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Caputo V, Negri I, Moudoud L, Libera M, Bonizzi L, Clementi M, Diotti RA. Anti-HIV Humoral Response Induced by Different Anti-Idiotype Antibody Formats: An In Silico and In Vivo Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5737. [PMID: 38891926 PMCID: PMC11171986 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite advancements in vaccinology, there is currently no effective anti-HIV vaccine. One strategy under investigation is based on the identification of epitopes recognized by broadly neutralizing antibodies to include in vaccine preparation. Taking into account the benefits of anti-idiotype molecules and the diverse biological attributes of different antibody formats, our aim was to identify the most immunogenic antibody format. This format could serve as a foundational element for the development of an oligo-polyclonal anti-idiotype vaccine against HIV-1. For our investigation, we anchored our study on an established b12 anti-idiotype, referred to as P1, and proposed four distinct formats: two single chains and two minibodies, both in two different orientations. For a deeper characterization of these molecules, we used immunoinformatic tools and tested them on rabbits. Our studies have revealed that a particular minibody conformation, MbVHVL, emerges as the most promising candidate. It demonstrates a significant binding affinity with b12 and elicits a humoral anti-HIV-1 response in rabbits similar to the Fab format. This study marks the first instance where the minibody format has been shown to provoke a humoral response against a pathogen. Furthermore, this format presents biological advantages over the Fab format, including bivalency and being encoded by a monocistronic gene, making it better suited for the development of RNA-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Caputo
- Pomona Ricerca S.r.l, Via Assarotti 7, 10122 Turin, Italy
- One Health Unit, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Negri
- Pomona Ricerca S.r.l, Via Assarotti 7, 10122 Turin, Italy
| | - Louiza Moudoud
- Pomona Ricerca S.r.l, Via Assarotti 7, 10122 Turin, Italy
- One Health Unit, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Martina Libera
- Pomona Ricerca S.r.l, Via Assarotti 7, 10122 Turin, Italy
- One Health Unit, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Bonizzi
- One Health Unit, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Clementi
- Pomona Ricerca S.r.l, Via Assarotti 7, 10122 Turin, Italy
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, ‘Vita-Salute’ San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Antonia Diotti
- Pomona Ricerca S.r.l, Via Assarotti 7, 10122 Turin, Italy
- One Health Unit, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy
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2
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Feitsma EA, Janssen YF, Boersma HH, van Sleen Y, van Baarle D, Alleva DG, Lancaster TM, Sathiyaseelan T, Murikipudi S, Delpero AR, Scully MM, Ragupathy R, Kotha S, Haworth JR, Shah NJ, Rao V, Nagre S, Ronca SE, Green FM, Aminetzah A, Sollie F, Kruijff S, Brom M, van Dam GM, Zion TC. A randomized phase I/II safety and immunogenicity study of the Montanide-adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-RBD-Fc vaccine, AKS-452. Vaccine 2023; 41:2184-2197. [PMID: 36842886 PMCID: PMC9946892 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.02.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous interim data from a phase I study of AKS-452, a subunit vaccine comprising an Fc fusion of the respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein receptor binding domain (SP/RBD) emulsified in the water-in-oil adjuvant, Montanide™ ISA 720, suggested a good safety and immunogenicity profile in healthy adults. This phase I study was completed and two dosing regimens were further evaluated in this phase II study. METHODS This phase II randomized, open-labelled, parallel group study was conducted at a single site in The Netherlands with 52 healthy adults (18 - 72 years) receiving AKS-452 subcutaneously at one 90 µg dose (cohort 1, 26 subjects) or two 45 µg doses 28 days apart (cohort 2, 26 subjects). Serum samples were collected at the first dose (day 0) and at days 28, 56, 90, and 180. Safety and immunogenicity endpoints were assessed, along with induction of IgG isotypes, cross-reactive immunity against viral variants, and IFN-γ T cell responses. RESULTS All AEs were mild/moderate (grades 1 or 2), and no SAEs were attributable to AKS-452. Seroconversion rates reached 100% in both cohorts, although cohort 2 showed greater geometric mean IgG titers that were stable through day 180 and associated with enhanced potencies of SP/RBD-ACE2 binding inhibition and live virus neutralization. AKS-452-induced IgG titers strongly bound mutant SP/RBD from several SARS-CoV-2 variants (including Omicrons) that were predominantly of the favorable IgG1/3 isotype and IFN-γ-producing T cell phenotype. CONCLUSION These favorable safety and immunogenicity profiles of the candidate vaccine as demonstrated in this phase II study are consistent with those of the phase I study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04681092) and suggest that a total of 90 µg received in 2 doses may offer a greater duration of cross-reactive neutralizing titers than when given in a single dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline A Feitsma
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Yester F Janssen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, UMCG, the Netherlands
| | - Hendrikus H Boersma
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, UMCG, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, UMCG, the Netherlands
| | - Yannick van Sleen
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, UMCG, the Netherlands
| | - Debbie van Baarle
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, UMCG, the Netherlands
| | - David G Alleva
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Thomas M Lancaster
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | | | - Sylaja Murikipudi
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Andrea R Delpero
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Melanie M Scully
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Ramya Ragupathy
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Sravya Kotha
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Jeffrey R Haworth
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Nishit J Shah
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Vidhya Rao
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Shashikant Nagre
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Shannon E Ronca
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor, College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Ave, 300.15, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Freedom M Green
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor, College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Ave, 300.15, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Ari Aminetzah
- TRACER BV, L.J. Zielstraweg 1, 9766 GX Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Frans Sollie
- ICON, van Swietenlaan 6, 9728 NZ Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Schelto Kruijff
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, UMCG, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten Brom
- TRACER BV, L.J. Zielstraweg 1, 9766 GX Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Gooitzen M van Dam
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, UMCG, the Netherlands; TRACER BV, L.J. Zielstraweg 1, 9766 GX Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Todd C Zion
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States.
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Luo Q, Ahmed W, Dai Y, Mohsin A, Hang H, Zhuang Y, Guo M. Evaluation of a Virus-like Nanoparticle Porcine Circovirus Type-2 (PCV2) Capsid Protein Fused with the Pig Immunoglobulin Fc Fragment as a Novel Vaccine Candidate against PCV2 in Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1128. [PMID: 34696236 PMCID: PMC8540293 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9101128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Porcine circovirus Type 2 (PCV2) is a primary etiological pathogen of post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). The capsid protein of PCV2 is the crucial immunogenic protein which can induce antibody generation and immune responses. However, there is still a lack of efficient PCV2 vaccines with high immunogenicity. In the current study, we developed a novel engineered PCV2 capsid (∆1-41aa)-pFc fusion protein (PCFP), which comprised a truncated capsid protein of PCV2 and a porcine IgG Fc fragment, fused to the capsid protein of PCV2 at the C-terminus. We found that this novel fusion protein could auto-assemble into virus-like nanoparticles with an estimated mean diameter of 22.6 nm, characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Immunization of BALB/c mice with this fusion protein significantly increased the production levels of anti-PCV2-capsid protein antibody in serum. Besides, the virus-like nanoparticles, PCFP was demonstrated to induce efficient cellular immune responses in mice, as evident by the high specific T cell reactivity to the PCFP fusion protein and the high production of the immune cytokines IFN-γ and IL-10 in an ex vivo re-stimulation system. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the PCV2 truncated capsid subunit Fc-fusion protein can induce both cellular and humoral immune responses, and it displays great application potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Meijin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Q.L.); (W.A.); (Y.D.); (A.M.); (H.H.); (Y.Z.)
