1
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Boero E, Carducci M, Keeley AJ, Berlanda Scorza F, Iturriza-Gómara M, Moriel DG, Rossi O. A flow cytometry-based assay to determine the ability of anti-Streptococcus pyogenes antibodies to mediate monocytic phagocytosis in human sera. J Immunol Methods 2024; 528:113652. [PMID: 38458312 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2024.113652] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes, commonly referred to as Group A Streptococcus (Strep A), causes a spectrum of diseases, with the potential to progress into life-threatening illnesses and autoimmune complications. The escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance, stemming from the prevalent reliance on antibiotic therapies to manage Strep A infections, underscores the critical need for the development of disease control strategies centred around vaccination. Phagocytes play a critical role in controlling Strep A infections, and phagocytosis-replicating assays are essential for vaccine development. Traditionally, such assays have employed whole-blood killing or opsonophagocytic methods using HL-60 cells as neutrophil surrogates. However, assays mimicking Fcγ receptors- phagocytosis in clinical contexts are lacking. Therefore, here we introduce a flow cytometry-based method employing undifferentiated THP-1 cells as monocytic/macrophage model to swiftly evaluate the ability of human sera to induce phagocytosis of Strep A. We extensively characterize the assay's precision, linearity, and quantification limit, ensuring robustness. By testing human pooled serum, the assay proved to be suitable for the comparison of human sera's phagocytic capability against Strep A. This method offers a valuable complementary assay for clinical studies, addressing the gap in assessing FcγR-mediated phagocytosis. By facilitating efficient evaluation of Strep A -phagocyte interactions, it may contribute to elucidating the mechanisms required for the prevention of infections and inform the development of future vaccines and therapeutic advancements against Strep A infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Boero
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Martina Carducci
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Alexander J Keeley
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK; Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK; Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Unit the Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara, P. O. Box 273, the Gambia
| | | | - Miren Iturriza-Gómara
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Danilo Gomes Moriel
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Omar Rossi
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
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2
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Bloom DE, Pecetta S, Scorza FB, Carfi A, Carleton B, Cipriano M, Edwards K, Gasperini G, Malley R, Nandi A, Nguyen A, Stuart L, Black S, Rappuoli R. Vaccination for healthy aging. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadm9183. [PMID: 38691620 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adm9183] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
As the world's population grows older, vaccination is becoming a key strategy for promoting healthy aging. Despite scientific progress in adult vaccine development, obstacles such as immunosenescence and vaccine hesitancy remain. To unlock the potential of adult vaccines fully, we must enhance immunization programs, dispel misinformation, and invest in research that deepens our understanding of aging and immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Bloom
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Richard Malley
- Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Steve Black
- Global Vaccine Data Network, Auckland, New Zealand
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3
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Mancini F, Caradonna V, Alfini R, Aruta MG, Vitali CG, Gasperini G, Piccioli D, Berlanda Scorza F, Rossi O, Micoli F. Testing S. sonnei GMMA with and without Aluminium Salt-Based Adjuvants in Animal Models. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:568. [PMID: 38675229 PMCID: PMC11054012 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040568] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Shigellosis is one of the leading causes of diarrheal disease in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in young children, and is more often associated with antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, a preventive vaccine against shigellosis is an urgent medical need. We have proposed Generalised Modules for Membrane Antigens (GMMA) as an innovative delivery system for Shigella sonnei O-antigen, and an Alhydrogel formulation (1790GAHB) has been extensively tested in preclinical and clinical studies. Alhydrogel has been used as an adsorbent agent with the main purpose of reducing potential GMMA systemic reactogenicity. However, the immunogenicity and systemic reactogenicity of this GMMA-based vaccine formulated with or without Alhydrogel have never been compared. In this work, we investigated the potential adjuvant effect of aluminium salt-based adjuvants (Alhydrogel and AS37) on S. sonnei GMMA immunogenicity in mice and rabbits, and we found that S. sonnei GMMA alone resulted to be strongly immunogenic. The addition of neither Alhydrogel nor AS37 improved the magnitude or the functionality of vaccine-elicited antibodies. Interestingly, rabbits injected with either S. sonnei GMMA adsorbed on Alhydrogel or S. sonnei GMMA alone showed a limited and transient body temperature increase, returning to baseline values within 24 h after each vaccination. Overall, immunisation with unadsorbed GMMA did not raise any concern for animal health. We believe that these data support the clinical testing of GMMA formulated without Alhydrogel, which would allow for further simplification of GMMA-based vaccine manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Mancini
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health S.r.l. (GVGH), 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Valentina Caradonna
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health S.r.l. (GVGH), 53100 Siena, Italy
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Renzo Alfini
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health S.r.l. (GVGH), 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Aruta
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health S.r.l. (GVGH), 53100 Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Omar Rossi
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health S.r.l. (GVGH), 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Micoli
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health S.r.l. (GVGH), 53100 Siena, Italy
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4
