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Omer I, Khalil I, Abdalmumin A, Molefe PF, Sabeel S, Farh IZA, Mohamed HA, Elsharif HA, Mohamed ALAH, Awad-Elkareem MAE, Salih M. Design of an epitope-based peptide vaccine against Cryptococcus neoformans. FEBS Open Bio 2024. [PMID: 39020466 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is the highest-ranked fungal pathogen in the Fungal Priority Pathogens List (FPPL) released by the World Health Organization (WHO). In this study, through in silico simulations, a multi-epitope vaccine against Cryptococcus neoformans was developed using the mannoprotein antigen (MP88) as a vaccine candidate. Following the retrieval of the MP88 protein sequences, these were used to predict antigenic B-cell and T-cell epitopes via the bepipred tool and the artificial neural network, respectively. Conserved B-cell epitopes AYSTPA, AYSTPAS, PASSNCK, and DSAYPP were identified as the most promising B-cell epitopes. While YMAADQFCL, VSYEEWMNY, and FQQRYTGTF were identified as the best candidates for CD8+ T-cell epitopes; and YARLLSLNA, ISYGTAMAV, and INQTSYARL were identified as the most promising CD4+ T-cell epitopes. The vaccine construct was modeled along with adjuvant and peptide linkers and the expasy protparam tool was used to predict the physiochemical properties. According to this, the construct vaccine was predicted to be antigenic, nontoxic, nonallergenic, soluble, stable, hydrophilic, and thermostable. Furthermore, the three-dimensional structure was also used in docking analyses with Toll-like receptor (TLR4). Finally, the cDNA of vaccine was successfully cloned into the E. coli pET-28a (+) expression vector. The results presented here could contribute towards the design of an effective vaccine against Cryptococcus neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibtihal Omer
- Department of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Laboratory, National Center for Kidney Diseases and Surgery, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Isra Khalil
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Ahmed Abdalmumin
- Biomedical Research Institute, Sudan National University, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Philisiwe Fortunate Molefe
- Hair and Skin Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Division Dermatology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Solima Sabeel
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Hanaa Abdalla Mohamed
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Hajr Abdallha Elsharif
- General Administration of Quarantine and Animal Health, Regional Training Institute, Khartoum, Sudan
| | | | | | - Mohamed Salih
- Department of Biotechnology, Africa City of Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
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Silva AJD, de Sousa MMG, de Macêdo LS, de França Neto PL, de Moura IA, Espinoza BCF, Invenção MDCV, de Pinho SS, da Gama MATM, de Freitas AC. RNA Vaccines: Yeast as a Novel Antigen Vehicle. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1334. [PMID: 37631902 PMCID: PMC10459952 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11081334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decades, technological advances for RNA manipulation enabled and expanded its application in vaccine development. This approach comprises synthetic single-stranded mRNA molecules that direct the translation of the antigen responsible for activating the desired immune response. The success of RNA vaccines depends on the delivery vehicle. Among the systems, yeasts emerge as a new approach, already employed to deliver protein antigens, with efficacy demonstrated through preclinical and clinical trials. β-glucans and mannans in their walls are responsible for the adjuvant property of this system. Yeast β-glucan capsules, microparticles, and nanoparticles can modulate immune responses and have a high capacity to carry nucleic acids, with bioavailability upon oral immunization and targeting to receptors present in antigen-presenting cells (APCs). In addition, yeasts are suitable vehicles for the protection and specific delivery of therapeutic vaccines based on RNAi. Compared to protein antigens, the use of yeast for DNA or RNA vaccine delivery is less established and has fewer studies, most of them in the preclinical phase. Here, we present an overview of the attributes of yeast or its derivatives for the delivery of RNA-based vaccines, discussing the current challenges and prospects of this promising strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Antonio Carlos de Freitas
- Laboratory of Molecular Studies and Experimental Therapy—LEMTE, Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, Brazil; (A.J.D.S.)
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Lin B, Huang G. An important polysaccharide from fermentum. Food Chem X 2022; 15:100388. [PMID: 36211774 PMCID: PMC9532711 DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2022.100388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Extraction, structure and modification of polysaccharides from fermentum were summarized. Structure-activity relationship and application of polysaccharides from fermentum were reviewed. It provided a strong basis for the development and application of polysaccharides from fermentum.
