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Nithya Shree J, Premika T, Sharlin S, Annie Aglin A. Diverse approaches to express recombinant spike protein: A comprehensive review. Protein Expr Purif 2024; 223:106556. [PMID: 39009199 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2024.106556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
The spike protein of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for infecting host cells. It has two segments, S1 and S2. The S1 segment has a receptor-binding domain (RBD) that attaches to the host receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The S2 segment helps in the fusion of the viral cell membrane by creating a six-helical bundle through the two-heptad repeat domain. To develop effective vaccines and therapeutics against COVID-19, it is critical to express and purify the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. Extensive studies have been conducted on expression of a complete recombinant spike protein or its fragments. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the different expression systems employed for spike protein expression, along with their advantages and disadvantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jk Nithya Shree
- Department of Biotechnology, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi, 626005, Tamilnadu, India
| | - T Premika
- Department of Biotechnology, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi, 626005, Tamilnadu, India
| | - S Sharlin
- Department of Biotechnology, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi, 626005, Tamilnadu, India
| | - A Annie Aglin
- Department of Biotechnology, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi, 626005, Tamilnadu, India.
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Fagiani F, Frigerio R, Salzano AM, Scaloni A, Marusic C, Donini M. Plant production of recombinant antigens containing the receptor binding domain (RBD) of two SARS-CoV-2 variants. Biotechnol Lett 2024:10.1007/s10529-024-03517-9. [PMID: 39066957 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-024-03517-9] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this work was to rapidly produce in plats two recombinant antigens (RBDw-Fc and RBDo-Fc) containing the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike (S) protein from SARS-CoV-2 variants Wuhan and Omicron as fusion proteins to the Fc portion of a murine IgG2a antibody constant region (Fc). RESULTS The two recombinant antigens were expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants, engineered to avoid the addition of N-linked plant-typical sugars, through vacuum agroinfiltration and showed comparable purification yields (about 35 mg/kg leaf fresh weight). CONCLUSIONS Their Western blotting and Coomassie staining evidenced the occurrence of major in planta proteolysis in the region between the RBD and Fc, which was particularly evident in RBDw-Fc, the only antigen bearing the HRV 3C cysteine protease recognition site. The two RBD N-linked glycosylation sites showed very homogeneous profiles free from plant-typical sugars, with the most abundant glycoform represented by the complex sugar GlcNAc4Man3. Both antigens were specifically recognised in Western Blot analysis by the anti-SARS-CoV-2 human neutralizing monoclonal antibody J08-MUT and RBDw-Fc was successfully used in competitive ELISA experiments for binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor to verify the neutralizing capacity of the serum from vaccinated patients. Both SARS-Cov-2 antigens fused to a murine Fc region were rapidly and functionally produced in plants with potential applications in diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Fagiani
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, ENEA Research Center Casaccia, 00123, Rome, Italy
| | - Rachele Frigerio
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, ENEA Research Center Casaccia, 00123, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Salzano
- Proteomics, Metabolomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Andrea Scaloni
- Proteomics, Metabolomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Carla Marusic
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, ENEA Research Center Casaccia, 00123, Rome, Italy.
| | - Marcello Donini
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, ENEA Research Center Casaccia, 00123, Rome, Italy.
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Sobrino-Mengual G, Armario-Nájera V, Balieu J, Walet-Balieu ML, Saba-Mayoral A, Pelacho AM, Capell T, Christou P, Bardor M, Lerouge P. The SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Receptor-Binding Domain Expressed in Rice Callus Features a Homogeneous Mix of Complex-Type Glycans. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4466. [PMID: 38674051 PMCID: PMC11050186 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 is required for the infection of human cells. It is the main target that elicits neutralizing antibodies and also a major component of diagnostic kits. The large demand for this protein has led to the use of plants as a production platform. However, it is necessary to determine the N-glycan structures of an RBD to investigate its efficacy and functionality as a vaccine candidate or diagnostic reagent. Here, we analyzed the N-glycan profile of the RBD produced in rice callus. Of the two potential N-glycan acceptor sites, we found that one was not utilized and the other contained a mixture of complex-type N-glycans. This differs from the heterogeneous mixture of N-glycans found when an RBD is expressed in other hosts, including Nicotiana benthamiana. By comparing the glycosylation profiles of different hosts, we can select platforms that produce RBDs with the most beneficial N-glycan structures for different applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Sobrino-Mengual
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Agrotecnio CERCA Center, 25003 Lleida, Spain; (G.S.-M.); (V.A.-N.); (A.S.-M.); (A.M.P.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Victoria Armario-Nájera
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Agrotecnio CERCA Center, 25003 Lleida, Spain; (G.S.-M.); (V.A.-N.); (A.S.-M.); (A.M.P.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Juliette Balieu
- GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Université de Rouen Normandie, F-76000 Rouen, France;
| | - Marie-Laure Walet-Balieu
- INSERM, CNRS, HeRacLeS US51 UAR2026, PISSARO, Université de Rouen Normandie, F-76000 Rouen, France; (M.-L.W.-B.); (M.B.)