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Batani G, Vezzani G, Lashchuk S, Allaoui A, Cardamone D, Raso MM, Boero E, Roscioli E, Ridelfi M, Gasperini G, Pizza M, Rossi O, Berlanda Scorza F, Micoli F, Rappuoli R, Sala C. Development of a visual Adhesion/Invasion Inhibition Assay to assess the functionality of Shigella-specific antibodies. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1374293. [PMID: 38680489 PMCID: PMC11045934 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1374293] [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: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Shigella is the etiologic agent of a bacillary dysentery known as shigellosis, which causes millions of infections and thousands of deaths worldwide each year due to Shigella's unique lifestyle within intestinal epithelial cells. Cell adhesion/invasion assays have been extensively used not only to identify targets mediating host-pathogen interaction, but also to evaluate the ability of Shigella-specific antibodies to reduce virulence. However, these assays are time-consuming and labor-intensive and fail to assess differences at the single-cell level. Objectives and methods Here, we developed a simple, fast and high-content method named visual Adhesion/Invasion Inhibition Assay (vAIA) to measure the ability of anti-Shigellaantibodies to inhibit bacterial adhesion to and invasion of epithelial cells by using the confocal microscope Opera Phenix. Results We showed that vAIA performed well with a pooled human serum from subjects challenged with S. sonnei and that a specific anti-IpaD monoclonal antibody effectively reduced bacterial virulence in a dose-dependent manner. Discussion vAIA can therefore inform on the functionality of polyclonal and monoclonal responses thereby supporting the discovery of pathogenicity mechanisms and the development of candidate vaccines and immunotherapies. Lastly, this assay is very versatile and may be easily applied to other Shigella species or serotypes and to different pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giampiero Batani
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery Laboratory, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Giacomo Vezzani
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Siena, Italy
| | - Sabrina Lashchuk
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery Laboratory, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Abdelmounaaim Allaoui
- The Microbiology Laboratory, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Ben, Guerir, Morocco
| | - Dario Cardamone
- Data Science for Health Laboratory, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Elena Boero
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Siena, Italy
| | - Emanuele Roscioli
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery Laboratory, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Matteo Ridelfi
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery Laboratory, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Gasperini
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Siena, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Pizza
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Omar Rossi
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Siena, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Micoli
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Siena, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Sala
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery Laboratory, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
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5
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Nonne F, Molfetta M, Nappini R, La Guidara C, Di Benedetto R, Mfana S, Bellich B, Raso MM, Gasperini G, Alfini R, Cescutti P, Berlanda Scorza F, Ravenscroft N, Micoli F, Giannelli C. Development and Application of a High-Throughput Method for the Purification and Analysis of Surface Carbohydrates from Klebsiella pneumoniae. Biology (Basel) 2024; 13:256. [PMID: 38666868 PMCID: PMC11048683 DOI: 10.3390/biology13040256] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) is a Gram-negative bacterium, and a leading cause of neonatal sepsis in low- and middle-income countries, often associated with anti-microbial resistance. Two types of polysaccharides are expressed on the Kp cell surface and have been proposed as key antigens for vaccine design: capsular polysaccharides (known as K-antigens, K-Ags) and O-antigens (O-Ags). Historically, Kp has been classified using capsule serotyping and although 186 distinct genotypes have been predicted so far based on sequence analysis, many structures are still unknown. In contrast, only 11 distinct OAg serotypes have been described. The characterization of emerging strains requires the development of a high-throughput purification method to obtain sufficient K- and O-Ag material to characterize the large collection of serotypes and gain insight on structural features and potential cross-reactivity that could allow vaccine simplification. Here, this was achieved by adapting our established method for the simple purification of O-Ags, using mild acetic acid hydrolysis performed directly on bacterial cells, followed by filtration and precipitation steps. The method was successfully applied to purify the surface carbohydrates from different Kp strains, thereby demonstrating the robustness and general applicability of the purification method developed. Further, antigen characterization showed that the purification method had no impact on the structural integrity of the polysaccharides and preserved labile substituents such as O-acetyl and pyruvyl groups. This method can be further optimized for scaling up and manufacturing to support the development of high-valency saccharide-based vaccines against Kp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Nonne
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.M.); (R.N.); (C.L.G.); (R.D.B.); (M.M.R.); (R.A.); (F.B.S.); (F.M.); (C.G.)
| | - Mariagrazia Molfetta
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.M.); (R.N.); (C.L.G.); (R.D.B.); (M.M.R.); (R.A.); (F.B.S.); (F.M.); (C.G.)
| | - Rebecca Nappini
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.M.); (R.N.); (C.L.G.); (R.D.B.); (M.M.R.); (R.A.); (F.B.S.); (F.M.); (C.G.)
- Department of Life Science, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Chiara La Guidara
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.M.); (R.N.); (C.L.G.); (R.D.B.); (M.M.R.); (R.A.); (F.B.S.); (F.M.); (C.G.)
| | - Roberta Di Benedetto
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.M.); (R.N.); (C.L.G.); (R.D.B.); (M.M.R.); (R.A.); (F.B.S.); (F.M.); (C.G.)
| | - Siwaphiwe Mfana
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa; (S.M.); (N.R.)
| | - Barbara Bellich
- Department of Advanced Translational Diagnostics, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, 34137 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Maria Michelina Raso
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.M.); (R.N.); (C.L.G.); (R.D.B.); (M.M.R.); (R.A.); (F.B.S.); (F.M.); (C.G.)
| | | | - Renzo Alfini
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.M.); (R.N.); (C.L.G.); (R.D.B.); (M.M.R.); (R.A.); (F.B.S.); (F.M.); (C.G.)
| | - Paola Cescutti
- Department of Life Science, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Francesco Berlanda Scorza
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.M.); (R.N.); (C.L.G.); (R.D.B.); (M.M.R.); (R.A.); (F.B.S.); (F.M.); (C.G.)
| | - Neil Ravenscroft
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa; (S.M.); (N.R.)
| | - Francesca Micoli
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.M.); (R.N.); (C.L.G.); (R.D.B.); (M.M.R.); (R.A.); (F.B.S.); (F.M.); (C.G.)
| | - Carlo Giannelli
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.M.); (R.N.); (C.L.G.); (R.D.B.); (M.M.R.); (R.A.); (F.B.S.); (F.M.); (C.G.)
