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Augestad EH, Holmboe Olesen C, Grønberg C, Soerensen A, Velázquez-Moctezuma R, Fanalista M, Bukh J, Wang K, Gourdon P, Prentoe J. The hepatitis C virus envelope protein complex is a dimer of heterodimers. Nature 2024; 633:704-709. [PMID: 39232163 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07783-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Fifty-eight million individuals worldwide are affected by chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a primary driver of liver cancer for which no vaccine is available1. The HCV envelope proteins E1 and E2 form a heterodimer (E1/E2), which is the target for neutralizing antibodies2. However, the higher-order organization of these E1/E2 heterodimers, as well as that of any Hepacivirus envelope protein complex, remains unknown. Here we determined the cryo-electron microscopy structure of two E1/E2 heterodimers in a homodimeric arrangement. We reveal how the homodimer is established at the molecular level and provide insights into neutralizing antibody evasion and membrane fusion by HCV, as orchestrated by E2 motifs such as hypervariable region 1 and antigenic site 412, as well as the organization of the transmembrane helices, including two internal to E1. This study addresses long-standing questions on the higher-order oligomeric arrangement of Hepacivirus envelope proteins and provides a critical framework in the design of novel HCV vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Honerød Augestad
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Christina Holmboe Olesen
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christina Grønberg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas Soerensen
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rodrigo Velázquez-Moctezuma
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Margherita Fanalista
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kaituo Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Pontus Gourdon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Jannick Prentoe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Garbuglia AR, Pauciullo S, Zulian V, Del Porto P. Update on Hepatitis C Vaccine: Results and Challenges. Viruses 2024; 16:1337. [PMID: 39205311 PMCID: PMC11359353 DOI: 10.3390/v16081337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Therapy against the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has significantly improved with the introduction of direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs), achieving over 95% sustained virological response (SVR). Despite this, the development of an effective anti-HCV vaccine remains a critical challenge due to the low number of patients treated with DAAs and the occurrence of HCV reinfections in high-risk groups. Current vaccine strategies aim to stimulate either B-cell or T-cell responses. Vaccines based on E1 and E2 proteins can elicit broad cross-neutralizing antibodies against all major HCV genotypes, though with varying efficiencies and without full protection against infection. In humans, the neutralizing antibodies induced by such vaccines mainly target the AR3 region, but their levels are generally insufficient for broad neutralization. Various HCV proteins expressed through different viral vectors have been utilized to elicit T cell immune responses, showing sustained expansion of HCV-specific effector memory T cells and improved proliferation and polyfunctionality of memory T cells over time. However, despite these advancements, the frequency and effectiveness of T-cell responses remain limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rosa Garbuglia
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (S.P.); (V.Z.)
| | - Silvia Pauciullo
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (S.P.); (V.Z.)
| | - Verdiana Zulian
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (S.P.); (V.Z.)
| | - Paola Del Porto
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00100 Rome, Italy;
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Kundu J, Le HT, Logan M, Hockman D, Landi A, Crawford K, Wininger M, Johnson J, Kundu JK, Tiffney EA, Urbanowicz RA, Ball JK, Bailey JR, Bukh J, Law M, Foung S, Tyrrell DL, Houghton M, Law JL. Recombinant H77C gpE1/gpE2 heterodimer elicits superior HCV cross-neutralisation than H77C gpE2 alone. J Hepatol 2024:S0168-8278(24)02335-3. [PMID: 38986744 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS An optimal HCV vaccine requires the induction of antibodies that neutralise the infectivity of many heterogenous viral isolates. In this study, we have focused on determining the optimal recombinant envelope glycoprotein component to elicit cross-neutralising antibodies against global HCV genotypes. We compared the immunoreactivity and antigenicity of the HCV genotype 1a strain H77C-derived envelope glycoprotein heterodimer gpE1/gpE2 with that of recombinant gpE2 alone. METHODS Characterisation of the envelope glycoproteins was accomplished by determining their ability to bind to a panel of broadly cross-neutralising monoclonal antibodies. Immunogenicity was determined by testing the ability of vaccine antisera to neutralise the infectivity in vitro of a panel of pseudotyped HCV particles in which gpE1/gpE2 derived from representative isolates of the major global HCV genotypes were displayed. RESULTS gpE1/gpE2 binds to more diverse broadly cross-neutralising antibodies than gpE2 alone and elicits a broader profile of cross-neutralising antibodies in animals, especially against more heterologous, non-1a genotypes. While not all heterologous HCV strains can be potently inhibited in vitro by gpE1/gpE2 antisera derived from a single HCV strain, the breadth of heterologous cross-neutralisation is shown to be substantial. CONCLUSIONS Our work supports the inclusion of gpE1/gpE2 in an HCV vaccine in order to maximise the cross-neutralisation of heterogenous HCV isolates. Our data also offers future directions in formulating a cocktail of gpE1/gpE2 antigens from a small selection of HCV genotypes to further enhance cross-neutralisation of global HCV strains and hopefully advance the development of a globally effective HCV vaccine. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS An HCV vaccine is urgently required to prevent the high global incidence of HCV infection and disease. Since HCV is a highly heterogeneous virus, it is desirable for a vaccine to elicit antibodies that neutralise the infectivity of most global strains. To this end, we have compared the immunoreactivity and antigenicity of recombinant H77C E1E2 heterodimer with that of H77C E2 alone and show that the former exhibits more cross-neutralising epitopes and demonstrates a broader cross-neutralisation profile in vitro. In addition, our data suggests a way to further broaden cross-neutralisation using a combination of E1E2 antigens derived from a few different HCV clades. Our work is relevant for the development of an effective global HCV vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juthika Kundu
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hoa T Le
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michael Logan
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Darren Hockman
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Abdolamir Landi
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kevin Crawford
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mark Wininger
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Janelle Johnson
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joydeb K Kundu
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - E Alana Tiffney
- Dept of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Richard A Urbanowicz
- Dept of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan K Ball
- Wolfson Centre for Global Virus Infections, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Justin R Bailey
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mansun Law
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Steven Foung
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - D Lorne Tyrrell
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michael Houghton
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
| | - John Lokman Law
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Hammel A, Cucos LM, Caras I, Ionescu I, Tucureanu C, Tofan V, Costache A, Onu A, Hoepfner L, Hippler M, Neupert J, Popescu CI, Stavaru C, Branza-Nichita N, Bock R. The red alga Porphyridium as a host for molecular farming: Efficient production of immunologically active hepatitis C virus glycoprotein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2400145121. [PMID: 38833465 PMCID: PMC11181018 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2400145121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Microalgae are promising production platforms for the cost-effective production of recombinant proteins. We have recently established that the red alga Porphyridium purpureum provides superior transgene expression properties, due to the episomal maintenance of transformation vectors as multicopy plasmids in the nucleus. Here, we have explored the potential of Porphyridium to synthesize complex pharmaceutical proteins to high levels. Testing expression constructs for a candidate subunit vaccine against the hepatitis C virus (HCV), we show that the soluble HCV E2 glycoprotein can be produced in transgenic algal cultures to high levels. The antigen undergoes faithful posttranslational modification by N-glycosylation and is recognized by conformationally selective antibodies, suggesting that it adopts a proper antigenic conformation in the endoplasmic reticulum of red algal cells. We also report the experimental determination of the structure of the N-glycan moiety that is attached to glycosylated proteins in Porphyridium. Finally, we demonstrate the immunogenicity of the HCV antigen produced in red algae when administered by injection as pure protein or by feeding of algal biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Hammel
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Department of Organelle Biology, Biotechnology and Molecular Ecophysiology, D-14476Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Lia-Maria Cucos
- Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, Department of Viral Glycoproteins, 060031Bucharest, Romania
| | - Iuliana Caras
- ”Cantacuzino” Medico-Military National Research Institute, 050096Bucharest, Romania
| | - Irina Ionescu
- ”Cantacuzino” Medico-Military National Research Institute, 050096Bucharest, Romania
| | - Catalin Tucureanu
- ”Cantacuzino” Medico-Military National Research Institute, 050096Bucharest, Romania
| | - Vlad Tofan
- ”Cantacuzino” Medico-Military National Research Institute, 050096Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adriana Costache
- ”Cantacuzino” Medico-Military National Research Institute, 050096Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adrian Onu
- ”Cantacuzino” Medico-Military National Research Institute, 050096Bucharest, Romania
| | - Lara Hoepfner
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, D-48143Münster, Germany
| | - Michael Hippler
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, D-48143Münster, Germany
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki710-0046, Japan
| | - Juliane Neupert
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Department of Organelle Biology, Biotechnology and Molecular Ecophysiology, D-14476Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Costin-Ioan Popescu
- Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, Department of Viral Glycoproteins, 060031Bucharest, Romania
| | - Crina Stavaru
- ”Cantacuzino” Medico-Military National Research Institute, 050096Bucharest, Romania
| | - Norica Branza-Nichita
- Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, Department of Viral Glycoproteins, 060031Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ralph Bock
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Department of Organelle Biology, Biotechnology and Molecular Ecophysiology, D-14476Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- NIBIO, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, NO-1431 Ås, Norway
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5
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Pierce BG, Felbinger N, Metcalf M, Toth EA, Ofek G, Fuerst TR. Hepatitis C Virus E1E2 Structure, Diversity, and Implications for Vaccine Development. Viruses 2024; 16:803. [PMID: 38793684 PMCID: PMC11125608 DOI: 10.3390/v16050803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major medical health burden and the leading cause of chronic liver disease and cancer worldwide. More than 58 million people are chronically infected with HCV, with 1.5 million new infections occurring each year. An effective HCV vaccine is a major public health and medical need as recognized by the World Health Organization. However, due to the high variability of the virus and its ability to escape the immune response, HCV rapidly accumulates mutations, making vaccine development a formidable challenge. An effective vaccine must elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) in a consistent fashion. After decades of studies from basic research through clinical development, the antigen of choice is considered the E1E2 envelope glycoprotein due to conserved, broadly neutralizing antigenic domains located in the constituent subunits of E1, E2, and the E1E2 heterodimeric complex itself. The challenge has been elicitation of robust humoral and cellular responses leading to broad virus neutralization due to the relatively low immunogenicity of this antigen. In view of this challenge, structure-based vaccine design approaches to stabilize key antigenic domains have been hampered due to the lack of E1E2 atomic-level resolution structures to guide them. Another challenge has been the development of a delivery platform in which a multivalent form of the antigen can be presented in order to elicit a more robust anti-HCV immune response. Recent nanoparticle vaccines are gaining prominence in the field due to their ability to facilitate a controlled multivalent presentation and trafficking to lymph nodes, where they can interact with both the cellular and humoral components of the immune system. This review focuses on recent advances in understanding the E1E2 heterodimeric structure to facilitate a rational design approach and the potential for development of a multivalent nanoparticle-based HCV E1E2 vaccine. Both aspects are considered important in the development of an effective HCV vaccine that can effectively address viral diversity and escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian G. Pierce
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; (B.G.P.); (N.F.); (M.M.); (E.A.T.); (G.O.)
