1
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Wang LT, Idris AH, Kisalu NK, Crompton PD, Seder RA. Monoclonal antibodies to the circumsporozoite proteins as an emerging tool for malaria prevention. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:1530-1545. [PMID: 39198635 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01938-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
Despite various public health strategies, malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum parasites remains a major global health challenge that requires development of new interventions. Extended half-life human monoclonal antibodies targeting the P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein on sporozoites, the infective form of malaria parasites, prevent malaria in rodents and humans and have been advanced into clinical development. The protective epitopes on the circumsporozoite protein targeted by monoclonal antibodies have been defined. Cryogenic electron and multiphoton microscopy have enabled mechanistic structural and functional investigations of how antibodies bind to the circumsporozoite protein and neutralize sporozoites. Moreover, innovations in bioinformatics and antibody engineering have facilitated enhancement of antibody potency and durability. Here, we summarize the latest scientific advances in understanding how monoclonal antibodies to the circumsporozoite protein prevent malaria and highlight existing clinical data and future plans for how this emerging intervention can be used alone or alongside existing antimalarial interventions to control malaria across at-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence T Wang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Azza H Idris
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
- The Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Neville K Kisalu
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- PATH's Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Peter D Crompton
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Robert A Seder
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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2
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Duffy PE, Gorres JP, Healy SA, Fried M. Malaria vaccines: a new era of prevention and control. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024:10.1038/s41579-024-01065-7. [PMID: 39025972 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-024-01065-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Malaria killed over 600,000 people in 2022, a death toll that has not improved since 2015. Additionally, parasites and mosquitoes resistant to existing interventions are spreading across Africa and other regions. Vaccines offer hope to reduce the mortality burden: the first licensed malaria vaccines, RTS,S and R21, will be widely deployed in 2024 and should substantially reduce childhood deaths. In this Review, we provide an overview of the malaria problem and the Plasmodium parasite, then describe the RTS,S and R21 vaccines (the first vaccines for any human parasitic disease), summarizing their benefits and limitations. We explore next-generation vaccines designed using new knowledge of malaria pathogenesis and protective immunity, which incorporate antigens and platforms to elicit effective immune responses against different parasite stages in human or mosquito hosts. We describe a decision-making process that prioritizes malaria vaccine candidates for development in a resource-constrained environment. Future vaccines might improve upon the protective efficacy of RTS,S or R21 for children, or address the wider malaria scourge by preventing pregnancy malaria, reducing the burden of Plasmodium vivax or accelerating malaria elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick E Duffy
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - J Patrick Gorres
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sara A Healy
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michal Fried
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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3
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Li Y, Tian S, Ai Y, Hu Z, Ma C, Fu M, Xu Z, Li Y, Liu S, Zou Y, Zhou Y, Jin J. A nanoparticle vaccine displaying varicella-zoster virus gE antigen induces a superior cellular immune response than a licensed vaccine in mice and non-human primates. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1419634. [PMID: 39081325 PMCID: PMC11286566 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1419634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Herpes zoster (HZ), also known as shingles, remains a significant global health issue and most commonly seen in elderly individuals with an early exposure history to varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Currently, the licensed vaccine Shingrix, which comprises a recombinant VZV glycoprotein E (gE) formulated with a potent adjuvant AS01B, is the most effective shingles vaccine on the market. However, undesired reactogenicity and increasing global demand causing vaccine shortage, prompting the development of novel shingles vaccines. Here, we developed novel vaccine candidates utilising multiple nanoparticle (NP) platforms to display the recombinant gE antigen, formulated in an MF59-biosimilar adjuvant. In naïve mice, all tested NP vaccines induced higher humoral and cellular immune responses than Shingrix, among which, the gEM candidate induced the highest cellular response. In live attenuated VZV (VZV LAV)-primed mouse and rhesus macaque models, the gEM candidate elicited superior cell-mediated immunity (CMI) over Shingrix. Collectively, we demonstrated that NP technology remains a suitable tool for developing shingles vaccine, and the reported gEM construct is a highly promising candidate in the next-generation shingles vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jing Jin
- Patronus Biotech Co. Ltd., Guangzhou, China
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4
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Travassos R, Martins SA, Fernandes A, Correia JDG, Melo R. Tailored Viral-like Particles as Drivers of Medical Breakthroughs. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6699. [PMID: 38928403 PMCID: PMC11204272 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126699] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the recognized potential of nanoparticles, only a few formulations have progressed to clinical trials, and an even smaller number have been approved by the regulatory authorities and marketed. Virus-like particles (VLPs) have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional nanoparticles due to their safety, biocompatibility, immunogenicity, structural stability, scalability, and versatility. Furthermore, VLPs can be surface-functionalized with small molecules to improve circulation half-life and target specificity. Through the functionalization and coating of VLPs, it is possible to optimize the response properties to a given stimulus, such as heat, pH, an alternating magnetic field, or even enzymes. Surface functionalization can also modulate other properties, such as biocompatibility, stability, and specificity, deeming VLPs as potential vaccine candidates or delivery systems. This review aims to address the different types of surface functionalization of VLPs, highlighting the more recent cutting-edge technologies that have been explored for the design of tailored VLPs, their importance, and their consequent applicability in the medical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Travassos
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139.7), 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal; (R.T.); (S.A.M.); (A.F.)
| | - Sofia A. Martins
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139.7), 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal; (R.T.); (S.A.M.); (A.F.)
| | - Ana Fernandes
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139.7), 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal; (R.T.); (S.A.M.); (A.F.)
| | - João D. G. Correia
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139.7), 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal; (R.T.); (S.A.M.); (A.F.)
- Departamento de Engenharia e Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139.7), 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal
| | - Rita Melo
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139.7), 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal; (R.T.); (S.A.M.); (A.F.)
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Miura K, Flores-Garcia Y, Long CA, Zavala F. Vaccines and monoclonal antibodies: new tools for malaria control. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024; 37:e0007123. [PMID: 38656211 PMCID: PMC11237600 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00071-23] [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] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYMalaria remains one of the biggest health problems in the world. While significant reductions in malaria morbidity and mortality had been achieved from 2000 to 2015, the favorable trend has stalled, rather significant increases in malaria cases are seen in multiple areas. In 2022, there were 249 million estimated cases, and 608,000 malaria-related deaths, mostly in infants and children aged under 5 years, globally. Therefore, in addition to the expansion of existing anti-malarial control measures, it is critical to develop new tools, such as vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), to fight malaria. In the last 2 years, the first and second malaria vaccines, both targeting Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite proteins (PfCSP), have been recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent P. falciparum malaria in children living in moderate to high transmission areas. While the approval of the two malaria vaccines is a considerable milestone in vaccine development, they have much room for improvement in efficacy and durability. In addition to the two approved vaccines, recent clinical trials with mAbs against PfCSP, blood-stage vaccines against P. falciparum or P. vivax, and transmission-blocking vaccine or mAb against P. falciparum have shown promising results. This review summarizes the development of the anti-PfCSP vaccines and mAbs, and recent topics in the blood- and transmission-blocking-stage vaccine candidates and mAbs. We further discuss issues of the current vaccines and the directions for the development of next-generation vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Yevel Flores-Garcia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Carole A Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Cummings JF, Polhemus ME, Kester KE, Ockenhouse CF, Gasser RA, Coyne P, Wortmann G, Nielsen RK, Schaecher K, Holland CA, Krzych U, Tornieporth N, Soisson LA, Angov E, Heppner DG. A phase IIa, randomized, double-blind, safety, immunogenicity and efficacy trial of Plasmodium falciparum vaccine antigens merozoite surface protein 1 and RTS,S formulated with AS02 adjuvant in healthy, malaria-naïve adults. Vaccine 2024; 42:3066-3074. [PMID: 38584058 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.03.072] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To improve the efficacy of Plasmodium falciparum malaria vaccine RTS,S/AS02, we conducted a study in 2001 in healthy, malaria-naïve adults administered RTS,S/AS02 in combination with FMP1, a recombinant merozoite surface-protein-1, C-terminal 42kD fragment. METHODS A double-blind Phase I/IIa study randomized N = 60 subjects 1:1:1:1 to one of four groups, N = 15/group, to evaluate safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of intra-deltoid half-doses of RTS,S/AS02 and FMP1/AS02 administered in the contralateral (RTS,S + FMP1-separate) or same (RTS,S + FMP1-same) sites, or FMP1/AS02 alone (FMP1-alone), or RTS,S/AS02 alone (RTS,S-alone) on a 0-, 1-, 3-month schedule. Subjects receiving three doses of vaccine and non-immunized controls (N = 11) were infected with homologous P. falciparum 3D7 sporozoites by Controlled Human Malaria Infection (CHMI). RESULTS Subjects in all vaccination groups experienced mostly mild or moderate local and general adverse events that resolved within eight days. Anti-circumsporozoite antibody levels were lower when FMP1 and RTS,S were co-administered at the same site (35.0 µg/mL: 95 % CI 20.3-63), versus separate arms (57.4 µg/mL: 95 % CI 32.3-102) or RTS,S alone (62.0 µg/mL: 95 % CI: 37.8-101.8). RTS,S-specific lymphoproliferative responses and ex vivo ELISpot CSP-specific interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) responses were indistinguishable among groups receiving RTS,S/AS02. There was no difference in antibody to FMP1 among groups receiving FMP1/AS02. After CHMI, groups immunized with a RTS,S-containing regimen had ∼ 30 % sterile protection against parasitemia, and equivalent delays in time-to-parasitemia. The FMP1/AS02 alone group showed no sterile immunity or delay in parasitemia. CONCLUSION Co-administration of RTS,S and FMP1/AS02 reduced anti-RTS,S antibody, but did not affect tolerability, cellular immunity, or efficacy in a stringent CHMI model. Absence of efficacy or delay of patency in the sporozoite challenge model in the FMP1/AS02 group did not rule out efficacy of FMP1/AS02 in an endemic population. However, a Phase IIb trial of FMP1/AS02 in children in malaria-endemic Kenya did not demonstrate efficacy against natural infection. CLINICALTRIALS gov identifier: NCT01556945.
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Affiliation(s)
- J F Cummings
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - M E Polhemus
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - K E Kester
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - C F Ockenhouse
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - R A Gasser
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - P Coyne
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - G Wortmann
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - R K Nielsen
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - K Schaecher
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - C A Holland
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - U Krzych
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | | | - L A Soisson
- Malaria Vaccine Development Program, United States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC, USA
| | - E Angov
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| | - D G Heppner
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
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7
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Stump WH, Klingenberg HJ, Ott AC, Gonzales DM, Burns JM. Design and Evaluation of Chimeric Plasmodium falciparum Circumsporozoite Protein-Based Malaria Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:351. [PMID: 38675734 PMCID: PMC11053680 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12040351] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Efficacy data on two malaria vaccines, RTS,S and R21, targeting Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP), are encouraging. Efficacy may be improved by induction of additional antibodies to neutralizing epitopes outside of the central immunodominant repeat domain of PfCSP. We designed four rPfCSP-based vaccines in an effort to improve the diversity of the antibody response. We also evaluated P. falciparum merozoite surface protein 8 (PfMSP8) as a malaria-specific carrier protein as an alternative to hepatitis B surface antigen. We measured the magnitude, specificity, subclass, avidity, durability, and efficacy of vaccine-induced antibodies in outbred CD1 mice. In comparison to N-terminal- or C-terminal-focused constructs, immunization with near full-length vaccines, rPfCSP (#1) or the chimeric rPfCSP/8 (#2), markedly increased the breadth of B cell epitopes recognized covering the N-terminal domain, junctional region, and central repeat. Both rPfCSP (#1) and rPfCSP/8 (#2) also elicited a high proportion of antibodies to conformation-dependent epitopes in the C-terminus of PfCSP. Fusion of PfCSP to PfMSP8 shifted the specificity of the T cell response away from PfCSP toward PfMSP8 epitopes. Challenge studies with transgenic Plasmodium yoelii sporozoites expressing PfCSP demonstrated high and consistent sterile protection following rPfCSP/8 (#2) immunization. Of note, antibodies to conformational C-terminal epitopes were not required for protection. These results indicate that inclusion of the N-terminal domain of PfCSP can drive responses to protective, repeat, and non-repeat B cell epitopes and that PfMSP8 is an effective carrier for induction of high-titer, durable anti-PfCSP antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - James M. Burns
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA; (W.H.S.); (H.J.K.); (A.C.O.); (D.M.G.)
