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Mardanova ES, Vasyagin EA, Kotova KG, Zahmanova GG, Ravin NV. Plant-Produced Chimeric Hepatitis E Virus-like Particles as Carriers for Antigen Presentation. Viruses 2024; 16:1093. [PMID: 39066255 PMCID: PMC11281382 DOI: 10.3390/v16071093] [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: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A wide range of virus-like particles (VLPs) is extensively employed as carriers to display various antigens for vaccine development to fight against different infections. The plant-produced truncated variant of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) coat protein is capable of forming VLPs. In this study, we demonstrated that recombinant fusion proteins comprising truncated HEV coat protein with green fluorescent protein (GFP) or four tandem copies of the extracellular domain of matrix protein 2 (M2e) of influenza A virus inserted at the Tyr485 position could be efficiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using self-replicating vector based on the potato virus X genome. The plant-produced fusion proteins in vivo formed VLPs displaying GFP and 4M2e. Therefore, HEV coat protein can be used as a VLP carrier platform for the presentation of relatively large antigens comprising dozens to hundreds of amino acids. Furthermore, plant-produced HEV particles could be useful research tools for the development of recombinant vaccines against influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia S. Mardanova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (E.S.M.)
| | - Egor A. Vasyagin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (E.S.M.)
| | - Kira G. Kotova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (E.S.M.)
| | - Gergana G. Zahmanova
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Department of Technology Transfer and IP Management, Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Nikolai V. Ravin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (E.S.M.)
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2
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Tian J, Fu W, Xie Z, Wang X, Miao M, Shan F, Yu X. Methionine enkephalin(MENK) upregulated memory T cells in anti-influenza response. BMC Immunol 2023; 24:38. [PMID: 37828468 PMCID: PMC10571428 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-023-00573-0] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel prophylactic drugs and vaccination strategies for protection against influenza virus should induce specific effector T-cell immune responses in pulmonary airways and peripheral lymphoid organs. Designing approaches that promote T-cell-mediated responses and memory T-cell differentiation would strengthen host resistance to respiratory infectious diseases. The results of this study showed that pulmonary delivery of MENK via intranasal administration reduced viral titres, upregulated opioid receptor MOR and DOR, increased the proportions of T-cell subsets including CD8+ T cells, CD8+ TEM cells, NP/PA-effector CD8+ TEM cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lungs, and CD4+/CD8+ TCM cells in lymph nodes to protect mice against influenza viral challenge. Furthermore, we demonstrated that, on the 10th day of infection, the proportions of CD4+ TM and CD8+ TM cells were significantly increased, which meant that a stable TCM and TEM lineage was established in the early stage of influenza infection. Collectively, our data suggested that MENK administered intranasally, similar to the route of natural infection by influenza A virus, could exert antiviral activity through upregulating T-cell-mediated adaptive immune responses against influenza virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Tian
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Wenrui Fu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China
| | - Zifeng Xie
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China
| | - Xiaonan Wang
- Biostax Inc., 1317 Edgewater Dr., Ste 4882, Orlando, FL, 32804, USA
| | - Miao Miao
- Biostax Inc., 1317 Edgewater Dr., Ste 4882, Orlando, FL, 32804, USA
| | - Fengping Shan
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China.
| | - Xiaodong Yu
- Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China.
