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McMahon R, Fuchs U, Schneider M, Hadl S, Hochreiter R, Bitzer A, Kosulin K, Koren M, Mader R, Zoihsl O, Wressnigg N, Dubischar K, Buerger V, Eder-Lingelbach S, Jaramillo JC. A randomized, double-blinded Phase 3 study to demonstrate lot-to-lot consistency and to confirm immunogenicity and safety of the live-attenuated chikungunya virus vaccine candidate VLA1553 in healthy adults†. J Travel Med 2024; 31:taad156. [PMID: 38091981 PMCID: PMC10911060 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taad156] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global spread of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) increases the exposure risk for individuals travelling to or living in endemic areas. This Phase 3 study was designed to demonstrate manufacturing consistency between three lots of the single shot live-attenuated CHIKV vaccine VLA1553, and to confirm the promising immunogenicity and safety data obtained in previous trials. METHODS This randomized, double-blinded, lot-to-lot consistency, Phase 3 study, assessed immunogenicity and safety of VLA1553 in 408 healthy adults (18-45 years) in 12 sites across the USA. The primary endpoint was a comparison of the geometric mean titre (GMT) ratios of CHIKV-specific neutralizing antibodies between three VLA1553 lots at 28 days post-vaccination. Secondary endpoints included immunogenicity and safety over 6 months post-vaccination. RESULTS GMTs were comparable between the lots meeting the acceptance criteria for equivalence. The average GMT (measured by 50% CHIKV micro plaque neutralization test; μPRNT50) peaked with 2643 at 28 days post-vaccination and decreased to 709 at 6 months post-vaccination. An excellent seroresponse rate (defined as μPRNT50 titre ≥ 150 considered protective) was achieved in 97.8% of participants at 28 days post-vaccination and still persisted in 96% at 6 months after vaccination. Upon VLA1553 immunization, 72.5% of participants experienced adverse events (AEs), without significant differences between lots (related solicited systemic AE: 53.9% of participants; related solicited local AE: 19.4%). Overall, AEs were mostly mild or moderate and resolved without sequela, usually within 3 days. With 3.9% of participants experiencing severe AEs, 2.7% were classified as related, whereas none of the six reported serious adverse events was related to the administration of VLA1553. CONCLUSIONS All three lots of VLA1553 recapitulated the safety and immunogenicity profiles of a preceding Phase 3 study, fulfilling pre-defined consistency requirements. These results highlight the manufacturability of VLA1553, a promising vaccine for the prevention of CHIKV disease for those living in or travelling to endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael Koren
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Robert Mader
- CRETA GmbH, Campus Vienna Biocenter 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
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Bézay N, Hochreiter R, Kadlecek V, Wressnigg N, Larcher-Senn J, Klingler A, Dubischar K, Eder-Lingelbach S, Leroux-Roels I, Leroux-Roels G, Bender W. Safety and immunogenicity of a novel multivalent OspA-based vaccine candidate against Lyme borreliosis: a randomised, phase 1 study in healthy adults. Lancet Infect Dis 2023; 23:1186-1196. [PMID: 37419129 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(23)00210-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lyme borreliosis, potentially associated with serious long-term complications, is caused by the species complex Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. We investigated a novel Lyme borreliosis vaccine candidate (VLA15) targeting the six most common outer surface protein A (OspA) serotypes 1-6 to prevent infection with pathogenic Borrelia spp prevalent in Europe and North America. METHODS This was a partially randomised, observer-masked, phase 1 study in healthy adults older than 18 years to younger than 40 years (n=179) done in trial sites in Belgium and the USA. Following a non-randomised run-in phase, a sealed envelope randomisation method was applied with a 1:1:1:1:1:1 ratio; three dose concentrations of VLA15 (12 μg, 48 μg, and 90 μg) were administered by intramuscular injection on days 1, 29, and 57. The primary outcome was safety (frequency of adverse events up to day 85) assessed in participants who received at least one vaccination. Immunogenicity was a secondary outcome. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03010228, and is complete. FINDINGS Between Jan 23, 2017 and Jan 16, 2019, of 254 participants screened for eligibility, 179 were randomly assigned into six groups: alum-adjuvanted 12 μg (n=29), 48 μg (n=31), or 90 μg (n=31) and non-adjuvanted 12 μg (n=29 participants), 48 μg (n=29), or 90 μg (n=30). VLA15 was safe and well tolerated and the majority of adverse events were mild or moderate. Overall, adverse events were more frequent in the 48 μg and 90 μg groups (range 28-30 participants [94-97%]) when compared with the 12 μg group (25 [86%] participants, 95% CI 69·4-94·5) for adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted groups. Common local reactions were tenderness (151 [84%] participants; 356 events, 95% CI 78·3-89·4) and injection site pain (120 [67%]; 224 events, 59·9-73·5); most frequent systemic reactions were headache (80 [45%]; 112 events, 37·6-52·0), excessive fatigue (45 [25%]; 56 events, 19·4-32·0), and myalgia (45 [25%]; 57 events, 19·4-32·0). A similar safety and tolerability profile was observed between adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted formulations. The majority of solicited adverse events were mild or moderate. VLA15 was immunogenic for all OspA serotypes with higher immune responses induced in the adjuvanted higher dose groups (geometric mean titre range 90 μg with alum 61·3 U/mL-321·7 U/mL vs 23·8 U/mL-111·5 U/mL at 90 μg without alum). INTERPRETATION This novel multivalent vaccine candidate against Lyme borreliosis was safe and immunogenic and paves the way to further clinical development. FUNDING Valneva Austria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Bézay
- Valneva Austria, Campus Vienna Biocenter 3, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Vera Kadlecek
- Valneva Austria, Campus Vienna Biocenter 3, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Wressnigg
- Valneva Austria, Campus Vienna Biocenter 3, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Anton Klingler
- Assign Data Management and Biostatistics, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | | | - Isabel Leroux-Roels
- Center for Vaccinology (CEVAC), Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert Leroux-Roels
- Center for Vaccinology (CEVAC), Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Schneider M, Narciso-Abraham M, Hadl S, McMahon R, Toepfer S, Fuchs U, Hochreiter R, Bitzer A, Kosulin K, Larcher-Senn J, Mader R, Dubischar K, Zoihsl O, Jaramillo JC, Eder-Lingelbach S, Buerger V, Wressnigg N. Safety and immunogenicity of a single-shot live-attenuated chikungunya vaccine: a double-blind, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet 2023; 401:2138-2147. [PMID: 37321235 PMCID: PMC10314240 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)00641-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND VLA1553 is a live-attenuated vaccine candidate for active immunisation and prevention of disease caused by chikungunya virus. We report safety and immunogenicity data up to day 180 after vaccination with VLA1553. METHODS This double-blind, multicentre, randomised, phase 3 trial was done in 43 professional vaccine trial sites in the USA. Eligible participants were healthy volunteers aged 18 years and older. Patients were excluded if they had history of chikungunya virus infection or immune-mediated or chronic arthritis or arthralgia, known or suspected defect of the immune system, any inactivated vaccine received within 2 weeks before vaccination with VLA1553, or any live vaccine received within 4 weeks before vaccination with VLA1553. Participants were randomised (3:1) to receive VLA1553 or placebo. The primary endpoint was the proportion of baseline negative participants with a seroprotective chikungunya virus antibody level defined as 50% plaque reduction in a micro plaque reduction neutralisation test (μPRNT) with a μPRNT50 titre of at least 150, 28 days after vaccination. The safety analysis included all individuals who received vaccination. Immunogenicity analyses were done in a subset of participants at 12 pre-selected study sites. These participants were required to have no major protocol deviations to be included in the per-protocol population for immunogenicity analyses. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04546724. FINDINGS Between Sept 17, 2020 and April 10, 2021, 6100 people were screened for eligibility. 1972 people were excluded and 4128 participants were enrolled and randomised (3093 to VLA1553 and 1035 to placebo). 358 participants in the VLA1553 group and 133 participants in the placebo group discontinued before trial end. The per-protocol population for immunogenicity analysis comprised 362 participants (266 in the VLA1553 group and 96 in the placebo group). After a single vaccination, VLA1553 induced seroprotective chikungunya virus neutralising antibody levels in 263 (98·9%) of 266 participants in the VLA1553 group (95% CI 96·7-99·8; p<0·0001) 28 days post-vaccination, independent of age. VLA1553 was generally safe with an adverse event profile similar to other licensed vaccines and equally well tolerated in younger and older adults. Serious adverse events were reported in 46 (1·5%) of 3082 participants exposed to VLA1553 and eight (0·8%) of 1033 participants in the placebo arm. Only two serious adverse events were considered related to VLA1553 treatment (one mild myalgia and one syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion). Both participants recovered fully. INTERPRETATION The strong immune response and the generation of seroprotective titres in almost all vaccinated participants suggests that VLA1553 is an excellent candidate for the prevention of disease caused by chikungunya virus. FUNDING Valneva, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation, and EU Horizon 2020.
