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Adugna A. Therapeutic strategies and promising vaccine for hepatitis C virus infection. Immun Inflamm Dis 2023; 11:e977. [PMID: 37647422 PMCID: PMC10461427 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is still a significant global health problem despite therapeutic advancements. Ribavirin and interferon therapy have been the sole available treatments for HCV infection for a number of years with low efficacy. Thus, currently, a number of therapeutic strategies are being used, including nanoparticles (NPs), micro-RNAs such as small interfering RNA (siRNA), RNAi-based gene silencing and antisense oligonucleotide-based microRNA-122, microRNA-155, and short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), and immunotherapeutic approaches such as anti-programmed cell death 1(PD-1), monoclonal antibodies (mAb or moAb), and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCs). Furthermore, direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and host-targeting agents (HTA) were also the current therapeutic approaches with great efficacy. In spite of different clinical trials on HCV vaccine developments, nowadays there is no effective HCV vaccine in opposition to virus due to various challenges including genetic diversity, lack of immunocompetent small animal models, shortage of HCV vaccination testing alternatives, lack of an effective tissue culture method for replicating HCV, and inadequate knowledge regarding to immune responses against HCV infection. Nowadays, mRNA vaccine, recombinant viral vector, peptides vaccine, virus-like particles, DNA vaccine, rational designed vaccine, and recombinant polyantigenic T-cell-based vaccine are novel promising candidates for HCV vaccine based on various clinical trials. This review summarizes the different therapeutic approaches and the advancements of vaccine candidates for HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adane Adugna
- Medical Microbiology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health SciencesDebre Markos UniversityDebre MarkosEthiopia
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2
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Bankwitz D, Krey T, Pietschmann T. [Development approaches for vaccines against hepatitis C virus infections]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2022; 65:183-191. [PMID: 35015104 PMCID: PMC8749110 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-021-03477-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Mehr als 10 Jahre nach der Zulassung der ersten direkt wirkenden antiviralen Wirkstoffe zur Behandlung der Hepatitis C bleibt die Inzidenz der Hepatitis-C-Virus-(HCV-)Infektion ungebrochen hoch. In manchen Ländern stecken sich mehr Menschen neu mit dem Virus an, als Patienten durch eine erfolgreiche Therapie geheilt werden. Die Entwicklung eines prophylaktischen Impfstoffes könnte die Transmission des Virus unterbinden und dadurch einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Kontrolle dieser weltweit verbreiteten Infektion leisten. In diesem Artikel werden die besonderen Herausforderungen und die aktuellen Ansätze der HCV-Impfstoffentwicklung dargestellt. HCV ist ein hochgradig diverses und wandlungsfähiges Virus, das zumeist dem Immunsystem entkommt und chronische Infektionen etabliert. Andererseits heilt die HCV-Infektion bei bis zu einem Drittel der exponierten Individuen aus, sodass eine schützende Immunität erreichbar ist. Zahlreiche Untersuchungen zu den Determinanten einer schützenden Immunität gegen HCV zeichnen ein immer kompletteres Bild davon, welche Ziele ein Impfstoff erreichen muss. Sehr wahrscheinlich werden sowohl starke neutralisierende Antikörper als auch wirkungsvolle zytotoxische T‑Zellen gebraucht, um sicher vor einer chronischen Infektion zu schützen. Die Schlüsselfrage ist, welche Ansätze besonders breit wirksame Antikörper und T‑Zellen heranreifen lassen. Dies wird erforderlich sein, um vor der großen Fülle unterschiedlicher HCV-Varianten zu schützen. Die jüngsten Erfolge von mRNA-Impfstoffen öffnen neue Türen auch für die HCV-Impfstoffforschung. Kombiniert mit einem tieferen Verständnis der Struktur und Funktion der viralen Hüllproteine, der Identifizierung kreuzprotektiver Antikörper- und T‑Zellepitope sowie der Nutzung standardisierter Verfahren zur Quantifizierung der Wirksamkeit von Impfkandidaten ergeben sich neue Perspektiven für die Entwicklung eines Impfstoffes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Bankwitz
- Twincore Zentrum für Experimentelle und Klinische Infektionsforschung, Institut für Experimentelle Virologie, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland
| | - Thomas Krey
- Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, RESIST Exzellenzcluster EXC2155, Hannover, Deutschland.,Zentrum für Strukturbiologie und Zellbiologie in der Medizin, Institut für Biochemie, Universität Lübeck, Lübeck, Deutschland.,Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Partnerstandort Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Braunschweig, Deutschland.,Institut für Virologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Deutschland
| | - Thomas Pietschmann
- Twincore Zentrum für Experimentelle und Klinische Infektionsforschung, Institut für Experimentelle Virologie, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland. .,Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, RESIST Exzellenzcluster EXC2155, Hannover, Deutschland. .,Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Partnerstandort Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Deutschland.
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3
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Shayeghpour A, Kianfar R, Hosseini P, Ajorloo M, Aghajanian S, Hedayat Yaghoobi M, Hashempour T, Mozhgani SH. Hepatitis C virus DNA vaccines: a systematic review. Virol J 2021; 18:248. [PMID: 34903252 PMCID: PMC8667529 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01716-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vaccination against HCV is an effective measure in reduction of virus-related public health burden and mortality. However, no prophylactic vaccine is available as of yet. DNA-based immunization is a promising modality to generate cellular and humoral immune responses. The objective of this study is to provide a systematic review of HCV DNA vaccines and investigate and discuss the strategies employed to optimize their efficacies. METHODS MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and databases in persian language including the Regional Information Centre for Science & Technology (RICeST), the Scientific Information Database and the Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IranDoc) were examined to identify studies pertaining to HCV nucleic acid vaccine development from 2000 to 2020. RESULTS Twenty-seven articles were included. Studies related to HCV RNA vaccines were yet to be published. A variety of strategies were identified with the potential to optimize HCV DNA vaccines such as incorporating multiple viral proteins and molecular tags such as HBsAg and Immunoglobulin Fc, multi-epitope expression, co-expression plasmid utilization, recombinant subunit immunogens, heterologous prime-boosting, incorporating NS3 mutants in DNA vaccines, utilization of adjuvants, employment of less explored methods such as Gene Electro Transfer, construction of multi- CTL epitopes, utilizing co/post translational modifications and polycistronic genes, among others. The effectiveness of the aforementioned strategies in boosting immune response and improving vaccine potency was assessed. CONCLUSIONS The recent progress on HCV vaccine development was examined in this systematic review to identify candidates with most promising prophylactic and therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Shayeghpour
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Roya Kianfar
- Department of Medical Virology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parastoo Hosseini
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Research Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Ajorloo
- Hepatitis Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Sepehr Aghajanian
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Hedayat Yaghoobi
- Department of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Tayebeh Hashempour
- Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sayed-Hamidreza Mozhgani
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
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Echeverría N, Comas V, Aldunate F, Perbolianachis P, Moreno P, Cristina J. In the era of rapid mRNA-based vaccines: Why is there no effective hepatitis C virus vaccine yet? World J Hepatol 2021; 13:1234-1268. [PMID: 34786164 PMCID: PMC8568586 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v13.i10.1234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is responsible for no less than 71 million people chronically infected and is one of the most frequent indications for liver transplantation worldwide. Despite direct-acting antiviral therapies fuel optimism in controlling HCV infections, there are several obstacles regarding treatment accessibility and reinfection continues to remain a possibility. Indeed, the majority of new HCV infections in developed countries occur in people who inject drugs and are more plausible to get reinfected. To achieve global epidemic control of this virus the development of an effective prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine becomes a must. The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic led to auspicious vaccine development against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, which has renewed interest on fighting HCV epidemic with vaccination. The aim of this review is to highlight the current situation of HCV vaccine candidates designed to prevent and/or to reduce HCV infectious cases and their complications. We will emphasize on some of the crossroads encountered during vaccine development against this insidious virus, together with some key aspects of HCV immunology which have, so far, hampered the progress in this area. The main focus will be on nucleic acid-based as well as recombinant viral vector-based vaccine candidates as the most novel vaccine approaches, some of which have been recently and successfully employed for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Finally, some ideas will be presented on which methods to explore for the design of live-attenuated vaccines against HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Echeverría