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6
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Carducci M, Whitcombe A, Rovetini L, Massai L, Keeley AJ, de Silva TI, Bennett J, Berlanda Scorza F, Iturriza M, Moreland NJ, Moriel DG, Rossi O. Development and characterization of a hemolysis inhibition assay to determine functionality of anti-Streptolysin O antibodies in human sera. J Immunol Methods 2024; 526:113618. [PMID: 38237697 PMCID: PMC10921352 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2024.113618] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
The high burden of disease and the long-lasting sequelae following Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) infections make the development of an effective vaccine a global health priority. Streptolysin O (SLO), is a key toxin in the complex pathogenesis of Strep A infection. Antibodies are elicited against SLO after natural exposure and represent a key target for vaccine-induced immunity. Here we present the setup and characterization of a hemolysis assay to measure functionality of anti-SLO antibodies in human sera. Assay specificity, precision, linearity, reproducibility, and repeatability were determined. The assay was demonstrated to be highly sensitive, specific, reproducible, linear and performed well in assessing functionality of anti-SLO antibodies induced by exposed individuals. Moreover, different sources of critical reagents, in particular red- blood cells, have been compared and had minimal impact on assay performance. The assay presented here has throughput suitable for evaluating sera in vaccine clinical trials and sero-epidemiological studies to gain further insights into the functionality of infection- and vaccine-induced antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Carducci
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), GSK Global Health Vaccines R&D, via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Alana Whitcombe
- School of Medical Sciences and Maurice Wilkins Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Luca Rovetini
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), GSK Global Health Vaccines R&D, via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Luisa Massai
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), GSK Global Health Vaccines R&D, via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Alexander J Keeley
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Unit the Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, the Gambia; Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Thushan I de Silva
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Unit the Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, the Gambia; Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Julie Bennett
- School of Medical Sciences and Maurice Wilkins Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Francesco Berlanda Scorza
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), GSK Global Health Vaccines R&D, via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Miren Iturriza
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), GSK Global Health Vaccines R&D, via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Nicole J Moreland
- School of Medical Sciences and Maurice Wilkins Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Danilo G Moriel
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), GSK Global Health Vaccines R&D, via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Omar Rossi
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), GSK Global Health Vaccines R&D, via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
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7
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Rossi O, Citiulo F, Giannelli C, Cappelletti E, Gasperini G, Mancini F, Acquaviva A, Raso MM, Sollai L, Alfini R, Aruta MG, Vitali CG, Pizza M, Necchi F, Rappuoli R, Martin LB, Berlanda Scorza F, Colucci AM, Micoli F. A next-generation GMMA-based vaccine candidate to fight shigellosis. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:130. [PMID: 37670042 PMCID: PMC10480147 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00725-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Shigellosis is a leading cause of diarrheal disease in low-middle-income countries (LMICs). Effective vaccines will help to reduce the disease burden, exacerbated by increasing antibiotic resistance, in the most susceptible population represented by young children. A challenge for a broadly protective vaccine against shigellosis is to cover the most epidemiologically relevant serotypes among >50 Shigella serotypes circulating worldwide. The GMMA platform has been proposed as an innovative delivery system for Shigella O-antigens, and we have developed a 4-component vaccine against S. sonnei, S. flexneri 1b, 2a and 3a identified among the most prevalent Shigella serotypes in LMICs. Driven by the immunogenicity results obtained in clinic with a first-generation mono-component vaccine, a new S. sonnei GMMA construct was generated and combined with three S. flexneri GMMA in a 4-component Alhydrogel formulation (altSonflex1-2-3). This formulation was highly immunogenic, with no evidence of negative antigenic interference in mice and rabbits. The vaccine induced bactericidal antibodies also against heterologous Shigella strains carrying O-antigens different from those included in the vaccine. The Monocyte Activation Test used to evaluate the potential reactogenicity of the vaccine formulation revealed no differences compared to the S. sonnei mono-component vaccine, shown to be safe in several clinical trials in adults. A GLP toxicology study in rabbits confirmed that the vaccine was well tolerated. The preclinical study results support the clinical evaluation of altSonflex1-2-3 in healthy populations, and a phase 1-2 clinical trial is currently ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Rossi
- GSK Global Health Vaccines R&D (GVGH), Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Gianmarco Gasperini
- GSK Global Health Vaccines R&D (GVGH), Siena, Italy
- GSK Vaccines Srl, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Luigi Sollai
- GSK Global Health Vaccines R&D (GVGH), Siena, Italy
| | - Renzo Alfini
- GSK Global Health Vaccines R&D (GVGH), Siena, Italy
| | | | | | - Mariagrazia Pizza
- GSK Global Health Vaccines R&D (GVGH), Siena, Italy
- GSK Vaccines Srl, Siena, Italy
- Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Rino Rappuoli
- GSK Vaccines Srl, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Biotecnopolo, Siena, Italy
| | - Laura B Martin
- GSK Global Health Vaccines R&D (GVGH), Siena, Italy
- US Pharmacopoeia, Rockville, Maryland, USA
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8
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Aruta MG, Lari E, De Simone D, Semplici B, Semplici C, Dale H, Chirwa E, Kadwala I, Mbewe M, Banda H, Iturriza-Gomara M, Gordon M, Nyirenda T, Piu P, Pizza M, Berlanda Scorza F, Grappi S, Canals R, Rossi O. Characterization of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for Quantification of Antibodies against Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis O-Antigens in Human Sera. BioTech (Basel) 2023; 12:54. [PMID: 37606441 PMCID: PMC10443281 DOI: 10.3390/biotech12030054] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality caused by enteric pathogens worldwide in both children and adults, and vaccines are not yet available. The measurement of antigen-specific antibodies in the sera of vaccinated or convalescent individuals is crucial to understand the incidence of disease and the immunogenicity of vaccine candidates. A solid and standardized assay used to determine the level of specific anti-antigens IgG is therefore of paramount importance. In this work, we presented the characterization of a customized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with continuous readouts and a standardized definition of EU/mL. We assessed various performance parameters: standard curve accuracy, dilutional linearity, intermediate precision, specificity, limits of blanks, and quantification. The simplicity of the assay, its high sensitivity and specificity coupled with its low cost and the use of basic consumables and instruments without the need of high automation makes it suitable for transfer and application to different laboratories, including resource-limiting settings where the disease is endemic. This ELISA is, therefore, fit for purpose to be used for quantification of antibodies against Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis O-antigens in human samples, both for vaccine clinical trials and large sero-epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Aruta
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH) S.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.A.); (D.D.S.); (M.I.-G.); (M.P.); (F.B.S.)
| | - Elisa Lari
- VisMederi S.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (E.L.); (B.S.); (C.S.); (P.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Daniele De Simone
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH) S.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.A.); (D.D.S.); (M.I.-G.); (M.P.); (F.B.S.)
| | - Bianca Semplici
- VisMederi S.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (E.L.); (B.S.); (C.S.); (P.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Claudia Semplici
- VisMederi S.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (E.L.); (B.S.); (C.S.); (P.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Helen Dale
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Programme, Blantyre 30096, Malawi; (H.D.); (E.C.); (I.K.); (M.M.); (H.B.); (M.G.)
- Pathology Department, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi;
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - Esmelda Chirwa
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Programme, Blantyre 30096, Malawi; (H.D.); (E.C.); (I.K.); (M.M.); (H.B.); (M.G.)
- Pathology Department, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi;
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - Innocent Kadwala
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Programme, Blantyre 30096, Malawi; (H.D.); (E.C.); (I.K.); (M.M.); (H.B.); (M.G.)
- Pathology Department, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi;
| | - Maurice Mbewe
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Programme, Blantyre 30096, Malawi; (H.D.); (E.C.); (I.K.); (M.M.); (H.B.); (M.G.)
- Pathology Department, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi;
| | - Happy Banda
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Programme, Blantyre 30096, Malawi; (H.D.); (E.C.); (I.K.); (M.M.); (H.B.); (M.G.)
- Pathology Department, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi;
| | - Miren Iturriza-Gomara
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH) S.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.A.); (D.D.S.); (M.I.-G.); (M.P.); (F.B.S.)
| | - Melita Gordon
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Programme, Blantyre 30096, Malawi; (H.D.); (E.C.); (I.K.); (M.M.); (H.B.); (M.G.)
