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Kim E, Shin J, Ferrari A, Huang S, An E, Han D, Khan MS, Kenniston TW, Cassaniti I, Baldanti F, Jeong D, Gambotto A. Fourth dose of microneedle array patch of SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein subunit vaccine elicits robust long-lasting humoral responses in mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 129:111569. [PMID: 38340419 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111569] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the pressing need for safe and effective booster vaccines, particularly in considering the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and addressing vaccine distribution inequalities. Dissolving microneedle array patches (MAP) offer a promising delivery method, enhancing immunogenicity and improving accessibility through the skin's immune potential. In this study, we evaluated a microneedle array patch-based S1 subunit protein COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which comprised a bivalent formulation targeting the Wuhan and Beta variant alongside a monovalent Delta variant spike proteins in a murine model. Notably, the second boost of homologous bivalent MAP-S1(WU + Beta) induced a 15.7-fold increase in IgG endpoint titer, while the third boost of heterologous MAP-S1RS09Delta yielded a more modest 1.6-fold increase. Importantly, this study demonstrated that the administration of four doses of the MAP vaccine induced robust and long-lasting immune responses, persisting for at least 80 weeks. These immune responses encompassed various IgG isotypes and remained statistically significant for one year. Furthermore, neutralizing antibodies against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants were generated, with comparable responses observed against the Omicron variant. Overall, these findings emphasize the potential of MAP-based vaccines as a promising strategy to combat the evolving landscape of COVID-19 and to deliver a safe and effective booster vaccine worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Kim
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Juyeop Shin
- Medical Business Division, Raphas Co., Ltd., Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Alessandro Ferrari
- Molecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Shaohua Huang
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Eunjin An
- Medical Business Division, Raphas Co., Ltd., Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Donghoon Han
- Medical Business Division, Raphas Co., Ltd., Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Muhammad S Khan
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Thomas W Kenniston
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Irene Cassaniti
- Molecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Fausto Baldanti
- Molecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Dohyeon Jeong
- Medical Business Division, Raphas Co., Ltd., Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Andrea Gambotto
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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2
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Aldoukhi AH, Bilalis P, Alhattab DM, Valle-Pérez AU, Susapto HH, Pérez-Pedroza R, Backhoff-García E, Alsawaf SM, Alshehri S, Boshah H, Alrashoudi AA, Aljabr WA, Alaamery M, Alrashed M, Hasanato RM, Farzan RA, Alsubki RA, Moretti M, Abedalthagafi MS, Hauser CAE. Fusing Peptide Epitopes for Advanced Multiplex Serological Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Detection. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2024; 4:37-52. [PMID: 38404747 PMCID: PMC10885102 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.3c00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The tragic COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen a total of 655 million cases worldwide and a death toll of over 6.6 million seems finally tailing off. Even so, new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continue to arise, the severity of which cannot be predicted in advance. This is concerning for the maintenance and stability of public health, since immune evasion and increased transmissibility may arise. Therefore, it is crucial to continue monitoring antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in the general population. As a complement to polymerase chain reaction tests, multiplex immunoassays are elegant tools that use individual protein or peptide antigens simultaneously to provide a high level of sensitivity and specificity. To further improve these aspects of SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection, as well as accuracy, we have developed an advanced serological peptide-based multiplex assay using antigen-fused peptide epitopes derived from both the spike and the nucleocapsid proteins. The significance of the epitopes selected for antibody detection has been verified by in silico molecular docking simulations between the peptide epitopes and reported SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Peptides can be more easily and quickly modified and synthesized than full length proteins and can, therefore, be used in a more cost-effective manner. Three different fusion-epitope peptides (FEPs) were synthesized and tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 145 blood serum samples were used, compromising 110 COVID-19 serum samples from COVID-19 patients and 35 negative control serum samples taken from COVID-19-free individuals before the outbreak. Interestingly, our data demonstrate that the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the results for the FEP antigens are higher than for single peptide epitopes or mixtures of single peptide epitopes. Our FEP concept can be applied to different multiplex immunoassays testing not only for SARS-CoV-2 but also for various other pathogens. A significantly improved peptide-based serological assay may support the development of commercial point-of-care tests, such as lateral-flow-assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali H. Aldoukhi
- Laboratory
for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science
and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational
Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-69900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Panayiotis Bilalis
- Laboratory
for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science
and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational
Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-69900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dana M. Alhattab
- Laboratory
for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science
and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational
Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-69900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alexander U. Valle-Pérez
- Laboratory
for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science
and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational
Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-69900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hepi H. Susapto
- Laboratory
for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science
and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational
Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-69900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rosario Pérez-Pedroza
- Laboratory
for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science
and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational
Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-69900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Emiliano Backhoff-García
- Laboratory
for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science
and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah M. Alsawaf
- Laboratory
for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science
and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational
Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-69900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salwa Alshehri
- Laboratory
for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science
and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational
Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-69900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hattan Boshah
- Laboratory
for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science
and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational
Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-69900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulelah A. Alrashoudi
- Laboratory
for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science
and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational
Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-69900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Waleed A. Aljabr
- Research
Centre, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh 12231, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manal Alaamery
- Developmental
Medicine Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research
Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health
Affairs, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University
for Health Sciences, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia
- KACST-BWH
Centre of Excellence for Biomedicine, Joint Centers of Excellence
Program, King Abdulaziz City for Science
and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 12371, Saudi Arabia
- Saudi
Human Genome Project (SHGP), Satellite Lab at King Abdulaziz Medical
City (KAMC), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNG-HA), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia
| | - May Alrashed
- Department
of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia
- Chair
of Medical and Molecular Genetics Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rana M. Hasanato
- Department
of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King
Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia
| | - Raed A. Farzan
- Department
of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia
- Chair
of Medical and Molecular Genetics Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia
| | - Roua A. Alsubki
- Department
of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia
- Chair
of Medical and Molecular Genetics Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manola Moretti
- Laboratory
for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science
and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational
Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-69900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Malak S. Abedalthagafi
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory
School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, United States
| | - Charlotte A. E. Hauser
- Laboratory
for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science
and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational
Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-69900, Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea
Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental
Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah
University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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3
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Vera JM, McIlwain SJ, Fye S, Palmenberg A, Bochkov Y, Li H, Pinapati R, Tan J, Gern JE, Seroogy C, Ong IM. Assessing Immune Factors in Maternal Milk and Paired Infant Plasma Antibody Binding to Human Rhinoviruses. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.17.565204. [PMID: 38187517 PMCID: PMC10769182 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.17.565204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Before they can produce their own antibodies, newborns are protected from infections by transplacental transfer of maternal IgG antibodies and after birth through breast milk IgA antibodies. Rhinovirus (RV) infections are extremely common in early childhood, and while RV infections often result in only mild upper respiratory illnesses, they can also cause severe lower respiratory illnesses such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. We used high-density peptide arrays to profile infant and maternal antibody reactivity to capsid and full proteome sequences of three human RVs - A16, B52, and C11. Numerous plasma IgG and breast milk IgA RV epitopes were identified that localized to regions of the RV capsid surface and interior, and also to several non-structural proteins. While most epitopes were bound by both IgG and IgA, there were several instances where isotype-specific and RV-specific binding were observed. We also profiled 62 unique RV-C dominant protein loop sequences characteristic of this species' capsid VP1 protein. Many of these RV-C sites were highly bound by IgG from one-year-old infants, indicating recent or ongoing active infections, or alternatively, a level of cross-reactivity among homologous RV-C sites.
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Cioffi VB, de Castro-Amarante MF, Lulla A, Andreata-Santos R, Cruz MC, Moreno ACR, de Oliveira Silva M, de Miranda Peres B, de Freitas Junior LHG, Moraes CB, Durigon EL, Gordon NC, Hyvönen M, de Souza Ferreira LC, Balan A. SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein peptides displayed in the Pyrococcus furiosus RAD system preserve epitopes antigenicity, immunogenicity, and virus-neutralizing activity of antibodies. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16821. [PMID: 37798298 PMCID: PMC10556064 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43720-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Amongst the potential contribution of protein or peptide-display systems to study epitopes with relevant immunological features, the RAD display system stands out as a highly stable scaffold protein that allows the presentation of constrained target peptides. Here, we employed the RAD display system to present peptides derived from the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein as a tool to detect specific serum antibodies and to generate polyclonal antibodies capable of inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in vitro. 44 linear S-derived peptides were genetically fused with the RAD scaffold (RAD-SCoV-epitopes) and screened for antigenicity with sera collected from COVID-19-infected patients. In a second step, selected RAD-SCoV-epitopes were used to immunize mice and generate antibodies. Phenotypic screening showed that some of these antibodies were able to recognize replicating viral particles in VERO CCL-81 and most notably seven of the RAD-SCoV-epitopes were able to induce antibodies that inhibited viral infection. Our findings highlight the RAD display system as an useful platform for the immunological characterization of peptides and a potentially valuable strategy for the design of antigens for peptide-based vaccines, for epitope-specific antibody mapping, and for the development of antibodies for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Bolsanelli Cioffi
- Laboratory of Applied Structural Biology, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Maria Fernanda de Castro-Amarante
- Laboratory of Vaccine Development, Department of Microbiology, University of São Paulo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Aleksei Lulla
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Robert Andreata-Santos
- Laboratory of Vaccine Development, Department of Microbiology, University of São Paulo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Mario Costa Cruz
- Core Facilities to Support Research (CEFAP), Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, São Paulo, 173005508-000, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Ramos Moreno
- Laboratory of Vaccine Development, Department of Microbiology, University of São Paulo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
- Vaccine Development Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Mariângela de Oliveira Silva
- Phenotypic Screening Platform, Department of Microbiology, University of São Paulo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Bianca de Miranda Peres
- Phenotypic Screening Platform, Department of Microbiology, University of São Paulo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Lucio Holanda Gondim de Freitas Junior
- Phenotypic Screening Platform, Department of Microbiology, University of São Paulo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Carolina Borsoi Moraes
- Phenotypic Screening Platform, Department of Microbiology, University of São Paulo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Edison Luiz Durigon
- Laboratory of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
- Institut Pasteur de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lucio Martins Rodrigues, 370, São Paulo, 05508-020, Brazil
| | - Nicola Coker Gordon
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Marko Hyvönen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Luís Carlos de Souza Ferreira
- Laboratory of Vaccine Development, Department of Microbiology, University of São Paulo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
- Institut Pasteur de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lucio Martins Rodrigues, 370, São Paulo, 05508-020, Brazil
| | - Andrea Balan
- Laboratory of Applied Structural Biology, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil.
