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Kirk NM, Liang Y, Ly H. Pathogenesis and virulence of coronavirus disease: Comparative pathology of animal models for COVID-19. Virulence 2024; 15:2316438. [PMID: 38362881 PMCID: PMC10878030 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2024.2316438] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal models that can replicate clinical and pathologic features of severe human coronavirus infections have been instrumental in the development of novel vaccines and therapeutics. The goal of this review is to summarize our current understanding of the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the pathologic features that can be observed in several currently available animal models. Knowledge gained from studying these animal models of SARS-CoV-2 infection can help inform appropriate model selection for disease modelling as well as for vaccine and therapeutic developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie M. Kirk
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Yuying Liang
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Hinh Ly
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
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2
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Liu Z, Lu L, Jiang S. Receptor-binding domain-associated serotypes of SARS-CoV-2. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2309968. [PMID: 38264798 PMCID: PMC10866045 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2309968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Zezhong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lu Lu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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3
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Pscheidt VM, de Souza PO, Fazolo T, Modena JLP, Simeoni C, Teixeira D, Silva NB, Dos Santos KB, Júnior LR, Bonorino C. A flow cytometry-based assay to measure neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 virus. Cytometry A 2024; 105:446-457. [PMID: 38624015 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.24838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has highlighted the need for serological assays that can accurately evaluate the neutralizing efficiency of antibodies produced during infection or induced by vaccines. However, conventional assays often require the manipulation of live viruses on a level-three biosafety (BSL3) facility, which presents practical and safety challenges. Here, we present a novel, alternative assay that measures neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 in plasma using flow cytometry. This assay is based on antibody binding to the S protein and has demonstrated precision in both intra- and inter-assay measurements at a dilution of 1:50. The cut-off was determined using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis and the value of 36.01% has shown high sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing between pre-pandemic sera, COVID-19 patients, and vaccinated individuals. The efficiency significantly correlates with the gold standard test, PRNT. Our new assay offers a safe and efficient alternative to conventional assays for evaluating NAbs against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veridiane M Pscheidt
- Immunotherapy Laboratory - (LAIT) - Department of Basic Health Sciences of Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, UFCSPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Priscila Oliveira de Souza
- Immunotherapy Laboratory - (LAIT) - Department of Basic Health Sciences of Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, UFCSPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Tiago Fazolo
- Immunotherapy Laboratory - (LAIT) - Department of Basic Health Sciences of Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, UFCSPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - José Luiz Proença Modena
- Laboratory of Emerging Viruses (LEVE) - Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas - UNICAMP - Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Camila Simeoni
- Laboratory of Emerging Viruses (LEVE) - Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas - UNICAMP - Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniel Teixeira
- Laboratory of Emerging Viruses (LEVE) - Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas - UNICAMP - Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Natália Brunetti Silva
- Laboratory of Emerging Viruses (LEVE) - Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas - UNICAMP - Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karina Bispo Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Emerging Viruses (LEVE) - Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas - UNICAMP - Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Rodrigues Júnior
- Immunotherapy Laboratory - (LAIT) - Department of Basic Health Sciences of Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, UFCSPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Cristina Bonorino
- Immunotherapy Laboratory - (LAIT) - Department of Basic Health Sciences of Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, UFCSPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Department of Surgery, University of California at San Diego - UCSD, La Jolla, California, USA
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4
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Dénes B, Fuller RN, Kelin W, Levin TR, Gil J, Harewood A, Lőrincz M, Wall NR, Firek AF, Langridge WHR. A CTB-SARS-CoV-2-ACE-2 RBD Mucosal Vaccine Protects Against Coronavirus Infection. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1865. [PMID: 38140268 PMCID: PMC10747655 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11121865] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucosal vaccines protect against respiratory virus infection by stimulating the production of IgA antibodies that protect against virus invasion of the mucosal epithelium. In this study, a novel protein subunit mucosal vaccine was constructed for protection against infection by the beta coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine was assembled by linking a gene encoding the SARS-CoV-2 virus S1 angiotensin converting enzyme receptor binding domain (ACE-2-RBD) downstream from a DNA fragment encoding the cholera toxin B subunit (CTB), a mucosal adjuvant known to stimulate vaccine immunogenicity. A 42 kDa vaccine fusion protein was identified in homogenates of transformed E. coli BL-21 cells by acrylamide gel electrophoresis and by immunoblotting against anti-CTB and anti-ACE-2-RBD primary antibodies. The chimeric CTB-SARS-CoV-2-ACE-2-RBD vaccine fusion protein was partially purified from clarified bacterial homogenates by nickel affinity column chromatography. Further vaccine purification was accomplished by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electro-elution of the 42 kDa chimeric vaccine protein. Vaccine protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection was assessed by oral, nasal, and parenteral immunization of BALB/c mice with the CTB-SARS-CoV-2-ACE-2-RBD protein. Vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies were quantified in immunized mouse serum by ELISA analysis. Serum from immunized mice contained IgG and IgA antibodies that neutralized SARS-CoV-2 infection in Vero E6 cell cultures. In contrast to unimmunized mice, cytological examination of cell necrosis in lung tissues excised from immunized mice revealed no detectable cellular abnormalities. Mouse behavior following vaccine immunization remained normal throughout the duration of the experiments. Together, our data show that a CTB-adjuvant-stimulated CTB-SARS-CoV-2-ACE-2-RBD chimeric mucosal vaccine protein synthesized in bacteria can produce durable and persistent IgA antibodies in mice that neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 subvariant Omicron BA.1.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Béla Dénes
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Mortensen Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (B.D.); (R.N.F.); (W.K.); (T.R.L.); (J.G.); (A.H.); (N.R.W.); (A.F.F.)
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, 1143 Budapest, Hungary;
- National Laboratory of Infectious Animal Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Veterinary Public Health and Food Chain Safety, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, 1078 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ryan N. Fuller
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Mortensen Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (B.D.); (R.N.F.); (W.K.); (T.R.L.); (J.G.); (A.H.); (N.R.W.); (A.F.F.)
| | - Wayne Kelin
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Mortensen Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (B.D.); (R.N.F.); (W.K.); (T.R.L.); (J.G.); (A.H.); (N.R.W.); (A.F.F.)
| | - Tessa R. Levin
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Mortensen Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (B.D.); (R.N.F.); (W.K.); (T.R.L.); (J.G.); (A.H.); (N.R.W.); (A.F.F.)
| | - Jaipuneet Gil
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Mortensen Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (B.D.); (R.N.F.); (W.K.); (T.R.L.); (J.G.); (A.H.); (N.R.W.); (A.F.F.)
| | - Aaren Harewood
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Mortensen Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (B.D.); (R.N.F.); (W.K.); (T.R.L.); (J.G.); (A.H.); (N.R.W.); (A.F.F.)
- Department of Basic Sciences, Oakwood University, Huntsville, AL 35896, USA
| | - Márta Lőrincz
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, 1143 Budapest, Hungary;
- National Laboratory of Infectious Animal Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Veterinary Public Health and Food Chain Safety, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, 1078 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nathan R. Wall
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Mortensen Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (B.D.); (R.N.F.); (W.K.); (T.R.L.); (J.G.); (A.H.); (N.R.W.); (A.F.F.)
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Anthony F. Firek
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Mortensen Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (B.D.); (R.N.F.); (W.K.); (T.R.L.); (J.G.); (A.H.); (N.R.W.); (A.F.F.)
- Comparative Effectiveness and Clinical Outcomes Research Center (CECORC), Riverside University Health System Medical Center, Moreno Valley, CA 92555, USA
| | - William H. R. Langridge
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Mortensen Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (B.D.); (R.N.F.); (W.K.); (T.R.L.); (J.G.); (A.H.); (N.R.W.); (A.F.F.)
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
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5
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Hu S, Wu C, Wu X, Ma X, Shu C, Chen Q, Zheng A, Yang H, Lu J, Du P, Gao GF, Wang Q. Classification of five SARS-CoV-2 serotypes based on RBD antigenicities. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2023; 68:3003-3012. [PMID: 37919162 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2023.09.048] [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] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
The continuous evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in a significant number of variants, particularly with the emergence of Omicron with many sub-variants. These variants have exhibited increased immune escape, leading to reduced efficacy of existing vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. Given the diminished cross-neutralization observed among these variants, it is plausible that SARS-CoV-2 has developed multiple serotypes. As the major antigenic site, the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of viral spike (S) protein was chosen for serotyping. We selected 23 representative variants, including pre-Omicron variants and Omicron sub-variants, and classified them into five serotypes based on systematic evaluation of the antigenicities of their RBDs. Each serotype includes several genetically distinct variants. Serotype-I encompasses all pre-Omicron variants (with two subtypes), while the remaining four serotypes are all comprised of Omicron sub-variants at different stages of evolution. We propose that these serotypes can serve as a foundation for rapid classification of newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, and guide the development of future broad-spectrum vaccines and neutralizing antibodies against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixiong Hu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chunli Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Xinkai Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xuehui Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chang Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Anqi Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Huiting Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jian Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
| | - Pei Du
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - George Fu Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Qihui Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China.
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6
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Sives S, Keep S, Bickerton E, Vervelde L. Revealing Novel-Strain-Specific and Shared Epitopes of Infectious Bronchitis Virus Spike Glycoprotein Using Chemical Linkage of Peptides onto Scaffolds Precision Epitope Mapping. Viruses 2023; 15:2279. [PMID: 38005955 PMCID: PMC10675791 DOI: 10.3390/v15112279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The avian coronavirus, infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), is an economically important infectious disease affecting chickens, with a diverse range of serotypes found globally. The major surface protein, spike (S), has high diversity between serotypes, and amino acid differences in the S1 sub-unit are thought to be responsible for poor cross-protection afforded by vaccination. Here, we attempt to address this, by using epitope mapping technology to identify shared and serotype-specific immunogenic epitopes of the S glycoprotein of three major circulating strains of IBV, M41, QX, and 4/91, via CLIPS peptide arrays based on peptides from the S1 sub-units. The arrays were screened with sera from chickens immunised with recombinant IBV, based on Beau-R backbone expressing heterologous S, generated in two independent vaccination/challenge trials. The screening of sera from rIBV vaccination experiments led to the identification of 52 immunogenic epitopes on the S1 of M41, QX, and 4/91. The epitopes were assigned into six overlapping epitope binding regions. Based on accessibility and location in the hypervariable regions of S, three sequences, 25YVYYYQSAFRPPNGWHLQGGAYAVVNSTN54, 67TVGVIKDVYNQSVASI82, and 83AMTVPPAGMSWSVS96, were selected for further investigation, and synthetic peptide mimics were recognised by polyclonal sera. These epitopes may have the potential to contribute towards a broader cross-protective IBV vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Sives
- Division of Immunology, The Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK;
| | - Sarah Keep
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking GU24 0NF, UK (E.B.)
| | - Erica Bickerton
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking GU24 0NF, UK (E.B.)
