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Mamedov T, Yuksel D, Ilgın M, Gürbüzaslan I, Gulec B, Mammadova G, Ozdarendeli A, Yetiskin H, Kaplan B, Islam Pavel ST, Uygut MA, Hasanova G. Production and Characterization of Nucleocapsid and RBD Cocktail Antigens of SARS-CoV-2 in Nicotiana benthamiana Plant as a Vaccine Candidate against COVID-19. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1337. [PMID: 34835268 PMCID: PMC8621474 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9111337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has put global public health at high risk, rapidly spreading around the world. Although several COVID-19 vaccines are available for mass immunization, the world still urgently needs highly effective, reliable, cost-effective, and safe SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus vaccines, as well as antiviral and therapeutic drugs, to control the COVID-19 pandemic given the emerging variant strains of the virus. Recently, we successfully produced receptor-binding domain (RBD) variants in the Nicotiana benthamiana plant as promising vaccine candidates against COVID-19 and demonstrated that mice immunized with these antigens elicited a high titer of RBD-specific antibodies with potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we engineered the nucleocapsid (N) protein and co-expressed it with RBD of SARS-CoV-2 in Nicotiana benthamiana plant to produce an antigen cocktail. The purification yields were about 22 or 24 mg of pure protein/kg of plant biomass for N or N+RBD antigens, respectively. The purified plant produced N protein was recognized by N protein-specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies demonstrating specific reactivity of mAb to plant-produced N protein. In this study, for the first time, we report the co-expression of RBD with N protein to produce a cocktail antigen of SARS-CoV-2, which elicited high-titer antibodies with potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2. Thus, obtained data support that a plant-produced antigen cocktail, developed in this study, is a promising vaccine candidate against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarlan Mamedov
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (G.H.)
| | - Damla Yuksel
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (G.H.)
| | - Merve Ilgın
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (G.H.)
| | - Irem Gürbüzaslan
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (G.H.)
| | - Burcu Gulec
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (G.H.)
| | - Gulshan Mammadova
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (G.H.)
| | - Aykut Ozdarendeli
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; (A.O.); (H.Y.); (B.K.); (S.T.I.P.); (M.A.U.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey
| | - Hazel Yetiskin
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; (A.O.); (H.Y.); (B.K.); (S.T.I.P.); (M.A.U.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey
| | - Busra Kaplan
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; (A.O.); (H.Y.); (B.K.); (S.T.I.P.); (M.A.U.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey
| | - Shaikh Terkis Islam Pavel
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; (A.O.); (H.Y.); (B.K.); (S.T.I.P.); (M.A.U.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey
| | - Muhammet Ali Uygut
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; (A.O.); (H.Y.); (B.K.); (S.T.I.P.); (M.A.U.)
| | - Gulnara Hasanova
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (G.H.)
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Maharjan PM, Choe S. Plant-Based COVID-19 Vaccines: Current Status, Design, and Development Strategies of Candidate Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:992. [PMID: 34579229 PMCID: PMC8473425 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9090992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in its second year has led to massive global human and economic losses. The high transmission rate and the emergence of diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants demand rapid and effective approaches to preventing the spread, diagnosing on time, and treating affected people. Several COVID-19 vaccines are being developed using different production systems, including plants, which promises the production of cheap, safe, stable, and effective vaccines. The potential of a plant-based system for rapid production at a commercial scale and for a quick response to an infectious disease outbreak has been demonstrated by the marketing of carrot-cell-produced taliglucerase alfa (Elelyso) for Gaucher disease and tobacco-produced monoclonal antibodies (ZMapp) for the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Currently, two plant-based COVID-19 vaccine candidates, coronavirus virus-like particle (CoVLP) and Kentucky Bioprocessing (KBP)-201, are in clinical trials, and many more are in the preclinical stage. Interim phase 2 clinical trial results have revealed the high safety and efficacy of the CoVLP vaccine, with 10 times more neutralizing antibody responses compared to those present in a convalescent patient's plasma. The clinical trial of the CoVLP vaccine could be concluded by the end of 2021, and the vaccine could be available for public immunization thereafter. This review encapsulates the efforts made in plant-based COVID-19 vaccine development, the strategies and technologies implemented, and the progress accomplished in clinical trials and preclinical studies so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puna Maya Maharjan
- G+FLAS Life Sciences, 123 Uiryodanji-gil, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28161, Korea;
| | - Sunghwa Choe
- G+FLAS Life Sciences, 38 Nakseongdae-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08790, Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea
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3
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Mamedov T, Yuksel D, Ilgın M, Gurbuzaslan I, Gulec B, Yetiskin H, Uygut MA, Islam Pavel ST, Ozdarendeli A, Mammadova G, Say D, Hasanova G. Plant-Produced Glycosylated and In Vivo Deglycosylated Receptor Binding Domain Proteins of SARS-CoV-2 Induce Potent Neutralizing Responses in Mice. Viruses 2021; 13:1595. [PMID: 34452461 PMCID: PMC8402646 DOI: 10.3390/v13081595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has rapidly spread to more than 222 countries and has put global public health at high risk. The world urgently needs cost-effective and safe SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, antiviral, and therapeutic drugs to control it. In this study, we engineered the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein and produced it in the plant Nicotiana benthamiana in a glycosylated and deglycosylated form. Expression levels of both glycosylated (gRBD) and deglycosylated (dRBD) RBD were greater than 45 mg/kg fresh weight. The purification yields were 22 mg of pure protein/kg of plant biomass for gRBD and 20 mg for dRBD, which would be sufficient for commercialization of these vaccine candidates. The purified plant-produced RBD protein was recognized by an S protein-specific monoclonal antibody, demonstrating specific reactivity of the antibody to the plant-produced RBD proteins. The SARS-CoV-2 RBD showed specific binding to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the SARS-CoV-2 receptor. In mice, the plant-produced RBD antigens elicited high titers of antibodies with a potent virus-neutralizing activity. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that mice immunized with plant-produced deglycosylated RBD form elicited high titer of RBD-specific antibodies with potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, obtained data support that plant-produced glycosylated and in vivo deglycosylated RBD antigens, developed in this study, are promising vaccine candidates for the prevention of COVID-19.
