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Nithya Shree J, Premika T, Sharlin S, Annie Aglin A. Diverse approaches to express recombinant spike protein: A comprehensive review. Protein Expr Purif 2024; 223:106556. [PMID: 39009199 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2024.106556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
The spike protein of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for infecting host cells. It has two segments, S1 and S2. The S1 segment has a receptor-binding domain (RBD) that attaches to the host receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The S2 segment helps in the fusion of the viral cell membrane by creating a six-helical bundle through the two-heptad repeat domain. To develop effective vaccines and therapeutics against COVID-19, it is critical to express and purify the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. Extensive studies have been conducted on expression of a complete recombinant spike protein or its fragments. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the different expression systems employed for spike protein expression, along with their advantages and disadvantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jk Nithya Shree
- Department of Biotechnology, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi, 626005, Tamilnadu, India
| | - T Premika
- Department of Biotechnology, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi, 626005, Tamilnadu, India
| | - S Sharlin
- Department of Biotechnology, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi, 626005, Tamilnadu, India
| | - A Annie Aglin
- Department of Biotechnology, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi, 626005, Tamilnadu, India.
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Srisangsung T, Phetphoung T, Manopwisedjaroen S, Rattanapisit K, Bulaon CJI, Thitithanyanont A, Limprasutr V, Strasser R, Phoolcharoen W. The impact of N-glycans on the immune response of plant-produced SARS-CoV-2 RBD-Fc proteins. BIOTECHNOLOGY REPORTS (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 43:e00847. [PMID: 39040987 PMCID: PMC11261281 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2024.e00847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Plant-based manufacturing has the advantage of post-translational modifications. While plant-specific N-glycans have been associated with allergic reactions, their effect on the specific immune response upon vaccination is not yet understood. In this study, we produced an RBD-Fc subunit vaccine in both wildtype (WT) and glycoengineered (∆XF) Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The N-glycan analysis: RBD-Fc carrying the ER retention peptide mainly displayed high mannose. When produced in WT RBD-Fc displayed complex-type (GnGnXF) N-glycans. In contrast, ∆XF plants produced RBD-Fc with humanized complex N-glycans that lack potentially immunogenic xylose and core fucose residues (GnGn). The three recombinant RBD-Fc glycovariants were tested. Immunization with any of the RBD-Fc proteins resulted in a similar titer of anti-RBD antibodies in mice. Likewise, antisera from subunit RBD-Fc vaccines also demonstrated comparable neutralization against SARS-CoV-2. Thus, we conclude that N-glycan modifications of the RBD-Fc protein have no impact on their capacity to activate immune responses and induce neutralizing antibody production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theerakarn Srisangsung
- Center of Excellence in Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Thareeya Phetphoung
- Center of Excellence in Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | | | | | | | - Arunee Thitithanyanont
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Vudhiporn Limprasutr
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Center of Excellence in Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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Fagiani F, Frigerio R, Salzano AM, Scaloni A, Marusic C, Donini M. Plant production of recombinant antigens containing the receptor binding domain (RBD) of two SARS-CoV-2 variants. Biotechnol Lett 2024:10.1007/s10529-024-03517-9. [PMID: 39066957 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-024-03517-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this work was to rapidly produce in plats two recombinant antigens (RBDw-Fc and RBDo-Fc) containing the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike (S) protein from SARS-CoV-2 variants Wuhan and Omicron as fusion proteins to the Fc portion of a murine IgG2a antibody constant region (Fc). RESULTS The two recombinant antigens were expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants, engineered to avoid the addition of N-linked plant-typical sugars, through vacuum agroinfiltration and showed comparable purification yields (about 35 mg/kg leaf fresh weight). CONCLUSIONS Their Western blotting and Coomassie staining evidenced the occurrence of major in planta proteolysis in the region between the RBD and Fc, which was particularly evident in RBDw-Fc, the only antigen bearing the HRV 3C cysteine protease recognition site. The two RBD N-linked glycosylation sites showed very homogeneous profiles free from plant-typical sugars, with the most abundant glycoform represented by the complex sugar GlcNAc4Man3. Both antigens were specifically recognised in Western Blot analysis by the anti-SARS-CoV-2 human neutralizing monoclonal antibody J08-MUT and RBDw-Fc was successfully used in competitive ELISA experiments for binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor to verify the neutralizing capacity of the serum from vaccinated patients. Both SARS-Cov-2 antigens fused to a murine Fc region were rapidly and functionally produced in plants with potential applications in diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Fagiani
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, ENEA Research Center Casaccia, 00123, Rome, Italy
| | - Rachele Frigerio
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, ENEA Research Center Casaccia, 00123, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Salzano
- Proteomics, Metabolomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Andrea Scaloni
- Proteomics, Metabolomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Carla Marusic
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, ENEA Research Center Casaccia, 00123, Rome, Italy.
| | - Marcello Donini
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, ENEA Research Center Casaccia, 00123, Rome, Italy.
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Sobrino-Mengual G, Armario-Nájera V, Balieu J, Walet-Balieu ML, Saba-Mayoral A, Pelacho AM, Capell T, Christou P, Bardor M, Lerouge P. The SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Receptor-Binding Domain Expressed in Rice Callus Features a Homogeneous Mix of Complex-Type Glycans. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4466. [PMID: 38674051 PMCID: PMC11050186 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 is required for the infection of human cells. It is the main target that elicits neutralizing antibodies and also a major component of diagnostic kits. The large demand for this protein has led to the use of plants as a production platform. However, it is necessary to determine the N-glycan structures of an RBD to investigate its efficacy and functionality as a vaccine candidate or diagnostic reagent. Here, we analyzed the N-glycan profile of the RBD produced in rice callus. Of the two potential N-glycan acceptor sites, we found that one was not utilized and the other contained a mixture of complex-type N-glycans. This differs from the heterogeneous mixture of N-glycans found when an RBD is expressed in other hosts, including Nicotiana benthamiana. By comparing the glycosylation profiles of different hosts, we can select platforms that produce RBDs with the most beneficial N-glycan structures for different applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Sobrino-Mengual
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Agrotecnio CERCA Center, 25003 Lleida, Spain; (G.S.-M.); (V.A.-N.); (A.S.-M.); (A.M.P.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Victoria Armario-Nájera
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Agrotecnio CERCA Center, 25003 Lleida, Spain; (G.S.-M.); (V.A.-N.); (A.S.-M.); (A.M.P.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Juliette Balieu
- GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Université de Rouen Normandie, F-76000 Rouen, France;
| | - Marie-Laure Walet-Balieu
- INSERM, CNRS, HeRacLeS US51 UAR2026, PISSARO, Université de Rouen Normandie, F-76000 Rouen, France; (M.-L.W.-B.); (M.B.)
| | - Andrea Saba-Mayoral
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Agrotecnio CERCA Center, 25003 Lleida, Spain; (G.S.-M.); (V.A.-N.); (A.S.-M.); (A.M.P.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Ana M. Pelacho
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Agrotecnio CERCA Center, 25003 Lleida, Spain; (G.S.-M.); (V.A.-N.); (A.S.-M.); (A.M.P.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Teresa Capell
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Agrotecnio CERCA Center, 25003 Lleida, Spain; (G.S.-M.); (V.A.-N.); (A.S.-M.); (A.M.P.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Paul Christou
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Agrotecnio CERCA Center, 25003 Lleida, Spain; (G.S.-M.); (V.A.-N.); (A.S.-M.); (A.M.P.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
- Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Muriel Bardor
- INSERM, CNRS, HeRacLeS US51 UAR2026, PISSARO, Université de Rouen Normandie, F-76000 Rouen, France; (M.-L.W.-B.); (M.B.)
