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Mikhael A, Pětrošová H, Smith D, Ernst RK, Goodlett DR. Lipid A double bond position determination using ozone and laser-induced dissociation. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2024; 38:e9854. [PMID: 38887144 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.9854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Abanoub Mikhael
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- University of Victoria Genome British Columbia Proteomics Centre, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Helena Pětrošová
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- University of Victoria Genome British Columbia Proteomics Centre, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Derek Smith
- University of Victoria Genome British Columbia Proteomics Centre, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Robert K Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - David R Goodlett
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- University of Victoria Genome British Columbia Proteomics Centre, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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2
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Wang R, Huang H, Yu C, Li X, Wang Y, Xie L. Current status and future directions for the development of human papillomavirus vaccines. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1362770. [PMID: 38983849 PMCID: PMC11231394 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1362770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines has made substantive progress, as represented by the approval of five prophylactic vaccines since 2006. Generally, the deployment of prophylactic HPV vaccines is effective in preventing newly acquired infections and incidences of HPV-related malignancies. However, there is still a long way to go regarding the prevention of all HPV infections and the eradication of established HPV infections, as well as the subsequent progression to cancer. Optimizing prophylactic HPV vaccines by incorporating L1 proteins from more HPV subtypes, exploring adjuvants that reinforce cellular immune responses to eradicate HPV-infected cells, and developing therapeutic HPV vaccines used either alone or in combination with other cancer therapeutic modalities might bring about a new era getting closer to the vision to get rid of HPV infection and related diseases. Herein, we summarize strategies for the development of HPV vaccines, both prophylactic and therapeutic, with an emphasis on the selection of antigens and adjuvants, as well as implications for vaccine efficacy based on preclinical studies and clinical trials. Additionally, we outline current cutting-edge insights on formulation strategies, dosing schedules, and age expansion among HPV vaccine recipients, which might play important roles in addressing barriers to vaccine uptake, such as vaccine hesitancy and vaccine availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Hongpeng Huang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Chulin Yu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Xuefeng Li
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Liangzhi Xie
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing, China
- Cell Culture Engineering Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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3
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Harvey DJ. Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: An update for 2021-2022. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2024. [PMID: 38925550 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry for the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates is a well-established technique and this review is the 12th update of the original article published in 1999 and brings coverage of the literature to the end of 2022. As with previous review, this review also includes a few papers that describe methods appropriate to analysis by MALDI, such as sample preparation, even though the ionization method is not MALDI. The review follows the same format as previous reviews. It is divided into three sections: (1) general aspects such as theory of the MALDI process, matrices, derivatization, MALDI imaging, fragmentation, quantification and the use of computer software for structural identification. (2) Applications to various structural types such as oligo- and polysaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosides and biopharmaceuticals, and (3) other general areas such as medicine, industrial processes, natural products and glycan synthesis where MALDI is extensively used. Much of the material relating to applications is presented in tabular form. MALDI is still an ideal technique for carbohydrate analysis, particularly in its ability to produce single ions from each analyte and advancements in the technique and range of applications show little sign of diminishing.