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MESH Headings
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/metabolism
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Glycosylation
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Neutralization Tests
- Plants, Genetically Modified
- Protein Binding
- Protein Domains
- Protein Engineering
- Protein Stability
- Receptors, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- SARS-CoV-2/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Nicotiana/genetics
- Nicotiana/metabolism
- Vero Cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarlan Mamedov
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Damla Yuksel
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Merve Ilgın
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Irem Gurbuzaslan
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Burcu Gulec
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Hazel Yetiskin
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Muhammet Ali Uygut
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
| | - Shaikh Terkis Islam Pavel
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Aykut Ozdarendeli
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Gulshan Mammadova
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Deniz Say
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Gulnara Hasanova
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
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Rattanapisit K, Yusakul G, Shanmugaraj B, Kittirotruji K, Suwatsrisakul P, Prompetchara E, Taychakhoonavud S, Phoolcharoen W. Plant-produced recombinant SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain; an economical, scalable biomaterial source for COVID-19 diagnosis. BIOMATERIALS TRANSLATIONAL 2021; 2:43-49. [PMID: 35837255 PMCID: PMC9255829 DOI: 10.3877/cma.j.issn.2096-112x.2021.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), spread rapidly causing a severe global health burden. The standard COVID-19 diagnosis relies heavily on molecular tests to detect viral RNA in patient samples; however, this method is costly, requires highly-equipped laboratories, multiple reagents, skilled laboratory technicians, and takes 3-6 hours to complete. To overcome these limitations, we developed a plant-based production platform for the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain as an economical source of detection reagents for a lateral-flow immunoassay strip (LFIA) which is suitable for detection of IgM/IgG antibodies in human samples. Further, we validated the plant-produced SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain-based LFIA as a useful diagnostic tool for COVID-19. A total of 51 confirmed COVID-19 serum samples were tested using the LFIA, and the obtained results were consistent with those from polymerase chain reaction assays, while providing sensitivity and specificity of 94.1% and 98%, respectively. The developed LFIA is rapid, scalable, user-friendly, and relatively inexpensive with a simple test procedure, making it useful for the routine monitoring of COVID-19 in clinical settings. This study was approved on March 19, 2020 by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University (COA No. 354/2020 and IRB No. 236/63).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gorawit Yusakul
- School of Pharmacy, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | | | | | | | - Eakachai Prompetchara
- Centre of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Centre, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Suthira Taychakhoonavud
- Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand,Corresponding authors: Suthira Taychakhoonavud, ; Waranyoo Phoolcharoen,
| | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Research Unit for Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand,Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand,Corresponding authors: Suthira Taychakhoonavud, ; Waranyoo Phoolcharoen,
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Siriwattananon K, Manopwisedjaroen S, Kanjanasirirat P, Budi Purwono P, Rattanapisit K, Shanmugaraj B, Smith DR, Borwornpinyo S, Thitithanyanont A, Phoolcharoen W. Development of Plant-Produced Recombinant ACE2-Fc Fusion Protein as a Potential Therapeutic Agent Against SARS-CoV-2. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 11:604663. [PMID: 33584747 PMCID: PMC7874119 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.604663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which has recently emerged as a potential threat to global public health. SARS-CoV-2 is the third known human coronavirus that has huge impact on the human population after SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Although some vaccines and therapeutic drugs are currently in clinical trials, none of them are approved for commercial use yet. As with SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the cell entry receptor to enter into the host cell. In this study, we have transiently produced human ACE2 fused with the Fc region of human IgG1 in Nicotiana benthamiana and the in vitro neutralization efficacy of the plant-produced ACE2-Fc fusion protein was assessed. The recombinant ACE2-Fc fusion protein was expressed in N. benthamiana at 100 μg/g leaf fresh weight on day 6 post-infiltration. The recombinant fusion protein showed potent binding to receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. Importantly, the plant-produced fusion protein exhibited potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in vitro. Treatment with ACE2-Fc fusion protein after viral infection dramatically inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in Vero cells with an IC50 value of 0.84 μg/ml. Moreover, treatment with ACE2-Fc fusion protein at the pre-entry stage suppressed SARS-CoV-2 infection with an IC50 of 94.66 μg/ml. These findings put a spotlight on the plant-produced ACE2-Fc fusion protein as a potential therapeutic candidate against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konlavat Siriwattananon
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Priyo Budi Purwono
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Kaewta Rattanapisit
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Balamurugan Shanmugaraj
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Duncan R. Smith
- Institute of Molecular Bioscience, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand
| | - Suparerk Borwornpinyo
- Excellence Center for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Margolin E, Crispin M, Meyers A, Chapman R, Rybicki EP. A Roadmap for the Molecular Farming of Viral Glycoprotein Vaccines: Engineering Glycosylation and Glycosylation-Directed Folding. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:609207. [PMID: 33343609 PMCID: PMC7744475 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.609207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Immunization with recombinant glycoprotein-based vaccines is a promising approach to induce protective immunity against viruses. However, the complex biosynthetic maturation requirements of these glycoproteins typically necessitate their production in mammalian cells to support their folding and post-translational modification. Despite these clear advantages, the incumbent costs and infrastructure requirements with this approach can be prohibitive in developing countries, and the production scales and timelines may prove limiting when applying these production systems to the control of pandemic viral outbreaks. Plant molecular farming of viral glycoproteins has been suggested as a cheap and rapidly scalable alternative production system, with the potential to perform post-translational modifications that are comparable to mammalian cells. Consequently, plant-produced glycoprotein vaccines for seasonal and pandemic influenza have shown promise in clinical trials, and vaccine candidates against the newly emergent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 have entered into late stage preclinical and clinical testing. However, many other viral glycoproteins accumulate poorly in plants, and are not appropriately processed along the secretory pathway due to differences in the host cellular machinery. Furthermore, plant-derived glycoproteins often contain glycoforms that are antigenically distinct from those present on the native virus, and may also be under-glycosylated in some instances. Recent advances in the field have increased the complexity and yields of biologics that can be produced in plants, and have now enabled the expression of many viral glycoproteins which could not previously be produced in plant systems. In contrast to the empirical optimization that predominated during the early years of molecular farming, the next generation of plant-made products are being produced by developing rational, tailor-made approaches to support their production. This has involved the elimination of plant-specific glycoforms and the introduction into plants of elements of the biosynthetic machinery from different expression hosts. These approaches have resulted in the production of mammalian N-linked glycans and the formation of O-glycan moieties in planta. More recently, plant molecular engineering approaches have also been applied to improve the glycan occupancy of proteins which are not appropriately glycosylated, and to support the folding and processing of viral glycoproteins where the cellular machinery differs from the usual expression host of the protein. Here we highlight recent achievements and remaining challenges in glycoengineering and the engineering of glycosylation-directed folding pathways in plants, and discuss how these can be applied to produce recombinant viral glycoproteins vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Margolin
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Max Crispin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Ann Meyers
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ros Chapman
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Edward P. Rybicki
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Rattanapisit K, Shanmugaraj B, Manopwisedjaroen S, Purwono PB, Siriwattananon K, Khorattanakulchai N, Hanittinan O, Boonyayothin W, Thitithanyanont A, Smith DR, Phoolcharoen W. Rapid production of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) and spike specific monoclonal antibody CR3022 in Nicotiana benthamiana. Sci Rep 2020. [PMID: 33077899 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-27160/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the ongoing global outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which is a significant threat to global public health. The rapid spread of COVID-19 necessitates the development of cost-effective technology platforms for the production of vaccines, drugs, and protein reagents for appropriate disease diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we explored the possibility of producing the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 and an anti-SARS-CoV monoclonal antibody (mAb) CR3022 in Nicotiana benthamiana. Both RBD and mAb CR3022 were transiently produced with the highest expression level of 8 μg/g and 130 μg/g leaf fresh weight respectively at 3 days post-infiltration. The plant-produced RBD exhibited specific binding to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Furthermore, the plant-produced mAb CR3022 binds to SARS-CoV-2, but fails to neutralize the virus in vitro. This is the first report showing the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD and mAb CR3022 in plants. Overall these findings provide a proof-of-concept for using plants as an expression system for the production of SARS-CoV-2 antigens and antibodies or similar other diagnostic reagents against SARS-CoV-2 rapidly, especially during epidemic or pandemic situation.
