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Krenger PS, Josi R, Sobczak J, Velazquez TLC, Balke I, Skinner MA, Kramer MF, Scott CJW, Hewings S, Heath MD, Zeltins A, Bachmann MF. Influence of antigen density and TLR ligands on preclinical efficacy of a VLP-based vaccine against peanut allergy. Allergy 2024; 79:184-199. [PMID: 37815010 DOI: 10.1111/all.15897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virus-like particle (VLP) Peanut is a novel immunotherapeutic vaccine candidate for the treatment of peanut allergy. The active pharmaceutical ingredient represents cucumber mosaic VLPs (CuMVTT -VLPs) that are genetically fused with one of the major peanut allergens, Ara h 2 (CuMVTT -Ara h 2). We previously demonstrated the immunogenicity and the protective capacity of VLP Peanut-based immunization in a murine model for peanut allergy. Moreover, a Phase I clinical trial has been initiated using VLP Peanut material manufactured following a GMP-compliant manufacturing process. Key product characterization studies were undertaken here to understand the role and contribution of critical quality attributes that translate as predictive markers of immunogenicity and protective efficacy for clinical vaccine development. METHOD The role of prokaryotic RNA encapsulated within VLP Peanut on vaccine immunogenicity was assessed by producing a VLP Peanut batch with a reduced RNA content (VLP Peanut low RNA). Immunogenicity and peanut allergen challenge studies were conducted with VLP Peanut low RNA, as well as with VLP Peanut in WT and TLR 7 KO mice. Furthermore, mass spectrometry and SDS-PAGE based methods were used to determine Ara h 2 antigen density on the surface of VLP Peanut particles. This methodology was subsequently applied to investigate the relationship between Ara h 2 antigen density and immunogenicity of VLP Peanut. RESULTS A TLR 7 dependent formation of Ara h 2 specific high-avidity IgG antibodies, as well as a TLR 7 dependent change in the dominant IgG subclass, was observed following VLP Peanut vaccination, while total allergen-specific IgG remained relatively unaffected. Consistently, a missing TLR 7 signal caused only a weak decrease in allergen tolerability after vaccination. In contrast, a reduced RNA content for VLP Peanut resulted in diminished total Ara h 2 specific IgG responses, followed by a significant impairment in peanut allergen tolerability. The discrepant effect on allergen tolerance caused by an absent TLR 7 signal versus a reduced RNA content is explained by the observation that VLP Peanut-derived RNA not only stimulates TLR 7 but also TLR 3. Additionally, a strong correlation was observed between the number of Ara h 2 antigens displayed on the surface of VLP Peanut particles and the vaccine's immunogenicity and protective capacity. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that prokaryotic RNA encapsulated within VLP Peanut, including antigen density of Ara h 2 on viral particles, are key contributors to the immunogenicity and protective capacity of the vaccine. Thus, antigenicity and RNA content are two critical quality attributes that need to be determined at the stage of manufacturing, providing robust information regarding the immunogenicity and protective capacity of VLP Peanut in the mouse which has translational relevance to the human setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal S Krenger
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School of Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Romano Josi
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School of Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jan Sobczak
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School of Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Ina Balke
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | | | - Matthias F Kramer
- Allergy Therapeutics (UK) Ltd, Worthing, UK
- Bencard Allergie GmbH, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
- Saiba AG, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin F Bachmann
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Physiology (CCMP), The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Balke I, Silamikelis I, Radovica-Spalvina I, Zeltina V, Resevica G, Fridmanis D, Zeltins A. Ryegrass mottle virus complete genome determination and development of infectious cDNA by combining two methods- 3' RACE and RNA-Seq. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287278. [PMID: 38051715 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ryegrass mottle virus (RGMoV; genus: Sobemovirus) is a single-stranded positive RNA virus with a 30 nm viral particle size. It exhibits T = 3 symmetry with 180 coat protein (CP) subunits forming a viral structure. The RGMoV genome comprises five open reading frames that encode P1, Px, a membrane-anchored 3C-like serine protease, a viral genome-linked protein, P16, an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and CP. The RGMoV genome size varies, ranging from 4175 nt (MW411579.1) to 4253 nt (MW411579.1) in the deposited sequences. An earlier deposited RGMoV complete genome sequence of 4212 nt length (EF091714.1) was used to develop an infectious complementary DNA (icDNA) construct for in vitro gRNA transcription from the T7 promoter. However, viral infection was not induced when the transcribed gRNA was introduced into oat plants, indicating the potential absence of certain sequences in either the 5' or 3' untranslated regions (UTR) or both. The complete sequence of the 3' UTR was determined through 3' end RACE, while the 5' UTR was identified using high-throughput sequencing (HTS)-RNA-Seq to resolve the potential absences. Only the icDNA vector containing the newly identified UTR sequences proved infectious, resulting in typical viral infection symptoms and subsequent propagation of progeny viruses, exhibiting the ability to cause repeated infections in oat plants after at least one passage. The successful generation of icDNA highlighted the synergistic potential of utilizing both methods when a single approach failed. Furthermore, this study demonstrated the reliability of HTS as a method for determining the complete genome sequence of viral genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina Balke
- Plant Virus Protein Research Group, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Ivars Silamikelis
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Ilze Radovica-Spalvina
- Genome Centre, Genotyping and Sequencing Unit, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Vilija Zeltina
- Plant Virology Group, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Gunta Resevica
- Plant Virology Group, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Davids Fridmanis
- "Exotic" Site Microbiome and G-Protein Coupled Receptor Functional Research Group, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Plant Virology Group, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
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Chang X, Liu X, Martina B, Zeltins A, Augusto G, Vogel M, Mohsen MO, Speiser DE, Bachmann MF. Vaccination using mutated receptor binding domains of SARS-CoV-2: Evidence for partial immune escape but not serotype formation. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1114396. [PMID: 36845100 PMCID: PMC9950740 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1114396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction SARS-CoV-2 has developed a number of Variants of Concern (VOC) with increased infectivity and/or reduced recognition by neutralizing antibodies specific for the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein. Extended studies of other viruses have shown that strong and broad viral escape from neutralizing serum antibodies is typically associated with the formation of serotypes. Methods To address the question of serotype formation for SARS-CoV-2 in detail, we generated recombinant RBDs of VOCs and displayed them on virus-like particles (VLPs) for vaccination and specific antibody responses. Results As expected, mice immunized with wild type (wt) RBD generated antibodies that recognized wt RBD well but displayed reduced binding to VOC RBDs, in particular those with the E484K mutation. Unexpectedly, however, antibodies induced by the VOC vaccines typically recognized best the wt RBDs, often more than the homologous VOC RBDs used for immunization. Hence, these data do not reveal different serotypes but represent a newly observed viral evolution, suggesting a unique situation where inherent differences of RBDs are responsible for induction of neutralizing antibodies. Discussion Therefore, besides antibody (fine) specificity, other qualities of antibodies (e.g. their affinity) determine neutralizing capability. Immune escape of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs only affects a fraction of an individual's serum antibodies. Consequently, many neutralizing serum antibodies are cross-reactive and thus protective against multiple current and future VOCs. Besides considering variant sequences for next generation vaccines, broader protection will be achieved with vaccines that induce elevated titers of high-quality antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Chang
- International Immunology Centre, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Xuelan Liu
- International Immunology Centre, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Center, University of Riga, Riga, Latvia
| | - Gilles Augusto
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Monique Vogel
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mona O. Mohsen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Saiba GmbH, Pfäffikon, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E. Speiser
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin F. Bachmann
