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Comprehensive characterization of Cysteine-rich protein-coding genes of Giardia lamblia and their role during antigenic variation. Genomics 2022; 114:110462. [PMID: 35998788 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Giardia lamblia encodes several families of cysteine-rich proteins, including the Variant-specific Surface Proteins (VSPs) involved in the process of antigenic variation. Their characteristics, definition and relationships are still controversial. An exhaustive analysis of the Cys-rich families including organization, features, evolution and levels of expression was performed, by combining pattern searches and predictions with massive sequencing techniques. Thus a new classification for Cys-rich proteins, genes and pseudogenes that better describes their involvement in Giardia's biology is presented. Moreover, three novel characteristics exclusive to the VSP genes, comprising an Initiator element/Kozak-like sequence, an extended polyadenylation signal and a unique pattern of mutually exclusive transcript accumulation is presented as well as the finding that High Cysteine Membrane Proteins, upregulated under stress, may protect the parasite during VSP switching. These results allow better interpretation of previous reports providing the basis for further studies of the biology of this early-branching eukaryote.
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Bellier B, Saura A, Luján LA, Molina CR, Luján HD, Klatzmann D. A Thermostable Oral SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Induces Mucosal and Protective Immunity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:837443. [PMID: 35281065 PMCID: PMC8913903 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.837443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
An ideal protective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 should not only be effective in preventing disease, but also in preventing virus transmission. It should also be well accepted by the population and have a simple logistic chain. To fulfill these criteria, we developed a thermostable, orally administered vaccine that can induce a robust mucosal neutralizing immune response. We used our platform based on retrovirus-derived enveloped virus-like particles (eVLPs) harnessed with variable surface proteins (VSPs) from the intestinal parasite Giardia lamblia, affording them resistance to degradation and the triggering of robust mucosal cellular and antibody immune responses after oral administration. We made eVLPs expressing various forms of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (S), with or without membrane protein (M) expression. We found that prime-boost administration of VSP-decorated eVLPs expressing a pre-fusion stabilized form of S and M triggers robust mucosal responses against SARS-CoV-2 in mice and hamsters, which translate into complete protection from a viral challenge. Moreover, they dramatically boosted the IgA mucosal response of intramuscularly injected vaccines. We conclude that our thermostable orally administered eVLP vaccine could be a valuable addition to the current arsenal against SARS-CoV-2, in a stand-alone prime-boost vaccination strategy or as a boost for existing vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertrand Bellier
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, UMRS 959, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy, i3, Paris, France
| | - Alicia Saura
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Inmunología y Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIDIE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)/Universidad Católica de Córdoba (UCC), Córdoba, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Córdoba (UCC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Lucas A. Luján
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Inmunología y Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIDIE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)/Universidad Católica de Córdoba (UCC), Córdoba, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Córdoba (UCC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Cecilia R. Molina
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Inmunología y Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIDIE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)/Universidad Católica de Córdoba (UCC), Córdoba, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Córdoba (UCC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Hugo D. Luján
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Inmunología y Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIDIE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)/Universidad Católica de Córdoba (UCC), Córdoba, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Córdoba (UCC), Córdoba, Argentina
- *Correspondence: Hugo D. Luján, ; David Klatzmann,
| | - David Klatzmann
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, UMRS 959, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy, i3, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Clinical Investigation Center for Biotherapies (CIC-BTi) and Immunology-Inflammation-Infectiology and Dermatology Department (3iD), Paris, France
- *Correspondence: Hugo D. Luján, ; David Klatzmann,
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Rupil LL, Del Carmen Serradell M, Luján HD. Production of Oral Vaccines Based on Virus-Like Particles Pseudotyped with Protozoan-Surface Proteins. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2410:503-537. [PMID: 34914065 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1884-4_26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Giardia lamblia is the only known parasite that can inhabit the harsh upper gastrointestinal tract, where most of the digestive proteases are secreted. Intestinal and free-living protozoa express surface proteins containing an extraordinarily high percentage of cysteine. These cysteine-rich variant-specific surface proteins (VSPs) form a dense coat on the entire surface of Giardia trophozoites, that coat protects the parasite inside the host intestine. VSPs not only are resistant to proteolytic digestion, extreme pH and temperatures, but also stimulate host immune responses. These properties can be used to protect as well as to increase the immunogenicity of vaccine antigens for oral administration. The incorporation of VSPs onto virus-like particles bearing viral antigens allows oral administration of these vaccines, protecting the antigens from degradation and generating robust and protective immune responses. In this chapter we describe the development of this versatile vaccine platform for the generation of safe, stable, and efficient oral vaccines, including their production and validation, as well as the characterization of immune response to oral immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Lara Rupil
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Inmunología y Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIDIE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)/Universidad Católica de Córdoba (UCC), Córdoba, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Córdoba (UCC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Marianela Del Carmen Serradell
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Inmunología y Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIDIE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)/Universidad Católica de Córdoba (UCC), Córdoba, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Parasitología y Micología, Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC). Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Hugo Daniel Luján
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Inmunología y Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIDIE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)/Universidad Católica de Córdoba (UCC), Córdoba, Argentina.
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Córdoba (UCC), Córdoba, Argentina.
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