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Sherman ME, Michalski J, Das S, Yang H, Chandrasekaran L, O’Meara TR, Dowling DJ, Levy O, Barnoy S, Venkatesan M, Ernst RK. BECC-engineered live-attenuated Shigella vaccine candidates display reduced endotoxicity with robust immunogenicity in mice. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4448907. [PMID: 38946947 PMCID: PMC11213197 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4448907/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Shigella spp. infection contributes significantly to the global disease burden, primarily affecting young children in developing countries. Currently, there are no FDA-approved vaccines against Shigella, and the prevalence of antibiotic resistance is increasing, making therapeutic options limited. Live-attenuated vaccine strains WRSs2 (S. sonnei) and WRSf2G12 (S. flexneri 2a) are highly immunogenic, making them promising vaccine candidates, but possess an inflammatory lipid A structure on their lipopolysaccharide (LPS; also known as endotoxin). Here, we utilized bacterial enzymatic combinatorial chemistry (BECC) to ectopically express lipid A modifying enzymes in WRSs2 and WRSf2G12, as well as their respective wild-type strains, generating targeted lipid A modifications across the Shigella backgrounds. Dephosphorylation of lipid A, rather than deacylation, reduced LPS-induced TLR4 signaling in vitro and dampened endotoxic effects in vivo. These BECC-modified vaccine strains retained the phenotypic traits of their parental strains, such as invasion of epithelial cells and immunogenicity in mice without adverse endotoxicity. Overall, our observations suggest that BECC-engineered live attenuated vaccines are a promising approach to safe and effective Shigella vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E Sherman
- University of Maryland-Baltimore, Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Jane Michalski
- University of Maryland-Baltimore, Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Institute for Genome Sciences, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Sayan Das
- University of Maryland-Baltimore, Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Hyojik Yang
- University of Maryland-Baltimore, Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Lakshmi Chandrasekaran
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Department of Diarrheal Disease Research, Bacterial Disease Branch, Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA
| | - Timothy R O’Meara
- Precision Vaccines Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - David J Dowling
- Precision Vaccines Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Ofer Levy
- Precision Vaccines Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 USA
- Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Shoshana Barnoy
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Department of Diarrheal Disease Research, Bacterial Disease Branch, Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA
| | - Malabi Venkatesan
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Department of Diarrheal Disease Research, Bacterial Disease Branch, Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA
| | - Robert K Ernst
- University of Maryland-Baltimore, Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
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5
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DeJong MA, Wolf MA, Bitzer GJ, Hall JM, Fitzgerald NA, Pyles GM, Huckaby AB, Petty JE, Lee K, Barbier M, Bevere JR, Ernst RK, Damron FH. BECC438b TLR4 agonist supports unique immune response profiles from nasal and muscular DTaP pertussis vaccines in murine challenge models. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0022323. [PMID: 38323817 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00223-23] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The protection afforded by acellular pertussis vaccines wanes over time, and there is a need to develop improved vaccine formulations. Options to improve the vaccines involve the utilization of different adjuvants and administration via different routes. While intramuscular (IM) vaccination provides a robust systemic immune response, intranasal (IN) vaccination theoretically induces a localized immune response within the nasal cavity. In the case of a Bordetella pertussis infection, IN vaccination results in an immune response that is similar to natural infection, which provides the longest duration of protection. Current acellular formulations utilize an alum adjuvant, and antibody levels wane over time. To overcome the current limitations with the acellular vaccine, we incorporated a novel TLR4 agonist, BECC438b, into both IM and IN acellular formulations to determine its ability to protect against infection in a murine airway challenge model. Following immunization and challenge, we observed that DTaP + BECC438b reduced bacterial burden within the lung and trachea for both administration routes when compared with mock-vaccinated and challenged (MVC) mice. Interestingly, IN administration of DTaP + BECC438b induced a Th1-polarized immune response, while IM vaccination polarized toward a Th2 immune response. RNA sequencing analysis of the lung demonstrated that DTaP + BECC438b activates biological pathways similar to natural infection. Additionally, IN administration of DTaP + BECC438b activated the expression of genes involved in a multitude of pathways associated with the immune system. Overall, these data suggest that BECC438b adjuvant and the IN vaccination route can impact efficacy and responses of pertussis vaccines in pre-clinical mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan A DeJong
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - M Allison Wolf
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Graham J Bitzer
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Jesse M Hall
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Nicholas A Fitzgerald
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Gage M Pyles
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Annalisa B Huckaby
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Jonathan E Petty
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Katherine Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Mariette Barbier