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - Tonney Nyirenda
- Pathology Department, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi;
| | - Pietro Piu
- VisMederi S.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (E.L.); (B.S.); (C.S.); (P.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Mariagrazia Pizza
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH) S.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.A.); (D.D.S.); (M.I.-G.); (M.P.); (F.B.S.)
- Imperial College South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Francesco Berlanda Scorza
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH) S.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.A.); (D.D.S.); (M.I.-G.); (M.P.); (F.B.S.)
| | - Silvia Grappi
- VisMederi S.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (E.L.); (B.S.); (C.S.); (P.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Rocío Canals
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH) S.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.A.); (D.D.S.); (M.I.-G.); (M.P.); (F.B.S.)
| | - Omar Rossi
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH) S.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.A.); (D.D.S.); (M.I.-G.); (M.P.); (F.B.S.)
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9
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Pecetta S, Nandi A, Weller C, Harris V, Fletcher H, Berlanda Scorza F, Pizza M, Salisbury D, Moxon R, Black S, Bloom DE, Rappuoli R. Vaccines for a sustainable planet. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadf1093. [PMID: 36857432 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adf1093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
The health of the planet is one objective of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Vaccines can affect not only human health but also planet health by reducing poverty, preserving microbial diversity, reducing antimicrobial resistance, and preventing an increase in pandemics that is fueled partly by climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arindam Nandi
- Population Council, New York, NY, USA.,One Health Trust, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Vanessa Harris
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Helen Fletcher
- Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, London, UK.,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Richard Moxon
- Department of Paediatrics, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Steve Black
- Global Vaccine Data Network, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - David E Bloom
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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10
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Pitirollo O, Di Benedetto R, Henriques P, Gasperini G, Mancini F, Carducci M, Massai L, Rossi O, Volbeda AG, Codée JDC, Berlanda Scorza F, Moriel DG, Necchi F, Lay L, Adamo R, Micoli F. Elucidating the role of N-acetylglucosamine in Group A Carbohydrate for the development of an effective glycoconjugate vaccine against Group A Streptococcus. Carbohydr Polym 2023; 311:120736. [PMID: 37028871 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.120736] [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: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Group A Carbohydrate (GAC), conjugated to an appropriate carrier protein, has been proposed as an attractive vaccine candidate against Group A Streptococcus infections. Native GAC consists of a polyrhamnose (polyRha) backbone with N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) at every second rhamnose residue. Both native GAC and the polyRha backbone have been proposed as vaccine components. Here, chemical synthesis and glycoengineering were used to generate a panel of different length GAC and polyrhamnose fragments. Biochemical analyses were performed confirming that the epitope motif of GAC is composed of GlcNAc in the context of the polyrhamnose backbone. Conjugates from GAC isolated and purified from a bacterial strain and polyRha genetically expressed in E. coli and with similar molecular size to GAC were compared in different animal models. The GAC conjugate elicited higher anti-GAC IgG levels with stronger binding capacity to Group A Streptococcus strains than the polyRha one, both in mice and in rabbits. This work contributes to the development of a vaccine against Group A Streptococcus suggesting GAC as preferable saccharide antigen to include in the vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olimpia Pitirollo
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy; Department of Chemistry and CRC Materiali Polimerici (LaMPo), University of Milan, Via C. Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Roberta Di Benedetto
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | | | - Gianmarco Gasperini
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Francesca Mancini
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Martina Carducci
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Luisa Massai
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Omar Rossi
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Anne Geert Volbeda
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen D C Codée
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Danilo Gomes Moriel
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Francesca Necchi
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Luigi Lay
- Department of Chemistry and CRC Materiali Polimerici (LaMPo), University of Milan, Via C. Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | | | - Francesca Micoli
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
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11
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Berlanda Scorza F, Martin LB, Podda A, Rappuoli R. A strategic model for developing vaccines against neglected diseases: An example of industry collaboration for sustainable development. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2022; 18:2136451. [PMID: 36495000 PMCID: PMC9746511 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2136451] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases continue to disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and children aged <5 y. Developing vaccines against diseases endemic in LMICs relies mainly on strong public-private collaborations, but several challenges remain. We review the operating model of the GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), which aims to address these challenges. The model involves i) selection of vaccine targets based on priority ranking for impact on global health; ii) development from design to clinical proof-of-concept; iii) transfer to an industrial partner, for further technical/clinical development, licensing, manufacturing, and distribution. Cost and risks associated with pre-clinical and early clinical development are assumed by GVGH, increasing the probability to make the vaccine more affordable in LMICs. A conjugate vaccine against typhoid fever, Vi-CRM197, has recently obtained WHO prequalification, within a year from licensure in India, demonstrating the success of the GVGH model for development and delivery of global health vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Audino Podda
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Siena, Italy
| | - Rino Rappuoli
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Siena, Italy
- GSK, Siena, Italy
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12
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Abstract
New technologies and unprecedented public investment have transformed vaccine development and allowed fast delivery of safe and efficacious COVID-19 vaccines, mitigating the impact of the pandemic on health and the economy. A quantum change in public investment for vaccine development and widespread vaccine distribution are necessary to achieve global pandemic preparedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Pecetta
- Research and Development Center, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Richard Hatchett
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Oslo, Norway
| | - Steve Black
- University of Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - David E Bloom
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rino Rappuoli
- Research and Development Center, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Siena, Italy
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13
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Micoli F, Nakakana UN, Berlanda Scorza F. Towards a Four-Component GMMA-Based Vaccine against Shigella. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10020328. [PMID: 35214786 PMCID: PMC8880054 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Shigellosis remains a major public health problem around the world; it is one of the leading causes of diarrhoeal disease in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in young children. The increasing reports of Shigella cases associated with anti-microbial resistance are an additional element of concern. Currently, there are no licensed vaccines widely available against Shigella, but several vaccine candidates are in development. It has been demonstrated that the incidence of disease decreases following a prior Shigella infection and that serum and mucosal antibody responses are predominantly directed against the serotype-specific Shigella O-antigen portion of lipopolysaccharide membrane molecules. Many Shigella vaccine candidates are indeed O-antigen-based. Here we present the journey towards the development of a potential low-cost four-component Shigella vaccine, eliciting broad protection against the most prevalent Shigella serotypes, that makes use of the GMMA (Generalized Modules for Membrane Antigens) technology, a novel platform based on bacterial outer membranes for delivery of the O-antigen to the immune system.
