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Zhao Z, Wang B, Wu S, Zhang Z, Chen Y, Zhang J, Wang Y, Zhu D, Li Y, Xu J, Hou L, Chen W. Regulated control of virus replication by 4-hydroxytamoxifen-induced splicing. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1112580. [PMID: 36992923 PMCID: PMC10040539 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1112580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Designing a modified virus that can be controlled to replicate will facilitate the study of pathogenic mechanisms of virus and virus–host interactions. Here, we report a universal switch element that enables precise control of virus replication after exposure to a small molecule. Inteins mediate a traceless protein splicing–ligation process, and we generate a series of modified vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) with intein insertion into the nucleocapsid, phosphoprotein, or large RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of VSV. Two recombinant VSV, LC599 and LY1744, were screened for intein insertion in the large RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of VSV, and their replication was regulated in a dose-dependent manner with the small molecule 4-hydroxytamoxifen, which induces intein splicing to restore the VSV replication. Furthermore, in the presence of 4-hydroxytamoxifen, the intein-modified VSV LC599 replicated efficiently in an animal model like a prototype of VSV. Thus, we present a simple and highly adaptable tool for regulating virus replication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Busen Wang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Shipo Wu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | | | - Yudong Wang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Danni Zhu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
- Qingdao Special Servicemen Recuperation Center of PLA Navy, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yao Li
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Jinghan Xu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Lihua Hou
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Lihua Hou, ; Wei Chen,
| | - Wei Chen
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Lihua Hou, ; Wei Chen,
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Quantification of in vitro replication kinetics of Alagoas vesiculovirus isolates by digital droplet RT-PCR. Braz J Microbiol 2023; 54:491-497. [PMID: 36645640 PMCID: PMC9841932 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-023-00902-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Vesicular stomatitis caused by Alagoas vesiculovirus (VSAV) has generated disease outbreaks in Brazil, mainly in the northeast region. Phylogenetic studies divide the isolates into three distinct genotypes (A, B, and C). However, there is no description of how this genetic divergence reflects on the phenotype of VSAV isolates such as in vitro replication fitness. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the ability of three distinct genotypes of Brazilian isolates of VSAV to grow in different cell-culture lines (BHK-21, Vero, and NCI-H1299). Quantification of viral RNA was performed using RT-PCR digital droplet from supernatant of cell culture collected every 4 h for a period of 24 h of viral growth in three different cell lines (BHK-21, Vero, and NCI-H1299). It was observed that the genotype C isolate has the lowest replication efficiency among the three analyzed viruses, without major changes in the copies of viral RNA over the entire time of the study.
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Yuan F, Zheng A. Replicating-Competent VSV-Vectored Pseudotyped Viruses. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1407:329-348. [PMID: 36920706 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-0113-5_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is prototype virus in the family of Rhabdoviridae. Reverse genetic platform has enabled the genetic manipulation of VSV as a powerful live viral vector. Replicating-competent VSV is constructed by replacing the original VSV glycoprotein gene with heterologous envelope genes. The resulting recombinant viruses are able to replicate in permissive cells and incorporate the foreign envelope proteins on the surface of the viral particle without changing the bullet-shape morphology. Correspondingly, the cell tropism of replicating-competent VSV is determined by the foreign envelope proteins. Replicating-competent VSVs have been successfully used for selecting critical viral receptors or host factors, screening mutants that escape therapeutic antibodies, and developing VSV-based live viral vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Aihua Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Porosnicu M, Quinson AM, Crossley K, Luecke S, Lauer UM. Phase I study of VSV-GP (BI 1831169) as monotherapy or combined with ezabenlimab in advanced and refractory solid tumors. Future Oncol 2022; 18:2627-2638. [PMID: 35699077 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2022-0439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with advanced, recurrent or metastatic cancer have poor prognosis despite treatment advancements. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-GP (BI 1831169) is a chimeric VSV with its neurotropic glycoprotein G replaced by the non-neurotropic glycoprotein (GP) of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. This live, recombinant oncolytic virus has demonstrated preclinical efficacy as a viral-based immunotherapy due to its interferon-dependent tumor specificity, potent oncolysis and stimulation of antitumor immune activity. Co-administration of the immune checkpoint inhibitor, ezabenlimab (BI 754091), alongside VSV-GP may synergistically enhance antitumor immune activity. Here, we describe the rationale and design of the first-in-human, phase I, dose-escalation study of VSV-GP alone and in combination with the immune checkpoint inhibitor ezabenlimab in patients with advanced, metastatic or relapsed and refractory solid tumors (NCT05155332).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Porosnicu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Hematology & Oncology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | | | | | - Stephan Luecke
- Biostatistics + Data Science Corp., Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Ulrich M Lauer
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, Medical Oncology & Pneumology, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), member of the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Tübingen, Germany
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Kim GN, Choi JA, Wu K, Saeedian N, Yang E, Park H, Woo SJ, Lim G, Kim SG, Eo SK, Jeong HW, Kim T, Chang JH, Seo SH, Kim NH, Choi E, Choo S, Lee S, Winterborn A, Li Y, Parham K, Donovan JM, Fenton B, Dikeakos JD, Dekaban GA, Haeryfar SMM, Troyer RM, Arts EJ, Barr SD, Song M, Kang CY. A vesicular stomatitis virus-based prime-boost vaccination strategy induces potent and protective neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010092. [PMID: 34914812 PMCID: PMC8675757 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of safe and effective vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections remains an urgent priority worldwide. We have used a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV)-based prime-boost immunization strategy to develop an effective COVID-19 vaccine candidate. We have constructed VSV genomes carrying exogenous genes resulting in the production of avirulent rVSV carrying the full-length spike protein (SF), the S1 subunit, or the receptor-binding domain (RBD) plus envelope (E) protein of SARS-CoV-2. Adding the honeybee melittin signal peptide (msp) to the N-terminus enhanced the protein expression, and adding the VSV G protein transmembrane domain and the cytoplasmic tail (Gtc) enhanced protein incorporation into pseudotype VSV. All rVSVs expressed three different forms of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, but chimeras with VSV-Gtc demonstrated the highest rVSV-associated expression. In immunized mice, rVSV with chimeric S protein-Gtc derivatives induced the highest level of potent neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses, and rVSV harboring the full-length msp-SF-Gtc proved to be the superior immunogen. More importantly, rVSV-msp-SF-Gtc vaccinated animals were completely protected from a subsequent SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Overall, we have developed an efficient strategy to induce a protective response in SARS-CoV-2 challenged immunized mice. Vaccination with our rVSV-based vector may be an effective solution in the global fight against COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented global health, economic and societal impact globally. Vaccinating the majority of the world’s population is the best way to help prevent new infections. Many vaccines have been developed to prevent various viral diseases that are currently in use around the world. This has generated a high demand for these vaccines, putting a strain on production capacity and delivery. With new variants of concern starting to dominate the human pandemic, new derivatives of the current vaccines may be necessary for continued protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection. We have developed a vaccine that uses a safe vesicular stomatitis virus-based delivery vehicle to present a key SARS-CoV-2 protein to our immune system in order to train it to recognize and prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our vaccine completely protected vaccinated animals from SARS-CoV-2 infection and significantly reduced lung damage, a major hallmark of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyoung Nyoun Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jung-ah Choi
- International Vaccine Institute, SNU Research Park, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kunyu Wu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nasrin Saeedian
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eunji Yang
- International Vaccine Institute, SNU Research Park, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hayan Park
- International Vaccine Institute, SNU Research Park, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sun-Je Woo
- International Vaccine Institute, SNU Research Park, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Gippeum Lim
- International Vaccine Institute, SNU Research Park, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seong-Gyu Kim
- International Vaccine Institute, SNU Research Park, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Su-Kyeong Eo
- International Vaccine Institute, SNU Research Park, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hoe Won Jeong
- International Vaccine Institute, SNU Research Park, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Taewoo Kim
- International Vaccine Institute, SNU Research Park, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae-Hyung Chang
- International Vaccine Institute, SNU Research Park, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sang Hwan Seo
- International Vaccine Institute, SNU Research Park, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Na Hyung Kim
- Sumagen, 4F Dongwon Bldg, Teheran-ro 77-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eunsil Choi
- Sumagen, 4F Dongwon Bldg, Teheran-ro 77-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seungho Choo
- Sumagen, 4F Dongwon Bldg, Teheran-ro 77-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sangkyun Lee
- Sumagen, 4F Dongwon Bldg, Teheran-ro 77-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | | | - Yue Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kate Parham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Justin M. Donovan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brock Fenton
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jimmy D. Dikeakos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gregory A. Dekaban
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Molecular Medicine Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - S. M. Mansour Haeryfar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ryan M. Troyer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric J. Arts
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen D. Barr
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Manki Song
- International Vaccine Institute, SNU Research Park, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - C. Yong Kang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Chiale C, Marchese AM, Furuya Y, Robek MD. Virus-based vaccine vectors with distinct replication mechanisms differentially infect and activate dendritic cells. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:138. [PMID: 34811393 PMCID: PMC8608815 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00400-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The precise mechanism by which many virus-based vectors activate immune responses remains unknown. Dendritic cells (DCs) play key roles in priming T cell responses and controlling virus replication, but their functions in generating protective immunity following vaccination with viral vectors are not always well understood. We hypothesized that highly immunogenic viral vectors with identical cell entry pathways but unique replication mechanisms differentially infect and activate DCs to promote antigen presentation and activation of distinctive antigen-specific T cell responses. To evaluate differences in replication mechanisms, we utilized a rhabdovirus vector (vesicular stomatitis virus; VSV) and an alphavirus-rhabdovirus hybrid vector (virus-like vesicles; VLV), which replicates like an alphavirus but enters the cell via the VSV glycoprotein. We found that while virus replication promotes CD8+ T cell activation by VLV, replication is absolutely required for VSV-induced responses. DC subtypes were differentially infected in vitro with VSV and VLV, and displayed differences in activation following infection that were dependent on vector replication but were independent of interferon receptor signaling. Additionally, the ability of the alphavirus-based vector to generate functional CD8+ T cells in the absence of replication relied on cDC1 cells. These results highlight the differential activation of DCs following infection with unique viral vectors and indicate potentially discrete roles of DC subtypes in activating the immune response following immunization with vectors that have distinct replication mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Chiale
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.,Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Anthony M Marchese
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Yoichi Furuya
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Michael D Robek
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.
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Highly Efficient Purification of Recombinant VSV-∆G-Spike Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 by Flow-Through Chromatography. BIOTECH 2021; 10:biotech10040022. [PMID: 35822796 PMCID: PMC9245476 DOI: 10.3390/biotech10040022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
This study reports a highly efficient, rapid one-step purification process for the production of the recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine, rVSV-∆G-spike (rVSV-S), recently developed by the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) for the prevention of COVID-19. Several purification strategies are evaluated using a variety of chromatography methods, including membrane adsorbers and packed-bed ion-exchange chromatography. Cell harvest is initially treated with endonuclease, clarified, and further concentrated by ultrafiltration before chromatography purification. The use of anion-exchange chromatography in all forms results in strong binding of the virus to the media, necessitating a high salt concentration for elution. The large virus and spike protein binds very strongly to the high surface area of the membrane adsorbents, resulting in poor virus recovery (<15%), while the use of packed-bed chromatography, where the surface area is smaller, achieves better recovery (up to 33%). Finally, a highly efficient chromatography purification process with CaptoTM Core 700 resin, which does not require binding and the elution of the virus, is described. rVSV-S cannot enter the inner pores of the resin and is collected in the flow-through eluent. Purification of the rVSV-S virus with CaptoTM Core 700 resulted in viral infectivity above 85% for this step, with the efficient removal of host cell proteins, consistent with regulatory requirements. Similar results were obtained without an initial ultrafiltration step.
