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Pisuttinusart N, Rattanapisit K, Srisaowakarn C, Thitithanyanont A, Strasser R, Shanmugaraj B, Phoolcharoen W. Neutralizing activity of anti-respiratory syncytial virus monoclonal antibody produced in Nicotiana benthamiana. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2327142. [PMID: 38508690 PMCID: PMC10956629 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2327142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious virus that affects the lungs and respiratory passages of many vulnerable people. It is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections and clinical complications, particularly among infants and elderly. It can develop into serious complications such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis. The development of RSV vaccine or immunoprophylaxis remains highly active and a global health priority. Currently, GSK's Arexvy™ vaccine is approved for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease in older adults (>60 years). Palivizumab and currently nirsevimab are the approved monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for RSV prevention in high-risk patients. Many studies are ongoing to develop additional therapeutic antibodies for preventing RSV infections among newborns and other susceptible groups. Recently, additional antibodies have been discovered and shown greater potential for development as therapeutic alternatives to palivizumab and nirsevimab. Plant expression platforms have proven successful in producing recombinant proteins, including antibodies, offering a potential cost-effective alternative to mammalian expression platforms. Hence in this study, an attempt was made to use a plant expression platform to produce two anti-RSV fusion (F) mAbs 5C4 and CR9501. The heavy-chain and light-chain sequences of both these antibodies were transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using a geminiviral vector and then purified using single-step protein A affinity column chromatography. Both these plant-produced mAbs showed specific binding to the RSV fusion protein and demonstrate effective viral neutralization activity in vitro. These preliminary findings suggest that plant-produced anti-RSV mAbs are able to neutralize RSV in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuttapat Pisuttinusart
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kaewta Rattanapisit
- Department of Research and Development, Baiya Phytopharm Co., Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chanya Srisaowakarn
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Balamurugan Shanmugaraj
- Department of Research and Development, Baiya Phytopharm Co., Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India
| | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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2
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Srisangsung T, Phetphoung T, Manopwisedjaroen S, Rattanapisit K, Bulaon CJI, Thitithanyanont A, Limprasutr V, Strasser R, Phoolcharoen W. The impact of N-glycans on the immune response of plant-produced SARS-CoV-2 RBD-Fc proteins. BIOTECHNOLOGY REPORTS (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 43:e00847. [PMID: 39040987 PMCID: PMC11261281 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2024.e00847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Plant-based manufacturing has the advantage of post-translational modifications. While plant-specific N-glycans have been associated with allergic reactions, their effect on the specific immune response upon vaccination is not yet understood. In this study, we produced an RBD-Fc subunit vaccine in both wildtype (WT) and glycoengineered (∆XF) Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The N-glycan analysis: RBD-Fc carrying the ER retention peptide mainly displayed high mannose. When produced in WT RBD-Fc displayed complex-type (GnGnXF) N-glycans. In contrast, ∆XF plants produced RBD-Fc with humanized complex N-glycans that lack potentially immunogenic xylose and core fucose residues (GnGn). The three recombinant RBD-Fc glycovariants were tested. Immunization with any of the RBD-Fc proteins resulted in a similar titer of anti-RBD antibodies in mice. Likewise, antisera from subunit RBD-Fc vaccines also demonstrated comparable neutralization against SARS-CoV-2. Thus, we conclude that N-glycan modifications of the RBD-Fc protein have no impact on their capacity to activate immune responses and induce neutralizing antibody production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theerakarn Srisangsung
- Center of Excellence in Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Thareeya Phetphoung
- Center of Excellence in Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | | | | | | | - Arunee Thitithanyanont
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Vudhiporn Limprasutr
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Center of Excellence in Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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3
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Krittanai S, Rattanapisit K, Bulaon CJI, Pitaksajjakul P, Keadsanti S, Ramasoota P, Strasser R, Phoolcharoen W. Nicotiana benthamiana as a potential source for producing anti-dengue virus D54 neutralizing therapeutic antibody. BIOTECHNOLOGY REPORTS (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 42:e00844. [PMID: 38881650 PMCID: PMC11179242 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2024.e00844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV), transmitted by mosquitoes, is classified into four serotypes (DENV1-4) and typically causes mild, self-limiting symptoms upon initial infection. However, secondary infection can lead to severe symptoms due to antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). To address this, anti-DENV antibodies are being developed with the goal of neutralizing infection without ADE activity. Previous attempts using a 54_hG1 antibody from CHO-K1 mammalian cells resulted in ADE induction, increasing viral infection. This study aimed to express the D54 monoclonal antibody in Nicotiana benthamiana. The plant-produced antibody had a similar neutralizing profile to the previous 54_hG1 antibody. Notably, the ADE activities of the plant-derived antibody were successfully eliminated, with no sign of viral induction. These findings suggest that N. benthamiana could be a source of therapeutic DENV antibodies. The method offers several advantages, including lower ADE, cost-effectiveness, simple facility requirements, scalability, and potential industrial-scale production in GMP facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supaluk Krittanai
- Center of Excellence in Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | | | | | - Pannamthip Pitaksajjakul
- Center of Excellence for Antibody Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Sujitra Keadsanti
- Center of Excellence for Antibody Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Pongrama Ramasoota
- Center of Excellence for Antibody Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Center of Excellence in Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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4
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Moore CM, Ljungars A, Paul MJ, Dahl CH, Ahmadi S, Adams AC, Grav LM, Schoffelen S, Voldborg BG, Laustsen AH, Ma JKC. Characterisation of two snake toxin-targeting human monoclonal immunoglobulin G antibodies expressed in tobacco plants. Toxicon 2023:107225. [PMID: 37442299 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Current snakebite antivenoms are based on polyclonal animal-derived antibodies, which can neutralize snake venom toxins in envenomed victims, but which are also associated with adverse reactions. Therefore, several efforts within antivenom research aim to explore the utility of recombinant monoclonal antibodies, such as human immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, which are routinely used in the clinic for other indications. In this study, the feasibility of using tobacco plants as bioreactors for expressing full-length human monoclonal IgG antibodies against snake toxins was investigated. We show that the plant-produced antibodies perform similarly to their mammalian cell-expressed equivalents in terms of in vitro binding. Complete neutralization was achieved by both the plant and mammalian cell-produced anti-α-cobratoxin antibody. The feasibility of using plant-based expression systems may potentially make it easier for laboratories in resource-poor settings to work with human monoclonal IgG antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M Moore
- School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, W1W 6UW, United Kingdom.
| | - Anne Ljungars
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Matthew J Paul
- Hotung Molecular Immunology Unit, Institute for Infection & Immunity, St George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Camilla Holst Dahl
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Shirin Ahmadi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anna Christina Adams
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lise Marie Grav
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sanne Schoffelen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Bjørn Gunnar Voldborg
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andreas Hougaard Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Julian K-C Ma
- Hotung Molecular Immunology Unit, Institute for Infection & Immunity, St George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, United Kingdom
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5
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Sun H, Yang M, Lai H, Neupane B, Teh AYH, Jugler C, Ma JKC, Steinkellner H, Bai F, Chen Q. A Dual-Approach Strategy to Optimize the Safety and Efficacy of Anti-Zika Virus Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics. Viruses 2023; 15:1156. [PMID: 37243242 PMCID: PMC10221487 DOI: 10.3390/v15051156] [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: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibody-dependent enhancement of infection (ADE) is clinically relevant to Dengue virus (DENV) infection and poses a major risk to the application of monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based therapeutics against related flaviviruses such as the Zika virus (ZIKV). Here, we tested a two-tier approach for selecting non-cross-reactive mAbs combined with modulating Fc glycosylation as a strategy to doubly secure the elimination of ADE while preserving Fc effector functions. To this end, we selected a ZIKV-specific mAb (ZV54) and generated three ZV54 variants using Chinese hamster ovary cells and wild-type (WT) and glycoengineered ΔXF Nicotiana benthamiana plants as production hosts (ZV54CHO, ZV54WT, and ZV54ΔXF). The three ZV54 variants shared an identical polypeptide backbone, but each exhibited a distinct Fc N-glycosylation profile. All three ZV54 variants showed similar neutralization potency against ZIKV but no ADE activity for DENV infection, validating the importance of selecting the virus/serotype-specific mAbs for avoiding ADE by related flaviviruses. For ZIKV infection, however, ZV54CHO and ZV54ΔXF showed significant ADE activity while ZV54WT completely forwent ADE, suggesting that Fc glycan modulation may yield mAb glycoforms that abrogate ADE even for homologous viruses. In contrast to the current strategies for Fc mutations that abrogate all effector functions along with ADE, our approach allowed the preservation of effector functions as all ZV54 glycovariants retained antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against the ZIKV-infected cells. Furthermore, the ADE-free ZV54WT demonstrated in vivo efficacy in a ZIKV-infection mouse model. Collectively, our study provides further support for the hypothesis that antibody-viral surface antigen and Fc-mediated host cell interactions are both prerequisites for ADE, and that a dual-approach strategy, as shown herein, contributes to the development of highly safe and efficacious anti-ZIKV mAb therapeutics. Our findings may be impactful to other ADE-prone viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Ming Yang
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Huafang Lai
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Biswas Neupane
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Audrey Y.-H. Teh
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Collin Jugler
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Julian K.-C. Ma
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Fengwei Bai
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
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6