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14
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Mancini F, Micoli F, Necchi F, Pizza M, Berlanda Scorza F, Rossi O. GMMA-Based Vaccines: The Known and The Unknown. Front Immunol 2021; 12:715393. [PMID: 34413858 PMCID: PMC8368434 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.715393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [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: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Generalized Modules for Membrane Antigens (GMMA) are outer membrane vesicles derived from Gram-negative bacteria engineered to provide an over-vesiculating phenotype, which represent an attractive platform for the design of affordable vaccines. GMMA can be further genetically manipulated to modulate the risk of systemic reactogenicity and to act as delivery system for heterologous polysaccharide or protein antigens. GMMA are able to induce strong immunogenicity and protection in animal challenge models, and to be well-tolerated and immunogenic in clinical studies. The high immunogenicity could be ascribed to their particulate size, to their ability to present to the immune system multiple antigens in a natural conformation which mimics the bacterial environment, as well as to their intrinsic self-adjuvanticity. However, GMMA mechanism of action and the role in adjuvanticity are still unclear and need further investigation. In this review, we discuss progresses in the development of the GMMA vaccine platform, highlighting successful applications and identifying knowledge gaps and potential challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Mancini
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Micoli
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Necchi
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Siena, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Pizza
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Siena, Italy
| | | | - Omar Rossi
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Siena, Italy
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15
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Stevanovic G, Obradovic A, Ristic S, Petrovic D, Milenkovic B, Mitrovic D, Vignjevic SF, Ilic K, Stoiljkovic V, Lavadinovic L, Pelemis M, Petrovic S, Vidmanic A, Popovic O, Eremic N, Sparrow E, Torelli G, Socquet M, Holt R, Ilieva-Borisova Y, Tang Y, Scorza FB, Flores J, Rathi N. Safety and immunogenicity of a seasonal trivalent inactivated split influenza vaccine: a double blind, phase III randomized clinical trial in healthy Serbian adults. Ther Adv Vaccines Immunother 2020; 8:2515135520925336. [PMID: 32518891 PMCID: PMC7252356 DOI: 10.1177/2515135520925336] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was a phase III, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a seasonal trivalent split, inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) in healthy Serbian adults between the ages of 18 and 65 years. This egg-based vaccine was manufactured by the Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera, Torlak, Belgrade, Serbia. A total of 480 participants were assigned randomly in a ratio of 2:1 to receive a single intramuscular dose (0.5 ml) of the vaccine (15 µg of hemagglutinin per strain) or placebo (phosphate-buffered saline). Participants were monitored for safety, including solicited and unsolicited adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). No SAEs related to vaccination were reported. Injection site pain (51.3%), injection site tenderness (40.4%), tiredness (17.0%), and headache (15.1%) were the most commonly reported solicited events in the vaccine group. Incidence of related unsolicited AEs was low (1.3%) among vaccinees. Hemagglutinin inhibition (HAI) titers were measured before and 21 days after vaccination in 151 participants. Overall, HAI seroconversion rates to H1 and H3 were observed in 90.1% and 76.2% of vaccinees, respectively. For B antigen, it was 51.5%, likely due to high pre-vaccination titers. Post-vaccination seroprotection rates were in the range of 78.2-95.0% for the three antigens. Post-vaccination geometric mean titers (GMT) were at least 3.8 times higher than baseline levels for all the three strains among vaccinees. Overall, the study showed that the vaccine was safe and well tolerated, and induced a robust immune response against all three vaccine strains. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02935192, October 17, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goran Stevanovic
- Clinical Center of Serbia, Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Belgrade Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | | | - Dragan Petrovic
- Institute of Health Care of Workers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | | | | | - Katarina Ilic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vera Stoiljkovic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Lidija Lavadinovic
- Clinical Center of Serbia, Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Belgrade Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Mijomir Pelemis
- Clinical Center of Serbia, Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Belgrade Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Ana Vidmanic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Olga Popovic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Natasa Eremic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Erin Sparrow
- The World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Niraj Rathi
- PATH India, 15th Floor, Dr Gopal Das Bhawan, 28, Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001, India
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16
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Duong TN, Thiem VD, Anh DD, Cuong NP, Thang TC, Huong VM, Chien VC, Phuong NTL, Montomoli E, Holt R, Scorza FB, Flores J, Tewari T. A Phase 2/3 double blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study in healthy adult participants in Vietnam to examine the safety and immunogenicity of an inactivated whole virion, alum adjuvanted, A(H5N1) influenza vaccine (IVACFLU-A/H5N1). Vaccine 2019; 38:1541-1550. [PMID: 31812464 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.11.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A global shortfall of vaccines for avian influenza A(H5N1) would occur, especially in low- and-middle income countries, if a pandemic were to occur. To address this issue, development of a pre-pandemic influenza vaccine was initiated in 2012, leveraging a recently established influenza vaccine manufacturing capacity in Vietnam. METHODS This was a Phase 2/3, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study to test the safety and immunogenicity of IVACFLU-A/H5N1 vaccine in healthy adults. Phase 2 was a dose selection study, in which 300 participants were randomized to one of the three groups (15 mcg, 30 mcg, or placebo). Safety and immunogenicity were assessed in all participants. In Phase 3, 630 participants were randomized to receive the IVACFLU-A/H5N1 vaccine dose selected in Phase 2 (15 mcg, n = 525) or placebo (n = 105). Safety was assessed in all Phase 3 participants and immunogenicity was measured in a subset of participants. RESULTS The vaccine was well tolerated and most of the adverse events were mild and of short duration. Mild pain at the injection site was the most common adverse event seen in 60 percent of participants in the vaccine group in Phase 3. In Phase 2, both 15 mcg and 30 mcg doses were immunogenic, so the lower dose was selected for further testing in Phase 3. In Phase 3 overall seroconversion rates were 68 percent for hemagglutination inhibition (HI), 51 percent for microneutralization (MN) and 56 percent for single radial hemolysis (SRH). The seroprotection rates were 44 percent for HI, 41 percent for MN and 55 percent for SRH. The GMT ratio was 5.31 and 3.7 for HI and MN respectively; GMA was 4.75 for the SRH. CONCLUSION The IVACFLU A/H5N1 was safe and immunogenic. Development of this pandemic avian influenza vaccine is a welcome addition to the limited global pool of these vaccines. ClinicalTrials.gov register NCT02612909.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tran Nhu Duong
- National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Vu Dinh Thiem
- National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Dang Duc Anh
- National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | | | | | | | - Vien Chinh Chien
- Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals, Nha Trang, Viet Nam
| | | | - Emanuele Montomoli
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy; VisMederi srl, Siena, Italy
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17
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Scorza FB, Pardi N. New Kids on the Block: RNA-Based Influenza Virus Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2018; 6:vaccines6020020. [PMID: 29614788 PMCID: PMC6027361 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines6020020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-based immunization strategies have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional vaccine approaches. A substantial body of published work demonstrates that RNA vaccines can elicit potent, protective immune responses against various pathogens. Consonant with its huge impact on public health, influenza virus is one of the best studied targets of RNA vaccine research. Currently licensed influenza vaccines show variable levels of protection against seasonal influenza virus strains but are inadequate against drifted and pandemic viruses. In recent years, several types of RNA vaccines demonstrated efficacy against influenza virus infections in preclinical models. Additionally, comparative studies demonstrated the superiority of some RNA vaccines over the currently used inactivated influenza virus vaccines in animal models. Based on these promising preclinical results, clinical trials have been initiated and should provide valuable information about the translatability of the impressive preclinical data to humans. This review briefly describes RNA-based vaccination strategies, summarizes published preclinical and clinical data, highlights the roadblocks that need to be overcome for clinical applications, discusses the landscape of industrial development, and shares the authors' personal perspectives about the future of RNA-based influenza virus vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Berlanda Scorza
- PATH's Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, 455 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20001, USA.
