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Almansour I, Jermy BR. Nucleic acid vaccine candidates encapsulated with mesoporous silica nanoparticles against MERS-CoV. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2346390. [PMID: 38691025 PMCID: PMC11067998 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2346390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Middle East respiratory coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a newly emergent, highly pathogenic coronavirus that is associated with 34% mortality rate. MERS-CoV remains listed as priority pathogen by the WHO. Since its discovery in 2012 and despite the efforts to develop coronaviruses vaccines to fight against SARS-CoV-2, there are currently no MERS-CoV vaccine that has been approved. Therefore, there is high demand to continue on the development of prophylactic vaccines against MERS-CoV. Current advancements in vaccine developments can be adapted for the development of improved MERS-CoV vaccines candidates. Nucleic acid-based vaccines, including pDNA and mRNA, are relatively new class of vaccine platforms. In this work, we developed pDNA and mRNA vaccine candidates expressing S.FL gene of MERS-CoV. Further, we synthesized a silane functionalized hierarchical aluminosilicate to encapsulate each vaccine candidates. We tested the nucleic acid vaccine candidates in mice and evaluated humoral antibodies response. Interestingly, we determined that the non-encapsulated, codon optimized S.FL pDNA vaccine candidate elicited the highest level of antibody responses against S.FL and S1 of MERS-CoV. Encapsulation of mRNA with nanoporous aluminosilicate increased the humoral antibody responses, whereas encapsulation of pDNA did not. These findings suggests that MERS-CoV S.FL pDNA vaccine candidate induced the highest level of humoral responses. This study will enhance further optimization of nanosilica as potential carrier for mRNA vaccines. In conclusion, this study suggests MERS-CoV pDNA vaccine candidate as a suitable vaccine platform for further pivotal preclinical testings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman Almansour
- Nucleic Acid Vaccine Laboratory, Department of Epidemic Diseases Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations IRMC, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - B. Rabindran Jermy
- Department of Nanomedicine Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations IRMC, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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2
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Shen X, Wang S, Hao Y, Fu Y, Ren L, Li D, Tang W, Li J, Chen R, Zhu M, Wang S, Liu Y, Shao Y. DNA vaccine prime and replicating vaccinia vaccine boost induce robust humoral and cellular immune responses against MERS-CoV in mice. Virol Sin 2024; 39:490-500. [PMID: 38768713 PMCID: PMC11279798 DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2024.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
As of December 2022, 2603 laboratory-identified Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections and 935 associated deaths, with a mortality rate of 36%, had been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). However, there are still no vaccines for MERS-CoV, which makes the prevention and control of MERS-CoV difficult. In this study, we generated two DNA vaccine candidates by integrating MERS-CoV Spike (S) gene into a replicating Vaccinia Tian Tan (VTT) vector. Compared to homologous immunization with either vaccine, mice immunized with DNA vaccine prime and VTT vaccine boost exhibited much stronger and durable humoral and cellular immune responses. The immunized mice produced robust binding antibodies and broad neutralizing antibodies against the EMC2012, England1 and KNIH strains of MERS-CoV. Prime-Boost immunization also induced strong MERS-S specific T cells responses, with high memory and poly-functional (CD107a-IFN-γ-TNF-α) effector CD8+ T cells. In conclusion, the research demonstrated that DNA-Prime/VTT-Boost strategy could elicit robust and balanced humoral and cellular immune responses against MERS-CoV-S. This study not only provides a promising set of MERS-CoV vaccine candidates, but also proposes a heterologous sequential immunization strategy worthy of further development.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/genetics
- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/immunology
- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/genetics
- Immunity, Cellular
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Mice
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Immunity, Humoral
- Viral Vaccines/immunology
- Viral Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Viral Vaccines/genetics
- Female
- Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control
- Coronavirus Infections/immunology
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Vaccinia virus/genetics
- Vaccinia virus/immunology
- Immunization, Secondary
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuli Shen
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Shuhui Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yanling Hao
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yuyu Fu
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Li Ren
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Dan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Wenqi Tang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Jing Li
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Ran Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Meiling Zhu
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Ying Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
| | - Yiming Shao
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China; Changping Laboratory, Yard 28, Science Park Road, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China; State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
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3
