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Pusara S, Wenzel W, Kozlowska M. Impact of DNA on interactions between core proteins of Hepatitis B virus-like particles comprising different C-terminals. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 263:130365. [PMID: 38401590 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130365] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) virus-like particles (VLPs) are promising therapeutic agents derived from HBV core proteins (Cp). This study investigates the assembly dynamics of HBV VLPs, which is crucial for their potential as drug carriers or gene delivery systems. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations explore the impact of C-terminal domain length (in the Cp ranging from Cp149 to wild-type Cp183) on Cp assembly and stability, particularly in the presence of DNA. Our findings reveal that the C-terminal nucleic acid binding region significantly influences Cp assembly and stability of trimers comprising Cp dimers. Shorter C-terminal domains (Cp164, Cp167) enhance stability and protein-protein interactions, while interactions between naturally occurring Cp183 are destabilized in the absence of DNA. Interestingly, DNA addition further stabilizes Cp assemblies, and this effect is influenced by the length of the nucleic acid binding region. Shorter C-terminal domains show less dependency on DNA content. This stabilization is attributed to electrostatic forces between positively charged C-terminal chains and negatively charged nucleic acids. Our study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms governing protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions in HBV VLP assembly, providing insights into Cp processability and informing the development of efficient gene therapy carriers using VLP technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srdjan Pusara
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT, Kaiserstraße 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wenzel
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT, Kaiserstraße 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Mariana Kozlowska
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT, Kaiserstraße 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
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2
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Su J, Harati Taji Z, Kosinska AD, Ates Oz E, Xie Z, Bielytskyi P, Shein M, Hagen P, Esmaeili S, Steiger K, Protzer U, Schütz AK. Introducing adjuvant-loaded particulate hepatitis B core antigen as an alternative therapeutic hepatitis B vaccine component. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:100997. [PMID: 38425450 PMCID: PMC10904195 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Particulate hepatitis B core antigen (HBcoreAg) is a potent immunogen used as a vaccine carrier platform. HBcoreAg produced in E. coli encapsidates random bacterial RNA (bRNA). Using the heterologous protein-prime, viral-vector-boost therapeutic hepatitis B vaccine TherVacB, we compared the properties of different HBcoreAg forms. We explored how the content of HBcoreAg modulates antigen stability, immunogenicity, and antiviral efficacy. Methods bRNA was removed from HBcoreAg by capsid disassembly, followed by reassembly in the absence or presence of specific nucleic acid-based adjuvants poly I:C or CpG. The morphology and structure of empty, bRNA-containing and adjuvant-loaded HBcoreAg were monitored by electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Empty, bRNA-containing or adjuvant-loaded HBcoreAg were applied together with HBsAg and with or without nucleic acid-based external adjuvants within the TherVacB regimen in both wild-type and HBV-carrier mice. Results While HBcoreAg retained its structure upon bRNA removal, its stability and immunogenicity decreased significantly. Loading HBcoreAg with nucleic acid-based adjuvants re-established stability of the capsid-like antigen. Immunization with poly I:C- or CpG-loaded HBcoreAg induced high antibody titers against co-administered HBsAg. When applied within the TherVacB regimen, they activated vigorous HBcoreAg- and HBsAg-specific T-cell responses in wild-type and HBV-carrier mice, requiring a significantly lower dose of adjuvant compared to externally added adjuvant. Finally, immunization with adjuvant-loaded HBcoreAg mixed with HBsAg led to long-term control of persistent HBV replication in the HBV-carrier mice. Conclusion Adjuvant-loaded HBcoreAg retained capsid integrity and stability, was as immunogenic in vivo as externally adjuvanted HBcoreAg, requiring lower adjuvant levels, and supported immunity against co-administered, non-adjuvanted HBsAg. Thus, adjuvant-loaded HBcoreAg represents a promising novel platform for vaccine development. Impact and implications Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcoreAg) recapitulates the capsid of the HBV that hosts the viral genome. Produced recombinantly, it is not infectious but emerges as a potent immunogen in vaccine development. In this preclinical study, we show that loading HBcoreAg with defined nucleic-acid-based adjuvants on the one hand stabilizes the HBcoreAg with standardized capsid content and, on the other hand, efficiently promotes the immunity of HBcoreAg and a co-administered antigen, allowing for reduced adjuvant doses. Therefore, adjuvant-loaded HBcoreAg not only serves as an encouraging option for therapeutic hepatitis B vaccines, but could also act as an efficient adjuvant delivery system for other types of vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinpeng Su
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich / Helmholtz Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich partner site, Germany
| | - Zahra Harati Taji
- Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, Technical University of Munich, 85748, Garching, Germany
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Anna D. Kosinska
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich / Helmholtz Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich partner site, Germany
| | - Edanur Ates Oz
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich / Helmholtz Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Zhe Xie
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich / Helmholtz Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Pavlo Bielytskyi
- Bavarian NMR Center, Technical University of Munich, 85748, Garching, Germany
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Mikhail Shein
- Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, Technical University of Munich, 85748, Garching, Germany
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Philipp Hagen
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich / Helmholtz Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Shohreh Esmaeili
- Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, Technical University of Munich, 85748, Garching, Germany
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Katja Steiger
- Comparative Experimental Pathology, Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich / Helmholtz Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich partner site, Germany
| | - Anne K. Schütz
- Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, Technical University of Munich, 85748, Garching, Germany
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
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3
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Gupta R, Arora K, Mehrotra Arora N, Kundu P. Significance of VLPs in Vlp-circRNA vaccines: a vaccine candidate or delivery vehicle? RNA Biol 2024; 21:17-28. [PMID: 39240021 PMCID: PMC11382717 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2024.2399307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of single-stranded RNAs with a closed loop lacking 5' and 3' ends. These circRNAs are translatable and, therefore, have a potential in developing vaccine. CircRNA vaccines have been shown to be more stable, safe, easy to manufacture and scale-up production when compared to mRNA vaccines. However, these vaccines also suffer from several drawbacks such as low circularization efficiency for longer RNA precursor and usage of lipid nano particles (LNPs) in their delivery. LNPs have been shown to require large amounts of RNA due to their indirect delivery from endosome to cytosol. Besides, individual components of LNPs provide reactogenicity. Usage of virus like particles (VLPs) can improve the increased production and targeted delivery of circRNA vaccines and show no reactogenicity. Moreover, VLPs has also been used to produce vaccines against several diseases such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) etc. In this article, we will discuss about the methods used to enhance synthesis or circularization efficiency of circRNA. Moreover, we will also discuss about the significance of VLPs as the delivery vehicle for circRNA and their possible usage as the dual vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reeshu Gupta
