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Luo H, Ma Y, Ren Y, Li Z, Sheng Y, Wang Y, Su Z, Bi J, Zhang S. Study of self-assembling properties of HBc-VLP derivatives aided by molecular dynamic simulations from a thermodynamic perspective. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-14. [PMID: 37908124 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2273438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembling protein nanoparticles showed promise for vaccine design due to efficient antigen presentations and safety. However, the unpredictable formations of epitopes-fused protein assemblies remain challenging in the upstream design. This study suggests employing molecular dynamic (MD) simulations to investigate the assembly properties of Hepatitis B core protein (HBc) from thermodynamic perspectives. Eight HBc derivatives were expressed in E. coli, with their self-assembly properties characterised by high-performance liquid chromatography and transmission electron microscopy. MD simulations on the dimers, based on AlphaFold-predicted 3D structures, analysed the derivative at the atomic level. Results revealed that HBc derivatives can form dissociative polymers or large multi-subunit structures due to assembly failures. The instability of the dimer in aqueous solvents or inappropriate intradimer distances could cause major assembly failures. Polar solvation energies played a vital role too in forming assemble-incompetent dimers. Importantly, our study demonstrated that MD simulations on dimers can provide preliminary predictions on the assembly properties of HBc derivatives, thus aiding vaccine design by lowering the risk of self-assembling failures in engineered proteins.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Luo
- School of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Food Engineering, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong, PR China
| | - Yanyan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Ying Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex Systems, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Zhengjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yanan Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yingli Wang
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Food Engineering, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong, PR China
| | - Zhiguo Su
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Jingxiu Bi
- School of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Songping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
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2
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Garay E, Fontana D, Leschiutta L, Kratje R, Prieto C. Rational design of novel fusion rabies glycoproteins displaying a major antigenic site of foot-and-mouth disease virus for vaccine applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:579-592. [PMID: 34971413 PMCID: PMC8718594 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11747-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric virus-like particles are self-assembling structures composed of viral proteins that had been modified to incorporate sequences from different organisms, being able to trigger immune responses against the heterologous sequence. However, the identification of suitable sites for that purpose in the carrier protein is not an easy task. In this work, we describe the generation of rabies chimeric VLPs that expose a major antigenic site of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) by identifying suitable regions in rabies glycoprotein (RVG), as a proof of concept of a novel heterologous display platform for vaccine applications. To identify adequate sites for insertion of heterologous sequences without altering the correct folding of RVG, we identified regions that were evolutionally non-conserved in Lyssavirus glycoproteins and performed a structural analysis of those regions using a 3D model of RVG trimer that we generated. The heterologous sequence was inserted in three different sites within RVG sequence. In every case, it did not affect the correct folding of the protein and was surface exposed, being recognized by anti-FMDV antibodies in expressing cells as well as in the surface of VLPs. This work sets the base for the development of a heterologous antigen display platform based on rabies VLPs. KEY POINTS: • Adequate regions for foreign epitope display in RVG were found. • G-H loop of FMDV was inserted in three regions of RVG. • The foreign epitope was detected by specific antibodies on fusion proteins. • G-H loop was detected on the surface of chimeric VLPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Garay
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Diego Fontana
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Lautaro Leschiutta
- UNL, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Ricardo Kratje
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Claudio Prieto
- UNL, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
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Hemmati F, Hemmati-Dinarvand M, Karimzade M, Rutkowska D, Eskandari MH, Khanizadeh S, Afsharifar A. Plant-derived VLP: a worthy platform to produce vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Biotechnol Lett 2021; 44:45-57. [PMID: 34837582 PMCID: PMC8626723 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-021-03211-0] [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: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
