1
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Lim YJ, Choi JH, Mun SJ, Kim J, Bong KW. Real-Time Signal Analysis with Wider Dynamic Range and Enhanced Sensitivity in Multiplex Colorimetric Immunoassays Using Encoded Hydrogel Microparticles. Anal Chem 2024; 96:7204-7211. [PMID: 38662417 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The simultaneous quantification of multiple proteins is crucial for accurate medical diagnostics. A promising technology, the multiplex colorimetric immunoassay using encoded hydrogel microparticles, has garnered attention, due to its simplicity and multiplex capabilities. However, it encounters challenges related to its dynamic range, as it relies solely on the colorimetric signal analysis of encoded hydrogel microparticles at the specific time point (i.e., end-point analysis). This necessitates the precise determination of the optimal time point for the termination of the colorimetric reaction. In this study, we introduce real-time signal analysis to quantify proteins by observing the continuous colorimetric signal change within the encoded hydrogel microparticles. Real-time signal analysis measures the "slope", the rate of the colorimetric signal generation, by focusing on the kinetics of the accumulation of colorimetric products instead of the colorimetric signal that appears at the end point. By developing a deep learning-based automatic analysis program that automatically reads the code of the graphically encoded hydrogel microparticles and obtains the slope by continuously tracking the colorimetric signal, we achieved high accuracy and high throughput analysis. This technology has secured a dynamic range more than twice as wide as that of the conventional end-point signal analysis, simultaneously achieving a sensitivity that is 4-10 times higher. Finally, as a demonstration of application, we performed multiplex colorimetric immunoassays using real-time signal analysis covering a wide concentration range of protein targets associated with pre-eclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Jun Lim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
| | - Jun Hee Choi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
| | - Seok Joon Mun
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
| | - Jiwoo Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
| | - Ki Wan Bong
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
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2
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Mancino C, Pollet J, Zinger A, Jones KM, Villar MJ, Leao AC, Adhikari R, Versteeg L, Tyagi Kundu R, Strych U, Giordano F, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME, Taraballi F, Poveda C. Harnessing RNA Technology to Advance Therapeutic Vaccine Antigens against Chagas Disease. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:15832-15846. [PMID: 38518375 PMCID: PMC10996878 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c18830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) (American trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi) is a parasitic disease endemic in 21 countries in South America, with increasing global spread. When administered late in the infection, the current antiparasitic drugs do not prevent the onset of cardiac illness leading to chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy. Therefore, new therapeutic vaccines or immunotherapies are under development using multiple platforms. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of developing an mRNA-based therapeutic CD vaccine targeting two known T. cruzi vaccine antigens (Tc24─a flagellar antigen and ASP-2─an amastigote antigen). We present the mRNA engineering steps, preparation, and stability of the lipid nanoparticles and evaluation of their uptake by dendritic cells, as well as their biodistribution in c57BL/J mice. Furthermore, we assessed the immunogenicity and efficacy of two mRNA-based candidates as monovalent and bivalent vaccine strategies using an in vivo chronic mouse model of CD. Our results show several therapeutic benefits, including reductions in parasite burdens and cardiac inflammation, with each mRNA antigen, especially with the mRNA encoding Tc24, and Tc24 in combination with ASP-2. Therefore, our findings demonstrate the potential of mRNA-based vaccines as a therapeutic option for CD and highlight the opportunities for developing multivalent vaccines using this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Mancino
- Center
for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston
Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Assaf Zinger
- Center
for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston
Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Laboratory
for Bioinspired Nano Engineering and Translational Therapeutics, Department
of Chemical Engineering, Technion−Israel
Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
- Cardiovascular
Sciences Department, Houston Methodist Academic
Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Neurosurgery
Department, Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Kathryn M. Jones
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Maria José Villar
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Ana Carolina Leao
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Rakesh Adhikari
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Cell Biology
and Immunology Group, Wageningen University
& Research, Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Rakhi Tyagi Kundu
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Ulrich Strych
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Federica Giordano
- Center
for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston
Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798, United States
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798, United States
| | - Francesca Taraballi
- Center
for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston
Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Orthopedics
and Sports Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Cristina Poveda
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
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3
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Hong CS, Diergaarde B, Whiteside TL. Small extracellular vesicles in plasma carry luminal cytokines that remain undetectable by antibody-based assays in cancer patients and healthy donors. BJC REPORTS 2024; 2:16. [PMID: 38938748 PMCID: PMC11210721 DOI: 10.1038/s44276-024-00037-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Background Small (30-150nm) extracellular vesicles (sEV), also known as exosomes, play a key role in cell-to-cell signaling. They are produced by all cells, circulate freely and are present in all body fluids. Evidence indicates that cytokines are present on the surface and/or in the lumen of sEV. The contribution of intravesicular cytokines to cytokine levels in plasma are unknown. Methods sEV were isolated by ultrafiltration/size exclusion chromatography from pre-cleared plasma obtained from patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and healthy donors (HDs). Multiplex immunoassays were used to measure cytokine levels in paired untreated and detergent-treated (0.5% Triton X-100) plasma and plasma-derived detergent-treated sEV. Non-parametric tests were used to assess differences in cytokine levels. Results The presence of cytokines in sEV isolated from patients' and HDs' plasma was confirmed by immunoblots and on-bead flow cytometry. sEV-associated cytokines were functional in various in vitro assays. Levels of cytokines in sEV varied among the HNSCC patients and were generally significantly higher than the levels observed in sEV from HDs. Compared to untreated plasma, levels for the majority (40/51) of the evaluated proteins were significantly higher in detergent-treated plasma (P<0.0001-0.03). In addition, levels of 24/51 proteins in sEV, including IL6, TNFRII, IL-17a, IFNa and IFNg, were significantly positively correlated with the difference between levels detected in detergent-treated plasma and untreated plasma. Discussion The data indicate that sEV-associated cytokines account for the differences in cytokine levels measured in detergent-treated versus untreated plasma. Ab-based assays using untreated plasma detect only soluble cytokines and miss cytokines carried in the lumen of sEV. Permeabilization of sEV with a mild detergent allows for Ab-based detection of sEV-associated and soluble cytokines in plasma. The failure to detect cytokines carried in the sEV lumen leads to inaccurate estimates of cytokine levels in body fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Sook Hong
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Brenda Diergaarde
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA ,15213, USA
| | - Theresa L. Whiteside
- Departments of Immunology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh PA, 15261, USA
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4