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8
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Takashima E, Otsuki H, Morita M, Ito D, Nagaoka H, Yuguchi T, Hassan I, Tsuboi T. The Need for Novel Asexual Blood-Stage Malaria Vaccine Candidates for Plasmodium falciparum. Biomolecules 2024; 14:100. [PMID: 38254700 PMCID: PMC10813614 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010100] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Extensive control efforts have significantly reduced malaria cases and deaths over the past two decades, but in recent years, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, success has stalled. The WHO has urged the implementation of a number of interventions, including vaccines. The modestly effective RTS,S/AS01 pre-erythrocytic vaccine has been recommended by the WHO for use in sub-Saharan Africa against Plasmodium falciparum in children residing in moderate to high malaria transmission regions. A second pre-erythrocytic vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, was also recommended by the WHO on 3 October 2023. However, the paucity and limitations of pre-erythrocytic vaccines highlight the need for asexual blood-stage malaria vaccines that prevent disease caused by blood-stage parasites. Few asexual blood-stage vaccine candidates have reached phase 2 clinical development, and the challenges in terms of their efficacy include antigen polymorphisms and low immunogenicity in humans. This review summarizes the history and progress of asexual blood-stage malaria vaccine development, highlighting the need for novel candidate vaccine antigens/molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eizo Takashima
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan; (M.M.); (H.N.); (T.Y.); (I.H.)
| | - Hitoshi Otsuki
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan; (H.O.); (D.I.)
| | - Masayuki Morita
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan; (M.M.); (H.N.); (T.Y.); (I.H.)
| | - Daisuke Ito
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan; (H.O.); (D.I.)
| | - Hikaru Nagaoka
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan; (M.M.); (H.N.); (T.Y.); (I.H.)
| | - Takaaki Yuguchi
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan; (M.M.); (H.N.); (T.Y.); (I.H.)
| | - Ifra Hassan
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan; (M.M.); (H.N.); (T.Y.); (I.H.)
| | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Division of Cell-Free Sciences, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan
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9
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Vashishtha VM, Kumar P. The durability of vaccine-induced protection: an overview. Expert Rev Vaccines 2024; 23:389-408. [PMID: 38488132 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2024.2331065] [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: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Current vaccines vary widely in both their efficacy against infection and disease, and the durability of the efficacy. Some vaccines provide practically lifelong protection with a single dose, while others provide only limited protection following annual boosters. What variables make vaccine-induced immune responses last? Can breakthroughs in these factors and technologies help us produce vaccines with better protection and fewer doses? The durability of vaccine-induced protection is now a hot area in vaccinology research, especially after COVID-19 vaccines lost their luster. It has fueled discussion on the eventual utility of existing vaccines to society and bolstered the anti-vaxxer camp. To sustain public trust in vaccines, lasting vaccines must be developed. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes licensed vaccines' protection. It analyses immunological principles and vaccine and vaccinee parameters that determine longevity of antibodies. The review concludes with challenges and the way forward to improve vaccine durability. EXPERT OPINION Despite enormous advances, we still lack essential markers and reliable correlates of lasting protection. Most research has focused on humoral immune responses, but we must also focus on innate, mucosal, and cellular responses - their assessment, correlates, determinants, and novel adjuvants. Suitable vaccine designs and platforms for durable immunity must be found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipin M Vashishtha
- Department of Pediatrics, Mangla Hospital & Research Center, Shakti Chowk, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Puneet Kumar
- Department of Pediatrician, Kumar Child Clinic, New Delhi, India
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10
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Abstract
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Despite significant declines in malaria-attributable morbidity and mortality over the last two decades, it remains a major public health burden in many countries. This underscores the critical need for improved strategies to prevent, treat and control malaria if we are to ultimately progress towards the eradication of this disease. Ideally, this will include the development and deployment of a highly effective malaria vaccine that is able to induce long-lasting protective immunity. There are many malaria vaccine candidates in development, with more than a dozen of these in clinical development. RTS,S/AS01 (also known as Mosquirix) is the most advanced malaria vaccine and was shown to have modest efficacy against clinical malaria in phase III trials in 5- to 17-month-old infants. Following pilot implementation trials, the World Health Organisation has recommended it for use in Africa in young children who are most at risk of infection with P. falciparum, the deadliest of the human malaria parasites. It is well recognised that more effective malaria vaccines are needed. In this review, we discuss malaria vaccine candidates that have progressed into clinical evaluation and highlight the most advanced candidates: Sanaria's irradiated sporozoite vaccine (PfSPZ Vaccine), the chemoattenuated sporozoite vaccine (PfSPZ-CVac), RTS,S/AS01 and the novel malaria vaccine candidate, R21, which displayed promising, high-level efficacy in a recent small phase IIb trial in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle I Stanisic
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD, Australia.
| | - Michael F Good
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD, Australia.
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11
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Rajneesh, Tiwari R, Singh VK, Kumar A, Gupta RP, Singh AK, Gautam V, Kumar R. Advancements and Challenges in Developing Malaria Vaccines: Targeting Multiple Stages of the Parasite Life Cycle. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1795-1814. [PMID: 37708228 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Malaria, caused by Plasmodium species, remains a major global health concern, causing millions of deaths annually. While the introduction of the RTS,S vaccine has shown promise, there is a pressing need for more effective vaccines due to the emergence of drug-resistant parasites and insecticide-resistant vectors. However, the complex life cycle and genetic diversity of the parasite, technical obstacles, limited funding, and the impact of the 2019 pandemic have hindered progress in malaria vaccine development. This review focuses on advancements in malaria vaccine development, particularly the ongoing clinical trials targeting antigens from different stages of the Plasmodium life cycle. Additionally, we discuss the rationale, strategies, and challenges associated with vaccine design, aiming to enhance the immune response and protective efficacy of vaccine candidates. A cost-effective and multistage vaccine could hold the key to controlling and eradicating malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajneesh
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Rahul Tiwari
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Vishal K Singh
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Awnish Kumar
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Rohit P Gupta
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
- Department of Applied Microbiology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Akhilesh K Singh
- Faculty of Dental Science, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Vibhav Gautam
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Rajiv Kumar
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
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12
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Martin GM, Torres JL, Pholcharee T, Oyen D, Flores-Garcia Y, Gibson G, Moskovitz R, Beutler N, Jung DD, Copps J, Lee WH, Gonzalez-Paez G, Emerling D, MacGill RS, Locke E, King CR, Zavala F, Wilson IA, Ward AB. Affinity-matured homotypic interactions induce spectrum of PfCSP structures that influence protection from malaria infection. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4546. [PMID: 37507365 PMCID: PMC10382551 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40151-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The generation of high-quality antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP), the primary surface antigen of Pf sporozoites, is paramount to the development of an effective malaria vaccine. Here we present an in-depth structural and functional analysis of a panel of potent antibodies encoded by the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable (IGHV) gene IGHV3-33, which is among the most prevalent and potent antibody families induced in the anti-PfCSP immune response and targets the Asn-Ala-Asn-Pro (NANP) repeat region. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) reveals a remarkable spectrum of helical antibody-PfCSP structures stabilized by homotypic interactions between tightly packed fragments antigen binding (Fabs), many of which correlate with somatic hypermutation. We demonstrate a key role of these mutated homotypic contacts for high avidity binding to PfCSP and in protection from Pf malaria infection. Together, these data emphasize the importance of anti-homotypic affinity maturation in the frequent selection of IGHV3-33 antibodies and highlight key features underlying the potent protection of this antibody family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M Martin
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Jonathan L Torres
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Tossapol Pholcharee
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3DR, UK
| | - David Oyen
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Pfizer Inc, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Yevel Flores-Garcia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Grace Gibson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Re'em Moskovitz
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Nathan Beutler
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Diana D Jung
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Jeffrey Copps
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Wen-Hsin Lee
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Gonzalo Gonzalez-Paez
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | | | | | - Emily Locke
- PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
| | - C Richter King
- PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Ian A Wilson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Andrew B Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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13
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Pendyala G, Calvo‐Calle JM, Moreno A, Kane RS. A multivalent Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein-based nanoparticle malaria vaccine elicits a robust and durable antibody response against the junctional epitope and the major repeats. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10514. [PMID: 37476056 PMCID: PMC10354751 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10514] [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: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria continues to cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is a particularly attractive candidate for designing vaccines that target sporozoites-the first vertebrate stage in a malaria infection. Current PfCSP-based vaccines, however, do not include epitopes that have recently been shown to be the target of potent neutralizing antibodies. We report the design of a SpyCatcher-mi3-nanoparticle-based vaccine presenting multiple copies of a chimeric PfCSP (cPfCSP) antigen that incorporates these important "T1/junctional" epitopes as well as a reduced number of (NANP)n repeats. cPfCSP-SpyCatcher-mi3 was immunogenic in mice eliciting high and durable IgG antibody levels as well as a balanced antibody response against the T1/junctional region and the (NANP)n repeats. Notably, the antibody concentration elicited by immunization was significantly greater than the reported protective threshold defined in a murine challenge model. Refocusing the immune response toward functionally relevant subdominant epitopes to induce a more balanced and durable immune response may enable the design of a more effective second generation PfCSP-based vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetanjali Pendyala
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgia30332USA
| | - J. Mauricio Calvo‐Calle
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusetts01655USA
| | - Alberto Moreno
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory National Primate Research CenterEmory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia30329USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of MedicineEmory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia30303USA
| | - Ravi S. Kane
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgia30332USA
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgia30332USA
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14
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Britez JD, Rodriguez AE, Di Ciaccio L, Marugán-Hernandez V, Tomazic ML. What Do We Know about Surface Proteins of Chicken Parasites Eimeria? Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1295. [PMID: 37374079 DOI: 10.3390/life13061295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Poultry is the first source of animal protein for human consumption. In a changing world, this sector is facing new challenges, such as a projected increase in demand, higher standards of food quality and safety, and reduction of environmental impact. Chicken coccidiosis is a highly widespread enteric disease caused by Eimeria spp. which causes significant economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide; however, the impact on family poultry holders or backyard production-which plays a key role in food security in small communities and involves mainly rural women-has been little explored. Coccidiosis disease is controlled by good husbandry measures, chemoprophylaxis, and/or live vaccination. The first live vaccines against chicken coccidiosis were developed in the 1950s; however, after more than seven decades, none has reached the market. Current limitations on their use have led to research in next-generation vaccines based on recombinant or live-vectored vaccines. Next-generation vaccines are required to control this complex parasitic disease, and for this purpose, protective antigens need to be identified. In this review, we have scrutinised surface proteins identified so far in Eimeria spp. affecting chickens. Most of these surface proteins are anchored to the parasite membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) molecule. The biosynthesis of GPIs, as well as the role of currently identified surface proteins and interest as vaccine candidates has been summarised. The potential role of surface proteins in drug resistance and immune escape and how these could limit the efficacy of control strategies was also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesica Daiana Britez
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, IPVET, INTA-CONICET, Nicolás Repetto y Los Reseros, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina
| | - Anabel Elisa Rodriguez
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, IPVET, INTA-CONICET, Nicolás Repetto y Los Reseros, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina
| | - Lucía Di Ciaccio
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, IPVET, INTA-CONICET, Nicolás Repetto y Los Reseros, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina
| | | | - Mariela Luján Tomazic
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, IPVET, INTA-CONICET, Nicolás Repetto y Los Reseros, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina
- Cátedra de Biotecnología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina
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15
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Izquierdo L. The glycobiology of plasmodium falciparum: New approaches and recent advances. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 66:108178. [PMID: 37216996 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Like any other microorganism, pathogenic protozoan parasites rely heavily on glycoconjugates and glycan binding proteins to protect themselves from the environment and to interact with their diverse hosts. A thorough comprehension of how glycobiology contributes to the survival and virulence of these organisms may reveal unknown aspects of their biology and may open much needed avenues for the design of new strategies against them. In the case of Plasmodium falciparum, which causes the vast majority of malaria cases and deaths, the restricted variety and the simplicity of its glycans seemed to confer limited significance to the role played by glycoconjugates in the parasite. Nonetheless, the last 10 to 15 years of research are revealing a clearer and more defined picture. Thus, the use of new experimental techniques and the results obtained provide new avenues for understanding the biology of the parasite, as well as opportunities for the development of much required new tools against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Izquierdo
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Madrid, Spain.
