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Gu Y, Yang J, He C, Zhao T, Lu R, Liu J, Mo X, Wen F, Shi H. Incorporation of a Toll-like receptor 2/6 agonist potentiates mRNA vaccines against cancer and infectious diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:273. [PMID: 37455272 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01479-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
mRNA vaccines have emerged rapidly in recent years as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent against various diseases including cancer and infectious diseases. Improvements of mRNA vaccines have been underway, among which boosting of efficacy is of great importance. Pam2Cys, a simple synthetic metabolizable lipoamino acid that signals through Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/6 pathway, eliciting both humoral and cellular adaptive immune responses, is an interesting candidate adjuvant. To investigate the enhancement of the efficacies of mRNA vaccines by Pam2Cys, the adjuvant was incorporated into mRNA-lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to achieve co-delivery with mRNA. Immunization with the resulting mRNA-LNPs (Pam2Cys) shaped up the immune milieu in the draining lymph nodes (dLNs) through the induction of IL-12 and IL-17, among other cytokines. Antigen presentation was carried out mainly by migratory and dLN-resident conventional type 2 DCs (cDC2s) and significantly more potent antitumor responses were triggered in both prophylactic and therapeutic tumor models in a CD4+ and CD8+ T cell-dependent fashion. Accompanying memory antitumor immunity was also established. Moreover, the vaccine also stimulated much more robust humoral and cellular immunity in a surrogate COVID-19 prophylactic model. Last but not the least, the new vaccines exhibited good preliminary safety profiles in murine models. These facts warrant future development of Pam2Cys-incorporated mRNA vaccines or relevant mRNA therapeutics for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangzhuo Gu
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
| | - Jingyun Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Cai He
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Tingmei Zhao
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Ran Lu
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Department of Pediatric Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Xianming Mo
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Department of Pediatric Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Fuqiang Wen
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Huashan Shi
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
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Zhang J, Fan J, Skwarczynski M, Stephenson RJ, Toth I, Hussein WM. Peptide-Based Nanovaccines in the Treatment of Cervical Cancer: A Review of Recent Advances. Int J Nanomedicine 2022; 17:869-900. [PMID: 35241913 PMCID: PMC8887913 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s269986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs), such as HPV-16 and HPV-18, can induce cervical cancer in humans. The disease carries high morbidity and mortality among females worldwide. Inoculation with prophylactic HPV vaccines, such as Gardasil® or Cervarix®, is the predominant method of preventing cervical cancer in females 6 to 26 years of age. However, despite the availability of commercial prophylactic HPV vaccines, no therapeutic HPV vaccines to eliminate existing HPV infections have been approved. Peptide-based vaccines, which form one of the most potent vaccine platforms, have been broadly investigated to overcome this shortcoming. Peptide-based vaccines are especially effective in inducing cellular immune responses and eradicating tumor cells when combined with nanoscale adjuvant particles and delivery systems. This review summarizes progress in the development of peptide-based nanovaccines against HPV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Jingyi Fan
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Mariusz Skwarczynski
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Rachel J Stephenson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Istvan Toth
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Waleed M Hussein
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Correspondence: Waleed M Hussein, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia, Tel +61 7 3365 2782, Email
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Built-in adjuvants for use in vaccines. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 227:113917. [PMID: 34688011 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Vaccine refers to biological products that are produced using various pathogenic microorganisms for inoculation. The goal of vaccination is to induce a robust immune response against a specific antigen, thus preventing the organism from getting infected. In vaccines, adjuvants have been widely employed to enhance immunity against specific antigens. An ideal adjuvant should be stable, biodegradable, and low cost, not induce system rejection and promote an immune response. Various adjuvant components have been investigated across diverse applications. Typically, adjuvants are employed to meet the following objectives: (1) to improve the effectiveness of immunization with vaccines for specific populations, such as newborns and the elderly; (2) enhance the immunogenicity of highly purified or recombinant antigens; (3) allow immunization with a smaller dose of the vaccine, reducing drug dosage. In the present review, we primarily focus on chemically synthesized compounds that can be used as built-in adjuvants. We elaborate the classification of these compounds based on the induced immune activation mechanism and summarize their application in various vaccine types.
