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Pagliari S, Dema B, Sanchez-Martinez A, Montalvo Zurbia-Flores G, Rollier CS. DNA Vaccines: History, Molecular Mechanisms and Future Perspectives. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168297. [PMID: 37797831 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168297] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The history of DNA vaccine began as early as the 1960s with the discovery that naked DNA can transfect mammalian cells in vivo. In 1992, the evidence that such transfection could lead to the generation of antigen-specific antibody responses was obtained and supported the development of this technology as a novel vaccine platform. The technology then attracted immense interest and high hopes in vaccinology, as evidence of high immunogenicity and protection against virulent challenges accumulated from several animal models for several diseases. In particular, the capacity to induce T-cell responses was unprecedented in non-live vaccines. However, the technology suffered its major knock when the success in animals failed to translate to humans, where DNA vaccine candidates were shown to be safe but remained poorly immunogenic, or not associated with clinical benefit. Thanks to a thorough exploration of the molecular mechanisms of action of these vaccines, an impressive range of approaches have been and are currently being explored to overcome this major challenge. Despite limited success so far in humans as compared with later genetic vaccine technologies such as viral vectors and mRNA, DNA vaccines are not yet optimised for human use and may still realise their potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sthefany Pagliari
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Barbara Dema
- Pandemic Science Institute, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | - Christine S Rollier
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
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Gary EN, Tursi NJ, Warner BM, Cuismano G, Connors J, Parzych EM, Griffin BD, Bell MR, Ali AR, Frase D, Hojecki CE, Canziani GA, Chaiken I, Kannan T, Moffat E, Embury-Hyatt C, Wooton SK, Kossenkov A, Patel A, Kobasa D, Kutzler MA, Haddad EK, Weiner DB. Adenosine deaminase augments SARS-CoV-2 specific cellular and humoral responses in aged mouse models of immunization and challenge. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1138609. [PMID: 36999023 PMCID: PMC10043169 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1138609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite numerous clinically available vaccines and therapeutics, aged patients remain at increased risk for COVID-19 morbidity. Furthermore, various patient populations, including the aged can have suboptimal responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine antigens. Here, we characterized vaccine-induced responses to SARS-CoV-2 synthetic DNA vaccine antigens in aged mice. Aged mice exhibited altered cellular responses, including decreased IFNγ secretion and increased TNFα and IL-4 secretion suggestive of TH2-skewed responses. Aged mice exhibited decreased total binding and neutralizing antibodies in their serum but significantly increased TH2-type antigen-specific IgG1 antibody compared to their young counterparts. Strategies to enhance vaccine-induced immune responses are important, especially in aged patient populations. We observed that co-immunization with plasmid-encoded adenosine deaminase (pADA)enhanced immune responses in young animals. Ageing is associated with decreases in ADA function and expression. Here, we report that co-immunization with pADA enhanced IFNγ secretion while decreasing TNFα and IL-4 secretion. pADA expanded the breadth and affinity SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibodies while supporting TH1-type humoral responses in aged mice. scRNAseq analysis of aged lymph nodes revealed that pADA co-immunization supported a TH1 gene profile and decreased FoxP3 gene expression. Upon challenge, pADA co-immunization decreased viral loads in aged mice. These data support the use of mice as a model for age-associated decreased vaccine immunogenicity and infection-mediated morbidity and mortality in the context of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and provide support for the use of adenosine deaminase as a molecular adjuvant in immune-challenged populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebony N. Gary
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Nicholas J. Tursi
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Bryce M. Warner
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Gina Cuismano
- The Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jennifer Connors
- The Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Elizabeth M. Parzych
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Bryan D. Griffin
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Matthew R. Bell
- The Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ali R. Ali
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Drew Frase
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Casey E. Hojecki
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Gabriela A. Canziani
- The Department of Biochemistry, Drexel University college of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Irwin Chaiken
- The Department of Biochemistry, Drexel University college of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Toshitha Kannan
- The Genomics Core, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Estella Moffat
- National Center for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Carissa Embury-Hyatt
- National Center for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Sarah K. Wooton
- Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew Kossenkov
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- The Genomics Core, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ami Patel