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16
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Oludada OE, Costa G, Burn Aschner C, Obraztsova AS, Prieto K, Canetta C, Hoffman SL, Kremsner PG, Mordmüller B, Murugan R, Julien JP, Levashina EA, Wardemann H. Molecular and functional properties of human Plasmodium falciparum CSP C-terminus antibodies. EMBO Mol Med 2023:e17454. [PMID: 37082831 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202317454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the central repeat and junction domain of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) have been studied extensively to guide malaria vaccine design compared to antibodies against the PfCSP C terminus. Here, we describe the molecular characteristics and protective potential of 73 germline and mutated human mAbs against the highly immunogenic PfCSP C-terminal domain. Two mAbs recognized linear epitopes in the C-terminal linker with sequence similarity to repeat and junction motifs, whereas all others targeted conformational epitopes in the α-thrombospondin repeat (α-TSR) domain. Specificity for the polymorphic Th2R/Th3R but not the conserved RII+/CS.T3 region in the α-TSR was associated with IGHV3-21/IGVL3-21 or IGLV3-1 gene usage. Although the C terminus specific mAbs showed signs of more efficient affinity maturation and class-switching compared to anti-repeat mAbs, live sporozoite binding and inhibitory activity was limited to a single C-linker reactive mAb with cross-reactivity to the central repeat and junction. The data provide novel insights in the human anti-C-linker and anti-α-TSR antibody response that support exclusion of the PfCSP C terminus from malaria vaccine designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Opeyemi Ernest Oludada
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
- Biosciences Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Giulia Costa
- Vector Biology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Anna S Obraztsova
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
- Biosciences Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katherine Prieto
- The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Caterina Canetta
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Peter G Kremsner
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Tübingen, Germany
- Centre de Recherches de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Benjamin Mordmüller
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Tübingen, Germany
- Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rajagopal Murugan
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jean-Philippe Julien
- The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Departments of Biochemistry and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elena A Levashina
- Vector Biology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hedda Wardemann
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
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17
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Yihunie W, Kebede B, Tegegne BA, Getachew M, Abebe D, Aschale Y, Belew H, Bahiru B. Systematic Review of Safety of RTS,S with AS01 and AS02 Adjuvant Systems Using Data from Randomized Controlled Trials in Infants, Children, and Adults. Clin Pharmacol 2023; 15:21-32. [PMID: 36941908 PMCID: PMC10024506 DOI: 10.2147/cpaa.s400155] [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: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Emergence of antimalarial drugs and insecticides resistance alarms scientists to develop a safe and effective malaria vaccine. A pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine called RTS,S has made great strides. Aim The review was aimed to assess the safety of the candidate malaria vaccine RTS,S with AS01 and AS02 adjuvants using data from Phase I-III randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs). Methods This systematic review was conducted based on PRISMA 2020. Regardless of time of publication year, all articles related with safety of RTS,S, RCTs published in the English language were included in the study. The last search of databases, and registry was conducted on 30 May, 2022. Pubmed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Wiley Online Library, and Clinical trials.gov were thoroughly searched for accessible RCTs on the safety of RTS,S malaria vaccine. The studies were screened in three steps: duplicate removal, title and abstract screening, and full-text review. The included studies' bias risk was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for RCTs. This systematic review is registered at Prospero (registration number: CRD42021285888). The qualitative descriptive findings from the included published studies were reported stratified by clinical trial phases. Findings A total of thirty-five eligible safety studies were identified. Injection site pain and swelling, febrile convulsion, fever, headache, meningitis, fatigue, gastroenteritis, myalgia, pneumonia, reactogenicity, and anemia were the most commonly reported adverse events. Despite few clinical trials reported serious adverse events, none of them were related to vaccination. Conclusion Most of the adverse events observed from RTS,S/AS01 and RTS,S/AS02 malaria vaccines were reported in the control group and shared by other vaccines. Hence, the authors concluded that both RTS,S/AS01 and RTS,S/AS02 malaria vaccines are safe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wubetu Yihunie
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Bekalu Kebede
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Bantayehu Addis Tegegne
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Melese Getachew
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Dehnnet Abebe
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Yibeltal Aschale
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Habtamu Belew
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Bereket Bahiru
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and health sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
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18
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Casas-Sanchez A, Ramaswamy R, Perally S, Haines LR, Rose C, Aguilera-Flores M, Portillo S, Verbeelen M, Hussain S, Smithson L, Yunta C, Lehane MJ, Vaughan S, van den Abbeele J, Almeida IC, Boulanger MJ, Acosta-Serrano Á. The Trypanosoma brucei MISP family of invariant proteins is co-expressed with BARP as triple helical bundle structures on the surface of salivary gland forms, but is dispensable for parasite development within the tsetse vector. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011269. [PMID: 36996244 PMCID: PMC10089363 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei spp. develop into mammalian-infectious metacyclic trypomastigotes inside tsetse salivary glands. Besides acquiring a variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) coat, little is known about the metacyclic expression of invariant surface antigens. Proteomic analyses of saliva from T. brucei-infected tsetse flies identified, in addition to VSG and Brucei Alanine-Rich Protein (BARP) peptides, a family of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored surface proteins herein named as Metacyclic Invariant Surface Proteins (MISP) because of its predominant expression on the surface of metacyclic trypomastigotes. The MISP family is encoded by five paralog genes with >80% protein identity, which are exclusively expressed by salivary gland stages of the parasite and peak in metacyclic stage, as shown by confocal microscopy and immuno-high resolution scanning electron microscopy. Crystallographic analysis of a MISP isoform (MISP360) and a high confidence model of BARP revealed a triple helical bundle architecture commonly found in other trypanosome surface proteins. Molecular modelling combined with live fluorescent microscopy suggests that MISP N-termini are potentially extended above the metacyclic VSG coat, and thus could be tested as a transmission-blocking vaccine target. However, vaccination with recombinant MISP360 isoform did not protect mice against a T. brucei infectious tsetse bite. Lastly, both CRISPR-Cas9-driven knock out and RNAi knock down of all MISP paralogues suggest they are not essential for parasite development in the tsetse vector. We suggest MISP may be relevant during trypanosome transmission or establishment in the vertebrate's skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aitor Casas-Sanchez
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - Samïrah Perally
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lee R. Haines
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Clair Rose
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Marcela Aguilera-Flores
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Susana Portillo
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | | | | | - Laura Smithson
- Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Cristina Yunta
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J. Lehane
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sue Vaughan
- Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Igor C. Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Martin J. Boulanger
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Álvaro Acosta-Serrano
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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19
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Dieng CC, Ford CT, Lerch A, Doniou D, Vegesna K, Janies D, Cui L, Amoah L, Afrane Y, Lo E. Genetic variations of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein and the impact on interactions with human immunoproteins and malaria vaccine efficacy. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 110:105418. [PMID: 36841398 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
In October 2021, the world's first malaria vaccine RTS,S was endorsed by WHO for broad use in children, despite its low efficacy. This study examined polyclonal infections and the associations of parasite genetic variations with binding affinity to human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Multiplicity of infection was determined by amplicon deep sequencing of PfMSP1. Genetic variations in PfCSP were examined across 88 samples from Ghana and analyzed together with 1655 PfCSP sequences from other African and non-African isolates. Binding interactions of PfCSP peptide variants and HLA were predicted using NetChop and HADDOCK. High polyclonality was detected among infections, with each infection harboring multiple non-3D7 PfCSP variants. Twenty-seven PfCSP haplotypes were detected in the Ghanaian samples, and they broadly represented PfCSP diversity across Africa. The number of genetic differences between 3D7 and non-3D7 PfCSP variants does not influence binding to HLA. However, CSP peptide length after proteolytic degradation significantly affects its molecular weight and binding affinity to HLA. Despite the high diversity of HLA, the majority of the HLAI and II alleles interacted/bound with all Ghana CSP peptides. Multiple non-3D7 strains among P. falciparum infections could impact the effectiveness of RTS,S. Longer peptides of the Th2R/Th3R CSP regions should be considered in future versions of RTS,S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheikh Cambel Dieng
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA.
| | - Colby T Ford
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA; School of Data Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA.
| | - Anita Lerch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Dickson Doniou
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kovidh Vegesna
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Daniel Janies
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Linda Amoah
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; West Africa Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Yaw Afrane
- Department of Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Eugenia Lo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA; School of Data Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA.
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20
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Recent Advances in the Development of Adenovirus-Vectored Vaccines for Parasitic Infections. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16030334. [PMID: 36986434 PMCID: PMC10058461 DOI: 10.3390/ph16030334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccines against parasites have lagged centuries behind those against viral and bacterial infections, despite the devastating morbidity and widespread effects of parasitic diseases across the globe. One of the greatest hurdles to parasite vaccine development has been the lack of vaccine strategies able to elicit the complex and multifaceted immune responses needed to abrogate parasitic persistence. Viral vectors, especially adenovirus (AdV) vectors, have emerged as a potential solution for complex disease targets, including HIV, tuberculosis, and parasitic diseases, to name a few. AdVs are highly immunogenic and are uniquely able to drive CD8+ T cell responses, which are known to be correlates of immunity in infections with most protozoan and some helminthic parasites. This review presents recent developments in AdV-vectored vaccines targeting five major human parasitic diseases: malaria, Chagas disease, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and toxoplasmosis. Many AdV-vectored vaccines have been developed for these diseases, utilizing a wide variety of vectors, antigens, and modes of delivery. AdV-vectored vaccines are a promising approach for the historically challenging target of human parasitic diseases.
