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Xu Y, Yang J, Meng X, Meng S, Sun T, Ding N, Zong C. The synthesis and preliminary immunological evaluation of a dual-adjuvant SARS-CoV-2 RBD vaccine: Covalent integration of TLR7/8 and iNKT cell agonists. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 270:132258. [PMID: 38735613 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132258] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Covalently linking an adjuvant to an antigenic protein enhances its immunogenicity by ensuring a synergistic delivery to the immune system, fostering a more robust and targeted immune response. Most adjuvant-protein conjugate vaccines incorporate only one adjuvant due to the difficulties in its synthesis. However, there is a growing interest in developing vaccines with multiple adjuvants designed to elicit a more robust and targeted immune response by engaging different aspects of the immune system for complex diseases where traditional vaccines fall short. Here, we pioneer the synthesis of a dual-adjuvants protein conjugate Vaccine 1 by assembling a toll-like receptor 7/8 (TLR7/8) agonist, an invariant natural killer T cell (iNKT) agonist with a clickable bicyclononyne (BCN). The BCN group can bio-orthogonally react with azide-modified severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 receptor-binding domain (SARS-CoV-2 RBD) trimer antigen to give the three-component Vaccine 1. Notably, with a mere 3 μg antigen, it elicited a balanced subclass of IgG titers and 20-fold more IgG2a than control vaccines, highlighting its potential for enhancing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. This strategy provides a practicable way to synthesize covalently linked dual immunostimulants. It expands the fully synthetic self-adjuvant protein vaccine that uses a single adjuvant to include two different types of adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Jing Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Xiongyan Meng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Shuai Meng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Tiantian Sun
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
| | - Ning Ding
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Chengli Zong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
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Meng X, Xu Y, Yang J, Meng S, Ding N, Sun T, Zong C. Strategic development of a self-adjuvanting SARS-CoV-2 RBD vaccine: From adjuvant screening to enhanced immunogenicity with a modified TLR7 agonist. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 132:111909. [PMID: 38554446 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Adjuvants enhance the body's immune response to a vaccine, often leading to better protection against diseases. Monophosphoryl lipid A analogues (MPLA, TLR4 agonists), α-galactosylceramide analogues (NKT cell agonists), and imidazoquinoline compounds (TLR7/8 agonists) are emerging novel adjuvants on market or under clinical trials. Despite significant interest in these adjuvants, a direct comparison of their adjuvant activities remains unexplored. We initially assessed the activities of various adjuvants from three distinct categories using the SARS-CoV-2 RBD trimer antigen. TLR4 and TLR7/8 agonists are discovered to elicit robust IgG2a/2b antibodies, which is crucial for eliciting antibody dependent cytotoxicity. While α-galactosylceramide analogs induced mainly IgG1 antibody. Then, because of the flexibility of the TLR7/8 agonist, we designed and synthesized a tri-component self-adjuvanting SARS-CoV-2 RBD vaccine, featuring a covalent TLR7 agonist and targeting mannoside. Animal studies indicated that this vaccine generated antigen-specific humoral immunity. Yet, its immunogenicity seems compromised, indicating the complexity of the vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiongyan Meng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Ying Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Jing Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Shuai Meng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Ning Ding
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Tiantian Sun
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Chengli Zong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
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Song Y, Fan W, Yao C, Wang H, Lu X, Wang Y, Liu P, Ma Y, Zhang Z, Wang J, Chu B, Shi L, Yang G, Wang M. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of quinazoline and pyrrolo[3,2- d]pyrimidine derivatives as TLR7 agonists for antiviral agents. Org Biomol Chem 2024; 22:2764-2773. [PMID: 38497199 DOI: 10.1039/d4ob00048j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play a critical role in the innate immune response, and toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) is an important member of PRRs. Although several TLR7 agonists are available, most of them are being tested clinically, with only one available on the market. Thus, it is imperative to develop new TLR7 agonists. In this study, we designed and synthesized three kinds of quinazoline derivatives and five kinds of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives targeting TLR7. The antiviral efficacy of these compounds was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Our findings indicated that four kinds of compounds showed exceptional antiviral activity. Furthermore, molecular docking studies confirmed that compound 11 successfully positioned itself in the pocket of the TLR7 guanosine loading site with a binding energy of -4.45 kcal mol-1. These results suggested that these compounds might be potential antiviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Song
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, China
- Molecule Biology Laboratory of Zhengzhou Normal University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450044, China
- Key Laboratories of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
| | - Wenjie Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, China
- Key Laboratories of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
| | - Chen Yao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, China
- Key Laboratories of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
| | - Heng Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, China
- Key Laboratories of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
| | - Xiuxiang Lu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, China
- Key Laboratories of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
| | - Yumin Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, China
- Key Laboratories of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
| | - Pengxiang Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, China
- Key Laboratories of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
| | - Yanjie Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, China
- Key Laboratories of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Molecule Biology Laboratory of Zhengzhou Normal University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450044, China
| | - Jiang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, China
- Key Laboratories of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
| | - BeiBei Chu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, China
- Key Laboratories of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
| | - Lijun Shi
- College of Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, China.
| | - Guoyu Yang
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, China.
- Key Laboratories of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450046, China
| | - Mengdi Wang
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, China.
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