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Zykova AA, Blokhina EA, Stepanova LA, Shuklina MA, Ozhereleva OO, Tsybalova LM, Kuprianov VV, Ravin NV. Nanoparticles Carrying Conserved Regions of Influenza A Hemagglutinin, Nucleoprotein, and M2 Protein Elicit a Strong Humoral and T Cell Immune Response and Protect Animals from Infection. Molecules 2023; 28:6441. [PMID: 37764217 PMCID: PMC10537994 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28186441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Current influenza vaccines are mainly strain-specific and have limited efficacy in preventing new influenza A strains. Efficient control of infection can potentially be achieved through the development of broad-spectrum vaccines based on conserved antigens. A combination of several such antigens, including the conserved region of the second subunit of the hemagglutinin (HA2), the extracellular domain of the M2 protein (M2e), and epitopes of nucleoprotein (NP), which together can elicit an antibody- and cell-mediated immune response, would be preferred for vaccine development. In this study, we obtained recombinant virus-like particles formed by an artificial self-assembling peptide (SAP) carrying two epitopes from NP, tandem copies of M2e and HA2 peptides, along with a T helper Pan DR-binding epitope (PADRE). Fusion proteins expressed in Escherichia coli self-assembled in vitro into spherical particles with a size of 15-35 nm. Immunization of mice with these particles induced strong humoral immune response against M2e and the entire virus, and lead to the formation of cytokine-secreting antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ effector memory T cells. Immunization provided high protection of mice against the lethal challenge with the influenza A virus. Our results show that SAP-based nanoparticles carrying conserved peptides from M2, HA, and NP proteins of the influenza A virus, as well as T helper epitope PADRE, can be used for the development of universal flu vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A. Zykova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Elena A. Blokhina
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Liudmila A. Stepanova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg 197376, Russia
| | - Marina A. Shuklina
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg 197376, Russia
| | - Olga O. Ozhereleva
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg 197376, Russia
| | - Liudmila M. Tsybalova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg 197376, Russia
| | - Victor V. Kuprianov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Nikolai V. Ravin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
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Blokhina EA, Mardanova ES, Zykova AA, Stepanova LA, Shuklina MA, Tsybalova LM, Ravin NV. Plant-Produced Nanoparticles Based on Artificial Self-Assembling Peptide Bearing the Influenza M2e Epitope. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:plants12112228. [PMID: 37299207 DOI: 10.3390/plants12112228] [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: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite advances in vaccine development, influenza remains a persistent global health threat and the search for a broad-spectrum recombinant vaccine against influenza continues. The extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 (M2e) of the influenza A virus is highly conserved and can be used to develop a universal vaccine. M2e is a poor immunogen by itself, but it becomes highly immunogenic when linked to an appropriate carrier. Here, we report the transient expression of a recombinant protein comprising four tandem copies of M2e fused to an artificial self-assembling peptide (SAP) in plants. The hybrid protein was efficiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana using the self-replicating potato virus X-based vector pEff. The protein was purified using metal affinity chromatography under denaturing conditions. The hybrid protein was capable of self-assembly in vitro into spherical particles 15-30 nm in size. The subcutaneous immunization of mice with M2e-carrying nanoparticles induced high levels of M2e-specific IgG antibodies in serum and mucosal secretions. Immunization provided mice with protection against a lethal influenza A virus challenge. SAP-based nanoparticles displaying M2e peptides can be further used to develop a recombinant "universal" vaccine against influenza A produced in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena A Blokhina
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Eugenia S Mardanova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A Zykova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Liudmila A Stepanova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Marina A Shuklina
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Liudmila M Tsybalova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Nikolai V Ravin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
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3
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Svenskaya YI, Lengert EV, Tarakanchikova YV, Muslimov AR, Saveleva MS, Genina EA, Radchenko IL, Stepanova LA, Vasin AV, Sukhorukov GB, Tsybalova LM. Non-invasive transcutaneous influenza immunization using vaccine-loaded vaterite particles. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:3860-3870. [PMID: 37013677 DOI: 10.1039/d2tb02779h] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Transcutaneous immunization receives much attention due to the recognition of a complex network of immunoregulatory cells in various layers of the skin. The elaboration of non-invasive needle-free approaches towards antigen delivery holds especially great potential here while searching for a hygienically optimal vaccination strategy. Here, we report on a novel protocol for transfollicular immunization aiming at delivery of an inactivated influenza vaccine to perifollicular antigen presenting cells without disrupting the stratum corneum integrity. Porous calcium carbonate (vaterite) submicron carriers and sonophoresis were utilized for this purpose. Transportation of the vaccine-loaded particles into hair follicles of mice was assessed in vivo via optical coherence tomography monitoring. The effectiveness of the designed immunization protocol was further demonstrated in an animal model by means of micro-neutralization and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The titers of secreted virus-specific IgGs were compared to those obtained in response to intramuscular immunization using conventional influenza vaccine formulation demonstrating no statistically significant differences in antibody levels between the groups. The findings of our pilot study render the intra-follicular delivery of the inactivated influenza vaccine by means of vaterite carriers a promising alternative to invasive immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia I Svenskaya
- Scientific Medical Center, Saratov State University, Saratov 410012, Russia.
| | - Ekaterina V Lengert
- Scientific Medical Center, Saratov State University, Saratov 410012, Russia.
| | | | - Albert R Muslimov
- Saint Petersburg Academic University, Saint-Petersburg 194021, Russia
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia
- Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Saint-Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Mariia S Saveleva
- Scientific Medical Center, Saratov State University, Saratov 410012, Russia.
| | - Elina A Genina
- Scientific Medical Center, Saratov State University, Saratov 410012, Russia.
