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Na H, Luo H, Wang J, Sun L, Gao X, Liang G, Ma Y, Meng Z. An N-terminal heptad repeat trimer-based peptide fusion inhibitor exhibits potent anti-H1N1 activity. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 111:117865. [PMID: 39098126 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117865] [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: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Influenza viruses are susceptible to seasonal influenza, which has repeatedly caused global pandemics and jeopardized human health. Vaccines are only used as preventive medicine due to the extreme mutability of influenza viruses, and antiviral medication is the most significant clinical treatment to reduce influenza morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, the clinical application of anti-influenza virus agents is characterized by the narrow therapeutic time window, the susceptibility to drug resistance, and relatively limited effect on severe influenza. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop novel anti-influenza virus drugs to fulfill the urgent clinical needs. Influenza viruses enter host cells through the hemagglutinin (HA) mediated membrane fusion process, and fusion inhibitors function antivirally by blocking hemagglutinin deformation, promising better therapeutic efficacy and resolving drug resistance, with targets different from marketed medicines. Previous studies have shown that unnatural peptides derived from Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) membrane fusion proteins exhibit anti-HIV-1 activity. Based on the similarity of the membrane fusion protein deformation process between HIV-1 and H1N1, we selected sequences derived from the gp41 subunit in the HIV-1 fusion protein, and then constructed N-trimer spatial structure through inter-helical isopeptide bond modification, to design the novel anti-H1N1 fusion inhibitors. The results showed that the novel peptides could block 6-HB formation during H1N1 membrane fusion procedure, and thus possessed significant anti-H1N1 activity, comparable to the positive control oseltamivir. Our study demonstrates the design viability of peptide fusion inhibitors based on similar membrane fusion processes among viruses, and furthermore provides an important idea for the novel anti-H1N1 inhibitors development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiya Na
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, PR China.
| | - Hui Luo
- Key Laboratory for Candidate Drug Design and Screening Based on Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, PR China; Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, PR China
| | - Jinlin Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, PR China; Key Laboratory for Candidate Drug Design and Screening Based on Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, PR China
| | - Lijun Sun
- Key Laboratory for Candidate Drug Design and Screening Based on Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, PR China
| | - Xin Gao
- Key Laboratory for Candidate Drug Design and Screening Based on Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, PR China
| | - Guodong Liang
- Key Laboratory for Candidate Drug Design and Screening Based on Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, PR China; Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, PR China.
| | - Yuheng Ma
- Key Laboratory for Candidate Drug Design and Screening Based on Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, PR China.
| | - Zhao Meng
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, PR China.
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2
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Xu D, Carter JJ, Li C, Utz A, Weidenbacher PAB, Tang S, Sanyal M, Pulendran B, Barnes CO, Kim PS. Vaccine design via antigen reorientation. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:1012-1021. [PMID: 38225471 PMCID: PMC11247139 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01529-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
A major challenge in creating universal influenza vaccines is to focus immune responses away from the immunodominant, variable head region of hemagglutinin (HA-head) and toward the evolutionarily conserved stem region (HA-stem). Here we introduce an approach to control antigen orientation via site-specific insertion of aspartate residues that facilitates antigen binding to alum. We demonstrate the generalizability of this approach with antigens from Ebola, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza viruses and observe enhanced neutralizing antibody responses in all cases. We then reorient an H2 HA in an 'upside-down' configuration to increase the exposure and immunogenicity of HA-stem. The reoriented H2 HA (reoH2HA) on alum induced stem-directed antibodies that cross-react with both group 1 and group 2 influenza A subtypes. Electron microscopy polyclonal epitope mapping (EMPEM) revealed that reoH2HA (group 1) elicits cross-reactive antibodies targeting group 2 HA-stems. Our results highlight antigen reorientation as a generalizable approach for designing epitope-focused vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duo Xu
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Joshua J Carter
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Biophysics Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Medical Scientist Training Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Chunfeng Li
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ashley Utz
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Biophysics Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Medical Scientist Training Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Payton A B Weidenbacher
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Shaogeng Tang
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Mrinmoy Sanyal
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bali Pulendran
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Christopher O Barnes
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Peter S Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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3
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Liang Z, Lin X, Sun L, Edwards KM, Song W, Sun H, Xie Y, Lin F, Ling S, Liang T, Xiao B, Wang J, Li M, Leung CY, Zhu H, Bhandari N, Varadarajan R, Levine MZ, Peiris M, Webster R, Dhanasekaran V, Leung NHL, Cowling BJ, Webby RJ, Ducatez M, Zanin M, Wong SS. A(H2N2) and A(H3N2) influenza pandemics elicited durable cross-reactive and protective antibodies against avian N2 neuraminidases. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5593. [PMID: 38961067 PMCID: PMC11222539 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49884-9] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Human cases of avian influenza virus (AIV) infections are associated with an age-specific disease burden. As the influenza virus N2 neuraminidase (NA) gene was introduced from avian sources during the 1957 pandemic, we investigate the reactivity of N2 antibodies against A(H9N2) AIVs. Serosurvey of healthy individuals reveal the highest rates of AIV N2 antibodies in individuals aged ≥65 years. Exposure to the 1968 pandemic N2, but not recent N2, protected against A(H9N2) AIV challenge in female mice. In some older adults, infection with contemporary A(H3N2) virus could recall cross-reactive AIV NA antibodies, showing discernable human- or avian-NA type reactivity. Individuals born before 1957 have higher anti-AIV N2 titers compared to those born between 1957 and 1968. The anti-AIV N2 antibodies titers correlate with antibody titers to the 1957 N2, suggesting that exposure to the A(H2N2) virus contribute to this reactivity. These findings underscore the critical role of neuraminidase immunity in zoonotic and pandemic influenza risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaolan Liang
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xia Lin
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lihong Sun
- Guangzhou Institute for Respiratory Health and First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kimberly M Edwards
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wenjun Song
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, No. 9 XingDaoHuanBei Road, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, 510005, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hailiang Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanmin Xie
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Fangmei Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shiman Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Biying Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Li
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chin-Yu Leung
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Huachen Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Joint Institute of Virology (Shantou University and The University of Hong Kong), Guangdong-Hongkong Joint Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shantou University, Shantou, P. R. China
| | - Nisha Bhandari
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Raghavan Varadarajan
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Min Z Levine
- US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Malik Peiris
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Center for Immunology & Infection, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Robert Webster
- Department of Host-Microbe Interactions, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Vijaykrishna Dhanasekaran
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Nancy H L Leung
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Benjamin J Cowling
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Richard J Webby
- Department of Host-Microbe Interactions, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Mariette Ducatez
- Interactions Hosts-Pathogens (IHAP), Université de Toulouse, National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), National Veterinary School of Toulouse (ENVT), Toulouse, France
| | - Mark Zanin
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Center for Immunology & Infection, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Sook-San Wong
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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4
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Kim KH, Bhatnagar N, Subbiah J, Liu R, Pal SS, Raha JR, Grovenstein P, Shin CH, Wang BZ, Kang SM. Cross-protection against influenza viruses by chimeric M2e-H3 stalk protein or multi-subtype neuraminidase plus M2e virus-like particle vaccine in ferrets. Virology 2024; 595:110097. [PMID: 38685171 PMCID: PMC11110495 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110097] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Current influenza vaccine is not effective in providing cross-protection against variants. We evaluated the immunogenicity and efficacy of multi-subtype neuraminidase (NA) and M2 ectodomain virus-like particle (m-cNA-M2e VLP) and chimeric M2e-H3 stalk protein vaccines (M2e-H3 stalk) in ferrets. Our results showed that ferrets with recombinant m-cNA-M2e VLP or M2e-H3 stalk vaccination induced multi-vaccine antigen specific IgG antibodies (M2e, H3 stalk, NA), NA inhibition, antibody-secreting cells, and IFN-γ secreting cell responses. Ferrets immunized with either m-cNA-M2e VLP or M2e-H3 stalk vaccine were protected from H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses by lowering viral titers in nasal washes, trachea, and lungs after challenge. Vaccinated ferret antisera conferred broad humoral immunity in naïve mice. Our findings provide evidence that immunity to M2e and HA-stalk or M2e plus multi-subtype NA proteins induces cross-protection in ferrets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki-Hye Kim
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Noopur Bhatnagar
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jeeva Subbiah
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Rong Liu
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Surya Sekhar Pal
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jannatul Ruhan Raha
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Phillip Grovenstein
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Chong Hyun Shin
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Bao-Zhong Wang
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sang-Moo Kang
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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5
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Vilaboa N, Bloom DC, Canty W, Voellmy R. A Broad Influenza Vaccine Based on a Heat-Activated, Tissue-Restricted Replication-Competent Herpesvirus. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:703. [PMID: 39066341 PMCID: PMC11281492 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12070703] [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: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Vaccination with transiently activated replication-competent controlled herpesviruses (RCCVs) expressing influenza A virus hemagglutinins broadly protects mice against lethal influenza virus challenges. The non-replicating RCCVs can be activated to transiently replicate with high efficiency. Activation involves a brief heat treatment to the epidermal administration site in the presence of a drug. The drug co-control is intended as a block to inadvertent reactivation in the nervous system and, secondarily, viremia under adverse conditions. While the broad protective effects observed raise an expectation that RCCVs may be developed as universal flu vaccines, the need for administering a co-activating drug may dampen enthusiasm for such a development. To replace the drug co-control, we isolated keratin gene promoters that were active in skin cells but inactive in nerve cells and other cells in vitro. In a mouse model of lethal central nervous system (CNS) infection, the administration of a recombinant that had the promoter of the infected cell protein 8 (ICP8) gene of a wild-type herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) strain replaced by a keratin promoter did not result in any clinical signs, even at doses of 500 times wild-type virus LD50. Replication of the recombinant was undetectable in brain homogenates. Second-generation RCCVs expressing a subtype H1 hemagglutinin (HA) were generated in which the infected cell protein 4 (ICP4) genes were controlled by a heat switch and the ICP8 gene by the keratin promoter. In mice, these RCCVs replicated efficiently and in a heat-controlled fashion in the epidermal administration site. Immunization with the activated RCCVs induced robust neutralizing antibody responses against influenza viruses and protected against heterologous and cross-group influenza virus challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Vilaboa
- Hospital Universitario La Paz-IdiPAZ, 28046 Madrid, Spain;
- CIBER de Bioingenieria, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, CIBER-BBN, 28046 Madrid, Spain
| | - David C. Bloom
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610-0266, USA; (D.C.B.); (W.C.)
| | - William Canty
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610-0266, USA; (D.C.B.); (W.C.)