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MESH Headings
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism
- Antibodies, Viral/genetics
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/metabolism
- Betacoronavirus/metabolism
- COVID-19
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Coronavirus Infections/pathology
- Coronavirus Infections/virology
- Humans
- Neutralization Tests
- Pandemics
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/chemistry
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/metabolism
- Plant Leaves/metabolism
- Pneumonia, Viral/pathology
- Pneumonia, Viral/virology
- Protein Binding
- Protein Domains/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification
- SARS-CoV-2
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Tobacco/metabolism
- Vero Cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaewta Rattanapisit
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Balamurugan Shanmugaraj
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Priyo Budi Purwono
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Konlavat Siriwattananon
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Narach Khorattanakulchai
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Oranicha Hanittinan
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wanuttha Boonyayothin
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Duncan R Smith
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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8
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Rattanapisit K, Shanmugaraj B, Manopwisedjaroen S, Purwono PB, Siriwattananon K, Khorattanakulchai N, Hanittinan O, Boonyayothin W, Thitithanyanont A, Smith DR, Phoolcharoen W. Rapid production of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) and spike specific monoclonal antibody CR3022 in Nicotiana benthamiana. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17698. [PMID: 33077899 PMCID: PMC7573609 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74904-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the ongoing global outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which is a significant threat to global public health. The rapid spread of COVID-19 necessitates the development of cost-effective technology platforms for the production of vaccines, drugs, and protein reagents for appropriate disease diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we explored the possibility of producing the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 and an anti-SARS-CoV monoclonal antibody (mAb) CR3022 in Nicotiana benthamiana. Both RBD and mAb CR3022 were transiently produced with the highest expression level of 8 μg/g and 130 μg/g leaf fresh weight respectively at 3 days post-infiltration. The plant-produced RBD exhibited specific binding to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Furthermore, the plant-produced mAb CR3022 binds to SARS-CoV-2, but fails to neutralize the virus in vitro. This is the first report showing the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD and mAb CR3022 in plants. Overall these findings provide a proof-of-concept for using plants as an expression system for the production of SARS-CoV-2 antigens and antibodies or similar other diagnostic reagents against SARS-CoV-2 rapidly, especially during epidemic or pandemic situation.
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MESH Headings
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism
- Antibodies, Viral/genetics
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/metabolism
- Betacoronavirus/metabolism
- COVID-19
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Coronavirus Infections/pathology
- Coronavirus Infections/virology
- Humans
- Neutralization Tests
- Pandemics
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/chemistry
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/metabolism
- Plant Leaves/metabolism
- Pneumonia, Viral/pathology
- Pneumonia, Viral/virology
- Protein Binding
- Protein Domains/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification
- SARS-CoV-2
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Nicotiana/metabolism
- Vero Cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaewta Rattanapisit
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Balamurugan Shanmugaraj
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Priyo Budi Purwono
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Konlavat Siriwattananon
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Narach Khorattanakulchai
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Oranicha Hanittinan
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wanuttha Boonyayothin
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Duncan R Smith
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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9
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Rapid transient expression of functional human vascular endothelial growth factor in Nicotiana benthamiana and characterization of its biological activity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 27:e00514. [PMID: 32884911 PMCID: PMC7453061 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2020.e00514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Growth factors play a crucial role in wound healing. Plant-produced human vascular endothelial growth factor (hVEGF) induces the keratinocyte cells migration. The plant-produced hVEGF has shown potential as a wound healing agent in drug and cosmetic industry.
Human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent pro-angiogenic growth factor essential for wound healing. Due to its potential applications, many expression strategies have been developed to produce high levels of VEGF. Here, we have optimized the expression conditions for the production of recombinant VEGF in Nicotiana benthamiana by using a geminiviral vector. Four different expression constructs that differ by the location of a C- or N-terminal histidine tag and SEKDEL sequence were developed and utilized for plant transient expression. The recombinant VEGF was further purified by using affinity chromatography and confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting probed with anti-VEGF antibody. Furthermore, our results showed that the recombinant VEGF in all tested concentrations did not exhibit any cytotoxic effect on HaCaT cells and induced cell migration in vitro. These findings show that the plant-produced VEGF has the potential to be used in regenerative medicine and cosmetic industry.
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10
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Abstract
Single chain variable fragments (scFvs) are generated by joining together the variable heavy and light chain of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) via a peptide linker. They offer some advantages over the parental mAb such as low molecular weight, heterologous production, multimeric form, and multivalency. The scFvs were produced against more than 50 antigens till date using 10 different plant species as the expression system. There were considerable improvements in the expression and purification strategies of scFv in the last 24 years. With the growing demand of scFv in therapeutic and diagnostic fields, its biosynthesis needs to be increased. The easiness in development, maintenance, and multiplication of transgenic plants make them an attractive expression platform for scFv production. The review intends to provide comprehensive information about the use of plant expression system to produce scFv. The developments, advantages, pitfalls, and possible prospects of improvement for the exploitation of plants in the industrial level are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Padikara Kutty Satheeshkumar
- Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, 221005, India.
