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Boulton S, Poutou J, Gill R, Alluqmani N, He X, Singaravelu R, Crupi MJ, Petryk J, Austin B, Angka L, Taha Z, Teo I, Singh S, Jamil R, Marius R, Martin N, Jamieson T, Azad T, Diallo JS, Ilkow CS, Bell JC. A T cell-targeted multi-antigen vaccine generates robust cellular and humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 31:101110. [PMID: 37822719 PMCID: PMC10562195 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.101110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent behind the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has continued to mutate and create new variants with increased resistance against the WHO-approved spike-based vaccines. With a significant portion of the worldwide population still unvaccinated and with waning immunity against newly emerging variants, there is a pressing need to develop novel vaccines that provide broader and longer-lasting protection. To generate broader protective immunity against COVID-19, we developed our second-generation vaccinia virus-based COVID-19 vaccine, TOH-VAC-2, encoded with modified versions of the spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins as well as a unique poly-epitope antigen that contains immunodominant T cell epitopes from seven different SARS-CoV-2 proteins. We show that the poly-epitope antigen restimulates T cells from the PBMCs of individuals formerly infected with SARS-CoV-2. In mice, TOH-VAC-2 vaccination produces high titers of S- and N-specific antibodies and generates robust T cell immunity against S, N, and poly-epitope antigens. The immunity generated from TOH-VAC-2 is also capable of protecting mice from heterologous challenge with recombinant VSV viruses that express the same SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Altogether, these findings demonstrate the effectiveness of our versatile vaccine platform as an alternative or complementary approach to current vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Boulton
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Joanna Poutou
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Rida Gill
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Nouf Alluqmani
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Xiaohong He
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Ragunath Singaravelu
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Mathieu J.F. Crupi
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Julia Petryk
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Bradley Austin
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Leonard Angka
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Zaid Taha
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Iris Teo
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Siddarth Singh
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Rameen Jamil
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Ricardo Marius
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Nikolas Martin
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Taylor Jamieson
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Taha Azad
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHUS, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Jean-Simon Diallo
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Carolina S. Ilkow
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - John C. Bell
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
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2
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Pauken KE, Godec J, Odorizzi PM, Brown KE, Yates KB, Ngiow SF, Burke KP, Maleri S, Grande SM, Francisco LM, Ali MA, Imam S, Freeman GJ, Haining WN, Wherry EJ, Sharpe AH. The PD-1 Pathway Regulates Development and Function of Memory CD8 + T Cells following Respiratory Viral Infection. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107827. [PMID: 32610128 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The PD-1 pathway regulates dysfunctional T cells in chronic infection and cancer, but the role of this pathway during acute infection remains less clear. Here, we demonstrate that PD-1 signals are needed for optimal memory. Mice deficient in the PD-1 pathway exhibit impaired CD8+ T cell memory following acute influenza infection, including reduced virus-specific CD8+ T cell numbers and compromised recall responses. PD-1 blockade during priming leads to similar differences early post-infection but without the defect in memory formation, suggesting that timing and/or duration of PD-1 blockade could be tailored to modulate host responses. Our studies reveal a role for PD-1 as an integrator of CD8+ T cell signals that promotes CD8+ T cell memory formation and suggest PD-1 continues to fine-tune CD8+ T cells after they migrate into non-lymphoid tissues. These findings have important implications for PD-1-based immunotherapy, in which PD-1 inhibition may influence memory responses in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen E Pauken
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, and Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jernej Godec
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, and Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Pamela M Odorizzi
- Institute for Immunology and Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Keturah E Brown
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, and Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kathleen B Yates
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shin Foong Ngiow
- Institute for Immunology and Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kelly P Burke
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, and Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Seth Maleri
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, and Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shannon M Grande
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, and Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Loise M Francisco
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, and Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mohammed-Alkhatim Ali
- Institute for Immunology and Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sabrina Imam
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Gordon J Freeman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - W Nicholas Haining
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - E John Wherry
- Institute for Immunology and Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Arlene H Sharpe
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, and Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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3
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Mahdevar E, Safavi A, Abiri A, Kefayat A, Hejazi SH, Miresmaeili SM, Iranpur Mobarakeh V. Exploring the cancer-testis antigen BORIS to design a novel multi-epitope vaccine against breast cancer based on immunoinformatics approaches. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:6363-6380. [PMID: 33599191 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1883111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Recently, cancer immunotherapy has gained lots of attention to replace the current chemoradiation approaches and multi-epitope cancer vaccines are manifesting as the next generation of cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, in this study, we used multiple immunoinformatics approaches along with other computational approaches to design a novel multi-epitope vaccine against breast cancer. The most immunogenic regions of the BORIS cancer-testis antigen were selected according to the binding affinity to MHC-I and II molecules as well as containing multiple cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes by multiple immunoinformatics servers. The selected regions were linked together by GPGPG linker. Also, a T helper epitope (PADRE) and the TLR-4/MD-2 agonist (L7/L12 ribosomal protein from mycobacterium) were incorporated by A(EAAAK)3A linker to form the final vaccine construct. Then, its physicochemical properties, cleavage sites, TAP transport efficiency, B cell epitopes, IFN-γ inducing epitopes and population coverage were predicted. The final vaccine construct was reverse translated, codon-optimized and inserted into pcDNA3.1 to form the DNA vaccine. The final vaccine construct was a stable, immunogenic and non-allergenic protein that contained numerous CTL epitopes, IFN-γ inducing epitopes and several linear and conformational B cell epitopes. Also, the final vaccine construct formed stable and significant interactions with TLR-4/MD-2 complex according to molecular docking and dynamics simulations. Moreover, its world population coverage for HLA-I and HLA-II were about 93% and 96%, respectively. Taking together, these preliminary results can be used as an appropriate platform for further experimental investigations.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Mahdevar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Science and Arts University, Yazd, Iran
| | - Ashkan Safavi
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ardavan Abiri
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Amirhosein Kefayat
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Prevention Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Seyed Hossein Hejazi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohsen Miresmaeili
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Science and Arts University, Yazd, Iran
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Bosch-Camós L, López E, Navas MJ, Pina-Pedrero S, Accensi F, Correa-Fiz F, Park C, Carrascal M, Domínguez J, Salas ML, Nikolin V, Collado J, Rodríguez F. Identification of Promiscuous African Swine Fever Virus T-Cell Determinants Using a Multiple Technical Approach. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:29. [PMID: 33430316 PMCID: PMC7825812 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of subunit vaccines against African swine fever (ASF) is mainly hindered by the lack of knowledge regarding the specific ASF virus (ASFV) antigens involved in protection. As a good example, the identity of ASFV-specific CD8+ T-cell determinants remains largely unknown, despite their protective role being established a long time ago. Aiming to identify them, we implemented the IFNγ ELISpot as readout assay, using as effector cells peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from pigs surviving experimental challenge with Georgia2007/1. As stimuli for the ELISpot, ASFV-specific peptides or full-length proteins identified by three complementary strategies were used. In silico prediction of specific CD8+ T-cell epitopes allowed identifying a 19-mer peptide from MGF100-1L, as frequently recognized by surviving pigs. Complementarily, the repertoire of SLA I-bound peptides identified in ASFV-infected porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs), allowed the characterization of five additional SLA I-restricted ASFV-specific epitopes. Finally, in vitro stimulation studies using fibroblasts transfected with plasmids encoding full-length ASFV proteins, led to the identification of MGF505-7R, A238L and MGF100-1L as promiscuously recognized antigens. Interestingly, each one of these proteins contain individual peptides recognized by surviving pigs. Identification of the same ASFV determinants by means of such different approaches reinforce the results presented here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Bosch-Camós
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (L.B.-C.); (E.L.); (M.J.N.); (S.P.-P.); (F.C.-F.)
- OIE Collaborating Centre for the Research and Control of Emerging and Re-Emerging Swine Diseases in Europe (IRTA-CReSA), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain;
| | - Elisabet López
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (L.B.-C.); (E.L.); (M.J.N.); (S.P.-P.); (F.C.-F.)
- OIE Collaborating Centre for the Research and Control of Emerging and Re-Emerging Swine Diseases in Europe (IRTA-CReSA), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain;
| | - María Jesús Navas
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (L.B.-C.); (E.L.); (M.J.N.); (S.P.-P.); (F.C.-F.)
- OIE Collaborating Centre for the Research and Control of Emerging and Re-Emerging Swine Diseases in Europe (IRTA-CReSA), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain;
| | - Sonia Pina-Pedrero
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (L.B.-C.); (E.L.); (M.J.N.); (S.P.-P.); (F.C.-F.)
- OIE Collaborating Centre for the Research and Control of Emerging and Re-Emerging Swine Diseases in Europe (IRTA-CReSA), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain;
| | - Francesc Accensi
- OIE Collaborating Centre for the Research and Control of Emerging and Re-Emerging Swine Diseases in Europe (IRTA-CReSA), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain;
- UAB, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Florencia Correa-Fiz
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (L.B.-C.); (E.L.); (M.J.N.); (S.P.-P.); (F.C.-F.)