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Timofeeva AM, Sedykh SE, Sedykh TA, Nevinsky GA. Natural Antibodies Produced in Vaccinated Patients and COVID-19 Convalescents Recognize and Hydrolyze Oligopeptides Corresponding to the S-Protein of SARS-CoV-2. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1494. [PMID: 37766170 PMCID: PMC10535122 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11091494] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The S-protein is the major antigen of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, against which protective antibodies are generated. The S-protein gene was used in adenoviral vectors and mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. While the primary function of antibodies is to bind to antigens, catalytic antibodies can hydrolyze various substrates, including nucleic acids, proteins, oligopeptides, polysaccharides, and some other molecules. In this study, antibody fractions with affinity for RBD and S-protein (RBD-IgG and S-IgG) were isolated from the blood of COVID-19 patients vaccinated with Sputnik V. The fractions were analyzed for their potential to hydrolyze 18-mer oligopeptides corresponding to linear fragments of the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein. Here, we show that the IgG antibodies hydrolyze six out of nine oligopeptides efficiently, with the antibodies of COVID-19-exposed donors demonstrating the most significant activity. The IgGs of control donors not exposed to SARS-CoV-2 were found to be inactive in oligopeptide hydrolysis. The antibodies of convalescents and vaccinated patients were found to hydrolyze oligopeptides in a wide pH range, with the optimal pH range between 6.5 and 7.5. The hydrolysis of most oligopeptides by RBD-IgG antibodies is inhibited by thiol protease inhibitors, whereas S-IgG active centers generally combine several types of proteolytic activities. Ca2+ ions increase the catalytic activity of IgG preparations containing metalloprotease-like active centers. Thus, the proteolytic activity of natural antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 protein is believed to be due to the similarity of catalytic antibodies' active centers to canonical proteases. This work raises the question of the possible physiological role of proteolytic natural RBD-IgG and S-IgG resulting from vaccination and exposure to COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Timofeeva
- SB RAS Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Sergey E. Sedykh
- SB RAS Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Tatyana A. Sedykh
- SB RAS Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Georgy A. Nevinsky
- SB RAS Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
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Eriksson C, Gunasekera S, Muhammad T, Zhang M, Laurén I, Mangsbo SM, Lord M, Göransson U. Epitopes Displayed in a Cyclic Peptide Scaffold Bind SARS-COV-2 Antibodies. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300103. [PMID: 37021633 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300103] [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: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 is a global health issue. The spread of the virus has resulted in seven million deaths to date. The emergence of new viral strains highlights the importance of continuous surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by using timely and accurate diagnostic tools. Here, we used a stable cyclic peptide scaffolds to present antigenic sequences derived from the spike protein that are reactive to SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Using peptide sequences from different domains of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, we grafted epitopes on the peptide scaffold sunflower trypsin inhibitor 1 (SFTI-1). These scaffold peptides were then used to develop an ELISA to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in serum. We show that displaying epitopes on the scaffold improves reactivity overall. One of the scaffold peptides (S2_1146-1161_c) has reactivity equal to that of commercial assays, and shows diagnostic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Eriksson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University Biomedical Centre, Box 591, 75123, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sunithi Gunasekera
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University Biomedical Centre, Box 591, 75123, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Taj Muhammad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University Biomedical Centre, Box 591, 75123, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mingshu Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University Biomedical Centre, Box 591, 75123, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ida Laurén
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University Biomedical Centre, 75123, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sara M Mangsbo
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University Biomedical Centre, 75123, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Martin Lord
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University Biomedical Centre, 75123, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University Biomedical Centre, Box 591, 75123, Uppsala, Sweden
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7
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Sinha A, Sangeet S, Roy S. Evolution of Sequence and Structure of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein: A Dynamic Perspective. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:23283-23304. [PMID: 37426203 PMCID: PMC10324094 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c00944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) enters its host cell through a surface spike protein. The viral spike protein has undergone several modifications/mutations at the genomic level, through which it modulated its structure-function and passed through several variants of concern. Recent advances in high-resolution structure determination and multiscale imaging techniques, cost-effective next-generation sequencing, and development of new computational methods (including information theory, statistical methods, machine learning, and many other artificial intelligence-based techniques) have hugely contributed to the characterization of sequence, structure, function of spike proteins, and its different variants to understand viral pathogenesis, evolutions, and transmission. Laying on the foundation of the sequence-structure-function paradigm, this review summarizes not only the important findings on structure/function but also the structural dynamics of different spike components, highlighting the effects of mutations on them. As dynamic fluctuations of three-dimensional spike structure often provide important clues for functional modulation, quantifying time-dependent fluctuations of mutational events over spike structure and its genetic/amino acidic sequence helps identify alarming functional transitions having implications for enhanced fusogenicity and pathogenicity of the virus. Although these dynamic events are more difficult to capture than quantifying a static, average property, this review encompasses those challenging aspects of characterizing the evolutionary dynamics of spike sequence and structure and their implications for functions.
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8
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Lorenz P, Steinbeck F, Mai F, Reisinger EC, Müller-Hilke B. A linear B-cell epitope close to the furin cleavage site within the S1 domain of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein discriminates the humoral immune response of nucleic acid- and protein-based vaccine cohorts. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1192395. [PMID: 37228598 PMCID: PMC10203960 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1192395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding the humoral immune response towards viral infection and vaccination is instrumental in developing therapeutic tools to fight and restrict the viral spread of global pandemics. Of particular interest are the specificity and breadth of antibody reactivity in order to pinpoint immune dominant epitopes that remain immutable in viral variants. Methods We used profiling with peptides derived from the Spike surface glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 to compare the antibody reactivity landscapes between patients and different vaccine cohorts. Initial screening was done with peptide microarrays while detailed results and validation data were obtained using peptide ELISA. Results Overall, antibody patterns turned out to be individually distinct. However, plasma samples of patients conspicuously recognized epitopes covering the fusion peptide region and the connector domain of Spike S2. Both regions are evolutionarily conserved and are targets of antibodies that were shown to inhibit viral infection. Among vaccinees, we discovered an invariant Spike region (amino acids 657-671) N-terminal to the furin cleavage site that elicited a significantly stronger antibody response in AZD1222- and BNT162b2- compared to NVX-CoV2373-vaccinees. Conclusions Understanding the exact function of antibodies recognizing amino acid region 657-671 of SARS-CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein and why nucleic acid-based vaccines elicit different responses from protein-based ones will be helpful for future vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Lorenz
- Institute of Immunology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Felix Steinbeck
- Institute of Immunology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Franz Mai
- Core Facility for Cell Sorting and Cell Analysis, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Emil C. Reisinger
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Brigitte Müller-Hilke
- Institute of Immunology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Core Facility for Cell Sorting and Cell Analysis, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
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9
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Vengesai A, Naicker T, Midzi H, Kasambala M, Muleya V, Chipako I, Choto E, Moyo P, Mduluza T. Peptide microarray analysis of in-silico predicted B-cell epitopes in SARS-CoV-2 sero-positive healthcare workers in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Acta Trop 2023; 238:106781. [PMID: 36460093 PMCID: PMC9705268 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Immunogenic peptides that mimic linear B-cell epitopes coupled with immunoassay validation may improve serological tests for emerging diseases. This study reports a general approach for profiling linear B-cell epitopes derived from SARS-CoV-2 using an in-silico method and peptide microarray immunoassay, using healthcare workers' SARS-CoV-2 sero-positive sera. SARS-CoV-2 was tested using rapid chromatographic immunoassays and real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Immunogenic peptides mimicking linear B-cell epitopes were predicted in-silico using ABCpred. Peptides with the lowest sequence identity with human protein and proteins from other human pathogens were selected using the NCBI Protein BLAST. IgG and IgM antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, membrane glycoprotein and nucleocapsid derived peptides were measured in sera using peptide microarray immunoassay. Fifty-three healthcare workers included in the study were RT-PCR negative for SARS-CoV-2. Using rapid chromatographic immunoassays, 10 were SARS-CoV-2 IgM sero-positive and 7 were SARS-CoV-2 IgG sero-positive. From a total of 10 SARS-CoV-2 peptides contained on the microarray, 3 (QTH34388.1-1-14, QTN64908.1-135-148, and QLL35955.1-22-35) showed reactivity against IgG. Three peptides (QSM17284.1-76-89, QTN64908.1-135-148 and QPK73947.1-8-21) also showed reactivity against IgM. Based on the results we predicted one peptide (QSM17284.1-76-89) that had an acceptable diagnostic performance. Peptide QSM17284.1-76-89 was able to detect IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 with area under the curve (AUC) 0.781 when compared to commercial antibody tests. In conclusion in silico peptide prediction and peptide microarray technology may provide a platform for the development of serological tests for emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19. However, we recommend using at least three in-silico peptide prediction tools to improve the sensitivity and specificity of B-cell epitope prediction, to predict peptides with excellent diagnostic performances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Vengesai
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Midlands State University, Senga Road, Gweru, Zimbabwe.
| | - Thajasvarie Naicker
- Discipline of Optics and Imaging, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, College of Health Sciences Durban, ZA, South Africa
| | - Herald Midzi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Maritha Kasambala
- Department of Biological Sciences and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Victor Muleya
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Midlands State University, Senga Road, Gweru, Zimbabwe
| | - Isaac Chipako
- Aravas Pharmaceuticals Pvt LTD, Prospect Industrial Area, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Emilia Choto
- Immunology Department, Simon Mazorodze School of Medical and Health Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe
| | - Praise Moyo
- Department of Applied Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Midlands State University, Senga Road, Gweru, Zimbabwe
| | - Takafira Mduluza
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
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10
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State of the art in epitope mapping and opportunities in COVID-19. Future Sci OA 2023; 16:FSO832. [PMID: 36897962 PMCID: PMC9987558 DOI: 10.2144/fsoa-2022-0048] [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: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The understanding of any disease calls for studying specific biological structures called epitopes. One important tool recently drawing attention and proving efficiency in both diagnosis and vaccine development is epitope mapping. Several techniques have been developed with the urge to provide precise epitope mapping for use in designing sensitive diagnostic tools and developing rpitope-based vaccines (EBVs) as well as therapeutics. In this review, we will discuss the state of the art in epitope mapping with a special emphasis on accomplishments and opportunities in combating COVID-19. These comprise SARS-CoV-2 variant analysis versus the currently available immune-based diagnostic tools and vaccines, immunological profile-based patient stratification, and finally, exploring novel epitope targets for potential prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic agents for COVID-19.
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11
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Vigan-Womas I, Spadoni JL, Poiret T, Taïeb F, Randrianarisaona F, Faye R, Mbow AA, Gaye A, Dia N, Loucoubar C, Ny Mioramalala DJ, Ratovoson R, Randremanana RV, Sall AA, Seydi M, Noirel J, Moreau G, Simon A, Holenya P, Meyniel JP, Zagury JF, Schoenhals M. Linear epitope mapping of the humoral response against SARS-CoV-2 in two independent African cohorts. Sci Rep 2023; 13:782. [PMID: 36646780 PMCID: PMC9842613 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27810-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Profiling of the antibody responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) proteins in African populations is scarce. Here, we performed a detailed IgM and IgG epitope mapping study against 487 peptides covering SARS-CoV-2 wild-type structural proteins. A panel of 41 pre-pandemic and 82 COVID-19 RT-PCR confirmed sera from Madagascar and Senegal were used. We found that the main 36 immunodominant linear epitopes identified were (i) similar in both countries, (ii) distributed mainly in the Spike and the Nucleocapsid proteins, (iii) located outside the RBD and NTD regions where most of the reported SARS-CoV-2 variant mutations occur, and (iv) identical to those reported in European, North American, and Asian studies. Within the severe group, antibody levels were inversely correlated with the viral load. This first antibody epitope mapping study performed in patients from two African countries may be helpful to guide rational peptide-based diagnostic assays or vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inès Vigan-Womas
- Immunophysiopathology and Infectious Diseases Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal.
| | - Jean-Louis Spadoni
- Laboratoire Génomique, Bioinformatique, et Chimie Moléculaire, EA7528, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Hesam Université, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Poiret
- Immunophysiopathology and Infectious Diseases Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Fabien Taïeb
- Epidemiology, Clinical Research and Data Science Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | - Rokhaya Faye
- Immunophysiopathology and Infectious Diseases Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Adji Astou Mbow
- Immunophysiopathology and Infectious Diseases Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Aboubacry Gaye
- Epidemiology, Clinical Research and Data Science Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Ndongo Dia
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Cheikh Loucoubar
- Epidemiology, Clinical Research and Data Science Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | - Rila Ratovoson
- Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274, 101, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | | | - Amadou Alpha Sall
- Immunophysiopathology and Infectious Diseases Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Moussa Seydi
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Fann University Hospital Center, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Josselin Noirel
- Laboratoire Génomique, Bioinformatique, et Chimie Moléculaire, EA7528, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Hesam Université, Paris, France
| | - Gabriel Moreau
- Bioinformatics Team, Peptinov, Hôpital Cochin, 27 Rue du Fbg Saint-Jacques, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Arnaud Simon
- Laboratoire Génomique, Bioinformatique, et Chimie Moléculaire, EA7528, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Hesam Université, Paris, France
| | | | - Jean-Philippe Meyniel
- Bioinformatics Department, ISoft, Parc des Algorithmes, Bâtiment Euclide, Route de l'Orme, 91190, Saint-Aubin, France
| | - Jean-François Zagury
- Laboratoire Génomique, Bioinformatique, et Chimie Moléculaire, EA7528, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Hesam Université, Paris, France.
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12
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Abstract
The diversity of the antigen-specific humoral immune response reflects the interaction of the immune system with pathogens and autoantigens. Peptide microarray analysis opens up new perspectives for the use of antibodies as diagnostic biomarkers and provides unique access to a more differentiated view on humoral responses to disease. This review focuses on the latest applications of peptide microarrays for the serologic medical diagnosis of autoimmunity, infectious diseases (including COVID-19), and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Grötzinger
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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13
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Frigerio R, Musicò A, Strada A, Mussida A, Gagni P, Bergamaschi G, Chiari M, Barzon L, Gori A, Cretich M. Epitope Mapping on Microarrays Highlights a Sequence on the N Protein with Strong Immune Response in SARS-CoV-2 Patients. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2578:209-217. [PMID: 36152290 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2732-7_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In SARS-CoV-2 pandemic scenario, the identification of rapid methods to detect antibodies against coronavirus has been a wide and urgent issue. Epitope mapping on peptide microarrays is a rapid way to identify sequences with a high immunoreactivity. The process begins with a proteome-wide screening, based on immune affinity; the use of a high-density microarray is followed by a validation phase, where a restricted panel of probes is tested using peptide microarrays; peptide sequences are immobilized through a click-based strategy.COVID-19-positive sera are tested and immuno-domains regions are identified on SARS-CoV-2 spike (S), nucleocapsid (N) protein, and Orf1ab polyprotein. An epitope on N protein (region 155-171) provided good diagnostic performance in discriminating COVID-19-positive vs. healthy individuals. Using this sequence, 92% sensitivity and 100% specificity are reached for IgG detection in COVID-19 samples, and no cross-reactivity with common cold coronaviruses is detected. Overall, epitope 155-171 from N protein represents a promising candidate for further development and rapid implementation in serological tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Frigerio
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche (SCITEC-CNR), Milan, Italy.