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Nathaniel Felbinger
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; (B.G.P.); (N.F.); (M.M.); (E.A.T.); (G.O.)
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Matthew Metcalf
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; (B.G.P.); (N.F.); (M.M.); (E.A.T.); (G.O.)
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Eric A. Toth
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; (B.G.P.); (N.F.); (M.M.); (E.A.T.); (G.O.)
| | - Gilad Ofek
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; (B.G.P.); (N.F.); (M.M.); (E.A.T.); (G.O.)
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Thomas R. Fuerst
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; (B.G.P.); (N.F.); (M.M.); (E.A.T.); (G.O.)
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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6
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Florova M, Abreu-Mota T, Paesen GC, Beetschen AS, Cornille K, Marx AF, Narr K, Sahin M, Dimitrova M, Swarnalekha N, Beil-Wagner J, Savic N, Pelczar P, Buch T, King CG, Bowden TA, Pinschewer DD. Central tolerance shapes the neutralizing B cell repertoire against a persisting virus in its natural host. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318657121. [PMID: 38446855 PMCID: PMC10945855 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318657121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Viral mimicry of host cell structures has been postulated to curtail the B cell receptor (BCR) repertoire against persisting viruses through tolerance mechanisms. This concept awaits, however, experimental testing in a setting of natural virus-host relationship. We engineered mouse models expressing a monoclonal BCR specific for the envelope glycoprotein of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), a naturally persisting mouse pathogen. When the heavy chain of the LCMV-neutralizing antibody KL25 was paired with its unmutated ancestor light chain, most B cells underwent receptor editing, a behavior reminiscent of autoreactive clones. In contrast, monoclonal B cells expressing the same heavy chain in conjunction with the hypermutated KL25 light chain did not undergo receptor editing but exhibited low levels of surface IgM, suggesting that light chain hypermutation had lessened KL25 autoreactivity. Upon viral challenge, these IgMlow cells were not anergic but up-regulated IgM, participated in germinal center reactions, produced antiviral antibodies, and underwent immunoglobulin class switch as well as further affinity maturation. These studies on a persisting virus in its natural host species suggest that central tolerance mechanisms prune the protective antiviral B cell repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Florova
- Division of Experimental Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel4009, Switzerland
| | - Tiago Abreu-Mota
- Division of Experimental Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel4009, Switzerland
| | - Guido C. Paesen
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Sophia Beetschen
- Division of Experimental Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel4009, Switzerland
| | - Karen Cornille
- Division of Experimental Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel4009, Switzerland
| | - Anna-Friederike Marx
- Division of Experimental Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel4009, Switzerland
| | - Kerstin Narr
- Division of Experimental Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel4009, Switzerland
| | - Mehmet Sahin
- Division of Experimental Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel4009, Switzerland
| | - Mirela Dimitrova
- Division of Experimental Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel4009, Switzerland
| | - Nivedya Swarnalekha
- Department of Biomedicine, Immune Cell Biology Laboratory, University Hospital Basel, Basel4031, Switzerland
| | - Jane Beil-Wagner
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, University of Zurich, Zurich8093, Switzerland
| | - Natasa Savic
- ETH Phenomics Center, ETH Zürich, Zürich8093, Switzerland
| | - Pawel Pelczar
- Center for Transgenic Models, University of Basel, Basel4001, Switzerland
| | - Thorsten Buch
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, University of Zurich, Zurich8093, Switzerland
| | - Carolyn G. King
- Department of Biomedicine, Immune Cell Biology Laboratory, University Hospital Basel, Basel4031, Switzerland
| | - Thomas A. Bowden
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel D. Pinschewer
- Division of Experimental Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel4009, Switzerland
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7
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Muhammad AM, Salum GM, Meguid MAE, Fotouh BE, Dawood RM. Bioinformatics analysis of multi-epitope peptide vaccines against Hepatitis C virus: a molecular docking study. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2023; 21:117. [PMID: 37962693 PMCID: PMC10646107 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-023-00583-w] [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: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is one of the causal agents of liver disease burden. Six multiple antigenic peptides were synthesized including (P315, P412, and P517) plus (P1771, P2121, and P2941) to induce humoral and cellular responses, respectively against HCV infection. AIM This paper aimed to employ computational tools to evaluate the efficacy of each peptide individually and to determine the most effective one for better vaccine development and/or immunotherapy. METHODS VaxiJen web and AllerTOP servers were used for antigenicity and allergenicity prediction, respectively. The ToxinPred web server was used to investigate the peptide toxicity. Each peptide was docked with its corresponding receptors. RESULTS No peptides were expected to be toxic. P315 and P2941 are predicted to have robust antigenic properties, lowest allergenicity, and minimal sOPEP energies. In turn, P315 (derived from gpE1) formed the highest hydrophobic bonds with the BCR and CD81 receptors that will elicit B cell function. P2941 (derived from NS5B) was shown to strongly bind to both CD4 and CD8 receptors that will elicit T cell function. CONCLUSION P315 successfully bound to B cell (BCR and CD81) receptors. Also, P2941 is strongly bound to T cell (CD4 and CD8) receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashraf M Muhammad
- Applied Biotechnology Program, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
| | - Ghada M Salum
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, P.O. 12622, Giza, Egypt.
| | - Mai Abd El Meguid
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, P.O. 12622, Giza, Egypt
| | - Basma E Fotouh
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, P.O. 12622, Giza, Egypt
| | - Reham M Dawood
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, P.O. 12622, Giza, Egypt
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8
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Toth EA, Andrianov AK, Fuerst TR. Prospects for developing an Hepatitis C virus E1E2-based nanoparticle vaccine. Rev Med Virol 2023; 33:e2474. [PMID: 37565536 PMCID: PMC10626635 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Globally, more than 58 million people are chronically infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) with 1.5 million new infections occurring each year. An effective vaccine for HCV is therefore a major unmet medical and public health need. Since HCV rapidly accumulates mutations, vaccines must elicit the production of broadly neutralising antibodies (bnAbs) in a reproducible fashion. Decades of research have generated a number of HCV vaccine candidates. Based on the available data and research through clinical development, a vaccine antigen based on the E1E2 glycoprotein complex appears to be the best choice, but robust induction of humoral and cellular responses leading to virus neutralisation has not yet been achieved. One issue that has arisen in developing an HCV vaccine (and many other vaccines as well) is the platform used for antigen delivery. The majority of viral vaccine trials have employed subunit vaccines. However, subunit vaccines often have limited immunogenicity, as seen for HCV, and thus multiple formats must be examined in order to elicit a robust anti-HCV immune response. Nanoparticle vaccines are gaining prominence in the field due to their ability to facilitate a controlled multivalent presentation and trafficking to lymph nodes, where they can interact with both arms of the immune system. This review discusses the potential for development of a nanoparticle-based HCV E1E2 vaccine, with an emphasis on the potential benefits of such an approach along with the major challenges facing the incorporation of E1E2 into nanoparticulate delivery systems and how those challenges can be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A. Toth
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Alexander K. Andrianov
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Thomas R. Fuerst
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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9
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Buonaguro L, Cavalluzzo B, Mauriello A, Ragone C, Tornesello AL, Buonaguro FM, Tornesello ML, Tagliamonte M. Microorganisms-derived antigens for preventive anti-cancer vaccines. Mol Aspects Med 2023; 92:101192. [PMID: 37295175 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2023.101192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cancer prevention is one of the aim with the highest priority in order to reduce the burden of cancer diagnosis and treatment on individuals as well as on healthcare systems. To this aim, vaccines represent the most efficient primary cancer prevention strategy. Indeed, anti-cancer immunological memory elicited by preventive vaccines might promptly expand and prevent tumor from progressing. Antigens derived from microorganisms (MoAs), represent the obvious target for developing highly effective preventive vaccines for virus-induced cancers. In this respect, the drastic reduction in cancer incidence following HBV and HPV preventive vaccines are the paradigmatic example of such evidence. More recently, experimental evidences suggest that MoAs may represent a "natural" anti-cancer preventive vaccination or can be exploited for developing vaccines to prevent cancers presenting highly homologous tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) (e.g. molecular mimicry). The present review describes the different preventive anti-cancer vaccines based on antigens derived from pathogens at the different stages of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Buonaguro
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Beatrice Cavalluzzo
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Mauriello
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Concetta Ragone
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Lucia Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncogenesis Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Franco M Buonaguro
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncogenesis Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Lina Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncogenesis Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Tagliamonte
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fond G. Pascale", Naples, Italy.
