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Adugna A. Therapeutic strategies and promising vaccine for hepatitis C virus infection. Immun Inflamm Dis 2023; 11:e977. [PMID: 37647422 PMCID: PMC10461427 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is still a significant global health problem despite therapeutic advancements. Ribavirin and interferon therapy have been the sole available treatments for HCV infection for a number of years with low efficacy. Thus, currently, a number of therapeutic strategies are being used, including nanoparticles (NPs), micro-RNAs such as small interfering RNA (siRNA), RNAi-based gene silencing and antisense oligonucleotide-based microRNA-122, microRNA-155, and short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), and immunotherapeutic approaches such as anti-programmed cell death 1(PD-1), monoclonal antibodies (mAb or moAb), and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCs). Furthermore, direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and host-targeting agents (HTA) were also the current therapeutic approaches with great efficacy. In spite of different clinical trials on HCV vaccine developments, nowadays there is no effective HCV vaccine in opposition to virus due to various challenges including genetic diversity, lack of immunocompetent small animal models, shortage of HCV vaccination testing alternatives, lack of an effective tissue culture method for replicating HCV, and inadequate knowledge regarding to immune responses against HCV infection. Nowadays, mRNA vaccine, recombinant viral vector, peptides vaccine, virus-like particles, DNA vaccine, rational designed vaccine, and recombinant polyantigenic T-cell-based vaccine are novel promising candidates for HCV vaccine based on various clinical trials. This review summarizes the different therapeutic approaches and the advancements of vaccine candidates for HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adane Adugna
- Medical Microbiology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health SciencesDebre Markos UniversityDebre MarkosEthiopia
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2
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Tian Y, Hu D, Li Y, Yang L. Development of therapeutic vaccines for the treatment of diseases. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2022; 3:40. [PMID: 36477638 PMCID: PMC9729511 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-022-00098-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are one of the most effective medical interventions to combat newly emerging and re-emerging diseases. Prophylactic vaccines against rabies, measles, etc., have excellent effectiveness in preventing viral infection and associated diseases. However, the host immune response is unable to inhibit virus replication or eradicate established diseases in most infected people. Therapeutic vaccines, expressing specific endogenous or exogenous antigens, mainly induce or boost cell-mediated immunity via provoking cytotoxic T cells or elicit humoral immunity via activating B cells to produce specific antibodies. The ultimate aim of a therapeutic vaccine is to reshape the host immunity for eradicating a disease and establishing lasting memory. Therefore, therapeutic vaccines have been developed for the treatment of some infectious diseases and chronic noncommunicable diseases. Various technological strategies have been implemented for the development of therapeutic vaccines, including molecular-based vaccines (peptide/protein, DNA and mRNA vaccines), vector-based vaccines (bacterial vector vaccines, viral vector vaccines and yeast-based vaccines) and cell-based vaccines (dendritic cell vaccines and genetically modified cell vaccines) as well as combinatorial approaches. This review mainly summarizes therapeutic vaccine-induced immunity and describes the development and status of multiple types of therapeutic vaccines against infectious diseases, such as those caused by HPV, HBV, HIV, HCV, and SARS-CoV-2, and chronic noncommunicable diseases, including cancer, hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, that have been evaluated in recent preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaomei Tian
- grid.412605.40000 0004 1798 1351College of Bioengineering, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, No. 519, Huixing Road, Zigong, Sichuan 643000 The People’s Republic of China ,grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China No. 17, Section 3, South Renmin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041 The People’s Republic of China
| | - Die Hu
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China No. 17, Section 3, South Renmin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041 The People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuhua Li
- grid.410749.f0000 0004 0577 6238Department of Arboviral Vaccine, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100050 The People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Yang
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China No. 17, Section 3, South Renmin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041 The People’s Republic of China
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3
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Ansari N, Rafati S, Taheri T, Roohvand F, Farahmand M, Hajikhezri Z, Keshavarz A, Samimi-Rad K. A non-pathogenic Leishmania tarentolae vector based- HCV polytope DNA vaccine elicits potent and long lasting Th1 and CTL responses in BALB/c mice model. Mol Immunol 2019; 111:152-161. [PMID: 31054409 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2019.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite successful anti-viral (DAAs) treatment of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, recent data indicated the need for an effective vaccine. Preexisting anti-vector immunity is an obstacle for application of live vectors for antigen delivery and development of effective T-cell based HCV vaccines. Herein, we report construction of recombinant Leishmania tarentolae, a lizard (non-human) parasite, expressing an HCV polytope DNA, PT-NT(gp96), encoding for several immunogenic HCV epitopes and evaluation of its immunogenicity in three different prime/boost immunization groups (G) of BALB/c mice. Homologous prime/boost immunization by L.tarentolae-PT-NT(gp96) either with or without CpG (G1 and G2 respectively) and heterologous immunization with a PT-NT(gp96) encoding-pCDNA plasmid followed by L.tarentolae-PT-NT (G3) was undertaken. Immune responses were measured three and nine weeks (W) post immunization. Splenocytes (cultured with antigen-stimulant) of mice in G1 showed the highest percentage of specific CTL-cytolytic activity compared to G2 and G3 at both short (W3:70.98% versus 41.29% and 13.12%) and long (W9: 50% versus 24.5% and 20%) term periods, accompanied with high levels of secreted IFN-γ. Comparison of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17 and TNF-α cytokines levels obtained from the supernatant of antigen-stimulated splenocytes as well as antibodies level (as IgG1/IgG2a ratio; obtained from sera of immunized mice) indicated higher Th1 oriented responses for G1, G2 groups and balanced Th1-Th17 for G3. Results indicated the potential of L.tarentolae (+CpG), as a non-pathogenic live vaccine vector, for delivery and enhancement of immune responses against HCV-polytope antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nastaran Ansari
