Improved stability of a protein vaccine through elimination of a partially unfolded state

Toxicity and Efficacy Evaluation of Soluble Recombinant Ricin Vaccine

BACKGROUND

Ricin, a toxin extracted from the seeds of Ricinus communis, is classified as a ribosome-inactivating protein. The A-subunit of ricin shows RNA N-glycosidase activity that cleaves ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and exhibits toxicity by inhibiting protein synthesis and inducing vascular leak syndrome.

METHODS

In this study, we created a truncated version of the previously developed R51 ricin vaccine (RTA 1-194 D75C Y80C) through in silico analysis.

RESULTS

The resulting R51-3 vaccine showed a more-than-six-fold increase in soluble protein expression when compared to R51, with over 85% solubility. In a pilot toxicity test, no toxicity was observed in hematological and biochemical parameters in BALB/c mice and New Zealand white rabbits following five repeated administrations of R51-3. Furthermore, R51-3 successfully protected mice and rabbits from a 20 × LD50 ricin challenge after three intramuscular injections spaced 2 weeks apart. Similarly, monkeys that received three injections of R51-3 survived a 60 µg/kg ricin challenge.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support R51-3 as a promising candidate antigen for ricin vaccine development.

E-N-(2-acetyl-phenyl)-3-phenyl-acrylamide targets abrin and ricin toxicity: Hitting two toxins with one stone

The efficacy of small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) against the enzymatic activity of Shiga toxin prompted the evaluation of their efficacy on related toxins viz. ricin and abrin. Ricin, like Shiga toxin, is listed as a category B bioweapon and belongs to the type II family of ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs). Abrin though structurally and functionally similar to ricin, is considerably more toxic. In the present study, 35 compounds were evaluated in A549 cells in in vitro assays, of which 5 offered protection against abrin and 2 against ricin, with IC50 values ranging between 30.5-1379 μM and 300-341 μM, respectively. These findings are substantiated by fluorescence based thermal shift assay. Moreover, the binding of the promising compounds to the toxin components has been validated by Surface Plasmon Resonance assay and in vitro protein synthesis assay. In vivo studies reveal complete protection of mice with compound 4 E-N-(2-acetyl-phenyl)-3-phenyl-acrylamide against orally administered lethal doses of, both, abrin and ricin. The present study thus proposes the emergence of E-N-(2-acetyl-phenyl)-3-phenyl-acrylamide as a lead compound against RIPs.

Endpoint and epitope-specific antibody responses as correlates of vaccine-mediated protection of mice against ricin toxin

The successful licensure of vaccines for biodefense is contingent upon the availability of well-established correlates of protection (CoP) in at least two animal species that can be applied to humans, without the need to assess efficacy in the clinic. In this report we describe a multivariate model that combines pre-challenge serum antibody endpoint titers (EPT) and values derived from an epitope profiling immune-competition capture (EPICC) assay as a predictor in mice of vaccine-mediated immunity against ricin toxin (RT), a Category B biothreat. EPICC is a modified competition ELISA in which serum samples from vaccinated mice were assessed for their ability to inhibit the capture of soluble, biotinylated (b)-RT by a panel of immobilized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against four immunodominant toxin-neutralizing regions on the enzymatic A chain (RTA) of RT. In a test cohort of mice (n = 40) vaccinated with suboptimal doses of the RTA subunit vaccine, RiVax®, we identified two mAbs, PB10 and SyH7, which had EPICC inhibition values in pre-challenge serum samples that correlated with survival following a challenge with 5 × LD₅₀ of RT administered by intraperitoneal (IP) injection. Analysis of a larger cohort of mice (n = 645) revealed that a multivariate model combining endpoint titers and EPICC values for PB10 and SyH7 as predictive variables had significantly higher statistical power than any one of the independent variables alone. Establishing the correlates of vaccine-mediated protection in mice represents an important steppingstone in the development of RiVax® as a medical countermeasure under the United States Food and Drug Administration's "Animal Rule."

A Spectroscopic Study on Secondary Structure and Thermal Unfolding of the Plant Toxin Gelonin Confirms Some Typical Structural Characteristics and Unravels the Sequence of Thermal Unfolding Events

Gelonin from the Indian plant Gelonium multiflorum belongs to the type I ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs). Like other members of RIPs, this toxin glycoprotein inhibits protein synthesis of eukaryotic cells; hence, it is largely used in the construction of immunotoxins composed of cell-targeted antibodies. Lysosomal degradation is one of the main issues in targeted tumor therapies, especially for type I RIP-based toxins, as they lack the translocation domains. The result is an attenuated cytosolic delivery and a decrease of the antitumor efficacy of these plant-derived toxins; therefore, strategies to permit their release from endosomal vesicles or modifications of the toxins to make them resistant to degradation are necessary to improve their efficacy. Using infrared spectroscopy, we thoroughly analyzed both the secondary structure and the thermal unfolding of gelonin. Moreover, by the combination of two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy and phase diagram method, it was possible to deduce the sequence of events during the unfolding, confirming the typical characteristic of the RIP members to denature in two steps, as a sequential loss of tertiary and secondary structure was detected at 58 °C and at 65 °C, respectively. Additionally, some discrepancies in the unfolding process between gelonin and saporin-S6, another type I RIP protein, were detected.

