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Vasyagin EA, Zykova AA, Mardanova ES, Nikitin NA, Shuklina MA, Ozhereleva OO, Stepanova LA, Tsybalova LM, Blokhina EA, Ravin NV. Influenza A Vaccine Candidates Based on Virus-like Particles Formed by Coat Proteins of Single-Stranded RNA Phages Beihai32 and PQ465. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:1033. [PMID: 39340063 PMCID: PMC11435553 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12091033] [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: 07/22/2024] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Efficient control of influenza A infection can potentially be achieved through the development of broad-spectrum recombinant vaccines based on conserved antigens. The extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 of influenza A virus (M2e) is highly conserved but poorly immunogenic and needs to be fused to an adjuvant protein or carrier virus-like particles (VLPs) to increase immunogenicity and provide protection against infection. In this study, we obtained VLPs based on capsid proteins (CPs) of single-stranded RNA phages Beihai32 and PQ465 bearing the M2e peptides. Four copies of the M2e peptide were linked to the C-terminus of the CP of phage Beihai32 and to the N and C termini of the CP of phage PQ465. The hybrid proteins, being expressed in Escherichia coli, formed spherical VLPs of about 30 nm in size. Immunogold transmission electron microscopy showed that VLPs formed by the phage PQ465 CP with a C-terminal M2e fusion present the M2e peptide on the surface. Subcutaneous immunization of mice with VLPs formed by both CPs containing four copies of the M2e peptide at the C termini induced high levels of M2e-specific IgG antibodies in serum and provided mice with protection against lethal influenza A virus challenge. In the case of an N-terminal fusion of M2e with the phage PQ465 CP, the immune response against M2e was significantly lower. CPs of phages Beihai32 and PQ465, containing four copies of the M2e peptide at their C termini, can be used to develop recombinant influenza A vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egor A Vasyagin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A Zykova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Eugenia S Mardanova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolai A Nikitin
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina A Shuklina
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Olga O Ozhereleva
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Liudmila A Stepanova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Liudmila M Tsybalova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elena A Blokhina
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolai V Ravin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
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Zhu H, Li X, Li X, Chen H, Qian P. Protection against the H1N1 influenza virus using self-assembled nanoparticles formed by lumazine synthase and bearing the M2e peptide. Virology 2024; 597:110162. [PMID: 38955082 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110162] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
There is an urgent need for influenza vaccines that offer broad cross-protection. The highly conserved ectodomain of the influenza matrix protein 2 (M2e) is a promising candidate; however, its low immunogenicity can be addressed. In this study, we developed influenza vaccines using the Lumazine synthase (LS) platform. The primary objective of this study was to determine the protective potential of M2e proteins expressed on Lumazine synthase (LS) nanoparticles. M2e-LS proteins, produced through the E. coli system, spontaneously assemble into nanoparticles. The study investigated the efficacy of the M2e-LS nanoparticle vaccine in mice. Mice immunized with M2e-LS nanoparticles exhibited significantly higher levels of intracellular cytokines than those receiving soluble M2e proteins. The M2e-LS protein exhibited robust immunogenicity and provided 100% protection against cross-clade influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hechao Zhu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China; Guangxi Yangxiang Co., LTD, Guigang, 537100, China
| | - Xinxin Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Xiangmin Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Ping Qian
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.