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11
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Shanmugaraj B, Malla A, Phoolcharoen W. Emergence of Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV: Need for Rapid Vaccine and Biologics Development. Pathogens 2020; 9:E148. [PMID: 32098302 PMCID: PMC7168632 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9020148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is an emerging pathogen that was first identified in Wuhan, China in late December 2019. This virus is responsible for the ongoing outbreak that causes severe respiratory illness and pneumonia-like infection in humans. Due to the increasing number of cases in China and outside China, the WHO declared coronavirus as a global health emergency. Nearly 35,000 cases were reported and at least 24 other countries or territories have reported coronavirus cases as early on as February. Inter-human transmission was reported in a few countries, including the United States. Neither an effective anti-viral nor a vaccine is currently available to treat this infection. As the virus is a newly emerging pathogen, many questions remain unanswered regarding the virus's reservoirs, pathogenesis, transmissibility, and much more is unknown. The collaborative efforts of researchers are needed to fill the knowledge gaps about this new virus, to develop the proper diagnostic tools, and effective treatment to combat this infection. Recent advancements in plant biotechnology proved that plants have the ability to produce vaccines or biopharmaceuticals rapidly in a short time. In this review, the outbreak of 2019-nCoV in China, the need for rapid vaccine development, and the potential of a plant system for biopharmaceutical development are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balamurugan Shanmugaraj
- Research unit for Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (B.S.); (A.M.)
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Ashwini Malla
- Research unit for Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (B.S.); (A.M.)
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Research unit for Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (B.S.); (A.M.)
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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12
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Sainsbury F. Innovation in plant-based transient protein expression for infectious disease prevention and preparedness. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 61:110-115. [PMID: 31816585 PMCID: PMC7127347 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Addressing new challenges in global health and biosecurity requires responsive and accessible platforms for the manufacture of preventative or therapeutic interventions. Transient protein expression in plants has evolved into a technology that offers a unique combination of rapid expression, inherent scalability, and flexibility in gene stacking with the capability to produce complex proteins and protein assemblies. Technical developments that have driven the progress of transient expression in plants include advanced expression systems, protein engineering and synthetic biology approaches to transiently, or stably, modify host plants. The plasticity of transient expression in plants, speed of scalability and relatively low capital costs, highlight the great potential of this technology in the future of human and animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Sainsbury
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia; Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia.
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13
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Rodriguez-Hernandez M, Triggiani D, Ivison F, Demurtas OC, Illiano E, Marino C, Franconi R, Massa S. Expression of a Functional Recombinant Human Glycogen Debranching Enzyme (hGDE) in N. benthamiana Plants and in Hairy Root Cultures. Protein Pept Lett 2020; 27:145-157. [PMID: 31622193 DOI: 10.2174/0929866526666191014154047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glycogen storage disease type III (GSDIII, Cori/Forbes disease) is a metabolic disorder due to the deficiency of the Glycogen Debranching Enzyme (GDE), a large monomeric protein (about 176 kDa) with two distinct enzymatic activities: 4-α-glucantransferase and amylo-α-1,6-glucosidase. Several mutations along the amylo-alpha-1,6-glucosidase,4-alphaglucanotransferase (Agl) gene are associated with loss of enzymatic activity. The unique treatment for GSDIII, at the moment, is based on diet. The potential of plants to manufacture exogenous engineered compounds for pharmaceutical purposes, from small to complex protein molecules such as vaccines, antibodies and other therapeutic/prophylactic entities, was shown by modern biotechnology through "Plant Molecular Farming". OBJECTIVE AND METHODS In an attempt to develop novel protein-based therapeutics for GSDIII, the Agl gene, encoding for the human GDE (hGDE) was engineered for expression as a histidinetagged GDE protein both in Nicotiana benthamiana plants by a transient expression approach, and in axenic hairy root in vitro cultures (HR) from Lycopersicum esculentum and Beta vulgaris. RESULTS In both plant-based expression formats, the hGDE protein accumulated in the soluble fraction of extracts. The plant-derived protein was purified by affinity chromatography in native conditions showing glycogen debranching activity. CONCLUSION These investigations will be useful for the design of a new generation of biopharmaceuticals based on recombinant GDE protein that might represent, in the future, a possible therapeutic option for GSDIII.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meilyn Rodriguez-Hernandez
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Direction of Agricultural Biotechnology, Havana,Cuba
| | - Doriana Triggiani
- Italian Glycogen Storage Disease Association (AIG) NPO, Assago, Milan, Italy
- Department of Sustainability (SSPT), Biomedical Technologies Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development ENEA, Rome,Italy
| | - Fiona Ivison
- Department of Biochemistry, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester,United Kingdom
| | - Olivia C Demurtas
- Department of Sustainability (SSPT), Biotechnology Laboratory, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Rome,Italy
| | - Elena Illiano
- Department of Sustainability (SSPT), Biomedical Technologies Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development ENEA, Rome,Italy
| | - Carmela Marino
- Department of Sustainability (SSPT), Biomedical Technologies Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development ENEA, Rome,Italy
| | - Rosella Franconi
- Department of Sustainability (SSPT), Biomedical Technologies Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development ENEA, Rome,Italy
| | - Silvia Massa
- Department of Sustainability (SSPT), Biotechnology Laboratory, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Rome,Italy
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14
