1
|
Collins CP, Longo DL, Murphy WJ. The immunobiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine responses: potential influences of cross-reactive memory responses and aging on efficacy and off-target effects. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1345499. [PMID: 38469293 PMCID: PMC10925677 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1345499] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune responses to both SARS-CoV-2 infection and its associated vaccines have been highly variable within the general population. The increasing evidence of long-lasting symptoms after resolution of infection, called post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) or "Long COVID," suggests that immune-mediated mechanisms are at play. Closely related endemic common human coronaviruses (hCoV) can induce pre-existing and potentially cross-reactive immunity, which can then affect primary SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as vaccination responses. The influence of pre-existing immunity from these hCoVs, as well as responses generated from original CoV2 strains or vaccines on the development of new high-affinity responses to CoV2 antigenic viral variants, needs to be better understood given the need for continuous vaccine adaptation and application in the population. Due in part to thymic involution, normal aging is associated with reduced naïve T cell compartments and impaired primary antigen responsiveness, resulting in a reliance on the pre-existing cross-reactive memory cell pool which may be of lower affinity, restricted in diversity, or of shorter duration. These effects can also be mediated by the presence of down-regulatory anti-idiotype responses which also increase in aging. Given the tremendous heterogeneity of clinical data, utilization of preclinical models offers the greatest ability to assess immune responses under a controlled setting. These models should now involve prior antigen/viral exposure combined with incorporation of modifying factors such as age on immune responses and effects. This will also allow for mechanistic dissection and understanding of the different immune pathways involved in both SARS-CoV-2 pathogen and potential vaccine responses over time and how pre-existing memory responses, including potential anti-idiotype responses, can affect efficacy as well as potential off-target effects in different tissues as well as modeling PASC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Craig P. Collins
- Graduate Program in Immunology, University of California (UC) Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Dan L. Longo
- Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - William J. Murphy
- Departments of Dermatology and Internal Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
O'Neill A, Mantri CK, Tan CW, Saron WAA, Nagaraj SK, Kala MP, Joy CM, Rathore APS, Tripathi S, Wang LF, St John AL. Mucosal SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of rodents elicits superior systemic T central memory function and cross-neutralising antibodies against variants of concern. EBioMedicine 2024; 99:104924. [PMID: 38113758 PMCID: PMC10772395 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104924] [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: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 vaccines used in humans are highly effective in limiting disease and death caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, yet improved vaccines that provide greater protection at mucosal surfaces, which could reduce break-through infections and subsequent transmission, are still needed. METHODS Here we tested an intranasal (I.N.) vaccination with the receptor binding domain of Spike antigen of SARS-CoV-2 (S-RBD) in combination with the mucosal adjuvant mastoparan-7 compared with the sub-cutaneous (S.C.) route, adjuvanted by either M7 or the gold-standard adjuvant, alum, in mice, for immunological read-outs. The same formulation delivered I.N. or S.C. was tested in hamsters to assess efficacy. FINDINGS I.N. vaccination improved systemic T cell responses compared to an equivalent dose of antigen delivered S.C. and T cell phenotypes induced by I.N. vaccine administration included enhanced polyfunctionality (combined IFN-γ and TNF expression) and greater numbers of T central memory (TCM) cells. These phenotypes were T cell-intrinsic and could be recalled in the lungs and/or brachial LNs upon antigen challenge after adoptive T cell transfer to naïve recipients. Furthermore, mucosal vaccination induced antibody responses that were similarly effective in neutralising the binding of the parental strain of S-RBD to its ACE2 receptor, but showed greater cross-neutralising capacity against multiple variants of concern (VOC), compared to S.C. vaccination. I.N. vaccination provided significant protection from lung pathology compared to unvaccinated animals upon challenge with homologous and heterologous SARS-CoV-2 strains in a hamster model. INTERPRETATION These results highlight the role of nasal vaccine administration in imprinting an immune profile associated with long-term T cell retention and diversified neutralising antibody responses, which could be applied to improve vaccines for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. FUNDING This study was funded by Duke-NUS Medical School, the Singapore Ministry of Education, the National Medical Research Council of Singapore and a DBT-BIRAC Grant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aled O'Neill
