1
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Zehner M, Alt M, Ashurov A, Goldsmith JA, Spies R, Weiler N, Lerma J, Gieselmann L, Stöhr D, Gruell H, Schultz EP, Kreer C, Schlachter L, Janicki H, Laib Sampaio K, Stegmann C, Nemetchek MD, Dähling S, Ullrich L, Dittmer U, Witzke O, Koch M, Ryckman BJ, Lotfi R, McLellan JS, Krawczyk A, Sinzger C, Klein F. Single-cell analysis of memory B cells from top neutralizers reveals multiple sites of vulnerability within HCMV Trimer and Pentamer. Immunity 2023; 56:2602-2620.e10. [PMID: 37967532 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can cause severe diseases in fetuses, newborns, and immunocompromised individuals. Currently, no vaccines are approved, and treatment options are limited. Here, we analyzed the human B cell response of four HCMV top neutralizers from a cohort of 9,000 individuals. By single-cell analyses of memory B cells targeting the pentameric and trimeric HCMV surface complexes, we identified vulnerable sites on the shared gH/gL subunits as well as complex-specific subunits UL128/130/131A and gO. Using high-resolution cryogenic electron microscopy, we revealed the structural basis of the neutralization mechanisms of antibodies targeting various binding sites. Moreover, we identified highly potent antibodies that neutralized a broad spectrum of HCMV strains, including primary clinical isolates, that outperform known antibodies used in clinical trials. Our study provides a deep understanding of the mechanisms of HCMV neutralization and identifies promising antibody candidates to prevent and treat HCMV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Zehner
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Mira Alt
- Department of Infectious Diseases, West German Centre of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Artem Ashurov
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Jory A Goldsmith
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Rebecca Spies
- Institute for Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Nina Weiler
- Institute for Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Justin Lerma
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Lutz Gieselmann
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Dagmar Stöhr
- Institute for Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Henning Gruell
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Eric P Schultz
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA; Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Christoph Kreer
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Linda Schlachter
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Hanna Janicki
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Cora Stegmann
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA; Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Michelle D Nemetchek
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA; Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Sabrina Dähling
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Leon Ullrich
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Ulf Dittmer
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Oliver Witzke
- Department of Infectious Diseases, West German Centre of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Manuel Koch
- Institute for Dental Research and Oral Musculoskeletal Biology, Center for Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Brent J Ryckman
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA; Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Ramin Lotfi
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Jason S McLellan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Adalbert Krawczyk
- Department of Infectious Diseases, West German Centre of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Sinzger
- Institute for Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Florian Klein
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University Hospital of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
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2
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Sartori P, Egloff C, Hcini N, Vauloup Fellous C, Périllaud-Dubois C, Picone O, Pomar L. Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Prevention of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040819. [PMID: 37112800 PMCID: PMC10146889 DOI: 10.3390/v15040819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus infection is the most common congenital infection, affecting about 1% of births worldwide. Several primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies are already available during the prenatal period to help mitigate the immediate and long-term consequences of this infection. In this review, we aim to present and assess the efficacy of these strategies, including educating pregnant women and women of childbearing age on their knowledge of hygiene measures, development of vaccines, screening for cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy (systematic versus targeted), prenatal diagnosis and prognostic assessments, and preventive and curative treatments in utero.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Sartori
- School of Health Sciences (HESAV), University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Charles Egloff
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris APHP, Nord, Service de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Hôpital Louis Mourier, 92700 Colombes, France
- Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France
- INSERM, IAME, B.P. 416, 75870 Paris, France
| | - Najeh Hcini
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, West French Guiana Hospital Center, French 97320, Guyana
- CIC Inserm 1424 et DFR Santé Université Guyane, 97320 ST Laurent du Maroni, France
| | - Christelle Vauloup Fellous
- Université Paris-Saclay, INSERM U1193, 94804 Villejuif, France
- Laboratoire de Virologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Paul-Brousse, 94804 Villejuif, France
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Infections Pendant la Grossesse (GRIG), 75000 Paris, France