After its emergence in late 2019 SARS-CoV-2 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020 and has claimed more than 2.8 million lives. There has been a massive global effort to develop vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and the rapid and low cost production of large quantities of vaccine is urgently needed to ensure adequate supply to both developed and developing countries. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are composed of viral antigens that self-assemble into structures that mimic the structure of native viruses but lack the viral genome. Thus they are not only a safer alternative to attenuated or inactivated vaccines but are also able to induce potent cellular and humoral immune responses and can be manufactured recombinantly in expression systems that do not require viral replication. VLPs have successfully been produced in bacteria, yeast, insect and mammalian cell cultures, each production platform with its own advantages and limitations. Plants offer a number of advantages in one production platform, including proper eukaryotic protein modification and assembly, increased safety, low cost, high scalability as well as rapid production speed, a critical factor needed to control outbreaks of potential pandemics. Plant-based VLP-based viral vaccines currently in clinical trials include, amongst others, Hepatitis B virus, Influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Here we discuss the importance of plants as a next generation expression system for the fast, scalable and low cost production of VLP-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farshad Hemmati
- Plant Virology Research Center, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Mohsen Hemmati-Dinarvand
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Marziye Karimzade
- Plant Pathology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Daria Rutkowska
- CSIR Next Generation Health, PO Box 395, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
| | - Mohammad Hadi Eskandari
- Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sayyad Khanizadeh
- Hepatitis Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Alireza Afsharifar
- Plant Virology Research Center, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
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Rangel G, Bárcena J, Moreno N, Mata CP, Castón JR, Alejo A, Blanco E. Chimeric RHDV Virus-Like Particles Displaying Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Epitopes Elicit Neutralizing Antibodies and Confer Partial Protection in Pigs. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9050470. [PMID: 34066934 PMCID: PMC8148555 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9050470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently there is a clear trend towards the establishment of virus-like particles (VLPs) as a powerful tool for vaccine development. VLPs are tunable nanoparticles that can be engineered to be used as platforms for multimeric display of foreign antigens. We have previously reported that VLPs derived from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) constitute an excellent vaccine vector, capable of inducing specific protective immune responses against inserted heterologous T-cytotoxic and B-cell epitopes. Here, we evaluate the ability of chimeric RHDV VLPs to elicit immune response and protection against Foot-and-Mouth disease virus (FMDV), one of the most devastating livestock diseases. For this purpose, we generated a set of chimeric VLPs containing two FMDV-derived epitopes: a neutralizing B-cell epitope (VP1 (140-158)) and a T-cell epitope [3A (21-35)]. The epitopes were inserted joined or individually at two different locations within the RHDV capsid protein. The immunogenicity and protection potential of the chimeric VLPs were analyzed in the mouse and pig models. Herein we show that the RHDV engineered VLPs displaying FMDV-derived epitopes elicit a robust neutralizing immune response in mice and pigs, affording partial clinical protection against an FMDV challenge in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselle Rangel
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA, CSIC-INIA), Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain; (G.R.); (J.B.); (N.M.); (A.A.)
| | - Juan Bárcena
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA, CSIC-INIA), Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain; (G.R.); (J.B.); (N.M.); (A.A.)
| | - Noelia Moreno
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA, CSIC-INIA), Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain; (G.R.); (J.B.); (N.M.); (A.A.)
| | - Carlos P. Mata
- Department of Structure of Macromolecules, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (C.P.M.); (J.R.C.)
| | - José R. Castón
- Department of Structure of Macromolecules, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (C.P.M.); (J.R.C.)
| | - Alí Alejo
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA, CSIC-INIA), Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain; (G.R.); (J.B.); (N.M.); (A.A.)
| | - Esther Blanco
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA, CSIC-INIA), Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain; (G.R.); (J.B.); (N.M.); (A.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-916-202-300
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Hepatitis B core-based virus-like particles: A platform for vaccine development in plants. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 29:e00605. [PMID: 33732633 PMCID: PMC7937989 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2021.e00605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are a class of structures formed by the self-assembly of viral capsid protein subunits and contain no infective viral genetic material. The Hepatitis B core (HBc) antigen is capable of assembling into VLPs that can elicit strong immune responses and has been licensed as a commercial vaccine against Hepatitis B. The HBc VLPs have also been employed as a platform for the presentation of foreign epitopes to the immune system and have been used to develop vaccines against, for example, influenza A and Foot-and-mouth disease. Plant expression systems are rapid, scalable and safe, and are capable of providing correct post-translational modifications and reducing upstream production costs. The production of HBc-based virus-like particles in plants would thus greatly increase the efficiency of vaccine production. This review investigates the application of plant-based HBc VLP as a platform for vaccine production.