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Creisher PS, Parish MA, Lei J, Liu J, Perry JL, Campbell AD, Sherer ML, Burd I, Klein SL. Suppression of progesterone by influenza A virus mediates adverse maternal and fetal outcomes in mice. mBio 2024; 15:e0306523. [PMID: 38190129 PMCID: PMC10865978 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03065-23] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Influenza A virus infection during pregnancy can cause adverse maternal and fetal outcomes but the mechanism responsible remains elusive. Infection of outbred mice with 2009 H1N1 at embryonic day (E) 10 resulted in significant maternal morbidity, placental tissue damage and inflammation, fetal growth restriction, and developmental delays that lasted through weaning. Restriction of pulmonary virus replication was not inhibited during pregnancy, but infected dams had suppressed circulating and placental progesterone (P4) concentrations that were caused by H1N1-induced upregulation of pulmonary cyclooxygenase (COX)-1-, but not COX-2-, dependent synthesis and secretion of prostaglandin (PG) F2α. Treatment with 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC), a synthetic progestin that is safe to use in pregnancy, ameliorated the adverse maternal and fetal outcomes from H1N1 infection and prevented placental cell death and inflammation. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of progestin treatments for influenza during pregnancy.IMPORTANCEPregnant individuals are at risk of severe outcomes from both seasonal and pandemic influenza A viruses. Influenza infection during pregnancy is associated with adverse fetal outcomes at birth and adverse consequences for offspring into adulthood. When outbred dams, with semi-allogenic fetuses, were infected with 2009 H1N1, in addition to pulmonary virus replication, lung damage, and inflammation, the placenta showed evidence of transient cell death and inflammation that was mediated by increased activity along the arachidonic acid pathway leading to suppression of circulating progesterone. Placental damage and suppressed progesterone were associated with detrimental effects on perinatal growth and developmental delays in offspring. Treatment of H1N1-infected pregnant mice with 17-OHPC, a synthetic progestin treatment that is safe to use in pregnancy, prevented placental damage and inflammation and adverse fetal outcomes. This novel therapeutic option for the treatment of influenza during pregnancy should be explored clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S. Creisher
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Maclaine A. Parish
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jun Lei
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jin Liu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jamie L. Perry
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ariana D. Campbell
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Morgan L. Sherer
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Irina Burd
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sabra L. Klein
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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5
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Karner D, Kvestak D, Lisnic B, Cokaric Brdovcak M, Juranic Lisnic V, Kucan Brlic P, Hasan M, Lenac Rovis T. Comprehensive Analysis of Soluble Mediator Profiles in Congenital CMV Infection Using an MCMV Model. Viruses 2024; 16:208. [PMID: 38399983 PMCID: PMC10891658 DOI: 10.3390/v16020208] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection may cause life-threatening disease and permanent damage to the central nervous system. The mouse model of CMV infection is most commonly used to study mechanisms of infection and pathogenesis. While essential to limit mouse CMV (MCMV) replication, the inflammatory responses, particularly IFNγ and TNFα, cause neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Other soluble mediators of the immune response in most tissues remain largely unexplored. To address this gap, we quantified 48 soluble mediators of the immune response, including 32 cytokines, 10 chemokines, 3 growth factors/regulators, and 3 soluble receptors in the spleen, liver, lungs, and brain at 9 and 14 days postinfection (dpi). Our analysis found 25 induced molecules in the brain at 9 dpi, with an additional 8 showing statistically elevated responses at 14 dpi. Specifically, all analyzed CCL group cytokines (CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, CCL7, and CCL11) were upregulated at 14 dpi in the brain. Furthermore, data revealed differentially regulated analytes across tissues, such as CCL11, CXCL5, and IL-10 in the brain, IL-33/IL-33R in the liver, and VEGF-a and IL-5 in the lungs. Overall, this study provides an overview of the immune dynamics of soluble mediators in congenital CMV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dubravka Karner
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (D.K.); (D.K.); (B.L.); (M.C.B.); (V.J.L.); (P.K.B.)
| | - Daria Kvestak
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (D.K.); (D.K.); (B.L.); (M.C.B.); (V.J.L.); (P.K.B.)
| | - Berislav Lisnic
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (D.K.); (D.K.); (B.L.); (M.C.B.); (V.J.L.); (P.K.B.)
| | - Maja Cokaric Brdovcak
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (D.K.); (D.K.); (B.L.); (M.C.B.); (V.J.L.); (P.K.B.)
| | - Vanda Juranic Lisnic
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (D.K.); (D.K.); (B.L.); (M.C.B.); (V.J.L.); (P.K.B.)
| | - Paola Kucan Brlic
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (D.K.); (D.K.); (B.L.); (M.C.B.); (V.J.L.); (P.K.B.)
| | - Milena Hasan
- Cytometry and Biomarkers Unit of Technology and Service (CB TechS), Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France;
| | - Tihana Lenac Rovis
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (D.K.); (D.K.); (B.L.); (M.C.B.); (V.J.L.); (P.K.B.)
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6
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Guo H, Gupta R, Sharma D, Zhanov E, Malone C, Jada R, Liu Y, Garg M, Singamaneni S, Zhao F, Tian L. Ultrasensitive, Multiplexed Buoyant Sensor for Monitoring Cytokines in Biofluids. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:10171-10178. [PMID: 37922456 PMCID: PMC10863391 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2023]
Abstract
Multiplexed quantification of low-abundance protein biomarkers in complex biofluids is important for biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. However, in situ sampling without perturbing biological systems remains challenging. In this work, we report a buoyant biosensor that enables in situ monitoring of protein analytes at attomolar concentrations with a 15 min temporal resolution. The buoyant biosensor implemented with fluorescent nanolabels enabled the ultrasensitive and multiplexed detection and quantification of cytokines. Implementing the biosensor in a digital manner (i.e., counting the individual nanolabels) further improves the low detection limit. We demonstrate that the biosensor enables the detection and quantification of the time-varying concentrations of cytokines (e.g., IL-6 and TNF-α) in macrophage culture media without perturbing the live cells. The easy-to-apply biosensor with attomolar sensitivity and multiplexing capability can enable an in situ analysis of protein biomarkers in various biofluids and tissues to aid in understanding biological processes and diagnosing and treating diverse diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Guo
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Rohit Gupta
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Materials
Science and Engineering, Washington University
in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Dhavan Sharma
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Elizabeth Zhanov
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Connor Malone
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Ravi Jada
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Ying Liu
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Mayank Garg
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Srikanth Singamaneni
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Materials
Science and Engineering, Washington University
in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Feng Zhao
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Limei Tian
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Center
for Remote Health Technologies and Systems, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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7
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Creisher PS, Parish MA, Lei J, Liu J, Perry JL, Campbell AD, Sherer ML, Burd I, Klein SL. Suppression of progesterone by influenza A virus mediates adverse maternal and fetal outcomes in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.11.557146. [PMID: 37745453 PMCID: PMC10515826 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.11.557146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Influenza A virus infection during pregnancy can cause adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, but the mechanism responsible remains elusive. Infection of outbred mice with 2009 H1N1 at embryonic day (E) 10 resulted in significant maternal morbidity, placental tissue damage and inflammation, fetal growth restriction, and developmental delays that lasted through weaning. Restriction of pulmonary virus replication was not inhibited during pregnancy, but infected dams had suppressed circulating and placental progesterone (P4) concentrations that were caused by H1N1-induced upregulation of pulmonary cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, but not COX-2-, dependent synthesis and secretion of prostaglandin (PG) F2α. Treatment with 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC), a synthetic progestin that is safe to use in pregnancy, ameliorated the adverse maternal and fetal outcomes from H1N1 infection and prevented placental cell death and inflammation. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of progestin treatments for influenza during pregnancy.