| | - Patrice Lerouge
- GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Université de Rouen Normandie, F-76000 Rouen, France;
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Idrovo-Hidalgo T, Pignataro MF, Bredeston LM, Elias F, Herrera MG, Pavan MF, Foscaldi S, Suireszcz M, Fernández NB, Wetzler DE, Paván CH, Craig PO, Roman EA, Ruberto LAM, Noseda DG, Ibañez LI, Czibener C, Ugalde JE, Nadra AD, Santos J, D'Alessio C. Deglycosylated RBD produced in Pichia pastoris as a low-cost sera COVID-19 diagnosis tool and a vaccine candidate. Glycobiology 2024; 34:cwad089. [PMID: 37944064 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwad089] [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: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 outbreak, numerous tools including protein-based vaccines have been developed. The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris (synonymous to Komagataella phaffii) is an eukaryotic cost-effective and scalable system for recombinant protein production, with the advantages of an efficient secretion system and the protein folding assistance of the secretory pathway of eukaryotic cells. In a previous work, we compared the expression of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Receptor Binding Domain in P. pastoris with that in human cells. Although the size and glycosylation pattern was different between them, their protein structural and conformational features were indistinguishable. Nevertheless, since high mannose glycan extensions in proteins expressed by yeast may be the cause of a nonspecific immune recognition, we deglycosylated RBD in native conditions. This resulted in a highly pure, homogenous, properly folded and monomeric stable protein. This was confirmed by circular dichroism and tryptophan fluorescence spectra and by SEC-HPLC, which were similar to those of RBD proteins produced in yeast or human cells. Deglycosylated RBD was obtained at high yields in a single step, and it was efficient in distinguishing between SARS-CoV-2-negative and positive sera from patients. Moreover, when the deglycosylated variant was used as an immunogen, it elicited a humoral immune response ten times greater than the glycosylated form, producing antibodies with enhanced neutralizing power and eliciting a more robust cellular response. The proposed approach may be used to produce at a low cost, many antigens that require glycosylation to fold and express, but do not require glycans for recognition purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommy Idrovo-Hidalgo
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María F Pignataro
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 965 C1113AAD. Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luis M Bredeston
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 965 C1113AAD. Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas, (IQUIFIB), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 C1113AAD, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernanda Elias
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Fundación Pablo Cassará, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr. César Milstein, Saladillo 2468 C1440FFX, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María G Herrera
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María F Pavan
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 C1425FQB, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sabrina Foscaldi
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mayra Suireszcz
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia B Fernández
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diana E Wetzler
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos H Paván
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 C1425FQB, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, LANAIS-PROEM, Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas, (IQUIFIB), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, C1113AAD, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Patricio O Craig
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ernesto A Roman
- Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas, (IQUIFIB), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 C1113AAD, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucas A M Ruberto
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 965, C1113AAD, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Nanobiotecnología (NANOBIOTEC), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 965, C1113AAD, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Antártico Argentino, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto, Av. 25 de Mayo 1147, B1650HMP, San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego G Noseda
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 C1425FQB, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas (IIBio), Universidad Nacional de San Martín-CONICET, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia S/N, B1650HMP, San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lorena I Ibañez
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 C1425FQB, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Czibener
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 C1425FQB, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas (IIBio), Universidad Nacional de San Martín-CONICET, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia S/N, B1650HMP, San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan E Ugalde
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 C1425FQB, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas (IIBio), Universidad Nacional de San Martín-CONICET, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia S/N, B1650HMP, San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro D Nadra
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 C1425FQB, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Javier Santos
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 C1425FQB, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cecilia D'Alessio
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 C1425FQB, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Santoni M, Gutierrez-Valdes N, Pivotto D, Zanichelli E, Rosa A, Sobrino-Mengual G, Balieu J, Lerouge P, Bardor M, Cecchetto R, Compri M, Mazzariol A, Ritala A, Avesani L. Performance of plant-produced RBDs as SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic reagents: a tale of two plant platforms. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1325162. [PMID: 38239207 PMCID: PMC10794598 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1325162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for rapid and cost-effective diagnostic tools. Serological tests, particularly those measuring antibodies targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the virus, play a pivotal role in tracking infection dynamics and vaccine effectiveness. In this study, we aimed to develop a simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring RBD-specific antibodies, comparing two plant-based platforms for diagnostic reagent production. We chose to retain RBD in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to prevent potential immunoreactivity issues associated with plant-specific glycans. We produced ER-retained RBD in two plant systems: a stable transformation of BY-2 plant cell culture (BY2-RBD) and a transient transformation in Nicotiana benthamiana using the MagnICON system (NB-RBD). Both systems demonstrated their suitability, with varying yields and production timelines. The plant-made proteins revealed unexpected differences in N-glycan profiles, with BY2-RBD displaying oligo-mannosidic N-glycans and NB-RBD exhibiting a more complex glycan profile. This difference may be attributed to higher recombinant protein synthesis in the N. benthamiana system, potentially overloading the ER retention signal, causing some proteins to traffic to the Golgi apparatus. When used as diagnostic reagents in ELISA, BY2-RBD outperformed NB-RBD in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and correlation with a commercial kit. This discrepancy may be due to the distinct glycan profiles, as complex glycans on NB-RBD may impact immunoreactivity. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of plant-based systems for rapid diagnostic reagent production during emergencies. However, transient expression systems, while offering shorter timelines, introduce higher heterogeneity in recombinant protein forms, necessitating careful consideration in serological test development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Denise Pivotto
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Elena Zanichelli
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Guillermo Sobrino-Mengual
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Rouen, France
- Applied Plant Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio CERCA Center, Lleida, Spain
| | - Juliette Balieu
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Rouen, France
| | - Patrice Lerouge
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Rouen, France
| | - Muriel Bardor
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Rouen, France
| | - Riccardo Cecchetto
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Monica Compri
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, UOC Microbiologia e Virologia, Verona, Italy
| | - Annarita Mazzariol
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Anneli Ritala
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Espoo, Finland
| | - Linda Avesani
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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7
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Zahmanova G, Aljabali AAA, Takova K, Minkov G, Tambuwala MM, Minkov I, Lomonossoff GP. Green Biologics: Harnessing the Power of Plants to Produce Pharmaceuticals. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17575. [PMID: 38139405 PMCID: PMC10743837 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417575] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants are increasingly used for the production of high-quality biological molecules for use as pharmaceuticals and biomaterials in industry. Plants have proved that they can produce life-saving therapeutic proteins (Elelyso™-Gaucher's disease treatment, ZMapp™-anti-Ebola monoclonal antibodies, seasonal flu vaccine, Covifenz™-SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particle vaccine); however, some of these therapeutic proteins are difficult to bring to market, which leads to serious difficulties for the manufacturing companies. The closure of one of the leading companies in the sector (the Canadian biotech company Medicago Inc., producer of Covifenz) as a result of the withdrawal of investments from the parent company has led to the serious question: What is hindering the exploitation of plant-made biologics to improve health outcomes? Exploring the vast potential of plants as biological factories, this review provides an updated perspective on plant-derived biologics (PDB). A key focus is placed on the advancements in plant-based expression systems and highlighting cutting-edge technologies that streamline the production of complex protein-based biologics. The versatility of plant-derived biologics across diverse fields, such as human and animal health, industry, and agriculture, is emphasized. This review also meticulously examines regulatory considerations specific to plant-derived biologics, shedding light on the disparities faced compared to biologics produced in other systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergana Zahmanova
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (K.T.)
