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Reuter N, Chen X, Kropff B, Peter AS, Britt WJ, Mach M, Überla K, Thomas M. SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Is Capable of Inducing Cell-Cell Fusions Independent from Its Receptor ACE2 and This Activity Can Be Impaired by Furin Inhibitors or a Subset of Monoclonal Antibodies. Viruses 2023; 15:1500. [PMID: 37515187 PMCID: PMC10384293 DOI: 10.3390/v15071500] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, efficiently spreads cell-to-cell through mechanisms facilitated by its membrane glycoprotein spike. We established a dual split protein (DSP) assay based on the complementation of GFP and luciferase to quantify the fusogenic activity of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. We provide several lines of evidence that the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, but not SARS-CoV-1, induced cell-cell fusion even in the absence of its receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). This poorly described ACE2-independent cell fusion activity of the spike protein was strictly dependent on the proteasomal cleavage of the spike by furin while TMPRSS2 was dispensable. Previous and current variants of concern (VOCs) differed significantly in their fusogenicity. The Delta spike was extremely potent compared to Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Kappa, while the Omicron spike was almost devoid of receptor-independent fusion activity. Nonetheless, for all analyzed variants, cell fusion was dependent on furin cleavage and could be pharmacologically inhibited with CMK. Mapping studies revealed that amino acids 652-1273 conferred the ACE2-independent fusion activity of the spike. Unexpectedly, residues proximal to the furin cleavage site were not of major relevance, whereas residue 655 critically regulated fusion. Finally, we found that the spike's fusion activity in the absence of ACE2 could be inhibited by antibodies directed against its N-terminal domain (NTD) but not by antibodies targeting its receptor-binding domain (RBD). In conclusion, our BSL-1-compatible DSP assay allowed us to screen for inhibitors or antibodies that interfere with the spike's fusogenic activity and may therefore contribute to both rational vaccine design and development of novel treatment options against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Reuter
- Virologisches Institut, Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Xiaohan Chen
- Virologisches Institut, Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Barbara Kropff
- Virologisches Institut, Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Antonia Sophia Peter
- Virologisches Institut, Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - William J Britt
- Departments of Pediatrics, Microbiology and Neurobiology, Children's Hospital of Alabama, School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233-1771, USA
| | - Michael Mach
- Virologisches Institut, Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Klaus Überla
- Virologisches Institut, Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marco Thomas
- Virologisches Institut, Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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2
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Irrgang P, Gerling J, Kocher K, Lapuente D, Steininger P, Habenicht K, Wytopil M, Beileke S, Schäfer S, Zhong J, Ssebyatika G, Krey T, Falcone V, Schülein C, Peter AS, Nganou-Makamdop K, Hengel H, Held J, Bogdan C, Überla K, Schober K, Winkler TH, Tenbusch M. Class switch toward noninflammatory, spike-specific IgG4 antibodies after repeated SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. Sci Immunol 2023; 8:eade2798. [PMID: 36548397 PMCID: PMC9847566 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.ade2798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
RNA vaccines are efficient preventive measures to combat the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. High levels of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are an important component of vaccine-induced immunity. Shortly after the initial two mRNA vaccine doses, the immunoglobulin G (IgG) response mainly consists of the proinflammatory subclasses IgG1 and IgG3. Here, we report that several months after the second vaccination, SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were increasingly composed of noninflammatory IgG4, which were further boosted by a third mRNA vaccination and/or SARS-CoV-2 variant breakthrough infections. IgG4 antibodies among all spike-specific IgG antibodies rose, on average, from 0.04% shortly after the second vaccination to 19.27% late after the third vaccination. This induction of IgG4 antibodies was not observed after homologous or heterologous SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with adenoviral vectors. Single-cell sequencing and flow cytometry revealed substantial frequencies of IgG4-switched B cells within the spike-binding memory B cell population [median of 14.4%; interquartile range (IQR) of 6.7 to 18.1%] compared with the overall memory B cell repertoire (median of 1.3%; IQR of 0.9 to 2.2%) after three immunizations. This class switch was associated with a reduced capacity of the spike-specific antibodies to mediate antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis and complement deposition. Because Fc-mediated effector functions are critical for antiviral immunity, these findings may have consequences for the choice and timing of vaccination regimens using mRNA vaccines, including future booster immunizations against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Irrgang
- Institut für klinische und molekulare Virologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg; Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Juliane Gerling
- Department of Biology, Division of Genetics, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU); Erlangen, Germany
| | - Katharina Kocher
- Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg; Wasserturmstr. 3/5, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dennis Lapuente
- Institut für klinische und molekulare Virologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg; Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Philipp Steininger
- Institut für klinische und molekulare Virologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg; Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Katharina Habenicht
- Department of Biology, Division of Genetics, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU); Erlangen, Germany
| | - Monika Wytopil
- Institut für klinische und molekulare Virologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg; Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stephanie Beileke
- Institut für klinische und molekulare Virologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg; Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Simon Schäfer
- Department of Biology, Division of Genetics, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU); Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jahn Zhong
- Department of Biology, Division of Genetics, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU); Erlangen, Germany
| | - George Ssebyatika
- Center of Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Luebeck; Luebeck, Germany
| | - Thomas Krey
- Center of Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Luebeck; Luebeck, Germany
| | - Valeria Falcone
- Institute of Virology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg; Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christine Schülein
- Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg; Wasserturmstr. 3/5, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Antonia Sophia Peter
- Institut für klinische und molekulare Virologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg; Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Krystelle Nganou-Makamdop
- Institut für klinische und molekulare Virologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg; Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schlossplatz 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hartmut Hengel
- Institute of Virology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg; Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Held
- Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg; Wasserturmstr. 3/5, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Bogdan
- Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg; Wasserturmstr. 3/5, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schlossplatz 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Klaus Überla
- Institut für klinische und molekulare Virologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg; Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schlossplatz 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kilian Schober
- Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg; Wasserturmstr. 3/5, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schlossplatz 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.,Corresponding author. (K.S.); (T.H.W.); (M.T.)