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10
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Metcalf MC, Janus BM, Yin R, Wang R, Guest JD, Pozharski E, Law M, Mariuzza RA, Toth EA, Pierce BG, Fuerst TR, Ofek G. Structure of engineered hepatitis C virus E1E2 ectodomain in complex with neutralizing antibodies. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3980. [PMID: 37407593 PMCID: PMC10322937 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39659-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major global health burden as the leading causative agent of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. While the main antigenic target for HCV-neutralizing antibodies is the membrane-associated E1E2 surface glycoprotein, the development of effective vaccines has been hindered by complications in the biochemical preparation of soluble E1E2 ectodomains. Here, we present a cryo-EM structure of an engineered, secreted E1E2 ectodomain of genotype 1b in complex with neutralizing antibodies AR4A, HEPC74, and IGH520. Structural characterization of the E1 subunit and C-terminal regions of E2 reveal an overall architecture of E1E2 that concurs with that observed for non-engineered full-length E1E2. Analysis of the AR4A epitope within a region of E2 that bridges between the E2 core and E1 defines the structural basis for its broad neutralization. Our study presents the structure of an E1E2 complex liberated from membrane via a designed scaffold, one that maintains all essential structural features of native E1E2. The study advances the understanding of the E1E2 heterodimer structure, crucial for the rational design of secreted E1E2 antigens in vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Metcalf
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Benjamin M Janus
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Rui Yin
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ruixue Wang
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Johnathan D Guest
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Edwin Pozharski
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mansun Law
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Roy A Mariuzza
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Eric A Toth
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Brian G Pierce
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Thomas R Fuerst
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Gilad Ofek
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA.
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11
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Ströh LJ, Krey T. Structural insights into hepatitis C virus neutralization. Curr Opin Virol 2023; 60:101316. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2023.101316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
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12
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Gomez-Escobar E, Roingeard P, Beaumont E. Current Hepatitis C Vaccine Candidates Based on the Induction of Neutralizing Antibodies. Viruses 2023; 15:1151. [PMID: 37243237 PMCID: PMC10220683 DOI: 10.3390/v15051151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The introduction of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has revolutionized hepatitis C treatment. Short courses of treatment with these drugs are highly beneficial to patients, eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) without adverse effects. However, this outstanding success is tempered by the continuing difficulty of eradicating the virus worldwide. Thus, access to an effective vaccine against HCV is strongly needed to reduce the burden of the disease and contribute to the elimination of viral hepatitis. The recent failure of a T-cell vaccine based on the use of viral vectors expressing the HCV non-structural protein sequences to prevent chronic hepatitis C in drug users has pointed out that the induction of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) will be essential in future vaccine candidates. To induce NAbs, vaccines must contain the main target of this type of antibody, the HCV envelope glycoproteins (E1 and E2). In this review, we summarize the structural regions in E1 and E2 proteins that are targeted by NAbs and how these proteins are presented in the vaccine candidates currently under development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Philippe Roingeard
- Inserm U1259 MAVIVH, Université de Tours and CHRU de Tours, 37000 Tours, France;
| | - Elodie Beaumont
- Inserm U1259 MAVIVH, Université de Tours and CHRU de Tours, 37000 Tours, France;
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13
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Alzua GP, Pihl AF, Offersgaard A, Velázquez-Moctezuma R, Duarte Hernandez CR, Augestad EH, Fahnøe U, Mathiesen CK, Krarup H, Law M, Prentoe J, Bukh J, Gottwein JM. Identification of novel neutralizing determinants for protection against HCV. Hepatology 2023; 77:982-996. [PMID: 36056620 PMCID: PMC9936975 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS HCV evasion of neutralizing antibodies (nAb) results in viral persistence and poses challenges to the development of an urgently needed vaccine. N-linked glycosylation of viral envelope proteins is a key mechanism for such evasion. To facilitate rational vaccine design, we aimed to identify determinants of protection of conserved neutralizing epitopes. APPROACH AND RESULTS Using a reverse evolutionary approach, we passaged genotype 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a, and 4a HCV with envelope proteins (E1 and E2) derived from chronically infected patients without selective pressure by nAb in cell culture. Compared with the original viruses, HCV recombinants, engineered to harbor substitutions identified in polyclonal cell culture-passaged viruses, showed highly increased fitness and exposure of conserved neutralizing epitopes in antigenic regions 3 and 4, associated with protection from chronic infection. Further reverse genetic studies of acquired E1/E2 substitutions identified positions 418 and 532 in the N1 and N6 glycosylation motifs, localizing to adjacent E2 areas, as key regulators of changes of the E1/E2 conformational state, which governed viral sensitivity to nAb. These effects were independent of predicted glycan occupancy. CONCLUSIONS We show how N-linked glycosylation motifs can trigger dramatic changes in HCV sensitivity to nAb, independent of glycan occupancy. These findings aid in the understanding of HCV nAb evasion and rational vaccine design, as they can be exploited to stabilize the structurally flexible envelope proteins in an open conformation, exposing important neutralizing epitopes. Finally, this work resulted in a panel of highly fit cell culture infectious HCV recombinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garazi P Alzua
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Anne F Pihl
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Anna Offersgaard
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Rodrigo Velázquez-Moctezuma
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Carlos R Duarte Hernandez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Elias H Augestad
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Ulrik Fahnøe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Christian K Mathiesen
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Henrik Krarup
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics , Aalborg University Hospital , Aalborg , Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine , Aalborg University , Aalborg , Denmark
| | - Mansun Law
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology , The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California , USA
| | - Jannick Prentoe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Judith M Gottwein
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
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14
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Alzua GP, Pihl AF, Offersgaard A, Duarte Hernandez CR, Duan Z, Feng S, Fahnøe U, Sølund C, Weis N, Law M, Prentoe JC, Christensen JP, Bukh J, Gottwein JM. Inactivated genotype 1a, 2a and 3a HCV vaccine candidates induced broadly neutralising antibodies in mice. Gut 2023; 72:560-572. [PMID: 35918103 PMCID: PMC9933178 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-326323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A prophylactic vaccine is needed to control the HCV epidemic, with genotypes 1-3 causing >80% of worldwide infections. Vaccine development is hampered by HCV heterogeneity, viral escape including protection of conserved neutralising epitopes and suboptimal efficacy of HCV cell culture systems. We developed cell culture-based inactivated genotype 1-3 HCV vaccine candidates to present natively folded envelope proteins to elicit neutralising antibodies. DESIGN High-yield genotype 1a, 2a and 3a HCV were developed by serial passage of TNcc, J6cc and DBN3acc in Huh7.5 cells and engineering of acquired mutations detected by next-generation sequencing. Neutralising epitope exposure was determined in cell-based neutralisation assays using human monoclonal antibodies AR3A and AR4A, and polyclonal antibody C211. BALB/c mice were immunised with processed and inactivated genotype 1a, 2a or 3a viruses using AddaVax, a homologue of the licenced adjuvant MF-59. Purified mouse and patient serum IgG were assayed for neutralisation capacity; mouse IgG and immune-sera were assayed for E1/E2 binding. RESULTS Compared with the original viruses, high-yield viruses had up to ~1000 fold increased infectivity titres (peak titres: 6-7 log10 focus-forming units (FFU)/mL) and up to ~2470 fold increased exposure of conserved neutralising epitopes. Vaccine-induced IgG broadly neutralised genotype 1-6 HCV (EC50: 30-193 µg/mL; mean 71 µg/mL), compared favourably with IgG from chronically infected patients, and bound genotype 1-3 E1/E2; immune-sera endpoint titres reached up to 32 000. CONCLUSION High-yield genotype 1-3 HCV could be developed as basis for inactivated vaccine candidates inducing broadly neutralising antibodies in mice supporting further preclinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garazi Pena Alzua
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Finne Pihl
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Offersgaard
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carlos Rene Duarte Hernandez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Zhe Duan
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shan Feng
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Fahnøe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christina Sølund
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Nina Weis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mansun Law
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jannick C Prentoe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan Pravsgaard Christensen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Judith Margarete Gottwein
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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15
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Donnison T, McGregor J, Chinnakannan S, Hutchings C, Center RJ, Poumbourios P, Klenerman P, Drummer HE, Barnes E. A pan-genotype hepatitis C virus viral vector vaccine generates T cells and neutralizing antibodies in mice. Hepatology 2022; 76:1190-1202. [PMID: 35313015 PMCID: PMC9790311 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS A prophylactic vaccine targeting multiple HCV genotypes (gt) is urgently required to meet World Health Organization elimination targets. Neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are associated with spontaneous clearance of HCV, and each may contribute to protective immunity. However, current vaccine candidates generate either nAbs or T cells targeting genetically variable epitopes and have failed to show efficacy in human trials. We have previously shown that a simian adenovirus vector (ChAdOx1) encoding conserved sequences across gt1-6 (ChAd-Gt1-6), and separately gt-1a E2 protein with variable regions deleted (E2Δ123HMW ), generates pan-genotypic T cells and nAbs, respectively. We now aim to develop a vaccine to generate both viral-specific B- and T-cell responses concurrently. APPROACH AND RESULTS We show that vaccinating with ChAd-Gt1-6 and E2Δ123HMW sequentially in mice generates T-cell and antibody (Ab) responses comparable to either vaccine given alone. We encoded E2Δ123 in ChAdOx1 (ChAd-E2Δ123) and show that this, given with an E2Δ123HMW protein boost, induces greater CD81-E2 inhibitory and HCV-pseudoparticle nAb titers compared to the E2Δ123HMW prime boost. We developed bivalent viral vector vaccines (ChAdOx1 and modified vaccinia Ankara [MVA]) encoding both Gt1-6 and E2Δ123 immunogens (Gt1-6-E2Δ123) generating polyfunctional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and nAb titers in prime/boost strategies. This approach generated nAb responses comparable to monovalent E2Δ123 ChAd/MVA vaccines and superior to three doses of recombinant E2Δ123HMW protein, while also generating high-magnitude T-cell responses. CONCLUSIONS These data are an important step forward for the development of a pan-genotype HCV vaccine to elicit T cells and nAbs for future assessment in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Donnison
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Joey McGregor
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Senthil Chinnakannan
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Claire Hutchings
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rob J Center
