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Lim CML, Komarasamy TV, Adnan NAAB, Radhakrishnan AK, Balasubramaniam VRMT. Recent Advances, Approaches and Challenges in the Development of Universal Influenza Vaccines. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2024; 18:e13276. [PMID: 38513364 PMCID: PMC10957243 DOI: 10.1111/irv.13276] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Every year, influenza virus infections cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. They pose a substantial burden of disease, in terms of not only health but also the economy. Owing to the ability of influenza viruses to continuously evolve, annual seasonal influenza vaccines are necessary as a prophylaxis. However, current influenza vaccines against seasonal strains have limited effectiveness and require yearly reformulation due to the virus undergoing antigenic drift or shift. Vaccine mismatches are common, conferring suboptimal protection against seasonal outbreaks, and the threat of the next pandemic continues to loom. Therefore, there is a great need to develop a universal influenza vaccine (UIV) capable of providing broad and durable protection against all influenza virus strains. In the quest to develop a UIV that would obviate the need for annual vaccination and formulation, a multitude of strategies is currently underway. Promising approaches include targeting the highly conserved epitopes of haemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), M2 extracellular domain (M2e) and internal proteins of the influenza virus. The identification and characterization of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) targeting conserved regions of the viral HA protein, in particular, have provided important insight into novel vaccine designs and platforms. This review discusses universal vaccine approaches presently under development, with an emphasis on those targeting the highly conserved stalk of the HA protein, recent technological advancements used and the future prospects of a UIV in terms of its advantages, developmental obstacles and potential shortcomings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caryn Myn Li Lim
- Infection and Immunity Research Strength, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine & Health SciencesMonash University MalaysiaBandar SunwayMalaysia
| | - Thamil Vaani Komarasamy
- Infection and Immunity Research Strength, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine & Health SciencesMonash University MalaysiaBandar SunwayMalaysia
| | - Nur Amelia Azreen Binti Adnan
- Infection and Immunity Research Strength, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine & Health SciencesMonash University MalaysiaBandar SunwayMalaysia
| | - Ammu Kutty Radhakrishnan
- Infection and Immunity Research Strength, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine & Health SciencesMonash University MalaysiaBandar SunwayMalaysia
| | - Vinod R. M. T. Balasubramaniam
- Infection and Immunity Research Strength, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine & Health SciencesMonash University MalaysiaBandar SunwayMalaysia
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Han AX, de Jong SPJ, Russell CA. Co-evolution of immunity and seasonal influenza viruses. Nat Rev Microbiol 2023; 21:805-817. [PMID: 37532870 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00945-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Seasonal influenza viruses cause recurring global epidemics by continually evolving to escape host immunity. The viral constraints and host immune responses that limit and drive the evolution of these viruses are increasingly well understood. However, it remains unclear how most of these advances improve the capacity to reduce the impact of seasonal influenza viruses on human health. In this Review, we synthesize recent progress made in understanding the interplay between the evolution of immunity induced by previous infections or vaccination and the evolution of seasonal influenza viruses driven by the heterogeneous accumulation of antibody-mediated immunity in humans. We discuss the functional constraints that limit the evolution of the viruses, the within-host evolutionary processes that drive the emergence of new virus variants, as well as current and prospective options for influenza virus control, including the viral and immunological barriers that must be overcome to improve the effectiveness of vaccines and antiviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvin X Han
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Simon P J de Jong
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Colin A Russell
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
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Hendy DA, Lifshits LM, Batty CJ, Carlock MA, Ross TM, Mousa JJ, Bachelder EM, Ainslie KM. Zinc Carnosine Metal-Organic Coordination Polymer as a Potent Broadly Active Influenza Vaccine Platform with In Vitro Shelf-Stability. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:4687-4697. [PMID: 37603310 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00424] [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] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Current seasonal influenza vaccines are limited in that they need to be reformulated every year in order to account for the constant mutation of the virus. Hemagglutinin (HA) immunogens have been developed using a computationally optimized broadly reactive antigen (COBRA) methodology, which are able to elicit an antibody response that neutralizes antigenically distinct influenza strains; however, subunit proteins are not immunogenic enough on their own to generate a substantial immune response. Due to this, different delivery strategies and adjuvants can be used to improve immunogenicity. Recently, we reported a new coordination polymer composed of the dipeptide carnosine and zinc (ZnCar) that is able to deliver protein antigens along with CpG to generate a potent immune response. In the present work, ZnCar was used to deliver the COBRA HA immunogen Y2 and the adjuvant CpG. We incorporated Y2 into ZnCar using two different methods to assess which would be the most immunogenic. Mice vaccinated with Y2 and CpG complexed with ZnCar showed an improved humoral and cellular response when compared to mice vaccinated with soluble Y2 and CpG. Further, we demonstrate in vitro that when Y2 and CpG are coordinated with ZnCar, they are protected from degradation at 40 °C for 3 months or 24 °C for 6 months. Overall, ZnCar shows promise as a delivery vehicle for subunit vaccines, given its superior immunogenicity and in vitro storage stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan A Hendy