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Singh RK, Dhama K, Chakraborty S, Tiwari R, Natesan S, Khandia R, Munjal A, Vora KS, Latheef SK, Karthik K, Singh Malik Y, Singh R, Chaicumpa W, Mourya DT. Nipah virus: epidemiology, pathology, immunobiology and advances in diagnosis, vaccine designing and control strategies - a comprehensive review. Vet Q 2019; 39:26-55. [PMID: 31006350 PMCID: PMC6830995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Nipah (Nee-pa) viral disease is a zoonotic infection caused by Nipah virus (NiV), a paramyxovirus belonging to the genus Henipavirus of the family Paramyxoviridae. It is a biosafety level-4 pathogen, which is transmitted by specific types of fruit bats, mainly Pteropus spp. which are natural reservoir host. The disease was reported for the first time from the Kampung Sungai Nipah village of Malaysia in 1998. Human-to-human transmission also occurs. Outbreaks have been reported also from other countries in South and Southeast Asia. Phylogenetic analysis affirmed the circulation of two major clades of NiV as based on currently available complete N and G gene sequences. NiV isolates from Malaysia and Cambodia clustered together in NiV-MY clade, whereas isolates from Bangladesh and India clusterered within NiV-BD clade. NiV isolates from Thailand harboured mixed population of sequences. In humans, the virus is responsible for causing rapidly progressing severe illness which might be characterized by severe respiratory illness and/or deadly encephalitis. In pigs below six months of age, respiratory illness along with nervous symptoms may develop. Different types of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays along with molecular methods based on polymerase chain reaction have been developed for diagnostic purposes. Due to the expensive nature of the antibody drugs, identification of broad-spectrum antivirals is essential along with focusing on small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). High pathogenicity of NiV in humans, and lack of vaccines or therapeutics to counter this disease have attracted attention of researchers worldwide for developing effective NiV vaccine and treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Sandip Chakraborty
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, West Tripura, India
| | - Ruchi Tiwari
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Deen Dayal Upadhayay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalay Evum Go-Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura, India
| | - Senthilkumar Natesan
- Biomac Life Sciences Pvt Ltd., Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Rekha Khandia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India
| | - Ashok Munjal
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India
| | - Kranti Suresh Vora
- Wheels India Niswarth (WIN) Foundation, Maternal and Child Health (MCH), University of Canberra, Gujarat, India
| | - Shyma K. Latheef
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Kumaragurubaran Karthik
- Central University Laboratory, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, India
| | - Yashpal Singh Malik
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Rajendra Singh
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Wanpen Chaicumpa
- Center of Research Excellence on Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Devendra T. Mourya
- National Institute of Virology, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India, Pune, India
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15
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Singh RK, Dhama K, Chakraborty S, Tiwari R, Natesan S, Khandia R, Munjal A, Vora KS, Latheef SK, Karthik K, Singh Malik Y, Singh R, Chaicumpa W, Mourya DT. Nipah virus: epidemiology, pathology, immunobiology and advances in diagnosis, vaccine designing and control strategies - a comprehensive review. Vet Q 2019. [PMID: 31006350 PMCID: PMC6830995 DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2019.1580827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Nipah (Nee-pa) viral disease is a zoonotic infection caused by Nipah virus (NiV), a paramyxovirus belonging to the genus Henipavirus of the family Paramyxoviridae. It is a biosafety level-4 pathogen, which is transmitted by specific types of fruit bats, mainly Pteropus spp. which are natural reservoir host. The disease was reported for the first time from the Kampung Sungai Nipah village of Malaysia in 1998. Human-to-human transmission also occurs. Outbreaks have been reported also from other countries in South and Southeast Asia. Phylogenetic analysis affirmed the circulation of two major clades of NiV as based on currently available complete N and G gene sequences. NiV isolates from Malaysia and Cambodia clustered together in NiV-MY clade, whereas isolates from Bangladesh and India clusterered within NiV-BD clade. NiV isolates from Thailand harboured mixed population of sequences. In humans, the virus is responsible for causing rapidly progressing severe illness which might be characterized by severe respiratory illness and/or deadly encephalitis. In pigs below six months of age, respiratory illness along with nervous symptoms may develop. Different types of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays along with molecular methods based on polymerase chain reaction have been developed for diagnostic purposes. Due to the expensive nature of the antibody drugs, identification of broad-spectrum antivirals is essential along with focusing on small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). High pathogenicity of NiV in humans, and lack of vaccines or therapeutics to counter this disease have attracted attention of researchers worldwide for developing effective NiV vaccine and treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Kumar Singh
- a ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- b Division of Pathology , ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Sandip Chakraborty
- c Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry , West Tripura , India
| | - Ruchi Tiwari
- d Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Sciences , Deen Dayal Upadhayay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalay Evum Go-Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU) , Mathura , India
| | - Senthilkumar Natesan
- e Biomac Life Sciences Pvt Ltd. , Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar , Gujarat , India
| | - Rekha Khandia
- f Department of Biochemistry and Genetics , Barkatullah University , Bhopal , India
| | - Ashok Munjal
- f Department of Biochemistry and Genetics , Barkatullah University , Bhopal , India
| | - Kranti Suresh Vora
- g Wheels India Niswarth (WIN) Foundation, Maternal and Child Health (MCH) , University of Canberra , Gujarat , India
| | - Shyma K Latheef
- b Division of Pathology , ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Kumaragurubaran Karthik
- h Central University Laboratory , Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University , Chennai , India
| | - Yashpal Singh Malik
- i Division of Biological Standardization , ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Rajendra Singh
- b Division of Pathology , ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Wanpen Chaicumpa
- j Center of Research Excellence on Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital , Mahidol University , Bangkok , Thailand
| | - Devendra T Mourya
- k National Institute of Virology , Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India , Pune , India
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16
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Kopertekh L, Schiemann J. Transient Production of Recombinant Pharmaceutical Proteins in Plants: Evolution and Perspectives. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:365-380. [DOI: 10.2174/0929867324666170718114724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Revised: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
During the last two decades, the production of pharmaceutical proteins in plants
evolved from proof of concept to established technology adopted by several biotechnological
companies. This progress is particularly based on intensive research starting stable genetic
transformation and moving to transient expression. Due to its advantages in yield and
speed of protein production transient expression platforms became the leading plant-based
manufacturing technology. Current transient expression methods rely on Agrobacteriummediated
delivery of expression vectors into plant cells. In recent years, great advances have
been made in the improvement of expression vectors, host cell engineering as well as in the
development of commercial manufacturing processes. Several GMP-certified large-scale
production facilities exist around the world to utilize agroinfiltration method. A number of
pharmaceutical proteins produced by transient expression are currently in clinical development.