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3
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Clever S, Limpinsel L, Meyer zu Natrup C, Schünemann LM, Beythien G, Rosiak M, Hülskötter K, Gregor KM, Tuchel T, Kalodimou G, Freudenstein A, Kumar S, Baumgärtner W, Sutter G, Tscherne A, Volz A. Single MVA-SARS-2-ST/N Vaccination Rapidly Protects K18-hACE2 Mice against a Lethal SARS-CoV-2 Challenge Infection. Viruses 2024; 16:417. [PMID: 38543782 PMCID: PMC10974247 DOI: 10.3390/v16030417] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The sudden emergence of SARS-CoV-2 demonstrates the need for new vaccines that rapidly protect in the case of an emergency. In this study, we developed a recombinant MVA vaccine co-expressing SARS-CoV-2 prefusion-stabilized spike protein (ST) and SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein (N, MVA-SARS-2-ST/N) as an approach to further improve vaccine-induced immunogenicity and efficacy. Single MVA-SARS-2-ST/N vaccination in K18-hACE2 mice induced robust protection against lethal respiratory SARS-CoV-2 challenge infection 28 days later. The protective outcome of MVA-SARS-2-ST/N vaccination correlated with the activation of SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies (nABs) and substantial amounts of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells especially in the lung of MVA-SARS-2-ST/N-vaccinated mice. Emergency vaccination with MVA-SARS-2-ST/N just 2 days before lethal SARS-CoV-2 challenge infection resulted in a delayed onset of clinical disease outcome in these mice and increased titers of nAB or SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in the spleen and lung. These data highlight the potential of a multivalent COVID-19 vaccine co-expressing S- and N-protein, which further contributes to the development of rapidly protective vaccination strategies against emerging pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Clever
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (S.C.); (C.M.z.N.); (L.-M.S.)
| | - Leonard Limpinsel
- Division of Virology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany; (L.L.); (G.K.); (A.F.); (S.K.); (G.S.); (A.T.)
| | - Christian Meyer zu Natrup
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (S.C.); (C.M.z.N.); (L.-M.S.)
| | - Lisa-Marie Schünemann
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (S.C.); (C.M.z.N.); (L.-M.S.)
| | - Georg Beythien
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (G.B.); (M.R.); (K.H.); (K.M.G.); (W.B.)
| | - Malgorzata Rosiak
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (G.B.); (M.R.); (K.H.); (K.M.G.); (W.B.)
| | - Kirsten Hülskötter
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (G.B.); (M.R.); (K.H.); (K.M.G.); (W.B.)
| | - Katharina Manuela Gregor
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (G.B.); (M.R.); (K.H.); (K.M.G.); (W.B.)
| | - Tamara Tuchel
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (S.C.); (C.M.z.N.); (L.-M.S.)
| | - Georgia Kalodimou
- Division of Virology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany; (L.L.); (G.K.); (A.F.); (S.K.); (G.S.); (A.T.)
| | - Astrid Freudenstein
- Division of Virology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany; (L.L.); (G.K.); (A.F.); (S.K.); (G.S.); (A.T.)
| | - Satendra Kumar
- Division of Virology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany; (L.L.); (G.K.); (A.F.); (S.K.); (G.S.); (A.T.)
| | - Wolfgang Baumgärtner
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (G.B.); (M.R.); (K.H.); (K.M.G.); (W.B.)
| | - Gerd Sutter
- Division of Virology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany; (L.L.); (G.K.); (A.F.); (S.K.); (G.S.); (A.T.)
| | - Alina Tscherne
- Division of Virology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany; (L.L.); (G.K.); (A.F.); (S.K.); (G.S.); (A.T.)
| | - Asisa Volz
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (S.C.); (C.M.z.N.); (L.-M.S.)
