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Castellano LA, McNamara RJ, Pallarés HM, Gamarnik AV, Alvarez DE, Bazzini AA. Dengue virus preferentially uses human and mosquito non-optimal codons. Mol Syst Biol 2024; 20:1085-1108. [PMID: 39039212 PMCID: PMC11450187 DOI: 10.1038/s44320-024-00052-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Codon optimality refers to the effect that codon composition has on messenger RNA (mRNA) stability and translation level and implies that synonymous codons are not silent from a regulatory point of view. Here, we investigated the adaptation of virus genomes to the host optimality code using mosquito-borne dengue virus (DENV) as a model. We demonstrated that codon optimality exists in mosquito cells and showed that DENV preferentially uses nonoptimal (destabilizing) codons and avoids codons that are defined as optimal (stabilizing) in either human or mosquito cells. Human genes enriched in the codons preferentially and frequently used by DENV are upregulated during infection, and so is the tRNA decoding the nonoptimal and DENV preferentially used codon for arginine. We found that adaptation during single-host passaging in human or mosquito cells results in the selection of synonymous mutations towards DENV's preferred nonoptimal codons that increase virus fitness. Finally, our analyses revealed that hundreds of viruses preferentially use nonoptimal codons, with those infecting a single host displaying an even stronger bias, suggesting that host-pathogen interaction shapes virus-synonymous codon choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana A Castellano
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E 50th Street, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
| | - Ryan J McNamara
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E 50th Street, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
| | - Horacio M Pallarés
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E 50th Street, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
- Fundación Instituto Leloir, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires IIBBA-CONICET, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrea V Gamarnik
- Fundación Instituto Leloir, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires IIBBA-CONICET, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego E Alvarez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín-CONICET, San Martín B1650, Argentina
| | - Ariel A Bazzini
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E 50th Street, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
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Yi Y, Zhang H, An Y, Chen Z. A Live Attenuated H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Based on the Mutated M Gene. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:725. [PMID: 39066364 PMCID: PMC11281364 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12070725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The influenza vaccines currently approved for clinical use mainly include inactivated influenza virus vaccines and live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIVs). LAIVs have multiple advantages, such as ease of use and strong immunogenicity, and can provide cross-protection. In this study, the M gene of the PR8 virus was mutated as follows (G11T, C79G, G82C, C85G, and C1016A), and a live attenuated influenza virus containing the mutated M gene was rescued and obtained using reverse genetic technology as a vaccine candidate. The replication ability of the rescued virus was significantly weakened in both MDCK cells and mice with attenuated virulence. Studies on immunogenicity found that 1000 TCID50 of mutated PR8 (mPR8) can prime strong humoral and cellular immune responses. Single-dose immunization of 1000 TCID50 mPR8 was not only able to counter the challenge of the homologous PR8 virus but also provided cross-protection against the heterologous H9N2 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinglei Yi
- Shanghai Institute of Biological Products, Shanghai 200052, China;
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- Department of Basic Research, Ab & B Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. JS, Taizhou 225300, China;
| | - Youcai An
- Department of Basic Research, Ab & B Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. JS, Taizhou 225300, China;
| | - Ze Chen
- Department of Basic Research, Ab & B Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. JS, Taizhou 225300, China;
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3
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Afroz S, Saul S, Dai J, Surman S, Liu X, Park HS, Le Nouën C, Lingemann M, Dahal B, Coleman JR, Mueller S, Collins PL, Buchholz UJ, Munir S. Human parainfluenza virus 3 vaccine candidates attenuated by codon-pair deoptimization are immunogenic and protective in hamsters. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2316376121. [PMID: 38861603 PMCID: PMC11194498 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316376121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) is a major pediatric respiratory pathogen lacking available vaccines or antiviral drugs. We generated live-attenuated HPIV3 vaccine candidates by codon-pair deoptimization (CPD). HPIV3 open reading frames (ORFs) encoding the nucleoprotein (N), phosphoprotein (P), matrix (M), fusion (F), hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN), and polymerase (L) were modified singly or in combination to generate 12 viruses designated Min-N, Min-P, Min-M, Min-FHN, Min-L, Min-NP, Min-NPM, Min-NPL, Min-PM, Min-PFHN, Min-MFHN, and Min-PMFHN. CPD of N or L severely reduced growth in vitro and was not further evaluated. CPD of P or M was associated with increased and decreased interferon (IFN) response in vitro, respectively, but had little effect on virus replication. In Vero cells, CPD of F and HN delayed virus replication, but final titers were comparable to wild-type (wt) HPIV3. In human lung epithelial A549 cells, CPD F and HN induced a stronger IFN response, viral titers were reduced 100-fold, and the expression of F and HN proteins was significantly reduced without affecting N or P or the relative packaging of proteins into virions. Following intranasal infection in hamsters, replication in the nasal turbinates and lungs tended to be the most reduced for viruses bearing CPD F and HN, with maximum reductions of approximately 10-fold. Despite decreased in vivo replication (and lower expression of CPD F and HN in vitro), all viruses induced titers of serum HPIV3-neutralizing antibodies similar to wt and provided complete protection against HPIV3 challenge. In summary, CPD of HPIV3 yielded promising vaccine candidates suitable for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharmin Afroz
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Sirle Saul
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Jin Dai
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Sonja Surman
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Xueqiao Liu
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Hong-Su Park
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Cyril Le Nouën
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Matthias Lingemann
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Bibha Dahal
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | | | | | - Peter Leon Collins
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Ursula Johanna Buchholz
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Shirin Munir
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
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4
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Levy M, Chen JW, Kaiser JA, Park HS, Liu X, Yang L, Santos C, Buchholz UJ, Le Nouën C. Intranasal respiratory syncytial virus vaccine attenuated by codon-pair deoptimization of seven open reading frames is genetically stable and elicits mucosal and systemic immunity and protection against challenge virus replication in hamsters. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012198. [PMID: 38739647 PMCID: PMC11115275 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important viral agent of severe pediatric respiratory illness worldwide, but there is no approved pediatric vaccine. Here, we describe the development of the live-attenuated RSV vaccine candidate Min AL as well as engineered derivatives. Min AL was attenuated by codon-pair deoptimization (CPD) of seven of the 11 RSV open reading frames (ORFs) (NS1, NS2, N, P, M, SH and L; 2,073 silent nucleotide substitutions in total). Min AL replicated efficiently in vitro at the permissive temperature of 32°C but was highly temperature sensitive (shut-off temperature of 36°C). When serially passaged at increasing temperatures, Min AL retained greater temperature sensitivity compared to previous candidates with fewer CPD ORFs. However, whole-genome deep-sequencing of passaged Min AL revealed mutations throughout its genome, most commonly missense mutations in the polymerase cofactor P and anti-termination transcription factor M2-1 (the latter was not CPD). Reintroduction of selected mutations into Min AL partially rescued its replication in vitro at temperatures up to 40°C, confirming their compensatory effect. These mutations restored the accumulation of positive-sense RNAs to wild-type (wt) RSV levels, suggesting increased activity by the viral transcriptase, whereas viral protein expression, RNA replication, and virus production were only partly rescued. In hamsters, Min AL and derivatives remained highly restricted in replication in the upper and lower airways, but induced serum IgG and IgA responses to the prefusion form of F (pre F) that were comparable to those induced by wt RSV, as well as robust mucosal and systemic IgG and IgA responses against RSV G. Min AL and derivatives were fully protective against challenge virus replication. The derivatives had increased genetic stability compared to Min AL. Thus, Min AL and derivatives with selected mutations are stable, attenuated, yet highly-immunogenic RSV vaccine candidates that are available for further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Levy
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jessica W. Chen
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jaclyn A. Kaiser
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Hong-Su Park
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Xueqiao Liu
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lijuan Yang
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Celia Santos
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ursula J. Buchholz
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Cyril Le Nouën
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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5
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Lu M, Wan W, Li Y, Li H, Sun B, Yu K, Zhao J, Franzo G, Su S. Codon usage bias analysis of the spike protein of human coronavirus 229E and its host adaptability. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127319. [PMID: 37820917 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) represents one of the known coronaviruses capable of infecting humans and causes mild respiratory symptoms. It is also considered to have a zoonotic source, originating from animals and being transmitted the humans. In this study, a comprehensive phylogenetic and codon usage analysis of the spike (S) gene of HCoV-229E was conducted. Utilizing phylogenetic analysis and principal component analysis, HCoV-229E was categorized into four distinct clusters, each demonstrating unique host affiliations. Furthermore, it was observed that the codon usage bias within the S gene of HCoV-229E is relatively low, primarily influenced by natural selection patterns, with contributions from mutation pressure and dinucleotide abundance. Comparative analysis involving Codon Adaptation Index (CAI) and Relative Codon Deoptimization Index (RCDI) revealed that the codon usage pattern of HCoV-229E mirrors more closely that of camels, as opposed to alpacas and humans. The elucidation of the codon usage pattern within HCoV-229E, which we have meticulously examined, offers valuable insights for a more comprehensive comprehension of viral features, history, and evolutionary trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Lu
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 131 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenbo Wan
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 131 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxing Li
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 131 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Haipeng Li
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 131 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Bowen Sun
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 131 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Kang Yu
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 131 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Zhao
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 131 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Giovanni Franzo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, Legnaro 35020, PD, Italy
| | - Shuo Su
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 131 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.