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Yang M, Sun H, Lai H, Neupane B, Bai F, Steinkellner H, Chen Q. Plant-Produced Anti-Zika Virus Monoclonal Antibody Glycovariant Exhibits Abrogated Antibody-Dependent Enhancement of Infection. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:755. [PMID: 37112665 PMCID: PMC10144123 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11040755] [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: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against the envelope (E) protein of Zika virus (ZIKV) have shown great potential as therapeutics against the Zika epidemics. However, their use as a therapy may predispose treated individuals to severe infection by the related dengue virus (DENV) via antibody-dependent enhancement of infection (ADE). Here, we generated a broadly neutralizing flavivirus mAb, ZV1, with an identical protein backbone but different Fc glycosylation profiles. The three glycovariants, produced in wild-type (WT) and glycoengineered ΔXF Nicotiana benthamiana plants and in Chinese hamster ovary cells (ZV1WT, ZV1ΔXF, and ZV1CHO), respectively, showed equivalent neutralization potency against both ZIKV and DENV. By contrast, the three mAb glycoforms demonstrated drastically different ADE activity for DENV and ZIKV infection. While ZV1CHO and ZV1ΔXF showed ADE activity upon DENV and ZIKV infection, ZV1WT totally forwent its ADE. Importantly, all three glycovariants exhibited antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against virus-infected cells, with increased potency by the fucose-free ZV1ΔXF glycoform. Moreover, the in vivo efficacy of the ADE-free ZV1WT was demonstrated in a murine model. Collectively, we demonstrated the feasibility of modulating ADE by Fc glycosylation, thereby establishing a novel approach for improving the safety of flavivirus therapeutics. Our study also underscores the versatile use of plants for the rapid expression of complex human proteins to reveal novel insight into antibody function and viral pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yang
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85225, USA
| | - Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85225, USA
| | - Huafang Lai
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85225, USA
| | - Biswas Neupane
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Fengwei Bai
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85225, USA
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7
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Jugler C, Sun H, Nguyen K, Palt R, Felder M, Steinkellner H, Chen Q. A novel plant-made monoclonal antibody enhances the synergetic potency of an antibody cocktail against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:549-559. [PMID: 36403203 PMCID: PMC9946148 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
This study describes a novel, neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb), 11D7, discovered by mouse immunization and hybridoma generation, against the parental Wuhan-Hu-1 RBD of SARS-CoV-2. We further developed this mAb into a chimeric human IgG and recombinantly expressed it in plants to produce a mAb with human-like, highly homogenous N-linked glycans that has potential to impart greater potency and safety as a therapeutic. The epitope of 11D7 was mapped by competitive binding with well-characterized mAbs, suggesting that it is a Class 4 RBD-binding mAb that binds to the RBD outside the ACE2 binding site. Of note, 11D7 maintains recognition against the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) RBD, as well neutralizing activity. We also provide evidence that this novel mAb may be useful in providing additional synergy to established antibody cocktails, such as Evusheld™ containing the antibodies tixagevimab and cilgavimab, against the Omicron variant. Taken together, 11D7 is a unique mAb that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 through a mechanism that is not typical among developed therapeutic mAbs and by being produced in ΔXFT Nicotiana benthamiana plants, highlights the potential of plants to be an economic and safety-friendly alternative platform for generating mAbs to address the evolving SARS-CoV-2 crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin Jugler
- The Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
- School of Life SciencesArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
| | - Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
| | - Katherine Nguyen
- School of Molecular SciencesArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
| | - Roman Palt
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | | | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
- School of Life SciencesArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
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Sun H, Jugler C, Nguyen K, Steinkellner H, Chen Q. The potency and synergy of plant-made monoclonal antibodies against the BA.5 variant of SARS-CoV-2. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:463-465. [PMID: 36519524 PMCID: PMC9877843 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
| | - Collin Jugler
- The Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
- School of Life SciencesArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
| | | | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
- School of Life SciencesArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
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9
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Lee J, Lee SK, Park JS, Lee KR. Plant-made pharmaceuticals: exploring studies for the production of recombinant protein in plants and assessing challenges ahead. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY REPORTS 2023; 17:53-65. [PMID: 36820221 PMCID: PMC9931573 DOI: 10.1007/s11816-023-00821-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The production of pharmaceutical compounds in plants is attracting increasing attention, as plant-based systems can be less expensive, safer, and more scalable than mammalian, yeast, bacterial, and insect cell expression systems. Here, we review the history and current status of plant-made pharmaceuticals. Producing pharmaceuticals in plants requires pairing the appropriate plant species with suitable transformation technology. Pharmaceuticals have been produced in tobacco, cereals, legumes, fruits, and vegetables via nuclear transformation, chloroplast transformation, transient expression, and transformation of suspension cell cultures. Despite this wide range of species and methods used, most such efforts have involved the nuclear transformation of tobacco. Tobacco readily generates large amounts of biomass, easily accepts foreign genes, and is amenable to stable gene expression via nuclear transformation. Although vaccines, antibodies, and therapeutic proteins have been produced in plants, such pharmaceuticals are not readily utilized by humans due to differences in glycosylation, and few such compounds have been approved due to a lack of clinical data. In addition, achieving an adequate immune response using plant-made pharmaceuticals can be difficult due to low rates of production compared to other expression systems. Various technologies have recently been developed to help overcome these limitations; however, plant systems are expected to increasingly become widely used expression systems for recombinant protein production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juho Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju, 54874 Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Kyeong Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju, 54874 Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Sug Park
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju, 54874 Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong-Ryeol Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju, 54874 Republic of Korea
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10
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Sun H, Acharya D, Paul AM, Lai H, He J, Bai F, Chen Q. Antibody-Dependent Enhancement Activity of a Plant-Made Vaccine against West Nile Virus. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:197. [PMID: 36851075 PMCID: PMC9966755 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) causes annual outbreaks globally and is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in Unite States. In the absence of licensed therapeutics, there is an urgent need to develop effective and safe human vaccines against WNV. One of the major safety concerns for WNV vaccine development is the risk of increasing infection by related flaviviruses in vaccinated subjects via antibody-dependent enhancement of infection (ADE). Herein, we report the development of a plant-based vaccine candidate that provides protective immunity against a lethal WNV challenge mice, while minimizes the risk of ADE for infection by Zika (ZIKV) and dengue (DENV) virus. Specifically, a plant-produced virus-like particle (VLP) that displays the WNV Envelope protein domain III (wDIII) elicited both high neutralizing antibody titers and antigen-specific cellular immune responses in mice. Passive transfer of serum from VLP-vaccinated mice protected recipient mice from a lethal challenge of WNV infection. Notably, VLP-induced antibodies did not enhance the infection of Fc gamma receptor-expressing K562 cells by ZIKV or DENV through ADE. Thus, a plant-made wDIII-displaying VLP presents a promising WNV vaccine candidate that induces protective immunity and minimizes the concern of inducing ADE-prone antibodies to predispose vaccinees to severe infection by DENV or ZIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Dhiraj Acharya
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Amber M. Paul
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Huafang Lai
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Junyun He
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Fengwei Bai
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
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Abstract
Since its discovery in 1937 in the West Nile district of Uganda, West Nile virus (WNV) has been one of the leading causes of mosquito-transmitted infectious diseases (Smithburn, Burke, Am J Trop Med 20:22, 1940). Subsequently, it spread to Europe, Asia, Australia, and finally North America in 1999 (Sejvar, Ochsner 5(3):6-10, 2003). Worldwide outbreaks have continued to increase since the 1990s (Chancey et al, Biomed Res Int 2015:376230, 2015). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 51,000 cases of WNV infection and nearly 2400 cases of WNV-related death were reported in the USA from 1999 to 2019. The estimated economic impact of WNV infections is close to 800 million dollars in the USA from 1999 to 2012 (Barrett, Am J Trop Med Hyg 90:389, 2014).
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Josh Lesio
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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12
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Vasilev N. Medicinal Plants: Guests and Hosts in the Heterologous Expression of High-Value Products. PLANTA MEDICA 2022; 88:1175-1189. [PMID: 34521134 DOI: 10.1055/a-1576-4148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Medicinal plants play an important dual role in the context of the heterologous expression of high-value pharmaceutical products. On the one hand, the classical biochemical and modern omics approaches allowed for the discovery of various genes encoding biosynthetic pathways in medicinal plants. Recombinant DNA technology enabled introducing these genes and regulatory elements into host organisms and enhancing the heterologous production of the corresponding secondary metabolites. On the other hand, the transient expression of foreign DNA in plants facilitated the production of numerous proteins of pharmaceutical importance. This review summarizes several success stories of the engineering of plant metabolic pathways in heterologous hosts. Likewise, a few examples of recombinant protein expression in plants for therapeutic purposes are also highlighted. Therefore, the importance of medicinal plants has grown immensely as sources for valuable products of low and high molecular weight. The next step ahead for bioengineering is to achieve more success stories of industrial-scale production of secondary plant metabolites in microbial systems and to fully exploit plant cell factories' commercial potential for recombinant proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay Vasilev
- TU Dortmund University, Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, Technical Biochemistry, Dortmund, Germany
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13
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Potential for a Plant-Made SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody as a Synergetic Cocktail Component. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10050772. [PMID: 35632528 PMCID: PMC9145534 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10050772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a public health crisis over the last two years. Monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based therapeutics against the spike (S) protein have been shown to be effective treatments for SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially the original viral strain. However, the current mAbs produced in mammalian cells are expensive and might be unaffordable for many. Furthermore, the emergence of variants of concern demands the development of strategies to prevent mutant escape from mAb treatment. Using a cocktail of mAbs that bind to complementary neutralizing epitopes is one such strategy. In this study, we use Nicotiana benthamiana plants in an effort to expedite the development of efficacious and affordable antibody cocktails against SARS-CoV-2. We show that two mAbs can be highly expressed in plants and are correctly assembled into IgG molecules. Moreover, they retain target epitope recognition and, more importantly, neutralize multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants. We also show that one plant-made mAb has neutralizing synergy with other mAbs that we developed in hybridomas. This is the first report of a plant-made mAb to be assessed as a potential component of a SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing cocktail. This work may offer a strategy for using plants to quickly develop mAb cocktail-based therapeutics against emerging viral diseases with high efficacy and low costs.