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Alaa A. A. Aljabali
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan;
| | - Katerina Takova
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (K.T.)
| | - George Minkov
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (K.T.)
| | - Murtaza M. Tambuwala
- Lincoln Medical School, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool Campus, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK;
| | - Ivan Minkov
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, 4108 Markovo, Bulgaria
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8
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Ruocco V, Vavra U, König-Beihammer J, Bolaños−Martínez OC, Kallolimath S, Maresch D, Grünwald-Gruber C, Strasser R. Impact of mutations on the plant-based production of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 RBDs. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1275228. [PMID: 37868317 PMCID: PMC10588190 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1275228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Subunit vaccines based on recombinant viral antigens are valuable interventions to fight existing and evolving viruses and can be produced at large-scale in plant-based expression systems. The recombinant viral antigens are often derived from glycosylated envelope proteins of the virus and glycosylation plays an important role for the immunogenicity by shielding protein epitopes. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike is a principal target for vaccine development and has been produced in plants, but the yields of recombinant RBD variants were low and the role of the N-glycosylation in RBD from different SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern is less studied. Here, we investigated the expression and glycosylation of six different RBD variants transiently expressed in leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. All of the purified RBD variants were functional in terms of receptor binding and displayed almost full N-glycan occupancy at both glycosylation sites with predominately complex N-glycans. Despite the high structural sequence conservation of the RBD variants, we detected a variation in yield which can be attributed to lower expression and differences in unintentional proteolytic processing of the C-terminal polyhistidine tag used for purification. Glycoengineering towards a human-type complex N-glycan profile with core α1,6-fucose, showed that the reactivity of the neutralizing antibody S309 differs depending on the N-glycan profile and the RBD variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Ruocco
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Vavra
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia König-Beihammer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Omayra C. Bolaños−Martínez
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Somanath Kallolimath
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniel Maresch
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Grünwald-Gruber
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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9
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Strasser R. Plant glycoengineering for designing next-generation vaccines and therapeutic proteins. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 67:108197. [PMID: 37315875 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Protein glycosylation has a huge impact on biological processes in all domains of life. The type of glycan present on a recombinant glycoprotein depends on protein intrinsic features and the glycosylation repertoire of the cell type used for expression. Glycoengineering approaches are used to eliminate unwanted glycan modifications and to facilitate the coordinated expression of glycosylation enzymes or whole metabolic pathways to furnish glycans with distinct modifications. The formation of tailored glycans enables structure-function studies and optimization of therapeutic proteins used in different applications. While recombinant proteins or proteins from natural sources can be in vitro glycoengineered using glycosyltransferases or chemoenzymatic synthesis, many approaches use genetic engineering involving the elimination of endogenous genes and introduction of heterologous genes to cell-based production systems. Plant glycoengineering enables the in planta production of recombinant glycoproteins with human or animal-type glycans that resemble natural glycosylation or contain novel glycan structures. This review summarizes key achievements in glycoengineering of plants and highlights current developments aiming to make plants more suitable for the production of a diverse range of recombinant glycoproteins for innovative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Strasser
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
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10
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Beihammer G, König-Beihammer J, Kogelmann B, Ruocco V, Grünwald-Gruber C, D’Aoust MA, Lavoie PO, Saxena P, Gach JS, Steinkellner H, Strasser R. An oligosaccharyltransferase from Leishmania donovani increases the N-glycan occupancy on plant-produced IgG1. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1233666. [PMID: 37615026 PMCID: PMC10442823 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1233666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
N-Glycosylation of immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) at the heavy chain Fc domain (Asn297) plays an important role for antibody structure and effector functions. While numerous recombinant IgG1 antibodies have been successfully expressed in plants, they frequently display a considerable amount (up to 50%) of unglycosylated Fc domain. To overcome this limitation, we tested a single-subunit oligosaccharyltransferase from the protozoan Leishmania donovani (LdOST) for its ability to improve IgG1 Fc glycosylation. LdOST fused to a fluorescent protein was transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana and confocal microscopy confirmed the subcellular location at the endoplasmic reticulum. Transient co-expression of LdOST with two different IgG1 antibodies resulted in a significant increase (up to 97%) of Fc glycosylation while leaving the overall N-glycan composition unmodified, as determined by different mass spectrometry approaches. While biochemical and functional features of "glycosylation improved" antibodies remained unchanged, a slight increase in FcγRIIIa binding and thermal stability was observed. Collectively, our results reveal that LdOST expression is suitable to reduce the heterogeneity of plant-produced antibodies and can contribute to improving their stability and effector functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gernot Beihammer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- acib - Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia König-Beihammer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benjamin Kogelmann
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- acib - Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Valentina Ruocco
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Grünwald-Gruber
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | - Johannes S. Gach
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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11
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Mamedov T, Yuksel D, Gurbuzaslan I, Ilgin M, Gulec B, Mammadova G, Ozdarendeli A, Pavel STI, Yetiskin H, Kaplan B, Uygut MA, Hasanova G. Plant-produced RBD and cocktail-based vaccine candidates are highly effective against SARS-CoV-2, independently of its emerging variants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1202570. [PMID: 37600182 PMCID: PMC10433747 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1202570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel and highly pathogenic coronavirus that caused an outbreak in Wuhan City, China, in 2019 and then spread rapidly throughout the world. Although several coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are currently available for mass immunization, they are less effective against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, especially the Omicron (B.1.1.529). Recently, we successfully produced receptor-binding domain (RBD) variants of the spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 and an antigen cocktail in Nicotiana benthamiana, which are highly produced in plants and elicited high-titer antibodies with potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2. In this study, based on neutralization ability, we demonstrate that plant-produced RBD and cocktail-based vaccine candidates are highly effective against SARS-CoV-2, independently of its emerging variants. These data demonstrate that plant-produced RBD and cocktail-based proteins are the most promising vaccine candidates and may protect against Delta and Omicron-mediated COVID-19. This is the first report describing vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, which demonstrate significant activities against Delta and Omicron variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarlan Mamedov
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Türkiye
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, Ministry of Science and Education, Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan
| | - Damla Yuksel
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Türkiye
| | - Irem Gurbuzaslan
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Türkiye
| | - Merve Ilgin
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Türkiye
| | - Burcu Gulec
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Türkiye
| | - Gulshan Mammadova
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Türkiye
| | - Aykut Ozdarendeli
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
| | - Shaikh Terkis Islam Pavel
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
| | - Hazel Yetiskin
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
| | - Busra Kaplan
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
| | - Muhammet Ali Uygut
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
| | - Gulnara Hasanova
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Türkiye
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12
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Kallolimath S, Palt R, Föderl-Höbenreich E, Sun L, Chen Q, Pruckner F, Eidenberger L, Strasser R, Zatloukal K, Steinkellner H. Glyco engineered pentameric SARS-CoV-2 IgMs show superior activities compared to IgG1 orthologues. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1147960. [PMID: 37359564 PMCID: PMC10285447 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1147960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is the largest antibody isotype with unique features like extensive glycosylation and oligomerization. Major hurdles in characterizing its properties are difficulties in the production of well-defined multimers. Here we report the expression of two SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies in glycoengineered plants. Isotype switch from IgG1 to IgM resulted in the production of IgMs, composed of 21 human protein subunits correctly assembled into pentamers. All four recombinant monoclonal antibodies carried a highly reproducible human-type N-glycosylation profile, with a single dominant N-glycan species at each glycosite. Both pentameric IgMs exhibited increased antigen binding and virus neutralization potency, up to 390-fold, compared to the parental IgG1. Collectively, the results may impact on the future design of vaccines, diagnostics and antibody-based therapies and emphasize the versatile use of plants for the expression of highly complex human proteins with targeted posttranslational modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somanath Kallolimath