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6
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Cai HL, Huang YW. Reverse genetics systems for SARS-CoV-2: Development and applications. Virol Sin 2023; 38:837-850. [PMID: 37832720 PMCID: PMC10786661 DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused serious harm to human health and struck a blow to global economic development. Research on SARS-CoV-2 has greatly benefited from the use of reverse genetics systems, which have been established to artificially manipulate the viral genome, generating recombinant and reporter infectious viruses or biosafety level 2 (BSL-2)-adapted non-infectious replicons with desired modifications. These tools have been instrumental in studying the molecular biological characteristics of the virus, investigating antiviral therapeutics, and facilitating the development of attenuated vaccine candidates. Here, we review the construction strategies, development, and applications of reverse genetics systems for SARS-CoV-2, which may be applied to other CoVs as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hou-Li Cai
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yao-Wei Huang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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7
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Xue W, Li T, Gu Y, Li S, Xia N. Molecular engineering tools for the development of vaccines against infectious diseases: current status and future directions. Expert Rev Vaccines 2023. [PMID: 37339445 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2023.2227699] [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: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The escalating global changes have fostered conditions for the expansion and transmission of diverse biological factors, leading to the rise of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases. Complex viral infections, such as COVID-19, influenza, HIV, and Ebola, continue to surface, necessitating the development of effective vaccine technologies. AREAS COVERED This review article highlights recent advancements in molecular biology, virology, and genomics that have propelled the design and development of innovative molecular tools. These tools have promoted new vaccine research platforms and directly improved vaccine efficacy. The review summarizes the cutting-edge molecular engineering tools used in creating novel vaccines and explores the rapidly expanding molecular tools landscape and potential directions for future vaccine development. EXPERT OPINION The strategic application of advanced molecular engineering tools can address conventional vaccine limitations, enhance the overall efficacy of vaccine products, promote diversification in vaccine platforms, and form the foundation for future vaccine development. Prioritizing safety considerations of these novel molecular tools during vaccine development is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen, China
| | - Tingting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen, China
| | - Ying Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen, China
| | - Shaowei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen, China
| | - Ningshao Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen, China
- The Research Unit of Frontier Technology of Structural Vaccinology of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Xiamen, China
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8
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Sharp CP, Thompson BH, Nash TJ, Diebold O, Pinto RM, Thorley L, Lin YT, Sives S, Wise H, Clohisey Hendry S, Grey F, Vervelde L, Simmonds P, Digard P, Gaunt ER. CpG dinucleotide enrichment in the influenza A virus genome as a live attenuated vaccine development strategy. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011357. [PMID: 37146066 PMCID: PMC10191365 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Synonymous recoding of RNA virus genomes is a promising approach for generating attenuated viruses to use as vaccines. Problematically, recoding typically hinders virus growth, but this may be rectified using CpG dinucleotide enrichment. CpGs are recognised by cellular zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP), and so in principle, removing ZAP sensing from a virus propagation system will reverse attenuation of a CpG-enriched virus, enabling high titre yield of a vaccine virus. We tested this using a vaccine strain of influenza A virus (IAV) engineered for increased CpG content in genome segment 1. Virus attenuation was mediated by the short isoform of ZAP, correlated with the number of CpGs added, and was enacted via turnover of viral transcripts. The CpG-enriched virus was strongly attenuated in mice, yet conveyed protection from a potentially lethal challenge dose of wildtype virus. Importantly for vaccine development, CpG-enriched viruses were genetically stable during serial passage. Unexpectedly, in both MDCK cells and embryonated hens' eggs that are used to propagate live attenuated influenza vaccines, the ZAP-sensitive virus was fully replication competent. Thus, ZAP-sensitive CpG enriched viruses that are defective in human systems can yield high titre in vaccine propagation systems, providing a realistic, economically viable platform to augment existing live attenuated vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin P. Sharp
- The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Beth H. Thompson
- The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Tessa J. Nash
- The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Ola Diebold
- The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Rute M. Pinto
- The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Luke Thorley
- The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Yao-Tang Lin
- The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Samantha Sives
- The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Wise
- Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Clohisey Hendry
- The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Finn Grey
- The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Lonneke Vervelde
- The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Simmonds
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Digard
- The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor R. Gaunt
- The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom
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Evaluation of Potential In Vitro Recombination Events in Codon Deoptimized FMDV Strains. Viruses 2023; 15:v15030670. [PMID: 36992379 PMCID: PMC10052203 DOI: 10.3390/v15030670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Codon deoptimization (CD) has been recently used as a possible strategy to derive foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) live-attenuated vaccine (LAV) candidates containing DIVA markers. However, reversion to virulence, or loss of DIVA, from possible recombination with wild-type (WT) strains has yet to be analyzed. An in vitro assay was developed to quantitate the levels of recombination between WT and a prospective A24-P2P3 partially deoptimized LAV candidate. By using two genetically engineered non-infectious RNA templates, we demonstrate that recombination can occur within non-deoptimized viral genomic regions (i.e., 3′end of P3 region). The sequencing of single plaque recombinants revealed a variety of genome compositions, including full-length WT sequences at the consensus level and deoptimized sequences at the sub-consensus/consensus level within the 3′end of the P3 region. Notably, after further passage, two recombinants that contained deoptimized sequences evolved to WT. Overall, recombinants featuring large stretches of CD or DIVA markers were less fit than WT viruses. Our results indicate that the developed assay is a powerful tool to evaluate the recombination of FMDV genomes in vitro and should contribute to the improved design of FMDV codon deoptimized LAV candidates.
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10
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Gurjar P, Karuvantevida N, Rzhepakovsky IV, Khan AA, Khandia R. A Synthetic Biology Approach for Vaccine Candidate Design against Delta Strain of SARS-CoV-2 Revealed Disruption of Favored Codon Pair as a Better Strategy over Using Rare Codons. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:487. [PMID: 36851364 PMCID: PMC9967482 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 delta variant (B.1.617.2) appeared for the first time in December 2020 and later spread worldwide. Currently available vaccines are not so efficacious in curbing the viral pathogenesis of the delta strain of COVID; therefore, the development of a safe and effective vaccine is required. In the present study, we envisaged molecular patterns in the structural genes' spike, nucleoprotein, membrane, and envelope of the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant. The study was based on determining compositional features, dinucleotide odds ratio, synonymous codon usage, positive and negative codon contexts, rare codons, and insight into relatedness between the human host isoacceptor tRNA and preferred codons from the structural genes. We found specific patterns, including a significant abundance of T nucleotide over all other three nucleotides. The underrepresentation of GpA, GpG, CpC, and CpG dinucleotides and the overrepresentation of TpT, ApA, CpT, and TpG were observed. A preference towards ACT- (Thr), AAT- (Asn), TTT- (Phe), and TTG- (Leu) initiated codons and aversion towards CGG (Arg), CCG (Pro), and CAC (His) was present in the structural genes of the delta strain. The interaction between the host tRNA pool and preferred codons of the envisaged structural genes revealed that the virus preferred the codons for those suboptimal numbers of isoacceptor tRNA were present. We see this as a strategy adapted by the virus to keep the translation rate low to facilitate the correct folding of viral proteins. The information generated in the study helps design the attenuated vaccine candidate against the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant using a synthetic biology approach. Three strategies were tested: changing TpT to TpA, introducing rare codons, and disrupting favored codons. It found that disrupting favored codons is a better approach to reducing virus fitness and attenuating SARS-CoV-2 delta strain using structural genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Gurjar
- Department of Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, NSW 2770, Australia
| | - Noushad Karuvantevida
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Azmat Ali Khan
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rekha Khandia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Barkatullah Universty, Bhopal 462026, India
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Eldemery F, Ou C, Kim T, Spatz S, Dunn J, Silva R, Yu Q. Evaluation of Newcastle disease virus LaSota strain attenuated by codon pair deoptimization of the HN and F genes for in ovo vaccination. Vet Microbiol 2023; 277:109625. [PMID: 36563582 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109625] [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: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In ovo vaccination is an attractive immunization approach for the poultry industry. However, commonly used Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccines cannot be administered in ovo because of the reduced hatchability and embryo mortality. The codon pair deoptimization (CPD) approach has been used to efficiently and rapidly attenuate viruses by targeting the virulence genes. In this study, we aimed to attenuate the NDV LaSota (LS) vaccine strain for in ovo vaccination by CPD of the fusion (F) or/and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) genes with approximately 44 % suboptimal codon substitutions. Three NDV LS recombinants expressing codon deoptimized F (rLS/F-d), HN (rLS/HN-d), or both genes (rLS/F+HN-d) were generated using reverse genetics technology. Biological assays showed that the CPD viruses retained similar hemagglutination activity and growth ability to the parental rLS virus. The CPD of the HN gene slightly attenuated the rLS/HN-d and rLS/F+HN-d viruses, whereas the CPD of the F gene marginally increased the rLS/F-d virus pathogenicity compared to rLS. Nevertheless, all three CPD rLS viruses were still lethal to 10-day-old specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicken embryos. In ovo inoculation of 18-day-old SPF chicken embryos with the CPD viruses severely reduced chicken's hatch and survival rates. These results suggested that the CPD of the surface glycoprotein genes of the LS strain at the current level of suboptimal codon substitutions could not sufficiently attenuate the virus for use as an in ovo vaccine, and codon deoptimizing a greater proportion of the F and HN genes or additional gene(s) may be required for sufficient attenuation of the LS strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Eldemery
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, US National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 934 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, USA; Department of Hygiene and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Changbo Ou
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, US National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 934 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, USA; College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Taejoong Kim
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, US National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 934 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Stephen Spatz
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, US National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 934 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - John Dunn
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, US National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 934 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Robert Silva
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, US National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 934 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Qingzhong Yu
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, US National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 934 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, USA.