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Zykova AA, Blokhina EA, Stepanova LA, Shuklina MA, Ozhereleva OO, Tsybalova LM, Kuprianov VV, Ravin NV. Nanoparticles Carrying Conserved Regions of Influenza A Hemagglutinin, Nucleoprotein, and M2 Protein Elicit a Strong Humoral and T Cell Immune Response and Protect Animals from Infection. Molecules 2023; 28:6441. [PMID: 37764217 PMCID: PMC10537994 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28186441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Current influenza vaccines are mainly strain-specific and have limited efficacy in preventing new influenza A strains. Efficient control of infection can potentially be achieved through the development of broad-spectrum vaccines based on conserved antigens. A combination of several such antigens, including the conserved region of the second subunit of the hemagglutinin (HA2), the extracellular domain of the M2 protein (M2e), and epitopes of nucleoprotein (NP), which together can elicit an antibody- and cell-mediated immune response, would be preferred for vaccine development. In this study, we obtained recombinant virus-like particles formed by an artificial self-assembling peptide (SAP) carrying two epitopes from NP, tandem copies of M2e and HA2 peptides, along with a T helper Pan DR-binding epitope (PADRE). Fusion proteins expressed in Escherichia coli self-assembled in vitro into spherical particles with a size of 15-35 nm. Immunization of mice with these particles induced strong humoral immune response against M2e and the entire virus, and lead to the formation of cytokine-secreting antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ effector memory T cells. Immunization provided high protection of mice against the lethal challenge with the influenza A virus. Our results show that SAP-based nanoparticles carrying conserved peptides from M2, HA, and NP proteins of the influenza A virus, as well as T helper epitope PADRE, can be used for the development of universal flu vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A. Zykova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Elena A. Blokhina
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Liudmila A. Stepanova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg 197376, Russia
| | - Marina A. Shuklina
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg 197376, Russia
| | - Olga O. Ozhereleva
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg 197376, Russia
| | - Liudmila M. Tsybalova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg 197376, Russia
| | - Victor V. Kuprianov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Nikolai V. Ravin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
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4
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Blokhina EA, Mardanova ES, Zykova AA, Stepanova LA, Shuklina MA, Tsybalova LM, Ravin NV. Plant-Produced Nanoparticles Based on Artificial Self-Assembling Peptide Bearing the Influenza M2e Epitope. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:plants12112228. [PMID: 37299207 DOI: 10.3390/plants12112228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite advances in vaccine development, influenza remains a persistent global health threat and the search for a broad-spectrum recombinant vaccine against influenza continues. The extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 (M2e) of the influenza A virus is highly conserved and can be used to develop a universal vaccine. M2e is a poor immunogen by itself, but it becomes highly immunogenic when linked to an appropriate carrier. Here, we report the transient expression of a recombinant protein comprising four tandem copies of M2e fused to an artificial self-assembling peptide (SAP) in plants. The hybrid protein was efficiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana using the self-replicating potato virus X-based vector pEff. The protein was purified using metal affinity chromatography under denaturing conditions. The hybrid protein was capable of self-assembly in vitro into spherical particles 15-30 nm in size. The subcutaneous immunization of mice with M2e-carrying nanoparticles induced high levels of M2e-specific IgG antibodies in serum and mucosal secretions. Immunization provided mice with protection against a lethal influenza A virus challenge. SAP-based nanoparticles displaying M2e peptides can be further used to develop a recombinant "universal" vaccine against influenza A produced in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena A Blokhina
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Eugenia S Mardanova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A Zykova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Liudmila A Stepanova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Marina A Shuklina
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Liudmila M Tsybalova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Nikolai V Ravin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
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Wang WC, Sayedahmed EE, Sambhara S, Mittal SK. Progress towards the Development of a Universal Influenza Vaccine. Viruses 2022; 14:v14081684. [PMID: 36016306 PMCID: PMC9415875 DOI: 10.3390/v14081684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza viruses are responsible for millions of cases globally and significantly threaten public health. Since pandemic and zoonotic influenza viruses have emerged in the last 20 years and some of the viruses have resulted in high mortality in humans, a universal influenza vaccine is needed to provide comprehensive protection against a wide range of influenza viruses. Current seasonal influenza vaccines provide strain-specific protection and are less effective against mismatched strains. The rapid antigenic drift and shift in influenza viruses resulted in time-consuming surveillance and uncertainty in the vaccine protection efficacy. Most recent universal influenza vaccine studies target the conserved antigen domains of the viral surface glycoproteins and internal proteins to provide broader protection. Following the development of advanced vaccine technologies, several innovative strategies and vaccine platforms are being explored to generate robust cross-protective immunity. This review provides the latest progress in the development of universal influenza vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Chien Wang
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue Institute for Immunology, Inflammation and Infectious Disease, and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (W.-C.W.); (E.E.S.)
| | - Ekramy E. Sayedahmed
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue Institute for Immunology, Inflammation and Infectious Disease, and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (W.-C.W.); (E.E.S.)
| | - Suryaprakash Sambhara
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (S.K.M.)
| | - Suresh K. Mittal
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue Institute for Immunology, Inflammation and Infectious Disease, and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (W.-C.W.); (E.E.S.)