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roman Palt
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Lin Sun
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Florian Pruckner
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Eidenberger
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kurt Zatloukal
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Herta Steinkellner
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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13
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Saba-Mayoral A, Rosa C, Sobrino-Mengual G, Armario-Najera V, Christou P, Capell T. Production of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain in stably transformed rice plants for developing country applications. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:1094-1096. [PMID: 36740598 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Saba-Mayoral
- Applied Plant Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio CERCA Center, Lleida, Spain
| | - Claudia Rosa
- Applied Plant Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio CERCA Center, Lleida, Spain
| | - Guillermo Sobrino-Mengual
- Applied Plant Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio CERCA Center, Lleida, Spain
| | - Victoria Armario-Najera
- Applied Plant Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio CERCA Center, Lleida, Spain
| | - Paul Christou
- Applied Plant Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio CERCA Center, Lleida, Spain
- ICREA, Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Capell
- Applied Plant Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio CERCA Center, Lleida, Spain
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14
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Margolin E, Schäfer G, Allen JD, Gers S, Woodward J, Sutherland AD, Blumenthal M, Meyers A, Shaw ML, Preiser W, Strasser R, Crispin M, Williamson AL, Rybicki EP, Chapman R. A plant-produced SARS-CoV-2 spike protein elicits heterologous immunity in hamsters. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1146234. [PMID: 36959936 PMCID: PMC10028082 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1146234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Molecular farming of vaccines has been heralded as a cheap, safe and scalable production platform. In reality, however, differences in the plant biosynthetic machinery, compared to mammalian cells, can complicate the production of viral glycoproteins. Remodelling the secretory pathway presents an opportunity to support key post-translational modifications, and to tailor aspects of glycosylation and glycosylation-directed folding. In this study, we applied an integrated host and glyco-engineering approach, NXS/T Generation™, to produce a SARS-CoV-2 prefusion spike trimer in Nicotiana benthamiana as a model antigen from an emerging virus. The size exclusion-purified protein exhibited a characteristic prefusion structure when viewed by transmission electron microscopy, and this was indistinguishable from the equivalent mammalian cell-produced antigen. The plant-produced protein was decorated with under-processed oligomannose N-glycans and exhibited a site occupancy that was comparable to the equivalent protein produced in mammalian cell culture. Complex-type glycans were almost entirely absent from the plant-derived material, which contrasted against the predominantly mature, complex glycans that were observed on the mammalian cell culture-derived protein. The plant-derived antigen elicited neutralizing antibodies against both the matched Wuhan and heterologous Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants in immunized hamsters, although titres were lower than those induced by the comparator mammalian antigen. Animals vaccinated with the plant-derived antigen exhibited reduced viral loads following challenge, as well as significant protection from SARS-CoV-2 disease as evidenced by reduced lung pathology, lower viral loads and protection from weight loss. Nonetheless, animals immunized with the mammalian cell-culture-derived protein were better protected in this challenge model suggesting that more faithfully reproducing the native glycoprotein structure and associated glycosylation of the antigen may be desirable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Margolin
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Georgia Schäfer
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Observatory, Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Joel D Allen
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jeremy Woodward
- Electron Microscope Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andrew D Sutherland
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University Tygerberg Campus, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Melissa Blumenthal
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Observatory, Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ann Meyers
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Megan L Shaw
- Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Wolfgang Preiser
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University Tygerberg Campus, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Max Crispin
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Anna-Lise Williamson
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Edward P Rybicki
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ros Chapman
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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15
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Arias-Arias JL, Molina-Castro SE, Monturiol-Gross L, Lomonte B, Corrales-Aguilar E. Stable production of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain in mammalian cells with co-expression of a fluorescent reporter and its validation as antigenic target for COVID-19 serology testing. BIOTECHNOLOGY REPORTS (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 37:e00780. [PMID: 36619904 PMCID: PMC9805376 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2022.e00780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) recognizes the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in host cells that enables infection. Due to its antigenic specificity, RBD production is important for development of serological assays. Here we have established a system for stable RBD production in HEK 293T mammalian cells that simultaneously express the recombinant fluorescent protein dTomato, which enables kinetic monitoring of RBD expression by fluorescence microscopy. In addition, we have validated the use of this recombinant RBD in an ELISA assay for the detection of anti-RBD antibodies in serum samples of COVID-19 convalescent patients. Recombinant RBD generated using this approach can be useful for generation of antibody-based therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2, as well serological assays aimed to test antibody responses to this relevant virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge L. Arias-Arias
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Facultad de Microbiología Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501-2060, Costa Rica,Dulbecco Lab Studio, Residencial Lisboa 2G, Alajuela, 20102, Costa Rica
| | - Silvia E. Molina-Castro
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501-2060, Costa Rica
| | - Laura Monturiol-Gross
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP), Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501-2060, Costa Rica,Corresponding author.
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP), Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501-2060, Costa Rica
| | - Eugenia Corrales-Aguilar
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Facultad de Microbiología Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501-2060, Costa Rica
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16
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Eidenberger L, Eminger F, Castilho A, Steinkellner H. Comparative analysis of plant transient expression vectors for targeted N-glycosylation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1073455. [PMID: 36619384 PMCID: PMC9812561 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1073455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
While plant-based transient expression systems have demonstrated their potency to rapidly express economically feasible quantities of complex human proteins, less is known about their compatibility with posttranslational modification control. Here we investigated three commonly used transient expression vectors, pEAQ, magnICON and pTra for their capability to express a multi-component protein with controlled and modified N-glycosylation. Cetuximab (Cx), a therapeutic IgG1 monoclonal antibody, which carries next to the conserved Fc an additional N-glycosylation site (GS) in the Fab-domain, was used as model. While pEAQ and pTra produce fully assembled Cx at similar levels in N. benthamiana, the yield of magnICON-Cx was twice as high. When expressed in wild type plants, both Cx-GSs exhibited typical plant N-glycans decorated with plant-specific xylose and fucose. Likewise, Cx generated in the glycoengineered ΔXTFT line carried mainly complex N-glycans lacking plant specific residues. Exposure to different engineering settings (encompassing stable lines and transient approaches) towards human galactosylation and sialylation resulted in Cx carrying targeted N-glycans at similar quantities using all three expression vectors. Collectively, our results exhibit the universal application of plant-based glycoengineering, thereby increasing the attractivity of the ambitious expression platform.
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17
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Improved Expression of SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD Using the Insect Cell-Baculovirus System. Viruses 2022; 14:v14122794. [PMID: 36560798 PMCID: PMC9785345 DOI: 10.3390/v14122794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect cell-baculovirus expression vector system is one of the most established platforms to produce biological products, and it plays a fundamental role in the context of COVID-19 emergency, providing recombinant proteins for treatment, diagnosis, and prevention. SARS-CoV-2 infection is mediated by the interaction of the spike glycoprotein trimer via its receptor-binding domain (RBD) with the host's cellular receptor. As RBD is required for many applications, in the context of pandemic it is important to meet the challenge of producing a high amount of recombinant RBD (rRBD). For this reason, in the present study, we developed a process based on Sf9 insect cells to improve rRBD yield. rRBD was recovered from the supernatant of infected cells and easily purified by metal ion affinity chromatography, with a yield of 82% and purity higher than 95%. Expressed under a novel chimeric promoter (polh-pSeL), the yield of rRBD after purification was 21.1 ± 3.7 mg/L, which is the highest performance described in Sf9 cell lines. Finally, rRBD was successfully used in an assay to detect specific antibodies in COVID-19 serum samples. The efficient strategy herein described has the potential to produce high-quality rRBD in Sf9 cell line for diagnostic purpose.