| | - Lonneke Vervelde
- Division of Immunology, The Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK;
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Zabidi NZ, Liew HL, Farouk IA, Puniyamurti A, Yip AJW, Wijesinghe VN, Low ZY, Tang JW, Chow VTK, Lal SK. Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Implications on Immune Escape, Vaccination, Therapeutic and Diagnostic Strategies. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040944. [PMID: 37112923 PMCID: PMC10145020 DOI: 10.3390/v15040944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is associated with a lower fatality rate than its SARS and MERS counterparts. However, the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has given rise to multiple variants with varying pathogenicity and transmissibility, such as the Delta and Omicron variants. Individuals with advanced age or underlying comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, are at a higher risk of increased disease severity. Hence, this has resulted in an urgent need for the development of better therapeutic and preventive approaches. This review describes the origin and evolution of human coronaviruses, particularly SARS-CoV-2 and its variants as well as sub-variants. Risk factors that contribute to disease severity and the implications of co-infections are also considered. In addition, various antiviral strategies against COVID-19, including novel and repurposed antiviral drugs targeting viral and host proteins, as well as immunotherapeutic strategies, are discussed. We critically evaluate strategies of current and emerging vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and their efficacy, including immune evasion by new variants and sub-variants. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 evolution on COVID-19 diagnostic testing is also examined. Collectively, global research and public health authorities, along with all sectors of society, need to better prepare against upcoming variants and future coronavirus outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Zawanah Zabidi
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hern Liang Liew
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Isra Ahmad Farouk
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ashwini Puniyamurti
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ashley Jia Wen Yip
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Zheng Yao Low
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Julian W Tang
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Vincent T K Chow
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Program, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Sunil K Lal
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
- Tropical Medicine & Biology Platform, Monash University, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
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8
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Feitsma EA, Janssen YF, Boersma HH, van Sleen Y, van Baarle D, Alleva DG, Lancaster TM, Sathiyaseelan T, Murikipudi S, Delpero AR, Scully MM, Ragupathy R, Kotha S, Haworth JR, Shah NJ, Rao V, Nagre S, Ronca SE, Green FM, Aminetzah A, Sollie F, Kruijff S, Brom M, van Dam GM, Zion TC. A randomized phase I/II safety and immunogenicity study of the Montanide-adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-RBD-Fc vaccine, AKS-452. Vaccine 2023; 41:2184-2197. [PMID: 36842886 PMCID: PMC9946892 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.02.057] [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: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous interim data from a phase I study of AKS-452, a subunit vaccine comprising an Fc fusion of the respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein receptor binding domain (SP/RBD) emulsified in the water-in-oil adjuvant, Montanide™ ISA 720, suggested a good safety and immunogenicity profile in healthy adults. This phase I study was completed and two dosing regimens were further evaluated in this phase II study. METHODS This phase II randomized, open-labelled, parallel group study was conducted at a single site in The Netherlands with 52 healthy adults (18 - 72 years) receiving AKS-452 subcutaneously at one 90 µg dose (cohort 1, 26 subjects) or two 45 µg doses 28 days apart (cohort 2, 26 subjects). Serum samples were collected at the first dose (day 0) and at days 28, 56, 90, and 180. Safety and immunogenicity endpoints were assessed, along with induction of IgG isotypes, cross-reactive immunity against viral variants, and IFN-γ T cell responses. RESULTS All AEs were mild/moderate (grades 1 or 2), and no SAEs were attributable to AKS-452. Seroconversion rates reached 100% in both cohorts, although cohort 2 showed greater geometric mean IgG titers that were stable through day 180 and associated with enhanced potencies of SP/RBD-ACE2 binding inhibition and live virus neutralization. AKS-452-induced IgG titers strongly bound mutant SP/RBD from several SARS-CoV-2 variants (including Omicrons) that were predominantly of the favorable IgG1/3 isotype and IFN-γ-producing T cell phenotype. CONCLUSION These favorable safety and immunogenicity profiles of the candidate vaccine as demonstrated in this phase II study are consistent with those of the phase I study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04681092) and suggest that a total of 90 µg received in 2 doses may offer a greater duration of cross-reactive neutralizing titers than when given in a single dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline A Feitsma
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Yester F Janssen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, UMCG, the Netherlands
| | - Hendrikus H Boersma
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, UMCG, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, UMCG, the Netherlands
| | - Yannick van Sleen
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, UMCG, the Netherlands
| | - Debbie van Baarle
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, UMCG, the Netherlands
| | - David G Alleva
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Thomas M Lancaster
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | | | - Sylaja Murikipudi
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Andrea R Delpero
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Melanie M Scully
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Ramya Ragupathy
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Sravya Kotha
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Jeffrey R Haworth
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Nishit J Shah
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Vidhya Rao
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Shashikant Nagre
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
| | - Shannon E Ronca
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor, College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Ave, 300.15, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Freedom M Green
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor, College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Ave, 300.15, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Ari Aminetzah
- TRACER BV, L.J. Zielstraweg 1, 9766 GX Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Frans Sollie
- ICON, van Swietenlaan 6, 9728 NZ Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Schelto Kruijff
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, UMCG, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten Brom
- TRACER BV, L.J. Zielstraweg 1, 9766 GX Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Gooitzen M van Dam
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, UMCG, the Netherlands; TRACER BV, L.J. Zielstraweg 1, 9766 GX Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Todd C Zion
- Akston Biosciences Corporation., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 454C, Beverly, MA 01915, United States.
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9
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Tarigan S, Dharmayanti NLPI, Sugiartanti D, Putri R, Andriani, Nuradji H, Robinson M, Wiendayanthi N, Djufri F. Characterization of two linear epitopes SARS CoV-2 spike protein formulated in tandem repeat. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280627. [PMID: 36662754 PMCID: PMC9857970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The vital roles of diagnostic tools and vaccines are prominent in controlling COVID-19. Spike protein of the SARS CoV-2, specifically the epitopes in that protein, are the critical components of the vaccines and immunological diagnostic tools. Two epitopes in the spike protein, the S14P5 and S21P2, identified previously are of great interest because they are linear and elicit neutralizing antibodies. The present study formulated each epitope in the tandem-repeat structure to increase their immunogenicity and facilitate their production. The tandem repeats (TR) were expressed efficiently in E. coli, yielding 58 mg and 46 mg per liter culture for TR-S14P5 and TR-S212, respectively. ELISA using either one of the repeating epitopes can be used as a serological test to identify individuals infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The area under curves (AUC), based on testing 157 serum samples from COVID-19 patients and 26 from COVID-19-free individuals, were 0.806 and 0.889 for TR-S14P5 and TR-S21P2-based ELISAs, respectively. For 100% diagnostic specificity, the sensitivity was only 70%. The low sensitivity supposedly resulted from some samples being from early infection prior to antibody conversion. Both recombinant epitopes were highly immunogenic in rabbits, and the immune sera recognized inactivated SARS CoV-2 virus in dot-blot assays. These antibodies should be useful as a reagent for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Furthermore, the TR-S14P5 and TR-S21P2, being conserved and denaturation-resistant, are envisaged to be ideal for intra-nasal vaccines, which are required to complement current COVID-19 to overcome rapidly mutated SARS CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simson Tarigan
- Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - N. L. P. Indi Dharmayanti
- Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | | | - Ryandini Putri
- Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Andriani
- Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Harimurti Nuradji
- Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Marthino Robinson
- Bogor Municipality Public Hospital (RSUD Kota Bogor), Bogor, Indonesia
| | | | - Fadjry Djufri
- Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development, Jakarta, Indonesia
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Zhou J, Liu Z, Zhang G, Xu W, Xing L, Lu L, Wang Q, Jiang S. Development of variant-proof severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, pan-sarbecovirus, and pan-β-coronavirus vaccines. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28172. [PMID: 36161303 PMCID: PMC9538210 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The newly emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with high transmission rates and striking immune evasion have posed a serious challenge to the application of current first-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Other sarbecoviruses, such as SARS-CoV and SARS-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoVs), have the potential to cause outbreaks in the future. These facts call for the development of variant-proof SARS-CoV-2, pan-sarbecovirus or pan-β-CoV vaccines. Several novel vaccine platforms have been used to develop vaccines with broad-spectrum neutralizing antibody responses and protective immunity to combat the current SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, other sarbecoviruses, as well as other β-CoVs, in the future. In this review, we discussed the major target antigens and protective efficacy of current SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and summarized recent advances in broad-spectrum vaccines against sarbecoviruses and β-CoVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Zezhong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of Pharmacology, School of PharmacyFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Guangxu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Wei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Lixiao Xing
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Lu Lu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Qian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS)Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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11
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Wang Y, Zhou Z, Wu X, Li T, Wu J, Cai M, Nie J, Wang W, Cui Z. Pseudotyped Viruses. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1407:1-27. [PMID: 36920689 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-0113-5_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Pseudotyped viruses have been constructed for many viruses. They can mimic the authentic virus and have many advantages compared to authentic viruses. Thus, they have been widely used as a surrogate of authentic virus for viral function analysis, detection of neutralizing antibodies, screening viral entry inhibitors, and others. This chapter reviewed the progress in the field of pseudotyped viruses in general, including the definition and the advantages of pseudotyped viruses, their potential usage, different strategies or vectors used for the construction of pseudotyped viruses, and factors that affect the construction of pseudotyped viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youchun Wang
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medicine Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China.
| | - Zehua Zhou
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) and WHO Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Wu
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) and WHO Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Li
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) and WHO Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Beijing, China
| | - Jiajing Wu
- Beijing Yunling Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Meina Cai
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) and WHO Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhui Nie
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) and WHO Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Beijing, China
| | - Wenbo Wang
- Division of Monoclonal Antibody Products, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) and WHO Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Beijing, China
| | - Zhimin Cui
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) and WHO Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Beijing, China
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12
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Ghaemi A, Roshani Asl P, Zargaran H, Ahmadi D, Hashimi AA, Abdolalipour E, Bathaeian S, Miri SM. Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine based on recombinant RBD/Nucleoprotein and saponin adjuvant induces long-lasting neutralizing antibodies and cellular immunity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:974364. [PMID: 36159845 PMCID: PMC9494508 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.974364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global pandemic, infecting millions of people. An effective preventive vaccine against this virus is urgently needed. Here, we designed and developed a novel formulated recombinant receptor-binding domain (RBD) nucleocapsid (N) recombinant vaccine candidates. The RBD and N were separately expressed in E. coli and purified using column chromatography. The female Balb/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with the combination of purified RBD and N alone or formulated with saponin adjuvant in a two-week interval in three doses. Neutralization antibody (Nabs) titers against the SARS-CoV-2 were detected by a Surrogate Virus Neutralization (sVNT) Test. Also, total IgG and IgG1, and IgG2a isotypes and the balance of cytokines in the spleen (IFN-γ, Granzyme B, IL-4, and IL-12) were measured by ELISA. The percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were quantified by flow cytometry. The lymphoproliferative activity of restimulated spleen cells was also determined. The findings showed that the combination of RBD and N proteins formulated with saponin significantly promoted specific total IgG and neutralization antibodies, elicited robust specific lymphoproliferative and T cell response responses. Moreover, marked increase in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were observed in the adjuvanted RBD and N vaccine group compared with other groups. The results suggest that the formulations are able to elicit a specific long-lasting mixed Th1/Th2 balanced immune response. Our data indicate the significance of the saponin-adjuvanted RBD/N vaccine in the design of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and provide a rationale for the development of a protective long-lasting and strong vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Ghaemi
- Department of Influenza and other respiratory viruses, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parisa Roshani Asl
- Department of Influenza and other respiratory viruses, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Delaram Ahmadi
- Department of Influenza and other respiratory viruses, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Sahar Bathaeian
- Department of Influenza and other respiratory viruses, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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13
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Masoomi Nomandan SZ, Azimzadeh Irani M, Hosseini SM. In silico design of refined ferritin-SARS-CoV-2 glyco-RBD nanoparticle vaccine. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:976490. [PMID: 36148012 PMCID: PMC9486171 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.976490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
With the onset of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, all attention was drawn to finding solutions to cure the coronavirus disease. Among all vaccination strategies, the nanoparticle vaccine has been shown to stimulate the immune system and provide optimal immunity to the virus in a single dose. Ferritin is a reliable self-assembled nanoparticle platform for vaccine production that has already been used in experimental studies. Furthermore, glycosylation plays a crucial role in the design of antibodies and vaccines and is an essential element in developing effective subunit vaccines. In this computational study, ferritin nanoparticles and glycosylation, which are two unique facets of vaccine design, were used to model improved nanoparticle vaccines for the first time. In this regard, molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulation were carried out to construct three atomistic models of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor binding domain (RBD)-ferritin nanoparticle vaccine, including unglycosylated, glycosylated, and modified with additional O-glycans at the ferritin–RBD interface. It was shown that the ferritin–RBD complex becomes more stable when glycans are added to the ferritin–RBD interface and optimal performance of this nanoparticle can be achieved. If validated experimentally, these findings could improve the design of nanoparticles against all microbial infections.