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Victoria Comas
- Departamento de Desarrollo Biotecnológico, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
| | - Fabián Aldunate
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Paula Perbolianachis
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Pilar Moreno
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Juan Cristina
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
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5
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Hartnell F, Esposito I, Swadling L, Brown A, Phetsouphanh C, de Lara C, Gentile C, Turner B, Dorrell L, Capone S, Folgori A, Barnes E, Klenerman P. Characterizing Hepatitis C Virus-Specific CD4 + T Cells Following Viral-Vectored Vaccination, Directly Acting Antivirals, and Spontaneous Viral Cure. Hepatology 2020; 72:1541-1555. [PMID: 32012325 PMCID: PMC7610807 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Induction of functional helper CD4+ T cells is the hallmark of a protective immune response against hepatitis C virus (HCV), associated with spontaneous viral clearance. Heterologous prime/boost viral vectored vaccination has demonstrated induction of broad and polyfunctional HCV-specific CD8+ T cells in healthy volunteers; however, much less is known about CD4+ T-cell subsets following vaccination. APPROACH AND RESULTS We analyzed HCV-specific CD4+ T-cell populations using major histocompatibility complex class II tetramers in volunteers undergoing HCV vaccination with recombinant HCV adenoviral/modified vaccinia Ankara viral vectors. Peptide-specific T-cell responses were tracked over time, and functional (proliferation and cytokine secretion) and phenotypic (cell surface and intranuclear) markers were assessed using flow cytometry. These were compared to CD4+ responses in 10 human leukocyte antigen-matched persons with HCV spontaneous resolution and 21 chronically infected patients treated with directly acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. Vaccination induced tetramer-positive CD4+ T cells that were highest 1-4 weeks after boosting (mean, 0.06%). Similar frequencies were obtained for those tracked following spontaneous resolution of disease (mean, 0.04%). In addition, the cell-surface phenotype (CD28, CD127) memory subset markers and intranuclear transcription factors, as well as functional capacity of peptide-specific CD4+ T-cell responses characterized after vaccination, are comparable to those following spontaneous viral resolution. In contrast, helper responses in chronic infection were infrequently detected and poorly functional and did not consistently recover following HCV cure. CONCLUSIONS Helper CD4+ T-cell phenotype and function following HCV viral vectored vaccination resembles "protective memory" that is observed following spontaneous clearance of HCV. DAA cure does not promote resurrection of exhausted CD4+ T-cell memory in chronic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicity Hartnell
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen ResearchUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Ilaria Esposito
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen ResearchUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Leo Swadling
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen ResearchUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Anthony Brown
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen ResearchUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Catherine de Lara
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen ResearchUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Bethany Turner
- Jenner Vaccine TrialsNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Lucy Dorrell
- Jenner Vaccine TrialsNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | | | | | - Eleanor Barnes
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen ResearchUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom,Jenner Vaccine TrialsNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre OxfordJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUnited Kingdom,Translational Gastroenterology UnitJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Paul Klenerman
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen ResearchUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom,Jenner Vaccine TrialsNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre OxfordJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUnited Kingdom,Translational Gastroenterology UnitJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUnited Kingdom
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6
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León Y, Zapata L, Salas-Burgos A, Oñate A. In silico design of a vaccine candidate based on autotransporters and HSP against the causal agent of shigellosis, Shigella flexneri. Mol Immunol 2020; 121:47-58. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Combination of three adjuvants enhances the immunogenicity of a recombinant protein containing the CTL epitopes of non-structural proteins of hepatitis C virus. Virus Res 2020; 284:197984. [PMID: 32325116 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.197984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can cause chronic infection and evade the immune response. The generation and maintenance of an effective T-cell response is important for immune-mediated control of HCV infection. The purpose of this study was to obtain recombinant mosaic proteins containing the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes of HCV fused with different adjuvants and analyse their immunogenicity. A recombinant polyepitope protein comprising HLA-A2-restricted CTL epitopes of the NS3, NS4ab and NS5a proteins of HCV was designed. Adjuvant compounds, the T-helper (Th) epitope PADRE, lipopeptide from Neisseria meningiditis and interleukin 2 (IL-2) were included in the fusion proteins. Three proteins differing in their adjuvant content were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The purified proteins formed nanosized particles. The proteins were characterized by their ability to cause proliferation of spleen cells, induce expression of cytokine genes and production of interferon gamma by T lymphocytes of immunized mice. The obtained recombinant vaccine proteins effectively stimulate dendritic cells, which in turn specifically activate Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes. Adjuvant components act additively to enhance the stimulation of dendritic cells and polarize them in the direction of Th1 lymphocyte activation. Analysis of spleen cell proliferation, expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines and production of interferon gamma by lymphocytes of immunized mice after specific stimulation in vitro revealed that recombinant protein comprising CTL epitopes of HCV, Th epitope PADRE, lipoprotein and IL-2 induced the highest response of T-lymphocytes.
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8
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Duncan JD, Urbanowicz RA, Tarr AW, Ball JK. Hepatitis C Virus Vaccine: Challenges and Prospects. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8010090. [PMID: 32079254 PMCID: PMC7157504 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8010090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes both acute and chronic infection and continues to be a global problem despite advances in antiviral therapeutics. Current treatments fail to prevent reinfection and remain expensive, limiting their use to developed countries, and the asymptomatic nature of acute infection can result in individuals not receiving treatment and unknowingly spreading HCV. A prophylactic vaccine is therefore needed to control this virus. Thirty years since the discovery of HCV, there have been major gains in understanding the molecular biology and elucidating the immunological mechanisms that underpin spontaneous viral clearance, aiding rational vaccine design. This review discusses the challenges facing HCV vaccine design and the most recent and promising candidates being investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D. Duncan
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (R.A.U.); (A.W.T.); (J.K.B.)
- NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Richard A. Urbanowicz
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (R.A.U.); (A.W.T.); (J.K.B.)
- NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Alexander W. Tarr
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (R.A.U.); (A.W.T.); (J.K.B.)
- NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Jonathan K. Ball
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (R.A.U.); (A.W.T.); (J.K.B.)
- NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
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Farhadi T, Ranjbar MM. Designing and modeling of complex DNA vaccine based on MOMP of Chlamydia trachomatis: an in silico approach. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s13721-016-0142-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Impellizeri J, Aurisicchio L, Forde P, Soden DM. Electroporation in veterinary oncology. Vet J 2016; 217:18-25. [PMID: 27810205 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2016.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Revised: 05/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cancer treatments in veterinary medicine continue to evolve beyond the established standard therapies of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. New technologies in cancer therapy include a targeted mechanism to open the cell membrane based on electroporation, driving therapeutic agents, such as chemotherapy (electro-chemotherapy), for local control of cancer, or delivery of gene-based products (electro-gene therapy), directly into the cancer cell to achieve systemic control. This review examines electrochemotherapy and electro-gene therapy in veterinary medicine and considers future directions and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Impellizeri
- Veterinary Oncology Services, Hopewell Junction, New York 12533, USA
| | | | - P Forde
- Cork Cancer Research Centre, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - D M Soden
- Cork Cancer Research Centre, University College Cork, Ireland.
