1
|
Tîrziu A, Avram S, Madă L, Crișan-Vida M, Popovici C, Popovici D, Faur C, Duda-Seiman C, Păunescu V, Vernic C. Design of a Synthetic Long Peptide Vaccine Targeting HPV-16 and -18 Using Immunoinformatic Methods. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1798. [PMID: 37513985 PMCID: PMC10384861 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071798] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 cause the majority of cervical cancers worldwide. Despite the availability of three prophylactic vaccines based on virus-like particles (VLP) of the major capsid protein (L1), these vaccines are unable to clear an existing infection. Such infected persons experience an increased risk of neoplastic transformation. To overcome this problem, this study proposes an alternative synthetic long peptide (SLP)-based vaccine for persons already infected, including those with precancerous lesions. This new vaccine was designed to stimulate both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, providing a robust and long-lasting immune response. The SLP construct includes both HLA class I- and class II-restricted epitopes, identified from IEDB or predicted using NetMHCPan and NetMHCIIPan. None of the SLPs were allergenic nor toxic, based on in silico studies. Population coverage studies provided 98.18% coverage for class I epitopes and 99.81% coverage for class II peptides in the IEDB world population's allele set. Three-dimensional structure ab initio prediction using Rosetta provided good quality models, which were assessed using PROCHECK and QMEAN4. Molecular docking with toll-like receptor 2 identified potential intrinsic TLR2 agonist activity, while molecular dynamics studies of SLPs in water suggested good stability, with favorable thermodynamic properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Tîrziu
- Department of Functional Sciences, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Speranța Avram
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Leonard Madă
- Syonic SRL, Grigore T Popa Street, No. 81, 300254 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Mihaela Crișan-Vida
- Department of Automation and Computers, Politehnica University of Timisoara, 300006 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Casiana Popovici
- Section of Bioinformatics, Division of Systems Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Dan Popovici
- Department of Mathematics, University of the West Timişoara, Bd. Vasile Pârvan No. 4, 300223 Timişoara, Romania
| | - Cosmin Faur
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Dropiei Street, No. 7, sc B, ap 8, 300661 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Corina Duda-Seiman
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Chemistry, Biology, Geography, West University of Timisoara, 16 Pestalozzi, 300115 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Virgil Păunescu
- Department of Functional Sciences, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Center for Gene and Cellular Therapies in the Treatment of Cancer Timisoara-OncoGen, Clinical Emergency County Hospital "Pius Brinzeu" Timisoara, No. 156 Liviu Rebreanu, 300723 Timisoara, Romania
- Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies Center, Department of Functional Sciences, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, No. 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Corina Vernic
- Department of Functional Sciences, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Discipline of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Shahzamani K, Mahmoudian F, Ahangarzadeh S, Ranjbar MM, Beikmohammadi L, Bahrami S, Mohammadi E, Esfandyari S, Alibakhshi A, Javanmard SH. Vaccine design and delivery approaches for COVID-19. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 100:108086. [PMID: 34454291 PMCID: PMC8380485 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 is still a deadly disease that remains yet a major challenge for humans. In recent times, many large pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical companies have invested a lot of time and cost in fighting this disease. In this regard, today's scientific knowledge shows that designing and producing an effective vaccine is the best possible way to diminish the disease burden and dissemination or even eradicate the disease. Due to the urgent need, many vaccines are now available earlier than scheduled. New technologies have also helped to produce much more effective vaccines, although the potential side effects must be taken into account. Thus, in this review, the types of vaccines and vaccine designs made against COVID-19, the vaccination programs, as well as the delivery methods and molecules that have been used to deliver some vaccines that need a carrier will be described.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiana Shahzamani
- Isfahan Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center (lGHRC), Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mahmoudian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahrzad Ahangarzadeh
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Ranjbar
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Leila Beikmohammadi
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14155-6559 Tehran, Iran
| | - Samira Bahrami
- Biotechnology Department, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elmira Mohammadi
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Physiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Core Research Facilities, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sahar Esfandyari