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sima Rafati
- Department of Immunotherapy and Leishmania Vaccine Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tahereh Taheri
- Department of Immunotherapy and Leishmania Vaccine Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farzin Roohvand
- Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Farahmand
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zamaneh Hajikhezri
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abolfazl Keshavarz
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Katayoun Samimi-Rad
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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4
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Kolesanova EF, Sobolev BN, Moysa AA, Egorova EA, Archakov AI. [Way to the peptide vaccine against hepatitis C]. BIOMEDIT︠S︡INSKAI︠A︡ KHIMII︠A︡ 2015; 61:254-64. [PMID: 25978391 DOI: 10.18097/pbmc20156102254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In order to surpass the problem of genetic variability of hepatitis C virus envelope proteins during vaccine development, we used the so-called "reverse vaccinology"approach--"from genome to vaccine". Database of HCV protein sequences was designed, viral genome analysis was performed, and several highly conserved sites were revealed in HCV envelope proteins in the framework of this approach. These sites demonstrated low antigenic activity in full-size proteins and HCV virions: antibodies against these sites were not found in all hepatitis C patients. However, two sites, which contained a wide set of potential T-helper epitope motifs, were revealed among these highly conserved ones. We constructed and prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis several artificial peptide constructs composed of two linker-connected highly conserved HCV envelope E2 protein sites; one of these sites contained a set of T-helper epitope motifs. Experiments on laboratory animals demonstrated that the developed peptide constructs manifested immunogenicity compared with one of protein molecules and were able to raise antibodies, which specifically bound HCV envelope proteins. We succeeded in obtaining antibodies reactive with HCV from hepatitis C patient plasma upon the immunization with some constructs. An original preparation of a peptide vaccine against hepatitis C is under development on the basis of these peptide constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - B N Sobolev
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - A A Moysa
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - E A Egorova
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - A I Archakov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
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5
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A Novel MVA-Based Multiphasic Vaccine for Prevention or Treatment of Tuberculosis Induces Broad and Multifunctional Cell-Mediated Immunity in Mice and Primates. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143552. [PMID: 26599077 PMCID: PMC4658014 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination of new born babies can protect children against tuberculosis (TB), but fails to protect adults consistently against pulmonary TB underlying the urgent need to develop novel TB vaccines. Majority of first generation TB vaccine candidates have relied on a very limited number of antigens typically belonging to the active phase of infection. We have designed a multi-antigenic and multiphasic vaccine, based on the Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus (MVA). Up to fourteen antigens representative of the three phases of TB infection (active, latent and resuscitation) were inserted into MVA. Using three different strains of mouse (BALB/c, C57BL/6 and C3H/HeN), we show that a single vaccination results in induction of both CD4 and CD8 T cells, displaying capacity to produce multiple cytokines together with cytolytic activity targeting a large array of epitopes. As expected, dominance of responses was linked to the mouse haplotype although for a given haplotype, responses specific of at least one antigen per phase could always be detected. Vaccination of non-human primates with the 14 antigens MVA-TB candidate resulted in broad and potent cellular-based immunogenicity. The remarkable plasticity of MVA opens the road to development of a novel class of highly complex recombinant TB vaccines to be evaluated in both prophylactic and therapeutic settings.
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Zhu F, Chen T, Zhang Y, Sun H, Cao H, Lu J, Zhao L, Li G. A Novel Adeno-Associated Virus-Based Genetic Vaccine Encoding the Hepatitis C Virus NS3/4 Protein Exhibits Immunogenic Properties in Mice Superior to Those of an NS3-Protein-Based Vaccine. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142349. [PMID: 26556235 PMCID: PMC4640878 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 170 million individuals worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and up to an estimated 30% of chronically infected individuals will go on to develop progressive liver disease. Despite the recent advances in antiviral treatment of HCV infection, it remains a major public health problem. Thus, development of an effective vaccine is urgently required. In this study, we constructed novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors expressing the full-length NS3 or NS3/4 protein of HCV genotype 1b. The expression of the NS3 or NS3/4 protein in HepG2 cells was confirmed by western blotting. C57BL/6 mice were intramuscularly immunised with a single injection of AAV vectors, and the resultant immune response was investigated. The AAV2/rh32.33.NS3/4 vaccine induced stronger humoral and cellular responses than did the AAV2/rh32.33.NS3 vaccine. Our results demonstrate that AAV-based vaccines exhibit considerable potential for the development of an effective anti-HCV vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengqin Zhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tian Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yeqiong Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Haixia Sun
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hong Cao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianxi Lu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Linshan Zhao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- * E-mail:
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Saeedi A, Ghaemi A, Tabarraei A, Moradi A, Gorji A, Semnani S, Soleimanjahi H, Adli AH, Hosseini SY, Vakili MA. Enhanced cell immune responses to hepatitis c virus core by novel heterologous DNA prime/lambda nanoparticles boost in mice. Virus Genes 2014; 49:11-21. [DOI: 10.1007/s11262-014-1070-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
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8
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Boukhebza H, Dubois C, Koerper V, Evlachev A, Schlesinger Y, Menguy T, Silvestre N, Riedl P, Inchauspé G, Martin P. Comparative analysis of immunization schedules using a novel adenovirus-based immunotherapeutic targeting hepatitis B in naïve and tolerant mouse models. Vaccine 2014; 32:3256-63. [PMID: 24726690 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.03.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Revised: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Development of active targeted immunotherapeutics is a rapid developing field in the arena of chronic infectious diseases. The question of repeated, closely spaced administration of immunotherapeutics to achieve a rapid impact on the replicating agent is an important one. We analyzed here, using a prototype adenovirus-based immunotherapeutic encoding Core and Polymerase from the hepatitis B virus (Ad-HBV), the influence of closely spaced repeated immunizations on the level and quality of induced HBV-specific and vector-specific immune responses in various mouse models. Ad-HBV, whether injected once or multiple times, was able to induce HBV- and adeno-specific T cells both in HBV-free mice and in a HBV tolerant mouse model. Adenovirus-specific T cell responses and titers of neutralizing anti-Ad5 antibodies increased from time of the 3rd injection. Interestingly, single or multiple Ad-HBV injections resulted in detection of Polymerase-specific functional T cells in HBV tolerant mice. Overall no modulation of the levels of HBV-specific cytokine-producing (IFNγ/TNFα) and cytolytic T cells was observed following repeated administrations (3 or 6 weekly injections) when compared with levels detected after a single injection with the exception of two markers: 1. the proportion of HBV-specific IFNγ-producing cells bearing the CD27+/CD43+ phenotype appeared to be sustained in C57BL/6J mice following 6 weekly injections; 2. the percentage of IFNγ/TNFα Core-specific producing cells observed in spleens of HLA-A2 mice as well as of that specific of Polymerase observed in livers of HBV tolerant mice was maintained. In addition, percentage of HBV-specific T cells expressing PD-1 was not increased by multiple injections. Overall these data show that, under experimental conditions used, rapid, closely spaced administrations of an adenovirus-based HBV immunotherapeutics does not inhibit induced T-cell responses including in a HBV-tolerant environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houda Boukhebza
- TRANSGENE SA, 321 Avenue Jean Jaures, 69364 Lyon cedex 07, France
| | - Clarisse Dubois
- TRANSGENE SA, 321 Avenue Jean Jaures, 69364 Lyon cedex 07, France
| | - Véronique Koerper
- TRANSGENE SA, Boulevard Gonthier d'Andernach, 67405 Illkirch Graffenstaden, France
| | - Alexei Evlachev
- TRANSGENE SA, 321 Avenue Jean Jaures, 69364 Lyon cedex 07, France
| | - Yasmine Schlesinger
- TRANSGENE SA, Boulevard Gonthier d'Andernach, 67405 Illkirch Graffenstaden, France
| | - Thierry Menguy
- TRANSGENE SA, Boulevard Gonthier d'Andernach, 67405 Illkirch Graffenstaden, France
| | - Nathalie Silvestre
- TRANSGENE SA, Boulevard Gonthier d'Andernach, 67405 Illkirch Graffenstaden, France
| | - Petra Riedl
- ULM University, Klinik für Innere Medizin I, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Perrine Martin
- TRANSGENE SA, 321 Avenue Jean Jaures, 69364 Lyon cedex 07, France.
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Yeast virus-derived stimulator of the innate immune system augments the efficacy of virus vector-based immunotherapy. J Virol 2014; 88:5242-55. [PMID: 24574403 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.03819-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED To identify novel stimulators of the innate immune system, we constructed a panel of eight HEK293 cell lines double positive for human Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and an NF-κB-inducible reporter gene. Screening of a large variety of compounds and cellular extracts detected a TLR3-activating compound in a microsomal yeast extract. Fractionation of this extract identified an RNA molecule of 4.6 kb, named nucleic acid band 2 (NAB2), that was sufficient to confer the activation of TLR3. Digests with single- and double-strand-specific RNases showed the double-strand nature of this RNA, and its sequence was found to be identical to that of the genome of the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) L-BC virus of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A large-scale process of production and purification of this RNA was established on the basis of chemical cell lysis and dsRNA-specific chromatography. NAB2 complexed with the cationic lipid Lipofectin but neither NAB2 nor Lipofectin alone induced the secretion of interleukin-12(p70) [IL-12(p70)], alpha interferon, gamma interferon-induced protein 10, macrophage inflammatory protein 1β, or IL-6 in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. While NAB2 activated TLR3, Lipofectin-stabilized NAB2 also signaled via the cytoplasmic sensor for RNA recognition MDA-5. A significant increase of RMA-MUC1 tumor rejection and survival was observed in C57BL/6 mice after prophylactic vaccination with MUC1-encoding modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and NAB2-Lipofectin. This combination of immunotherapies strongly increased at the injection sites the percentage of infiltrating natural killer (NK) cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), cell types which can modulate innate and adaptive immune responses. IMPORTANCE Virus-based cancer vaccines offer a good alternative to the treatment of cancer but could be improved. Starting from a screening approach, we have identified and characterized an unexplored biological molecule with immunomodulatory characteristics which augments the efficacy of an MVA-based immunotherapeutic agent. The immune modulator consists of the purified dsRNA genome isolated from a commercially used yeast strain, NAB2, mixed with a cationic lipid, Lipofectin. NAB2-Lipofectin stimulates the immune system via TLR3 and MDA-5. When it was injected at the MVA vaccination site, the immune modulator increased survival in a preclinical tumor model. We could demonstrate that NAB2-Lipofectin augments the MVA-induced infiltration of natural killer and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. We suggest indirect mechanisms of activation of these cell types by the influence of NAB2-Lipofectin on innate and adaptive immunity. Detailed analysis of cell migration at the vaccine injection site and the appropriate choice of an immune modulator should be considered to achieve the rational improvement of virus vector-based vaccination by immune modulators.