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 169857, Singapore
| | - Chinmay Kumar Mantri
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 169857, Singapore
| | - Chee Wah Tan
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 169857, Singapore; Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117545, Singapore
| | - Wilfried A A Saron
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 169857, Singapore
| | - Santhosh Kambaiah Nagaraj
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research, Microbiology and Cell Biology Department, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Monica Palanichamy Kala
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 169857, Singapore
| | - Christy Margarat Joy
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research, Microbiology and Cell Biology Department, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Abhay P S Rathore
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 169857, Singapore; Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Centre, Durham, North Carolina, 27705, USA
| | - Shashank Tripathi
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research, Microbiology and Cell Biology Department, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Lin-Fa Wang
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 169857, Singapore; SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Singapore
| | - Ashley L St John
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 169857, Singapore; Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Centre, Durham, North Carolina, 27705, USA; SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shaprova ON, Shanshin DV, Kolosova EA, Borisevich SS, Soroka AA, Merkuleva IA, Nikitin AO, Volosnikova EA, Ushkalenko ND, Zaykovskaya AV, Pyankov OV, Elchaninova SA, Shcherbakov DN, Ilyicheva TN. Pre-Pandemic Cross-Reactive Immunity against SARS-CoV-2 among Siberian Populations. Antibodies (Basel) 2023; 12:82. [PMID: 38131804 PMCID: PMC10741209 DOI: 10.3390/antib12040082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In December 2019, a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was found to in Wuhan, China. Cases of infection were subsequently detected in other countries in a short period of time, resulting in the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. Questions about the impact of herd immunity of pre-existing immune reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 on COVID-19 severity, associated with the immunity to seasonal manifestation, are still to be resolved and may be useful for understanding some processes that precede the emergence of a pandemic virus. Perhaps this will contribute to understanding some of the processes that precede the emergence of a pandemic virus. We assessed the specificity and virus-neutralizing capacity of antibodies reacting with the nucleocapsid and spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 in a set of serum samples collected in October and November 2019, before the first COVID-19 cases were documented in this region. Blood serum samples from 799 residents of several regions of Siberia, Russia, (the Altai Territory, Irkutsk, Kemerovo and Novosibirsk regions, the Republic of Altai, Buryatia, and Khakassia) were analyzed. Sera of non-infected donors were collected within a study of seasonal influenza in the Russian Federation. The sample collection sites were located near the flyways and breeding grounds of wild waterfowl. The performance of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the collected sera included the usage of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 protein antigens: full-length nucleocapsid protein (CoVN), receptor binding domain (RBD) of S-protein and infection fragment of the S protein (S5-6). There were 183 (22.9%) sera reactive to the S5-6, 270 (33.8%) sera corresponding to the full-length N protein and 128 (16.2%) sera simultaneously reactive to both these proteins. Only 5 out of 799 sera had IgG antibodies reactive to the RBD. None of the sera exhibited neutralizing activity against the nCoV/Victoria/1/2020 SARS-CoV-2 strain in Vero E6 cell culture. The data obtained in this study suggest that some of the population of the analyzed regions of Russia had cross-reactive humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 before the COVID-19 pandemic started. Moreover, among individuals from relatively isolated regions, there were significantly fewer reliably cross-reactive sera. The possible significance of these data and impact of cross-immunity to SARS-CoV-2 on the prevalence and mortality of COVID-19 needs further assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga N. Shaprova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia; (O.N.S.); (D.V.S.); (I.A.M.); (A.O.N.); (E.A.V.); (N.D.U.); (A.V.Z.); (O.V.P.); (D.N.S.); (T.N.I.)
| | - Daniil V. Shanshin
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia; (O.N.S.); (D.V.S.); (I.A.M.); (A.O.N.); (E.A.V.); (N.D.U.); (A.V.Z.); (O.V.P.); (D.N.S.); (T.N.I.)
