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Debing Y, Vanrusselt H, Degrauwe L, Silva de Oliveira DA, Kariuki CK, Ebwanga EJ, Bashir S, Merckx W, Thatikonda SK, Rajwanshi V, Gohil V, Hong J, Kum DB, Acosta Sanchez A, Chanda S, Blatt LM, Jekle A, Symons JA, Smith DB, Raboisson P, Lin TI, Beigelman L, Paeshuyse J. An in vivo duck hepatitis B virus model recapitulates key aspects of nucleic acid polymer treatment outcomes in chronic hepatitis B patients. Antiviral Res 2024; 224:105835. [PMID: 38401714 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105835] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Nucleic acid polymers (NAPs) are an attractive treatment modality for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), with REP2139 and REP2165 having shown efficacy in CHB patients. A subset of patients achieve functional cure, whereas the others exhibit a moderate response or are non-responders. NAP efficacy has been difficult to recapitulate in animal models, with the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) model showing some promise but remaining underexplored for NAP efficacy testing. Here we report on an optimized in vivo DHBV duck model and explore several characteristics of NAP treatment. REP2139 was efficacious in reducing DHBV DNA and DHBsAg levels in approximately half of the treated ducks, whether administered intraperitoneally or subcutaneously. Intrahepatic or serum NAP concentrations did not correlate with efficacy, nor did the appearance of anti-DHBsAg antibodies. Furthermore, NAP efficacy was only observed in experimentally infected ducks, not in endogenously infected ducks (vertical transmission). REP2139 add-on to entecavir treatment induced a deeper and more sustained virological response compared to entecavir monotherapy. Destabilized REP2165 showed a different activity profile with a more homogenous antiviral response followed by a faster rebound. In conclusion, subcutaneous administration of NAPs in the DHBV duck model provides a useful tool for in vivo evaluation of NAPs. It recapitulates many aspects of this class of compound's efficacy in CHB patients, most notably the clear division between responders and non-responders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lars Degrauwe
- Laboratory of Host Pathogen Interactions, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Ebanja Joseph Ebwanga
- Laboratory of Host Pathogen Interactions, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Shahbaz Bashir
- Laboratory of Host Pathogen Interactions, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wouter Merckx
- TRANSfarm, Science, Engineering & Technology Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Vikrant Gohil
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jin Hong
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Andreas Jekle
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - David B Smith
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jan Paeshuyse
- Laboratory of Host Pathogen Interactions, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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2
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Vanrusselt H, Kum DB, Taverniti V, Liu C, Acosta Sanchez A, Corthout N, Munck S, Baumert TF, Beigelman L, Blatt LM, Symons JA, Deval J, Raboisson P, Verrier ER, Jekle A, Vendeville S, Debing Y. Novel non-HAP class A HBV capsid assembly modulators have distinct in vitro and in vivo profiles. J Virol 2023; 97:e0072223. [PMID: 37754761 PMCID: PMC10617565 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00722-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Chronic hepatitis B is the most important cause of liver cancer worldwide and affects more than 290 million people. Current treatments are mostly suppressive and rarely lead to a cure. Therefore, there is a need for novel and curative drugs that target the host or the causative agent, hepatitis B virus itself. Capsid assembly modulators are an interesting class of antiviral molecules that may one day become part of curative treatment regimens for chronic hepatitis B. Here we explore the characteristics of a particularly interesting subclass of capsid assembly modulators. These so-called non-HAP CAM-As have intriguing properties in cell culture but also clear virus-infected cells from the mouse liver in a gradual and sustained way. We believe they represent a considerable improvement over previously reported molecules and may one day be part of curative treatment combinations for chronic hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dieudonné Buh Kum
- Aligos Belgium BV, Leuven, Belgium
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Valerio Taverniti
- Inserm, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques UMR S1110, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Cheng Liu
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | | | - Thomas F. Baumert
- Inserm, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques UMR S1110, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Service d’Hépato-gastroenterologie, Pôle Hépato-digestif, IHU Strasbourg, Strasbourg University Hospitals, Strasbourg, France
| | | | | | | | - Jerome Deval
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Eloi R. Verrier
- Inserm, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques UMR S1110, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Andreas Jekle
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
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3
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Kum DB, Vanrusselt H, Acosta Sanchez A, Taverniti V, Verrier ER, Baumert TF, Liu C, Deval J, Corthout N, Munck S, Beigelman L, Blatt LM, Symons JA, Raboisson P, Jekle A, Vendeville S, Debing Y. Class A capsid assembly modulator RG7907 clears HBV-infected hepatocytes through core-dependent hepatocyte death and proliferation. Hepatology 2023; 78:1252-1265. [PMID: 37102495 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Effective therapies leading to a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B are still lacking. Class A capsid assembly modulators (CAM-As) are an attractive modality to address this unmet medical need. CAM-As induce aggregation of the HBV core protein (HBc) and lead to sustained HBsAg reductions in a chronic hepatitis B mouse model. Here, we investigate the underlying mechanism of action for CAM-A compound RG7907. APPROACH AND RESULTS RG7907 induced extensive HBc aggregation in vitro , in hepatoma