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6
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Lu Y, Gillam F, Cao QM, Rizzo A, Meng XJ, Zhang C. Hepatitis B core antigen-based vaccine demonstrates cross-neutralization against heterologous North American Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV-2) strains. J Virol Methods 2020; 285:113945. [PMID: 32735804 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2020.113945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The U.S. swine industry have been bearing the financial impact of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) for decades. Absent of a safe and efficacious vaccine to combat PRRS virus's genetic heterogeneity, it remains a costly disease on pig farms across the country. We have developed virus-like-particle (VLP) based vaccines that incorporate 4 PRRSV epitopes in the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) backbone. Administration of the vaccines in female BALB/C mice resulted in extremely significant PRRSV epitope specific antibody response. One vaccine candidate GP3-4 was able to mount a significant viral neutralizing response against both parental PRRSV strain VR2385 and heterologous PRRSV strain NADC20, showing a promising potential for cross-protection against PRRSV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Lu
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Frank Gillam
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Qian M Cao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Amy Rizzo
- University Veterinarian & Animal Resources, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - X J Meng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Chenming Zhang
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
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7
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Lu Y, Clark-Deener S, Gillam F, Heffron CL, Tian D, Sooryanarain H, LeRoith T, Zoghby J, Henshaw M, Waldrop S, Pittman J, Meng XJ, Zhang C. Virus-like particle vaccine with B-cell epitope from porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) incorporated into hepatitis B virus core capsid provides clinical alleviation against PEDV in neonatal piglets through lactogenic immunity. Vaccine 2020; 38:5212-5218. [PMID: 32565343 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has had a negative economic impact on the global swine industry for decades since its first emergence in the 1970s in Europe. In 2013, PEDV emerged for the first time in the United States, causing immense economic losses to the swine industry. Efforts to protect U.S. swine herds from PEDV infection and limit PEDV transmission through vaccination had only limited success so far. Following the previous success in our virus-like particle (VLP) based vaccine in mouse model, in this study we determined the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a VLP-based vaccine containing B-cell epitope 748YSNIGVCK755 from the spike protein of PEDV incorporated into the hepatitis B virus core capsid (HBcAg), in a comprehensive pregnant gilt vaccination and piglet challenge model. The results showed that the vaccine was able to induce significantly higher virus neutralization response in gilt milk, and provide alleviation of clinical signs for piglets experimentally infected with PEDV. Piglets from pregnant gilt that was vaccinated with the VLP vaccine had faster recovery from the clinical disease, less small intestinal lesions, and higher survival rate at 10 days post-challenge (DPC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Lu
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Sherrie Clark-Deener
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Frank Gillam
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Connie Lynn Heffron
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Debin Tian
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Harini Sooryanarain
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Tanya LeRoith
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Jessica Zoghby
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Professional Program, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Mallori Henshaw
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Professional Program, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Steven Waldrop
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Professional Program, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Jeremy Pittman
- Smithfield Foods, Inc., 434 E Main St., Waverly, VA 23890, USA.