| | - Norbert Pardi
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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18
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Stevanovic G, Lavadinovic L, Filipovic Vignjevic S, Holt R, Ilic K, Berlanda Scorza F, Sparrow E, Stoiljkovic V, Torelli G, Madenwald T, Socquet M, Barac A, Ilieva-Borisova Y, Pelemis M, Flores J. Safety and immunogenicity of a seasonal trivalent inactivated split influenza vaccine: a phase I randomized clinical trial in healthy Serbian adults. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2018; 14:579-586. [PMID: 29239682 PMCID: PMC5861805 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2017.1415683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 09/26/2017] [Revised: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was a phase I double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a Serbian-produced seasonal trivalent split, inactivated influenza vaccine in healthy adults. The vaccine was manufactured in eggs by the Torlak Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera, Belgrade, Serbia and contained A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B viruses. The clinical trial took place at the Clinical Center of Serbia in Belgrade. Sixty healthy volunteers, aged 18-45 years, were enrolled in the trial. On the day of immunization, volunteers were randomly assigned to receive either a single dose of the trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine (15 μg of hemagglutinin per strain) or placebo (phosphate-buffered saline). Subjects were monitored for adverse events through a clinical history and physical examination, and blood was taken for testing at screening and on day 8 to assess vaccine safety. Serum samples obtained before and 21 days after immunization were tested for influenza antibody titers using hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) and microneutralization (MN) tests. No serious adverse events were reported. Pain and tenderness at the injection site were the most commonly reported symptoms in both vaccine and placebo groups. Overall, serum HAI responses of fourfold or greater magnitude were observed to H1, H3, and B antigen in 80%, 75%, and 70% of subjects, respectively. Seroprotection rates as measured by HAI were also high (100%, 100% and 86.67%, respectively, for H1, H3 and B). Thus, Torlak's seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine was not associated with adverse events, was well-tolerated and immunogenic. It should be further evaluated in clinical trials to provide sufficient safety and immunogenicity data for licensing in Serbia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goran Stevanovic
- Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Lidija Lavadinovic
- Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Renée Holt
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Katarina Ilic
- Diagnostics and Research and Development, Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera “Torlak”, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Erin Sparrow
- Universal Health Coverage and Health Systems, The World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vera Stoiljkovic
- Managing Director of the Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera “Torlak”, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Guido Torelli
- Universal Health Coverage and Health Systems, The World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tamra Madenwald
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Muriel Socquet
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aleksandra Barac
- Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Mijomir Pelemis
- Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jorge Flores
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Seattle, WA, USA
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19
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Anh DD, Thiem VD, Anh NTH, Huong VM, Nga NT, Thang TC, Thai DH, Chien VC, Holt R, Wahid R, Flores J, Berlanda Scorza F, Taylor DN. Randomized safety and immunogenicity trial of a seasonal trivalent inactivated split virion influenza vaccine (IVACFLU-S) in healthy young Vietnamese adults. Vaccine 2016; 34:5457-5462. [PMID: 27567493 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.08.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 06/02/2016] [Revised: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Action Plan, PATH supported evaluation of a trivalent, seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine candidate produced by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), a Vietnamese manufacturer. METHODS In 2015, 60 healthy adult subjects 18-45years of age were enrolled in a Phase 1, single center, double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study conducted at a district health center in Thai Binh Province, Vietnam. The study evaluated the overall safety and immunogenicity of a seasonal, trivalent inactivated split virion influenza vaccine. Volunteers were given either vaccine or placebo in a randomized 1:1 ratio. After undergoing screening, eligible volunteers provided their signed consent and were enrolled in the study. On the first day of immunization, randomly chosen volunteers received IVACFLU-S 15μg (mcg) hemagglutinin of each of the three strains in 0.5mL or placebo by intramuscular injection. All volunteers were monitored for adverse events and underwent blood testing at screening and Day 8 to assess the vaccine candidate's safety. Sera obtained before and 21days after immunization were tested for influenza antibody titers using the hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) and microneutralization tests (MNT). RESULTS Vaccine was well tolerated, and there were no serious adverse events reported. HAI and MNT identified serum antibody responses against the three influenza strains in nearly all volunteers who received the vaccine. Overall, serum HAI responses of fourfold or greater were observed in 93 percent, 83 percent, and 77 percent of H1, H3, and B strains, respectively. Seroprotection rates were also very high. CONCLUSIONS IVAC's seasonal, trivalent influenza vaccine was safe and well tolerated and induced high levels of seroconversion and seroprotection rates. These clinical data are a first step towards demonstrating the feasibility of producing the vaccine locally and that seasonal vaccine production in Vietnam may be an effective strategy for enhancing the global influenza vaccine supply. ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02598089, October 15, 2015.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dang Duc Anh
- National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Vu Dinh Thiem
- National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | | | - Vu Minh Huong
- PATH VN, 11th Floor, Hanoi Towers, 49 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Nguyen Tuyet Nga
- PATH VN, 11th Floor, Hanoi Towers, 49 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Tran Cong Thang
- PATH VN, 11th Floor, Hanoi Towers, 49 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Duong Huu Thai
- Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), Nha Trang, Viet Nam
| | - Vien Chinh Chien
- Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), Nha Trang, Viet Nam
| | - Renee Holt
- PATH US, Seattle, WA 98121, United States
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Wahid R, Holt R, Hjorth R, Berlanda Scorza F. Chemistry, manufacturing and control (CMC) and clinical trial technical support for influenza vaccine manufacturers. Vaccine 2016; 34:5430-5435. [PMID: 27484011 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.07.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 06/02/2016] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
With the support of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services, PATH has contributed to the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Global Action Plan for Influenza Vaccines (GAP) by providing technical and clinical assistance to several developing country vaccine manufacturers (DCVMs). GAP builds regionally based independent and sustainable influenza vaccine production capacity to mitigate the overall global shortage of influenza vaccines. The program also ensures adequate influenza vaccine manufacturing capacity in the event of an influenza pandemic. Since 2009, PATH has worked closely with two DCVMs in Vietnam: the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) and VABIOTECH. Beginning in 2013, PATH also began working with Torlak Institute in Serbia; Instituto Butantan in Brazil; Serum Institute of India Private Ltd. in India; and Changchun BCHT Biotechnology Co. (BCHT) in China. The DCVMs supported under the GAP program all had existing influenza vaccine manufacturing capability and required technical support from PATH to improve vaccine yield, process efficiency, and product formulation. PATH has provided customized technical support for the manufacturing process to each DCVM based on their respective requirements. Additionally, PATH, working with BARDA and WHO, supported several DCVMs in the clinical development of influenza vaccine candidates progressing toward national licensure or WHO prequalification. As a result of the activities outlined in this review, several companies were able to make excellent progress in developing state-of-the-art manufacturing processes and completing early phase clinical trials. Licensure trials are currently ongoing or planned for several DCVMs.