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14
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Chen Q. Development of plant-made monoclonal antibodies against viral infections. Curr Opin Virol 2022; 52:148-160. [PMID: 34933212 PMCID: PMC8844144 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2021.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Current plant-based systems offer multiple advantages for monoclonal antibody (mAb) development and production beyond the traditional benefits of low cost and high scalability. Novel expression vectors have allowed the production of mAbs at high levels with unprecedented speed to combat current and future pandemics. Host glycoengineering has enabled plants to produce mAbs that have unique mammalian glycoforms with a high degree of homogeneity. These mAb glycovariants exhibit differential binding to various Fc receptors, providing a new way to optimize antibody effector function for improving mAb potency or safety. This review will summarize the status of anti-viral mAb development with plant-based systems. The preclinical and clinical development of leading plant-made mAb candidates will be highlighted. In addition, the remaining challenges and potential applications of this technology will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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15
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Jugler C, Sun H, Chen Q. SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-Induced Interleukin 6 Signaling Is Blocked by a Plant-Produced Anti-Interleukin 6 Receptor Monoclonal Antibody. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9111365. [PMID: 34835296 PMCID: PMC8623585 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9111365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the current COVID-19 pandemic, has caused more than 4.5 million deaths worldwide. Severe and fatal cases of COVID-19 are often associated with increased proinflammatory cytokine levels including interleukin 6 (IL-6) and acute respiratory distress syndrome. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using plants to produce an anti-IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) monoclonal antibody (mAb) and examined its utility in reducing IL-6 signaling in an in vitro model, which simulates IL-6 induction during SARS-CoV-2 infection. The anti-IL6R mAb (IL6RmAb) was quickly expressed and correctly assembled in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Plant-produced IL6RmAb (pIL6RmAb) could be enriched to homogeneity by a simple purification scheme. Furthermore, pIL6RmAb was shown to effectively inhibit IL-6 signaling in a cell-based model system. Notably, pIL6RmAb also suppressed IL-6 signaling that was induced by the exposure of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. This is the first report of a plant-made anti-IL-6R mAb and its activity against SARS-CoV-2-related cytokine signaling. This study demonstrates the capacity of plants for producing functionally active mAbs that block cytokine signaling and implies their potential efficacy to curb cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin Jugler
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; (C.J.); (H.S.)
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; (C.J.); (H.S.)
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; (C.J.); (H.S.)
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-480-965-8110; Fax: +1-480-727-7615
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16
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He W, Baysal C, Lobato Gómez M, Huang X, Alvarez D, Zhu C, Armario‐Najera V, Blanco Perera A, Cerda Bennaser P, Saba‐Mayoral A, Sobrino‐Mengual G, Vargheese A, Abranches R, Alexandra Abreu I, Balamurugan S, Bock R, Buyel JF, da Cunha NB, Daniell H, Faller R, Folgado A, Gowtham I, Häkkinen ST, Kumar S, Sathish Kumar R, Lacorte C, Lomonossoff GP, Luís IM, K.‐C. Ma J, McDonald KA, Murad A, Nandi S, O’Keef B, Parthiban S, Paul MJ, Ponndorf D, Rech E, Rodrigues JC, Ruf S, Schillberg S, Schwestka J, Shah PS, Singh R, Stoger E, Twyman RM, Varghese IP, Vianna GR, Webster G, Wilbers RHP, Christou P, Oksman‐Caldentey K, Capell T. Contributions of the international plant science community to the fight against infectious diseases in humans-part 2: Affordable drugs in edible plants for endemic and re-emerging diseases. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2021; 19:1921-1936. [PMID: 34181810 PMCID: PMC8486237 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The fight against infectious diseases often focuses on epidemics and pandemics, which demand urgent resources and command attention from the health authorities and media. However, the vast majority of deaths caused by infectious diseases occur in endemic zones, particularly in developing countries, placing a disproportionate burden on underfunded health systems and often requiring international interventions. The provision of vaccines and other biologics is hampered not only by the high cost and limited scalability of traditional manufacturing platforms based on microbial and animal cells, but also by challenges caused by distribution and storage, particularly in regions without a complete cold chain. In this review article, we consider the potential of molecular farming to address the challenges of endemic and re-emerging diseases, focusing on edible plants for the development of oral drugs. Key recent developments in this field include successful clinical trials based on orally delivered dried leaves of Artemisia annua against malarial parasite strains resistant to artemisinin combination therapy, the ability to produce clinical-grade protein drugs in leaves to treat infectious diseases and the long-term storage of protein drugs in dried leaves at ambient temperatures. Recent FDA approval of the first orally delivered protein drug encapsulated in plant cells to treat peanut allergy has opened the door for the development of affordable oral drugs that can be manufactured and distributed in remote areas without cold storage infrastructure and that eliminate the need for expensive purification steps and sterile delivery by injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshu He
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Can Baysal
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Maria Lobato Gómez
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Derry Alvarez
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Changfu Zhu
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Victoria Armario‐Najera
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Aamaya Blanco Perera
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Pedro Cerda Bennaser
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Andrea Saba‐Mayoral
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | | | - Ashwin Vargheese
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Rita Abranches
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António XavierUniversidade Nova de LisboaOeirasPortugal
| | - Isabel Alexandra Abreu
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António XavierUniversidade Nova de LisboaOeirasPortugal
| | - Shanmugaraj Balamurugan
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityTamil NaduIndia
| | - Ralph Bock
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdam‐GolmGermany
| | - Johannes F. Buyel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IMEAachenGermany
- Institute for Molecular BiotechnologyRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | - Nicolau B. da Cunha
- Centro de Análise Proteômicas e Bioquímicas de BrasíliaUniversidade Católica de BrasíliaBrasíliaBrazil
| | - Henry Daniell
- School of Dental MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Roland Faller
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
| | - André Folgado
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António XavierUniversidade Nova de LisboaOeirasPortugal
| | - Iyappan Gowtham
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityTamil NaduIndia
| | - Suvi T. Häkkinen
- Industrial Biotechnology and Food SolutionsVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland LtdEspooFinland
| | - Shashi Kumar
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and BiotechnologyNew DelhiIndia
| | - Ramalingam Sathish Kumar
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityTamil NaduIndia
| | - Cristiano Lacorte
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in Biology, Parque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | | | - Ines M. Luís
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António XavierUniversidade Nova de LisboaOeirasPortugal
| | - Julian K.‐C. Ma
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George’s University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Karen A. McDonald
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
- Global HealthShare InitiativeUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
| | - Andre Murad
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in Biology, Parque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | - Somen Nandi
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
- Global HealthShare InitiativeUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
| | - Barry O’Keef
- Division of Cancer Treatment and DiagnosisMolecular Targets ProgramCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, and Natural Products Branch, Developmental Therapeutics ProgramNational Cancer Institute, NIHFrederickMDUSA
| | - Subramanian Parthiban
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityTamil NaduIndia
| | - Mathew J. Paul
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George’s University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Daniel Ponndorf
- Department of Biological ChemistryJohn Innes CentreNorwich Research Park, NorwichUK
| | - Elibio Rech
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in Biology, Parque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | - Julio C.M. Rodrigues
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in Biology, Parque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | - Stephanie Ruf
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdam‐GolmGermany
| | - Stefan Schillberg
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IMEAachenGermany
- Institute for PhytopathologyJustus‐Liebig‐University GiessenGiessenGermany
| | - Jennifer Schwestka
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Priya S. Shah
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
| | - Rahul Singh
- School of Dental MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Eva Stoger
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | | | - Inchakalody P. Varghese
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityTamil NaduIndia
| | - Giovanni R. Vianna
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in Biology, Parque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | - Gina Webster
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George’s University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Ruud H. P. Wilbers
- Laboratory of NematologyPlant Sciences GroupWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Paul Christou
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
- ICREACatalan Institute for Research and Advanced StudiesBarcelonaSpain
| | | | - Teresa Capell
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
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17
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Phakham T, Bulaon CJI, Khorattanakulchai N, Shanmugaraj B, Buranapraditkun S, Boonkrai C, Sooksai S, Hirankarn N, Abe Y, Strasser R, Rattanapisit K, Phoolcharoen W. Functional Characterization of Pembrolizumab Produced in Nicotiana benthamiana Using a Rapid Transient Expression System. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:736299. [PMID: 34567049 PMCID: PMC8459022 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.736299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The striking innovation and clinical success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have undoubtedly contributed to a breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy. Generally, ICIs produced in mammalian cells requires high investment, production costs, and involves time consuming procedures. Recently, the plants are considered as an emerging protein production platform due to its cost-effectiveness and rapidity for the production of recombinant biopharmaceuticals. This study explored the potential of plant-based system to produce an anti-human PD-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), Pembrolizumab, in Nicotiana benthamiana. The transient expression of this mAb in wild-type N. benthamiana accumulated up to 344.12 ± 98.23 μg/g fresh leaf weight after 4 days of agroinfiltration. The physicochemical and functional characteristics of plant-produced Pembrolizumab were compared to mammalian cell-produced commercial Pembrolizumab (Keytruda®). Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and western blot analysis results demonstrated that the plant-produced Pembrolizumab has the expected molecular weight and is comparable with the Keytruda®. Structural characterization also confirmed that both antibodies have no protein aggregation and similar secondary and tertiary structures. Furthermore, the plant-produced Pembrolizumab displayed no differences in its binding efficacy to PD-1 protein and inhibitory activity between programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) interaction with the Keytruda®. In vitro efficacy for T cell activation demonstrated that the plant-produced Pembrolizumab could induce IL-2 and IFN-γ production. Hence, this proof-of-concept study showed that the plant-production platform can be utilized for the rapid production of functional mAbs for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanapati Phakham