- Russian-American Anti-Cancer Center, Altai State University, 656049 Barnaul, Russia
| | - Evgeniia A. Kolosova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia; (O.N.S.); (D.V.S.); (I.A.M.); (A.O.N.); (E.A.V.); (N.D.U.); (A.V.Z.); (O.V.P.); (D.N.S.); (T.N.I.)
- Russian-American Anti-Cancer Center, Altai State University, 656049 Barnaul, Russia
| | - Sophia S. Borisevich
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, Ufa Institute of Chemistry Ufa Federal Research Center, 450078 Ufa, Russia;
- Institute of Intelligent Cybernetic Systems, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), 115409 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Artem A. Soroka
- Institute of Intelligent Cybernetic Systems, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), 115409 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Iuliia A. Merkuleva
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia; (O.N.S.); (D.V.S.); (I.A.M.); (A.O.N.); (E.A.V.); (N.D.U.); (A.V.Z.); (O.V.P.); (D.N.S.); (T.N.I.)
| | - Artem O. Nikitin
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia; (O.N.S.); (D.V.S.); (I.A.M.); (A.O.N.); (E.A.V.); (N.D.U.); (A.V.Z.); (O.V.P.); (D.N.S.); (T.N.I.)
| | - Ekaterina A. Volosnikova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia; (O.N.S.); (D.V.S.); (I.A.M.); (A.O.N.); (E.A.V.); (N.D.U.); (A.V.Z.); (O.V.P.); (D.N.S.); (T.N.I.)
| | - Nikita D. Ushkalenko
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia; (O.N.S.); (D.V.S.); (I.A.M.); (A.O.N.); (E.A.V.); (N.D.U.); (A.V.Z.); (O.V.P.); (D.N.S.); (T.N.I.)
| | - Anna V. Zaykovskaya
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia; (O.N.S.); (D.V.S.); (I.A.M.); (A.O.N.); (E.A.V.); (N.D.U.); (A.V.Z.); (O.V.P.); (D.N.S.); (T.N.I.)
| | - Oleg V. Pyankov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia; (O.N.S.); (D.V.S.); (I.A.M.); (A.O.N.); (E.A.V.); (N.D.U.); (A.V.Z.); (O.V.P.); (D.N.S.); (T.N.I.)
| | - Svetlana A. Elchaninova
- Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Altai State Medical University, 656038 Barnaul, Russia;
| | - Dmitry N. Shcherbakov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia; (O.N.S.); (D.V.S.); (I.A.M.); (A.O.N.); (E.A.V.); (N.D.U.); (A.V.Z.); (O.V.P.); (D.N.S.); (T.N.I.)
- Russian-American Anti-Cancer Center, Altai State University, 656049 Barnaul, Russia
| | - Tatiana N. Ilyicheva
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia; (O.N.S.); (D.V.S.); (I.A.M.); (A.O.N.); (E.A.V.); (N.D.U.); (A.V.Z.); (O.V.P.); (D.N.S.); (T.N.I.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mittal N, Kumar S, Rajmani RS, Singh R, Lemoine C, Jakob V, Bj S, Jagannath N, Bhat M, Chakraborty D, Pandey S, Jory A, Sa SS, Kleanthous H, Dubois P, Ringe RP, Varadarajan R. Enhanced protective efficacy of a thermostable RBD-S2 vaccine formulation against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:161. [PMID: 37880298 PMCID: PMC10600342 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00755-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
With the rapid emergence of variants of concern (VOC), the efficacy of currently licensed vaccines has reduced drastically. VOC mutations largely occur in the S1 subunit of Spike. The S2 subunit of SARS-CoV-2 is conserved and thus more likely to elicit broadly reactive immune responses that could improve protection. However, the contribution of the S2 subunit in improving the overall efficacy of vaccines remains unclear. Therefore, we designed, and evaluated the immunogenicity and protective potential of a stabilized SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) fused to a stabilized S2. Immunogens were expressed as soluble proteins with approximately fivefold higher purified yield than the Spike ectodomain and formulated along with Squalene-in-water emulsion (SWE) adjuvant. Immunization with S2 alone failed to elicit a neutralizing immune response, but significantly reduced lung viral titers in mice challenged with the heterologous Beta variant. In hamsters, SWE-formulated RS2 (a genetic fusion of stabilized RBD with S2) showed enhanced immunogenicity and efficacy relative to corresponding RBD and Spike formulations. Despite being based on the ancestral Wuhan strain of SARS-CoV-2, RS2 elicited broad neutralization, including against Omicron variants (BA.1, BA.5 and BF.7), and the clade 1a WIV-1 and SARS-CoV-1 strains. RS2 elicited sera showed enhanced competition with both S2 directed and RBD Class 4 directed broadly neutralizing antibodies, relative to RBD and Spike elicited sera. When lyophilized, RS2 retained antigenicity and immunogenicity even after incubation at 37 °C for a month. The data collectively suggest that the RS2 immunogen is a promising modality to combat SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Mittal
- Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Sahil Kumar
- Virology Unit, Institute of Microbial Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Chandigarh, 160036, India
| | - Raju S Rajmani
- Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Randhir Singh
