A Mixture of T-Cell Epitope Peptides Derived from Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus F Protein Conferred Protection in DR1-TCR Tg Mice

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) poses a significant disease burden on global health. To date, two vaccines that primarily induce humoral immunity to prevent HRSV infection have been approved, whereas vaccines that primarily induce T-cell immunity have not yet been well-represented. To address this gap, 25 predicted T-cell epitope peptides derived from the HRSV fusion protein with high human leukocyte antigen (HLA) binding potential were synthesized, and their ability to be recognized by PBMC from previously infected HRSV cases was assessed using an ELISpot assay. Finally, nine T-cell epitope peptides were selected, each of which was recognized by at least 20% of different donors' PBMC as potential vaccine candidates to prevent HRSV infection. The protective efficacy of F-9PV, a combination of nine peptides along with CpG-ODN and aluminum phosphate (Al) adjuvants, was validated in both HLA-humanized mice (DR1-TCR transgenic mice, Tg mice) and wild-type (WT) mice. The results show that F-9PV significantly enhanced protection against viral challenge as evidenced by reductions in viral load and pathological lesions in mice lungs. In addition, F-9PV elicits robust Th1-biased response, thereby mitigating the potential safety risk of Th2-induced respiratory disease during HRSV infection. Compared to WT mice, the F-9PV mice exhibited superior protection and immunogenicity in Tg mice, underscoring the specificity for human HLA. Overall, our results demonstrate that T-cell epitope peptides provide protection against HRSV infection in animal models even in the absence of neutralizing antibodies, indicating the feasibility of developing an HRSV T-cell epitope peptide-based vaccine.

[The analysis of immunoreactivity of individual B-cell epitopes of hepatitis C virus (Flaviviridae: Hepacivirus: Hepatitis С virus) NS4a antigen]

INTRODUCTION

Chronic viral hepatitis C (CHC) is a ubiquitous infectious disease, a significant limitation of which WHO attributes to the use of a new highly effective antiviral therapy. Previously, two B-cell epitopes were identified in NS4a antigen of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It was shown that certain titers of antibodies (ABs) to the extended C-terminal epitope (1687-1718 a.a.) can predict a high probability of achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) to standard therapy with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin.The aim of the work was to determine immunoreactivity of two B-cell epitopes (middle and C-terminal) of NS4a antigen, and to estimate a possible association of ABs to them with the achievement of SVR after standard interferon therapy and treatment with direct antiviral drugs (DAAs) daclatasvir and sofosbuvir (velpanat).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Blood serum samples of patients with CHC (n = 113), of which 55 participants received standard interferon therapy, 50 received velpanate treatment, the remaining 8 received no therapy were examined. The middle B-cell epitope (positions 24-34 a.a.) of NS4a was synthesized by the solid-phase method, while the C-terminal epitope (34-54 a.a.) was obtained using genetically engineered techniques. Enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) testing of the sera collected before treatment was performed for the two selected epitopes according to the conventional methods.

RESULTS

The antibodies to the C-terminal epitope were detected significantly more frequently than those to the middle one (p = 0.01) when analyzing the blood sera of patients (n = 113). The presence of ABs to the C-terminal epitope in the serum samples of participants who completed standard interferon therapy was associated with the achievement of SVR (p = 0.0245). In the blood sera of participants who completed therapy with velpanate, an association of the presence of ABs to the C-terminal epitope with the achievement of SVR was also established (p < 0.0001). The presence of ABs to the middle B epitope was not associated with the achievement of SVR, regardless of the therapy used.

DISCUSSION

The observed difference in the immunoreactivity of the two B-cell determinants may be associated with the localization of the nearest Th-epitopes, the sensitivity of NS4a antigen to proteolytic enzymes, and the peculiarities of epitope presentation by antigen-presenting cells. However, it should be noted that the immunoreactivity of the middle B-epitope is poorly studied. Although the association of ABs to the C-terminal epitope with the achievement of SVR has been shown by several scientific teams, the detailed molecular mechanism of their influence on the effectiveness of therapy is unclear.

CONCLUSION

In CHC, ABs to the C-terminal epitope of NS4a are produced more frequently than those to the median epitope. The presence of ABs to the C-terminal epitope is a predictive marker of a high probability of achieving SVR, regardless of the type of therapy and antibody titer.