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Alibakhshi
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
| | - Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Physiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Vivekanandhan K, Shanmugam P, Barabadi H, Arumugam V, Daniel Raj Daniel Paul Raj D, Sivasubramanian M, Ramasamy S, Anand K, Boomi P, Chandrasekaran B, Arokiyaraj S, Saravanan M. Emerging Therapeutic Approaches to Combat COVID-19: Present Status and Future Perspectives. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:604447. [PMID: 33763450 PMCID: PMC7983051 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.604447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has emerged as a fast-paced epidemic in late 2019 which is disrupting life-saving immunization services. SARS-CoV-2 is a highly transmissible virus and an infectious disease that has caused fear among people across the world. The worldwide emergence and rapid expansion of SARS-CoV-2 emphasizes the need for exploring innovative therapeutic approaches to combat SARS-CoV-2. The efficacy of some antiviral drugs such as remdesivir, favipiravir, umifenovir, etc., are still tested against SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, there is a large global effort to develop vaccines for the protection against COVID-19. Because vaccines seem the best solution to control the pandemic but time is required for its development, pre-clinical/clinical trials, approval from FDA and scale-up. The nano-based approach is another promising approach to combat COVID-19 owing to unique physicochemical properties of nanomaterials. Peptide based vaccines emerged as promising vaccine candidates for SARS-CoV-2. The study emphasizes the current therapeutic approaches against SARS-CoV-2 and some of the potential candidates for SARS-CoV-2 treatment which are still under clinical studies for their effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2. Overall, it is of high importance to mention that clinical trials are necessary for confirming promising drug candidates and effective vaccines and the safety profile of the new components must be evaluated before translation of in vitro studies for implementation in clinical use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Vivekanandhan
- Department of Biotechnology, K. S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Poornima Shanmugam
- Department of Biotechnology, K. S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Hamed Barabadi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vigneshwaran Arumugam
- School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | | | - Manikandan Sivasubramanian
- Department of Biotechnology, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, India
| | - Subbaiya Ramasamy
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, The Copperbelt University, Riverside, Zambia
| | - Krishnan Anand
- Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences and National Health Laboratory Service, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Pandi Boomi
- Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
| | | | - Selvaraj Arokiyaraj
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Sejong University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Muthupandian Saravanan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Biomedical Science, School of Medicine, College of Health Science, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
- AMR and Nanomedicine Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, India
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Soleimanpour S, Yaghoubi A. COVID-19 vaccine: where are we now and where should we go? Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 20:23-44. [PMID: 33435774 PMCID: PMC7898300 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1875824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has currently caused the pandemic with a high progressive speed and has been considered as the global public health crisis in 2020. This new member of the coronavirus family has created a potentially fatal disease, called coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Despite the continuous efforts of researchers to find effective vaccines and drugs for COVID-19, there is still no success in this matter. AREAS COVERED Here, the literature regarding the COVID-19 vaccine candidates currently in the clinical trials, as well as main candidates in pre-clinical stages for development and research, were reviewed. These candidates have been developed under five different major platforms, including live-attenuated vaccine, mRNA-based vaccine, DNA vaccines, inactivated virus, and viral-vector-based vaccine. EXPERT OPINION There are several limitations in the field of the rapid vaccine development against SARS-CoV-2, and other members of the coronavirus family such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The key challenges of designing an effective vaccine within a short time include finding the virulence ability of an emerging virus and potential antigen, choosing suitable experimental models and efficient route of administration, the immune-response study, designing the clinical trials, and determining the safety, as well as efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saman Soleimanpour
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Atieh Yaghoubi
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