| | - Igor L Radchenko
- Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Saint-Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | | | - Andrey V Vasin
- Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Saint-Petersburg 195251, Russia
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Egorov VV, Shvetsov AV, Pichkur EB, Shaldzhyan AA, Zabrodskaya YA, Vinogradova DS, Nekrasov PA, Gorshkov AN, Garmay YP, Kovaleva AA, Stepanova LA, Tsybalova LM, Shtam TA, Myasnikov AG, Konevega AL. Inside and outside of virus-like particles HBc and HBc/4M2e: A comprehensive study of the structure. Biophys Chem 2023; 293:106943. [PMID: 36495688 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2022.106943] [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: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBc) with the insertion of four external domains of the influenza A M2 protein (HBc/4M2e) form virus-like particles whose structure was studied using a combination of molecular modeling and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). It was also shown that self-assembling of the particles occurs inside bacterial cells, but despite the big inner volume of the core shell particle, purified HBc/4M2e contain an insignificant amount of bacterial proteins. It was shown that a fragment of the M2e corresponding to 4M2e insertion is prone to formation of amyloid-like fibrils. However, as the part of the immunodominant loop, M2e insertion does not show a tendency to intermolecular interaction. A full-atomic HBc-4M2e model with the resolution of about 3 Å (3.13 Å for particles of Т = 4 symmetry, 3.7 Å for particles of Т = 3 symmetry) was obtained by molecular modeling methods based on cryo-EM data.
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Affiliation(s)
- V V Egorov
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», Orlova roscha 1, Gatchina 188300, Russian Federation; Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376, Prof. Popov St. 15/17, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, 123182 Moscow, Russian Federation; Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academika Pavlova, 12, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.
| | - A V Shvetsov
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», Orlova roscha 1, Gatchina 188300, Russian Federation; National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, 123182 Moscow, Russian Federation; Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University, Politehnicheskaya 29, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - E B Pichkur
- National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, 123182 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - A A Shaldzhyan
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376, Prof. Popov St. 15/17, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Ya A Zabrodskaya
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376, Prof. Popov St. 15/17, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University, Politehnicheskaya 29, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - D S Vinogradova
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», Orlova roscha 1, Gatchina 188300, Russian Federation
| | - P A Nekrasov
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376, Prof. Popov St. 15/17, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - A N Gorshkov
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376, Prof. Popov St. 15/17, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Yu P Garmay
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», Orlova roscha 1, Gatchina 188300, Russian Federation
| | - A A Kovaleva
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376, Prof. Popov St. 15/17, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - L A Stepanova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376, Prof. Popov St. 15/17, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - L M Tsybalova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 197376, Prof. Popov St. 15/17, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - T A Shtam
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», Orlova roscha 1, Gatchina 188300, Russian Federation; National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, 123182 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - A G Myasnikov
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», Orlova roscha 1, Gatchina 188300, Russian Federation; National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, 123182 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - A L Konevega
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», Orlova roscha 1, Gatchina 188300, Russian Federation; National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, 123182 Moscow, Russian Federation; Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University, Politehnicheskaya 29, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
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Tsybalova LM, Stepanova LA, Ramsay ES, Vasin AV. Influenza B: Prospects for the Development of Cross-Protective Vaccines. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061323. [PMID: 35746794 PMCID: PMC9228933 DOI: 10.3390/v14061323] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In this review, we analyze the epidemiological and ecological features of influenza B, one of the most common and severe respiratory infections. The review presents various strategies for cross-protective influenza B vaccine development, including recombinant viruses, virus-like particles, and recombinant proteins. We provide an overview of viral proteins as cross-protective vaccine targets, along with other updated broadly protective vaccine strategies. The importance of developing such vaccines lies not only in influenza B prevention, but also in the very attractive prospect of eradicating the influenza B virus in the human population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liudmila M. Tsybalova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Prof. Popova Str., 15/17, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia; (L.A.S.); (E.S.R.); or (A.V.V.)
- Correspondence: or
| | - Liudmila A. Stepanova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Prof. Popova Str., 15/17, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia; (L.A.S.); (E.S.R.); or (A.V.V.)
| | - Edward S. Ramsay
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Prof. Popova Str., 15/17, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia; (L.A.S.); (E.S.R.); or (A.V.V.)
| | - Andrey V. Vasin
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Prof. Popova Str., 15/17, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia; (L.A.S.); (E.S.R.); or (A.V.V.)
- Research Institute of Influenza named after A.A. Smorodintsev, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Polytechnicheskaya, 29, 195251 St. Petersburg, Russia
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6
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Zykova AA, Blokhina EA, Stepanova LA, Shuklina MA, Tsybalova LM, Kuprianov VV, Ravin NV. Nanoparticles based on artificial self-assembling peptide and displaying M2e peptide and stalk HA epitopes of influenza A virus induce potent humoral and T-cell responses and protect against the viral infection. Nanomedicine 2021; 39:102463. [PMID: 34583058 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2021.102463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular domain of the M2 protein (M2e) and conserved region of the second subunit of the hemagglutinin (HA2) could be used for the development of broad-spectrum vaccines against influenza A. Here we obtained and characterized recombinant mosaic proteins containing tandem copies of M2e and HA2 fused to an artificial self-assembling peptide (SAP). The inclusion of SAP peptides in the fusion proteins enabled their self-assembly in vitro into spherical particles with a size of 30-50 nm. Intranasal immunization of mice with these particles without additional adjuvants induced strong humoral immune response against M2e and the whole virus. Particles carrying both M2e and HA2 induced antigen-specific multifunctional CD4+ effector memory T cells. Immunization provided high protection of mice against the lethal challenge with different subtypes of influenza A virus. The obtained self-assembling nanoparticles can be used to develop a universal influenza vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A Zykova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena A Blokhina
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Liudmila A Stepanova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Marina A Shuklina
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Liudmila M Tsybalova
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Victor V Kuprianov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolai V Ravin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
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Zykova AA, Blokhina EA, Kotlyarov RY, Stepanova LA, Tsybalova LM, Kuprianov VV, Ravin NV. Highly Immunogenic Nanoparticles Based on a Fusion Protein Comprising the M2e of Influenza A Virus and a Lipopeptide. Viruses 2020; 12:E1133. [PMID: 33036278 PMCID: PMC7601894 DOI: 10.3390/v12101133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The highly conserved extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 (M2e) of the influenza A virus is a promising target for the development of broad-spectrum vaccines. However, M2e is a poor immunogen by itself and must be linked to an appropriate carrier to induce an efficient immune response. In this study, we obtained recombinant mosaic proteins containing tandem copies of M2e fused to a lipopeptide from Neisseria meningitidis surface lipoprotein Ag473 and alpha-helical linkers and analyzed their immunogenicity. Six fusion proteins, comprising four or eight tandem copies of M2e flanked by alpha-helical linkers, lipopeptides, or a combination of both of these elements, were produced in Escherichia coli. The proteins, containing both alpha-helical linkers and lipopeptides at each side of M2e repeats, formed nanosized particles, but no particulate structures were observed in the absence of lipopeptides. Animal study results showed that proteins with lipopeptides induced strong M2e-specific antibody responses in the absence of external adjuvants compared to similar proteins without lipopeptides. Thus, the recombinant M2e-based proteins containing alpha-helical linkers and N. meningitidis lipopeptide sequences at the N- and C-termini of four or eight tandem copies of M2e peptide are promising vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A. Zykova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.Z.); (E.A.B.); (R.Y.K.)