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina, United States
| | - Liubov M Lifshits
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina, United States
| | - Cole J Batty
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina, United States
| | - Michael A Carlock
- Florida Research and Innovation Center, Port Saint, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Port St. Lucie 33331-3609, Florida, United States
| | - Ted M Ross
- Florida Research and Innovation Center, Port Saint, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Port St. Lucie 33331-3609, Florida, United States
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-0002, Georgia, United States
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-0002, Georgia, United States
| | - Jarrod J Mousa
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-0002, Georgia, United States
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-0002, Georgia, United States
| | - Eric M Bachelder
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina, United States
| | - Kristy M Ainslie
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina, United States
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599, North Carolina, United States
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Batty CJ, Pena ES, Amouzougan EA, Moore KM, Ainslie KM, Bachelder EM. Humoral Response to the Acetalated Dextran M2e Vaccine is Enhanced by Antigen Surface Conjugation. Bioconjug Chem 2023; 34:1447-1458. [PMID: 37458383 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
The influenza A virus causes substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide every year and poses a constant threat of an emergent pandemic. Seasonal influenza vaccination strategies fail to provide complete protection against infection due to antigenic drift and shift. A universal vaccine targeting a conserved influenza epitope could substantially improve current vaccination strategies. The ectodomain of the matrix 2 protein (M2e) of influenza is a highly conserved epitope between virus strains but is also poorly immunogenic. Administration of M2e and the immunostimulatory stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist 3'3'-cyclic guanosine-adenosine monophosphate (cGAMP) encapsulated in microparticles made of acetalated dextran (Ace-DEX) has previously been shown to be effective for increasing the immunogenicity of M2e, primarily through T-cell-mediated responses. Here, the immunogenicity of Ace-DEX MPs delivering M2e was further improved by conjugating the M2e peptide to the particle surface in an effort to affect B-cell responses more directly. Conjugated or encapsulated M2e co-administered with Ace-DEX MPs containing cGAMP were used to vaccinate mice, and it was shown that two or three vaccinations could fully protect against a lethal influenza challenge, while only the surface-conjugated antigen constructs could provide some protection against lethal challenge with only one vaccination. Additionally, the use of a reducible linker augmented the T-cell response to the antigen. These results show the utility of conjugating M2e to the surface of a particle carrier to increase its immunogenicity for use as the antigen in a universal influenza vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole J Batty
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Erik S Pena
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Eva A Amouzougan
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Kathryn M Moore
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Kristy M Ainslie
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Eric M Bachelder
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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Cable J, Balachandran S, Daley-Bauer LP, Rustagi A, Antony F, Frere JJ, Strampe J, Kedzierska K, Cannon JL, McGargill MA, Weiskopf D, Mettelman RC, Niessl J, Thomas PG, Briney B, Valkenburg SA, Bloom JD, Bjorkman PJ, Iketani S, Rappazzo CG, Crooks CM, Crofts KF, Pöhlmann S, Krammer F, Sant AJ, Nabel GJ, Schultz-Cherry S. Viral immunity: Basic mechanisms and therapeutic applications-a Keystone Symposia report. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1521:32-45. [PMID: 36718537 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14960] [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] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Viruses infect millions of people each year. Both endemic viruses circulating throughout the population as well as novel epidemic and pandemic viruses pose ongoing threats to global public health. Developing more effective tools to address viruses requires not only in-depth knowledge of the virus itself but also of our immune system's response to infection. On June 29 to July 2, 2022, researchers met for the Keystone symposium "Viral Immunity: Basic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications." This report presents concise summaries from several of the symposium presenters.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Siddharth Balachandran
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lisa P Daley-Bauer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Arjun Rustagi
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Ferrin Antony
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Justin J Frere
- East Harlem Health Outreach Partnership; Department of Medical Education; and Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jamie Strampe