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6
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Bloom DC, Lilly C, Canty W, Vilaboa N, Voellmy R. Very Broadly Effective Hemagglutinin-Directed Influenza Vaccines with Anti-Herpetic Activity. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:537. [PMID: 38793788 PMCID: PMC11125745 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12050537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
A universal vaccine that generally prevents influenza virus infection and/or illness remains elusive. We have been exploring a novel approach to vaccination involving replication-competent controlled herpesviruses (RCCVs) that can be deliberately activated to replicate efficiently but only transiently in an administration site in the skin of a subject. The RCCVs are derived from a virulent wild-type herpesvirus strain that has been engineered to contain a heat shock promoter-based gene switch that controls the expression of, typically, two replication-essential viral genes. Additional safety against inadvertent replication is provided by an appropriate secondary mechanism. Our first-generation RCCVs can be activated at the administration site by a mild local heat treatment in the presence of an antiprogestin. Here, we report that epidermal vaccination with such RCCVs expressing a hemagglutinin or neuraminidase of an H1N1 influenza virus strain protected mice against lethal challenges by H1N1 virus strains representing 75 years of evolution. Moreover, immunization with an RCCV expressing a subtype H1 hemagglutinin afforded full protection against a lethal challenge by an H3N2 influenza strain, and an RCCV expressing a subtype H3 hemagglutinin protected against a lethal challenge by an H1N1 strain. Vaccinated animals continued to gain weight normally after the challenge. Protective effects were even observed in a lethal influenza B virus challenge. The RCCV-based vaccines induced robust titers of in-group, cross-group and even cross-type neutralizing antibodies. Passive immunization suggested that observed vaccine effects were at least partially antibody-mediated. In summary, RCCVs expressing a hemagglutinin induce robust and very broad cross-protective immunity against influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C. Bloom
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610-0266, USA; (D.C.B.); (C.L.); (W.C.)
| | - Cameron Lilly
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610-0266, USA; (D.C.B.); (C.L.); (W.C.)
| | - William Canty
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610-0266, USA; (D.C.B.); (C.L.); (W.C.)
| | - Nuria Vilaboa
- Hospital Universitario La Paz-IdiPAZ, 28046 Madrid, Spain;
- CIBER de Bioingenieria, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, CIBER de Bioingenieria, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, 28046 Madrid, Spain
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7
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Musunuri S, Weidenbacher PAB, Kim PS. Bringing immunofocusing into focus. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:11. [PMID: 38195562 PMCID: PMC10776678 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00792-x] [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: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunofocusing is a strategy to create immunogens that redirect humoral immune responses towards a targeted epitope and away from non-desirable epitopes. Immunofocusing methods often aim to develop "universal" vaccines that provide broad protection against highly variant viruses such as influenza virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), and most recently, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). We use existing examples to illustrate five main immunofocusing strategies-cross-strain boosting, mosaic display, protein dissection, epitope scaffolding, and epitope masking. We also discuss obstacles for immunofocusing like immune imprinting. A thorough understanding, advancement, and application of the methods we outline here will enable the design of high-resolution vaccines that protect against future viral outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sriharshita Musunuri
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Payton A B Weidenbacher
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Peter S Kim
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
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8
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Sun X, Ma H, Wang X, Bao Z, Tang S, Yi C, Sun B. Broadly neutralizing antibodies to combat influenza virus infection. Antiviral Res 2024; 221:105785. [PMID: 38145757 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
The diversified classification and continuous alteration of influenza viruses underscore for antivirals and vaccines that can counter a broad range of influenza subtypes. Hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) are two principle viral surface targets for broadly neutralizing antibodies. A series of monoclonal antibodies, targeting HA and NA, have been discovered and characterized with a wide range of neutralizing activity against influenza viruses. Clinical studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of some HA stem-targeting antibodies against influenza viruses. Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) can serve as both prophylactic and therapeutic agents, as well as play a critical role in identifying antigens and epitopes for the development of universal vaccines. In this review, we described and summarized the latest discoveries and advancements of bnAbs against influenza viruses in both pre- and clinical development. Additionally, we assess whether bnAbs can serve as a viable alternative to vaccination against influenza. Finally, we discussed the rationale behind reverse vaccinology, a structure-guided universal vaccine design strategy that efficiently identifies candidate antigens and conserved epitopes that can be targeted by antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Sun
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Hanwen Ma
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xuanjia Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhiheng Bao
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shubing Tang
- Department of Investigational New Drug, Shanghai Reinovax Biologics Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 200135, China
| | - Chunyan Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Bing Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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9
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Mittal N, Kumar S, Rajmani RS, Singh R, Lemoine C, Jakob V, Bj S, Jagannath N, Bhat M, Chakraborty D, Pandey S, Jory A, Sa SS, Kleanthous H, Dubois P, Ringe RP, Varadarajan R. Enhanced protective efficacy of a thermostable RBD-S2 vaccine formulation against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:161. [PMID: 37880298 PMCID: PMC10600342 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00755-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
With the rapid emergence of variants of concern (VOC), the efficacy of currently licensed vaccines has reduced drastically. VOC mutations largely occur in the S1 subunit of Spike. The S2 subunit of SARS-CoV-2 is conserved and thus more likely to elicit broadly reactive immune responses that could improve protection. However, the contribution of the S2 subunit in improving the overall efficacy of vaccines remains unclear. Therefore, we designed, and evaluated the immunogenicity and protective potential of a stabilized SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) fused to a stabilized S2. Immunogens were expressed as soluble proteins with approximately fivefold higher purified yield than the Spike ectodomain and formulated along with Squalene-in-water emulsion (SWE) adjuvant. Immunization with S2 alone failed to elicit a neutralizing immune response, but significantly reduced lung viral titers in mice challenged with the heterologous Beta variant. In hamsters, SWE-formulated RS2 (a genetic fusion of stabilized RBD with S2) showed enhanced immunogenicity and efficacy relative to corresponding RBD and Spike formulations. Despite being based on the ancestral Wuhan strain of SARS-CoV-2, RS2 elicited broad neutralization, including against Omicron variants (BA.1, BA.5 and BF.7), and the clade 1a WIV-1 and SARS-CoV-1 strains. RS2 elicited sera showed enhanced competition with both S2 directed and RBD Class 4 directed broadly neutralizing antibodies, relative to RBD and Spike elicited sera. When lyophilized, RS2 retained antigenicity and immunogenicity even after incubation at 37 °C for a month. The data collectively suggest that the RS2 immunogen is a promising modality to combat SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Mittal
- Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Sahil Kumar
- Virology Unit, Institute of Microbial Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Chandigarh, 160036, India
| | - Raju S Rajmani
- Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Randhir Singh
- Mynvax Private Limited; 3rd Floor, Brigade MLR Centre, No.50, Vani Vilas Road, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, 560004, India
| | - Céline Lemoine
- Vaccine Formulation Institute; Rue du Champ-Blanchod 4, 1228, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
| | - Virginie Jakob
- Vaccine Formulation Institute; Rue du Champ-Blanchod 4, 1228, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
| | - Sowrabha Bj
- Mynvax Private Limited; 3rd Floor, Brigade MLR Centre, No.50, Vani Vilas Road, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, 560004, India
| | - Nayana Jagannath
- Mynvax Private Limited; 3rd Floor, Brigade MLR Centre, No.50, Vani Vilas Road, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, 560004, India
| | - Madhuraj Bhat
- Mynvax Private Limited; 3rd Floor, Brigade MLR Centre, No.50, Vani Vilas Road, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, 560004, India
| | - Debajyoti Chakraborty
- Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Suman Pandey
- Mynvax Private Limited; 3rd Floor, Brigade MLR Centre, No.50, Vani Vilas Road, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, 560004, India
| | - Aurélie Jory
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Suba Soundarya Sa
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | | | - Patrice Dubois
- Vaccine Formulation Institute; Rue du Champ-Blanchod 4, 1228, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
| | - Rajesh P Ringe
- Virology Unit, Institute of Microbial Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Chandigarh, 160036, India.
| | - Raghavan Varadarajan
- Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India.
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10
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Honda-Okubo Y, Bart Tarbet E, Hurst BL, Petrovsky N. An Advax-CpG adjuvanted recombinant H5 hemagglutinin vaccine protects mice against lethal influenza infection. Vaccine 2023; 41:5730-5741. [PMID: 37567799 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
There is a major unmet need for strategies to improve the immunogenicity of vaccines to protect against highly pathogenic avian influenza strains with pandemic potential. This study tested the ability of adjuvants based on delta inulin (Advax™) alone or combined with a TLR9 agonist (Advax-CpG™) to enhance the immunogenicity of recombinant H5 hemagglutinin antigen expressed in insect cells (rH5HA) to protect mice against lethal influenza infection. The Advax-adjuvanted rH5HA induced high serum hemagglutination inhibition activity, as well as Th1 and Th2 cytokine secreting CD4 and CD8 T cells. Immunization protected mice against a lethal heterosubtypic H5N1 virus challenge. Mice immunized with an Advax-adjuvanted rHA2 stem antigen prepared by enzymatic cleavage of rH5HA produced serum antibodies devoid of hemagglutination inhibition activity, but these anti-HA2 antibodies were nevertheless able to transfer protection against lethal H1N1 or H3N2 infections to naïve mice. We hypothesize that the enhanced protection afforded by Advax-adjuvanted rH5HA may be mediated by the combination of neutralizing antibodies directed at the HA head, anti-HA2 stem antibodies plus memory CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. This outcome supports further development of the Advax-adjuvanted rH5 pandemic influenza vaccine platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshikazu Honda-Okubo
- Vaxine Pty Ltd, Warradale, Adelaide, SA 5046, Australia; Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
| | - E Bart Tarbet
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, 5600 Old Main Hill, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Brett L Hurst
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, 5600 Old Main Hill, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
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11
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Li Y, Wang X, Zeng X, Ren W, Liao P, Zhu B. Protective efficacy of a universal influenza mRNA vaccine against the challenge of H1 and H5 influenza A viruses in mice. MLIFE 2023; 2:308-316. [PMID: 38817814 PMCID: PMC10989953 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Current influenza vaccines need to be updated annually owing to constant antigenic drift in the globular head of the viral surface hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein. The immunogenic subdominant stem domain of HA is highly conserved and can be recognized by antibodies capable of binding multiple HA subtypes. Therefore, the HA stem antigen is a promising target for the design of universal influenza vaccines. On the basis of an established lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA vaccine platform, we designed and developed a novel universal influenza mRNA vaccine (mHAs) encoding the HA stem antigen of the influenza A (H1N1) virus. We tested the efficacy of the mHAs vaccine using a mouse model. The vaccine induced robust humoral and specific cellular immune responses against the stem region of HA. Importantly, two doses of the mHAs vaccine fully protected mice from lethal challenges of the heterologous H1N1 and heterosubtypic H5N8 influenza viruses. Vaccinated mice had less pathological lung damage and lower viral titers than control mice. These results suggest that an mRNA vaccine using the conserved stem region of HA may provide effective protection against seasonal and other possible influenza variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulei Li
- Savaid Medical SchoolUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology (Hepatobiliary Diseases) of Guangxi, Department of PathologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseChina
| | - Xi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and ImmunologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xi Zeng
- Beijing Children's HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Wenbo Ren
- College of Life SciencesJiangxi Science and Technology Normal UniversityNanchangChina
| | - Pu Liao
- Department of Clinical LaboratoryChongqing General HospitalChongqingChina
