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Kumar P, Holland DA, Secrist K, Taskar P, Dotson B, Saleh-Birdjandi S, Adewunmi Y, Doering J, Mantis NJ, Volkin DB, Joshi SB. Evaluating the Compatibility of New Recombinant Protein Antigens (Trivalent NRRV) with a Mock Pentavalent Combination Vaccine Containing Whole-Cell Pertussis: Analytical and Formulation Challenges. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:609. [PMID: 38932338 PMCID: PMC11209613 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introducing new recombinant protein antigens to existing pediatric combination vaccines is important in improving coverage and affordability, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This case-study highlights the analytical and formulation challenges encountered with three recombinant non-replicating rotavirus vaccine (NRRV) antigens (t-NRRV formulated with Alhydrogel® adjuvant, AH) combined with a mock multidose formulation of a pediatric pentavalent vaccine used in LMICs. This complex formulation contained (1) vaccine antigens (i.e., whole-cell pertussis (wP), diphtheria (D), tetanus (T), Haemophilus influenza (Hib), and hepatitis B (HepB), (2) a mixture of aluminum-salt adjuvants (AH and Adju-Phos®, AP), and (3) a preservative (thimerosal, TH). Selective, stability-indicating competitive immunoassays were developed to monitor binding of specific mAbs to each antigen, except wP which required the setup of a mouse immunogenicity assay. Simple mixing led to the desorption of t-NRRV antigens from AH and increased degradation during storage. These deleterious effects were caused by specific antigens, AP, and TH. An AH-only pentavalent formulation mitigated t-NRRV antigen desorption; however, the Hib antigen displayed previously reported AH-induced instability. The same rank-ordering of t-NRRV antigen stability (P[8] > P[4] > P[6]) was observed in mock pentavalent formulations and with various preservatives. The lessons learned are discussed to enable future multidose, combination vaccine formulation development with new vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - David A. Holland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Kathryn Secrist
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Poorva Taskar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Brandy Dotson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Soraia Saleh-Birdjandi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Yetunde Adewunmi
- New York State Department of Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Jennifer Doering
- New York State Department of Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Mantis
- New York State Department of Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - David B. Volkin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Sangeeta B. Joshi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
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Latifi T, Kachooei A, Jalilvand S, Zafarian S, Roohvand F, Shoja Z. Correlates of immune protection against human rotaviruses: natural infection and vaccination. Arch Virol 2024; 169:72. [PMID: 38459213 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-024-05975-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Species A rotaviruses are the leading viral cause of acute gastroenteritis in children under 5 years of age worldwide. Despite progress in the characterization of the pathogenesis and immunology of rotavirus-induced gastroenteritis, correlates of protection (CoPs) in the course of either natural infection or vaccine-induced immunity are not fully understood. There are numerous factors such as serological responses (IgA and IgG), the presence of maternal antibodies (Abs) in breast milk, changes in the intestinal microbiome, and rotavirus structural and non-structural proteins that contribute to the outcome of the CoP. Indeed, while an intestinal IgA response and its surrogate, the serum IgA level, are suggested as the principal CoPs for oral rotavirus vaccines, the IgG level is more likely to be a CoP for parenteral non-replicating rotavirus vaccines. Integrating clinical and immunological data will be instrumental in improving rotavirus vaccine efficacy, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where vaccine efficacy is significantly lower than in high-income countries. Further knowledge on CoPs against rotavirus disease will be helpful for next-generation vaccine development. Herein, available data and literature on interacting components and proposed CoPs against human rotavirus disease are reviewed, and limitations and gaps in our knowledge in this area are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayebeh Latifi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Atefeh Kachooei
- Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Somayeh Jalilvand
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saman Zafarian
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farzin Roohvand
- Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zabihollah Shoja
- Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