Thermal stability and epitope integrity of a lyophilized ricin toxin subunit vaccine

Biodefense vaccine are destined to be stockpiled for periods of time and deployed in the event of a public health emergency. In this report, we compared the potency of liquid and lyophilized (thermostabilized) formulations of a candidate ricin toxin subunit vaccine, RiVax, adsorbed to aluminum salts adjuvant, over a 12-month period. The liquid and lyophilized formulations were stored at stressed (40 °C) and unstressed (4 °C) conditions and evaluated at 3, 6 and 12-month time points for potency in a mouse model of lethal dose ricin challenge. At the same time points, the vaccine formulations were interrogated in vitro by competition ELISA for conformational integrity using a panel of three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), PB10, WECB2, and SyH7, directed against known immunodominant toxin-neutralizing epitopes on RiVax. We found that the liquid vaccine under stress conditions declined precipitously within the first three months, as evidenced by a reduction in in vivo potency and concomitant loss of mAb recognition in vitro. In contrast, the lyophilized RiVax vaccine retained in vivo potency and conformational integrity for up to one year at 4 °C and 40 °C. We discuss the utility of monitoring the integrity of one or more toxin-neutralizing epitopes on RiVax as a possible supplement to animal studies to assess vaccine potency.

High-Definition Mapping of Four Spatially Distinct Neutralizing Epitope Clusters on RiVax, a Candidate Ricin Toxin Subunit Vaccine

RiVax is a promising recombinant ricin toxin A subunit (RTA) vaccine antigen that has been shown to be safe and immunogenic in humans and effective at protecting rhesus macaques against lethal-dose aerosolized toxin exposure. We previously used a panel of RTA-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to demonstrate, by competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), that RiVax elicits similar serum antibody profiles in humans and macaques. However, the MAb binding sites on RiVax have yet to be defined. In this study, we employed hydrogen exchange-mass spectrometry (HX-MS) to localize the epitopes on RiVax recognized by nine toxin-neutralizing MAbs and one nonneutralizing MAb. Based on strong protection from hydrogen exchange, the nine MAbs grouped into four spatially distinct epitope clusters (namely, clusters I to IV). Cluster I MAbs protected RiVax's α-helix B (residues 94 to 107), a protruding immunodominant secondary structure element known to be a target of potent toxin-neutralizing antibodies. Cluster II consisted of two subclusters located on the "back side" (relative to the active site pocket) of RiVax. One subcluster involved α-helix A (residues 14 to 24) and α-helices F-G (residues 184 to 207); the other encompassed β-strand d (residues 62 to 69) and parts of α-helices D-E (154 to 164) and the intervening loop. Cluster III involved α-helices C and G on the front side of RiVax, while cluster IV formed a sash from the front to back of RiVax, spanning strands b, c, and d (residues 35 to 59). Having a high-resolution B cell epitope map of RiVax will enable the development and optimization of competitive serum profiling assays to examine vaccine-induced antibody responses across species.

Structural Analysis of Single Domain Antibodies Bound to a Second Neutralizing Hot Spot on Ricin Toxin's Enzymatic Subunit

Ricin toxin is a heterodimer consisting of RTA, a ribosome-inactivating protein, and RTB, a lectin that facilitates receptor-mediated uptake into mammalian cells. In previous studies, we demonstrated that toxin-neutralizing antibodies target four spatially distinct hot spots on RTA, which we refer to as epitope clusters I-IV. In this report, we identified and characterized three single domain camelid antibodies (VHH) against cluster II. One of these VHHs, V5E1, ranks as one of the most potent ricin-neutralizing antibodies described to date. We solved the X-ray crystal structures of each of the three VHHs (E1, V1C7, and V5E1) in complex with RTA. V5E1 buries a total of 1,133 Å2 of surface area on RTA and makes primary contacts with α-helix A (residues 18-32), α-helix F (182-194), as well as the F-G loop. V5E1, by virtue of complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3), may also engage with RTB and potentially interfere with the high affinity galactose-recognition element that plays a critical role in toxin attachment to cell surfaces and intracellular trafficking. The two other VHHs, E1 and V1C7, bind epitopes adjacent to V5E1 but display only weak toxin neutralizing activity, thereby providing structural insights into specific residues within cluster II that may be critical contact points for toxin inactivation.

A chimeric protein of abrin and Abrus precatorius agglutinin that neutralizes abrin mediated lethality in mice

Abrin, a type II ribosome inactivating protein from the Abrus precatorius plant, is extremely toxic. It has been shown to be 75 times more potent than its infamous sister toxin, ricin and their potential use in bio-warfare is a cause of major concern. Although several vaccine candidates are under clinical trials for ricin, none are available against abrin. The present study proposes a chimeric protein, comprising of 1-123 amino acids taken from the A chain of abrin and 124-175 amino acids from Abrus precatorius agglutinin A chain, as a vaccine candidate against abrin intoxication. The design was based on the inclusion of the immunogenic region of the full length protein and the minimal essential folding domains required for inducing neutralizing antibody response. The chimera also contains the epitope for the only two neutralizing antibodies; D6F10 and A7C4, reported against abrin till now. Active immunization with the chimera protected all the mice challenged with 45 X LD₅₀ of abrin. Also, passive transfer of antibodies raised against the chimera rescued all mice challenged with 50 X LD₅₀ of toxin. Hence the chimeric protein appears to be a promising vaccine candidate against abrin induced lethality.