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Justin R Bevere
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Robert K Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - F Heath Damron
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
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6
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Liu X, Min Q, Song H, Yue A, Li Q, Zhou Q, Han W. Potentiating humoral and cellular immunity using a novel hybrid polymer-lipid nanoparticle adjuvant for HBsAg-VLP vaccine. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:441. [PMID: 37993870 PMCID: PMC10666313 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02116-6] [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: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Aluminium adjuvants are commonly used in vaccines to stimulate the immune system, but they have limited ability to promote cellular immunity which is necessary for clearing viral infections like hepatitis B. Current adjuvants that do promote cellular immunity often have undesired side effects due to the immunostimulants they contain. In this study, a hybrid polymer lipid nanoparticle (HPLNP) was developed as an efficient adjuvant for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine to potentiate both humoral and cellular immunity. The HPLNP is composed of FDA approved polyethylene glycol-b-poly (L-lactic acid) (PEG-PLLA) polymer and cationic lipid 1, 2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP), and can be easily prepared by a one-step method. The cationic optimised vaccine formulation HBsAg/HPLNP (w/w = 1/600) can maximise the cell uptake of the antigen due to the electrostatic adsorption between the vaccine nanoparticle and the cell membrane of antigen-presenting cells. The HPLNP prolonged the retention of the antigen at the injection site and enhanced the lymph node drainage of antigen, resulting in a higher concentration of serum anti-HBsAg IgG compared to the HBsAg group or the HBsAg/Al group after the boost immunisation in mice. The HPLNP also promoted a strong Th1-driven immune response, as demonstrated by the significantly improved IgG2a/IgG1 ratio, increased production of IFN-γ, and activation of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in the spleen and lymph nodes. Importantly, the HPLNP demonstrated no systemic toxicity during immunisation. The advantages of the HPLNP, including good biocompatibility, easy preparation, low cost, and its ability to enhance both humoral and cellular immune responses, suggest its suitability as an efficient adjuvant for protein-based vaccines such as HBsAg-VLP. These findings highlight the promising potential of the HPLNP as an HBV vaccine adjuvant, offering an alternative to aluminium adjuvants currently used in vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhan Liu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University, No. 1098 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiuxia Min
- Department of Pharmacy, First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming University of Science and Technology, No. 157 Jinbi Road, Kunming, 650034, Yunnan, China
| | - Huiping Song
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University, No. 1098 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
- First School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Aochun Yue
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University, No. 1098 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
- Centre of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qin Li
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University, No. 1098 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Qing Zhou
- The Center for Biomedical Research, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Wei Han
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University, No. 1098 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China.
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7
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Liu X, Liu Y, Yang X, Lu X, Xu XN, Zhang J, Chen R. Potentiating the Immune Responses of HBsAg-VLP Vaccine Using a Polyphosphoester-Based Cationic Polymer Adjuvant. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:48871-48881. [PMID: 37816068 PMCID: PMC10614196 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c07491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccines are required to be associated with a suitable adjuvant to potentiate their immune responses. Herein, we report a novel, biodegradable, and biocompatible polyphosphoester-based amphiphilic cationic polymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(aminoethyl ethylene phosphate) (PEG-PAEEP), as a Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-VLP vaccine adjuvant. The polymer adjuvant effectively bound with HBsAg-VLP through electrostatic interactions to form a stable vaccine nanoformulation with a net positive surface charge. The nanoformulations exhibited enhanced cellular uptake by macrophages. HBsAg-VLP/PEG-PAEEP induced a significantly higher HBsAg-specific IgG titer in mice than HBsAg-VLP alone after second immunization, indicative of the antigen-dose sparing advantage of PEG-PAEEP. Furthermore, the nanoformulations exhibited a favorable biocompatibility and in vivo tolerability. This work presents the PEG-PAEEP copolymer as a promising vaccine adjuvant and as a potentially effective alternative to aluminum adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhan Liu
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College
London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Department
of Emergency Medicine, Shenzhen University
General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518051, China
| | - Yifan Liu
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College
London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Xiaoyu Yang
- AIM
Honesty Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Dalian 116620, China
| | - Xinyu Lu
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College
London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Xiao-Ning Xu
- Department
of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College
London, London W12 0NN, U.K.