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Llanes MS, Palacios NS, Piccione M, Ruiz MG, Layana C. [Molecular aspects of the antiviral response against hepatitis C virus implicated in vaccines development]. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 2014; 33:273-80. [PMID: 24529681 DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2013.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2013] [Revised: 11/29/2013] [Accepted: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease caused by hepacivirus of the Flaviviridae family. It has a RNA genome, a unique highly variable molecule. It encodes ten proteins which are necessary to infect cells and multiply. Replication occurs only in hepatocytes. Because of its wide genomic variability and the absence of symptoms, it is difficult to make an early diagnosis and successful treatment. In this review we analyze the molecular mechanism by which the virus infects the hepatocytes and causes the disease. We focused the analysis on different therapies, with the possibility of improving treatment with the use of new specific vaccines. We highlight the use of new therapies based on nucleic acids, mainly DNA vectors. In the near future, once this treatment is adequately evaluated in clinical trials, and the costs are calculated, it could be a very beneficial alternative to conventional methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Soledad Llanes
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas y Experimentales, Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia Soledad Palacios
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas y Experimentales, Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Magalí Piccione
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas y Experimentales, Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Guillermina Ruiz
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas y Experimentales, Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla Layana
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas y Experimentales, Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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11
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Xue J, Zhu H, Chen Z. Therapeutic vaccines against hepatitis C virus. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 22:120-9. [PMID: 24462908 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Revised: 12/31/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne pathogen which has chronically infected about 130-210 million people worldwide. Current standard-of-care (SoC) therapy is an inadequate and expensive treatment with more side effects. Two direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) (telaprevir and boceprevir) in combination with SoC therapy have been used in patients infected with HCV genotype 1. Although these drugs result in a shortening of therapy, they also have additional side effects and are expensive. In their stead, several second-generation DAAs are being investigated. What important is that all-oral, interferon (IFN)- and ribavirin-free regimens for the treatment of HCV-infected patients are now being investigated, and will be applied in the next year. Preventive measures against HCV, including vaccine development, are also now in progress. However, no therapeutic vaccine against HCV has been produced to date. An effective vaccine should induce robust and broadly cross-reactive CD4(+), CD8(+)T-cell and neutralising antibody (NAb) responses. Current data indicate that vaccines can usually not completely prevent HCV infection but rather prevent the progression of HCV infection to chronic and persistent infection, which may be a realistic goal. This review discusses the important roles of NAbs and CD8(+)T-cells in the development of therapeutic vaccines, and summarizes some important epitopes of HCV recognized by CD8(+)T-cells and some prospective therapeutic vaccine approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihua Xue
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China
| | - Haihong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China
| | - Zhi Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China.
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12
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Acres B, Bonnefoy JY. Clinical development of MVA-based therapeutic cancer vaccines. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 7:889-93. [DOI: 10.1586/14760584.7.7.889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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13
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Immunological characterization of a modified vaccinia virus Ankara vector expressing the human papillomavirus 16 E1 protein. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2013; 21:147-55. [PMID: 24307238 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00678-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Women showing normal cytology but diagnosed with a persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection have a higher risk of developing high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer than noninfected women. As no therapeutic management other than surveillance is offered to these women, there is a major challenge to develop novel targeted therapies dedicated to the treatment of these patients. As such, E1 and E2 antigens, expressed early in the HPV life cycle, represent very interesting candidates. Both proteins are necessary for maintaining coordinated viral replication and gene synthesis during the differentiation process of the epithelium and are essential for the virus to complete its normal and propagative replication cycle. In the present study, we evaluated a new active targeted immunotherapeutic, a modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vector containing the E1 sequence of HPV16, aimed at inducing cellular immune responses with the potential to help and clear persistent HPV16-related infection. We carried out an extensive comparative time course analysis of the cellular immune responses induced by different schedules of immunization in C57BL/6 mice. We showed that multiple injections of MVA-E1 allowed sustained HPV16 E1-specific cellular immune responses in vaccinated mice and had no impact on the exhaustion phenotype of the generated HPV16 E1-specific CD8⁺ T cells, but they led to the differentiation of multifunctional effector T cells with high cytotoxic capacity. This study provides proof of concept that an MVA expressing HPV16 E1 can induce robust and long-lasting E1-specific responses and warrants further development of this candidate.