| | - Baoli Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and ImmunologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical SciencesSouthwest Medical UniversityLuzhouChina
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12
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McCraw DM, Myers ML, Gulati NM, Prabhakaran M, Brand J, Andrews S, Gallagher JR, Maldonado-Puga S, Kim AJ, Torian U, Syeda H, Boyoglu-Barnum S, Kanekiyo M, McDermott AB, Harris AK. Designed nanoparticles elicit cross-reactive antibody responses to conserved influenza virus hemagglutinin stem epitopes. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011514. [PMID: 37639457 PMCID: PMC10491405 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the availability of seasonal vaccines and antiviral medications, influenza virus continues to be a major health concern and pandemic threat due to the continually changing antigenic regions of the major surface glycoprotein, hemagglutinin (HA). One emerging strategy for the development of more efficacious seasonal and universal influenza vaccines is structure-guided design of nanoparticles that display conserved regions of HA, such as the stem. Using the H1 HA subtype to establish proof of concept, we found that tandem copies of an alpha-helical fragment from the conserved stem region (helix-A) can be displayed on the protruding spikes structures of a capsid scaffold. The stem region of HA on these designed chimeric nanoparticles is immunogenic and the nanoparticles are biochemically robust in that heat exposure did not destroy the particles and immunogenicity was retained. Furthermore, mice vaccinated with H1-nanoparticles were protected from lethal challenge with H1N1 influenza virus. By using a nanoparticle library approach with this helix-A nanoparticle design, we show that this vaccine nanoparticle construct design could be applicable to different influenza HA subtypes. Importantly, antibodies elicited by H1, H5, and H7 nanoparticles demonstrated homosubtypic and heterosubtypic cross-reactivity binding to different HA subtypes. Also, helix-A nanoparticle immunizations were used to isolate mouse monoclonal antibodies that demonstrated heterosubtypic cross-reactivity and provided protection to mice from viral challenge via passive-transfer. This tandem helix-A nanoparticle construct represents a novel design to display several hundred copies of non-trimeric conserved HA stem epitopes on vaccine nanoparticles. This design concept provides a new approach to universal influenza vaccine development strategies and opens opportunities for the development of nanoparticles with broad coverage over many antigenically diverse influenza HA subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin M. McCraw
- Structural Informatics Unit, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mallory L. Myers
- Structural Informatics Unit, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Neetu M. Gulati
- Structural Informatics Unit, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Madhu Prabhakaran
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joshua Brand
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sarah Andrews
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - John R. Gallagher
- Structural Informatics Unit, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Samantha Maldonado-Puga
- Structural Informatics Unit, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alexander J. Kim
- Structural Informatics Unit, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Udana Torian
- Structural Informatics Unit, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Hubza Syeda
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Seyhan Boyoglu-Barnum
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Masaru Kanekiyo
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Adrian B. McDermott
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Audray K. Harris
- Structural Informatics Unit, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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13
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Frey SJ, Carreño JM, Bielak D, Arsiwala A, Altomare CG, Varner C, Rosen-Cheriyan T, Bajic G, Krammer F, Kane RS. Nanovaccines Displaying the Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin in an Inverted Orientation Elicit an Enhanced Stalk-Directed Antibody Response. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202729. [PMID: 36689343 PMCID: PMC10386890 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Despite the availability of licensed vaccines, influenza causes considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current influenza vaccines elicit an immune response that primarily targets the head domain of the viral glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA). Influenza viruses, however, readily evade this response by acquiring mutations in the head domain. While vaccines that target the more conserved HA stalk may circumvent this problem, low levels of antistalk antibodies are elicited by vaccination, possibly due to the poor accessibility of the stalk domain to B cell receptors. In this work, it is demonstrated that nanoparticles presenting HA in an inverted orientation generate tenfold higher antistalk antibody titers after a prime immunization and fivefold higher antistalk titers after a boost than nanoparticles displaying HA in its regular orientation. Moreover, nanoparticles presenting HA in an inverted orientation elicit a broader antistalk response that reduces mouse weight loss and improves survival after challenge to a greater extent than nanoparticles displaying HA in a regular orientation. Refocusing the antibody response toward conserved epitopes by controlling antigen orientation may enable the design of broadly protective nanovaccines targeting influenza viruses and other pathogens with pandemic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Frey
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Juan Manuel Carreño
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Center for Vaccine Research and Pandemic Preparedness (C-VaRPP), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Dominika Bielak
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Center for Vaccine Research and Pandemic Preparedness (C-VaRPP), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Ammar Arsiwala
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Clara G Altomare
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Chad Varner
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Tania Rosen-Cheriyan
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Goran Bajic
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Florian Krammer
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Center for Vaccine Research and Pandemic Preparedness (C-VaRPP), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Ravi S Kane
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
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14
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Yin Q, Luo W, Mallajosyula V, Bo Y, Guo J, Xie J, Sun M, Verma R, Li C, Constantz CM, Wagar LE, Li J, Sola E, Gupta N, Wang C, Kask O, Chen X, Yuan X, Wu NC, Rao J, Chien YH, Cheng J, Pulendran B, Davis MM. A TLR7-nanoparticle adjuvant promotes a broad immune response against heterologous strains of influenza and SARS-CoV-2. NATURE MATERIALS 2023; 22:380-390. [PMID: 36717665 PMCID: PMC9981462 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-022-01464-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The ideal vaccine against viruses such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2 must provide a robust, durable and broad immune protection against multiple viral variants. However, antibody responses to current vaccines often lack robust cross-reactivity. Here we describe a polymeric Toll-like receptor 7 agonist nanoparticle (TLR7-NP) adjuvant, which enhances lymph node targeting, and leads to persistent activation of immune cells and broad immune responses. When mixed with alum-adsorbed antigens, this TLR7-NP adjuvant elicits cross-reactive antibodies for both dominant and subdominant epitopes and antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in mice. This TLR7-NP-adjuvanted influenza subunit vaccine successfully protects mice against viral challenge of a different strain. This strategy also enhances the antibody response to a SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine against multiple viral variants that have emerged. Moreover, this TLR7-NP augments antigen-specific responses in human tonsil organoids. Overall, we describe a nanoparticle adjuvant to improve immune responses to viral antigens, with promising implications for developing broadly protective vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Yin
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Wei Luo
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Vamsee Mallajosyula
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yang Bo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jinghang Xie
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Meng Sun
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Rohit Verma
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Chunfeng Li
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Christian M Constantz
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lisa E Wagar
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jing Li
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Elsa Sola
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Neha Gupta
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Chunlin Wang
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Oliver Kask
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xin Chen
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xue Yuan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Nicholas C Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jianghong Rao
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yueh-Hsiu Chien
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jianjun Cheng
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Bali Pulendran
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Mark M Davis
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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15
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Xu D, Li C, Utz A, Weidenbacher PA, Tang S, Sanyal M, Pulendran B, Kim PS. Designing epitope-focused vaccines via antigen reorientation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.12.20.521291. [PMID: 36597536 PMCID: PMC9810212 DOI: 10.1101/2022.12.20.521291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A major challenge in vaccine development, especially against rapidly evolving viruses, is the ability to focus the immune response toward evolutionarily conserved antigenic regions to confer broad protection. For example, while many broadly neutralizing antibodies against influenza have been found to target the highly conserved stem region of hemagglutinin (HA-stem), the immune response to seasonal influenza vaccines is predominantly directed to the immunodominant but variable head region (HA-head), leading to narrow-spectrum efficacy. Here, we first introduce an approach to controlling antigen orientation based on the site-specific insertion of short stretches of aspartate residues (oligoD) that facilitates antigen-binding to alum adjuvants. We demonstrate the generalizability of this approach to antigens from the Ebola virus, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza and observe enhanced antibody responses following immunization in all cases. Next, we use this approach to reorient HA in an "upside down" configuration, which we envision increases HA-stem exposure, therefore also improving its immunogenicity compared to HA-head. When applied to HA of H2N2 A/Japan/305/1957, the reoriented H2 HA (reoH2HA) on alum induced a stem-directed antibody response that cross-reacted with both group 1 and 2 influenza A HAs. Our results demonstrate the possibility and benefits of antigen reorientation via oligoD insertion, which represents a generalizable immunofocusing approach readily applicable for designing epitope-focused vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duo Xu
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Chunfeng Li
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ashley Utz
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Medical Scientist Training Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Biophysics Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Payton A.B. Weidenbacher
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Shaogeng Tang
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Mrinmoy Sanyal
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bali Pulendran
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Peter S. Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
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16
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Xu D, Li C, Utz A, Weidenbacher PAB, Tang S, Sanyal M, Pulendran B, Kim PS. Designing epitope-focused vaccines via antigen reorientation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022. [PMID: 36597536 DOI: 10.1101/2022.09.08.507187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED A major challenge in vaccine development, especially against rapidly evolving viruses, is the ability to focus the immune response toward evolutionarily conserved antigenic regions to confer broad protection. For example, while many broadly neutralizing antibodies against influenza have been found to target the highly conserved stem region of hemagglutinin (HA-stem), the immune response to seasonal influenza vaccines is predominantly directed to the immunodominant but variable head region (HA-head), leading to narrow-spectrum efficacy. Here, we first introduce an approach to controlling antigen orientation based on the site-specific insertion of short stretches of aspartate residues (oligoD) that facilitates antigen-binding to alum adjuvants. We demonstrate the generalizability of this approach to antigens from the Ebola virus, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza and observe enhanced antibody responses following immunization in all cases. Next, we use this approach to reorient HA in an "upside down" configuration, which we envision increases HA-stem exposure, therefore also improving its immunogenicity compared to HA-head. When applied to HA of H2N2 A/Japan/305/1957, the reoriented H2 HA (reoH2HA) on alum induced a stem-directed antibody response that cross-reacted with both group 1 and 2 influenza A HAs. Our results demonstrate the possibility and benefits of antigen reorientation via oligoD insertion, which represents a generalizable immunofocusing approach readily applicable for designing epitope-focused vaccine candidates. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT Seasonal influenza vaccines induce a biased antibody response against the variable head of hemagglutinin, whereas conserved epitopes on the stem are a target for universal vaccines. Here we show that reorienting HA in an "upside-down" configuration sterically occludes the head and redirects the antibody response to the more exposed stem, thereby inducing broad cross-reactivity against hemagglutinins from diverse influenza strains.
