Kunda NK, Peabody J, Zhai L, Price DN, Chackerian B, Tumban E, Muttil P. Evaluation of the thermal stability and the protective efficacy of spray-dried HPV vaccine, Gardasil® 9. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 15:1995-2002. [PMID: 30883270 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1593727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types are responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancers. Cervarix® and Gardasil® 9 are the current prophylactic vaccines available that protect against the majority of HPVs associated with cancer. Although these vaccines are highly effective, HPV vaccine implementation has been slow, particularly in low-and-middle income countries. Major barriers to the widespread availability of the HPV vaccines is its cost and the requirement for continuous refrigeration (2-8°C). Here, we used spray drying along with stabilizing excipients to formulate a thermostable Gardasil® 9 vaccine. We evaluated the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the vaccine in mice immediately after spray drying and following storage for three months at 4°C, 25°C, and 40°C. The immunogenicity studies were performed using Gardasil® 9 as a whole antigen, and not individual HPV types, for ELISA. At the dose tested, the spray dried vaccine conferred protection against HPV following storage at temperatures up to 40°C. In addition to the spray-dried vaccine, our studies revealed that the Gardasil® 9 vaccine, as currently marketed, may be stored and transported at elevated temperatures for up to 3 months without losing efficacy, especially against HPV16. This study is critical, as a thermostable vaccine will decrease vaccine cost associated with cold-chain maintenance and could increase vaccine access and coverage, especially in remote regions of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitesh K Kunda
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico , Albuquerque , NM , USA.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens , New York , NY , USA
| | - Julianne Peabody
- c Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine , Albuquerque , NM , USA
| | - Lukai Zhai
- d Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University , Houghton , MI , USA
| | - Dominique N Price
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico , Albuquerque , NM , USA
| | - Bryce Chackerian
- c Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine , Albuquerque , NM , USA
| | - Ebenezer Tumban
- d Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University , Houghton , MI , USA
| | - Pavan Muttil
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico , Albuquerque , NM , USA
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Janitzek CM, Peabody J, Thrane S, H R Carlsen P, G Theander T, Salanti A, Chackerian B, A Nielsen M, Sander AF. A proof-of-concept study for the design of a VLP-based combinatorial HPV and placental malaria vaccine. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5260. [PMID: 30918267 PMCID: PMC6437161 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41522-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In Africa, cervical cancer and placental malaria (PM) are a major public health concern. There is currently no available PM vaccine and the marketed Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are prohibitively expensive. The idea of a combinatorial HPV and PM vaccine is attractive because the target population for vaccination against both diseases, adolescent girls, would be overlapping in Sub-Saharan Africa. Here we demonstrate proof-of-concept for a combinatorial vaccine utilizing the AP205 capsid-based virus-like particle (VLP) designed to simultaneously display two clinically relevant antigens (the HPV RG1 epitope and the VAR2CSA PM antigen). Three distinct combinatorial VLPs were produced displaying one, two or five concatenated RG1 epitopes without obstructing the VLP’s capacity to form. Co-display of VAR2CSA was achieved through a split-protein Tag/Catcher interaction without hampering the vaccine stability. Vaccination with the combinatorial vaccine(s) was able to reduce HPV infection in vivo and induce anti-VAR2CSA IgG antibodies, which inhibited binding between native VAR2CSA expressed on infected red blood cells and chondroitin sulfate A in an in vitro binding-inhibition assay. These results show that the Tag/Catcher AP205 VLP system can be exploited to make a combinatorial vaccine capable of eliciting antibodies with dual specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph M Janitzek
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Julianne Peabody
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, USA
| | - Susan Thrane
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Philip H R Carlsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thor G Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bryce Chackerian
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, USA