- Interdisciplinary Program of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Systems Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Christine Joy I. Bulaon
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Plant-Produced Pharmaceutical Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Narach Khorattanakulchai
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Plant-Produced Pharmaceutical Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Supranee Buranapraditkun
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center-Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chatikorn Boonkrai
- Interdisciplinary Program of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Systems Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sarintip Sooksai
- The Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nattiya Hirankarn
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Yoshito Abe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy at Fukuoka, International University of Health and Welfare, Okawa, Japan
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Plant-Produced Pharmaceutical Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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18
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Anand SP, Ding S, Tolbert WD, Prévost J, Richard J, Gil HM, Gendron-Lepage G, Cheung WF, Wang H, Pastora R, Saxena H, Wakarchuk W, Medjahed H, Wines BD, Hogarth M, Shaw GM, Martin MA, Burton DR, Hangartner L, Evans DT, Pazgier M, Cossar D, McLean MD, Finzi A. Enhanced Ability of Plant-Derived PGT121 Glycovariants To Eliminate HIV-1-Infected Cells. J Virol 2021; 95:e0079621. [PMID: 34232070 PMCID: PMC8387047 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00796-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The activity of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) targeting HIV-1 depends on pleiotropic functions, including viral neutralization and the elimination of HIV-1-infected cells. Several in vivo studies have suggested that passive administration of bNAbs represents a valuable strategy for the prevention or treatment of HIV-1. In addition, different strategies are currently being tested to scale up the production of bNAbs to obtain the large quantities of antibodies required for clinical trials. Production of antibodies in plants permits low-cost and large-scale production of valuable therapeutics; furthermore, pertinent to this work, it also includes an advanced glycoengineering platform. In this study, we used Nicotiana benthamiana to produce different Fc-glycovariants of a potent bNAb, PGT121, with near-homogeneous profiles and evaluated their antiviral activities. Structural analyses identified a close similarity in overall structure and glycosylation patterns of Fc regions for these plant-derived Abs and mammalian cell-derived Abs. When tested for Fc-effector activities, afucosylated PGT121 showed significantly enhanced FcγRIIIa interaction and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against primary HIV-1-infected cells, both in vitro and ex vivo. However, the overall galactosylation profiles of plant PGT121 did not affect ADCC activities against infected primary CD4+ T cells. Our results suggest that the abrogation of the Fc N-linked glycan fucosylation of PGT121 is a worthwhile strategy to boost its Fc-effector functionality. IMPORTANCE PGT121 is a highly potent bNAb and its antiviral activities for HIV-1 prevention and therapy are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. The importance of its Fc-effector functions in clearing HIV-1-infected cells is also under investigation. Our results highlight enhanced Fc-effector activities of afucosylated PGT121 MAbs that could be important in a therapeutic context to accelerate infected cell clearance and slow disease progression. Future studies to evaluate the potential of plant-produced afucosylated PGT121 in controlling HIV-1 replication in vivo are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Priya Anand
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Shilei Ding
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - William D. Tolbert
- Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Medicine of Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jérémie Prévost
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie, et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jonathan Richard
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie, et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Hwi Min Gil
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Hirak Saxena
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Warren Wakarchuk
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Bruce D. Wines
- Immune Therapies Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mark Hogarth
- Immune Therapies Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - George M. Shaw
- Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Malcom A. Martin
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Dennis R. Burton
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lars Hangartner
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - David T. Evans
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Marzena Pazgier
- Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Medicine of Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Doug Cossar
- PlantForm Corporation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Andrés Finzi
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie, et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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19
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Venkataraman S, Hefferon K, Makhzoum A, Abouhaidar M. Combating Human Viral Diseases: Will Plant-Based Vaccines Be the Answer? Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9070761. [PMID: 34358177 PMCID: PMC8310141 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9070761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular pharming or the technology of application of plants and plant cell culture to manufacture high-value recombinant proteins has progressed a long way over the last three decades. Whether generated in transgenic plants by stable expression or in plant virus-based transient expression systems, biopharmaceuticals have been produced to combat several human viral diseases that have impacted the world in pandemic proportions. Plants have been variously employed in expressing a host of viral antigens as well as monoclonal antibodies. Many of these biopharmaceuticals have shown great promise in animal models and several of them have performed successfully in clinical trials. The current review elaborates the strategies and successes achieved in generating plant-derived vaccines to target several virus-induced health concerns including highly communicable infectious viral diseases. Importantly, plant-made biopharmaceuticals against hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), the cancer-causing virus human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza virus, zika virus, and the emerging respiratory virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been discussed. The use of plant virus-derived nanoparticles (VNPs) and virus-like particles (VLPs) in generating plant-based vaccines are extensively addressed. The review closes with a critical look at the caveats of plant-based molecular pharming and future prospects towards further advancements in this technology. The use of biopharmed viral vaccines in human medicine and as part of emergency response vaccines and therapeutics in humans looks promising for the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srividhya Venkataraman
- Virology Laboratory, Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada; (K.H.); (M.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Kathleen Hefferon
- Virology Laboratory, Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada; (K.H.); (M.A.)
| | - Abdullah Makhzoum
- Department of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science & Technology, Palapye, Botswana;
| | - Mounir Abouhaidar
- Virology Laboratory, Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada; (K.H.); (M.A.)
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20
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Design and expression of a bispecific antibody against dengue and chikungunya virus in plants. Methods Enzymol 2021; 660:223-238. [PMID: 34742391 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant proteins have a broad range of applications from basic research to pharmaceutical development. Of utmost importance in the production of recombinant proteins is the selection of the best recombinant protein production system, such that high-quality and functional recombinant proteins are produced. Plants can produce a large quantity of recombinant proteins rapidly and economically. Glycoengineering has created "humanized" plant lines that can produce glycoproteins with specific human glycans with a high level of homogeneity on demand. Here, a detailed protocol was provided to produce a large, multisubunit, and complex bispecific antibody that targets two distinct viruses. The successful production of this multiple-subunit protein demonstrated that plants are the optimal system for the production of recombinant proteins of various sizes and complexity, which can be employed for various applications including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines to combat current and future pandemics.
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21
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He J, Lai H, Esqueda A, Chen Q. Plant-Produced Antigen Displaying Virus-Like Particles Evokes Potent Antibody Responses against West Nile Virus in Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:60. [PMID: 33477363 PMCID: PMC7830312 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9010060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we developed a hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg)-based virus-like particle (VLP) that displays the West Nile virus (WNV) Envelope protein domain III (wDIII) as a vaccine candidate for WNV. The HBcAg-wDIII fusion protein was quickly produced in Nicotiana benthamiana plants and reached a high expression level of approximately 1.2 mg of fusion protein per gram of leaf fresh weight within six days post gene infiltration. Electron microscopy and gradient centrifugation analysis indicated that the introduction of wDIII did not interfere with VLP formation and HBcAg-wDIII successfully assembled into VLPs. HBcAg-wDIII VLPs can be easily purified in large quantities from Nicotiana benthamiana leaves to >95% homogeneity. Further analysis revealed that the wDIII was displayed properly and demonstrated specific binding to an anti-wDIII monoclonal antibody that recognizes a conformational epitope of wDIII. Notably, HBcAg-wDIII VLPs were shown to be highly immunogenic and elicited potent humoral responses in mice with antigen-specific IgG titers equivalent to that of protective wDIII antigens in previous studies. Thus, our wDIII-based VLP vaccine offers an attractive option for developing effective, safe, and low-cost vaccines against WNV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyun He
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; (J.H.); (H.L.); (A.E.)
| | - Huafang Lai
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; (J.H.); (H.L.); (A.E.)
| | - Adrian Esqueda
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; (J.H.); (H.L.); (A.E.)
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; (J.H.); (H.L.); (A.E.)
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
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22
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Abstract
Various systems exist for the robust production of recombinant proteins. However, only a few systems are optimal for human vaccine protein production. Plant-based transient protein expression systems offer an advantageous alternative to costly mammalian cell culture-based systems and can perform posttranslational modifications due to the presence of an endomembrane system that is largely similar to that of the animal cell. Technological advances in expression vectors for transient expression in the last two decades have produced new plant expression systems with the flexibility and speed that cannot be matched by those based on mammalian or insect cell culture. The rapid and high-level protein production capability of transient expression systems makes them the optimal system to quickly and versatilely develop and produce vaccines against viruses such as 2019-nCoV that have sudden and unpredictable outbreaks. Here, expression of antiviral subunit vaccines in Nicotiana benthamiana plants via transient expression is demonstrated.