- OIE Collaborating Centre for the Research and Control of Emerging and Re-Emerging Swine Diseases in Europe (IRTA-CReSA), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain;
| | - Chankyu Park
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Biology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea;
| | - Montserrat Carrascal
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Barcelona-Unidad de Espectrometría de Masas Biológica y Proteómica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain;
| | - Javier Domínguez
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Maria Luisa Salas
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autònoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Veljko Nikolin
- Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Research Center (BIVRC) GmbH & Co. KG, 30559 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Javier Collado
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain;
| | - Fernando Rodríguez
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (L.B.-C.); (E.L.); (M.J.N.); (S.P.-P.); (F.C.-F.)
- OIE Collaborating Centre for the Research and Control of Emerging and Re-Emerging Swine Diseases in Europe (IRTA-CReSA), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain;
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Xu Z, Patel A, Tursi NJ, Zhu X, Muthumani K, Kulp DW, Weiner DB. Harnessing Recent Advances in Synthetic DNA and Electroporation Technologies for Rapid Vaccine Development Against COVID-19 and Other Emerging Infectious Diseases. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2020; 2:571030. [PMID: 35047878 PMCID: PMC8757735 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2020.571030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA vaccines are considered as a third-generation vaccination approach in which antigenic materials are encoded as DNA plasmids for direct in vivo production to elicit adaptive immunity. As compared to other platforms, DNA vaccination is considered to have a strong safety profile, as DNA plasmids neither replicate nor elicit vector-directed immune responses in hosts. While earlier work found the immune responses induced by DNA vaccines to be sub-optimal in larger mammals and humans, recent developments in key synthetic DNA and electroporation delivery technologies have now allowed DNA vaccines to elicit significantly more potent and consistent responses in several clinical studies. This paper will review findings from the recent clinical and preclinical studies on DNA vaccines targeting emerging infectious diseases (EID) including COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the technological advancements pivotal to the improved responses-including the use of the advanced delivery technology, DNA-encoded cytokine/mucosal adjuvants, and innovative concepts in immunogen design. With continuous advancement over the past three decades, the DNA approach is now poised to develop vaccines against COVID-19, as well as other EIDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyang Xu
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ami Patel
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Nicholas J Tursi
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Xizhou Zhu
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kar Muthumani
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Daniel W Kulp
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - David B Weiner
- The Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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A multi-epitope DNA vaccine co-administered with monophosphoryl lipid A adjuvant provides protection against tick transmitted Ehrlichia ruminantium in sheep. Vaccine 2019; 37:4354-4363. [PMID: 31248684 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Previously, a heartwater experimental DNA vaccine provided 100% protection following laboratory challenge with Ehrlichia ruminantium administered by needle but not against an E. ruminantium tick challenge in the field. A multi-epitope DNA vaccine incorporating both CD4+ and CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes epitopes could provide a better alternative. In this study, we investigated the use of multi-epitope DNA vaccines against an E. ruminantium experimental tick challenge in sheep. The multi-epitope DNA vaccines were delivered via the intramuscular route and intradermal route using the gene gun in the presence of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) adjuvant, which was either applied topically to the gene gun inoculation site or co-administered with the vaccine via the intramuscular route. Initially two constructs namely, pSignal plus and pLamp were tested with MPL applied topically only and no protection was obtained in this formulation. However, when pLamp was co-administered with MPL via the intramuscular route in addition to topical application, its protective efficiency improved to protect 60% of the sheep against tick challenge. In this formulation, the vaccine induced enhanced activation of memory T cell responses both before and after challenge with variations amongst the different sheep possibly due to their different genetic backgrounds. In conclusion, this study showed that a heartwater multi-epitope DNA vaccine, co-administered with MPL adjuvant can protect sheep following a laboratory E. ruminantium tick challenge.
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7
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Safavi A, Kefayat A, Abiri A, Mahdevar E, Behnia AH, Ghahremani F. In silico analysis of transmembrane protein 31 (TMEM31) antigen to design novel multiepitope peptide and DNA cancer vaccines against melanoma. Mol Immunol 2019; 112:93-102. [PMID: 31079006 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2019.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Multiepitope cancer vaccines are announcing themselves as the future of melanoma treatment. Herein, high immunogenic regions of transmembrane protein 31 (TMEM31) antigen were selected according to cytotoxic T lymphocytes' (CTL) epitopes and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) binding affinity through in silico analyses. The 32-62, 77-105, and 125-165 residues of the TMEM31 were selected as the immunodominant fragments. They were linked together by RVRR and HEYGAEALERAG motifs to improve epitopes separation and presentation. In addition, to activate helper T lymphocytes (HTL), Pan HLA DR-binding epitope (PADRE) peptide sequence and tetanus toxin fragment C (TTFrC) were incorporated into the final construct. Also, the Beta-defensin conserved domain was utilized in the final construct as a novel adjuvant for Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor (TLR4-MD) activation. The CTL epitopes, cleavage sites, post-translational modifications, TAP transport efficiency, and B cells epitopes were predicted for the peptide vaccine. The final construct contained multiple CTL and B cell epitopes. In addition, it showed 93.55% and 99.13% population coverage in the world for HLA I and HLA II, respectively. According to these preliminary results, the multiepitope cancer vaccine can be an appropriate choice for further experimental investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashkan Safavi
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Amirhosein Kefayat
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Prevention Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Ardavan Abiri
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Elham Mahdevar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Science and Arts University, Yazd, Iran
| | - Amir Hossein Behnia
- Department of Biology, Faculty of the Basic Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghahremani
- Department of Medical Physics and Radiotherapy, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
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8
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In Silico Analysis of Synaptonemal Complex Protein 1 (SYCP1) and Acrosin Binding Protein (ACRBP) Antigens to Design Novel Multiepitope Peptide Cancer Vaccine Against Breast Cancer. Int J Pept Res Ther 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-018-9780-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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9
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Olsen TM, Stone BC, Chuenchob V, Murphy SC. Prime-and-Trap Malaria Vaccination To Generate Protective CD8 + Liver-Resident Memory T Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 201:1984-1993. [PMID: 30127085 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1800740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Tissue-resident memory CD8+ T (Trm) cells in the liver are critical for long-term protection against pre-erythrocytic Plasmodium infection. Such protection can usually be induced with three to five doses of i.v. administered radiation-attenuated sporozoites (RAS). To simplify and accelerate vaccination, we tested a DNA vaccine designed to induce potent T cell responses against the SYVPSAEQI epitope of Plasmodium yoelii circumsporozoite protein. In a heterologous "prime-and-trap" regimen, priming using gene gun-administered DNA and boosting with one dose of RAS attracted expanding Ag-specific CD8+ T cell populations to the liver, where they became Trm cells. Vaccinated in this manner, BALB/c mice were completely protected against challenge, an outcome not reliably achieved following one dose of RAS or following DNA-only vaccination. This study demonstrates that the combination of CD8+ T cell priming by DNA and boosting with liver-homing RAS enhances formation of a completely protective liver Trm cell response and suggests novel approaches for enhancing T cell-based pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayla M Olsen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109.,Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Brad C Stone
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109.,Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Vorada Chuenchob
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109; and
| | - Sean C Murphy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109; .,Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109.,Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
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Expression, Polyubiquitination, and Therapeutic Potential of Recombinant E6E7 from HPV16 Antigens Fused to Ubiquitin. Mol Biotechnol 2017; 59:46-56. [PMID: 28025776 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-016-9990-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-proteasome system plays an essential role in the immune response due to its involvement in the antigen generation and presentation to CD8+ T cells. Hereby, ubiquitin fused to antigens has been explored as an immunotherapeutic strategy that requires the activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Here we propose to apply this ubiquitin fusion approach to a recombinant vaccine against human papillomavirus 16-infected cells. E6E7 multi-epitope antigen was fused genetically at its N- or C-terminal end to ubiquitin and expressed in Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies. The antigens were solubilized using urea and purified by nickel affinity chromatography in denatured condition. Fusion of ubiquitin to E6E7 resulted in marked polyubiquitination in vitro mainly when fused to the E6E7 N-terminal. When tested in a therapeutic scenario, the fusion of ubiquitin to E6E7 reinforced the anti-tumor protection and increased the E6/E7-specific cellular immune responses. Present results encourage the investigation of the adjuvant potential of the ubiquitin fusion to recombinant vaccines requiring CD8+ T cells.