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Pantelis Poumbourios
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul Klenerman
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Heidi E Drummer
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Eleanor Barnes
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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16
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Frumento N, Figueroa A, Wang T, Zahid MN, Wang S, Massaccesi G, Stavrakis G, Crowe JE, Flyak AI, Ji H, Ray SC, Shaw GM, Cox AL, Bailey JR. Repeated exposure to heterologous hepatitis C viruses associates with enhanced neutralizing antibody breadth and potency. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:e160058. [PMID: 35588376 PMCID: PMC9337827 DOI: 10.1172/jci160058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A prophylactic hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccine that elicits neutralizing antibodies could be key to HCV eradication. However, the genetic and antigenic properties of HCV envelope (E1E2) proteins capable of inducing anti-HCV broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) in humans have not been defined. Here, we investigated the development of bNAbs in longitudinal plasma of HCV-infected persons with persistent infection or spontaneous clearance of multiple reinfections. By measuring plasma antibody neutralization of a heterologous virus panel, we found that the breadth and potency of the antibody response increased upon exposure to multiple genetically distinct infections and with longer duration of viremia. Greater genetic divergence between infecting strains was not associated with enhanced neutralizing breadth. Rather, repeated exposure to antigenically related, antibody-sensitive E1E2s was associated with potent bNAb induction. These data reveal that a prime-boost vaccine strategy with genetically distinct, antibody-sensitive viruses is a promising approach to inducing potent bNAbs in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tingchang Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Muhammad N. Zahid
- University of Bahrain, Department of Biology, College of Science, Sakhir Campus, Bahrain
| | - Shuyi Wang
- Department of Medicine and
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - James E. Crowe
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
- Department of Pediatrics, and
- Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Andrew I. Flyak
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Hongkai Ji
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - George M. Shaw
- Department of Medicine and
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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17
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Karbalaei M, Keikha M. A close view of the Hepatitis C virus vaccines with further perspective. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2022; 80:104182. [PMID: 35859760 PMCID: PMC9289628 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Karbalaei
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
| | - Masoud Keikha
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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18
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Lin T, Chi X, Liu X, Pan S, Chen W, Duan H, Zhang X, Yang W. Recombinant Full-Length Hepatitis C Virus E1E2 Dimer Elicits Pangenotypic Neutralizing Antibodies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:831285. [PMID: 35837406 PMCID: PMC9273934 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.831285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
An effective prophylactic vaccine would be beneficial for controlling and eradicating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. However, the high diversity across HCV genotypes is a major challenge for vaccine development. Selection of the appropriate immunogen is critical to elicit broad HCV neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). To increase the antigenic coverage of heterodimer glycoproteins, we designed and produced recombinant E1E2 antigens for genotypes 1a/1b/2a/3a/6a from an IgG Fc-tagged precursor protein in FreeStyle 293-F cells. The recombinant E1 and E2 antigens were localized and associated with the endoplasmic reticulum and co-purified from membrane extracts. By examining the interactions with HCV entry co-receptors and the blockade of HCV infection, we found that these purified Fc-E1E2 proteins displayed correct folding and function. Mouse immunization results showed that each recombinant E1E2 antigen could elicit a pangenotypic antibody response to itself and other genotypes. We also found that the pentavalent formula triggered a relatively higher and more uniform NAb titer and T cell response than monovalent antigens. Taken together, our findings may provide a useful strategy for the vaccine development of HCV and other viruses with highly heterogeneous surface glycoproteins.
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19
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Barnes E, Cooke GS, Lauer GM, Chung RT. Implementation of a controlled human infection model for evaluation of HCV vaccine candidates. Hepatology 2022; 77:1757-1772. [PMID: 35736236 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a major global health concern. Directly acting antiviral (DAA) drugs have transformed the treatment of HCV. However, it has become clear that, without an effective HCV vaccine, it will not be possible to meet the World Health Organization targets of HCV viral elimination. Promising new vaccine technologies that generate high magnitude antiviral T and B cell immune responses and significant new funding have recently become available, stimulating the HCV vaccine pipeline. In the absence of an immune competent animal model for HCV, the major block in evaluating new HCV vaccine candidates will be the assessment of vaccine efficacy in humans. The development of a controlled human infection model (CHIM) for HCV could overcome this block, enabling the head-to-head assessment of vaccine candidates. The availability of highly effective DAA means that a CHIM for HCV is possible for the first time. In this review, we highlight the challenges and issues with currently available strategies to assess HCV vaccine efficacy including HCV "at-risk" cohorts and animal models. We describe the development of CHIM in other infections that are increasingly utilized by trialists and explore the ethical and safety concerns specific for an HCV CHIM. Finally, we propose an HCV CHIM study design including the selection of volunteers, the development of an infectious inoculum, the evaluation of host immune and viral parameters, and the definition of study end points for use in an HCV CHIM. Importantly, the study design (including number of volunteers required, cost, duration of study, and risk to volunteers) varies significantly depending on the proposed mechanism of action (sterilizing/rapid viral clearance vs. delayed viral clearance) of the vaccine under evaluation. We conclude that an HCV CHIM is now realistic, that safety and ethical concerns can be addressed with the right study design, and that, without an HCV CHIM, it is difficult to envisage how the development of an HCV vaccine will be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Barnes
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Oxford, UK
| | - Graham S Cooke
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, Oxford, UK
| | - Georg M Lauer
- Liver Center, GI Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Raymond T Chung
- Liver Center, GI Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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20
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Pihl AF, Feng S, Offersgaard A, Alzua GP, Augestad EH, Mathiesen CK, Jensen TB, Krarup H, Law M, Prentoe J, Christensen JP, Bukh J, Gottwein JM. Inactivated whole hepatitis C virus vaccine employing a licensed adjuvant elicits cross-genotype neutralizing antibodies in mice. J Hepatol 2022; 76:1051-1061. [PMID: 34990750 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS A prophylactic vaccine is required to eliminate HCV as a global public health threat. We developed whole virus inactivated HCV vaccine candidates employing a licensed adjuvant. Further, we investigated the effects of HCV envelope protein modifications (to increase neutralization epitope exposure) on immunogenicity. METHODS Whole virus vaccine antigen was produced in Huh7.5 hepatoma cells, processed using a multistep protocol and formulated with adjuvant (MF-59 analogue AddaVax or aluminium hydroxide). We investigated the capacity of IgG purified from the serum of immunized BALB/c mice to neutralize genotype 1-6 HCV (by virus neutralization assays) and to bind homologous envelope proteins (by ELISA). Viruses used for immunizations were (i) HCV5aHi with strain SA13 envelope proteins and modification of an O-linked glycosylation site in E2 (T385P), (ii) HCV5aHi(T385) with reversion of T385P to T385, featuring the original E2 sequence determined in vivo and (iii) HCV5aHi(ΔHVR1) with deletion of HVR1. For these viruses, epitope exposure was investigated using human monoclonal (AR3A and AR4A) and polyclonal (C211 and H06) antibodies in neutralization assays. RESULTS Processed HCV5aHi formulated with AddaVax induced antibodies that efficiently bound homologous envelope proteins and broadly neutralized cultured genotype 1-6 HCV, with half maximal inhibitory concentrations of between 14 and 192 μg/ml (mean of 36 μg/ml against the homologous virus). Vaccination with aluminium hydroxide was less immunogenic. Compared to HCV5aHi(T385) with the original E2 sequence, HCV5aHi with a modified glycosylation site and HCV5aHi(ΔHVR1) without HVR1 showed increased neutralization epitope exposure but similar immunogenicity. CONCLUSION Using an adjuvant suitable for human use, we developed inactivated whole HCV vaccine candidates that induced broadly neutralizing antibodies, which warrant investigation in further pre-clinical studies. LAY SUMMARY A vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV) is needed to prevent the estimated 2 million new infections and 400,000 deaths caused by this virus each year. We developed inactivated whole HCV vaccine candidates using adjuvants licensed for human use, which, following immunization of mice, induced antibodies that efficiently neutralized all HCV genotypes with recognized epidemiological importance. HCV variants with modified envelope proteins exhibited similar immunogenicity as the virus with the original envelope proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Finne Pihl
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shan Feng
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Offersgaard
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Garazi Peña Alzua
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elias Honerød Augestad
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Kjaerulff Mathiesen
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tanja Bertelsen Jensen
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Krarup
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Aalborg University Hospital and Clinical Institute, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Mansun Law
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Jannick Prentoe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan Pravsgaard Christensen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Judith Margarete Gottwein
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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21
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Odenwald MA, Paul S. Viral hepatitis: Past, present, and future. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:1405-1429. [PMID: 35582678 PMCID: PMC9048475 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i14.1405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Each hepatitis virus-Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, and G-poses a distinct scenario to the patient and clinician alike. Since the discovery of each virus, extensive knowledge regarding epidemiology, virologic properties, and the natural clinical and immunologic history of acute and chronic infections has been generated. Basic discoveries about host immunologic responses to acute and chronic viral infections, combined with virologic data, has led to vaccines to prevent Hepatitis A, B, and E and highly efficacious antivirals for Hepatitis B and C. These therapeutic breakthroughs are transforming the fields of hepatology, transplant medicine in general, and public and global health. Most notably, there is even an ambitious global effort to eliminate chronic viral hepatitis within the next decade. While attainable, there are many barriers to this goal that are being actively investigated in basic and clinical labs on the local, national, and international scales. Herein, we discuss pertinent clinical information and recent organizational guidelines for each of the individual hepatitis viruses while also synthesizing this information with the latest research to focus on exciting future directions for each virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew August Odenwald
- Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Center for Liver Diseases, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
| | - Sonali Paul
- Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Center for Liver Diseases, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
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22