- Mynvax Private Limited; 3rd Floor, Brigade MLR Centre, No.50, Vani Vilas Road, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, 560004, India
| | - Céline Lemoine
- Vaccine Formulation Institute; Rue du Champ-Blanchod 4, 1228, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
| | - Virginie Jakob
- Vaccine Formulation Institute; Rue du Champ-Blanchod 4, 1228, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
| | - Sowrabha Bj
- Mynvax Private Limited; 3rd Floor, Brigade MLR Centre, No.50, Vani Vilas Road, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, 560004, India
| | - Nayana Jagannath
- Mynvax Private Limited; 3rd Floor, Brigade MLR Centre, No.50, Vani Vilas Road, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, 560004, India
| | - Madhuraj Bhat
- Mynvax Private Limited; 3rd Floor, Brigade MLR Centre, No.50, Vani Vilas Road, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, 560004, India
| | - Debajyoti Chakraborty
- Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Suman Pandey
- Mynvax Private Limited; 3rd Floor, Brigade MLR Centre, No.50, Vani Vilas Road, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, 560004, India
| | - Aurélie Jory
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Suba Soundarya Sa
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | | | - Patrice Dubois
- Vaccine Formulation Institute; Rue du Champ-Blanchod 4, 1228, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
| | - Rajesh P Ringe
- Virology Unit, Institute of Microbial Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Chandigarh, 160036, India.
| | - Raghavan Varadarajan
- Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kudrov GA, Zainutdinov SS, Grazhdantseva AA, Shipovalov AV, Sivolobova GF, Semenova AV, Merkuleva IA, Shcherbakov DN, Taranov OS, Zaykovskaya AV, Shulgina IS, Pyankov OV, Kochneva GV. [Intranasal vaccine against COVID-19 based on a recombinant variant of the Sendai virus (Paramyxoviridae: Respirovirus) strain Moscow]. Vopr Virusol 2023; 68:215-227. [PMID: 37436413 DOI: 10.36233/0507-4088-172] [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: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Intranasal vaccination using live vector vaccines based on non-pathogenic or slightly pathogenic viruses is the one of the most convenient, safe and effective ways to prevent respiratory infections, including COVID-19. Sendai virus is the best suited for this purpose, since it is respiratory virus and is capable of limited replication in human bronchial epithelial cells without causing disease. The aim of the work is to design and study the vaccine properties of recombinant Sendai virus, Moscow strain, expressing secreted receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 Delta strain S protein (RBDdelta) during a single intranasal immunization. MATERIALS AND METHODS Recombinant Sendai virus carrying insertion of RBDdelta transgene between P and M genes was constructed using reverse genetics and synthetic biology methods. Expression of RBDdelta was analyzed by Western blot. Vaccine properties were studied in two models: Syrian hamsters and BALB/c mice. Immunogenicity was evaluated by ELISA and virus-neutralization assays. Protectiveness was assessed by quantitation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in RT-PCR and histological analysis of the lungs. RESULTS Based on Sendai virus Moscow strain, a recombinant Sen-RBDdelta(M) was constructed that expressed a secreted RBDdelta immunologically identical to natural SARS-CoV-2 protein. A single intranasal administration of Sen-RBDdelta(M) to hamsters and mice significantly, by 15 and 107 times, respectively, reduced replicative activity of SARS-CoV-2 in lungs of animals, preventing the development of pneumonia. An effective induction of virus-neutralizing antibodies has also been demonstrated in mice. CONCLUSION Sen-RBDdelta(M) is a promising vaccine construct against SARS-CoV-2 infection and has a protective properties even after a single intranasal introduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G A Kudrov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor
| | - S S Zainutdinov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor
| | - A A Grazhdantseva
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor
| | - A V Shipovalov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor
| | - G F Sivolobova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor
| | - A V Semenova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor
| | - I A Merkuleva
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor
| | - D N Shcherbakov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor
| | - O S Taranov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor
| | - A V Zaykovskaya
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor
| | - I S Shulgina
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor
| | - O V Pyankov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor
| | - G V Kochneva