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11
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Stermann A, Huebener N, Seidel D, Fest S, Eschenburg G, Stauder M, Schramm A, Eggert A, Lode HN. Targeting of MYCN by means of DNA vaccination is effective against neuroblastoma in mice. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2015; 64:1215-27. [PMID: 26076666 PMCID: PMC11028418 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-015-1733-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The MYCN oncogene is a strong genetic marker associated with poor prognosis in neuroblastoma (NB). Therefore, MYCN gene amplification and subsequent overexpression provide a possible target for new treatment approaches in NB. We first identified an inverse correlation of MYCN expression with CD45 mRNA in 101 NB tumor samples. KEGG mapping further revealed that MYCN expression was associated with immune-suppressive pathways characterized by a down-regulation of T cell activation and up-regulation of T cell inhibitory gene transcripts. We then aimed to investigate whether DNA vaccination against MYCN is effective to induce an antigen-specific and T cell-mediated immune response. For this purpose, we generated a MYCN-expressing syngeneic mouse model by MYCN gene transfer to NXS2 cells. MYCN-DNA vaccines were engineered based on the pCMV-F3Ub plasmid backbone to drive ubiquitinated full-length MYCN-cDNA and minigene expression. Vaccines were delivered orally with attenuated S. typhimurium strain SL7207 as a carrier. Immunization with both MYCN-DNA vaccines significantly reduced primary tumor growth of MYCN-expressing NB cells in contrast to negative controls. The immune response was mediated by tumor-infiltrating T cells in vivo, which revealed MYCN-specific and MHC class I-restricted lysis of inducible MYCN-expressing NB target cells in vitro. Finally, these antigen-specific T cells also killed MYCN-negative mammary carcinoma cells pulsed with MYCN peptides in contrast to controls. In summary, we demonstrate proof of concept that MYCN can be targeted by DNA vaccination, which may provide an approach to overcoming MYCN immune-suppressive activities in patients with MYCN-amplified disease.
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MESH Headings
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Carcinoma/immunology
- Carcinoma/microbiology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/microbiology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred Strains
- N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein
- Neoplasm Transplantation
- Neoplasms, Experimental
- Neuroblastoma/genetics
- Neuroblastoma/immunology
- Neuroblastoma/microbiology
- Peptide Fragments
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism
- Salmonella Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Salmonella typhimurium/immunology
- Transgenes/genetics
- Tumor Burden
- Vaccination
- Vaccines, Attenuated/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Stermann
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str 1, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Nicole Huebener
- Genetics of Metabolic and Reproductive Disorders, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Diana Seidel
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str 1, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefan Fest
- Department of Pediatrics, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Georg Eschenburg
- Department and Clinic of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Stauder
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Children’s Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Alexander Schramm
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Children’s Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Angelika Eggert
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Holger N. Lode
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str 1, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
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12
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Khalili S, Rahbar MR, Dezfulian MH, Jahangiri A. In silico analyses of Wilms׳ tumor protein to designing a novel multi-epitope DNA vaccine against cancer. J Theor Biol 2015; 379:66-78. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Revised: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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13
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Reguzova A, Antonets D, Karpenko L, Ilyichev A, Maksyutov R, Bazhan S. Design and evaluation of optimized artificial HIV-1 poly-T cell-epitope immunogens. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0116412. [PMID: 25786238 PMCID: PMC4364888 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2014] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A successful HIV vaccine in addition to induction of antibody responses should elicit effective T cell responses. Here we described possible strategies for rational design of T-cell vaccine capable to induce high levels of both CD4+ and CD8+ T- cell responses. We developed artificial HIV-1 polyepitope T-cell immunogens based on the conserved natural CD8+ and CD4+ T cell epitopes from different HIV-1 strains and restricted by the most frequent major human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles. Designed immunogens contain optimized core polyepitope sequence and additional "signal" sequences which increase epitope processing and presentation to CD8+ and CD4+ T-lymphocytes: N-terminal ubiquitin, N-terminal signal peptide and C-terminal tyrosine motif of LAMP-1 protein. As a result we engineered three T cell immunogens - TCI-N, TCI-N2, and TCI-N3, with different combinations of signal sequences. All designed immunogens were able to elicit HIV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses following immunization. Attachment of either ubiquitin or ER-signal/LAMP-1 sequences increased both CD4+ and CD8+ mediated HIV-specific T cell responses in comparison with polyepitope immunogen without any additional signal sequences. Moreover, TCI-N3 polyepitope immunogen with ubiquitin generated highest magnitude of HIV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in our study. Obtained data suggests that attachment of signal sequences targeting polyepitope immunogens to either MHC class I or MHC class II presentation pathways may improve immunogenicity of T-cell vaccines. These results support the strategy of the rational T cell immunogen design and contribute to the development of effective HIV-1 vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Reguzova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, 630559, Russia
| | - Denis Antonets
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, 630559, Russia
| | - Larisa Karpenko
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, 630559, Russia
| | - Alexander Ilyichev
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, 630559, Russia
| | - Rinat Maksyutov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, 630559, Russia
| | - Sergei Bazhan
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, 630559, Russia
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Abstract
DNA vaccines represent a novel approach for protective and therapeutic intervention against type I allergies. In contrast to classical subcutaneous immunotherapy, which relies on the injection of alum-adsorbed protein extracts, DNA vaccines do not suffer from side effects such as anaphylaxis or therapy-induced IgE antibodies. In animal models, DNA vaccines have been demonstrated to prevent TH2 sensitization or balance an existing TH2-mediated allergic immune response by induction of TH1 or regulatory T cells, rendering them promising candidates for prophylactic vaccination as well as therapy. In this chapter, we discuss methods relevant for evaluation of DNA expression vectors for targeting antigen to different cellular compartments for use as a vaccine in an asthma mouse model. Attaching signal sequences has proven to be a successful way to manipulate and boost the immune responses following DNA immunization and also creating hypoallergenic DNA vaccines.
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15
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Expression library immunization can confer protection against lethal challenge with African swine fever virus. J Virol 2014; 88:13322-32. [PMID: 25210179 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01893-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED African swine fever is one of the most devastating pig diseases, against which there is no vaccine available. Recent work from our laboratory has demonstrated the protective potential of DNA vaccines encoding three African swine fever viral antigens (p54, p30, and the hemagglutinin extracellular domain) fused to ubiquitin. Partial protection was afforded in the absence of detectable antibodies prior to virus challenge, and survival correlated with the presence of a large number of hemagglutinin-specific CD8(+) T cells in blood. Aiming to demonstrate the presence of additional CD8(+) T-cell determinants with protective potential, an expression library containing more than 4,000 individual plasmid clones was constructed, each one randomly containing a Sau3AI restriction fragment of the viral genome (p54, p30, and hemagglutinin open reading frames [ORFs] excluded) fused to ubiquitin. Immunization of farm pigs with the expression library yielded 60% protection against lethal challenge with the virulent E75 strain. These results were further confirmed by using specific-pathogen-free pigs after challenging them with 10(4) hemadsorbing units (HAU) of the cell culture-adapted strain E75CV1. On this occasion, 50% of the vaccinated pigs survived the lethal challenge, and 2 out of the 8 immunized pigs showed no viremia or viral excretion at any time postinfection. In all cases, protection was afforded in the absence of detectable specific antibodies prior to challenge and correlated with the detection of specific T-cell responses at the time of sacrifice. In summary, our results clearly demonstrate the presence of additional protective determinants within the African swine fever virus (ASFV) genome and open up the possibility for their future identification. IMPORTANCE African swine fever is a highly contagious disease of domestic and wild pigs that is endemic in many sub-Saharan countries, where it causes important economic losses and is currently in continuous expansion across Europe. Unfortunately, there is no treatment nor an available vaccine. Early attempts using attenuated vaccines demonstrated their potential to protect pigs against experimental infection. However, their use in the field remains controversial due to safety issues. Although inactive and subunit vaccines did not confer solid protection against experimental ASFV infection, our DNA vaccination results have generated new expectations, confirming the key role of T-cell responses in protection and the existence of multiple ASFV antigens with protective potential, more of which are currently being identified. Thus, the future might bring complex and safe formulations containing more than a single viral determinant to obtain broadly protective vaccines. We believe that obtaining the optimal vaccine formulation it is just a matter of time, investment, and willingness.
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16
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Fusion of ubiquitin to HIV gag impairs human monocyte-derived dendritic cell maturation and reduces ability to induce gag T cell responses. PLoS One 2014; 9:e88327. [PMID: 24505475 PMCID: PMC3914991 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2013] [Accepted: 01/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The efficient induction of CD8 T cell immunity is dependent on the processing and presentation of antigen on MHC class I molecules by professional antigen presenting cells (APC). To develop an improved T cell vaccine for HIV we investigated whether fusing the ubiquitin gene to the N terminus of the HIV gag gene enhanced targeting to the proteasome resulting in better CD8 T cell responses. Human monocyte derived dendritic cells (moDC), transduced with adenovirus vectors carrying either ubiquitinated or non-ubiquitinated gag transgene constructs, were co-cultured with autologous naïve T cells and T cell responses were measured after several weekly cycles of stimulation. Despite targeting of the ubiquitin gag transgene protein to the proteasome, ubiquitination did not increase CD8 T cell immune responses and in some cases diminished responses to gag peptides. There were no marked differences in cytokines produced from ubiquitinated and non-ubiquitinated gag stimulated cultures or in the expression of inhibitory molecules on expanded T cells. However, the ability of moDC transduced with ubiquitinated gag gene to upregulate co-stimulatory molecules was reduced, whilst no difference in moDC maturation was observed with a control ubiquitinated and non-ubiquitinated MART gene. Furthermore moDC transduced with ubiquitinated gag produced more IL-10 than transduction with unmodified gag. Thus failure of gag ubiquitination to enhance CD8 responses may be caused by suppression of moDC maturation. These results indicate that when designing a successful vaccine strategy to target a particular cell population, attention must also be given to the effect of the vaccine on APCs.
