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Ragan IK, Hartson LM, Dutt TS, Obregon-Henao A, Maison RM, Gordy P, Fox A, Karger BR, Cross ST, Kapuscinski ML, Cooper SK, Podell BK, Stenglein MD, Bowen RA, Henao-Tamayo M, Goodrich RP. A Whole Virion Vaccine for COVID-19 Produced via a Novel Inactivation Method and Preliminary Demonstration of Efficacy in an Animal Challenge Model. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9040340. [PMID: 33916180 PMCID: PMC8066708 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9040340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has generated intense interest in the rapid development and evaluation of vaccine candidates for this disease and other emerging diseases. Several novel methods for preparing vaccine candidates are currently undergoing clinical evaluation in response to the urgent need to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In many cases, these methods rely on new approaches for vaccine production and immune stimulation. We report on the use of a novel method (SolaVAX) for production of an inactivated vaccine candidate and the testing of that candidate in a hamster animal model for its ability to prevent infection upon challenge with SARS-CoV-2 virus. The studies employed in this work included an evaluation of the levels of neutralizing antibody produced post-vaccination, levels of specific antibody sub-types to RBD and spike protein that were generated, evaluation of viral shedding post-challenge, flow cytometric and single cell sequencing data on cellular fractions and histopathological evaluation of tissues post-challenge. The results from this preliminary evaluation provide insight into the immunological responses occurring as a result of vaccination with the proposed vaccine candidate and the impact that adjuvant formulations, specifically developed to promote Th1 type immune responses, have on vaccine efficacy and protection against infection following challenge with live SARS-CoV-2. This data may have utility in the development of effective vaccine candidates broadly. Furthermore, the results of this preliminary evaluation suggest that preparation of a whole virion vaccine for COVID-19 using this specific photochemical method may have potential utility in the preparation of one such vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabela K Ragan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (I.K.R.); (R.M.M.); (P.G.); (R.A.B.)
| | - Lindsay M Hartson
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA;
| | - Taru S Dutt
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (T.S.D.); (A.O.-H.); (A.F.); (B.R.K.); (S.T.C.); (M.L.K.); (S.K.C.); (B.K.P.); (M.D.S.); (M.H.-T.)
| | - Andres Obregon-Henao
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (T.S.D.); (A.O.-H.); (A.F.); (B.R.K.); (S.T.C.); (M.L.K.); (S.K.C.); (B.K.P.); (M.D.S.); (M.H.-T.)
| | - Rachel M Maison
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (I.K.R.); (R.M.M.); (P.G.); (R.A.B.)
| | - Paul Gordy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (I.K.R.); (R.M.M.); (P.G.); (R.A.B.)
| | - Amy Fox
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (T.S.D.); (A.O.-H.); (A.F.); (B.R.K.); (S.T.C.); (M.L.K.); (S.K.C.); (B.K.P.); (M.D.S.); (M.H.-T.)
| | - Burton R Karger
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (T.S.D.); (A.O.-H.); (A.F.); (B.R.K.); (S.T.C.); (M.L.K.); (S.K.C.); (B.K.P.); (M.D.S.); (M.H.-T.)
| | - Shaun T Cross
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (T.S.D.); (A.O.-H.); (A.F.); (B.R.K.); (S.T.C.); (M.L.K.); (S.K.C.); (B.K.P.); (M.D.S.); (M.H.-T.)
| | - Marylee L Kapuscinski
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (T.S.D.); (A.O.-H.); (A.F.); (B.R.K.); (S.T.C.); (M.L.K.); (S.K.C.); (B.K.P.); (M.D.S.); (M.H.-T.)
| | - Sarah K Cooper
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (T.S.D.); (A.O.-H.); (A.F.); (B.R.K.); (S.T.C.); (M.L.K.); (S.K.C.); (B.K.P.); (M.D.S.); (M.H.-T.)
| | - Brendan K Podell
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (T.S.D.); (A.O.-H.); (A.F.); (B.R.K.); (S.T.C.); (M.L.K.); (S.K.C.); (B.K.P.); (M.D.S.); (M.H.-T.)
