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Li X, Xie Z, Wei Y, Li M, Zhang M, Luo S, Xie L. Recombinant Hemagglutinin Protein from H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus Exerts Good Immune Effects in Mice. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1552. [PMID: 39203394 PMCID: PMC11356462 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12081552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The H9N2 subtype of avian influenza virus (AIV) causes enormous economic losses and poses a significant threat to public health; the development of vaccines against avian influenza is ongoing. To study the immunogenicity of hemagglutinin (HA) protein, we constructed a recombinant pET-32a-HA plasmid, induced HA protein expression with isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), verified it by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, and determined the sensitivity of the recombinant protein to acid and heat. Subsequently, mice were immunized with the purified HA protein, and the immunization effect was evaluated according to the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titer, serum IgG antibody titer, and cytokine secretion level of the mice. The results showed that the molecular weight of the HA protein was approximately 84 kDa, and the protein existed in both soluble and insoluble forms; in addition, the HA protein exhibited good acid and thermal stability, the HI antibody titer reached 6 log2-8 log2, and the IgG-binding antibody titer was 1:1,000,000. Moreover, the levels of IL-2, IL-4, and IL-5 in the immunized mouse spleen cells were significantly increased compared with those in the control group. However, the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-13, IFN-γ, IL-18, TNF-α, and GM-CSF were decreased in the immunized group. The recombinant HA protein utilized in this study exhibited good stability and exerted beneficial immune effects, providing a theoretical basis for further research on influenza vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Li
- GuangXi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, GuangXi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning 530000, China; (X.L.); (Y.W.); (M.L.); (S.L.); (L.X.)
- Key Laboratory of China (GuangXi)-ASEAN Cross-Border Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Nanning 530000, China
| | - Zhixun Xie
- GuangXi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, GuangXi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning 530000, China; (X.L.); (Y.W.); (M.L.); (S.L.); (L.X.)
- Key Laboratory of China (GuangXi)-ASEAN Cross-Border Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Nanning 530000, China
| | - You Wei
- GuangXi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, GuangXi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning 530000, China; (X.L.); (Y.W.); (M.L.); (S.L.); (L.X.)
- Key Laboratory of China (GuangXi)-ASEAN Cross-Border Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Nanning 530000, China
| | - Meng Li
- GuangXi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, GuangXi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning 530000, China; (X.L.); (Y.W.); (M.L.); (S.L.); (L.X.)
- Key Laboratory of China (GuangXi)-ASEAN Cross-Border Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Nanning 530000, China
| | - Minxiu Zhang
- GuangXi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, GuangXi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning 530000, China; (X.L.); (Y.W.); (M.L.); (S.L.); (L.X.)
- Key Laboratory of China (GuangXi)-ASEAN Cross-Border Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Nanning 530000, China
| | - Sisi Luo
- GuangXi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, GuangXi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning 530000, China; (X.L.); (Y.W.); (M.L.); (S.L.); (L.X.)
- Key Laboratory of China (GuangXi)-ASEAN Cross-Border Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Nanning 530000, China
| | - Liji Xie
- GuangXi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, GuangXi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning 530000, China; (X.L.); (Y.W.); (M.L.); (S.L.); (L.X.)
