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Kim MY, Mason HS, Ma JKC, Reljic R. Recombinant immune complexes as vaccines against infectious diseases. Trends Biotechnol 2024:S0167-7799(24)00123-9. [PMID: 38825437 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
New vaccine technologies are needed to combat many existing infections and prepare better for those that may emerge in the future. The conventional technologies that rely on protein-based vaccines are still severely restricted by the sparsity and poor accessibility of available adjuvants. One possible solution to this problem is to enhance antigen immunogenicity by a more natural means by complexing it with antibodies in the form of immune complexes (ICs). However, natural ICs are impractical as vaccines, and significant research efforts have been made to generate them in recombinant form, with plant bioengineering being at the forefront of these efforts. Here, we describe the challenges and progress made to date to make recombinant IC vaccines applicable to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Young Kim
- St. George's University of London, London, UK; Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, South Korea
| | - Hugh S Mason
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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2
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Fan P, Sun M, Zhang X, Zhang H, Liu Y, Yao Y, Li M, Fang T, Sun B, Chen Z, Chi X, Chen L, Peng C, Chen Z, Zhang G, Ren Y, Liu Z, Li Y, Li J, Li E, Guan W, Li S, Gong R, Zhang K, Yu C, Chiu S. A potent Henipavirus cross-neutralizing antibody reveals a dynamic fusion-triggering pattern of the G-tetramer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4330. [PMID: 38773072 PMCID: PMC11109247 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48601-w] [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: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The Hendra and Nipah viruses (HNVs) are highly pathogenic pathogens without approved interventions for human use. In addition, the interaction pattern between the attachment (G) and fusion (F) glycoproteins required for virus entry remains unclear. Here, we isolate a panel of Macaca-derived G-specific antibodies that cross-neutralize HNVs via multiple mechanisms. The most potent antibody, 1E5, confers adequate protection against the Nipah virus challenge in female hamsters. Crystallography demonstrates that 1E5 has a highly similar binding pattern to the receptor. In cryo-electron microscopy studies, the tendency of 1E5 to bind to the upper or lower heads results in two distinct quaternary structures of G. Furthermore, we identify the extended outer loop β1S2-β1S3 of G and two pockets on the apical region of fusion (F) glycoprotein as the essential sites for G-F interactions. This work highlights promising drug candidates against HNVs and contributes deeper insights into the viruses.
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Grants
- the Defense Industrial Technology Development Program, Grant No. JCKY2020802B001
- the Ministry of Science and Technology of China,Grant No. 2022YFC2303700; the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Grant No. WK9100000032
- Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Grant No. JXBS002
- the Ministry of Science and Technology of China,Grant No. 2022YFC2303700, Grant No. 2022YFA1302700; the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Grant No. XDB0490000; the Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Grant No. QYPY20220019; the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Grant No. WK9100000044
- the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Grant No. XDB0490000
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Fan
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China.
| | - Mengmeng Sun
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xinghai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Huajun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yujiao Liu
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Yanfeng Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Ming Li
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ting Fang
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Bingjie Sun
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengshan Chen
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangyang Chi
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Li Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Guanying Zhang
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Ren
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Zixuan Liu
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Yaohui Li
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Jianmin Li
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Entao Li
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Wuxiang Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Shanshan Li
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Rui Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
| | - Kaiming Zhang
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
- Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
| | - Changming Yu
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China.
| | - Sandra Chiu
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anhui Province for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Hefei, 230027, Anhui, China.