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17
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Zhu H, Li X, Ren X, Chen H, Qian P. Improving cross-protection against influenza virus in mice using a nanoparticle vaccine of mini-HA. Vaccine 2022; 40:6352-6361. [PMID: 36175214 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.09.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of mini-hemagglutinin (mini-HA) proteins expressed on lumazine synthase (LS) nanoparticles against influenza. Soluble mini-HA proteins were assembled with LS proteins via SpyTag/SpyCatcher in vitro. The size of mini-HA-LS nanoparticles was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), and the effect of mini-HA-LS nano-vaccines was explored in mice. The results indicate that the diameter of mini-HA-LS nanoparticles was approximately 60-80 nm. The nanoparticles could induce stronger humoral and cellular immune responses and produce cross-clade protection against influenza in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hechao Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China; Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Xiangmin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China; Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Xujiao Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China; Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China; Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Ping Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China; Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
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18
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Oh J, Subbiah J, Kim KH, Park BR, Bhatnagar N, Garcia KR, Liu R, Jung YJ, Shin CH, Seong BL, Kang SM. Impact of hemagglutination activity and M2e immunity on conferring protection against influenza viruses. Virology 2022; 574:37-46. [PMID: 35914365 PMCID: PMC9978532 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2022.07.010] [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: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
To improve cross-protection of influenza vaccination, we tested conjugation of conserved M2e epitopes to the surface of inactivated influenza virus (iPR8-M2e*). Treatment of virus with chemical cross-linker led to diminished hemagglutination activity and failure to induce hemagglutination inhibiting antibodies. Conjugated iPR8-M2e* vaccine was less protective against homologous and heterosubtypic viruses, despite the induction of virus-specific binding IgG antibodies. In alternative approaches to enhance cross-protection, we developed a genetically linked chimeric protein (M2e-B stalk) vaccine with M2e of influenza A and hemagglutinin (HA) stalk of influenza B virus. Vaccination of mice with inactivated influenza A virus supplemented with M2e-B stalk effectively induced hemagglutination inhibiting antibodies, humoral and cellular M2e immune responses, and enhanced heterosubtypic protection. This study demonstrates the importance of HA functional integrity in influenza vaccine efficacy and that supplementation of influenza vaccines with M2e-B stalk protein could be a feasible strategy of improving cross-protection against influenza viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judy Oh
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Jeeva Subbiah
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Ki-Hye Kim
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Bo Ryoung Park
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Noopur Bhatnagar
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Karla Ruiz Garcia
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Rong Liu
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Yu-Jin Jung
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Chong-Hyun Shin
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Baik-Lin Seong
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea; Vaccine Innovative Technology ALliance (VITAL)-Korea, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Moo Kang
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
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19
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Subbiah J, Oh J, Kim KH, Shin CH, Park BR, Bhatnagar N, Seong BL, Wang BZ, Kang SM. A chimeric thermostable M2e and H3 stalk-based universal influenza A virus vaccine. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:68. [PMID: 35768475 PMCID: PMC9243060 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00498-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We developed a new chimeric M2e and H3 hemagglutinin (HA) stalk protein vaccine (M2e-H3 stalk) by genetic engineering of modified H3 stalk domain conjugated with conserved M2e epitopes to overcome the drawbacks of low efficacy by monomeric domain-based universal vaccines. M2e-H3 stalk protein expressed and purified from Escherichia coli was thermostable, displaying native-like antigenic epitopes recognized by antisera of different HA subtype proteins and influenza A virus infections. Adjuvanted M2e-H3 stalk vaccination induced M2e and stalk-specific IgG antibodies recognizing viral antigens on virus particles and on the infected cell surface, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses, and antibody-dependent cytotoxic cell surrogate activity in mice. M2e-H3 stalk was found to confer protection against heterologous and heterosubtypic cross-group subtype viruses (H1N1, H5N1, H9N2, H3N2, H7N9) at similar levels in adult and aged mice. These results provide evidence that M2e-H3 stalk chimeric proteins can be developed as a universal influenza A virus vaccine candidate for young and aged populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeeva Subbiah
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Judy Oh
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Ki-Hye Kim
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Chong-Hyun Shin
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Bo Ryoung Park
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Noopur Bhatnagar
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Baik-Lin Seong
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.,Vaccine Innovative Technology ALliance (VITAL)-Korea, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Bao-Zhong Wang
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Sang-Moo Kang
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
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20
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A Hemagglutinin Stem Vaccine Designed Rationally by AlphaFold2 Confers Broad Protection against Influenza B Infection. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061305. [PMID: 35746776 PMCID: PMC9229588 DOI: 10.3390/v14061305] [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: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Two lineages of influenza B viruses (IBV) co-circulating in human beings have been posing a significant public health burden worldwide. A substantial number of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) have been identified targeting conserved epitopes on hemagglutinin (HA) stem domain, posing great interest for universal influenza vaccine development. Various strategies to design immunogens that selectively present these conserved epitopes are being explored. However, it has been a challenge to retain native conformation of the HA stem region, especially for soluble expression in prokaryotic systems. Here, using a structure prediction tool AlphaFold2, we rationally designed a stable stem antigen “B60-Stem-8071”, an HA stem vaccine derived from B/Brisbane/60/2006 grafted with a CR8071 epitope as a linker. The B60-Stem-8071 exhibited better solubility and more stable expression in the E. coli system compared to the naïve HA stem antigen. Immunization with B60-Stem-8071 in mice generated cross-reactive antibodies and protected mice broadly against lethal challenge with Yamagata and Victoria lineages of influenza B virus. Notably, soluble expression of B60-stem-8071 in the E. coli system showed the potential to produce the influenza B vaccine in a low-cost way. This study represents a proof of concept for the rational design of HA stem antigen based on structure prediction and analysis.
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21
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Carascal MB, Pavon RDN, Rivera WL. Recent Progress in Recombinant Influenza Vaccine Development Toward Heterosubtypic Immune Response. Front Immunol 2022; 13:878943. [PMID: 35663997 PMCID: PMC9162156 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.878943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Flu, a viral infection caused by the influenza virus, is still a global public health concern with potential to cause seasonal epidemics and pandemics. Vaccination is considered the most effective protective strategy against the infection. However, given the high plasticity of the virus and the suboptimal immunogenicity of existing influenza vaccines, scientists are moving toward the development of universal vaccines. An important property of universal vaccines is their ability to induce heterosubtypic immunity, i.e., a wide immune response coverage toward different influenza subtypes. With the increasing number of studies and mounting evidence on the safety and efficacy of recombinant influenza vaccines (RIVs), they have been proposed as promising platforms for the development of universal vaccines. This review highlights the current progress and advances in the development of RIVs in the context of heterosubtypic immunity induction toward universal vaccine production. In particular, this review discussed existing knowledge on influenza and vaccine development, current hemagglutinin-based RIVs in the market and in the pipeline, other potential vaccine targets for RIVs (neuraminidase, matrix 1 and 2, nucleoprotein, polymerase acidic, and basic 1 and 2 antigens), and deantigenization process. This review also provided discussion points and future perspectives in looking at RIVs as potential universal vaccine candidates for influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark B Carascal
- Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.,Clinical and Translational Research Institute, The Medical City, Pasig City, Philippines
| | - Rance Derrick N Pavon
- Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Windell L Rivera
- Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
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22
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Subbbiah J, Oh J, Kim KH, Shin CH, Park BR, Bhatnagar N, Jung YJ, Lee Y, Wang BZ, Seong BL, Kang SM. Thermostable H1 hemagglutinin stem with M2e epitopes provides broad cross-protection against group1 and 2 influenza A viruses. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 26:38-51. [PMID: 35755946 PMCID: PMC9198381 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hemagglutinin (HA) stem-based vaccines have limitations in providing broad and effective protection against cross-group influenza viruses, despite being a promising universal vaccine target. To overcome the limited cross-protection and low efficacy by HA stem vaccination, we genetically engineered a chimeric conjugate of thermostable H1 HA stem and highly conserved M2e repeat (M2e-H1stem), which was expressed at high yields in Escherichia coli. M2e-H1stem protein presented native-like epitopes reactive to antisera of live virus infection. M2e-H1stem protein vaccination of mice induced strong M2e- and HA stem-specific immune responses, conferring broadly effective cross-protection against both antigenically distinct group 1 (H1N1, H5N1, and H9N2 subtypes) and group 2 (H3N2 and H7N9 subtypes) seasonal and pandemic potential influenza viruses. M2e-H1stem vaccination generated CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses and antibody-dependent cytotoxic cellular and humoral immunity, which contributed to enhancing cross-protection. Furthermore, comparable broad cross-group protection was observed in older aged mice after M2e-H1stem vaccination. This study provides evidence warranting further development of chimeric M2e-stem proteins as a promising universal influenza vaccine candidate in adult and aged populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeeva Subbbiah
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Avenue, PSC 718 P.O. Box 5035, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Judy Oh
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Avenue, PSC 718 P.O. Box 5035, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Ki-Hye Kim
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Avenue, PSC 718 P.O. Box 5035, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Chong Hyun Shin
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Avenue, PSC 718 P.O. Box 5035, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Bo Ryoung Park
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Avenue, PSC 718 P.O. Box 5035, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Noopur Bhatnagar
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Avenue, PSC 718 P.O. Box 5035, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Yu-Jin Jung
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Avenue, PSC 718 P.O. Box 5035, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Youri Lee
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Avenue, PSC 718 P.O. Box 5035, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Bao-Zhong Wang
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Avenue, PSC 718 P.O. Box 5035, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Baik-Lin Seong
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Vaccine Innovative Technology Alliance (VITAL), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Moo Kang
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Avenue, PSC 718 P.O. Box 5035, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
- Corresponding author Sang-Moo Kang, PhD, Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Avenue, PSC 718 P.O. Box 5035, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
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23
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Kar U, Khaleeq S, Garg P, Bhat M, Reddy P, Vignesh VS, Upadhyaya A, Das M, Chakshusmathi G, Pandey S, Dutta S, Varadarajan R. Comparative Immunogenicity of Bacterially Expressed Soluble Trimers and Nanoparticle Displayed Influenza Hemagglutinin Stem Immunogens. Front Immunol 2022; 13:890622. [PMID: 35720346 PMCID: PMC9204493 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.890622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Current influenza vaccines need to be updated annually due to mutations in the globular head of the viral surface protein, hemagglutinin (HA). To address this, vaccine candidates have been designed based on the relatively conserved HA stem domain and have shown protective efficacy in animal models. Oligomerization of the antigens either by fusion to oligomerization motifs or display on self-assembling nanoparticle scaffolds, can induce more potent immune responses compared to the corresponding monomeric antigen due to multivalent engagement of B-cells. Since nanoparticle display can increase manufacturing complexity, and often involves one or more mammalian cell expressed components, it is important to characterize and compare various display and oligomerization scaffolds. Using a structure guided approach, we successfully displayed multiple copies of a previously designed soluble, trimeric influenza stem domain immunogen, pH1HA10, on the ferritin like protein, MsDps2 (12 copies), Ferritin (24 copies) and Encapsulin (180 copies). All proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli. The nanoparticle fusion immunogens were found to be well folded and bound to the influenza stem directed broadly neutralizing antibodies with high affinity. An 8.5 Å Cryo-EM map of Msdps2-pH1HA10 confirmed the successful design of the nanoparticle fusion immunogen. Mice immunization studies with the soluble trimeric stem and nanoparticle fusion constructs revealed that all of them were immunogenic, and protected mice against homologous (A/Belgium/145-MA/2009) and heterologous (A/Puerto Rico/8/1934) challenge with 10MLD50 mouse adapted virus. Although nanoparticle display conferred a small but statistically significant improvement in protection relative to the soluble trimer in a homologous challenge, heterologous protection was similar in both nanoparticle-stem immunized and trimeric stem immunized groups. Such rapidly producible, bacterially expressed antigens and nanoparticle scaffolds are useful modalities to tackle future influenza pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uddipan Kar
- Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - Sara Khaleeq
- Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - Priyanka Garg
- Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - Madhuraj Bhat
- Mynvax Private Limited, ES12, Entrepreneurship Centre, Society for Innovation and Development (SID), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - Poorvi Reddy
- Mynvax Private Limited, ES12, Entrepreneurship Centre, Society for Innovation and Development (SID), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | | | - Aditya Upadhyaya
- Mynvax Private Limited, ES12, Entrepreneurship Centre, Society for Innovation and Development (SID), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - Mili Das
- Mynvax Private Limited, ES12, Entrepreneurship Centre, Society for Innovation and Development (SID), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - Ghadiyaram Chakshusmathi
