1
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Moise L, Meyers LM, Jang H, Grizotte-Lake M, Boyle CM, McGonnigal B, Ge P, Ross TM, De Groot AS. Novel H7N9 influenza immunogen design enhances mobilization of seasonal influenza T cell memory in H3N2 pre-immune mice. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2022; 18:2082191. [PMID: 35704783 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2082191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Strategies that improve influenza vaccine immunogenicity are critical for the development of vaccines for pandemic preparedness. Hemagglutinin (HA)-specific CD4+ T cell epitopes support protective B cell responses against seasonal influenza. However, in the case of avian H7N9, which poses a pandemic threat, HA elicits only weak neutralizing antibody responses in infection and vaccination without adjuvant. We hypothesized that an immune-engineered H7N9 HA incorporating a broadly reactive H3N2 HA-specific memory CD4+ T cell epitope that replaces a regulatory T cell-inducing epitope at the corresponding position in H7N9 HA could harness preexisting influenza T cell immunity to increase CD4+ T cells that are needed for protective antibody development. We designed and produced a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine that carries the epitope augmented H7N9 HA (OPT1) and immunized HLA-DR3 transgenic mice with established H3N2 immunity. OPT1-VLPs stimulated higher stem cell, central, and effector memory CD4+ T cell levels over wild type VLP immunization. In addition, activated, IL-21-producing follicular helper T cell frequencies were enhanced. This novel immunogen design strategy illustrates that site-specific modifications aimed to augment T cell epitope content enhance CD4+ T cell responses among critical subpopulations capable of aiding protective immune responses upon antigen re-encounter and that mobilization of immune memory can be used to overcome the poor immunogenicity of avian influenza viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Moise
- EpiVax, Inc., Providence, RI, USA.,Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Hyesun Jang
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Pan Ge
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ted M Ross
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.,Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Anne S De Groot
- EpiVax, Inc., Providence, RI, USA.,Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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2
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Cardenas-Garcia S, Ferreri L, Wan Z, Carnaccini S, Geiger G, Obadan AO, Hofacre CL, Rajao D, Perez DR. Maternally-Derived Antibodies Protect against Challenge with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus of the H7N3 Subtype. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:E163. [PMID: 31671571 PMCID: PMC6963706 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7040163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccination of hens against influenza leads to the transfer of protective maternally-derived antibodies (MDA) to hatchlings. However, little is known about the transfer of H7N3 vaccine-induced MDA. Here, we evaluated transfer, duration, and protective effect of MDA in chickens against H7N3 HPAIV. To generate chickens with MDA (MDA (+)), 15-week-old White Leghorn hens were vaccinated and boosted twice with an inactivated H7N3 low pathogenic avian influenza virus vaccine, adjuvanted with Montanide ISA 71 VG. One week after the final boost, eggs were hatched. Eggs from non-vaccinated hens were hatched for chickens without MDA (MDA (-)). Both MDA (+) and MDA (-) hatchlings were monitored weekly for antibody levels. Anti-HA MDA were detected by hemagglutination inhibition assay mostly until day 7 post-hatch. However, anti-nucleoprotein MDA were still detected three weeks post-hatch. Three weeks post-hatch, chickens were challenged with 106 EID50/bird of Mexican-origin H7N3 HPAIV. Interestingly, while 0% of the MDA (-) chickens survived the challenge, 95% of the MDA (+) chickens survived. Furthermore, virus shedding was significantly reduced by day 5 post-challenge in the MDA (+) group. In conclusion, MDA confers partial protection against mortality upon challenge with H7N3 HPAIV, as far as three weeks post-hatch, even in the absence of detectable anti-HA antibodies, and reduce virus shedding after challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stivalis Cardenas-Garcia
- Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Lucas Ferreri
- Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Zhimin Wan
- Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Silvia Carnaccini
- Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Ginger Geiger
- Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Adebimpe O Obadan
- Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | | | - Daniela Rajao
- Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Daniel R Perez
- Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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3
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Gage E, Van Hoeven N, Dubois Cauwelaert N, Larsen SE, Erasmus J, Orr MT, Coler RN. Memory CD4 + T cells enhance B-cell responses to drifting influenza immunization. Eur J Immunol 2018; 49:266-276. [PMID: 30548475 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201847852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Influenza A annually infects 5-10% of the world's human population resulting in one million deaths. Influenza causes annual epidemics and reinfects previously exposed individuals because of antigenic drift in the glycoprotein hemagglutinin. Due to antigenic drift, the immune system is simultaneously exposed to novel and conserved parts of the influenza virus via vaccination and/or infection throughout life. Preexisting immunity has long been known to augment subsequent hemagglutination inhibitory antibody (hAb) responses. However, the preexisting immunological contributors that influence hAb responses are not understood. Therefore, we adapted and developed sequential infection and immunization mouse models using drifted influenza strains to show that MHC Class II haplotype and T-cell reactivity influences subsequent hAb responses. We found that CB6F1 mice infected with A/CA followed by immunization with A/PR8 have increased hAb responses to A/PR8 compared to C57BL/6 mice. Increased hAb responses in CB6F1 mice were CD4+ T-cell and B-cell dependent and corresponded to increased germinal center A/PR8-specific B and T-follicular helper cells. These results suggest conserved MHC Class II restricted epitopes within HA are essential for B cells to respond to drifting influenza and could be leveraged to boost hAb responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Gage
