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Mahdavi R, Shams-Eldin H, Witt S, Latz A, Heinz D, Fresco-Taboada A, Aira C, Hübner MP, Sukyte D, Visekruna A, Teixeira HC, Abass E, Steinhoff U. Development of a Novel Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Lateral Flow Test System for Improved Serodiagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Different Areas of Endemicity. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0433822. [PMID: 37074181 PMCID: PMC10269724 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04338-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania donovani complex and is one of the most prominent vector-borne infectious diseases with epidemic and mortality potential if not correctly diagnosed and treated. East African countries suffer from a very high incidence of VL, and although several diagnostic tests are available for VL, diagnosis continues to represent a big challenge in these countries due to the lack of sensitivity and specificity of current serological tools. Based on bioinformatic analysis, a new recombinant kinesin antigen from Leishmania infantum (rKLi8.3) was developed. The diagnostic performance of rKLi8.3 was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and lateral flow test (LFT) on a panel of sera from Sudanese, Indian, and South American patients diagnosed with VL or other diseases, including tuberculosis, malaria, and trypanosomiasis. The diagnostic accuracy of rKLi8.3 was compared with rK39 and rKLO8 antigens. The VL-specific sensitivity of rK39, rKLO8, and rKLi8.3 ranged from 91.2% over 92.4% to 97.1% and specificity ranged from 93.6% over 97.6% to 99.2%, respectively. In India, all tests showed a comparable specificity of 90.9%, while the sensitivity ranged from 94.7% to 100% (rKLi8.3). In contrast to commercial serodiagnostic tests, rKLi8.3-based ELISA and LFT showed improved sensitivity and no cross-reactivity with other parasitic diseases. Thus, rKLi8.3-based ELISA and LFT offer improved VL serodiagnostic efficiency in East Africa and other areas of endemicity. IMPORTANCE Reliable and field suitable serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in East Africa has until now been a big challenge due to low sensitivity and cross-reactivity with other pathogens. To improve VL serodiagnosis, a new recombinant kinesin antigen from Leishmania infantum (rKLi8.3) was developed and tested with a panel of sera from Sudanese, Indian, and South American patients diagnosed with VL or other infectious diseases. Both prototype rKLi8.3-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and lateral flow test (LFT) showed improved sensitivity and no cross-reactivity with other parasitic diseases. Thus, rKLi8.3-based ELISA and LFT offer substantially increased diagnostic efficiency for VL in East Africa and other areas of endemicity, compared to currently commercially available serodiagnostic tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rouzbeh Mahdavi
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Hosam Shams-Eldin
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Witt
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Latz
- Novatec Immundiagnostica GmbH, part of Gold Standard Diagnostics Europe, Dietzenbach, Germany
| | - Daniela Heinz
- Novatec Immundiagnostica GmbH, part of Gold Standard Diagnostics Europe, Dietzenbach, Germany
| | - Alba Fresco-Taboada
- Eurofins-Immunologia y Genética Aplicada S.A. (Eurofins Ingenasa S.A.), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Aira
- Eurofins-Immunologia y Genética Aplicada S.A. (Eurofins Ingenasa S.A.), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marc P. Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Dalia Sukyte
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Visekruna
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Henrique C. Teixeira
- Department of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil
| | - Elfadil Abass
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ulrich Steinhoff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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2
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Tarigan S, Dharmayanti NLPI, Sugiartanti D, Putri R, Andriani, Nuradji H, Robinson M, Wiendayanthi N, Djufri F. Characterization of two linear epitopes SARS CoV-2 spike protein formulated in tandem repeat. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280627. [PMID: 36662754 PMCID: PMC9857970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The vital roles of diagnostic tools and vaccines are prominent in controlling COVID-19. Spike protein of the SARS CoV-2, specifically the epitopes in that protein, are the critical components of the vaccines and immunological diagnostic tools. Two epitopes in the spike protein, the S14P5 and S21P2, identified previously are of great interest because they are linear and elicit neutralizing antibodies. The present study formulated each epitope in the tandem-repeat structure to increase their immunogenicity and facilitate their production. The tandem repeats (TR) were expressed efficiently in E. coli, yielding 58 mg and 46 mg per liter culture for TR-S14P5 and TR-S212, respectively. ELISA using either one of the repeating epitopes can be used as a serological test to identify individuals infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The area under curves (AUC), based on testing 157 serum samples from COVID-19 patients and 26 from COVID-19-free individuals, were 0.806 and 0.889 for TR-S14P5 and TR-S21P2-based ELISAs, respectively. For 100% diagnostic specificity, the sensitivity was only 70%. The low sensitivity supposedly resulted from some samples being from early infection prior to antibody conversion. Both recombinant epitopes were highly immunogenic in rabbits, and the immune sera recognized inactivated SARS CoV-2 virus in dot-blot assays. These antibodies should be useful as a reagent for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Furthermore, the TR-S14P5 and TR-S21P2, being conserved and denaturation-resistant, are envisaged to be ideal for intra-nasal vaccines, which are required to complement current COVID-19 to overcome rapidly mutated SARS CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simson Tarigan
- Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - N. L. P. Indi Dharmayanti
- Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | | | - Ryandini Putri
- Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Andriani
- Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Harimurti Nuradji
- Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Marthino Robinson
- Bogor Municipality Public Hospital (RSUD Kota Bogor), Bogor, Indonesia
| | | | - Fadjry Djufri
- Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development, Jakarta, Indonesia
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3
