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Lee MH, Choi HS, Kim NY, Sim E, Choi JY, Hong S, Shin YK, Yu CH, Gu SH, Song DH, Hur GH, Shin S. Post-Vaccination Delivery of CpG ODNs Enhances the Th2-Associated Protective Immunity of the Smallpox DNA Vaccine. Mol Biotechnol 2024; 66:1718-1726. [PMID: 37428433 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00800-4] [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: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Potential threat of smallpox bioterrorism and concerns related to the adverse effects of currently licensed live-virus vaccines suggest the need to develop novel vaccines with better efficacy against smallpox. Use of DNA vaccines containing specific antigen-encoding plasmids prevents the risks associated with live-virus vaccines, offering a promising alternative to conventional smallpox vaccines. In this study, we investigated the efficiency of toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands in enhancing the immunogenicity of smallpox DNA vaccines. BALB/c mice were immunized with a DNA vaccine encoding the vaccinia virus L1R protein, along with the cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) motif as a vaccine adjuvant, and their immune response was analyzed. Administration of B-type CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) as TLR9 ligands 24 h after DNA vaccination enhanced the Th2-biased L1R-specific antibody immunity in mice. Moreover, B-type CpG ODNs improved the protective effects of the DNA vaccine against the lethal Orthopoxvirus challenge. Therefore, use of L1R DNA vaccines with CpG ODNs as adjuvants is a promising approach to achieve effective immunogenicity against smallpox infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Hoon Lee
- R&D Center, ABION Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Na Young Kim
- R&D Center, ABION Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Euni Sim
- R&D Center, ABION Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Sungyoul Hong
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Kee Shin
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chi Ho Yu
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Hun Gu
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Hyun Song
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyueng Haeng Hur
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungho Shin
- Bio-MAX/N-Bio, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Mudhasani RR, Golden JW, Adam GC, Hartingh TJ, Kota KP, Ordonez D, Quackenbush CR, Tran JP, Cline C, Williams JA, Zeng X, Olsen DB, Lieberman LA, Boyce C, Ginnetti A, Meinig JM, Panchal RG, Mucker EM. Orally available nucleoside analog UMM-766 provides protection in a murine model of orthopox disease. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0358623. [PMID: 38391232 PMCID: PMC10986512 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03586-23] [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: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Although smallpox has been eradicated, other orthopoxviruses continue to be a public health concern as exemplified by the ongoing Mpox (formerly monkeypox) global outbreak. While medical countermeasures (MCMs) previously approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of smallpox have been adopted for Mpox, previously described vulnerabilities coupled with the questionable benefit of at least one of the therapeutics during the 2022 Mpox outbreak reinforce the need for identifying and developing other MCMs against orthopoxviruses. Here, we screened a panel of Merck proprietary small molecules and identified a novel nucleoside inhibitor with potent broad-spectrum antiviral activity against multiple orthopoxviruses. Efficacy testing of a 7-day dosing regimen of the orally administered nucleoside in a murine model of severe orthopoxvirus infection yielded a dose-dependent increase in survival. Treated animals had greatly reduced lesions in the lung and nasal cavity, particularly in the 10 µg/mL dosing group. Viral levels were also markedly lower in the UMM-766-treated animals. This work demonstrates that this nucleoside analog has anti-orthopoxvirus efficacy and can protect against severe disease in a murine orthopox model.IMPORTANCEThe recent monkeypox virus pandemic demonstrates that members of the orthopoxvirus, which also includes variola virus, which causes smallpox, remain a public health issue. While currently FDA-approved treatment options exist, risks that resistant strains of orthopoxviruses may arise are a great concern. Thus, continued exploration of anti-poxvirus treatments is warranted. Here, we developed a template for a high-throughput screening assay to identify anti-poxvirus small-molecule drugs. By screening available drug libraries, we identified a compound that inhibited orthopoxvirus replication in cell culture. We then showed that this drug can protect animals against severe disease. Our findings here support the use of existing drug libraries to identify orthopoxvirus-targeting drugs that may serve as human-safe products to thwart future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajini R. Mudhasani
- Molecular Biology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph W. Golden
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Gregory C. Adam
- Quantitative Biosciences, Merck & Co. Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Krishna P. Kota
- Molecular Biology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - David Ordonez
- Molecular Biology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Corey R. Quackenbush
- Molecular Biology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Julie P. Tran
- Molecular Biology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Curtis Cline
- Pathology, Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Janice A. Williams
- Pathology, Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Xiankun Zeng