- International Immunology Centre, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Ogrina A, Balke I, Kalnciema I, Skrastina D, Jansons J, Bachmann MF, Zeltins A. Bacterial expression systems based on Tymovirus-like particles for the presentation of vaccine antigens. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1154990. [PMID: 37032851 PMCID: PMC10076540 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1154990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are virus-derived artificial nanostructures that resemble a native virus-stimulating immune system through highly repetitive surface structures. Improved safety profiles, flexibility in vaccine construction, and the ease of VLP production and purification have highlighted VLPs as attractive candidates for universal vaccine platform generation, although exploration of different types of expression systems for their development is needed. Here, we demonstrate the construction of several simple Escherichia coli expression systems for the generation of eggplant mosaic virus (EMV) VLP-derived vaccines. We used different principles of antigen incorporation, including direct fusion of EMV coat protein (CP) with major cat allergen Feld1, coexpression of antigen containing and unmodified (mosaic) EMV CPs, and two coexpression variants of EMV VLPs and antigen using synthetic zipper pair 18/17 (SYNZIP 18/17), and coiled-coil forming peptides E and K (Ecoil/Kcoil). Recombinant Fel d 1 chemically coupled to EMV VLPs was included as control experiments. All EMV-Feld1 variants were expressed in E. coli, formed Tymovirus-like VLPs, and were used for immunological evaluation in healthy mice. The immunogenicity of these newly developed vaccine candidates demonstrated high titers of Feld1-specific Ab production; however, a comparably high immune response against carrier EMV was also observed. Antibody avidity tests revealed very specific Ab production (more than 50% specificity) for four out of the five vaccine candidates. Native Feld1 recognition and subclass-specific antibody tests suggested that the EMV-SZ18/17-Feld1 complex and chemically coupled EMV-Feld1 vaccines may possess characteristics for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anete Ogrina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Ina Balke
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Ieva Kalnciema
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Dace Skrastina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Juris Jansons
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Martin F. Bachmann
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
- *Correspondence: Andris Zeltins,
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Rothen DA, Krenger PS, Nonic A, Balke I, Vogt AS, Chang X, Manenti A, Vedovi F, Resevica G, Walton SM, Zeltins A, Montomoli E, Vogel M, Bachmann MF, Mohsen MO. Intranasal administration of a virus like particles-based vaccine induces neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and variants of concern. Allergy 2022; 77:2446-2458. [PMID: 35403221 PMCID: PMC9111403 DOI: 10.1111/all.15311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 is mainly transmitted by respiratory droplets and aerosols. Consequently, people are required to wear masks and maintain a social distance to avoid spreading of the virus. Despite the success of the commercially available vaccines, the virus is still uncontained globally. Given the tropism of SARS-CoV-2, a mucosal immune reaction would help to reduce viral shedding and transmission locally. Only seven out of hundreds of ongoing clinical trials are testing the intranasal delivery of a vaccine against COVID-19. METHODS In the current study, we evaluated the immunogenicity of a traditional vaccine platform based on virus-like particles (VLPs) displaying RBD of SARS-CoV-2 for intranasal administration in a murine model. The candidate vaccine platform, CuMVTT -RBD, has been optimized to incorporate a universal T helper cell epitope derived from tetanus-toxin and is self-adjuvanted with TLR7/8 ligands. RESULTS CuMVTT -RBD vaccine elicited a strong systemic RBD- and spike-IgG and IgA antibodies of high avidity. Local immune response was assessed, and our results demonstrate a strong mucosal antibody and plasma cell production in lung tissue. Furthermore, the induced systemic antibodies could efficiently recognize and neutralize different variants of concern (VOCs). CONCLUSION Our data demonstrate that intranasal administration of CuMVTT -RBD induces a protective systemic and local specific antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 and its VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik A. Rothen
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyUniversity HospitalBernSwitzerland
- Department of BioMedical ResearchUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Pascal S. Krenger
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyUniversity HospitalBernSwitzerland
- Department of BioMedical ResearchUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Aleksandra Nonic
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyUniversity HospitalBernSwitzerland
- Department of BioMedical ResearchUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Ina Balke
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study CentreRigaLatvia
| | - Anne‐Cathrine S. Vogt
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyUniversity HospitalBernSwitzerland
- Department of BioMedical ResearchUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Xinyue Chang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyUniversity HospitalBernSwitzerland
- Department of BioMedical ResearchUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Emanuele Montomoli
- VisMederi S.r.l.SienaItaly
- Department of Molecular and Developmental MedicineUniversity of SienaSienaItaly
| | - Monique Vogel
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyUniversity HospitalBernSwitzerland
- Department of BioMedical ResearchUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Martin F. Bachmann
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyUniversity HospitalBernSwitzerland
- Department of BioMedical ResearchUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Nuffield Department of MedicineThe Jenner InstituteUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Mona O. Mohsen
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyUniversity HospitalBernSwitzerland
- Department of BioMedical ResearchUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Saiba AGPfaeffikonSwitzerland
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Vogt ACS, Jörg L, Martina B, Krenger PS, Chang X, Zeltins A, Vogel M, Mohsen MO, Bachmann MF. Virus-Like Particles Are Efficient Tools for Boosting mRNA-Induced Antibodies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:864718. [PMID: 35784292 PMCID: PMC9245429 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.864718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
mRNA based vaccines against COVID-19 have proven most successful at keeping SARS-CoV-2 pandemic at bay in many countries. Recently, there is an increased interest in heterologous prime-boost vaccination strategies for COVID-19 to maintain antibody responses for the control of continuously emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoCs) and to overcome other obstacles such as supply shortage, costs and reduced safety issues or inadequatly induced immune-responses. In this study, we investigated the antibody responses induced by heterologous prime-boost with vaccines based on mRNA and virus-like particles (VLPs). The VLP-based mCuMVTT-RBM vaccine candidate and the approved mRNA-1273 vaccine were used for this purpose. We find that homologous prime boost regimens with either mRNA or VLP induced high levels of high avidity antibodies. Optimal antibody responses were, however, induced by heterologous regimens both for priming with mRNA and boosting with VLP and vice versa, priming with VLP and boosting with mRNA. Thus, heterologous prime boost strategies may be able to optimize efficacy and economics of novel vaccine strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Cathrine S. Vogt
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Anne-Cathrine S. Vogt, ; Mona O. Mohsen,
| | - Lukas Jörg
- Division of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Pneumology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Allergy Unit, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Byron Martina
- Erasmus Medical Center, Department of Viroscience, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Artemis Bio-Support, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Pascal S. Krenger
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Xinyue Chang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Monique Vogel
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mona O. Mohsen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Anne-Cathrine S. Vogt, ; Mona O. Mohsen,
| | - Martin F. Bachmann
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Physiology (CCMP), The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Ogrina A, Skrastina D, Balke I, Kalnciema I, Jansons J, Bachmann MF, Zeltins A. Comparison of Bacterial Expression Systems Based on Potato Virus Y-like Particles for Vaccine Generation. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10040485. [PMID: 35455234 PMCID: PMC9030781 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10040485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant-based virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines have been studied for years, demonstrating their potential as antigen-presenting platforms. In this paper, we describe the development of, and compare between, simple Escherichia coli-based antigen display platforms for the generation of potato virus Y (PVY) VLP-derived vaccines, thus allowing the production of vaccines from a single bacterial cell culture. We constructed four systems with the major cat allergen Fel d 1; namely, direct fusion with plant virus PVY coat protein (CP), mosaic PVY VLPs, and two coexpression variants of conjugates (SpyTag/SpyCatcher) allowing coexpression and conjugation directly in E. coli cells. For control experiments, we included PVY VLPs chemically coupled with Fel d 1. All constructed PVY-Fel d 1 variants were well expressed and soluble, formed PVY-like filamentous particles, and were recognized by monoclonal Fel d 1 antibodies. Our results indicate that all vaccine variants induced high titers of anti-Fel d 1 antibodies in murine models. Mice that were immunized with the chemically coupled Fel d 1 antigen exhibited the highest antibody titers and antibody-antigen interaction specificity, as detected by binding avidity and recognition of native Fel d 1. IgG1 subclass antibodies were found to be the dominant IgG class against PVY-Fel d 1. PVY CP-derived VLPs represent an efficient platform for the comparison of various antigen presentation systems to help evaluate different vaccine designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anete Ogrina
- Plant Virology Laboratory, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (A.O.); (D.S.); (I.B.); (I.K.); (J.J.)
| | - Dace Skrastina
- Plant Virology Laboratory, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (A.O.); (D.S.); (I.B.); (I.K.); (J.J.)
| | - Ina Balke
- Plant Virology Laboratory, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (A.O.); (D.S.); (I.B.); (I.K.); (J.J.)
| | - Ieva Kalnciema
- Plant Virology Laboratory, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (A.O.); (D.S.); (I.B.); (I.K.); (J.J.)
| | - Juris Jansons
- Plant Virology Laboratory, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (A.O.); (D.S.); (I.B.); (I.K.); (J.J.)
| | - Martin F. Bachmann
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Plant Virology Laboratory, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (A.O.); (D.S.); (I.B.); (I.K.); (J.J.)