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3
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Huang X, Li Y, Li R, Wang S, Yang L, Wang S, Yin Y, Zai X, Zhang J, Xu J. Nipah virus attachment glycoprotein ectodomain delivered by type 5 adenovirus vector elicits broad immune response against NiV and HeV. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1180344. [PMID: 37577376 PMCID: PMC10413271 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1180344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra virus (HeV) are newly emerging dangerous zoonotic pathogens of the Henipavirus genus of the Paramyxoviridae family. NiV and HeV (HNVs) which are transmitted by bats cause acute respiratory disease and fatal encephalitis in humans. To date, as there is a lack of antiviral drugs or effective antiviral therapies, the development of vaccines against those two viruses is of primary importance, and the immunogen design is crucial to the success of vaccines. In this study, the full-length protein (G), the ectodomain (Ge) and the head domain (Gs) of NiV attachment glycoprotein were delivered by the replication-defective type 5 adenovirus vector (Ad5) respectively, and the recombinant Ad5-NiV vaccine candidates (Ad5-NiVG, Ad5-NiVGe and Ad5-NiVGs) were constructed and their immunogenicity were evaluated in mice. The results showed that all the vaccine candidates stimulated specific humoral and cellular immune responses efficiently and rapidly against both NiV and HeV, and the Ad5-NiVGe elicited the strongest immune responses after a single-dose immunization. Furthermore, the potent conserved T-cell epitope DTLYFPAVGFL shared by NiV and HeV was identified in the study, which may provide valid information on the mechanism of HNVs-specific cellular immunity. In summary, this study demonstrates that the Ad5-NiVGe could be a potent vaccine candidate against HNVs by inducing robust humoral and cellular immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Huang
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yaohui Li
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Ruihua Li
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Shaoyan Wang
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Yang
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Shuyi Wang
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Yin
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Zai
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Junjie Xu
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
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Tan CW, Valkenburg SA, Poon LLM, Wang LF. Broad-spectrum pan-genus and pan-family virus vaccines. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:902-916. [PMID: 37321173 PMCID: PMC10265776 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Although the development and clinical application of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated unprecedented vaccine success in a short time frame, it also revealed a limitation of current vaccines in their inability to provide broad-spectrum or universal protection against emerging variants. Broad-spectrum vaccines, therefore, remain a dream and challenge for vaccinology. This review will focus on current and future efforts in developing universal vaccines targeting different viruses at the genus and/or family levels, with a special focus on henipaviruses, influenza viruses, and coronaviruses. It is evident that strategies for developing broad-spectrum vaccines will be virus-genus or family specific, and it is almost impossible to adopt a universal approach for different viruses. On the other hand, efforts in developing broad-spectrum neutralizing monoclonal antibodies have been more successful and it is worth considering broad-spectrum antibody-mediated immunization, or "universal antibody vaccine," as an alternative approach for early intervention for future disease X outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chee Wah Tan
- Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sophie A Valkenburg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Leo L M Poon
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Division of Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Centre for Immunology & Infection, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Lin-Fa Wang
- Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Singhealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Singapore, Singapore.
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5
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Li CJ, Jiang CL, Chao TL, Lin SY, Tsai YM, Chao CS, Su YT, Chen CJ, Chang SY, Lin FJ, Chang SC. Elicitation of potent neutralizing antibodies in obese mice by ISA 51-adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD-Fc vaccine. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:2983-2995. [PMID: 36988669 PMCID: PMC10049902 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12490-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Vaccination is considered to be the most effective countermeasure to prevent and combat the global health threats of COVID-19. People with obesity are at a greater risk of hospitalization, life-threatening illness, and adverse outcomes after having COVID-19. Therefore, a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine for obese individuals is urgently needed. In the study, the vaccine composed of the ISA 51 adjuvant and the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) receptor-binding domain (RBD) in conjugation with the human IgG1 Fc fragment (named as ISA 51-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine) was developed and inoculated in the regular chow diet (RCD) lean mice and the high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. The S protein-specific IgG titers were largely induced in an increasing manner along with three doses of ISA 51-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine without causing any harmful side effect. In the HFD mice, the S protein-specific IgG titers can be quickly observed 2 weeks post the first inoculation. The antisera elicited by the ISA 51-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine in the RCD and HFD mice exhibited potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing activities in the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) assays and showed similar specificity for recognizing the key residues in the RBD which were involved in interacting with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. The immune efficacy of the ISA 51-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine in the HFD mice can be sustainably maintained with the PRNT50 values of 1.80-1.91×10-3 for at least 8 weeks post the third inoculation. Collectively, the RBD-Fc-based immunogen and the ISA 51-adjuvanted formulation can be developed as an effective COVID-19 vaccine for obese individuals. KEY POINTS: • The ISA 51-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine can induce potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in the obese mouse • The antibodies elicited by the ISA 51-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine can bind to the key RBD residues involved in interacting with ACE2 • The immune efficacy of the ISA 51-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine can be sustainably maintained for at least 8 weeks post the third inoculation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Jung Li