| | - Jiancheng Zhang
- AIM
Honesty Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Dalian 116620, China
| | - Rongjun Chen
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College
London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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8
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Sanders C, Matthews RL, Esfahani SHZ, Khan N, Patel NL, Kalen JD, Kirnbauer R, Roden RB, Difilippantonio S, Pinto LA, Shoemaker RH, Marshall JD. Cross-neutralizing protection of vaginal and oral mucosa from HPV challenge by vaccination in a mouse model. Vaccine 2023; 41:4480-4487. [PMID: 37270364 PMCID: PMC10527091 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.05.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The species and tissue specificities of HPV (human papillomavirus) for human infection and disease complicates the process of prophylactic vaccine development in animal models. HPV pseudoviruses (PsV) that carry only a reporter plasmid have been utilized in vivo to demonstrate cell internalization in mouse mucosal epithelium. The current study sought to expand the application of this HPV PsV challenge model with both oral and vaginal inoculation and to demonstrate its utility for testing vaccine-mediated dual-site immune protection against several HPV PsV types. We observed that passive transfer of sera from mice vaccinated with the novel experimental HPV prophylactic vaccine RG1-VLPs (virus-like particles) conferred HPV16-neutralizing as well as cross-neutralizing Abs against HPV39 in naïve recipient mice. Moreover, active vaccination with RG1-VLPs also conferred protection to challenge with either HPV16 or HPV39 PsVs at both vaginal and oral sites of mucosal inoculation. These data support the use of the HPV PsV challenge model as suitable for testing against diverse HPV types at two sites of challenge (vaginal vault and oral cavity) associated with the origin of the most common HPV-associated cancers, cervical cancer and oropharyngeal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea Sanders
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Rebecca L Matthews
- Cancer ImmunoPrevention Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | | | - Nazneen Khan
- Cancer ImmunoPrevention Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Nimit L Patel
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Joseph D Kalen
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Reinhard Kirnbauer
- Laboratory of Viral Oncology (LVO), Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard B Roden
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Simone Difilippantonio
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Ligia A Pinto
- Vaccine, Immunity, and Cancer Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Robert H Shoemaker
- Chemopreventive Agent Development Research Group, Division of Cancer Prevention, NCI, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jason D Marshall
- Cancer ImmunoPrevention Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA.
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9
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Hu G, Varisco DJ, Das S, Middaugh CR, Gardner F, Ernst RK, Picking WL, Picking WD. Physicochemical characterization of biological and synthetic forms of two lipid A-based TLR4 agonists. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18119. [PMID: 37483830 PMCID: PMC10362264 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18119] [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: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists are recognized as potential immune-enhancing adjuvants and are included in several licensed vaccines. Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL®, GlaxoSmithKline) is one such TLR4 agonist that has been approved for use in human vaccines, such as Cervarix and Shingrix. Due to the heterogeneous nature of biologically derived MPL and the need for safer and more potent adjuvants, our groups have developed the novel TLR4 agonist candidates, BECC438 and BECC470 using the Bacterial Enzymatic Combinatorial Chemistry (BECC) platform. BECC438 and BECC470 have been included in studies to test their adjuvant potential and found to be effective in vaccines against both viral and bacterial disease agents. Here, we report detailed biophysical characterization of BECC438 and BECC470 purified from a biological source (BECC438b and BECC470b, respectively) and synthesized chemically (BECC438s and BECC470s, respectively). Both BECC438s and BECC470s have identical acyl chain configurations, BECC438s is bis-phosphorylated and BECC470s is mono-phosphorylated with the removal of the 4' phosphate moiety. We determined the phase transition temperatures for the acyl chains of BECC438b and BECC470b and found them to be different from those exhibited by their synthetic counterparts. Furthermore, the phosphate groups of BECC438b and BECC470b are more highly hydrated than are those of BECC438s and BECC470s. In addition to exploring the BECC molecules' biophysical