- Correspondence:
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Zrelovs N, Resevica G, Kalnciema I, Niedra H, Lācis G, Bartulsons T, Moročko-Bičevska I, Stalažs A, Drevinska K, Zeltins A, Balke I. First Report of Blackcurrant-Associated Rhabdovirus in Blackcurrants in Latvia. Plant Dis 2022; 106:1078. [PMID: 34491100 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-06-21-1288-pdn] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- N Zrelovs
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, LV-1067, Latvia
| | - G Resevica
- Plant Virus Protein Research Group, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, LV-1067, Latvia
- Plant Virology Group, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, LV-1067, Latvia
| | - I Kalnciema
- Plant Virus Protein Research Group, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, LV-1067, Latvia
- Plant Virology Group, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, LV-1067, Latvia
| | - H Niedra
- Molecular and Functional Genomics Group, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, LV-1067, Latvia
| | - G Lācis
- Unit of Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Horticulture, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Dobele, LV-3701, Latvia
| | - T Bartulsons
- Unit of Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Horticulture, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Dobele, LV-3701, Latvia
| | - I Moročko-Bičevska
- Unit of Plant Pathology and Entomology, Institute of Horticulture, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Dobele, LV-3701, Latvia
| | - A Stalažs
- Unit of Plant Pathology and Entomology, Institute of Horticulture, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Dobele, LV-3701, Latvia
| | - K Drevinska
- Unit of Plant Pathology and Entomology, Institute of Horticulture, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Dobele, LV-3701, Latvia
| | - A Zeltins
- Plant Virology Group, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, LV-1067, Latvia
| | - I Balke
- Plant Virus Protein Research Group, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, LV-1067, Latvia
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9
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Chang X, Liu X, Mohsen MO, Zeltins A, Martina B, Vogel M, Bachmann MF. Induction of Broadly Cross-Reactive Antibodies by Displaying Receptor Binding Domains of SARS-CoV-2 on Virus-like Particles. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10020307. [PMID: 35214764 PMCID: PMC8876827 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been reduced since the application of vaccination programs, mostly shown in the reduction of hospitalized patients. However, the emerging variants, in particular Omicron, have caused a steep increase in the number of infections; this increase is, nevertheless, not matched by an increase in hospitalization. Therefore, a vaccine that induces cross-reactive antibodies against most or all variants is a potential solution for the issue of emerging new variants. Here, we present a vaccine candidate which displays receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 on virus-like particles (VLP) that, in mice, not only induce strong antibody responses against RBD but also bind RBDs from other variants of concern (VOCs). The antibodies induced by wild-type (wt) RBD displayed on immunologically optimized Cucumber mosaic virus incorporated tetanus toxin (CuMVTT) VLPs bind to wt as well as RBDs of VOCs with high avidities, indicating induction of strongly cross-reactive IgG antibodies. Interestingly, similar cross-reactive IgA antibodies were induced in immunized mice. Furthermore, these cross-reactive antibodies demonstrated efficacy in neutralizing wt (Wuhan) as well as SARS-CoV-2 VOCs (Beta, Delta, and Gamma). In summary, RBDs displayed on VLPs are capable of inducing protective cross-reactive IgG and IgA antibodies in mice, indicating that it may be possible to cover emerging VOCs with a single vaccine based on wt RBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Chang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (X.C.); (M.O.M.); (M.V.)
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Xuelan Liu
- International Immunology Centre, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China;
| | - Mona O. Mohsen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (X.C.); (M.O.M.); (M.V.)
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Saiba GmbH, 8088 Pfäffikon, Switzerland
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Center, Ratsupites 1, LV1067 Riga, Latvia;
| | | | - Monique Vogel
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (X.C.); (M.O.M.); (M.V.)
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin F. Bachmann
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (X.C.); (M.O.M.); (M.V.)
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- International Immunology Centre, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China;
- Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
- Correspondence:
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10
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Mohsen MO, Balke I, Zinkhan S, Zeltina V, Liu X, Chang X, Krenger PS, Plattner K, Gharailoo Z, Vogt AS, Augusto G, Zwicker M, Roongta S, Rothen DA, Josi R, da Costa JJ, Sobczak JM, Nonic A, Brand L, Nuss K, Martina B, Speiser DE, Kündig T, Jennings GT, Walton SM, Vogel M, Zeltins A, Bachmann MF. A scalable and highly immunogenic virus-like particle-based vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Allergy 2022; 77:243-257. [PMID: 34496033 PMCID: PMC8653185 DOI: 10.1111/all.15080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2 caused one of the most devastating pandemics in the recent history of mankind. Due to various countermeasures, including lock-downs, wearing masks, and increased hygiene, the virus has been controlled in some parts of the world. More recently, the availability of vaccines, based on RNA or adenoviruses, has greatly added to our ability to keep the virus at bay; again, however, in some parts of the world only. While available vaccines are effective, it would be desirable to also have more classical vaccines at hand for the future. Key feature of vaccines for long-term control of SARS-CoV-2 would be inexpensive production at large scale, ability to make multiple booster injections, and long-term stability at 4℃. METHODS Here, we describe such a vaccine candidate, consisting of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding motif (RBM) grafted genetically onto the surface of the immunologically optimized cucumber mosaic virus, called CuMVTT -RBM. RESULTS Using bacterial fermentation and continuous flow centrifugation for purification, the yield of the production process is estimated to be >2.5 million doses per 1000-litre fermenter run. We demonstrate that the candidate vaccine is highly immunogenic in mice and rabbits and induces more high avidity antibodies compared to convalescent human sera. The induced antibodies are more cross-reactive to mutant RBDs of variants of concern (VoC). Furthermore, antibody responses are neutralizing and long-lived. In addition, the vaccine candidate was stable for at least 14 months at 4℃. CONCLUSION Thus, the here presented VLP-based vaccine may be a good candidate for use as conventional vaccine in the long term.
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11
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Chang X, Zeltins A, Mohsen MO, Gharailoo Z, Zha L, Liu X, Walton S, Vogel M, Bachmann MF. A Novel Double Mosaic Virus-like Particle-Based Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 Incorporates Both Receptor Binding Motif (RBM) and Fusion Domain. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1287. [PMID: 34835218 PMCID: PMC8619050 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9111287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 has emerged, and has rapidly become a major health problem worldwide, causing millions of mortalities. Vaccination against COVID-19 is the most efficient way to stop the pandemic. The goal of vaccines is to induce neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 virus. Here, we present a novel double mosaic virus-like particle (VLP) displaying two independent neutralizing epitopes, namely the receptor binding motif (RBM) located in S1 and the fusion peptide (AA 817-855) located in S2. CuMVTT virus-like particles were used as VLP scaffold and both domains were genetically fused in the middle of CuMVTT subunits, which co-assembled into double mosaic particles (CuMVTT-DF). A single fusion mosaic particle (CuMVTT-FP) containing the fusion peptide only was used for comparison. The vaccines were produced in E. coli, and electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering confirmed their integrity and homogeneity. In addition, the CuMVTT-DF vaccine was well recognized by ACE2 receptor, indicating that the RBM was in native conformation. Both CuMVTT-FP and CuMVTT-DF vaccines induced high levels of high avidity IgG antibodies as well as IgA recognizing spike and RBD in the case of CuMVTT-DF. Both vaccine candidates induced virus-neutralizing antibodies indicating that the fusion peptide can independently induce virus-neutralizing antibodies. In contrast, CuMVTT-DF containing both RBM and fusion peptide induced a higher level of neutralizing antibodies suggesting that the new double mosaic vaccine candidate CuMVTT-DF consisting of two antigens in one VLP maybe an attractive candidate for scale-up in a bacterial fermentation process for clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Chang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (X.C.); (M.O.M.); (Z.G.); (X.L.); (M.V.)
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Center, Ratsupites 1, LV1067 Riga, Latvia;
| | - Mona O. Mohsen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (X.C.); (M.O.M.); (Z.G.); (X.L.); (M.V.)
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Saiba GmbH, 8808 Pfäffikon, Switzerland;
| | - Zahra Gharailoo
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (X.C.); (M.O.M.); (Z.G.); (X.L.); (M.V.)
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lisha Zha
- International Immunology Centre, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China;
| | - Xuelan Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (X.C.); (M.O.M.); (Z.G.); (X.L.); (M.V.)
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- International Immunology Centre, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China;
| | | | - Monique Vogel
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (X.C.); (M.O.M.); (Z.G.); (X.L.); (M.V.)
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin F. Bachmann
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (X.C.); (M.O.M.); (Z.G.); (X.L.); (M.V.)