| | - Elena A. Blokhina
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.Z.); (E.A.B.); (R.Y.K.)
| | - Roman Y. Kotlyarov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.Z.); (E.A.B.); (R.Y.K.)
| | - Liudmila A. Stepanova
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 23805 St. Petersburg, Russia; (L.A.S.); (L.M.T.)
| | - Liudmila M. Tsybalova
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, 23805 St. Petersburg, Russia; (L.A.S.); (L.M.T.)
| | - Victor V. Kuprianov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.Z.); (E.A.B.); (R.Y.K.)
| | - Nikolai V. Ravin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.Z.); (E.A.B.); (R.Y.K.)
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Blokhina EA, Mardanova ES, Stepanova LA, Tsybalova LM, Ravin NV. Plant-Produced Recombinant Influenza A Virus Candidate Vaccine Based on Flagellin Linked to Conservative Fragments of M2 Protein and Hemagglutintin. Plants (Basel) 2020; 9:plants9020162. [PMID: 32013187 PMCID: PMC7076671 DOI: 10.3390/plants9020162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The development of recombinant influenza vaccines with broad spectrum protection is an important task. The combination of conservative viral antigens, such as M2e, the extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2, and conserved regions of the second subunit of hemagglutinin (HA), provides an opportunity for the development of universal influenza vaccines. Immunogenicity of the antigens could be enhanced by fusion to bacterial flagellin, the ligand for Toll-like receptor 5, acting as a powerful mucosal adjuvant. In this study, we report the transient expression in plants of a recombinant protein comprising flagellin of Salmonella typhimurium fused to the conserved region of the second subunit of HA (76–130 a.a.) of the first phylogenetic group of influenza A viruses and four tandem copies of the M2e peptide. The hybrid protein was expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using the self-replicating potato virus X-based vector pEff up to 300 µg/g of fresh leaf tissue. The intranasal immunization of mice with purified fusion protein induced high levels of M2e-specific serum antibodies and provided protection against lethal challenge with influenza A virus strain A/Aichi/2/68(H3N2). Our results show that M2e and hemagglutinin-derived peptide can be used as important targets for the development of a plant-produced vaccine against influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena A. Blokhina
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 101000, Russia; (E.A.B.); (E.S.M.)
| | - Eugenia S. Mardanova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 101000, Russia; (E.A.B.); (E.S.M.)
| | - Liudmila A. Stepanova
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg 23805, Russia; (L.A.S.); (L.M.T.)
| | - Liudmila M. Tsybalova
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg 23805, Russia; (L.A.S.); (L.M.T.)
| | - Nikolai V. Ravin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 101000, Russia; (E.A.B.); (E.S.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-499-7833264
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9
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Tsybalova LM, Stepanova LA, Shuklina MA, Mardanova ES, Kotlyarov RY, Potapchuk MV, Petrov SA, Blokhina EA, Ravin NV. Combination of M2e peptide with stalk HA epitopes of influenza A virus enhances protective properties of recombinant vaccine. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201429. [PMID: 30138320 PMCID: PMC6107133 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Influenza infection could be more effectively controlled if a multi-purpose vaccine with the ability to induce responses against most, or all, influenza A subtypes could be generated. Conserved viral proteins are a promising basis for the creation of a broadly protective vaccine. In the present study, the immunogenicity and protective properties of three recombinant proteins (vaccine candidates), comprising conserved viral proteins fused with bacterial flagellin, were compared. Methods Balb/c mice were immunized intranasally with recombinant proteins comprising either one viral protein (the ectodomain of the M2 protein, ‘M2e’) or two viral proteins (M2e and the hemagglutinin second subunit ‘HA2’ epitope) genetically fused with flagellin. Further, two different consensus variants of HA2 were used. Therefore, three experimental positives were used in addition to the negative control (Flg-his). The mucosal, humoral, and T-cell immune responses to these constructs were evaluated. Result We have demonstrated that insertion of the HA2 consensus polypeptide (aa 76–130), derived from either the first (HA2-1) or second (HA2-2) virus phylogenetic group, into the recombinant Flg4M2e protein significantly enhanced its immunogenicity and protective properties. Intranasal administration of the vaccine candidates (Flg-HA2-2-4M2e or Flg-HA2-1-4M2e) induced considerable mucosal and systemic responses directed at both the M2e-protein and, in general, the influenza A virus. However, the immune response elicited by the Flg-HA2-1-4M2e protein was weaker than the one generated by Flg-HA2-2-4M2e. These recombinant proteins containing both viral peptides provide complete protection from lethal challenge with various influenza viruses: A/H3N2; A/H2N2; and A/H5N1. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the intranasal administration of Flg-HA2-2-4M2e recombinant protein induces a strong immune response which provides broad protection against various influenza viruses. This construct is therefore a strong candidate for development as a universal vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liudmila M. Tsybalova
- Department of Vaccinology, Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
- * E-mail:
| | - Liudmila A. Stepanova
- Department of Vaccinology, Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Marina A. Shuklina
- Department of Vaccinology, Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Eugenia S. Mardanova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Roman Y. Kotlyarov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina V. Potapchuk
- Department of Vaccinology, Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sergei A. Petrov
- Department of Vaccinology, Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elena A. Blokhina
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolai V. Ravin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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Tsybalova LM, Stepanova LA, Shuklina MA, Petrov SV, Kovaleva AA, Potapchuk MV, Shaldzhan AA, Zabrodskaya YA, Egorov VV. CROSS-PROTECTIVE PROPERTIES OF AN INFLUENZA VACCINE BASED ON HBC4M2E RECOMBINANT PROTEIN. Vopr Virusol 2018; 63:68-76. [PMID: 36494924 DOI: 10.18821/0507-4088-2018-63-2-68-76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