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Roques P, Fritzer A, Dereuddre-Bosquet N, Wressnigg N, Hochreiter R, Bossevot L, Pascal Q, Guehenneux F, Bitzer A, Corbic Ramljak I, Le Grand R, Lundberg U, Meinke A. Effectiveness of CHIKV vaccine VLA1553 demonstrated by passive transfer of human sera. JCI Insight 2022; 7:160173. [PMID: 35700051 PMCID: PMC9431671 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.160173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [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: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a reemerging mosquito-borne alphavirus responsible for numerous outbreaks. Chikungunya can cause debilitating acute and chronic disease. Thus, the development of a safe and effective CHIKV vaccine is an urgent global health priority. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the live-attenuated CHIKV vaccine VLA1553 against WT CHIKV infection by using passive transfer of sera from vaccinated volunteers to nonhuman primates (NHP) subsequently exposed to WT CHIKV and established a serological surrogate of protection. We demonstrated that human VLA1553 sera transferred to NHPs conferred complete protection from CHIKV viremia and fever after challenge with homologous WT CHIKV. In addition, serum transfer protected animals from other CHIKV-associated clinical symptoms and from CHIKV persistence in tissue. Based on this passive transfer study, a 50% micro–plaque reduction neutralization test titer of ≥ 150 was determined as a surrogate of protection, which was supported by analysis of samples from a seroepidemiological study. In conclusion, considering the unfeasibility of an efficacy trial due to the unpredictability and explosive, rapidly moving nature of chikungunya outbreaks, the definition of a surrogate of protection for VLA1553 is an important step toward vaccine licensure to reduce the medical burden caused by chikungunya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Roques
- Unité de Virologie, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | | | | | - Nina Wressnigg
- Clinical Strategy, Valneva Austria GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Laetitia Bossevot
- DSV/IMETI, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Quentin Pascal
- DSV/IMETI, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | | | | | | | - Roger Le Grand
- DSV/IMETI, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
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Wressnigg N, Hochreiter R, Zoihsl O, Fritzer A, Bézay N, Klingler A, Lingnau K, Schneider M, Lundberg U, Meinke A, Larcher-Senn J, Čorbic-Ramljak I, Eder-Lingelbach S, Dubischar K, Bender W. Single-shot live-attenuated chikungunya vaccine in healthy adults: a phase 1, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2020; 20:1193-1203. [DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30238-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Adlbrecht C, Wurm R, Depuydt P, Spapen H, Lorente JA, Staudinger T, Creteur J, Zauner C, Meier-Hellmann A, Eller P, Laenen MV, Molnár Z, Várkonyi I, Schaaf B, Héjja M, Šrámek V, Schneider H, Kanesa-Thasan N, Eder-Lingelbach S, Klingler A, Dubischar K, Wressnigg N, Rello J. Efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of IC43 recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine in mechanically ventilated intensive care patients-a randomized clinical trial. Crit Care 2020; 24:74. [PMID: 32131866 PMCID: PMC7057595 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-020-2792-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [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: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are a serious threat in intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of this confirmatory, randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 2/3 study was to assess the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of IC43 recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine in non-surgical ICU patients. Methods Eight hundred patients aged 18 to 80 years admitted to the ICU with expected need for mechanical ventilation for ≥ 48 h were randomized 1:1 to either IC43 100 μg or saline placebo, given in two vaccinations 7 days apart. The