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Angelo Musicò
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche (SCITEC-CNR), Milan, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Strada
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche (SCITEC-CNR), Milan, Italy
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Mussida
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche (SCITEC-CNR), Milan, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche (DISFARM), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Gagni
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche (SCITEC-CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Greta Bergamaschi
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche (SCITEC-CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Marcella Chiari
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche (SCITEC-CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Luisa Barzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gori
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche (SCITEC-CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Cretich
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche (SCITEC-CNR), Milan, Italy
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14
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Jaago M, Rähni A, Pupina N, Pihlak A, Sadam H, Tuvikene J, Avarlaid A, Planken A, Planken M, Haring L, Vasar E, Baćević M, Lambert F, Kalso E, Pussinen P, Tienari PJ, Vaheri A, Lindholm D, Timmusk T, Ghaemmaghami AM, Palm K. Differential patterns of cross-reactive antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein detected for chronically ill and healthy COVID-19 naïve individuals. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16817. [PMID: 36207326 PMCID: PMC9540097 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20849-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunity to previously encountered viruses can alter response to unrelated pathogens. We reasoned that similar mechanism may also involve SARS-CoV-2 and thereby affect the specificity and the quality of the immune response against the virus. Here, we employed high-throughput next generation phage display method to explore the link between antibody immune response to previously encountered antigens and spike (S) glycoprotein. By profiling the antibody response in COVID-19 naïve individuals with a diverse clinical history (including cardiovascular, neurological, or oncological diseases), we identified 15 highly antigenic epitopes on spike protein that showed cross-reactivity with antigens of seasonal, persistent, latent or chronic infections from common human viruses. We observed varying degrees of cross-reactivity of different viral antigens with S in an epitope-specific manner. The data show that pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 S1 and S2 cross-reactive serum antibody is readily detectable in pre-pandemic cohort. In the severe COVID-19 cases, we found differential antibody response to the 15 defined antigenic and cross-reactive epitopes on spike. We also noted that despite the high mutation rates of Omicron (B.1.1.529) variants of SARS-CoV-2, some of the epitopes overlapped with the described mutations. Finally, we propose that the resolved epitopes on spike if targeted by re-called antibody response from SARS-CoV-2 infections or vaccinations can function in chronically ill COVID-19 naïve/unvaccinated individuals as immunogenic targets to boost antibodies augmenting the chronic conditions. Understanding the relationships between prior antigen exposure at the antibody epitope level and the immune response to subsequent infections with viruses from a different strain is paramount to guiding strategies to exit the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariliis Jaago
- Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia.,Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Annika Rähni
- Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia.,Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | | | | | - Helle Sadam
- Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia.,Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jürgen Tuvikene
- Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia.,Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.,DXLabs LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Annela Avarlaid
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Anu Planken
- North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Margus Planken
- North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Liina Haring
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Psychiatry Clinic of Tartu University Hospital, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Eero Vasar
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Center of Excellence for Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Miljana Baćević
- Dental Biomaterial Research Unit (d-BRU), Faculty of Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - France Lambert
- Department of Periodontology and Oral Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Eija Kalso
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,SleepWell Research Programme, Department of Pharmacology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pirkko Pussinen
- Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pentti J Tienari
- Translational Immunology Research Program, Department of Neurology, Neurocenter, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Antti Vaheri
- Department of Virology, Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dan Lindholm
- Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tõnis Timmusk
- Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia.,Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Amir M Ghaemmaghami
- Immunology and Immuno-Bioengineering Group, School of Life Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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15
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L'Huillier AG, Pagano S, Baggio S, Meyer B, Andrey DO, Nehme M, Guessous I, Eberhardt CS, Huttner A, Posfay-Barbe KM, Yerly S, Siegrist CA, Kaiser L, Vuilleumier N. Autoantibodies against apolipoprotein A-1 after COVID-19 predict symptoms persistence. Eur J Clin Invest 2022; 52:e13818. [PMID: 35598178 PMCID: PMC9348059 DOI: 10.1111/eci.13818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers different auto-antibodies, including anti-apolipoprotein A-1 IgGs (AAA1), which could be of concern as mediators of persistent symptoms. We determined the kinetics of AAA1 response over after COVID-19 and the impact of AAA1 on the inflammatory response and symptoms persistence. METHODS All serologies were assessed at one, three, six and twelve months in 193 hospital employees with COVID-19. ROC curve analyses and logistic regression models (LRM) were used to determine the prognostic accuracy of AAA1 and their association with patient-reported COVID-19 symptoms persistence at 12 months. Interferon (IFN)-α and-γ production by AAA1-stimulated human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMDM) was assessed in vitro. RESULTS AAA1 seropositivity was 93% at one month and declined to 15% at 12 months after COVID-19. Persistent symptoms at 12 months were observed in 45.1% of participants, with a predominance of neurological (28.5%), followed by general (15%) and respiratory symptoms (9.3%). Over time, strength of correlations between AAA1 and anti-SARS-COV2 serologies decreased, but remained significant. From the 3rd month on, AAA1 levels predicted persistent respiratory symptoms (area under the curves 0.72-0.74; p < 0.001), independently of disease severity, age and gender (adjusted odds ratios 4.81-4.94; p = 0.02), while anti-SARS-CoV-2 serologies did not. AAA1 increased IFN-α production by HMDMs (p = 0.03), without affecting the IFN-γ response. CONCLUSION COVID-19 induces a marked though transient AAA1 response, independently predicting one-year persistence of respiratory symptoms. By increasing IFN-α response, AAA1 may contribute to persistent symptoms. If and how AAA1 levels assessment could be of use for COVID-19 risk stratification remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud G L'Huillier
- Department of Woman, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Child and Adolescent Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and of Medical Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sabrina Pagano
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and of Medical Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie Baggio
- Division of Prison Health, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.,Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Meyer
- Centre for Vaccinology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Diego O Andrey
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and of Medical Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mayssam Nehme
- Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Idris Guessous
- Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christiane S Eberhardt
- Centre for Vaccinology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Angela Huttner
- Centre for Vaccinology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Klara M Posfay-Barbe
- Department of Woman, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Child and Adolescent Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Yerly
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and of Medical Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Claire-Anne Siegrist
- Centre for Vaccinology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Kaiser
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and of Medical Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Vuilleumier
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and of Medical Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland
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16
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Cao X, Maruyama J, Zhou H, Fu Y, Kerwin L, Powers C, Sattler RA, Manning JT, Singh A, Lim R, Healy LD, Johnson S, Paz Cabral E, Li D, Lu L, Ledesma A, Lee D, Richards S, Rivero-Nava L, Li Y, Shen W, Stegman K, Blair B, Urata S, Kishimoto-Urata M, Ko J, Du N, Morais K, Lawrence K, Rivera I, Pai CI, Bresson D, Brunswick M, Zhang Y, Ji H, Paessler S, Allen RD. Unbiased approach to identify and assess efficacy of human SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15517. [PMID: 36109550 PMCID: PMC9476467 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19780-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to significantly impact the global population, thus countermeasure platforms that enable rapid development of therapeutics against variants of SARS-CoV-2 are essential. We report use of a phage display human antibody library approach to rapidly identify neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) against SARS-CoV-2. We demonstrate the binding and neutralization capability of two nAbs, STI-2020 and STI-5041, against the SARS-CoV-2 WA-1 strain as well as the Alpha and Beta variants. STI-2020 and STI-5041 were protective when administered intravenously or intranasally in the golden (Syrian) hamster model of COVID-19 challenged with the WA-1 strain or Beta variant. The ability to administer nAbs intravenously and intranasally may have important therapeutic implications and Phase 1 healthy subjects clinical trials are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Cao
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Junki Maruyama
- Galveston National Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Heyue Zhou
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Yanwen Fu
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Lisa Kerwin
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Colin Powers
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Rachel A Sattler
- Galveston National Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - John T Manning
- Galveston National Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Alok Singh
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Reyna Lim
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Laura D Healy
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Sachi Johnson
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | | | - Donghui Li
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Lucy Lu
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | | | - Daniel Lee
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | | | | | - Yan Li
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Weiqun Shen
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Karen Stegman
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | | | - Shinji Urata
- Galveston National Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Magumi Kishimoto-Urata
- Galveston National Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Jamie Ko
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Na Du
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Kyndal Morais
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Kate Lawrence
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Ianne Rivera
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Chin-I Pai
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | | | | | | | - Henry Ji
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA.
| | - Slobodan Paessler
- Galveston National Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
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17
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Characterization and Utilization of Disulfide-Bonded SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain of Spike Protein Synthesized by Wheat Germ Cell-Free Production System. Viruses 2022; 14:v14071461. [PMID: 35891441 PMCID: PMC9321213 DOI: 10.3390/v14071461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The spike protein (SP) of SARS-CoV-2 is an important target for COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines as it binds to the ACE2 receptor and enables viral infection. Rapid production and functional characterization of properly folded SP is of the utmost importance for studying the immunogenicity and receptor-binding activity of this protein considering the emergence of highly infectious viral variants. In this study, we attempted to express the receptor-binding region (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 SP containing disulfide bonds using the wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis system. By adding protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and endoplasmic reticulum oxidase (ERO1α) to the translational reaction mixture, we succeeded in synthesizing a functionally intact RBD protein that can interact with ACE2. Using this RBD protein, we have developed a high-throughput AlphaScreen assay to evaluate the RBD–ACE2 interaction, which can be applied for drug screening and mutation analysis. Thus, our method sheds new light on the structural and functional properties of SARS-CoV-2 SP and has the potential to contribute to the development of new COVID-19 therapeutics.