| | - Thomas H. Winkler
- Department of Biology, Division of Genetics, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU); Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schlossplatz 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.,Corresponding author. (K.S.); (T.H.W.); (M.T.)
| | - Matthias Tenbusch
- Institut für klinische und molekulare Virologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg; Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schlossplatz 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.,Corresponding author. (K.S.); (T.H.W.); (M.T.)
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3
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Peter AS, Roth E, Schulz SR, Fraedrich K, Steinmetz T, Damm D, Hauke M, Richel E, Mueller‐Schmucker S, Habenicht K, Eberlein V, Issmail L, Uhlig N, Dolles S, Grüner E, Peterhoff D, Ciesek S, Hoffmann M, Pöhlmann S, McKay PF, Shattock RJ, Wölfel R, Socher E, Wagner R, Eichler J, Sticht H, Schuh W, Neipel F, Ensser A, Mielenz D, Tenbusch M, Winkler TH, Grunwald T, Überla K, Jäck H. A pair of noncompeting neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies protecting from disease in a SARS-CoV-2 infection model. Eur J Immunol 2022; 52:770-783. [PMID: 34355795 PMCID: PMC8420377 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [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: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
TRIANNI mice carry an entire set of human immunoglobulin V region gene segments and are a powerful tool to rapidly isolate human monoclonal antibodies. After immunizing these mice with DNA encoding the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and boosting with spike protein, we identified 29 hybridoma antibodies that reacted with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Nine antibodies neutralize SARS-CoV-2 infection at IC50 values in the subnanomolar range. ELISA-binding studies and DNA sequence analyses revealed one cluster of three clonally related neutralizing antibodies that target the receptor-binding domain and compete with the cellular receptor hACE2. A second cluster of six clonally related neutralizing antibodies bind to the N-terminal domain of the spike protein without competing with the binding of hACE2 or cluster 1 antibodies. SARS-CoV-2 mutants selected for resistance to an antibody from one cluster are still neutralized by an antibody from the other cluster. Antibodies from both clusters markedly reduced viral spread in mice transgenic for human ACE2 and protected the animals from SARS-CoV-2-induced weight loss. The two clusters of potent noncompeting SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies provide potential candidates for therapy and prophylaxis of COVID-19. The study further supports transgenic animals with a human immunoglobulin gene repertoire as a powerful platform in pandemic preparedness initiatives.