McCarthy PM, Clifton GT, Vreeland TJ, Adams AM, O'Shea AE, Peoples GE. AE37: a HER2-targeted vaccine for the prevention of breast cancer recurrence. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2020; 30:5-11. [PMID: 33191799 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2021.1849140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION HER2 is a prevalent growth factor in a variety of malignancies, most prominently breast cancer. Over-expression has been correlated with the poorest overall survival and has been the target of successful therapies such as trastuzumab. AE37 is a novel, HER2-directed vaccine based on the AE36 hybrid peptide (aa776-790), which is derived from the intracellular portion of the HER2 protein, and the core portion of the MHC Class II invariant chain (the Ii-Key peptide). This hybrid peptide is given with GM-CSF immunoadjuvant as the AE37 vaccine. AREAS COVERED This article describes in detail the preclinical science leading to the creation of the AE37 vaccine and examines use of this agent in multiple clinical trials for breast and prostate cancer. The safety profile of AE37 is discussed and opinions on the potential of the vaccine in breast and prostate cancer patient subsets along with other malignancies, are offered. EXPERT OPINION Future trials utilizing the AE37 vaccine to treat other HER2-expressing malignancies are likely to see similar success, and this will be enhanced by combination immunotherapy. Ii-Key modification of other peptides of interest across oncology and virology could yield impressive results over the longer term.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M McCarthy
- Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center , Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA
| | - G Travis Clifton
- Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center , Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA
| | - Timothy J Vreeland
- Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center , Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexandra M Adams
- Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center , Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anne E O'Shea
- Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center , Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Di Natale C, La Manna S, De Benedictis I, Brandi P, Marasco D. Perspectives in Peptide-Based Vaccination Strategies for Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Pandemic. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:578382. [PMID: 33343349 PMCID: PMC7744882 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.578382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
At the end of December 2019, an epidemic form of respiratory tract infection now named COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China. It is caused by a newly identified viral pathogen, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which can cause severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. On January 30, 2020, due to the rapid spread of infection, COVID-19 was declared as a global health emergency by the World Health Organization. Coronaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses belonging to the family of Coronaviridae, which are able to infect birds, humans and other mammals. The majority of human coronavirus infections are mild although already in 2003 and in 2012, the epidemics of SARS-CoV and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), respectively, were characterized by a high mortality rate. In this regard, many efforts have been made to develop therapeutic strategies against human CoV infections but, unfortunately, drug candidates have shown efficacy only into in vitro studies, limiting their use against COVID-19 infection. Actually, no treatment has been approved in humans against SARS-CoV-2, and therefore there is an urgent need of a suitable vaccine to tackle this health issue. However, the puzzled scenario of biological features of the virus and its interaction with human immune response, represent a challenge for vaccine development. As expected, in hundreds of research laboratories there is a running out of breath to explore different strategies to obtain a safe and quickly spreadable vaccine; and among others, the peptide-based approach represents a turning point as peptides have demonstrated unique features of selectivity and specificity toward specific targets. Peptide-based vaccines imply the identification of different epitopes both on human cells and virus capsid and the design of peptide/peptidomimetics able to counteract the primary host-pathogen interaction, in order to induce a specific host immune response. SARS-CoV-2 immunogenic regions are mainly distributed, as well as for other coronaviruses, across structural areas such as spike, envelope, membrane or nucleocapsid proteins. Herein, we aim to highlight the molecular basis of the infection and recent peptide-based vaccines strategies to fight the COVID-19 pandemic including their delivery systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Concetta Di Natale
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Center for Advanced Biomaterial for Health Care (CABHC), Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Naples, Italy
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB) and Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, Dei Materiali e Della Produzione Industriale, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Sara La Manna
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Paola Brandi
