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Improving Protein Quantity and Quality—The Next Level of Plant Molecular Farming. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031326. [PMID: 35163249 PMCID: PMC8836236 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants offer several unique advantages in the production of recombinant pharmaceuticals for humans and animals. Although numerous recombinant proteins have been expressed in plants, only a small fraction have been successfully put into use. The hugely distinct expression systems between plant and animal cells frequently cause insufficient yield of the recombinant proteins with poor or undesired activity. To overcome the issues that greatly constrain the development of plant-produced pharmaceuticals, great efforts have been made to improve expression systems and develop alternative strategies to increase both the quantity and quality of the recombinant proteins. Recent technological revolutions, such as targeted genome editing, deconstructed vectors, virus-like particles, and humanized glycosylation, have led to great advances in plant molecular farming to meet the industrial manufacturing and clinical application standards. In this review, we discuss the technological advances made in various plant expression platforms, with special focus on the upstream designs and milestone achievements in improving the yield and glycosylation of the plant-produced pharmaceutical proteins.
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2
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Plant-Derived Recombinant Vaccines against Zoonotic Viruses. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12020156. [PMID: 35207444 PMCID: PMC8878793 DOI: 10.3390/life12020156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases cause serious illness with billions of cases, and millions of deaths. The most effective way to restrict the spread of zoonotic viruses among humans and animals and prevent disease is vaccination. Recombinant proteins produced in plants offer an alternative approach for the development of safe, effective, inexpensive candidate vaccines. Current strategies are focused on the production of highly immunogenic structural proteins, which mimic the organizations of the native virion but lack the viral genetic material. These include chimeric viral peptides, subunit virus proteins, and virus-like particles (VLPs). The latter, with their ability to self-assemble and thus resemble the form of virus particles, are gaining traction among plant-based candidate vaccines against many infectious diseases. In this review, we summarized the main zoonotic diseases and followed the progress in using plant expression systems for the production of recombinant proteins and VLPs used in the development of plant-based vaccines against zoonotic viruses.
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Berndt AJ, Smalley TN, Ren B, Simkovsky R, Badary A, Sproles AE, Fields FJ, Torres-Tiji Y, Heredia V, Mayfield SP. Recombinant production of a functional SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257089. [PMID: 34793485 PMCID: PMC8601568 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant production of viral proteins can be used to produce vaccine antigens or reagents to identify antibodies in patient serum. Minimally, these proteins must be correctly folded and have appropriate post-translation modifications. Here we report the production of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) in the green algae Chlamydomonas. RBD fused to a fluorescent reporter protein accumulates as an intact protein when targeted for ER-Golgi retention or secreted from the cell, while a chloroplast localized version is truncated. The ER-retained RBD fusion protein was able to bind the human ACE2 receptor, the host target of SARS-CoV-2, and was specifically out-competed by mammalian cell-produced recombinant RBD, suggesting that the algae produced proteins are sufficiently post-translationally modified to act as authentic SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Because algae can be grown at large scale very inexpensively, this recombinant protein may be a low cost alternative to other expression platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J. Berndt
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Tressa N. Smalley
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Bijie Ren
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Ryan Simkovsky
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Amr Badary
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Ashley E. Sproles
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Francis J. Fields
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Yasin Torres-Tiji
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Vanessa Heredia
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Stephen P. Mayfield
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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4
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Zaderer V, Posch W, Gstir R, Filipek PA, Bonn GK, Aramwit P, Huber LA, Wilflingseder D. P80 Natural Essence Exerts Efficient Anti-HIV-1- as Well as Adjuvant Effects in DCs. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:976. [PMID: 34579213 PMCID: PMC8472994 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9090976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs), as well as complement, play a major role during human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) entry and infection at mucosal sites. Together, DCs and complement are key points for understanding host defence against HIV-1 infection and for studying the impact of new drugs on the regulation of innate host-pathogen interactions and adaptive immunity. For this, we evaluated the antiviral effect of the P80 natural essence (Longan extract) on interactions of non- and complement-opsonized HIV-1 with DCs. In viability assays, we first illustrated the effects of P80 natural essence on DC function. We found that P80 concentrations above 1.5% caused increased cell death, while at concentrations between 0.5% and 1% the compound exerted efficient antiviral effects in DCs and illustrated an adjuvant effect regarding DC activation. DC maturation, as well as co-stimulatory capacity, were significantly improved by P80 natural essence via p38 MAPK phosphorylation in presence of the viral challenge independent of the opsonization pattern. These findings might be exploited for future therapeutic options to target DC subsets directly at mucosal sites by P80 natural essence and to block entry of both, non- and complement-opsonized HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Zaderer
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (V.Z.); (W.P.)