cells, and in primary hepatocytes. In the adeno-associated virus (AAV)-HBV mouse model, the RG7907 treatment led to a pronounced reduction in serum HBsAg and HBeAg, concomitant with clearance of HBsAg, HBc, and AAV-HBV episome from the liver. Transient increases in alanine transaminase, hepatocyte apoptosis, and proliferation markers were observed. These processes were confirmed by RNA sequencing, which also uncovered a role for interferon alpha and gamma signaling, including the interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) pathway. Finally, the in vitro observation of CAM-A-induced HBc-dependent cell death through apoptosis established the link of HBc aggregation to in vivo loss of infected hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS Our study unravels a previously unknown mechanism of action for CAM-As such as RG7907 in which HBc aggregation induces cell death, resulting in hepatocyte proliferation and loss of covalently closed circular DNA or its equivalent, possibly assisted by an induced innate immune response. This represents a promising approach to attain a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieudonné Buh Kum
- Aligos Belgium BV, Leuven, Belgium
- Aligos Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | - Valerio Taverniti
- Strasbourg University, Inserm, Institute for Research on Viral and Hepatic Diseases, UMR S1110, Strasbourg, France
| | - Eloi R Verrier
- Strasbourg University, Inserm, Institute for Research on Viral and Hepatic Diseases, UMR S1110, Strasbourg, France
| | - Thomas F Baumert
- Strasbourg University, Inserm, Institute for Research on Viral and Hepatic Diseases, UMR S1110, Strasbourg, France
- Hepato-digestive Division, IHU Strasbourg, Strasbourg University Hospitals, Strasbourg, France
| | - Cheng Liu
- Aligos Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jerome Deval
- Aligos Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Julian A Symons
- Aligos Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Andreas Jekle
- Aligos Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
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4
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Rasulova M, Vercruysse T, Paulissen J, Coun C, Suin V, Heyndrickx L, Ma J, Geerts K, Timmermans J, Mishra N, Li LH, Kum DB, Coelmont L, Van Gucht S, Karimzadeh H, Thorn-Seshold J, Rothenfußer S, Ariën KK, Neyts J, Dallmeier K, Thibaut HJ. A High-Throughput Yellow Fever Neutralization Assay. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0254821. [PMID: 35670599 PMCID: PMC9241659 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02548-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Quick and accurate detection of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) against yellow fever is essential in serodiagnosis during outbreaks for surveillance and to evaluate vaccine efficacy in population-wide studies. All of this requires serological assays that can process a large number of samples in a highly standardized format. Albeit being laborious, time-consuming, and limited in throughput, the classical plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) is still considered the gold standard for the detection and quantification of nAbs due to its sensitivity and specificity. Here, we report the development of an alternative fluorescence-based serological assay (SNTFLUO) with an equally high sensitivity and specificity that is fit for high-throughput testing with the potential for automation. Finally, our novel SNTFLUO was cross-validated in several reference laboratories and against international WHO standards, showing its potential to be implemented in clinical use. SNTFLUO assays with similar performance are available for the Japanese encephalitis, Zika, and dengue viruses amenable to differential diagnostics. IMPORTANCE Fast and accurate detection of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) against yellow fever virus (YFV) is key in yellow fever serodiagnosis, outbreak surveillance, and monitoring of vaccine efficacy. Although classical PRNT remains the gold standard for measuring YFV nAbs, this methodology suffers from inherent limitations such as low throughput and overall high labor intensity. We present a novel fluorescence-based serum neutralization test (SNTFLUO) with equally high sensitivity and specificity that is fit for processing a large number of samples in a highly standardized manner and has the potential to be implemented for clinical use. In addition, we present SNTFLUO assays with similar performance for Japanese encephalitis, Zika, and dengue viruses, opening new avenues for differential diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madina Rasulova
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology & Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy (TPVC), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas Vercruysse
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology & Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy (TPVC), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jasmine Paulissen
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology & Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy (TPVC), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Catherina Coun
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology & Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy (TPVC), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vanessa Suin
- Sciensano, Viral Diseases Service, Scientific Directorate of Infectious Diseases in Humans, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo Heyndrickx
- Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ji Ma
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology & Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
- Global Virus Network (GVN), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Katrien Geerts
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology & Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
- Global Virus Network (GVN), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jolien Timmermans
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology & Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy (TPVC), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Niraj Mishra
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology & Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
- Global Virus Network (GVN), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Li-Hsin Li