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14
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Kibria KMK, Faruque MO, Islam MSB, Ullah H, Mahmud S, Miah M, Saleh AA. A conserved subunit vaccine designed against SARS-CoV-2 variants showed evidence in neutralizing the virus. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:4091-4114. [PMID: 35612630 PMCID: PMC9130996 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-11988-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) leads to coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), declared as a pandemic that outbreaks within almost 225 countries worldwide. For the time being, numerous mutations have been reported that led to the generation of numerous variants spread more rapidly. This study aims to establish an efficient multi-epitope subunit vaccine that could elicit both T-cell and B-cell responses sufficient to recognize three confirmed surface proteins of the virus. The sequences of the viral surface proteins, e.g., an envelope protein (E), membrane glycoprotein (M), and S1 and S2 domain of spike surface glycoprotein (S), were analyzed by an immunoinformatic approach. Top immunogenic epitopes have been selected based on the assessment of the affinity with MHC class-I and MHC class-II, population coverage, along with conservancy among wild type and new variants of SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation suggest that the proposed top peptides have the potential to interact with the highest number of both the MHC class I and MHC class II. The epitopes were assembled by the appropriate linkers to form a multi-epitope vaccine. Epitopes used in the vaccine construct are conserved in all the variants evolved till now. This in silico-designed multi-epitope vaccine is highly immunogenic and induces levels of SARS-CoV2-neutralizing antibodies in mice, which is detected by inhibition of cytopathic effect in Vero cell monolayer. Further studies are required to improve its efficiency in the prevention of virus replication in lung tissue, in addition to safety validation as a step for human application to combat SARS-CoV-2 variants. KEY POINTS: • We discovered five T-cell epitopes from three surface proteins of SARS-CoV-2. • These are conserved in the wild-type virus and variants, e.g., beta, delta, and omicron. • The multi-epitope vaccine can induce IgG in mice that can neutralize the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. M. Kaderi Kibria
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Life Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, 1902 Bangladesh
| | - Md. Omar Faruque
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Life Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, 1902 Bangladesh
| | - Md. Shaid bin Islam
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Life Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, 1902 Bangladesh
| | - Hedayet Ullah
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Life Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, 1902 Bangladesh
| | - Shafi Mahmud
- Division of Genome Sciences and Cancer, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, and The Shine-Dalgarno Centre for RNA Innovation, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Mojnu Miah
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Amani Ali Saleh
- Virology Department, Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute (VSVRI), Cairo, Egypt
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15
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Boulton S, Poutou J, Martin NT, Azad T, Singaravelu R, Crupi MJF, Jamieson T, He X, Marius R, Petryk J, Tanese de Souza C, Austin B, Taha Z, Whelan J, Khan ST, Pelin A, Rezaei R, Surendran A, Tucker S, Fekete EEF, Dave J, Diallo JS, Auer R, Angel JB, Cameron DW, Cailhier JF, Lapointe R, Potts K, Mahoney DJ, Bell JC, Ilkow CS. Single-dose replicating poxvirus vector-based RBD vaccine drives robust humoral and T cell immune response against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mol Ther 2022; 30:1885-1896. [PMID: 34687845 PMCID: PMC8527104 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires the continued development of safe, long-lasting, and efficacious vaccines for preventive responses to major outbreaks around the world, and especially in isolated and developing countries. To combat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we characterize a temperature-stable vaccine candidate (TOH-Vac1) that uses a replication-competent, attenuated vaccinia virus as a vector to express a membrane-tethered spike receptor binding domain (RBD) antigen. We evaluate the effects of dose escalation and administration routes on vaccine safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity in animal models. Our vaccine induces high levels of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies and favorable T cell responses, while maintaining an optimal safety profile in mice and cynomolgus macaques. We demonstrate robust immune responses and protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants after only a single dose. Together, these findings support further development of our novel and versatile vaccine platform as an alternative or complementary approach to current vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Boulton
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Joanna Poutou
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Nikolas T Martin
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Taha Azad
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Ragunath Singaravelu
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Mathieu J F Crupi
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Taylor Jamieson
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Xiaohong He
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Ricardo Marius
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Julia Petryk
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Christiano Tanese de Souza
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Bradley Austin
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Zaid Taha
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Jack Whelan
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Sarwat T Khan
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Adrian Pelin
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Reza Rezaei
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Abera Surendran
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Sarah Tucker
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Emily E F Fekete
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Jaahnavi Dave
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Jean-Simon Diallo
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Rebecca Auer
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Jonathan B Angel
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada; Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - D William Cameron
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa at The Ottawa Hospital/ Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | | | - Réjean Lapointe
- Institut du Cancer de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - Kyle Potts
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB T2N 6A8, Canada; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2T 1N4, Canada
| | - Douglas J Mahoney
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB T2N 6A8, Canada; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2T 1N4, Canada
| | - John C Bell
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada.
| | - Carolina S Ilkow
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada.
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16
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The Analogs of Furanyl Methylidene Rhodanine Exhibit Broad-Spectrum Inhibitory and Inactivating Activities against Enveloped Viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and Its Variants. Viruses 2022; 14:v14030489. [PMID: 35336896 PMCID: PMC8954792 DOI: 10.3390/v14030489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, infectious diseases caused by viral infections have seriously endangered human health, especially COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, which continues to spread worldwide. The development of broad-spectrum antiviral inhibitors is urgently needed. Here, we report a series of small-molecule compounds that proved effective against human coronaviruses (HCoV), such as SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern (VOCs), including Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529), SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, HCoV-OC43, and other viruses with class I viral fusion proteins, such as influenza virus, Ebola virus (EBOV), Nipah virus (NiV), and Lassa fever virus (LASV). They are also effective against class II enveloped viruses represented by ZIKV and class III enveloped viruses represented by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Further studies have shown that these compounds may exert antiviral effects through a variety of mechanisms, including inhibiting the formation of the six-helix bundle, which is a typical feature of enveloped virus fusion with cell membranes, and/or targeting viral membrane to inactivate cell-free virions. These compounds are expected to become drug candidates against SARS-CoV-2 and other enveloped viruses.
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17
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A novel STING agonist-adjuvanted pan-sarbecovirus vaccine elicits potent and durable neutralizing antibody and T cell responses in mice, rabbits and NHPs. Cell Res 2022; 32:269-287. [PMID: 35046518 PMCID: PMC8767042 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-022-00612-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and potentially other highly pathogenic sarbecoviruses in the future highlights the need for pan-sarbecovirus vaccines. Here, we discovered a new STING agonist, CF501, and found that CF501-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine (CF501/RBD-Fc) elicited significantly stronger neutralizing antibody (nAb) and T cell responses than Alum- and cGAMP-adjuvanted RBD-Fc in mice. Vaccination of rabbits and rhesus macaques (nonhuman primates, NHPs) with CF501/RBD-Fc elicited exceptionally potent nAb responses against SARS-CoV-2 and its nine variants and 41 S-mutants, SARS-CoV and bat SARSr-CoVs. CF501/RBD-Fc-immunized hACE2-transgenic mice were almost completely protected against SARS-CoV-2 challenge, even 6 months after the initial immunization. NHPs immunized with a single dose of CF501/RBD-Fc produced high titers of nAbs. The immunized macaques also exhibited durable humoral and cellular immune responses and showed remarkably reduced viral load in the upper and lower airways upon SARS-CoV-2 challenge even at 108 days post the final immunization. Thus, CF501/RBD-Fc can be further developed as a novel pan-sarbecovirus vaccine to combat current and future outbreaks of sarbecovirus diseases.
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18
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Jung BK, An Y, Park JE, Chang KS, Jang H. Development of a recombinant vaccine containing a spike S1-Fc fusion protein induced protection against MERS-CoV in human DPP4 knockin transgenic mice. J Virol Methods 2022; 299:114347. [PMID: 34728273 PMCID: PMC8556695 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), belonging to the family Coronaviridae and genus Betacoronavirus, has been recognized as a highly pathogenic virus. Due to the lack of therapeutic or preventive agents against MERS-CoV, developing an effective vaccine is essential for preventing a viral outbreak. To address this, we developed a recombinant S1 subunit of MERS-CoV spike protein fused with the human IgG4 Fc fragment (LV-MS1-Fc) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Thereafter, we identified the baculovirus gp64 signal peptide-directed secretion of LV-MS1-Fc protein in the extracellular fluid. To demonstrate the immunogenicity of the recombinant LV-MS1-Fc proteins, BALB/c mice were inoculated with 2.5 μg of LV-MS1-Fc. The inoculated mice demonstrated a significant humoral immune response, measured via total IgG and neutralizing antibodies. In addition, human dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) transgenic mice vaccinated with LV-MS1-Fc showed the protective capacity of LV-MS1-Fc against MERS-CoV with no inflammatory cell infiltration. These data showed that the S1 and Fc fusion protein induced potent humoral immunity and antigen-specific neutralizing antibodies in mice, and conferred protection against coronavirus viral challenge, indicating that LV-MS1-Fc is an effective vaccine candidate against MERS-CoV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - YongHee An
- Libentech Co., Ltd., Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Eun Park
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Soo Chang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Catholic University of Pusan, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jang
- Libentech Co., Ltd., Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
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19
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Gattinger P, Niespodziana K, Stiasny K, Sahanic S, Tulaeva I, Borochova K, Dorofeeva Y, Schlederer T, Sonnweber T, Hofer G, Kiss R, Kratzer B, Trapin D, Tauber PA, Rottal A, Körmöczi U, Feichter M, Weber M, Focke‐Tejkl M, Löffler‐Ragg J, Mühl B, Kropfmüller A, Keller W, Stolz F, Henning R, Tancevski I, Puchhammer‐Stöckl E, Pickl WF, Valenta R. Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 requires antibodies against conformational receptor-binding domain epitopes. Allergy 2022; 77:230-242. [PMID: 34453317 PMCID: PMC8653362 DOI: 10.1111/all.15066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background The determinants of successful humoral immune response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) are of critical importance for the design of effective vaccines and the evaluation of the degree of protective immunity conferred by exposure to the virus. As novel variants emerge, understanding their likelihood of suppression by population antibody repertoires has become increasingly important. Methods In this study, we analyzed the SARS‐CoV‐2 polyclonal antibody response in a large population of clinically well‐characterized patients after mild and severe COVID‐19 using a panel of microarrayed structurally folded and unfolded SARS‐CoV‐2 proteins, as well as sequential peptides, spanning the surface spike protein (S) and the receptor‐binding domain (RBD) of the virus. Results S‐ and RBD‐specific antibody responses were dominated by immunoglobulin G (IgG), mainly IgG1, and directed against structurally folded S and RBD and three distinct peptide epitopes in S2. The virus neutralization activity of patients´ sera was highly correlated with IgG antibodies specific for conformational but not sequential RBD epitopes and their ability to prevent RBD binding to its human receptor angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Twenty percent of patients selectively lacked RBD‐specific IgG. Only immunization with folded, but not with unfolded RBD, induced antibodies against conformational epitopes with high virus‐neutralizing activity. Conformational RBD epitopes required for protection do not seem to be altered in the currently emerging virus variants. Conclusion These results are fundamental for estimating the protective activity of antibody responses after natural infection or vaccination and for the design of vaccines, which can induce high levels of SARS‐CoV‐2–neutralizing antibodies conferring sterilizing immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Gattinger
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Division of Immunopathology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Katarzyna Niespodziana
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Division of Immunopathology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Karin Stiasny
- Center for Virology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Sabina Sahanic
- Department of Internal Medicine II Medical University of Innsbruck Innsbruck Austria
| | - Inna Tulaeva
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Division of Immunopathology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Laboratory for Immunopathology Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergology Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University Moscow Russia
| | - Kristina Borochova
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Division of Immunopathology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Yulia Dorofeeva
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Division of Immunopathology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Thomas Schlederer
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Division of Immunopathology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Thomas Sonnweber
- Department of Internal Medicine II Medical University of Innsbruck Innsbruck Austria
| | - Gerhard Hofer
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry University of Stockholm Stockholm Sweden
| | | | - Bernhard Kratzer
- Institute of Immunology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Doris Trapin
- Institute of Immunology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Peter A. Tauber
- Institute of Immunology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Arno Rottal
- Institute of Immunology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Ulrike Körmöczi
- Institute of Immunology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Melanie Feichter
- Institute of Immunology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Milena Weber
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Division of Immunopathology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Margarete Focke‐Tejkl
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Division of Immunopathology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences Krems Austria
| | - Judith Löffler‐Ragg
- Department of Internal Medicine II Medical University of Innsbruck Innsbruck Austria
| | | | - Anna Kropfmüller
- Österreichische Gesundheitskasse Klinikum Peterhof Baden Austria
| | - Walter Keller
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, BioTechMed Graz University of Graz Graz Austria
| | | | | | - Ivan Tancevski
- Department of Internal Medicine II Medical University of Innsbruck Innsbruck Austria
| | | | - Winfried F. Pickl
- Institute of Immunology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences Krems Austria
| | - Rudolf Valenta
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Division of Immunopathology Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Laboratory for Immunopathology Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergology Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University Moscow Russia
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences Krems Austria
- NRC Institute of Immunology, FMBA Moscow Russia
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20
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Sariol CA, Serrano-Collazo C, Ortiz EJ, Pantoja P, Cruz L, Arana T, Atehortua D, Pabon-Carrero C, Espino AM. Limited Impact of Delta Variant's Mutations on the Effectiveness of Neutralization Conferred by Natural Infection or COVID-19 Vaccines in a Latino Population. Viruses 2021; 13:2405. [PMID: 34960674 PMCID: PMC8707683 DOI: 10.3390/v13122405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has impacted public health systems all over the world. The Delta variant seems to possess enhanced transmissibility, but no clear evidence suggests it has increased virulence. Our data show that pre-exposed individuals had similar neutralizing activity against the authentic COVID-19 strain and the Delta and Epsilon variants. After only one vaccine dose, the neutralization capacity expanded to all tested variants in pre-exposed individuals. Healthy vaccinated individuals showed a limited breadth of neutralization. One vaccine dose did induce similar neutralizing antibodies against the Delta as against the authentic strain. However, even after two doses, this capacity only expanded to the Epsilon variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A. Sariol
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (L.C.); (T.A.); (A.M.E.)