primary efficacy endpoint was all-cause mortality in patients 28 days after the first vaccination. Immunogenicity and safety were also evaluated. Findings All-cause mortality rates at day 28 were 29.2% vs 27.7% in the IC43 and placebo groups, respectively (P = .67). Overall survival (Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, P = .46) and proportion of patients with ≥ one confirmed P. aeruginosa invasive infection or respiratory tract infection also did not differ significantly between both groups. The geometric mean fold increase in OprF/I titers was 1.5 after the first vaccination, 20 at day 28, after the second vaccination, and 2.9 at day 180. Significantly more patients in the placebo group (96.5%) had ≥ one adverse event (AE) versus the IC43 100 μg group (93.1%) (P = .04). The most frequently reported severe AEs in the IC43 and placebo groups were respiratory failure (6.9% vs 5.7%, respectively), septic shock (4.1% vs 6.5%), cardiac arrest (4.3% vs 5.7%), multiorgan failure (4.6% vs 5.5%), and sepsis (4.6% vs 4.2%). No related serious AEs were reported in the IC43 group. Interpretation The IC43 100 μg vaccine was well tolerated in this large population of medically ill, mechanically ventilated patients. The vaccine achieved high immunogenicity but provided no clinical benefit over placebo in terms of overall mortality. Trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01563263). Registration was sent to ClinicalTrials.gov on March 14, 2012, but posted by ClinicalTrials.gov on March 26, 2012. The first subject was included in the trial on March 22, 2012.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Adlbrecht
- Department of Cardiology, Vienna North Hospital-Clinic Floridsdorf and the Karl Landsteiner Institute for Cardiovascular and Critical Care Research, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | - Jose A Lorente
- Hospital Universitario de Getafe, CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Universidad Europea, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mária Héjja
- Országos Korányi TBC és Pulmonológiai Intézet, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Vladimír Šrámek
- Fakultní nemocnice U Svaté Anny v Brně, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hauke Schneider
- Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Anton Klingler
- Assign Data Management and Biostatistics GmbH, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Katrin Dubischar
- Valneva Austria GmbH, Campus Vienna Biocenter 3, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Wressnigg
- Valneva Austria GmbH, Campus Vienna Biocenter 3, 1030, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Jordi Rello
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red (CIBERES), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
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Kittel C, Wressnigg N, Shurygina AP, Wolschek M, Stukova M, Romanovskaya-Romanko E, Romanova J, Kiselev O, Muster T, Egorov A. A genetically adjuvanted influenza B virus vector increases immunogenicity and protective efficacy in mice. Arch Virol 2015. [PMID: 26215439 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-015-2525-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The existence of multiple antigenically distinct types and subtypes of influenza viruses allows the construction of a multivalent vector system for the mucosal delivery of foreign sequences. Influenza A viruses have been exploited successfully for the expression of extraneous antigens as well as immunostimulatory molecules. In this study, we describe the development of an influenza B virus vector whose functional part of the interferon antagonist NS1 was replaced by human interleukin 2 (IL2) as a genetic adjuvant. We demonstrate that IL2 expressed by this viral vector displays immune adjuvant activity in immunized mice. Animals vaccinated with the IL2 viral vector showed an increased hemagglutination inhibition antibody response and higher protective efficacy after challenge with a wild-type influenza B virus when compared to mice vaccinated with a control virus. Our results demonstrate that it is feasible to construct influenza B vaccine strains expressing immune-potentiating foreign sequences from the NS genomic segment. Based on these data, it is now hypothetically possible to create a trivalent (or quadrivalent) live attenuated influenza vaccine in which each component expresses a selected genetic adjuvant with tailored expression levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kittel