- Department of Research and Development, Premas Biotech Pvt Ltd., Industrial Model Township (IMT), Gurugram, India
- Research and Development Cell, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
| | - Kajal Arora
- Department of Research and Development, Premas Biotech Pvt Ltd., Industrial Model Township (IMT), Gurugram, India
| | - Nupur Mehrotra Arora
- Department of Research and Development, Premas Biotech Pvt Ltd., Industrial Model Township (IMT), Gurugram, India
| | - Prabuddha Kundu
- Department of Research and Development, Premas Biotech Pvt Ltd., Industrial Model Township (IMT), Gurugram, India
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Valentic A, Böhner N, Hubbuch J. Absolute Quantification of Hepatitis B Core Antigen (HBcAg) Virus-like Particles and Bound Nucleic Acids. Viruses 2023; 16:13. [PMID: 38275948 PMCID: PMC10820971 DOI: 10.3390/v16010013] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Effective process development towards intensified processing for gene delivery applications using Hepatitis B core Antigen (HBcAg) virus-like particles (VLPs) relies on analytical methods for the absolute quantification of HBcAg VLP proteins and bound nucleic acids. We investigated a silica spin column (SC)-based extraction procedure, including proteinase K lysis and silica chromatography, for the absolute quantification of different species of nucleic acids bound to HBcAg VLPs analyzed by dye-based fluorescence assays. This revealed load-dependent nucleic acid recoveries of the silica-SC-based extraction. We also developed a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method to separate and quantify the HBcAg proteins and the bound nucleic acids simultaneously without prior sample treatment by dissociation reagents. The method demonstrated sufficient linearity, accuracy, and precision coefficients and is suited for determining absolute protein and nucleic acid concentrations and HBcAg protein purities at various purification stages. Both the silica-SC-based extraction and the RP-based extraction presented overcome the limitations of analytical techniques, which are restricted to relative or qualitative analyses for HBcAg VLPs with bound nucleic acids. In combination with existing analytics, the methods for an absolute quantification of HBcAg VLPs and bound nucleic acids presented here are required to evaluate downstream purification steps, such as the removal of host cell-derived nucleic acids, concurrent protein loss, and efficient loading with therapeutic nucleic acids. Hence, the methods are key for effective process development when using HBcAg VLP as potential gene delivery vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jürgen Hubbuch
- Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences—Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; (A.V.); (N.B.)
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Dishlers A, Petrovskis I, Skrastina D, Zarina I, Lieknina I, Jansons J, Akopjana I, Zakova J, Ose V, Sominskaya I. PreS1 Containing HBc VLPs for the Development of a Combined Therapeutic/Prophylactic Hepatitis B Vaccine. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11040972. [PMID: 37110395 PMCID: PMC10142831 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11040972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The available HBV vaccines based on the HBV surface protein are manufactured in yeasts and demonstrate excellent prophylactic but no therapeutic activity and are thus ineffective against chronic HBV infection. Five different HBV core proteins (HBc)-full length and C-terminally truncated-were used for the insertion of the short, preS1,aa 20-47 and long, preS1phil, aa 12-60 + 89-119 fragments. Modified virus-like particles (VLPs) were compared for their biotechnological and immunological properties. The expression level of HBc-preS1 proteins was high for all investigated proteins, allowing us to obtain 10-20 mg of purified VLPs from a gram of biomass with the combination of gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography to reach approximately 90% purity of target proteins. The immunogenicity of chimeric VLPs was tested in BALB/c mice, showing a high anti-preS1 response and substantial T-cell proliferation after stimulation with HBc protein. Targeted incorporation of oligonucleotide ODN 1668 in modified HBc-preS1 VLPs was demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andris Dishlers
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, 1067 Riga, Latvia
| | - Ivars Petrovskis
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, 1067 Riga, Latvia
| | - Dace Skrastina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, 1067 Riga, Latvia
| | - Ieva Zarina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, 1067 Riga, Latvia
| | - Ilva Lieknina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, 1067 Riga, Latvia
| | - Juris Jansons
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, 1067 Riga, Latvia
| | - Inara Akopjana
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, 1067 Riga, Latvia
| | - Jelena Zakova
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, 1067 Riga, Latvia
| | - Velta Ose
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, 1067 Riga, Latvia
| | - Irina Sominskaya
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, 1067 Riga, Latvia
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Valentic A, Müller J, Hubbuch J. Effects of Different Lengths of a Nucleic Acid Binding Region and Bound Nucleic Acids on the Phase Behavior and Purification Process of HBcAg Virus-Like Particles. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:929243. [PMID: 35845397 PMCID: PMC9283707 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.929243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are macromolecular structures with great potential as vehicles for the targeted administration of functional molecules. Loaded with nucleic acids, VLPs are a promising approach for nanocarriers needed for gene therapy. There is broad knowledge of the manufacturing of the truncated wild-type lacking a nucleic acid binding region, which is mainly being investigated for vaccine applications. Whereas for their potential application as a nanocarrier for gene therapy, hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) VLPs with a nucleic acid binding region for efficient cargo-loading are being investigated. VLP structure, loading, and phase behavior are of central importance to their therapeutic efficacy and thereby considerably affecting the production process. Therefore, HBcAg VLPs with different lengths of the nucleic acid binding region were produced in E. coli. VLP attributes such as size, zeta potential, and loading with host cell-derived nucleic acids were evaluated. Capsid’s size and zeta potential of the VLP constructs did not differ remarkably, whereas the analysis of the loading with host cell-derived nucleic acids revealed strong differences in the binding of host cell-derived nucleic acids dependent on the length of the binding region of the constructs, with a non-linear correlation but a two-zone behavior. Moreover, the phase behavior and purification process of the HBcAg VLPs as a function of the liquid phase conditions and the presence of host cell-derived nucleic acids were investigated. Selective VLP precipitation using ammonium sulfate was scarcely affected by the encapsulated nucleic acids. However, the disassembly reaction, which is crucial for structure homogeneity, separation of encapsulated impurities, and effective loading of the VLPs with therapeutic nucleic acids, was affected both by the studied liquid phase conditions, varying pH and concentration of reducing agents, and the different VLP constructs and amount of bound nucleic acids, respectively. Thereby, capsid-stabilizing effects of the bound nucleic acids and capsid-destabilizing effects of the nucleic acid binding region were observed, following the two-zone behavior of the construct’s loading, and a resulting correlation between the capsid stability and disassembly yields could be derived.
