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Sann S, Kleinewietfeld M, Cantaert T. Balancing functions of regulatory T cells in mosquito-borne viral infections. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2304061. [PMID: 38192073 PMCID: PMC10812859 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2304061] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne viral infections are on the rise worldwide and can lead to severe symptoms such as haemorrhage, encephalitis, arthritis or microcephaly. A protective immune response following mosquito-borne viral infections requires the generation of a controlled and balanced immune response leading to viral clearance without immunopathology. Here, regulatory T cells play a central role in restoring immune homeostasis. In current review, we aim to provide an overview and summary of the phenotypes of FOXP3+ Tregs in various mosquito-borne arboviral disease, their association with disease severity and their functional characteristics. Furthermore, we discuss the role of cytokines and Tregs in the immunopathogenesis of mosquito-borne infections. Lastly, we discuss possible novel lines of research which could provide additional insight into the role of Tregs in mosquito-borne viral infections in order to develop novel therapeutic approaches or vaccination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotheary Sann
- Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Pasteur Network, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Department of Immunology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Markus Kleinewietfeld
- Department of Immunology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- VIB Laboratory of Translational Immunomodulation, VIB Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tineke Cantaert
- Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Pasteur Network, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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2
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Yang J, Chen X, He X, Fang X, Liu S, Zou L, Cao H, Liu J, Zuo J, Yu L, Lu Z. Tanreqing injection demonstrates anti-dengue activity through the regulation of the NF-κB-ICAM-1/VCAM-1 axis. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 130:155764. [PMID: 38797030 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tanreqing injection (TRQ) has been employed in clinical practice as a treatment for dengue fever (DF). Nevertheless, the precise pharmacological mechanism underlying its efficacy remains elusive. METHOD Network pharmacology, molecular docking, transcriptome sequencing, and experimental evaluation were employed to analyze and study the inhibitory potential of TRQ against dengue virus (DENV). RESULT We found that TRQ inhibited the replication of DENV in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, Huh-7 cells, and Hep3B cells. In addition, TRQ prolonged the survival duration of AG129 mice infected with DF, decreased the viral load in serum and organs, and alleviated organ damage. Subsequently, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of TRQ was performed to identify 314 targets associated with 36 active compounds present in TRQ. Integration of multiple databases yielded 47 DF-related genes. Then, 15 hub targets of TRQ in DF were determined by calculating the network topology parameters (Degree). Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses revealed that these pathways were primarily enriched in the processes of cytokine activation and leukocyte cross-endothelial migration, with significant enrichment of cell adhesion molecules. Molecular docking revealed favorable binding affinity between TRQ's key active compounds and the predicted hub targets. Transcriptome sequencing results showed TRQ's ability to restore the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) post-DENV infection. Finally, TRQ was found to modulate the immune status by regulating the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)- intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)/VCAM-1 axis, as well as reduce immune cell alterations, inflammatory factor secretion, vascular permeability, and bleeding tendencies induced by DENV infection. CONCLUSION Our research suggests that TRQ exerts therapeutic effects on DF by regulating the NF-κB-ICAM-1/VCAM-1 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabin Yang
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Xi Chen
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Xuemei He
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Xiaochuan Fang
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Shanhong Liu
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Lifang Zou
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Huihui Cao
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Junshan Liu
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Jianping Zuo
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, PR China
| | - Linzhong Yu
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China.
| | - Zibin Lu
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China.