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17
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Aurisicchio L, Fridman A, Bagchi A, Scarselli E, La Monica N, Ciliberto G. A novel minigene scaffold for therapeutic cancer vaccines. Oncoimmunology 2014; 3:e27529. [PMID: 24790791 PMCID: PMC4002591 DOI: 10.4161/onci.27529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2013] [Revised: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic vaccines are emerging as a powerful modality to induce T-cell responses to target tumor associated antigens (TAA). Viral or plasmid DNA or RNA vectors harbor an expression cassette encoding the antigen of choice delivered in vivo by vaccination. In this context, immunizations with minigenes containing selected, highly antigenic, T-cell epitopes of TAAs may have several advantages relative to full-length proteins. The objective of this study was to identify an optimal scaffold for minigene construction. We generated a number of minigenes containing epitopes from the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) model TAA and utilized muscle DNA electro-gene-transfer (DNA-EGT) to vaccinate HLA-A*0201 (HHD) and CEA/HHD double transgenic mice. The components utilized to construct the minigenes included CD8+ T cell epitopes and (or) anchor modified analogs that were selected on the basis of their predicted binding to HLA-*A0201, their uniqueness in the human proteome, and the likelihood of cancer cell natural processing and presentation via MHC-I. Other candidate components comparatively tested included: helper CD4+ T-cell epitopes, flanking regions for optimal epitope processing (including both proteasome-dependent and furin-dependent polypeptide processing mechanisms), and immunoenhancing moieties. Through a series of comparative studies and iterations we have identified an optimal minigene scaffold comprising the following elements: human tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) signal peptide, T-cell epitopes connected by furin sensitive linkers, and the E. Coli enterotoxin B subunit. The selected epitope modified minigenes (EMM) delivered by DNA-EGT were able to break immune tolerance in CEA/HHD mice and induce a strong immune response against all epitopes tested, independently of their relative positions within the scaffold. Furthermore, the optimized EMMs delivered via DNA-EGT were more immunogenic and exerted more powerful antitumor effects in a B16-CEA/HHD metastatic melanoma model than a DNA vector encoding the full-length protein or a mixture of the same peptides injected subcutaneously. Our data may shed light on the optimal design of a universal vehicle for epitope-targeted, genetic cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- IRCCS, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione G. Pascale; Napoli, Italy
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18
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Luke JM, Carnes AE, Williams JA. Development of antibiotic-free selection system for safer DNA vaccination. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1143:91-111. [PMID: 24715283 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0410-5_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The use of antibiotic-resistance markers in DNA vaccines is discouraged by regulatory agencies due to various theoretical safety concerns. This chapter presents methodologies for the design and cloning of synthetic antigen genes into RNA-OUT encoding antibiotic-free DNA vaccine vectors that are additionally optimized to improve protein expression, and immunogenicity, compared to alternative kanamycin-resistant vectors. First, antigen targeting considerations are discussed in the context of immune response customization through MHC class I or class II directed antigen presentation; the example NTC868 series RNA-OUT vector system allows simultaneous cloning into multiple vectors that feature various transgene intracellular targeting destinations. Then a detailed flowchart for codon optimization and synthetic transgene design is presented. Finally in-depth methodologies for cloning transgenes into the NTC868 series RNA-OUT vector system are presented. The resultant antibiotic-free DNA vaccine vectors are a more potent, safer alternative to existing kanamycin resistance marker encoding vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy M Luke
- Nature Technology Corporation, 4701 Innovation Drive, Lincoln, NE, 68521, USA
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19
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Weinberger EE, Isakovic A, Scheiblhofer S, Ramsauer C, Reiter K, Hauser-Kronberger C, Thalhamer J, Weiss R. The influence of antigen targeting to sub-cellular compartments on the anti-allergic potential of a DNA vaccine. Vaccine 2013; 31:6113-21. [PMID: 23954383 PMCID: PMC3898268 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2013] [Revised: 07/18/2013] [Accepted: 08/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
DNA vaccine targeting affected humoral and cellular immunity. Elevated Th1 immunity did not correlate with superior protection from sensitization. Plasmid vaccination boosted Treg numbers within re-stimulated splenocyte cultures.
Background Gene vaccines offer attractive rationales for prophylactic as well as therapeutic treatments of type I allergies. DNA and mRNA vaccines have been shown to prevent from allergic sensitization and to counterbalance established allergic immune reactions. Recent advances in gene vaccine manipulation offer additional opportunities for modulation of T helper cell profiles by specific targeting of cellular compartments. Methods DNA vaccines encoding the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1.0101 were equipped with different leader sequences to shuttle the antigen to lysosomes (LIMP-II), to trigger cellular secretion (hTPA), or to induce proteasomal degradation via forced ubiquitination (ubi). Mice were pre-vaccinated with these constructs and the protective efficacy was tested by subcutaneous Th2-promoting challenges, followed by allergen inhalation. IgG antibody subclass distribution and allergen-specific IgE as well as cytokine profiles from re-stimulated splenocytes and from BALFs were assessed. The cellular composition of BALFs, and lung resistance and compliance were determined. Results Immunization with all targeting variants protected from allergic sensitization, i.e. IgE induction, airway hyperresponsiveness, lung inflammation, and systemic and local Th2 cytokine expression. Surprisingly, protection did not clearly correlate with the induction of a systemic Th1 cytokine profile, but rather with proliferating CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ T regulatory cells in splenocyte cultures. Targeting the allergen to proteasomal or lysosomal degradation severely down-regulated antibody induction after vaccination, while T cell responses remained unaffected. Although secretion of antigen promoted the highest numbers of Th1 cells, this vaccine type was the least efficient in suppressing the establishment of an allergic immune response. Conclusion This comparative analysis highlights the modulatory effect of antigen targeting on the resulting immune response, with a special emphasis on prophylactic anti-allergy DNA vaccination. Targeting the antigen to proteasomal or lysosomal degradation reduces the availability of native allergen, thereby rendering the vaccine hypoallergenic without compromising efficacy, an important feature for a therapeutic setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther E Weinberger
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
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20
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Williams JA. Vector Design for Improved DNA Vaccine Efficacy, Safety and Production. Vaccines (Basel) 2013; 1:225-49. [PMID: 26344110 PMCID: PMC4494225 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines1030225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Revised: 06/12/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA vaccination is a disruptive technology that offers the promise of a new rapidly deployed vaccination platform to treat human and animal disease with gene-based materials. Innovations such as electroporation, needle free jet delivery and lipid-based carriers increase transgene expression and immunogenicity through more effective gene delivery. This review summarizes complementary vector design innovations that, when combined with leading delivery platforms, further enhance DNA vaccine performance. These next generation vectors also address potential safety issues such as antibiotic selection, and increase plasmid manufacturing quality and yield in exemplary fermentation production processes. Application of optimized constructs in combination with improved delivery platforms tangibly improves the prospect of successful application of DNA vaccination as prophylactic vaccines for diverse human infectious disease targets or as therapeutic vaccines for cancer and allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Williams
- Nature Technology Corporation/Suite 103, 4701 Innovation Drive, Lincoln, NE 68521, USA.
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21
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Benlahrech A, Meiser A, Herath S, Papagatsias T, Athanasopoulos T, Li F, Self S, Bachy V, Hervouet C, Logan K, Klavinskis L, Dickson G, Patterson S. Fragmentation of SIV-gag vaccine induces broader T cell responses. PLoS One 2012; 7:e48038. [PMID: 23118924 PMCID: PMC3485275 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048038] [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: 03/02/2012] [Accepted: 09/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background High mutation rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) allows escape from T cell recognition preventing development of effective T cell vaccines. Vaccines that induce diverse T cell immune responses would help overcome this problem. Using SIV gag as a model vaccine, we investigated two approaches to increase the breadth of the CD8 T cell response. Namely, fusion of vaccine genes to ubiquitin to target the proteasome and increase levels of MHC class I peptide complexes and gene fragmentation to overcome competition between epitopes for presentation and recognition. Methodology/Principal Findings Three vaccines were compared: full-length unmodified SIV-mac239 gag, full-length gag fused at the N-terminus to ubiquitin and 7 gag fragments of equal size spanning the whole of gag with ubiquitin-fused to the N-terminus of each fragment. Genes were cloned into a replication defective adenovirus vector and immunogenicity assessed in an in vitro human priming system. The breadth of the CD8 T cell response, defined by the number of distinct epitopes, was assessed by IFN-γ-ELISPOT and memory phenotype and cytokine production evaluated by flow cytometry. We observed an increase of two- to six-fold in the number of epitopes recognised in the ubiquitin-fused fragments compared to the ubiquitin-fused full-length gag. In contrast, although proteasomal targeting was achieved, there was a marked reduction in the number of epitopes recognised in the ubiquitin-fused full-length gag compared to the full-length unmodified gene, but there were no differences in the number of epitope responses induced by non-ubiquitinated full-length gag and the ubiquitin-fused mini genes. Fragmentation and ubiquitination did not affect T cell memory differentiation and polyfunctionality, though most responses were directed against the Ad5 vector. Conclusion/Significance Fragmentation but not fusion with ubiquitin increases the breadth of the CD8 T vaccine response against SIV-mac239 gag. Thus gene fragmentation of HIV vaccines may maximise responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel Benlahrech
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Meiser
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shanthi Herath
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Timos Papagatsias
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Takis Athanasopoulos
- School of Biological Science, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, United Kingdom
| | - Fucheng Li
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Steve Self
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Veronique Bachy
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, Guys Hospital, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Hervouet
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, Guys Hospital, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Logan
- Department of Immunology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Linda Klavinskis
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, Guys Hospital, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - George Dickson
- School of Biological Science, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Patterson
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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The signal peptide sequence impacts the immune response elicited by a DNA epitope vaccine. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2011; 18:1776-80. [PMID: 21832097 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.05179-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We examined the effect of two leader sequences, one from a transmembrane molecule (H2-L(d)) and another from a secreted molecule (rat KC chemokine), on the immunogenicity of DNA epitope vaccines. The chemokine leader enhanced vaccine immunogenicity, thus underscoring the importance of the leader sequence in DNA epitope vaccine design.