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Lu B, Lim JM, Yu B, Song S, Neeli P, Sobhani N, K P, Bonam SR, Kurapati R, Zheng J, Chai D. The next-generation DNA vaccine platforms and delivery systems: advances, challenges and prospects. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1332939. [PMID: 38361919 PMCID: PMC10867258 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1332939] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Vaccines have proven effective in the treatment and prevention of numerous diseases. However, traditional attenuated and inactivated vaccines suffer from certain drawbacks such as complex preparation, limited efficacy, potential risks and others. These limitations restrict their widespread use, especially in the face of an increasingly diverse range of diseases. With the ongoing advancements in genetic engineering vaccines, DNA vaccines have emerged as a highly promising approach in the treatment of both genetic diseases and acquired diseases. While several DNA vaccines have demonstrated substantial success in animal models of diseases, certain challenges need to be addressed before application in human subjects. The primary obstacle lies in the absence of an optimal delivery system, which significantly hampers the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines. We conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current status and limitations of DNA vaccines by focusing on both viral and non-viral DNA delivery systems, as they play crucial roles in the exploration of novel DNA vaccines. We provide an evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses based on our critical assessment. Additionally, the review summarizes the most recent advancements and breakthroughs in pre-clinical and clinical studies, highlighting the need for further clinical trials in this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Lu
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Center of Clinical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing Ming Lim
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Boyue Yu
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Siyuan Song
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Praveen Neeli
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Navid Sobhani
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Pavithra K
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Srinivasa Reddy Bonam
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Rajendra Kurapati
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Junnian Zheng
- Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Center of Clinical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dafei Chai
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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4
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Lee HD, Chun J, Kim S, Aleksandra N, Lee C, Yoon D, Lee HJ, Kim YB. Comparative Biodistribution Study of Baculoviral and Adenoviral Vector Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 34:185-191. [PMID: 37830223 PMCID: PMC10840461 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2308.08042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Various types of vaccines have been developed against COVID-19, including vector vaccines. Among the COVID-19 vaccines, AstraZeneca's chimpanzee adenoviral vaccine was the first to be commercialized. For viral vector vaccines, biodistribution studies are critical to vaccine safety, gene delivery, and efficacy. This study compared the biodistribution of the baculoviral vector vaccine (AcHERV-COVID19) and the adenoviral vector vaccine (Ad-COVID19). Both vaccines were administered intramuscularly to mice, and the distribution of the SARS-CoV-2 S gene in each tissue was evaluated for up to 30 days. After vaccination, serum and various tissue samples were collected from the mice at each time point, and IgG levels and DNA copy numbers were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. AcHERV-COVID19 and Ad-COVID19 distribution showed that the SARS-CoV-2 spike gene remained predominantly at the injection site in the mouse muscle. In kidney, liver, and spleen tissues, the AcHERV-COVID19 group showed about 2-4 times higher persistence of the SARS-CoV-2 spike gene than the Ad-COVID19 group. The distribution patterns of AcHERV-COVID19 and Ad-COVID19 within various organs highlight their contrasting biodistribution profiles, with AcHERV-COVID19 exhibiting a broader and prolonged presence in the body compared to Ad-COVID19. Understanding the biodistribution profile of AcHERV-COVID19 and Ad-COVID19 could help select viral vectors for future vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon Dong Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungmin Chun
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Sehyun Kim
- KR BioTech Co. Ltd., Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Nowakowska Aleksandra
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Chanyeong Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Doyoung Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-jung Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Bong Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
- KR BioTech Co. Ltd., Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
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5
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Yao L, Chemaitelly H, Goldman E, Gudina EK, Khalil A, Ahmed R, James AB, Roca A, Fallah MP, Macnab A, Cho WC, Eikelboom J, Qamar FN, Kremsner P, Oliu-Barton M, Sisa I, Tadesse BT, Marks F, Wang L, Kim JH, Meng X, Wang Y, Fly AD, Wang CY, Day SW, Howard SC, Graff JC, Maida M, Ray K, Franco-Paredes C, Mashe T, Ngongo N, Kaseya J, Ndembi N, Hu Y, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ, Ishii KJ, Wang G, Sun D, Aleya L, Gu W. Time to establish an international vaccine candidate pool for potential highly infectious respiratory disease: a community's view. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 64:102222. [PMID: 37811488 PMCID: PMC10550631 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In counteracting highly infectious and disruptive respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, vaccination remains the primary and safest way to prevent disease, reduce the severity of illness, and save lives. Unfortunately, vaccination is often not the first intervention deployed for a new pandemic, as it takes time to develop and test vaccines, and confirmation of safety requires a period of observation after vaccination to detect potential late-onset vaccine-associated adverse events. In the meantime, nonpharmacologic public health interventions such as mask-wearing and social distancing can provide some degree of protection. As climate change, with its environmental impacts on pathogen evolution and international mobility continue to rise, highly infectious respiratory diseases will likely emerge more frequently and their impact is expected to be substantial. How quickly a safe and efficacious vaccine can be deployed against rising infectious respiratory diseases may be the most important challenge that humanity will face in the near future. While some organizations are engaged in addressing the World Health Organization's "blueprint for priority diseases", the lack of worldwide preparedness, and the uncertainty around universal vaccine availability, remain major concerns. We therefore propose the establishment of an international candidate vaccine pool repository for potential respiratory diseases, supported by multiple stakeholders and countries that contribute facilities, technologies, and other medical and financial resources. The types and categories of candidate vaccines can be determined based on information from previous pandemics and epidemics. Each participant country or region can focus on developing one or a few vaccine types or categories, together covering most if not all possible potential infectious diseases. The safety of these vaccines can be tested using animal models. Information for effective candidates that can be potentially applied to humans will then be shared across all participants. When a new pandemic arises, these pre-selected and tested vaccines can be quickly tested in RCTs for human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Yao
- Department of Nutrition and Health Science, College of Health, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and BME-Campbell Clinic, University of Tennessee Health Science Centre, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Hiam Chemaitelly
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation – Education City, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emanuel Goldman
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Esayas Kebede Gudina
- Department of Internal Medicine, Jimma University Institute of Health, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Asma Khalil
- Fetal Medicine Unit, St George’s Hospital, St George’s University of London, London, UK
- Vascular Biology Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George’s University of London, London, UK
| | - Rahaman Ahmed
- Cell Biology and Genetics Department, University of Lagos, Lagos 101017, Nigeria
- Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Microbiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos 100001, Nigeria
| | - Ayorinde Babatunde James
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria
| | - Anna Roca
- Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara 273, The Gambia
| | - Mosoka Papa Fallah
- Refuge Place International, Monrovia, Liberia
- Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases Policy and Research, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Africa Centre for Disease Control, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Andrew Macnab
- The Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), Wallenberg Research Centre at Stellenbosch University, South Africa
| | - William C. Cho
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - John Eikelboom
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences Hamilton, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Farah Naz Qamar
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University Hospital, National Stadium Rd, Karachi, Sindh 74800, Pakistan
| | - Peter Kremsner
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, Universität Tübingen, Germany
- Centre de Recherches Medicales de Lambarene, Gabon
| | - Miquel Oliu-Barton
- Université Paris Dauphine – PSL, Pl. du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, Paris 75016, France
- Bruegel, Rue de la Charité 33, Brussels 1210, Belgium
| | - Ivan Sisa
- College of Health Sciences, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador
| | | | - Florian Marks
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Lishi Wang
- Department of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Jinshan Development Zone, Huhhot, China
| | - Jerome H. Kim
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Seoul National University, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Xia Meng
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yongjun Wang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Alyce D. Fly
- Department of Nutrition and Health Science, College of Health, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA
| | - Cong-Yi Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Centre for Biomedical Research, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Sara W. Day
- College of Nursing, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Scott C. Howard
- College of Nursing, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - J. Carolyn Graff
- College of Nursing, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Marcello Maida
- Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, S. Elia-Raimondi Hospital, Caltanissetta 93100, Italy
| | - Kunal Ray
- School of Biological Science, Ramkrishna Mission Vivekananda Education & Research Institute, Narendrapur 700103, West Bengal, India
| | - Carlos Franco-Paredes
- Hospital Infantil de Mexico, Federico Gomez, Mexico
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, USA
| | - Tapfumanei Mashe
- One Health Office, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe
- World Health Organization, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | | | | | - Yu Hu
- Institute of Haematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, China
- Hubei Clinical and Research Centre of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Wuhan, China
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital Centre for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital Centre for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ken J. Ishii
- Division of Vaccine Science, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- International Vaccine Design Centre, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Centre for Vaccine Adjuvant Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Dianjun Sun
- Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University; Key Laboratory of Etiologic Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health 23618104, 157 Baojian Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Lotfi Aleya
- Chrono-Environnement Laboratory, UMR CNRS 6249, Bourgogne Franche-Comté University, Besançon Cedex F-25030, France
