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Sanchez-Felipe L, Alpizar YA, Ma J, Coelmont L, Dallmeier K. YF17D-based vaccines - standing on the shoulders of a giant. Eur J Immunol 2024; 54:e2250133. [PMID: 38571392 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202250133] [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: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Live-attenuated yellow fever vaccine (YF17D) was developed in the 1930s as the first ever empirically derived human vaccine. Ninety years later, it is still a benchmark for vaccines made today. YF17D triggers a particularly broad and polyfunctional response engaging multiple arms of innate, humoral and cellular immunity. This unique immunogenicity translates into an extraordinary vaccine efficacy and outstanding longevity of protection, possibly by single-dose immunization. More recently, progress in molecular virology and synthetic biology allowed engineering of YF17D as a powerful vector and promising platform for the development of novel recombinant live vaccines, including two licensed vaccines against Japanese encephalitis and dengue, even in paediatric use. Likewise, numerous chimeric and transgenic preclinical candidates have been described. These include prophylactic vaccines against emerging viral infections (e.g. Lassa, Zika and SARS-CoV-2) and parasitic diseases (e.g. malaria), as well as therapeutic applications targeting persistent infections (e.g. HIV and chronic hepatitis), and cancer. Efforts to overcome historical safety concerns and manufacturing challenges are ongoing and pave the way for wider use of YF17D-based vaccines. In this review, we summarize recent insights regarding YF17D as vaccine platform, and how YF17D-based vaccines may complement as well as differentiate from other emerging modalities in response to unmet medical needs and for pandemic preparedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Sanchez-Felipe
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yeranddy A Alpizar
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ji Ma
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lotte Coelmont
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kai Dallmeier
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
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Dong HL, Chen ZL, He MJ, Cui JZ, Cheng H, Wang QY, Xiong XH, Liu G, Chen HP. The Chimeric Chaoyang-Zika Vaccine Candidate Is Safe and Protective in Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:215. [PMID: 38400198 PMCID: PMC10893063 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020215] [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: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging flavivirus that causes congenital syndromes including microcephaly and fetal demise in pregnant women. No commercial vaccines against ZIKV are currently available. We previously generated a chimeric ZIKV (ChinZIKV) based on the Chaoyang virus (CYV) by replacing the prME protein of CYV with that of a contemporary ZIKV strain GZ01. Herein, we evaluated this vaccine candidate in a mouse model and showed that ChinZIKV was totally safe in both adult and suckling immunodeficient mice. No viral RNA was detected in the serum of mice inoculated with ChinZIKV. All of the mice inoculated with ChinZIKV survived, while mice inoculated with ZIKV succumbed to infection in 8 days. A single dose of ChinZIKV partially protected mice against lethal ZIKV challenge. In contrast, all the control PBS-immunized mice succumbed to infection after ZIKV challenge. Our results warrant further development of ChinZIKV as a vaccine candidate in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gang Liu
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Hui-Peng Chen
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
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Baba MM, Ahmed A, Jackson SY, Oderinde BS. Cryptic Zika virus infections unmasked from suspected malaria cases in Northeastern Nigeria. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292350. [PMID: 37939049 PMCID: PMC10631648 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although environmental and human behavioral factors in countries with Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreaks are also common in Nigeria, such an outbreak has not yet been reported probably due to misdiagnosis. The atypical symptoms of malaria and ZIKV infections at the initial phase could leverage their misdiagnosis. This study randomly recruited 496 malaria-suspected patients who visited selected health institutions in Adamawa, Bauchi, and Borno states for malaria tests. These patients' sera were analyzed for ZIKV antibodies using ELISA and plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNT) at 90% endpoint. About 13.8% of Zika virus-neutralizing antibodies (nAb) did not cross-react with dengue, yellow fever, and West Nile viruses suggesting possible monotypic infections. However, 86% of the sera with ZIKV nAb also neutralized other related viruses at varied degrees: dengue viruses (60.7%), West Nile viruses (23.2%), yellow fever virus (7.1%) and 39.3% were co-infections with chikungunya viruses. Notably, the cross-reactions could also reflect co-infections as these viruses are also endemic in the country. The serum dilution that neutralized 90-100% ZIKV infectivity ranged from 1:8 to 1:128. Also, our findings suggest distinct protection against the ZIKV between different collection sites studied. As indicated by nAb, acute ZIKV infection was detected in 1.7% of IgM-positive patients while past infections occurred in 8.5% of IgM-negatives in the three states. In Borno State, 9.4% of IgG neutralized ZIKV denoting past infections while 13.5% were non-neutralizing IgM and IgG indicating other related virus infections. The age, gender, and occupation of the patients and ZIKV nAb were not significantly different. ZIKV nAb from samples