| | - Claire Périllaud-Dubois
- Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France
- INSERM, IAME, B.P. 416, 75870 Paris, France
- Virology Laboratory, AP-HP, Sorbonne Université, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Olivier Picone
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris APHP, Nord, Service de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Hôpital Louis Mourier, 92700 Colombes, France
- Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France
- INSERM, IAME, B.P. 416, 75870 Paris, France
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Infections Pendant la Grossesse (GRIG), 75000 Paris, France
| | - Léo Pomar
- School of Health Sciences (HESAV), University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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3
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Singh S, Nabeela S, Barbarino A, Ibrahim AS, Uppuluri P. Antibodies targeting Candida albicans Als3 and Hyr1 antigens protect neonatal mice from candidiasis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:925821. [PMID: 35935947 PMCID: PMC9355692 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.925821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-term infants in neonatal intensive care units are vulnerable to fungal sepsis. In this patient population, Candida albicans remains the predominant fungal pathogen causing high morbidity and mortality, despite antifungal therapy. Thus, new preventative/therapeutic strategies against neonatal candidiasis are needed. Previously, we have reported that vaccination with recombinant forms of the C. albicans N-termini of the cell wall proteins Als3 (rAls3p-N) and Hyr1 (rHyr1p-N) protected adult mice from disseminated candidiasis. Further, in a Phase 1b/2a NDV-3A (an rAls3p-N formulated with alum) protected women from recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, with anti-Als3p IgG2 isotype being a biomarker for efficacy. Here, we performed a proof of concept study to evaluate if anti-Als3p or anti-Hyr1p antibodies are important for prevention of disseminated candidiasis in neonates. Als3 and Hyr1 antigens when adjuvanted with complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)/incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA) induced a robust antibody response with a ten-fold higher titer of IgG2, than attained by either antigen formulated with alum. Transplacental transfer of these antibodies significantly reduced fungal burden in the kidneys of mice pups, and adoptive transfer of vaccinated mothers’ sera into pups displayed similar levels of protection. Neutrophils were found important for this efficacy. Finally, anti-Hyr1 antisera potentiated the activity of fluconazole in protecting from C. albicans infection. Our current studies are the first in the field to emphasize the importance of anti-Als3 and anti-Hyr1 antibodies in preventing neonatal candidiasis. Considering that Candida infections in low birthweight infants is a lethal infection, active and passive vaccination strategies using these antigens could have profound clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakti Singh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States
| | - Sunna Nabeela
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States
| | - Ashley Barbarino
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States
| | - Ashraf S. Ibrahim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Priya Uppuluri
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Priya Uppuluri,
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4
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Périllaud-Dubois C, Bouthry E, Jadoui A, Leng AL, Roque-Afonso AM, Vauloup-Fellous C. Positive predictive values of CMV-IgM and importance of CMV-IgG avidity testing in detecting primary infection in three different clinical settings. A French retrospective cohort study. J Clin Virol 2020; 132:104641. [PMID: 32947202 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2020.104641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diagnosis of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) primary infection during pregnancy or in immunocompetent patients relies on serology with detection of specific CMV-IgG and IgM. In case of positive CMV-IgM in pregnant women, CMV-IgG avidity is now widely recommended, but in general population it is not currently performed. OBJECTIVE In this study, we aimed to determine CMV-IgM positive predictive values (PPV) in different clinical settings. MATERIAL AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective study on positive CMV-IgM in our virology laboratory from 2013 to 2019, in three clinical groups: screening in non-symptomatic pregnant women (group 1), pregnant women with ultrasound (US) abnormalities (group 2) and patients (general population) with clinical signs suggestive of CMV primary infection (group 3). CMV-IgG avidity had been performed in all cases allowing to evaluate PPV of positive CMV-IgM to diagnose CMV primary-infection in each group. RESULTS Between 2013 and 2019, 6859 serum samples were found positive for CMV-IgM and had been tested for CMV-IgG avidity, with 6560 sera for group 1, 30 for group 2 and 269 for group 3. Overall, low avidity confirming primary infection was observed respectively in 16.4 % for group 1, 36.7 % for group 2, and 35.3 % for group 3. CMV-IgM PPV was significantly lower in group 1 compared to groups 2 (p = 0.01) and 3 (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION Our observations highlight the major importance of including CMV-IgG avidity in the diagnostic algorithm, whatever the clinical situation (for immunocompetent patients), to confirm or exclude a recent CMV primary infection in case of positive CMV-IgM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Périllaud-Dubois
- AP-HP. Université Paris-Saclay, Hôpital Paul-Brousse, Service de Virologie, 94804 Villejuif, France; Groupe de Recherche sur les Infections pendant la Grossesse (GRIG), France; INSERM UMR1137, IAME, 75018, Paris, France; Université Paris-Saclay, 94804, Villejuif, France.
