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Feemster K, Buchwald UK, Banniettis N, Joyce JG, Velentgas P, Chapman TJ, Yildirim I. Immunogenicity of Current and Next-Generation Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in Children: Current Challenges and Upcoming Opportunities. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae220. [PMID: 38770212 PMCID: PMC11103622 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Global use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) with increasingly broader serotype coverage has helped to reduce the burden of pneumococcal disease in children and adults. In clinical studies comparing PCVs, higher-valency PCVs have met noninferiority criteria (based on immunoglobulin G geometric mean concentrations and response rates) for most shared serotypes. A numeric trend of declining immunogenicity against shared serotypes with higher-valency PCVs has also been observed; however, the clinical relevance is uncertain, warranting additional research to evaluate the effectiveness of new vaccines. Novel conjugation processes, carriers, adjuvants, and vaccine platforms are approaches that could help maintain or improve immunogenicity and subsequent vaccine effectiveness while achieving broader protection with increasing valency in pneumococcal vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Feemster
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Ulrike K Buchwald
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Joseph G Joyce
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Timothy J Chapman
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Inci Yildirim
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Yale Institute for Global Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Yale Center for Infection and Immunity, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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2
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Shafaghi M, Bahadori Z, Barzi SM, Afshari E, Madanchi H, Mousavi SF, Shabani AA. A new candidate epitope-based vaccine against PspA PhtD of Streptococcus pneumoniae: a computational experimental approach. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1271143. [PMID: 38035337 PMCID: PMC10684780 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1271143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pneumococcus is an important respiratory pathogen that is associated with high rates of death in newborn children and the elderly. Given the disadvantages of current polysaccharide-based vaccines, the most promising alternative for developing improved vaccines may be to use protein antigens with different roles in pneumococcus virulence. PspA and PhtD, highly immunogenic surface proteins expressed by almost all pneumococcal strains, are capable of eliciting protective immunity against lethal infections. Methods In this study using immunoinformatics approaches, we constructed one fusion construct (called PAD) by fusing the immunodominant regions of PspA from families 1 & 2 (PA) to the immunodominant regions of PhtD (PD). The objective of this project was to test the immunogenicity of the fusion protein PAD and to compare its protective activity against S. pneumoniae infection with PA or PD alone and a combination of PA and PD. The prediction of physicochemical properties, antigenicity, allergenicity, toxicity, and 3D-structure of the constructs, as well as molecular docking with HLA receptor and immune simulation were performed using computational tools. Finally, mice were immunized and the serum levels of antibodies/cytokines and functionality of antibodies in vitro were evaluated after immunization. The mice survival rates and decrease of bacterial loads in the blood/spleen were examined following the challenge. Results The computational analyses indicated the proposed constructs could be antigenic, non-allergenic, non-toxic, soluble and able to elicit robust immune responses. The results of actual animal experiments revealed the candidate vaccines could induce the mice to produce high levels of antibodies and cytokines. The complement-mediated bactericidal activity of antibodies was confirmed and the antibodies provided favorable survival in immunized mice after bacterial challenge. In general, the experimental results verified the immunoinformatics studies. Conclusion For the first time this report presents novel peptide-based vaccine candidates consisting of immunodominant regions of PspA and PhtD antigens. The obtained findings confirmed that the fusion formulation could be relatively more efficient than the individual and combination formulations. The results propose that the fusion protein alone could be used as a serotype-independent pneumococcal vaccine or as an effective partner protein for a conjugate polysaccharide vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Shafaghi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Bahadori
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Elnaz Afshari
- Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Madanchi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Drug Design and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ali Akbar Shabani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
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Bricha S, Côté-Cyr M, Tremblay T, Nguyen PT, St-Louis P, Giguère D, Archambault D, Bourgault S. Synthetic Multicomponent Nanovaccines Based on the Molecular Co-assembly of β-Peptides Protect against Influenza A Virus. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1232-1244. [PMID: 37200051 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00610] [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] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Peptides with the ability to self-assemble into nanoparticles have emerged as an attractive strategy to design antigen delivery platforms for subunit vaccines. While toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists are promising immunostimulants, their use as soluble agents is limited by their rapid clearance and off-target inflammation. Herein, we harnessed molecular co-assembly to prepare multicomponent cross-β-sheet peptide nanofilaments exposing an antigenic epitope derived from the influenza A virus and a TLR agonist. The TLR7 agonist imiquimod and the TLR9 agonist CpG were respectively functionalized on the assemblies by means of an orthogonal pre- or post-assembly conjugation strategy. The nanofilaments were readily uptaken by dendritic cells, and the TLR agonists retained their activity. Multicomponent nanovaccines induced a robust epitope-specific immune response and completely protected immunized mice from a lethal influenza A virus inoculation. This versatile bottom-up approach is promising for the preparation of synthetic vaccines with customized magnitude and polarization of the immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma Bricha
- Department of Chemistry, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P.8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P.8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada
- Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering and Applications (PROTEO), Québec H3C 3P8, Canada
- The Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Saint-Hyacinthe J2S 2M2, Canada
- The Center of Excellence in Research on Orphan Diseases─Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Mélanie Côté-Cyr
- Department of Chemistry, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P.8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada
- Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering and Applications (PROTEO), Québec H3C 3P8, Canada
- The Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Saint-Hyacinthe J2S 2M2, Canada
- The Center of Excellence in Research on Orphan Diseases─Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Thomas Tremblay
- Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering and Applications (PROTEO), Québec H3C 3P8, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Université Laval, 1045 Av. De la Médecine, Québec City QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Phuong Trang Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P.8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada
- Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering and Applications (PROTEO), Québec H3C 3P8, Canada
- The Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Saint-Hyacinthe J2S 2M2, Canada
- The Center of Excellence in Research on Orphan Diseases─Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Philippe St-Louis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P.8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada
- The Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Saint-Hyacinthe J2S 2M2, Canada
- The Center of Excellence in Research on Orphan Diseases─Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Denis Giguère
- Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering and Applications (PROTEO), Québec H3C 3P8, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Université Laval, 1045 Av. De la Médecine, Québec City QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Denis Archambault
- Department of Biological Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P.8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada
- The Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Saint-Hyacinthe J2S 2M2, Canada
- The Center of Excellence in Research on Orphan Diseases─Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Steve Bourgault
- Department of Chemistry, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P.8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada
- Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering and Applications (PROTEO), Québec H3C 3P8, Canada
- The Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Saint-Hyacinthe J2S 2M2, Canada
- The Center of Excellence in Research on Orphan Diseases─Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada
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Shafaghi M, Bahadori Z, Madanchi H, Ranjbar MM, Shabani AA, Mousavi SF. Immunoinformatics-aided design of a new multi-epitope vaccine adjuvanted with domain 4 of pneumolysin against Streptococcus pneumoniae strains. BMC Bioinformatics 2023; 24:67. [PMID: 36829109 PMCID: PMC9951839 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-023-05175-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus) has remained a leading cause of fatal infections such as pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. Moreover, this pathogen plays a major role in bacterial co-infection in patients with life-threatening respiratory virus diseases such as influenza and COVID-19. High morbidity and mortality in over one million cases, especially in very young children and the elderly, are the main motivations for pneumococcal vaccine development. Due to the limitations of the currently marketed polysaccharide-based vaccines, non-serotype-specific protein-based vaccines have received wide research interest in recent years. One step further is to identify high antigenic regions within multiple highly-conserved proteins in order to develop peptide vaccines that can affect various stages of pneumococcal infection, providing broader serotype coverage and more effective protection. In this study, immunoinformatics tools were used to design an effective multi-epitope vaccine in order to elicit neutralizing antibodies against multiple strains of pneumococcus. RESULTS The B- and T-cell epitopes from highly protective antigens PspA (clades 1-5) and PhtD were predicted and immunodominant peptides were linked to each other with proper linkers. The domain 4 of Ply, as a potential TLR4 agonist adjuvant candidate, was attached to the end of the construct to enhance the immunogenicity of the epitope vaccine. The evaluation of the physicochemical and immunological properties showed that the final construct was stable, soluble, antigenic, and non-allergenic. Furthermore, the protein was found to be acidic and hydrophilic in nature. The protein 3D-structure was built and refined, and the Ramachandran plot, ProSA-web, ERRAT, and Verify3D validated the quality of the final model. Molecular docking analysis showed that the designed construct via Ply domain 4 had a strong interaction with TLR4. The structural stability of the docked complex was confirmed by molecular dynamics. Finally, codon optimization was performed for gene expression in E. coli, followed by in silico cloning in the pET28a(+) vector. CONCLUSION The computational analysis of the construct showed acceptable results, however, the suggested vaccine needs to be experimentally verified in laboratory to ensure its safety and immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Shafaghi
- grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.420169.80000 0000 9562 2611Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Bahadori
- grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.420169.80000 0000 9562 2611Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Madanchi
- grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.420169.80000 0000 9562 2611Drug Design and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Ranjbar
- grid.418970.3Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Shabani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. .,Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
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5
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Intranasal vaccination with protein bodies elicit strong protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization. Vaccine 2021; 39:6920-6929. [PMID: 34696934 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Protein bodies (PBs) are particles consisting of insoluble, aggregated proteins with potential as a vaccine formulation. PBs can contain high concentrations of antigen, are stable and relatively resistant to proteases, release antigen slowly and are cost-effective to manufacture. Yet, the capacity of PBs to provoke immune responses and protection in the upper respiratory tract, a major entry route of respiratory pathogens, is largely unknown. In this study, we vaccinated mice intranasally with PBs comprising antigens from Streptococcus pneumoniae and evaluated the level of protection against nasopharyngeal colonization. PBs composed of the α-helical domain of pneumococcal surface protein A (PspAα) provided superior protection against colonization with S. pneumoniae compared to soluble PspAα. Immunization with soluble protein or PBs induced differences in antibody binding to pneumococci as well as a highly distinct antigen-specific nasal cytokine profile upon in vivo stimulation with inactivated S. pneumoniae. Moreover, immunization with PBs composed of conserved putative pneumococcal antigens reduced colonization by S. pneumoniae in mice, both as a single- and as a multi-antigen formulation. In conclusion, PBs represent a vaccine formulation that elicits strong mucosal immune responses and protection. The versatility of this platform offers opportunities for development of next-generation vaccine formulations.