collected within 1-7 days after the onset of symptoms was not significantly different from those of 7-10 days. A wider interval with the same techniques in this study may probably give better diagnostic outcomes. ZIKV nAb was significantly distinct among recipients and non-recipients of antibiotic/antimalaria treatments before seeking malaria tests. The inhibiting effect of these drugs on ZIKV infection progression may probably contribute to the absence of neurological disorders associated with the virus despite being endemic in the environment for several decades. Also, protection against ZIKV as marked by the nAb was different among the vaccinated and unvaccinated YF vaccine recipients. Thus, the YF vaccine may be a good alternative to the Zika vaccine in resource-constrained countries. CONCLUSION The cryptic ZIKV infections underscore the need for differential diagnosis of malaria-suspected febrile patients for arboviruses, especially the Zika virus. The absence of systemic surveillance for the virus is worrisome because of its association with neurological disorders in newborns. Co-infections with other arboviruses may impact adversely on the management of these diseases individually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marycelin Mandu Baba
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | - Abubakar Ahmed
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Samaila Yaga Jackson
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | - Bamidele Soji Oderinde
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
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Dong HL, He MJ, Wang QY, Cui JZ, Chen ZL, Xiong XH, Zhang LC, Cheng H, Xiong GQ, Hu A, Lu YY, Cheng CL, Meng ZX, Zhu C, Zhao G, Liu G, Chen HP. Rapid Generation of Recombinant Flaviviruses Using Circular Polymerase Extension Reaction. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1250. [PMID: 37515065 PMCID: PMC10383701 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11071250] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Flavivirus is a group of arthropod-borne single-stranded RNA viruses, which includes important human and animal pathogens such as Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), Zika virus (ZIKV), Dengue virus (DENV), yellow fever virus (YFV), West Nile virus (WNV), and Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). Reverse genetics has been a useful tool for understanding biological properties and the pathogenesis of flaviviruses. However, the conventional construction of full-length infectious clones for flavivirus is time-consuming and difficult due to the toxicity of the flavivirus genome to E. coli. Herein, we applied a simple, rapid, and bacterium-free circular polymerase extension reaction (CPER) method to synthesize recombinant flaviviruses in vertebrate cells as well as insect cells. We started with the de novo synthesis of the JEV vaccine strain SA-14-14-2 in Vero cells using CPER, and then modified the CPER method to recover insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) in mosquito C6/36 cells. Chimeric Zika virus (ChinZIKV) based on the Chaoyang virus (CYV) backbone and the Culex flavivirus reporter virus expressing green fluorescent protein (CxFV-GFP) were subsequently rescued in C6/36 cells. CPER is a simple method for the rapid generation of flaviviruses and other potential RNA viruses. A CPER-based recovery system for flaviviruses of different host ranges was established, which would facilitate the development of countermeasures against flavivirus outbreaks in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Long Dong
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Mei-Juan He
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Qing-Yang Wang
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Jia-Zhen Cui
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Zhi-Li Chen
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | | | | | - Hao Cheng
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Guo-Qing Xiong
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Ao Hu
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Lu
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Chun-Lin Cheng
- School of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Zhi-Xin Meng
- School of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Chen Zhu
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Guang Zhao
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Hui-Peng Chen
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
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Single dose of chimeric dengue-2/Zika vaccine candidate protects mice and non-human primates against Zika virus. Nat Commun 2021; 12:7320. [PMID: 34916486 PMCID: PMC8677809 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27578-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of a safe and effective Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccine has become a global health priority since the widespread epidemic in 2015-2016. Based on previous experience in using the well-characterized and clinically proven dengue virus serotype-2 (DENV-2) PDK-53 vaccine backbone for live-attenuated chimeric flavivirus vaccine development, we developed chimeric DENV-2/ZIKV vaccine candidates optimized for growth and genetic stability in Vero cells. These vaccine candidates retain all previously characterized attenuation phenotypes of the PDK-53 vaccine virus, including attenuation of neurovirulence for 1-day-old CD-1 mice, absence of virulence in interferon receptor-deficient mice, and lack of transmissibility in the main mosquito vectors. A single DENV-2/ZIKV dose provides protection against ZIKV challenge in mice and rhesus macaques. Overall, these data indicate that the ZIKV live-attenuated vaccine candidates are safe, immunogenic and effective at preventing ZIKV infection in multiple animal models, warranting continued development.