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12
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A Live Attenuated COVID-19 Candidate Vaccine for Children: Protection against SARS-CoV-2 Challenge in Hamsters. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020255. [PMID: 36851133 PMCID: PMC9965573 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Children are at risk of infection from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 virus (SARS-CoV-2) resulting in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its more severe forms. New-born infants are expected to receive short-term protection from passively transferred maternal antibodies from their mothers who are immunized with first-generation COVID-19 vaccines. Passively transferred antibodies are expected to wane within first 6 months of infant's life, leaving them vulnerable to COVID-19. Live attenuated vaccines, unlike inactivated or viral-protein-based vaccines, offer broader immune engagement. Given effectiveness of live attenuated vaccines in controlling infectious diseases such as mumps, measles and rubella, we undertook development of a live attenuated COVID-19 vaccine with an aim to vaccinate children beyond 6 months of age. An attenuated vaccine candidate (dCoV), engineered to express sub-optimal codons and deleted polybasic furin cleavage sites in the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 WA/1 strain, was developed and tested in hamsters. Hamsters immunized with dCoV via intranasal or intramuscular routes induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies and exhibited complete protection against the SARS-CoV-2 wild-type isolates, i.e., the Wuhan-like (USA-WA1/2020) and Delta variants (B.1.617.2) in a challenge study. In addition, the dCoV formulated with the marketed measles-rubella (MR) vaccine, designated as MR-dCoV, administered to hamsters via intramuscular route, also protected against both SARS-CoV-2 challenges, and dCoV did not interfere with the MR vaccine-mediated immune response. The safety and efficacy of the dCoV and the MR-dCoV against both variants of SARS-CoV-2 opens the possibility of early immunization in children without an additional injection.
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13
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Khandia R, Pandey MK, Khan AA, Rzhepakovsky IV, Gurjar P, Karobari MI. Codon Usage and Context Analysis of Genes Modulated during SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Dental Inflammation. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:1874. [PMID: 36366382 PMCID: PMC9695912 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10111874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The overexpression of SARS-CoV-2 primary receptors and co-receptors (ACE2, TMPRSS2, FURIN, and CD147) enhance the likeliness of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The genes for same receptors are overexpressed in the periodontal tissues of periodontitis patients. On the other hand, BMAL1 is recognized to play a crucial role in regulating pulmonary inflammation and enhancing susceptibility to viral infection. Silenced BMAL1 disrupts circadian transcriptional regulations, enhances vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infections, and may trigger the further production of TNF-α and other pro-inflammatory cytokines that propagate the cytokine storm and exacerbate periodontal inflammation. Therefore ACE2, TMPRSS2, FURIN, CD147, and BMAL1 are the crossroads between SARS-CoV-2 and Periodontitis genes. The enhanced expression of ACE2, TMPRSS2, FURIN, and CD147 and the diminished expression of BMAL1 may be a strategy to check both ailments simultaneously. In gene manipulation techniques, oligos are introduced, which contain all the necessary information to manipulate gene expression. The data are derived from the studies on genes' molecular patterns, including nucleotide composition, dinucleotide patterns, relative synonymous codon usage, codon usage bias, codon context, and rare and abundant codons. Such information may be used to manipulate the overexpression and underexpression of the genes at the time of SARS-CoV-2 infection and periodontitis to mitigate both ailments simultaneously; it can be explored to uncover possible future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rekha Khandia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Barkatullah University, Bhopal 462026, India
| | - Megha Katare Pandey
- Department of Translational Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462020, India
| | - Azmat Ali Khan
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Pankaj Gurjar
- Department of Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, NSW 2770, Australia
| | - Mohmed Isaqali Karobari
- Conservative Dentistry Unit, School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
- Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences University, Chennai 600077, India
- Department of Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics, University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh 12211, Cambodia
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14
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Li Z, Bai H, Xi X, Tian W, Zhang JZ, Zhou D, Si L. PROTAC vaccine: A new way to live attenuated vaccines. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e1081. [PMID: 36281705 PMCID: PMC9593255 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering BiologyShenzhen Institute of Synthetic BiologyShenzhen Institute of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
| | - Haiqing Bai
- Xellar Biosystems IncCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Xuetong Xi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering BiologyShenzhen Institute of Synthetic BiologyShenzhen Institute of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
- College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Wen‐xia Tian
- College of Veterinary MedicineShanxi Agricultural UniversityJinzhongChina
| | - John Z.H. Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering BiologyShenzhen Institute of Synthetic BiologyShenzhen Institute of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
| | - Demin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic DrugsSchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesPeking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Longlong Si
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering BiologyShenzhen Institute of Synthetic BiologyShenzhen Institute of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
- College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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15
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Gonçalves-Carneiro D, Mastrocola E, Lei X, DaSilva J, Chan YF, Bieniasz PD. Rational attenuation of RNA viruses with zinc finger antiviral protein. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:1558-1567. [PMID: 36075961 PMCID: PMC9519448 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01223-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Attenuation of a virulent virus is a proven approach for generating vaccines but can be unpredictable. For example, synonymous recoding of viral genomes can attenuate replication but sometimes results in pleiotropic effects that confound rational vaccine design. To enable specific, conditional attenuation of viruses, we examined target RNA features that enable zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP) function. ZAP recognized CpG dinucleotides and targeted CpG-rich RNAs for depletion, but RNA features such as CpG numbers, spacing and surrounding nucleotide composition that enable specific modulation by ZAP were undefined. Using synonymously mutated HIV-1 genomes, we defined several sequence features that govern ZAP sensitivity and enable stable attenuation. We applied rules derived from experiments with HIV-1 to engineer a mutant enterovirus A71 genome whose attenuation was stable and strictly ZAP-dependent, both in cell culture and in mice. The conditionally attenuated enterovirus A71 mutant elicited neutralizing antibodies that were protective against wild-type enterovirus A71 infection and disease in mice. ZAP sensitivity can thus be readily applied for the rational design of conditionally attenuated viral vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily Mastrocola
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiao Lei
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Justin DaSilva
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yoke Fun Chan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Paul D Bieniasz
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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16
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Status and Challenges for Vaccination against Avian H9N2 Influenza Virus in China. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12091326. [PMID: 36143363 PMCID: PMC9505450 DOI: 10.3390/life12091326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In China, H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) has become widely prevalent in poultry, causing huge economic losses after secondary infection with other pathogens. Importantly, H9N2 AIV continuously infects humans, and its six internal genes frequently reassort with other influenza viruses to generate novel influenza viruses that infect humans, threatening public health. Inactivated whole-virus vaccines have been used to control H9N2 AIV in China for more than 20 years, and they can alleviate clinical symptoms after immunization, greatly reducing economic losses. However, H9N2 AIVs can still be isolated from immunized chickens and have recently become the main epidemic subtype. A more effective vaccine prevention strategy might be able to address the current situation. Herein, we analyze the current status and vaccination strategy against H9N2 AIV and summarize the progress in vaccine development to provide insight for better H9N2 prevention and control.
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17
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Synthetically recoded virus sCPD9 - A tool to accelerate SARS-CoV-2 research under biosafety level 2 conditions. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:4376-4380. [PMID: 35992535 PMCID: PMC9375251 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Research with infectious SARS-CoV-2 is complicated because it must be conducted under biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) conditions. Recently, we constructed a live attenuated SARS-CoV-2 virus by rational design through partial recoding of the SARS-CoV-2 genome and showed that the attenuated virus, designated sCPD9, was highly attenuated in preclinical animal models. The recoded sequence was designed by codon pair deoptimization and is located at the distal end of gene ORF1ab. Codon pair deoptimization involves recoding of the viral sequence with underrepresented codon pairs but without altering the amino acid sequence of the encoded proteins. Thus, parental and attenuated viruses produce exactly the same proteins. In Germany, the live attenuated SARS-CoV-2 mutant sCPD9 was recently classified as a BSL-2 pathogen based on its genetic stability and strong attenuation in preclinical animal models. Despite its high attenuation in vivo, sCPD9 grows to high titers in common cell lines, making it suitable as substitute for virulent SARS-CoV-2 in many experimental setups. Consequently, sCPD9 can ease and accelerate SARS-CoV-2 research under BSL-2 conditions, particularly in experiments requiring replicating virus, such as diagnostics and development of antiviral drugs.
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18
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Reverse genetics in virology: A double edged sword. BIOSAFETY AND HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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19
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20
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Generation of a live attenuated influenza A vaccine by proteolysis targeting. Nat Biotechnol 2022; 40:1370-1377. [PMID: 35788567 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-022-01381-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The usefulness of live attenuated virus vaccines has been limited by suboptimal immunogenicity, safety concerns or cumbersome manufacturing processes and techniques. Here we describe the generation of a live attenuated influenza A virus vaccine using proteolysis-targeting chimeric (PROTAC) technology to degrade viral proteins via the endogenous ubiquitin-proteasome system of host cells. We engineered the genome of influenza A viruses in stable cell lines engineered for virus production to introduce a conditionally removable proteasome-targeting domain, generating fully infective PROTAC viruses that were live attenuated by the host protein degradation machinery upon infection. In mouse and ferret models, PROTAC viruses were highly attenuated and able to elicit robust and broad humoral, mucosal and cellular immunity against homologous and heterologous virus challenges. PROTAC-mediated attenuation of viruses may be broadly applicable for generating live attenuated vaccines.
