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Buckland B, Sanyal G, Ranheim T, Pollard D, Searles JA, Behrens S, Pluschkell S, Josefsberg J, Roberts CJ. Vaccine process technology-A decade of progress. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:2604-2635. [PMID: 38711222 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28703] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
In the past decade, new approaches to the discovery and development of vaccines have transformed the field. Advances during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed the production of billions of vaccine doses per year using novel platforms such as messenger RNA and viral vectors. Improvements in the analytical toolbox, equipment, and bioprocess technology have made it possible to achieve both unprecedented speed in vaccine development and scale of vaccine manufacturing. Macromolecular structure-function characterization technologies, combined with improved modeling and data analysis, enable quantitative evaluation of vaccine formulations at single-particle resolution and guided design of vaccine drug substances and drug products. These advances play a major role in precise assessment of critical quality attributes of vaccines delivered by newer platforms. Innovations in label-free and immunoassay technologies aid in the characterization of antigenic sites and the development of robust in vitro potency assays. These methods, along with molecular techniques such as next-generation sequencing, will accelerate characterization and release of vaccines delivered by all platforms. Process analytical technologies for real-time monitoring and optimization of process steps enable the implementation of quality-by-design principles and faster release of vaccine products. In the next decade, the field of vaccine discovery and development will continue to advance, bringing together new technologies, methods, and platforms to improve human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry Buckland
- National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Gautam Sanyal
- Vaccine Analytics, LLC, Kendall Park, New Jersey, USA
| | - Todd Ranheim
- Advanced Analytics Core, Resilience, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - David Pollard
- Sartorius, Corporate Research, Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Sue Behrens
- Engineering and Biopharmaceutical Processing, Keck Graduate Institute, Claremont, California, USA
| | - Stefanie Pluschkell
- National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Jessica Josefsberg
- Merck & Co., Inc., Process Research & Development, Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Christopher J Roberts
- National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
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2
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Rottmayer K, Schwarze M, Jassoy C, Hoffmann R, Loeffler-Wirth H, Lehmann C. Potential of a Bead-Based Multiplex Assay for SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Detection. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:273. [PMID: 38666885 PMCID: PMC11047883 DOI: 10.3390/biology13040273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Serological assays for SARS-CoV-2 play a pivotal role in the definition of whether patients are infected, the understanding of viral epidemiology, the screening of convalescent sera for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, and in obtaining a better understanding of the immune response towards the virus. The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of a bead-based multiplex assay. This assay allowed for the simultaneous testing of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike, S1, S2, RBD, and nucleocapsid moieties and S1 of seasonal coronaviruses hCoV-22E, hCoV-HKU1, hCoV-NL63, and hCoV-OC43, as well as MERS and SARS-CoV. We compared the bead-based multiplex assay with commercial ELISA tests. We tested the sera of 27 SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive individuals who were previously tested with different ELISA assays. Additionally, we investigated the reproducibility of the results by means of multiple testing of the same sera. Finally, the results were correlated with neutralising assays. In summary, the concordance of the qualitative results ranged between 78% and 96% depending on the ELISA assay and the specific antigen. Repeated freezing-thawing cycles resulted in reduced mean fluorescence intensity, while the storage period had no influence in this respect. In our test cohort, we detected up to 36% of sera positive for the development of neutralising antibodies, which is in concordance with the bead-based multiplex and IgG ELISA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Rottmayer
- Laboratory for Transplantation Immunology, University Hospital Leipzig, Universität Leipzig, Johannisallee 32, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mandy Schwarze
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Universität Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; (M.S.)
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universität Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Jassoy
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, Leipzig University Hospital and Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 30, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Ralf Hoffmann
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Universität Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; (M.S.)