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Neal Van Hoeven
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,PAI Life Sciences, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Jesse Erasmus
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mark T Orr
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rhea N Coler
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,PAI Life Sciences, Seattle, WA, USA
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4
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Ou H, Yao W, Wu N, Wang FXC, Weng T, Han C, Lu X, Yu D, Wu H, Cheng L, Chen H, Yao H, Li L. Preclinical evaluation of the safety and pathogenicity of a live attenuated recombinant influenza A/H7N9 seed strain and corresponding MF59-adjuvanted split vaccine. Oncotarget 2018; 7:81012-81025. [PMID: 27768591 PMCID: PMC5348373 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Developing a safe and effective H7N9 influenza vaccine was initiated in early spring 2013, following human infections with a novel avian influenza A (H7N9) virus. In this study, a candidate H7N9 vaccine seed strain is produced using reverse genetics, with HA and NA derived from a human H7N9 virus and the remaining genes from the PR8 backbone virus which grows well in eggs. We verified that the virulence and transmissibility of the recombinant H7N9 vaccine seed strain were decreased as compared to wild-type H7N9 virus, to levels comparable with PR8. Using the seed virus, we produced a monovalent split influenza A (H7N9) MF59-adjuvanted vaccine that was immunogenic in mice. Our H7N9 vaccine is selected for clinical investigation and potential human use. To assess the safety of our H7N9 vaccine, we performed acute toxicity, repeated dose toxicity and active systemic anaphylaxis tests. Our results showed that, under the conditions used in this study, the NOEAL (no obvious adverse effect level) was 30 μg/0.5 mL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huilin Ou
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Yao
- Department of Pre-clinical Research and Development, Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, China
| | - Nanping Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Frederick X C Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Tianhao Weng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chengcong Han
- Department of Pre-clinical Research and Development, Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiangyun Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dongshan Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haibo Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Linfang Cheng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Honglin Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hangping Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lanjuan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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5
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A DNA Vaccine That Targets Hemagglutinin to Antigen-Presenting Cells Protects Mice against H7 Influenza. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.01340-17. [PMID: 28931687 PMCID: PMC5686743 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01340-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic influenza H7 viral infections have a case fatality rate of about 40%. Currently, no or limited human to human spread has occurred, but we may be facing a severe pandemic threat if the virus acquires the ability to transmit between humans. Novel vaccines that can be rapidly produced for global distribution are urgently needed, and DNA vaccines may be the only type of vaccine that allows for the speed necessary to quench an emerging pandemic. Here, we constructed DNA vaccines encoding the hemagglutinin (HA) from influenza A/chicken/Italy/13474/99 (H7N1). In order to increase the efficacy of DNA vaccination, HA was targeted to either major histocompatibility complex class II molecules or chemokine receptors 1, 3, and 5 (CCR1/3/5) that are expressed on antigen-presenting cells (APC). A single DNA vaccination with APC-targeted HA significantly increased antibody levels in sera compared to nontargeted control vaccines. The antibodies were confirmed neutralizing in an H7 pseudotype-based neutralization assay. Furthermore, the APC-targeted vaccines increased the levels of antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells, and a single DNA vaccination could confer protection against a lethal challenge with influenza A/turkey/Italy/3889/1999 (H7N1) in mice. In conclusion, we have developed a vaccine that rapidly could contribute protection against a pandemic threat from avian influenza. IMPORTANCE Highly pathogenic avian influenza H7 constitute a pandemic threat that can cause severe illness and death in infected individuals. Vaccination is the main method of prophylaxis against influenza, but current vaccine strategies fall short in a pandemic situation due to a prolonged production time and insufficient production capabilities. In contrast, a DNA vaccine can be rapidly produced and deployed to prevent the potential escalation of a highly pathogenic influenza pandemic. We here demonstrate that a single DNA delivery of hemagglutinin from an H7 influenza could mediate full protection against a lethal challenge with H7N1 influenza in mice. Vaccine efficacy was contingent on targeting of the secreted vaccine protein to antigen-presenting cells.