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Leal Y, Velazquez J, Hernandez L, Swain JK, Rodríguez AR, Martínez R, García C, Ramos Y, Estrada MP, Carpio Y. Promiscuous T cell epitopes boosts specific IgM immune response against a P0 peptide antigen from sea lice in different teleost species. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 92:322-330. [PMID: 31200071 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2019.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The development of vaccines employing conserved protein antigens, for instance ribosomal protein P0, has as disadvantage the high degree of identity between pathogen and host proteins due to possible induction of tolerance or auto antibodies in the host organism. To overcome this drawback, peptide-based vaccines have been designed with a proved high efficacy. The use of defined peptides as antigens has the problem that they are generally poor immunogenic unless coupled to a carrier protein. Several studies have established the potential for promiscuous T cell epitopes incorporated into chimeric peptides to enhance the immunogenicity in mammals. On the contrary, studies about the role of these epitopes on teleost immune system are scarce. Therefore, the main objective of our present study was to evaluate the potential of promiscuous T cell epitopes to boost specific IgM immune response in teleost fish against a peptide antigen. With this aim, we used a peptide of 35 amino acids from the ribosomal P0 protein of Lepeophtheirus salmonis, an important parasite in salmon aquaculture. We fused this peptide to the C-terminal of T cell epitopes from tetanus toxin and measles virus and produced the chimeric protein in Escherichia coli. Following vaccination, IgM antibody production was monitored in different immunization schemes in Tilapia, African catfish and Atlantic salmon. The results demonstrated for first time that the addition of T cell epitopes at the N-terminal of a target peptide increased IgM specific response in different teleost species, revealing the potential of this approach to develop peptide-based vaccines for aquaculture. The results are also of great importance in the context of vaccine development against sea lice using ribosomal protein P0 as antigen taking into account the key role of P0 in protein synthesis and other essential physiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeny Leal
- Animal Biotechnology Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Janet Velazquez
- Animal Biotechnology Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Liz Hernandez
- Animal Biotechnology Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Jaya Kumari Swain
- NOFIMA, Tromso, Norway; Fish Immunology and Vaccinology Research Group, Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromso, Norway
| | | | - Rebeca Martínez
- Animal Biotechnology Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Claudia García
- Animal Biotechnology Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Yassel Ramos
- Physico-Chemistry Department, CIGB, Havana, Cuba
| | - Mario Pablo Estrada
- Animal Biotechnology Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba.
| | - Yamila Carpio
- Animal Biotechnology Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba.
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Ong HK, Tan WS, Ho KL. Virus like particles as a platform for cancer vaccine development. PeerJ 2017; 5:e4053. [PMID: 29158984 PMCID: PMC5694210 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancers have killed millions of people in human history and are still posing a serious health problem worldwide. Therefore, there is an urgent need for developing preventive and therapeutic cancer vaccines. Among various cancer vaccine development platforms, virus-like particles (VLPs) offer several advantages. VLPs are multimeric nanostructures with morphology resembling that of native viruses and are mainly composed of surface structural proteins of viruses but are devoid of viral genetic materials rendering them neither infective nor replicative. In addition, they can be engineered to display multiple, highly ordered heterologous epitopes or peptides in order to optimize the antigenicity and immunogenicity of the displayed entities. Like native viruses, specific epitopes displayed on VLPs can be taken up, processed, and presented by antigen-presenting cells to elicit potent specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Several studies also indicated that VLPs could overcome the immunosuppressive state of the tumor microenvironment and break self-tolerance to elicit strong cytotoxic lymphocyte activity, which is crucial for both virus clearance and destruction of cancerous cells. Collectively, these unique characteristics of VLPs make them optimal cancer vaccine candidates. This review discusses current progress in the development of VLP-based cancer vaccines and some potential drawbacks of VLPs in cancer vaccine development. Extracellular vesicles with close resembling to viral particles are also discussed and compared with VLPs as a platform in cancer vaccine developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Kian Ong
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Wen Siang Tan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kok Lian Ho
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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5
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Wijkhuisen A, Savatier A, Cordeiro N, Léonetti M. Production of antigen-specific human IgGs by in vitro immunization. BMC Biotechnol 2016; 16:22. [PMID: 26911296 PMCID: PMC4765159 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-016-0253-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We previously developed in vitro immunization based on a fusion protein containing the transcriptional transactivator (Tat) of human immunodeficiency virus and a double domain, called ZZ, derived from protein A of Staphylococcus aureus. In this approach, naïve human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) trigger a specific IgM antibody (Ab) response in the presence of ZZTat. In the present study, we attempted to raise a specific IgG Ab response. Results We found that PBMCs incubated with ZZTat and a mixture containing anti-CD40, IL4 and IL21 secrete anti-Tat IgG Abs in their supernatants, indicating that the cytokine cocktail provides an isotypic switch. Then, we deciphered the Tat determinant involved in the phenomenon and found that it is located in the region 22–57 and that, within this region, the cysteine-rich domain and the basic residues play a crucial role. Finally, we prepared a fusion protein containing a fragment derived from the NY-ESO-1 cancer/testis antigen (Ag) and showed that PBMCs incubated with ZZfNY-ESO-1Tat trigger a specific anti-fNY-ESO-1 IgG Ab response, which demonstrates the possibility of transferring immunizing ability to an Ag unrelated to Tat. Conclusion Our ZZTat-based in vitro immunization approach that offers the possibility to raise an IgG Ab response against NY-ESO-1 might represent a valuable first stage for the generation of fully human IgG specific Abs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Wijkhuisen
- University of Paris Diderot, Paris, France. .,CEA, Institut de Biologie et de Technologie de Saclay (iBiTec-S), Service de Pharmacologie et d'Immunoanalyse (SPI), 91191, Gif sur Yvette, France.