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gonzalez-Hernandez M, Kaiser FK, Steffen I, Ciurkiewicz M, van Amerongen G, Tchelet R, Emalfarb M, Saloheimo M, Wiebe MG, Vitikainen M, Albulescu IC, Bosch BJ, Baumgärtner W, Haagmans BL, Osterhaus ADME. Preclinical immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a SARS-CoV-2 RBD-based vaccine produced with the thermophilic filamentous fungal expression system Thermothelomyces heterothallica C1. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1204834. [PMID: 37359531 PMCID: PMC10289020 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1204834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The emergency use of vaccines has been the most efficient way to control the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern has reduced the efficacy of currently used vaccines. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein is the main target for virus neutralizing (VN) antibodies. Methods A SARS-CoV-2 RBD vaccine candidate was produced in the Thermothelomyces heterothallica (formerly, Myceliophthora thermophila) C1 protein expression system and coupled to a nanoparticle. Immunogenicity and efficacy of this vaccine candidate was tested using the Syrian golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) infection model. Results One dose of 10-μg RBD vaccine based on SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain, coupled to a nanoparticle in combination with aluminum hydroxide as adjuvant, efficiently induced VN antibodies and reduced viral load and lung damage upon SARS-CoV-2 challenge infection. The VN antibodies neutralized SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: D614G, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta. Discussion Our results support the use of the Thermothelomyces heterothallica C1 protein expression system to produce recombinant vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and other virus infections to help overcome limitations associated with the use of mammalian expression system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Gonzalez-Hernandez
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Franziska Karola Kaiser
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Imke Steffen
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Malgorzata Ciurkiewicz
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Ronen Tchelet
- Dyadic International, Inc., Jupiter, FL, United States
| | - Mark Emalfarb
- Dyadic International, Inc., Jupiter, FL, United States
| | | | | | | | - Irina C. Albulescu
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Berend-Jan Bosch
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Wolfgang Baumgärtner
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Bart L. Haagmans
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Volosnikova EA, Merkuleva IA, Esina TI, Shcherbakov DN, Borgoyakova MB, Isaeva AA, Nesmeyanova VS, Volkova NV, Belenkaya SV, Zaykovskaya AV, Pyankov OV, Starostina EV, Zadorozhny AM, Zaitsev BN, Karpenko LI, Ilyichev AA, Danilenko ED. SARS-CoV-2 RBD Conjugated to Polyglucin, Spermidine, and dsRNA Elicits a Strong Immune Response in Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11040808. [PMID: 37112720 PMCID: PMC10146165 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11040808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the rapid development and approval of several COVID vaccines based on the full-length spike protein, there is a need for safe, potent, and high-volume vaccines. Considering the predominance of the production of neutralizing antibodies targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of S-protein after natural infection or vaccination, it makes sense to choose RBD as a vaccine immunogen. However, due to its small size, RBD exhibits relatively poor immunogenicity. Searching for novel adjuvants for RBD-based vaccine formulations is considered a good strategy for enhancing its immunogenicity. Herein, we assess the immunogenicity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RBD conjugated to a polyglucin:spermidine complex (PGS) and dsRNA (RBD-PGS + dsRNA) in a mouse model. BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly twice, with a 2-week interval, with 50 µg of RBD, RBD with Al(OH)3, or conjugated RBD. A comparative analysis of serum RBD-specific IgG and neutralizing antibody titers showed that PGS, PGS + dsRNA, and Al(OH)3 enhanced the specific humoral response in animals. There was no significant difference between the groups immunized with RBD-PGS + dsRNA and RBD with Al(OH)3. Additionally, the study of the T-cell response in animals showed that, unlike adjuvants, the RBD-PGS + dsRNA conjugate stimulates the production of specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina A Volosnikova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Iuliia A Merkuleva
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Tatiana I Esina
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Dmitry N Shcherbakov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Mariya B Borgoyakova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Anastasiya A Isaeva