Fermentum is a common unicellular fungus with many biological activities attributed to β-polysaccharides. Different in vivo and in vivo experimental studies have long proven that fermentum β-polysaccharides have antioxidant, anti-tumor, and fungal toxin adsorption properties. However, there are many uncertainties regarding the relationship between the structure and biological activity of fermentum β-polysaccharides, and a systematic summary of fermentum β-polysaccharides is still lacking. Herein, we reviewed the research progress about the extraction, structure and modification, structure–activity relationship, activity and application of fermentum β-polysaccharides, compared the extraction methods of fermentum β-polysaccharide, and paid special attention to the structure–activity relationship and application of fermentum β-polysaccharide, which provided a strong basis for the development and application of fermentum β-polysaccharide.
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Tan Y, Chen L, Li K, Lou B, Liu Y, Liu Z. Yeast as carrier for drug delivery and vaccine construction. J Control Release 2022; 346:358-379. [PMID: 35483637 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Yeast has been employed as an effective derived drug carrier as a unicellular microorganism. Many research works have been devoted to the encapsulation of nucleic acid compounds, insoluble small molecule drugs, small molecules, liposomes, polymers, and various nanoparticles in yeast for the treatment of disease. Recombinant yeast-based vaccine carriers (WYV) have played a major role in the development of vaccines. Herein, the latest reports on the application of yeast carriers and the development of related research are summarized, a conceptual description of gastrointestinal absorption of yeast carriers, as well as the various package forms of different drug molecules and nanoparticles in yeast carriers are introduced. In addition, the advantages and development of recombinant yeast vaccine carriers for the disease, veterinary and aquaculture applications are discussed. Moreover, the current challenges and future directions of yeast carriers are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifu Tan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - Liwei Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - Ke Li
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - Beibei Lou
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - Yanfei Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan Province, PR China.
| | - Zhenbao Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, PR China; Molecular Imaging Research Center of Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, PR China.
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Tao M, Chen J, Huang K. Bio-based antimicrobial delivery systems for improving microbial safety and quality of raw or minimally processed foods. Curr Opin Food Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cofs.2021.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Contribution of yeast models to virus research. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:4855-4878. [PMID: 34086116 PMCID: PMC8175935 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11331-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Time and again, yeast has proven to be a vital model system to understand various crucial basic biology questions. Studies related to viruses are no exception to this. This simple eukaryotic organism is an invaluable model for studying fundamental cellular processes altered in the host cell due to viral infection or expression of viral proteins. Mechanisms of infection of several RNA and relatively few DNA viruses have been studied in yeast to date. Yeast is used for studying several aspects related to the replication of a virus, such as localization of viral proteins, interaction with host proteins, cellular effects on the host, etc. The development of novel techniques based on high-throughput analysis of libraries, availability of toolboxes for genetic manipulation, and a compact genome makes yeast a good choice for such studies. In this review, we provide an overview of the studies that have used yeast as a model system and have advanced our understanding of several important viruses. Key points • Yeast, a simple eukaryote, is an important model organism for studies related to viruses. • Several aspects of both DNA and RNA viruses of plants and animals are investigated using the yeast model. • Apart from the insights obtained on virus biology, yeast is also extensively used for antiviral development.
