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Xia M, Huang P, Vago F, Jiang W, Tan M. Pseudovirus Nanoparticles Displaying Plasmodium Circumsporozoite Proteins Elicited High Titers of Sporozoite-Binding Antibody. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1650. [PMID: 38005982 PMCID: PMC10674615 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11111650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND malaria caused by Plasmodium parasites remains a public health threat. The circumsporozoite proteins (CSPs) of Plasmodium sporozoite play a key role in Plasmodium infection, serving as an excellent vaccine target. METHODS using a self-assembled S60 nanoparticle platform, we generated pseudovirus nanoparticles (PVNPs) displaying CSPs, named S-CSPs, for enhanced immunogenicity. RESULTS purified Hisx6-tagged or tag-free S-CSPs self-assembled into PVNPs that consist of a norovirus S60 inner shell and multiple surface-displayed CSPs. The majority of the PVNPs measured ~27 nm with some size variations, and their three-dimensional structure was modeled. The PVNP-displayed CSPs retained their glycan receptor-binding function. A mouse immunization study showed that PVNPs induced a high antibody response against CSP antigens and the PVNP-immunized mouse sera stained the CSPs of Plasmodium sporozoites at high titer. CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION the PVNP-displayed CSPs retain their authentic antigenic feature and receptor-binding function. The CSP-specific antibody elicited by the S-CSP PVNPs binds original CSPs and potentially inhibits the attachment of Plasmodium sporozoites to their host cells, a key step for liver invasion by the sporozoites. Thus, S-CSP PVNPs may be an excellent vaccine candidate against malaria caused by Plasmodium parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (M.X.); (P.H.)
| | - Pengwei Huang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (M.X.); (P.H.)
| | - Frank Vago
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (F.V.); (W.J.)
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (F.V.); (W.J.)
| | - Ming Tan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (M.X.); (P.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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Xia M, Vago F, Han L, Huang P, Nguyen L, Boons GJ, Klassen JS, Jiang W, Tan M. The αTSR Domain of Plasmodium Circumsporozoite Protein Bound Heparan Sulfates and Elicited High Titers of Sporozoite Binding Antibody After Displayed by Nanoparticles. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:3087-3107. [PMID: 37312932 PMCID: PMC10259582 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s406314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Malaria is a devastating infectious illness caused by protozoan Plasmodium parasites. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) on Plasmodium sporozoites binds heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) receptors for liver invasion, a critical step for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. Methods In this study, we characterized the αTSR domain that covers region III and the thrombospondin type-I repeat (TSR) of the CSP using various biochemical, glycobiological, bioengineering, and immunological approaches. Results We found for the first time that the αTSR bound heparan sulfate (HS) glycans through support by a fused protein, indicating that the αTSR is a key functional domain and thus a vaccine target. When the αTSR was fused to the S domain of norovirus VP1, the fusion protein self-assembled into uniform S60-αTSR nanoparticles. Three-dimensional structure reconstruction revealed that each nanoparticle consists of an S60 nanoparticle core and 60 surface displayed αTSR antigens. The nanoparticle displayed αTSRs retained the binding function to HS glycans, indicating that they maintained authentic conformations. Both tagged and tag-free S60-αTSR nanoparticles were produced via the Escherichia coli system at high yield by scalable approaches. They are highly immunogenic in mice, eliciting high titers of αTSR-specific antibody that bound specifically to the CSPs of Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites at high titer. Discussion and Conclusion Our data demonstrated that the αTSR is an important functional domain of the CSP. The S60-αTSR nanoparticle displaying multiple αTSR antigens is a promising vaccine candidate potentially against attachment and infection of Plasmodium parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Frank Vago
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Ling Han
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Pengwei Huang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Linh Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Geert-Jan Boons
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - John S Klassen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Ming Tan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Chandley P, Ranjan R, Kumar S, Rohatgi S. Host-parasite interactions during Plasmodium infection: Implications for immunotherapies. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1091961. [PMID: 36685595 PMCID: PMC9845897 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1091961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a global infectious disease that remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. Multiple environmental and host and parasite factors govern the clinical outcomes of malaria. The host immune response against the Plasmodium parasite is heterogenous and stage-specific both in the human host and mosquito vector. The Plasmodium parasite virulence is predominantly associated with its ability to evade the host's immune response. Despite the availability of drug-based therapies, Plasmodium parasites can acquire drug resistance due to high antigenic variations and allelic polymorphisms. The lack of licensed vaccines against Plasmodium infection necessitates the development of effective, safe and successful therapeutics. To design an effective vaccine, it is important to study the immune evasion strategies and stage-specific Plasmodium proteins, which are targets of the host immune response. This review provides an overview of the host immune defense mechanisms and parasite immune evasion strategies during Plasmodium infection. Furthermore, we also summarize and discuss the current progress in various anti-malarial vaccine approaches, along with antibody-based therapy involving monoclonal antibodies, and research advancements in host-directed therapy, which can together open new avenues for developing novel immunotherapies against malaria infection and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Chandley
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India
| | - Ravikant Ranjan
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Soma Rohatgi
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India,*Correspondence: Soma Rohatgi,
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Xu Y, Zhou Z, Brooks B, Ferguson T, Obliosca J, Huang J, Kaneko I, Iwanaga S, Yuda M, Tsuji Y, Zhang H, Luo CC, Jiang X, Kong XP, Tsuji M, Tison CK. Layer-by-Layer Delivery of Multiple Antigens Using Trimethyl Chitosan Nanoparticles as a Malaria Vaccine Candidate. Front Immunol 2022; 13:900080. [PMID: 36059505 PMCID: PMC9428560 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.900080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Developing a safe and effective malaria vaccine is critical to reducing the spread and resurgence of this deadly disease, especially in children. In recent years, vaccine technology has seen expanded development of subunit protein, peptide, and nucleic acid vaccines. This is due to their inherent safety, the ability to tailor their immune response, simple storage requirements, easier production, and lower expense compared to using attenuated and inactivated organism-based approaches. However, these new vaccine technologies generally have low efficacy. Subunit vaccines, due to their weak immunogenicity, often necessitate advanced delivery vectors and/or the use of adjuvants. A new area of vaccine development involves design of synthetic micro- and nano-particles and adjuvants that can stimulate immune cells directly through their physical and chemical properties. Further, the unique and complex life cycle of the Plasmodium organism, with multiple stages and varying epitopes/antigens presented by the parasite, is another challenge for malaria vaccine development. Targeting multistage antigens simultaneously is therefore critical for an effective malaria vaccine. Here, we rationally design a layer-by-layer (LbL) antigen delivery platform (we called LbL NP) specifically engineered for malaria vaccines. A biocompatible modified chitosan nanoparticle (trimethyl chitosan, TMC) was synthesized and utilized for LbL loading and release of multiple malaria antigens from pre-erythrocytic and erythrocytic stages. LbL NP served as antigen/protein delivery vehicles and were demonstrated to induce the highest Plasmodium falciparum Circumsporozoite Protein (PfCSP) specific T-cell responses in mice studies as compared to multiple controls. From immunogenicity studies, it was concluded that two doses of intramuscular injection with a longer interval (4 weeks) than traditional malaria vaccine candidate dosing would be the vaccination potential for LbL NP vaccine candidates. Furthermore, in PfCSP/Py parasite challenge studies we demonstrated protective efficacy using LbL NP. These LbL NP provided a significant adjuvant effect since they may induce innate immune response that led to a potent adaptive immunity to mediate non-specific anti-malarial effect. Most importantly, the delivery of CSP full-length protein stimulated long-lasting protective immune responses even after the booster immunization 4 weeks later in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xu
- Luna Labs USA, Biotech Group, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- *Correspondence: Yang Xu,
| | - Ziyou Zhou
- Luna Labs USA, Biotech Group, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Brad Brooks
- Luna Labs USA, Biotech Group, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Tammy Ferguson
- Luna Labs USA, Biotech Group, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Judy Obliosca
- Luna Labs USA, Biotech Group, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Jing Huang
- HIV and Malaria Vaccine Program, Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, NY, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Izumi Kaneko
- Department of Medical Zoology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Shiroh Iwanaga
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masao Yuda
- Department of Medical Zoology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Yukiko Tsuji
- HIV and Malaria Vaccine Program, Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Huitang Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Christina C. Luo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Xunqing Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Xiang-Peng Kong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Moriya Tsuji
- HIV and Malaria Vaccine Program, Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, NY, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