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4
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Characterisation of a New Molecule Based on Two E2 Sequences from Bovine Viral Diarrhoea-mucosal Disease Virus Fused To the Human Immunoglobulin Fc Fragment. J Vet Res 2021; 65:27-37. [PMID: 33817392 PMCID: PMC8009577 DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2021-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Proper conformational arrangement of the E2 molecules of bovine viral diarrhoea-mucosal disease virus (BVD-MDV) is crucial to obtain an effective recombinant vaccine candidate against the disease. In this study, we characterised a new molecule composed of two distinct sequences of the E2 glycoprotein of BVD-MDV and the Fc fragment of human immunoglobulin (BVDE2Fc). Materials and Methods The chimaeric protein was expressed in mammalian cell lines of different species by adenoviral transduction and purified by immobilised metal-affinity chromatography. The N-glycans were profiled by HPLC, and the BVDE2Fc immunogenicity was assessed in male mice. The antigen-antibody reactions were evaluated by ELISA. Results The MDBK cell line was selected from among five for the final production of BVDE2Fc. After purification to over 90%, the N-glycan profile showed neutral and complex oligosaccharides. The mouse immunisation induced a strong humoral response, which produced antibodies able to attach to conformational epitopes on E2 molecules, while the Fc fragment barely contributed to the immune response. Additionally, BVDE2Fc attached to antibodies from bovine sera positive to distinct BVD-MDV subtypes, whereas the loss of BVDE2Fc structure during the deglycosylation process considerably diminished those interactions. Conclusion These results demonstrate that the structure of E2 molecules arranged in tandem and attached to an Fc fragment could represent a viable design for future vaccine candidates against BVD-MD.
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Zhao J, Zhao S, Ou J, Zhang J, Lan W, Guan W, Wu X, Yan Y, Zhao W, Wu J, Chodosh J, Zhang Q. COVID-19: Coronavirus Vaccine Development Updates. Front Immunol 2020; 11:602256. [PMID: 33424848 PMCID: PMC7785583 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.602256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a newly emerged coronavirus, and has been pandemic since March 2020 and led to many fatalities. Vaccines represent the most efficient means to control and stop the pandemic of COVID-19. However, currently there is no effective COVID-19 vaccine approved to use worldwide except for two human adenovirus vector vaccines, three inactivated vaccines, and one peptide vaccine for early or limited use in China and Russia. Safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19 are in urgent need. Researchers around the world are developing 213 COVID-19 candidate vaccines, among which 44 are in human trials. In this review, we summarize and analyze vaccine progress against SARS-CoV, Middle-East respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and SARS-CoV-2, including inactivated vaccines, live attenuated vaccines, subunit vaccines, virus like particles, nucleic acid vaccines, and viral vector vaccines. As SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV share the common genus, Betacoronavirus, this review of the major research progress will provide a reference and new insights into the COVID-19 vaccine design and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shan Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junxian Ou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wendong Lan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenyi Guan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaowei Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuqian Yan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianguo Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - James Chodosh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Howe Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Qiwei Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Saha RP, Sharma AR, Singh MK, Samanta S, Bhakta S, Mandal S, Bhattacharya M, Lee SS, Chakraborty C. Repurposing Drugs, Ongoing Vaccine, and New Therapeutic Development Initiatives Against COVID-19. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:1258. [PMID: 32973505 PMCID: PMC7466451 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
As the COVID-19 is still growing throughout the globe, a thorough investigation into the specific immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2, its interaction with the host immune system and pathogen evasion mechanism may provide a clear picture of how the pathogen can breach the host immune defenses in elderly patients and patients with comorbid conditions. Such studies will also reveal the underlying mechanism of how children and young patients can withstand the disease better. The study of the immune defense mechanisms and the prolonged immune memory from patients population with convalescent plasma may help in designing a suitable vaccine candidate not only for the current outbreak but also for similar outbreaks in the future. The vital drug candidates, which are being tested as potential vaccines or therapeutics against COVID-19, include live attenuated vaccine, inactivated or killed vaccine, subunit vaccine, antibodies, interferon treatment, repurposing existing drugs, and nucleic acid-based vaccines. Several organizations around the world have fast-tracked the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, and some drugs already went to phase III of clinical trials. Hence, here, we have tried to take a quick glimpse of the development stages of vaccines or therapeutic approaches to treat this deadly disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudra P. Saha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Science & Biotechnology, Adamas University, Kolkata, India
| | - Ashish Ranjan Sharma
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon-si, South Korea
| | - Manoj K. Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Science & Biotechnology, Adamas University, Kolkata, India
| | - Saikat Samanta
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Science & Biotechnology, Adamas University, Kolkata, India
| | - Swarnav Bhakta
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Science & Biotechnology, Adamas University, Kolkata, India
| | - Snehasish Mandal
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Science & Biotechnology, Adamas University, Kolkata, India
| | - Manojit Bhattacharya
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon-si, South Korea
| | - Sang-Soo Lee
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon-si, South Korea
| | - Chiranjib Chakraborty
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Science & Biotechnology, Adamas University, Kolkata, India
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon-si, South Korea
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7
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Schindewolf C, Menachery VD. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Vaccine Candidates: Cautious Optimism. Viruses 2019; 11:E74. [PMID: 30658390 PMCID: PMC6356267 DOI: 10.3390/v11010074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Efforts towards developing a vaccine for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have yielded promising results. Utilizing a variety of platforms, several vaccine approaches have shown efficacy in animal models and begun to enter clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the current progress towards a MERS-CoV vaccine and highlight potential roadblocks identified from previous attempts to generate coronavirus vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Schindewolf
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, 77555 TX, USA.
| | - Vineet D Menachery
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, 77555 TX, USA.