| | - Wilfried Posch
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (V.Z.); (W.P.)
| | - Ronald Gstir
- ADSI—Austrian Drug Screening Institute GmbH, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (R.G.); (P.A.F.); (G.K.B.); (L.A.H.)
| | - Przemyslaw A. Filipek
- ADSI—Austrian Drug Screening Institute GmbH, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (R.G.); (P.A.F.); (G.K.B.); (L.A.H.)
| | - Günther K. Bonn
- ADSI—Austrian Drug Screening Institute GmbH, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (R.G.); (P.A.F.); (G.K.B.); (L.A.H.)
| | - Pornanong Aramwit
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center of Excellence in Bioactive Resources for Innovative Clinical Applications, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
| | - Lukas A. Huber
- ADSI—Austrian Drug Screening Institute GmbH, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (R.G.); (P.A.F.); (G.K.B.); (L.A.H.)
- Institute of Cell Biology, Biocenter Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Doris Wilflingseder
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (V.Z.); (W.P.)
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Producing Vaccines against Enveloped Viruses in Plants: Making the Impossible, Difficult. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9070780. [PMID: 34358196 PMCID: PMC8310165 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9070780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The past 30 years have seen the growth of plant molecular farming as an approach to the production of recombinant proteins for pharmaceutical and biotechnological uses. Much of this effort has focused on producing vaccine candidates against viral diseases, including those caused by enveloped viruses. These represent a particular challenge given the difficulties associated with expressing and purifying membrane-bound proteins and achieving correct assembly. Despite this, there have been notable successes both from a biochemical and a clinical perspective, with a number of clinical trials showing great promise. This review will explore the history and current status of plant-produced vaccine candidates against enveloped viruses to date, with a particular focus on virus-like particles (VLPs), which mimic authentic virus structures but do not contain infectious genetic material.
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Venkataraman S, Hefferon K, Makhzoum A, Abouhaidar M. Combating Human Viral Diseases: Will Plant-Based Vaccines Be the Answer? Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9070761. [PMID: 34358177 PMCID: PMC8310141 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9070761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular pharming or the technology of application of plants and plant cell culture to manufacture high-value recombinant proteins has progressed a long way over the last three decades. Whether generated in transgenic plants by stable expression or in plant virus-based transient expression systems, biopharmaceuticals have been produced to combat several human viral diseases that have impacted the world in pandemic proportions. Plants have been variously employed in expressing a host of viral antigens as well as monoclonal antibodies. Many of these biopharmaceuticals have shown great promise in animal models and several of them have performed successfully in clinical trials. The current review elaborates the strategies and successes achieved in generating plant-derived vaccines to target several virus-induced health concerns including highly communicable infectious viral diseases. Importantly, plant-made biopharmaceuticals against hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), the cancer-causing virus human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza virus, zika virus, and the emerging respiratory virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been discussed. The use of plant virus-derived nanoparticles (VNPs) and virus-like particles (VLPs) in generating plant-based vaccines are extensively addressed. The review closes with a critical look at the caveats of plant-based molecular pharming and future prospects towards further advancements in this technology. The use of biopharmed viral vaccines in human medicine and as part of emergency response vaccines and therapeutics in humans looks promising for the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srividhya Venkataraman
- Virology Laboratory, Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada; (K.H.); (M.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Kathleen Hefferon
- Virology Laboratory, Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada; (K.H.); (M.A.)
| | - Abdullah Makhzoum
- Department of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science & Technology, Palapye, Botswana;
| | - Mounir Abouhaidar
- Virology Laboratory, Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada; (K.H.); (M.A.)