- Mynvax Private Limited, ES12, Entrepreneurship Centre, Society for Innovation and Development (SID), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - Suman Pandey
- Mynvax Private Limited, ES12, Entrepreneurship Centre, Society for Innovation and Development (SID), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - Somnath Dutta
- Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
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Sette A, Saphire EO. Inducing broad-based immunity against viruses with pandemic potential. Immunity 2022; 55:738-748. [PMID: 35545026 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2022.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The brutal toll of another viral pandemic can be blunted by investing now in research that uncovers mechanisms of broad-based immunity so we may have vaccines and therapeutics at the ready. We do not know exactly what pathogen may trigger the next wave or next pandemic. We do know, however, that the human immune system must respond and must be bolstered with effective vaccines and other therapeutics to preserve lives and livelihoods. These countermeasures must focus on features conserved among families of pathogens in order to be responsive against something yet to emerge. Here, we focus on immunological approaches to mitigate the impact of the next emerging virus pandemic by developing vaccines that elicit both broadly protective antibodies and T cells. Identifying human immune mechanisms of broad protection against virus families with pandemic potential will be our best defense for humanity in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Sette
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Erica Ollmann Saphire
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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25
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Heinimäki S, Lampinen V, Tamminen K, Hankaniemi MM, Malm M, Hytönen VP, Blazevic V. Antigenicity and immunogenicity of HA2 and M2e influenza virus antigens conjugated to norovirus-like, VP1 capsid-based particles by the SpyTag/SpyCatcher technology. Virology 2021; 566:89-97. [PMID: 34894525 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2021.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) modified through different molecular technologies are employed as delivery vehicles or platforms for heterologous antigen display. We have recently created a norovirus (NoV) VLP platform, where two influenza antigens, the extracellular domain of matrix protein M2 (M2e) or the stem domain of the major envelope glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA2) are displayed on the surface of the NoV VLPs by SpyTag/SpyCatcher conjugation. To demonstrate the feasibility of the platform to deliver foreign antigens, this study examined potential interference of the conjugation with induction of antibodies against conjugated M2e peptide, HA2, and NoV VLP carrier. High antibody response was induced by HA2 but not M2e decorated VLPs. Furthermore, HA2-elicited antibodies did not neutralize the homologous influenza virus in vitro. Conjugated NoV VLPs retained intact receptor binding capacity and self-immunogenicity. The results demonstrate that NoV VLPs could be simultaneously used as a platform to deliver foreign antigens and a NoV vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvi Heinimäki
- Vaccine Development and Immunology/Vaccine Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Vili Lampinen
- Protein Dynamics Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Kirsi Tamminen
- Vaccine Development and Immunology/Vaccine Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Minna M Hankaniemi
- Protein Dynamics Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Maria Malm
- Vaccine Development and Immunology/Vaccine Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Vesa P Hytönen
- Protein Dynamics Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland; Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere, Finland
| | - Vesna Blazevic
- Vaccine Development and Immunology/Vaccine Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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26
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Li Y, Xu M, Li Y, Gu W, Halimu G, Li Y, Zhang Z, Zhou L, Liao H, Yao S, Zhang H, Zhang C. A recombinant protein containing influenza viral conserved epitopes and superantigen induces broad-spectrum protection. eLife 2021; 10:e71725. [PMID: 34783655 PMCID: PMC8635977 DOI: 10.7554/elife.71725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Influenza pandemics pose public health threats annually for lacking vaccine that provides cross-protection against novel and emerging influenza viruses. Combining conserved antigens that induce cross-protective antibody responses with epitopes that activate cross-protective T cell responses might be an attractive strategy for developing a universal vaccine. In this study, we constructed a recombinant protein named NMHC that consists of influenza viral conserved epitopes and a superantigen fragment. NMHC promoted the maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and induced CD4+ T cells to differentiate into Th1, Th2, and Th17 subtypes. Mice vaccinated with NMHC produced high levels of immunoglobulins that cross-bound to HA fragments from six influenza virus subtypes with high antibody titers. Anti-NMHC serum showed potent hemagglutinin inhibition effects to highly divergent group 1 (H1 subtype) and group 2 (H3 subtype) influenza virus strains. Furthermore, purified anti-NMHC antibodies bound to multiple HAs with high affinities. NMHC vaccination effectively protected mice from infection and lung damage when exposed to two subtypes of H1N1 influenza virus. Moreover, NMHC vaccination elicited CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses that cleared the virus from infected tissues and prevented virus spread. In conclusion, this study provides proof of concept that NMHC vaccination triggers B and T cell immune responses against multiple influenza virus infections. Therefore, NMHC might be a candidate universal broad-spectrum vaccine for the prevention and treatment of multiple influenza viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yansheng Li
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShenyangChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and TechnologyShenyangChina
| | - Mingkai Xu
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShenyangChina
- Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and TechnologyShenyangChina
| | - Yongqiang Li
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShenyangChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and TechnologyShenyangChina
| | - Wu Gu
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShenyangChina
- Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and TechnologyShenyangChina
| | - Gulinare Halimu
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShenyangChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and TechnologyShenyangChina
| | - Yuqi Li
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShenyangChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and TechnologyShenyangChina
| | - Zhichun Zhang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShenyangChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and TechnologyShenyangChina
| | - Libao Zhou
- Chengda Biotechnology Co. LtdLiaoningChina
| | - Hui Liao
- Chengda Biotechnology Co. LtdLiaoningChina
| | | | - Huiwen Zhang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShenyangChina
- Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and TechnologyShenyangChina
| | - Chenggang Zhang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShenyangChina
- Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and TechnologyShenyangChina
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27
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McMillan CLD, Cheung STM, Modhiran N, Barnes J, Amarilla AA, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Lee LYY, Guilfoyle K, van Amerongen G, Stittelaar K, Jakon V, Lebas C, Reading P, Short KR, Young PR, Watterson D, Chappell KJ. Development of molecular clamp stabilized hemagglutinin vaccines for Influenza A viruses. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:135. [PMID: 34750396 PMCID: PMC8575991 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00395-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza viruses cause a significant number of infections and deaths annually. In addition to seasonal infections, the risk of an influenza virus pandemic emerging is extremely high owing to the large reservoir of diverse influenza viruses found in animals and the co-circulation of many influenza subtypes which can reassort into novel strains. Development of a universal influenza vaccine has proven extremely challenging. In the absence of such a vaccine, rapid response technologies provide the best potential to counter a novel influenza outbreak. Here, we demonstrate that a modular trimerization domain known as the molecular clamp allows the efficient production and purification of conformationally stabilised prefusion hemagglutinin (HA) from a diverse range of influenza A subtypes. These clamp-stabilised HA proteins provided robust protection from homologous virus challenge in mouse and ferret models and some cross protection against heterologous virus challenge. This work provides a proof-of-concept for clamp-stabilised HA vaccines as a tool for rapid response vaccine development against future influenza A virus pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L D McMillan
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Stacey T M Cheung
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Naphak Modhiran
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - James Barnes
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Alberto A Amarilla
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Global Virus Network Centre of Excellence, Brisbane, QLD, 4072 and 4029, Australia.,School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland Gatton Campus, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia
| | - Leo Yi Yang Lee
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Kate Guilfoyle
- Viroclinics Xplore, Landerd Campus, Nistelrooise Baan 3, 5374 RE, Schaijk, The Netherlands
| | - Geert van Amerongen
- Viroclinics Xplore, Landerd Campus, Nistelrooise Baan 3, 5374 RE, Schaijk, The Netherlands
| | - Koert Stittelaar
- Viroclinics Xplore, Landerd Campus, Nistelrooise Baan 3, 5374 RE, Schaijk, The Netherlands
| | - Virginie Jakon
- Vaccine Formulation Institute, Chemin des Aulx 14, 1228 Plan-Les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Celia Lebas
- Vaccine Formulation Institute, Chemin des Aulx 14, 1228 Plan-Les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Reading
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Kirsty R Short
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Global Virus Network Centre of Excellence, Brisbane, QLD, 4072 and 4029, Australia
| | - Paul R Young
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia. .,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Global Virus Network Centre of Excellence, Brisbane, QLD, 4072 and 4029, Australia. .,The Australian Institute of Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Daniel Watterson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia. .,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Global Virus Network Centre of Excellence, Brisbane, QLD, 4072 and 4029, Australia. .,The Australian Institute of Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Keith J Chappell
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia. .,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Global Virus Network Centre of Excellence, Brisbane, QLD, 4072 and 4029, Australia. .,The Australian Institute of Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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28
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McLeod DV, Wahl LM, Mideo N. Mosaic vaccination: How distributing different vaccines across a population could improve epidemic control. Evol Lett 2021; 5:458-471. [PMID: 34621533 PMCID: PMC8484727 DOI: 10.1002/evl3.252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Although vaccination has been remarkably effective against some pathogens, for others, rapid antigenic evolution results in vaccination conferring only weak and/or short‐lived protection. Consequently, considerable effort has been invested in developing more evolutionarily robust vaccines, either by targeting highly conserved components of the pathogen (universal vaccines) or by including multiple immunological targets within a single vaccine (multi‐epitope vaccines). An unexplored third possibility is to vaccinate individuals with one of a number of qualitatively different vaccines, creating a “mosaic” of individual immunity in the population. Here we explore whether a mosaic vaccination strategy can deliver superior epidemiological outcomes to “conventional” vaccination, in which all individuals receive the same vaccine. We suppose vaccine doses can be distributed between distinct vaccine “targets” (e.g., different surface proteins against which an immune response can be generated) and/or immunologically distinct variants at these targets (e.g., strains); the pathogen can undergo antigenic evolution at both targets. Using simple mathematical models, here we provide a proof‐of‐concept that mosaic vaccination often outperforms conventional vaccination, leading to fewer infected individuals, improved vaccine efficacy, and lower individual risks over the course of the epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- David V McLeod
- Centre D'Ecologie Fonctionnelle & Evolutive CNRS Montpellier 34090 France
| | - Lindi M Wahl
- Mathematics Western University London ON N6A 5B7 Canada
| | - Nicole Mideo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto Toronto ON M5S 3B2 Canada
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29
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Narkhede YB, Gonzalez KJ, Strauch EM. Targeting Viral Surface Proteins through Structure-Based Design. Viruses 2021; 13:v13071320. [PMID: 34372526 PMCID: PMC8310314 DOI: 10.3390/v13071320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of novel viral infections of zoonotic origin and mutations of existing human pathogenic viruses represent a serious concern for public health. It warrants the establishment of better interventions and protective therapies to combat the virus and prevent its spread. Surface glycoproteins catalyzing the fusion of viral particles and host cells have proven to be an excellent target for antivirals as well as vaccines. This review focuses on recent advances for computational structure-based design of antivirals and vaccines targeting viral fusion machinery to control seasonal and emerging respiratory viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogesh B Narkhede
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA;
| | - Karen J Gonzalez
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA;
| | - Eva-Maria Strauch
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA;
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA;
- Correspondence:
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30
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Starostina EV, Sharabrin SV, Antropov DN, Stepanov GA, Shevelev GY, Lemza AE, Rudometov AP, Borgoyakova MB, Rudometova NB, Marchenko VY, Danilchenko NV, Chikaev AN, Bazhan SI, Ilyichev AA, Karpenko LI. Construction and Immunogenicity of Modified mRNA-Vaccine Variants Encoding Influenza Virus Antigens. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:452. [PMID: 34063689 PMCID: PMC8147809 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9050452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based influenza vaccines are a promising platform that have recently and rapidly developed. We previously demonstrated the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines encoding artificial immunogens AgH1, AgH3, and AgM2, which contained conserved fragments of the hemagglutinin stem of two subtypes of influenza A-H1N1 and H3N2-and conserved protein M2. Thus, the aim of this study was to design and characterize modified mRNA obtained using the above plasmid DNA vaccines as a template. To select the most promising protocol for creating highly immunogenic mRNA vaccines, we performed a comparative analysis of mRNA modifications aimed at increasing its translational activity and decreasing toxicity. We used mRNA encoding a green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a model. Eight mRNA-GFP variants with different modifications (M0-M7) were obtained using the classic cap(1), its chemical analog ARCA (anti-reverse cap analog), pseudouridine (Ψ), N6-methyladenosine (m6A), and 5-methylcytosine (m5C) in different ratios. Modifications M2, M6, and M7, which provided the most intensive fluorescence of transfected HEK293FT cells were used for template synthesis when mRNA encoded influenza immunogens AgH1, AgH3, and AgM2. Virus specific antibodies were registered in groups of animals immunized with a mix of mRNAs encoding AgH1, AgH3, and AgM2, which contained either ARCA (with inclusions of 100% Ψ and 20% m6A (M6)) or a classic cap(1) (with 100% substitution of U with Ψ (M7)). M6 modification was the least toxic when compared with other mRNA variants. M6 and M7 RNA modifications can therefore be considered as promising protocols for designing mRNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina V. Starostina
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, 630559 Novosibirsk, Russia; (S.V.S.); (A.P.R.); (M.B.B.); (N.B.R.); (V.Y.M.); (N.V.D.); (S.I.B.); (A.A.I.); (L.I.K.)