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Hervé PL, Dhelft V, Zuniga A, Ghasparian A, Rassek O, Yim KC, Donne N, Lambert PH, Benhamou PH, Sampson HA, Mondoulet L. Epicutaneous immunization using synthetic virus-like particles efficiently boosts protective immunity to respiratory syncytial virus. Vaccine 2021; 39:4555-4563. [PMID: 34154864 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.03.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Despite the substantial health and economic burden caused by RSV-associated illness, no vaccine is available. The sole licensed treatment (palivizumab), composed of a monoclonal neutralizing antibody, blocks the fusion of the virus to the host cell but does not prevent infection. The development of a safe and efficacious RSV vaccine is therefore a priority, but also a considerable challenge, and new innovative strategies are warranted. Most of the adult population encounter regular RSV infections and can elicit a robust neutralizing antibody response, but unfortunately it wanes over time and reinfections during subsequent seasons are common. One approach to protect the mother and young infant from RSV infection is to administer a vaccine capable of boosting preexisting RSV immunity during pregnancy, which would provide protection to the fetus through passive transfer of maternal antibodies, thus preventing primary RSV infection in newborns during their first months of life. Here, we describe the preclinical evaluation of an epicutaneous RSV vaccine booster that combines epicutaneous patches as a delivery platform and a Synthetic Virus-Like Particles (SVLP)-based vaccine displaying multiple RSV F-protein site II (FsII, palivizumab epitope) mimetic as antigen (V-306). We demonstrated in mice that epicutaneous immunization with V-306 efficiently boosts preexisting immunity induced by the homologous V-306 administered subcutaneously. This boosting was characterized by a significant increase in F- and FsII-specific antibodies capable of competing with palivizumab for its target antigen and neutralize RSV. More importantly, epicutaneous booster immunization with V-306 significantly decreased lung viral replication in experimental mice after intranasal RSV challenge, without inducing enhanced RSV disease. In conclusion, an epicutaneous booster vaccine based on V-306 is safe and efficacious in enhancing RSV preexisting immunity in mice. This needle-free vaccine candidate would be potentially suited as a booster vaccine for vulnerable populations such as young infants via pregnant women, and the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Louis Hervé
- DBV Technologies, 177-181 Avenue Pierre Brossolette, 92120 Montrouge, France.
| | - Véronique Dhelft
- DBV Technologies, 177-181 Avenue Pierre Brossolette, 92120 Montrouge, France
| | - Armando Zuniga
- Virometix AG, Wagisstrasse 14, CH-8952 Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Arin Ghasparian
- Virometix AG, Wagisstrasse 14, CH-8952 Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Rassek
- Virometix AG, Wagisstrasse 14, CH-8952 Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Kevin C Yim
- Sigmovir Biosystems, Inc., 9610 Medical Center Drive, Suite #100, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Nathalie Donne
- DBV Technologies, 177-181 Avenue Pierre Brossolette, 92120 Montrouge, France
| | - Paul-Henri Lambert
- WHO Collaborative Center for Vaccine Immunology, Department of Pathology-Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Hugh A Sampson
- DBV Technologies, 12 East 49th Street Tower 49, Suite 4001, New York, NY 10017, USA
| | - Lucie Mondoulet
- DBV Technologies, 177-181 Avenue Pierre Brossolette, 92120 Montrouge, France
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7
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Utterström J, Naeimipour S, Selegård R, Aili D. Coiled coil-based therapeutics and drug delivery systems. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 170:26-43. [PMID: 33378707 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Coiled coils are characterized by an arrangement of two or more α-helices into a superhelix and one of few protein motifs where the sequence-to-structure relationship to a large extent have been decoded and understood. The abundance of both natural and de novo designed coil coils provides a rich molecular toolbox for self-assembly of elaborate bespoke molecular architectures, nanostructures, and materials. Leveraging on the numerous possibilities to tune both affinities and preferences for polypeptide oligomerization, coiled coils offer unique possibilities to design modular and dynamic assemblies that can respond in a predictable manner to biomolecular interactions and subtle physicochemical cues. In this review, strategies to use coiled coils in design of novel therapeutics and advanced drug delivery systems are discussed. The applications of coiled coils for generating drug carriers and vaccines, and various aspects of using coiled coils for controlling and triggering drug release, and for improving drug targeting and drug uptake are described. The plethora of innovative coiled coil-based molecular systems provide new knowledge and techniques for improving efficacy of existing drugs and can facilitate development of novel therapeutic strategies.