- Key Laboratory of China (GuangXi)-ASEAN Cross-Border Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Nanning 530000, China
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Metzdorf K, Jacobsen H, Kim Y, Teixeira Alves LG, Kulkarni U, Brdovčak MC, Materljan J, Eschke K, Chaudhry MZ, Hoffmann M, Bertoglio F, Ruschig M, Hust M, Šustić M, Krmpotić A, Jonjić S, Widera M, Ciesek S, Pöhlmann S, Landthaler M, Čičin-Šain L. A single-dose MCMV-based vaccine elicits long-lasting immune protection in mice against distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1383086. [PMID: 39119342 PMCID: PMC11306140 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1383086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Current vaccines against COVID-19 elicit immune responses that are overall strong but wane rapidly. As a consequence, the necessary booster shots have contributed to vaccine fatigue. Hence, vaccines that would provide lasting protection against COVID-19 are needed, but are still unavailable. Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) elicit lasting and uniquely strong immune responses. Used as vaccine vectors, they may be attractive tools that obviate the need for boosters. Therefore, we tested the murine CMV (MCMV) as a vaccine vector against COVID-19 in relevant preclinical models of immunization and challenge. We have previously developed a recombinant MCMV vaccine vector expressing the spike protein of the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 (MCMVS). In this study, we show that the MCMVS elicits a robust and lasting protection in young and aged mice. Notably, spike-specific humoral and cellular immunity was not only maintained but also even increased over a period of at least 6 months. During that time, antibody avidity continuously increased and expanded in breadth, resulting in neutralization of genetically distant variants, like Omicron BA.1. A single dose of MCMVS conferred rapid virus clearance upon challenge. Moreover, MCMVS vaccination controlled two variants of concern (VOCs), the Beta (B.1.135) and the Omicron (BA.1) variants. Thus, CMV vectors provide unique advantages over other vaccine technologies, eliciting broadly reactive and long-lasting immune responses against COVID-19.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- SARS-CoV-2/immunology
- SARS-CoV-2/genetics
- Mice
- COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology
- COVID-19/prevention & control
- COVID-19/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Muromegalovirus/immunology
- Muromegalovirus/genetics
- Female
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Humans
- Genetic Vectors
- Immunity, Cellular
- Immunity, Humoral
- Disease Models, Animal
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Metzdorf
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Centre for Individualized Infection Medicine, a Joint Venture of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Medicine and the Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Henning Jacobsen
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Centre for Individualized Infection Medicine, a Joint Venture of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Medicine and the Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Yeonsu Kim
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Centre for Individualized Infection Medicine, a Joint Venture of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Medicine and the Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Luiz Gustavo Teixeira Alves
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Upasana Kulkarni
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Centre for Individualized Infection Medicine, a Joint Venture of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Medicine and the Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Jelena Materljan
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
- Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Kathrin Eschke
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - M. Zeeshan Chaudhry
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Markus Hoffmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Federico Bertoglio
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maximilian Ruschig
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Hust
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Marko Šustić
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Astrid Krmpotić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Stipan Jonjić
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Marek Widera
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sandra Ciesek
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Landthaler
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luka Čičin-Šain
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Centre for Individualized Infection Medicine, a Joint Venture of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Medicine and the Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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3
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Malouli D, Tiwary M, Gilbride RM, Morrow DW, Hughes CM, Selseth A, Penney T, Castanha P, Wallace M, Yeung Y, Midgett M, Williams C, Reed J, Yu Y, Gao L, Yun G, Treaster L, Laughlin A, Lundy J, Tisoncik-Go J, Whitmore LS, Aye PP, Schiro F, Dufour JP, Papen CR, Taher H, Picker LJ, Früh K, Gale M, Maness NJ, Hansen SG, Barratt-Boyes S, Reed DS, Sacha JB. Cytomegalovirus vaccine vector-induced effector memory CD4 + T cells protect cynomolgus macaques from lethal aerosolized heterologous avian influenza challenge. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6007. [PMID: 39030218 PMCID: PMC11272155 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50345-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
An influenza vaccine approach that overcomes the problem of viral sequence diversity and provides long-lived heterosubtypic protection is urgently needed to protect against pandemic influenza viruses. Here, to determine if lung-resident effector memory T cells induced by cytomegalovirus (CMV)-vectored vaccines expressing conserved internal influenza antigens could protect against lethal influenza challenge, we immunize Mauritian cynomolgus macaques (MCM) with cynomolgus CMV (CyCMV) vaccines expressing H1N1 1918 influenza M1, NP, and PB1 antigens (CyCMV/Flu), and challenge with heterologous, aerosolized avian H5N1 influenza. All six unvaccinated MCM died by seven days post infection with acute respiratory distress, while 54.5% (6/11) CyCMV/Flu-vaccinated MCM survived. Survival correlates with the magnitude of lung-resident influenza-specific CD4 + T cells prior to challenge. These data demonstrate that CD4 + T cells targeting conserved internal influenza proteins can protect against highly pathogenic heterologous influenza challenge and support further exploration of effector memory T cell-based vaccines for universal influenza vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Malouli
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Meenakshi Tiwary
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Roxanne M Gilbride
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - David W Morrow
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Colette M Hughes
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Andrea Selseth
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Toni Penney
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Priscila Castanha
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Megan Wallace
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yulia Yeung
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Connor Williams
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jason Reed
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Yun Yu
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Lina Gao
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Gabin Yun
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Luke Treaster
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Jennifer Tisoncik-Go
- Center for Innate Immunity and Immune Disease, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Leanne S Whitmore
- Center for Innate Immunity and Immune Disease, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Pyone P Aye
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Faith Schiro
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jason P Dufour
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Courtney R Papen
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Husam Taher
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Louis J Picker
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Klaus Früh
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Michael Gale
- Center for Innate Immunity and Immune Disease, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Nicholas J Maness
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Scott G Hansen
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | | | | | - Jonah B Sacha
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA.
