1
|
Czarnota A, Offersgaard A, Pihl AF, Prentoe J, Bukh J, Gottwein JM, Bieńkowska-Szewczyk K, Grzyb K. Specific Antibodies Induced by Immunization with Hepatitis B Virus-Like Particles Carrying Hepatitis C Virus Envelope Glycoprotein 2 Epitopes Show Differential Neutralization Efficiency. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8020294. [PMID: 32532076 PMCID: PMC7350033 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8020294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with associated chronic liver diseases is a major health problem worldwide. Here, we designed hepatitis B virus (HBV) small surface antigen (sHBsAg) virus-like particles (VLPs) presenting different epitopes derived from the HCV E2 glycoprotein (residues 412-425, 434-446, 502-520, and 523-535 of isolate H77C). Epitopes were selected based on their amino acid sequence conservation and were previously reported as targets of HCV neutralizing antibodies. Chimeric VLPs obtained in the Leishmania tarentolae expression system, in combination with the adjuvant Addavax, were used to immunize mice. Although all VLPs induced strong humoral responses, only antibodies directed against HCV 412-425 and 523-535 epitopes were able to react with the native E1E2 glycoprotein complexes of different HCV genotypes in ELISA. Neutralization assays against genotype 1-6 cell culture infectious HCV (HCVcc), revealed that only VLPs carrying the 412-425 epitope induced efficient HCV cross-neutralizing antibodies, but with isolate specific variations in efficacy that could not necessarily be explained by differences in epitope sequences. In contrast, antibodies targeting 434-446, 502-520, and 523-535 epitopes were not neutralizing HCVcc, highlighting the importance of conformational antibodies for efficient virus neutralization. Thus, 412-425 remains the most promising linear E2 epitope for further bivalent, rationally designed vaccine research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Czarnota
- Laboratory of Virus Molecular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, 80-309 Gdańsk, Poland; (A.C.); (K.B.-S.)
| | - Anna Offersgaard
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (A.O.); (A.F.P.); (J.P.); (J.B.); (J.M.G.)
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Finne Pihl
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (A.O.); (A.F.P.); (J.P.); (J.B.); (J.M.G.)
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jannick Prentoe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (A.O.); (A.F.P.); (J.P.); (J.B.); (J.M.G.)
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (A.O.); (A.F.P.); (J.P.); (J.B.); (J.M.G.)
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Judith Margarete Gottwein
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (A.O.); (A.F.P.); (J.P.); (J.B.); (J.M.G.)
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Krystyna Bieńkowska-Szewczyk
- Laboratory of Virus Molecular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, 80-309 Gdańsk, Poland; (A.C.); (K.B.-S.)
| | - Katarzyna Grzyb
- Laboratory of Virus Molecular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, 80-309 Gdańsk, Poland; (A.C.); (K.B.-S.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wei S, Lei Y, Yang J, Wang X, Shu F, Wei X, Lin F, Li B, Cui Y, Zhang H, Wei S. Neutralization effects of antibody elicited by chimeric HBV S antigen viral-like particles presenting HCV neutralization epitopes. Vaccine 2018; 36:2273-2281. [PMID: 29576303 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem despite effectual direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) therapy. Development of a prophylactic vaccine is essential to block spread of HCV infection. The HBV small surface antigen (HBsAg-S) can self-assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs), has higher immunogenicity and is used as a vaccine against HBV infections. Chimeric HBsAg-S proteins with foreign epitopes allow VLP formation and induce the specific humoral and cellular immune responses against the foreign proteins. In this study, we investigated the immune responses induced by chimeric VLPs with HCV neutralizing epitopes and HBV S antigen in mice. The chimeric HCV-HBV VLPs expressing neutralizing epitopes were prepared and purified. BALB/c mice were immunized with purified chimeric VLPs and the serum neutralizing antibodies were analyzed. We found that these chimeric VLPs induced neutralizing antibodies against HCV in mice. Additionally, the murine serum neutralized infections with HCV pseudoparticles and cell-cultured viruses derived from different heterologous 1a, 1b and 2a genotypes. We also found that immunization with chimeric VLPs induced anti-HBsAg antibodies. This study provides a novel strategy for development of a HCV prophylactic neutralizing epitope vaccine and a HCV-HBV bivalent prophylactic vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanhua Wei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Research Center, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, No. 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Yingfeng Lei
- Department of Microbiology, The Fourth Military Medical University, No. 17 West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Nephrology, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, No. 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Research Center, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, No. 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Fang Shu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xi'an Third Hospital, No. 10 Eastern Section of The Third FengCheng Rd., WeiYang District, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710018, China
| | - Xin Wei
- Department of Infectious Disease, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, No. 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Fang Lin
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Research Center, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, No. 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Research Center, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, No. 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Ying Cui
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Research Center, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, No. 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Hai Zhang
- Laboratory Animal Research Center, The Fourth Military Medical University, No. 17 West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China.