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21
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Yadav N, Patel H, Parmar R, Patidar M, Dalai SK. TCR-signals downstream adversely correlate with the survival signals of memory CD8 + T cells under homeostasis. Immunobiology 2023; 228:152354. [PMID: 36854249 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2023.152354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
The significance of self-peptide-MHC-I/TCR (SMT) interaction in the survival of CD8+ T cells during naïve- and developmental-stages is well documented. However, the same for the memory stage is contentious. Previous studies have attempted to address the issue using MHC-I or TCR deficient systems, but inconsistent findings with memory CD8+ T cells of different TCR specificities have complicated the interpretation. Differential presence and/or processing of TCR-signals downstream in memory CD8+ T cells of different TCR specificities could be thought of as a reason. In this study, we examined the TCR-signals downstream in memory CD8+ T cells and compared them to the presence of survival-related signals (Annexin-V, Bcl-2, and Ki-67). We categorically tracked foreign antigen-experienced memory CD8+ T (TM) cells generated after Plasmodium pre-erythrocytic-stage malaria infection in C57BL/6 mice. Interestingly, we found that memory CD8+ T cells had more TCR-signals downstream than naive cells. We reasoned and attributed the increased expression of cell adhesion molecules to the enhanced TCR-signaling. TCR-signals downstream correlate more closely with survival signals in naive CD8+ T cells than with death signals in TM cells. Further investigation using antigen-specific CD8+ T cells and diverse infection systems would aid in conceptualizing the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Yadav
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Hardik Patel
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India; Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rajesh Parmar
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Manoj Patidar
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India; Department of Zoology, Govt. College Manawar, Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Sarat K Dalai
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India.
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22
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Belmonte M, Ganeshan H, Huang J, Belmonte A, Inoue S, Velasco R, Acheampong N, Ofori EA, Akyea-Mensah K, Frimpong A, Ennuson NA, Frempong AF, Kyei-Baafour E, Amoah LE, Edgel K, Peters B, Villasante E, Kusi KA, Sedegah M. Immunodominant T cell peptides from four candidate malarial antigens as biomarkers of protective immunity against malaria. Vaccine 2023; 41:1265-1273. [PMID: 36642628 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.01.016] [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: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
A malaria vaccine with high efficacy and capable of inducing sterile immunity against malaria within genetically diverse populations is urgently needed to complement ongoing disease control and elimination efforts. Parasite-specific IFN-γ and granzyme B-secreting CD8 + T cells have been identified as key mediators of protection and the rapid identification of malaria antigen targets that elicit these responses will fast-track the development of simpler, cost-effective interventions. This study extends our previous work which used peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from adults with life-long exposure to malaria parasites to identify immunodominant antigen-specific peptide pools composed of overlapping 15mer sequences spanning full length proteins of four malarial antigens. Our current study aimed to identify CD8 + T cell epitopes within these previously identified positive peptide pools. Cryopreserved PBMCs from 109 HLA-typed subjects were stimulated with predicted 9-11mer CD8 + T cell epitopes from P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP), apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1), thrombospondin related anonymous protein (TRAP) and cell traversal for ookinetes and sporozoites (CelTOS) in FluoroSpot assays. A total of 135 epitopes out of 297 tested peptides from the four antigens were experimentally identified as positive for IFN-γ and/or granzyme B production in 65 of the 109 subjects. Forty-three of 135 epitopes (32 %) were promiscuous for HLA binding, with 31 of these promiscuous epitopes (72 %) being presented by HLA alleles that fall within at least two different HLA supertypes. Furthermore, about 52 % of identified epitopes were conserved when the respective sequences were aligned with those from 16 highly diverse P. falciparum parasite strains. In summary, we have identified a number of conserved epitopes, immune responses to which could be effective against multiple P. falciparum parasite strains in genetically diverse populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Belmonte
- Malaria Department, Naval Medical Research Center, MD, USA; Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Harini Ganeshan
- Malaria Department, Naval Medical Research Center, MD, USA; Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jun Huang
- Malaria Department, Naval Medical Research Center, MD, USA; Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Arnel Belmonte
- Malaria Department, Naval Medical Research Center, MD, USA; GDIT, MD 20817, USA
| | - Sandra Inoue
- Malaria Department, Naval Medical Research Center, MD, USA; GDIT, MD 20817, USA
| | - Rachel Velasco
- Malaria Department, Naval Medical Research Center, MD, USA; GDIT, MD 20817, USA
| | - Neda Acheampong
- Malaria Department, Naval Medical Research Center, MD, USA; GDIT, MD 20817, USA
| | - Ebenezer Addo Ofori
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo Akyea-Mensah
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Augustina Frimpong
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Nana Aba Ennuson
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Abena Fremaah Frempong
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Eric Kyei-Baafour
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Linda Eva Amoah
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Kimberly Edgel
- Malaria Department, Naval Medical Research Center, MD, USA
| | - Bjoern Peters
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Kwadwo Asamoah Kusi
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
| | - Martha Sedegah
- Malaria Department, Naval Medical Research Center, MD, USA
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23
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Immunogenicity of Wild Type and Mutant Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Virus-like Particles (VLPs) in Mice with Pre-Existing Immunity against the Wild Type Vector. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020313. [PMID: 36851527 PMCID: PMC9963944 DOI: 10.3390/v15020313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs), composed of the small hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAgS), are the antigenic components of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine and represent the backbones for a chimeric anti-malaria vaccine and various vaccine candidates. Biological vectors have to face pre-existing anti-vector immune responses due to previous immune exposure. Vector recognition after natural infections or vaccinations can result in unwarranted outcomes, with compromising effects on clinical outcomes. In order to evaluate the impact of a pre-existing anti-HBsAgS immune response, we developed mutant VLPs composed of subunits with reduced HBsAgS-specific antigenicity. The insertion of a Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP)-derived epitope as a read-out allowed the assessment of wild type (wt) and mutant VLPs in the context of a pre-existing immune response. Mutant and wt VLP platforms with a CSP-epitope insert are immunogenic and have the ability to generate anti-CSP antibody responses in both naïve BALB/c mice and mice with a pre-existing anti-HBsAgS immune response, but with superior anti-CSP responses in mice with a pre-existing immunity. The data indicate that previous HBsAgS exposure facilitates enhanced antibody responses against foreign epitopes delivered by the HBsAgS platform, and, in this context, the state of immune sensitization alters the outcome of subsequent vaccinations.
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24
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Malaria Vaccines. Infect Dis (Lond) 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2463-0_536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
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25
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Kairuz D, Samudh N, Ely A, Arbuthnot P, Bloom K. Advancing mRNA technologies for therapies and vaccines: An African context. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1018961. [PMID: 36353641 PMCID: PMC9637871 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1018961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic mRNA technologies represent a versatile platform that can be used to develop advanced drug products. The remarkable speed with which vaccine development programs designed and manufactured safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines has rekindled interest in mRNA technology, particularly for future pandemic preparedness. Although recent R&D has focused largely on advancing mRNA vaccines and large-scale manufacturing capabilities, the technology has been used to develop various immunotherapies, gene editing strategies, and protein replacement therapies. Within the mRNA technologies toolbox lie several platforms, design principles, and components that can be adapted to modulate immunogenicity, stability, in situ expression, and delivery. For example, incorporating modified nucleotides into conventional mRNA transcripts can reduce innate immune responses and improve in situ translation. Alternatively, self-amplifying RNA may enhance vaccine-mediated immunity by increasing antigen expression. This review will highlight recent advances in the field of synthetic mRNA therapies and vaccines, and discuss the ongoing global efforts aimed at reducing vaccine inequity by establishing mRNA manufacturing capacity within Africa and other low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Kristie Bloom
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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26
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Kraft JC, Pham MN, Shehata L, Brinkkemper M, Boyoglu-Barnum S, Sprouse KR, Walls AC, Cheng S, Murphy M, Pettie D, Ahlrichs M, Sydeman C, Johnson M, Blackstone A, Ellis D, Ravichandran R, Fiala B, Wrenn S, Miranda M, Sliepen K, Brouwer PJM, Antanasijevic A, Veesler D, Ward AB, Kanekiyo M, Pepper M, Sanders RW, King NP. Antigen- and scaffold-specific antibody responses to protein nanoparticle immunogens. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100780. [PMID: 36206752 PMCID: PMC9589121 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Protein nanoparticle scaffolds are increasingly used in next-generation vaccine designs, and several have established records of clinical safety and efficacy. Yet the rules for how immune responses specific to nanoparticle scaffolds affect the immunogenicity of displayed antigens have not been established. Here we define relationships between anti-scaffold and antigen-specific antibody responses elicited by protein nanoparticle immunogens. We report that dampening anti-scaffold responses by physical masking does not enhance antigen-specific antibody responses. In a series of immunogens that all use the same nanoparticle scaffold but display four different antigens, only HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) is subdominant to the scaffold. However, we also demonstrate that scaffold-specific antibody responses can competitively inhibit antigen-specific responses when the scaffold is provided in excess. Overall, our results suggest that anti-scaffold antibody responses are unlikely to suppress antigen-specific antibody responses for protein nanoparticle immunogens in which the antigen is immunodominant over the scaffold.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Kraft
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Minh N Pham
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Laila Shehata
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Mitch Brinkkemper
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Seyhan Boyoglu-Barnum
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kaitlin R Sprouse
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Alexandra C Walls
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Suna Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Mike Murphy
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Deleah Pettie
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Maggie Ahlrichs
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Claire Sydeman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Max Johnson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Alyssa Blackstone
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Daniel Ellis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Rashmi Ravichandran
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Brooke Fiala
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Samuel Wrenn
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Marcos Miranda
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Kwinten Sliepen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Philip J M Brouwer
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Aleksandar Antanasijevic
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - David Veesler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Andrew B Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Masaru Kanekiyo
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marion Pepper
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Rogier W Sanders
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Neil P King
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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27
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Mukhopadhyay E, Brod F, Angell‐Manning P, Green N, Tarrant RD, Detmers FJ, Bolam EJ, Baleanu IN, Hobson M, Whale G, Morris SJ, Ashfield R, Gilbert SC, Jin J, Draper SJ, Moyle SP, Berrie EL, Hill AVS. Production of a high purity, C-tagged hepatitis B surface antigen fusion protein VLP vaccine for malaria expressed in Pichia pastoris under cGMP conditions. Biotechnol Bioeng 2022; 119:2784-2793. [PMID: 35822551 PMCID: PMC9546177 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28181] [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: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) induce strong humoral and cellular responses and have formed the basis of some currently licensed vaccines. Here, we present the method used for the production of R21, a VLP-based anti-sporozoite malaria vaccine, under current Clinical Good Manufacturing Practice regulations (cGMP). Previous preclinical studies in BALB/c mice showed that R21 produced almost complete protection against sporozoite challenge with transgenic Plasmodium berghei parasites. Here, we have modified the preclinical production process to enable the production of sufficient quantities of highly pure, clinical-grade material for use in human clinical trials. The R21 construct was re-engineered to include a C-tag to allow affinity-based separation from the major contaminant alcohol oxidase 1 (AOX 1, ~74 kDa). To our knowledge, this is the first use of C-tag technology to purify a VLP vaccine candidate for use in human clinical trials. The R21 vaccine has shown high-level efficacy in an African Phase IIb trial, and multiple clinical trials are underway to assess the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Our findings support the future use of C-tag platform technologies to enable cGMP-compliant biomanufacturing of high purity yeast-expressed VLP-based vaccines for early phase clinical trials when clinical grade material is required in smaller quantities in a quick time frame.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekta Mukhopadhyay
- Clinical BioManufacturing Facility, The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Florian Brod
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Philip Angell‐Manning
- Clinical BioManufacturing Facility, The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Nicola Green
- Clinical BioManufacturing Facility, The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Richard D. Tarrant
- Clinical BioManufacturing Facility, The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | | | - Emma J. Bolam
- Clinical BioManufacturing Facility, The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Ioana N. Baleanu
- Clinical BioManufacturing Facility, The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Mark Hobson
- Clinical BioManufacturing Facility, The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Gary Whale
- Clinical BioManufacturing Facility, The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Susan J. Morris
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Rebecca Ashfield
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Sarah C. Gilbert
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Jing Jin
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Simon J. Draper