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Bloom DC, Lilly C, Canty W, Vilaboa N, Voellmy R. Very Broadly Effective Hemagglutinin-Directed Influenza Vaccines with Anti-Herpetic Activity. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:537. [PMID: 38793788 PMCID: PMC11125745 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12050537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
A universal vaccine that generally prevents influenza virus infection and/or illness remains elusive. We have been exploring a novel approach to vaccination involving replication-competent controlled herpesviruses (RCCVs) that can be deliberately activated to replicate efficiently but only transiently in an administration site in the skin of a subject. The RCCVs are derived from a virulent wild-type herpesvirus strain that has been engineered to contain a heat shock promoter-based gene switch that controls the expression of, typically, two replication-essential viral genes. Additional safety against inadvertent replication is provided by an appropriate secondary mechanism. Our first-generation RCCVs can be activated at the administration site by a mild local heat treatment in the presence of an antiprogestin. Here, we report that epidermal vaccination with such RCCVs expressing a hemagglutinin or neuraminidase of an H1N1 influenza virus strain protected mice against lethal challenges by H1N1 virus strains representing 75 years of evolution. Moreover, immunization with an RCCV expressing a subtype H1 hemagglutinin afforded full protection against a lethal challenge by an H3N2 influenza strain, and an RCCV expressing a subtype H3 hemagglutinin protected against a lethal challenge by an H1N1 strain. Vaccinated animals continued to gain weight normally after the challenge. Protective effects were even observed in a lethal influenza B virus challenge. The RCCV-based vaccines induced robust titers of in-group, cross-group and even cross-type neutralizing antibodies. Passive immunization suggested that observed vaccine effects were at least partially antibody-mediated. In summary, RCCVs expressing a hemagglutinin induce robust and very broad cross-protective immunity against influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C. Bloom
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610-0266, USA; (D.C.B.); (C.L.); (W.C.)
| | - Cameron Lilly
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610-0266, USA; (D.C.B.); (C.L.); (W.C.)
| | - William Canty
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610-0266, USA; (D.C.B.); (C.L.); (W.C.)
| | - Nuria Vilaboa
- Hospital Universitario La Paz-IdiPAZ, 28046 Madrid, Spain;
- CIBER de Bioingenieria, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, CIBER de Bioingenieria, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, 28046 Madrid, Spain
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5
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Minami S, Kotaki T, Sakai Y, Okamura S, Torii S, Ono C, Motooka D, Hamajima R, Nouda R, Nurdin JA, Yamasaki M, Kanai Y, Ebina H, Maeda Y, Okamoto T, Tachibana T, Matsuura Y, Kobayashi T. Vero cell-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain shows increased viral growth through furin-mediated efficient spike cleavage. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0285923. [PMID: 38415690 PMCID: PMC10986611 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02859-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) utilizes several host proteases to cleave the spike (S) protein to enter host cells. SARS-CoV-2 S protein is cleaved into S1 and S2 subunits by furin, which is closely involved in the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2. However, the effects of the modulated protease cleavage activity due to S protein mutations on viral replication and pathogenesis remain unclear. Herein, we serially passaged two SARS-CoV-2 strains in Vero cells and characterized the cell-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strains in vitro and in vivo. The adapted strains showed high viral growth, effective S1/S2 cleavage of the S protein, and low pathogenicity compared with the wild-type strain. Furthermore, the viral growth and S1/S2 cleavage were enhanced by the combination of the Δ68-76 and H655Y mutations using recombinant SARS-CoV-2 strains generated by the circular polymerase extension reaction. The recombinant SARS-CoV-2 strain, which contained the mutation of the adapted strain, showed increased susceptibility to the furin inhibitor, suggesting that the adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain utilized furin more effectively than the wild-type strain. Pathogenicity was attenuated by infection with effectively cleaved recombinant SARS-CoV-2 strains, suggesting that the excessive cleavage of the S proteins decreases virulence. Finally, the high-growth-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain could be used as the seed for a low-cost inactivated vaccine; immunization with this vaccine can effectively protect the host from SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our findings provide novel insights into the growth and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 in the evolution of cell-cell transmission. IMPORTANCE The efficacy of the S protein cleavage generally differs among the SARS-CoV-2 variants, resulting in distinct viral characteristics. The relationship between a mutation and the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the sequence of high-growth Vero cell-adapted SARS-CoV-2 and factors determining the enhancement of the growth of the adapted virus and confirmed the characteristics of the adapted strain by analyzing the recombinant SARS-CoV-2 strain. We successfully identified mutations Δ68-76 and H655Y, which enhance viral growth and the S protein cleavage by furin. Using recombinant viruses enabled us to conduct a virus challenge experiment in vivo. The pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 introduced with the mutations Δ68-76, H655Y, P812L, and Q853L was attenuated in hamsters, indicating the possibility of the attenuation of excessive cleaved SARS-CoV-2. These findings provide novel insights into the infectivity and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 strains, thereby significantly contributing to the field of virology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohei Minami