| | - A Savatier
- CEA, Institut de Biologie et de Technologie de Saclay (iBiTec-S), Service de Pharmacologie et d'Immunoanalyse (SPI), 91191, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - N Cordeiro
- CEA, Institut de Biologie et de Technologie de Saclay (iBiTec-S), Service de Pharmacologie et d'Immunoanalyse (SPI), 91191, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - M Léonetti
- CEA, Institut de Biologie et de Technologie de Saclay (iBiTec-S), Service de Pharmacologie et d'Immunoanalyse (SPI), 91191, Gif sur Yvette, France
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Induction of Multifunctional Broadly Reactive T Cell Responses by a Plasmodium vivax Circumsporozoite Protein Recombinant Chimera. Infect Immun 2015; 83:3749-61. [PMID: 26169267 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00480-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread species of Plasmodium, causing up to 50% of the malaria cases occurring outside sub-Saharan Africa. An effective vaccine is essential for successful control and potential eradication. A well-characterized vaccine candidate is the circumsporozoite protein (CSP). Preclinical and clinical trials have shown that both antibodies and cellular immune responses have been correlated with protection induced by immunization with CSP. On the basis of our reported approach of developing chimeric Plasmodium yoelii proteins to enhance protective efficacy, we designed PvRMC-CSP, a recombinant chimeric protein based on the P. vivax CSP (PvCSP). In this engineered protein, regions of the PvCSP predicted to contain human T cell epitopes were genetically fused to an immunodominant B cell epitope derived from the N-terminal region I and to repeat sequences representing the two types of PvCSP repeats. The chimeric protein was expressed in soluble form with high yield. As the immune response to PvCSP has been reported to be genetically restricted in the murine model, we tested the immunogenicity of PvRMC-CSP in groups of six inbred strains of mice. PvRMC-CSP was able to induce robust antibody responses in all the mouse strains tested. Synthetic peptides representing the allelic forms of the P. vivax CSP were also recognized to a similar extent regardless of the mouse strain. Furthermore, the immunization regimen induced high frequencies of multifunctional CD4(+) and CD8(+) PvRMC-CSP-specific T cells. The depth and breadth of the immune responses elicited suggest that immunization with PvRMC-CSP can circumvent the genetic restriction of the immune response to P. vivax CSP. Interestingly, PvRMC-CSP was also recognized by naturally acquired antibodies from individuals living in areas where malaria is endemic. These features make PvRMC-CSP a promising vaccine candidate for further development.
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7
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Percival-Alwyn JL, England E, Kemp B, Rapley L, Davis NHE, McCarthy GR, Majithiya JB, Corkill DJ, Welsted S, Minton K, Cohen ES, Robinson MJ, Dobson C, Wilkinson TCI, Vaughan TJ, Groves MAT, Tigue NJ. Generation of potent mouse monoclonal antibodies to self-proteins using T-cell epitope "tags". MAbs 2015; 7:129-37. [PMID: 25523454 PMCID: PMC4622073 DOI: 10.4161/19420862.2014.985489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Revised: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunization of mice or rats with a "non-self" protein is a commonly used method to obtain monoclonal antibodies, and relies on the immune system's ability to recognize the immunogen as foreign. Immunization of an antigen with 100% identity to the endogenous protein, however, will not elicit a robust immune response. To develop antibodies to mouse proteins, we focused on the potential for breaking such immune tolerance by genetically fusing two independent T-cell epitope-containing sequences (from tetanus toxin (TT) and diphtheria toxin fragment A (DTA)) to a mouse protein, mouse ST2 (mST2). Wild-type CD1 mice were immunized with three mST2 tagged proteins (Fc, TT and DTA) and the specific serum response was determined. Only in mice immunized with the T-cell epitope-containing antigens were specific mST2 serum responses detected; hybridomas generated from these mice secreted highly sequence-diverse IgGs that were capable of binding mST2 and inhibiting the interaction of mST2 with its ligand, mouse interleukin (IL)-33 (mIL-33). Of the hundreds of antibodies profiled, we identified five potent antibodies that were able to inhibit IL-33 induced IL-6 release in a mast cell assay; notably one such antibody was sufficiently potent to suppress IL-5 release and eosinophilia infiltration in an Alternaria alternata challenge mouse model of asthma. This study demonstrated, for the first time, that T-cell epitope-containing tags have the ability to break tolerance in wild-type mice to 100% conserved proteins, and it provides a compelling argument for the broader use of this approach to generate antibodies against any mouse protein or conserved ortholog.