| | - Xiang-Jin Meng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Chenming Zhang
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
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Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of recombinant proteins consisting of multiple epitopes of foot-and-mouth disease virus fused with flagellin. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:3367-3379. [PMID: 30888465 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-09691-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Many recent studies have shown that flagellin fused to heterologous antigens can induce significantly enhanced humoral and cellular immune responses through its adjuvant activity. Therefore, in this study, two key B cell epitopes and a truncated VP1 (ΔVP1) protein from foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) were expressed as flagellin fusion proteins in different patterns. Specifically, ΔVP1 and two duplicates of two key B cell epitopes (2×B1B2) were fused separately to the C-terminus of flagellin with a universal exogenous T cell epitope to construct FT (Flagellin-Truncated VP1) and FME (Flagellin-Multiple Epitopes). In addition, the D3 domain of flagellin was replaced by ΔVP1 in FME, yielding FTME (Flagellin-Truncated VP1-Multiple Epitopes). The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the three fusion proteins as novel FMDV vaccine candidates were evaluated. The results showed that FT, FME, and FTME elicited significant FMDV-specific IgG responses at 10 μg/dose compared with the mock group (P < 0.05), with FTME producing the highest response. No significant differences in the antibody response to FTME were observed between different immunization routes or among adjuvants (ISA-206, poly(I·C), MPLA, and CpG-ODN) in mice. In addition, at 30 μg/dose, all three fusion proteins significantly induced neutralizing antibody production and upregulated the levels of some cytokines, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-12, in guinea pigs. Importantly, all three fusion proteins provided effective protective immunity against FMDV challenge in guinea pigs, though different protection rates were found. The results presented in this study indicate that the FTME fusion protein is a promising novel vaccine candidate for the future prevention and control of foot-and-mouth disease.
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9
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Foot-and-mouth disease vaccines: recent updates and future perspectives. Arch Virol 2019; 164:1501-1513. [PMID: 30888563 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-019-04216-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a major worldwide viral disease in animals, affecting the national and international trade of livestock and animal products and leading to high economic losses and social consequences. Effective control measures of FMD involve prevention through vaccination with inactivated vaccines. These inactivated vaccines, unfortunately, require short-term protection and cold-chain and high-containment facilities. Major advances and pursuit of hot topics in vaccinology and vectorology are ongoing, involving peptide vaccines, DNA vaccines, live vector vaccines, and novel attenuated vaccines. DIVA capability and marker vaccines are very important in differentiating infected animals from vaccinated animals. This review focuses on updating the research progress of these novel vaccines, summarizing their merits and including ideas for improvement.
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Xu L, Li Z, Su Z, Yang Y, Ma G, Yu R, Zhang S. Development of meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine that can elicit long-lasting and strong cellular immune response with hepatitis B core antigen virus-like particles as a novel carrier protein. Vaccine 2019; 37:956-964. [PMID: 30655174 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.12.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Revised: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis caused meningitis is life-threatening acute infection with high fatality and high frequency of severe sequelae. Meningococcal capsular polysaccharides can be used to prevent meningococcal disease; while conjugating the polysaccharides to carrier protein was found necessary to improve the immunogenicity and induce memory responses in infants and young children. Nevertheless, repeated administration of glycoconjugate vaccines might lead to carrier-induced epitope suppression due to limited number of carrier proteins. Here in this study, full-length hepatitis B core antigen virus-like particles (HBc VLPs) was used as a novel potential carrier protein for conjugation of meningococcal group C polysaccharides (CPS) with heterobifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different length (2, 5 and 10 kDa) as linkers. The physiochemical properties of the CPS-PEG-HBc conjugate vaccines were fully characterized. The TEM, DLS, native agarose gel electrophoresis, and HPLC analyses all confirmed the successful conjugation. As compared to plain CPS and the physical mixture of CPS and HBc, the immunization with the conjugate vaccines can generate about 10 times increase in CPS specific IgG titers with a significant boosting effect. HBc conjugation induced a shift to a Th1 cellular immune type response, as assessed by the increased IgG2a subclass production. In addition, vaccination of the conjugate vaccines elicited much enhanced avidity functional antibody and long-lasting immunological memory. IgG titers elicited by CPS-P2k-HBc, CPS-P5k-HBc and CPS-P10k-HBc at week 18 maintained 38.1%, 17.9% and 33.3% of their peak values. All these results demonstrated that HBc VLPs can be used as potential carrier protein to develop polysaccharide conjugate vaccines effective in eliciting long-lasting and strong cellular immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Xu