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Kotaki
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yusuke Sakai
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinya Okamura
- Virus Vaccine Group, BIKEN Innovative Vaccine Research Alliance Laboratories, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shiho Torii
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chikako Ono
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daisuke Motooka
- Department of Infection Metagenomics, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Rina Hamajima
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryotaro Nouda
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jeffery A. Nurdin
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Moeko Yamasaki
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuta Kanai
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Ebina
- Virus Vaccine Group, BIKEN Innovative Vaccine Research Alliance Laboratories, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yusuke Maeda
- Laboratory of Viral Dynamism Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toru Okamoto
- Institute for Advanced Co-creation Studies, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Taro Tachibana
- Cell Engineering Corporation, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshiharu Matsuura
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kobayashi
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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6
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Metzdorf K, Jacobsen H, Kim Y, Teixeira Alves LG, Kulkarni U, Eschke K, Chaudhry MZ, Hoffmann M, Bertoglio F, Ruschig M, Hust M, Cokarić Brdovčak M, Materljan J, Šustić M, Krmpotić A, Jonjić S, Widera M, Ciesek S, Pöhlmann S, Landthaler M, Čičin-Šain L. A single-dose MCMV-based vaccine elicits long-lasting immune protection in mice against distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2022.11.25.517953. [PMID: 36482969 PMCID: PMC9727759 DOI: 10.1101/2022.11.25.517953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Current vaccines against COVID-19 elicit immune responses that are overall strong but wane rapidly. As a consequence, the necessary booster shots have led to vaccine fatigue. Hence, vaccines that would provide lasting protection against COVID-19 are needed, but are still unavailable. Cytomegaloviruses (CMV) elicit lasting and uniquely strong immune responses. Used as vaccine vectors, they may be attractive tools that obviate the need for boosters. Therefore, we tested the murine CMV (MCMV) as a vaccine vector against COVID-19 in relevant preclinical models of immunization and challenge. We have previously developed a recombinant murine CMV (MCMV) vaccine vector expressing the spike protein of the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 (MCMVS). In this study, we show that the MCMVS elicits a robust and lasting protection in young and aged mice. Notably, S-specific humoral and cellular immunity was not only maintained but even increased over a period of at least 6 months. During that time, antibody avidity continuously increased and expanded in breadth, resulting in neutralization of genetically distant variants, like Omicron BA.1. A single dose of MCMVS conferred rapid virus clearance upon challenge. Moreover, MCMVS vaccination controlled two immune-evading variants of concern (VoCs), the Beta (B.1.135) and the Omicron (BA.1) variants. Thus, CMV vectors provide unique advantages over other vaccine technologies, eliciting broadly reactive and long-lasting immune responses against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Metzdorf
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Henning Jacobsen
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Yeonsu Kim
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Luiz Gustavo Teixeira Alves
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Upasana Kulkarni
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Kathrin Eschke
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - M. Zeeshan Chaudhry
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Markus Hoffmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Federico Bertoglio
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maximilian Ruschig
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Hust
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | - Jelena Materljan
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
- Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Marko Šustić
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Astrid Krmpotić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Stipan Jonjić
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Marek Widera
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sandra Ciesek
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), External partner site Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Landthaler
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luka Čičin-Šain
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Centre for Individualized Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture of HZI and MHH, Hannover, Germany
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7