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Lin Jiang
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Tai-Ling Chao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Shiau-Yu Lin
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Min Tsai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Chong-Syun Chao
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Su
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Jen Chen
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Sui-Yuan Chang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
| | - Fu-Jung Lin
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
- Research Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
| | - Shih-Chung Chang
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
- Center for Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
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6
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Sun C, Kong D, Guo E, Zhao J, Jia J, Wang R, Ma J, Chen M, Lu J, Yu C, Li K, Xie L. A Polysaccharide-RBD-Fc-Conjugated COVID-19 Vaccine, SCTV01A, Showed High Immunogenicity and Low Toxicity in Animal Models. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:526. [PMID: 36992109 PMCID: PMC10052645 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously developed a polysaccharide--RBD-conjugated nanoparticle vaccine which induced protective efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in a mouse model. Here, we newly developed a vaccine, SCTV01A, by chemically conjugating recombinant SARS-CoV-2 RBD-Fc and PPS14 (Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype type 14 capsular polysaccharide). The immunogenicity and toxicity of SCTV01A were evaluated in animal models. The PPS14 conjugation enhanced the immunogenicity of RBD-Fc in C57BL/6 mice whether formulated with SCT-VA02B or Alum adjuvant. SCTV01A also induced high opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) against S. pneumoniae serotype 14. In addition, SCTV01A stimulated potent neutralizing titers in rhesus macaques and effectively reduced lung inflammation after SARS-CoV-2 infection with neither antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) nor vaccine-enhanced diseases (VED) phenomenon. Importantly, the long-term toxicity study of SCTV01A in rhesus macaques did not cause any abnormal toxicity and was tolerated at the highest tested dose (120 μg). The existing immunogenicity and toxicological evaluation results have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of SCTV01A, which will be a promising and feasible vaccine to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyun Sun
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Desheng Kong
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Erhong Guo
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Jilei Jia
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Juan Ma
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Meng Chen
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Jianbo Lu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Chulin Yu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Kuokuo Li
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Liangzhi Xie
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Monoclonal Antibody Research and Development, Sino Biological Inc., Beijing 100176, China
- Cell Culture Engineering Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
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7
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Gao Z, Li T, Han J, Feng S, Li L, Jiang Y, Xu Z, Hao P, Chen J, Hao J, Xu P, Tian M, Jin N, Huang W, Li C. Assessment of the immunogenicity and protection of a Nipah virus soluble G vaccine candidate in mice and pigs. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1031523. [PMID: 36274696 PMCID: PMC9583134 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1031523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nipah virus (NiV) is a newly emerged extremely dangerous zoonotic pathogen highly fatal to humans. Currently, no approved vaccine is available against NiV. This study employed a mammalian eukaryotic system to express NiV soluble G glycoprotein (NiV-sG), using CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG)/Aluminum salt (Alum) as adjuvants to obtain a recombinant subunit vaccine candidate. We also evaluated the immunogenicity and efficacy of the protein in mice and pigs. The results showed that humoral and cellular immune responses were induced in all the vaccination groups in two animal models. The levels of specific and neutralizing antibodies and the proliferation levels of T helper(Th) cells were significantly higher than those in the control group. The protective efficacy of the subunit vaccines evaluated in the pseudovirus in vivo infection mouse model strongly suggested that this vaccine could provide protective immunity against NiV. A neoadjuvant (HTa) based on liposomes and cholera toxin combined with CpG/Alum was exploited and evaluated in mice. The neoadjuvant group showed a more protective efficacy than the CpG/Alum group. The aforementioned results indicated that the subunit vaccine could be used as a promising candidate vaccine for preventing Nipah virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Gao
- Research Unit of Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Virus Zoonoses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Changchun Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Tao Li
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, Institute for Biological Product Control, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) and WHO Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Beijing, China
| | - Jicheng Han
- Research Unit of Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Virus Zoonoses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Changchun Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Sheng Feng
- Research Unit of Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Virus Zoonoses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Changchun Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Letian Li
- Research Unit of Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Virus Zoonoses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Changchun Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Yuhang Jiang
- Research Unit of Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Virus Zoonoses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Changchun Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Zhiqiang Xu