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System, Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Zhengjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Zhiguo Su
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yanli Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Guanghui Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Rong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System, Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Songping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
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11
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Li Z, Wei J, Yang Y, Ma X, Hou B, An W, Hua Z, Zhang J, Li Y, Ma G, Zhang S, Su Z. Strong hydrophobicity enables efficient purification of HBc VLPs displaying various antigen epitopes through hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Biochem Eng J 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2018.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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12
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Akhras S, Toda M, Boller K, Himmelsbach K, Elgner F, Biehl M, Scheurer S, Gratz M, Vieths S, Hildt E. Cell-permeable capsids as universal antigen carrier for the induction of an antigen-specific CD8 + T-cell response. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9630. [PMID: 28851900 PMCID: PMC5575276 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08787-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccine platforms that can be flexibly loaded with antigens can contribute to decrease response time to emerging infections. For many pathogens and chronic infections, induction of a robust cytotoxic T lymphocytes-mediated response is desirable to control infection. Antigen delivery into the cytoplasm of antigen presenting cells favors induction of cytotoxic T cells. By fusion of the cell-permeable translocation motif (TLM)-peptide to the capsid-forming core protein of hepatitis B virus, and by insertion of the strep-tag in the spike tip (a domain that protrudes from the surface of the capsid), cell-permeable carrier capsids were generated that can be flexibly loaded with various antigens. Loading with antigens was demonstrated by electron microscopy, density gradient centrifugation and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy showed that cell-permeable carrier capsids mediate transfer of cargo antigen into the cytoplasm. Using cell-permeable carrier capsids loaded with ovalbumin as model antigen, activation of antigen presenting cells and ovalbumin-specific CD8+ T-cells, which correlates with enhanced specific killing activity, was found. This demonstrates the capacity of TLM-carrier-capsids to serve as universal antigen carrier to deliver antigens into the cytoplasm of antigen presenting cells, which leads to enhanced MHC class I-mediated presentation and induction of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami Akhras
- Department of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225, Langen, Germany
| | - Masako Toda
- Department of Allergology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225, Langen, Germany
| | - Klaus Boller
- Department of Immunology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225, Langen, Germany
| | | | - Fabian Elgner
- Department of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225, Langen, Germany
| | - Marlene Biehl
- Department of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225, Langen, Germany
| | - Stephan Scheurer
- Department of Allergology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225, Langen, Germany
| | - Meike Gratz
- Department of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225, Langen, Germany
| | - Stefan Vieths
- Department of Allergology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225, Langen, Germany
| | - Eberhard Hildt
- Department of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225, Langen, Germany. .,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), 38124, Braunschweig, Germany.
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13
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Roose K, De Baets S, Schepens B, Saelens X. Hepatitis B core-based virus-like particles to present heterologous epitopes. Expert Rev Vaccines 2013; 12:183-98. [PMID: 23414409 DOI: 10.1586/erv.12.150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Since the first effort to recombinantly express the hepatitis B core protein (HBc) in bacteria, the remarkable virion-like structure has fuelled interest in unraveling the structural and antigenic properties of this protein. Initial studies proved HBc virus-like particles to possess strong immunogenic properties, which can be conveyed to linked antigens. More than 35 years later, numerous studies have been performed using HBc as a carrier protein for antigens derived from over a dozen different pathogens and diseases. In this review, the authors highlight the intriguing features of HBc as carrier and antigen, illustrated by some examples and experimental results that underscore the value of HBc as an antigen-presenting platform. Two of these HBc fusions, targeting influenza A and malaria, have even progressed into clinical testing. In the future, the HBc-based virus-like particles platform will probably continue to be used for the display of poorly immunogenic antigens, mainly because virus-like particle formation by HBc capsomers is compatible with nearly any available recombinant gene expression system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenny Roose
- Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, VIB, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
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14
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Pushko P, Pumpens P, Grens E. Development of Virus-Like Particle Technology from Small Highly Symmetric to Large Complex Virus-Like Particle Structures. Intervirology 2013; 56:141-65. [DOI: 10.1159/000346773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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15