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7
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Huynh NH, Davey K, Jin B, Bi J. A statistical approach to boost soluble expression of E. coli-derived virus-like particles in shake-flask cultivation. J Biotechnol 2022; 347:56-66. [PMID: 35202741 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2022.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B core virus-like particles (HBc-VLP) have been widely used as carrier platforms to present an epitope of interest. Escherichia coli expression system is cost effective and produces high yields of recombinant protein. However major drawbacks include difficulties in obtaining soluble expression and tendency to form inclusion bodies. To boost solubility of proteins during expression of E. coli-derived HBc-VLPs carrying EBNA1 epitope, a statistical approach involving fractional factorial design (FFD) and response surface methodology (RSM) was used. For the first time, this approach was applied to quantitatively determine the impact of key parameters in shake-flask cultivation. Expression conditions including post-induction temperature and shaker-speed, and cell density at induction were optimized. Based on native agarose gel electrophoresis, optimized soluble protein cellular yield was 210.5mgg-1 dry cell mass and volumetric yield was 272mgL-1 of culture media. Findings highlight: 1) the significant interaction between post-induction temperature and shaker-speed on production, and; 2) sufficient oxygen level is required during induction. It is concluded that this statistical approach can be practically applied to optimize expression of HBc-VLP in shake-flask cultivation, and to determine key parameters for large-scale productions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nhat Hoang Huynh
- School of Chemical Engineering & Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Kenneth Davey
- School of Chemical Engineering & Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Bo Jin
- School of Chemical Engineering & Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Jingxiu Bi
- School of Chemical Engineering & Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
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8
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Sigl C, Willner EM, Engelen W, Kretzmann JA, Sachenbacher K, Liedl A, Kolbe F, Wilsch F, Aghvami SA, Protzer U, Hagan MF, Fraden S, Dietz H. Programmable icosahedral shell system for virus trapping. NATURE MATERIALS 2021; 20:1281-1289. [PMID: 34127822 PMCID: PMC7611604 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-021-01020-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Broad-spectrum antiviral platforms that can decrease or inhibit viral infection would alleviate many threats to global public health. Nonetheless, effective technologies of this kind are still not available. Here, we describe a programmable icosahedral canvas for the self-assembly of icosahedral shells that have viral trapping and antiviral properties. Programmable triangular building blocks constructed from DNA assemble with high yield into various shell objects with user-defined geometries and apertures. We have created shells with molecular masses ranging from 43 to 925 MDa (8 to 180 subunits) and with internal cavity diameters of up to 280 nm. The shell interior can be functionalized with virus-specific moieties in a modular fashion. We demonstrate this virus-trapping concept by engulfing hepatitis B virus core particles and adeno-associated viruses. We demonstrate the inhibition of hepatitis B virus core interactions with surfaces in vitro and the neutralization of infectious adeno-associated viruses exposed to human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Sigl
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elena M Willner
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Wouter Engelen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Ken Sachenbacher
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Liedl
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Fenna Kolbe
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Wilsch
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Munich, Germany
| | - S Ali Aghvami
- Department of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael F Hagan
- Department of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Seth Fraden
- Department of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Hendrik Dietz
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
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9
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Production of the HBc Protein from Different HBV Genotypes in E. coli. Use of Reassociated HBc VLPs for Packaging of ss- and dsRNA. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020283. [PMID: 33573151 PMCID: PMC7912224 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The core proteins (HBc) of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli), and HBc-formed virus-like particles (VLPs) were purified with ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration, and ion exchange chromatography (IEX). The best VLP yield was found for the HBc of the HBV genotypes D and G. For the HBc of the HBV genotypes D, F, and G, the possibility of dissociation and reassociation maintaining the native HBc structure was demonstrated. Single-stranded (ss) and double-stranded (ds) ribonucleic acid (RNA) was successfully packed into HBc VLPs for the HBV genotypes D and G.
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Sani MZ, Bargahi A, Momenzadeh N, Dehghani P, Moghadam MV, Maleki SJ, Nabipour I, Shirkani A, Akhtari J, Hesamizadeh K, Heidari S, Omrani F, Akbarzadeh S, Mohammadi M. Genetically engineered fusion of allergen and viral-like particle induces a more effective allergen-specific immune response than a combination of them. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 105:77-91. [PMID: 33215260 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-11012-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric virus-like particles (VLPs) were developed as a candidate for allergen-specific immunotherapy. In this study, hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) that genetically fused to Chenopodium album polcalcin (Che a 3)-derived peptide was expressed in E. coli BL21, purified, and VLP formation was evaluated using native agarose gel electrophoresis (NAGE) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Chimeric HBc VLPs were characterized in terms of their reactivity to IgE, the induction of blocking IgG and allergen-specific IgE, basophil-activating capacity, and Th1-type immune responses. Results from IgE reactivity and basophil activation test showed that chimeric HBc VLPs lack IgE-binding capacity and basophil degranulation activity. Although chimeric HBc VLPs induced the highest level of efficient polcalcin-specific IgG antibody in comparison to those induced by recombinant Che a 3 (rChe a 3) mixed either with HBc VLPs or alum, they triggered the lowest level of polcalcin-specific IgE in mice following immunization. Furthermore, in comparison to the other antigens, chimeric HBc VLPs produced a polcalcin-specific Th1 cell response. Taken together, genetically fusion of allergen derivatives to HBc VLPs, in comparison to a mix of them, may be a more effective way to induce appropriate immune responses in allergen-specific immunotherapy. KEY POINTS: • The insertion of allergen-derived peptide into major insertion region (MIR) of hepatitis B virus core (HBc) antigen resulted in nanoparticles displaying allergen-derived peptide upon its expression in prokaryotic host. • The resultant VLPs (chimeric HBc VLPs) did not exhibit IgE reactivity with allergic patients' sera and were not able to degranulate basophils. • Chimeric HBc VLPs dramatically improved protective IgG antibody response compared with those induced by allergen mixed either with HBc VLPs or alum. • Chimeric HBc VLPs induced Th1 responses that were counterparts of Th2 responses (allergic). • Chimeric HBc VLPs increased IgG2a/ IgG1 ratio and the level of IFN-γ compared to those induced by allergen mixed with either HBc VLPs or alum. Graphical Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Zamani Sani
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Afshar Bargahi
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Niloofar Momenzadeh
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Moallem Street, Bushehr, 7514633196, Iran
| | - Parva Dehghani
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Moallem Street, Bushehr, 7514633196, Iran
| | - Maryam Vakili Moghadam
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheila June Maleki
- Southern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Iraj Nabipour
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Moallem Street, Bushehr, 7514633196, Iran
| | - Afshin Shirkani
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Javad Akhtari
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Khashayar Hesamizadeh
- Department of Virology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Sahel Heidari
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Omrani
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Moallem Street, Bushehr, 7514633196, Iran
| | - Samad Akbarzadeh
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Mohsen Mohammadi
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Moallem Street, Bushehr, 7514633196, Iran.