features in aqueous solution, we explored potential formulation of BECC438 and BECC470 with the aluminum-based adjuvant Alhydrogel and as part of an oil-in-water emulsion (Medimmune Emulsion or ME). All of the lipid A analogues could be fully absorbed to Alhydrogel or incorporated onto ME. Surprisingly, the BECC470s molecule, unlike the others, displayed a nearly baseline signal when monitored using a Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) endotoxin detection system. Despite this, it was shown to behave as an agonist for human and mouse TLR4 when tested using multiple cell-based systems. This work paves the way for further formulation optimization of two chemically defined TLR4 agonists that are showing great promise as vaccine adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Hu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - David J. Varisco
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Sayan Das
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - C. Russell Middaugh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Francesca Gardner
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Robert K. Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Wendy L. Picking
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - William D. Picking
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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10
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Bennett SR, McCarty JM, Ramanathan R, Mendy J, Richardson JS, Smith J, Alexander J, Ledgerwood JE, de Lame PA, Royalty Tredo S, Warfield KL, Bedell L. Safety and immunogenicity of PXVX0317, an aluminium hydroxide-adjuvanted chikungunya virus-like particle vaccine: a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, phase 2 trial. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022; 22:1343-1355. [PMID: 35709798 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(22)00226-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) disease is an ongoing public health threat. We aimed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of PXVX0317, an aluminium hydroxide-adjuvanted formulation of a CHIKV virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine. METHODS This randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, phase 2 trial was conducted at three clinical trial centres in the USA. Eligible participants were healthy CHIKV-naïve adults aged 18-45 years. Participants were stratified by site and randomly assigned (1:1:1:1:1:1:1:1) to one of the eight vaccination groups using a block size of 16. Group 1 received two doses of unadjuvanted PXVX0317 28 days apart (2 × 20 μg; standard); all other groups received adjuvanted PXVX0317: groups 2-4 received two doses 28 days apart (2 × 6 μg [group 2], 2 × 10 μg [group 3], or 2 × 20 μg [group 4]; standard); group 4 also received a booster dose 18 months after the first active injection (40 μg; standard plus booster); groups 5-7 received two doses 14 days apart (2 × 6 μg [group 5], 2 × 10 μg [group 6], or 2 × 20 μg [group 7]; accelerated); and group 8 received one dose (1 × 40 μg; single). The primary endpoint was the geometric mean titre of anti-CHIKV neutralising antibody on day 57 (28 days after the last vaccination), assessed in the immunogenicity-evaluable population. Additionally, we assessed safety. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03483961. FINDINGS This trial was conducted from April 18, 2018, to Sept 21, 2020; 468 participants were assessed for eligibility. Of these, 415 participants were randomly assigned to eight groups (n=53 in groups 1, 5, and 6; n=52 in groups 2 and 8; n=51 in groups 3 and 7; and n=50 in group 4) and 373 were evaluable for immunogenicity. On day 57, serum neutralising antibody geometric mean titres were 2057·0 (95% CI 1584·8-2670·0) in group 1, 1116·2 (852·5-1461·4; p=0·0015 vs group 1 used as a reference) in group 2, 1465·3 (1119·1-1918·4; p=0·076) in group 3, 2023·8 (1550·5-2641·7; p=0·93) in group 4, 920·1 (710·9-1190·9; p<0·0001) in group 5, 1206·9 (932·4-1562·2; p=0·0045) in group 6, 1562·8 (1204·1-2028·3; p=0·14) in group 7, and 1712·5 (1330·0-2205·0; p=0·32) in group 8. In group 4, a booster dose increased serum neutralising antibody geometric mean titres from 215·7 (95% CI 160·9-289·1) on day 547 to 10 941·1 (7378·0-16 225·1) on day 575. Durability of the immune response (evaluated in groups 1, 4, and 8) was shown up to 2 years. The most common solicited adverse event was pain at the injection site, reported in 12 (23%) of 53 participants who received the unadjuvanted vaccine (group 1) and 111 (31%) of 356 who received the adjuvanted vaccine. No vaccine-related serious adverse events were reported. INTERPRETATION PXVX0317 was well tolerated and induced a robust and durable serum neutralising antibody immune response against CHIKV up to 2 years. A single 40 μg injection of adjuvanted PXVX0317 is being further investigated in phase 3 clinical trials (NCT05072080 and NCT05349617). FUNDING Emergent BioSolutions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Roshan Ramanathan