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (C.S.-C.); (E.J.O.); (P.P.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA
| | - Crisanta Serrano-Collazo
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (C.S.-C.); (E.J.O.); (P.P.)
| | - Edwin J. Ortiz
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (C.S.-C.); (E.J.O.); (P.P.)
- Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, San Juan, PR 00927, USA; (D.A.); (C.P.-C.)
| | - Petraleigh Pantoja
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (C.S.-C.); (E.J.O.); (P.P.)
| | - Lorna Cruz
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (L.C.); (T.A.); (A.M.E.)
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (C.S.-C.); (E.J.O.); (P.P.)
| | - Teresa Arana
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (L.C.); (T.A.); (A.M.E.)
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (C.S.-C.); (E.J.O.); (P.P.)
| | - Dianne Atehortua
- Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, San Juan, PR 00927, USA; (D.A.); (C.P.-C.)
| | - Christina Pabon-Carrero
- Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, San Juan, PR 00927, USA; (D.A.); (C.P.-C.)
| | - Ana M. Espino
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (L.C.); (T.A.); (A.M.E.)
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21
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Machado BAS, Hodel KVS, Fonseca LMDS, Mascarenhas LAB, Andrade LPCDS, Rocha VPC, Soares MBP, Berglund P, Duthie MS, Reed SG, Badaró R. The Importance of RNA-Based Vaccines in the Fight against COVID-19: An Overview. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1345. [PMID: 34835276 PMCID: PMC8623509 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9111345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, vaccine development using ribonucleic acid (RNA) has become the most promising and studied approach to produce safe and effective new vaccines, not only for prophylaxis but also as a treatment. The use of messenger RNA (mRNA) as an immunogenic has several advantages to vaccine development compared to other platforms, such as lower coast, the absence of cell cultures, and the possibility to combine different targets. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of mRNA as a vaccine became more relevant; two out of the four most widely applied vaccines against COVID-19 in the world are based on this platform. However, even though it presents advantages for vaccine application, mRNA technology faces several pivotal challenges to improve mRNA stability, delivery, and the potential to generate the related protein needed to induce a humoral- and T-cell-mediated immune response. The application of mRNA to vaccine development emerged as a powerful tool to fight against cancer and non-infectious and infectious diseases, for example, and represents a relevant research field for future decades. Based on these advantages, this review emphasizes mRNA and self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) for vaccine development, mainly to fight against COVID-19, together with the challenges related to this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Aparecida Souza Machado
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Brazil; (K.V.S.H.); (L.M.d.S.F.); (L.A.B.M.); (L.P.C.d.S.A.); (V.P.C.R.); (M.B.P.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Katharine Valéria Saraiva Hodel
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Brazil; (K.V.S.H.); (L.M.d.S.F.); (L.A.B.M.); (L.P.C.d.S.A.); (V.P.C.R.); (M.B.P.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Larissa Moraes dos Santos Fonseca
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Brazil; (K.V.S.H.); (L.M.d.S.F.); (L.A.B.M.); (L.P.C.d.S.A.); (V.P.C.R.); (M.B.P.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Luís Alberto Brêda Mascarenhas
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Brazil; (K.V.S.H.); (L.M.d.S.F.); (L.A.B.M.); (L.P.C.d.S.A.); (V.P.C.R.); (M.B.P.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Leone Peter Correia da Silva Andrade
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Brazil; (K.V.S.H.); (L.M.d.S.F.); (L.A.B.M.); (L.P.C.d.S.A.); (V.P.C.R.); (M.B.P.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Vinícius Pinto Costa Rocha
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Brazil; (K.V.S.H.); (L.M.d.S.F.); (L.A.B.M.); (L.P.C.d.S.A.); (V.P.C.R.); (M.B.P.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Milena Botelho Pereira Soares
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Brazil; (K.V.S.H.); (L.M.d.S.F.); (L.A.B.M.); (L.P.C.d.S.A.); (V.P.C.R.); (M.B.P.S.); (R.B.)
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Peter Berglund
- HDT Bio, 1616 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102, USA; (P.B.); (M.S.D.); (S.G.R.)
| | - Malcolm S. Duthie
- HDT Bio, 1616 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102, USA; (P.B.); (M.S.D.); (S.G.R.)
| | - Steven G. Reed
- HDT Bio, 1616 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102, USA; (P.B.); (M.S.D.); (S.G.R.)
| | - Roberto Badaró
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Brazil; (K.V.S.H.); (L.M.d.S.F.); (L.A.B.M.); (L.P.C.d.S.A.); (V.P.C.R.); (M.B.P.S.); (R.B.)
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22
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N-terminal domain mutations of the spike protein are structurally implicated in epitope recognition in emerging SARS-CoV-2 strains. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:5556-5567. [PMID: 34630935 PMCID: PMC8489513 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
During the past two years, the world has been ravaged by a global pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Acquired mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome affecting virus infectivity and/or immunogenicity have led to a number of novel strains with higher transmissibility compared to the original Wuhan strain. Mutations in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein have been extensively studied in this context. However, mutations and deletions within the N-terminal domain (NTD) located adjacent to the RBD are less studied. Many of these are found within certain β sheet-linking loops, which are surprisingly long in SARS-CoV-2 in comparison to SARS-CoV and other related β coronaviruses. Here, we perform a structural and epidemiological study of novel strains carrying mutations and deletions within these loops. We identify short and long-distance interactions that stabilize the NTD loops and form a critical epitope that is essential for the recognition by a wide variety of neutralizing antibodies from convalescent plasma. Among the different mutations/deletions found in these loops, Ala 67 and Asp 80 mutations as well as His 69/Val 70 and Tyr 144 deletions have been identified in different fast-spreading strains. Similarly, deletions in amino acids 241-243 and 246-252 have been found to affect the network of NTD loops in strains with high transmissibility. Our structural findings provide insight regarding the role of these mutations/deletions in altering the epitope structure and thus affecting the immunoreactivity of the NTD region of spike protein.
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23
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Ramos A, Cardoso MJ, Norton P, Sarmento A, Guimarães JT. Serological response to a single dose of a SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. J Virol Methods 2021; 296:114223. [PMID: 34224753 PMCID: PMC8252705 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The delays in the production and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines and the growing number of fatal infections across the globe raised the question whether it would be more advantageous to vaccinate a larger group of individuals with one dose instead of a smaller one with two doses. Through a group of vaccinated healthcare workers, we describe the qualitative and quantitative serological response to a single dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine. We found that, before the second dose inoculation, 95.3 % (182/191) already had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and, half of them, antibodies concentrations against RBD (the key target of neutralizing antibodies) that reached maximum values for the used evaluation immunoassay. In order to improve the execution of vaccination programs, further studies are needed to assess whether there are individuals for whom a single dose of mRNA vaccine or a delay in the inoculation of the second dose, produce a sufficient immune response. Additionally, follow-up studies will help in understanding post-vaccination immunity, how long it lasts and how it relates to infection and reinfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica Ramos
- Serviço de Patologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal; EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
| | - Maria João Cardoso
- Serviço de Patologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Norton
- Serviço de Saúde Ocupacional, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal; EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - António Sarmento
- Serviço de Doenças Infeciosas, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal; Departamento de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - João Tiago Guimarães
- Serviço de Patologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal; EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; Departamento de Biomedicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
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24
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Sariol CA, Pantoja P, Serrano-Collazo C, Rosa-Arocho T, Armina-Rodríguez A, Cruz L, Stone ET, Arana T, Climent C, Latoni G, Atehortua D, Pabon-Carrero C, Pinto AK, Brien JD, Espino AM. Function Is More Reliable than Quantity to Follow Up the Humoral Response to the Receptor-Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2-Spike Protein after Natural Infection or COVID-19 Vaccination. Viruses 2021; 13:1972. [PMID: 34696403 PMCID: PMC8538099 DOI: 10.3390/v13101972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Both the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and emergence of variants of concern have highlighted the need for functional antibody assays to monitor the humoral response over time. Antibodies directed against the spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 are an important component of the neutralizing antibody response. In this work, we report that in a subset of patients-despite a decline in total S-specific antibodies-neutralizing antibody titers remain at a similar level for an average of 98 days in longitudinal sampling of a cohort of 59 Hispanic/Latino patients exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Our data suggest that 100% of seroconverting patients make detectable neutralizing antibody responses which can be quantified by a surrogate viral neutralization test. Examination of sera from ten out of the 59 subjects which received mRNA-based vaccination revealed that both IgG titers and neutralizing activity of sera were higher after vaccination compared to a cohort of 21 SARS-CoV-2 naïve subjects. One dose was sufficient for the induction of a neutralizing antibody, but two doses were necessary to reach 100% surrogate virus neutralization in subjects irrespective of previous SARS-CoV-2 natural infection status. Like the pattern observed after natural infection, the total anti-S antibodies titers declined after the second vaccine dose; however, neutralizing activity remained relatively constant for more than 80 days after the first vaccine dose. Furthermore, our data indicates that-compared with mRNA vaccination-natural infection induces a more robust humoral immune response in unexposed subjects. This work is an important contribution to understanding the natural immune response to the novel coronavirus in a population severely impacted by SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, by comparing the dynamics of the immune response after the natural infection vs. the vaccination, these findings suggest that functional neutralizing antibody tests are more relevant indicators than the presence or absence of binding antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A. Sariol
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (L.C.); (T.A.)
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (P.P.); (C.S.-C.); (T.R.-A.); (A.A.-R.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA
| | - Petraleigh Pantoja
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (P.P.); (C.S.-C.); (T.R.-A.); (A.A.-R.)
| | - Crisanta Serrano-Collazo
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (P.P.); (C.S.-C.); (T.R.-A.); (A.A.-R.)
| | - Tiffany Rosa-Arocho
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (P.P.); (C.S.-C.); (T.R.-A.); (A.A.-R.)
| | - Albersy Armina-Rodríguez
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (P.P.); (C.S.-C.); (T.R.-A.); (A.A.-R.)
| | - Lorna Cruz
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (L.C.); (T.A.)
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (P.P.); (C.S.-C.); (T.R.-A.); (A.A.-R.)
| | - E. Taylor Stone
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA; (E.T.S.); (A.K.P.); (J.D.B.)
| | - Teresa Arana
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (L.C.); (T.A.)
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (P.P.); (C.S.-C.); (T.R.-A.); (A.A.-R.)
| | - Consuelo Climent
- Blood Bank Medical Center, Medical Center, San Juan, PR 00936, USA;
| | - Gerardo Latoni
- Banco de Sangre de Servicios Mutuos, Guaynabo, PR 00968, USA;
| | - Dianne Atehortua
- Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, San Juan, PR 00927, USA; (D.A.); (C.P.-C.)
| | - Christina Pabon-Carrero
- Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, San Juan, PR 00927, USA; (D.A.); (C.P.-C.)
| | - Amelia K. Pinto
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA; (E.T.S.); (A.K.P.); (J.D.B.)
| | - James D. Brien
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA; (E.T.S.); (A.K.P.); (J.D.B.)
| | - Ana M. Espino
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA; (L.C.); (T.A.)