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Melnychuk L, Ajamian L, Jean-Pierre P, Liang J, Gheorghe R, Wainberg MA, Zaharatos GJ. Development of a DNA vaccine expressing a secreted HIV-1 gp41 ectodomain that includes the membrane-proximal external region. Vaccine 2017; 35:2736-2744. [PMID: 28392143 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A limited number of sites on the HIV-1 Envelope protein are vulnerable to broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). One of these sites, the membrane proximal external region (MPER), is located at the C-terminus of the gp41 ectodomain (gp41ecto). This highly conserved sequence is bound by several well-characterized bnAbs. Efforts to produce a gp41 immunogen are in part hampered by the MPER's hydrophobicity and propensity to induce aggregation. We sought to produce a DNA vaccine expressing a gp41ecto that is both secreted from mammalian cells and maintains binding by bnAbs to the MPER. Through in silico analysis, we predicted regions of gp41ecto that could induce aggregation and possibly hinder secretion. We generated deletion mutants of gp41ecto and tested their ability to be secreted by mammalian cells. Upon deletion of regions in either the fusion peptide (FP) or MPER, secretion of the gp41ecto increased. In an effort to both augment secretion and maintain binding by bnAbs, we developed constructs with the FP deletion and introduced point mutations in the MPER. Two constructs (gp41 ΔFP and gp41 ΔFP+I682E) maintained binding by gp41 MPER-specific bnAbs (4E10, Z13e1 and 10E8). These were evaluated as DNA vaccines in a mouse model. Both vaccines proved to be immunogenic and appeared to elicit some MPER-specific antibodies that bound gp41 ectodomain-derived proteins but not short peptides spanning the MPER. No neutralizing capacity was detected against a clade C virus containing a homologous MPER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Melnychuk
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Lara Ajamian
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Jiaming Liang
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Romina Gheorghe
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Mark A Wainberg
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gerasimos J Zaharatos
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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Choi J, Kim MG, Oh YK, Kim YB. Progress of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus vaccines: a patent review. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2017; 27:721-731. [PMID: 28121202 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2017.1281248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has emerged as a new pathogen, causing severe complications and a high case fatality rate. No direct treatments are available as yet, highlighting the importance of prevention through suitable vaccination regimes. The viral spike (S) protein has been characterized as a key target antigen for vaccines. In particular, S protein domains have been utilized to produce high titers of neutralizing antibodies. Areas covered: Since the first report of MERS-CoV infection, a limited number of MERS-CoV-specific patents have been filed. Patents related to MERS-CoV are categorized into three areas: treatments, antibodies, and vaccines (receptor-related). This review mainly focuses on the types and efficacies of vaccines, briefly covering treatments and antibodies against the virus. MERS-CoV vaccine forms and delivery systems, together with comparable development strategies against SARS-CoV are additionally addressed. Expert opinion: Vaccines must be combined with delivery systems, administration routes, and adjuvants to maximize T-cell responses as well as neutralizing antibody production. High immune responses require further study in animal models, such as human receptor-expressing mice, non-human primates, and camels. Such a consideration of integrated actions should contribute to the rapid development of vaccines against MERS-CoV and related coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiwon Choi
- a College of Animal Bioscience & Technology , Konkuk University , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Gyeong Kim
- b College of Pharmacy , Seoul National University , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Kyoung Oh
- b College of Pharmacy , Seoul National University , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Young Bong Kim
- a College of Animal Bioscience & Technology , Konkuk University , Seoul , Republic of Korea
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10
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Konduru K, Shurtleff AC, Bradfute SB, Nakamura S, Bavari S, Kaplan G. Ebolavirus Glycoprotein Fc Fusion Protein Protects Guinea Pigs against Lethal Challenge. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162446. [PMID: 27622456 PMCID: PMC5021345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV), a member of the Filoviridae that can cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates, poses a significant threat to the public health. Currently, there are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics to prevent and treat EBOV infection. Several vaccines based on the EBOV glycoprotein (GP) are under development, including vectored, virus-like particles, and protein-based subunit vaccines. We previously demonstrated that a subunit vaccine containing the extracellular domain of the Ebola ebolavirus (EBOV) GP fused to the Fc fragment of human IgG1 (EBOVgp-Fc) protected mice against EBOV lethal challenge. Here, we show that the EBOVgp-Fc vaccine formulated with QS-21, alum, or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid-poly-L-lysine carboxymethylcellulose (poly-ICLC) adjuvants induced strong humoral immune responses in guinea pigs. The vaccinated animals developed anti-GP total antibody titers of approximately 105−106 and neutralizing antibody titers of approximately 103 as assessed by a BSL-2 neutralization assay based on vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotypes. The poly-ICLC formulated EBOVgp-Fc vaccine protected all the guinea pigs against EBOV lethal challenge performed under BSL-4 conditions whereas the same vaccine formulated with QS-21 or alum only induced partial protection. Vaccination with a mucin-deleted EBOVgp-Fc construct formulated with QS-21 adjuvant did not have a significant effect in anti-GP antibody levels and protection against EBOV lethal challenge compared to the full-length GP construct. The bulk of the humoral response induced by the EBOVgp-Fc vaccine was directed against epitopes outside the EBOV mucin region. Our findings indicate that different adjuvants can eliciting varying levels of protection against lethal EBOV challenge in guinea pigs vaccinated with EBOVgp-Fc, and suggest that levels of total anti-GP antibodies elicit by protein-based GP subunit vaccines do not correlate with protection. Our data further support the development of Fc fusions of GP as a candidate vaccine for human use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishnamurthy Konduru
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Amy C. Shurtleff
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, United States of America
| | - Steven B. Bradfute
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, United States of America
| | - Siham Nakamura
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, United States of America
| | - Sina Bavari
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, United States of America
| | - Gerardo Kaplan
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, United States of America
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11
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Particle and subunit-based hemagglutinin vaccines provide protective efficacy against H1N1 influenza in pigs. Vet Microbiol 2016; 191:35-43. [PMID: 27374905 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2016.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Revised: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The increasing diversity of influenza strains circulating in swine herds escalates the potential for the emergence of novel pandemic viruses and highlights the need for swift development of new vaccines. Baculovirus has proven to be a flexible platform for the generation of recombinant forms of hemagglutinin (HA) including subunit, VLP-displayed, and baculovirus-displayed antigens. These presentations have been shown to be efficacious in mouse, chicken, and ferret models but little is known about their immunogenicity in pigs. To assess the utility of these HA presentations in swine, Baculovirus constructs expressing HA fused to swine IgG2a Fc, displayed in a FeLV gag VLP, or displayed in the baculoviral envelope were generated. Vaccines formulated with these antigens wer The e administered to groups of pigs who were subsequently challenged with H1α cluster H1N1 swine influenza virus (SIV) A/Swine/Indiana/1726/88. Our results demonstrate that vaccination with any of these three vaccines elicits robust hemagglutinin inhibition titers in the serum and decreased the severity of SIV-associated lung lesions after challenge when compared to placebo-vaccinated controls. In addition, the number of pigs with virus detected in the lungs and nasal passages was reduced. Taken together, the results demonstrate that these recombinant approaches expressed with the baculovirus expression vector system may be viable options for development of SIV vaccines for swine.