One of the main problems in the area of influenza prophylaxis and pandemic prevention is the development of cross-reactive vaccines, i.e. vaccines directed against all subtypes of human influenza viruses. Such vaccines are being developed in many countries for more than 10 years. A number of vaccines are presently undergoing clinical trials. We created Uniflu candidate vaccine based on recombinant HBc4M2e protein consisting of 4 tandem-connected copies of the highly conserved ectodomain of M2 protein of the influenza A virus. These 4 copies were genetically fused to the carrier protein, namely hepatitis B core antigen. Commercially available Derinat was used as adjuvant in the candidate vaccine. Preclinical studies on laboratory animals (mice, ferrets) demonstrated that immunization with Uniflu leads to significantly higher level of specific immunoglobulins in the blood and bronchoalveolar lavages. Moreover, it produces immunoglobulins belonging to subtype IgG2a that is the most important mediator of antibody-dependent cytotoxicity. The vaccine under review stimulates the proliferation of T-lymphocytes, as well as the formation of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells synthesizing ɣ-IFN. When infected with the lethal doses (5 LD50) of influenza A viruses of the subtypes H1N1, H2N2, H3N2, and H1N1pdm09, immunized animals typically developed mild form of illness. This kept them alive in 90-100% of cases, which demonstrated almost complete protection from death. Replication of the virus in the lungs of immunized mice was reduced by 1.8-4.8 log10. High immunogenicity of the vaccine, and reduced clinical symptoms following experimental infection, were demonstrated in ferrets as well. The developed recombinant vaccine Uniflu has high specific activity and cross-protection. Uniflu can be proposed as pre-pandemic vaccine, provided that it passes clinical trials.
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11
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Stepanova LA, Mardanova ES, Shuklina MA, Blokhina EA, Kotlyarov RY, Potapchuk MV, Kovaleva AA, Vidyaeva IG, Korotkov AV, Eletskaya EI, Ravin NV, Tsybalova LM. Flagellin-fused protein targeting M2e and HA2 induces potent humoral and T-cell responses and protects mice against various influenza viruses a subtypes. J Biomed Sci 2018; 25:33. [PMID: 29631629 PMCID: PMC5891888 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-018-0433-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current influenza vaccines are mainly strain-specific and have limited efficacy in preventing new, potentially pandemic, influenza strains. Efficient control of influenza A infection can potentially be achieved through the development of broad-spectrum vaccines based on conserved antigens. A current trend in the design of universal flu vaccines is the construction of recombinant proteins based on combinations of various conserved epitopes of viral proteins (M1, M2, HA2, NP). In this study, we compared the immunogenicity and protective action of two recombinant proteins which feature different designs and which target different antigens. RESULTS Balb/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with Flg-HA2-2-4M2ehs or FlgSh-HA2-2-4M2ehs; these constructs differ in the location of hemagglutinin's HA2-2(76-130) insertion into flagellin (FliC). The humoral and T-cell immune responses to these constructs were evaluated. The simultaneous expression of different M2e and HA2-2(76-130) in recombinant protein form induces a strong M2e-specific IgG response and CD4+/ CD8+ T-cell response. The insertion of HA2-2(76-130) into the hypervariable domain of flagellin greatly increases antigen-specific T-cell response, as evidenced by the formation of multi-cytokine-secreting CD4+, CD8+ T-cells, Tem, and Tcm. Both proteins provide full protection from lethal challenge with A/H3N2 and A/H7N9. CONCLUSION Our results show that highly conserved M2e and HA2-2(76-130) can be used as important targets for the development of universal flu vaccines. The location of the HA2-2(76-130) peptide's insertion into the hypervariable domain of flagellin had a significant effect on the T-cell response to influenza antigens, as seen by forming of multi-cytokine-secreting CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liudmila A Stepanova
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, Prof. Popova str.15/17, 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Eugenia S Mardanova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Ave. 33, building 2, 119071, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina A Shuklina
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, Prof. Popova str.15/17, 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elena A Blokhina
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Ave. 33, building 2, 119071, Moscow, Russia
| | - Roman Y Kotlyarov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Ave. 33, building 2, 119071, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina V Potapchuk
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, Prof. Popova str.15/17, 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anna A Kovaleva
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, Prof. Popova str.15/17, 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Inna G Vidyaeva
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, Prof. Popova str.15/17, 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexandr V Korotkov
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, Prof. Popova str.15/17, 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elizaveta I Eletskaya
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, Prof. Popova str.15/17, 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Nikolai V Ravin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Ave. 33, building 2, 119071, Moscow, Russia
| | - Liudmila M Tsybalova
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Ministry of Health, Prof. Popova str.15/17, 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia
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12
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Mardanova ES, Kotlyarov RY, Kuprianov VV, Stepanova LA, Tsybalova LM, Lomonossoff GP, Ravin NV. High immunogenicity of plant-produced candidate influenza vaccine based on the M2e peptide fused to flagellin. Bioengineered 2015; 7:28-32. [PMID: 26710263 PMCID: PMC4878292 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2015.1126017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Revised: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The ectodomain of the conserved influenza matrix protein M2 (M2e) is a promising target for the development of a universal influenza vaccines. Immunogenicity of M2e could be enhanced by its fusion to bacterial flagellin, the ligand for Toll-like receptor 5. Previously we reported the transient expression in plants of a recombinant protein Flg-4M comprising flagellin fused to 4 tandem copies of the M2e. The use of self-replicating recombinant vector based on the potato virus X allowed expression of Flg-4M in Nicotiana benthaminana leaves at a very high level, up to about 1 mg/g of fresh leaf tissue. Intranasal immunization of mice with Flg-4M induced M2e-specific serum antibodies and provided protection against lethal challenge with different strains of influenza A virus. Here we show that immunization with Flg-4M not only generates a strong immune response, but also redirects the response from the carrier flagellin toward the M2e epitopes. Significant IgG response to M2e was also developed in bronchoalveolar lavages of immunized mice. Protective activity of Flg-4M upon lethal influenza challenge correlated with a decrease of virus titers in lungs relative to the control. Overall these data show the potential for the development of a plant-produced M2e-flagellin universal influenza vaccine.