| | - Andrea Saba-Mayoral
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Agrotecnio CERCA Center, 25003 Lleida, Spain; (G.S.-M.); (V.A.-N.); (A.S.-M.); (A.M.P.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Ana M. Pelacho
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Agrotecnio CERCA Center, 25003 Lleida, Spain; (G.S.-M.); (V.A.-N.); (A.S.-M.); (A.M.P.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Teresa Capell
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Agrotecnio CERCA Center, 25003 Lleida, Spain; (G.S.-M.); (V.A.-N.); (A.S.-M.); (A.M.P.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Paul Christou
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Agrotecnio CERCA Center, 25003 Lleida, Spain; (G.S.-M.); (V.A.-N.); (A.S.-M.); (A.M.P.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
- Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Muriel Bardor
- INSERM, CNRS, HeRacLeS US51 UAR2026, PISSARO, Université de Rouen Normandie, F-76000 Rouen, France; (M.-L.W.-B.); (M.B.)
| | - Patrice Lerouge
- GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Université de Rouen Normandie, F-76000 Rouen, France;
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Sindarovska Y, Kuchuk M. Construction of viral-based expression vectors for high-level production of human interferon alpha 2b in plants. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:229. [PMID: 38393430 PMCID: PMC10891288 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13069-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Human interferon (hINF) alpha 2b is clinically important pharmaceutical product included in combinatory therapy against chronic hepatitis C and B and complex therapy against several cancer diseases. Here, we created the genetic constructions, based on genome elements of potato virus X (PVX), carrying the infα2b gene for transient expression in plant cells. The created plasmid vector constructions were tested through Agrobacterium-mediated transient gene expression method in two plant species-Nicotiana benthamiana and Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil). Production of recombinant hINF alpha 2b was more efficient in N. benthamiana than that in O. basilicum plants. The average yield of hINF alpha 2b produced in N. benthamiana plants was 0.56 mg/g of fresh leaf weight (FW) or 6% of the total soluble cell proteins (TSP). The maximal level reached up to 1.2 mg/g FW or 9% TSP. We estimated that about 0.67 mg of hINF can be obtained from one N. benthamiana plant. The yield of hINF alpha 2b obtained with the PVX-based expression cassette was about 80 times higher than the yield of hINF alpha 2b obtained with a simple expression cassette in which the infα2b gene was controlled by the 35S promoter of cauliflower mosaic virus. KEY POINTS: • PVX-based expression vectors provide efficient transient expression of infα2b gene • N. benthamiana plants can produce human interferon alpha 2b at high levels • The yield of the hINF α2b reached up to 1.2 mg/g of fresh leaf weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana Sindarovska
- Department of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering of NAS of Ukraine, Akad. Zabolotnogo Str., 148, Kyiv, 03148, Ukraine.