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Wang R, Suzuki S, Guest JD, Heller B, Almeda M, Andrianov AK, Marin A, Mariuzza RA, Keck ZY, Foung SKH, Yunus AS, Pierce BG, Toth EA, Ploss A, Fuerst TR. Induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies using a secreted form of the hepatitis C virus E1E2 heterodimer as a vaccine candidate. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2112008119. [PMID: 35263223 PMCID: PMC8931252 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2112008119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
SignificanceHepatitis C virus chronically infects approximately 1% of the world's population, making an effective vaccine for hepatitis C virus a major unmet public health need. The membrane-associated E1E2 envelope glycoprotein has been used in clinical studies as a vaccine candidate. However, limited neutralization breadth and difficulty in producing large amounts of homogeneous membrane-associated E1E2 have hampered efforts to develop an E1E2-based vaccine. Our previous work described the design and biochemical validation of a native-like soluble secreted form of E1E2 (sE1E2). Here, we describe the immunogenic characterization of the sE1E2 complex. sE1E2 elicited broadly neutralizing antibodies in immunized mice, with increased neutralization breadth relative to the membrane-associated E1E2, thereby validating this platform as a promising model system for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixue Wang
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Saori Suzuki
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540
| | - Johnathan D. Guest
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Brigitte Heller
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540
| | - Maricar Almeda
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540
| | - Alexander K. Andrianov
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Alexander Marin
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Roy A. Mariuzza
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Zhen-Yong Keck
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Steven K. H. Foung
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Abdul S. Yunus
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Brian G. Pierce
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Eric A. Toth
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Alexander Ploss
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540
| | - Thomas R. Fuerst
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
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23
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Shoukry NH. The Discovery of Hepatitis C. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2022; 42:39-41. [PMID: 35041515 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2021.29032.nas] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Naglaa H Shoukry
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), and Département de Médecine, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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24
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Bankwitz D, Krey T, Pietschmann T. [Development approaches for vaccines against hepatitis C virus infections]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2022; 65:183-191. [PMID: 35015104 PMCID: PMC8749110 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-021-03477-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Mehr als 10 Jahre nach der Zulassung der ersten direkt wirkenden antiviralen Wirkstoffe zur Behandlung der Hepatitis C bleibt die Inzidenz der Hepatitis-C-Virus-(HCV-)Infektion ungebrochen hoch. In manchen Ländern stecken sich mehr Menschen neu mit dem Virus an, als Patienten durch eine erfolgreiche Therapie geheilt werden. Die Entwicklung eines prophylaktischen Impfstoffes könnte die Transmission des Virus unterbinden und dadurch einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Kontrolle dieser weltweit verbreiteten Infektion leisten. In diesem Artikel werden die besonderen Herausforderungen und die aktuellen Ansätze der HCV-Impfstoffentwicklung dargestellt. HCV ist ein hochgradig diverses und wandlungsfähiges Virus, das zumeist dem Immunsystem entkommt und chronische Infektionen etabliert. Andererseits heilt die HCV-Infektion bei bis zu einem Drittel der exponierten Individuen aus, sodass eine schützende Immunität erreichbar ist. Zahlreiche Untersuchungen zu den Determinanten einer schützenden Immunität gegen HCV zeichnen ein immer kompletteres Bild davon, welche Ziele ein Impfstoff erreichen muss. Sehr wahrscheinlich werden sowohl starke neutralisierende Antikörper als auch wirkungsvolle zytotoxische T‑Zellen gebraucht, um sicher vor einer chronischen Infektion zu schützen. Die Schlüsselfrage ist, welche Ansätze besonders breit wirksame Antikörper und T‑Zellen heranreifen lassen. Dies wird erforderlich sein, um vor der großen Fülle unterschiedlicher HCV-Varianten zu schützen. Die jüngsten Erfolge von mRNA-Impfstoffen öffnen neue Türen auch für die HCV-Impfstoffforschung. Kombiniert mit einem tieferen Verständnis der Struktur und Funktion der viralen Hüllproteine, der Identifizierung kreuzprotektiver Antikörper- und T‑Zellepitope sowie der Nutzung standardisierter Verfahren zur Quantifizierung der Wirksamkeit von Impfkandidaten ergeben sich neue Perspektiven für die Entwicklung eines Impfstoffes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Bankwitz
- Twincore Zentrum für Experimentelle und Klinische Infektionsforschung, Institut für Experimentelle Virologie, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland
| | - Thomas Krey
- Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, RESIST Exzellenzcluster EXC2155, Hannover, Deutschland.,Zentrum für Strukturbiologie und Zellbiologie in der Medizin, Institut für Biochemie, Universität Lübeck, Lübeck, Deutschland.,Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Partnerstandort Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Braunschweig, Deutschland.,Institut für Virologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Deutschland
| | - Thomas Pietschmann
- Twincore Zentrum für Experimentelle und Klinische Infektionsforschung, Institut für Experimentelle Virologie, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland. .,Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, RESIST Exzellenzcluster EXC2155, Hannover, Deutschland. .,Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Partnerstandort Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Deutschland.
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25
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Virus-Like Particles Containing the E2 Core Domain of Hepatitis C Virus Generate Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies in Guinea Pigs. J Virol 2022; 96:e0167521. [PMID: 34986001 PMCID: PMC8906423 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01675-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A vaccine to prevent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is urgently needed for use alongside direct-acting antiviral drugs to achieve elimination targets. We have previously shown that a soluble recombinant form of the glycoprotein E2 ectodomain (residues 384 to 661) that lacks three variable regions (Δ123) is able to elicit a higher titer of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) than the parental form (receptor-binding domain [RBD]). In this study, we engineered a viral nanoparticle that displays HCV glycoprotein E2 on a duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) small surface antigen (S) scaffold. Four variants of E2-S virus-like particles (VLPs) were constructed: Δ123-S, RBD-S, Δ123A7-S, and RBDA7-S; in the last two, 7 cysteines were replaced with alanines. While all four E2-S variant VLPs display E2 as a surface antigen, the Δ123A7-S and RBDA7-S VLPs were the most efficiently secreted from transfected mammalian cells and displayed epitopes recognized by cross-genotype broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bNMAbs). Both Δ123A7-S and RBDA7-S VLPs were immunogenic in guinea pigs, generating high titers of antibodies reactive to native E2 and able to prevent the interaction between E2 and the cellular receptor CD81. Four out of eight animals immunized with Δ123A7-S elicited neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), with three of those animals generating bNAbs against 7 genotypes. Immune serum generated by animals with NAbs mapped to major neutralization epitopes located at residues 412 to 420 (epitope I) and antigenic region 3. VLPs that display E2 glycoproteins represent a promising vaccine platform for HCV and could be adapted to large-scale manufacturing in yeast systems. IMPORTANCE There is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C virus infection, which affects more than 71 million people globally and is a leading cause of progressive liver disease, including cirrhosis and cancer. Broadly neutralizing antibodies that recognize the E2 envelope glycoprotein can protect against heterologous viral infection and correlate with viral clearance in humans. However, broadly neutralizing antibodies are difficult to generate due to conformational flexibility of the E2 protein and epitope occlusion. Here, we show that a VLP vaccine using the duck hepatitis B virus S antigen fused to HCV glycoprotein E2 assembles into virus-like particles that display epitopes recognized by broadly neutralizing antibodies and elicit such antibodies in guinea pigs. This platform represents a novel HCV vaccine candidate amenable to large-scale manufacture at low cost.
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26
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Manne V, Ryan J, Wong J, Vengayil G, Basit SA, Gish RG. Hepatitis C Vaccination: Where We Are and Where We Need to Be. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10121619. [PMID: 34959574 PMCID: PMC8705661 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a common cause of chronic liver disease and liver cancer worldwide. Despite advances in curative therapies for HCV, the incidence of new infections is not decreasing at the expected rate to hit the World Health Organization (WHO) target for the elimination of HCV by 2030. In fact, there are still more new cases of infection in the United States and worldwide than are being cured. The reasons for the rise in new cases include poor access to care and the opioid epidemic. The clinical burden of HCV requires a multimodal approach to eradicating the infection. Vaccination would be an excellent tool to prevent incidence of new infections; however, the genetic diversity of HCV and its ability to generate quasispecies within an infected host make creating a broadly reactive vaccine difficult. Multiple vaccine candidates have been identified, but to date, there has not been a target that has led to a broadly reactive vaccine, though several of the candidates are promising. Additionally, the virus is very difficult to culture and testing candidates in humans or chimpanzees is ethically challenging. Despite the multiple barriers to creating a vaccine, vaccination still represents an important tool in the fight against HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vignan Manne
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education, Las Vegas, NV 89148, USA; (V.M.); (J.W.); (G.V.)
| | - John Ryan
- Comprehensive Digestive Institute of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89148, USA; (J.R.); (S.A.B.)
| | - Jonathan Wong
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education, Las Vegas, NV 89148, USA; (V.M.); (J.W.); (G.V.)
| | - Gayatri Vengayil
- HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education, Las Vegas, NV 89148, USA; (V.M.); (J.W.); (G.V.)
| | - Syed Abdul Basit
- Comprehensive Digestive Institute of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89148, USA; (J.R.); (S.A.B.)
| | - Robert G. Gish
- Liver Transplant Clinic, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-866-873-8877
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27
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Incorporation of apolipoprotein E into HBV-HCV subviral envelope particles to improve the hepatitis vaccine strategy. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21856. [PMID: 34750487 PMCID: PMC8575973 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01428-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C is a major threat to public health for which an effective treatment is available, but a prophylactic vaccine is still needed to control this disease. We designed a vaccine based on chimeric HBV-HCV envelope proteins forming subviral particles (SVPs) that induce neutralizing antibodies against HCV in vitro. Here, we aimed to increase the neutralizing potential of those antibodies, by using HBV-HCV SVPs bearing apolipoprotein E (apoE). These particles were produced by cultured stable mammalian cell clones, purified and characterized. We found that apoE was able to interact with both chimeric HBV-HCV (E1-S and E2-S) proteins, and with the wild-type HBV S protein. ApoE was also detected on the surface of purified SVPs and improved the folding of HCV envelope proteins, but its presence lowered the incorporation of E2-S protein. Immunization of New Zealand rabbits resulted in similar anti-S responses for all rabbits, whereas anti-E1/-E2 antibody titers varied according to the presence or absence of apoE. Regarding the neutralizing potential of these anti-E1/-E2 antibodies, it was higher in rabbits immunized with apoE-bearing particles. In conclusion, the association of apoE with HCV envelope proteins may be a good strategy for improving HCV vaccines based on viral envelope proteins.