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12
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He B, Xia S, Yu F, Fu Y, Li W, Wang Q, Lu L, Jiang S. Putative suppressing effect of IgG Fc-conjugated haemagglutinin (HA) stalk of influenza virus H7N9 on the neutralizing immunogenicity of Fc-conjugated HA head: implication for rational design of HA-based influenza vaccines. J Gen Virol 2015; 97:327-333. [PMID: 26653217 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of influenza A H7N9 in infection has posed a great threat to public health globally. Poor immunogenicity of H7N9 haemagglutinin (HA) is a major obstacle to the development of an effective H7N9 vaccine. Here, we found that the vaccine containing the H7HA head conjugated with IgG Fc (Hd-Fc) induced strong neutralizing antibody responses and protection against H7N9 infection, whilst the Fc-conjugated H7HA stalk (St-Fc)-based vaccine could not induce neutralizing antibodies, although the St-Fc-immunized mice were partially protected. The vaccines containing the full-length extracellular domain of HA conjugated with Fc and the mixture of Hd-Fc plus St-Fc induced significantly lower neutralizing antibody and haemagglutination inhibition titres than the Hd-Fc-based vaccine. These results suggest that the St-Fc may have inhibitory effects on the neutralizing immunogenicity of Hd-Fc. Therefore, the neutralizing domain(s), such as the receptor-binding domain, in the HA head should be kept and the non-neutralizing domain(s) in the HA stalk with the ability to potentially suppress the neutralizing immunogenicity of HA head should be removed from Fc-conjugated HA-based influenza vaccines to increase the neutralizing antibody response.
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Affiliation(s)
- B He
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - S Xia
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - F Yu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Y Fu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - W Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Q Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - L Lu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - S Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China.,Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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13
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Yang Z, Li J, Liu Q, Yuan T, Zhang Y, Chen LQ, Lou Q, Sun Z, Ying H, Xu J, Dimitrov DS, Zhang MY. Identification of Non-HIV Immunogens That Bind to Germline b12 Predecessors and Prime for Elicitation of Cross-clade Neutralizing HIV-1 Antibodies. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126428. [PMID: 26010511 PMCID: PMC4444298 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental challenge for developing an effective and safe HIV-1 vaccine is to identify vaccine immunogens that can initiate and maintain immune responses leading to elicitation of broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibodies (bnAbs) through complex maturation pathways. We have previously found that HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Env) lack measurable binding to putative germline predecessors of known bnAbs and proposed to search for non-HIV immunogens that could initiate their somatic maturation. Using bnAb b12 as a model bnAb and yeast display technology, we isolated five (poly)peptides from plant leaves, insects, E. coli strains, and sea water microbes that bind to b12 putative germline and intermediate antibodies. Rabbit immunization with the (poly)peptides alone induced high titers of cross-reactive antibodies that neutralized HIV-1 isolates SF162 and JRFL. Priming rabbits with the (poly)peptides followed by boosts with trimeric gp140SF162 and then resurfaced Env (RSC3) induced antibodies that competed with mature b12 and neutralized tier 1 and 2 viruses from clade B, C and E, while control rabbits without (poly)peptide priming induced antibodies that did not compete with mature b12 and neutralized fewer isolates. The degree of competition with mature b12 for binding to gp140SF162 correlated with the neutralizing activity of the rabbit IgG. Reversing the order of the two boosting immunogens significantly affected the binding profile and neutralization potency of the rabbit IgG. Our study is the first to provide evidence that appears to support the concept that non-HIV immunogens may initiate immune responses leading to elicitation of cross-clade neutralizing antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Yang
- AIDS Institute, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- AIDS Institute, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qingsheng Liu
- AIDS Institute, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tingting Yuan
- AIDS Institute, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yanyu Zhang
- AIDS Institute, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Li-Qing Chen
- Center of Laboratory Animals, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qi Lou
- Center of Laboratory Animals, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zehua Sun
- AIDS Institute, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Huazhong Ying
- Center of Laboratory Animals, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianqing Xu
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Dimiter S. Dimitrov
- Protein Interactions group, Laboratory of Immunology, Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mei-Yun Zhang
- AIDS Institute, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
- Liver Disease Institute, Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, 518112, China
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14
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Wu F, Peng K, Tian J, Xu X, Zhou E, Chen H. Immune Response to Fc Tagged GP5 Glycoproteins of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus. Viral Immunol 2014; 27:343-9. [DOI: 10.1089/vim.2014.0041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China
| | - Kefeng Peng
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiao Tian
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaodong Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China
| | - Enmin Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongying Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China
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15
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Benen TD, Tonks P, Kliche A, Kapzan R, Heeney JL, Wagner R. Development and immunological assessment of VLP-based immunogens exposing the membrane-proximal region of the HIV-1 gp41 protein. J Biomed Sci 2014; 21:79. [PMID: 25160824 PMCID: PMC4256929 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-014-0079-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of HIV-1 gp41 is particularly conserved and target for the potent broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bnMAbs) 2F5, 4E10 and 10E8. Epitope focusing and stabilization present promising strategies to enhance the quality of immune responses to specific epitopes. Results The aim of this work was to design and evaluate novel immunogens based on the gp41 MPER with the potential to elicit cross-clade neutralizing antibodies. For that purpose, gp41 was truncated N-terminally in order to dispose immunodominant, non-neutralizing sites and enhance the exposure of conserved regions. To stabilize a trimeric conformation, heterologous GCN4 and HA2 zipper domains were fused based on an in silico “best-fit” model to the protein’s amino terminus. Cell surface exposure of resulting proteins and their selective binding to bnMAbs 2F5 and 4E10 could be shown by cytometric analyses. Incorporation into VLPs and preservation of antigenic structures were verified by electron microscopy, and the oligomeric state was successfully stabilized by zipper domains. These gp41 immunogens were evaluated for antigenicity in an immunization study in rabbits primed with homologous DNA expression plasmids and boosted with virus-like particle (VLP) proteins. Low titers of anti-MPER antibodies were measured by IgG ELISA, and low neutralizing activity could be detected against a clade C and B viral isolate in sera. Conclusions Thus, although neutralizing titers were very moderate, induction of cross-clade neutralizing antibodies seems possible following immunization with MPER-focusing immunogens. However, further refinement of MPER presentation and immunogenicity is clearly needed to induce substantial neutralization responses to these epitopes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12929-014-0079-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Ralf Wagner
- Molecular Microbiology and Gene Therapy Unit, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, Regensburg, 93053, Germany.