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6
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Pradhan D, Yadav M, Verma R, Khan NS, Jena L, Jain AK. Discovery of T-cell Driven Subunit Vaccines from Zika Virus Genome: An Immunoinformatics Approach. Interdiscip Sci 2017; 9:468-477. [PMID: 29094318 PMCID: PMC7091030 DOI: 10.1007/s12539-017-0238-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 02/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The recent outbreaks of Zika virus and the absence of a specific therapy have necessitated to identify T-cell-stimulating antigenic peptides as potential subunit vaccine candidates. The translated ssRNA (+) genome of Zika virus was explored in EMBOSS antigenic and VaxiJen to predict 63 peptides as potential antigens. Three MHC-II binding peptide prediction tools, viz. NetMHCIIpan, PREDIVAC and immune epitope database (IEDB) were employed in consensus on 63 antigenic peptides to propose 14 T-helper cell epitopes. Similarly, analysis on 63 antigenic peptides through NetMHC, NetCTL and IEDB MHC-I binding peptide prediction tool led to identification of 14 CTL epitopes. Seven T-cell epitopes, C:44-66, M:135-149, NS2A:124-144, NS3:421-453, NS3:540-554, NS4B:90-134 and NS4B:171-188, are observed to share overlapping MHC-I and MHC-II binding motifs and hence, are being proposed to constitute minimum T-cell antigens to elicit protective T-cell immune response against Zika. Three of them, C:44-66, NS3:421-453 and NS3:540-554 are identified to be conserved across all the selected strains of Zika virus. Moreover, the 21 T-cell epitopes are non-self to humans and exhibited good coverage in variable populations of 14 geographical locations. Therefore, 21 T-cell epitopes are proposed as potential subunit vaccines against Zika virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dibyabhaba Pradhan
- Biomedical Informatics Centre, National Institute of Pathology-ICMR, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Monika Yadav
- Biomedical Informatics Centre, National Institute of Pathology-ICMR, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Rashi Verma
- Biomedical Informatics Centre, National Institute of Pathology-ICMR, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Noor Saba Khan
- Biomedical Informatics Centre, National Institute of Pathology-ICMR, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Lingaraja Jena
- Bioinformatics Centre, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Wardha, 442102, India
| | - Arun Kumar Jain
- Biomedical Informatics Centre, National Institute of Pathology-ICMR, New Delhi, 110029, India.
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7
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Isakova-Sivak I, Rudenko L. Tackling a novel lethal virus: a focus on H7N9 vaccine development. Expert Rev Vaccines 2017; 16:1-13. [PMID: 28532182 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2017.1333907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Avian-origin H7N9 influenza viruses first detected in humans in China in 2013 continue to cause severe human infections with a mortality rate close to 40%. These viruses are acknowledged as the subtype most likely to cause the next influenza pandemic. Areas covered: Here we review published data on the development of H7N9 influenza vaccine candidates and their evaluation in preclinical and clinical trials identified on PubMed database with the term 'H7N9 influenza vaccine'. In addition, a search with the same term was done on ClinicalTrials.gov to find ongoing clinical trials with H7N9 vaccines. Expert commentary: Influenza vaccines are the most powerful tool for protecting the human population from influenza infections, both seasonal and pandemic. During the past four years, a large number of promising H7N9 influenza vaccine candidates have been generated using traditional and advanced gene engineering techniques. In addition, with the support of WHO's GAP program, influenza vaccine production capacities have been established in a number of vulnerable low- and middle-income countries with a high population density, allowing the countries to be independent of vaccine supply from high-income countries. Overall, it is believed that the world is now well prepared for a possible H7N9 influenza pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Isakova-Sivak
- a Department of Virology , Institute of Experimental Medicine , Saint Petersburg , Russia
| | - Larisa Rudenko
- a Department of Virology , Institute of Experimental Medicine , Saint Petersburg , Russia
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8
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A humanized mouse model identifies key amino acids for low immunogenicity of H7N9 vaccines. Sci Rep 2017; 7:1283. [PMID: 28455520 PMCID: PMC5430863 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01372-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza vaccines of H7N9 subtype are consistently less immunogenic in humans than vaccines developed for other subtypes. Although prior immunoinformatic analysis identified T-cell epitopes in H7 hemagglutinin (HA) which potentially enhance regulatory T cell response due to conservation with the human genome, the links between the T-cell epitopes and low immunogenicity of H7 HA remains unknown due to the lack of animal models reproducing the response observed in humans. Here, we utilized a humanized mouse model to recapitulate the low immunogenicity of H7 HA. Our analysis demonstrated that modification of a single H7 epitope by changing 3 amino acids so that it is homologous with a known H3 immunogenic epitope sequence significantly improved the immunogenicity of the H7 HA in the humanized mouse model, leading to a greater than 4-fold increase in HA-binding IgG responses. Thus, we provide experimental evidence for the important contribution of this H7-specific T cell epitope in determining the immunogenicity of an influenza vaccine. Furthermore, this study delineates strategies that can be used for screening and selecting vaccine strains using immunoinformatics tools and a humanized mouse model.