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universität Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Henry Loeffler-Wirth
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Bioinformatics, IZBI, Leipzig University, Haertelstr. 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Claudia Lehmann
- Laboratory for Transplantation Immunology, University Hospital Leipzig, Universität Leipzig, Johannisallee 32, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Madhurantakam S, Lee ZJ, Naqvi A, Karnam JB, Muthukumar S, Prasad S. Multiplex sensing of IL-10 and CRP towards predicting critical illness in COVID-19 infections. BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS: X 2023; 13:100307. [PMID: 36742375 PMCID: PMC9890195 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosx.2023.100307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Here we present a sensitive method for the detection and quantification of two (IL -10 and CRP) immuno-responsive biomarkers in various biofluids. The significance of these immune response biomarkers lies in them displaying elevated levels in critically ill COVID -19 patients. The developed electrochemical sensor contains a gold film electrode with ZnO nanoparticles deposited on its surface to increase the surface area of the working electrode while integrating antibody-antigen interactions into the detection system. This multiplex biosensor has a wide linear range from 0.01 μg/mL to 100 μg/mL and 0.1 pg/mL to 1000 pg/mL for CRP and IL10, respectively. The cross-reactivity of this multiplex sensor platform was evaluated between these two proteins and was <20%. Recovery studies were performed by spiking known concentrations in serum and urine samples. The recovery was calculated and ranged from 80% to 100%, confirming clinical applicability. This electrochemical sensing platform can aid in the early screening of COVID -19 patients to monitor for the development of more serious and potentially lethal symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zachary J Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, 75080, USA
| | - Aliya Naqvi
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, 75080, USA
| | | | | | - Shalini Prasad
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, 75080, USA
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Nájera-Rivera HD, Rodríguez-Cortez AD, Anaya-Santillán MG, Díaz-Aparicio E, Ramos-Rodríguez AV, Siliceo-Cantero IJ, Vázquez-Franco NC, Nieto-Patlán E, Peñas ADL, Valdés-Vázquez LM, Cobos-Marín L. Multiplex assay for the simultaneous detection of antibodies against small ruminant lentivirus, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, and Brucella melitensis in goats. Vet World 2023; 16:704-710. [PMID: 37235146 PMCID: PMC10206977 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.704-710] [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: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim Brucellosis, paratuberculosis (PTb), and infections caused by small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV), formerly known as caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV), adversely affect goat production systems. Nonetheless, commonly used diagnostic tests can only determine one analyte at a time, increasing disease surveillance costs, and limiting their routine use. This study aimed to design and validate a multiplex assay for antibody detection against these three diseases simultaneously. Materials and Methods Two recombinant proteins from the SRLV (p16 and gp38), the native hapten of Brucella melitensis, and the paratuberculosis-protoplasmic antigen 3 from Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) were used to devise and assess a multiplex assay. Conditions for the Luminex® multiplex test were established and validated by sensitivity, specificity, repeatability, and reproducibility parameters. Cut-off points for each antigen were also established. Results The 3-plex assay had high sensitivity (84%) and specificity (95%). The maximum coefficients of variation were 23.8% and 20.5% for negative and positive control samples, respectively. The p16 and gp38 SRLV antigens are 97% and 95%, similar to the CAEV sequence found in GenBank, respectively. Conclusion The multiplex test can be effectively used for the simultaneous detection of antibodies against SRLV, MAP and B. melitensis in goats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Erik Nieto-Patlán
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Veterinary School, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | - Laura Cobos-Marín
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Veterinary School, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
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Prados de la Torre E, Obando I, Vidal M, de Felipe B, Aguilar R, Izquierdo L, Carolis C, Olbrich P, Capilla-Miranda A, Serra P, Santamaria P, Blanco-Lobo P, Moncunill G, Rodríguez-Ortega MJ, Dobaño C. SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Study in Pediatric Patients and Health Care Workers Using Multiplex Antibody Immunoassays. Viruses 2022; 14:v14092039. [PMID: 36146844 PMCID: PMC9502584 DOI: 10.3390/v14092039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection has become a global health problem specially exacerbated with the continuous appearance of new variants. Healthcare workers (HCW) have been one of the most affected sectors. Children have also been affected, and although infection generally presents as a mild disease, some have developed the Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Temporally Associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS). We recruited 190 adults (HCW and cohabitants, April to June 2020) and 57 children (April 2020 to September 2021), of whom 12 developed PIMS-TS, in a hospital-based study in Spain. Using an in-house Luminex assay previously validated, antibody levels were measured against different spike and nucleocapsid SARS-CoV-2 proteins, including the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants of concern (VoC). Seropositivity rates obtained from children and adults, respectively, were: 49.1% and 11% for IgG, 45.6% and 5.8% for IgA, and 35.1% and 7.3% for IgM. Higher antibody levels were detected in children who developed PIMS-TS compared to those who did not. Using the COVID-19 IgM/IgA ELISA (Vircell, S.L.) kit, widely implemented in Spanish hospitals, a high number of false positives and lower seroprevalences compared with the Luminex estimates were found, indicating a significantly lower specificity and sensitivity. Comparison of antibody levels against RBD-Wuhan versus RBD-VoCs indicated that the strongest positive correlations for all three isotypes were with RBD-Alpha, while the lowest correlations were with RBD-Delta for IgG, RBD-Gamma for IgM, and RBD-Beta for IgA. This study highlights the differences in antibody levels between groups with different demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as reporting the IgG, IgM, and IgA response to RBD VoC circulating at the study period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Prados de la Torre
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Campus de Excelencia Internacional CeiA3, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Ignacio Obando
- Unidad de Pediatría, Sección de Infectología, Reumatología e Inmunología Pediátrica, Hospital Infantil Virgen del Rocío, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, RITIP, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Marta Vidal
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beatriz de Felipe
- Unidad de Pediatría, Sección de Infectología, Reumatología e Inmunología Pediátrica, Hospital Infantil Virgen del Rocío, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, RITIP, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Ruth Aguilar
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis Izquierdo
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlo Carolis
- Biomolecular Screening and Protein Technologies Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Peter Olbrich
- Unidad de Pediatría, Sección de Infectología, Reumatología e Inmunología Pediátrica, Hospital Infantil Virgen del Rocío, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, RITIP, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Ana Capilla-Miranda
- Unidad de Pediatría, Sección de Infectología, Reumatología e Inmunología Pediátrica, Hospital Infantil Virgen del Rocío, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, RITIP, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Pau Serra
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pere Santamaria
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Pilar Blanco-Lobo
- Unidad de Pediatría, Sección de Infectología, Reumatología e Inmunología Pediátrica, Hospital Infantil Virgen del Rocío, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, RITIP, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Gemma Moncunill
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (G.M.); (M.J.R.-O.); (C.D.)
| | - Manuel J. Rodríguez-Ortega
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Campus de Excelencia Internacional CeiA3, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
- Correspondence: (G.M.); (M.J.R.-O.); (C.D.)
| | - Carlota Dobaño
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (G.M.); (M.J.R.-O.); (C.D.)