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Boshra H, Lorenzo G, Rodriguez F, Brun A. A DNA vaccine encoding ubiquitinated Rift Valley fever virus nucleoprotein provides consistent immunity and protects IFNAR−/− mice upon lethal virus challenge. Vaccine 2011; 29:4469-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.04.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2010] [Revised: 03/11/2011] [Accepted: 04/15/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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24
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Perche F, Benvegnu T, Berchel M, Lebegue L, Pichon C, Jaffrès PA, Midoux P. Enhancement of dendritic cells transfection in vivo and of vaccination against B16F10 melanoma with mannosylated histidylated lipopolyplexes loaded with tumor antigen messenger RNA. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2011; 7:445-53. [PMID: 21220051 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2010.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2010] [Revised: 12/05/2010] [Accepted: 12/29/2010] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED We report the preparation of mannosylated nanoparticles loaded with messenger RNA (mRNA) that enhance the transfection of dendritic cells (DCs) in vivo and the anti-B16F10 melanoma vaccination in mice. Mannosylated and histidylated lipopolyplexes (Man(11)-LPR100) were obtained by adding mannosylated and histidylated liposomes to mRNA-PEGylated histidylated polylysine polyplexes. Upon intravenous injection, ∼9% of the radioactivity of technetium 99 m-labeled lipopolyplexes measured in the liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys was found in the spleen. We demonstrate that spleen from mice injected with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) mRNA-loaded Man(11)-LPR100 contained four times more DCs expressing EGFP than that from mice injected with sugar-free LPR100. This better transfection of DCs is correlated with a better inhibition of B16F10 melanoma growth and an increased survival time when mice were immunized with MART-1 mRNA-loaded Man(11)-LPR100. These results indicate that mannosylated and histidylated LPR is an efficient system for the delivery of tumor antigen mRNA in splenic DCs aiming to induce an anticancer immune response. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR This paper discusses the preparation of mannosylated nanoparticles loaded with messenger RNA that enhance the transfection of dendritic cells (DCs) in vivo and the anti-B16F10 melanoma vaccination in mice. The authors describe an efficient system for the delivery of tumor antigen mRNA in splenic DCs aiming to induce an anticancer immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Perche
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire CNRS UPR 4301, University and Inserm, Orléans, France
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25
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Pouriayevali MH, Bamdad T, Parsania M, Sari RD. Full length antigen priming enhances the CTL epitope-based DNA vaccine efficacy. Cell Immunol 2011; 268:4-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2011.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2010] [Revised: 11/22/2010] [Accepted: 01/12/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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26
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DNA vaccination: using the patient's immune system to overcome cancer. Clin Dev Immunol 2010; 2010:169484. [PMID: 21197271 PMCID: PMC3010826 DOI: 10.1155/2010/169484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2010] [Revised: 10/08/2010] [Accepted: 10/21/2010] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the most challenging diseases of today. Optimization of standard treatment protocols consisting of the main columns of chemo- and radiotherapy followed or preceded by surgical intervention is often limited by toxic side effects and induction of concomitant malignancies and/or development of resistant mechanisms. This requires the development of therapeutic strategies which are as effective as standard therapies but permit the patients a life without severe negative side effects. Along this line, the development of immunotherapy in general and the innovative concept of DNA vaccination in particular may provide a venue to achieve this goal. Using the patient's own immune system by activation of humoral and cellular immune responses to target the cancer cells has shown first promising results in clinical trials and may allow reduced toxicity standard therapy regimen in the future. The main challenge of this concept is to transfer the plethora of convincing preclinical and early clinical results to an effective treatment of patients.
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27
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Kratzer R, Mauvais FX, Burgevin A, Barilleau E, van Endert P. Fusion proteins for versatile antigen targeting to cell surface receptors reveal differential capacity to prime immune responses. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2010; 184:6855-64. [PMID: 20483719 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.0902555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Targeting of proteins to APCs is an attractive strategy for eliciting adaptive immune responses. However, the relationship between the choice of the targeted receptor and the quality and quantity of responses remains poorly understood. We describe a strategy for expression of Ags including hydrophobic proteins as soluble fusion proteins that are optimized for proteasome-dependent MHC class I-restricted cross-presentation and form stable complexes with a wide variety of targeting Abs. Upon s.c. immunization, these complexes were initially taken up by CD169+ lymph node subcapsular sinus macrophages. In the OVA model system, receptor-targeted antigenic complexes primed specific T and B cell responses in vitro and in vivo at least 100-fold more efficiently than Ag alone. Comparison of 10 targeting receptors allowed us to establish a ranking with respect to priming of CD8+ T cell responses and demonstrated striking differences with respect to the relative efficacy of CD8+ and CD4+ T cell subset and B cell priming. The described fusion proteins should help in developing optimized strategies for targeted delivery of protein Ags in the context of tolerization or vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Kratzer
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherché Médicale, Unité 1013, Paris, France
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28
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Vertuani S, Triulzi C, Roos AK, Charo J, Norell H, Lemonnier F, Pisa P, Seliger B, Kiessling R. HER-2/neu mediated down-regulation of MHC class I antigen processing prevents CTL-mediated tumor recognition upon DNA vaccination in HLA-A2 transgenic mice. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2009; 58:653-64. [PMID: 18820911 PMCID: PMC11030827 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-008-0587-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2008] [Accepted: 08/30/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
To study DNA vaccination directed against human HER-2 in the HHD mouse Tg strain, we created a novel HER-2-expressing syngeneic tumor transplantation model. We found that a DNA vaccine encoding the full length HER-2 DNA protected HHD mice from HER-2(+) tumor challenge by a CTL independent mechanism. A more efficient approach to induce HLA-A2 restricted CTLs, through immunization with a multi-epitope DNA vaccine expressing the HLA-A2 restricted HER-2 369-377, 435-443 and 689-697 epitopes, resulted in high numbers of peptide specific T cells but failed to induce tumor protection. Subsequently we discovered that HER-2 transfected tumor cells down-regulated MHC class I antigen expression and exhibited a series of defects in the antigen processing pathway which impaired the capacity to produce and display MHC class I peptide-ligands to specific CTLs. Our data demonstrate that HER-2 transfection is associated with defects in the MHC class I presentation pathway, which may be the underlying mechanism behind the inability of CTLs to recognize tumors in this HLA-A2 transgenic model. As defective MHC class I presentation may be a common characteristic of HER-2 expressing tumors, vaccines targeting HER-2 should aim at inducing an integrated immune response where also CD4(+) T cells and antibodies are important components.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antigen Presentation
- Base Sequence
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Genes, MHC Class I
- Genes, erbB-2
- HLA-A2 Antigen/genetics
- HLA-A2 Antigen/immunology
- Humans
- Lymphocyte Depletion
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred Strains
- Mice, Transgenic
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Peptide Fragments/genetics
- Peptide Fragments/immunology
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-2/immunology
- Sarcoma, Experimental/chemically induced
- Sarcoma, Experimental/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Transfection
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Vertuani
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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29
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Williams JA, Carnes AE, Hodgson CP. Plasmid DNA vaccine vector design: impact on efficacy, safety and upstream production. Biotechnol Adv 2009; 27:353-70. [PMID: 19233255 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2009.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2008] [Revised: 02/02/2009] [Accepted: 02/07/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Critical molecular and cellular biological factors impacting design of licensable DNA vaccine vectors that combine high yield and integrity during bacterial production with increased expression in mammalian cells are reviewed. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), World Health Organization (WHO) and European Medical Agencies (EMEA) regulatory guidance's are discussed, as they relate to vector design and plasmid fermentation. While all new vectors will require extensive preclinical testing to validate safety and performance prior to clinical use, regulatory testing burden for follow-on products can be reduced by combining carefully designed synthetic genes with existing validated vector backbones. A flowchart for creation of new synthetic genes, combining rationale design with bioinformatics, is presented. The biology of plasmid replication is reviewed, and process engineering strategies that reduce metabolic burden discussed. Utilizing recently developed low metabolic burden seed stock and fermentation strategies, optimized vectors can now be manufactured in high yields exceeding 2 g/L, with specific plasmid yields of 5% total dry cell weight.