- Centro Nacional De Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniela Marasco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Roy P, Ali AJ, Kobiyama K, Ghosheh Y, Ley K. Opportunities for an atherosclerosis vaccine: From mice to humans. Vaccine 2020; 38:4495-4506. [PMID: 31964554 PMCID: PMC7939143 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.12.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis, the major underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), is the number one killer globally. The disease pathogenesis involves a complex interplay between metabolic and immune components. Although lipid-lowering drugs such as statins curb the risks associated with CVD, significant residual inflammatory risk remains. Substantial evidence from experimental models and clinical studies has established the role of inflammation and immune effector mechanisms in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Several stages of the disease are affected by host-mediated antigen-specific adaptive immune responses that play either protective or proatherogenic roles. Therefore, strategies to boost an anti-atherogenic humoral and T regulatory cell response are emerging as preventative or therapeutic strategies to lowering inflammatory residual risks. Vaccination holds promise as an efficient, durable and relatively inexpensive approach to induce protective adaptive immunity in atherosclerotic patients. In this review, we discuss the status and opportunities for a human atherosclerosis vaccine. We describe (1) some of the immunomodulatory therapeutic interventions tested in atherosclerosis (2) the immune targets identified in pre-clinical and clinical investigations (3) immunization strategies evaluated in animal models (4) past and ongoing clinical trials to examine the safety and efficacy of human atherosclerosis vaccines and (5) strategies to improve and optimize vaccination in humans (antigen selection, formulation, dose and delivery).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Payel Roy
- Division of Inflammation Biology, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420, Athena Circle Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Amal J Ali
- Division of Inflammation Biology, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420, Athena Circle Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kouji Kobiyama
- Division of Inflammation Biology, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420, Athena Circle Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Division of Vaccine Science, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Yanal Ghosheh
- Division of Inflammation Biology, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420, Athena Circle Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Klaus Ley
- Division of Inflammation Biology, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, 9420, Athena Circle Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC0412, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
Adaptive as well as innate immune responses contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Studies performed in experimental animals have revealed that some of these immune responses are protective while others contribute to the progression of disease. These observations suggest that it may be possible to develop novel therapies for cardiovascular disease by selectively modulating such atheroprotective and proatherogenic immunity. Recent advances in cancer treatment using immune check inhibitors and CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell therapy serve as excellent examples of the possibilities of targeting the immune system to combat disease. LDL (low-density lipoprotein) that has accumulated in the artery wall is a key autoantigen in atherosclerosis, and activation of antigen-specific T helper 1–type T cells is thought to fuel plaque inflammation. Studies aiming to prove this concept by immunizing experimental animals with oxidized LDL particles unexpectedly resulted in activation of atheroprotective immunity involving regulatory T cells. This prompted several research groups to try to develop vaccines against atherosclerosis. In this review, we will discuss the experimental and clinical data supporting the possibility of developing immune-based therapies for lowering cardiovascular risk. We will also summarize ongoing clinical studies and discuss the challenges associated with developing an effective and safe atherosclerosis vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Nilsson
- From the Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Sweden (J.N.)
| | - Göran K. Hansson
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Karolinska Institute, Sweden (G.K.H.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Saylor K, Gillam F, Lohneis T, Zhang C. Designs of Antigen Structure and Composition for Improved Protein-Based Vaccine Efficacy. Front Immunol 2020; 11:283. [PMID: 32153587 PMCID: PMC7050619 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Today, vaccinologists have come to understand that the hallmark of any protective immune response is the antigen. However, it is not the whole antigen that dictates the immune response, but rather the various parts comprising the whole that are capable of influencing immunogenicity. Protein-based antigens hold particular importance within this structural approach to understanding immunity because, though different molecules can serve as antigens, only proteins are capable of inducing both cellular and humoral immunity. This fact, coupled with the versatility and customizability of proteins when considering vaccine design applications, makes protein-based vaccines (PBVs) one of today's most promising technologies for artificially