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Sarah P. Moyle
- Clinical BioManufacturing Facility, The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Eleanor L. Berrie
- Clinical BioManufacturing Facility, The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Adrian V. S. Hill
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
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28
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Dey S, Kaur H, Mazumder M, Brodsky E. Analysis of gene expression profiles to study malaria vaccine dose efficacy and immune response modulation. Genomics Inform 2022; 20:e32. [PMID: 36239109 PMCID: PMC9576474 DOI: 10.5808/gi.22049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2002] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a life-threatening disease, and Africa is still one of the most affected endemic regions despite years of policy to limit infection and transmission rates. Further, studies into the variable efficacy of the vaccine are needed to provide a better understanding of protective immunity. Thus, the current study is designed to delineate the effect of each dose of vaccine on the transcriptional profiles of subjects to determine its efficacy and understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the protection this vaccine provides. Here, we used gene expression profiles of pre and post-vaccination patients after various doses of RTS,S based on samples collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus datasets. Subsequently, differential gene expression analysis using edgeR revealed the significantly (false discovery rate < 0.005) 158 downregulated and 61 upregulated genes between control vs. controlled human malaria infection samples. Further, enrichment analysis of significant genes delineated the involvement of CCL8, CXCL10, CXCL11, XCR1, CSF3, IFNB1, IFNE, IL12B, IL22, IL6, IL27, etc., genes which found to be upregulated after earlier doses but downregulated after the 3rd dose in cytokine-chemokine pathways. Notably, we identified 13 cytokine genes whose expression significantly varied during three doses. Eventually, these findings give insight into the dual role of cytokine responses in malaria pathogenesis. The variations in their expression patterns after various doses of vaccination are linked to the protection as it decreases the severe inflammatory effects in malaria patients. This study will be helpful in designing a better vaccine against malaria and understanding the functions of cytokine response as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supantha Dey
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
- Pine Biotech, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Corresponding author: ,
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29
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Hutter JN, Robben PM, Lee C, Hamer M, Moon JE, Merino K, Zhu L, Galli H, Quinn X, Brown DR, Duncan E, Bolton J, Zou X, Angov E, Lanar DE, Rao M, Matyas GR, Beck Z, Bergmann-Leitner E, Soisson LA, Waters NC, Ngauy V, Regules J, Dutta S. First-in-human assessment of safety and immunogenicity of low and high doses of Plasmodium falciparum malaria protein 013 (FMP013) administered intramuscularly with ALFQ adjuvant in healthy malaria-naïve adults. Vaccine 2022; 40:5781-5790. [PMID: 36055874 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.08.048] [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: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The global burden of malaria remains substantial. Circumsporozoite protein (CSP) has been demonstrated to be an effective target antigen, however, improvements that offer more efficacious and more durable protection are still needed. In support of research and development of next-generation malaria vaccines, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) has developed a CSP-based antigen (FMP013) and a novel adjuvant ALFQ (Army Liposome Formulation containing QS-21). We present a single center, open-label, dose-escalation Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the FMP013/ALFQ malaria vaccine candidate. In this first-in-human evaluation of both the antigen and adjuvant, we enrolled ten subjects; five received 20 μg FMP013 / 0.5 mL ALFQ (Low dose group), and five received 40 μg FMP013 / 1.0 mL ALFQ (High dose group) on study days 1, 29, and 57. Adverse events and immune responses were assessed during the study period. The clinical safety profile was acceptable and there were no serious adverse events. Both groups exhibited robust humoral and cellular immunological responses, and compared favorably with historical responses reported for RTS,S/AS01. Based on a lower reactogenicity profile, the 20 μg FMP013 / 0.5 mL ALFQ (Low dose) was selected for follow-on efficacy testing by controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) with a separate cohort. Trial Registration:Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT04268420 (Registered February 13, 2020).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack N Hutter
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States.
| | - Paul M Robben
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Christine Lee
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Melinda Hamer
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - James E Moon
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Kristen Merino
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States; Current Affiliation: Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center Covington, LA, United States
| | - Lei Zhu
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Heather Galli
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Xiaofei Quinn
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Dallas R Brown
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Elizabeth Duncan
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Jessica Bolton
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Xiaoyan Zou
- Navy Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, United States
| | - Evelina Angov
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - David E Lanar
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Mangala Rao
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Gary R Matyas
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Zoltan Beck
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States; Henry Jackson Foundation for Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD. Present Address: Pfizer, Inc., 401 N Middletown Rd, Pearl River, New York 10965, United States
| | | | - Lorraine A Soisson
- United States Agency for International Development Malaria Vaccine Development Program, Washington DC, United States
| | - Norman C Waters
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Viseth Ngauy
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Jason Regules
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Sheetij Dutta
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States.
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30
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Schneider CG, Fey J, Zou X, Gerbasi V, Savransky T, Batt C, Bergmann-Leitner E, Angov E. Norovirus-VLPs expressing pre-erythrocytic malaria antigens induce functional immunity against sporozoite infection. Vaccine 2022; 40:4270-4280. [PMID: 35697572 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.05.076] [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: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Despite the development of prophylactic anti-malarial drugs and practices to prevent infection, malaria remains a health concern. Preclinical testing of novel malaria vaccine strategies achieved through rational antigen selection and novel particle-based delivery platforms is yielding encouraging results. One such platform, self-assembling virus-like particles (VLP) is safer than attenuated live viruses, and has been approved as a vaccination tool by the FDA. We explore the use of Norovirus sub-viral particles lacking the natural shell (S) domain forming the interior shell but that retain the protruding (P) structures of the native virus as a vaccine vector. Epitope selection and their surface display has the potential to focus antigen specific immune responses to crucial epitopes. Recombinant P-particles displaying epitopes from two malaria antigens, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) CelTOS and Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) CSP, were evaluated for immunogenicity and their ability to confer protection in a murine challenge model. Immune responses induced in mice resulted either in sterile protection (displaying PfCelTOS epitopes) or in antibodies with functional activity against sporozoites (displaying PfCSP epitopes) in an in vitro liver-stage development assay (ILSDA). These results are encouraging and support further evaluation of this platform as a vaccine delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosette G Schneider
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
| | - Julien Fey
- Agave BioSystems, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA.
| | - Xiaoyan Zou
- Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Vince Gerbasi
- Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | - Tatyana Savransky
- Entomology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; General Dynamics Information Technology, Falls Church, VA 22042, USA.
| | - Carl Batt
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Elke Bergmann-Leitner
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | - Evelina Angov
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
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Zhao Y, Li Z, Voyer J, Li Y, Chen X. Flagellin/Virus-like Particle Hybrid Platform with High Immunogenicity, Safety, and Versatility for Vaccine Development. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:21872-21885. [PMID: 35467839 PMCID: PMC9121874 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c01028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B core (HBc) virus-like particles (VLPs) and flagellin are highly immunogenic and widely explored vaccine delivery platforms. Yet, HBc VLPs mainly allow the insertion of relatively short antigenic epitopes into the immunodominant c/e1 loop without affecting VLP assembly, and flagellin-based vaccines carry the risk of inducing systemic adverse reactions. This study explored a hybrid flagellin/HBc VLP (FH VLP) platform to present heterologous antigens by replacing the surface-exposed D3 domain of flagellin. FH VLPs were prepared by the insertion of flagellin gene into the c/e1 loop of HBc, followed by E. coli expression, purification, and self-assembly into VLPs. Using the ectodomain of influenza matrix protein 2 (M2e) and ovalbumin (OVA) as models, we found that the D3 domain of flagellin could be replaced with four tandem copies of M2e or the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope of OVA without interfering with the FH VLP assembly, while the insertion of four tandem copies of M2e into the c/e1 loop of HBc disrupted the VLP assembly. FH VLP-based M2e vaccine elicited potent anti-M2e antibody responses and conferred significant protection against multiple influenza A viral strains, while FljB- or HBc-based M2e vaccine failed to elicit significant protection. FH VLP-based OVA peptide vaccine elicited more potent CTL responses and protection against OVA-expressing lymphoma or melanoma challenges than FljB- or HBc-based OVA peptide vaccine. FH VLP-based vaccines showed a good systemic safety, while flagellin-based vaccines significantly increased serum interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α levels and also rectal temperature at increased doses. We further found that the incorporation of a clinical CpG 1018 adjuvant could enhance the efficacy of FH VLP-based vaccines. Our data support FH VLPs to be a highly immunogenic, safe, and versatile platform for vaccine development to elicit potent humoral and cellular immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Zhao
- Biomedical & Pharmaceutical
Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University
of Rhode Island, 7 Greenhouse Road, Avedisian Hall, Room 480, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
| | - Zhuofan Li
- Biomedical & Pharmaceutical
Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University
of Rhode Island, 7 Greenhouse Road, Avedisian Hall, Room 480, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
| | - Jewel Voyer
- Biomedical & Pharmaceutical
Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University
of Rhode Island, 7 Greenhouse Road, Avedisian Hall, Room 480, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
| | - Yibo Li
- Biomedical & Pharmaceutical
Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University
of Rhode Island, 7 Greenhouse Road, Avedisian Hall, Room 480, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
| | - Xinyuan Chen
- Biomedical & Pharmaceutical
Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University
of Rhode Island, 7 Greenhouse Road, Avedisian Hall, Room 480, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
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32
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Zheng H, Lu X, Li K, Zhu F, Zhao C, Liu T, Ding Y, Fu Y, Zhang K, Zhou T, Dai J, Wu Y, Xu W. ATG Ubiquitination Is Required for Circumsporozoite Protein to Subvert Host Innate Immunity Against Rodent Malaria Liver Stage. Front Immunol 2022; 13:815936. [PMID: 35222391 PMCID: PMC8864237 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.815936] [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: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Although exo-erythrocytic forms (EEFs) of liver stage malaria parasite in the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) are encountered with robust host innate immunity, EEFs can still survive and successfully complete the infection of hepatocytes, and the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. Here, we showed that sporozoite circumsporozoite protein (CSP) translocated from the parasitophorous vacuole into the hepatocyte cytoplasm significantly mediated the resistance to the killing of EEFs by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Attenuation of IFN-γ-mediated killing of EEFs by CSP was dependent on its ability to reduce the levels of autophagy-related genes (ATGs) in hepatocytes. The ATGs downregulation occurred through its enhanced ubiquitination mediated by E3 ligase NEDD4, an enzyme that was upregulated by CSP when it translocated from the cytoplasm into the nucleus of hepatocytes via its nuclear localization signal (NLS) domain. Thus, we have revealed an unrecognized role of CSP in subverting host innate immunity and shed new light for a prophylaxis strategy against liver-stage infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zheng
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,The Institute of Immunology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao Lu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kai Li
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Zhu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chenhao Zhao
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Taiping Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Ding
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yong Fu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Taoli Zhou
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jigang Dai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuzhang Wu
- The Institute of Immunology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenyue Xu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
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Forgie EME, Brooks HM, Barton M, Hawkes MT. Pediatric Malaria: Global and North American Perspectives. Pediatr Clin North Am 2022; 69:47-64. [PMID: 34794676 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2021.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a leading cause of death in children less than 5 years of age globally, and a common cause of fever in the returning North American traveler. New tools in the fight against malaria have been developed over the past decades: potent artemisinin derivatives; rapid diagnostic tests; long-lasting insecticidal bed nets; and a new vaccine, RTS,S/AS01. Thwarting these advances, parasite and Anopheles vector resistance are emerging. In the meantime, clinicians will continue to see malaria among febrile travelers from the tropics. Early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment can be lifesaving, but rely on the vigilance of frontline clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella M E Forgie
- Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta, Tory Building, 11211 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H4, Canada
| | - Hannah M Brooks
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, 5-143 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue Northwest, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Michelle Barton
- Department of Paediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, Ontario N6A 5W9, Canada
| | - Michael T Hawkes
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue Northwest, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue Northwest, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada; School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue Northwest, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada; Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Edmonton, Canada.