- Emergent BioSolutions, Gaithersburg, MD, USA; GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jason Mendy
- Emergent BioSolutions, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | | | - Jonathan Smith
- Emergent BioSolutions, Gaithersburg, MD, USA; VLP Therapeutics, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | | | - Julie E Ledgerwood
- Vaccine Research Center, US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | - Lisa Bedell
- Emergent BioSolutions, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
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11
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Alexander-Floyd J, Bass AR, Harberts EM, Grubaugh D, Buxbaum JD, Brodsky IE, Ernst RK, Shin S. Lipid A Variants Activate Human TLR4 and the Noncanonical Inflammasome Differently and Require the Core Oligosaccharide for Inflammasome Activation. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0020822. [PMID: 35862709 PMCID: PMC9387229 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00208-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Detection of Gram-negative bacterial lipid A by the extracellular sensor, myeloid differentiation 2 (MD2)/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), or the intracellular inflammasome sensors, CASP4 and CASP5, induces robust inflammatory responses. The chemical structure of lipid A, specifically its phosphorylation and acylation state, varies across and within bacterial species, potentially allowing pathogens to evade or suppress host immunity. Currently, it is not clear how distinct alterations in the phosphorylation or acylation state of lipid A affect both human TLR4 and CASP4/5 activation. Using a panel of engineered lipooligosaccharides (LOS) derived from Yersinia pestis with defined lipid A structures that vary in their acylation or phosphorylation state, we identified that differences in phosphorylation state did not affect TLR4 or CASP4/5 activation. However, the acylation state differentially impacted TLR4 and CASP4/5 activation. Specifically, all tetra-, penta-, and hexa-acylated LOS variants examined activated CASP4/5-dependent responses, whereas TLR4 responded to penta- and hexa-acylated LOS but did not respond to tetra-acylated LOS or penta-acylated LOS lacking the secondary acyl chain at the 3' position. As expected, lipid A alone was sufficient for TLR4 activation. In contrast, both core oligosaccharide and lipid A were required for robust CASP4/5 inflammasome activation in human macrophages, whereas core oligosaccharide was not required to activate mouse macrophages expressing CASP4. Our findings show that human TLR4 and CASP4/5 detect both shared and nonoverlapping LOS/lipid A structures, which enables the innate immune system to recognize a wider range of bacterial LOS/lipid A and would thereby be expected to constrain the ability of pathogens to evade innate immune detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Alexander-Floyd
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Antonia R. Bass
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Erin M. Harberts
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, School of Dentistry, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Daniel Grubaugh
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joseph D. Buxbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Igor E. Brodsky
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Robert K. Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, School of Dentistry, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sunny Shin
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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12
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Olczak P, Matsui K, Wong M, Alvarez J, Lambert P, Christensen ND, Hu J, Huber B, Kirnbauer R, Wang JW, Roden RBS. RG2-VLP: a Vaccine Designed to Broadly Protect against Anogenital and Skin Human Papillomaviruses Causing Human Cancer. J Virol 2022; 96:e0056622. [PMID: 35703545 PMCID: PMC9278150 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00566-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The family of human papillomaviruses (HPV) includes over 400 genotypes. Genus α genotypes generally infect the anogenital mucosa, and a subset of these HPV are a necessary, but not sufficient, cause of cervical cancer. Of the 13 high-risk (HR) and 11 intermediate-risk (IR) HPV associated with cervical cancer, genotypes 16 and 18 cause 50% and 20% of cases, respectively, whereas HPV16 dominates in other anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. A plethora of βHPVs are associated with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), especially in sun-exposed skin sites of epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV), AIDS, and immunosuppressed patients. Licensed L1 virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines, such as Gardasil 9, target a subset of αHPV but no βHPV. To comprehensively target both α- and βHPVs, we developed a two-component VLP vaccine, RG2-VLP, in which