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21
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Tyagi N, Sardar R, Gupta D. Natural selection plays a significant role in governing the codon usage bias in the novel SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC). PeerJ 2022; 10:e13562. [PMID: 35765592 PMCID: PMC9233899 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing prevailing COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is becoming one of the major global health concerns worldwide. The SARS-CoV-2 genome encodes spike (S) glycoprotein that plays a very crucial role in viral entry into the host cell via binding of its receptor binding domain (RBD) to the host angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. The continuously evolving SARS-CoV-2 genome results in more severe and transmissible variants characterized by the emergence of novel mutations called 'variants of concern' (VOC). The currently designated alpha, beta, gamma, delta and omicron VOC are the focus of this study due to their high transmissibility, increased virulence, and concerns for decreased effectiveness of the available vaccines. In VOC, the spike (S) gene and other non-structural protein mutations may affect the efficacies of the approved COVID-19 vaccines. To understand the diversity of SARS-CoV-2, several studies have been performed on a limited number of sequences. However, only a few studies have focused on codon usage bias (CUBs) pattern analysis of all the VOC strains. Therefore, to evaluate the evolutionary divergence of all VOC S-genes, we performed CUBs analysis on 300,354 sequences to understand the evolutionary relationship with its adaptation in different hosts, i.e., humans, bats, and pangolins. Base composition and RSCU analysis revealed the presence of 20 preferred AU-ended and 10 under-preferred GC-ended codons. In addition, CpG was found to be depleted, which may be attributable to the adaptive response by viruses to escape from the host defense process. Moreover, the ENC values revealed a higher bias in codon usage in the VOC S-gene. Further, the neutrality plot analysis demonstrated that S-genes analyzed in this study are under 83.93% influence of natural selection, suggesting its pivotal role in shaping the CUBs. The CUBs pattern of S-genes was found to be very similar among all the VOC strains. Interestingly, we observed that VOC strains followed a trend of antagonistic codon usage with respect to the human host. The identified CUBs divergence would help to understand the virus evolution and its host adaptation, thus help design novel vaccine strategies against the emerging VOC strains. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report for identifying the evolution of CUBs pattern in all the currently identified VOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neetu Tyagi
- Translational Bioinformatics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India, New Delhi, New Delhi, India,Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Rahila Sardar
- Translational Bioinformatics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India, New Delhi, New Delhi, India,Biochemistry, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Dinesh Gupta
- Translational Bioinformatics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India, New Delhi, New Delhi, India
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22
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K.C N, Noatia L, Priyadarshini S, M P, Gali JM, Ali MA, Behera S, Sharma B, Roychoudhury P, Kumar A, Behera P. Recoding anaerobic regulator fnr of Salmonella Typhimurium attenuates it's pathogenicity. Microb Pathog 2022; 168:105591. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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23
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Gaunt ER, Digard P. Compositional biases in RNA viruses: Causes, consequences and applications. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2022; 13:e1679. [PMID: 34155814 PMCID: PMC8420353 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
If each of the four nucleotides were represented equally in the genomes of viruses and the hosts they infect, each base would occur at a frequency of 25%. However, this is not observed in nature. Similarly, the order of nucleotides is not random (e.g., in the human genome, guanine follows cytosine at a frequency of ~0.0125, or a quarter the number of times predicted by random representation). Codon usage and codon order are also nonrandom. Furthermore, nucleotide and codon biases vary between species. Such biases have various drivers, including cellular proteins that recognize specific patterns in nucleic acids, that once triggered, induce mutations or invoke intrinsic or innate immune responses. In this review we examine the types of compositional biases identified in viral genomes and current understanding of the evolutionary mechanisms underpinning these trends. Finally, we consider the potential for large scale synonymous recoding strategies to engineer RNA virus vaccines, including those with pandemic potential, such as influenza A virus and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Virus 2. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease RNA Evolution and Genomics > Computational Analyses of RNA RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor R. Gaunt
- Department of Infection and ImmunityThe Roslin Institute, The University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Paul Digard
- Department of Infection and ImmunityThe Roslin Institute, The University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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24
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Neumann T, Tuller T. Modeling the ribosomal small subunit dynamic in Saccharomyces cerevisiae based on TCP-seq data. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:1297-1316. [PMID: 35100399 PMCID: PMC8860609 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Translation Complex Profile Sequencing (TCP-seq), a protocol that was developed and implemented on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, provides the footprints of the small subunit (SSU) of the ribosome (with additional factors) across the entire transcriptome of the analyzed organism. In this study, based on the TCP-seq data, we developed for the first-time a predictive model of the SSU density and analyzed the effect of transcript features on the dynamics of the SSU scan in the 5′UTR. Among others, our model is based on novel tools for detecting complex statistical relations tailored to TCP-seq. We quantitatively estimated the effect of several important features, including the context of the upstream AUG, the upstream ORF length and the mRNA folding strength. Specifically, we suggest that around 50% of the variance related to the read counts (RC) distribution near a start codon can be attributed to the AUG context score. We provide the first large scale direct quantitative evidence that shows that indeed AUG context affects the small sub-unit movement. In addition, we suggest that strong folding may cause the detachment of the SSU from the mRNA. We also identified a number of novel sequence motifs that can affect the SSU scan; some of these motifs affect transcription factors and RNA binding proteins. The results presented in this study provide a better understanding of the biophysical aspects related to the SSU scan along the 5′UTR and of translation initiation in S. cerevisiae, a fundamental step toward a comprehensive modeling of initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Neumann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Tamir Tuller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
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25
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Chen JW, Yang L, Santos C, Hassan SA, Collins PL, Buchholz UJ, Le Nouën C. Reversion mutations in phosphoprotein P of a codon-pair-deoptimized human respiratory syncytial virus confer increased transcription, immunogenicity, and genetic stability without loss of attenuation. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010191. [PMID: 34965283 PMCID: PMC8751989 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recoding viral genomes by introducing numerous synonymous nucleotide substitutions that create suboptimal codon pairs provides new live-attenuated vaccine candidates. Because recoding typically involves a large number of nucleotide substitutions, the risk of de-attenuation is presumed to be low. However, this has not been thoroughly studied. We previously generated human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in which the NS1, NS2, N, P, M and SH ORFs were codon-pair deoptimized (CPD) by 695 synonymous nucleotide changes (Min A virus). Min A exhibited a global reduction in transcription and protein synthesis, was restricted for replication in vitro and in vivo, and exhibited moderate temperature sensitivity. Here, we show that under selective pressure by serial passage at progressively increasing temperatures, Min A regained replication fitness and lost its temperature sensitivity. Whole-genome deep sequencing identified numerous missense mutations in several genes, in particular ones accumulating between codons 25 and 34 of the phosphoprotein (P), a polymerase cofactor and chaperone. When re-introduced into Min A, these P mutations restored viral transcription to wt level, resulting in increased protein expression and RNA replication. Molecular dynamic simulations suggested that these P mutations increased the flexibility of the N-terminal domain of P, which might facilitate its interaction with the nucleoprotein N, and increase the functional efficiency of the RSV transcription/replication complex. Finally, we evaluated the effect of the P mutations on Min A replication and immunogenicity in hamsters. Mutation P[F28V] paradoxically reduced Min A replication but not its immunogenicity. The further addition of one missense mutation each in M and L generated a version of Min A with increased genetic stability. Thus, this study provides further insight into the adaptability of large-scale recoded RNA viruses under selective pressure and identified an improved CPD RSV vaccine candidate. Synonymous recoding of viral genomes by codon-pair deoptimization (CPD) generates live-attenuated vaccines presumed to be genetically stable due to the high number of nucleotide substitutions. However, their actual genetic stability under selective pressure was largely unknown. In a recoded human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) mutant called Min A, six of 11 ORFs were CPD, reducing protein expression and inducing moderate temperature sensitivity and attenuation. When passaged in vitro under selective pressure, Min A lost its temperature-sensitive phenotype and regained fitness by the acquisition of numerous mutations, in particular missense mutations in the viral phosphoprotein (P), a polymerase cofactor and a chaperone for soluble nucleoprotein. These P mutations increased RSV gene transcription globally, thereby increasing RSV protein expression, RNA replication, and virus particle production. Thus, the P mutations increased the efficiency of the RSV transcription/replication complex, compensating for the reduced protein expression due to CPD. In addition, introduction of the P mutations into Min A generated a live-attenuated vaccine candidate with increased genetic stability. Surprisingly, this vaccine candidate exhibited increased attenuation and, paradoxically, exhibited increased immunogenicity per plaque-forming unit in hamsters. This study provides insights into the adaptability of large-scale recoded RNA viruses and identified an improved CPD RSV vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica W. Chen
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lijuan Yang
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Celia Santos
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sergio A. Hassan
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Peter L. Collins
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ursula J. Buchholz
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Cyril Le Nouën
- RNA Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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26
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Zhang Z, Guo F, Roy A, Yang J, Luo W, Shen X, Irwin DM, Chen RA, Shen Y. Evolutionary perspectives and adaptation dynamics of human seasonal influenza viruses from 2009 to 2019: An insight from codon usage. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2021; 96:105067. [PMID: 34487866 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The annually recurrent seasonal influenza viruses, namely, influenza A viruses (H1N1/pdm2009 and H3N2) and influenza B viruses, contribute substantially to human disease burden. Elucidation of host adaptation, population dynamics and evolutionary patterns of these viruses contribute to better control of current epidemic situation and bolster efforts towards pandemic preparedness. Present study has been addressed at unraveling the signatures of codon usage and dinucleotide distribution of these seasonal influenza viruses associating with their fitness and ongoing adaptive evolution in human population. Thorough analysis of codon usage adaptation revealed that H3N2 has been exhibited best adapted to human cellular system, which correlate with its highest epidemic intensity as compared with the other seasonal influenza viruses. CpG dinucleotide was found to be strongly avoided among the seasonal influenza viruses with more restraint among influenza B viruses than influenza A viruses, and might be accounted to the strategy of the viral pathogens in evading human immune signals. Dynamic scenes of ongoing evolution in codon usage and elimination of CpG motif among the viruses, which correlate with their distinct host adaption state, signifying the marked impact of selective force operational on the viral genomes, aimed at proficient circulation, enhanced fitness and successful infective manifestations in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Zhang
- Zhaoqing Branch Center of Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, Zhaoqing 526238, China; Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Fucheng Guo
- Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Ayan Roy
- Department of Biotechnology, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India
| | - Jinjin Yang
- Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Wen Luo
- Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xuejuan Shen
- Zhaoqing Branch Center of Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, Zhaoqing 526238, China; Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - David M Irwin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada; Banting and Best Diabetes Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Rui-Ai Chen
- Zhaoqing Branch Center of Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, Zhaoqing 526238, China; Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Zhaoqing Institute of Biotechnology, Zhaoqing 526238, China.