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7
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Puente-Massaguer E, Saccardo P, Ferrer-Miralles N, Lecina M, Gòdia F. Coupling Microscopy and Flow Cytometry for a Comprehensive Characterization of Nanoparticle Production in Insect Cells. Cytometry A 2020; 97:921-932. [PMID: 32515126 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.24033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Advancements in the field of characterization techniques have broadened the opportunities to deepen into nanoparticle production bioprocesses. Gag-based virus-like particles (VLPs) have shown their potential as candidates for recombinant vaccine development. However, comprehensive characterization of the production process is still a requirement to meet the desired critical quality attributes. In this work, the production process of Gag VLPs by baculovirus (BV) infection in the reference High Five and Sf9 insect cell lines is characterized in detail. To this end, the Gag polyprotein was fused in frame to the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) to favor process evaluation with multiple analytical tools. Tracking of the infection process using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry revealed a pronounced increase in the complexity of High Five over Sf9 cells. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) characterization determined that changes in cell complexity could be attributed to the presence of occlusion-derived BV in High Five cells, whereas Sf9 cells evidenced a larger proportion of the budded virus phenotype (23-fold). Initial evaluation of the VLP production process using spectrofluorometry showed that higher levels of the Gag-eGFP polyprotein were obtained in High Five cells (3.6-fold). However, comparative analysis based on nanoparticle quantification by flow virometry and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) proved that Sf9 cells were 1.7- and 1.5-fold more productive in terms of assembled VLPs, respectively. Finally, analytical ultracentrifugation coupled to flow virometry evidenced a larger sedimentation coefficient of High Five-derived VLPs, indicating a possible interaction with other cellular compounds. Taken together, these results highlight the combined use of microscopy and flow cytometry techniques to improve vaccine development processes using the insect cell/BV expression vector system. © 2020 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard Puente-Massaguer
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paolo Saccardo
- Plataforma de Producción de Proteínas, CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Neus Ferrer-Miralles
- Plataforma de Producción de Proteínas, CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martí Lecina
- IQS School of Engineering, Universitat Ramón Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Gòdia
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
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8
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Puente-Massaguer E, Lecina M, Gòdia F. Application of advanced quantification techniques in nanoparticle-based vaccine development with the Sf9 cell baculovirus expression system. Vaccine 2020; 38:1849-1859. [PMID: 31911032 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.11.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Nanoparticles generated by recombinant technologies are receiving increased interest in several applications, particularly the use of virus like particles (VLPs) for the generation of safer vaccines. The characterization and quantification of these nanoparticles with complex structures is very relevant for a better comprehension of the production systems and should circumvent the limitations of the most conventional quantification techniques often used. Here, we applied confocal microscopy, flow virometry and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) to assess the production process of Gag virus-like particles (VLPs) in the Sf9 cell/baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS). These novel techniques were implemented in an optimization workflow based on Design of Experiments (DoE) and desirability functions to determine the best production conditions. A higher level of sensitivity was observed for NTA and confocal microscopy but flow virometry proved to be more accurate. Interestingly, extracellular vesicles were detected as an important source of contamination of this system. The synergistic interplay of viable cell concentration at infection (CCI), multiplicity of infection (MOI) and time of harvest (TOH) was assessed on five objective responses: VLP assembly, baculovirus infection, VLP production, cell viability and VLP productivity. Two global optimal conditions were defined, one targeting the maximal yield of VLPs and the other providing a balance between production and assembled VLPs. In both cases, a low MOI proved to be the best condition to achieve the highest VLP production and productivity yields. Cryo-EM analysis of nanoparticles produced in these conditions showed the typical size and morphology of HIV-1 VLPs. This study presents an integrative approach based on the combination of DoE and direct nanoparticle quantification techniques to comprehensively optimize the production of VLPs and other viral-based biotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard Puente-Massaguer
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martí Lecina
- IQS School of Engineering, Universitat Ramón Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Gòdia
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
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9
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Venkataraman S, Reddy VS, Khurana SMP. Biomedical Applications of Viral Nanoparticles in Vaccine Therapy. Nanobiomedicine (Rij) 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9898-9_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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10
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Cervera L, Gòdia F, Tarrés-Freixas F, Aguilar-Gurrieri C, Carrillo J, Blanco J, Gutiérrez-Granados S. Production of HIV-1-based virus-like particles for vaccination: achievements and limits. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:7367-7384. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-10038-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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11