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- International Immunology Centre, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China;
- Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
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12
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Zinkhan S, Ogrina A, Balke I, Reseviča G, Zeltins A, de Brot S, Lipp C, Chang X, Zha L, Vogel M, Bachmann MF, Mohsen MO. The impact of size on particle drainage dynamics and antibody response. J Control Release 2021; 331:296-308. [PMID: 33450322 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Vaccine-induced immune response can be greatly enhanced by mimicking pathogen properties. The size and the repetitive geometric shape of virus-like particles (VLPs) influence their immunogenicity by facilitating drainage to secondary lymphoid organs and enhancing interaction with and activation of B cells and innate humoral immune components. VLPs derived from the plant Bromovirus genus, specifically cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV), are T = 3 icosahedral particles. (T) is the triangulation number that refers to the number and arrangements of the subunits (pentamers and hexamers) of the VLPs. CCMV-VLPs can be easily expressed in an E. coli host system and package ssRNA during the expression process. Recently, we have engineered CCMV-VLPs by incorporating the universal tetanus toxin (TT) epitope at the N-terminus. The modified CCMVTT-VLPs successfully form icosahedral particles T = 3, with a diameter of ~30 nm analogous to the parental VLPs. Interestingly, incorporating TT epitope at the C-terminus of CCMVTT-VLPs results in the formation of Rod-shaped VLPs, ~1 μm in length and ~ 30 nm in width. In this study, we have investigated the draining kinetics and immunogenicity of both engineered forms (termed as Round-shaped CCMVTT-VLPs and Rod-shaped CCMVTT-VLPs) as potential B cell immunogens using different in vitro and in vivo assays. Our results reveal that Round-shaped CCMVTT-VLPs are more efficient in draining to secondary lymphoid organs to charge professional antigen-presenting cells as well as B cells. Furthermore, compared to Rod-shaped CCMVTT-VLPs, Round-shaped CCMVTT-VLPs led to more than 100-fold increased systemic IgG and IgA responses accompanied by prominent formation of splenic germinal centers. Round-shaped CCMVTT-VLPs could also polarize the induced T cell response toward Th1. To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating and comparing the draining kinetics and immunogenicity of one and the same VLP monomer forming nano-sized icosahedra or rods in the micrometer size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Zinkhan
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Immunology RIA, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anete Ogrina
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, Ratsupites iela 1, Riga, LV 1067, Latvia
| | - Ina Balke
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, Ratsupites iela 1, Riga, LV 1067, Latvia
| | - Gunta Reseviča
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, Ratsupites iela 1, Riga, LV 1067, Latvia
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, Ratsupites iela 1, Riga, LV 1067, Latvia
| | - Simone de Brot
- COMPATH, Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cyrill Lipp
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Immunology RIA, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Xinyue Chang
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Immunology RIA, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lisha Zha
- International Immunology Center, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Monique Vogel
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Immunology RIA, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin F Bachmann
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Immunology RIA, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Mona O Mohsen
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Immunology RIA, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Interim Translational Research Institute "iTRI", National Center for Cancer Care & Research Doha, Qatar.
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13
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Storni F, Zeltins A, Balke I, Heath MD, Kramer MF, Skinner MA, Zha L, Roesti E, Engeroff P, Muri L, von Werdt D, Gruber T, Cragg M, Mlynarczyk M, Kündig TM, Vogel M, Bachmann MF. Vaccine against peanut allergy based on engineered virus-like particles displaying single major peanut allergens. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2020; 145:1240-1253.e3. [PMID: 31866435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peanut allergy is a severe and increasingly frequent disease with high medical, psychosocial, and economic burden for affected patients and wider society. A causal, safe, and effective therapy is not yet available. OBJECTIVE We sought to develop an immunogenic, protective, and nonreactogenic vaccine candidate against peanut allergy based on virus-like particles (VLPs) coupled to single peanut allergens. METHODS To generate vaccine candidates, extracts of roasted peanut (Ara R) or the single allergens Ara h 1 or Ara h 2 were coupled to immunologically optimized Cucumber Mosaic Virus-derived VLPs (CuMVtt). BALB/c mice were sensitized intraperitoneally with peanut extract absorbed to alum. Immunotherapy consisted of a single subcutaneous injection of CuMVtt coupled to Ara R, Ara h 1, or Ara h 2. RESULTS The vaccines CuMVtt-Ara R, CuMVtt-Ara h 1, and CuMVtt-Ara h 2 protected peanut-sensitized mice against anaphylaxis after intravenous challenge with the whole peanut extract. Vaccines did not cause allergic reactions in sensitized mice. CuMVtt-Ara h 1 was able to induce specific IgG antibodies, diminished local reactions after skin prick tests, and reduced the infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract by eosinophils and mast cells after oral challenge with peanut. The ability of CuMVtt-Ara h 1 to protect against challenge with the whole extract was mediated by IgG, as shown via passive IgG transfer. FcγRIIb was required for protection, indicating that immune complexes with single allergens were able to block the allergic response against the whole extract, consisting of a complex allergen mixture. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that vaccination using single peanut allergens displayed on CuMVtt may represent a novel therapy against peanut allergy with a favorable safety profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Storni
- Department of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Ina Balke
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | | | | | | | - Lisha Zha
- International Immunology Center of Anhui Agricultural Center, Anhui, China
| | - Elisa Roesti
- Department of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Paul Engeroff
- Department of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Muri
- Neuroinfection Laboratory, Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Diego von Werdt
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Gruber
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mark Cragg
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, General Hospital, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Thomas M Kündig
- Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Monique Vogel
- Department of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin F Bachmann
- Department of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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14
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Storni F, Cabral-Miranda G, Roesti E, Zha L, Engeroff P, Zeltins A, Cragg M, Vogel M, Bachmann MF. A Single Monoclonal Antibody against the Peanut Allergen Ara h 2 Protects against Systemic and Local Peanut Allergy. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2020; 181:334-341. [PMID: 32155619 PMCID: PMC7265771 DOI: 10.1159/000505917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peanut allergy is the most prevalent and dangerous food allergy. Peanuts consist of a large number of different allergens and peanut-allergic patients are frequently sensitized to multiple allergens. Hence, conventional desensitization approaches aim at targeting as many allergens as possible. METHODS The monoclonal anti-Ara h 2 antibody (mAb) was produced by hybridoma cells derived from WT BALB/c mice after immunization with a vaccine based on virus-like particles coupled to Ara h 2. BALB/c mice were sensitized intraperitoneally with peanut extract absorbed to alum and mAbs were applied i.v. Challenge was performed the next day with the whole peanut extract intravenously and via skin prick test. RESULTS Here we show in peanut-allergic mice that a single high-affinity mAb specific for Ara h 2 is able to block systemic and local allergic reactions induced by the complex peanut extract. We confirm in vitro binding of the mAb to the inhibitory low-affinity FcγRIIb receptor using a sensitive biosensor and demonstrate in vivo that protection was dependent on FcγRIIb. CONCLUSION A single mAb specific for Ara h 2 is able to improve local and systemic allergic symptoms induced by the whole allergen mixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Storni
- Immunology, RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland,
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland,
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland,
| | - Gustavo Cabral-Miranda
- Immunology, RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Elisa Roesti
- Immunology, RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lisha Zha
- International Immunology Center of Anhui Agricultural Center, Anhui, China
| | - Paul Engeroff
- Immunology, RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BRSC), Riga, Latvia
| | - Mark Cragg
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, General Hospital, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Monique Vogel
- Immunology, RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin F Bachmann
- Immunology, RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Physiology (CCMP), The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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15
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Bachmann M, Storni F, Zeltins A, Heath M, Kramer M, Skinner M, Kündig T. Vaccine Against Peanut Allergy Based On Engineered Virus-Like-Particles And Major Peanut Allergens. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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16
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Thoms F, Jennings GT, Maudrich M, Vogel M, Haas S, Zeltins A, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Riond B, Grossmann J, Hunziker P, Fettelschoss-Gabriel A, Senti G, Kündig TM, Bachmann MF. Immunization of cats to induce neutralizing antibodies against Fel d 1, the major feline allergen in human subjects. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2019; 144:193-203. [PMID: 31056187 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.01.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cat allergy in human subjects is usually caused by the major cat allergen Fel d 1 and is found in approximately 10% of the Western population. Currently, there is no efficient and safe therapy for cat allergy available. Allergic patients usually try to avoid cats or treat their allergy symptoms. OBJECTIVE We developed a new strategy to treat Fel d 1-induced allergy in human subjects by immunizing cats against their own major allergen, Fel d 1. METHODS A conjugate vaccine consisting of recombinant Fel d 1 and a virus-like particle derived from the cucumber mosaic virus containing the tetanus toxin-derived universal T-cell epitope tt830-843 (CuMVTT) was used to immunize cats. A first tolerability and immunogenicity study, including a boost injection, was conducted by using the Fel-CuMVTT vaccine alone or in combination with an adjuvant. RESULTS The vaccine was well tolerated and had no overt toxic effect. All cats induced a strong and sustained specific IgG antibody response. The induced anti-Fel d 1 antibodies were of high affinity and exhibited a strong neutralization ability tested both in vitro and in vivo. A reduction in the endogenous allergen level and a reduced allergenicity of tear samples, were observed. CONCLUSION Vaccination of cats with Fel-CuMVTT induces neutralizing antibodies and might result in reduced symptoms of allergic cat owners. Both human subjects and animals could profit from this treatment because allergic cat owners would reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases, such as asthma, and become more tolerant of their cats, which therefore could stay in the households and not need to be relinquished to animal shelters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Thoms
- Department of Dermatology, Zurich University Hospital, Schlieren, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; HypoPet AG, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Gary T Jennings
- Department of Dermatology, Zurich University Hospital, Schlieren, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; HypoPet AG, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Maudrich
- Department of Dermatology, Zurich University Hospital, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Monique Vogel
- Department of Immunology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Haas
- Department of Dermatology, Zurich University Hospital, Schlieren, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; HypoPet AG, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
- Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Riond
- Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jonas Grossmann
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, University of Zurich/ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Hunziker
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, University of Zurich/ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Antonia Fettelschoss-Gabriel
- Department of Dermatology, Zurich University Hospital, Schlieren, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gabriela Senti
- Clinical Trials Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas M Kündig
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin F Bachmann
- HypoPet AG, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Immunology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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17
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Mohsen MO, Heath MD, Cabral-Miranda G, Lipp C, Zeltins A, Sande M, Stein JV, Riether C, Roesti E, Zha L, Engeroff P, El-Turabi A, Kundig TM, Vogel M, Skinner MA, Speiser DE, Knuth A, Kramer MF, Bachmann MF. Correction to: Vaccination with nanoparticles combined with micro-adjuvants protects against cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:137. [PMID: 31122271 PMCID: PMC6532182 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0616-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mona O Mohsen
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. .,Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. .,National Center for Cancer Care & Research (NCCCR), Doha, State of Qatar.