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16
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Quinnan GV, Onabajo O, Zhang P, Yan L, Mattapallil JJ, Zhang Z, Dong M, Lu M, Montefiori D, LaBranche C, Broder CC. Immunization of rabbits with highly purified, soluble, trimeric human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein induces a vigorous B cell response and broadly cross-reactive neutralization. PLoS One 2014; 9:e98060. [PMID: 24846288 PMCID: PMC4028264 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously we described induction of cross-reactive HIV-1 neutralizing antibody responses in rabbits using a soluble HIV-1 gp140 envelope glycoprotein (Env) in an adjuvant containing monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and QS21 (AS02A). Here, we compared different forms of the same HIV-1 strain R2 Env for antigenic and biophysical characteristics, and in rabbits characterized the extent of B cell induction for specific antibody expression and secretion and neutralizing responses. The forms of this Env that were produced in and purified from stably transformed 293T cells included a primarily dimeric gp140, a trimeric gp140 appended to a GCN4 trimerization domain (gp140-GCN4), gp140-GCN4 with a 15 amino acid flexible linker between the gp120 and gp41 ectodomain (gp140-GCN4-L), also trimeric, and a gp140 with the flexible linker purified from cell culture supernatants as either dimer (gp140-L(D)) or monomer (gp140-L(M)). Multimeric states of the Env proteins were assessed by native gel electrophoresis and analytical ultracentrifugation. The different forms of gp140 bound broadly cross-reactive neutralizing (BCN) human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) similarly in ELISA and immunoprecipitation assays. All Envs bound CD4i mAbs in the presence and absence of sCD4, as reported for the R2 Env. Weak neutralization of some strains of HIV-1 was seen after two additional doses in AS02A. Rabbits that were given a seventh dose of gp140-GCN4-L developed BCN responses that were weak to moderate, similar to our previous report. The specificity of these responses did not appear similar to that of any of the known BCN human mAbs. Induction of spleen B cell and plasma cells producing immunoglobulins that bound trimeric gp140-GCN4-L was vigorous, based on ELISpot and flow cytometry analyses. The results demonstrate that highly purified gp140-GCN4-L trimer in adjuvant elicits BCN responses in rabbits accompanied by vigorous B cell induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald V. Quinnan
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Olusegun Onabajo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Pengfei Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lianying Yan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joseph J. Mattapallil
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Zhiqiang Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ming Dong
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Min Lu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - David Montefiori
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Celia LaBranche
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Christopher C. Broder
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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17
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Chen X, Liu H, Zhang T, Liu Y, Xie X, Wang Z, Xu X. A vaccine of L2 epitope repeats fused with a modified IgG1 Fc induced cross-neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity against divergent human papillomavirus types. PLoS One 2014; 9:e95448. [PMID: 24802101 PMCID: PMC4011685 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Current human papillomavirus (HPV) major capsid protein L1 virus-like particles (VLPs)-based vaccines in clinic induce strong HPV type-specific neutralizing antibody responses. To develop pan-HPV vaccines, here, we show that the fusion protein E3R4 consisting of three repeats of HPV16 L2 aa 17–36 epitope (E3) and a modified human IgG1 Fc scaffold (R4) induces cross-neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity against divergent HPV types. E3R4 was expressed as a secreted protein in baculovirus expression system and could be simply purified by one step Protein A affinity chromatography with the purity above 90%. Vaccination of E3R4 formulated with Freunds adjuvant not only induced cross-neutralizing antibodies against HPV pseudovirus types 16, 18, 45, 52, 58, 6, 11 and 5 in mice, but also protected mice against vaginal challenges with HPV pseudovirus types 16, 45, 52, 58, 11 and 5 for at least eleven months after the first immunization. Moreover, vaccination of E3R4 formulated with FDA approved adjuvant alum plus monophosphoryl lipid A also induced cross-neutralizing antibodies against HPV types 16, 18 and 6 in rabbits. Thus, our results demonstrate that delivery of L2 antigen as a modified Fc-fusion protein may facilitate pan-HPV vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Chen
- Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hongyang Liu
- Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yanchun Liu
- Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xixiu Xie
- Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhirong Wang
- Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xuemei Xu
- Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
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18
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Du L, Kou Z, Ma C, Tao X, Wang L, Zhao G, Chen Y, Yu F, Tseng CTK, Zhou Y, Jiang S. A truncated receptor-binding domain of MERS-CoV spike protein potently inhibits MERS-CoV infection and induces strong neutralizing antibody responses: implication for developing therapeutics and vaccines. PLoS One 2013; 8:e81587. [PMID: 24324708 PMCID: PMC3852489 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
An emerging respiratory infectious disease with high mortality, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), is caused by a novel coronavirus (MERS-CoV). It was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia and has now spread to eight countries. Development of effective therapeutics and vaccines is crucial to save lives and halt the spread of MERS-CoV. Here, we show that a recombinant protein containing a 212-amino acid fragment (residues 377-588) in the truncated receptor-binding domain (RBD: residues 367-606) of MERS-CoV spike (S) protein fused with human IgG Fc fragment (S377-588-Fc) is highly expressed in the culture supernatant of transfected 293T cells. The purified S377-588-Fc protein efficiently binds to dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), the receptor of MERS-CoV, and potently inhibited MERS-CoV infection, suggesting its potential to be further developed as a therapeutic modality for treating MERS-CoV infection and saving the patients' lives. The recombinant S377-588-Fc is able to induce in the vaccinated mice strong MERS-CoV S-specific antibodies, which blocks the binding of RBD to DPP4 receptor and effectively neutralizes MERS-CoV infection. These findings indicate that this truncated RBD protein shows promise for further development as an effective and safe vaccine for the prevention of MERS-CoV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanying Du
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Zhihua Kou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Cuiqing Ma
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Xinrong Tao
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lili Wang
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Guangyu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yaoqing Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Fei Yu
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Chien-Te K. Tseng
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yusen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Shanghai Medical College and Institute of Medical Microbi, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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19
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Du L, Zhao G, Sun S, Zhang X, Zhou X, Guo Y, Li Y, Zhou Y, Jiang S. A critical HA1 neutralizing domain of H5N1 influenza in an optimal conformation induces strong cross-protection. PLoS One 2013; 8:e53568. [PMID: 23320093 PMCID: PMC3539987 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2012] [Accepted: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses, especially the laboratory-generated H5N1 mutants, have demonstrated the potential to cross the species barrier and infect mammals and humans. Consequently, the design of an effective and safe anti-H5N1 vaccine is essential. We previously demonstrated that the full-length hemagglutinin 1 (HA1) could induce significant neutralizing antibody response and protection. Here, we intended to identify the critical neutralizing domain (CND) in an optimal conformation that can elicit strong cross-neutralizing antibodies and protection against divergent H5N1 strains. We thus constructed six recombinant proteins covering different regions of HA1 of A/Anhui/1/2005(H5N1), each of which was fused with foldon (Fd) and Fc of human IgG. We found that the critical fragment fused with Fd/Fc (HA-13–263-Fdc, H5 numbering) that could elicit the strongest neutralizing antibody response is located in the N-terminal region of HA1 (residues 13–263), which covers the receptor-binding domain (RBD, residues 112–263). We then constructed three additional recombinants fused with Fd plus His tag (HA-13–263-Fd-His), Fc only (HA-13–263-Fc), and His tag only (HA-13–263-His), respectively. We found that the HA-13–263-Fdc, which formed an oligomeric conformation, induced the strongest neutralizing antibody response and cross-protection against challenges of two tested H5N1 virus strains covering clade 1: A/VietNam/1194/2004 (VN/1194) or clade 2.3.4: A/Shenzhen/406H/06 (SZ/406H), while HA-13–263-Fc dimer and HA-13–263-Fd-His trimer elicited higher neutralizing antibody response and protection than HA-13–263-His monomer. These results suggest that the oligomeric form of the CND containing the RBD can be further developed as an effective and safe vaccine for cross-protection against divergent strains of H5N1 viruses.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/biosynthesis