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12
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Callendret B, Eccleston HB, Satterfield W, Capone S, Folgori A, Cortese R, Nicosia A, Walker CM. Persistent hepatitis C viral replication despite priming of functional CD8+ T cells by combined therapy with a vaccine and a direct-acting antiviral. Hepatology 2016; 63:1442-54. [PMID: 26513111 PMCID: PMC4840073 DOI: 10.1002/hep.28309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Revised: 10/22/2015] [Accepted: 10/25/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Exhaustion of antiviral CD8(+) T cells contributes to persistence of hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection. This immune response has proved difficult to restore by therapeutic vaccination, even when HCV replication is suppressed using antiviral regimens containing type I interferon. Because immunomodulatory effects of type I interferon may be a factor in poor T-cell priming, we undertook therapeutic vaccination in two chronically infected chimpanzees during treatment with a direct-acting antiviral (DAA) targeting the HCV NS5b polymerase protein. Immunization with genetic vaccines encoding the HCV NS3-NS5b nonstructural proteins during DAA treatment resulted in a multifunctional CD8(+) T-cell response. However, these antiviral CD8(+) T cells did not prevent persistent replication of DAA-resistant HCV variants that emerged during treatment. Most vaccine-induced CD8(+) T cells targeted class I epitopes that were not conserved in the circulating virus. Exhausted intrahepatic CD8(+) T-cell targeting-conserved epitopes did not expand after vaccination, with a notable exception. A sustained, multifunctional CD8(+) T-cell response against at least one intact class I epitope was detected in blood after vaccination. Persistence of HCV was not due to mutational escape of this epitope. Instead, failure to control HCV replication was likely caused by localized exhaustion in the liver, where CD8(+) T-cell expression of the inhibitory receptor programmed cell death 1 increased 25-fold compared with those in circulation. CONCLUSION Treatment with a DAA during therapeutic vaccination provided transient control of HCV replication and a multifunctional T-cell response, primarily against nonconserved class I epitopes; exhaustion of liver-infiltrating CD8(+) T cells that target conserved epitopes may not be averted when DAA therapy fails prematurely due to emergence of resistant HCV variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Callendret
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205
| | - Heather B. Eccleston
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205
| | - William Satterfield
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX 78602
| | | | | | | | - Alfredo Nicosia
- ReiThera, viale Citta’ d’Europa 679, 00144, Rome, Italy,KEIRES, Bäumleingasse 18, CH 4051, Basel, Switzerland,CEINGE, via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - Christopher M. Walker
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205,Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
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Swadling L, Capone S, Antrobus RD, Brown A, Richardson R, Newell EW, Halliday J, Kelly C, Bowen D, Fergusson J, Kurioka A, Ammendola V, Del Sorbo M, Grazioli F, Esposito ML, Siani L, Traboni C, Hill A, Colloca S, Davis M, Nicosia A, Cortese R, Folgori A, Klenerman P, Barnes E. A human vaccine strategy based on chimpanzee adenoviral and MVA vectors that primes, boosts, and sustains functional HCV-specific T cell memory. Sci Transl Med 2015; 6:261ra153. [PMID: 25378645 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3009185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 254] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A protective vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains an unmet clinical need. HCV infects millions of people worldwide and is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer. Animal challenge experiments, immunogenetics studies, and assessment of host immunity during acute infection highlight the critical role that effective T cell immunity plays in viral control. In this first-in-man study, we have induced antiviral immunity with functional characteristics analogous to those associated with viral control in natural infection, and improved upon a vaccine based on adenoviral vectors alone. We assessed a heterologous prime-boost vaccination strategy based on a replicative defective simian adenoviral vector (ChAd3) and modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector encoding the NS3, NS4, NS5A, and NS5B proteins of HCV genotype 1b. Analysis used single-cell mass cytometry and human leukocyte antigen class I peptide tetramer technology in healthy human volunteers. We show that HCV-specific T cells induced by ChAd3 are optimally boosted with MVA, and generate very high levels of both CD8(+) and CD4(+) HCV-specific T cells targeting multiple HCV antigens. Sustained memory and effector T cell populations are generated, and T cell memory evolved over time with improvement of quality (proliferation and polyfunctionality) after heterologous MVA boost. We have developed an HCV vaccine strategy, with durable, broad, sustained, and balanced T cell responses, characteristic of those associated with viral control, paving the way for the first efficacy studies of a prophylactic HCV vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo Swadling
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Stefania Capone
- ReiThera Srl (ex Okairos), Viale Città d'Europa 679, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Richard D Antrobus
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK. The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Anthony Brown
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Rachel Richardson
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Evan W Newell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Singapore Immunology Network, Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - John Halliday
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK. National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, and Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Christabel Kelly
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK. National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, and Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Dan Bowen
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Joannah Fergusson
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Ayako Kurioka
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | | | | | - Fabiana Grazioli
- ReiThera Srl (ex Okairos), Viale Città d'Europa 679, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Loredana Siani
- ReiThera Srl (ex Okairos), Viale Città d'Europa 679, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Traboni
- ReiThera Srl (ex Okairos), Viale Città d'Europa 679, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Adrian Hill
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK. The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Stefano Colloca
- ReiThera Srl (ex Okairos), Viale Città d'Europa 679, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Mark Davis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alfredo Nicosia
- ReiThera Srl (ex Okairos), Viale Città d'Europa 679, 00144 Rome, Italy. CEINGE, via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145 Naples, Italy. Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Antonella Folgori
- ReiThera Srl (ex Okairos), Viale Città d'Europa 679, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Paul Klenerman
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK. National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, and Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Eleanor Barnes
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK. The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK. National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, and Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK.
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14
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Designing of Complex Multi-epitope Peptide Vaccine Based on Omps of Klebsiella pneumoniae: An In Silico Approach. Int J Pept Res Ther 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-015-9461-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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15
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Abstract
Electroporation has been used extensively to transfer DNA to bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells in culture for the past 30 years. Over this time, numerous advances have been made, from using fields to facilitate cell fusion, delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs to cells and tissues, and most importantly, gene and drug delivery in living tissues from rodents to man. Electroporation uses electrical fields to transiently destabilize the membrane allowing the entry of normally impermeable macromolecules into the cytoplasm. Surprisingly, at the appropriate field strengths, the application of these fields to tissues results in little, if any, damage or trauma. Indeed, electroporation has even been used successfully in human trials for gene delivery for the treatment of tumors and for vaccine development. Electroporation can lead to between 100 and 1000-fold increases in gene delivery and expression and can also increase both the distribution of cells taking up and expressing the DNA as well as the absolute amount of gene product per cell (likely due to increased delivery of plasmids into each cell). Effective electroporation depends on electric field parameters, electrode design, the tissues and cells being targeted, and the plasmids that are being transferred themselves. Most importantly, there is no single combination of these variables that leads to greatest efficacy in every situation; optimization is required in every new setting. Electroporation-mediated in vivo gene delivery has proven highly effective in vaccine production, transgene expression, enzyme replacement, and control of a variety of cancers. Almost any tissue can be targeted with electroporation, including muscle, skin, heart, liver, lung, and vasculature. This chapter will provide an overview of the theory of electroporation for the delivery of DNA both in individual cells and in tissues and its application for in vivo gene delivery in a number of animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Young