| | | | - Gustavo Cabral-Miranda
- Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cyrill Lipp
- Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Marcos Sande
- Institute of anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jens V Stein
- Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Carsten Riether
- Department of Medical Oncology, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Elisa Roesti
- Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lisha Zha
- Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,International Immunology Center, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Paul Engeroff
- Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Aadil El-Turabi
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Thomas M Kundig
- Department of Dermatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Monique Vogel
- Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Knuth
- National Center for Cancer Care & Research (NCCCR), Doha, State of Qatar
| | | | - Martin F Bachmann
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Balke I, Zeltins A. Use of plant viruses and virus-like particles for the creation of novel vaccines. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2019; 145:119-129. [PMID: 30172923 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In recent decades, the development of plant virology and genetic engineering techniques has resulted in the construction of plant virus-based vaccines for protection against different infectious agents, cancers and autoimmune diseases in both humans and animals. Interaction studies between plant viruses and mammalian organisms have suggested that plant viruses and virus-like particles (VLPs) are safe and noninfectious to humans and animals. Plant viruses with introduced antigens are powerful vaccine components due to their strongly organized, repetitive spatial structure; they can elicit strong immune responses similar to those observed with infectious mammalian viruses. The analysis of published data demonstrated that at least 73 experimental vaccines, including 61 prophylactic and 12 therapeutic vaccines, have been constructed using plant viruses as a carrier structure for presentation of different antigens. This information clearly demonstrates that noninfectious viruses are also applicable as vaccine carriers. Moreover, several plant viruses have been used for platform development, and corresponding vaccines are currently being tested in human and veterinary clinical trials. This review therefore discusses the main principles of plant VLP vaccine construction, emphasizing the physical, chemical, genetic and immunological aspects. Results of the latest studies suggest that several plant virus-based vaccines will join the list of approved human and animal vaccines in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina Balke
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1, Riga LV1067, Latvia
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1, Riga LV1067, Latvia.
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19
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Mohsen MO, Heath MD, Cabral-Miranda G, Lipp C, Zeltins A, Sande M, Stein JV, Riether C, Roesti E, Zha L, Engeroff P, El-Turabi A, Kundig TM, Vogel M, Skinner MA, Speiser DE, Knuth A, Kramer MF, Bachmann MF. Vaccination with nanoparticles combined with micro-adjuvants protects against cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:114. [PMID: 31027511 PMCID: PMC6485085 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0587-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Induction of strong T cell responses, in particular cytotoxic T cells, is a key for the generation of efficacious therapeutic cancer vaccines which yet, remains a major challenge for the vaccine developing world. Here we demonstrate that it is possible to harness the physiological properties of the lymphatic system to optimize the induction of a protective T cell response. Indeed, the lymphatic system sharply distinguishes between nanoscale and microscale particles. The former reaches the fenestrated lymphatic system via diffusion, while the latter either need to be transported by dendritic cells or form a local depot. METHODS Our previously developed cucumber-mosaic virus-derived nanoparticles termed (CuMVTT-VLPs) incorporating a universal Tetanus toxoid epitope TT830-843 were assessed for their draining kinetics using stereomicroscopic imaging. A nano-vaccine has been generated by coupling p33 epitope as a model antigen to CuMVTT-VLPs using bio-orthogonal Cu-free click chemistry. The CuMVTT-p33 nano-sized vaccine has been next formulated with the micron-sized microcrystalline tyrosine (MCT) adjuvant and the formed depot effect was studied using confocal microscopy and trafficking experiments. The immunogenicity of the nanoparticles combined with the micron-sized adjuvant was next assessed in an aggressive transplanted murine melanoma model. The obtained results were compared to other commonly used adjuvants such as B type CpGs and Alum. RESULTS Our results showed that CuMVTT-VLPs can efficiently and rapidly drain into the lymphatic system due to their nano-size of ~ 30 nm. However, formulating the nanoparticles with the micron-sized MCT adjuvant of ~ 5 μM resulted in a local depot for the nanoparticles and a longer exposure time for the immune system. The preclinical nano-vaccine CuMVTT-p33 formulated with the micron-sized MCT adjuvant has enhanced the specific T cell response in the stringent B16F10p33 murine melanoma model. Furthermore, the micron-sized MCT adjuvant was as potent as B type CpGs and clearly superior to the commonly used Alum adjuvant when total CD8+, specific p33 T cell response or tumour protection were assessed. CONCLUSION The combination of nano- and micro-particles may optimally harness the physiological properties of the lymphatic system. Since the nanoparticles are well defined virus-like particles and the micron-sized adjuvant MCT has been used for decades in allergen-specific desensitization, this approach may readily be translated to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona O Mohsen
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. .,Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. .,National Center for Cancer Care & Research (NCCCR), Doha, State of Qatar.