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8
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Poveda C, Leão AC, Mancino C, Taraballi F, Chen YL, Adhikari R, Villar MJ, Kundu R, Nguyen DM, Versteeg L, Strych U, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME, Pollet J, Jones KM. Heterologous mRNA-protein vaccination with Tc24 induces a robust cellular immune response against Trypanosoma cruzi, characterized by an increased level of polyfunctional CD8 + T-cells. CURRENT RESEARCH IN IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 4:100066. [PMID: 37534309 PMCID: PMC10393535 DOI: 10.1016/j.crimmu.2023.100066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tc24 is a Trypanosoma cruzi-derived flagellar protein that, when formulated with a TLR-4 agonist adjuvant, induces a balanced immune response in mice, elevating IgG2a antibody titers and IFN-γ levels. Furthermore, vaccination with the recombinant Tc24 protein can reduce parasite levels and improve survival during acute infection. Although some mRNA vaccines have been proven to elicit a stronger immune response than some protein vaccines, they have not been used against T. cruzi. This work evaluates the immunogenicity of a heterologous prime/boost vaccination regimen using protein and mRNA-based Tc24 vaccines. Mice (C57BL/6) were vaccinated twice subcutaneously, three weeks apart, with either the Tc24-C4 protein + glucopyranosyl A (GLA)-squalene emulsion, Tc24 mRNA Lipid Nanoparticles, or with heterologous protein/mRNA or mRNA/protein combinations, respectively. Two weeks after the last vaccination, mice were euthanized, spleens were collected to measure antigen-specific T-cell responses, and sera were collected to evaluate IgG titers and isotypes. Heterologous presentation of the Tc24 antigen generated antigen-specific polyfunctional CD8+ T cells, a balanced Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine profile, and a balanced humoral response with increased serum IgG, IgG1 and IgG2c antibody responses. We conclude that heterologous vaccination using Tc24 mRNA to prime and Tc24-C4 protein to boost induces a broad and robust antigen-specific immune response that was equivalent or superior to two doses of a homologous protein vaccine, the homologous mRNA vaccine and the heterologous Tc24-C4 Protein/mRNA vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Poveda
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ana Carolina Leão
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chiara Mancino
- Center for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Francesca Taraballi
- Center for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yi-Lin Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rakesh Adhikari
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Jose Villar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rakhi Kundu
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Duc M. Nguyen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands
| | - Ulrich Strych
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathryn M. Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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9
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Rychlik KA, Illingworth EJ, Sanchez IF, Attreed SE, Sinha P, Casin KM, Taube N, Loube J, Tasneen R, Kabir R, Nuermberger E, Mitzner W, Kohr MJ, Sillé FCM. Long-term effects of prenatal arsenic exposure from gestational day 9 to birth on lung, heart, and immune outcomes in the C57BL/6 mouse model. Toxicol Lett 2023; 383:17-32. [PMID: 37244563 PMCID: PMC10527152 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2023.05.011] [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: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal arsenic exposure is a major public health concern, associated with altered birth outcomes and increased respiratory disease risk. However, characterization of the long-term effects of mid-pregnancy (second trimester) arsenic exposure on multiple organ systems is scant. This study aimed to characterize the long-term impact of mid-pregnancy inorganic arsenic exposure on the lung, heart, and immune system, including infectious disease response using the C57BL/6 mouse model. Mice were exposed from gestational day 9 till birth to either 0 or 1000 µg/L sodium (meta)arsenite in drinking water. Male and female offspring assessed at adulthood (10-12 weeks of age) did not show significant effects on recovery outcomes after ischemia reperfusion injury but did exhibit increased airway hyperresponsiveness compared to controls. Flow cytometric analysis revealed significantly greater total numbers of cells in arsenic-exposed lungs, lower MHCII expression in natural killer cells, and increased percentages of dendritic cell populations. Activated interstitial (IMs) and alveolar macrophages (AMs) isolated from arsenic-exposed male mice produced significantly less IFN-γ than controls. Conversely, activated AMs from arsenic-exposed females produced significantly more IFN-γ than controls. Although systemic cytokine levels were higher upon Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection in prenatally arsenic-exposed offspring there was no difference in lung Mtb burden compared to controls. This study highlights significant long-term impacts of prenatal arsenic exposure on lung and immune cell function. These effects may contribute to the elevated risk of respiratory diseases associated with prenatal arsenic exposure in epidemiology studies and point to the need for more research into mechanisms driving these maintained responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristal A Rychlik
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Public Health Program, School of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton, TX, USA
| | - Emily J Illingworth
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ian F Sanchez
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sarah E Attreed
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA/ARS Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Plum Island, CT, USA
| | - Prithvi Sinha
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kevin M Casin
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nicole Taube
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jeff Loube
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rokeya Tasneen
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Raihan Kabir
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Eric Nuermberger
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Wayne Mitzner
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mark J Kohr
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Fenna C M Sillé
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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10
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Castañeda S, Muñoz M, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME, Paniz-Mondolfi AE, Jones KM, Mejia R, Poveda C, Ramírez JD. Microbiome Alterations Driven by Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Two Disjunctive Murine Models. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0019923. [PMID: 37140369 PMCID: PMC10269900 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00199-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations caused by Trypanosoma cruzi in the composition of gut microbiome may play a vital role in the host-parasite interactions that shapes physiology and immune responses against infection. Thus, a better understanding of this parasite-host-microbiome interaction may yield relevant information in the comprehension of the pathophysiology of the disease and the development of new prophylactic and therapeutic alternatives. Therefore, we implemented a murine model with two mice strains (BALB/c and C57BL/6) to evaluate the impact of Trypanosoma cruzi (Tulahuen strain) infection on the gut microbiome utilizing cytokine profiling and shotgun metagenomics. Higher parasite burdens were observed in cardiac and intestinal tissues, including changes in anti-inflammatory (interleukin-4 [IL-4] and IL-10) and proinflammatory (gamma interferon, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-6) cytokines. Bacterial species such as Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Faecalibaculum rodentium, and Lactobacillus johnsonii showed a decrease in relative abundance, while Akkermansia muciniphila and Staphylococcus xylosus increased. Likewise, as infection progressed, there was a decrease in gene abundances related to metabolic processes such as lipid synthesis (including short-chain fatty acids) and amino acid synthesis (including branched-chain amino acids). High-quality metagenomic assembled genomes of L. johnsonii and A. muciniphila among other species were reconstructed, confirming, functional changes associated with metabolic pathways that are directly affected by the loss of abundance of specific bacterial taxa. IMPORTANCE Chagas disease (CD) is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, presenting acute and chronic phases where cardiomyopathy, megaesophagus, and/or megacolon stand out. During the course of its life cycle, the parasite has an important gastrointestinal tract transit that leads to severe forms of CD. The intestinal microbiome plays an essential role in the immunological, physiological, and metabolic homeostasis of the host. Therefore, parasite-host-intestinal microbiome interactions may provide information on certain biological and pathophysiological aspects related to CD. The present study proposes a comprehensive evaluation of the potential effects of this interaction based on metagenomic and immunological data from two mice models with different genetic, immunological, and microbiome backgrounds. Our findings suggest that there are alterations in the immune and microbiome profiles that affect several metabolic pathways that can potentially promote the infection's establishment, progression, and persistence. In addition, this information may prove essential in the research of new prophylactic and therapeutic alternatives for CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Castañeda