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Bartolini E, Ianni E, Frigimelica E, Petracca R, Galli G, Berlanda Scorza F, Norais N, Laera D, Giusti F, Pierleoni A, Donati M, Cevenini R, Finco O, Grandi G, Grifantini R. Recombinant outer membrane vesicles carrying Chlamydia muridarum HtrA induce antibodies that neutralize chlamydial infection in vitro. J Extracell Vesicles 2013; 2:20181. [PMID: 24009891 PMCID: PMC3760637 DOI: 10.3402/jev.v2i0.20181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [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: 11/28/2012] [Revised: 03/01/2013] [Accepted: 03/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are spheroid particles released by all Gram-negative bacteria as a result of the budding out of the outer membrane. Since they carry many of the bacterial surface-associated proteins and feature a potent built-in adjuvanticity, OMVs are being utilized as vaccines, some of which commercially available. Recently, methods for manipulating the protein content of OMVs have been proposed, thus making OMVs a promising platform for recombinant, multivalent vaccines development. METHODS Chlamydia muridarum DO serine protease HtrA, an antigen which stimulates strong humoral and cellular responses in mice and humans, was expressed in Escherichia coli fused to the OmpA leader sequence to deliver it to the OMV compartment. Purified OMVs carrying HtrA (CM rHtrA-OMV) were analyzed for their capacity to induce antibodies capable of neutralizing Chlamydia infection of LLC-MK2 cells in vitro. RESULTS CM rHtrA-OMV immunization in mice induced antibodies that neutralize Chlamydial invasion as judged by an in vitro infectivity assay. This was remarkably different from what observed with an enzymatically functional recombinant HtrA expressed in, and purified from the E. coli cytoplasm (CM rHtrA). The difference in functionality between anti-CM rHtrA and anti-CM rHtrA-OMV antibodies was associated to a different pattern of protein epitopes recognition. The epitope recognition profile of anti-CM HtrA-OMV antibodies was similar to that induced in mice during Chlamydial infection. CONCLUSIONS When expressed in OMVs HtrA appears to assume a conformation similar to the native one and this results in the elicitation of functional immune responses. These data further support the potentiality of OMVs as vaccine platform.
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Berlanda Scorza F, Colucci AM, Maggiore L, Sanzone S, Rossi O, Ferlenghi I, Pesce I, Caboni M, Norais N, Di Cioccio V, Saul A, Gerke C. High yield production process for Shigella outer membrane particles. PLoS One 2012; 7:e35616. [PMID: 22701551 PMCID: PMC3368891 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2011] [Accepted: 03/22/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Gram-negative bacteria naturally shed particles that consist of outer membrane lipids, outer membrane proteins, and soluble periplasmic components. These particles have been proposed for use as vaccines but the yield has been problematic. We developed a high yielding production process of genetically derived outer membrane particles from the human pathogen Shigella sonnei. Yields of approximately 100 milligrams of membrane-associated proteins per liter of fermentation were obtained from cultures of S. sonnei ΔtolR ΔgalU at optical densities of 30-45 in a 5 L fermenter. Proteomic analysis of the purified particles showed the preparation to primarily contain predicted outer membrane and periplasmic proteins. These were highly immunogenic in mice. The production of these outer membrane particles from high density cultivation of bacteria supports the feasibility of scaling up this approach as an affordable manufacturing process. Furthermore, we demonstrate the feasibility of using this process with other genetic manipulations e.g. abolition of O antigen synthesis and modification of the lipopolysaccharide structure in order to modify the immunogenicity or reactogenicity of the particles. This work provides the basis for a large scale manufacturing process of Generalized Modules of Membrane Antigens (GMMA) for production of vaccines from gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luana Maggiore
- Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Siena, Italy
| | - Silvia Sanzone
- Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Siena, Italy
| | - Omar Rossi
- Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Isabella Pesce
- Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Allan Saul
- Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Siena, Italy
| | - Christiane Gerke
- Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Siena, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Marteyn B, Scorza FB, Sansonetti PJ, Tang C. Breathing life into pathogens: the influence of oxygen on bacterial virulence and host responses in the gastrointestinal tract. Cell Microbiol 2010; 13:171-6. [PMID: 21166974 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2010.01549.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal tract provides a variety of environmental challenges to any bacterium seeking to successfully colonize or cause disease in a host. A major obstacle is the varied oxygen concentrations encountered at different sites in the intestine. Here we review the mechanisms bacterial pathogens utilize to sense oxygen within the gastrointestinal tract, and recent insights into how this acts as a signal to trigger virulence and to modulate host responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Marteyn
- Unité de Pathogénie Microbienne Moléculaire, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Dr Roux, Paris Cédex 15, France
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Solinger JA, Paolinelli R, Klöß H, Scorza FB, Marchesi S, Sauder U, Mitsushima D, Capuani F, Stürzenbaum SR, Cassata G. The Caenorhabditis elegans Elongator complex regulates neuronal alpha-tubulin acetylation. PLoS Genet 2010; 6:e1000820. [PMID: 20107598 PMCID: PMC2809763 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [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: 01/19/2009] [Accepted: 12/18/2009] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although acetylated alpha-tubulin is known to be a marker of stable microtubules in neurons, precise factors that regulate alpha-tubulin acetylation are, to date, largely unknown. Therefore, a genetic screen was employed in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that identified the Elongator complex as a possible regulator of alpha-tubulin acetylation. Detailed characterization of mutant animals revealed that the acetyltransferase activity of the Elongator is indeed required for correct acetylation of microtubules and for neuronal development. Moreover, the velocity of vesicles on microtubules was affected by mutations in Elongator. Elongator mutants also displayed defects in neurotransmitter levels. Furthermore, acetylation of alpha-tubulin was shown to act as a novel signal for the fine-tuning of microtubules dynamics by modulating alpha-tubulin turnover, which in turn affected neuronal shape. Given that mutations in the acetyltransferase subunit of the Elongator (Elp3) and in a scaffold subunit (Elp1) have previously been linked to human neurodegenerative diseases, namely Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Familial Dysautonomia respectively highlights the importance of this work and offers new insights to understand their etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jachen A. Solinger