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Oreshkova N, Myeni SK, Mishra N, Albulescu IC, Dalebout TJ, Snijder EJ, Bredenbeek PJ, Dallmeier K, Kikkert M. A Yellow Fever 17D Virus Replicon-Based Vaccine Platform for Emerging Coronaviruses. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1492. [PMID: 34960238 PMCID: PMC8704410 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9121492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The tremendous global impact of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, as well as other current and recent outbreaks of (re)emerging viruses, emphasize the need for fast-track development of effective vaccines. Yellow fever virus 17D (YF17D) is a live-attenuated virus vaccine with an impressive efficacy record in humans, and therefore, it is a very attractive platform for the development of novel chimeric vaccines against various pathogens. In the present study, we generated a YF17D-based replicon vaccine platform by replacing the prM and E surface proteins of YF17D with antigenic subdomains from the spike (S) proteins of three different betacoronaviruses: MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and MHV. The prM and E proteins were provided in trans for the packaging of these RNA replicons into single-round infectious particles capable of expressing coronavirus antigens in infected cells. YF17D replicon particles expressing the S1 regions of the MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV spike proteins were immunogenic in mice and elicited (neutralizing) antibody responses against both the YF17D vector and the coronavirus inserts. Thus, YF17D replicon-based vaccines, and their potential DNA- or mRNA-based derivatives, may constitute a promising and particularly safe vaccine platform for current and future emerging coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Oreshkova
- Center of Infectious Diseases LU-CID, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (N.O.); (S.K.M.); (I.C.A.); (T.J.D.); (E.J.S.); (P.J.B.)
| | - Sebenzile K. Myeni
- Center of Infectious Diseases LU-CID, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (N.O.); (S.K.M.); (I.C.A.); (T.J.D.); (E.J.S.); (P.J.B.)
| | - Niraj Mishra
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 Box 1043, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (N.M.); (K.D.)
| | - Irina C. Albulescu
- Center of Infectious Diseases LU-CID, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (N.O.); (S.K.M.); (I.C.A.); (T.J.D.); (E.J.S.); (P.J.B.)
| | - Tim J. Dalebout
- Center of Infectious Diseases LU-CID, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (N.O.); (S.K.M.); (I.C.A.); (T.J.D.); (E.J.S.); (P.J.B.)
| | - Eric J. Snijder
- Center of Infectious Diseases LU-CID, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (N.O.); (S.K.M.); (I.C.A.); (T.J.D.); (E.J.S.); (P.J.B.)
| | - Peter J. Bredenbeek
- Center of Infectious Diseases LU-CID, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (N.O.); (S.K.M.); (I.C.A.); (T.J.D.); (E.J.S.); (P.J.B.)
| | - Kai Dallmeier
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 Box 1043, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (N.M.); (K.D.)
| | - Marjolein Kikkert
- Center of Infectious Diseases LU-CID, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (N.O.); (S.K.M.); (I.C.A.); (T.J.D.); (E.J.S.); (P.J.B.)