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30
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Bolhassani A, Yazdi SR. DNA immunization as an efficient strategy for vaccination. Avicenna J Med Biotechnol 2009; 1:71-88. [PMID: 23407787 PMCID: PMC3558129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2009] [Accepted: 06/20/2009] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The field of vaccinology provides excellent promises to control different infectious and non-infectious diseases. Genetic immunization as a new tool in this area by using naked DNA has been shown to induce humoral as well as cellular immune responses with high efficiency. This demonstrates the enormous potential of this strategy for vaccination purposes. DNA vaccines have been widely used to develop vaccines against various pathogens as well as cancer, autoimmune diseases and allergy. However, despite their successful application in many pre-clinical disease models, their potency in human clinical trials has been insufficient to provide protective immunity. Several strategies have been applied to increase the potency of DNA vaccine. Among these strategies, the linkage of antigens to Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) and the utilization of different delivery systems have been demonstrated as efficient approaches for increasing the potency of DNA vaccines. The uptake of DNA plasmids by cells upon injection is inefficient. Two basic delivery approaches including physical delivery to achieve higher levels of antigen production and formulation with microparticles to target Antigen-Presenting Cells (APCs) are effective in animal models. Alternatively, different regimens called prime-boost vaccination are also effective. In this regimen, naked DNA is utilized to prime the immune system and either recombinant viral vector or purified recombinant protein with proper adjuvant is used for boosting. In this review, we discuss recent advances in upgrading the efficiency of DNA vaccination in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sima Rafati Yazdi
- Corresponding author: Sima Rafati Yazdi, Ph.D., Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. Tel: +98 21 66953311. Fax: +98 21 66465132. E-mail:;
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31
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Theil DJ, Libbey JE, Rodriguez F, Whitton JL, Tsunoda I, Derfuss TJ, Fujinami RS. Targeting myelin proteolipid protein to the MHC class I pathway by ubiquitination modulates the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Neuroimmunol 2008; 204:92-100. [PMID: 18706703 PMCID: PMC2646907 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2008.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2008] [Revised: 07/07/2008] [Accepted: 07/09/2008] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a multiple sclerosis model, is induced in mice by injection of myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) encephalitogenic peptide, PLP139-151, in adjuvant. In this study, prior to EAE induction, mice were vaccinated with a bacterial plasmid encoding a PLP-ubiquitin fusion (pCMVUPLP). During the relapse phase of EAE, clinical signs, histopathologic changes, in vitro lymphoproliferation to PLP139-151 and interferon-gamma levels were reduced in pCMVUPLP-vaccinated mice, compared to mock-vaccinated mice (controls). Lymphocytes from pCMVUPLP-vaccinated mice produced interleukin-4, a cytokine lacking in controls. Thus, pCMVUPLP vaccination can modulate the relapse after EAE induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diethilde J. Theil
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, 30 North 1900 East, RM 3R330, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132
| | - Jane E. Libbey
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, 30 North 1900 East, RM 3R330, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132
| | - Fernando Rodriguez
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - J. Lindsay Whitton
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Ikuo Tsunoda
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, 30 North 1900 East, RM 3R330, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132
| | - Tobias J. Derfuss
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, 30 North 1900 East, RM 3R330, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132
| | - Robert S. Fujinami
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, 30 North 1900 East, RM 3R330, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132
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32
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Huebener N, Fest S, Strandsby A, Michalsky E, Preissner R, Zeng Y, Gaedicke G, Lode HN. A rationally designed tyrosine hydroxylase DNA vaccine induces specific antineuroblastoma immunity. Mol Cancer Ther 2008; 7:2241-51. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-08-0109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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33
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von Herrath M, Whitton JL. Animal models using lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; Chapter 19:Unit 19.10. [PMID: 18432751 DOI: 10.1002/0471142735.im1910s36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
This unit includes protocols for inducing systemic infection and persistent infection of mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Methods used to measure T cell responses to LCMV are then described. A protocol to assess anti-LCMV immunity in vivo is also included. Support protocols for preparing LCMV stocks and measuring LCMV titers using a plaque assay are also included. Finally, a support protocol for detecting anti-LCMV antibodies by ELISA is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- M von Herrath
- The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
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34
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Irache JM, Salman HH, Gamazo C, Espuelas S. Mannose-targeted systems for the delivery of therapeutics. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2008; 5:703-24. [DOI: 10.1517/17425247.5.6.703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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35
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Little SR, Kohane DS. Polymers for intracellular delivery of nucleic acids. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1039/b712930k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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36
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Hu J, Cladel N, Peng X, Balogh K, Christensen ND. Protective immunity with an E1 multivalent epitope DNA vaccine against cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) infection in an HLA-A2.1 transgenic rabbit model. Vaccine 2007; 26:809-16. [PMID: 18187239 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.11.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2007] [Revised: 11/23/2007] [Accepted: 11/29/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV)/rabbit model is widely used to study pathogenesis of papillomavirus infections and malignant tumor progression. Recently, we established HLA-A2.1 transgenic rabbit lines and demonstrated efficacy for the testing of immunogenicity of a well-known A2-resticted epitope (HPV16E7/82-90) [Hu J, Peng X, Schell TD, Budgeon LR, Cladel NM, Christensen ND. An HLA-A2.1-transgenic rabbit model to study immunity to papillomavirus infection. J Immunol 2006;177(11):8037-45]. In the present study, we screened five HLA-A2.1 restricted epitopes from CRPVE1 (selected using online MHCI epitope prediction software) and constructed a multivalent epitope DNA vaccine (CRPVE1ep1-5). CRPVE1ep1-5 and a control DNA vaccine (Ub3) were then delivered intracutaneously onto normal and HLA-A2.1 transgenic rabbits, respectively, by a helium-driven gene-gun delivery system. One, two or three immunizations were given to different groups of animals from both New Zealand White outbred and EIII/JC inbred genetic background. Two and three immunizations with CRPVE1ep1-5 DNA vaccine provided complete protection against viral DNA infection of HLA-A2.1 transgenic rabbits from both genetic backgrounds but not in the control-vaccinated groups. One immunization, however, failed to protect HLA-A2.1 transgenic rabbits against viral DNA infection. This study further demonstrated that the HLA-A2.1 transgenic rabbits can be used to test the immunogenicity of HLA-A2.1 restricted epitopes identified by MHCI epitope predication software.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiafen Hu
- Jake Gittlen Cancer Research Foundation, Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania State University college of medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
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37
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Frausto RF, Crocker SJ, Eam B, Whitmire JK, Whitton JL. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide-induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and T cell responses are unaffected by immunoproteasome deficiency. J Neuroimmunol 2007; 192:124-33. [PMID: 17964666 PMCID: PMC2175388 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2007.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2007] [Revised: 09/21/2007] [Accepted: 09/21/2007] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The inoculation of MOG peptides into C57BL/6 mice induces CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, and recent work has shown that adoptive transfer of the latter population, after extensive in vitro stimulation, can cause EAE in naïve recipient mice. Herein, we have evaluated the incidence and severity of EAE, and the induction of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, following MOG peptide inoculation of wt mice and of LMP-2KO mice that lack an intact immunoproteasome, a cytoplasmic organelle that is induced by chronic inflammation and that may be important for the presentation of MHC class I epitopes to CD8(+) T cells. We report that EAE, evaluated by both clinical and histological criteria, is similar in LMP-2KO mice and wildtype C57B/6 mice (wt) in response to immunization with MOG peptides MOG(35-55) and MOG(40-54), suggesting that the immunoproteasome does not play a key role in the development of demyelinating disease. Furthermore, and consistent with previous reports, peptide-specific CD8(+) T cells were barely detectable in the CNS of peptide-immunized mice, although peptide-specific CD4(+) T cells were abundant. Therefore, we used a new technique to look for autoreactive CD8(+) T cells in MOG peptide-immunized mice, and we report the identification of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells that, as late as 19 days after peptide injection, are actively producing IFNgamma in vivo, in response to in vivo antigen contact.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - J L. Whitton
- *Corresponding author Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Dept., SP30-2110, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA, Tel: 858-784-7090, FAX: 858-784-7380,
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38
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Fluet ME, Whitmore AC, Moshkoff DA, Fu K, Tang Y, Collier ML, West A, Moore DT, Swanstrom R, Johnston RE, Davis NL. Effects of rapid antigen degradation and VEE glycoprotein specificity on immune responses induced by a VEE replicon vaccine. Virology 2007; 370:22-32. [PMID: 17904185 PMCID: PMC2288739 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2007.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2007] [Revised: 06/20/2007] [Accepted: 08/20/2007] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Genetic vaccines are engineered to produce immunogens de novo in the cells of the host for stimulation of a protective immune response. In some of these systems, antigens engineered for rapid degradation have produced an enhanced cellular immune response by more efficient entry into pathways for processing and presentation of MHC class I peptides. VEE replicon particles (VRP), single cycle vaccine vectors derived from Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE), are examined here for the effect of an increased rate of immunogen degradation on VRP vaccine efficacy. VRP expressing the matrix capsid (MA/CA) portion of SIV Gag were altered to promote rapid degradation of MA/CA by various linkages to co-translated ubiquitin or by destabilizing mutations and were used to immunize BALB/c mice for quantitation of anti-MA/CA cellular and humoral immune responses. Rapid degradation by the N-end rule correlated with a dampened immune response relative to unmodified MA/CA when the VRP carried a glycoprotein spike from an attenuated strain of VEE. In contrast, statistically equivalent numbers of IFNgamma(+)T-cells resulted when VRP expressing unstable MA/CA were packaged with the wild-type VEE glycoproteins. These results suggest that the cell types targeted in vivo by VRP carrying mutant or wild type glycoprotein spikes are functionally different, and are consistent with previous findings suggesting that wild-type VEE glycoproteins preferentially target professional antigen presenting cells that use peptides generated from the degraded antigen for direct presentation on MHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Fluet