| | - Sergei V. Sharabrin
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, 630559 Novosibirsk, Russia; (S.V.S.); (A.P.R.); (M.B.B.); (N.B.R.); (V.Y.M.); (N.V.D.); (S.I.B.); (A.A.I.); (L.I.K.)
| | - Denis N. Antropov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (D.N.A.); (G.A.S.); (G.Y.S.); (A.E.L.)
| | - Grigory A. Stepanov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (D.N.A.); (G.A.S.); (G.Y.S.); (A.E.L.)
| | - Georgiy Yu. Shevelev
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (D.N.A.); (G.A.S.); (G.Y.S.); (A.E.L.)
| | - Anna E. Lemza
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (D.N.A.); (G.A.S.); (G.Y.S.); (A.E.L.)
| | - Andrey P. Rudometov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, 630559 Novosibirsk, Russia; (S.V.S.); (A.P.R.); (M.B.B.); (N.B.R.); (V.Y.M.); (N.V.D.); (S.I.B.); (A.A.I.); (L.I.K.)
| | - Mariya B. Borgoyakova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, 630559 Novosibirsk, Russia; (S.V.S.); (A.P.R.); (M.B.B.); (N.B.R.); (V.Y.M.); (N.V.D.); (S.I.B.); (A.A.I.); (L.I.K.)
| | - Nadezhda B. Rudometova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, 630559 Novosibirsk, Russia; (S.V.S.); (A.P.R.); (M.B.B.); (N.B.R.); (V.Y.M.); (N.V.D.); (S.I.B.); (A.A.I.); (L.I.K.)
| | - Vasiliy Yu. Marchenko
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, 630559 Novosibirsk, Russia; (S.V.S.); (A.P.R.); (M.B.B.); (N.B.R.); (V.Y.M.); (N.V.D.); (S.I.B.); (A.A.I.); (L.I.K.)
| | - Natalia V. Danilchenko
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, 630559 Novosibirsk, Russia; (S.V.S.); (A.P.R.); (M.B.B.); (N.B.R.); (V.Y.M.); (N.V.D.); (S.I.B.); (A.A.I.); (L.I.K.)
| | - Anton N. Chikaev
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;
| | - Sergei I. Bazhan
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, 630559 Novosibirsk, Russia; (S.V.S.); (A.P.R.); (M.B.B.); (N.B.R.); (V.Y.M.); (N.V.D.); (S.I.B.); (A.A.I.); (L.I.K.)
| | - Alexander A. Ilyichev
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, 630559 Novosibirsk, Russia; (S.V.S.); (A.P.R.); (M.B.B.); (N.B.R.); (V.Y.M.); (N.V.D.); (S.I.B.); (A.A.I.); (L.I.K.)
| | - Larisa I. Karpenko
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, 630559 Novosibirsk, Russia; (S.V.S.); (A.P.R.); (M.B.B.); (N.B.R.); (V.Y.M.); (N.V.D.); (S.I.B.); (A.A.I.); (L.I.K.)
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31
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Chakraborty S, Mallajosyula V, Tato CM, Tan GS, Wang TT. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in advanced clinical trials: Where do we stand? Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 172:314-338. [PMID: 33482248 PMCID: PMC7816567 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to the focused application of resources and scientific expertise toward the goal of developing investigational vaccines to prevent COVID-19. The highly collaborative global efforts by private industry, governments and non-governmental organizations have resulted in a number of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates moving to Phase III trials in a period of only months since the start of the pandemic. In this review, we provide an overview of the preclinical and clinical data on SARS-CoV-2 vaccines that are currently in Phase III clinical trials and in few cases authorized for emergency use. We further discuss relevant vaccine platforms and provide a discussion of SARS-CoV-2 antigens that may be targeted to increase the breadth and durability of vaccine responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saborni Chakraborty
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Vamsee Mallajosyula
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation, and Infection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cristina M Tato
- Infectious Disease Initiative, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gene S Tan
- J. Craig Venter Institute, 4120 Capricorn Lane, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Infectious Diseases, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Taia T Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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32
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Strategies Targeting Hemagglutinin as a Universal Influenza Vaccine. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9030257. [PMID: 33805749 PMCID: PMC7998911 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9030257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza virus has significant viral diversity, both through antigenic drift and shift, which makes development of a vaccine challenging. Current influenza vaccines are updated yearly to include strains predicted to circulate in the upcoming influenza season, however this can lead to a mismatch which reduces vaccine efficacy. Several strategies targeting the most abundant and immunogenic surface protein of influenza, the hemagglutinin (HA) protein, have been explored. These strategies include stalk-directed, consensus-based, and computationally derived HA immunogens. In this review, we explore vaccine strategies which utilize novel antigen design of the HA protein to improve cross-reactive immunity for development of a universal influenza vaccine.
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33
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Rivero-Calle I, Gómez-Rial J, Bont L, Gessner BD, Kohn M, Dagan R, Payne DC, Bruni L, Pollard AJ, García-Sastre A, Faustman DL, Osterhaus A, Butler R, Giménez Sánchez F, Álvarez F, Kaforou M, Bello X, Martinón-Torres F. TIPICO X: report of the 10th interactive infectious disease workshop on infectious diseases and vaccines. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2021; 17:759-772. [PMID: 32755474 PMCID: PMC7996078 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1788301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
TIPICO is an expert meeting and workshop that aims to provide the most recent evidence in the field of infectious diseases and vaccination. The 10th Interactive Infectious Disease TIPICO workshop took place in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, on November 21-22, 2019. Cutting-edge advances in vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, rotavirus, human papillomavirus, Neisseria meningitidis, influenza virus, and Salmonella Typhi were discussed. Furthermore, heterologous vaccine effects were updated, including the use of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine as potential treatment for type 1 diabetes. Finally, the workshop also included presentations and discussion on emergent virus and zoonoses, vaccine resilience, building and sustaining confidence in vaccination, approaches to vaccine decision-making, pros and cons of compulsory vaccination, the latest advances in decoding infectious diseases by RNA gene signatures, and the application of big data approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Rivero-Calle
- Translational Paediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario De Santiago De Compostela, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
- Genetics, Vaccines and Infections Research Group (GENVIP), Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria De Santiago, Universidad De Santiago De Compostela, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
| | - Jose Gómez-Rial
- Genetics, Vaccines and Infections Research Group (GENVIP), Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria De Santiago, Universidad De Santiago De Compostela, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
| | - Louis Bont
- Wilhelmina’s Children’s Hospital University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Melvin Kohn
- Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Medical Affairs, Global Medical and Scientific Affairs, Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA
| | - Ron Dagan
- The Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Daniel C. Payne
- Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Laia Bruni
- Cancer Epidemiology Research Program, Institut Català d’Oncologia (ICO) - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrew J. Pollard
- Oxford Vaccines Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Adolfo García-Sastre
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Denise L. Faustman
- The Immunobiology Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Albert Osterhaus
- Artemis One Health, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Research Center Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, Hannover, Germany
| | - Robb Butler
- WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Myrsini Kaforou
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Xabier Bello
- Genetics, Vaccines and Infections Research Group (GENVIP), Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria De Santiago, Universidad De Santiago De Compostela, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
| | - Federico Martinón-Torres
- Translational Paediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario De Santiago De Compostela, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
- Genetics, Vaccines and Infections Research Group (GENVIP), Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria De Santiago, Universidad De Santiago De Compostela, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
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34
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Kwak C, Nguyen QT, Kim J, Kim TH, Poo H. Influenza Chimeric Protein (3M2e-3HA2-NP) Adjuvanted with PGA/Alum Confers Cross-Protection against Heterologous Influenza A Viruses. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 31:304-316. [PMID: 33263336 PMCID: PMC9705887 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2011.11029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza virus infections. However, conventional vaccines based on hemagglutinin (HA) have to be annually updated because the HA of influenza viruses constantly mutates. In this study, we produced a 3M2e-3HA2-NP chimeric protein as a vaccine antigen candidate using an Escherichia coli expression system. The vaccination of chimeric protein (15 μg) conferred complete protection against A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (H1N1; PR8) in mice. It strongly induced influenza virus-specific antibody responses, cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. To spare the dose and enhance the cross-reactivity of the chimeric, we used a complex of poly-γ-glutamic acid and alum (PGA/alum) as an adjuvant. PGA/alum-adjuvanted, low-dose chimeric protein (1 or 5 μg) exhibited higher cross-protective effects against influenza A viruses (PR8, CA04, and H3N2) compared with those of chimeric alone or alum-adjuvanted proteins in vaccinated mice. Moreover, the depletion of CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and NK cells reduced the survival rate and efficacy of the PGA/alum-adjuvanted chimeric protein. Collectively, the vaccination of PGA/alum-adjuvanted chimeric protein induced strong protection efficacy against homologous and heterologous influenza viruses in mice, which suggests that it may be a promising universal influenza vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaewon Kwak
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 344, Republic of Korea,Department of Biosystems and Bioengineering, KRIBB School of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Quyen Thi Nguyen
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 344, Republic of Korea,Department of Biosystems and Bioengineering, KRIBB School of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaemoo Kim
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 344, Republic of Korea,Department of Biosystems and Bioengineering, KRIBB School of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Hwan Kim
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 344, Republic of Korea
| | - Haryoung Poo
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 344, Republic of Korea,Department of Biosystems and Bioengineering, KRIBB School of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea,Corresponding author Phone: +82-42-860-4157 Fax: +82-42-879-8498 E-mail:
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35
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Sangesland M, Lingwood D. Antibody Focusing to Conserved Sites of Vulnerability: The Immunological Pathways for 'Universal' Influenza Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9020125. [PMID: 33562627 PMCID: PMC7914524 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Influenza virus remains a serious public health burden due to ongoing viral evolution. Vaccination remains the best measure of prophylaxis, yet current seasonal vaccines elicit strain-specific neutralizing responses that favor the hypervariable epitopes on the virus. This necessitates yearly reformulations of seasonal vaccines, which can be limited in efficacy and also shortchange pandemic preparedness. Universal vaccine development aims to overcome these deficits by redirecting antibody responses to functionally conserved sites of viral vulnerability to enable broad coverage. However, this is challenging as such antibodies are largely immunologically silent, both following vaccination and infection. Defining and then overcoming the immunological basis for such subdominant or ‘immuno-recessive’ antibody targeting has thus become an important aspect of universal vaccine development. This, coupled with structure-guided immunogen design, has led to proof-of-concept that it is possible to rationally refocus humoral immunity upon normally ‘unseen’ broadly neutralizing antibody targets on influenza virus.