- Pathology, Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - David B. Olsen
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, Merck & Co. Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Christopher Boyce
- Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences, Merck & Co. Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - J. Matthew Meinig
- Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Rekha G. Panchal
- Molecular Biology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Eric M. Mucker
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
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3
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Son BWK, Wambalaba OW, Wambalaba WF. A Multi-pronged Approach to Addressing Global Poxviruses Vaccine Inequity: A Case of Monkeypox. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1451:317-330. [PMID: 38801587 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-57165-7_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Monkeypox has been endemic in Congo and Nigeria for at least five decades. Since early May 2022, there have been numerous unprecedented outbreaks throughout the world in places without any previously reported cases. While a majority of the diagnosed cases have been within Europe and the Americas, several cases have occurred in non-endemic African countries. As of December 2022, 82,999 cases had been reported globally, prompting concern among the World Health Organization (WHO) members. While the WHO has not labeled this epidemic a Global Health Emergency, member states have begun to put forward plans to consolidate their emergency vaccine stockpiles and share the limited number of vaccines made by the single FDA-approved manufacturer, Bavarian Nordic. Many countries are concerned about how vaccines will be shared. Some of the larger donor States are positioned to be the biggest beneficiaries of vaccine sharing, while States from areas that have been suffering from the virus since the 1970s have not been allocated any. This pattern of vaccine distribution echoes that seen during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the similarities between Monkeypox and Smallpox, contact precautions and vaccination seem to be effective strategies to combat its rapid spread. We aim to evaluate how an eradication program model similar to that used for Smallpox can be applied to Monkeypox, and whether it can address vaccine inequity. To do this, we use a multi-pronged approach targeting disease surveillance, vaccine awareness, manufacturing, cost, and distribution strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara W K Son
- Akio Morita School of Business, Anaheim University, 1240 South State College Blvd., Anaheim, CA, 92806, USA.
| | - Otioli W Wambalaba
- Internal Medicine, Griffin Hospital, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT, 06418, USA
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Matusali G, Petruccioli E, Cimini E, Colavita F, Bettini A, Tartaglia E, Sbarra S, Meschi S, Lapa D, Francalancia M, Bordi L, Mazzotta V, Coen S, Mizzoni K, Beccacece A, Nicastri E, Pierelli L, Antinori A, Girardi E, Vaia F, Sette A, Grifoni A, Goletti D, Puro V, Maggi F. Evaluation of Cross-Immunity to the Mpox Virus Due to Historic Smallpox Vaccination. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1541. [PMID: 37896943 PMCID: PMC10610801 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11101541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
When the Mpox virus (MPXV) began spreading globally in 2022, it became critical to evaluate whether residual immunity from smallpox vaccination provided cross-protection. To assess the cross-immune response to MPXV, we collected serum samples (n = 97) and PBMCs (n = 30) from healthy-donors, either born before 1974 and reporting smallpox vaccination during childhood or born after 1975 and not vaccinated with Vaccinia virus (VACV)-based vaccines. We evaluated the levels of anti-MPXV IgG and neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) and the presence of a T cell response against MPXV. We found anti-MPXV IgG and Nabs in 60 (89.6%) and 40 (70.1%) vaccinated individuals, respectively. We observed a T cell response to Orthopoxviruses and MPXV peptide pools in 30% of vaccinated individuals. We thus show that a high proportion of subjects who received the smallpox vaccine 40 to 60 years ago have humoral cross-immunity, while the T-cell-specific response against MPXV was observed in a smaller group (30%) of vaccinated individuals. This study, combined with information on immunity developed during natural infection or the administration of current vaccines, will contribute to a better understanding of humoral and cellular responses against MPXV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Matusali
- Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (F.C.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.); (M.F.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (K.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Elisa Petruccioli
- Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (E.P.); (S.S.); (D.G.)
| | - Eleonora Cimini
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology and Farmacology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Francesca Colavita
- Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (F.C.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.); (M.F.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (K.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Aurora Bettini
- Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (F.C.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.); (M.F.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (K.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Eleonora Tartaglia
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology and Farmacology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Settimia Sbarra
- Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (E.P.); (S.S.); (D.G.)