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Key Words
- APC, antigen presenting cells
- Antibody generation
- CDR, complementarity determining region
- CHO, Chinese hamster ovary
- DMEM, dulbecco's modified eagles' medium
- DTA, diphtheria toxin
- ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- HLA, human leukocyte antigen
- HTRF, homogenous time-resolved fluorescence
- IL, interleukin
- ILC2, type 2 innate lymphoid cells
- IgG, immunoglobulin G
- MHC, major histocompatibility complex
- PADRE, pan HLA-DR-binding T cell epitope
- SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
- SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus
- T-cell epitopes
- TCR, T cell receptor
- TT, tetanus tosxin
- VH, variable region of immunoglobulin heavy chain
- VL, variable region of immunoglobulin light chain
- diphtheria toxin
- hybridoma
- immunological tolerance
- mST2, mouse ST2
- mouse ST2
- tetanus toxin
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived/immunology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived/pharmacology
- Antibody Specificity
- Asthma/drug therapy
- Asthma/immunology
- Asthma/pathology
- Cell Line, Transformed
- Diphtheria Toxin/chemistry
- Diphtheria Toxin/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Female
- Humans
- Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Rats
- Receptors, Interleukin/chemistry
- Receptors, Interleukin/immunology
- Tetanus Toxin/chemistry
- Tetanus Toxin/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth England
- Department of Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - Benjamin Kemp
- Department of Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - Laura Rapley
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - Nicola HE Davis
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - Grant R McCarthy
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - Jayesh B Majithiya
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - Dominic J Corkill
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - Sarah Welsted
- Department of Biological Sciences; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - Kevin Minton
- Department of Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - E Suzanne Cohen
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - Matthew J Robinson
- Department of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - Claire Dobson
- Department of Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - Trevor CI Wilkinson
- Department of Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - Tristan J Vaughan
- Department of Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - Maria AT Groves
- Department of Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
| | - Natalie J Tigue
- Department of Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering; MedImmune Ltd.; Abington, UK
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Combinatorial contextualization of peptidic epitopes for enhanced cellular immunity. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110425. [PMID: 25343355 PMCID: PMC4208766 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Invocation of cellular immunity by epitopic peptides remains largely dependent on empirically developed protocols, such as interfusion of aluminum salts or emulsification using terpenoids and surfactants. To explore novel vaccine formulation, epitopic peptide motifs were co-programmed with structural motifs to produce artificial antigens using our “motif-programming” approach. As a proof of concept, we used an ovalbumin (OVA) system and prepared an artificial protein library by combinatorially polymerizing MHC class I and II sequences from OVA along with a sequence that tends to form secondary structures. The purified endotoxin-free proteins were then examined for their ability to activate OVA-specific T-cell hybridoma cells after being processed within dendritic cells. One clone, F37A (containing three MHC I and two MHC II OVA epitopes), possessed a greater ability to evoke cellular immunity than the native OVA or the other artificial antigens. The sensitivity profiles of drugs that interfered with the F37A uptake differed from those of the other artificial proteins and OVA, suggesting that alteration of the cross-presentation pathway is responsible for the enhanced immunogenicity. Moreover, F37A, but not an epitopic peptide, invoked cellular immunity when injected together with monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), and retarded tumor growth in mice. Thus, an artificially synthesized protein antigen induced cellular immunity in vivo in the absence of incomplete Freund's adjuvant or aluminum salts. The method described here could be potentially used for developing vaccines for such intractable ailments as AIDS, malaria and cancer, ailments in which cellular immunity likely play a crucial role in prevention and treatment.
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Ait Mebarek M, Wijkhuisen A, Adel-Patient K, Lamourette P, Léonetti M, Volland H. Production of human antibodies by in vitro immunization using a fusion protein containing the transcriptional transactivator of HIV-1. J Immunol Methods 2013; 396:96-106. [PMID: 23954270 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2013.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2012] [Revised: 07/29/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Antigen-specific activation of human B cells represents a key step for the production of monoclonal antibodies. Several approaches have been developed over the last thirty years in order to improve the process of lymphocyte activation in vitro. In the present study, we investigated whether the transcriptional transactivator (Tat) of human immunodeficiency virus, which possesses numerous biological activities, is able to trigger antibody secretion when incubated with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. No such effect was observed when using Tat as a free protein. However, we found a significant IgM antibody production when Tat was previously fused to a double domain, called ZZ, derived from protein A of Staphylococcus aureus. The effect was also observed when the fusion protein, called ZZTat101, was incubated with purified B cells, indicating that the phenomenon does not require T-cell help. Antibody secretion was observed in the absence of cytokines that are usually used during in vitro immunization experiments, indicating that ZZTat101 provides the signals required for the initiation of the immune response. Antibody secretion was observed using a ZZTat mutant, containing only the Tat residues 22 to 57, called ZZTat22-57, indicating that this region is sufficient to initiate the immune response. In contrast, the effect was not found with a ZZTat22-57 mutant devoid of the seven Tat cysteines located between residues 22 and 37, demonstrating that these residues play a crucial role in the phenomenon. Our results pave the way to the development of a new in vitro immunization method based on antigens associated with ZZTat.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ait Mebarek
- CEA, Institut de Biologie et de Technologie de Saclay (iBiTec-S), Service de Pharmacologie et d'immunoanalyse (SPI), 91191 Gif sur Yvette, France
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10