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9
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DiPiazza A, Richards K, Poulton N, Sant AJ. Avian and Human Seasonal Influenza Hemagglutinin Proteins Elicit CD4 T Cell Responses That Are Comparable in Epitope Abundance and Diversity. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2017; 24:e00548-16. [PMID: 28100497 PMCID: PMC5339641 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00548-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Avian influenza viruses remain a significant concern due to their pandemic potential. Vaccine trials have suggested that humans respond poorly to avian influenza vaccines relative to seasonal vaccines. It is important to understand, first, if there is a general deficiency in the ability of avian hemagglutinin (HA) proteins to generate immune responses and, if so, what underlies this defect. This question is of particular interest because it has been suggested that in humans, the poor immunogenicity of H7 vaccines may be due to a paucity of CD4 T cell epitopes. Because of the generally high levels of cross-reactive CD4 T cells in humans, it is not possible to compare the inherent immunogenicities of avian and seasonal HA proteins in an unbiased manner. Here, we empirically examine the epitope diversity and abundance of CD4 T cells elicited by seasonal and avian HA proteins. HLA-DR1 and HLA-DR4 transgenic mice were vaccinated with purified HA proteins, and CD4 T cells to specific epitopes were identified and quantified. These studies revealed that the diversity and abundance of CD4 T cells specific for HA do not segregate on the basis of whether the HA was derived from human seasonal or avian influenza viruses. Therefore, we conclude that failure in responses to avian vaccines in humans is likely due to a lack of cross-reactive CD4 T cell memory perhaps coupled with competition with or suppression of naive, HA-specific CD4 T cells by memory CD4 T cells specific for more highly conserved proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony DiPiazza
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Katherine Richards
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Nicholas Poulton
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Andrea J Sant
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
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10
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Wang L, Chang TZ, He Y, Kim JR, Wang S, Mohan T, Berman Z, Tompkins SM, Tripp RA, Compans RW, Champion JA, Wang BZ. Coated protein nanoclusters from influenza H7N9 HA are highly immunogenic and induce robust protective immunity. NANOMEDICINE : NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE 2017; 13:253-262. [PMID: 27622321 PMCID: PMC5237404 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2016.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Recurring influenza viruses pose an annual threat to public health. A time-saving, cost-effective and egg-independent influenza vaccine approach is important particularly when responding to an emerging pandemic. We fabricated coated, two-layer protein nanoclusters from recombinant trimeric hemagglutinin from an avian-origin H7N9 influenza A virus as an approach for vaccine development in response to an emerging pandemic. Assessment of the virus-specific immune responses and protective efficacy in mice immunized with the nanoclusters demonstrated that the vaccine candidates were highly immunogenic, able to induce protective immunity and long-lasting humoral antibody responses to this virus without the use of adjuvants. Because the advantages of the highly immunogenic coated nanoclusters also include rapid productions in an egg-independent system, this approach has great potential for influenza vaccine production not only in response to an emerging pandemic, but also as a replacement for conventional seasonal influenza vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Timothy Z Chang
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Yuan He
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Jong R Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Shelly Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Teena Mohan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Zachary Berman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - S Mark Tompkins
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Ralph A Tripp
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Richard W Compans
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Julie A Champion
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Bao-Zhong Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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11