| | - Elise Bouthry
- AP-HP. Université Paris-Saclay, Hôpital Paul-Brousse, Service de Virologie, 94804 Villejuif, France; Groupe de Recherche sur les Infections pendant la Grossesse (GRIG), France
| | - Abir Jadoui
- AP-HP. Université Paris-Saclay, Hôpital Paul-Brousse, Service de Virologie, 94804 Villejuif, France
| | - Ay-Ling Leng
- AP-HP. Université Paris-Saclay, Hôpital Paul-Brousse, Service de Virologie, 94804 Villejuif, France
| | - Anne-Marie Roque-Afonso
- AP-HP. Université Paris-Saclay, Hôpital Paul-Brousse, Service de Virologie, 94804 Villejuif, France; Université Paris-Saclay, 94804, Villejuif, France; INSERM U1193, 94804, Villejuif, France
| | - Christelle Vauloup-Fellous
- AP-HP. Université Paris-Saclay, Hôpital Paul-Brousse, Service de Virologie, 94804 Villejuif, France; Groupe de Recherche sur les Infections pendant la Grossesse (GRIG), France; Université Paris-Saclay, 94804, Villejuif, France; INSERM U1193, 94804, Villejuif, France
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5
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Adler SP, Lewis N, Conlon A, Christiansen MP, Al-Ibrahim M, Rupp R, Fu TM, Bautista O, Tang H, Wang D, Fisher A, Culp T, Das R, Beck K, Tamms G, Musey L. Phase 1 Clinical Trial of a Conditionally Replication-Defective Human Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Vaccine in CMV-Seronegative Subjects. J Infect Dis 2019; 220:411-419. [DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
A conditionally replication-defective human cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine (V160) derived from AD169 and genetically engineered to express CMV pentameric complex (gH/gL/pUL128/pUL130/pUL131) was developed and evaluated for phase 1 vaccine safety and immunogenicity in CMV-seronegative and CMV-seropositive adults.
Methods
Subjects received 3 doses of V160 or placebo on day 1, month 1, and month 6. Four vaccine dose levels, formulated with or without aluminum phosphate adjuvant, were evaluated. Injection-site and systemic adverse events (AEs) and vaccine viral shedding were monitored. CMV-specific cellular and humoral responses were measured by interferon-gamma ELISPOT and virus neutralization assay up to 12 months after last dose.
Results
V160 was generally well-tolerated, with no serious AEs observed. Transient, mild-to-moderate injection-site and systemic AEs were reported more frequently in vaccinated subjects than placebo. Vaccine viral shedding was not detected in any subject, confirming the nonreplicating feature of V160. Robust neutralizing antibody titers were elicited and maintained through 12 months postvaccination. Cellular responses to structural and nonstructural viral proteins were observed, indicating de novo expression of viral genes postvaccination.
Conclusions
V160 displayed an acceptable safety profile. Levels of neutralizing antibodies and T-cell responses in CMV-seronegative subjects were within ranges observed following natural CMV infection.