Progress and challenges associated with the development of ricin toxin subunit vaccines

The past several years have seen major advances in the development of a safe and efficacious ricin toxin vaccine, including the completion of two Phase I clinical trials with two different recombinant A subunit (RTA)-based vaccines: RiVax™ and RVEc™ adsorbed to aluminum salt adjuvant, as well as a non-human primate study demonstrating that parenteral immunization with RiVax elicits a serum antibody response that was sufficient to protect against a lethal dose aerosolized ricin exposure. One of the major obstacles moving forward is assessing vaccine efficacy in humans, when neither ricin-specific serum IgG endpoint titers nor toxin-neutralizing antibody levels are accepted as definitive predictors of protective immunity. In this review we summarize ongoing efforts to leverage recent advances in our understanding of RTA-antibody interactions at the structural level to develop novel assays to predict vaccine efficacy in humans.

Structural analysis of nested neutralizing and non-neutralizing B cell epitopes on ricin toxin's enzymatic subunit

In this report, we describe the X-ray crystal structures of two single domain camelid antibodies (VH H), F5 and F8, each in complex with ricin toxin's enzymatic subunit (RTA). F5 has potent toxin-neutralizing activity, while F8 has weak neutralizing activity. F5 buried a total of 1760 Å(2) in complex with RTA and made contact with three prominent secondary structural elements: α-helix B (Residues 98-106), β-strand h (Residues 113-117), and the C-terminus of α-helix D (Residues 154-156). F8 buried 1103 Å(2) in complex with RTA that was centered primarily on β-strand h. As such, the structural epitope of F8 is essentially nested within that of F5. All three of the F5 complementarity determining regions CDRs were involved in RTA contact, whereas F8 interactions were almost entirely mediated by CDR3, which essentially formed a seventh β-strand within RTA's centrally located β-sheet. A comparison of the two structures reported here to several previously reported (RTA-VH H) structures identifies putative contact sites on RTA, particularly α-helix B, associated with potent toxin-neutralizing activity. This information has implications for rational design of RTA-based subunit vaccines for biodefense. Proteins 2016; 84:1162-1172. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Novel Ricin Subunit Antigens With Enhanced Capacity to Elicit Toxin-Neutralizing Antibody Responses in Mice

RiVax is a candidate ricin toxin subunit vaccine antigen that has proven to be safe in human phase I clinical trials. In this study, we introduced double and triple cavity-filling point mutations into the RiVax antigen with the expectation that stability-enhancing modifications would have a beneficial effect on overall immunogenicity of the recombinant proteins. We demonstrate that 2 RiVax triple mutant derivatives, RB (V81L/C171L/V204I) and RC (V81I/C171L/V204I), when adsorbed to aluminum salts adjuvant and tested in a mouse prime-boost-boost regimen were 5- to 10-fold more effective than RiVax at eliciting toxin-neutralizing serum IgG antibody titers. Increased toxin neutralizing antibody values and seroconversion rates were evident at different antigen dosages and within 7 days after the first booster. Quantitative stability/flexibility relationships analysis revealed that the RB and RC mutations affect rigidification of regions spanning residues 98-103, which constitutes a known immunodominant neutralizing B-cell epitope. A more detailed understanding of the immunogenic nature of RB and RC may provide insight into the fundamental relationship between local protein stability and antibody reactivity.

Strong protection against ricin challenge induced by a novel modified ricin A-chain protein in mouse model

Ricin toxin (RT) is an extremely potent toxin derived from the castor bean plant. As a possible bioterrorist weapon, it was categorized as a level B agent in international society. With the growing awareness and concerns of the “white powder incident” in recent years, it is indispensable to develop an effective countermeasure against RT intoxication. In this study we used site-directed mutagenesis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques to modify the gene of ricin A-chain (RTA). As a result, we have generated a mutated and truncated ricin A-chain (mtRTA) vaccine antigen by E.coli strain. The cytotoxicity assay was used to evaluate the safety of the as-prepared mtRTA antigen, and the results showed that there was no residual toxicity observed when compared to the recombinant RTA (rRTA) or native RT. Furthermore, BALB/c mice were subcutaneously (s.c.) vaccinated with mtRTA 3 times at an interval of 2 weeks, and then the survivals were evaluated after intraperitoneal (i.p.) or intratracheal challenge of RT. The vaccinated mice developed a strong protective immune response that was wholly protective against 40 × LD₅₀ of RT i.p. injection or 20 × LD₅₀ of RT intratracheal spraying. The mtRTA antigen has great potential to be a vaccine candidate for future application in humans.

Truncated abrin A chain expressed in Escherichia coli: a promising vaccine candidate

Abrin toxin (AT) is a highly potent toxin, and is classified as one of the most important biological warfare and bioterrorism agents. There is currently no approved vaccine for AT. Therefore, the development of an effective vaccine is important in the prevention of intoxication by abrin. In this study, five vectors containing different gene of truncated abrin toxin A chain (tATA) fragments were constructed, and two of them (tATA1(1-126), tATA4(1-188)) were successfully expressed as a soluble form in E.coli strain. Both of the two tATA retained most of their immunogenicity with either low or no toxic effects as determined by both in vitro and in vivo assays. They were used to immunize BALB/c mice three times at an interval of three weeks apart. As a result, the tATA1 can elicite 80% protective efficacy against i.p. challenge of 5×LD50 of abrin, and the tATA4 provides a better protection, which can elicite 100% protective efficacy against intraperitoneal challenge of 40×LD50 of abrin. The superior fragment (tATA4(1-188)) should be considered as a promising vaccine candidate for further investigations.