| | - Silvia Meschi
- Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (F.C.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.); (M.F.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (K.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Daniele Lapa
- Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (F.C.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.); (M.F.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (K.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Massimo Francalancia
- Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (F.C.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.); (M.F.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (K.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Licia Bordi
- Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (F.C.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.); (M.F.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (K.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Valentina Mazzotta
- HIV/AIDS Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (V.M.); (A.A.)
| | - Sabrina Coen
- Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (F.C.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.); (M.F.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (K.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Klizia Mizzoni
- Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (F.C.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.); (M.F.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (K.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Alessia Beccacece
- Highly Contagious Infectious Diseases Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (A.B.); (E.N.)
| | - Emanuele Nicastri
- Highly Contagious Infectious Diseases Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (A.B.); (E.N.)
| | - Luca Pierelli
- Unità Operativa Complessa (UOC) Transfusion Medicine and Stem Cell, San Camillo Forlanini Hospital, 00152 Rome, Italy;
| | - Andrea Antinori
- HIV/AIDS Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (V.M.); (A.A.)
| | - Enrico Girardi
- Scientific Direction, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Francesco Vaia
- General Direction, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Sette
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (A.S.); (A.G.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Alba Grifoni
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (A.S.); (A.G.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Delia Goletti
- Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (E.P.); (S.S.); (D.G.)
| | - Vincenzo Puro
- Risk Management Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (F.C.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.); (M.F.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (K.M.); (F.M.)
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5
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Mucker EM, Thiele-Suess C, Baumhof P, Hooper JW. Lipid nanoparticle delivery of unmodified mRNAs encoding multiple monoclonal antibodies targeting poxviruses in rabbits. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 28:847-858. [PMID: 35664703 PMCID: PMC9149018 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Poxviruses are a large and complex family of viruses with members such as monkeypox virus and variola virus. The possibility of an outbreak of monkeypox virus (or a related poxvirus) or the misuse of variola virus justifies the development of countermeasures. Furthermore, poxviruses can be a useful surrogate for developing technology involving antibody therapies. In our experiments, we explored the feasibility of utilizing unmodified mRNA that encodes three previously described monoclonal antibodies, c8A, c6C, and c7D11, as countermeasures to smallpox in a relatively large (>3 kg) laboratory animal (rabbits). We confirmed in vitro translation, secretion, and biological activity of mRNA constructs and identified target monoclonal antibody levels from a murine vaccinia virus model that provided a clinical benefit. Individually, we were able to detect c7D11, c8A, and c6C in the serum of rabbits within 1 day of an intramuscular jet injection of lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-formulated mRNA. Injection of a combination of three LNP-formulated mRNA constructs encoding the three different antibodies produced near equivalent serum levels compared with each individual construct administered alone. These data are among the first demonstrating the feasibility of launching multiple antibodies using mRNA constructs in a large, nonrodent species. Based on empirically derived target serum level and the observed decay rate, the antibody levels attained were unlikely to provide protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M Mucker
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA
| | | | | | - Jay W Hooper
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA
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6
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A nucleic acid-based orthopoxvirus vaccine targeting the vaccinia virus L1, A27, B5 and A33 proteins protects rabbits against lethal rabbitpox virus aerosol challenge. J Virol 2021; 96:e0150421. [PMID: 34851148 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01504-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the age of COVID, nucleic acid vaccines have garnered much attention, at least in part, because of the simplicity of construction, production, and flexibility to adjust and adapt to an evolving outbreak. Orthopoxviruses remain a threat on multiple fronts, especially as emerging zoonosis. In response, we developed a DNA vaccine, termed 4pox, that protected nonhuman primates against monkeypox virus (MPXV) induced severe disease. Here, we examined the protective efficacy of the 4pox DNA vaccine delivered by intramuscular (i.m.) electroporation (EP) in rabbits challenged with aerosolized rabbitpox virus (RPXV), a model that recapitulates the respiratory route of exposure and low dose associated with natural smallpox exposure in humans. We found that 4pox vaccinated rabbits developed immunogen-specific antibodies, including neutralizing antibodies and did not develop any clinical disease, indicating protection against aerosolized RPXV. In contrast, unvaccinated animals developed significant signs of disease, including lesions, and were euthanized. These findings demonstrate that an unformulated, non-adjuvanted DNA vaccine delivered (i.m.) can protect against an aerosol exposure. Importance The eradication of smallpox and subsequent cessation of vaccination has left a majority of the population susceptible to variola virus or other emerging poxvirus. This is exemplified by human monkeypox, as evidenced by the increase in reported endemic and imported cases over the past decades. Therefore, a malleable vaccine technology that can be mass produced, and doesn't require complex conditions for distribution and storage is sought. Herein, we show that a DNA vaccine, in the absence of a specialized formulation or adjuvant, can protect against a lethal aerosol insult of rabbitpox virus.