Clinical Trial Registration
. NCT01986010.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Richard Rupp
- Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | | | | | | | - Dai Wang
- Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | | | | | | | - Karen Beck
- Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | | | - Luwy Musey
- Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
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6
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A Native Human Monoclonal Antibody Targeting HCMV gB (AD-2 Site I). Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19123982. [PMID: 30544903 PMCID: PMC6321246 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperimmune globulin (HIG) has shown efficacy against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) for both transplant and congenital transmission indications. Replicating that activity with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) offers the potential for improved consistency in manufacturing, lower infusion volume, and improved pharmacokinetics, as well as reduced risk of off-target reactivity leading to toxicity. HCMV pathology is linked to its broad cell tropism. The glycoprotein B (gB) envelope protein is important for infections in all cell types. Within gB, the antigenic determinant (AD)-2 Site I is qualitatively more highly-conserved than any other region of the virus. TRL345, a high affinity (Kd = 50 pM) native human mAb to this site, has shown efficacy in neutralizing the infection of fibroblasts, endothelial and epithelial cells, as well as specialized placental cells including trophoblast progenitor cells. It has also been shown to block the infection of placental fragments grown ex vivo, and to reduce syncytial spread in fibroblasts in vitro. Manufacturing and toxicology preparation for filing an IND (investigational new drug) application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are expected to be completed in mid-2019.
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7
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Wang D, Freed DC, He X, Li F, Tang A, Cox KS, Dubey SA, Cole S, Medi MB, Liu Y, Xu J, Zhang ZQ, Finnefrock AC, Song L, Espeseth AS, Shiver JW, Casimiro DR, Fu TM. A replication-defective human cytomegalovirus vaccine for prevention of congenital infection. Sci Transl Med 2017; 8:362ra145. [PMID: 27797961 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaf9387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection occurs in ~0.64% of infants born each year in the United States and is the leading nongenetic cause of childhood neurodevelopmental disabilities. No licensed HCMV vaccine is currently available. Natural immunity to HCMV in women before pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk of fetal infection, suggesting that a vaccine is feasible if it can reproduce immune responses elicited by natural infection. On the basis of this premise, we developed a whole-virus vaccine candidate from the live attenuated AD169 strain, with genetic modifications to improve its immunogenicity and attenuation. We first restored the expression of the pentameric gH/gL/pUL128-131 protein complex, a major target for neutralizing antibodies in natural immunity. We then incorporated a chemically controlled protein stabilization switch in the virus, enabling us to regulate viral replication with a synthetic compound named Shield-1. The virus replicated as efficiently as its parental virus in the presence of Shield-1 but failed to produce progeny upon removal of the compound. The vaccine was immunogenic in multiple animal species and induced durable neutralizing antibodies, as well as CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, to multiple viral antigens in nonhuman primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dai Wang
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA.
| | - Daniel C Freed
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Xi He
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Fengsheng Li
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Aimin Tang
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Kara S Cox
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Sheri A Dubey
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Suzanne Cole
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | | | - Yaping Liu
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Jingyuan Xu
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Zhi-Qiang Zhang
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Adam C Finnefrock
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Liping Song
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Amy S Espeseth
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - John W Shiver
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Danilo R Casimiro
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Tong-Ming Fu
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA.