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Liu J, Jaijyan DK, Chen Y, Feng C, Yang S, Xu Z, Zhan N, Hong C, Li S, Cheng T, Zhu H. Cytomegalovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccines elicit neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (BA.2) in mice. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0246323. [PMID: 37971259 PMCID: PMC10883801 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02463-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been used as a novel viral vector for vaccine development and gene therapy. Coronavirus disease 2019 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is highly mutable and is still circulating globally. The study showed that the CMV viral vector caused transient systemic infection and induced robust transgene expression in vivo. CMV vectors expressing different SARS-CoV-2 proteins were immunogenic and could elicit neutralizing antibodies against a highly mutated Omicron variant (BA.2). The expression level of receptor-binding domain (RBD) protein was higher than that of full-length S protein using CMV as a vaccine vector, and CMV vector expression RBD protein elicited higher RBD-binding and neutralizing antibodies. Moreover, the study showed that CMV-vectored vaccines would not cause unexpected viral transmission, and pre-existing immunity might impair the immunogenicity of subsequent CMV-vectored vaccines. These works provide meaningful insights for the development of a CMV-based vector vaccine platform and the prevention and control strategies for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Liu
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Minnan Normal University , Zhangzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Dabbu Kumar Jaijyan
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School , Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Yanling Chen
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Minnan Normal University , Zhangzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Changcan Feng
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Minnan Normal University , Zhangzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Shaomin Yang
- Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Department of Pain Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital , Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhenglong Xu
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Minnan Normal University , Zhangzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Nichun Zhan
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Minnan Normal University , Zhangzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Congming Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Shuxuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Tong Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Hua Zhu
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School , Newark, New Jersey, USA
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8
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Kamel MS, Munds RA, Verma MS. The Quest for Immunity: Exploring Human Herpesviruses as Vaccine Vectors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16112. [PMID: 38003300 PMCID: PMC10671728 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216112] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Herpesviruses are large DNA viruses that have long been used as powerful gene therapy tools. In recent years, the ability of herpesviruses to stimulate both innate and adaptive immune responses has led to their transition to various applications as vaccine vectors. This vaccinology branch is growing at an unprecedented and accelerated rate. To date, human herpesvirus-based vectors have been used in vaccines to combat a variety of infectious agents, including the Ebola virus, foot and mouth disease virus, and human immunodeficiency viruses. Additionally, these vectors are being tested as potential vaccines for cancer-associated antigens. Thanks to advances in recombinant DNA technology, immunology, and genomics, numerous steps in vaccine development have been greatly improved. A better understanding of herpesvirus biology and the interactions between these viruses and the host cells will undoubtedly foster the use of herpesvirus-based vaccine vectors in clinical settings. To overcome the existing drawbacks of these vectors, ongoing research is needed to further advance our knowledge of herpesvirus biology and to develop safer and more effective vaccine vectors. Advanced molecular virology and cell biology techniques must be used to better understand the mechanisms by which herpesviruses manipulate host cells and how viral gene expression is regulated during infection. In this review, we cover the underlying molecular structure of herpesviruses and the strategies used to engineer their genomes to optimize capacity and efficacy as vaccine vectors. Also, we assess the available data on the successful application of herpesvirus-based vaccines for combating diseases such as viral infections and the potential drawbacks and alternative approaches to surmount them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed S. Kamel
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 11221, Egypt
| | - Rachel A. Munds
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Krishi Inc., West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | - Mohit S. Verma
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Krishi Inc., West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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9
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Zeng J, Jaijyan DK, Yang S, Pei S, Tang Q, Zhu H. Exploring the Potential of Cytomegalovirus-Based Vectors: A Review. Viruses 2023; 15:2043. [PMID: 37896820 PMCID: PMC10612100 DOI: 10.3390/v15102043] [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: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral vectors have emerged as powerful tools for delivering and expressing foreign genes, playing a pivotal role in gene therapy. Among these vectors, cytomegalovirus (CMV) stands out as a promising viral vector due to its distinctive attributes including large packaging capacity, ability to achieve superinfection, broad host range, capacity to induce CD8+ T cell responses, lack of integration into the host genome, and other qualities that make it an appealing vector candidate. Engineered attenuated CMV strains such as Towne and AD169 that have a ~15 kb genomic DNA deletion caused by virus passage guarantee human safety. CMV's large genome enables the efficient incorporation of substantial foreign genes as demonstrated by CMV vector-based therapies for SIV, tuberculosis, cancer, malaria, aging, COVID-19, and more. CMV is capable of reinfecting hosts regardless of prior infection or immunity, making it highly suitable for multiple vector administrations. In addition to its broad cellular tropism and sustained high-level gene expression, CMV