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28
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Worldwide prevalence, genotype distribution and management of hepatitis C. Acta Gastroenterol Belg 2021; 84:637-656. [PMID: 34965046 DOI: 10.51821/84.4.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, resulting in major global public health concerns. The HCV infection is unevenly distributed worldwide, with variations in prevalence across and within countries. The studies on molecular epidemiology conducted in several countries provide an essential supplement for a comprehensive knowledge of HCV epidemiology, genotypes, and subtypes, along with providing information on the impact of current and earlier migratory flows. HCV is phylogenetically classified into 8 major genotypes and 57 subtypes. HCV genotype and subtype distribution differ according to geographic origin and transmission risk category. Unless people with HCV infection are detected and treated appropriately, the number of deaths due to the disease will continue to increase. In 2015, 1.75 million new viral infections were mostly due to unsafe healthcare procedures and drug use injections. In the same year, access to direct-acting antivirals was challenging and varied in developing and developed countries, affecting HCV cure rates based on their availability. The World Health Assembly, in 2016, approved a global strategy to achieve the elimination of the HCV public health threat by 2030 (by reducing new infections by 90% and deaths by 65%). Globally, countries are implementing policies and measures to eliminate HCV risk based on their distribution of genotypes and prevalence.
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29
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Hartlage AS, Kapoor A. Hepatitis C Virus Vaccine Research: Time to Put Up or Shut Up. Viruses 2021; 13:1596. [PMID: 34452460 PMCID: PMC8402855 DOI: 10.3390/v13081596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Unless urgently needed to prevent a pandemic, the development of a viral vaccine should follow a rigorous scientific approach. Each vaccine candidate should be designed considering the in-depth knowledge of protective immunity, followed by preclinical studies to assess immunogenicity and safety, and lastly, the evaluation of selected vaccines in human clinical trials. The recently concluded first phase II clinical trial of a human hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccine followed this approach. Still, despite promising preclinical results, it failed to protect against chronic infection, raising grave concerns about our understanding of protective immunity. This setback, combined with the lack of HCV animal models and availability of new highly effective antivirals, has fueled ongoing discussions of using a controlled human infection model (CHIM) to test new HCV vaccine candidates. Before taking on such an approach, however, we must carefully weigh all the ethical and health consequences of human infection in the absence of a complete understanding of HCV immunity and pathogenesis. We know that there are significant gaps in our knowledge of adaptive immunity necessary to prevent chronic HCV infection. This review discusses our current understanding of HCV immunity and the critical gaps that should be filled before embarking upon new HCV vaccine trials. We discuss the importance of T cells, neutralizing antibodies, and HCV genetic diversity. We address if and how the animal HCV-like viruses can be used for conceptualizing effective HCV vaccines and what we have learned so far from these HCV surrogates. Finally, we propose a logical but narrow path forward for HCV vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex S. Hartlage
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA;
- Medical Scientist Training Program, College of Medicine and Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Amit Kapoor
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
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30
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Antigenic and immunogenic evaluation of permutations of soluble hepatitis C virus envelope protein E2 and E1 antigens. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255336. [PMID: 34329365 PMCID: PMC8323887 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Yearly, about 1.5 million people become chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and for the 71 million with chronic HCV infection about 400,000 die from related morbidities, including liver cirrhosis and cancer. Effective treatments exist, but challenges including cost-of-treatment and wide-spread undiagnosed infection, necessitates the development of vaccines. Vaccines should induce neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against the HCV envelope (E) transmembrane glycoprotein 2, E2, which partly depends on its interaction partner, E1, for folding. Here, we generated three soluble HCV envelope protein antigens with the transmembrane regions deleted (i.e., fused peptide backbones), termed sE1E2 (E1 followed by E2), sE2E1 (E2 followed by E1), and sE21E (E2 followed by inverted E1). The E1 inversion for sE21E positions C-terminal residues of E1 near C-terminal residues of E2, which is in analogy to how they likely interact in native E1/E2 complexes. Probing conformational E2 epitope binding using HCV patient-derived human monoclonal antibodies, we show that sE21E was superior to sE2E1, which was consistently superior to sE1E2. This correlated with improved induction of NAbs by sE21E compared with sE2E1 and especially compared with sE1E2 in female BALB/c mouse immunizations. The deletion of the 27 N-terminal amino acids of E2, termed hypervariable region 1 (HVR1), conferred slight increases in antigenicity for sE2E1 and sE21E, but severely impaired induction of antibodies able to neutralize in vitro viruses retaining HVR1. Finally, comparing sE21E with sE2 in mouse immunizations, we show similar induction of heterologous NAbs. In summary, we find that C-terminal E2 fusion of E1 or 1E is superior to N-terminal fusion, both in terms of antigenicity and the induction of heterologous NAbs. This has relevance when designing HCV E1E2 vaccine antigens.
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Pisano MB, Giadans CG, Flichman DM, Ré VE, Preciado MV, Valva P. Viral hepatitis update: Progress and perspectives. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:4018-4044. [PMID: 34326611 PMCID: PMC8311538 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i26.4018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral hepatitis, secondary to infection with hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses, are a major public health problem and an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Despite the huge medical advances achieved in recent years, there are still points of conflict concerning the pathogenesis, immune response, development of new and more effective vaccines, therapies, and treatment. This review focuses on the most important research topics that deal with issues that are currently being solved, those that remain to be solved, and future research directions. For hepatitis A virus we will address epidemiology, molecular surveillance, new susceptible populations as well as environmental and food detections. In the case of hepatitis B virus, we will discuss host factors related to disease, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccine improvement. On hepatitis C virus, we will focus on pathogenesis, immune response, direct action antivirals treatment in the context of solid organ transplantation, issues related to hepatocellular carcinoma development, direct action antivirals resistance due to selection of resistance-associated variants, and vaccination. Regarding hepatitis D virus, we describe diagnostic methodology, pathogenesis, and therapy. Finally, for hepatitis E virus, we will address epidemiology (including new emerging species), diagnosis, clinical aspects, treatment, the development of a vaccine, and environmental surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- María B Pisano
- Virology Institute, CONICET, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Cordoba X5016, Argentina
| | - Cecilia G Giadans
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Investigation in Pediatric Pathologies (IMIPP) CONICET-GCBA, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Pathology Division, Ricardo Gutiérrez Children’s Hospital, CABA C1425, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego M Flichman
- Institute of Biomedical Investigations in Retrovirus and AIDS (INBIRS), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, CONICET, CABA C1121ABG, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Viviana E Ré
- Virology Institute, CONICET, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Cordoba X5016, Argentina
| | - María V Preciado
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Investigation in Pediatric Pathologies (IMIPP) CONICET-GCBA, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Pathology Division, Ricardo Gutiérrez Children’s Hospital, CABA C1425, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pamela Valva
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Investigation in Pediatric Pathologies (IMIPP) CONICET-GCBA, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Pathology Division, Ricardo Gutiérrez Children’s Hospital, CABA C1425, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Where to Next? Research Directions after the First Hepatitis C Vaccine Efficacy Trial. Viruses 2021; 13:v13071351. [PMID: 34372558 PMCID: PMC8310243 DOI: 10.3390/v13071351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Thirty years after its discovery, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a leading cause of liver disease worldwide. Given that many countries continue to experience high rates of transmission despite the availability of potent antiviral therapies, an effective vaccine is seen as critical for the elimination of HCV. The recent failure of the first vaccine efficacy trial for the prevention of chronic HCV confirmed suspicions that this virus will be a challenging vaccine target. Here, we examine the published data from this first efficacy trial along with the earlier clinical and pre-clinical studies of the vaccine candidate and then discuss three key research directions expected to be important in ongoing and future HCV vaccine development. These include the following: 1. design of novel immunogens that generate immune responses to genetically diverse HCV genotypes and subtypes, 2. strategies to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies against envelope glycoproteins in addition to cytotoxic and helper T cell responses, and 3. consideration of the unique immunological status of individuals most at risk for HCV infection, including those who inject drugs, in vaccine platform development and early immunogenicity trials.
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A conserved epitope III on hepatitis C virus E2 protein has alternate conformations facilitating cell binding or virus neutralization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2104242118. [PMID: 34260404 PMCID: PMC8285954 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2104242118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Epitope III, a highly conserved amino acid motif of 524APTYSW529 on the hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 glycoprotein, resides in the critical loop that binds to the host receptor CD81, thus making it one of the most important antibody targets for blocking HCV infections. Here, we have determined the X-ray crystal structure of epitope III at a 2.0-Å resolution when it was captured by a site-specific neutralizing antibody, monoclonal antibody 1H8 (mAb1H8). The snapshot of this complex revealed that epitope III has a relatively rigid structure when confined in the binding grooves of mAb1H8, which confers the residue specificity at both ends of the epitope. Such a high shape complementarity is reminiscent of the "lock and key" mode of action, which is reinforced by the incompatibility of an antibody binding with an epitope bearing specific mutations. By subtly positioning the side chains on the three residues of Tyr527, Ser528, and Trp529 while preserving the spatial rigidity of the rest, epitope III in this cocrystal complex adopts a unique conformation that is different from previously described E2 structures. With further analyses of molecular docking and phage display-based peptide interactions, we recognized that it is the arrangements of two separate sets of residues within epitope III that create these discrete conformations for the epitope to interact selectively with either mAb1H8 or CD81. These observations thus raise the possibility that local epitope III conformational dynamics, in conjunction with sequence variations, may act as a regulatory mechanism to coordinate "mAb1H8-like" antibody-mediated immune defenses with CD81-initiated HCV infections.
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Structural and Biophysical Characterization of the HCV E1E2 Heterodimer for Vaccine Development. Viruses 2021; 13:v13061027. [PMID: 34072451 PMCID: PMC8227786 DOI: 10.3390/v13061027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
An effective vaccine for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major unmet medical and public health need, and it requires an antigen that elicits immune responses to multiple key conserved epitopes. Decades of research have generated a number of vaccine candidates; based on these data and research through clinical development, a vaccine antigen based on the E1E2 glycoprotein complex appears to be the best choice. One bottleneck in the development of an E1E2-based vaccine is that the antigen is challenging to produce in large quantities and at high levels of purity and antigenic/functional integrity. This review describes the production and characterization of E1E2-based vaccine antigens, both membrane-associated and a novel secreted form of E1E2, with a particular emphasis on the major challenges facing the field and how those challenges can be addressed.