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Yoon KY, Tan WS, Tey BT, Lee KW, Ho KL. Native agarose gel electrophoresis and electroelution: A fast and cost-effective method to separate the small and large hepatitis B capsids. Electrophoresis 2012; 34:244-53. [PMID: 23161478 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201200257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Revised: 09/09/2012] [Accepted: 09/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) expressed in Escherichia coli is able to self-assemble into large and small capsids comprising 240 (triangulation number T = 4) and 180 (triangulation number T = 3) subunits, respectively. Conventionally, sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation and SEC have been used to separate these capsids. However, good separation of the large and small particles with these methods is never achieved. In the present study, we employed a simple, fast, and cost-effective method to separate the T = 3 and T = 4 HBcAg capsids by using native agarose gel electrophoresis followed by an electroelution method (NAGE-EE). This is a direct, fast, and economic method for isolating the large and small HBcAg particles homogenously based on the hydrodynamic radius of the spherical particles. Dynamic light scattering analysis demonstrated that the T = 3 and T = 4 HBcAg capsids prepared using the NAGE-EE method are monodisperse with polydispersity values of ∼15% and ∼13%, respectively. ELISA proved that the antigenicity of the capsids was not affected in the purification process. Overall, NAGE-EE produced T = 3 and T = 4 capsids with a purity above 90%, and the recovery was 34% and 50%, respectively (total recovery of HBcAg is ∼84%), and the operation time is 15 and 4 times lesser than that of the sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation and SEC, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kam Yee Yoon
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
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16
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Lee KW, Tey BT, Ho KL, Tejo BA, Tan WS. Nanoglue: an alternative way to display cell-internalizing peptide at the spikes of hepatitis B virus core nanoparticles for cell-targeting delivery. Mol Pharm 2012; 9:2415-23. [PMID: 22775561 DOI: 10.1021/mp200389t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cell-internalizing peptides (CIPs) can be used to mediate specific delivery of nanoparticles across cellular membrane. The objective of this study was to develop a display technique using hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid-binding peptide as a "nanoglue" to present CIPs on HBV nanoparticles for cell-targeting delivery. A CIP was selected from a phage display library and cross-linked specifically at the tips of the spikes of the HBV capsid nanoparticle via the "nanoglue" by using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide (sulfo-NHS). Fluorescent oligonucleotides packaged in the nanoparticles and the fluorescein molecules conjugated on the nanoparticles were delivered to cells by using this display technique. This study demonstrated a proof of principle for cell-targeting delivery via "nanoglue" bioconjugation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khai Wooi Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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17
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Vaccination with coxsackievirus B3 virus-like particles elicits humoral immune response and protects mice against myocarditis. Vaccine 2012; 30:2301-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.01.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2011] [Revised: 01/18/2012] [Accepted: 01/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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18
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Wang YS, Ouyang W, Liu XJ, He KW, Yu SQ, Zhang HB, Fan HJ, Lu CP. Virus-like particles of hepatitis B virus core protein containing five mimotopes of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) protect chickens against IBDV. Vaccine 2012; 30:2125-30. [PMID: 22285269 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.01.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2011] [Revised: 01/12/2012] [Accepted: 01/14/2012] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Current infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccines suffer from maternal antibody interference and mimotope vaccines might be an alternative. Previously we demonstrated an IBDV VP2 five-mimotope polypeptide, 5EPIS, elicited protective immunity in chickens. In the current study, the 5epis gene was inserted into a plasmid carrying human hepatitis B virus core protein (HBc) gene at its major immunodominant region site. The recombinant gene was efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli to produce chimeric protein HBc-5EPIS which self-assembles to virus-like particles (VLP). Two-week old specific-pathogen-free chickens were immunized intramuscularly with HBc-5EPIS VLP or 5EPIS polypeptide without adjuvant (50 μg/injection) on day 0, 7, 14 and 21. Anti-5EPIS antibody was first detected on day 7 and day 21 in HBc-5EPIS and 5EPIS groups, respectively; on day 28, anti-5EPIS titers reached 12,800 or 1600 by ELISA, and 3200 or 800 by virus neutralization assay in HBc-5EPIS and 5EPIS groups, respectively. No anti-5EPIS antibody was detected in the buffer control group throughout the experiment. Challenge on day 28 with a virulent IBDV strain (GX8/99) resulted in 100%, 40.0% and 26.7% survival for chickens immunized with HBc-5EPIS, 5EPIS and buffer, respectively. These data suggest epitope presentation on chimeric VLP is a promising approach for improving mimotope vaccines for IBDV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-shan Wang
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China.