The great potential of transient expression platform in respect to rapid response to
emerging pandemics was demonstrated by the production of experimental ZMapp antibodies
against Ebola virus as well as influenza vaccines. This review is focused on current design,
status and future perspectives of plant transient expression system for the production
of biopharmaceutical proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilya Kopertekh
- Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology, Erwin-Baur- Str. 27, D-06484, Quedlinburg, Germany
| | - Joachim Schiemann
- Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology, Erwin-Baur- Str. 27, D-06484, Quedlinburg, Germany
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17
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Nakanishi K, Morikane S, Hosokawa N, Kajihara Y, Kurohane K, Niwa Y, Kobayashi H, Imai Y. Plant-derived secretory component forms secretory IgA with shiga toxin 1-specific dimeric IgA produced by mouse cells and whole plants. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2019; 38:161-172. [PMID: 30506369 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-018-2358-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A key module, secretory component (SC), was efficiently expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana. The plant-based SC and immunoglobulin A of animal or plant origin formed secretory IgA that maintains antigen-binding activity. Plant expression systems are suitable for scalable and cost-effective production of biologics. Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) will be useful as a therapeutic antibody against mucosal pathogens. SIgA is equipped with a secretory component (SC), which assists the performance of SIgA on the mucosal surface. Here we produced SC using a plant expression system and formed SIgA with dimeric IgAs produced by mouse cells as well as by whole plants. To increase the expression level, an endoplasmic reticulum retention signal peptide, KDEL (Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu), was added to mouse SC (SC-KDEL). The SC-KDEL cDNA was inserted into a binary vector with a translational enhancer and an efficient terminator. The SC-KDEL transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana produced SC-KDEL at the level of 2.7% of total leaf proteins. In vitro reaction of the plant-derived SC-KDEL with mouse dimeric monoclonal IgAs resulted in the formation of SIgA. When reacted with Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1)-specific ones, the antigen-binding activity was maintained. When an A. thaliana plant expressing SC-KDEL was crossed with one expressing dimeric IgA specific for Stx1, the plant-based SIgA exhibited antigen-binding activity. Leaf extracts of the crossbred transgenic plants neutralized Stx1 cytotoxicity against Stx1-sensitive cells. These results suggest that transgenic plants expressing SC-KDEL will provide a versatile means of SIgA production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsuhiro Nakanishi
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Shota Morikane
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Nao Hosokawa
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Yuka Kajihara
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Kohta Kurohane
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Yasuo Niwa
- Laboratory of Plant Molecular Improvement, Graduate Division of Nutritional and Environmental Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Kobayashi
- Laboratory of Plant Molecular Improvement, Graduate Division of Nutritional and Environmental Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Imai
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan.
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18
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Massa S, Paolini F, Marino C, Franconi R, Venuti A. Bioproduction of a Therapeutic Vaccine Against Human Papillomavirus in Tomato Hairy Root Cultures. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:452. [PMID: 31031788 PMCID: PMC6470201 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) tumor disease is a critical public health problem worldwide, especially in the developing countries. The recognized pathogenic function of E5, E6, and E7 oncoproteins offers the opportunity to devise therapeutic vaccines based on engineered recombinant proteins. The potential of plants to manufacture engineered compounds for pharmaceutical purposes, from small to complex protein molecules, allows the expression of HPV antigens and, possibly, the regulation of immune functions to develop very specific therapies as a reinforcement to available nonspecific therapies and preventive vaccination also in developed countries. Among plant-based expression formats, hairy root cultures are a robust platform combining the benefits of eukaryotic plant-based bioreactors, with those typical of cell cultures. In this work, to devise an experimental therapeutic vaccine against HPV, hairy root cultures were used to express a harmless form of the HPV type 16 E7 protein (E7*) fused to SAPKQ, a noncytotoxic form of the saporin protein from Saponaria officinalis, that we had shown to improve E7-specific cell-mediated responses as a fusion E7*-SAPKQ DNA vaccine. Hairy root clones expressing the E7*-SAPKQ candidate vaccine were obtained upon infection of leaf explants of Solanum lycopersicum using a recombinant plant expression vector. Yield was approximately 35.5 μg/g of fresh weight. Mouse immunization with vaccine-containing crude extracts was performed together with immunological and biological tests to investigate immune responses and anticancer activity, respectively. Animals were primed with either E7*-SAPKQ DNA-based vaccine or E7*-SAPKQ root extract-based vaccine and boosted with the same (homologous schedule) or with the other vaccine preparation (heterologous schedule) in the context of TC-1 experimental mouse model of HPV-associated tumor. All the formulations exhibited an immunological response associated to anticancer activity. In particular, DNA as prime and hairy root extract as boost demonstrated the highest efficacy. This work, based on the development of low-cost technologies, highlights the suitability of hairy root cultures as possible biofactories of therapeutic HPV vaccines and underlines the importance of the synergic combination of treatment modalities for future developments in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Massa
- Biotechnology Laboratory, Biotechnology and Agroindustry Division, Department of Sustainability, ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Silvia Massa,
| | - Francesca Paolini
- Virology Laboratory, HPV-UNIT, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic and Technological Innovation (RIDAIT), Translational Research Functional Departmental Area, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Marino
- Biomedical Technologies Laboratory, Health Technologies Division, Department of Sustainability, ENEA, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosella Franconi
- Biomedical Technologies Laboratory, Health Technologies Division, Department of Sustainability, ENEA, Rome, Italy
| | - Aldo Venuti
- Virology Laboratory, HPV-UNIT, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic and Technological Innovation (RIDAIT), Translational Research Functional Departmental Area, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- Aldo Venuti,
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Dhama K, Karthik K, Khandia R, Chakraborty S, Munjal A, Latheef SK, Kumar D, Ramakrishnan MA, Malik YS, Singh R, Malik SVS, Singh RK, Chaicumpa W. Advances in Designing and Developing Vaccines, Drugs, and Therapies to Counter Ebola Virus. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1803. [PMID: 30147687 PMCID: PMC6095993 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV), a member of the family Filoviridae, is responsible for causing Ebola virus disease (EVD) (formerly named Ebola hemorrhagic fever). This is a severe, often fatal illness with mortality rates varying from 50 to 90% in humans. Although the virus and associated disease has been recognized since 1976, it was only when the recent outbreak of EBOV in 2014-2016 highlighted the danger and global impact of this virus, necessitating the need for coming up with the effective vaccines and drugs to counter its pandemic threat. Albeit no commercial vaccine is available so far against EBOV, a few vaccine candidates are under evaluation and clinical trials to assess their prophylactic efficacy. These include recombinant viral vector (recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector, chimpanzee adenovirus type 3-vector, and modified vaccinia Ankara virus), Ebola virus-like particles, virus-like replicon particles, DNA, and plant-based vaccines. Due to improvement in the field of genomics and proteomics, epitope-targeted vaccines have gained top priority. Correspondingly, several therapies have also been developed, including immunoglobulins against specific viral structures small cell-penetrating antibody fragments that target intracellular EBOV proteins. Small interfering RNAs and oligomer-mediated inhibition have also been verified for EVD treatment. Other treatment options include viral entry inhibitors, transfusion of convalescent blood/serum, neutralizing antibodies, and gene expression inhibitors. Repurposed drugs, which have proven safety profiles, can be adapted after high-throughput screening for efficacy and potency for EVD treatment. Herbal and other natural products are also being explored for EVD treatment. Further studies to better understand the pathogenesis and antigenic structures of the virus can help in developing an effective vaccine and identifying appropriate antiviral targets. This review presents the recent advances in designing and developing vaccines, drugs, and therapies to counter the EBOV threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Kumaragurubaran Karthik