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Qin Z, Chen Y, Yu J, He X, Liu X, Zhu L, Wu Q, Wan C, Zhang B, Zhao W. Rapid Construction of an Infectious Clone of the Zika Virus, Strain ZKC2. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:752578. [PMID: 34745057 PMCID: PMC8567171 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.752578] [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: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) has had detrimental effects on global public health in recent years. This is because the management of the disease has been limited, in part because its pathogenic mechanisms are not yet completely understood. Infectious clones are an important tool that utilize reverse genetics; these can be used to modify the ZIKV genomic RNA at the DNA level. A homologous recombination clone was used to construct pWSK29, a low copy plasmid that contained sequences for a T7 promoter, the whole genome of ZIKV ZKC2 strain, and a hepatitis delta virus ribozyme. High fidelity PCR was then used to amplify the T7 transcription template. The transcript was then transfected into susceptible cells via lipofection to recover the ZIKV ZKC2 strain. Finally, the virulence of rZKC2 was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The rZKC2 was successfully obtained and it showed the same virulence as its parent, the ZIKV ZKC2 strain (pZKC2), both in vitro and in vivo. The 3730 (NS2A-D62G) mutation site was identified as being important, since it had significant impacts on rZKC2 recovery. The 4015 (NS2A, A157V) mutation may reduce virus production by increasing the interferon type I response. In this study, one of the earliest strains of ZIKV that was imported into China was used for infectious clone construction and one possible site for antiviral medication development was discovered. The use of homologous recombination clones, of PCR products as templates for T7 transcription, and of lipofection for large RNA transfection could increase the efficiency of infectious clone construction. Our infectious clone provides an effective tool which can be used to explore the life cycle and medical treatment of ZIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiran Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yangyang Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianhai Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoen He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuling Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qinghua Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chengsong Wan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bao Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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A Live-Attenuated Zika Virus Vaccine with High Production Capacity Confers Effective Protection in Neonatal Mice. J Virol 2021; 95:e0038321. [PMID: 33910950 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00383-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy has been linked to congenital abnormalities, such as microcephaly in infants. An efficacious vaccine is desirable for preventing the potential recurrence of ZIKV epidemic. Here, we report the generation of an attenuated ZIKV (rGZ02a) that has sharply decreased virulence in mice but grows to high titers in Vero cells, a widely approved cell line for manufacturing human vaccines. Compared to the wild-type ZIKV (GZ02) and a plasmid-launched rGZ02p, rGZ02a has 3 unique amino acid alterations in the envelope (E, S304F), nonstructural protein 1 (NS1, R103K), and NS5 (W637R). rGZ02a is more sensitive to type I interferon than GZ02 and rGZ02p, and causes no severe neurological disorders in either wild-type neonatal C57BL/6 mice or type I interferon receptor knockout (Ifnar1-/-) C57BL/6 mice. Immunization with rGZ02a elicits robust inhibitory antibody responses with a certain long-term durability. Neonates born to the immunized dams are effectively protected against ZIKV-caused neurological disorders and brain damage. rGZ02a as a booster vaccine greatly improves the protective immunity primed by Ad2-prME, an adenovirus-vectored vaccine expressing ZIKV prM and E proteins. Our results illustrate that rGZ02a-induced maternal immunity can be transferred to the neonates and confer effective protection. Hence, rGZ02a may be developed as an alternative live-attenuated vaccine and warrants further evaluation. IMPORTANCE Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus that has caused global outbreaks since 2013, is associated with severe neurological disorders, such as Guillian-Barré syndrome in adults and microcephaly in infants. The ZIKV epidemic has gradually subsided, but a safe and effective vaccine is still desirable to prevent its potential recurrence, especially in countries of endemicity with competent mosquito vectors. Here, we describe a novel live-attenuated ZIKV, rGZ02a, that carries 3 unique amino acid alterations compared to the wild-type GZ02 and a plasmid-launched rGZ02p. The growth capacity of rGZ02a is comparable to GZ02 in Vero cells, but the pathogenicity is significantly attenuated in two mice models. Immunization with rGZ02a elicits robust inhibitory antibody responses in the dams and effectively protects their offspring against ZIKV disease. Importantly, in a heterologous prime-boost regimen, rGZ02a effectively boosts the protective immunity primed by an adenovirus-vectored vaccine. Thus, rGZ02a is a promising candidate for a live-attenuated ZIKV vaccine.
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Zanotto C, Paolini F, Radaelli A, De Giuli Morghen C. Construction of a recombinant avipoxvirus expressing the env gene of Zika virus as a novel putative preventive vaccine. Virol J 2021; 18:50. [PMID: 33663531 PMCID: PMC7931497 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01519-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Zika virus (ZIKV) has been declared a public health emergency that requires development of an effective vaccine, as it might represent an international threat. Methods Here, two novel DNA-based (pVAXzenv) and fowlpox-based (FPzenv) recombinant putative vaccine candidates were constructed that contained the cPrME genes of ZIKV. The env gene inserted into the fowlpox vector was verified for correct transgene expression by Western blotting and by immunofluorescence in different cell lines. The production of virus-like particles as a result of env gene expression was also demonstrated by electron microscopy. BALB/c mice were immunosuppressed with dexamethasone and immunized following a prime–boost strategy in a heterologous protocol where pVAXzenv was followed by FPzenv, to evaluate the immunogenicity of the Env protein. The mice underwent a challenge with an epidemic ZIKV after the last boost. Results These data show that the ZIKV Env protein was correctly expressed in both normal human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5 cells) and green monkey kidney (Vero) cells infected with FPzenv, and that the transgene expression lasted for more than 2 weeks. After mucosal administration of FPzenv, the immunized mice showed specific and significantly higher humoral responses compared to the control mice. However, virus neutralizing antibodies were not detected using plaque reduction assays. Conclusions Although BALB/c mice appear to be an adequate model for ZIKV infection, as it mimics the natural mild infection in human beings, inadequate immune suppression seemed to occur by dexamethasone and different immune suppression strategies should be applied before challenge to reveal any protection of the mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Zanotto
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Recombinant Vaccine Development, Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Paolini
- HPV-UNIT, Laboratory of Virology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via delle Messi d'Oro, 156, 00158, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonia Radaelli
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Recombinant Vaccine Development, Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129, Milan, Italy.