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Viral/biosynthesis
- Antibodies, Viral/therapeutic use
- Antigens, Viral/immunology
- Cross Reactions
- Female
- Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/chemistry
- Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/immunology
- Humans
- Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/chemistry
- Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/immunology
- Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/pathogenicity
- Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Influenza Vaccines/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Neutralization Tests/methods
- Protein Conformation
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanying Du
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Guangyu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Shihui Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiujuan Zhang
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Xiaojun Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Ye Li
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- School of Medical Laboratory Science, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yusen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (Y. Zhou); (SJ)
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Shanghai Medical College and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail: (Y. Zhou); (SJ)
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20
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Chen W, Ying T, Dimitrov DS. Antibody-based candidate therapeutics against HIV-1: implications for virus eradication and vaccine design. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2013; 13:657-71. [PMID: 23293858 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2013.761969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The currently available anti-HIV-1 drugs can control the infection but do not eradicate the virus. Their long-term use can lead to side effects and resistance to therapy. Therefore, eradication of the virus has been a major goal of research. Biological therapeutics including broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bnAbs) are promising tools to reach this goal. They could also help design novel vaccine immunogens potentially capable of eliciting bnAbs targeting the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Envs). AREAS COVERED We review HIV-1 bnAbs and their potential as candidate prophylactics and therapeutics used individually, in combination, or as bispecific fusion proteins. We also discuss their potential use in the 'activation-elimination' approach for HIV-1 eradication in infected patients receiving antiretroviral treatment as well as current vaccine design efforts based on understanding of interactions of candidate vaccine immunogens with matured bnAbs and their putative germline predecessors, and related antibody maturation pathways. EXPERT OPINION Exploration of HIV-1 bnAbs has provided and will continue to provide useful knowledge that helps develop novel types of biotherapeutics and vaccines. It is possible that bnAb-based candidate therapeutics could help eradicate HIV-1. Development of vaccine immunogens capable of eliciting potent bnAbs in humans remains a fundamental challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizao Chen
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Protein Interactions Group, Miller Drive, Building 469, Room 144, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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Chiang HL, Lin CY, Jan FD, Lin YS, Hsu CT, Whang-Peng J, Liu LF, Nieh S, Lin CC, Hwang J. A novel synthetic bipartite carrier protein for developing glycotope-based vaccines. Vaccine 2012; 30:7573-81. [PMID: 23099332 PMCID: PMC3513549 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.10.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2012] [Revised: 10/06/2012] [Accepted: 10/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Development of successful vaccines against glycotopes remains a major challenge. In the current studies, we have successfully developed a novel carrier protein for glycotopes based on the concept of antigen clustering and specific stimulation of T helper cells to mount strong antibody response to glycotopes. The bipartite carrier protein consists of a tandem repeat of a cysteine-rich peptide for docking of clustered glycotopes to effectively activate B cells and an Fc domain for antigen delivery to antigen presenting cells (APCs). To demonstrate its utility, we conjugated the tumor-specific monosaccharide antigen Tn to this novel carrier protein and successfully developed a Tn vaccine against cancer in animal models. The Tn vaccine effectively elicited high-titer IgG1 antibodies against Tn in immunized mice, and effectively suppressed the development of prostate cancer in Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of the Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) mice. Our results suggest that this novel bipartite carrier protein could be effectively used for developing anti-glycotope vaccines such as the anticancer Tn vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiao-Ling Chiang
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Yu Lin
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fan-Dan Jan
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yaoh-Shiang Lin
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National Defense Medical Centre & Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Tse Hsu
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Leroy F. Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Shin Nieh
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Cheng Lin
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Jaulang Hwang
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Friedrich BM, Trefry JC, Biggins JE, Hensley LE, Honko AN, Smith DR, Olinger GG. Potential vaccines and post-exposure treatments for filovirus infections. Viruses 2012; 4:1619-50. [PMID: 23170176 PMCID: PMC3499823 DOI: 10.3390/v4091619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2012] [Revised: 08/31/2012] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses of the family Filoviridae represent significant health risks as emerging infectious diseases as well as potentially engineered biothreats. While many research efforts have been published offering possibilities toward the mitigation of filoviral infection, there remain no sanctioned therapeutic or vaccine strategies. Current progress in the development of filovirus therapeutics and vaccines is outlined herein with respect to their current level of testing, evaluation, and proximity toward human implementation, specifically with regard to human clinical trials, nonhuman primate studies, small animal studies, and in vitro development. Contemporary methods of supportive care and previous treatment approaches for human patients are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M. Friedrich
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Division of Virology, 1425 Porter Street, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (B.M.F.); (J.C.T.); (J.E.B.); (A.N.H.); (D.R.S.)
| | - John C. Trefry
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Division of Virology, 1425 Porter Street, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (B.M.F.); (J.C.T.); (J.E.B.); (A.N.H.); (D.R.S.)
| | - Julia E. Biggins
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Division of Virology, 1425 Porter Street, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (B.M.F.); (J.C.T.); (J.E.B.); (A.N.H.); (D.R.S.)
| | - Lisa E. Hensley
- United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Medical Science Countermeasures Initiative (McMi), 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20901, USA; (L.E.H.)
| | - Anna N. Honko
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Division of Virology, 1425 Porter Street, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (B.M.F.); (J.C.T.); (J.E.B.); (A.N.H.); (D.R.S.)
| | - Darci R. Smith
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Division of Virology, 1425 Porter Street, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (B.M.F.); (J.C.T.); (J.E.B.); (A.N.H.); (D.R.S.)
| | - Gene G. Olinger
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Division of Virology, 1425 Porter Street, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (B.M.F.); (J.C.T.); (J.E.B.); (A.N.H.); (D.R.S.)