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14
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Fournillier A, Frelin L, Jacquier E, Ahlén G, Brass A, Gerossier E, Holmström F, Broderick KE, Sardesai NY, Bonnefoy JY, Inchauspé G, Sällberg M. A heterologous prime/boost vaccination strategy enhances the immunogenicity of therapeutic vaccines for hepatitis C virus. J Infect Dis 2013; 208:1008-19. [PMID: 23776192 PMCID: PMC3749006 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jit267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. We explored the concept of heterologous prime/boost vaccination using 2 therapeutic vaccines currently in clinical development aimed at treating chronically infected hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients: prime with a DNA-based vaccine expressing HCV genotype 1a NS3/4A proteins (ChronVac-C) and boost with a modified vaccinia virus Ankara vaccine expressing genotype 1b NS3/4/5B proteins (MVATG16643). Methods. Two ChronVac-C immunizations 4 weeks apart were delivered intramuscularly in combination with in vivo electroporation and subsequently 5 or 12 weeks later boosted by 3 weekly subcutaneous injections of MVATG16643. Two mouse strains were used, and we evaluated quality, magnitude, and functionality of the T cells induced. Results. DNA prime/MVA boost regimen induced significantly higher levels of interferon γ (IFN-γ) or interleukin 2 (IL-2) ELISpot responses compared with each vaccine alone, independent of the time of analysis and the time interval between vaccinations. Both CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses as well as the spectrum of epitopes recognized was improved. A significant increase in polyfunctional IFN-γ/tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)/CD107a+ CD8+ T cells was detected following ChronVac-C/MVATG16643 vaccination (from 3% to 25%), and prime/boost was the only regimen that activated quadrifunctional T cells (IFN-γ/TNF-α/CD107a/IL-2). In vivo functional protective capacity of DNA prime/MVA boost was demonstrated in a Listeria-NS3-1a challenge model. Conclusions. We provide a proof-of-concept that immunogenicity of 2 HCV therapeutic vaccines can be improved using their combination, which merits further clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Fournillier
- Département des Maladies Infectieuses, Transgene SA, Centre d'Infectiologie, Lyon, France
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High, broad, polyfunctional, and durable T cell immune responses induced in mice by a novel hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccine candidate (MVA-HCV) based on modified vaccinia virus Ankara expressing the nearly full-length HCV genome. J Virol 2013; 87:7282-300. [PMID: 23596307 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.03246-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A major goal in the control of hepatitis C infection is the development of a vaccine. Here, we have developed a novel HCV vaccine candidate based on the highly attenuated poxvirus vector MVA (referred to as MVA-HCV) expressing the nearly full-length (7.9-kbp) HCV sequence, with the aim to target almost all of the T and B cell determinants described for HCV. In infected cells, MVA-HCV produces a polyprotein that is subsequently processed into the structural and nonstructural HCV proteins, triggering the cytoplasmic accumulation of dense membrane aggregates. In both C57BL/6 and transgenic HLA-A2-vaccinated mice, MVA-HCV induced high, broad, polyfunctional, and long-lasting HCV-specific T cell immune responses. The vaccine-induced T cell response was mainly mediated by CD8 T cells; however, although lower in magnitude, the CD4(+) T cells were highly polyfunctional. In homologous protocol (MVA-HCV/MVA-HCV) the main CD8(+) T cell target was p7+NS2, whereas in heterologous combination (DNA-HCV/MVA-HCV) the main target was NS3. Antigenic responses were also detected against other HCV proteins (Core, E1-E2, and NS4), but the magnitude of the responses was dependent on the protocol used. The majority of the HCV-induced CD8(+) T cells were triple or quadruple cytokine producers. The MVA-HCV vaccine induced memory CD8(+) T cell responses with an effector memory phenotype. Overall, our data showed that MVA-HCV induced broad, highly polyfunctional, and durable T cell responses of a magnitude and quality that might be associated with protective immunity and open the path for future considerations of MVA-HCV as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic vaccine candidate against HCV.
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Jabbar TK, Calvo-Pinilla E, Mateos F, Gubbins S, Bin-Tarif A, Bachanek-Bankowska K, Alpar O, Ortego J, Takamatsu HH, Mertens PPC, Castillo-Olivares J. Protection of IFNAR (-/-) mice against bluetongue virus serotype 8, by heterologous (DNA/rMVA) and homologous (rMVA/rMVA) vaccination, expressing outer-capsid protein VP2. PLoS One 2013; 8:e60574. [PMID: 23593251 PMCID: PMC3625202 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2012] [Accepted: 02/28/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The protective efficacy of recombinant vaccines expressing serotype 8 bluetongue virus (BTV-8) capsid proteins was tested in a mouse model. The recombinant vaccines comprised plasmid DNA or Modified Vaccinia Ankara viruses encoding BTV VP2, VP5 or VP7 proteins. These constructs were administered alone or in combination using either a homologous prime boost vaccination regime (rMVA/rMVA) or a heterologous vaccination regime (DNA/rMVA). The DNA/rMVA or rMVA/rMVA prime-boost were administered at a three week interval and all of the animals that received VP2 generated neutralising antibodies. The vaccinated and non-vaccinated-control mice were subsequently challenged with a lethal dose of BTV-8. Mice vaccinated with VP7 alone were not protected. However, mice vaccinated with DNA/rMVA or rMVA/rMVA expressing VP2, VP5 and VP7 or VP2 alone were all protected.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Francisco Mateos
- Centro en Investigación y Sanidad Animal, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Simon Gubbins
- The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Oya Alpar
- Centre for Drug Delivery Research, London School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
| | - Javier Ortego
- Centro en Investigación y Sanidad Animal, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
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17