inducing immunity. In this review, we follow the development of PBV technologies through time and discuss the antigen-specific receptors that are most critical to any immune response: pattern recognition receptors, B cell receptors, and T cell receptors. Knowledge of these receptors and their ligands has become exceptionally valuable in the field of vaccinology, where today it is possible to make drastic modifications to PBV structure, from primary to quaternary, in order to promote recognition of target epitopes, potentiate vaccine immunogenicity, and prevent antigen-associated complications. Additionally, these modifications have made it possible to control immune responses by modulating stability and targeting PBV to key immune cells. Consequently, careful consideration should be given to protein structure when designing PBVs in the future in order to potentiate PBV efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Saylor
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Frank Gillam
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Locus Biosciences, Morrisville, NC, United States
| | - Taylor Lohneis
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- BioPharmaceutical Technology Department, GlaxoSmithKline, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Chenming Zhang
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Baxevanis CN, Papamichail M, Perez SA. Immunologic biomarkers in prostate cancer: the AE37 paradigm. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2014; 10:1244-7. [PMID: 24552987 DOI: 10.4161/hv.28032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
One major achievement in cancer therapy is to select patients who will most likely benefit from a specific treatment. Predictive biomarkers play an important role in this respect being already useful in management of breast cancer and melanoma. For example, HER-2/neu (HER-2) overexpression selects for breast cancer patients to be treated with trastuzumab, and BRAFV600E mutations select for melanoma patients to be treated with vemurafenib. Identification of factors associated with T cell responsiveness to vaccination remains critical. Pre-existent immunity and circulating suppressor cells may regulate the levels of vaccine-specific T cell immunity after vaccination. The identification of immunologic endpoints to immunotherapy would thus considerably help guide the development of immunotherapy-based clinical trials. This commentary is based on a retrospective analysis we performed of data from prostate cancer patients vaccinated and boosted with the AE37 vaccine. The aim of these exploratory analyses was to identify factors useful in predicting which patients are more likely to respond to the treatment under study. The issue we are addressing here is to which extent common variables used pre- and/or following vaccinations with AE37 to assess the immune response status of the prostate cancer patients, may predict overall survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Papamichail
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center; Saint Savas Cancer Hospital; Athens, Greece
| | - Sonia A Perez
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center; Saint Savas Cancer Hospital; Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Bonvalet M, Moussu H, Wambre E, Ricarte C, Horiot S, Rimaniol AC, Kwok WW, Horak F, de Beaumont O, Baron-Bodo V, Moingeon P. Allergen-specific CD4+ T cell responses in peripheral blood do not predict the early onset of clinical efficacy during grass pollen sublingual immunotherapy. Clin Exp Allergy 2013. [PMID: 23181790 DOI: 10.1111/cea.12015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surrogate biomarkers of efficacy are needed in support of allergen-specific immunotherapy. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to relate changes in peripheral CD4(+) T cell responses to clinical efficacy during sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). METHODS Allergen-specific CD4(+) T cell responses were assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 89 grass pollen-allergic individuals enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled SLIT study conducted in an allergen exposure chamber (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00619827). Surface phenotype, proliferative responses, cytokine production and gene expression were analysed in coded samples at baseline, and after 2 and 4 months of SLIT, in PBMCs after in vitro allergen stimulation or among MHC class II/peptide (pMHCII)-tetramer-positive CD4(+) T cells. RESULTS SLIT induced a 29.3% improvement of the average rhinoconjunctivitis total symptom score in the active group, when compared to the placebo group. In parallel, only minor changes in proportions of CD4(+) T cells expressing Th1 (CCR5(+), CXCR3(+)), Th2 (CRTh2(+), CCR4(+)) and Treg (CD25(+), CD127(-), Foxp3(+)) markers were detected. A down-regulation of IL-4 and IL-10 gene expression and IL-10 secretion (P < 0.001) were observed, as well as a decrease in the frequency of potential "pro-allergic" CD27(-) Th2 cells from patients receiving active tablets (P < 0.001), but without any correlation with clinical benefit. pMHCII-tetramer analyses failed to document any major impact in both numbers and polarization of circulating Phl p 1- and Phl p 5-specific CD4(+) T cells, confirming that early clinical improvement during SLIT is not associated with dramatic alterations in T lymphocyte responses. CONCLUSION & CLINICAL RELEVANCE Changes in patterns of peripheral CD4(+) T cells are not markers for the early onset of efficacy during SLIT.