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Zhang Z, Wei X, Lin Y, Huang F, Shao J, Qi J, Deng T, Li Z, Gao S, Li S, Yu H, Zhao Q, Li S, Gu Y, Xia N. HIV-1 Membrane-Proximal External Region Fused to Diphtheria Toxin Domain-A Elicits 4E10-Like Antibodies in Mice. Immunol Lett 2019; 213:30-38. [PMID: 31356841 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2019.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 07/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The production of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) is a major goal in the development of an HIV-1 vaccine. The membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of gp41, which plays a critical role in the virus membrane fusion process, is highly conserved and targeted by bNAbs 2F5, 4E10, and 10E8. As such, MPER could be a promising epitope for vaccine design. In this study, diphtheria toxin domain A (CRM197, amino acids 1-191) was used as a scaffold to display the 2F5 and 4E10 epitopes of MPER, named CRM197-A-2F5 and CRM197-A-4E10. Modest neutralizing activities were detected against HIV-1 clade B and D viruses in the sera from mice immunized with CRM197-A-4E10. Monoclonal antibodies raised from CRM197-A-4E10 could neutralize several HIV-1 strains, and epitope-mapping analysis indicated that some antibodies recognized the same amino acids as 4E10. Collectively, we show that 4E10-like antibodies can be induced by displaying MPER epitopes using an appropriate scaffold. These results provide insights for HIV-1 MPER-based immunogens design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xiang Wei
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yanling Lin
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Fang Huang
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jia Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jialong Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Tingting Deng
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Zizhen Li
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Shuangquan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Shaoyong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Hai Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Qinjian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Shaowei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Ying Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Ningshao Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
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12
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Margolin E, Chapman R, Williamson A, Rybicki EP, Meyers AE. Production of complex viral glycoproteins in plants as vaccine immunogens. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2018; 16:1531-1545. [PMID: 29890031 PMCID: PMC6097131 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Plant molecular farming offers a cost-effective and scalable approach to the expression of recombinant proteins which has been proposed as an alternative to conventional production platforms for developing countries. In recent years, numerous proofs of concept have established that plants can produce biologically active recombinant proteins and immunologically relevant vaccine antigens that are comparable to those made in conventional expression systems. Driving many of these advances is the remarkable plasticity of the plant proteome which enables extensive engineering of the host cell, as well as the development of improved expression vectors facilitating higher levels of protein production. To date, the only plant-derived viral glycoprotein to be tested in humans is the influenza haemagglutinin which expresses at ~50 mg/kg. However, many other viral glycoproteins that have potential as vaccine immunogens only accumulate at low levels in planta. A critical consideration for the production of many of these proteins in heterologous expression systems is the complexity of post-translational modifications, such as control of folding, glycosylation and disulphide bridging, which is required to reproduce the native glycoprotein structure. In this review, we will address potential shortcomings of plant expression systems and discuss strategies to optimally exploit the technology for the production of immunologically relevant and structurally authentic glycoproteins for use as vaccine immunogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Margolin
- Division of Medical VirologyDepartment of PathologyFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Biopharming Research UnitDepartment of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Ros Chapman
- Division of Medical VirologyDepartment of PathologyFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Anna‐Lise Williamson
- Division of Medical VirologyDepartment of PathologyFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Edward P. Rybicki
- Division of Medical VirologyDepartment of PathologyFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Biopharming Research UnitDepartment of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Ann E. Meyers
- Biopharming Research UnitDepartment of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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13
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Meador LR, Kessans SA, Kilbourne J, Kibler KV, Pantaleo G, Roderiguez ME, Blattman JN, Jacobs BL, Mor TS. A heterologous prime-boosting strategy with replicating Vaccinia virus vectors and plant-produced HIV-1 Gag/dgp41 virus-like particles. Virology 2017; 507:242-256. [PMID: 28458036 PMCID: PMC5529300 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2017.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Showing modest efficacy, the RV144 HIV-1 vaccine clinical trial utilized a non-replicating canarypox viral vector and a soluble gp120 protein boost. Here we built upon the RV144 strategy by developing a novel combination of a replicating, but highly-attenuated Vaccinia virus vector, NYVAC-KC, and plant-produced HIV-1 virus-like particles (VLPs). Both components contained the full-length Gag and a membrane anchored truncated gp41 presenting the membrane proximal external region with its conserved broadly neutralizing epitopes in the pre-fusion conformation. We tested different prime/boost combinations of these components in mice and showed that the group primed with NYVAC-KC and boosted with both the viral vectors and plant-produced VLPs have the most robust Gag-specific CD8 T cell responses, at 12.7% of CD8 T cells expressing IFN-γ in response to stimulation with five Gag epitopes. The same immunization group elicited the best systemic and mucosal antibody responses to Gag and dgp41 with a bias towards IgG1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia R Meador
- Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Sarah A Kessans
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Kilbourne
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Karen V Kibler
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Giuseppe Pantaleo
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Swiss Vaccine Research Institute, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Joseph N Blattman
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Bertram L Jacobs
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
| | - Tsafrir S Mor
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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14
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Deb A, Johnson WA, Kline AP, Scott BJ, Meador LR, Srinivas D, Martin-Garcia JM, Dörner K, Borges CR, Misra R, Hogue BG, Fromme P, Mor TS. Bacterial expression, correct membrane targeting and functional folding of the HIV-1 membrane protein Vpu using a periplasmic signal peptide. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172529. [PMID: 28225803 PMCID: PMC5321405 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral protein U (Vpu) is a type-III integral membrane protein encoded by Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV- 1). It is expressed in infected host cells and plays several roles in viral progeny escape from infected cells, including down-regulation of CD4 receptors. But key structure/function questions remain regarding the mechanisms by which the Vpu protein contributes to HIV-1 pathogenesis. Here we describe expression of Vpu in bacteria, its purification and characterization. We report the successful expression of PelB-Vpu in Escherichia coli using the leader peptide pectate lyase B (PelB) from Erwinia carotovora. The protein was detergent extractable and could be isolated in a very pure form. We demonstrate that the PelB signal peptide successfully targets Vpu to the cell membranes and inserts it as a type I membrane protein. PelB-Vpu was biophysically characterized by circular dichroism and dynamic light scattering experiments and was shown to be an excellent candidate for elucidating structural models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpan Deb
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- The Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - William A. Johnson
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- The Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Alexander P. Kline
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- The Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Boston J. Scott
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- The Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Lydia R. Meador
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- The Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Dustin Srinivas
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- The Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jose M. Martin-Garcia
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- The Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Katerina Dörner
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Chad R. Borges
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- The Biodesign Center for Personal Diagnostics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Rajeev Misra
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Brenda G. Hogue
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- The Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- The Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Petra Fromme
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- The Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Tsafrir S. Mor
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- The Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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15
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Zahin M, Joh J, Khanal S, Husk A, Mason H, Warzecha H, Ghim SJ, Miller DM, Matoba N, Jenson AB. Scalable Production of HPV16 L1 Protein and VLPs from Tobacco Leaves. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160995. [PMID: 27518899 PMCID: PMC4982596 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer is the most common malignancy among women particularly in developing countries, with human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 causing 50% of invasive cervical cancers. A plant-based HPV vaccine is an alternative to the currently available virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines, and would be much less expensive. We optimized methods to express HPV16 L1 protein and purify VLPs from tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) leaves transfected with the magnICON deconstructed viral vector expression system. L1 proteins were extracted from agro-infiltrated leaves using a series of pH and salt mediated buffers. Expression levels of L1 proteins and VLPs were verified by immunoblot and ELISA, which confirmed the presence of sequential and conformational epitopes, respectively. Among three constructs tested (16L1d22, TPL1d22, and TPL1F), TPL1F, containing a full-length L1 and chloroplast transit peptide, was best. Extraction of HPV16 L1 from leaf tissue was most efficient (> 2.5% of total soluble protein) with a low-salt phosphate buffer. VLPs were purified using both cesium chloride (CsCl) density gradient and size exclusion chromatography. Electron microscopy studies confirmed the presence of assembled forms of HPV16 L1 VLPs. Collectively; our results indicated that chloroplast-targeted transient expression in tobacco plants is promising for the production of a cheap, efficacious HPV16 L1 VLP vaccine. Studies are underway to develop plant VLPs for the production of a cervical cancer vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Zahin
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Joongho Joh
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Sujita Khanal
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Adam Husk
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