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Moncunill G, Carnes J, Chad Young W, Carpp L, De Rosa S, Campo JJ, Nhabomba A, Mpina M, Jairoce C, Finak G, Haas P, Muriel C, Van P, Sanz H, Dutta S, Mordmüller B, Agnandji ST, Díez-Padrisa N, Williams NA, Aponte JJ, Valim C, Neafsey DE, Daubenberger C, McElrath MJ, Dobaño C, Stuart K, Gottardo R. Transcriptional correlates of malaria in RTS,S/AS01-vaccinated African children: a matched case–control study. eLife 2022; 11:70393. [PMID: 35060479 PMCID: PMC8782572 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In a phase 3 trial in African infants and children, the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine (GSK) showed moderate efficacy against clinical malaria. We sought to further understand RTS,S/AS01-induced immune responses associated with vaccine protection. Methods: Applying the blood transcriptional module (BTM) framework, we characterized the transcriptomic response to RTS,S/AS01 vaccination in antigen-stimulated (and vehicle control) peripheral blood mononuclear cells sampled from a subset of trial participants at baseline and month 3 (1-month post-third dose). Using a matched case–control study design, we evaluated which of these ‘RTS,S/AS01 signature BTMs’ associated with malaria case status in RTS,S/AS01 vaccinees. Antigen-specific T-cell responses were analyzed by flow cytometry. We also performed a cross-study correlates analysis where we assessed the generalizability of our findings across three controlled human malaria infection studies of healthy, malaria-naive adult RTS,S/AS01 recipients. Results: RTS,S/AS01 vaccination was associated with downregulation of B-cell and monocyte-related BTMs and upregulation of T-cell-related BTMs, as well as higher month 3 (vs. baseline) circumsporozoite protein-specific CD4+ T-cell responses. There were few RTS,S/AS01-associated BTMs whose month 3 levels correlated with malaria risk. In contrast, baseline levels of BTMs associated with dendritic cells and with monocytes (among others) correlated with malaria risk. The baseline dendritic cell- and monocyte-related BTM correlations with malaria risk appeared to generalize to healthy, malaria-naive adults. Conclusions: A prevaccination transcriptomic signature associates with malaria in RTS,S/AS01-vaccinated African children, and elements of this signature may be broadly generalizable. The consistent presence of monocyte-related modules suggests that certain monocyte subsets may inhibit protective RTS,S/AS01-induced responses. Funding: Funding was obtained from the NIH-NIAID (R01AI095789), NIH-NIAID (U19AI128914), PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI), and Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Instituto de Salud Carlos III, PI11/00423 and PI14/01422). The RNA-seq project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under grant number U19AI110818 to the Broad Institute. This study was also supported by the Vaccine Statistical Support (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation award INV-008576/OPP1154739 to R.G.). C.D. was the recipient of a Ramon y Cajal Contract from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (RYC-2008-02631). G.M. was the recipient of a Sara Borrell–ISCIII fellowship (CD010/00156) and work was performed with the support of Department of Health, Catalan Government grant (SLT006/17/00109). This research is part of the ISGlobal’s Program on the Molecular Mechanisms of Malaria which is partially supported by the Fundación Ramón Areces and we acknowledge support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the ‘Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019–2023’ Program (CEX2018-000806-S), and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Moncunill
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas
| | - Jason Carnes
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute
| | - William Chad Young
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
| | - Lindsay Carpp
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
| | - Stephen De Rosa
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
| | | | - Augusto Nhabomba
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Rua 12, Cambeve, Vila de Manhiça
| | | | - Chenjerai Jairoce
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Rua 12, Cambeve, Vila de Manhiça
| | - Greg Finak
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
| | - Paige Haas
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute
| | - Carl Muriel
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
| | - Phu Van
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
| | - Héctor Sanz
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona
| | | | - Benjamin Mordmüller
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and German Center for Infection Research
| | - Selidji T Agnandji
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and German Center for Infection Research
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), BP 242
| | | | | | - John J Aponte
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona
| | - Clarissa Valim
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health
| | - Daniel E Neafsey
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
| | | | - M Juliana McElrath
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Medicine, University of Washington
| | - Carlota Dobaño
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas
| | - Ken Stuart
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington
| | - Raphael Gottardo
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
- University of Lausanne and Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois
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36
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Garay E, Fontana D, Leschiutta L, Kratje R, Prieto C. Rational design of novel fusion rabies glycoproteins displaying a major antigenic site of foot-and-mouth disease virus for vaccine applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:579-592. [PMID: 34971413 PMCID: PMC8718594 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11747-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric virus-like particles are self-assembling structures composed of viral proteins that had been modified to incorporate sequences from different organisms, being able to trigger immune responses against the heterologous sequence. However, the identification of suitable sites for that purpose in the carrier protein is not an easy task. In this work, we describe the generation of rabies chimeric VLPs that expose a major antigenic site of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) by identifying suitable regions in rabies glycoprotein (RVG), as a proof of concept of a novel heterologous display platform for vaccine applications. To identify adequate sites for insertion of heterologous sequences without altering the correct folding of RVG, we identified regions that were evolutionally non-conserved in Lyssavirus glycoproteins and performed a structural analysis of those regions using a 3D model of RVG trimer that we generated. The heterologous sequence was inserted in three different sites within RVG sequence. In every case, it did not affect the correct folding of the protein and was surface exposed, being recognized by anti-FMDV antibodies in expressing cells as well as in the surface of VLPs. This work sets the base for the development of a heterologous antigen display platform based on rabies VLPs. KEY POINTS: • Adequate regions for foreign epitope display in RVG were found. • G-H loop of FMDV was inserted in three regions of RVG. • The foreign epitope was detected by specific antibodies on fusion proteins. • G-H loop was detected on the surface of chimeric VLPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Garay
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Diego Fontana
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Lautaro Leschiutta
- UNL, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Ricardo Kratje
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Claudio Prieto
- UNL, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
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Shibeshi W, Bagchus W, Yalkinoglu Ö, Tappert A, Engidawork E, Oeuvray C. Reproducibility of malaria sporozoite challenge model in humans for evaluating efficacy of vaccines and drugs: a systematic review. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:1274. [PMID: 34930178 PMCID: PMC8686662 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06953-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of novel malaria vaccines and antimalarial drugs is limited partly by emerging challenges to conduct field trials in malaria endemic areas, including unknown effects of existing immunity and a reported fall in malaria incidence. As a result, Controlled Human Malaria Infection (CHMI) has become an important approach for accelerated development of malarial vaccines and drugs. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to establish aggregate evidence on the reproducibility of a malaria sporozoite challenge model. METHODS A systematic review of research articles published between 1990 and 2018 on efficacy testing of malaria vaccines and drugs using sporozoite challenge and sporozoite infectivity studies was conducted using Pubmed, Scopus, Embase and Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov and Trialtrove. The inclusion criteria were randomized and non-randomized, controlled or open-label trials using P. falciparum or P. vivax sporozoite challenges. The data were extracted from articles using standardized data extraction forms and descriptive analysis was performed for evidence synthesis. The endpoints considered were infectivity, prepatent period, parasitemia and safety of sporozoite challenge. RESULTS Seventy CHMI trials conducted with a total of 2329 adult healthy volunteers were used for analysis. CHMI was induced by bites of mosquitoes infected with P. falciparum or P. vivax in 52 trials and by direct venous inoculation of P. falciparum sporozoites (PfSPZ challenge) in 18 trials. Inoculation with P. falciparum-infected mosquitoes produced 100% infectivity in 40 studies and the mean/median prepatent period assessed by thick blood smear (TBS) microscopy was ≤ 12 days in 24 studies. On the other hand, out of 12 infectivity studies conducted using PfSPZ challenge, 100% infection rate was reproduced in 9 studies with a mean or median prepatent period of 11 to 15.3 days as assessed by TBS and 6.8 to 12.6 days by PCR. The safety profile of P. falciparum and P.vivax CHMI was characterized by consistent features of malaria infection. CONCLUSION There is ample evidence on consistency of P. falciparum CHMI models in terms of infectivity and safety endpoints, which supports applicability of CHMI in vaccine and drug development. PfSPZ challenge appears more feasible for African trials based on current evidence of safety and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Workineh Shibeshi
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Global Health Institute of Merck, Ares Trading S.A., A subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Wilhelmina Bagchus
- Translational Medicine, Merck Serono S.A., An Affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Özkan Yalkinoglu
- Translational Medicine, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Aliona Tappert
- Global Patient Safety, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Ephrem Engidawork
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Claude Oeuvray
- Global Health Institute of Merck, Ares Trading S.A., A subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
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Galactionova K, Smith TA, Penny MA. Insights from modelling malaria vaccines for policy decisions: the focus on RTS,S. Malar J 2021; 20:439. [PMID: 34794430 PMCID: PMC8600337 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03973-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mathematical models are increasingly used to inform decisions throughout product development pathways from pre-clinical studies to country implementation of novel health interventions. This review illustrates the utility of simulation approaches by reviewing the literature on malaria vaccine modelling, with a focus on its link to the development of policy guidance for the first licensed product, RTS,S/AS01. The main contributions of modelling studies have been in inferring the mechanism of action and efficacy profile of RTS,S; to predicting the public health impact; and economic modelling mainly comprising cost-effectiveness analysis. The value of both product-specific and generic modelling of vaccines is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katya Galactionova
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4001, Basel, Switzerland.,European Center of Pharmaceutical Medicine, Brombacherstrasse 5, 4057, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas A Smith
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051, Basel, Switzerland. .,University of Basel, 4001, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Melissa A Penny
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4001, Basel, Switzerland
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Moon JE, Greenleaf ME, Regules JA, Debois M, Duncan EH, Sedegah M, Chuang I, Lee CK, Sikaffy AK, Garver LS, Ivinson K, Angov E, Morelle D, Lievens M, Ockenhouse CF, Ngauy V, Ofori-Anyinam O. A phase IIA extension study evaluating the effect of booster vaccination with a fractional dose of RTS,S/AS01 E in a controlled human malaria infection challenge. Vaccine 2021; 39:6398-6406. [PMID: 34593270 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously demonstrated that RTS,S/AS01B and RTS,S/AS01E vaccination regimens including at least one delayed fractional dose can protect against Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) model, and showed inferiority of a two-dose versus three-dose regimen. In this follow-on trial, we evaluated whether fractional booster vaccination extended or induced protection in previously protected (P-Fx) or non-protected (NP-Fx) participants. METHODS 49 participants (P-Fx: 25; NP-Fx: 24) received a fractional (1/5th dose-volume) RTS,S/AS01E booster 12 months post-primary regimen. They underwent P. falciparum CHMI three weeks later and were then followed for six months for safety and immunogenicity. RESULTS Overall vaccine efficacy against re-challenge was 53% (95% CI: 37-65%), and similar for P-Fx (52% [95% CI: 28-68%]) and NP-Fx (54% [95% CI: 29-70%]). Efficacy appeared unaffected by primary regimen or previous protection status. Anti-CS (repeat region) antibody geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) increased post-booster vaccination. GMCs were maintained over time in primary three-dose groups but declined in the two-dose group. Protection after re-challenge was associated with higher anti-CS antibody responses. The booster was well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS A fractional RTS,S/AS01E booster given one year after completion of a primary two- or three-dose RTS,S/AS01 delayed fractional dose regimen can extend or induce protection against CHMI. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT03824236. linked to this article can be found on the Research Data as well as Figshare https://figshare.com/s/ee025150f9d1ac739361.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Moon
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | - Melissa E Greenleaf
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | - Jason A Regules
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | | | - Elizabeth H Duncan
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | - Martha Sedegah
- Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | - Ilin Chuang
- Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | - Cynthia K Lee
- PATH, 2201 Westlake Avenue, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
| | - April K Sikaffy
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | - Lindsey S Garver
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | - Karen Ivinson
- PATH, 2201 Westlake Avenue, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
| | - Evelina Angov
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | | | | | | | - Viseth Ngauy
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
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Identification of immunodominant epitopes in allelic variants VK210 and VK247 of Plasmodium Vivax Circumsporozoite immunogen. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 96:105120. [PMID: 34655808 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax-induced malaria is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-tropical and tropical regions and infect 2.85 billion people globally. The continual rise and propagation of resistance against anti-malarial drugs is a prerequisite to develop a potent vaccine candidate for Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax). Circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is an important immunogen of malaria parasite that has the conserved CSP structure as an immune dominant B-cell epitope. In current study, we focused on designing multi-epitope vaccines (MEVs) using various immunoinformatics tools against Pakistani based allelic variants VK210 and VK247 of P. vivax CSP (PvCSP) gene. Antigenicity, allergic potential and physicochemical parameters of both PvCSP variants were assessed for the designed MEVs and they were within acceptable range suitable for post experimental investigations. The three-dimensional structures of both MEVs have been predicted ab initio, optimized, and validated by using different online servers. The both MEVs candidates were stable and free from aggregation-prone regions. The stability of both MEVs had been improved by a disulfide engineering approach. To estimate the binding energy and stability of the MEVs, molecular docking simulation and binding free energy calculations with TLR-4 immune receptor have been conducted. The docking score of PvCSP210 and PvCSP247 for TLR-4 was -6.34 kJ/mol and - 2.3 kJ/mol, respectively. For PvCSP210-TLR4 system, mean RMSD was 4.96 Å while PvCSP247-TLR4 system, average RMSD was 4.49 Å. The binding free energy of PvCSP210-TLR4 complex and PvCSP247-TLR4 complex was -50.49/-117.15 kcal/mol (MMGBSA/MMPSA) and -52.94/-96.26 kcal/mol (MMGBSA/MMPSA), respectively. The expression of both MEVs produced in Escherichia coli K12 expression system by in silico cloning was significant. Immune simulation revealed that the proposed MEVs induce strong humoral and cellular immunological responses, in addition to significant production of interleukins and cytokines. In conclusions, we believed that the MEVs proposed in current research, using combine approach of immunoinformatics, structural biology and biophysical approaches, could induce protective and effective immune responses against P. vivax and the experimental validation of our findings could contribute to the development of potential malaria vaccine.