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Valentina S Nesmeyanova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Natalia V Volkova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Svetlana V Belenkaya
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Anna V Zaykovskaya
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Oleg V Pyankov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Ekaterina V Starostina
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Alexey M Zadorozhny
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Boris N Zaitsev
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Larisa I Karpenko
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Alexander A Ilyichev
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - Elena D Danilenko
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Christensen D, Polacek C, Sheward DJ, Hanke L, McInerney G, Murrell B, Hartmann KT, Jensen HE, Zimmermann J, Jungersen G, Illigen KE, Isling LK, Fernandez-Antunez C, Ramirez S, Bukh J, Pedersen GK. SARS-CoV-2 spike HexaPro formulated in aluminium hydroxide and administered in an accelerated vaccination schedule partially protects Syrian Hamsters against viral challenge despite low neutralizing antibody responses. Front Immunol 2023; 14:941281. [PMID: 36756130 PMCID: PMC9900178 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.941281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 continues to pose a threat to human health as new variants emerge and thus a diverse vaccine pipeline is needed. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 HexaPro spike protein formulated in Alhydrogel® (aluminium oxyhydroxide) in Syrian hamsters, using an accelerated two dose regimen (given 10 days apart) and a standard regimen (two doses given 21 days apart). Both regimens elicited spike- and RBD-specific IgG antibody responses of similar magnitude, but in vitro virus neutralization was low or undetectable. Despite this, the accelerated two dose regimen offered reduction in viral load and protected against lung pathology upon challenge with homologous SARS-CoV-2 virus (Wuhan-Hu-1). This highlights that vaccine-induced protection against SARS-CoV-2 disease can be obtained despite low neutralizing antibody levels and suggests that accelerated vaccine schedules may be used to confer rapid protection against SARS-CoV-2 disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Christensen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Charlotta Polacek
- Virus Research and Development Laboratory, Department of Microbial Diagnostic and Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel J. Sheward
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Leo Hanke
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gerald McInerney
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ben Murrell
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katrine Top Hartmann
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Elvang Jensen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Julie Zimmermann
- Center for Vaccine Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gregers Jungersen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Louise Krag Isling
- Center for Vaccine Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carlota Fernandez-Antunez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Santseharay Ramirez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gabriel Kristian Pedersen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark,*Correspondence: Gabriel Kristian Pedersen,
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Timofeeva AM, Sedykh SE, Ermakov EA, Matveev AL, Odegova EI, Sedykh TA, Shcherbakov DN, Merkuleva IA, Volosnikova EA, Nesmeyanova VS, Tikunova NV, Nevinsky GA. Natural IgG against S-Protein and RBD of SARS-CoV-2 Do Not Bind and Hydrolyze DNA and Are Not Autoimmune. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213681. [PMID: 36430159 PMCID: PMC9693483 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous publications have appeared describing autoimmune pathologies developing after a coronavirus infection, with several papers reporting autoantibody production during the acute period of the disease. Several viral diseases are known to trigger autoimmune processes, and the appearance of catalytic antibodies with DNase activity is one of the earliest markers of several autoimmune pathologies. Therefore, we analyzed whether IgG antibodies from blood plasma of SARS-CoV-2 patients after recovery could bind and hydrolyze DNA. We analyzed how vaccination of patients with adenovirus Sputnik V vaccine influences the production of abzymes with DNase activity. Four groups were selected for the analysis, each containing 25 patients according to their relative titers of antibodies to S-protein: with high and median titers, vaccinated with Sputnik V with high titers, and a control group of donors with negative titers. The relative titers of antibodies against DNA and the relative DNase activity of IgGs depended very much on the individual patient and the donor, and no significant correlation was found between the relative values of antibodies titers and their DNase activity. Our results indicate that COVID-19 disease and vaccination with adenoviral Sputnik V vaccine do not result in the development or enhancement of strong autoimmune reactions as in the typical autoimmune diseases associated with the production of anti-DNA and DNA hydrolyzing antibodies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Timofeeva