- Owensboro Cancer Research Program, Owensboro, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Hugh Mason
- Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Heribert Warzecha
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universita¨t Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 3–5, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Shin-je Ghim
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Donald M. Miller
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Nobuyuki Matoba
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
- Owensboro Cancer Research Program, Owensboro, Kentucky, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Alfred Bennett Jenson
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
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16
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Kessans SA, Linhart MD, Meador LR, Kilbourne J, Hogue BG, Fromme P, Matoba N, Mor TS. Immunological Characterization of Plant-Based HIV-1 Gag/Dgp41 Virus-Like Particles. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151842. [PMID: 26986483 PMCID: PMC4795674 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
It is widely anticipated that a prophylactic vaccine may be needed to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic worldwide. Despite over two decades of research, a vaccine against HIV-1 remains elusive, although a recent clinical trial has shown promising results. Recent studies have focused on highly conserved domains within HIV-1 such as the membrane proximal external region (MPER) of the envelope glycoprotein, gp41. MPER has been shown to play critical roles in mucosal transmission of HIV-1, though this peptide is poorly immunogenic on its own. Here we provide evidence that plant-produced HIV-1 enveloped virus-like particles (VLPs) consisting of Gag and a deconstructed form of gp41 comprising the MPER, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic domains (Dgp41) provides an effective platform to display MPER for use as an HIV vaccine candidate. Prime-boost strategies combining systemic and mucosal priming with systemic boosting using two different vaccine candidates (VLPs and CTB-MPR--a fusion of MPER and the B-subunit of cholera toxin) were investigated in BALB/c mice. Serum antibody responses against both the Gag and gp41 antigens were elicited when systemically primed with VLPs. These responses could be recalled following systemic boosting with VLPs. In addition, mucosal priming with VLPs allowed for a boosting response against Gag and gp41 when boosted with either candidate. Importantly, the VLPs also induced Gag-specific CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses. This report on the immunogenicity of plant-based Gag/Dgp41 VLPs may represent an important milestone on the road towards a broadly efficacious and inexpensive subunit vaccine against HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Kessans
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Mark D. Linhart
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Lydia R. Meador
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jacquelyn Kilbourne
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Brenda G. Hogue
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Petra Fromme
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Nobuyuki Matoba
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Tsafrir S. Mor
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
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17
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Williamson AL, Rybicki EP. Justification for the inclusion of Gag in HIV vaccine candidates. Expert Rev Vaccines 2015; 15:585-98. [PMID: 26645951 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2016.1129904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
It is widely accepted that effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccines need to elicit a range of responses, including neutralising antibodies and T-cells. In natural HIV infections, immune responses to Gag are associated with lower viral load in infected individuals, and these responses can be measured against infected cells before the replication of HIV. Priming immune responses to Gag with DNA or recombinant Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccines, and boosting with Gag virus-like particles as subunit vaccines or Gag produced in vivo by other vaccine vectors, elicits high-magnitude, broad polyfunctional responses, with memory T-cell responses appropriate for virus control. This review provides justification for the inclusion of HIV Gag in vaccine regimens, either as a transgene expressing protein that may assemble to form budded particles, or as purified virus-like particles. Possible benefits would include early control via CD8(+) T-cells at the site of infection, control of spread from the entry portal, and control of viraemia if infection is established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Lise Williamson
- a Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.,b National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town and Department of Pathology , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa
| | - Edward P Rybicki
- a Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.,c Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa
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18
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Abstract
The VLPNPV 2014 Conference that was convened at the Salk institute was the second conference of its kind to focus on advances in production, purification, and delivery of virus-like particles (VLPs) and nanoparticles. Many exciting developments were reported and discussed in this interdisciplinary arena, but here we report specifically on the contributions of plant-based platforms to VLP vaccine technology as reported in the section of the conference devoted to the topic as well in additional presentations throughout the meeting. The increasing popularity of plant production platforms is due to their lower cost, scalability, and lack of contaminating animal pathogens seen with other systems. Reports include production of complex VLPs consisting of 4 proteins expressed at finely-tuned expression levels, a prime-boost strategy for HIV vaccination using plant-made VLPs and a live viral vector, and the characterization and development of plant viral nanoparticles for use in cancer vaccines, drug delivery, and bioimaging.