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Ratto-Kim S, Yoon IK, Paris RM, Excler JL, Kim JH, O’Connell RJ. The US Military Commitment to Vaccine Development: A Century of Successes and Challenges. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1397. [PMID: 29977239 PMCID: PMC6021486 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The US military has been a leading proponent of vaccine development since its founding. General George Washington ordered the entire American army to be variolated against smallpox after recognizing the serious threat that it posed to military operations. He did this on the recommendation from Dr. John Morgan, the physician-in-chief of the American army, who wrote a treatise on variolation in 1776. Although cases of smallpox still occurred, they were far fewer than expected, and it is believed that the vaccination program contributed to victory in the War of Independence. Effective military force requires personnel who are healthy and combat ready for worldwide deployment. Given the geography of US military operations, military personnel should also be protected against diseases that are endemic in potential areas of conflict. For this reason, and unknown to many, the US military has strongly supported vaccine research and development. Four categories of communicable infectious diseases threaten military personnel: (1) diseases that spread easily in densely populated areas (respiratory and dysenteric diseases); (2) vector-borne diseases (disease carried by mosquitoes and other insects); (3) sexually transmitted diseases (hepatitis, HIV, and gonorrhea); and (4) diseases associated with biological warfare. For each category, the US military has supported research that has provided the basis for many of the vaccines available today. Although preventive measures and the development of drugs have provided some relief from the burden of malaria, dengue, and HIV, the US military continues to fund research and development of prophylactic vaccines that will contribute to force health protection and global health. In the past few years, newly recognized infections with Zika, severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome viruses have pushed the US military to fund research and fast track clinical trials to quickly and effectively develop vaccines for emerging diseases. With US military personnel present in every region of the globe, one of the most cost-effective ways to maintain military effectiveness is to develop vaccines against prioritized threats to military members' health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - In-Kyu Yoon
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea
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Bissa M, Quaglino E, Zanotto C, Illiano E, Rolih V, Pacchioni S, Cavallo F, De Giuli Morghen C, Radaelli A. Protection of mice against the highly pathogenic VV IHD-J by DNA and fowlpox recombinant vaccines, administered by electroporation and intranasal routes, correlates with serum neutralizing activity. Antiviral Res 2016; 134:182-191. [PMID: 27637905 PMCID: PMC9533953 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Revised: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The control of smallpox was achieved using live vaccinia virus (VV) vaccine, which successfully eradicated the disease worldwide. As the variola virus no longer exists as a natural infection agent, mass vaccination was discontinued after 1980. However, emergence of smallpox outbreaks caused by accidental or deliberate release of variola virus has stimulated new research for second-generation vaccine development based on attenuated VV strains. Considering the closely related animal poxviruses that also arise as zoonoses, and the increasing number of unvaccinated or immunocompromised people, a safer and more effective vaccine is still required. With this aim, new vectors based on avian poxviruses that cannot replicate in mammals should improve the safety of conventional vaccines, and protect from zoonotic orthopoxvirus diseases, such as cowpox and monkeypox. In this study, DNA and fowlpox (FP) recombinants that expressed the VV L1R, A27L, A33R, and B5R genes were generated (4DNAmix, 4FPmix, respectively) and tested in mice using novel administration routes. Mice were primed with 4DNAmix by electroporation, and boosted with 4FPmix applied intranasally. The lethal VVIHD-J strain was then administered by intranasal challenge. All of the mice receiving 4DNAmix followed by 4FPmix, and 20% of the mice immunized only with 4FPmix, were protected. The induction of specific humoral and cellular immune responses directly correlated with this protection. In particular, higher anti-A27 antibodies and IFNγ-producing T lymphocytes were measured in the blood and spleen of the protected mice, as compared to controls. VVIHD-J neutralizing antibodies in sera from the protected mice suggest that the prime/boost vaccination regimen with 4DNAmix plus 4FPmix may be an effective and safe mode to induce protection against smallpox and poxvirus zoonotic infections. The electroporation/intranasal administration routes contributed to effective immune responses and mouse survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Bissa
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti, 9, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Elena Quaglino
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
| | - Carlo Zanotto
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli, 32, 20129 Milano, Italy.