| | | | - Gustavo Cabral-Miranda
- Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cyrill Lipp
- Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Marcos Sande
- Institute of anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jens V Stein
- Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Carsten Riether
- Department of Medical Oncology, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Elisa Roesti
- Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lisha Zha
- Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,International Immunology Center, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Paul Engeroff
- Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Aadil El-Turabi
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Thomas M Kundig
- Department of dermatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Monique Vogel
- Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Knuth
- National Center for Cancer Care & Research (NCCCR), Doha, State of Qatar
| | | | - Martin F Bachmann
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Department of BioMedical Research, Immunology RIA, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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20
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von Loga IS, El-Turabi A, Jostins L, Miotla-Zarebska J, Mackay-Alderson J, Zeltins A, Parisi I, Bachmann MF, Vincent TL. Active immunisation targeting nerve growth factor attenuates chronic pain behaviour in murine osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2019; 78:672-675. [PMID: 30862648 PMCID: PMC6517802 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-214489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Nerve growth factor (NGF) has emerged as a key driver of pain in osteoarthritis (OA) and antibodies to NGF are potent analgesics in human disease. Here, we validate a novel vaccine strategy to generate anti-NGF antibodies for reversal of pain behaviour in a surgical model of OA. METHODS Virus-like particles were derived from the cucumber mosaic virus (CuMV) and coupled to expressed recombinant NGF to create the vaccine. 10-week-old male mice underwent partial meniscectomy to induce OA or sham-surgery. Spontaneous pain behaviour was measured by Linton incapacitance and OA severity was quantified using OARSI histological scoring. Mice (experimental and a sentinel cohort) were inoculated with CuMVttNGF (Vax) or CuMVttctrl (Mock) either before surgery or once pain was established. Efficacy of anti-NGF from the plasma of sentinel vaccinated mice was measured in vitro using a neurite outgrowth assay in PC12 cells. RESULTS Anti-NGF titres were readily detectable in the vaccinated but not mock vaccinated mice. Regular boosting with fresh vaccine was required to maintain anti-NGF titres as measured in the sentinel cohort. Both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination demonstrated a reversal of pain behaviour by incapacitance testing, and a meta-analysis of the two studies showing analgesia at peak anti-NGF titres was highly statistically significant. Serum anti-NGF was able to inhibit neurite outgrowth equivalent to around 150 ug/mL of recombinant monoclonal antibody. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates therapeutic efficacy of a novel NGF vaccine strategy that reversibly alleviates spontaneous pain behaviour in surgically induced murine OA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aadil El-Turabi
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division, Oxford, UK
| | - Luke Jostins
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | - Andris Zeltins
- Molecular Microbiology and Virology, Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Ida Parisi
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Martin F Bachmann
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division, Oxford, UK .,RIA, Immunology, Inselspital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tonia L Vincent
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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21
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Fettelschoss-Gabriel A, Fettelschoss V, Olomski F, Birkmann K, Thoms F, Bühler M, Kummer M, Zeltins A, Kündig TM, Bachmann MF. Active vaccination against interleukin-5 as long-term treatment for insect-bite hypersensitivity in horses. Allergy 2019; 74:572-582. [PMID: 30402930 PMCID: PMC6587569 DOI: 10.1111/all.13659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Background Insect‐bite hypersensitivity (IBH) in horses is a chronic allergic dermatitis caused by insect bites. Horses suffer from pruritic skin lesions, caused by type‐I/type‐IV allergic reactions accompanied by prominent eosinophil infiltration into the skin. Interleukin‐5 (IL‐5) is the key cytokine for eosinophils and we have previously shown that targeting IL‐5 by vaccination reduces disease symptoms in horses. Objective Here, we analyzed the potential for long‐term therapy by assessing a second follow‐up year of the previously published study. Methods The vaccine consisted of equine IL‐5 (eIL‐5) covalently linked to a cucumber mosaic virus‐like particle (VLP) containing a universal T cell epitope (CuMVTT) using a semi‐crossover design to follow vaccinated horses during a second treatment season. Thirty Icelandic horses were immunized with 300 μg of eIL‐5‐CuMVTT without adjuvant. Results The vaccine was well tolerated and did not reveal any safety concerns throughout the study. Upon vaccination, all horses developed reversible anti‐eIL‐5 auto‐antibody titers. The mean course of eosinophil levels was reduced compared to placebo treatment leading to significant reduction of clinical lesion scores. Horses in their second vaccination year showed a more pronounced improvement of disease symptoms when compared to first treatment year, most likely due to more stable antibody titers induced by a single booster injection. Hence, responses could be maintained over two seasons and the horses remained protected against disease symptoms. Conclusion Yearly vaccination against IL‐5 may be a long‐term solution for the treatment of IBH and other eosinophil‐mediated diseases in horses and other species including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Fettelschoss-Gabriel
- Department of Dermatology; University Hospital Zurich; Schlieren Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
- Evax AG; Münchwilen Switzerland
| | - Victoria Fettelschoss
- Department of Dermatology; University Hospital Zurich; Schlieren Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
- Evax AG; Münchwilen Switzerland
| | - Florian Olomski
- Department of Dermatology; University Hospital Zurich; Schlieren Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | | | - Franziska Thoms
- Department of Dermatology; University Hospital Zurich; Schlieren Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Thomas M. Kündig
- Faculty of Medicine; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
- Department of Dermatology; University Hospital Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Martin F. Bachmann
- RIA Immunology, Inselspital; University of Bern; Bern Switzerland
- The Jenner Institute; Nuffield Department of Medicine; The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology; University of Oxford; Oxford UK
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22
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Bachmann MF, Zeltins A, Kalnins G, Balke I, Fischer N, Rostaher A, Tars K, Favrot C. Vaccination against IL-31 for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in dogs. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018; 142:279-281.e1. [PMID: 29627081 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2017.12.994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 12/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin F Bachmann
- RIA Immunology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, Riga, Latvia; Saiba GmbH, Alte Tösstalstr, Rämismühle, Switzerland
| | - Gints Kalnins
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Ina Balke
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Nina Fischer
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Dermatology Unit, University of Zurich, Wonterthurerstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ana Rostaher
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Dermatology Unit, University of Zurich, Wonterthurerstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kaspars Tars
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Claude Favrot
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Dermatology Unit, University of Zurich, Wonterthurerstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland
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23
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Fettelschoss-Gabriel A, Fettelschoss V, Thoms F, Giese C, Daniel M, Olomski F, Kamarachev J, Birkmann K, Bühler M, Kummer M, Zeltins A, Marti E, Kündig TM, Bachmann MF. Treating insect-bite hypersensitivity in horses with active vaccination against IL-5. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018; 142:1194-1205.e3. [PMID: 29627082 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insect-bite hypersensitivity is the most common allergic dermatitis in horses. Excoriated skin lesions are typical symptoms of this seasonal and refractory chronic disease. On a cellular level, the skin lesions are characterized by massive eosinophil infiltration caused by an underlying allergic response. OBJECTIVE To target these cells and treat disease, we developed a therapeutic vaccine against equine IL-5 (eIL-5), the master regulator of eosinophils. METHODS The vaccine consisted of eIL-5 covalently linked to a virus-like particle derived from cucumber mosaic virus containing the tetanus toxoid universal T-cell epitope tt830-843 (CMVTT). Thirty-four Icelandic horses were recruited and immunized with 400 μg of eIL-5-CMVTT formulated in PBS without adjuvant (19 horses) or PBS alone (15 horses). RESULTS The vaccine was well tolerated and did not reveal any safety concerns but was able to induce anti-eIL-5 autoantibody titers in 17 of 19 horses. This resulted in a statistically significant reduction in clinical lesion scores when compared with previous season levels, as well as levels in placebo-treated horses. Protection required a minimal threshold of anti-eIL-5 antibodies. Clinical improvement by disease scoring showed that 47% and 21% of vaccinated horses reached 50% and 75% improvement, respectively. In the placebo group no horse reached 75% improvement, and only 13% reached 50% improvement. CONCLUSION Our therapeutic vaccine inducing autoantibodies against self IL-5 brings biologics to horses, is the first successful immunotherapeutic approach targeting a chronic disease in horses, and might facilitate development of a similar vaccine against IL-5 in human subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Fettelschoss-Gabriel
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland; Evax AG, Münchwilen, Switzerland.
| | - Victoria Fettelschoss
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland; Evax AG, Münchwilen, Switzerland
| | - Franziska Thoms
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Giese
- ETH Zurich, Institute of Molecular Biology & Biophysics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michelle Daniel
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Florian Olomski
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Jivko Kamarachev
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Eliane Marti
- Department for Clinical Research VPH, Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Bern, Clinical Immunology Group, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas M Kündig
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin F Bachmann
- RIA Immunology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Virus-like particle (VLP) technologies are based on virus-inspired artificial structures and the intrinsic ability of viral proteins to self-assemble at controlled conditions. Therefore, the basic knowledge about the mechanisms of viral particle formation is highly important for designing of industrial applications. As an alternative to genetic and chemical processes, different physical methods are frequently used for VLP construction, including well characterized protein complexes for introduction of foreign molecules in VLP structures.This chapter shortly discusses the mechanisms how the viruses form their perfectly ordered structures as well as the principles and most interesting application examples, how to exploit the structural and assembly/disassembly properties of viral structures for creation of new nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia.