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18
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Matveeva O, Ershov A. Retrospective Cohort Study of the Effectiveness of the Sputnik V and EpiVacCorona Vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant in Moscow (June–July 2021). Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10070984. [PMID: 35891148 PMCID: PMC9320764 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10070984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The goal of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological effectiveness of the Sputnik V and EpiVacCorona vaccines against COVID-19. This work is a retrospective cohort study of COVID-19 patients. The cohort created by the Moscow Health Department included more than 300,000 infected people who sought medical care in June and July 2021. Analysis of data revealed a tendency for the increase in the Sputnik V vaccine effectiveness (VE) as the severity of the disease increased. Protection was the lowest for mild disease, and it was more pronounced for severe disease. We also observed a decrease in VE with increasing age. For the youngest group (18–50 years old), the estimated VE in preventing death in June 2021 was 95% (95% CI 64–100), and for the older group (50+ years old), it was 74% (95% CI 67–87). The estimated protection against a severe form of the disease in the 18–50-year-old group was above 81% (CI 95% 72–93), and in the 50+ years-old group, it was above 68% (CI 95% 65–82). According to our analysis, EpiVacCorona proved to be an ineffective vaccine and therefore cannot protect against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Matveeva
- Sendai Viralytics LLC, 23 Nylander Way, Acton, MA 01720, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Alexander Ershov
- Medusa Project SIA, Krisjana Barona iela 5-2, LV-1050 Rīga, Latvia;
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19
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Faraji SN, Raee MJ, Hashemi SMA, Daryabor G, Tabrizi R, Dashti FS, Behboudi E, Heidarnejad K, Nowrouzi-Sohrabi P, Hatam G. Human interaction targets of SARS-COV-2 spike protein: A systematic review. EUR J INFLAMM 2022. [PMCID: PMC9160582 DOI: 10.1177/1721727x221095382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The development of effective targeted therapy and drug-design approaches against the SARS-CoV-2 is a universal health priority. Therefore, it is important to assess possible therapeutic strategies against SARS-CoV-2 via its most interaction targets. The present study aimed to perform a systematic review on clinical and experimental investigations regarding SARS-COV-2 interaction targets for human cell entry. Methods: A systematic search using relevant MeSH terms and keywords was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science (ISI) databases up to July 2021. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of the studies, extracted the data, and evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies. Additionally, a narrative synthesis was done as a qualitative method for data gathering and synthesis of each outcome measure. Results: A total of 5610 studies were identified, and 128 articles were included in the systematic review. Based on the results, spike antigen was the only interaction protein from SARS-CoV-2. However, the interaction proteins from humans varied including different spike receptors and several cleavage enzymes. The most common interactions of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 for cell entry were ACE2 (entry receptor) and TMPRSS2 (for spike priming). A lot of published studies have mainly focused on the ACE2 receptor followed by the TMPRSS family and furin. Based on the results, ACE2 polymorphisms as well as spike RBD mutations affected the SARS-CoV-2 binding affinity. Conclusion: The included studies shed more light on SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry mechanisms and detailed interactions, which could enhance the understanding of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and the development of new and comprehensive therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Nooreddin Faraji
- School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohamad Javad Raee
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohamad Ali Hashemi
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Microbiology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Daryabor
- Autoimmune Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Reza Tabrizi
- Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Fateme Sadat Dashti
- Research Center for Food Hygiene and Safety, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Emad Behboudi
- Department of Microbiology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Kamran Heidarnejad
- Recombinant Antibody Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Peyman Nowrouzi-Sohrabi
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Hatam
- Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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20
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Markosian C, Staquicini DI, Dogra P, Dodero-Rojas E, Lubin JH, Tang FH, Smith TL, Contessoto VG, Libutti SK, Wang Z, Cristini V, Khare SD, Whitford PC, Burley SK, Onuchic JN, Pasqualini R, Arap W. Genetic and Structural Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein for Universal Epitope Selection. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msac091. [PMID: 35511693 PMCID: PMC9129195 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Evaluation of immunogenic epitopes for universal vaccine development in the face of ongoing SARS-CoV-2 evolution remains a challenge. Herein, we investigate the genetic and structural conservation of an immunogenically relevant epitope (C662-C671) of spike (S) protein across SARS-CoV-2 variants to determine its potential utility as a broad-spectrum vaccine candidate against coronavirus diseases. Comparative sequence analysis, structural assessment, and molecular dynamics simulations of C662-C671 epitope were performed. Mathematical tools were employed to determine its mutational cost. We found that the amino acid sequence of C662-C671 epitope is entirely conserved across the observed major variants of SARS-CoV-2 in addition to SARS-CoV. Its conformation and accessibility are predicted to be conserved, even in the highly mutated Omicron variant. Costly mutational rate in the context of energy expenditure in genome replication and translation can explain this strict conservation. These observations may herald an approach to developing vaccine candidates for universal protection against emergent variants of coronavirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Markosian
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101, USA
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Daniela I. Staquicini
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101, USA
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Prashant Dogra
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10022, USA
| | - Esteban Dodero-Rojas
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Joseph H. Lubin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Fenny H.F. Tang
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101, USA
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Tracey L. Smith
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101, USA
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | | | - Steven K. Libutti
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Zhihui Wang
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10022, USA
| | - Vittorio Cristini
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Neal Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Physiology, Biophysics, and Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10022, USA
| | - Sagar D. Khare
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Paul C. Whitford
- Department of Physics and Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Stephen K. Burley
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- RCSB Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- RCSB Protein Data Bank, San Diego Supercomputer Center, and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92067, USA
| | - José N. Onuchic
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Renata Pasqualini
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101, USA
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Wadih Arap
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
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21
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Garanina E, Hamza S, Stott-Marshall RJ, Martynova E, Markelova M, Davidyuk Y, Shakirova V, Kaushal N, Baranwal M, Khaertynova IM, Rizvanov A, Foster TL, Khaiboullina S. Antibody and T Cell Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Peptides in COVID-19 Convalescent Patients. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:842232. [PMID: 35509311 PMCID: PMC9058163 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.842232] [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] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying immunogenic targets of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is critical to advance diagnostic and disease control strategies. We analyzed humoral (ELISA) and T-cell (ELISpot) immune responses to spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) SARS-CoV-2 proteins as well as to human endemic coronavirus (eCoV) peptides in serum from convalescent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients from Tatarstan, Russia. We identified multiple SARS-CoV-2 peptides that were reactive with serum antibodies and T cells from convalescent COVID-19. In addition, age and gender associated differences in the reactivity to S and N protein peptides were identified. Moreover, several SARS-CoV-2 peptides tested negatively correlated with disease severity and lung damage. Cross-reactivity to eCoV peptides was analyzed and found to be lower in COVID-19 compared to controls. In this study, we demonstrate the changing pattern of immunogenic peptide reactivity in COVID-19 serum based on age, gender and previous exposure to eCoVs. These data highlight how humoral immune responses and cytotoxic T cell responses to some of these peptides could contribute to SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Garanina
- Intitute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Shaimaa Hamza
- Intitute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Robert J. Stott-Marshall
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Ekaterina Martynova
- Intitute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Maria Markelova
- Intitute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Yuriy Davidyuk
- Intitute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Venera Shakirova
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kazan State Medical University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Neha Kaushal
- Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, India
| | - Manoj Baranwal
- Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, India
| | | | - Albert Rizvanov
- Intitute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Toshana L. Foster
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Svetlana Khaiboullina
- Intitute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
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22
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Lim HX, Masomian M, Khalid K, Kumar AU, MacAry PA, Poh CL. Identification of B-Cell Epitopes for Eliciting Neutralizing Antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein through Bioinformatics and Monoclonal Antibody Targeting. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084341. [PMID: 35457159 PMCID: PMC9029629 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global public health crisis. Effective COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Astra Zeneca have made significant impacts in controlling the COVID-19 burden, especially in reducing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and hospitalization incidences. In view of the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, vaccines developed against the Wuhan strain were less effective against the variants. Neutralizing antibodies produced by B cells are a critical component of adaptive immunity, particularly in neutralizing viruses by blocking virus attachment and entry into cells. Therefore, the identification of protective linear B-cell epitopes can guide epitope-based peptide designs. This study reviews the identification of SARS-CoV-2 B-cell epitopes within the spike, membrane and nucleocapsid proteins that can be incorporated as potent B-cell epitopes into peptide vaccine constructs. The bioinformatic approach offers a new in silico strategy for the mapping and identification of potential B-cell epitopes and, upon in vivo validation, would be useful for the rapid development of effective multi-epitope-based vaccines. Potent B-cell epitopes were identified from the analysis of three-dimensional structures of monoclonal antibodies in a complex with SARS-CoV-2 from literature mining. This review provides significant insights into the elicitation of potential neutralizing antibodies by potent B-cell epitopes, which could advance the development of multi-epitope peptide vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Xuan Lim
- Centre for Virus and Vaccine Research, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia; (H.X.L.); (M.M.); (K.K.); (A.U.K.)
| | - Malihe Masomian
- Centre for Virus and Vaccine Research, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia; (H.X.L.); (M.M.); (K.K.); (A.U.K.)
| | - Kanwal Khalid
- Centre for Virus and Vaccine Research, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia; (H.X.L.); (M.M.); (K.K.); (A.U.K.)
| | - Asqwin Uthaya Kumar
- Centre for Virus and Vaccine Research, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia; (H.X.L.); (M.M.); (K.K.); (A.U.K.)
| | - Paul A. MacAry
- Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore;
| | - Chit Laa Poh
- Centre for Virus and Vaccine Research, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia; (H.X.L.); (M.M.); (K.K.); (A.U.K.)
- Correspondence:
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23
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Peptide-Based Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2: Peptide Antigen Discovery and Screening of Adjuvant Systems. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14040856. [PMID: 35456690 PMCID: PMC9024957 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14040856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused a global crisis, resulting in 0.5 billion infections and over 6 million deaths as of March 2022. Fortunately, infection and hospitalization rates were curbed due to the rollout of DNA and mRNA vaccines. However, the efficacy of these vaccines significantly drops a few months post immunization, from 88% down to 47% in the case of the Pfizer BNT162 vaccine. The emergence of variant strains, especially delta and omicron, have also significantly reduced vaccine efficacy. We propose peptide vaccines as a potential solution to address the inadequacies of the current vaccines. Peptide vaccines can be easily modified to target emerging strains, have greater stability, and do not require cold-chain storage. We screened five peptide fragments (B1–B5) derived from the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to identify neutralizing B-cell peptide antigens. We then investigated adjuvant systems for efficient stimulation of immune responses against the most promising peptide antigens, including liposomal formulations of polyleucine (L10) and polymethylacrylate (PMA), as well as classical adjuvants (CFA and MF59). Immune efficacy of formulations was evaluated using competitive ELISA, pseudovirion neutralization, and live virus neutralization assays. Unfortunately, peptide conjugation to L10 and PMA dramatically altered the secondary structure, resulting in low antibody neutralization efficacy. Of the peptides tested, only B3 administered with CFA or MF59 was highly immunogenic. Thus, a peptide vaccine relying on B3 may provide an attractive alternative to currently marketed vaccines.
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24
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Chen L, Pang P, Qi H, Yan K, Ren Y, Ma M, Cao R, Li H, Hu C, Li Y, Xia J, Lai D, Dong Y, Jiang H, Zhang H, Shan H, Tao S, Liu S. Evaluation of Spike Protein Epitopes by Assessing the Dynamics of Humoral Immune Responses in Moderate COVID-19. Front Immunol 2022; 13:770982. [PMID: 35371042 PMCID: PMC8971992 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.770982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by a novel coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The spike protein (S) of SARS-CoV-2 is a major target for diagnosis and vaccine development because of its essential role in viral infection and host immunity. Currently, time-dependent responses of humoral immune system against various S protein epitopes are poorly understood. In this study, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), peptide microarray, and antibody binding epitope mapping (AbMap) techniques were used to systematically analyze the dynamic changes of humoral immune responses against the S protein in a small cohort of moderate COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized for approximately two months after symptom onset. Recombinant truncated S proteins, target S peptides, and random peptides were used as antigens in the analyses. The assays demonstrated the dynamic IgM- and IgG recognition and reactivity against various S protein epitopes with patient-dependent patterns. Comprehensive analysis of epitope distribution along the spike gene sequence and spatial structure of the homotrimer S protein demonstrated that most IgM- and IgG-reactive peptides were clustered into similar genomic regions and were located at accessible domains. Seven S peptides were generally recognized by IgG antibodies derived from serum samples of all COVID-19 patients. The dynamic immune recognition signals from these seven S peptides were comparable to those of the entire S protein or truncated S1 protein. This suggested that the humoral immune system recognized few conserved S protein epitopes in most COVID-19 patients during the entire duration of humoral immune response after symptom onset. Furthermore, in this cohort, individual patients demonstrated stable immune recognition to certain S protein epitopes throughout their hospitalization period. Therefore, the dynamic characteristics of humoral immune responses to S protein have provided valuable information for accurate diagnosis and immunotherapy of COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyun Chen
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Proteomics, Beijing Genomics Institution, Shenzhen, China
| | - Pengfei Pang
- Center for Interventional Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Huan Qi
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Keqiang Yan
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Proteomics, Beijing Genomics Institution, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yan Ren
- Department of Proteomics, Beijing Genomics Institution, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mingliang Ma
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruyin Cao
- Department of Proteomics, Beijing Genomics Institution, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hua Li
- State Key laboratory for Oncogenes and Bio-ID Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuansheng Hu
- State Key laboratory for Oncogenes and Bio-ID Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Li
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Xia
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Proteomics, Beijing Genomics Institution, Shenzhen, China
| | - Danyun Lai
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuliang Dong
- Department of Proteomics, Beijing Genomics Institution, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hewei Jiang
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hainan Zhang
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Shan
- Center for Interventional Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
- *Correspondence: Siqi Liu, ; Shengce Tao, ; Hong Shan,
| | - Shengce Tao
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Siqi Liu, ; Shengce Tao, ; Hong Shan,
| | - Siqi Liu
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Proteomics, Beijing Genomics Institution, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Siqi Liu, ; Shengce Tao, ; Hong Shan,
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25
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Immunodominant Linear B-Cell Epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 Spike, Identified by Sera from K18-hACE2 Mice Infected with the WT or Variant Viruses. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10020251. [PMID: 35214711 PMCID: PMC8875268 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 surface spike protein mediates the viral entry into the host cell and represents the primary immunological target of COVID-19 vaccines as well as post-exposure immunotherapy. Establishment of the highly immunogenic B-cell epitope profile of SARS-CoV-2 proteins in general, and that of the spike protein in particular, may contribute to the development of sensitive diagnostic tools and identification of vaccine` candidate targets. In the current study, the anti-viral antibody response in transgenic K18-hACE-2 mice was examined by implementing an immunodominant epitope mapping approach of the SARS-CoV-2 spike. Serum samples for probing an epitope array covering the entire spike protein were collected from mice following infection with the original SARS-CoV-2 strain as well as the B.1.1.7 Alpha and B.1.351 Beta genetic variants of concern. The analysis resulted in distinction of six linear epitopes common to the humoral response against all virus variants inspected at a frequency of more than 20% of the serum samples. Finally, the universality of the response was probed by cross-protective in vitro experiments using plaque-reducing neutralization tests. The data presented here has important implications for prediction of the efficacy of immune countermeasures against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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26
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Sofia F. Oliveira A, Shoemark DK, Avila Ibarra A, Davidson AD, Berger I, Schaffitzel C, Mulholland AJ. The fatty acid site is coupled to functional motifs in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and modulates spike allosteric behaviour. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 20:139-147. [PMID: 34934478 PMCID: PMC8670790 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is the first contact point between the SARS-CoV-2 virus and host cells and mediates membrane fusion. Recently, a fatty acid binding site was identified in the spike (Toelzer et al. Science 2020). The presence of linoleic acid at this site modulates binding of the spike to the human ACE2 receptor, stabilizing a locked conformation of the protein. Here, dynamical-nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations reveal that this fatty acid site is coupled to functionally relevant regions of the spike, some of them far from the fatty acid binding pocket. Removal of a ligand from the fatty acid binding site significantly affects the dynamics of distant, functionally important regions of the spike, including the receptor-binding motif, furin cleavage site and fusion-peptide-adjacent regions. Simulations of the D614G mutant show differences in behaviour between these clinical variants of the spike: the D614G mutant shows a significantly different conformational response for some structural motifs relevant for binding and fusion. The simulations identify structural networks through which changes at the fatty acid binding site are transmitted within the protein. These communication networks significantly involve positions that are prone to mutation, indicating that observed genetic variation in the spike may alter its response to linoleate binding and associated allosteric communication.