- Avir Green Hills Biotechnology AG, Forsthausgasse 11, 1200, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Nina Wressnigg
- Avir Green Hills Biotechnology AG, Forsthausgasse 11, 1200, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Polina Shurygina
- Avir Green Hills Biotechnology AG, Forsthausgasse 11, 1200, Vienna, Austria
- Influenza Research Institute, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Prof. Popov Str. 15/17, St. Petersburg, 197376, Russia
| | - Markus Wolschek
- Avir Green Hills Biotechnology AG, Forsthausgasse 11, 1200, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marina Stukova
- Influenza Research Institute, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Prof. Popov Str. 15/17, St. Petersburg, 197376, Russia
| | | | - Julia Romanova
- Avir Green Hills Biotechnology AG, Forsthausgasse 11, 1200, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oleg Kiselev
- Influenza Research Institute, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Prof. Popov Str. 15/17, St. Petersburg, 197376, Russia
| | - Thomas Muster
- Avir Green Hills Biotechnology AG, Forsthausgasse 11, 1200, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrej Egorov
- Avir Green Hills Biotechnology AG, Forsthausgasse 11, 1200, Vienna, Austria
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Barrett PN, Crowe BA, Wressnigg N, Portsmouth D, Aichinger G. Lyme disease vaccination: safety first - authors' reply. Lancet Infect Dis 2013; 14:12-13. [PMID: 24355029 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(13)70362-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P Noel Barrett
- Vaccine R&D, Biomedical Research Centre, Baxter Bioscience, Uferstraße 15, A-2304 Orth/Donau, Austria.
| | - Brian A Crowe
- Vaccine R&D, Biomedical Research Centre, Baxter Bioscience, Uferstraße 15, A-2304 Orth/Donau, Austria
| | | | - Daniel Portsmouth
- Vaccine R&D, Biomedical Research Centre, Baxter Bioscience, Uferstraße 15, A-2304 Orth/Donau, Austria
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Nakowitsch S, Waltenberger AM, Wressnigg N, Ferstl N, Triendl A, Kiefmann B, Montomoli E, Lapini G, Sergeeva M, Muster T, Romanova JR. Egg- or cell culture-derived hemagglutinin mutations impair virus stability and antigen content of inactivated influenza vaccines. Biotechnol J 2013; 9:405-14. [PMID: 24323790 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201300225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 05/28/2013] [Revised: 08/14/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Egg-derived viruses are the only available seed material for influenza vaccine production. Vaccine manufacturing is done in embryonated chicken eggs, MDCK or Vero cells. In order to contribute to efficient production of influenza vaccines, we investigate whether the quality of inactivated vaccines is influenced by the propagation substrate. We demonstrate that H3N2 egg-derived seed viruses (A/Brisbane/10/07, IVR147, and A/Uruguay/716/07) triggered the hemagglutinin (HA) conformational change under less acidic conditions (0.2-0.6 pH units) than antigenically similar primary isolates. This phenotype was associated with HA1 (A138S, L194P) and HA2 (D160N) substitutions, and strongly related to decreased virus stability towards acidic pH and elevated temperature. The subsequent propagation of H3N2 and H1N1 egg-derived seed viruses in MDCK and Vero cells induced HA2 N50K (H1N1) and D160E (H3N2) mutations, improving virus growth in cell culture but further impairing virus stability. The prevention of the loss or recovery of stability was possible by cultivation at acidified conditions. Viruses carrying less stable HAs are more sensitive for HA conformational change during concentration, purification and storage. This results in decreased detectable HA antigen content - the main potency marker for inactivated influenza vaccines. Thus, virus stability can be a useful marker for predicting the manufacturing scope of seed viruses.