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MESH Headings
- Administration, Intranasal
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antibodies, Viral/biosynthesis
- Epitopes/chemistry
- Epitopes/genetics
- Filaggrin Proteins
- Flagellin/genetics
- Flagellin/immunology
- Genetic Vectors/chemistry
- Genetic Vectors/metabolism
- Humans
- Immunogenicity, Vaccine
- Immunoglobulin G/biosynthesis
- Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/genetics
- Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/immunology
- Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Influenza Vaccines/biosynthesis
- Influenza Vaccines/genetics
- Influenza, Human/immunology
- Influenza, Human/prevention & control
- Influenza, Human/virology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Plant Leaves/genetics
- Plant Leaves/metabolism
- Plants, Genetically Modified
- Potexvirus/genetics
- Protein Domains
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology
- Nicotiana/genetics
- Nicotiana/metabolism
- Vaccination
- Viral Matrix Proteins/genetics
- Viral Matrix Proteins/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia S. Mardanova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Federation Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Roman Y. Kotlyarov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Federation Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Victor V. Kuprianov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Liudmila A. Stepanova
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Federation Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Liudmila M. Tsybalova
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Federation Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - George P. Lomonossoff
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Center, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Nikolai V. Ravin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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13
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Kiselev OI, Vasin AV, Shevyryova MP, Deeva EG, Sivak KV, Egorov VV, Tsvetkov VB, Egorov AY, Romanovskaya-Romanko EA, Stepanova LA, Komissarov AB, Tsybalova LM, Ignatjev GM. [Ebola hemorrhagic fever: Properties of the pathogen and development of vaccines and chemotherapeutic agents]. Mol Biol (Mosk) 2015; 49:541-554. [PMID: 26299853 DOI: 10.7868/s0026898415040072] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/16/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) epidemic currently ongoing in West Africa is not the first among numerous epidemics in the continent. Yet it seems to be the worst EHF epidemic outbreak caused by Ebola virus Zaire since 1976 as regards its extremely large scale and rapid spread in the population. Experiments to study the agent have continued for more than 20 years. The EHF virus has a relatively simple genome with seven genes and additional reading frame resulting from RNA editing. While being of a relatively low genetic capacity, the virus can be ranked as a standard for pathogenicity with the ability to evade the host immune response in uttermost perfection. The EHF virus has similarities with retroviruses, but belongs to (-)RNA viruses of a nonretroviral origin. Genetic elements of the virus, NIRV, were detected in animal and human genomes. EHF virus glycoprotein (GP) is a class I fusion protein and shows more similarities than distinctions in tertiary structure with SIV and HIV gp41 proteins and even influenza virus hemagglutinin. EHF is an unusual infectious disease, and studying the molecular basis of its pathogenesis may contribute to new findings in therapy of severe conditions leading to a fatal outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- O I Kiselev
- Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, 197376 Russia
| | - A V Vasin
- Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, 197376 Russia
- St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 195251 Russia
| | - M P Shevyryova
- Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 127994 Russia
| | - E G Deeva
- Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, 197376 Russia
| | - K V Sivak
- Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, 197376 Russia
| | - V V Egorov
- Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, 197376 Russia
| | - V B Tsvetkov
- Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, 197376 Russia
- Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, Moscow, 119991 Russia
| | - A Yu Egorov
- Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, 197376 Russia
| | - E A Romanovskaya-Romanko
- Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, 197376 Russia
| | - L A Stepanova
- Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, 197376 Russia
| | - A B Komissarov
- Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, 197376 Russia
| | - L M Tsybalova
- Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, 197376 Russia
| | - G M Ignatjev
- Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, 197376 Russia
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14
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Mardanova ES, Kotlyarov RY, Kuprianov VV, Stepanova LA, Tsybalova LM, Lomonosoff GP, Ravin NV. Rapid high-yield expression of a candidate influenza vaccine based on the ectodomain of M2 protein linked to flagellin in plants using viral vectors. BMC Biotechnol 2015; 15:42. [PMID: 26022390 PMCID: PMC4446962 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-015-0164-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [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: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The extracellular domain of matrix protein 2 (M2e) of influenza A virus is a promising target for the development of a universal vaccine against influenza because M2e sequences are highly conserved among human influenza A strains. However, native M2e is poorly immunogenic, but its immunogenicity can be increased by delivery in combination with adjuvants or carrier particles. It was previously shown that fusion of M2e to bacterial flagellin, the ligand for Toll-like receptor (TLR) 5 and powerful mucosal adjuvant, significantly increases the immunogenicity and protective capacity of M2e. RESULTS In this study, we report for the first time the transient expression in plants of a recombinant protein Flg-4M comprising flagellin of Salmonella typhimurium fused to four tandem copies of the M2e peptide. The chimeric construct was expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using either the self-replicating potato virus X (PVX) based vector, pA7248AMV-GFP, or the cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV)-derived expression vector, pEAQ-HT. The highest expression level up to 30% of total soluble protein (about 1 mg/g of fresh leaf tissue) was achieved with the PVX-based expression system. Intranasal immunization of mice with purified Flg-4M protein induced high levels of M2e-specific serum antibodies and provided protection against lethal challenge with influenza virus. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms the usefulness of flagellin as a carrier of M2e and its relevance for the production of M2e-based candidate influenza vaccines in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia S Mardanova
- Centre 'Bioengineering', Russian Academy of Sciences, Prosp. 60-letya Oktyabrya, bld 7-1, 117312, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Roman Y Kotlyarov
- Centre 'Bioengineering', Russian Academy of Sciences, Prosp. 60-letya Oktyabrya, bld 7-1, 117312, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Victor V Kuprianov
- Centre 'Bioengineering', Russian Academy of Sciences, Prosp. 60-letya Oktyabrya, bld 7-1, 117312, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Liudmila A Stepanova
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Federation Ministry of Health, 15/17 Prof. Popova str., 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Liudmila M Tsybalova
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Federation Ministry of Health, 15/17 Prof. Popova str., 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - George P Lomonosoff
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UH, Norwich, UK.
| | - Nikolai V Ravin
- Centre 'Bioengineering', Russian Academy of Sciences, Prosp. 60-letya Oktyabrya, bld 7-1, 117312, Moscow, Russia.