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8
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Al-Halifa S, Zottig X, Babych M, Côté-Cyr M, Bourgault S, Archambault D. Harnessing the Activation of Toll-Like Receptor 2/6 by Self-Assembled Cross-β Fibrils to Design Adjuvanted Nanovaccines. NANOMATERIALS 2020; 10:nano10101981. [PMID: 33036404 PMCID: PMC7600500 DOI: 10.3390/nano10101981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Protein fibrils characterized with a cross-β-sheet quaternary structure have gained interest as nanomaterials in biomedicine, including in the design of subunit vaccines. Recent studies have shown that by conjugating an antigenic determinant to a self-assembling β-peptide, the resulting supramolecular assemblies act as an antigen delivery system that potentiates the epitope-specific immune response. In this study, we used a ten-mer self-assembling sequence (I10) derived from an amyloidogenic peptide to biophysically and immunologically characterize a nanofibril-based vaccine against the influenza virus. The highly conserved epitope from the ectodomain of the matrix protein 2 (M2e) was elongated at the N-terminus of I10 by solid phase peptide synthesis. The chimeric M2e-I10 peptide readily self-assembled into unbranched, long, and twisted fibrils with a diameter between five and eight nm. These cross-β nanoassemblies were cytocompatible and activated the heterodimeric Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/6. Upon mice subcutaneous immunization, M2e-fibrils triggered a robust anti-M2e specific immune response, which was dependent on self-assembly and did not require the use of an adjuvant. Overall, this study describes the efficacy of cross-β fibrils to activate the TLR 2/6 and to stimulate the epitope-specific immune response, supporting usage of these proteinaceous assemblies as a self-adjuvanted delivery system for antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soultan Al-Halifa
- Department of Chemistry, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2L 2C4, Canada; (S.A.-H.); (X.Z.); (M.B.); (M.C.-C)
- The Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering and Applications, PROTEO, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- The Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre, CRIPA, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2L 2C4, Canada
| | - Ximena Zottig
- Department of Chemistry, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2L 2C4, Canada; (S.A.-H.); (X.Z.); (M.B.); (M.C.-C)
- The Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering and Applications, PROTEO, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- The Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre, CRIPA, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2L 2C4, Canada
| | - Margaryta Babych
- Department of Chemistry, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2L 2C4, Canada; (S.A.-H.); (X.Z.); (M.B.); (M.C.-C)
- The Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering and Applications, PROTEO, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Mélanie Côté-Cyr
- Department of Chemistry, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2L 2C4, Canada; (S.A.-H.); (X.Z.); (M.B.); (M.C.-C)
- The Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering and Applications, PROTEO, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- The Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre, CRIPA, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2L 2C4, Canada
| | - Steve Bourgault
- Department of Chemistry, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2L 2C4, Canada; (S.A.-H.); (X.Z.); (M.B.); (M.C.-C)
- The Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering and Applications, PROTEO, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- The Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre, CRIPA, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
- Correspondence: (S.B.); (D.A.)
| | - Denis Archambault
- The Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre, CRIPA, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2L 2C4, Canada
- Correspondence: (S.B.); (D.A.)
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9
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Zykova AA, Blokhina EA, Kotlyarov RY, Stepanova LA, Tsybalova LM, Kuprianov VV, Ravin NV. Highly Immunogenic Nanoparticles Based on a Fusion Protein Comprising the M2e of Influenza A Virus and a Lipopeptide. Viruses 2020; 12:E1133. [PMID: 33036278 PMCID: PMC7601894 DOI: 10.3390/v12101133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The highly conserved extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 (M2e) of the influenza A virus is a promising target for the development of broad-spectrum vaccines. However, M2e is a poor immunogen by itself and must be linked to an appropriate carrier to induce an efficient immune response. In this study, we obtained recombinant mosaic proteins containing tandem copies of M2e fused to a lipopeptide from Neisseria meningitidis surface lipoprotein Ag473 and alpha-helical linkers and analyzed their immunogenicity. Six fusion proteins, comprising four or eight tandem copies of M2e flanked by alpha-helical linkers, lipopeptides, or a combination of both of these elements, were produced in Escherichia coli. The proteins, containing both alpha-helical linkers and lipopeptides at each side of M2e repeats, formed nanosized particles, but no particulate structures were observed in the absence of lipopeptides. Animal study results showed that proteins with lipopeptides induced strong M2e-specific antibody responses in the absence of external adjuvants compared to similar proteins without lipopeptides. Thus, the recombinant M2e-based proteins containing alpha-helical linkers and N. meningitidis lipopeptide sequences at the N- and C-termini of four or eight tandem copies of M2e peptide are promising vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A. Zykova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.Z.); (E.A.B.); (R.Y.K.)
| | - Elena A. Blokhina
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.Z.); (E.A.B.); (R.Y.K.)
| | - Roman Y. Kotlyarov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.Z.); (E.A.B.); (R.Y.K.)
| | - Liudmila A. Stepanova
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 23805 St. Petersburg, Russia; (L.A.S.); (L.M.T.)
| | - Liudmila M. Tsybalova
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 23805 St. Petersburg, Russia; (L.A.S.); (L.M.T.)
| | - Victor V. Kuprianov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.Z.); (E.A.B.); (R.Y.K.)
| | - Nikolai V. Ravin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.Z.); (E.A.B.); (R.Y.K.)
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10
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Rahman N, Islam MM, Kibria MG, Unzai S, Kuroda Y. A systematic mutational analysis identifies a 5-residue proline tag that enhances the in vivo immunogenicity of a non-immunogenic model protein. FEBS Open Bio 2020; 10:1947-1956. [PMID: 33017095 PMCID: PMC7530378 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Poor immunogenicity of small proteins is a major hurdle in developing vaccines or producing antibodies for biopharmaceutical usage. Here, we systematically analyzed the effects of 10 solubility controlling peptide tags (SCP‐tags) on the immunogenicity of a non‐immunogenic model protein, bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI‐19A; 6 kDa). CD, fluorescence, DLS, SLS, and AUC measurements indicated that the SCP‐tags did not change the secondary structure content nor the tertiary structures of the protein nor its monomeric state. ELISA results indicated that the 5‐proline (C5P) and 5‐arginine (C5R) tags unexpectedly increased the IgG level of BPTI‐19A by 240‐ and 73‐fold, respectively, suggesting that non‐oligomerizing SCP‐tags may provide a novel method for increasing the immunogenicity of a protein in a highly specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafsoon Rahman
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mohammad Monirul Islam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Md Golam Kibria
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Unzai
- Department of Frontier Bioscience, Faculty of Bioscience and Applied Chemistry, Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kuroda
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
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11
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Vaccines based on virus-like nano-particles for use against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus. Vaccine 2020; 38:5742-5746. [PMID: 32684497 PMCID: PMC7837099 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in virus-like nanoparticles against Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) can initiate vaccine production faster for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), while ensuring the safety, easy administration, and long-term effects. Patients with this viral pathogen suffer from excess mortality. MERS-CoV can spread through bioaerosol transmission from animal or human sources. The appearance of an outbreak in South Korea sparked off a strong urge to design strategies for developing an effective vaccine since the emergence of MERS-CoV in 2012. Well unfortunately, this is an important fact in virus risk management. The studies showed that virus-like nanoparticles (VLPs) could be effective in its goal of stopping the symptoms of MERS-CoV infection. Besides, due to the genetic similarities in the DNA sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 with MERS-CoV and the first identified severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV) in China since 2002/2003, strategic approaches could be used to manage SARS-CoV 2. Gathering the vital piece of information obtained so far could lead to a breakthrough in the development of an effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, which is prioritized and focussed by the World Health Organization (WHO). This review focuses on the virus-like nanoparticle that got successful results in animal models of MERS-CoV.