Crystal structures of ricin toxin's enzymatic subunit (RTA) in complex with neutralizing and non-neutralizing single-chain antibodies

Ricin is a select agent toxin and a member of the RNA N-glycosidase family of medically important plant and bacterial ribosome-inactivating proteins. In this study, we determined X-ray crystal structures of the enzymatic subunit of ricin (RTA) in complex with the antigen binding domains (VHH) of five unique single-chain monoclonal antibodies that differ in their respective toxin-neutralizing activities. None of the VHHs made direct contact with residues involved in RTA's RNA N-glycosidase activity or induced notable allosteric changes in the toxin's subunit. Rather, the five VHHs had overlapping structural epitopes on the surface of the toxin and differed in the degree to which they made contact with prominent structural elements in two folding domains of the RTA. In general, RTA interactions were influenced most by the VHH CDR3 (CDR, complementarity-determining region) elements, with the most potent neutralizing antibody having the shortest and most conformationally constrained CDR3. These structures provide unique insights into the mechanisms underlying toxin neutralization and provide critically important information required for the rational design of ricin toxin subunit vaccines.

Toxin instability and its role in toxin translocation from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cytosol

AB toxins enter a host cell by receptor-mediated endocytosis. The catalytic A chain then crosses the endosome or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane to reach its cytosolic target. Dissociation of the A chain from the cell-binding B chain occurs before or during translocation to the cytosol, and only the A chain enters the cytosol. In some cases, AB subunit dissociation is facilitated by the unique physiology and function of the ER. The A chains of these ER-translocating toxins are stable within the architecture of the AB holotoxin, but toxin disassembly results in spontaneous or assisted unfolding of the isolated A chain. This unfolding event places the A chain in a translocation-competent conformation that promotes its export to the cytosol through the quality control mechanism of ER-associated degradation. A lack of lysine residues for ubiquitin conjugation protects the exported A chain from degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and an interaction with host factors allows the cytosolic toxin to regain a folded, active state. The intrinsic instability of the toxin A chain thus influences multiple steps of the intoxication process. This review will focus on the host-toxin interactions involved with A chain unfolding in the ER and A chain refolding in the cytosol.

Mechanistic insights into the neutralization of cytotoxic abrin by the monoclonal antibody D6F10

Abrin, an A/B toxin obtained from the Abrus precatorius plant is extremely toxic and a potential bio-warfare agent. Till date there is no antidote or vaccine available against this toxin. The only known neutralizing monoclonal antibody against abrin, namely D6F10, has been shown to rescue the toxicity of abrin in cells as well as in mice. The present study focuses on mapping the epitopic region to understand the mechanism of neutralization of abrin by the antibody D6F10. Truncation and mutational analysis of abrin A chain revealed that the amino acids 74-123 of abrin A chain contain the core epitope and the residues Thr112, Gly114 and Arg118 are crucial for binding of the antibody. In silico analysis of the position of the mapped epitope indicated that it is present close to the active site cleft of abrin A chain. Thus, binding of the antibody near the active site blocks the enzymatic activity of abrin A chain, thereby rescuing inhibition of protein synthesis by the toxin in vitro. At 1∶10 molar concentration of abrin:antibody, the antibody D6F10 rescued cells from abrin-mediated inhibition of protein synthesis but did not prevent cell attachment of abrin. Further, internalization of the antibody bound to abrin was observed in cells by confocal microscopy. This is a novel finding which suggests that the antibody might function intracellularly and possibly explains the rescue of abrin's toxicity by the antibody in whole cells and animals. To our knowledge, this study is the first report on a neutralizing epitope for abrin and provides mechanistic insights into the poorly understood mode of action of anti-A chain antibodies against several toxins including ricin.

Effect of single-point mutations on the stability and immunogenicity of a recombinant ricin A chain subunit vaccine antigen

There is great interest in the design and development of highly thermostable and immunogenic protein subunit vaccines for biodefense. In this study, we used two orthogonal and complementary computational protein design approaches to generate a series of single-point mutants of RiVax, an attenuated recombinant ricin A chain (RTA) protein subunit vaccine antigen. As assessed by differential scanning calorimetry, the conformational stabilities of the designed mutants ranged from 4°C less stable to 4.5°C more stable than RiVax, depending on solution pH. Two more thermostable (V18P, C171L) and two less thermostable (T13V, S89T) mutants that displayed native-like secondary and tertiary structures (as determined by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectral analysis, respectively) were tested for their capacity to elicit RTA-specific antibodies and toxin-neutralizing activity. Following a prime-boost regimen, we found qualitative differences with respect to specific antibody titers and toxin neutralizing antibody levels induced by the different mutants. Upon a second boost with the more thermostable mutant C171L, a statistically significant increase in RTA-specific antibody titers was observed when compared with RiVax-immunized mice. Notably, the results indicate that single residue changes can be made to the RiVax antigen that increase its thermal stability without adversely impacting the efficacy of the vaccine.