| | - Sanhua Wei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Research Center, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, No. 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Torresi J. The Rationale for a Preventative HCV Virus-Like Particle (VLP) Vaccine. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2163. [PMID: 29163442 PMCID: PMC5674006 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
HCV represents a global health problem with ~200 million individuals currently infected, worldwide. With the high cost of antiviral therapies, the global burden of chronic hepatitis C infection (CHCV) infection will be substantially reduced by the development of an effective vaccine for HCV. The field of HCV vaccines is generally divided into proponents of strategies to induce neutralizing antibodies (NAb) and those who propose to elicit cell mediated immunity (CMI). However, for a hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccine to be effective in preventing infection, it must be capable of generating cross-reactive CD4+, CD8+ T cell, and NAb responses that will cover the major viral genotypes. Simulation models of hepatitis C have predicted that a vaccine of even modest efficacy and coverage will significantly reduce the incidence of hepatitis C. A HCV virus like particle (VLP) based vaccine would fulfill the requirement of delivering critical conformational neutralizing epitopes in addition to providing HCV specific CD4+ and CD8+ epitopes. Several approaches have been reported including insect cell-derived genotype 1b HCV VLPs; a human liver-derived quadrivalent genotype 1a, 1b, 2, and 3a vaccine; a genotype 1a HCV E1 and E2 glycoprotein/MLV Gag pseudotype VLP vaccine; and chimeric HBs-HCV VLP vaccines. All to result in the production of cross-NAb and/or T cell responses against HCV. This paper summarizes the evidence supporting the development of a HCV VLP based vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Torresi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Czarnota A, Tyborowska J, Peszyńska-Sularz G, Gromadzka B, Bieńkowska-Szewczyk K, Grzyb K. Immunogenicity of Leishmania-derived hepatitis B small surface antigen particles exposing highly conserved E2 epitope of hepatitis C virus. Microb Cell Fact 2016; 15:62. [PMID: 27075377 PMCID: PMC4831159 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-016-0460-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem worldwide, affecting an estimated 2-3 % of human population. An HCV vaccine, however, remains unavailable. High viral diversity poses a challenge in developing a vaccine capable of eliciting a broad neutralizing antibody response against all HCV genotypes. The small surface antigen (sHBsAg) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has the ability to form highly immunogenic subviral particles which are currently used as an efficient anti-HBV vaccine. It also represents an attractive antigen carrier for the delivery of foreign sequences. In the present study, we propose a bivalent vaccine candidate based on novel chimeric particles in which highly conserved epitope of HCV E2 glycoprotein (residues 412-425) was inserted into the hydrophilic loop of sHBsAg. RESULTS The expression of chimeric protein was performed in an unconventional, Leishmania tarentolae expression system resulting in an assembly of particles which retained immunogenicity of both HCV epitope and sHBsAg protein. Direct transmission electron microscopy observation and immunogold staining confirmed the formation of spherical particles approximately 22 nm in diameter, and proper foreign epitope exposition. Furthermore, the sera of mice immunized with chimeric particles proved reactive not only to purified yeast-derived sHBsAg proteins but also HCV E2 412-425 synthetic peptide. Most importantly, they were also able to cross-react with E1E2 complexes from different HCV genotypes. CONCLUSIONS For the first time, we confirmed successful assembly of chimeric sHBsAg virus-like particles (VLPs) in the L. tarentolae expression system which has the potential to produce high-yields of properly N-glycosylated mammalian proteins. We also proved that chimeric Leishmania-derived VLPs are highly immunogenic and able to elicit cross-reactive antibody response against HCV. This approach may prove useful in the development of a bivalent prophylactic vaccine against HBV and HCV and opens up a new and low-cost opportunity for the production of chimeric sHBsAg VLPs requiring N-glycosylation process for their proper functionality and immunogenicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Czarnota
- Laboratory of Virus Molecular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG-MUG, University of Gdańsk, A. Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jolanta Tyborowska