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Alencar ALF, Kwon SR, Rasmussen TB, Mérour E, Olesen NJ, Cuenca A. Modifications of the nucleoprotein of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus showed gain of virulence in intraperitoneally infected rainbow trout. JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES 2021; 44:1369-1383. [PMID: 34002876 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.13395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) is the cause of an important listed disease in European rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) aquaculture and can be present in a wide range of fish species, including marine fish, which can act as viral reservoir. Recent studies revealed putative genetic virulence markers of VHSV to rainbow trout highlighting the roles of the nucleoprotein, phosphoprotein and non-virion protein. Using reverse genetics, we produced recombinant viruses by introducing parts of or the entire nucleoprotein from a high-virulent isolate VHSV into a low-virulent backbone. Furthermore, we also made recombinant viruses by introducing residue modifications in the nucleoprotein that seem to play a role in virulence. Rainbow trout challenged with these recombinant viruses (rVHSVs) by intraperitoneal injection (IP) developed clinical signs and showed lower survival when compared to the parental rVHSV whereas fish challenged by immersion did not show clinical signs except for the high-virulent control. The mutations did not influence the viral growth in cell culture. The recombinant viruses and parental recombinant were unable to replicate and show cytopathic effect in EPC cells whereas the high-virulent control was well adapted in all the fish cell lines tested. We showed evidence that corroborates with the hypothesis that the nucleoprotein has virulence motifs associated with VHSV virulence in rainbow trout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Luiza Farias Alencar
- Unit for Fish and Shellfish Diseases, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark - DTU Aqua, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Se Ryun Kwon
- Department of Aquatic Life Medical Sciences, Sunmoon University, Asan-si, Korea
| | - Thomas Bruun Rasmussen
- Department of Virus & Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Emilie Mérour
- VIM, INRAE, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Université Paris Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin en Yvelines (UVSQ), Versailles, France
| | - Niels Jørgen Olesen
- Unit for Fish and Shellfish Diseases, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark - DTU Aqua, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Argelia Cuenca
- Unit for Fish and Shellfish Diseases, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark - DTU Aqua, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
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Experimental Evolution Generates Novel Oncolytic Vesicular Stomatitis Viruses with Improved Replication in Virus-Resistant Pancreatic Cancer Cells. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.01643-19. [PMID: 31694943 PMCID: PMC7000975 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01643-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based oncolytic viruses are promising agents against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, some PDAC cell lines are resistant to VSV. Here, using a directed viral evolution approach, we generated novel oncolytic VSVs with an improved ability to replicate in virus-resistant PDAC cell lines, while remaining highly attenuated in nonmalignant cells. Two independently evolved VSVs obtained 2 identical VSV glycoprotein mutations, K174E and E238K. Additional experiments indicated that these acquired G mutations improved VSV replication, at least in part due to improved virus attachment to SUIT-2 cells. Importantly, no deletions or mutations were found in the virus-carried transgenes in any of the passaged viruses. Our findings demonstrate long-term genomic stability of complex VSV recombinants carrying large transgenes and support further clinical development of oncolytic VSV recombinants as safe therapeutics for cancer. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) based oncolytic viruses are promising agents against various cancers. We have shown that pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell lines exhibit great diversity in susceptibility and permissibility to VSV. Here, using a directed evolution approach with our two previously described oncolytic VSV recombinants, VSV-p53wt and VSV-p53-CC, we generated novel oncolytic VSVs with an improved ability to replicate in virus-resistant PDAC cell lines. VSV-p53wt and VSV-p53-CC encode a VSV matrix protein (M) with a ΔM51 mutation (M-ΔM51) and one of two versions of a functional human tumor suppressor, p53, fused to a far-red fluorescent protein, eqFP650. Each virus was serially passaged 32 times (which accounts for more than 60 viral replication cycles) on either the SUIT-2 (moderately resistant to VSV) or MIA PaCa-2 (highly permissive to VSV) human PDAC cell lines. While no phenotypic changes were observed for MIA PaCa-2-passaged viruses, both SUIT-2-passaged VSV-p53wt and VSV-p53-CC showed improved replication in SUIT-2 and AsPC-1, another human PDAC cell line also moderately resistant to VSV, while remaining highly attenuated in nonmalignant cells. Surprisingly, two identical VSV glycoprotein (VSV-G) mutations, K174E and E238K, were identified in both SUIT-2-passaged viruses. Additional experiments indicated that the acquired G mutations improved VSV replication, at least in part due to improved virus attachment to SUIT-2 cells. Importantly, no mutations were found in the M-ΔM51 protein, and no deletions or mutations were found in the p53 or eqFP650 portions of virus-carried transgenes in any of the passaged viruses, demonstrating long-term genomic stability of complex VSV recombinants carrying large transgenes. IMPORTANCE Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based oncolytic viruses are promising agents against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, some PDAC cell lines are resistant to VSV. Here, using a directed viral evolution approach, we generated novel oncolytic VSVs with an improved ability to replicate in virus-resistant PDAC cell lines, while remaining highly attenuated in nonmalignant cells. Two independently evolved VSVs obtained 2 identical VSV glycoprotein mutations, K174E and E238K. Additional experiments indicated that these acquired G mutations improved VSV replication, at least in part due to improved virus attachment to SUIT-2 cells. Importantly, no deletions or mutations were found in the virus-carried transgenes in any of the passaged viruses. Our findings demonstrate long-term genomic stability of complex VSV recombinants carrying large transgenes and support further clinical development of oncolytic VSV recombinants as safe therapeutics for cancer.
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10
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Safety and immunogenicity of vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccines for Ebola virus disease. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2020; 20:388-389. [PMID: 31952924 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30007-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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11
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Clarke DK, Xu R, Matassov D, Latham TE, Ota-Setlik A, Gerardi CS, Luckay A, Witko SE, Hermida L, Higgins T, Tremblay M, Sciotto-Brown S, Chen T, Egan MA, Rusnak JM, Ward LA, Eldridge JH. Safety and immunogenicity of a highly attenuated rVSVN4CT1-EBOVGP1 Ebola virus vaccine: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1 clinical trial. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2020; 20:455-466. [PMID: 31952923 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(19)30614-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The safety and immunogenicity of a highly attenuated recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) expressing HIV-1 gag (rVSVN4CT1-HIV-1gag1) was shown in previous phase 1 clinical studies. An rVSV vector expressing Ebola virus glycoprotein (EBOV-GP) in place of HIV-1 gag (rVSVN4CT1-EBOVGP1) showed single-dose protection from lethal challenge with low passage Ebola virus in non-human primates. We aimed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the rVSVN4CT1-EBOVGP1 vaccine in healthy adults. METHODS We did a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1 dose-escalation study at a single clinical site (Optimal Research) in Melbourne, FL, USA. Eligible participants were healthy men and non-pregnant women aged 18-60 years, with a body-mass index (BMI) of less than 40 kg/m2, no history of filovirus infection, VSV infection, or receipt of rVSV in previous studies, and who had not visited regions where Ebola virus outbreaks have occurred. Three cohorts were enrolled to assess a low (2·5 × 104 plaque forming units [PFU]), intermediate (2 × 105 PFU), or high dose (1·8 × 106 PFU) of the vaccine. Participants within each cohort were randomly allocated (10:3) to receive vaccine or placebo by intramuscular injection in a homologous prime and boost regimen, with 4 weeks between doses. All syringes were masked with syringe sleeves; participants and study site staff were not blinded to dose level but were blinded to active vaccine and placebo. The primary outcomes were safety and tolerability; immunogenicity, assessed as GP-specific humoral immune response (at 2 weeks after each dose) and cellular immune response (at 1 and 2 weeks after each dose), was a secondary outcome. All randomised participants were included in primary and safety analyses. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02718469. FINDINGS Between Dec 22, 2015, and Sept 15, 2016, 39 individuals (18 [46%] men and 21 [54%] women, mean age 51 years [SD 10]) were enrolled, with ten participants receiving the vaccine and three participants receiving placebo in each of three cohorts. One participant in the intermediate dose cohort was withdrawn from the study because of a diagnosis of invasive ductal breast carcinoma 24 days after the first vaccination, which was considered unrelated to the vaccine. No severe adverse events were observed. Solicited local adverse events occurred in ten (26%) of 39 participants after the first dose and nine (24%) of 38 participants after the second dose; the events lasted 3 days or less, were predominantly injection site tenderness (17 events) and injection site pain (ten events), and were either mild (19 events) or moderate (ten events) in intensity. Systemic adverse events occurred in 13 (33%) of 39 participants after the first dose and eight (21%) of 38 participants after the second dose; the events were mild (45 events) or moderate (11 events) in severity, and the most common events were malaise or fatigue (13 events) and headache (12 events). Arthritis and maculopapular, vesicular, or purpuric rash distal to the vaccination site(s) were not reported. A GP-specific IgG response was detected in all vaccine recipients after two doses (and IgG response frequency was 100% after a single high dose), and an Ebola virus neutralising response was detected in 100% of participants in the high-dose cohort. INTERPRETATION The rVSVN4CT1-EBOVGP1 vaccine was well tolerated at all dose levels tested and was immunogenic despite a high degree of attenuation. The combined safety and immunogenicity profile of the rVSVN4CT1-EBOVGP1 vaccine vector support phase 1-2 clinical evaluation. FUNDING US Department of Defense Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense: Joint Project Manager for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Medical.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K Clarke
- Department of Virology and Vaccine Development, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA.