Comparative efficacy of two leading candidate ricin toxin a subunit vaccines in mice

The two leading ricin toxin vaccine candidates, RVEc and RiVax, are recombinant derivatives of the toxin's 267-amino-acid enzymatic A chain (RTA). RVEc is truncated at the C terminus (residues 199 to 267) to improve protein thermostability, while RiVax has two point mutations (V76M and Y80A) that eliminate the RNA N-glycosidase activity of RTA, as well as its ability to induce vascular leak syndrome. The two vaccines have never been directly compared in terms of their ability to stimulate RTA-specific antibodies (Abs), toxin-neutralizing activity (TNA), or protective immunity. To address this issue, groups of female BALB/c mice were immunized two or three times with Alhydrogel-adsorbed RiVax or RVEc at a range of doses (0.3 to 20 μg) and then challenged with 10 50% lethal doses (LD(50)s) of ricin. We found that the vaccines were equally effective at eliciting protective immunity at the doses tested. There were, however, quantitative differences in the antibody responses. RVEc tended to elicit higher levels of ricin-specific RTA IgG and TNA than did RiVax. Pepscan analysis revealed that serum Abs elicited by RVEc were skewed toward a solvent-exposed immunodominant α-helix known to be the target of potent toxin-neutralizing Abs. Finally, immunodepletion experiments suggest that the majority of toxin-neutralizing Abs elicited by RiVax were confined to residues 1 to 198, possibly explaining the equal effectiveness of RVEc as a vaccine.

Disruption of the putative vascular leak peptide sequence in the stabilized ricin vaccine candidate RTA1-33/44-198

Vitetta and colleagues identified and characterized a putative vascular leak peptide (VLP) consensus sequence in recombinant ricin toxin A-chain (RTA) that contributed to dose-limiting human toxicity when RTA was administered intravenously in large quantities during chemotherapy. We disrupted this potentially toxic site within the more stable RTA1-33/44-198 vaccine immunogen and determined the impact of these mutations on protein stability, structure and protective immunogenicity using an experimental intranasal ricin challenge model in BALB/c mice to determine if the mutations were compatible. Single amino acid substitutions at the positions corresponding with RTA D75 (to A, or N) and V76 (to I, or M) had minor effects on the apparent protein melting temperature of RTA1-33/44-198 but all four variants retained greater apparent stability than the parent RTA. Moreover, each VLP(−) variant tested provided protection comparable with that of RTA1-33/44-198 against supralethal intranasal ricin challenge as judged by animal survival and several biomarkers. To understand better how VLP substitutions and mutations near the VLP site impact epitope structure, we introduced a previously described thermal stabilizing disulfide bond (R48C/T77C) along with the D75N or V76I substitutions in RTA1-33/44-198. The D75N mutation was compatible with the adjacent stabilizing R48C/T77C disulfide bond and the T_m was unaffected, whereas the V76I mutation was less compatible with the adjacent disulfide bond involving C77. A crystal structure of the RTA1-33/44-198 R48C/T77C/D75N variant showed that the structural integrity of the immunogen was largely conserved and that a stable immunogen could be produced from E. coli. We conclude that it is feasible to disrupt the VLP site in RTA1-33/44-198 with little or no impact on apparent protein stability or protective efficacy in mice and such variants can be stabilized further by introduction of a disulfide bond.

Immunity to ricin: fundamental insights into toxin-antibody interactions

Ricin toxin is an extraordinarily potent inducer of cell death and inflammation. Ricin is also a potent provocateur of the humoral immune system, eliciting a mixture of neutralizing, non-neutralizing and even toxin-enhancing antibodies. The characterization of dozens of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the toxin's enzymatic (RTA) and binding (RTB) subunits has begun to reveal fundamental insights into the underlying mechanisms by which antibodies neutralize (or fail to neutralize) ricin in systemic and mucosal compartments. This information has had immediate applications in the design, development and evaluation of ricin subunit vaccines and immunotherapeutics.

Structure of RiVax: a recombinant ricin vaccine

RiVax is a recombinant protein that is currently under clinical development as part of a human vaccine to protect against ricin poisoning. RiVax includes ricin A-chain (RTA) residues 1-267 with two intentional amino-acid substitutions, V76M and Y80A, aimed at reducing toxicity. Here, the crystal structure of RiVax was solved to 2.1 Å resolution and it was shown that it is superposable with that of the ricin toxin A-chain from Ricinus communis with a root-mean-square deviation of 0.6 Å over 258 C(α) atoms. The RiVax structure is also compared with the recently determined structure of another potential ricin-vaccine immunogen, RTA 1-33/44-198 R48C/T77C. Finally, the locations and solvent-exposure of two toxin-neutralizing B-cell epitopes were examined and it was found that these epitopes are within or near regions predicted to be involved in catalysis. The results demonstrate the composition of the RiVax clinical material and will guide ongoing protein-engineering strategies to develop improved immunogens.