| | - Weikuan Gu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and BME-Campbell Clinic, University of Tennessee Health Science Centre, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
- Research Service, Memphis VA Medical Centre, 1030 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104, USA
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6
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Wahba MA, Mofed D, Ghareeb DA, Omran JI, Salem TZ. Baculovirus displaying SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD promotes neutralizing antibody production in a mouse model. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2023; 21:16. [PMID: 36759349 PMCID: PMC9910779 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-023-00472-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is always a need for a safe and efficient vaccine platform, especially when facing a pandemic such as COVID-19. Most of the SARS-CoV-2-based vaccines are based on the full spike protein, which is presented as a trimerized protein, and many viral vector vaccines express the spike protein into the host cells and do not display it on virus surfaces. However, the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD)-based vaccines are efficient and are currently under investigation and clinical trials. METHODOLOGY In this study, we are testing the efficacy of the RBD displayed on a baculovirus as a mean to formulate a safe and stable carrier to induce the immune system against SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, two pseudotyped baculoviruses were constructed to display the RBD, AcRBD-sfGFP-64, and AcRBD-sfGFP-V, using two different displaying strategies based on gp64 and VSV-G envelope glycoproteins, from Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), respectively. BALB/C mice were immunized with the pseudotyped baculoviruses in a dose-optimized manner. Dot blot and Western blot were used to screen and validate the polyclonal antibodies' specificity to the SARS-CoV-2 RBD. A plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) was used to measure the sera neutralization capacity against a SARS-CoV-2 wild-type isolate from Egypt. ELISA was used to quantify certain cytokines for the assessment of the immune response. RESULT The outcome of our investigation showed that the monomeric RBD proteins were properly displayed on baculovirus and efficiently triggered the mouse immune system. The produced sera efficiently neutralized about 50% of SARS-CoV-2 in more than 100-fold serum dilution. The immunized mice showed a significant increase (p<0.01) in the levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ and a significant decrease (p<0.01) and (p<0.001) in the levels of IL-4 and IL-10, respectively, which suggest that AcRBD-sfGFP-64 and AcRBD-sfGFP-V induce Th1 cellular immune response. CONCLUSION The produced recombinant viruses can induce the immune response without adjuvant, which needs dose optimization and further stability tests. Neutralizing antibodies were induced without affecting the health of immunized mice. Th1 response can be attainable through the system, which is of great benefit in SARS CoV-2 infection and the system can be tested for future applications including vaccine development and polyclonal antibody production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A. Wahba
- grid.440881.10000 0004 0576 5483Molecular Biology and Virology lab, Biomedical Sciences program, UST, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza 12578 Egypt
| | - Dina Mofed
- grid.440881.10000 0004 0576 5483Molecular Biology and Virology lab, Biomedical Sciences program, UST, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza 12578 Egypt
| | - Doaa A. Ghareeb
- grid.7155.60000 0001 2260 6941Bio-screening and preclinical trial lab, Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, P.O. Box 21511, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Jihad I. Omran
- grid.440881.10000 0004 0576 5483Molecular Biology and Virology lab, Biomedical Sciences program, UST, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza 12578 Egypt
| | - Tamer Z. Salem
- grid.440881.10000 0004 0576 5483Molecular Biology and Virology lab, Biomedical Sciences program, UST, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza 12578 Egypt ,grid.482515.f0000 0004 7553 2175Department of Microbial Genetics, Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERl), ARC, Giza, 12619 Egypt ,National Biotechnology Network of Expertise (NBNE), Academy of Science Research and Technology (ASRT), Cairo, 11334 Egypt
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7
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Jang Y, Cho H, Chun J, Park K, Nowakowska A, Kim J, Lee H, Lee C, Han Y, Lee HJ, Shin HY, Kim YB. Baculoviral COVID-19 Delta DNA vaccine cross-protects against SARS-CoV2 variants in K18-ACE2 transgenic mice. Vaccine 2023; 41:1223-1231. [PMID: 36631359 PMCID: PMC9816072 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.12.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
After severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) made the world tremble with a global pandemic, SARS-CoV2 vaccines were developed. However, due to the coronavirus's intrinsic nature, new variants emerged, such as Delta and Omicron, refractory to the vaccines derived using the original Wuhan strain. We developed an HERV-enveloped recombinant baculoviral DNA vaccine against SARS-CoV2 (AcHERV-COVID19S). A non-replicating recombinant baculovirus that delivers the SARS-CoV2 spike gene showed a protective effect against the homologous challenge in a K18-hACE2 Tg mice model; however, it offered only a 50 % survival rate against the SARS-CoV2 Delta variant. Therefore, we further developed the AcHERV-COVID19 Delta vaccine (AcHERV-COVID19D). The AcHERV-COVID19D induced higher neutralizing antibodies against the Delta variant than the prototype or Omicron variant. On the other hand, cellular immunity was similarly high for all three SARS-CoV2 viruses. Cross-protection experiments revealed that mice vaccinated with the AcHERV-COVID19D showed 100 % survival upon challenge with Delta and Omicron variants and 71.4 % survival against prototype SARS-CoV2. These results support the potential of the viral vector vaccine, AcHERV-COVID19D, in preventing the spread of coronavirus variants such as Omicron and SARS-CoV2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyeon Jang