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Moise L, Gutierrez A, Kibria F, Martin R, Tassone R, Liu R, Terry F, Martin B, De Groot AS. iVAX: An integrated toolkit for the selection and optimization of antigens and the design of epitope-driven vaccines. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 11:2312-21. [PMID: 26155959 PMCID: PMC4635942 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2015.1061159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Computational vaccine design, also known as computational vaccinology, encompasses epitope mapping, antigen selection and immunogen design using computational tools. The iVAX toolkit is an integrated set of tools that has been in development since 1998 by De Groot and Martin. It comprises a suite of immunoinformatics algorithms for triaging candidate antigens, selecting immunogenic and conserved T cell epitopes, eliminating regulatory T cell epitopes, and optimizing antigens for immunogenicity and protection against disease. iVAX has been applied to vaccine development programs for emerging infectious diseases, cancer antigens and biodefense targets. Several iVAX vaccine design projects have had success in pre-clinical studies in animal models and are progressing toward clinical studies. The toolkit now incorporates a range of immunoinformatics tools for infectious disease and cancer immunotherapy vaccine design. This article will provide a guide to the iVAX approach to computational vaccinology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Moise
- a Institute for Immunology and Informatics; University of Rhode Island ; Providence , RI USA
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12
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De Groot AS, Moise L, Liu R, Gutierrez AH, Tassone R, Bailey-Kellogg C, Martin W. Immune camouflage: relevance to vaccines and human immunology. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2015; 10:3570-5. [PMID: 25483703 PMCID: PMC4514035 DOI: 10.4161/hv.36134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
High strain sequence variability, interference with innate immune mechanisms, and epitope deletion are all examples of strategies that pathogens have evolved to subvert host defenses. To this list we would add another strategy: immune camouflage. Pathogens whose epitope sequences are cross-conserved with multiple human proteins at the TCR-facing residues may be exploiting “ignorance and tolerance," which are mechanisms by which mature T cells avoid immune responses to self-antigens. By adopting amino acid configurations that may be recognized by autologous regulatory T cells, pathogens may be actively suppressing protective immunity. Using the new JanusMatrix TCR-homology-mapping tool, we have identified several such ‘camouflaged’ tolerizing epitopes that are present in the viral genomes of pathogens such as emerging H7N9 influenza. Thus in addition to the overall low number of T helper epitopes that is present in H7 hemaglutinin (as described previously, see http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/hv.24939), the presence of such tolerizing epitopes in H7N9 could explain why, in recent vaccine trials, whole H7N9-HA was poorly immunogenic and associated with low seroconversion rates (see http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/hv.28135). In this commentary, we provide an overview of the immunoinformatics process leading to the discovery of tolerizing epitopes in pathogen genomic sequences, provide a brief summary of laboratory data that validates the discovery, and point the way forward. Removal of viral, bacterial and parasite tolerizing epitopes may permit researchers to develop more effective vaccines and immunotherapeutics in the future.
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Key Words
- Biologic
- Deimmunization
- EpiMatrix
- HA, hemagglutinin
- HCV, Hepatitis C virus
- HIV, human immunodeficiency virus
- HLA, human leukocyte antigen
- IAVs, influenza A viruses
- JanusMatrix
- TCR, T cell receptor
- Td response, T cell-driven response
- Tolerance
- Treg
- Treg, regulatory T cell
- Tregitope
- Tregitope, Treg epitope
- Vaccine
- nTreg, natural regulatory T cells
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13
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Suboptimal Humoral Immune Response against Influenza A(H7N9) Virus Is Related to Its Internal Genes. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2015; 22:1235-43. [PMID: 26446420 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00443-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Influenza A(H7N9) virus pneumonia is associated with a high case fatality rate in humans. Multiple viral factors have been postulated to account for the high virulence of the virus. It has been reported that patients with influenza A(H7N9) virus infection have relatively low titers of neutralizing antibodies compared to those with seasonal influenza virus infections. In this study, we compared serum hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and microneutralization (MN) antibody titers of mice challenged with wild-type A(H7N9) viruses [H7N9(Anhui) and H7N9(Zhejiang)], an A(H1N1)pdm09 virus [pH1N1(2009)], and a recombinant A(H7N9) virus with PR8/H1N1 internal genes (rg-PR8-H7-N9). All mice infected by H7N9(Anhui) and H7N9(Zhejiang) developed serum HI antibodies at 14 days postinfection (dpi) but no detectable MN antibodies, even at 28 dpi. A low level of neutralizing activity was detected in H7N9(Anhui)- and H7N9(Zhejiang)-infected mice using fluorescent focus MN assay, but convalescent-phase serum samples obtained from H7N9(Anhui)-infected mice did not reduce the mortality of naive mice after homologous virus challenge. Reinfection with homologous A(H7N9) virus induced higher HI and MN titers than first infection. In contrast, pH1N1(2009) virus infection induced robust HI and MN antibody responses, even during the first infection. Moreover, rg-PR8-H7-N9 induced significantly higher HI and MN antibody titers than H7N9(Zhejiang). In conclusion, the internal genes of A(H7N9) virus can affect the humoral immune response against homologous viral surface proteins, which may also contribute to the virulence of A(H7N9) virus.