- Laboratory of Recombinant Vaccines, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG-MUG, University of Gdańsk, A. Abrahama 58, Gdańsk, 80-307, Poland
| | - Grażyna Peszyńska-Sularz
- Tri-City Academic Laboratory Animal Centre, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1, Gdańsk, 80-211, Poland
| | - Beata Gromadzka
- Laboratory of Recombinant Vaccines, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG-MUG, University of Gdańsk, A. Abrahama 58, Gdańsk, 80-307, Poland
| | - Krystyna Bieńkowska-Szewczyk
- Laboratory of Virus Molecular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG-MUG, University of Gdańsk, A. Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Grzyb
- Laboratory of Virus Molecular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG-MUG, University of Gdańsk, A. Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdańsk, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Modification of Asparagine-Linked Glycan Density for the Design of Hepatitis B Virus Virus-Like Particles with Enhanced Immunogenicity. J Virol 2015; 89:11312-22. [PMID: 26339047 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01123-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The small envelope proteins (HBsAgS) derived from hepatitis B virus (HBV) represent the antigenic components of the HBV vaccine and are platforms for the delivery of foreign antigenic sequences. To investigate structure-immunogenicity relationships for the design of improved immunization vectors, we have generated biochemically modified virus-like particles (VLPs) exhibiting glycoengineered HBsAgS. For the generation of hypoglycosylated VLPs, the wild-type (WT) HBsAgS N146 glycosylation site was converted to N146Q; for constructing hyperglycosylated VLPs, potential glycosylation sites were introduced in the HBsAgS external loop region at positions T116 and G130 in addition to the WT site. The introduced T116N and G130N sites were utilized as glycosylation anchors resulting in the formation of hyperglycosylated VLPs. Mass spectroscopic analyses showed that the hyperglycosylated VLPs carry the same types of glycans as WT VLPs, with minor variations regarding the degree of fucosylation, bisecting N-acetylglucosamines, and sialylation. Antigenic fingerprints for the WT and hypo- and hyperglycosylated VLPs using a panel of 19 anti-HBsAgS monoclonal antibodies revealed that 15 antibodies retained their ability to bind to the different VLP glyco-analogues, suggesting that the additional N-glycans did not shield extensively for the HBsAgS-specific antigenicity. Immunization studies with the different VLPs showed a strong correlation between N-glycan abundance and antibody titers. The T116N VLPs induced earlier and longer-lasting antibody responses than did the hypoglycosylated and WT VLPs. The ability of nonnative VLPs to promote immune responses possibly due to differences in their glycosylation-related interaction with cells of the innate immune system illustrates pathways for the design of immunogens for superior preventive applications. IMPORTANCE The use of biochemically modified, nonnative immunogens represents an attractive strategy for the generation of modulated or enhanced immune responses possibly due to differences in their interaction with immune cells. We have generated virus-like particles (VLPs) composed of hepatitis B virus envelope proteins (HBsAgS) with additional N-glycosylation sites. Hyperglycosylated VLPs were synthesized and characterized, and the results demonstrated that they carry the same types of glycans as wild-type VLPs. Comparative immunization studies demonstrated that the VLPs with the highest N-glycan density induce earlier and longer-lasting antibody immune responses than do wild-type or hypoglycosylated VLPs, possibly allowing reduced numbers of vaccine injections. The ability to modulate the immunogenicity of an immunogen will provide opportunities to develop optimized vaccines and VLP delivery platforms for foreign antigenic sequences, possibly in synergy with the use of suitable adjuvanting compounds.
Collapse
|
6
|
Pushko P, Pumpens P, Grens E. Development of Virus-Like Particle Technology from Small Highly Symmetric to Large Complex Virus-Like Particle Structures. Intervirology 2013; 56:141-65. [DOI: 10.1159/000346773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
|
7
|
Cervantes Gonzalez M, Kostrzak A, Guetard D, Pniewski T, Sala M. HIV-1 derived peptides fused to HBsAg affect its immunogenicity. Virus Res 2009; 146:107-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2009.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2009] [Revised: 09/04/2009] [Accepted: 09/08/2009] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
|