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Toon K, Bentley EM, Mattiuzzo G. More Than Just Gene Therapy Vectors: Lentiviral Vector Pseudotypes for Serological Investigation. Viruses 2021; 13:217. [PMID: 33572589 PMCID: PMC7911487 DOI: 10.3390/v13020217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Serological assays detecting neutralising antibodies are important for determining the immune responses following infection or vaccination and are also often considered a correlate of protection. The target of neutralising antibodies is usually located in the Envelope protein on the viral surface, which mediates cell entry. As such, presentation of the Envelope protein on a lentiviral particle represents a convenient alternative to handling of a potentially high containment virus or for those viruses with no established cell culture system. The flexibility, relative safety and, in most cases, ease of production of lentiviral pseudotypes, have led to their use in serological assays for many applications such as the evaluation of candidate vaccines, screening and characterization of anti-viral therapeutics, and sero-surveillance. Above all, the speed of production of the lentiviral pseudotypes, once the envelope sequence is published, makes them important tools in the response to viral outbreaks, as shown during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In this review, we provide an overview of the landscape of the serological applications of pseudotyped lentiviral vectors, with a brief discussion on their production and batch quality analysis. Finally, we evaluate their role as surrogates for the real virus and possible alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamilla Toon
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control-MHRA, Blanche Lane, South Mimms EN6 3QG, UK;
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Emma M. Bentley
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control-MHRA, Blanche Lane, South Mimms EN6 3QG, UK;
| | - Giada Mattiuzzo
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control-MHRA, Blanche Lane, South Mimms EN6 3QG, UK;
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Harshbarger WD, Deming D, Lockbaum GJ, Attatippaholkun N, Kamkaew M, Hou S, Somasundaran M, Wang JP, Finberg RW, Zhu QK, Schiffer CA, Marasco WA. Unique structural solution from a V H3-30 antibody targeting the hemagglutinin stem of influenza A viruses. Nat Commun 2021; 12:559. [PMID: 33495478 PMCID: PMC7835374 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20879-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) targeting conserved influenza A virus (IAV) hemagglutinin (HA) epitopes can provide valuable information for accelerating universal vaccine designs. Here, we report structural details for heterosubtypic recognition of HA from circulating and emerging IAVs by the human antibody 3I14. Somatic hypermutations play a critical role in shaping the HCDR3, which alone and uniquely among VH3-30 derived antibodies, forms contacts with five sub-pockets within the HA-stem hydrophobic groove. 3I14 light-chain interactions are also key for binding HA and contribute a large buried surface area spanning two HA protomers. Comparison of 3I14 to bnAbs from several defined classes provide insights to the bias selection of VH3-30 antibodies and reveals that 3I14 represents a novel structural solution within the VH3-30 repertoire. The structures reported here improve our understanding of cross-group heterosubtypic binding activity, providing the basis for advancing immunogen designs aimed at eliciting a broadly protective response to IAV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne D Harshbarger
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Derrick Deming
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gordon J Lockbaum
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | - Maliwan Kamkaew
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shurong Hou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Mohan Somasundaran
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer P Wang
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Robert W Finberg
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Quan Karen Zhu
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Celia A Schiffer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Wayne A Marasco
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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38
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Modular vaccine platform based on the norovirus-like particle. J Nanobiotechnology 2021; 19:25. [PMID: 33468139 PMCID: PMC7815183 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-00772-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines have recently emerged as a safe and effective alternative to conventional vaccine technologies. The strong immunogenic effects of VLPs can be harnessed for making vaccines against any pathogen by decorating VLPs with antigens from the pathogen. Producing the antigenic pathogen fragments and the VLP platform separately makes vaccine development rapid and convenient. Here we decorated the norovirus-like particle with two conserved influenza antigens and tested for the immunogenicity of the vaccine candidates in BALB/c mice. RESULTS SpyTagged noro-VLP was expressed with high efficiency in insect cells and purified using industrially scalable methods. Like the native noro-VLP, SpyTagged noro-VLP is stable for months when refrigerated in a physiological buffer. The conserved influenza antigens were produced separately as SpyCatcher fusions in E. coli before covalent conjugation on the surface of noro-VLP. The noro-VLP had a high adjuvant effect, inducing high titers of antibody production against the antigens presented on its surface. CONCLUSIONS The modular noro-VLP vaccine platform presented here offers a rapid, convenient and safe method to present various soluble protein antigens to the immune system for vaccination and antibody production purposes.
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Mara K, Dai M, Brice AM, Alexander MR, Tribolet L, Layton DS, Bean AGD. Investigating the Interaction between Negative Strand RNA Viruses and Their Hosts for Enhanced Vaccine Development and Production. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9010059. [PMID: 33477334 PMCID: PMC7830660 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9010059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The current pandemic has highlighted the ever-increasing risk of human to human spread of zoonotic pathogens. A number of medically-relevant zoonotic pathogens are negative-strand RNA viruses (NSVs). NSVs are derived from different virus families. Examples like Ebola are known for causing severe symptoms and high mortality rates. Some, like influenza, are known for their ease of person-to-person transmission and lack of pre-existing immunity, enabling rapid spread across many countries around the globe. Containment of outbreaks of NSVs can be difficult owing to their unpredictability and the absence of effective control measures, such as vaccines and antiviral therapeutics. In addition, there remains a lack of essential knowledge of the host–pathogen response that are induced by NSVs, particularly of the immune responses that provide protection. Vaccines are the most effective method for preventing infectious diseases. In fact, in the event of a pandemic, appropriate vaccine design and speed of vaccine supply is the most critical factor in protecting the population, as vaccination is the only sustainable defense. Vaccines need to be safe, efficient, and cost-effective, which is influenced by our understanding of the host–pathogen interface. Additionally, some of the major challenges of vaccines are the establishment of a long-lasting immunity offering cross protection to emerging strains. Although many NSVs are controlled through immunisations, for some, vaccine design has failed or efficacy has proven unreliable. The key behind designing a successful vaccine is understanding the host–pathogen interaction and the host immune response towards NSVs. In this paper, we review the recent research in vaccine design against NSVs and explore the immune responses induced by these viruses. The generation of a robust and integrated approach to development capability and vaccine manufacture can collaboratively support the management of outbreaking NSV disease health risks.
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McMillan CL, Young PR, Watterson D, Chappell KJ. The Next Generation of Influenza Vaccines: Towards a Universal Solution. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9010026. [PMID: 33430278 PMCID: PMC7825669 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9010026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Influenza viruses remain a constant burden in humans, causing millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Current influenza virus vaccine modalities primarily induce antibodies directed towards the highly variable head domain of the hemagglutinin protein on the virus surface. Such antibodies are often strain-specific, meaning limited cross-protection against divergent influenza viruses is induced, resulting in poor vaccine efficacy. To attempt to counteract this, yearly influenza vaccination with updated formulations containing antigens from more recently circulating viruses is required. This is an expensive and time-consuming exercise, and the constant arms race between host immunity and virus evolution presents an ongoing challenge for effective vaccine development. Furthermore, there exists the constant pandemic threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses with high fatality rates (~30–50%) or the emergence of new, pathogenic reassortants. Current vaccines would likely offer little to no protection from such viruses in the event of an epidemic or pandemic. This highlights the urgent need for improved influenza virus vaccines capable of providing long-lasting, robust protection from both seasonal influenza virus infections as well as potential pandemic threats. In this narrative review, we examine the next generation of influenza virus vaccines for human use and the steps being taken to achieve universal protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L.D. McMillan
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (P.R.Y.); (D.W.)
- Correspondence: (C.L.D.M.); (K.J.C.)
| | - Paul R. Young
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (P.R.Y.); (D.W.)
- The Australian Institute for Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- The Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Daniel Watterson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (P.R.Y.); (D.W.)
- The Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Keith J. Chappell
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (P.R.Y.); (D.W.)
- The Australian Institute for Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- The Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Correspondence: (C.L.D.M.); (K.J.C.)
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Gröhn S, Heinimäki S, Tamminen K, Blazevic V. Expression of influenza A virus-derived peptides on a rotavirus VP6-based delivery platform. Arch Virol 2021; 166:213-217. [PMID: 33067651 PMCID: PMC7567002 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-020-04847-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant protein technology enables the engineering of modern vaccines composed of a carrier protein displaying poorly immunogenic heterologous antigens. One promising carrier is based on the rotavirus inner-capsid VP6 protein. We explored different VP6 insertion sites for the presentation of two peptides (23 and 140 amino acids) derived from the M2 and HA genes of influenza A virus. Both termini and three surface loops of VP6 were successfully exploited as genetic fusion sites, as demonstrated by the expression of the fusion proteins. However, further studies are needed to assess the morphology and immunogenicity of these constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stina Gröhn
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Vaccine Development and Immunology/Vaccine Research Center, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Suvi Heinimäki
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Vaccine Development and Immunology/Vaccine Research Center, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Kirsi Tamminen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Vaccine Development and Immunology/Vaccine Research Center, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Vesna Blazevic
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Vaccine Development and Immunology/Vaccine Research Center, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland
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42
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Modeling human adaptive immune responses with tonsil organoids. Nat Med 2021; 27:125-135. [PMID: 33432170 PMCID: PMC7891554 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-020-01145-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Most of what we know about adaptive immunity has come from inbred mouse studies, using methods that are often difficult or impossible to confirm in humans. In addition, vaccine responses in mice are often poorly predictive of responses to those same vaccines in humans. Here we use human tonsils, readily available lymphoid organs, to develop a functional organotypic system that recapitulates key germinal center features in vitro, including the production of antigen-specific antibodies, somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation, plasmablast differentiation and class-switch recombination. We use this system to define the essential cellular components necessary to produce an influenza vaccine response. We also show that it can be used to evaluate humoral immune responses to two priming antigens, rabies vaccine and an adenovirus-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccine, and to assess the effects of different adjuvants. This system should prove useful for studying critical mechanisms underlying adaptive immunity in much greater depth than previously possible and to rapidly test vaccine candidates and adjuvants in an entirely human system.
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43
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Subdominance in Antibody Responses: Implications for Vaccine Development. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2020; 85:85/1/e00078-20. [PMID: 33239435 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00078-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccines work primarily by eliciting antibodies, even when recovery from natural infection depends on cellular immunity. Large efforts have therefore been made to identify microbial antigens that elicit protective antibodies, but these endeavors have encountered major difficulties, as witnessed by the lack of vaccines against many pathogens. This review summarizes accumulating evidence that subdominant protein regions, i.e., surface-exposed regions that elicit relatively weak antibody responses, are of particular interest for vaccine development. This concept may seem counterintuitive, but subdominance may represent an immune evasion mechanism, implying that the corresponding region potentially is a key target for protective immunity. Following a presentation of the concepts of immunodominance and subdominance, the review will present work on subdominant regions in several major human pathogens: the protozoan Plasmodium falciparum, two species of pathogenic streptococci, and the dengue and influenza viruses. Later sections are devoted to the molecular basis of subdominance, its potential role in immune evasion, and general implications for vaccine development. Special emphasis will be placed on the fact that a whole surface-exposed protein domain can be subdominant, as demonstrated for all of the pathogens described here. Overall, the available data indicate that subdominant protein regions are of much interest for vaccine development, not least in bacterial and protozoal systems, for which antibody subdominance remains largely unexplored.