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Samri A, Bandeira AC, Gois LL, Silva CGR, Rousseau A, Corneau A, Tarantino N, Maucourant C, Queiroz GAN, Vieillard V, Yssel H, Campos GS, Sardi S, Autran B, Rios Grassi MF. Comprehensive analysis of early T cell responses to acute Zika Virus infection during the first epidemic in Bahia, Brazil. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302684. [PMID: 38722858 PMCID: PMC11081376 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In most cases, Zika virus (ZIKV) causes a self-limited acute illness in adults, characterized by mild clinical symptoms that resolve within a few days. Immune responses, both innate and adaptive, play a central role in controlling and eliminating virus-infected cells during the early stages of infection. AIM To test the hypothesis that circulating T cells exhibit phenotypic and functional activation characteristics during the viremic phase of ZIKV infection. METHODS A comprehensive analysis using mass cytometry was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from patients with acute ZIKV infection (as confirmed by RT-PCR) and compared with that from healthy donors (HD). The frequency of IFN-γ-producing T cells in response to peptide pools covering immunogenic regions of structural and nonstructural ZIKV proteins was quantified using an ELISpot assay. RESULTS Circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes from ZIKV-infected patients expressed higher levels of IFN-γ and pSTAT-5, as well as cell surface markers associated with proliferation (Ki-67), activation ((HLA-DR, CD38) or exhaustion (PD1 and CTLA-4), compared to those from HD. Activation of CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cell subsets, including Transitional Memory T Cells (TTM), Effector Memory T cells (TEM), and Effector Memory T cells Re-expressing CD45RA (TEMRA), was prominent among CD4+ T cell subset of ZIKV-infected patients and was associated with increased levels of IFN-γ, pSTAT-5, Ki-67, CTLA-4, and PD1, as compared to HD. Additionally, approximately 30% of ZIKV-infected patients exhibited a T cell response primarily directed against the ZIKV NS5 protein. CONCLUSION Circulating T lymphocytes spontaneously produce IFN-γ and express elevated levels of pSTAT-5 during the early phase of ZIKV infection whereas recognition of ZIKV antigen results in the generation of virus-specific IFN-γ-producing T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assia Samri
- Sorbonne-Université, Inserm 1135, CNRS ERL8255, Centre d’immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Cimi, Paris, France
| | - Antonio Carlos Bandeira
- Secretaria de Saúde da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Luana Leandro Gois
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
- Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública (EBMSP), Salvador, Brazil
- Departamento de Biointeração, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | - Alice Rousseau
- Sorbonne-Université, Inserm 1135, CNRS ERL8255, Centre d’immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Cimi, Paris, France
| | - Aurelien Corneau
- Faculté de Médecine Pierre et Marie Curie, Plateforme de Cytométrie (CyPS), UMS30–LUMIC, Paris, France
| | - Nadine Tarantino
- Sorbonne-Université, Inserm 1135, CNRS ERL8255, Centre d’immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Cimi, Paris, France
| | - Christopher Maucourant
- Sorbonne-Université, Inserm 1135, CNRS ERL8255, Centre d’immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Cimi, Paris, France
| | - Gabriel Andrade Nonato Queiroz
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
- Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública (EBMSP), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Vincent Vieillard
- Sorbonne-Université, Inserm 1135, CNRS ERL8255, Centre d’immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Cimi, Paris, France
| | - Hans Yssel
- Sorbonne-Université, Inserm 1135, CNRS ERL8255, Centre d’immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Cimi, Paris, France
| | - Gubio Soares Campos
- Departamento de Biointeração, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Silvia Sardi
- Departamento de Biointeração, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Brigitte Autran
- Sorbonne-Université, Inserm 1135, CNRS ERL8255, Centre d’immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Cimi, Paris, France
| | - Maria Fernanda Rios Grassi
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
- Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública (EBMSP), Salvador, Brazil