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A single-dose live attenuated chimeric vaccine candidate against Zika virus. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:20. [PMID: 33514743 PMCID: PMC7846741 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00282-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The mosquito-borne Zika virus is an emerging pathogen from the Flavivirus genus for which there are no approved antivirals or vaccines. Using the clinically validated PDK-53 dengue virus vaccine strain as a backbone, we created a chimeric dengue/Zika virus, VacDZ, as a live attenuated vaccine candidate against Zika virus. VacDZ demonstrates key markers of attenuation: small plaque phenotype, temperature sensitivity, attenuation of neurovirulence in suckling mice, and attenuation of pathogenicity in interferon deficient adult AG129 mice. VacDZ may be administered as a traditional live virus vaccine, or as a DNA-launched vaccine that produces live VacDZ in vivo after delivery. Both vaccine formulations induce a protective immune response against Zika virus in AG129 mice, which includes neutralising antibodies and a strong Th1 response. This study demonstrates that VacDZ is a safe and effective vaccine candidate against Zika virus.
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Amaral MP, Apostolico JDS, Tomita N, Coirada FC, Lunardelli VAS, Fernandes ER, Souza HFS, Astray RM, Boscardin SB, Rosa DS. Homologous prime-boost with Zika virus envelope protein and poly (I:C) induces robust specific humoral and cellular immune responses. Vaccine 2020; 38:3653-3664. [PMID: 32247567 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The recent outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and the potential association with Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults and with congenital abnormalities have highlighted the urgency for an effective vaccine. The ZIKV Envelope glycoprotein (EZIKV) is the most abundant protein on the virus surface, and has been evaluated together with the pre-membrane protein (prM) of the viral coat as a vaccine candidate in clinical trials. In this study, we performed a head-to-head comparison of the immune response induced by different EZIKV-based vaccine candidates in mice. We compared different platforms (DNA, recombinant protein), adjuvants (poly (I:C), CpG ODN 1826) and immunization strategies (homologous, heterologous). The hierarchy of adjuvant potency showed that poly (I:C) was a superior adjuvant than CpG ODN. While poly (I:C) assisted immunization reached a plateau in antibody titers after two doses, the CpG ODN group required an extra immunization dose. Besides, the administration of poly (I:C) induced higher EZIKV-specific cellular immune responses than CpG ODN. We also show that immunization with homologous prime-boost EZIKV protein + poly (I:C) regimen induced a more robust humoral response than homologous DNA (pVAX-EZIKV) or heterologous regimens (DNA/protein or protein/DNA). A detailed analysis of cellular immune responses revealed that homologous (EZIKV + poly (I:C)) and heterologous (pVAX-EZIKV/EZIKV + poly (I:C)) prime-boost regimens induced the highest magnitude of IFN-γ secreting cells and cytokine-producing CD4+ T cells. Overall, our data demonstrate that homologous EZIKV + poly (I:C) prime-boost immunization is sufficient to induce more robust specific-EZIKV humoral and cellular immune responses than the other strategies that contemplate homologous DNA (pVAX-EZIKV) or heterologous (pVAX-EZIKV/EZIKV + poly (I:C), and vice-versa) immunizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Pires Amaral
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana de Souza Apostolico
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, Brazil; Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii), INCT, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nádia Tomita
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Caroline Coirada
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Victória Alves Santos Lunardelli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, Brazil; Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii), INCT, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Edgar Ruz Fernandes
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Higo Fernando Santos Souza
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Silvia Beatriz Boscardin
- Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii), INCT, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniela Santoro Rosa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, Brazil; Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii), INCT, São Paulo, Brazil.