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12
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Lin LC, Huang C, Yao B, Lin J, Agrawal A, Algaissi A, Peng B, Liu Y, Huang P, Juang R, Chang Y, Tseng C, Chen H, Hu CJ. Viromimetic STING Agonist-Loaded Hollow Polymeric Nanoparticles for Safe and Effective Vaccination against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2019; 29:1807616. [PMID: 32313544 PMCID: PMC7161765 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201807616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The continued threat of emerging, highly lethal infectious pathogens such as Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) calls for the development of novel vaccine technology that offers safe and effective prophylactic measures. Here, a novel nanoparticle vaccine is developed to deliver subunit viral antigens and STING agonists in a virus-like fashion. STING agonists are first encapsulated into capsid-like hollow polymeric nanoparticles, which show multiple favorable attributes, including a pH-responsive release profile, prominent local immune activation, and reduced systemic reactogenicity. Upon subsequent antigen conjugation, the nanoparticles carry morphological semblance to native virions and facilitate codelivery of antigens and STING agonists to draining lymph nodes and immune cells for immune potentiation. Nanoparticle vaccine effectiveness is supported by the elicitation of potent neutralization antibody and antigen-specific T cell responses in mice immunized with a MERS-CoV nanoparticle vaccine candidate. Using a MERS-CoV-permissive transgenic mouse model, it is shown that mice immunized with this nanoparticle-based MERS-CoV vaccine are protected against a lethal challenge of MERS-CoV without triggering undesirable eosinophilic immunopathology. Together, the biocompatible hollow nanoparticle described herein provides an excellent strategy for delivering both subunit vaccine candidates and novel adjuvants, enabling accelerated development of effective and safe vaccines against emerging viral pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chen‐Yu Huang
- Department of Veterinary MedicineNational Taiwan UniversityTaipei10617Taiwan
| | - Bing‐Yu Yao
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Jung‐Chen Lin
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Anurodh Agrawal
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyThe University of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTX77555USA
| | - Abdullah Algaissi
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyThe University of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTX77555USA
- Department of Medical Laboratories TechnologyJazan UniversityJazan45142Saudi Arabia
| | - Bi‐Hung Peng
- Department of Neurosciences, Cell Biology & AnatomyThe University of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTX77555USA
| | - Yu‐Han Liu
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Ping‐Han Huang
- Department of Veterinary MedicineNational Taiwan UniversityTaipei10617Taiwan
| | - Rong‐Huay Juang
- Department of Biochemical Science and TechnologyNational Taiwan UniversityTaipei10617Taiwan
| | - Yuan‐Chih Chang
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic BiologyAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Chien‐Te Tseng
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyThe University of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTX77555USA
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging DiseaseThe University of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTX77555USA
| | - Hui‐Wen Chen
- Department of Veterinary MedicineNational Taiwan UniversityTaipei10617Taiwan
| | - Che‐Ming Jack Hu
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
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13
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Lin LCW, Huang CY, Yao BY, Lin JC, Agrawal A, Algaissi A, Peng BH, Liu YH, Huang PH, Juang RH, Chang YC, Tseng CT, Chen HW, Hu CMJ. Viromimetic STING Agonist-Loaded Hollow Polymeric Nanoparticles for Safe and Effective Vaccination against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2019; 29:1807616. [PMID: 32313544 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201807676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The continued threat of emerging, highly lethal infectious pathogens such as Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) calls for the development of novel vaccine technology that offers safe and effective prophylactic measures. Here, a novel nanoparticle vaccine is developed to deliver subunit viral antigens and STING agonists in a virus-like fashion. STING agonists are first encapsulated into capsid-like hollow polymeric nanoparticles, which show multiple favorable attributes, including a pH-responsive release profile, prominent local immune activation, and reduced systemic reactogenicity. Upon subsequent antigen conjugation, the nanoparticles carry morphological semblance to native virions and facilitate codelivery of antigens and STING agonists to draining lymph nodes and immune cells for immune potentiation. Nanoparticle vaccine effectiveness is supported by the elicitation of potent neutralization antibody and antigen-specific T cell responses in mice immunized with a MERS-CoV nanoparticle vaccine candidate. Using a MERS-CoV-permissive transgenic mouse model, it is shown that mice immunized with this nanoparticle-based MERS-CoV vaccine are protected against a lethal challenge of MERS-CoV without triggering undesirable eosinophilic immunopathology. Together, the biocompatible hollow nanoparticle described herein provides an excellent strategy for delivering both subunit vaccine candidates and novel adjuvants, enabling accelerated development of effective and safe vaccines against emerging viral pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chen-Yu Huang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine National Taiwan University Taipei 10617 Taiwan
| | - Bing-Yu Yao
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Academia Sinica Taipei 11529 Taiwan
| | - Jung-Chen Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Academia Sinica Taipei 11529 Taiwan
| | - Anurodh Agrawal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston TX 77555 USA