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25
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The roles of two major domains of the porcine deltacoronavirus spike subunit 1 in receptor binding and neutralization. J Virol 2021; 95:e0111821. [PMID: 34549985 PMCID: PMC8610578 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01118-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Determination of the mechanisms of interspecies transmission is of great significance for the prevention of epidemic diseases caused by emerging coronaviruses (CoVs). Recently, porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) was shown to exhibit broad host cell range mediated by surface expression of aminopeptidase N (APN), and humans have been reported to be at risk of PDCoV infection. In the present study, we first demonstrated overexpression of APN orthologues from various species, including mice and felines, in the APN-deficient swine small intestine epithelial cells permitted PDCoV infection, confirming that APN broadly facilitates PDCoV cellular entry and perhaps subsequent interspecies transmission. PDCoV was able to limitedly infect mice in vivo, distributing mainly in enteric and lymphoid tissues, suggesting that mice may serve as a susceptible reservoir of PDCoV. Furthermore, elements (two glycosylation sites and four aromatic amino acids) on the surface of domain B (S1B) of the PDCoV spike glycoprotein S1 subunit were identified to be critical for cellular surface binding of APN orthologues. However, both domain A (S1A) and domain B (S1B) were able to elicit potent neutralizing antibodies against PDCoV infection. The antibodies against S1A inhibited the hemagglutination activity of PDCoV using erythrocytes from various species, which might account for the neutralizing capacity of S1A antibodies partially through a blockage of sialic acid binding. The study reveals the tremendous potential of PDCoV for interspecies transmission and the role of two major PDCoV S1 domains in receptor binding and neutralization, providing a theoretical basis for development of intervention strategies. IMPORTANCE Coronaviruses exhibit a tendency for recombination and mutation, which enables them to quickly adapt to various novel hosts. Previously, orthologues of aminopeptidase N (APN) from mammalian and avian species were found to be associated with porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) cellular entry in vitro. Here, we provide in vivo evidence that mice are susceptible to PDCoV limited infection. We also show that two major domains (S1A and S1B) of the PDCoV spike glycoprotein involved in APN receptor binding can elicit neutralizing antibodies, identifying two glycosylation sites and four aromatic amino acids on the surface of the S1B domain critical for APN binding and demonstrating that the neutralization activity of S1A antibodies is partially attributed to blockage of sugar binding activity. Our findings further implicate PDCoV’s great potential for interspecies transmission, and the data of receptor binding and neutralization may provide a basis for development of future intervention strategies.
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Wisnewski AV, Redlich CA, Liu J, Kamath K, Abad QA, Smith RF, Fazen L, Santiago R, Campillo Luna J, Martinez B, Baum-Jones E, Waitz R, Haynes WA, Shon JC. Immunogenic amino acid motifs and linear epitopes of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252849. [PMID: 34499652 PMCID: PMC8428655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Reverse vaccinology is an evolving approach for improving vaccine effectiveness and minimizing adverse responses by limiting immunizations to critical epitopes. Towards this goal, we sought to identify immunogenic amino acid motifs and linear epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that elicit IgG in COVID-19 mRNA vaccine recipients. Paired pre/post vaccination samples from N = 20 healthy adults, and post-vaccine samples from an additional N = 13 individuals were used to immunoprecipitate IgG targets expressed by a bacterial display random peptide library, and preferentially recognized peptides were mapped to the spike primary sequence. The data identify several distinct amino acid motifs recognized by vaccine-induced IgG, a subset of those targeted by IgG from natural infection, which may mimic 3-dimensional conformation (mimotopes). Dominant linear epitopes were identified in the C-terminal domains of the S1 and S2 subunits (aa 558-569, 627-638, and 1148-1159) which have been previously associated with SARS-CoV-2 neutralization in vitro and demonstrate identity to bat coronavirus and SARS-CoV, but limited homology to non-pathogenic human coronavirus. The identified COVID-19 mRNA vaccine epitopes should be considered in the context of variants, immune escape and vaccine and therapy design moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam V. Wisnewski
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Carrie A. Redlich
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Jian Liu
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Kathy Kamath
- Serimmune, Inc., Goleta, CA, United States of America
| | - Queenie-Ann Abad
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Richard F. Smith
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Louis Fazen
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Romero Santiago
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Julian Campillo Luna
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | | | | | - Rebecca Waitz
- Serimmune, Inc., Goleta, CA, United States of America
| | | | - John C. Shon
- Serimmune, Inc., Goleta, CA, United States of America
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Mamedov T, Yuksel D, Ilgın M, Gurbuzaslan I, Gulec B, Yetiskin H, Uygut MA, Islam Pavel ST, Ozdarendeli A, Mammadova G, Say D, Hasanova G. Plant-Produced Glycosylated and In Vivo Deglycosylated Receptor Binding Domain Proteins of SARS-CoV-2 Induce Potent Neutralizing Responses in Mice. Viruses 2021; 13:1595. [PMID: 34452461 PMCID: PMC8402646 DOI: 10.3390/v13081595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has rapidly spread to more than 222 countries and has put global public health at high risk. The world urgently needs cost-effective and safe SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, antiviral, and therapeutic drugs to control it. In this study, we engineered the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein and produced it in the plant Nicotiana benthamiana in a glycosylated and deglycosylated form. Expression levels of both glycosylated (gRBD) and deglycosylated (dRBD) RBD were greater than 45 mg/kg fresh weight. The purification yields were 22 mg of pure protein/kg of plant biomass for gRBD and 20 mg for dRBD, which would be sufficient for commercialization of these vaccine candidates. The purified plant-produced RBD protein was recognized by an S protein-specific monoclonal antibody, demonstrating specific reactivity of the antibody to the plant-produced RBD proteins. The SARS-CoV-2 RBD showed specific binding to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the SARS-CoV-2 receptor. In mice, the plant-produced RBD antigens elicited high titers of antibodies with a potent virus-neutralizing activity. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that mice immunized with plant-produced deglycosylated RBD form elicited high titer of RBD-specific antibodies with potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, obtained data support that plant-produced glycosylated and in vivo deglycosylated RBD antigens, developed in this study, are promising vaccine candidates for the prevention of COVID-19.
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MESH Headings
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/metabolism
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Glycosylation
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Neutralization Tests
- Plants, Genetically Modified
- Protein Binding
- Protein Domains
- Protein Engineering
- Protein Stability
- Receptors, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- SARS-CoV-2/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Nicotiana/genetics
- Nicotiana/metabolism
- Vero Cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarlan Mamedov
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Damla Yuksel
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Merve Ilgın
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Irem Gurbuzaslan
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Burcu Gulec
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Hazel Yetiskin
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Muhammet Ali Uygut
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
| | - Shaikh Terkis Islam Pavel
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Aykut Ozdarendeli
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Gulshan Mammadova
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Deniz Say
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Gulnara Hasanova
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
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Shalash AO, Hussein WM, Skwarczynski M, Toth I. Key Considerations for the Development of Safe and Effective SARS-CoV-2 Subunit Vaccine: A Peptide-Based Vaccine Alternative. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2100985. [PMID: 34176237 PMCID: PMC8373118 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202100985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 is disastrous to global health and the economy. SARS-CoV-2 infection exhibits similar clinical symptoms and immunopathological sequelae to SARS-CoV infection. Therefore, much of the developmental progress on SARS-CoV vaccines can be utilized for the development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Careful antigen selection during development is always of utmost importance for the production of effective vaccines that do not compromise recipient safety. This holds especially true for SARS-CoV vaccines, as several immunopathological disorders are associated with the activity of structural and nonstructural proteins encoded in the virus's genetic material. Whole viral protein and RNA-encoding full-length proteins contain both protective and "dangerous" sequences, unless pathological fragments are deleted. In light of recent advances, peptide vaccines may present a very safe and effective alternative. Peptide vaccines can avoid immunopathological pro-inflammatory sequences, focus immune responses on neutralizing immunogenic epitopes, avoid off-target antigen loss, combine antigens with different protective roles or mechanisms, even from different viral proteins, and avoid mutant escape by employing highly conserved cryptic epitopes. In this review, an attempt is made to exploit the similarities between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 in vaccine antigen screening, with particular attention to the pathological and immunogenic properties of SARS proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed O. Shalash
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLD4072Australia
| | - Waleed M. Hussein
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLD4072Australia
| | - Mariusz Skwarczynski
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLD4072Australia
| | - Istvan Toth
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLD4072Australia
- Institute for Molecular BioscienceThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLD4072Australia
- School of PharmacyThe University of QueenslandWoolloongabbaQLD4102Australia
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29
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Malik YS, Kumar P, Ansari MI, Hemida MG, El Zowalaty ME, Abdel-Moneim AS, Ganesh B, Salajegheh S, Natesan S, Sircar S, Safdar M, Vinodhkumar OR, Duarte PM, Patel SK, Klein J, Rahimi P, Dhama K. SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Extrapolation for COVID Diagnosis and Vaccine Development. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:607886. [PMID: 34395515 PMCID: PMC8355592 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.607886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affecting nearly 71.2 million humans in more than 191 countries, with more than 1.6 million mortalities as of 12 December, 2020. The spike glycoprotein (S-protein), anchored onto the virus envelope, is the trimer of S-protein comprised of S1 and S2 domains which interacts with host cell receptors and facilitates virus-cell membrane fusion. The S1 domain comprises of a receptor binding domain (RBD) possessing an N-terminal domain and two subdomains (SD1 and SD2). Certain regions of S-protein of SARS-CoV-2 such as S2 domain and fragment of the RBD remain conserved despite the high selection pressure. These conserved regions of the S-protein are extrapolated as the potential target for developing molecular diagnostic techniques. Further, the S-protein acts as an antigenic target for different serological assay platforms for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Virus-specific IgM and IgG antibodies can be used to detect viral proteins in ELISA and lateral flow immunoassays. The S-protein of SARS-CoV-2 has very high sequence similarity to SARS-CoV-1, and the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against SARS-CoV-1 cross-react with S-protein of SARS-CoV-2 and neutralize its activity. Furthermore, in vitro studies have demonstrated that polyclonal antibodies targeted against the RBD of S-protein of SARS-CoV-1 can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 thus inhibiting its infectivity in permissive cell lines. Research on coronaviral S-proteins paves the way for the development of vaccines that may prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and alleviate the current global coronavirus pandemic. However, specific neutralizing mAbs against SARS-CoV-2 are in clinical development. Therefore, neutralizing antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 S-protein are promising specific antiviral therapeutics for pre-and post-exposure prophylaxis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We hereby review the approaches taken by researchers across the world to use spike gene and S-glycoprotein for the development of effective diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics against SARA-CoV-2 infection the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashpal S. Malik
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
- College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Prashant Kumar
- Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology, Amity University, Noida, India
| | - Mohd Ikram Ansari
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
- Department of Biosciences, Integral University, Lucknow, India
| | - Maged G. Hemida
- Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Shaikh, Egypt
| | - Mohamed E. El Zowalaty
- Zoonosis Science Center, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ahmed S. Abdel-Moneim
- Microbiology Department, College of Medicine, Taif University, Al-Taif, Saudi Arabia
- Virology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Balasubramanian Ganesh
- Laboratory Division, Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute of Epidemiology, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Chennai, India
| | - Sina Salajegheh
- Young Researchers and Elites Club, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Shubhankar Sircar
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Muhammad Safdar
- Department of Breeding and Genetics, Cholistan University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - O. R. Vinodhkumar
- Division of Epidemiology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Phelipe M. Duarte
- Veterinarian, Professor at the Faculty of Biological and Health Sciences, Universidade de Cuiabá, Primavera do Leste, Brazil
| | - Shailesh K. Patel
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Jörn Klein
- Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Kongsberg, Norway
| | - Parastoo Rahimi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
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30
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Jia L, Liu YP, Tian LF, Xiong C, Xu X, Qu H, Xiong W, Zhou D, Wang F, Liu Z, Yan XX, Xu W, Tang L. Potent neutralizing RBD-specific antibody cocktail against SARS-CoV-2 and its mutant. MedComm (Beijing) 2021; 2:442-452. [PMID: 34541573 PMCID: PMC8441738 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and its variants has posed a serious global public health emergency. Therapeutic interventions or vaccines are urgently needed to treat and prevent the further dissemination of this contagious virus. This study described the identification of neutralizing receptor‐binding domain (RBD)‐specific antibodies from mice through vaccination with a recombinant SARS‐CoV‐2 RBD. RBD‐targeted monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with distinct function and epitope recognition were selected to understand SARS‐CoV‐2 neutralization. High‐affinity RBD‐specific antibodies exhibited high potency in neutralizing both live and pseudotype SARS‐CoV‐2 viruses and the SARS‐CoV‐2 pseudovirus particle containing the spike protein S‐RBDV367F mutant (SARS‐CoV‐2(V367F)). These results demonstrated that these antibodies recognize four distinct groups (I–IV) of epitopes on the RBD and that mAbs targeting group I epitope can be used in combination with mAbs recognizing groups II and/or IV epitope to make mAb cocktails against SARS‐CoV‐2 and its mutants. Moreover, structural characterization reveals that groups I, III, and IV epitopes are closely located to an RBD hotspot. The identification of RBD‐specific antibodies and cocktails may provide an effective therapeutic and prophylactic intervention against SARS‐CoV‐2 and its isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Jia
- Department of Neurology State Key Lab of Biotherapy and Cancer center West China Hospital Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Yan-Ping Liu
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Li-Fei Tian
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Chao Xiong
- Department of Neurology State Key Lab of Biotherapy and Cancer center West China Hospital Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Neurology State Key Lab of Biotherapy and Cancer center West China Hospital Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Honge Qu
- Department of Neurology State Key Lab of Biotherapy and Cancer center West China Hospital Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Weixi Xiong
- Department of Neurology State Key Lab of Biotherapy and Cancer center West China Hospital Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Dong Zhou
- Department of Neurology State Key Lab of Biotherapy and Cancer center West China Hospital Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Feng Wang
- Wuxi Biortus Biosciences Co. Ltd. Jiangyin China
| | - Zheng Liu
- School of life and health Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery the Chinese University of Hong Kong Shenzhen China
| | - Xiao-Xue Yan
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Wenqing Xu
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China.,Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology ShanghaiTech University Shanghai China
| | - Lin Tang