| | - Rong Xu
- Department of Immunology, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Demetrius Matassov
- Department of Virology and Vaccine Development, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Theresa E Latham
- Department of Virology and Vaccine Development, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Ayuko Ota-Setlik
- Department of Immunology, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Cheryl S Gerardi
- Department of Virology and Vaccine Development, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Amara Luckay
- Department of Immunology, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Susan E Witko
- Department of Virology and Vaccine Development, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Luz Hermida
- Department of Virology and Vaccine Development, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Terry Higgins
- Department of Virology and Vaccine Development, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Marc Tremblay
- Department of Quality Assurance, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Susan Sciotto-Brown
- Department of Regulatory Affairs, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Tracy Chen
- Department of Virology and Vaccine Development, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Michael A Egan
- Bill and Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Janice M Rusnak
- Joint Project Manager for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Medical, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - Lucy A Ward
- Joint Project Manager for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Medical, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - John H Eldridge
- Department of Virology and Vaccine Development, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA; Department of Immunology, Profectus BioSciences, Pearl River, NY, USA
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12
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Fathi A, Dahlke C, Addo MM. Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector vaccines for WHO blueprint priority pathogens. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 15:2269-2285. [PMID: 31368826 PMCID: PMC6816421 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1649532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The devastating Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreak in West Africa in 2013-2016 has flagged the need for the timely development of vaccines for high-threat pathogens. To be better prepared for new epidemics, the WHO has compiled a list of priority pathogens that are likely to cause future outbreaks and for which R&D efforts are, therefore, paramount (R&D Blueprint: https://www.who.int/blueprint/priority-diseases/en/ ). To this end, the detailed characterization of vaccine platforms is needed. The vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has been established as a robust vaccine vector backbone for infectious diseases for well over a decade. The recent clinical trials testing the vaccine candidate VSV-EBOV against EBOV disease now have added a substantial amount of clinical data and suggest VSV to be an ideal vaccine vector candidate for outbreak pathogens. In this review, we discuss insights gained from the clinical VSV-EBOV vaccine trials as well as from animal studies investigating vaccine candidates for Blueprint pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anahita Fathi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Medical-Center Hamburg-Eppendorf , Hamburg , Germany.,Department for Clinical Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine , Hamburg , Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems , Germany
| | - Christine Dahlke
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Medical-Center Hamburg-Eppendorf , Hamburg , Germany.,Department for Clinical Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine , Hamburg , Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems , Germany
| | - Marylyn M Addo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Medical-Center Hamburg-Eppendorf , Hamburg , Germany.,Department for Clinical Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine , Hamburg , Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems , Germany
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13
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Heterologous prime-boost immunization with vesiculovirus-based vectors expressing HBV Core antigen induces CD8 + T cell responses in naïve and persistently infected mice and protects from challenge. Antiviral Res 2019; 168:156-167. [PMID: 31153968 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections cause more than 800,000 deaths per year and currently approved treatments do not cure the disease. Because a hallmark of acute infection resolution is the presence of functional CD8+ T cells to the virus, activation of the immune system with therapeutic vaccines represents a potential approach for treating chronic hepatitis B. In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity and efficacy of two attenuated vesiculovirus-based platforms expressing HBV Core antigen, the highly attenuated vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) N4CT1 and a unique vaccine platform [virus-like vesicles (VLV)] that is based on a Semliki Forest virus replicon expressing the VSV glycoprotein. We found that heterologous prime-boost immunization with VLV and N4CT1 induced Core-specific CD8+ T cell responses in naïve mice. When immunized mice were later challenged with AAV-HBV, functional Core-specific CD8+ T cells were present in the liver, and mice were protected from establishment of persistent infection. In contrast, when mice with pre-established persistent HBV replication received prime-boost immunization, functional Core-specific CD8+ T cells were found in the spleen but not in the liver. These results highlight the importance of investigating the therapeutic value of different HBV antigens alone and in combination using preclinical animal models, and understanding the correlation between anti-HBV efficacy in these models with human infection.
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14
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A Highly Attenuated Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-Based Vaccine Platform Controls Hepatitis B Virus Replication in Mouse Models of Hepatitis B. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.01586-18. [PMID: 30541859 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01586-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic vaccines may be an important component of a treatment regimen for curing chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We previously demonstrated that recombinant wild-type vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) expressing the HBV middle surface glycoprotein (MHBs) elicits functional immune responses in mouse models of HBV replication. However, VSV has some undesirable pathogenic properties, and the use of this platform in humans requires further viral attenuation. We therefore generated a highly attenuated VSV that expresses MHBs and contains two attenuating mutations. This vector was evaluated for immunogenicity, pathogenesis, and anti-HBV function in mice. Compared to wild-type VSV, the highly attenuated virus displayed markedly reduced pathogenesis but induced similar MHBs-specific CD8+ T cell and antibody responses. The CD8+ T cell responses elicited by this vector in naive mice prevented HBV replication in animals that were later challenged by hydrodynamic injection or transduction with adeno-associated virus encoding the HBV genome (AAV-HBV). In mice in which persistent HBV replication was first established by AAV-HBV transduction, subsequent immunization with the attenuated VSV induced MHBs-specific CD8+ T cell responses that corresponded with reductions in serum and liver HBV antigens and nucleic acids. HBV control was associated with an increase in the frequency of intrahepatic HBV-specific CD8+ T cells and a transient elevation in serum alanine aminotransferase activity. The ability of VSV to induce a robust multispecific T cell response that controls HBV replication combined with the improved safety profile of the highly attenuated vector suggests that this platform offers a new approach for HBV therapeutic vaccination.IMPORTANCE A curative treatment for chronic hepatitis B must eliminate the virus from the liver, but current antiviral therapies typically fail to do so. Immune-mediated resolution of infection occurs in a small fraction of chronic HBV patients, which suggests the potential efficacy of therapeutic strategies that boost the patient's own immune response to the virus. We modified a safe form of VSV to express an immunogenic HBV protein and evaluated the efficacy of this vector in the prevention and treatment of HBV infection in mouse models. Our results show that this vector elicits HBV-specific immune responses that prevent the establishment of HBV infection and reduce viral proteins in the serum and viral DNA/RNA in the liver of mice with persistent HBV replication. These findings suggest that highly attenuated and safe virus-based vaccine platforms have the potential to be utilized for the development of an effective therapeutic vaccine against chronic HBV infection.
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15
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Ibrahim A, Odon V, Kormelink R. Plant Viruses in Plant Molecular Pharming: Toward the Use of Enveloped Viruses. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:803. [PMID: 31275344 PMCID: PMC6594412 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Plant molecular pharming has emerged as a reliable platform for recombinant protein expression providing a safe and low-cost alternative to bacterial and mammalian cells-based systems. Simultaneously, plant viruses have evolved from pathogens to molecular tools for recombinant protein expression, chimaeric viral vaccine production, and lately, as nanoagents for drug delivery. This review summarizes the genesis of viral vectors and agroinfection, the development of non-enveloped viruses for various biotechnological applications, and the on-going research on enveloped plant viruses.
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16
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AlMatar M, Makky EA, AlMandeal H, Eker E, Kayar B, Var I, Köksal F. Does the Development of Vaccines Advance Solutions for Tuberculosis? Curr Mol Pharmacol 2018; 12:83-104. [PMID: 30474542 DOI: 10.2174/1874467212666181126151948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Revised: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is considered as one of the most efficacious human pathogens. The global mortality rate of TB stands at approximately 2 million, while about 8 to 10 million active new cases are documented yearly. It is, therefore, a priority to develop vaccines that will prevent active TB. The vaccines currently used for the management of TB can only proffer a certain level of protection against meningitis, TB, and other forms of disseminated TB in children; however, their effectiveness against pulmonary TB varies and cannot provide life-long protective immunity. Based on these reasons, more efforts are channeled towards the development of new TB vaccines. During the development of TB vaccines, a major challenge has always been the lack of diversity in both the antigens contained in TB vaccines and the immune responses of the TB sufferers. Current efforts are channeled on widening both the range of antigens selection and the range of immune response elicited by the vaccines. The past two decades witnessed a significant progress in the development of TB vaccines; some of the discovered TB vaccines have recently even completed the third phase (phase III) of a clinical trial. OBJECTIVE The objectives of this article are to discuss the recent progress in the development of new vaccines against TB; to provide an insight on the mechanism of vaccine-mediated specific immune response stimulation, and to debate on the interaction between vaccines and global interventions to end TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manaf AlMatar
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences (Fen Bilimleri Enstitusu) Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey
| | - Essam A Makky
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Kuantan, Malaysia
| | - Husam AlMandeal
- Freiburg Universität, Moltkestraße 90, 76133 karlsruhe Augenklinik, Germany
| | - Emel Eker
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey
| | - Begüm Kayar
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey
| | - Işıl Var
- Department of Food Engineering, Agricultural Faculty, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey
| | - Fatih Köksal
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey
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17
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Suksanpaisan L, Xu R, Tesfay MZ, Bomidi C, Hamm S, Vandergaast R, Jenks N, Steele MB, Ota-Setlik A, Akhtar H, Luckay A, Nowak R, Peng KW, Eldridge JH, Clarke DK, Russell SJ, Diaz RM. Preclinical Development of Oncolytic Immunovirotherapy for Treatment of HPV POS Cancers. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2018; 10:1-13. [PMID: 29998190 PMCID: PMC6037044 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy for HPVPOS malignancies is attractive because well-defined, viral, non-self tumor antigens exist as targets. Several approaches to vaccinate therapeutically against HPV E6 and E7 antigens have been adopted, including viral platforms such as VSV. A major advantage of VSV expressing these antigens is that VSV also acts as an oncolytic virus, leading to direct tumor cell killing and induction of effective anti-E6 and anti-E7 T cell responses. We have also shown that addition of immune adjuvant genes, such as IFNβ, further enhances safety and/or efficacy of VSV-based oncolytic immunovirotherapies. However, multiple designs of the viral vector are possible—with respect to levels of immunogen expression and method of virus attenuation—and optimal designs have not previously been tested head-to-head. Here, we tested three different VSV engineered to express a non-oncogenic HPV16 E7/6 fusion protein for their immunotherapeutic and oncolytic properties. We assessed their profiles of efficacy and toxicity against HPVPOS and HPVNEG murine tumor models and determined the optimal route of administration. Our data show that VSV is an excellent platform for the oncolytic immunovirotherapy of tumors expressing HPV target antigens, combining a balance of efficacy and safety suitable for evaluation in a first-in-human clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rong Xu
- Profectus Biosciences, Inc., Pearl River, NY 10965, USA
| | | | | | - Stefan Hamm
- Profectus Biosciences, Inc., Pearl River, NY 10965, USA
| | | | - Nathan Jenks
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Michael B Steele
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | - Hinna Akhtar
- Profectus Biosciences, Inc., Pearl River, NY 10965, USA
| | - Amara Luckay
- Profectus Biosciences, Inc., Pearl River, NY 10965, USA
| | - Rebecca Nowak
- Profectus Biosciences, Inc., Pearl River, NY 10965, USA
| | - Kah Whye Peng
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.,Vyriad, Inc., Rochester, MN 55902, USA.,Deparment of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | | | - Stephen J Russell
- Vyriad, Inc., Rochester, MN 55902, USA.,Deparment of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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18
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Zemp F, Rajwani J, Mahoney DJ. Rhabdoviruses as vaccine platforms for infectious disease and cancer. Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev 2018; 34:122-138. [PMID: 29781359 DOI: 10.1080/02648725.2018.1474320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The family Rhabdoviridae (RV) comprises a large, genetically diverse collection of single-stranded, negative sense RNA viruses from the order Mononegavirales. Several RV members are being developed as live-attenuated vaccine vectors for the prevention or treatment of infectious disease and cancer. These include the prototype recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (rVSV) and the more recently developed recombinant Maraba Virus, both species within the genus Vesiculoviridae. A relatively strong safety profile in humans, robust immunogenicity and genetic malleability are key features that make the RV family attractive vaccine platforms. Currently, the rVSV vector is in preclinical development for vaccination against numerous high-priority infectious diseases, with clinical evaluation underway for HIV/AIDS and Ebola virus disease. Indeed, the success of the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine during the 2014-15 Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa highlights the therapeutic potential of rVSV as a vaccine vector for acute, life-threatening viral illnesses. The rVSV and rMaraba platforms are also being tested as 'oncolytic' cancer vaccines in a series of phase 1-2 clinical trials, after being proven effective at eliciting immune-mediated tumour regression in preclinical mouse models. In this review, we discuss the biological and genetic features that make RVs attractive vaccine platforms and the development and ongoing testing of rVSV and rMaraba strains as vaccine vectors for infectious disease and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Zemp
- a Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute , Calgary , Canada.,b Charbonneau Cancer Research Institute , Calgary , Canada
| | - Jahanara Rajwani
- a Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute , Calgary , Canada.,b Charbonneau Cancer Research Institute , Calgary , Canada.,d Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Calgary , Calgary , Canada
| | - Douglas J Mahoney
- a Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute , Calgary , Canada.,b Charbonneau Cancer Research Institute , Calgary , Canada.,c Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease , Faculty of Medicine , University of Calgary , Calgary , Canada.,d Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Calgary , Calgary , Canada
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19
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Immunogenicity in African Green Monkeys of M Protein Mutant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vectors and Contribution of Vector-Encoded Flagellin. Vaccines (Basel) 2018; 6:vaccines6010016. [PMID: 29562688 PMCID: PMC5874657 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines6010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a promising platform for vaccine development. M51R VSV, an attenuated, M protein mutant strain, is an effective inducer of Type I interferon and dendritic cell (DC) maturation, which are desirable properties to exploit for vaccine design. We have previously evaluated M51R VSV (M51R) and M51R VSV that produces flagellin (M51R-F) as vaccine vectors using murine models, and found that flagellin enhanced DC activation and VSV-specific antibody production after low-dose vaccination. In this report, the immunogenicity of M51R vectors and the adjuvant effect of virus-produced flagellin were evaluated in nonhuman primates following high-dose (108 pfu) and low-dose (105 pfu) vaccination. A single intramuscular vaccination of African green monkeys with M51R or M51R-F induced VSV-specific, dose-dependent humoral immune responses. Flagellin induced a significant increase in antibody production (IgM, IgG and neutralizing antibody) at the low vaccination dose. A VSV-specific cellular response was detected at 6 weeks post-vaccination, but was neither dose-dependent nor enhanced by flagellin; similar numbers of VSV-specific, IFNγ-producing cells were detected in lymph node and spleen of all animals. These results indicate that virus-directed, intracellular flagellin production may improve VSV-based vaccines encoding heterologous antigens by lowering the dose required to achieve humoral immunity.