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41
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Seaton KE, Spreng RL, Abraha M, Reichartz M, Rojas M, Feely F, Huntwork RHC, Dutta S, Mudrak SV, Alam SM, Gregory S, Jongert E, Coccia M, Ulloa-Montoya F, Wille-Reece U, Tomaras GD, Dennison SM. Subclass and avidity of circumsporozoite protein specific antibodies associate with protection status against malaria infection. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:110. [PMID: 34462438 PMCID: PMC8405700 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00372-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
RTS,S/AS01 is an advanced pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine candidate with demonstrated vaccine efficacy up to 86.7% in controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) studies; however, reproducible immune correlates of protection (CoP) are elusive. To identify candidates of humoral correlates of vaccine mediated protection, we measured antibody magnitude, subclass, and avidity for Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) circumsporozoite protein (CSP) by multiplex assays in two CHMI studies with varying RTS,S/AS01B vaccine dose and timing regimens. Central repeat (NANP6) IgG1 magnitude correlated best with protection status in univariate analyses and was the most predictive for protection in a multivariate model. NANP6 IgG3 magnitude, CSP IgG1 magnitude, and total serum antibody dissociation phase area-under-the-curve for NANP6, CSP, NPNA3, and N-interface binding were also associated with protection status in the regimen adjusted univariate analysis. Identification of multiple immune response features that associate with protection status, such as antibody subclasses, fine specificity and avidity reported here may accelerate development of highly efficacious vaccines against P. falciparum.
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Grants
- OPP1151372, OPP12109388 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- OPP1151372, OPP12109388 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- OPP1151372, OPP12109388 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- OPP1151372, OPP12109388 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- OPP1151372, OPP12109388 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- OPP1151372, OPP12109388 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- OPP1151372, OPP12109388 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- OPP1151372, OPP12109388 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- OPP1151372, OPP12109388 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- OPP1151372, OPP12109388 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- OPP1151372, OPP12109388 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- United States Department of Defense | United States Army | Army Medical Command | Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)
- PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative
- GlaxoSmithKline (GlaxoSmithKline plc.)
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Seaton
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, USA.
- Duke Center for Human Systems Immunology, Durham, NC, USA.
- Duke University Department of Surgery, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Rachel L Spreng
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, USA.
- Duke Center for Human Systems Immunology, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Milite Abraha
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Center for Human Systems Immunology, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University Department of Surgery, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Matthew Reichartz
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Center for Human Systems Immunology, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University Department of Surgery, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Frederick Feely
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Center for Human Systems Immunology, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University Department of Surgery, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Richard H C Huntwork
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Center for Human Systems Immunology, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University Department of Surgery, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sheetij Dutta
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Sarah V Mudrak
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Center for Human Systems Immunology, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University Department of Surgery, Durham, NC, USA
| | - S Munir Alam
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University Department of Pathology, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Scott Gregory
- PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Ulrike Wille-Reece
- PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Washington, DC, USA
- GSK, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Georgia D Tomaras
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, USA.
- Duke Center for Human Systems Immunology, Durham, NC, USA.
- Duke University Department of Surgery, Durham, NC, USA.
- Duke University Department of Immunology, Durham, NC, USA.
- Duke University Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - S Moses Dennison
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, USA.
- Duke Center for Human Systems Immunology, Durham, NC, USA.
- Duke University Department of Surgery, Durham, NC, USA.
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42
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Vijayan K, Visweswaran GRR, Chandrasekaran R, Trakhimets O, Brown SL, Watson A, Zuck M, Dambrauskas N, Raappana A, Carbonetti S, Kelnhofer-Millevolte L, Glennon EKK, Postiglione R, Sather DN, Kaushansky A. Antibody interference by a non-neutralizing antibody abrogates humoral protection against Plasmodium yoelii liver stage. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109489. [PMID: 34348141 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Both subunit and attenuated whole-sporozoite vaccination strategies against Plasmodium infection have shown promising initial results in malaria-naive westerners but less efficacy in malaria-exposed individuals in endemic areas. Here, we demonstrate proof of concept by using a rodent malaria model in which non-neutralizing antibodies (nNAbs) can directly interfere with protective anti-circumsporozoite protein (CSP) humoral responses. We characterize a monoclonal antibody, RAM1, against Plasmodium yoelii sporozoite major surface antigen CSP. Unlike the canonical PyCSP repeat domain binding and neutralizing antibody (NAb) 2F6, RAM1 does not inhibit sporozoite traversal or entry of hepatocytes in vitro or infection in vivo. Although 2F6 and RAM1 bind non-overlapping regions of the CSP-repeat domain, pre-treatment with RAM1 abrogates the capacity of NAb to block sporozoite traversal and invasion in vitro. Importantly, RAM1 reduces the efficacy of the polyclonal humoral response against PyCSP in vivo. Collectively, our data provide a proof of concept that nNAbs can alter the efficacy of malaria vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Meghan Zuck
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - D Noah Sather
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Alexis Kaushansky
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Brotman Baty Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
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43
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Memvanga PB, Nkanga CI. Liposomes for malaria management: the evolution from 1980 to 2020. Malar J 2021; 20:327. [PMID: 34315484 PMCID: PMC8313885 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03858-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases and the foremost cause of morbidity in the tropical regions of the world. Strategies for the efficient management of this parasitic infection include adequate treatment with anti-malarial therapeutics and vaccination. However, the emergence and spread of resistant strains of malaria parasites to the majority of presently used anti-malarial medications, on the other hand, complicates malaria treatment. Other shortcomings of anti-malarial drugs include poor aqueous solubility, low permeability, poor bioavailability, and non-specific targeting of intracellular parasites, resulting in high dose requirements and toxic side effects. To address these limitations, liposome-based nanotechnology has been extensively explored as a new solution in malaria management. Liposome technology improves anti-malarial drug encapsulation, bioavailability, target delivery, and controlled release, resulting in increased effectiveness, reduced resistance progression, and fewer adverse effects. Furthermore, liposomes are exploited as immunological adjuvants and antigen carriers to boost the preventive effectiveness of malaria vaccine candidates. The present review discusses the findings from studies conducted over the last 40 years (1980-2020) using in vitro and in vivo settings to assess the prophylactic and curative anti-malarial potential of liposomes containing anti-malarial agents or antigens. This paper and the discussion herein provide a useful resource for further complementary investigations and may pave the way for the research and development of several available and affordable anti-malarial-based liposomes and liposomal malaria vaccines by allowing a thorough evaluation of liposomes developed to date for the management of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick B Memvanga
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics and Phytopharmaceutical Drug Development, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 212, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
| | - Christian I Nkanga
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics and Phytopharmaceutical Drug Development, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 212, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
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44
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Rapaka RR, Cross AS, McArthur MA. Using Adjuvants to Drive T Cell Responses for Next-Generation Infectious Disease Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9080820. [PMID: 34451945 PMCID: PMC8402546 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9080820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Using adjuvants to drive features of T cell responses to vaccine antigens is an important technological challenge in the design of new and improved vaccines against infections. Properties such as T helper cell function, T cell memory, and CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity may play critical roles in optimal and long-lived immunity through vaccination. Directly manipulating specific immune activation or antigen delivery pathways with adjuvants may selectively augment desired T cell responses in vaccination and may improve the effectiveness and durability of vaccine responses in humans. In this review we outline recently studied adjuvants in their potential for antigen presenting cell and T cell programming during vaccination, with an emphasis on what has been observed in studies in humans as available.
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45
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Atcheson E, Hill AVS, Reyes-Sandoval A. A VLP for validation of the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein junctional epitope for vaccine development. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:46. [PMID: 33795695 PMCID: PMC8016880 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00302-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria continues to be a pressing global health issue, causing nearly half a million deaths per year. An effective malaria vaccine could radically improve our ability to control and eliminate this pathogen. The most advanced malaria vaccine, RTS,S, confers only 30% protective efficacy under field conditions, and hence the search continues for improved vaccines. New antigens and formulations are always first developed at a pre-clinical level. This paper describes the development of a platform to supplement existing tools of pre-clinical malaria vaccine development, by displaying linear peptides on a virus-like particle (VLP). Peptides from PfCSP, particularly from outside the normal target of neutralizing antibodies, the central NANP repeat region, are screened for evidence of protective efficacy. One peptide, recently identified as a target of potent neutralizing antibodies and lying at the junction between the N-terminal domain and the central repeat region of PfCSP, is found to confer protective efficacy against malaria sporozoite challenge in mice when presented on the Qβ VLP. The platform is also used to explore the effects of increasing numbers of NANP unit repeats, and including a universal CD4+ T-cell epitope from tetanus toxin, on immunogenicity and protective efficacy. The VLP-peptide platform is shown to be of use in screening malaria peptides for protective efficacy and answering basic vaccinology questions in a pre-clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Arturo Reyes-Sandoval
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. .,Instituto Politécnico Nacional, IPN. Av. Luis Enrique Erro s/n. Unidad Adolfo López Mateos, Mexico City, Mexico.