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - David A Dean
- Departments of Pediatrics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
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16
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Ranjbar MM, Gupta SK, Ghorban K, Nabian S, Sazmand A, Taheri M, Esfandyari S, Taheri M. Designing and Modeling of Complex DNA Vaccine Based on Tropomyosin Protein of Boophilus Genus Tick. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2014; 175:323-39. [DOI: 10.1007/s12010-014-1245-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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17
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Capone S, Naddeo M, D'Alise AM, Abbate A, Grazioli F, Del Gaudio A, Del Sorbo M, Esposito ML, Ammendola V, Perretta G, Taglioni A, Colloca S, Nicosia A, Cortese R, Folgori A. Fusion of HCV nonstructural antigen to MHC class II-associated invariant chain enhances T-cell responses induced by vectored vaccines in nonhuman primates. Mol Ther 2014; 22:1039-47. [PMID: 24476798 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2014.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite viral vectors being potent inducers of antigen-specific T cells, strategies to further improve their immunogenicity are actively pursued. Of the numerous approaches investigated, fusion of the encoded antigen to major histocompatibility complex class II-associated invariant chain (Ii) has been reported to enhance CD8(+) T-cell responses. We have previously shown that adenovirus vaccine encoding nonstructural (NS) hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins induces potent T-cell responses in humans. However, even higher T-cell responses might be required to achieve efficacy against different HCV genotypes or therapeutic effect in chronically infected HCV patients. In this study, we assessed fusion of the HCV NS antigen to murine and human Ii expressed by the chimpanzee adenovirus vector ChAd3 or recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara in mice and nonhuman primates (NHPs). A dramatic increase was observed in outbred mice in which vaccination with ChAd3 expressing the fusion antigen resulted in a 10-fold increase in interferon-γ(+) CD8(+) T cells. In NHPs, CD8(+) T-cell responses were enhanced and accelerated with vectors encoding the Ii-fused antigen. These data show for the first time that the enhancement induced by vector vaccines encoding li-fused antigen was not species specific and can be translated from mice to NHPs, opening the way for testing in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gemma Perretta
- Cellular Biology and Neurobiology Institute (IBCN) National Research Council of Italy, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Taglioni
- Cellular Biology and Neurobiology Institute (IBCN) National Research Council of Italy, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alfredo Nicosia
- 1] Okairos, Rome, Italy [2] CEINGE, Naples, Italy [3] Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Riccardo Cortese
- 1] Okairos, Rome, Italy [2] Okairos AG, c/o OBC Suisse AG, Basel, Switzerland
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18
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Aurisicchio L, Fridman A, Bagchi A, Scarselli E, La Monica N, Ciliberto G. A novel minigene scaffold for therapeutic cancer vaccines. Oncoimmunology 2014; 3:e27529. [PMID: 24790791 PMCID: PMC4002591 DOI: 10.4161/onci.27529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2013] [Revised: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic vaccines are emerging as a powerful modality to induce T-cell responses to target tumor associated antigens (TAA). Viral or plasmid DNA or RNA vectors harbor an expression cassette encoding the antigen of choice delivered in vivo by vaccination. In this context, immunizations with minigenes containing selected, highly antigenic, T-cell epitopes of TAAs may have several advantages relative to full-length proteins. The objective of this study was to identify an optimal scaffold for minigene construction. We generated a number of minigenes containing epitopes from the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) model TAA and utilized muscle DNA electro-gene-transfer (DNA-EGT) to vaccinate HLA-A*0201 (HHD) and CEA/HHD double transgenic mice. The components utilized to construct the minigenes included CD8+ T cell epitopes and (or) anchor modified analogs that were selected on the basis of their predicted binding to HLA-*A0201, their uniqueness in the human proteome, and the likelihood of cancer cell natural processing and presentation via MHC-I. Other candidate components comparatively tested included: helper CD4+ T-cell epitopes, flanking regions for optimal epitope processing (including both proteasome-dependent and furin-dependent polypeptide processing mechanisms), and immunoenhancing moieties. Through a series of comparative studies and iterations we have identified an optimal minigene scaffold comprising the following elements: human tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) signal peptide, T-cell epitopes connected by furin sensitive linkers, and the E. Coli enterotoxin B subunit. The selected epitope modified minigenes (EMM) delivered by DNA-EGT were able to break immune tolerance in CEA/HHD mice and induce a strong immune response against all epitopes tested, independently of their relative positions within the scaffold. Furthermore, the optimized EMMs delivered via DNA-EGT were more immunogenic and exerted more powerful antitumor effects in a B16-CEA/HHD metastatic melanoma model than a DNA vector encoding the full-length protein or a mixture of the same peptides injected subcutaneously. Our data may shed light on the optimal design of a universal vehicle for epitope-targeted, genetic cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- IRCCS, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione G. Pascale; Napoli, Italy
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19
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van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk S, Hannaman D. Electroporation for DNA immunization: clinical application. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 9:503-17. [DOI: 10.1586/erv.10.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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20
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Aurisicchio L, Mancini R, Ciliberto G. Cancer vaccination by electro-gene-transfer. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 12:1127-37. [DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2013.836903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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21
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Keane-Myers AM, Bell M, Hannaman D, Albrecht M. DNA electroporation of multi-agent vaccines conferring protection against select agent challenge: TriGrid delivery system. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1121:325-336. [PMID: 24510836 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-9632-8_29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Effective multi-agent/multivalent vaccines that confer protection against more than one disease are highly desirable to the patient and to health-care professionals. Electroporation of DNA vaccines, whereby tissues injected with DNA are subjected to localized electrical currents, is an ideal platform technology that achieves protective immune responses to multivalent vaccination. Here, we describe an electroporation-based immunization technique capable of administering a cocktail of DNA vaccinations in vivo. Immune response measurements, including protection from pathogen challenge and induction of antigen-specific antibody responses and cell-mediated immune responses, are also discussed.
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22
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Villarreal DO, Talbott KT, Choo DK, Shedlock DJ, Weiner DB. Synthetic DNA vaccine strategies against persistent viral infections. Expert Rev Vaccines 2013; 12:537-54. [PMID: 23659301 DOI: 10.1586/erv.13.33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The human body has developed an elaborate defense system against microbial pathogens and foreign antigens. However, particular microbes have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to evade immune surveillance, allowing persistence within the human host. In an effort to combat such infections, intensive research has focused on the development of effective prophylactic and therapeutic countermeasures to suppress or clear persistent viral infections. To date, popular therapeutic strategies have included the use of live-attenuated microbes, viral vectors and dendritic-cell vaccines aiming to help suppress or clear infection. In recent years, improved DNA vaccines have now re-emerged as a promising candidate for therapeutic intervention due to the development of advanced optimization and delivery technologies. For instance, genetic optimization of synthetic plasmid constructs and their encoded antigens, in vivo electroporation-mediated vaccine delivery, as well as codelivery with molecular adjuvants have collectively enhanced both transgene expression and the elicitation of vaccine-induced immunity. In addition, the development of potent heterologous prime-boost regimens has also provided significant contributions to DNA vaccine immunogenicity. Herein, the authors will focus on these recent improvements to this synthetic platform in relation to their application in combating persistent virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel O Villarreal
- University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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23
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The development of gene-based vectors for immunization. Vaccines (Basel) 2013. [PMCID: PMC7151937 DOI: 10.1016/b978-1-4557-0090-5.00064-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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24