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20
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Single-Dose Trivalent VesiculoVax Vaccine Protects Macaques from Lethal Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus Challenge. J Virol 2018; 92:JVI.01190-17. [PMID: 29142131 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01190-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies demonstrated that a single intramuscular (i.m.) dose of an attenuated recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vector (VesiculoVax vector platform; rVSV-N4CT1) expressing the glycoprotein (GP) from the Mayinga strain of Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) protected nonhuman primates (NHPs) from lethal challenge with EBOV strains Kikwit and Makona. Here, we studied the immunogenicities of an expanded range of attenuated rVSV vectors expressing filovirus GP in mice. Based on data from those studies, an optimal attenuated trivalent rVSV vector formulation was identified that included rVSV vectors expressing EBOV, Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV), and the Angola strain of Marburg marburgvirus (MARV) GPs. NHPs were vaccinated with a single dose of the trivalent formulation, followed by lethal challenge 28 days later with each of the three corresponding filoviruses. At day 14 postvaccination, a serum IgG response specific for all three GPs was detected in all the vaccinated macaques. A modest and balanced cell-mediated immune response specific for each GP was also detected in a majority of the vaccinated macaques. No matter the level of total GP-specific immune response detected postvaccination, all the vaccinated macaques were protected from disease and death following lethal challenge with each of the three filoviruses. These findings indicate that vaccination with a single dose of attenuated rVSV-N4CT1 vectors each expressing a single filovirus GP may provide protection against the filoviruses most commonly responsible for outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever in sub-Saharan Africa.IMPORTANCE The West African Ebola virus Zaire outbreak in 2013 showed that the disease was not only a regional concern, but a worldwide problem, and highlighted the need for a safe and efficacious vaccine to be administered to the populace. However, other endemic pathogens, like Ebola virus Sudan and Marburg, also pose an important health risk to the public and therefore require development of a vaccine prior to the occurrence of an outbreak. The significance of our research was the development of a blended trivalent filovirus vaccine that elicited a balanced immune response when administered as a single dose and provided complete protection against a lethal challenge with all three filovirus pathogens.
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21
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Felt SA, Grdzelishvili VZ. Recent advances in vesicular stomatitis virus-based oncolytic virotherapy: a 5-year update. J Gen Virol 2017; 98:2895-2911. [PMID: 29143726 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic virus (OV) therapy is an anti-cancer approach that uses viruses that preferentially infect, replicate in and kill cancer cells. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV, a rhabdovirus) is an OV that is currently being tested in the USA in several phase I clinical trials against different malignancies. Several factors make VSV a promising OV: lack of pre-existing human immunity against VSV, a small and easy to manipulate genome, cytoplasmic replication without risk of host cell transformation, independence of cell cycle and rapid growth to high titres in a broad range of cell lines facilitating large-scale virus production. While significant advances have been made in VSV-based OV therapy, room for improvement remains. Here we review recent studies (published in the last 5 years) that address 'old' and 'new' challenges of VSV-based OV therapy. These studies focused on improving VSV safety, oncoselectivity and oncotoxicity; breaking resistance of some cancers to VSV; preventing premature clearance of VSV; and stimulating tumour-specific immunity. Many of these approaches were based on combining VSV with other therapeutics. This review also discusses another rhabdovirus closely related to VSV, Maraba virus, which is currently being tested in Canada in phase I/II clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien A Felt
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Valery Z Grdzelishvili
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
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22
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Ruxolitinib and Polycation Combination Treatment Overcomes Multiple Mechanisms of Resistance of Pancreatic Cancer Cells to Oncolytic Vesicular Stomatitis Virus. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.00461-17. [PMID: 28566376 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00461-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a promising oncolytic virus (OV). Although VSV is effective against a majority of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell (PDAC) cell lines, some PDAC cell lines are highly resistant to VSV, and the mechanisms of resistance are still unclear. JAK1/2 inhibitors (such as ruxolitinib and JAK inhibitor I) strongly stimulate VSV replication and oncolysis in all resistant cell lines but only partially improve the susceptibility of resistant PDACs to VSV. VSV tumor tropism is generally dependent on the permissiveness of malignant cells to viral replication rather than on receptor specificity, with several ubiquitously expressed cell surface molecules playing a role in VSV attachment to host cells. However, as VSV attachment to PDAC cells has never been tested before, here we examined if it was possibly inhibited in resistant PDAC cells. Our data show a dramatically weaker attachment of VSV to HPAF-II cells, the most resistant human PDAC cell line. Although sequence analysis of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) mRNA did not reveal any amino acid substitutions in this cell line, HPAF-II cells displayed the lowest level of LDLR expression and dramatically lower LDL uptake. Treatment of cells with various statins strongly increased LDLR expression levels but did not improve VSV attachment or LDL uptake in HPAF-II cells. However, LDLR-independent attachment of VSV to HPAF-II cells was dramatically improved by treating cells with Polybrene or DEAE-dextran. Moreover, combining VSV with ruxolitinib and Polybrene or DEAE-dextran successfully broke the resistance of HPAF-II cells to VSV by simultaneously improving VSV attachment and replication.IMPORTANCE Oncolytic virus (OV) therapy is an anticancer approach that uses viruses that selectively infect and kill cancer cells. This study focuses on oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. Although VSV is effective against most PDAC cells, some are highly resistant to VSV, and the mechanisms are still unclear. Here we examined if VSV attachment to cells was inhibited in resistant PDAC cells. Our data show very inefficient attachment of VSV to the most resistant human PDAC cell line, HPAF-II. However, VSV attachment to HPAF-II cells was dramatically improved by treating cells with polycations. Moreover, combining VSV with polycations and ruxolitinib (which inhibits antiviral signaling) successfully broke the resistance of HPAF-II cells to VSV by simultaneously improving VSV attachment and replication. We envision that this novel triple-combination approach could be used in the future to treat PDAC tumors that are highly resistant to OV therapy.
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Recombinant Isfahan Virus and Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vaccine Vectors Provide Durable, Multivalent, Single-Dose Protection against Lethal Alphavirus Challenge. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.01729-16. [PMID: 28148802 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01729-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The demonstrated clinical efficacy of a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vaccine vector has stimulated the investigation of additional serologically distinct Vesiculovirus vectors as therapeutic and/or prophylactic vaccine vectors to combat emerging viral diseases. Among these viral threats are the encephalitic alphaviruses Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) and Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), which have demonstrated potential for natural disease outbreaks, yet no licensed vaccines are available in the event of an epidemic. Here we report the rescue of recombinant Isfahan virus (rISFV) from genomic cDNA as a potential new vaccine vector platform. The rISFV genome was modified to attenuate virulence and express the VEEV and EEEV E2/E1 surface glycoproteins as vaccine antigens. A single dose of the rISFV vaccine vectors elicited neutralizing antibody responses and protected mice from lethal VEEV and EEEV challenges at 1 month postvaccination as well as lethal VEEV challenge at 8 months postvaccination. A mixture of rISFV vectors expressing the VEEV and EEEV E2/E1 glycoproteins also provided durable, single-dose protection from lethal VEEV and EEEV challenges, demonstrating the potential for a multivalent vaccine formulation. These findings were paralleled in studies with an attenuated form of rVSV expressing the VEEV E2/E1 glycoproteins. Both the rVSV and rISFV vectors were attenuated by using an approach that has demonstrated safety in human trials of an rVSV/HIV-1 vaccine. Vaccines based on either of these vaccine vector platforms may present a safe and effective approach to prevent alphavirus-induced disease in humans.IMPORTANCE This work introduces rISFV as a novel vaccine vector platform that is serologically distinct and phylogenetically distant from VSV. The rISFV vector has been attenuated by an approach used for an rVSV vector that has demonstrated safety in clinical studies. The vaccine potential of the rISFV vector was investigated in a well-established alphavirus disease model. The findings indicate the feasibility of producing a safe, efficacious, multivalent vaccine against the encephalitic alphaviruses VEEV and EEEV, both of which can cause fatal disease. This work also demonstrates the efficacy of an attenuated rVSV vector that has already demonstrated safety and immunogenicity in multiple HIV-1 phase I clinical studies. The absence of serological cross-reactivity between rVSV and rISFV and their phylogenetic divergence within the Vesiculovirus genus indicate potential for two stand-alone vaccine vector platforms that could be used to target multiple bacterial and/or viral agents in successive immunization campaigns or as heterologous prime-boost agents.
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Chikungunya, Influenza, Nipah, and Semliki Forest Chimeric Viruses with Vesicular Stomatitis Virus: Actions in the Brain. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.02154-16. [PMID: 28077641 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02154-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based chimeric viruses that include genes from other viruses show promise as vaccines and oncolytic viruses. However, the critical safety concern is the neurotropic nature conveyed by the VSV glycoprotein. VSVs that include the VSV glycoprotein (G) gene, even in most recombinant attenuated strains, can still show substantial adverse or lethal actions in the brain. Here, we test 4 chimeric viruses in the brain, including those in which glycoprotein genes from Nipah, chikungunya (CHIKV), and influenza H5N1 viruses were substituted for the VSV glycoprotein gene. We also test a virus-like vesicle (VLV) in which the VSV glycoprotein gene is expressed from a replicon encoding the nonstructural proteins of Semliki Forest virus. VSVΔG-CHIKV, VSVΔG-H5N1, and VLV were all safe in the adult mouse brain, as were VSVΔG viruses expressing either the Nipah F or G glycoprotein. In contrast, a complementing pair of VSVΔG viruses expressing Nipah G and F glycoproteins were lethal within the brain within a surprisingly short time frame of 2 days. Intranasal inoculation in postnatal day 14 mice with VSVΔG-CHIKV or VLV evoked no adverse response, whereas VSVΔG-H5N1 by this route was lethal in most mice. A key immune mechanism underlying the safety of VSVΔG-CHIKV, VSVΔG-H5N1, and VLV in the adult brain was the type I interferon response; all three viruses were lethal in the brains of adult mice lacking the interferon receptor, suggesting that the viruses can infect and replicate and spread in brain cells if not blocked by interferon-stimulated genes within the brain.IMPORTANCE Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) shows considerable promise both as a vaccine vector and as an oncolytic virus. The greatest limitation of VSV is that it is highly neurotropic and can be lethal within the brain. The neurotropism can be mostly attributed to the VSV G glycoprotein. Here, we test 4 chimeric viruses of VSV with glycoprotein genes from Nipah, chikungunya, and influenza viruses and nonstructural genes from Semliki Forest virus. Two of the four, VSVΔG-CHIKV and VLV, show substantially attenuated neurotropism and were safe in the healthy adult mouse brain. VSVΔG-H5N1 was safe in the adult brain but lethal in the younger brain. VSVΔG Nipah F+G was even more neurotropic than wild-type VSV, evoking a rapid lethal response in the adult brain. These results suggest that while chimeric VSVs show promise, each must be tested with both intranasal and intracranial administration to ensure the absence of lethal neurotropism.