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Malik S, Asghar M, Waheed Y. Outlining recent updates on influenza therapeutics and vaccines: A comprehensive review. Vaccine X 2024; 17:100452. [PMID: 38328274 PMCID: PMC10848012 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2024.100452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Influenza virus has presented a considerable healthcare challenge during the past years, particularly in vulnerable groups with compromised immune systems. Therapeutics and vaccination have always been in research annals since the spread of influenza. Efforts have been going on to develop an antiviral therapeutic approach that could assist in better disease management and reduce the overall disease complexity, resistance development, and fatality rates. On the other hand, vaccination presents a chance for effective, long-term, cost-benefit, and preventive response against the morbidity and mortality associated with the influenza. However, the issues of resistance development, strain mutation, antigenic variability, and inability to cure wide-spectrum and large-scale strains of the virus by available vaccines remain there. The article gathers the updated data for the therapeutics and available influenza vaccines, their mechanism of action, shortcomings, and trials under clinical experimentation. A methodological approach has been adopted to identify the prospective therapeutics and available vaccines approved and within the clinical trials against the influenza virus. Review contains influenza therapeutics, including traditional and novel antiviral drugs and inhibitor therapies against influenza virus as well as research trials based on newer drug combinations and latest technologies such as nanotechnology and organic and plant-based natural products. Most recent development of influenza vaccine has been discussed including some updates on traditional vaccination protocols and discussion on next-generation and upgraded novel technologies. This review will help the readers to understand the righteous approach for dealing with influenza virus infection and for deducing futuristic approaches for novel therapeutic and vaccine trials against Influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiza Malik
- Bridging Health Foundation, Rawalpindi, Punjab 46000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Asghar
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sweden
- Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), H-12, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Yasir Waheed
- Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (ORIC), Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos 1401, Lebanon
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5
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Leroux-Roels I, Willems P, Waerlop G, Janssens Y, Tourneur J, De Boever F, Bruhwyler J, Alhatemi A, Jacobs B, Nicolas F, Leroux-Roels G, Le Vert A. Immunogenicity, safety, and preliminary efficacy evaluation of OVX836, a nucleoprotein-based universal influenza A vaccine candidate: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2a trial. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 23:1360-1369. [PMID: 37517422 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(23)00351-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND OVX836, a recombinant vaccine containing the nucleoprotein of the influenza A virus A/WSN/1933 (H1N1) and the oligomerisation domain OVX313, has displayed a good safety profile and elicited dose-dependent humoral and cellular immune responses at 90 μg or 180 μg (intramuscularly) in previous clinical trials. The aim of this study was to explore higher doses, since no maximum tolerated dose had been reached. METHODS In this phase 2a, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we recruited 137 healthy adults aged 18-55 years in a single centre in Belgium. Participants were randomly assigned (interactive web response system; block size=4) using SAS (version 9.4) to receive one single intramuscular administration of OVX836 influenza vaccine at three doses (180 μg [n=33], 300 μg [n=35], and 480 μg [n=36]) or placebo (n=33). The two primary endpoints were the safety and the cell-mediated immune response to OVX836 at the three doses in terms of change of nucleoprotein-specific IFNγ spot forming cell (SFC) frequencies in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) population, measured by IFNγ ELISpot, at day 8 versus pre-injection baseline (day 1). The population used for the safety analysis is the modified intention-to-treat cohort. The population used for the immunogenicity analysis is the per-protocol cohort. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05060887, and EudraCT, 2021-002535-39. FINDINGS Participants were recruited between Nov 15, 2021, and Feb 1, 2022. OVX836 had a favourable safety profile up to 480 μg without reaching the maximum tolerated dose, and showed a good safety profile at all doses with mild local and systemic reactogenicity. 7 days after vaccination, although no significant differences were observed between the doses, OVX836 increased the frequency of nucleoprotein-specific IFNγ SFCs per million PBMCs from days 1 to 8 (primary endpoint): by 124 SFCs per 106 PMBCs (95% CI 67 to 180; p=0·002) at 180 μg; by 202 SFCs per 106 PMBCs (95% CI 138 to 267; p<0·0001) at 300 μg; by 223 SFCs per 106 PMBCs (95% CI 147 to 299; p<0·0001) at 480 μg; and decreased by 1 SFCs per 106 PMBCs (95% CI -24 to 22] in the placebo group (Kruskal-Wallis test p<0·0001 followed by Mann-Whitney's tests; per-protocol cohort). Dose-dependent and polyfunctional nucleoprotein-specific CD4 T-cell responses were observed, and CD8 T-cell responses were elicited at 300 μg and 480 μg (secondary endpoints). INTERPRETATION OVX836 appears to be a safe and well tolerated candidate vaccine that elicits humoral and cellular nucleoprotein-specific immune responses (including CD8 T cells at the highest dose levels) and showed a preliminary signal of protection against influenza. Therefore, OVX836 is a promising vaccine candidate for universal influenza A prevention, that warrants further trials. FUNDING OSIVAX, Bpifrance, Wallonia Region, and the EUs Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program.