- Research Unit of Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Virus Zoonoses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Changchun Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Pengfei Hao
- Research Unit of Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Virus Zoonoses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Changchun Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Research Unit of Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Virus Zoonoses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Changchun Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Jiayi Hao
- Research Unit of Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Virus Zoonoses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Changchun Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Peng Xu
- Research Unit of Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Virus Zoonoses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Changchun Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Mingyao Tian
- Research Unit of Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Virus Zoonoses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Changchun Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Ningyi Jin
- Research Unit of Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Virus Zoonoses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Changchun Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Ningyi Jin,
| | - Weijin Huang
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, Institute for Biological Product Control, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) and WHO Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Beijing, China
- Weijin Huang,
| | - Chang Li
- Research Unit of Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Virus Zoonoses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Changchun Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
- Chang Li,
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8
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Chen L, Qi X, Liang D, Li G, Peng X, Li X, Ke B, Zheng H, Liu Z, Ke C, Liao G, Liu L, Feng Q. Human Fc-Conjugated Receptor Binding Domain-Based Recombinant Subunit Vaccines with Short Linker Induce Potent Neutralizing Antibodies against Multiple SARS-CoV-2 Variants. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10091502. [PMID: 36146579 PMCID: PMC9505662 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10091502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has been ongoing since December 2019, with more than 6.3 million deaths reported globally as of August 2022. Despite the success of several SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, the rise in variants, some of which are resistant to the effects of vaccination, highlights the need for a so-called pan-coronavirus (universal) vaccine. Here, we performed an immunogenicity comparison of prototype vaccines containing spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) residues 319–541, or spike protein regions S1, S2 and S fused to a histidine-tagged or human IgG1 Fc (hFC) fragment with either a longer (six residues) or shorter (three residues) linker. While all recombinant protein vaccines developed were effective in eliciting humoral immunity, the RBD-hFc vaccine was able to generate a potent neutralizing antibody response as well as a cellular immune response. We then compared the effects of recombinant protein length and linker size on immunogenicity in vivo. We found that a longer recombinant RBD protein (residues 319–583; RBD-Plus-hFc) containing a small alanine linker (AAA) was able to trigger long-lasting, high-titer neutralizing antibodies in mice. Finally, we evaluated cross-neutralization of wild-type and mutant RBD-Plus-hFc vaccines against wild-type, Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants. Significantly, at the same antigen dose, wild-type RBD-Plus-hFc immune sera induced broadly neutralizing antibodies against wild-type, Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron variants. Taken together, our findings provide valuable information for the continued development of recombinant protein-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and a basic foundation for booster vaccinations to avoid reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqing Chen
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Qi
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Dan Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guiqi Li
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaofang Peng
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaohui Li
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bixia Ke
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Huanying Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhongqiu Liu
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Changwen Ke
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guochao Liao
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Hengda Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510006, China
- Correspondence: (G.L.); (L.L.); (Q.F.)
| | - Liang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Hengda Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Correspondence: (G.L.); (L.L.); (Q.F.)
| | - Qian Feng
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Correspondence: (G.L.); (L.L.); (Q.F.)
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9
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Lawrence P, Escudero-Pérez B. Henipavirus Immune Evasion and Pathogenesis Mechanisms: Lessons Learnt from Natural Infection and Animal Models. Viruses 2022; 14:v14050936. [PMID: 35632678 PMCID: PMC9146692 DOI: 10.3390/v14050936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Nipah henipavirus (NiV) and Hendra henipavirus (HeV) are zoonotic emerging paramyxoviruses causing severe disease outbreaks in humans and livestock, mostly in Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Bangladesh. Both are bat-borne viruses and in humans, their mortality rates can reach 60% in the case of HeV and 92% for NiV, thus being two of the deadliest viruses known for humans. Several factors, including a large cellular tropism and a wide zoonotic potential, con-tribute to their high pathogenicity. This review provides an overview of HeV and NiV pathogenicity mechanisms and provides a summary of their interactions with the immune systems of their different host species, including their natural hosts bats, spillover-hosts pigs, horses, and humans, as well as in experimental animal models. A better understanding of the interactions between henipaviruses and their hosts could facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies and vaccine measures against these re-emerging viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Lawrence
- Science and Humanities Confluence Research Centre (EA 1598), Catholic University of Lyon (UCLy), 69002 Lyon, France
- Correspondence: (P.L.); (B.E.-P.)
| | - Beatriz Escudero-Pérez
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Correspondence: (P.L.); (B.E.-P.)
