Immune responses to recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis expressing fused core protein and preS1 peptide of hepatitis B virus in mice

Mycobacterium smegmatis, a Promising Vaccine Vector for Preventing TB and Other Diseases: Vaccinomics Insights and Applications

Mycobacterium smegmatis (M.sm) is frequently used as an alternative model organism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) studies. While containing high sequence homology with M.tb, it is considered non-pathogenic in humans. As such it has been used to study M.tb and other infections in vivo and more recently been explored for potential therapeutic applications. A body of previous research has highlighted the potential of using genetically modified M.sm displaying rapid growth and unique immunostimulatory characteristics as an effective vaccine vector. Novel systems biology techniques can further serve to optimize these delivery constructs. In this article, we review recent advancements in vaccinomics tools that support the efficacy of a M.sm-based vaccine vector. Moreover, the integration of systems biology and molecular omics techniques in these pioneering studies heralds a potential accelerated pipeline for the development of next-generation recombinant vaccines against rapidly developing diseases.

Applications of human hepatitis B virus preS domain in bio- and nanotechnology

Human hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a member of the family Hepadnaviridae, and causes acute and chronic infections of the liver. The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) contains the large (L), middle (M), and small (S) surface proteins. The L protein consists of the S protein, preS1, and preS2. In HBsAg, the preS domain (preS1 + preS2) plays a key role in the infection of hepatocytic cells by HBV and has several immunogenic epitopes. Based on these characteristics of preS, several preS-based diagnostic and therapeutic materials and systems have been developed. PreS1-specific monoclonal antibodies (e.g., MA18/7 and KR127) can be used to inhibit HBV infection. A myristoylated preS1 peptide (amino acids 2-48) also inhibits the attachment of HBV to HepaRG cells, primary human hepatocytes, and primary tupaia hepatocytes. Antibodies and antigens related to the components of HBsAg, preS (preS1 + preS2), or preS1 can be available as diagnostic markers of acute and chronic HBV infections. Hepatocyte-targeting delivery systems for therapeutic molecules (drugs, genes, or proteins) are very important for increasing the clinical efficacy of these molecules and in reducing their adverse effects on other organs. The selective delivery of diagnostic molecules to target hepatocytic cells can also improve the efficiency of diagnosis. In addition to the full-length HBV vector, preS (preS1 + preS2), preS1, and preS1-derived fragments can be useful in hepatocyte-specific targeting. In this review, we discuss the literature concerning the applications of the HBV preS domain in bio- and nanotechnology.

Hepatitis B core-based virus-like particles to present heterologous epitopes

Since the first effort to recombinantly express the hepatitis B core protein (HBc) in bacteria, the remarkable virion-like structure has fuelled interest in unraveling the structural and antigenic properties of this protein. Initial studies proved HBc virus-like particles to possess strong immunogenic properties, which can be conveyed to linked antigens. More than 35 years later, numerous studies have been performed using HBc as a carrier protein for antigens derived from over a dozen different pathogens and diseases. In this review, the authors highlight the intriguing features of HBc as carrier and antigen, illustrated by some examples and experimental results that underscore the value of HBc as an antigen-presenting platform. Two of these HBc fusions, targeting influenza A and malaria, have even progressed into clinical testing. In the future, the HBc-based virus-like particles platform will probably continue to be used for the display of poorly immunogenic antigens, mainly because virus-like particle formation by HBc capsomers is compatible with nearly any available recombinant gene expression system.

Enhanced priming of adaptive immunity by Mycobacterium smegmatis mutants with high-level protein secretion

Mycobacteria have features that make them attractive as potential vaccine vectors. The nonpathogenic and rapidly growing Mycobacterium smegmatis can express both Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens and heterologous antigens from other pathogens, and it has been used as a viable vector for the development of live vaccines. In order to further improve antigen-specific immunogenicity of M. smegmatis, we screened a random transposon mutant library for mutants displaying enhanced efficiency of protein secretion ("high secretors") and isolated 61 mutants showing enhanced endogenic and transgenic protein secretion. Sequence analysis identified a total of 54 genes involved in optimal secretion of insert proteins, as well as multiple independent transposon insertions localized within the same genomic loci and operons. The majority of transposon insertions occurred in genes that have no known protein secretion function. These transposon mutants were shown to prime antigen-specific CD8(+) T cell responses better than the parental strain. Specifically, upon introducing the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) gag gene into these transposon mutant strains, we observed that they primed SIV Gag-specific CD8(+) T cell responses significantly better than the control prime immunization in a heterologous prime/boost regimen. Our results reveal a dependence on bacterial secretion of mycobacterial and foreign antigens for the induction of antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells in vivo. The data also suggest that these M. smegmatis transposon mutants could be used as novel live attenuated vaccine strains to express foreign antigens, such as those of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and induce strong antigen-specific T cell responses.

Recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis vaccine candidates

Mycobacterium smegmatis is a species of rapidly growing saprophytes with a number of properties that make it an effective vaccine vector. Recombinant M. smegmatis expressing protective antigens of different pathogens and molecules modulating the immune responses offers some potential for reduction of the burden of tuberculosis, HIV and hepatitis B infections. This paper discusses the molecular methods used to generate recombinant M. smegmatis and the results obtained with some of these recombinants.

Recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis expressing an ESAT6-CFP10 fusion protein induces anti-mycobacterial immune responses and protects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenge in mice

The currently used vaccine against tuberculosis, Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), has variable efficacy, so new vaccine development is crucial. In this study, we evaluated a recombinant vaccine prepared from non-pathogenic Mycobacterium smegmatis (rMS) that expresses a fusion of early secreted antigenic target 6-kDa antigen (ESAT6) and culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP10). C57BL/6 mice were immunized with the rMS expressing the ESAT6-CFP10 fusion protein (rM.S-e6c10) or with BCG. The mice in the rM.S-e6c10 group had a significantly higher titre of anti-ESAT6-CFP10 antibodies than did animals in the BCG or saline groups. Spleen cells from rM.S-e6c10-immunized mice exhibited a cytotoxic response to ESAT6 and CFP10-expressed target cells, but spleen cells from animals in the other groups did not. Levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 production by purified T cells from spleens were significantly higher in rM.S-e6c10 group than in BCG group. Finally, after M. tuberculosis (MTB)-challenged mice, dramatic reduction in the numbers of MTB colony-forming units (CFUs) in the lungs was observed for the mice immunized with the rMS. The protective efficacy of rM.S-e6c10 and BCG vaccination was similar based on measures of MTB burden and lung pathology. Our data indicate that the recombinant M. smegmatis vaccine expressing the ESAT6-CFP10 fusion protein has potential in clinic application.

Immune response to fused core protein of hepatitis C virus and truncated tetanus toxin peptides in mice

Because no vaccine or effective therapy is available, thousands of people with HCV have died in recent years. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a critical role in the host cellular immune response against HCV. CTL epitopes in HCV core protein have been identified and used in vaccine development. T helper epitopes could promote cytokine secretion and antibody production to fight HCV. Tetanus toxin, an immunogen with many T helper epitopes, was once used in HBV therapeutic vaccine design. Here, eukaryotic and prokaryotic expression vectors were constructed to express truncated fragments of tetanus toxin and core genes of HCV. HLAA2.1 transgenic mice were inoculated with a recombinant plasmid vehicle with these two heterogenic gene fragments, and this augmented the titres of antibody against HCV. Antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation, Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels and the number of lysed cells were markedly increased in the combined immunization group compared to controls. These findings provide new insights into a potential role for T helper epitopes from tetanus toxin combined with protein from the HCV core gene, which has numerous CTL epitopes. This design strategy may aid in the development of new vaccines against HCV.

A novel hepatitis C virus vaccine approach using recombinant Bacillus Calmette-Guerin expressing multi-epitope antigen

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease worldwide. HCV infection is associated with high morbidity and has become a major problem in public health. Until now, there has been no effective prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine. BCG, a live vaccine typically used for tuberculosis prevention, has been increasingly utilized as a vector for the expression of recombinant proteins that will induce specific humoral and cellular immune responses. In this study, recombinant BCG (rBCG) was engineered to express a HCV multi-epitope antigen CtEm, and HLA-A2.1 transgenic mice were immunized with rBCG-CtEm. High levels of specific anti-HCV antibodies targeted to mimotopes of HVR1 were detected in the serum. HCV-specific lymphocyte proliferation assay, cytokine determination and cytotoxicity assay indicated that HCV epitope-specific cellular immune responses were elicited in vitro. The rBCG-CtEm immunization conferred protection against infection with the recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV-HCV-CNS) in vivo. These results suggest that rBCG expressing multi-epitope antigen may serve as an effective vaccine against HCV infection.