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6
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Bedi R, Bayless NL, Glanville J. Challenges and Progress in Designing Broad-Spectrum Vaccines Against Rapidly Mutating Viruses. Annu Rev Biomed Data Sci 2023; 6:419-441. [PMID: 37196356 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biodatasci-020722-041304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Viruses evolve to evade prior immunity, causing significant disease burden. Vaccine effectiveness deteriorates as pathogens mutate, requiring redesign. This is a problem that has grown worse due to population increase, global travel, and farming practices. Thus, there is significant interest in developing broad-spectrum vaccines that mitigate disease severity and ideally inhibit disease transmission without requiring frequent updates. Even in cases where vaccines against rapidly mutating pathogens have been somewhat effective, such as seasonal influenza and SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), designing vaccines that provide broad-spectrum immunity against routinely observed viral variation remains a desirable but not yet achieved goal. This review highlights the key theoretical advances in understanding the interplay between polymorphism and vaccine efficacy, challenges in designing broad-spectrum vaccines, and technology advances and possible avenues forward. We also discuss data-driven approaches for monitoring vaccine efficacy and predicting viral escape from vaccine-induced protection. In each case, we consider illustrative examples in vaccine development from influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)-three examples of highly prevalent rapidly mutating viruses with distinct phylogenetics and unique histories of vaccine technology development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishi Bedi
- Centivax Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
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7
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Gu M, Jiao J, Liu S, Zhao W, Ge Z, Cai K, Xu L, He D, Zhang X, Qi X, Jiang W, Zhang P, Wang X, Hu S, Liu X. Monoclonal antibody targeting a novel linear epitope on nucleoprotein confers pan-reactivity to influenza A virus. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:2437-2450. [PMID: 36820898 PMCID: PMC9947902 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12433-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Nucleoprotein (NP) functions crucially in the replicative cycle of influenza A virus (IAV) via forming the ribonucleoprotein complex together with PB2, PB1, and PA proteins. As its high conservation, NP ranks one of the hot targets for design of universal diagnostic reagents and antiviral drugs for IAV. Here, we report an anti-NP murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) 5F10 prepared from traditional lymphocyte hybridoma technique with the immunogen of a clade 2.3.4.4 H5N1 subtype avian influenza virus. The specificity of mAb 5F10 to NP protein was confirmed by immunofluorescence assay and western blotting, and the mAb 5F10 could be used in immunoprecipitation and immunohistochemistry assays. Importantly, mAb 5F10 possessed broad-spectrum reactivity against H1~H11 subtypes of avian influenza viruses, including various HA clades of H5Nx subtype. In addition, mAb 5F10 also showed good affinity with H1N1 and H3N2 subtype influenza viruses of swine and human origin. Furthermore, the recognized antigenic epitope of mAb 5F10 was identified to consist of the conserved amino acid motif 81EHPSA85 in the second flexible loop region of NP protein through screening the phage display peptide library. Collectively, the mAb 5F10 which recognizes the novel universal NP linear B-cell epitope of IAV with diverse origins and subtypes will be a powerful tool for NP protein-based structural, functional, and mechanistic studies, as well as the development of detection methods and universal vaccines for IAV. KEY POINTS: • A broad-spectrum mAb against various subtypes and sources of IAV was developed • The mAb possessed good reactivity in IFA, western blot, IP, and IHC assays • The mAb targeted a novel conserved linear B-cell epitope involving 81EHPSA85 on NP protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Gu
- grid.268415.cAnimal Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
- grid.268415.cJiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
- grid.268415.cJiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Jun Jiao
- grid.268415.cAnimal Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Suhan Liu
- grid.268415.cAnimal Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Wanchen Zhao
- grid.268415.cAnimal Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Zhichuang Ge
- grid.268415.cAnimal Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Kairui Cai
- grid.268415.cAnimal Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Lijun Xu
- grid.268415.cAnimal Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Dongchang He