| | - Elena Illiano
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti, 9, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Valeria Rolih
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
| | - Sole Pacchioni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti, 9, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Federica Cavallo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
| | - Carlo De Giuli Morghen
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli, 32, 20129 Milano, Italy; Catholic University "Our Lady of Good Counsel", Rr. Dritan Hoxha, Tirana, Albania.
| | - Antonia Radaelli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti, 9, 20133 Milano, Italy; Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Section, National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Neurosciences, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli, 32, 20129 Milano, Italy.
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Molero-Abraham M, Glutting JP, Flower DR, Lafuente EM, Reche PA. EPIPOX: Immunoinformatic Characterization of the Shared T-Cell Epitome between Variola Virus and Related Pathogenic Orthopoxviruses. J Immunol Res 2015; 2015:738020. [PMID: 26605344 PMCID: PMC4641182 DOI: 10.1155/2015/738020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2015] [Revised: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Concerns that variola viruses might be used as bioweapons have renewed the interest in developing new and safer smallpox vaccines. Variola virus genomes are now widely available, allowing computational characterization of the entire T-cell epitome and the use of such information to develop safe and yet effective vaccines. To this end, we identified 124 proteins shared between various species of pathogenic orthopoxviruses including variola minor and major, monkeypox, cowpox, and vaccinia viruses, and we targeted them for T-cell epitope prediction. We recognized 8,106, and 8,483 unique class I and class II MHC-restricted T-cell epitopes that are shared by all mentioned orthopoxviruses. Subsequently, we developed an immunological resource, EPIPOX, upon the predicted T-cell epitome. EPIPOX is freely available online and it has been designed to facilitate reverse vaccinology. Thus, EPIPOX includes key epitope-focused protein annotations: time point expression, presence of leader and transmembrane signals, and known location on outer membrane structures of the infective viruses. These features can be used to select specific T-cell epitopes suitable for experimental validation restricted by single MHC alleles, as combinations thereof, or by MHC supertypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Molero-Abraham
- School of Medicine, Unit of Immunology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pza. Ramón y Cajal, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - John-Paul Glutting
- School of Medicine, Unit of Immunology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pza. Ramón y Cajal, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Darren R. Flower
- School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Aston, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK
| | - Esther M. Lafuente
- School of Medicine, Unit of Immunology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pza. Ramón y Cajal, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro A. Reche
- School of Medicine, Unit of Immunology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pza. Ramón y Cajal, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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10
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Matho MH, Schlossman A, Meng X, Benhnia MREI, Kaever T, Buller M, Doronin K, Parker S, Peters B, Crotty S, Xiang Y, Zajonc DM. Structural and Functional Characterization of Anti-A33 Antibodies Reveal a Potent Cross-Species Orthopoxviruses Neutralizer. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005148. [PMID: 26325270 PMCID: PMC4556652 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccinia virus A33 is an extracellular enveloped virus (EEV)-specific type II membrane glycoprotein that is essential for efficient EEV formation and long-range viral spread within the host. A33 is a target for neutralizing antibody responses against EEV. In this study, we produced seven murine anti-A33 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) by immunizing mice with live VACV, followed by boosting with the soluble A33 homodimeric ectodomain. Five A33 specific MAbs were capable of neutralizing EEV in the presence of complement. All MAbs bind to conformational epitopes on A33 but not to linear peptides. To identify the epitopes, we have adetermined the crystal structures of three representative neutralizing MAbs in complex with A33. We have further determined the binding kinetics for each of the three antibodies to wild-type A33, as well as to engineered A33 that contained single alanine substitutions within the epitopes of the three crystallized antibodies. While the Fab of both MAbs A2C7 and A20G2 binds to a single A33 subunit, the Fab from MAb A27D7 binds to both A33 subunits simultaneously. A27D7 binding is resistant to single alanine substitutions within the A33 epitope. A27D7 also demonstrated high-affinity binding with recombinant A33 protein that mimics other orthopoxvirus strains in the A27D7 epitope, such as ectromelia, monkeypox, and cowpox virus, suggesting that A27D7 is a potent cross-neutralizer. Finally, we confirmed that A27D7 protects mice against a lethal challenge with ectromelia virus.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/chemistry