- Carolina Vaccine Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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39
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Dobaño C, Rogers WO, Gowda K, Doolan DL. Targeting antigen to MHC Class I and Class II antigen presentation pathways for malaria DNA vaccines. Immunol Lett 2007; 111:92-102. [PMID: 17604849 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2007.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2007] [Revised: 05/04/2007] [Accepted: 05/24/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
An effective malaria vaccine which protects against all stages of Plasmodium infection may need to elicit robust CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cell and antibody responses. To achieve this, we have investigated strategies designed to improve the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines encoding the Plasmodium yoelii pre-erythrocytic stage antigens PyCSP and PyHEP17, by targeting the encoded proteins to the MHC Classes I and II processing and presentation pathways. For enhancement of CD8(+) T cell responses, we targeted the antigens for degradation by the ubiquitin (Ub)/proteosome pathway following the N-terminal rule. We constructed plasmids containing PyCSP or PyHEP17 genes fused to the Ub gene: plasmids where the N-terminal antigen residues were mutated from the stabilizing amino acid methionine to destabilizing arginine, plasmids where the C-terminal residues of Ub were mutated from glycine to alanine, and plasmids in which the potential hydrophobic leader sequences of the antigens were deleted. For enhancement of CD4(+) T cell and antibody responses, we targeted the antigens for degradation by the endosomal/lysosomal pathway by linking the antigen to the lysosome-associated membrane protein (LAMP). We found that immunization with DNA vaccine encoding PyHEP17 fused to Ub and bearing arginine induced higher IFN-gamma, cytotoxic and proliferative T cell responses than unmodified vaccines. However, no effect was seen for PyCSP using the same targeting strategies. Regarding Class II antigen targeting, fusion to LAMP did not enhance antibody responses to either PyHEP17 or PyCSP, and resulted in a marginal increase in lymphoproliferative CD4(+) T cell responses. Our data highlight the antigen dependence of immune enhancement strategies that target antigen to the MHC Class I and II pathways for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlota Dobaño
- Malaria Program, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD 20910-7500, United States.
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40
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Lu Y, Kawakami S, Yamashita F, Hashida M. Development of an antigen-presenting cell-targeted DNA vaccine against melanoma by mannosylated liposomes. Biomaterials 2007; 28:3255-62. [PMID: 17449093 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2007.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2007] [Accepted: 03/27/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
As part of our research involving the targeted delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) to antigen-presenting cells (APCs), we developed mannosylated cationic liposomes: N-[1-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA)/cholesten-5-yloxy-N-(4-((1-imino-2-D-thiomannosyl-ethyl)amino)butyl)formamide (Man-C4-Chol)/Chol (Man liposomes). In this study, we used melanoma-associated antigen expressing pDNA; pUb-M and Man liposomes to create a novel APC-targeted DNA vaccine against melanoma and examined its potency by measuring the Ub-M mRNA expression in splenic dendritic cells and macrophages, the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity against melanoma B16BL6 cells and the melanoma B16BL6-specific anti-tumor effect after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration. We verified that Man lipoplex induces significantly higher pUb-M gene transfection into dendritic cells and macrophages than unmodified lipoplex and naked DNA and it also strongly induces CTL activity against melanoma, inhibits its growth and prolongs the survival after tumor challenge compared with unmodified liposomes and the standard method (naked pDNA, intramuscular (i.m.)). These results demonstrate that Man liposomes are a potent APCs-targeted vector that induce strong immunopotency of DNA vaccine against melanoma.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigen-Presenting Cells/immunology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cells, Cultured
- Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic
- Female
- Liposomes/administration & dosage
- Liposomes/chemistry
- Macrophages, Peritoneal/cytology
- Macrophages, Peritoneal/immunology
- Mannose-Binding Lectins
- Melanoma, Experimental/immunology
- Melanoma, Experimental/prevention & control
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Neoplasm Transplantation
- RNA, Messenger/analysis
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Transfection
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/genetics
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lu
- Department of Drug Delivery Research, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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41
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Botten J, Whitton JL, Barrowman P, Sidney J, Whitmire JK, Alexander J, Ting JPC, Bui HH, Sette A, Buchmeier MJ. HLA-A2-restricted protection against lethal lymphocytic choriomeningitis. J Virol 2007; 81:2307-17. [PMID: 17166907 PMCID: PMC1865925 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02063-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2006] [Accepted: 12/01/2006] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The consequences of human lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection can be severe, including aseptic meningitis in immunocompetent individuals, hydrocephalus or chorioretinitis in fetal infection, or a highly lethal outcome in immunosuppressed individuals. In murine models of LCMV infection, CD8(+) T cells play a primary role in providing protective immunity, and there is evidence that cellular immunity may also be important in related arenavirus infections in humans. For this reason, we sought to identify HLA-A2 supertype-restricted epitopes from the LCMV proteome and evaluate them as vaccine determinants in HLA transgenic mice. We identified four HLA-A*0201-restricted peptides-nucleoprotein NP(69-77), glycoprotein precursor GPC(10-18), GPC(447-455), and zinc-binding protein Z(49-58)-that displayed high-affinity binding (< or =275 nM) to HLA-A*0201, induced CD8(+) T-cell responses of high functional avidity in HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice, and were naturally processed from native LCMV antigens in HLA-restricted human antigen presenting cells. One of the epitopes (GPC(447-455)), after peptide immunization of HLA-A*0201 mice, induced CD8(+) T cells capable of killing peptide-pulsed HLA-A*0201-restricted target cells in vivo and protected mice against lethal intracranial challenge with LCMV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Botten
- Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, SP30-2020, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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42
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Jeon YH, Choi Y, Kim HJ, Kim CW, Jeong JM, Lee DS, Chung JK. Human sodium iodide symporter gene adjunctive radiotherapy to enhance the preventive effect of hMUC1 DNA vaccine. Int J Cancer 2007; 121:1593-9. [PMID: 17565743 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.22837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrate the use of combination therapy to overcome the limitations of cancer DNA vaccines by adding radioiodine gene therapy in an animal cancer model. We established a stable cell line (CT26/hMUC1-hNIS-Fluc: CMNF) expressing the hMUC1, hNIS and Fluc genes using a retro- and lentivirus system. The survival rates (%) of CMNF cells were determined using clonogenic assays after (131)I treatment. After i.m. immunization to 4 groups of Balb/c mice (pcDNA3.1, pcDNA3.1+(131)I, pcDNA3-hMUC1+PBS and pcDNA3-hMUC1+(131)I groups) with pcDNA3-hMUC1 or pcDNA3.1 once a week for 2 weeks, 1 x 10(5) CMNF cells were injected s.c. into the right thighs of mice in each group. Twenty-one days after tumor transplantation, (131)I was administered i.p. to the pcDNA3.1+(131)I and pcDNA3-hMUC1+ (131)I groups. Tumor progression was monitored in the 4 groups by bioluminescent and scintigraphic imaging and by taking caliper measurements. Tumor masses were extracted and weighted at 39 days post-tumor challenge. We confirmed that CMNF cells highly express hMUC1, hNIS and Fluc by FACS, (125)I uptake, and luciferase assay. The survival rates of CMNF were markedly reduced to (14.6 +/- 1.5)% after (131)I treatment compared with the survival rates of parental cells (p < 0.001). Tumor growth inhibition was significant only in the pcDNA3-hMUC1+ (131)I group at 39 days post challenge. Tumor masses in pcDNA3-hMUC1+ (131)I group were smaller than those of the other groups. This study shows that the weak preventive effects of cancer DNA vaccine can be overcome by radioiodine gene therapy utilizing sodium iodide symporter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Hyun Jeon
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Wang M, Lamberth K, Harndahl M, Røder G, Stryhn A, Larsen MV, Nielsen M, Lundegaard C, Tang ST, Dziegiel MH, Rosenkvist J, Pedersen AE, Buus S, Claesson MH, Lund O. CTL epitopes for influenza A including the H5N1 bird flu; genome-, pathogen-, and HLA-wide screening. Vaccine 2006; 25:2823-31. [PMID: 17254671 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.12.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2006] [Revised: 12/01/2006] [Accepted: 12/12/2006] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of the present study is to perform a global screening for new immunogenic HLA class I (HLA-I) restricted cytotoxic T cell (CTL) epitopes of potential utility as candidates of influenza A-virus diagnostics and vaccines. We used predictions of antigen processing and presentation, the latter encompassing 12 different HLA class I supertypes with >99% population coverage, and searched for conserved epitopes from available influenza A viral protein sequences. Peptides corresponding to 167 predicted peptide-HLA-I interactions were synthesized, tested for peptide-HLA-I interactions in a biochemical assay and for influenza-specific, HLA-I-restricted CTL responses in an IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay. Eighty-nine peptides could be confirmed as HLA-I binders, and 13 could be confirmed as CTL targets. The 13 epitopes, are highly conserved among human influenza A pathogens, and all of these epitopes are present in the emerging bird flu isolates. Our study demonstrates that present technology enables a fast global screening for T cell immune epitopes of potential diagnostics and vaccine interest. This technology includes immuno-bioinformatics predictors with the capacity to perform fast genome-, pathogen-, and HLA-wide searches for immune targets. To exploit this new potential, a coordinated international effort to analyze the precious source of information represented by rare patients, such as the current victims of bird flu, would be essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjun Wang
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Department of Medical Anatomy, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
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Fernandez-Borges N, Brun A, Whitton JL, Parra B, Diaz-San Segundo F, Salguero FJ, Torres JM, Rodriguez F. DNA vaccination can break immunological tolerance to PrP in wild-type mice and attenuates prion disease after intracerebral challenge. J Virol 2006; 80:9970-6. [PMID: 17005675 PMCID: PMC1617305 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01210-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2006] [Accepted: 08/01/2006] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) can be ameliorated by prion protein (PrP)-specific antibodies, but active immunization is complicated by immune tolerance to the normal cellular host protein (PrP(C)). Here, we show that DNA immunization of wild-type mice can break immune tolerance against the prion protein, resulting in the induction of PrP-specific antibody and T-cell responses. PrP immunogenicity was increased by fusion to the lysosomal targeting signal from LIMPII (lysosomal integral membrane protein type II). Although mice immunized with a PrP-LIMPII DNA vaccine showed a dramatic delay in the onset of early disease signs after intracerebral challenge, immunization against PrP also had some deleterious effects. These results clearly confirm the feasibility of using active immunization to protect against TSEs and, in the absence of effective treatments, indicate a suitable alternative for combating the spread of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Fernandez-Borges
- Edifici Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal, Campus de la UAB, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona 08193, Spain.