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; (G.G.O.); Tel.: +1-301-619-8581; +1-301-619-2290
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Mader A, Kunert R. Evaluation of the potency of the anti-idiotypic antibody Ab2/3H6 mimicking gp41 as an HIV-1 vaccine in a rabbit prime/boost study. PLoS One 2012; 7:e39063. [PMID: 22720027 PMCID: PMC3376109 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2011] [Accepted: 05/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The HIV-1 envelope protein harbors several conserved epitopes that are recognized by broadly neutralizing antibodies. One of these neutralizing sites, the MPER region of gp41, is targeted by one of the most potent and broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody, 2F5. Different vaccination strategies and a lot of efforts have been undertaken to induce MPER neutralizing antibodies but little success has been achieved so far. We tried to consider the alternative anti-idiotypic vaccination approach for induction of 2F5-like antibodies. The previously developed and characterized anti-idiotypic antibody Ab2/3H6 was expressed as antibody fragment fusion protein with C-terminally attached immune-modulators and used for immunization of rabbits to induce antibodies specific for HIV-1. Only those rabbits immunized with immunogens fused with the immune-modulators developed HIV-1 specific antibodies. Anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies were affinity purified using a two-step affinity purification protocol which revealed that only little amount of the total rabbit IgG fraction contained HIV-1 specific antibodies. The characterization of the induced anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies showed specificity for the linear epitope of 2F5 GGGELDKWASL and the HIV-1 envelope protein gp140. Despite specificity for the linear epitope and the truncated HIV-1 envelope protein these antibodies were not able to exhibit virus neutralization activities. These results suggest that Ab2/3H6 alone might not be suitable as a vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Mader
- Department of Biotechnology, VIBT - BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Vienna), Vienna, Austria
| | - Renate Kunert
- Department of Biotechnology, VIBT - BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Vienna), Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
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Baschieri S. Virus Glycoproteins Tagged with the Human Fc Domain as Second Generation Vaccine Candidates. INNOVATION IN VACCINOLOGY 2012. [PMCID: PMC7122206 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-4543-8_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Traditional vaccines such as inactivated or live attenuated vaccines, are gradually giving way to more biochemically defined vaccines that are most often based on a recombinant antigen known to possess neutralizing epitopes. Such vaccines can offer improvements in speed, safety and manufacturing process but an inevitable consequence of their high degree of purification is that immunogenicity is reduced through the lack of the innate triggering molecules present in more complex preparations. Targeting recombinant vaccines to antigen presenting cells (APCs) such as dendritic cells however can improve immunogenicity by ensuring that antigen processing is as efficient as possible. Immune complexes, one of a number of routes of APC targeting, are mimicked by a recombinant approach, crystallizable fragment (Fc) fusion proteins, in which the target immunogen is linked directly to an antibody effector domain capable of interaction with receptors, FcR, on the APC cell surface. A number of virus Fc fusion proteins have been expressed in insect cells using the baculovirus expression system and shown to be efficiently produced and purified. Their use for immunization next to non-Fc tagged equivalents shows that they are powerfully immunogenic in the absence of added adjuvant and that immune stimulation is the result of the Fc-FcR interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selene Baschieri
- Italian National Agency for New Technolo, Energy and Sustainable Economic Developm, ENEA, Via Anguillarese 301, Rome, 00123 Italy
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Zaharatos GJ, Yu J, Pace C, Song Y, Vasan S, Ho DD, Huang Y. HIV-1 and influenza antigens synthetically linked to IgG2a Fc elicit superior humoral responses compared to unmodified antigens in mice. Vaccine 2011; 30:42-50. [PMID: 22064264 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.10.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2011] [Revised: 10/21/2011] [Accepted: 10/23/2011] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Using murine IgG subclass molecules (IgG1 or IgG2a) synthetically fused to HIV-1 or influenza test antigens, we explored the potential for IgG Fc scaffolds to augment immunogenicity. Each antigen (Ag) was grafted onto a hinge-Fc scaffold containing all critical residues necessary for interaction with effector cells, thus retaining effector functions of the native IgG subclass. We hypothesized that the differential affinity of FcγRs for specific IgG subclasses would influence the magnitude of immune responses elicited by immunization with an Ag-IgG Fc fusion vaccine. We demonstrate here that the antigen-specific humoral response elicited by Ag-IgG2a fusion vaccines is at least tenfold greater than that elicited by native antigen, that this response is superior to that elicited by Ag-IgG1, and that the augmented antigen-specific humoral response elicited is Fcγ receptor-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerasimos J Zaharatos
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, The Rockefeller University, 455 First Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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HIV-1 gp41 core with exposed membrane-proximal external region inducing broad HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies. PLoS One 2011; 6:e18233. [PMID: 21483871 PMCID: PMC3069051 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2010] [Accepted: 02/23/2011] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of the HIV-1 gp41 consists of epitopes for the broadly cross-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies 2F5 and 4E10. However, antigens containing the linear sequence of these epitopes are unable to elicit potent and broad neutralizing antibody responses in vaccinated hosts, possibly because of inappropriate conformation of these epitopes. Here we designed a recombinant antigen, designated NCM, which comprises the N- and C-terminal heptad repeats that can form a six-helix bundle (6HB) core and the MPER domain of gp41. Two mutations (T569A and I675V) previously reported to expose the neutralization epitopes were introduced into NCM to generate mutants named NCM(TA), NCM(IV), and NCM(TAIV). Our results showed that NCM and its mutants could react with antibodies specific for 6HB and MPER of gp41, suggesting that these antigens are in the form of a trimer of heterodimer (i.e., 6HB) with three exposed MPER tails. Antigen with double mutations, NCM(TAIV), elicited much stronger antibody response in rabbits than immunogens with single mutation, NCM(TA) and NCM(IV), or no mutation, NCM. The purified MPER-specific antibodies induced by NCM(TAIV) exhibited broad neutralizing activity, while the purified 6HB-specific antibodies showed no detectable neutralizing activity. Our recombinant antigen design supported by an investigation of its underlying molecular mechanisms provides a strong scientific platform for the discovery of a gp41 MPER-based AIDS vaccine.
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Ebola virus glycoprotein Fc fusion protein confers protection against lethal challenge in vaccinated mice. Vaccine 2011; 29:2968-77. [PMID: 21329775 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.01.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2010] [Revised: 01/26/2011] [Accepted: 01/31/2011] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Ebola virus is a Filoviridae that causes hemorrhagic fever in humans and induces high morbidity and mortality rates. Filoviruses are classified as "Category A bioterrorism agents", and currently there are no licensed therapeutics or vaccines to treat and prevent infection. The Filovirus glycoprotein (GP) is sufficient to protect individuals against infection, and several vaccines based on GP are under development including recombinant adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and virus-like particles. Here we describe the development of a GP Fc fusion protein as a vaccine candidate. We expressed the extracellular domain of the Zaire Ebola virus (ZEBOV) GP fused to the Fc fragment of human IgG1 (ZEBOVGP-Fc) in mammalian cells and showed that GP undergoes the complex furin cleavage and processing observed in the native membrane-bound GP. Mice immunized with ZEBOVGP-Fc developed T-cell immunity against ZEBOV GP and neutralizing antibodies against replication-competent VSV-G deleted recombinant VSV containing ZEBOV GP. The ZEBOVGP-Fc vaccinated mice were protected against challenge with a lethal dose of ZEBOV. These results show that vaccination with the ZEBOVGP-Fc fusion protein alone without the need of a viral vector or assembly into virus-like particles is sufficient to induce protective immunity against ZEBOV in mice. Our data suggested that Filovirus GP Fc fusion proteins could be developed as a simple, safe, efficacious, and cost effective vaccine against Filovirus infection for human use.
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Adjuvant-free immunization with hemagglutinin-Fc fusion proteins as an approach to influenza vaccines. J Virol 2010; 85:3010-4. [PMID: 21191017 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01241-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The hemagglutinins (HAs) of human H1 and H3 influenza viruses and avian H5 influenza virus were produced as recombinant fusion proteins with the human immunoglobulin Fc domain. Recombinant HA-human immunoglobulin Fc domain (HA-HuFc) proteins were secreted from baculovirus-infected insect cells as glycosylated oligomer HAs of the anticipated molecular mass, agglutinated red blood cells, were purified on protein A, and were used to immunize mice in the absence of adjuvant. Immunogenicity was demonstrated for all subtypes, with the serum samples demonstrating subtype-specific hemagglutination inhibition, epitope specificity similar to that seen with virus infection, and neutralization. HuFc-tagged HAs are potential candidates for gene-to-vaccine approaches to influenza vaccination.