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Ware BC, Parks MG, da Silva MOL, Morrison TE. Chikungunya virus infection disrupts MHC-I antigen presentation via nonstructural protein 2. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011794. [PMID: 38483968 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Infection by chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a mosquito-borne alphavirus, causes severe polyarthralgia and polymyalgia, which can last in some people for months to years. Chronic CHIKV disease signs and symptoms are associated with the persistence of viral nucleic acid and antigen in tissues. Like humans and nonhuman primates, CHIKV infection in mice results in the development of robust adaptive antiviral immune responses. Despite this, joint tissue fibroblasts survive CHIKV infection and can support persistent viral replication, suggesting that they escape immune surveillance. Here, using a recombinant CHIKV strain encoding the fluorescent protein VENUS with an embedded CD8+ T cell epitope, SIINFEKL, we observed a marked loss of both MHC class I (MHC-I) surface expression and antigen presentation by CHIKV-infected joint tissue fibroblasts. Both in vivo and ex vivo infected joint tissue fibroblasts displayed reduced cell surface levels of H2-Kb and H2-Db MHC-I proteins while maintaining similar levels of other cell surface proteins. Mutations within the methyl transferase-like domain of the CHIKV nonstructural protein 2 (nsP2) increased MHC-I cell surface expression and antigen presentation efficiency by CHIKV-infected cells. Moreover, expression of WT nsP2 alone, but not nsP2 with mutations in the methyltransferase-like domain, resulted in decreased MHC-I antigen presentation efficiency. MHC-I surface expression and antigen presentation was rescued by replacing VENUS-SIINFEKL with SIINFEKL tethered to β2-microglobulin in the CHIKV genome, which bypasses the requirement for peptide processing and TAP-mediated peptide transport into the endoplasmic reticulum. Collectively, this work suggests that CHIKV escapes the surveillance of antiviral CD8+ T cells, in part, by nsP2-mediated disruption of MHC-I antigen presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Ware
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - M Guston Parks
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Mariana O L da Silva
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thomas E Morrison
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
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Lum FM, Chan YH, Teo TH, Becht E, Amrun SN, Teng KW, Hartimath SV, Yeo NK, Yee WX, Ang N, Torres-Ruesta AM, Fong SW, Goggi JL, Newell EW, Renia L, Carissimo G, Ng LF. Crosstalk between CD64 +MHCII + macrophages and CD4 + T cells drives joint pathology during chikungunya. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:641-663. [PMID: 38332201 PMCID: PMC10940729 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00028-y] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Communications between immune cells are essential to ensure appropriate coordination of their activities. Here, we observed the infiltration of activated macrophages into the joint-footpads of chikungunya virus (CHIKV)-infected animals. Large numbers of CD64+MHCII+ and CD64+MHCII- macrophages were present in the joint-footpad, preceded by the recruitment of their CD11b+Ly6C+ inflammatory monocyte precursors. Recruitment and differentiation of these myeloid subsets were dependent on CD4+ T cells and GM-CSF. Transcriptomic and gene ontology analyses of CD64+MHCII+ and CD64+MHCII- macrophages revealed 89 differentially expressed genes, including genes involved in T cell proliferation and differentiation pathways. Depletion of phagocytes, including CD64+MHCII+ macrophages, from CHIKV-infected mice reduced disease pathology, demonstrating that these cells play a pro-inflammatory role in CHIKV infection. Together, these results highlight the synergistic dynamics of immune cell crosstalk in driving CHIKV immunopathogenesis. This study provides new insights in the disease mechanism and offers opportunities for development of novel anti-CHIKV therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fok-Moon Lum
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore.
| | - Yi-Hao Chan
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Teck-Hui Teo
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Etienne Becht
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Siti Naqiah Amrun
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Karen Ww Teng
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Siddesh V Hartimath
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioimaging (IBB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Nicholas Kw Yeo
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Wearn-Xin Yee
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Nicholas Ang
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Anthony M Torres-Ruesta
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Siew-Wai Fong
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Julian L Goggi
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioimaging (IBB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Evan W Newell
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Laurent Renia
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 636921, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
| | - Guillaume Carissimo
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117545, Singapore
| | - Lisa Fp Ng
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138648, Singapore.
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore.
- National Institute of Health Research, Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK.
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZX, UK.