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Morokutti A, Redlberger-Fritz M, Nakowitsch S, Krenn BM, Wressnigg N, Jungbauer A, Romanova J, Muster T, Popow-Kraupp T, Ferko B. Validation of the modified hemagglutination inhibition assay (mHAI), a robust and sensitive serological test for analysis of influenza virus-specific immune response. J Clin Virol 2013; 56:323-30. [PMID: 23375739 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2012.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 09/27/2012] [Revised: 11/28/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The hemagglutination inhibition assay (HAI) is universally regarded as the gold standard in influenza virus serology. Nevertheless, difficulties in titre readouts are common and interlaboratory variations are frequently reported. OBJECTIVE We developed and validated the modified HAI to facilitate reliable, accurate and reproducible analysis of sera derived from influenza vaccination studies. STUDY DESIGN Clinical and preclinical serum samples, NIBSC reference sera and seasonal influenza virus type A (H1N1 and H3N2) and type B antigens were employed to validate the mHAI. Moreover, pandemic virus strains (H5N1 and H1N1pdm09) were used to prove assay robustness. RESULTS Utilisation of a 0.08% solution of stabilised human erythrocytes, assay buffer containing bovine serum albumin and microscopical plate readout are the major differences between the modified and standard HAI assay protocols. Validation experiments revealed that the mHAI is linear, specific and up to eightfold more sensitive than the standard HAI. In 95.6% of all measurements mHAI titres were precisely measured irrespective of the assay day, run or operator. Moreover, 96.4% (H1N1) or 95.2% (H3N2 and B), respectively, of all serum samples were determined within one dilution step of the nominal values for spiked samples. Finally, the mHAI results remained unaffected by variations in virus antigens, erythrocytes, reagents, laboratory location, sample storage conditions or matrix components. CONCLUSION The modified HAI is easy to analyse, requires only a single source of erythrocytes and allows utilisation of numerous influenza virus antigens, also including virus strains which are difficult to handle by the standard HAI (e.g. H3N2, H5N1 and H1N1pdm09).
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Affiliation(s)
- A Morokutti
- AVIR Green Hills Biotechnology AG, Forsthausgasse 11, A-1200 Vienna, Austria
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11
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Krenn BM, Egorov A, Romanovskaya-Romanko E, Wolschek M, Nakowitsch S, Ruthsatz T, Kiefmann B, Morokutti A, Humer J, Geiler J, Cinatl J, Michaelis M, Wressnigg N, Sturlan S, Ferko B, Batishchev OV, Indenbom AV, Zhu R, Kastner M, Hinterdorfer P, Kiselev O, Muster T, Romanova J. Single HA2 mutation increases the infectivity and immunogenicity of a live attenuated H5N1 intranasal influenza vaccine candidate lacking NS1. PLoS One 2011; 6:e18577. [PMID: 21490925 PMCID: PMC3072404 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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: 11/17/2010] [Accepted: 03/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND H5N1 influenza vaccines, including live intranasal, appear to be relatively less immunogenic compared to seasonal analogs. The main influenza virus surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) was shown to be more susceptible to acidic pH treatment than that of human or low pathogenic avian influenza viruses. The acidification machinery of the human nasal passageway in response to different irritation factors starts to release protons acidifying the mucosal surface (down to pH of 5.2). We hypothesized that the sensitivity of H5 HA to the acidic environment might be the reason for the low infectivity and immunogenicity of intranasal H5N1 vaccines for mammals. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We demonstrate that original human influenza viruses infect primary human nasal epithelial cells at acidic pH (down to 5.4), whereas H5N1 HPAIVs lose infectivity at pH ≤ 5.6. The HA of A/Vietnam/1203/04 was modified by introducing the single substitution HA2 58K→I, decreasing the pH of the HA conformational change. The H5N1 reassortants containing the indicated mutation displayed an increased resistance to acidic pH and high temperature treatment compared to those lacking modification. The mutation ensured a higher viral uptake as shown by immunohistochemistry in the respiratory tract of mice and 25 times lower mouse infectious dose₅₀. Moreover, the reassortants keeping 58K→I mutation designed as a live attenuated vaccine candidate lacking an NS1 gene induced superior systemic and local antibody response after the intranasal immunization of mice. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE Our finding suggests that an efficient intranasal vaccination with a live attenuated H5N1 virus may require a certain level of pH and temperature stability of HA in order to achieve an optimal virus uptake by the nasal epithelial cells and induce a sufficient immune response. The pH of the activation of the H5 HA protein may play a substantial role in the infectivity of HPAIVs for mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrej Egorov
- Avir Green Hills Biotechnology AG, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Janina Geiler
- Institute for Medical Virology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jindrich Cinatl