- Central University Laboratory, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, India
| | - Rekha Khandia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India
| | - Sandip Chakraborty
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Agartala, India
| | - Ashok Munjal
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India
| | - Shyma K. Latheef
- Immunology Section, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Deepak Kumar
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | | | - Yashpal Singh Malik
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Rajendra Singh
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Satya Veer Singh Malik
- Division of Veterinary Public Health, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Raj Kumar Singh
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Wanpen Chaicumpa
- Center of Research Excellence on Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine SIriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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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: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [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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Radosavljevic V, Banjari I, Belojevic G. Rapid and Low-Cost Tools Derived from Plants to Face Emerging/Re-emerging Infectious Diseases and Bioterrorism Agents. DEFENCE AGAINST BIOTERRORISM 2018. [PMCID: PMC7123727 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-024-1263-5_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Whether naturally occurring or man-made, biological threats pose a severe risk in an increasingly globalized world. The dual-use nature of biological research, with its most recent advances in biotechnology (‘synthetic biology’, gene editing, nanotechnologies etc.) and the rapid diffusion of knowledge, raise proliferation concerns of biological weapons by non-state actors. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop measures intended to enhance diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic capabilities and capacities to improve the ability of society to combat infectious diseases outbreaks, as well as to alleviate the effects of bioterrorism attacks. We present here two examples of biotechnology usage for biodefence purposes: (i) plants as biofactories for the rapid production of improved biopharmaceuticals (‘Plant Molecular Farming’), and (ii) plant sequences as immune-modulating agents to enhance the efficacy of genetic vaccines. These platforms represent two promising (and complementary) approaches for the rapid and low-cost production of countermeasures (diagnostics and vaccine candidates) against emerging, re-emerging and bioterrorism-related infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ines Banjari
- Faculty of Food Technology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
| | - Goran Belojevic
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Ecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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22
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Singh RK, Dhama K, Malik YS, Ramakrishnan MA, Karthik K, Khandia R, Tiwari R, Munjal A, Saminathan M, Sachan S, Desingu PA, Kattoor JJ, Iqbal HMN, Joshi SK. Ebola virus - epidemiology, diagnosis, and control: threat to humans, lessons learnt, and preparedness plans - an update on its 40 year's journey. Vet Q 2017; 37:98-135. [PMID: 28317453 DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2017.1309474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV) is an extremely contagious pathogen and causes lethal hemorrhagic fever disease in man and animals. The recently occurred Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks in the West African countries have categorized it as an international health concern. For the virus maintenance and transmission, the non-human primates and reservoir hosts like fruit bats have played a vital role. For curbing the disease timely, we need effective therapeutics/prophylactics, however, in the absence of any approved vaccine, timely diagnosis and monitoring of EBOV remains of utmost importance. The technologically advanced vaccines like a viral-vectored vaccine, DNA vaccine and virus-like particles are underway for testing against EBOV. In the absence of any effective control measure, the adaptation of high standards of biosecurity measures, strict sanitary and hygienic practices, strengthening of surveillance and monitoring systems, imposing appropriate quarantine checks and vigilance on trade, transport, and movement of visitors from EVD endemic countries remains the answer of choice for tackling the EBOV spread. Herein, we converse with the current scenario of EBOV giving due emphasis on animal and veterinary perspectives along with advances in diagnosis and control strategies to be adopted, lessons learned from the recent outbreaks and the global preparedness plans. To retrieve the evolutionary information, we have analyzed a total of 56 genome sequences of various EBOV species submitted between 1976 and 2016 in public databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Kumar Singh
- a ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- b Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Yashpal Singh Malik
- c Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | | | - Kumaragurubaran Karthik
- e Divison of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Rekha Khandia
- f Department of Biochemistry and Genetics , Barkatullah University , Bhopal , India
| | - Ruchi Tiwari
- g Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology , College of Veterinary Sciences, Deen Dayal Upadhayay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalay Evum Go-Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU) , Mathura , India
| | - Ashok Munjal
- f Department of Biochemistry and Genetics , Barkatullah University , Bhopal , India
| | - Mani Saminathan
- b Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Swati Sachan
- h Immunology Section, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | | | - Jobin Jose Kattoor
- c Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Hafiz M N Iqbal
- i School of Engineering and Science, Tecnologico de Monterrey , Monterrey , Mexico
| | - Sunil Kumar Joshi
- j Cellular Immunology Lab , Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics , School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences, Old Dominion University , Norfolk , VA , USA
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Feng H, Li X, Song W, Duan M, Chen H, Wang T, Dong J. Oral Administration of a Seed-based Bivalent Rotavirus Vaccine Containing VP6 and NSP4 Induces Specific Immune Responses in Mice. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:910. [PMID: 28620404 PMCID: PMC5449476 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrheal disease among newborns. Plant-based rotavirus vaccines have been developed in recent years and have been proven to be effective in animal models. In the present study, we report a bivalent vaccine candidate expressing rotavirus subunits VP6 and NSP4 fused with the adjuvant subunit B of E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB) in maize seeds. The RT-PCR and Western blot results showed that VP6 and LTB-NSP4 antigens were expressed and accumulated in maize seeds. The expression levels were as high as 0.35 and 0.20% of the total soluble protein for VP6 and LTB-NSP4, respectively. Oral administration of transgenic maize seeds successfully stimulated systemic and mucosal responses, with high titers of serum IgG and mucosal IgA antibodies, even after long-term storage. This study is the first to use maize seeds as efficient generators for the development of a bivalent vaccine against rotavirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Weibin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and National Maize Improvement Center of China, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Mei Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Hong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Tao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Jiangli Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityBeijing, China