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25
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Balke I, Reseviča G, Zeltins A. Isolation and Characterization of Two Distinct Types of Unmodified Spherical Plant Sobemovirus-Like Particles for Diagnostic and Technical Uses. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1776:19-34. [PMID: 29869232 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7808-3_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Plant virus-like particles (VLPs) structurally resemble their progenitor viruses, but are noninfectious due to absence of viral nucleic acids. Since the 1980s, VLPs have been actively studied with the aim of constructing different nanomaterials, including immunologically active carriers for peptides and whole proteins and proteinaceous shells for the packaging of different ligands.The technological developments using VLPs require large amounts of purified particles. Here, we describe the laboratory process for isolation and purification of two unmodified plant VLPs, derived from two sobemoviruses, cocksfoot mottle virus (CfMV) and rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV), which is based on cultivation of recombinant Escherichia coli cells, VLP precipitation from bacterial extracts and ultracentrifugation. The suggested purification scheme allows the production of 4-45 mg of purified sobemoviral VLPs from a 1 l bacterial culture, depending on the required purity level. Additionally, we provide short protocols for VLP characterization using SDS-PAGE, agarose gel electrophoresis, ultraviolet and mass spectrometry, dynamic light scattering, and electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina Balke
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre Ratsupites 1 k-1, Riga, LV-1067, Latvia
| | - Gunta Reseviča
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre Ratsupites 1 k-1, Riga, LV-1067, Latvia
| | - Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre Ratsupites 1 k-1, Riga, LV-1067, Latvia.
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Zeltins A, Turks M, Skrastina D, Lugiņina J, Kalnciema I, Balke I, Bizdēna Ē, Skrivelis V. Synthesis and Immunological Evaluation of Virus-Like Particle-Milbemycin A₃/A₄ Conjugates. Antibiotics (Basel) 2017; 6:antibiotics6030018. [PMID: 28892001 PMCID: PMC5617982 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics6030018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Milbemycins are macrolide antibiotics with a broad spectrum of nematocidal, insecticidal, and acaricidal activity. To obtain milbemycin A₃/A₄ derivatives suitable for chemical conjugation to protein carriers (milbemycin haptens), succinate linker and a novel 17-atom-long linker containing a terminal carboxylic acid group were attached to the milbemycin core in a protecting group-free synthesis. The obtained milbemycin A₃/A₄ derivatives were coupled to Potato virus Y-like nanoparticles by the activated ester method. The reaction products were characterized and used in mice immunization experiments. It was found that the mice developed weak specific immune responses toward all tested milbemycin haptens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (D.S.); (I.K.); (I.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +371-6780-8215
| | - Māris Turks
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia; (M.T.); (J.L.); (Ē.B.)
| | - Dace Skrastina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (D.S.); (I.K.); (I.B.)
| | - Jevgeņija Lugiņina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (D.S.); (I.K.); (I.B.)
| | - Ieva Kalnciema
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (D.S.); (I.K.); (I.B.)
| | - Ina Balke
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (D.S.); (I.K.); (I.B.)
| | - Ērika Bizdēna
- Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Str. 3, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia; (M.T.); (J.L.); (Ē.B.)
| | - Vitalijs Skrivelis
- PharmIdea Ltd., Rupnicu 4, Olaine, Riga District, LV-2114 Olaine, Latvia;
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27
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Balke I, Resevica G, Kalnciema I, Zeltina V, Ose V, Zeltins A. New plant virus-like particles: Construction and characterization. J Biotechnol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.05.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Kalnciema I, Balke I, Skrastina D, Ose V, Zeltins A. Potato Virus M-Like Nanoparticles: Construction and Characterization. Mol Biotechnol 2015; 57:982-92. [DOI: 10.1007/s12033-015-9891-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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29
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Abstract
Dynamics of superparamagnetic rods in crossed constant and alternating magnetic fields as a function of field frequency are studied and it is shown that above the critical value of the amplitude of the alternating field the rod oscillates around the direction of the alternating field. The fit of the experimentally measured time dependence of the mean orientation angle of the rod allows one to determine the ratio of magnetic and viscous torques which act on the rod. The protocol of microrheological measurements consists of recording the dynamics of the orientation of the rod when the magnetic field is applied at an angle to the rod and observing its relaxation due to the accumulated elastic energy after the field is switched off. The microrheological data obtained are in reasonable agreement with the macrorheological measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artis Brasovs
- Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, University of Latvia, Zeļļu-8, Rīga, LV-1021, Latvia.
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Kalnciema I, Skrastina D, Ose V, Pumpens P, Zeltins A. Potato virus Y-like particles as a new carrier for the presentation of foreign protein stretches. Mol Biotechnol 2013; 52:129-39. [PMID: 22167454 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-011-9480-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Virus-like particle (VLP) technology represents a promising approach for the creation of efficient vaccines and materials for use in nanotechnological applications. For construction of a new carrier for foreign protein sequences, the coat protein (CP) gene from potato virus Y (PVY) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The PVY CP self-assembles into PVY-like particles, as demonstrated by electron microscopy analysis of purified VLP preparations. The PVY CP with an N-terminal insertion of a foreign epitope (preS1) or of a whole protein (rubredoxin) retains its ability to form filamentous particles, whereas adding a foreign sequence to the C-terminus of the PVY CP generates mostly unstructured protein aggregates. This new filamentous plant virus-derived VLP carrier accommodates a foreign protein sequence that is up to 71 amino acids in length on the VLP surface and can be produced in E. coli in preparative amounts. The PVY CP VLPs are stable in physiological conditions, but they are sensitive to EDTA, high salt, and extreme pH. The presence of the preS1 epitope decreases the stability of the chimeric PVY CP particles at elevated temperatures. Mice that are immunized with chimeric PVY CP particles carrying preS1 epitopes exhibit a strong anti-preS1 immune response, even in the absence of adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ieva Kalnciema
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1, Riga LV-1067, Latvia.
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31
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Abstract
Over the last three decades, virus-like particles (VLPs) have evolved to become a widely accepted technology, especially in the field of vaccinology. In fact, some VLP-based vaccines are currently used as commercial medical products, and other VLP-based products are at different stages of clinical study. Several remarkable advantages have been achieved in the development of VLPs as gene therapy tools and new nanomaterials. The analysis of published data reveals that at least 110 VLPs have been constructed from viruses belonging to 35 different families. This review therefore discusses the main principles in the cloning of viral structural genes, the relevant host systems and the purification procedures that have been developed. In addition, the methods that are used to characterize the structural integrity, stability, and components, including the encapsidated nucleic acids, of newly synthesized VLPs are analyzed. Moreover, some of the modifications that are required to construct VLP-based carriers of viral origin with defined properties are discussed, and examples are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andris Zeltins
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1, Riga 1067, Latvia.
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Huisman EM, Wen Q, Wang YH, Cruz K, Kitenbergs G, Erglis K, Zeltins A, Cebers A, Janmey PA. Gelation of semiflexible polyelectrolytes by multivalent counterions. Soft Matter 2011; 7:7257-7261. [PMID: 22267963 PMCID: PMC3262026 DOI: 10.1039/c1sm05553d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Filamentous polyelectrolytes in aqueous solution aggregate into bundles by interactions with multivalent counterions. These effects are well documented by experiment and theory. Theories also predict a gel phase in isotropic rodlike polyelectrolyte solutions caused by multivalent counterion concentrations much lower than those required for filament bundling. We report here the gelation of Pf1 virus, a model semiflexible polyelectrolyte, by the counterions Mg(2+), Mn(2+) and spermine(4+). Gelation can occur at 0.04% Pf1 volume fraction, which is far below the isotropic-nematic transition of 0.7% for Pf1 in monovalent salt. Unlike strongly crosslinked gels of semiflexible polymers, which stiffen at large strains, Pf1 gels reversibly soften at high strain. The onset strain for softening depends on the strength of interaction between counterions and the polyelectrolyte. Simulations show that the elasticity of counterion crosslinked gels is consistent with a model of semiflexible filaments held by weak crosslinks that reversibly rupture at a critical force.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth M Huisman
- Universiteit Leiden, Instituut-Lorentz, Postbus 9506, NL-2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
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Plevka P, Tars K, Zeltins A, Balke I, Truve E, Liljas L. The three-dimensional structure of ryegrass mottle virus at 2.9 A resolution. Virology 2007; 369:364-74. [PMID: 17881031 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2007.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2007] [Accepted: 07/17/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The crystal structure of the sobemovirus Ryegrass mottle virus (RGMoV) has been determined at 2.9 A resolution. The coat protein has a canonical jellyroll beta-sandwich fold. In comparison to other sobemoviruses the RGMoV coat protein is missing several residues in two of the loop regions. The first loop contributes to contacts between subunits around the quasi-threefold symmetry axis. The altered contact interface results in tilting of the subunits towards the quasi-threefold axis. The assembly of the T=3 capsid of sobemoviruses is controlled by the N-termini of C subunits forming a so-called beta-annulus. The other loop that is smaller in the RGMoV structure contains a helix that participates in stabilization of the beta-annulus in other sobemoviruses. The loss of interaction between the RGMoV loop and the beta-annulus has been compensated for by additional interactions between the N-terminal arms. As a consequence of these differences, the diameter of the RGMoV particle is 8 A smaller than that of the other sobemoviruses. The interactions of coat proteins in sobemovirus capsids involve calcium ions. Depletion of calcium ions results in particle swelling, which is considered a first step in disassembly. We could not identify any density for metal ions in the proximity of the conserved residues normally involved in calcium binding, but the RGMoV structure does not show any signs of swelling. A likely reason is the low pH (3.0) of the crystallization buffer in which the groups interacting with the calcium ions are not charged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Plevka
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
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Erglis K, Wen Q, Ose V, Zeltins A, Sharipo A, Janmey PA, Cēbers A. Dynamics of magnetotactic bacteria in a rotating magnetic field. Biophys J 2007; 93:1402-12. [PMID: 17526564 PMCID: PMC1929029 DOI: 10.1529/biophysj.107.107474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2007] [Accepted: 04/17/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamics of the motile magnetotactic bacterium Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense in a rotating magnetic field is investigated experimentally and analyzed by a theoretical model. These elongated bacteria are propelled by single flagella at each bacterial end and contain a magnetic filament formed by a linear assembly of approximately 40 ferromagnetic nanoparticles. The movements of the bacteria in suspension are analyzed by consideration of the orientation of their magnetic dipoles in the field, the hydrodynamic resistance of the bacteria, and the propulsive force of the flagella. Several novel features found in experiments include a velocity reversal during motion in the rotating field and an interesting diffusive wandering of the trajectory curvature centers. A new method to measure the magnetic moment of an individual bacterium is proposed based on the theory developed.