Collapse
|
12
|
Yamada A, Sasada T, Noguchi M, Itoh K. Next-generation peptide vaccines for advanced cancer. Cancer Sci 2012; 104:15-21. [PMID: 23107418 DOI: 10.1111/cas.12050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2012] [Revised: 10/18/2012] [Accepted: 10/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Many clinical trials of peptide vaccines have been carried out since the first clinical trial of a melanoma antigen gene-1-derived peptide-based vaccine was reported in 1995. The earlier generations of peptide vaccines were composed of one to several human leukocyte antigen class I-restricted CTL-epitope peptides of a single human leukocyte antigen type. Currently, various types of next-generation peptide vaccines are under development. In this review, we focus on the clinical trials of the following categories of peptide vaccines mainly published from 2008 to 2012: (i) multivalent long peptide vaccines; (ii) multi-peptide vaccines consisting of CTL- and helper-epitopes; (iii) peptide cocktail vaccines; (iv) hybrid peptide vaccines; (v) personalized peptide vaccines; and (vi) peptide-pulsed dendritic cell vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akira Yamada
- Cancer Vaccine Development Division, Kurume University Research Center for Innovative Cancer Therapy, Kurume, Japan
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Sears AK, Perez SA, Clifton GT, Benavides LC, Gates JD, Clive KS, Holmes JP, Shumway NM, Van Echo DC, Carmichael MG, Ponniah S, Baxevanis CN, Mittendorf EA, Papamichail M, Peoples GE. AE37: a novel T-cell-eliciting vaccine for breast cancer. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2011; 11:1543-50. [PMID: 21895539 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2011.616889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Immunotherapy, including vaccines targeting the human EGFR2 (HER-2/neu) protein, is an active area of investigation in combatting breast cancer. Several vaccines are currently undergoing clinical trials, most of which are CD8(+) T-cell-eliciting vaccines. AE37 is a promising primarily CD4(+) T-cell-eliciting HER-2/neu breast cancer vaccine currently in clinical trials. AREAS COVERED This article reviews preclinical investigations as well as findings from completed and ongoing Phase I and Phase II clinical trials of the AE37 vaccine. EXPERT OPINION Clinical trials have shown the AE37 vaccine to be safe and capable of generating peptide-specific, durable immune responses. This has been shown in patients with any level of HER-2/neu expression. Early clinical findings suggest there may be benefit to AE37 vaccination in preventing breast cancer recurrence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alan K Sears
- Brooke Army Medical Center, Department of General Surgery, 3851 Roger Brooke Drive, Ft. Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Baxevanis CN, Voutsas IF, Gritzapis AD, Perez SA, Papamichail M. HER-2/neu as a target for cancer vaccines. Immunotherapy 2010; 2:213-26. [PMID: 20635929 DOI: 10.2217/imt.09.89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel modality toward the treatment of HER-2/neu-positive malignancies, mostly including breast and, more recently prostate carcinomas, has been the use of vaccines targeting HER-2/neu extracellular and intracellular domains. HER-2/neu-specific vaccines have been demonstrated to generate durable T-cell anti-HER-2/neu immunity when tested in Phase I and II clinical trials with no significant toxicity or autoimmunity directed against normal tissues. Targeting of HER-2/neu in active immunotherapy may involve peptide and DNA vaccines. Moreover, active anti-HER-2/neu immunization could facilitate the ex vivo expansion of HER-2/neu-specific T cells for use in adoptive immunotherapy for the treatment of established metastatic disease. In addition, early data from trials examining the potential use of HER-2/neu-based vaccines in the adjuvant setting to prevent the relapse of breast cancer in high-risk patients have shown promising results. Future approaches include multiepitope preventive vaccines and combinatorial treatments for generating the most efficient protective anti-tumor immunity.