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Zhang M, Dong C, Xiong S. Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-Vectored Multi-Antigen Tuberculosis Vaccine Limits Bacterial Proliferation in Mice following a Single Intranasal Dose. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:34. [PMID: 28224119 PMCID: PMC5293745 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious health problem worldwide, and an urgent need exists to improve or replace the available vaccine, Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Most vaccination protocols adapt two or three doses to induce long-term lasting immunity. Our previous study showed that the naked DNA encoding the triple-antigen fusion TFP846 (Rv3615c-Mtb10.4-Rv2660c) induced robust T cellular immune responses accompanying four inoculations against mycobacteria infection. However, a number of compliance issues exist in some areas lacking the appropriate medical infrastructure with multiple administrations. In this study, a novel vesicular stomatitis virus expressing TFP846 (VSV-846) was developed and the immune responses elicited by VSV-846 were evaluated. We observed that intranasal delivery of VSV-846 induced a potent antigen-specific T cell response following a single dose and VSV-846 efficiently controlled bacterial growth to levels ~10-fold lower than that observed in the mock group 6 weeks post-infection in BCG-infected mice. Importantly, mice immunized with VSV-846 provided long-term protection against mycobacteria infection compared with those receiving p846 or BCG immunization. Increased memory T cells were also observed in the spleens of VSV-846-vaccinated mice, which could be a potential mechanism associated with long-term protective immune response. These findings supported the use of VSV as an antigen delivery vector with the potential for TB vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University Suzhou, China
| | - Chunsheng Dong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University Suzhou, China
| | - Sidong Xiong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University Suzhou, China
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26
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Clarke DK, Hendry RM, Singh V, Rose JK, Seligman SJ, Klug B, Kochhar S, Mac LM, Carbery B, Chen RT. Live virus vaccines based on a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) backbone: Standardized template with key considerations for a risk/benefit assessment. Vaccine 2016; 34:6597-6609. [PMID: 27395563 PMCID: PMC5220644 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.06.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The Brighton Collaboration Viral Vector Vaccines Safety Working Group (V3SWG) was formed to evaluate the safety of live, recombinant viral vaccines incorporating genes from heterologous viral and other microbial pathogens in their genome (so-called "chimeric virus vaccines"). Many such viral vector vaccines are now at various stages of clinical evaluation. Here, we introduce an attenuated form of recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) as a potential chimeric virus vaccine for HIV-1, with implications for use as a vaccine vector for other pathogens. The rVSV/HIV-1 vaccine vector was attenuated by combining two major genome modifications. These modifications acted synergistically to greatly enhance vector attenuation and the resulting rVSV vector demonstrated safety in sensitive mouse and non-human primate neurovirulence models. This vector expressing HIV-1 gag protein has completed evaluation in two Phase I clinical trials. In one trial the rVSV/HIV-1 vector was administered in a homologous two-dose regimen, and in a second trial with pDNA in a heterologous prime boost regimen. No serious adverse events were reported nor was vector detected in blood, urine or saliva post vaccination in either trial. Gag specific immune responses were induced in both trials with highest frequency T cell responses detected in the prime boost regimen. The rVSV/HIV-1 vector also demonstrated safety in an ongoing Phase I trial in HIV-1 positive participants. Additionally, clinical trial material has been produced with the rVSV vector expressing HIV-1 env, and Phase I clinical evaluation will initiate in the beginning of 2016. In this paper, we use a standardized template describing key characteristics of the novel rVSV vaccine vectors, in comparison to wild type VSV. The template facilitates scientific discourse among key stakeholders by increasing transparency and comparability of information. The Brighton Collaboration V3SWG template may also be useful as a guide to the evaluation of other recombinant viral vector vaccines.
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MESH Headings
- AIDS Vaccines/adverse effects
- AIDS Vaccines/genetics
- AIDS Vaccines/immunology
- Animals
- Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic
- Drug Carriers
- Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
- Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/epidemiology
- Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/pathology
- Genetic Vectors
- Humans
- Primates
- Risk Assessment
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Vaccines, Attenuated/adverse effects
- Vaccines, Attenuated/genetics
- Vaccines, Synthetic/adverse effects
- Vaccines, Synthetic/genetics
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
- Vesiculovirus/genetics
- env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/genetics
- env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/immunology
- gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/genetics
- gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
| | - R Michael Hendry
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Vidisha Singh
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
| | - John K Rose
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Stephen J Seligman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA; St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | | | - Lisa Marie Mac
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Baevin Carbery
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Robert T Chen
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
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Martins KA, Jahrling PB, Bavari S, Kuhn JH. Ebola virus disease candidate vaccines under evaluation in clinical trials. Expert Rev Vaccines 2016; 15:1101-12. [PMID: 27160784 PMCID: PMC5026048 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2016.1187566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Filoviruses are the etiological agents of two human illnesses: Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease. Until 2013, medical countermeasure development against these afflictions was limited to only a few research institutes worldwide as both infections were considered exotic due to very low case numbers. Together with the high case-fatality rate of both diseases, evaluation of any candidate countermeasure in properly controlled clinical trials seemed impossible. However, in 2013, Ebola virus was identified as the etiological agent of a large disease outbreak in Western Africa including almost 30,000 infections and more than 11,000 deaths, including case exportations to Europe and North America. These large case numbers resulted in medical countermeasure development against Ebola virus disease becoming a global public-health priority. This review summarizes the status quo of candidate vaccines against Ebola virus disease, with a focus on those that are currently under evaluation in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen A. Martins
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Peter B. Jahrling
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Sina Bavari
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Jens H. Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
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28
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Vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccines expressing EV71 virus-like particles elicit strong immune responses and protect newborn mice from lethal challenges. Vaccine 2016; 34:4196-4204. [PMID: 27373596 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.06.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Revised: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Enterovirus 71 (EV71) belonging to the Picornaviridae family is considered the most frequently detected causative agent in hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) and is a serious threat to public health in the Asia-Pacific region. There are currently no approved vaccines or effective drugs for EV71. In this study, using recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) expressing viral VP1 protein (mVP1) of EV71 as a control, we generated two types of rVSVs that can form EV71 virus-like particles (VLPs). First, we co-infected two rVSVs singly expressing P1 (mP1) and 3CD (m3CD) of EV71. Second, we inserted P1 and 3CD into one VSV backbone to generate an rVSV expressing P1 and 3CD together (mP1-3CD). When P1 and 3CD were expressed in the cells either co-infected with mP1 and m3CD (mP1/m3CD) or infected with mP1-3CD, P1 was cleaved by 3CD and produced VP1, VP3, and VP0 to form VLPs. Furthermore, mice immunized with mP1/m3CD or mP1-3CD showed higher humoral and cellular immunity responses than mice immunized with mVP1. Finally, the rVSVs expressing the EV71 proteins were evaluated in mice to determine their potential to protect against a lethal EV71 virus challenge, and among all the rVSVs, the mP1-3CD was shown to be the most promising vaccine candidate for EV71 protection.
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Unique safety issues associated with virus-vectored vaccines: Potential for and theoretical consequences of recombination with wild type virus strains. Vaccine 2016; 34:6610-6616. [PMID: 27346303 PMCID: PMC5204448 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.04.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In 2003 and 2013, the World Health Organization convened informal consultations on characterization and quality aspects of vaccines based on live virus vectors. In the resulting reports, one of several issues raised for future study was the potential for recombination of virus-vectored vaccines with wild type pathogenic virus strains. This paper presents an assessment of this issue formulated by the Brighton Collaboration. To provide an appropriate context for understanding the potential for recombination of virus-vectored vaccines, we review briefly the current status of virus-vectored vaccines, mechanisms of recombination between viruses, experience with recombination involving live attenuated vaccines in the field, and concerns raised previously in the literature regarding recombination of virus-vectored vaccines with wild type virus strains. We then present a discussion of the major variables that could influence recombination between a virus-vectored vaccine and circulating wild type virus and the consequences of such recombination, including intrinsic recombination properties of the parent virus used as a vector; sequence relatedness of vector and wild virus; virus host range, pathogenesis and transmission; replication competency of vector in target host; mechanism of vector attenuation; additional factors potentially affecting virulence; and circulation of multiple recombinant vectors in the same target population. Finally, we present some guiding principles for vector design and testing intended to anticipate and mitigate the potential for and consequences of recombination of virus-vectored vaccines with wild type pathogenic virus strains.