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19
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Rodriguez LL, Gay CG. Development of vaccines toward the global control and eradication of foot-and-mouth disease. Expert Rev Vaccines 2011; 10:377-87. [PMID: 21434805 DOI: 10.1586/erv.11.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most economically and socially devastating diseases affecting animal agriculture throughout the world. Although mortality is usually low in adult animals, millions of animals have been killed in efforts to rapidly control and eradicate FMD. The causing virus, FMD virus (FMDV), is a highly variable RNA virus occurring in seven serotypes (A, O, C, Asia 1, Sat 1, Sat 2 and Sat 3) and a large number of subtypes. FMDV is one of the most infectious agents known, affecting cloven-hoofed animals with significant variations in infectivity and virus transmission. Although inactivated FMD vaccines have been available for decades, there is little or no cross-protection across serotypes and subtypes, requiring vaccines that are matched to circulating field strains. Current inactivated vaccines require growth of virulent virus, posing a threat of escape from manufacturing sites, have limited shelf life and require re-vaccination every 4-12 months. These vaccines have aided in the eradication of FMD from Europe and the control of clinical disease in many parts of the world, albeit at a very high cost. However, FMDV persists in endemic regions impacting millions of people dependent on livestock for food and their livelihood. Usually associated with developing countries that lack the resources to control it, FMD is a global problem and the World Organization for Animal Health and the United Nations' Food Agriculture Organization have called for its global control and eradication. One of the main limitations to FMDV eradication is the lack of vaccines designed for this purpose, vaccines that not only protect against clinical signs but that can actually prevent infection and effectively interrupt the natural transmission cycle. These vaccines should be safely and inexpensively produced, be easy to deliver, and also be capable of inducing lifelong immunity against multiple serotypes and subtypes. Furthermore, there is a need for better integrated strategies that fit the specific needs of endemic regions. Availability of these critical components will greatly enhance the chances for the global control and eradication of FMDV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis L Rodriguez
- Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit, Orient Point, New York, NY, USA.
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20
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Tian JQ, Wang Y, Lin N, Guo YJ, Sun SH, Zou DJ. Active Immunization with Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide Vaccine Influences Brain Function and Behaviour in Rats. Scand J Immunol 2010; 72:1-7. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2010.02400.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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21
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Dhar AK, Bowers RM, Rowe CG, Allnutt FT. Expression of a foreign epitope on infectious pancreatic necrosis virus VP2 capsid protein subviral particle (SVP) and immunogenicity in rainbow trout. Antiviral Res 2010; 85:525-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2009.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2009] [Accepted: 12/30/2009] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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22
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Folding properties of the hepatitis B core as a carrier protein for vaccination research. Amino Acids 2009; 38:1617-26. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-009-0365-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2009] [Accepted: 10/07/2009] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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23
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Antibody reactivity of conformational peptide mimics of a conserved H5N1 neutralization site in different fusion proteins. Arch Virol 2009; 155:19-26. [PMID: 19911251 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-009-0542-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2009] [Accepted: 10/07/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Several peptide mimics of a conserved H5N1 avian influenza virus neutralization site recognized by 8H5 mAb have been reported previously. In this study, the secondary and possibly higher structural orders of the peptide mimics 122 and 125 were investigated and found to be closely related to the specific binding with 8H5 mAb. These two peptide mimics were fused to three different carrier proteins, and the antibody binding activities were recovered in 4 of the 11 fusion proteins. HEV structural protein p239 and HBc were more suitable than the outer membrane protein T47 of the Treponema pallidum particle for the recovery of reactivity. The increase in the copy number of peptide mimics was important for the recovery of antibody-binding activity and the interaction between peptide and carrier protein may affect the spatial structure of both the peptide and the carrier protein. These results are likely to be of relevance for conformational peptide mimics in diagnostic tests, vaccine and inhibitors.