| | - Yongyi Shen
- Zhaoqing Branch Center of Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, Zhaoqing 526238, China; Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China; Zhaoqing Institute of Biotechnology, Zhaoqing 526238, China; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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27
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Pintó RM, Bosch A. The Codon Usage Code for Cotranslational Folding of Viral Capsids. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:evab089. [PMID: 33914886 PMCID: PMC8410136 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Codon bias is common to all organisms and is the result of mutation, drift, and selection. Selection for the efficiency and accuracy of translation is well recognized as a factor shaping the codon usage. In contrast, fewer studies report the control of the rate of translation as an additional selective pressure influencing the codon usage of an organism. Experimental molecular evolution using RNA virus populations is a powerful tool for the identification of mechanisms underlying the codon bias. Indeed, the role of deoptimized codons on the cotranslational folding has been proven in the capsids of two fecal-orally transmitted picornaviruses, poliovirus, and the hepatitis A virus, emphasizing the role of the frequency of codons in determining the phenotype. However, most studies on virus codon usage rely only on computational analyses, and experimental studies should be encouraged to clearly define the role of selection on codon evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa M Pintó
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Section of Microbiology, Virology and Biotechnology, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, School of Biology, and Institute of Nutrition and Safety, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Bosch
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Section of Microbiology, Virology and Biotechnology, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, School of Biology, and Institute of Nutrition and Safety, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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28
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Trimpert J, Dietert K, Firsching TC, Ebert N, Thi Nhu Thao T, Vladimirova D, Kaufer S, Labroussaa F, Abdelgawad A, Conradie A, Höfler T, Adler JM, Bertzbach LD, Jores J, Gruber AD, Thiel V, Osterrieder N, Kunec D. Development of safe and highly protective live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates by genome recoding. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109493. [PMID: 34320400 PMCID: PMC8289629 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Safe and effective vaccines are urgently needed to stop the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We construct a series of live attenuated vaccine candidates by large-scale recoding of the SARS-CoV-2 genome and assess their safety and efficacy in Syrian hamsters. Animals were vaccinated with a single dose of the respective recoded virus and challenged 21 days later. Two of the tested viruses do not cause clinical symptoms but are highly immunogenic and induce strong protective immunity. Attenuated viruses replicate efficiently in the upper but not in the lower airways, causing only mild pulmonary histopathology. After challenge, hamsters develop no signs of disease and rapidly clear challenge virus: at no time could infectious virus be recovered from the lungs of infected animals. The ease with which attenuated virus candidates can be produced and administered favors their further development as vaccines to combat the ongoing pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Trimpert
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kristina Dietert
- Institut für Tierpathologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Tiermedizinisches Zentrum für Resistenzforschung, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Nadine Ebert
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Switzerland; Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tran Thi Nhu Thao
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Switzerland; Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Biomedical Science, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Susanne Kaufer
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fabien Labroussaa
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Azza Abdelgawad
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andelé Conradie
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Höfler
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia M Adler
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luca D Bertzbach
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joerg Jores
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Achim D Gruber
- Institut für Tierpathologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Switzerland; Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nikolaus Osterrieder
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Dusan Kunec
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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29
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Scalable live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate demonstrates preclinical safety and efficacy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2102775118. [PMID: 34193524 PMCID: PMC8307828 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2102775118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This work demonstrates the feasibility of rationally designing and synthesizing vaccine candidates for testing in response to an emerging disease in real world conditions. Furthermore, using a live attenuated codon-pair–deoptimized virus approach ensures that all components of the host immune system will be engaged, and potential effects from the vector sequences from hybrid live viruses are avoided. Evidence from other codon-deoptimized viruses suggests that COVI-VAC will be resistant to reversion and loss of potency due to antigenic drift. The ease of large-scale virus growth under permissive conditions coupled with the potential for single-dose intranasal administration make COVI-VAC an appealing candidate for clinical testing for possible use in mass immunization programs. Successfully combating the COVID-19 pandemic depends on mass vaccination with suitable vaccines to achieve herd immunity. Here, we describe COVI-VAC, the only live attenuated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine currently in clinical development. COVI-VAC was developed by recoding a segment of the viral spike protein with synonymous suboptimal codon pairs (codon-pair deoptimization), thereby introducing 283 silent (point) mutations. In addition, the furin cleavage site within the spike protein was deleted from the viral genome for added safety of the vaccine strain. Except for the furin cleavage site deletion, the COVI-VAC and parental SARS-CoV-2 amino acid sequences are identical, ensuring that all viral proteins can engage with the host immune system of vaccine recipients. COVI-VAC was temperature sensitive in vitro yet grew robustly (>107 plaque forming units/mL) at the permissive temperature. Tissue viral loads were consistently lower, lung pathology milder, and weight loss reduced in Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) vaccinated intranasally with COVI-VAC compared to those inoculated with wild-type (WT) virus. COVI-VAC inoculation generated spike IgG antibody levels and plaque reduction neutralization titers similar to those in hamsters inoculated with WT virus. Upon challenge with WT virus, COVI-VAC vaccination reduced lung challenge viral titers, resulted in undetectable virus in the brain, and protected hamsters from almost all SARS-CoV-2–associated weight loss. Highly attenuated COVI-VAC is protective at a single intranasal dose in a relevant in vivo model. This, coupled with its large-scale manufacturing potential, supports its potential use in mass vaccination programs.
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30
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Pereira-Gómez M, Carrau L, Fajardo Á, Moreno P, Moratorio G. Altering Compositional Properties of Viral Genomes to Design Live-Attenuated Vaccines. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:676582. [PMID: 34276608 PMCID: PMC8278477 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.676582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Live-attenuated vaccines have been historically used to successfully prevent numerous diseases caused by a broad variety of RNA viruses due to their ability to elicit strong and perdurable immune-protective responses. In recent years, various strategies have been explored to achieve viral attenuation by rational genetic design rather than using classic and empirical approaches, based on successive passages in cell culture. A deeper understanding of evolutionary implications of distinct viral genomic compositional aspects, as well as substantial advances in synthetic biology technologies, have provided a framework to achieve new viral attenuation strategies. Herein, we will discuss different approaches that are currently applied to modify compositional features of viruses in order to develop novel live-attenuated vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianoel Pereira-Gómez
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Evolución Experimental de Virus, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Lucía Carrau
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Álvaro Fajardo
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Evolución Experimental de Virus, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Pilar Moreno
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Evolución Experimental de Virus, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gonzalo Moratorio
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Evolución Experimental de Virus, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
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31
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Jordan-Paiz A, Franco S, Martinez MA. Synonymous Codon Pair Recoding of the HIV-1 env Gene Affects Virus Replication Capacity. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071636. [PMID: 34209946 PMCID: PMC8304268 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Synonymous codon pair deoptimization is an efficient strategy for virus attenuation; however, the underlying mechanism remains controversial. Here, we optimized and deoptimized the codon pair bias (CPB) of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope (env) gene to investigate the influence of env synonymous CPB recoding on virus replication capacity, as well as the potential mechanism. We found that env CPB deoptimization did not always generate attenuation, whereas CPB optimization attenuated virus replication in MT-4 cells. Furthermore, virus attenuation correlated with reduced Env protein production but not with decreased viral RNA synthesis. Remarkably, in our model, increasing the number of CpG dinucleotides in the 5′ end of env did not reduce the replication capacity of HIV-1. These results indicate that factors other than CPB or CpG content may have impacted the viral fitness of the synonymously recoded study variants. Our findings provide evidence that CPB recoding-associated attenuation can affect translation efficiency. Moreover, we demonstrated that an increased number of CpGs in the 5′ end of HIV-1 env is not always associated with reduced virus replication capacity.