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Chang AYH, Hernández AS, Mejía JF, Tritsch SR, Mendoza-Torres E, Encinales L, Bonfanti AC, Proctor AM, Simon GL, Simmens SJ, Firestein GS. The Natural History of Post-Chikungunya Viral Arthritis Disease Activity and T-cell Immunology: A Cohort Study. JOURNAL OF CELLULAR IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 6:64-75. [PMID: 38873035 PMCID: PMC11172407 DOI: 10.33696/immunology.6.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Background Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an alphavirus spread by mosquitos that causes arthralgias and arthritis that may last for years. The objective of this study was to describe the arthritis progression and T cell immunology over a two-year period. Methods A cohort of 40 cases of serologically confirmed CHIKV from Magdalena and Atlántico, Colombia were followed in 2019 and again in 2021. Arthritis disease severity, disability, pain, stiffness, physical function, mobility, fatigue, anxiety, sleep disturbances and depression were assessed. Serum cytokines and T-cell subsets were measured and tested for change. Correlations within each of the 2 time periods for laboratory parameters were also examined. Results Although, arthritis disease severity, as measured by the Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28) did not change significantly over a two-year period, a new metric- the Chikungunya Disease Activity Score (CHIK-DAS)- was more sensitive to detect changes in disease severity than the Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28) and showed some improvement in average disease severity from moderate to mild over two years. Cases were characterized by moderate disability, pain, and stiffness with mild alterations of physical function, mobility, fatigue, anxiety, sleep disturbances and depression that did not change significantly over time. Small joints including the fingers and wrists were most affected without significant change over time. The percentage of effector T cells (Teffs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) of CD4+ T cells both decreased over time. Teff percentages decreased more significantly resulting in a halving of the Teff/Treg ratio two years later. Furthermore, markers of Treg immunosuppressive function such as CTLA4, Helios, CD28, CD45RA and 41bb decreased over time. Cytokines did not change significantly over time. Conclusions The presented data suggest that arthritis persists almost seven years after chikungunya infection in some patients with waning Teff and Treg numbers and activation markers over time. Treg activation may be a promising therapeutic target for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jose Forero Mejía
- Department of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sarah Renee Tritsch
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Evelyn Mendoza-Torres
- Advanced Biomedicine Research Group, Universidad Libre de Colombia, Seccional Barranquilla, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Liliana Encinales
- Department of Medicine, Allied Research Society, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | | | - Abigale Marie Proctor
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Gary Leonard Simon
- Department of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Samuel Joseph Simmens
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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Ware BC, Parks MG, Morrison TE. Chikungunya virus infection disrupts MHC-I antigen presentation via nonstructural protein 2. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.03.565436. [PMID: 37961400 PMCID: PMC10635105 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.03.565436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Infection by chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a mosquito-borne alphavirus, causes severe polyarthralgia and polymyalgia, which can last in some people for months to years. Chronic CHIKV disease signs and symptoms are associated with the persistence of viral nucleic acid and antigen in tissues. Like humans and nonhuman primates, CHIKV infection in mice results in the development of robust adaptive antiviral immune responses. Despite this, joint tissue fibroblasts survive CHIKV infection and can support persistent viral replication, suggesting that they escape immune surveillance. Here, using a recombinant CHIKV strain encoding a chimeric protein of VENUS fused to a CD8+ T cell epitope, SIINFEKL, we observed a marked loss of both MHC class I (MHC-I) surface expression and antigen presentation by CHIKV-infected joint tissue fibroblasts. Both in vivo and ex vivo infected joint tissue fibroblasts displayed reduced cell surface levels of H2-Kb and H2-Db MHC proteins while maintaining similar levels of other cell surface proteins. Mutations within the methyl transferase-like domain of the CHIKV nonstructural protein 2 (nsP2) increased MHC-I cell surface expression and antigen presentation efficiency by CHIKV-infected cells. Moreover, expression of WT nsP2 alone, but not nsP2 with mutations in the methyltransferase-like domain, resulted in decreased MHC-I antigen presentation efficiency. MHC-I surface expression and antigen presentation could be rescued by replacing VENUS-SIINFEKL with SIINFEKL tethered to β2-microglobulin in the CHIKV genome, which bypasses the need for peptide processing and TAP-mediated peptide transport into the endoplasmic reticulum. Collectively, this work suggests that CHIKV escapes the surveillance of antiviral CD8+ T cells, in part, by nsP2-mediated disruption of MHC-I antigen presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C. Ware