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Balke I, Resevica G, Zeltins A. The ryegrass mottle virus genome codes for a sobemovirus 3C-like serine protease and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase translated via -1 ribosomal frameshifting. Virus Genes 2007; 35:395-8. [PMID: 17356908 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-007-0087-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2006] [Accepted: 02/15/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
In the course of sobemovirus gene cloning the complete genome of Ryegrass mottle virus (RGMoV) was sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed differences including missing and extraneous nucleotides in comparison to the previously published sequence (Zhang, Toriyama, Takanashi, J. Gen. Plant Pathol. 67, 63 (2001)). A gene coding for a typical sobemovirus 3C-like serine protease was identified in ORF2a after multiple sequence alignment analysis. The newly identified 57-amino-acid stretch in ORF2a showed similarities ranging from 38.5 to 50.9% among sequenced genes of sobemovirus proteases. ORF analysis of the RGMoV polyprotein coding sequence demonstrated the arrangement of ORF2b coding for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) in the -1 frame in regard to ORF2a. The localization of conserved among sobemoviruses slippery sequence (UUUAAAC) at the 3'-end of ORF2a suggests the translation of RdRP via a -1 ribosomal frameshifting mechanism, allowing to include the RGMoV in the sobemovirus group with a Cocksfoot mottle virus-like (CfMV-like) genome organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina Balke
- Protein Engineering, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1, Riga 1067, Latvia
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Abstract
Cocksfoot mottle virus is a plant virus that belongs to the genus Sobemovirus. The structure of the virus has been determined at 2.7 A resolution. The icosahedral capsid has T = 3 quasisymmetry and 180 copies of the coat protein. Except for a couple of stacked bases, the viral RNA is not visible in the electron density map. The coat protein has a jelly-roll beta-sandwich fold and its conformation is very similar to that of other sobemoviruses and tobacco necrosis virus. The N-terminal arm of one of the three quasiequivalent subunits is partly ordered and follows the same path in the capsid as the arm in rice yellow mottle virus, another sobemovirus. In other sobemoviruses, the ordered arm follows a different path, but in both cases the arms from three subunits meet and form a similar structure at a threefold axis. A comparison of the structures and sequences of viruses in this family shows that the only conserved parts of the protein-protein interfaces are those that form binding sites for calcium ions. Still, the relative orientations and position of the subunits are maintained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaspars Tars
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, S751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
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KriÅ¡tuÌfek VÃ, Fischer S, Bührmann J, Zeltins A, Schrempf H. In situ monitoring of chitin degradation by Streptomyces lividans pCHIO12 within Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta) feeding on Aspergillus proliferans. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 1999. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.1999.tb00559.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Zeltins A, Schrempf H. Specific interaction of the Streptomyces chitin-binding protein CHB1 with alpha-chitin--the role of individual tryptophan residues. Eur J Biochem 1997; 246:557-64. [PMID: 9208950 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1997.t01-1-00557.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Streptomyces olivaceoviridis secretes a so far unique protein of 18.7 kDa (CHB1) which lacks catalytic activity. It interacts highly specifically with alpha-chitin, but not with beta-chitin, chitosan, or cellulose. Each of the five codons for tryptophan (Trp) in the chb1 gene was replaced by those for leucine (Leu) or tyrosine (Tyr). Eight corresponding mutant proteins and the wild-type protein were purified to homogeneity and their binding capacity to alpha-chitin was determined. The relative affinities to anti-CHB1 antibodies, the kinetics of binding, the dissociation constants, circular dichroism, and fluorescence emission spectra for three mutant types were compared to the characteristics of CHB1. The presented data lead to the following conclusions. (a) CHBI presents a highly flexible protein lacking alpha-helices. (b) Replacement of each of the buried Trp residues (Trp134 and Trp184) leads to conformational alterations and, in due course, to a considerably reduced binding affinity of the protein. (c) The exchange of the exposed Trp 57 by either Leu or Tyr results in relatively slight topological changes, but entails a loss of binding capacity of about 90%. (d) The dissociation constant was highest for the mutant protein [L57]CHB1 (2.17 microM), followed by [L134]CHB1 (0.91 microM) and [L184]CHB1 (0.26 microM), and lowest for the progenitor CHB1 (0.11 microM), indicating its strong affinity to the unsoluble substrate. (e) The data suggest that the exposed Trp57 contributes directly and significantly to the interaction of CHB1 with alpha-chitin.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Zeltins
- FB Biologie/Chemie, University of Osnabrück, Germany
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Abstract
Recently we identified a so far unique protein (CHB1) which interacts specifically with crystalline alpha-chitin. Having optimized the binding conditions for CHB1 coupled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), we succeeded in developing a highly sensitive assay to detect alpha-chitin. CHB1-FITC interacted neither with beta- or colloidal chitin nor with chitooligomers or cellulose. With the help of fluorescence or confocal laser microscopy, the relative location of crystalline alpha-chitin within various native samples of fungi and other organisms can be clearly and rapidly visualized.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Zeltins
- FB Biologie/Chemie, Universität Osnabrück, Germany
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Schnellmann J, Zeltins A, Blaak H, Schrempf H. The novel lectin-like protein CHB1 is encoded by a chitin-inducible Streptomyces olivaceoviridis gene and binds specifically to crystalline alpha-chitin of fungi and other organisms. Mol Microbiol 1994; 13:807-19. [PMID: 7815940 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1994.tb00473.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The chb1 gene, which encodes the unique lectin-like alpha-chitin-binding protein CHB1 of Streptomyces olivaceoviridis, was cloned. Transformants of Streptomyces lividans harbouring the plasmid pCHB10 overproduced the extracellular CHB1 protein; the protein showed neither enzymatic nor antifungal activity. Biochemical analyses and immunofluorescence microscopy indicated that CHB1 binds strongly to alpha-chitin, but neither to chitosan and beta-chitin, nor to various types of cellulose. Within hyphae of fungi, the relative location of crystalline chitin was visualized with fluorescein-labelled CHB1. These studies suggest that the new protein could serve as a tool to identify alpha-chitin within different organisms. The chb1 gene consists of a reading frame of 603 bp and its transcription occurred only if the Streptomyces strain was cultivated with chitin as the sole carbon source. The deduced mature CHB1 protein (18.7 kDa) shows no apparent similarity to any known protein. Within a region containing 100 residues of the deduced CHB1 protein, four tryptophan and two asparagine residues as well as one glycine and one cysteine residue were identified, the relative positions of which are analogous to those of several cellulose-binding domains of bacterial glycohydrolases. The results of spectroscopical studies suggest a possible involvement of tryptophan residues in the interaction of CHB1 with alpha-chitin.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Schnellmann
- Fachbereich Biologie/Chemie, Universität Osnabrück, Germany
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