triggers robust, virus-specific CD8+ T cell responses, offering a significant advantage as a vaccine vector. To date, successful development and testing of murine CMV (MCMV) and rhesus CMV (RhCMV) vectors in animal models have demonstrated the efficacy of CMV-based vectors. These investigations have explored the potential of CMV vectors for vaccines against HIV, cancer, tuberculosis, malaria, and other infectious pathogens, as well as for other gene therapy applications. Moreover, the generation of single-cycle replication CMV vectors, produced by deleting essential genes, ensures robust safety in an immunocompromised population. The results of these studies emphasize CMV's effectiveness as a gene delivery vehicle and shed light on the future applications of a CMV vector. While challenges such as production complexities and storage limitations need to be addressed, ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between animal models and human translation continue to fuel the optimism surrounding CMV-based vectors. This review will outline the properties of CMV vectors and discuss their future applications as well as possible limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Zeng
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 070101, USA
| | - Dabbu Kumar Jaijyan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 070101, USA
| | - Shaomin Yang
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Shakai Pei
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 070101, USA
| | - Qiyi Tang
- Department of Microbiology, Howard University College of Medicine, 520 W Street NW, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Hua Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 070101, USA
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10
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Struble EB, Rawson JMO, Stantchev T, Scott D, Shapiro MA. Uses and Challenges of Antiviral Polyclonal and Monoclonal Antibody Therapies. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15051538. [PMID: 37242780 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15051538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral diseases represent a major public health concerns and ever-present risks for developing into future pandemics. Antiviral antibody therapeutics, either alone or in combination with other therapies, emerged as valuable preventative and treatment options, including during global emergencies. Here we will discuss polyclonal and monoclonal antiviral antibody therapies, focusing on the unique biochemical and physiological properties that make them well-suited as therapeutic agents. We will describe the methods of antibody characterization and potency assessment throughout development, highlighting similarities and differences between polyclonal and monoclonal products as appropriate. In addition, we will consider the benefits and challenges of antiviral antibodies when used in combination with other antibodies or other types of antiviral therapeutics. Lastly, we will discuss novel approaches to the characterization and development of antiviral antibodies and identify areas that would benefit from additional research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evi B Struble
- Division of Plasma Derivatives, Office of Plasma Protein Therapeutics CMC, Office of Therapeutic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Jonathan M O Rawson
- Division of Antivirals, Office of Infectious Diseases, Office of New Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Tzanko Stantchev
- Division of Biotechnology Review and Research 1, Office of Biotechnology Products, Office of Pharmaceutical Quality, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Dorothy Scott
- Division of Plasma Derivatives, Office of Plasma Protein Therapeutics CMC, Office of Therapeutic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Marjorie A Shapiro
- Division of Biotechnology Review and Research 1, Office of Biotechnology Products, Office of Pharmaceutical Quality, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
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11
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Szabó GT, Mahiny AJ, Vlatkovic I. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines: Platforms and current developments. Mol Ther 2022; 30:1850-1868. [PMID: 35189345 PMCID: PMC8856755 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the first successful application of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) as a vaccine agent in a preclinical study nearly 30 years ago, numerous advances have been made in the field of mRNA therapeutic technologies. This research uncovered the unique favorable characteristics of mRNA vaccines, including their ability to give rise to non-toxic, potent immune responses and the potential to design and upscale them rapidly, making them excellent vaccine candidates during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Indeed, the first two vaccines against COVID-19 to receive accelerated regulatory authorization were nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccines, which showed more than 90% protective efficacy against symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection alongside tolerable safety profiles in the pivotal phase III clinical trials. Real-world evidence following the deployment of global vaccination campaigns utilizing mRNA vaccines has bolstered clinical trial evidence and further illustrated that this technology can be used safely and effectively to combat COVID-19. This unprecedented success also emphasized the broader potential of this new drug class, not only for other infectious diseases, but also for other indications, such as cancer and inherited diseases. This review presents a brief history and the current status of development of four mRNA vaccine platforms, nucleoside-modified and unmodified mRNA, circular RNA, and self-amplifying RNA, as well as an overview of the recent progress and status of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. We also discuss the current and anticipated challenges of these technologies, which may be important for future research endeavors and clinical applications.