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10
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Jendryczko K, Rzeszotko J, Krzyscik MA, Szymczyk J, Otlewski J, Szlachcic A. Peptibody Based on FGFR1-Binding Peptides From the FGF4 Sequence as a Cancer-Targeting Agent. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:748936. [PMID: 34867353 PMCID: PMC8636100 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.748936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapies are a promising alternative to conventional chemotherapy, with an increasing number of therapeutics targeting specific molecular aberrancies in cancer cells. One of the emerging targets for directed cancer treatments is fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs), which are known to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of multiple cancer types, specially in lung, bladder, and breast cancers. Here, we are demonstrating the development of the FGFR1-targeting agent based on the interactome screening approach, based on the isolation of binding regions from ligands interacting with the receptor. The parallel analysis by FGFR1 pull-down of chymotryptic peptides coupled with MS analysis, and PepSpot analysis yielded equivalent peptide sequences from FGF4, one of the FGFR1 ligands. Three sequences served as a basis for peptibody (Fc-fusion) generation, to overcome clinical limitations of peptidic agents, and two of them showed favorable FGFR1-binding in vitro and FGFR1-dependent internalization into cells. To validate if developed FGFR1-targeting peptibodies can be used for drug delivery, similar to the well-established concept of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), peptibodyF4_1 was successfully conjugated with monomethylauristatin E (MMAE), and has shown significant and specific toxicity toward FGFR1-expressing lung cancer cell lines, with nanomolar EC50 values. Essentially, the development of new effective FGFR1 binders that comprise the naturally occurring FGFR-recognition peptides and Fc region ensuring high plasma stability, and long bloodstream circulation is an interesting strategy expanding targeted anticancer agents' portfolio. Furthermore, identifying peptides effectively binding the receptor from sequences of its ligands is not limited to FGFRs and is an approach versatile enough to be a basis for a new peptide/peptibodies development strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Anna Szlachcic
- Department of Protein Engineering, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
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11
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Gómez Román R, Tornieporth N, Cherian NG, Shurtleff AC, L'Azou Jackson M, Yeskey D, Hacker A, Mungai E, Le TT. Medical countermeasures against henipaviruses: a review and public health perspective. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2021; 22:e13-e27. [PMID: 34735799 PMCID: PMC8694750 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(21)00400-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Henipaviruses, including Nipah virus, are regarded as pathogens of notable epidemic potential because of their high pathogenicity and the paucity of specific medical countermeasures to control infections in humans. We review the evidence of medical countermeasures against henipaviruses and project their cost in a post-COVID-19 era. Given the sporadic and unpredictable nature of henipavirus outbreaks, innovative strategies will be needed to circumvent the infeasibility of traditional phase 3 clinical trial regulatory pathways. Stronger partnerships with scientific institutions and regulatory authorities in low-income and middle-income countries can inform coordination of appropriate investments and development of strategies and normative guidelines for the deployment and equitable use of multiple medical countermeasures. Accessible measures should include global, regional, and endemic in-country stockpiles of reasonably priced small molecules, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines as part of a combined collection of products that could help to control henipavirus outbreaks and prevent future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raúl Gómez Román
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Oslo, Norway
| | - Nadia Tornieporth
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Oslo, Norway; University of Applied Sciences & Arts, Hanover, Germany
| | | | - Amy C Shurtleff
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Debra Yeskey
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Oslo, Norway
| | - Adam Hacker
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Oslo, Norway
| | - Eric Mungai
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Oslo, Norway
| | - Tung Thanh Le
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Oslo, Norway.