- Department of Bioindustrial Technologies, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hansam Cho
- KRBioTech, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungmin Chun
- KRBioTech, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kihoon Park
- KRBioTech, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Aleksandra Nowakowska
- Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinha Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeondong Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chanyeong Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yejo Han
- KRBioTech, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Jung Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha-Youn Shin
- Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Bong Kim
- Department of Bioindustrial Technologies, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea,KRBioTech, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Corresponding author at: Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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8
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Azali MA, Mohamed S, Harun A, Hussain FA, Shamsuddin S, Johan MF. Application of Baculovirus Expression Vector system (BEV) for COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics: a review. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2022; 20:98. [PMID: 35792966 PMCID: PMC9259773 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-022-00368-7] [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: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The baculovirus expression vector system has been developed for expressing a wide range of proteins, including enzymes, glycoproteins, recombinant viruses, and vaccines. The availability of the SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence has enabled the synthesis of SARS-CoV2 proteins in a baculovirus-insect cell platform for various applications. The most cloned SARS-CoV-2 protein is the spike protein, which plays a critical role in SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is available in its whole length or as subunits like S1 or the receptor-binding domain (RBD). Non-structural proteins (Nsps), another recombinant SARS-CoV-2 protein generated by the baculovirus expression vector system (BEV), are used in the identification of new medications or the repurposing of existing therapies for the treatment of COVID-19. Non-SARS-CoV-2 proteins generated by BEV for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis or treatment include moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase (MMLVRT), angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), therapeutic proteins, and recombinant antibodies. The recombinant proteins were modified to boost the yield or to stabilize the protein. CONCLUSION This review covers the wide application of the recombinant protein produced using the baculovirus expression technology for COVID-19 research. A lot of improvements have been made to produce functional proteins with high yields. However, there is still room for improvement and there are parts of this field of research that have not been investigated yet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Azharuddin Azali
- Department of Haematology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.,School of Agriculture Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, 22200, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Salmah Mohamed
- School of Agriculture Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, 22200, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Azian Harun
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Faezahtul Arbaeyah Hussain
- Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Shaharum Shamsuddin
- School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Farid Johan
- Department of Haematology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
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9
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bin Umair M, Akusa FN, Kashif H, Seerat-e-Fatima, Butt F, Azhar M, Munir I, Ahmed M, Khalil W, Sharyar H, Rafique S, Shahid M, Afzal S. Viruses as tools in gene therapy, vaccine development, and cancer treatment. Arch Virol 2022; 167:1387-1404. [PMID: 35462594 PMCID: PMC9035288 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-022-05432-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Using viruses to our advantage has been a huge leap for humanity. Their ability to mediate horizontal gene transfer has made them useful tools for gene therapy, vaccine development, and cancer treatment. Adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, retroviruses, lentiviruses, alphaviruses, and herpesviruses are a few of the most common candidates for use as therapeutic agents or efficient gene delivery systems. Efforts are being made to improve and perfect viral-vector-based therapies to overcome potential or reported drawbacks. Some preclinical trials of viral vector vaccines have yielded positive results, indicating their potential as prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine candidates. Utilization of the oncolytic activity of viruses is the future of cancer therapy, as patients will then be free from the harmful effects of chemo- or radiotherapy. This review discusses in vitro and in vivo studies showing the brilliant therapeutic potential of viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Musab bin Umair
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Bank Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Fujimura Nao Akusa
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Bank Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hadia Kashif
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Bank Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Seerat-e-Fatima
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Bank Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Fatima Butt
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Bank Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Marium Azhar
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Bank Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Iqra Munir
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Bank Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ahmed
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Bank Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Wajeeha Khalil