Process development and cGMP manufacturing of a recombinant ricin vaccine: an effective and stable recombinant ricin A-chain vaccine-RVEc™

Ricin is a potent toxin and a potential bioterrorism weapon with no specific countermeasures or vaccines available. The holotoxin is composed of two polypeptide chains linked by a single disulfide bond: the A-chain (RTA), which is an N-glycosidase enzyme, and the B-chain (RTB), a lectin polypeptide that binds galactosyl moieties on the surface of the mammalian target cells. Previously (McHugh et al.), a recombinant truncated form of RTA (rRTA1-33/44-198 protein, herein denoted RVEa™) expressed in Escherichia coli using a codon-optimized gene was shown to be non-toxic, stable, and protective against a ricin challenge in mice. Here, we describe the process development and scale-up at the 12 L fermentation scale, and the current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP)-compliant production of RVEc™ at the 40 L scale. The average yield of the final purified bulk RVEc™ is approximately 16 g/kg of wet cell weight or 1.2 g/L of fermentation broth. The RVEc™ was >99% pure by three HPLC methods and SDS-PAGE. The intact mass and peptide mapping analysis of RVEc™ confirmed the identity of the product and is consistent with the absence of posttranslational modifications. Potency assays demonstrated that RVEc™ was immunoprotective against lethal ricin challenge and elicited neutralizing anti-ricin antibodies in 95-100% of the vaccinated mice.

Introduction of a disulfide bond leads to stabilization and crystallization of a ricin immunogen

RTA1-33/44-198 is a catalytically inactive, single-domain derivative of the ricin toxin A-chain (RTA) engineered to serve as a stable protein scaffold for presentation of native immunogenic epitopes (Olson et al., Protein Eng Des Sel 2004;17:391-397). To improve the stability and solubility of RTA1-33/44-198 further, we have undertaken the design challenge of introducing a disulfide (SS) bond. Nine pairs of residues were selected for placement of the SS-bond based on molecular dynamics simulation studies of the modeled single-domain chain. Disulfide formation at either of two positions (R48C/T77C or V49C/E99C) involving a specific surface loop (44-55) increased the protein melting temperature by ~5°C compared with RTA1-33/44-198 and by ~13°C compared with RTA. Prolonged stability studies of the R48C/T77C variant (> 60 days at 37°C, pH 7.4) confirmed a > 40% reduction in self-aggregation compared with RTA1-33/44-198 lacking the SS-bond. The R48C/T77C variant retained affinity for anti-RTA antibodies capable of neutralizing ricin toxin, including a monoclonal that recognizes a human B-cell epitope. Introduction of either R48C/T77C or V49C/E99C promoted crystallization of RTA1-33/44-198, and the X-ray structures of the variants were solved to 2.3 A or 2.1 A resolution, respectively. The structures confirm formation of an intramolecular SS-bond, and reveal a single-domain fold that is significantly reduced in volume compared with RTA. Loop 44 to 55 is partly disordered as predicted by simulations, and is positioned to form self-self interactions between symmetry-related molecules. We discuss the importance of RTA loop 34 to 55 as a nucleus for unfolding and aggregation, and draw conclusions for ongoing structure-based minimalist design of RTA-based immunogens.

Ricin vaccine development

In this chapter we discuss vaccines to protect against the highly toxic plant-derived toxin, ricin. Due to its prevalence, ease of use, and stability it has been used in sporadic incidents of espionage. There is also concern that it will be used as an agent of bioterrorism. As a result there has been a great deal of interest in developing a safe vaccine or antidote to protect humans, and in particular soldiers and first responders. Although multiple types of vaccines have been tested, at this time two recombinant vaccines are the leading candidates for the national vaccine stockpile. In terms of passive post-exposure protection, monoclonal neutralizing antibodies that passively protect animals are also under development. These vaccines and antibodies are discussed in the context of the toxicity and structure of ricin.

Principles of antidote pharmacology: an update on prophylaxis, post-exposure treatment recommendations and research initiatives for biological agents

The use of biological agents has generally been confined to military-led conflicts. However, there has been an increase in non-state-based terrorism, including the use of asymmetric warfare, such as biological agents in the past few decades. Thus, it is becoming increasingly important to consider strategies for preventing and preparing for attacks by insurgents, such as the development of pre- and post-exposure medical countermeasures. There are a wide range of prophylactics and treatments being investigated to combat the effects of biological agents. These include antibiotics (for both conventional and unconventional use), antibodies, anti-virals, immunomodulators, nucleic acids (analogues, antisense, ribozymes and DNAzymes), bacteriophage therapy and micro-encapsulation. While vaccines are commercially available for the prevention of anthrax, cholera, plague, Q fever and smallpox, there are no licensed vaccines available for use in the case of botulinum toxins, viral encephalitis, melioidosis or ricin. Antibiotics are still recommended as the mainstay treatment following exposure to anthrax, plague, Q fever and melioidosis. Anti-toxin therapy and anti-virals may be used in the case of botulinum toxins or smallpox respectively. However, supportive care is the only, or mainstay, post-exposure treatment for cholera, viral encephalitis and ricin - a recommendation that has not changed in decades. Indeed, with the difficulty that antibiotic resistance poses, the development and further evaluation of techniques and atypical pharmaceuticals are fundamental to the development of prophylaxis and post-exposure treatment options. The aim of this review is to present an update on prophylaxis and post-exposure treatment recommendations and research initiatives for biological agents in the open literature from 2007 to 2009.