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Du L, Zhao G, Chan CCS, Li L, He Y, Zhou Y, Zheng BJ, Jiang S. A 219-mer CHO-expressing receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV S protein induces potent immune responses and protective immunity. Viral Immunol 2010; 23:211-9. [PMID: 20374001 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2009.0090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of vaccines is essential for the prevention of future recurrences of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), caused by the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The spike (S) protein, especially receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV, plays important roles in the prevention of SARS infection, and is thus an important component in SARS vaccine development. In this study, we expressed a 219-mer (residues 318-536) RBD protein in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells (RBD219-CHO), and tested its immune responses and protective immunity in a mouse model. The results showed that this recombinant protein was correctly folded, being able to maintain intact conformation and authentic antigenicity. It could induce strong humoral and cellular immune responses and high titers of neutralizing antibodies in the vaccinated mice. RBD219-CHO protein elicited potent protective immunity that protected all vaccinated mice from SARS-CoV challenge. These results suggest that the recombinant RBD219-CHO protein has great potential for the development of an effective and safe SARS subunit vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanying Du
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
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Yang Q, Li C, Wei Y, Huang W, Wang LX. Expression, glycoform characterization, and antibody-binding of HIV-1 V3 glycopeptide domain fused with human IgG1-Fc. Bioconjug Chem 2010; 21:875-83. [PMID: 20369886 DOI: 10.1021/bc9004238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The third variable (V3) domain of HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein is critical for HIV-1 entry and represents an attractive target for vaccine design. There are three conserved N-glycans within or around the V3 loop. The N295 and N332 glycans at the base of V3 are usually characterized as high-mannose type in gp120, and the N301 glycan is a complex type. We report in this paper the expression and characterization of glycosylated, full-size V3 domain derived from HIV-1(Bal) strain as an IgG1-Fc fusion protein, including its binding to two broadly HIV-neutralizing antibodies 2G12 and 447-52D. It was found that expressing the V3-Fc fusion protein in the HEK293T cells resulted in the production of a glycoform in which all the N-glycans were complex type, in contrast to the glycosylation pattern of V3 in the context of gp120, where the N295 and N332 glycans are high-mannose type. Controlling the glycosylation to restore an epitope of antibody 2G12 was achieved by using an inhibitor of glycan processing enzymes. Mutational studies indicate that the glycan at N301 slightly decreases the binding of V3-Fc to antibody 447-52D, but it can significantly enhance the binding of the V3-Fc to antibody 2G12 when it is changed to a high-mannose type N-glycan. The high-mannose type V3-Fc fusion protein that includes both the 2G12 and 447-52D epitopes represents an interesting immunogen that may be able to raise anti-HIV neutralizing antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Yang
- Institute of Human Virology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA
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Qi Z, Pan C, Lu H, Shui Y, Li L, Li X, Xu X, Liu S, Jiang S. A recombinant mimetics of the HIV-1 gp41 prehairpin fusion intermediate fused with human IgG Fc fragment elicits neutralizing antibody response in the vaccinated mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2010; 398:506-12. [PMID: 20599765 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.06.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2010] [Accepted: 06/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
HIV-1 gp41 prehairpin fusion intermediate (PFI) composed of three N-terminal heptad repeats (NHR) plays a crucial role in viral fusion and entry and represents an attractive target for anti-HIV therapeutics (e.g., enfuvirtide) and vaccines. In present study, we constructed and expressed two recombinant gp41 PFI mimetics, designated N46Fd and N46FdFc. N46Fd consists of N46 (residues 536-581) in gp41 NHR and foldon (Fd), a trimerization motif. N46FdFc is composed of N46Fd fused with human IgG Fc fragment as an immunoenhancer. We immunized mice with N46 peptide, N46Fd and N46FdFc, respectively, and found that only N46FdFc elicited neutralizing antibody response in mice against infection by HIV-1 strains IIIB (clade B, X4), 92US657 (clade B, R5), and 94UG103 (clade A, X4R5). Anti-N46FdFc antibodies inhibited PIE7 binding to PFI, blocked gp41 six-helix bundle formation, and suppressed HIV-1 mediated cell-cell fusion. These findings provide an important clue for developing recombinant gp41 PFI mimetics-based HIV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Qi
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Anti-gp41 antibodies cloned from HIV-infected patients with broadly neutralizing serologic activity. J Virol 2010; 84:5032-42. [PMID: 20219932 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00154-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Most HIV-infected individuals develop antibodies to the gp120 and gp41 components of the viral spike; however, only a fraction of these individuals mount a broadly neutralizing serum response against HIV. We have cloned anti-HIV antibodies from the memory B-cell compartment of six individuals with variable viral loads and high titers of broadly neutralizing antibodies. Here, we report on the features of the anti-gp41 response in these patients. Competition experiments with previously characterized antibodies targeting defined epitopes on the gp41 ectodomain showed antibodies directed against the "immunodominant region" (cluster I), the carboxy-terminal heptad repeat (cluster II), and the membrane-proximal external region (cluster IV). On the other hand, antibodies directed against the amino-terminal part of the molecule, including the fusion peptide, polar region, and the N-terminal heptad repeat, were not detected. When all patients' data were combined, unique B-cell clones targeting cluster I, II, and IV accounted for 32%, 49%, and 53% of all anti-gp41-reactive B cells, respectively; therefore, no single region was truly immunodominant. Finally, although we found no new neutralizing epitopes or HIV-1-neutralizing activity by any of the gp41 antibodies at concentrations of up to 50 microg/ml, high concentrations of 7 out of 15 anti-cluster I antibodies neutralized tier 2 viruses.
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Du L, Zhao G, Chan CCS, Sun S, Chen M, Liu Z, Guo H, He Y, Zhou Y, Zheng BJ, Jiang S. Recombinant receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV spike protein expressed in mammalian, insect and E. coli cells elicits potent neutralizing antibody and protective immunity. Virology 2009; 393:144-50. [PMID: 19683779 PMCID: PMC2753736 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2009.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2009] [Revised: 07/10/2009] [Accepted: 07/17/2009] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a newly emerging infectious disease. The potential recurrence of the disease from animal reservoirs highlights the significance of development of safe and efficient vaccines to prevent a future SARS epidemic. In this study, we expressed the recombinant receptor-binding domain (rRBD) in mammalian (293T) cells, insect (Sf9) cells, and E. coli, respectively, and compared their immunogenicity and protection against SARS-CoV infection in an established mouse model. Our results show that all rRBD proteins expressed in the above systems maintained intact conformation, being able to induce highly potent neutralizing antibody responses and complete protective immunity against SARS-CoV challenge in mice, albeit the rRBD expressed in 293T cells elicited stronger humoral immune responses with significantly higher neutralizing activity (P < 0.05) than those expressed in Sf9 and E. coli cells. These results suggest that all three rRBDs are effective in eliciting immune responses and protection against SARS-CoV and any of the above expression systems can be used for production of rRBD-based SARS subunit vaccines. Preference will be given to rRBD expressed in mammalian cells for future evaluation of the vaccine efficacy in a non-human primate model of SARS because of its ability to refold into a native conformation more readily and to induce higher level of neutralizing antibody responses than those expressed in E. coli and insect cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanying Du
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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