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Stifter K, Dekhtiarenko I, Krieger J, Tissot AC, Seufferlein T, Wagner M, Schirmbeck R. A tumor-specific neoepitope expressed in homologous/self or heterologous/viral antigens induced comparable effector CD8 + T-cell responses by DNA vaccination. Vaccine 2020; 38:3711-3719. [PMID: 32278524 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Somatic mutations in tumors often generate neoproteins that contain MHC-I-binding neoepitopes. Little is known if and how efficient tumor-specific neoantigens activate CD8+ T cells. Here, we asked whether a de novo generated neoepitope, encoded either within an otherwise conserved and ubiquitously expressed self-antigen or in a chimeric HBV core antigen expression platform, providing heterologous helper functions, induces CD8+ T cells in C57Bl/6J mice by DNA immunization. For it, we chose an established Db/Sp244-252/R251H neoepitope generated in the murine Endophilin-B2/SH3GLB2 (EndoB2-Sp) protein by a single amino acid exchange. We showed that a single injection of EndoB2-Sp expression vectors efficiently primed dimer/pentamer+, IFN-γ+ and cytolytic Db/Sp244-252/R251H-specific effector CD8+ T cells in C57Bl/6J mice. Priming of Db/Sp244-252/R251H-specific CD8+ T cells proceeded independent from CD4+ T-cell help in MHC-II-deficient Aα-/- mice. As compared to the homologous EndoB2-Sp vaccine, the selective expression of the Db/Sp244-252/R251H neoepitope in chimeric particle-forming and assembly-deficient HBV core antigens induced comparable frequencies Db/Sp244-252/R251H-specific CD8+ T cells with the same cytolytic effector phenotype. The homologous EndoB2 carrier, but not the nine-residue neoepitope presented on chimeric HBV core particles, induced EndoB2-specific IgG antibody responses. The HBV core expression platform is thus an attractive option to selectively induce neoepitope-specific effector CD8+ T cells by DNA vaccination. These novel findings have practical implications for the design of heterologous/self and heterologous/viral cancer vaccines that prime and/or activate neoepitope-specific CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Stifter
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Iryna Dekhtiarenko
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany; Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Zürich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Jana Krieger
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Alain Charles Tissot
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Roche Diagnostics GmbH; Nonnenwald 2, 82377 Penzberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Seufferlein
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Martin Wagner
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Reinhold Schirmbeck
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
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12
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Aston-Deaville S, Carlsson E, Saleem M, Thistlethwaite A, Chan H, Maharjan S, Facchetti A, Feavers IM, Alistair Siebert C, Collins RF, Roseman A, Derrick JP. An assessment of the use of Hepatitis B Virus core protein virus-like particles to display heterologous antigens from Neisseria meningitidis. Vaccine 2020; 38:3201-3209. [PMID: 32178907 PMCID: PMC7113836 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is the causative agent of meningococcal meningitis and sepsis and remains a significant public health problem in many countries. Efforts to develop a comprehensive vaccine against serogroup B meningococci have focused on the use of surface-exposed outer membrane proteins. Here we report the use of virus-like particles derived from the core protein of Hepatitis B Virus, HBc, to incorporate antigen domains derived from Factor H binding protein (FHbp) and the adhesin NadA. The extracellular domain of NadA was inserted into the major immunodominant region of HBc, and the C-terminal domain of FHbp at the C-terminus (CFHbp), creating a single polypeptide chain 3.7-fold larger than native HBc. Remarkably, cryoelectron microscopy revealed that the construct formed assemblies that were able to incorporate both antigens with minimal structural changes to native HBc. Electron density was weak for NadA and absent for CFHbp, partly attributable to domain flexibility. Following immunization of mice, three HBc fusions (CFHbp or NadA alone, NadA + CFHbp) were able to induce production of IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b antibodies reactive against their respective antigens at dilutions in excess of 1:18,000. However, only HBc fusions containing NadA elicited the production of antibodies with serum bactericidal activity. It is hypothesized that this improved immune response is attributable to the adoption of a more native-like folding of crucial conformational epitopes of NadA within the chimeric VLP. This work demonstrates that HBc can incorporate insertions of large antigen domains but that maintenance of their three-dimensional structure is likely to be critical in obtaining a protective response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Aston-Deaville
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Emil Carlsson
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Muhammad Saleem
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Angela Thistlethwaite
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Hannah Chan
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Sunil Maharjan
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Alessandra Facchetti
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Ian M Feavers
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, UK
| | - C Alistair Siebert
- Electron Bio-Imaging Centre, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Richard F Collins
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Alan Roseman
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jeremy P Derrick
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
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13
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Endogenously Expressed Antigens Bind Mammalian RNA via Cationic Domains that Enhance Priming of Effector CD8 T Cells by DNA Vaccination. Mol Ther 2019; 27:661-672. [PMID: 30713086 PMCID: PMC6403493 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core (HBV-C) antigens with homologous or heterologous HIV-tat48-57-like (HBV-C149tat) cationic domains non-specifically bind cellular RNA in vector-transfected cells. Here, we investigated whether RNA-binding to cationic domains influences the immunogenicity of endogenously expressed antigens delivered by DNA vaccination. We initially evaluated induction of HBV-C (Kb/C93)-specific CD8+ T cell responses in C57BL/6J (B6) and 1.4HBV-Smut transgenic (tg) mice that harbor a replicating HBV genome in hepatocytes by DNA immunization. RNA-binding HBV-C and HBV-C149tat antigens moderately enhanced Kb/C93-specific CD8+ T cells in B6 mice as compared with RNA-free HBV-C149 antigen (lacking cationic domains). However, only the RNA-binding antigens elicited Kb/C93-specific CD8+ T cells that inhibited HBV replication in 1.4HBV-Smut tg mice. Moreover, RNA-binding to designer antigens, which express a Kb/p15E epitope from an endogenous murine leukemia virus-derived tumor-specific gp70 protein, was crucial to prime tumor-rejecting effector CD8+ T cells in B6 mice. Antigen-bound endogenous RNAs function as a Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR-7) ligand and stimulated priming of Kb/p15E-specific CD8+ T cells in B6, but not TLR-7−/−, mice. Antigen-bound cellular RNAs thus function as an endogenous natural adjuvant in in vivo vector-transfected cells, and thus are an attractive tool to induce and/or enhance effector CD8+ T cell responses directed against chronic viral infections or tumor self-antigens by DNA vaccination.