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology & Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
- Global Virus Network (GVN), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Dieudonné Buh Kum
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology & Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
- Global Virus Network (GVN), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Lotte Coelmont
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology & Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
- Global Virus Network (GVN), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven Van Gucht
- Sciensano, Viral Diseases Service, Scientific Directorate of Infectious Diseases in Humans, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hadi Karimzadeh
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Unit Clinical Pharmacology (EKliP), Helmholtz Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Thorn-Seshold
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Unit Clinical Pharmacology (EKliP), Helmholtz Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Simon Rothenfußer
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Unit Clinical Pharmacology (EKliP), Helmholtz Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Kevin K. Ariën
- Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Johan Neyts
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology & Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
- Global Virus Network (GVN), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kai Dallmeier
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology & Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
- Global Virus Network (GVN), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hendrik Jan Thibaut
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Virology and Chemotherapy, Molecular Vaccinology & Vaccine Discovery, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy (TPVC), Leuven, Belgium
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5
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Ma J, Boudewijns R, Sanchez-Felipe L, Mishra N, Vercruysse T, Buh Kum D, Thibaut HJ, Neyts J, Dallmeier K. Comparing immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the yellow fever 17D vaccine in mice. Emerg Microbes Infect 2021; 10:2279-2290. [PMID: 34792431 PMCID: PMC8648041 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2021.2008772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The live-attenuated yellow fever 17D (YF17D) vaccine is one of the most efficacious human vaccines and also employed as a vector for novel vaccines. However, in the lack of appropriate immunocompetent small animal models, mechanistic insight in YF17D-induced protective immunity remains limited. To better understand YF17D vaccination and to identify a suitable mouse model, we evaluated the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of YF17D in five complementary mouse models, i.e. wild-type (WT) BALB/c, C57BL/6, IFN-α/β receptor (IFNAR-/-) deficient mice, and in WT mice in which type I IFN signalling was temporally ablated by an IFNAR blocking (MAR-1) antibody. Alike in IFNAR-/- mice, YF17D induced in either WT mice strong humoral immune responses dominated by IgG2a/c isotype (Th1 type) antibodies, yet only when IFNAR was blocked. Vigorous cellular immunity characterized by CD4+ T-cells producing IFN-γ and TNF-α were mounted in MAR-1 treated C57BL/6 and in IFNAR-/- mice. Surprisingly, vaccine-induced protection was largely mouse model dependent. Full protection against lethal intracranial challenge and a massive reduction of virus loads was conferred already by a minimal dose of 2 PFU YF17D in BALB/c and IFNAR-/- mice, but not in C57BL/6 mice. Correlation analysis of infection outcome with pre-challenge immunological markers indicates that YFV-specific IgG might suffice for protection, even in the absence of detectable levels of neutralizing antibodies. Finally, we propose that, in addition to IFNAR-/- mice, C57BL/6 mice with temporally blocked IFN-α/β receptors represent a promising immunocompetent mouse model for the study of YF17D-induced immunity and evaluation of YF17D-derived vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Ma
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Virology, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robbert Boudewijns
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Virology, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lorena Sanchez-Felipe
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Virology, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Niraj Mishra
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Virology, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas Vercruysse
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Virology, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium.,KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dieudonné Buh Kum
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Virology, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hendrik Jan Thibaut
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Virology, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium.,KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Neyts
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Virology, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium.,Global Virus Network (GVN), Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kai Dallmeier
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Virology, Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium.,Global Virus Network (GVN), Baltimore, MD, USA
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6
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Kum DB, Mishra N, Vrancken B, Thibaut HJ, Wilder-Smith A, Lemey P, Neyts J, Dallmeier K. Limited evolution of the yellow fever virus 17d in a mouse infection model. Emerg Microbes Infect 2020; 8:1734-1746. [PMID: 31797751 PMCID: PMC6896426 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2019.1694394] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