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - M. Guston Parks
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Thomas E. Morrison
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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8
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Ravindran S, Lahon A. Tropism and immune response of chikungunya and zika viruses: An overview. Cytokine 2023; 170:156327. [PMID: 37579710 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156327] [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: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are two medically important vector-borne viruses responsible for causing significant disease burden in humans, including neurological sequelae/complications. Besides sharing some common clinical features, ZIKV has major shares in causing microcephaly and brain malformations in developing foetus, whereas CHIKV causes chronic joint pain/swelling in infected individuals. Both viruses have a common route of entry to the host body. i.e., dermal site of inoculation through the bite of an infected mosquito and later taken up by different immune cells for further dissemination to other areas of the host body that lead to a range of immune responses via different pathways. The immune responses generated by both viruses have similar characteristics with varying degrees of inflammation and activation of immune cells. However, the overall response of immune cells is not fully explored in the context of ZIKV and CHIKV infection. The knowledge of cellular tropism and the immune response is the key to understanding the mechanisms of viral immunity and pathogenesis, which may allow to develop novel therapeutic strategies for these viral infections. This review aims to discuss recent advancements and identify the knowledge gaps in understanding the mechanism of cellular tropism and immune response of CHIKV and ZIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Ravindran
- Institute of Advanced Virology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695317, India
| | - Anismrita Lahon
- Institute of Advanced Virology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695317, India.
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Taylor M, Rayner JO. Immune Response to Chikungunya Virus: Sex as a Biological Variable and Implications for Natural Delivery via the Mosquito. Viruses 2023; 15:1869. [PMID: 37766276 PMCID: PMC10538149 DOI: 10.3390/v15091869] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus with significant public health implications around the world. Climate change, as well as rapid urbanization, threatens to expand the population range of Aedes vector mosquitoes globally, increasing CHIKV cases worldwide in return. Epidemiological data suggests a sex-dependent response to CHIKV infection. In this review, we draw attention to the importance of studying sex as a biological variable by introducing epidemiological studies from previous CHIKV outbreaks. While the female sex appears to be a risk factor for chronic CHIKV disease, the male sex has recently been suggested as a risk factor for CHIKV-associated death; however, the underlying mechanisms for this phenotype are unknown. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of including mosquito salivary components when studying the immune response to CHIKV. As with other vector-transmitted pathogens, CHIKV has evolved to use these salivary components to replicate more extensively in mammalian hosts; however, the response to natural transmission of CHIKV has not been fully elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan O. Rayner
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Whiddon College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA;
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10