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12
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Abstract
Over the past 20 years, Nipah virus (NiV) has emerged as a significant, highly pathogenic bat-borne paramyxovirus causing severe respiratory disease and encephalitis in humans, and human-to-human transmission has been demonstrated in multiple outbreaks. In addition to causing serious illness in humans, NiV is a zoonotic pathogen capable of infecting a wide range of other mammalian species, including pigs and horses. While NiV has caused less than 700 human cases since its discovery in 1998/1999, the involvement of intermediate agricultural hosts can result in significant economic consequences. Owing to the severity of disease, capacity for human-to-human transmission, zoonotic potential, and lack of available approved therapeutic treatment options, NiV has been listed by the World Health Organization in their Blueprint list of priority pathogens as one of the eight most dangerous pathogens to monitor and prepare countermeasures to prevent a pandemic. Here, we discuss progress towards the development of therapeutic measures for the treatment of NiV infection and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Michelle Vu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Alexander N Freiberg
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
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13
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Dong J, Cross RW, Doyle MP, Kose N, Mousa JJ, Annand EJ, Borisevich V, Agans KN, Sutton R, Nargi R, Majedi M, Fenton KA, Reichard W, Bombardi RG, Geisbert TW, Crowe JE. Potent Henipavirus Neutralization by Antibodies Recognizing Diverse Sites on Hendra and Nipah Virus Receptor Binding Protein. Cell 2021; 183:1536-1550.e17. [PMID: 33306954 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Hendra (HeV) and Nipah (NiV) viruses are emerging zoonotic pathogens in the Henipavirus genus causing outbreaks of disease with very high case fatality rates. Here, we report the first naturally occurring human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against HeV receptor binding protein (RBP). All isolated mAbs neutralized HeV, and some also neutralized NiV. Epitope binning experiments identified five major antigenic sites on HeV-RBP. Animal studies demonstrated that the most potent cross-reactive neutralizing mAbs, HENV-26 and HENV-32, protected ferrets in lethal models of infection with NiV Bangladesh 3 days after exposure. We solved the crystal structures of mAb HENV-26 in complex with both HeV-RBP and NiV-RBP and of mAb HENV-32 in complex with HeV-RBP. The studies reveal diverse sites of vulnerability on RBP recognized by potent human mAbs that inhibit virus by multiple mechanisms. These studies identify promising prophylactic antibodies and define protective epitopes that can be used in rational vaccine design.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/chemistry
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/isolation & purification
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Antigens, Viral/immunology
- Binding Sites
- Binding, Competitive
- Brain/pathology
- Chiroptera/virology
- Cross Reactions/immunology
- Crystallography, X-Ray
- Ephrin-B2/metabolism
- Female
- Ferrets/virology
- Hendra Virus/immunology
- Henipavirus/immunology
- Humans
- Interferometry
- Liver/pathology
- Models, Molecular
- Neutralization Tests
- Nipah Virus/immunology
- Protein Binding
- Protein Conformation
- Protein Domains
- Receptors, Virus/chemistry
- Receptors, Virus/immunology
- Receptors, Virus/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhui Dong
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Robert W Cross
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Michael P Doyle
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Nurgun Kose
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jarrod J Mousa
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Edward J Annand
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science and Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Black Mountain Laboratories & Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Health and Biosecurity, CSIRO, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Viktoriya Borisevich
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Krystle N Agans
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Rachel Sutton
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Rachel Nargi
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Mahsa Majedi
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Karla A Fenton
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Walter Reichard
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Robin G Bombardi
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Thomas W Geisbert
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - James E Crowe
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
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14
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Liu X, Drelich A, Li W, Chen C, Sun Z, Shi M, Adams C, Mellors JW, Tseng CT, Dimitrov DS. Enhanced elicitation of potent neutralizing antibodies by the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain Fc fusion protein in mice. Vaccine 2020; 38:7205-7212. [PMID: 33010978 PMCID: PMC7508516 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.09.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 RBD-Fc elicited higher neutralizing antibodies titer than RBD. Cell–cell fusion assay showed a strong correlation with the neutralization assay. Anti-RBD sera did not enhance the pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 infection of K562 cells.
The development of an effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 is urgently needed. We generated SARS-CoV-2 RBD-Fc fusion protein and evaluated its potency to elicit neutralizing antibody response in mice. RBD-Fc elicited a higher neutralizing antibodies titer than RBD as evaluated by a pseudovirus neutralization assay and a live virus based microneutralization assay. Furthermore, RBD-Fc immunized sera better inhibited cell–cell fusion, as evaluated by a quantitative cell–cell fusion assay. The cell–cell fusion assay results correlated well with the virus neutralization potency and could be used for high-throughput screening of large panels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and vaccines without the requirement of live virus infection in BSL3 containment. Moreover, the anti-RBD sera did not enhance the pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 infection of K562 cells. These results demonstrate that Fc fusion can significantly improve the humoral immune response to recombinant RBD immunogen, and suggest that RBD-Fc could serve as a useful component of effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianglei Liu
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
| | - Aleksandra Drelich
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Centers for Biodefense and Emerging Diseases, Galveston National Laboratory, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77550, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Chuan Chen
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Zehua Sun
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Megan Shi
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Cynthia Adams
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - John W Mellors
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Abound Bio, 1401 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Chien-Te Tseng
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Centers for Biodefense and Emerging Diseases, Galveston National Laboratory, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77550, USA
| | - Dimiter S Dimitrov
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Abound Bio, 1401 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.
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