| | - Mykola Kuchuk
- Department of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering of NAS of Ukraine, Akad. Zabolotnogo Str., 148, Kyiv, 03148, Ukraine
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Santoni M, Gutierrez-Valdes N, Pivotto D, Zanichelli E, Rosa A, Sobrino-Mengual G, Balieu J, Lerouge P, Bardor M, Cecchetto R, Compri M, Mazzariol A, Ritala A, Avesani L. Performance of plant-produced RBDs as SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic reagents: a tale of two plant platforms. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1325162. [PMID: 38239207 PMCID: PMC10794598 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1325162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for rapid and cost-effective diagnostic tools. Serological tests, particularly those measuring antibodies targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the virus, play a pivotal role in tracking infection dynamics and vaccine effectiveness. In this study, we aimed to develop a simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring RBD-specific antibodies, comparing two plant-based platforms for diagnostic reagent production. We chose to retain RBD in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to prevent potential immunoreactivity issues associated with plant-specific glycans. We produced ER-retained RBD in two plant systems: a stable transformation of BY-2 plant cell culture (BY2-RBD) and a transient transformation in Nicotiana benthamiana using the MagnICON system (NB-RBD). Both systems demonstrated their suitability, with varying yields and production timelines. The plant-made proteins revealed unexpected differences in N-glycan profiles, with BY2-RBD displaying oligo-mannosidic N-glycans and NB-RBD exhibiting a more complex glycan profile. This difference may be attributed to higher recombinant protein synthesis in the N. benthamiana system, potentially overloading the ER retention signal, causing some proteins to traffic to the Golgi apparatus. When used as diagnostic reagents in ELISA, BY2-RBD outperformed NB-RBD in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and correlation with a commercial kit. This discrepancy may be due to the distinct glycan profiles, as complex glycans on NB-RBD may impact immunoreactivity. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of plant-based systems for rapid diagnostic reagent production during emergencies. However, transient expression systems, while offering shorter timelines, introduce higher heterogeneity in recombinant protein forms, necessitating careful consideration in serological test development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Denise Pivotto
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Elena Zanichelli
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Guillermo Sobrino-Mengual
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Rouen, France
- Applied Plant Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio CERCA Center, Lleida, Spain
| | - Juliette Balieu
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Rouen, France
| | - Patrice Lerouge
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Rouen, France
| | - Muriel Bardor
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Rouen, France
| | - Riccardo Cecchetto
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Monica Compri
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, UOC Microbiologia e Virologia, Verona, Italy
| | - Annarita Mazzariol
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Anneli Ritala
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Espoo, Finland
| | - Linda Avesani
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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de Andrade IA, Franca LV, Kauffmann CM, Maeda MHK, Koyama LHH, Hamann PRV, Lopes-Luz L, Fogaça MBT, de Camargo BR, Ribeiro BM, Bührer-Sékula S, Nagata T. Practical use of tobravirus-based vector to produce SARS-CoV-2 antigens in plants. J Virol Methods 2023; 315:114710. [PMID: 36914098 PMCID: PMC10008036 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2023.114710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
A plant-based heterologous expression system is an attractive option for recombinant protein production because it is based on a eukaryotic system of high feasibility, and low biological risks. Frequently, binary vector systems are used for transient gene-expression in plants. However, plant virus vector-based systems offer advantages for higher protein yields due to their self-replicating machinery. In the present study, we show an efficient protocol using a plant virus vector based on a tobravirus, pepper ringspot virus, that was employed for transient expression of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 partial gene fragments of the spike (named S1-N) and the nucleocapsid (named N) proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Purified proteins yield of 40~60µg/g of fresh leaves were obtained. Both proteins, S1-N and N, showed high and specific reactivities against convalescent patients' sera by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay format. The advantages and critical points in using this plant virus vector are discussed. DATA AVAILABILITY: All data generated and analyzed during this study are included in this published article and supporting materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikaro Alves de Andrade
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil; Pós-graduação em Biologia Microbiana, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Luísa Valério Franca
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Caterynne Melo Kauffmann
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil; Pós-graduação em Fitopatologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Matheus Hideki Kihara Maeda
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Lucas Hideo Hataka Koyama
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Pedro Ricardo Vieira Hamann
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Lopes-Luz
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Produção de Testes Rápidos, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Matheus Bernardes Torres Fogaça
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Produção de Testes Rápidos, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Brenda Rabello de Camargo
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Bergmann Morais Ribeiro
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Samira Bührer-Sékula
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Produção de Testes Rápidos, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Tatsuya Nagata
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil; Pós-graduação em Biologia Microbiana, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil; Pós-graduação em Fitopatologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil.