| | - Mark D Stenglein
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (T.S.D.); (A.O.-H.); (A.F.); (B.R.K.); (S.T.C.); (M.L.K.); (S.K.C.); (B.K.P.); (M.D.S.); (M.H.-T.)
| | - Richard A Bowen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (I.K.R.); (R.M.M.); (P.G.); (R.A.B.)
| | - Marcela Henao-Tamayo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (T.S.D.); (A.O.-H.); (A.F.); (B.R.K.); (S.T.C.); (M.L.K.); (S.K.C.); (B.K.P.); (M.D.S.); (M.H.-T.)
| | - Raymond P Goodrich
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA;
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (T.S.D.); (A.O.-H.); (A.F.); (B.R.K.); (S.T.C.); (M.L.K.); (S.K.C.); (B.K.P.); (M.D.S.); (M.H.-T.)
- Correspondence:
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Targeting Fat Oxidation in Mouse Prostate Cancer Decreases Tumor Growth and Stimulates Anti-Cancer Immunity. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249660. [PMID: 33352903 PMCID: PMC7766808 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid catabolism represents an Achilles heel in prostate cancer (PCa) that can be exploited for therapy. CPT1A regulates the entry of fatty acids into the mitochondria for beta-oxidation and its inhibition has been shown to decrease PCa growth. In this study, we examined the pharmacological blockade of lipid oxidation with ranolazine in TRAMPC1 PCa models. Oral administration of ranolazine (100 mg/Kg for 21 days) resulted in decreased tumor CD8+ T-cells Tim3 content, increased macrophages, and decreased blood myeloid immunosuppressive monocytes. Using multispectral staining, drug treatments increased infiltration of CD8+ T-cells and dendritic cells compared to vehicle. Functional studies with spleen cells of drug-treated tumors co-cultured with TRAMPC1 cells showed increased ex vivo T-cell cytotoxic activity, suggesting an anti-tumoral response. Lastly, a decrease in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells expressing PD1 was observed when exhausted spleen cells were incubated with TRAMPC1 Cpt1a-KD compared to the control cells. These data indicated that genetically blocking the ability of the tumor cells to oxidize lipid can change the activation status of the neighboring T-cells. This study provides new knowledge of the role of lipid catabolism in the intercommunication of tumor and immune cells, which can be extrapolated to other cancers with high CPT1A expression.
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Pilot Acute Safety Evaluation of Innocell™ Cancer Immunotherapy in Canine Subjects. J Immunol Res 2020; 2020:7142375. [PMID: 33102607 PMCID: PMC7568153 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7142375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We are developing cancer immunotherapy based on the use of autologous tumor tissue that has been rendered replication-incompetent but maintains phenotype and metabolic activity post-preparation. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and tolerance to injection of the inactivated tumor cell and adjuvant preparation (Innocell™) within 24 hours of administration in a pilot study in canine patients with solid organ tumors. Methodology. Three canine patients demonstrating accessible solid organ tumors of various types were assessed in this study. The local site injection was monitored post-treatment. Clinical signs of adverse reactions were monitored for 24 hours post-treatment. Blood samples were taken pre-treatment and at 8 and 24 hours post-treatment for all subjects. One subject provided samples at 7 days post-treatment. All blood samples were analyzed for cytokine content for both immune system-associated and tumor-associated cytokines. Results No signs of adverse reactions at the site of injection or systemically were observed in the study period. A slight fever and lethargy were reported in one subject by the owner post-vaccination. Immune system-associated cytokine levels in two of the three animals were elevated post-treatment. Tumor-associated cytokine levels in all three subjects declined post-treatment from baseline levels with the effect most prominent in the subject with a non-excised tumor. Conclusion Subcutaneous injection of the inactivated tumor cells and adjuvant was well tolerated in this pilot study. Cytokine responses observed were in line with the intended use of the treatment in stimulating immune response without adverse clinical observations. Additional evaluation is warranted.
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