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University and National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Katherine Kedzierska
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Judy L Cannon
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Maureen A McGargill
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Daniela Weiskopf
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Robert C Mettelman
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Julia Niessl
- Department of Medicine, Center for Infectious Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paul G Thomas
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Bryan Briney
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Sophie A Valkenburg
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China
| | - Jesse D Bloom
- Basic Sciences Division and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Pamela J Bjorkman
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Sho Iketani
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Chelsea M Crooks
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Kali F Crofts
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center and Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Florian Krammer
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrea J Sant
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Gary J Nabel
- Modex Therapeutics Inc., an OPKO Health Company, Natick, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stacey Schultz-Cherry
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Department of Immunology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Contribution of Retrotransposons to the Pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes and Challenges in Analysis Methods. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043104. [PMID: 36834511 PMCID: PMC9966460 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is one of the most common chronic diseases of the endocrine system, associated with several life-threatening comorbidities. While the etiopathogenesis of T1D remains elusive, a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors, such as microbial infections, are thought to be involved in the development of the disease. The prime model for studying the genetic component of T1D predisposition encompasses polymorphisms within the HLA (human leukocyte antigen) region responsible for the specificity of antigen presentation to lymphocytes. Apart from polymorphisms, genomic reorganization caused by repeat elements and endogenous viral elements (EVEs) might be involved in T1D predisposition. Such elements are human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) and non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons, including long and short interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs and SINEs). In line with their parasitic origin and selfish behaviour, retrotransposon-imposed gene regulation is a major source of genetic variation and instability in the human genome, and may represent the missing link between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors long thought to contribute to T1D onset. Autoreactive immune cell subtypes with differentially expressed retrotransposons can be identified with single-cell transcriptomics, and personalized assembled genomes can be constructed, which can then serve as a reference for predicting retrotransposon integration/restriction sites. Here we review what is known to date about retrotransposons, we discuss the involvement of viruses and retrotransposons in T1D predisposition, and finally we consider challenges in retrotransposons analysis methods.
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Batty CJ, Amouzougan EA, A Carlock M, Ross TM, Bachelder EM, Ainslie KM. Sustained delivery of CpG oligodeoxynucleotide by acetalated dextran microparticles augments effector response to Computationally Optimized Broadly Reactive Antigen (COBRA) influenza hemagglutinin. Int J Pharm 2023; 630:122429. [PMID: 36436743 PMCID: PMC9789738 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122429] [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: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A subunit or protein-based influenza vaccine can be a safer alternative to live attenuated vaccine (Flumist) and require fewer boosts than an inactivated vaccine (e.g. Fluzone). However, to form an effective subunit vaccine, an adjuvant is often needed. In this work we used electrospray to encapsulate the hydrophilic adjuvant CpG into microparticles made from the hydrophobic biodegradable polymer acetalated dextran. To understand the rate of particle degradation on CpG release, polymer that was slow (21 h at phagosomal pH 5) and fast (0.25 h at pH 5) degrading was used to encapsulate the adjuvant. The slow-degrading particles exhibited the greatest degree of innate immune stimulation of antigen-presenting cells in vitro. In mice, the broadly acting Computationally Optimized Broadly Reactive Antigen (COBRA) Y2 influenza hemagglutinin (HA) antigen was used with CpG particles, soluble CpG, or MF-59 like adjuvant Addavax. Particles and soluble CpG elicited similar induction of anti-HA antibodies and protection against lethal influenza challenge, but the sustained release particles elicited the highest levels antibody effector functions. These results demonstrate a suitable method for encapsulation of CpG oligonucleotide in a hydrophobic particle matrix, and suggest that sustained release of CpG from Ace-DEX microparticles could potentially be used to induce potent antibody effector functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole J Batty
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Eva A Amouzougan
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Michael A Carlock
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ted M Ross
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Eric M Bachelder
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kristy M Ainslie
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, NC, USA.
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