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Margolin E, Schäfer G, Allen JD, Gers S, Woodward J, Sutherland AD, Blumenthal M, Meyers A, Shaw ML, Preiser W, Strasser R, Crispin M, Williamson AL, Rybicki EP, Chapman R. A plant-produced SARS-CoV-2 spike protein elicits heterologous immunity in hamsters. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1146234. [PMID: 36959936 PMCID: PMC10028082 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1146234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Molecular farming of vaccines has been heralded as a cheap, safe and scalable production platform. In reality, however, differences in the plant biosynthetic machinery, compared to mammalian cells, can complicate the production of viral glycoproteins. Remodelling the secretory pathway presents an opportunity to support key post-translational modifications, and to tailor aspects of glycosylation and glycosylation-directed folding. In this study, we applied an integrated host and glyco-engineering approach, NXS/T Generation™, to produce a SARS-CoV-2 prefusion spike trimer in Nicotiana benthamiana as a model antigen from an emerging virus. The size exclusion-purified protein exhibited a characteristic prefusion structure when viewed by transmission electron microscopy, and this was indistinguishable from the equivalent mammalian cell-produced antigen. The plant-produced protein was decorated with under-processed oligomannose N-glycans and exhibited a site occupancy that was comparable to the equivalent protein produced in mammalian cell culture. Complex-type glycans were almost entirely absent from the plant-derived material, which contrasted against the predominantly mature, complex glycans that were observed on the mammalian cell culture-derived protein. The plant-derived antigen elicited neutralizing antibodies against both the matched Wuhan and heterologous Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants in immunized hamsters, although titres were lower than those induced by the comparator mammalian antigen. Animals vaccinated with the plant-derived antigen exhibited reduced viral loads following challenge, as well as significant protection from SARS-CoV-2 disease as evidenced by reduced lung pathology, lower viral loads and protection from weight loss. Nonetheless, animals immunized with the mammalian cell-culture-derived protein were better protected in this challenge model suggesting that more faithfully reproducing the native glycoprotein structure and associated glycosylation of the antigen may be desirable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Margolin
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Georgia Schäfer
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Observatory, Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Joel D Allen
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jeremy Woodward
- Electron Microscope Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andrew D Sutherland
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University Tygerberg Campus, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Melissa Blumenthal
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Observatory, Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ann Meyers
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Megan L Shaw
- Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Wolfgang Preiser
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University Tygerberg Campus, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Max Crispin
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Anna-Lise Williamson
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Edward P Rybicki
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ros Chapman
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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8
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O'Kennedy MM, Abolnik C, Smith T, Motlou T, Goosen K, Sepotokele KM, Roth R, du Preez I, Truyts A, Stark HC, Magwaza M, Mahanjana O, Verschoor JA, Moore PL, Lemmer Y. Immunogenicity of adjuvanted plant-produced SARS-CoV-2 Beta spike VLP vaccine in New Zealand white rabbits. Vaccine 2023; 41:2261-2269. [PMID: 36868876 PMCID: PMC9968623 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.02.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic heightened the pace of vaccine development with various vaccines being approved for human use in a span of 24 months. The SARS-CoV-2 trimeric spike (S) surface glycoprotein, which mediates viral entry by binding to ACE2, is a key target for vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. Plant biopharming is recognized for its scalability, speed, versatility, and low production costs and is an increasingly promising molecular pharming vaccine platform for human health. We developed Nicotiana benthamiana-produced SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine candidates displaying the S-protein of the Beta (B.1.351) variant of concern (VOC), which triggered cross-reactive neutralising antibodies against Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) VOCs. In this study, immunogenicity of the VLPs (5 µg per dose) adjuvanted with three independent adjuvants i.e. oil-in-water based adjuvants SEPIVAC SWETM (Seppic, France) and "AS IS" (Afrigen, South Africa) as well as a slow-release synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) adjuvant designated NADA (Disease Control Africa, South Africa) were evaluated in New Zealand white rabbits and resulted in robust neutralising antibody responses after booster vaccination, ranging from 1:5341 to as high as 1:18204. Serum neutralising antibodies elicited by the Beta variant VLP vaccine also showed cross-neutralisation against the Delta and Omicron variants with neutralising titres ranging from 1:1702 and 1:971, respectively. Collectively, these data provide support for the development of a plant-produced VLP based candidate vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 based on circulating variants of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha M O'Kennedy
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Next Generation Health, Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - Celia Abolnik
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa
| | - Tanja Smith
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa
| | - Thopisang Motlou
- SA MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kruger Goosen
- La-Bio Research Animal Laboratory (a Division of Disease Control Africa), 33 Eland Street, Koedoespoort Industrial, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Kamogelo M Sepotokele
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa
| | - Robyn Roth
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Next Generation Health, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ilse du Preez
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Next Generation Health, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Alma Truyts
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Next Generation Health, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Hester C Stark