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Andrianov AK, Fuerst TR. Immunopotentiating and Delivery Systems for HCV Vaccines. Viruses 2021; 13:v13060981. [PMID: 34070543 PMCID: PMC8227888 DOI: 10.3390/v13060981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of preventive vaccines against hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains one of the main strategies in achieving global elimination of the disease. The effort is focused on the quest for vaccines capable of inducing protective cross-neutralizing humoral and cellular immune responses, which in turn dictate the need for rationally designed cross-genotype vaccine antigens and potent immunoadjuvants systems. This review provides an assessment of the current state of knowledge on immunopotentiating compounds and vaccine delivery systems capable of enhancing HCV antigen-specific immune responses, while focusing on the synergy and interplay of two modalities. Structural, physico-chemical, and biophysical features of these systems are discussed in conjunction with the analysis of their in vivo performance. Extreme genetic diversity of HCV-a well-known hurdle in the development of an HCV vaccine, may also present a challenge in a search for an effective immunoadjuvant, as the effort necessitates systematic and comparative screening of rationally designed antigenic constructs. The progress may be accelerated if the preference is given to well-defined molecular immunoadjuvants with greater formulation flexibility and adaptability, including those capable of spontaneous self-assembly behavior, while maintaining their robust immunopotentiating and delivery capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander K. Andrianov
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Thomas R. Fuerst
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA;
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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From Structural Studies to HCV Vaccine Design. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050833. [PMID: 34064532 PMCID: PMC8147963 DOI: 10.3390/v13050833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious and growing public health problem despite recent developments of antiviral therapeutics. To achieve global elimination of HCV, an effective cross-genotype vaccine is needed. The failure of previous vaccination trials to elicit an effective cross-reactive immune response demands better vaccine antigens to induce a potent cross-neutralizing response to improve vaccine efficacy. HCV E1 and E2 envelope (Env) glycoproteins are the main targets for neutralizing antibodies (nAbs), which aid in HCV clearance and protection. Therefore, a molecular-level understanding of the nAb responses against HCV is imperative for the rational design of cross-genotype vaccine antigens. Here we summarize the recent advances in structural studies of HCV Env and Env-nAb complexes and how they improve our understanding of immune recognition of HCV. We review the structural data defining HCV neutralization epitopes and conformational plasticity of the Env proteins, and the knowledge applicable to rational vaccine design.
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To Include or Occlude: Rational Engineering of HCV Vaccines for Humoral Immunity. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050805. [PMID: 33946211 PMCID: PMC8146105 DOI: 10.3390/v13050805] [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: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct-acting antiviral agents have proven highly effective at treating existing hepatitis C infections but despite their availability most countries will not reach the World Health Organization targets for elimination of HCV by 2030. A prophylactic vaccine remains a high priority. Whilst early vaccines focused largely on generating T cell immunity, attention is now aimed at vaccines that generate humoral immunity, either alone or in combination with T cell-based vaccines. High-resolution structures of hepatitis C viral glycoproteins and their interaction with monoclonal antibodies isolated from both cleared and chronically infected people, together with advances in vaccine technologies, provide new avenues for vaccine development.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The WHO has set ambitious targets for hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination by 2030. In this review, we explore the possibility of HCV micro-elimination in HIV-positive (+) MSM, discussing strategies for reducing acute HCV incidence and the likely interventions required to meet these targets. RECENT FINDINGS With wider availability of directly acting antivirals (DAAs) in recent years, reductions in acute HCV incidence have been reported in some cohorts of HIV+ MSM. Recent evidence demonstrates that treatment in early infection is well tolerated, cost effective and may reduce the risk of onward transmission. Modelling studies suggest that to reduce incidence, a combination approach including behavioural interventions and access to early treatment, targeting both HIV+ and negative high-risk groups, will be required. HCV vaccine trials have not yet demonstrated efficacy in human studies, however phase one and two studies are ongoing. SUMMARY Some progress towards the WHO HCV elimination targets has been reported. Achieving sustained HCV elimination is likely to require a combination approach including early access to DAAs in acute infection and reinfection, validated and reproducible behavioural interventions and an efficacious HCV vaccine.
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CD8 + T Cell Responses during HCV Infection and HCC. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10050991. [PMID: 33801203 PMCID: PMC7957882 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10050991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus (cHCV) infection is a major global health burden and the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the Western world. The course and outcome of HCV infection is centrally influenced by CD8+ T cell responses. Indeed, strong virus-specific CD8+ T cell responses are associated with spontaneous viral clearance while failure of these responses, e.g., caused by viral escape and T cell exhaustion, is associated with the development of chronic infection. Recently, heterogeneity within the exhausted HCV-specific CD8+ T cells has been observed with implications for immunotherapeutic approaches also for other diseases. In HCC, the presence of tumor-infiltrating and peripheral CD8+ T cell responses correlates with a favorable prognosis. Thus, tumor-associated and tumor-specific CD8+ T cells are considered suitable targets for immunotherapeutic strategies. Here, we review the current knowledge of CD8+ T cell responses in chronic HCV infection and HCC and their respective failure with the potential consequences for T cell-associated immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Li J, Casey JL, Greenwald ZR, Yasseen III AS, Dickie M, Feld JJ, Cooper CL, Crawley AM. The 9th Canadian Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus: Advances in HCV research and treatment towards elimination. CANADIAN LIVER JOURNAL 2021; 4:59-71. [PMID: 35991475 PMCID: PMC9203168 DOI: 10.3138/canlivj-2020-0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 08/31/2024]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination has evolved into a coordinated global effort. Canada, with more than 250,000 chronically infected individuals, is among the countries leading this effort. The 9th Canadian Symposium on HCV, held in February 2020, thus established and addressed its theme, 'advances in HCV research and treatment towards elimination', by gathering together basic scientists, clinicians, epidemiologists, social scientists, and community members interested in HCV research in Canada. Plenary sessions showcased topical research from prominent international and national researchers, complemented by select abstract presentations. This event was hosted by the Canadian Network on Hepatitis C (CanHepC), with support from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and in partnership with the Canadian Liver Meeting. CanHepC has an established record in HCV research by its members and in its advocacy activities to address the care, treatment, diagnosis, and immediate and long-term needs of those affected by HCV infection. Many challenges remain in tackling chronic HCV infection, such as the need for a vaccine; difficult-to-treat populations and unknown aspects of patient subgroups, including pregnant women and children; vulnerable people; and issues distinct to Indigenous peoples. There is also increasing concern about long-term clinical outcomes after successful treatment, with the rise in comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease and the remaining risk for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic individuals. The symposium addressed these topics in highlighting research advances that will collectively play an important role in eliminating HCV and minimizing subsequent health challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiafeng Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julia L Casey
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zoë R Greenwald
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Abdool S Yasseen III
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melisa Dickie
- Knowledge Exchange Division, Community AIDS Treatment Information Exchange, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jordan J Feld
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Curtis L Cooper
- Centre for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angela M Crawley
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Laidlaw SM, Dustin LB. An HCV Vaccine on the Fly. J Infect Dis 2021; 221:1216-1218. [PMID: 31074788 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M Laidlaw
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology and the Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, The University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lynn B Dustin
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology and the Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, The University of Oxford, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most prevalent cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide.
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Fallet B, Hao Y, Florova M, Cornille K, de Los Aires AV, Girelli Zubani G, Ertuna YI, Greiff V, Menzel U, Hammad K, Merkler D, Reddy ST, Weill JC, Reynaud CA, Pinschewer DD. Chronic Viral Infection Promotes Efficient Germinal Center B Cell Responses. Cell Rep 2020; 30:1013-1026.e7. [PMID: 31995746 PMCID: PMC6996002 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent viral infections subvert key elements of adaptive immunity. To compare germinal center (GC) B cell responses in chronic and acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection, we exploit activation-induced deaminase (AID) fate-reporter mice and perform adoptive B cell transfer experiments. Chronic infection yields GC B cell responses of higher cellularity than acute infections do, higher memory B cell and antibody secreting cell output for longer periods of time, a better representation of the late B cell repertoire in serum immunoglobulin, and higher titers of protective neutralizing antibodies. GC B cells of chronically infected mice are similarly hypermutated as those emerging from acute infection. They efficiently adapt to viral escape variants and even in hypermutation-impaired AID mutant mice, chronic infection selects for GC B cells with hypermutated B cell receptors (BCRs) and neutralizing antibody formation. These findings demonstrate that, unlike for CD8+ T cells, chronic viral infection drives a functional, productive, and protective GC B cell response. Chronic viral infection elicits potent and sustained germinal center (GC) responses Chronic infection triggers prolonged plasma cell and memory B cell output from GCs GC B cells hypermutate efficiently and are potently selected in chronic infection
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Affiliation(s)
- Bénédict Fallet
- Department of Biomedicine, Division of Experimental Virology, University of Basel, Haus Petersplatz, 4009 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Yi Hao
- Development of the Immune System, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1151-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8253, Faculté de Médecine Paris Descartes, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Marianna Florova
- Department of Biomedicine, Division of Experimental Virology, University of Basel, Haus Petersplatz, 4009 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Karen Cornille
- Department of Biomedicine, Division of Experimental Virology, University of Basel, Haus Petersplatz, 4009 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alba Verge de Los Aires
- Development of the Immune System, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1151-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8253, Faculté de Médecine Paris Descartes, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Giulia Girelli Zubani
- Development of the Immune System, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1151-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8253, Faculté de Médecine Paris Descartes, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Yusuf I Ertuna
- Department of Biomedicine, Division of Experimental Virology, University of Basel, Haus Petersplatz, 4009 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Victor Greiff
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Immunology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ulrike Menzel
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Karim Hammad
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Clinical Pathology, University & University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Doron Merkler
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Clinical Pathology, University & University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sai T Reddy
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Claude Weill
- Development of the Immune System, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1151-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8253, Faculté de Médecine Paris Descartes, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Claude-Agnès Reynaud
- Development of the Immune System, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1151-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8253, Faculté de Médecine Paris Descartes, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Daniel D Pinschewer
- Department of Biomedicine, Division of Experimental Virology, University of Basel, Haus Petersplatz, 4009 Basel, Switzerland.