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14
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Krieger J, Stifter K, Riedl P, Schirmbeck R. Cationic domains in particle-forming and assembly-deficient HBV core antigens capture mammalian RNA that stimulates Th1-biased antibody responses by DNA vaccination. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14660. [PMID: 30279478 PMCID: PMC6168482 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32971-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The HBV core protein self-assembles into particles and encapsidates immune-stimulatory bacterial RNA through a cationic COOH-terminal (C150-183) domain. To investigate if different cationic domains have an impact on the endogenous RNA-binding of HBV-C antigens in mammalian cells, we developed a strep-tag (st) based expression/purification system for HBV-C/RNA antigens in vector-transfected HEK-293 cells. We showed that HBV-stC but not HBV-stC149 particles (lacking the cationic domain) capture low amounts of mammalian RNA. Prevention of specific phosphorylation in cationic domains, either by exchanging the serine residues S155, S162 and S170 with alanines (HBV-stCAAA) or by exchanging the entire cationic domain with a HIV-tat48-57-like sequence (HBV-stC149tat) enhanced the encapsidation of RNA into mutant core particles. Particle-bound mammalian RNA functioned as TLR-7 ligand and induced a Th1-biased humoral immunity in B6 but not in TLR-7-/- mice by exogenous (protein) and endogenous (DNA) vaccines. Compared to core particles, binding of mammalian RNA to freely exposed cationic domains in assembly-deficient antigens was enhanced. However, RNA bound to non-particulate antigens unleash its Th1-stimulating adjuvant activity by DNA- but not protein-based vaccination. Mammalian RNAs targeted by an endogenously expressed antigen thus function as a natural adjuvant in the host that facilitates priming of Th1-biased immune responses by DNA-based immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Krieger
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Katja Stifter
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Petra Riedl
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
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15
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Ji M, Xie XX, Liu DQ, Yu XL, Zhang Y, Zhang LX, Wang SW, Huang YR, Liu RT. Hepatitis B core VLP-based mis-disordered tau vaccine elicits strong immune response and alleviates cognitive deficits and neuropathology progression in Tau.P301S mouse model of Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2018; 10:55. [PMID: 29914543 PMCID: PMC6006857 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-018-0378-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background Truncated mis-disordered tau protein plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Tau294–305, an epitope in the truncated tau, is essential for pathological tau-tau interaction and aggregation. A tau294–305-targeted approach may have beneficial effects in the treatment of AD and FTD. Methods In this study, we genetically fused tau294–305 epitope to the hepatitis B virus core protein (HBc) major immunodominant region (MIR) (with the resultant protein termed T294-HBc), and we subcutaneously immunized a Tau.P301S transgenic mouse model of FTD and AD with T294-HBc four times. The levels and characteristics of antibodies induced by T294-HBc were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effect of T294-HBc on the cognitive deficits of Tau.P301S mice was tested using the Morris water maze test, novel object recognition, and a Y-maze test. Western blot analysis and IHC were applied to measure the effect of T294-HBc on tau pathologies and neuroinflammation in the mouse brains. Results The results showed that T294-HBc self-assembled into HBc chimeric virus-like particles (VLPs) with tau294–305 displayed on the surface and that it induced high antibody titers specifically against the mis-disordered truncated tau. Further investigation showed that these antibodies simultaneously bound to microtubule-binding regions 1–4 (MTBR1–4) [tau263–274, tau294–305, tau325–336, tau357–368 and tau294–305(P301S)]. Moreover, T294-HBc VLP vaccination significantly ameliorated memory and cognitive decline; reduced the levels of AT8-positive tau, truncated tau monomer, and oligomer; attenuated microgliosis and astrogliosis; and rescued synaptic deficits in Tau.P301S transgenic mice. Conclusions T294-HBc VLP vaccine elicited strong immune response and alleviated cognitive deficits and neuropathology progression in Tau.P301S mice, indicating that the T294-HBc VLP vaccine has promising therapeutic potential for the treatment of AD and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Ji
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xi-Xiu Xie
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Dong-Qun Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China
| | - Ling-Xiao Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shao-Wei Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Ya-Ru Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Rui-Tian Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China.
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16
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Schumacher J, Bacic T, Staritzbichler R, Daneschdar M, Klamp T, Arnold P, Jägle S, Türeci Ö, Markl J, Sahin U. Enhanced stability of a chimeric hepatitis B core antigen virus-like-particle (HBcAg-VLP) by a C-terminal linker-hexahistidine-peptide. J Nanobiotechnology 2018; 16:39. [PMID: 29653575 PMCID: PMC5897928 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-018-0363-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virus-like-particles (VLPs) are attractive nanoparticulate scaffolds for broad applications in material/biological sciences and medicine. Prior their functionalization, specific adaptations have to be carried out. These adjustments frequently lead to disordered particles, but the particle integrity is an essential factor for the VLP suitability. Therefore, major requirements for particle stabilization exist. The objective of this study was to evaluate novel stabilizing elements for functionalized chimeric hepatitis B virus core antigen virus-like particles (HBcAg-VLP), with beneficial characteristics for vaccine development, imaging or delivery. RESULTS The effects of a carboxy-terminal polyhistidine-peptide and an intradimer disulfide-bridge on the stability of preclinically approved chimeric HBcAg-VLPs were assessed. We purified recombinant chimeric HBcAg-VLPs bearing different modified C-termini and compared their physical and chemical particle stability by quantitative protein-biochemical and biophysical techniques. We observed lower chemical resistance of T = 3- compared to T = 4-VLP (triangulation number) capsids and profound impairment of accessibility of hexahistidine-peptides in assembled VLPs. Histidines attached to the C-terminus were associated with superior mechanical and/or chemical particle stability depending on the number of histidine moieties. A molecular modeling approach based on cryo-electron microscopy and biolayer interferometry revealed the underlying structural mechanism for the strengthening of the integrity of VLPs. Interactions triggering capsid stabilization occur on a highly conserved residue on the basis of HBcAg-monomers as well as on hexahistidine-peptides of adjacent monomers. This new stabilization mechanism appears to mimic an evolutionary conserved stabilization concept for hepadnavirus core proteins. CONCLUSIONS These findings establish the genetically simply transferable C-terminal polyhistidine-peptide as a general stabilizing element for chimeric HBcAg-VLPs to increase their suitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Schumacher
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Protein Therapeutics Corporation, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131, Mainz, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine III, Translational and Experimental Oncology, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tijana Bacic
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Protein Therapeutics Corporation, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131, Mainz, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine III, Translational and Experimental Oncology, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - René Staritzbichler
- TRON Translational Oncology, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University, TRON gGmbH, Freiligrathstrasse 12, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Matin Daneschdar
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Translational and Experimental Oncology, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Thorsten Klamp
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Protein Therapeutics Corporation, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131, Mainz, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine III, Translational and Experimental Oncology, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Philipp Arnold
- Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Johannes-von-Müller-Weg 6, 55128, Mainz, Germany.,Anatomical Institute, Otto-Hahn Platz 8, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sabrina Jägle
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Protein Therapeutics Corporation, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131, Mainz, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine III, Translational and Experimental Oncology, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Özlem Türeci
- Ganymed Pharmaceuticals AG, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jürgen Markl
- Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Johannes-von-Müller-Weg 6, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ugur Sahin