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa
| | - Martin Magwaza
- Tautomer Pty Ltd., 260 Cradock Avenue, Lyttelton Manor, Centurion 0157, South Africa
| | - Osborn Mahanjana
- 3Sixty Biopharmaceuticals Pty Ltd., 23 Impala Road, Block B, Chislehurston, Sandton, Gauteng 2196, South Africa
| | - Jan A Verschoor
- Emeritus Professor and Consultant, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Penny L Moore
- SA MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Yolandy Lemmer
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Next Generation Health, Pretoria, South Africa
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9
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Lee J, Lee SK, Park JS, Lee KR. Plant-made pharmaceuticals: exploring studies for the production of recombinant protein in plants and assessing challenges ahead. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY REPORTS 2023; 17:53-65. [PMID: 36820221 PMCID: PMC9931573 DOI: 10.1007/s11816-023-00821-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The production of pharmaceutical compounds in plants is attracting increasing attention, as plant-based systems can be less expensive, safer, and more scalable than mammalian, yeast, bacterial, and insect cell expression systems. Here, we review the history and current status of plant-made pharmaceuticals. Producing pharmaceuticals in plants requires pairing the appropriate plant species with suitable transformation technology. Pharmaceuticals have been produced in tobacco, cereals, legumes, fruits, and vegetables via nuclear transformation, chloroplast transformation, transient expression, and transformation of suspension cell cultures. Despite this wide range of species and methods used, most such efforts have involved the nuclear transformation of tobacco. Tobacco readily generates large amounts of biomass, easily accepts foreign genes, and is amenable to stable gene expression via nuclear transformation. Although vaccines, antibodies, and therapeutic proteins have been produced in plants, such pharmaceuticals are not readily utilized by humans due to differences in glycosylation, and few such compounds have been approved due to a lack of clinical data. In addition, achieving an adequate immune response using plant-made pharmaceuticals can be difficult due to low rates of production compared to other expression systems. Various technologies have recently been developed to help overcome these limitations; however, plant systems are expected to increasingly become widely used expression systems for recombinant protein production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juho Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju, 54874 Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Kyeong Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju, 54874 Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Sug Park
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju, 54874 Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong-Ryeol Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju, 54874 Republic of Korea
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10
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Pitino M, Fleites LA, Shrum L, Heck M, Shatters RG. Plant production of high affinity nanobodies that block SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding with its receptor, human angiotensin converting enzyme. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1045337. [PMID: 36619377 PMCID: PMC9822723 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1045337] [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: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanobodies® (VHH antibodies), are small peptides that represent the antigen binding domain, VHH of unique single domain antibodies (heavy chain only antibodies, HcAb) derived from camelids. Here, we demonstrate production of VHH nanobodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins in the solanaceous plant Nicotiana benthamiana through transient expression and their subsequent detection verified through western blot. We demonstrate that these nanobodies competitively inhibit binding between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain and its human receptor protein, angiotensin converting enzyme 2. There has been significant interest and a number of publications on the use of plants as biofactories and even some reports of producing nanobodies in plants. Our data demonstrate that functional nanobodies blocking a process necessary to initiate SARS-CoV-2 infection into mammalian cells can be produced in plants. This opens the alternative of using plants in a scheme to rapidly respond to therapeutic needs for emerging pathogens in human medicine and agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Michelle Heck
- Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Robert G. Shatters
- U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Fort Pierce, FL, United States,*Correspondence: Robert G. Shatters Jr,
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11
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High-Yield Production of Chimeric Hepatitis E Virus-Like Particles Bearing the M2e Influenza Epitope and Receptor Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2 in Plants Using Viral Vectors. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415684. [PMID: 36555326 PMCID: PMC9779006 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Capsid protein of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is capable of self-assembly into virus-like particles (VLPs) when expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Such VLPs could be used as carriers of antigens for vaccine development. In this study, we obtained VLPs based on truncated coat protein of HEV bearing the M2e peptide of Influenza A virus or receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (RBD). We optimized the immunogenic epitopes' presentation by inserting them into the protruding domain of HEV ORF2 at position Tyr485. The fusion proteins were expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using self-replicating potato virus X (PVX)-based vector. The fusion protein HEV/M2, targeted to the cytosol, was expressed at the level of about 300-400 μg per gram of fresh leaf tissue and appeared to be soluble. The fusion protein was purified using metal affinity chromatography under native conditions with the final yield about 200 μg per gram of fresh leaf tissue. The fusion protein HEV/RBD, targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum, was expressed at about 80-100 μg per gram of fresh leaf tissue; the yield after purification was up to 20 μg per gram of fresh leaf tissue. The recombinant proteins HEV/M2 and HEV/RBD formed nanosized virus-like particles that could be recognized by antibodies against inserted epitopes. The ELISA assay showed that antibodies of COVID-19 patients can bind plant-produced HEV/RBD virus-like particles. This study shows that HEV capsid protein is a promising carrier for presentation of foreign antigen.