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32
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Abstract
DNA synthesis technology has progressed to the point that it is now practical to synthesize entire genomes. Quite a variety of methods have been developed, first to synthesize single genes but ultimately to massively edit or write from scratch entire genomes. Synthetic genomes can essentially be clones of native sequences, but this approach does not teach us much new biology. The ability to endow genomes with novel properties offers special promise for addressing questions not easily approachable with conventional gene-at-a-time methods. These include questions about evolution and about how genomes are fundamentally wired informationally, metabolically, and genetically. The techniques and technologies relating to how to design, build, and deliver big DNA at the genome scale are reviewed here. A fuller understanding of these principles may someday lead to the ability to truly design genomes from scratch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weimin Zhang
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; , ,
| | - Leslie A Mitchell
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; , ,
| | - Joel S Bader
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA;
| | - Jef D Boeke
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; , , .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, New York, NY 11201, USA
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33
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Evolutionary Patterns of Codon Usage in Major Lineages of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus in China. Viruses 2021; 13:v13061044. [PMID: 34072978 PMCID: PMC8228872 DOI: 10.3390/v13061044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is economically important and characterized by its extensive variation. The codon usage patterns and their influence on viral evolution and host adaptation among different PRRSV strains remain largely unknown. Here, the codon usage of ORF5 genes from lineages 1, 3, 5, and 8, and MLV strains of type 2 PRRSV in China was analyzed. A compositional property analysis of ORF5 genes revealed that nucleotide C is most frequently used at the third position of codons, accompanied by rich GC3s. The effective number of codon (ENC) and codon pair bias (CPB) values indicate that all ORF5 genes have low codon bias and the differences in CPB scores among four lineages are almost not significant. When compared with host codon usage patterns, lineage 1 strains show higher CAI and SiD values, with a high similarity to pig, which might relate to its predominant epidemic propensity in the field. The CAI, RCDI, and SiD values of ORF5 genes from different passages of MLV JXA1R indicate no relation between attenuation and CPB or codon adaptation decrease during serial passage on non-host cells. These findings provide a novel way of understanding the PRRSV's evolution, related to viral survival, host adaptation, and virulence.
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34
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B Carvalho S, Peixoto C, T Carrondo MJ, S Silva RJ. Downstream processing for influenza vaccines and candidates: An update. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 118:2845-2869. [PMID: 33913510 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Seasonal and pandemic influenza outbreaks present severe health and economic burdens. To overcome limitations on influenza vaccines' availability and effectiveness, researchers chase universal vaccines providing broad, long-lasting protection against multiple influenza subtypes, and including pandemic ones. Novel influenza vaccine designs are under development, in clinical trials, or reaching the market, namely inactivated, or live-attenuated virus, virus-like particles, or recombinant antigens, searching for improved effectiveness; all these bring downstream processing (DSP) new challenges. Having to deal with new influenza strains, including pandemics, requires shorter development time, driving the development of faster bioprocesses. To cope with better upstream processes, new regulatory demands for quality and safety, and cost reduction requirements, new unit operations and integrated processes are increasing DSP efficiency for novel vaccine formats. This review covers recent advances in DSP strategies of different influenza vaccine formats. Focus is given to the improvements on relevant state-of-the-art unit operations, from harvest and clarification to purification steps, ending with sterile filtration and formulation. The development of more efficient unit operations to cope with biophysical properties of the new candidates is discussed: emphasis is given to the design of new stationary phases, 3D printing approaches, and continuous processing tools, such as continuous chromatography. The impact of the production platforms and vaccine designs on the downstream operations for the different influenza vaccine formats approved for this season are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia B Carvalho
- Animal Cell Technology Unit, iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal.,Animal Cell Technology Unit, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Cristina Peixoto
- Animal Cell Technology Unit, iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal.,Animal Cell Technology Unit, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Manuel J T Carrondo
- Animal Cell Technology Unit, iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Ricardo J S Silva
- Animal Cell Technology Unit, iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal.,Animal Cell Technology Unit, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
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35
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Roy A, Guo F, Singh B, Gupta S, Paul K, Chen X, Sharma NR, Jaishee N, Irwin DM, Shen Y. Base Composition and Host Adaptation of the SARS-CoV-2: Insight From the Codon Usage Perspective. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:548275. [PMID: 33889134 PMCID: PMC8057303 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.548275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been spreading rapidly all over the world and has raised grave concern globally. The present research aims to conduct a robust base compositional analysis of SARS-CoV-2 to reveal adaptive intricacies to the human host. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed a complex interplay of various factors including compositional constraint, natural selection, length of viral coding sequences, hydropathicity, and aromaticity of the viral gene products that are operational to codon usage patterns, with compositional bias being the most crucial determinant. UpG and CpA dinucleotides were found to be highly preferred whereas, CpG dinucleotide was mostly avoided in SARS-CoV-2, a pattern consistent with the human host. Strict avoidance of the CpG dinucleotide might be attributed to a strategy for evading a human immune response. A lower degree of adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 to the human host, compared to Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus and SARS-CoV, might be indicative of its milder clinical severity and progression contrasted to SARS and MERS. Similar patterns of enhanced adaptation between viral isolates from intermediate and human hosts, contrasted with those isolated from the natural bat reservoir, signifies an indispensable role of the intermediate host in transmission dynamics and spillover events of the virus to human populations. The information regarding avoided codon pairs in SARS-CoV-2, as conferred by the present analysis, promises to be useful for the design of vaccines employing codon pair deoptimization based synthetic attenuated virus engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayan Roy
- Department of Biotechnology, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
| | - Fucheng Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bhupender Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
| | - Shelly Gupta
- Department of Biotechnology, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
| | - Karan Paul
- Department of Biochemistry, DAV University, Jalandhar, India
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Neeta Raj Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
| | - Nishika Jaishee
- Department of Botany, St Joseph's College, Darjeeling, India
| | - David M Irwin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Banting and Best Diabetes Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yongyi Shen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
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36
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Park C, Lee MS, Baek JH, Cho SH, Hyun BH, You SH, Cha SH. Intradermal co-inoculation of codon pair deoptimization (CPD)-attenuated chimeric porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) with Toll like receptor (TLR) agonists enhanced the protective effects in pigs against heterologous challenge. Vet Microbiol 2021; 256:109048. [PMID: 33845333 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess protective efficacy of vaccination using CPD-attenuated chimeric PRRSV and Toll like receptor (TLR) agonists (HSP70 c-terminal domain and HSPX) as adjuvants through different inoculation routes. In this study, a chimeric PRRSV composed of two field isolates was synthesized and attenuated by CPD in NSP1 as described in the previous study. The infection of the CPD-attenuated chimeric PRRSV to pigs of 3 weeks-old showed no clinical signs without pathological lesions in necropsy, while it induced improved cross immunity between its parent strains. The TLR agonists were expressed in E. coli and purified to be used. In challenge experiment, pigs of 3 weeks-old were vaccinated using the CPD-attenuated chimeric virus with the prepared TLR agonists through intramuscular or intradermal route, following heterologous challenge after 4 weeks of vaccination. In results, intramuscular or intradermal inoculation of the CPD-attenuated chimeric virus demonstrated excellent protective efficacy against heterologous challenges. Importantly, intradermal inoculation with the TLR agonists enhanced protective effects as shown in the significantly increased level of PRRSV-specific IFN-γ-SCs and cytokines in sera, and the significant reduction of pathological lesion and viral load in lung. This study suggested that the intradermal inoculation of CPD-attenuated chimeric PRRSV plus TLR agonists should be more effective for protection of pigs against diverse PRRS field viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changhoon Park
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Eulji University School of Medicine, Yongdu-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung-Shin Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Eulji University School of Medicine, Yongdu-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Hyuk Baek
- Department of Animal Vaccine Development, BioPOA, 593-26 Dongtangiheung-ro, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Hee Cho
- Department of Animal Vaccine Development, BioPOA, 593-26 Dongtangiheung-ro, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Bang-Hun Hyun
- PRRS Research Laboratory, Viral Diseases Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Hwa You
- PRRS Research Laboratory, Viral Diseases Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Ho Cha
- PRRS Research Laboratory, Viral Diseases Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea.