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14
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Liu R, Moise L, Tassone R, Gutierrez AH, Terry FE, Sangare K, Ardito MT, Martin WD, De Groot AS. H7N9 T-cell epitopes that mimic human sequences are less immunogenic and may induce Treg-mediated tolerance. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2015; 11:2241-52. [PMID: 26090577 PMCID: PMC4635734 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2015.1052197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian-origin H7N9 influenza is a novel influenza A virus (IAV) that emerged in humans in China in 2013. Using immunoinformatics tools, we identified several H7N9 T cell epitopes with T cell receptor (TCR)-facing residues identical to those of multiple epitopes from human proteins. We hypothesized that host tolerance to these peptides may impair T helper response and contribute to the low titer, weak hemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibody responses and diminished seroconversion rates that have been observed in human H7N9 infections and vaccine trials. We found that the magnitude of human T effector responses to individual H7N9 peptides was inversely correlated with the peptide's resemblance to self. Furthermore, a promiscuous T cell epitope from the hemagglutinin (HA) protein suppressed responses to other H7N9 peptides when co-administered in vitro. Along with other highly ‘human-like’ peptides from H7N9, this peptide was also shown to expand FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). Thus, H7N9 may be camouflaged from effective human immune response by T cell epitope sequences that avert or regulate effector T cell responses through host tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Liu
- a Institute for Immunology and Informatics; University of Rhode Island ; Providence , RI USA
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15
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Emergence of H7N9 Influenza A Virus Resistant to Neuraminidase Inhibitors in Nonhuman Primates. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015; 59:4962-73. [PMID: 26055368 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00793-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of patients infected with H7N9 influenza virus has been increasing since 2013. We examined the efficacy of neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors and the efficacy of a vaccine against an H7N9 influenza virus, A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9), isolated from a patient in a cynomolgus macaque model. NA inhibitors (oseltamivir and peramivir) barely reduced the total virus amount because of the emergence of resistant variants with R289K or I219T in NA [residues 289 and 219 in N9 of A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) correspond to 292 and 222 in N2, respectively] in three of the six treated macaques, whereas subcutaneous immunization of an inactivated vaccine derived from A/duck/Mongolia/119/2008 (H7N9) prevented propagation of A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) in all vaccinated macaques. The percentage of macaques in which variant H7N9 viruses with low sensitivity to the NA inhibitors were detected was much higher than that of macaques in which variant H5N1 highly pathogenic influenza virus was detected after treatment with one of the NA inhibitors in our previous study. The virus with R289K in NA was reported in samples from human patients, whereas that with I219T in NA was identified for the first time in this study using macaques, though no variant H7N9 virus was reported in previous studies using mice. Therefore, the macaque model enables prediction of the frequency of emerging H7N9 virus resistant to NA inhibitors in vivo. Since H7N9 strains resistant to NA inhibitors might easily emerge compared to other influenza viruses, monitoring of the emergence of variants is required during treatment of H7N9 influenza virus infection with NA inhibitors.
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16
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Newcastle Disease Virus-Vectored H7 and H5 Live Vaccines Protect Chickens from Challenge with H7N9 or H5N1 Avian Influenza Viruses. J Virol 2015; 89:7401-8. [PMID: 25926639 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00031-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Sporadic human infections by a novel H7N9 virus occurred over a large geographic region in China. In this study, we show that Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-vectored H7 (NDV-H7) and NDV-H5 vaccines are able to induce antibodies with high hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers and completely protect chickens from challenge with the novel H7N9 or highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses, respectively. Notably, a baculovirus-expressed H7 protein failed to protect chickens from H7N9 virus infection.