Collapse
|
15
|
Perez SA, von Hofe E, Kallinteris NL, Gritzapis AD, Peoples GE, Papamichail M, Baxevanis CN. A new era in anticancer peptide vaccines. Cancer 2010; 116:2071-80. [PMID: 20187092 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.24988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The use of synthetic peptides as vaccines aimed at the induction of therapeutic CD8-positive T-cell responses against tumor cells initially experienced great enthusiasm, mostly because of advances in vaccine technology, including design, synthesis, and delivery. However, despite impressive results in animal models, the application of such vaccines in humans has met with only limited success. The therapeutic activity of vaccine-stimulated, tumor-specific, CD8-positive T cells can be hampered through the physical burden of the tumor, tolerance mechanisms, and local factors within the tumor microenvironment. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that combining a peptide-based therapeutic vaccination with conventional chemotherapy can uncover the full potential of the antitumor immune response, increasing the success of immunotherapy. In addition, therapeutic vaccination in the preventive setting has been extremely effective in eliciting antitumor responses in preclinical tumor models and has demonstrated good promise clinically in patients with minimal residual disease. The rationale behind preventive vaccination is that patients with minimal tumor burden still have a fully competent immune system capable of developing robust antitumor responses. Finally, therapeutic CD8-positive T-cell peptide vaccines have been improved by coimmunization with T-helper epitopes expressed on long peptides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia A Perez
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, St. Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Perez SA, Kallinteris NL, Bisias S, Tzonis PK, Georgakopoulou K, Varla-Leftherioti M, Papamichail M, Thanos A, von Hofe E, Baxevanis CN. Results from a Phase I Clinical Study of the Novel Ii-Key/HER-2/neu(776–790) Hybrid Peptide Vaccine in Patients with Prostate Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2010; 16:3495-506. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-10-0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
17
|
Gritzapis AD, Voutsas IF, Lekka E, Papamichail M, Baxevanis CN. Peptide Vaccination Breaks Tolerance to HER-2/neu by Generating Vaccine-Specific FasL+ CD4+ T Cells: First Evidence for Intratumor Apoptotic Regulatory T Cells. Cancer Res 2010; 70:2686-96. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-09-2517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
18
|
Xu M, Lu X, Sposato M, Zinckgraf JW, Wu S, von Hofe E. Ii-Key/HPV16 E7 hybrid peptide immunotherapy for HPV16+ cancers. Vaccine 2009; 27:4641-7. [PMID: 19520206 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.05.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2009] [Revised: 05/08/2009] [Accepted: 05/21/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Activation of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells is critical for vaccine design. We have advanced a novel technology for enhancing activation of antigen-specific CD4+ T helper cells whereby a fragment of the MHC class II-associated invariant chain (Ii-Key) is linked to an MHC class II epitope. An HLA-DR4-restricted HPV16 E7 epitope, HPV16 E7(8-22), was used to create a homologous series of Ii-Key/HPV16 E7 hybrids testing the influence of spacer length on in vivo enhancement of HPV16 E7(8-22)-specific CD4+ T lymphocyte responses. HLA-DR4-tg mice were immunized with Ii-Key/HPV16 E7(8-22) hybrids or the epitope-only peptide HPV16 E7(8-22). As measured by IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay of splenocytes from immunized mice, one of the Ii-Key/HPV16 E7(8-22) hybrids enhanced epitope-specific CD4+ T cell activation 5-fold compared to the HPV16 E7(8-22) epitope-only peptide. We further demonstrated that enhanced CD4+ T cell activation augments the CTL activity of a H-2D(b)-restricted HPV16 E7(49-57) epitope in HLA-DR4+ mice using an in vivo CTL assay. Binding assays indicated that the Ii-Key/HPV16 hybrid has increased affinity to HLA-DR4+ cells relative to the epitope-only peptide, which may explain its increased potency. In summary, Ii-Key hybrid modification of the HLA-DR4-restricted HPV16 E7(8-22) MHC class II epitope generates a potent immunotherapeutic peptide vaccine that may have potential for treating HPV16+ cancers in HLA-DR4+ patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minzhen Xu