| | - Morten A Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Zhai L, Yadav R, Kunda NK, Anderson D, Bruckner E, Miller EK, Basu R, Muttil P, Tumban E. Oral immunization with bacteriophage MS2-L2 VLPs protects against oral and genital infection with multiple HPV types associated with head & neck cancers and cervical cancer. Antiviral Res 2019; 166:56-65. [PMID: 30926288 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the most common sexually transmitted infections. HPVs are transmitted through anogenital sex or oral sex. Anogenital transmission/infection is associated with anogenital cancers and genital warts while oral transmission/infection is associated with head and neck cancers (HNCs) including recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Current HPV vaccines protect against HPV types associated with ∼90% of cervical cancers and are expected to protect against a percentage of HNCs. However, only a few studies have assessed the efficacy of current vaccines against oral HPV infections. We had previously developed a mixed MS2-L2 candidate HPV vaccine based on bacteriophage MS2 virus-like particles (VLPs). The mixed MS2-L2 VLPs consisted of a mixture of two MS2-L2 VLPs displaying: i) a concatemer of L2 peptide (epitope 20-31) from HPV31 & L2 peptide (epitope 17-31) from HPV16 and ii) a consensus L2 peptide representing epitope 69-86. The mixed MS2-L2 VLPs neutralized/protected mice against six HPV types associated with ∼87% of cervical cancer. Here, we show that the mixed MS2-L2 VLPs can protect mice against additional HPV types; at the genital region, the VLPs protect against HPV53, 56, 11 and at the oral region, the VLPs protect against HPV16, 35, 39, 52, and 58. Thus, mixed MS2-L2 VLPs protect against eleven oncogenic HPV types associated with ∼95% of cervical cancer. The VLPs also have the potential to protect, orally, against the same oncogenic HPVs, associated with ∼99% of HNCs, including HPV11, which is associated with up to 32% of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Moreover, mixed MS2-L2 VLPs are thermostable at room temperature for up to 60 days after spray-freeze drying and they are protective against oral HPV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukai Zhai
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
| | - Rashi Yadav
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
| | - Nitesh K Kunda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Jamaica, NY 11439, USA
| | - Dana Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
| | - Elizabeth Bruckner
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
| | - Elliott K Miller
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Rupsa Basu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
| | - Pavan Muttil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Ebenezer Tumban
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA.
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Brauer DD, Hartman EC, Bader DLV, Merz ZN, Tullman-Ercek D, Francis MB. Systematic Engineering of a Protein Nanocage for High-Yield, Site-Specific Modification. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:3875-3884. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b10734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel D. Brauer
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-1460, United States
| | - Emily C. Hartman
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-1460, United States
| | - Daniel L. V. Bader
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-1460, United States
| | - Zoe N. Merz
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-1460, United States
| | - Danielle Tullman-Ercek
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3120, United States
| | - Matthew B. Francis
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-1460, United States
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories, Berkeley, California 94720-1460, United States
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39
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Lei Y, Zhao F, Shao J, Li Y, Li S, Chang H, Zhang Y. Application of built-in adjuvants for epitope-based vaccines. PeerJ 2019; 6:e6185. [PMID: 30656066 PMCID: PMC6336016 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have shown that epitope vaccines exhibit substantial advantages over conventional vaccines. However, epitope vaccines are associated with limited immunity, which can be overcome by conjugating antigenic epitopes with built-in adjuvants (e.g., some carrier proteins or new biomaterials) with special properties, including immunologic specificity, good biosecurity and biocompatibility, and the ability to vastly improve the immune response of epitope vaccines. When designing epitope vaccines, the following types of built-in adjuvants are typically considered: (1) pattern recognition receptor ligands (i.e., toll-like receptors); (2) virus-like particle carrier platforms; (3) bacterial toxin proteins; and (4) novel potential delivery systems (e.g., self-assembled peptide nanoparticles, lipid core peptides, and polymeric or inorganic nanoparticles). This review primarily discusses the current and prospective applications of these built-in adjuvants (i.e., biological carriers) to provide some references for the future design of epitope-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, OIE/National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Furong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, OIE/National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Junjun Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, OIE/National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yangfan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, OIE/National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Shifang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, OIE/National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Huiyun Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, OIE/National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yongguang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, OIE/National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
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