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Impellizeri JA, Ciliberto G, Aurisicchio L. Electro-gene-transfer as a new tool for cancer immunotherapy in animals. Vet Comp Oncol 2012; 12:310-8. [PMID: 23095099 DOI: 10.1111/vco.12006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2012] [Revised: 09/11/2012] [Accepted: 09/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The concept of vaccines based on the direct inoculation of plasmid DNA gained initial proof-of-concept in small rodent species. Further development was hampered by the difficulty to confirm immunogenicity and efficacy in large animal species and, most importantly, in human clinical trials. These negative findings led to the search of complementary technologies which, in combination with intradermal or intramuscular plasmid DNA injection would result in more robust delivery, decreased interindividual variability, clear evidence of clinical efficacy and which would eventually lead to market approval of new vaccine products. The use of high-pressure, needleless devices as an enhancing tool for plasmid DNA delivery led to recent approval by USDA of Oncept™, a therapeutic cancer vaccine directed against tyrosinase for the therapy of melanoma in dogs. An alternative approach to improve plasmid DNA delivery is electro-gene-transfer (EGT). In this article, we briefly review the principles of DNA-EGT and the evidences for efficacy of a telomerase reverse transcriptase vaccine in a dog clinical trial, and provide perspectives for the use of this technology for broader applications in pet animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Impellizeri
- Department of Oncology, Veterinary Specialty Center of the Hudson Valley, Wappingers Falls, NY, USA
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25
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Ip PP, Nijman HW, Wilschut J, Daemen T. Therapeutic vaccination against chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Antiviral Res 2012; 96:36-50. [PMID: 22841700 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2012.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2012] [Revised: 06/25/2012] [Accepted: 07/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 170 million people worldwide are chronic carriers of Hepatitis C virus (HCV). To date, there is no prophylactic vaccine available against HCV. The standard-of-care therapy for HCV infection involves a combination of pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin. This therapy, which is commonly associated with side effects, has a curative rate varying from 43% (HCV genotype 1) to 80% (HCV genotype 2). In 2011, two direct-acting antiviral agents, telaprevir and boceprevir, were approved by the US Food and drug Administration and are now being used in combination with standard-of-care therapy in selected patients infected with HCV genotype 1. Although both drugs are promising, resulting in a shortening of therapy, these drugs also induce additional side effects and have reduced efficacy in patients who did not respond to standard-of-care previously. An alternative approach would be to treat HCV by stimulating the immune system with a therapeutic vaccine ideally aimed at (i) the eradication of HCV-infected cells and (ii) neutralization of infectious HCV particles. The challenge is to develop therapeutic vaccination strategies that are either at least as effective as antiviral drugs but with lower side effects, or vaccines that, when combined with antiviral drugs, can circumvent long-term use of these drugs thereby reducing their side effects. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent preclinical developments in the area of therapeutic vaccination against chronic HCV infection. Although neutralizing antibodies have been described to exert protective immunity, clinical studies on the induction of neutralizing antibodies in therapeutic settings are limited. Therefore, we will primarily discuss therapeutic vaccines which aim to induce effective cellular immune response against HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Peng Ip
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Molecular Virology Section, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
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26
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Tenbusch M, Ignatius R, Nchinda G, Trumpfheller C, Salazar AM, Töpfer K, Sauermann U, Wagner R, Hannaman D, Tenner-Racz K, Racz P, Stahl-Hennig C, Überla K. Immunogenicity of DNA vaccines encoding simian immunodeficiency virus antigen targeted to dendritic cells in rhesus macaques. PLoS One 2012; 7:e39038. [PMID: 22720025 PMCID: PMC3373620 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2012] [Accepted: 05/15/2012] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Targeting antigens encoded by DNA vaccines to dendritic cells (DCs) in the presence of adjuvants enhances their immunogenicity and efficacy in mice. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS To explore the immunogenicity of this approach in non-human primates, we generated a single chain antibody to the antigen uptake receptor DEC-205 expressed on rhesus macaque DCs. DNA vaccines encoding this single chain antibody fused to the SIV capsid protein were delivered to six monkeys each by either intramuscular electroporation or conventional intramuscular injection co-injected or not with poly ICLC, a stabilized poly I: C analogue, as adjuvant. Antibodies to capsid were induced by the DC-targeting and non-targeting control DNA delivered by electroporation while conventional DNA immunization at a 10-fold higher dose of DNA failed to induce detectable humoral immune responses. Substantial cellular immune responses were also observed after DNA electroporation of both DNAs, but stronger responses were induced by the non-targeting vaccine. Conventional immunization with the DC-targeting DNA at a 10-fold higher dose did not give rise to substantial cellular immune responses, neither when co-injected with poly ICLC. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The study confirms the potent immunogenicity of DNA vaccines delivered by electroporation. Targeting the DNA via a single chain antibody to DEC-205 expressed by DCs, however, does not improve the immunogenicity of the antigens in non-human primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Tenbusch
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ralf Ignatius
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité – University Medicine of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Godwin Nchinda
- Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Christine Trumpfheller
- Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | | | - Katharina Töpfer
- Unit of Infection Models, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Sauermann
- Unit of Infection Models, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Drew Hannaman
- Ichor Medical Systems, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | | | - Paul Racz
- Bernhard Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Klaus Überla
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- * E-mail:
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27
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Albrecht MT, Livingston BD, Pesce JT, Bell MG, Hannaman D, Keane-Myers AM. Electroporation of a multivalent DNA vaccine cocktail elicits a protective immune response against anthrax and plague. Vaccine 2012; 30:4872-83. [PMID: 22633906 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.04.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2012] [Revised: 04/03/2012] [Accepted: 04/22/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Electroporation of DNA vaccines represents a platform technology well positioned for the development of multivalent biodefense vaccines. To evaluate this hypothesis, three vaccine constructs were produced using codon-optimized genes encoding Bacillus anthracis Protective Antigen (PA), and the Yersinia pestis genes LcrV and F1, cloned into pVAX1. A/J mice were immunized on a prime-boost schedule with these constructs using the electroporation-based TriGrid Delivery System. Immunization with the individual pDNA vaccines elicited higher levels of antigen-specific IgG than when used in combination. DNA vaccine effectiveness was proven, the pVAX-PA titers were toxin neutralizing and fully protective against a lethal B. anthracis spore challenge when administered alone or co-formulated with the plague pDNA vaccines. LcrV and F1 pVAX vaccines against plague were synergistic, resulting in 100% survival, but less protective individually and when co-formulated with pVAX-PA. These DNA vaccine responses were Th1/Th2 balanced with high levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in splenocyte recall assays, contrary to complimentary protein Alum vaccinations displaying a Th2 bias with increased IL-4 and low levels of IFN-γ. These results demonstrate the feasibility of electroporation to deliver and maintain the overall efficacy of an anthrax-plague DNA vaccine cocktail whose individual components have qualitative immunological differences when combined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark T Albrecht
- Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, 8400 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA
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28
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Aurisicchio L, Ciliberto G. Genetic cancer vaccines: current status and perspectives. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2012; 12:1043-58. [PMID: 22577875 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2012.689279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The recent approval of the first therapeutic cancer vaccine by the US Regulatory Agency represents a breakthrough event in the history of cancer treatment. The past scepticism towards this type of therapeutic intervention is now replaced by great expectations. The field is now moving towards the development of alternative vaccination technologies, which are capable of generating stronger, more durable and efficient immune responses against specific tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) in combination with cheaper and more standardised manufacturing. AREAS COVERED In this context, genetic vaccines are emerging among the most promising methodologies. Several evidences point to combinations of different genetic immunisation modalities (heterologous prime/boost) as a powerful approach to induce superior immune responses and achieve greater clinical efficacy. In this review, we provide an overview of the current status of development of genetic cancer vaccines with particular emphasis on adenoviral vector prime/DNA boost vaccination schedules. EXPERT OPINION We believe that therapeutic genetic cancer vaccines have the strong potential to become an established therapeutic modality for cancer in next coming years, in a manner similar to what have now become monoclonal antibodies.