- Research Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
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Hensley C, Roier S, Zhou P, Schnur S, Nyblade C, Parreno V, Frazier A, Frazier M, Kiley K, O’Brien S, Liang Y, Mayer BT, Wu R, Mahoney C, McNeal MM, Petsch B, Rauch S, Yuan L. mRNA-Based Vaccines Are Highly Immunogenic and Confer Protection in the Gnotobiotic Pig Model of Human Rotavirus Diarrhea. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:260. [PMID: 38543894 PMCID: PMC10974625 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12030260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Human rotavirus (HRV) is still a leading cause of severe dehydrating gastroenteritis globally, particularly in infants and children. Previously, we demonstrated the immunogenicity of mRNA-based HRV vaccine candidates expressing the viral spike protein VP8* in rodent models. In the present study, we assessed the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of two mRNA-based HRV trivalent vaccine candidates, encoding VP8* of the genotypes P[8], P[6], or P[4], in the gnotobiotic (Gn) pig model of Wa (G1P[8]) HRV infection and diarrhea. Vaccines either encoded VP8* alone fused to the universal T-cell epitope P2 (P2-VP8*) or expressed P2-VP8* as a fusion protein with lumazine synthase (LS-P2-VP8*) to allow the formation and secretion of protein particles that present VP8* on their surface. Gn pigs were randomly assigned into groups and immunized three times with either P2-VP8* (30 µg) or LS-P2-VP8* (30 µg or 12 µg). A trivalent alum-adjuvanted P2-VP8* protein vaccine or an LNP-formulated irrelevant mRNA vaccine served as the positive and negative control, respectively. Upon challenge with virulent Wa HRV, a significantly shortened duration and decreased severity of diarrhea and significant protection from virus shedding was induced by both mRNA vaccine candidates compared to the negative control. Both LS-P2-VP8* doses induced significantly higher VP8*-specific IgG antibody titers in the serum after immunizations than the negative as well as the protein control. The P[8] VP8*-specific IgG antibody-secreting cells in the ileum, spleen, and blood seven days post-challenge, as well as VP8*-specific IFN-γ-producing T-cell numbers increased in all three mRNA-vaccinated pig groups compared to the negative control. Overall, there was a clear tendency towards improved responses in LS-P2-VP8* compared to the P2-VP8*mRNA vaccine. The demonstrated strong humoral immune responses, priming for effector T cells, and the significant reduction of viral shedding and duration of diarrhea in Gn pigs provide a promising proof of concept and may provide guidance for the further development of mRNA-based rotavirus vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey Hensley
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; (C.H.); (P.Z.); (S.S.); (C.N.); (V.P.); (A.F.); (M.F.); (K.K.); (S.O.); (Y.L.)
| | - Sandro Roier
- CureVac SE, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (S.R.); (B.P.); (S.R.)
| | - Peng Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; (C.H.); (P.Z.); (S.S.); (C.N.); (V.P.); (A.F.); (M.F.); (K.K.); (S.O.); (Y.L.)
| | - Sofia Schnur
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; (C.H.); (P.Z.); (S.S.); (C.N.); (V.P.); (A.F.); (M.F.); (K.K.); (S.O.); (Y.L.)
| | - Charlotte Nyblade
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; (C.H.); (P.Z.); (S.S.); (C.N.); (V.P.); (A.F.); (M.F.); (K.K.); (S.O.); (Y.L.)
| | - Viviana Parreno
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; (C.H.); (P.Z.); (S.S.); (C.N.); (V.P.); (A.F.); (M.F.); (K.K.); (S.O.); (Y.L.)
| | - Annie Frazier
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; (C.H.); (P.Z.); (S.S.); (C.N.); (V.P.); (A.F.); (M.F.); (K.K.); (S.O.); (Y.L.)
| | - Maggie Frazier
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; (C.H.); (P.Z.); (S.S.); (C.N.); (V.P.); (A.F.); (M.F.); (K.K.); (S.O.); (Y.L.)
| | - Kelsey Kiley
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; (C.H.); (P.Z.); (S.S.); (C.N.); (V.P.); (A.F.); (M.F.); (K.K.); (S.O.); (Y.L.)
| | - Samantha O’Brien
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; (C.H.); (P.Z.); (S.S.); (C.N.); (V.P.); (A.F.); (M.F.); (K.K.); (S.O.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yu Liang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; (C.H.); (P.Z.); (S.S.); (C.N.); (V.P.); (A.F.); (M.F.); (K.K.); (S.O.); (Y.L.)
| | - Bryan T. Mayer
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (B.T.M.); (R.W.); (C.M.)
| | - Ruizhe Wu
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (B.T.M.); (R.W.); (C.M.)
| | - Celia Mahoney
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (B.T.M.); (R.W.); (C.M.)
| | - Monica M. McNeal
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA;
| | | | - Susanne Rauch
- CureVac SE, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (S.R.); (B.P.); (S.R.)
| | - Lijuan Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; (C.H.); (P.Z.); (S.S.); (C.N.); (V.P.); (A.F.); (M.F.); (K.K.); (S.O.); (Y.L.)