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Protein Therapeutics Corporation, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131, Mainz, Germany. .,Department of Internal Medicine III, Translational and Experimental Oncology, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany. .,TRON Translational Oncology, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University, TRON gGmbH, Freiligrathstrasse 12, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
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17
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Wang Y, Wang Y, Kang N, Liu Y, Shan W, Bi S, Ren L, Zhuang G. Construction and Immunological Evaluation of CpG-Au@HBc Virus-Like Nanoparticles as a Potential Vaccine. NANOSCALE RESEARCH LETTERS 2016; 11:338. [PMID: 27435343 PMCID: PMC4951386 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-016-1554-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Different types of vaccines have been developed to elicit active immunization to treat various diseases, while suffer from limitation of efficacy. Herein, a novel immunostimulatory nanocomposite (CpG-Au@HBc VLP) was rationally designed by self-assembling engineered virus-like particles encapsulating CpG-gold nanoparticle conjugates through electrostatic interactions. The monodispersed and uniformly sized CpG-Au@HBc VLP showed increased CD4(+), CD8(+) T cell numbers and stronger secretion of cytokine interferon-gamma than HBc VLPs adjuvanted with conventional Freund's adjuvant. Furthermore, the use of Au nanoparticles also generated enhanced immunogenicity of CpG and VLPs on both humoral and cellular immune pathways, as followed from increased expressions of total HBc-specific antibody titer, CD4(+) T cells, CD8(+) T cells, cytokine interleukin-4, and interferon-gamma. These findings demonstrated that CpG-Au@HBc VLP nanocomposite could induce robust cellular and humoral immune response, which could be a potential vaccine for future prophylactic and therapeutic application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yarun Wang
- />Department of Biomaterials and Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yue Wang
- />Organ Transplantation Institute, Anti-Cancer Research Center, Medical College, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ning Kang
- />Department of Biomaterials and Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yongliang Liu
- />Department of Biomaterials and Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005 People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenjun Shan
- />Department of Biomaterials and Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005 People’s Republic of China
| | - Shengli Bi
- />National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changbai Road 155, Changping District, Beijing, 102206 People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei Ren
- />Department of Biomaterials and Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005 People’s Republic of China
- />State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005 People’s Republic of China
- />Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005 People’s Republic of China
| | - Guohong Zhuang
- />Organ Transplantation Institute, Anti-Cancer Research Center, Medical College, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005 People’s Republic of China
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18
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Pumpens P, Grens E. The true story and advantages of the famous Hepatitis B virus core particles: Outlook 2016. Mol Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893316040099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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The Hepatitis B Virus Core Variants that Expose Foreign C-Terminal Insertions on the Outer Surface of Virus-Like Particles. Mol Biotechnol 2016; 57:1038-49. [PMID: 26446016 PMCID: PMC4619458 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-015-9895-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The major immunodominant region (MIR) and N-terminus of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) core (HBc) protein were used to expose foreign insertions on the outer surface of HBc virus-like particles (VLPs). The additions to the HBc positively charged arginine-rich C-terminal (CT) domain are usually not exposed on the VLP surface. Here, we constructed a set of recombinant HBcG vectors in which CT arginine stretches were substituted by glycine residues. In contrast to natural HBc VLPs and recombinant HBc VLP variants carrying native CT domain, the HBcG VLPs demonstrated a lowered capability to pack bacterial RNA during expression in Escherichia coli cells. The C-terminal addition of a model foreign epitope from the HBV preS1 sequence to the HBcG vectors resulted in the exposure of the inserted epitope on the VLP surface, whereas the same preS1 sequences added to the native CT of the natural HBc protein remained buried within the HBc VLPs. Based on the immunisation of mice, the preS1 epitope added to the HBcG vectors as a part of preS1(20-47) and preS1phil sequences demonstrated remarkable immunogenicity. The same epitope added to the original C-terminus of the HBc protein did not induce a notable level of anti-preS1 antibodies. HBcG vectors may contribute to the further development of versatile HBc VLP-based vaccine and gene therapy applications.
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20
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Kim J, Wu J. A Thermodynamic Model for Genome Packaging in Hepatitis B Virus. Biophys J 2016; 109:1689-97. [PMID: 26488660 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2015.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the fundamentals of genome packaging in viral capsids is important for finding effective antiviral strategies and for utilizing benign viral particles for gene therapy. While the structure of encapsidated genomic materials has been routinely characterized with experimental techniques such as cryo-electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction, much less is known about the molecular driving forces underlying genome assembly in an intracellular environment and its in vivo interactions with the capsid proteins. Here we study the thermodynamic basis of the pregenomic RNA encapsidation in human Hepatitis B virus in vivo using a coarse-grained molecular model that captures the essential components of nonspecific intermolecular interactions. The thermodynamic model is used to examine how the electrostatic interaction between the packaged RNA and the highly charged C-terminal domains (CTD) of capsid proteins regulate the nucleocapsid formation. The theoretical model predicts optimal RNA content in Hepatitis B virus nucleocapsids with different CTD lengths in good agreement with mutagenesis measurements, confirming the predominant role of electrostatic interactions and molecular excluded-volume effects in genome packaging. We find that the amount of encapsidated RNA is not linearly correlated with the net charge of CTD tails as suggested by earlier theoretical studies. Our thermodynamic analysis of the nucleocapsid structure and stability indicates that ∼10% of the CTD residues are free from complexation with RNA, resulting in partially exposed CTD tails. The thermodynamic model also predicts the free energy of complex formation between macromolecules, which corroborates experimental results for the impact of CTD truncation on the nucleocapsid stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jehoon Kim
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California at Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Jianzhong Wu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California at Riverside, Riverside, California.
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21
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Chu X, Li Y, Long Q, Xia Y, Yao Y, Sun W, Huang W, Yang X, Liu C, Ma Y. Chimeric HBcAg virus-like particles presenting a HPV 16 E7 epitope significantly suppressed tumor progression through preventive or therapeutic immunization in a TC-1-grafted mouse model. Int J Nanomedicine 2016; 11:2417-29. [PMID: 27313455 PMCID: PMC4892837 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s102467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Therapeutic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are currently being developed. However, no therapeutic efficacy has been achieved in clinical trials for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or cancer. One of the important issues in increasing vaccine efficacy is determining the best way to enhance tumor antigen-specific cellular immune responses. This study aimed to explore the virus-like particles (VLPs) of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) as potential therapeutic vaccine carriers and to assess its immunological characteristics. Methods Chimeric VLPs presenting a HPV 16 cytotoxic T lymphocytes epitope E749–57 (amino acid 49–57 of the E7 protein) were prepared using recombinant genes. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with VLPs and grafted with tumor cells TC-1 which is an E7-expressing tumorigenic cell line. The dynamic tumor growth was monitored and anti-tumor immune responses were investigated. Results Using a preventive strategy, immunization with VLPs resulted in nearly complete suppression of tumor growth. In treatment studies, VLP immunization significantly suppressed the tumor progression in mice carrying 2–3 mm tumors and in those bearing even larger tumors with diameters up to 8–9 mm. The VLP structure was shown to be important to induce vigorous antitumor immunity and effects. In immunized mice, enhanced E749–57-specific cellular immune responses were evidenced by increased interferon (IFN)-γ expression and decreased interleukin (IL)-4 expression in splenic lymphocytes, as well as an elevated number of effector cells expressing IFN-γ in response to the in vitro stimulation of the specific peptide E749–57. In addition, effective immune memory after VLP immunization was maintained for at least 16 weeks, preventing significant tumor growth after subsequent TC-1 challenge. Conclusion While VLPs were highly immunogenic in stimulating humoral immunity, our results strongly indicated that VLPs, such as HBcAg particles, might also be potent therapeutic vaccine carriers to elicit robust cellular immune responses, even in the immunosuppressive microenvironment of a tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Chu