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Crovetto F, Selma-Royo M, Crispi F, Carbonetto B, Pascal R, Larroya M, Casas I, Tortajada M, Escudero N, Muñoz-Almagro C, Gomez-Roig MD, González-Torres P, Collado MC, Gratacos E. Nasopharyngeal microbiota profiling of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13404. [PMID: 35927569 PMCID: PMC9352760 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17542-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to analyze the nasopharyngeal microbiota profiles in pregnant women with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection, considered a vulnerable population during COVID-19 pandemic. Pregnant women were enrolled from a multicenter prospective population-based cohort during the first SARS-CoV-2 wave in Spain (March-June 2020 in Barcelona, Spain) in which the status of SARS-CoV-2 infection was determined by nasopharyngeal RT–PCR and antibodies in peripheral blood. Women were randomly selected for this cross-sectional study on microbiota. DNA was extracted from nasopharyngeal swab samples, and the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA of bacteria was amplified using region-specific primers. The differential abundance of taxa was tested, and alpha/beta diversity was evaluated. Among 76 women, 38 were classified as positive and 38 as negative for SARS-CoV-2 infection. All positive women were diagnosed by SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM/IgA antibodies, and 14 (37%) also had a positive RT–PCR. The overall composition of the nasopharyngeal microbiota differ in pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection (positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies), compared to those without the infection (negative SARS-CoV-2 antibodies) (p = 0.001), with a higher relative abundance of the Tenericutes and Bacteroidetes phyla and a higher abundance of the Prevotellaceae family. Infected women presented a different pattern of microbiota profiling due to beta diversity and higher richness (observed ASV < 0.001) and evenness (Shannon index < 0.001) at alpha diversity. These changes were also present in women after acute infection, as revealed by negative RT–PCR but positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, suggesting a potential association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and long-lasting shift in the nasopharyngeal microbiota. No significant differences were reported in mild vs. severe cases. This is the first study on nasopharyngeal microbiota during pregnancy. Pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection had a different nasopharyngeal microbiota profile compared to negative cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Crovetto
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, BCNatal, Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. .,Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain. .,Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Maternal and Child Chronic Diseases of Perinatal and Developmental Origin (RICORS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marta Selma-Royo
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC), National Research Council, Agustin Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Fàtima Crispi
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, BCNatal, Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Recerca August Pi Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain.,Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Rosalia Pascal
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, BCNatal, Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain.,Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Maternal and Child Chronic Diseases of Perinatal and Developmental Origin (RICORS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Larroya
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, BCNatal, Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irene Casas
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, BCNatal, Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Tortajada
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, BCNatal, Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Carmen Muñoz-Almagro
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain.,Ciber of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Medicine, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Dolores Gomez-Roig
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, BCNatal, Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain.,Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Maternal and Child Chronic Diseases of Perinatal and Developmental Origin (RICORS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Maria Carmen Collado
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC), National Research Council, Agustin Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Eduard Gratacos
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, BCNatal, Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Recerca August Pi Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain.,Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
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Sanyal G. Development of functionally relevant potency assays for monovalent and multivalent vaccines delivered by evolving technologies. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:50. [PMID: 35513416 PMCID: PMC9072649 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00470-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
A potency or potency-indicating assay is a regulatory requirement for the release of every lot of a vaccine. Potency is a critical quality attribute that is also monitored as a stability indicator of a vaccine product. In essence, a potency measurement is a test of the functional integrity of the antigen and is intended to ensure that the antigen retains immunocompetence, i.e., the ability to stimulate the desired immune response, in its final formulation. Despite its central importance, there is incomplete clarity about the definition and expectation of a potency assay. This article provides a perspective on the purpose, value, and challenges associated with potency testing for vaccines produced by new technologies. The focus is on messenger RNA vaccines in the light of experience gained with recombinant protein-based vaccines, which offer the opportunity to directly correlate in vitro antigenicity with in vivo immunogenicity. The challenges with developing immunologically relevant in vitro assays are discussed especially for multivalent vaccine products, the importance of which has been reinforced by the ongoing emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Immunoassay-based release of multivalent vaccine products, such as those containing multiple antigens from different variants or serotypes of the same virus, require antibodies that are selective for each antigen and do not significantly cross-react with the others. In the absence of such exclusively specific antibodies, alternative functional assays with demonstrable correlation to immunogenicity may be acceptable. Initiatives for geographically distributed vaccine technology facilities should include establishing these assay capabilities to enable rapid delivery of vaccines globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautam Sanyal
- Vaccine Analytics, LLC, Kendall Park, NJ, USA. .,Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA.
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