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12
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Mardanova ES, Kotlyarov RY, Ravin NV. Rapid Transient Expression of Receptor-Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2 and the Conserved M2e Peptide of Influenza A Virus Linked to Flagellin in Nicotiana benthamiana Plants Using Self-Replicating Viral Vector. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11243425. [PMID: 36559537 PMCID: PMC9785242 DOI: 10.3390/plants11243425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The development of recombinant vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A is an important task. The combination of the conserved influenza A antigen, the extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 (M2e), and the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (RBD) provides the opportunity to develop a bivalent vaccine against these infections. The fusion of antigens with bacterial flagellin, the ligand for Toll-like receptor 5 and potent mucosal adjuvant, may increase the immunogenicity of the candidate vaccines and enable intranasal immunization. In this study, we report the transient expression of RBD alone, RBD coupled with four copies of M2e, and fusions of RBD and RBD-4M2e with flagellin in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using the self-replicating potato virus X-based vector pEff. The yields of purified recombinant proteins per gram of fresh leaf tissue were about 20 µg for RBD, 50-60 µg for RBD-4M2e and the fusion of RBD with flagellin, and about 90 µg for RBD-4M2e fused to flagellin. Targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum enabled the production of glycosylated recombinant proteins comprising RBD. Our results show that plant-produced RBD and RBD-4M2e could be further used for the development of subunit vaccines against COVID-19 and a bivalent vaccine against COVID-19 and influenza A, while flagellin fusions could be used for the development of intranasal vaccines.
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13
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Kulshreshtha A, Sharma S, Padilla CS, Mandadi KK. Plant-based expression platforms to produce high-value metabolites and proteins. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1043478. [PMID: 36426139 PMCID: PMC9679013 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1043478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Plant-based heterologous expression systems can be leveraged to produce high-value therapeutics, industrially important proteins, metabolites, and bioproducts. The production can be scaled up, free from pathogen contamination, and offer post-translational modifications to synthesize complex proteins. With advancements in molecular techniques, transgenics, CRISPR/Cas9 system, plant cell, tissue, and organ culture, significant progress has been made to increase the expression of recombinant proteins and important metabolites in plants. Methods are also available to stabilize RNA transcripts, optimize protein translation, engineer proteins for their stability, and target proteins to subcellular locations best suited for their accumulation. This mini-review focuses on recent advancements to enhance the production of high-value metabolites and proteins necessary for therapeutic applications using plants as bio-factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Kulshreshtha
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Weslaco, TX, United States
| | - Shweta Sharma
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Dr. GCN College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, India
| | - Carmen S. Padilla
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Weslaco, TX, United States
| | - Kranthi K. Mandadi
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Weslaco, TX, United States
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture, Texas A&M AgriLife, College Station, TX, United States
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14
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Plant Molecular Pharming and Plant-Derived Compounds towards Generation of Vaccines and Therapeutics against Coronaviruses. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10111805. [DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10111805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The current century has witnessed infections of pandemic proportions caused by Coronaviruses (CoV) including severe acute respiratory syndrome-related CoV (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome-related CoV (MERS-CoV) and the recently identified SARS-CoV2. Significantly, the SARS-CoV2 outbreak, declared a pandemic in early 2020, has wreaked devastation and imposed intense pressure on medical establishments world-wide in a short time period by spreading at a rapid pace, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, there is a compelling need to combat and contain the CoV infections. The current review addresses the unique features of the molecular virology of major Coronaviruses that may be tractable towards antiviral targeting and design of novel preventative and therapeutic intervention strategies. Plant-derived vaccines, in particular oral vaccines, afford safer, effectual and low-cost avenues to develop antivirals and fast response vaccines, requiring minimal infrastructure and trained personnel for vaccine administration in developing countries. This review article discusses recent developments in the generation of plant-based vaccines, therapeutic/drug molecules, monoclonal antibodies and phytochemicals to preclude and combat infections caused by SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Efficacious plant-derived antivirals could contribute significantly to combating emerging and re-emerging pathogenic CoV infections and help stem the tide of any future pandemics.