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Chuan YP, Rivera-Hernandez T, Wibowo N, Connors NK, Wu Y, Hughes FK, Lua LHL, Middelberg APJ. Effects of pre-existing anti-carrier immunity and antigenic element multiplicity on efficacy of a modular virus-like particle vaccine. Biotechnol Bioeng 2013; 110:2343-51. [PMID: 23532896 DOI: 10.1002/bit.24907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2012] [Revised: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Modularization of a peptide antigen for presentation on a microbially synthesized murine polyomavirus (MuPyV) virus-like particle (VLP) offers a new alternative for rapid and low-cost vaccine delivery at a global scale. In this approach, heterologous modules containing peptide antigenic elements are fused to and displayed on the VLP carrier, allowing enhancement of peptide immunogenicity via ordered and densely repeated presentation of the modules. This study addresses two key engineering questions pertaining to this platform, exploring the effects of (i) pre-existing carrier-specific immunity on modular VLP vaccine effectiveness and (ii) increase in the antigenic element number per VLP on peptide-specific immune response. These effects were studied in a mouse model and with modular MuPyV VLPs presenting a group A streptococcus (GAS) peptide antigen, J8i. The data presented here demonstrate that immunization with a modular VLP could induce high levels of J8i-specific antibodies despite a strong pre-existing anti-carrier immune response. Doubling of the J8i antigenic element number per VLP did not enhance J8i immunogenicity at a constant peptide dose. However, the strategy, when used in conjunction with increased VLP dose, could effectively increase the peptide dose up to 10-fold, leading to a significantly higher J8i-specific antibody titer. This study further supports feasibility of the MuPyV modular VLP vaccine platform by showing that, in the absence of adjuvant, modularized GAS antigenic peptide at a dose as low as 150 ng was sufficient to raise a high level of peptide-specific IgGs indicative of bactericidal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yap P Chuan
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Centre for Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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11
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Diagnostic peptide discovery: prioritization of pathogen diagnostic markers using multiple features. PLoS One 2012; 7:e50748. [PMID: 23272069 PMCID: PMC3522711 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2012] [Accepted: 10/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The availability of complete pathogen genomes has renewed interest in the development of diagnostics for infectious diseases. Synthetic peptide microarrays provide a rapid, high-throughput platform for immunological testing of potential B-cell epitopes. However, their current capacity prevent the experimental screening of complete “peptidomes”. Therefore, computational approaches for prediction and/or prioritization of diagnostically relevant peptides are required. In this work we describe a computational method to assess a defined set of molecular properties for each potential diagnostic target in a reference genome. Properties such as sub-cellular localization or expression level were evaluated for the whole protein. At a higher resolution (short peptides), we assessed a set of local properties, such as repetitive motifs, disorder (structured vs natively unstructured regions), trans-membrane spans, genetic polymorphisms (conserved vs. divergent regions), predicted B-cell epitopes, and sequence similarity against human proteins and other potential cross-reacting species (e.g. other pathogens endemic in overlapping geographical locations). A scoring function based on these different features was developed, and used to rank all peptides from a large eukaryotic pathogen proteome. We applied this method to the identification of candidate diagnostic peptides in the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. We measured the performance of the method by analyzing the enrichment of validated antigens in the high-scoring top of the ranking. Based on this measure, our integrative method outperformed alternative prioritizations based on individual properties (such as B-cell epitope predictors alone). Using this method we ranked 10 million 12-mer overlapping peptides derived from the complete T. cruzi proteome. Experimental screening of 190 high-scoring peptides allowed the identification of 37 novel epitopes with diagnostic potential, while none of the low scoring peptides showed significant reactivity. Many of the metrics employed are dependent on standard bioinformatic tools and data, so the method can be easily extended to other pathogen genomes.
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12
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Li R, Lim A, Ow ST, Phoon MC, Locht C, Chow VT, Alonso S. Development of live attenuated Bordetella pertussis strains expressing the universal influenza vaccine candidate M2e. Vaccine 2011; 29:5502-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.05.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2011] [Revised: 05/11/2011] [Accepted: 05/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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13
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Vaccination with a potent DNA vaccine targeting B-cell epitopes of hGRP induces prophylactic and therapeutic antitumor activity in vivo. Gene Ther 2010; 17:459-68. [DOI: 10.1038/gt.2009.165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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14
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Yu JR, Kim S, Lee JB, Chang J. Single intranasal immunization with recombinant adenovirus-based vaccine induces protective immunity against respiratory syncytial virus infection. J Virol 2008; 82:2350-7. [PMID: 18094185 PMCID: PMC2258907 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02372-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2007] [Accepted: 12/06/2007] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe lower respiratory tract disease in infancy and early childhood. Despite its importance as a pathogen, there is no licensed vaccine against RSV. The G glycoprotein of RSV, a major attachment protein, is a potentially important target for protective antiviral immune responses. Here, a recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus-based vaccine, rAd/3xG, expressing the soluble core domain of G glycoprotein (amino acids 130 to 230) engineered by codon optimization and tandem repetition for higher-level expression, was constructed and evaluated for its potential as an RSV vaccine in a murine model. A single intranasal immunization with rAd/3xG provided potent protection against RSV challenge which lasted for more than 10 weeks. Strong mucosal immunoglobulin A responses were also induced by a single intranasal immunization but not by intramuscular or oral administration of rAd/3xG. Interestingly, neither gamma interferon- nor interleukin-4-producing CD4 T cells directed to I-E(d)-restricted epitope were detected in the lungs of rAd/3xG-immune mice upon challenge, whereas priming with vaccinia virus expressing RSV G (vvG) elicited strong Th1/Th2 mixed CD4 T-cell responses. Lung eosinophilia and vaccine-induced weight loss were significantly lower in the rAd/3xG-immune group than in the vvG-primed group. Together, our data demonstrate that a single intranasal administration of rAd/3xG elicits beneficial protective immunity and represents a promising vaccine regimen against RSV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Rang Yu
- College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, 11-1 Dae-Hyun Dong, Seo-Dae-Mun Gu, Seoul 120-750, Korea
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15
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CTA1-M2e-DD: a novel mucosal adjuvant targeted influenza vaccine. Vaccine 2008; 26:1243-52. [PMID: 18243429 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2007] [Revised: 11/23/2007] [Accepted: 12/16/2007] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
At present few vaccine candidates exists against potentially pandemic influenza virus infections. We provide compelling evidence that a targeted fusion protein based on the CTA1-DD adjuvant and containing tandem repeats of the matrix protein 2 (M2e) ectodomain epitope, CTA1-3M2e-DD, confers strong protective immunity against a potentially lethal challenge infection with influenza virus in mice. The formulation was highly effective for mucosal immunizations and promoted high M2e-specific serum IgG and mucosal IgA antibody titers and an hitherto unknown anti-M2e CD4 T cell immunity. This novel CTA1-3M2e-DD fusion protein combines adjuvant and a conserved influenza A antigen in a promising candidate for a universal anti-influenza vaccine.