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24
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Sun C, Ding FX, Wang F, He XW, He Y, Li ZS, Sun SH. Screen of multifunctional monoclonal antibodies against hepatitis B core virus-like particles. Microbiol Immunol 2009; 53:340-8. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2009.00135.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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25
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Incorporation of membrane-anchored flagellin into influenza virus-like particles enhances the breadth of immune responses. J Virol 2008; 82:11813-23. [PMID: 18786995 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01076-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We have designed a membrane-anchored form of the Toll-like receptor 5 ligand flagellin, the major proinflammatory determinant of enteropathogenic Salmonella, which was found to be glycosylated and expressed on cell surfaces. A chimeric influenza virus-like particle (cVLP) vaccine candidate containing A/PR8/34 (H(1)N(1)) hemagglutinin (HA), matrix protein (M1), and the modified flagellin as a molecular adjuvant was produced. The immunogenicity, including the serum antibody levels and cellular immune responses, and the protective efficacy against homologous and heterologous live virus challenge of the resulting VLPs were tested after intramuscular administration in a mouse model. The results demonstrated that flagellin-containing VLPs elicited higher specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses than standard HA and M1 VLPs, indicating the adjuvant effect of flagellin. Enhanced IgG2a and IgG2b but not IgG1 responses were observed with flagellin-containing VLPs, illuminating the activation of Th1 class immunity. The adjuvant effects of flagellin were also reflected by enhanced specific cellular responses revealed by the secretion of cytokines by freshly isolated splenocyte cultures when stimulated with pools of major histocompatibility complex class I or II peptides. When immunized mice were challenged with homologous live PR8 virus, complete protection was observed for both the standard and cVLP groups. However, when a heterosubtypic A/Philippines (H(3)N(2)) virus was used for challenge, all of the standard VLP group lost at least 25% of body weight, reaching the experimental endpoint. In contrast, for the cVLP group, 67% of mice survived the challenge infection. These results reveal that cVLPs designed by incorporating flagellin as a membrane-anchored adjuvant induce enhanced cross-protective heterosubtypic immune responses. They also indicate that such cVLP vaccines are a promising new approach for protection against pandemic influenza viruses.
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26
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Bandurska K, Brodzik R, Spitsin S, Kohl T, Portocarrero C, Smirnov Y, Pogrebnyak N, Sirko A, Koprowski H, Golovkin M. Plant-produced hepatitis B core protein chimera carrying anthrax protective antigen domain-4. Hybridoma (Larchmt) 2008; 27:241-7. [PMID: 18707542 DOI: 10.1089/hyb.2008.0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) can generate a strong immune response and is recognized as an effective carrier for foreign epitopes. The domain-4 epitope of the anthrax protective antigen (PA-D4) plays an essential role in generating protective immunity against virulent Bacillus anthracis. Here we report the successful production of a recombinant protein comprised of the antigenic PA-D4 integrated into the c/e1 loop of HBcAg in transgenic low-alkaloid Nicotiana tabacum. Sera of mice injected with the plant-derived purified HB/PA-D4 protein exhibited significant anti-PA- and anti-HBcAg-specific IgG titers; however, formation of virus-like particles (VLP) was not observed. These data support the feasibility of producing complex protein chimeras in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Bandurska
- Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA
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