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15
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Ravin NV, Blokhina EA, Kuprianov VV, Stepanova LA, Shaldjan AA, Kovaleva AA, Tsybalova LM, Skryabin KG. Development of a candidate influenza vaccine based on virus-like particles displaying influenza M2e peptide into the immunodominant loop region of hepatitis B core antigen: Insertion of multiple copies of M2e increases immunogenicity and protective efficiency. Vaccine 2015; 33:3392-7. [PMID: 25937448 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.04.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [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: 12/29/2014] [Revised: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 (M2e) of influenza A virus is a promising target for the development of "universal" vaccines against influenza. M2e is a poor immunogen by itself; however, when M2e is linked to an appropriate carrier, such as hepatitis B virus core (HBc) particles, it becomes highly immunogenic. Insertions of target peptides into the surface-exposed major immunodominant loop region (MIR) of the HBc antigen are especially immunogenic, but such insertions often affect the protein folding and formation of recombinant virus-like particles. To facilitate an appropriate conformation of the M2e insert, we introduced flexible linkers at the junction points between the insert and flanking HBc sequences. This approach allowed the construction of recombinant HBc particles carrying 1, 2 and 4 copies of M2e in the MIR region. These particles were produced in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. The immune response and protective activity of hybrid HBc particles in mice correlated with the number of inserted M2e peptides: the highest immunogenicity and complete protection of mice against the lethal challenge by influenza virus was observed with particles carrying four copies of M2e. The possibility of the simultaneous presentation of M2e peptides from several important influenza strains on a single HBc particle could also facilitate the development of a broad-specificity vaccine efficient not only against influenza A strains of human origin but also for newly emerging strains of animal origin, such as the avian influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolai V Ravin
- Centre 'Bioengineering', Russian Academy of Sciences, 117312 Prosp. 60-letya Oktyabrya 7-1, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Elena A Blokhina
- Centre 'Bioengineering', Russian Academy of Sciences, 117312 Prosp. 60-letya Oktyabrya 7-1, Moscow, Russia
| | - Victor V Kuprianov
- Centre 'Bioengineering', Russian Academy of Sciences, 117312 Prosp. 60-letya Oktyabrya 7-1, Moscow, Russia
| | - Liudmila A Stepanova
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Federation Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Aram A Shaldjan
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Federation Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anna A Kovaleva
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Federation Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Liudmila M Tsybalova
- Research Institute of Influenza, Russian Federation Ministry of Health, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Konstantin G Skryabin
- Centre 'Bioengineering', Russian Academy of Sciences, 117312 Prosp. 60-letya Oktyabrya 7-1, Moscow, Russia
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16
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Stepanova LA, Kotlyarov RY, Kovaleva AA, Potapchuk MV, Korotkov AV, Sergeeva MV, Kasianenko MA, Kuprianov VV, Ravin NV, Tsybalova LM, Skryabin KG, Kiselev OI. Protection against multiple influenza A virus strains induced by candidate recombinant vaccine based on heterologous M2e peptides linked to flagellin. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0119520. [PMID: 25799221 PMCID: PMC4370815 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Matrix 2 protein ectodomain (M2e) is considered a promising candidate for a broadly protective influenza vaccine. M2e-based vaccines against human influenza A provide only partial protection against avian influenza viruses because of differences in the M2e sequences. In this work, we evaluated the possibility of obtaining equal protection and immune response by using recombinant protein on the basis of flagellin as a carrier of the M2e peptides of human and avian influenza A viruses. Recombinant protein was generated by the fusion of two tandem copies of consensus M2e sequence from human influenza A and two copies of M2e from avian A/H5N1 viruses to flagellin (Flg-2M2eh2M2ek). Intranasal immunisation of Balb/c mice with recombinant protein significantly elicited anti-M2e IgG in serum, IgG and sIgA in BAL. Antibodies induced by the fusion protein Flg-2M2eh2M2ek bound efficiently to synthetic peptides corresponding to the human consensus M2e sequence as well as to the M2e sequence of A/Chicken/Kurgan/05/05 RG (H5N1) and recognised native M2e epitopes exposed on the surface of the MDCK cells infected with A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) and A/Chicken/Kurgan/05/05 RG (H5N1) to an equal degree. Immunisation led to both anti-M2e IgG1 and IgG2a response with IgG1 prevalence. We observed a significant intracellular production of IL-4, but not IFN-γ, by CD4+ T-cells in spleen of mice following immunisation with Flg-2M2eh2M2ek. Immunisation with the Flg-2M2eh2M2ek fusion protein provided similar protection from lethal challenge with human influenza A viruses (H1N1, H3N2) and avian influenza virus (H5N1). Immunised mice experienced significantly less weight loss and decreased lung viral titres compared to control mice. The data obtained show the potential for the development of an M2e-flagellin candidate influenza vaccine with broad spectrum protection against influenza A viruses of various origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liudmila A. Stepanova
- Department of Influenza Vaccines, Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Anna A. Kovaleva
- Department of Influenza Vaccines, Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Marina V. Potapchuk
- Department of Influenza Vaccines, Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexandr V. Korotkov
- Department of Influenza Vaccines, Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Mariia V. Sergeeva
- Department of Influenza Vaccines, Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Marina A. Kasianenko
- Department of Influenza Vaccines, Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Nikolai V. Ravin
- Centre “Bioengineering”, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- GenNanotech Ltd, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Liudmila M. Tsybalova
- Department of Influenza Vaccines, Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Oleg I. Kiselev
- Department of Influenza Vaccines, Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
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17
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Tregub PP, Kulikov VP, Stepanova LA, Zabrodina AS, Nagibaeva ME. [The role of adenosine Al receptors and mitochondrial K+ATP channels in the mechanism of increasing the resistance to acute hypoxia in the combined effects of hypoxia and hypercapnia]. Patol Fiziol Eksp Ter 2014:48-52. [PMID: 25980226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We studied the role of the role of mitoK+ATp channels and Al-adenosine receptor in the mechanism of increasing the resistance to acute hypoxia after hypoxic, hypercapnic and hypercapnic-hypoxic preconditioning. It is shown that mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels and Al-adenosine receptors, an important mechanism of preconditioning have a high value to increase the resistance to acute hypoxia/ischemia in the combined effect of hypoxia and hypercapnia. However, with regard to the adenosine receptor, this mechanism is realized without the participation hypercapnic component, which apparently starts neuroprotection without activation of the adenosine Al receptors.