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Key Words
- ACE2, angiotensin-converting 2 enzyme
- CD, connector domain
- CH, central helix
- FA, fatty acid
- FP, fusion peptide
- FPPR, fusion-peptide proximal region
- HR1, heptad repeat 1
- LA, Linoleic acid
- MD, Molecular dynamics
- MERS, middle east respiratory syndrome
- NTD, N-terminal domain
- RBD, receptor binding domain
- RBM, receptor-binding motif
- RMB, receptor binding motif
- SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome
- SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome 2
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Sofia F. Oliveira
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
- BrisSynBio, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Deborah K. Shoemark
- BrisSynBio, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Amaurys Avila Ibarra
- Research Software Engineering, Advanced Computing Research Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol BS1 5QD, UK
| | - Andrew D. Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Imre Berger
- BrisSynBio, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Christiane Schaffitzel
- BrisSynBio, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
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27
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Francino-Urdaniz IM, Whitehead TA. An overview of methods for the structural and functional mapping of epitopes recognized by anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. RSC Chem Biol 2021; 2:1580-1589. [PMID: 34977572 PMCID: PMC8637828 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00169h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This mini-review presents a critical survey of techniques used for epitope mapping on the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. The sequence and structures for common neutralizing and non-neutralizing epitopes on the Spike protein are described as determined by X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy and linear peptide epitope mapping, among other methods. An additional focus of this mini-review is an analytical appraisal of different deep mutational scanning workflows for conformational epitope mapping and identification of mutants on the Spike protein which escape antibody neutralization. Such a focus is necessary as a critical review of deep mutational scanning for conformational epitope mapping has not been published. A perspective is presented on the use of different epitope determination methods for development of broadly potent antibody therapies and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene M Francino-Urdaniz
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado JSC Biotechnology Building, 3415 Colorado Avenue Boulder CO 80305 USA +1 303-735-2145
| | - Timothy A Whitehead
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado JSC Biotechnology Building, 3415 Colorado Avenue Boulder CO 80305 USA +1 303-735-2145
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28
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Laha S, Chatterjee R. Temporal variations of country-specific mutational profile of SARS-CoV-2: effect on vaccine efficacy. Future Virol 2021; 0. [PMID: 34824595 PMCID: PMC8603786 DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2021-0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Aim: In order to curb the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, nation-wide travel restrictions at different levels were implemented in different countries. Country-specific mutational profile may exist and have an impact on vaccine efficacy. Materials & methods: We identified nonsynonymous mutations in approximately 215,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences during the 1st year of the pandemic in 35 countries. Mutational profiles on a bimonthly basis were traced over time. We also examined the mutations that overlapped with the spike protein vaccine epitopes. Results: Several new mutations emerged over time and were dominating in specific countries. Many nonsynonymous mutations were within multiple spike protein epitopes that might impact the vaccine efficacy. Conclusion: Our study advocates requirement of active monitoring of country-specific mutations and vaccine efficacies in respective countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayantan Laha
- Human Genetics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, 203 B T Road, Kolkata, 700108, India
| | - Raghunath Chatterjee
- Human Genetics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, 203 B T Road, Kolkata, 700108, India
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29
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Kandimalla R, Chakraborty P, Vallamkondu J, Chaudhary A, Samanta S, Reddy PH, De Feo V, Dewanjee S. Counting on COVID-19 Vaccine: Insights into the Current Strategies, Progress and Future Challenges. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1740. [PMID: 34829969 PMCID: PMC8615473 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of a novel coronavirus viz., severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in late 2019 and its subsequent substantial spread produced the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic worldwide. Given its unprecedented infectivity and pathogenicity, the COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on human health, and its clinical management has been a great challenge, which has led to the development and speedy trials of several vaccine candidates against SARS-CoV-2 at an exceptional pace. As a result, several COVID-19 vaccines were made commercially available in the first half of 2021. Although several COVID-19 vaccines showed promising results, crucial insights into their epidemiology, protective mechanisms, and the propensities of reinfection are not largely reviewed. In the present report, we provided insights into the prospects of vaccination against COVID-19 and assessed diverse vaccination strategies including DNA, mRNA, protein subunits, vector-based, live attenuated, and inactivated whole/viral particle-based vaccines. Next, we reviewed major aspects of various available vaccines approved by the World Health Organization and by the local administrations to use against COVID-19. Moreover, we comprehensively assessed the success of these approved vaccines and also their untoward effects, including the possibility of reinfection. We also provided an update on the vaccines that are under development and could be promising candidates in the future. Conclusively, we provided insights into the COVID-19 vaccine epidemiology, their potency, and propensity for SARS-CoV-2 reinfection, while a careful review of their current status, strategies, success, and future challenges was also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Kandimalla
- Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, Telangana, India
- Department of Biochemistry, Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal 506007, Telangana, India
| | - Pratik Chakraborty
- Advanced Pharmacognosy Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India;
| | | | - Anupama Chaudhary
- Orinin-BioSystems, LE-52, Lotus Road 4, CHD City, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India;
| | - Sonalinandini Samanta
- Department of Dermatology (Skin & Venereology), ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Patna 801103, Bihar, India;
| | - P. Hemachandra Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA;
- Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Public Health Department of Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, School Health Professions, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Vincenzo De Feo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Saikat Dewanjee
- Advanced Pharmacognosy Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India;
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30
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Pagano S, Yerly S, Meyer B, Juillard C, Suh N, Le Terrier C, Daguer JP, Farrera-Soler L, Barluenga S, Piumatti G, Hartley O, Lemaitre B, Eberhardt CS, Siegrist CA, Eckerle I, Stringhini S, Guessous I, Kaiser L, Pugin J, Winssinger N, Vuilleumier N. SARS-CoV-2 infection as a trigger of humoral response against apolipoprotein A-1. Eur J Clin Invest 2021; 51:e13661. [PMID: 34324704 PMCID: PMC8420318 DOI: 10.1111/eci.13661] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unravelling autoimmune targets triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection may provide crucial insights into the physiopathology of the disease and foster the development of potential therapeutic candidate targets and prognostic tools. We aimed at determining (a) the association between anti-SARS-CoV-2 and anti-apoA-1 humoral response and (b) the degree of linear homology between SARS-CoV-2, apoA-1 and Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) epitopes. DESIGN Bioinformatics modelling coupled with mimic peptides engineering and competition experiments were used to assess epitopes sequence homologies. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 and anti-apoA-1 IgG as well as cytokines were assessed by immunoassays on a case-control (n = 101), an intensive care unit (ICU; n = 126) and a general population cohort (n = 663) with available samples in the pre and post-pandemic period. RESULTS Using bioinformatics modelling, linear sequence homologies between apoA-1, TLR2 and Spike epitopes were identified but without experimental evidence of cross-reactivity. Overall, anti-apoA-1 IgG levels were higher in COVID-19 patients or anti-SARS-CoV-2 seropositive individuals than in healthy donors or anti-SARS-CoV-2 seronegative individuals (P < .0001). Significant and similar associations were noted between anti-apoA-1, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, cytokines and lipid profile. In ICU patients, anti-SARS-CoV-2 and anti-apoA-1 seroconversion rates displayed similar 7-day kinetics, reaching 82% for anti-apoA-1 seropositivity. In the general population, SARS-CoV-2-exposed individuals displayed higher anti-apoA-1 IgG seropositivity rates than nonexposed ones (34% vs 16.8%; P = .004). CONCLUSION COVID-19 induces a marked humoral response against the major protein of high-density lipoproteins. As a correlate of poorer prognosis in other clinical settings, such autoimmunity signatures may relate to long-term COVID-19 prognosis assessment and warrant further scrutiny in the current COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Pagano
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and of Medical Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Yerly
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and of Medical Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Meyer
- Centre for Vaccinology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Catherine Juillard
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and of Medical Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Noémie Suh
- Division of Intensive Care, Geneva University Hospitals and the University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christophe Le Terrier
- Division of Intensive Care, Geneva University Hospitals and the University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Pierre Daguer
- Faculty of Science, Department of Organic Chemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lluc Farrera-Soler
- Faculty of Science, Department of Organic Chemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sofia Barluenga
- Faculty of Science, Department of Organic Chemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni Piumatti
- Division and Department of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Faculty of BioMedicine, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Hartley
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Lemaitre
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and of Medical Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christiane S Eberhardt
- Faculty of Medicine, Departments of Pathology-Immunology and Pediatrics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Claire-Anne Siegrist
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and of Medical Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland.,Faculty of Medicine, Departments of Pathology-Immunology and Pediatrics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Isabella Eckerle
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Stringhini
- Division and Department of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Unit of Population Epidemiology, Division of Primary Care, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Idris Guessous
- Division and Department of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Kaiser
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and of Medical Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland.,Faculty of Medicine, Departments of Pathology-Immunology and Pediatrics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jerome Pugin
- Division of Intensive Care, Geneva University Hospitals and the University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Winssinger
- Faculty of Science, Department of Organic Chemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Vuilleumier
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and of Medical Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland
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31
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Rophina M, Pandhare K, Shamnath A, Imran M, Jolly B, Scaria V. ESC: a comprehensive resource for SARS-CoV-2 immune escape variants. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 50:D771-D776. [PMID: 34643704 PMCID: PMC8728294 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ever since the breakout of COVID-19 disease, ceaseless genomic research to inspect the epidemiology and evolution of the pathogen has been undertaken globally. Large scale viral genome sequencing and analysis have uncovered the functional impact of numerous genetic variants in disease pathogenesis and transmission. Emerging evidence of mutations in spike protein domains escaping antibody neutralization is reported. We have built a database with precise collation of manually curated variants in SARS-CoV-2 from literature with potential escape mechanisms from a range of neutralizing antibodies. This comprehensive repository encompasses a total of 5258 variants accounting for 2068 unique variants tested against 230 antibodies, patient convalescent plasma and vaccine breakthrough events. This resource enables the user to gain access to an extensive annotation of SARS-CoV-2 escape variants which would contribute to exploring and understanding the underlying mechanisms of immune response against the pathogen. The resource is available at http://clingen.igib.res.in/esc/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercy Rophina
- CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Mathura Road, New Delhi, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Kavita Pandhare
- CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Mathura Road, New Delhi, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Afra Shamnath
- CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Mathura Road, New Delhi, India
| | - Mohamed Imran
- CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Mathura Road, New Delhi, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Bani Jolly
- CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Mathura Road, New Delhi, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Vinod Scaria
- CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Mathura Road, New Delhi, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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32
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Mei LC, Jin Y, Wang Z, Hao GF, Yang GF. Web resources facilitate drug discovery in treatment of COVID-19. Drug Discov Today 2021; 26:2358-2366. [PMID: 33892145 PMCID: PMC8056987 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The infectious disease Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) continues to cause a global pandemic and, thus, the need for effective therapeutics remains urgent. Global research targeting COVID-19 treatments has produced numerous therapy-related data and established data repositories. However, these data are disseminated throughout the literature and web resources, which could lead to a reduction in the levels of their use. In this review, we introduce resource repositories for the development of COVID-19 therapeutics, from the genome and proteome to antiviral drugs, vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies. We briefly describe the data and usage, and how they advance research for therapies. Finally, we discuss the opportunities and challenges to preventing the pandemic from developing further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long-Can Mei
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Yin Jin
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Research and Development Center for Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550000, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Research and Development Center for Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550000, China
| | - Ge-Fei Hao
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Research and Development Center for Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550000, China.