- grid.268415.cAnimal Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- grid.268415.cAnimal Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Xian Qi
- grid.410734.50000 0004 1761 5845Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Wenming Jiang
- grid.414245.20000 0004 6063 681XChina Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, 266032 China
| | - Pinghu Zhang
- grid.268415.cJiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
- grid.268415.cJiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Xiaoquan Wang
- grid.268415.cAnimal Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
- grid.268415.cJiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
- grid.268415.cJiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Shunlin Hu
- grid.268415.cAnimal Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
- grid.268415.cJiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
- grid.268415.cJiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Xiufan Liu
- grid.268415.cAnimal Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
- grid.268415.cJiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
- grid.268415.cJiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
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Kumari R, Sharma SD, Kumar A, Ende Z, Mishina M, Wang Y, Falls Z, Samudrala R, Pohl J, Knight PR, Sambhara S. Antiviral Approaches against Influenza Virus. Clin Microbiol Rev 2023; 36:e0004022. [PMID: 36645300 PMCID: PMC10035319 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00040-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Preventing and controlling influenza virus infection remains a global public health challenge, as it causes seasonal epidemics to unexpected pandemics. These infections are responsible for high morbidity, mortality, and substantial economic impact. Vaccines are the prophylaxis mainstay in the fight against influenza. However, vaccination fails to confer complete protection due to inadequate vaccination coverages, vaccine shortages, and mismatches with circulating strains. Antivirals represent an important prophylactic and therapeutic measure to reduce influenza-associated morbidity and mortality, particularly in high-risk populations. Here, we review current FDA-approved influenza antivirals with their mechanisms of action, and different viral- and host-directed influenza antiviral approaches, including immunomodulatory interventions in clinical development. Furthermore, we also illustrate the potential utility of machine learning in developing next-generation antivirals against influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashmi Kumari
- Immunology and Pathogenesis Branch, Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Suresh D. Sharma
- Immunology and Pathogenesis Branch, Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Amrita Kumar
- Immunology and Pathogenesis Branch, Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Zachary Ende
- Immunology and Pathogenesis Branch, Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), CDC Fellowship Program, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Margarita Mishina
- Immunology and Pathogenesis Branch, Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Biotechnology Core Facility Branch, Division of Scientific Resources, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Association of Public Health Laboratories, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Zackary Falls
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Ram Samudrala
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Jan Pohl
- Biotechnology Core Facility Branch, Division of Scientific Resources, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Paul R. Knight
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Suryaprakash Sambhara
- Immunology and Pathogenesis Branch, Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Henson TR, Richards KA, Gandhapudi SK, Woodward JG, Sant AJ. R-DOTAP Cationic Lipid Nanoparticles Outperform Squalene-Based Adjuvant Systems in Elicitation of CD4 T Cells after Recombinant Influenza Hemagglutinin Vaccination. Viruses 2023; 15:538. [PMID: 36851752 PMCID: PMC9959843 DOI: 10.3390/v15020538] [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: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