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18
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Stepanova LA, Kovaleva AA, Potapchuk MV, Korotkov AV, Kupriianov VV, Blokhina EA, Kotliarov RI, Tsybalova LM. [Immunogenicity of recombinant proteins including ectodomain of M2 influenza virus A]. Vopr Virusol 2013; 58:21-25. [PMID: 24006628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Two recombinant proteins with three copies of the ectodomain of the conserved influenza protein M2 (M2e) of influenza viruses were developed: A (H1N1)pdm09, A/Kurgan/05/05 (H5N1), and M2e consensus sequence of the human influenza A virus (H1N1, H2N2, H3N2) based on flagellin and core antigen of hepatitis B (HBc). The first recombinant protein comprised flagellin fused to three tandem copies of M2e, the second preparation was based on non-covalent interaction between M2e peptides and HBc. The immunogenicity of two preparations was comparatively tested. A covalent linkage of flagellin with M2e significant increased the immunogenicity of the target antigen compared with non-covalent interaction M2e and HBc. Flagellin as a protein carrier of M2e induced mainly IgG1 subclass, whereas HBc stimulated more balanced Th1/Th2 response. Our study showed a decrease in the viral titers in lung tissues of immunized mice after lethal challenge of A/PR/8/34 (H1N1). The study revealed a possibility to obtain a vaccine preparation with equal immunogenicity both against human influenza viruses and highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Cross Protection
- Flagellin/genetics
- Flagellin/immunology
- Gene Expression
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin G/blood
- Immunoglobulin G/immunology
- Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/genetics
- Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/immunology
- Influenza A Virus, H2N2 Subtype/genetics
- Influenza A Virus, H2N2 Subtype/immunology
- Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/genetics
- Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/immunology
- Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/genetics
- Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/immunology
- Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Influenza Vaccines/genetics
- Influenza Vaccines/immunology
- Influenza, Human/immunology
- Influenza, Human/prevention & control
- Influenza, Human/virology
- Mice
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections/immunology
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections/prevention & control
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections/virology
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/administration & dosage
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology
- Vaccination
- Vaccines, Synthetic
- Viral Load
- Viral Matrix Proteins/genetics
- Viral Matrix Proteins/immunology
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Petukhova NV, Gasanova TV, Stepanova LA, Rusova OA, Potapchuk MV, Korotkov AV, Skurat EV, Tsybalova LM, Kiselev OI, Ivanov PA, Atabekov JG. Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of candidate universal influenza A nanovaccines produced in plants by Tobacco mosaic virus-based vectors. Curr Pharm Des 2013; 19:5587-600. [PMID: 23394564 DOI: 10.2174/13816128113199990337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [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: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 01/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A new approach for super-expression of the influenza virus epitope M2e in plants has been developed on the basis of a recombinant Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV, strain U1) genome designed for Agrobacterium-mediated delivery into the plant cell nucleus. The TMV coat protein (CP) served as a carrier and three versions of the M2e sequence were inserted into the surface loop between amino acid residues 155 and 156. Cysteine residues in the heterologous peptide were thought likely to impede efficient assembly of chimeric particles. Therefore, viral vectors TMV-M2e-ala and TMV-M2e-ser were constructed in which cysteine codons 17 and 19 of the M2e epitope were substituted by codons for serine or alanine. Agroinfiltration experiments proved that the chimeric viruses were capable of systemically infecting Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Antisera raised against TMV-M2e-ala virions appear to contain far more antibodies specific to influenza virus M2e than those specific to TMV carrier particle (ratio 5:1). Immunogold electron microscopy showed that the 2-epitopes were uniformly distributed and tightly packed on the surface of the chimeric TMV virions. Apparently, the majority of the TMV CP-specific epitopes in the chimeric TMV-M2e particles are hidden from the immune system by the M2e epitopes exposed on the particle surface. The profile of IgG subclasses after immunization of mice with TMV-M2e-ser and TMV-M2e-ala was evaluated. Immunization with TMV-M2e-ala induced a significant difference between the levels of IgG1 and IgG2a (IgG1/IgG2a=3.2). Mice immunized with the chimeric viruses were resistant to five lethal doses (LD50) of the homologous influenza virus strain, A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) and TMV-M2e-ala also gave partial protection (5LD50, 70% of survival rate) against a heterologous strain influenza A/California/04/2009 (H1N1) (4 amino acid changes in M2e). These results indicate that a new generation candidate universal nanovaccine against influenza based on a recombinant TMV construct has been obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia V Petukhova
- Department of Virology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
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Ravin NV, Kotlyarov RY, Mardanova ES, Kuprianov VV, Migunov AI, Stepanova LA, Tsybalova LM, Kiselev OI, Skryabin KG. Plant-produced recombinant influenza vaccine based on virus-like HBc particles carrying an extracellular domain of M2 protein. Biochemistry (Mosc) 2012; 77:33-40. [PMID: 22339631 DOI: 10.1134/s000629791201004x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Conventional influenza vaccines are based on a virus obtained in chicken embryos or its components. The high variability of the surface proteins of influenza virus, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, requires strain-specific vaccines matching the antigenic specificity of newly emerging virus strains to be developed. A recombinant vaccine based on a highly conservative influenza virus protein M2 fused to a nanosized carrier particle can be an attractive alternative to traditional vaccines. We have constructed a recombinant viral vector based on potato X virus that provides for expression in the Nicotiana benthamiana plants of a hybrid protein M2eHBc consisting of an extracellular domain of influenza virus M2 protein (M2e) fused to hepatitis B core antigen (HBc). This vector was introduced into plant cells by infiltrating leaves with agrobacteria carrying the viral vector. The hybrid protein M2eHBc was synthesized in the infected N. benthamiana plants in an amount reaching 1-2% of the total soluble protein and formed virus-like particles with the M2e peptide presented on the surface. Methods of isolation and purification of M2eHBc particles from plant producers were elaborated. Experiments on mice have shown a high immunogenicity of the plant-produced M2eHBc particles and their protective effect against lethal influenza challenge. The developed transient expression system can be used for production of M2e-based candidate influenza vaccine in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- N V Ravin