| | - Guang-Fu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China
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33
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Patarroyo ME, Patarroyo MA, Alba MP, Pabon L, Rugeles MT, Aguilar-Jimenez W, Florez L, Bermudez A, Rout AK, Griesinger C, Suarez CF, Aza-Conde J, Reyes C, Avendaño C, Samacá J, Camargo A, Silva Y, Forero M, Gonzalez E. The First Chemically-Synthesised, Highly Immunogenic Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Peptides in DNA Genotyped Aotus Monkeys for Human Use. Front Immunol 2021; 12:724060. [PMID: 34539660 PMCID: PMC8446425 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.724060] [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: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Thirty-five peptides selected from functionally-relevant SARS-CoV-2 spike (S), membrane (M), and envelope (E) proteins were suitably modified for immunising MHC class II (MHCII) DNA-genotyped Aotus monkeys and matched with HLA-DRβ1* molecules for use in humans. This was aimed at producing the first minimal subunit-based, chemically-synthesised, immunogenic molecules (COLSARSPROT) covering several HLA alleles. They were predicted to cover 48.25% of the world’s population for 6 weeks (short-term) and 33.65% for 15 weeks (long-lasting) as they induced very high immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) and ELISA titres against S, M and E parental native peptides, SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies and host cell infection. The same immunological methods that led to identifying new peptides for inclusion in the COLSARSPROT mixture were used for antigenicity studies. Peptides were analysed with serum samples from patients suffering mild or severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, thereby increasing chemically-synthesised peptides’ potential coverage for the world populations up to 62.9%. These peptides’ 3D structural analysis (by 1H-NMR acquired at 600 to 900 MHz) suggested structural-functional immunological association. This first multi-protein, multi-epitope, minimal subunit-based, chemically-synthesised, highly immunogenic peptide mixture highlights such chemical synthesis methodology’s potential for rapidly obtaining very pure, highly reproducible, stable, cheap, easily-modifiable peptides for inducing immune protection against COVID-19, covering a substantial percentage of the human population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel E Patarroyo
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia.,Universidad Santo Tomás, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Martha P Alba
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Laura Pabon
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - María T Rugeles
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | | | - Lizdany Florez
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Adriana Bermudez
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Ashok K Rout
- Department of NMR Based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Griesinger
- Department of NMR Based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carlos F Suarez
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jorge Aza-Conde
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - César Reyes
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Catalina Avendaño
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia.,Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jhoan Samacá
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Anny Camargo
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Yolanda Silva
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Martha Forero
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Edgardo Gonzalez
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
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34
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Mullen TE, Abdullah R, Boucher J, Brousseau AS, Dasuri NK, Ditto NT, Doucette AM, Emery C, Gabriel J, Greamo B, Patil KS, Rothenberger K, Stolte J, Souders CA. Accelerated antibody discovery targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for COVID-19 therapeutic potential. Antib Ther 2021; 4:185-196. [PMID: 34541454 PMCID: PMC8444149 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbab018] [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] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rapid deployment of technologies capable of high-throughput and high-resolution screening is imperative for timely response to viral outbreaks. Risk mitigation in the form of leveraging multiple advanced technologies further increases the likelihood of identifying efficacious treatments in aggressive timelines. Methods In this study, we describe two parallel, yet distinct, in vivo approaches for accelerated discovery of antibodies targeting the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 spike protein. Working with human transgenic Alloy-GK mice, we detail a single B-cell discovery workflow to directly interrogate antibodies secreted from plasma cells for binding specificity and ACE2 receptor blocking activity. Additionally, we describe a concurrent accelerated hybridoma-based workflow utilizing a DiversimAb™ mouse model for increased diversity. Results The panel of antibodies isolated from both workflows revealed binding to distinct epitopes with both blocking and non-blocking profiles. Sequence analysis of the resulting lead candidates uncovered additional diversity with the opportunity for straightforward engineering and affinity maturation. Conclusions By combining in vivo models with advanced integration of screening and selection platforms, lead antibody candidates can be sequenced and fully characterized within one to three months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey E Mullen
- Antibody Discovery, Abveris Inc., 480 Neponset St, Ste 10B, Canton, MA 02021, USA
| | - Rashed Abdullah
- Antibody Discovery, Abveris Inc., 480 Neponset St, Ste 10B, Canton, MA 02021, USA
| | - Jacqueline Boucher
- Antibody Discovery, Abveris Inc., 480 Neponset St, Ste 10B, Canton, MA 02021, USA
| | - Anna Susi Brousseau
- Antibody Discovery, Abveris Inc., 480 Neponset St, Ste 10B, Canton, MA 02021, USA
| | - Narayan K Dasuri
- Antibody Discovery, Abveris Inc., 480 Neponset St, Ste 10B, Canton, MA 02021, USA
| | - Noah T Ditto
- Product Development, Carterra, 825 N 300 W c309, Salt Lake City, UT 84103, USA
| | - Andrew M Doucette
- Antibody Discovery, Abveris Inc., 480 Neponset St, Ste 10B, Canton, MA 02021, USA
| | - Chloe Emery
- Antibody Discovery, Abveris Inc., 480 Neponset St, Ste 10B, Canton, MA 02021, USA
| | - Justin Gabriel
- Antibody Discovery, Abveris Inc., 480 Neponset St, Ste 10B, Canton, MA 02021, USA
| | - Brendan Greamo
- Antibody Discovery, Abveris Inc., 480 Neponset St, Ste 10B, Canton, MA 02021, USA
| | - Ketan S Patil
- Antibody Discovery, Abveris Inc., 480 Neponset St, Ste 10B, Canton, MA 02021, USA
| | - Kelly Rothenberger
- Antibody Discovery, Abveris Inc., 480 Neponset St, Ste 10B, Canton, MA 02021, USA
| | - Justin Stolte
- Antibody Discovery, Abveris Inc., 480 Neponset St, Ste 10B, Canton, MA 02021, USA
| | - Colby A Souders
- Antibody Discovery, Abveris Inc., 480 Neponset St, Ste 10B, Canton, MA 02021, USA
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35
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Wisnewski AV, Redlich CA, Liu J, Kamath K, Abad QA, Smith RF, Fazen L, Santiago R, Campillo Luna J, Martinez B, Baum-Jones E, Waitz R, Haynes WA, Shon JC. Immunogenic amino acid motifs and linear epitopes of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252849. [PMID: 34499652 PMCID: PMC8428655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Reverse vaccinology is an evolving approach for improving vaccine effectiveness and minimizing adverse responses by limiting immunizations to critical epitopes. Towards this goal, we sought to identify immunogenic amino acid motifs and linear epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that elicit IgG in COVID-19 mRNA vaccine recipients. Paired pre/post vaccination samples from N = 20 healthy adults, and post-vaccine samples from an additional N = 13 individuals were used to immunoprecipitate IgG targets expressed by a bacterial display random peptide library, and preferentially recognized peptides were mapped to the spike primary sequence. The data identify several distinct amino acid motifs recognized by vaccine-induced IgG, a subset of those targeted by IgG from natural infection, which may mimic 3-dimensional conformation (mimotopes). Dominant linear epitopes were identified in the C-terminal domains of the S1 and S2 subunits (aa 558-569, 627-638, and 1148-1159) which have been previously associated with SARS-CoV-2 neutralization in vitro and demonstrate identity to bat coronavirus and SARS-CoV, but limited homology to non-pathogenic human coronavirus. The identified COVID-19 mRNA vaccine epitopes should be considered in the context of variants, immune escape and vaccine and therapy design moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam V. Wisnewski
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Carrie A. Redlich
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Jian Liu
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Kathy Kamath
- Serimmune, Inc., Goleta, CA, United States of America
| | - Queenie-Ann Abad
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Richard F. Smith
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Louis Fazen
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Romero Santiago
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Julian Campillo Luna
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | | | | | - Rebecca Waitz
- Serimmune, Inc., Goleta, CA, United States of America
| | | | - John C. Shon
- Serimmune, Inc., Goleta, CA, United States of America
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36
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Markosian C, Staquicini DI, Dogra P, Dodero-rojas E, Tang FHF, Smith TL, Contessoto VG, Libutti SK, Wang Z, Cristini V, Whitford PC, Burley SK, Onuchic JN, Pasqualini R, Arap W. Apropos of Universal Epitope Discovery for COVID-19 Vaccines: A Framework for Targeted Phage Display-Based Delivery and Integration of New Evaluation Tools.. [PMID: 34676381 PMCID: PMC8529634 DOI: 10.1101/2021.08.30.458222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Targeted bacteriophage (phage) particles are potentially attractive yet inexpensive platforms for immunization. Herein, we describe targeted phage capsid display of an immunogenically relevant epitope of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein that is empirically conserved, likely due to the high mutational cost among all variants identified to date. This observation may herald an approach to developing vaccine candidates for broad-spectrum, towards universal, protection against multiple emergent variants of coronavirus that cause COVID-19.
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37
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Daguer JP, Gonse A, Shchukin Y, Farrera-Soler L, Barluenga S, Winssinger N. Dual Bcl-X L /Bcl-2 inhibitors discovered from DNA-encoded libraries using a fragment pairing strategy. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 44:116282. [PMID: 34216984 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A dual Bcl-XL / Bcl-2 inhibitor was discovered from DNA-encoded libraries using a two steps process. In the first step, DNA was used to pair PNA-encoded fragments exploring > 250 000 combinations. In the second step, a focused library combining the selected fragments with linkers of different lengths and geometries led to the identification of tight binding adducts that were further investigated for their selective target engagement in pull-down assays, for their affinity by SPR, and their selectivity in a cytotoxicity assay. The best compound showed comparable cellular activity to venetoclax, the first-in-class therapeutic targeting Bcl-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Pierre Daguer
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Arthur Gonse
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yevhenii Shchukin
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lluc Farrera-Soler
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sofia Barluenga
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Winssinger
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
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Abstract
CoVID-19 is a multi-symptomatic disease which has made a global impact due to its ability to spread rapidly, and its relatively high mortality rate. Beyond the heroic efforts to develop vaccines, which we do not discuss herein, the response of scientists and clinicians to this complex problem has reflected the need to detect CoVID-19 rapidly, to diagnose patients likely to show adverse symptoms, and to treat severe and critical CoVID-19. Here we aim to encapsulate these varied and sometimes conflicting approaches and the resulting data in terms of chemistry and biology. In the process we highlight emerging concepts, and potential future applications that may arise out of this immense effort.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yimon Aye
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)1015LausanneSwitzerland
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39
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Shalash AO, Hussein WM, Skwarczynski M, Toth I. Key Considerations for the Development of Safe and Effective SARS-CoV-2 Subunit Vaccine: A Peptide-Based Vaccine Alternative. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2100985. [PMID: 34176237 PMCID: PMC8373118 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202100985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 is disastrous to global health and the economy. SARS-CoV-2 infection exhibits similar clinical symptoms and immunopathological sequelae to SARS-CoV infection. Therefore, much of the developmental progress on SARS-CoV vaccines can be utilized for the development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Careful antigen selection during development is always of utmost importance for the production of effective vaccines that do not compromise recipient safety. This holds especially true for SARS-CoV vaccines, as several immunopathological disorders are associated with the activity of structural and nonstructural proteins encoded in the virus's genetic material. Whole viral protein and RNA-encoding full-length proteins contain both protective and "dangerous" sequences, unless pathological fragments are deleted. In light of recent advances, peptide vaccines may present a very safe and effective alternative. Peptide vaccines can avoid immunopathological pro-inflammatory sequences, focus immune responses on neutralizing immunogenic epitopes, avoid off-target antigen loss, combine antigens with different protective roles or mechanisms, even from different viral proteins, and avoid mutant escape by employing highly conserved cryptic epitopes. In this review, an attempt is made to exploit the similarities between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 in vaccine antigen screening, with particular attention to the pathological and immunogenic properties of SARS proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed O. Shalash
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLD4072Australia
| | - Waleed M. Hussein
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLD4072Australia
| | - Mariusz Skwarczynski
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLD4072Australia
| | - Istvan Toth
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLD4072Australia
- Institute for Molecular BioscienceThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLD4072Australia
- School of PharmacyThe University of QueenslandWoolloongabbaQLD4102Australia
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40