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Roier S, Mangala Prasad V, McNeal MM, Lee KK, Petsch B, Rauch S. mRNA-based VP8* nanoparticle vaccines against rotavirus are highly immunogenic in rodents. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:190. [PMID: 38129390 PMCID: PMC10739717 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00790-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the availability of live-attenuated oral vaccines, rotavirus remains a major cause of severe childhood diarrhea worldwide. Due to the growing demand for parenteral rotavirus vaccines, we developed mRNA-based vaccine candidates targeting the viral spike protein VP8*. Our monomeric P2 (universal T cell epitope)-VP8* mRNA design is equivalent to a protein vaccine currently in clinical development, while LS (lumazine synthase)-P2-VP8* was designed to form nanoparticles. Cyro-electron microscopy and western blotting-based data presented here suggest that proteins derived from LS-P2-VP8* mRNA are secreted in vitro and self-assemble into 60-mer nanoparticles displaying VP8*. mRNA encoded VP8* was immunogenic in rodents and introduced both humoral and cellular responses. LS-P2-VP8* induced superior humoral responses to P2-VP8* in guinea pigs, both as monovalent and trivalent vaccines, with encouraging responses detected against the most prevalent P genotypes. Overall, our data provide evidence that trivalent LS-P2-VP8* represents a promising mRNA-based next-generation rotavirus vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vidya Mangala Prasad
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Monica M McNeal
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kelly K Lee
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Kumar P, Wang M, Kumru OS, Hickey JM, Sanmiguel J, Zabaleta N, Vandenberghe LH, Joshi SB, Volkin DB. Correlating physicochemical and biological properties to define critical quality attributes of a rAAV vaccine candidate. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 30:103-121. [PMID: 37746246 PMCID: PMC10512015 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.06.004] [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: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) are a preferred vector system in clinical gene transfer. A fundamental challenge to formulate and deliver rAAVs as stable and efficacious vaccines is to elucidate interrelationships between the vector's physicochemical properties and biological potency. To this end, we evaluated an rAAV-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine candidate that encodes the Spike antigen (AC3) and is produced by a commercially viable process. First, state-of-the-art analytical techniques were employed to determine key structural attributes of AC3, including primary and higher-order structures, particle size, empty/full capsid ratios, aggregates, and multi-step thermal degradation pathway analysis. Next, several quantitative potency measures for AC3 were implemented, and data were correlated with the physicochemical analyses on thermally stressed and control samples. Results demonstrate links between decreasing AC3 physical stability profiles, in vitro transduction efficiency in a cell-based assay, and, importantly, in vivo immunogenicity in a mouse model. These findings are discussed in the general context of future development of rAAV-based vaccine candidates as well as specifically for the rAAV vaccine application under study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Michael Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Ozan S. Kumru
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - John M. Hickey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Julio Sanmiguel
- Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Nerea Zabaleta
- Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Luk H. Vandenberghe
- Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Sangeeta B. Joshi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - David B. Volkin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
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Kumar P, Bird C, Holland D, Joshi SB, Volkin DB. Current and next-generation formulation strategies for inactivated polio vaccines to lower costs, increase coverage, and facilitate polio eradication. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2022; 18:2154100. [PMID: 36576132 PMCID: PMC9891683 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2154100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Implementation of inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) containing Sabin strains (sIPV) will further enable global polio eradication efforts by improving vaccine safety during use and containment during manufacturing. Moreover, sIPV-containing vaccines will lower costs and expand production capacity to facilitate more widespread use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This review focuses on the role of vaccine formulation in these efforts including traditional Salk IPV vaccines and new sIPV-containing dosage forms. The physicochemical properties and stability profiles of poliovirus antigens are described. Formulation approaches to lower costs include developing multidose and combination vaccine formats as well as improving storage stability. Formulation strategies for dose-sparing and enhanced mucosal immunity include employing adjuvants (e.g. aluminum-salt and newer adjuvants) and/or novel delivery systems (e.g. ID administration with microneedle patches). The potential for applying these low-cost formulation development strategies to other vaccines to further improve vaccine access and coverage in LMICs is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Christopher Bird
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - David Holland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Sangeeta B. Joshi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - David B. Volkin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA,CONTACT David B. Volkin Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Multidisciplinary Research Building, 2030 Becker Drive, Lawrence, KS66047, USA
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