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23
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Göritzer K, Strasser R. Glycosylation of Plant-Produced Immunoglobulins. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2021; 112:519-543. [PMID: 34687021 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-76912-3_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Many economically important protein-based therapeutics like monoclonal antibodies are glycosylated. Due to the recognized importance of this type of posttranslational modification, glycoengineering of expression systems to obtain highly active and homogenous therapeutics is an emerging field. Although most of the monoclonal antibodies on the market are still produced in mammalian expression platforms, plants are emerging as an alternative cost-effective and scalable production platform that allows precise engineering of glycosylation to produce targeted human glycoforms at large homogeneity. Apart from producing more effective antibodies, pure glycoforms are required in efforts to link biological functions to specific glycan structures. Much is already known about the role of IgG1 glycosylation and this antibody class is the dominant recombinant format that has been expressed in plants. By contrast, little attention has been paid to the glycoengineering of recombinant IgG subtypes and the other four classes of human immunoglobulins (IgA, IgD, IgE, and IgM). Except for IgD, all these antibody classes have been expressed in plants and the glycosylation has been analyzed in a site-specific manner. Here, we summarize the current data on glycosylation of plant-produced monoclonal antibodies and discuss the findings in the light of known functions for these glycans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Strasser
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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24
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Xu L, Ma Z, Li Y, Pang Z, Xiao S. Antibody dependent enhancement: Unavoidable problems in vaccine development. Adv Immunol 2021; 151:99-133. [PMID: 34656289 PMCID: PMC8438590 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ai.2021.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In some cases, antibodies can enhance virus entry and replication in cells. This phenomenon is called antibody-dependent infection enhancement (ADE). ADE not only promotes the virus to be recognized by the target cell and enters the target cell, but also affects the signal transmission in the target cell. Early formalin-inactivated virus vaccines such as aluminum adjuvants (RSV and measles) have been shown to induce ADE. Although there is no direct evidence that there is ADE in COVID-19, this potential risk is a huge challenge for prevention and vaccine development. This article focuses on the virus-induced ADE phenomenon and its molecular mechanism. It also summarizes various attempts in vaccine research and development to eliminate the ADE phenomenon, and proposes to avoid ADE in vaccine development from the perspective of antigens and adjuvants.
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25
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Irvine EB, Alter G. Understanding the role of antibody glycosylation through the lens of severe viral and bacterial diseases. Glycobiology 2020; 30:241-253. [PMID: 32103252 PMCID: PMC7109349 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwaa018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Abundant evidence points to a critical role for antibodies in protection and pathology across infectious diseases. While the antibody variable domain facilitates antibody binding and the blockade of infection, the constant domain (Fc) mediates cross talk with the innate immune system. The biological activity of the Fc region is controlled genetically via class switch recombination, resulting in the selection of distinct antibody isotypes and subclasses. However, a second modification is made to all antibodies, via post-translational changes in antibody glycosylation. Studies from autoimmunity and oncology have established the role of immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc glycosylation as a key regulator of humoral immune activity. However, a growing body of literature, exploring IgG Fc glycosylation through the lens of infectious diseases, points to the role of inflammation in shaping Fc-glycan profiles, the remarkable immune plasticity in antibody glycosylation across pathogen-exposed populations, the canonical and noncanonical functions of glycans and the existence of antigen-specific control over antibody Fc glycosylation. Ultimately, this work provides critical new insights into the functional roles for antibody glycosylation as well as lays the foundation for leveraging antibody glycosylation to drive prevention or control across diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward B Irvine
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Galit Alter
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
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26
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Diamos AG, Pardhe MD, Sun H, Hunter JGL, Kilbourne J, Chen Q, Mason HS. A Highly Expressing, Soluble, and Stable Plant-Made IgG Fusion Vaccine Strategy Enhances Antigen Immunogenicity in Mice Without Adjuvant. Front Immunol 2020; 11:576012. [PMID: 33343565 PMCID: PMC7746858 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.576012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutics based on fusing a protein of interest to the IgG Fc domain have been enormously successful, though fewer studies have investigated the vaccine potential of IgG fusions. In this study, we systematically compared the key properties of seven different plant-made human IgG1 fusion vaccine candidates using Zika virus (ZIKV) envelope domain III (ZE3) as a model antigen. Complement protein C1q binding of the IgG fusions was enhanced by: 1) antigen fusion to the IgG N-terminus; 2) removal of the IgG light chain or Fab regions; 3) addition of hexamer-inducing mutations in the IgG Fc; 4) adding a self-binding epitope tag to create recombinant immune complexes (RIC); or 5) producing IgG fusions in plants that lack plant-specific β1,2-linked xylose and α1,3-linked fucose N-linked glycans. We also characterized the expression, solubility, and stability of the IgG fusions. By optimizing immune complex formation, a potently immunogenic vaccine candidate with improved solubility and high stability was produced at 1.5 mg IgG fusion per g leaf fresh weight. In mice, the IgG fusions elicited high titers of Zika-specific antibodies which neutralized ZIKV using only two doses without adjuvant, reaching up to 150-fold higher antibody titers than ZE3 antigen alone. We anticipate these findings will be broadly applicable to the creation of other vaccines and antibody-based therapeutics.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Antigens, Viral/genetics
- Antigens, Viral/immunology
- Antigens, Viral/pharmacology
- Complement C1q/metabolism
- Drug Stability
- Epitopes
- Female
- Immunization
- Immunogenicity, Vaccine
- Immunoglobulin G/genetics
- Immunoglobulin G/immunology
- Immunoglobulin G/pharmacology
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Plant Leaves/genetics
- Plant Leaves/metabolism
- Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics
- Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism
- Protein Binding
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/pharmacology
- Solubility
- Nicotiana/genetics
- Nicotiana/metabolism
- Vaccines, Subunit/pharmacology
- Viral Envelope Proteins/genetics
- Viral Envelope Proteins/immunology
- Viral Envelope Proteins/pharmacology
- Viral Vaccines/genetics
- Viral Vaccines/immunology
- Viral Vaccines/pharmacology
- Zika Virus/immunology
- Zika Virus/pathogenicity
- Zika Virus Infection/immunology
- Zika Virus Infection/prevention & control
- Zika Virus Infection/virology
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G. Diamos
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Mary D. Pardhe
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Haiyan Sun
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Joseph G. L. Hunter
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Jacquelyn Kilbourne
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Qiang Chen
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Hugh S. Mason
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
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27
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Rattanapisit K, Shanmugaraj B, Manopwisedjaroen S, Purwono PB, Siriwattananon K, Khorattanakulchai N, Hanittinan O, Boonyayothin W, Thitithanyanont A, Smith DR, Phoolcharoen W. Rapid production of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) and spike specific monoclonal antibody CR3022 in Nicotiana benthamiana. Sci Rep 2020. [PMID: 33077899 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-27160/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the ongoing global outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which is a significant threat to global public health. The rapid spread of COVID-19 necessitates the development of cost-effective technology platforms for the production of vaccines, drugs, and protein reagents for appropriate disease diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we explored the possibility of producing the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 and an anti-SARS-CoV monoclonal antibody (mAb) CR3022 in Nicotiana benthamiana. Both RBD and mAb CR3022 were transiently produced with the highest expression level of 8 μg/g and 130 μg/g leaf fresh weight respectively at 3 days post-infiltration. The plant-produced RBD exhibited specific binding to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Furthermore, the plant-produced mAb CR3022 binds to SARS-CoV-2, but fails to neutralize the virus in vitro. This is the first report showing the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD and mAb CR3022 in plants. Overall these findings provide a proof-of-concept for using plants as an expression system for the production of SARS-CoV-2 antigens and antibodies or similar other diagnostic reagents against SARS-CoV-2 rapidly, especially during epidemic or pandemic situation.
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MESH Headings
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism
- Antibodies, Viral/genetics
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/metabolism
- Betacoronavirus/metabolism
- COVID-19
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Coronavirus Infections/pathology
- Coronavirus Infections/virology
- Humans
- Neutralization Tests
- Pandemics
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/chemistry
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/metabolism
- Plant Leaves/metabolism
- Pneumonia, Viral/pathology
- Pneumonia, Viral/virology
- Protein Binding
- Protein Domains/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification
- SARS-CoV-2
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Tobacco/metabolism
- Vero Cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaewta Rattanapisit
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Balamurugan Shanmugaraj
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Priyo Budi Purwono
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Konlavat Siriwattananon
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Narach Khorattanakulchai
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Oranicha Hanittinan
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wanuttha Boonyayothin
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Duncan R Smith
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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28
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Rattanapisit K, Shanmugaraj B, Manopwisedjaroen S, Purwono PB, Siriwattananon K, Khorattanakulchai N, Hanittinan O, Boonyayothin W, Thitithanyanont A, Smith DR, Phoolcharoen W. Rapid production of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) and spike specific monoclonal antibody CR3022 in Nicotiana benthamiana. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17698. [PMID: 33077899 PMCID: PMC7573609 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74904-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the ongoing global outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which is a significant threat to global public health. The rapid spread of COVID-19 necessitates the development of cost-effective technology platforms for the production of vaccines, drugs, and protein reagents for appropriate disease diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we explored the possibility of producing the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 and an anti-SARS-CoV monoclonal antibody (mAb) CR3022 in Nicotiana benthamiana. Both RBD and mAb CR3022 were transiently produced with the highest expression level of 8 μg/g and 130 μg/g leaf fresh weight respectively at 3 days post-infiltration. The plant-produced RBD exhibited specific binding to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Furthermore, the plant-produced mAb CR3022 binds to SARS-CoV-2, but fails to neutralize the virus in vitro. This is the first report showing the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD and mAb CR3022 in plants. Overall these findings provide a proof-of-concept for using plants as an expression system for the production of SARS-CoV-2 antigens and antibodies or similar other diagnostic reagents against SARS-CoV-2 rapidly, especially during epidemic or pandemic situation.