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Key Words
- Ab, antibody
- BPV, bovine papillomavirus
- BTV, Bluetongue virus
- CPMV, cowpea mosaic virus
- ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- HBV, Hepatitis B virus
- HER2, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (also called c-ErbB-2)
- HIV, human immunodeficiency virus
- HIV-1
- HT, HyperTrans
- Hepatitis B core antigen
- Ig, immunoglobulin
- MPR, membrane proximal region
- NPV, nano-particle vaccine
- PEG, polyethylene glycol
- PVX, potato virus X
- SNP, spherical nanoparticle
- TMV, tobacco mosaic virus
- UTR, untranslated region
- VLP, virus-like particle
- VNP, viral nanoparticle
- bluetongue virus
- c-Erbb-2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)
- cowpea mosaic virus
- i.p., intraperitoneal
- live viral vectors
- potato virus X
- tobacco mosaic virus
- viral nanoparticles
- virus-like particles
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia R Meador
- a School of Life Sciences and The Biodesign Institute ; Arizona State University ; Tempe , AZ USA
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19
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Scotti N, Sannino L, Idoine A, Hamman P, De Stradis A, Giorio P, Maréchal-Drouard L, Bock R, Cardi T. The HIV-1 Pr55 gag polyprotein binds to plastidial membranes and leads to severe impairment of chloroplast biogenesis and seedling lethality in transplastomic tobacco plants. Transgenic Res 2015; 24:319-31. [PMID: 25348481 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-014-9845-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Chloroplast genetic engineering has long been recognised as a powerful technology to produce recombinant proteins. To date, however, little attention has been given to the causes of pleiotropic effects reported, in some cases, as consequence of the expression of foreign proteins in transgenic plastids. In this study, we investigated the phenotypic alterations observed in transplastomic tobacco plants accumulating the Pr55(gag) polyprotein of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). The expression of Pr55(gag) at high levels in the tobacco plastome leads to a lethal phenotype of seedlings grown in soil, severe impairment of plastid development and photosynthetic activity, with chloroplasts largely resembling undeveloped proplastids. These alterations are associated to the binding of Pr55(gag) to thylakoids. During particle assembly in HIV-1 infected human cells, the binding of Pr55(gag) to a specific lipid [phosphatidylinositol-(4-5) bisphosphate] in the plasma membrane is mediated by myristoylation at the amino-terminus and the so-called highly basic region (HBR). Surprisingly, the non-myristoylated Pr55(gag) expressed in tobacco plastids was likely able, through the HBR motif, to bind to nonphosphorous glycerogalactolipids or other classes of lipids present in plastidial membranes. Although secondary consequences of disturbed chloroplast biogenesis on expression of nuclear-encoded plastid proteins cannot be ruled out, results of proteomic analyses suggest that their altered accumulation could be due to retrograde control in which chloroplasts relay their status to the nucleus for fine-tuning of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Scotti
- CNR-IBBR, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, National Research Council of Italy, Via Università 133, 80055, Portici, NA, Italy,
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20
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Mucosal Vaccines from Plant Biotechnology. Mucosal Immunol 2015. [PMCID: PMC7158328 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-415847-4.00065-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The use of plants for production of recombinant proteins has evolved over the past 25 years. The first plant-based vaccines were expressed in stably transgenic plants, with the idea to conveniently deliver “edible vaccines” by ingestion of the antigen-containing plant material. These systems provided a proof of concept that oral delivery of vaccines in crude plant material could stimulate antigen-specific serum and mucosal antibodies. Transgenic grains like rice in particular provide a stable and robust vehicle for antigen delivery. However, some issues exist with stably transgenic plants, including relatively low expression levels and regulatory issues. Thus, many recent studies use transient expression with plant viral vectors to achieve rapid high expression in Nicotiana benthamiana, followed by purification of antigen and intranasal delivery for effective stimulation of mucosal immune responses.