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12
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Therapeutic Advances Against ZIKV: A Quick Response, a Long Way to Go. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2019; 12:ph12030127. [PMID: 31480297 PMCID: PMC6789873 DOI: 10.3390/ph12030127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that spread throughout the American continent in 2015 causing considerable worldwide social and health alarm due to its association with ocular lesions and microcephaly in newborns, and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) cases in adults. Nowadays, no licensed vaccines or antivirals are available against ZIKV, and thus, in this very short time, the scientific community has conducted enormous efforts to develop vaccines and antivirals. So that, different platforms (purified inactivated and live attenuated viruses, DNA and RNA nucleic acid based candidates, virus-like particles, subunit elements, and recombinant viruses) have been evaluated as vaccine candidates. Overall, these vaccines have shown the induction of vigorous humoral and cellular responses, the decrease of viremia and viral RNA levels in natural target organs, the prevention of vertical and sexual transmission, as well as that of ZIKV-associated malformations, and the protection of experimental animal models. Some of these vaccine candidates have already been assayed in clinical trials. Likewise, the search for antivirals have also been the focus of recent investigations, with dozens of compounds tested in cell culture and a few in animal models. Both direct acting antivirals (DAAs), directed to viral structural proteins and enzymes, and host acting antivirals (HAAs), directed to cellular factors affecting all steps of the viral life cycle (binding, entry, fusion, transcription, translation, replication, maturation, and egress), have been evaluated. It is expected that this huge collaborative effort will produce affordable and effective therapeutic and prophylactic tools to combat ZIKV and other related still unknown or nowadays neglected flaviviruses. Here, a comprehensive overview of the advances made in the development of therapeutic measures against ZIKV and the questions that still have to be faced are summarized.
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13
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Danet L, Beauclair G, Berthet M, Moratorio G, Gracias S, Tangy F, Choumet V, Jouvenet N. Midgut barriers prevent the replication and dissemination of the yellow fever vaccine in Aedes aegypti. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007299. [PMID: 31412040 PMCID: PMC6709925 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background To be transmitted to vertebrate hosts via the saliva of their vectors, arthropod-borne viruses have to cross several barriers in the mosquito body, including the midgut infection and escape barriers. Yellow fever virus (YFV) belongs to the genus Flavivirus, which includes human viruses transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, such as dengue and Zika viruses. The live-attenuated YFV-17D vaccine has been used safely and efficiently on a large scale since the end of World War II. Early studies have shown, using viral titration from salivary glands of infected mosquitoes, that YFV-17D can infect Aedes aegypti midgut, but does not disseminate to other tissues. Methodology/Principal findings Here, we re-visited this issue using a panel of techniques, such as RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence and titration assays. We showed that YFV-17D replication was not efficient in Aedes aegypti midgut, as compared to the clinical isolate YFV-Dakar. Viruses that replicated in the midgut failed to disseminate to secondary organs. When injected into the thorax of mosquitoes, viruses succeeded in replicating into midgut-associated tissues, suggesting that, during natural infection, the block for YFV-17D replication occurs at the basal membrane of the midgut. Conclusions/Significance The two barriers associated with Ae. aegypti midgut prevent YFV-17D replication. Our study contributes to our basic understanding of vector–pathogen interactions and may also aid in the development of non-transmissible live virus vaccines. Most flaviviruses, including yellow fever virus (YFV), are transmitted between hosts by mosquito bites. The yellow fever vaccine (YFV-17D) is one of the safest and most effective live virus vaccine ever developed. It is also used as a platform for engineering vaccines against other health-threatening flaviviruses, such as Japanese encephalitis, West Nile, dengue and Zika viruses. We studied here the replication and dissemination of YFV-17D in mosquitoes. Our data showing that YFV-17D is unable to disseminate to secondary organs, as compared to a YFV clinical isolate, agree with previous studies. We have expanded on this knowledge by quantifying viral RNA production, viral protein expression, viral distribution and infectivity of YFV-17D in the vector midguts. We show that the midgut is a powerful barrier that inhibits YFV-17D dissemination in mosquitoes. Our study contributes to our basic understanding of the interactions between viruses and their vectors, which is key for conceiving new approaches in inhibiting virus transmission and designing non-transmissible live virus vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Danet
- Viral Genomics and Vaccination Unit, Institut Pasteur, UMR3569 CNRS, Paris, France
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Beauclair
- Viral Genomics and Vaccination Unit, Institut Pasteur, UMR3569 CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Michèle Berthet
- Environment and Infectious Risks Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Gonzalo Moratorio
- Viral Populations and Pathogenesis Unit, Institut Pasteur, UMR3569 CNRS, Paris, France