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Mardanova ES, Kotlyarov RY, Ravin NV. Rapid Transient Expression of Receptor-Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2 and the Conserved M2e Peptide of Influenza A Virus Linked to Flagellin in Nicotiana benthamiana Plants Using Self-Replicating Viral Vector. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11243425. [PMID: 36559537 PMCID: PMC9785242 DOI: 10.3390/plants11243425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The development of recombinant vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A is an important task. The combination of the conserved influenza A antigen, the extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 (M2e), and the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (RBD) provides the opportunity to develop a bivalent vaccine against these infections. The fusion of antigens with bacterial flagellin, the ligand for Toll-like receptor 5 and potent mucosal adjuvant, may increase the immunogenicity of the candidate vaccines and enable intranasal immunization. In this study, we report the transient expression of RBD alone, RBD coupled with four copies of M2e, and fusions of RBD and RBD-4M2e with flagellin in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using the self-replicating potato virus X-based vector pEff. The yields of purified recombinant proteins per gram of fresh leaf tissue were about 20 µg for RBD, 50-60 µg for RBD-4M2e and the fusion of RBD with flagellin, and about 90 µg for RBD-4M2e fused to flagellin. Targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum enabled the production of glycosylated recombinant proteins comprising RBD. Our results show that plant-produced RBD and RBD-4M2e could be further used for the development of subunit vaccines against COVID-19 and a bivalent vaccine against COVID-19 and influenza A, while flagellin fusions could be used for the development of intranasal vaccines.
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San Clemente H, Jamet E. N-glycoproteins in Plant Cell Walls: A Survey. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:3204. [PMID: 36501244 PMCID: PMC9738366 DOI: 10.3390/plants11233204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cell walls are an extracellular compartment specific to plant cells, which are not found in animal cells. Their composition varies between cell types, plant species, and physiological states. They are composed of a great diversity of polymers, i.e., polysaccharides, proteins, and lignins. Cell wall proteins (CWPs) are major players involved in the plasticity of cell walls which support cell growth and differentiation, as well as adaptation to environmental changes. In order to reach the extracellular space, CWPs are transported through the secretory pathway where they may undergo post-translational modifications, including N-glycosylations on the Asn residues in specific motifs (Asn-X-Ser/Thr-X, with X≠Pro). This review aims at providing a survey of the present knowledge related to cell wall N-glycoproteins with (i) an overview of the experimental workflows, (ii) a selection of relevant articles dedicated to N-glycoproteomics, (iii) a description of the diversity of N-glycans, and (iv) a focus on the importance of N-glycans for CWP structure and/or function.
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Rebelo BA, Folgado A, Ferreira AC, Abranches R. Production of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and its Receptor Binding Domain in plant cell suspension cultures. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:995429. [PMID: 36340353 PMCID: PMC9634662 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.995429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2, has prompted the scientific community to rapidly develop efficient and specific diagnostics and therapeutics. A number of avenues have been explored, including the manufacture of COVID-related proteins to be used as reagents for diagnostics or treatment. The production of RBD and Spike proteins was previously achieved in eukaryotic cells, mainly mammalian cell cultures, while the production in microbial systems has been unsuccessful until now. Here we report the effective production of SARS-CoV-2 proteins in two plant model systems. We established transgenic tobacco BY-2 and Medicago truncatula A17 cell suspension cultures stably producing the full-length Spike and RBD recombinant proteins. For both proteins, various glycoforms were obtained, with higher yields in Medicago cultures than BY-2. This work highlights that RBD and Spike can be secreted into the culture medium, which will impact subsequent purification and downstream processing costs. Analysis of the culture media indicated the presence of the high molecular weight Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Although the production yields still need improvement to compete with mammalian systems, this is the first report showing that plant cell suspension cultures are able to produce the high molecular weight Spike protein. This finding strengthens the potential of plant cell cultures as production platforms for large complex proteins.
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21
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Margolin E, Allen JD, Verbeek M, Chapman R, Meyers A, van Diepen M, Ximba P, Motlou T, Moore PL, Woodward J, Strasser R, Crispin M, Williamson AL, Rybicki EP. Augmenting glycosylation-directed folding pathways enhances the fidelity of HIV Env immunogen production in plants. Biotechnol Bioeng 2022; 119:2919-2937. [PMID: 35781691 PMCID: PMC9544252 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Heterologous glycoprotein production relies on host glycosylation-dependent folding. When the biosynthetic machinery differs from the usual expression host, there is scope to remodel the assembly pathway to enhance glycoprotein production. Here we explore the integration of chaperone coexpression with glyco-engineering to improve the production of a model HIV-1 envelope antigen. Calreticulin was coexpressed to support protein folding together with Leishmania major STT3D oligosaccharyltransferase, to improve glycan occupancy, RNA interference to suppress the formation of truncated glycans, and Nicotiana benthamiana plants lacking α1,3-fucosyltransferase and β1,2-xylosyltransferase was used as an expression host to prevent plant-specific complex N-glycans forming. This approach reduced the formation of undesired aggregates, which predominated in the absence of glyco-engineering. The resulting antigen also exhibited increased glycan occupancy, albeit to a slightly lower level than the equivalent mammalian cell-produced protein. The antigen was decorated almost exclusively with oligomannose glycans, which were less processed compared with the mammalian protein. Immunized rabbits developed comparable immune responses to the plant-produced and mammalian cell-derived antigens, including the induction of autologous neutralizing antibodies when the proteins were used to boost DNA and modified vaccinia Ankara virus-vectored vaccines. This study demonstrates that engineering glycosylation-directed folding offers a promising route to enhance the production of complex viral glycoproteins in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Margolin
- Department of Pathology, Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Joel D Allen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Matthew Verbeek
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ros Chapman
- Department of Pathology, Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ann Meyers
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Michiel van Diepen
- Department of Pathology, Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Phindile Ximba
- Department of Pathology, Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Thopisang Motlou
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Centre for HIV and STIs, Johannesburg, South Africa
- MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Penny L Moore
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Centre for HIV and STIs, Johannesburg, South Africa
- MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Congella, Durban, South Africa
| | - Jeremy Woodward
- Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Max Crispin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Anna-Lise Williamson
- Department of Pathology, Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Edward P Rybicki
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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22
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Khatri R, Parray HA, Siddiqui G, Chiranjivi AK, Raj S, Kaul R, Maithil V, Samal S, Ahmed S. Biophysical and Biochemical Characterization of the Receptor Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2 Variants. Protein J 2022; 41:457-467. [PMID: 36048314 PMCID: PMC9434506 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-022-10073-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants are potential threat and posing new challenges for medical intervention due to high transmissibility and escaping neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses. Many of these variants have mutations in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that interacts with the host cell receptor. Rapid mutation in the RBD through natural selection to improve affinity for host receptor and antibody pressure from vaccinated or infected individual will greatly impact the presently adopted strategies for developing interventions. Understanding the nature of mutations and how they impact the biophysical, biochemical and immunological properties of the RBD will help immensely to improve the intervention strategies. To understand the impact of mutation on the protease sensitivity, thermal stability, affinity for the receptor and immune response, we prepared several mutants of soluble RBD that belong to the variants of concern (VoCs) and interest (VoIs) and characterize them. Our results show that the mutations do not impact the overall structure of the RBD. However, the mutants showed increase in the thermal melting point, few mutants were more sensitive to protease degradation, most of them have enhanced affinity for ACE2 and some of them induced better immune response compared to the parental RBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritika Khatri
- Translational Health Science & Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Hilal Ahmad Parray
- Translational Health Science & Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Gazala Siddiqui
- Translational Health Science & Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Adarsh Kumar Chiranjivi
- Translational Health Science & Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Sneha Raj
- Translational Health Science & Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Rachel Kaul
- Translational Health Science & Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Vikas Maithil
- Translational Health Science & Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Sweety Samal
- Translational Health Science & Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Shubbir Ahmed
- Translational Health Science & Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India. .,Centralized Core Research Facility (CCRF), All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi, 110029, India.