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Darwyn Kobasa
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Michele A. Kutzler
- The Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Elias K. Haddad
- The Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - David B. Weiner
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Gary EN, Tursi NJ, Warner B, Parzych EM, Ali AR, Frase D, Moffat E, Embury-Hyatt C, Smith TRF, Broderick KE, Humeau L, Kobasa D, Patel A, Kulp DW, Weiner DB. Mucosal chemokine adjuvant enhances synDNA vaccine-mediated responses to SARS-CoV-2 and provides heterologous protection in vivo. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100693. [PMID: 35839767 PMCID: PMC9237025 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has claimed more than 5 million lives. Emerging variants of concern (VOCs) continually challenge viral control. Directing vaccine-induced humoral and cell-mediated responses to mucosal surfaces may enhance vaccine efficacy. Here we investigate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of optimized synthetic DNA plasmids encoding wild-type severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein (pS) co-formulated with the plasmid-encoded mucosal chemokine cutaneous T cell-attracting chemokine (pCTACK; CCL27). pCTACK-co-immunized animals exhibit increased spike-specific antibodies at the mucosal surface and increased frequencies of interferon gamma (IFNγ)+ CD8+ T cells in the respiratory mucosa. pCTACK co-immunization confers 100% protection from heterologous Delta VOC challenge. This study shows that mucosal chemokine adjuvants can direct vaccine-induced responses to specific immunological sites and have significant effects on heterologous challenge. Further study of this unique chemokine-adjuvanted vaccine approach in the context of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is likely important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebony N Gary
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nicholas J Tursi
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bryce Warner
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Elizabeth M Parzych
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ali R Ali
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Drew Frase
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Estella Moffat
- National Center for Foreign Animal Disease (NCFAD), Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Carissa Embury-Hyatt
- National Center for Foreign Animal Disease (NCFAD), Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Darwyn Kobasa
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Ami Patel
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Daniel W Kulp
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David B Weiner
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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CCL19 and CCL28 Assist Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Glycoprotein D To Induce Protective Systemic Immunity against Genital Viral Challenge. mSphere 2021; 6:6/2/e00058-21. [PMID: 33910988 PMCID: PMC8092132 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00058-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
An effective HSV-2 vaccine should induce antigen (Ag)-specific immune responses against viral mucosal infection. This study reveals that chemokine CCL19 or CCL28 enhanced HSV-2 glycoprotein D ectodomain (gD-306aa)-induced immune responses against vaginal virus challenge. Potent systemic immunity is important for recalled mucosal immune responses, but in the defense against mucosal viral infections, it usually remains low at mucosal sites. Based on our previous findings that enhanced immune responses can be achieved by immunization with an immunogen in combination with a molecular adjuvant, here we designed chemokine-antigen (Ag) fusion constructs (CCL19- or CCL28-herpes simplex virus 2 glycoprotein D [HSV-2 gD]). After intramuscular (i.m.) immunization with different DNA vaccines in a prime and boost strategy, BALB/c mice were challenged with a lethal dose of HSV-2 through the genital tract. Ag-specific immune responses and chemokine receptor-specific lymphocytes were analyzed to determine the effects of CCL19 and CCL28 in strengthening humoral and cellular immunity. Both CCL19 and CCL28 were efficient in inducing long-lasting HSV-2 gD-specific systemic immunity. Compared to CCL19, less CCL28 was required to elicit HSV-2 gD-specific serum IgA responses, Th1- and Th2-like responses of immunoglobulin (Ig) subclasses and cytokines, and CCR3+ T cell enrichment (>8.5-fold) in spleens. These findings together demonstrate that CCL28 tends to assist an immunogen to induce more potently protective immunity than CCL19. This work provides information for the application potential of a promising vaccination strategy against mucosal infections caused by HSV-2 and other sexually transmitted viruses. IMPORTANCE An effective HSV-2 vaccine should induce antigen (Ag)-specific immune responses against viral mucosal infection. This study reveals that chemokine CCL19 or CCL28 enhanced HSV-2 glycoprotein D ectodomain (gD-306aa)-induced immune responses against vaginal virus challenge. In addition to eliciting robust humoral immune responses, the chemokine-Ag fusion construct also induced Th1- and Th2-like immune responses characterized by the secretion of multiple Ig subclasses and cytokines that were able to be recalled after HSV-2 challenge, while CCL28 appeared to be more effective than CCL19 in promoting gD-elicited immune responses as well as the migration of T cells to secondary lymph tissues. Of importance, both CCL19 and CCL28 significantly facilitated gD to induce protective mucosal immune responses in the genital tract. The above-described findings together highlight the potential of CCL19 or CCL28 in combination with gD as a vaccination strategy to control HSV-2 infection.
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