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MESH Headings
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism
- Antibodies, Viral/genetics
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/metabolism
- Betacoronavirus/metabolism
- COVID-19
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Coronavirus Infections/pathology
- Coronavirus Infections/virology
- Humans
- Neutralization Tests
- Pandemics
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/chemistry
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/metabolism
- Plant Leaves/metabolism
- Pneumonia, Viral/pathology
- Pneumonia, Viral/virology
- Protein Binding
- Protein Domains/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification
- SARS-CoV-2
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Nicotiana/metabolism
- Vero Cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaewta Rattanapisit
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Balamurugan Shanmugaraj
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Priyo Budi Purwono
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Konlavat Siriwattananon
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Narach Khorattanakulchai
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Oranicha Hanittinan
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wanuttha Boonyayothin
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Duncan R Smith
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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29
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Shanmugaraj B, I. Bulaon CJ, Phoolcharoen W. Plant Molecular Farming: A Viable Platform for Recombinant Biopharmaceutical Production. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9070842. [PMID: 32635427 PMCID: PMC7411908 DOI: 10.3390/plants9070842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The demand for recombinant proteins in terms of quality, quantity, and diversity is increasing steadily, which is attracting global attention for the development of new recombinant protein production technologies and the engineering of conventional established expression systems based on bacteria or mammalian cell cultures. Since the advancements of plant genetic engineering in the 1980s, plants have been used for the production of economically valuable, biologically active non-native proteins or biopharmaceuticals, the concept termed as plant molecular farming (PMF). PMF is considered as a cost-effective technology that has grown and advanced tremendously over the past two decades. The development and improvement of the transient expression system has significantly reduced the protein production timeline and greatly improved the protein yield in plants. The major factors that drive the plant-based platform towards potential competitors for the conventional expression system are cost-effectiveness, scalability, flexibility, versatility, and robustness of the system. Many biopharmaceuticals including recombinant vaccine antigens, monoclonal antibodies, and other commercially viable proteins are produced in plants, some of which are in the pre-clinical and clinical pipeline. In this review, we consider the importance of a plant- based production system for recombinant protein production, and its potential to produce biopharmaceuticals is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balamurugan Shanmugaraj
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
| | - Christine Joy I. Bulaon
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
| | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +66-2-218-8359; Fax: +66-2-218-8357
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30
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Jugler C, Joensuu J, Chen Q. Hydrophobin-Protein A Fusion Protein Produced in Plants Efficiently Purified an Anti-West Nile Virus Monoclonal Antibody from Plant Extracts via Aqueous Two-Phase Separation. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E2140. [PMID: 32244994 PMCID: PMC7139538 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has provided vast opportunities to treat a wide range of diseases from cancer to viral infections. While plant-based production of mAbs has effectively lowered the upstream cost of mAb production compared to mammalian cell cultures, further optimization of downstream processing, especially in extending the longevity of Protein A resin by an effective bulk separation step, will further reduce the overall prohibitive cost of mAb production. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using aqueous two-phase separation (ATPS) in capturing and separating plant-made mAbs from host proteins. Our results demonstrated that an anti-West Nile virus mAb (E16) was efficiently separated from most plant host proteins by a single ATPS step, comprising the mixing of plant extracts containing Hydrophobin-Protein A fusion protein (HPA) and E16 and the subsequent incubation with an inexpensive detergent. This simple ATPS step yielded a highly enriched E16 mAb preparation with a recovery rate comparable to that of Protein A chromatography. The ATPS-enriched E16 retained its structural integrity and was fully functional in binding its target antigen. Notably, HPA-based ATPS was also effective in enriching E16 from plant host proteins when both HPA and E16 were produced in the same leaves, supporting the potential of further streamlining the downstream purification process. Thus, ATPS based on plant-produced HPA in unpurified extract is a cost-effective yet efficient initial capture step for purifying plant-made mAbs, which may significantly impact the approach of mAb purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin Jugler
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Mail Zone 5401, 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Jussi Joensuu
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Espoo, Finland
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Mail Zone 5401, 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
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31
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Diamos AG, Pardhe MD, Sun H, Hunter JGL, Mor T, Meador L, Kilbourne J, Chen Q, Mason HS. Codelivery of improved immune complex and virus-like particle vaccines containing Zika virus envelope domain III synergistically enhances immunogenicity. Vaccine 2020; 38:3455-3463. [PMID: 32173095 PMCID: PMC7102565 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.02.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) reemergence poses a significant health threat especially due to its risks to fetal development, necessitating safe and effective vaccines that can protect pregnant women. Zika envelope domain III (ZE3) has been identified as a safe and effective vaccine candidate, however it is poorly immunogenic. We previously showed that plant-made recombinant immune complex (RIC) vaccines are a robust platform to improve the immunogenicity of weak antigens. In this study, we altered the antigen fusion site on the RIC platform to accommodate N-terminal fusion to the IgG heavy chain (N-RIC), and thus a wider range of antigens, with a resulting 40% improvement in RIC expression over the normal C-terminal fusion (C-RIC). Both types of RICs containing ZE3 were efficiently assembled in plants and purified to >95% homogeneity with a simple one-step purification. Both ZE3 RICs strongly bound complement receptor C1q and elicited strong ZE3-specific antibody titers that correlated with ZIKV neutralization. When either N-RIC or C-RIC was codelivered with plant-produced hepatitis B core (HBc) virus-like particles (VLP) displaying ZE3, the combination elicited 5-fold greater antibody titers (>1,000,000) and more strongly neutralized ZIKV than either RICs or VLPs alone, after only two doses without adjuvant. These findings demonstrate that antigens that require a free N-terminus for optimal antigen display can now be used with the RIC system, and that plant-made RICs and VLPs are highly effective vaccines targeting ZE3. Thus, the RIC platform can be more generally applied to a wider variety of antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Diamos
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, and The School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, United States
| | - Mary D Pardhe
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, and The School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, United States
| | - Haiyan Sun
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, and The School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, United States
| | - Joseph G L Hunter
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, and The School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, United States
| | - Tsafrir Mor
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, and The School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, United States
| | - Lydia Meador
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, and The School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, United States
| | - Jacquelyn Kilbourne
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, and The School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, United States
| | - Qiang Chen
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, and The School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, United States
| | - Hugh S Mason
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, and The School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, United States.
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Emergence of Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV: Need for Rapid Vaccine and Biologics Development. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9020148. [PMID: 32098302 PMCID: PMC7168632 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9020148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is an emerging pathogen that was first identified in Wuhan, China in late December 2019. This virus is responsible for the ongoing outbreak that causes severe respiratory illness and pneumonia-like infection in humans. Due to the increasing number of cases in China and outside China, the WHO declared coronavirus as a global health emergency. Nearly 35,000 cases were reported and at least 24 other countries or territories have reported coronavirus cases as early on as February. Inter-human transmission was reported in a few countries, including the United States. Neither an effective anti-viral nor a vaccine is currently available to treat this infection. As the virus is a newly emerging pathogen, many questions remain unanswered regarding the virus’s reservoirs, pathogenesis, transmissibility, and much more is unknown. The collaborative efforts of researchers are needed to fill the knowledge gaps about this new virus, to develop the proper diagnostic tools, and effective treatment to combat this infection. Recent advancements in plant biotechnology proved that plants have the ability to produce vaccines or biopharmaceuticals rapidly in a short time. In this review, the outbreak of 2019-nCoV in China, the need for rapid vaccine development, and the potential of a plant system for biopharmaceutical development are discussed.