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marina Muñoz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Alberto E. Paniz-Mondolfi
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Incubadora Venezolana de la Ciencia, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
| | - Kathryn M. Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Rojelio Mejia
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Cristina Poveda
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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11
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Jones KM, Mangin EN, Reynolds CL, Villanueva LE, Cruz JV, Versteeg L, Keegan B, Kendricks A, Pollet J, Gusovsky F, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ. Vaccine-linked chemotherapy improves cardiac structure and function in a mouse model of chronic Chagas disease. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1106315. [PMID: 36844399 PMCID: PMC9947347 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1106315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Chagas disease, caused by chronic infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects 6-7 million people worldwide. The major clinical manifestation of Chagas disease is chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC), which encompasses a spectrum of symptoms including arrhythmias, hypertrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and sudden death. Current treatment is limited to two antiparasitic drugs, benznidazole (BNZ) and nifurtimox, but both have limited efficacy to halt the progression of CCC. We developed a vaccine-linked chemotherapy strategy using our vaccine consisting of recombinant Tc24-C4 protein and a TLR-4 agonist adjuvant in a stable squalene emulsion, in combination with low dose benznidazole treatment. We previously demonstrated in acute infection models that this strategy parasite specific immune responses, and reduced parasite burdens and cardiac pathology. Here, we tested our vaccine-linked chemotherapy strategy in a mouse model of chronic T. cruzi infection to evaluate the effect on cardiac function. Methods Female BALB/c mice infected with 500 blood form T. cruzi H1 strain trypomastigotes were treated beginning 70 days after infection with a low dose of BNZ and either low or high dose of vaccine, in both sequential and concurrent treatments streams. Control mice were untreated, or administered only one treatment. Cardiac health was monitored throughout the course of treatment by echocardiography and electrocardiograms. Approximately 8 months after infection, endpoint histopathology was performed to measure cardiac fibrosis and cellular infiltration. Results Vaccine-linked chemotherapy improved cardiac function as evidenced by amelioration of altered left ventricular wall thickness, left ventricular diameter, as well as ejection fraction and fractional shortening by approximately 4 months of infection, corresponding to two months after treatment was initiated. At study endpoint, vaccine-linked chemotherapy reduced cardiac cellular infiltration, and induced significantly increased antigen specific IFN-γ and IL-10 release from splenocytes, as well as a trend toward increased IL-17A. Discussion These data suggest that vaccine-linked chemotherapy ameliorates changes in cardiac structure and function induced by infection with T. cruzi. Importantly, similar to our acute model, the vaccine-linked chemotherapy strategy induced durable antigen specific immune responses, suggesting the potential for a long lasting protective effect. Future studies will evaluate additional treatments that can further improve cardiac function during chronic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M. Jones
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Kathryn M. Jones,
| | - Elise N. Mangin
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Corey L. Reynolds
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Liliana E. Villanueva
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Julio Vladimir Cruz
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Brian Keegan
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - April Kendricks
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Fabian Gusovsky
- Global Health Research, Eisai, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States,James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States,Hagler Institute for Advanced Study at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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12
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Singh A, Baalasubramanian S, Kalaivani M, Kapoor R, Bhagwat K, Ghosh-Jerath S. Standardisation and application of a novel multiplex assay for estimating micronutrient status and inflammatory markers in women of Sauria Paharia and Santhal tribes of Jharkhand. Br J Nutr 2022; 128:2464-2479. [PMID: 35115060 PMCID: PMC7613878 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114522000320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to document the method standardisation and assessment of micronutrient and inflammatory markers in women from indigenous tribal communities of Jharkhand using a low-volume, high-throughput assay. This cross-sectional study was done among women of the reproductive age group from Sauria Paharia and Santhal tribal households (HH) in selected villages. Capillary blood samples were collected from the women during a HH survey to estimate ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor, retinol binding protein 4 and inflammatory biomarkers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) using a multiplex assay. Vitamin D and Hb were estimated using an LC-MS technique and cyanmethaemoglobin method, respectively. A multiplex Luminex-based method was developed and standardised. The assay was used to estimate biomarkers in samples from 413 women (178 and 235 from Sauria Paharia and Santhal tribes, respectively). Over 51 % of women had raised CRP or AGP levels. Fe status was significantly better in Sauria Paharia compared with the Santhal women. Anaemia prevalence was 72 % among Santhal women. The proportion of women with Fe deficiency increased after adjusting for inflammation. The overall prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and insufficiency was 25 and 34 %, respectively, with similar prevalence in both tribes. All Santhal women had sufficient vitamin D levels, while 25 and 20 % of Sauria Paharia women had insufficient and deficient vitamin D levels, respectively. Our low-volume, high-throughput multiplex assays may provide a feasible approach for assessing nutritional biomarkers in nutritionally vulnerable hard-to-reach communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archna Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Mani Kalaivani
- Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Ridhima Kapoor
- Indian Institute of Public Health-Delhi, Public Health Foundation of India, Haryana, India
| | - Ketaki Bhagwat
- Indoor Biotechnologies Private India Limited, Bangalore, India
| | - Suparna Ghosh-Jerath
- Indian Institute of Public Health-Delhi, Public Health Foundation of India, Haryana, India
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13
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Pollet J, Strych U, Chen WH, Versteeg L, Keegan B, Zhan B, Wei J, Liu Z, Lee J, Kundu R, Adhikari R, Poveda C, Jose Villar M, Rani Thimmiraju S, Lopez B, Gillespie PM, Ronca S, Kimata JT, Reers M, Paradkar V, Hotez PJ, Elena Bottazzi M. Receptor-binding domain recombinant protein on alum-CpG induces broad protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Vaccine 2022; 40:3655-3663. [PMID: 35568591 PMCID: PMC9080055 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