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Lyophilized yeast powder for adjuvant free thermostable vaccine delivery. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:3131-3143. [PMID: 33834253 PMCID: PMC8032460 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11259-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Thermolabile nature of commercially available vaccines necessitates their storage, transportation, and dissemination under refrigerated condition. Maintenance of continuous cold chain at every step increases the final cost of vaccines. Any breach in the cold chain even for a short duration results in the need to discard the vaccines. As a result, there is a pressing need for the development of thermostable vaccines. In this proof-of-concept study, we showed that E. coli curli-green fluorescent fusion protein remains stable in freeze-dried yeast powder for more than 18 and 12 months when stored at 30 °C and 37 °C respectively. Stability of the heterologous protein remains unaffected during the process of heat-inactivation and lyophilization. The mass of lyophilized yeast powder remains almost unchanged during the entire period of storage and expressed protein remains intact even after two cycles of freeze and thaws. The protease-deficient strain appears ideal for the development of whole recombinant yeast-based vaccines. The cellular abundance of expressed antigen in dry powder after a year was comparable to freshly lyophilized cells. Scanning electron microscopy showed the intact nature of cells in powdered form even after a year of storage at 30 °C. Observation made in this study showed that freeze-dry yeast powder can play a vital role in the development of thermostable vaccines. Key Points • Yeast-based vaccines can overcome problem of cold chain associated with conventional vaccines • Lyophilized yeast powder can be a simple way for long-term storage of immunogen(s) • Protease deficient strain is important for whole recombinant yeast-based vaccines
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Silva AJD, de Macêdo LS, Leal LRS, de Jesus ALS, Freitas AC. Yeasts as a promising delivery platform for DNA and RNA vaccines. FEMS Yeast Res 2021; 21:foab018. [PMID: 33837785 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foab018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Yeasts are considered a useful system for the development of vaccines for human and veterinary health. Species such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris have been used successfully as host organisms for the production of subunit vaccines. These organisms have been also explored as vaccine vehicles enabling the delivery of antigens such as proteins and nucleic acids. The employed species possess a GRAS status (Generally Recognized as Safe) for the production of therapeutic proteins, besides promoting immunostimulation due to the properties of their wall cell composition. This strategy allows the administration of nucleic acids orally and a specific delivery to professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs). In this review, we seek to outline the development of whole yeast vaccines (WYV) carrying nucleic acids in different approaches in the medical field, as well as the immunological aspects of this vaccine strategy. The data presented here reveal the application of this platform in promoting effective immune responses in the context of prophylactic and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Jéssica Duarte Silva
- Laboratório de Estudos Moleculares e Terapia Experimental, Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rêgo, 1235, Cidade Universitaria, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Larissa Silva de Macêdo
- Laboratório de Estudos Moleculares e Terapia Experimental, Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rêgo, 1235, Cidade Universitaria, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Lígia Rosa Sales Leal
- Laboratório de Estudos Moleculares e Terapia Experimental, Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rêgo, 1235, Cidade Universitaria, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - André Luiz Santos de Jesus
- Laboratório de Estudos Moleculares e Terapia Experimental, Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rêgo, 1235, Cidade Universitaria, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Antonio Carlos Freitas
- Laboratório de Estudos Moleculares e Terapia Experimental, Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rêgo, 1235, Cidade Universitaria, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Soares E, Groothuismink ZMA, Boonstra A, Borges O. Glucan Particles Are a Powerful Adjuvant for the HBsAg, Favoring Antiviral Immunity. Mol Pharm 2019; 16:1971-1981. [PMID: 30964694 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b01322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The lack of vaccine adjuvants that are able to induce robust T cell responses fosters the search for more powerful options. Pathogen-like particles are a promising approach. The adjuvant activity of pathogen-like particles is highly influenced by size and surface composition. This study aimed to evaluate the adjuvant potential of two different β-glucan-based particles, blend chitosan/β-glucan particles (ChiGluPs), which are positively charged and have mean size of 1276 nm, and neutral yeast-derived glucan particles (GPs), with a mean size of 3 μm. Additionally, chitosan particles (ChiPs) were used to understand the effect of β-glucan addition (ChiGluPs). Mouse spleen cells responded through the production of either TNF-α or RANTES, following in vitro stimulation with particles containing either β-glucan (ChiGluPs and GPs) or chitosan (ChiGluPs and ChiPs). Human monocytes responded to all particles through TNF-α secretion. Subcutaneous vaccination of mice with the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) showed increased serum IgG for all particles compared to HBsAg alone (435-, 4500-, or 2500-fold increase for either ChiPs, ChiGluPs, or GPs). Interestingly, only GPs elicited the secretion of HBsAg-specific Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17, Th22, and Treg-related cytokines. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that GPs can have a significant role against the hepatitis B virus by favoring antiviral immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edna Soares
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology , University of Coimbra , 3004-517 Coimbra , Portugal.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde Azinhaga de Santa Comba , University of Coimbra , 3000-548 Coimbra , Portugal
| | - Zwier M A Groothuismink
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology , Erasmus University Medical Center , 3015 GD Rotterdam , The Netherlands
| | - André Boonstra
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology , Erasmus University Medical Center , 3015 GD Rotterdam , The Netherlands
| | - Olga Borges
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology , University of Coimbra , 3004-517 Coimbra , Portugal.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde Azinhaga de Santa Comba , University of Coimbra , 3000-548 Coimbra , Portugal
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