It is clear that new approaches are needed to promote broadly protective immunity to viral pathogens, particularly those that are prone to mutation and escape from antibody-mediated immunity. Prototypic pathogens of this type are influenza and SARS-CoV-2, where the receptor-binding protein exhibits extremely high variability in its receptor-binding regions. T cells, known to target many viral proteins, and within these, highly conserved peptide epitopes, can contribute greatly to protective immunity through multiple mechanisms but are often poorly recruited by current vaccine strategies. Here, we have studied a promising novel pure enantio-specific cationic lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (R-DOTAP), which was previously recognized for its ability to generate anti-tumor immunity through the induction of potent cytotoxic CD8 T cells. Using a preclinical mouse model, we have assessed an R-DOTAP nanoparticle adjuvant system for its ability to promote CD4 T cell responses to vaccination with recombinant influenza protein. Our studies revealed that R-DOTAP consistently outperformed a squalene-based adjuvant emulsion, even when it was introduced with a potent TLR agonist CpG, in the ability to elicit peptide epitope-specific CD4 T cells when quantified by IFN-γ and IL-2 ELISpot assays. Clinical testing of R-DOTAP containing vaccines in earlier work by others has demonstrated an acceptable safety profile. Hence, R-DOTAP can offer exciting opportunities as an immune stimulant for next-generation prophylactic recombinant protein-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R. Henson
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Katherine A. Richards
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Siva K. Gandhapudi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Jerold G. Woodward
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Andrea J. Sant
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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10
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Panasiuk M, Chraniuk M, Zimmer K, Hovhannisyan L, Krapchev V, Peszyńska-Sularz G, Narajczyk M, Węsławski J, Konopacka A, Gromadzka B. Characterization of surface-exposed structural loops as insertion sites for foreign antigen delivery in calicivirus-derived VLP platform. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1111947. [PMID: 36922971 PMCID: PMC10010390 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1111947] [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: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric virus-like particles (cVLPs) show great potential in improving public health as they are safe and effective vaccine candidates. The capsid protein of caliciviruses has been described previously as a self-assembling, highly immunogenic delivery platform. The ability to significantly induce cellular and humoral immunity can be used to boost the immune response to low immunogenic foreign antigens displayed on the surface of VLPs. Capsid proteins of caliciviruses despite sequence differences share similar architecture with structural loops that can be genetically modified to present foreign epitopes on the surface of cVLPs. Here, based on the VP1 protein of norovirus (NoV), we investigated the impact of the localization of the epitope in different structural loops of the P domain on the immunogenicity of the presented epitope. In this study, three distinct loops of NoV VP1 protein were genetically modified to present a multivalent influenza virus epitope consisting of a tandem repeat of M2/NP epitopes. cVLPs presenting influenza virus-conserved epitopes in different localizations were produced in the insect cells and used to immunize BALB/c mice. Specific reaction to influenza epitopes was compared in sera from vaccinated mice to determine whether the localization of the foreign epitope has an impact on the immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirosława Panasiuk
- Department of In Vitro Studies, Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Gdańsk, Poland.,Nano Expo Sp z.o.o, Gdańsk, Poland.,Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Milena Chraniuk
- Department of In Vitro Studies, Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Gdańsk, Poland.,Nano Expo Sp z.o.o, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Karolina Zimmer
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bielsko-Biala, Bielsko-Biala, Poland
| | - Lilit Hovhannisyan
- Department of In Vitro Studies, Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Vasil Krapchev
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Grażyna Peszyńska-Sularz
- Tri-City Central Animal Laboratory Research and Service Center, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Magdalena Narajczyk
- Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jan Węsławski
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.,Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Konopacka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Beata Gromadzka
- Department of In Vitro Studies, Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Gdańsk, Poland.,Nano Expo Sp z.o.o, Gdańsk, Poland.,Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
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11