We conducted preclinical studies in mice using a yeast-produced SARS-CoV-2 RBD subunit vaccine candidate formulated with aluminum hydroxide (alum) and CpG deoxynucleotides. This formulation is equivalent to the CorbevaxTM vaccine that recently received emergency use authorization by the Drugs Controller General ofIndia. We compared the immune response of mice vaccinated with RBD/alum to mice vaccinated with RBD/alum + CpG. We also evaluated mice immunized with RBD/alum + CpG and boosted with RBD/alum. Mice were immunized twice intramuscularly at a 21-day interval. Compared to two doses of the /alum formulation, the RBD/alum + CpG vaccine induced a stronger and more balanced Th1/Th2 cellular immune response, with high levels of neutralizing antibodies against the original Wuhan isolate of SARS-CoV-2 as well as the B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), B.1.617.2 and (Delta) variants. Neutralizing antibody titers against the B.1.1.529 (BA.1, Omicron) variant exceeded those in human convalescent plasma after Wuhan infection but were lower than against the other variants. Interestingly, the second dose did not benefit from the addition of CpG, possibly allowing dose-sparing of the adjuvant in the future. The data reported here reinforces that the RBD/alum + CpG vaccine formulation is suitable for inducing broadly neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, including variants of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Pollet
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ulrich Strych
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wen-Hsiang Chen
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Brian Keegan
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bin Zhan
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Junfei Wei
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhuyun Liu
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jungsoon Lee
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rahki Kundu
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rakesh Adhikari
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cristina Poveda
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Jose Villar
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Brianna Lopez
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Portia M Gillespie
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shannon Ronca
- Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jason T Kimata
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Peter J Hotez
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA; James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
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14
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Pollet J, Chen WH, Versteeg L, Keegan B, Zhan B, Wei J, Liu Z, Lee J, Kundu R, Adhikari R, Poveda C, Villar MJ, de Araujo Leao AC, Altieri Rivera J, Momin Z, Gillespie PM, Kimata JT, Strych U, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME. SARS‑CoV-2 RBD219-N1C1: A yeast-expressed SARS-CoV-2 recombinant receptor-binding domain candidate vaccine stimulates virus neutralizing antibodies and T-cell immunity in mice. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2021; 17:2356-2366. [PMID: 33847226 PMCID: PMC8054496 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1901545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need for an accessible and low-cost COVID-19 vaccine suitable for low- and middle-income countries. Here, we report on the development of a SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) protein, expressed at high levels in yeast (Pichia pastoris), as a suitable vaccine candidate against COVID-19. After introducing two modifications into the wild-type RBD gene to reduce yeast-derived hyperglycosylation and improve stability during protein expression, we show that the recombinant protein, RBD219-N1C1, is equivalent to the wild-type RBD recombinant protein (RBD219-WT) in an in vitro ACE-2 binding assay. Immunogenicity studies of RBD219-N1C1 and RBD219-WT proteins formulated with Alhydrogel® were conducted in mice, and, after two doses, both the RBD219-WT and RBD219-N1C1 vaccines induced high levels of binding IgG antibodies. Using a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus, we further showed that sera obtained after a two-dose immunization schedule of the vaccines were sufficient to elicit strong neutralizing antibody titers in the 1:1,000 to 1:10,000 range, for both antigens tested. The vaccines induced IFN-γ IL-6, and IL-10 secretion, among other cytokines. Overall, these data suggest that the RBD219-N1C1 recombinant protein, produced in yeast, is suitable for further evaluation as a human COVID-19 vaccine, in particular, in an Alhydrogel® containing formulation and possibly in combination with other immunostimulants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Pollet
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wen-Hsiang Chen
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Brian Keegan
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bin Zhan
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Junfei Wei
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhuyun Liu
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jungsoon Lee
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rahki Kundu
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rakesh Adhikari
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cristina Poveda
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Jose Villar
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Zoha Momin
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Jason T. Kimata
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ulrich Strych
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
- James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
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15
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Receptor-binding domain recombinant protein RBD219-N1C1 on alum-CpG induces broad protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021. [PMID: 34268512 DOI: 10.1101/2021.07.06.451353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We conducted preclinical studies in mice using a yeast-produced SARS-CoV-2 RBD219-N1C1 subunit vaccine candidate formulated with aluminum hydroxide (alum) and CpG deoxynucleotides. This vaccine formulation is similar to one that entered advanced phase 3 clinical development in India. We compared the immune response of mice vaccinated with RBD219-N1C1/alum to mice vaccinated with RBD219-N1C1/alum+CpG. We also evaluated mice immunized with RBD219-N1C1/alum+CpG and boosted with RBD219-N1C1/alum. Mice were immunized twice intramuscularly at a 21-day interval. Compared to two doses of the RBD219-N1C1/alum formulation, the RBD219-N1C1/alum+CpG vaccine induced a stronger and more balanced Th1/Th2 cellular immune response, with high levels of neutralizing antibodies against the original Wuhan isolate of SARS-CoV-2 as well as the B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta) and B.1.617.1 (Kappa) variants. Notably, the sera from mice that received two 7 µg doses of RBD219-N1C1/alum+CpG showed more than 18 times higher neutralizing antibody titers against B.1.351, than the WHO International Standard for anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin NIBSC 20/136. Interestingly, a booster dose did not require the addition of CpG to induce this effect. The data reported here reinforces that the RBD219-N1C1/alum+CpG vaccine formulation is suitable for inducing broadly neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 including three variants of concern, B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), and B.1.617.1 (Kappa).
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Pollet J, Chen WH, Versteeg L, Keegan B, Zhan B, Wei J, Liu Z, Lee J, Kundu R, Adhikari R, Poveda C, Villar MJ, de Araujo Leao AC, Rivera JA, Momin Z, Gillespie PM, Kimata JT, Strych U, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME. SARS-CoV-2 RBD219-N1C1: A Yeast-Expressed SARS-CoV-2 Recombinant Receptor-Binding Domain Candidate Vaccine Stimulates Virus Neutralizing Antibodies and T-cell Immunity in Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021:2020.11.04.367359. [PMID: 33173864 PMCID: PMC7654852 DOI: 10.1101/2020.11.04.367359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need for an accessible and low-cost COVID-19 vaccine suitable for low- and middle-income countries. Here we report on the development of a SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) protein, expressed at high levels in yeast ( Pichia pastoris ), as a suitable vaccine candidate against COVID-19. After introducing two modifications into the wild-type RBD gene to reduce yeast-derived hyperglycosylation and improve stability during protein expression, we show that the recombinant protein, RBD219-N1C1, is equivalent to the wild-type RBD recombinant protein (RBD219-WT) in an in vitro ACE-2 binding assay. Immunogenicity studies of RBD219-N1C1 and RBD219-WT proteins formulated with Alhydrogel ® were conducted in mice, and, after two doses, both the RBD219-WT and RBD219-N1C1 vaccines induced high levels of binding IgG antibodies. Using a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus, we further showed that sera obtained after a two-dose immunization schedule of the vaccines were sufficient to elicit strong neutralizing antibody titers in the 1:1,000 to 1:10,000 range, for both antigens tested. The vaccines induced IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-10 secretion, among other cytokines. Overall, these data suggest that the RBD219-N1C1 recombinant protein, produced in yeast, is suitable for further evaluation as a human COVID-19 vaccine, in particular, in an Alhydrogel ® containing formulation and possibly in combination with other immunostimulants.