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Eickhoff CS, Meza KA, Terry FE, Colbert CG, Blazevic A, Gutiérrez AH, Stone ET, Brien JD, Pinto AK, El Sahly HM, Mulligan MJ, Rouphael N, Alcaide ML, Tomashek KM, Focht C, Martin WD, Moise L, De Groot AS, Hoft DF. Identification of immunodominant T cell epitopes induced by natural Zika virus infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1247876. [PMID: 37705976 PMCID: PMC10497216 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1247876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus primarily transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes, first discovered in Africa in 1947, that disseminated through Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands in the 2000s. The first ZIKV infections in the Americas were identified in 2014, and infections exploded through populations in Brazil and other countries in 2015/16. ZIKV infection during pregnancy can cause severe brain and eye defects in offspring, and infection in adults has been associated with higher risks of Guillain-Barré syndrome. We initiated a study to describe the natural history of Zika (the disease) and the immune response to infection, for which some results have been reported. In this paper, we identify ZIKV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell epitopes that induce responses during infection. Two screening approaches were utilized: an untargeted approach with overlapping peptide arrays spanning the entire viral genome, and a targeted approach utilizing peptides predicted to bind human MHC molecules. Immunoinformatic tools were used to identify conserved MHC class I supertype binders and promiscuous class II binding peptide clusters predicted to bind 9 common class II alleles. T cell responses were evaluated in overnight IFN-γ ELISPOT assays. We found that MHC supertype binding predictions outperformed the bulk overlapping peptide approach. Diverse CD4+ T cell responses were observed in most ZIKV-infected participants, while responses to CD8+ T cell epitopes were more limited. Most individuals developed a robust T cell response against epitopes restricted to a single MHC class I supertype and only a single or few CD8+ T cell epitopes overall, suggesting a strong immunodominance phenomenon. Noteworthy is that many epitopes were commonly immunodominant across persons expressing the same class I supertype. Nearly all of the identified epitopes are unique to ZIKV and are not present in Dengue viruses. Collectively, we identified 31 immunogenic peptides restricted by the 6 major class I supertypes and 27 promiscuous class II epitopes. These sequences are highly relevant for design of T cell-targeted ZIKV vaccines and monitoring T cell responses to Zika virus infection and vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S. Eickhoff
- Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University, Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy, and Immunology, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Krystal A. Meza
- Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University, Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy, and Immunology, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | | | - Chase G. Colbert
- Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University, Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy, and Immunology, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Azra Blazevic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University, Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy, and Immunology, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | | | - E. Taylor Stone
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - James D. Brien
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Amelia K. Pinto
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Hana M. El Sahly
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Mark J. Mulligan
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nadine Rouphael
- Emory University School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Maria L. Alcaide
- University of Miami, Division of Infectious Diseases, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Kay M. Tomashek
- Division of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Chris Focht
- The Emmes Company, LLC., Rockville, MD, United States
| | | | | | - Anne S. De Groot
- EpiVax, Inc., Providence, RI, United States
- University of Georgia Center for Vaccines and Immunology, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Daniel F. Hoft
- Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University, Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy, and Immunology, Saint Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, United States
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11
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Nemirov K, Authié P, Souque P, Moncoq F, Noirat A, Blanc C, Bourgine M, Majlessi L, Charneau P. Preclinical proof of concept of a tetravalent lentiviral T-cell vaccine against dengue viruses. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1208041. [PMID: 37654495 PMCID: PMC10466046 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1208041] [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: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) is responsible for approximately 100 million cases of dengue fever annually, including severe forms such as hemorrhagic dengue and dengue shock syndrome. Despite intensive vaccine research and development spanning several decades, a universally accepted and approved vaccine against dengue fever has not yet been developed. The major challenge associated with the development of such a vaccine is that it should induce simultaneous and equal protection against the four DENV serotypes, because past infection