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16
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Hardy CM, Beaton S, Hinds LA. Immunocontraception in mice using repeated, multi-antigen peptides: immunization with purified recombinant antigens. Mol Reprod Dev 2007; 75:126-35. [PMID: 17474093 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Two immunocontraceptive antigens (AgE and AgF) were constructed that included different combinations of highly species-specific peptides from the mouse reproductive antigens SP56, ZP3, ZP2, and ZP1 in the form of multi-antigen peptides (MAPs). Both AgE and AgF contained three tandem repeats each of ZP2 and ZP3 peptide epitopes and a single copy of a ZP1 peptide sequence all of which had previously been demonstrated to individually have immunodominant or contraceptive effects. In addition, AgF contained a single contraceptive peptide derived from SP56, the putative ZP3 receptor protein on sperm. The antigens were expressed and affinity purified as recombinant repeated multi-antigen (polyepitope) peptides using an Escherichia coli maltose binding protein (MBP) expression system. Female BALB/c mice actively immunized with these antigens in Freund's adjuvants produced variable serum antibody responses to the component peptides. Fertility rates for animals immunized with AgE (40%) and AgF (20%) were significantly reduced compared to MBP immunized mice (90%), but the reduction in fertility did not correlate with peptide-specific serum antibody levels. Ovaries from all immunized mice appeared histologically normal with no evidence of oophoritis. These results demonstrate that high levels of immunocontraception can be achieved in mice, without apparent side-effects, using species-specific immunogens that include repeated peptides from proteins involved in fertilization.
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17
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Earnhart CG, Buckles EL, Marconi RT. Development of an OspC-based tetravalent, recombinant, chimeric vaccinogen that elicits bactericidal antibody against diverse Lyme disease spirochete strains. Vaccine 2006; 25:466-80. [PMID: 16996663 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.07.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2006] [Revised: 07/18/2006] [Accepted: 07/25/2006] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most common arthropod-borne disease in North America and Europe. At present, there is no commercially available vaccine for use in humans. Outer surface protein C (OspC) has antigenic and expression characteristics that make it an attractive vaccine candidate; however, sequence heterogeneity has impeded its use as a vaccinogen. Sequence analyses have identified 21 well defined OspC phyletic groups or "types" (designated A-U). In this report we have mapped the linear epitopes presented by OspC types B, K, and D during human and murine infection and exploited these epitopes (along with the previously identified type A OspC linear epitopes) in the development of a recombinant, tetravalent, chimeric vaccinogen. The construct was found to be highly immunogenic in mice and the induced antibodies surface labeled in vitro cultivated spirochetes. Importantly, vaccination induced complement-dependent bactericidal antibodies against strains expressing each of the OspC types that were incorporated into the construct. These results suggest that an effective and broadly protective polyvalent OspC-based Lyme disease vaccine can be produced as a recombinant, chimeric protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher G Earnhart
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0678, USA
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18
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McConnell MJ, Danthinne X, Imperiale MJ. Characterization of a permissive epitope insertion site in adenovirus hexon. J Virol 2006; 80:5361-70. [PMID: 16699016 PMCID: PMC1472126 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00256-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2006] [Accepted: 03/16/2006] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
A robust immune response is generated against components of the adenovirus capsid. In particular, a potent and long-lived humoral response is elicited against the hexon protein. This is due to the efficient presentation of adenovirus capsid proteins to CD4+ T cells by antigen-presenting cells, in addition to the highly repetitive structure of the adenovirus capsids, which can efficiently stimulate B-cell proliferation. In the present study, we take advantage of this immune response by inserting epitopes against which an antibody response is desired into the adenovirus hexon. We use a B-cell epitope from Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (PA) as a model antigen to characterize hypervariable region 5 (HVR5) of hexon as a site for peptide insertion. We demonstrate that HVR5 can accommodate a peptide of up to 36 amino acids without adversely affecting virus infectivity, growth, or stability. Viruses containing chimeric hexons elicited antibodies against PA in mice, with total immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers reaching approximately 1 x 10(3) after two injections. The antibody response contained both IgG1 and IgG2a subtypes, suggesting that Th1 and Th2 immunity had been stimulated. Coinjection of wild-type adenovirus and a synthetic peptide from PA produced no detectable antibodies, indicating that incorporation of the epitope into the capsid was crucial for immune stimulation. Together, these results indicate that the adenovirus capsid is an efficient vehicle for presenting B-cell epitopes to the immune system, making this a useful approach for the design of epitope-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J McConnell
- University of Michigan Medical School, 6304 Cancer Center, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0942, USA
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19
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Yankai Z, Rong Y, Yi H, Wentao L, Rongyue C, Ming Y, Taiming L, Jingjing L, Jie W. Ten tandem repeats of beta-hCG 109-118 enhance immunogenicity and anti-tumor effects of beta-hCG C-terminal peptide carried by mycobacterial heat-shock protein HSP65. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2006; 345:1365-71. [PMID: 16725110 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2006] [Accepted: 05/02/2006] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) is secreted by many kinds of tumors and it has been used as an ideal target antigen to develop vaccines against tumors. In view of the low immunogenicity of this self-peptide,we designed a method based on isocaudamer technique to repeat tandemly the 10-residue sequence X of beta-hCG (109-118), then 10 tandemly repeated copies of the 10-residue sequence combined with beta-hCG C-terminal 37 peptides were fused to mycobacterial heat-shock protein 65 to construct a fusion protein HSP65-X10-betahCGCTP37 as an immunogen. In this study, we examined the effect of the tandem repeats of this 10-residue sequence in eliciting an immune by comparing the immunogenicity and anti-tumor effects of the two immunogens, HSP65-X10-betahCGCTP37 and HSP65-betahCGCTP37 (without the 10 tandem repeats). Immunization of mice with the fusion protein HSP65-X10-betahCGCTP37 elicited much higher levels of specific anti-beta-hCG antibodies and more effectively inhibited the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) in vivo than with HSP65-betahCGCTP37, which should suggest that HSP65-X10-betahCGCTP37 may be an effective protein vaccine for the treatment of beta-hCG-dependent tumors and multiple tandem repeats of a certain epitope are an efficient method to overcome the low immunogenicity of self-peptide antigens.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antibody Specificity/immunology