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Cruz-Chan JV, Villanueva-Lizama LE, Versteeg L, Damania A, Villar MJ, González-López C, Keegan B, Pollet J, Gusovsky F, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME, Jones KM. Vaccine-linked chemotherapy induces IL-17 production and reduces cardiac pathology during acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3222. [PMID: 33547365 PMCID: PMC7865072 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82930-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease resulting from Trypanosoma cruzi infection leads to a silent, long-lasting chronic neglected tropical disease affecting the poorest and underserved populations around the world. Antiparasitic treatment with benznidazole does not prevent disease progression or death in patients with established cardiac disease. Our consortium is developing a therapeutic vaccine based on the T. cruzi flagellar—derived antigen Tc24-C4 formulated with a Toll-like receptor 4 agonist adjuvant, to complement existing chemotherapy and improve treatment efficacy. Here we demonstrate that therapeutic treatment of acutely infected mice with a reduced dose of benznidazole concurrently with vaccine treatment – also known as “vaccine-linked chemotherapy”—induced a TH17 like immune response, with significantly increased production of antigen specific IL-17A, IL-23 and IL-22, and CD8 + T lymphocytes, as well as significantly increased T. cruzi specific IFNγ-producing CD4 + T lymphocytes. Significantly reduced cardiac inflammation, fibrosis, and parasite burdens and improved survival were achieved by vaccine-linked chemotherapy and individual treatments. Importantly, low dose treatments were comparably efficacious to high dose treatments, demonstrating potential dose sparing effects. We conclude that through induction of TH17 immune responses vaccine-linked chemotherapeutic strategies could bridge the tolerability and efficacy gaps of current drug treatment in Chagasic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio V Cruz-Chan
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Liliana E Villanueva-Lizama
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, De Elst 1, 6708 WD, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ashish Damania
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria José Villar
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cristina González-López
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Brian Keegan
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Peter J Hotez
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathryn M Jones
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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18
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Villanueva-Lizama LE, Cruz-Chan JV, Versteeg L, Teh-Poot CF, Hoffman K, Kendricks A, Keegan B, Pollet J, Gusovsky F, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME, Jones KM. TLR4 agonist protects against Trypanosoma cruzi acute lethal infection by decreasing cardiac parasite burdens. Parasite Immunol 2020; 42:e12769. [PMID: 32592180 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
E6020 is a synthetic agonist of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of E6020-SE on Trypanosoma cruzi-specific immune responses and its ability to confer protection against acute lethal infection in mice. Forty female BALB/c were infected with 500 trypomastigotes of T cruzi H1 strain, divided into four groups (n = 10) and treated at 7- and 14-day post-infection (dpi) with different doses of E6020-SE or PBS (control). Survival was followed for 51 days, mice were euthanized and hearts were collected to evaluate parasite burden, inflammation and fibrosis. We found significantly higher survival and lower parasite burdens in mice injected with E6020-SE at all doses compared to the control group. However, E6020-SE treatment did not significantly reduce cardiac inflammation or fibrosis. On the other hand, E6020-SE modulated Th1 and Th2 cytokines, decreasing IFN-γ and IL-4 in a dose-dependent manner after stimulation with parasite antigens. We conclude that E6020-SE alone increased survival by decreasing cardiac parasite burdens in BALB/c mice acutely infected with T cruzi but failed to prevent cardiac damage. Our results suggest that for optimal protection, a vaccine antigen is necessary to balance and orient a protective immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana E Villanueva-Lizama
- Department of Pediatrics and National School of Tropical Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Julio V Cruz-Chan
- Department of Pediatrics and National School of Tropical Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Department of Pediatrics and National School of Tropical Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Christian F Teh-Poot
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Kristyn Hoffman
- Department of Pediatrics and National School of Tropical Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - April Kendricks
- Department of Pediatrics and National School of Tropical Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Brian Keegan
- Department of Pediatrics and National School of Tropical Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Department of Pediatrics and National School of Tropical Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Peter J Hotez
- Department of Pediatrics and National School of Tropical Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.,James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Hagler Institute for Advanced Study at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department of Pediatrics and National School of Tropical Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Kathryn M Jones
- Department of Pediatrics and National School of Tropical Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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19
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Versteeg L, Wei J, Liu Z, Keegan B, Fujiwara RT, Jones KM, Asojo O, Strych U, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ, Zhan B. Protective immunity elicited by the nematode-conserved As37 recombinant protein against Ascaris suum infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008057. [PMID: 32053593 PMCID: PMC7017989 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the three major soil-transmitted gastrointestinal helminths (STHs) that infect more than 440 million people in the world, ranking this neglected tropical disease among the most common afflictions of people living in poverty. Children infected with this roundworm suffer from malnutrition, growth stunting as well as cognitive and intellectual deficits. An effective vaccine is urgently needed to complement anthelmintic deworming as a better approach to control helminth infections. As37 is an immunodominant antigen of Ascaris suum, a pig roundworm closely related to the human A. lumbricoides parasite, recognized by protective immune sera from A. suum infected mice. In this study, the immunogenicity and vaccine efficacy of recombinant As37 were evaluated in a mouse model. Methodology/Principal findings As37 was cloned and expressed as a soluble recombinant protein (rAs37) in Escherichia coli. The expressed rAs37 was highly recognized by protective immune sera from A. suum egg-infected mice. Balb/c mice immunized with 25 μg rAs37 formulated with AddaVax™ adjuvant showed significant larval worm reduction after challenge with A. suum infective eggs when compared with a PBS (49.7%) or adjuvant control (48.7%). Protection was associated with mixed Th1/2-type immune responses characterized by high titers of serological IgG1 and IgG2a and stimulation of the production of cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13. In this experiment, the AddaVax™ adjuvant induced better protection than the Th1-type adjuvant MPLA (38.9%) and the Th2-type adjuvant Alhydrogel (40.7%). Sequence analysis revealed that As37 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) and highly conserved in other human STHs. Anti-As37 antibodies strongly recognized homologs in hookworms (Necator americanus, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, A. caninum) and in the whipworm Trichuris muris, but there was no cross-reaction with human spleen tissue extracts. These results suggest that the nematode-conserved As37 could serve as a pan-helminth vaccine antigen to prevent all STH infections without cross-reaction with human IgSF molecules. Conclusions/Significance As37 is an A. suum expressed immunodominant antigen that elicited significant protective immunity in mice when formulated with AddaVax™. As37 is highly conserved in other STHs, but not in humans, suggesting it could be further developed as a pan-helminth vaccine against STH co-infections. Ascaris infection is the most common infection of humans living in poverty worldwide and can result in malnutrition and stunted physical and mental development in children. A preventive vaccine is urgently needed as a complementary approach to anthelmintic deworming to increase the efficiency of STH infection control. To develop a vaccine against Ascaris infection, an immunodominant antigen, As37 of A. suum, was cloned and expressed as a soluble recombinant protein in E. coli. The recombinant As37 protein (rAs37) was highly recognized by protective immune sera from A. suum infected mice. Balb/c mice immunized with 25 μg rAs37 formulated with the adjuvant AddaVax™ showed significant larval worm reduction against challenge with A. suum infective eggs when compared to a PBS (49.7%) or adjuvant control (48.7%). Protection was associated with a mixed Th1/2-type immune response characterized by high titers of serological IgG1 and IgG2a and stimulation of the production of cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13. The AddaVax™ adjuvant induced better protection than the Th1-type adjuvant MPLA (38.9%) and the Th2-type adjuvant Alhydrogel (40.7%). Sequence analysis revealed that As37 was a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) and highly conserved in other human STHs. Anti-As37 antibodies strongly recognized homologs in hookworms (Necator americanus, A. ceylanicum, A. caninum) and in the whipworm T. muris, but there was no cross-reaction with human spleen tissue extracts. These results indicate that the nematode-conserved As37 protein could be developed as a pan-helminth vaccine antigen to prevent all STH infections without reacting with human IgSF molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leroy Versteeg
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Junfei Wei
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Zhuyun Liu
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Brian Keegan
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ricardo T. Fujiwara
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Kathryn M. Jones
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Oluwatoyin Asojo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Ulrich Strych
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
| | - Bin Zhan
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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20