- Department of Neurology State Key Lab of Biotherapy and Cancer center West China Hospital Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy Chengdu Sichuan China
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Najafi Fard S, Petrone L, Petruccioli E, Alonzi T, Matusali G, Colavita F, Castilletti C, Capobianchi MR, Goletti D. In Vitro Models for Studying Entry, Tissue Tropism, and Therapeutic Approaches of Highly Pathogenic Coronaviruses. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:8856018. [PMID: 34239932 PMCID: PMC8221881 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8856018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped nonsegmented positive-sense RNA viruses belonging to the family Coronaviridae that contain the largest genome among RNA viruses. Their genome encodes 4 major structural proteins, and among them, the Spike (S) protein plays a crucial role in determining the viral tropism. It mediates viral attachment to the host cell, fusion to the membranes, and cell entry using cellular proteases as activators. Several in vitro models have been developed to study the CoVs entry, pathogenesis, and possible therapeutic approaches. This article is aimed at summarizing the current knowledge about the use of relevant methodologies and cell lines permissive for CoV life cycle studies. The synthesis of this information can be useful for setting up specific experimental procedures. We also discuss different strategies for inhibiting the binding of the S protein to the cell receptors and the fusion process which may offer opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeid Najafi Fard
- Translational Research Unit, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Petrone
- Translational Research Unit, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Petruccioli
- Translational Research Unit, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Tonino Alonzi
- Translational Research Unit, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Matusali
- Laboratory of Virology, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Colavita
- Laboratory of Virology, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Concetta Castilletti
- Laboratory of Virology, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Capobianchi
- Laboratory of Virology, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Delia Goletti
- Translational Research Unit, Epidemiology and Preclinical Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
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32
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Feng Y, Jiang H, Qiu M, Liu L, Zou S, Li Y, Guo Q, Han N, Sun Y, Wang K, Lu L, Zhuang X, Zhang S, Chen S, Mo F. Multi-Epitope Vaccine Design Using an Immunoinformatic Approach for SARS-CoV-2. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10060737. [PMID: 34208061 PMCID: PMC8230658 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Through 4 June 2021, COVID-19 has caused over 172.84 million cases of infection and 3.71 million deaths worldwide. Due to its rapid dissemination and high mutation rate, it is essential to develop a vaccine harboring multiple epitopes and efficacious against multiple variants to prevent the immune escape of SARS-CoV-2. An in silico approach based on the viral genome was applied to identify 19 high-immunogenic B-cell epitopes and 499 human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted T-cell epitopes. Thirty multi-epitope peptide vaccines were designed by iNeo-Suite and manufactured by solid-phase synthesis. Docking analysis confirmed stable hydrogen bonds of epitopes with their corresponding HLA alleles. When four peptide candidates derived from the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 were selected to immunize mice, a significantly larger amount of total IgG in serum, as well as an increase of CD19+ cells in the inguinal lymph nodes, were observed in the peptide-immunized mice compared to the control. The ratios of IFN-γ-secreting lymphocytes in CD4+ or CD8+ T-cells in the peptide-immunized mice were higher than those in the control mice. There were also a larger number of IFN-γ-secreting T-cells in the spleens of peptide-immunized mice. The peptide vaccines in this study successfully elicited antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses in mice. To further validate the safety and efficacy of this vaccine, animal studies using a primate model, as well as clinical trials in humans, are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Feng
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310001, China; (Y.F.); (S.Z.)
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310002, China
| | - Haiping Jiang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310007, China;
| | - Min Qiu
- Hangzhou Neoantigen Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310058, China; (M.Q.); (L.L.); (Q.G.); (N.H.); (Y.S.); (K.W.); (L.L.); (S.Z.)
| | - Liang Liu
- Hangzhou Neoantigen Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310058, China; (M.Q.); (L.L.); (Q.G.); (N.H.); (Y.S.); (K.W.); (L.L.); (S.Z.)
| | - Shengmei Zou
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310001, China; (Y.F.); (S.Z.)
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310002, China
| | - Yun Li
- Zhejiang Forest Resources Monitoring Center, Hangzhou 310020, China;
| | - Qianpeng Guo
- Hangzhou Neoantigen Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310058, China; (M.Q.); (L.L.); (Q.G.); (N.H.); (Y.S.); (K.W.); (L.L.); (S.Z.)
| | - Ning Han
- Hangzhou Neoantigen Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310058, China; (M.Q.); (L.L.); (Q.G.); (N.H.); (Y.S.); (K.W.); (L.L.); (S.Z.)
| | - Yingqiang Sun
- Hangzhou Neoantigen Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310058, China; (M.Q.); (L.L.); (Q.G.); (N.H.); (Y.S.); (K.W.); (L.L.); (S.Z.)
| | - Kui Wang
- Hangzhou Neoantigen Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310058, China; (M.Q.); (L.L.); (Q.G.); (N.H.); (Y.S.); (K.W.); (L.L.); (S.Z.)
| | - Lantian Lu
- Hangzhou Neoantigen Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310058, China; (M.Q.); (L.L.); (Q.G.); (N.H.); (Y.S.); (K.W.); (L.L.); (S.Z.)
| | - Xinlei Zhuang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Hangzhou Neoantigen Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310058, China; (M.Q.); (L.L.); (Q.G.); (N.H.); (Y.S.); (K.W.); (L.L.); (S.Z.)
- Zhejiang California International Nanosystems Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shuqing Chen
- Hangzhou Neoantigen Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310058, China; (M.Q.); (L.L.); (Q.G.); (N.H.); (Y.S.); (K.W.); (L.L.); (S.Z.)
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
- Zhejiang California International Nanosystems Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Correspondence: (S.C.); (F.M.); Tel.: +86-571-8820-8411 (S.C.); +86-571-8608-8519 (F.M.)
| | - Fan Mo
- Hangzhou Neoantigen Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310058, China; (M.Q.); (L.L.); (Q.G.); (N.H.); (Y.S.); (K.W.); (L.L.); (S.Z.)
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada
- Hangzhou AI-Force Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310000, China
- Correspondence: (S.C.); (F.M.); Tel.: +86-571-8820-8411 (S.C.); +86-571-8608-8519 (F.M.)
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Patel DR, Field CJ, Septer KM, Sim DG, Jones MJ, Heinly TA, Vanderford TH, McGraw EA, Sutton TC. Transmission and Protection against Reinfection in the Ferret Model with the SARS-CoV-2 USA-WA1/2020 Reference Isolate. J Virol 2021; 95:e0223220. [PMID: 33827954 PMCID: PMC8315962 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02232-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has initiated a global pandemic, and several vaccines have now received emergency use authorization. Using the reference strain SARS-CoV-2 USA-WA1/2020, we evaluated modes of transmission and the ability of prior infection or vaccine-induced immunity to protect against infection in ferrets. Ferrets were semipermissive to infection with the USA-WA1/2020 isolate. When transmission was assessed via the detection of viral RNA (vRNA) at multiple time points, direct contact transmission was efficient to 3/3 and 3/4 contact animals in 2 respective studies, while respiratory droplet transmission was poor to only 1/4 contact animals. To determine if previously infected ferrets were protected against reinfection, ferrets were rechallenged 28 or 56 days postinfection. Following viral challenge, no infectious virus was recovered in nasal wash samples. In addition, levels of vRNA in the nasal wash were several orders of magnitude lower than during primary infection, and vRNA was rapidly cleared. To determine if intramuscular vaccination protected ferrets, ferrets were vaccinated using a prime-boost strategy with the S protein receptor-binding domain formulated with an oil-in-water adjuvant. Upon viral challenge, none of the mock or vaccinated animals were protected against infection, and there were no significant differences in vRNA or infectious virus titers in the nasal wash. Combined, these studies demonstrate direct contact is the predominant mode of transmission of the USA-WA1/2020 isolate in ferrets and that immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is maintained for at least 56 days. Our studies also indicate protection of the upper respiratory tract against SARS-CoV-2 will require vaccine strategies that mimic natural infection or induce site-specific immunity. IMPORTANCE The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) USA-WA1/2020 strain is a CDC reference strain used by multiple research laboratories. Here, we show that the predominant mode of transmission of this isolate in ferrets is by direct contact. We further demonstrate ferrets are protected against reinfection for at least 56 days even when levels of neutralizing antibodies are low or undetectable. Last, we show that when ferrets were vaccinated by the intramuscular route to induce antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, ferrets remain susceptible to infection of the upper respiratory tract. Collectively, these studies suggest that protection of the upper respiratory tract will require vaccine approaches that mimic natural infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devanshi R. Patel
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Cassandra J. Field
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Emory-UGA Center of Excellence of Influenza Research and Surveillance (CEIRS), University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kayla M. Septer
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Derek G. Sim
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biology, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Matthew J. Jones
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biology, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Talia A. Heinly
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Emory-UGA Center of Excellence of Influenza Research and Surveillance (CEIRS), University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Thomas H. Vanderford
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. McGraw
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Troy C. Sutton
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Emory-UGA Center of Excellence of Influenza Research and Surveillance (CEIRS), University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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Dessie G, Malik T. Role of Serine Proteases and Host Cell Receptors Involved in Proteolytic Activation, Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and Its Current Therapeutic Options. Infect Drug Resist 2021; 14:1883-1892. [PMID: 34079299 PMCID: PMC8163626 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s308176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The current global pandemic of a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 continues with its public health disaster beginning from late December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. The scientific community has tried to fight against this novel coronavirus through vaccine development and designing different candidate drugs. However, there is no well-defined therapy to prevent 2019-nCov infection, thus complete prevention of the virus remains difficult. Therefore, it is a critical factor for death of millions worldwide. Many clinical trials and insights are ongoing in the struggle with this pandemic of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cell requires host cell angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) and glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78). On the other hand, proteolytic activation of the viral spike protein (S protein) needs the host cell serine proteases, including transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), cathepsins, trypsin and furin. This review focuses on the protein involved in the mechanism of entry, and proteolytic activation. In addition, it looks at current therapeutic options for SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gashaw Dessie
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Tabarak Malik
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgY Isolated from Egg Yolks of Hens Immunized with Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 for Immunoprophylaxis of COVID-19. Virol Sin 2021; 36:1080-1082. [PMID: 34019233 PMCID: PMC8137804 DOI: 10.1007/s12250-021-00371-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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Siriwattananon K, Manopwisedjaroen S, Shanmugaraj B, Rattanapisit K, Phumiamorn S, Sapsutthipas S, Trisiriwanich S, Prompetchara E, Ketloy C, Buranapraditkun S, Wijagkanalan W, Tharakhet K, Kaewpang P, Leetanasaksakul K, Kemthong T, Suttisan N, Malaivijitnond S, Ruxrungtham K, Thitithanyanont A, Phoolcharoen W. Plant-Produced Receptor-Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2 Elicits Potent Neutralizing Responses in Mice and Non-human Primates. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:682953. [PMID: 34054909 PMCID: PMC8158422 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.682953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected global public health and economy. Despite the substantial efforts, only few vaccines are currently approved and some are in the different stages of clinical trials. As the disease rapidly spreads, an affordable and effective vaccine is urgently needed. In this study, we investigated the immunogenicity of plant-produced receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 in order to use as a subunit vaccine. In this regard, RBD of SARS-CoV-2 was fused with Fc fragment of human IgG1 and transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana by agroinfiltration. The plant-produced RBD-Fc fusion protein was purified from the crude extract by using protein A affinity column chromatography. Two intramuscular administration of plant-produced RBD-Fc protein formulated with alum as an adjuvant have elicited high neutralization titers in immunized mice and cynomolgus monkeys. Further it has induced a mixed Th1/Th2 immune responses and vaccine-specific T-lymphocyte responses which was confirmed by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Altogether, our results demonstrated that the plant-produced SARS-CoV-2 RBD has the potential to be used as an effective vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the immunogenicity of plant-produced SARS-CoV-2 RBD protein in mice and non-human primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konlavat Siriwattananon
- Research Unit for Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | | | - Supaporn Phumiamorn
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Institute of Biological Products, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Sompong Sapsutthipas
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Institute of Biological Products, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Sakalin Trisiriwanich
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Institute of Biological Products, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Eakachai Prompetchara
- Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chutitorn Ketloy
- Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Supranee Buranapraditkun
- Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Kittipan Tharakhet
- Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Papatsara Kaewpang
- Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kantinan Leetanasaksakul
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Taratorn Kemthong
- National Primate Research Center of Thailand-Chulalongkorn University, Saraburi, Thailand
| | - Nutchanat Suttisan
- National Primate Research Center of Thailand-Chulalongkorn University, Saraburi, Thailand
| | | | - Kiat Ruxrungtham
- Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Research Unit for Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Almofti YA, Abd-Elrahman KA, Eltilib EEM. Vaccinomic approach for novel multi epitopes vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). BMC Immunol 2021; 22:22. [PMID: 33765919 PMCID: PMC7992937 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-021-00412-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The spread of a novel coronavirus termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in China and other countries is of great concern worldwide with no effective vaccine. This study aimed to design a novel vaccine construct against SARS-CoV-2 from the spike S protein and orf1ab polyprotein using immunoinformatics tools. The vaccine was designed from conserved epitopes interacted against B and T lymphocytes by the combination of highly immunogenic epitopes with suitable adjuvant and linkers. RESULTS The proposed vaccine composed of 526 amino acids and was shown to be antigenic in Vaxigen server (0.6194) and nonallergenic in Allertop server. The physiochemical properties of the vaccine showed isoelectric point of 10.19. The instability index (II) was 31.25 classifying the vaccine as stable. Aliphatic index was 84.39 and the grand average of hydropathicity (GRAVY) was - 0.049 classifying the vaccine as hydrophilic. Vaccine tertiary structure was predicted, refined and validated to assess the stability of the vaccine via Ramachandran plot and ProSA-web servers. Moreover, solubility of the vaccine construct was greater than the average solubility provided by protein sol and SOLpro servers indicating the solubility of the vaccine construct. Disulfide engineering was performed to reduce the high mobile regions in the vaccine to enhance stability. Docking of the vaccine construct with TLR4 demonstrated efficient binding energy with attractive binding energy of - 338.68 kcal/mol and - 346.89 kcal/mol for TLR4 chain A and chain B respectively. Immune simulation significantly provided high levels of immunoglobulins, T-helper cells, T-cytotoxic cells and INF-γ. Upon cloning, the vaccine protein was reverse transcribed into DNA sequence and cloned into pET28a(+) vector to ensure translational potency and microbial expression. CONCLUSION A unique vaccine construct from spike S protein and orf1ab polyprotein against B and T lymphocytes was generated with potential protection against the pandemic. The present study might assist in developing a suitable therapeutics protocol to combat SARSCoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yassir A Almofti
- Department of Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bahri, Khartoum, Sudan.