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiong Long
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Xia
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Yufeng Yao
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenjia Sun
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiwei Huang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Cunbao Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanbing Ma
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
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Kolb P, Wallich R, Nassal M. Whole-Chain Tick Saliva Proteins Presented on Hepatitis B Virus Capsid-Like Particles Induce High-Titered Antibodies with Neutralizing Potential. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136180. [PMID: 26352137 PMCID: PMC4564143 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are vectors for various, including pathogenic, microbes. Tick saliva contains multiple anti-host defense factors that enable ticks their bloodmeals yet also facilitate microbe transmission. Lyme disease-causing borreliae profit specifically from the broadly conserved tick histamine release factor (tHRF), and from cysteine-rich glycoproteins represented by Salp15 from Ixodes scapularis and Iric-1 from Ixodes ricinus ticks which they recruit to their outer surface protein C (OspC). Hence these tick proteins are attractive targets for anti-tick vaccines that simultaneously impair borrelia transmission. Main obstacles are the tick proteins´ immunosuppressive activities, and for Salp15 orthologs, the lack of efficient recombinant expression systems. Here, we exploited the immune-enhancing properties of hepatitis B virus core protein (HBc) derived capsid-like particles (CLPs) to generate, in E. coli, nanoparticulate vaccines presenting tHRF and, as surrogates for the barely soluble wild-type proteins, cysteine-free Salp15 and Iric-1 variants. The latter CLPs were exclusively accessible in the less sterically constrained SplitCore system. Mice immunized with tHRF CLPs mounted a strong anti-tHRF antibody response. CLPs presenting cysteine-free Salp15 and Iric-1 induced antibodies to wild-type, including glycosylated, Salp15 and Iric-1. The broadly distributed epitopes included the OspC interaction sites. In vitro, the anti-Salp15 antibodies interfered with OspC binding and enhanced human complement-mediated killing of Salp15 decorated borreliae. A mixture of all three CLPs induced high titered antibodies against all three targets, suggesting the feasibility of combination vaccines. These data warrant in vivo validation of the new candidate vaccines´ protective potential against tick infestation and Borrelia transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Kolb
- University Hospital Freiburg, Internal Medicine 2 / Molecular Biology, Hugstetter Str. 55, D-79106, Freiburg, Germany
- University of Freiburg, Biological Faculty, Schänzlestr. 1, D-79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Wallich
- University Hospital Heidelberg, Institute of Immunology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 305, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Nassal
- University Hospital Freiburg, Internal Medicine 2 / Molecular Biology, Hugstetter Str. 55, D-79106, Freiburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Feng H, Yin J, Han YP, Zhou XY, Chen S, Yang L, Yan JR, Zhang GX. Sustained Changes of Treg and Th17 Cells During Interferon-α Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B. Viral Immunol 2015; 28:412-7. [PMID: 26266573 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2015.0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a worldwide infectious disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV mainly damages liver cells through immune response. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were dynamic changes of Treg and Th17 cells and to judge the value of these indicators to antiviral treatment. Twenty-two CHB patients and selected 30 healthy adults were enrolled. Results showed that the expression of Treg (5.72±0.46 vs. 4.42±0.17, p=0.0019) and Th17 (3.94±0.64 vs. 2.66±3.12, p=0.0436) cells was significantly increased in CHB patients, as well as the level of interleukin-17 (IL-17) (16.88±5.37 vs. 8.59±3.31; p=0.004). Then, we monitored longitudinally the impact of the treatment with interferon-α and found that the suppression of viral replication induced by interferon-α resulted in a decrease in Treg, Th17 cells, and IL-17; we also found that the percentage of Treg and Th17 cells went up without clear evidence of clinical autoimmune disease at the end of treatment. Thus, Treg and Th17 cells might play an important role in interferon-α treatment to eliminate HBV. The level of changes may be served to determine the antiviral efficacy of interferon-α therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Feng
- 1 Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing, China .,2 Nanjing Jiangbei People's Hospital , Nanjing, China
| | - Jie Yin
- 2 Nanjing Jiangbei People's Hospital , Nanjing, China
| | - Ya-Ping Han
- 1 Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Ying Zhou
- 1 Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing, China
| | - Su Chen
- 2 Nanjing Jiangbei People's Hospital , Nanjing, China
| | - Li Yang
- 2 Nanjing Jiangbei People's Hospital , Nanjing, China
| | - Jin-Rui Yan
- 2 Nanjing Jiangbei People's Hospital , Nanjing, China
| | - Guo-Xin Zhang
- 1 Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing, China
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Feng H, Yin J, Han YP, Zhou XY, Zhang GX. Lymphocyte CD64 increased in patients with chronic HBV infection. Int J Clin Exp Med 2015; 8:10746-10752. [PMID: 26379867 PMCID: PMC4565250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
CD64 was up-regulated in infection diseases, but there was no report about the change of CD64 in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a dynamic change of CD 64 index and to judge the value to antiviral treatment. 96 CHB patients were enrolled and selected 33 healthy adults as control. We detected the level of CD64, found the level of CD64 were significantly increased in chronic HBV infection patients, especially the lymphocyte CD64 (8.12 ± 0.23 vs. 6.25 ± 0.27; P < 0.001). Further, we proved CD64 index was increased in various stages of chronic HBV infection. ROC curve analysis showed the level of lymphocyte CD64 had higher AUC value than neutrophil or monocyte. Then we monitor longitudinally the impact of the treatment with interferon-α and found that the suppression of viral replication induced by interferon-α resulted in a decrease in CD64 index. In conclusion, this study showed that CD64 index was increased in chronic HBV infection patients and changed with the course of disease, the therapy of interferon-α would correct it, and analysis prompted that the level of lymphocyte CD64 would be more suitable for as a biomarker to judge the condition of chronic HBV infection and the curative effect of interferon-α treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Feng
- Nanjing Jiangbei People’s HospitalNo. 552, Geguan Road, Nanjing 210048, China
| | - Jie Yin
- Nanjing Jiangbei People’s HospitalNo. 552, Geguan Road, Nanjing 210048, China
| | - Ya-Ping Han
- Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical UniversityNo. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Xiao-Ying Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical UniversityNo. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Guo-Xin Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical UniversityNo. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China
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25
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Preparation by alkaline treatment and detailed characterisation of empty hepatitis B virus core particles for vaccine and gene therapy applications. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11639. [PMID: 26113394 PMCID: PMC4650659 DOI: 10.1038/srep11639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core (HBc) virus-like particles (VLPs) are one of the most powerful protein engineering tools utilised to expose immunological epitopes and/or cell-targeting signals and for the packaging of genetic material and immune stimulatory sequences. Although HBc VLPs and their numerous derivatives are produced in highly efficient bacterial and yeast expression systems, the existing purification and packaging protocols are not sufficiently optimised and standardised. Here, a simple alkaline treatment method was employed for the complete removal of internal RNA from bacteria- and yeast-produced HBc VLPs and for the conversion of these VLPs into empty particles, without any damage to the VLP structure. The empty HBc VLPs were able to effectively package the added DNA and RNA sequences. Furthermore, the alkaline hydrolysis technology appeared efficient for the purification and packaging of four different HBc variants carrying lysine residues on the HBc VLP spikes. Utilising the introduced lysine residues and the intrinsic aspartic and glutamic acid residues exposed on the tips of the HBc spikes for chemical coupling of the chosen peptide and/or nucleic acid sequences ensured a standard and easy protocol for the further development of versatile HBc VLP-based vaccine and gene therapy applications.