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Vom Steeg LG, Attreed SE, Zirkin B, Klein SL. Testosterone treatment of aged male mice improves some but not all aspects of age-associated increases in influenza severity. Cell Immunol 2019; 345:103988. [PMID: 31540670 PMCID: PMC6876866 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2019.103988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The severity of influenza increases with age, with worse disease in aged males than females. Testosterone concentrations decline with age in males, which may impact influenza pathogenesis. Aged male mice were treated with testosterone or placebo and outcomes during influenza A virus (IAV) infection were compared with adult male mice. Aged males experienced greater morbidity and mortality than adult males, which was partially improved by testosterone treatment of aged males. Aged males cleared IAV from lungs slower than adult males, regardless of testosterone treatment. As compared with adult males, aged males experienced pulmonary, but not systemic, cytokine dysregulation, and delayed influx and contraction of IAV-specific CD8+ T cells in the lungs. Testosterone treatment in aged males partially restored pulmonary cytokine responses to levels consistent with adult males but did not alter the age-associated changes in IAV-specific CD8+ T cells. Testosterone only modestly improves outcomes of influenza in aged males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Landon G Vom Steeg
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sarah E Attreed
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Barry Zirkin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sabra L Klein
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Ascaris Larval Infection and Lung Invasion Directly Induce Severe Allergic Airway Disease in Mice. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00533-18. [PMID: 30249744 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00533-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm) is the most common helminth infection globally and a cause of lifelong morbidity that may include allergic airway disease, an asthma phenotype. We hypothesize that Ascaris larval migration through the lungs leads to persistent airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and type 2 inflammatory lung pathology despite resolution of infection that resembles allergic airway disease. Mice were infected with Ascaris by oral gavage. Lung AHR was measured by plethysmography and histopathology with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stains, and cytokine concentrations were measured by using Luminex Magpix. Ascaris-infected mice were compared to controls or mice with allergic airway disease induced by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge (OVA/OVA). Ascaris-infected mice developed profound AHR starting at day 8 postinfection (p.i.), peaking at day 12 p.i. and persisting through day 21 p.i., despite resolution of infection, which was significantly increased compared to controls and OVA/OVA mice. Ascaris-infected mice had a robust type 2 cytokine response in both the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissue, similar to that of the OVA/OVA mice, including interleukin-4 (IL-4) (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively), IL-5 (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), and IL-13 (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01), compared to controls. By histopathology, Ascaris-infected mice demonstrated early airway remodeling similar to, but more profound than, that in OVA/OVA mice. We found that Ascaris larval migration causes significant pulmonary damage, including AHR and type 2 inflammatory lung pathology that resembles an extreme form of allergic airway disease. Our findings indicate that ascariasis may be an important cause of allergic airway disease in regions of endemicity.
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22
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Munakata S, Ishimori K, Kitamura N, Ishikawa S, Takanami Y, Ito S. Oxidative stress responses in human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke and vapor from tobacco- and nicotine-containing products. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2018; 99:122-128. [PMID: 30227175 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The use of novel tobacco- and nicotine-containing vapor products that do not combust tobacco leaves is on the rise worldwide. The emissions of these products typically contain lower numbers and levels of potentially harmful chemicals compared with conventional cigarette smoke. These vapor products may therefore elicit fewer adverse biological effects. We compared the effects of emissions from different types of such products, i.e., our proprietary novel tobacco vapor product (NTV), a commercially available heat-not-burn tobacco product (HnB), and e-cigarette (E-CIG), and a combustible cigarette in a human bronchial epithelial cell line. The aqueous extract (AqE) of the test product was prepared by bubbling the produced aerosol into medium. Cells were exposed to the AqEs of test products, and then glutathione oxidation, Nrf2 activation, and secretion of IL-8 and GM-CSF were examined. We found that all endpoints were similarly perturbed by exposure to each AqE, but the effective dose ranges were different between cigarette smoke and the tobacco- and nicotine-containing vapors. These results demonstrate that the employed assays detect differences between product exposures, and thus may be useful to understand the relative potential biological effects of tobacco- and nicotine-containing products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Munakata
- Scientific Product Assessment Center, R&D Group, Japan Tobacco Inc., 6-2 Umegaoka, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 227-8512, Japan.
| | - Kanae Ishimori
- Scientific Product Assessment Center, R&D Group, Japan Tobacco Inc., 6-2 Umegaoka, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 227-8512, Japan.
| | - Nobumasa Kitamura
- Scientific Product Assessment Center, R&D Group, Japan Tobacco Inc., 6-2 Umegaoka, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 227-8512, Japan.
| | - Shinkichi Ishikawa
- Scientific Product Assessment Center, R&D Group, Japan Tobacco Inc., 6-2 Umegaoka, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 227-8512, Japan.
| | - Yuichiro Takanami
- Scientific Product Assessment Center, R&D Group, Japan Tobacco Inc., 6-2 Umegaoka, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 227-8512, Japan.
| | - Shigeaki Ito
- Scientific Product Assessment Center, R&D Group, Japan Tobacco Inc., 6-2 Umegaoka, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 227-8512, Japan.
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Briggs N, Wei J, Versteeg L, Zhan B, Keegan B, Damania A, Pollet J, Hayes KS, Beaumier C, Seid CA, Leong J, Grencis RK, Bottazzi ME, Sastry KJ, Hotez PJ. Trichuris muris whey acidic protein induces type 2 protective immunity against whipworm. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007273. [PMID: 30153307 PMCID: PMC6130879 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) infects approximately 1 in 15 people worldwide, representing the leading infectious cause of colitis and subsequent, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Current control measures focused on mass deworming have had limited success due to low drug efficacies. Vaccination would be an ideal, cost-effective strategy to induce protective immunity, leading to control of infection and transmission. Here we report the identification of whey acidic protein, a whipworm secretory protein, as a strong immunogen for inducing protective efficacy in a surrogate mouse T. muris infection model. The recombinant WAP protein (rTm-WAP49), as well as a single, highly conserved repeat within WAP (fragment 8) expressed as an Na-GST-1 fusion protein (rTm-WAP-F8+Na-GST-1), generate a strong T helper type 2 (Th2) immune response when delivered as subcutaneous vaccines formulated with Montanide ISA 720. Oral challenge with T. muris infective eggs following vaccination led to a significant reduction in worm burden of 48% by rTm-WAP49 and 33% by rTm-WAP-F8+Na-GST-1. The cellular immune correlates of protection included significant antigen-specific production of Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-9, and IL-13 by cells isolated from the vaccine-draining inguinal lymph nodes, parasite-draining mesenteric lymph nodes, and spleen in mice vaccinated with either rTm-WAP49 or rTm-WAP-F8+Na-GST-1. The humoral immune correlates included a high antigen-specific ratio of IgG1 to IgG2a, without eliciting an IgE-mediated allergic response. Immunofluorescent staining of adult T. muris with WAP antisera identified the worm's pathogenic stichosome organ as the site of secretion of native Tm-WAP protein into the colonic mucosa. Given the high sequence conservation for the WAP proteins from T. muris and T. trichiura, the results presented here support the WAP protein to be further evaluated as a potential human whipworm vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neima Briggs
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Junfei Wei
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Bin Zhan
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Brian Keegan
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Ashish Damania
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Kelly S. Hayes
- School of Biological Sciences, FBMH, MAHSC, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- The Lydia Becker Institute for Immunology and Inflammation, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Coreen Beaumier
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Christopher A. Seid
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Jamie Leong
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Richard K. Grencis
- School of Biological Sciences, FBMH, MAHSC, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- The Lydia Becker Institute for Immunology and Inflammation, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
| | - K. Jagannadha Sastry
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
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Vaccine-Linked Chemotherapy Improves Benznidazole Efficacy for Acute Chagas Disease. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00876-17. [PMID: 29311242 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00876-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease affects 6 to 7 million people worldwide, resulting in significant disease burdens and health care costs in countries of endemicity. Chemotherapeutic treatment is restricted to two parasiticidal drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox. Both drugs are highly effective during acute disease but are only minimally effective during chronic disease and fraught with significant adverse clinical effects. In experimental models, vaccines can be used to induce parasite-specific balanced TH1/TH2 immune responses that effectively reduce parasite burdens and associated inflammation while minimizing adverse effects. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of vaccine-linked chemotherapy for reducing the amount of benznidazole required to significantly reduce blood and tissue parasite burdens. In this study, we were able to achieve a 4-fold reduction in the amount of benznidazole required to significantly reduce blood and tissue parasite burdens by combining the low-dose benznidazole with a recombinant vaccine candidate, Tc24 C4, formulated with a synthetic Toll-like 4 receptor agonist, E6020, in a squalene oil-in-water emulsion. Additionally, vaccination induced a robust parasite-specific balanced TH1/TH2 immune response. We concluded that vaccine-linked chemotherapy is a feasible option for advancement to clinical use for improving the tolerability and efficacy of benznidazole.