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Bank Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hafiz Sharyar
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Bank Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Shazia Rafique
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Bank Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Shahid
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Bank Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Samia Afzal
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Bank Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Pakistan
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10
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Chen CH, Lin YJ, Cheng LT, Lin CH, Ke GM. Poloxamer-188 Adjuvant Efficiently Maintains Adaptive Immunity of SARS-CoV-2 RBD Subunit Vaccination through Repressing p38MAPK Signaling. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10050715. [PMID: 35632471 PMCID: PMC9145454 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10050715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Poloxamer-188 (P188) is a nonionic triblock linear copolymer that can be used as a pharmaceutical excipient because of its amphiphilic nature. This study investigated whether P188 can act as an adjuvant to improve the immunogenicity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor binding domain (RBD) subunit vaccine. BALB/c mice were vaccinated twice with the RBD antigen alone or in combination with P188 or MF59 (a commercial adjuvant for comparison purposes). The resulting humoral and cellular immunity were assessed. Results showed that P188 helped elicit higher neutralizing activity than MF59 after vaccination. P188 induced significant humoral immune response, along with type 1 T helper (Th1) and type 2 T helper (Th2) cellular immune response when compared with MF59 due to repressing p38MAPK phosphorylation. Furthermore, P188 did not result in adverse effects such as fibrosis of liver or kidney after vaccination. In conclusion, P188 is a novel adjuvant that may be used for safe and effective immune enhancement of the SARS-CoV-2 RBD antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Hung Chen
- Graduate Institute of Animal Vaccine Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 10650, Taiwan; (C.-H.C.); (Y.-J.L.); (L.-T.C.)
- General Research Service Center, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jen Lin
- Graduate Institute of Animal Vaccine Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 10650, Taiwan; (C.-H.C.); (Y.-J.L.); (L.-T.C.)
- Country Best Biotech Co., Ltd., Taipei 100411, Taiwan;
| | - Li-Ting Cheng
- Graduate Institute of Animal Vaccine Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 10650, Taiwan; (C.-H.C.); (Y.-J.L.); (L.-T.C.)
| | | | - Guan-Ming Ke
- Graduate Institute of Animal Vaccine Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 10650, Taiwan; (C.-H.C.); (Y.-J.L.); (L.-T.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-08-7703202 (ext. 5052)
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11
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Tai W, Zhang X, Yang Y, Zhu J, Du L. Advances in mRNA and other vaccines against MERS-CoV. Transl Res 2022; 242:20-37. [PMID: 34801748 PMCID: PMC8603276 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a highly pathogenic human coronavirus (CoV). Belonging to the same beta-CoV genus as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-1 (SARS-CoV-1) and SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV has a significantly higher fatality rate with limited human-to-human transmissibility. MERS-CoV causes sporadic outbreaks, but no vaccines have yet been approved for use in humans, thus calling for continued efforts to develop effective vaccines against this important CoV. Similar to SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV contains 4 structural proteins, among which the surface spike (S) protein has been used as a core component in the majority of currently developed MERS-CoV vaccines. Here, we illustrate the importance of the MERS-CoV S protein as a key vaccine target and provide an update on the currently developed MERS-CoV vaccines, including those based on DNAs, proteins, virus-like particles or nanoparticles, and viral vectors. Additionally, we describe approaches for designing MERS-CoV mRNA vaccines and explore the role and importance of naturally occurring pseudo-nucleosides in the design of effective MERS-CoV mRNA vaccines. This review also provides useful insights into designing and evaluating mRNA vaccines against other viral pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanbo Tai
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York
| | - Xiujuan Zhang
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York
| | - Yang Yang
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| | - Jiang Zhu
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, Califonia; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Lanying Du
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia.
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12
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de Camargo BR, da Silva LA, de Oliveira AS, Ribeiro BM. An easy pipeline for one-step purification of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein from insect cell suspension culture. J Virol Methods 2022; 299:114341. [PMID: 34699776 PMCID: PMC8539556 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has demanded a range of biotechnological products for detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants and evaluation of human seroconversion after infection or vaccination. In this work, we describe an easy pipeline for expression of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein in insect cells followed by its purification via affinity chromatography. The N gene was cloned into the genome of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) via transposition and the resulting recombinant baculovirus was used for infection of lepidopteran Sf9 cells adapted to high-density suspension. Using Tris-HCl pH 8.0 buffer as mobile phase and eluting bound proteins with 175 mM imidazole as part of a three-step gradient, an average of 1 mg N protein could be purified from each 50 mg of total protein from clarified supernatant. Such protein amount allows the manufacturing of serological tests and the development of basic studies on cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2.