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30
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Ohimain EI. Recent advances in the development of vaccines for Ebola virus disease. Virus Res 2015; 211:174-85. [PMID: 26596227 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2015.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Revised: 10/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Ebola virus is one of the most dangerous microorganisms in the world causing hemorrhagic fevers in humans and non-human primates. Ebola virus (EBOV) is a zoonotic infection, which emerges and re-emerges in human populations. The 2014 outbreak was caused by the Zaire strain, which has a kill rate of up to 90%, though 40% was recorded in the current outbreak. The 2014 outbreak is larger than all 20 outbreaks that have occurred since 1976, when the virus was first discovered. It is the first time that the virus was sustained in urban centers and spread beyond Africa into Europe and USA. Thus far, over 22,000 cases have been reported with about 50% mortality in one year. There are currently no approved therapeutics and preventive vaccines against Ebola virus disease (EVD). Responding to the devastating effe1cts of the 2014 outbreak and the potential risk of global spread, has spurred research for the development of therapeutics and vaccines. This review is therefore aimed at presenting the progress of vaccine development. Results showed that conventional inactivated vaccines produced from EBOV by heat, formalin or gamma irradiation appear to be ineffective. However, novel vaccines production techniques have emerged leading to the production of candidate vaccines that have been demonstrated to be effective in preclinical trials using small animal and non-human primates (NHP) models. Some of the promising vaccines have undergone phase 1 clinical trials, which demonstrated their safety and immunogenicity. Many of the candidate vaccines are vector based such as Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), Rabies Virus (RABV), Adenovirus (Ad), Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV). Other platforms include virus like particle (VLP), DNA and subunit vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elijah Ige Ohimain
- Medical and Public Health Microbiology Research Unit, Biological Sciences Department, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
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31
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Fuchs JD, Frank I, Elizaga ML, Allen M, Frahm N, Kochar N, Li S, Edupuganti S, Kalams SA, Tomaras GD, Sheets R, Pensiero M, Tremblay MA, Higgins TJ, Latham T, Egan MA, Clarke DK, Eldridge JH. First-in-Human Evaluation of the Safety and Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 gag Vaccine (HVTN 090). Open Forum Infect Dis 2015; 2:ofv082. [PMID: 26199949 PMCID: PMC4504730 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofv082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background. We report the first-in-human safety and immunogenicity evaluation of a highly attenuated, replication-competent recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 vaccine. Methods. Sixty healthy, HIV-1-uninfected adults were enrolled in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled dose-escalation study. Groups of 12 participants received rVSV HIV-1 gag vaccine at 5 dose levels (4.6 × 10(3) to 3.4 × 10(7) particle forming units) (N = 10/group) or placebo (N = 2/group), delivered intramuscularly as bilateral injections at 0 and 2 months. Safety monitoring included VSV cultures from blood, urine, saliva, and swabs of oral lesions. Vesicular stomatitis virus-neutralizing antibodies, T-cell immunogenicity, and HIV-1 specific binding antibodies were assessed. Results. Local and systemic reactogenicity symptoms were mild to moderate and increased with dose. No severe reactogenicity or product-related serious adverse events were reported, and all rVSV cultures were negative. All vaccine recipients became seropositive for VSV after 2 vaccinations. gag-specific T-cell responses were detected in 63% of participants by interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot at the highest dose post boost. Conclusions. An attenuated replication-competent rVSV gag vaccine has an acceptable safety profile in healthy adults. This rVSV vector is a promising new vaccine platform for the development of vaccines to combat HIV-1 and other serious human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D. Fuchs
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, California
- University of California, San Francisco
| | - Ian Frank
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Marnie L. Elizaga
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
| | - Mary Allen
- Division of AIDS, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nicole Frahm
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
| | - Nidhi Kochar
- Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research and Prevention, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Sue Li
- Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research and Prevention, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | | | | | - Georgia D. Tomaras
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Rebecca Sheets
- Division of AIDS, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Michael Pensiero
- Division of AIDS, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland
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32
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Matassov D, Marzi A, Latham T, Xu R, Ota-Setlik A, Feldmann F, Geisbert JB, Mire CE, Hamm S, Nowak B, Egan MA, Geisbert TW, Eldridge JH, Feldmann H, Clarke DK. Vaccination With a Highly Attenuated Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vector Protects Against Challenge With a Lethal Dose of Ebola Virus. J Infect Dis 2015; 212 Suppl 2:S443-51. [PMID: 26109675 PMCID: PMC4564554 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiv316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) pseudotypes expressing Ebolavirus glycoproteins (GPs) in place of the VSV G protein demonstrated protection of nonhuman primates from lethal homologous Ebolavirus challenge. Those pseudotype vectors contained no additional attenuating mutations in the rVSV genome. Here we describe rVSV vectors containing a full complement of VSV genes and expressing the Ebola virus (EBOV) GP from an additional transcription unit. These rVSV vectors contain the same combination of attenuating mutations used previously in the clinical development pathway of an rVSV/human immunodeficiency virus type 1 vaccine. One of these rVSV vectors (N4CT1-EBOVGP1), which expresses membrane-anchored EBOV GP from the first position in the genome (GP1), elicited a balanced cellular and humoral GP-specific immune response in mice. Guinea pigs immunized with a single dose of this vector were protected from any signs of disease following lethal EBOV challenge, while control animals died in 7–9 days. Subsequently, N4CT1-EBOVGP1 demonstrated complete, single-dose protection of 2 macaques following lethal EBOV challenge. A single sham-vaccinated macaque died from disease due to EBOV infection. These results demonstrate that highly attenuated rVSV vectors expressing EBOV GP may provide safer alternatives to current EBOV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rong Xu
- Department of Immunology, Profectus BioSciences, Tarrytown, New York
| | - Ayuko Ota-Setlik
- Department of Immunology, Profectus BioSciences, Tarrytown, New York
| | - Friederike Feldmann
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana
| | - Joan B Geisbert
- Galveston National Laboratory Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
| | - Chad E Mire
- Galveston National Laboratory Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
| | | | | | - Michael A Egan
- Department of Immunology, Profectus BioSciences, Tarrytown, New York
| | - Thomas W Geisbert
- Galveston National Laboratory Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
| | - John H Eldridge
- Department of Virology and Vaccine Vectors Department of Immunology, Profectus BioSciences, Tarrytown, New York
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Lassa-vesicular stomatitis chimeric virus safely destroys brain tumors. J Virol 2015; 89:6711-24. [PMID: 25878115 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00709-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED High-grade tumors in the brain are among the deadliest of cancers. Here, we took a promising oncolytic virus, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), and tested the hypothesis that the neurotoxicity associated with the virus could be eliminated without blocking its oncolytic potential in the brain by replacing the neurotropic VSV glycoprotein with the glycoprotein from one of five different viruses, including Ebola virus, Marburg virus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), rabies virus, and Lassa virus. Based on in vitro infections of normal and tumor cells, we selected two viruses to test in vivo. Wild-type VSV was lethal when injected directly into the brain. In contrast, a novel chimeric virus (VSV-LASV-GPC) containing genes from both the Lassa virus glycoprotein precursor (GPC) and VSV showed no adverse actions within or outside the brain and targeted and completely destroyed brain cancer, including high-grade glioblastoma and melanoma, even in metastatic cancer models. When mice had two brain tumors, intratumoral VSV-LASV-GPC injection in one tumor (glioma or melanoma) led to complete tumor destruction; importantly, the virus moved contralaterally within the brain to selectively infect the second noninjected tumor. A chimeric virus combining VSV genes with the gene coding for the Ebola virus glycoprotein was safe in the brain and also selectively targeted brain tumors but was substantially less effective in destroying brain tumors and prolonging survival of tumor-bearing mice. A tropism for multiple cancer types combined with an exquisite tumor specificity opens a new door to widespread application of VSV-LASV-GPC as a safe and efficacious oncolytic chimeric virus within the brain. IMPORTANCE Many viruses have been tested for their ability to target and kill cancer cells. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has shown substantial promise, but a key problem is that if it enters the brain, it can generate adverse neurologic consequences, including death. We tested a series of chimeric viruses containing genes coding for VSV, together with a gene coding for the glycoprotein from other viruses, including Ebola virus, Lassa virus, LCMV, rabies virus, and Marburg virus, which was substituted for the VSV glycoprotein gene. Ebola and Lassa chimeric viruses were safe in the brain and targeted brain tumors. Lassa-VSV was particularly effective, showed no adverse side effects even when injected directly into the brain, and targeted and destroyed two different types of deadly brain cancer, including glioblastoma and melanoma.
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Single-dose attenuated Vesiculovax vaccines protect primates against Ebola Makona virus. Nature 2015; 520:688-691. [PMID: 25853476 PMCID: PMC4629916 DOI: 10.1038/nature14428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The family Filoviridae contains three genera, Ebolavirus (EBOV), Marburg virus, and Cuevavirus1. Some members of the EBOV genus, including Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV), can cause lethal hemorrhagic fever in humans. During 2014 an unprecedented ZEBOV outbreak occurred in West Africa and is still ongoing, resulting in nearly 10,000 deaths, and causing global concern of uncontrolled disease. To meet this challenge a rapid acting vaccine is needed. Many vaccine approaches have shown promise in being able to protect nonhuman primate (NHPs) against ZEBOV2. In response to the current ZEBOV outbreak several of these vaccines have been fast tracked for human use. However, it is not known whether any of these vaccines can provide protection against the new outbreak Makona strain of ZEBOV. One of these approaches is a first generation recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV)-based vaccine expressing the ZEBOV glycoprotein (GP) (rVSV/ZEBOV). To address safety concerns associated with this vector, we developed two candidate, further attenuated rVSV/ZEBOV vaccines. Both attenuated vaccines produced an approximately ten-fold lower vaccine-associated viremia compared to the first generation vaccine and both provided complete, single dose protection of macaques from lethal challenge with the Makona outbreak strain of ZEBOV.
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Creation of matrix protein gene variants of two serotypes of vesicular stomatitis virus as prime-boost vaccine vectors. J Virol 2015; 89:6338-51. [PMID: 25855732 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00222-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED To take advantage of live recombinant vesicular stomatitis viruses (rVSVs) as vaccine vectors for their high yield and for their induction of strong and long-lasting immune responses, it is necessary to make live vaccine vectors safe for use without losing their immunogenicity. We have generated safer and highly efficient recombinant VSV vaccine vectors by combining the M51R mutation in the M gene of serotype VSV-Indiana (VSVInd) with a temperature-sensitive mutation (tsO23) of the VSVInd Orsay strain. In addition, we have generated two new serotype VSV-New Jersey (VSVNJ) vaccine vectors by combining M48R and M51R mutations with G22E and L110F mutations in the M gene, rVSVNJ(G22E M48R M51R) [rVSVNJ(GMM)] and VSVNJ(G22E M48R M51R L110F) [rVSVNJ(GMML)]. The combined mutations G21E, M51R, and L111F in the M protein of VSVInd significantly reduced the burst size of the virus by up to 10,000-fold at 37°C without affecting the level of protein expression. BHK21 cells and SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells infected with rVSVInd(GML), rVSVNJ(GMM), and rVSVNJ(GMML) showed significantly reduced cytopathic effects in vitro at 37°C, and mice injected with 1 million infectious virus particles of these mutants into the brain showed no neurological dysfunctions or any other adverse effects. In order to increase the stability of the temperature-sensitive mutant, we have replaced the phenylalanine with alanine. This will change all three nucleotides from UUG (leucine) to GCA (alanine). The resulting L111A mutant showed the temperature-sensitive phenotype of rVSVInd(GML) and increased stability. Twenty consecutive passages of rVSVInd(GML) with an L111A mutation did not convert back to leucine (UUG) at position 111 in the M protein gene. IMPORTANCE Recombinant vesicular stomatitis viruses as live vaccine vectors are very effective in expressing foreign genes and inducing adaptive T cell and B cell immune responses. As with any other live viruses in humans or animals, the use of live rVSVs as vaccine vectors demands the utmost safety. Our strategy to attenuate rVSVInd by utilizing a temperature-sensitive assembly-defective mutation of L111A and combining it with an M51R mutation in the M protein of rVSVInd significantly reduced the pathogenicity of the virus while maintaining highly effective virus production. We believe our new temperature-sensitive M gene mutant of rVSVInd(GML) and M gene mutants of rVSVNJ(GMM) and rVSVNJ(GMML) add excellent vaccine vectors to the pool of live viral vectors.
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A viable recombinant rhabdovirus lacking its glycoprotein gene and expressing influenza virus hemagglutinin and neuraminidase is a potent influenza vaccine. J Virol 2014; 89:2820-30. [PMID: 25540378 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.03246-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The emergence of novel influenza viruses that cause devastating human disease is an ongoing threat and serves as an impetus for the continued development of novel approaches to influenza vaccines. Influenza vaccine development has traditionally focused on producing humoral and/or cell-mediated immunity, often against the viral surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Here, we describe a new vaccine candidate that utilizes a replication-defective vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vector backbone that lacks the native G surface glycoprotein gene (VSVΔG). The expression of the H5 HA of an H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV), A/Vietnam/1203/04 (VN1203), and the NA of the mouse-adapted H1N1 influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) in the VSVΔG vector restored the ability of the recombinant virus to replicate in cell culture, without the requirement for the addition of trypsin. We show here that this recombinant virus vaccine candidate was nonpathogenic in mice when given by either the intramuscular or intranasal route of immunization and that the in vivo replication of VSVΔG-H5N1 is profoundly attenuated. This recombinant virus also provided protection against lethal H5N1 infection after a single dose. This novel approach to vaccination against HPAIVs may be widely applicable to other emerging strains of influenza virus. IMPORTANCE Preparation for a potentially catastrophic influenza pandemic requires novel influenza vaccines that are safe, can be produced and administered quickly, and are effective, both soon after administration and for a long duration. We have created a new influenza vaccine that utilizes an attenuated vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vector, to deliver and express influenza virus proteins against which vaccinated animals develop potent antibody responses. The influenza virus hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins, expressed on the surface of VSV particles, allowed this vaccine to grow in cell culture and induced a potent antibody response in mice that was effective against infection with a lethal influenza virus. The mice showed no adverse reactions to the vaccine, and they were protected against an otherwise lethal influenza infection after only 14 days postvaccination and after as many as 140 days postvaccination. The ability to rapidly produce this safe and effective vaccine in cell culture is additionally advantageous.