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17
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Li Z, Gabbard JD, Johnson S, Dlugolenski D, Phan S, Tompkins SM, He B. Efficacy of a parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5)-based H7N9 vaccine in mice and guinea pigs: antibody titer towards HA was not a good indicator for protection. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0120355. [PMID: 25803697 PMCID: PMC4372596 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Accepted: 02/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
H7N9 has caused fatal infections in humans. A safe and effective vaccine is the best way to prevent large-scale outbreaks in the human population. Parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5), an avirulent paramyxovirus, is a promising vaccine vector. In this work, we generated a recombinant PIV5 expressing the HA gene of H7N9 (PIV5-H7) and tested its efficacy against infection with influenza virus A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) in mice and guinea pigs. PIV5-H7 protected the mice against lethal H7N9 challenge. Interestingly, the protection did not require antibody since PIV5-H7 protected JhD mice that do not produce antibody against lethal H7N9 challenge. Furthermore, transfer of anti-H7 serum did not protect mice against H7N9 challenge. PIV5-H7 generated high HAI titers in guinea pigs, however it did not protect against H7N9 infection or transmission. Intriguingly, immunization of guinea pigs with PIV5-H7 and PIV5 expressing NP of influenza A virus H5N1 (PIV5-NP) conferred protection against H7N9 infection and transmission. Thus, we have obtained a H7N9 vaccine that protected both mice and guinea pigs against lethal H7N9 challenge and infection respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, 30602, United States of America
| | - Jon D. Gabbard
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, 30602, United States of America
| | - Scott Johnson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, 30602, United States of America
| | - Daniel Dlugolenski
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, 30602, United States of America
| | - Shannon Phan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, 30602, United States of America
| | - S. Mark Tompkins
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, 30602, United States of America
| | - Biao He
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, 30602, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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Carter DM, Bloom CE, Kirchenbaum GA, Tsvetnitsky V, Isakova-Sivak I, Rudenko L, Ross TM. Cross-protection against H7N9 influenza strains using a live-attenuated H7N3 virus vaccine. Vaccine 2015; 33:108-16. [PMID: 25448100 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2014] [Revised: 10/18/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
In 2013, avian H7N9 influenza viruses were detected infecting people in China resulting in high mortality. Influenza H7 vaccines that provide cross-protection against these new viruses are needed until specific H7N9 vaccines are ready to market. In this study, an available H7N3 cold-adapted, temperature sensitive, live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) elicited protective immune responses in ferrets against H7N9 viruses. The H7N3 LAIV administered alone (by intranasal or subcutaneous administration) or in a prime-boost strategy using inactivated H7N9 virus resulted in high HAI titers and protected 100% of the animals against H7N9 challenge. Naïve ferrets passively administered immune serum from H7N3 LAIV infected animals were also protected. In contrast, recombinant HA protein or inactivated viruses did not protect ferrets against challenge and elicited lower antibody titers. Thus, the H7N3 LAIV vaccine was immunogenic in healthy seronegative ferrets and protected these ferrets against the newly emerged H7N9 avian influenza virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald M Carter
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Florida, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA
| | - Chalise E Bloom
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Florida, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA
| | | | | | - Irina Isakova-Sivak
- Department of Virology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Larisa Rudenko
- Department of Virology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ted M Ross
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Florida, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA.