- Laboratorio de Inmunovirología, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ségolène Gracias
- Viral Genomics and Vaccination Unit, Institut Pasteur, UMR3569 CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Tangy
- Viral Genomics and Vaccination Unit, Institut Pasteur, UMR3569 CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Valérie Choumet
- Environment and Infectious Risks Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Nolwenn Jouvenet
- Viral Genomics and Vaccination Unit, Institut Pasteur, UMR3569 CNRS, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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14
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Nurtop E, Villarroel PMS, Pastorino B, Ninove L, Drexler JF, Roca Y, Gake B, Dubot-Peres A, Grard G, Peyrefitte C, Priet S, de Lamballerie X, Gallian P. Combination of ELISA screening and seroneutralisation tests to expedite Zika virus seroprevalence studies. Virol J 2018; 15:192. [PMID: 30587193 PMCID: PMC6307276 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-018-1105-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we propose a strategy allowing implementing efficient and practicable large-scale seroepidemiological studies for Zika Virus (ZIKV). It combines screening by a commercial NS1 protein-based Zika IgG ELISA, and confirmation by a cytopathic effect-based virus neutralization test (CPE-based VNT). In post-epidemic samples from Martinique Island blood donors (a population with a dengue seroprevalence above 90%), this strategy allowed reaching specificity and sensitivity values over 98%. The CPE-based VNT consists of recording CPE directly under the optical microscope, which is easy to identify with ZIKV strain H/PF/2013 at day 5 pi. Overall, considered that CPE-based VNT is cost effective and widely automatable, the NS1 protein-based Zika IgG ELISA+CPE-based VNT combination strategy represents a convenient tool to expedite ZIKV seroprevalence studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Nurtop
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ – IRD 190 – Inserm 1207 – IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
| | - Paola Mariela Saba Villarroel
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ – IRD 190 – Inserm 1207 – IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
- Virología II, Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Tropicales (CENETROP), Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
| | - Boris Pastorino
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ – IRD 190 – Inserm 1207 – IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
| | - Laetitia Ninove
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ – IRD 190 – Inserm 1207 – IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
| | - Jan-Felix Drexler
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yelin Roca
- Virología II, Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Tropicales (CENETROP), Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
| | - Bouba Gake
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ – IRD 190 – Inserm 1207 – IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
- Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Audrey Dubot-Peres
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ – IRD 190 – Inserm 1207 – IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
| | - Gilda Grard
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ – IRD 190 – Inserm 1207 – IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
- National Reference Centre for Arboviruses, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Marseille, France
| | - Christophe Peyrefitte
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ – IRD 190 – Inserm 1207 – IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
- National Reference Centre for Arboviruses, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Marseille, France
| | - Stéphane Priet
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ – IRD 190 – Inserm 1207 – IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
| | - Xavier de Lamballerie
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ – IRD 190 – Inserm 1207 – IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
| | - Pierre Gallian
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ – IRD 190 – Inserm 1207 – IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
- Laboratoire de Virologie, Établissement Français du Sang Alpes Méditerranée (EFS), Marseille, France
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15
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Ghaffar KA, Ng LFP, Renia L. Fast Tracks and Roadblocks for Zika Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2018; 6:vaccines6040077. [PMID: 30469444 PMCID: PMC6313897 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines6040077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In early 2014, a relatively obscure virus, the Zika virus, made headlines worldwide following an increase in the number of congenital malformations. Since then, research on Zika virus, treatment and vaccines have progressed swiftly with various drugs being repurposed and vaccines heading into clinical trials. Nonetheless, the need for a vaccine is crucial in order to eradicate this re-emerging arthropod-borne virus which remained silent since its first discovery in 1947. In this review, we focused on how the inconspicuous virus managed to spread, the key immunological factors required for a vaccine and the various vaccine platforms that are currently being studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khairunnisa Abdul Ghaffar
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138648, Singapore.
| | - Lisa F P Ng
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138648, Singapore.
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7BE, UK.
| | - Laurent Renia
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138648, Singapore.
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