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Tan MP, Mohamed Alitheen NB, Tan WS, Yap WB. Expression of Influenza M2e-NP Recombinant Fusion Protein in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and Its Binding to Antibodies. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10122066. [PMID: 36560475 PMCID: PMC9784878 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10122066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The current influenza vaccines only confer protection against the circulating influenza subtypes, therefore universal vaccines are needed to prevent upcoming influenza outbreaks caused by emerging influenza subtypes. The extracellular domain of influenza A M2 protein (M2e) is highly conserved among different subtypes of influenza A viruses, and it is able to elicit protective immunity against the viruses. The influenza nucleoprotein (NP) was used to display the M2e in this study due to its promising T-cell response and adjuvanticity. The M2e gene was fused to the 5'-end of the NP gene and then cloned into pRSET B vector. The DNA sequencing analysis revealed six point mutations in the M2e-NP fusion gene, including one mutation in the M2e peptide and five mutations in the NP. The mutations were reverted using PCR site-directed mutagenesis. The recombinant plasmids (pRSET B-M2e-NP and pRSET B-mM2e-NP) were introduced into Escherichia coli (E. coli) BL21 (DE3) for protein expression. The mutated and non-mutated proteins were subsequently expressed and named mM2e-NP and M2e-NP, respectively. The expression of mM2e-NP and M2e-NP was not affected by the mutations. The binding of anti-M2e antibody to the purified native mM2e-NP and M2e-NP also remained active. However, when the anti-NP antibody was tested, the signal produced by mM2e-NP was very weak. The results implied that the amino acid changes in the NP had adversely impacted on the conformation of mM2e-NP and subsequently affected the antibody binding. In light of the remarkable antibody binding to the M2e-NP fusion protein, this study highly recommends the potential of M2e-NP as a universal influenza vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Peng Tan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Noorjahan Banu Mohamed Alitheen
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Wen Siang Tan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Wei Boon Yap
- Center for Toxicology and Health Risk Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
- Biomedical Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +603-92897920
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12
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Leroux-Roels I, Waerlop G, Tourneur J, De Boever F, Maes C, Bruhwyler J, Guyon-Gellin D, Moris P, Del Campo J, Willems P, Leroux-Roels G, Le Vert A, Nicolas F. Randomized, Double-Blind, Reference-Controlled, Phase 2a Study Evaluating the Immunogenicity and Safety of OVX836, A Nucleoprotein-Based Influenza Vaccine. Front Immunol 2022; 13:852904. [PMID: 35464450 PMCID: PMC9022189 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.852904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OVX836 is a recombinant protein-based vaccine targeting the highly conserved influenza nucleoprotein (NP), which aims to confer a broad-spectrum protection against influenza. In a Phase 1 study, OVX836, administered intramuscularly, has been found safe and immunogenic. The 90µg and 180µg dose levels were selected to be further evaluated in this randomized, monocenter, reference-controlled (Influvac Tetra™: quadrivalent seasonal influenza subunit vaccine), parallel group, double-blind, Phase 2a study in 300 healthy volunteers, aged 18-65 years, during the 2019/2020 flu season. Safety, influenza-like illness episodes (ILI; based on the Flu-PRO® questionnaire) and immunogenicity were assessed up to 180 days post-vaccination. OVX836 was safe and presented a reactogenicity profile similar to Influvac Tetra. It induced a significant increase in terms of NP-specific interferon-gamma (IFNγ) spot forming cells (SFCs), NP-specific CD4+ T-cells (essentially polyfunctional cells) and anti-NP IgG responses. OVX836 was superior to Influvac Tetra for all immunological parameters related to NP, and the 180µg dose was significantly superior to the 90µg dose for SFCs and CD4+ T-cells expressing IFNγ. Both the CD4+ T-cell and the anti-NP IgG responses persisted up to Day 180. An efficacy signal was observed with OVX836 at 180µg through reduction of ILI episodes occurring during the flu season as of 14 days post-vaccination. In conclusion, these results encourage further clinical evaluation of OVX836 in order to confirm the signal of efficacy on ILIs and/or laboratory-confirmed influenza cases. NCT04192500 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04192500).
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Leroux-Roels
- Center for Vaccinology (CEVAC), Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gwenn Waerlop
- Center for Vaccinology (CEVAC), Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Fien De Boever
- Center for Vaccinology (CEVAC), Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Catherine Maes
- Center for Vaccinology (CEVAC), Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Geert Leroux-Roels
- Center for Vaccinology (CEVAC), Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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