- C. elegans Genetics, IFOM, Fondazione Istituto FIRC di Oncologia Molecolare, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Paolinelli
- C. elegans Genetics, IFOM, Fondazione Istituto FIRC di Oncologia Molecolare, Milan, Italy
| | - Holger Klöß
- C. elegans Genetics, IFOM, Fondazione Istituto FIRC di Oncologia Molecolare, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Marchesi
- C. elegans Genetics, IFOM, Fondazione Istituto FIRC di Oncologia Molecolare, Milan, Italy
| | - Ursula Sauder
- Microscopy Center, Pharmazentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dai Mitsushima
- Department of Physiology, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | | | - Stephen R. Stürzenbaum
- School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Pharmaceutical Science Division, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giuseppe Cassata
- C. elegans Genetics, IFOM, Fondazione Istituto FIRC di Oncologia Molecolare, Milan, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Metruccio MME, Pigozzi E, Roncarati D, Berlanda Scorza F, Norais N, Hill SA, Scarlato V, Delany I. A novel phase variation mechanism in the meningococcus driven by a ligand-responsive repressor and differential spacing of distal promoter elements. PLoS Pathog 2009; 5:e1000710. [PMID: 20041170 PMCID: PMC2791445 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [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: 08/19/2009] [Accepted: 11/25/2009] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Phase variable expression, mediated by high frequency reversible changes in the length of simple sequence repeats, facilitates adaptation of bacterial populations to changing environments and is frequently important in bacterial virulence. Here we elucidate a novel phase variable mechanism for NadA, an adhesin and invasin of Neisseria meningitidis. The NadR repressor protein binds to operators flanking the phase variable tract and contributes to the differential expression levels of phase variant promoters with different numbers of repeats likely due to different spacing between operators. We show that IHF binds between these operators, and may permit looping of the promoter, allowing interaction of NadR at operators located distally or overlapping the promoter. The 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, a metabolite of aromatic amino acid catabolism that is secreted in saliva, induces NadA expression by inhibiting the DNA binding activity of the repressor. When induced, only minor differences are evident between NadR-independent transcription levels of promoter phase variants and are likely due to differential RNA polymerase contacts leading to altered promoter activity. Our results suggest that NadA expression is under both stochastic and tight environmental-sensing regulatory control, both mediated by the NadR repressor, and may be induced during colonization of the oropharynx where it plays a major role in the successful adhesion and invasion of the mucosa. Hence, simple sequence repeats in promoter regions may be a strategy used by host-adapted bacterial pathogens to randomly switch between expression states that may nonetheless still be induced by appropriate niche-specific signals. Diversification strategies, through genetic switches that randomly turn genes on and off, occur in many pathogenic bacterial populations and confer adaptive advantages to new environments and evasion of host immune responses. This is often mediated by spontaneous changes in the length of short DNA sequence repeats located in protein-coding regions or upstream regulatory regions, leading to deactivation or alteration of the associated genes. In this study we describe how a repeat sequence, distally upstream of the promoter region, alters the expression of an important adhesin of N. meningitidis. We identify the major mediator of this control, a negative regulator NadR, which binds to sequences flanking the variable repeat. Changes in the spacing between these sequences affect the ability of NadR to shut down expression from the promoter. We also identify a relevant metabolite that can block NadR activity and therefore act as a signal to induce adhesin expression. This finding sheds new light on the role of DNA-repeats identified in intergenic regions for which no role could be hypothesised, and may be a model mechanism used by bacterial pathogens for fine-tuning diversity within the host. Elucidating these mechanisms can aid in our understanding and prevention of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eva Pigozzi
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Stuart A. Hill
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Vincenzo Scarlato
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Siena, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Isabel Delany
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Siena, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Berlanda Scorza F, Doro F, Rodríguez-Ortega MJ, Stella M, Liberatori S, Taddei AR, Serino L, Gomes Moriel D, Nesta B, Fontana MR, Spagnuolo A, Pizza M, Norais N, Grandi G. Proteomics characterization of outer membrane vesicles from the extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli DeltatolR IHE3034 mutant. Mol Cell Proteomics 2007; 7:473-85. [PMID: 17982123 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m700295-mcp200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli are the cause of a diverse spectrum of invasive infections in humans and animals, leading to urinary tract infections, meningitis, or septicemia. In this study, we focused our attention on the identification of the outer membrane proteins of the pathogen in consideration of their important biological role and of their use as potential targets for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. To this aim, we generated a DeltatolR mutant of the pathogenic IHE3034 strain that spontaneously released a large quantity of outer membrane vesicles in the culture supernatant. The vesicles were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry. The analysis led to the identification of 100 proteins, most of which are localized to the outer membrane and periplasmic compartments. Interestingly based on the genome sequences available in the current public database, seven of the identified proteins appear to be specific for pathogenic E. coli and enteric bacteria and therefore are potential targets for vaccine and drug development. Finally we demonstrated that the cytolethal distending toxin, a toxin exclusively produced by pathogenic bacteria, is released in association with the vesicles, supporting the recently proposed role of bacterial vesicles in toxin delivery to host cells. Overall, our data demonstrated that outer membrane vesicles represent an ideal tool to study Gram-negative periplasm and outer membrane compartments and to shed light on new mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis.
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