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Investigation of the N-Glycosylation of the SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Contained in VLPs Produced in Nicotiana benthamiana. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27165119. [PMID: 36014368 PMCID: PMC9412417 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27165119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic in China in late 2019 led to the fast development of efficient therapeutics. Of the major structural proteins encoded by the SARS-CoV-2 genome, the SPIKE (S) protein has attracted considerable research interest because of the central role it plays in virus entry into host cells. Therefore, to date, most immunization strategies aim at inducing neutralizing antibodies against the surface viral S protein. The SARS-CoV-2 S protein is heavily glycosylated with 22 predicted N-glycosylation consensus sites as well as numerous mucin-type O-glycosylation sites. As a consequence, O- and N-glycosylations of this viral protein have received particular attention. Glycans N-linked to the S protein are mainly exposed at the surface and form a shield-masking specific epitope to escape the virus antigenic recognition. In this work, the N-glycosylation status of the S protein within virus-like particles (VLPs) produced in Nicotiana benthamiana (N. benthamiana) was investigated using a glycoproteomic approach. We show that 20 among the 22 predicted N-glycosylation sites are dominated by complex plant N-glycans and one carries oligomannoses. This suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 S protein produced in N. benthamiana adopts an overall 3D structure similar to that of recombinant homologues produced in mammalian cells.
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24
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Ceballo Y, López A, González CE, Ramos O, Andújar I, Martínez RU, Hernández A. Transient production of receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 in Nicotiana benthamiana plants induces specific antibodies in immunized mice. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:6113-6123. [PMID: 35526244 PMCID: PMC9079970 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07402-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has currently affected millions of people around the world. To combat the rapid spread of COVID-19 there is an urgent need to implement technological platforms for the production of vaccines, drugs and diagnostic systems by the scientific community and pharmaceutical companies. The SARS-CoV-2 virus enters the cells by the interaction between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) present in the viral surface spike protein and its human receptor ACE2. The RBD protein is therefore considered as the target for potential subunit-based vaccines. METHODS AND RESULTS We evaluate the use of Nicotiana benthamiana plants as the host to transiently-producing recombinant RBD (RBDr) protein. The identity of the plant-produced RBDr was confirmed by immune assays and mass spectrometry. Immunogenicity was confirmed through the specific antibodies generated in all of the immunized mice compared to the PBS treated group. CONCLUSIONS In conclusions, the immunogenicity of the RBDr produced in N. benthamiana was confirmed. These findings support the use of plants as an antigen expression system for the rapid development of vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanaysi Ceballo
- Bioreactors Laboratory, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba.
- Plant Biotechnology Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, PO Box 6162, 10600, Havana, Cuba.
| | - Alina López
- Bioreactors Laboratory, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Carlos E González
- Bioreactors Laboratory, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Osmany Ramos
- Bioreactors Laboratory, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Iván Andújar
- Proteomic Laboratory, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Ricardo U Martínez
- Diagnostic Laboratory, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Abel Hernández
- Bioreactors Laboratory, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
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25
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Ruocco V, Strasser R. Transient Expression of Glycosylated SARS-CoV-2 Antigens in Nicotiana benthamiana. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:1093. [PMID: 35448821 PMCID: PMC9033091 DOI: 10.3390/plants11081093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The current COVID-19 pandemic very dramatically shows that the world lacks preparedness for novel viral diseases. In addition to newly emerging viruses, many known pathogenic viruses such as influenza are constantly evolving, leading to frequent outbreaks with severe diseases and deaths. Hence, infectious viruses are a recurrent burden to our daily life, and powerful strategies to stop the spread of human pathogens and disease progression are of utmost importance. Transient plant-based protein expression is a technology that allows fast and highly flexible manufacturing of recombinant viral proteins and, thus, can contribute to infectious disease detection and prevention. This review highlights recent progress in the transient production of viral glycoproteins in N. benthamiana with a focus on SARS-CoV-2-derived viral antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria;
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26
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Development of Plant-Based Vaccines for Prevention of Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease in Poultry. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10030478. [PMID: 35335110 PMCID: PMC8952014 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10030478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral diseases, including avian influenza (AI) and Newcastle disease (ND), are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in poultry, resulting in significant economic losses. Despite the availability of commercial vaccines for the major viral diseases of poultry, these diseases continue to pose a significant risk to global food security. There are multiple factors for this: vaccine costs may be prohibitive, cold chain storage for attenuated live-virus vaccines may not be achievable, and commercial vaccines may protect poorly against local emerging strains. The development of transient gene expression systems in plants provides a versatile and robust tool to generate a high yield of recombinant proteins with superior speed while managing to achieve cost-efficient production. Plant-derived vaccines offer good stability and safety these include both subunit and virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines. VLPs offer potential benefits compared to currently available traditional vaccines, including significant reductions in virus shedding and the ability to differentiate between infected and vaccinated birds (DIVA). This review discusses the current state of plant-based vaccines for prevention of the AI and ND in poultry, challenges in their development, and potential for expanding their use in low- and middle-income countries.
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27
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König-Beihammer J, Vavra U, Shin YJ, Veit C, Grünwald-Gruber C, Gillitschka Y, Huber J, Hofner M, Vierlinger K, Mitteregger D, Weinhäusel A, Strasser R. In Planta Production of the Receptor-Binding Domain From SARS-CoV-2 With Human Blood Group A Glycan Structures. Front Chem 2022; 9:816544. [PMID: 35178379 PMCID: PMC8846405 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.816544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycosylation of viral envelope proteins is important for infectivity and immune evasion. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is heavily glycosylated and host-derived glycan modifications contribute to the formation of specific immunogenic epitopes, enhance the virus-cell interaction or affect virus transmission. On recombinant viral antigens used as subunit vaccines or for serological assays, distinct glycan structures may enhance the immunogenicity and are recognized by naturally occurring antibodies in human sera. Here, we performed an in vivo glycoengineering approach to produce recombinant variants of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) with blood group antigens in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. SARS-CoV-2 RBD and human glycosyltransferases for the blood group ABH antigen formation were transiently co-expressed in N. benthamiana leaves. Recombinant RBD was purified and the formation of complex N-glycans carrying blood group A antigens was shown by immunoblotting and MS analysis. Binding to the cellular ACE2 receptor and the conformation-dependent CR3022 antibody showed that the RBD glycosylation variants carrying blood group antigens were functional. Analysis of sera from RBD-positive and RBD-negative individuals revealed further that non-infected RBD-negative blood group O individuals have antibodies that strongly bind to RBD modified with blood group A antigen structures. The binding of IgGs derived from sera of non-infected RBD-negative blood group O individuals to blood group A antigens on SARS-CoV-2 RBD suggests that these antibodies could provide some degree of protection from virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia König-Beihammer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Vavra
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yun-Ji Shin
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christiane Veit
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Grünwald-Gruber
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Muthgasse, Austria
| | - Yasmin Gillitschka
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jasmin Huber
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manuela Hofner
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klemens Vierlinger
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Andreas Weinhäusel
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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28