| | - Abdullah Algaissi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston TX 77555 USA
- Department of Medical Laboratories Technology Jazan University Jazan 45142 Saudi Arabia
| | - Bi-Hung Peng
- Department of Neurosciences, Cell Biology & Anatomy The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston TX 77555 USA
| | - Yu-Han Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Academia Sinica Taipei 11529 Taiwan
| | - Ping-Han Huang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine National Taiwan University Taipei 10617 Taiwan
| | - Rong-Huay Juang
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology National Taiwan University Taipei 10617 Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Chih Chang
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology Academia Sinica Taipei 11529 Taiwan
| | - Chien-Te Tseng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston TX 77555 USA
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Disease The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston TX 77555 USA
| | - Hui-Wen Chen
- Department of Veterinary Medicine National Taiwan University Taipei 10617 Taiwan
| | - Che-Ming Jack Hu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Academia Sinica Taipei 11529 Taiwan
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14
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Lagousi T, Basdeki P, Routsias J, Spoulou V. Novel Protein-Based Pneumococcal Vaccines: Assessing the Use of Distinct Protein Fragments Instead of Full-Length Proteins as Vaccine Antigens. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:vaccines7010009. [PMID: 30669439 PMCID: PMC6466302 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-serotype-specific protein-based pneumococcal vaccines have received extensive research focus due to the limitations of polysaccharide-based vaccines. Pneumococcal proteins (PnPs), universally expressed among serotypes, may induce broader immune responses, stimulating humoral and cellular immunity, while being easier to manufacture and less expensive. Such an approach has raised issues mainly associated with sequence/level of expression variability, chemical instability, as well as possible undesirable reactogenicity and autoimmune properties. A step forward employs the identification of highly-conserved antigenic regions within PnPs with the potential to retain the benefits of protein antigens. Besides, their low-cost and stable construction facilitates the combination of several antigenic regions or peptides that may impair different stages of pneumococcal disease offering even wider serotype coverage and more efficient protection. This review discusses the up-to-date progress on PnPs that are currently under clinical evaluation and the challenges for their licensure. Focus is given on the progress on the identification of antigenic regions/peptides within PnPs and their evaluation as vaccine candidates, accessing their potential to overcome the issues associated with full-length protein antigens. Particular mention is given of the use of newer delivery system technologies including conjugation to Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and reformulation into nanoparticles to enhance the poor immunogenicity of such antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theano Lagousi
- First Department of Paediatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Immunobiology Research Laboratory and Infectious Diseases Department "MAKKA," Athens Medical School, 11527 Athens, Greece.
| | - Paraskevi Basdeki
- First Department of Paediatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Immunobiology Research Laboratory and Infectious Diseases Department "MAKKA," Athens Medical School, 11527 Athens, Greece.
| | - John Routsias
- Department of Microbiology, Athens Medical School, 11527 Athens, Greece.
| | - Vana Spoulou
- First Department of Paediatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Immunobiology Research Laboratory and Infectious Diseases Department "MAKKA," Athens Medical School, 11527 Athens, Greece.
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15
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Evaluation of Protective Efficacy of Selected Immunodominant B-Cell Epitopes within Virulent Surface Proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00673-17. [PMID: 29263108 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00673-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Four previously identified immunodominant B-cell epitopes, located within known virulent pneumococcal proteins CbpD, PhtD, PhtE, and ZmpB, had shown promising in vivo immunological characteristics, indicating their potential to be used as vaccine antigens. In this study, we further evaluated the opsonophagocytic activity of antibodies against these epitopes and their capacity to protect mice from pneumococcal sepsis. An opsonophagocytic killing assay (OPKA) revealed that OPKA titers of human anti-peptide antibodies against pneumococcal serotypes 1, 3, and 19A were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those of the control sera, suggesting their functional potential against virulent clinical isolates. Data obtained from mice actively immunized with any of the selected epitope analogues or with a mixture of these (G_Mix group) showed, compared to controls, enhanced survival against the highly virulent pneumococcal serotype 3 (P < 0.001). Moreover, passive transfer of hyperimmune serum from G_Mix to naive mice also conferred protection to a lethal challenge with serotype 3, which demonstrates that the observed protection was antibody mediated. All immunized murine groups elicited gradually higher antibody titers and avidity, suggesting a maturation of immune response over time. Among the tested peptides, PhD_pep19 and PhtE_pep40 peptides, which reside within the zinc-binding domains of PhtD and PhtE proteins, exhibited superior immunological characteristics. Recently it has been shown that zinc uptake is of high importance for the virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae; thus, our findings suggest that these epitopes deserve further evaluation as novel immunoreactive components for the development of a polysaccharide-independent pneumococcal vaccine.