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Wollmann G, Paglino JC, Maloney PR, Ahmadi SA, van den Pol AN. Attenuation of vesicular stomatitis virus infection of brain using antiviral drugs and an adeno-associated virus-interferon vector. Virology 2014; 475:1-14. [PMID: 25462341 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2014.10.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2014] [Revised: 10/04/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) shows promise as a vaccine-vector and oncolytic virus. However, reports of neurotoxicity of VSV remain a concern. We compared 12 antiviral compounds to control infection of VSV-CT9-M51 and VSV-rp30 using murine and human brain cultures, and in vivo mouse models. Inhibition of replication, cytotoxicity and infectivity was strongest with ribavirin and IFN-α and to some extent with mycophenolic acid, chloroquine, and adenine 9-β-d-arabinofuranoside. To generate continuous IFN exposure, we made an adeno-associated virus vector expressing murine IFN; AAV-mIFN-β protected mouse brain cells from VSV, as did a combination of IFN, ribavirin and chloroquine. Intracranial AAV-mIFN-β protected the brain against VSV-CT9-M51. In SCID mice bearing human glioblastoma, AAV-mIFN-β moderately enhanced survival. VSV-CT9-M51 doubled median survival when administered after AAV-mIFN-β; some surviving mice showed complete tumor destruction. Together, these data suggest that AAV-IFN or IFN with ribavirin and chloroquine provide an optimal anti-virus combination against VSV in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Wollmann
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Justin C Paglino
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Patrick R Maloney
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Sebastian A Ahmadi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Anthony N van den Pol
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States.
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Rabinovich S, Powell RLR, Lindsay RWB, Yuan M, Carpov A, Wilson A, Lopez M, Coleman JW, Wagner D, Sharma P, Kemelman M, Wright KJ, Seabrook JP, Arendt H, Martinez J, DeStefano J, Chiuchiolo MJ, Parks CL. A novel, live-attenuated vesicular stomatitis virus vector displaying conformationally intact, functional HIV-1 envelope trimers that elicits potent cellular and humoral responses in mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e106597. [PMID: 25215861 PMCID: PMC4162551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Accepted: 08/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Though vaccination with live-attenuated SIV provides the greatest protection from progressive disease caused by SIV challenge in rhesus macaques, attenuated HIV presents safety concerns as a vaccine; therefore, live viral vectors carrying HIV immunogens must be considered. We have designed a replication-competent vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) displaying immunogenic HIV-1 Env trimers and attenuating quantities of the native surface glycoprotein (G). The clade B Env immunogen is an Env-VSV G hybrid (EnvG) in which the transmembrane and cytoplasmic tail regions are derived from G. Relocation of the G gene to the 5'terminus of the genome and insertion of EnvG into the natural G position induced a ∼1 log reduction in surface G, significant growth attenuation compared to wild-type, and incorporation of abundant EnvG. Western blot analysis indicated that ∼75% of incorporated EnvG was a mature proteolytically processed form. Flow cytometry showed that surface EnvG bound various conformationally- and trimer-specific antibodies (Abs), and in-vitro growth assays on CD4+CCR5+ cells demonstrated EnvG functionality. Neither intranasal (IN) or intramuscular (IM) administration in mice induced any observable pathology and all regimens tested generated potent Env-specific ELISA titers of 10(4)-10(5), with an IM VSV prime/IN VSV boost regimen eliciting the highest binding and neutralizing Ab titers. Significant quantities of Env-specific CD4+ T cells were also detected, which were augmented as much as 70-fold by priming with IM electroporated plasmids encoding EnvG and IL-12. These data suggest that our novel vector can achieve balanced safety and immunogenicity and should be considered as an HIV vaccine platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Rabinovich
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, The School of Graduate Studies, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Rebecca L. R. Powell
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Ross W. B. Lindsay
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Maoli Yuan
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Alexei Carpov
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Aaron Wilson
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Mary Lopez
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - John W. Coleman
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Denise Wagner
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Palka Sharma
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Marina Kemelman
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Kevin J. Wright
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - John P. Seabrook
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Heather Arendt
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Martinez
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Joanne DeStefano
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Maria J. Chiuchiolo
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, The School of Graduate Studies, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Christopher L. Parks
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, The School of Graduate Studies, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
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Type III interferon attenuates a vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine vector. J Virol 2014; 88:10909-17. [PMID: 25008938 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01910-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has been extensively studied as a vaccine vector and oncolytic agent. Nevertheless, safety concerns have limited its widespread use in humans. The type III lambda interferon (IFN-λ) family of cytokines shares common signaling pathways with the IFN-α/β family and thus evokes similar antiviral activities. However, IFN-λ signals through a distinct receptor complex that is expressed in a cell type-specific manner, which restricts its activity to epithelial barriers, particularly those corresponding to the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. In this study, we determined how IFN-λ expression from recombinant VSV would influence vector replication, spread, and immunogenicity. We demonstrate that IFN-λ expression severely attenuates VSV in cell culture. In vivo, IFN-λ limits VSV replication in the mouse lung after intranasal administration and reduces virus spread to other organs. Despite this attenuation, however, the vector retains its capacity to induce protective CD8 T cell and antibody responses after a single immunization. These findings demonstrate a novel method of viral vector attenuation that could be used in both vaccine and oncolytic virus applications. IMPORTANCE Viruses such as VSV that are used as vaccine vectors can induce protective T cell and antibody responses after a single dose. Additionally, IFN-λ is a potent antiviral agent that has certain advantages for clinical use compared to IFN-α/β, such as fewer patient side effects. Here, we demonstrate that IFN-λ attenuates VSV replication and spread following intranasal virus delivery but does not reduce the ability of VSV to induce potent protective immune responses. These findings demonstrate that the type III IFN family may have widespread applicability for improving the safety and efficacy of viral vaccine and oncolytic vectors.
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Muik A, Stubbert LJ, Jahedi RZ, Geiβ Y, Kimpel J, Dold C, Tober R, Volk A, Klein S, Dietrich U, Yadollahi B, Falls T, Miletic H, Stojdl D, Bell JC, von Laer D. Re-engineering vesicular stomatitis virus to abrogate neurotoxicity, circumvent humoral immunity, and enhance oncolytic potency. Cancer Res 2014; 74:3567-78. [PMID: 24812275 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-13-3306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
As cancer treatment tools, oncolytic viruses (OV) have yet to realize what some see as their ultimate clinical potential. In this study, we have engineered a chimeric vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) that is devoid of its natural neurotoxicity while retaining potent oncolytic activity. The envelope glycoprotein (G) of VSV was replaced with a variant glycoprotein of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV-GP), creating a replicating therapeutic, rVSV(GP), that is benign in normal brain but can effectively eliminate brain cancer in multiple preclinical tumor models in vivo. Furthermore, it can be safely administered systemically to mice and displays greater potency against a spectrum of human cancer cell lines than current OV candidates. Remarkably, rVSV(GP) escapes humoral immunity, thus, for the first time, allowing repeated systemic OV application without loss of therapeutic efficacy. Taken together, rVSV(GP) offers a considerably improved OV platform that lacks several of the major drawbacks that have limited the clinical potential of this technology to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Muik
- Authors' Affiliations: Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lawton J Stubbert
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Centre for Innovative Cancer Research
| | | | - Yvonne Geiβ
- Authors' Affiliations: Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Janine Kimpel
- Institute for Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Catherine Dold
- Institute for Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Reinhard Tober
- Institute for Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andreas Volk
- Authors' Affiliations: Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sabine Klein
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Centre for Innovative Cancer Research
| | - Ursula Dietrich
- Authors' Affiliations: Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Beta Yadollahi
- Apoptosis Research Centre, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Theresa Falls
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Centre for Innovative Cancer Research
| | - Hrvoje Miletic
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen; Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; and
| | - David Stojdl
- Apoptosis Research Centre, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - John C Bell
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Centre for Innovative Cancer Research
| | - Dorothee von Laer
- Institute for Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
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Neurovirulence and immunogenicity of attenuated recombinant vesicular stomatitis viruses in nonhuman primates. J Virol 2014; 88:6690-701. [PMID: 24696472 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.03441-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED In previous work, a prototypic recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus Indiana serotype (rVSIV) vector expressing simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) gag and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) env antigens protected nonhuman primates (NHPs) from disease following challenge with an HIV-1/SIV recombinant (SHIV). However, when tested in a stringent NHP neurovirulence (NV) model, this vector was not adequately attenuated for clinical evaluation. For the work described here, the prototypic rVSIV vector was attenuated by combining specific G protein truncations with either N gene translocations or mutations (M33A and M51A) that ablate expression of subgenic M polypeptides, by incorporation of temperature-sensitive mutations in the N and L genes, and by deletion of the VSIV G gene to generate a replicon that is dependent on trans expression of G protein for in vitro propagation. When evaluated in a series of NHP NV studies, these attenuated rVSIV variants caused no clinical disease and demonstrated a very significant reduction in neuropathology compared to wild-type VSIV and the prototypic rVSIV vaccine vector. In spite of greatly increased in vivo attenuation, some of the rVSIV vectors elicited cell-mediated immune responses that were similar in magnitude to those induced by the much more virulent prototypic vector. These data demonstrate novel approaches to the rational attenuation of VSIV NV while retaining vector immunogenicity and have led to identification of an rVSIV N4CT1gag1 vaccine vector that has now successfully completed phase I clinical evaluation. IMPORTANCE The work described in this article demonstrates a rational approach to the attenuation of vesicular stomatitis virus neurovirulence. The major attenuation strategy described here will be most likely applicable to other members of the Rhabdoviridae and possibly other families of nonsegmented negative-strand RNA viruses. These studies have also enabled the identification of an attenuated, replication-competent rVSIV vector that has successfully undergone its first clinical evaluation in humans. Therefore, these studies represent a major milestone in the development of attenuated rVSIV, and likely other vesiculoviruses, as a new vaccine platform(s) for use in humans.
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Signaling pathways in murine dendritic cells that regulate the response to vesicular stomatitis virus vectors that express flagellin. J Virol 2013; 88:777-85. [PMID: 24198430 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02898-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vectors that express heterologous antigens have shown promise as vaccines in preclinical studies. The efficacy of VSV-based vaccines can be improved by engineering vectors that enhance innate immune responses. We previously generated a VSV vaccine vector that incorporates two enhancing strategies: an M protein mutation (M51R) that prevents the virus from suppressing host antiviral responses and a gene encoding bacterial flagellin (M51R-F vector). The rationale was that intracellular expression of flagellin would activate innate immune pathways in addition to those activated by virus alone. This was tested with dendritic cells (DCs) from mice containing deletions in key signaling molecules. Infection of DC with either M51R or M51R-F vector induced the production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-6 and increased surface expression of T cell costimulatory molecules. These responses were dramatically reduced in DCs from IPS-1(-/-) mice. Infection with M51R-F vector also induced the production of IL-1β. In addition, in approximately half of the DCs, M51R-F vector induced pyroptosis, a proinflammatory-type of cell death. These responses to flagellin were ablated in DCs from NLRC4(-/-) mice but not Toll-like receptor 5-deficient (TLR5(-/-)) mice, indicating that they resulted from inflammasome activation. These results demonstrate that flagellin induces additional innate immune mechanisms over those induced by VSV alone.