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Klausberger M, Kienzl NF, Stadlmayr G, Grünwald‐Gruber C, Laurent E, Stadlbauer K, Stracke F, Vierlinger K, Hofner M, Manhart G, Gerner W, Grebien F, Weinhäusel A, Mach L, Wozniak‐Knopp G. Designed SARS‐CoV‐2 receptor binding domain variants form stable monomers. Biotechnol J 2022; 17:e2100422. [PMID: 35078277 PMCID: PMC9011732 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202100422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike (S)‐protein is a prime target of virus‐neutralizing antibodies present in convalescent sera of COVID‐19 patients and thus is considered a key antigen for immunosurveillance studies and vaccine development. Although recombinant expression of RBD has been achieved in several eukaryotic systems, mammalian cells have proven particularly useful. The authors aimed to optimize RBD produced in HEK293‐6E cells towards a stable homogeneous preparation and addressed its O‐glycosylation as well as the unpaired cysteine residue 538 in the widely used RBD (319‐541) sequence. The authors found that an intact O‐glycosylation site at T323 is highly relevant for the expression and maintenance of RBD as a monomer. Furthermore, it was shown that deletion or substitution of the unpaired cysteine residue C538 reduces the intrinsic propensity of RBD to form oligomeric aggregates, concomitant with an increased yield of the monomeric form of the protein. Bead‐based and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays utilizing these optimized RBD variants displayed excellent performance with respect to the specific detection of even low levels of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in convalescent sera. Hence, these RBD variants could be instrumental for the further development of serological SARS‐CoV‐2 tests and inform the design of RBD‐based vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Klausberger
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Muthgasse 18 Vienna 1190 Austria
| | - Nikolaus F. Kienzl
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Muthgasse 18 Vienna 1190 Austria
| | - Gerhard Stadlmayr
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Muthgasse 18 Vienna 1190 Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Muthgasse 18 Vienna 1190 Austria
| | - Clemens Grünwald‐Gruber
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and BOKU Core Facility Mass Spectrometry University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Muthgasse 18 Vienna 1190 Austria
| | - Elisabeth Laurent
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Muthgasse 18 Vienna 1190 Austria
- BOKU Core Facility Biomolecular & Cellular Analysis University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Muthgasse 18 Vienna 1190 Austria
| | - Katharina Stadlbauer
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Muthgasse 18 Vienna 1190 Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Muthgasse 18 Vienna 1190 Austria
| | - Florian Stracke
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Muthgasse 18 Vienna 1190 Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Muthgasse 18 Vienna 1190 Austria
| | - Klemens Vierlinger
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources Austrian Institute of Technology Giefinggasse 4 Vienna 1210 Austria
| | - Manuela Hofner
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources Austrian Institute of Technology Giefinggasse 4 Vienna 1210 Austria
| | - Gabriele Manhart
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry University of Veterinary Medicine Veterinärplatz 1 Vienna 1210 Austria
| | - Wilhelm Gerner
- Institute of Immunology University of Veterinary Medicine Veterinärplatz 1 Vienna 1210 Austria
| | - Florian Grebien
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry University of Veterinary Medicine Veterinärplatz 1 Vienna 1210 Austria
| | - Andreas Weinhäusel
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources Austrian Institute of Technology Giefinggasse 4 Vienna 1210 Austria
| | - Lukas Mach
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Muthgasse 18 Vienna 1190 Austria
| | - Gordana Wozniak‐Knopp
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Muthgasse 18 Vienna 1190 Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Muthgasse 18 Vienna 1190 Austria
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29
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Improving Protein Quantity and Quality—The Next Level of Plant Molecular Farming. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031326. [PMID: 35163249 PMCID: PMC8836236 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants offer several unique advantages in the production of recombinant pharmaceuticals for humans and animals. Although numerous recombinant proteins have been expressed in plants, only a small fraction have been successfully put into use. The hugely distinct expression systems between plant and animal cells frequently cause insufficient yield of the recombinant proteins with poor or undesired activity. To overcome the issues that greatly constrain the development of plant-produced pharmaceuticals, great efforts have been made to improve expression systems and develop alternative strategies to increase both the quantity and quality of the recombinant proteins. Recent technological revolutions, such as targeted genome editing, deconstructed vectors, virus-like particles, and humanized glycosylation, have led to great advances in plant molecular farming to meet the industrial manufacturing and clinical application standards. In this review, we discuss the technological advances made in various plant expression platforms, with special focus on the upstream designs and milestone achievements in improving the yield and glycosylation of the plant-produced pharmaceutical proteins.
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30
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Margolin E, Verbeek M, de Moor W, Chapman R, Meyers A, Schäfer G, Williamson AL, Rybicki E. Investigating Constraints Along the Plant Secretory Pathway to Improve Production of a SARS-CoV-2 Spike Vaccine Candidate. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 12:798822. [PMID: 35058959 PMCID: PMC8764404 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.798822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Given the complex maturation requirements of viral glycoproteins and the challenge they often pose for expression in plants, the identification of host constraints precluding their efficient production is a priority for the molecular farming of vaccines. Building on previous work to improve viral glycoprotein production in plants, we investigated the production of a soluble SARS-CoV-2 spike comprising the ectopic portion of the glycoprotein. This was successfully transiently expressed in N. benthamiana by co-expressing the human lectin-binding chaperone calreticulin, which substantially increased the accumulation of the glycoprotein. The spike was mostly unprocessed unless the protease furin was co-expressed which resulted in highly efficient processing of the glycoprotein. Co-expression of several broad-spectrum protease inhibitors did not improve accumulation of the protein any further. The protein was successfully purified by affinity chromatography and gel filtration, although the purified product was heterogenous and the yields were low. Immunogenicity of the antigen was tested in BALB/c mice, and cellular and antibody responses were elicited after low dose inoculation with the adjuvanted protein. This work constitutes an important proof-of-concept for host plant engineering in the context of rapid vaccine development for SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Margolin
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Matthew Verbeek
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Warren de Moor
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ros Chapman
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ann Meyers
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Georgia Schäfer
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anna-Lise Williamson
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Edward Rybicki
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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31
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Maffei M, Montemiglio LC, Vitagliano G, Fedele L, Sellathurai S, Bucci F, Compagnone M, Chiarini V, Exertier C, Muzi A, Roscilli G, Vallone B, Marra E. The Nuts and Bolts of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Receptor-Binding Domain Heterologous Expression. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1812. [PMID: 34944456 PMCID: PMC8699011 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease caused by a newly emerged coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that has rapidly progressed into a pandemic. This unprecedent emergency has stressed the significance of developing effective therapeutics to fight the current and future outbreaks. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 surface Spike protein is the main target for vaccines and represents a helpful "tool" to produce neutralizing antibodies or diagnostic kits. In this work, we provide a detailed characterization of the native RBD produced in three major model systems: Escherichia coli, insect and HEK-293 cells. Circular dichroism, gel filtration chromatography and thermal denaturation experiments indicated that recombinant SARS-CoV-2 RBD proteins are stable and correctly folded. In addition, their functionality and receptor-binding ability were further evaluated through ELISA, flow cytometry assays and bio-layer interferometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano Maffei
- Evvivax Biotech, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy;
| | - Linda Celeste Montemiglio
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council, c/o Department of Biochemical Sciences “Alessandro Rossi Fanelli”, Sapienza, University of Rome, P. le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Grazia Vitagliano
- Takis Biotech, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy; (G.V.); (L.F.); (S.S.); (F.B.); (V.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Luigi Fedele
- Takis Biotech, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy; (G.V.); (L.F.); (S.S.); (F.B.); (V.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Shaila Sellathurai
- Takis Biotech, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy; (G.V.); (L.F.); (S.S.); (F.B.); (V.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Federica Bucci
- Takis Biotech, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy; (G.V.); (L.F.); (S.S.); (F.B.); (V.C.); (A.M.)
| | | | - Valerio Chiarini
- Takis Biotech, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy; (G.V.); (L.F.); (S.S.); (F.B.); (V.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Cécile Exertier
- Department of Biochemical Sciences “Alessandro Rossi Fanelli”, Sapienza, University of Rome, P. le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (C.E.); (B.V.)
| | - Alessia Muzi
- Takis Biotech, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy; (G.V.); (L.F.); (S.S.); (F.B.); (V.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Giuseppe Roscilli
- Evvivax Biotech, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy;
- Takis Biotech, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy; (G.V.); (L.F.); (S.S.); (F.B.); (V.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Beatrice Vallone
- Department of Biochemical Sciences “Alessandro Rossi Fanelli”, Sapienza, University of Rome, P. le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (C.E.); (B.V.)
| | - Emanuele Marra
- Evvivax Biotech, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy;
- Takis Biotech, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy; (G.V.); (L.F.); (S.S.); (F.B.); (V.C.); (A.M.)