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21
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Abstract
Plant-made or "biofarmed" viral vaccines are some of the earliest products of the technology of plant molecular farming, and remain some of the brightest prospects for the success of this field. Proofs of principle and of efficacy exist for many candidate viral veterinary vaccines; the use of plant-made viral antigens and of monoclonal antibodies for therapy of animal and even human viral disease is also well established. This review explores some of the more prominent recent advances in the biofarming of viral vaccines and therapies, including the recent use of ZMapp for Ebolavirus infection, and explores some possible future applications of the technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward P Rybicki
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa.
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22
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Gong Z, Kessans SA, Song L, Dörner K, Lee HH, Meador LR, LaBaer J, Hogue BG, Mor TS, Fromme P. Recombinant expression, purification, and biophysical characterization of the transmembrane and membrane proximal domains of HIV-1 gp41. Protein Sci 2014; 23:1607-18. [PMID: 25155369 DOI: 10.1002/pro.2540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Revised: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 08/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The transmembrane subunit (gp41) of the envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1 associates noncovalently with the surface subunit (gp120) and together they play essential roles in viral mucosal transmission and infection of target cells. The membrane proximal region (MPR) of gp41 is highly conserved and contains epitopes of broadly neutralizing antibodies. The transmembrane (TM) domain of gp41 not only anchors the envelope glycoprotein complex in the viral membrane but also dynamically affects the interactions of the MPR with the membrane. While high-resolution X-ray structures of some segments of the MPR were solved in the past, they represent the post-fusion forms. Structural information on the TM domain of gp41 is scant and at low resolution. Here we describe the design, expression and purification of a protein construct that includes MPR and the transmembrane domain of gp41 (MPR-TMTEV-6His), which reacts with the broadly neutralizing antibodies 2F5 and 4E10 and thereby may represent an immunologically relevant conformation mimicking a prehairpin intermediate of gp41. The expression level of MPR-TMTEV-6His was improved by fusion to the C-terminus of Mistic protein, yielding ∼ 1 mg of pure protein per liter. The isolated MPR-TMTEV-6His protein was biophysically characterized and is a monodisperse candidate for crystallization. This work will enable further investigation into the structure of MPR-TMTEV-6His, which will be important for the structure-based design of a mucosal vaccine against HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Gong
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287-1604; The Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287
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23
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Hernández M, Rosas G, Cervantes J, Fragoso G, Rosales-Mendoza S, Sciutto E. Transgenic plants: a 5-year update on oral antipathogen vaccine development. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 13:1523-36. [PMID: 25158836 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2014.953064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The progressive interest in transgenic plants as advantageous platforms for the production and oral delivery of vaccines has led to extensive research and improvements in this technology over recent years. In this paper, the authors examine the most significant advances in this area, including novel approaches for higher yields and better containment, and the continued evaluation of new vaccine prototypes against several infectious diseases. The use of plants to deliver vaccine candidates against viruses, bacteria, and eukaryotic parasites within the last 5 years is discussed, focusing on innovative expression strategies and the immunogenic potential of new vaccines. A brief section on the state of the art in mucosal immunity is also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisela Hernández
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 México, DF, México
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