L2 protective epitopes derived from a conserved αHPV epitope (amino acids 17 to 36 of HPV16 L2) and a consensus βHPV sequence in the same region are displayed within the DE loop of HPV16 and HPV18 L1 VLP, respectively. Unlike vaccination with Gardasil 9, vaccination of wild-type and EV model mice (Tmc6Δ/Δ or Tmc8Δ/Δ) with RG2-VLP induced robust L2-specific antibody titers and protected against β-type HPV5. RG2-VLP protected rabbits against 17 αHPV, including those not covered by Gardasil 9. HPV16- and HPV18-specific neutralizing antibody responses were similar between RG2-VLP- and Gardasil 9-vaccinated animals. However, only transfer of RG2-VLP antiserum effectively protected naive mice from challenge with all βHPVs tested. Taken together, these observations suggest RG2-VLP's potential as a broad-spectrum vaccine to prevent αHPV-driven anogenital, oropharyngeal, and βHPV-associated cutaneous cancers. IMPORTANCE Licensed preventive HPV vaccines are composed of VLPs derived by expression of major capsid protein L1. They confer protection generally restricted to infection by the αHPVs targeted by the up-to-9-valent vaccine, and their associated anogenital cancers and genital warts, but do not target βHPV that are associated with CSCC in EV and immunocompromised patients. We describe the development of a two-antigen vaccine protective in animal models against known oncogenic αHPVs as well as diverse βHPVs by incorporation into HPV16 and HPV18 L1 VLP of 20-amino-acid conserved protective epitopes derived from minor capsid protein L2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pola Olczak
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Margaret Wong
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jade Alvarez
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Paul Lambert
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Neil D. Christensen
- The Jake Gittlen Laboratories for Cancer Research, Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jiafen Hu
- The Jake Gittlen Laboratories for Cancer Research, Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bettina Huber
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Reinhard Kirnbauer
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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13
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Kaur A, Baldwin J, Brar D, Salunke DB, Petrovsky N. Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists as a driving force behind next-generation vaccine adjuvants and cancer therapeutics. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2022; 70:102172. [PMID: 35785601 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Until recently, the development of new human adjuvants was held back by a poor understanding of their mechanisms of action. The field was revolutionized by the discovery of the toll-like receptors (TLRs), innate immune receptors that directly or indirectly are responsible for detecting pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and respond to them by activating innate and adaptive immune pathways. Hundreds of ligands targeting various TLRs have since been identified and characterized as vaccine adjuvants. This work has important implications not only for the development of vaccines against infectious diseases but also for immuno-therapies against cancer, allergy, Alzheimer's disease, drug addiction and other diseases. Each TLR has its own specific tissue localization and downstream gene signalling pathways, providing researchers the opportunity to precisely tailor adjuvants with specific immune effects. TLR agonists can be combined with other TLR or alternative adjuvants to create combination adjuvants with synergistic or modulatory effects. This review provides an introduction to the various classes of TLR adjuvants and their respective signalling pathways. It provides an overview of recent advancements in the TLR field in the past 2-3 years and discusses criteria for selecting specific TLR adjuvants based on considerations, such as disease mechanisms and correlates of protection, TLR immune biasing capabilities, route of administration, antigen compatibility, new vaccine technology platforms, and age- and species-specific effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arshpreet Kaur
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India; National Interdisciplinary Centre of Vaccines, Immunotherapeutics and Antimicrobials, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | | | - Deshkanwar Brar
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India; National Interdisciplinary Centre of Vaccines, Immunotherapeutics and Antimicrobials, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Deepak B Salunke
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India; National Interdisciplinary Centre of Vaccines, Immunotherapeutics and Antimicrobials, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Nikolai Petrovsky
- Vaxine Pty Ltd., Bedford Park, Adelaide 5042, Australia; College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide 5042, Australia.