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37
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Jordan-Paiz A, Franco S, Martínez MA. Impact of Synonymous Genome Recoding on the HIV Life Cycle. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:606087. [PMID: 33796084 PMCID: PMC8007914 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.606087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Synonymous mutations within protein coding regions introduce changes in DNA or messenger (m) RNA, without mutating the encoded proteins. Synonymous recoding of virus genomes has facilitated the identification of previously unknown virus biological features. Moreover, large-scale synonymous recoding of the genome of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has elucidated new antiviral mechanisms within the innate immune response, and has improved our knowledge of new functional virus genome structures, the relevance of codon usage for the temporal regulation of viral gene expression, and HIV-1 mutational robustness and adaptability. Continuous improvements in our understanding of the impacts of synonymous substitutions on virus phenotype - coupled with the decreased cost of chemically synthesizing DNA and improved methods for assembling DNA fragments - have enhanced our ability to identify potential HIV-1 and host factors and other aspects involved in the infection process. In this review, we address how silent mutagenesis impacts HIV-1 phenotype and replication capacity. We also discuss the general potential of synonymous recoding of the HIV-1 genome to elucidate unknown aspects of the virus life cycle, and to identify new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Jordan-Paiz
- IrsiCaixa, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Badalona, Spain
| | - Sandra Franco
- IrsiCaixa, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Badalona, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Martínez
- IrsiCaixa, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Badalona, Spain
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38
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Maldonado LL, Bertelli AM, Kamenetzky L. Molecular features similarities between SARS-CoV-2, SARS, MERS and key human genes could favour the viral infections and trigger collateral effects. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4108. [PMID: 33602998 PMCID: PMC7893037 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83595-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In December 2019, rising pneumonia cases caused by a novel β-coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) occurred in Wuhan, China, which has rapidly spread worldwide, causing thousands of deaths. The WHO declared the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern, since then several scientists are dedicated to its study. It has been observed that many human viruses have codon usage biases that match highly expressed proteins in the tissues they infect and depend on the host cell machinery for the replication and co-evolution. In this work, we analysed 91 molecular features and codon usage patterns for 339 viral genes and 463 human genes that consisted of 677,873 codon positions. Hereby, we selected the highly expressed genes from human lung tissue to perform computational studies that permit to compare their molecular features with those of SARS, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS genes. The integrated analysis of all the features revealed that certain viral genes and overexpressed human genes have similar codon usage patterns. The main pattern was the A/T bias that together with other features could propitiate the viral infection, enhanced by a host dependant specialization of the translation machinery of only some of the overexpressed genes. The envelope protein E, the membrane glycoprotein M and ORF7 could be further benefited. This could be the key for a facilitated translation and viral replication conducting to different comorbidities depending on the genetic variability of population due to the host translation machinery. This is the first codon usage approach that reveals which human genes could be potentially deregulated due to the codon usage similarities between the host and the viral genes when the virus is already inside the human cells of the lung tissues. Our work leaded to the identification of additional highly expressed human genes which are not the usual suspects but might play a role in the viral infection and settle the basis for further research in the field of human genetics associated with new viral infections. To identify the genes that could be deregulated under a viral infection is important to predict the collateral effects and determine which individuals would be more susceptible based on their genetic features and comorbidities associated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas L Maldonado
- IMPaM, CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | | | - Laura Kamenetzky
- IMPaM, CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- iB3 | Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología traslacional, Departamento de Fisiologia y Biologia Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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39
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Tan X, Letendre JH, Collins JJ, Wong WW. Synthetic biology in the clinic: engineering vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Cell 2021; 184:881-898. [PMID: 33571426 PMCID: PMC7897318 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic biology is a design-driven discipline centered on engineering novel biological functions through the discovery, characterization, and repurposing of molecular parts. Several synthetic biological solutions to critical biomedical problems are on the verge of widespread adoption and demonstrate the burgeoning maturation of the field. Here, we highlight applications of synthetic biology in vaccine development, molecular diagnostics, and cell-based therapeutics, emphasizing technologies approved for clinical use or in active clinical trials. We conclude by drawing attention to recent innovations in synthetic biology that are likely to have a significant impact on future applications in biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Tan
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Justin H Letendre
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - James J Collins
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Synthetic Biology Center, MIT, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Wilson W Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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40
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Pasin F. Oligonucleotide abundance biases aid design of a type IIS synthetic genomics framework with plant virome capacity. Biotechnol J 2021; 16:e2000354. [PMID: 33410597 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202000354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic genomics-driven dematerialization of genetic resources facilitates flexible hypothesis testing and rapid product development. Biological sequences have compositional biases, which, I reasoned, could be exploited for engineering of enhanced synthetic genomics systems. In proof-of-concept assays reported herein, the abundance of random oligonucleotides in viral genomic components was analyzed and used for the rational design of a synthetic genomics framework with plant virome capacity (SynViP). Type IIS endonucleases with low abundance in the plant virome, as well as Golden Gate and No See'm principles were combined with DNA chemical synthesis for seamless viral clone assembly by one-step digestion-ligation. The framework described does not require subcloning steps, is insensitive to insert terminal sequences, and was used with linear and circular DNA molecules. Based on a digital template, DNA fragments were chemically synthesized and assembled by one-step cloning to yield a scar-free infectious clone of a plant virus suitable for Agrobacterium-mediated delivery. SynViP allowed rescue of a genuine virus without biological material, and has the potential to greatly accelerate biological characterization and engineering of plant viruses as well as derived biotechnological tools. Finally, computational identification of compositional biases in biological sequences might become a common standard to aid scalable biosystems design and engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Pasin
- School of Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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41
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Diaz-San Segundo F, Medina GN, Spinard E, Kloc A, Ramirez-Medina E, Azzinaro P, Mueller S, Rieder E, de Los Santos T. Use of Synonymous Deoptimization to Derive Modified Live Attenuated Strains of Foot and Mouth Disease Virus. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:610286. [PMID: 33552021 PMCID: PMC7861043 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.610286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most economically important viral diseases that can affect livestock. In the last 70 years, use of an inactivated whole antigen vaccine has contributed to the eradication of disease from many developed nations. However, recent outbreaks in Europe and Eastern Asia demonstrated that infection can spread as wildfire causing economic and social devastation. Therefore, it is essential to develop new control strategies that could confer early protection and rapidly stop disease spread. Live attenuated vaccines (LAV) are one of the best choices to obtain a strong early and long-lasting protection against viral diseases. In proof of concept studies, we previously demonstrated that “synonymous codon deoptimization” could be applied to the P1 capsid coding region of the viral genome to derive attenuated FMDV serotype A12 strains. Here, we demonstrate that a similar approach can be extended to the highly conserved non-structural P2 and P3 coding regions, providing a backbone for multiple serotype FMDV LAV development. Engineered codon deoptimized P2, P3 or P2, and P3 combined regions were included into the A24Cruzeiro infectious clone optimized for vaccine production, resulting in viable progeny that exhibited different degrees of attenuation in cell culture, in mice, and in the natural host (swine). Derived strains were thoroughly characterized in vitro and in vivo. Our work demonstrates that overall, the entire FMDV genome tolerates codon deoptimization, highlighting the potential of using this technology to derive novel improved LAV candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fayna Diaz-San Segundo
- Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Greenport, NY, United States
| | - Gisselle N Medina
- Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Greenport, NY, United States.,Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Edward Spinard
- Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Greenport, NY, United States.,PIADC Research Participation Program, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Anna Kloc
- Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Greenport, NY, United States.,PIADC Research Participation Program, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Elizabeth Ramirez-Medina
- Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Greenport, NY, United States.,Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Paul Azzinaro
- Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Greenport, NY, United States
| | | | - Elizabeth Rieder
- Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Greenport, NY, United States
| | - Teresa de Los Santos
- Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Greenport, NY, United States
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Association of Zinc Finger Antiviral Protein Binding to Viral Genomic RNA with Attenuation of Replication of Echovirus 7. mSphere 2021; 6:6/1/e01138-20. [PMID: 33408233 PMCID: PMC7845596 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.01138-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have implicated both zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP) and oligoadenylate synthetase 3 (OAS3)/RNase L in the attenuation of RNA viruses with elevated CpG and UpA dinucleotides. Mechanisms and interrelationships between these two pathways were investigated using an echovirus 7 (E7) replicon with compositionally modified sequences inserted into the 3' untranslated region. ZAP and OAS3 immunoprecipitation (IP) assays provided complementary data on dinucleotide composition effects on binding. Elevated frequencies of alternative pyrimidine/purine (CpA and UpG) and reversed (GpC and ApU) dinucleotides showed no attenuating effect on replication or specific binding to ZAP by IP. However, the bases 3' and 5' of CpG motifs influenced replication and ZAP binding; UCGU enhanced CpG-mediated attenuation and ZAP binding, while A residues shielded CpGs from ZAP recognition. Attenuating effects of elevated frequencies of UpA on replication occurred independently of CpG dinucleotides and bound noncompetitively with CpG-enriched RNA, consistent with a separate recognition site from CpG. Remarkably, immunoprecipitation with OAS3 antibody reproduced the specific binding to CpG- and UpA-enriched RNA sequences. However, OAS3 and ZAP were coimmunoprecipitated in both ZAP and OAS3 IP and colocalized with E7 and stress granules (SGs) by confocal microscopy analysis of infected cells. ZAP's association with larger cellular complexes may mediate the recruitment of OAS3/RNase L, KHNYN, and other RNA degradation pathways.IMPORTANCE We recently discovered that the OAS3/RNase L antiviral pathway is essential for restriction of CpG- and UpA-enriched viruses, in addition to the requirement for zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP). The current study provides evidence for the specific dinucleotide and wider recognition contexts associated with virus recognition and attenuation. It further documents the association of ZAP and OAS3 and association with stress granules and a wider protein interactome that may mediate antiviral effects in different cellular compartments. The study provides a striking reconceptualization of the pathways associated with this aspect of antiviral defense.
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43
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Abstract
The development of safe and effective vaccines against viruses is central to disease control. With advancements in DNA synthesis technology, the production of synthetic viral genomes has fueled many research efforts that aim to generate attenuated viruses by introducing synonymous mutations. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying virus attenuation through synonymous mutagenesis is revealing interesting new biology that can be exploited for vaccine development. Here, we review recent advancements in this field of synthetic virology and focus on the molecular mechanisms of attenuation by genetic recoding of viruses. We highlight the action of the zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP) and RNase L, two proteins involved in the inhibition of viruses enriched for CpG and UpA dinucleotides, that are often the products of virus recoding algorithms. Additionally, we discuss current challenges in the field as well as studies that may illuminate how other host functions, such as translation, are potentially involved in the attenuation of recoded viruses.