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Roohvand F, Kossari N. Advances in hepatitis C virus vaccines, part two: advances in hepatitis C virus vaccine formulations and modalities. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2012; 22:391-415. [PMID: 22455502 DOI: 10.1517/13543776.2012.673589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Developing a vaccine against HCV is an important medical and global priority. Unavailability and potential dangers associated with using attenuated HCV viral particles for vaccine preparation have resulted in the use of HCV genes and proteins formulated in novel vaccine modalities. AREAS COVERED In part one of this review, advances in basic knowledge for HCV vaccine design were provided. Herein, a detailed and correlated patents (searched by Espacenet) and literatures (searched by Pubmed) review on HCV vaccine formulations and modalities is provided, including: subunit, DNA, epitopic-peptide/polytopic, live vector- and whole yeast-based vaccines. Less-touched areas in vaccine studies such as mucosal, plant-based, and chimeric HBV/HCV vaccines are also discussed. Furthermore, results of preclinical/clinical studies on selected HCV vaccines as well as pros and cons of different strategies are reviewed. Finally, potential strategies for creation and/or improvement of HCV vaccine formulations are discussed. EXPERT OPINION Promising outcomes of a few HCV vaccine modalities in phase I/II clinical trials predict the accessibility of at least partially effective vaccines to inhibit or treat the chronic state of HCV infection (specially in combination with standard antiviral therapy). ChronVac-C (plasmid DNA), TG4040 (MVA-based), and GI-5005 (whole yeast-based) might be the most obvious HCV vaccine candidates to be approved in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzin Roohvand
- Hepatitis & AIDS Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
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30
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Enhanced magnitude and breadth of neutralizing humoral response to a DNA vaccine targeting the DHBV envelope protein delivered by in vivo electroporation. Virology 2012; 425:61-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2012.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2011] [Revised: 12/23/2011] [Accepted: 01/03/2012] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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31
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Colloca S, Barnes E, Folgori A, Ammendola V, Capone S, Cirillo A, Siani L, Naddeo M, Grazioli F, Esposito ML, Ambrosio M, Sparacino A, Bartiromo M, Meola A, Smith K, Kurioka A, O'Hara GA, Ewer KJ, Anagnostou N, Bliss C, Hill AVS, Traboni C, Klenerman P, Cortese R, Nicosia A. Vaccine vectors derived from a large collection of simian adenoviruses induce potent cellular immunity across multiple species. Sci Transl Med 2012; 4:115ra2. [PMID: 22218691 PMCID: PMC3627206 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3002925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 224] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Replication-defective adenovirus vectors based on human serotype 5 (Ad5) induce protective immune responses against diverse pathogens and cancer in animal models, as well as elicit robust and sustained cellular immunity in humans. However, most humans have neutralizing antibodies to Ad5, which can impair the immunological potency of such vaccines. Here, we show that rare serotypes of human adenoviruses, which should not be neutralized in most humans, are far less potent as vaccine vectors than Ad5 in mice and nonhuman primates, casting doubt on their potential efficacy in humans. To identify novel vaccine carriers suitable for vaccine delivery in humans, we isolated and sequenced more than 1000 adenovirus strains from chimpanzees (ChAd). Replication-defective vectors were generated from a subset of these ChAd serotypes and screened to determine whether they were neutralized by human sera and able to grow in human cell lines. We then ranked these ChAd vectors by immunological potency and found up to a thousandfold variation in potency for CD8+ T cell induction in mice. These ChAd vectors were safe and immunologically potent in phase 1 clinical trials, thereby validating our screening approach. These data suggest that the ChAd vectors developed here represent a large collection of non-cross-reactive, potent vectors that may be exploited for the development of new vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Colloca
- Okairos, via dei Castelli Romani 22, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
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Rochard A, Scherman D, Bigey P. Genetic immunization with plasmid DNA mediated by electrotransfer. Hum Gene Ther 2011; 22:789-98. [PMID: 21631165 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2011.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of DNA immunization was first advanced in the early 1990s, but was not developed because of an initial lack of efficiency. Recent technical advances in plasmid design and gene delivery techniques have allowed renewed interest in the idea. Particularly, a better understanding of genetic immunization has led to construction of optimized plasmids and the use of efficient molecular adjuvants. The field also took great advantage of new delivery techniques such as electrotransfer. This is a simple physical technique consisting of injecting plasmid DNA into a target tissue and applying an electric field, allowing up to a thousandfold more expression of the transgene than naked DNA. DNA immunization mediated by electrotransfer is now effective in a variety of preclinical models against infectious or acquired diseases such as cancer or autoimmune diseases, and is making its way through the clinics in several ongoing phase I human clinical trials. This review will briefly describe genetic immunization mediated by electrotransfer and the main fields of application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Rochard
- Unité de Pharmacologie Chimique et Génétique et d'Imagerie, CNRS, UMR8151, Paris, F-75006 France
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Aurisicchio L, Ciliberto G. Emerging cancer vaccines: the promise of genetic vectors. Cancers (Basel) 2011; 3:3687-713. [PMID: 24212974 PMCID: PMC3759217 DOI: 10.3390/cancers3033687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2011] [Revised: 09/09/2011] [Accepted: 09/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic vaccination against cancer is an important approach which, when combined with other therapies, can improve long-term control of cancer. In fact, the induction of adaptive immune responses against Tumor Associated Antigens (TAAs) as well as innate immunity are important factors for tumor stabilization/eradication. A variety of immunization technologies have been explored in last decades and are currently under active evaluation, such as cell-based, protein, peptide and heat-shock protein-based cancer vaccines. Genetic vaccines are emerging as promising methodologies to elicit immune responses against a wide variety of antigens, including TAAs. Amongst these, Adenovirus (Ad)-based vectors show excellent immunogenicity profile and have achieved immunological proof of concept in humans. In vivo electroporation of plasmid DNA (DNA-EP) is also a desirable vaccine technology for cancer vaccines, as it is repeatable several times, a parameter required for the long-term maintenance of anti-tumor immunity. Recent findings show that combinations of different modalities of immunization (heterologous prime/boost) are able to induce superior immune reactions as compared to single-modality vaccines. In this review, we will discuss the challenges and requirements of emerging cancer vaccines, particularly focusing on the genetic cancer vaccines currently under active development and the promise shown by Ad and DNA-EP heterologous prime-boost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Aurisicchio
- Takis, via di Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy; E-Mail:
- BIOGEM scarl, via Camporeale, 83031 Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Takis, via di Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy; E-Mail:
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli studi di Catanzaro “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
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Serum amyloid P component facilitates DNA clearance and inhibits plasmid transfection: implications for human DNA vaccine. Gene Ther 2011; 19:70-7. [PMID: 21544098 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2011.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The demonstration that naked plasmid DNA can induce strong immune responses in mice has attracted considerable attention in the vaccine community. However, similar immunizations have been less/not effective in clinical trials during the past decade, and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that some DNA-binding proteins in human serum may serve as host barriers, responsible for the low efficiency of plasmids' transfection in vivo. Using proteomics, we showed that human serum amyloid P component (hSAP) is specifically present in human DNA-protein complexes. Further analysis indicated that hSAP effectively binds plasmid DNA, inhibits DNA transfection into somatic cells and facilitates the endocytosis of DNA by macrophages, whereas mouse SAP (mSAP) has similar, but much weaker, activities. In the presence of hSAP, the plasmid DNA expression in vivo and plasmid DNA-induced immune responses also significantly decreased. Therefore, our results suggest that hSAP contributes to extracellular DNA clearance and the inhibition of plasmid DNA transfection in vivo. This mechanism may be partly responsible for the insufficient immune responses to DNA vaccination in human beings; therefore, it may serve as a novel target for the improvement of DNA vaccines and DNA-based gene therapy.
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Electroporation enhances immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine expressing woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigen in woodchucks. J Virol 2011; 85:4853-62. [PMID: 21389124 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02437-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of therapeutic vaccines for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been hampered by host immune tolerance and the generally low magnitude and inconsistent immune responses to conventional vaccines and proposed new delivery methods. Electroporation (EP) for plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccine delivery has demonstrated the enhanced immunogenicity of HBV antigens in various animal models. In the present study, the efficiency of the EP-based delivery of pDNA expressing various reporter genes first was evaluated in normal woodchucks, and then the immunogenicity of an analog woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) surface antigen (WHsAg) pDNA vaccine was studied in this model. The expression of reporter genes was greatly increased when the cellular uptake of pDNA was facilitated by EP. The EP of WHsAg-pDNA resulted in enhanced, dose-dependent antibody and T-cell responses to WHsAg compared to those of the conventional hypodermic needle injection of WHsAg-pDNA. Although subunit WHsAg protein vaccine elicited higher antibody titers than the DNA vaccine delivered with EP, T-cell response rates were comparable. However, in WHsAg-stimulated mononuclear cell cultures, the mRNA expression of CD4 and CD8 leukocyte surface markers and Th1 cytokines was more frequent and was skewed following DNA vaccination compared to that of protein immunization. Thus, the EP-based vaccination of normal woodchucks with pDNA-WHsAg induced a skew in the Th1/Th2 balance toward Th1 immune responses, which may be considered more appropriate for approaches involving therapeutic vaccines to treat chronic HBV infection.
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HIV fragment gag vaccine induces broader T cell response in mice. Vaccine 2011; 29:2582-9. [PMID: 21292005 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.01.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2010] [Revised: 12/21/2010] [Accepted: 01/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Broad T-cell response is considered critical for HIV-1 vaccines to compensate viral diversity. Usually, a limited number of immunodominant epitopes are recognized in natural infections, as well as in vaccinations. Here, we seek to overcome immunofocusing of CD8 T Cell responses to HIV-1 CN54 gag DNA (delivered as a plasmid) in BalB/C mice by splitting it into fragments for reducing competition of recognition between dominant and sub-dominant epitopes. As expected, mice immunized with mixture of DNA fragments elicited significantly broader T cell responses than whole-length gag. We also further studied the effects when fragments and full-length DNA vaccines are combined for prime-boost vaccination. Interestingly, mice primed with full-length gag and boosted with DNA vaccine fragments induced similar T-cell response breadth as mice both primed and boosted by fragments DNA. In contrast, mice primed with DNA vaccine fragments and boosted with full-length gag failed to broaden T cell responses, once again, only the dominant epitopes were recognized. In summary, our study demonstrated that "fragmentation strategy" can indeed broaden T cell responses. This enhancement is more likely achieved in boosting stage. This study offers a promising way to design a vaccine with higher chance covering the highly diversified circulating strains.