with one serotype may greatly increase the severity of secondary infection with a distinct serotype, a phenomenon known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). Using a lentiviral vector platform that is particularly suitable for the induction of cellular immune responses, we designed a tetravalent T-cell vaccine candidate against DENV ("LV-DEN"). This vaccine candidate has a strong CD8+ T-cell immunogenicity against the targeted non-structural DENV proteins, without inducing antibody response against surface antigens. Evaluation of its protective potential in the preclinical flavivirus infection model, i.e., mice knockout for the receptor to the type I IFN, demonstrated its significant protective effect against four distinct DENV serotypes, based on reduced weight loss, viremia, and viral loads in peripheral organs of the challenged mice. These results provide proof of concept for the use of lentiviral vectors for the development of efficient polyvalent T-cell vaccine candidates against all DENV serotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirill Nemirov
- Pasteur-TheraVectys Joint Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Virology Department, Paris, France
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12
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Anderson EJ, Knight AC, Heise MT, Baxter VK. Effect of Viral Strain and Host Age on Clinical Disease and Viral Replication in Immunocompetent Mouse Models of Chikungunya Encephalomyelitis. Viruses 2023; 15:1057. [PMID: 37243143 PMCID: PMC10220978 DOI: 10.3390/v15051057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The alphavirus chikungunya virus (CHIKV) represents a reemerging public health threat as mosquito vectors spread and viruses acquire advantageous mutations. Although primarily arthritogenic in nature, CHIKV can produce neurological disease with long-lasting sequelae that are difficult to study in humans. We therefore evaluated immunocompetent mouse strains/stocks for their susceptibility to intracranial infection with three different CHIKV strains, the East/Central/South African (ECSA) lineage strain SL15649 and Asian lineage strains AF15561 and SM2013. In CD-1 mice, neurovirulence was age- and CHIKV strain-specific, with SM2013 inducing less severe disease than SL15649 and AF15561. In 4-6-week-old C57BL/6J mice, SL15649 induced more severe disease and increased viral brain and spinal cord titers compared to Asian lineage strains, further indicating that neurological disease severity is CHIKV-strain-dependent. Proinflammatory cytokine gene expression and CD4+ T cell infiltration in the brain were also increased with SL15649 infection, suggesting that like other encephalitic alphaviruses and with CHIKV-induced arthritis, the immune response contributes to CHIKV-induced neurological disease. Finally, this study helps overcome a current barrier in the alphavirus field by identifying both 4-6-week-old CD-1 and C57BL/6J mice as immunocompetent, neurodevelopmentally appropriate mouse models that can be used to examine CHIKV neuropathogenesis and immunopathogenesis following direct brain infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J. Anderson
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Audrey C. Knight
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mark T. Heise
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Victoria K. Baxter
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA
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13
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Dengue virus infection - a review of pathogenesis, vaccines, diagnosis and therapy. Virus Res 2023; 324:199018. [PMID: 36493993 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.199018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The transmission of dengue virus (DENV) from an infected Aedes mosquito to a human, causes illness ranging from mild dengue fever to fatal dengue shock syndrome. The similar conserved structure and sequence among distinct DENV serotypes or different flaviviruses has resulted in the occurrence of cross reaction followed by antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). Thus far, the vaccine which can provide effective protection against infection by different DENV serotypes remains the biggest hurdle to overcome. Therefore, deep investigation is crucial for the potent and effective therapeutic drugs development. In addition, the cross-reactivity of flaviviruses that leads to false diagnosis in clinical settings could result to delay proper intervention management. Thus, the accurate diagnostic with high specificity and sensitivity is highly required to provide prompt diagnosis in respect to render early treatment for DENV infected individuals. In this review, the recent development of neutralizing antibodies, antiviral agents, and vaccine candidates in therapeutic platform for DENV infection will be discussed. Moreover, the discovery of antigenic cryptic epitopes, principle of molecular mimicry, and application of single-chain or single-domain antibodies towards DENV will also be presented.