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Chen TH, Hu CC, Liao JT, Lee YL, Huang YW, Lin NS, Lin YL, Hsu YH. Production of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Antigens in Plants Using Bamboo Mosaic Virus-Based Vector. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:788. [PMID: 28515719 PMCID: PMC5413549 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is among the major threats to public health in Asia. For disease control and prevention, the efficient production of safe and effective vaccines against JEV is in urgent need. In this study, we produced a plant-made JEV vaccine candidate using a chimeric virus particle (CVP) strategy based on bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) for epitope presentation. The chimeric virus, designated BJ2A, was constructed by fusing JEV envelope protein domain III (EDIII) at the N-terminus of BaMV coat protein, with an insertion of the foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A peptide to facilitate the production of both unfused and epitope-presenting for efficient assembly of the CVP vaccine candidate. The strategy allowed stable maintenance of the fusion construct over long-term serial passages in plants. Immuno-electron microscopy examination and immunization assays revealed that BJ2A is able to present the EDIII epitope on the surface of the CVPs, which stimulated effective neutralizing antibodies against JEV infection in mice. This study demonstrates the efficient production of an effective CVP vaccine candidate against JEV in plants by the BaMV-based epitope presentation system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Hsien Chen
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing UniversityTaichung, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Chi Hu
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing UniversityTaichung, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Teh Liao
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing UniversityTaichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ling Lee
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia SinicaTaipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Wen Huang
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing UniversityTaichung, Taiwan
| | - Na-Sheng Lin
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing UniversityTaichung, Taiwan.,Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia SinicaTaipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ling Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia SinicaTaipei, Taiwan
| | - Yau-Heiu Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing UniversityTaichung, Taiwan
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Rosales-Mendoza S, Nieto-Gómez R, Angulo C. A Perspective on the Development of Plant-Made Vaccines in the Fight against Ebola Virus. Front Immunol 2017; 8:252. [PMID: 28344580 PMCID: PMC5344899 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ebola virus (EBOV) epidemic indicated a great need for prophylactic and therapeutic strategies. The use of plants for the production of biopharmaceuticals is a concept being adopted by the pharmaceutical industry, with an enzyme for human use currently commercialized since 2012 and some plant-based vaccines close to being commercialized. Although plant-based antibodies against EBOV are under clinical evaluation, the development of plant-based vaccines against EBOV essentially remains an unexplored area. The current technologies for the production of plant-based vaccines include stable nuclear expression, transient expression mediated by viral vectors, and chloroplast expression. Specific perspectives on how these technologies can be applied for developing anti-EBOV vaccines are provided, including possibilities for the design of immunogens as well as the potential of the distinct expression modalities to produce the most relevant EBOV antigens in plants considering yields, posttranslational modifications, production time, and downstream processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Rosales-Mendoza
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí , San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí , Mexico
| | - Ricardo Nieto-Gómez
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí , San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí , Mexico
| | - Carlos Angulo
- Grupo de Inmunología & Vacunología, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, SC. , La Paz, Baja California Sur , Mexico
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Demurtas OC, Massa S, Illiano E, De Martinis D, Chan PKS, Di Bonito P, Franconi R. Antigen Production in Plant to Tackle Infectious Diseases Flare Up: The Case of SARS. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:54. [PMID: 26904039 PMCID: PMC4742786 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a dangerous infection with pandemic potential. It emerged in 2002 and its aetiological agent, the SARS Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), crossed the species barrier to infect humans, showing high morbidity and mortality rates. No vaccines are currently licensed for SARS-CoV and important efforts have been performed during the first outbreak to develop diagnostic tools. Here we demonstrate the transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana of two important antigenic determinants of the SARS-CoV, the nucleocapsid protein (N) and the membrane protein (M) using a virus-derived vector or agro-infiltration, respectively. For the M protein, this is the first description of production in plants, while for plant-derived N protein we demonstrate that it is recognized by sera of patients from the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003. The availability of recombinant N and M proteins from plants opens the way to further evaluation of their potential utility for the development of diagnostic and protection/therapy tools to be quickly manufactured, at low cost and with minimal risk, to face potential new highly infectious SARS-CoV outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia C. Demurtas
- Department of Sustainability, Biotechnology Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
| | - Silvia Massa
- Department of Sustainability, Biotechnology Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
| | - Elena Illiano
- Department of Sustainability, Biomedical Technology Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di MilanoMilan, Italy
| | - Domenico De Martinis
- International Relations Office, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
| | - Paul K. S. Chan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales HospitalHong Kong, China
- Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales HospitalHong Kong, China
| | - Paola Di Bonito
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated DiseasesRome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Rosella Franconi, ; Paola Di Bonito,
| | - Rosella Franconi
- Department of Sustainability, Biomedical Technology Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Rosella Franconi, ; Paola Di Bonito,
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Lico C, Benvenuto E, Baschieri S. The Two-Faced Potato Virus X: From Plant Pathogen to Smart Nanoparticle. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:1009. [PMID: 26635836 PMCID: PMC4646960 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.01009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Potato virus X (PVX) is a single-stranded RNA plant virus, historically investigated in light of the detrimental effects on potato, the world's fourth most important food commodity. The study of the interactions with cells, and more generally with the plant, both locally and systemically, significantly contributed to unveil the mechanisms underlying gene silencing, fundamental not only in plant virology but also in the study of gene expression regulation. Unraveling the molecular events of PVX infection paved the way for the development of different viral expression vectors and consequential applications in functional genomics and in the biosynthesis of heterologous proteins in plants. Apart from that, the ease of manipulation and the knowledge of the virus structure (particle dimensions, shape and physicochemical features) are inspiring novel applications, mainly focused on nanobiotechnology. This review will lead the reader in this area, spanning from fundamental to applied research, embracing fields from plant pathology to vaccine and drug-targeted delivery, imaging and material sciences. Due to the versatile moods, PVX holds promise to become an interesting nanomaterial, in view to create the widest possible arsenal of new "bio-inspired" devices to face evolving issues in biomedicine and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Lico
- Laboratory of Biotechnology , ENEA, Rome, Italy
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Daniell H, Streatfield SJ, Rybicki EP. Advances in molecular farming: key technologies, scaled up production and lead targets. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2015; 13:1011-2. [PMID: 26387508 PMCID: PMC4769792 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
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