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46
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Fries CN, Curvino EJ, Chen JL, Permar SR, Fouda GG, Collier JH. Advances in nanomaterial vaccine strategies to address infectious diseases impacting global health. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 16:1-14. [PMID: 32807876 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-020-0739-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Despite the overwhelming success of vaccines in preventing infectious diseases, there remain numerous globally devastating diseases without fully protective vaccines, particularly human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malaria and tuberculosis. Nanotechnology approaches are being developed both to design new vaccines against these diseases as well as to facilitate their global implementation. The reasons why a given pathogen may present difficulties for vaccine design are unique and tied to the co-evolutionary history of the pathogen and humans, but there are common challenges that nanotechnology is beginning to help address. In each case, a successful vaccine will need to raise immune responses that differ from the immune responses raised by normal infection. Nanomaterials, with their defined compositions, commonly modular construction, and length scales allowing the engagement of key immune pathways, collectively facilitate the iterative design process necessary to identify such protective immune responses and achieve them reliably. Nanomaterials also provide strategies for engineering the trafficking and delivery of vaccine components to key immune cells and lymphoid tissues, and they can be highly multivalent, improving their engagement with the immune system. This Review will discuss these aspects along with recent nanomaterial advances towards vaccines against infectious disease, with a particular emphasis on HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea N Fries
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Jui-Lin Chen
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sallie R Permar
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Genevieve G Fouda
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Joel H Collier
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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47
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Pirahmadi S, Zakeri S, Djadid ND, Mehrizi AA. A review of combination adjuvants for malaria vaccines: a promising approach for vaccine development. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:699-717. [PMID: 33798560 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
It is obvious that there is a critical need for an efficient malaria vaccine to accelerate malaria eradication. Currently, recombinant subunit vaccination against malaria using proteins and peptides is gaining attention. However, one of the major drawbacks of this approach is the lack of an efficient and durable immune response. Therefore, subunit vaccines require adjuvants to make the vaccine sufficiently immunogenic. Considering the history of the RTS,S vaccine, it seems likely that no single adjuvant is capable of eliciting all the protective immune responses required in many malarial subunit vaccines and the use of combination adjuvants will be increasingly important as the science of malaria vaccines advances. In light of this, it appears that identifying the most effective mixture of adjuvants with minimal adverse effects offers tremendous opportunities in improving the efficacy of vaccines against malaria. Owing to the importance of a multi-adjuvanted approach in subunit malaria vaccine development, this review paper outlines some of the best known combination adjuvants used in malaria subunit vaccines, focusing on their proposed mechanisms of action, their immunological properties, and their notable results. The aim of the present review is to consolidate these findings to aid the application of these combination adjuvants in experimental malaria vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakineh Pirahmadi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sedigheh Zakeri
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Navid D Djadid
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Akram A Mehrizi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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48
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Francica JR, Shi W, Chuang GY, Chen SJ, Da Silva Pereira L, Farney SK, Flynn BJ, Ou L, Stephens T, Tsybovsky Y, Wang LT, Anderson A, Beck Z, Dillon M, Idris AH, Hurlburt N, Liu T, Zhang B, Alving CR, Matyas GR, Pancera M, Mascola JR, Kwong PD, Seder RA. Design of Alphavirus Virus-Like Particles Presenting Circumsporozoite Junctional Epitopes That Elicit Protection against Malaria. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9030272. [PMID: 33803622 PMCID: PMC8003078 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9030272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The most advanced malaria vaccine, RTS,S, includes the central repeat and C-terminal domains of the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP). We have recently isolated human antibodies that target the junctional region between the N-terminal and repeat domains that are not included in RTS,S. Due to the fact that these antibodies protect against malaria challenge in mice, their epitopes could be effective vaccine targets. Here, we developed immunogens displaying PfCSP junctional epitopes by genetic fusion to either the N-terminus or B domain loop of the E2 protein from chikungunya (CHIK) alphavirus and produced CHIK virus-like particles (CHIK-VLPs). The structural integrity of these junctional-epitope-CHIK-VLP immunogens was confirmed by negative-stain electron microscopy. Immunization of these CHIK-VLP immunogens reduced parasite liver load by up to 95% in a mouse model of malaria infection and elicited better protection than when displayed on keyhole limpet hemocyanin, a commonly used immunogenic carrier. Protection correlated with PfCSP serum titer. Of note, different junctional sequences elicited qualitatively different reactivities to overlapping PfCSP peptides. Overall, these results show that the junctional epitopes of PfCSP can induce protective responses when displayed on CHIK-VLP immunogens and provide a basis for the development of a next generation malaria vaccine to expand the breadth of anti-PfCSP immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R. Francica
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Wei Shi
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Gwo-Yu Chuang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Steven J. Chen
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Lais Da Silva Pereira
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - S. Katie Farney
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Barbara J. Flynn
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Li Ou
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Tyler Stephens
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21701, USA; (T.S.); (Y.T.)
| | - Yaroslav Tsybovsky
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21701, USA; (T.S.); (Y.T.)
| | - Lawrence T. Wang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Alexander Anderson
- Laboratory of Adjuvant & Antigen Research, US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (A.A.); (Z.B.); (C.R.A.); (G.R.M.)
| | - Zoltan Beck
- Laboratory of Adjuvant & Antigen Research, US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (A.A.); (Z.B.); (C.R.A.); (G.R.M.)
| | - Marlon Dillon
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Azza H. Idris
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Nicholas Hurlburt
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA;
| | - Tracy Liu
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Baoshan Zhang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Carl R. Alving
- Laboratory of Adjuvant & Antigen Research, US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (A.A.); (Z.B.); (C.R.A.); (G.R.M.)
| | - Gary R. Matyas
- Laboratory of Adjuvant & Antigen Research, US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (A.A.); (Z.B.); (C.R.A.); (G.R.M.)
| | - Marie Pancera
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA;
| | - John R. Mascola
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Peter D. Kwong
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
- Correspondence: (P.D.K.); (R.A.S.)
| | - Robert A. Seder
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.R.F.); (W.S.); (G.-Y.C.); (S.J.C.); (L.D.S.P.); (S.K.F.); (B.J.F.); (L.O.); (L.T.W.); (M.D.); (A.H.I.); (T.L.); (B.Z.); (M.P.); (J.R.M.)
- Correspondence: (P.D.K.); (R.A.S.)
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Kurtovic L, Wetzel D, Reiling L, Drew DR, Palmer C, Kouskousis B, Hanssen E, Wines BD, Hogarth PM, Suckow M, Jenzelewski V, Piontek M, Chan JA, Beeson JG. Novel Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Encoding the Circumsporozoite Protein of Plasmodium falciparum Is Immunogenic and Induces Functional Antibody Responses in Mice. Front Immunol 2021; 12:641421. [PMID: 33815393 PMCID: PMC8010251 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.641421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
RTS,S is the leading malaria vaccine in development, but has demonstrated only moderate protective efficacy in clinical trials. RTS,S is a virus-like particle (VLP) that uses the human hepatitis B virus as scaffold to display the malaria sporozoite antigen, circumsporozoite protein (CSP). Particle formation requires four-fold excess scaffold antigen, and as a result, CSP represents only a small portion of the final vaccine construct. Alternative VLP or nanoparticle platforms that reduce the amount of scaffold antigen and increase the amount of the target CSP antigen present in particles may enhance vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy. Here, we describe the production and characterization of a novel VLP that uses the small surface antigen (dS) of duck hepatitis B virus to display CSP. The CSP-dS fusion protein successfully formed VLPs without the need for excess scaffold antigen, and thus CSP represented a larger portion of the vaccine construct. CSP-dS formed large particles approximately 31-74 nm in size and were confirmed to display CSP on the surface. CSP-dS VLPs were highly immunogenic in mice and induced antibodies to multiple regions of CSP, even when administered at a lower vaccine dosage. Vaccine-induced antibodies demonstrated relevant functional activities, including Fc-dependent interactions with complement and Fcγ-receptors, previously identified as important in malaria immunity. Further, vaccine-induced antibodies had similar properties (epitope-specificity and avidity) to monoclonal antibodies that are protective in mouse models. Our novel platform to produce VLPs without excess scaffold protein has wide implications for the future development of vaccines for malaria and other infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liriye Kurtovic
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Departments of Immunology and Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Linda Reiling
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Damien R. Drew
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | - Eric Hanssen
- The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Bruce D. Wines
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Departments of Immunology and Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Clinical Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - P. Mark Hogarth
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Departments of Immunology and Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Clinical Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Jo-Anne Chan
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Departments of Immunology and Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - James G. Beeson
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Departments of Immunology and Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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50
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Moon JE, Ockenhouse C, Regules JA, Vekemans J, Lee C, Chuang I, Traskine M, Jongert E, Ivinson K, Morelle D, Komisar JL, Lievens M, Sedegah M, Garver LS, Sikaffy AK, Waters NC, Ballou WR, Ofori-Anyinam O. A Phase IIa Controlled Human Malaria Infection and Immunogenicity Study of RTS,S/AS01E and RTS,S/AS01B Delayed Fractional Dose Regimens in Malaria-Naive Adults. J Infect Dis 2021; 222:1681-1691. [PMID: 32687161 PMCID: PMC7552430 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A previous RTS,S/AS01B vaccine challenge trial demonstrated that a 3-dose (0-1-7–month) regimen with a fractional third dose can produce high vaccine efficacy (VE) in adults challenged 3 weeks after vaccination. This study explored the VE of different delayed fractional dose regimens of adult and pediatric RTS,S/AS01 formulations. Methods A total of 130 participants were randomized into 5 groups. Four groups received 3 doses of RTS,S/AS01B or RTS,S/AS01E on a 0-1-7–month schedule, with the final 1 or 2 doses being fractional (one-fifth dose volume). One group received 1 full (month 0) and 1 fractional (month 7) dose of RTS,S/AS01E. Immunized and unvaccinated control participants underwent Plasmodium falciparum–infected mosquito challenge (controlled human malaria infection) 3 months after immunization, a timing chosen to potentially discriminate VEs between groups. Results The VE of 3-dose formulations ranged from 55% (95% confidence interval, 27%–72%) to 76% (48%–89%). Groups administered equivalent formulations of RTS,S/AS01E and RTS,S/AS01B demonstrated comparable VE. The 2-dose group demonstrated lower VE (29% [95% confidence interval, 6%–46%]). All regimens were well tolerated and immunogenic, with trends toward higher anti-circumsporozoite antibody titers in participants protected against infection. Conclusions RTS,S/AS01E can provide VE comparable to an equivalent RTS,S/AS01B regimen in adults, suggesting a universal formulation may be considered. Results also suggest that the 2-dose regimen is inferior to the 3-dose regimens evaluated. Clinical Trial Registration NCT03162614
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Moon
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Jason A Regules
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Cynthia Lee
- PATH-Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ilin Chuang
- Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Karen Ivinson
- PATH-Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Jack L Komisar
- Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Martha Sedegah
- Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Lindsey S Garver
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - April K Sikaffy
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Norman C Waters
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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