- Bacterial Proteins/genetics
- Bacterial Proteins/immunology
- Blotting, Western
- Cancer Vaccines/genetics
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Cancer Vaccines/therapeutic use
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/immunology
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/pathology
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/prevention & control
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Chaperonin 60
- Chaperonins/genetics
- Chaperonins/immunology
- Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human/chemistry
- Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human/genetics
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Peptide Fragments/genetics
- Peptide Fragments/immunology
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology
- Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid/genetics
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
- Vaccination/methods
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Yankai
- Minigene Pharmacy Laboratory, Biopharmaceutical College, China Pharmaceutical University, Tongjia Xiang 24, Nanjing, PR China
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20
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Aguilar A, Carrazana Y, Duarte CA. Impact of epitope permutations in the antibody response of mice to a multi-epitope polypeptide of the V3 loop of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING 2001; 18:117-24. [PMID: 11566603 DOI: 10.1016/s1389-0344(01)00092-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Our group have produced in Escherichia coli and evaluated the immunogenicity of different multi-epitope polypeptides (MEPs) bearing one copy of V3 loop sequential B cell epitopes from several isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120. One of these MEPs called TAB9 comprises the 15 central amino acids of the V3 loop from isolates LR150, JY1, RF, MN, BRVA and IIIB in this order. Antibodies against all V3 regions were elicited after immunization of rabbits, macaques and humans with TAB9. In contrast, mice immunized with this protein only developed antibodies against epitopes JY1, LR150 and MN in that order (JY1>LR150>MN>>>RF, BRVA, IIIB) resembling an immunodominant gradient from the N-terminus to the C-terminal portion of this construction. To assess what role the location of the V3 epitopes in TAB9 could play, we constructed the protein TAB16, by altering the position of V3 epitopes in TAB9 primary structure and compared the pattern of antibodies elicited by both MEPs in H-2(d) Balb/c mice. The MEP TAB16 elicited antibody titers comparable to that of the sera from mice immunized with TAB9. There were no statistical differences in antibody titers between both groups (P>0.05). JY1, LR150 and MN V3 epitopes were again immunodominant in mice immunized with TAB16 fusion protein. The highest antibody titers detected in both groups among V3 epitopes corresponded to JY1, now located at the C-terminus of the permuted chimera. Antibodies against V3 epitopes RF, BRVA and IIIB were again not detected. Additionally, the MN V3 epitope showed to be significantly more immunogenic in its new orientation in TAB16, possibly as a result of a higher degree of accessibility in the surface of the protein. The results of the present investigation strongly suggest that the sequential order or the intramolecular position of V3 epitopes inside the primary structure of TAB9 and TAB16 MEPs does not interfere with the global immunogenicity or with the hierarchy of immunodominance of these regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Aguilar
- Departamento de SIDA, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología, Apdo 6162, Cubanacán, Playa, 10600, Havana, Cuba
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21
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Kuzyk MA, Burian J, Machander D, Dolhaine D, Cameron S, Thornton JC, Kay WW. An efficacious recombinant subunit vaccine against the salmonid rickettsial pathogen Piscirickettsia salmonis. Vaccine 2001; 19:2337-44. [PMID: 11257358 DOI: 10.1016/s0264-410x(00)00524-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Piscirickettsia salmonis is the aetiological agent of salmonid rickettsial septicaemia, an economically devastating rickettsial disease of farmed salmonids. Infected salmonids respond poorly to antibiotic treatment and no effective vaccine is available for the control of P. salmonis. Bacterin preparations of P. salmonis were found to elicit a dose-dependent response in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), which varied from inadequate protection to exacerbation of the disease. However, an outer surface lipoprotein of P. salmonis, OspA, recombinantly produced in Escherichia coli elicited a high level of protection in vaccinated coho salmon with a relative percent survival as high as 59% for this single antigen. In an effort to further improve the efficacy of the OspA recombinant vaccine, T cell epitopes (TCE's) from tetanus toxin and measles virus fusion protein, that are universally immunogenic in mammalian immune systems, were incorporated tandemly into an OspA fusion protein. Addition of these TCE's dramatically enhanced the efficacy of the OspA vaccine, reflected by a three-fold increase in vaccine efficacy. These results represent a highly effective monovalent recombinant subunit vaccine for a rickettsia-like pathogen, P. salmonis, and for the first time demonstrate the immunostimulatory effect of mammalian TCE's in the salmonid immune model. These results may also be particularly pertinent to salmonid aquaculture in which the various subspecies are outbred and of heterologous haplotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Kuzyk
- Canadian Bacterial Diseases Network, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, PO Box 3055, British Columbia V8W 3P6, Victoria, Canada
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22
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Theisen DM, Bouche FB, El Kasmi KC, von der Ahe I, Ammerlaan W, Demotz S, Muller CP. Differential antigenicity of recombinant polyepitope-antigens based on loop- and helix-forming B and T cell epitopes. J Immunol Methods 2000; 242:145-57. [PMID: 10986397 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-1759(00)00197-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