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14
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Gardella B, Gritti A, Soleymaninejadian E, Pasquali MF, Riemma G, La Verde M, Schettino MT, Fortunato N, Torella M, Dominoni M. New Perspectives in Therapeutic Vaccines for HPV: A Critical Review. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58070860. [PMID: 35888579 PMCID: PMC9315585 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58070860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human Papillomavirus is the main cause of cervical cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, anus, rectum, penis, vagina, and vulva. In recent years, considerable effort has been made to control HPV-induced diseases using either prophylactic or therapeutic approaches. A critical review of the literature about the therapeutic Human Papillomavirus vaccine was performed to analyze its efficacy in the treatment of female lower genital tract lesions and its possible perspective application in clinical practice. The most important medical databases were consulted, and all papers published from 2000 until 2021 were considered. We retrieved a group of seven papers, reporting the role of anti HPV therapeutic vaccines against the L2 protein in the order of their efficacy and safety in female lower genital tract disease. In addition, the immune response due to vaccine administration was evaluated. The development of therapeutic vaccines represents an interesting challenge for the treatment of HPV infection of the lower genital tract. Literature data underline that the L2 protein may be an interesting and promising target in the development of therapeutic HPV vaccines, but the possible strengths and the unclear longevity of L2 immune responses are factors to be considered before clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Gardella
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Paediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (B.G.); (M.F.P.); (M.D.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Fundation Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Andrea Gritti
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Paediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (B.G.); (M.F.P.); (M.D.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Fundation Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-00382-503722
| | - Ehsan Soleymaninejadian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Fundation Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Marianna Francesca Pasquali
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Paediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (B.G.); (M.F.P.); (M.D.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Fundation Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Gaetano Riemma
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Naples, Italy; (G.R.); (M.L.V.); (M.T.S.); (N.F.); (M.T.)
| | - Marco La Verde
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Naples, Italy; (G.R.); (M.L.V.); (M.T.S.); (N.F.); (M.T.)
| | - Maria Teresa Schettino
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Naples, Italy; (G.R.); (M.L.V.); (M.T.S.); (N.F.); (M.T.)
| | - Nicola Fortunato
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Naples, Italy; (G.R.); (M.L.V.); (M.T.S.); (N.F.); (M.T.)
| | - Marco Torella
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Naples, Italy; (G.R.); (M.L.V.); (M.T.S.); (N.F.); (M.T.)
| | - Mattia Dominoni
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Paediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (B.G.); (M.F.P.); (M.D.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Fundation Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
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15
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Huber B, Wang JW, Roden RBS, Kirnbauer R. RG1-VLP and Other L2-Based, Broad-Spectrum HPV Vaccine Candidates. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10051044. [PMID: 33802456 PMCID: PMC7959455 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10051044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Licensed human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines contain virus-like particles (VLPs) self-assembled from L1 major-capsid proteins that are remarkably effective prophylactic immunogens. However, the induced type-restricted immune response limits coverage to the included vaccine types, and costly multiplex formulations, restrictive storage and distribution conditions drive the need for next generation HPV vaccines. Vaccine candidates based upon the minor structural protein L2 are particularly promising because conserved N-terminal epitopes induce broadly cross-type neutralizing and protective antibodies. Several strategies to increase the immunological potency of such epitopes are being investigated, including concatemeric multimers, fusion to toll-like receptors ligands or T cell epitopes, as well as immunodominant presentation by different nanoparticle or VLP structures. Several promising L2-based vaccine candidates have reached or will soon enter first-in-man clinical studies. RG1-VLP present the HPV16L2 amino-acid 17–36 conserved neutralization epitope “RG1” repetitively and closely spaced on an immunodominant surface loop of HPV16 L1-VLP and small animal immunizations provide cross-protection against challenge with all medically-significant high-risk and several low-risk HPV types. With a successful current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) campaign and this promising breadth of activity, even encompassing cross-neutralization of several cutaneous HPV types, RG1-VLP are ready for a first-in-human clinical study. This review aims to provide a general overview of these candidates with a special focus on the RG1-VLP vaccine and its road to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina Huber
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Joshua Weiyuan Wang
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; (J.W.W.); (R.B.S.R.)
- PathoVax LLC, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Richard B. S. Roden
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; (J.W.W.); (R.B.S.R.)
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Reinhard Kirnbauer
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-1-40400-77680
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