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16
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Heterogeneous expression of Chlamydia pneumoniae antigen candidates and high-level soluble expression of its inclusion membrane proteins in Escherichia coli. Mol Cell Toxicol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13273-017-0043-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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17
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Zerbe K, Moehle K, Robinson JA. Protein Epitope Mimetics: From New Antibiotics to Supramolecular Synthetic Vaccines. Acc Chem Res 2017; 50:1323-1331. [PMID: 28570824 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.7b00129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Protein epitope mimetics provide powerful tools to study biomolecular recognition in many areas of chemical biology. They may also provide access to new biologically active molecules and potentially to new classes of drug and vaccine candidates. Here we highlight approaches for the design of folded, structurally defined epitope mimetics, by incorporating backbone and side chains of hot residues onto a stable constrained scaffold. Using robust synthetic methods, the structural, biological, and physical properties of epitope mimetics can be optimized, by variation of both side chain and backbone chemistry. To illustrate the potential of protein epitope mimetics in medicinal chemistry and biotechnology, we present studies in two areas of infectology; the discovery of new antibiotics targeting essential outer membrane (OM) proteins in Gram-negative bacteria and the design of supramolecular synthetic vaccines. The discovery of new antibiotics with novel mechanisms of action, in particular to combat infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens, represents a major challenge in medicinal chemistry. We were inspired by naturally occurring cationic antimicrobial peptides to design structurally related peptidomimetics and to optimize their antimicrobial properties through library synthesis and screening. Through these efforts, we could show that antimicrobial β-hairpin mimetics may have structures and properties that facilitate interactions with essential bacterial β-barrel OM proteins. One recently discovered family of antimicrobial peptidomimetics targets the β-barrel protein LptD in Pseudomonas spp. This protein plays a key role in lipopolysaccaride (LPS) transport to the cell surface during OM biogenesis. Through a highly selective interaction with LptD, the peptidomimetic blocks LPS transport, resulting in nanomolar antimicrobial activity against the important human pathogen P. aeruginosa. Epitope mimetics may also have great potential in the field of vaccinology, where structural information on complexes between neutralizing antibodies and their cognate epitopes can be taken as a starting point for B cell epitope mimetic design. In order to generate potent immune responses, an effective method of delivering epitope mimetics to relevant cells and tissues in the immune system is also required. For this, engineered synthetic nanoparticles (synthetic virus-like particles, SVLPs) prepared using supramolecular chemistry can be designed with optimal surface properties for efficient dendritic cell-mediated delivery of folded B-cell and linear T-cell epitopes, along with ligands for pattern recognition receptors, into lymphoid tissues. In this way, multivalent display of the epitope mimetics occurs over the surface of the nanoparticle, suitable for cross-linking B cell receptors. In this highly immunogenic format, strong epitope-specific humoral immune responses can be elicited that target infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms. Other potential applications of epitope mimetics in next-generation therapeutics are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Zerbe
- Chemistry Department, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kerstin Moehle
- Chemistry Department, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - John A. Robinson
- Chemistry Department, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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18
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Tostanoski LH, Jewell CM. Engineering self-assembled materials to study and direct immune function. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2017; 114:60-78. [PMID: 28392305 PMCID: PMC6262758 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The immune system is an awe-inspiring control structure that maintains a delicate and constantly changing balance between pro-immune functions that fight infection and cancer, regulatory or suppressive functions involved in immune tolerance, and homeostatic resting states. These activities are determined by integrating signals in space and time; thus, improving control over the densities, combinations, and durations with which immune signals are delivered is a central goal to better combat infectious disease, cancer, and autoimmunity. Self-assembly presents a unique opportunity to synthesize materials with well-defined compositions and controlled physical arrangement of molecular building blocks. This review highlights strategies exploiting these capabilities to improve the understanding of how precisely-displayed cues interact with immune cells and tissues. We present work centered on fundamental properties that regulate the nature and magnitude of immune response, highlight pre-clinical and clinical applications of self-assembled technologies in vaccines, cancer, and autoimmunity, and describe some of the key manufacturing and regulatory hurdles facing these areas.