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Abstract
Live, attenuated viruses provide many of the most effective vaccines. For the better part of a century, the standard method of attenuation has been viral growth in novel environments, whereby the virus adapts to the new environment but incurs a reduced ability to grow in the original host. The downsides of this approach were that it produced haphazard results, and even when it achieved sufficient attenuation for vaccine production, the attenuated virus was prone to evolve back to high virulence. Using bacteriophage T7, we apply a synthetic biology approach for creating attenuated genomes and specifically study their evolutionary stability. Three different genome rearrangements are used, and although some initial fitness recovery occurs, all exhibit greatly impaired abilities to recover wild-type fitness over a hundred or more generations. Different degrees of stable attenuation appear to be attainable by different rearrangements. Efforts to predict fitness recovery using the extensive background of T7 genetics and biochemistry were only sometimes successful. The use of genome rearrangement thus offers a practical mechanism of evolutionary stable viral attenuation, with some progress toward prediction.
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Vesicular stomatitis virus variants selectively infect and kill human melanomas but not normal melanocytes. J Virol 2013; 87:6644-59. [PMID: 23552414 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.03311-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic malignant melanoma remains one of the most therapeutically challenging forms of cancer. Here we test replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses (VSV) on 19 primary human melanoma samples and compare these infections with those of normal human melanocyte control cells. Even at a low viral concentration, we found a strong susceptibility to viral oncolysis in over 70% of melanomas. In contrast, melanocytes displayed strong resistance to virus infection and showed complete protection by interferon. Several recombinant VSVs were compared, and all infected and killed most melanomas with differences in the time course with increasing rates of melanoma infection, as follows: VSV-CT9-M51 < VSV-M51 < VSV-G/GFP < VSV-rp30. VSV-rp30 sequencing revealed 2 nonsynonymous mutations at codon positions P126 and L223, both of which appear to be required for the enhanced phenotype. VSV-rp30 showed effective targeting and infection of multiple subcutaneous and intracranial melanoma xenografts in SCID mice after tail vein virus application. Sequence analysis of mutations in the melanomas used revealed that BRAF but not NRAS gene mutation status was predictive for enhanced susceptibility to infection. In mouse melanoma models with specific induced gene mutations including mutations of the Braf, Pten, and Cdkn2a genes, viral infection correlated with the extent of malignant transformation. Similar to human melanocytes, mouse melanocytes resisted VSV-rp30 infection. This study confirms the general susceptibility of the majority of human melanoma types for VSV-mediated oncolysis.
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Non-propagating, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vectors encoding respiratory syncytial virus proteins generate potent humoral and cellular immunity against RSV and are protective in mice. Immunol Lett 2012; 150:134-44. [PMID: 23261719 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2012.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2012] [Revised: 12/07/2012] [Accepted: 12/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe lower respiratory tract illness in infants, the elderly, and other high-risk individuals. Despite years of research in this field, there is no effective licensed vaccine to prevent RSV infection. We have generated candidate RSV vaccines using a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) replicon in which the attachment and fusion domains of the VSV glycoprotein (G) have been deleted (rVSV-Gstem), rendering the virus propagation-defective except in the presence of complementing VSV G provided in trans. A form of this vector encoding the RSV fusion protein (F) gene expressed high levels of F in vitro and elicited durable neutralizing antibody responses as well as complete protection against RSV challenge in vivo. Mice vaccinated with rVSV-Gstem-RSV-F replicons also developed robust cellular responses characterized by both primary and memory Th1-biased CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, a single high dose of the Gstem-RSV-F replicon was effective against challenge with both RSV A and B subgroup viruses. Finally, addition of an RSV glycoprotein (G)-expressing Gstem vector significantly improved the incomplete protection achieved with a single low dose of Gstem-RSV-F vector alone.
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Muik A, Dold C, Geiß Y, Volk A, Werbizki M, Dietrich U, von Laer D. Semireplication-competent vesicular stomatitis virus as a novel platform for oncolytic virotherapy. J Mol Med (Berl) 2012; 90:959-70. [PMID: 22286341 PMCID: PMC3396339 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-012-0863-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2011] [Revised: 01/03/2012] [Accepted: 01/16/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Among oncolytic viruses, the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is especially potent and a highly promising agent for the treatment of cancer. But, even though effective against multiple tumor entities in preclinical animal models, replication-competent VSV exhibits inherent neurovirulence, which has so far hindered clinical development. To overcome this limitation, replication-defective VSV vectors for cancer gene therapy have been tested and proven to be safe. However, gene delivery was inefficient and only minor antitumor efficacy was observed. Here, we present semireplication-competent vector systems for VSV (srVSV), composed of two trans-complementing, propagation-deficient VSV vectors. The de novo generated deletion mutants of the two VSV polymerase proteins P (phosphoprotein) and L (large catalytic subunit), VSVΔP and VSVΔL respectively, were used mutually or in combination with VSVΔG vectors. These srVSV systems copropagated in vitro and in vivo without recombinatory reversion to replication-competent virus. The srVSV systems were highly lytic for human glioblastoma cell lines, spheroids, and subcutaneous xenografts. Especially the combination of VSVΔG/VSVΔL vectors was as potent as wild-type VSV (VSV-WT) in vitro and induced long-term tumor regression in vivo without any associated adverse effects. In contrast, 90% of VSV-WT-treated animals succumbed to neurological disease shortly after tumor clearance. Most importantly, even when injected into the brain, VSVΔG/VSVΔL did not show any neurotoxicity. In conclusion, srVSV is a promising platform for virotherapeutic approaches and also for VSV-based vector vaccines, combining improved safety with an increased coding capacity for therapeutic transgenes, potentially allowing for multipronged approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catherine Dold
- Institute for Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Fritz-Pregl-Str. 3, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Yvonne Geiß
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andreas Volk
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | | | - Dorothee von Laer
- Institute for Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Fritz-Pregl-Str. 3, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Highly attenuated recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus VSV-12'GFP displays immunogenic and oncolytic activity. J Virol 2012; 87:1019-34. [PMID: 23135719 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01106-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has shown considerable promise both as an immunization vector and as an oncolytic virus. In both applications, an important concern is the safety profile of the virus. To generate a highly attenuated virus, we added two reporter genes to the 3' end of the VSV genome, thereby shifting the NPMGL genes from positions 1 to 5 to positions 3 to 7. The resulting virus (VSV-12'GFP) was highly attenuated, generating smaller plaques than four other attenuated VSVs. In one-step growth curves, VSV-12'GFP displayed the slowest growth kinetics. The mechanism of attenuation appears to be due to reduced expression of VSV genes downstream of the reporter genes, as suggested by a 10.4-fold reduction in L-protein RNA transcript. Although attenuated, VSV-12'GFP was highly effective at generating an immune response, indicated by a high-titer antibody response against the green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressed by the virus. Although VSV-12'GFP was more attenuated than other VSVs on both normal and cancer cells, it nonetheless showed a greater level of infection of human cancer cells (glioma and melanoma) than of normal cells, and this effect was magnified in glioma by interferon application, indicating selective oncolysis. Intravenous VSV-12'GFP selectively infected human gliomas implanted into SCID mice subcutaneously or intracranially. All postnatal day 16 mice given intranasal VSV-12'GFP survived, whereas only 10% of those given VSV-G/GFP survived, indicating reduced neurotoxicity. Intratumoral injection of tumors with VSV-12'GFP dramatically suppressed tumor growth and enhanced survival. Together these data suggest this recombinant virus merits further study for its oncolytic and vaccine potential.
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Athearn K, Sample CJ, Barefoot BE, Williams KL, Ramsburg EA. Acute reactogenicity after intramuscular immunization with recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus is linked to production of IL-1β. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46516. [PMID: 23056330 PMCID: PMC3466325 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2012] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccines based on live viruses are attractive because they are immunogenic, cost-effective, and can be delivered by multiple routes. However, live virus vaccines also cause reactogenic side effects such as fever, myalgia, and injection site pain that have reduced their acceptance in the clinic. Several recent studies have linked vaccine-induced reactogenic side effects to production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in humans. Our objective was therefore to determine whether IL-1β contributed to pathology after immunization with recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vaccine vectors, and if so, to identify strategies by which IL-1β mediated pathology might be reduced without compromising immunogenicity. We found that an rVSV vaccine induced local and systemic production of IL-1β in vivo, and that accumulation of IL-1β correlated with acute pathology after rVSV immunization. rVSV-induced pathology was reduced in mice deficient in the IL-1 receptor Type I, but the IL-1R-/- mice were fully protected from lethal rechallenge with a high dose of VSV. This result demonstrated that IL-1 contributed to reactogenicity of the rVSV, but was dispensable for induction of protective immunity. The amount of IL-1β detected in mice deficient in either caspase-1 or the inflammasome adaptor molecule ASC after rVSV immunization was not significantly different than that produced by wild type animals, and caspase-1-/- and ASC-/- mice were only partially protected from rVSV-induced pathology. Those data support the idea that some of the IL-1β expressed in vivo in response to VSV may be activated by a caspase-1 and ASC-independent mechanism. Together these results suggest that rVSV vectors engineered to suppress the induction of IL-1β, or signaling through the IL-1R would be less reactogenic in vivo, but would retain their immunogenicity and protective capacity. Such rVSV would be highly desirable as either vaccine vectors or oncolytic therapies, and would likely be better tolerated in human vaccinees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Athearn
- Human Vaccine Institute, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Christopher J. Sample
- Human Vaccine Institute, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Brice E. Barefoot
- Human Vaccine Institute, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Kristi L. Williams
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- School of Nursing, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth A. Ramsburg
- Human Vaccine Institute, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
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Ramirez-Carvajal L, Long CR. Down-regulation of viral replication by lentiviral-mediated expression of short-hairpin RNAs against vesicular stomatitis virus ribonuclear complex genes. Antiviral Res 2012; 95:150-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2012.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2011] [Revised: 05/03/2012] [Accepted: 05/17/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Geisbert TW, Feldmann H. Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccines against Ebola and Marburg virus infections. J Infect Dis 2011; 204 Suppl 3:S1075-81. [PMID: 21987744 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jir349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The filoviruses, Marburg virus and Ebola virus, cause severe hemorrhagic fever with a high mortality rate in humans and nonhuman primates. Among the most-promising filovirus vaccines under development is a system based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) that expresses a single filovirus glycoprotein (GP) in place of the VSV glycoprotein (G). Importantly, a single injection of blended rVSV-based filovirus vaccines was shown to completely protect nonhuman primates against Marburg virus and 3 different species of Ebola virus. These rVSV-based vaccines have also shown utility when administered as a postexposure treatment against filovirus infections, and a rVSV-based Ebola virus vaccine was recently used to treat a potential laboratory exposure. Here, we review the history of rVSV-based vaccines and pivotal animal studies showing their utility in combating Ebola and Marburg virus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Geisbert
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77550-0610, USA.
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