To investigate a strategy for the design of chimeric antigens based on B cell epitopes (BCEs) we have genetically recombined multiple copies of loop- (L) and helix-forming (H) sequential and protective BCEs of the measles virus hemagglutinin protein (MVH) in a number of high-molecular-weight polyepitope constructs (24.5-45.5 kDa). The BCE cassettes were combined semi-randomly together with a promiscuous T cell epitope (TCE; tt830-844) to yield 13 different permutational constructs. When expressed in mammalian cells, all constructs were detectable by Western blot as distinct bands of predicted molecular weight. Flow cytometry with conformation-specific antibodies revealed the Cys-loop in two [(L(4)T(4))(2) and (L(2)T(2))(4)] and the helix conformation in one [(H(2)T(2))(4)] of the different permutational constructs. The larger constructs, containing 16 epitope cassettes, seemed more likely to express the BCEs in their native conformation than the 8-mers. In the T cell proliferation assay, constructs with a higher copy number of TCEs, such as (L(2)T(2))(4), were more antigenic, as long as tandem repeats were separated by spacers. Since the conformation of even sequential BCEs and the processing of TCEs are both sensitive to their molecular environment it is difficult to predict the antigenic properties of polyepitopes. However, with the permutational approach we have developed several polyepitope constructs [(L(4)T(4))(2), (L(2)T(2))(4), (H(2)T(2))(4)] based on complex sequential BCEs that are antigenic for both T and B cells. Several constructs induced sera that reacted with reporter peptides, demonstrating that the sequential nature of the viral epitopes was conserved in the polyepitopes. Although several sera contained antibodies directed against amino acids critical for neutralization, only one construct induced antibodies that cross-reacted with the virus. Our results show the difficulty of designing chimeric antigens based on B cell epitopes mimicking their antigenic and immunologic properties even when these are sequential in nature.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antigens, Viral/biosynthesis
- Antigens, Viral/chemistry
- Antigens, Viral/genetics
- Antigens, Viral/immunology
- Cell Line
- Cricetinae
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/biosynthesis
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/biosynthesis
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Gene Expression
- Hemagglutinins, Viral/biosynthesis
- Hemagglutinins, Viral/chemistry
- Hemagglutinins, Viral/genetics
- Hemagglutinins, Viral/immunology
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Peptides/chemistry
- Peptides/genetics
- Peptides/immunology
- Protein Conformation
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Theisen
- Department of Immunology and WHO Collaborating Center for Measles, Laboratoire National de Santé, B.P. 1102, L-1011 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
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23
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Colmenero P, Liljeström P, Jondal M. Induction of P815 tumor immunity by recombinant Semliki Forest virus expressing the P1A gene. Gene Ther 1999; 6:1728-33. [PMID: 10516722 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3301004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The methylcholantrene-induced P815 mastocytoma tumor is derived from DBA/2 mice and expresses a weak tumor rejection antigen, P815A. The P1A gene, which encodes for the P815A antigen, is silent in most normal tissues with the exception of testis and placenta. These characteristics make P815 an interesting mouse model for the human MAGE-type tumor antigens. Recombinant Semliki Forest virus particles (rSFV) were constructed that expressed variants of the P815 antigen. Such particles, when used for vaccination, express the antigen only transiently since the viral vector is incapable of productive replication. Nevertheless, mice vaccinated with rSFV generated strong CTL responses and were protected against P815 tumor challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Colmenero
- Microbiology and Tumorbiology Center, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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24
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Liljeqvist S, Ståhl S. Production of recombinant subunit vaccines: protein immunogens, live delivery systems and nucleic acid vaccines. J Biotechnol 1999; 73:1-33. [PMID: 10483112 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-1656(99)00107-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The first scientific attempts to control an infectious disease can be attributed to Edward Jenner, who, in 1796 inoculated an 8-year-old boy with cowpox (vaccinia), giving the boy protection against subsequent challenge with virulent smallpox. Thanks to the successful development of vaccines, many major diseases, such as diphtheria, poliomyelitis and measles, are nowadays kept under control, and in the case of smallpox, the dream of eradication has been fulfilled. Yet, there is a growing need for improvements of existing vaccines in terms of increased efficacy and improved safety, besides the development of completely new vaccines. Better technological possibilities, combined with increased knowledge in related fields, such as immunology and molecular biology, allow for new vaccination strategies. Besides the classical whole-cell vaccines, consisting of killed or attenuated pathogens, new vaccines based on the subunit principle, have been developed, e.g. the Hepatitis B surface protein vaccine and the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine. Recombinant techniques are now dominating in the strive for an ideal vaccine, being safe and cheap, heat-stable and easy to administer, preferably single-dose, and capable of inducing broad immune response with life-long memory both in adults and in infants. This review will describe different recombinant approaches used in the development of novel subunit vaccines, including design and production of protein immunogens, the development of live delivery systems and the state-of-the-art for nucleic acids vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Liljeqvist
- Department of Biotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden
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25
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Lobell A, Weissert R, Storch MK, Svanholm C, de Graaf KL, Lassmann H, Andersson R, Olsson T, Wigzell H. Vaccination with DNA encoding an immunodominant myelin basic protein peptide targeted to Fc of immunoglobulin G suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Exp Med 1998; 187:1543-8. [PMID: 9565646 PMCID: PMC2212261 DOI: 10.1084/jem.187.9.1543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We explore here if vaccination with DNA encoding an autoantigenic peptide can suppress autoimmune disease. For this purpose we used experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), which is an autoaggressive disease in the central nervous system and an animal model for multiple sclerosis. Lewis rats were vaccinated with DNA encoding an encephalitogenic T cell epitope, guinea pig myelin basic protein peptide 68-85 (MBP68-85), before induction of EAE with MBP68-85 in complete Freund's adjuvant. Compared to vaccination with a control DNA construct, the vaccination suppressed clinical and histopathological signs of EAE, and reduced the interferon gamma production after challenge with MBP68-85. Targeting of the gene product to Fc of IgG was essential for this effect. There were no signs of a Th2 cytokine bias. Our data suggest that DNA vaccines encoding autoantigenic peptides may be useful tools in controlling autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lobell
- Microbiology and Tumorbiology Center, Karolinska Institute, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
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