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44
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Bazhan SI, Antonets DV, Starostina EV, Ilyicheva TN, Kaplina ON, Marchenko VY, Volkova OY, Bakulina AY, Karpenko LI. In silico design of influenza a virus artificial epitope-based T-cell antigens and the evaluation of their immunogenicity in mice. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 40:3196-3212. [PMID: 33222632 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1845978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The polyepitope strategy is promising approach for successfully creating a broadly protective flu vaccine, which targets T-lymphocytes (both CD4+ and CD8+) to recognise the most conserved epitopes of viral proteins. In this study, we employed a computer-aided approach to develop several artificial antigens potentially capable of evoking immune responses to different virus subtypes. These antigens included conservative T-cell epitopes of different influenza A virus proteins. To design epitope-based antigens we used experimentally verified information regarding influenza virus T-cell epitopes from the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) (http://www.iedb.org). We constructed two "human" and two "murine" variants of polyepitope antigens. Amino acid sequences of target polyepitope antigens were designed using our original TEpredict/PolyCTLDesigner software. Immunogenic and protective features of DNA constructs encoding "murine" target T-cell immunogens were studied in BALB/c mice. We showed that mice groups immunised with a combination of computer-generated "murine" DNA immunogens had a 37.5% survival rate after receiving a lethal dose of either A/California/4/2009 (H1N1) virus or A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) virus, while immunisation with live flu H1N1 and H3N2 vaccine strains provided protection against homologous viruses and failed to protect against heterologous viruses. These results demonstrate that mechanisms of cross-protective immunity may be associated with the stimulation of specific T-cell responses. This study demonstrates that our computer-aided approach may be successfully used for rational designing artificial polyepitope antigens capable of inducing virus-specific T-lymphocyte responses and providing partial protection against two different influenza virus subtypes.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei I Bazhan
- Theoretical Department, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia
| | - Denis V Antonets
- Theoretical Department, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia
| | - Ekaterina V Starostina
- Bioengineering Department, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia
| | - Tatyana N Ilyicheva
- Department of zoonotic infections and Influenza, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia
| | - Olga N Kaplina
- Bioengineering Department, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia
| | - Vasiliy Yu Marchenko
- Department of zoonotic infections and Influenza, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia
| | - Olga Yu Volkova
- Immunogenetics laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Anastasiya Yu Bakulina
- Theoretical Department, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia.,Laboratory of structural bioinformatics and molecular modeling, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Larisa I Karpenko
- Bioengineering Department, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia
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45
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Protein and Peptide Nanocluster Vaccines. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2020. [PMID: 33165870 DOI: 10.1007/82_2020_228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Recombinant protein- and peptide-based vaccines can deliver large amounts of specific antigens for tailored immune responses. One class of these are protein and peptide nanoclusters (PNCs), which are made entirely from the crosslinked antigen. PNCs leverage the inherent immunogenicity of nanoparticulate antigens while minimizing the use of excipients normally used to create them. In this chapter, we discuss PNC fabrication methods, immunostimulatory properties of nanoclusters observed in vitro and in vivo, and protective benefits of PNC vaccines against influenza and cancer mouse models. We conclude with an outlook on future studies of PNCs and PNC design strategies, as well as their use in future vaccine formulations.
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46
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Mallajosyula VVA, Swaroop S, Varadarajan R. Influenza Hemagglutinin Head Domain Mimicry by Rational Design. Protein J 2020; 39:434-448. [PMID: 33068234 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-020-09930-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite diligent vaccination efforts, influenza virus infection remains a major cause for respiratory-related illness across the globe. The less-than-optimal immunity conferred by the currently prescribed seasonal vaccines and protracted production times warrant the development of novel vaccines. Induction of an epitope-focused antibody response targeting known neutralization epitopes is a viable strategy to enhance the breadth of protection against rapidly evolving infectious viruses. We report the development of a design framework to mimic the hemagglutinin (HA) head fragment of H1-subtype viruses by delineating the interaction network of invariant residues lining the receptor binding site (RBS); a site targeted by cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies. The incorporation of multiple sequence alignment information in our algorithm to fix the construct termini and engineer rational mutations facilitates the facile extension of the design to heterologous (subtype-specific) influenza strains. We evaluated our design protocol by generating head fragments from divergent influenza A H1N1 A/Puerto Rico/8/34 and pH1N1 A/California/07/2009 strains that share a sequence identity of only 74.4% within the HA1 subunit. The designed immunogens exhibited characteristics of a well-ordered protein, and bound conformation-specific RBS targeting antibodies with high affinity, a desirable feature for putative vaccine candidates. Additionally, the bacterial expression of these immunogens provides a low-cost, rapidly scalable alternative.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shiv Swaroop
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.,Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Rajasthan, Kishangarh, Ajmer, 305817, India
| | - Raghavan Varadarajan
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.
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47
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Abstract
Conventional influenza vaccines are based on predicting the circulating viruses year by year, conferring limited effectiveness since the antigenicity of vaccine strains does not always match the circulating viruses. This necessitates development of universal influenza vaccines that provide broader and lasting protection against pan-influenza viruses. The discovery of the highly conserved immunogens (epitopes) of influenza viruses provides attractive targets for universal vaccine design. Here we review the current understanding with broadly protective immunogens (epitopes) and discuss several important considerations to achieve the goal of universal influenza vaccines.
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48
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Bazhan S, Antonets D, Starostina E, Ilyicheva T, Kaplina O, Marchenko V, Durymanov A, Oreshkova S, Karpenko L. Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy of Influenza A DNA Vaccines Encoding Artificial Antigens Based on Conservative Hemagglutinin Stem Region and M2 Protein in Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030448. [PMID: 32784907 PMCID: PMC7565880 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Development of a universal vaccine capable to induce antibody responses against a broad range of influenza virus strains attracts growing attention. Hemagglutinin stem and the exposed fragment of influenza virus M2 protein are promising targets for induction of cross-protective humoral and cell-mediated response, since they contain conservative epitopes capable to induce antibodies and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) to a wide range of influenza virus subtypes. Methods: In this study, we generated DNA vaccine constructs encoding artificial antigens AgH1, AgH3, and AgM2 designed on the basis of conservative hemagglutinin stem fragments of two influenza A virus subtypes, H1N1 and H3N2, and conservative M2 protein, and evaluate their immunogenicity and protective efficacy. To obtain DNA vaccine constructs, genes encoding the designed antigens were cloned into a pcDNA3.1 vector. Expression of the target genes in 293T cells transfected with DNA vaccine constructs has been confirmed by synthesis of specific mRNA. Results: Immunization of BALB/c mice with DNA vaccines encoding these antigens was shown to evoke humoral and T-cell immune responses as well as a moderated statistically significant cross-protective effect against two heterologous viruses A/California/4/2009 (H1N1pdm09) and A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2). Conclusions: The results demonstrate a potential approach to creating a universal influenza vaccine based on artificial antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei Bazhan
- Theoretical Department, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo 630559, Novosibirsk Region, Russia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-383-363-47-00 (ext. 2001)
| | - Denis Antonets
- Theoretical Department, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo 630559, Novosibirsk Region, Russia;
| | - Ekaterina Starostina
- Bioengineering Department, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo 630559, Novosibirsk Region, Russia; (E.S.); (O.K.); (S.O.); (L.K.)
| | - Tatyana Ilyicheva
- Department of Zoonotic Infections and Influenza, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo 630559, Novosibirsk Region, Russia; (T.I.); (V.M.); (A.D.)
| | - Olga Kaplina
- Bioengineering Department, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo 630559, Novosibirsk Region, Russia; (E.S.); (O.K.); (S.O.); (L.K.)
| | - Vasiliy Marchenko
- Department of Zoonotic Infections and Influenza, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo 630559, Novosibirsk Region, Russia; (T.I.); (V.M.); (A.D.)
| | - Alexander Durymanov
- Department of Zoonotic Infections and Influenza, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo 630559, Novosibirsk Region, Russia; (T.I.); (V.M.); (A.D.)
| | - Svetlana Oreshkova
- Bioengineering Department, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo 630559, Novosibirsk Region, Russia; (E.S.); (O.K.); (S.O.); (L.K.)
| | - Larisa Karpenko
- Bioengineering Department, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo 630559, Novosibirsk Region, Russia; (E.S.); (O.K.); (S.O.); (L.K.)
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49
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Rungrojcharoenkit K, Sunintaboon P, Ellison D, Macareo L, Midoeng P, Chaisuwirat P, Fernandez S, Ubol S. Development of an adjuvanted nanoparticle vaccine against influenza virus, an in vitro study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237218. [PMID: 32760143 PMCID: PMC7410248 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza is an infectious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Despite yearly updates, the efficacy of influenza vaccines is significantly curtailed by the virus antigenic drift and antigenic shift. These constant changes to the influenza virus make-up also challenge the development of a universal flu vaccine, which requires conserved antigenic regions shared by influenza viruses of different subtypes. We propose that it is possible to bypass these challenges by the development of an influenza vaccine based on conserved proteins delivered in an adjuvanted nanoparticle system. In this study, we generated influenza nanoparticle constructs using trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles (TMC nPs) as the carrier of recombinant influenza hemagglutinin subunit 2 (HA2) and nucleoprotein (NP). The purified HA2 and NP recombinant proteins were encapsulated into TMC nPs to form HA2-TMC nPs and NP-TMC nPs, respectively. Primary human intranasal epithelium cells (HNEpCs) were used as an in vitro model to measure immunity responses. HA2-TMC nPs, NP-TMC nPs, and HA2-NP-TMC nPs (influenza nanoparticle constructs) showed no toxicity in HNEpCs. The loading efficiency of HA2 and NP into the TMC nPs was 97.9% and 98.5%, respectively. HA2-TMC nPs and NP-TMC nPs more efficiently delivered HA2 and NP proteins to HNEpCs than soluble HA2 and NP proteins alone. The induction of various cytokines and chemokines was more evident in influenza nanoparticle construct-treated HNEpCs than in soluble protein-treated HNEpCs. In addition, soluble factors secreted by influenza nanoparticle construct-treated HNEpCs significantly induced MoDCs maturation markers (CD80, CD83, CD86 and HLA-DR), as compared to soluble factors secreted by protein-treated HNEpCs. HNEpCs treated with the influenza nanoparticle constructs significantly reduced influenza virus replication in an in vitro challenge assay. The results indicate that TMC nPs can be used as influenza vaccine adjuvants and carriers capable of delivering HA2 and NP proteins to HNEpCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamonthip Rungrojcharoenkit
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Virology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Panya Sunintaboon
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Damon Ellison
- Department of Virology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Louis Macareo
- Department of Virology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Panuwat Midoeng
- Division of Pathology, Army Institute of Pathology, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Preamrudee Chaisuwirat
- Division of Pathology, Army Institute of Pathology, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Stefan Fernandez
- Department of Virology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
- * E-mail: (SF); (SU)
| | - Sukathida Ubol
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- * E-mail: (SF); (SU)
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Wu NC, Wilson IA. Influenza Hemagglutinin Structures and Antibody Recognition. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2020; 10:cshperspect.a038778. [PMID: 31871236 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a038778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Hemagglutinin (HA) is most abundant glycoprotein on the influenza virus surface. Influenza HA promotes viral entry by engaging the receptor and mediating virus-host membrane fusion. At the same time, HA is the major antigen of the influenza virus. HA antigenic shift can result in pandemics, whereas antigenic drift allows human circulating strains to escape herd immunity. Most antibody responses against HA are strain-specific. However, antibodies that have neutralizing activities against multiple strains or even subtypes have now been discovered and characterized. These broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) target conserved regions on HA, such as the receptor-binding site and the stem domain. Structural studies of such bnAbs have provided important insight into universal influenza vaccine and therapeutic design. This review discusses the HA functions as well as HA-antibody interactions from a structural perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C Wu
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Ian A Wilson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.,The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
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