- Institute for Medical Virology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Martin Michaelis
- Institute for Medical Virology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | | | - Boris Ferko
- Avir Green Hills Biotechnology AG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oleg V. Batishchev
- A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey V. Indenbom
- A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Rong Zhu
- Christian Doppler Laboratory of Nanoscopic Methods in Biophysics, Institute for Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
| | - Markus Kastner
- Christian Doppler Laboratory of Nanoscopic Methods in Biophysics, Institute for Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
| | - Peter Hinterdorfer
- Christian Doppler Laboratory of Nanoscopic Methods in Biophysics, Institute for Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
| | - Oleg Kiselev
- Influenza Research Institute, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
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Wressnigg N, Voss D, Wolff T, Romanova J, Ruthsatz T, Mayerhofer I, Reiter M, Nakowitsch S, Humer J, Morokutti A, Muster T, Egorov A, Kittel C. Development of a live-attenuated influenza B DeltaNS1 intranasal vaccine candidate. Vaccine 2009; 27:2851-7. [PMID: 19366569 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.02.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2008] [Revised: 02/16/2009] [Accepted: 02/24/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
We discovered a unique, single amino acid mutation in the influenza B M1 protein promoting viral growth of NS1 truncation mutants in Vero cells. Due to this mutation, we were able to generate an influenza B virus lacking the complete NS1 open reading frame (DeltaNS1-B virus) by reverse genetics, which was growing to titers of 8log(10)TCID(50)/ml in a Vero cell culture-based micro-carrier fermenter. The DeltaNS1-B vaccine candidate was attenuated in IFN-competent hosts such as human alveolar epithelial cells (A549) similar to influenza A DeltaNS1 viruses. In ferrets, the DeltaNS1-B virus was replication-deficient and did not provoke any clinical symptoms. Importantly, a single intranasal immunization of ferrets at a dose as low as 6 log(10)TCID(50)/animal induced a significant HAI response and provided protection against challenge with wild-type influenza B virus. So far, the lack of a DeltaNS1-B virus component growing to high titers in cell culture has been limiting the possibility to formulate a trivalent vaccine based on deletion of the NS1 gene. Our study closes this gap and paves the way for the clinical evaluation of a seasonal, trivalent, live replication-deficient DeltaNS1 intranasal influenza vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Wressnigg
- Avir Green Hills Biotechnology, Gersthoferstrasse 29-31, 1180 Vienna, Austria
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Wressnigg N, Shurygina AP, Wolff T, Redlberger-Fritz M, Popow-Kraupp T, Muster T, Egorov A, Kittel C. Influenza B mutant viruses with truncated NS1 proteins grow efficiently in Vero cells and are immunogenic in mice. J Gen Virol 2009; 90:366-374. [DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.006122-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Contemporary influenza B virus strains were generated encoding C-terminally truncated NS1 proteins. Viable viruses containing the N-terminal 14, 38, 57 or 80 aa of the NS1 protein were rescued in Vero cells. The influenza B virus NS1-truncated mutants were impaired in their ability to counteract interferon (IFN) production, induce antiviral pro-inflammatory cytokines early after infection and show attenuated or restricted growth in IFN-competent hosts. In Vero cells, all of the mutant viruses replicated to high titres comparable to the wild-type influenza B virus. Mice that received a single, intranasal immunization of the NS1-truncated mutants elicited an antibody response and protection against wild-type virus challenge. Therefore, these NS1-truncated mutants should prove useful as potential candidates for live-attenuated influenza virus vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Wressnigg
- University of Vienna, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Dr Bohrgasse 9, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Avir Greenhills Biotechnology, Gersthoferstrasse 29–31, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Polina Shurygina
- Influenza Research Institute, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Prof. Popov Str. 15/17, St Petersburg 197376, Russia
- Avir Greenhills Biotechnology, Gersthoferstrasse 29–31, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thorsten Wolff
- Robert Koch Institute, P15, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Monika Redlberger-Fritz
- Clinical Institute for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Therese Popow-Kraupp
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gurtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Muster
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gurtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Avir Greenhills Biotechnology, Gersthoferstrasse 29–31, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrej Egorov
- Avir Greenhills Biotechnology, Gersthoferstrasse 29–31, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Kittel
- Avir Greenhills Biotechnology, Gersthoferstrasse 29–31, 1180 Vienna, Austria
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