Folding domains within the ricin toxin A subunit as targets of protective antibodies

Efforts to develop an effective vaccine against ricin are focused on the engineering of attenuated and stable recombinant forms of the toxin's enzymatic A subunit (RTA). While several candidate antigens are in development, vaccine design and efficacy studies are being undertaken in the absence of a fundamental understanding of those regions of RTA that are critical in eliciting protective immunity. In this present study, we produced and characterized a collection of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against five distinct immunodominant regions on RTA, and used these MAbs to identify several key neutralizing epitopes on the toxin. Protective MAbs were directed against α-helices located in RTA folding domains 1 and 2, whereas non-neutralizing antibodies recognized random coils and loops that were primarily confined to folding domain 3. These data offer insights into the immunodominant and structural determinants on RTA that give rise to protective immunity, and for the first time provide an immunological rationale for ricin vaccine design.

Coarse-grained lattice model simulations of sequence-structure fitness of a ribosome-inactivating protein

Many realistic protein-engineering design problems extend beyond the computational limits of what is considered practical when applying all-atom molecular-dynamics simulation methods. Lattice models provide computationally robust alternatives, yet most are regarded as too simplistic to accurately capture the details of complex designs. We revisit a coarse-grained lattice simulation model and demonstrate that a multiresolution modeling approach of reconstructing all-atom structures from lattice chains is of sufficient accuracy to resolve the comparability of sequence-structure modifications of the ricin A-chain (RTA) protein fold. For a modeled structure, the unfolding-folding transition temperature was calculated from the heat capacity using either the potential energy from the lattice model or the all-atom CHARMM19 force-field plus a generalized Born solvent approximation. We found, that despite the low-resolution modeling of conformational states, the potential energy functions were capable of detecting the relative change in the thermodynamic transition temperature that distinguishes between a protein design and the native RTA fold in excellent accord with reported experimental studies of thermal denaturation. A discussion is provided of different sequences fitted to the RTA fold and a possible unfolding model.

Fragment-based identification of determinants of conformational and spectroscopic change at the ricin active site

Background

Ricin is a potent toxin and known bioterrorism threat with no available antidote. The ricin A-chain (RTA) acts enzymatically to cleave a specific adenine base from ribosomal RNA, thereby blocking translation. To understand better the relationship between ligand binding and RTA active site conformational change, we used a fragment-based approach to find a minimal set of bonding interactions able to induce rearrangements in critical side-chain positions.

Results

We found that the smallest ligand stabilizing an open conformer of the RTA active site pocket was an amide group, bound weakly by only a few hydrogen bonds to the protein. Complexes with small amide-containing molecules also revealed a switch in geometry from a parallel towards a splayed arrangement of an arginine-tryptophan cation-pi interaction that was associated with an increase and red-shift in tryptophan fluorescence upon ligand binding. Using the observed fluorescence signal, we determined the thermodynamic changes of adenine binding to the RTA active site, as well as the site-specific binding of urea. Urea binding had a favorable enthalpy change and unfavorable entropy change, with a ΔH of -13 ± 2 kJ/mol and a ΔS of -0.04 ± 0.01 kJ/(K*mol). The side-chain position of residue Tyr80 in a complex with adenine was found not to involve as large an overlap of rings with the purine as previously considered, suggesting a smaller role for aromatic stacking at the RTA active site.

Conclusion

We found that amide ligands can bind weakly but specifically to the ricin active site, producing significant shifts in positions of the critical active site residues Arg180 and Tyr80. These results indicate that fragment-based drug discovery methods are capable of identifying minimal bonding determinants of active-site side-chain rearrangements and the mechanistic origins of spectroscopic shifts. Our results suggest that tryptophan fluorescence provides a sensitive probe for the geometric relationship of arginine-tryptophan pairs, which often have significant roles in protein function. Using the unusual characteristics of the RTA system, we measured the still controversial thermodynamic changes of site-specific urea binding to a protein, results that are relevant to understanding the physical mechanisms of protein denaturation.

Probing the local conformational change of alpha1-antitrypsin

The native form of serpins (serine protease inhibitors) is a metastable conformation, which converts into a more stable form upon complex formation with a target protease. It has been suggested that movement of helix-F (hF) and the following loop connecting to strand 3 of beta-sheet A (thFs3A) is critical for such conformational change. Despite many speculations inferred from analysis of the serpin structure itself, direct experimental evidence for the mobilization of hF/thFs3A during the inhibition process is lacking. To probe the mechanistic role of hF and thFs3A during protease inhibition, a disulfide bond was engineered in alpha(1)-antitrypsin, which would lock the displacement of thFs3A from beta-sheet A. We measured the inhibitory activity of each disulfide-locked mutant and its heat stability against loop-sheet polymerization. Presence of a disulfide between thFs3A and s5A but not between thFs3A and s3A caused loss of the inhibitory activity, suggesting that displacement of hF/thFs3A from strand 5A but not from strand 3A is required during the inhibition process. While showing little influence on the inhibitory activity, the disulfide between thFs3A and s3A retarded loop-sheet polymerization significantly. This successful protein engineering of alpha(1)-antitrypsin is expected to be of value in clinical applications. Based on our current studies, we propose that the reactive-site loop of a serpin glides through between s5A and thFs3A for the full insertion into beta-sheet A while a substantial portion of the interactions between hF and s3A is kept intact.