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45
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Brandsma JL, Shlyankevich M, Buonocore L, Roberts A, Becker SM, Rose JK. Therapeutic efficacy of vesicular stomatitis virus-based E6 vaccination in rabbits. Vaccine 2006; 25:751-62. [PMID: 16962690 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2006] [Revised: 08/04/2006] [Accepted: 08/09/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Millions of people worldwide are currently infected with human papillomaviruses (HPVs). A therapeutic HPV vaccine would have widespread applicability because HPV-associated lesions are difficult to treat and may progress to carcinoma. We developed three attenuated VSV recombinants expressing the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) early protein E6 for use as vaccines. In cultured cells, two vectors expressed different levels of the E6 protein, and one expressed a ubiquitin-E6 fusion protein. All three were tested for therapeutic efficacy in the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV)-rabbit model. Mock vaccination had no effect on papilloma growth. In contrast, inoculation with any of the VSV-E6 vaccines reduced the rate of papilloma growth to as little as 24% the rate in the controls. In five experiments, these effects were achieved after a single immunization. Furthermore, complete papilloma regression occurred in some rabbits observed for 4 months. A VSV-based papillomavirus E6 vaccine could have significant advantages over other therapeutic HPV vaccine candidates described to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet L Brandsma
- Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8016, USA.
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Little SR, Langer R. Nonviral delivery of cancer genetic vaccines. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2006; 99:93-118. [PMID: 16568889 DOI: 10.1007/10_004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The potential use of genetic vaccines to address numerous diseases including cancer is promising, but currently unrealized. Here, we review advances in the nonviral delivery of antigen-encoded plasmid DNA for the purpose of treating cancer through the human immune system, as this disease has drawn the most attention in this field to date. Brief overviews of dendritic cell immunobiology and the mechanism of immune activation through genetic vaccines set the stage for the desirability of delivery technology. Several promising nonviral delivery techniques are discussed along with a mention of targeting strategies aimed at improving the potency of vaccine formulations. Implications for the future of genetic vaccines are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R Little
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02142, USA
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Williams JA, Luke J, Johnson L, Hodgson C. pDNAVACCultra vector family: high throughput intracellular targeting DNA vaccine plasmids. Vaccine 2005; 24:4671-6. [PMID: 16448726 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
DNA vaccines have the potential to provide a safe route for protective immunity to neoplasms and infectious agents. However, current DNA vaccine plasmids are not optimal with additional non-essential DNA, nor do they facilitate controlled or flexible targeting of antigens to various intracellular destinations. A family of DNA vaccine vectors, optimized and minimized to comply with FDA guidelines regarding content and elimination of extraneous materials, was constructed. The resulting vectors are much smaller than existing vectors, drive higher levels of target gene expression, facilitate high throughput cloning applications, and allow simultaneous cloning into multiple vectors that feature various intracellular targeting destinations for the protein product. The ability to control expression and trafficking is intended to provide a rapid, rational approach to cancer therapy and emerging infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Williams
- Nature Technology Corporation, 4701 Innovation Drive, Lincoln, NE 68521, USA.
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Rodriguez-Carreno MP, Nelson MS, Botten J, Smith-Nixon K, Buchmeier MJ, Whitton JL. Evaluating the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a DNA vaccine encoding Lassa virus nucleoprotein. Virology 2005; 335:87-98. [PMID: 15823608 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2005.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2004] [Revised: 01/04/2005] [Accepted: 01/14/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Several viruses in the Arenavirus genus of the family Arenaviridae cause severe, often fatal, hemorrhagic fever. One such virus, Lassa virus (LV), is a frequent cause of disease in Africa, and survivors often are left with substantial neurological impairment. The feasibility of protective immunization against LV infection, and the associated disease, has been demonstrated in animal models, using recombinant vaccinia viruses to deliver Lassa proteins. Circumstantial evidence implicates cellular immunity in this Lassa-induced protection, but this has not been confirmed. Here, we describe DNA vaccines that encode LV proteins. A single inoculation of a plasmid encoding full-length Lassa nucleoprotein (LNP) can induce CD8(+) T cell responses in mice and can protect against challenge with two arenaviruses, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and Pichinde virus (PV). A DNA minigene vaccine encoding a 9 amino acid sequence from LNP also induces CD8(+) T cells and protects against arenavirus challenge, thus confirming prior speculation that protective cellular immunity is induced by LV proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria P Rodriguez-Carreno
- Department of Neuropharmacology, CVN-9, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Xu W, Chu Y, Zhang R, Xu H, Wang Y, Xiong S. Endoplasmic reticulum targeting sequence enhances HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes induced by a CTL epitope-based DNA vaccine. Virology 2005; 334:255-63. [PMID: 15780875 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2005.01.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2004] [Revised: 12/20/2004] [Accepted: 01/28/2005] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
CD8(+) T cells play a critical role in protective immunity against Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Epitope-based DNA vaccines expressing HBV-dominant CTL epitopes can be used as candidate vaccines capable of inducing cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL) responses. A plasmid DNA encoding a CTL epitope of HBV core antigen, HBc(18-27), was constructed. Intramuscular immunization of C57BL/6 mice with this DNA vaccine resulted in successful induction of HBV-specific CTL responses. In order to promote transportation of the peptide into endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to bind to MHC class I molecules for optimal class I antigen presentation, an ER targeting sequence (ERTS) was fused with the C(18-27) encoding gene. ERTS fusion significantly enhanced specific CD8(+) T cell responses in terms of CTL cytolysis as well as IFN-gamma secretion. This enhancement was correlated with promoted epitope presentation on target cell surface. We report here an enhanced immunogenicity of an epitope-based DNA vaccine using an ER targeting signal sequence, which has significant implications for future design of therapeutic HBV vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xu
- Department of Immunology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
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50
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Vatakis DN, Koh YT, McMillan M. CD4+ T cell epitope affinity to MHC II influences the magnitude of CTL responses elicited by DNA epitope vaccines. Vaccine 2005; 23:2639-46. [PMID: 15780447 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2004] [Revised: 10/21/2004] [Accepted: 10/25/2004] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Immunization with naked plasmid DNA elicits strong cell-mediated immune responses. In the present study, we examine strategies to enhance epitope-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses using DNA constructs, expressing a minimal class I epitope of the gp120 of HIV-IIIB. Here, we evaluate the effect of CD4+ T cell (T(H)) epitope affinity for the MHC II molecule on the immunogenicity of our DNA vaccines. Our data indicate that a low-affinity T(H) epitope decreased the magnitude of the CTL responses. In addition, we observed decreased numbers of epitope-specific T helper cells and CTLs, as well as diminished cytokine secretion and proliferative responses. Thus, the immunogenicity of a DNA epitope vaccine can be modulated by altering the affinity of the T(H) epitope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios N Vatakis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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