| | - Khoubieb Ali Abd-Elrahman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Medical Science and Technology (MUST), Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Elsideeq E M Eltilib
- Department of Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bahri, Khartoum, Sudan
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Cao M, Su X, Jiang S. Broad-Spectrum Anti-coronavirus Vaccines and Therapeutics to Combat the Current COVID-19 Pandemic and Future Coronavirus Disease Outbreaks. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:398-411. [PMID: 33691145 PMCID: PMC7940144 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
While the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is continuing, it may become worse in the coming winter months with a high potential for the emergence and spread of escape variants of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-related CoVs (SARSr-CoVs) from bats may also cause outbreaks of emerging coronavirus diseases in the future. These predictions call for the development of broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus vaccines and therapeutics to combat the current COVID-19 pandemic and future emerging coronavirus disease epidemics. In this review, we describe advances and challenges in the development of broad-spectrum vaccines and neutralizing antibodies against lineage B betacoronaviruses (β-CoV-Bs), including SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and SARSr-CoVs, as well as peptide-based pan-CoV fusion inhibitors and their potential in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and other human coronavirus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Cao
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiaojie Su
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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Pandey M, Ozberk V, Eskandari S, Shalash AO, Joyce MA, Saffran HA, Day CJ, Lepletier A, Spillings BL, Mills JL, Calcutt A, Fan F, Williams JT, Stanisic DI, Hattingh L, Gerrard J, Skwarczynski M, Mak J, Jennings MP, Toth I, Tyrrell DL, Good MF. Antibodies to neutralising epitopes synergistically block the interaction of the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 to ACE 2. Clin Transl Immunology 2021; 10:e1260. [PMID: 33732459 PMCID: PMC7937407 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives A major COVID‐19 vaccine strategy is to induce antibodies that prevent interaction between the Spike protein's receptor‐binding domain (RBD) and angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). These vaccines will also induce T‐cell responses. However, concerns were raised that aberrant vaccine‐induced immune responses may exacerbate disease. We aimed to identify minimal epitopes on the RBD that would induce antibody responses that block the interaction of the RBD and ACE2 as a strategy leading to an effective vaccine with reduced risk of inducing immunopathology. Methods We procured a series of overlapping 20‐amino acid peptides spanning the RBD and asked which were recognised by plasma from COVID‐19 convalescent patients. Identified epitopes were conjugated to diphtheria‐toxoid and used to vaccinate mice. Immune sera were tested for binding to the RBD and for their ability to block the interaction of the RBD and ACE2. Results Seven putative vaccine epitopes were identified. Memory B‐cells (MBCs) specific for one of the epitopes were identified in the blood of convalescent patients. When used to vaccinate mice, six induced antibodies that bound recRBD and three induced antibodies that could partially block the interaction of the RBD and ACE2. However, when the sera were combined in pairs, we observed significantly enhanced inhibition of binding of RBD to ACE2. Two of the peptides were located in the main regions of the RBD known to contact ACE2. Of significant importance to vaccine development, two of the peptides were in regions that are invariant in the UK and South African strains. Conclusion COVID‐19 convalescent patients have SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific antibodies and MBCs, the specificities of which can be defined with short peptides. Epitope‐specific antibodies synergistically block RBD–ACE2 interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manisha Pandey
- Institute for Glycomics Griffith University Gold Coast QLD Australia
| | - Victoria Ozberk
- Institute for Glycomics Griffith University Gold Coast QLD Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Christopher J Day
- Institute for Glycomics Griffith University Gold Coast QLD Australia
| | - Ailin Lepletier
- Institute for Glycomics Griffith University Gold Coast QLD Australia
| | | | - Jamie-Lee Mills
- Institute for Glycomics Griffith University Gold Coast QLD Australia
| | - Ainslie Calcutt
- Institute for Glycomics Griffith University Gold Coast QLD Australia
| | - Fan Fan
- Olymvax Biopharmaceuticals Chengdu China
| | | | | | | | - John Gerrard
- Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service Gold Coast QLD Australia
| | | | - Johnson Mak
- Institute for Glycomics Griffith University Gold Coast QLD Australia
| | | | - Istvan Toth
- University of Queensland Brisbane QLD Australia
| | | | - Michael F Good
- Institute for Glycomics Griffith University Gold Coast QLD Australia
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A novel highly quantitative and reproducible assay for the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5198. [PMID: 33664294 PMCID: PMC7933429 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84387-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The quantitative range and reproducibility of current serological tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) are not optimized. Herein, we developed a diagnostic test that detects SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM with high quantitativeness and reproducibility and low interference. The system was based on the high-sensitivity chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (HISCL) platform and detects IgG and IgM specific to SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins. Quantification accuracy and reproducibility were evaluated using serially diluted samples from 60 SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. Assay performance was evaluated using serum samples from the SARS-CoV-2-infected patients and 500 SARS-CoV-2-negative serum samples collected before the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. The system showed high quantification accuracy (range, 102), high reproducibility (within 5%), and no cross-reaction between SARS1- and MERS-S proteins. Detection accuracy was 98.3% and 93.3% for IgG and IgM against spike proteins and 100% and 71.7% for IgG and IgM against nucleocapsid proteins, respectively. Mean antibody levels were > 10 times that in negative samples upon admission and > 100 times that at convalescent periods. Clinical severity upon admission was not correlated with IgG or IgM levels. This highly quantitative, reproducible assay system with high clinical performance may help analyze temporal serological/immunological profiles of SARS-CoV-2 infection and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effectiveness.
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Su S, Du L, Jiang S. Learning from the past: development of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. Nat Rev Microbiol 2021; 19:211-219. [PMID: 33067570 PMCID: PMC7566580 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-020-00462-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has elicited an equally rapid response aiming to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. These efforts are encouraging; however, comprehensive efficacy and safety evaluations are essential in the development of a vaccine, and we can learn from previous vaccine development campaigns. In this Perspective, we summarize examples of vaccine-associated disease enhancement in the history of developing vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus, dengue virus, SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, which highlight the importance of a robust safety and efficacy profile, and present recommendations for preclinical and clinical evaluation of COVID-19 vaccine candidates as well as for vaccine design and optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Su
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/MOH/CAM), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lanying Du
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/MOH/CAM), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, USA.
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Marot S, Malet I, Leducq V, Zafilaza K, Sterlin D, Planas D, Gothland A, Jary A, Dorgham K, Bruel T, Burrel S, Boutolleau D, Schwartz O, Gorochov G, Calvez V, Marcelin AG. Rapid decline of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among infected healthcare workers. Nat Commun 2021; 12:844. [PMID: 33558507 PMCID: PMC7870823 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21111-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There are only few data concerning persistence of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) among SARS-CoV-2-infected healthcare workers (HCW). These individuals are particularly exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection and at potential risk of reinfection. We followed 26 HCW with mild COVID-19 three weeks (D21), two months (M2) and three months (M3) after the onset of symptoms. All the HCW had anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgA at D21, decreasing to 38.5% at M3 (p < 0.0001). Concomitantly a significant decrease in NAb titers was observed between D21 and M2 (p = 0.03) and between D21 and M3 (p < 0.0001). Here, we report that SARS-CoV-2 can elicit a NAb response correlated with anti-RBD antibody levels. However, this neutralizing activity declines, and may even be lost, in association with a decrease in systemic IgA antibody levels, from two months after disease onset. This short-lasting humoral protection supports strong recommendations to maintain infection prevention and control measures in HCW, and suggests that periodic boosts of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination may be required. The humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection is not yet fully understood. Here, Marot et al. monitor the longitudinal profile and neutralizing activity of IgG, IgA, and IgM among 26 healthcare workers and provide evidence for a short-lasting humoral immune protection due to a decrease of neutralizing antibody titers within 3 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Marot
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, Paris, France.