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44
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Rice AM, Castillo Morales A, Ho AT, Mordstein C, Mühlhausen S, Watson S, Cano L, Young B, Kudla G, Hurst LD. Evidence for Strong Mutation Bias toward, and Selection against, U Content in SARS-CoV-2: Implications for Vaccine Design. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:67-83. [PMID: 32687176 PMCID: PMC7454790 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Large-scale re-engineering of synonymous sites is a promising strategy to generate vaccines either through synthesis of attenuated viruses or via codon-optimized genes in DNA vaccines. Attenuation typically relies on deoptimization of codon pairs and maximization of CpG dinucleotide frequencies. So as to formulate evolutionarily informed attenuation strategies that aim to force nucleotide usage against the direction favored by selection, here, we examine available whole-genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 to infer patterns of mutation and selection on synonymous sites. Analysis of mutational profiles indicates a strong mutation bias toward U. In turn, analysis of observed synonymous site composition implicates selection against U. Accounting for dinucleotide effects reinforces this conclusion, observed UU content being a quarter of that expected under neutrality. Possible mechanisms of selection against U mutations include selection for higher expression, for high mRNA stability or lower immunogenicity of viral genes. Consistent with gene-specific selection against CpG dinucleotides, we observe systematic differences of CpG content between SARS-CoV-2 genes. We propose an evolutionarily informed approach to attenuation that, unusually, seeks to increase usage of the already most common synonymous codons. Comparable analysis of H1N1 and Ebola finds that GC3 deviated from neutral equilibrium is not a universal feature, cautioning against generalization of results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan M Rice
- The Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Atahualpa Castillo Morales
- The Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander T Ho
- The Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Christine Mordstein
- The Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Stefanie Mühlhausen
- The Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Samir Watson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Laura Cano
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Bethan Young
- The Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Grzegorz Kudla
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Laurence D Hurst
- The Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
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45
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Future perspectives on swine viral vaccines: where are we headed? Porcine Health Manag 2021; 7:1. [PMID: 33397477 PMCID: PMC7780603 DOI: 10.1186/s40813-020-00179-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Deliberate infection of humans with smallpox, also known as variolation, was a common practice in Asia and dates back to the fifteenth century. The world's first human vaccination was administered in 1796 by Edward Jenner, a British physician. One of the first pig vaccines, which targeted the bacterium Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, was introduced in 1883 in France by Louis Pasteur. Since then vaccination has become an essential part of pig production, and viral vaccines in particular are essential tools for pig producers and veterinarians to manage pig herd health. Traditionally, viral vaccines for pigs are either based on attenuated-live virus strains or inactivated viral antigens. With the advent of genomic sequencing and molecular engineering, novel vaccine strategies and tools, including subunit and nucleic acid vaccines, became available and are being increasingly used in pigs. This review aims to summarize recent trends and technologies available for the production and use of vaccines targeting pig viruses.
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46
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Algorithms for ribosome traffic engineering and their potential in improving host cells' titer and growth rate. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21202. [PMID: 33273552 PMCID: PMC7713304 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78260-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
mRNA translation is a fundamental cellular process consuming most of the intracellular energy; thus, it is under extensive evolutionary selection for optimization, and its efficiency can affect the host's growth rate. We describe a generic approach for improving the growth rate (fitness) of any organism by introducing synonymous mutations based on comprehensive computational models. The algorithms introduce silent mutations that may improve the allocation of ribosomes in the cells via the decreasing of their traffic jams during translation respectively. As a result, resources availability in the cell changes leading to improved growth-rate. We demonstrate experimentally the implementation of the method on Saccharomyces cerevisiae: we show that by introducing a few mutations in two computationally selected genes the mutant's titer increased. Our approach can be employed for improving the growth rate of any organism providing the existence of data for inferring models, and with the relevant genomic engineering tools; thus, it is expected to be extremely useful in biotechnology, medicine, and agriculture.
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47
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Fok JA, Mayer C. Genetic-Code-Expansion Strategies for Vaccine Development. Chembiochem 2020; 21:3291-3300. [PMID: 32608153 PMCID: PMC7361271 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
By providing long-term protection against infectious diseases, vaccinations have significantly reduced death and morbidity worldwide. In the 21st century, (bio)technological advances have paved the way for developing prophylactic vaccines that are safer and more effective as well as enabling the use of vaccines as therapeutics to treat human diseases. Here, we provide a focused review of the utility of genetic code expansion as an emerging tool for the development of vaccines. Specifically, we discuss how the incorporation of immunogenic noncanonical amino acids can aid in eliciting immune responses against adverse self-proteins and highlight the potential of an expanded genetic code for the construction of replication-incompetent viruses. We close the review by discussing the future prospects and remaining challenges for the application of these approaches in the development of both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle A. Fok
- Stratingh Institute for ChemistryUniversity of GroningenNijenborgh 49474 AGGroningen (TheNetherlands
| | - Clemens Mayer
- Stratingh Institute for ChemistryUniversity of GroningenNijenborgh 49474 AGGroningen (TheNetherlands
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48
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Gonzalez A, Corsini G, Lobos S, Seelenfreund D, Tello M. Metabolic Specialization and Codon Preference of Lignocellulolytic Genes in the White Rot Basidiomycete Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11101227. [PMID: 33092062 PMCID: PMC7588917 DOI: 10.3390/genes11101227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceriporiopsis subvermispora is a white-rot fungus with a high specificity towards lignin mineralization when colonizing dead wood or lignocellulosic compounds. Its lignocellulose degrading system is formed by cellulose hydrolytic enzymes, manganese peroxidases, and laccases that catalyze the efficient depolymerization and mineralization of lignocellulose. To determine if this metabolic specialization has modified codon usage of the lignocellulolytic system, improving its adaptation to the fungal translational machine, we analyzed the adaptation to host codon usage (CAI), tRNA pool (tAI, and AAtAI), codon pair bias (CPB), and the number of effective codons (Nc). These indexes were correlated with gene expression of C. subvermispora, in the presence of glucose and Aspen wood. General gene expression was not correlated with the index values. However, in media containing Aspen wood, the induction of expression of lignocellulose-degrading genes, showed significantly (p < 0.001) higher values of CAI, AAtAI, CPB, tAI, and lower values of Nc than non-induced genes. Cellulose-binding proteins and manganese peroxidases presented the highest adaptation values. We also identified an expansion of genes encoding glycine and glutamic acid tRNAs. Our results suggest that the metabolic specialization to use wood as the sole carbon source has introduced a bias in the codon usage of genes involved in lignocellulose degradation. This bias reduces codon diversity and increases codon usage adaptation to the tRNA pool available in C. subvermispora. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that codon usage is modified to improve the translation efficiency of a group of genes involved in a particular metabolic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Gonzalez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Ambiental y Extremófilos, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Biodiversidad, Universidad de los Lagos, Osorno 5290000, Chile;
| | - Gino Corsini
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago 8910132, Chile;
| | - Sergio Lobos
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380492, Chile; (S.L.); (D.S.)
| | - Daniela Seelenfreund
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380492, Chile; (S.L.); (D.S.)
| | - Mario Tello
- Laboratorio de Metagenómica Bacteriana, Centro de Biotecnología Acuícola, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170002, Chile
- Correspondence:
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49
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Van Leuven JT, Ederer MM, Burleigh K, Scott L, Hughes RA, Codrea V, Ellington AD, Wichman HA, Miller CR. ΦX174 Attenuation by Whole-Genome Codon Deoptimization. Genome Biol Evol 2020; 13:5921183. [PMID: 33045052 PMCID: PMC7881332 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural selection acting on synonymous mutations in protein-coding genes influences genome composition and evolution. In viruses, introducing synonymous mutations in genes encoding structural proteins can drastically reduce viral growth, providing a means to generate potent, live-attenuated vaccine candidates. However, an improved understanding of what compositional features are under selection and how combinations of synonymous mutations affect viral growth is needed to predictably attenuate viruses and make them resistant to reversion. We systematically recoded all nonoverlapping genes of the bacteriophage ΦX174 with codons rarely used in its Escherichia coli host. The fitness of recombinant viruses decreases as additional deoptimizing mutations are made to the genome, although not always linearly, and not consistently across genes. Combining deoptimizing mutations may reduce viral fitness more or less than expected from the effect size of the constituent mutations and we point out difficulties in untangling correlated compositional features. We test our model by optimizing the same genes and find that the relationship between codon usage and fitness does not hold for optimization, suggesting that wild-type ΦX174 is at a fitness optimum. This work highlights the need to better understand how selection acts on patterns of synonymous codon usage across the genome and provides a convenient system to investigate the genetic determinants of virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- James T Van Leuven
- Department of Biological Science, University of Idaho.,Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho
| | | | - Katelyn Burleigh
- Department of Biological Science, University of Idaho.,Present address: Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA
| | - LuAnn Scott
- Department of Biological Science, University of Idaho
| | - Randall A Hughes
- Applied Research Laboratories, University of Texas, Austin.,Present address: Biotechnology Branch, CCDC US Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD
| | - Vlad Codrea
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin
| | - Andrew D Ellington
- Applied Research Laboratories, University of Texas, Austin.,Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin
| | - Holly A Wichman
- Department of Biological Science, University of Idaho.,Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho
| | - Craig R Miller
- Department of Biological Science, University of Idaho.,Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho
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50
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Sequence analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genome reveals features important for vaccine design. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15643. [PMID: 32973171 PMCID: PMC7519053 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72533-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is rapidly progressing, the need for the development of an effective vaccine is critical. A promising approach for vaccine development is to generate, through codon pair deoptimization, an attenuated virus. This approach carries the advantage that it only requires limited knowledge specific to the virus in question, other than its genome sequence. Therefore, it is well suited for emerging viruses, for which we may not have extensive data. We performed comprehensive in silico analyses of several features of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequence (e.g., codon usage, codon pair usage, dinucleotide/junction dinucleotide usage, RNA structure around the frameshift region) in comparison with other members of the coronaviridae family of viruses, the overall human genome, and the transcriptome of specific human tissues such as lung, which are primarily targeted by the virus. Our analysis identified the spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins as promising targets for deoptimization and suggests a roadmap for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development, which can be generalizable to other viruses.
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