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Bailey J. An assessment of the use of chimpanzees in hepatitis C research past, present and future: 1. Validity of the chimpanzee model. Altern Lab Anim 2011; 38:387-418. [PMID: 21105756 DOI: 10.1177/026119291003800501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The USA is the only significant user of chimpanzees in biomedical research in the world, since many countries have banned or limited the practice due to substantial ethical, economic and scientific concerns. Advocates of chimpanzee use cite hepatitis C research as a major reason for its necessity and continuation, in spite of supporting evidence that is scant and often anecdotal. This paper examines the scientific and ethical issues surrounding chimpanzee hepatitis C research, and concludes that claims of the necessity of chimpanzees in historical and future hepatitis C research are exaggerated and unjustifiable, respectively. The chimpanzee model has several major scientific, ethical, economic and practical caveats. It has made a relatively negligible contribution to knowledge of, and tangible progress against, the hepatitis C virus compared to non-chimpanzee research, and must be considered scientifically redundant, given the array of alternative methods of inquiry now available. The continuation of chimpanzee use in hepatitis C research adversely affects scientific progress, as well as chimpanzees and humans in need of treatment. Unfounded claims of its necessity should not discourage changes in public policy regarding the use of chimpanzees in US laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarrod Bailey
- New England Anti-Vivisection Society, Boston, MA 02108-5100, USA.
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Electroporation-Mediated DNA Vaccination. CLINICAL ASPECTS OF ELECTROPORATION 2011. [PMCID: PMC7122510 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-8363-3_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Capone S, Reyes-Sandoval A, Naddeo M, Siani L, Ammendola V, Rollier CS, Nicosia A, Colloca S, Cortese R, Folgori A, Hill AVS. Immune responses against a liver-stage malaria antigen induced by simian adenoviral vector AdCh63 and MVA prime-boost immunisation in non-human primates. Vaccine 2010; 29:256-65. [PMID: 21029806 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.10.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2010] [Revised: 10/01/2010] [Accepted: 10/14/2010] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a major health problem as nearly half of the human population is exposed to this parasite causing around 600 million clinical cases annually. Prime-boost regimes using simian adenoviral vectors and MVA expressing the clinically relevant Plasmodium falciparum ME.TRAP antigen have shown outstanding protective efficacy in mouse models. We now extend those observations to macaque monkeys. Immunisation with AdCh63 elicited a median response of 869 IFN-γ SFC/million PBMCs to ME.TRAP and responses were boosted by MVA to reach 5256 SFC/million PBMCs, increasing at the same time the breadth of the T cell responses to cover the complete ME.TRAP antigen. Intramuscular vaccination was more immunogenic than the intradermal route, and MVA could be used repeatedly for up to 3 times to boost adenovirus-primed responses. An interval of 16 weeks between repeated MVA injections was optimal to enhance cytokine production by T cells and improve the CD8 multifunctional responses. Antibodies to TRAP were exceptionally high and maintained for a long period of time after the prime-boost regime. These results in non-human primates highlight the potential of this vaccination regime and encourage its future use in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Capone
- Okairos, Via dei Castelli Romani 22, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
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Ingolotti M, Kawalekar O, Shedlock DJ, Muthumani K, Weiner DB. DNA vaccines for targeting bacterial infections. Expert Rev Vaccines 2010; 9:747-63. [PMID: 20624048 DOI: 10.1586/erv.10.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
DNA vaccination has been of great interest since its discovery in the 1990s due to its ability to elicit both humoral and cellular immune responses. DNA vaccines consist of a DNA plasmid containing a transgene that encodes the sequence of a target protein from a pathogen under the control of a eukaryotic promoter. This revolutionary technology has proven to be effective in animal models and four DNA vaccine products have recently been approved for veterinary use. Although few DNA vaccines against bacterial infections have been tested, the results are encouraging. Because of their versatility, safety and simplicity a wider range of organisms can be targeted by these vaccines, which shows their potential advantages to public health. This article describes the mechanism of action of DNA vaccines and their potential use for targeting bacterial infections. In addition, it provides an updated summary of the methods used to enhance immunogenicity from codon optimization and adjuvants to delivery techniques including electroporation and use of nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Ingolotti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Tenbusch M, Grunwald T, Niezold T, Storcksdieck Genannt Bonsmann M, Hannaman D, Norley S, Uberla K. Codon-optimization of the hemagglutinin gene from the novel swine origin H1N1 influenza virus has differential effects on CD4(+) T-cell responses and immune effector mechanisms following DNA electroporation in mice. Vaccine 2010; 28:3273-7. [PMID: 20206668 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.02.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2009] [Revised: 02/17/2010] [Accepted: 02/17/2010] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
DNA electroporation is a powerful vaccine strategy that could be rapidly adapted to address emerging viruses. We therefore compared cellular and humoral immune responses in mice vaccinated with DNA expression plasmids encoding either the wildtype or a codon-optimized sequence of hemagglutinin from the novel swine origin H1N1 influenza virus. While expression of HA from the wildtype sequence was hardly detectable, the H1N1 hemagglutinin was well expressed from the codon-optimized sequence. Despite poor expression of the wildtype sequence, both plasmids induced similar levels of CD4(+) T-cell responses. However, CD8(+) T-cell and antibody responses were substantially higher after immunization with the codon-optimized DNA vaccine. Thus, efficient induction of immune effector mechanisms against HA of the novel H1N1 influenza virus requires codon-optimization of the DNA vaccines. Since DNA vaccines and several viral vector vaccines employ the same cellular RNA-Polymerase II dependent expression pathway, the poor expression levels from wildtype HA sequences might also limit the induction of immune effector mechanisms by such viral vector vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Tenbusch
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Chimpanzees have been widely used in hepatitis C virus (HCV) research, but their endangered status and high financial and ethical costs have prompted a closer review. METHODS One hundred and nine articles published in 1998-2007 were analyzed for the number of chimpanzees involved, experimental procedures, objectives and other relevant issues. RESULTS The articles described the use of 852 chimpanzees, but accounting for likely multiple uses, the number of individual chimpanzees involved here is estimated to be approximately 500. Most articles addressed immunology and inoculation studies. A significant portion of studies lasted for several months or years. Approximately one half of the individual chimpanzees were each used in 2-10 studies. CONCLUSIONS Significant financial and scientific resources have been expended in these chimpanzee HCV studies. Discussion addresses troublesome questions presented by some of the reviewed articles, including statistical validity, repeatability, and biological relevance of this model. These concerns merit attention as future approaches to HCV research and research priorities are considered.
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Sällberg M, Frelin L, Weiland O. DNA vaccine therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: immune control of a moving target. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2009; 9:805-15. [PMID: 19527105 DOI: 10.1517/14712590902988444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The use of DNA plasmids for DNA vaccination was first described in the early 1990 s. DNA vaccinations were successful in small animal models but in larger animals and humans problems appeared. One major obstacle, effective delivery, has been partly overcome by new delivery techniques, such as transdermal delivery with the gene gun, and in vivo electroporation. We are entering a new era of DNA vaccination, where such techniques can be tested in humans. DNA vaccination may be a useful therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Patients with these infections have a reduced T cell response to the invading virus. The genetic variability of HCV, its immunomodulatory properties and high replication rate contribute to chronicity. By providing the correct stimulus T cells may be activated to clear the infection. The vaccination is intended to induce a coordinated immune-based attack on the continuously moving HCV target. If effective, this should help in clearing the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matti Sällberg
- Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Division of Clinical Microbiology, F68, Department of Laboratory Medicine, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Improved efficacy of a gene optimised adenovirus-based vaccine for venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Virol J 2009; 6:118. [PMID: 19646224 PMCID: PMC2732613 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-6-118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2009] [Accepted: 07/31/2009] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Optimisation of genes has been shown to be beneficial for expression of proteins in a range of applications. Optimisation has increased protein expression levels through improved codon usage of the genes and an increase in levels of messenger RNA. We have applied this to an adenovirus (ad)-based vaccine encoding structural proteins (E3-E2-6K) of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV). Results Following administration of this vaccine to Balb/c mice, an approximately ten-fold increase in antibody response was elicited and increased protective efficacy compared to an ad-based vaccine containing non-optimised genes was observed after challenge. Conclusion This study, in which the utility of optimising genes encoding the structural proteins of VEEV is demonstrated for the first time, informs us that including optimised genes in gene-based vaccines for VEEV is essential to obtain maximum immunogenicity and protective efficacy.