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Diamos AG, Hunter JGL, Pardhe MD, Rosenthal SH, Sun H, Foster BC, DiPalma MP, Chen Q, Mason HS. High Level Production of Monoclonal Antibodies Using an Optimized Plant Expression System. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 7:472. [PMID: 32010680 PMCID: PMC6978629 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Biopharmaceuticals are a large and fast-growing sector of the total pharmaceutical market with antibody-based therapeutics accounting for over 100 billion USD in sales yearly. Mammalian cells are traditionally used for monoclonal antibody production, however plant-based expression systems have significant advantages. In this work, we showcase recent advances made in plant transient expression systems using optimized geminiviral vectors that can efficiently produce heteromultimeric proteins. Two, three, or four fluorescent proteins were coexpressed simultaneously, reaching high yields of 3–5 g/kg leaf fresh weight or ~50% total soluble protein. As a proof-of-concept for this system, various antibodies were produced using the optimized vectors with special focus given to the creation and production of a chimeric broadly neutralizing anti-flavivirus antibody. The variable regions of this murine antibody, 2A10G6, were codon optimized and fused to a human IgG1. Analysis of the chimeric antibody showed that it was efficiently expressed in plants at 1.5 g of antibody/kilogram of leaf tissue, can be purified to near homogeneity by a simple one-step purification process, retains its ability to recognize the Zika virus envelope protein, and potently neutralizes Zika virus. Two other monoclonal antibodies were produced at similar levels (1.2–1.4 g/kg). This technology will be a versatile tool for the production of a wide spectrum of pharmaceutical multi-protein complexes in a fast, powerful, and cost-effective way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Diamos
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States.,School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Joseph G L Hunter
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States.,School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Mary D Pardhe
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States.,School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Sun H Rosenthal
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States.,School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Haiyan Sun
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States.,School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Bonnie C Foster
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Michelle P DiPalma
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States.,School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Qiang Chen
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States.,School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Hugh S Mason
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States.,School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
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Shanmugaraj B, Rattanapisit K, Manopwisedjaroen S, Thitithanyanont A, Phoolcharoen W. Monoclonal Antibodies B38 and H4 Produced in Nicotiana benthamiana Neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:589995. [PMID: 33329653 PMCID: PMC7728718 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.589995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak caused by novel zoonotic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was initially reported in Wuhan city, Hubei Province of China, in late December 2019. The rapid global spread of the virus calls for the urgent development of vaccines or therapeutics for human applications to combat the coronavirus infection. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been utilized as effective therapeutics for treating various infectious diseases. In the present study, we evaluated the feasibility of plant expression system for the rapid production of recently identified therapeutically suitable human anti-SARS-CoV-2 mAbs B38 and H4. Transient co-expression of heavy-chain and light-chain sequences of both the antibodies by using plant expression geminiviral vector resulted in rapid accumulation of assembled mAbs in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves within 4 days post-infiltration. Furthermore, both the mAbs were purified from the plant crude extracts with single-step protein A affinity column chromatography. The expression level of mAb B38 and H4 was estimated to be 4 and 35 μg/g leaf fresh weight, respectively. Both plant-produced mAbs demonstrated specific binding to receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 and exhibited efficient virus neutralization activity in vitro. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of functional anti-SARS-CoV-2 mAbs produced in plants, which demonstrates the ability of using a plant expression system as a suitable platform for the production of effective, safe, and affordable SARS-CoV-2 mAbs to fight against the spread of this highly infectious pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balamurugan Shanmugaraj
- Research Unit for Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kaewta Rattanapisit
- Research Unit for Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Research Unit for Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- *Correspondence: Waranyoo Phoolcharoen,
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Hurtado J, Acharya D, Lai H, Sun H, Kallolimath S, Steinkellner H, Bai F, Chen Q. In vitro and in vivo efficacy of anti-chikungunya virus monoclonal antibodies produced in wild-type and glycoengineered Nicotiana benthamiana plants. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2020; 18:266-273. [PMID: 31207008 PMCID: PMC6917977 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus, and its infection can cause long-term debilitating arthritis in humans. Currently, there are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics for human use to combat CHIKV infections. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using an anti-CHIKV monoclonal antibody (mAb) produced in wild-type (WT) and glycoengineered (∆XFT) Nicotiana benthamiana plants in treating CHIKV infection in a mouse model. CHIKV mAb was efficiently expressed and assembled in plant leaves and enriched to homogeneity by a simple purification scheme. While mAb produced in ∆XFT carried a single N-glycan species at the Fc domain, namely GnGn structures, WT produced mAb exhibited a mixture of N-glycans including the typical plant GnGnXF3 glycans, accompanied by incompletely processed and oligomannosidic structures. Both WT and ∆XFT plant-produced mAbs demonstrated potent in vitro neutralization activity against CHIKV. Notably, both mAb glycoforms showed in vivo efficacy in a mouse model, with a slight increased efficacy by the ∆XFT-produced mAbs. This is the first report of the efficacy of plant-produced mAbs against CHIKV, which demonstrates the ability of using plants as an effective platform for production of functionally active CHIKV mAbs and implies optimization of in vivo activity by controlling Fc glycosylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Hurtado
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life SciencesArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
| | - Dhiraj Acharya
- Department of Cell and Molecular BiologyUniversity of Southern MississippiHattiesburgMSUSA
| | - Huafang Lai
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life SciencesArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
| | - Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life SciencesArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
| | - Somanath Kallolimath
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Applied Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Applied Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Fengwei Bai
- Department of Cell and Molecular BiologyUniversity of Southern MississippiHattiesburgMSUSA
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life SciencesArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
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Understudied Factors Influencing Fc-Mediated Immune Responses against Viral Infections. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:vaccines7030103. [PMID: 31480293 PMCID: PMC6789852 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7030103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies play a crucial role in host defense against viruses, both by preventing infection and by controlling viral replication. Besides their capacity to neutralize viruses, antibodies also exert their antiviral effects by crystallizable fragment (Fc)-mediated effector mechanisms. This involves a bridge between innate and adaptive immune systems, wherein antibodies form immune complexes that drive numerous innate immune effector functions, including antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent complement-mediated lysis, and antibody-dependent phagocytosis. Here, we review certain mechanisms that modulate these antibody-mediated effector functions against virally infected cells, such as viral glycoprotein shedding, viral glycoprotein internalization, antibody cooperativity, and antibody glycosylation. These mechanisms can either protect viral replication or enhance infected cell clearance. Here we discuss the importance of these understudied factors in modulating Fc-mediated effector functions.
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Schiavinato M, Strasser R, Mach L, Dohm JC, Himmelbauer H. Genome and transcriptome characterization of the glycoengineered Nicotiana benthamiana line ΔXT/FT. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:594. [PMID: 31324144 PMCID: PMC6642603 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5960-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The allotetraploid tobacco species Nicotiana benthamiana native to Australia has become a popular host for recombinant protein production. Although its usage grows every year, little is known on this plant's genomic and transcriptomic features. Most N. benthamiana accessions currently used in research lack proper documentation of their breeding history and provenance. One of these, the glycoengineered N. benthamiana line ΔXT/FT is increasingly used for the production of biopharmaceutical proteins. RESULTS Based on an existing draft assembly of the N. benthamiana genome we predict 50,516 protein -encoding genes (62,216 transcripts) supported by expression data derived from 2.35 billion mRNA-seq reads. Using single-copy core genes we show high completeness of the predicted gene set. We functionally annotate more than two thirds of the gene set through sequence homology to genes from other Nicotiana species. We demonstrate that the expression profiles from leaf tissue of ΔXT/FT and its wild type progenitor only show minimal differences. We identify the transgene insertion sites in ΔXT/FT and show that one of the transgenes was inserted inside another predicted gene that most likely lost its function upon insertion. Based on publicly available mRNA-seq data, we confirm that the N. benthamiana accessions used by different research institutions most likely derive from a single source. CONCLUSIONS This work provides gene annotation of the N. benthamiana genome, a genomic and transcriptomic characterization of a transgenic N. benthamiana line in comparison to its wild-type progenitor, and sheds light onto the relatedness of N. benthamiana accessions that are used in laboratories around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Schiavinato
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Mach
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Juliane C. Dohm
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Heinz Himmelbauer
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
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Jansing J, Sack M, Augustine SM, Fischer R, Bortesi L. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of six glycosyltransferase genes in Nicotiana benthamiana for the production of recombinant proteins lacking β-1,2-xylose and core α-1,3-fucose. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2019; 17:350-361. [PMID: 29969180 PMCID: PMC6335070 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Plants offer fast, flexible and easily scalable alternative platforms for the production of pharmaceutical proteins, but differences between plant and mammalian N-linked glycans, including the presence of β-1,2-xylose and core α-1,3-fucose residues in plants, can affect the activity, potency and immunogenicity of plant-derived proteins. Nicotiana benthamiana is widely used for the transient expression of recombinant proteins so it is desirable to modify the endogenous N-glycosylation machinery to allow the synthesis of complex N-glycans lacking β-1,2-xylose and core α-1,3-fucose. Here, we used multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to generate N. benthamiana production lines deficient in plant-specific α-1,3-fucosyltransferase and β-1,2-xylosyltransferase activity, reflecting the mutation of six different genes. We confirmed the functional gene knockouts by Sanger sequencing and mass spectrometry-based N-glycan analysis of endogenous proteins and the recombinant monoclonal antibody 2G12. Furthermore, we compared the CD64-binding affinity of 2G12 glycovariants produced in wild-type N. benthamiana, the newly generated FX-KO line, and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, confirming that the glyco-engineered antibody performed as well as its CHO-produced counterpart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Jansing
- Department for Molecular BiotechnologyRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | - Markus Sack
- Department for Molecular BiotechnologyRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | | | - Rainer Fischer
- Department for Molecular BiotechnologyRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
- Present address:
Indiana Biosciences Research InstituteIndianapolisINUSA
- Present address:
Aachen‐Maastricht Institute for Biobased MaterialsMaastricht UniversityGeleenThe Netherlands
| | - Luisa Bortesi
- Department for Molecular BiotechnologyRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
- Present address:
Aachen‐Maastricht Institute for Biobased MaterialsMaastricht UniversityGeleenThe Netherlands
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A plant-produced vaccine protects mice against lethal West Nile virus infection without enhancing Zika or dengue virus infectivity. Vaccine 2018; 36:1846-1852. [PMID: 29490880 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.02.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) has caused multiple global outbreaks with increased frequency of neuroinvasive disease in recent years. Despite many years of research, there are no licensed therapeutics or vaccines available for human use. One of the major impediments of vaccine development against WNV is the potential enhancement of infection by related flaviviruses in vaccinated subjects through the mechanism of antibody-dependent enhancement of infection (ADE). For instance, the recent finding of enhancement of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection by pre-exposure to WNV further complicates the development of WNV vaccines. Epidemics of WNV and the potential risk of ADE by current vaccine candidates demand the development of effective and safe vaccines. We have previously reported that the domain III (DIII) of the WNV envelope protein can be readily expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, purified to homogeneity, and promote antigen-specific antibody response in mice. Herein, we further investigated the in vivo potency of a plant-made DIII (plant-DIII) in providing protective immunity against WNV infection. Furthermore, we examined if vaccination with plant-DIII would enhance the risk of a subsequent infection by ZIKV and Dengue virus (DENV). Plant-DIII vaccination evoked antigen-specific cellular immune responses as well as humoral responses. DIII-specific antibodies were neutralizing and the neutralization titers met the threshold correlated with protective immunity by vaccines against multiple flaviviruses. Furthermore, passive administration of anti-plant DIII mouse serum provided full protection against a lethal challenge of WNV infection in mice. Notably, plant DIII-induced antibodies did not enhance ZIKV and DENV infection in Fc gamma receptor-expressing cells, addressing the concern of WNV vaccines in inducing cross-reactive antibodies and sensitizing subjects to subsequent infection by heterologous flavivirus. This study provides the first report of a WNV subunit vaccine that induces protective immunity, while circumventing induction of antibodies with enhancing activity for ZIKV and DENV infection.