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15
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Rebelo BA, Folgado A, Ferreira AC, Abranches R. Production of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and its Receptor Binding Domain in plant cell suspension cultures. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:995429. [PMID: 36340353 PMCID: PMC9634662 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.995429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2, has prompted the scientific community to rapidly develop efficient and specific diagnostics and therapeutics. A number of avenues have been explored, including the manufacture of COVID-related proteins to be used as reagents for diagnostics or treatment. The production of RBD and Spike proteins was previously achieved in eukaryotic cells, mainly mammalian cell cultures, while the production in microbial systems has been unsuccessful until now. Here we report the effective production of SARS-CoV-2 proteins in two plant model systems. We established transgenic tobacco BY-2 and Medicago truncatula A17 cell suspension cultures stably producing the full-length Spike and RBD recombinant proteins. For both proteins, various glycoforms were obtained, with higher yields in Medicago cultures than BY-2. This work highlights that RBD and Spike can be secreted into the culture medium, which will impact subsequent purification and downstream processing costs. Analysis of the culture media indicated the presence of the high molecular weight Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Although the production yields still need improvement to compete with mammalian systems, this is the first report showing that plant cell suspension cultures are able to produce the high molecular weight Spike protein. This finding strengthens the potential of plant cell cultures as production platforms for large complex proteins.
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16
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Rahbar Z, Nazarian S, Dorostkar R, Sotoodehnejadnematalahi F, Amani J. Recombinant expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) in Escherichia coli and its immunogenicity in mice. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2022; 25:1110-1116. [PMID: 36246069 PMCID: PMC9526882 DOI: 10.22038/ijbms.2022.65045.14333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Objectives The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), giving rise to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has become a danger to wellbeing worldwide. Thus, finding efficient and safe vaccines for COVID-19 is of great importance. As a basic step amid contamination, SARS-CoV-2 employs the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein to lock in with the receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on host cells. SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) is the main human antibody target for developing vaccines and virus inhibitors, as well as neutralizing antibodies. A bacterial procedure was developed for the expression and purification of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain. Materials and Methods In this research study, RBD was expressed by Escherichia coli and purified with Ni-NTA chromatography. Then it was affirmed by the western blot test. The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of RBD recombinant protein were assessed on BALB/c mice. Additionally, RBD recombinant protein was tested by ELISA utilizing sera of COVID-19 healing patients contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 wild type and Delta variation. Results Indirect ELISA was able to detect the protein RBD in serum of the immunized mouse expressed in E. coli. The inactive SARS-CoV2 was detected by antibodies within the serum of immunized mice. Serum antibodies from individuals recovered from Covid19 reacted to the expressed protein. Conclusion Our findings showed that RBD is of great importance in vaccine design and it can be used to develop recombinant vaccines through induction of antibodies against RBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Rahbar
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ruhollah Dorostkar
- Applied Virology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | | | - Jafar Amani
- Applied Microbiology Research Center, System Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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17
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Ruocco V, Strasser R. Transient Expression of Glycosylated SARS-CoV-2 Antigens in Nicotiana benthamiana. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:1093. [PMID: 35448821 PMCID: PMC9033091 DOI: 10.3390/plants11081093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The current COVID-19 pandemic very dramatically shows that the world lacks preparedness for novel viral diseases. In addition to newly emerging viruses, many known pathogenic viruses such as influenza are constantly evolving, leading to frequent outbreaks with severe diseases and deaths. Hence, infectious viruses are a recurrent burden to our daily life, and powerful strategies to stop the spread of human pathogens and disease progression are of utmost importance. Transient plant-based protein expression is a technology that allows fast and highly flexible manufacturing of recombinant viral proteins and, thus, can contribute to infectious disease detection and prevention. This review highlights recent progress in the transient production of viral glycoproteins in N. benthamiana with a focus on SARS-CoV-2-derived viral antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria;
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18
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Plant-Derived Recombinant Vaccines against Zoonotic Viruses. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12020156. [PMID: 35207444 PMCID: PMC8878793 DOI: 10.3390/life12020156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases cause serious illness with billions of cases, and millions of deaths. The most effective way to restrict the spread of zoonotic viruses among humans and animals and prevent disease is vaccination. Recombinant proteins produced in plants offer an alternative approach for the development of safe, effective, inexpensive candidate vaccines. Current strategies are focused on the production of highly immunogenic structural proteins, which mimic the organizations of the native virion but lack the viral genetic material. These include chimeric viral peptides, subunit virus proteins, and virus-like particles (VLPs). The latter, with their ability to self-assemble and thus resemble the form of virus particles, are gaining traction among plant-based candidate vaccines against many infectious diseases. In this review, we summarized the main zoonotic diseases and followed the progress in using plant expression systems for the production of recombinant proteins and VLPs used in the development of plant-based vaccines against zoonotic viruses.