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13
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Durnaoglu S, Lee SK, Ahnn J. Human Endogenous Retroviruses as Gene Expression Regulators: Insights from Animal Models into Human Diseases. Mol Cells 2021; 44:861-878. [PMID: 34963103 PMCID: PMC8718366 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2021.5016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The human genome contains many retroviral elements called human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), resulting from the integration of retroviruses throughout evolution. HERVs once were considered inactive junk because they are not replication-competent, primarily localized in the heterochromatin, and silenced by methylation. But HERVs are now clearly shown to actively regulate gene expression in various physiological and pathological conditions such as developmental processes, immune regulation, cancers, autoimmune diseases, and neurological disorders. Recent studies report that HERVs are activated in patients suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the current pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection. In this review, we describe internal and external factors that influence HERV activities. We also present evidence showing the gene regulatory activity of HERV LTRs (long terminal repeats) in model organisms such as mice, rats, zebrafish, and invertebrate models of worms and flies. Finally, we discuss several molecular and cellular pathways involving various transcription factors and receptors, through which HERVs affect downstream cellular and physiological events such as epigenetic modifications, calcium influx, protein phosphorylation, and cytokine release. Understanding how HERVs participate in various physiological and pathological processes will help develop a strategy to generate effective therapeutic approaches targeting HERVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serpen Durnaoglu
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
- Research Institute for Natural Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Sun-Kyung Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
- Research Institute for Natural Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Joohong Ahnn
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
- Research Institute for Natural Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
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14
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Choi H, Chun J, Park M, Kim S, Kim N, Lee HJ, Kim M, Shin HY, Oh YK, Kim YB. The Safe Baculovirus-Based PrM/E DNA Vaccine Protected Fetuses Against Zika Virus in A129 Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9050438. [PMID: 33946611 PMCID: PMC8147223 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9050438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne member of the Flaviviridae family of enveloped RNA viruses. The correlation between viral infection and fetal microcephaly was revealed in 2015, yet we still lack a vaccine against ZIKV. Here, we present a genetic vaccine that delivers the premembrane (prM) and envelope (E) genes of ZIKV using a recombinant baculovirus vector that expresses a human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) envelope on its surface to enhance gene delivery. We observed that baculoviruses with HERV envelopes (AcHERV) exhibited specifically higher gene transfer efficiency in human cells compared to the wild-type baculovirus vector. Using the AcHERV baculovirus vector, we constructed a recombinant baculovirus vaccine encoding ZIKV prM/E genes (AcHERV-ZIKV), which are major targets of neutralizing antibodies. Mice immunized twice with AcHERV-ZIKV exhibited high levels of IgG, neutralizing antibodies, and IFN-γ. In challenge tests in IFN knock-out mice (A129), AcHERV-ZIKV showed complete protection in both challenge and pregnancy tests. These results suggest that AcHERV-ZIKV could be a potential vaccine candidate for human application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanul Choi
- Department of Bioindustrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea;
| | - Jungmin Chun
- Center for Glocal Disease Control, KR BioTech, Seoul 05029, Korea;
| | - Mina Park
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea; (M.P.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (H.-J.L.); (M.K.); (H.Y.S.)
| | - Suyeon Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea; (M.P.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (H.-J.L.); (M.K.); (H.Y.S.)
| | - Nahyun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea; (M.P.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (H.-J.L.); (M.K.); (H.Y.S.)
| | - Hee-Jung Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea; (M.P.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (H.-J.L.); (M.K.); (H.Y.S.)
| | - Minjee Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea; (M.P.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (H.-J.L.); (M.K.); (H.Y.S.)
| | - Ha Youn Shin
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea; (M.P.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (H.-J.L.); (M.K.); (H.Y.S.)
| | - Yu-Kyoung Oh
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea;
| | - Young Bong Kim
- Department of Bioindustrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea;
- Center for Glocal Disease Control, KR BioTech, Seoul 05029, Korea;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-450-4208
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