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Key Words
- Autoimmunity and tolerance
- Biomaterial
- Cancer
- Immunomodulation
- Manufacturing, regulatory approval and FDA
- Nanoparticle, microparticle, micelle, liposome, polyplex, lipoplex, polyelectrolyte multilayer
- Nanotechnology
- Non-covalent, hydrophobic, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interaction
- Self-assembly
- Sensor, diagnostic, and theranostic
- Vaccine and immunotherapy
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa H Tostanoski
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 8228 Paint Branch Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Christopher M Jewell
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 8228 Paint Branch Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, 22 S. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 10 North Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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19
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VLP-based vaccine induces immune control of Staphylococcus aureus virulence regulation. Sci Rep 2017; 7:637. [PMID: 28377579 PMCID: PMC5429642 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00753-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and mounting antibiotic resistance requires innovative treatment strategies. S. aureus uses secreted cyclic autoinducing peptides (AIPs) and the accessory gene regulator (agr) operon to coordinate expression of virulence factors required for invasive infection. Of the four agr alleles (agr types I-IV and corresponding AIPs1-4), agr type I isolates are most frequently associated with invasive infection. Cyclization via a thiolactone bond is essential for AIP function; therefore, recognition of the cyclic form of AIP1 may be necessary for antibody-mediated neutralization. However, the small sizes of AIPs and labile thiolactone bond have hindered vaccine development. To overcome this, we used a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine platform (PP7) for conformationally-restricted presentation of a modified AIP1 amino acid sequence (AIP1S). Vaccination with PP7-AIP1S elicited AIP1-specific antibodies and limited agr-activation in vivo. Importantly, in a murine SSTI challenge model with a highly virulent agr type I S. aureus isolate, PP7-AIP1S vaccination reduced pathogenesis and increased bacterial clearance compared to controls, demonstrating vaccine efficacy. Given the contribution of MRSA agr type I isolates to human disease, vaccine targeting of AIP1-regulated virulence could have a major clinical impact in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
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20
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Karch CP, Burkhard P. Vaccine technologies: From whole organisms to rationally designed protein assemblies. Biochem Pharmacol 2016; 120:1-14. [PMID: 27157411 PMCID: PMC5079805 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2016.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Vaccines have been the single most significant advancement in public health, preventing morbidity and mortality in millions of people annually. Vaccine development has traditionally focused on whole organism vaccines, either live attenuated or inactivated vaccines. While successful for many different infectious diseases whole organisms are expensive to produce, require culture of the infectious agent, and have the potential to cause vaccine associated disease in hosts. With advancing technology and a desire to develop safe, cost effective vaccine candidates, the field began to focus on the development of recombinantly expressed antigens known as subunit vaccines. While more tolerable, subunit vaccines tend to be less immunogenic. Attempts have been made to increase immunogenicity with the addition of adjuvants, either immunostimulatory molecules or an antigen delivery system that increases immune responses to vaccines. An area of extreme interest has been the application of nanotechnology to vaccine development, which allows for antigens to be expressed on a particulate delivery system. One of the most exciting examples of nanovaccines are rationally designed protein nanoparticles. These nanoparticles use some of the basic tenants of structural biology, biophysical chemistry, and vaccinology to develop protective, safe, and easily manufactured vaccines. Rationally developed nanoparticle vaccines are one of the most promising candidates for the future of vaccine development.
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MESH Headings
- Adjuvants, Immunologic/adverse effects
- Adjuvants, Immunologic/chemistry
- Adjuvants, Immunologic/therapeutic use
- Allergy and Immunology/history
- Allergy and Immunology/trends
- Animals
- Antigens/adverse effects
- Antigens/chemistry
- Antigens/immunology
- Antigens/therapeutic use
- Biopharmaceutics/history
- Biopharmaceutics/methods
- Biopharmaceutics/trends
- Chemistry, Pharmaceutical/history
- Chemistry, Pharmaceutical/trends
- Communicable Disease Control/history
- Communicable Disease Control/trends
- Communicable Diseases/immunology
- Communicable Diseases/veterinary
- Drug Delivery Systems/adverse effects
- Drug Delivery Systems/trends
- Drug Delivery Systems/veterinary
- Drug Design
- History, 19th Century
- History, 20th Century
- History, 21st Century
- Humans
- Nanoparticles/adverse effects
- Nanoparticles/chemistry
- Nanoparticles/therapeutic use
- Protein Engineering/trends
- Protein Engineering/veterinary
- Protein Folding
- Recombinant Proteins/adverse effects
- Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use
- Vaccines/adverse effects
- Vaccines/chemistry
- Vaccines/immunology
- Vaccines/therapeutic use
- Vaccines, Subunit/adverse effects
- Vaccines, Subunit/chemistry
- Vaccines, Subunit/immunology
- Vaccines, Subunit/therapeutic use
- Vaccines, Synthetic/adverse effects
- Vaccines, Synthetic/chemistry
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/therapeutic use
- Veterinary Drugs/adverse effects
- Veterinary Drugs/chemistry
- Veterinary Drugs/immunology
- Veterinary Drugs/therapeutic use
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P Karch
- The Institute of Materials Science, 97 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269, United States
| | - Peter Burkhard
- The Institute of Materials Science, 97 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269, United States; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, 93 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269, United States.
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21
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Torres-Sangiao E, Holban AM, Gestal MC. Advanced Nanobiomaterials: Vaccines, Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases. Molecules 2016; 21:molecules21070867. [PMID: 27376260 PMCID: PMC6273484 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21070867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Revised: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of nanoparticles has contributed to many advances due to their important properties such as, size, shape or biocompatibility. The use of nanotechnology in medicine has great potential, especially in medical microbiology. Promising data show the possibility of shaping immune responses and fighting severe infections using synthetic materials. Different studies have suggested that the addition of synthetic nanoparticles in vaccines and immunotherapy will have a great impact on public health. On the other hand, antibiotic resistance is one of the major concerns worldwide; a recent report of the World Health Organization (WHO) states that antibiotic resistance could cause 300 million deaths by 2050. Nanomedicine offers an innovative tool for combating the high rates of resistance that we are fighting nowadays, by the development of both alternative therapeutic and prophylaxis approaches and also novel diagnosis methods. Early detection of infectious diseases is the key to a successful treatment and the new developed applications based on nanotechnology offer an increased sensibility and efficiency of the diagnosis. The aim of this review is to reveal and discuss the main advances made on the science of nanomaterials for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. Highlighting innovative approaches utilized to: (i) increasing the efficiency of vaccines; (ii) obtaining shuttle systems that require lower antibiotic concentrations; (iii) developing coating devices that inhibit microbial colonization and biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Torres-Sangiao
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University Santiago de Compostela, Galicia 15782, Spain.
| | - Alina Maria Holban
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest 060101, Romania.
- Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest 060042, Romania.
| | - Monica Cartelle Gestal
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens (UGA), GA 30602, USA.
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