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25
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Le Burel S, Thepenier C, Boutin L, Lataillade JJ, Peltzer J. Effect of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells on T Cells in a Septic Context: Immunosuppression or Immunostimulation? Stem Cells Dev 2017; 26:1477-1489. [PMID: 28747098 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2016.0184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a complex process, including a first wave of damage partially due to the body's response to pathogens, followed by a phase of immune cell dysfunction. The efficacy of a pharmacological approach facing a rapidly evolving system implies a perfect timing of administration-this difficulty could explain the recent failure of clinical trials. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are usually defined as immunosuppressive and their beneficial effects in preclinical models of acute sepsis have been shown to rely partly on such ability. If nonregulated, this phenotype could be harmful in the immunosuppressed context arising hours after sepsis onset. However, MSCs being environment sensitive, we hypothesized that they could reverse their immunosuppressive properties when confronted with suffering immune cells. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of human MSCs on activated human lymphocytes in an in vitro endotoxemia model. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) underwent a 24-h lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intoxication and were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in contact with MSCs. MSCs induced a differential effect on lymphocytes depending on PBMC intoxication with LPS. Unintoxicated lymphocytes were highly proliferative with PHA and were inhibited by MSCs, whereas LPS-intoxicated lymphocytes showed a low proliferation rate, but were supported by MSCs, even when monocytes were depleted. These data, highlighting MSC plasticity in their immunomodulatory activity, pave the way for further studies investigating the mechanisms of mutual interactions between MSCs and immune cells in sepsis. Thus, MSCs might be able to fight against both early sepsis-induced hyperinflammatory response and later time points of immune dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Le Burel
- Unité de Thérapie Tissulaire et Traumatologie de Guerre (T3G), Centre de Transfusion Sanguine des Armées "Jean Julliard" Hôpital Percy , Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Clamart, France
| | - Cédric Thepenier
- Unité de Thérapie Tissulaire et Traumatologie de Guerre (T3G), Centre de Transfusion Sanguine des Armées "Jean Julliard" Hôpital Percy , Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Clamart, France
| | - Laetitia Boutin
- Unité de Thérapie Tissulaire et Traumatologie de Guerre (T3G), Centre de Transfusion Sanguine des Armées "Jean Julliard" Hôpital Percy , Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Clamart, France
| | - Jean-Jacques Lataillade
- Unité de Thérapie Tissulaire et Traumatologie de Guerre (T3G), Centre de Transfusion Sanguine des Armées "Jean Julliard" Hôpital Percy , Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Clamart, France
| | - Juliette Peltzer
- Unité de Thérapie Tissulaire et Traumatologie de Guerre (T3G), Centre de Transfusion Sanguine des Armées "Jean Julliard" Hôpital Percy , Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Clamart, France
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26
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Yeast-expressed recombinant As16 protects mice against Ascaris suum infection through induction of a Th2-skewed immune response. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005769. [PMID: 28708895 PMCID: PMC5529013 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ascariasis remains the most common helminth infection in humans. As an alternative or complementary approach to global deworming, a pan-anthelminthic vaccine is under development targeting Ascaris, hookworm, and Trichuris infections. As16 and As14 have previously been described as two genetically related proteins from Ascaris suum that induced protective immunity in mice when formulated with cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) as an adjuvant, but the exact protective mechanism was not well understood. Methodology/Principal findings As16 and As14 were highly expressed as soluble recombinant proteins (rAs16 and rAs14) in Pichia pastoris. The yeast-expressed rAs16 was highly recognized by immune sera from mice infected with A. suum eggs and elicited 99.6% protection against A. suum re-infection. Mice immunized with rAs16 formulated with ISA720 displayed significant larva reduction (36.7%) and stunted larval development against A. suum eggs challenge. The protective immunity was associated with a predominant Th2-type response characterized by high titers of serological IgG1 (IgG1/IgG2a > 2000) and high levels of IL-4 and IL-5 produced by restimulated splenocytes. A similar level of protection was observed in mice immunized with rAs16 formulated with alum (Alhydrogel), known to induce mainly a Th2-type immune response, whereas mice immunized with rAs16 formulated with MPLA or AddaVax, both known to induce a Th1-type biased response, were not significantly protected against A. suum infection. The rAs14 protein was not recognized by A. suum infected mouse sera and mice immunized with rAs14 formulated with ISA720 did not show significant protection against challenge infection, possibly due to the protein’s inaccessibility to the host immune system or a Th1-type response was induced which would counter a protective Th2-type response. Conclusions/Significance Yeast-expressed rAs16 formulated with ISA720 or alum induced significant protection in mice against A. suum egg challenge that associates with a Th2-skewed immune response, suggesting that rAS16 could be a feasible vaccine candidate against ascariasis. Roundworms (Ascaris) infect more than 700 million people living in poverty worldwide and cause malnutrition and physical and mental developmental delays in children. As an alternative or complementary approach to global deworming, a pan-anthelminthic vaccine is under development that targets ascariasis in addition to other human intestinal nematode infections. Towards this goal, two Ascaris suum antigens, As16 and As14, were expressed in Pichia pastoris as recombinant proteins. Mice immunized with rAs16 formulated with ISA720 adjuvant produced significant larva reduction (36.7%) and stunted larval development against A. suum egg challenge. The protection was associated with predominant Th2-type responses characterized by high levels of serological IgG1 (IgG1/IgG2a > 2,000) and Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-5. A similar level of protection was observed in mice immunized with rAs16 formulated with alum that induces mainly a Th2-type immune response, whereas mice immunized with rAs16 formulated with MPLA or AddaVax, both inducing major Th1-type responses, were not significantly protected against A. suum infection. High-yield expression of rAs16 in yeast will allow for large-scale manufacture, and its protective efficacy when formulated with alum suggests its suitability as a vaccine candidate.
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