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14
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Schmidt C, Schnierle BS. Chikungunya Vaccine Candidates: Current Landscape and Future Prospects. Drug Des Devel Ther 2022; 16:3663-3673. [PMID: 36277603 PMCID: PMC9580835 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s366112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an alphavirus that has spread globally in the last twenty years. Although mortality is rather low, infection can result in debilitating arthralgia that can persist for years. Unfortunately, no treatments or preventive vaccines are currently licensed against CHIKV infections. However, a large range of promising preclinical and clinical vaccine candidates have been developed during recent years. This review will give an introduction into the biology of CHIKV and the immune responses that are induced by infection, and will summarize CHIKV vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christin Schmidt
- Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Department of Virology, Section AIDS and Newly Emerging Pathogens, Langen, Germany
| | - Barbara S Schnierle
- Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Department of Virology, Section AIDS and Newly Emerging Pathogens, Langen, Germany,Correspondence: Barbara S Schnierle, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Department of Virology, Section AIDS and newly emerging pathogens, Paul-Ehrlich-Strasse 51.59, Langen, 63225, Germany, Tel/Fax +49 6103 77 5504, Email
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Thompson D, Guenther B, Manayani D, Mendy J, Smith J, Espinosa DA, Harris E, Alexander J, Vang L, Morello CS. Zika virus-like particle vaccine fusion loop mutation increases production yield but fails to protect AG129 mice against Zika virus challenge. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010588. [PMID: 35793354 PMCID: PMC9292115 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus with maternal infection associated with preterm birth, congenital malformations, and fetal death, and adult infection associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome. Recent widespread endemic transmission of ZIKV and the potential for future outbreaks necessitate the development of an effective vaccine. We developed a ZIKV vaccine candidate based on virus-like-particles (VLPs) generated following transfection of mammalian HEK293T cells using a plasmid encoding the pre-membrane/membrane (prM/M) and envelope (E) structural protein genes. VLPs were collected from cell culture supernatant and purified by column chromatography with yields of approximately 1-2mg/L. To promote increased particle yields, a single amino acid change of phenylalanine to alanine was made in the E fusion loop at position 108 (F108A) of the lead VLP vaccine candidate. This mutation resulted in a modest 2-fold increase in F108A VLP production with no detectable prM processing by furin to a mature particle, in contrast to the lead candidate (parent). To evaluate immunogenicity and efficacy, AG129 mice were immunized with a dose titration of either the immature F108A or lead VLP (each alum adjuvanted). The resulting VLP-specific binding antibody (Ab) levels were comparable. However, geometric mean neutralizing Ab (nAb) titers using a recombinant ZIKV reporter were significantly lower with F108A immunization compared to lead. After virus challenge, all lead VLP-immunized groups showed a significant 3- to 4-Log10 reduction in mean ZIKV RNAemia levels compared with control mice immunized only with alum, but the RNAemia reduction of 0.5 Log10 for F108A groups was statistically similar to the control. Successful viral control by the lead VLP candidate following challenge supports further vaccine development for this candidate. Notably, nAb titer levels in the lead, but not F108A, VLP-immunized mice inversely correlated with RNAemia. Further evaluation of sera by an in vitro Ab-dependent enhancement assay demonstrated that the F108A VLP-induced immune sera had a significantly higher capacity to promote ZIKV infection in FcγR-expressing cells. These data indicate that a single amino acid change in the fusion loop resulted in increased VLP yields but that the immature F108A particles were significantly diminished in their capacity to induce nAbs and provide protection against ZIKV challenge. Zika virus (ZIKV) is transmitted by mosquitoes and is a serious health threat due to potential epidemic spread. Infection in adults may lead to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a neurological disorder, or may cause harm to a developing fetus resulting in preterm birth, fetal death, or devastating congenital malformations. There are currently no approved vaccines against ZIKV. We previously developed a lead candidate vaccine based on a virus-like particle (VLP) that was generated in tissue culture. This ZIKV shell is devoid of any viral genetic material. In previous studies, this lead VLP candidate generated neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) that recognized wild-type ZIKV and prevented viral replication in both mice and non-human primates. To increase production of the lead VLP candidate and decrease cost-of-goods, we introduced a single amino acid change, phenylalanine to alanine, in the envelope glycoprotein. This change resulted in a modest increase in VLP yield. However, this single amino acid change resulted in reduced induction of nAbs following immunization and no significant reduction of RNAemia following challenge compared to the lead candidate. The results of this study suggest this investigational vaccine candidate is not suitable for further vaccine development and that ZIKV VLP maturation may have an important role in protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Thompson
- Emergent BioSolutions Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ben Guenther
- Emergent BioSolutions Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Darly Manayani
- PaxVax Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Jason Mendy
- Emergent BioSolutions Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Smith
- PaxVax Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Diego A. Espinosa
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Eva Harris
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Jeff Alexander
- Emergent BioSolutions Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
- PaxVax Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Lo Vang
- Emergent BioSolutions Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
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