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/chemistry
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/genetics
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/metabolism
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/therapeutic use
- Antibody Affinity
- Antibody Specificity
- Antigen-Antibody Complex/chemistry
- Antigen-Antibody Complex/genetics
- Antigen-Antibody Complex/metabolism
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Female
- Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/chemistry
- Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/genetics
- Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/metabolism
- Membrane Glycoproteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics
- Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Models, Molecular
- Mutation
- Orthopoxvirus/immunology
- Orthopoxvirus/physiology
- Poxviridae Infections/immunology
- Poxviridae Infections/prevention & control
- Poxviridae Infections/virology
- Protein Conformation
- Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use
- Vaccines, Synthetic/chemistry
- Vaccines, Synthetic/genetics
- Vaccines, Synthetic/metabolism
- Vaccines, Synthetic/therapeutic use
- Vero Cells
- Viral Envelope Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Viral Envelope Proteins/genetics
- Viral Envelope Proteins/metabolism
- Viral Tropism
- Viral Vaccines/chemistry
- Viral Vaccines/genetics
- Viral Vaccines/metabolism
- Viral Vaccines/therapeutic use
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael H. Matho
- Division of Cell Biology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Andrew Schlossman
- Division of Cell Biology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Xiangzhi Meng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mohammed Rafii-El-Idrissi Benhnia
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville; and Laboratory of Immunovirology, Unit 211, Biomedicine Institute of Seville (IBIS), Seville, Spain
| | - Thomas Kaever
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Mark Buller
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Konstantin Doronin
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Scott Parker
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Bjoern Peters
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Shane Crotty
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Yan Xiang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Dirk M. Zajonc
- Division of Cell Biology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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11
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Bissa M, Pacchioni SM, Zanotto C, De Giuli Morghen C, Illiano E, Granucci F, Zanoni I, Broggi A, Radaelli A. Systemically administered DNA and fowlpox recombinants expressing four vaccinia virus genes although immunogenic do not protect mice against the highly pathogenic IHD-J vaccinia strain. Virus Res 2013; 178:374-82. [PMID: 24050999 PMCID: PMC9533858 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2013.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Revised: 09/05/2013] [Accepted: 09/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The first-generation smallpox vaccine was based on live vaccinia virus (VV) and it successfully eradicated the disease worldwide. Therefore, it was not administered any more after 1980, as smallpox no longer existed as a natural infection. However, emerging threats by terrorist organisations has prompted new programmes for second-generation vaccine development based on attenuated VV strains, which have been shown to cause rare but serious adverse events in immunocompromised patients. Considering the closely related animal poxviruses that might also be used as bioweapons, and the increasing number of unvaccinated young people and AIDS-affected immunocompromised subjects, a safer and more effective smallpox vaccine is still required. New avipoxvirus-based vectors should improve the safety of conventional vaccines, and protect from newly emerging zoonotic orthopoxvirus diseases and from the threat of deliberate release of variola or monkeypox virus in a bioterrorist attack. In this study, DNA and fowlpox recombinants expressing the L1R, A27L, A33R and B5R genes were constructed and evaluated in a pre-clinical trial in mouse, following six prime/boost immunisation regimens, to compare their immunogenicity and protective efficacy against a challenge with the lethal VV IHD-J strain. Although higher numbers of VV-specific IFNγ-producing T lymphocytes were observed in the protected mice, the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response and the presence of neutralising antibodies did not always correlate with protection. In spite of previous successful results in mice, rabbits and monkeys, where SIV/HIV transgenes were expressed by the fowlpox vector, the immune response elicited by these recombinants was low, and most of the mice were not protected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Bissa
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, via Vanvitelli, 32, 20129 Milan, Italy.