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Bråve A, Hallengärd D, Gudmundsdotter L, Stout R, Walters R, Wahren B, Hallermalm K. Late administration of plasmid DNA by intradermal electroporation efficiently boosts DNA-primed T and B cell responses to carcinoembryonic antigen. Vaccine 2009; 27:3692-6. [PMID: 19428161 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2009] [Revised: 03/30/2009] [Accepted: 04/03/2009] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Heterologous boost immunisation is considered the most efficient way to enhance DNA-primed immune responses. We have previously shown that administration of recombinant carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) efficiently boosts humoral responses in mice primed with CEA DNA. However, clinical grade recombinant proteins are far more intriguing to produce than plasmid DNA. Therefore, the possibility to use plasmid DNA for both priming and boosting would be beneficial. With the prospect of future use in a clinical trial, we investigated if electroporation-mediated delivery of DNA could be used to boost DNA-primed immune responses to CEA. The Biojector was used to prime BALB/c mice intradermally three times with CEA66 DNA, encoding an intracellular modified form of CEA. Twelve weeks after the last prime, the animals received either one injection of recombinant CEA or one intradermal injection of twtCEA DNA, encoding the wild type CEA fused to a tetanus T helper epitope, in combination with electroporation. Boosting with rCEA protein did not enhance T cell responses to CEA but induced CEA-specific IgG in 4 of 8 mice. In contrast, intradermal delivery of twtCEA DNA by electroporation led to a tenfold increase in IFN-gamma-producing CD8+ T cells, compared to the levels obtained after the third priming immunisation. The DNA boost also induced high CEA-specific IgG titers in all immunised animals (8/8). The data suggests that a late DNA boost, in combination with enhanced DNA delivery by electroporation, could be used to enhance the efficiency of DNA vaccination and substitute for a heterologous protein boost vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Bråve
- Department of Virology, Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Stockholm, Sweden
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Chen CA, Chang MC, Sun WZ, Chen YL, Chiang YC, Hsieh CY, Chen SM, Hsiao PN, Cheng WF. Noncarrier naked antigen-specific DNA vaccine generates potent antigen-specific immunologic responses and antitumor effects. Gene Ther 2009; 16:776-87. [PMID: 19357714 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2009.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Genetic immunization strategies have largely focused on the use of plasmid DNA with a gene gun. However, there remains a clear need to further improve the efficiency, safety, and cost of potential DNA vaccines. The gold particle-coated DNA format delivered through a gene gun is expensive, time and process consuming, and raises aseptic safety concerns. This study aims to determine whether a low-pressured gene gun can deliver noncarrier naked DNA vaccine without any particle coating, and generate similarly strong antigen-specific immunologic responses and potent antitumor effects compared with gold particle-coated DNA vaccine. Our results show that mice vaccinated with noncarrier naked chimeric CRT/E7 DNA lead to dramatic increases in the numbers of E7-specific CD8+ T-cell precursors and markedly raised titers of E7-specific antibodies. Furthermore, noncarrier naked CRT/E7 DNA vaccine generated potent antitumor effects against subcutaneous E7-expressing tumors and pre-established E7-expressing metastatic pulmonary tumors. In addition, mice immunized with noncarrier naked CRT/E7 DNA vaccine had significantly less burning effects on the skin compared with those vaccinated with gold particle-coated CRT/E7 DNA vaccine. We conclude that noncarrier naked CRT/E7 DNA vaccine delivered with a low-pressured gene gun can generate similarly potent immunologic responses and effective antitumor effects has fewer side effects, and is more convenient than conventional gold particle-coated DNA vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- C-A Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Bodles-Brakhop AM, Heller R, Draghia-Akli R. Electroporation for the delivery of DNA-based vaccines and immunotherapeutics: current clinical developments. Mol Ther 2009; 17:585-92. [PMID: 19223870 PMCID: PMC2835112 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2009.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2008] [Accepted: 12/27/2008] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Electroporation (EP) has been used in basic research for the past 25 years to aid in the transfer of DNA into cells in vitro. EP in vivo enhances transfer of DNA vaccines and therapeutic plasmids to the skin, muscle, tumors, and other tissues resulting in high levels of expression, often with serological and clinical benefits. The recent interest in nonviral gene transfer as treatment options for a vast array of conditions has resulted in the refinement and optimization of EP technology. Current research has revealed that EP can be successfully used in many species, including humans. Clinical trials are currently under way. Herein, the transition of EP from basic science to clinical trials will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela M Bodles-Brakhop
- VGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2700 Research Forest Drive, Suite 180, The Woodlands, Texas 77381, USA.
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Fattori E, Aurisicchio L, Zampaglione I, Arcuri M, Cappelletti M, Cipriani B, Mennuni C, Calvaruso F, Nuzzo M, Ciliberto G, Monaci P, La Monica N. ErbB2 Genetic Cancer Vaccine in Nonhuman Primates: Relevance of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms. Hum Gene Ther 2009; 20:253-65. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2008.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Fattori
- Istituto di Ricerca di Biologia Molecolare (IRBM), Pomezia 00040, Italy
| | - Luigi Aurisicchio
- Istituto di Ricerca di Biologia Molecolare (IRBM), Pomezia 00040, Italy
| | | | - Mirko Arcuri
- Istituto di Ricerca di Biologia Molecolare (IRBM), Pomezia 00040, Italy
| | | | - Barbara Cipriani
- Istituto di Ricerca di Biologia Molecolare (IRBM), Pomezia 00040, Italy
| | - Carmela Mennuni
- Istituto di Ricerca di Biologia Molecolare (IRBM), Pomezia 00040, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Nuzzo
- Istituto di Ricerca di Biologia Molecolare (IRBM), Pomezia 00040, Italy
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Istituto di Ricerca di Biologia Molecolare (IRBM), Pomezia 00040, Italy
| | - Paolo Monaci
- Istituto di Ricerca di Biologia Molecolare (IRBM), Pomezia 00040, Italy
| | - Nicola La Monica
- Istituto di Ricerca di Biologia Molecolare (IRBM), Pomezia 00040, Italy
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49
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Fattori E, Aurisicchio L, Zampaglione I, Arcuri M, Cappelletti M, Cipriani B, Mennuni C, Calvaruso F, Nuzzo M, Ciliberto G, Monaci P, La Monica N. Her2/neu genetic cancer vaccine in non human primates: relevance of single nucleotide polymorphisms. Hum Gene Ther 2008. [DOI: 10.1089/hgt.2008.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Abstract
With more than 170 million individuals currently infected, HCV is a global pandemic, effecting approximately 3% of the entire world's population. HCV infection is a growing infectious disease pandemic with approximately 3-4 million new cases reported each year. Due to the persistent nature of the virus, 70-90% of infected individuals will develop chronic infection, which can lead to progressive liver disease including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Current standard treatment with a combination of IFN-alpha and ribavirin has improved the prognosis for many HCV sufferers; however, infection is very difficult to treat successfully and the protocol for treatment is neither simple, well tolerated nor economically favorable. Standard treatment can cost an average of US$22,000, and depending on genotype, as few as 42% of treated individuals will clear the infection. This collection of treatment issues combined with new concepts in immune therapy serve to underscore an urgent need for the development of improved immunotherapies, such as novel interferons, and support the possible development of therapeutic vaccines for the treatment of chronic HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystle Lang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6100, USA.
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