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Staquicini DI, Tang FHF, Markosian C, Yao VJ, Staquicini FI, Dodero-Rojas E, Contessoto VG, Davis D, O'Brien P, Habib N, Smith TL, Bruiners N, Sidman RL, Gennaro ML, Lattime EC, Libutti SK, Whitford PC, Burley SK, Onuchic JN, Arap W, Pasqualini R. Design and proof of concept for targeted phage-based COVID-19 vaccination strategies with a streamlined cold-free supply chain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2105739118. [PMID: 34234013 PMCID: PMC8325333 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2105739118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of effective vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global imperative. Rapid immunization of the entire human population against a widespread, continually evolving, and highly pathogenic virus is an unprecedented challenge, and different vaccine approaches are being pursued. Engineered filamentous bacteriophage (phage) particles have unique potential in vaccine development due to their inherent immunogenicity, genetic plasticity, stability, cost-effectiveness for large-scale production, and proven safety profile in humans. Herein we report the development and initial evaluation of two targeted phage-based vaccination approaches against SARS-CoV-2: dual ligand peptide-targeted phage and adeno-associated virus/phage (AAVP) particles. For peptide-targeted phage, we performed structure-guided antigen design to select six solvent-exposed epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. One of these epitopes displayed on the major capsid protein pVIII of phage induced a specific and sustained humoral response when injected in mice. These phage were further engineered to simultaneously display the peptide CAKSMGDIVC on the minor capsid protein pIII to enable their transport from the lung epithelium into the systemic circulation. Aerosolization of these "dual-display" phage into the lungs of mice generated a systemic and specific antibody response. In the second approach, targeted AAVP particles were engineered to deliver the entire S protein gene under the control of a constitutive CMV promoter. This induced tissue-specific transgene expression, stimulating a systemic S protein-specific antibody response in mice. With these proof-of-concept preclinical experiments, we show that both targeted phage- and AAVP-based particles serve as robust yet versatile platforms that can promptly yield COVID-19 vaccine prototypes for translational development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela I Staquicini
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Fenny H F Tang
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Christopher Markosian
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Virginia J Yao
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Fernanda I Staquicini
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | | | - Vinícius G Contessoto
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
- Department of Physics, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, São José do Rio Preto, SP 15054, Brazil
| | - Deodate Davis
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Paul O'Brien
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Nazia Habib
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Tracey L Smith
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Natalie Bruiners
- Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Richard L Sidman
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Maria L Gennaro
- Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Edmund C Lattime
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
| | - Steven K Libutti
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
| | - Paul C Whitford
- Department of Physics and Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Stephen K Burley
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
- RCSB Protein Data Bank and Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854
- RCSB Protein Data Bank, San Diego Supercomputer Center and Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92067
| | - José N Onuchic
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005;
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
| | - Wadih Arap
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101;
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Renata Pasqualini
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101;
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
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41
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Fraley E, LeMaster C, Geanes E, Banerjee D, Khanal S, Grundberg E, Selvarangan R, Bradley T. Humoral immune responses during SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine administration in seropositive and seronegative individuals. BMC Med 2021; 19:169. [PMID: 34304742 PMCID: PMC8310732 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-021-02055-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Currently, there are three approved vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in the USA, including two based on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology that has demonstrated high vaccine efficacy. We sought to characterize humoral immune responses, at high resolution, during immunization with the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine in individuals with or without prior history of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS We determined antibody responses after each dose of the BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in individuals who had no prior history of SARS-CoV-2 infection (seronegative) and individuals that had previous viral infection 30-60 days prior to first vaccination (seropositive). To do this, we used both an antibody isotype-specific multiplexed bead-based binding assays targeting multiple SARS-CoV-2 viral protein antigens and an assay that identified potential SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody levels. Moreover, we mapped antibody epitope specificity after immunization using SARS-CoV-2 spike protein peptide arrays. RESULTS Antibody levels were significantly higher after a single dose in seropositive individuals compared to seronegative individuals and were comparable to levels observed in seronegative individuals after two doses. While IgG was boosted by vaccination for both seronegative and seropositive individuals, only seronegative individuals had increased IgA or IgM antibody titers after primary immunization. We identified immunodominant peptides targeted on both SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 and S2 subunits after vaccination. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrated the antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 immunization in seropositive and seronegative individuals and provide support for the concept of using prior infection history as a guide for the consideration of future vaccination regimens. Moreover, we identified key epitopes on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that are targeted by antibodies after vaccination that could guide future vaccine and immune correlate development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Fraley
- Genomic Medicine Center, Children's Mercy Research Institute, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Cas LeMaster
- Genomic Medicine Center, Children's Mercy Research Institute, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Eric Geanes
- Genomic Medicine Center, Children's Mercy Research Institute, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Dithi Banerjee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Santosh Khanal
- Genomic Medicine Center, Children's Mercy Research Institute, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Elin Grundberg
- Genomic Medicine Center, Children's Mercy Research Institute, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, UMKC School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Rangaraj Selvarangan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, UMKC School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA.
| | - Todd Bradley
- Genomic Medicine Center, Children's Mercy Research Institute, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, UMKC School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA. .,Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
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42
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Immunity against seasonal human coronavirus OC43 mitigates fatal deterioration of COVID-19. Int J Infect Dis 2021; 109:261-268. [PMID: 34273512 PMCID: PMC8278827 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The effects of high-intensity immunity on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain unclear. Antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) are preferentially induced in inpatients with COVID-19 compared with outpatients with milder disease, and immunosuppression is the standard therapy for severe cases. This study investigated the relationship between cross-reactive antibody production against seasonal human coronavirus and the clinical course of COVID-19. Methods Among the immunogenic epitopes of SARS-CoV-2, conserved peptides in human coronavirus OC43 were searched and synthesized. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was designed to detect antibodies against synthesized peptides. Antibody titres against S2ʹ cleavage site epitopes near fusion peptides of SARS-CoV-2 and OC43 were determined in the sera of 126 inpatients with COVID-19. The correlation between antibody titres and clinical data was analysed. Results Inpatients with COVID-19 who produced antibodies against OC43 did not develop severe or fatal pneumonia. Antibody titres against the corresponding epitope of SARS-CoV-2 did not differ between inpatients with severe and mild COVID-19. Antibody titres against the OC43 epitope increased more than those against SARS-CoV-2 during the first 2 weeks of COVID-19. Conclusions Immunity to seasonal human coronavirus OC43 effectively enhanced recovery from COVID-19. Detecting cross-reactive antibodies to OC43 may help to predict prognosis for patients with COVID-19.
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43
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Mapping conformational epitopes by NMR spectroscopy. Curr Opin Virol 2021; 49:1-6. [PMID: 33989923 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies recognize their target with high affinity and specificity. This is important for pathogen neutralization, which plays a crucial role in defense against disease. Antibodies are powerful tools in the development of new therapeutics, such as vaccines, to fight diseases such as viral infections and even cancer. The development of monoclonal and specific antibodies is time-consuming and expensive, but it can be greatly simplified with structural and allosteric information. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a powerful technique to study protein structure and dynamics, and it has proven to be efficient to analyze large protein complexes, despite the overall size limitation. Here, we discuss NMR approaches efficiently used to conformational epitope mapping.
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44
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Schwarz T, Heiss K, Mahendran Y, Casilag F, Kurth F, Sander LE, Wendtner CM, Hoechstetter MA, Müller MA, Sekul R, Drosten C, Stadler V, Corman VM. SARS-CoV-2 Proteome-Wide Analysis Revealed Significant Epitope Signatures in COVID-19 Patients. Front Immunol 2021; 12:629185. [PMID: 33833755 PMCID: PMC8021850 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.629185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The causative agent of this acute respiratory disease is a newly emerged coronavirus, named SARS-CoV-2, which originated in China in late 2019. Exposure to SARS−CoV−2 leads to multifaceted disease outcomes from asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress and potentially death. Understanding the host immune response is crucial for the development of interventional strategies. Humoral responses play an important role in defending viral infections and are therefore of particular interest. With the aim to resolve SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral immune responses at the epitope level, we screened clinically well-characterized sera from COVID-19 patients with mild and severe disease outcome using high-density peptide microarrays covering the entire proteome of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, we determined the longevity of epitope-specific antibody responses in a longitudinal approach. Here we present IgG and IgA-specific epitope signatures from COVID-19 patients, which may serve as discriminating prognostic or predictive markers for disease outcome and/or could be relevant for intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Schwarz
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Florian Kurth
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Leif E Sander
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Clemens-Martin Wendtner
- Munich Clinic Schwabing, Academic Teaching Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Manuela A Hoechstetter
- Munich Clinic Schwabing, Academic Teaching Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Marcel A Müller
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research, Associated Partner Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Victor M Corman
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research, Associated Partner Charité, Berlin, Germany
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45
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Tong J, Zhu C, Lai H, Feng C, Zhou D. Potent Neutralization Antibodies Induced by a Recombinant Trimeric Spike Protein Vaccine Candidate Containing PIKA Adjuvant for COVID-19. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:296. [PMID: 33810026 PMCID: PMC8004863 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9030296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The structures of immunogens that elicit the most potent neutralization antibodies to prevent COVID-19 infection are still under investigation. In this study, we tested the efficacy of a recombinant trimeric Spike protein containing polyI:C (PIKA) adjuvant in mice immunized by a 0-7-14 day schedule. The results showed that a Spike protein-specific antibody was induced at Day 21 with titer of above 50,000 on average, as measured by direct binding. The neutralizing titer was above 1000 on average, as determined by a pseudo-virus using monoclonal antibodies (40592-MM57 and 40591-MM43) with IC50 at 1 μg/mL as standards. The protein/peptide array-identified receptor-binding domain (RBD) was considered as immunodominant. No linear epitopes were found in the RBD, although several linear epitopes were found in the C-terminal domain right after the RBD and heptad repeat regions. Our study supports the efficacy of a recombinant trimeric Spike protein vaccine candidate for COVID-19 that is safe and ready for storage and distribution in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Tong
- Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; (J.T.); (C.Z.); (H.L.); (C.F.)
- Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center Affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, 165 Sanlin Road, Shanghai 200124, China
| | - Chenxi Zhu
- Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; (J.T.); (C.Z.); (H.L.); (C.F.)
- Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center Affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, 165 Sanlin Road, Shanghai 200124, China
| | - Hanyu Lai
- Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; (J.T.); (C.Z.); (H.L.); (C.F.)
- Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center Affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, 165 Sanlin Road, Shanghai 200124, China
| | - Chunchao Feng
- Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; (J.T.); (C.Z.); (H.L.); (C.F.)
- Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center Affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, 165 Sanlin Road, Shanghai 200124, China
| | - Dapeng Zhou
- Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; (J.T.); (C.Z.); (H.L.); (C.F.)
- Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center Affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, 165 Sanlin Road, Shanghai 200124, China
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Prompetchara E, Ketloy C, Tharakhet K, Kaewpang P, Buranapraditkun S, Techawiwattanaboon T, Sathean-anan-kun S, Pitakpolrat P, Watcharaplueksadee S, Phumiamorn S, Wijagkanalan W, Patarakul K, Palaga T, Ruxrungtham K. DNA vaccine candidate encoding SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins elicited potent humoral and Th1 cell-mediated immune responses in mice. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248007. [PMID: 33750975 PMCID: PMC7984610 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 65 million people have been confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2 and more than 1 million have died from COVID-19 and this pandemic remains critical worldwide. Effective vaccines are one of the most important strategies to limit the pandemic. Here, we report a construction strategy of DNA vaccine candidates expressing full length wild type SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein, S1 or S2 region and their immunogenicity in mice. All DNA vaccine constructs of pCMVkan-S, -S1 and -S2 induced high levels of specific binding IgG that showed a balance of IgG1/IgG2a response. However, only the sera from mice vaccinated with pCMKkan-S or -S1 DNA vaccines could inhibit viral RBD and ACE2 interaction. The highest neutralizing antibody (NAb) titer was found in pCMVkan-S group, followed by -S1, while -S2 showed the lowest PRNT50 titers. The geometric mean titers (GMTs) were 2,551, 1,005 and 291 for pCMVkan-S, -S1 and -S2, respectively. pCMVkan-S construct vaccine also induced the highest magnitude and breadth of T cells response. Analysis of IFN-γ positive cells after stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 spike peptide pools were 2,991, 1,376 and 1,885 SFC/106 splenocytes for pCMVkan-S, -S1 and -S2, respectively. Our findings highlighted that full-length S antigen is more potent than the truncated spike (S1 or S2) in inducing of neutralizing antibody and robust T cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eakachai Prompetchara
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Integrated Frontier Biotechnology for Emerging Disease, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chutitorn Ketloy
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Integrated Frontier Biotechnology for Emerging Disease, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kittipan Tharakhet
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Papatsara Kaewpang
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Supranee Buranapraditkun
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Teerasit Techawiwattanaboon
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Suwitra Sathean-anan-kun
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Patrawadee Pitakpolrat
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Supaporn Watcharaplueksadee
- Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases-Health Science Centre, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training on Viral Zoonoses, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Supaporn Phumiamorn
- Institute of Biological Product, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | | | - Kanitha Patarakul
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Integrated Frontier Biotechnology for Emerging Disease, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tanapat Palaga
- Integrated Frontier Biotechnology for Emerging Disease, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kiat Ruxrungtham
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Integrated Frontier Biotechnology for Emerging Disease, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Staquicini DI, Tang FHF, Markosian C, Yao VJ, Staquicini FI, Dodero-Rojas E, Contessoto VG, Davis D, O’Brien P, Habib N, Smith TL, Bruiners N, Sidman RL, Gennaro ML, Lattime EC, Libutti SK, Whitford PC, Burley SK, Onuchic JN, Arap W, Pasqualini R. Design and proof-of-concept for targeted phage-based COVID-19 vaccination strategies with a streamlined cold-free supply chain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021:2021.03.15.435496. [PMID: 33758865 PMCID: PMC7987025 DOI: 10.1101/2021.03.15.435496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Development of effective vaccines against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global imperative. Rapid immunization of the world human population against a widespread, continually evolving, and highly pathogenic virus is an unprecedented challenge, and many different vaccine approaches are being pursued to meet this task. Engineered filamentous bacteriophage (phage) have unique potential in vaccine development due to their inherent immunogenicity, genetic plasticity, stability, cost-effectiveness for large-scale production, and proven safety profile in humans. Herein we report the design, development, and initial evaluation of targeted phage-based vaccination approaches against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) by using dual ligand peptide-targeted phage and adeno-associated virus/phage (AAVP) particles. Towards a unique phage- and AAVP-based dual-display candidate approach, we first performed structure-guided antigen design to select six solvent-exposed epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein for display on the recombinant major capsid coat protein pVIII. Targeted phage particles carrying one of these epitopes induced a strong and specific humoral response. In an initial experimental approach, when these targeted phage particles were further genetically engineered to simultaneously display a ligand peptide (CAKSMGDIVC) on the minor capsid protein pIII, which enables receptor-mediated transport of phage particles from the lung epithelium into the systemic circulation (termed "dual-display"), they enhanced a systemic and specific spike (S) protein-specific antibody response upon aerosolization into the lungs of mice. In a second line of investigation, we engineered targeted AAVP particles to deliver the entire S protein gene under the control of a constitutive cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, which induced tissue-specific transgene expression stimulating a systemic S protein-specific antibody response. As proof-of-concept preclinical experiments, we show that targeted phage- and AAVP-based particles serve as robust yet versatile enabling platforms for ligand-directed immunization and promptly yield COVID-19 vaccine prototypes for further translational development. SIGNIFICANCE The ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic has accounted for over 2.5 million deaths and an unprecedented impact on the health of mankind worldwide. Over the past several months, while a few COVID-19 vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorization and are currently being administered to the entire human population, the demand for prompt global immunization has created enormous logistical challenges--including but not limited to supply, access, and distribution--that justify and reinforce the research for additional strategic alternatives. Phage are viruses that only infect bacteria and have been safely administered to humans as antibiotics for decades. As experimental proof-of-concept, we demonstrated that aerosol pulmonary vaccination with lung-targeted phage particles that display short epitopes of the S protein on the capsid as well as preclinical vaccination with targeted AAVP particles carrying the S protein gene elicit a systemic and specific immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in immunocompetent mice. Given that targeted phage- and AAVP-based viral particles are sturdy yet simple to genetically engineer, cost-effective for rapid large-scale production in clinical grade, and relatively stable at room temperature, such unique attributes might perhaps become additional tools towards COVID-19 vaccine design and development for immediate and future unmet needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela I. Staquicini
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Fenny H. F. Tang
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Christopher Markosian
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Virginia J. Yao
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Fernanda I. Staquicini
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | | | - Vinícius G. Contessoto
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
- Department of Physics, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, São José do Rio Preto, SP 15054, Brazil. Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Deodate Davis
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Paul O’Brien
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Nazia Habib
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Tracey L. Smith
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Natalie Bruiners
- Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | | | - Maria L. Gennaro
- Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Edmund C. Lattime
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
| | - Steven K. Libutti
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
| | - Paul C. Whitford
- Department of Physics and Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Stephen K. Burley
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
- RCSB Protein Data Bank and Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854
- RCSB Protein Data Bank, San Diego Supercomputer Center and Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92067
| | - José N. Onuchic
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
| | - Wadih Arap
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Renata Pasqualini
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
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Li Y, Lai DY, Lei Q, Xu ZW, Wang F, Hou H, Chen L, Wu J, Ren Y, Ma ML, Zhang B, Chen H, Yu C, Xue JB, Zheng YX, Wang XN, Jiang HW, Zhang HN, Qi H, Guo SJ, Zhang Y, Lin X, Yao Z, Pang P, Shi D, Wang W, Yang X, Zhou J, Sheng H, Sun Z, Shan H, Fan X, Tao SC. Systematic evaluation of IgG responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-derived peptides for monitoring COVID-19 patients. Cell Mol Immunol 2021; 18:621-631. [PMID: 33483707 PMCID: PMC7821179 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-020-00612-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Serological tests play an essential role in monitoring and combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Recombinant spike protein (S protein), especially the S1 protein, is one of the major reagents used for serological tests. However, the high cost of S protein production and possible cross-reactivity with other human coronaviruses pose unavoidable challenges. By taking advantage of a peptide microarray with full spike protein coverage, we analyzed 2,434 sera from 858 COVID-19 patients, 63 asymptomatic patients and 610 controls collected from multiple clinical centers. Based on the results, we identified several S protein-derived 12-mer peptides that have high diagnostic performance. In particular, for monitoring the IgG response, one peptide (aa 1148–1159 or S2–78) exhibited a sensitivity (95.5%, 95% CI 93.7–96.9%) and specificity (96.7%, 95% CI 94.8–98.0%) comparable to those of the S1 protein for the detection of both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. Furthermore, the diagnostic performance of the S2–78 (aa 1148–1159) IgG was successfully validated by ELISA in an independent sample cohort. A panel of four peptides, S1–93 (aa 553–564), S1–97 (aa 577–588), S1–101 (aa 601–612) and S1–105 (aa 625–636), that likely will avoid potential cross-reactivity with sera from patients infected by other coronaviruses was constructed. The peptides identified in this study may be applied independently or in combination with the S1 protein for accurate, affordable, and accessible COVID-19 diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan-Yun Lai
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Lei
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhao-Wei Xu
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongyan Hou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lingyun Chen
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Jiaoxiang Wu
- Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Ren
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Ming-Liang Ma
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Caizheng Yu
- Department of Public Health, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun-Biao Xue
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun-Xiao Zheng
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue-Ning Wang
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - He-Wei Jiang
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hai-Nan Zhang
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huan Qi
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu-Juan Guo
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yandi Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaosong Lin
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zongjie Yao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Pengfei Pang
- Center for Interventional Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, China
| | - Dawei Shi
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Foshan Fourth People's Hospital, Foshan, 528000, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Foshan Fourth People's Hospital, Foshan, 528000, China
| | - Huiming Sheng
- Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ziyong Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong Shan
- Center for Interventional Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, China.
| | - Xionglin Fan
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Sheng-Ce Tao
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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Musicò A, Frigerio R, Mussida A, Barzon L, Sinigaglia A, Riccetti S, Gobbi F, Piubelli C, Bergamaschi G, Chiari M, Gori A, Cretich M. SARS-CoV-2 Epitope Mapping on Microarrays Highlights Strong Immune-Response to N Protein Region. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:35. [PMID: 33440622 PMCID: PMC7827214 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9010035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A workflow for rapid SARS-CoV-2 epitope discovery on peptide microarrays is herein reported. The process started with a proteome-wide screening of immunoreactivity based on the use of a high-density microarray followed by a refinement and validation phase on a restricted panel of probes using microarrays with tailored peptide immobilization through a click-based strategy. Progressively larger, independent cohorts of Covid-19 positive sera were tested in the refinement processes, leading to the identification of immunodominant regions on SARS-CoV-2 spike (S), nucleocapsid (N) protein and Orf1ab polyprotein. A summary study testing 50 serum samples highlighted an epitope of the N protein (region 155-71) providing good diagnostic performance in discriminating Covid-19 positive vs. healthy individuals. Using this epitope, 92% sensitivity and 100% specificity were reached for IgG detection in Covid-19 samples, and no cross-reactivity with common cold coronaviruses was detected. Likewise, IgM immunoreactivity in samples collected within the first month after symptoms onset showed discrimination ability. Overall, epitope 155-171 from N protein represents a promising candidate for further development and rapid implementation in serological tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Musicò
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta” (SCITEC-CNR), Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (R.F.); (A.M.); (G.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Roberto Frigerio
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta” (SCITEC-CNR), Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (R.F.); (A.M.); (G.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Alessandro Mussida
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta” (SCITEC-CNR), Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (R.F.); (A.M.); (G.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Luisa Barzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via A. Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy; (L.B.); (A.S.); (S.R.)
| | - Alessandro Sinigaglia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via A. Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy; (L.B.); (A.S.); (S.R.)
| | - Silvia Riccetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via A. Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy; (L.B.); (A.S.); (S.R.)
| | - Federico Gobbi
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Don A. Sempreboni, 5-37024 Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy; (F.G.); (C.P.)
| | - Chiara Piubelli
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Don A. Sempreboni, 5-37024 Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy; (F.G.); (C.P.)
| | - Greta Bergamaschi
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta” (SCITEC-CNR), Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (R.F.); (A.M.); (G.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Marcella Chiari
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta” (SCITEC-CNR), Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (R.F.); (A.M.); (G.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Alessandro Gori
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta” (SCITEC-CNR), Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (R.F.); (A.M.); (G.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Marina Cretich
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta” (SCITEC-CNR), Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (R.F.); (A.M.); (G.B.); (M.C.)
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50
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Post N, Eddy D, Huntley C, van Schalkwyk MCI, Shrotri M, Leeman D, Rigby S, Williams SV, Bermingham WH, Kellam P, Maher J, Shields AM, Amirthalingam G, Peacock SJ, Ismail SA. Antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans: A systematic review. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0244126. [PMID: 33382764 PMCID: PMC7775097 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 229] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Progress in characterising the humoral immune response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been rapid but areas of uncertainty persist. Assessment of the full range of evidence generated to date to understand the characteristics of the antibody response, its dynamics over time, its determinants and the immunity it confers will have a range of clinical and policy implications for this novel pathogen. This review comprehensively evaluated evidence describing the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 published from 01/01/2020-26/06/2020. METHODS Systematic review. Keyword-structured searches were carried out in MEDLINE, Embase and COVID-19 Primer. Articles were independently screened on title, abstract and full text by two researchers, with arbitration of disagreements. Data were double-extracted into a pre-designed template, and studies critically appraised using a modified version of the Public Health Ontario Meta-tool for Quality Appraisal of Public Health Evidence (MetaQAT) tool, with resolution of disagreements by consensus. Findings were narratively synthesised. RESULTS 150 papers were included. Most studies (113 or 75%) were observational in design, were based wholly or primarily on data from hospitalised patients (108, 72%) and had important methodological limitations. Few considered mild or asymptomatic infection. Antibody dynamics were well described in the acute phase, up to around three months from disease onset, but the picture regarding correlates of the antibody response was inconsistent. IgM was consistently detected before IgG in included studies, peaking at weeks two to five and declining over a further three to five weeks post-symptom onset depending on the patient group; IgG peaked around weeks three to seven post-symptom onset then plateaued, generally persisting for at least eight weeks. Neutralising antibodies were detectable within seven to 15 days following disease onset, with levels increasing until days 14-22 before levelling and then decreasing, but titres were lower in those with asymptomatic or clinically mild disease. Specific and potent neutralising antibodies have been isolated from convalescent plasma. Cross-reactivity but limited cross-neutralisation with other human coronaviridae was reported. Evidence for protective immunity in vivo was limited to small, short-term animal studies, showing promising initial results in the immediate recovery phase. CONCLUSIONS Literature on antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 is of variable quality with considerable heterogeneity of methods, study participants, outcomes measured and assays used. Although acute phase antibody dynamics are well described, longer-term patterns are much less well evidenced. Comprehensive assessment of the role of demographic characteristics and disease severity on antibody responses is needed. Initial findings of low neutralising antibody titres and possible waning of titres over time may have implications for sero-surveillance and disease control policy, although further evidence is needed. The detection of potent neutralising antibodies in convalescent plasma is important in the context of development of therapeutics and vaccines. Due to limitations with the existing evidence base, large, cross-national cohort studies using appropriate statistical analysis and standardised serological assays and clinical classifications should be prioritised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Post
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Danielle Eddy
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Huntley
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - May C. I. van Schalkwyk
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Madhumita Shrotri
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Leeman
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Rigby
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah V. Williams
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - William H. Bermingham
- Department of Clinical Immunology, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Kellam
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Maher
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Studies, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Immunology, Eastbourne Hospital, Eastbourne, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian M. Shields
- Clinical Immunology Service, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sharon J. Peacock
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sharif A. Ismail
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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