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Yang M, Sun H, Lai H, Hurtado J, Chen Q. Plant-produced Zika virus envelope protein elicits neutralizing immune responses that correlate with protective immunity against Zika virus in mice. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2018; 16:572-580. [PMID: 28710796 PMCID: PMC5768464 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The global Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak and its link to foetal and newborn microcephaly and severe neurological complications in adults call for the urgent development of ZIKV vaccines. In response, we developed a subunit vaccine based on the ZIKV envelope (E) protein and investigated its immunogenicity in mice. Transient expression of ZIKV E (zE) resulted in its rapid accumulation in leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Biochemical analysis revealed that plant-produced ZIKV E (PzE) exhibited specific binding to a panel of monoclonal antibodies that recognize various zE conformational epitopes. Furthermore, PzE can be purified to >90% homogeneity with a one-step Ni2+ affinity chromatography process. PzE are found to be highly immunogenic, as two doses of PzE elicited both potent zE-specific antibody and cellular immune responses in mice. The delivery of PzE with alum induced a mixed Th1/Th2 immune response, as the antigen-specific IgG isotypes were a mixture of high levels of IgG1/IgG2c and splenocyte cultures from immunized mice secreted significant levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-6. Most importantly, the titres of zE-specific and neutralizing antibodies exceeded the threshold that correlates with protective immunity against multiple strains of ZIKV. Thus, our results demonstrated the feasibility of plant-produced ZIKV protein antigen as effective, safe and affordable vaccines against ZIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yang
- The Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
| | - Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
| | - Huafang Lai
- The Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
| | | | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
- School of Life SciencesArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
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41
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Development of Antibody Therapeutics against Flaviviruses. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 19:ijms19010054. [PMID: 29295568 PMCID: PMC5796004 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) highlight the urgent need to develop efficacious interventions against flaviviruses, many of which cause devastating epidemics around the world. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) have been at the forefront of treatment for cancer and a wide array of other diseases due to their specificity and potency. While mammalian cell-produced mAbs have shown promise as therapeutic candidates against several flaviviruses, their eventual approval for human application still faces several challenges including their potential risk of predisposing treated patients to more severe secondary infection by a heterologous flavivirus through antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). The high cost associated with mAb production in mammalian cell cultures also poses a challenge for the feasible application of these drugs to the developing world where the majority of flavivirus infection occurs. Here, we review the current therapeutic mAb candidates against various flaviviruses including West Nile (WNV), Dengue virus (DENV), and ZIKV. The progress of using plants for developing safer and more economical mAb therapeutics against flaviviruses is discussed within the context of their expression, characterization, downstream processing, neutralization, and in vivo efficacy. The progress of using plant glycoengineering to address ADE, the major impediment of flavivirus therapeutic development, is highlighted. These advancements suggest that plant-based systems are excellent alternatives for addressing the remaining challenges of mAb therapeutic development against flavivirus and may facilitate the eventual commercialization of these drug candidates.
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Abstract
The One Health initiative is increasingly becoming a prominent discussion topic in animal and human health, with its focus on prevention of spread of zoonotic diseases, both in animals, and from animals to humans. An important part of One Health is that diagnostics and vaccines for diseases may be the same thing - and be used for both humans and animals. One potential problem standing in the way of wider adoption of One Health principles, though, is that use of conventional cell fermentation systems for production of the recombinant proteins that could be used as diagnostics or vaccines is often expensive and is not easily scalable. A solution to this may be the use of plants or plant cells as bioreactors: molecular farming, or the production of biologics in plants, is now a well-established science with many proofs of principle and important proofs of efficacy for especially animal vaccines. This review discusses how molecular farming could enable important advances in One Health, using as examples plant-made vacccines, reagents and therapeutics for influenza viruses, ebolaviruses, rabies virus, bunyaviruses and flaviviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Peter Rybicki
- a Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular & Cell Biology , University of Cape Town; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa
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43
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Yang M, Lai H, Sun H, Chen Q. Virus-like particles that display Zika virus envelope protein domain III induce potent neutralizing immune responses in mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7679. [PMID: 28794424 PMCID: PMC5550446 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08247-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Several Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccine candidates have recently been described which use inactivated whole virus, DNA or RNA that express the virus' Envelope (E) glycoprotein as the antigen. These were successful in stimulating production of virus-targeted antibodies that protected animals against ZIKV challenges, but their use potentially will predispose vaccinated individuals to infection by the related Dengue virus (DENV). We have devised a virus like particle (VLP) carrier based on the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) that displays the ZIKV E protein domain III (zDIII), and shown that it can be produced quickly and easily purified in large quantities from Nicotiana benthamiana plants. HBcAg-zDIII VLPs are shown to be highly immunogenic, as two doses elicited potent humoral and cellular responses in mice that exceed the threshold correlated with protective immunity against multiple strains of Zika virus. Notably, HBcAg-zDIII VLPs-elicited antibodies did not enhance the infection of DENV in Fc gamma receptor-expressing cells, offsetting the concern of ZIKV vaccines inducing cross-reactive antibodies and sensitizing people to subsequent DENV infection. Thus, our zDIII-based vaccine offers improved safety and lower cost production than other current alternatives, with equivalent effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yang
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Huafang Lai
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
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Yang M, Dent M, Lai H, Sun H, Chen Q. Immunization of Zika virus envelope protein domain III induces specific and neutralizing immune responses against Zika virus. Vaccine 2017; 35:4287-4294. [PMID: 28669618 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.04.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2016] [Revised: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we described the generation and immunogenicity of the Zika Virus (ZIKV) envelope protein (E) domain III (DIII) as a protein subunit vaccine candidate. ZIKV EDIII (zEDIII) was rapidly produced in E. coli in inclusion bodies. ZIKV EDIII was solubilized, refolded and purified to >95% homogeneity with a one-step Ni2+ affinity chromatography process. Further analysis revealed that zEDIII was refolded properly and demonstrated specific binding to an anti-zEDIII monoclonal antibody that recognizes a zEDIII conformational epitope. Subcutaneous immunization of mice with 25 and 50μg of zEDIII was performed over a period of 11weeks. zEDIII evoked ZIKV-specific and neutralizing antibody response with titers that exceed the threshold that correlates with protective immunity against ZIKV. The antigen-specific IgG isotypes were predominantly IgG1 and splenocyte cultures from immunized mice secreted IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-6. Notably, zEDIII-elicited antibodies did not enhance the infection of dengue virus in Fc gamma receptor (FcγR)-expressing cells. This study provided a proof of principle for the further development of recombinant protein-based subunit vaccines against ZIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yang
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Matthew Dent
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Huafang Lai
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
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Wang M, Yang F, Huang D, Huang Y, Zhang X, Wang C, Zhang S, Zhang R. Anti-Idiotypic Antibodies Specific to prM Monoantibody Prevent Antibody Dependent Enhancement of Dengue Virus Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:157. [PMID: 28536674 PMCID: PMC5422453 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) co-circulates as four serotypes (DENV1-4). Primary infection only leads to self-limited dengue fever. But secondary infection with another serotype carries a higher risk of increased disease severity, causing life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS). Serotype cross-reactive antibodies facilitate DENV infection in Fc-receptor-bearing cells by promoting virus entry via Fcγ receptors (FcγR), a process known as antibody dependent enhancement (ADE). Most studies suggested that enhancing antibodies were mainly specific to the structural premembrane protein (prM) of DENV. However, there is still no effective drugs or vaccines to prevent ADE. In this study, we firstly confirmed that both DENV-2 infected human sera (anti-DENV-2) and DENV-2 prM monoclonal antibody (prM mAb) could significantly enhance DENV-1 infection in K562 cells. Then we developed anti-idiotypic antibodies (prM-AIDs) specific to prM mAb by immunizing of Balb/c mice. Results showed that these polyclonal antibodies can dramatically reduce ADE phenomenon of DENV-1 infection in K562 cells. To further confirm the anti-ADE effect of prM-AIDs in vivo, interferon-α and γ receptor-deficient mice (AG6) were used as the mouse model for DENV infection. We found that administration of DENV-2 prM mAb indeed caused a higher DENV-1 titer as well as interleukin-10 (IL-10) and alaninea minotransferase (ALT) in mice infected with DENV-1, similar to clinical ADE symptoms. But when we supplemented prM-AIDs to DENV-1 challenged AG6 mice, the viral titer, IL-10 and ALT were obviously decreased to the negative control level. Of note, the number of platelets in peripheral blood of prM-AIDs group were significantly increased at day 3 post infection with DENV-1 compared that of prM-mAb group. These results confirmed that our prM-AIDs could prevent ADE not only in vitro but also in vivo, suggested that anti-idiotypic antibodies might be a new choice to be considered to treat DENV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Wang
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen UniversityShenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and PreventionShenzhen, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and PreventionShenzhen, China
| | - Dana Huang
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and PreventionShenzhen, China
| | - Yalan Huang
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and PreventionShenzhen, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and PreventionShenzhen, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and PreventionShenzhen, China
| | - Shaohua Zhang
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and PreventionShenzhen, China
| | - Renli Zhang
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen UniversityShenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and PreventionShenzhen, China
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