| | - Isabelle Malet
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, Paris, France
| | - Valentin Leducq
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, Paris, France
| | - Karen Zafilaza
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, Paris, France
| | - Delphine Sterlin
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), AP-HP, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Immunology, Paris, France
| | - Delphine Planas
- Virus and Immunity Unit, Department of Virology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3569, Paris, France.,Vaccine Research Institute, Creteil, France
| | - Adélie Gothland
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, Paris, France
| | - Aude Jary
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, Paris, France
| | - Karim Dorgham
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), AP-HP, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Immunology, Paris, France
| | - Timothée Bruel
- Virus and Immunity Unit, Department of Virology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3569, Paris, France.,Vaccine Research Institute, Creteil, France
| | | | - Sonia Burrel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, Paris, France
| | - David Boutolleau
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Schwartz
- Virus and Immunity Unit, Department of Virology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3569, Paris, France.,Vaccine Research Institute, Creteil, France
| | - Guy Gorochov
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), AP-HP, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Immunology, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Calvez
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Geneviève Marcelin
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, Paris, France
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43
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Daou A. COVID-19 Vaccination: From Interesting Agent to the Patient. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:120. [PMID: 33546347 PMCID: PMC7913564 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The vaccination for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is undergoing its final stages of analysis and testing. It is an impressive feat under the circumstances that we are on the verge of a potential breakthrough vaccination. This will help reduce the stress for millions of people around the globe, helping to restore worldwide normalcy. In this review, the analysis looks into how the new branch of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) came into the forefront of the world like a pandemic. This review will break down the details of what COVID-19 is, the viral family it belongs to and its background of how this family of viruses alters bodily functions by attacking vital human respiratory organs, the circulatory system, the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. This review also looks at the process a new drug analogue undergoes, from (i) being a promising lead compound to (ii) being released into the market, from the drug development and discovery stage right through to FDA approval and aftermarket research. This review also addresses viable reasoning as to why the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine may have taken much less time than normal in order for it to be released for use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anis Daou
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar;
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Unit, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
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44
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Wang R, Luo X, Liu F, Luo S. Confronting the threat of SARS-CoV-2: Realities, challenges and therapeutic strategies (Review). Exp Ther Med 2021; 21:155. [PMID: 33456522 PMCID: PMC7807638 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.9587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) appeared in2019 in Wuhan, China, and rapidly developed into a global pandemic. The disease has affected not only health care systems and economies worldwide but has also changed the lifestyles and habits of the majority of the world's population. Among the potential targets for SARS-CoV-2 therapy, the viral spike glycoprotein has been studied most intensely, due to its key role in mediating viral entry into target cells and inducing a protective antibody response in infected individuals. In the present manuscript the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for SARS-CoV-2 infection are described and a progress report on the status of SARS-CoV-2 research is provided. A brief review of the clinical symptoms of the condition and current diagnostic methods and treatment plans for SARS-CoV-2 are also presented and the progress of preclinical research into medical intervention against SARS-CoV-2 infection are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixue Wang
- Department of Basic Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, School of Stomatology and Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong 528000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoshan Luo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Stomatology and Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong 528000, P.R. China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Basic Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, School of Stomatology and Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong 528000, P.R. China
| | - Shuhong Luo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Stomatology and Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong 528000, P.R. China
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45
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Zhou P, Li Z, Xie L, An D, Fan Y, Wang X, Li Y, Liu X, Wu J, Li G, Li Q. Research progress and challenges to coronavirus vaccine development. J Med Virol 2021; 93:741-754. [PMID: 32936465 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are nonsegmented, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses highly pathogenic to humans. Some CoVs are known to cause respiratory and intestinal diseases, posing a threat to the global public health. Against this backdrop, it is of critical importance to develop safe and effective vaccines against these CoVs. This review discusses human vaccine candidates in any stage of development and explores the viral characteristics, molecular epidemiology, and immunology associated with CoV vaccine development. At present, there are many obstacles and challenges to vaccine research and development, including the lack of knowledge about virus transmission, pathogenesis, and immune response, absence of the most appropriate animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiwen Zhou
- Department of Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zonghui Li
- Department of Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Linqing Xie
- Department of Guangzhou Cyanvaccine Biotechnology Co, Ltd, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong An
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Yaohua Fan
- Department of Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Department of Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiwei Li
- Department of Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaohong Liu
- Department of Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianguo Wu
- Department of Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Geng Li
- Department of Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qin Li
- Department of Guangzhou Cyanvaccine Biotechnology Co, Ltd, Guangzhou, China
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46
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Huang KYA, Tan TK, Chen TH, Huang CG, Harvey R, Hussain S, Chen CP, Harding A, Gilbert-Jaramillo J, Liu X, Knight M, Schimanski L, Shih SR, Lin YC, Cheng CY, Cheng SH, Huang YC, Lin TY, Jan JT, Ma C, James W, Daniels RS, McCauley JW, Rijal P, Townsend AR. Breadth and function of antibody response to acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009352. [PMID: 33635919 PMCID: PMC8130932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Serological and plasmablast responses and plasmablast-derived IgG monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been analysed in three COVID-19 patients with different clinical severities. Potent humoral responses were detected within 3 weeks of onset of illness in all patients and the serological titre was elicited soon after or concomitantly with peripheral plasmablast response. An average of 13.7% and 3.5% of plasmablast-derived MAbs were reactive with virus spike glycoprotein or nucleocapsid, respectively. A subset of anti-spike (10 of 32) antibodies cross-reacted with other betacoronaviruses tested and harboured extensive somatic mutations, indicative of an expansion of memory B cells upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. Fourteen of 32 anti-spike MAbs, including five anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD), three anti-non-RBD S1 and six anti-S2, neutralised wild-type SARS-CoV-2 in independent assays. Anti-RBD MAbs were further grouped into four cross-inhibiting clusters, of which six antibodies from three separate clusters blocked the binding of RBD to ACE2 and five were neutralising. All ACE2-blocking anti-RBD antibodies were isolated from two recovered patients with prolonged fever, which is compatible with substantial ACE2-blocking response in their sera. Finally, the identification of non-competing pairs of neutralising antibodies would offer potential templates for the development of prophylactic and therapeutic agents against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan-Ying A. Huang
- Research Center for Emerging Viral Infections, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Tiong Kit Tan
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ting-Hua Chen
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Guei Huang
- Research Center for Emerging Viral Infections, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ruth Harvey
- Worldwide Influenza Centre, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, United Kingdom
| | - Saira Hussain
- Worldwide Influenza Centre, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, United Kingdom
| | - Cheng-Pin Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, and National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Adam Harding
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Xu Liu
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Knight
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa Schimanski
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Centre for Translational Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Shin-Ru Shih
- Research Center for Emerging Viral Infections, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Lin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, and Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Yu Cheng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, and National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Hsing Cheng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, and Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yhu-Chering Huang
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Tzou-Yien Lin
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Tsrong Jan
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Che Ma
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - William James
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rodney S. Daniels
- Worldwide Influenza Centre, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, United Kingdom
| | - John W. McCauley
- Worldwide Influenza Centre, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pramila Rijal
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Centre for Translational Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alain R. Townsend
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Centre for Translational Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Verkhivker GM, Di Paola L. Dynamic Network Modeling of Allosteric Interactions and Communication Pathways in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Trimer Mutants: Differential Modulation of Conformational Landscapes and Signal Transmission via Cascades of Regulatory Switches. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:850-873. [PMID: 33448856 PMCID: PMC7839160 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c10637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The rapidly growing body of structural and biochemical studies of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein has revealed a variety of distinct functional states with radically different arrangements of the receptor-binding domain, highlighting a remarkable function-driven conformational plasticity and adaptability of the spike proteins. In this study, we examined molecular mechanisms underlying conformational and dynamic changes in the SARS-CoV-2 spike mutant trimers through the lens of dynamic analysis of allosteric interaction networks and atomistic modeling of signal transmission. Using an integrated approach that combined coarse-grained molecular simulations, protein stability analysis, and perturbation-based modeling of residue interaction networks, we examined how mutations in the regulatory regions of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can differentially affect dynamics and allosteric signaling in distinct functional states. The results of this study revealed key functional regions and regulatory centers that govern collective dynamics, allosteric interactions, and control signal transmission in the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. We found that the experimentally confirmed regulatory hotspots that dictate dynamic switching between conformational states of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein correspond to the key hinge sites and global mediating centers of the allosteric interaction networks. The results of this study provide a novel insight into allosteric regulatory mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins showing that mutations at the key regulatory positions can differentially modulate distribution of states and determine topography of signal communication pathways operating through state-specific cascades of control switch points. This analysis provides a plausible strategy for allosteric probing of the conformational equilibrium and therapeutic intervention by targeting specific hotspots of allosteric interactions and communications in the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gennady M. Verkhivker
- Keck
Center for Science and Engineering, Schmid College of Science and
Technology, Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, California 92866, United States
- Department
of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, California 92618, United States
| | - Luisa Di Paola
- Unit
of Chemical-Physics Fundamentals in Chemical Engineering, Department
of Engineering, Università Campus
Bio-Medico di Roma, via
Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
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48
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Zhou D, Tian X, Qi R, Peng C, Zhang W. Identification of 22 N-glycosites on spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 and accessible surface glycopeptide motifs: Implications for vaccination and antibody therapeutics. Glycobiology 2021; 31:69-80. [PMID: 32518941 PMCID: PMC7313968 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwaa052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses hijack human enzymes to assemble the sugar coat on their spike glycoproteins. The mechanisms by which human antibodies may recognize the antigenic viral peptide epitopes hidden by the sugar coat are unknown. Glycosylation by insect cells differs from the native form produced in human cells, but insect cell-derived influenza vaccines have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. In this study, we analyzed recombinant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein secreted from BTI-Tn-5B1-4 insect cells, by trypsin and chymotrypsin digestion followed by mass spectrometry analysis. We acquired tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) spectrums for glycopeptides of all 22 predicted N-glycosylated sites. We further analyzed the surface accessibility of spike proteins according to cryogenic electron microscopy and homolog-modeled structures and available antibodies that bind to SARS-CoV-1. All 22 N-glycosylated sites of SARS-CoV-2 are modified by high-mannose N-glycans. MS/MS fragmentation clearly established the glycopeptide identities. Electron densities of glycans cover most of the spike receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2, except YQAGSTPCNGVEGFNCYFPLQSYGFQPTNGVGYQ, similar to a region FSPDGKPCTPPALNCYWPLNDYGFYTTTGIGYQ in SARS-CoV-1. Other surface-exposed domains include those located on central helix, connecting region, heptad repeats and N-terminal domain. Because the majority of antibody paratopes bind to the peptide portion with or without sugar modification, we propose a snake-catching model for predicted paratopes: a minimal length of peptide is first clamped by a paratope and sugar modifications close to the peptide either strengthen or do not hinder the binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Zhou
- Tongji University School of Medicine, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.,Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, 165 Sanlin Road, Shanghai 200124, China
| | - Xiaoxu Tian
- National Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai, Zhangjiang Lab, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, 333 Haike Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Ruibing Qi
- Innovation Team of Small Animal Infectious Disease, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, 518 Ziyue Road, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Chao Peng
- National Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai, Zhangjiang Lab, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, 333 Haike Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, 200433 Gongwei Road, Shanghai, China.,Department of Systems Biology for Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
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49
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Soleimanpour S, Yaghoubi A. COVID-19 vaccine: where are we now and where should we go? Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 20:23-44. [PMID: 33435774 PMCID: PMC7898300 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1875824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has currently caused the pandemic with a high progressive speed and has been considered as the global public health crisis in 2020. This new member of the coronavirus family has created a potentially fatal disease, called coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Despite the continuous efforts of researchers to find effective vaccines and drugs for COVID-19, there is still no success in this matter. AREAS COVERED Here, the literature regarding the COVID-19 vaccine candidates currently in the clinical trials, as well as main candidates in pre-clinical stages for development and research, were reviewed. These candidates have been developed under five different major platforms, including live-attenuated vaccine, mRNA-based vaccine, DNA vaccines, inactivated virus, and viral-vector-based vaccine. EXPERT OPINION There are several limitations in the field of the rapid vaccine development against SARS-CoV-2, and other members of the coronavirus family such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The key challenges of designing an effective vaccine within a short time include finding the virulence ability of an emerging virus and potential antigen, choosing suitable experimental models and efficient route of administration, the immune-response study, designing the clinical trials, and determining the safety, as well as efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saman Soleimanpour
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Atieh Yaghoubi
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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50
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Can H, Köseoğlu AE, Erkunt Alak S, Güvendi M, Döşkaya M, Karakavuk M, Gürüz AY, Ün C. In silico discovery of antigenic proteins and epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 for the development of a vaccine or a diagnostic approach for COVID-19. Sci Rep 2020; 10:22387. [PMID: 33372181 PMCID: PMC7769971 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79645-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the genome of SARS-CoV-2, the 5′-terminus encodes a polyprotein, which is further cleaved into 15 non-structural proteins whereas the 3′ terminus encodes four structural proteins and eight accessory proteins. Among these 27 proteins, the present study aimed to discover likely antigenic proteins and epitopes to be used for the development of a vaccine or serodiagnostic assay using an in silico approach. For this purpose, after the full genome analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan isolate and variant proteins that are detected frequently, surface proteins including spike, envelope, and membrane proteins as well as proteins with signal peptide were determined as probable vaccine candidates whereas the remaining were considered as possible antigens to be used during the development of serodiagnostic assays. According to results obtained, among 27 proteins, 26 of them were predicted as probable antigen. In 26 proteins, spike protein was selected as the best vaccine candidate because of having a signal peptide, negative GRAVY value, one transmembrane helix, moderate aliphatic index, a big molecular weight, a long-estimated half-life, beta wrap motifs as well as having stable, soluble and non-allergic features. In addition, orf7a, orf8, and nsp-10 proteins with signal peptide were considered as potential vaccine candidates. Nucleocapsid protein and a highly antigenic GGDGKMKD epitope were identified as ideal antigens to be used in the development of serodiagnostic assays. Moreover, considering MHC-I alleles, highly antigenic KLNDLCFTNV and ITLCFTLKRK epitopes can be used to develop an epitope-based peptide vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hüseyin Can
- Department of Biology Molecular Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Efe Köseoğlu
- Department of Biology Molecular Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Sedef Erkunt Alak
- Department of Biology Molecular Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Mervenur Güvendi
- Department of Biology Molecular Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Mert Döşkaya
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
| | | | - Adnan Yüksel Gürüz
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Cemal Ün
- Department of Biology Molecular Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey.
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