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19
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Margolin E, Verbeek M, de Moor W, Chapman R, Meyers A, Schäfer G, Williamson AL, Rybicki E. Investigating Constraints Along the Plant Secretory Pathway to Improve Production of a SARS-CoV-2 Spike Vaccine Candidate. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 12:798822. [PMID: 35058959 PMCID: PMC8764404 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.798822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Given the complex maturation requirements of viral glycoproteins and the challenge they often pose for expression in plants, the identification of host constraints precluding their efficient production is a priority for the molecular farming of vaccines. Building on previous work to improve viral glycoprotein production in plants, we investigated the production of a soluble SARS-CoV-2 spike comprising the ectopic portion of the glycoprotein. This was successfully transiently expressed in N. benthamiana by co-expressing the human lectin-binding chaperone calreticulin, which substantially increased the accumulation of the glycoprotein. The spike was mostly unprocessed unless the protease furin was co-expressed which resulted in highly efficient processing of the glycoprotein. Co-expression of several broad-spectrum protease inhibitors did not improve accumulation of the protein any further. The protein was successfully purified by affinity chromatography and gel filtration, although the purified product was heterogenous and the yields were low. Immunogenicity of the antigen was tested in BALB/c mice, and cellular and antibody responses were elicited after low dose inoculation with the adjuvanted protein. This work constitutes an important proof-of-concept for host plant engineering in the context of rapid vaccine development for SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Margolin
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Matthew Verbeek
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Warren de Moor
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ros Chapman
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ann Meyers
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Georgia Schäfer
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anna-Lise Williamson
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Edward Rybicki
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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20
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Mardanova ES, Kotlyarov RY, Ravin NV. High-Yield Production of Receptor Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2 Linked to Bacterial Flagellin in Plants Using Self-Replicating Viral Vector pEff. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10122682. [PMID: 34961153 PMCID: PMC8708900 DOI: 10.3390/plants10122682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The development of recombinant vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 is required to eliminate the COVID-19 pandemic. We reported the expression of a recombinant protein Flg-RBD comprising receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (RBD) fused to flagellin of Salmonella typhimurium (Flg), known as mucosal adjuvant, in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The fusion protein, targeted to the cytosol, was transiently expressed using the self-replicating vector pEff based on potato virus X genome. The recombinant protein Flg-RBD was expressed at the level of about 110-140 μg per gram of fresh leaf tissue and was found to be insoluble. The fusion protein was purified using metal affinity chromatography under denaturing conditions. To increase the yield of Flg-RBD, the flow-through fraction obtained after loading of the protein sample on the Ni-NTA resin was re-loaded on the sorbent. The yield of Flg-RBD after purification reached about 100 μg per gram of fresh leaf tissue and the purified protein remained soluble after dialysis. The control flagellin was expressed in a soluble form and its yield after purification was about 300 μg per gram of fresh leaf biomass. Plant-produced Flg-RBD protein could be further used for the development of intranasal recombinant mucosal vaccines against COVID-19.
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21
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Maharjan PM, Choe S. Plant-Based COVID-19 Vaccines: Current Status, Design, and Development Strategies of Candidate Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:992. [PMID: 34579229 PMCID: PMC8473425 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9090992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in its second year has led to massive global human and economic losses. The high transmission rate and the emergence of diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants demand rapid and effective approaches to preventing the spread, diagnosing on time, and treating affected people. Several COVID-19 vaccines are being developed using different production systems, including plants, which promises the production of cheap, safe, stable, and effective vaccines. The potential of a plant-based system for rapid production at a commercial scale and for a quick response to an infectious disease outbreak has been demonstrated by the marketing of carrot-cell-produced taliglucerase alfa (Elelyso) for Gaucher disease and tobacco-produced monoclonal antibodies (ZMapp) for the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Currently, two plant-based COVID-19 vaccine candidates, coronavirus virus-like particle (CoVLP) and Kentucky Bioprocessing (KBP)-201, are in clinical trials, and many more are in the preclinical stage. Interim phase 2 clinical trial results have revealed the high safety and efficacy of the CoVLP vaccine, with 10 times more neutralizing antibody responses compared to those present in a convalescent patient's plasma. The clinical trial of the CoVLP vaccine could be concluded by the end of 2021, and the vaccine could be available for public immunization thereafter. This review encapsulates the efforts made in plant-based COVID-19 vaccine development, the strategies and technologies implemented, and the progress accomplished in clinical trials and preclinical studies so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puna Maya Maharjan
- G+FLAS Life Sciences, 123 Uiryodanji-gil, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28161, Korea;
| | - Sunghwa Choe
- G+FLAS Life Sciences, 38 Nakseongdae-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08790, Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea
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