- SB RAS Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Correspondence:
| | - Sergey E. Sedykh
- SB RAS Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Evgeny A. Ermakov
- SB RAS Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Andrey L. Matveev
- SB RAS Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Eva I. Odegova
- SB RAS Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Tatiana A. Sedykh
- SB RAS Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Dmitry N. Shcherbakov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
- Department of Physical-Chemistry Biology and Biotechnology, Altay State University, 656049 Barnaul, Russia
| | - Iuliia A. Merkuleva
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | | | | | - Nina V. Tikunova
- SB RAS Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Georgy A. Nevinsky
- SB RAS Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Rudi E, Martin Aispuro P, Zurita E, Gonzalez Lopez Ledesma M, Bottero D, Malito J, Gabrielli M, Gaillard E, Stuible M, Durocher Y, Gamarnik A, Wigdorovitz A, Hozbor D. Immunological study of COVID-19 vaccine candidate based on recombinant spike trimer protein from different SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1020159. [PMID: 36248791 PMCID: PMC9560800 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1020159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergency of new SARS-CoV-2 variants that feature increased immune escape marks an urgent demand for better vaccines that will provide broader immunogenicity. Here, we evaluated the immunogenic capacity of vaccine candidates based on the recombinant trimeric spike protein (S) of different SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC), including the ancestral Wuhan, Beta and Delta viruses. In particular, we assessed formulations containing either single or combined S protein variants. Our study shows that the formulation containing the single S protein from the ancestral Wuhan virus at a concentration of 2µg (SW2-Vac 2µg) displayed in the mouse model the highest IgG antibody levels against all the three (Wuhan, Beta, and Delta) SARS-CoV-2 S protein variants tested. In addition, this formulation induced significantly higher neutralizing antibody titers against the three viral variants when compared with authorized Gam-COVID-Vac-rAd26/rAd5 (Sputnik V) or ChAdOx1 (AstraZeneca) vaccines. SW2-Vac 2µg was also able to induce IFN-gamma and IL-17, memory CD4 populations and follicular T cells. Used as a booster dose for schedules performed with different authorized vaccines, SW2-Vac 2µg vaccine candidate also induced higher levels of total IgG and IgG isotypes against S protein from different SARS-CoV-2 variants in comparison with those observed with homologous 3-dose schedule of Sputnik V or AstraZeneca. Moreover, SW2-Vac 2µg booster induced broadly strong neutralizing antibody levels against the three tested SARS-CoV-2 variants. SW2-Vac 2µg booster also induced CD4+ central memory, CD4+ effector and CD8+ populations. Overall, the results demonstrate that SW2-Vac 2 µg is a promising formulation for the development of a next generation COVID-19 vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erika Rudi
- Laboratorio VacSal, Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CCT-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Pablo Martin Aispuro
- Laboratorio VacSal, Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CCT-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Eugenia Zurita
- Laboratorio VacSal, Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CCT-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
| | | | - Daniela Bottero
- Laboratorio VacSal, Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CCT-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Juan Malito
- INCUINTA INTA, CONICET, HURLINGHAM, INTA Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Magali Gabrielli
- Laboratorio VacSal, Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CCT-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Emilia Gaillard
- Laboratorio VacSal, Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CCT-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Matthew Stuible
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Yves Durocher
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Andrés Wigdorovitz
- INCUINTA INTA, CONICET, HURLINGHAM, INTA Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniela Hozbor
- Laboratorio VacSal, Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CCT-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|