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Negahdaripour M, Owji H, Eslami M, Zamani M, Vakili B, Sabetian S, Nezafat N, Ghasemi Y. Selected application of peptide molecules as pharmaceutical agents and in cosmeceuticals. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2019; 19:1275-1287. [PMID: 31382850 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2019.1652592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Peptide molecules are being vastly investigated as an emerging class of therapeutic molecules in recent years. Currently, 60 peptides have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and more would enter the market in near future. Peptides have already opened their ways into cosmeceutical and food industries as well.Areas covered: Antibodies, vaccines, and antimicrobial agents are the major classes of therapeutic peptides. Additionally, peptides may be employed in drug development to support cell penetration or targeting. The interest in antimicrobial peptides is surging due to the increasing risk of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Peptide vaccines with their significant advantages compared with traditional vaccines, are expected to find their place in coming years, especially for cancer, microbial and allergen-specific immunotherapy. The usage of peptides in cosmeceuticals is also growing rapidly.Expert opinion: Peptide synthesis has become accessible, and advances in peptide engineering, sequencing technologies, and structural bioinformatics have resulted in the rational designing of novel peptides. All these advancements would lead to the more prominent roles of peptides in the mentioned areas. In this review, we discuss applications of peptides in different fields including pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, besides the critical factors in designing efficient peptide molecules.
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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
| | - Hajar Owji
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mahboobeh Eslami
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mozhdeh Zamani
- Colorectal Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Bahareh Vakili
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran.,Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Soudabeh Sabetian
- 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
| | - 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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Abstract
Infectious diseases caused by germs, parasites, fungi, virus and bacteria are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Polymeric therapeutics are nanomedicines that offer several advantages making them useful for the treatment of infectious diseases such as targeted drug release mechanism, ability to maintain the drug concentration within a therapeutic window for a desired duration, biocompatibility with low immunogenicity and reduced drug toxicity resulting in enhanced therapeutic efficacy of the incorporated drug. Although polymeric therapeutics have been evaluated for the treatment of infectious diseases in vitro and in vivo with improved therapeutic efficacy, most treatments for infectious disease have not been evaluated using polymeric therapeutics. This review will focus on the applications of polymeric therapeutics for the treatment of infectious diseases (preclinical studies and clinical trials), with particular focus on parasitic and viral infections.
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Biotechnology approaches to produce potent, self-adjuvanting antigen-adjuvant fusion protein subunit vaccines. Biotechnol Adv 2017; 35:375-389. [PMID: 28288861 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2017] [Revised: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Traditional vaccination approaches (e.g. live attenuated or killed microorganisms) are among the most effective means to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. These approaches, nevertheless, have failed to yield successful vaccines against many important pathogens. To overcome this problem, methods have been developed to identify microbial components, against which protective immune responses can be elicited. Subunit antigens identified by these approaches enable the production of defined vaccines, with improved safety profiles. However, they are generally poorly immunogenic, necessitating their administration with potent immunostimulatory adjuvants. Since few safe and effective adjuvants are currently used in vaccines approved for human use, with those available displaying poor potency, or an inability to stimulate the types of immune responses required for vaccines against specific diseases (e.g. cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs) to treat cancers), the development of new vaccines will be aided by the availability of characterized platforms of new adjuvants, improving our capacity to rationally select adjuvants for different applications. One such approach, involves the addition of microbial components (pathogen-associated molecular patterns; PAMPs), that can stimulate strong immune responses, into subunit vaccine formulations. The conjugation of PAMPs to subunit antigens provides a means to greatly increase vaccine potency, by targeting immunostimulation and antigen to the same antigen presenting cell. Thus, methods that enable the efficient, and inexpensive production of antigen-adjuvant fusions represent an exciting mean to improve immunity towards subunit antigens. Herein we review four protein-based adjuvants (flagellin, bacterial lipoproteins, the extra domain A of fibronectin (EDA), and heat shock proteins (Hsps)), which can be genetically fused to antigens to enable recombinant production of antigen-adjuvant fusion proteins, with a focus on their mechanisms of action, structural or sequence requirements for activity, sequence modifications to enhance their activity or simplify production, adverse effects, and examples of vaccines in preclinical or human clinical trials.
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