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12
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Keckler MS, Reynolds MG, Damon IK, Karem KL. The effects of post-exposure smallpox vaccination on clinical disease presentation: addressing the data gaps between historical epidemiology and modern surrogate model data. Vaccine 2013; 31:5192-201. [PMID: 23994378 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2013] [Revised: 08/05/2013] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Decades after public health interventions - including pre- and post-exposure vaccination - were used to eradicate smallpox, zoonotic orthopoxvirus outbreaks and the potential threat of a release of variola virus remain public health concerns. Routine prophylactic smallpox vaccination of the public ceased worldwide in 1980, and the adverse event rate associated with the currently licensed live vaccinia virus vaccine makes reinstatement of policies recommending routine pre-exposure vaccination unlikely in the absence of an orthopoxvirus outbreak. Consequently, licensing of safer vaccines and therapeutics that can be used post-orthopoxvirus exposure is necessary to protect the global population from these threats. Variola virus is a solely human pathogen that does not naturally infect any other known animal species. Therefore, the use of surrogate viruses in animal models of orthopoxvirus infection is important for the development of novel vaccines and therapeutics. Major complications involved with the use of surrogate models include both the absence of a model that accurately mimics all aspects of human smallpox disease and a lack of reproducibility across model species. These complications limit our ability to model post-exposure vaccination with newer vaccines for application to human orthopoxvirus outbreaks. This review seeks to (1) summarize conclusions about the efficacy of post-exposure smallpox vaccination from historic epidemiological reports and modern animal studies; (2) identify data gaps in these studies; and (3) summarize the clinical features of orthopoxvirus-associated infections in various animal models to identify those models that are most useful for post-exposure vaccination studies. The ultimate purpose of this review is to provide observations and comments regarding available model systems and data gaps for use in improving post-exposure medical countermeasures against orthopoxviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Shannon Keckler
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, United States.
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13
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The mature virion of ectromelia virus, a pathogenic poxvirus, is capable of intrahepatic spread and can serve as a target for delayed therapy. J Virol 2013; 87:7046-53. [PMID: 23596297 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.03158-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Orthopoxviruses (OPVs), which include the agent of smallpox (variola virus), the zoonotic monkeypox virus, the vaccine and zoonotic species vaccinia virus, and the mouse pathogen ectromelia virus (ECTV), form two types of infectious viral particles: the mature virus (MV), which is cytosolic, and the enveloped virus (EV), which is extracellular. It is believed that MVs are required for viral entry into the host, while EVs are responsible for spread within the host. Following footpad infection of susceptible mice, ECTV spreads lymphohematogenously, entering the liver at 3 to 4 days postinfection (dpi). Afterwards, ECTV spreads intrahepatically, killing the host. We found that antibodies to an MV protein were highly effective at curing mice from ECTV infection when administered after the virus reached the liver. Moreover, a mutant ECTV that does not make EV was able to spread intrahepatically and kill immunodeficient mice. Together, these findings indicate that MVs are sufficient for the spread of ECTV within the liver and could have implications regarding the pathogenesis of other OPVs, the treatment of emerging OPV infections, as well as strategies for preparedness in case of accidental or intentional release of pathogenic OPVs.
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14
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Gilchuk P, Spencer CT, Conant SB, Hill T, Gray JJ, Niu X, Zheng M, Erickson JJ, Boyd KL, McAfee KJ, Oseroff C, Hadrup SR, Bennink JR, Hildebrand W, Edwards KM, Crowe JE, Williams JV, Buus S, Sette A, Schumacher TNM, Link AJ, Joyce S. Discovering naturally processed antigenic determinants that confer protective T cell immunity. J Clin Invest 2013; 123:1976-87. [PMID: 23543059 DOI: 10.1172/jci67388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
CD8+ T cells (TCD8) confer protective immunity against many infectious diseases, suggesting that microbial TCD8 determinants are promising vaccine targets. Nevertheless, current T cell antigen identification approaches do not discern which epitopes drive protective immunity during active infection - information that is critical for the rational design of TCD8-targeted vaccines. We employed a proteomics-based approach for large-scale discovery of naturally processed determinants derived from a complex pathogen, vaccinia virus (VACV), that are presented by the most frequent representatives of four major HLA class I supertypes. Immunologic characterization revealed that many previously unidentified VACV determinants were recognized by smallpox-vaccinated human peripheral blood cells in a variegated manner. Many such determinants were recognized by HLA class I-transgenic mouse immune TCD8 too and elicited protective TCD8 immunity against lethal intranasal VACV infection. Notably, efficient processing and stable presentation of immune determinants as well as the availability of naive TCD8 precursors were sufficient to drive a multifunctional, protective TCD8 response. Our approach uses fundamental insights into T cell epitope processing and presentation to define targets of protective TCD8 immunity within human pathogens that have complex proteomes, suggesting that this approach has general applicability in vaccine sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlo Gilchuk