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Hepatitis C vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-1-4557-0090-5.00051-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Zhou Y, Zhang Y, Yao Z, Moorman JP, Jia Z. Dendritic cell-based immunity and vaccination against hepatitis C virus infection. Immunology 2012; 136:385-96. [PMID: 22486354 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2012.03590.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has chronically infected an estimated 170 million people worldwide. There are many impediments to the development of an effective vaccine for HCV infection. Dendritic cells (DC) remain the most important antigen-presenting cells for host immune responses, and are capable of either inducing productive immunity or maintaining the state of tolerance to self and non-self antigens. Researchers have recently explored the mechanisms by which DC function is regulated during HCV infection, leading to impaired antiviral T-cell responses and so to persistent viral infection. Recently, DC-based vaccines against HCV have been developed. This review summarizes the current understanding of DC function during HCV infection and explores the prospects of DC-based HCV vaccine. In particular, it describes the biology of DC, the phenotype of DC in HCV-infected patients, the effect of HCV on DC development and function, the studies on new DC-based vaccines against HCV infection, and strategies to improve the efficacy of DC-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Zhou
- Centre of Diagnosis and Treatment for Infectious Diseases of Chinese PLA, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, China
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19
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Boukhebza H, Bellon N, Limacher JM, Inchauspé G. Therapeutic vaccination to treat chronic infectious diseases: current clinical developments using MVA-based vaccines. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2012; 8:1746-57. [PMID: 22894957 DOI: 10.4161/hv.21689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A famous milestone in the vaccine field has been the first successful vaccination against smallpox, in 1798, by Edward Jenner. Using the vaccinia cowpox virus, Jenner was able to protect vaccinees from variola or smallpox. The Modified Virus Ankara (MVA) poxvirus strain has been one of the vaccines subsequently developed to prevent smallpox infection and was selected by the US government in their Biodefense strategy. Progress in molecular biology and immunology associated with MVA infection has led to the development of MVA as vaccine platform, both in the field of preventive and therapeutic vaccines. This later class of therapeutics has witnessed growing interest that has translated into an increasing number of vaccine candidates reaching the clinics. Among those, MVA-based therapeutic vaccines have addressed four major chronic infections including viral hepatitis, AIDS, human papillomavirus-linked pathologies and tuberculosis. Clinical trials encompass phase 1 and 2 and have started to show significant results and promises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houda Boukhebza
- Transgene, Department of Infectious Diseases, Centre d'Infectiologie, Lyon, France
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20
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Song JM, Lee KH, Seong BL. Recombinant influenza viruses as delivery vectors for hepatis B virus epitopes. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2012; 1:77-82. [PMID: 23596580 PMCID: PMC3623514 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2012.1.1.77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2012] [Revised: 06/08/2012] [Accepted: 06/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Neuraminidase (NA) of influenza virus contains stalk region that shows a great deal of variability in both amino acid sequence and length. In this paper, we investigated generation of recombinant influenza viruses that had hepatitis B virus (HBV) B cell epitopes in the NA stalk region as a dual vaccine candidate. Materials and Methods We used the WSH-HK reassortant helper virus for rescue of recombinant influenza virus containing HBV epitopes and reverse genetic protocol based on the use of micrococcal nuclease-treated virus cores for reconstitution of ribonucleoproteins. Results We successfully generated a chimeric influenza viruses which contained 22 amino acid peptides in the stalk region derived from the surface and pre-surface protein HBV. The growth kinetics of the recombinant viruses was investigated after infection of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) and Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells and the rIV-BVPreS virus showed higher titer than other viruses in MDCK cells. We also confirmed the presence of HBV epitopes in the chimeric viruses by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using anti-HBV polyclonal antibody. When the ratio of recombinant virus verse wild type virus was calculated by ELISA, recombinant viruses exhibited 2 fold higher values than the wild type virus. Conclusion These results suggest that chimeric influenza virus which contained foreign antigens can be used as dual vaccine against both HBV and influenza viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Min Song
- Department of Global Medical Science, College of Nursing, Sungshin Women's University, Seoul, Korea
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21
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Ip PP, Nijman HW, Wilschut J, Daemen T. Therapeutic vaccination against chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Antiviral Res 2012; 96:36-50. [PMID: 22841700 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2012.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2012] [Revised: 06/25/2012] [Accepted: 07/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 170 million people worldwide are chronic carriers of Hepatitis C virus (HCV). To date, there is no prophylactic vaccine available against HCV. The standard-of-care therapy for HCV infection involves a combination of pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin. This therapy, which is commonly associated with side effects, has a curative rate varying from 43% (HCV genotype 1) to 80% (HCV genotype 2). In 2011, two direct-acting antiviral agents, telaprevir and boceprevir, were approved by the US Food and drug Administration and are now being used in combination with standard-of-care therapy in selected patients infected with HCV genotype 1. Although both drugs are promising, resulting in a shortening of therapy, these drugs also induce additional side effects and have reduced efficacy in patients who did not respond to standard-of-care previously. An alternative approach would be to treat HCV by stimulating the immune system with a therapeutic vaccine ideally aimed at (i) the eradication of HCV-infected cells and (ii) neutralization of infectious HCV particles. The challenge is to develop therapeutic vaccination strategies that are either at least as effective as antiviral drugs but with lower side effects, or vaccines that, when combined with antiviral drugs, can circumvent long-term use of these drugs thereby reducing their side effects. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent preclinical developments in the area of therapeutic vaccination against chronic HCV infection. Although neutralizing antibodies have been described to exert protective immunity, clinical studies on the induction of neutralizing antibodies in therapeutic settings are limited. Therefore, we will primarily discuss therapeutic vaccines which aim to induce effective cellular immune response against HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Peng Ip