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Lapuente D, Fuchs J, Willar J, Vieira Antão A, Eberlein V, Uhlig N, Issmail L, Schmidt A, Oltmanns F, Peter AS, Mueller-Schmucker S, Irrgang P, Fraedrich K, Cara A, Hoffmann M, Pöhlmann S, Ensser A, Pertl C, Willert T, Thirion C, Grunwald T, Überla K, Tenbusch M. Protective mucosal immunity against SARS-CoV-2 after heterologous systemic prime-mucosal boost immunization. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6871. [PMID: 34836955 PMCID: PMC8626513 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27063-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.3] [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: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Several effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are currently in use, but effective boosters are needed to maintain or increase immunity due to waning responses and the emergence of novel variants. Here we report that intranasal vaccinations with adenovirus 5 and 19a vectored vaccines following a systemic plasmid DNA or mRNA priming result in systemic and mucosal immunity in mice. In contrast to two intramuscular applications of an mRNA vaccine, intranasal boosts with adenoviral vectors induce high levels of mucosal IgA and lung-resident memory T cells (TRM); mucosal neutralization of virus variants of concern is also enhanced. The mRNA prime provokes a comprehensive T cell response consisting of circulating and lung TRM after the boost, while the plasmid DNA prime induces mostly mucosal T cells. Concomitantly, the intranasal boost strategies lead to complete protection against a SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice. Our data thus suggest that mucosal booster immunizations after mRNA priming is a promising approach to establish mucosal immunity in addition to systemic responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Lapuente
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Jana Fuchs
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jonas Willar
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ana Vieira Antão
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Valentina Eberlein
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, IZI, Leipzig, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-mediated Diseases CIMD, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Nadja Uhlig
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, IZI, Leipzig, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-mediated Diseases CIMD, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Leila Issmail
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, IZI, Leipzig, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-mediated Diseases CIMD, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Anna Schmidt
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Friederike Oltmanns
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Antonia Sophia Peter
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sandra Mueller-Schmucker
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Pascal Irrgang
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kirsten Fraedrich
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andrea Cara
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Markus Hoffmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Armin Ensser
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Thomas Grunwald
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, IZI, Leipzig, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-mediated Diseases CIMD, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Klaus Überla
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Matthias Tenbusch
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
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5
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Lapuente D, Maier C, Irrgang P, Hübner J, Peter AS, Hoffmann M, Ensser A, Ziegler K, Winkler TH, Birkholz T, Kremer AE, Steininger P, Korn K, Neipel F, Überla K, Tenbusch M. Rapid response flow cytometric assay for the detection of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 40:751-759. [PMID: 33078221 PMCID: PMC7572153 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-020-04072-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [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: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as a previously unknown zoonotic coronavirus that spread worldwide causing a serious pandemic. While reliable nucleic acid–based diagnostic assays were rapidly available, only a limited number of validated serological assays were available in the early phase of the pandemic. Here, we evaluated a novel flow cytometric approach to assess spike-specific antibody responses.HEK 293T cells expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in its natural confirmation on the surface were used to detect specific IgG and IgM antibody responses in patient sera by flow cytometry. A soluble angiotensin-converting-enzyme 2 (ACE-2) variant was developed as external standard to quantify spike-specific antibody responses on different assay platforms. Analyses of 201 pre-COVID-19 sera proved a high assay specificity in comparison to commercially available CLIA and ELISA systems, while also revealing the highest sensitivity in specimens from PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. The external standard allowed robust quantification of antibody responses among different assay platforms. In conclusion, our newly established flow cytometric assay allows sensitive and quantitative detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, which can be easily adopted in different laboratories and does not rely on external supply of assay kits. The flow cytometric assay also provides a blueprint for rapid development of serological tests to other emerging viral infections
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Lapuente
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Clara Maier
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Pascal Irrgang
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Julian Hübner
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Antonia Sophia Peter
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus Hoffmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Armin Ensser
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Katharina Ziegler
- Institute of Clinical Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Infectiology, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Thomas H Winkler
- Department of Biology, Division of Genetics, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Torsten Birkholz
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas E Kremer
- Department of Medicine 1, Gastroenterology, Pneumology and Endocrinology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Philipp Steininger
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Klaus Korn
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Frank Neipel
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Klaus Überla
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Matthias Tenbusch
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
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6
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Tannig P, Peter AS, Lapuente D, Klessing S, Schmidt A, Damm D, Tenbusch M, Überla K, Temchura V. Genetic Co-Administration of Soluble PD-1 Ectodomains Modifies Immune Responses against Influenza A Virus Induced by DNA Vaccination. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8040570. [PMID: 33019546 PMCID: PMC7712647 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8040570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the low efficacy and the need for seasonal adaptation of currently licensed influenza A vaccines, the importance of alternative vaccination strategies is increasingly recognized. Considering that DNA vaccines can be rapidly manufactured and readily adapted with novel antigen sequences, genetic vaccination is a promising immunization platform. However, the applicability of different genetic adjuvants to this approach still represents a complex challenge. Immune checkpoints are a class of molecules involved in adaptive immune responses and germinal center reactions. In this study, we immunized mice by intramuscular electroporation with a DNA-vaccine encoding hemagglutinin (HA) and nucleoprotein (NP) of the influenza A virus. The DNA-vaccine was applied either alone or in combination with genetic adjuvants encoding the soluble ectodomains of programmed cell death protein-1 (sPD-1) or its ligand (sPD-L1). Co-administration of genetic checkpoint adjuvants did not significantly alter immune responses against NP. In contrast, sPD-1 co-electroporation elevated HA-specific CD4+ T cell responses, decreased regulatory CD4+ T cell pools, and modulated the IgG2a-biased HA antibody pattern towards an isotype-balanced IgG response with a trend to higher influenza neutralization in vitro. Taken together, our data demonstrate that a genetic DNA-adjuvant encoding soluble ectodomains of sPD-1 was able to modulate immune responses induced by a co-administered influenza DNA vaccine.
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