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26
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Feng H, Yin J, Han YP, Zhou XY, Chen S, Yang L, Yan JR, Zhang GX. Regulatory T cells and IL-17(+) T helper cells enhanced in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Int J Clin Exp Med 2015; 8:8674-8685. [PMID: 26309519 PMCID: PMC4538083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B is a worldwide infectious disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), it leaded to millions of deaths every year, HBV mainly through immune response to damage liver cells. The purpose of this study was to judge the value of Regulatory T cells (Treg) and IL-17(+) T helper cells (Th17) in different chronic HBV infection stages. 96 patients with chronic HBV infection were enrolled and selected 33 healthy adults as control. Detected the expression of Treg and Th17 cells in peripheral blood by flow cytometry and assayed liver function simultaneously. Compared to the control group, the expression of Treg (6.80±1.92 vs. 4.42±0.97; P<0.0001) and Th17 (6.15±4.20 vs. 2.66±1.79; P<0.0001) cells were both increased and the ratio of Treg/Th17 was significantly decreased (1.48±0.89 vs. 2.29±1.31; P=0.0001) in patients with HBV infection. Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated that the level of Treg and Th17 cells were associated with liver function. ROC curve analysis found that Treg and Th17 cells were suitable for as a screening test for early detection of the disease. In conclusion, the expression of Treg and Th17 cells were increased in chronic hepatitis B patients and these indicators were independent risk factors to hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical UniversityNo. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China
- Nanjing Jiangbei People’s HospitalNo. 552, Geguan Road, Nanjing 210048, China
| | - Jie Yin
- Nanjing Jiangbei People’s HospitalNo. 552, Geguan Road, Nanjing 210048, China
| | - Ya-Ping Han
- Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical UniversityNo. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Xiao-Ying Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical UniversityNo. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Su Chen
- Nanjing Jiangbei People’s HospitalNo. 552, Geguan Road, Nanjing 210048, China
| | - Li Yang
- Nanjing Jiangbei People’s HospitalNo. 552, Geguan Road, Nanjing 210048, China
| | - Jin-Rui Yan
- Nanjing Jiangbei People’s HospitalNo. 552, Geguan Road, Nanjing 210048, China
| | - Guo-Xin Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical UniversityNo. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China
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27
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Skrastina D, Petrovskis I, Lieknina I, Bogans J, Renhofa R, Ose V, Dishlers A, Dekhtyar Y, Pumpens P. Silica nanoparticles as the adjuvant for the immunisation of mice using hepatitis B core virus-like particles. PLoS One 2014; 9:e114006. [PMID: 25436773 PMCID: PMC4250084 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 11/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in nanotechnology and nanomaterials have facilitated the development of silicon dioxide, or Silica, particles as a promising immunological adjuvant for the generation of novel prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. In the present study, we have compared the adjuvanting potential of commercially available Silica nanoparticles (initial particles size of 10–20 nm) with that of aluminium hydroxide, or Alum, as well as that of complete and incomplete Freund's adjuvants for the immunisation of BALB/c mice with virus-like particles (VLPs) formed by recombinant full-length Hepatitis B virus core (HBc) protein. The induction of B-cell and T-cell responses was studied after immunisation. Silica nanoparticles were able to adsorb maximally 40% of the added HBc, whereas the adsorption capacity of Alum exceeded 90% at the same VLPs/adjuvant ratio. Both Silica and Alum formed large complexes with HBc VLPs that sedimented rapidly after formulation, as detected by dynamic light scattering, spectrophotometry, and electron microscopy. Both Silica and Alum augmented the humoral response against HBc VLPs to the high anti-HBc level in the case of intraperitoneal immunisation, whereas in subcutaneous immunisation, the Silica-adjuvanted anti-HBc level even exceeded the level adjuvanted by Alum. The adjuvanting of HBc VLPs by Silica resulted in the same typical IgG2a/IgG1 ratios as in the case of the adjuvanting by Alum. The combination of Silica with monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) led to the same enhancement of the HBc-specific T-cell induction as in the case of the Alum and MPL combination. These findings demonstrate that Silica is not a weaker putative adjuvant than Alum for induction of B-cell and T-cell responses against recombinant HBc VLPs. This finding may have an essential impact on the development of the set of Silica-adjuvanted vaccines based on a long list of HBc-derived virus-like particles as the biological component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dace Skrastina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Ilva Lieknina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Janis Bogans
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Regina Renhofa
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Velta Ose
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | | | - Yuri Dekhtyar
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanotechnologies, Riga Technical University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Paul Pumpens
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
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Cielens I, Jackevica L, Strods A, Kazaks A, Ose V, Bogans J, Pumpens P, Renhofa R. Mosaic RNA phage VLPs carrying domain III of the West Nile virus E protein. Mol Biotechnol 2014; 56:459-69. [PMID: 24570176 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-014-9743-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The virus-neutralising domain III (DIII) of the West Nile virus glycoprotein E was exposed on the surface of RNA phage AP205 virus-like particles (VLPs) in mosaic form. For this purpose, a 111 amino acid sequence of DIII was added via amber or opal termination codons to the C-terminus of the AP205 coat protein, and mosaic AP205-DIII VLPs were generated by cultivation in amber- or opal-suppressing Escherichia coli strains. After extensive purification to 95 % homogeneity, mosaic AP205-DIII VLPs retained up to 11-16 % monomers carrying DIII domains. The DIII domains appeared on the VLP surface because they were fully accessible to anti-DIII antibodies. Immunisation of BALB/c mice with AP205-DIII VLPs resulted in the induction of specific anti-DIII antibodies, of which the level was comparable to that of the anti-AP205 antibodies generated against the VLP carrier. The AP205-DIII-induced anti-DIII response was represented by a significant fraction of IgG2 isotype antibodies, in contrast to parallel immunisation with the DIII oligopeptide, which failed to induce IgG2 isotype antibodies. Formulation of AP-205-DIII VLPs in alum adjuvant stimulated the level of the anti-DIII response, but did not alter the fraction of IgG2 isotype antibodies. Mosaic AP205-DIII VLPs could be regarded as a promising prototype of a putative West Nile vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indulis Cielens
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Street 1, Riga, 1067, Latvia
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