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8
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Bruno L, Cortese M, Rappuoli R, Merola M. Lessons from Reverse Vaccinology for viral vaccine design. Curr Opin Virol 2015; 11:89-97. [PMID: 25829256 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2015.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Revised: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Although almost 15 years have passed since the birthdate of Reverse Vaccinology (RV), there are very limited applications of this approach to viral vaccines discovery. Undeniably, RV presents a series of advantages as it can virtually identify all potential antigens coded by a genome, irrespective of their abundance, phase of expression and immunogenicity. Additionally, it can be applied to all pathogens, including those that cannot be grown in vitro. In this review we summarize the few examples of RV application to viruses, in particular the Herpesviridae, and report the advantage and limitations of this approach. Next we focus on the novel approaches and additional technologies to vaccine development including structure based approach (Structural Vaccinology [SV]), synthetic biology and some examples of their application in the development of viral vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mirko Cortese
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Germany
| | | | - Marcello Merola
- Novartis Vaccines, Siena, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy
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9
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McCormick AL, Mocarski ES. The immunological underpinnings of vaccinations to prevent cytomegalovirus disease. Cell Mol Immunol 2014; 12:170-9. [PMID: 25544503 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2014.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
A universal cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccination promises to reduce the burden of the developmental damage that afflicts up to 0.5% of live births worldwide. An effective vaccination that prevents transplacental transmission would reduce CMV congenital disease and CMV-associated still births and leave populations less susceptible to opportunistic CMV disease. Thus, a vaccination against this virus has long been recognized for the potential of enormous health-care savings because congenital damage is life-long and existing anti-viral options are limited. Vaccine researchers, industry leaders, and regulatory representatives have discussed the challenges posed by clinical efficacy trials that would lead to a universal CMV vaccine, reviewing the links between infection and disease, and identifying settings where disrupting viral transmission might provide a surrogate endpoint for disease prevention. Reducing the complexity of such trials would facilitate vaccine development. Children and adolescents are the targets for universal vaccination, with the expectation of protecting the offspring of immunized women. Given that a majority of females worldwide experience CMV infection during childhood, a universal vaccine must boost natural immunity and reduce transmission due to reactivation and re-infection as well as primary infection during pregnancy. Although current vaccine strategies recognize the value of humoral and cellular immunity, the precise mechanisms that act at the placental interface remain elusive. Immunity resulting from natural infection appears to limit rather than prevent reactivation of latent viruses and susceptibility to re-infection, leaving a challenge for universal vaccination to improve upon natural immunity levels. Despite these hurdles, early phase clinical trials have achieved primary end points in CMV seronegative subjects. Efficacy studies must be expanded to mixed populations of CMV-naive and naturally infected subjects to understand the overall efficacy and potential. Together with CMV vaccine candidates currently in clinical development, additional promising preclinical strategies continue to come forward; however, these face limitations due to the insufficient understanding of host defense mechanisms that prevent transmission, as well as the age-old challenges of reaching the appropriate threshold of immunogenicity, efficacy, durability and potency. This review focuses on the current understanding of natural and CMV vaccine-induced protective immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Louise McCormick
- Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Edward S Mocarski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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10
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A high-affinity native human antibody neutralizes human cytomegalovirus infection of diverse cell types. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2014; 59:1558-68. [PMID: 25534746 DOI: 10.1128/aac.04295-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common infection causing poor outcomes among transplant recipients. Maternal infection and transplacental transmission are major causes of permanent birth defects. Although no active vaccines to prevent HCMV infection have been approved, passive immunization with HCMV-specific immunoglobulin has shown promise in the treatment of both transplant and congenital indications. Antibodies targeting the viral glycoprotein B (gB) surface protein are known to neutralize HCMV infectivity, with high-affinity binding being a desirable trait, both to compete with low-affinity antibodies that promote the transmission of virus across the placenta and to displace nonneutralizing antibodies binding nearby epitopes. Using a miniaturized screening technology to characterize secreted IgG from single human B lymphocytes, 30 antibodies directed against gB were previously cloned. The most potent clone, TRL345, is described here. Its measured affinity was 1 pM for the highly conserved site I of the AD-2 epitope of gB. Strain-independent neutralization was confirmed for 15 primary HCMV clinical isolates. TRL345 prevented HCMV infection of placental fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and epithelial cells, and it inhibited postinfection HCMV spread in epithelial cells. The potential utility for preventing congenital transmission is supported by the blockage of HCMV infection of placental cell types central to virus transmission to the fetus, including differentiating cytotrophoblasts, trophoblast progenitor cells, and placental fibroblasts. Further, TRL345 was effective at controlling an ex vivo infection of human placental anchoring villi. TRL345 has been utilized on a commercial scale and is a candidate for clinical evaluation.
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