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32
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Mamedov T, Yuksel D, Ilgın M, Gürbüzaslan I, Gulec B, Mammadova G, Ozdarendeli A, Yetiskin H, Kaplan B, Islam Pavel ST, Uygut MA, Hasanova G. Production and Characterization of Nucleocapsid and RBD Cocktail Antigens of SARS-CoV-2 in Nicotiana benthamiana Plant as a Vaccine Candidate against COVID-19. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1337. [PMID: 34835268 PMCID: PMC8621474 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9111337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has put global public health at high risk, rapidly spreading around the world. Although several COVID-19 vaccines are available for mass immunization, the world still urgently needs highly effective, reliable, cost-effective, and safe SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus vaccines, as well as antiviral and therapeutic drugs, to control the COVID-19 pandemic given the emerging variant strains of the virus. Recently, we successfully produced receptor-binding domain (RBD) variants in the Nicotiana benthamiana plant as promising vaccine candidates against COVID-19 and demonstrated that mice immunized with these antigens elicited a high titer of RBD-specific antibodies with potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we engineered the nucleocapsid (N) protein and co-expressed it with RBD of SARS-CoV-2 in Nicotiana benthamiana plant to produce an antigen cocktail. The purification yields were about 22 or 24 mg of pure protein/kg of plant biomass for N or N+RBD antigens, respectively. The purified plant produced N protein was recognized by N protein-specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies demonstrating specific reactivity of mAb to plant-produced N protein. In this study, for the first time, we report the co-expression of RBD with N protein to produce a cocktail antigen of SARS-CoV-2, which elicited high-titer antibodies with potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2. Thus, obtained data support that a plant-produced antigen cocktail, developed in this study, is a promising vaccine candidate against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarlan Mamedov
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (G.H.)
| | - Damla Yuksel
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (G.H.)
| | - Merve Ilgın
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (G.H.)
| | - Irem Gürbüzaslan
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (G.H.)
| | - Burcu Gulec
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (G.H.)
| | - Gulshan Mammadova
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (G.H.)
| | - Aykut Ozdarendeli
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; (A.O.); (H.Y.); (B.K.); (S.T.I.P.); (M.A.U.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey
| | - Hazel Yetiskin
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; (A.O.); (H.Y.); (B.K.); (S.T.I.P.); (M.A.U.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey
| | - Busra Kaplan
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; (A.O.); (H.Y.); (B.K.); (S.T.I.P.); (M.A.U.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey
| | - Shaikh Terkis Islam Pavel
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; (A.O.); (H.Y.); (B.K.); (S.T.I.P.); (M.A.U.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey
| | - Muhammet Ali Uygut
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; (A.O.); (H.Y.); (B.K.); (S.T.I.P.); (M.A.U.)
| | - Gulnara Hasanova
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (G.H.)
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33
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Schwestka J, König-Beihammer J, Shin YJ, Vavra U, Kienzl NF, Grünwald-Gruber C, Maresch D, Klausberger M, Laurent E, Stadler M, Manhart G, Huber J, Hofner M, Vierlinger K, Weinhäusel A, Swoboda I, Binder CJ, Gerner W, Grebien F, Altmann F, Mach L, Stöger E, Strasser R. Impact of Specific N-Glycan Modifications on the Use of Plant-Produced SARS-CoV-2 Antigens in Serological Assays. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:747500. [PMID: 34646292 PMCID: PMC8503525 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.747500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein plays a key role in the virus-host cell interaction, and viral infection. The RBD is a major target for neutralizing antibodies, whilst recombinant RBD is commonly used as an antigen in serological assays. Such assays are essential tools to gain control over the pandemic and detect the extent and durability of an immune response in infected or vaccinated populations. Transient expression in plants can contribute to the fast production of viral antigens, which are required by industry in high amounts. Whilst plant-produced RBDs are glycosylated, N-glycan modifications in plants differ from humans. This can give rise to the formation of carbohydrate epitopes that can be recognized by anti-carbohydrate antibodies present in human sera. For the performance of serological tests using plant-produced recombinant viral antigens, such cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs) could result in false positives. Here, we transiently expressed an RBD variant in wild-type and glycoengineered Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and characterized the impact of different plant-specific N-glycans on RBD reactivity in serological assays. While the overall performance of the different RBD glycoforms was comparable to each other and to a human cell line produced RBD, there was a higher tendency toward false positive results with sera containing allergy-related CCD-antibodies when an RBD carrying β1,2-xylose and core α1,3-fucose was used. These rare events could be further minimized by pre-incubating sera from allergic individuals with a CCD-inhibitor. Thereby, false positive signals obtained from anti-CCD antibodies, could be reduced by 90%, on average.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Schwestka
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia König-Beihammer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yun-Ji Shin
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Vavra
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nikolaus F. Kienzl
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Grünwald-Gruber
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniel Maresch
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Miriam Klausberger
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Laurent
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Core Facility Biomolecular & Cellular Analysis, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Stadler
- Institute of Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gabriele Manhart
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jasmin Huber
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manuela Hofner
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klemens Vierlinger
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Weinhäusel
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ines Swoboda
- Biotechnology Section, FH Campus Wien, University of Applied Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph J. Binder
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wilhelm Gerner
- Institute of Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Grebien
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Friedrich Altmann
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Mach
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Stöger
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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34
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Mamedov T, Yuksel D, Ilgın M, Gurbuzaslan I, Gulec B, Yetiskin H, Uygut MA, Islam Pavel ST, Ozdarendeli A, Mammadova G, Say D, Hasanova G. Plant-Produced Glycosylated and In Vivo Deglycosylated Receptor Binding Domain Proteins of SARS-CoV-2 Induce Potent Neutralizing Responses in Mice. Viruses 2021; 13:1595. [PMID: 34452461 PMCID: PMC8402646 DOI: 10.3390/v13081595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has rapidly spread to more than 222 countries and has put global public health at high risk. The world urgently needs cost-effective and safe SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, antiviral, and therapeutic drugs to control it. In this study, we engineered the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein and produced it in the plant Nicotiana benthamiana in a glycosylated and deglycosylated form. Expression levels of both glycosylated (gRBD) and deglycosylated (dRBD) RBD were greater than 45 mg/kg fresh weight. The purification yields were 22 mg of pure protein/kg of plant biomass for gRBD and 20 mg for dRBD, which would be sufficient for commercialization of these vaccine candidates. The purified plant-produced RBD protein was recognized by an S protein-specific monoclonal antibody, demonstrating specific reactivity of the antibody to the plant-produced RBD proteins. The SARS-CoV-2 RBD showed specific binding to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the SARS-CoV-2 receptor. In mice, the plant-produced RBD antigens elicited high titers of antibodies with a potent virus-neutralizing activity. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that mice immunized with plant-produced deglycosylated RBD form elicited high titer of RBD-specific antibodies with potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, obtained data support that plant-produced glycosylated and in vivo deglycosylated RBD antigens, developed in this study, are promising vaccine candidates for the prevention of COVID-19.
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MESH Headings
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/metabolism
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Glycosylation
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Neutralization Tests
- Plants, Genetically Modified
- Protein Binding
- Protein Domains
- Protein Engineering
- Protein Stability
- Receptors, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- SARS-CoV-2/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Nicotiana/genetics
- Nicotiana/metabolism
- Vero Cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarlan Mamedov
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Damla Yuksel
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Merve Ilgın
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Irem Gurbuzaslan
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Burcu Gulec
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Hazel Yetiskin
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Muhammet Ali Uygut
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
| | - Shaikh Terkis Islam Pavel
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Aykut Ozdarendeli
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Gulshan Mammadova
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Deniz Say
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Gulnara Hasanova
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
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