- Antigen Express, Inc., Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Martínez-Gómez JM, Johansen P, Rose H, Steiner M, Senti G, Rhyner C, Crameri R, Kündig TM. Targeting the MHC class II pathway of antigen presentation enhances immunogenicity and safety of allergen immunotherapy. Allergy 2009; 64:172-8. [PMID: 19076537 DOI: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2008.01812.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current s.c. allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) leads to amelioration of IgE-mediated allergy, but it requires numerous allergen injections over several years and is frequently associated with severe side-effects. The aim of this study was to test whether modified recombinant allergens can improve therapeutic efficacy in SIT while reducing allergic side-effects. METHODS The major cat allergen Fel d 1 was fused to a TAT-derived protein translocation domain and to a truncated invariant chain for targeting the MHC class II pathway (MAT-Fel d 1). The immunogenicity was evaluated in mice, while potential safety issues were assessed by cellular antigen stimulation test (CAST) using basophils from cat-dander-allergic patients. RESULTS MAT-Fel d 1 enhanced induction of Fel d 1-specific IgG2a antibody responses as well as the secretion of IFN-gamma and IL-2 from T cells. Subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy of mice using the modified Fel d 1 provided stronger protection against anaphylaxis than SIT with unmodified Fel d 1, and MAT-Fel d 1 caused less degranulation of human basophils than native Fel d 1. CONCLUSION MAT-Fel d 1 allergen enhanced protective antibody and Th1 responses in mice, while reducing human basophil degranulation. Immunotherapy using MAT-Fel d 1 allergen therefore has the potential to enhance SIT efficacy and safety, thus, shortening SIT. This should increase patient compliance and lower treatment costs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J M Martínez-Gómez
- Unit for Experimental Immunotherapy, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Mittendorf EA, Holmes JP, Murray JL, von Hofe E, Peoples GE. CD4+T cells in antitumor immunity: utility of an Ii-Key HER2/neu hybrid peptide vaccine (AE37). Expert Opin Biol Ther 2008; 9:71-8. [DOI: 10.1517/14712590802614538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
|
21
|
Van Overtvelt L, Wambre E, Maillère B, von Hofe E, Louise A, Balazuc AM, Bohle B, Ebo D, Leboulaire C, Garcia G, Moingeon P. Assessment of Bet v 1-specific CD4+ T cell responses in allergic and nonallergic individuals using MHC class II peptide tetramers. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2008; 180:4514-22. [PMID: 18354173 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.180.7.4514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we used HLA-DRB1*0101, DRB1*0401, and DRB1*1501 peptide tetramers combined with cytokine surface capture assays to characterize CD4(+) T cell responses against the immunodominant T cell epitope (peptide 141-155) from the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1, in both healthy and allergic individuals. We could detect Bet v 1-specific T cells in the PBMC of 20 birch pollen allergic patients, but also in 9 of 9 healthy individuals tested. Analysis at a single-cell level revealed that allergen-specific CD4(+) T cells from healthy individuals secrete IFN-gamma and IL-10 in response to the allergen, whereas cells from allergic patients are bona fide Th2 cells (producing mostly IL-5, some IL-10, but no IFN-gamma), as corroborated by patterns of cytokines produced by T cell clones. A fraction of Bet v 1-specific cells isolated from healthy, but not allergic, individuals also expresses CTLA-4, glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor, and Foxp 3, indicating that they represent regulatory T cells. In this model of seasonal exposure to allergen, we also demonstrate the tremendous dynamics of T cell responses in both allergic and nonallergic individuals during the peak pollen season, with an expansion of Bet v 1-specific precursors from 10(-6) to 10(-3) among circulating CD4(+) T lymphocytes. Allergy vaccines should be designed to recapitulate such naturally protective Th1/regulatory T cell responses observed in healthy individuals.
Collapse
|
22
|
Wambre E, Van Overtvelt L, Maillère B, Humphreys R, von Hofe E, Ferhat L, Ebo D, Moingeon P. Single Cell Assessment of Allergen-Specific T Cell Responses with MHC Class II Peptide Tetramers: Methodological Aspects. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2008; 146:99-112. [DOI: 10.1159/000113513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2007] [Accepted: 10/16/2007] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
|