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (S.K.M.)
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Caoili SEC. Comprehending B-Cell Epitope Prediction to Develop Vaccines and Immunodiagnostics. Front Immunol 2022; 13:908459. [PMID: 35874755 PMCID: PMC9300992 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.908459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Qiao Y, Zhang Y, Chen J, Jin S, Shan Y. A biepitope, adjuvant-free, self-assembled influenza nanovaccine provides cross-protection against H3N2 and H1N1 viruses in mice. NANO RESEARCH 2022; 15:8304-8314. [PMID: 35911479 PMCID: PMC9325945 DOI: 10.1007/s12274-022-4482-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Currently, the incorporation of multiple epitopes into vaccines is more desirable than the incorporation of a single antigen for universal influenza vaccine development. However, epitopes induce poor immune responses. Although the use of adjuvants can overcome this obstacle, it may raise new problems. Effective antigen delivery vehicles that can function as both antigen carriers and intrinsic adjuvants are highly desired for vaccine development. Here, we report a biepitope nanovaccine that provides complete protection in mice against H3N2 virus as well as partial protection against H1N1 virus. This vaccine (3MCD-f) consists of two conserved epitopes (matrix protein 2 ectodomain (M2e) and CDhelix), and these epitopes were presented on the surface of ferritin in a sequential tandem format. Subcutaneous immunization with 3MCD-f in the absence of adjuvant induces robust humoral and cellular immune responses. These results provide a proof of concept for the 3MCD-f nanovaccine that might be an ideal candidate for future influenza pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongbo Qiao
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012 China
| | - YaXin Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012 China
| | - Jie Chen
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012 China
| | - Shenghui Jin
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012 China
| | - Yaming Shan
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012 China
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Abstract
Current influenza vaccines, while being the best method of managing viral outbreaks, have several major drawbacks that prevent them from being wholly-effective. They need to be updated regularly and require extensive resources to develop. When considering alternatives, the recent deployment of mRNA vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 has created a unique opportunity to evaluate a new platform for seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines. The mRNA format has previously been examined for application to influenza and promising data suggest it may be a viable format for next-generation influenza vaccines. Here, we discuss the prospect of shifting global influenza vaccination efforts to an mRNA-based system that might allow better control over the product and immune responses and could aid in the development of a universal vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R Shartouny
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anice C Lowen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response (Emory-CEIRR), USA
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Ionizable Lipid Nanoparticles Enhanced the Synergistic Adjuvant Effect of CpG ODNs and QS21 in a Varicella Zoster Virus Glycoprotein E Subunit Vaccine. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14050973. [PMID: 35631559 PMCID: PMC9143440 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14050973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes two diseases: varicella upon primary infection and herpes zoster when latent viruses in the sensory ganglia reactivate. While varicella vaccines depend on humoral immunity to prevent VZV infection, cell-mediated immunity (CMI), which plays a therapeutic role in the control or elimination of reactivated VZV in infected cells, is decisive for zoster vaccine efficacy. As one of the most abundant glycoproteins of VZV, conserved glycoprotein E (gE) is essential for viral replication and transmission between ganglion cells, thus making it an ideal target subunit vaccine antigen; gE has been successfully used in the herpes zoster vaccine ShingrixTM on the market. In this report, we found that ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as vectors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines could enhance the synergistic adjuvant effect of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs) and QS21 on VZV-gE, affecting both humoral immunity and CMI. Vaccines made with these LNPs showed promise as varicella vaccines without a potential risk of herpes zoster, which identifies them as a novel type of herpes zoster vaccine similar to ShingrixTM. All of the components in this LNP-CpG-QS21 adjuvant system were proven to be safe after mass vaccination, and the high proportion of cholesterol contained in the LNPs was helpful for limiting the cytotoxicity induced by QS21, which may lead to the development of a novel herpes zoster subunit vaccine for clinical application.
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