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Nacer A, Kivi G, Pert R, Juronen E, Holenya P, Aliprandini E, Amino R, Silvie O, Quinkert D, Le Duff Y, Hurley M, Reimer U, Tover A, Draper SJ, Gilbert S, Ho MM, Bowyer PW. Expanding the Malaria Antibody Toolkit: Development and Characterisation of Plasmodium falciparum RH5, CyRPA, and CSP Recombinant Human Monoclonal Antibodies. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:901253. [PMID: 35782147 PMCID: PMC9243361 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.901253] [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: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria, an infection caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, continues to exact a significant toll on public health with over 200 million cases world-wide, and annual deaths in excess of 600,000. Considerable progress has been made to reduce malaria burden in endemic countries in the last two decades. However, parasite and mosquito resistance to frontline chemotherapies and insecticides, respectively, highlights the continuing need for the development of safe and effective vaccines. Here we describe the development of recombinant human antibodies to three target proteins from Plasmodium falciparum: reticulocyte binding protein homologue 5 (PfRH5), cysteine-rich protective antigen (PfCyRPA), and circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP). All three proteins are key targets in the development of vaccines for blood-stage or pre-erythrocytic stage infections. We have developed potent anti-PfRH5, PfCyRPA and PfCSP monoclonal antibodies that will prove useful tools for the standardisation of assays in preclinical research and the assessment of these antigens in clinical trials. We have generated some very potent anti-PfRH5 and anti-PfCyRPA antibodies with some clones >200 times more potent than the polyclonal anti-AMA-1 antibodies used for the evaluation of blood stage antigens. While the monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies are not directly comparable, the data provide evidence that these new antibodies are very good at blocking invasion. These antibodies will therefore provide a valuable resource and have potential as biological standards to help harmonise pre-clinical malaria research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adéla Nacer
- Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Gaily Kivi
- Icosagen Cell Factory OÜ, Tartumaa, Estonia
| | - Raini Pert
- Icosagen Cell Factory OÜ, Tartumaa, Estonia
| | | | - Pavlo Holenya
- Research and Development, JPT Peptide Technologies GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Rogerio Amino
- Malaria Infection & Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Silvie
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Doris Quinkert
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Yann Le Duff
- Centre for Aids Reagents, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Hurley
- Centre for Aids Reagents, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Ulf Reimer
- Research and Development, JPT Peptide Technologies GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Simon J. Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Gilbert
- Centre for Aids Reagents, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Mei Mei Ho
- Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Paul W. Bowyer
- Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
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Moehrle JJ. Development of New Strategies for Malaria Chemoprophylaxis: From Monoclonal Antibodies to Long-Acting Injectable Drugs. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7040058. [PMID: 35448833 PMCID: PMC9024890 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7040058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug discovery for malaria has traditionally focused on orally available drugs that kill the abundant, parasitic blood stage. Recently, there has also been an interest in injectable medicines, in the form of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with long-lasting plasma half-lives or long-lasting depot formulations of small molecules. These could act as prophylactic drugs, targeting the sporozoites and other earlier parasitic stages in the liver, when the parasites are less numerous, or as another intervention strategy targeting the formation of infectious gametocytes. Generally speaking, the development of mAbs is less risky (costly) than small-molecule drugs, and they have an excellent safety profile with few or no off-target effects. Therefore, populations who are the most vulnerable to malaria, i.e., pregnant women and young children would have access to such new treatments much faster than is presently the case for new antimalarials. An analysis of mAbs that were successfully developed for oncology illustrates some of the feasibility aspects, and their potential as affordable drugs in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joerg J Moehrle
- Integrated Sciences, R&D, Medicines for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré Bois 20, CH-1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
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Klein C. Special Issue: Monoclonal Antibodies. Antibodies (Basel) 2018; 7:E17. [PMID: 31544869 PMCID: PMC6698830 DOI: 10.3390/antib7020017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies are utilized in clinical practice for the treatment of various diseases including cancer, autoimmunity, metabolic and infectious diseases [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Klein
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research & Early Development, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland.
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