- Centre "Bioengineering", Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
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Kotlyarov RY, Kuprianov VV, Migunov AI, Stepanova LA, Tsybalova LM, Kiselev OI, Ravin NV, Skryabin KG. Development of Recombinant Vaccine against A(H1N1) 2009 Influenza Based on Virus-like Nanoparticles Carrying the Extracellular Domain of M2 Protein. Acta Naturae 2010. [DOI: 10.32607/20758251-2010-2-2-71-76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Meshcheriakova IA, El'darov MA, Migunov AI, Stepanova LA, Repko IA, Kiselev OI, Lomonosov DP, Skriabin KG. [Cowpea mosaic virus chimeric particles bearing ectodomain of matrix protein 2 (M2E) of influenza A virus: production and characteristics]. Mol Biol (Mosk) 2009; 43:741-750. [PMID: 19807038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The epitope presentation system for ectodomain of M2-protein of influenza A virus (M2e) based on Cowpea Mosaic Virus (CPMV) was constructed for expression in plants Vigna unguiculata. CPMV is widely used as a vector for production of immunogenic chimeric virus particles (CVPs) bearing epitopes of different infectious human and animal pathogens. To produce chimeric CPMV virus particles in plants, two binary vectors were constructed bearing modified gene coding for S-coat protein of CPMV with insertions of M2e epitopes of human influenza and bird influenza viruses. Antigenic and immunogenic properties of CVPs obtained were investigated in mice immunization experiments and it was shown that they can induce anti-M2e IgG production and partial protection mice against challenge with low doses of flu virus. However, low infectivity and immunogenicity of CPMV chimeric particles indicate the need for further optimization of plant virus-based systems for M2e-epitopes presentation to use plants as a possible source of flu vaccines.
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Koviazin VA, Stepanova LA, Lebedev LA, Stavitskiĭ RV, Stavitskaia MK, Kravchenko MV, Lebedenko IM. [An analytical evaluation of the peripheral blood charging parameters on the condition of the organism and its systems]. Med Tekh 2004:13-6. [PMID: 15148883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Potentialities of analyzing the health condition of human organism and of its separate systems, i.e. digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, etc., by the peripheral-blood parameters and with the help of the suggested AKS-ENOFIT analytical system are demonstrated in the paper.
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Barantseva IB, Naĭkhin AN, Donina SA, Stepanova LA, Rekstin AR, Grigor'eva EP, Desheva IA, Rudenko LG. [Humoral and local immune response to the influenza vaccine in people of old and young ages]. Vopr Virusol 2003; 48:32-6. [PMID: 12924097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
The specific features of the humoral and local immune responses to influenza vaccines were comparatively studied in people of different age groups. A total of 79 elderly people (aged 67-89) and 80 young people (aged 18-27) were immunized according to one of the four schemes: live cold-adapted reassortant trivalent influenza vaccine (LIV), administered intranasally; inactivated split trivalent influenza vaccine (IIV), administered parenterally; a combination of both above vaccines; and placebo. IIV was found, as compared to LIV, to stimulate more effectively the production of circulating antihaemagglutinins as well as of IgG,-, Ig1-, and Ig3-AT in young persons, while LIV has advantages before IIV in stimulating the synthesis of these immunoglobulins in the elderly. LIV has advantages before IIV in stimulating the synthesis of secretory IgA-AT irrespective of an age of the immunized persons. The combined immunization of the elderly by both vaccines increases the quantitative parameters of the humoral and local responses up to the level of intensity observed in young people. The obtained data are indicative of the possibility of correcting the immune response in the high-risk elderly in respect to influenza infection.
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Bul'on VV, Nikulina VN, Stepanova LA. Effect of zooplankton pressure on the dependence of the chlorophyll a concentration on the total phosphorus content in water. Dokl Biol Sci 2000; 375:647-50. [PMID: 11211516 DOI: 10.1023/a:1026614526881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- V V Bul'on
- Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab. 1, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia
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Stepanova LA, Linde A, Naĭkhin AN, Bichurina MA, Paramonova MS. [Specific immune response to vaccination with an inactivated flue vaccine depending on prevaccine status and age of the person vaccinated]. Vopr Virusol 2000; 45:26-9. [PMID: 10765547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Specific antibody immune response to vaccination with commercial inactivated trivalent vaccine A(H1N1) + A(H3N2) + B (IgA, IgG, IgG, subclasses G1, G3, G4, and accumulation of antiCD8) was studied in subjects aged 20-95 years. The initial immune status before vaccination is significant for a positive immune response to the vaccine. Subjects responding to immunization by an increment in specific IgG had a much lower prevaccination level of these antibodies than subjects without these Ig conversion. Antibody immune response to vaccination depended on patient's age. All vaccinees aged 20-25 years developed an increment in IgG to at least one of influenza antigens used. Specific postvaccinal immune response to inactivated influenza vaccine included accumulation of G1, G3, and A antibodies, but not G4 or E antibodies. This latter fact suggests the absence of sensitizing effect of vaccination. In elderly subjects an increment in G1, G3, and A antibodies may not involve an increase in the total level of IgG. In part of elderly subjects secretion of specific antibodies was observed in the presence of increased concentration of antilymphocytic antibodies (antiCD8), indicating a possibility of autoimmune reactions in subjects of this age after injection of inactivated influenza vaccine.
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Safonova LS, Stepanova LA. [The level of immune system stress and the nature of its reaction to antigenic challenge]. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol 1993:96-7. [PMID: 8079597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Stepanova LA. [An electron microscopic study of the strangles Streptococcus]. Veterinariia 1966; 43:21. [PMID: 6011466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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