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
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15
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Santos-Fernandes É, Beltrame CO, Byrd CM, Cardwell KB, Schnellrath LC, Medaglia MLG, Hruby DE, Jordan R, Damaso CR. Increased susceptibility of Cantagalo virus to the antiviral effect of ST-246®. Antiviral Res 2012; 97:301-11. [PMID: 23257396 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2012.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2012] [Revised: 11/26/2012] [Accepted: 11/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cantagalo virus (CTGV) is the etiologic agent of a pustular disease in dairy cows and dairy workers in Brazil with important economical and occupational impacts. Nevertheless, no antiviral therapy is currently available. ST-246 is a potent inhibitor of orthopoxvirus egress from cells and has proved its efficacy in cell culture and in animal models. In this work, we evaluated the effect of ST-246 on CTGV replication. Plaque reduction assays indicated that CTGV is 6-38 times more susceptible to the drug than VACV-WR and cowpox virus, respectively, with an EC50 of 0.0086μM and a selective index of >11,600. The analysis of β-gal activity expressed by recombinant viruses in the presence of ST-246 confirmed these results. In addition, ST-246 had a greater effect on the reduction of CTGV spread in comet tail assays and on the production of extracellular virus relative to VACV-WR. Infection of mice with CTGV by tail scarification generated primary lesions at the site of scarification that appeared less severe than those induced by VACV-WR. Animals infected with CTGV and treated with ST-246 at 100mg/kg for 5days did not develop primary lesions and virus yields were inhibited by nearly 98%. In contrast, primary lesions induced by VACV-WR were not affected by ST-246. The analysis of F13 (p37) protein from CTGV revealed a unique substitution in residue 217 (D217N) not found in other orthopoxviruses. Construction of recombinant VACV-WR containing the D217N polymorphism did not lead to an increase in the susceptibility to ST-246. Therefore, it is still unknown why CTGV is more susceptible to the antiviral effects of ST-246 compared to VACV-WR. Nonetheless, our data demonstrates that ST-246 is a potent inhibitor of CTGV replication that should be further evaluated as a promising anti-CTGV therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élida Santos-Fernandes
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
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16
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Golden JW, Josleyn M, Mucker EM, Hung CF, Loudon PT, Wu TC, Hooper JW. Side-by-side comparison of gene-based smallpox vaccine with MVA in nonhuman primates. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42353. [PMID: 22860117 PMCID: PMC3409187 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2012] [Accepted: 07/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Orthopoxviruses remain a threat as biological weapons and zoonoses. The licensed live-virus vaccine is associated with serious health risks, making its general usage unacceptable. Attenuated vaccines are being developed as alternatives, the most advanced of which is modified-vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA). We previously developed a gene-based vaccine, termed 4pox, which targets four orthopoxvirus antigens, A33, B5, A27 and L1. This vaccine protects mice and non-human primates from lethal orthopoxvirus disease. Here, we investigated the capacity of the molecular adjuvants GM-CSF and Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) to enhance the efficacy of the 4pox gene-based vaccine. Both adjuvants significantly increased protective antibody responses in mice. We directly compared the 4pox plus LT vaccine against MVA in a monkeypox virus (MPXV) nonhuman primate (NHP) challenge model. NHPs were vaccinated twice with MVA by intramuscular injection or the 4pox/LT vaccine delivered using a disposable gene gun device. As a positive control, one NHP was vaccinated with ACAM2000. NHPs vaccinated with each vaccine developed anti-orthopoxvirus antibody responses, including those against the 4pox antigens. After MPXV intravenous challenge, all control NHPs developed severe disease, while the ACAM2000 vaccinated animal was well protected. All NHPs vaccinated with MVA were protected from lethality, but three of five developed severe disease and all animals shed virus. All five NHPs vaccinated with 4pox/LT survived and only one developed severe disease. None of the 4pox/LT-vaccinated animals shed virus. Our findings show, for the first time, that a subunit orthopoxvirus vaccine delivered by the same schedule can provide a degree of protection at least as high as that of MVA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph W. Golden
- Department of Molecular Virology, Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Matthew Josleyn
- Department of Molecular Virology, Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Eric M. Mucker
- Department of Viral Therapeutics, Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Chien-Fu Hung
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Peter T. Loudon
- Pfizer, Sandwich Laboratories, Sandwich, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - T. C. Wu
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jay W. Hooper
- Department of Molecular Virology, Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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