By infecting mice with the yellow fever virus vaccine strain 17D (YFV-17D; Stamaril®), the dose dependence and evolutionary consequences of neurotropic yellow fever infection was assessed. Highly susceptible AG129 mice were used to allow for a maximal/unlimited expansion of the viral populations. Infected mice uniformly developed neurotropic disease; the virus was isolated from their brains, plaque purified and sequenced. Viral RNA populations were overall rather homogenous [Shannon entropies 0−0.15]. The remaining, yet limited intra-host population diversity (0−11 nucleotide exchanges per genome) appeared to be a consequence of pre-existing clonal heterogeneities (quasispecies) of Stamaril®. In parallel, mice were infected with a molecular clone of YFV-17D which was in vivo launched from a plasmid. Such plasmid-launched YFV-17D had a further reduced and almost clonal evolution. The limited intra-host evolution during unrestricted expansion in a highly susceptible host is relevant for vaccine and drug development against flaviviruses in general. Firstly, a propensity for limited evolution even upon infection with a (very) low inoculum suggests that fractional dosing as implemented in current YF-outbreak control may pose only a limited risk of reversion to pathogenic vaccine-derived virus variants. Secondly, it also largely lowers the chance of antigenic drift and development of resistance to antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieudonné Buh Kum
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium.,Aligos Belgium, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Niraj Mishra
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bram Vrancken
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hendrik Jan Thibaut
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Annelies Wilder-Smith
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.,Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philippe Lemey
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Neyts
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kai Dallmeier
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
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7
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Kum DB, Boudewijns R, Ma J, Mishra N, Schols D, Neyts J, Dallmeier K. A chimeric yellow fever-Zika virus vaccine candidate fully protects against yellow fever virus infection in mice. Emerg Microbes Infect 2020; 9:520-533. [PMID: 32116148 PMCID: PMC7067203 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1730709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The recent Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in the Americas, followed by the yellow fever virus (YFV) outbreaks in Angola and Brazil highlight the urgent need for safe and efficient vaccines against the ZIKV as well as much greater production capacity for the YFV-17D vaccine. Given that the ZIKV and the YFV are largely prevalent in the same geographical areas, vaccines that would provide dual protection against both pathogens may obviously offer a significant benefit. We have recently engineered a chimeric vaccine candidate (YF-ZIKprM/E) by swapping the sequences encoding the YFV-17D surface glycoproteins prM/E by the corresponding sequences of the ZIKV. A single vaccine dose of YF-ZIKprM/E conferred complete protection against a lethal challenge with wild-type ZIKV strains. Surprisingly, this vaccine candidate also efficiently protected against lethal YFV challenge in various mouse models. We demonstrate that CD8+ but not CD4+ T cells, nor ZIKV neutralizing antibodies are required to confer protection against YFV. The chimeric YF-ZIKprM/E vaccine may thus be considered as a dual vaccine candidate efficiently protecting mice against both the ZIKV and the YFV, and this following a single dose immunization. Our finding may be particularly important in the rational design of vaccination strategies against flaviviruses, in particular in areas where YFV and ZIKV co-circulate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieudonné Buh Kum
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robbert Boudewijns
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ji Ma
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Niraj Mishra
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dominique Schols
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Neyts
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kai Dallmeier
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
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8
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Xie X, Zou J, Shan C, Yang Y, Kum DB, Dallmeier K, Neyts J, Shi PY. Zika Virus Replicons for Drug Discovery. EBioMedicine 2016; 12:156-160. [PMID: 27658737 PMCID: PMC5078599 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The current epidemic of Zika virus (ZIKV) has underscored the urgency to establish experimental systems for studying viral replication and pathogenesis, and countermeasure development. Here we report two ZIKV replicon systems: a luciferase replicon that can differentiate between viral translation and RNA synthesis; and a stable luciferase replicon carrying cell line that can be used to screen and characterize inhibitors of viral replication. The transient replicon was used to evaluate the effect of an NS5 polymerase mutation on viral RNA synthesis and to analyze a known ZIKV inhibitor. The replicon cell line was developed into a 96-well format for antiviral testing. Compare with virus infection-based assay, the replicon cell line allows antiviral screening without using infectious virus. Collectively, the replicon systems have provided critical tools for both basic and translational research. A Zika virus replicon has been developed to study antivirals and to differentiate between viral translation and replication. A cell line carrying Zika virus replicon has been developed to screen and characterize antiviral inhibitors.
Experimental systems are urgently needed to study Zika virus and to develop countermeasures. In this communication, we report the development of Zika virus replicon systems that can be used to study viral replication and pathogenesis as well as to screen and characterize antiviral inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuping Xie
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Jing Zou
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Chao Shan
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Yujiao Yang
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dieudonné Buh Kum
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kai Dallmeier
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Neyts
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pei-Yong Shi
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology & Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
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