Aeropin from the extremophile Pyrobaculum aerophilum bypasses the serpin misfolding trap

Serpins are metastable proteinase inhibitors. Serpin metastability drives both a large conformational change that is utilized during proteinase inhibition and confers an inherent structural flexibility that renders serpins susceptible to aggregation under certain conditions. These include point mutations (the basis of a number of important human genetic diseases), small changes in pH, and an increase in temperature. Many studies of serpins from mesophilic organisms have highlighted an inverse relationship: mutations that confer a marked increase in serpin stability compromise inhibitory activity. Here we present the first biophysical characterization of a metastable serpin from a hyperthermophilic organism. Aeropin, from the archaeon Pyrobaculum aerophilum, is both highly stable and an efficient proteinase inhibitor. We also demonstrate that because of high kinetic barriers, aeropin does not readily form the partially unfolded precursor to serpin aggregation. We conclude that stability and activity are not mutually exclusive properties in the context of the serpin fold, and propose that the increased stability of aeropin is caused by an unfolding pathway that minimizes the formation of an aggregation-prone intermediate ensemble, thereby enabling aeropin to bypass the misfolding fate observed with other serpins.

Improved formulation of a recombinant ricin A-chain vaccine increases its stability and effective antigenicity

Ricin is a potent toxin associated with bioterrorism for which no vaccine or specific countermeasures are currently available. A stable, non-toxic and immunogenic recombinant ricin A-chain vaccine (RTA 1-33/44-198) has been developed by protein engineering. We identified optimal formulation conditions for this vaccine under which it remained stable and potent in storage for up to 18 months, and resisted multiple rounds of freeze-thawing without stabilizing co-solvents. Reformulation from phosphate buffer to succinate buffer increased adherence of the protein to aluminum hydroxide adjuvant from 15 to 91%, with a concomitant increase of nearly threefold in effective antigenicity in a mouse model. Using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, we examined the secondary structure of the protein while it was adhered to aluminum hydroxide. Adjuvant adsorption produced only a small apparent change in secondary structure, while significantly stabilizing the protein to thermal denaturation. The vaccine therefore may be safely stored in the presence of adjuvant. Our results suggest that optimization of adherence of a protein antigen to aluminum adjuvant can be a useful route to increasing both stability and effectiveness, and support a role for a "depot effect" of adjuvant.

Evidence for widespread epithelial damage and coincident production of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 in a murine model of intestinal ricin intoxication

The development of small-animal models is necessary to understand host responses and immunity to emerging infectious diseases and potential bioterrorism agents. In this report we have characterized a murine model of intestinal ricin intoxication. Ricin administered intragastrically (i.g.) to BALB/c mice at doses ranging from 1 to 10 mg/kg of body weight induced dose-dependent morphological changes in the proximal small intestine (i.e., duodenum), including widespread villus atrophy and epithelial damage. Coincident with epithelial damage was a localized increase in monocyte chemotactic protein 1, a chemokine known to be associated with inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. Immunity to intestinal ricin intoxication was achieved by immunizing mice i.g. with ricin toxoid and correlated with elevated levels of antitoxin mucosal immunoglobulin A (IgA) and serum IgG antibodies. We expect that this model will serve as a valuable tool in identifying the inflammatory pathways and protective immune responses that are elicited in the intestinal mucosa following ricin exposure and will prove useful in the evaluation of antitoxin vaccines and therapeutics.

Immunoglobulin A antibodies against ricin A and B subunits protect epithelial cells from ricin intoxication

Epithelial cells of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts are extremely vulnerable to the cytotoxic effects of ricin, a Shiga-like toxin with ribosome-inactivating properties. While mucosal immunity to ricin correlates with secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody levels in vivo, the potential of IgA to protect epithelial cells from ricin in vitro has not been examined due to the unavailability of well-defined antitoxin IgA antibodies. Here we report the characterization of four monoclonal IgA antibodies (IgA MAbs) produced from the Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes of BALB/c mice immunized intragastrically with ricin toxoid. Two IgA MAbs (33G2 and 35H6) were active against ricin's lectin subunit (RTB), and two (23D7 and 25A4) reacted with the toxin's enzymatic subunit (RTA). All four IgA MAbs neutralized ricin in a Vero cell cytotoxicity assay, blocked toxin-induced interleukin-8 release by the human monocyte/macrophage cell line 28SC, and protected polarized epithelial cell monolayers from ricin-mediated protein synthesis inhibition. 33G2 and 35H6 reduced ricin binding to the luminal surfaces of human intestinal epithelial cells to undetectable levels in tissue section overlay assays, whereas 23D7 had no effect on toxin attachment. 23D7 and 25A4 did, however, reduce ricin transcytosis across MDCK II cell monolayers, possibly by interfering with intracellular toxin transport. We conclude that IgA antibodies against RTA and RTB can protect mucosal epithelial cells from ricin intoxication.

Ricin: current understanding and prospects for an antiricin vaccine

Ricin is a potent cytotoxin that can be rapidly internalized into mammalian cells leading to cell death. The ease in obtaining the toxin and its deadly nature combine to implicate ricin as a convenient agent for bioterrorism. Research into the mechanism of toxicity, as well as strategies for treatment and protection from the toxin has been widely undertaken for a number of years. This article reviews the current understanding of the mechanism of action of the toxin, the clinical effects of ricin intoxication and how these relate to current and continuing prospects for vaccine development.