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19
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Soema PC, van Riet E, Kersten G, Amorij JP. Development of cross-protective influenza a vaccines based on cellular responses. Front Immunol 2015; 6:237. [PMID: 26029218 PMCID: PMC4432795 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Seasonal influenza vaccines provide protection against matching influenza A virus (IAV) strains mainly through the induction of neutralizing serum IgG antibodies. However, these antibodies fail to confer a protective effect against mismatched IAV. This lack of efficacy against heterologous influenza strains has spurred the vaccine development community to look for other influenza vaccine concepts, which have the ability to elicit cross-protective immune responses. One of the concepts that is currently been worked on is that of influenza vaccines inducing influenza-specific T cell responses. T cells are able to lyse infected host cells, thereby clearing the virus. More interestingly, these T cells can recognize highly conserved epitopes of internal influenza proteins, making cellular responses less vulnerable to antigenic variability. T cells are therefore cross-reactive against many influenza strains, and thus are a promising concept for future influenza vaccines. Despite their potential, there are currently no T cell-based IAV vaccines on the market. Selection of the proper antigen, appropriate vaccine formulation and evaluation of the efficacy of T cell vaccines remains challenging, both in preclinical and clinical settings. In this review, we will discuss the current developments in influenza T cell vaccines, focusing on existing protein-based and novel peptide-based vaccine formulations. Furthermore, we will discuss the feasibility of influenza T cell vaccines and their possible use in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Christiaan Soema
- Institute for Translational Vaccinology (Intravacc), Bilthoven, Netherlands
- Division of Drug Delivery Technology, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Peter Christiaan Soema, Institute for Translational Vaccinology (Intravacc), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, Bilthoven 3721 MA, Netherlands,
| | - Elly van Riet
- Institute for Translational Vaccinology (Intravacc), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Gideon Kersten
- Institute for Translational Vaccinology (Intravacc), Bilthoven, Netherlands
- Division of Drug Delivery Technology, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Jean-Pierre Amorij
- Institute for Translational Vaccinology (Intravacc), Bilthoven, Netherlands
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20
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Moise L, Terry F, Gutierrez AH, Tassone R, Losikoff P, Gregory SH, Bailey-Kellogg C, Martin WD, De Groot AS. Smarter vaccine design will circumvent regulatory T cell-mediated evasion in chronic HIV and HCV infection. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:502. [PMID: 25339942 PMCID: PMC4186478 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite years of research, vaccines against HIV and HCV are not yet available, due largely to effective viral immunoevasive mechanisms. A novel escape mechanism observed in viruses that cause chronic infection is suppression of viral-specific effector CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells by stimulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) educated on host sequences during tolerance induction. Viral class II MHC epitopes that share a T cell receptor (TCR)-face with host epitopes may activate Tregs capable of suppressing protective responses. We designed an immunoinformatic algorithm, JanusMatrix, to identify such epitopes and discovered that among human-host viruses, chronic viruses appear more human-like than viruses that cause acute infection. Furthermore, an HCV epitope that activates Tregs in chronically infected patients, but not clearers, shares a TCR-face with numerous human sequences. To boost weak CD4(+) T cell responses associated with persistent infection, vaccines for HIV and HCV must circumvent potential Treg activation that can handicap efficacy. Epitope-driven approaches to vaccine design that involve careful consideration of the T cell subsets primed during immunization will advance HIV and HCV vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Moise
- EpiVax, Inc., Providence, RI, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Andres H. Gutierrez
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ryan Tassone
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Phyllis Losikoff
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | | | | | - Anne S. De Groot
- EpiVax, Inc., Providence, RI, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
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21
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Terry FE, Moise L, Martin RF, Torres M, Pilotte N, Williams SA, De Groot AS. Time for T? Immunoinformatics addresses vaccine design for neglected tropical and emerging infectious diseases. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 14:21-35. [PMID: 25193104 PMCID: PMC4743591 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2015.955478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Vaccines have been invaluable for global health, saving lives and reducing healthcare costs, while also raising the quality of human life. However, newly emerging infectious diseases (EID) and more well-established tropical disease pathogens present complex challenges to vaccine developers; in particular, neglected tropical diseases, which are most prevalent among the world's poorest, include many pathogens with large sizes, multistage life cycles and a variety of nonhuman vectors. EID such as MERS-CoV and H7N9 are highly pathogenic for humans. For many of these pathogens, while their genomes are available, immune correlates of protection are currently unknown. These complexities make developing vaccines for EID and neglected tropical diseases all the more difficult. In this review, we describe the implementation of an immunoinformatics-driven approach to systematically search for key determinants of immunity in newly available genome sequence data and design vaccines. This approach holds promise for the development of 21st century vaccines, improving human health everywhere.
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22
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Chua BY, Brown LE, Jackson DC. Considerations for the rapid deployment of vaccines against H7N9 influenza. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 13:1327-37. [PMID: 25017993 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2014.938641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The threat of an outbreak of avian-origin influenza H7N9 and the devastating consequences that a pandemic could have on global population health and economies has mobilized programs of constant surveillance and the implementation of preemptive plans. Central to these plans is the production of prepandemic vaccines that can be rapidly deployed to minimize disease severity and deaths resulting from such an occurrence. In this article, we review current H7N9 vaccine strategies in place and the available technologies and options that can help accelerate vaccine production and increase dose-sparing capabilities to provide enough vaccines to cover the population. We also present possible means of reducing disease impact during the critical period after an outbreak occurs before a strain matched vaccine becomes available and consider the use of existing stockpiles and seed strains of phylogenetically related subtypes, alternate vaccination regimes and vaccine forms that induce cross-reactive immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendon Y Chua
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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