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Molecular Virology Section, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
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Roohvand F, Kossari N. Advances in hepatitis C virus vaccines, part two: advances in hepatitis C virus vaccine formulations and modalities. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2012; 22:391-415. [PMID: 22455502 DOI: 10.1517/13543776.2012.673589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Developing a vaccine against HCV is an important medical and global priority. Unavailability and potential dangers associated with using attenuated HCV viral particles for vaccine preparation have resulted in the use of HCV genes and proteins formulated in novel vaccine modalities. AREAS COVERED In part one of this review, advances in basic knowledge for HCV vaccine design were provided. Herein, a detailed and correlated patents (searched by Espacenet) and literatures (searched by Pubmed) review on HCV vaccine formulations and modalities is provided, including: subunit, DNA, epitopic-peptide/polytopic, live vector- and whole yeast-based vaccines. Less-touched areas in vaccine studies such as mucosal, plant-based, and chimeric HBV/HCV vaccines are also discussed. Furthermore, results of preclinical/clinical studies on selected HCV vaccines as well as pros and cons of different strategies are reviewed. Finally, potential strategies for creation and/or improvement of HCV vaccine formulations are discussed. EXPERT OPINION Promising outcomes of a few HCV vaccine modalities in phase I/II clinical trials predict the accessibility of at least partially effective vaccines to inhibit or treat the chronic state of HCV infection (specially in combination with standard antiviral therapy). ChronVac-C (plasmid DNA), TG4040 (MVA-based), and GI-5005 (whole yeast-based) might be the most obvious HCV vaccine candidates to be approved in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzin Roohvand
- Hepatitis & AIDS Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
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Habersetzer F, Honnet G, Bain C, Maynard-Muet M, Leroy V, Zarski JP, Feray C, Baumert TF, Bronowicki JP, Doffoël M, Trépo C, Agathon D, Toh ML, Baudin M, Bonnefoy JY, Limacher JM, Inchauspé G. A poxvirus vaccine is safe, induces T-cell responses, and decreases viral load in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Gastroenterology 2011; 141:890-899.e1-4. [PMID: 21699798 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2011.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2010] [Revised: 05/20/2011] [Accepted: 06/03/2011] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has limited efficacy, adverse effects, and high costs. Cohort and vaccine-based preclinical studies have indicated the importance of T-cell-based immunity in controlling viral infection. TG4040 is a recombinant poxvirus vaccine that expresses the hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins NS3, NS4, and NS5B. We performed a phase I clinical trial to assess the safety, immunogenicity, and early antiviral efficacy of TG4040 in patients with CHC. METHODS In an open-label, dose-escalating study, patients with mild CHC (genotype 1) were assigned to 3 groups of 3 patients each; they received subcutaneous injections of 10⁶, 10⁷, or 10⁸ plaque-forming units of TG4040 on study days 1, 8, and 15. Six additional patients were given the highest dose of vaccine (10⁸ plaque-forming units). Patients were followed for 6 months after the last injection. T-cell-based and antibody responses and levels of HCV RNA were measured. RESULTS All 3 doses of TG4040 were well tolerated, without serious adverse events. Vaccine-induced HCV-specific cellular immune responses were observed in 5 of the 15 patients (33%). A transient decrease in circulating levels of HCV RNA, from -0.52 log₁₀ to -1.24 log₁₀, was observed in 8 patients; in 5 patients, the lowest level of HCV RNA was observed on day 37, after the first injection. The most pronounced decrease in viral load occurred in 2 patients, who also had marked vaccine-induced T-cell responses. CONCLUSIONS In patients with CHC, the viral-vector-based vaccine TG4040 had a good safety profile, induced HCV-specific cellular immune responses, and reduced viral load. This vaccine should be investigated in further clinical studies, in combination with standard of care.
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Torresi J, Johnson D, Wedemeyer H. Progress in the development of preventive and therapeutic vaccines for hepatitis C virus. J Hepatol 2011; 54:1273-85. [PMID: 21236312 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2010.09.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2010] [Revised: 08/27/2010] [Accepted: 09/07/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood borne disease estimated to chronically infect 3% of the worlds' population causing significant morbidity and mortality. Current medical therapy is curative in approximately 50% of patients. While recent treatment advances of genotype 1 infection using directly acting antiviral agents (DAAs) are encouraging, there is still a need to develop vaccine strategies capable of preventing infection. Moreover, vaccines may also be used in future in combination with DAAs enabling interferon-free treatment regimens. Viral and host specific factors contribute to viral evasion and present important impediments to vaccine development. Both, innate and adaptive immune responses are of major importance for the control of HCV infection. However, HCV has evolved ways of evading the host's immune response in order to establish persistent infection. For example, HCV inhibits intracellular interferon signalling pathways, impairs the activation of dendritic cells, CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cell responses, induces a state of T-cell exhaustion and selects escape variants with mutations CD8(+) T cell epitopes. An effective vaccine will need to produce strong and broadly cross-reactive CD4(+), CD8(+) T cell and neutralising antibody (NAb) responses to be successful in preventing or clearing HCV. Vaccines in clinical trials now include recombinant proteins, synthetic peptides, virosome based vaccines, tarmogens, modified vaccinia Ankara based vaccines, and DNA based vaccines. Several preclinical vaccine strategies are also under development and include recombinant adenoviral vaccines, virus like particles, and synthetic peptide vaccines. This paper will review the vaccines strategies employed, their success to date and future directions of vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Torresi
- Austin Centre for Infection Research, Department of Infectious Diseases Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia.