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12
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Brdovčak MC, Materljan J, Šustić M, Ravlić S, Ružić T, Lisnić B, Miklić K, Brizić I, Matešić MP, Lisnić VJ, Halassy B, Rončević D, Knežević Z, Štefan L, Bertoglio F, Schubert M, Čičin-Šain L, Markotić A, Jonjić S, Krmpotić A. ChAdOx1-S adenoviral vector vaccine applied intranasally elicits superior mucosal immunity compared to the intramuscular route of vaccination. Eur J Immunol 2022; 52:936-945. [PMID: 35304741 PMCID: PMC9087383 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202249823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 vaccines prevent severe forms of the disease, but do not warrant complete protection against breakthrough infections. This could be due to suboptimal mucosal immunity at the site of virus entry, given that all currently approved vaccines are administered via the intramuscular route. In this study we assessed humoral and cellular immune responses in BALB/c mice after intranasal and intramuscular immunization with adenoviral vector ChAdOx1-S expressing full-length Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. We showed that both routes of vaccination induced a potent IgG antibody response, as well as robust neutralizing capacity, but intranasal vaccination elicited a superior IgA antibody titer in the sera and in the respiratory mucosa. Bronchoalveolar lavage from intranasally immunized mice efficiently neutralized SARS-CoV-2, which has not been the case in intramuscularly immunized group. Moreover, substantially higher percentages of epitope-specific CD8 T cells exhibiting a tissue resident phenotype were found in the lungs of intranasally immunized animals. Finally, both intranasal and intramuscular vaccination with ChAdOx1-S efficiently protected the mice after the challenge with recombinant herpesvirus expressing the Spike protein. Our results demonstrate that intranasal application of adenoviral vector ChAdOx1-S induces superior mucosal immunity and therefore could be a promising strategy for putting the COVID-19 pandemic under control. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Cokarić Brdovčak
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, 51000, Croatia
| | - Jelena Materljan
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, 51000, Croatia.,Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, 51000, Croatia
| | - Marko Šustić
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, 51000, Croatia
| | - Sanda Ravlić
- Centre for Research and Knowledge Transfer in Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Tina Ružić
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, 51000, Croatia
| | - Berislav Lisnić
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, 51000, Croatia
| | - Karmela Miklić
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, 51000, Croatia
| | - Ilija Brizić
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, 51000, Croatia
| | | | - Vanda Juranić Lisnić
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, 51000, Croatia
| | - Beata Halassy
- Centre for Research and Knowledge Transfer in Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | | | | | - Leo Štefan
- JGL d.d. Jadran Galenski Laboratorij, Rijeka, 51 000, Croatia
| | - Federico Bertoglio
- Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, 38106, Germany
| | - Maren Schubert
- Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, 38106, Germany
| | - Luka Čičin-Šain
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Department of Viral Immunology, Braunschweig, 38124, Germany
| | - Alemka Markotić
- University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Stipan Jonjić
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, 51000, Croatia
| | - Astrid Krmpotić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, 51000, Croatia
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