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Ströh LJ, Krey T. HCV Glycoprotein Structure and Implications for B-Cell Vaccine Development. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186781. [PMID: 32947858 PMCID: PMC7555785 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the approval of highly efficient direct-acting antivirals in the last decade Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a global health burden and the development of a vaccine would constitute an important step towards the control of HCV. The high genetic variability of the viral glycoproteins E1 and E2, which carry the main neutralizing determinants, together with their intrinsic structural flexibility, the high level of glycosylation that shields conserved neutralization epitopes and immune evasion using decoy epitopes renders the design of an efficient vaccine challenging. Recent structural and functional analyses have highlighted the role of the CD81 receptor binding site on E2, which overlaps with those neutralization epitopes within E2 that have been structurally characterized to date. This CD81 binding site consists of three distinct segments including “epitope I”, “epitope II” and the “CD81 binding loop”. In this review we summarize the structural features of the HCV glycoproteins that have been derived from X-ray structures of neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibody fragments complexed with either recombinant E2 or epitope-derived linear peptides. We focus on the current understanding how neutralizing antibodies interact with their cognate antigen, the structural features of the respective neutralization epitopes targeted by nAbs and discuss the implications for informed vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa J. Ströh
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Thomas Krey
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
- Center of Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Luebeck, 23562 Luebeck, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Riems, 23562 Luebeck, Germany
- Excellence Cluster 2155 RESIST, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)451–3101-3101
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Kemming J, Thimme R, Neumann-Haefelin C. Adaptive Immune Response against Hepatitis C Virus. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165644. [PMID: 32781731 PMCID: PMC7460648 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A functional adaptive immune response is the major determinant for clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, in the majority of patients, this response fails and persistent infection evolves. Here, we dissect the HCV-specific key players of adaptive immunity, namely B cells and T cells, and describe factors that affect infection outcome. Once chronic infection is established, continuous exposure to HCV antigens affects functionality, phenotype, transcriptional program, metabolism, and the epigenetics of the adaptive immune cells. In addition, viral escape mutations contribute to the failure of adaptive antiviral immunity. Direct-acting antivirals (DAA) can mediate HCV clearance in almost all patients with chronic HCV infection, however, defects in adaptive immune cell populations remain, only limited functional memory is obtained and reinfection of cured individuals is possible. Thus, to avoid potential reinfection and achieve global elimination of HCV infections, a prophylactic vaccine is needed. Recent vaccine trials could induce HCV-specific immunity but failed to protect from persistent infection. Thus, lessons from natural protection from persistent infection, DAA-mediated cure, and non-protective vaccination trials might lead the way to successful vaccination strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Kemming
- Department of Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79102 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany; (J.K.); (R.T.)
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestrasse 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Robert Thimme
- Department of Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79102 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany; (J.K.); (R.T.)
| | - Christoph Neumann-Haefelin
- Department of Medicine II, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79102 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany; (J.K.); (R.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-761-270-32800
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SARS-CoV-2 will constantly sweep its tracks: a vaccine containing CpG motifs in 'lasso' for the multi-faced virus. Inflamm Res 2020; 69:801-812. [PMID: 32656668 PMCID: PMC7354743 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-020-01377-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the global ratio between the dead and the survivors is approximately 1 to 10, which has put humanity on high alert and provided strong motivation for the intensive search for vaccines and drugs. It is already clear that if we follow the most likely scenario, which is similar to that used to create seasonal influenza vaccines, then we will need to develop improved vaccine formulas every year to control the spread of the new, highly mutable coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In this article, using well-known RNA viruses (HIV, influenza viruses, HCV) as examples, we consider the main successes and failures in creating primarily highly effective vaccines. The experience accumulated dealing with the biology of zoonotic RNA viruses suggests that the fight against COVID-19 will be difficult and lengthy. The most effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 will be those able to form highly effective memory cells for both humoral (memory B cells) and cellular (cross-reactive antiviral memory T cells) immunity. Unfortunately, RNA viruses constantly sweep their tracks and perhaps one of the most promising solutions in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is the creation of 'universal' vaccines based on conservative SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences (antigen-presenting) and unmethylated CpG dinucleotides (adjuvant) in the composition of the phosphorothioate backbone of single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides (ODN), which can be effective for long periods of use. Here, we propose a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine based on a lasso-like phosphorothioate oligonucleotide construction containing CpG motifs and the antigen-presenting unique ACG-containing genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2. We found that CpG dinucleotides are the most rare dinucleotides in the genomes of SARS-CoV-2 and other known human coronaviruses, and hypothesized that their higher frequency could be responsible for the unwanted increased lethality to the host, causing a ‘cytokine storm’ in people who overexpress cytokines through the activation of specific Toll-like receptors in a manner similar to TLR9-CpG ODN interactions. Interestingly, the virus strains sequenced in China (Wuhan) in February 2020 contained on average one CpG dinucleotide more in their genome than the later strains from the USA (New York) sequenced in May 2020. Obviously, during the first steps of the microevolution of SARS-CoV-2 in the human population, natural selection tends to select viral genomes containing fewer CpG motifs that do not trigger a strong innate immune response, so the infected person has moderate symptoms and spreads SARS-CoV-2 more readily. However, in our opinion, unmethylated CpG dinucleotides are also capable of preparing the host immune system for the coronavirus infection and should be present in SARS-CoV-2 vaccines as strong adjuvants.
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Hepatitis C virus vaccine design: focus on the humoral immune response. J Biomed Sci 2020; 27:78. [PMID: 32631318 PMCID: PMC7338099 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-020-00669-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the recent development of safe and highly effective direct-acting antivirals, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a significant health problem. In 2016, the World Health Organization set out to reduce the rate of new HCV infections by 90% by 2030. Still, global control of the virus does not seem to be achievable in the absence of an effective vaccine. Current approaches to the development of a vaccine against HCV include the production of recombinant proteins, synthetic peptides, DNA vaccines, virus-like particles, and viral vectors expressing various antigens. In this review, we focus on the development of vaccines targeting the humoral immune response against HCV based on the cumulative evidence supporting the important role of neutralizing antibodies in protection against HCV infection. The main targets of HCV-specific neutralizing antibodies are the glycoproteins E1 and E2. Recent advances in the knowledge of HCV glycoprotein structure and their epitopes, as well as the possibility of getting detailed information on the human antibody repertoire generated by the infection, will allow rational structure-based antigen design to target specific germline antibodies. Although obtaining a vaccine capable of inducing sterilizing immunity will be a difficult task, a vaccine that prevents chronic hepatitis C infections, a more realistic goal in the short term, would have a considerable health impact.
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Maticic M, Mondelli M. Elimination of viral hepatitis: where do we stand in the year 2020? Clin Microbiol Infect 2020; 26:816-817. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Sepulveda-Crespo D, Resino S, Martinez I. Innate Immune Response against Hepatitis C Virus: Targets for Vaccine Adjuvants. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8020313. [PMID: 32560440 PMCID: PMC7350220 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8020313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite successful treatments, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections continue to be a significant world health problem. High treatment costs, the high number of undiagnosed individuals, and the difficulty to access to treatment, particularly in marginalized susceptible populations, make it improbable to achieve the global control of the virus in the absence of an effective preventive vaccine. Current vaccine development is mostly focused on weakly immunogenic subunits, such as surface glycoproteins or non-structural proteins, in the case of HCV. Adjuvants are critical components of vaccine formulations that increase immunogenic performance. As we learn more information about how adjuvants work, it is becoming clear that proper stimulation of innate immunity is crucial to achieving a successful immunization. Several hepatic cell types participate in the early innate immune response and the subsequent inflammation and activation of the adaptive response, principally hepatocytes, and antigen-presenting cells (Kupffer cells, and dendritic cells). Innate pattern recognition receptors on these cells, mainly toll-like receptors, are targets for new promising adjuvants. Moreover, complex adjuvants that stimulate different components of the innate immunity are showing encouraging results and are being incorporated in current vaccines. Recent studies on HCV-vaccine adjuvants have shown that the induction of a strong T- and B-cell immune response might be enhanced by choosing the right adjuvant.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Salvador Resino
- Correspondence: (S.R.); (I.M.); Tel.: +34-91-8223266 (S.R.); +34-91-8223272 (I.M.); Fax: +34-91-5097919 (S.R. & I.M.)
| | - Isidoro Martinez
- Correspondence: (S.R.); (I.M.); Tel.: +34-91-8223266 (S.R.); +34-91-8223272 (I.M.); Fax: +34-91-5097919 (S.R. & I.M.)
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION The recent availability of highly effective hepatitis C medications, with a cure rate approaching 100%, has created a wide range of questions and uncertainties. AREAS COVERED The most recent data around hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination will be reviewed. In addition, the impact of HCV cure or sustained virologic response (SVR) on the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development will be discussed. Although the terms 'SVR' and 'cure' are used interchangeably, there are little data to support that they are actually the same. In this review, we will shed some light on the status of HCV vaccine development, obstacles, and published experience. Finally, in the face of decreasing HCV patients needing transplantation, and increasing available organs from donors infected with HCV, the question is that, is it possible to transplant an organ infected with HCV to a patient who is not infected? The pros and cons of transplanting HCV-positive organs to HCV-negative recipients will be discussed. EXPERT OPINION Although the new advances in HCV treatment have solved many problems, it created several new issues which the medical community has to deal with and which will likely remain in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Massoud
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, AL, USA
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