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25
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A new insight into hepatitis C vaccine development. J Biomed Biotechnol 2010; 2010:548280. [PMID: 20625493 PMCID: PMC2896694 DOI: 10.1155/2010/548280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2009] [Revised: 02/25/2010] [Accepted: 04/05/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a serious burden to public health worldwide. Currently, HCV-infected patients could undergo antiviral therapy by giving pegylated IFN-α with ribavirin. However, this therapy is only effective in around 50% of patients with HCV genotype 1, which accounts for more than 70% of all HCV infection, and it is not well tolerated for most patients. Moreover, there is no vaccine available. The efforts on identifying protective immunity against HCV have progressed recently. Neutralizing antibodies and robust T cell responses including both CD4+ and CD8+ have been shown to be related to the clearance of HCV, which have shed lights on the potential success of HCV vaccines. There are many vaccines developed and tested before entering clinical trials. Here, we would first discuss strategies of viral immune evasion and correlates of protective host immunity and finally review some prospective vaccine approaches against chronic HCV infection.
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Single lysophosphatidylcholine components exhibit adjuvant activities in vitro and in vivo. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2010; 17:429-38. [PMID: 20071492 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00420-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Improving vaccine immunogenicity by developing new adjuvant formulations has long been a goal of vaccinologists. It has previously been shown that a natural mix of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) from chicken eggs promotes mature dendritic cell (DC) generation in vitro and primes antigen-specific immune responses in mice. In the present study, we dissected the adjuvant potentials of five individual LPC components found in the chicken egg mixture. In vitro analyses of the impact of the individual components on the maturation of human DCs were performed by means of phenotypic analysis, chemokine secretion analysis, and analysis of the ability of mature DC to stimulate T lymphocytes. Two components, C16:0-LPC and C18:0-LPC, were identified to be capable of the upregulation of expression of CD86, HLA-DR, and CD40 on in vitro-cultured monocyte-derived DCs from healthy donors. Both induced the release of chemokines to high concentrations (macrophage inflammatory protein 1, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1) or moderate concentrations (interleukin-8 [IL-8], gamma interferon-inducible protein 10). In addition, C16:0-LPC engaged naïve T cells to produce gamma interferon. This suggests that C16:0-LPC and C18:0-LPC have the capacity to promote, at least in vitro, a Th1-oriented response. The intravenous injection of C16:0-LPC or C18:0-LPC into mice resulted in the detectable secretion of IL-6 and IL-5 in sera. Both LPC components were tested for their capacities to act as adjuvants for two selected immunogens: the hepatitis B virus surface antigen and the hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase. The secretion of specific IgG1 was observed with either or both C16:0-LPC and C18:0-LPC, depending on the immunogen tested, and was observed at an efficiency comparable to that of alum. These data identify C16:0-LPC and C18:0-LPC as the active components of the LPC natural mixture. Although discrepancies between the results of the in vitro and in vivo analyses existed, studies with animals suggest that these components can trigger significant and specific humoral-mediated immunity.
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Major ME. Prophylactic and Therapeutic Vaccination against Hepatitis C Virus (HCV): Developments and Future Perspectives. Viruses 2009; 1:144-65. [PMID: 21994543 PMCID: PMC3185488 DOI: 10.3390/v1020144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2009] [Revised: 07/25/2009] [Accepted: 08/11/2009] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies in patients and chimpanzees that spontaneously clear Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) have demonstrated that natural immunity to the virus is induced during primary infections and that this immunity can be cross protective. These discoveries led to optimism regarding prophylactic HCV vaccines and a number of studies in the chimpanzee model have been performed, all of which resulted in modified infections after challenge but did not always prevent persistence of the virus. Therapeutic vaccine strategies have also been pursued in an effort to reduce the costs and side effects associated with anti-viral drug treatment. This review summarizes the studies performed thus far in both patients and chimpanzees for prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination, assesses the progress made and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian E Major
- Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics, Food and Drug Administration, Bldg29A/Rm1D10, 8800 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; E-mail: ; Tel.: +1-301-827-1881
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Inchauspe G, Bach G, Martin P, Bonnefoy JY. Vaccination against hepatitis B and C: towards therapeutic application. Int Rev Immunol 2009; 28:7-19. [PMID: 19241251 DOI: 10.1080/08830180802488436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Inchauspé G, Honnet G, Bonnefoy JY, Nicosia A, Strickland GT. Hepatitis C vaccine: supply and demand. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2009; 8:739-40. [PMID: 19022189 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(08)70266-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Structural determinants for membrane association and dynamic organization of the hepatitis C virus NS3-4A complex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008; 105:14545-50. [PMID: 18799730 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0807298105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-4A is a membrane-associated multifunctional protein harboring serine protease and RNA helicase activities. It is an essential component of the HCV replication complex and a prime target for antiviral intervention. Here, we show that membrane association and structural organization of HCV NS3-4A are ensured in a cooperative manner by two membrane-binding determinants. We demonstrate that the N-terminal 21 amino acids of NS4A form a transmembrane alpha-helix that may be involved in intramembrane protein-protein interactions important for the assembly of a functional replication complex. In addition, we demonstrate that amphipathic helix alpha(0), formed by NS3 residues 12-23, serves as a second essential determinant for membrane association of NS3-4A, allowing proper positioning of the serine protease active site on the membrane. These results allowed us to propose a dynamic model for the membrane association, processing, and structural organization of NS3-4A on the membrane. This model has implications for the functional architecture of the HCV replication complex, proteolytic targeting of host factors, and drug design.
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